We recently updated our well known Preparedness Overview flyer that we distribute at our meetings and presentations.  anyone is welcome to reprint this as a public service.

The Special Edition of American Survivor is distributed free at preparedness expos and events as a sample of our membership newsletter.  American Survivor is the oldest and most respected survival/preparedness publication in the USA, and has been especially accurate in predicting the  pandemic, civil unrest, severe weather and economic decline in recent times.  More importantly it has provided information on how to prepare for and survive these and other challenges now and in the future. Online members have access to over seventy back issues of American Survivor as well as each new issue as it is published. Members can also opt for hard-copy mailing.

Recent articles in American Survivor included: Revolution and Civil War (July 2020), Is America Headed for Another Revolution? (Jan/Feb. 219), and Decent Into Chaos (Jan/Feb 2015). Unfortunately these articles were far more accurate than we would have guessed. As a result, it may be timely to publish a modified version of the chapter in my recent book devoted to "Military Skills for the Survivalist". Note: the book is 150 Survival Secrets, by James C. Jones from Skyhorse  publishing of NY and covers many controversial and challenging survival subjects.

• Preparedness Overview Flyer, 12-10
• American Survivor Special,3-15
• Military Skills for Survival,12-18

It has been 242-years since the original American Revolution.  The Civil War was a geopolitical split rather than a systemic revolution.  There was certainly a lot of “revolutionary” activity during the late 1960s and early 1970s, but these movements were limited to a small segment of the population.  During these decades the vast majority of the population still shared a set of common values in a stable economy. The “Greatest Generation” that had recently made America great and defeated brutal and dictatorial aggressors was the dominant and stable force in American society at that time.  The radical communist and anarchist forces that seemed to define those decades literally and figuratively, burned themselves out.  However, many of these extremists and their divisive ideologies infiltrated our institutions and society.  A recent issue of Smithsonian magazine headlined 1968 “The Year That Shattered America” and contained a series of articles about the events and movements of those times.  While those times may not have actually “shattered” America, they left a collection of cracks that have grown and expanded to this day.

The United States Government is the oldest and most stable government in the world today.  All of the governments of Europe, Asia, South America and the Middle-East have fallen and risen several times while the USA has stood and prospered.  While many American attribute this to our values and the genius of our Constitution there are other factors that have historically contributed to our stability.

• America has maintained a relatively homogeneous population. While absorbing significant numbers of legal immigrants from a wide variety of cultural backgrounds, America was still expanding in available land, jobs and resources.  There were certainly conflicts, paranoia and prejudices, but it did not truly divide the nation.
• America was generally isolated from foreign influences, religious extremists and political influences and threats. Ethnic and religious hatreds did not migrate into American society as dramatically as they do now.
• America maintained strong values of community, responsibility, self-reliance and patriotism regardless of race, religion or ethnicity. We were Americans first.
• While there were natural inequities in wealth distribution they were not nearly as extreme as they are today. A large, contented and socially responsible middle class still existed.
• America and Americans were not subject to the constant divisive and toxic effects of the internet and social media.

None of these stabilizing factors are true today. Multi-ethnic societies are inherently unstable.  There is no longer an unlimited amount of real-estate, resources or jobs to absorbed even internal population growth.  We are involved with and influenced by divisive and confusing foreign involvements and intrigues. Today’s American is more self-centered, dependency-oriented and less involved in community than any previous generation.  The decades of centralized, big government have replaced responsibility with demanding, demonstrating and blame finding.  The gap between the poor and the ultra-wealthy is disgraceful and growing. The internet now facilitates division rather than unity, conflict rather than discussion and even violence in place of the political process.  Respect for the law and for American values has all but disappeared in many regions.  These are harbingers of future revolutionary developments.

There is a growing number of religious, racial and political elements that are quietly preparing for such a catastrophe.  There is a line in an old movie* about South American revolutions.  The General storms into the presidential palace proclaiming “El Presidente, the rebels are in the suburbs!” to which the dictator says “the rebels are always in the suburbs”. We are becoming more like one of these “Banana Republics”

Effects of Revolutions

With the notable exception of the American Revolution, very few revolutions have ever turned out the way the revolutionaries expected or hoped for.  Ask the Cuban’s or the Russians, or anyone from South America or the Middle East.  While they may start out with high ideals, they usually are co-opted by the most ambitious and brutal participants to create a more corrupt and oppressive state than the one it replaced.  There is an old joke that says that the first thing a successful revolutionary leader must do is kill all of the revolutionaries. If a revolution fails it justifies greater oppression and brutality by the state.

• Revolutions can also degenerate into civil wars that divide the state into warring regions. When this happens, the chances for restoring peace and unity are almost non-existent.
• Wide-spread demonstration can lead to the development of terrorism and even guerilla warfare that plagues the nation and destroys safety and security for generations. The Balkans and the Middle East are prime examples of permanently broken societies and civilizations
• Those who instigate a revolution usually anticipate a quick and clean overthrow. Usually the revolutions are long, divisive and brutal, ruining the nation’s economy and destroying homes, towns and cities.
• Foreign enemies and opportunists insert themselves into revolutions to provide weapons and even “volunteers” to various sides, increasing the level of death and destruction and prolonging the conflict. The longer and more devastating the fighting is, the more power and money they get.

In short: revolution is not a good idea if it can be avoided.

Precursors of Revolution

While conditions appear to be relatively stable as of this date, historically revolutions tend to erupt without much warning when a combination of long simmering disagreements and discontent are ignited.  A few precursors that could set the stage for revolution-like developments include:

• Continued unchecked expansion of violent and non-violent crime leading to a loss in public confidence and trust in the police and further trends towards vigilantes and private security networks.
• Any pervasive economic down-turn generating large-scale unemployment.
• Significant reductions in welfare, social-security, and other benefits.
• Political assassination and violence between political organizations.
• Raids and thefts from armories and gun stores.
• Any extreme shift in government policies either left or right resulting in deprivations, confiscations, or oppressive measures.
• Contested and contentious elections marked by threats, demonstrations and violence.

It is difficult to predict what kind of events will transpire between now and the 2020 elections, but chaos and conflict seem inevitable. It seems doubtful that ether side will accept the results of an election without active resistance.  It is highly possible that there will be more than two parties and that we could have a president and legislature elected without a majority mandate.  Instead of complacent inaction, survivalists should be taking this opportunity to focus on preparing for the hazards of 2019 and 2020.

Surviving a Revolution

Surviving during a revolution can be a tricky business.  You have to cope with the effects of the violence on your basic safety and security while trying to stay on the right side or neutral in the conflict. Sustained revolutionary activities may result in a breakdown in law-and-order, sabotage or cessation of services such as running water, food deliveries, fire protection and medical care.  The fundamental preparedness procedures that permit you to shelter in place or evacuate remain paramount, but defensive and even paramilitary equipment and preparations take on increased importance.  The choices of survival tactics will depend on your political, economic and geographic environment at the time of any uprising.  A few possibilities include:

• You may be able to adopt a neutral position of defensive non-involvement. You do not aggressively take sides but will defend your home and family against any attempted pillaging or violence.
• If your community is predominantly sympathetic to one side or is simply forced to resist threats from a particular element, then you may have no choice but to actively participate in revolutionary or resistance activities.
• If local, state or federal agencies are overthrown or find it expedient to suspend liberties, confiscate property or initiate mass arrests citizens may have no choice except to resist or escape.
• History tells us that revolutions can generate high levels of violence and neighbor-against-neighbor animosity that must be avoided and survived by each person and family pragmatically.

Keeping your mouth shut, your eyes open and your powder dry is always a good maxim for surviving such turbulent times.

Conclusion

While I still regard revolution or revolution-like development as unlikely and undesirable, I can no longer exclude them from the list of “potential” survival threats. My study of history and observation of recent past and current events suggests that our nation is much less stable than in past decades.  If the current trends of divisiveness, violence and discontentment continue the specter of revolutionary activities and even the fall of our way of life must be recognized.  Responsible citizens must resist the temptation to be guided and motivated by media and internet divisive rhetoric and exhortations.  We must do all we can to support responsible law enforcement, and community based volunteer organizations.   But we must also plan and prepare to survive the effects of any kind of civil disorder, sabotage, crime and even revolution that may lie ahead.

More Surprises and the Spiral.

The Subject of our July/August issue was “Surprise Disaster”. Does four major hurricanes and two major earthquakes in the same region in the same month qualify? Other recent American Survivor headline topics included “Severe Weather”, and “Descent into Chaos”. We seem to be right on target with our materials. I was looking at a 1970s copy of our newsletter and the headline was “The Coming Age of Terrorism”. Prophetic. Too bad that so few people read our publications.

The recent multiple disasters verifies our predictions about a disaster to catastrophe spiral. There is no such thing as recovery once the magnitude and quantity of disaster outpaces the resources and economies of the civilization. The emergency management agencies were exhausted. The Red Cross was forced to recruit literately off the street to get help. The public’s ability to provide contributions dwindled as each new demand occurred. State and national governments were forced further into debt. Housing prices are predicted to rise as material and labor goes towards replacing home instead of building new ones. Puerto Rico’s utility companies had already field for bankruptcy before the hurricanes struck. All of the funds from “recovery” and response must come from infrastructure improvements, security and safety agencies and from maintenance of the very systems that protect us from the next disaster. This spiral of more disasters, less capability and a weakening economy is unlikely to take us to a safe and prosperous future.

Distributed as a public service by Live Free, USA

An Overview of Why Personal Preparedness Is Important Today and the Various Levels of Preparedness Needed to Survive Common Emergencies and Future

Introduction

If you are reading this, you have already become concerned about future events and have begun to take responsibility for your own survival and that of your family.  You may be alarmed at the increasing number, variety and severity of “disaster” thought the world and particularly in the United States. This is not your imagination.  Things are getting more dangerous and the infrastructure and the emergency services are starting to breakdown. One disaster often contributes to another.  Who can doubt that the immense costs of the 9/11 attack and hurricane Katrina contributed to the economic collapse.  The shrinking economy reduces funds for infrastructure improvements, safety, emergency services and police; this then sets us up for further attacks and disaster.  The eventual result of these combined and multiplying manmade and natural disasters must be a general world collapse some time in the next twenty to one-hundred-years.                          

The immediate mission for the responsible citizen is to prepare to survive increasingly severe and lengthy emergencies with less and less outside help.  Since these events will strike closer and closer to every family and economic conditions will become more and more challenging, it is imperative that people begin an energetic and systematic program to increase their emergency preparedness and long-term self-reliance while they still can do so.  Furthermore, the children and grandchildren of today must be reoriented from passive dependence to active self-reliance through preparedness training and the acquisition of basic survival skills.  Here are just a few of the scientifically calculated situation that are already in progress as you read this article:

• As the population outpaces resources, basic necessities such as water, food, and fuel will become scarce. At first the famines, droughts, epidemics, wars and massacres will ravage the third-world countries, then it will spread around the world.
• Increased population densities combined with economic decline will mean that floods, earthquakes and storms will cause astronomical death and destruction that will not be recoverable.
• The combination of economic decline and growing populations will result in the collapse of infrastructure and public services in many (if not all) urban a suburban areas.  The failure of water supplies, electrical service, sewer systems, fire and police protection will make crime, riots, and epidemics more and more common.
• The combination of less and less farm-land and shifting climates will ultimately lead to conflicts over food and water sources that could lead to wars.
• International travel, population densities and possible biological experimentation probably will lead to one or more world-wide epidemics that will kill hundred of millions some time in the next few decades. Many scientist calculate that while the population may double or triple by the middle of this century, it will end at pre-1950 levels after starvation, war, epidemics and other events have reestablish a balanced system.
• All of these factors will empower international crime cartels whose “street gang” solders are already in our streets. Desperate people will be easy recruits for extremists and terrorists.  In reaction, there will be great temptations to establish marshal-law, suspend basic liberties and even establish dictatorial governments.
• Exactly how these events will unfold, when they will occur and how they will effect you is impossible to predict, some of these events will strike you and your families in the forcible future.   While there is not much you can do to prevent these complex combinations of man-made and natural disasters, there is much you can do to increase your chances of surviving them and retaining your personal freedoms and values through these challenging times.  Never has the future depended more on what you do today.

The first step to survival is to assess your current situation and level of preparation against what you truly need to survive anticipated emergencies.  Having done that, you can then start improving your situation in an organized and scheduled manner.  To  aid in this process we will establish six levels of preparedness starting with “zero”.

“Level Zero”

Planning to be a victim

The individual or family prefers not to think about “bad things” and has no plans or means for surviving even a “normal” emergency.  These folks are totally depended on the political, economic system for every day-to-day necessity of life. Any disruption will panic them. They are highly likely to be a burden on public services (if they exist) and/or turn violent under sever emergencies. They are a danger to their neighbors and the community and will probably not survive long into a true catastrophic event.  Unfortunately this classification describes a significant portion of the urban population.

“Level One”

Essential

  Even a casual concern for your own safety should put you here! You have a good flashlight, candles, a first aid kit, a few days of food on the shelves, a few gallons of water stashed away and you have given some thought to what you would do in emergencies such as: extended power outages, water supply interruptions, home invasion, fires, etc.. It’s not much, but it’s a start.  If you are lucky you will get through a few short-term situations, but if you don’t improve, you are going to be in real trouble at some point in the next few years.

“Level Two”

Basic

At this level, you are making a conscious effort to prepare for common, short-term emergencies.  You have put up at least 5-gallons of water per person and have a 5-10 day supply of food on hand.  You have invested in several LED flashlights and lanterns and have a crank powered emergency radio. You also have at least one good fire extinguisher and probably a firearm.  You may have a first aid manual and/or “how to survive” book. This is the minimum level for any responsible citizen.

“Level Three”

Responsible & Ready

This is where everyone needs to be ASAP!  At this level you should get through most “normal” emergencies and have a good chance to survive many serious and longer-term disasters.  You will not be a burden to your community and may be able to help others. In addition to your “level two” supplies you will have a 30-day food and water supply. You have a small 72-houre survival pack capable of supplying essential food, water, shelter and first-aid for a few days on the road.  You may have a generator and fuel to run basics (e.g. sump pump, freezer etc.) for 3-6 days and a safe portable indoor heater. You have the ability to purify water, cook food, put out fires and treat minor injuries, and dispose of bodily waste without help.

“Level Four”

Advanced

This level will make it possible to ride-out (at home) or escape from (evacuate) many serious disasters.  In addition to your “level two and three” supplies, you have a fully equipped evacuation pack or “bug-out-bag” capable of sustaining and sheltering you for an extended time. You now have a variety of weapons for home defense, self-defense and hunting.  You have a number of survival books and have at least basic first aid and other survival related training.  You may also have acquired training and equipment to cope with nuclear, biological and chemical hazards. You will have made detailed plans for your own evacuation and may have established safe locations and caches of emergency supplies along that rout. At this level you should be involved with community emergency response organizations and/or preparedness clubs in your area.

“Level Five”

Self-Reliant

This goes beyond preparedness and moves towards a more self-reliant lifestyle.  While the previous levels involved putting away resources from the existing sources for a future need, this level implies being able to generate and use essential supplies from the environment over a long period.  At the extreme it can involve moving to a remote location and establishing a “retreat” with its’ own power supply, gardens, water source, etc.  This may be impractical for most people, but everyone can achieve at least partial self-reliance.  Adding rain barrels, wood stoves, vegetable gardens, solar panels or windmills can vastly improve your long-term survival chances. Developing skill that can be used to supply essentials such as hunting, fishing, sewing, metal working and carpentry. Put away tools and supplies that can be used as trade goods. This will put you in position to survive and even thrive during hard times.

Conclusion

While no-one likes to think about a future of dangers and challenges, an open minded look at current events and recent history leads to the inescapable conclusion that humanity is entering a perfect storm of combined economic, natural and man-made disasters. No amount of preparedness can guarantee ones survival under every conceivable situation, but a systematic and continuous effort to increase ones material, mental and psychological capacity to survive will greatly reduce the chances of serious, injury, lose and death.  The future survival and freedom of good and responsible citizens and their children is dependent on their efforts to become better prepared and more self-reliant.