We're from the Government and here to HELP YOU!

Just a quick post on an article that was forwarded to me last evening that really gets me thinking and I thought I should share this with you. Many of us in the prepper, homesteader, survival lifestyle make a lot of sacrifices, commitments, and changes in order to do the best we can for ourselves, families, churches, and communities in whatever way we can. Sadly many times people who make these kinds of lifestyle changes are laughed at, ridiculed, and otherwise treated like a bunch of nuts. Well that is mostly in the past now as it appears that everyone is finally taking note that what many of us who spend a lot of time preaching the gospel of prepper, homesteader, surivivalist are being shown that maybe we weren't crazy after all. Well it appears the government is also now taking note and some cities are now talking about using emergency measures to now seize personal property in the case of emergencies. Well we all have a pretty good idea just how this game will be played and it won't take anything on the scale of a Katrina or a tsunami in Japan to have them knocking at your door. Here is the local article of a city here in Colorado working on the plans for this:

Emergency plans in Louisville raise eyebrows

Now I imagine in some cities, counties, and states they may already have similar measures on the books. I think it sets a very scary precedent and should have us all very concerned regardless if your a preppper, homesteader, or survival minded person. However you can bet that "they" are paying attention and have a good idea who's doors they will come a knocking on as soon as things start to get a little dicey. What will it take? Extended power outages? Civil unrest? A cow farted on the east 40? God knows and I think it really needs to be made known in our cities, towns, counties, and states we are not going to sit quietly while they destroy the constitution of the US, or in fact threaten our lives or steal our property which we have worked so hard and made so many sacrifices to put in place for just such events.

Don't they have disaster plans?
The irony of this whole thing is that all government agencies have disaster plans, shelters, and provisions for such an emergency. If they don't it isn't because they do not have the charter or requirement to do so. Many places over the last 20-30 years have gotten lax, lazy, and have taken funds intended for these programs and scenarios and used it for general spending... IE they stole it! Like everything else they seem to touch they have wasted, squandered, and generally just done a poor job. So now the response is to come calling on citizens in the midst of what they are calling a "crisis", or "emergency" and take from them the very things they will need to endure these types of events. Something needs to be said and done. We have to step up and see how we can get involved in these committees and with our elected officials. They have to understand that we expect them to do their jobs, not form SWAT teams to steal from citizens when times get hard!

Charity starts at home
I encourage everyone to set aside preps/supplies for charity purposes. When the stuff hits the fan as it appears to be unravelling today and people start looking for food, heat, water, and assistance because they didn't adequately prepare we should have something to help with and give. Maybe set aside some 5 gallon buckets that you make up some care packages that has a combination of long term storage items that someone could use. I know many people today do not even know how to use things like wheat, beans, and some of the supplies basics that many of us store for long term so we will have to be there to tell them and show them how to use it. Maybe it is time to make up a flyer or insert that you can put in your buckets to help people understand how to use these items, and of course your contact info if they have any questions. These buckets would be great for family, or neighbors around you that need your help. But at the same time practice good operational security. Don't let on that you have supplies or that there is more where that came from. Generosity can quickly turn into a mob at your door if your do not handle this properly. So think about how you will handle this situation when offering care buckets or packages for people. We need to be smart about it, but we need to do what we can.

Jack over at The Surivival Podcast did an excellent video series on how to make some of these long term food storage buckets. Here are the videos. You can buy pre-made buckets, but they are expensive and probably not as good as what Jack shares here. Of course please check out Jack's show and site at TheSurivivalPodcast.com:








Having Options:
Make sure you have a backup plan or two in place. Unlike the government, we don't condone theft or killing. So we need to make sure that we have thought through the what if's. If they show up at your door and there isn't any way to stop them you will need to make sure you have supplies and preps at other locations. Maybe convince family, or friends not near you to keep a few emergency care buckets for you. Maybe have an alternative location such as a bug out location or survival retreat where you can have some supplies kept. You might even consider caching or geocaching. This is where you take a sealed cache of supplies and take it to a remote location where only you know and bury it or hide it. Just make sure you can remember where it is or how to find it. A GPS could be helpful in these situations. Some folks use caches along planned bug out routes out of their area so that if they needed foods, supplies etc that they know of some places along the way where they can retrieve what they need. Some things to think about. Don't be caught unprepared. We can all do a better job including myself as many of these things I know about, but have not acted upon myself. It is time to think through our Plan B, C, D.

Summary
Like many people who posted comments to the article I posted above I have to agree with the sentiment that they(the government) better bring more than their good looks and a smile when coming to seize my property, supplies, and preps. It is really a sad day when their lack of planning, outright theft, and "we are from the government and are here to help you" mentality is what passes for civilized or even acceptable behavior. Sadly how many towns, cities, counties have already amended their bylaws to include measures like this that didn't get mentioned in the news? Are you living in one of these places?