Notes from (Another) Preparedness Conference

I recently attended another preparedness conference and came back with the following high points:

• "Once the infrastructure is threatened, all bets are off" meaning that the Constitution is followed (usually...OK, sometimes), and local, state, and federal laws are followed, and that we all have rights...until the infrastructure of the country is threatened then all of the rights and freedoms we take for granted can be summarily ignored if the government feels that these are a threat to the best interest of the country and its citizens. Scary.
• You know all of the food, supplies, and equipment that you have been carefully stockpiling in an effort to protect yourself and your family in the event of a disaster or when TSHTF? Well, the government can confiscate all of these things if it is in "the best interest of the country". Now in addition to stockpiling food, weapons, and supplies, I'm going to have to worry about how to hide this stuff from the government so they won't re-appropriate MY stuff to themselves and others who did not have the foresight to plan ahead.
• You are responsible for yourself during a disaster. At the federal level, many plans are being made for health care preparedness, law enforcement preparedness, food supply chain preparedness, etc., but when it comes down to it, the little guy on the street is responsible for his own health, safety, and food. Unless you want to be one of the huddled masses waiting in vain for government handouts, you need to be prepared to take care of you and your family's needs.
• Communications is important. Really important. In state and federal disaster planning, communications concerns always top the list. What most planners have determined (after millions have been spent on sat phones and the like) is that the good old fashioned HAM radio will be the communications equipment of choice during a disaster. Cell phones and land lines are nice but generally unavailable after many disasters. Sat phones can not be depended upon 100% of the time. Hand held walkie talkies can be good but are usually jammed after a disaster. The bottom line, and what many people have come to rely on during a disaster is HAM radios. Have you got your certification and equipment yet?

More to follow...