Civil Unrest

This is a re-print from our most recent weekly Personal Safety Newsletter.  Yes, you too can sign up and get them weekly, hot off the presses!  Click here to see our Newsletter Archive.
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Things are tense.

The economy is in a shambles. Unemployment is at historic levels.

It seems like you can't turn on the TV or read a newspaper article and not hear about a home invasion, or a shooting or some sort of violent act happening. We've got people flying planes into government offices. It's all a bit unreal.

But these are all the actions of individuals or small groups of people. What happens if that expands?

The reason this topic is being raised at this time is because of what is happening over in Europe. The causes of their civil unrest could become a reality here in the near future.

* We all remember the riots in Paris over racial, religious and economic issues. They seem to pop up every summer since 2005.
* Iceland essentially became insolvent in 2008, and the normally placid citizens rioted.
* Greece has been having riots over economic conditions since late 2008. The last one occurred earlier this week.

And the civil unrest is spreading. From the Times of London online edition (2/24/2010) -

A general strike is planned next month in Portugal after a public-sector wage freeze, while Spain is witnessing growing unrest over plans to raise the retirement age. In the eurozone's most indebted countries, collectively known by the trader acronym PIIGS (Portugal, Italy, Ireland, Greece and Spain) the young are struggling to find work, the middle-aged are having their earnings squeezed and the old will see pension and benefit cuts.

What might be the reaction here in America if similar economic constraints are placed on us? Might things happen a bit more quickly here in near-bankrupt California?

How will you as an individual cope with being in the middle of some sort of civil unrest - riots, protests or a general break-down of civil society?

Remember, "mob mentality" is very different from a normal personal interaction. People, as a group, will sometimes do things they would never consider doing as individuals.

Things you can do to stay safe -

1. First and foremost, keep alert. Pay attention to the newspaper and TV and listen for mention of planned demonstrations. Unless you're planning on being part of the demonstration, try and keep away.

2. Listen for events or actions that might spark a violent protest. What high-profile trials, elections, concerts, speeches or other public events have the potential to erupt into violence? Stay away.

3. Always, always, always have your personal defense tool with you. Surprises do happen. Be prepared.

If you find yourself caught-up in the middle of a violent demonstration -

1. If the police have given orders to disburse, follow their instructions to the letter. Because of the large numbers of people, they will have no time to identify who is a participant and who is an innocent by-stander. Limit your chances of arrest, being tear gassed or worse by complying with their orders. Now is not the time to take a stand!

2. If you are the object of an attack, attempt to take cover. Do whatever you can to place large objects or structures between you and the attackers. Be careful, though, not to "paint yourself into a corner" by choosing a location with no secondary means of escape.

3. Be prepared to defend yourself. Hopefully, you will have your defensive tool with you, but grab anything that is available. You may be injured, but you must have the mental attitude that you will not give up until the danger has passed.

Next issue: Know Your Limitations

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Here's an article in my favorite magazine - Backwoods Home - that takes a bit different approach and perspective.  Great information.

Accept The Challenge

We have no way of predicting if or when, "the balloon will go up" - there are just too many variables to consider.  The best way you can protect yourself is to stay alert.  Watch for signs or events that could lead to things spinning out of control.

If you have your preps in place, and have both an Evacuation plan and a Shelter-In-Place plan, you will be in much better shape than most other people.  If not, make those preps and plans NOW.  The tensions mentioned in the article aren't going away any time soon.

Image Credit:  Rama
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Copyright 2010 Bison Risk Management Associates. All rights reserved. You are encouraged to repost this information so long as it is credited to Bison Risk Management Associates. www.BisonRMA.com

College Protests Coming: "Day of Action"

This past Saturday, our post was on Civil Unrest.  I hope you read it, as all of us Californians will get a real-world chance to practice the plans and concepts this coming Thursday.

It seems that on Thursday of LAST week, there was a bit of civil unrest in action at the UC Berkeley campus.  A group of college students had spent some time in a dance that evening.  At the end of their night, "more than 200 people spilled out of a dance party on campus and trashed university buildings and smashed windows along Telegraph Avenue."

I guess things got a bit out of hand -

Forty-five officers from several law enforcement agencies responded, including the Berkeley and Oakland police, and the California Highway Patrol, officials said. At least two people — current and former students — were arrested.
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By the time police arrived they found someone had cut a chain on the fence surrounding Durant Hall, a former library in the center of campus that is closed for renovations, and hung a banner reading "March 4" above the entrance to the building, a reference to Thursday's statewide "Day of Action" to protest education budget cuts.

So, what is Lesson 1?  A riot can start out of seemingly thin air.  These people were coming from a dance, and they're suddenly trashing the campus.  The riot lasted for 5 hours!
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Lesson 2 is, Sometimes You Get Advanced Warning.  What is this March 4th, statewide "Day of Action"?

That's the day that tens of thousands of students, teachers and others are expected to attend protests. Among the plans:

— UC-Santa Cruz students, teachers and workers will gather at both entrances of the university in an effort to shut down the campus. The school's March 4 Strike Committee says it has gathered 1,700 signatures of people planning to cancel or walk out of class.

Great. A riot with 200 people took 5 hours and 45 police officers to quell.  What's it going to take if this ONE demonstration spins out of control?

Crowds outside the building continued to swell, and by about 1:30 a.m. Friday, people began to clash with baton-swinging police, throwing bottles, setting trash ablaze and breaking several windows on Telegraph.

Remember, this isn't just happening throughout the UC system.  It is going to happen at every State college, private college and Junior college in the state.  I'm guessing that the police on every college campus in California will be putting their own Civil Unrest plan into practice.  Add to that the CHP and local police, and I'd bet that there will be little hesitation on their part to "keep things in check".
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Ahh, to be young and du..., well, wide-eyed. Here are some of the strike organizers talking about why they're doing this -

"What the government and the UC are trying to do is shut the doors to the campus," said Mary Virginia Watson, a graduate student and strike organizer. "One day of inconvenience is worth it."

Really? It's the UC system's plan to go out of business? You really think that's what is behind the cuts in the funding that is sending you to college for free?  There's clearly not an, "Economics and Common Sense 101" course taught at any of the UC campus'.

"Let us again make a point in the struggle against the cuts, layoffs, fee hikes, and educational segregation in California," wrote 21-year-old Joe Tran, a SJSU senior,...

Way to go, sport! Don't EVER miss a chance to play the race card. At a minimum, it will get your name in the paper and in a couple of blogs. Well done!

Oh, BTW, that card is WAY over-played. No one buys it any more. See, "The Boy Who Cried 'Wolf'" for more information.  Sorry.

Accept The Challenge

We know what's coming.  We know when it's coming.  We know (generally) where it's going to be.

Your plan on Thursday should be to stay at home, if possible.  At least here in the Bay Area, it seems like we have some sort of a JC or State College Extension on every corner.  At a very minimum, stay away from any college campus in the state.  Let your friends and family know what's going on as well.

If you take public transportation, and it passes by any college, find another way to where you're going for that one day.  If you must be out-and-about, have some sort of personal defense tool - such as pepper spray.

Assume you're going to get gassed, and tuck a bandanna or N95 mask into your purse/backpack/brief case, along with some eye wash solution (not contact lens solution).

Having a portable radio with you wouldn't be a bad idea as well.  You might want to keep an eye out for your local high schools, too.  Many times, these types of protest have a tendancy to "catch fire" there as well.

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Copyright 2010 Bison Risk Management Associates. All rights reserved. You are encouraged to repost this information so long as it is credited to Bison Risk Management Associates. www.BisonRMA.com

Preps: Restricted Travel

As we've stated before, in our view, Emergency Preparedness needs to focus more on limiting negative impacts to disasters than on preparing for specific events (earthquake, hurricane, etc.).  We discussed that philosophy and those Twelve Impacts in an earlier post.  You can see all of the items in the series to this point by clicking the 12 Impacts label category.

We're going to drill down into one of the twelve impacts:  Restricted Travel.
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The ability to travel when, where or how you want is restricted.

This can come in many forms. It can be the result of a natural disaster destroying a bridge or roadway, and making that route impassable.  Here in Northern California, we saw the Bay Bridge shut down after the Loma Prieta earthquake in 1989. This bridge carries 280,000 vehicles every single day between San Francisco and the East Bay (for perspective, the Brooklyn Bridge carries 137k vehicles each day).

Look what's happening right now in Europe.  A volcano in Iceland has thrown so much soot and grit into the air, it is not safe for air travelers.  It has significantly shut down Heathrow Airport, the busiest airport in the world.  All of the airports in Scotland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland were shut down completely. The airports in Brussels, Amsterdam and Geneva were all shut down as well.

It can be the result of a government mandate, such as travel restrictions being imposed as the result of a pandemic or Shelter-In-Place orders. During times of civil unrest, governments regularly impose martial law or curfews, making it illegal to be outside of your home - even when traveling by foot.

Roadways and public travel sources can also become overburdened in the event of mass evacuations in anticipation of certain events, such as hurricanes.  We've all seen the images of bumper-to-bumper highways as people flee an upcoming emergency event.

Gasoline for your automobile may not be available. There may be disruptions in the delivery mechanisms throughout the country, or if there is a widespread power outage, the pumps might not be able to pump the gas. And there is always the possibility of shortages caused by political unrest in the oil producing regions of the world.

Possible Impacts:

• Work may become inaccessible - Depending upon the depth and breadth of the emergency, your livelihood may be in jeopardy.
• Medical treatment - For serious injuries or other medical emergencies (births, dialysis treatments, renewals of prescription medicines, etc.), may be inaccessible.
• Safe retreat locations - Particularly those along heavily-traveled roadways may be inaccessible.
• Family and friends – Others that are in danger or in need of assistance may be inaccessible.

Accept The Challenge

The keys to ensuring you are not negatively impacted by travel restrictions are to act quickly, and have multiple alternatives.  I strongly suggest reading the series of posts we did on Evacuation Plans (here, here and here).

Understanding events that surround you is a key being able to act quickly. 

Do we have the likelihood of severe gas shortages as were felt in 1973?  Gasoline supplies seem very stable right now, but skirmishes erupt in the Middle East very easily, and a new one could dramatically affect supplies.

Is there the likelihood of curfews being put in place as they are currently in Philadelphia?  If you were under 18 and living in Philly, getting to a night job would now be illegal.

If a natural disaster such as an earthquake, tornado or hurricane devastated the roadway infrastructure in your area, would you be able to replenish your life-sustaining medications and procedures (dialysis, etc.)?

Remember PACE - Primary, Alternate, Contingency and Emergency.  Identify the items for which you MUST travel, and plan for multiple solutions to any of the impacts which may come your way.

Image courtesy of Shinoda28107

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Copyright 2010 Bison Risk Management Associates. All rights reserved. You are encouraged to repost this information so long as it is credited to Bison Risk Management Associates. www.BisonRMA.com

Preps: Evacuation Plan, Part 3

This is a part of a series of  "drill downs" for the Disaster Impacts you can encounter if an emergency occurs.  Click here to update yourself on the entire list of twelve, and our philosophy on Emergency Preparedness.  All of these drill-downs will be categorized under the 12 Impacts label listing.

Click here to see Part 1 of this post.

Click here to see Part 2 of this post. 
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In yesterday's post, we talked about determining your modes of Evacuation Transportation, your Evacuation Destinations and Mapping Evacuation Routes.  Today we'll wrap up this series of posts with Voluntary Activation of your Evacuation Plan.
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You've built your BOB.  You've made and verified your Evacuation Checklist.  Your feet, plane, train or automobile are primed for the journey.  You have multiple Evacuation sites and tons of maps to get you there.

Great.  How do you know when the balloon's gone up, the flag's been raised, or the warning flare has been fired?  How do you know when to "pull the trigger," so to speak?

When do you leave? The short answer is, "As early as possible - when it makes sense."

In late March, we did a post on setting up information flows and filters to alert you to trends which might have an impact on your life ("Tripwires").  From the epilogue of the post -

Being able to anticipate trends and changes is a great skill to develop.  It takes time and knowledge to do it right.

I can't stress enough how important the quality of the data you are using for your analysis can be.  You should have multiple sources for every piece of information.

"Trust your gut" regarding the validity of the data.  Does it make sense?

Try and rely on your own analysis of the raw data.  Professional analysts and forecasters usually will have some sort of an agenda.  "The world is ending, so buy gold...from my company,"  for instance.

Use technology whenever possible to enhance your data gathering.  We've written about Google Alerts in the past - they are free to set up, and can provide you with a wide variety of information.

A commenter noted that they think of it in terms of a thermometer.  As the temperature rises, certain events take place.  I like that analogy a lot.

Using whatever tools you are most comfortable with, you need to establish some sort of warning mechanism.   As I noted in the Tripwires post, I really like Google Alerts.  They go out and search the entire Internet for you - looking for strings of information on whatever topics you choose.

Read and analyze that information regularly.  When a certain threshold has been met, you must act.  This would not be the time to second-guess yourself.  This tripwire or temperature level was determined while you were cool, calm and collected.

So, knowledge of what types of events might lead you to enact your evacuation plan before an emergency actually occurred?

Some things to watch might be:

• a significant weather event (hurricane, tornado, snow- or ice-storm), 
• a significant natural event (a tsunami or volcanic eruption), 
• localized civil unrest (a big politically-charged jury verdict turned riot or a large, potentially violent demonstration about government handouts subsidies being curtailed),
• distant unrest that could spread to your area (as happened with the Rodney King riots, which spread from LA to 12 other cities nationwide),
• food, gasoline or other daily necessity shortages which appear to be getting progressively worse
• the sudden, poorly reasoned or justified posting of armed, government officials in abnormal locations such as malls, public schools... oops, banks, churches, airport waiting areas... oops or city parks,
• the enactment of laws which restrict your Constitutional rights (in the name of public safety), freedom of travel or access to your own money.

Each of these items are very different, but they all may indicate a reason for you to leave.  Your level of comfort and your ability to evacuate with sufficient supplies will drive your decision to act.

For instance, let's say there was increasing talk amongst our government officials about commandeering your retirement funds, as Argentina did in 2008.  It might be prudent to establish plans for what you would do if this talk started moving towards action.

You might halt contributions if a congressional hearing were held on the subject.  You might transfer your funds (and pay the hefty early-withdrawal penalties if you're too young) to a non-retirement account if a Retirement Nationalization bill were proposed in congress.  If "the heat were turned up" and sanctions were proposed for people that acted as you did, you might cash-out all of your accounts, buy "beans, bullets and band-aids" and head for the hills!

Also, remember to include Executive Orders (on the federal and state levels) into your analysis.  They may require you to "leap frog" interim steps and move forward with your plans more rapidly than originally anticipated.

The point of this is, you sat down, you established triggers and you acted.  It's important that you put a great deal of thought into your triggers and actions so your likelihood of success is maximized.  "Tweak" your assumptions and review your plans on a regular basis as new sources of input become available.  But don't become a victim of "Analysis Paralysis" - reviewing the subject to such depths of detail that you miss the bigger picture, and fail to act when you are able.

Accept The Challenge

The likelihood of needing to voluntarily enact your evacuation plan because of sudden social or economic changes is (IMO) remote. Still, these types of changes can be the classic, "Low Probability, High Impact" events.  They are crushing if they occur.

You risk nothing by establishing these triggers.  If you have taken sufficient time to analyze the impact of your actions at each step in your process (the good AND the bad), you will have lost nothing other than uncertainty.

I think one of the most depressing things I can think of would be to be stuck in a long line of cars streaming from the city, when my triggers had told me to move out 1 day earlier, but I chose not to act.  The only thing more depressing would be if I were stuck, and no longer able to evacuate.

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Copyright 2010 Bison Risk Management Associates. All rights reserved. You are encouraged to repost this information so long as it is credited to Bison Risk Management Associates. www.BisonRMA.com

Back To Basics: Self-Preservation

I had originally written an article regarding how my precious metals biz partners and I had a meeting where we discussed some potential problems if George Zimmerman was found not guilty.  Riots, burning, blah, blah, blah.

This piece went into a very eloquent rant on how Sharpton and Jackson had whipped up these racial tensions.  How CNN piled on by still calling Zimmerman a 'white Hispanic' just to keep race in the game.  How our own government - the Department of Justice, no less - had spent tax dollars to hold anti-Zimmerman rallies.

Seriously.

It was all very good and passionate.  And utterly useless.

Pointing out that race-baiters are racist is like saying rotting fish are stinky.  Duh.

So, I'm going back - again - to the reason I started this blog:  To discuss practical steps that can be taken to extend your life and your personal well-being.  Everything from defensive strategies and tactics, to food preservation and production, to wealth preservation and growth.

In short, things you can do to make your life better - understanding that government and socialist people/organizations at every level will try and counter-act your actions.  Your self-sufficiency is seen as a threat to their power structure.

Now, that last bit is not paranoia or conspiracy theory claptrap.  When TSHTF, what is the first thing the government does?  It clamps down and takes away your ability to defend yourself. Your ability to defend yourself is seen as an unacceptable risk to the police/national guard/military that are in place.  See New Orleans and Boston for specific examples.

When you preserve and store food, own guns, store ammo and equipment, you are painted as a potential terrorist.  See DHS publications on, "How to spot a terrorist".

When you save your wealth in cash or precious metals - un-trackable and un-taxable by the government - you are again assumed to be doing illegal, terrorist acts, and your assets are easily and legally seized.  If you publicly manifest any modicum of wealth, you are vilified in the malleable press as a "One Percenter" who wants nothing more than to suck the marrow from the bones of emaciated children.  Still living children, of course, that can only be saved from your evil clutches by the government and their socialist friends.  For a price.
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Let's get down to brass tacks.

Since it's at the top of mind, let's talk assumptions, goals, strategies and tactics for the upcoming Zimmerman verdict.  This format can - and should - be followed for any potential civil unrest event which has the potential to affect your life.

An aside:  I once read a great definition of the difference between strategies and tactics.  It went something like, "Strategies are accomplished above the shoulders; tactics are accomplished below the shoulders."  Strategies are your plans, tactics are what you do to fulfill your plans.

Assumptions:  Zimmerman is found innocent.  Black "social justice" groups and individuals will attempt to make good on their promise, "This time we’re doing it right… This time we’re not burning down our communities. This time we’re going out to Whitey’s suburbs and burning down HIS community. We’re going to make Whitey feel the pain.,"  and  "If they don't kill Zimmerman Ima kill me a cracka".  While most of these threats have been centered in Florida, similar sentiments are being voiced in virtually all regions with significant black populations.

Goal:  To remain physically unharmed and financially/monetarily unaffected.

Global Strategy:  The safest location is to not be where violence is present.  Whenever possible, Evacuation is preferrable to Shelter In Place if there is any likelihood that violence/civil unrest will be in your vicinity.

Strategy 1:  Increase situational awareness.

Tactic 1:  Once the case has gone to the jury (as is now the case with the Zimmerman trial), keep a radio or television on at all times, and listen for the announcement as to when the verdict will be read.  This is the minimum lead time you will have to activate either your Evacuation Plan or Shelter In Place (SIP) Plan.

An item for consideration:  Time can be one of your greatest allies in keeping yourself safe.  Last minute, "Throw a plan together" actions will almost always end up lacking in some way.  You'll forget something, or do too much of another, thereby wasting resources.

My family has Evacuation and Shelter In Place plans that can be activated at the drop of a hat.  But, since I knew the Zimmerman trial was winding down, I made some very specific changes to our plans about a week ago.

Strategy 2:  Determine proper time to activate Evac or SIP plan

Tactic 2:  Activate plan.

For those of you without plans, here are links to a 3-part Evacuation Plan post, and a SIP plan:

http://bisonrma.blogspot.com/2010/04/preps-evacuation-plan.html
http://bisonrma.blogspot.com/2010/04/preps-evacuation-plan-part-2.html
http://bisonrma.blogspot.com/2010/04/preps-evacuation-plan-part-3.html

and

http://bisonrma.blogspot.com/2010/02/shelter-in-place.html

Another thing for consideration:  "Superbowl Syndrom".  This is when the winning team riots and destroys the joint in celebration.  In this case, a guilty verdict may result in the same actions being taken as if it's a not guilty verdict.

Accept The Challenge

Seriously, if you don't have evacuation and SIP plans, you aren't prepared at all.  You may have stored tons of food, ammo, guns, gold, seeds, water and barter items, but if you don't have a way of having access to these things after a sudden emergency where you must evacuate, you are just wasting your money.

If your intent is to never evacuate, what is your plan if your property is overrun by 50 or 100 rioters or roving bands of theives?  Are "all eggs in one basket"?  If not, how are the stored/cached items protected?  How will you access them?

Think these things through NOW, not when you're (literally) under the gun.

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Copyright 2013 Bison Risk Management Associates. All rights reserved. Please note that in addition to owning Bison Risk Management, Chief Instructor is also a partner in a precious metals business. You are encouraged to repost this information so long as it is credited to Bison Risk Management Associates. www.BisonRMA.com

Did Ya Know???

Did you know that Backwoods Home Magazine will take payment in silver?

We’ve been getting everything from shiny silver eagles to green silver dimes since we started taking silver coins for subscriptions and any other products we sell. Not as many people have taken advantage of the offer as I had hoped. The price of silver has been all over the place, but I think offering a subscription for a dollar in face value for silver quarters, or a single silver dollar, is a pretty good offer for us to stick with.

Very cool.  This is how I'll be renewing my subscription.
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Did you know that we're saved?  Unemployment is down to 9%.  Green shoots a-plenty - Woo Hoo!

Tell that to the 300k people that have been unemployed for such a long period of time that they're no longer considered unemployed by our government.

Yeah.  About that...

Apparently, Uncle Ben Bernanke didn't get the "happy talk" memo, and had some downright negative things to say.

Until we see a sustained period of stronger job creation, we cannot consider the recovery to be truly established," he said.

No s&@t, Sherlock.  How 'bout you pass that little bit of wisdom along to the White House and the Government Scribes (the press corps)?
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Did you know that the first lady is starting a new portion control push, aimed at restaurant?.  Gotta manage every part of our lives, right Michelle?

Don't let them eat cake.  Look at the White House Super  Bowl menu.

- Bratwurst
- Kielbasa
- Cheeseburgers
- Deep Dish Pizza
- Buffalo Wings
- German Potato Salad
- Twice Baked Potatoes
- Snyders Potato Chips and Pretzels
- Chips and Dips
- Salad
- Ice Cream

Why isn't is all twigs, sticks and gluten-free biscuits?  Because some pigs are more equal than others.  The Elites apparently have the ability to moderate their own food intake, but need to step in and manage the rest of us poor, ignorant saps.
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Did you know that yesterday was the first time in a week that the people in Egypt have been able to get money out of their banks?  Yeah, there was a week-long banker's holiday in Egypt.

Egyptian authorities opened some bank branches in the capital, Sunday, for the first time in a week, and customers lined up to withdraw money. But, the government ordered the banks to limit the size of withdrawals and limited opening hours.

Their stock market is still shut down after it cratered when the civil unrest first started.

How much cash do you have in case some natural disaster or civil unrest were to hit your hometown?
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Do me a favor and take the Facebook quiz at the top of the page.  I'm trying to decide if it makes sense to incorporate this into my business.

I'm very sure that a social media tool such as Twitter is a waste of time, but I think Facebook might have a place.  Lemme know what you think.

Thanks.

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Please click our advertiser links. They pay us so you don't have to. A click a day is all we ask!

Copyright 2011 Bison Risk Management Associates. All rights reserved. Please note that in addition to owning Bison Risk Management, Chief Instructor is also a partner in a precious metals business. You are encouraged to repost this information so long as it is credited to Bison Risk Management Associates. www.BisonRMA.com

Is This How It Begins?

Two Saturdays ago, when I got back from a gun class, my wife mentioned to me that a young black guy had been shot by San Francisco PD.  It was something about this kid not paying a bus fare, and the cops just shot him down.  He was unarmed and just gunned down in the street.

My first thought was, "This is going to blow up."  Police shootings have been getting a lot of press, and killing a young, black kid for not paying a bus fare was unconscionable.

Then some more information started coming out.  First, it seems that the kid wasn't unarmed.  The police said they were returning fire as the kid was running from them.  The problem was, there was no gun.

Oops, yes there was.  There was video of some guy picking up a gun at the scene, and reports that the police had recovered it.

Oops again: the video of the guy picking up "the gun" doesn't look much like a gun.  It could just be the angle of the grainy video, I don't know.  And the gun is still officially unrecovered.

Now, the SFPD is saying their officers didn't even kill the guy.  He was hit with one bullet in the leg (sounds like it was a through-and-through shot) and with another in the back of the neck that then entered his brain.  The fatal wound was caused by a .380 caliber bullet.  The SFPD is VERY carefully pointing out that it was not fired by a department issued gun, as those are all .40 cal.  I've yet to hear anyone ask if any of the pursuing officers had a personal back-up gun chambered in .380....

The police investigation is saying that the fatal shot was self-inflicted.  From the back of the neck?

Now,  the kid wasn't some innocent fare skipper.  As it turns out, he had recently been paroled from a Washington state prison.  For child rape and child prostitution.  He was also wanted for questioning in the murder of a 19 year old pregnant woman.
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So, on one hand, the SFPD has either rid the world of a maggot that would have likely continued in his evil ways - or he did it to himself.

On the other hand, this is very disturbing to me.  The idea of someone committing suicide by shooting themselves in the neck just doesn't pass the smell test.  Who else but the SFPD would have shot him?

And where's the gun?  The object that was picked up was done so right in front of an SFPD officer (go to Youtube and search "Bayview shooting" to see all the different "takes" on what happened).
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Now for the point of this post - I think this is the kind of event that can very easily set things spinning out of control.  Ye olde Civil Unrest.

A few days after the shooting, there was a large demonstration that resulted in over 40 arrests.  The Chief of police then held a meeting with people from the neighborhood, and he got shouted down, and ended up walking out.

People are pissed.  And anxious.

If you listen to a number of the Youtube videos, at least in this one predominantly-black, poor, crime-riddled SF neighborhood, there is a LOT of anger towards the police, the media, Jews and whites.  Lots of anger.

Right or wrong, it's there.
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Tinfoil hat or just connecting the dots?  I was listening to the radio coming home late last week, and the subject was the recent crack down on illegal aliens by the administration.   Earlier in the week, they had done a number of raids and arrested a bunch of illegals.

A black guy called in and was saying this was a bad idea.  The host was saying that the jobs taken by the illegals were the kinds of jobs that were historically taken by teenagers, and black teenagers have a horrible unemployment rate.

The black guy said he didn't care.  He said that right now, we didn't need a NEW class of unemployed (the illegals) who had an additional problem in that they wouldn't have the money to get back home.  He said he believed you'd just end up with a bunch of very pissed off, very poor people that would erupt into violence.

Hmm, sound familiar?
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Both the caller and the show host were discussing how surprised they were that THIS administration was taking THIS action at THIS time.

I must admit, I was surprised as well.

Is it just a coincidence that the administration is taking actions that could lead to violence, right at a time when they are getting their butts kicked at the budget table, their popularity numbers are in the tank, and the economy is in a shambles?  If the angry blacks and the angry Hispanics erupt at the same time (the two groups have no love lost for each other) does this give the administration cause for some sort of martial law?  Or is that getting too tin-foily?
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I've mentioned in the recent past how my gun classes are all getting sold out, and how they are trending towards husband/wife or whole families taking the class.  Perhaps this has got me being a bit more sensitive to this subject.

Also, there have been a rash of robberies at coin shops, banks, grocery stores and other businesses.  One of the coin shops was our primary competitor across town.  Their front door was kicked in at 5am and the bad guys grabbed over $2000 in silver.

I was shocked to learn that every piece of their inventory isn't put in a safe each night, and that they apparently don't have a camera system.  We empty every display case each night, and leave them lit so the bad guys can see that there's nothing to take.

Accept The Challenge

Keep on your toes.  We've got politicians on both sides of the aisle screaming at each other in public over the public debt deal.  Tensions are high.

The administration sends their stooges on TV to tell everyone how great things are, and how we've "turned the corner," yet they trip over their tongues when asked for specifics.  We're getting weary of their lies.

If this debt thing isn't extended, and cuts start happening to social programs, I fear we're going to have spontaneous violent outbursts, followed by staged large-scale demonstrations by unions, community organizations and similar socialist organizations.

If this happens, figure banks, police stations, state/federal government buildings and similar places to be the early targets.  If the unrest is extended, any business with anything of value is a target - grocery stores, Big Box stores, jewelry/coin shops, gun shops, liquor stores, etc.

You know the drill:  Have some cash, have some guns and ammo, have some food and water.  Be prepared to be mobile.  If a riot sweeps thru your area, be ready to move at a moment's notice.  Can you live out of your car or truck for a few days while things blow over?  If your only plan is to "bug in," that's not much of a plan.

Flexibility and adaptability are the keys to survival, and that's the primary goal, right?
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Copyright 2011 Bison Risk Management Associates. All rights reserved. Please note that in addition to owning Bison Risk Management, Chief Instructor is also a partner in a precious metals business. You are encouraged to repost this information so long as it is credited to Bison Risk Management Associates. www.BisonRMA.com

Increasingly Violent Protesting

People, all over the world, are turning violent against their governments.  It is kind of amazing to see.  In the past, these types of violent demonstrations tended to be localized - limited to a single country or state.

Now, it seems, everyone is getting into the act.

As I noted in Civil Unrest, people all over the world are not pleased, to say the least.  The "gravy train" has pulled out of the station - big social programs - and the recipients of those programs are showing their displeasure.

We've seen it here in America with our Day Of Action riots.  Europe has been having these riots since 2005!  The European press understands the cause-and-effects going on here and how these government "band aids" won't fix these problems:

It won't stop Greeks from rioting, however. Just as in the UK, US and everywhere else, ordinary workers can't see why they have to swallow pay cuts, tax rises and cuts in services as a result of incompetent politicians and mendacious bankers.

What has been somewhat alarming, though, is that the demonstrations have begun to morph from large groups demonstrating in unison, to individuals targeting specific government departments or officials.  Here are just a few of them:

March 2010 Man Opens fire on Pentagon
February 2010 Plane flown into IRS building
January 2010 Man opens fire on Federal building in Las Vegas
January 2010  Ohio police officer ambushed
December 2009 Pope attacked on Christmas Eve
December 2009 Two Washington State officers ambushed
December 2009 Italian Prime Minister Assaulted
November 2009 Four police officers killed at Washington State diner
October 2009 Two Police officers in Seattle shot in their car
May 2009 LA City council Attack

And these don't include the Islamic terrorist attacks at the recruiting depot in Arkansas, the mass murder at Fort Hood, and the Panty Bomber from Nigeria. These types of things used to happen very rarely.  Now, it's (almost, but not quite) becoming commonplace.  I would not want to be a government official right now. 

Another thing to consider is that the large-scale demonstrations tend to be more frequent and boisterous in the summer.  If you think about the things our government has told us they will be doing in the very near term - raising interest rates, for one - and combine that with things they most certainly will have to continue - cut more services, especially at the state level - it could be a very violent summer.

Accept The Challenge

Expect trouble.  If nothing violent happens, you're no worse off.  If you go in without a plan, you could be in some serious trouble.

I will be attending as many "Tea Party" events as I possibly can this year.  I will not allow these violent protesters take away my right to speak my mind.

I also hope to attend some Open Carry protests in my area.  Again, simply because the exercise of my Constitutional rights might make someone "uneasy" is not a valid reason for me to give them up.  I simply won't do that.

Still, I won't be foolish.  At every event I attend, I will pre-plan at least two, but more likely three escape routes.  I will make sure that the number of people that are behind me and at my sides is as limited as possible - I won't be front row, center, at the rallies!

At the Tea Party rallies, I will have multiple pepper spray canisters with me.  This is the best I can legally do in this state - at this time.


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Copyright 2010 Bison Risk Management Associates. All rights reserved. You are encouraged to repost this information so long as it is credited to Bison Risk Management Associates. www.BisonRMA.com

They Have Everything To Lose

The events that transpired yesterday, I think, will be the final, defining "shove" towards what will become a very violent and perhaps bloody summer.

I was watching the Talking Heads going over this this morning.  The liberals were crowing, the conservatives were morose.  While I watched this, two thing struck me.

The first was that our country has not seen Americans getting off their butts, and going to either the local headquarters of their representatives, or actually down to the halls of congress and raising hell, in a very long time.  People were going nuts this weekend!

And they were roundly ignored.

In fact, I can say I can never recall in my entire adult life any occasion - with one exception - where people went down and told our representatives to vote against something, and the elected officials went against the wishes of the people.

That one exception has been for anti-war protests. 

If any readers want to understand how important this issue is to many Americans, think about that.  This law will make formerly apolitical people become VERY political.

The other thing that struck me was the impact that the passing of this legislation will have on most average American families, and how they'll react.

Think about the last really large, mass protests this country had:  The civil rights protests of the 1960's.  These protests were primarily attended by people who had, in general, not been treated as equals in our society.

They correctly figured that our Constitution said that everyone in America was equal, they were Americans, and they demanded their rights be upheld.  They had been at the bottom of the socio-economic ladder for so long, they figured that by protesting and risking beat-downs and jail they had nothing else to lose.

What we have today is the other side of that economic coin.  The people now out protesting have everything to lose.  They are seeing all that they have worked to achieve and obtain, is gradually being taken from them by laws written by people who are supposed to protect their interests.

This isn't some theoretical exercise.  It is now very real.  One-sixth of our economy will now be directly run from Washington, D.C.

They see a law in which the government will tell them how they must spend their personal, after-tax dollars.  They see a law with a provision for the hiring of over 16,000 new IRS employees whose entire job will be to ensure these personal funds are spent appropriately.  They see a law that is perhaps the most blatant, grotesque transfer of personal wealth in the history of our country.

And they're not pleased.

There WILL be violence this summer.  Too many middle-of-the-road, never-get-involved Americans see they are going to be significantly, negatively impacted by what is going on.  Many of these people are either out of work, know one or more people that are out of work, or have had their take-home pay seriously reduced.  They are already feeling the pinch, and this law is going to take more of their already limited funds.

They're not buying what's being sold.  The Tea Party protests of last summer are going to seem like quaint and quiet walks in the park compared to what will happen this summer.  Government officials know this as well, as do anti-Tea Party folks.

I've read a number of recent news articles and blog posts on The Crossing of the Rubicon.  I think most of these are correct.  A line has been crossed and unpleasant events will result.

Moody's, the debt rating service, once again has stated there is a likelihood of civil unrest as well (they first said this back in January) -

"Growth alone will not resolve an increasingly complicated debt equation. Preserving debt affordability at levels consistent with AAA ratings will invariably require fiscal adjustments of a magnitude that, in some cases, will test social cohesion," said Pierre Cailleteau, the chief author.

"We are not talking about revolution, but the severity of the crisis will force governments to make painful choices that expose weaknesses in society," he said.

The students that have held protests regarding tuition increases and service cuts, are ramping up for more protests, including one today that is planned to be non-violent -

One way to protest education cuts is to block classroom doors, shut down campuses and hurl torches at a chancellor's house. All have been tried recently by students angry at rising tuition and declining quality of California's higher education.

Then there's the approach thousands of community college and California State University students plan to take today in Sacramento.

"We will be respectful, not disrupt class, and work with our administration," said Lee Fuller, a delegate to the Student Senate of the California Community Colleges, which is sponsoring what they've dubbed the "March on March."

I wish them luck.  Honestly.  I think it helps to bring to light the obscene growth we've seen at all levels of government which are simply unsustainable.  Something has to give, and I think we're just seeing the first cracks in the levee.


Accept The Challenge

So how do we take this likely outcome and move it to our personal preparedness plans?  Of the 12 Impacts that can result from an emergency, these, I think, will be the most heavily impacted -

Personal Safety:  The safe suggestion would be to tell everyone to stay home and watch what happens on TV.  I'm not going to suggest that, NOR am I going to suggest you join in the protests.  This site is all about personal responsibilty - make the decision yourself.

If you're going to participate in any of these protests, understand that violence can be projected from fellow protesters, provocateurs or by government security forces.   Be prepared to defend yourself, while ALWAYS having a number of avenues of escape.  There is little you can do from a jail cell or intensive care unit.

Assume that, for at least short periods of time, you won't be able to be "out and about" - 

Financial:  Short-term - have at least a few days of expenses readily available in cash.  Assume your credit and debit cards will be useless.  Long-term - work to reduce your tax profile.  'Nuff said.

Food and Water:  Most protests will most likely not affect water delivery, but stores might be looted.  In the LA Riots in the 1990's, it took 6 days for order to be restored, and much longer before any stores would have been re-stocked.  Have two or three weeks of food, at the very minimum.

Medical:  Assume hospitals and emergency services will be strained and you will need to provide for yourself.  You may need to be self-sufficient with regards to prescription medications, medical equipment and routine medical procedures (which may be required to sustain your life, such as kidney dialysis).

Transportation:  Early in an emergency, assume that there will be limited access to gasoline for your car.  If you absolutely must drive your car, be sure you have sufficient emergency supplies safely stored at your residence.  Public transportation may be reduced or eliminated for periods of time.

Mental Health/Spirituality:  There is always the possibility of some sort of martial law, or more likely, a curfew.  You may be forced to spend long periods of time inside your home.  Plan to provide your own entertainment and spiritual ministrations during these periods.


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Copyright 2010 Bison Risk Management Associates. All rights reserved. You are encouraged to repost this information so long as it is credited to Bison Risk Management Associates. www.BisonRMA.com

Reaping What You Sow

It seems they have a bit of a problem in Chicago.  People are dying at an alarming rate.

Is it cancer?  AIDS?  Bird flu?  Some exotic flesh-eating illness?

Nope.  They're shooting each other. [Hey!  I thought guns were banned in Chicago...]

What's their solution?  Bring in the National Guard -

Two state representatives called on Gov. Pat Quinn Sunday to deploy the Illinois National Guard to safeguard Chicago's streets.


Chicago Democrats John Fritchey and LaShawn Ford said they want Quinn, Mayor Richard Daley and Chicago Police Supt. Jody Weis to allow guardsmen to patrol streets and help quell violence. Weis said he did not support the idea because the military and police operate under different rules.


"Is this a drastic call to action? Of course it is," Fritchey said. "Is it warranted when we are losing residents to gun violence at such an alarming rate? Without question. We are not talking about rolling tanks down the street or having armed guards on each corner."

Why not?  Clearly, if there were tanks rolling down the street, and a machine gun nest at every intersection, you'd be safe as can be.  Why do half measures, when a full-on military occupation would be so much more effective?

Idiot.

This is simply more of the uber-controlling Illinois government getting its comeuppance.  They've incented their citizenry to become dependent on the good graces of the government.  Free housing.  Free food.  Free medical.

Times being tough, the free stuff just isn't cutting it any more, or not as much is being given out.  Crime skyrockets as a result.

The government of Illinois has further deemed that there is no need for the compliant citizenry to protect themselves.  Guns are all but banned, except for the police, so no one has the means to protect themselves.

And look what that has gotten them.

Accept The Challenge

We preppers live by the credo of Personal Responsibility and Self-Sufficiency.  That is a foreign concept to so many people.  They've become wholly dependent upon their keepers.

Sadly, I fear that calls for National Guard troops will become much more commonplace.  I've done a number of posts on how to prepare for Civil Unrest.  I think "the cork is going to pop" this summer and next, and it won't be pretty.

Maybe Chicago is going to be a Petri dish for governments around the country to observe how to handle large-scale disruptions.  You're going to have the Tea Partiers out protesting about taxes being too high (among other things) and the State Dependents out protesting that they're not getting enough free stuff.

Oil, meet water.

Throw in Immigration Reform, Cap-and-Trade, VAT programs and whatever else rolls along, and you've got the makings for an interesting summer.

Get prepared.

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The Summer of Our Discontent

Things are heating up all over the world.

The lid is blowing off in Canada.  Anarchists are being arrested left-and-right for turning peaceful protests into violent mob scenes.  So far, more than 500 have been locked up, a portion of which are peaceful protesters or simply people watching the mess and getting swooped up in a police dragnet.

Bangladesh is rioting because of the "misrule and failure" of their government (hmmmm).  Chinese workers are striking.  Young people in France are protesting because the government has told them their retirement age is going to go up.   We already know what's been going on in Greece.

Here in the good old US of A, we have had buckets-o-protest over Arizona's immigration laws.  The law goes into effect on July 29th.  Expect to see MORE protests ("National Day of Non-Compliance").

In fact, starting tomorrow, there is a "30 Days For Human Rights" deal leading up to the big crescendo on July 29.  They have a calendar on their site, but it's empty, so I've signed up for their email updates.  Should be interesting...

We're seeing protests against BP for the oil spill (great images of protest signs).  So far, they look non-violent, but I know that if I lived on the Gulf Coast, I'd be quite bent out of shape even if I weren't in the oil or fishing industry.  BP and the Federal Government have really screwed this one up quite well.

The BART cop trial is expected to wrap up very soon - perhaps going to the jury as early as this week.  As I've said before, if he's not found guilty of murder - rightly or wrongly - the protests will be wide-spread and very violent.

More than a year later, emotions still run high.

Oakland police and city leaders fear the possibility of violence when a verdict is announced.

Last week, the city's Police Department simulated a riot to help officers prepare for unrest. Meeting areas are being set up for residents to peacefully express their feelings about the verdict. And preachers have agreed to urge calm.

"Whatever the verdict, it's sure to raise a lot of emotion. It touches an issue that's very deep in the community," said city spokeswoman Karen Boyd.

A spokesman for the Los Angeles Police Department said special preparations were in the works for any post-verdict crowd gathering outside the downtown criminal courts building, but he declined to elaborate.

"We are not going to go into any sort of detail on our planning other than to confirm that we are working with court security and are prepared to handle any gathering of crowds outside of the courthouse, when a verdict is returned," said Lt. John Romero.

Accept The Challenge

Have you got an Evacuation Plan (Part 1, 2, 3) and Shelter-In-Place plan?  Unless you're one of the lucky few that live out in the boonies full-time, you need to consider each of these over the next few months.  Tighten them up, review your evacuation routes, be sure your BOBs are complete.

Don't end up a victim!

Obviously, review your Safety and Security plans as well.  A big part of that (should be) safety awareness.  Knowing or being able to anticipate problems by following the news or the Internet on potential "hot spots" will take you a long way in staying safe.

Remember:  The best way to avoid an emergency is to not be there!

Photo Credit:  REUTERS/Mark Blinch
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Copyright 2010 Bison Risk Management Associates. All rights reserved. You are encouraged to repost this information so long as it is credited to Bison Risk Management Associates. www.BisonRMA.com

In through the nose, out through the mouth...

Sorry for the unannounced absence, but I had to decompress a bit from the daily lies and crap in the news.

TARP handing out $3 trillion to non-US entities.  Federal budget "slashing" chest-thumping.  Libya lies. Kinetic Military Operations?  Really?

And have you seen what's going on in Afghanistan with the Florida Koran burning?  The stone-age idiots are calling for the preacher in Florida to be prosecuted.  Our "leaders" are giving credence to these calls.  They say that these actions are putting our soldiers in danger.

What the hell?  Do they really think that the acts of some publicity-seeking preacher are pissing off Afghans more than, oh say, the 100,000-plus troops we have occupying their country?

Or are they just sucking up to Muslims while discussing throwing an American's right to free speech under the bus?
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I've got a question for you:  Have you been seeing an increase in the number of cops out giving speeding tickets?  My drive from home to the PM shop is about 60 miles or so each way.  Each day, I see a minimum of 5 or 6 CHPs skulking around blind corners with their radar guns.  It used to be a rarity, now it's rare NOT seeing one.

I'm to the point where I'm wishing that the safety shield on the back of the radar gun has a leak, or the emitter was put in backwards by some trusted union worker.

One of my brothers just got bagged, and I'm sure it's only a matter of time before I get hit.  I will not be a polite and respectful "subject".  I think I'll be more along these lines....

What burns my butt is how this has turned into a grotesque tax collection system.  The ticket costs, say, $30, but after court fees, court security fees, court reporter fees, scratch-my-ass-right-there fees, blah, blah, blah - all costs you pay even if you don't go to court, BTW - you're looking at several hundred dollars per ticket.

Yet no one does anything.
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[I consider myself a small-L libertarian.  I'm a jack-boot fiscal conservative and a tree-hugging hippy social liberal]

Traditionally, "conservatives" have been on the side of the police.  I think a part of that has been because conservatives have generally not been "inconvenienced" by the police.  They follow the law.

But a radar gun can't tell if you're a conservative or a liberal.  It just knows the light started flashing, and another revenue hog is ready for the slaughter.  If you're going 1 MPH over the limit, you've broken the law, and the state has the "right" to dig deeply into your pockets.

Traffic laws are much less about public safety than they are about revenue generation.

I think this conservative/LEO "friendship" is slowly but surely beginning to rot away.  It will be interesting to see if this deteriorating relationship will come to a head at the same time the police are handling the upcoming social unrest from the Dependent Class when their hand-outs stop being handed out.

How might they react when both the left and the right are simultaneously tossing rocks and bottles?
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I have long recognized that there is nothing I, as an individual, can do to really effect what the pinheads are doing in Washington and Sacramento.  In my town and county - yes - but not statewide or nationally.  I usually point at and mock the actors, and then make plans to minimize the impact on my life.

And that's what I've been doing.  I've got a bunch of posts queued up for this week on plumb gold, silver testing, sprouts and evaporated milk, and the walkie talkie test results.


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Copyright 2011 Bison Risk Management Associates. All rights reserved. Please note that in addition to owning Bison Risk Management, Chief Instructor is also a partner in a precious metals business. You are encouraged to repost this information so long as it is credited to Bison Risk Management Associates. www.BisonRMA.com

Normalcy Bias

This is a new term for me.  I knew "it" existed, but didn't know it had a name.  From Wikipedia - please read the whole definition -

The normalcy bias refers to an extreme mental state people enter when facing a disaster. It causes people to underestimate both the possibility of a disaster occurring and its possible effects. This often results in situations where people fail to adequately prepare for a disaster, and on a larger scale, the failure of the government to include the populace in its disaster preparations. The assumption that is made in the case of the normalcy bias is that since a disaster never has occurred that it never will occur. It also results in the inability of people to cope with a disaster once it occurs. People with a normalcy bias have difficulties reacting to something they have not experienced before. People also tend to interpret warnings in the most optimistic way possible, seizing on any ambiguities to infer a less serious situation.

 It's the Pollyanna Syndrome.  When I first read that definition, I thought of my mom, bless her heart.  She's up in her years, and has no desire to even approach the idea that things might not be all Green Shoots and fluffy kittens.  She's comfortable now, and that's how things will stay.  Period.

She can't even comprehend of the idea of going down to Safeway and not being able to pick up some coffee and a bit of candy.  Something special for one of her Old Ladies Bridge groups.  Maybe a little splurge and pick up some prawns and a filet.

The idea of her IRA, Social Security, pension and annuity becoming worth-less is simply inconceivable, in the truest sense of the word.


I guess it's the opposite of the Chicken Little syndrome.  Perhaps that's what I've got.  No one wants to be a doom-and-gloomer, but to consciously ignore what we see happening around us is, well, disingenuous.

I remember during Y2K, I was called a Pollyanna by some because I fairly shouted at the top of my lungs that I knew nothing significant was going to happen when the clock struck midnight.

But that belief was grounded in fact and experience.  I was the CIO of a small bank at the time, and I had run hundreds of tests - myself.  I had participated in dozens of simulations with other banks and processing centers.  We did everything in our power to get the computers to seize up.  Couldn't do it.

If something major had occured, I would have been shocked beyond belief.

What we're going through now, and what I think is coming is, I think, as equally grounded in fact and experience, if not history.

I guess there's always the possibility that by purposely devaluing our dollar it could help to drag us out of our economic tailspin.  I guess by burying ourselves in an unrepayable national debt and unfunded liabilities, we could end up more prosperous.  It's never worked before - in the entire history of the world - but we could be the first.

It could be true that ObamaCare will save us money by increasing the cost, but I just don't see how.  I'm sure that when the government stops or curtails payments being made to the Dependent Class for food, housing, clothing, spending money and college, there may not be civil unrest and riots.  Like those we've been seeing throughout Europe over the past few years since austerity became their new buzz word.

It could all turn out just peachy-keen, hunky-dory.  I just don't think so.

So I prepare.  I practice.  I store food.  I store water.  I save money.  I reduce debt.  I buy precious metals.  I learn new skills.  I make plans.  I make back-up plans.

I evaluate.  I estimate.  I read.  I write.  I store data.  I listen.  I absorb.

And I pray to God I'm wrong.

I would like nothing more than to have a party in 10 years with the rest of my "prepper-freak" friends where we dig out our caches and laugh our asses off about how wrong we were.  "You bought HOW MANY rolls of toilet paper?!"  How we missed this one by a country mile.

"It is natural for man to indulge in the illusions of hope. We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth, and listen to the song of that siren till she transforms us into beasts...For my part, whatever anguish of spirit it may cost, I am willing to know the whole truth, to know the worst, and to provide for it." 
--Patrick Henry

I think I'll take the same road traveled by Mr. Henry.

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Copyright 2011 Bison Risk Management Associates. All rights reserved. Please note that in addition to owning Bison Risk Management, Chief Instructor is also a partner in a precious metals business. You are encouraged to repost this information so long as it is credited to Bison Risk Management Associates. www.BisonRMA.com

Shelter In Place

We're not quite half way through posting about the 12 Impacts you should plan for in your preps.  As we've stated before, in our view, Emergency Preparedness needs to focus more on limiting negative impacts to disasters than on preparing for specific events (earthquake, hurricane, etc.).  We discussed that philosophy and those Twelve Impacts in an earlier post.  You can see all of the items in the series to this point by clicking the 12 Impacts label category.

At this mid-point, we're going to take a little bit of a detour, but a very closely related one.  With any kind of sudden emergency, you will have two immediate actions:  Evacuate or Shelter In Place.  These are handled by the use of very simple checklists - one for each location you might find yourself during an emergency:  Home, Work or One The Road.

Today, I'll cover Shelter In Place (SIP).
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If an emergency occurs, you may need to independently make the decision to evacuate or SIP, or the local authorities may issue orders one way or the other.  Regardless, you're going to be under stress.  Having your actions pre-defined by the use of checklists can help ensure nothing, "falls between the cracks" - important actions are not missed and needed materials are not forgotten.

Generally speaking, a SIP emergency can have three broad causes - some sort of a toxin is in the air (a poisonous gas or chemical release, smoke from large fires),  some sort of safety emergency has happened (civil unrest, fugitive searches) or a sudden weather-related event is occurring (tornado, etc.).

For instance, this past weekend, we had a SIP issued while authorities searched for the people responsible for a shooting near our home.  Since I heard the gunfire (all 20+ shots), our SIP plan kicked into place before we received the official notice.

What SIPs have in common is that they are generally short in duration - usually measured in hours, not weeks or months.  We recommend, though, that you assume it will last a couple of days, and prepare accordingly.

The SIP at Home Checklist:

All Emergencies:

1. Move to your "safe room".  This is a room or safe area near the center of your home, on the lowest level possible.  It must have the ability to receive radio waves so you can get news reports and notification of the SIP status.  Ideally, it will have two ways in and out - preferably no windows.  You may need to evacuate and one exit may become impassible.
2. Grab your SIP bucket (more on this later)
3. Grab your Specialty Medical kit (more on this later)
4. Grab your Bug Out Bag, (you may be required to evacuate at some point)
5. Grab 5 gallons of water (assumes a family of 4)

Toxic Air Emergency

1. Turn off air conditioning or central forced-air heater.
2. Seal doors, windows, electrical outlets and air ducts of safe room with sheets of plastic and duct tape.
3. Turn on radio to news station

Safety Emergency

1. Lock all doors and windows. Close all window blinds and curtains.
2. If a CIVIL DISTURBANCE such as riot, turn off all lights in your home to make it appear empty - and less likely to be attacked.
3. If a FUGITIVE SEARCH, such as the police pursuing a wanted criminal, turn on all internal and external lights to make it appear occupied.  They are most times looking to hide, not move towards light.
4. Arm all external home perimeter alarms (be sure NOT to set any interior motion detectors if you are not going to stay in your safe room).
5. Load and otherwise make-ready all defensive weapons.

Weather Related

1. Board up windows - if present - in Safe Room.  All materials - plywood, fasteners, tools, etc. - should be pre-positioned in the safe room.

Note 1:  Of course, if at all possible, have all of these supplies pre-positioned in your safe room.

Note 2:  The lights on/off issue is a contentious one, that you must decide for yourself.  During a fugitive search, would having the lights on make the criminal less likely to go towards your home, as they are trying to hide in the shadows?  Or will it draw them towards your home, in hopes of taking hostages?

Note 3:  There is also some contention regarding entering your safe room during a riot.  Some contend that your home may be ransacked or burned to the ground around you.  These are both certainly possible.

Historically, riots have occurred in the commercial districts of cities.  Think about the 1992 LA riots or the more recent riots in Oakland surrounding the BART police officer shooting a passenger.  Businesses were destroyed, not homes.  Residential neighborhoods are generally along the route to the riot, and don't take the damage that commercial areas take.

Both items - lighting and your location in your home during a riot - are personal decisions YOU must make.  What we're pushing for is that you consider the options and make your plans NOW, not during the stressful  emergency.

Note 4:  The average person inhales and exhales 14 times a minute.  The average volume per breath is 0.5 liters.  A 12x12 room with 8 foot ceilings has 32,621 cubic liters of air (12 x 12 x 8 x 28.317).  This is theoretically enough air for 4 people for 19 hours.  In practice, of course, this is not true, as the exhaled air is primarily CO2, which would begin displacing the air in the room, and eventually kill the inhabitants.

My personal rule-of-thumb would be to not remain in the room for more than 4 or 5 hours without an air exchange.  You need to make your own calculations and "trip-wires" for when you would evacuate the room.

Addendum - Note 5:  Obviously, if you have sealed your safe room against outside air, DO NOT light any flames for cooking, warmth or relaxation (cigarettes or pipes).  Aside from the fire danger, you will rapidly consume the available air, while simultaneiously filling the room with whatever exhaust is coming from the combustion.
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SIP Bucket Contents

What	Why
1 - 6 gallon lidded bucket	To hold all SIP supplies and to act as your emergency toilet
5- Emergency "space" blankets	4 are for use as blankets for warmth, and one is to be hung in a corner to provide privacy for the make-shift toilet
1- bag pine bedding shavings	For the toilet between uses
4- 3600 calorie survival bars	To be eaten if hungry
4- packs of moistened baby wipes	Toilet use and general hygiene
2-100 ft rolls of duct tape	For securing plastic sheeting and privacy blanket
2- BLACK plastic sheets	To secure around doors, windows and air ducts of safe room.  Black to keep light from "leaking" outside
1- Dynamo powered radio	To keep abreast of developments.  Dynamo powered so you don't need to rely on batteries
1- Dynamo or shakable flashlight	For light.  Dynamo or shakable powered so you don't need to rely on batteries
1- Standard first aid kit	First aid
1- Pair of scissors	To cut duct tape and black sheets for air ducts
3- 33 gallon trash bags	Besides holding trash, too many uses to list
Playing cards, toys, games	Entertainment during SIP - especially important if you have children
Self-defense weapon	Including ammunition if it is a firearm.  Ensure safe storage guidelines are followed, especially if children are present in your home

Other optional items:

1. If you live very near a chemical plant, power plant, industrial/manufacturing facility or a rail line, consider adding gas masks to your kit.
2. If women/girls of reproductive age are in your group, include feminine hygiene items in your kit.
3. If you have babies in your group, add formula, bottles and disposable diapers to your kit.

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Specialty Medical Kits

As with any preparedness issue, your list must be customized to your lifestyle.  You or your family members may have special medical needs - diabetes supplies, colostomy bags, anxiety medications, wheel chairs, asthma inhalers - be sure to include them in your kits.

For diabetics, your All Emergency portion of the list might include grabbing an ice chest, filling it with ice, and grabbing your insulin supplies.

If you have home dialysis equipment, consider housing it in your safe room and doing your treatments there.

Accept The Challenge

Take this list and customize it for your own circumstances.  Do this now, while you are able to think and act clearly.  Be sure all of your family members know where the list is located, and where the various buckets and kits are located.

Also take the time to develop similar lists for Work and One The Road.  You never know where you'll be when an emergency occurs.

For work, your SIP kit and plans may be very rudimentary.  If your employer does not have a plan, YOU should consider what you would do in an emergency situation.  Is there a safe, secure area you could move to?  A restroom, supply closet or somewhere similar?  Don't allow yourself to become a victim simply because your employer has not developed a plan.

While On The Road, incorporate as much equipment as you can into your Get Home Bag.  Many of the items are dual purpose.

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Copyright 2009 Bison Risk Management Associates. All rights reserved. You are encouraged to repost this information so long as it is credited to Bison Risk Management Associates. www.BisonRMA.com

I've Just Gotta Ask...

I've been spending a good deal of time with our family preps as of late.  I'm one of those guys that will never be satisfied with his preps or systems - I'm always tweaking and adjusting.

While I'm not a big conspiracy theory guy, I seem to be seeing  a lot of stuff that points to TSHTF in February or March of 2010.  Martial law.  Crop failures.  Gun seizures.  Economic collapse.

This constant drum beat has me worried, so I've stepped up my pace of prepping.

Still, I've just gotta ask:  Where are the facts? I see lots and LOTS of blog posts and predictions, but I find little with any factual basis for the timing.  I now worry I'm getting sucked into a false sense of urgency.

Don't get me wrong.  For instance, I believe our past and present federal spending practices - printing money or borrowing to pay for more and more social services - IS going to destroy our economy.  You simply cannot continue to print-and-spend without dire economic results.  Inflation, hyper-inflation, etc.

I believe that when/if hyper-inflation occurs, there could very easily be civil unrest that could result in martial law and gun seizures.  I'm continuing to store food, cache equipment and purchase precious metals.  I'm fine-tuning our plans.

But why in February or March?  Why not later this month?  Why not February of 2011?

Where is the evidence?

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A recent example:  There is a post that is now VERY widely circulated which says the US Northern Command is in the midst of a huge build-up of personnel on US soil.  One million soldiers.

Is this realistic?  The US has a total of about 1.5 million TOTAL service members, spread across 5 branches of service, and currently in over 800 bases world wide.

Where are they putting all of these soldiers, Marines, airmen and sailors?  We already have nearly 900,000 military members stationed in the contiguous United States.  Are they now ALL going to be assigned to Northern Command or is this a "new" one million troops (which we don't have)?   Will the 850,000 National Guard members be thrown into the mix?

Also consider that this is every type of service member, from accountants, cooks, supply-chain and maintenance personnel, to combat troops.  I've read it takes between 8 and 10 support personnel for each combat troop or pilot.

This story fits very nicely into many people's perception of the current administration.  But is it realistic?  Personally, I'm more concerned with the militarization of our police departments than the military being used for domestic disturbances.
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I'm not trying to dissuade anyone from getting ready for ANY type of disaster - natural or man-made.  Hell, personal preps and responsibility are the entire purpose of this blog and my business!  I just think it behooves us to ensure our preps, plans and actions are based upon facts.

Most plans have, "trip wires" which are events that cause certain parts of our plans to go into effect.  Without evidence and facts, we will find ourselves "going off half-cocked" day in and day out.

That is a waste of time, energy and resources.


Accept The Challenge

Question everything!  I'd suggest questioning reports that fit into your type of thinking with even greater scrutiny.  Don't fall into the trap of only hearing what you want to hear.

Insist on facts.  Insist on projections based upon facts.  Insist on multiple, independent sources.  Don't get lulled into believing reports and projections that fit into your belief system unless they are substantiated.

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Copyright 2009 Bison Risk Management Associates. All rights reserved. You are encouraged to repost this information so long as it is credited to Bison Risk Management Associates. www.BisonRMA.com