By Ourselves, For Ourselves: Part 7

The topic of this post will focus on grouping together, also known as ‘Safety in Numbers’.

But first a couple of things:

First up, in Part 5, I wrote about first aid. Since then Doc Russia (an actual doctor) wrote on the subject, specifically the make up of a good first aid kit. Here and here. Go read. An addendum has been added to that post linking to those two posts.

Next, it has been brought to my attention that the ‘By Ourselves, For Ourselves’ posts have been split up in the archives, with the first few posts being there, but not really there.

Parts 1 through 5

Part 6 and on

Now, on to our story.

Last Friday, Ravenwood’s Universe linked to this story which includes a couple of lines about neighbors banding together to stop potential marauders and looters entering their neighborhood during a random wildfire in California.

“The fast-moving blaze not only burned homes and displaced dozens of residents, but also stranded motorists on Route 62 and upset routines in the area. Some residents brandished firearms while guarding their homes.�

“Rumors flew from street to street. On one street, residents formed a militia to prevent outsiders from invading their neighborhood.�

His last line was this truism: “Remember, the government has no responsibility for your safety.�

Which is why I’m writing these.

These folks did what they knew they had to do; gather together their resources and knowledge to help each other out during a time of trouble.

Together, they have to work at making sure that those of ill will do not enter to cause trouble while they do what little they can about keeping their homes from going up in flames.

Call it preemptive vigilantism or call it citizen imposed martial law, but they are doing for themselves, by themselves, what they have to do to save their collective families and homes.

I wrote about gathering up friends and neighbors in Part 3, but after I saw this California story, I felt the need to talk about the importance of it again.

Do you currently know which of your neighbors is trustworthy enough to be charged with watching your family’s back? I bet a large number of folks don’t. I know that I can only currently name one and the only reason for that is he introduced himself the day I moved in to my current residence.

You see, I am not a people person and it shows. Sure, I’ll wave to a neighbor if I recognize them, but I’m not the type to walk up and start a conversation. Because of this series and recent events, I’m working on it.

In my old neighborhood, I knew about half of my neighbors fairly well and the rest well enough for a smile and a wave when sighted, but it took almost seven years. I’ve only been here about two. I’ve been making an effort to start out with the guy immediately to the south of me and after that, I’ll work on the guy north of me. He and the family north of me seem to get along pretty well, so I’m hoping for a two-fer there.

I’ve got the added obstacle of working nights going against me as well. It is difficult to approach someone who knows you work nights when they are, say, mowing their yard because they automatically think that you’re going to ask them to stop. But I am trying.

My neighborhood is a somewhat small and isolated chuck of land. We’re 3/4 of the way up a hill on a small plateau and I’m pretty sure that there aren’t a dozen of us on this pavement spur and that there are less than two dozen within the three city blocks on these larger than average lots built an old farm field in the 60’s.

But I am setting a goal that by this time next year I will know over half of them well enough to be able to strike up a conversation easily. And you should too.

The main problem with talking to neighbors about preparedness in peacetime is that you run the risk of either scaring them and/or having them think you’re a wacko. You need to bring this up gently and your best bet is probably mentioning a recent story like this one out of California.

Not right off the bat of course, but after you’ve had time to get to know the folks. Keep your stuff ready and then when you hear of something like that story or a earthquake or a hurricane or a flood, bring it up in conversation and see how they react. You may be very surprised to hear that they had heard of the story as well and that they’ve been stocking up food or water or whatever for years.

Now like I said, I’m not a people person so this might not be the best example, but it worked for me in my old neighborhood. I had an 80yr old great-grandmother who was a Japanese internee, tell me about her food and water stocks which were larger than mine.

It was shortly after September 11th and I was just going to let her know that if there was trouble that she would be welcome at my place, but she ended up saying that to me.

This doesn’t necessarily apply to the scenario listed in the article, but if there is widespread trouble, does your extended family and/or group of friends know where to meet? Do you have family or friends at least an hours driving distance away? Would you welcome them into your home if things get tough in their area or vice versa?

If say, Seattle got hit with a massive earthquake, which some seismologists are saying we’re in for very soon because of the three in California a couple weeks back, I have figured my secondary location.

Blood is thicker than water and, in general, these are people you have known for years. Granted, you weren’t able to choose some of them, but they’re part of you. You did get to choose your friends, so having one who lives a decent distance away could be a positive in this scenario. Get used to the idea of a possible unexpected extended stay and talk to them about it.

Once you do this, go back and read the first two BOFO posts about supplies. if you are going to welcome friends and family into your place, you’ll want to factor that into your stocks.

The Analog Mom’s house would probably be untouched by something effecting my residence as she is off the fault line and over 60 miles as the crow flies away. That is most likely where I would go and vice versa in say, the earthquake scenario, and I know I wouldn’t even have to call ahead, she’d be expecting me. If I didn’t show up or at least call, she’d be “sick to death with worry about her boys” (speaking of myself and my brother, who I’d have to check on).

My employer would be up and running within the next day or two of a major earthquake (remember, we’re the clean up company) and I could commute to work from her place pretty easily, as could the Analog Wife, until things got back to more normal conditions.

Which leads me to Part 8 of this series: Go Bags

While I would hate to have to leave my “castle�, it is a possibility. In the next BOFO post I will try to put together a bag that can be grabbed in a minute or less but has everything you’ll need for a week or so.

Now go make some friends out of neighbors.