#32 Don’t expect backup

Most of us plan for natural disaster-type emergencies with the assumption that we only need food, water and shelter for a few days before life gets back to something like normal. Load up a few cans of tuna and boxes of crackers, a five gallon jug of water and a few changes of underwear. That’ll be enough to ride out the worst until the cavalry arrives. Right?

Considering what I’ve seen over the past month, I’d call that dangerously optimistic. There are still people in the Gulf Coast region without electricity after Hurricane Ike made landfall in the US two weeks ago. It took three weeks for power to be restored to most people after Hurricane Gustav hit. Surviving that required more than two pairs of socks.

What’s more, if the recently averted (if not still pending) financial crisis could have brought an end to the cash economy as we know it. If that happens, all bets are off. I assure you, if my paycheck wasn’t going to be worth anything, I wouldn’t show up to work, and I bet neither would anyone else.

Whether the global climate change cataclysm arrives more like a lamb (hurricane) or a lion (complete financial global meltdown), there will be no quick resolution. In fact, we can’t count on anyone or anything coming along to save the day. No cavalry to ride in bearing food and water. No FEMA trailers or blue UN tarps. It will be you and yours on your own.

Fill up your cataclysm kit accordingly. Learn the skills you’ll need to survive on your own. Get fit, and prepare yourself for political upheaval. Just don’t call for backup.

Lamb photo: soxophoneplayer

Lion photo: Chris Eason