Your SHTF Plan MUST Include Encountering Strangers

It was Tuesday last week and we were on a difficult jeep trail with no cellular service in the middle of nowhere.  The trail was one we found by chance and it was rough and rocky,  as such we aired down the tires and made a slow but steady go of it.  We crossed a few streams down at lower elevation and were probably around 10,000 ft when we came around a corner and saw it: a tent encampment with what appeared to be permanent residents.  We continued up the trail and out of an obscure side trail appeared 3 more vehicles who looked to be hunters.  There we were seemingly isolated from just about everyone only to find out that in fact, we were part of the crowd.  The same thing happened 3 weeks back when we took a couple days to find some isolated camping off of pretty hardcore trails out in the middle of the wilderness and sure enough, people found us.  This was during the week when everyone is supposed to be at work.  Can you imagine a SHTF scenario where EVERYONE is trying to head out to the wilderness / country / that secret spot?

I know what a few of you might be thinking.  You have property 50 miles (make up a number) from your home that is indeed out in the middle of nowhere and you know all your adjoining neighbors, no chance of randoms coming onto your property.  Indeed that is a nice setup but what about along the way?  What if your route is blocked, what if any number of circumstances develop where you cannot make it to your property?  In these instances having that plan on how to deal with strangers is still valid.

The City Folk

They have a plan when the SHTF:  Hunker down until it becomes clear things are heading south and help will not arrive, head to the mountains and / or country.  Some will head out sooner but folks in the city are conditioned to rely on others rather than themselves.  Call 911, where is the National Guard, someone is coming to save us.

Let me put it this way.  Today we made the drive south from our home to hit up some high mountain lakes we know about an hour south of us.  We saw bumper to bumper traffic for literally miles heading the other way, back towards the city.  Now these thousands of folks (it was like that all day I suspect) were out to see the leaves change, imagine them coming out to look for food / shelter / a place to hunker down.  I can almost guarantee you the plan for the majority of folks who live in the city is to head west / south because it’s in the mountains where they will find refuge.  If you don’t live in the mountains, think of the country.

The Risk

For those of us that live out in the boonies, the Golden Horde comes to mind.  Thousands of people both desperate and hungry, many of them armed, committed to finding a better life and comfort for their families.  Many of them will have been good people toeing the line, living within the law.  Yet after SHTF they will be willing to do just about anything to feed their family and needless to say, most will be willing to do the previously unthinkable to keep mouths fed.

For those of us who do live in the country and / or mountains this is a risk that must be recognized and acknowledged.  Sure we might have some MRE’s to barter but what if over the span of 3 weeks 400 people pass through your area of operations desperate and looking for food  / water?  Going to turn them all away?  Going to engage them?  Going to stack bodies on the lawn?  What if a group of 50 in multiple vehicles, all veterans of the previous wars show up asking for shelter and food?  A sniper in a tree might as well be a speck on the windshield.   These are REAL considerations that must be addressed.

If You Live in the Country / Mountains

Your plan must involve accounting for others from the city or surrounding areas.  While it could be a fence and a sign that says “move along” there is no disputing that talent could be amongst those ranks.  So you have your survival group and are armed and trained, what if a surgeon and his family are at the gates or a veterinarian?  What if it’s an expert in outdoor living, or someone who can grow food or understands herbal remedies?  Keep an open mind, have a way to limit access but also categorize and welcome in those who could be of use.

If You ARE City Folk

I suggest moving away from the city, yesterday.  The schools your kid(s) go to doesn’t matter, the local bars and conveniences don’t matter, the proximity to your job doesn’t matter, the HOA you interact with doesn’t matter.  GET. OUT.  That being said almost all who read this who are in the city will choose to remain and I get that (maybe I don’t) for various reasons.  Whatever floats your boat.  I recommend an exit strategy and one that can be executed far in advance of your neighbors.  Quite often you’ll find that help might not be on the way, that roads could be clogged and that gas stations might be empty.   Plan accordingly and God Speed!

The Bottom Line

There are no guarantees.  The most well stocked and armed community could be ravaged by disease.  The least stocked and least prepared family could survive by sheer luck.  Yet with all that in mind, when considering a SHTF strategy and all of the other outside influences one must know that strangers will be a reality.   Whether they are traveling on / across / through your property or you are one of those doing the traveling…there are no guarantees.

I firmly believe that there is no perfect plan, there is no lock tight scenario that one has that is impenetrable.  Keep that in mind and stay flexible, do your best, know others outside of your circle of influence will be involved.