No matter how prepared we are, supplies and space are finite. Providing for the needs of everyone showing up at our doorstep after the SHTF is impossible, but the question remains who should be turned away and what will you do if they refuse to leave?
How many people could you provide for and for how long? Most of us have only enough for ourselves and our immediate family. A family of four with a year’s supply, taking in just one extra person reduces their stockpile by 25%. Two extras and your down to six months at best. Three extra – you get the idea.
My family knows not to come to me looking for a handout. They are welcome to set up camp at my place if needed, but they know to bring their own food and supplies and to be ready to do their share of the work.
It’s true that there is safety in numbers, but only when everyone works together for the common good of the group. More hands make lighter work but there will be no room for slackers.
The thing with family is they often bring extended family and sometimes even their friends, who may not share your beliefs or work ethic. Should you take them in or turn them away? What will you do if they refuse to leave?
Most people think they are entitled and will feel no remorse or debt while sponging off you, and if you don’t give them what they want, don’t be surprised if they try to take it by force. They may leave but they will come back, possibly with reinforcements.
It’s best to keep your mouth shut and to look as poor and helpless as everyone else. Most people think I don’t have a pot to piss in or window to throw it out of – or even know where I live for that matter. Hopefully, they will pass me by thinking it’s not worth the effort.
In a sense survival is looking after number one, putting yourself first may seem selfish, but sometimes we need to make difficult decisions in order to stay alive. If it comes down to me or them – it’s them.
What will you do when unwanted visitors come to your door looking for a handout post-collapse? Will you turn them away? Or will you pull the trigger if they refuse to leave? Could you live with yourself in the aftermath?
What have you done to prepare for new arrivals who show up at your place looking for a handout? By the way, if you need help getting your preps together then please consider buying a copy of my book – The Prepper’s Guide to Surviving the End of the World, as We Know It: Gear, Skills, and Related Know-How from Amazon.com.
That reminds me; I need to finish digging that hole out back – never know when it could come in handy…
I’m glad I have a few neighbors who are better prepared and willing to combine resources. The others who feel the Cavalry will ride in to save them are on their own. I hate to see a child suffer, but if their parents don’t prepare to care for them, why should I? I need to cache more supplies off-property in case were overrun.
Everyone who has listened to advice from bloggers who speak about the advantages of forming survival groups in advance of a disaster, will reap the whirlwind.
Not 1 in 10 people who are approached about the need for becoming prepared before disaster strikes will make any serious efforts to do so, much less be willing to actually join a survival group. Either the Normalcy Bias (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Normalcy_bias) or a desire to spend their financial resources on other things will affect their decision.
As a result of these unsuccessful efforts to proselytize new converts to becoming members of the preparedness movement, when society melts down, each one of those people will know exactly where to go to find food, and all that they are likely to be bringing to this “potluck” is a knife, a fork, and an empty stomach. “Hello, ol’ buddy, ol’ pal!”
After all, wouldn’t you?
I know that in Shtf, I’ll have to take care of 2 extra people – my dad and his friend. They don’t prep, they don’t believe in prepping, they are delusional. My dad is 80. But, my dad also pays for what I’m short in my account, thus he is contributing to my prepping.
Next year, I plan on building better pantry, bookshelf and closet units so that we have what we need where we need it. I’ll have places to hide things too.
Will I turn people away? My outdoor space looks “poor”. I don’t think anyone is going to come to me, looking for food. They know I don’t have it. My brother and his family will have to make do. His loss, not mine! He is self-centered, thinks he is always right. Well, let him sit in his own bed that he made for himself. I’m not concerned with their welfare.
Church – 99% do not prep. 99% do not care. 99% think that prepping is not necessary. They can’t see the writing on the wall. Some are seniors who survived rationing and think that “we can all make do” – people buy too much stuff anyway. They don’t face reality. We aren’t living on farms anymore. I don’t know what I’ll do here. I will be expected to go to church. I will be expected to help out in some fashion. We’ll see. I’ll do whatever the Lord tells me to do and I’ll trust Him. He told me to prep which is why I found this site in the first place. This is why I do prep what I can. I just have to get water and then after that, buy some augason farm stuff (for long term, as I have FIFO done.)
Tough choices to be sure. I live in a small town, can hit most of my neighbors houses with a rock on my dead end street. Two neighbors are X-military and one is a deputy sheriff. Hopefully between the 4 of us we can maintain some order and protect our homes and the widow 2 houses down.
When it comes to resources though, I dont discuss prepping I’m like most of you, dont want anyone to know what I have. It’s not nearly enough for us so I need to through out the overly expired stuff and buy more food items, etc.
Happy prepping to everyone!!