Is this a place to discuss community preparedness and what individuals can due to become involved in that? Seems to me that individual survival is a dubiously valuable thing if the society falls apart. I kind of like living in the 21'st century and would rather not be thrust back into the 18'th permanently.

OK, so I took a look at the Survival Forum™ Rules and Courtesies page and the survivalist definition page. From those it would seem that I was probably mis-understood. <br><br>I have been reading this site for the past month and receiving a great education. I have also run accross many of the "survivalist" sites in my pursuit of education. <br><br>I understand that this is not one of them. My question is this: <br><br>What Now? <br><br>Now that I have a PSK in my pocket, a Vehicle kit in the trunk of my car and my wives car, gas masks for the whole family, 3 months of food and water in the basement (really - I do), a leatherman wave on my hip, a decent library including both the SAS wilderness and SAS urban survival guides in my bed table - I feel fairly well prepared. (Yes I have read the books and taken the tools out into the wilderness and used them - Thanks to all who reviewed them here, you save me much time and expense avoiding the toos of lesser quality. No, I don't yet have firearms). Should my family encounter another blizzard such as the one that put us in a blackout for 2 weeks in '96 I expect we will thrive somewhat better than before. Should we encounter something else we will certainly soldier through as well as any. <br><br>What Now? As a new Amateur radio operator I look forward to participating in the Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/pscm/sec1-ch1.html ) and helping out during whatever happens that I am prepared for. There are also programs sponsored by local and federal emergency management agencies such as the Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT http://www.fema.gov/emi/cert/prog.htm ). Which started by the LAFD in response to The Whittier Narrows earthquake in 1987 . <br><br>During this time of heightened anxiety and threat it is reasonable for people to participate in making the society more resilient. Whether it be by joining the Red Cross http://www.redcross.org/donate/volunteer/ and becomming better trained and prepared to handle medical emergencies for their neighborhood or by setting up emergency communications through Amateur Radio or something else there are many ways that individuals can help the community to become "Equipped to Survive". This is usually more a matter of skill, education, and awareness of the threats, natural and man-made, neutral or hostile than it is of gear but should still fit within the topics of "survival equipment and techniques" when viewed from a community perspective.<br><br>For the totally Gear-Inclined, a review or discussion of various SAR tools or EMT tools or Ham Radios and experience with such would be helpful.<br><br>If I am too far off topic with this let me know. I won't be offended, nor will I go-away. Even without a discussion on this particular topic as I have framed it, this forum is very useful to me and I will continue to enjoy participating in the topics expected.<br>

Your efforts fall into our urban Survival section and are appropriate. The truth is, people are stumbling around in this subject. We are used, we expect the bodies of our government to handle these events and crisis. I think connecting with your immediate friends, neighbors and family is the appropriate next step. There are 'neighborhood watches' for crime, why not emergencies?

>>there are many ways that individuals can help the community to become "Equipped to Survive". <<<br><br>While this isn't strictly wilderness survival, I think it's a good area to discuss in this forum. Thanks for bringing it up. The concept of disaster preparedness is definitely a part of this site and community disaster preparedness seems like a legitimate part of that.<br><br>For me, I think that starts by knowing your neighbors and having good relationships with them. Knowing what their needs are and what their capabilities are. When a community faces a disaster, your immediate neighborhood is going to be your primary resource for cooperation with other people. Hopefully you will be working together and sharing tools and supplies among each other. That is going to be easier if you know each other beforehand.<br><br>As I get to know my neighbors, I would want to know who has a chainsaw, a generator, medical training, etc. Which neighbors are medically fragile? Who is going to need special help? Ideally you could encourage your neighbors to be more prepared by storing food, tools, supplies and knowledge, although that is going to be a hard sell to most people.

What about the National Guard? There is an Air, Army, Marine, and Coast Guard. These people do not just fight foreign wars but also help in local / regional / national distasters.<br><br>In the past 10 years I have built dams, dikes and pulled stranded flood victems from thier homes in '93, brought food, water, and power to those stranded by the ice storm in '96, and of course assisted with the WTC disaster.<br><br>It is a great way to recieve training, help your community, and still work a regular job and come home to your family every night!

Thanks for reminding me. The National Guard is of course the original chartered organization for protecting our communities and I would be quite interested in any stories you can share on how The National Guard has made a difference in local emergencies and your role in that. Also feel free to put an enlistment plug in. I myself have passed the elegible age for that. (unless they have raised it above 41).<br><br>Doesn't it feel good to be part of the solution when an emergency strikes rather than just one of the casualties of shock and terror if not actual physical loss.

I sure agree with u Chris, and after what happened there in the U.S. it must be easy to organize that.<br>I live in the south of Sweden and unfortunatelly emrgencie preparedness as being going from very good to almost null.<br>I think it is of big importance organizing neighborhood emergency plans.

A number of solutions have been offered, many by you.<br><br>Organizing a CERT team would probably help. Even if the CERT team takes all the training and decides they do not wish to respond, at least you have a number of people who have basic first aid and some basic cribbing and stabilization skills.<br><br>Amature Radio clubs are used during emergencies. I worked with some during the state wide floods of 99. The Red Cross has response teams. Some of these people set up and man shelters, others provide canteen services for responders and other tasks.<br><br>As mentioned by others, you can organize a neighborhood program. <br><br>I joined a local rescue squad. It taught me skills to protect my family and allows me access to help the community. The obvious drawback is that I am obligated to respond even when it is inconvienent for me. The fun parts include getting to push the siren button and make the lights flash.