Understanding Preparedness - Loss of Comforts of Civilization

Sweden recently issued a "Prepare for War" booklet to all Swedish households.  In it, they ask the rhetorical question What would you do if your everyday life was turned upside down? They go on to say "In just a short time, your everyday life can become problematic." 

Problematic? Really? For the scenario the Swedes seemed concerned with, a civilization-altering world war possibly including the use of nukes, problematic doesn't even begin to describe it. Try "your everyday life as you have known it will become impossible."

This goes not only for a possible nuclear war, but for other widespread disasters, including natural disasters (plagues, super-volcanoes, CMEs, etc) and man-made disasters (widespread civil unrest, attempted coups, civil war, economic collapse, etc.). Life as we currently know it could change drastically and suddenly.

Results of a Major Disaster

A major  disaster usually will result in the temporary or permanent loss of many of the “comforts of civilization” we are used to enjoying. Comforts of civilization are those things that are provided to us by modern civilization that we take for granted. So much so that we don't even consider them comforts or luxuries anymore, but rather basic necessities. It would be difficult for most modern people to provide most of these things for themselves, especially without learning new skills, having access to stockpiles of tools and supplies, and preparing well in advance for their loss.

These comforts of civilization we would likely lose include:

• Readily available running water that is safe to drink.
• Readily available food from stores and restaurants.
• “Flush and forget” human waste disposal.
• Modern medicine and health care.
• Readily available electricity for lighting, heating, cooling, cooking and hot water.
• Readily available natural gas for heating, cooking and hot water.
• Readily available fuel for cars, trucks, tractors and planes.
• Public transportation (trains, buses, subways, taxis, etc.).
• Instant long distance communication (phones, email, etc.).
• Ready access to education (schools) and knowledge (libraries, the Internet, etc).
• Ready access to emergency services such as fire, police, and paramedics.
• Most modern luxuries (television, IPods, mobile phones, computers & the Internet, etc.).
• An economic support infrastructure (electronic funds transfers, shipping & delivery, etc.).
• Ability to spend money without having it (credit cards, mortgages, installment plans, etc.)

Disasters can also lead to the loss of certain fundamental (inalienable) rights. This loss would, of course, be both immoral and illegal, but may occur because of the imposition of political correctness, a police state, martial law, or even the development or imposition of a dictatorship. The rights which may be lost include:

• Loss of Privacy.
• Loss of Freedom of Speech.
• Loss of Freedom of Religion.
• Loss of Freedom of the Press.
• Loss of Free Assembly.
• Loss of Freedom of Movement.
• Loss of Self-Defense Rights.
• Loss of Due Process.
• Loss of Parental Rights.
• Removal of children from your home.
• Confiscation of land, firearms, knives, personal property, or even your stored food, water, and other supplies.

Understanding what a major disaster will likely entail will help us to better plan for such frightening scenarios. Ask yourself questions about how you could realistically handle the loss of these comforts of civilization and even these basic rights.

Detailed planning, rather than hit-or-miss stockpiling of food, guns, and other stuff,  takes time and effort, but will go a long way towards ensuring the survival of you and your family & community.

***You might also be interested in my article Sweden Distributes ‘Prepare for War’ Booklet to All Swedes - Here's What It Advises
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