BE PREPARED TO TAKE EXTREME MEASURES TO PROTECT YOURSELF AND YOURS

BY STEVEN PAUL BARLOW

Preparing for short-term emergencies or long-lasting catastrophes requires more than stockpiling supplies.

Reports in the aftermath of disasters are filled with heroic, selfless acts and communities pulling together. The sad truth is that hard times also bring out the w orst in some people. Some will see a crisis as a temporary suspension of lawful authority, an open invitation to loot, vandalize and roam the streets in unruly, violent mobs. Others, caught unprepared for any alteration in their daily routines will, out of desperation and panic, resort to theft and violence to ensure not only their own survival, but their own sense of comfort.

In short, when the going gets rough, the roughest will steal what you have and, in dire circumstances, will take your life in order to get what they want. Add to this the harsh winter weather ahead and securing your property and ensuring the s afety of your loved ones can be especially challenging and that often requires extreme measures. Here are some points to consider.

1.0 FORTIFY AT HOME

Your home is where you feel most comfortable and most secure, but you have to make sure it’s not a false sense of security. Ideally your home is where you want to hunker down to outlast an emergency situation. But if you’re going to do that, you have to make sure you’ve made some changes to enhance security on the home front.

1.1 Perimeter Security

Yes, your home is your castle, but unless you’ve surrounded it with a moat, you might have some work to do on perimeter security. High fences and hedges might seem like a good idea, but the trouble is that once an intruder overcomes those obstacles, he is out of view of helpful neighbors and p assing patrols who might spot the suspicious activity. Area lighting, alarm systems and barking dogs are all good things to consider because early detection of a threat is a big advantage and no small deterrent.

Keep your cars in your garage if possible. One of the biggest problems during times of disaster is limited resources. Leaving a car in your driveway is just asking f or someone to syphon the gas out of it. And it goes without saying that you should keep your windows and doors locked.