Something a lot of preppers worry about is the thought of having their carefully accumulated supplies confiscated by the government and redistributed to people who didn’t bother to prepare. That’s understandable; who wants to see their family go hungry because their food has been taken away?
The government agency people worry about most is FEMA.
It’s responsible for disaster management, and one of its jobs is to distribute food to victims of a disaster. That makes it an obvious focus of concern for anyone who has food stockpiled. But what’s the truth? Is FEMA really planning to confiscate your emergency reserves?
Related: US Official Procedures Before SHTF. How to Know Before It Hits
This might be controversial but no, they’re not. FEMA really don’t want to go door to door, confiscating stored food so they can redistribute it. Their legal powers to do this are very dubious, for a start. Some websites claim that Executive Order 10998, a Kennedy-era law, gives FEMA the authority to seize all food supplies. Good news – it doesn’t. Nor does any other EO. Realistically, the last thing FEMA want to be getting involved in is confiscating private food supplies. Apart from anything else it would be incredibly manpower-intensive and most likely pretty dangerous. They’d need to search every house for supplies that people hadn’t admitted to having, and it’s safe to say that anyone who did have three months’ worth of food in their basement wouldn’t be too cooperative about handing it over.
So does this mean you can relax and stop worrying about FEMA coming for your food?
Well, not quite. Depending on what sort of disaster we’re talking about – and on where you live – it’s possible that government officials will try to confiscate private supplies(see what you can do to avoid that)
FEMA’s immediate response to a disaster is to bring in food supplies from its own stockpiles. If that isn’t enough – and if the disaster affected more than one or two states, it probably wouldn’t be – they would turn to large food processors. Handing a canned goods factory a requisition order and promise of later payment is quick and easy. If even that wasn’t enough, wholesalers, warehouses and grain silos would be their next ports of call. Bulk food is what FEMA are looking for. It’s easier to transport, and nobody’s going to shoot at them when they come to take it. Plus, in most of the USA, there’s a lot of bulk food available for requisition.
But what if there isn’t? Sure, a storm or even a big earthquake isn’t going to destroy bulk supplies across a wide area – but a nuclear attack would. Food processing plants, distribution centers and animal feedlots tend to be located near transport hubs, and those are prime targets for enemy nukes. A lot of food supplies are going to go up in smoke.
Related: Nuclear Protection Supplies You Need To Have Ready
Not all of the will, of course, but destroying transport hubs also means it’s going to be hard to move what survives. Large areas of the country – anywhere that doesn’t have a food processing industry – are going to be cut off from the supplies that do exist. And that’s when FEMA – or, more likely, local officials – are going to start thinking about confiscating private food stocks.
They won’t get to that right away, of course.
There will still be wholesalers and supermarkets, and they’ll take control of those as quickly as they can. Even local grocery stores will be checked out, and if they have a stock room that hasn’t been looted yet, that will be seized. How much will they get, though? Nowhere near enough. Expect stores to be mostly empty anyway, if there was any warning of the crisis – panic-buying will have cleared the shelves of most food. Looters will have taken a lot of what’s left. Realistically, what’s left in the stores is going to feed people for a week at most. If transport from the main food stores isn’t up and running by then (and after a nuclear attack, it won’t be) that’s when someone might come looking for private supplies. So who’s most at risk?
The biggest risk is if you have neighbors who know that you’re a prepper.
If they’re hungry, and they know you have supplies, they’re going to tell any passing government official – whether that’s a FEMA team or a local cop – that they know where a load of food is stashed. Most likely, a few minutes later you’ll be getting a knock on the door and someone will be telling you it’s time to “help the less fortunate” by turning over most of your food. The more you can do to keep your preparations quiet, the better.
On a larger scale, if you live in an area with a large food processing industry, and this isn’t destroyed in an attack, there is little or no risk of anyone trying to confiscate your supplies. However, if there’s a likely target near this industry – an airport, major freeway intersection or port, for example – then it’s likely the food stocks there will either be destroyed or made inaccessible. If that happens there will be a serious food shortage, and a confiscation program is very likely.
Related: 14 Must-Have Canned Foods You Didn’t Know Existed
The risk of confiscation also depends on what farms in your area are producing. If they’ve just brought in a large crop of wheat or corn, this will be a high value asset for FEMA and they probably won’t be interested in your supplies. Other types of farming can be a different story. Livestock isn’t a great emergency food source. Processing it into meat is labor-intensive, and FEMA would struggle to do it, so they’re much more likely to consider confiscation. The same goes in fruit-growing areas. Fruit isn’t an ideal food source and it also doesn’t last very long. Stockpiled emergency rations are specifically chosen for their long life and nutrition, so they’re going to look much more attractive to FEMA or local authorities.
In short: if you live in any state with a coastline you’re at higher risk of the government trying to redistribute your supplies.
If there’s a major city within 50 miles of you, you’re also at higher risk – cities need a lot of food, especially if food processors and warehouses around it have been destroyed.
The states with the lowest risk of confiscation are the Midwestern states that grow a lot of wheat and corn. There will be plenty food available for FEMA to requisition and distribute. Even if it’s not harvest season, thousands of tons will be stored in silos, warehouses and processing plants.
Related: 50 Low-priced Items That Will be Invaluable when SHTF
If you want to be safe from confiscation, the best places to be are in rural areas of Iowa, Illinois. Nebraska, Indiana, Minnesota or Ohio. That’s where the bulk of the easily distributed food is, so there will be no shortage of supplies for FEMA to hand out. If they can get their hands on tons of food in a facility designed for easy loading onto trucks, they won’t be interested in your supplies.
Even if you’re not in one of the higher risk areas, though, the best thing you can do is not advertise that you have a food stockpile. FEMA might not be interested, but your neighbors will be. You’re prepared to defend your supplies – but why attract attention you don’t want? If someone tries to take your food there’s no guarantee you’ll be able to stop them, so keep your preparations as discreet as you can. Even the government can’t take what it doesn’t know about.
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Missouri is also considered to be a safe state.
I do feel better knowing that Amazon has several huge distribution warehouses in the immediate area and are eligible for Amazon Prime Now, which means they have lots of food stocks for FEMA to hit before going door-to-door, even though we’re not rural by any means. And if those are destroyed by a nuclear strike, I doubt I’ll be worrying about anything.
Ok Where are the sites> there is just a bunch of stars on the map so Where? What city? says nothing about city’s?????
All of these articles are click bait …. nobody with any honesty is able to predict the areas that will affected by “government” confiscation. Just relax, keep quiet, don’t brag…
Not true. We’ve found this site and most all the articles to be very informative, quite realistic, and a big help in our prep activities… If one downloads the map and blows it up, ANYONE with the most rudimentary education/knowledge can figure out where the markers are located…
Why try to down something with inaccurate info? Makes no sense.
Right on Farmer, loose lips sinks ships !
Why is it that all you guys claiming ‘all these articles are click bait’ are always on these articles? aren’t they just click bait? in my mind when you can’t find ANYTHING to do with the articles headline…that’s click bait.
No article in the world can answer everyone’s everything. use what you can, let it lead you to further knowledge. then leave the rest alone…
That’s because this article is just a general theory. Nothing is specific, like many fear based theories. What is FEMA going to do with your case of mountain house & water bottles. They’re looking at big picture stuff. The average prepared citizen has nothing to worry about. Just keep your mouth shut and you’ll be fine. Pretty sure that goes for most things.
I don’t think FEMA per se is the worry. I think local LEOs and Guard under orders from the ‘elites’ are more likely a risk – although still a low order risk; because FEMA and cohorts have the info to locally direct people who want to take over stores under cover of so-called law. Keeping my mouth shut and my caches secure is I think the best protection. Especially as higher-order risks would be neighbors, friends, extended family and their clans…
Right on Farmer, loose lips sinks ships !
I find it really hard to hide my preps from the wife!
Telegraph, telephone, television, tell a woman…
If an urban or suburban prepper has females in his household, their circles of acquaintance likely to know all.
Trying to ‘go it alone’ thus unlikely of success. Might as well seek to build / join a local organization.
I totally resent the comments about women having a big mouth. I personally know of women who know how to keep their mouths shut, because of the fact they served our great nation. The men on this thread haven’t cornered the market on force protection. Hence the assanine comments pertaining to the wives. They couldn’t keep their ignorant comments to themselves. Makes me wonder if they could totally keep their mouths shut, under extreme circumstances, i.e. torture, threats to family or self, etc.
Hey angelwings, I have to agree with you some there. I have not seen or heard of too many men that can keep their traps shut about hey did you see my new gun ect…Anyone who hunts is on the list of gun owners and as prepper’s we all pretty much hunt. But to let someone no what we have is a no-no. I liked your comment angelwings about women who served. As I am one of the first women to be trained in combat/infantry to shoot m16’s, m60’s and grenades and I can be a pretty scary gal. Most think I was a Marine. I do not back down and try to teach others about survival. I tell them I have done my part out of love for them and now if they do not do work for themselves they are SOL/ Then I let it be known to them not to try to come onto my property for help as I will stand my ground. Abilities and knowledge will play the biggest role look up Fort McClellan AL toxic exposure. I was stationed there so I have already learned about radiation and toxic exposures. I have found many natural things to help also. But when it comes to SHTF everyone knows to scratch me off their list I will take no one in, my small team is my small team only those you can trust.
So you are taking “Stupid Bitch” To a whole new level!! How quiet you going to be when the rape starts? Maybe you need to relocate to a page that caters to stupid women.
Your crude remark does nothing to add gravitas to your comment. If you think that the lady isn’t capable of defending herself, you would be better served by pointing out those weaknesses of which you seem so confident. Calling her a derogatory term does nothing to buttress your fallacious beliefs.
WOW! Real nice! Someone had a 2 year old reaction to a strong female. Poor baby!
As a rule, females feel impelled to talk. And often complain that males don’t. Exceptions of course exist.
Never ask what your man is thinking; if he ever answers honestly, likely your feelings will be ‘hurt’. Or he’ll be thinking of something entirely uninteresting. Say, an oil-change interval for a vehicle…
Well said, angelwings! I have seen too many males (and obviously, females also) who will purposely or inadvertently blurt something out that may seem innocuous at first but could have a greater effect when combined with other “minor” comments. Too often it is said in order to impress others around them or to create a bit of jealousy or feelings of some inferiority in the minds of those others. Some say to ignore them but I say to confront them to see how poorly they can defend themselves.
In my household it is the man who blabs to all and sundry, and the women who are private. We have learned not to tell him anything we don’t want the whole neighborhood to know.
There are always stupid people that think they are funny.
“What is FEMA going to do with your case of mountain house & water bottles.”
Well, exactly. As I said in the article, they’re not really interested. Town officials and your hungry neighbours, on the other hand…
FEMA has already done this on several occasions but you cross your fingers and hope for the best!!
because even rudimentary thought process can deduce that my ‘case of mountain house and water bottles’ time 300 is a substantial amount of resources. did they come looking for it? maybe not but they found it…put it in the truck with the other stuff? did you still lose it?
really – what we have to worry about is each other, tearing each other down over ideology? sounds a lot like the progressive left. how about using what you can from articles and then leaving them alone…unless they seem to show a threat to life. because who you piss on today may be your hope for assistance tomorrow?
Pretty, but useless, map. ANY city or town should have a star.
FEMA isn’t near as big a threat as neighbors and roving bands of hungry people who will kill to survive. Best to be in a rural location and set up strong defenses (IEDs, booby traps, barbwire, etc) to protect your supplies and family.
Never, never, never tell anyone about your supplies or give anyone begging anything. Give them food for a day or two and they’ll be back for more and probably with others in tow. It will be hard to do, but you can’t feed them all and provide for yours at the same time.
is there a star near to your location? that would be an indicator to do some further research into the subject matter. NO ONE can provide details down to ‘your property’?
Those in the cities and populated areas will be the greatest at risk, not mainly from FEMA, but from the surrounding population. Marauding mobs will be looking for food or anything that can be traded for food.
After a period of time, thirst goes away, but hunger does not. Your hypothalamus (organ in center of your brain) senses salinity of your blood for thirst and glucose level for hunger. After a period of time, its sense of blood salinity diminishes, but its sense of glucose does not diminish; if anything, it increases. HUNGER GNAWS AT YOU!
On, or about, the fourth day without food, food WILL start to become an obsession. People who are normally mild mannered WILL do anything to acquire food – including killing to get it.
The first two to four weeks will be the roughest time. After this period, most will have sought the government camps for relief or be deceased. Therefore, you will want to be very careful preparing meals to ensure that smoke or scent doesn’t travel beyond your secure area. Properly prepared ‘freeze dried’ or ‘dehydrated’ food that simply requires hot water to prepare will be your best bet. MRE’s will do for a few days, but studies have shown that after 3 days of eating only MRE’s, your digestive tract will commence to have problems and 21 days is the absolute maximum for living only on MRE’s.
Be mentally prepared to defend your supplies even to the point of having to kill to do it. Losing your supplies will mean the death of, or government internment of, you and your family. FEMA Camps won’t be anything like a resort stay.
Love the “Going Home” series on books ..
Some real revelations about human nature in a crisis.
If you have your MRE’s, calcium tabs, dehydrated foods,beans,pemicanne and hardtack. Along with a nice water supply you can go a very long way. You may want to make a few jars of plantain salves for skin irritation from radiation as well. I no from experience, radiation burn feels like acid poured on areas of the skin and itches. Do not scratch and use the plantain salves. Never rob yourself of all the future growth of your crops. I once was told by a neighbor that I would probably never have to worry about people coming here in fear of traps and things. They even said they were glad I was a neighbor we watch each others backs here with our team. Some say they fear me. Not that I am a mean person I taught what I could to help others. But they no I have many secrets up the sleeves. I am actually the Commander of our team and yes a female who could make grown men look up at me from their backs in a fight during training and have picked a very good 2nd commander. A person must have someone knowledgeable in different important areas. And share in discussions. But the Commander must be able to be stern and have the final say. And be able to have their teams trained well not only in voice but in certain sign languages. You also have to have a team who contributes as equally as possible if they can not contribute there are problems already. Be sure your team will not fall asleep on guard, will have each others backs and be able to ration as needed and all have some knowledge in as many fields as possible. When things get rough the rough will step forward in all people. If you have not seen the movie “The Road” it might be one to watch if you can stomach it. Because yes people can become ugly creatures in times of trouble. Monsanto has control of to many things right now and poisons they have our global seed, food and now teamed with bayer and have killed almost all our bees and have now gotten a patent for a GMO bee. I think you all no they made agent orange right?
European researchers believe they’ve discovered the cause(s) of Bee Colony Collapse: various kinds of insecticides, among which is nicotinids (nicotine-based).
Nicotine embedded in tobacco is mostly innocuous, but when refined is lethal. This is true of most herb-sourced ‘active ingredients’, including dried opium poppies.
What happens is that greedy humans (aka Monsanto, Cieba-Giegy, etc. managements and stockholders, et alia…) want to maximize profits via exclusive ‘patents’, ‘copyrights’, and also want to ease the distribution and use of their synthetic and refined products.
They’re no different than those who concentrate and chemically process coca leaves to make cocaine, and those who invent lethal synthetic opioids
and SILVEX, another toxic defoliant
Just saying, people do not start wanting to kill after four days of not eating. There are people who fast for several days or a week and they don’t end up killing their family members…People do not start wanting to kill after four days of not eating. There are people who fast for several days or a week and they don’t end up killing their family members… I know that people do end up getting to that point, but I’m guessing it’s more like after several weeks to a month and not four days.
Even in fairly localized disasters, FEMA is pretty much a joke. If it gets to the point that food needs to be confiscated due to a multi-State or national event, there won’t be enough of the federal govt left to do anything…and that includes the military.
Bubba down the road is who will be your problem. He has few cans of food in the cabinets, couple hungry kids & wife, a rusty 30-30 and half box of shells left from a deer hunting trip 10 years ago….and you have to sleep sometime.
Agreed. One point I was trying to make in the article (and I don’t know if I made it firmly enough) is that FEMA isn’t really interested in private stockpiles, because FEMA think in terms of feeding people by the hundred thousands, or even millions. They *might* be pushed to it in extremis, but in almost any scenario I can think of (which is a lot), FEMA don’t want to be coming for your food anymore than you want to give it to them.
Create a TRUSTWORTHY group. Plan, Prepare and maintain 360 degree security 100% of the time. Plan contingencies ALWAYS, because every single plan has flaws.
Keep your preps private, shut your bragging pie hole and enjoy life on the way. Don’t make this more complicated than what it should be – Simplistic. All this other stuff just breeds your very worst enemy – FEAR! Use that enemy to keep your pie hole closed about what your going about doing privately.
Enough said. Be Happy – Be Safe – Be Prepared!
Sound wisdom! 🙂 It’s good to see some common sense here.
I would only partner with one or two families at the most. Families you know and trust. If things get really bad then loose lips sink ships. The more who know about supplies, the more there are able to be squeezed of info. Only takes one to ruin it for everybody else. Good advice on keeping the pie hole shut about your preps. Don’t understand folks who want to brag. Love the doomsday prepper show because it was informative and opened my eyes to the whole concept but they told millions across the country about all they have. Just not a good idea
Glad to see that my rural area in my state falls under “most safe” but still no way do I tell anyone, asides from my daughter and her husband (who I taught well). As to taking supplies, there are complaints on YouTube as to the American Red Cross being allowed to confiscate food supplies that have been gathered by volunteers and churches. In one of the cases they took the supplies that were in the steps of the church. They then toss what they don’t want and keep what they think is valuable. I don’t know under what law that is allowed but it’s not just FEMA we need to worry about. I believe the videos were from Florida but no sure, as Texas was also affected by the hurricanes. As to the ARC, please, if you are one who has not heard DO NOT donate to them, the Red Cross’s idea of feeding people in PR was crackers and water. I bet people in Texas did not fare much better. Hopefully people have watched videos on YouTube by people who managed to sneak in cell phones to FEMA “shelters” talking about not knowing when or if meals would arrive.
My friend the unknown Church are those who Love their neighbors not like the known Chuch who are the ones who Love not any , call on the name of the Lord and you won’t be going through the great tribulation son Jesus our Christ SAVES. PEACE
That’s a common fallacy, Christians who believe they will not suffer any of the tribulation could be setting themselves up for either disappointment or have their faith shattered. The Bible clearly states ALL must endure at least the first 3 1/2 years of it, hence the statement “he that endures to the end will be saved”.
Interesting discussions regarding what have been called the “PRE-Tribulation Rapture” versus the “MID- Tribulation Rapture” perspectives. But in the midst of these worthwhile theological considerations, I think it is reasonable to consider that ANY of the much discussed “tribulations” associated with what are more commonly called “SHTF scenarios can occur here in the US completely unrelated to the coming eschatological events promised in Scripture. It has certainly happened in the past – the collapse and devastation of the old Roman Empire was certainly viewed by many at the time as THE “End of Times”, and they were mistaken. It was simply just a terrible terrible time to be alive, and Christians had to survive and endure through it all, along with everyone else. So the same could certainly be true for the US, alas. However, such “times” would provide a marvelous opportunity to offer the ETERNAL security that cannot be found in one’s “personal” preparation, but only through the gospel of Jesus Christ. So at least, there’s that…
I saw the Red Cross step in some cities where I spend a lot of time in sheltering evacuees from flooded areas. They were rationed with donated supplies given only if the Red Cross deemed fit. I saw fema try to step in and take supplies lovingly donated and delivered by good people all over Texas to help local flood victims survive and not have to leave their homes and fema was told to stay away only after the sheriff got involved and called them. I even know of some national guardsmen overstepping their bounds and threatened with arrest from state troopers if she didn’t shut her mouth for publicly talking bad about local residents helping each other. Yes, it can get really ugly quick. My nephews taking their boat and trying to rescue people and hearing gun shot after gunshot and realizing it was just too dangerous. Yes, fema will confiscate food, Red Cross does hoard donations, people will kill to survive. Please friends, get prepared now because when shtf and you have nothing, then that is exactly what you have.
Totally agree about FEMA being a threat – but before that would ever happen the local authorities would have beat them to your door – especially if you have practiced poor OPSEC …
Ask yourself – Are the powers to be in your area preppers? – highly doubt it – the civil authorities and police powers behind them aren’t more prepared than the average sheeple …. if you think they’ll be going down without at least trying to use some bogus emergency confiscation laws – you don’t understand human nature much less this type of survivalist ….
Interesting that you are the last person to post a comment as I was thinking the same thing you are commenting on. I was just reading the above article and saying to my brother that regardless of the available resources, some unscrupulous and downright power hungry types might abuse their position and attempt to confiscate food and other supplies from those who appear to have an abundance.
I agree with the notion that there are those who will take because they feel entitled due to an elitist attitude and those who are desperate and think that their need justifies them taking what others have paid for and worked to build be it a shelter, a backyard farm or just food, water and basic necessities to live.
And unfortunately, there seems to be this notion that people who prepare, who call themselves survivalists or preppers, are selfish hoarders when in fact they are not only entitled to purchase as much as they want, but preppers are contributing to the local economy and reducing the burden on the government, FEMA or anyone else. The stores can restock the shelves in time for everyone to create a stockpile. Most stores stock at least twice a week and any store will stock MORE of those items that show increased sales. Prepared people should be seen as role models to follow, not to persecute.
This is why we defend the second amendment. Has anyone on this feed ever heard of the battle for Athens Tennessee? Look it up and see the corruption of local authorities running the people’s lives and the people just had enough of the bull crap. Soon after wwII the returning veterans were not going to see tyranny in their back yards so soon after fighting the Germans. Keep it, defend it,
Yes, I agree. The biggest threat is likely to be local authorities and private citizens who feel entitled to a share of what *you* built up. Personally I don’t think FEMA is anything to worry about.
The problem isn’t going to be FEMA. FEMA doesn’t have the manpower to do much of anything. The problem will be DHS. These guys will be the goons that would be the enforcers of any confiscation moves.
Been at this ‘shtf’ a while now, but am still wondering, (new to the neighborhood, small town, single entry enclave) how do you develop relationships with your neighbors (for mutual protection), w/o giving away your ‘prepperhood’? All serious comments welcome.
Gettin Old … I’m there too …. what I’ve found in my very scattered rural neighborhood is that it’s easy to strike up friendships with neighbors on many subjects … leaving SHTF aside for the time being …. I’ve only broached the subject in discussing common concerns … in my area, the New Madrid fault, tornadoes … specifics about prepping come later. Once I find out that a neighbor is unconcerned about realistic dangers and would prefer to spend their excess cash on beer and pizza, I drop the subject … such a neighbor might not be part of a useful group if the need arises. Most people I met are quick to telegraph their true feelings about potential disasters and often “leak” their ideas about prepping. I’m cautious about sharing much at all….. and also (sounds conniving) …. but I also evaluate their talents and judge how “useful” they would be as part of a community or how much of a threat they would be if things got out of hand.
You do not have to tell anyone nor suspect any of telling because they already know. Since the Second World War they’ve had in place a so called God-system. They see all know all and are everywhere at all times. With today’s technology they are able to be even faster at it. No matter who or where you are, what you’re doing, why and to what degree, they know. If you don’t already know this you will ignore it at first or maybe right up to the point you have to acknowledge it. You’ll be fine if you’re a throwback or even a recluse. However, you’ll be disappointed if you think for one second you’ll be safe, untouchable, unaffected, or that they can’t breech your set up. Your enemies are you, your mobile telephones, computers, tablets, GPS systems, cable, wi-fi, modern appliances, the electric poles and wires hooked to your homes, meters outside, cars-trucks, televisions, radios, relatives and friends, and even apps and the places and people that you conduct business with. Not because they wanted to be against you or because they dislike you, but because you did not see it coming. Don’t let it stop you from living life, tomorrow is not and will never be promised. Even though I know of what I speak is truth, and understand a lot of the Beast System’s capabilities and objective, I fear no evil because their god is a mighty system, but my God is Almighty. I became a loner not by force but by choice. A rustic recluse, so that I could let go of the very things preventing me from carrying my cross. I was blinded by the shiny things of this life that are meant to distract the mind, by jaded people who tried to convinced me that their hate was actually love. Then the scales fell from my eyes, the shield slipped from my heart, the walls of my mind tumbled down and for the first time in my life I realized that what I believed good was bad, and that what I thought bad was actually good and that it was to my benefit. Now I watch and wait and pray silently and earnestly for the most part. I see like I’ve never seen before. Very little surprises me. Yes, there have been times when I wish I did not know but the truth is, it was just meant to be, ‘predestination’ and all that. If you are not wake yet, I mean truly awaken and you’ll know when you are because nothing will ever be the same, and you have to accept that plus the fact that you can’t save everyone (because there are those who may never wake up), then continue to live an ostrich until by choice or happenstance you’re awaken. As for me, I live each day as if it were my last. I know it sounds morbid but I’ve come to realize that life is not a fairytale and that the Beast is real and far more hellacious than one could ever have imagined. You see things were flipped, and in plain sight. Only our eyes were wide shut. Our ears seared. Our minds scarred. Our voices ignored. Just so you know there is no privacy, and the only law is to conform or go alone until you get it figured out. There is nothing that you do that is secret unless you can reteach yourself to rethink and to take those thoughts captive. Get to know how systems work, both man and machine. If you can understand system you might maintain. If you can’t then make yourself useful, learn to listen with your eyes and see with your ears, hear with your heart and to open your mind and to let your words be few and yes you read it correctly. Lastly, any system can be dismantled. It’s always the enemy’s one true fear and your secret weapon. Don’t be rattled by what you’re reading here, just take your time and think things through. Be alert! It really is what it is. My advice, stop prepping and do what come naturally. Let the way you choose to live be the way you choose to die. If you can, then continue to can but do it because it is a part of your life. If you like to trade, then trade because it is a part of your life. When it comes to weaponry, rethink it. Machine guns, ak47s, cannons won’t stand up against what’s aimed at you right now. The capabilities are phenomenal, most can’t began to imagine what they’ll be up against. (Through wall technologies, satellite communications, nano particles, laser/dazzlers sonic sound, microwave, all capable of disarming without person to person physical contact called ‘no touch torture’.) A sniper would be picked off by an invisible beam before he could site up. It’s real, it’s here, and it’s now. Understand that it’s difficult to get around facial recognition and voice to skull and holographic weaponry, not to mention you can’t protect yourself with cameras and other electronics that can be disable with a readily placed beam while you’re being detected with the latest X-ray app on a handheld device that’s watching you do what you do or listening to you without you knowing it. Every Emil, text, draft, and call is metadata that’s stored for future use against you more than likely. Right now your child could be saying the first thing off the top of their heads and incriminating you without so much as a thought. It’s today’s culture. Most minds have shut down, TV and radio thinks for us so we no longer have to use our heads. The Internet is our encyclopedia so we don’t have to read just cut and paste. The microwave zaps it in minutes and us too but we keep using them. What’s to prevent a beam being aim at a dog, cat bird or person? What camera or industrial lock or alarm can’t be bypassed? What keyless or self driving car can’t be stopped dead on and taken over by an operated with the ability to take over a machine for nefarious reasons? It’s a simple as putting fluoride in a tube of toothpaste and telling all it’s good for them as it is to enter a well stocked and organized pantry and undo canned jars to set up bacterial where a well versed preparer might know that the seal has been tampered with but a small child or an adult less knowledgeable wouldn’t. What firewall can’t be breeched? You’ve known a lot of them all your lives. You shared with them things you hadn’t aught have. They are in every walk of life from the very top to the very bottom. They see, they know and they are in place everywhere and are not leaving no where soon because they are where they want to be, right where you let them in. If you are the pioneer type, live it. Pioneers always sustained themselves and knew just how much they needed for whatever reason. They didn’t have to brag or boast because it was a way of life. It’s the way they chose to live and the way they chose to die and hopefully there was enough of their off spring paying attention rather than worrying about getting the next or latest gadget. So don’t play at it, actually live it, and stop depending on things that come quick, fast and in a hurry. Get together, get to really know one another in your household through the things you have in common, in love, in life and in death. I know we can’t turn back the hands of time but get as close as you can to what your great greats use to do and discover what third world cultures do, really and truly watch the ways of animals, birds, marine life, insects and the homeless population. Then go into the closet of your soul and figure out your place, you space, your race, at your pace. Think on it!
I found out the postal service has been keeping count on deliveries of prepping food for years , all fema has to do is hit the supplier were they are shipped we are all done , there is no real safe way , my fed-ex driver is a friend and said the same thing,
I have a really hard time believing that. My experience with both the USPS and FEDEX is that 20 % of the time, they can’t deliver packages. Besides, there is a question of legal authority. There is also the issue of “unmarked boxes” – how would they know what is inside. They have no authority to open. The USDA has limited authority to open packages, but #10 cans of butter powder would not be on their RADAR.
There actually is a process called a mail cover. A federal agency comes to your local post office and asks it to initiate a mail cover for your address. What happens is that all the mail is delayed a day or two while someone from the requesting agency notes where all you mail is coming from, what magazines you subscribe to, who sends you bills, what credit card companies etc. No mail is opened. It doesn’t have to be. Your mailman knows more about you that you think. I used to do membership lists and mailings for small organizations. It was amazing what I learned just from seeing certain names on certain organizations membership lists — and I wasn’t trying to track anything, I was just imputing names and printing out membership lists. It certainly opened my eyes as to how easy it is to track someone if one is so motivated.
Operational security (OpSec) principles dictate that you never tell anyone you don’t know and trust implicitly anything factual. Always use plausible misdirection.
E.g., you never tell a taxi driver the actual hotel to which you’re going, but have him drop you off at a nearby market or like place. You never have supplies delivered to your site or abode but instead to some place ‘neutral’.
No safe place near a nuclear power plant when grid goes down. Midwest and East Coast full of. FEMA is less of prob than that.
Thank you so very much Rustic Recluse for sharing your wisdom. A great confirmation for me.
The oft quoted “Keep your head down and mouth shut” mantra ignores one other important requirement.
IF ever in this type of situation you will need to restrict your food intake and be (partly) hungry. If not one question about you and your family will eventually emerge
“Everyone else is thinner and losing weight, why aren’t they ?”
Without access to lattes and snack food, even if you are eating three meals a day, you will lose weight too. Perhaps not as fast as your neighbor who is eating one meal a day, but without all the sugar and the snacks, you will lose weight. Also, a monotonous diet will cause you to eat less. You will also be more active. Instead of spending hours in front of a computer typing posts to a prepper list you will be out looking for wood to cook your meal or hauling water from the lake a mile away or scouring the woods with that edible weeds book in your hand. Maybe even hunting. All of those activities take more calories than pecking at keys on the computer keyboard. Or lounging on the couch watching the big game while gnawing on buffalo hot wings and drinking beer.
Actually I have a question. Can FEMA remove or take cans that don’t have labels or are dented? Can they take unlabeled packages?
The monsters (federal, state, and local) shapen like humans with the weapons and badges may do _anything_. Take anything, kidnap anyone, murder anyone. And kill your pets. Via enforced neglect, if not immediately.
If some court later rules that they ‘shouldn’t have’, of what use would that be to you and your loved ones? (BTW, dead persons have ‘no standing’.) Living creatures will be either dead or will have suffered irretrievable loss. Like the Weaver family (Ruby Ridge).
Your only _practical_ defense is obscurity. On a continent of circa 360 million persons, the monsters haven’t the time or interest to track everyone. Especially they’ve not the interest, because they think firstly and principally of their own pleasures and gains.
Whatever prepping you may do are things you do to defend against creatures and conditions unconnected with ‘government’. When Iesou counseled his disciples to “get a sword, even if you must sell a coat to do it”, that weapon wasn’t to defend against Roman cohorts, but isolated bandits.
First thing to do, if you’re at all serious about preparation, is to get away from people. “Out of sight, out of mind.” Yet that’s very sad counsel for females, for a variety of reasons. Not least their innate need for ‘connections’.
I’ve been a reader of this site for many years now and I get as much, if not more, information from the comments as I do the articles. No one is as smart as all of us.
I agree. Any thoughts for 1st step for a widow in the desert?
Melly, if you mean a first step to learning about and expanding your preps, it better if you approach prepping with attitude that this is for real so you will be better able to handle real world emergencies. This includes keeping quiet about your prepping to help avoid anyone else deciding that if SHTF they will somehow be “entitled” to your supplies. Then take an honest accounting of what you know and are able to do by yourself, such as growing a garden, shooting a firearm, gathering firewood, making fires without matches or lighters, fishing/hunting/gathering, home repairs, repairing and sewing clothing, crafts such as basket weaving or leatherworking, minor repairs around the house, vehicle maintenance, first-aid (and more), cooking and heating if you lose utilities like electricity and/or LP gas, and so much more you probably already know but may not have considered may be valuable knowledge and skills depending on the circumstances you encounter. Then go around and take a serious look at everything you already have that may be useful if SHTF, things like tools, solar powered lights and radios, solar chargers, outdoor tools, gear, and camping equipment, water filters designed for wilderness use, extra fuels like gasoline and propane, various clothing including gloves, hats, and footwear appropriate for the seasons and conditions you may encounter. Seeing if you have enough properly stored food, water, hygienic and medical supplies to last for extended periods starting with 30 days, then build up to six months, then twelve months, and so on. If you are like me, I was really surprised how much “stuff” I already had, and so am working on filling the gaps. You should also have some means of warning and defense that may include dogs, smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarms, firearms, stun guns, mace, handheld weapons like knives and hammers, as well as anything else you see that you think might be useful. Now make a list of things you think you should learn, and supplies you think you should get, or get more of, then budget within your means and work on filling your gaps. If you have neighbors or friends close by, you may ask then some unobtrusive questions that seem more like a hobby or outside interests, such as “have you ever tried to make your own cleaning products?” or “I heard about using herbs for home remedies, have you ever tried this?”, or “I would like to learn how to grow fruits and vegetables suitable for our area, do you do any gardening?” You never know how they will answer, but sometimes they might surprise you. My wife did ask some friends and co-workers about growing fruits and vegetable in our climate and a few people even gave her some plant starts she brought home, like oregano, lemon grass, a pineapple plant that two years later is producing its first fruit, and a guava tree that was about 12 inches when she brought it home last year but is now about three feet tall and doing very well. Practical Prepping is using a commonsense approach to do things in advance of SHTF so you are better prepared to take care of yourself during an emergency.
When I saw your post the 1st time, didn’t see a reply icon (posted below).I would still believe water would be #1; then, self protection. You can get a lot of good info right here in the comments; It’s a great prepper community. If you have limited budget, think (x 3) before you decide where U spend your $. I started years ago, and now wonder about some of my choices. lol
question: I want to understand this fema thing; how do you know that they plan to confiscate private citizens food stashes? I keep hearing people worrying about this but haven’t seen any supporting evidence presented for this idea. Could you direct me to some sources to get more information? Thanks
It’s best not to reveal your prepping plans and the things you are stockpiling. People talk, and they also steal. Keeping a low-profile is best. You don’t want to attract much attention or publicity.
i have 38 caches around the state I am in only way to fine them is to get a hold of my garmin gps tracker and then you have a little bit of work to do and now for my guns you better know what you are after before you come to my house because I do know how to use them better then you think I spent 22 years as a us marine so come on in if you dare
In many respects, FEMA is not the biggest threat here. No one seems to understand that there will be a strong impetus on the part of LOCAL “authorities” to “confiscate for more equitable redistribution” any supplies you happen to have. In a no kidding genuine SHTF scenario, there actually is no reason to think that ANY Federal authorities (to include FEMA) will be functioning in any meaningful way. Nope, it will be your local Law Enforcement folks who will come knocking at your door… So what will you do THEN?
Entirely agree, this seems much more likely scenario. Along with anybody else they (law-enforcement) have been talking to both inside and outside their own families and friends, if they have any idea of how well you have prepared in the past. Just as when I was on some fairly difficult assignments in rubbish countries in the past, I would have a sacrificial wallet, I am tentatively planning on having a sacrificial pile of stores which if I have to, I will give up reluctantly. I’d rather not give them up at all, and I’m trying to figure out how much volume/quantity there will need to be in that sacrificial pile to be convincing, even 5% of my stores would be a lot and I would begrudge it. But still, work on project. That said again, I’m thinking I need to have something like that figured out by the end of this calendar year. Not much later, could be earlier. Tentatively, I’m looking at getting that settled by September just in case. Hey, I may be caught out…
Smart thinking, BHR. The locals will certainly be snatching up everything they can and adding it to their supplies.
All home canning should be done in freezer jars if your storage place cannot be kept above freezing. Freezer jars have no shoulder and are slightly tapered, with the top being slightly larger. This configuration allows the freezing food to expand without breaking the jar. For 40 years I stored my home canned fish in an unheated room. None of my jars broke when they froze and none of the seals failed. The U.S. Dept. of Agriculture Extension Service has an inexpensive book, The Complete Guide to Home Canning, which gives a lot of information essential to safe home canning. All animal products and non acid foods MUST be processed according to the times and temperatures given in this book.
Why does “Melly’ NOT have a reply button? I would suspect her 1st priority would be to figure out what to do about water (being in the desert).
Melly, does have a reply icon, check again.
History teaches us that in an emergency stores will be looted. Having managed a durable goods section in a walmart even if there is no looting the store has a 3 day supply of popular foods. It’s not going to make a dent in the problem.
FEMA does not have the manpower or resources to do any extensive house-to-house searches and seizures of personal supplies. If FEMA tries to do anything nationwide, I expect if it will be focused on large storage and processing complexes owned and operated by large corporations for not only food, but fuels, wood products, metals, plastics, textiles, hardware, electronics, vehicles, and so on. Most of us, being very “small minnows” in a vast ocean of resources, should be overlooked, unless of course you do something that gets you noticed, so remain composed and discrete, blend in, and avoid getting noticed.
If FEMA does resort to searching house-to-house confiscating personal property, once word gets out to the general population (HAM, CB, AM/FM, short wave, word of mouth) I expect there will be resistance, and FEMA will likely be decimated in short order.
When food reserves are exhausted, they will round people up and ship them to camps. All in the name of ‘your protection’. You won’t be able to bring anything with you either.
While you are gone, they will waltz right in and take whatever they want.
Not a thing you can do about it because you will be relocated AT GUNPOINT.
Your choice – die on your feet fighting back or die as a starving slave in a camp.
Either way, YOU DIE.
This article needs to be updated to reflect the current crises going on today. Things have changed 180 from 5 years ago.
When FEMA starts confiscation supplies, WHO gets them first?
I am a little scared of FEMA, but I am EXTREMELY worried about the violence that hungry, desperate and evil people will commit when SHTF.