Final Panic: A Post-Apocalyptic EMP Survival Thriller (Surviving Book 2)
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However, the solution of a community as a physical location, is not available to everyone, for a variety of reasons. Of course, there are other ways to go about this. Simply developing a stronger rapport with neighbors, for instance, could lead to unpredictable beneficial outcomes. Really knowing who they are will let you know whether they’d be an ally or an enemy, whether they can be relied upon (based on their strength of character) in hard times, and what sort of skills and supplies they have access to.
Developing working relationships with all sorts of people could be immensely beneficial. For instance, if there is a farmer nearby, or a neighbor with chickens in their backyard, you might offer to do some chores for them, in exchange for learning a new skill. You’ll come away not just with useful knowledge, but a new social contact, someone who you might be able to trade with or team up with in the future.
Such informal social arrangements might prove to be invaluable. After all, if there were an event like an EMP, none of the current social-connector tools we rely on would exist.
Of course, while developing strong social bonds is important, everyone should do everything they can to develop new skills and knowledge. Everyone should have a plan, and everyone should feel that they themselves as an individual know how to act in a variety of worst-case scenarios. After all, communities are only as strong as the individuals that make them up. And what’s more, communities are not always an option.
The point of this authorial interlude is not to suggest that the formation of a type of community trumps any other method of preparation. In fact, there are certainly countless individuals who would be fine on their own. I am merely trying to point to a place that I know was a weak spot in my own thinking, and perhaps in others’ as well. When it comes to being prepared, it’s always about trying to identify your own weakness and ways you can improve your strategy.
About Ryan Westfield
Ryan Westfield is an author of post-apocalyptic survival thrillers. He’s always had an interest in “being prepared,” and spends time wondering what that really means. When he’s not writing and reading, he enjoys being outdoors.
Contact Ryan at ryanwestfieldauthor@gmail.com