by Ron Foster
“Why are you calling yourself a displaced prepper?” He asks as my new devotee that’s appreciative of my sharing of some survival wisdom.
“One form of displaced prepper,” I explain, “is the one that evacuates an area and has his or her bug out gear with them, but the majority of their preps left behind, but that can take care of them selves for a while. The other is someone who has a prepper mentality and has just had all their preps lost or stolen and is as unfortunate in goods as those who have not prepared and are also struggling for survival with limited options in the same reality.
The Displaced Prepper however has something more tangible than those less fortunate that cannot be lost or stolen and that is knowledge. Preppers do not only devote themselves to buying emergency preparedness supplies and storing food, they also store knowledge and experience. I used to have a blog that examined the various ways that preppers can survive and thrive when they are displaced from their normal surroundings. I would talk and write about things like using a survival key ring for your EDC (every day carry) survival kit. I still had mine thank God in my pocket and fumbled it for additional reassurance before I went on with my discourse.
“Can I see it?” Dump said inquisitively.
“Sure, but later. Looks like we got trouble up ahead.”.
A couple of punk teenagers had a middle aged woman backing up fearfully and clutching a bottle of water up ahead. “If you won’t give me that water I take it, Bitch!” one of them was threatening.
“HEY!” I yelled, “LEAVE HER THE HELL ALONE!”
They turned and saw me and Dump picking up the pace towards them and decided it wasn’t healthy to stick around, so tried to saunter off. Dump yelled at them he was going to put a boot up their asses if they didn’t get the hell out of here NOW! And the miscreants beat feet in the opposite direction.
A now deeply relived, but still anxious, woman leaned against the brick retaining wall in front of an old wood frame huge house. The rich folks and developers had been buying and fixing up these old formally edge of the city houses for years and they were now considered nouveau chic to a new generation of ladder climbing execs.
“Are you ok?” I asked noting she was visibly shaken and sweating profusely from the Georgia heat.
“Yeah, I just need to catch my breath for a second. Those delinquents scared the hell out of me. Thank you so much for chasing them off.” she replied.
“My pleasure, Miss, damn fool kids need to show some respect.” Dump said. I side glanced over at him and raised an eyebrow, mentally chastising him for taking all the credit in rescuing this damsel in distress.
She must of caught my glance at him, as she pointedly stated, “Well, I sure do thank both of you for coming along when you did. I was about to throw that bottle of water and try to run away, but in this heat I really wanted to hang on to it.”
“I think they said it was going to get up to 96 degrees today.” I offered.
“Where are you coming from?” Dump asked.
“ I was on the interstate when everyone’s cars just died all at once and I had me a hell of a white knuckle ride until my vehicle stopped moving.” she said glancing about in the general direction we were headed.
“That’s so weird, she said, what could of caused that to happen?” she queried. “Do you think it was aliens? “She said, looking at us skeptically.
Dump put on his best professor persona, well if you could call it that and said, “No ma’am. David here says he thinks that the sun had a CME or coronal mass injection, something about a Carrington event, its all very technical.” he said with a seriously scholarly nod that looked like he got it from the scarecrow on the Wizard of Oz.
Her eyes got big, and she stuttered out, “Well, did the aliens cause that? I’ve seen on TV shows they could stop cars and electronics with some kind of weird beam. That’s why those kids could get so close to me, I didn’t see them coming, because I was looking up at the sky for a UFO or a mushroom cloud or something.”
“No.” I replied. “It’s like a solar flare. Happened before in 1859 and fried all the telegraph lines then. NASA’s been warning us for years that we were going to have a big event like this in 2012 or 2013, but these things are hard to pin point.” I explained, while looking around to see what professor Dump Truck was up to. He had moved a few steps down the street and was watching the direction that our hoodlums had run off in.
“We best move on before they round up their Posse and come back.” he said.
“Damn, I wouldn’t put it past them, good thinking Dump.” I said eyeing the area.
“What did you call him?” the woman asked, still thinking about aliens and eying my own personal mutant bodyguard.
“His street handle is Dump Truck, sort of a nickname, Call him Dumpie for short” I said as Truck ambled back over. That last name I had for my bar ape produced a beautiful smile and a giggled response.
“Well, hi and thanks, Dumpie.” she cheerfully said and extended her hand to him.
I didn’t think he could get anymore red faced than he was already but, she actually made him blush!
“Dump Truck is the bouncer or doorman for Pandora’s Wreck. I guess you might say he takes the trash out, so the nickname fits.” I said grinning.
“Oh, I get it. That’s a cool name.” She said.
“I am Melanie.” she said and extended her hand to me.
“David. Hey, where are you headed?” I asked.
“Towards Cheshire Bridge.” she said, looking hopeful at the thought of being escorted by two would be protectors.
“That’s back about 5 miles from where we came from. It’s not too bad that way at the moment.” I told her not relishing the thought of even considering going back instead of onward to home.
“Uh… David.” Dump started to remind me. I glanced around and had an idea.
“Yeah, we need to get off this street, come on with us, Melanie, if you want and we will move one street over back towards where you are heading and talk for a minute.” I said.
I really needed to find out what was happening on the interstate and if we weren’t there, when those heathens possibly came back, out of sight might be out of mind.
“I wouldn’t mind an escort out of here, sounds like a plan to me.” Melanie said.
“Let’s do a little zig-zagging over to the next couple streets and confuse our trail a bit. I am not up for extra walking, but I like to be on the safe side.”
“Good idea.” they both almost simultaneously said.
“Dump, keep on looking around for some kind of weapon.” I said.
“Been doing it, there ain’t shit around when ya need it.” he grumbled. That’s true; we had been having our eyes peeled for anything from a stick to a brick all the way down the road so far. Time to take command here and get my charges thinking war zone and cautious movement through this jungle, a quick scan of the area offered lots of opportunities.
“Look, normally I would stay in the shadows and out of the middle of the street, but all these cars broke down in the middle of the road might have things we need.” I said in my best pathfinder, military-like manner. I will the take point on the left side of the cars. Melanie, you go on the right side of them. And Dump, you watch our backs and look into storefronts occasionally.” I said while looking for agreement to my newly found leadership role.
“What exactly are we looking for? I thought you wanted us to find something heavy or sharp as a possible weapon while we evaded those punks.” Melanie asked.
“See if any of these cars have got keys in them. I want a tire iron or whatever else might be in the trunk.” I replied.
“A tire iron sure would be nice.” Dump said while looking devilishly in my direction. I shudder to think what an enraged Dump Truck with a lug nut loosener could do to a man’s coconut and we all spread out to keep stepping and prowling for possibilities. I stopped for a minute to let everyone catch up with me.
“I do not like this folks; you no
tice how quiet this street is? I think most of these folks knew it was a bad area to begin with and just got the hell out of dodge, as soon as they broke down. It is a bit of a ghost town in this older sector, but the run down appearance of this area tells me people are not likely to hang around on a good day.” I murmured while looking down the street at the scattering of vehicles in various positions from parked to wrecked or just stalled out in the road.
“Ha! What’s that my friends, I see something interesting come on.” and stepped off towards my goal.
“A bug mobile?” You aren’t going all Mc Gyver on us, Dave, are you?” Dump truck questioned, as I was opening the hatch on a Orkin Truck.
“I am not sure if they have what I want, but I think they got the equivalent of mace in here.” I said while rummaging around in the back of the truck.
“Yup, just as I expected” I said producing a brand new can of Wasp spray.
“What do you do with that, light it?” Dump inquired getting interested in the can.
“Nope, this bottle of bug mace works on people, too. It’s worse than pepper spray and has some components in it similar to nerve gas.”
“I am glad you’re on our side, Dave.” Melanie said speculatively.
“Here, take this, its point and spray at the face, no instructions needed if we get cornered, but hide it in your purse as a surprise.” I said, while handing her the can of industrial strength ‘hoodlum’ spray.
“It won’t permanently blind them, will it?” Melanie asked, as she was gingerly handling the can.
“It’s possible, but when push comes to shove; their intentions don’t have a conscience, its best you lose yours, too.” I said looking seriously at her.
“I guess the world really has gone to hell in a hand basket.” she resolutely replied.
“Just consider them aliens and that can of Raid is something they are allergic to kind of like slugs and salt.” I said with a grin.
“Good one, David.” Dump said, as we shared grins all around.
“Come on. Folks, lets keep moving another block over, and we stay tight for now,” I declared while still scanning cars, but focusing on just making it out of the area.
“I have wanted to get a tire iron all day, but most folks will take their keys with them to get back in the house when they abandon a vehicle.” I said musing at loud.
“Where’s your home, David?” Melanie asked.
“Montgomery, Alabama.” I said dismally.
“Shit, you’re a long ways from home. Where you headed now?” she replied looking horrified.
“Montgomery. Dumps getting off the hike in Newnan and I’m going to road march my ass there come hell or high water.” I claimed.
“You must have been in the military. I haven’t heard that term in years, except for my Daddy sharing war stories with his buddies.” Melanie replied.
“Yeah, I was. Its funny how your vocabulary changes once you join up.”
“Melanie, next block or two, it time for you to go right and us go left. I’m sorry, but we got to divide paths.” I said trying to look consolingly at her. She stopped, dead in her tracks.
“What?” she blurted.
“I… I kind of thought you were helping Me.” she tearfully addressed me.
“We are, but our paths follow different roads. I am sorry, darling, but we gotta go.” I said sheepishly. I don’t know her well enough to hug her or put an arm around her shoulder. I am always a disaster when it comes to women’s emotions and my need to care and protect when it’s not on familiar grounds, hell, even when it is.
“Ok, I understand.” she said wiping tears away. “Its, Its, just all too much and I...” Ah hell David just hug her, if she knocks the shit out of you for doing it just take it and apologize I thought and so I did. Damn, this woman is strong. I thought,. That’s why you don’t get close to drowning people as I felt the death grip on me that was supposed to be a returned hug. I am looking over her shoulder at Dump, who is looking at me as uncomfortable and confused as I am.
“I will be alright, thanks for what you have done.” Melanie said, after releasing me and we all resumed the passage down the street.
“What kind of condition is the Interstate in, Melanie?” I asked.
“It’s a mess, but not as many bad wrecks as you would think though. When the cars conked out most everyone just coasted to a halt. It was bizarre though, kind of like a slow motion carnival ride slowing down when the operator hits the switch” She said reflecting on the scene.
“Too bad we don’t have an on switch; it’s going to be getting pretty rough out here.” Dump said in reply.
“Were going to be cutting over to interstate ramp in a bit Melanie, let me tell you a few things that might help you out in this situation.”
“Hey, I need all the advice I can get, I would appreciate it.” she said turning in my direction. I got to hand it to her, she had regained her composure a lot quicker than I thought possible.
“OK, first off, when you get home put a pot under every faucet you got and run the water. Your pipes should still have water in them. I don’t know if they got around to shielding the emergency generators at the water company or not, but even if they did the generators will run out of fuel in a few days or weeks, max.” I told her as she listened intently.
“Next, don’t flush the toilet; you need the water in the back tank. Line the bowl with a garbage bag to do your business in or try finding a 5 gallon bucket with a lid”
“We back to out houses for awhile it looks like.” Dump said.
“Yeah, sanitation is going to be really hard from now on.” I replied.
A group of stragglers from the interstate started moving towards our direction. All were hot and disheveled-looking, a few were bleeding from cuts and bruises most likely from car wrecks.
“Be best to try traveling with one of these groups, Melanie, there’s safety in numbers.” I told her.
She nodded her agreement and said “You got time to give me some more tips before you go?”
“Sure, do you know about using bleach to purify water?” I inquired.
“I have heard of it, but I don’t know how much to use.” She said.
“Use 3 drops to a quart or a liter and 5 drops for a half gallon, as a general rule. You can add a couple drops more, if the water is really cloudy. Avoid using bleaches that contain perfumes, dyes and other additives.”
“Ah hell, all I got is April fresh smelling Clorox.” she cried.
“Don’t use it in your drinking water, be ok to wash with. If you find some regular bleach, mix in thoroughly and allow it to stand for at least 30 minutes before using. (60 minutes if the water is cloudy or very cold).”
“If you got any Iodine tincture 5 drops per quart, when the water is clear will do the trick.” I said.
“I got some of that” she smilingly said.
“Stuff doesn’t taste good, but if you add any kind of vitamin C to it, it neutralizes the taste, but don’t put it in until after the iodine has cleaned the water. Takes about 30 minutes to do that, the same as bleach” I explained.
“Ok, hold up a second I want to write that down, in case I forget.” Melanie said, while fumbling in her purse. I noticed she eyed the can of Wasp spray, but didn’t comment further.
While she was taking notes, I watched the stream of weary travelers making their way up from the interstate. This is good for me, I guess, less folks on the road to contend with. They will probably be trickling in for days depending on where their cars broke down and the resolve of their owners to get home. I pondered how long it was going to take me to travel 180 miles by foot. Hell, I am going to beg borrow or steal me a bicycle first chance I get.
Dump brought me back to the moment by asking “You’re not supposed to drink either one long term are you I heard, isn’t that right, Dave?
“Yeah, that’s right.” I allowed, “Boiling is the best way or you can pasteurize it, too.”
“How do you pasteurize it?
” Melanie asked.
“Just leave that bottle you got in your purse, capped out in the sun for an hour or two depending on the weather. That will do it.”
“I am going to run out of charcoal pretty quick as it is, that’s a good tip, David.” Melanie responded.
“Hydrogen peroxide will work too, but you use like 1/8th of a cup to a gallon.” I advised.
“I have some of that too, but that sounds like a lot.” Melanie said looking skeptical.
“Hey, that his job. He gets paid to know things like that.” Dump said looking all indignant.
“Really, what do you do David?” asked Melanie.
Dump answered for me before I could object, “He is an emergency manager.” he said beaming that his buddy was supposed to be a pro.
“Oh, that’s wonderful, what’s FEMA’s plan to deal with this?” Melanie questioned.
Damn. Dump, I didn’t want to have this conversation.
“Well, FEMA, I am sorry to say, really doesn’t have a plan for something of this magnitude.” I replied.
“That doesn’t surprise me they didn’t seem to have much of one for Katrina either.” Dump said.
Melanie was looking all crestfallen and thoughtful.
“You mean FEMA won’t be coming to help”?
“Not anytime soon. Oh, they will get around to organizing something eventually, a lot of military trucks might still work, but as far as I can tell without hearing any news, this disaster is mostly a worldwide event. Resources are simply overwhelmed.”
I let that sink in for a bit and then continued. “You’re pretty much left to your own devices for the next couple months.” I said.
Dump looked like he might say, ‘or forever’ and I gave him a look that said to hush.
“The best things you can do right now are tribe up with friends or relatives and help each other get through this.”
“I see.., any other tips?” Melanie asked.
“Well, water is your biggest short term problem at the moment; just remember your hot water tank has water in it that you can get out from its drain pipe.” I could probably stand here all day feeding her various bits of survival knowledge, but that wasn’t going to happen, I pondered what few other tid-bits I could share before I moved on.