The Doomsday Clock Approaches Midnight
The doomsday clock is just 100 seconds away from midnight. It has never been closer to the top of the hour than it is today. What does this mean? How close are we to SHTF? Well, for the technologically advanced society we are, we have a lot to worry about. The novel coronavirus scare is turning into a full blown pandemic. The trade war between China and the US continues on. Worsening weather is wreaking havoc across the globe. I understand this post isn’t the most uplifting, but new threats to our
Learn What to Prepare For
Bunker Basics readers tend to have one question gnawing at them: how close are we to SHTF? To come up with a decent answer, we need identify threats with high probabilities of materializing. Stay current on both domestic and international developments. We have never had easier access to news than we do today, so we have the information needed to make educated risk assessments. The most prominent event lately has been the novel coronavirus, so I’ll use it as an example. Here are the questions we should ask ourselves when determining the risk of dying from the novel coronavirus:
1. Has it expanded outside of its point of origination, Wuhan?
2. How does it spread?
3. How lethal is it?
4. How close are we to SHTF from the novel coronavirus?
The novel coronavirus certainly isn’t the only risk we could encounter. That said, being systematic in the way we measure risk can help us prioritize our preparation.
Develop a SHTF Plan
Once we know what to prepare for, we need to develop a SHTF plan. The best way to develop a SHTF plan is to answer the questions we asked while assessing the risk of a threat materializing. Going through the question and answer process can help us determine steps to mitigate the risk being assessed. I’ll stick with the novel coronavirus example:
1. Has it expanded outside of its point of origination, Wuhan?
Yes, it has. In fact, it has spread throughout Asia and has infected people across the globe. We should therefore prepare to avoid traveling to areas with high concentrations of infections. Many countries have banned flights to China, so the option is off the table for most of us. That said, we should always find ways to mitigate risk before the government forces us to. I have no doubt that most of my readers are smarter than government officials. We can easily act a few steps ahead of them.
2. How does it spread?
The novel coronavirus is spread through the air. An infected man can make others sick when he coughs, sneezes, or simply breathes. So, what should be included in our SHTF plan? A protective mask, for one. You should also have sanitary wipes, exercise good hygiene, and plan to avoid public places if the virus has spread to your area.
3. How lethal is it?
Currently, the novel coronavirus has a mortality rate of 2.1%. The mortality rate is even lower outside of Wuhan, but that doesn’t mean we should grow complacent. Just because the novel coronavirus is unlikely to kill you, doesn’t mean you should have a SHTF plan. There is no vaccine against the virus, so protecting yourself isn’t as easy as going to your local Walgreens or CVS for a shot. Moreover, if you are infected with the virus, you will likely require hospitalization. Protect yourself against the spread, but 
don’t plan on retreating to your bunker.
4. How close are we to SHTF from the novel coronavirus?
The answer to this question depends on how we define SHTF. The spread of the novel coronavirus still hasn’t been contained. We don’t yet know the full extent of the economic impacts either. China’s GDP will definitely suffer, which may have negative impacts on the economies of their trading partners. The probability of a global recession has definitely increased due to the spread of the novel coronavirus. We therefore should also develop a SHTF plan for a recession. I want to make one point clear: the introduction of one risk may also bring peripheral risks with it. If we survive the novel coronavirus, we still need to watch out for the recession that can follow it.
Prepare to Execute the Plan
We developed our SHTF plan, now we need to prepare to execute it. Can we limit our travel? Have we purchased our supplies? Are we ready for a recession? A plan that cannot be executed is completely useless. True preppers are doers; they’re not just talkers. If we have more doers like those in the prepper community, then maybe we’d get ourselves further and further from a SHTF event.
So, How Close Are We to SHTF?
We live in an incredibly complex world. We can never really know just how close we are to SHTF. But we can learn how to assess risks, develop mitigation plans, and execute them. The novel coronavirus is a serious threat. It’s turning into a global pandemic. Also, it won’t be the last! The more we prepare for this threat, the better prepared we’ll be for the next similar threat. I suggest you start preparing.
How close are we to SHTF? Do you have thoughts? Leave them in a comment below or contact me directly.
