preparedness, what if, asking for help, neighbors, SHTF, survival, food, children
Preparedness

Post-SHTF: When the Neighbors Ask For Help

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I hear it all the time – “The SHTF and a neighbor knocks on my door I’m putting a bullet in their head and feeding them to the pigs.” Right. When John and Susan drop over with little 6-year old Lisa asking if there is any food to spare these keyboard warriors are going to just kill them? Tough talk when those who you had a few beers with and babysat their kids aren’t standing right in front of you.

This neighbor lets her dog crap on my driveway?

“No soup for you!!”

This topic came up at a Survival & Preparedness Convention I spoke at a few years ago. Several of the guest speakers were standing around talking about different things and someone mentioned what if cousin Bob showed up knowing you had some extra food put back – asking for help. As you can imagine opinions varied based on numerous factors. What was the relationship with those knocking on the door? How desperate is the situation? Does the person have any skills that would provide benefit to having them stay? Are kids involved?

The truth of the matter is the vast majority of us do not know how we will react should something like this occur. To flat out state that you will help absolutely no one could result in a situation where it could be beneficial to assist someone – and you send them away. To create shoe boxes full of supplies specifically for this situation and start handing them out to every desperate soul that passes by could prove disastrous.

So – not to burst your bubble here but there is no solid, guaranteed right answer.

Rourke

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15 Comments

  1. Firehawk says:

    In the city I live in now, nobody talks to anybody. No shared beers, help with snow, or anything. I won’t be helping many. Once I move to SC I think that situation will change even though I want to go very rural.

    Reply
      1. Firehawk says:

        The Momma retires a year from now. I already have a real estate agent who says he has access to real estate in Oconee county, Pickens county, Anderson county, Laurens county, as well as Greenville county. Next May we will be down to look at properties. I monitor properties now on the internet now, especially with Zillow as they have the most photos per property offered.

        Reply
  3. Clark says:

    Another good reason to bug out, those you want to help will already know where you have gone, to put it simply, if you care for them, they will already know, I worked through this scenario in my head many years ago, don’t get me wrong, I know I can only help those very close to me, there are many others I care about, but know I can’t save, I have strongly urged them to prepare, but know they don’t or won’t, my conscious is clear

    Reply
  4. SingleMom says:

    For me, it would depend entirely on who came knocking and what they specifically needed. I know my immediate neighbors, and I wouldn’t be able to stand by while housebound Mr & Mrs Taylor go hungry or little Katie next door is sick with an illness I can treat. On the other hand, I learned a valuable lesson last Halloween.

    We live in a small community with less than 15 Trick-or-Treaters. I was home alone and had to get up unusually early. I put a lidded plastic container filled with small candy bars on the front porch with a humorous sign explaining that I had to sleep, just take a handful, and please replace the lid for the next person. All went well with the first several kids (I was actually listening from bed). They giggled at my note, took a couple pieces, and carefully left everything the way they found it. Then, I heard an adolescent boy and his mother out there. They scooped up everything, and by the time I got out of bed and reached the door, they were already out of sight. I learned from Katie that while I’d set out roughly 500 candy bars, the majority of the kids got nothing from my house. Never again. If I’m not available to hand out candy personally, there just won’t be any. So, yeah. You’ll need to carefully pick and choose who you help, because if it becomes known that you have something that others want, guaranteed there will be someone who’ll take it all from you without hesitation and with no interest in helping others.

    Reply
    1. JR says:

      Thanks SingleMom. Ther last couple of years my wife did not want to hand anything out due to the pathetic display of rudeness and entitlement we see walking through the neighborhood. I keep buying candy due to nostalgia with the hope for a good experience. Hasn’t happened. I suspect this year we will go out for dinner. Your analogy is a good one in that that attitude and experience with Halloween will be reflective in case people become desperate.

      Reply
      1. Firehawk says:

        I put up a sign that says, “No Halloween Here”! Wife and I go out to dinner. Have been doing this for 15 years.

        Reply
  5. keebler says:

    Good morning to all;
    I have lived very remote for 32 years some of my neighbors are Amish they want for nothing,great People ,Then they are a few who think Beer & cigaretts are most inportant. I keep at least 30 + day of supplies where any one can see if the open cabinets.(False Back) TP,& all paper products 1/2 yr’s worth,Lots of camping supplies.I don’t tell what i have & plan to NOT help,saying I have nothing to spare.I do have water. & a field to campout on.,Halloween never happened at my place to rural.I also have a city Place 30/45 days of food there too. on a dead end road.some solar @ Both places.for 1, 2 led lights. next door neighbor shops every day,always ask’s need anything, sometimes i say yes-I do the same for her. she won’t make in a disaster,

    Reply
  6. JohnP says:

    SingleMom, unfortunately there will always be those who grab everything and anything in sight even if they can’t use it, I think it’s called greed.

    Reply
  7. Kent says:

    my life’s philosophy is & always has beeN …..”YOU NEVER KNOW HOW YOU ARE GONNA ACT ( or REACT) TILL YOU ARE IN THAT SITUATION”….you can only guess what you would do

    Reply
  8. John M. says:

    Great post Rouke! Every time you say ‘yes’ to someone you are saying no to many other possibilities. Under normal conditions this might be ok, but when SHTF your have to think a bit differently. As a long-time prepper I’m always looking for ways to learn more, my question would be how do you keep your prepping more concealed from friends and family so that not everyone comes knocking on your door when disaster strikes?

    Reply
  9. PR says:

    I’ve remarked previous that I intend to be charitable SHTF. Three things I offer to all who are peaceful: (1) All the water they can drink and/or carry away, (2) Advice, (3) Directions to somewhere else. If not peaceful, then I offer a quick exit from this world of troubles.

    There are always exceptions. If there is a need to provide first aid and save a life without personal jeopardy and expenditure of critical supplies, I shall. If there is a low risk opportunity to share the Roman Road with another, I shall.

    My friends and neighbors tend toward self-sufficiency and if one showed up on my fence line, I would expect to find a common cause of concern.

    PR

    Reply
  10. PR says:

    John, I expect the opportunity to be safely charitable might increase one year plus from SHTF (after the clueless sheeple have passed).

    One of the best ways to preserve your preserves in secrecy is rural life on excess land. I think most realize life in the ‘burbs might just be hard and short. If you are serious about survival, you need to live on multiple acres, remote as possible, while all the time cultivating similar friends and neighbors.

    Having so said, many of my neighbors tend to mind their own business and expect me to do the same, Cultivation of such neighbors must then be done with a measure of care. External threats commonly breakdown this isolation, returning to what I said about a friend or neighbor at my fence line. I wouldn’t trespass a neighbor’s fence without invitation, nor would I expect one to trespass mine. If so, would presume one of two things: (1) thievery is afoot, or (2) there is a severe external threat.

    My thoughts,
    PR

    Reply

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