Emergency Prepping and Action
Better to spend time preparing than regretting
Author: Steve Hanafi (Silat Sharaf Practitioner, Malaysia)
So, we’ve gone through the basics of PACE, the concepts and the real-life examples of events that can happen. Now we’ll dive deeper into the preparations and actions that must be taken before the storm comes. We’re not asking for one to happen, but if it does, we won’t be the ones asking from others.
“Knowing is not enough, doing is”
To be good at doing the right things, you have to continuously practice the right things right. Continuously working on your craft while looking for weak spots for you to work on and to improve. Equipping yourself with the right equipment is just as important as good preparation. The preparation and action will be broken down into three parts: Learn, Do, Carry.
WHAT TO LEARN
There’s no crime that a man will not commit to save himself
Survival skill
Basic wilderness survival skills will help in case you get lost or if you have to run and hide in the woods. Knowing how to live on your own, without the aid of modern-day technology will help you live and thrive in the woods. The 4 basic essential survival skills that should be learned as suggested by Bear Grylls are making fire, building temporary shelter, getting clean water and navigation.
Self-protection skill
This includes both empty hand combative and shooting skills. In the worst-case scenario when the society has collapsed, it’s every man for himself. People will do anything to get resources for themselves and their loved ones, and this includes burglary, invading others' properties, injuring or even to the extent of killing others for a resource.
First-aid skill
Having a first aid kit is important. But having the skills to use it is a must. Getting injured is highly likely in the events of disaster, and having the knowledge and ability to treat injuries and prevent it from getting worse is a good skill to acquire.
WHAT TO DO
It is better to fail miserably during training than to make mistakes during disasters
This is mostly rehearsing and trying out the plans to see what can go wrong and what can be improved on. Rehearse with your team, learn to get well-coordinated, to communicate better and let them know the game plan and teach them how to effectively execute the plan.
Keep in mind that you’re planning and training for a real-life situation. Make it as realistic as possible. The response time, delays, how to rendezvous and avoid as much as public attention as possible. Simulate real-life situations that has a high possibility of happening such as being tailed, driving to get to a meetup point, counter tracking, anti-kidnapping, fire drill or burglary drill.
WHAT TO CARRY
The best tool is the one that you have with you
Decoy Wallet
Inexpensive yet effective
This will be a cheap knock-off wallet with very little money, which is separate from your actual wallet. This is so, in case you’re getting mugged, it’s easy to bring out and give them and run away while they go through it. You’re not left broke or dead just to fight or run away from a mugger.
Hardly distinguishable
Fake Jewellery
Have some cheap/fake jewellery on you to use as a bargaining chip for an escape from mugging or robbery. They won’t have the time to look if it's real, also it distracts them for probably other possessions you got with you. For gents, a fake watch such as a fake Rolex will do the job amazingly well. It can be a life-saving and time-saving tool that you can use to trade with corrupt officers or mafias.
Burner Phone
A decoy phone
Traveling to certain countries or if you live in countries where civil unrest and robbery is high, you best not show off the latest iPhone. Travel with a burner phone, they’re only about 10-30 bucks, just phone calls and text messages necessary, but if you must take pictures, there are also cheap smartphones you can carry with you. All these are so if a thief snatches it off your hand, you’d have nothing expensive to cry about.
All the essentials inside
Bug-out Bag
A bug-out or a get home bag. It is a bag that has the essentials to survive either in urban area or in the wild. Have at least 2 bags at different parts of the house or one at home the other at your stash spot or in your vehicle. Make sure that both bags have the exact same contents. Have everything in 2s or 3s for anyone so you can use anyone you can reach in case of emergency (ICE). Have a bug-out bag for each family member, then teach them the importance of having one and teach them how to use the tools inside the bag. It doesn’t have to look like a tactical-navy-seal-combat bag, but it has to be able to carry all your essentials. The less attention it draws, the better.
If anything, be smart. Relax. Remain generally alert and catalog of what and who is in your presence before you focus on whatever you are doing there. Set your awareness on the widest band possible. Develop a system of early warning cues based on acute hearing and vision, constantly scanning for abnormalities. Don’t look like a scared victim, but don’t go overboard and challenge everything that moves around you. Just be confident and relaxed. The preparations made might not be used instantly, and some might think of it as a waste. However, we believe that it is better to have and not need than to need but not have.