Disaster worker survival issues

This might be an interesting exercise for some.

I'm a Health Dept. field worker, so in a SHTF scenario - esp. one involving disease - I'd be part of the Gov't. coming by and sticking my nose into your business and whatnot.

Sorry in advance taser1 Actually, I'm a decent guy and agree with most of you about the role and limitations of Gov't.

Most preparedness scenarios imagine you'll be surviving on your own - but what preparations, equipment, etc would you recommend if your job was to run a shelter, decontaminate an area or prevent the spread of a plague?

Remember that you'd have limitations - no unauthorized firearms, for example - but you'd have a panicked population to deal with, face to face.

-Mark

 

Please explain no unauthorized firearms, what would be considered an authorized firearm, anything purchased legally, somebody with a CCW permit?

 

Sure, CC.

What I meant is that I'd be part of a team, thus I couldn't bring along my AK or anything not issued. Believe it or not, I'd prob'ly go to jail for that. This would likely include CCWs, and other legal arms.

Of course, I do have things like an all-plastic knife, but wonder about other items, if anybody has suggestions.

Issues for me currently are things like: Transport to rally points [and surviving getting there, if required], riots, contagion, etc., and what to do if I can't fulfill my duties [cut off, complete collapse of order, etc].

It puts a slightly different spin on the usual survival scenario.

 

I'm a little slow this morning thanks for the clarification

 

Also, I should add that in part my curiosity is getting the POV from persons NOT working the disaster - how would they see the role I'd play as a disaster worker.

Like if you're holed up in your house and seeing me come up your driveway. Anything I should do or not do?

 

First thing I would do is turn around you don't want to come up my driveway. No offense

 

ghrit-
good advice.
Insofar as checking contaminations, I'm pretty much the guy in the yellow canary suit when it comes to that. Its not my normal, day to day thing, but thats what they'd have me do.

Mostly its checking water and soils, taking samples back for NBC or blood samples for medical emergencies. I've some experience from the military in it, so no big deal there.

If I had to go to your house, I figure I'd keep my hands empty and up, then yell for you and provide information, like the water's bad here, etc. Or say I need blood samples and show the kit.

Not saying its easy. LOL I do the blood samples now for stuff like HIV from some of the worst street types you can think of. But I get 'em. Nice guy, like I said.

ON edit:
For the Gov't., the idea is to restore order and services as quickly as possible. Services = money flows, sometimes, and transfer of goods other times. I wouldn't be concerned with removing someone from their house, but in a larger sense the Gov't. might.
What you might consider, then, is where you're located vis. transportation routes. If they need you out of the way, they'll come to move you. As for order, I know most of you just want to be left alone, so if you don't cause trouble there's no need. HTH

 

Ghrit-
Ah. Got it.
Yeah, I think most people are reasonable when you're clear about why you're doing things, and if you're respectful about asking to do it. Trouble mostly comes when you can't share a bit of info that that person knows you have, like with privacy matters.

In epidemics, the first priority is control of spread and secondary is finding the cause or original carrier. That typically means to control access to and egress from the region involved. So again, having you in your house is good. Having you leave to go to a hideaway outside of the region isn't, sorry to say. But a lot of that depends on how the bug is spread.
Other than that, it isn't going to be like the movies or anything.

CAVEAT: Having you in your house is good unless its the kind of epidemic that results in bodies piled up in those houses. To some extent, an epidemic has to burn out. But having bodies in houses brings vermin and a host of other problems that compound the emergency.

 

My sister is in a similar situation - she is a pathology lab tech at a local hospital, and is on their 'disaster' team - she would wear the moonsuit too.
Too bad - if TSHTF in a big way - I figure she's toast.
I too would be leary of 'official types' coming onto my property unannounced and unbidden. Not a smart thing to do, especially on the west side of town here - we are "Bubbaville"!

 

Some might. But that wasn't exactly what I was asking.

Sometimes you just can't report, so plan B is getting to your own family until you can. So I guess I'd just need options, differing ways to think about it all.

I'm new for the position so its a new dimension to think about.

 

This may be outta line and off topic ;but after seeing the katrina vid of the little old lady showing the police her stocked pantry, full water jugs and pets and explaining she did not want to leave; was safe, warm dry and fed, even safely showing she had a legal firearm(at which point she was assaulted and dragged out(?)

(And) then there's those pesky executive orders seizing all stocks of food/water and transportation.(everything in the country) for "redistribution (out right theft!) "We're from the gov and we're here to help " is just about certain to get an unpopular response.How can a citizen trust you guys ??? (I don't want to be stuck in some camp under an incredible beauracracy Where somebody else determines when, where and what I'm gonna eat and sleep.) Perhaps a transfer to the post office might be in order.???.

 

Tango3 -
Sing it, brother! No, I'm not taking offense at all. Too much that comes from above is much too coercive for my tastes, and I say variations of "I'm for the Gov't. and I'm here to help" all day long.

Hear me out on a small part, though: I think epidemics fall under the category of things, like railroads, postal services and the military, that simply can't get solved by the 'as local as possible' principle.

Everything I've read from Katrina set my blood to boil. It was mismanaged a decade before it happened.

Some planners still make it out like it was FEMAs fault, but I just ask them "where was the water the city was supposed to have stocked up?" It wasn't there and nothing much was. Somebody pocketed the cash.

 

ghrit, thanks for clarifying.

The weapons thing is probably my least favorite part. Not b/c I'm adverse to it, but b/c its freighted by laws I can't agree with but must abide by.

One possible idea I'm still weighing for my BOB is that perhaps I'm in one of the few situations where having my .44 BP hogleg makes a degree of sense.

I think "disposable firearm" is a mutual contradiction in terms, but it is a type of gun thats much harder for the unfamiliar to use after its used up. The stopping power would, I think, be sufficient to get me out of many tight spots [surrounding my car, maybe] until I get to my post.

My "office" is, often as not, my car. I'm typically within the inner city, and yes it can be hostile. It pays best for me not to fit in, carrying my clipboard and badge.

My post would be a high school. "Gun free zone", so of course I'm safe. LOL.

 

Sort of a larger answer to Tango3 and others:
I kind of wish that more of you, the survivalists and gun-rights proponents, were involved in disaster planning. I know you guys have expertise and the willingness to do it honestly and thoroughly, and you would account for people just like yourselves within your plans for every conceivable emergency. Right now, its being left to the pinheads.

 

Flunky
Glad I didn't offend you with my rant , one more of those posts you regret later. I know gov has a place whether I have authority issues or not. (Larger issues I couldn't deal with i.e..Ebola) would require gov health involvement and;probably scare me enough to "get on the bus without too much resistance

My pointbeing:"main "lesson" here: if the gov "pinheads" go"authoratative"; because "we're the gov" gawdammnit. Considering thew previous examples I mentioned; we the citizenry consider ourselves fighting for our freedom. you guys are doing your gov job,
analogy:
" You see a fox chasing a rabbit and I ask you sir" which will win?"
And I say with perfect confidence: the rabbit!
for the rabbit is running for his life;
While the fox is merely chasing his supper...

 

Ghrit, unfortunately, Little Sis is pretty much a Sheeple. I gave her a good First Aid Kit for her car - a Subaru Forester with 'all wheel drive' (not a real 4X4, but more capable than most small cars).
I made her a mini-BOB. She lives about 8 miles from her hospital, so could hoof it home if needs be.
She and Hubby gave up the country life, complete with enough land and livestock to get by - they got tired of the muddy roads.
They are NOT preppers - though I send them literature and lists of basics every so often.
I'm just afraid that her job would keep her 'in the trenches' til it's too late. I very much doubt she has given thought to just how to be able to hike back home if the worst happened.
Fortunately, flooding isn't an issue here. The DotGuv is a much bigger threat, depending on circumstances.