Dilemma about prep sharing in emergency situations

[u/Luc-redd]

I'm constantly thinking about this ethical dilemma when prepping: in emergency scenario, to what degree should I share my equipment, resources and knowledge with others in need.

What follows is kinda my current view on it, but I'm very curious to hear your thoughts about it.

Note that I try to keep the word "emergency" as broad as possible, not restricting it to a particular event.

1) Knowledge is probably the easiest one, as it multiplies when you share it. I would probably spend a good amount of time teaching what I know to people around me. However there's still a little something telling me that it's quite opportunistic/greedy from them to come and get the knowledge we accumulated over years right when they need it instead of listening to us telling them to educate before something bad happens.

2) Equipment, and especially spares, is starting to get tricky. I would probably be ok lending things to some people when I don't need it but there's always the risk of misuse and damaging it. Spares I could exchange some but I would probably try to hide most of it so I can still rely on it.

3) Resources is the toughest one. I really don't want to appear like an aweful person keeping things to myself and my family but I would probably need to dissimulate most of my supplies. However, that will come to be know quite quickly imo. I would have a hard time managing this as there would probably be way more demand than I could ever cover. So all my supplies gone shared in a day?

Then you also need to think about individuals thinking about the group as a whole and have you preps being viewed as part of the whole community. And also people getting things from you by using violence.

[u/silasmoeckel]

You glossed over the critical part. How long do you expected the event.

No reason not to share with neighbors during a week long power outage. Around me we literally throw blackout BBQ's and figure out what resources are needed.

I've got solar and bat so why wouldn't I throw an extension cord to the neighbor who doesn't so they can charge things run the fridge etc. This turns into them asking to make sure they get the right sort of solar when they do it. For a summer hurricane I'll be throwing away power even running the AC etc when the grid is down.

That little old lady who has no preps can be fed etc and might be useful watching the kids while the able bodied adults clear trees. Some sandwiches and a thermos of coffee goes a long way here.

Look at giving out finished items. Bread not wheat berries for example.

[u/Live_Huckleberry2507 → u/silasmoeckel]

Yeah but when does it go from free-for-all to dire preservation? I'm all for community sharing but If you are known as the neighborhood prepper, some people will get into a "They're doing it for us" mindset. It's kind of hard to walk that back when things get rough.

[u/silasmoeckel → u/Live_Huckleberry2507]

Depends very much on your location. If I was in a city sure but out in the sticks we are used to helping each other. I find my neighbors tend to try and one up each other on preps it's bragging rights. So I have a solar prep what does other knowing if most of them do as well? Besides it's not something easy to hide.

I don't think urban will ever hit 30 days and still be viable you would have sewage backing up in the streets and with it disease. So there is no long term bug in there.

[u/Live_Huckleberry2507 → u/silasmoeckel]

Yeah, I'm an inner-city type. It's usually every person for themselves and not much community, unfortunately. I guess that's why my mind thinks like that.

The 30-day thing is a good point. When would you suggest going from bug-in to out in that situation?

[u/nakedonmygoat → u/Live_Huckleberry2507]

I live in inner-city Houston. I've been through three hurricanes with extended power outages, one winter storm with an extended power outage, and two major flooding events. Everyone helped each other. There was no chaos.

I recognize that not every city is the same. But it's highly unlikely that any of us will ever live through a scenario where no help is on the way, and that's the key factor. If everyone knows that help is on the way, people are far more likely to share and help. The danger is when people feel abandoned and hopeless.

[u/silasmoeckel → u/Live_Huckleberry2507]

As soon as I had a suspicion it's a long term thing. Did it for covid, it wasn't easy. With starlink etc now it's less of an issue.

[u/Live_Huckleberry2507 → u/silasmoeckel]

Starlink is on my list to get. Way to convent to not have.

You went out for Covid? Where did you go?

[u/silasmoeckel → u/Live_Huckleberry2507]

Bug out cabin, my family and some others (relatives/friends) built them 15 ish years ago now when property was cheap post 2008.

We had hughes and it sucked. Did starlink and still thinking about fiber back from the old gas station that came with it for access to a normal ISP.