Surviving a disaster is something most of us don’t think about. That’s part of the reason why there is so much chaos and loss of life when the inevitable natural disaster hits. Preparing for an event that is unpredictable and unlikely to occur within at least the next few years seems like a waste of time. And depending on what you are preparing for, it’s not cheap. So, most of us remain vulnerable, depending on the government to bail us out.
However, some disasters, especially those man-made are beyond the capability of government agencies to do any good. If a nuclear bomb hits, it’s likely that some of the first responders will be responding to the needs of their own families, assuming they or their families survived. And the sheer trauma and shock of such an event will turn any survivors into shell-shocked zombies, at least temporarily unable to function in the most basic ways, and likely to eventually die anyway due to radiation exposure.
These facts are not stopping people from preparing in innovative ways.
A building network of backwoods doomsday camps around the country are pulling in members from affluent areas and even Washington national security officials as the threats grow from nuclear war, an EMP or virus attack.
Called Fortitude Ranch, the outposts promise protection and a year’s supply of food for those unable to build their own bunker. What’s more, until a crisis strikes, they are being used for prepper training and vacations.
Here’s a brief interview covering what this is all about.
“We’re seeing members from all the three letter agencies,” said Fortitude creator Drew Miller, a retired Air Force colonel and intelligence officer, in a reference to the Central Intelligence Agency, Defense Intelligence Agency and Federal Bureau of Investigation.
He called an attack or even a weather-related electromagnetic pulse shutdown of the electric grid “inevitable,” and a driving force in his project.
That’s not encouraging at all. He’s saying it’s a matter of degree and when, not a matter of “if.”
Here’s how his plan works:
Through memberships and his own cryptocurrency called “Fortitudes,” Miller has raised about $400,000 and established a ranch in West Virginia and Colorado with 10 others planned. An open house at the West Virginia ranch is scheduled for April 21-23.
He said that for the West Virginia ranch, “most members are professional Washington area folks. They don’t have time to do this own their own.” The cost is about $1,000 per person per year to join.
Each camp is expected to house 50-500 in a crisis and Miller said they will have lodges, underground bunkers and guard towers. In the event of a social meltdown, members will be responsible for manning those towers. Each camp has a shooting range.
He said that the camps are nearly as survivable in an attack as the Mt. Weather FEMA site near Virginia’s Shenandoah River where several Washington leaders were housed after the 9/11 attacks.
And he’s not messing around when it comes to weapons to defend his camps. Included in his arsenal are reported to be .50 cal sniper rifles. Not the sort of thing you play around with.
Responsible preparation? Perhaps.
It could be that the best way to determine your answer is if you join one that might be built near you.
Source: Washington Examiner
