War
Do you think America is at war? It is a trick question, really. On many fronts, America is facing a new enemy. We are no longer a country that has a threat of being invaded, necessarily. However, we are attacked on our own land, overseas, and online.
Terrorists execute attacks that kill, maim & threaten our way of life.
When the first plane crashed into the World Trade Center, everyone first thought it was an accident. As the second plane hit, everyone knew it was something worse.
How many times do you go to a major event and wonder if someone might just stage and attack at the event? It can happen anywhere.
Preparing Citizens for War
The United States government once supplied yellow painted metal signs and placed them at street corners to identify bomb shelters. Then, they placed anti-aircraft missile batteries into underground silos in places no one knew about until years later;
- School children were instructed to conduct "Duck and Cover" drills in the classroom..."at the sight of a blinding light cover your heads, ball up into the fetal position and hide under your desk."
- "When walking home from school, if you see a ball of fire or blinding light seek cover immediately."
- Home owners chose to build BOMB SHELTERS in their back yards with their own money.
We don't see things like this now because our enemy is more sophisticated.
How to be Prepared for War
Warfare emergency preparation may be the one thing that ensures your survival.
1. You go to the supermarket each week to replenish the food that your family ate the previous week. It wouldn't hurt to buy a few extra canned goods every so often because it will not spoil until it is opened, right? It is a simple way to be a little more prepared.
2. In addition, have an emergency food supply,
and have a suitable supply of drinkable water as this will prevent dehydration. Plastic jugs of safe drinking water can be purchased from the supermarket but if it is already unsafe to go out, it will be too late for that. Prepare in advance by having water purification tablets on hand.
3. Having a first aid kit is always useful to treat wounds. Make sure it is filled, too, because you never can tell when it will be needed.
4. If you have to evacuate, it will be a good idea to bring food, water, a few extra clothes, flashlight, compass, matches, candy and an identification card with you. Everything should be packed in a backpack so you and your family can move quickly to the nearest evacuation center. This is often called a bug out bag. Have it prepared BEFORE an emergency strikes.
5. The last tip for warfare emergency preparation is to be familiar with the disaster plans that have been made the federal government and your particular city.
Consequences of War
Most cities and states already have contingency plans in place.6. Consider purchasing gas masks for you and your family. Gas mask purchases are a personal decision each family must make. Educate yourself about gas masks to avoid a mistake that could cost you your life. Consider the following information before purchasing and purchase only from a recognized dealer or manufacturer.
Loss of Life – Death of civilians from diseases, famine, etc., as well as deaths of soldiers in battle and possible massacres and genocide.
Mental Stress - Five years ago, the term “Posttraumatic Stress Disorder” (PTSD) was perhaps familiar only to mental health experts and researchers. Today, however, it has entered our nation’s lexicon as more and more soldiers return home from Iraq and Afghanistan with mental distress. The National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder describes PTSD as an anxiety disorder that may occur following a traumatic experience, causing a victim to feel “scared,confused, or angry.” This disorder, first diagnosed by scientists in the 1970s, can be initiated by a variety of experiences besides military combat. These include experiencing physical or sexual abuse and life-threatening accidents or disasters.
Infrastructure - The degradation any country's basic services brought on by military activities can wreak havoc on the local environment and population as simple thing we often take for granted such as clean water and sanitation become major concerns. Public health takes a back seat to staying alive. In Afghanistan, bacterial contamination and general water loss was a serious problem for many people. The consequence was an overall decline in safe drinking water throughout the country.
Forests/Biodiversity - Military machinery and explosives have caused unprecedented levels of deforestation and habitat destruction. This has resulted in erosion control, poor water quality, and food production problems. To make matters worse, ecological protection and restoration become a low priority during and after military conflicts. So many other problems take precedence, such as infrastructure.
Nuclear accidents and radiation - The mishandling of the radioactive material has profound effects on the environment and on the people and animals that depend on it.
Chemical and Biological Warfare - One of the most striking examples of military disregard for environmental and human health is the use of chemical and biological agents in warfare. Consider President Bashar al-Assad's government’s use of Sarin against his own people in Syria in 2013.