If you are a frequent reader of this or other preparedness/survival related blogs, you most likely have preparations stored for various “stuff-hitting-the-fan” scenarios. For short term, minor/moderate events, the chances are good that what you have stocked could see you through to the other side. However, in a prolonged, far-reaching, severe scenario, the chances increase that you might run out of some of your supplies.
If faced with dwindling supplies, or if your supplies are destroyed or stolen, you could be faced with scavenging or salvaging to resupply. I have given this subject some thought and have developed some guidelines. If forced by a survival situation to scavenge or salvage, I believe these guidelines will help one to do so safely, effectively and morally.
Morally
One of the rules in every society is “No stealing”. God believes in this so much that He made it one of His Ten Commandments. But is scavenging stealing?
I used the words “salvaging” and “scavenging” above intentionally. I believe they have different meanings and are not the same as stealing or looting. Language is important, so here are some brief definitions, all from Dictionary.com;
Scavenging:
to take or gather (something usable) from discarded material.
to search, especially for food.
Salvage:
the act of saving a ship or its cargo from perils of the seas.
the act of saving anything from fire, danger, etc.
Steal:
to take (the property of another or others) without permission or right, especially secretly or by force:
Looting:
spoils or plunder taken by pillaging, as in war.
anything taken by dishonesty, force, stealth, etc.
There are some who see this issue in black and white and say that taking anything that you did not purchase is stealing and, therefore, sin. In Scripture, we’re told of Jesus plucking grain on the Sabbath, also of Him going to the fig tree to eat figs and cursing it when it had none. Later, He tells the disciples to go ahead of Him and take a colt to bring to Him.
It is clear that Jesus did not own the field of grain, the fig tree or the colt. If we look at this issue in black and white, Jesus committed petty theft for taking the grain, attempted theft for the figs and the equivalent of grand theft auto for taking the colt. Did Jesus sin? Of course not. My point is that there can be extenuating circumstances where someone could take things that they did not pay for without stealing and thus, is not sinning.
How can one scavenge morally?
Do not take anything that is actively owned. An example; if during hurricane Katrina someone came upon a home with boarded windows and a light visible on the inside, obviously the home and its contents are being actively owned. However, if you stumble upon a home that is damaged by the storm and is not fit to live in, if you called out and no one answered, one might make a judgment call to see if there were any life sustaining supplies inside or signs of recent usage. If, after the survival situation has passed, the people who owned the home or business returned, I would gladly reimburse them somehow for the supplies I used.
A survival situation is not the time to score free TV’s, stereos, liquor or any other item that is not needed for survival. If it cannot increase your five basic human needs; water, food, shelter, energy and security, it could be looting.
Only take what you need. If you have an abundance of water and a water purifier at home and you come across a case of water bottles, leave them for someone without.
On a side note, if you ever have someone accuse you of hoarding because you prep tell them this: buying now when there is plenty of supply and stocking up is prudent. Running out and buying or taking in an emergency when there is a limited supply is hoarding.
Scavenging Safely and Efficiently
Like most of the population, I have never had to scavenge or salvage to survive. I have developed the following ideas from watching TV/movies related to survival as well as from Prepper fiction and from video games. In the last year or so, there have been several games with varying types of events; some zombie outbreaks, some pandemics, some stranded on an island and on and on. Many of these games are multiplayer. In some of these games, if you are killed, you must start over with nothing but the clothes on your back, so people are very cautious when dealing with others.
While the event may be fictional, I have learned a lot about scavenging/salvaging and about how people react in SHTF events. Some might say that people act tougher or ruder because it is over the internet in a game. I tend to believe that the internet just magnifies a person’s true self. If someone is opinionated in person, they’re even more so online. If someone is a bully, they are even more so online. If someone is compassionate in person, they are more so online.
Here are some tips if you ever find yourself in a situation where you must scavenge to survive.
One of the things I learned by playing video games is that it can be very easy to forget where you’ve scavenged and where you haven’t searched yet. One thing I started to do in games is to place an item by the front door of houses when I was done, so I could tell I didn’t need to go back in during return trips to that neighborhood. In real life I would probably make a discreet mark with spray-paint or marker.
Another thing I learned was to always carry a good backpack! In several of these games, there is a lot of junk laying around. Some of it might have a purpose, but the lesson I learned is that while a sturdy backpack is important, it fills up quickly and gets heavy even faster.
Take what is needed and make plans to come back for things you want or can’t carry during the first trip. One could place a discrete mark of another color to signify you want to get something from inside.
The grid or internet could be down, so keep a phone book around. If you discover a specific need, you’ll have a means to look for the address of a place to go trade or salvage what you need.
Work in pairs. It is easy to get focused on the task and not be as alert as you should be; use the buddy system!
In a few of these games, there are “safe zones,” where combat is not possible. Other players were often willing to trade inside this zone. However, one of the most dangerous places was the area nearby. Other players who play as bandits know that people coming or going often have gear from trading. I think this would be the same in real life. If you go to a known area to trade, don’t go alone. Again, use the buddy system.
Think outside of the box. Everyone is going to think of Costco, Sam’s Club and Wal-Mart. They might not think of the office complex or the industrial area of town.
Please click here to vote for Prepared Christian as a top Prepper site!
If you liked this article please think about sharing it on the social media listed below, thanks!
