FREE INQUIRY IN CREATIVE SOCIOLOGY Volume 12 No 1, May 1984 44

PREPARING FOR APOCALYPSE: SURVIVALIST STRATEGIES Richard G Peterson, United States International University, California INTRODUCTION and supplies, including the Survival Guide and Survivalists are those who believe that the Survive journals. Seminar topics included United States is on the verge of collapse. They Desert Survival, Stress in Survival Situations, hope to survive economic, social, or nuclear and the Need for Self-Reliance in Today's disaster by making preparations for self- Society. Finally, in collaboration with Richard sufficiency and breaking away as much as Mitchell of Oregon State University, dialogue possible from mainstream society. They are was initiated with survivalists through a secure willing to defend what is theirs (Liebmann et 2-way letter exchange service. This service is al 1982). Survivalists have come under widely advertized in survivalist journals, to increasing public recognition and criticism. assist survivalists who wish to contact those Survivalism has been condemned as an with similar interests without compromizing inadequate response to critical social prob- anonymity or personal security. The letter lems, and survivalists are chided for retreating exchange service proved a useful data- from social responsibility (Besser 1982). They gathering tool when we posed as survivalists. are also criticized for succumbing to fear (Mit­ chell 1983). SURVIVAL CONTINUUM My discussion focuses on survivalist Survivalism, like other deviant movements, strategies and practical preparations. In refer­ is a matter of degree of commitment, based ring to the scenario for disaster or catastrophe, on a typology created by Linder (1982). survivalists use terms such as the collapse, Level 1. Weak survivalists read survivalist the crash, apocalypse, and when the balloon literature, buy a few items such as guns and goes up. dehydrated food, and attend introductory sur­ vivalist training courses. METHOD Level 2. More committed survivalists spend Data were collected by participant observa­ more time and money acquiring survivalist tion, letter exchanges and examination of sur­ supplies and attending advanced survivalist vivalist literature. Survivalists express fear and training courses. suspicion toward strangers because of the Level 3. Moderately committed survivalists survivalists' deviant status and stigmatization, maintain mainstream jobs, family, and friends, public misconceptions, and fear of theft of but they have established membership in a their supplies. They are often reminded to: retreat group. These survivalists visit their "Think, speak, and look camouflage ... at all retreat periodically throughout the year. times be wary, suspicious and distrustful of Level 4. Hard-core strongly committed sur­ others' motives:' (Epperson 1982). Although vivalists usually have severed most social and delicate methodological and ethical issues economic ties to mainstream society, and were involved, covert methods still seemed have moved permanently onto a retreat site. most appropriate for such a milieu. Resear­ chers have observed that deliberately STRATEGIES misrepresenting oneself in deviance research The strategy of survival is much more than is not automatically an unethical practice. an intellectual exercise for survivalists. The Some information from deviant groups can possibilities of social collapse, nuclear war, only be attained through covert means and economic chaos are as frightening and (Henslin 1972; Douglas 1972). as palpably real as human perception can I attended three gun collectors' shows in make them. One can only speculate on the southern California to get experience with the time and energy which survivalists spend sift­ practical aspects of survivalism, and I attend­ ing through disaster scenarios and formulating ed the 3-day Self-Reliance and Survival Expo response strategies while being mindful of '83 in Pasedena California. At the Expo, 20 constraints of physical and mental conditions, seminars were given, and 61 exhibitors of sur­ personal finances, family and employment, vivalist goods promoted various equipment their location, and their philosophy of life, FREE INQUIRY IN CREATIVE SOCIOLOGY Volume 12 No 1, May 1984 45 and finally selecting the most feasible. For Marine Boat Retreating. For coastal sur­ some survivalists this process amounts to little vivalists the advantages of escape to sea by more than a game to be played sporadically boat include speed, a self-contained vehicle throughout the year, rehearsing one's which can be stocked with food beforehand, response scenario and mapping esca.pe and access to one of the world's greatest food routes to the retreat site. With increasing com­ sources. Though the marine retreat would be mitment, there is an increased degree of open to attack by seaborne pirates, there discipline, planning, and more intense simula­ would be no problem from land marauders tion of the survivalist strategies. As in and looters. However a boat with open sea wargames, they devise alternative strategies capability costs about $50,000, and would and become more flexible in order to build equire good seamanship and navigation skills their response repertoire for various Dooms­ (Payne 1982). Knowledgable survivalists also day scenarios. point out the possible danger of tidal waves There are micro and macro strategies. For from earth-quake or nuclear attack. example, a survivalist group may opt for escape from Los Angeles by boat and travel Wilderness Nomad Retreating. Wilderness north to their cabin retreat on an Oregon bay, retreating is derisively called the mountain which is a macro strategy. The micro man approach, and playing Batman in the strategies concern the type of boat, supplies boondocks. The escape usually involves a to be stocked, crew composition, cir­ van, camper, trailer, motorcycle, or horse. The cumstances under which they leave the city, approach is criticized as simplistic and doom­ and the exact route to Oregon. Macro ed to fail (1978 Spec Rpt 1, Delta Press Ltd). strategies are openly debated and discussed A shortage of fuel would limit the escape in survivalist literature. Once selected, they range, and there would be great vulnerability must then be refined by individuals or groups to gangs of looters. One cannot carry sufficient to suit particular circumstances. It should be survival equipment and supplies. During the remembered that from the survivalist perspec­ Pasedena Expo, a survivalist panel sponsored tive, thoroughness of prepartion can mean the by the Survive Journal thoroughly discussed difference between life and death. this method without a single panelist recom­ Urban Retreating. Few suburban and urban mending it. One member of the audience was Americans are in any position to quickly cautioned against it. retreat to a rural community (Mitchell 1983). The majority of survivalists no doubt must Wilderness Group Retreating. This retreat remain in urban areas because the greater mode requires small isolated farms, cabins, number of high paying jobs, and emotional or subterranean sites. It appears from the bonds to family and friends are there. Very few survivalist literature that the majority of plan to remain in urban areas after Dooms­ survivalists, who recognize safety in numbers, day. Here is a grim scenario for the post­ either belong to a retreat group or are seek­ catastrophe city: ing to join one. However, small retreat groups Without utilities, sanitation and a public health would quickly become targets of hordes pour­ service, most cities would become nightmares of ing out of devastated urban areas. The retreat disease within a fortnight, and if that weren't area should offer a low population density and enough, the inevitable arson committed by looters a reasonable climate for agriculture and and other violence-prone denizens would -­ available areas for hunting, fishing, and trap­ without the customary services of the fire depart­ ping (Tappan 1981). ment - develop into firestorms, incinerating every Small Town Retreating. The small town structure and creature in the area. (Tappan 1981 retreat with about 2,000 to 3,000 population 30) offers the best opportunity for collective defense and subsistence farming. Such a Field research clearly reveals that the more community should be sufficiently isolated from committed survivalist views urban life as even moderate size poplation centers, military threatening and may choose to keep firearms bases, and nuclear power plants. It should not handy at home and in vehicles. be vulnerable to natural disasters such as FREE INQUIRY IN CREATIVE SOCIOLOGY Volume 12 No 1, May 1984 46 floods, quakes, and forest fires. It should also bows. Maintains a 3000 volume reference have a mild climate and adequate rainfall. library. Wife is a registered nurse. The couple Finally, the community should be inhabited by have developed homesteading skills such as hard-working, disciplined, barter-conscious bee-keeping, canning, and butchering. Most people (Tappan 1981). of their savings have gone into survival PREPARATIONS preparations. They plan to move to a perma­ Preparations are categorized as micro and nent retreat, buying the land, and living in a macro. The macro preparation may be to trailer temporarily. Eventually, they want to acquire medical supplies for a retreat group build a small earth-sheltered home with inter­ of perhaps 15 adults and 6 children. Micro nal greenhouse and aquaculture biosystem. preparations could include purchase of Would use aquaculture and hydroponics in specific medicines, drugs, bandages, and two planned greenhouses. Have stocked a other items. Containers of suitable sizes and professional grade medical kit, and are types must be selected. The following types assembling a dental kit. Own large quantities of survival preparation are categorized by of preserved and dried foods and grains. Have level, based on gleanings from survivalist a garden area totaling 150x150 feet, with letters. The names are fictitious. apple and nut trees and grape vines. They Level 1. Jim a 56-year old man has had have several security devices with electronic experience in paneling, roofing, painting, floor and mechanical perimeter alarms and listen­ tiling, furniture repair, and woodworking. He ing equipment. They have collected several enjoys barter, but has few financial resources. hundred burlap and polypropylene sandbags. Owns many tools such as garden implements, Saving money for a ham radio transceiver, and carpenters' hand tools. Letters reflect and two portable transceivers. Maintain a full abundant anti-Communist rhetoric but little in workshop of tools, and have kept a cast iron the way of active preparations for survival. wood/coal kitchen stove. Level 2. Roger, a 31-year old dentist in Texas has nuclear war as a prime worry. Skills REFERENCES include dentistry, weapons repair, marksman­ Besser James D 1982 The Doomsday Decade. Pro­ ship with a high-power rifle, and care of gressive 46 66 casualties. Extensive collection of guns and Douglas Jack D 1972 Observing Deviance. Research on Deviance. New York. Random House ammunition. No food storage. Few supplies. Epperson Dave 1982 To the point. Survival Guide Has sketchy emergency evacuation plans to 44 two possible retreat sites, but admits possible Henslin James M 1972 Studying deviance in four problems with jammed roads. Knows that one settings: Research experiences with cabbies, suicides, drug users and abortionees. J Douglas of his biggest challenges is to create or find ed. Research on Deviance. New York. Random a survivalist support group in his area. House Level 3. Frank, a 50-year old Air Force retiree Liebmann A 1982 The Survivalists. Public Broad­ now works in civil defense in Kentucky. Life casting Service. PVT Productions. member of the National Rifle Association. Linder Stephen N 1982 Survivalists: Ethnography ofan Urban Millenial Cult Unpub PhD thesis. Los Hunts for sport, and has 3-month food supply. Angeles California, Univ of California Periodically visits his survival base (retreat), Mitchell John G 1983 Waiting for Apocalypse. a large farm. Has supportive relations with Audubon 85 18-24 long-time neighbors and nearby relatives. Payne Nick 1982 Seafarer Survival. Survival Guide 79-11 Level 4. Rance and Ann, a married couple Tappan Mel 1981 Tappan on Survival Rogue River, with 4 children live in central Massachusetts. O~egon. Janus Their prime worry is nuclear war, but now they feel that an internal conspiracy, planned by Trilateralists, Bilderburgers, and Rothchilds is occuring in the United States. Rance is a sur­ vival supplier, writer, and consultant, member of the National Rifle Association, experienc­ ed attack dog trainer, and skilled with such weapons as small arms, long bows and cross