Since the late 1970s, a theory has existed in some circles that the US Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is preparing large camps for a sinister purpose. The concept (which many would call a conspiracy theory), holds that in the event of societal breakdown, major natural disaster or other crisis, and the subsequent imposition of martial law, large numbers of US citizens would be imprisoned in these camps.
Some people who espouse this belief even go so far as to say that the people who are rounded up and placed in these camps will then subsequently be “exterminated” as part of the establishment of a so-called “New World Order.” Though the theory is at this point decades old, it has recently regained traction due to the advent of social media.
The theory, though disturbing, is unsupported by any empirical evidence. But supposing for a moment that this conspiracy theory is true, what would be the best way to avoid be placed in a NOW-style FEMA camp?
You would have to be able to provide your own food and water. One of the central ideas behind the FEMA camp theory is that most people would willingly turn to the government in times of great need, and would unwittingly be placed in one of these sinister camps. Proponents of the belief advise people to store up to a year of food and water, which would theoretically enable them to last long enough to start a garden or supplant their regular supply of food with foraged sustenance or hunted game.
Another popular line of advice would be to make provisions for your own medical care. Having your own medical supplies and basic knowledge of how to use them will, again, prevent your reliance on government entities to care for injuries or sickness.
Lastly, the standard received wisdom in this scenario is to be able to defend yourself, your family, and your home. If others aren’t as prepared, they may turn to attacking those who are in an effort to avoid the camps. In other scenarios, the various entities behind the FEMA camps would be less inclined to inter or imprison anyone capable of putting up a fight—they would, the thinking goes, just move on to the next (easier) target.
Though merely a highly hypothetical situation, some do find it grimly entertaining to consider these things as possibilities, and to theorize on the best way to survive them. Even outlandish hypothetical situations can be useful thought exercises—for instance, the Center for Disease Control has a plan in place to cope with the event of a zombie apocalypse.
To your survival,
Joseph Wilkinson
