Moving into a New Area

Dear Fellow Survivalist;

One of the things that happens to us from time to time is the need to move. Whether it is family problems that force us to move or a new job, we find ourselves packing up everything we own and heading off into the wild blue yonder, seeking greener fields.

Moving is always at least somewhat risky. You’re going into a new environment, where you don’t fully know all the risks. That lack of knowledge can easily put you in a dangerous situation, without you even expecting it. Some may try to take advantage of you as a newcomer, thinking that there is less risk attacking you or stealing from you.

The military never goes into a new area without proper preparation. Before troops invest an area, an armed reconnaissance team goes into it, checking it out and looking for danger. If they encounter danger, they are prepared to deal with it. If not, they gather information. That information is then used by the commander to establish a plan for investing the area at the least possible risk.

You and I can take a lesson from that book and do the same, when we find ourselves having to move into a new area.

Before the Recon

Before even going to check a new area out, it’s a good idea to find out all you can about it. One thing you’re definitely going to want to know is what the firearms laws are in that state, if you’re moving to a different state than the one you currently live in.

But that’s not all you need to know. More than anything, you need to know about the crime rate and where the dangerous areas are. That information is available, although it might not be easy to find. Your best bet is to find a friendly police officer and get them to talk. They know where the good areas are and where the bad ones are, if they’re willing to tell you.

Reconnaissance

But that just gives you a starting place for your own recon. You’ll want to go check things out yourself, not just looking at the house you’re thinking about moving into, but driving or walking around, so that you can check out the area around it as well. How does the neighborhood look? Are there people hanging out on the streets? Are the homes in good repair? Is there trash lying around?

All these and 1,000 other questions should be going through your mind, as you look over a new area. You want to find the pulse of the area and its natural sounds. You want to get a feel for how people move and what they do. All of that can tell you valuable information that you need to know.

Don’t depend on what a real estate agent or rental agent tells you. Remember, their prime goal is to sell you that home, not to make sure that you’re safe. You’ll have to find your own sources and they have to be impartial ones. Anyone who is involved in getting you there is likely to have other motivations which will cause they to hide valuable information.

Go Prepared

Regardless of how things look, you want to show up prepared. You never know who might be there or what they might attempt. A moving truck full of family goods is a tempting target, just as you are. Criminals might see you as an easy target, one who won’t miss something that they take. Or, if you do miss it, it won’t be until they have time to sell it.

If you have depended on a home security system as part of your defensive strategy, you might not have one at first. What can you do about that? How can you keep yourself aware of what’s happening, so that nobody can break into your home?

Awareness is your number one defense in those early days. You’ll need to keep your situational awareness running on high, especially since you are on unfamiliar ground.

Have Your Security Ready

The Boy Scouts had it right… “be prepared.” That goes for moving into a new home as well. It’s not a good idea to show up with all your guns locked away where you can’t get to them and your pistol empty. Rather, show up ready for whatever might happen. You probably won’t need it, but it’s better to be ready and not need it, than to not be ready and need it.

This goes beyond just carrying your pistol though. You also need to keep your moving truck secure. If you’re inside the house and nobody is outside, who’s keeping an eye on the pile of things all over the driveway, which haven’t been packed into the truck yet? That can be a tempting target.

Likewise, make sure that your home’s locks are ready. Probably the first thing you should do is to change them, just in case. You don’t know who might have a key to that house. Better that you are the only one.

There’s a lot to do, but you can get it all done, just as long as you think it through and have a plan. Don’t be like others, who are so excited by the move, that they forget to be ready for it. Rather, temper your excitement with proper preparation and a good plan. Then you’ll be able to enjoy it.

And like always, keep your powder dry and your survival gear close at hand.

Dr. Rich