It's Not That Easy (Shelter), Part Three

Dear Preppers and Survivalists,

Before we begin, I have something to say.

I talked with my brothers, and they suggested that I stick to defensive operations (How to protect yourself) and stay away from offensive operations (How to attack other people).

Just so you know.

As always, the first priority in survival is thinking, so we have to have a plan.

First, take a big sheet of paper and draw a picture of your home's layout. Next draw in your yard then draw in everything else out to 600 yards.

The picture to the right is a general layout of our home, its yard, and everything out to 600 yards.

Why 600 yards?

Because, you should be able to shoot that far. Yes, even with an AR-15 rifle

Next, you mark on the paper all the dead space within that 600 yards.

Needless to say, I have a lot of dead space around my family's home; most of that dead space, I can do nothing about!  : - (

But the dead space that I can do something about, I will so something.

As suggested earlier, I can fill in some of the dead space with soil, bring it up level with the surrounding area, so no one can hide in the shallow area

Another suggestion is to plant prickly plants, like roses, thorny blackberry bushes, or cacti. This method is similar to those suggestions about improving the security of your home. But, Remember! You still have to be able to see into those areas.

Another suggestion is to place a solar-powered electric fence in those dead space areas.

Next, I am going to come up with a plan for wire obstacles.

Slow 'em Down

One possible obstacle, I didn't mention earlier, is the common chain-liked fence. It is seen throughout these United States, so no one will notice it, especially in older neighborhoods.

My suggestion/idea is to install a four feet high fence around the front yard, anyone trying to get into the yard must go through the gate or hop the fence. Making them noticeable and slowing them down.

The possible cover story for this obstacle is 'I want to keep the children/dog from going out into the street.' Plus, you can see folks (and any possible threats) through the fence.

Note: Needless to say, once bad times happen, you and your family add barbed-wire or concertina wire to the top of the fences.

Along the back property line is a six-feet high chain-linked fence. It is a lot harder to jump over in one easy motion.

Remember! Obstacles slow down the attacker making them easier to hit with rifle fire.

Now, for you folks on some property, and a little cash, I'm going to tell you the second reason behind wire obstacles.

Channel the Villains

As you plan where your obstacles are going to be placed, in an emergency. Try and cause any villains to be directed into the areas where you and your family will have the best observation and most accurate fire.

As you can see from the design of our home, we don't have windows on all sides of the house, so we will need to either knock a hole in the wall or design our wire obstacles to channel the villains to the areas with windows.

Remember!, Remember!!, Remember!!! (I really mean REMEMBER!!!)

An obstacles with no observation on the obstacle is easily reduced (Reduced is military speak for went around, bypassed, ignored, removed, destroyed, ...)

But I Live in the 'Burbs

Now, most folks are going to speak up and point out that they live in the suburbs. Their neighbors' homes are less than 50 feet away.

You guessed it! You and your neighbors are going to have to band together. You'll have to string wire, post guards, run patrols, ... Basically, you and yours are going to have to form a militia.

Will Never, Ever Happen. Well, It Might Happen ...

because it has happened in the past, the recent past.

Ok, here's where I start writing about the crazy sh*t.

Your wire obstacles should be designed to stop villains from getting within 35 meters (38 yards), so they can't throw hand grenades or fire bombs into your home's windows.

Wire obstacles are also used to keep friendlies from accidently wandering into your minefields. The friendly side of the mine field and the minefield's sides are fenced with barbed-wire or concertina wire. Only one side (the side towards the villains) is open this allows the villains to walk into the minefield with no warning.

I have something to say, but I haven't figured it out, yet. So no blah, blah, blah for now.

In conclusion, obstacles are designed to do two things, slow down villains and channel them into your fields of fire.

Link:
Seton Hall University - FM 7-8: Infantry Platoon and Squad
http://www.shu.edu/offices/upload/FM-7-8.pdf

General Dennis J. Reimer Training and Doctrine Digital Library (RDL) - FM 3-21.8: The Infantry Rifle Platoon and Squad
https://rdl.train.army.mil:443/soldierPortal/atia/adlsc/view/public/23583-1/FM/3-21.8/FM3_21X8.PDF

U.S. Marine Corps - FM 20-32 Mine/Counter Mine Operations
http://www.marines.mil/News/Publications/ELECTRONICLIBRARY/ElectronicLibraryDisplay/tabid/13082/Article/125665/fm-20-32-wch-1-4.aspx

Wired.com: Danger Room - Video: Troops Fend Off Kabul Attack, Launch P.R. Counterstrike
http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2011/09/video-taliban-counterstrik/
Note: I linked to this video to illustrate how folks will improvise shelter/defensive structures from available material.

Home and Garden Television - How to Add Security Plants to Your Yard
http://www.hgtv.com/gardening/how-to-add-security-plants-to-your-yard/index.html

Home Security Advice.com - Securing Your Home With Plants, Trees & Shrubs
http://www.homesecurityadvice.com/tips/secure-plants-trees.html

The Gentle Survivalist - Home Security and Perimeter Protection
http://site.infowest.com/business/g/gentle/pp.html

Garden Guides.com - List of Flowering Plants With Thorns
http://www.gardenguides.com/83986-list-flowering-plants-thorns.html

Wikipedia - Molotov Cocktail
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molotov_cocktail
Note: Vyacheslav Molotov, the great Bolshevik, is credited with inventing the Molotov Cocktail ; - )