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David in Israel on "Relocation" Camps -- Guest or Inmate?
If you are relocated: Depending on the circumstances of a relocation
it may be salvation from danger (large disaster) or because you are
considered a threat (a la the Japanese Americans during WWII)
In any case, a government camp can be one of the most undesirable places
to be once you are out of danger. Once you are their "guest",
the organization who has sheltered you may feel they must continue
for political or security reasons to see to your well being. Ease of
providing security, lack of ID, or fear of rioting may be excuses for
denying or making difficult the conclusion of your stay. Separation
of men and women may be mandated, especially after the rape problems
at the Hurricane Katrina stadium relocation "camps".
The U.S. Forest Service fire camp is essentially the same model used
for most FEMA operations
(look up "FEMA ICS"-- Incident Command System), there is a whole industry
which starts in spring through late fall following the fire season.
Federal and state prisons employ trustee
fire crews right alongside regular crews on large fires. Prison infrastructure
and security is present at most large fire camps.
In the event of a large national emergency in your area, be prepared
for forced evacuations. Have a plan in case you are caught in a relocation
and are unable to make your way (or are prevented) on your own. An
assessment must be made whether you are a prisoner or a guest but even
guests of an operation like this are treated like to some extent as
prisoners to reduce manpower requirements.
Cyclone (chan link) fences are made to keep you in, out, or prevent
your crossing. In any of these circumstances a proper heavy duty wire
cutter
is needed
to make your escape. Cutting through private or farm fences is a bad
thing to do (use good judgment) but if you are trapped (detention camp)
then this tool may be a life saver. Be sure that the jaws are of proper
temper
so they do not blunt or fall apart.[JWR Adds: A heavy
duty "compound" design wire cutter is probably your best
bet.] A smaller cutter may be a good item to hide in addition to the
big
cutter.
Concertina or razor-type wire may be employed to prevent foot crossing
or even just block a road. Stacked concertina wire [typically deployed
stacked, with two "tubes", parallel, with a third tube resting on top
of the base pair, forming an
obstacle that looks triangular when seen in cross-section] is almost
impossible to
cross bare-handed. However, scrap carpet, sleeping bags,
canvas
tents,
tarps,
et cetera can be used to reduce injury on large group crossings.
When I lived in the U.S., most sniffer dogs were for drugs and this
is likely still the case. Expect to be sniffed at some point. Expect
to
be questioned, if you are dealing with prison guards they are more
looking for nervousness or hesitation at answering than what you are
really up to also do not fail the attitude test and get aggressive
unless you want to be
considered a risk. Be a "Gray man." Don't complain or ask for favors
be the easy one to forget then you won't be missed. Expect only a cursory
search if large numbers are being taken in, having your own gear makes
it easier to keep escape tools likely the back or kidney padding will
not be searched on a backpack.
The U.S. government has huge stockpiles of large tents, sleeping bags,
ground pads, heaters, and other supplies ready to be shipped in and
form these camps.
Private contract companies for fire and security and site services
are ready and trained to make these FEMA camps go up quickly in response
to an emergency. Command, Finance, Logistics, Operations, and Planning
personnel are pre-trained and certified to come together without ever
having met
and set up a huge working camp and tackle an assignment. It would be
interesting to hear from a SurvivalBlog reader that has worked as
(or for) a security contractor or warden about fire/recovery type operations
using inmate labor, and how security is handled. [As a firefighter,
my role in forming these camps was
always on the "ops" end attacking fires so the other roles were only
observed or in command simulations
It is important to remember as always most workers in a camp like
this (if not all) think they are doing the best for both you and
the public at large. Even if you hold by the "UN is evil" theory
(I do) understand that the troops in the field are specially trained
and motivated
(brainwashed) by upper command. I have seen it in Israeli police and IDF soldiers
during the ejection of Jews from Gush Katif. Use subtle resistance tactics,
not violence.
