Ethics of Scavenging/Looting when SHTF

      No one likes to think about difficult situations. It is perfectly natural for humans to want to avoid conflict and, for the most part, do the right thing. Even in times of great need it can be hard for one to stray from their moral path. In a survival situation your moral boundaries are sure to be pushed.

Stealing to Survive

     Many of you may remember a particular news story following hurricane Katrina. News teams were scrambling to cover every possible angle of this horrible disaster, as the nation watched in horror. A story came on telling of the struggles of people seeking supplies. The picture showed white families gathering food, clothing, and whatever else they could grab. After a short commercial break the story continued, yet it took a turn. They pictured an African-american man carrying supplies while waist deep in flood water, only now the tune had changed from scavenging for survival to looting for gain. The uproar of this ignited many controversies on the ethics of scavenging and where the line is crossed into looting.

     There's no doubt that in any survival situation there's going to be a time when your going to need to find supplies. When you head on down to your local Wally-Mart only to remember that SHTF, your going to need an alternate source. Nature has many things to offer, like a nearly unlimited supply of food and water if you know where to look, and basic tools or the means to make tools. But what do you do when you need what nature cant provide?

Scavenging

     If your short on supplies, the only thing on your mind is how to get more. There are no more stores, no more restaurants, no more easy life. Now your going to go out and find what you need the hard way. This can be an intimidating thought for the unprepared, and it's difficult to know where to start. Ill start by eliminating any major retail store, and I will tell you why. When SHTF, communities will instantly flock to their local stores to grab everything they need. This is the initial rush, where common necessities will be out of stock almost overnight. Following the initial rush, people will start taking whatever they can get there hands on, flat screens, lawn mowers, vacuums even. I expect most stores will be picked dry in under 1 week if things get extreme, possibly under a day or two.

     Now if their aren't any stores left to 'shop' from, where else can you find supplies? This is where some major moral decisions have to be made. When disaster hits a great number of people elect to leave their homes to gather with family elsewhere, or simply flee to a potentially safer place. Now your going to have to ask yourself a serious question, are you willing to take what you need to survive? Abandoned homes can be a valuable source of supplies, including food in the pantries, and medical supplies from the bathroom cupboard. Technically by word of current law this is theft, and there is sure to be some that will scold you for even a thought of such an act. When SHTF law needs to give way to survival, because your life is more important than an imaginary set of rules. Now this doesn't mean it's acceptable to take what you want when you want. Be mindful of others in your shoes, as the things your taking may not be abandoned to begin with. Great caution should be taken to ensure the location you want to scavenge isn't occupied by a fellow survivor. Being armed is also a wise idea. It may sound extremist, or worst-case-scenario, but you may have to defend yourself against others with a like mindset.

Looting

     Looting doesn't apply to a survival situation. Looting often happens after natural disasters, by people looking to gain from others suffering. Those that flock straight to best buy after a disaster hits are certainly not looking to survive. It's a sad thought that some would rather seek personal gain than assist those in need.

I hope this article helped encourage you to think of the choices that are going to need to be made when SHTF. Im not a sociology expert, but believe I have a good grasp of human nature and trends. How would you handle scavenging? Is it ethical if its technically stealing? Comment and discuss below!