It was the thoughts of her mother that were the worst. It was best to stay busy like that, otherwise the memories would return. We don’t know how she’s faring, but with the mixed reports about the camp, one thing is certain: surviving in the camp may prove far more difficult than the struggle outside.Įvery day when her work detail was over, Jess would try and visit her brother. Among those in the camp is our friend Jess, who walked with Thad and me on our long adventure home. With so much absolute power over so many helpless souls, horrors are bound to be committed. Left unchecked this rot can take over the entire barrel. Every barrel has a bad apple, and over time those bad ones start to rot the good ones. In the care and custody of FEMA, backed up by the DHS, those inside the camp have no rights, no freedom and, worse yet, are exposed to the possible brutality of their caretakers. While there is food, water and warmth, the price is near slave labor and virtual imprisonment. Life in the camps isn’t what it appears to be. But there are forces at play, beyond our control, that may bring about this last desperate move. With running water, power and abundant stored food-at least for now-they see it as an apocalyptic holiday. While the rest of the country may have fallen apart, our preparations are mitigating the effects they feel. But my family, Mel and the girls, may not be ready for it. We have a place-the perfect place for long-term survival, really. Now we must decide whether to stay and fight, or find someplace to retreat to. We’ve been the target of raiders and of the federal government, both apparently trying to force us into the camps. In the Now, with the harsh light of reality shining on the situation, many of those who said they would never be taken to one of these camps were happy to walk in on their own. In the Before, people used to talk about the FEMA camps and whether or not they would ever choose to go into them. Fewer people around means more eyes on us, attention we certainly do not want. We are down to our small group now: my family, my neighbors Danny and Bobbie, and Sarge and his gang. Even my most pessimistic thoughts of how life would be at home didn’t come close to the reality. I never really gave much thought to what would happen afterward. The entire time I was focused on just getting there. It took weeks to walk to home, but I made it.

A american survivalist series in order