In the happenstance of an apocalypse
In the happenstance of an apocalypse, as the world as currently known comes to an end, it would be important for humans to consider a number of actions and preparations that would ensure the survival of the species. This particular essay serves as a guide to ensure the survival of humans in the event of an apocalypse; looking at the basics of life in such an event. Through the essay, the considerations are made in relation to food and water, shelter, weapons and protection as well as other survival skills and requirements.
Complications for Living in an Apocalyptic World
For humans, life in a post-apocalyptic world would present a lot of challenges that would need to be overcome to ensure the continuity of life. Aspects of daily lives such as law and order for instance would be rendered obsolete and untenable. Normal human interactions would be interrupted, and civilization as currently known would cease to exist. All that would take precedence would be the need to survive and as such humans will have to fend for themselves and endeavor to outdo each other in the process. Important considerations would revolve around the aforementioned aspects of food and water, shelter, as well as weapons and protection.
Food & Water
Accessing food and water, preparing them for consumption and even storing them would all require great initiative on the part of humans. For one, gathering food would pose a challenge. While presently humans can access food from grocery stores and market and even farms, in an apocalyptic world, given the breakage of civilization and the disappearance of the organized system of society, such supply chains would ebb out. Gathering food would be more of a scavenger hunt of sorts; each individual would be forced to seek food from the available stocks in cereals depots and in stores where such food would normally be available. It is clear that there would be no need to pay for such food as commerce would have broken down; therefore, the gathering process would be marked by violence and fights where necessary.
Even though humanity has the luxury of eating fresh food today, an apocalyptic world would have no such luxuries. Informed by the need to survive, it would be imperative for humans to eat whatever they can find. As such the emphasis will be on dried foods and grains which will be easier to carry and preserve due to their longevity. These would be sourced from the granaries and silos on farms and food manufacturing plants. Once these sources run out, humans would be forced to hunt and gather their food which will have shifted to wild animals and berries and fruits. With time, such diet will gradually shift to wild roots and leaves and stems as the available food sources would have been depleted. In the end, humans will have to turn to cannibalism and hence eat each other, starting with the weakest and most vulnerable in society. As time progress therefore, humans will have to fight more and more with each other to access food to consume.
Water will become increasingly scarce. Form the bottled water that many are accustomed to, humanity will have to seek water directly from its source. As such, many people will flock to rivers and springs and aquifers in search of clean water to drink. With time however, such water will be polluted and rendered unsafe, driving people to creative sources such as mining for water from underground sources such as wells. Eventually, humans will have to rely on secondary water sources including the stems and branches of plants such as cactus or the eyes of dead animals or even fellow humans who have died. In order to survive, therefore, humans will have to be creative in their search of water and food; they will have to fight and would eventually be forced to collaborate with each other in order to find food and water and hence survive the apocalypse.
Shelter
Conventional sources of shelter would not be ideal in an apocalypse. Humanity will have to seek refuge in other abodes. It will be common for humans to seek refuge in fortified dwellings such as security installations and in makeshift dwellings. Many will resort to living in caves and burrows and holes to stay ahead of the numerous dangers that would be lurking. Given that the luxuries of present day life such as electricity and heating and lighting would no longer be easy to come by, such makeshift dwellings would be lit and heated using fires made from wood and any other flammable materials. As humanity would have to resort to a nomadic lifestyle, the shelters made would only serve as temporary resting places; humans will be forced to move every few days in order to survive. It would be necessary to avoid the development of any attachments to any one particular place as that would complicate the routine migration and shift of dwellings and hence decrease the chances of survival. Necessities such as sleep and baths will not be as necessary as they are today; as such survival will have to supersede comfort.
For many, the clothes worn will have to suffice as the source of shelter. They would have no blankets to cover or wrap themselves because such would prove bulky due to the non-sedentary nature of life in such times. Luxuries such as bathing will not be among the concerns of many, and will be secondary to the search for food and the struggle for survival. Due to the need to move at short notice, most dwellings will have nothing but the people therein and possibly the food and water sourced for immediate use. Shelters will not be equipped with household items such as pots and pans as food may have to be eaten raw (or just barely cooked) due to other pressing concerns. Worldly possessions shall be very limited in order to lighten the load that each individuals has to carry. Most likely, many of the area where humans would shelter shall be located in hills and mountains to give them a vantage view of their surroundings, for purposes of protection from the numerous threats that would face them.
Weapons & Protection
Considering that the world would be lawless and society will cease to exist, each person shall be responsible for their own protection. As such, all humans will need to stock up their weapons supplies. While modern weapons such as guns would be desirable, they would not be practical due to the fact that they have to be loaded with bullets (which will be difficult to come by).Such weapons will also be bulky and highly unreliable due to the close quarter's combats that would most likely be encountered. Preferably, the weapons of choice will be simple ones such as knives, machetes, bows and arrows, as well as swords, spears and clubs or even bats. These would be easier to carry and would also be able to serve multiple functions in the aspects of food gathering, protection and preparation of dwelling places.
Other Survival Skills
Survival in such uncertain times would also require certain skills, considered soft skills. First, each individual will have to be very innovative and creative in order to be able to use their environment to their advantage. Virtues such as empathy and charity will have to be disregarded in order to allow each person survive; people with such virtues would most likely die first. Manipulation and calculated malice would be desirable as they would offer people a higher chance of survival. Similarly, emotions will have to be dispensed of as the need for survival should triumph over all other feelings; and emotions would most likely expose people to danger, and possible annihilation. Courage and fearlessness coupled with scheming and tactics would serve humans well during such times in terms of food gathering, shelter seeking and defense from enemies.
Conclusion
Though difficult to fathom, an apocalypse would uproot human lives as they are today, driving humans back in time to the pre-historic lifestyle of 'nomadism' and savagery. Order will cease to exist and the rigors of present day life would thin out into the air. Societal considerations will be thrown to the wind and aspects of humanity such as courtesy and kindness will be dispelled. Human survival will be on the basis of both brains and brawns; with greater emphasis on the latter rather than the former. It would be a world with no rules and regulations; and in which only the strong (and somehow smart) will survive. Creativity coupled with courage and determination would be the most important qualities and money will have no place in the day to day lives of humans. Each new day will be different from the last and great uncertainty shall prevail. Accessing basic such as food and water would prove to be great challenges as indicated here-before. An apocalyptic world would be difficult to navigate and survive in, but the guidelines offered herein would offer a semblance of help.
