When do you abandon your post?

[monkeybird]

After reading the post about the rich man and his staff who would leave the minute the SHTF, I wondered if forum members who serve the public have considered how long to stay on the job in a real SHTF situation.

As a nurse, the situation hit home every hurricane season. We were required to come to the hospital before the storm's arrival and stay until the situation was over. They did provide rest areas so they could rotate the staff they had.

Before the hospital got wise and opened up some of it's space to hospital employee's family, it was a real dilemma to be away from your loved ones when danger was present.

When reading One Second After, the scene at the nursing home was one of the worse sections of the book. How could anyone leave those helpless people on their own? On the other hand, What about your own family? Are they safe? Do they need you? These are thoughts all of us will have if we are faced with TEOTWAWKI.

For healthcare professionals, EMTs, Police, Firemen, National Guard, Military these are valid considerations. I fretted over this questions over and over again when I worked. It's an awful feeling having to leave my family. I don't know if I could have done it during a massive biological or chemical event, or even riots in the streets.

When do you leave your post?

[1Admin]

Glad to see you feeling better MB!

Honestly this is one of the biggest reasons I never got into LE. Was seriously considering it a couple years ago.

[ibetiny]

Well, I guess this is THE question isn't it. I work in a job that might get Federalized in some instances. That means that I will be prevented from leaving my post. That doesn't mean I wont leave, just that I will be arrested as soon as they find me. I think each situation will have to be evaluated by itself.
My criteria for bugging home is the safety of my family.
That is the ONLY criteria.
If I have contact with my wife and she is safe, then I can stay at work and save many lives. If the situation is unstable or I have no contact, then I'm off for home.
I think the only other thing to consider is my ability to help. If the drugs run out then there is no reason for me to be there.
Don't get me wrong, I have a VERY high sense of duty and responsibility to the people I work for and on. However, as a father and a husband, I have a higher duty than that. We, as a country, have been brainwashed into following every law (authority), no mater how much it doesn't fit the situation (remember the Germans in WW 2). We need to return to doing whats RIGHT, not whats LEGAL.

[Jeep]

When I was working (retired now), I pondered over this very thing. I worked in a VA hospital (radiology) and was expected to show up reguardless of weather, or whatever. I lived about 5 miles from work and could have walked if necessary. It is a tough choice between work and family and I am glad I never had to make that decision.

[Rmplstlskn]

I agree with ibetiny's position... If family is safe and no IMMENENT danger to them is likely, then stay and do your job. They may WANT you home, but if you don't NEED to be home, then that is the nature of your job when you agreed to be hired.

However, if family is IN DANGER, they would have to force me at gunpoint to stay... And even then it may break bad... I don't think any RATIONAL, SANE person would expect someone to "stay at work" in such a situation. If all hell is breaking loose, I would NOT expect doctors and nurses WITH FAMILY to be working so I can be treated. The SINGLE ones is a different story... Again, part of the job, just like a soldier...

Same with Law Enforcement... That is why someone coined "WROL." The single, unattached LEO's would be expected to be on duty but family LEO would be given leeway to secure family FIRST... That is how I would run things if I was "King." lol!

The MILITARY is a whole different story though... One of the reasons that I think MILITARY should be for the YOUNG & SINGLE and the more senior enlisted, NCO & Officers would have family living ON BASE where they don't have to worry about their safety.

[Yeti]

Really depends on the situation you are involved in.

For me, if the internet is up, I can do my job from home. If it ain't up, than I wouldn't be able to do it anyways.

The big snowstorms this past winter (2-4 footers 3 times this Winter), I never lost an hour of work. I simply worked from home. Even assisted getting medical professionals to the hospital.

Nukes start flying, my job isn't important enough to warrant me staying at my post even working from home.
Pandemic hits, I'll keep working from home. Meetings can be done over the phone.
Riot in NYC, not big for me. But if it were to be the type that would spread US wide (ala King, Watts, etc) nope I'm not going in. But I would work from home.

See for any anyone to truly answer this question honestly they would have to know what has happened.

[Urban Survivalist]

My family is more important than anything so if it comes down to it the public is on its own and I am going home. If it cost me my job so be it. I would rather be unemployed than to bury my wife or kids. In my opinion it is a easy decision.

[All Talk]

The trick here is knowing if the situation is in fact such a situation, Urban. You don't want to lose your job over a isolated day of unrest in a nearby town -- on the other hand, what if it's the tip of a rapidly-unfolding iceburg (nice mixed metaphor, huh?)

[Urban Survivalist]

The trick here is knowing if the situation is in fact such a situation, Urban. You don't want to lose your job over a isolated day of unrest in a nearby town -- on the other hand, what if it's the tip of a rapidly-unfolding iceburg (nice mixed metaphor, huh?)

I am talking about all out collapse and full unrest then the decision is an easy one. one isolated riot no big deal its just another day.

[Matt In Oklahoma]

Thats always a struggling question
As long as I am able to make a difference I wouldnt leave. There is a point though that may come. If I can still make a difference in society I will be "out there".

[lcas-271]

I work full-time as a paramedic in a small, rural county. This question has risen up in my mind for years.

If the situation is a small, localized event (ie: ice storm w/power outage, tornadoe, etc) then I'm either staying at work of reporting to work when I'm sure the family is safe.
If it's SHTF,WROL, TEOTWAWKI then I'm outta dodge. The biggest problem that I have is my custody araingment. I have joint custody of my 10y/o daughter. But if anything ever happens region/world wide then I'm busting it 35mi away and bringing her home. I have a couple of ways to get tere but need to come up with more.

[Briar Wabbit]

Exactly ... Just depends on if you have (non adult) children and how your kids would be effected.
No decent parent would abandon their own younger kids, in favor of civic "duty" ... kids trump all.

My daughter just turned 18 and will be going to the PNW, on scholarship, after this "by-year" of internships.

I just finished building her pack and she has agreed to some (limited) compulsory camping, with Dad.
Even in the best economy, and in Peace-time ... "Poop Occurs".

The "Elements" documents, which I published, here, are her curriculum (outline and objectives).

=f=

[blacklab]

I'm a member of the local volunteer fire dept so I can stay informed of what is going on locally with fire ,ems, and le. We are volunteers and we all put family first; meaning we can un-volunteer at any time.

[splat23]

If it's a normal event (tornadoe, blizzards etc..) I would stand my post as long as I could. If it's something not normal (EMP, Pandemic etc..) I would bail the first chance I got.

I have the two edged sword of not living in the city I patrol (+), but living 35 miles away from my home (-). I also have to worry about two of my kids with the Ex-wife. I would stop by on the way home and take them with me. I have GMH bags for them in my car and can carry the bags if needed.

[arcangel911]

splat23- Lol. Would you take the ex-wife with you? ;)

For me, I work in both the EMS world and the hospital world. (I hope to return to the Fire world very, very soon- I miss it).

I would stay for a normal event. But anything longer than 24-72 hours, I will go at some point to check on the house, supplies and other various items, with the addition of picking up some sleep before returning to work.

As for a complete collapse and EMP or other "not normal" event, that is different. I would see first how things are playing out. At the hospital, it is only a matter of time before supplies, food and environmental supplies run out. Also, in the case of a EMP, without computers and power, the drug systems will not open and I am not so sure about the codes for the door locks. So without paper orders, things are going to become very ugly in a point in time. So I will play it by ear, but the second the hair on my neck goes up, or I get that feeling in the pit of my stomach- it is time to go.

On the rig, my partners and work family come first. Once a decision is made by the group, it will be done. Once we start taking fire, or we are dealing more and more violence, then I know we will be leaving to go either to PD headquarters or we are leaving in general. Depends on the situations that present themselves.