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Mountain Views-News Saturday July 26, 2025 


CHRISTOPHER Nyerges 



[Nyerges is the author of “How to Survive Anywhere,” “Extreme Simplicity,” “Til Death Do Us 
Part?” and other books. He can be reached at www.SchoolofSelf-Reliance.com or Box 41834, 
Eagle Rock, CA 90041]

HOW TO ORGANIZE FOR EMERGENCIES

Is having a “survival group” a good idea?


SWEET GEMMA

GEMMA: aka “Big G,” 
is a cute tuxedo, age 4. 
She is shy, but thanks 
to her caregivers she 
is learning to love being 
petted and to approach 
people for pets. 
She's quite lovely, and has the cutest little meow. 
She loves her food and treats, being on high places, 
and plays well with her toys.

 If you’re looking for a cat who isn’t clingy but will shower you with love and sweet 
moments, Gemma is the perfect match for you. She does not enjoy being picked up, 
but there is no biting or swatting. She deserves to be pam-
purred in a loving forever home, with no children or dogs. 
Gemma will make the purr-fect, low-maintenance companion 
for someone with patience--and someone who will thrill 
to see her thrive under their care, and, who knows, maybe 
be blessed with the joy of having Gemma actually jump up 
onto your lap for some biscuit-making! Gemma is fully vetted 
and healthy. 

See more pix and apply to meet her at https://www.lifelineforpets.
org/gemma.html, or use the qr code.

[Nyerges has conducted survival and self-reliance classes and workshops since 1974. He is the co-
founder of the School of Self-Reliance. He has authored 27 books including “Ur-ban Survival Guide,” 
“How to Survive Anywhere,” and “Extreme Simplicity.” Contact him at www.SchoolofSelf-Reliance.
com]

Not long ago, our class was finishing a day-long field trip of practicing outdoor survival and self-
reliance skills, and our small group was now sitting around the fire talking. The subject moved to 
emergency action plans, and what contingencies any of us had in the aftermath of a major disaster.

“So how would we ever get together after a major disaster?” one woman asked me. She was somewhat 
new to the classes, and was well-aware that our small group comprised a broad spectrum of 
skills, from people who worked to be ethical, socially-conscious, and doers, not just talkers. I could 
tell she was wondering about how our “group” might actually come together in such a scenario. She 
actually believed that this diverse collection of people from all over Southern California actually 
constituted a “group.”

“In a serious emergency, we probably would have no way to get together,” I offered. “Of course, 
there is no predicting the future, but if we couldn’t use a car, and couldn’t get gas, and there was 
chaos on the streets, in the first few weeks, we’d almost certainly have to stay put wherever we’re 
living.” My response presupposed a serious disaster where all social services would be disrupted.

I’ve long recommended that people get to know their immediate neighbors, because they are your 
“family” in the aftermath of a major disaster, like it or not. Think global, as the saying goes, but act 
local.

 Enroll in local CERT training, and be active in Neighborhood Watch.

The woman then asked me, sort of a question and comment combined, “Well, don’t you have a tight 
survival group of people who would all come together in an emergency?” 

I live in the northern section of Los Angeles County. The mountains are immediately to my north, 
but otherwise there is urban sprawl and freeways in all directions. In our class that day, the woman 
asking the questions had driven about a hundred miles, from San Bernardino County from the 
east. Three people had come over a hundred miles, from the high desert. One other person was 
local, and the rest lived between 30 and 45 minutes by car from me. We were all spread out. There 
was no way that this diverse group would ever come together in the sort of disaster (and end of the 
functioning of normal society) that she was envisioning.

“Here’s the reality,” I told her. I explained that I have worked with many “groups” over the years, 
often with the focus of working together to survive a disaster. I explained that I don’t have a secret 
underground bunker and I don’t live in a wickiup in the woods.

“Your best bet is to work with your own family to make each person strong, healthy, and self-
reliant,” I told her, “and to work with your local community to improve things.”’

How, for example, would a far-flung diverse group of people communicate with each other? If they 
were ham operators, it might be possible, but there would still be the problem of trav-eling a long 
distance under unsettled conditions.

Getting back to the woman’s question about the practical aspects of a small tight group getting together 
after a disaster, what else can go wrong with the “group” that plans to get together?

For one thing, the ability to spring into action after an emergency requires the maintenance of 
physical fitness, and requires at least some level of economic autonomy, and knowing how to live 
one’s life so that you are, in fact, able to rise to the occasion of a severe emergency. The concept of 
such a survival group is not a passive concept. In order to be viable, it must be alive, dynamic, and 
involve regular training of some sort.

We can’t predict the future, but learning new self-reliance skills will always serve you well, and 
those of your friends and associates who are of like-mind. But assuming you survive an event like 
a comet hitting the earth, or a major tidal wave, there’s no way that you can depend on any “group” 
that you might have developed. 

Don’t get me wrong—organizing and working with such a group, whether a private family group, 
or a more public group such as CERT training – is a great idea. But just remember that life is a very 
dynamic thing, and as long as you’re willing to continually learn, and adapt to changing situations, 
you’re likely to do well regardless who you happen to be stuck with.

HERE ARE SOME WAYS TO PREPARE:

NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH

Neighborhood Watch is a nationwide program, one of the oldest and best-known crime prevention 
concepts in North America. In the late 1960s, an increase in crime heightened the need for a crime 
prevention initiative focused on residential areas and involving local citizens. The National Sheriffs’ 
Association (NSA) responded, creating the National Neigh-borhood Watch Program in 1972 to 
assist citizens and law enforcement.

CERT

The CERT program was designed as a grassroots initiative and specifically structured so that the 
local and state program managers have the flexibility to form their programs in the way that best 
suits their communities. We have an excellent CERT program here in Sierra Madre.


Pet of the Week

 
Meet Praise – she is an 11-year-old German 
Shepherd with a heart as sweet as her name. 

She may have come to Pasadena Humane 
a little stressed and confused, but this 
gentle senior has blossomed into a loving 
companion who adores being near her 
people – whether that’s sharing the same 
room or keeping watch from a cozy spot 
nearby.Praise loves pets, nuzzling, and belly 
rubs. According to her foster family, she has 
a cute habit of using your leg as a napkin 
after a drink of water, and her happy trot 
with her ball in her mouth will melt your 
heart. 

Calm and well-mannered, Praise is happiest 
simply being a part of the family.She’s a 
loyal, affectionate dog who’s ready to spend 
her golden years with someone who will 
cherish her just as much as she’ll adore 
them. Come meet this special girl and see 
why she’s the perfect companion to adopt 
today!The adoption fee for dogs is $150. 
All dog adoptions include spay or neuter, 
microchip, and age-appropriate vaccines. 

 Walk-in adoptions are available every day 
from 10:00 – 5:00. View photos of adoptable 
pets at pasadenahumane.org.



 New adopters will receive a complimentary health-and-wellness exam from VCA 
Animal Hospitals, as well as a goody bag filled with information about how to care for 
your pet. 

 Pets may not be available for adoption and cannot be held for potential adopters by 
phone calls or email.


Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com