We have heard rumors of a National Emergency. A National Emergency can mean many things, so we must know what it means and how to prepare. I’m updating this post from January 2021. It’s appropriate to repost NOW.
What is a National Emergency?
When we hear “national emergency,” many panic and think martial law is imminent. A national emergency does not necessarily mean martial law will not exist; it doesn’t mean it will not exist.
The president declares a national emergency, which gives the government, specifically the president, powers to take action that it usually isn’t permitted to.
It is declared during a national crisis or when situations threaten the country and call for an immediate response.
What Powers Does It Give the President?
Emergency declarations could give the president over 136 statutory powers, including those related to the military, land, public health, and agriculture.
For example, the president could shut down local radio stations or suspend a law that prohibits the testing of chemical and biological weapons on human subjects.
There are many powers. Most of the powers used have been to impose sanctions, deploy the military, and send money as needed to rectify a situation.
What Constitutes a National Emergency?
This is a tricky question! What constitutes an emergency is up for debate. The president must use the existing laws to justify a declaration. There are national emergencies that are still in effect today! National emergencies are reviewed and renewed annually.
Here are a few of the national emergencies that we have currently in place that were issued by the last four presidents: Stats (I’ve listed a few)
- Clinton-Blocking Iranian Property (sanctions)
- Clinton-Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (arms)
- Bush-Terrorist Attacks (military)
- Bush– Protecting development fund for Iraq (legal)
- Obama-Blocking property of persons threatening the peace of Yemen (sanctions)
- Obama– Blocking property of persons contributing to situations in Ukraine (sanctions)
- Trump-Southern Border of the United States (military)
- Trump– Novel Coronavirus Disease (public health)
- Biden-Extended 9/11 state of emergency by a year (now 23 years)
You can find the National Emergencies Act of 1976 here.
Put it All Together
A declaration of national emergency is a tough one to put all together because it is so broad. But, let me try to explain it where it makes a little more sense:
- The president can declare a national emergency if any situation threatens our country.
- Most powers over situations are voted upon in the House and Senate and then signed by the president.
- In a state of emergency, the president cannot wait for Congress to agree before acting.
- The state of emergency grants the president powers over that situation, not powers over everything.
- Congress can prevent the president from gaining these powers if both the House and Senate vote in a supermajority. Basically, everyone has to agree.
- The Supreme Court can stop the president from getting the powers if the declaration is unconstitutional.
- The president still has checks and balances.
How to Prepare for a National Emergency
As you can see above, the president can declare a national emergency for almost anything. Additionally, it grants him certain powers over the situation that he would not usually have.
A president could potentially abuse those powers, and it could take time for Congress and the Supreme Court to stop him. Because of this potential, it is always important to prepare.
As you can tell, we still have multiple states of emergencies ongoing—31, to be exact! Martial law was not issued for most of those, and we haven’t been directly affected by them. However, luck favors the prepared.
Here are a few ways you can prepare when you hear there could be a national emergency:
#1 Figure Out Communication
As stated above, the president could shut down radio stations, which means he could shut down forms of communication, such as cell towers. Make sure you have a plan with your family to communicate. If communication is shut down, this could be a meeting place or a walkie-talkie for more local communication. Other forms of communication should be considered based on your location and financial situation since they may mean purchasing some equipment.
#2 Have Enough Food and Water
A state of emergency has to be reevaluated every six months. This means that if SHTF gets really bad, you will want to make sure you can survive for six months. During a state of emergency, curfews could be enforced, or stores could be shut down, preventing you from getting the essential items you need.
Could you feed your family three meals a day for six months without going to the store? Do you have at least four gallons of water per person per day in your household for six months? If not, you must consider how to move in this direction and start stocking up one item at a time.
#3 Medications for National Emergency
Some people are on medications that keep them alive, such as insulin. It may be difficult to stock up on prescription medications because they are only filled once a month or once every 90 days. If you want to be prepared, you can discuss this with your doctor and determine how to increase your inventory.
Depending on the doctor you have, your doctor may be willing to send in more than what you need in the short term so you have some to store away. All you can do is ask.
#4 OTC Medications
We tend to get things like Tylenol and cough medicine only when needed. But you will want to ensure you have various OTC medications that can handle indigestion, the flu, sunburn, other burns, cuts, scrapes, etc.
#5 Hygiene Products
Shampoo, conditioner, soap, pads, and deodorant are things we use almost daily. You will want to ensure you have enough stored up in case you can’t make it to a store to get more for several weeks or months. Again, try buying a few at a time. Also, plan where you can adequately store the new items.
#6 First Aid Kits
I don’t know about you, but I sure wouldn’t want to be trying to go to the doctor or hospital if we have the military patrolling the streets. Ensure you have a first aid kit and know how to handle a non-life-threatening situation. I recommend always having superglue!
Preparation Posts to Read
If you are looking for more detailed preparedness information, please read the following posts from my blog:
- What to Store in Your Pantry for an Emergency
- 35 OTC Medications You Should Store
- First Aid What You Need to Survive
- What You Need in Your Hygiene Kit For Survival
- Prepping Advice that Just Makes Sense
- How to Find Other Water Sources in an Emergency
- 30 Pioneer Skills We Cannot Lose
How to Prepare for a National Emergency
Final Word
A national emergency doesn’t necessarily mean we are in a panic situation where we live. However, by being prepared for other SHTF scenarios like natural disasters, job loss, or even a pandemic, we will have what we need to survive if a national emergency affects where we live and work. Remember, luck favors the prepared, and a plan is even better. May God Bless this world, Linda
Copyright Images: Police Crime Scene AdobeStock_113822290, First Responders with Fire Fighters and Police Officers AdobeStock_256686651 By GregDPhotos
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