Marauders
Articles
Danger:
Marauders are the roving, opportunistic threats that emerge when normal order collapses. They are groups or individuals who survive by taking from others through intimidation or force. They are a recurring theme in survival planning because history shows that prolonged crises, when law and resources break down, tend to bring them out.
For preppers, marauders represent the human element of a disaster, and they are often the hardest part to plan for. You can store food and water, but you also have to consider that desperate or predatory people may try to take what you have prepared. The danger of marauders is greatest for a household that is visibly resourced and undefended when the social order thins.
Preparedness centers on deterrence, awareness, and community. A low profile, a hardened home, situational awareness, and above all strong ties with trusted neighbors make you a difficult and unappealing target. Security in numbers and good planning matter far more than any single measure. The goal is always to avoid confrontation rather than seek it.
That goal holds when you are on the move, too. If a crisis forces your family to leave home on foot, busy roads are where trouble tends to gather. Our guide to following railroad tracks on foot covers a quieter route out and what to expect along the way.
Preppers spend a great deal of energy storing food, water, and supplies, and rightly so. In a prolonged breakdown of order, though, the most unpredictable threat is other people. Some have not prepared and decide to take what you have. History shows that desperation and opportunism bring out groups willing to survive at others' expense. A stocked but undefended household with no allies is the target they look for.
The best defense is rarely confrontation. A low profile, a hardened home, steady awareness, and trusted neighbors make your family a hard target. When staying put stops being an option, a quiet way out matters just as much. Our guide to following railroad tracks on foot shows one route a family can use.
