How would a small Island country survive a long term SHTF situation? What could foreigners do to go back home?

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InvaderJoshua94@reddit

You would apply for asylum. I mean, if your country was legitimately destroyed in your incapable of going back that’s what asylum is for. Then you rebuild your life. this isn’t a prepper situation. This is just what happens in life.

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nuber1carguy@reddit

In my imagination, you should be making yourself more "valuable" every chance you can.

What I mean by more valuable is "learn a skill." And get better and better at it every day. Skills that would be valuable in my opinion are carpenter, electrician, plumber. From there you can specialize in other areas.

Im sure a small island country is always in need of valuable people. Otherwise, if you're just there becoming a burden, who knows what will happen to you.

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watermeloncanta1oupe@reddit

This is extremely dependent on which island, which friend, and which SHTF scenario is playing out.

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InfiniteMaizeField@reddit (OP)

Mauritius, my friend is a local physician, and a EMP destroys most of planet’s electrical grid.

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No-Professional-1884@reddit

Count you lucky stars and enjoy your new home.

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whatisevenrealnow@reddit

That's basically how I ended up as an Australian permanent resident. The visa process for people within the country was prioritized and accelerated during covid because of closed borders.

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InfiniteMaizeField@reddit (OP)

Aw fuck what about my gf back in states ;-;

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kaishinoske1@reddit

Cut your losses, that’s another thing about preppers I guess that doesn’t get mentioned enough.

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porqueuno@reddit

Indeed. Once it's safe to do so, then you can try to find her, or otherwise try to write her a letter to let her know you're not dead.

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rathaincalder@reddit

She’s probably a goner, so find yourself an island girl…

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wtfredditacct@reddit

She’s probably a goner

If not, she's also considering her options that probably involve OP not coming back lol

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Bald_Nightmare@reddit

Get a new one

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hiraeth555@reddit

Time they learnt how to sail. That would be the most reliable (though very dangerous, particularly as fuel runs out) way to travel

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chasonreddit@reddit

Sailing is the answer. Fuel is not really an issue, if you are sailing you probably use maybe a gallon/year for docking and such. And Mauritanians sailed the south pacific without fuel for thousands of years.

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Relative-Debt6509@reddit

Better learn to sail and try to acquire a large sailboat with some friends. It would still be a crap shoot. If something like an emp happens you’re not going to be able to pay anyone to leave country.

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Mash_man710@reddit

EMP means no GPS or navigation. You would not just have to learn to sail but to navigate on open ocean for months, with months of supplies for a crew. Zero chance.

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NorthernPrepz@reddit

I have sailed offshore in Atlantic and pacific, and i can tell you that getting a boat to cross the god forsaken ocean is only my absolute last ditch hail mary plan in VERY SPECIC circumstances.

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Mash_man710@reddit

Exactly. To answer OPs question, you live there now. Find a way to survive.

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InfiniteMaizeField@reddit (OP)

Would surviving be easy with millions of people on a small island?

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Mash_man710@reddit

No. It would be utter chaos within 72hrs of failed food delivery. Law and order would be gone in a week, and then you're animals in a pit.

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slinger301@reddit

For long term, Mauritius has 1.2 million people in 720 square miles. That's going to make it hard for the island to be self sufficient from purely a food standpoint. No fossil fuel deposits, so energy will be limited to renewable (currently 10% of power).

You will be 500 or so miles from the next largest landmass (Madagascar). 1500 miles to a major US/British military base (Diego Garcia). Open ocean travel, which will be very dangerous in the situation described. There is a US embassy on the island, which could provide some help.

A physician as a friend is a tremendous asset in such situations. Hopefully you speak some of the local language. Assisting them will increase your value to the local population.

I agree with others that recommend sheltering in place on the island if such a situation occurs. At least until reliable transportation is available.

On the bright side, your situation sounds like nukes are involved. In that case, you are orders of magnitude safer on Mauritius than in the US. I can't imagine any major power bothering to send a nuke down there.

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ResolutionMaterial81@reddit

An H-EMP can destroy a large area, but line-of-sight only. So more of a national issue.

But my concern would be if the H-EMP was from a nuclear superpower such as Russia or China, it would be quickly followed by a Thermonuclear Strike.

Being in the Southern Hemisphere should isolate you from the nuclear fallout, smoke & other Northern Hemisphere issues.

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n3wb33Farm3r@reddit

Just check out the experiences of refugees now, that's basically what you'd be. I'm sure you'll be fine.

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wellwornflipflops@reddit

In the event you describe Mauritius would be screwed for one simple reason; population density. Mauritius has a population of more than 1.2 million people on an island less than 800 square miles, and that 1.2 million doesn't include the tens of thousands tourists that will be on the island at any one time. They can't produce even a substance diet for that many people in the space they have. They currently import more than 75% of their food and probably a majority of their fertilizer. Even if they managed to bring all of the sugar plantations into food production, without fertilizer they'd struggle to produce even half the food they need. Add on to the unrest and anxiety caused by the SHTF event the realisation that food will become very scarce and nobody will be having a good time

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iwannaddr2afi@reddit

This one! Additionally, it obviously depends on what shit hit which fan, but logistics of getting off an island could get hairy fast. On the other hand, anything could happen to anyone anywhere anytime. I wouldn't let a potential disaster (unless there's a particularly likely one?) prevent me from making the trip. And none of us will get out of here alive. live your life, OP :)

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funnysasquatch@reddit

Don’t worry about it. Enjoy your time with your friend.

Because you don’t want to be 80 and on your deathbed & realized you missed a chance to spend time with time a friend in a beautiful place over something had no chance of happening.

And if a SHTF happens where the US ceases to exist out of the blue- the odds your small island survives is zero.

So nothing you can do in that situation.

Except go the beach with your friends & enjoy a cold drink while watching the sunset.

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totalwarwiser@reddit

Learn a trade and become usefull before people get fed up with you.

Try to get a spot in a ship that is going to a better destination.

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aed38@reddit

If the island can grow the right food, then you could survive indefinitely.

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Femveratu@reddit

This happened during Covid. Some people got stuck for awhile. It’s not exactly analogous but I bet the news reports covering this may contain some highly relevant nuggets regarding various options and how gov handled it

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Material_Skill_187@reddit

You have to become part of the local community. Going home is not possible. Even if you were on the same continent as your home, traveling 500+ miles on foot with societal collapse and the supercharged weather events makes that impractical if not completely impossible. Just become part of that community you will be depending on the locals to help you survive. You must show that you have value to them in return. Help everyone. Community is how humans survive. Not isolation.

Sending you love. ❤️

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InfiniteMaizeField@reddit (OP)

Thanks I just worry about this when traveling I can’t imagine that IRL tho leaving your whole life behind because of an unchangeable event.

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Malyfas@reddit

OP, there is a documented story of this exact thing happening to a lady during Covid. She was on vacation to an island country who got trapped by travel restrictions. Due to the length of them, she had to integrate into local society and do what jobs she could to sustain herself. she finally made it home 8 or so months later. I wish I could remember where I read the article.

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Material_Skill_187@reddit

I don’t know if you’re spiritual, but I’ll still say this: a year ago I wasn’t spiritual. Since then I know that there really is a God, and that we are all eternal beings having a temporary human experience. Nothing can truly harm us. We are not our bodies and not our minds. What happens to our bodies isn’t happening to the real us. And death, as we are taught it, is a lie. Death is merely a transition to a higher frequency beyond the visible spectrum that humans cannot see and currently cannot sense.

Life is an experience to be enjoyed. When SHTF, not if, just be helpful to everyone. Start now. If someone asks for help, say yes. You’ll be in need of help soon and need their help. We are all going to be growing our own food, collecting our own water, and community is crucial. Most people don’t know how to do those things. Most people have zero supplies. It will take community to work together, share knowledge, and help each other. Just remember, no matter what happens, it can’t hurt you. You’re eternal. Enjoy this short time on Earth. We didn’t come here to live in fear. Love. ❤️

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InfiniteMaizeField@reddit (OP)

Very beautiful post, thank you, I’ll take this with me into remembering when I worry about any situation out of my control. Have a great day :)

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Any-Application-8586@reddit

I’ve heard that it takes a certain digestive tract to survive on an island. Not sure how true that is, but starving to death with a full stomach doesn’t sound all that fun.

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InfiniteMaizeField@reddit (OP)

Is that true? I’ve never been able to handle non US foods well I always have an upset stomach

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Drexx_Redblade@reddit

No, not unless you have a specific food allergy. You're gut microbiome can take a bit of time to get used to a new diet, but it will adapt.

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chasonreddit@reddit

The answer is of course cash. Keeping a large supply when you travel, or at least negotiable instruments, is a must.

It may feel uncomfortable traveling with a lot of cash. It's more uncomfortable being stuck somewhere without it.

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Stewart_Duck@reddit

Really depends on the island. Some have sustained life for millennia. Others are have been 100% reliant on the outside world, since their inception, for their survival. Look up the Easter Island collapse, it's probably going to be the best point of reference for survival on a small(er) island. People still survived there after the collapse, but at a fraction of what their civilization was. Population to fresh water and food supply are essential to island living.

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NateLPonYT@reddit

This is it

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InfiniteMaizeField@reddit (OP)

Would you say to study how people survived in those places during more simple primitive time periods?

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Stewart_Duck@reddit

You could, wouldn't have to be primitive. I mentioned Easter Island because it started off with a small group of people, became a large advanced civilization (advance for Polynesian societies at the time), then essentially outgrew and depleted the resources available. By the time Europeans got there, there were a handful of smaller tribes, living more primitively, left. Now on the opposite side of the planet, Crete has had civilization for millennia that has weathered multiple collapses. From the Bronze Age collapse, to Rome, to the World Wars, but their civilization never reversed back to a stone age culture. They were in an area still easily accessed by other cultures. So, I guess what I'm getting at, if you're in the Caribbean, Mediterranean, South East Asia, Canaries, North Sea, Falkins, etc., it might be slowed down, but trade and communication will remain. If you're in the South Pacific, Southern Atlantic, Central Indian oceans, look to how pre-European contact civilisations survived.

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Secret-Temperature71@reddit

We were in Antigua when news of Covid got released. Once it looked like there would be travel shut downs we moved to Dominica because it is self sufficient in food and water. We stayed there for 5 months and were well treated although there was an initial panic in the community that we could be vectors. The Health Minister made public appearances to emphasize that our expat/sailing community was cooperating, under control and no threat.

After 5 months, late June, we returned to the USA due hurricane season and USA was somewhat stabilizing, that is we could find a marina to accept us.

Another American thought he could just leave in March and stop at islands along the way to get back. He was certain because “I know people in high places.” That did not work and he was ejected everywhere. When we did go back it was 13 days non-atop. I did not even touch territorial water as the BVI was patroling that far out. But they were exceptional.

Of course you situation will he different from mine.

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SignificantPassion4@reddit

They’re going to eat the foreigners.

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LtDangley@reddit

Especially Americans, generally better marbling

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larevolutionaire@reddit

You are beyond wagu.

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StorminWolf@reddit

My exact thought.

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Warm-Marsupial8912@reddit

Jodi Picoult just wrote a novel kind of based around that. The solution was making relationships

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jmma20@reddit

Which book? I love her stuff

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InfiniteMaizeField@reddit (OP)

It’s called “Wish you were here” (2021) by Jodi Picoult I read the synopsis pretty similar to my question tbh

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jmma20@reddit

Thanks … I remember reading that one. :)

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TVDnga@reddit

Then you just found yourself a new home, friend. 😊

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InfiniteMaizeField@reddit (OP)

How will locals treat me in a SHTF? Am I just another dumb foreigner to them, or can I gain some respect in the local community?

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TVDnga@reddit

I’d imagine most would treat you fine, particularly if you have helpful skills.

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It_is_Fries_No_Patat@reddit

Look at Cuba !

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Mysterious_Touch_454@reddit

I dont think you got affecyed by the 2010 Volcano eruption in Iceland, when Eyjafjallajökul exploded and sent massive ashclouds in the air and it affected lots of northern europe, meaning planes werent allowed to risk flying because engine damage.

Lots of northern europeans were on vacations on mediterranean area and they couldnt fly back, so they had to organize land travel or ship tickets to come back to north. Took weeks, or some even months to get back because everything was booked full (no flights and those transport huge amount of people daily).

So, expect to get stuck for months unless you want to fight for tickets and travels.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_eruptions_of_Eyjafjallaj%C3%B6kull

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Awedidthathurt@reddit

it's the plot from a self published SHTF ebook.

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InfiniteMaizeField@reddit (OP)

Which book?

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OnTheEdgeOfFreedom@reddit

Depending on the situation - SHTF tells me nothing - you probably don't want to return.

It's hard to imagine a long term disaster that shuts down the US so hard you can't return for a long time. The two that come to mind are a super-pandemic, or an extensive EMP attack on the US. Both would shut down travel.

For a really severe pandemic - and I'm talking about something really bad, like R0 above 10 and CFR above .3 - you're probably talking about the loss of the affected civilizations, unless someone gets a vaccine up very, very fast. Transportation would shut down hard - if nothing else to contain spread, possibly because so many people are dying they can't run transportation. I'm talking about something that would make Covid's millions of worldwide deaths look like a joke.

In that situation you stay where you are and you're thankful transportation has stopped dead, because maybe that way your island stays safe. Maybe.

For an EMP attack, the EMP wave is simply the first wave of nuclear strikes. If the EMP attacks takes down the entire US grid - and that's not impossible - you, again, make a new life on your island nation. Because in a permanent grid down, the US collapses in a matter of weeks to months, unleashing violence, starvation and sickness that wipes out most of the population in a year. That's over and above the relatively paltry deaths from the nukes themselves. You don't want to be there.

I can't think of much else that would block transportation to the US, long term. If the US can't pull things back together relatively quickly, as we did for Covid, then it's probably down for the count and you don't want to go back.

Neither scenario is real likely, though given recent rhetoric it's getting harder and harder to be certain.

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Inner-Confidence99@reddit

This happened during Covid.

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vercertorix@reddit

I would ask for asylum, and just accept you live there for the time being. Hopefully, you can still move your assets there.

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1one14@reddit

How big and strong are you? Can you fight? Can you store food and have a gun to defend it against a million plus starving locals? They import most of their food, so I would expect the island to devolve pretty fast. If you survive the first six months, then I think it would be a good spot after a million people die off or are killed.

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Resident_Narwhal_474@reddit

Dude I know people who had to survive in Mauritius during the “pandemic”. You would not be very well off if you weren’t a government official and corrupt. If SHTF, you’d be proper fcked

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InfiniteMaizeField@reddit (OP)

Can u explain more? I’m going next month for a friend of mine.

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Minimum-Major248@reddit

That almost happened here on Inauguration Day.

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TeaBag4yall@reddit

Enjoy your new place and contribute or become Moana and sail off that rock.

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PrepperBoi@reddit

A lot of people prefer to not leave our home continent for this reason. I don’t even have a passport, I’m perfectly happy to stay within driving limits from my home. The US is so big and I haven’t seen most of it.

The best thing you could do is ensure you’re wealthy or carrying something for trade. You could bring some things either way you and ship them home (like a BOB). That would probably cost a fortune. Maybe you could buy a bunch of stuff and leave it at a buddies house in the garage or something.

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SweetAlyssumm@reddit

I'm only going overseaI if I can walk home. Like to Mexico. There's always some risk but if I make it to the border I can walk across. Between buses, private cars, and taxis as long as i have some money, it's doable to reach a border in most scenarios. But I'm doing nothing that involves flying over water.

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Fragrant_Lobster_917@reddit

It's not overseas if you can walk home, unless you're a mermaid?

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SweetAlyssumm@reddit

In American English "overseas" means in a foreign country. I see you are lobster so sensitive to the nuances.

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Fragrant_Lobster_917@reddit

Do my fellow Americans actually think Mexico is over the sea from us? Or Canada? The Europeans bullying us for our stupidity must be onto something 😂

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PrepperBoi@reddit

Overseas is slang for “traveling outside the country”

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lm-hmk@reddit

I’m American and did not know this. I thought going overseas meant, well, actually traveling over seas. I grew up in a border state. Going to Canada for the weekend absolutely does not count as traveling overseas. Same with Mexico. I suppose an argument could be made for Central America, but our two border countries do not count as traveling overseas. My unsolicited two cents.

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Virtual-Feature-9747@reddit

This thought is in the back of my mind any time I travel... even in country. Well, actually any time I'm traveling more than 100 miles from home really. You are pretty much screwed.

I guess carry some gold coins in a cavity and hope you can buy some goodwill..?

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Uhohtallyho@reddit

I travel with jewelery if it's not a developing country so I know I can always trade if need be. Put it in carry on or wear it, its never questioned. We have cut down on our international travel though, at home we at least know what we have available to us.

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larevolutionaire@reddit

I live on a small island in the Caribbean. The tourists will not last the first week. Maybe we eat them 🧐

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Fragrant_Lobster_917@reddit

Is that small island Haiti?

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larevolutionaire@reddit

Haiti is part of a large island made of 2 country, Santo Domingo and Haiti. And nope , not Haiti, Haiti is behind recovery from human disaster. No more forest, the top soil is washed out.

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Fragrant_Lobster_917@reddit

Ik it's not it's own island lol, just makin a joke ab the cannibalism headlines from a year ago

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Mechbear2000@reddit

Some place live closer to what collapse would be like than others. In the US we have farther to fall than say Jamaica

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larevolutionaire@reddit

But most Jamaican are just one generation removed from a homestead in some shape or form. We also adapted to multi generational living and small scale farming. And maybe Jamaican can go back to the beach again. ( now tourists only resorts) funny that I don’t find Jamaica to be very poor, cash strapped yes, starving no.

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Mechbear2000@reddit

Went for a tour at a local botanical garden. No ornamental flowers, all plants had medicinal and other purposes. The way life used to be.

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larevolutionaire@reddit

And there is great coffee in the blue mountains.

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zapthycat1@reddit

A while back, I was genuinely considering moving to Pitcairn Island. Population 50. Completely isolated and cut off, they get quarterly supply boats from New Zealand.
Seems like a little slice of literal paradise. Couldn't sell my wife on the idea. Was self-sufficient for a hundred years before it was officially owned by Britain / Commonwealth.
Sigh.

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jmma20@reddit

Also a huge sex offender type population and crime from what I’ve heard/read but if not for that, it sounds great

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helmetdeep805@reddit

Don’t bring weed to Mauritius I know a guy who is still awaiting trail 5 years later ..He got caught smuggling in a few ozs

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AlphaDisconnect@reddit

Clams, mussels, fish, and catch some rain water.

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Laprasy@reddit

Probably safer staying there. I’d rather be there than the US if that happened!

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Sporesword@reddit

Cannibalism to rapidly reduce the population. Then hopefully there is good fishing nearby.

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YYCADM21@reddit

You would likely stand no better or worse chance of surviving there as anywhere. A few hundred or thousand tourists in any given location is not going to make any meaningful difference, other than leaving you at a disadvantage of not having any local knowledge. If you have skills of some kind, time to flex them. Getting halfway around the world is challenging enough with everything operating normally. You simply give up that idea; it won't happen for a long time, if ever.

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shanghainese88@reddit

You better pray Mauritius can still import fossil fuels (86.7% of their energy needs).

Or else going back home would be the least of your worries.

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youmo-ebike@reddit

Wow, what event? Thats crazy