Urban Survival Expert Richard Duarte Shares Hurricane Preparedness Tips [Interview]

Hurricane season is upon us. Miami attorney Richard Duarte became increasingly concerned with surviving a man-made or natural disaster after living through the wrath of Hurricane Andrew in 1992. The South Florida lawyer and firearms expert penned his first book, Surviving Doomsday: A Guide for Surviving an Urban Disaster, to aid others with similar worries. Although Duarte’s preparedness advice could help those concerned about weather disasters and various forms of civil unrest in suburban and rural areas, his popular book is particularly geared to the survival hurdles facing residents of metropolitan areas.

The Inquisitr recently sat down with Richard Duarte to discuss his book and ongoing training plan:

IQ: How does you background as a firearms expert and a lawyer influence your survival and preparedness habits?

Richard: Because of my legal training and to some extent my personality, I tend to be analytical and logical in my approach to just about every issue or problem I encounter. My survival preparation and planning focuses around what makes sense and what is reasonable and logical for the circumstances. I sincerely believe that every successful survival plan must contain a strong security and self-defense component; for some of us this includes owning firearms and knowing how to use them safely and effectively. I always recommend proper training to anyone considering owning a firearm.

IQ: Surviving Hurricane Andrew prompted you to become increasingly concerned about disaster survival in urban regions. Did you feel helpless and or worried in the aftermath of the hurricane?

Richard: During hurricane Andrew, a category 5 storm, I felt completely helpless and alone. Our house was literally torn apart all around us – there was nothing I could do about it, and there was no one to call for help. In the aftermath, I couldn’t believe what had just happened and how completely unprepared I had been. That morning my family and I left the rubble of what had once been our home with nothing more than the clothes on our backs.

We were all grateful to be alive, but at that moment I knew I could never again allow myself to be caught off-guard. For a period of time after Andrew my family and I lived in constant fear of the annual hurricane season, which runs from June 1st to the end of November. Since 1992 I have been researching and studying what works and what doesn’t. After many years of trial and error, I developed easy, practical steps that anyone can take to be prepared. Contrary to popular belief, what motivates most of us to be prepared is not fear, but the desire to not live in fear. Being prepared has actually brought peace of mind back into my life.

I realize that law enforcement professionals do a very good job of protecting the public, but sometimes lawful citizens are confronted by violent criminals wishing to do them harm and waiting for the police to arrive may not always be an option. It is every citizen’s right to defend themselves and their loved ones, and that is a right that should never be compromised in any way.

IQ: How did engaging in a more self-reliant mindset evolve and how did your wife, children, and grandchildren respond to the lifestyle change?

Richard: As a society we have become overly reliant on a very fragile and often aging and unreliable public infrastructure. Everything we depend on from the water we drink, to the food we eat, to the electricity that powers our homes and business, it’s all, in some way or another, tied to the electrical grid. As responsible members of society, it’s up to us to recognize these vulnerabilities and to prepare accordingly – doing nothing should never be an option.

However, not everybody sees it quite the same way, and too many people tend to ignore potential threats until they are personally affected. I am very lucky that my wife and children are all very supportive and appreciative of my efforts. But, I know many people who don’t see the need to make any preparations, sadly they are among the majority of the population that still mistakenly believe that the authorities will quickly organize and come to their rescue immediately after any disaster or public emergency.

IQ: You currently offer consults and lectures on surviving urban disasters. Creating a sustainable lifestyle is far easier in a rural or even suburban environment. What are the major concerns and stumbling blocks in regards to food production and energy systems faced primarily by urban dwellers?

Richard: In any disaster or public emergency urban dwellers will have a much tougher time securing, what I call, the core survival elements – food, water, first aid, sanitation, hygiene, shelter and security. Because of this many urban dwellers will face the perfect storm in just about any crisis. The majority of the US population now lives in cities, and all the goods and services they consume are brought in from very far away.

IQ: Your “Surviving An Urban Disaster, How Prepared Are You?” report will appear in the June edition of S.W.A.T. Magazine. What can you share about the upcoming featured article?

Richard: S.W.A.T. Magazine is an excellent publication and I am grateful that they gave me an opportunity to write an article on the topic of urban survival. The article itself is a detailed summary of what the average personal should be thinking about and how they should be preparing and planning for a crisis.

IQ: Your book, Surviving Doomsday – A Guide for Surviving an Urban Disaster was featured in the Florida Bar Journal Literary Lawyers section. What type of reception did you get from your fellow attorneys and who should read the book,?

Richard: Most of my friends, and professional peers have been very supportive, many thought it really “cool” that I had written the book and asked when I was going to be on “that Prepper show.” Overall, I have received all sorts of feedback, but the majority has been positive. I don’t consider myself a “Prepper” personally, I don’t like labels. I am merely a person who recognizes that we live in a very dangerous and unpredictable world, and that there are reasonable, practical, common sense steps that we can all take to protect ourselves and our loved ones. I think everybody would benefit from reading my book, no matter where they live.

Being prepared and having a plan just makes sense, no matter who you are. If it were up to me, I would make disaster preparedness a mandatory subject for children to learn about in school. The same way we have fire drills and vaccinations, I would take the time to teach school aged children how to best protect themselves against the natural and man-made hazards that are so common in our daily lives. But since schools don’t even want to teach kids how to write in cursive anymore, I have very little hope. In reality, it’s up to us to educate and protect ourselves and our families; to do anything less is irresponsible.

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