Conspiracy Theories

As emergency managers, we are engaged in planning for what the average citizen thinks is unlikely, improbable and in some cases deadly. When we consider catastrophic events and what might happen with cascading infrastructure failures for an unprepared populace and society, it can be very sobering indeed.  

Yet there is another brand of people who live and die by their conspiracy theories. To them the world is awash with potentially dangerous events over which they have little control, except for their own ability to plan for the inevitable final battle of good versus evil. 

 

The information sources we have today can put the old word-of-mouth rumor mills to shame. Two primary means for the spreading of rumors and “facts” as defined by writers are the Internet and social media. Both sources serve as megaphones for whatever is being transmitted. There can also be a chain-letter aspect of information being passed from one set of email addresses to the next for embellishment of the original message. 

 

Here is a short list of those that have come to my direct attention. Generally they have something to do with the need to be prepared to defend your home, your state, the Constitution, etc. And you need guns, lots of guns, and enough ammunition to make your gun barrels glow ruby red and the rifling in your barrels to be worn out. 

 

• Invasion from a foreign country. More specifically, I was once told, from Colombia.
• Invasion from within. The active duty military forces of the United States were told to invade and “occupy” one of our 50 states. 
• That senior military officers had been called in, and during closed door meetings they were asked if they would be willing to order their troops to fire on American civilians. If not willing, they had been relieved of their commands.
• The Department of Homeland Security has been stockpiling ammunition to be used for armed conflict with citizens of the United States.

Of course, there’s a plan to seize the guns of law-abiding citizens when given the chance to do so. 

One rumor relayed to me recently was this: President Obama has been giving nuclear weapons to other countries. To elaborate when asked which ones, the answer was “Iraq.” I figure if we’ve given nukes to Iraq, we must have already given them to Afghanistan too. 

Let us not forget FEMA’s role in all of the above. Besides having black helicopters that can swoop in and secure portions of states with what I presume are special operations troops, they also have plans to set up detention camps for U.S. citizens. 

I raise all of the above for several reasons. One is so you know that this type of thinking exists and that all your catastrophic planning might be interpreted differently from what you intend — helping people.

 

Trust in government and our democratic institutions, including our military, is at an all-time low. This lack of trust breeds rumors like nothing else.

 

 What can you do as emergency managers, business continuity professionals and citizens? Fight rumor with truth and facts. Among your family, acquaintances and citizens, you do have some influence because of your position and experience planning for different contingencies. Use your role to speak up and speak out when you encounter the types of rumors I’ve described above and others like them.  

 

And as far as Colombia invading the United States: It is impossible because of one thing and one thing only — logistics.