Recently, on prepper-centric social media I’ve noticed an increase in interest regarding FEMA search markings. It could be important to understand what the markings mean, should you encounter a seemingly abandoned area after a major catastrophe.
We’re also going to talk about why it isn’t a great idea to falsify these sorts of markings yourself. More on that in a bit.
Brief History
Near as I can tell, FEMA developed their X-pattern search symbol in the early 1990s. It was part of their Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) protocols. The idea is to have a standardized way to communicate whether a given building has been searched. And, if it has, what was found. It’s quick and dirty, but it works. Over time, other agencies have adopted the same protocol. But, I’m given to understand that there can be some small differences from one outfit to another.
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Drawing the X
Before a team enters the building, a diagonal slash is painted on the door or exterior wall. The department or team name is written on the left side of the slash. Once they exit, a cross slash is painted, creating the X.
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At the top of the X, they write the date and time the team has exited the building. On the right side, they write notes about any hazards that were encountered, such as rats or structural damage. At the bottom, they note how many survivors or dead bodies were located.
In examining dozens of examples of these FEMA search markings, there is a considerable amount of variance in how these bits of information are actually noted. It bears noting that these markings are usually made with spray paint, which doesn’t exactly lend itself to neat and tidy handwriting in a hurry.
Camouflaging Your Home
There’s a school of thought out in the prepper community that says that in the wake of a major disaster, you should make your home look uninhabited. This includes the use of falsified FEMA search markings.
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Personally, I’m not totally on board with this idea. If the home looks abandoned, then that may make it more inviting to people who might be seeking shelter. I’d much rather people see that my home is occupied and thus move on to an easier target. I understand that there are risks involved with this approach. But I feel that the danger is less than someone deciding my home looks like just the place to crash for a few days, since it appears abandoned.
As for painting your own FEMA search markings, there are a couple of reasons why this might not work out for you.
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1) Many agencies are moving to digital records, so they’ll know instantly that the house wasn’t actually searched.
2) If your home is the only one in the area with this marking, it’ll stand out rather than blend in.
Something else to keep in mind is that if you live in an area with reasonably close neighbors, odds are they’ll know you’re there, regardless of how you try to disguise your home. If possible, it would be wise to team up with your neighbors and watch out for one another, rather than try to sequester yourself away from them.
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