In the 1970s and 80s, Bruno Bréguet was one of the world’s most violent terrorists.
He started his life of crime in his teens and spent over twenty years dealing arms, making bombs, and working for intelligence organizations.
In his later years, Bruno accepted an invitation from Illich Ramírez Sánchez, also known as Carlos the Jackal, to work together.
(Carlos the Jackal was a Venezuelan who carried out bombings and assassinations in the 70s and 80s.)
Soon after accepting the invitation, Bruno carried out a bombing of Radio Free Europe, a pro-democracy organization.
Next, Bruno went to Paris to bomb embassies as a way to extort money from countries, but he was caught before he could carry out the attacks.
After getting out of prison, Bruno traveled the Middle East, meeting contacts from other terrorist groups and arranging arms deals.
But in 1991, Bruno walked into the U.S. embassy in Switzerland and offered to work for the CIA.
The CIA had a new mission that included fighting terror groups, and it turned out, Bruno was unhappy with the way he was being treated by his fellow terrorists in the group.
Plus, he needed the money and wanted reliable income, two things he thought the CIA could provide.
The CIA accepted Bruno’s offer and gave him a monthly salary of $3,000.
Within a few months, Bruno had told the CIA everything he knew about Carlos the Jackal and his terror organization.
For the next four years, Bruno provided the CIA with intelligence related to terrorist organizations.
He also provided key information that helped French authorities finally arrest Carlos.
Over the years, Bruno earned tens of thousands of dollars working for the CIA.
He also helped authorities understand the radicalization process and the extremism of some of the world’s terrorists.
Then, in 1995, Bruno boarded a ship from Greece to Italy and was never heard from again.
Now, many people will hate the fact that the CIA hired a terrorist…
But it’s not easy to get information about terrorist groups, and the CIA decided it was worth the risk to hire Bruno.
The truth is, much like the CIA, during a disaster or crisis you might have to trust someone you wouldn’t ever normally associate with for help or information.
During a disaster you may not have a choice but to rely on your neighbors, people who might be “shady,” or complete strangers.
In fact, here are just a few of the ways you may have to depend on strangers in an emergency.
First responders might not come:
First responders are heroes, no question. But they can’t always be there when you might need them, especially during a disaster.
You cannot depend solely on the government during a disaster – we have seen that time and again.
As a recent example, in Maui, as the wildfires raged, the government didn’t even activate the emergency sirens.
So, during a disaster, and in the aftermath, your neighbors will play a bigger role in helping you survive.
In many disasters, the people who get through the crisis are those who have ties to the community.
Neighbors know your house:
I’m a private person, and I don’t let strangers in my home.
But neighbors who know your family and have been in your home home can help save your life during a disaster.
They could help point them in the right direction to rescue as many people as possible.
For example, if there was an earthquake, as rescuers searched the rubble, a neighbor could tell first responders where the bedrooms in the homes are.
Neighbors would also know how many people there are in your family, so they could help confirm to rescuers when everyone is safe.
Get to know your neighbors:
In Japan, the government pays for block parties because they want citizens to get to know their neighbors.
Besides the reasons outlined above, it’s a good idea to know your neighbors because they could have valuable skills you may need one day.
For instance, maybe Jim down the road could be a doctor or a welder. Both of those are skills that might be needed after a disaster.
So, it’s a good idea to get involved in community events such as homeowners’ associations, sports groups, or even the local PTA.
The more you get to know your neighbors the more you can benefit each other during a disaster.
As I mentioned, safety and security should always be a priority.
But by attending community events you can get to know the good people in your neighborhood who might be helpful and a great resource during a disaster.
The important thing is to start now, so you’re prepared for the inevitable emergency or disaster.
Because the truth is, it’s not a matter of “if” something will happen, but when.
