WO2008027981A2 - Subscription-based private civil security facilitation method - Google Patents

Abstract

A plurality of private civil security resources are provided (101). These private civil security resources comprise, at least in part, civil security provisions, civil security facilities, and civil security provisions. Consideration-based private civil security subscriptions are accepted (301) from subscribers with respect to providing civilly-catastrophic event-based access to one or more such resource. This can include offering (303) reduced-consideration-based private civil security subscriptions for authorized beneficiaries who have at least a predetermined relationship with respect to a service provider as regards such a resource. That resource is then maintained (304) pending a need to permit subscription-based access to the resource in the event of a catastrophic event.

Description

SUBSCRIPTION-BASED PRIVATE CIVIL SECURITY FACILITATION METHOD

Related Applications

This application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. provisional application numbers 60/823,806 filed August 29, 2006, 60/825,524 filed September 13, 2006,

60/825,976 Filed September 18, 2006, 60/826,491 filed September 21, 2006, 60/827,591

Filed September 29, 2006, 60/827,820 Filed October 2, 2006, 60/827,828 filed October 2,

2006, 60/828,341 filed October 5, 2006, 60/828,342 Filed October 5, 2006, and 60/829,447 filed October 13, 2006, which are hereby incorporated in their entirety herein.

This comprises a continuation-in-part of each of:

SUBSCRIPTION-BASED PRIVATE CIVIL SECURITY FACILITATION METHOD as filed on March 17, 2006 and having application number 11/384,037;

SUBSCRIPTION-BASED CATASTROPHE-TRIGGERED MEDICAL SERVICES FACILITATION METHOD as filed on March 30, 2006 and having application number

11/394,350;

PERSONAL PROFILE-BASED PRIVATE CIVIL SECURITY SUBSCRIPTION METHOD as filed on April 11, 2006 and having application number 11/279,333;

RADIATION SHELTER KIT APPARATUS AND METHOD as filed on April 24, 2006 and having application number 11/379,929;

FRACTIONALLY-POSSESSED UNDERGROUND SHELTER METHOD AND APPARATUS as filed on May 2₅ 2006 and having application number 11/381 ,247;

SUBSCRIPTION-BASED CATASTROPHE-TRIGGERED TRANSPORT SERVICES FACILITATION METHOD AND APPARATUS as filed on May 2, 2006 and having application number 11/381 ,257;

SUBSCRIPTION-BASED MULTI-PERSON EMERGENCY SHELTER METHOD as filed on May 2, 2006 and having application number 11/381 ,265; [0010] SUBSCRIPTION-BASED CATASTROPHE-TRIGGERED RESCUE SERVICES FACILITATION METHOD AND APPARATUS as filed on May 2, 2006 and having application number 11/381,277;

[0011] DOCUMENT-BASED CIVILLY-CATASTROPHIC EVENT PERSONAL ACTION GUIDE FACILITATION METHOD as filed on May 12, 2006 and having application number 11/383,022;

[0012] RESCUE CONTAINER METHOD AND APPARATUS as filed on May 26, 2006 and having application number 11/420,594;

[0013] PURCHASE OPTION-BASED EMERGENCY SUPPLIES PROVISIONING METHOD as filed on June 1, 2006 and having application number 11/421,694;

[0014] SUBSCRIPTION-BASED PRE-PRO VISIONED TOWABLE UNIT FACILITATION METHOD as filed on June 12, 2006 and having application number

11/423,594;

[0015] RADIATION-BLOCKING BLADDER APPARATUS AND METHOD as filed on June 19, 2006 and having application number 11/425,043;

[0016] PRIVATE CIVIL DEFENSE-THEMED TELEVISION BROADCASTING METHOD as filed on June 23, 2006 and having application number 11/426,231 ;

[0017] EMERGENCY SUPPLIES PRE-PO SITIONING AND ACCESS CONTROL METHOD as filed on July 10, 2006 and having application number 11/456,472;

[0018] PRIVATE CIVIL DEFENSE-THEMED BROADCASTING METHOD as filed on August 1, 2006 and having application number 11/461,605;

[0019] METHOD OF PROVIDING VARIABLE SUBSCRIPTION-BASED ACCESS TO AN EMERGENCY SHELTER as filed on August 1, 2006 and having application number 11/461,624;

[0020] SUBSCRIPTION-BASED INTERMEDIATE SHORT-TERM EMERGENCY SHELTER METHOD as filed on August 7, 2006 and having application number 11/462,795; [0021] SUBSCRIPTION-BASED CATASTROPHE-TRIGGERED RESCUE SERVICES FACILITATION METHOD USING WIRELESS LOCATION INFORMATION as filed on August 7, 2006 and having application number 11/462,845;

[0022] PRIVATELY PROVISIONED SURVIVAL SUPPLIES DELIVERY METHOD as filed on August 15, 2006 and having application number 11/464,751;

[0023] PRIVATELY PROVISIONED SURVIVAL SUPPLIES SUB UNIT-BASED DELIVERY METHOD as filed on August 15, 2006 and having application number 11/464,764;

[0024] PRIVATELY PROVISIONED SURVIVAL SUPPLIES ACQUISITION METHOD as filed on August 15, 2006 and having application number 11/464,775;

[0025] PRIVATELY PROVISIONED SURVIVAL SUPPLIES CONTENT ACQUISITION METHOD as filed on August 15, 2006 and having application number 11/464,788;

[0026] METHOD TO PRIVATELY PROVISION SURVIVAL SUPPLIES THAT INCLUDE THIRD PARTY ITEMS as filed on August 15, 2006 and having application number 11/464,799;

[00271 WASTE DISPOSAL DEVICE as filed on August 16, 2006 and having application number 11/465,063;

[0028] SUBSCRIPTION-BASED PRIVATE CIVIL SECURITY RESOURCE CUSTOMIZATION METHOD as filed on August 23, 2006 and having application number 11/466,727;

[0029] PREMIUM BASED PRIVATE CIVIL SECURITY POLICY METHODS as filed on August 24, 2006 and having application number 11/466,953;

[0030] SUBSCRIPTION-BASED MOBILE SHELTER METHOD as filed on September 5, 2006 and having application number 11/470,156;

[0031] METHOD OF PROVIDING A FLOATING LIFE-SUSTAINING FACILITY as filed on September 13, 2006 and having application number 11/531,651; [0032] PRIVATELY PROVISIONED SUB-UNIT-BASED SURVIVAL SUPPLIES PROVISIONING METHOD as filed on September 15, 2006 and having application number 11/532,461;

[0033] PRIVATELY PROVISIONED INTERLOCKING SUB UNIT BASED SURVIVAL SUPPLIES PROVISIONING METHOD as filed on September 25, 2006 and having application number 11/535,021;

[0034] RESOURCE CONTAINER AND POSITIONING METHOD AND APPARATUS as filed on September 26, 2006 and having application number 11/535,282;

[0035] PUBLICLY-FUNDED PRIVATELY FACILITATED ACCESS TO SURVIVAL RESOURCES METHOD as filed on September 29, 2006 and having application number 11/537,469;

[0036] ELECTRICITY PROVIDING PRIVATELY PROVISIONED SUBSCRIPTION-BASED SURVIVAL SUPPLY UNIT METHOD AND APPARATUS as filed on October 9, 2006 and having application number 11/539,798;

[0037] PREMIUM-BASED CIVILLY-CATASTROPHIC EVENT THREAT ASSESSMENT as filed on October 9, 2006 and having application number 11/539,861 ;

[0038] PRIVATELY MANAGED ENTERTAINMENT AND RECREATION SUPPLIES PROVISIONING METHOD as filed on October 10, 2006 and having application number 11 /548, 191;

[0039] METHOD TO FACILITATE PROVIDING ACCESS TO A PLURALITY OF PRIVATE CIVIL SECURITY RESOURCE as filed on October 16, 2006 and having application number 11/549,874;

[0040] METHOD OF PROVIDING BEARER CERTIFICATES FOR PRIVATE CIVIL SECURITY BENEFITS as filed on October 18, 2006 and having application number 11/550,594;

[0041] METHOD FOR CIVILLY-CATASTROPHIC EVENT-BASED TRANSPORT SERVICE AND VEHICLES THEREFOR as filed on October 19, 2006 and having application number 11/551,083; [0042] METHOD FOR PROVIDING PRIVATE CIVIL SECURITY SERVICES BUNDLED WITH SECOND PARTY PRODUCTS as filed on October 30, 2006 and having application number 11/554,452;

[0043] SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR A PRIVATE CIVIL SECURITY LOYALTY REWARD PROGRAM as filed on November 1, 2006 and having application number 11/555,589;

[0044] SUBSCRIPTION BASED SHUTTLE METHOD as filed on November 2, 2006 and having application number 11/555,896;

[0045] METHOD AND SECURITY MODULES FOR AN INCIDENT DEPLOYMENT AND RESPONSE SYSTEM FOR FACILITATING ACCESS TO PRIVATE CIVIL SECURITY RESOURCES as filed on November 3, 2006 and having application number 11/556,520;

[0046] METHOD OF PROVIDING SURVIVAL SUPPLIES CONTAINER WITH AN ILLUMINATION APPARATUS as filed on November 13, 2006 and having application number 11/559,278;

[0047] the contents of each of which are fully incorporated herein by this reference.

Technical Field

[0048] This invention relates generally to providing survival-related services.

Background

[0049] Many citizens of the world have long passed the point when a ready availability of the basic necessities of life is satisfactory in and of itself. Today's consumer-oriented citizens demand, and often receive, an incredibly diverse and seemingly ever-growing cornucopia of consuming and experiential options. Such riches are typically based, in turn, upon a highly interdependent series of foundational infrastructure elements. Examples of the latter include, but are certainly not limited to: transportation infrastructure such as roads, bridges, railways, and so forth that facilitate the inexpensive and rapid movement of sometimes perishable goods from source to consumer; communications infrastructure such as telephones, television, radio, and the Internet that facilitate the inexpensive and rapid sharing of news, advice, information, and entertainment; and the totality of civil services such as police services, fire fighting services, medical services, and so forth that facilitate a sufficient degree of order and predictability to, in turn, permit the complex series of inter-related actions that modern society requires in order to operate.

[0050] As powerful as the machinery of modern life appears, however, modern citizens are today perhaps more at risk of experiencing a serious disruption in their ability to prosper or even to survive en mass than is generally perceived. Providing the necessities of life in general requires a lot of things to all operate, more or less, correctly. To put it another way, a serious disruption to any significant element of civilized infrastructure can produce catastrophic results for a broad swath of a given civil entity. Any number of natural and/or human-caused events can greatly disrupt society's infrastructure and corresponding ability to provide one or more life-sustaining resources such as water, nutrition, shelter, and the like.

[0051] Many people believe and trust that their government (local, regional, and/or national) will provide for them in the event of such a civilly-catastrophic event. And, indeed, in the long view such is clearly a legitimate responsibility owed by any government to its citizens. That such is a consummation devoutly to be wished, however, does not necessarily make it so. Hurricane Katrina provided some insight into just how unprepared a series of tiered modern governmental entities may actually be to respond to even basic survival needs when a civilly-catastrophic event occurs. To a large extent one may reasonably argue that governments have forsaken their responsibility to design, fund, implement, or even discuss an effective civil defense program capable of protecting large segments of their populations.

[0052] Such insights, of course, are not particularly new. Civil preparedness shortcomings occasionally attract public attention and niche marketing opportunities exist with respect to provisioning the needs of so-called survivalists. Indeed, there are those who spend a considerable amount of their time and monetary resources attempting to ready themselves to personally survive a civilly-catastrophic event. Therein, however, lies something of a conundrum. [0053] On the one hand, modern governments typically do little to proactively ensure the bulk survival (let alone the comfort) of their citizens in the face of most civilly- catastrophic events. On the other hand, attempting to take responsible actions to reasonably ensure one's own safety and security can become, in and of itself, nearly a full-time avocation and leave little time to actually enjoy the conveniences and opportunities of modern life. Such individual actions may even be frowned upon by the greater part of society which has grown accustomed and falsely secure with existing efficient just-in-time delivery systems that provide the illusion of plenty while undercutting the perception of risk.

[0054] As a result, many (if not most) individuals and their families are largely bereft of access to survival resources that they will need should a civilly-catastrophic event befall them. This shortcoming tends to be relatively comprehensive; most people have ready access to neither a sufficient selection of survival supplies nor a sufficient quantity. For people who do have a store of supplies set aside against such an eventuality, it can be a considerable burden to maintain and ensure the freshness, vitality, and usability of those supplies. At the same time, the same civilly-catastrophic event that occasions their need for supplies will also likely disrupt relevant supply chains enough to cause a partial or complete shortage of supplies at their local merchants. The unfortunate net result is a relatively near term severe need for a variety of survival supplies that will often go unmet for lengthy periods of time.

[0055] Such persons are also largely without many options when faced with civilly- catastrophic conditions that create a concurrent need for shelter, evacuation, and/or rescue. For example, in many cases, the only available shelter comprises a public facility such as a school, auditorium, or sports venue on the one hand or ad hoc accommodations obtained at a hotel or via a charity or one's own social network. In some cases, such options may be adequate. In many other cases, however, such options quickly prove inadequate or even dangerous in and of themselves.

[0056] A significant support structure would be required to provide appropriate services in the event of such an event. The various agents (full and part time employees as well as key employees of various contractors) of such a service provider will comprise a key element with respect to mounting a useful and timely private response to a civilly- catastrophic event. [0057] Unfortunately, something of a paradox exists with respect to such a situation; the worse the civilly-catastrophic event (and hence the greater the need for such personnel to remain on duty) the greater the likelihood that at least some such persons will abandon their contractual duties. In many cases, such actions often do not reflect a personal concern for safety but rather a genuine conflict of interest that stems from their genuine concern for the safety of their own families. Problems similar to this appear to have arisen during Hurricane Katrina when a number of public first responders either abandoned their present duties or failed to appear for scheduled duties in order to attend to the specific needs of their own immediate families.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0058] The above needs are at least partially met through provision of the subscription-based private civil security facilitation method described in the following detailed description, particularly when studied in conjunction with the drawings, wherein:

[0059] FIG. 1 comprises a flow diagram as configured in accordance with various embodiments of the invention;

[0060] FIG. 2 comprises a schematic block diagram view as configured in accordance with various embodiments of the invention;

[0061] FIG. 3 comprises a flow diagram as configured in accordance with various embodiments of the invention;

[0062] FIG. 4 comprises a flow diagram as configured in accordance with various embodiments of the invention;

[0063] FIG. 5 comprises a schematic block diagram as configured in accordance with various embodiments of the invention;

[0064] FIG. 6 comprises a schematic block diagram as configured in accordance with various embodiments of the invention;

[0065] FIG. 7 comprises a schematic block diagram as configured in accordance with various embodiments of the invention;

[0066] FIG. 8 comprises a schematic block diagram as configured in accordance with various embodiments of the invention; [0067] FIG. 9 comprises a schematic block diagram as configured in accordance with various embodiments of the invention;

[0068] FIG. 10 comprises a flow diagram as configured in accordance with various embodiments of the invention;

[0069] FIG. 11 comprises a top plan block diagram view as configured in accordance with various embodiments of the invention; and

[0070] FIG. 12 comprises a flow diagram as configured in accordance with various embodiments of the invention.

[0071] Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions and/or relative positioning of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of various embodiments of the present invention. Also, common but well-understood elements that are useful or necessary in a commercially feasible embodiment are often not depicted in order to facilitate a less obstructed view of these various embodiments of the present invention. It will further be appreciated that certain actions and/or steps may be described or depicted in a particular order of occurrence while those skilled in the art will understand that such specificity with respect to sequence is not actually required. It will also be understood that the terms and expressions used herein have the ordinary meaning as is accorded to such terms and expressions with respect to their corresponding respective areas of inquiry and study except where specific meanings have otherwise been set forth herein.

Detailed Description

[0072] Generally speaking, pursuant to these various embodiments, a plurality of private civil security resources are provided. These private civil security resources comprise, at least in part, civil security provisions, civil security facilities, and civil security services. By one approach, consideration-based private civil security subscriptions are accepted from subscribers with respect to providing civilly-catastrophic event-based access to at least one life-sustaining or civil security resource. That resource is then maintained pending a need to permit subscription-based access to the resource in the event of a catastrophic event. Authorized beneficiaries are then provided with consideration-based access to this plurality of private civil security resources.

[0073] The private civil security provisions can comprise various life-sustaining resources as pertain to various categories of life's necessities, including, for example, breathable air, water, food, and protective clothing. The nature of the subscribed-to resource can vary with the needs or requirements of a given application setting but may comprise one or more of a consumable necessity of human life, a non-consumable necessity of human life, shelter, transportation to effect the above-mentioned access, and/or rescue, to note but a few useful examples. Deployable shelters can also be included if desired. By one approach, non-civil security resources (such as, but not limited to, luxury items) can also be provided if desired to supplement such staples.

[0074] The civil security facilities can comprise various facilities as have application with respect to protecting such authorized beneficiaries from the effects (including the aftermath, if any) of a civilly-catastrophic event and other dangerous or unpleasant environmental or external influences and forces. The facilities can include, for example, such things as civil security shelters (including both short term and longer term facilities), transportation rally points, trans-shipment facilities and/or distribution facilities for civil security provisions, medical services facilities, training facilities, and so forth.

[0075] The civil security services can similarly comprise any of a wide variety of services as have application with respect to protecting such authorized beneficiaries. Exemplary services include, but are not limited to, civil security information services (including information that is both generally and specifically appropriate for individual ones of the authorized beneficiaries), transportations services, rescue services, and so forth.

[0076] These teachings then further provide for offering reduced-consideration-based private civil security subscriptions for authorized beneficiaries who have at least a predetermined relationship with respect to a service provider as regards the at least one private civil security resource. This can include, for example, the service provider themselves (and/or an agent thereof), their immediate family members, and/or their extended family members as desired. This reduction in required consideration can comprise, as desired, a discount as compared to the consideration that is assessed other subscribers or can even represent a no-cost subscription.

[0077] So configured, service providers and/or their agents can be assured that they and their family members will have concrete and tangible access to at least one private civil security resource upon the occurrence of a particular civilly-catastrophic event. This can include any of a wide variety of private civil security benefits including, but not limited to, shelter accommodations, civil security provisions, and any of a variety of civil security services (such as but not limited to rescue services, civil security transportation, civil security training, instructions, advice, and information, and so forth). This, in turn, can mitigate or fully avoid the creation of conflicts of interest for such service providers/agents. In particular, such persons are no longer presented with the difficult decision of choosing their contractual duty or family.

[0078] These steps are readily facilitated without dependency upon (and perhaps even in spite of) governmental oversight, participation, or control. The particular resources provided can vary with the needs and requirements of the authorized beneficiaries. Importantly, via these teachings individuals can benefit from a greatly increased opportunity to bring a considerably improved measure of security into their lives, knowing that, should a civilly-catastrophic event indeed be visited upon them, they will have extraordinary and reliable access to privately facilitated civil security resources.

[0079] These and other benefits may become clearer upon making a thorough review and study of the following detailed description. Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to FIG. 1, a corresponding process 100 provides a plurality of private civil security resources. As used herein, "private" will be understood to refer to the opposite of public ownership or control (as exemplified by governmental or ecclesiastical ownership or control) but can include such things as ownership or control via publicly traded ownership (via, for example, publicly traded stock or the like), ownership or control via a not-for-profit entity, or the like.

[0080] The plurality of private civil security resources can vary to some degree with respect to category and kind of resource. By one approach, however, such resources will comprise, at least in part, civil security provisions, civil security facilities, and civil security services. Generally speaking, both the civil security provisions and civil security facilities are physical components rather than virtual components or products of the intellect. For example, the civil security provisions will typically comprise physical support and/or protection of one kind or another. Similarly, the civil security facilities will also typically comprise physical assets such as, but not limited to, physical shelters that provide real, substantive physical protection from physical threats to human life. Additional details in this regard are provided below. Also as described in more detail below, however, the civil security services can comprise either physical real world services or virtual-content services.

[0081] These civil security provisions can comprise, for example, a plurality of life- sustaining resources as pertain to a plurality of differing categories of life's necessities. Referring momentarily to FIG. 2, examples in this regard include, but are not limited to, such elemental staples as water 201 (which can comprise water in a pure or impure state and/or other water-based palatable fluids), food 202 (which can comprise a wide variety of raw to highly processed food, nutritional supplements, and so forth, and protective clothing 203 (where "protective" will be understood to refer to protection against one or more potentially hazardous environmental influences such as temperature extremes, precipitation, high velocity winds, and the like but not to matters of fashion, social comment, or the like).

[0082] These civil security provisions 200 can further optionally include such components as breathable air 204 (which may comprise, for example, a fresh air supply, an oxygen supply (including but not limited to oxygen generators such as, but not limited to, chemical oxygen generators that often produce oxygen as part of a corresponding exothermic reaction) that can serve as a source of oxygen to mix with other atmospheric components, and/or personal or area air filters that serve to remove harmful airborne contaminants from the air prior to being inhaled by an authorized beneficiary), deployable shelters 205 (where "deployable" will be understood as referring to portable shelters such as tents, canopies, inflatable structures, and the like), and other items 206 as may be appropriate to meet the needs of a given application setting.

[0083] By one approach, these civil security provisions can be so provided in an aggregated form. Such might be the case, for example, when accumulating such material at a warehouse or the like. These teachings will also accommodate, however, forming such civil security provisions into corresponding units of civil security provisions. To illustrate, one such unit of civil security provisions as intended, for example, for a single authorized beneficiary might comprise, at least in part, consumable fluids, foods, medical supplies, personal hygiene supplies, and environmental threat abatement supplies (such as, for example, breathing masks, hazardous materials handling garb, and the like).

[0084] Such a unit of civil security provisions might comprise, for example, a short term unit that comprises a quantity and variety of civil security supplies that are adequate to sustain life for that one authorized beneficiary for, say, at least about thirty days but no more than, say, about one year.

[0085] Those skilled in the art will recognize and understand that there are various ways by which such adequacy can be determined, measured, and/or established. For example, by one approach, the adequacy of any food contents can be determined as a function of a particular target caloric intake per person on a per day basis. Similarly, the adequacy of any consumable fluid contents could be determined as a function of a particular target quantity intake per person on a per day basis.

[0086] The particular time frames suggested in the above examples are intended only to serve an illustrative purpose and are not to be construed as limitations with respect to the practice of these teachings. Those skilled in the art will also appreciate and understand that such a unit of civil security provisions can comprise a quantity of supplies that are intended to support more than one authorized beneficiary for the given period(s) of time. For example, such a unit might comprise a family unit that contains sufficient contents to adequately sustain life for a family of four authorized beneficiaries.

[0087] These teachings will also accommodate providing civil security provisions that differ from one another in ways other than by category or kind. For example, both branded and generic versions (or other differentiators with respect to quality) of a same kind of item can be selectively provided if desired. Some particular examples in this regard now follow (it being understood that these examples are provided for illustrative purposes and are not intended to comprise an exhaustive listing of such possibilities).

[0088] In some cases, it may be appropriate to preposition a variety of emergency provisions, supplies, or sundries in one or more locations for the purpose of permitting an authorized person to access those emergency sundries in order to obtain immediately needed supplies during, for example, an evacuation event. Such an evacuation can be general and publicly organized or personal to a given individual or organization. The emergency sundries themselves can vary widely with a variety of attending circumstances. Some examples might include, but are certainly not limited to, nourishment provisions, hydration supplies, first aid medical supplies, anti-viral supplies, ionizing radiation protection (such as potassium iodine), environmentally-borne hazard threat abatement items (such as protective clothing, breathing masks, and so forth), threat detection equipment, wireless communications equipment, portable lighting items, tools, weapons, navigation equipment, directions, maps, or guides, and so forth. Such emergency sundries can be provided, for example, in a locked or otherwise controlled- access container. By one approach these emergency sundries are provided in a relatively non-grouped manner. That is, these supplies are not pre-aggregated into ready-to-go modules that a given authorized beneficiary can just grab and go (though certain sub- modules might be so pre-aggregated, such as a food sub-module, a first aid sub-module, and so forth). In such a case, one or more containers can be provided that the authorized beneficiary can use when selecting the particular items that are presently needed. A variety of such containers can be provided if desired. By one approach the containers are personally carriable (such as a backpack, waist pack, briefcase, purse, bag, or the like) and by another approach such containers are personally towable (as when the container has wheels, skids, or the like to facilitate its movement over a floor or the like).

[0089] If desired, access to a pre-provisioned supply of emergency supplies could be controlled and/or metered, at least in part, through use of a pre-paid card, account, or the like. Such a card could function, at least in part, as a so-called gift card and might have a corresponding denominational value (such as $100, $500, $10,000, or the like) and/or a corresponding counterpart value with respect to a particular quantity and/or type of supplies. For example, such a card might be valid in exchange for 25 pre-packed meals, 50 gallons of gasoline, 2,000 square feet of '/_ inch plywood, or the like. Such an approach could be used with authorized beneficiaries of consideration-based private civil security subscriptions as are mentioned herein or could be employed for use with non- affiliated third parties as desired. It would also be possible to limit the use of a card to a particular place (such as, for example, a given city or a given building (such as a hotel)), to a particular time (such as a given calendar year, the duration of a guest's stay at a given hotel, and so forth), and so forth. [0090] There are numerous ways by which such civil security provisions 200 can be stored, delivered, and/or used by corresponding authorized beneficiaries. By one approach, the aggregated provisions as represent a given period of time (such as one year) can be subdivided into five parts. Four of the parts can each represent a suitable quantity of provisions for a given number of authorized beneficiaries for a given fraction of the given period of time (such as, for example, three months each when the given period of time comprises one year). The fifth part can then represent what amounts to extra provisions (at least when viewed from a temporal perspective). By this approach, for example, a family of four authorized beneficiaries can have sufficient supplies to meet their needs for an entire year while also having additional supplies to supplement those basic needs. In a related approach, the fifth part can comprise, at least for the most part, a base unit having non-consumables that will not typically be used up during an ordinary working life. These might comprise, for example, cooking tools, clothing, shelter items, hand tools, and so forth. The remaining four parts can then each contain a sufficient quantity of consumable items as will meet the needs of the authorized beneficiary for a given period of time, such as three months.

[0091] In a somewhat similar approach, these teachings will accommodate supplementing a given basic package of survival provisions through the addition of one or more additional sub-units or the like. Such additional content can reflect and accommodate, for example, a given authorized beneficiary's desire, need, or preference for more of something that is already provided in the basic package and/or something that is not otherwise represented in the basic package.

[0092] By another approach, a given aggregation of provisions for a given authorized beneficiary (or identified group of beneficiaries) can be broken up into specific categorical units. For example, such a unit of supplies can itself comprise sub-units for each of: a 72 hour sub-unit that contains at least necessary items to survive a given consecutive 72 hour period of time; a basic communication sub-unit that contains such things as a pre-paid cellular telephone, a pair of walkie talkies, a signal mirror, and so forth; a nutritional supplement sub-unit that contains vitamins and other dietary supplements; a shelter sub-unit that contains useful shelter items such as a tent, sanitary facilities, tarps, and so forth; an entertainment sub-unit that contains recreational materials such as games, reading materials, audio and video platforms and content, and so forth; a seven day sub-unit comprising necessary items to survive a given consecutive seven day period of time; a sundries sub-unit that contains useful sundries such as personal hygiene items, laundry products, and so forth; a food sub-unit that contains a longer term supply of food; a camping sub-unit that contains such things as food preparation tools, cutting tools, inflatable and/or folding furniture and bedding items, sleeping bags, and so forth; a tools sub-unit that contains tools useful for building and/or tearing down structures of various types and sizes as well as facilitating various repairs and/or other tasks; a lighting sub-unit that includes various kinds of lighting devices including both AC and DC-based devices, human-powered devices, and so forth; a clothing sub-unit that contains clothing of various kinds to meet various climatic challenges and needs; a medical sub-unit that contains first aid supplies, diagnostic equipment, medicines of various kinds, and longer-term supplies of various kinds; a transportation sub-unit that might contain such things as foldable bicycles, inflatable boats, and so forth; a power sub-unit that contains such things as batteries of various kinds and sizes, generators of various kinds (including gas, gasoline, and diesel powered units, wind powered units, human powered units, and so forth), solar cells, and so forth; an advanced communications sub-unit that might include, for example, an antenna tower, a cellular telephone signal amplifier, and so forth; an advanced environmental threat abatement sub-unit that contains items useful to abate threats such as ionizing radiation, chemicals, and biological constructs; and a self defense sub-unit that contains personal and group defense items such as blunt instruments, sharp instruments, firearms and other projectile-based weaponry, armor, debilitating sprays, and so forth. Such individual sub- units can be individually containerized if desired to facilitate their maintenance, packing, and retrieval.

[0093] A portion of such supplies can comprise entertainment-based materials and resources. In most cases, such material is likely not classifiable as life-sustaining but is certainly classifiable as life-enhancing. It is also possible that certain playback platforms and/or content can itself comprise information, guidance, cautions, or instructions that is, in and of itself, of a life-sustaining quality (such as information regarding medical care and so forth). These materials can be relatively general and intended for a fairly wide audience and/or can be highly specific and customized with respect to a particular group, subscriber, or authorized beneficiary. Such materials can comprise games of various kinds (including both solitary games as well as multi-player games), puzzles (including crossword puzzles, soduko puzzles, and so forth), and toys of various kinds and nature. Such materials can also comprise a wide variety of reading materials (in any form factor whatsoever including standard printed materials, digital copies, microfilm, microfiche, and so forth) including fiction and non-fiction, periodicals and non-periodicals, classics and modern materials, and so forth. Such materials can also include a wide variety of prerecorded playback platforms including audio-only devices, video-only devices, and audiovisual playback devices of various analog and digital form along with the content to be rendered perceptible to a user. Such provisions could also comprise sports equipment of various kinds and hobby materials for any of a wide variety of pastimes and pursuits.

[0094] By one approach, such provisions are delivered to a given authorized beneficiary in response to the occurrence of a triggering civilly-catastrophic event. This will typically comprise, in many instances, providing a collection of survival resources (such as food, water, clothing, and the like) to a predetermined location such as the authorized beneficiary's home. Depending upon the nature and extent of the civilly- catastrophic event, however, there may be any number of reasons why the authorized beneficiary may not be able to receive such a delivery at that location. By one approach, a series of pre-planned drop points can be established such that, in such a case, the delivery of the required provisions can be automatically shifted to a next-to-try address or location until the authorized beneficiary has been located and the resources successfully delivered.

[0095] It is of course also possible that part or all of a given aggregation of survival provisions will be destroyed, lost, stolen or nationalized, or rendered at least partly unusable. Such things can happen, for example, as a direct result of a given civilly- catastrophic event. Such things can also happen through other events, misadventures, and circumstances. If desired, insurance may therefore be offered to specifically provide coverage regarding such results. Such insurance can be limited to the non-emergency value of the goods or services if desired. By another approach, such insurance can provide extended benefits. For example, compensation may be offered with respect to collateral injuries suffered as a result of the loss of such provisions. Such insurance can be limited, if desired, to loss or damage as may occur during the storage and/or delivery of such provisions. Or, if desired, such coverage can be provided to include times during which the authorized beneficiary has possession of the resources. [0096] It is of course a hoped-for possibility that a civilly-catastrophic event will never present itself and occasion the need to deploy a store of survival provisions. In any event, it is certainly possible that at least some of these supplies will remain in storage for potentially long periods of time. Many categories and kinds of supplies are readily capable of fairly long-term storage with only little or no attention regarding the conditions of such storage. In other cases, the items in question can be relatively or highly perishable with the ordinary passage of time and/or in response to unfavorable storage conditions. One approach is to monitor sensitive items for freshness and usability and to substitute such items with fresh replacements when necessary during the period of storage. Another approach, either alone or in conjunction with the aforementioned approach, is to provide for storage conditions that will tend to prolong the freshness and/or usability of such items. By one approach, for example, cryogenic or near-cryogenic storage conditions can be used to store certain food and medicinal supplies in order to extend the useful life of such commodities.

[0097] By one approach, such provisions, either in the aggregate or as pertain to a given authorized beneficiary or group of beneficiaries, are stored in a somewhat centralized setting such as a warehouse or the like. This storage facility may, or may not, appear to the casual viewer as such a facility but will typically comprise a manned, secured facility. If desired, however, at least some such provisions can be purposely hidden in untended caches. Such caches may contain sufficient provisions for a number of authorized beneficiaries or may contain only enough supplies for a single person as desired. These caches can be, for example, buried in the ground, placed inside of walls, and so forth. Such hidden caches would not likely be intended for general usage in a time of need; instead, these caches could comprise something of a second or third resort that may provide help when other resources or efforts have, for whatever reason, failed. The locations of such caches could be shared with only specific authorized beneficiaries or with the entire population of such authorized beneficiaries. By one approach the authorized beneficiaries are apprised of the location of at least some such hidden caches prior to the occurrence of a civilly-catastrophic event. By another approach, the location of some such caches is revealed only on an as-needed basis. For example, such a cache could be revealed to a particular beneficiary who is traveling via their own means to a shelter to which he or she has the right to access as per the terms of their consideration- based private civil security subscription and with whom the civil security services provider is communicating at least on a time-to-time basis. The location of such a cache could be identified using, for example, GPS coordinates, a map, and so forth.

[0098] By one approach, some provisions can be configured and arranged to serve multiple purposes. As one example in this regard, furniture can be comprised, in whole or in part, of edible material. In some cases this can comprise using edible material that requires no further processing to prepare it for human consumption. By another approach the edible material may benefit from further preparation (such as heating, boiling, and so forth) to render it more fit for human consumption. The edible substance can, if desired, be provided with a protective coating to keep it relatively sanitary during use as an item of furniture. Such a protective coating can be comprised of paper, foil, wax, or the like, to note but a few examples in this regard.

[0099] As perhaps another example of a food item being altered to have multiple purposes, if desired, dietary fiber can be added to peanut butter. The latter is a well- known useful source of protein. In addition, many people (including children) find peanut butter to be an especially savory and palatable consumable. Dietary fiber, on the other hand, often assumes a less palatable form (at least in the minds of many consumers). By mixing dietary fiber with peanut butter, a resultant food item emerges that can comprise an important source of both protein and fiber, that has a decent shelf life, and that will tend to be used by many people.

[00100] Potassium iodide has known protective benefits for persons exposed to radioactive conditions. In particular, potassium iodide, when consumed, helps to block the thyroid gland's absorption of radioactive iodine. Effective dosing quantities comprise a well-understood area of study. Unfortunately, potassium iodide tends to be available in traditional medicinal packaging such as pills or capsules. Children and some adults may balk at consuming such a product. In some cases potassium iodide is available in a fruit flavored liquid carrier that is administered by a medicine dropper. Unfortunately, it is not unlikely that an adult with children who is facing a situation that calls for the use of potassium iodide dosing is himself or herself also highly occupied with other important tasks such as effecting an evacuation plan. To facilitate the successful dosing of a child or other person in such a case, an appropriate dose of potassium iodide can be placed in an individual serving fruit juice box (where "box" will be understood to correspond to any number of individual serving containers as are presently known in the art). The fruit juice itself can comprise a well received and tolerated carrier and, in many cases, the child or other recipient will be well familiar with how to access such a container and consume its contents. Thus, even a relatively young child can be properly dosed even while the attending adult is working to take further protective steps on behalf of such persons.

[00101] The survivors of a civilly-catastrophic event may face new and/or increased challenges as compared to their pre-event experiences. In some cases, specialized clothing may assist in overcoming such challenges. As one example in this regard, clothing can be comprised of an internal capillary system that permits a liquid of choice to be disseminated via the clothing itself. This would permit, for example, an insect repellent to be exuded to thereby protect the wearer from annoyance and/or dangerous diseases that have insects as their dispersal vector.

[00102] By one approach a pre-provisioned store of survival supplies for a given authorized beneficiary (or group of beneficiaries) can be stored and/or delivered using one or more general containers. By one approach, such a container can be equipped with electrical power. The source of this power can vary with the needs and/or opportunities as correspond to a given application setting. Examples include but are not limited to batteries, photonically-based sources (which can include, for example, solar cells that are arrayed along the sides and/or cover of the container or that are arrayed on deployable wing-like surfaces that can extend away from the container and thereby become better oriented to collect light from a source such as the sun), thermo-electrically-based sources, alternating current sources such as inverters and/or generators or so-called external shore power sources, and so forth. The corresponding electrical power can be used to facilitate storage requirements, inventory control, delivery requirements, and/or alternative purposes of the deliveree. To illustrate, such on-board power can be used for heating, cooling, security control, identity confirmation, access control, inventory monitoring and metering, location determination and/or telemetry, insect control, lighting, tool usage, container movement, contents inspection, and so forth.

[00103] Regardless of how the components of a given unit of provisions are, or are not, subdivided by kind, category, or anticipated usage, such a unit can itself be comprised of a plurality of sub-units that each comprise a discrete container. By one approach, such containers can be configured and arranged to fit together in a nested and/or interlocked manner to thereby yield a relatively stable overall unit. So configured, the aggregated unit may be moved, hoisted, positioned, and otherwise manipulated during storage, transport, or delivery without necessarily requiring supplemental binding materials such as tarps, tie-down straps, or the like.

[00104] When a store of aggregated supplies for a given authorized beneficiary (or group of authorized beneficiaries) comprises sub-units, the quantity of such sub-units as are initially delivered or otherwise provided to a given authorized beneficiary may vary with the need. For example, by one approach, the severity of the triggering civilly- catastrophic event can serve to inform this calculation. To illustrate, the more severe the event (and hence the greater the likelihood that society's infrastructure and ability to provide life's requirements by normal and traditional means will be significantly impaired) and the longer-lived one expects the effects of such an event to persist, the greater the number of sub-units that might be initially delivered to a given affected authorized beneficiary.

[00105] The aftermath of a civilly-catastrophic event may see various demonstrations of lawless behavior by various survivors or interlopers. Such behavior can include unauthorized persons attempting to gain access to survival provisions as have been delivered to an authorized beneficiary as per these teachings. Such an invasion of rights may occur at a time or place where public protection (in the form of local police, the National Guard, or the like) is unavailable. Protecting such supplies can comprise a serious survival issue for the authorized recipient of such provisions. Accordingly, it may be appropriate, in at least some settings, to provide that authorized recipient with one or more means of protecting themselves and their holdings from such incursions. By one approach, this can comprise including one or more weapons mounts on the container for the provisions. Such a weapons mount can facilitate, for example, the use of relatively large caliber weapons in a relatively accurate manner by even somewhat inexperienced users should such an action be unfortunately warranted. It would also be possible to form the container (or to supplement the container) using materials that offer ballistic protection from small arms fire, larger caliber ammunition, shrapnel, or the like as desired. Materials such as Kevlar, steel, ceramic, and so forth can be useful in this regard.

[00106] By one approach, all or part of the container can be coated with a substance (or substances) that change color when the substance comes in contact with a material or energy of concern, such as ionizing radiation, chemical agents, biological agents, and so forth. Such an indication could comprise a relatively simple way, even in the absence of electrical power and/or operating electrical systems, by which a civil security benefits service provider and/or the recipient authorized beneficiary can remain at least somewhat informed regarding exposure to such influences.

[00107] A civilly-catastrophic event that entails a release of ionizing radiation can unfortunately occur with little or no notice and can impact and effect a relatively large area. As radiation is invisible to human sight, it can be difficult to know whether one is presently exposed to ionizing radiation in the absence of special detection equipment. There are known materials that work to block or at least reduce the passage of ionizing radiation. Lead is one such substance. Even a relatively small thickness of lead can provide some protection in this regard. It can be quite inconvenient to carry lead objects around for this purpose, however. By one approach, however, particularized lead or other radiation blocking materials can be combined with pressurized foam or the like in a spray can form factor. So configured, the foam/blocking material can be sprayed where needed, in whatever shape is required or convenient. It would also be possible to spray multiple coats of such a material to thereby increase the radiation blocking capacity of the deposited material.

[00108] It would also be possible to form portions (or all) of such a container using radiation blocking materials. Materials such as lead or Demron can be employed for this purpose, for example. So configured, such a container could be used as at least a temporary shelter from local sources of ionizing radiation once at least partially emptied of supplies.

[00109] If desired, such containers can be comprised, in whole or in part, of flame proof, flame retardant, or flame resistant materials. By one approach, for example fiberglass made with borax pentahydrate can be used to form the container's floor, walls, and/or lid and offer flame retardant properties in a manner well-understood in the art.

[00110] If desired, part or all of such a container can be comprised of a material that renders it suitable for use as a fire pit. So configured, the container can provide a ready mechanism to facilitate provision and containment of a fire that can be used for warmth, cooking, lighting purposes, and so forth. [00111] A civilly-catastrophic event is not unlikely to yield human casualties. In anticipation of such occurrences, if desired, the container of survival supplies as are provided to a given authorized beneficiary can also be configured and arranged to serve as one or more burial units for the remains of event victims. This may comprise using the container in its original form factor or this may entail reconfiguring at least portions of the container to make a suitably sized burial unit.

[00112] A container for a considerable quantity of survival supplies can comprise a relatively large and weighty item. Such bulk can represent a challenge during storage, delivery, and post-delivery usage of the corresponding provisions. Accordingly, if desired, the container itself can be equipped with wheels to facilitate easier movement of that container. By one approach, one or more of these wheels can be configured and arranged to readily attach or detach from the container as needed. A lever mechanism could be employed to lift the container a sufficient distance from the ground as necessary to permit such wheels to be attached to the container. By another approach, one of more of these wheels can be configured and arranged to extend from and/or retract into the container bottom or sides. Such action may, if desired, be hydraulically actuated.

[00113] Electrical power for many modern consumers arrives via a corresponding infrastructure. Such an infrastructure has been shown to be relatively sensitive to civilly- catastrophic events of various kinds. Not only can the availability of electricity be disrupted with little or no notice, such a condition can persist for potentially lengthy periods of time. These teachings therefore contemplate providing power generation capability to the authorized beneficiaries of a private civil security service. Examples include but are not limited to the provision of batteries (of various sizes and form factor), photonically-based sources (such as solar cells), thermo-electrically-based sources, inverters, and/or generators based upon the immolation of a combustible fuel, wind, geothermal activity, human power, and so forth.

[00114] If desired, at least some such provisions can be provided in a corresponding container. By one approach, if desired, this container can comprise internal lighting (powered, for example, by on-board batteries or the like). Such lighting can be actuated automatically (using a corresponding switch or other sensor of choice) and/or can be switched on and off by a user (by providing, for example, a corresponding switch). By one approach this lighting can be at least dual-mode lighting, with white lighting being provided for daytime use and red lighting being provided for nighttime use. The mode selection itself can again be automatically determined and/or selected by a person accessing the container.

[00115] It may also be useful to equip such a container with a self-contained motor to permit self-locomotion using such wheels. By one approach this motor may comprise a part of the container itself. By another approach, a linkage mechanism (including, for example, a corresponding drive train or the like) might be employed to permit a motor to be temporarily coupled to the container's wheels in order to effectuate the desired movement. Having completed such an action, the motor could then be decoupled and used, for example, to move another container. When the motor comprises a part of the container's constituent elements, it may be useful to configure and arrange that motor to also work in conjunction with other tools, such as saws, drills, lathes, and so forth.

[00116] In many cases, such a container may be delivered to the home of a given authorized beneficiary. In such a case, it may be desirable that the container (or containers, as the case may be) not remain exposed to the elements and/or unauthorized visitation. Accordingly, if desired, such a container can be configured to be readily placed within, and retained within, an average vehicular garage as comprises a part of many typical residences. This will typically mean, for example, that the container should be no higher than the lowest part of an average garage door opening and should not have a length or width that conflicts with average garage space dimensions.

[00117] In anticipation of times when such a container cannot, upon delivery or during certain periods of storage, be retained out of sight, these teachings will accommodate camouflaging the container in some appropriate manner. This can be as simple as coating the container with a disruptive pattern using colors appropriate to accommodate a given likely deployment setting and/or covering the container with camouflage netting as is known in the art. This can also accommodate disguising the container to appear to be something else, such as a furniture container, a recycling container, a dumpster or other trash collection container, a hazardous materials container, and so forth.

[00118] As noted, such containers can retain a wide variety of survival-related provisions. By one approach, if desired, the floor, walls (including both exterior walls and interior compartment walls), and/or Hd of such a container can have preformed areas formed therein to hold specific items of interest. Such preformed areas can be formed relatively easy when the container surface itself is formed using, for example, a plastic molding technique. These preformed areas can be shaped when possible to both receive and retain the item of interest. As another approach, additional elements such as straps, tabs, hooks-and-loops fixtures, hinged or snapped lids, and so forth can be employed to tend to retain the item within the preformed area. The items themselves can vary with the needs and/or opportunities presented by a given application setting. Some examples include, but are not limited to, tools, weapons and/or ammunition, medical supplies, communications equipment, instructions and guides, lighting items, hazardous condition detectors, and so forth.

[00119] Such a container can also be configured and arranged so as to be openable and/or internally accessible via a plurality of doors or the like. These various portals can be provided, if desired, on various sides and/or the top of the container to permit entry into the contained supplies from a variety of vantage points. If desired, a given such door may itself have a smaller door nested therein. By one approach, at least one such door may hinge downwardly and come to rest in a substantially horizontal state in order to provide a table surface for the convenience of the person accessing the container. If desired, a map, schematic diagram, or listing of items can be provided with at least some of the doors to provide a guide as to the items that are stored near that door and/or that are generally accessible via that door.

[00120] Such a container may also comprise, or carry within itself, detachable walls and/or internal walls or the like that are themselves usable as an extra pallet upon which additional such supplies can be placed and moved, stored, and so forth as may be useful or necessary in a given application setting.

[00121] If desired, the container in which such supplies are provided to a given authorized beneficiary can itself serve, when at least partially emptied, as a temporary or longer-termed shelter (depending at least in part upon its size). By one approach, such a container can be coupled with an air filter and an air drawer to thereby permit external air to be filtered and then drawn into the container itself. When the internal air pressure of the container exceeds the external air pressure, airborne contaminants will tend to remain outside the container. So configured, an authorized beneficiary can take refuge within such a container for some period of time and have at least some safety from such airborne contaminants. [00122] By one approach, if desired, the container (or containers) as are used to deliver a supply of survival provisions to an authorized beneficiary can be comprised of materials that are amenable to ready and friendly recycling and/or to ready and friendly biodegradation or assisted degradation (by combination, for example, with another influence such as heat, one or more chemicals, electricity, pressure, and so forth).

[00123] If desired, one or more walls or the floor of a container as is used to deliver survival provisions as per these teachings can itself comprise a fluid container. By one approach, for example, a given wall of the container can be, at least in part, hollow and be comprised of (or lined with) materials that are suitable for use in storing potable water. A faucet or other related valved mechanism can be provided as desired to facilitate drawing the fluid out of the container in order to use that fluid.

[00124] As noted above, such a container can serve to contain a wide variety and a relatively large number of items. At least some of these items are likely to be relatively weighty. These circumstances can lead to challenges when seeking to properly pack such a container and particularly when looking to access and utilize such provisions during a time of need. By one approach, if desired, such a container can be configured with one or more hydraulically-operated shelves that can be selectively raised, lowered, or otherwise moved in order to better facilitate loading, reviewing, and unloading of the container.

[00125] Somewhat along the same lines, if desired, such a container can also be configured and arranged to include one or more rotating platforms (such as turntables). These rotating platforms can be readily spun in order to better facilitate packing, viewing, and/or unpacking the container. By one approach these turntables can be provided with a locking mechanism to prevent unwanted rotation during, for example, transport of the container.

[00126] If desired, the provisions provided to the authorized beneficiary of a given consideration-based civil security subscription could include weather sensing, tracking, and analysis equipment. This could include equipment to facilitate gathering local data (such as accumulative rainfall, wind velocity and direction, relative humidity, and so forth) as well as equipment to gather data from further afield (such as via a weather balloon system to facilitate the gathering of higher altitude weather information). [00127] The container for such survival provisions can also have a personal computer formed integrally therewith. The computer display, for example, could be built into a wall of the container while the keyboard/cursor controls could comprise a part of a fold-down table or other work surface. It would also be possible to provide an antenna to facilitate wireless coupling of the computer to a local area network, a wide area network, a satellite signal, or the like.

[00128] The aggregated contents of such a container can be selected to represent the general or specific needs of a given authorized beneficiary (or group of authorized beneficiaries) for a corresponding period of time, such a three months, one year, and so forth. If desired, such a container can be comprised, at least in part, of compartments, where each such compartment provides for anticipated needs for some lesser period of time (such as one fourth of the total time for which the container is designed). So configured, when an authorized beneficiary only requires, for example, a few weeks worth of provisions in order to successfully move past a given civilly-catastrophic event, it may be considerably easier and more practical to accept a return of the unused provisions for storage and availability against some future event.

[00129] Such a container may experience a fair amount of jostling and bumping during transport to a given authorized beneficiary. This can include handling at the original storage site, manipulation to place the container on one or more transport vehicles, jostling en route to the delivery site, and the act of delivery itself. Such circumstances present risk that the items packed within the container will be dislodged, crushed, leak, or otherwise damaged or impaired. If desired, an inflatable bladder system could be interwoven amongst such items. Once in place and inflated, these items would then tend to be held more firmly in place by the bladder itself. Following delivery, that bladder could then be partially or fully deflated, in whole or in part, to facilitate removing desired items. The bladder itself would likely contribute little to the overall weight of the container and the air used to inflate the bladder would add effectively nothing to such weight.

[00130] If desired, the supplies provided to an authorized beneficiary of a consideration-based private civil security subscription can include an oxygen tank filled with oxygen. This can comprise a standalone oxygen tank or the oxygen tank can comprise an integral part of the container within which the survival provisions for the authorized beneficiary are stored.

[00131] Aggregated units of survival provisions can be stored at a shelter or stored in a manner to hold those provisions available to an authorized beneficiary during a time of need. By one approach, if desired, such units could be stored at a hotel, motel, inn, or other traveler's accommodation. These units could be used for the benefit of all registered guests, if desired, or could be offered only to those guests who purchase or are otherwise entitled to such civil security benefits (via, for example, a particular level of membership in a corresponding loyalty program as is operated by that particular lodge).

[00132] If desired, such hotel-based provisions could also be offered to guests as a selectable option for which the guest will pay an additional amount when selected. By this approach, these provisions in effect become a kind of insurance that the guest can either accept or refuse as they see fit.

[00133] As another accommodation to travelers, units of survival provisions can be offered for purchase or rent to persons who are traveling. These might comprise, for example, a seven day supply of provisions, a two week supply of such provisions, a one month supply of such provisions, and so forth. Such a supply might be offered, for example, as an option to people who are renting a car while visiting another area.

[00134] The provisions as are gathered together for a given authorized beneficiary of a given civil security benefits program will likely contain a relatively large number of items as well as a relatively large number of different items. In addition, there will likely be a large number of aggregated supplies such as this for a correspondingly large number of authorized beneficiaries. Such numbers suggest a significant challenge with respect to the logistical management of such provisions. Such challenges can increase as the aggregated supplies themselves become customizable, in whole or in part, to suit the individual needs of specific authorized beneficiaries. Such challenges can be further elevated when various constituent items within such supplies have varying freshness dates and/or shelf life expectations. Radio frequency identification tags (RFID tags) provide one way to assist in this regard. By one approach, each aggregated unit of materials for a given authorized beneficiary can have a corresponding RFID tag. Such an RFID tag can contain, for example, information such as the name of the authorized beneficiary, a subscription number or code, a pack date, a delivery protocol (such as one or more addresses or locations to which the supplies are to be delivered during a time of need), and/or an inventory listing of the supplies themselves, to note but a few. Such an RFID tag could be used, for example, to facilitate grouping such units in a manner that may better facilitate their organized delivery during a time of need. Such an RFID tag could also be used to track the present location of the corresponding units during storage and the delivery process. By another approach, if desired, some or all of the individual items (or sub-units of items) as are contained within the aforementioned unit can themselves be provided with a corresponding RFID tag. Such tags could contain information regarding the authorized beneficiary, the identity of the commodity itself, a shelf life indicator or the like, and so forth. Such RFID tags could then be used to effect a relatively quick inventory of the contents of a given unit of provisions and/or to ascertain which, if any, supplies within a given unit require replacement due to impending shelf life expiration. If desired, a container for such a unit of provisions can itself be provisioned with an RFID tag reader. So configured, an authorized beneficiary could employ that reader to obtain a quick inventory of available supplies. This information could also be used in conjunction with other onboard or outboard computational capabilities to facilitate an orderly and effective use of such supplies during a time of need, to suggest use of particular constituent items as a response to a particular indicated need (such as a particular physical, medical, environmental, or other concern), and so forth.

[00135] By one approach, such RFID tags can be simply attached to an outer (or inner) surface of the corresponding container, item, or the like. If desired, and particularly when employed for wireless tracking purposes, such an item (or other similar-purpose item such as a global positioning system receiver) can be molded into or other comprise an internal integral part of such a container.

[00136] Manufacturers, too, are subject to the disruptions that accompany a civilly- catastrophic event. Even a manufacturer that is itself far removed from a given event and otherwise suffers no physical harm can nevertheless be brought to a standstill when a critical manufacturing component becomes temporarily unavailable due to that event. To facilitate the amelioration of such an occurrence, these teachings will accommodate the acquisition and stockpiling of high net worth items that are important or critical to a given industry or manufacturer. Such an activity can be undertaken with, or without, the direct knowledge and/or cooperation of the potential consumer of such stockpiled items. If and when that item shall become in short supply due, for example, to a civilly-catastrophic event, the affected manufacturer can place a call for the needed item from the stockpile. Such an arrangement can also arrange for extraordinary modes of transportation (such as helicopter, hovercraft, or skimobile) where normal routes might be otherwise impassable or problematic due to the triggering event.

[00137] In one illustrative example, and referring now to FIG. 3, these teachings provide generally for accepting 301 consideration-based private civil security subscriptions from subscribers with respect to providing civilly-catastrophic event-based access to at least one life-sustaining resource or civil security resource (or, if desired, to a plurality of different kinds and/or categories of life-sustaining resources) such as, but not limited to, resources pertaining to hydration, nourishment, shelter, environmentally borne threat abatement (such as protection from chemical, biological, and/or radioactive threats and the like), transportation, and/or rescue services. This life-sustaining resource (or resources) can comprise, for example, a consumable necessity of human life (i.e., a necessity such as nourishment that tends to be reduced in supply as it is consumed) and/or a non-consumable necessity of human life (i.e., a necessity such as shelter that is not necessarily reduced in supply as it is applied or used).

[00138] This right of access can pertain, if desired, to a predetermined quantity of the life-sustaining resource. For example, a given subscription can relate to providing access to a one year's supply of the at least one life-sustaining resource for a given individual, number of individuals, or the like.

[00139] By one approach, these subscriptions may be accepted by, for example, a for- profit business. By another approach a not-for-profit business (such as a membership- based entity) may be the appropriate entity to offer and accept such subscriptions. As used herein, the term "subscription" shall be understood to refer to and encompass a variety of legal mechanisms. Some relevant examples include, but these teachings are not limited to, subscription mechanisms such as: time-limited rights of access (as where a subscription provides access rights for a specific period of time, such as one year, in exchange for a corresponding series of payments); event-limited rights of access (as where a subscription provides access rights during the life of a given subscriber based upon an up-front payment in full and where those access rights terminate upon the death of the subscriber or where, for example, a company purchases a subscription for a key employee and those corresponding rights of access terminate when and if that key employee leaves the employment of that company); inheritable rights of access (as may occur when the subscription, by its own terms and conditions, provides a right of access that extends past the death of a named subscription beneficiary and further allows for testate and/or intestate transfer to an heir); rights of access predicated upon a series of periodic payments (as where a subscription provides access rights during, for example, predetermined periods of time on a periodic basis as where a subscriber offers month-by-month payments to gain corresponding month-by-month access rights); rights of access predicated upon a one-time payment (as may occur when a subscriber makes a single payment to obtain a time-based or event-based duration of access rights or, if desired, when a single payment serves to acquire a one-time right of access or a perpetual right of access that may be retained, transferred, inherited, or the like); ownership-based rights of access (as may occur when the subscription provides for ownership rights with respect to the civil security resources, when the subscription is based upon shareholder-based ownership of the provider of such civil security resources, or the like); non-transferable rights of access (as may occur when the subscription, by its terms and conditions, prohibits transfer of the right of access to the civil security resources from a first named beneficiary to another); transferable rights of access (as may occur when the subscription, by its terms and conditions, permits conditional or unconditional transfer of the right of access to the at least one life-sustaining resource from a first named beneficiary to another); membership-based rights of access (as may occur when the subscription, by its terms and conditions, establishes a membership interest with respect to the accorded right of access such as, for example, a club-based membership); fractionally-based rights of access (as may occur when the subscription, by its terms and conditions, establishes a divided interest by and between multiple subscription beneficiaries with respect to a right to access the civil security resources); non-ownership-based rights of access (as may occur when the subscription, by its terms and conditions, establishes the aforementioned right of access via, for example, a lease, a rental, or borrowing construct); option-based rights of access (as may occur when the subscription, by its terms and conditions, establishes a right for an authorized beneficiary to later obtain access to some or all such civil security resources upon, for example, paying an additional supplemental amount at that time); and/or credit-based rights of access (as may occur when a given individual predicates their right to access the civil security resources upon a representation, promise, or other credit-based transaction).

[00140] If desired, a plurality of differentiated subscription opportunities can be offered in this regard. This plurality of differentiated subscription opportunities can correspond, for example, to providing access to differing selections and/or quantities of the civil security resources or life-sustaining resource supplies. As but one very simple illustration in this regard, such subscription opportunities can differ from one another at least with respect to cost. This, in turn, provides subscriber choice with respect to selecting a particular subscription that best meets their specific needs and/or budget limitations. For example, one subscription can provide for accessing life-sustaining resources that, though nutritionally viable, are economically selected while another subscription might provide for life-sustaining resources that are more costly and in turn reflect, for example, a wider variety of choices within a given category of resource.

[00141] These teachings also readily encompass the notion of a given subscriber providing such a subscription for an authorized beneficiary other than themselves. Such might occur, for example, when one family member procures such a subscription for one or more other family members. Another example would be for a company to subscribe on behalf of named key employees, family members of such key employees, and so forth. Other examples no doubt exist. For example, a bearer certificate (or its legal or functional equivalent, such as a gift card) could serve to identify any individual who produces and bears that certificate as an authorized beneficiary.

[00142] By one approach, such access can be provided at the whim and convenience of the authorized beneficiaries. If desired, however, such access can be further conditioned in appropriate ways. For example, for many purposes and certainly as pertains to many of the civil security resources it may be appropriate to ordinarily limit such access to situations where such access is triggered, at least in part, by a civilly-catastrophic event having occurred or being likely imminent. Such access may be predicated, if desired, upon a requirement that the civilly-catastrophic event be one that persists in substantial form for more than a predetermined period of time (such as one hour, one day, one week, and so forth) or that causes at least a predetermined amount or degree of infrastructure impairment or other measurable impact of choice (such as a particular level or degree of harm, interference, or negative impact upon a given minimum number of people). In addition, or in lieu thereof, such access may be predicated, if desired, upon a requirement of a particular level of objectivity or subjectively ascertained likelihood that a particular category or kind of civilly-catastrophic event will occur within a particular period of time.

[00143] As used herein, "civilly-catastrophic event" will be understood to refer to an event that substantially and materially disrupts a society's local, regional, and/or national infrastructure and ability to provide in ordinary course for the at least one life-sustaining resource. Such a civilly-catastrophic event can include both a precipitating event (which may occur over a relatively compressed period of time or which may draw out over an extended period of time) as well as the resultant aftermath of consequences wherein the precipitating event and/or the resultant aftermath include both the cause of the infrastructure interruption as well as the continuation (or worsening) of that interruption.

[00144] A civilly-catastrophic event can be occasioned by any of a wide variety of natural and/or non-naturally-caused disasters. Examples of natural disasters that are potentially capable of initiating a civilly-catastrophic event include, but are not limited to, extreme weather-related events (such as hurricanes, tsunamis, extreme droughts, widespread or unfortunately-targeted tornadoes, extreme hail or rain, and the like, flooding, and so forth), extreme geological events (such as earthquakes, volcanic activity, and so forth), extreme space-based events (such as collisions with comets, large asteroids, and so forth, extreme solar flares, and the like), extreme environmental events (such as widespread uncontrolled fire or the like), and global or regional pandemics, to note but a few.

[00145] Examples of non-naturally-caused disasters capable of initiating a civilly- catastrophic event include both unintended events as well as intentional acts of aggression such as war, terrorism, madness or the like. Examples of non-naturally-caused disasters capable of such potential scale include, but are not limited to, nuclear-related events (including uncontrolled fission or fusion releases, radiation exposure, and so forth), acts of war, the release of deadly or otherwise disruptive biological or chemical agents or creations, exposure to harmful mutagenic influence, and so forth.

[00146] In addition, or in lieu thereof, such access can be further conditioned upon other criteria of interest or concern in a given application setting. Such conditional access can be absolute (as when a given individual may be granted or denied any access to any of the civil security resources) or may be relative (as when a given individual is granted or denied access to certain of the civil security resources while being allowed access to certain other of the civil security resources). As a simple illustrative example in this regard, a given individual may habitually and consistently exhibit highly anti-social behaviors; in such a case, the provider of such civil security resources may be willing to provide such a person with civil security provisions but may be reluctant to permit this person to have access to a long term shelter where a certain amount of social buoyancy and ability to compromise with others may be important to the long term ability of that facility to successfully protect its inhabitants.

[00147] A very wide variety of criteria can be potentially considered for such purposes. A few illustrative examples would include, but are not limited to, an authorized beneficiary's qualifications (based upon their experiences, aptitude testing, physical condition and capabilities, or the like), measured intelligence (based upon, for example, a traditional intelligence quotient (IQ test or the like), psychological test results, behavioral rest results, behavioral test results, race, nationality citizenship, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender, age, health, political beliefs and/or agenda, educational background, professional title, financial backing, athletic ability, mechanical ability, skills, and/or relationship to a third party entity with whom reciprocal relations regarding the provisions/facilities/services mutually agree to extend civilly-catastrophic event-based reciprocal access to one another's authorized beneficiaries).

[00148] As suggested previously, in addition to accepting 301 a subscription with respect to providing civilly-catastrophic event-based access to one or more consumable or non-consumable life-sustaining or civil security resources, a given subscription may also provide for similar access to at least one non-civil security resource or non-necessity 302 (that is, an item or service that is not, strictly speaking, necessary to sustain human life on an elemental basis).

[00149] In addition, this process then also provides for offering 303 reduced- consideration-based private civil security subscriptions for authorized beneficiaries who have at least a predetermined relationship with respect to a service provider as regards the at least one private civil security resource. The nature and specifics of this required predetermined relationship can and will vary with the specifics of a given application setting. By one approach, for example, this can comprise requiring that the authorized beneficiary themselves presently serve as the service provider or as an agent of that service provider. By another approach, in combination with such an approach or in lieu thereof, this can comprise requiring that the authorized beneficiary comprise a family member (such as an immediate family member or an extended family member) of a person who presently serves in such a role.

[00150] This notion of "family" can also vary as desired. By one approach, for example, this could include a current, non-divorced spouse, a birth child, and/or an adopted child of such a public first responder. Extended family members could include, as desired, parents, siblings, nieces and nephews, grandparents and great grandparents, and so forth. This notion could also be expanded to include so-called significant others, common-law spouses, fiances, and so forth as desired.

[00151] If desired, this offer can be limited to no more than a predetermined number of such family members per a given one of the service providers/agents. For example, such an offer might be limited to no more than three immediate family members, or ten family members (including both immediate and extended family members), and so forth. When a given family contains more than one service provider/agent, such limits could be aggregated if desired. This would permit, for example, a family of six that contains two such service providers/agents to obtain such benefits for all six persons even when an upper limit of, say, three persons per such individual applied.

[00152] As noted, such an offer applies with respect to service providers and/or their agents. If desired, this can comprise conditioning this reduction in required consideration (and/or conditioning subscription-based access to the private civil security resource(s)) as a function of the person who serves as the service provier/agent continuing, in fact, to serve in that role notwithstanding a civilly-catastrophic event having occurred. Such a condition, for example, can further aid with encouraging such persons to continue responding to needs regarding a private civil security resource engendered by such a civilly-catastrophic event.

[00153] So configured, for example, a service provider/agent who abandons their post and/or duties with respect to responding to needs as pertain to the private civil security resource as are prompted by a given civilly-catastrophic event can lose the right for their corresponding authorized beneficiaries to receive the private civil security resource(s). This can comprise a complete loss of access or can comprise a lessening of the aforementioned reduction in required consideration. It would even be possible, for example, to require an increased-consideration offering for such authorized beneficiaries in such a case.

[00154] The nature of the reduction in required consideration can vary with the needs and/or opportunities of a given application setting. By one approach, this reduction can comprise a discount as compared to the subscriptions that are accepted 301 for members of the general public. The depth of this discount can vary for different classes of service providers/agents if desired. By this approach, for example, persons serving roles viewed as more critical and/or dangerous can be provided with a deeper discount. The discount itself can be expressed as a percentage reduction or as a specific monetary value. It would also be possible, of course, for this reduction in consideration to be complete such that the corresponding subscription would be offered on a complimentary basis to such qualified authorized beneficiaries.

[00155] Other possibilities exist in this regard. By one illustrative approach, for example, this offer 303 can comprise, in part, a first reduced-consideration-based private civil security subscription that provides a baseline package of particular private civil security resources for the qualified authorized beneficiaries as well as a second reduced- consideration-based private civil security subscription as corresponds to certain additional private civil security resources for such authorized beneficiaries. In such a case, for example the first reduced-consideration-based private civil security subscription could be offered on a complimentary basis while the second reduced-consideration-based private civil security subscription is offered on a partially discounted basis. This approach could serve, for example, to ensure the basic survival needs of such authorized beneficiaries via the baseline offering while optional additional amenities could be addressed, as desired, via the second reduced-consideration-based private civil security subscription.

[00156] In such a case, this process 300 will then also maintain 304 the additional resource and permit access 306 to these non-civil security resources as well. An illustrative listing of representative non-necessities or non-civil security resources comprises, but is certainly not limited to: a luxury consumable (such as, for example, alcoholic beverages, foods that provide an experience beyond simple survival, and so forth); a luxury non-consumable; clothing; a food preparation tool; a personal communication device; a personal hygiene item; non-human nourishment (such as dog food, cat food, and so forth); barter medium (such as bulk or coined precious metals including but not limited to gold, silver, and so forth); an electrical energy source (including but not limited to alternating current power sources, direct current power sources, fuel-consumptive power sources, renewable fuel source power sources, and so forth); an entertainment apparatus (such as game stations, musical instruments, reading material, and so forth); an educational tool (including but not limited to instructional texts, reference works, laboratory and demonstrative equipment, and so forth); physical conditioning, exercise, and maintenance training and equipment; repair and maintenance tools and services; crafts supplies and training; and/or sports equipment and facilities; to note but a few examples.

[00157] This process 300 then provides for maintaining 304 the resource(s) pending a need to permit subscription-based access to the resource(s) in response to the occurrence of a catastrophic event. This, of course, can comprise maintaining the resource on behalf of the subscriber and/or on behalf of another authorized beneficiary. The specifics of such maintenance will of course vary with respect to the nature of the resource or resources being maintained.

[00158] As one example, and referring momentarily to FIG. 4, when the resource (or resources) comprise one or more predetermined consumable necessities of human life, maintaining 304 the resource can comprise acquiring 401 the at least one predetermined consumable necessity of human life to thereby provide acquired necessities and then storing 402 those acquired necessities to thereby provide stored necessities that are held on behalf of the corresponding authorized beneficiaries pending a need to access those stored necessities in the event of a triggering civilly-catastrophic event. These acquisition and storing steps can further comprise, if desired, acquiring and storing non-consumable necessities of human life and/or consumable or non-consumable non-necessities of human life.

[00159] Acquisition 401 of such items can be achieved through any of a variety of means. By one approach the items may be procured on the open market. By another approach the items may be purchased or otherwise acquired from third parties via private negotiations. By yet another approach the entity that provides and accepts these subscriptions may itself create (through manufacturing, farming, or the like) the items of interest. In some cases the acquired item may comprise a staple of ordinary commerce. In other cases the acquired item may be unique and/or proprietary to the acquiring/storing entity.

[00160] Referring again to FIG. 1 , the civil security facilities will typically comprise physical assets that tend, categorically, to comprise part of a private civil security infrastructure. Such civil security facilities will typically comprise physical assets that tend, categorically, to comprise part of a private civil security infrastructure. Such civil security facilities can, therefore comprise, for example: one or more civil security shelters; one or more rally points (at which authorized beneficiaries can gather in response to a civilly-catastrophic event in order to receive certain civil security services such as transportation to another civil security facility such as a shelter or at least to a location that is away from a location that presently (or imminently) lacks civil security (due, for example, to a civilly-catastrophic event, its aftermath, or both)); a location where at least some of the authorized beneficiary's civil security provisions are available (such as a metropolitan, local, regional, and/or national distribution facility); a trans-shipment facility for at least some of the civil security provisions (where, for example, dis-aggregate provisions are brought and then parsed and aggregated into corresponding units of provisions destined for particular recipient authorized beneficiaries); a medical services facility; and so forth, to note but a few relevant examples in this regard.

[00161] The teachings will readily accommodate a wide variety of civil security shelters. For example, this process 100 can provide for both temporary civil security shelters and longer term civil security shelters. A temporary civil security shelter will be understood to comprise a shelter that is configured and arranged to adequately shelter and sustain human life for a relatively short period of time. For example, such a temporary shelter might prove sufficient in this regard for, say, no more than about ten inhabitants for no more than about one week, ten days, 15 days, and the like. Generally speaking, a temporary shelter such as this is designed and intended to only serve as a temporary refuge from the effects of a civilly-catastrophic event. Should longer term accommodations be necessary in a given instance, the inhabitants of such a temporary shelter will often be better served to move to a longer term civil security shelter.

[00162] A long term civil security shelter will be understood to comprise a shelter that is configured and arranged to adequately shelter and sustain human life for a relatively longer period of time. For example, such a temporary shelter might prove sufficient in this regard for, say, no more than about 100 inhabitants for up to about three months, six months, one years, or the like. (Again, such numeric examples serve an illustrative, rather than limiting, purpose only.)

[00163] These teaching will also readily accommodate the provision of a longer term civil security shelter up to and including an indeterminate term civil security shelter that is configured and arranged to adequately shelter and sustain human life for an indeterminately long period of time. A shelter of this type will typically be characterized not only by an ability to protect its inhabitants against the rigors of the local environment and to contain a relatively large and varied supply of provisions, but by an ability to exist and operate in a fully or at least substantially independent manner. This can relate in particular to an ability to create and/or otherwise replace its consumable provisions (by, for example, growing food, creating power, and so forth).

[00164] It is also possible for such shelters to differ from one other in other ways. For example, such shelters may differ with respect to the non-survival related amenities that are provided. These differences can relate to categories of amenities (such as educational facilities, workshop facilities, food preparation facilities, communication facilities, entertainment and/or recreation facilities, or the like) and/or to a relative level of perception of quality, comfort, convenience, or the like.

[00165] A shelter can comprise either a short term facility and/or a long term facility. In general, for most purposes, such a facility will only need to provide life-sustaining capabilities for some limited period of time, such as one month, or even one year. There are civilly-catastrophic event-based scenarios, however, that pose greater needs. Some events can be of such magnitude and such scope that it may be necessary for a given shelter to host and support a contingent of authorized beneficiaries for a considerably extended period of time. Worst case scenarios might require such a facility to effectively constitute a new beginning from which civilization must renew itself. It such cases, and even when dealing with some limited though relatively longer term requirements, it can be useful if the shelter has at least some self-sustaining capabilities. By one approach, this can comprise a degree of self-sustainment with respect to food. This can include, for example, hydroponic gardens, fish farms, and so forth. By another approach, this can comprise power generation capability. This can also include, for example, photonically and/or thermo-electrically-based power generation, geothermal-based power generation, moving water-based power generation, wind-based power generation, and so forth.

[00166] Somewhat along these same lines, these teachings will also accommodate the gathering, organization, and storage of information that can be used to effectively rebuild a technology-based civilization. Some of this information can comprise historical information; existing information regarding the history of the universe including, of course, the history of the Earth and in particular mankind's ascendancy, accomplishments, and failures. This information can also include specifics regarding how to accomplish certain technology achievements. How to make steel, how to build a shovel, how to extract medications from natural sources, and so forth are a few simple examples in this regard. Such information can be loosely organized or can, if desired, be presented in a particular manner that effectively presents a step-by-step series of processes by which a series of technological achievements can build upon one another to derive some particular end result.

[00167] As noted, a shelter may be configured, arranged, located, and/or provisioned and operated as a short term facility, a long term facility, or both. In any of these cases, it may be useful to be able to move between and amongst such facilities in order to move a population of authorized beneficiaries to a more presently suitable facility, to escape an area that is under severe environmental stress, to effect a distribution of supplies, personnel, or the like, and so forth. In some cases, it may be unwise to attempt such movements on or above the ground. To accommodate such a circumstance, if desired, tunnels can be provided to connect a plurality of such shelters to one another. Such tunnels can be relatively modest such that people and/or materials are moved through them while assuming a relatively low-profile or can be of more expansive design to thereby accommodate upright and walking people and/or other forms of manned or unmanned transport.

[00168] Regardless of whether such tunnels are provided, these teachings will readily accommodate the notion of making use of a plan to move authorized beneficiaries in a staged manner from one shelter to another in response to developing conditions. For example, such an approach can be used to move a group of authorized beneficiaries from a first short term shelter to a long term shelter as the need to provide shelter for an extended period of time becomes apparent. Then, as it becomes clear that the area proximal to the long term shelter poses risks of its own, this same group of authorized beneficiaries can again be moved to one or more other long term shelters that are located further away from such risks.

[00169] In many cases a shelter intended to provide short or long term protection against a civilly-catastrophic event and its aftermath will have its own store of survival resources. These can include food, water and other drinkable fluids, clothing, bedding, tools, communication capabilities, and so forth. If desired, and particularly when such a shelter is located within or near an urban area, such a shelter can also serve as a distribution point to facilitate the provision of survival supplies to individuals who are not otherwise authorized to gain access to the shelter itself. Such individuals may be the authorized beneficiaries of a consideration-based private civil defense subscription or may be general members of the public as desired.

[00170] In many cases a shelter is likely to be a multi-person facility though it is possible that a given shelter, and particularly a shorter term facility, is intended to accommodate only a single person. By one approach, a personal shelter can be comprised of a self-inflating structure that is configured and arranged for deployment in a low-lying area, within a relatively accommodating storm drainage system, or the like. Such a structure can be inflated, for example, using bottled pressurized gases. By one approach this structure is configured and arranged to be tethered or anchored in some suitable fashion to remain substantially in place during use. If desired, channels can be formed over and/or through this structure to permit fluids, such as storm waters, to readily flow past the structure to thereby prevent the structure from acting as a plug and/or from causing the structure to be dislodged.

[00171] A short, medium, or long term shelter may be comprised solely of public areas. If desired, however, such a shelter can be comprised of both public/common areas as well as private areas. The private areas could comprise, for example, private living quarters for one or more authorized beneficiaries. The public/common areas could comprise ingress and egress facilities, maintenance areas, storage facilities, and so forth. Food preparation areas, dining areas, meeting areas, and so forth could be private or public depending upon one's desires. If desired, the private areas could each be independently owned by their corresponding authorized beneficiary with the public areas also being co-owned by these same individuals. The maintenance and upkeep of these areas could be tended as per the terms and conditions of an association agreement or the like.

[00172] As noted, at least some shelters may be intended to serve as relatively long term facilities. Even short term facilities, however, may benefit from integral facilities being provided to accommodate religious practices and observances. Such facilities may, if desired, comprise dual use facilities and accommodate the practices of a plurality of differing religions and/or other secular practices. Such facilities might include, for example, appropriate religious symbols and/or worship practice accoutrements, prayer and/or meditation facilities (such as pews, individual carpets, incense burners, candles, and so forth), pulpits and other podiums from which a religious leader may lead or instruct a corresponding congregation or gathering, and corresponding written materials such as the Bible and associated hymnals and the like, the Torah, the Koran, and so forth.

[00173] In any appreciable gathering of people it is not unusual to find, over time, at least one individual who takes action in a way that exceeds the permitted norms of permitted behavior. Such unfortunate events can also happen in a shelter setting. Accordingly, by one approach, at least a longer term shelter can be optionally configured and arranged to include a dedicated space intended and designed to serve as a brig where a suitably uncooperative individual can be segregated and controlled. Such a brig can comprise a secure locked facility from which unauthorized leaving is difficult and where such an individual can be maintained with at least the essentials of life being available to them.

[00174] It would also be possible, and particularly with a longer term shelter, to provide a commissary/shelter store in addition to such provisions and would also likely be stocked and provided for the inhabitants. Such a commissary/shelter store could offer items that tend more towards personal preference and/or requirements as versus more general items that might comprise the majority of the other supplied provisions. By one approach each shelter inhabitant could be provided with a predetermined prepaid credit that is good towards purchases at this commissary/shelter store. This prepaid credit could comprise a total aggregate amount that could be spent on any schedule of the inhabitant's choosing or might, if desired, accrue and/or be otherwise limited to some maximum daily expenditure. It would also be possible to fashion such a facility as a pay-as-you-go operation. Payment in such a case could be in the form of an acceptable currency, an acceptable credit arrangement, or could be managed on the basis of a barter exchange of goods and/or services.

[00175] It would also be possible for a given private civil defense shelter to offer, in addition to such other facilities as might ordinarily be provided, one or more concession stands that offer corresponding goods and services. Such concession stands could provide a variety of so-called fast food if desired. These teachings would further accommodate having one or more of these concession stands comprise a recognized branded franchise such as McDonalds, Starbucks, or T.G.I.F., to note but a very few.

[00176] In many cases it may be appropriate for a given shelter to comprise a structure that is fabricated using any of a variety of build-in-place techniques and materials. It would also be possible, however, for a shelter to comprise, in whole or in part, a prefabricated structure. So configured, such a shelter could be partially or fully built in an efficient and controlled manner at some central manufacturing location and then effectively held in inventory pending a future need. Such a prefabricated structure might be readily deployed in response to a pending or actual civilly-catastrophic event. Such a prefabricated structure could be located in a desired location on the ground or could, if desired, be partially or fully placed in a hole or other depression and then partially or fully covered with earth and/or other materials of choice.

[00177] For at least some application purposes it can be useful to position a shelter below ground. In addition to providing inherent security, earth can serve as a very viable barrier to fully or at least partially block ionizing radiation. Water, however, can also serve such purposes. These teachings will therefore also accommodate placing a shelter (including short term, medium term, and long term shelters) in an underwater setting. In such a case, and depending as well upon the materials and specifications of the underwater shelter itself, it may be useful to place such a shelter at least 2 meters below the surface of the body of water. The body of water itself can comprise a natural body (such as a pond, lake, river, bay, sea, or ocean) or a man-made body (such as a percolation pond, a reservoir, a decorative pond, or a swimming pool). By one approach the underwater shelter is fixed at the bottom of the body of water. By another approach the underwater shelter is fixed in position but is not necessary attached at the bottom of the body of water. For example, the underwater shelter can be buoyant and can be tethered to the bottom of the body of water. These teachings will also accommodate an underwater shelter that is movable between a submerged and a surfaced state.

[00178] It may be desirable, in at least some application settings, to provide a given shelter with an optical fiber-based network. Such a network could be used as a data backbone that is relatively immune to eavesdropping, offers high bandwidth capability, and also offers some degree of protection with respect to electromagnetic pulse survivability. Optical fiber can also be used to carry light for illumination purposes and hence can serve as a relatively efficient way to provide lighting within a shelter.

[00179] If desired, a shelter can comprise a space-based shelter. By one approach this might comprise a vehicle that orbits the Earth in order to remove its passengers from the immediate effects of a given civilly-catastrophic event. Such a shelter might also comprise a non-vehicle such as a space station, an abandoned research facility, or the like.

[00180] Native American tribes constitute, at least to a point, sovereign entities. This sovereignty extends in many respects to tribal lands. Such sovereignty offers certain potential benefits with respect to the independent operation of civilly-catastrophic event shelters and provisions. These teachings will therefore readily accommodate placing such resources on tribal land in conjunction with a clear agreement and understanding with the corresponding Native American tribe regarding each party's respective rights and obligations in that regard.

[00181] Such sovereignty also extends in many respects to foreign embassies that are located on another country's soil. Such sovereignty again may offer certain potential benefits with respect to the independent operation of civilly-catastrophic event shelters and provisions. These teachings will therefore also readily accommodate placing such resources on embassy property in conjunction with a clear agreement and understanding with the corresponding country regarding each party's respective rights and obligations in that regard.

[00182] By another approach, it may be possible to locate at least some aspects of a civil security program (such as one or more shelters, stores of provisions, and so forth) on an island. By one approach, this island comprises territory that is not otherwise subject to exclusive jurisdiction and control of any one nation. Such an island can comprise a natural island or can comprise a manmade island as desired.

[00183] Also if desired, a shelter may be configured as a lighter than air aircraft (referred to herein as a dirigible). Such a shelter can remain aloft for extended periods of time and can move from place to place as may be useful to pick up additional authorized beneficiaries, supplies, and so forth.

[00184] In some cases it may be useful to provide a shelter environment on a temporary rather than a permanent basis. Similarly, there may be application settings where it becomes important to be able to deploy a shelter setting for a relatively large number of people in a relatively short period of time. To meet such needs, inflatable structures can be deployed. Such inflatable structures can be comprised of flexible yet relatively sturdy and puncture/tear resistant material. These structures can comprise relatively complete inflatable structures (such as a room, a plurality of rooms, and so forth) and/or can comprise elements of such a structure (such as walls, a floor, furniture and the like within the structure, and so forth). Even when complete, it may be useful to configure and arrange such structures to readily combine with one another to form yet larger structures (such as multi-room facilities or the like). Such structures can be relatively generic and fungible (i.e., substantially alike to one another) or can be differentiated from one another with respect to size, form, features, opacity, portals, and so forth. The air drawer(s) used to inflate such a structure can comprise a separate component or can, if desired, comprise an integral part of the structure itself. The roof for such a structure may be partially or fully inflatable or may be comprised of some other material as desired. So configured, a relatively large shelter facility could be moved to a need location and then deployed and set up, ready to receive people needing shelter, in a relatively short period of time.

[00185] The aforementioned civil security services can comprise any of a relatively wide variety of offerings. Some examples include, but are certainly not limited to: transportation services (where such transportation services are not ordinary mass or individual transit services but instead represent, for example, services that are designed, scheduled, and deployed to effect transportation of dispossessed persons away from a location that substantially lacks civil security (such as an area afflicted by a civilly-catastrophic event); civil security information (including both civil security information that is generally appropriate for a large number (or all) of the authorized beneficiaries (such as civil security preparedness training or the like) as well as information that is specifically appropriate for individual ones of the authorized beneficiaries (such as personal contingency instructions that are formed and provided to guide specific authorized beneficiaries during a time of need regarding particular actions and behaviors that such specific individuals should take and observe when responding to a civilly-catastrophic event as well as consulting services that assist such individuals with respect to fortifying their relative positions and/or otherwise better protecting themselves against the effects of various civilly-catastrophic events); communications services, including long distance communication services (including, for example, wireless-based services) that are configured and arranged to provide substantially persistent communication services notwithstanding interaction of the long distance communication service with the effects of a civilly-catastrophic event (which may include, for example, satellite-based communications, quickly deployed wireless base stations (that comprise, for example, mobile terrestrial platforms, aerial platforms and so forth), and the like); civil security rescue services to facilitate, for example, retrieving selected authorized beneficiaries from dangerous circumstances that are owing, at least in part, to a substantial lack of civil security (including, for example, immediate threats posed by life-threatening influences such as fire, collapsed buildings, lawless unpoliced individuals, and the like as well as less-immediate threats (such as starvation, dehydration, infection, or the like) that can follow a substantial failure of civil infrastructure; civil security delivery services to provide for deliveries to authorized beneficiaries or the like of such things as their corresponding civil security provisions, fuel, and so forth; civil security medical services (including but not limited to both fixed location and mobile services); civil security physical security services (to provide, for example, physical security (such as guards, fences, and other barriers, surveillance equipment, and so forth) for residences, businesses, and other physical property of interest to an authorized beneficiaries); independent utilities facilities installation services (to provide, for example, for the installation of fuel-burning generators, renewable energy-based power generators, propane-based heating plants, and so forth at, for example, the residences and businesses of authorized beneficiaries); and/or post-civilly-catastrophic event social relationship facilitation services (to facilitate rebuilding social networks, friendships, partnerships, and romantic relationships for the survivors of civilly-catastrophic events); and so forth, to note but a few relevant examples.

[00186] In the event of a civilly-catastrophic event, ordinary transportation may be difficult and/or impossible for certain individuals. This may be due to congested roadways, impaired transportation infrastructure, civil disorder, confusion and/or uncertainty regarding a best direction in which to proceed, as well as problems that certain would-be drivers and/or passengers may themselves face, to note but a few illustrative examples in this regard. A private entity can arrange appropriate transport facilities that will travel a specific route during such a time of need to pick up authorized beneficiaries of such a service. By one approach this activity will only occur in the event of a sufficiently serious civilly-catastrophic event and will not comprise an ordinary service during less trying times. The vehicles used for this purpose can comprise, for example, a bus, van, or similar terrestrial platform. Other vehicles, such as helicopters, hovercraft, boats, and so forth may also be employed where appropriate. The right of a given individual to gain passage on such a vehicle can be arranged in advance of such a civilly-catastrophic event and/or at a specific time of need.

[00187] By one approach, if desired, a motorhome-style mode of transport can serve both as a means to convey one or more authorized beneficiaries from one place to another as well as a shelter during transit and/or upon arrival at an intended destination. Such a motorhome can be configured and arranged to provide protection against airborne environmental threats (such as airborne radioactive, chemical, and biological agents). By one approach this can comprise, in part, equipping the motorhome with an air filtration system and a positive air pressure capability within the cockpit and living quarters of the vehicle. Such a motorhome could be pre-packed with a variety of survival resources including food, water, clothing, threat abatement tools, and so forth. Such a motorhome could also be equipped with navigation equipment that includes pre-programmed destinations such as shelters, provisions storehouses, caches, or distribution centers, transport rally points, and so forth. By one approach such a motorhome could be used in conjunction with an underground parking facility to thereby permit the motorhome to become, in effect, an underground shelter. [00188] These teachings will also readily accommodate the use of space-based vehicles as a mode of transport to be used to remove people from an area that has been impacted by a civilly-catastrophic event and/or to move such persons to another intended destination such as a shelter. Those skilled in the art will recognize and understand that such a vehicle may not necessarily reach escape velocity or even reach what might ordinarily be considered an orbital altitude.

[00189] In many particularly widespread examples of a civilly-catastrophic event it can become necessary to transport evacuees a relatively long distance in order to move them to relative safety (either in the form of an unaffected area or in the form of a shelter). The same can hold true (and perhaps particularly so) when considering the authorized beneficiaries of consideration-based private civil security subscriptions. It can be necessary, for example, to move affected persons from a densely populated urban area, through other such areas as well as less-populated areas, to reach a final (or at least a next) destination. In some cases, such transport will likely encounter numerous serious obstacles. This can include impassable thoroughfares (due to abandoned, blocking vehicles, fallen bridges, and so forth) as well as a relative lack of needed resources (such as vehicular fuel, food, spare parts, and so forth). It may be expected that a pre- provisioned transport vehicle might have at least some such provisions on board, but these supplies may be inadequate to meet all potential contingencies. It is also possible that less well-provisioned vehicles may be pressed into service due to other mission requirements and demands. To help in this regard, if desired, caches of transport facilitating supplies can be pre-placed along one or more planned routes for the vehicle. Such supplies can include such things as vehicular fuel and spare parts, food and water for crew and passengers, batteries of various kinds, clothing, and even temporary shelter materials and supplies, to not but a few illustrative examples. These caches can be hidden if desired and can optionally be placed in secure settings such as locked (and possibly guarded) containers, buildings, or the like.

[00190] As will be noted below in more detail, survival supplies can be provided to authorized beneficiaries of consideration-based private civil security subscriptions using a corresponding container. If desired, this container can itself comprise, or can be configured and arranged to be formed into, a floating vessel that can accommodate, for example, one or more persons. By one approach, this can comprise a capability of operating such a container as a floating vessel in isolation from other such containers and/or in combination with other such containers. For example, by one approach a first such container could form the hull of such a vessel which another such container could have constituent elements that are usable as decking, roofing, paddles, rudders, and so forth.

[00191] In many cases a given authorized beneficiary may wish to keep certain provisions close at hand. For example, such a person might wish to keep a seven day supply of survival provisions in their vehicle, a fourteen day supply of such provisions in their home, and a one day supply of survival provisions in a backpack in their office. At the same time, such a person may be expected to also have a wish that such supplies not unduly compromise their available storage space, aesthetics, and so forth. Accordingly, if desired, such supplies can be secreted in such locations behind a false front. The vehicular-based supplies, for example, can be placed at the back of a trunk (or in a basement cargo area of a motorhome, for example) and a false wall then placed between those stowed provisions and the remaining area of the storage area. Such supplies will therefore remain close at hand while also remaining out of sight and out of the way.

[00192] These teachings will accommodate having an authorized beneficiary arrange for rescue services to be rendered in the event of a civilly-catastrophic event. This could comprise, for example, rescue personnel quickly locating the authorized beneficiary and physically accessing that authorized beneficiary to effect their removal to another location. If desired, such a service can be supplemented to include allowing such an authorized beneficiary to identify another party to be rescued and/or to be located and accompanied as a precautionary or protective measure.

[00193] If desired, authorized beneficiaries of a subscription-based private civil defense program can participate in the program by providing threat assessment information to, for example, a central information collection function. This can include, for example, such individuals making regular reports (via telephone, email, a website, a wireless communications device, and so forth) regarding their observations in this regard. By another approach, in combination or in lieu thereof, one or more threat-detection sensors can be deployed at the individual's property (for example, their homes, businesses, vehicles, their clothing, and so forth). Such sensors can be, if desired, coupled to a communication network of choice that forwards the gathered information (using a real time, near real time, or batch protocol of choice) to the central information collection function. If desired, such activities can be supplemented with training for the participating individuals regarding how these observations and so forth are to be carried out.

[00194] In some cases, notwithstanding one's best efforts at preparation, any given person can be overcome by the exigencies of a given civilly-catastrophic event. Such a person may be temporary displaced, critically (or mortally) injured, or affected in some other way that, either temporarily or permanently, removes them from contact with an affinity group of interest. Such an affinity group can comprise, for example, a given person's family, business associates, or the like. In anticipation of such an occurrence, such a person may wish to take advantage of some opportunity or capability to record and/or organize certain information so that such information is then available to an identified person or group in the event of that person's absence for whatever reason. Such information might comprise instructions, passwords or the like, directions, cautions, and so forth that the person believes are important to pass on to others in their absence. There are various ways and means by which such information can be captured including audio, visual, or audio-visual recordings, text and/or graphics-based mechanisms, and so forth. Such information can be retained, if desired, by an entity that otherwise also serves to provide consideration-based private civil security subscriptions that offer civilly catastrophic-event based access to one or more life-sustaining resources. In such a case, the capture, retention, and/or distribution of such information can comprise a standard or optional accouterment of such a subscription.

[00195] It is possible to prepare for a civilly-catastrophic event by providing any of a wide variety of life-sustaining (as well as life-enhancing) resources and arranging for authorized beneficiaries of consideration-based private civil security subscriptions to have civilly catastrophic event-based access to such resources. It is possible, however, that unauthorized persons and/or organizations may attempt to also access such resources. In cases where such resources are ultimately limited, such unauthorized access can detrimentally impact such an authorized beneficiary. It may therefore be appropriate to provide one or more mechanisms to provide for positive identification of a given candidate authorized beneficiary to confirm their rights under such a subscription prior to permitting such access. Such identification can be accomplished using one or more of a wide variety of techniques and mechanisms. Some examples include, but are not limited to: photo ID cards or other documents, secret information-based approaches that use a shared password, personal identification number, combination code, or the like to verify one's status and authority, automated verification systems that rely, for example, upon an implanted transponder (such as a small radio frequency identification tag or the like) that transmits identifying information, biometric approaches that rely upon one or more unique or relatively unique characteristics of a given individual (such as retinal patterns, asperity patterns (such as fingerprints, palm prints, and so forth), behavior patterns (such as unique keyboard typing patterns and the like), biological markers (such as DNA, blood type, and the like), a physical key, and so forth.

[00196] A person, family, company, or other party interested in taking steps to better prepare themselves to meet and survive a given civilly-catastrophic event may increasingly face a growing number of options. There may be different companies or groups that provide similar (or even identical) services in this regard and there will very likely be a variety of different choices with respect to provisions, shelters, transport options, and so forth. Such a situation can give rise to confusion and poor decision making on the part of the consumer of such services and goods. It may therefore be helpful for a certification and/or rating service to vet, compare, and/or otherwise assess such options and opportunities on behalf of an interested consuming audience. By one approach, such a service can certify that certain survival-related services or goods meet at least minimal standards regarding, for example, such things as likely effectiveness, anticipated shelf life, relative dollar value, reliability, nutritional content, usefulness, and so forth. By another approach, such a service can certify that certain survival-related services or goods are offered and/or manufactured in compliance with standards as have been established regarding consumer protections, strength, durability, flexibility, materials, radiation blockage capability, and so forth. By yet another approach, such a service can offer comparative ratings to assist the consumer with understanding the relative differences (with respect, for example, to effectiveness, value, durability, reliability, and so forth) between civil security-related services and/or goods as offered, for example, by different service providers and venders.

[00197] A civilly-catastrophic event can impact businesses as well as individuals and families. This includes for-profit business of various kinds as well as not-for-profit institutions, academic institutions, and so forth. Enterprise data represents one at-risk asset in such a scenario. When a given enterprise maintains all of its data in a same general area, that enterprise assumes a considerable risk of sudden institutional ignorance should that data become destroyed or otherwise compromised. Many businesses compensate for this vulnerability by providing for off-site backup and storage. Such schemes, however, are typically aimed at ensuring data preservation in the event of a relatively local mishap that impacts the original data. A given civilly-catastrophic event may be of such sweeping breadth and scope as to ensure the simultaneous destruction of both a local store of information and its off-site counterpart. One or more electromagnetic pulses represent a particular challenge when such data is all retained in an electromagnetic storage platform. These teachings therefore also contemplate the optional holding and preservation of enterprise data in one or more shelters that are dispersed over a very wide geographic setting. Multiple continents, for example, may be appropriate in this regard. Such data can itself be stored using electromagnetic pulse barriers and/or through use of relatively non-volatile storage media that is immune to EMP and many other phenomena and stresses.

[00198] There are various ways by which civil defense information can be provided to an intended audience. By one approach a civil defense-themed web site can serve such a purpose. At least parts of the web site can be open to the general public while other portions of the web site maybe restricted to the authorized beneficiaries of consideration- based private civil security subscriptions that provide civilly-catastrophic event-based access to one or more life-sustaining resources. The information conveyed can comprise historical information regarding civil defense-related topics, information regarding different civilly-catastrophic events and their relative probabilities and characteristics, survival techniques, survival provisions, and information regarding presently assessed and/or tracked threats and the like. Television and/or radio broadcast-styled streaming content in such regards can be provided as desired. Plans and instructions of various kinds as pertain to civil defense matters can be provided for downloading and usage by accessing parties.

[00199] It is possible for communications within an area afflicted by a civilly- catastrophic event to be degraded or completely rendered inoperable. This can occur when infrastructure elements (such as antenna towers, base stations, or the like) are destroyed, when electric power remains unavailable for too long a period of time, when an electromagnetic pulse destroys sensitive infrastructure components, and so forth. At the same time, however, wireless communications can comprise an important part of providing private civil security benefits to authorized beneficiaries within such an afflicted area. To aid in this regard, quickly deployable airborne wireless base stations, relays, or the like can be deployed within an afflicted area to rapidly (though likely only temporarily) effect the establishment of a net wide area communications system. These airborne stations can comprise manned or unmanned platforms and may comprise heavier than air and/or lighter than air platforms. Such stations can remain on station by hovering or by flying a relatively tight pattern or can comprise a platform, such as a balloon, that is tethered to the ground in some manner.

[00200] An authorized beneficiary of a consideration-based private civil security subscription can be provided, if desired, with a biometrics collection and analysis apparatus. Such an apparatus might be configured, for example, as an integral part of a container that is used to provide survival resources to that authorized beneficiary or may be separated therefrom. Such an apparatus could be configured and arranged to accept physical specimens (such as blood, saliva, urine, regurgitated material, hair, skin scrapings, and so forth) and/or informational input from a user (in response, for example, to particular questions or selection opportunities). The apparatus could then be configured and arranged (using, for example, corresponding programming) to analyze such input and to offer corresponding interpretations and/or suggestions. These suggestions could relate, for example, to the use of particular items that have been provided in a store of survival items and/or to the use of other items that may be found in order to treat a given medical condition, to remedy a particular nutritional deficit, to overcome a particular situational challenge, and so forth.

[00201] Substantially real-time information regarding imminent and/or actual civilly- catastrophic events can be provided via a private service using various media avenues. Such information could pertain to the type of event, an indication of the severity of the event when appropriate and/or applicable, the location of the event and its impact, the distance from the information recipient to an area that is impacted by the event (when possible or appropriate), pre-emptive and/or proactive actions that may be taken by the information recipient to escape, avoid, and/or better survive the event, and so forth. Such information can be provided using, for example, a radio broadcast, a television broadcast, an Internet interface (using, for example, streaming audio and/or video information bearers), roadside electronic information billboards, portable electronic wireless receivers (including both one-way and two-way devices of various kinds), and so forth.

[00202] By one approach, and referring momentarily to FIG. 5, this process will readily accommodate providing such civil security provisions 200, civil security facilities 502, and civil security services 503 by a single provider 501. Such a provider 501 can be integrally involved with designing, providing, maintaining, and offering such civil security resources or can comprise an aggregator of such resources, in whole or in part, as are provided by other sources.

[00203] As noted these teaching can be flexibly applied in various ways in this regard. For example, and referring momentarily to FIG. 6, the civil security provisions 200 can be provided by a first provider 601, the civil security facilities 502 can be provided by a second provider 602, and the civil security services 503 can be provided by a third provider 603 wherein the first, second, and third providers comprise separate entities (as when, for example, these providers comprise separate legal entities having no co- ownership or common points of control). In such a case, these separate providers can meet the needs of this step by acting in an aggregated manner 604 (directly or indirectly) with one another.

[00204] Yet other arrangements are possible. For example, and referring momentarily to FIG. 7, a single provider 703 can provide the civil security facilities 502 and the civil security services 503 while the civil security provisions are provided by a plurality of civil security provisions providers represented here by a first civil security provisions provider 701 through an Nth civil security provisions provider 702 (where "N" will be understood to comprise an integer greater than one). Persons skilled in these arts will understand and appreciate that numerous permutations and combinations of these elements as well as other possibilities are available. Such alternatives are well within the scope of these teachings and are rightly considered to comprise a part of this invention.

[00205] A private civil security provider will encounter particular difficulties not faced by providers of other, more traditional, products and services. For example, marketing such services, provisions, and facilities to consumers or clients may prove challenging because individuals may be hesitant to participate because of their reluctance to acknowledge the presence of certain threats or perhaps because they mistakenly believe that their federal, state, local, provincial, or municipal government is effectively addressing and preparing for such civilly-catastrophic events. Further, the business of civil security presents several unique obstacles and challenges to a business plan or model because the business partly operates within a realm sometimes occupied (or is at least perceived as being occupied) by various governmental entities. Some particular examples to address these concerns now follow (it being understood that these examples are provided for illustrative purposes and are not intended to comprise an exhaustive listing of such possibilities).

[00206] As noted above, consideration-based private civil security subscriptions that provide for relatively comprehensive services and resources may be relatively costly and hence practically unavailable to at least some persons who might otherwise be interested in such an opportunity. If desired, the provision of such resources can be offered as the prize for any number of promotions and sweepstakes such as a local, state-controlled, regional, national, or international lottery. If desired, the mechanics of the promotion itself could serve an educational and training purpose with respect to the need for practical civil security sensitivities and behaviors on the part of the general public.

[00207] As yet another way to effect the provision of such benefits to a greater public body is to arrange for such consideration-based private civil security benefits to be provided by a private contractor (or contractors) in exchange for full or partial payment by an interested public authority such as a municipal or county government, a state or provincial government, or a national government. By this approach, private civil defense can become, as to the beneficiaries, public civil defense.

[00208] And as yet another way to facilitate a wider degree of participation in such services, loyalty program and/or user points as are earned and accumulated through airline frequent flyer programs, credit card usage, and so forth could be used as at least part of the consideration required to become a private civil security subscription subscriber. This would typically require that an arrangement be reached between the provider of such services (or their representative or agent) and the enterprise that operates such a program to thereby permit the holder of such points to make such a selection and allocation of their accumulated points.

[00209] It would also be possible to offer a loyalty program in conjunction with the offering of private civil security subscriptions, benefits, products, and/or services. By one approach, purchases in these regards could result in the earning of corresponding loyalty points that could then be used to offset the obtainment of additional (or extended) goods or services in this same regard. It would also be possible to arrange for the use of such points to redeem goods or services of a different kind or nature and as might be offered by other enterprises. By one approach, a given subscriber who experiences the unfortunate requirement to make use of such services during a time of need might also be provided with some amount of such points as a form of assistance to such a customer during an obvious time of need.

[00210] Consideration-based private civil security subscriptions can be offered at prices that vary with criteria of interest to the civil security services provider. Some examples include, but are not limited to, the age of the authorized beneficiary, the height of the authorized beneficiary, the weight of the authorized beneficiary, the health (and/or specific health concerns) of the authorized beneficiary, and so forth.

[00211] In many cases it may be necessary to employ a relatively large number of people to establish, maintain, and operate a fully-tiered offering of civil security benefits via consideration-based private civil security subscriptions. Such personnel may play a part with respect to selecting, packing, maintaining, guarding, and/or delivering survival- related resources to authorized beneficiaries, manning, operating, maintaining, and securing shelters, rescuing and/or transporting authorized beneficiaries during times of need, communicating with, educating, and/or training authorized beneficiaries regarding desired and undesired behaviors and actions both before and during a civilly-catastrophic event, and so forth. Many of these people are also likely to have special talents, skills, training, or experience that makes them particularly suitable for such tasks. To attract and retain such individuals, and further to aid in assuring their continued attention to their responsibilities during a time of need, these teachings further contemplate the extension of such civil security benefits to such employees. This can comprise a fully or partially subsidized (and/or discounted) extension of such benefits and can include, if desired, the employee's family members (and/or extended family members) as well. Such benefits could also be extended, if desired, to key non-employee contractors and/or agents as well.

[00212] As noted, private civil security benefits can be offered to subscribers as per the terms and conditions of a corresponding subscription mechanism. Such subscriptions can be offered via any number of mechanisms and by any number of intervening agents or Attorney Docket No. 8379/90813 PCT brokers, if desired. It would also be possible, however, to offer such benefits in conjunction with the offering of other and potentially unrelated protection and/or financial products and services. For example, a discount may be offered to someone who simultaneously acquires both a given financial product and a private civil security policy that offers one or more civil defense-related benefits during some corresponding coverage period. These multiple offerings can be offered by a single party or can emanate from different parties, as desired. In this way, the benefits of one such offering can be used to leverage the purchase or acquisition of the other offering(s).

[00213] In one approach, the civil security subscription may be aggregated with other or alternative resources not directly related to civil security. Such unrelated products or services may include: services or products in other categories of business not directly related to civil security, to note but a few examples. More particularly, the unrelated resources could include insurance services and products and/or financial or investment services and products not directly related to civil security. For example, the unrelated services may be packaged with the consideration-based private civil security subscription. By another approach, the purchaser of an unrelated service may receive a discount on the purchase of a civil security subscription. By yet another approach, the purchaser of unrelated products or services may qualify to purchase or may receive an option to buy a civil security subscription, possibly at a discount.

[00214] By one approach, the right to access civil security-related benefits such as shelter, provisions, rescue services, and/or transport can be based upon a specific previously established relationship between the authorized beneficiary and the civil security benefits provider. If desired, however, bearer certificates can also be used to permit and facilitate such access. Such a bearer certificate could, by its own terms and conditions, permit the bearer of such a certificate to have access to such civil security benefits during some time of need. Such a certificate may have certain limitations applied thereto. For example, such a bearer certificate may only be honored at specific locations, or may only entitle the bearer to a certain class of survival provisions.

[00215] A private civil security subscription-based approach to assisting with the survival of civilly-catastrophic events is often viewed as resting primarily or exclusively upon a consideration-based means of facilitation; that is, some subscriber, for themselves or on behalf of authorized beneficiaries such as their family members, co-workers, or the Attorney Docket No. 8379/90813 PCT like pays a provider of private civil security services and/or goods to provide such authorized beneficiaries with access to one or more life-sustaining resources during a corresponding civilly-catastrophic event-based time of need. It would also be possible, however, to promulgate such private civil security using a philanthropically-based approach. That is, to provide a process whereby a philanthropically-minded person, company, or even a governmental entity may provide the consideration to establish a pool of such resources, which resources are then distributed during a time of need to corresponding recipients. By this approach, such recipients need not be pre-identified in any usual sense (though such a gift might be conditionally restricted to only those recipients, for example, who live within a given region). Instead, such an approach can serve to permit a wealthy benefactor with charitable intent to provide critical survival resources to a relatively amorphous recipient population on an as-needed basis.

[00216] In addition to merely becoming the authorized beneficiary of a subscription that provides private civil security benefits, it is possible to extend such interest and concerns further to effectively offer and achieve a civil defense-based lifestyle. Such a lifestyle can be suggested, encouraged, inspired, maintained, leveraged, and/or passed on using any of a wide variety of techniques and approaches. By one such approach, authorized beneficiaries have the opportunity to become involved at any of a variety of levels with an affinity group that shares a common interest in civil defense behaviors, tactics, strategies, and so forth. Such an affinity group can be relatively informal or can, instead, be relatively well organized and operated. At some level, when so engaged, the authorized beneficiary can become considerably more than merely a passive recipient of latent civil security services that become available if and when a civilly-catastrophic event occurs. Instead, the authorized beneficiary can become more active and/or proactive in such things as monitoring and/or assessing threats to civil security, influencing strategies, tactics, plans, and preparations as pertain to preparing to meet a given civilly- catastrophic event, and being trained or training others with respect to meeting and beating such challenges. Such a lifestyle of civil defense preparedness can be induced, inspired, and/or maintained through such activities as education and training, practice and drilling, and testing (with or without corresponding evidence of participation and achievement such as a certification process). By one approach, membership and/or affiliation with at least some levels of a corresponding affinity group can be based upon Attorney Docket No. 8379/90813 PCT successfully participating in such activities. This, in turn, could aid in cementing and rendering more tangible the participant's sense of belonging to something bigger than themselves and that is worthy of their time, attention, resources, and effort. Membership or affiliation with such an association or organization might be based, for example, upon demonstrated familiarity and/or knowledge of certain civil defense precepts or the like, maintenance of a private store of provisions that are available to aid and assist others in the organization during a time of need, successful passage of corresponding entrance requirements, preliminary and/or ongoing testing and/or attainment of varying levels of certification, and so forth. Information regarding the members of such an association regarding their identity, their location, and their qualifications could then be made available via print, an electronic or networked resource, and/or other mechanism of choice.

[00217] ) Somewhat along these same lines, though perhaps in a far less organized fashion, a civil defense-minded person or entity could sub-divide a parcel of land and make sub-parcels available to other civil defense-minded people or entities. Such availability could be realized using any of a wide variety of possessory techniques including, but not limited to, possession by sale, lease, rental, loan, fractional ownership, and so forth. In this way a group of like-minded people/entities could have the benefit of mutual support, shared wisdom and experiences, potential economies of scale, and so forth as regards effecting plans for their civil security, both individually and as a group. It would also be possible, for example, to provide tunnels to interconnect the ground shelters as may be installed by such parties on their respective sub-parcels.

[00218] Referring again to FIG. 1, this process 100 will also optionally provide for the provision 102 of non-civil security resources. Such non-civil security resources comprise supplies and items that are not, strictly speaking, necessary to ensure human survival and hence may be viewed as luxuries. Such items can quite literally span the full gamut of available offerings and can include both unique items (such as original works of art) and more commonly available offerings (such as jewelry, pleasure reading materials, audio playback devices, and so forth). Again, differentiation can exist with respect to actual or perceived levels of quality as pertain to such items if desired.

[00219] These steps of providing such civil security resources can further comprise maintaining such resources. This can comprise, for example, maintaining the freshness and usability of civil security provisions (by replacing outdated or soon-to-be outdated supplies), replacing an existing resource with a better substitute that becomes available, maintaining present and/or imminent usability of a civil security shelter or transport vehicle, updating civil security-related information to reflect current data and intelligence, vetting and re-vetting personnel, and so forth. Such maintenance can be provided, in whole or in part, by the provider of such civil security resources or can be outsourced if desired.

[00220] This process 100 then provides for providing 103 authorized beneficiaries with consideration-based access to the plurality of private civil security resources. There are various ways by which such authorized beneficiaries can be identified. For example, by one approach, such authorized beneficiaries can attain this status as per the terms and conditions of a consideration-based private civil security benefits subscription as mentioned above with respect to FIG. 3. For example, a given subscription can provide such status for a stipulated one-year period of time for one or more authorized beneficiaries as correspond to that subscription.

[00221] Returning to the security subscriptions discussed with respect to FIGS. 3 and 4, the maintenance of the resource 203 may include storing the acquired necessities 402. By one approach such storage 402 occurs through use of one or more storage facilities 800, illustrated in FIG. 8, which are owned or controlled by the subscription accepting entity. Any suitable storage facility may be used for this purpose with examples comprising (but not being limited to) above ground man-made shelters, below ground or below water facilities (including purposefully excavated facilities, natural caverns, and so forth), and water borne facilities (such as barges and the like). Each such storage facility

800 will likely serve to store the resources as correspond to a plurality of authorized beneficiaries. By one approach such resources are stored in the aggregate. By another approach, or in combination with an aggregated approach, some or all of the acquired necessities are stored in subscriber-based bundles 801. For example, each such bundle

801 can comprise a one year supply of all acquired items for a single adult authorized beneficiary. As another example, such a bundle 301 could comprise a one year supply of all acquired items as are intended for a family of four authorized beneficiaries.

[00222] Other possibilities of course exist. For example, a single authorized beneficiary may have a first bundle comprised of staple items that are acquired and stored for all beneficiaries and a second bundle comprised of custom items that are specifically and uniquely acquired for this particular beneficiary or class of beneficiaries (such as beneficiaries who all share a common dietary ailment or condition, sensitivity, medical condition, preference, or the like).

[00223] The bundle 801 itself can be realized via any of a wide variety of encapsulating or restraining mechanisms. For example, a tarp and tie-downs can be used to segregate the goods and form the described bundle. As another example, discrete storage cabinets formed of wood, metal, plastic, canvas, or other material of choice could be employed for this purpose. Shrink wrap materials could also be employed in this regard. In addition, if desired, these bundles 801 can be individually palletized (i.e., each placed upon and optionally secured to a pallet 802). Palletization, in turn, will permit ready and efficient movement of such bundles 801 to, about, or from a given storage facility 800 and/or delivery of such a bundle to an authorized beneficiary when such delivery comprises the desired form of granting access to such resources.

[00224] The use of such bundles (and particularly the bundling of staple items in a manner calculated to provide at least a minimum level of survival support to a predetermined number of authorized beneficiaries for at least a predetermined period of time) provides highly leveragable resource allocation opportunities as well. For example, and referring now momentarily to FIG. 9, a first storage facility 901 may contain 1,000 such storage units while a second storage facility 902 may contain an additional 1 ,000 such storage units. By treating such storage units, at least in part, as being fungible with one another, such resources can be made available to authorized beneficiaries in time of need by accessing a storage facility that is positioned to provide the earliest relief to the beneficiaries rather than by necessarily requiring all beneficiaries to only access their resources from a specific pre-ordained facility.

[00225] Referring again to FIG. 4, maintaining 304 the resource in such a context can further optionally comprise maintaining 403 the utility of the stored necessities. This can comprise, for example, monitoring the usability of perishable items and replacing such items on a corresponding schedule. As another simple illustration this step 403 can comprise holding certain items in deep refrigeration or in other special storage conditions as may suit the proper maintenance of such items. [00226] Such maintenance 304 can also optionally comprise making adjustments 404 to the stored necessities to reflect dynamically changing circumstances as occur during the consideration-based private civil security subscription period. As one illustration, a new product may become available that is particularly useful in treating a particular infectious condition that may likely arise upon the occurrence of a particular kind of civilly-catastrophic event. In such a case, maintaining 304 such resources can readily accommodate updating the acquired and stored items to include a supply of this new product. Accordingly, this step of making adjustments 404 can readily comprise one or more of removing a particular one of the stored necessities (as when a better substitute becomes available, when the stored necessity itself is shown to be less effective for its intended purpose than was originally thought, and so forth), adding additional ones of the stored necessities (as when it becomes subsequently understood that more of a particular item is desirable to achieve a particular survival-related goal or purpose), adding at least one new stored necessity that is not already stored (as illustrated in the example provided above), and so forth.

[00227] In the examples provided above, the resource being acquired and maintained comprises consumable or non-consumable items. As noted earlier, however, these teachings are applicable for use with other resources as well. For example, and referring now to FIG. 10, maintaining 304 the resource may relate to providing civilly-catastrophic event-based access to a shelter. By this approach this step of maintaining 304 the resource can comprise maintaining 1001 such a shelter.

[00228] Much is known in the art regarding construction and maintenance of shelters. Such a construction will usually at least serve to protect the inhabitants from environmental stress and extremes. In addition to walls and a roof such a shelter will typically also comprise internal temperature control, lighting, storage facilities, sleeping facilities, food preparation facilities, personal hygiene facilities, and so forth. For present purposes such a shelter may also be equipped to provide for water treatment (such as filtering, bacteria removal, and so forth), waste treatment and/or recycling, electrical power generation, and/or air treatment (including but not limited to conditioning, filtering, and so forth). By one approach such a shelter can also be equipped with communication facilities including a variety of wireless broadcast capabilities, longdistance two-way communications capabilities, and so forth. [00229] Security will likely comprise a primary concern for such a shelter. In particular it will likely be important to secure the shelter, any resources as are stored or otherwise available at the shelter, and the inhabitants of the shelter from unauthorized entry and access. By one approach, this can comprise maintaining the shelter in a location that is substantially distal from a nearest substantial human population. For example, and referring momentarily to FIG. 11, within a given geographic region 1101 (such as a continent, country, or the like) a shelter 1102 may be separated from the closest major population bases 1103 by a distance that at least exceeds some predetermined substantial distance X 1104. Depending upon other factors, this distance X might comprise, for example, 800 kilometers. Other factors might well play a part in this regard, of course. For example, a significant natural barrier (such as a large mountain range) might lie between a major population base and a shelter and make reasonable a shorter separation distance between such entities.

[00230] When possible, and with continued reference to FIG. 11, it may be desirable to locate such a shelter 1102 in relative proximity to a water source 1105. A suitable water source 1105 can comprise a ground-level water source or an underground water source as, in either case, ready access to the water source may be available. This, in turn, can be useful with respect to ensuring an adequate supply of water for the inhabitants of the shelter 1102 in times of need. A ground-level water source may also provide a means of ingress and egress to facilitate the comings and goings of the authorized beneficiaries (for example, a navigable waterway can provide an effective pathway by which to transport authorized beneficiaries to the shelter 1102).

[00231] Notwithstanding that it may be desirable to locate such shelters at a considerable distance from major population centers, this does not necessarily require that such shelters be secreted within completely primitive and/or wild settings. For example, one useful approach might be to locate such a shelter 1106 proximal to an entertainment destination 1107 (such as, but not limited to, remotely located golf courses, resorts, dude ranches, casinos, and so forth). In such a case at least some of the infrastructure that may be required and/or useful for the shelter can be shared with the facilities of the entertainment destination and thereby reduce the effective costs of installing and maintaining such facilities. [00232] For a variety of reasons it may be appropriate to provide a plurality of such shelters in various locations throughout a relatively wide geographic region such as a continent or country. Such a dispersal can aid with reducing the logistic difficulties of transporting authorized beneficiaries to such a shelter during times of need. Dispersed shelters can also help ensure that at least some shelters will more likely survive civilly- catastrophic events that pose sufficient destructive force to destroy such a shelter or to otherwise significantly impair its purpose and functionality.

[00233] When providing a plurality of shelters, it may also be useful to differentiate such shelters from one another with respect to, for example, their features and/or accouterments. Such shelters may be differentiated, for example, with respect to their relative support for such things as a maximum supportable population, a depth and breadth of provided non-essential accouterments of life, medical facilities (such as, but not limited to, specialized equipment such as respirators, dialysis equipment, operating facilities, and so forth), pet animal accommodations, risk threat abatement capability, entertainment facilities, and so forth. Assignment and/or access to a given differentiated shelter can be determined, at least in part, by such things as relative initial proximity of the authorized beneficiary, the terms and conditions of the corresponding subscription agreement, and so forth.

[00234] By one approach these teachings can be simply practiced by provision of shelter and/or life-sustaining supplies; gaining physical access to such resources comprises the responsibility of the authorized beneficiaries. During such times, of course, it can be expected that civil conditions will be troubled and confusing. Therefore, by another approach these teachings can further encompass transporting at least some of the authorized beneficiaries to the shelter and/or supplies in response to the occurrence of a civilly-catastrophic event. There are various ways by which to accomplish such a task.

[00235] Referring again to FIG. 10, by one optional approach at least one rally point can be identified 1002. (An example of such a rally point appears in FIG. 11 as denoted by reference numeral 1108.) Such a rally point need not be reserved only for this purpose and may, for example, simply comprise a convenient location for at least some authorized beneficiaries. Example rally points might include sports stadiums and auditoriums, amusement parks, and the like. When possible, it may be helpful to locate such a rally point relatively near an airstrip and/or a navigable waterway. Such amenities, in turn, can potentially be used when transporting the gathered beneficiaries to their destination (as when, for example, a destination shelter is accessible from the navigable waterway that is also readily accessible from the rally point).

[00236] By one approach, one or more such rally points can be identified for each larger population area that contains authorized beneficiaries. It would also be possible, of course, to identify rally points to serve a similar function in more rural settings as well if desired.

[00237] This process can then optionally provide 1003 information regarding such rally points to the authorized beneficiaries. This information can be provided prior to the occurrence of a civilly-catastrophic event if desired. It may also be useful or possible to provide such information (either in the first instance or as a supplemental notice) following the initiation of such an event. The latter may be achieved using such communication means as may be available at the time. It would also be possible to provision each authorized beneficiary (or family or company of beneficiaries) with one or more communications devices by which such information could be provided. This process could then provide 504 appropriate transportation to move the authorized beneficiaries from these rally points to the destination (such as to a designated shelter).

[00238] In many instances such transportation can comprise standard vehicles (cars, buses, boats, airplanes, railroad cars, and so forth). If desired, however, more specialized equipment could be used including but not limited to armored transports, environmentally-contained vehicles or trailers, and so forth.

[00239] These teachings can readily accommodate other features as well. For example, and referring now to FIG. 12, prior to the occurrence of a civilly-catastrophic event an authorized beneficiary can be provided 1201 with a short-term survival kit to facilitate their survival prior to their being able to access the aforementioned stored necessities upon the occurrence of a civilly-catastrophic event. Such a short-term survival kit might comprise, for example, a seven day supply of nourishment, clothing, food preparation items, bedding, navigation tools, communication tools and/or location beacons, first aid supplies, water treatment items, items to aid with protecting against or otherwise treating environmentally borne hazards, maps, portable power sources, fire starting equipment, survival instructions, and so forth. [00240] As another example, authorized beneficiaries could be provided 1202 with a survival instruction guide kit. These instructions could provide information regarding survival practices, emergency responses, and so forth. By one approach each authorized beneficiary who comprised a part of a shared group (such as a family group, a company group, and so forth) would receive such a kit. This, in turn, would facilitate unity of action, purpose, and result in the event of a civilly-catastrophic event. For example, by each knowing and observing the shared instructions provided by such an approach, the participants would be able to take their own coordinated actions while being relatively secure in their knowledge of what their group counterparts were also likely doing at that time.

[00241] This survival instruction guide kit could comprise, for example, a book or manual having printing survival instructions and information in combination with fill-in- the-blank opportunities whereby a given authorized beneficiary could customize the instructions to specifically suit their particular needs and situation. Such blanks could be used, for example, to prompt the beneficiary to think through and to record information such as their primary and secondary rally points or other family/group meeting points and protocols, communications protocols and contact information, specific items (perhaps somewhat unique to the individual and which may, or may not, relate to the survival of that individual) that should be stockpiled or otherwise made readily available in the event of a civilly-catastrophic event, and so forth. Such a book or manual could include indexes, tabs, or other navigation tools to permit a reader to quickly find the relevant information they require during a time of need.

[00242] These teachings would also accommodate providing 1203 survival training to authorized beneficiaries. Such training could comprise in-person, on-site training, live instructors, and/or previously prepared teaching resources such as, but not limited to, electronic learning resources. This training could include both general information regarding specific do's and don'ts as pertain to different kinds of civilly-catastrophic events as well as more specific information regarding specific actions that should be taken by the authorized beneficiary with respect to successfully achieving access to their subscribed-to resources as per their subscription.

[00243] These teachings will also accommodate providing 1204 authorized beneficiaries with a corresponding authorization mechanism by which they can effect their right of access to the resources provided by their subscription. This may comprise a mechanism that the beneficiary carries with them as personal property (such as an identification card) or, for example, a biometric-based identity authentication process that relies upon fingerprints, retinal patterns, or some other relatively unique aspect of the human body.

[00244] Returning once again to FIG. 1, the process 100, as mentioned, provides 104 the authorized beneficiaries with consideration-based access to the non-civil security resources. Notwithstanding the provision of such civil security resources, this step of providing access to such resources can readily comprise providing a plurality of different access opportunities. Such opportunities can differ from one another in any number of ways. For example, these opportunities can differ from one another with respect to the specific resources that are included, the quantity of resources that are included, the duration of time during which the aforementioned access may occur, the conditions under which such access can occur, the manner by which such access occurs (for example, whether civil security provisions are delivered to a given authorized beneficiary (and if so, when, how often, and so forth) or must be picked up by the authorized beneficiary from a given distribution point), and so forth.

[00245] As one example in this regard, differing access opportunities could comprise, at least in part, a first access opportunity that provides limited access to no more than a first amount of the civil security resources and a second access opportunity that provides limited access to more than the first amount of the civil security resources. In such a case, the first amount can be specified, if desired, as a function of a predetermined quantity of the civil security resources and/or as a function of a predetermined amount of time during which the civil security resources are accessed. As to the latter example, the second access opportunity could differ from the first access opportunity, at least part, by providing an opportunity to have access to the civil security resources at a time that is temporally subsequent to a time when the first access opportunity provides access to the civil security resources (to thereby provide, for example, for a resupply or replenishment opportunity that supplements an original stock of supplies as might correspond to what is provided pursuant to the first access opportunity).

[00246] This can comprise, if desired, additionally offering access opportunities that provide access to less than all three categories of the civil security resources noted. As a very simple illustration in this regard, a first access opportunity could provide limited access to only civil security provisions and civil security services while a second, different access opportunity could provide access to both these civil security resources and civil security facilities as well.

[00247] By one approach, for example, standard (or customizable) bundles of specific resources, fashioned in different ways, could comprise these different access opportunities. Again, a simple illustrative example may be useful in this regard (though the reader is cautioned that the provided example is but one example of an indeterminate number of possibilities and is not offered with any suggestion of exhaustion in this regard). Consider, in particular, five different access opportunities that are each generally characterized as follows:

[00248] A first access opportunity that provides limited access to only a limited selection of the civil security provisions and a limited selection of the civil security services comprising information-related services;

[00249] A second access opportunity that provides limited access to only a limited selection of the civil security provisions and a limited selection of the civil security services comprising both information-related services and transportation services (such as civilly-catastrophic event-based transportation to a civil security provisions distribution facility);

[00250] A third access opportunity that provides limited access to only a limited selection of the civil security provisions, a limited selection of the civil security services comprising information-related services and transportation services, and a limited selection of the civil security facilities comprising a civil security rally point (or, in other words, an access opportunity that equals that provided by the second access opportunity plus access to the civil security rally point);

[00251] A fourth access opportunity that equals that provided by the third access opportunity plus access to a civil security shelter (or shelters); and

[00252] A fifth access opportunity that equals that provided by the fourth access opportunity plus access to civil security rescue services.

[00253] If desired, a given provider of these civil security resources can provide five such access opportunities to comprise the primary offerings to be provided to the authorized beneficiaries. Each such offering can of course command a different corresponding level of consideration (such as, for example, a different corresponding payment to be proffered for each).

[00254] It would of course also be possible to permit an authorized beneficiary having a given one of these access opportunities to extend the scope of the opportunity in exchange for increased consideration. By one approach, such an extension (or upgrade) could be accommodated by simply requiring payment of a price differential as otherwise distinguishes such opportunities in the first instance. Such an approach might be appropriate, for example, when accommodating such a change well prior to even the threat of any particular civilly-catastrophic event. If desired, however, such an extension (or upgrade) might require a considerably higher supplemental payment when the authorized beneficiary seeks the extension (or upgrade) during or following a given civilly-catastrophic event and/or at a time when a given civilly-catastrophic event is perceived as being an imminent occurrence.

[00255] It would also be possible to permit some or all of the resources as comprise such an opportunity to be customized to suit the needs and/or preferences of a given authorized beneficiary. In some cases, such customization might be offered without additional corresponding cost. In other cases, and particularly where items and/or services of higher value are being substituted for existing standard items or services, additional commensurate cost might be required. For example, a given authorized beneficiary might wish to upgrade their unit of civil security provisions to include some foods that are not a part of a standard package of supplies or might wish to upgrade from a basic rescue package to a premier rescue offering that offers, for example, a faster guaranteed maximum response time.

[00256] If desired, this process will also optionally accommodate providing a key to authorized beneficiaries to thereby facilitate and permit those authorized beneficiaries to access one or more of the civil security resources during an authorized time of need. Such a key may comprise a physical item (such as, for example, an identification card or a physical lock key) and/or a non-physical item (such as, for example, a code such as a personal identification number, a password, or the like). When the key itself comprises a biometric characteristic as corresponds to the authorized beneficiary (such as, but not limited to, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), a retinal pattern, an asperity pattern (such as a fingerprint, a palm print, or the like), a voice print, a characteristic typing pattern, and so forth) this step can comprise (in conjunction with acquiring information, materials, and/or samples from the authorized beneficiary to thereby characterize the biometric of choice) providing instructions to the authorized beneficiary regarding presentation of such a biometric in order to gain the desired access. When the key comprises a code, by one approach this step can comprise providing the code to the authorized beneficiary. By another approach, this step can comprise receiving a code of choice from the authorized beneficiary and then providing confirmation to the authorized beneficiary regarding acceptance of that proffered code.

[00257] Those skilled in the art will appreciate the considerably flexibility and scalability that these teachings offer. As an example of such flexibility, by one approach, if desired, a base line membership for a given authorized beneficiary can bear a corresponding base line price and offer access to a corresponding set of civil security resources. These resources might comprise, for example:

[00258] Pre-civilly catastrophic event delivery of a short-term supply of survival resources comprising at least nutritional consumables. Hydration supplies can also be provided if desired. This short-term supply can comprise, for example, a sufficient quantity of survival resources to support survival of the corresponding authorized beneficiary for at least a predetermined number of days (such as, for example, a ten day period of time).

[00259] Pre-civilly catastrophic event access to civil security services comprising consulting services that provide for a preparedness review and inventory as well as preparation of a customized and personalized personal action plan to guide the authorized beneficiary in the event of a civilly-catastrophic event-based time of need.

[00260] A right to acquire additional civil security provisions (either for current delivery or to be held pending a civilly-catastrophic event-based time of need) and/or to access civil security facilities or additional services.

[00261] So configured, a given authorized beneficiary can obtain a viable, valuable, useful entree into a private civil security paradigm. A base line offering can be provided for a relatively modest initial cost and, if and as the authorized beneficiary becomes more learned and experienced with respect to civil security issues and concerns, additional supplemental kinds and levels of protection and security can be subsequently acquired as needed.

[00262] Those skilled in the art will recognize and appreciate that the above described teachings can be applied and leveraged in a variety of ways to achieve a significant number of tangible and concrete benefits (including but not limited to facilitating a relatively higher degree of personal awareness regarding civil security issues, a relatively higher level of resources availability, and/or a relatively more powerful set of motivations for various parties to adopt behaviors that in turn prompt an increased availability of potentially life-preserving resources for a relatively wide consuming audience than might likely be achieved in the absence of such teachings).

[00263] It will be appreciated that these teachings provide for a highly flexible yet powerfully effective way by which a modern citizen can greatly improve their likelihood of surviving a civilly-catastrophic event. These teachings are sufficiently flexible so as to accommodate the needs and desires of a wide-ranging set of potential beneficiaries, including private civil security resource service providers and/or their agents (such as full and part time employees and contractors) while nevertheless still tending to ensure adequate access to the basic necessities of life. Though training and some related activity may be provided and encouraged, in general the beneficiary receives these benefits without being required to make the commitment of time, energy, and expertise that would ordinarily be associated with attaining such a high level of civil security.

[00264] Those skilled in the art will recognize that a wide variety of modifications, alterations, and combinations can be made with respect to the above described embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and that such modifications, alterations, and combinations are to be viewed as being within the ambit of the inventive concept. As one example in this regard, the notion of civil security provisions can encompass, if desired, weapons of various kinds. Weapons and their ammunition (including, but not limited to, projectile-based weapons of various kinds) can have an important place in ensuring one's survival under certain conditions as they can be used for protection and can also be employed for hunting.

Claims

I claim:

1. A method comprising: accepting consideration-based private civil security subscriptions from subscribers with respect to providing civilly-catastrophic event-based access to at least one private civil security resource; maintaining the at least one private civil security resource pending a need to permit subscription-based access to the at least one private civil security resource in event of a catastrophic event; offering reduced-consideration-based private civil security subscriptions for authorized beneficiaries who have at least a predetermined relationship with respect to a service provider as regards the at least one private civil security resource.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the civilly-catastrophic event comprises an event that substantially disrupts society's infrastructure and ability to provide at least one life- sustaining resource and is one that is likely to persist in substantial form for more than a predetermined period of time.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the subscriptions comprise at least one of: time-limited rights of access; event-limited rights of access; inheritable rights of access; rights of access predicated upon a series of periodic payments; rights of access predicated upon a one-time payment; ownership-based rights of access; non-transferable rights of access; transferable rights of access; membership-based rights of access; fractionally-based rights of access; non-ownership-based rights of access; option-based rights of access; credit-based rights of access; group-based rights of access.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one private civil security resource comprises at least one of: a private civil security provision; a private civil security facility; a private civil security service.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the at least one private civil security resource comprises at least one of each of: the private civil security provision; the private civil security facility; the private civil security service.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the civil security provision comprises a plurality of life-sustaining resources as pertain to a plurality of differing categories of life's necessities.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the plurality of differing categories of life's necessities comprise: breathable air; water; food; protective clothing; shelter.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein offering reduced-consideration-based private civil security subscriptions for authorized beneficiaries who have at least a predetermined relationship with respect to a service provider as regards the at least one private civil security resource comprises offering discounted private civil security subscriptions for authorized beneficiaries who have at least a predetermined relationship with respect to a service provider as regards the at least one private civil security resource.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein offering reduced-consideration-based private civil security subscriptions for authorized beneficiaries who have at least a predetermined relationship with respect to a service provider as regards the at least one private civil security resource comprises offering complementary private civil security subscriptions for authorized beneficiaries who have at least a predetermined relationship with respect to a service provider as regards the at least one private civil security resource.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein offering reduced-consideration-based private civil security subscriptions for authorized beneficiaries who have at least a predetermined relationship with respect to a service provider as regards the at least one private civil security resource comprises offering discounted private civil security subscriptions for authorized beneficiaries who presently serve as an agent of the service provider.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein offering discounted private civil security subscriptions for authorized beneficiaries who have at least a predetermined relationship with respect to a service provider as regards the at least one private civil security resource comprises offering discounted private civil security subscriptions for authorized beneficiaries who presently serve substantially fulltime as an agent of the service provider.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein offering discounted private civil security subscriptions for authorized beneficiaries who have at least a predetermined relationship with respect to a service provider as regards the at least one private civil security resource comprises offering discounted private civil security subscriptions for authorized beneficiaries who presently serve at least a predetermined amount of time as an agent of the service provider.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein offering reduced-consideration-based private civil security subscriptions for authorized beneficiaries who have at least a predetermined relationship with respect to a service provider as regards the at least one private civil security resource comprises offering discounted private civil security subscriptions for authorized beneficiaries who comprise an immediate family member of a person who presently serves as an agent of the service provider.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein offering reduced-consideration-based private civil security subscriptions for authorized beneficiaries who have at least a predetermined relationship with respect to a service provider as regards the at least one private civil security resource comprises conditioning reduction of the consideration as a function of a person who serves as an agent of the service provider continuing to serve in their role as an agent of the service provider notwithstanding a civilly-catastrophic event having occurred to aid with responding to service needs as regards the at least one private civil security resource engendered by that civilly-catastrophic event.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein offering reduced-consideration-based private civil security subscriptions for authorized beneficiaries who have at least a predetermined relationship with respect to a service provider as regards the at least one private civil security resource comprises offering a first reduced-consideration-based private civil security subscription that provides a baseline package of particular private civil security resources for authorized beneficiaries who have at least a predetermined relationship with respect to a service provider as regards the at least one private civil security resource.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the first reduced-consideration-based private civil security subscription comprises a substantially free private civil security subscription.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein offering reduced-consideration-based private civil security subscriptions for authorized beneficiaries who have at least a predetermined relationship with respect to a service provider as regards the at least one private civil security resource further comprises offering a second reduced-consideration-based private civil security subscription of additional private civil security resources for authorized beneficiaries who have at least a predetermined relationship with respect to a service provider as regards the at least one private civil security resource.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the second reduced-consideration-based private civil security subscription comprises a discounted private civil security subscription.

19. A method comprising: accepting consideration-based private civil security subscriptions from subscribers with respect to providing civilly-catastrophic event-based access to at least one private civil security resource; maintaining the at least one private civil security resource pending a need to permit subscription-based access to the at least one private civil security resource in event of a catastrophic event; offering consideration-based private civil security subscriptions for authorized beneficiaries, the consideration-based private civil security subscriptions being offered in aggregate with unrelated products or services.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the offering consideration-based private civil security subscriptions being offered in aggregate comprises packaging the consideration- based private civil security subscriptions with unrelated products or services.

21. The method of claim 19 wherein the offering consideration-based private civil security subscriptions being offered in aggregate comprises providing to purchasers of unrelated products or services a discount on the purchase of consideration-based private civil security subscriptions.

22. The method of claim 19 wherein the offering consideration-based private civil security subscriptions being offered in aggregate comprises providing a purchaser of unrelated products or services with an option to buy the consideration-based private civil security subscriptions.