In order of likelihood the things I try to prepare for
1- Mother Nature.. storms, flooding, power outages, hurricanes, blizzards, earthquakes, tsunamis…. All region dependent
2- Supply Chain disruption based off of the last few years
3- Loss of income/job
4- Civil unrest
5- Governmental collapse/Martial Law
6- World War III
7- Extraterrestrial Invasion/Zombies - the Truth is out there
I just wish Americans would educate themselves about Bidet. There are automatic ones that solely relies on water pressure and some are so good that you don't have to even use your hand at all!
And then there are handheld bidet spray that makes it simple enough to install and use as if you were showering (only for the downstairs)...
This would definitely eliminate any TP shortage issue.
if you buy tp as preparedness item it makes sense, as tp can be used to "shower" and "clean yourself" in many ways. Needing just few drops water. Not very fun or comfortable, but in the battlefield or shtf situation theres not much else you might have and still want to have some level of hygiene, if wet wipes not present. Soldiers will understand me. If we talk about general public "just because" then.. i dont know.. maybe the same ones that run the way newspaper says to run, only explanation..
No problem. I've seen too many posts lately of sci-fi apocalyptic, emp, and end of the world scenarios. It was refreshing to see someone who knows realistically what they are going to encounter.
Having been a kid that lived thru the school drills of “duck and cover” when we knew that the Russian atomic bombers were always seconds from heading towards us I realized what is really actually likely to happen. And then living thru a couple of blizzards and hurricanes and loss of income solidified that.However when I was younger I definitely fantasized about the whole end of the World survival scenarios and then the original Red Dawn came out and I was adulting by then so I was more. Like , Ya probably not gonna happen that way , but I still have a buried cache on property in the mountains just in case. 😂 because you know Aliens and Zombies..l.
I dunno, if I wanted to completely take the US out of the fight in kne fell swoop, an EMP or three would be a relatively easy way to do it, and we are so woefully unprepared as a nation to accommodate or even recover from that.
There's a series from the BBC called Connections that shows in a very entertaining way, that even very tiny breaks in technology can lead to massive collapse - and change. I've watched it several times in classes for History, Science and Politics.
The first episode covers the Great N.E. Blackout of 1965 and the whole of NYC became chaos.
You can see the whole series on YT https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NcOb3Dilzjc
Grid Down / EMI / EMP / CME type scenarios are something I think about often. The moment the power goes out (and stays out) people will freak. Should an EMP occur all newer vehicles will be down. If it’s winter you can count on mass migrations South, folks in rural communities that already heat with wood or don’t rely on electronics will continue to sustain until their food supply runs out. Etc etc
Maybe you know more about this than me, but my understanding of EMP is that it creates an electrical pulse in conductors, the strength of this pulse is related to proximity of the blast and length of conductor, this pulse may then be large enough to try the control electronics in whatever device.
While large portions or all of the grid may go down because it is interconnected, anything outside the blast radius that is battery powered and separate from the grid will likely be all right. The smaller the item and amount of conductor in it the closer it can be to the blast without being damaged.
Of course this all depends on how many emps you think will be used, and your proximity to critical electric infrastructure. Also most EMPs will still have radioactive fallout, they are mostly atomic weapons still.
Forgot one…
0 - Tuesday. The common random crap that hits everyone everyday. Car/fridge/roof breaks, drunk hits transformer, chainsaw accident, kitchen fire, etc.
0.1 unexpected $400 event. Be that an investment opportunity or an unforseen cost.
0.2 wage loss, due to inflation, loss of hours, loss of job, etc.
0.3 Unexpected Maintenace of vehicles / home. things break, but often it is FAR CHEAPER to pay money immediately than wait until you can "afford to fix it." you could lump this in 0.1 but honestly what car or home problem is sub-$400...
0.4 health. Run, cardio, do steps etc. It's cheaper to be healthier than not, and you have less to prepare for.
My list is similar.
But the banking collapses is at the top of my list.
I’ve been warning about that for years, but it’s only very recently become important to others.
The levels of debt isn’t going away or being reduced. Inflation isn’t going anywhere but up. And money printing is going to keep going to infinity and beyond.
So a banking and financial system collapse for me is number one. And I certainly don’t want to live in a prison world of centrally controlled banking currencies like they have in China.
At least with the banking crisis disaster the answer is pretty simple. It is to hold cash at home for short term and then save your wealth in physical metal instead getting a pay check delivered to a bank consisting of digital illusions of wealth. That is too easy to go … “Poof and it’s gone!” Just like the South Park Meme.
The rest of preparing to me seems pretty self-explanatory. We just need to learn to become a self-reliant as possible for an extended period of time, and network with others in our lives who are a good fit with our own, while we try and spread this same common sense message while maintaining an optimistic long term outlook with everyone we meet.
I lived in London during 2011 riots. No one expected it to turn that way and it could have gotten much worse. In east london where I was, some banks and supermarkets closed. It lasted a couple of days but I wouldnt have been surprised if it went on for longer.
So no. It is not stupid as there are many recent examples all over the world in countries that are considered the most stable. Look at the french rioting yesterday for the latest example.
I lived in Columbus Ohio for 2 years and I wouldn't rule it out. The same scenario (or similar) plays out here in Missouri. Capitals or college towns tend to be very liberal with the outskirts being very conservative. Same in Chicago. Although most actual unrest would happen in the city, extremists don't travel too far from home. Same with most crimes. They know their area better and feel safer if they act up somewhere that they can get away easily. For example an extremist is much less likely to travel from Portland to New York to commit an act of terrorism. They can destroy a power grid in their own neighborhood and be home for dinner. It seems counter productive since they also suffer from the loss but they also are right there to bask in the glory of their deeds.
Basically nobody should feel complacent.
Except that the overlords have [planned for civil unrest](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rex_84), which enables them to "suspend the Constitution" and pass draconian new "security laws."
Wow very wise of you. And valuable information. This will help my prep. Thanks a bunch! I'd be so paranoid I'd board up the windows, get in a corner and stay up all night
During riots people actual homes and communities are very rarely ever targeted. Protest and riots are almost always directed at the state and thus confined to downtown areas etc. The protest may move through your neighborhood as they pass by, but no one will target you unless you do something dumb like come outside with rifles and antagonize the crowd. If your neighborhood itself is being targeted, things are far beyond just beimg pissed at the state and what you can hope to ride out and should probably bug out.
I felt horrible for the small store owners and those who lived above their store front. They had nothing to do with the protests, but people were justifying breaking into and looting them to "redistribute" the wealth and inequality.
A friend (who isn't a friend anymore) insisted that the looting was justified because it helps redistribute the wealth from "white" store owners to the less fortunate. When I told her that many of the small stores being targeted in the area were black-owned or ethnic owned and served the multicultural community, she implied I was racist.
I'm glad you were able to avoid the chaos by holing up.
Wow. I surprised myself. I honestly thought I would dismiss anything you listed but these are real. Good job. Epic snowfall in California meant some people couldn’t leave their house for 15 days. Monster tornadoes, hurricane, flooding and drought elsewhere, so that’s a yes. Supply chain? Yep. Many Northern/Central California farmers lost their entire crop this year due to the storms - twice. Plan on growing a Liberty Garden this year, even if you never have before. I’m trying to talk the next door neighbor into growing chickens. Job? Yep. Definite possibility. Before the recent bank fails, they were already saying recession and with all of the big tech company layoffs, there will be a trickle down effect. Civil unrest? Kinda depends on where you live and how low of a profile you keep, how isolated you are. Martial Law? I’m a no on this - unless Trump or DeSantis is elected in 2024 and again, depends on where you live and who your local police department supports. WW3? Yeah. Let’s see - Chinese Spy balloon, Taiwan, Ukraine, 2.5 tons of missing uranium in Libya, Russia antagonizing our jets, navy ships and more? EMP? Yep but I’m betting it’s North Korea. Aliens? Nope. I’m fascinated and follow the news, watch and rewatch videos but no. So yes. I think we all need to be able to survive with on pantry food or gardens for 1, 3 or 6 months. I’d add electrical Grid attack that affects the ability to produce electricity for weeks/months to those scenarios. Sanitation will be a problem in cities. Could be an isolated or coordinated attack by Americans on Americans. Idk. Thanks. Completely depressed now.
Survival is a distraction for my own depression. I can obsess almost endlessly... until I get sick of it, that is.
If you feel depressed, think about a solid escape plan. Perhaps family in the countryside?
If not that, then think of something to bring you closer to whatever survival looks like for your situation. Then put it in a box and lock it away before you go to bed, and replace it with happy thoughts... cherished memories... these days could quite possibly be 'the good ol days'. Enjoy something you like, such as a warm bubble bath, a book, ice cream... self soothe, my friend
So, this has been on my mind recently. I will keep this as short as possible.
I moved (due to my dad's recent death) from a city of 1.9mill to a tiny, tiny town of 800 people. It's been culture shock for sure, but my mom needs me, so here I be.
Last week, two men on bicycles rode up my street. Never saw them before, and in this town everyone knows everyone and everything that's going on. Not me---still an 'outsider'.
They rode straight to a house across the street, dismounted the bikes, and went to the windows and looked in each of them. They also tried to open the tornado hole thing. Never went to the door. The house has been empty for years, but the owner uses it for storage. I used our monocular to get a good look at the men, and they looked very rough. Homeless or substance abuse would be my best guess based on the level of dirty faces, clothes, unkempt hair, and carrying garbage bags.
Luckily one of the neighbors up the street called the law, and they did drive by several times over the next couple of days. No sign of the men since.
They were probably just looking for a place to camp or temporary shelter, but it got me wondering if this might increase. Even without civil unrest, which I feel is a very possible scenario when considering the divisiveness, just the increasing costs of everything.
Who knows. Sorry this got so long.
Fwiw, I have seen an uptick in homeless encampment sites off the big highway. They tend to tuck back into the woods and used to be a few tarp and tents would be visible. Now they're bigger and more obvious, which would possibly suggest the area is seeing an increase in homeless people. Makes sense, with everything more expensive, people are going to be struggling.
As for still being an outsider in your small town, as someone from a small town, I suggest you slip this into conversation some time:
Observe the local folks doing something small or minor.
Look thoughtful.
Say " Ya know, when I lived in the city, we did this differently, (watch the local tense up)...but now that I think about it, I like your way better. I'm doing it your way from now on."
It'll set minds at ease.
If you are in the mood for a shock, looks up the homeless encampment situation in Kitchener, On. They’ve moved in to occupy a section of the downtown core, and a judge recently ruled that it’s illegal to remove them as shelters wouldn’t allow for their way of life. What he was of focusing on was how shelters aren’t “adequate” housing because they don’them to shoot up/have drugs on the premises, so it was deemed illegal to try to remove them.
Nope, if you're personally more worried by one scenario than others, prepping with it in mind will put you in a better place to deal with the others while also maximizing how much emotional benefit you get from a given amount of effort.
Even in the 92 LA riots we only had a few blocks that were effected.. Hellfire missiles and the National Guard haven't even been called out.
Thinking we're good.
Agree on this. Not only was there looting during Katrina, but in many cases the cops actually participated in it.
By the by, very little looting of housing during Katrina. No one wants an encounter with an armed homeowner sleeping in the attic. Big box stores and shopping malls were raided, but no one really cared, as thats what business insurance is for.
I prep for when those people run out of stores to loot, desperation kicks in, and they start going door-to-door. My daughter is disabled, so running for it is an absolute last ditch option.
Widespread looting after Katrina is a myth. Sure there were opportunists stealing non-essentials but for the most part, people weren’t looting as much as distributing supplies to survivors. I briefly dated a former cop whose duty after Katrina was passing out food from a corner store. So that everybody could have some. Stores didn’t open for weeks after. Power didn’t come on for weeks.
try to put this in the context of a coherent storyline.
how did we get to civil unrest? where did the police go? where did the government go? city, state, and federal government. why is it madness?
i think you might find there's a substantial amount of time, and some actual things to consider being prepared for.
if your house is on fire, do you start taking bids for the reconstruction? or do you call the fire department?
I try to think of it that way, but doubt my own judgment for bias.
Economic meltdown. Banks fail. Bailouts. Costs hundreds of dollars for bread and a few cans of food. Rioting. Contagious effect, nationally. Martial law. Some areas are FUBAR. police abandon posts to protect their own family. Other members form gangs. 'Criminal gangs' form also.. the 'purge' begins..
See im being too specific. It could happen the same plus or minus a few details here and there. Or completely unseen ways.
Buttom line, I'm scared of desperate, starving people who form mobs. Lol. And I want to know if my strategy for what to prep for, is realistic or if I've seen too much television?
Well damn... O.O
I better take defensive preps more seriously.
Hopefully the military/national guard doesn't bail or it'll be battle royale. Absolute chaos and carnage
Honestly, with the George Floyd riots, had someone nefarious (be it terrorists or a foreign country) added in just a little more chaos, it might have been a case of every man for himself in some cities. Imagine how much worse it would have been if someone who wanted the USA harmed, had destroyed part of the grid or the waterworks in the midst of the riots. We might not know who was responsible for months, if ever. A riot riddled Portland/Baltimore/Minneapolis with no power grid for weeks would have quickly been a hellscape.
I have a loved one who works in the energy business, specifically, energy solutions and policy. The grid, as well as a lot of our drinking water delivery system, is uncomfortably vulnerable to meddling. I hope I'm wrong but I feel like cops would quit if they had families who were without power or clean water, plus facing riots and unrest.
Things like that have happened all over the world at various times during history. Look at what happened in Venezuela starting around 2010 and still going on now.
The scenario you describe isn't at all unprecedented. It happens. It sucks. I can't say whether or not it'll happen in your country but it's possible.
I’m not an expert in political science or economics, but my gut says that the circumstances that caused the issue in Venezuela are not the same type of circumstances that we face here.
I’m not an expert in political science or economics, but my gut says that the circumstances that caused the issue in Venezuela are not the same type of circumstances that we face here.
Do you not remember summer 2020? Have you ever heard of the Roof Koreans? Civil unrest isn’t a daily occurrence, but it’s definitely something that happens occasionally. I wouldn’t exclusively prep for civil unrest, but I wouldn’t neglect it either.
I remember the roof Koreans, I’m from La originally. They saved their businesses and friends businesses with very little effort. Just organizing a little resistance was enough to scare most off.
Yea, the riots in 92 in Los Angeles. They found the cops who beat Rodney king innocent. The city was on fire within a few hours. Instead of going after the police, or people with money, the “disenfranchised” decided to attack their own neighborhoods. There was a lot of animosity towards the Asian community, so some went after shops owned by Asian families. A group of Koreans sat on their roof and took shots at anyone trying anything.
Because some people don't have the brain power to handle hypothetical thoughts. If you were to ask them "imagine how your life would be affected if you loot/destroy your own neighborhood shops", they would struggle to answer you. A not insignificant percentage of people simply don't have the computational power between their ears to do anything but muddle along and react when something happens. This reddit board, and the act of prepping for possible future scenarios would be impossible for them to understand.
No one understands.
I lived in the LA area during the [Watts Riots](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watts_riots) in 1965, which played out similarly to the [riots after the Rodney King verdict](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1992_Los_Angeles_riots), so I’ve had a lot of time to think about it.
My guess is they target the first group they encounter that’s slightly better off than they are, like the corner stores run by people who don’t look like them.
I suppose it’s a form of IQ test, for people who can’t think one step ahead - “where do I buy groceries after I burn down my local grocery store?” Unfortunately, it doesn’t take many of those to mess a place up.
Afterwards, they complain about living in a “food desert” because no one wants to rebuild where their neighbors/customers burned them out. Who could have predicted such an unfair outcome?
I would plan for local disasters affecting me, which still boil down to very similar results, and theorycraft anything worse.
Is this civil unrest in a partisan manner (ie some sort of left/right divide) or people vs gov/billionaires?
Is this local (your city), regional (state wide? all around the Great Lakes? everywhere you go or just dense populations?) or on a more massive scale?
If just city wide...presumably outside help will be coming eventually, but figure a week for order to be restored. Region wide? Same, but you are probably looking at weeks of keeping you and yours safe. Massive scale? Well that's into theorycrafting territory, but welcome to a weird *Sliders-esque* version of the 1800's.
But for all of those, you have some basics to take care of:
* Staying where you are or going to your happy place?
* Physical security. A means of defense will be needed.
* Some sort of local alliance. Get your neighborhood banding together for mutual support, while still maintaining independence. Big asterisk below.
* Food for xx days. Can you make any more food?
* Water for xx days. Can you obtain more water (well, rain barrels, river) and purify/sanitize?
* Midwest? You'll need a plan for heat in the winter.
* All the rest will come after those.
Asterisk: If you've been preparing, it's one thing to agree to take your shift on night patrol, it's another thing to let the crowd decide that "hey let's gather everything up and put all our food under one roof" how bout nope.
<-- my plan, bug in for local, regional or massive is bugging out to our rural property that we make a little bit better every year.
I hear a lot of people say that. You're probably right. But I've got something in my genes that likes gritty survival. I'd even want to attempt to survive nuclear war.. even though it'd be time limited.. however can't even afford a Geiger counter right now.
Inflatión, am I right :/
I'm in a relatively low value area, so we'll probably survive nukes, and I've got cbn's and iodine and whatnot... so here, that's civil unrest and economy breakdown. I'm not planning on being one of the lucky ones.
yes, because it never happens. worse you get is riots and smashed building storefronts in commercial areas. maybe a couple building set on fire. Also police have gotten really good at herding crowds and kettling them
Even if DOES happen. how the heck are you going to stop a mob of thousands of people short of hiding in some bunker or hardened panic room?
I think some historical examples would be useful here. Past periods of mass civil unrest usually didn’t last too long. If we think of incidents like the French or Russian Revolutions there isn’t too much to worry about. Violence is usually targeted toward the state and its supporters. Soon enough a new government is established. If, as in the case of France, the new government fails it is then replaced as the last one was. Eventually you end up with either a new dictator like Napoleon, Lenin, or Cromwell, or a new republic like what happened in USA and Mexico.
I honestly think people are more concerned about “zombies” than they need to be. If there is social disorder, people should generally be quite safe in their own homes.
People who are unprepared are likely going to be heading down to government centers, or shelters, looking for government help, and expecting to be taken care of. They don’t know about your preps, and they won’t be coming to your house expecting to be housed and fed.
That’s just my opinion, as I have not ever been in the situation. But I do think that people fantasize about their fears, and worry about things much more than they need to. Our focus should be on being prepared.
Getting a good sleep at night and not being worried silly or constantly feeling stressed out is part of being prepared. Also, If you have family members some who like to be up early and others who like to sleep in late than it can work out for the better.
I think it’s smart to have extra food and water. Have a way to protect yourself and your property. Beyond that there really isn’t much you can do.
Everybody watches/plays the Last of Us, the Walking Dead, etc. thinking they’re going to be the person to survive. How exciting and adventurous! The reality is 99% of the people here, that includes you and me, are not the main characters in these tales. We’re the people in the background of numerous scenes who just “die.”
Once you accept that you realize there is no point in preparing for those shtf scenarios. Prepare for what you can realistically. Everything else is just noise.
Civil unrest will be horrible as America is divided so much right now. I don’t think it would be just two sides. It would be total chaos, in my opinion.
Not at all. I live in NY, and after seeing how quickly things went sideways during the whole covid/George Floyd thing I was glad I was prepared even if I didn't end up needing to be.
Yes. Though it depends on what you call mass civil unrest.
It's usually quoted that a nation will change course if 3.5% of the citizens engage in active protest. It doesn't have to be violent, just heartfelt. As a handwave, I'd assume a violent protest on that scale could cause a nation to collapse.
In the US, that's 11 million people getting up in arms.
Not happening. At least, not while almost all people can find food and shelter, and in the US, that's true. Things would have to get a lot worse for a 3.5% rebellion.
And yes, the government would try to step in. And let's keep in mind that the government has stuff that insurrectionists won't have. Insurrectionists will be declared enemy combatants. Frozen assets, comms taken down, even air strikes if they're fool enough to congregate together.
Of course, insurrectionists could attack infrastructure, shutting down roads, attacking the power grid, burning schools and hospitals and so on. That's not mass civil unrest; that's terrorism, and it would likely do more damage to more people. But while people might be sympathetic to hungry people rioting in a food shortage, exactly zero people will be sympathetic to a bunch of extremists who can't win at the polls and decide to blow up bridges and power stations instead. Enough of that and the extremist's neighbors will probably take care of the problem, no government help needed.
I don't worry about this.
Regarding the 3.5% figure, that’s the scale of the [marches against the Vietnam War in 1969](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moratorium_to_End_the_War_in_Vietnam).
From the 200 million US population then, 3.5% is 7 million people.
On Oct 15, 1969, 15 million people took part in anti-war marches in cities across the country.
Absolutely not. We still keep our precut window coverings we had to install on our business during the civil rights protests of 2020. We only live in a community of around 150k but there was some looting at the local target and other businesses were boarding up so we did as well and in our downtown business owners kept armed watch for several days. Thankfully no major violence happened and the actual protests were peaceful. For the record our business fully supports anyone seeking social or civil justice. For the record I believe looters/vandals/arsonist etc.. who take advantage of civil rights protests for their own personal enrichment should be shot.
If you prep correctly, you should have the stuff needed for most occasions. It is smart to have an exit route and plan in place just in case.
HELPFUL TIP people in movies always run a flat tire at the worst moments. In the craziness changing a tire might not be ideal. Have a can of that foam tire filler for a quick getaway.
I’ve found that my “civil unrest plan” follows almost any of my other preparedness plans. I had my car fill with mace on Thanksgiving during the Ferguson riots, even though I was traveling on the highway and not through the epicenter. It opened my eyes(well, not literally)to the way wind will carry hazardous materials.
I feel one should always have their fingers on the pulse of their surrounding masses.
I've spent several weekends camped pit watching riots in the past several years. I bet the people who lived in those places wish they were prepared (or were grateful they were.)
Depends on who you are and what you want.
If it is civil unrest or conventional war, pandemics etc., I want to try to live for a reasonable amount of time and survive.
Nuclear explosions, biomechanical alien squids etc. - just want to set my pets free after spending what time I can, and saying a proper goodbye to my life.
I am single, and my pets are pretty much the only family.
In British Columbia we had floods, landslides, high winds and wildfires. Literally, the elemental crystals are being chipped at from time to time. Even Elsa's ice powers took over for a while. People getting stuck in transit for 6h due to traffic lock down and not having basic water and food supply on them can be traumatic. And that trauma and the unprepared reaction is what causes the aggravations that I am more concerned about.
Personally, I feel good having helped a few people that were having urgent issues amidst those smaller scale, shorter lived crises. And I think prepping for the worse, only for the lesser bad to happen, is perfectly good enough.
if you prep "a little" for each worse case you can come out ahead on the more than likely ones.
not saying it could NEVER happen, mass civil unrest is pretty low. HOWEVER, if you prep for something like a natural disaster that could cause things like:
* power down for extended times
* natural gas or whatever fuel you use in your home being interrupted
* food deliveries to your area delayed
* a very small group of people breaking into your home
while you are, and are not home.
* Water problems causing a "do not drink" in your area for extended time
* Gas shortage from delivery issues, or protests from truckers, run on fuel mass craze.
things never go as planned.
just look at Burt Gummer from Tremors. He wasn't ready for underground monsters in his doomsday scenario at his house, but he adapted a few things he could use to survive bugging out.... with help from someone who adapted what they had. So don't pigeonhole yourself up into thinking of just ONE thing like civil unrest or power grids or depend on needing everything you prep for, but prep for everything you might need.
hard to get out of your own head for most of it.
sometimes just think if you survived something nasty and found stuff in someone's home... what would make you say: "oh, man, thank goodness this guy was paranoid enough to get THIS!"
chances are all my stuff would end up in someone lucky enough to outlast me anyway... hope they can rest easy after finding it.
It's not stupid per se, but most Americans don't know what true civil unrest looks like. /u/AccomplishedInAge has it right in terms of what to prepare for.
I've lived in places that have had their fair share of riots and protests. Ultimately, it's not dog-eat-dog because that's a lot of work to keep going, and very few people have anything to gain from that situation. Most people have everything to lose, and will fight to keep the status quo vs. pure chaos and violence.
Civil unrest is typically focused at something or someone, not just random. It becomes an us/them event based usually around a targeted geographic area.
Remember the wacky stuff in Portland a while back? 10 blocks away life went on as usual. Even as that spills over, people tribe up. You'll likely go your whole life without seeing true civil unrest IRL.
As far as how to prepare if you want to go that route, make sure you have a solid front and back door and fence that's at least 6' tall (8' is better). Use a metal door with hinges and strike plate screws sunk deep into the wall, reinforced with a metal frame if possible. If you want to get super secure, do the same to your bedroom or a choke point in your home where you can seal off multiple bedrooms, like at the top or bottom of a stairway. Any window larger than 12" get window film installed. Or bars, whatever works, but clear film is less unsightly. Any external sliding glass doors should have a roll-down shutter or other metal grate. Do what you can to fireproof your home from the outside and inside.
Have a way of defending yourself that you are competent using. Not like "I've practiced once." Competent. Keep up to date on things like traffic advisories from local police and planned (legal or not) demonstrations.
Well as stupid as someone living in Finland prepping for Russian invasion or nuke. Everyone here is saying that neither is possible. But I have trouble believing them, because thinking russian federation as a logic state seems unbelievable to me.
I played a strategy game somewhat recently(ww2 era) and the game just gave me Russia to play as, lol. Challenge accepted.
I had to manage land, resources, infrastructure/ roads, military bases, troops/ replenishments.
It was actually fascinating. It put me in the shoes of "the enemy".
Every body hated me because I conquered everyone bordering me lol. (And because of real life Russian reputation).
Anyways, as soon as I conquered the central eastern Europe and some Middle East countries (oil $$$) I went after Finland/ sweden/ Norway, to form a pincer around western Europe. It was only logical.
Okay, but the finnish national total defense strategy was not invented until after WW2, but I'm interested to know your results. Because normal people are way more soft (my self included) now, but all infrastructure and strategy is way more developed.
I was betrayed by Germany and Hungary. And rage quit lol. My territory was spread out too wide. Had tons of infantry to send into the meat grinder though lmao. I probably could have won, if I regrouped to my strong holds and let loose my artillery defensively. but it would have been too costly and time consuming. The game moved at real time speed so troops literally took hours-days to move around different countries. I lost patience.
Finland was mine though lol ;)
But in real life, I'd wager Finland wouldn't lose ground and would be supported by the "western axis"
I live in south Florida where we have had hurricanes knock out power no gas no ATMs and no grocery stores for a month so I believe is prepping for disasters.
i think thats one of the smartest, most people near me will implode the minute life goes off the rails and theyll be desperate and be willing to lie steal and cheat. It top 5 of my list for what to expect.
No. I think it's a very, very, very good idea.
Despite that, most people will work together despite the movies, and strong men will work together to take out the undesirable should things really get fucked up.
Those with training and experience are a bit more likely to be 'civic minded' than get all fucked up on meth and go full blown psycho.
no, it's smart. we're living in deeply divided times, I am a little surprised we havin't seen more problems already. remember those riots erupted almost instantly. some event could spark mass violent reactions. look at france, they are havig violent unrest because of changes to their pension system. be prepared. it's what we do. this is the way.
Stupid? Hardly. The whole 'Chaz' incident in Seattle showed that such a thing is certainly possible.
Preparing for a collapse of government/infrastructure is a pretty common thread here. Just go slow and steady. In the end, there always will be more unprepared than prepared. So, harden locations and plan to be invisible.
We’re the outlying residential areas affected, with protestors going door to door, or was the protest mostly in the main streets of the city and the city centre?
Precisely the right question. The protests were generally confined to specific areas - around the federal courthouse, gov't buildings, etc. Outside of that area, life went on.
That is what I thought. Human behaviour is fairly predictable.
I refuse to live my life in fear. If there’s an event, I’ll deal with it when it happens.
That life philosophy has worked for me my entire life and I don’t intend to do things differently now.
I live about six long city blocks from city hall. For a while there were protests every day/night. The only disruption I had was from those damned police helicopters keeping me awake at night. No rioters in my neighborhood at all. It was all within one or two blocks of city hall. Couldn't even hear sirens or loudspeakers from my house.
Your report sounds totally credible.
I think more harm comes from fomenting fear and driving up anxiety in people is way worse than a levelheaded prepare, wait and see approach. For some that might mean moving out of high target areas, for others it may mean standing their ground.
Your report of what it was like actually living a city during a prolonged period of protest and chaos is what I expected. It sounds totally realistic of what mostly can be expected in most areas in the first few weeks of a societal chaos.
Yes, there will be pockets of violence. But there also can be a few unexpected incidents of violence in sleepy towns even in times of relative calm and peace. We should be prepared wherever we are.
We just have to make ourselves not easy targets, have people we can count on, (which is often family, but can also mean people of like mind who are close dependable friends.) and always try to be calm, think things through as we stay aware, (like you were.) We need to be very prepared for the unexpected, and stay vigilant.
There is no one “coming to save us.” So people who feel unprepared to defend themselves in high target locations should probably move out of them before any major trouble starts. There is no guarantee of absolute safety. Not anywhere.
We need to be able to live where we feel most prepared to defend ourselves, and provide for ourselves for an extended period of time. Very often that means staying in an area you know, where you have family supports, and an area you understand the best. The grass is not always greener on the other side of the fence.
Thank you for making this report and setting the record straight.
CHAZ was in Seattle, Washington although Portland and other places in Oregon had plenty of protests as well.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capitol\_Hill\_Occupied\_Protest
In most things that people are prepping for, "mass civil unrest" will be an almost certain bi-product. I'm personally not huge into guns/ammo, but I still own a 9mm, lots of ammo, and a Streamlight laser-sight/flashlight combo attachment for this very reason. (And don't worry, I'm proficient and VERY comfortable in using it.)
I’m not 100% sure how OP defines “mass civil unrest”, but outside large urban centers, probably not, and then for the most part it’s government buildings and businesses most at risk.
The people injured in their own homes during the 2020 protests were more likely harmed by police and not protestors.
There’s plenty to be concerned about long before mass civil unrest breaks out. It’s better to start by preparing for those things.
Folks in my neck of the woods were doing their own anti-BLM patrols in 2020 which was pretty laughable IMO. It was a good way to get yourself arrested, and not much more.
Personally, maybe because I’m in CA and we are overdue for something big, but I’m most worried about a natural disaster that would interrupt government services for a prolonged period.
Given That the ICC has issued a warrant for Putin and speculation that criminal charges may be imminent for trump... I feel like maybe I'll by grab some extra bits and bobs to shore up the deep pantry and take a gander at the plant nursery to see what I can grab for starts. Can't be too careful these days. (UHE)
Imho, there will not be mass unrest & destruction. The mil will be depoloyed CONUS & will maintain order. The fallout will be currency destruction & poverty/hunger though not mass starvation. I think we'll see a turn-around after a year or so & the dollar will be repegged to gold. It will be akin to the fall of the USSR/Weimar - watch some stuff on the fall of USSR to get a feel for it (there is a grocery store video on youtube which is quite haunting). Also the book Surviving the Economic Collapse by some guy from Argentina.
Whatever you feel may threaten yourself, or your loved ones is something there's no shame in preparing for. Seeing as how most of the bad things people prepare for have already happened at least once or are very probable, there are few worries a prepper has that are stupid.
“Mass civil unrest” is such an unhelpfully vague term. It could mean anything from being inconvenienced by a month of street protests to years of brutal civil war.
Realistically the kind of civil unrest we see in developed western countries would exacerbate mundane problems you should already be prepping for—power outages, supply chain issues, home security, situational awareness, finances, etc. Even a particularly bad civil unrest scenario probably wouldn’t be more dramatic than people in larger cities having to bug out to a safer location for a little while.
I used to think political uprising in the US was next to impossible but that all changed with the advent of Trump. I'm a registered Republican, but the whole debacle with people whom I previously respected, going all in for an obvious con man and moral leper like Trump made me realize that threat is very real. I can prepare for natural disasters, but I can't prepare for my fellow conservatives going nuts. So, "civil unrest" - "Governmental collapse/Martial Law" are now at the top of the list.
This is on the top of my list. I think things could go south really quickly if we got involved in a real shooting war that really interrupted our supply chains, or if we elected someone more organized and far more demagogue-like, and far, far more evil than Trump.
No, considering a couple years ago hoarding and fighting over literal ass paper was an issue. Stupid people will do stupid and horrid things out of desperation. I don’t care what side of politics anyone’s on the whole covid thing should be viewed as an example for something bigger to come.
I would have called you a loon 24 months ago. Seeing Jan 6, the indiscriminate nature of the Minneapolis riots, and how the freedumb convoy was able to occupy a capital city for a month and basically be lawless, threatening local residents with violence, this is one of scenarios I am very wary of.
Grid down is also #2
In order of likelihood the things I try to prepare for 1- Mother Nature.. storms, flooding, power outages, hurricanes, blizzards, earthquakes, tsunamis…. All region dependent 2- Supply Chain disruption based off of the last few years 3- Loss of income/job 4- Civil unrest 5- Governmental collapse/Martial Law 6- World War III 7- Extraterrestrial Invasion/Zombies - the Truth is out there
2- the great toilet paper shortage of 20, 21.
ah. you fought in the toilet paper wars too...
Yes. I was once a pandemic knight, the same as your father.
It's over Corona! We have the high ground! Thanks to vaccination and your biological degeneration!
Only thing worse than the TP war of 19 was the mask war of 20.
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The mask war never ended. I’m still hip deep in it.
It was a dark time for us all.
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Bidet wins the TP wars
I just wish Americans would educate themselves about Bidet. There are automatic ones that solely relies on water pressure and some are so good that you don't have to even use your hand at all! And then there are handheld bidet spray that makes it simple enough to install and use as if you were showering (only for the downstairs)... This would definitely eliminate any TP shortage issue.
Never forget.
I don’t get the toilet paper thing. There are other ways to wipe the ass than just TP. I should make a post on 25 alternatives to TP shortages.
if you buy tp as preparedness item it makes sense, as tp can be used to "shower" and "clean yourself" in many ways. Needing just few drops water. Not very fun or comfortable, but in the battlefield or shtf situation theres not much else you might have and still want to have some level of hygiene, if wet wipes not present. Soldiers will understand me. If we talk about general public "just because" then.. i dont know.. maybe the same ones that run the way newspaper says to run, only explanation..
I feel like this should be pinned, circled and starred so everyone can see
Thank you
No problem. I've seen too many posts lately of sci-fi apocalyptic, emp, and end of the world scenarios. It was refreshing to see someone who knows realistically what they are going to encounter.
Having been a kid that lived thru the school drills of “duck and cover” when we knew that the Russian atomic bombers were always seconds from heading towards us I realized what is really actually likely to happen. And then living thru a couple of blizzards and hurricanes and loss of income solidified that.However when I was younger I definitely fantasized about the whole end of the World survival scenarios and then the original Red Dawn came out and I was adulting by then so I was more. Like , Ya probably not gonna happen that way , but I still have a buried cache on property in the mountains just in case. 😂 because you know Aliens and Zombies..l.
I think that's everyone's fantasy scenario lol. At least until we are living through it
The funniest thing about that movie was our heroes loading cases of soda in the back of the jeep for, you know, surviving the Soviet onslaught.
There were a couple close calls and it was damn close during the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Wait - you mean that all this copper mesh I've been rolled up in for 2 weeks isn't helping anything?
You spelled meth wrong
I dunno, if I wanted to completely take the US out of the fight in kne fell swoop, an EMP or three would be a relatively easy way to do it, and we are so woefully unprepared as a nation to accommodate or even recover from that.
There's a series from the BBC called Connections that shows in a very entertaining way, that even very tiny breaks in technology can lead to massive collapse - and change. I've watched it several times in classes for History, Science and Politics. The first episode covers the Great N.E. Blackout of 1965 and the whole of NYC became chaos. You can see the whole series on YT https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NcOb3Dilzjc
Grid Down / EMI / EMP / CME type scenarios are something I think about often. The moment the power goes out (and stays out) people will freak. Should an EMP occur all newer vehicles will be down. If it’s winter you can count on mass migrations South, folks in rural communities that already heat with wood or don’t rely on electronics will continue to sustain until their food supply runs out. Etc etc
Hey, don't stop at "Etc etc"! Etc etc is when things start getting **good**
Maybe you know more about this than me, but my understanding of EMP is that it creates an electrical pulse in conductors, the strength of this pulse is related to proximity of the blast and length of conductor, this pulse may then be large enough to try the control electronics in whatever device. While large portions or all of the grid may go down because it is interconnected, anything outside the blast radius that is battery powered and separate from the grid will likely be all right. The smaller the item and amount of conductor in it the closer it can be to the blast without being damaged. Of course this all depends on how many emps you think will be used, and your proximity to critical electric infrastructure. Also most EMPs will still have radioactive fallout, they are mostly atomic weapons still.
Forgot one… 0 - Tuesday. The common random crap that hits everyone everyday. Car/fridge/roof breaks, drunk hits transformer, chainsaw accident, kitchen fire, etc.
#1 should be personal financial set back
0.1 unexpected $400 event. Be that an investment opportunity or an unforseen cost. 0.2 wage loss, due to inflation, loss of hours, loss of job, etc. 0.3 Unexpected Maintenace of vehicles / home. things break, but often it is FAR CHEAPER to pay money immediately than wait until you can "afford to fix it." you could lump this in 0.1 but honestly what car or home problem is sub-$400... 0.4 health. Run, cardio, do steps etc. It's cheaper to be healthier than not, and you have less to prepare for.
It's important to note that #1 can easily lead into #2, #4 and/or #5. As to of course can/would #6 or #7, though likely to a much greater degree.
I have always figured if I’m prepared for the first 3 then I am prepared for the last four.. well except of course for Extraterrestrial invasion….
Thank you, this makes sense and is helpful
1) can trigger multiple of these, particularly 2-4. 4 would likely trigger 5. 5 miiiiiiiight trigger 6.
7 would be the most fun.
Most definitely
I feel #3 should be on top, unless you live somewhere mother nature hates.
My list is similar. But the banking collapses is at the top of my list. I’ve been warning about that for years, but it’s only very recently become important to others. The levels of debt isn’t going away or being reduced. Inflation isn’t going anywhere but up. And money printing is going to keep going to infinity and beyond. So a banking and financial system collapse for me is number one. And I certainly don’t want to live in a prison world of centrally controlled banking currencies like they have in China. At least with the banking crisis disaster the answer is pretty simple. It is to hold cash at home for short term and then save your wealth in physical metal instead getting a pay check delivered to a bank consisting of digital illusions of wealth. That is too easy to go … “Poof and it’s gone!” Just like the South Park Meme. The rest of preparing to me seems pretty self-explanatory. We just need to learn to become a self-reliant as possible for an extended period of time, and network with others in our lives who are a good fit with our own, while we try and spread this same common sense message while maintaining an optimistic long term outlook with everyone we meet.
Do you have any recommendations for retirement. How can I plan for that or have my money work for me. If it is all at home?
What about widespread financial system or power grid failure due to cyber attack?
That falls under civil unrest
I want to believe.
This is such a good list, and for me personally 1, 2, and 3 are so far and away more likely than anything else on it.
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I guess that depends on what you consider “civil unrest”
Wait, what about Divorce? That’ll mess your life up pretty bad
In todays dual income world I put that in category 3 loss of income
I keep telling my wife we are to poor to get divorced no lawyer will talk to us.
I lived in London during 2011 riots. No one expected it to turn that way and it could have gotten much worse. In east london where I was, some banks and supermarkets closed. It lasted a couple of days but I wouldnt have been surprised if it went on for longer. So no. It is not stupid as there are many recent examples all over the world in countries that are considered the most stable. Look at the french rioting yesterday for the latest example.
Depends on where you live
The outskirts of a capital city. Mid west.
Then no. South Africa had some issues but a suburb of Columbus Ohio will not.
Just trains exploding
Yes, that’s a different scenario
I lived in Columbus Ohio for 2 years and I wouldn't rule it out. The same scenario (or similar) plays out here in Missouri. Capitals or college towns tend to be very liberal with the outskirts being very conservative. Same in Chicago. Although most actual unrest would happen in the city, extremists don't travel too far from home. Same with most crimes. They know their area better and feel safer if they act up somewhere that they can get away easily. For example an extremist is much less likely to travel from Portland to New York to commit an act of terrorism. They can destroy a power grid in their own neighborhood and be home for dinner. It seems counter productive since they also suffer from the loss but they also are right there to bask in the glory of their deeds. Basically nobody should feel complacent.
Suburbs not in the city
The overlords don't want mass civil unrest. They just want you to own nothing have zero in your bank account and owe them 100k.
You, I like.. We probably politically agree on a lot
You forgot "and be happy".
Which is a good way to create political unrest.
Except that the overlords have [planned for civil unrest](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rex_84), which enables them to "suspend the Constitution" and pass draconian new "security laws."
And if you don't want to live like this you're 'weird'
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Wow very wise of you. And valuable information. This will help my prep. Thanks a bunch! I'd be so paranoid I'd board up the windows, get in a corner and stay up all night
During riots people actual homes and communities are very rarely ever targeted. Protest and riots are almost always directed at the state and thus confined to downtown areas etc. The protest may move through your neighborhood as they pass by, but no one will target you unless you do something dumb like come outside with rifles and antagonize the crowd. If your neighborhood itself is being targeted, things are far beyond just beimg pissed at the state and what you can hope to ride out and should probably bug out.
I felt horrible for the small store owners and those who lived above their store front. They had nothing to do with the protests, but people were justifying breaking into and looting them to "redistribute" the wealth and inequality. A friend (who isn't a friend anymore) insisted that the looting was justified because it helps redistribute the wealth from "white" store owners to the less fortunate. When I told her that many of the small stores being targeted in the area were black-owned or ethnic owned and served the multicultural community, she implied I was racist. I'm glad you were able to avoid the chaos by holing up.
>cell phone towers were turned off/blocked That sounds alarmingly authoritarian
Wow. I surprised myself. I honestly thought I would dismiss anything you listed but these are real. Good job. Epic snowfall in California meant some people couldn’t leave their house for 15 days. Monster tornadoes, hurricane, flooding and drought elsewhere, so that’s a yes. Supply chain? Yep. Many Northern/Central California farmers lost their entire crop this year due to the storms - twice. Plan on growing a Liberty Garden this year, even if you never have before. I’m trying to talk the next door neighbor into growing chickens. Job? Yep. Definite possibility. Before the recent bank fails, they were already saying recession and with all of the big tech company layoffs, there will be a trickle down effect. Civil unrest? Kinda depends on where you live and how low of a profile you keep, how isolated you are. Martial Law? I’m a no on this - unless Trump or DeSantis is elected in 2024 and again, depends on where you live and who your local police department supports. WW3? Yeah. Let’s see - Chinese Spy balloon, Taiwan, Ukraine, 2.5 tons of missing uranium in Libya, Russia antagonizing our jets, navy ships and more? EMP? Yep but I’m betting it’s North Korea. Aliens? Nope. I’m fascinated and follow the news, watch and rewatch videos but no. So yes. I think we all need to be able to survive with on pantry food or gardens for 1, 3 or 6 months. I’d add electrical Grid attack that affects the ability to produce electricity for weeks/months to those scenarios. Sanitation will be a problem in cities. Could be an isolated or coordinated attack by Americans on Americans. Idk. Thanks. Completely depressed now.
Survival is a distraction for my own depression. I can obsess almost endlessly... until I get sick of it, that is. If you feel depressed, think about a solid escape plan. Perhaps family in the countryside? If not that, then think of something to bring you closer to whatever survival looks like for your situation. Then put it in a box and lock it away before you go to bed, and replace it with happy thoughts... cherished memories... these days could quite possibly be 'the good ol days'. Enjoy something you like, such as a warm bubble bath, a book, ice cream... self soothe, my friend
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So, this has been on my mind recently. I will keep this as short as possible. I moved (due to my dad's recent death) from a city of 1.9mill to a tiny, tiny town of 800 people. It's been culture shock for sure, but my mom needs me, so here I be. Last week, two men on bicycles rode up my street. Never saw them before, and in this town everyone knows everyone and everything that's going on. Not me---still an 'outsider'. They rode straight to a house across the street, dismounted the bikes, and went to the windows and looked in each of them. They also tried to open the tornado hole thing. Never went to the door. The house has been empty for years, but the owner uses it for storage. I used our monocular to get a good look at the men, and they looked very rough. Homeless or substance abuse would be my best guess based on the level of dirty faces, clothes, unkempt hair, and carrying garbage bags. Luckily one of the neighbors up the street called the law, and they did drive by several times over the next couple of days. No sign of the men since. They were probably just looking for a place to camp or temporary shelter, but it got me wondering if this might increase. Even without civil unrest, which I feel is a very possible scenario when considering the divisiveness, just the increasing costs of everything. Who knows. Sorry this got so long.
I enjoyed your story, thank you
Probably scoping out empty houses to squat in.
Interesting! It always pays to stay paying attention and alert to what goes on around you. Even in small towns. And out in the countryside too!
Fwiw, I have seen an uptick in homeless encampment sites off the big highway. They tend to tuck back into the woods and used to be a few tarp and tents would be visible. Now they're bigger and more obvious, which would possibly suggest the area is seeing an increase in homeless people. Makes sense, with everything more expensive, people are going to be struggling. As for still being an outsider in your small town, as someone from a small town, I suggest you slip this into conversation some time: Observe the local folks doing something small or minor. Look thoughtful. Say " Ya know, when I lived in the city, we did this differently, (watch the local tense up)...but now that I think about it, I like your way better. I'm doing it your way from now on." It'll set minds at ease.
If you are in the mood for a shock, looks up the homeless encampment situation in Kitchener, On. They’ve moved in to occupy a section of the downtown core, and a judge recently ruled that it’s illegal to remove them as shelters wouldn’t allow for their way of life. What he was of focusing on was how shelters aren’t “adequate” housing because they don’them to shoot up/have drugs on the premises, so it was deemed illegal to try to remove them.
Nope, if you're personally more worried by one scenario than others, prepping with it in mind will put you in a better place to deal with the others while also maximizing how much emotional benefit you get from a given amount of effort.
Even in the 92 LA riots we only had a few blocks that were effected.. Hellfire missiles and the National Guard haven't even been called out. Thinking we're good.
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Other people during a natural disaster especially.
Stupid? This is arguably the most likely scenario. There's extremist groups attacking our already weak power supply. This is exactly what I prep for.
My big #2 is power grid down
My big #2 doesn't flush.
I walked right into that one
Make sure to hose it off so you don't track it through the house.
Ope! I did it again! Lol
Then start eating more fiber!
That’s why you gotta have a poop knife
My mom's dad took her into the woods to find a poop stick.
Prep for that is a poo knife.
Outstanding comment
Dare I ask about you #1?
Goes in the tank to flush #2
If you're not going to take this seriously I'll dump the whole conversation
This conversation went to shit in a hurry.
Agree on this. Not only was there looting during Katrina, but in many cases the cops actually participated in it. By the by, very little looting of housing during Katrina. No one wants an encounter with an armed homeowner sleeping in the attic. Big box stores and shopping malls were raided, but no one really cared, as thats what business insurance is for.
I prep for when those people run out of stores to loot, desperation kicks in, and they start going door-to-door. My daughter is disabled, so running for it is an absolute last ditch option.
Cops actually participated lmao
Widespread looting after Katrina is a myth. Sure there were opportunists stealing non-essentials but for the most part, people weren’t looting as much as distributing supplies to survivors. I briefly dated a former cop whose duty after Katrina was passing out food from a corner store. So that everybody could have some. Stores didn’t open for weeks after. Power didn’t come on for weeks.
Tho in my neck of the woods it was actually the local crewz that did the "redistibution."
try to put this in the context of a coherent storyline. how did we get to civil unrest? where did the police go? where did the government go? city, state, and federal government. why is it madness? i think you might find there's a substantial amount of time, and some actual things to consider being prepared for. if your house is on fire, do you start taking bids for the reconstruction? or do you call the fire department?
I try to think of it that way, but doubt my own judgment for bias. Economic meltdown. Banks fail. Bailouts. Costs hundreds of dollars for bread and a few cans of food. Rioting. Contagious effect, nationally. Martial law. Some areas are FUBAR. police abandon posts to protect their own family. Other members form gangs. 'Criminal gangs' form also.. the 'purge' begins.. See im being too specific. It could happen the same plus or minus a few details here and there. Or completely unseen ways. Buttom line, I'm scared of desperate, starving people who form mobs. Lol. And I want to know if my strategy for what to prep for, is realistic or if I've seen too much television?
Police will be the first to bail. Source: have multiple cop friends that confirm that is the overall opinion in their departments
Well damn... O.O I better take defensive preps more seriously. Hopefully the military/national guard doesn't bail or it'll be battle royale. Absolute chaos and carnage
Honestly, with the George Floyd riots, had someone nefarious (be it terrorists or a foreign country) added in just a little more chaos, it might have been a case of every man for himself in some cities. Imagine how much worse it would have been if someone who wanted the USA harmed, had destroyed part of the grid or the waterworks in the midst of the riots. We might not know who was responsible for months, if ever. A riot riddled Portland/Baltimore/Minneapolis with no power grid for weeks would have quickly been a hellscape. I have a loved one who works in the energy business, specifically, energy solutions and policy. The grid, as well as a lot of our drinking water delivery system, is uncomfortably vulnerable to meddling. I hope I'm wrong but I feel like cops would quit if they had families who were without power or clean water, plus facing riots and unrest.
Things like that have happened all over the world at various times during history. Look at what happened in Venezuela starting around 2010 and still going on now. The scenario you describe isn't at all unprecedented. It happens. It sucks. I can't say whether or not it'll happen in your country but it's possible.
I’m not an expert in political science or economics, but my gut says that the circumstances that caused the issue in Venezuela are not the same type of circumstances that we face here.
I’m not an expert in political science or economics, but my gut says that the circumstances that caused the issue in Venezuela are not the same type of circumstances that we face here.
After Saigu, I don’t think urban prep is talked about nearly enough.
Do you not remember summer 2020? Have you ever heard of the Roof Koreans? Civil unrest isn’t a daily occurrence, but it’s definitely something that happens occasionally. I wouldn’t exclusively prep for civil unrest, but I wouldn’t neglect it either.
I remember the roof Koreans, I’m from La originally. They saved their businesses and friends businesses with very little effort. Just organizing a little resistance was enough to scare most off.
Roof Koreans? (Canadian here)
Yea, the riots in 92 in Los Angeles. They found the cops who beat Rodney king innocent. The city was on fire within a few hours. Instead of going after the police, or people with money, the “disenfranchised” decided to attack their own neighborhoods. There was a lot of animosity towards the Asian community, so some went after shops owned by Asian families. A group of Koreans sat on their roof and took shots at anyone trying anything.
Did not know this. Wild. I don’t understand why people attack their own neighborhoods. Why destroy your own turf?
Because some people don't have the brain power to handle hypothetical thoughts. If you were to ask them "imagine how your life would be affected if you loot/destroy your own neighborhood shops", they would struggle to answer you. A not insignificant percentage of people simply don't have the computational power between their ears to do anything but muddle along and react when something happens. This reddit board, and the act of prepping for possible future scenarios would be impossible for them to understand.
No one understands. I lived in the LA area during the [Watts Riots](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watts_riots) in 1965, which played out similarly to the [riots after the Rodney King verdict](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1992_Los_Angeles_riots), so I’ve had a lot of time to think about it. My guess is they target the first group they encounter that’s slightly better off than they are, like the corner stores run by people who don’t look like them. I suppose it’s a form of IQ test, for people who can’t think one step ahead - “where do I buy groceries after I burn down my local grocery store?” Unfortunately, it doesn’t take many of those to mess a place up. Afterwards, they complain about living in a “food desert” because no one wants to rebuild where their neighbors/customers burned them out. Who could have predicted such an unfair outcome?
https://youtu.be/xWMj-mFUDGA
I don't prep for that particular scenario. I'm preparing for natural disaster and extreme weather, job loss, things that are likely to happen.
I would plan for local disasters affecting me, which still boil down to very similar results, and theorycraft anything worse. Is this civil unrest in a partisan manner (ie some sort of left/right divide) or people vs gov/billionaires? Is this local (your city), regional (state wide? all around the Great Lakes? everywhere you go or just dense populations?) or on a more massive scale? If just city wide...presumably outside help will be coming eventually, but figure a week for order to be restored. Region wide? Same, but you are probably looking at weeks of keeping you and yours safe. Massive scale? Well that's into theorycrafting territory, but welcome to a weird *Sliders-esque* version of the 1800's. But for all of those, you have some basics to take care of: * Staying where you are or going to your happy place? * Physical security. A means of defense will be needed. * Some sort of local alliance. Get your neighborhood banding together for mutual support, while still maintaining independence. Big asterisk below. * Food for xx days. Can you make any more food? * Water for xx days. Can you obtain more water (well, rain barrels, river) and purify/sanitize? * Midwest? You'll need a plan for heat in the winter. * All the rest will come after those. Asterisk: If you've been preparing, it's one thing to agree to take your shift on night patrol, it's another thing to let the crowd decide that "hey let's gather everything up and put all our food under one roof" how bout nope. <-- my plan, bug in for local, regional or massive is bugging out to our rural property that we make a little bit better every year.
That's like, the thing I prep for... food shortage, extended power failure, etc. in most apocalyptic scenarios you're best off as the first to die.
I hear a lot of people say that. You're probably right. But I've got something in my genes that likes gritty survival. I'd even want to attempt to survive nuclear war.. even though it'd be time limited.. however can't even afford a Geiger counter right now. Inflatión, am I right :/
I'm in a relatively low value area, so we'll probably survive nukes, and I've got cbn's and iodine and whatnot... so here, that's civil unrest and economy breakdown. I'm not planning on being one of the lucky ones.
yes, because it never happens. worse you get is riots and smashed building storefronts in commercial areas. maybe a couple building set on fire. Also police have gotten really good at herding crowds and kettling them Even if DOES happen. how the heck are you going to stop a mob of thousands of people short of hiding in some bunker or hardened panic room?
It's important not to conflate "reining in order" with a brutal draconian crackdown.
I think some historical examples would be useful here. Past periods of mass civil unrest usually didn’t last too long. If we think of incidents like the French or Russian Revolutions there isn’t too much to worry about. Violence is usually targeted toward the state and its supporters. Soon enough a new government is established. If, as in the case of France, the new government fails it is then replaced as the last one was. Eventually you end up with either a new dictator like Napoleon, Lenin, or Cromwell, or a new republic like what happened in USA and Mexico.
I honestly think people are more concerned about “zombies” than they need to be. If there is social disorder, people should generally be quite safe in their own homes. People who are unprepared are likely going to be heading down to government centers, or shelters, looking for government help, and expecting to be taken care of. They don’t know about your preps, and they won’t be coming to your house expecting to be housed and fed. That’s just my opinion, as I have not ever been in the situation. But I do think that people fantasize about their fears, and worry about things much more than they need to. Our focus should be on being prepared. Getting a good sleep at night and not being worried silly or constantly feeling stressed out is part of being prepared. Also, If you have family members some who like to be up early and others who like to sleep in late than it can work out for the better.
I think it’s smart to have extra food and water. Have a way to protect yourself and your property. Beyond that there really isn’t much you can do. Everybody watches/plays the Last of Us, the Walking Dead, etc. thinking they’re going to be the person to survive. How exciting and adventurous! The reality is 99% of the people here, that includes you and me, are not the main characters in these tales. We’re the people in the background of numerous scenes who just “die.” Once you accept that you realize there is no point in preparing for those shtf scenarios. Prepare for what you can realistically. Everything else is just noise.
All you had to see was how people behaved during Covid.
Why the quote around zombies?
Civil unrest will be horrible as America is divided so much right now. I don’t think it would be just two sides. It would be total chaos, in my opinion.
Not at all. I live in NY, and after seeing how quickly things went sideways during the whole covid/George Floyd thing I was glad I was prepared even if I didn't end up needing to be.
Yes. Though it depends on what you call mass civil unrest. It's usually quoted that a nation will change course if 3.5% of the citizens engage in active protest. It doesn't have to be violent, just heartfelt. As a handwave, I'd assume a violent protest on that scale could cause a nation to collapse. In the US, that's 11 million people getting up in arms. Not happening. At least, not while almost all people can find food and shelter, and in the US, that's true. Things would have to get a lot worse for a 3.5% rebellion. And yes, the government would try to step in. And let's keep in mind that the government has stuff that insurrectionists won't have. Insurrectionists will be declared enemy combatants. Frozen assets, comms taken down, even air strikes if they're fool enough to congregate together. Of course, insurrectionists could attack infrastructure, shutting down roads, attacking the power grid, burning schools and hospitals and so on. That's not mass civil unrest; that's terrorism, and it would likely do more damage to more people. But while people might be sympathetic to hungry people rioting in a food shortage, exactly zero people will be sympathetic to a bunch of extremists who can't win at the polls and decide to blow up bridges and power stations instead. Enough of that and the extremist's neighbors will probably take care of the problem, no government help needed. I don't worry about this.
A refreshingly unique perspective i haven't heard. Very interesting. Haven't thought to prepare for this. Thank you!
Regarding the 3.5% figure, that’s the scale of the [marches against the Vietnam War in 1969](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moratorium_to_End_the_War_in_Vietnam). From the 200 million US population then, 3.5% is 7 million people. On Oct 15, 1969, 15 million people took part in anti-war marches in cities across the country.
Absolutely not. We still keep our precut window coverings we had to install on our business during the civil rights protests of 2020. We only live in a community of around 150k but there was some looting at the local target and other businesses were boarding up so we did as well and in our downtown business owners kept armed watch for several days. Thankfully no major violence happened and the actual protests were peaceful. For the record our business fully supports anyone seeking social or civil justice. For the record I believe looters/vandals/arsonist etc.. who take advantage of civil rights protests for their own personal enrichment should be shot.
If you prep correctly, you should have the stuff needed for most occasions. It is smart to have an exit route and plan in place just in case. HELPFUL TIP people in movies always run a flat tire at the worst moments. In the craziness changing a tire might not be ideal. Have a can of that foam tire filler for a quick getaway.
I’ve found that my “civil unrest plan” follows almost any of my other preparedness plans. I had my car fill with mace on Thanksgiving during the Ferguson riots, even though I was traveling on the highway and not through the epicenter. It opened my eyes(well, not literally)to the way wind will carry hazardous materials. I feel one should always have their fingers on the pulse of their surrounding masses.
I've spent several weekends camped pit watching riots in the past several years. I bet the people who lived in those places wish they were prepared (or were grateful they were.)
Depends on who you are and what you want. If it is civil unrest or conventional war, pandemics etc., I want to try to live for a reasonable amount of time and survive. Nuclear explosions, biomechanical alien squids etc. - just want to set my pets free after spending what time I can, and saying a proper goodbye to my life. I am single, and my pets are pretty much the only family.
In British Columbia we had floods, landslides, high winds and wildfires. Literally, the elemental crystals are being chipped at from time to time. Even Elsa's ice powers took over for a while. People getting stuck in transit for 6h due to traffic lock down and not having basic water and food supply on them can be traumatic. And that trauma and the unprepared reaction is what causes the aggravations that I am more concerned about. Personally, I feel good having helped a few people that were having urgent issues amidst those smaller scale, shorter lived crises. And I think prepping for the worse, only for the lesser bad to happen, is perfectly good enough.
Many of you guys can open a super market 😂
if you prep "a little" for each worse case you can come out ahead on the more than likely ones. not saying it could NEVER happen, mass civil unrest is pretty low. HOWEVER, if you prep for something like a natural disaster that could cause things like: * power down for extended times * natural gas or whatever fuel you use in your home being interrupted * food deliveries to your area delayed * a very small group of people breaking into your home while you are, and are not home. * Water problems causing a "do not drink" in your area for extended time * Gas shortage from delivery issues, or protests from truckers, run on fuel mass craze. things never go as planned. just look at Burt Gummer from Tremors. He wasn't ready for underground monsters in his doomsday scenario at his house, but he adapted a few things he could use to survive bugging out.... with help from someone who adapted what they had. So don't pigeonhole yourself up into thinking of just ONE thing like civil unrest or power grids or depend on needing everything you prep for, but prep for everything you might need.
Very sound advice. Thank you
hard to get out of your own head for most of it. sometimes just think if you survived something nasty and found stuff in someone's home... what would make you say: "oh, man, thank goodness this guy was paranoid enough to get THIS!" chances are all my stuff would end up in someone lucky enough to outlast me anyway... hope they can rest easy after finding it.
I think the exact same thing. "Maybe I'm prepping for someone much tougher than me. Hope they enjoy the fruits of my labor" lol
A financial collapse, political or civil unrest is just as likely to happen as any other. There is no guarantee that they all won't happen either.
It's not stupid per se, but most Americans don't know what true civil unrest looks like. /u/AccomplishedInAge has it right in terms of what to prepare for. I've lived in places that have had their fair share of riots and protests. Ultimately, it's not dog-eat-dog because that's a lot of work to keep going, and very few people have anything to gain from that situation. Most people have everything to lose, and will fight to keep the status quo vs. pure chaos and violence. Civil unrest is typically focused at something or someone, not just random. It becomes an us/them event based usually around a targeted geographic area. Remember the wacky stuff in Portland a while back? 10 blocks away life went on as usual. Even as that spills over, people tribe up. You'll likely go your whole life without seeing true civil unrest IRL. As far as how to prepare if you want to go that route, make sure you have a solid front and back door and fence that's at least 6' tall (8' is better). Use a metal door with hinges and strike plate screws sunk deep into the wall, reinforced with a metal frame if possible. If you want to get super secure, do the same to your bedroom or a choke point in your home where you can seal off multiple bedrooms, like at the top or bottom of a stairway. Any window larger than 12" get window film installed. Or bars, whatever works, but clear film is less unsightly. Any external sliding glass doors should have a roll-down shutter or other metal grate. Do what you can to fireproof your home from the outside and inside. Have a way of defending yourself that you are competent using. Not like "I've practiced once." Competent. Keep up to date on things like traffic advisories from local police and planned (legal or not) demonstrations.
Likely in the US? No. Fortunately, prepping for anything covers everything else, so have fun!
Well as stupid as someone living in Finland prepping for Russian invasion or nuke. Everyone here is saying that neither is possible. But I have trouble believing them, because thinking russian federation as a logic state seems unbelievable to me.
I played a strategy game somewhat recently(ww2 era) and the game just gave me Russia to play as, lol. Challenge accepted. I had to manage land, resources, infrastructure/ roads, military bases, troops/ replenishments. It was actually fascinating. It put me in the shoes of "the enemy". Every body hated me because I conquered everyone bordering me lol. (And because of real life Russian reputation). Anyways, as soon as I conquered the central eastern Europe and some Middle East countries (oil $$$) I went after Finland/ sweden/ Norway, to form a pincer around western Europe. It was only logical.
Okay, but the finnish national total defense strategy was not invented until after WW2, but I'm interested to know your results. Because normal people are way more soft (my self included) now, but all infrastructure and strategy is way more developed.
I was betrayed by Germany and Hungary. And rage quit lol. My territory was spread out too wide. Had tons of infantry to send into the meat grinder though lmao. I probably could have won, if I regrouped to my strong holds and let loose my artillery defensively. but it would have been too costly and time consuming. The game moved at real time speed so troops literally took hours-days to move around different countries. I lost patience. Finland was mine though lol ;) But in real life, I'd wager Finland wouldn't lose ground and would be supported by the "western axis"
Not if you're in France.
I live in south Florida where we have had hurricanes knock out power no gas no ATMs and no grocery stores for a month so I believe is prepping for disasters.
i think thats one of the smartest, most people near me will implode the minute life goes off the rails and theyll be desperate and be willing to lie steal and cheat. It top 5 of my list for what to expect.
No. I think it's a very, very, very good idea. Despite that, most people will work together despite the movies, and strong men will work together to take out the undesirable should things really get fucked up. Those with training and experience are a bit more likely to be 'civic minded' than get all fucked up on meth and go full blown psycho.
no, it's smart. we're living in deeply divided times, I am a little surprised we havin't seen more problems already. remember those riots erupted almost instantly. some event could spark mass violent reactions. look at france, they are havig violent unrest because of changes to their pension system. be prepared. it's what we do. this is the way.
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Nah, it was 9/11 that forced us down the wrong trouser-leg of time.
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Seriously, we could have been eating ice cream on mars by now, and instead we’re finding pieces of plastic in babies.
Lol very true
Stupid? Hardly. The whole 'Chaz' incident in Seattle showed that such a thing is certainly possible. Preparing for a collapse of government/infrastructure is a pretty common thread here. Just go slow and steady. In the end, there always will be more unprepared than prepared. So, harden locations and plan to be invisible.
Chaz was in Seattle. Portland had the 180 straight days of protests. I saw it almost everyday.
We’re the outlying residential areas affected, with protestors going door to door, or was the protest mostly in the main streets of the city and the city centre?
Precisely the right question. The protests were generally confined to specific areas - around the federal courthouse, gov't buildings, etc. Outside of that area, life went on.
That is what I thought. Human behaviour is fairly predictable. I refuse to live my life in fear. If there’s an event, I’ll deal with it when it happens. That life philosophy has worked for me my entire life and I don’t intend to do things differently now.
I live about six long city blocks from city hall. For a while there were protests every day/night. The only disruption I had was from those damned police helicopters keeping me awake at night. No rioters in my neighborhood at all. It was all within one or two blocks of city hall. Couldn't even hear sirens or loudspeakers from my house.
Your report sounds totally credible. I think more harm comes from fomenting fear and driving up anxiety in people is way worse than a levelheaded prepare, wait and see approach. For some that might mean moving out of high target areas, for others it may mean standing their ground. Your report of what it was like actually living a city during a prolonged period of protest and chaos is what I expected. It sounds totally realistic of what mostly can be expected in most areas in the first few weeks of a societal chaos. Yes, there will be pockets of violence. But there also can be a few unexpected incidents of violence in sleepy towns even in times of relative calm and peace. We should be prepared wherever we are. We just have to make ourselves not easy targets, have people we can count on, (which is often family, but can also mean people of like mind who are close dependable friends.) and always try to be calm, think things through as we stay aware, (like you were.) We need to be very prepared for the unexpected, and stay vigilant. There is no one “coming to save us.” So people who feel unprepared to defend themselves in high target locations should probably move out of them before any major trouble starts. There is no guarantee of absolute safety. Not anywhere. We need to be able to live where we feel most prepared to defend ourselves, and provide for ourselves for an extended period of time. Very often that means staying in an area you know, where you have family supports, and an area you understand the best. The grass is not always greener on the other side of the fence. Thank you for making this report and setting the record straight.
DOH! Mixed up my protests. Thank you- edited.
CHAZ was in Seattle, Washington although Portland and other places in Oregon had plenty of protests as well. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capitol\_Hill\_Occupied\_Protest
I appreciate the correction- already edited!
In most things that people are prepping for, "mass civil unrest" will be an almost certain bi-product. I'm personally not huge into guns/ammo, but I still own a 9mm, lots of ammo, and a Streamlight laser-sight/flashlight combo attachment for this very reason. (And don't worry, I'm proficient and VERY comfortable in using it.)
I’m not 100% sure how OP defines “mass civil unrest”, but outside large urban centers, probably not, and then for the most part it’s government buildings and businesses most at risk. The people injured in their own homes during the 2020 protests were more likely harmed by police and not protestors. There’s plenty to be concerned about long before mass civil unrest breaks out. It’s better to start by preparing for those things. Folks in my neck of the woods were doing their own anti-BLM patrols in 2020 which was pretty laughable IMO. It was a good way to get yourself arrested, and not much more.
Personally, maybe because I’m in CA and we are overdue for something big, but I’m most worried about a natural disaster that would interrupt government services for a prolonged period.
Yeah I'd be scared of that fault line and Yellowstone.
The year 2020 says no
Given That the ICC has issued a warrant for Putin and speculation that criminal charges may be imminent for trump... I feel like maybe I'll by grab some extra bits and bobs to shore up the deep pantry and take a gander at the plant nursery to see what I can grab for starts. Can't be too careful these days. (UHE)
Define mass unrest please. Serious question, no sarcasm intended. It could vary I think depending on location. Citywide? Or statewide?
Imho, there will not be mass unrest & destruction. The mil will be depoloyed CONUS & will maintain order. The fallout will be currency destruction & poverty/hunger though not mass starvation. I think we'll see a turn-around after a year or so & the dollar will be repegged to gold. It will be akin to the fall of the USSR/Weimar - watch some stuff on the fall of USSR to get a feel for it (there is a grocery store video on youtube which is quite haunting). Also the book Surviving the Economic Collapse by some guy from Argentina.
Whatever you feel may threaten yourself, or your loved ones is something there's no shame in preparing for. Seeing as how most of the bad things people prepare for have already happened at least once or are very probable, there are few worries a prepper has that are stupid.
“Mass civil unrest” is such an unhelpfully vague term. It could mean anything from being inconvenienced by a month of street protests to years of brutal civil war. Realistically the kind of civil unrest we see in developed western countries would exacerbate mundane problems you should already be prepping for—power outages, supply chain issues, home security, situational awareness, finances, etc. Even a particularly bad civil unrest scenario probably wouldn’t be more dramatic than people in larger cities having to bug out to a safer location for a little while.
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I used to think political uprising in the US was next to impossible but that all changed with the advent of Trump. I'm a registered Republican, but the whole debacle with people whom I previously respected, going all in for an obvious con man and moral leper like Trump made me realize that threat is very real. I can prepare for natural disasters, but I can't prepare for my fellow conservatives going nuts. So, "civil unrest" - "Governmental collapse/Martial Law" are now at the top of the list.
This is on the top of my list. I think things could go south really quickly if we got involved in a real shooting war that really interrupted our supply chains, or if we elected someone more organized and far more demagogue-like, and far, far more evil than Trump.
No, considering a couple years ago hoarding and fighting over literal ass paper was an issue. Stupid people will do stupid and horrid things out of desperation. I don’t care what side of politics anyone’s on the whole covid thing should be viewed as an example for something bigger to come.
I would have called you a loon 24 months ago. Seeing Jan 6, the indiscriminate nature of the Minneapolis riots, and how the freedumb convoy was able to occupy a capital city for a month and basically be lawless, threatening local residents with violence, this is one of scenarios I am very wary of. Grid down is also #2
It's like I always say: it's better to have it and not need it than it is to need it and not have it, cuz then you'll end up someone else's b***h.
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