Civil unrest isn't going away anytime soon. That's why you need to prepare the only way you know how–the only way a prepper can. Check out the article below to find out the changes you need to make to how you go about your daily life.
There are various types of civil unrest that affect us in different ways and we should know how to respond, if we’re caught up in it. You won’t find much information on Google or in the media about what you should do in event of civil panic. You’re all alone and you should know how to protect yourself and your loved ones when civil unrest hits your area.
Here is what we can do in order to be prepared for civil unrest:
Keep your standard emergency preps up to date
If you are new into prepping you should make sure you have all the supplies you need. Backup food, water and other supplies that will keep you in good condition regardless the nature of the disaster, from bad storms to social breakdown or even long-term unemployment. More than 55% of Americans have less than a 3 day supply of food and water and you don’t want to be one of them. You will not be able to go out and buy what you need during a level two or three civil unrest. It’s not safe and it is recommended to stay indoors. You could also be part of the unrest and you will need those supplies to sit out a siege.
Don’t be complacent, you are not special
Those who live in the country tend to have a “it can’t happen here” mentality toward social upheaval and see it only as an urban “thing”. Even though mostly they are, there is no strict rule they have to be. If the supply chain is broken the rural areas will be the first to be cut off from food, fuel, medicine or other necessities. The unprepared and the unemployed from the rural area will become just as restive as their urban counterparts.
Watch your health
It’s almost certain that one day some illness will rampage across the globe and public panic is one of the immediate effects of a contagious disease. You should have a good first aid kit that includes surgical masks, disposable gloves and a good selection of updated medication. You should also have a good knowledge about first aid and an even better knowledge of the medical issues that affect you (diabetes, high blood pressure, etc). If you lay low for a long period of time, you have to make sure your health remains strong.
Protect what’s yours, especially the food.
If you grow crops or raise food animals and the unrest happens due to food shortages, farms will be targeted right after the stores have been looted. You have to be prepared to protect your resources day and night, with or without help.
Make a common front with your trust-worthy neighbors
I know that trust is hard to get these days, but in rural areas people are used to being close to their neighbors and helping each other out. Having a strong bond with the people from your community is vital to every type of emergency preparedness. They could pool resources with you, they can advise you about spotted dangers, they can help you protect your supplies and they can even take you in if the situation becomes critical.
Get information on local conditions when traveling
It’s always wise to keep an eye on your destination to know in advance what awaits you. You are probably used to checking a destination when you go abroad, why not do the same for local destinations? The world is moving at an incredible speed and you don’t want to be caught off guard in an unfamiliar zone.
Situational awareness can save your life
Be aware of your surroundings because sometimes the only advance notice you get is the one your own sense give you. Be alert and don’t be curious about what is happening, you don’t need to film it with your phone and you don’t want to be in the first line, you are not a journalist. Be aware of who’s nearby and what’s going around you and if you spot trouble developing, turn around and avoid it at any cost.
If you are caught in a hot zone, be prepared to act.
Don’t lose your head and think about your actions because panicking will get you hurt. If street chaos surrounds you, do your best to get away from the crowd, keep your cool and don’t fight with crowd members. Get inside if possible to be less exposed.
This is intense to digest, we know. But it's all extremely valuable information that may just save your life one day. If you do happen to get caught in a violent situation, do anything and everything the police tell you to do. They don't know who is a threat and who isn't.
If they are trying to detain you and you fight back because you were never a part of the mob in the first place, you have a very high likelihood of personal injury and will likely receive a citation for resisting arrest, regardless of your position in the struggle.
Of course, it's best to just stay out of these situations in the first place by keeping tabs on the local news and even staying home with your family if you need to.
For more steps on how to protect yourself and your family in times of civil unrest, take a look at the rest of the original article at Preppers Will.