What began as a mild-mannered 2020 has transformed into a year I don't think any of us will ever forget. Whether you are in a neighborhood that has been impacted by looting and violence or not, now is a time to reflect and prepare.
CIVIL UNREST: PREPARE NOW AND KNOW THE DANGERS
Large groups can be volatile, which means civil unrest can erupt without warning. Cars are burned, businesses are looted and torched – and staying inside is probably the best option for staying safe.
Preparing for such unrest and crises is done much the same way we prepare for snow storms or hurricanes or other natural disasters. We prepare now – today – before the storm hits.
We’ve been warned time and time again that hard times are coming. We don’t know precisely in what form or when it will happen, but as sure as you’re reading these words, you’re bound to experience turbulent times, if you haven’t already. And even if you have, that doesn’t make you immune for what’s coming.
KNOW THE TWO LIKELIEST SCENARIOS
When unrest does happen, there will be two main scenarios: shelter-in-place or grab-and-go. It might not be possible to leave your city, due to any number of situations, so staying in your home might be your best option.
Scenario 1: Shelter in Place
If you do stay in, you should have at least a 72-hour supply of food and water. Food and water that will last you and your family a month or more would be even better. If you’ve been prepping for natural disasters, you should already be well on your way to remaining comfortable during a season of unrest. But just in case, here are a few things you should consider stocking up on:
1. 30-day food and water supply
This should include easy-to-make food, such as freeze-dried meals that don’t require much effort or energy. As for water, having a water filter can keep you supplied for months, and it only takes up a little bit of space on your shelf.
2. Warm clothing/blankets
This includes winter jackets, sleeping bags, gloves, warm hats, and other necessities that you would want if you were forced outside in the winter.
3. Power sources
Hopefully the power will still be on, but you never know what might happen. Make sure you have some alternate sources of power so you can charge your phone and other devices.
4. Light
Again, if the power goes out, you’ll need some sort of light. Flashlights are an obvious choice, but consider getting different kinds of stationary lighting that you don’t have to hold on to.
5. And of course, toilet paper
I think this suggestion is pretty self-explanatory, but let me just say…being stuck inside your home without it could add to the unpleasantries.
If something happens that requires evacuation, you’ll want to be the first out, which means you will want to have emergency gear that is easy to pack and haul out to the car without wasting time. In case this option arises, there are some other considerations to keep in mind.
6. Your Gas Tank
Keep your gas tank as full as possible. It’s recommended that you keep it at least half full. That way, if you have to leave, you can at least hit the road and gas up somewhere else, thus avoiding long lines at the pump and the subsequent traffic jams leaving the city.
7. Car kit
This includes tools as well as emergency supplies. If your car breaks down, make sure you have something to tinker around with. Fixing that loose belt under your hood will be rather difficult with just your bare hands.
SCENARIO 2: GRAB AND GO
If you’re forced to leave your home, make sure you take as many of your emergency supplies with you as you can!
As mentioned above, make sure your food and water supplies and other emergency gear are easy to pack up so you don’t linger longer than necessary. I hope that this never has to happen to any of us, but with the way things are, you never can be certain.
If you don’t have to ever use these emergency supplies for civil unrest, however, you might still have to use them for natural disasters or even to get you by following a job loss or accident.
Being prepared for one emergency will help see you through many others. So while it’s on your mind, go on out and get a case of water during your next shopping trip. Remember, if the weatherman predicts rain, grab an umbrella.
14 comments
Jimmy Chones
Fix a loose belt under the hood of the car? Perhaps you should add clean the carburator and adjust the points on the ignition system. I havent seen a car with an adjustable belt thats not older than 30 years. What car do you drive?
louise cohoon
Hello there. I just wanted to thank you for all you have done to help me plan for the future and now. The pay plan has helped me a lot I have been a customer for 10 years and can truly say we have opened some of our survival food during this crisis of COVID 19 and we have loved the food.It is such a blessing to know we are prepared. Lots to all the helpful staff there. When I had problems they were there and solved the problems Thanks again.
TheFed
Sad part is the people that are reading this are the ones that already know. So if you know people that are not prepared, maybe now would be a good time to talk to them and even help that get prepared.
Sara
Nothing is mentioned about keeping up with current news, situations, road conditions, etc. Suggestions: have a plan of where to go, keep cash, snacks for the road , stop only for gas and restroom breaks, download map apps, have a road atlas with route plotted with possible detours, stay out of congested areas and large areas. Be kind to people, keep your opinions to yourself, do not endanger yourself or your future. Contact with family with travel plans with current location. Try not to travel at night. Plan work you will go in each perceived emergency. I am not suggesting confronting violence with violence but what you need to do to survive. Yesterday was the time to develop survival skills, but better now than not at all. I want peace, kindness, understanding, and plenty for all. But that’s not happening now. I hope that people think carefully before they act to save themselves and others. Stay inside to stay alive as much as possible.
Donna Crosby
I just wanted to say, Thank you Emergency Essentials for all that you do to help us be prepared. I really appreciate it. I also appreciate the quality of your food storage supplies. The things that I have purchased from you are the best that I have tried.
Linda Geremina
Of course the article wasn’t complete, but the purpose was to get people to think and fill in the blanks for ourselves. Thanks for putting it out.
Terry
I’d also add a beloved toy for each child will help to comfort them. They’ll need it to help them cope with whatever changes this situation will bring.
Mike Easterday
Defense not considered. At least a knife medical not considered. No real plans.
Robert Gutierrez
You left out a first aid kit and any extra medications that you or someone on your family may need also copy’s of important papers such mortgage information, home owners insurance, picture ID’s, Passports, birth certificates, which can be scanned and placed on a flash drive.
marvin s.
also a “plan B”. outside your area back-up support if you get separated. where to meet etc.
who does what, where, when, how long.
think outside the box. always remember: if it can happen, it will happen. and at the worst possible time.
Frank Seres
This article should have been proof read.
It is such difficult reading. I don’t know who wrote it but someone should have gone over it and read it before you put it out…
Read it for yourself and see what you think????
Emergency Essentials
I took an unnecessary word out to improve readability. Other than that, it looks good to me ¯\(?)/¯
Jessica Baksis
I didn’t have any trouble reading it. Thanks, Emergency Essentials, for the reminder to be prepared.
Bruce
The only thing I noticed (after by brain auto corrected what my eyes saw) was
= 30-day food and supplywas probably intended to read 30-day food and WATER supply…
Like I said, my brain auto corrected for what my eyes saw ;)