Questions to expose your unpreparedness

I have just finished reading the novel "Patriots" by James Wesley Rawles, which portrays a possible near-term future in which an effort is made to impose a world police state amid the chaos following a massive economic collapse. While today's news provides plenty of real-life apprehension about elements of the novel's future outlook, the best lesson I gleaned from the story was the need to develop concrete plans and reliable communication rather than rely on sketchy ideas and nebulous hopes.

Toward that end I found this article from the United States Concealed Carry Association site illuminating, regardless of how you might feel toward the USCCA's advocacy of responsible armed adults:http://usconcealedcarry.org/free/againstme.html
The article discusses the need to plan and coordinate in advance of emergency situations so that you can better avoid making the wrong moves in dealing with hostile situations.

The reason I think this is important to share is that crimes such as muggings, carjackings, and home invasions are on the rise and will undoubtledly worsen as the ranks of the unemployed grow. Should some event cause sudden public panic, civil unrest could quickly escalate to the point that it would be very risky to go anyplace -- or stay anyplace. During a panic is not the time you should be devising a plan to cope with violence. The best time is ASAP. Have it already in place. It's one matter that will be behind you as you head into a very stressful time.

There are plenty of other issues that need the same sort of attention now too. For instance what are your honest answers to the following questions?

Could a violent heavily-armed gang successfully invade your home?
Could your home be made safe?
What changes to your home would make it safe to remain in? (Think medieval castles, sieges, etc.)
Should you count on remaining in your home if a large pillaging gang is headed your way?
Is it better to plan on remaining in your home and defending it no matter what or should you plan to flee to safety if the need becomes critical?
Are you willing to leave your home and possessions to save your life?

What exactly would trigger your flight to safety?
What route would you take?
Do you have an alternate escape route? Can you evade a blocked road?
Would you travel by car?
Do you keep your vehicle ready to travel?
Who would you flee with, what would you take with you?
What if you couldn't take who you wanted, have they agreed to meet you at some safe location?
What would await you if you fled to a refuge?
Would you have what you needed when you got there?

How much should you count on taking with you if you have to flee?
How long would it take to load everything?
What if you had to leave so suddenly that you couldn't load anything?
What if the roads become impassible or your vehicle breaks down?
Could you reach your refuge on foot and if so, how long would it take?
Would you have what you need for a long trek?
What route would you take on foot?
What safety precautions would you take?

Who would be there ahead of you?
Would you have support and agreement when you got there?
How would you fit in?
Where exactly would you stay?
For how long could you count on staying?
What would you eat, how would you cook, is there sufficient room, sufficient water? What about bathroom needs?

Would your refuge be truly safe?
What if violence spreads to where you have fled?
Should you prepare to defend your refuge and if so, how?
How many people will be welcome there?
How many people would be optimum for safety?
Could that number of people reasonably stay there?
Who would be in charge?

What if you had to leave your refuge?
Should you have a plan for an alternate or secondary refuge?
What would be important features for an alternate site in terms of location, access, terrain, water, shelter, fuel?
What would trigger your fleeing to a secondary refuge and how would you get there?
Should you plan on taking what you would need when you flee or should you pre-stock a secondary refuge?
If you pre-stock, how could you make sure your stuff will be safe and waiting for you when you get there? (Hint)

Answering each of these questions honestly ("I don't know"), then working out satisfactory answers will result in a preparedness plan not only for a time of violent unrest but for coping with natural or man-made disasters should they threaten the safety of our home and neighborhood.

Yes, these questions do seem incongruous with day-to-day concerns like paying bills, attending parties, taking kids to sports and other extra-curricular events, mowing the lawn, and all the rest. But millions of citizens are now no longer certain that our future will be filled with these commonplace issues. The growing number who have lost their jobs and homes could well burden government to the point where the safety net cannot be sustained. When that happens then survival will become a very real issue for a large portion of the population. To dismiss the possibility is to indulge in a dangerous myopia.