(By Jake MacGregor with a few small edits/clarifications by me.)
THIS IS A DRILL
The following is ONLY a drill.
THIS IS TO BE TREATED AS REAL BUT IS ONLY A DRILL.
Situation: Last Night the European Union currency (Euro) collapsed. Overnight, markets crashed as uncertainty roiled the world. The President is set to make a closed-door address to a joint session of Congress at 11 AM Eastern. The Stock Market is closed until further notice. Banks have closed their doors with a taped-up sign reading, “Due to an Executive Order 19-173A all Banks, Credit Unions and Savings & Loans are ordered to close pending further notice.“
What is happening in our community(s):
· ATMs are out of money – fist fights break out as people struggle to try getting their money out of them
· Gas stations report that credit & debit cards are not working. Tempers flare as people report some stations ‘gouging’ customers charging over $10/gallon. Even so, many stations are out of gas.
· Grocery store shelves empty within hours. The radio replays sounds of gunshots at a Walmart in Falcon, CO. Those broadcasts are replaced with the “Boston Pops.”
· Despite the turmoil, college kids around the country rally in their courtyards and start bonfires and celebrate the “downfall of the 1%!”
· TV news shows the outbreak of mayhem and violence for about an hour THEN is replaced with PBS programming on every station. Every channel plays Ken Burns “Jazz” with a rolling banner assuring the public that programming will resume after the joint session of Congress.
· Telephone lines are jammed. All most people can get on land or cell phones are rapid busy signals.
. The Internet redirects people to a Department of Homeland Security Page with generic messages meant to calm us down.
· Neighbors stop by and rumors become rife: “China nuked Israel!” “President Obama is going to cancel everybody’s mortgage and credit cards – ain’t it great!” “I heard Cuban mercenaries are invading Texas from Mexico.”
· People flock to their local churches. Impromptu services are held around the clock.
· Hospital emergency rooms fill with robbery victims, heart attacks and fights.
· Some towns call in all their deputies or cops; some towns find that about half won’t come in as they are hunkered home to care for their families.
· Some “Rambo” types dress up in camo and patrol their streets. Some neighborhoods block their entrance with cars or burning tires.
KEY QUESTIONS:
1. What do you do?
2. Do you have cash on hand to “last-minute shop?” If so, what do you buy?
3. How much gas or diesel do you have on hand? (measure it & calculate how far you can get)
4. How do you communicate with family or friends?
5. What do you do for security?
6. How do you get news?
7. When you get this drill, where is everyone in your immediate family and how do they get home?
8. When you get this do you have your personal defense firearm with you? Do you have extra ammo?
9. How much (in days) do you have:
i. Food (for immediate use)
ii. Water
iii. Power (and if on grid power what is your plan b?)
iv. Heat
v. Emergency food storage for freezer/fridge or other long-term use
10. What are your actions, plans & measures you take in your:
i. 1-hour plan
ii. 8-hour plan (until nightfall)
iii. 24-hour plan
iv. 3-day plan
v. 1-week plan
vi. 3-week plan
vii. longer-than-a-month plan
11. What specific measures, actions and plans do you take for your family security starting now?
12. What key things to this drill catch you unawares? (ex: not enough gas? No means of communicating with family not reliant on phones?)
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NOTE from me: You probably won’t agree with the whole scenario or you’ll see alternatives. (e.g. The fedgov has the capacity to force all ‘Net users to a DHS page, though it will try and will no doubt be able to manipulate those who aren’t tech savvy or politically savvy. But should grid power go down, it doesn’t matter; no ‘Net, anyhow. I also think everybody’s long-term plans in any SHTF situation are going to be turned topsy-turvy by the reality of unfolding events.)
But Jake’s come up with good food for thought. Worth constructing your own scenario from this and addressing a lot of the same questions.
