Most of us are peaceful, law-abiding people.  We mean no one any harm and, when we have disputes with our fellow citizens, we pursue legal avenues for dealing with them.  That’s how we solve our problems in a civil society, right?

But what about when society is no longer “civil”?

Urban Survival And The Danger Next Door

Consider a natural disaster.  While a power outage or a flood is no big deal for the first day or two, it can quickly dissolve into anarchy. This is where the “prepared” and the “unprepared” clash.

And with the breakdown of the infrastructure we depend upon to keep us safe (and fed) in shambles, the stress on our fellow citizens may force you to face your friends and make some hard decisions.

Neighbors Gone Wild

The fact is, all human beings are hard-wired to survive at all costs.  Thrust your typical “civilized” human being into the middle of civil unrest, especially when his (or her) family and loved ones are endangered, and he will quickly learn to be ruthless to protect those who depend on him for survival.

Bottom line, when the shelves of the local grocery store have been ravaged by rioters and your friends are hungry, things can turn ugly.  Two simple steps can help you stay out of trouble and avoid future skirmishes post-disaster…

Stock Up Now With “Crisis Items”

Look, first you have to protect your own, right?  During a disaster, certain items are going to leave the store shelves very quickly.  When they’re gone, so is the civil politeness you may normally see between friendly neighbors.

Know which food times sell out first in a disaster and stock up on these.  They will be your most immediate food source and help you wait out the disaster in relative comfort while others are hungrily waiting for government aid and clawing at each others’ throats.

This is the most definitive list of items that sell out during a crisis.

Can You Keep Your Disaster Plans A Secret?

Once you’re stocked up, keep the knowledge of your possession of these items to yourself.  “Love thy neighbor” is a great way to live your life, but hunger has a way of turning “Can I borrow a screwdriver” into “Give me your last box of Froot Loops NOW!”.

It’s not likely your neighbors are as prepared as you are and you have to take care of your family first.  Keeping your prepper plans a secret actually helps keep friends as “friends”.

While it’s nice to think that everyone will pull together as friendly neighbors during times of crisis, it’s advisable to live by the watchwords, “Hope for the best but plan for the worst”.

When it comes to protecting those you love, this old adage will serve you well.