As we have seen several times in the past, events of all types can lead to sudden bursts of civil unrest. These take place not just in major cities but even in the suburbs. Normally, a savvy survival prepper will have a bug-out bag reserved for emergencies where they may have to leave home and go to another location, like the wilderness.
However, you may need a special bug-out bag, also known as a BOB, that you can carry with you if and when you need to leave your home in the midst of a chaotic situation in your local area.
There are certain times of the year when civil unrest situations are more expected than others. For example, we are currently in an election year, and regardless of who wins or loses, many predict hot spots of chaos.
You want to be prepared for these types of disruptions and have a properly packed bug-out bag to help you navigate an unpredictable, dangerous environment. It’s easy to learn about wilderness survival and what you should pack in a bag because it is typically consistent, whereas civil unrest can arise from anything and result in any type of threat.
A civil unrest BOB will ensure that you and your family stay safe in case you have to be on the go and in self-defense mode. It’s important that you stay under the radar as much as possible but be prepared to act if tensions escalate and you are in the middle of it.
Pack Your Situational Awareness Tools
Situational awareness is often a determining factor in keeping you safe from harm, especially during civil unrest. You have to be able to monitor what is happening around you and get news about what is developing on all fronts.
In this type of event, it’s important to have real-time access to information, not just what is being reported on the news after the fact. That means you need to be able to access police scanners and have a radio that gives critical updates about any type of alert or threat that is unfolding.
You might find out about roads being blocked off or another protest that is sprouting up in a location that you were heading to, allowing you to avoid that area and head in a different direction.
Assuming your cellular towers are still working, you can find apps to put on your phone that will give you information about conflict in your area so that you can maintain avoidance measures.
But you can’t always rely on technology, so in that case, you will need non-digital tools to pack in your bug-out bag that will help you stay safe from a distance. Pack some compact binoculars that allow you to view what you are heading into and see any approaching harm that you need to avoid.
It is important to put a great deal of distance between yourself and the chaos. Often, people don’t stop and discuss things in these situations; they attack you without even knowing where you stand.
Gear That Helps You Evade Trouble or Defend Yourself
There are times when you are going to find yourself surrounded by protesters or rioters, and you won’t be able to escape without having to defend yourself. There are many non-lethal self-defense items that can give you a chance to get away.
You want to make sure that you know how to use these and when it is appropriate to do so rather than having a knee-jerk reaction and causing even more chaos than necessary.
This might include something like pepper spray, a stun gun, or even a tactical pen. You have to know the laws in your area to see what is allowed and what is prohibited so that you don’t encounter any legal trouble after the fact.
Make sure you are dressed for protection if you do have to get out and about during civil unrest. Sometimes, you have to bug out in the middle of a situation because the chaos has come to your home area.
Other times, you might have to leave the home just to access supplies or even go to work or elsewhere during times when you’re unsure of what could happen. If you are dressed in protective clothing, you will be able to shield your body from harm in case someone else attacks you.
Some gloves and jackets are resistant to knives. You can also wear something with extra padding that shields your organs from harm. In some instances, you may even want to pack a tear gas mask in your bug-out bag in case someone releases some sort of airborne irritant that could cause harm.
The key is to get out of the area as soon as possible the minute you discover you are in the middle of what could end up to be a tragic situation. You never want to stick around and engage with others when avoidance is a smarter choice.
Stay Unseen with Stealth and Camouflage Gear
Most survival preppers have heard of adopting a gray man habit. This is when you blend in so well with everything happening that nobody notices or remembers anything about you.
In this case, you don’t want to become part of the problem, but you can still pack some clothing and gear in your BOB that will help you blend in and avoid attention. You definitely want to have some sort of neck gaiter or mask that protects your identity.
These are often worn during civil unrest events, so you will blend in with everyone around you. Make sure it has no wording or logo on it because that becomes recognizable and memorable.
Do the same with your clothing, from your head to your toes. Make sure there are no logos or abstract designs on them. You should wear a hat so that your hair is not noticeable, avoid wearing jewelry, and wear footwear that isn’t noisy.
This is all stuff you can pack in your bug-out bag in case you need to put it on at a moment’s notice. If you’re shopping for certain types of camouflage gear, you won’t purchase your typical camo clothing, which is beneficial in the wilderness to help you blend in with the trees and the ground.
Instead, you want clothing that camouflages you differently, helping you blend in with citizens in the city or the suburbs. You just don’t want to look out of place because if anything happens in a crowd begins to chase you, you don’t want to have on a bright orange T-shirt with a specific logo that everyone can share and spot easily.
On-the-Go Shelter and Safety Gear
In a civil unrest situation, you won’t be packing a large tent for the entire family and carrying it around in your bug-out bag. But you may need to create some sort of shelter to keep you safe from any type of chaos that is taking place.
You might need a small tarp or even a bivy sack to provide cover until you can make it back home or to a safe location. This is helpful if you find yourself trapped in a highly toxic situation, such as in an alleyway or an out-of-the-way location, and you need something to cover you in the outdoor elements.
You might want to pack a local map that you have purchased or created that shows you where you can seek shelter in the city, whether it’s a building or parking area.
There are gadgets that can help you pick locks and give you access to places if you are in an unsafe situation and need temporary safety. You might be able to hole up in a certain building or room, but you need materials and gear to help you secure the doors and windows.
Various locks and lightweight gadgets can prevent others from breaking down a door or getting in a window. This ranges from getting a small wedge that can easily fit in your bug-out bag to a door jammer or even some sort of heavy-duty tape or special lock that helps secure a window.
Medical and First Aid Supplies for a Civil Unrest BOB
Whether you need it for yourself or to help others, it’s always good to have some sort of first aid supplies in your civil unrest bug-out bag. In these situations, you might encounter someone else with pepper spray and need an eye wash solution.
You might suffer from some sort of knife wound, burn, or exposure to toxic chemicals. You need first aid kits that include bandages and dressings for burns, tourniquets, and other trauma-related products such as blood clotting agents.
Portable stretchers and emergency blankets can also be packed in your bug-out bag in case you need to help someone else or even protect yourself.
In a civil unrest situation, some medical issues will be minor scratches, while others could be life-threatening injuries that require hospitalization. You want your first aid kit to buy you time until you can get to a hospital or take someone else if need be.
Escape Planning and Travel Gear
Depending on the size and duration of this type of survival event, you may end up trapped away from your home or unable to return immediately, so you have to use what’s in your bug-out bag to escape the area.
It’s important to have physical maps that show all of the different routes available to you. Pack these in your bug-out bag along with some sort of cutting tool that will help you in case you have to get through any type of barrier.
This can be something as simple as a multi-tool with wire cutters. You also want to make sure you have a small, portable travel method packed in your bug-out bag. This could include a skateboard, foldable bike, or scooter that attaches to your bag using MOLLE.
You will often see areas during civil unrest where traffic has been halted and protesters blocking roads. This portable travel option allows you to use sidewalks and easily escape this type of hindrance.
Communication and Coordination Tools
We talked about having access to police scanners and radios, but it’s also important that you can communicate with your family if you cannot use your cell phone.
This can help you coordinate where you should meet up if you are separated during the rise of this civil unrest event. Depending on how far apart you are, you may use walkie-talkies or some sort of other messaging device to keep everyone informed of what’s happening and what each person should do next.
If you’re using smartphones, make sure you pack a solar-powered charger in your BOB. You don’t want the battery to run out. While many riots occur at night, that’s not always the case – and you need to be able to stay in touch without having to find a phone charger elsewhere.
You also want to have signaling gear in case you need help – whether it’s to alert authorities that you’re in danger or help someone find you in a crowd. An emergency whistle or signaling device can be the communication tool you need in the middle of chaos, but only use it when necessary because it will draw attention to you.
Water and Food for Civil Unrest Bug Out Bags
In the best-case scenario, the civil unrest will be squashed relatively soon, and you can return home. But sometimes, these things can last days or even weeks. In case you want to have food and water in your bug-out bag,
Choose a compact water filtration option, like a filtering straw or tabs. You might have a water bladder inside your bug-out bag, but don’t make it too heavy. You want to be able to move rapidly through threatening situations.
Your food needs to be quick, non-perishable items you can eat without cooking. These would include dried fruit, nuts, jerky, protein bars, and other items that give you the calories needed to sustain your energy levels.
Stress-Relieving Gear for You or Your Loved Ones
Getting caught in the middle of civil unrest, where people are fighting, burning down buildings and destroying property can be frightening. If you have a loved one (or even yourself) who is highly panicked and stressed, it will help to have something on hand to calm them.
Keeping a cool head under pressure is important in getting you home safe. You might want to give noise-canceling earbuds to someone in your group, so they do not hear things like yelling and gunshots while hunkered down in a safe place.
This could even be helpful for you if you need to have a quiet moment to think and strategize and you want to drown out sirens and chaos so you can make plans. Another thing that you might want is a small paperback book or puzzle book to prevent mental fatigue and stress.
Make it family-friendly if you have others with you so that they can enjoy the story while you’re waiting for the threat to be cleared. Any type of comforting item can be beneficial in civil unrest, as long as it fits in your bug-out bag and doesn’t weigh it down.
We can’t always predict when or where civil unrest will occur. Sometimes, we have a good idea or get advanced notice. But other times, it springs up out of nowhere. If you can grab a BOB designed for this type of event, you’ll be better prepared to protect yourself and your family with a tailored approach with everything you need.
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