Use Hurricane Preparation to Brace for Election Unrest
Disruption is not limited to election day.
Chaos in the streets will be the exception, not the rule. In most ways, election unrest in the US is a rare event. However, preparing for the crazy things that may happen between Tuesday’s election and the swearing-in on January 20 doesn’t take much extra effort. Use the same preparation techniques as you did for the recent hurricane season to brace for election unrest.
A Rare Event
It’s rare that most people are directly impacted by a major hurricane, and the same holds true for civil unrest following a political event in the US. On the other hand, there are plenty of recent examples of both, so there is justification for taking basic steps to be prepared.
Types of Disruption
Election chaos could come from within the country or from sources outside of it. The source does not matter as much as the impact. Be prepared.
The Top 7 types of disruption from hurricanes and election unrest are similar:
1. Power
2. Water
3. Computer networks
4. Fuel
5. Cellular service
6. Access to grocery stores
7. Physical security
Be Ready to Travel
Like hurricanes, people in certain areas may have to leave their homes to wait out the storm. With election chaos, the odds are on needing to leave urbanized areas. Nevertheless, the tips are the same.
Determine in Advance a Safe Location To Go
It’s a little goofy since the odds are low, but make the call to those where you intend to go in advance.
Do Basic Vehicle Maintenance Checks
Top off your fuel tank, check tire air pressure, make sure internal and external lights are working, and peep under the hood to see if anything looks unusual.
Plan Your Route
You may need alternative routes, and you may not have GPS (get a map).
Pack a Travel Bag
The rule of thumb is one change of clothes, water, and food.
For Your Home
Water
Fill available containers with enough water to last about a week.
Food
Focus on staples. Remember to have a can opener (or two) for your canned goods. Anticipate that you will be without power and fuel for cooking.
Batteries
Make sure your flashlights and battery-operated candles have fresh batteries and backup batteries. Have some matches for your wick candles.
Backup Information
Make sure you have at least one battery-operated radio to get news since you may lose your TV and cell phone.
Cash
Make sure you have a couple hundred dollars of cash on hand.
Physical Security
Just like hurricane prep, pick up loose objects around the exterior of your home. Loose objects can become projectiles that can penetrate your windows or hurt you if you are outside assessing events. Remember, physical danger can come from any direction, including above or below. Minimize your footprint and need to be outside during a disruptive event.
Use Hurricane Preparation to Brace for Election Unrest
Election unrest is a rare event but nevertheless something for which we should be prepared. Remember that rare events are seldom one event but rather a string of events that happen over a period of time. Many of us stayed prepared for hurricanes over a three-month period (August, September, October). For US elections, that period is from election day (Tuesday, November 5, 2024) to inauguration day (January 20, 2025). Be prepared. Be safe.
JD Solomon resides in the Carolinas, where he fishes, sails, and coaches baseball. Professionally, JD Solomon is the founder of JD Solomon, Inc., the creator of the FINESSE fishbone diagram®, and the co-creator of the SOAP criticality method©. JD has weathered many storms, both on land and at sea.
