4 Critical Things To Do When The Ferguson Riots Come To Your Town

OfftheGridNews

The Los Angeles riots happened decades ago now, but the people and the city still bear the scars of “civil” unrest. The riots became legendary and happened in a decade where news coverage was going through a growth spurt. Across the country, people watched in horror as a city burned down, as National Guard and police clashed with looters and rioters, and as innocent people were thrown in the middle of it.

My generation is looking at the Ferguson, Missouri, riots in the same way. During the L.A. riots people watched the television to see what was happening; my generation has the news, their cell phones and computers. Everyone is a cameraman and everyone is a reporter, and we can have close to a live stream of events.

We should observe and learn from it. The first lesson: Riots can happen anywhere. When you think of riots occurring, what really flashes in your mind? Los Angeles, Chicago, New York City, Miami, Boston and New Orleans are all large cities with a storied history. Who thinks of Ferguson, Missouri, though?

So how do you survive and escape unharmed from such an event? These riots are like natural disasters: They can cause huge amounts of damage in a very small period of time. Modern technology has made it possible to predict some natural disasters. We don’t have the technology to predict people, but we can observe the “tells” that happen before something like this. Observe social tensions, high profile cases, and know your area. Social tensions can be built around race, religion, economic status, and a general “us vs. them” government tension. Know the people and their ability to cause violence in large numbers.

The best way to survive a riot without a scratch is to simply not be there — to bug out before the disaster happens. This is the easiest way, but that may not be an option. People who own property and businesses are not willing to simply leave them to the mercy of rioters and looters.  Sometimes these things can happen without much warning and you can be caught directly in the middle of it. The potential of riots is a clear reason to conceal carry. Most people would rather move past the gun than try to fight it.

So first let’s say you are caught in the middle of a riot without much warning. Here are some options:

1. Go with the riot until you can escape. I’m not saying destroy property, but survival is the most important thing. Go with the riot, and feign anger until you can escape to a safer place.

Image source: AP

2. Blend in. Now, when a riot divides people by lines like race, blending into the rioters can be difficult. But if you see those of your race and creed rioting, you have a better chance than being a singularity. Riots are momentum-based; riots are equal parts anger and fear, with an element looking to take advantage of the situation. When you have a chance, drop out.

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