How to Protect Your Home and Family During Civil Unrest

If looting or civil unrest breaks out near you, the priority is to secure your home, stay off the street, and monitor real-time local alerts, while keeping an evacuation plan and a packed bug-out bag ready in case sheltering in place stops being the safer option. Preparation and a level head, not panic, are what actually keep a household safe when a crisis turns chaotic.

Stay Informed Before and During a Crisis

Knowledge is your first line of defense when conditions in your area are changing fast.

• Monitor local news and alerts. Local news, radio, and official alert systems give you the clearest picture of what's actually happening near you. Community apps like Nextdoor can supplement official sources with neighborhood-level reports.
• Watch your surroundings. Pay attention to unusual activity on your block and report genuinely suspicious behavior to local authorities rather than acting on it yourself.

Secure Your Home Against Looters

A well-secured home is the single best deterrent against opportunistic looting.

• Lock every door and window. It sounds obvious, but in a chaotic moment it's easy to overlook a side door or a window left cracked. Reinforce known weak points like sliding glass doors or older locks ahead of time.
• Use exterior lighting. Motion-activated lights make a property look actively monitored, which is often enough to redirect a would-be looter elsewhere.
• Fortify entry points. Add deadbolts where you can, and know which doors or windows are your weakest points before you ever need to defend them.

Build a Family Safety and Communication Plan

The middle of a crisis is the wrong time to figure out your plan for the first time.

• Assemble an emergency kit. Stock food, water, first aid supplies, flashlights, and batteries. FEMA and Ready.gov recommend every household be able to sustain itself for at least 72 hours without outside help, and a packed bug out bag keeps you mobile if you need to leave in a hurry.
• Map your escape routes. Know more than one way out of your home and neighborhood in case your usual route isn't safe.
• Agree on a communication plan. Decide in advance how your family will stay in touch if separated, and pick an out-of-area contact and a physical meeting spot everyone knows.

Avoid Becoming a Target

Looters generally look for homes and people that appear unguarded or worth the risk.

• Keep valuables out of sight. Don't leave supplies, electronics, or high-value items visible from windows or your yard.
• Coordinate with neighbors you trust. A block where neighbors are watching out for each other is a much less attractive target than a collection of isolated homes.

Use Lawful, Non-Confrontational Deterrents

Physical confrontation should always be a last resort. Deterrence and de-escalation come first.

• Install visible security measures. Cameras, alarm systems, and sturdy locks discourage intruders before they act. Even a visible camera or a warning sign can change someone's calculation.
• Know your local laws. Self-defense and property laws vary by state and municipality, so it's worth understanding the basics that apply where you live before you're in a stressful situation.
• Favor non-lethal options. Tools like pepper spray or loud alarms can help you protect your property and person without escalating a situation further than it needs to go.

Know When to Evacuate Instead of Sheltering in Place

Sometimes the safest move isn't to defend your position, it's to leave.

• Watch for red flags. If conditions in your area keep deteriorating, don't wait too long to relocate somewhere safer.
• Have a go-bag ready. A packed bag makes the difference between a calm, quick exit and a scramble for essentials while the situation outside is getting worse. Check out our bug out gear collection to get one built before you need it.

Stay Calm Under Pressure

Panic leads to poor decisions. Whatever the situation, prioritize the safety of yourself and your family over any material possession, and lean on the plan you already made instead of improvising under stress.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the most important thing to do if looting breaks out near me?

Secure your home first: lock doors and windows, close off obvious weak points, and stay inside and out of sight rather than confronting anyone directly. Pair that with monitoring local alerts so you know whether the situation is stabilizing or getting worse.

Should I try to physically confront looters to protect my property?

No. Physical confrontation should be a last resort. Visible security measures, good lighting, and non-lethal deterrents reduce risk without escalating a dangerous situation, and your safety and your family's safety matter more than any possession.

How do I know when it's time to evacuate instead of sheltering in place?

Watch for red flags such as worsening conditions, direct threats to your immediate area, or a breakdown in local services, and don't wait too long once you see them. Having a packed bug out bag ready in advance makes that decision much easier to act on quickly.

What should be in an emergency kit for a situation like this?

At a minimum, plan for food, water, first aid supplies, flashlights, and batteries. A common guideline is about one gallon of water per person per day, and FEMA/Ready.gov recommends being able to sustain your household for at least 72 hours without outside help.