How to Prepare Yourself for Civil Disturbances?
by balisunset

Political and economic events can precipitate civil disturbances, including protests, work stoppages, strikes, vandalism, looting, and general mayhem. These disturbances can result in property damage, disruption to transportation, and temporary cessation of business operations.

Law enforcement or military may block transportation routes or enforce evacuations and curfews. These events can make you want to be anywhere else.

Transportation considerations

During and after such periods of civil disruption, you may find transportation to and from affected areas limited by damage, barricades, closures, curfews, and fear. Workers at business locations may be stranded there for hours or days until things calm down.

Communication considerations

In more serious events, communications may be hampered or cut off, so disaster response personnel may have difficulty communicating with each other. As a result, you may have trouble getting an accurate assessment of an event's effects on business operations. You may find having a variety of landline and mobile carriers helpful; if one isn't working, perhaps another is. Workers may be able to use satellite phones if they can get to an out-of-doors location with safety.

Recovery considerations

It's difficult to say what kinds of effects a large civil disturbance might have on business operations. Here are some measures you can take to mitigate the effects of civil disturbances:

Emergency supplies: Emergency supplies need to include food, water, and medical supplies - enough for several days. Disaster response personnel may need supplies when they arrive at the business location. Emergency supplies should also include blankets and hand-crank or solar-powered radios.

Emergency power: If public utilities are damaged, but a processing facility is otherwise usable, generator power may keep the work location running. You need to figure out whether fuel trucks can (and will) work their way around damaged or blocked roadways to deliver generator fuel.

Original at: http://www.gomestic.com/Emergency-Preparation/How-to-Prepare-Yourself-for-Civil-Disturbances.196537