How would you prepare if another civil war broke out in US?
Posted by Equal-Car-6856@reddit | preppers | View on Reddit | 30 comments
While I think there is a higher probability of a natural disaster occurring than another civil war in the US, I don't think it's a scenario that is completely impossible to occur (especially in recent years).
I've optimized most of my preps for natural disasters like catastrophic storms or solar flare event that destroys the power grid and so I feel adequately prepared for these kinds of scenarios, but is there anything particularly unique in a civil war scenario? I imagine a civil war that occurs today would not have defined border lines, would bugging out to another country make be the safest option? If I live in a rural area in the Midwest, would bugging in suffice? What are your thoughts on what to be especially prepared for in the event of a civil war?
Also please try not to bring politics into this discussion, although I do recognize the increasingly polarizing political landscape is something to be considered in preparing for this scenario.
milou28@reddit
This is of actuality again 👌🏻
deleted_by_reddit@reddit
Is this question going to be asked by a different person every single day? The mods need to put this into a thread or something, it's all so repetitive.
deleted_by_reddit@reddit
For real. It’s never gonna happen. Not only are Americans too fat and unhealthy, but they’re too far in debt to take off and fight for anything. Besides, republicans NEVER do anything involving protesting
Dry_Protection6656@reddit
um...news from the future.
FatherOfGreyhounds@reddit
You won't see a civil war along the lines of the 1860's. What you may see is a rise in domestic terrorist threats and a rather lame attempt at an insurgency.
A lot of keyboard warriors talk tough, but very few are getting off the couch to do something about it - and those that do tend to walk into a huge wall of resistance. The vast majority of people in the country actually like stability and the rule of law.
Dry_Protection6656@reddit
that last sentence can be proven wrong by the recent elections...
JHugh4749@reddit
I prefer NOT to prep for a specific scenario. From my perspective, there are only two options: 1 stay in a prepared location: 2 bug-out to a prepared location. Being mobile all of the time is not an option for me. As I see it, all scenarios require the same basic preparations.
Equal-Car-6856@reddit (OP)
Yeah I sense that folks that can pick out the signals before a civil war occurs would be able to bug out to a different country before SHTF and that's probably one of the best things to do.
Most of us might be stuck bugging in for an extended period due to martial law. I imagine most suburban/rural places will not be as heavily affected with martial law, there will probably be a lot more unrest in urban areas.
CitizenLuke117@reddit
Rural areas will likely have militias doing "policing" and getting rid of "undesirables". Sounds like hell to me.
Direct_Bit_806@reddit
Do you mean getting rid of the illegals that's a good thing
Dry_Protection6656@reddit
get out
forbiddenfreedom@reddit
Lol, no. He meant what he said. Civil war like that means anarchy. Gangs could take over a city just as easily as a militia.
Mommadomo@reddit
My thought exactly. I love in an area where I would be in danger. Due to my husband's health issues bugging out is not an option. 😒
Dry_Protection6656@reddit
In 2025, I'd like to say...civil war is a very high change now
CommonMisbelief@reddit
This has changed, we are now likely to have a civil war as militias are being organized and trained by preachers, funded by the billionaires from the Heritage Foundation and Federalist Society. If Harris wins, they have attack plans in place. They will hit all the power stations first. Then their forces will invade the Capitol, and the capitols of all the states, killing on the democratic representatives and leaving the republicans alive. I don't know what they plan for those aren't in either party, but I figure they'll kill anyone who isn't a republican in those buildings. Once all the democrats are dead, the only ones left will be the Republicans and they will take control of the government. It will be in less than 24 hours. The way they will win is by getting rid of all the other leadership. The government would default fall into the republican's hands. It will happen before a single national guard unit can be summoned. They are not quiet about their plans at all. Apparently a strong 1/4th of Americans are determined to remove democracy from America entirely and replace it with a pure republic with a permanent leadership structure, turning voting into polling instead. The polls will tell the leaders how the people feel, and the leaders will keep doing whatever they like. It will be a fast and clean take over and within a few years we'll be just like Russia.
Oicyunvmeps5@reddit
The irony being once they "get rid of the democrats" the peon maga will be the ones that are at the bottom and will essentially become the enslaved. Do they think the rich are going to go do backbreaking labor? Nope. Then we know what will happen, the government WILL SEIZE all weapons, and, ironically, it will be the republicans that took away their second all along. That will be poetic justice.
Lazy_Grapefruit8671@reddit
Civil war in the US (I believe) would be localized to urban areas or geographical areas where there are apposing political beliefs. There won’t be battle lines drawn, or large armies meeting to fight. It will look much like the riots of 2020 and 2021 but on much larger scales including urban firefights.
Those not in or near conflict zones will see food shortages, extreme inflation, fuel shortages, restricted travel, and rolling black outs.
One side will control all of the media and information being pushed out to the world.
The national guard and military will splinter as soldiers will refuse to take up arms against fellow Americans.
Foreign adversaries will intervene and give aid to whoever is apposing the federal government.
That’s my take.
Equal-Car-6856@reddit (OP)
This is actually one of my biggest concerns in a civil war situation, a lot of countries depend on the US for security as well, if the US is embroiled in domestic affairs I think our foreign adversaries will most likely take the opportunity to make strategic strikes around the globe that could making bugging out of the US an even more riskier affair than bugging in.
I am hopeful that rational minds will prevail and that our country stays civil and united. It makes me sad to even think about a civil war type of situation
Oicyunvmeps5@reddit
Honestly, this is the biggest concern. Foreign countries know they cannot handle the US, especially on our home front. However, if they can get us into a war against ourselves they would supply both sides, just to help us eliminate each other. They do not need to destroy us, they just need us to cripple the US economy so they can take over the super power label. We will still have the military capabilities above them, but that means nothing if you do not have the basics to keep your economy going.
old_reddy_192@reddit
I don't think a full-scale civil war, with two separately organized armies fighting for control of the government, is likely to happen.
What is more realistic is isolated pockets of fighting and domestic terrorism. The vast majority of the country will be able to go on with their lives. There would be supply chain issues and shortages, but we've already seen that over the past couple of years.
If we get to the point where militias are patrolling streets and taking people from their homes because they have the wrong flag flying or wrong bumper stickers on their car, I don't really need to worry about prepping because they won't take me alive. I just hope I can take some of them out before they take me out.
I also don't fly any flags but the US flag and have zero bumper stickers or political signs. Any political discussions I have are anonymous and online, I have no interest in engaging with folks in real life who might have wildly different opinions on what America should look like than I do.
MrVelocoraptor@reddit
Posting after Trump took office but before WW3 :p
ConstProgrammer@reddit
While I agree with your idea that a civil war, on the scale as the first one in the United States, is unlikely to happen, I also disagree with your idea that there will be only isolated pockets of fighting and domestic terrorism.
Consider the collapse of the Roman Empire. The empire fell apart, but militias didn't take over areas of the country. Instead, the military leaders and generals took over provinces of the empire, and set themselves up as Medieval lords there. Parts of the former Roman military elites collected the castles into their hands, and established Feudalism, and everyone else became their peasants.
My main point, I don't think that in the event of collapse of the USA, the country will not split into Democratic and Republican controlled zones. Nor will it fall to roving bands of anarchists and the like. In contrast, I think that various paramilitary groups and research groups, both those that are known as well as those that are secret, will come out, take over local or regional pieces of territory, and assert themselves as Medieval lords, propped up by any advanced military hardware that they may possess.
Yes, you missed role of the the secret military bases, who have technologies more advanced than what is available to the general public. Wonder weapons that would be like bringing a machine gun to a medieval battle. Allegedly many of these bases are located in the underground, so they would be very difficult to capture. At the same time whoever has access to these military technologies would be able to become at least a local warlord, capture large amounts of territory. Will win whoever has access to the military industrial complex, secret technologies.
The empire would be split up between various groups of army, 3 letter agencies, Area 51, and secret societies, that would take land for themselves, and become the local mini-kings there. It will be very much like the warlord period in China after the collapse of the Qing dynasty.
blaskoa@reddit
Im not fighting for either side. As long as well all feel that way, it would be hard for a real civil war. Far right and far left can go fight in national forests.
Dinkmeyer-@reddit
That’s unrealistic.
deleted_by_reddit@reddit
I have lifestyle preps and I have combat preps. That kind of scenario would fall under a combat prep.
My lifestyle preps are based around either bug out or bug in, depending on the situation. I have seeds, medical supplies, sanitary supplies, all the usual "in case of anything" materials, as well as some financial preparation.
For combat preps, I prep for five people. No specificity as to who those five individuals are, but I keep enough gear on hand to kit out a squad of combat capable individuals.
I don't see a Civil War in the United States erupting into all out street to street, town to town fighting. But it is possible that it could occur in some isolated areas. I am a gay, black man who lives in the deep south, and I am openly in a relationship with an effeminate Caucasian man. I feel like if there was a Civil War sparked off by culture or politics or religious fanaticism, he and I would be targets. So, I've got enough preps ready that either we can defend a fortified location with minimal support from the surrounding community, or be on the road headed to a safe location, and if for some reason I'm not able to get out of the area, I have enough supplies to sustain a US Army style five man fire team for at least a couple of battles.
However, most of my preps are centered around a general economic collapse leading to a necessity to be self reliant on oneself and their own means rather than the wider economy. So, basically, I'm a homestead prepper.
Dinkmeyer-@reddit
Stay safe guys! Good luck out there.
Sad-Lobster-3468@reddit
Thankyou for giving me some inside on what WE need to prepare for. I wanna keep my family safe.
Glittering_Emu_6215@reddit
After what happened yesterday, it will only get worse, it will start off with states becoming disconnected, legal battles between states and then violence. Then after November even worse, with shortages and the stock market crashing by next spring or before.
My feeling is you need to gather people around you who you trust. A small cell of friends who can help each other out and who have talents they can share. Where I live you learn to keep your thoughts and politics to yourself. Stock up now if you can, it will not be a short event, but stretched out over months. So find those who share your values and are near you.
I am not a dooms day individual, I look and listen and hear the talk of those around me. Being a senior citizen I will fight till the end and defend myself and family. The best to you all...
Individual-Potato712@reddit
Me and my family discussed the same things last night. This world will only get more out of control. All we can do is live everyday like it is our last and enjoy our time with loved ones.
Top-Fishing-6240@reddit
I don’t think a revolution is sadly inevitable