Home security today is much different from protecting yourself in a survival situation. Some of what you can learn about home protection today applies. Ed at Executive Interface, LLC spends his days analyzing potential risks to your domain. He talks about defining your space. the first zone is the private zone; this is an area that is accessible to everyone. In a survival situation that could be a church or public area where refugees are welcome. For your home, that would be the road. Next, you need to define your semi-public space. An example would be your sidewalk. It's your space, but the public is permitted to access it. The next space is your semi-private space. This is space you can put a barrier to public access, but certain people are allowed to breach it, like delivery men. The last space is your private space that the public can't enter without your permission.

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When faced with any threats, you want to deter, detect, assess, delay, and respond to the threat. You have to decide if you are going to monitor the space, actively, with a physical presence or if you are going to monitor it, passively, with automatic detection devices.

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Ed also talks about having a security token. These are items that assure a certain level of trust. This could be something you have, like a movie ticket or entry card. It can be something you are, like your fingerprint. Alternately, it could be something you know, like a username or password. In a survival situation, you should have a password that you can give to convey that all is well and one that you can give as a signal that you are under duress.

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When it comes to community security in a disaster scenario, the first thing you need to know is who your neighbors are. Usually, people react passively with security and don't react until something happens. Knowing your neighbors ensures that someone is looking out for you. When forced to rely upon one another, it is a good idea to have a preconception of who is around you. How many able bodies do you have to do the jobs you need them to do? Remember it will take three times more people to do things than you think. There are only so many hours in the day, and people will need to sleep.

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The community needs to create a barrier to signify the area that they are protecting. This barrier will slow individuals that try to breach it. It would be best if you had an outer perimeter fencing that warns individuals that they are not welcome. This fence should have a wide perimeter. The second fence should be at least 40 to 100 meters away from critical structures so nothing can be thrown at your retreat. Then you put up tactical wire to give you shooting avenues along a fenced path.

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Talking to individuals about a potential collapse and how our society would respond is not always received well. Start a plan, anyway. Know your potential strategy and how you are going to communicate with the outside world. This communication can also give you intelligence as to what is happening around you.

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Know who is responding if an alarm sounds. Have a game plan for everyone. Everyone should know their position and what they are supposed to do. You even need to know what to do if the alarm sound in the middle of the night.

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A good way to breach the topic with your neighbors can revolve around a natural disaster threat for your area. Everyone can see the reality of planning for that type of disaster and that disaster can present the same threats as any other. Having a plan is great.

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There are pluses and minuses to being in the city or the country. In the country, you may have a false sense of security. There are people everywhere. They are around you, and you need to prepare. If you are isolated, that can be a bad thing too. There is no one there to see if you are in trouble.

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In the city, there are more people to look out for you and report a dangerous situation. There could also be more resources there because government assistance will be sent to the city. However, in the city, there are a lot more threats.

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If you don't have enough people to guard a wider perimeter, you will have to shrink it. Take your essential inward so you can put up a quality guard effort.

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After that, it all comes down to training, firearms, tactics, knowledge of the terrain and equipment. It is always a good idea to have less ammo if you have spent that ammo practicing. You need to know how to use your tools efficiently. The more you know, the less stuff you will need.

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If you are protecting your home, don't shoot from the window. The window makes you into a framed target. Plus, your field of view is not adequate. To properly protect it, you need to have a 360-degree view of the home. If it is a square home, you need at least two people outside to ensure that 360-degree view of it.

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Use OCOKA. Observation - you need to be able to see and shoot in a 360-degree area. Cover/Concealment - Cover is things bullets won't penetrate, and concealment is someplace you can hide from view but not bullets. Obstacles - put up things to slow an attacker down and funnel them where you want them to be. Key terrain - this is a geographical location that offers an advantage to those who control it. Avenues of approach - roads, paths, and open areas that must be watched and maintained.

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In a grid-down situation, you need security 24/7. No one can do anything alone. If you want to accomplish any task, no matter how small, you need security. This person is doing nothing else but providing security. They need cover, concealment, observation and a way to communicate an emergency. When that alarm sounds, everyone else needs to know what to do. There needs to be a reaction force to respond, and a reserve to help them.

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In a grid-down situation, every able body should be armed all the time with access to better weapons if needed. You have to have the security in place and a roaming group that provides backup. Mom and dad won't be able to protect the homestead alone. You will need more people and a plan to react.

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Websites reference and great sites to continue your education:

• Southern Prepper Security Playlist -

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzC0sIrS0-fBnXTf1DwQukzUrOYJ11BIn

• Security during a crisis.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5KwmNDI82E

• Chas PD Crime Prevention Bochure

https://www.charleston-sc.gov/DocumentCenter/View/13068/Booklet_-_Crime_Prevention_rev_7-16?bidId=

• Chas PD Security Risk Analysis

https://www.charleston-sc.gov/DocumentCenter/View/1148/Residential-Security-Survey?bidId=

• How to survive a riot

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iN3WQYShHmc

• Fun video kinda in on topic but more in for the entertainment value.

100 Deadly Skills - An Evening with Navy SEAL Clint Emerson
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJTKVqZ_wFs

• VikingPreparedness https://youtu.be/qAPs8rB5RbY