As a normal, law-abiding individual, one of my worst fears is being caught in a riot. Crowds are terrifying, suffocating, and extremely dangerous. I’m remarkably antisocial and introverted, so from a personal perspective, it’s not something I want to deal with.
It’s no secret that riots and general civil unrest can occur rapidly. It’s frustrating, to say the least, because it’s easy to find yourself in an area you don’t want to be in. Civil unrest is often something that criminals will take advantage of, and that creates a dangerous environment for everyone.
With that in mind, let’s discuss some riot survival techniques to get you through those dark and unpredictable times.
Situational Awareness Rules
Anytime we discuss survival in daily life, we have to mention situational awareness. Your ability to pay attention to the world around you is the absolute best tool to avoid trouble. That means keeping your head on a swivel, but also being connected to your community and watching local news. Cruising local social media can give you a better heads-up on what’s coming.
If you’re in an unfamiliar area, it’s wise to keep a brief eye on news headlines. Honestly, if you’re in a big city, it likely has a subreddit, which can be useful for finding both things to do and avoiding bad areas. At the same time, these subreddits are on fire when social unrest occurs. I’ve used a city subreddit to avoid some protests, admittedly more out of convenience than fear.
Avoid It!
This should be a big “duh” in all prepared citizens’ minds, but every year we see normal people get stuck in bad situations. You have a right to travel, to be in a public space, etc. I get the arguments, but people who want to be right more than they want to be safe often find themselves in violent confrontations.
If a riot is forced upon you, then you may need to evacuate. At the very least, evacuate your family and get them out of the situation. If you don’t evacuate, staying indoors and locking doors is the way to go. It’s much safer all around to avoid riots, and even protests and general civil unrest.
You definitely have a right to go down that road, but is it the smartest option? Will being stubborn result in anything beneficial? Can it affect your life negatively?
Blend In
Boom, you’ve found yourself in a bad situation. The protest, the riot, and the civil unrest came out of nowhere. One minute you’re getting a number 7 from Taco Bell, the next you’re in a crowd of angry people moving forward. Take a deep breath and get ready to blend in.
Don’t try to argue with anyone; don’t try to fight. You can’t change a crowd’s mind. Avoid any form of confrontation and, if possible, blend in. Become the Taco Bell-appreciating Gray Man. My advice is to try to avoid doing anything that will set someone in the crowd off. Don’t film, don’t take photos, don’t attempt to move away from the crowd.
That Number 7 comes with a Taco, share it, make a friend, and be ready to escape.
Attempt To Escape
Part 2 of blending in is escaping the crowd. We aren’t fighting, we aren’t filming, and we aren’t even walking against the crowd. We don’t have to participate; we need to escape. In general, city blocks will funnel people along a path; we need to get out of that path. If possible, stay on the edge of the crowd, or start working your way to the edge of a crowd.
Move at a 45 or 90-degree angle off the flow of aggressors, not against, but through. If you can get to the outskirts, you can eventually find a cross street or alley to get yourself out of the crowd.
As an individual, this isn’t difficult, but as a family, it can be a challenge. A human train is the best way to move. Everyone holds hands with mom and dad at the front and rear, with kids in between. That’s optimum, but if not possible, you need to maintain physical contact with kids and visual contact.
Move as fast as you can, and if that’s slow, that’s fine. Making progress while staying together is critical to escaping safely and together.
Find A Safe Place To Hide
If we can’t escape, we want to find a safe place to hide from the riot. This can be tricky, but not impossible. We want to do it quickly before police respond with chemical weapons and less-lethal munitions. Finding somewhere safe and getting off the streets requires a little applied thought.
Avoid locations that look “loottable.” Retail stores are often targets for criminal elements. Coffee shops also seem to be targets for destruction, not sure why, but it appears to be a running theme. Parking garages seem fairly safe and provide multiple escape routes. Hotel lobbies can be a good choice, as can hospitals and government facilities.
Government facilities will be guarded by security or police who may or may not allow you access. If possible, find a rear exit and escape the area entirely.
Fighting is The Absolute Last Resort
Fighting is the absolute worst thing to do and should be the absolute last resort. You might be able to beat one person accosting you, but can you beat the crowd? Can you deal with multiple attackers from different directions? If you do, will your life be ruined by legal proceedings afterward?
Additionally, even in a 100% justified situation, shooting a firearm into a crowd can result in uninvolved parties being injured. It’s nearly impossible to get a clear background in a riot. This is just another reason to carry OC spray for similar situations, but even then, I don’t want to fight just because I have OC spray.
Avoid violence at all costs. Be quick to apologize even when you’re not in the wrong. Focus on escaping and surviving, not winning a fight or being right.
It’s a Riot
Protests and general civil unrest can quickly turn into a violent scenario. Crowd mindset is absolutely terrifying and will have people acting like fools without even realizing it. The only way to win is not to play.
Be smart, be aware, and be ready to humble yourself. Escape and avoidance are the keys to riot survival.
