When governments take control of a city — whether through emergency powers, military occupation, disaster response, civil war, or political transition — civilians are often left confused, fearful, and unprepared. While the reasons for a takeover can vary, the lived reality for residents is often similar: restricted movement, new authority structures, supply uncertainty, and rapid changes in daily life.
This article focuses on civilian preparedness, resilience, and survival — not panic, conspiracy, or politics — but practical readiness.
What “Government Takeover” Can Mean
A government takeover of a city may occur due to:
- Natural disasters (martial law, emergency governance)
- Civil unrest or security collapse
- Military conflict
- Foreign occupation
- Economic or political breakdown
- Large-scale evacuation or quarantine zones
In nearly all cases, the population experiences:
- Increased surveillance and checkpoints
- Curfews or movement restrictions
- Increased laws or expectations, such as being required to carry identification or documents
- Racial, disability, or LGBTQ+ profiling
- Conflicting information from local and state police versus federal officials
- Reduced citizen rights, potentially a loss of privacy rights
- Supply chain disruption
- Communication limitations
- Authority changes
- Unpredictable and unjustified violence from government officials
Preparation is not about resistance — it is about adaptability, safety, and continuity of life.
1. Psychological Preparation Comes First
Fear causes more harm than shortages and may lead to panicking in a conflict with authority. Mentally prepare for how to respond to various situations, such as being stopped at a check point or being pulled over.
Prepare mentally to:
- Stay calm when being stopped at a check point or pulled over while driving
- Observe before reacting
- Think in terms of weeks, not hours
- Consider how to avoid checkpoints or violent military or law enforcement officials by leaving town, staying home, or sticking to safe location
- Consider the moral lines you won’t cross, when you will risk your own life to help someone, and how you can do so in the safest manner possible
- Mentally prepare to be surrounded my militia, friendly or not, and for your community to look more like a warzone than a neighborhood
- Practice meditation
Those who remain emotionally stable adapt fastest.
2. Documentation and Identity Security
Keep physical and digital copies of:
- Identification, Ideally a Real ID
- Birth certificates
- Passports
- Green Card, Work Visa, Travel Visa, as appropriate
- Medical records
- Property documents
Store copies in multiple locations. Carry only what is necessary when moving.
Loss of documentation during a takeover can severely restrict mobility and access to aid.
3. Food and Water Stability
Stockpile AT THE VERY MINIMUM:
- 3 weeks of non-perishable food that can be easily consumed without cooking
- Think high-caloric density food primarily.
- Examples include:
- Peanut Butter
- Crackers
- Granola Bars
- Energy Bars
- Protein Shakes
- Jerky
- Nuts
- Dried Fruit
- Canned Beans
- Sugar
- Canned Soup (if you don’t mind eating it cold if necessary)
- Keep Food Stored in Sealed Containers, such a mason jars, to protect long-term from rodents.
- Ideally, only buy food you normally eat or will eat and rotate every 6 months or so
- Consider keeping a pack of emergency seeds if you have a place to grow a garden, learning foraging, or having a plan in case you need to turn to hunting or fishing if food sources have truly run out. Even supplementing with any of these will help extend stored food longer.
- Multiple water sources in your house, yard, or neighborhood and plan ways to purify or filter water in an emergency
- 1 Gallon of water per person per day
- Plan and prepare for cooking methods not dependent on power, such as a backyard grill
Focus on:
- Calories
- Familiar foods
- Low preparation requirements
Hunger destabilizes judgment making even a minor emergency seem so much worse and potentially leading to hasty decisions or accidents.
Plan ways to help your neighbors secure food in uncertain times if you have the means to do so. Community preparedness goes leaps and bounds further than individual preparedness. Together, your community is more likely to pull through.
4. Cash and Trade Readiness
Electronic systems may fail.
Keep:
- Small bills
- Useful barter items
- Backup payment options
Avoid displaying wealth and find a place to store your money reserves.
5. Movement and Shelter Planning
Gather information and learn the following before a situation develops:
- Multiple routes in and out of your area, using multiple transportations methods especially walking, biking, by car, or public transit
- Safe shelter-in-place strategies
- Do NOT answer the door to anyone you don’t know
- You are NOT required to allow law enforcement into your home unless they have a warrant.
- Consider when to leave town and when not to
- Keep a family plan and make sure the other members of your family have a general idea of what it is
- Choose one main gathering location, either on your property if it’s very large or in your neighborhood where your family will meet in an emergency. This can be helpful in the event of a fire as well.
- Pick a second gathering location, such as a relative’s house, that is outside of town in case of a large disaster that forces everyone in your family in separate directions.
- Pack a bug-out bag (a separate post will cover what to put in it) in case you’re forced to leave suddenly without much warning.
Moving too early is as dangerous as moving too late.
6. Communication Strategy
Create:
- A contact list of friends, neighbors, and family, phone numbers, physical addresses, etc. and print it out.
- Battery radios with spare batteries in the same bin
- Power banks
- Emergency solar power generator for charging batteries, lanterns, and cell phones
- Whistles
Do not rely on real-time information alone. Delays and misinformation are common.
7. Behavior Under Authority Changes
During any takeover:
- Remain respectful to law enforcement or other government employees
- Follow visible laws
- Avoid confrontation
- Do not volunteer information
- Do not threaten law enforcement officers, either verbally or physically
- Build your friendship with neighbors and plan community resilience strategies together
- Keep you cell phone on hand and be prepared to film illegal actions
Survival favors those who remain low-profile and cooperative without becoming dependent.
8. Community Is Protection
Strong local relationships increase:
- Information accuracy
- Resource sharing
- Safety
Isolation increases risk. Take time to meet and get to know your neighbors and create a neighborhood disaster plan, if possible. Brainstorm ideas of potential risks and threats and how to respond to each.
9. Children and Vulnerable Family Members
Prepare:
- Comfort items.
- For young children, stuffed animals, favorite books, and a board game or card game can go a long way to keeping them happy
- Tea, coffee, and chocolate – or whatever is your normal go-to can be a game changer in an emergency.
- Stick to the usual routine where possible
- Normal meal and bedtime schedule, especially for kids
- Regular teeth brushing schedule, if possible
- Honest but calming explanations
- In my own experience with my 3 kids, I have found they can handle a lot more openness about disasters and dangerous situations than I’d ever anticipated. Straight forward answers about any hazards has seemed to prevent, not cause phobias.
- Knowing how to prepare for, prevent, and respond to emergencies gives kids and adults a feeling of control and power over the situation.
Children mirror adult emotional stability.
10. Long-Term Outlook
Most takeovers do not last forever — but instability can.
Think in phases:
- Immediate safety
- Short-term stability
- Long-term rebuilding
Final Thoughts
Preparing for a government takeover of a city is not paranoia, especially right now.
History shows that ordinary people who prepare calmly, quietly, and practically suffer less, adapt faster, and recover sooner.
Preparedness is not fear. Preparedness is dignity.
Please share your thoughts! Is there anything I missed?
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