The topic of establishing Emergency Action Plans (EAPs) for personal and family use came up in another thread. I am posting the EAPs my wife and I currently have agreed upon based on the different DEFCON levels so that others interested in doing something similar can use them as a point of reference if they wish. Nothing I'm posting should compromise our security. I am always re-evaluating these plans, so comments and suggestions on improving them are welcome.
When developing an EAP, keep in mind that the goal is to think things through now, while you're calm and have access to unlimited information to assist you. The whole purpose of an EAP is to allow people to follow pre-established steps without having to try to think through panic. A properly designed EAP will quickly walk the reader through the steps they need to protect themselves while still leaving room for deviation from the plan and improvisation if the situation calls for it. EAPs should be both brief and descriptive, allowing the reader to absorb the most information in as short a time as possible. There should be an EAP for every natural or man-made threat that exists in your area. For instance, in Indiana, EAPs for tornadoes are the most common in homes and businesses. They should be clearly labeled and easily accessible to every member of the family.
Practice runs should be conducted from time to time. My wife and I use brief power outages and camping trips to this end, notating problems we have that would be serious in an extended disaster, and fixing those problems before the next dry run. About five years ago a massive blizzard hit Indianapolis, resulting in loss of power at our house for 72 hours with -20 wind chills outside. We implemented several parts of our Shelter In Place EAP and we were extremely comfortable for the duration of the power outage. However, the experience still revealed several minor weaknesses in our plan that would have become major inconveniences in the event of a long-term SIP scenario. Those were corrected in short order after the power came back on.
So, here are our current DEFCON Level EAPs. All of this took several hours of research and work, spread out over a few months until I had a finished product.
DEFCON 5 Normal peacetime level. No imminent nuclear threats exist.
DEFCON 4 No imminent nuclear threats exist. However, geopolitical situations require increased intelligence gathering efforts and heightened security measures.
DEFCON 3 No imminent nuclear threats exist, but hostile military action against the United States or US allies is a distinct possibility. U.S. military forces are on a heightened state of alert in anticipation of mobilization. Air Force strategic assets must be ready to launch operations with 15 minutes notice.
DEFCON 2 There is a significant risk of major military operations including the possible use of nuclear weapons. Force readiness increases to just below maximum levels. All combat forces are readied for major operations within six hours.
DEFCON 1 Use of nuclear weapons is imminent or ongoing. Military at maximum readiness and prepared for immediate action at all times.
Using the NukeMap utility at nuclearsecrecy.com, I have created several maps for our Evacuation EAP showing potential nuclear targets in all states between home and our bugout location, with a pre-planned route that avoids potential blast zones and major interstates. All travel is on local highways or county roads for as long as we are able to drive, and I try to store enough gasoline to get us there without needing a gas station. Rotating that much fuel on a regular basis is not easy. Below is an example I have edited to remove starting location, and our final destination is on another map. Blast radius is based on 500 kiloton airbursts and targets are derived from several different sources. Assuming normal traffic patterns, we can be out of all potential Indianapolis blast zones in about 15 minutes from the time we leave, possibly less if I use the emergency lights on my truck to run traffic lights. With the exception of Lafayette, Indiana, once we are clear of the Indy danger zones, we never come close enough to any potential nuclear target to worry about anything except possibly being blinded by a detonation, and our EAP has a contingency for that.
Everyone is welcome to copy as much or as little of these plans as they wish to assist with developing your own EAPs. Please feel free to post questions, comments, and suggestions.
Edited by DEFCON Warning System: Updated information to remove location-specific details (i.e DEFCON Levels do not reflect a threat only against the United States now as opposed to when this was originally written.)
When developing an EAP, keep in mind that the goal is to think things through now, while you're calm and have access to unlimited information to assist you. The whole purpose of an EAP is to allow people to follow pre-established steps without having to try to think through panic. A properly designed EAP will quickly walk the reader through the steps they need to protect themselves while still leaving room for deviation from the plan and improvisation if the situation calls for it. EAPs should be both brief and descriptive, allowing the reader to absorb the most information in as short a time as possible. There should be an EAP for every natural or man-made threat that exists in your area. For instance, in Indiana, EAPs for tornadoes are the most common in homes and businesses. They should be clearly labeled and easily accessible to every member of the family.
Practice runs should be conducted from time to time. My wife and I use brief power outages and camping trips to this end, notating problems we have that would be serious in an extended disaster, and fixing those problems before the next dry run. About five years ago a massive blizzard hit Indianapolis, resulting in loss of power at our house for 72 hours with -20 wind chills outside. We implemented several parts of our Shelter In Place EAP and we were extremely comfortable for the duration of the power outage. However, the experience still revealed several minor weaknesses in our plan that would have become major inconveniences in the event of a long-term SIP scenario. Those were corrected in short order after the power came back on.
So, here are our current DEFCON Level EAPs. All of this took several hours of research and work, spread out over a few months until I had a finished product.
DEFCON 5 Normal peacetime level. No imminent nuclear threats exist.
- No deviation from normal daily activities
DEFCON 4 No imminent nuclear threats exist. However, geopolitical situations require increased intelligence gathering efforts and heightened security measures.
- Review DEFCON 3 EAP
Inspect and clean weapons
Review current status of all emergency supplies and note possible issues that need addressed
Vehicle fuel tanks no lower than 1/2 full at all times
DEFCON 3 No imminent nuclear threats exist, but hostile military action against the United States or US allies is a distinct possibility. U.S. military forces are on a heightened state of alert in anticipation of mobilization. Air Force strategic assets must be ready to launch operations with 15 minutes notice.
- Fill vehicle fuel tanks and maintain no lower than 3/4 full at all times
Install topper on truck and prepare it for evacuation supplies to be loaded
Review DEFCON 2 EAP
Review Shelter In Place and Evacuation EAPs
Increase emergency food and water supplies if possible
Rotate and increase battery supplies if possible
Rotate, replenish, and increase reserve fuel supplies if possible
Increase ammunition supplies if possible
Inspect radiation detection kit and dosimeters
DEFCON 2 There is a significant risk of major military operations including the possible use of nuclear weapons. Force readiness increases to just below maximum levels. All combat forces are readied for major operations within six hours.
- Fill vehicle fuel tanks and return home immediately for emergency discussion and planning
Vehicle fuel tanks to remain full at all times
Maintain regular communications via text, phone, or radio
Withdraw cash from bank
Weapons loaded and ready to fire at all times
Prepare radiation detection equipment for use and deploy dosimeters
Review DEFCON 1 EAP
Prepare and secure shelter and house for extended shelter in place
Implement Shelter In Place EAP if appropriate
Reinforce basement shelter area if appropriate
Cover windows with boards if appropriate
Prepare and load vehicles for quick and extended evacuation
Implement Evacuation EAP if appropriate
DEFCON 1 Use of nuclear weapons is imminent or ongoing. Military at maximum readiness and prepared for immediate action at all times.
- Continuous communications via radio
Prepare for possible EMP effects
Implement or continue to implement Shelter In Place or Evacuation EAP based on nature of threat
Avoid all nuclear target areas (See EAP Nuclear Target Maps)
Weapons loaded and carried ready to fire at all times
Deadly force used against potential threats
Using the NukeMap utility at nuclearsecrecy.com, I have created several maps for our Evacuation EAP showing potential nuclear targets in all states between home and our bugout location, with a pre-planned route that avoids potential blast zones and major interstates. All travel is on local highways or county roads for as long as we are able to drive, and I try to store enough gasoline to get us there without needing a gas station. Rotating that much fuel on a regular basis is not easy. Below is an example I have edited to remove starting location, and our final destination is on another map. Blast radius is based on 500 kiloton airbursts and targets are derived from several different sources. Assuming normal traffic patterns, we can be out of all potential Indianapolis blast zones in about 15 minutes from the time we leave, possibly less if I use the emergency lights on my truck to run traffic lights. With the exception of Lafayette, Indiana, once we are clear of the Indy danger zones, we never come close enough to any potential nuclear target to worry about anything except possibly being blinded by a detonation, and our EAP has a contingency for that.
Everyone is welcome to copy as much or as little of these plans as they wish to assist with developing your own EAPs. Please feel free to post questions, comments, and suggestions.
Edited by DEFCON Warning System: Updated information to remove location-specific details (i.e DEFCON Levels do not reflect a threat only against the United States now as opposed to when this was originally written.)
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