>>1216720I really doubt the situation, where some sort of big event changes everything overnight, will happen. It would be a slow burn, and localized. My first bet would be a massive recession. Think of the situation in Argentina 20 years ago. A major run on banks, hyperinflation, empty supermarkets, no essential government services. This would be a long term thing - massive increases in crime, lots of people begging and starving. Robbery becomes very common. How to survive such a situation? Obviously, the first thing is firearms, knowing how to use them, having a shitload of ammo stored up, which will be the first thing you can’t buy at the store. Having a level of small unit tactics, how to defend a fixed position (your house), and a network of similarly skilled people is key. Basically, a militia. Next is fortifying your house - knowing which trees to cut down to block access to your neighborhood, setting up fixed firing positions with ranged targets and interlocking fields of fire. A generator or some sort of unique power source (keep in mind this will also make you a target), food stores. Obviously the countryside is where this plan is feasible, the city and most suburbs you’re pretty much fucked. You would want to set up most of this stuff as low profile as possible, there will probably be some level of local law enforcement or national guard, so setting up an M2 in your front yard might cause a little unwanted attention.
Another possible way to have some level of widespread social disorder would be a pandemic, something like Ebola spreading around the globe. This would add a new aspect to the above scenario, but the basics of widespread looting and crime/a lack of government services like police/fire/medical stays the same.
The US would mostly fare ok in such a situation. The cities would canabalize themselves, but most rural people already have a strong sense of community and practice the necessary skills (hunt, fish, shoot) for fun on the weekends.
