Having considered the options of staying put or bugging out and made up our mind we now need to look at the next biggest issue; physical security of the home. Take a walk around your home, look at it critically. Think about how easy it would be to gain entry, particularly if you didn't care about breaking windows or kicking in a door. Rather daunting isn't it?
How would you protect this refuge from criminal predation in the event of a collapse? Many cities and counties have already reduced their police services and you can bet that further cuts will be coming down the pike. When the police no longer respond (or take so long to get there that the criminal will be long-gone prior to their arrival) alarm systems are meaningless decorations. If your house is like mine it was designed to have nice large windows that let in the light (as well as criminals) decorative doors that are more effective at keeping the cold out than they are at stopping felons and an attractive brick facade that will be lucky to last five minutes under the attention of a man with a sledgehammer. Not the image of a fortress at all.
Some simple things can be done to deter the looters, well more likely cause them to go after a softer target, ditch the pretty front door, get one made of solid wood (better yet steel), re-enforce your doorjamb; the two 2” screws holding your lock-plate in place are OK for holding the door shut against the cold but will fail in an instant when faced with a Stanley pry-bar. Obtain thick plywood sufficient to cover all of your ground floor windows and doorwalls, cut it to size now (there won't be time later) and make sure your cordless drill is always charged up. Buy a box of 4” drywall screws, a big one, 10lb or so.
I built a retaining wall and patio in my backyard out of concrete block and stone pavers, I keep enough mortar in the garage to brick up my two door walls and ground level window to the point that they are five feet above the interior floor and seven above grade outside. None of this would stop a determined attack, only slow it. The fantasy that you can find security in a “Panic Room” is beyond absurd. With luck you will emerge from it to find a house that has been totally looted, alternately they could set your house on fire after looting it and you would roast to death in safety.
After Man fire is the biggest enemy of your home. When the cops stop coming the fire department will as well. You need to obtain quality fire-extinguishers and keep them checked and charged. You should also establish a rainwater retention system for your home so that you have some water handy at all times. Find a sturdy manual pump and hose and practice with it, you don't want to get winded while trying to put out a fire! As a defense against arson you would need to get a metal roof, great if you can afford it but out of reach for a lot of people trying to stock up on survival gear as well.
When all things are considered your home is not your castle (unless of course it really is a castle), it is actually just a fancy tent where you keep your stuff. Fortifying a normal home is really not feasible, or even sane. If you want to spend that sort of money you would be better off starting from scratch and building a proper fortress, be prepared for some funny looks from the code department and your builder. There is little that can be done for most of us as far as this goes at this late stage in the game. It is that simple.
Defense must come from the neighborhood and the occupants. In the event of collapse (which the charlatans in D.C. seem intent on bringing about) the cops won't come at all. You will be on your own. It will be far too late to think about buying a gun or stocking up on food. If you and your neighbors have not prepared to tough it out for at least a year you are likely to die or be killed.
Hate to be a downer like that folks, but it is true.
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