From the recent ICE-related riots in Los Angeles to the nationwide Flag Day “No Kings” protests, it’s clear that violent civil unrest can erupt quickly and anywhere. And, on the off chance that it does where you are, you need to do if you’re caught in one. If you live in a city or suburb, don’t assume you’re safe just because you’re not downtown. Today, peaceful protests can flip into full-scale riots in minutes. This guide will walk you through the steps to prepare for a riot and provide guidance on how to survive if you’re caught in one.
Why Riot Preparedness Matters
The ICE riots in Los Angeles started with protestors opposing immigration raids and ended with looting, arson, and National Guard deployment. Roads were blocked, stores were looted, vehicles were set on fire. Riots are unpredictable. You don’t get a warning bell. One minute, you’re heading to the store; the next, you’re in a crowd dodging projectiles.
If you’re asking, “How do I prepare for a riot or protest that turns violent?” you’re already ahead of the curve. Let’s break it down.
TL;DR: To prepare for a riot, stay home if possible or avoid protest zones entirely. If you must go out, check local alerts, dress to blend in, and plan escape routes. If caught in a riot, stay calm, move with the crowd, avoid confrontations, and exit as soon as possible.
Quick Look at What You’ll Learn
How to Prepare for a Riot: What to Do Now
1. Stay Home or Leave the Area
The best course of action is to avoid going out on days when significant protests are planned. If you don’t need to be out, stay put. Even better—if you live in an area where problems are likely to occur, leave ahead of time. Stay with friends and family or at a hotel outside the expected hot zone. The problem isn’t a problem if you avoid the problem.
2. Stay Informed
Monitor your local news, emergency alert apps, and community social media feeds. Be aware of when and where protests are planned, especially if they’re near places where you live, work, or travel.
Set up news alerts for your city. Join local social media groups—check in with friends and neighbors in different parts of town. Find out what they’re experiencing. Sometimes, the fastest intel comes from people on the ground, experiencing it in real-time. Follow local officials and police departments on their social media channels.
While Twitter can be a dumpster fire, you can find people live-streaming events as they happen.
3. Set Up a Communications Plan
Teach your family a basic communication and meetup strategy. Cell towers get overloaded during chaos—send texts if the network is dropping calls. Avoid trying to call or text from the middle of the riot. First get out of the area, then try to connect. Have a rally point—or better yet, a couple of them—in case you get separated. Make sure everyone knows how to reach those points on foot if necessary.
4. Build a Basic Riot Readiness Kit
This is a light kit you can keep in your car or backpack. This kit is designed to get you away from trouble while drawing as little attention as possible. For a deeper breakdown of what to include in a vehicle kit, check out this article: What’s In Your Emergency Essentials Car Kit?
- Protective eyewear
- N95 mask or wet bandana
- Water bottle
- Compact first aid kit
- Power bank for your phone
- Small flashlight
- $40-60 in cash
- Map of the area
If you legally carry self-defense tools (such as pepper spray, etc.), ensure you’re trained as thoroughly as possible and familiar with your state’s laws. These laws can and do change quickly, so it’s essential to double-check them periodically—even if you think you already know them.
5. Harden Your Home (If Protests and Riots Are Possible)
Close blinds, lock doors and windows and bring in outdoor items like lawn chairs and garbage bins—anything that someone could throw. Park your vehicle in a garage or out of sight if possible. Ensure that valuables are hidden and that you have a clear escape plan. Consider moving furniture to reinforce front and rear doors—don’t block your egress route.
If You Have to Leave Home
While staying home is ideal, sometimes you have no choice but to head out. Whether it’s work, an important errand, or an unavoidable obligation, the key is to leave smart. This section will help you avoid walking—or driving—straight into a problem.
1. Do a Last-Minute Info Check
Before you leave, do a final scan of local alerts, social media, and community updates. Look for any hotspots or rising tensions along your planned route—or near your destination.
Give your friends a call or send them a text to see if they’ve heard of anything happening—especially where you are going. Ask them to get in touch with you if they hear anything new while you’re out.
If something is heating up, reroute or reconsider whether it’s worth the risk to keep going. Is it better to shift plans now than get caught up in something preventable?
2. Dress to Blend In
If tensions are high in your area, skip any shirts with designs that will attract attention and stick to neutral to dark (protest) colors. Long sleeves and pants protect your skin from scrapes, glass, and chemical irritants.
If protests are happening, consider bringing a sweatshirt, t-shirt, and/or hat that blends in (color-wise) what protestors are wearing—especially if you’re anywhere near the action.
You don’t want to stand out as a non-protester if you end up caught in the crowd. And you want the ability not to be perceived as a protester by the police. So, don’t go overboard trying to blend in with Antifa and the other anarchists. Just tone it down and give yourself options.
Backpacks are better than purses—they keep your hands free. Wear closed-toe shoes that you can run in.
3. Pre-Plan Your Routes
Know how to get home fast. Know more than one way. Map out alternate routes from work, school, and the grocery store. When times are normal, turn off your navigation system and practice driving home by memory.
You can always turn on your navigation after you’ve discovered new places while being lost. Learn the side streets and back roads. As a backup, print a map and mark off detours in case streets are blocked.
4. Plan Alternate Parking
If you need to travel on protest days, park away from known hotspots or find a secure garage, if possible. Back into your parking spot for a faster exit if needed. Don’t leave anything of value in your car.
If You’re Caught in a Riot
If you’re wondering, “What should I do if I’m caught in a riot?”—this section breaks it down clearly, step by step. These are the actions you can take when on foot to improve your chances of avoiding injury, escaping safely, and not making things worse. Here’s how to increase your chances of getting out safely.
1. Get Out Early
You can walk straight into a riot without realizing what you’re getting into. Why? Because it can just appear to be a crowd of animated protesters. One second, everything is peaceful—the next, it’s riot town.
When a protest turns into a riot, it often happens quickly—sometimes with little to no warning. If you’re approaching an area that’s becoming more crowded and tense, don’t wait to find out what’s going to happen. Turn around and go back the way you came. Always move towards less crowded areas.
If the crowd starts getting aggressive—chanting shifts, objects are thrown, police arrive in riot gear—leave immediately.
2. Move with the Crowd, Then Out
If you’re caught in a moving crowd, don’t fight it. Move diagonally with the flow until you reach the edge, then break off. Stay away from barricades, buildings, and fences where you could be trapped.
3. Don’t Engage, Blend In
If you need to walk through a crowd, don’t argue. Don’t film. Don’t flash weapons. Keep your head down. If approached, nod along or say nothing. This isn’t the time to make a political statement. Control your composure. Don’t look worried. You’ll get out of it. Move confidently with deliberate purpose.
4. Avoid Police Lines (Unless You’re Already Known to Them)
Running toward riot police could get you mistaken for a threat. If you must approach law enforcement, do it slowly. Keep your hands visible, move calmly, and clearly state your intent to leave. Aim for a thinner part of the line or an area where officers are directing people out. Avoid making sudden moves, digging into bags, or escalating the situation. Look as non-threatening as possible, be ready to back off, and stay respectful. Thank the officers as you pass.
Special Consideration: Caught in Your Vehicle
Getting stuck in a vehicle during a riot can turn dangerous fast. This section covers what to watch for and how to respond if you’re suddenly caught in a protest or riot while driving. It’s not just about what you do with the car—it’s about mindset, timing, and staying a step ahead.
1. Spot Trouble Early
People often get caught in a riot not because they meant to be there—but because what started as a couple of people walking turned into a lot of fired-up people looking to cause damage. That flip can happen in seconds. If you’re driving and the road ahead is starting to fill with people or feels wrong, stay calm and see if you can make a U-turn. If there’s no room to turn around and it’s safe to do so, back up. And, if you can’t go anywhere, you may need to leave your vehicle and continue on foot if that’s the safest option.
2. Navigate With Caution
If you must move through a crowd, do so very slowly. Tap your horn. Do not accelerate unless you are in immediate danger. Hitting someone, even in self-defense, can land you in court—or worse, enrage the crowd further. Watch the ground—drivers often get stuck on medians, curb lines, or debris piles.
3. Expect Damage, Stay Focused
Your windshield might get shattered, spray-painted, or covered. It’s not ideal, but don’t panic. Be mentally ready for it. Look beneath or to the side of the obstruction and continue moving if possible. Knowing it could happen helps you stay calm if it does.
4. Try to Remain in the Car
If you’re surrounded and your vehicle comes to a stop, keep your doors locked and windows up. Your car is a barrier. If they’re yelling or hitting your vehicle, stay calm. Do not antagonize or show a weapon unless you’re facing a life-threatening attack.
If you are forced to stop and you’re not totally surrounded, consider getting out and leaving your car before more people gather around.
Be mindful that many cars open the door locks when you shift into park. So, try to avoid putting the car in park. If the situation requires you to leave your vehicle, be prepared to protect yourself as soon as your door opens. As before, get out and away from your car and the crowd.
Legal Prep You Can Do Today
1. Consider Self-Defense Insurance
If you’re legally armed or concerned about needing to defend yourself, consider purchasing self-defense insurance. This type of coverage can help protect you financially and legally in the aftermath of a use-of-force situation. Several providers offer plans that include coverage for both criminal charges and civil lawsuits.
In states like Texas, Florida, and Missouri, your car might be considered an extension of your home under Castle Doctrine laws in some states (Castle Doctrine), but not all. (source NRA-ILA guide) Research when and how you’re legally allowed to use force. And yes, this is where people like to state with certainty, “It’s better to be judged by 12 than carried by six.”
And I 100% agree with you if you’ve exhausted all other options. That’s why I encourage you to know the self-defense laws as they relate to you. As you learn those laws, ask yourself, “What if?” Ask yourself how that law applies to you in different situations.
Bottom line: Unless your life is clearly in danger, avoidance, de-escalation, and escape are your best legal defense. This is where the mental and physical training pays off.
3. Document and Report If Needed
If you used force, or violence was used against you, call 911 and report it as soon as you’re safe. Get names of witnesses, and if possible, record video or photos of damage. The sooner you establish yourself as a victim of the mob, the better.
4. Avoid Looking Like the Aggressor
You’re one person trying to survive the mob during an emotionally charged riot. Your goal is to get safely away. If you’re trying to survive a riot, your goal is not to make a political statement, get into it with people, or injure them.
Avoid taking any aggressive action unless absolutely necessary. This will help you remain as low-key as possible. And should you go to court over your actions, you’ll appear as innocent as possible
The Bottom Line on How to Prepare for a Riot – Avoidance is Survival
Most riot injuries happen because people were caught in the wrong place at the wrong time and didn’t leave early enough. You don’t need to be a combat veteran to know how to survive a riot if you’re caught in one—you just need awareness, a plan, and the discipline to leave when your gut tells you to.
Preparing for a riot isn’t about living in fear. It’s about stacking the odds in your favor. The more you think it through now, the less likely you are to panic later.
So check the headlines. Charge your phone. Top off your gas tank. And be ready to act early—not late.
Stay safe out there.
Additional Resources
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