A collective gasp

We were shopping in Walmart the other day, just about ready to check out, when the power went out.

As soon as the lights went dark, a very audible ‘awwwwwhh’ went through the entire store. Two registers remained functional while the power was out. People came to the front of the store to fall in line behind these two registers.

Being already up front, we stay in line. We were already there with the two working registers. We pressed on, were able to start checking out and the power was restored. No harm done.

But there was something else. An underlying fear swept through the store. A few minutes without power, and people grew quickly concerned. The employees tensed up. Some went to guard the door. Others tried to reassure the people gathering at the front.

Shoppers quickly came forward. It was really dark in the back middle of the store, despite the emergency lighting.

When we got back to the car, it was a reality check. If people started to panic in a matter of minutes without power, how would a major grid-down situation go down?

While this was a short-lived event, it gives me a few ideas on quick preps that we should be doing to prepare for the unknown. So, I wanted to pass these on to you.

• Know where the exit is always.
• Keep an eye on those around you. When panic sets in, you need to know who will be calm and who you need to avoid.
• Be situationally aware. What caused this, and what do you need to do?
• Be prepared to provide light. LED pocket lights are cheap and easy to carry. A phone might not work in all situations.
• Prepare to defend yourself. This might be concealed carry or basic self-defense training.
• Stay calm and have a plan. The longer the situation lasts, the faster things will degrade into panic.

That’s all for today. I hope you take these prep ideas to heart and use them. They are easy and low cost. But they could save your life.