What Now?

Preparation

Here are a few ways one can prepare for the unrest we are likely to see over the next few years. We've already seen a spike in inflation, crippling tariffs and with the regime in chaos, there is a non-zero chance they completely crash the economy, either purposefully or through negligence. We may have to contend with blackouts, food shortages, undrinkable or no water and ICE home invasion/abduction. We also need to protect ourselves online for a time when dissent may be truly illegal.

The Good Neighbors' Coalition takes digital security very seriously. Our online domain is hosted in Switzerland (Infomaniak) while our website hails from good old Ireland (LetsHost), a historical ally of the Palestinian people. We do this because we do not trust American companies to not comply with illegal (or legal) orders to turn over information about our Neighbors to a fascist regime. Our email is run through Proton, which also provides us VPN services to help keep us safe. We encourage you to do the same, if you can afford it.

We recognize it requires a certain level of privilege to do some of these preparations. Do what you can. Don't feel shame. We stand with you, always.

Home Prep

• Water. Install rain barrels. If your HOA doesn't allow this, build an enclosure around it so they can't tell what it is. DIY options can be built for around $100. Facebook Marketplace usually has cheap barrels available and the rest of the parts are relatively cheap. If you have the opportunity and the means, drill a well. Additionally, stock up on bottled water, especially if this isn't an option in your area.
• Food. Stock up on dry, non-perishable food items like dry rice, beans, canned vegetables and meats, MREs, and baby formula (if necessary, or for Neighbors). A 90 day supply should be the goal, but as with everything, prepare to your ability.
• Medicine. Stock up on iodine (cleans water), first aid kits, antiseptics and antibiotics (if you can get them). Clear alcohol like vodka can also be used in lieu of actual antiseptics.
• Fuel. If you can, buy non-ethanol gasoline (available at most Sunaco stations) and store it somewhere safe. Non-ethanol lasts in storage much longer. Buy a storage fuel additive to help it last even longer. If you can't get non-ethanol gasoline, regular will work, but you MUST add the fuel additive. Store enough you can make it without stopping for gas to whatever emergency destination you've chosen. Also, find and collect branches and logs to have a stock of firewood available.
• Find allies in your Neighborhood. We cannot stand alone. We must connect with our Good Neighbors to make us all safer. Develop Neighborhood action plans. Distribute whistles and learn how to effectively counter ICE and protect yourself.
• Install security cameras. Buy brands that don't require a subscription and that can still record without an internet connection. We don't want companies having access to our lives in such an intimate matter. We recommend Reolink POE NVR camera systems. There is no subscription, nothing is stored in the cloud, and the cameras themselves are relatively inexpensive. At their basic configuration, they'll provide a week or two of closed circuit TV recordings.
• Make your economic footprint as small as possible. Buy essentials only and buy them from local sources as much as possible. We must put economic pressure on them by refusing to participate in our wanton consumerism. Do you NEED it? No? Then don't get it. Cancel as many subscription services as you can, buy secondhand when possible, avoid buying from those listed here, and buy from these businesses, if available in your area.

Personal Prep

• Get off of Google and iCloud email. Proton is a privacy-focused email provider based in Switzerland and has a free tier email service. We must deny them our information. Turn off AI features on your phone. Use Third Party notes apps. Use third party navigation apps like OSMAnd or Organic Maps and disable location services for any other service, unless it is necessary. Download maps for offline use. Here is some more advice for keeping yourself safe on the internet.
• If you can't completely get away from Google or Apple, set up new socials with non-Google or Apple email accounts. Separate your online social life from everything else, financials, kids, family, etc. 
• Download Kiwix. Information is power, and if the internet goes down, there goes a whole lot of knowledge we'll need to make it through. Kiwix uses ZIM files that can store entire websites like Wikipedia for later online access. The Survivor Library is one invaluable resource if we lose the internet. You can download as PDF or altogether as a ZIM file from Kiwix's library of ZIM files for you to peruse. Just search for "survivor" and you should find it.
• Donate your money and time, especially to food and clothing drives, pantries and for Veterans in your local area. We must lead by example.