Let’s say you’re on the way home from dropping the kids off at school; you’re at the halfway point. Suddenly, you hear jets screaming overhead and huge explosion shakes your vehicle; off in the distance, you see a black cloud of smoke rising.
What do you do?
Do you go home, grab your BOB, batten down the hatches? Turn around and go get the kids first? Or do you gaze at the horizon and think, “Huh, I wonder what happened?”
Most people will probably have that last reaction.
For myself, I’d hit the radio to find the news, tap my Bluetooth to call my husband, and turn around. Since, initially, most people will just stare openmouthed and/or come to a screeching halt while they try to take in the entire scenario, traffic could be a little dicey – but not nearly as bad as will get within the next hour, or less.
In fifteen minutes, I’d be back at school and running inside to get my kid. Now, even school admins are going to be among those who are busy “wondering,” and that’s if they’re aware of what’s going on outside. Presumably, in this situation, almost everyone will have heard the explosion, but reactions are going to fall along the most conservative lines.
I’d probably go straight to the office, claim a dire family emergency in as few words as possible, and follow whoever is sent to get my kid. This is still going to take oh, ten minutes. Now, it’s been nearly half an hour since SHTF. At this point, it would likely take 30-40 to arrive at home.
Of course, the news would be full of stories by now and many will be panicking; some will be prepared; some will still be clueless. But within the hour, we should all be home.
There’s also the question of any others in your group, and where they are and how or when they’ll be arriving. In my book (heh), it’s on them. You aren’t going to be able to hunt them down, make calls, etc. You have to have this plan in place. If they can get through to keep you informed, great – if they make it to the house, even better. But you can’t count on that.
And finally, it’s time to make that decision: go, or stay.
Robin Writes 
Good strategy.
Yet what to do if the school goes into an immediate lock down?
Apart from a terrorist act or a red flag operation by the government, there will always be signs of rising tensions and a heightened state of security alertness.
An enlightened person will be looking for such signs and react accordingly well before a crisis occurs. In your case by gathering the kids for a bit of home schooling aka “They have a virus and need to stay at home”.
The clever bit is knowing when to ignore the pathetic attempts of society and government to pretend everything should carry on as normal thus be in position to enact your plans seamlessly.
The fantastic bit is having the strength to ignore the pleadings, protestations, and threats of the government weenies more concerned about their jobs than your well thought out plans.
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Excellent point, but I’m guessing – which isn’t the best, but sometimes the only feasible option – that this would take time. Longer than the 15 minutes or less that it would take me to get back there. Plus, given his particular school, the odds are in my favor to find him and get out fast.
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I read an article about that very point i.e. inquiring about what “disaster” plans were in place with your places of work, hospitals, schools.
Once understood my “game plan book” for a lot of situations had to be modified.
A worthwhile exercise.
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