Steven LaChance Blog

There has been a lot of talk lately about the possible use of extraordinary federal powers. The Insurrection Act is being mentioned more frequently, and that language understandably unsettles people. There are courts that are already preparing to challenge any misuse of it, and those legal fights matter. At the same time, people living in cities and states under current pressure still need to think about practical preparation.

When people hear words like Insurrection Act, fear rushes in fast. Fear is understandable. Panic is not helpful.

Preparation does not mean expecting the worst. It means staying grounded, informed, and steady if things become uncertain or confusing.

There are calm, reasonable things people can do now that have nothing to do with violence, escalation, or confrontation.

Start by getting basic documents organized.
Know where your identification, medical records, prescriptions, and emergency contacts are. This is the same advice given before storms, fires, or other disruptions. It is not political. It is practical.

Know your rights before you need them.
Understand the right to remain silent, the right to an attorney, and what consent actually means during an interaction. Confusion creates risk. Clarity reduces it.

Reduce unnecessary exposure.
You are not obligated to argue, provoke, or perform outrage in public spaces. Staying aware and nonreactive protects you and the people around you.

Strengthen quiet community ties.
Check on neighbors you trust. Know who might need help and who could offer it. Real resilience is built offline, through simple human connection.

Take care of your nervous system.
Limit rumor consumption. Stick to reliable reporting. Keep routines. Eat. Sleep. Move your body. Fear spreads faster than facts, and exhaustion makes everything feel worse than it is.

Most importantly, remember this:
Preparation is not resistance theater. It is dignity under pressure.

History shows that moments like these are survived not by panic, but by people who stay calm, lawful, and human.

Helping one another matters more than shouting at one another.

Some people also ask about stocking up on items. This should be approached calmly.

Think short term disruption, not collapse.

You are not preparing for war. You are preparing for the possibility that things may feel unsettled for a time, or that access to normal routines could be briefly disrupted in certain places.

A good rule of thumb is to prepare the same way you would for a severe storm, a supply chain hiccup, or a temporary curfew.

If possible, refill medications and keep basic first aid and over the counter items you already use.
Have a few days to a week of food you normally eat, and drinking water on hand. This is about convenience and peace of mind, not panic buying.

Keep a small amount of cash available.
Make sure you can access important accounts digitally.

Have phone chargers and a battery pack if you own one.
Write down emergency contacts somewhere other than your phone.

Keep your vehicle reasonably fueled.
Know alternative routes home. Avoid last minute decisions.

Just as important as what to have is what not to do.

Do not rush stores in ways that create shortages for others.
Do not buy items you do not understand or would never use.
Do not stockpile weapons or anything that increases risk.
Do not broadcast what you are preparing or why.

Preparation is quiet.

Stocking up is not about fear.
It is about reducing stress so you are less likely to make poor decisions later.

When basic needs are covered, people are less reactive, less vulnerable to misinformation, and more capable of helping others.

That is resilience.

Authoritarian moments feed on panic, spectacle, and overreaction.
Calm preparation denies them all three.

You are not preparing to fight.
You are preparing to stay steady.