A while back, we wrote a blog titled "Home Defense Tactics," where we briefly touched on the importance of having a home defense plan. We’re going to get a little deeper into what that means and how you can create a solid plan that keeps you and your family safe.

What is a Home Defense Plan?

This is not just a casual conversation about what to do if something goes wrong in your home. This should be a well thought out strategy that involves every member of your household. So, what’s the goal here? You need to make sure everyone knows exactly what to do in the event of a break in or any other threat to your home’s security.

As kids go back to school, their first few weeks will include fire, tornado and lockdown drills. All of the drills will be revisited throughout the school year. They do these drills so kids know what to do in a real situation. The same should be true for home defense plans. Your family needs to know their roles and be able to execute it without hesitation.

How to Create a Home Defense Plan

1. Assess Your Home’s Vulnerabilities

Start by walking through your home and identifying potential weak spots. This could be a window that’s easily accessible from the outside, a door without a deadbolt, or an area of your home that’s poorly lit. Knowing these vulnerabilities allows for a better defense plan.

2. Establish Clear Roles

Once you’ve identified your home’s vulnerabilities, it’s time to have a family meeting. Everyone needs to know their role. For example:

• Who is responsible for barricading the main points of entry?

• Who grabs the phone and contacts law enforcement?

• If you have a designated safe room, make sure everyone knows where it is and how to get there quickly.

Each person should have a specific job, and everyone should know what to do if they hear the signal that something’s gone wrong.

3. Create a Communication Plan

In any emergency, communication is key. If you’re in a hospital and you hear, “Code Red” that probably means there is smoke or fire somewhere on the premises. For your home, decide on a signal or code word that immediately alerts everyone in the household to an emergency situation. Make sure each family member knows who to contact and how to communicate with others in the house. If possible, have backup methods of communication, like a two-way radio system, in case phone lines are cut or cell service is down.

4. Practice

Just as school do drills throughout the year, you need to practice your plan regularly. Schedule drills where everyone runs through their assigned roles. If the worst happens, each person will be able to better execute their duties quickly and efficiently without panic setting in. Practice your plan under different scenarios like daytime, nighttime, power outages. We want to be prepared no matter what.

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5. Firearm Placement and Access

For those who are trained and comfortable using firearms, strategic placement around the home is critical. You don’t want all your weapons locked away in one place where you might not be able to reach them. Place firearms in secure, but accessible, locations that align with your defense plan. Be sure that other responsible members of the household know how to safely access and use these weapons under pressure.

6. Update and Evolve

Your home defense plan should not be a one and done thing. Life changes; kids grow up, new people move in, home renovations happen. Revisit and update your plan regularly to accommodate changes. Your plan needs to evolve as your circumstances do.

Conclusion

At Intuitive Self Protection, we emphasize the importance of being prepared. A well crafted home defense plan gives you and your family the peace of mind that, if an emergency situation pops off, everyone knows exactly what to do. So, take the time to plan, practice, and prepare. We hope for the best but get ready for the worst.

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About The Author

Hank Hayes is a Combat Arts Hall of Famer and inventor of the No Lie Blade. He is the founder and CEO of both Intuitive Self Protection and NLB Tactical and creator of the ISP/NLB viscous fighting system. Since 1998, he has trained well over 30,000 Military and Law Enforcement personnel via Government contract mainly at the elite special teams level and continues to train both civilians and MIL/LE how to come home safe.