The Fallacy of Bugging Out – Are You Prepared to Be a Refugee?

[quintessentone]

When and if someone has to bug out, it will likely not happen the way they have rehearsed it anyway. Everyone has this mental picture of what they will do when that time comes, and every one is wrong. If the country does collapse, for example, it will not, as has been said, be a "Mad Max" type scenario. Crime will increase, and martial law may be imposed if it gets too bad, but the cities will not dissolve into roving gangs. It will be more of every man for himself. People will be shoplifting, some will brazenly rob, houses will be broken into and pantries raided while the house is empty, and those who can will be running scams. The government will remain in place, although services we are used to might be cut or intermittent. In other words, don't expect the police to respond to your home when the powerful are being robbed as well. The Golden Rule will still apply: he who has the gold will make the rules. Those rules will include "me first."

it's pretty much that way in many of the big million plus cities now hell it's even that way in lower population cities, and yes there are gangs roaming the streets and yes they do strike in packs with a shot calling gang leader.

your expecting it not to increase if pooh pooh gets deep. that's a very unrealistic view.

I'm not so sure those gangs will have the upper hand. It will be them against everyone else who are most likely armed. I think it will come down to numbers and if neighbors get together within neighborhoods then the armed majority numbers rule.