LENOIR, N.C. – I am coming out of retirement from my career in Community Preparedness and Disaster Management to offer some analysis about what responsibilities American citizens have in response to our war with Iran. I desperately hope this is a very temporary decision.

Whatever opinion you may have regarding the decision by President Trump to attack Iran in conjunction with Israel, we all have a responsibility to avoid the hoarding madness that occurred during the Pandemic.

In short, we must self-ration. War is totally unpredictable, so plan and expect for the worse-case scenarios.

This means minimizing or ceasing unnecessary use of cars, trucks and minivans. However, having the gas tanks in your vehicles filled up will make it possible for you to evacuate your area or town should that become necessary. Waiting though, may make that impractical if not impossible. Gasoline in our town has jumped 50 cents per gallon since Saturday. But, once you have that gasoline, don’t use your vehicles unless absolutely necessary, as you will be depriving your neighbors – and more importantly, first responders and other essential agencies – access to vitally needed fuel supplies.

Ration food and dry goods. Do not go to the grocery store and buy up all the toilet paper, meat, eggs, milk, vegetables, canned goods, and anything else you can cram into your shopping cart.

Spring is coming. Now is a great time to learn how to grow your own vegetables and fruits if you do not already know how to do so. If you live in an agricultural region, you may find that your local dairy farm or butcher has those products that we are accustomed to having.

If you are a farmer or a co-op, establish a rationing plan now.

Agencies and organizations that are potentially subject to attack upon our own soil are: Churches, first responders, schools, transportation hubs, hospitals and data centers. There are also “targets of opportunity,” meaning simply that an individual or terrorist organization wishing to exact revenge upon the United States may look for soft targets simply to spread death, fear and discontent.

Agencies and organizations that operate according to the National Incident Management System (NIMS) should ensure that they have adequate stockpiles of supplies. They must, if they have not done so already, dust off their Emergency Operations Plans (EOP). The Incident Management Team (IMT) should meet to ensure that the EOP is adequate for the moment. This means ensuring that the IMT members are identified. Leaders for Planning teams, Operational plans, and Logistical needs must be identified and ensure – now – that they understand their roles and have backups in place should an emergency occur for more than 12-24 hours.

These same organizations must prepare to stand alone for at least 96 hours without “reinforcements” from outside the community. So should individuals and families.

Decisions about Sheltering-in-Place or Evacuations must be considered and reviewed. Locations for receiving frightened or displaced citizens should be identified. If sheltering-in-place should be the better option, then identify the safest places in your homes, agencies and communities to do so.

Prepare to check on and take in family and neighbors.

Universities and other educational institutions with resident students and staff should prepare now for establishing the scenarios in which they would order evacuation or shelter-in-place plans.

First repsonders and receivers (hospitals, nursing homes, etc.) must ensure that their HAZMAT plans, training and personnel are up-to-date on the latest scenarios, situations and response plans. Our nation is constantly monitoring for the signs that Nuclear, Biological or Chemical (NBC) weapons are being used against us. This is a nightmare for first responders, but as one myself, I know they will answer the call if required. Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) are relatively easy to build, hide and detonate.

Organizations as far ranging as 4-H clubs and conference centers should ensure that adequate food and accommodations are available, again for at least 96 hours.

Be civil! With America divided as never before during my 70 years on the planet, we must not turn on one another. Of course, our Constitutional rights should not be suspended. But having the right to speak out and the discernment as to whether or not it is constructive requires a rather sophisticated level of understanding. Unnecessary and untimely threats against those with whom we disagree will only aggravate the situation and weaken us in the eyes of our enemies.

Do not rely upon one news source. Now is not the time to storm the capitol or White House. Yes, protest if you wish; but remember that others have differing views and also have the right to protest. Respect that.

Talk to your elders, especially the few remaining from when World War II ravaged the planet. If you don’t know any, seek out the oldest people you trust and ask them what they learned from that generation.

This is more than a military operation. It has political consequences. Pay attention to those debates so that you can write Congress and the President and be prepared to vote your conscience when that day arrives. In the interim, study what you can about Iran, Israel and the history of the development of nuclear weapons, especially the process of Enrichment. In doing so, you will be a better educated voter.

Study the Constitution.

Understand that what is occurring this very moment is not only a human catastrophe, it is an ecological disaster.

Be prepared for the unthinkable: The return of the Draft for the Armed Forces, especially should the War escalate beyond what we are presently being told to expect by the Trump Administration; a major attack on U.S. soil; far more casualties among our military forces than one might expect; the loss of Internet and other Social Media platforms.

Do I sound alarmist? Perhaps. However, it is better to be safe than sorry. Many of the steps outlined above occurred throughout World War II and beyond. That was before the United States dropped the first Atomic bombs. We do, indeed, live in a perilous age.

Despite all of this, I am not fearful. Scripture teaches, “Be strong and courageous!” That counsel, as well as my training and experience guides me, especially through times such as this. Whether Scripture is a source of importance to you or not, it is best for all of us if we maintain our wits about us.

© Michael M. Barrick, 2026. I hold a post-graduate Certificate in Community Preparedness and Disaster Management from the Gillings School of Global Public Health from the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill. I have served as a first responder; as Safety Officer and Disaster Preparedness Manager at two hospitals; as the Incident Commander for numerous Mass Casualty Incidents and various other disasters; I have additional training from the military in Search & Rescue, as well as the Department of Homeland Security, especially in matters of Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Warfare. Photo by Jeff Kingmaon Unsplash