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.