Civil unrest could occur at any time without much (if any) advanced warning. Although there is no way to completely mitigate the risk of civil unrest, there are several things we can do as preppers to become as prepared as possible for an event like this.
What is civil unrest?
Civil unrest is a generic term used to describe a situation where, for whatever reason, a group of people are participating in lawlessness. This type of behavior is very common in disaster scenarios. Looting is a common form of civil unrest and is prevalent after natural disasters. In every natural disaster in recent history there has been some degree of looting and civil unrest during the aftermath of the actual disaster.
Civil unrest can also be a product of protests. All it takes is one overzealous police officer or protester to turn a relatively safe and contained protest into an all-out riot. These types of incidents are also common after a controversial court case that has gained national or local attention.