Pop Quiz sucker. You and the wife are coming home from a nice elegant dinner at Waffle House, after all it was your anniversary so spare no expense. You pull into your driveway and see that all of the lights are off (didn’t you leave a few on?) and the side door to your garage is propped open a few feet. You left the dog in the back yard but the gate is also open and you see no sign of Fido. Immediately the hairs on the back of your neck stand up, something is amiss! You don’t pull completely into the house but rather kill your lights and tell your wife to call 911, your plan being to investigate what might be happening inside your home. Your wife has her Glock 26 for protection and makes sure to lock the car doors. Your plan is to NOT directly enter your home but instead conduct SLLS (Stop, Look, Listen, Smell) and then a 360 degree sweep of the outside area. Unfortunately there is no moon (illumination) and your Surefire has somehow malfunctioned, looks like you’ll be conducting this op in the dark. How well do you know your home?
Point of interest: This actually happened to our frequent contributor, The Maj, read about it here.
A Few Questions:
1- How many steps from your hallway or stairs to your bedroom?
2- If you had to enter your home in complete darkness from your front / back / side door, could you navigate (based on memory) to whatever point you wanted to without bumping into anything?
3- What are the most likely hiding spots in your home if someone else were in there, what provides the best cover and/or concealment?
4- As in point #1, have you paced off distances in your home and actually tried to walk them out while blindfolded?
5- Have you ever tried to clear your home as an exercise, in the dark, with and without a flashlight?
6- Where is the most vulnerable spot in your home, is it the back door or is it the 2nd story window you think nobody would every try to open?
The Reality
Your home is your castle but how well do you actually know it? Could you truly navigate it while in complete darkness with no flashlight to assist you? Would you be able to move silently without bumping your knee against a coffee table or something similar?
We often discuss hunkering down in our safe zone, protecting ourselves while in the home and focusing outward. But what are we going to do if we are faced with the situation of going INTO our home with a potential threat inside? Are any of us prepared for that scenario?
The Bottom Line
Get to know your home, both inside and out. Know the paces between key elements be it a hallway or door, maybe the steps leading to the next level. Know exactly how many steps there are, know which way each door opens and what obstacles might be present. Know key features on the outside of your home too, be it avenues of approach or landmarks. Personally I know the exact distance in yards to a water tower that overlooks my home, or the exact distance in yard to a bend in road which travels in front of my home. Know your area of operations because if you don’t, things could get sketchy at the worst possible time.
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It’s great to practice without a flashlight but I found it helpful to practice clearing my house with a flashlight. Learning the mirrors and reflections can be a big deal so you don’t blind yourself. You can also use the mirrors to your advantage.
Also, I try to leave low lighting on at night in the main areas. That way anyone coming in is back-lit and I’m coming out from the dark.
Author
Great point about being back lit against windows etc. Obviously best case scenario is to have a flashlight but as we all know, it’s not always a best case scenario.
I was trying to avoid a conversation that starts with us going into a dark house where things aren’t how we left them.
Ahhhh boy. I just can’t seem to keep my mouth shut HAHAHAHA
I totally understand the point of the article, and will address that, BUT, in this day and age without the EOTWAEKI or SHTF if the scenario that is presented, (and ya all can call me a “puss” if ya want), I would hit the 911, retreat the wife and others to an safe observation position, set up a safe zone, and wait for the (dare I say it???}, wait for the sluverment/“cops” to do the entry and “clear” the house. That’s why I pay the Taxes and they get paid, right? Now I know you-all, and somewhat myself, have the training, but why? Why would you put yourself into the position? You have NO idea how many and how they may be armed. You stated you have no source of light to see, and no way of knowing if a “Crazy” is waiting just inside the door or 50 feet across the house hiding. After all one against an unknown number may not be a good choice. If it was an EOTWAWKI situation with no “backup” from the cops, personally I would take the night observing (or longer) and picking off the offenders at 800 yards from a 360° till they decided it was not so smart to stay. AND I would be really REALLY be pissed off about the dog.
Ok, back to the just of the article as I see it. Yes I know my home as well as I knows the back of my hand. I designed and physically built 95% of the house myself. Right down to the 4 sheets of bullet-proof sheeting (level 3) at optimum places around the home for vantage points. Also the alternate ways in and out of the house; besides the “doors”.
PJ, this is another really GREAT article you have presented, and make us think more and more, Thank You
NRP
Nothing wrong with that NRP. The police wouldn’t clear that house alone.
I love the spare no expense anniversary night out at the waffle house.
HAHAHA, well living high on the hog is the main reason of prepping no? And a night on the town at the old Waffle House can be an enlightening experience, I can just see it, the wife dressed up in here sexy black shorty dress and you in your tuxedo pulling into I-HOP in the old 1975 Chevy 4WD Bug-Out-Vehicle LOL Ya gata love it.
Ohhhh wait, my first date with wife was at a Denny’s and we drove a Yamaha 250 bike HAHAHAHA, and that lasted for 28 years. OMG was she NUTS!!!!! or what?
NRP
Author
My first date with my wife was actually at a McDonald’s in Germany. I waved my hand in front of the menu and said “it’s all yours, whatever you want…”
We have braved Waffle House, most recently last summer. Needless to say there is a reason I don’t go to the place.
Author
The police might not because it’s not their home. Given what I have inside and since it’s mine, I probably would.