In times of peace, it’s easy to think of your neighbors as friendly faces. However, when disaster strikes, the true nature of people will quickly emerge. And it won’t be nice at all unless you are prepared. Being prepared means not only having a stockpile of essentials but also being aware of the potential threats around you and your family.
This includes your neighbors. Some people might see your preparedness as an opportunity for themselves, or worse, turn you into the authorities or gossip about your preps causing more risks for you when a SHTF scenario comes. Let’s look at 7 subtle signs that your neighbor might turn into a problem when things get tough.
The Too-Curious Type
It’s normal to chat with your neighbors about everyday life, but if one of them frequently asks specific questions about your supplies, food storage, or security measures, it could be a red flag. They might seem interested in your hobbies or how you’re spending your money, but in reality, they’re probing for information about how prepared you are.
What to watch for
- Frequent, pointed questions about your pantry or emergency preparations.
- Casually bringing up your stockpile in conversations more than once.
- “Innocent” questions about where you buy supplies or how much you have on hand.
Related: This Is Why You Should Watch Your Neighbors Carefully
While some people are just curious, a neighbor who is overly inquisitive about your prepping could be planning to rely on you in a crisis—or worse, they might be looking for a way to take what you’ve worked hard to gather.
The Nosy Neighbor
We all have neighbors who seem to be aware of every move we make, but when it comes to prepping, a nosy neighbor can be a real concern. This type of person watches your home closely and knows when you come and go. They might even make comments about deliveries to your house or packages left on your porch. If you notice someone paying too much attention to your behavior, they might be piecing together a mental map of what you have stocked.
What to watch for
- Noticing when you’re unloading bulk items or making frequent trips with supplies.
- Comments like, “You sure do get a lot of deliveries,” or “Looks like you’re stocking up for something.”
- Peeking through windows or around fences to catch a glimpse of your property.
Crisis situations can put extreme pressure on those who aren’t prepared to handle them — people like your nosy neighbor. So when SHTF, there’s a very real chance he’ll panic and come begging for supplies… or worse, force his way onto your property. But the danger doesn’t stop there. There’s an even bigger threat.
When SHTF, that curious neighbor will definitely start talking. He could tell others where you’ve hidden your supplies. Maybe his family. Maybe his friends. Maybe even the authorities you were hoping to keep far away from your precious resources. If even one neighbor knows your secrets, you’re exposed.
The scale of that risk is massive. Leaving things to chance is a potentially fatal decision for you and your family. So what can you do? Pay close attention to what your neighbor says when you talk. Especially what he asks. Through the Home Defense Academy, I learned that there are THESE 3 specific questions problematic neighbors are likely to ask. If you hear even one of them, consider it a huge red flag.
Keep in mind that it’s not just about your stockpile. Your neighbor might also know far more than you think — about your property, your weak spots, your access points, or any valuable items you keep around. The threat is real. It’s serious. And you have a responsibility to prepare for it. That same resource also taught me exactly how you can ‘Neighbor-Proof’ your property in no time!
Don’t count on luck. Don’t rely on trust. It might get you in deadly trouble.
The Gossip
In normal times, a gossiping neighbor can be annoying, but when SHTF, they can quickly become a major liability. Someone who can’t resist sharing every little detail about what’s happening on the block could easily spill the beans about your prepping activities and what you have brought onto your property. While their intentions may not be to put you in danger, their incessant gossiping to others about your comings and goings will undoubtedly do so.
What to watch for
- Casual mentions of your prepping in conversations with others.
- Being the type to regularly spread rumors or information about other neighbors.
- The kind of person who enjoys being “in the know” about everyone’s business.
When crises hit, gossips can quickly turn dangerous if they give others reasons to think you’re hoarding supplies.
The Complainer
We all know someone who complains about everything—from the government to neighborhood issues. While that might seem harmless in good times, these types of people often feel entitled to your resources when things go south. If they know you’re prepping, they could justify trying to take from you by claiming you’re hoarding or not sharing with the community.
What to watch for
- Complaints about fairness or other people’s financial or living situations.
- Regular gripes about how “others” are more prepared than they are.
- Statements like, “In a disaster, people should share what they have.”
A complainer might not plan to loot your home, but they could be the first to turn you in or suggest to others that you’re withholding resources.
Related: If Your Neighbor Does This, Avoid Him at All Costs
The Rule Follower
Some people strictly adhere to rules and believe that authority should always be respected, even when things fall apart and those in authority have shown they cannot be trusted. A neighbor who’s deeply committed to following the rules no matter what might see your prepping as illegal or unethical when a disaster strikes. In their mind, turning you over to the authorities might seem like the right thing to do.
What to watch for
- Constant talk about the importance of rules, regulations, and laws.
- Negative comments about people who live “off-grid” or outside societal norms.
- A tendency to report even minor neighborhood issues to local authorities.
This type of neighbor might turn you in to FEMA or other government agencies during a crisis, believing they’re doing the right thing for the community. They most definitely will not have your back or be one of the “good guys.” FEMA is nothing to play with when SHTF. Without a doubt, the agency’s response will be swift, and you’ll be facing an enormous risk.
In the event of a major crisis, FEMA could confiscate all your property and supplies. All under the pretext of helping the broader population. This is no joke—exposing all the resources you’ve worked so hard to gather could leave you completely vulnerable. Everything you’ve prepared could be taken from you in an instant. That has deadly potential. Are you really willing to risk everything?
Personally, I won’t do that. Because I want to live. That’s why I decided to learn how to protect my stockpile and keep FEMA and the government away from it. So I got my hands on Joel Lambert’s book, A Navy SEAL’s Bug-In Guide, and discovered some little-known, life-saving tactics to trick FEMA before FEMA can trick me.
Obviously, the agency and the government are not the only threats when SHTF, but that same book also taught me how to outsmart looters with genius traps. The burden of lacking the right know-how is massive, but the right information can give you solutions that you can start applying right now.
The Sudden Best Friend
In times of crisis, some people might try to cozy up to you, pretending to be your new best friend. While it’s good to build strong relationships with trustworthy neighbors, someone who suddenly becomes overly friendly when they discover you’re prepping could be a red flag. They may see you as their fallback plan, expecting you to share your supplies when things get rough.
What to watch for
- A sudden shift in their attitude toward you after discovering your prepping habits and stockpile.
- Offers to “help out” or “watch your house” more than usual.
- An increased interest in spending time with you right after major news events about crises or disasters.
These neighbors may try to ingratiate themselves with you, hoping to gain access to your stockpile when things turn sour.
The Doomsday Critic
Then there’s the neighbor who loves to poke fun at your prepping. They might dismiss the idea of preparedness, calling it paranoia or “overkill.” However, in a disaster, these same people will likely become desperate and turn on you. They may criticize prepping now, but in a true crisis, they could feel entitled to your resources because they didn’t prepare themselves.
Related: 6 Dangerous Mistakes From “Doomsday Preppers”
What to watch for
- Regularly making snide comments or jokes about your prepping.
- Dismissing your efforts as unnecessary or extreme.
- Statements like, “If something happens, I’ll just come to your house.”
In good times, they might mock you, but in bad times, they’ll be knocking at your door—or worse, they could become hostile if you refuse to help. Doomsday will be a moment of truth for humanity. If you’re not properly prepared for the worst-case scenario, death becomes not just possible, but extremely likely.
Beyond how you prepare your home for such a time, it’s critical to have a backup plan. When Doomsday hits, there’s a high chance you’ll have to flee your home and retreat into the wilderness. Out there, however, survival will be impossible without essential knowledge—how to build a shelter, where to camp, and how to start a fire. Because I refuse to be an easy victim (and so do you, hopefully), I did my research and studied Wilderness Long-Term Survival Guide by Nicole Apelian.
“But what about my family? What will happen to my children? How will they survive?”, you might rightfully ask. The answer: with skills. You must learn how to teach them to protect themselves during the darkest days imaginable. In matters of life and death, waiting is not an option.
Stop leaving things to chance and start doing your duty as a parent—by passing on the survival tools your children will desperately need when the world turns against them. Remember that no one else but you can and will help them.
Final Thoughts
In a crisis, it’s not just strangers you need to worry about; sometimes, the biggest threats come from people who know you and your habits. By paying attention to these subtle signs, you can identify which of your neighbors might be a red flag in a disaster scenario. Trust is essential, but so is discretion. Protect your stockpile and your family by staying vigilant and keeping your preparations low-key. You never know who might turn against you when things get tough.
Keep your eyes open, trust your instincts, and most importantly, stay prepared.
You may also like:
How to Stockpile Without Alerting Your Neighbor
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Never Do This When You Leave Your Property
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How To Deal With Neighbors And Friends That Come Begging For Food At Your Door In A Crisis
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