How to Tell If Martial Law Is in Effect

Martial law is rarely a surprise. For it to be declared, there should be a series of telling events leading up to it. Riots, violence that has escalated beyond the control of local authorities and terrorist attacks may all lead to martial law being put into effect. In all cases, there are usually a few days of chaos, followed by a period of time in which the government does everything in its power to control the situation.

Instructions

1. Watch for signs that martial law is going to be declared. For days, or even weeks, before martial law is put into effect, you should be able to tell that trouble is brewing. This could be seen in the streets and heard in the news. Official broadcasts, newspapers and the media in general may also point to the possibility of martial law and let you know of any circulating rumors.

2. Listen to the news broadcasts. If you have a radio, turn it on first. The radio may be more accurate and up to date on information than TV channels, but ultimately, most forms of news media will announce that martial law is in effect and will let you know what steps to take in order to follow the rules and protect yourself and your loved ones.

3. Look for military presence in the streets. This can be subtle and hard to see, marked by the presence of small group of soldiers in key places, or it can be that the city is taken over with tanks and heavy military equipment. In any case, it is easier to tell if martial law is in effect by noticing that the local police force has been quickly replaced by military personnel outdoors.

4. Wait for an official announcement from FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency), the government department in charge of dealing with all types of emergencies, from tornadoes to terrorist attacks.

5. Talk to others. If you missed the official announcement, you can probably tell if martial law is in effect by waiting for a notice from your child's school or your own job. Special regulations may be put into effect regarding transportation, business operating hours and even salaries.

Tips & Warnings

• Expect official communications to be broadcast often once martial law is in effect. Even if you missed the first announcement, you should be able to get updated news every couple of hours, especially on the radio.