Analyzing threats in your area

With all of the current instability going on in the United States as well as Europe these threats can be very real and a threat to our safety as well as our families.
From the riots of ANTIFA in American and Europe to terrorist attacks across the world How do that? We use a formula called ASCOP. This formula is used by army intelligence and infantry to assess an area when we would go into Iraq and Afghanistan to see who the threats are, who are our potential allies are and what do the local people need in the area so we can help them with their problems to sway them to our side to help stabilize the area. This formula can help you evaluate an area of you are planning on moving or to effectively evaluate the area you currently live in. This will help you be aware of threats in your area, the power players who make decisions in the area, both government and otherwise. It will help you find and evaluate critical infrastructure in the area and the impact it has. This and a lot more.

ASCOPE is defined as : a tool that anyone can use at any level to see the environment through the eyes of the local populace. It provides the who, what, when , where, why and how of the environment.
A Area
Where do people live, work, play, meet and worship? What are the religious boundaries and political boundaries? Where are the social and criminal enclaves? What are the agricultural, mining and labor regions? Where are the main trade routes? Where are the government centers, police and military centers? Where might internally displaces persons be settled in an emergency?
S Structures
Why are structures in the area important? Where are the traditional high valued target buildings such as bridges, communications towers, power plants and dams? (These may be guarded by local police or military or may be targets by criminal gangs to be used as blackmail against local functioning governments or towns’ people) Where are the locally significant sites such as churches, libraries, hospitals, cemeteries, and cultural sites. Practical sites must also be know such as jails, warehouses, and any toxic industrial storage sites. Television and radio stations must be known as they have the most influence over people in the first few hours and days after an event.

C Capabilities: The ability of local authorities to provide key functions and services. What are their capabilities both now and after TSHTF? This is where we use SWEAT-MS to analyze the capabilities

S EWER- local government. Is it government run or subcontracted out to a company? Are there any current issues or ones that may arise after TSHTF

W ATER- What is the water source? How is it pumped and how is it filtrated? Is it government ran, subcontracted out or paid for directly to the company from the people who use it? Are there any issues currently or what might be the ones that arise after TSHTF?
E LECTRICITY- Where is the local power plant? What fuel powers the plant (coal, oil, hydroelectric dam, ect)? What are the transmission line routes? 
A CADEMIC- Where are the local schools? Both grades k-12 and any advanced schooling establishments? How are they rated in performance? What are their SOPs in response to an disaster? How and where will you be able to collect you children in a time or crisis?  
T RASH- What company does trash pick up? Do they get paid directly or through taxes? Where is the dump located?  Can you burn trash on your property? 
M EDICAL- Where are the local hospitals, clinics, dentists, veterinarians? What is the general health of the areas population (retirement homes in the area)? Any area specific needs? 
S ECURITY- Who are the local police and/or sheriff’s department? How big is their force and what are their capabilities and manpower? Do they have any public SOPs who dealing with disaster response? Are there any local military units in the area such whether it is a joint base or just a local National Guard armory? What types of units are there? What are their capabilities and manpower? 

O Organizations:
What are the different groups of people in the area? Political groups, Food Co-ops, Non-government organizations (NGOs), private sector companies and contractors, government agencies, media (TV, radio, newspapers ect) Criminal organizations.
P People
Who are the important people in the area in the fields of government, security, economic, religion. Examples may be : Mayor, city council leaders, religious leaders, any displaced persons that settle in your area post SHTF, large powerful families that may have a lot of influence in the area, Chamber of commerce leaders, police chief/sheriff.
E Events:
When are things occurring? What are the events that come up on a regular basis? Examples are: Elections, any significant local anniversaries such as when the town was founded, religious holidays, major funerals, political rallies, seasonal weather and climate patterns, and any important significant activities that come up (SIGACTS)

In the next post ( Which should not be nine months from now. I apologize for that) We will do an assessment of a actual American town and I will also show you websites to go to get all the data you need to conduct your own evaluation.

Also, please post in the comments below any article idea you would like to see in the future.