Gun-related experiences re: disasters?

[SpeedAKL]

We all hear/read a lot of talk about SHTF scenarios in gun boards, gun magazines, etc. These range from natural disasters to riots to Red Dawn to nuclear war to zombie apocalypse. We can exchange speculative advice all we want, but I am interested in hearing first-hand accounts from THR members on what defensive precautions (if any) you took during an actual disaster scenario.

The most likely "SHTF" scenario most of us will face is having our metro area crippled by a natural disaster....no utilities, limited or no police presence, limited or no fire and rescue. This can be an open door to looting and other types of lawlessness (see: NO after Katrina). For those who have been victims of natural disasters themselves, I'm curious to hear:
1. How you prepared (or didn't prepare) before the disaster from a defensive standpoint
2. Any firearm-related preparations you made after the disaster hit to safeguard your self, family, property, etc
3. What worked, and what you'd change next time.
Again, this is more about the preventive steps you took rather than scenarios where you actually had to fire a gun in self-defense (though success in the latter is directly related to the former).

My only recent disaster experience was during the blizzards that struck in 2010 and 2011. The 2010 blizzards wiped the roads out in my area for a couple days and effectively neutralized any quick police response. A blizzard in 2011 gridlocked the area for 24 hours; police and fire/rescue vehicles were almost completely stranded. During this time I was effectively "on my own" if a break-in were to occur. While nothing happened, I wish I'd thought about it more beforehand.

Tornado season is in full swing and hurricane season will arrive later this summer. Figured this would be a useful topic.

 

[Sam1911]

A blizzard in 2011 gridlocked the area for 24 hours; police and fire/rescue vehicles were almost completely stranded. During this time I was effectively "on my own" if a break-in were to occur. While nothing happened, I wish I'd thought about it more beforehand.

The first thing I'd do in such circumstances is to pile several feet of snow around my house -- in fact, maybe dump millions of pounds of it around my whole neighborhood or town! -- to make it extremely difficult for burglars to even get to the house, let alone be able to steal and carry off anything.

If vehicle traffic is impossible, and even foot travel is extremely difficult (and I was there...it was), then medical emergencies are the real concern.

Having spent the entirety of that particular blizzard outside running equipment (long story), I can say that it was not a situation conducive to roaming around looking for easy pickings and break-ins. EVEN IF the risk of such was higher, the types of threats did not change from the average, every-day burglaries and home intrusions you're normally prepared for. No, "Grab me another mag, Myrtle! They're coming over the wall!" situations.

Prep? Water, food, source of heat, medicines, generator & fuel, a good book ... or ten.

 

[fallout mike]

I was in a ice storm in the Mississippi delta in 1994 that was declared a disaster area. No power or water for 2+ weeks. Everybody was helping everybody. This is a fairly small town of 20,000 or so. I never heard of looting or breakins.

 

[SpeedAKL]

The first thing I'd do in such circumstances is to pile several feet of snow around my house -- in fact, maybe dump millions of pounds of it around my whole neighborhood or town! -- to make it extremely difficult for burglars to even get to the house, let alone be able to steal and carry off anything.

If vehicle traffic is impossible, and even foot travel is extremely difficult (and I was there...it was), then medical emergencies are the real concern.

Having spent the entirety of that particular blizzard outside running equipment (long story), I can say that it was not a situation conducive to roaming around looking for easy pickings and break-ins. EVEN IF the risk of such was higher, the types of threats did not change from the average, every-day burglaries and home intrusions you're normally prepared for. No, "Grab me another mag, Myrtle! They're coming over the wall!" situations.

Prep? Water, food, source of heat, medicines, generator & fuel, a good book ... or ten.

Haha, good points sir. Huge walls of snow don't exactly mix well with cruising for break-ins. The blizzard was more of an example to get the conversation started - I'd be far more worried about looting in case of hurricanes, tornadoes, certain forms of flooding, etc.

 

[X-Rap]

A weeks worth of food and water, short term ability to keep power to freezers and refrigerators, heat and shelter, a look at the historical record of disasters in your locale.
I wouldn't leave a solid 22 rifle, shotgun, and 9mm pistol out of any emergency kit.
Short term thinking is a start but with many of the worlds governments running in the red and direct knowledge of what natural disasters have reaped in just the last couple decades as well as the proliferation of WMD's throughout the world we are far less safe today than we were in the 60's when people were building bomb shelters and drilling in public schools. I think it is prudent to have some set of long terms plans either as a small community/neighborhood or family/friends.

 

[comus3]

I was a young man in Los Angeles during the riots of 1992 living in a lousy part of the city. My biggest takeaway as the city burned around my neighborhood was "know your neighbors, for better or worse". The little pocket of Russian/Armenians in my area were out in force for protection of our local liquor store/market. At one point they blocked the street with their cars, I had to negotiate my way back home through it every night for a few days. Also, have food in the house.

 

[Fred Fuller]

SHTF, TETOWAWKI, and fantasy/zombie scenarios will not be entertained here, nor will we engage in discussions relating to the preparation for possible societal breakdown, foreign invasion, and so forth.

If you want to try again without the SHTF and the zombies, and without the "what caliber for hurricanes/earthquakes/tornadoes etc" overtones, we might be able to make that work...