Almost immediately after the earthquake in Chile, February 2010, wide spread looting and civil disorder were common place. Law enforcement and the military were called in to enforce curfew and regain order. Looting was the law of the land.
2005 In New Orleans, in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, the same troubles took over the city. In just hours after the first streets were flooded, the looting and lawlessness began.
The thing is, the items taken were not just the food and drink you would expect desperate people to be after. They also helped themselves to Cars, Electronics, Clothing and basically anything that wasn't nailed down (and a few things that were).People used the distraction of disaster as cover for criminal activity.
I know what you are thinking, one of two things.
#1
My neighbors would not do such things AND if they needed it, all they have to do is ask, you will gladly help them out.
#2
Not me! I have a gun and I'll keep the wolves off my door.
Okay, lets look at these answers. If you choose to help your neighbors, be prepare to help them all. Word gets out fast and unless you are stocked up like a super market, you are not going to have enough for them and by extension for YOU.
The idea that you can repel looters with your trusty 12 gauge and a mean look is dangerous as well. Standing watch is impractical if you don't have a group of trusted troops to man the guns while you sleep and guarding the storehouse only sends the message that you "do indeed" have groceries and supplies to protect. They will only be back like Tusken Raiders (Soon and in greater numbers). You may be your own fortress but you will be besieged and sooner or later they will smoke you out.So whats the answer?
CACHE.
Having stores in secret off site locations may protect you. Pay by the month storage facilities could be used for water and dehydrated food stores as well as cooking pots, camp stoves and tools. Another GREAT idea for suburban families is to take frequent hikes to your local state land. If you carry in pre-packaged "sealed" 5 gallon pails or Rubbermaid-Tupperware storage tubs can be buried (3 ft) deep or deeper. Hike every weekend and you can establish dozens of caches that will be safe for up to two years at a time. Use only dehydrated foods for the best long term storage and resistance to temperatures changes.
Advantages: Multiple sites away from the home are more secure and likely to provide you with the best chance of food without hitchhikers.
Disadvantages: Not in the home (or even close to it) and may require you to travel away from the "secure" area.
Think like the civil defence people did years ago. Basements are great long term storage. There was a time when every school, library and some churches had a C/D shelter in their basements. They understood that these basements would be the gathering places of those seeking shelter from fall out (as if) so they stored tins of hard tack and cans of water in them. Do the same! Seek out storage space in the deepest basements you can find. Stack your storage and block it in then FORGET IT.
Leave instructions with family about where things are and how to safely retrieve them but speak about it with no one else...ever.Looters are out there, they walk around looking just like the rest of us, they work with us, sit in the same Restaurants and go to the same Schools,Churches, Stores.
Fortune favors the prepared mind.......
Watch your six
RJ
