Having been at ground zero of three Hurricanes (Francis, Gene & Wilma) and traveled to two more working disaster relief (Charlie & Katrina) I feel fully qualified to make the following statement:
The most important thing to consider about firearms in a disaster situation is that 1) You want to be certain to have them and 2) You want to be very, very selective in consideration of ever using them!
During these times of no power, no food, no water, and perhaps of most importance NO LIGHT, everyone thinks they will be ready to "shoot looters", to protect their property above all else. But that is the last thing that will be on your mind. YES, you must be prepared to defend your existence, and yes there will be bad guys but in the aftermath of disaster, LIFE is what is important, not property.
I saw people who were "looting" stores three days after a huricane had knocked out everything. They were looking to "steal" two things, WATER and FOOD to keep their children alive.
I saw them break the front door of a grocery store and run in and take out whatever they could carry that was edible or drinkable, including containers of milk that had not been refrigerated for three days and melted frozen food.
I saw people "looting" abandoned houses for usuable supplies. I guess I could have unholstered and stopped them, after all, they WERE looting!
But understand, when a disaster strikes, you are all in it together, and you quickly realize there is no MINE and YOURS, there is only survival. You will say there is no reason to steal a TV, and I agree but truthfully, it is not worth shooting someone over, it is going to be insured anyway. But that level of looting in a disaster is really NOT the norm (in most areas) but it is what makes the TV news, mostly because the TV crews are not really in the true disaster area, because if the TV trucks can make it in, then so can the disaster relief supplies.
If you are taking the time to know where your gun & ammo are to be ready for a disaster, then take the time to put together the tools you will need to really help yourself AND YOUR NEIGHBORS, AND STRANGERS because you will find that everyone is together when the lights go out.
I now keep a fully ready emergency kit that includes the ability to filter and purify water from puddles and streams because WATER IS the key to survival. Food for a few days, and firearms and ammo both for defense and for the ability to hunt, even in urban areas, if need be.
But I will tell you this... my most likely time my hand will be on my weapon will be when I am the one "looting" a to keep my family alive when someone decides that their property outweighs MY survival. And I speak from experience that although help is usually available within a week, those first few days you are truly alone ... with your new community of people you probably live next to but really don't know!
