[Stay Low]

In Memphis, we had a bad storm and 85MPH straight line winds. It knocked down trees and power to 300,000 homes. TV reports crime rate is up 400%. One poor sole they interviewed who had his house broken into reportedly had only "a flashlight for protection." Poor fella epitomizes sheelple. It's a good time to have a little firepower in Memphis.

[Standing Wolf]

You can always count on cockroaches and looters.

[Sylvilagus Aquaticus]

Cockroaches and looters give that wonderful crunch when you splat them. I use boots or sometimes even my bare feet for cockroaches; looters get the Mossberg 500 shorty. If the power is off, flares will make them scurry.

Regards,
Rabbit.

[Rafter-S]

You gotta be careful when the media starts talking percentages. They often do this to make a story sound worse than it acturlly is (you know, liers can figure and figures can lie). 400% sounds a lot worse than it could possibly be. For example: the original time frame they were comparing with may have had only one crime reported, thus 4 lootings after a storm would not be all that bad. But 400% sounds awful.

You might can tell, I don't trust the media.

Rafter-S

[Moparmike]

Ok, what about those people who couldnt afford a gun or somthing like that? I have either not been old enough or couldnt afford a gun untill 2 days ago. I had zero for defense. Nada. I dont even have a maglite handy. Am I an unprepared sheeple as well?

It pains me that people who arent prepared suffer. It pains me less when a voluntarily unprepared (doesnt believe that such a thing will be necessary) has stuff happen, but I am glad that they learned their lesson. Lots of people cannot afford preparedness in as many degrees as some of us can. Lets try to be a little more tolerant, ok?

**This message not meant to be trollish, but instead to bring out the Floodlight of Enlightenment and Tolerance.**

Edited to add: Welcome to THR Rafter-S!

[TexasVet]

I had zero for defense. Nada. I dont even have a maglite handy. Am I an unprepared sheeple as well?
Not even a baseball bat, kitchen knife, pepper spray, 24" piece of scrap rebar, sharp stick, nothing?
Then unfortunately, you probably fit the description.

[4v50 Gary]

A flashlight is not really protection. Its primary purpose is to provide illumination and if it's a Maglite or heavy aluminum, may be wielded as a club. I wouldn't want to go flashlight against knife or gun either.

[Sylvilagus Aquaticus]

If you don't own a firearm or can't obtain one by loan during a disaster scenario like a hurricane, earthquake, or the like, I am a big proponent of long sharp pointy things like rebar or small-diameter thickwall pipe or a crowbar or something. Even a closet rod, tire tool, or 1 1/2 inch dowel stock with a steak knife duct-taped to it beats nothing. Improvised clubs could be an option as well, unless you happen to own a baseball bat. Hopefully you won't need to crunch cockroaches, but if you do, at least you'll have something to whack the unarmed or lighly/similarly armed ones from better than arms' length.

Best advice:

Prepare in advance, don't get caught off-guard.

Regards,
Rabbit.

[KarlG]

Moparmike, as Sylvilagus points out being prepared does not have to mean spending money. More that anything, it means planning (and if others are involved then communicating , too). The sheeple refered to by Stay Low lack the thinking ability to plan, not necessarily the money. That is what makes them sheeple. I find it hard to believe that anybody has "ONLY a flashlight for protection" (I find it harder to believe that somebody would be stupid enough to say that when interviewed). Does the house not have a kitchen knife? How do they cut their tofu?

[fastbolt]

I feel for anyone who suffers pain, loss & hardship during natural disasters ... especially when the effects of natural disasters are made worse by the actions of other people ...

That said ...

Preparation is vital ...

The mind is the primary "weapon", with anything else being a "tool" ... and if you anticipate the need for a tool, you can certainly take the appropriate steps to have them beforehand, so you may have them at hand when needed ... and the ability to adapt & improvise isn't a luxury, nowadays (if it ever was) ...

When we take the responsibility upon ourselves to be prepared to provide for ourselves, and our loved ones, the "Principle of the Seven P's" serves as a helpful reminder ... shortened to the "Principle of the Six P's", for the sake of politeness, on this forum ...

Prior Proper Planning Prevents Poor Performance ...

[Kentucky Rifle]

Are you Steve? Maker of my shark skin holsters & belts? :)

In 1974 tornados swept through Louisville. While the tornados were still going through~~the *LOOTING* started. After the first tornado, almost everybody I know strapped on a pistol.
I don't want trouble, I just want to keep my stuff. Just because there's a few storms doesn't give anyone the right to "HELP THEMSELVES" to my stuff!:mad:

KR

[Daedalus]

My personal home defense tactics video collection has taught me that the best home defense is of course, paintcans on strings, blowtorches comedically positioned above doors, slippery grease in stairwells, and superheated doorknobs.

[chaim]

Stay Low, so your electricity is back on. Great. My uncle is not so lucky (I think his is still out, was last I heard).

I do have a question (and no sheeple comments please, it isn't very helpful). Many of us have antis and just plain gun-neutral people in our families. My uncle doesn't like guns. However, he is family and I care about him (I don't want to hear, "sheeple get what they deserve" crap). He also has a wife and two children (9 and 14). He doesn't want to accept the loan of one of my rifles. What suggestions should I make (baseball bat, knife... I know, what less obvious or more effective options are there that I'm just not thinking about)? I've thought about going down there to "help out" with a handgun concealed so he doesn't have to know how I'm really "helping out" but I can't afford the time away from my classes. His house does look like a target with no electricity and a tree in their family room so any advice would be appreciated (I thought about posting a thread but never did- I knew the "sheeple" comments that would come and didn't want those, but since someone already posted about the Memphis storm and looting...).

[Stay Low]

Chaim,

To me, lighting up the place is an easy way to keep the cowardly criminal away. The BG is looking for an easy target and would probably go for a darkened house down the block or around the corner rather than a place with some light and with what appears to be people inside. Candles, lanterns, kerosene lamps, etc work well. As far as a defensive weapon, anything you can get your hands on.

Power is back to most, but still about 75K plus are out I hear.

[Seminole]

I'm one of those still without power. My family and I are staying at a friend's house out in one of the burbs.

I'm not too worried about crime. Good (nosy) neighbors help.

[capt_happypants]

Lighting the property would be a good idea, and would be a deterrent to the casual looter. If someone is dead set on robbing the house, or harming your uncle's wife and/or kids, then he has to make some unpleasant decisions.

1. Improvise weaponry. Baseball bats, golf clubs, shovels, rebar and the like for your uncle and eldest child. Claw hammers and big, honkin knives for everyone else. Don't try and swing the baseball bat at the goblin - thrust it towards center mass, and try to knock him down.

2. Have a plan. If the bad guys are seeking property, then the family should withdraw to a safe room and avoid contact. Lock and barricade door.

3. If the neighborhood is on the hit list, I'd recommend packing everyone in the car and getting the heck out of Dodge - go to an area with power and find temporary shelter.

4. If number 3 is not an option - get the neighbors involved. Organize. First, find people who own guns. Second, locate anyone with medical training. Third, try and get everyone into a central location that can be easily defended.

[chaim]

I'm not too worried about crime. Good (nosy) neighbors help. At least I can report that my uncle has that. When he came up here (well actually to his in-laws' in VA) he was on the phone with the insurance adjuster who was checking out the damage when the insurance adjuster met my uncle's neighbor (at the point of a shotgun no less). It was worked out rather quickly but it is good to know that at least there are some people who are prepared who are watching out for my uncle and his family. I still worry what would happen if someone came in before noticed however.