The book Mail Evil tells a good story about this kind of stuff.

Guy builds up a replica of a siege-able castle. Giving his friends a tour and are down the the dungeons when it gets so hot they all pass out. When they wake an apocalypse has happened. The story goes on about how they used the Castle to survive and defended it from the roving mobs.

[QUOTE=madcorgi;10288800]I agree with you and dan79. It seems to me that people band together in times of extremis, share what that have, rescue each other, and even die for each other. People risk their lives to save strangers. Exhibit A is 9/11. The toughest, meanest city in the U.S. banded together and pulled for each other in an incredible and unexpected way. The weeks after 9/11, painful as they were, were the time I was proudest I've ever been to be an American. And there are plenty more exhibits from all around the world. It's what we humans were naturally programmed to do. Instinctively, we are social animals, and we default to that primal instinct to band together in times of stress. Band together and cooperate for the survival of as many as we can save. That's how we perpetuate the species.

Although I definitely believe in being prepared, I think spending your time and money on a bunker you can hole up and shoot people who come by to do a wellness check or ask for food is a pretty bad idea. If the big quake hits as predicted here, and I survive it, I don't plan on holing up behind sandbags with an arsenal to defend my stuff. I'll be out helping pull folks out of the rubble.[/QUOTE

^^^ Totally agree. If a chainsaw and fuel aren't part of yer arsenal (around here)....then you are NOT prepared imo ;)

When Sandy hit us it was mostly wind damage. Being a mostly forested town our power grid was heavily damaged and the few through roads were blocked. My house had 10 gauge extensions running to neighbors refrigerators for 12 days until they were able to find their own generators. A bunch of people didn't have access to other power so they emptied their freezers after a day or so and had a YUGE BBQ party down the street. Those of us with gennies shared water from our wells. I had a sidearm ready but never needed it. It was a long 15 days but there were no events requiring violence. Oh and I do keep emergency food and fuel handy.

Well said. That’s the American Spirit!

I think of the recent California fires. This area of the country may be thought of as one of the most superficial, selfish and self centered regions. The display of courage, love and care for neighbors and strangers alike has been staggering.

It was just that after to OKC bombing. The firefighters doing the rescue would ask for batteries, and many stores and hundreds of citizens would flood them with batteries. The local convention center was used as a place to house the firefighters from around the country. One of the firemen that was from Pittsburgh came into our photo-lab to have some film processed, and we chatted. He said they were all astonished at the support. He had worked the first trade center bombing and he said they had to buy their own coffee and most meals. In OKC, they were treated like family. He said one running joke among the firefighters was to not ask for "comfort women" or they would be supplied. There were mountains of gloves, knee-pads, and flashlights for the men to use. He said anything they needed was supplied to excess.