There is nothing wrong with preparing for an emergency. Carrying enough food, water radio batteries, maybe backup generator, etc. In fact the government has been urging people to have a "family disaster plan" for years through TV ads etc.

But some of the discussion in this thread seems to suggest survivalist type thinking - that we should create a personal fortress of sorts and to heck with everyone else....or worse.

This whole thread reminds me of a movie that was on TV in the early 1970's about a town in Kansas in the aftermath of a nuclear war.

One of the central characters built up a stash of food, canned goods, weapons etc and was one of the "survivors".  He was also an avid reader and took (looted?) a lot of books from the local library.

At the end of the film he is pictured alone smugly admiring his stash of food and books. He leans over to pick one up and his thick glasses fall off and are smashed as they hit the floor.  And all his plans and preparation fall apart.

The movie ends with him crying among his stash of food and beloved books - that he is unable to see or read...

It was a very powerful movie.  It also made the point of there really is no individual survival.  We are in this life together. 

The idea that you can somehow survive alone seems like it is resurfacing in this thread. 

The folks in NY and NJ are also our customers for ag products. We need them to rebuild and recover. From a human, social and business standpoint.  Looters are criminals.  Most folks suffering from that storm are very decent people that need help.

I think a lot of folks commenting in this thread would consider themselves Christians and church goers. The Christian approach seems to me to be to help each other in times of need.

Maybe one answer to Pokey's original question would be to talk with these other family members and create a wider family plan that they would contribute to and maybe meet at one family gathering point - and weather the natural disaster together.

jmho.

Jim at Dawn