BY STEVEN PAUL BARLOW
Preparing for short-term emergencies or long-lasting catastrophes requires more than stockpiling supplies.
Reports in the aftermath of disasters are filled with heroic, selfless acts and communities pulling together. The sad truth is that hard times also bring out the w orst in some people. Some will see a crisis as a temporary suspension of lawful authority, an open invitation to loot, vandalize and roam the streets in unruly, violent mobs. Others, caught unprepared for any alteration in their daily routines will, out of desperation and panic, resort to theft and violence to ensure not only their own survival, but their own sense of comfort.