I remember my first hurricane as if it were yesterday. Shelves were barren, and lines to stock up on supplies stretched the span of entire stores. When the hurricane hit, it was a spectacle to behold. Wind and heavy rain whipped through the area, taking out trees and power lines. It was the experience that showed me Mother Nature’s wrath. It taught me the lesson that you can’t fight a natural disaster, but you surely can prepare for one. Power and water were out for days. The roads were un-navigatable due to large limbs and debris scattering the roads. I imagine the gun stores were closed for quite some time.

Natural disasters are a very real occurrence, and affect many individuals each year. I have been lucky enough to have been warned of every natural disaster I've been affected by, but I also understand some natural disasters like forest fires may give no warning. I think it’s important to prepare for a natural disaster long before one looms on the horizon. In this article, I’ll give you a few ideas of firearms that are nice to have on hand during a natural disaster based on my experiences and geography. I’ve also polled the TFB crew and will include some common and good suggestions.

Firearm one: Concealed carry pistol.

First up on the list for me would be a small concealed-carry pistol. The idea behind this firearm is to have something small and light enough to have on you all the time. Oftentimes, during natural disasters, cell phone service, home security systems, and basic government services are suspended. There are also individuals out and about who are opportunistic by nature and may not have prepared as well as you have. Having a small firearm on you at all times will ensure you’re prepared for a surprise visit.

The firearm on my list to fill this spot would be a Sig Sauer P365. I personally carry a P365XL with a Romeo-X Compact red dot optic. I think this is a great little package, that conceals well and doesn’t sacrifice ammo capacity. The P365 is small enough and light enough that you can conceal it and forget about it, even when you’re clearing branches out of the yard, or assessing hurricane damage.

Firearm two: Better handling larger pistol.

The second firearm on the list would be a slightly larger, but better-performing handgun. Micro-compact handguns are great for concealing, but the small size comes at the cost of reduced performance in most cases. Oftentimes these smaller-frame handguns are harder to shoot, recoil more, hold less ammunition, and are more difficult to reload than their larger counterparts. In the aftermath of a hurricane or natural disaster, a criminal or psychopath may be emboldened by the situation. I think the aftermath of a natural disaster should be taken as a period with higher risk, and a better-performing handgun on an outside-the-waistband holster might make the most sense. Having a second handgun can also arm a less-prepared friend or family member.

The TFB crew mentioned the Glock 17, 19, 20, Smith & Wesson M&P, Beretta 92X RDO, and even the Colt 1911 Gold Cup making their list. I think these are all fine firearms and up to the task at hand.

The firearm on my list to fill this spot would be a Gen 5 Glock 19, equipped with a Streamlight TLR-7 and red dot optic. The Glock 19 is generally regarded as one of the most reliable handguns of all time and also performs well in adverse conditions. It has a respectable capacity of 15 rounds with flush-fitting magazines and can also accept larger magazines. Magpul offers 15, 17, and 21-round mags for $20 or less. Factory magazines can also be had for a few bucks more. The low cost makes them easily stockpiled before the natural disaster hits.

The Glock 19 is a well-rounded firearm, capable of concealed carry but is also a great shooter. It always seems to make it into my bag for range day. It is the gun I take to the range to compare other firearms to, and just genuinely feels like an extension of my arm. I am super comfortable with it and enjoy shooting it and that is why it is my number two.

Firearm three: Some type of .22

The third firearm on the list would be a firearm chambered in .22 Long Rifle. I used to live in an area that regularly flooded. The flooding seemed to stir up a lot of snakes and other pests. After a flood, people would remove the drywall and insulation from their homes to prevent mold. One person even found a water moccasin hiding in their wall when they went to demo, which I'm sure wasn’t a pleasant experience.

Having a .22 handy can be a great tool for dispatching aggressive small pests. A .22 can also be used to feed yourself, by hunting small game if the need arises. Lastly, a .22 can be a really rudimentary communication device if all cell service is down, and you don’t have a radio to communicate. I think we’ve all seen the old cowboy movies where a gunslinger would ride up the trail or around the mountain, and signal others by shooting their revolver in the air. While I don’t recommend shooting any firearm into the air, a .22 might provide just the right amount of noise to signal to another that you’re in trouble. If you are in a rural area, you could communicate to a friend that if they hear two quick .22 shots, followed by a 5-second pause and another .22 shot, you need help. Just make sure to follow the rules of gun safety by knowing your target and what’s beyond it.

The .22 was a common theme among the list of TFB writers who responded to the poll. There were a lot of good recommendations, including the Ruger 10/22, AR7, Cooey .22, and Ruger Mark IV.

The firearm on my list to fill this spot is the Henry AR7. I have an AR7, and it’s been a great little firearm. I originally chose a Ruger 10/22 for my list, but after consideration, I think the AR7 wins out for my purposes. The AR7 is meant to be an emergency-type firearm. All the components of the firearm fit within the butt stock. When the butt stock cap is installed, the AR7 floats and is water resistant. The AR7 package is super compact and lightweight. The AR7 comes with two magazines, but you can fit three magazines within the buttstock if you have one inserted into the receiver when you stow it. I folded some thick paper into roughly the same shape as an AR7 magazine, stuffed about 20 .22LR rounds into the square envelope, and stuffed it into the buttstock. The package can now be stowed with 36 rounds of .22LR and is ready to grab and go. I don’t have to think about grabbing ammo or magazines separately, it is all together in one spot.

One thing to consider with the AR7 would be your desire to use an optic. If you want to mount a scope or red dot to the AR7, you miss out on the ability to stow the receiver in the buttstock, although you can still stow the barrel and magazines. If you prefer to have a .22 platform with an optic and more plentiful magazine options, the Ruger 10/22 might be the better choice for you. You may also want to consider a .22 handgun.

Firearm four: Hunting rifle or shotgun depending on your location

Natural disasters can oftentimes cause disruptions to the food supply that we are all accustomed to. I don’t think it would be impossible for supply chains to be severely impacted by natural disasters for a long length of time. Also, I think an individual in a rural area can be cut off from civilization and forgotten about due to a road washing away.

The fourth firearm on this list would be some kind of firearm to put food on the table that is larger than a squirrel. This choice would best be made depending on your geographical location, and the type of game that is available nearby. In my area of Texas, we have small deer and wild hogs. The town I live in is almost all thick brush. I think for me, a shotgun makes the most sense.

The shotgun is a truly versatile tool. Birdshot, buckshot, and slugs can be used in different scenarios to bag different game. You can harvest anything from squirrels and birds to big hogs and deer at the right distance. It is also a very effective self-defense tool.

The fourth firearm on my list would be a Mossberg Maverick 88. I chose a Mossberg 88 Maverick because I think it’s one of the best and most reliable entry-level shotguns on the market. The starting MSRP is low enough for just about anyone to have one on hand. The 88 also uses the same barrels as the more popular Mossberg 500, so you can pick up a second longer, or shorter barrel for a good price. I personally don’t shoot a ton of shotgun, except for the one-off skeet shooting range visits I take every once in a while. If I were a more serious shotgun shooter or hunter, I'd probably have a better shotgun on the list. These days I tend to enjoy shooting pistols more, but it’s nice knowing I have a reliable 12 gauge in the safe if it’s ever needed.

This slot on the list is very location-dependent. I have an old work buddy who used to hunt in Mississippi, and he pretty much exclusively used a shotgun. Others may benefit from a lever action long-range firearm like a Marlin 1895 Dark 45-70. Others may prefer a 30-06, or even 300 Win Mag. The choice will depend on your location. Bolt action 308 rifles can also be had for low entry costs.

Firearm five: Fighting firearm

I googled “looting after a natural disaster,” and the new Google AI search engine replied, “Looting is a real issue after natural disasters.” If that doesn’t scare you, I don’t know what would. The rest of the search results that popped up showed mixed results. To me, the fact that the AI searched all throughout the internet and found many instances of looters, and determined itself with its own biases that “looting is a real issue” is a strong case to be prepared if nothing else. I have also heard stories of people being inside their homes and held at gunpoint during these after-hurricane looting events. I think anyone would be foolish to believe that no one on the earth would like to harm them, especially when resources are low and the chance of being caught in the act of harming you is slim.

The fifth firearm on this list would be the one that you would want the most when there’s some kind of bump in the night. We talked about this towards the beginning of the article, but in the aftermath of a hurricane there are many times when there is no electricity, or cell phone coverage, and there might not even be a road for anyone to get to you. You have to be your own first responder and your own rescue. When it’s 2 AM and you hear footsteps and mumbled words, what would be the firearm you would most want to defend yourself?

The fifth firearm on my list would be an 8” 300 Blackout AR pattern firearm in a pistol format. My 300 Blackout build is an Aero Precision M4E1 firearm. I bought the stripped lower in a Black Friday sale, bought the upper as a blemished unit, and pieced the rest of it together from various online sales. It has an Aero precision charging handle and bolt carrier group and I’ve been happy with it so far.

I’ve equipped it with a flashlight, red dot sight, magnifier, and pistol brace. The flashlight helps to be able to properly identify a target before pulling the trigger. The pistol brace makes the firearm safer, by giving more control to the user. More control means a decreased chance of a round going somewhere it’s not intended to. The red dot optic with no eye relief ensures you can have the gun up and aimed in the quickest time possible. The flip-to-side magnifier allows the option to take a longer shot, although I usually remove it from the firearm. 300 Blk is also known to be pretty effective against threats. The shorter barrel makes it easier to have the firearm on you at all times and is generally more maneuverable.

It’s important to remember that all usual laws apply in the aftermath of a natural disaster or hurricane. I live in a more urban environment. For me to defend myself against a threat, I have to have a valid fear that my life is in danger. It might be hard to justify to a jury why I took a self-defense shot to the tune of 300 yards. Unfortunately for me, if I have to face a threat it would have to be a sure thing that the threat was trying to kill me or a loved one, and would have to be in close proximity. If I'm betting my life on a close-quarters tool, I like my odds the best with a 300 Blackout cartridge in a small and nimble package.

I would keep the firearm in a pistol configuration if local law allows. As we discussed earlier, all laws still apply, and NFA SBR laws are pretty egregious. If for instance, you left your SBR at home while attempting to buy a jug of water, and your relative was at your home and visited by law enforcement, they could potentially be charged with a Felony, face 10 years in jail, $10,000 in fines and lose all rights to own firearms just by having unauthorized access to the NFA item. It’s just not worth the gamble.

I think a 16” AR15 chambered in 5.56 is also a great option. I chose the 300 Blk round mainly due to the geographics in my region. A Daewoo K2 was one of my favorite’s from the TFB crew that responded to the poll. An HK SP5K PDW could also make for a great option, and propel you into neighborhood warlord status.

Conclusion

I remember some years back, I went on a trip to Colorado. A friend and I decided to go rafting. We showed up incredibly hung over from the day before and were both in pretty bad shape from eating nothing but junk food and sleeping on camping mattresses for 5 days. We thought this was going to be an easygoing rafting trip, but were unprepared for what came next.

When we arrived at the rafting place, the guide gave us a speech. He basically said that if you fall off the raft, you are to act as your own self-rescue squad. You were to swim to the shore if able and wait for help. There were only two tour guides, me and a buddy, and the rest of the passengers were ladies, children, and an elderly man. We dropped the raft in the water and hopped in.

I was given the important role of being in the front of the raft, although I wasn’t really fit to be in that state. The person in the front steers the boat and takes the brunt of the rapids. The first rapid almost took me out. There were several rapids that were taller than a bus. The tour guide later told us they were some of the tallest rapids they’d ever had. He basically told us that we could have 3 life jackets on, and if we went down in a rapid and got sucked into a whirlpool, there was a good chance we could drown. If the entire raft capsized going down a rapid, one of us was most likely going to drown.

Luckily for us, we all kept the raft afloat. It did not capsize and we didn’t lose anybody. I later learned that the same year, many people died while white water rafting on the same river. Some even died rafting with the same rafting company.

I think the moral of this story is to be your own self-rescue squad. Unfortunately, one day you might be thrust into a situation due to a natural disaster where others around you either a) cannot help you due to them barely being able to save themselves, or b) will not help you due to them not wanting to risk their own lives. I learned the lesson that I was “in a little bit too deep” (literally and figuratively) when my raft was already floating down the river and there was nothing I could do to stop it. The safest option for me would be to assess the situation and avoid the company before getting on the raft. The second best option would have been to show up in shape with a clear head and the right gear.

I think the same applies to hurricanes and natural disasters. If it’s going to be a bad one, please evacuate. You are no match for Mother Nature when she’s dedicated. A person can fight a storm surge about as well as they can fight the wind, which is not very well. The second best option is to prepare for all outcomes and have the appropriate gear and training ready. Also please make sure you have a way to secure and transport any firearms you may have in a natural disaster.b