Protecting Your Collection In A Disaster?

Oh boy, you guys all have some firearms there?

I'm familiar with some guns and any grown male here is supposed to be so (due to compulsory military training)
But I hope I never have one of my own, and I never need one.

Going back to the first post, the most important natural disasters are earthquakes here in Istanbul (not very often, but BiG ones), and to tell the truth, when the buildings are shaking like jelly, the coin collection is not the first thing you would worry about.
But of course a very simple precaution for that is to keep the coins in a strong box / holder, a safe maybe.

Deu the high water here in '95 I had to worry for my collections of coins, notes and other stuff, but how to get them safe?, there was no possibility at all, after we where evacuated, I check that at first when we got back, they all where still waiting for me :-)

greetings, Carl

Shatsi I would have to reply that the threat of a major quake in New York is probably more real than the hurricane? None the less you have found a concern we all share regardless of where you live. Mother Nature can be very unforgiving at times! Living in tornado alley can be a challenge to protect anything that is not underground and for the most part should I/we ever take a direct hit there is not much a tornado can't move. I guess we face many dangers to our collection such as thieves, fire, flood, earthquake, hurricanes and tornados and should any of the above mentioned ever threaten me and my family I really figure, at the time, the coins will have to take a backseat to more pressing needs as more precious things will be on my mind at the time. Hopefully they will remain dry and recoverable and I will carry on from there.
Now shatsi I would also like to say one other little thing! Yes we have guns! It is very rewarding collecting such items and many are full of history (some good and some bad) but none the less they serve as a reminder of yesterdays that we should never forget. Also many of us are avid target shooters and hunters and have NEVER used a gun in a crime nor never will! Last but not least they are an immediate form of protection that police dept. can't offer. I will also note that the states that offer "personal protection permits" for handguns are also offering the general population a HUGE deterent to crime because the bad guys don't know who is carrying and who isn't! We seldom have a mugging on the streets in this state due to that simple fact. I have been licensed to carry for years and have never, not one time, removed my firearm from my holster. As a writer a few years back I covered many outdoors activities and spend countless hours with Conservation Officers. I was required to carry a firearm while riding with an officer and DID find myself in a couple of positions to have the hand on the gun as those guys really do some scary work, in the middle of nowhere, in the darkest hours of the night!!! And, as this reallly is a COIN Forum I will end with one last statement. Guns are used for a wide array of positive things (even the Olympics) and guns DON'T kill, its the idiot behind the gun that does the killing! Hopefully someday you will get the opportunity to enjoy the positive side of the shooting sports as most women usually do very well when given that opportunity.

Thanks for the advice. I know there are very important things to consider when you're face with it, like family, which we can already make plans for and do the best we can. I was wondering what someone do if they have to evacuate. I'm new to collecting and wanted to see what others are doing in the same situation. I don't even have a safe yet. As far as carrying a Gun Terry, I'm sure everyone has their own reasons to carry one. But I don't have one yet and in New York I don't think you really need one unless you work nights or something like that.

RG, you really have great ideas!!

Well Triggersmob we Yanks have been feeling pretty sorry for you fellows down there after you lost one of your freedoms. Seems to me every area where guns are confiscated or laws regulate such freedom we are seeing huge numbers in increased crime. Still nothing much is done to reverse the trend as lawmakers are very hesitant to admit they were wrong, even facing proof beyond all doubt, and believe me many times they are. We live in a world where the squeaky wheel gets the grease and the self appointed, self centered, self proclaimed saviors of mankind who are demanding we all live our lives just like theirs is winning a battle now and then. Most of what we see everyday is NOT the real truth being touted as a hidden agenda lies between the lines. Everything is about power, control and money regardless of the issue at hand. Am I paranoid? Nope! I learned years ago to read between the lines and look for the bigger picture and right now I don't like what I see! Nuff said on this subject! And, for what it is worth, we still feel for the Aussies and what has taken place down there! By the way how is your crime rate now? (please respond in the general discussion area or just email)
In ending I will say each and every living being has the right to self defense of his/her life and the lives of loved ones. To give up that right, in any way, is a serious loss of freedom. I will never crawl up into a corner and beg a criminal for my life but I am willing to die trying to protect it and my loved ones! Our state just passed a new law protecting those who choose to stand their ground and defend their lives and loved ones. Running, begging and pleading is no longer required!

As we all know, Natural Disasters cannot be avoided. Mother Nature will do what Mother Nature does. In the case of a Water Disaster, even the most solid safe, etc. has it's limits. A tornado can rip a house from it's foundation and any safe could end up in the next town. No matter what we do, nothing is completely safe from Mother Nature. We can only do our best to protect our property. During a Natural Disaster it's our lives that we think about first right!

In the case of unlawful entry into our homes, well yes I too go for the "Make My Day" laws. I still love my S&W 9MM, am 96% on the Range and guess what - I'm female! (Being a former Police Officer/Chief of Police helps) ;-)

Thanks crystalk64! I've been asked "is there ANYTHING that you haven't done" and my answer is always "Yes, I've never bungie jumped"!

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Originally posted by AntiqueCollector

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Originally posted by shatsi

With the hurricane season starting soon I was wondering how you can protect your collection. Lately there's some talk about the possibility of a hurricane in NY and I was wondering how you can prepare-collection. Have you planned what to do with your collection in a natural disaster?

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You can get waterproof containers (like fireproof and watertight cash boxes, not really burglar proof but the small cash boxes/safes will protect against fire and water if you get the right one), and put those in a larger fireproof safe (a good gun safe is perfect).

The idea of a hurricane attacking the Northeast U.S. is not far fetched. It's happened before and did serious damage the last time it happened. Maybe not this year but it can happen next year or the year after that or...you get the picture. Just be sure you have plenty of food, water, firearms, etc., to protect yourself as well.

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I live within a mile of the Atlantic, in southern New Jersey, and that question is always on my mind. Beyond my previously-mentioned protection method, I've gone the gunsafe route as well. That only constitutes sudden fire protection, though - if we're in the path of a hurricane, my coins (as well as my harddrives) are evacuating with me.