This is exactly what my presentation was about at the Popular Mechanics Home Safety and Preparedness show. By unifying my neighborhood well in advance of any issues we came through the destruction of hurricane Ike with ease and actually had a good time.

Poker nights, welcome wagons, holiday parties, block barbecues, pool parties, movie parties, or just nightly walks around the neighborhood to ask people if you can eat their weeds...these all helps build ties that will get you through tough times. Our parents and grandparents knew this, but nowdays it's become the habit of cocooning ourselves in the techno-silks of computers, tv, video games, etc...

-Blast