Perhaps they were hedging on what direction everything was going to go. I stocked up on everything but firearms thinking water and food would probably get me first.

What's the problem with purchasing safety devices during unstable times?

The problem is the deeply seeded psychology of fear driven by the media. Americans are the most fearful people I think I've come across. The concept of resiliency of all kinds seems to be largely foreign here, except out in the 'sticks'.

The problem, of course, was that the poors were purchasing safety.