My neighborhood was very hard hit in Harvey flooding (Cinco Ranch, Katy, Texas).
No one asked for my guns.
We had neighborhoods setting up their own armed checkpoints, to make sure people going back were actually living there.
Harris County Sheriff office was trying to keep people out of flood waters, but next door there was a community organized boat launch, taking people back to remediate their homes.
Mandatory only means to the extent they are willing to enforce it.
In Harris County, it was more advisory.
I live by NRG Stadium, and we had a looter ride through on his bicycle. We stood in our yard and gave him hard looks.
He acted like he had a gun: brazen, unafraid, and seemingly daring people to confront him.
He moved on.