How are people gonna reinforce windows and doors?

In the State of Florida we use metal shutters due to hurricanes.  A new material;  a type of cloth has turned out be be even better then metal shutters.  It came out 2 years ago.

I bought some window film, 8 mils thick.  It's really tough.  Someone could break through it but it would take several wacks.   It also will be slightly more effective at stopping a fire bomb, i.e., molotov cocktail or something.

Yeah, well, he humors me!   The best we've got here is that he's agreed we can have the stuff on hand to make these things, as long as they're cheap... but we won't be building anything until things get bad.

The windows don't need to be any stronger than the walls. If you live in a wood frame house why would you have steel windows if people could just go through the wall? Now, if you had brick walls then making windows only as impregnable as a wood frame wall might be insufficient.

Two by fours screwed into the frame with very long screws would be stronger than the wood frame walls. Though that would not stop bullets from going through the cracks between the boards (in either direction). I suppose one could put the boards right next to each other with no cracks.

Glass block mortared into the frame would be about as strong as a brick wall and would let in light while reducing the ability to know what one was looking at when looking through it. Though that sounds kind of expensive.

Doors however usually just have a bolt that goes into a very flimsy piece of wood in the frame. It is very easy for people to just hit the knob with a five pound sledge and viola. You either need a steel frame or you need a bold that goes into the floor.

I prefer to just not tell people that I have anything of value in my home and to not make my home look inviting.

Maybe just a large quarantine sign. And if people are not afraid of the avian flu then maybe they would be afraid of ebola virus or bubonic plague.

How do burglar proof your windows.

 if you have a basement you may need to retreat to there.  If you come under fire from that sport of firepower you will need to consider other alternatives.  even a well built house isn't gonna withstand determined attack from modern weapons.

  i suggest you consider the possibilities that your home can withstand and plan for those eventualities.  for a low profile defense you might consider putting wood or other materials INSIDE your home instead of outside the windows  you can put up curtains so the home appears normal from outside.  don't leave anything outside that will be an indicator of "wealth" or goodies inside.  no bikes or other coveted items.

  reinforcing from the inside will also conceal from your neighbors what you are doing and the true extent of your concern.  remember that not all of your neighbors are gonna be nice folks and may afford a danger vector that you don't expect.

Bullet proofing may be accomplished by building a 2X4 frame and covering it with plywood on both sides.  Then fill the center with  granite gravel.  1 to 2 inch stone will be fine.  A 4 by 8 foot panel filled with this will weigh about a ton and will stop most rifle (up to 30-06) and all pistol rounds.  Place them inside the home up against the outside walls.   Cheap to build.

Hey Buz, a friend of mine, and possibly the single most prepared person I've ever encountered had this exact same idea.

When the friend of mine did it he had the four inch being the side of the box... the box was four inches deep x appx 20 inches across x 24 inches high. Closed on three sides. It wasn't so heavy that I couldn't pick the box up myself. I'm fairly large, and strong, but I'm not a burly monster.

Therein lies the problem KnowAhhh, you and everyone else has this grand idea that you're going to somehow get out of the city with moments to spare and find yourself camping with like minded people, or escape to your cabin that you've got stocked. Unfortunately that's probably not going to happen.