After the devastation left by Hurricane Ike in 2008, Matt and Lynette Dillon decided they would never be unprepared for times of crisis again. Ike was the catalyst that ultimately led to their endeavor as owners of Dillon's Gunsmoke, a military surplus, survival supply and gun store in the heart of Magnolia.

"Hurricane Ike opened us up to being prepared," said Matt Dillon, who owns the store with his wife. "I finally started to live by the rules I did when I was a Boy Scout: Always be prepared."

From this point the Dillon's would embark on a journey that ended with them opening up their store in Magnolia, a venue allowing others to join them in their quest to be prepared.

"We know if anything happens that we can stay at home and eat for over a year," Matt said. "Others should also be that prepared, because you never know when something might happen."

Matt worked in the motorcycle business for most of his life. Lynette, who came to Magnolia in 1968 from Houston, graduated from Magnolia High School and went on to work in the oil and gas industry, then as a school bus driver and a real estate agent. But their interests would shift to emergency preparedness.

"We began to realize that there are more reasons than just a hurricane to be prepared for," Lynette said.

Matt said he was approached by a friend who asked him to attend a gun show. He had so much fun that he came home and gathered a number of miscellaneous items related to guns and sold them at the next gun show.

"I came home with a bunch of money and told Lynette, 'Honey, this is what I want to do,'" Matt said.

So, the two began driving to different gun shows and started selling guns and ammo, which they did for about six months. However, that lifestyle required too much travel and left little time to spend with their family, so they soon decided to open a store where they could sell military surplus gear, survival supplies, outdoor gear, and guns and ammo.

The Dillons picked Magnolia to open their store and did so in February 2013. They chose Magnolia because it is where they lived, gave them a short commute to work, and allowed them more time to spend with each other and their family.

There was also no other venue in Magnolia that dealt in survival supplies along with guns and ammo. Matt said they saw a void and filled it.

"It's just our little mom-and-pop shop in the heart of Magnolia," Matt said.

Customers at Dillon's Gunsmoke can find everything from guns and ammo to freeze-dried foods and water filtration systems. After a year in business, Matt said business has been good and steady.

"We are not setting the world on fire by any means, but we had a good last quarter," Matt said.

Along with items sold in store, Dillon's Gunsmoke provides concealed handgun licensing classes once a month. A Harris County Sheriff's Office tactical trainer teaches classes at the store, and the class has access to a private gun range. In addition, the store offers a preparedness group that meets twice a month to discuss and learn skills such as survival, self-reliance, preserving food, raising animals, first aid, self defense, home defense, suturing and much more.

"This way people will have the opportunity to have some survival skills," Lynette said. "We have lost some of our primitive skills, and we need to bring those back."

Items to keep in your car:

• Flashlight
• Radio—hand or battery operated
• Batteries
• Whistle
• Fire starters or waterproof matches
• Small backpacking stove
• Dust mask
• Pocket knife
• Emergency cash in small denominations and quarters for phone calls
• Sturdy shoes, a change of clothes and a warm hat
• Local map
• Some water and food (preferably freeze dried or dehydrated foods)
• Permanent marker, paper and tape
• List of allergies to any drug or food
• Copy of health insurance and ID cards
• Extra prescription eyeglasses, hearing aid or other vital personal items
• Prescription medications and first aid supplies
• Toothbrush and toothpaste

Dillon's Gunsmoke 18434 Buddy Riley Blvd., No. 4, Magnolia 281-259-4484, www.dillonsgunsmoke.com, Hours: Tue.—Fri. 9 a.m.—7 p.m., Sat. 9 a.m.—5 p.m., Closed Sun. and Mon.