Probably the best way to protect yourself in a similar situation is with options. Most would expire unexercised, consider it like the costs of an insurance policy, but with similar black swan type events it could keep you in the game.

I did not have any nor am I an expert on options/option pricing, so please don't ask me to elaborate. I'm not live with sufficient funds to justify at minute so my reasearch is not done, but when I trade for a living or have high 5 to 6 figures, I most definitely will calculate my exposure in the market and insure vs black swans with options.