Are you prepared for an Emergency?

[Philosoraptor]

Earthquake, Hurricane, Volcano, Asteroid, Terror attack?

My daughter lives in San Francisco and has a two week survival kit put back after witnessing the horrors of New Orleans last year.

I think it's a damn good idea to put back water and food and medicines etc. for about 2 to 4 weeks. I'd hate to think about waiting on FEMA for a drink or meal or medicine.

[DoYouEverWonder]

1. I live in FL

I better be.

[gulliver]

It's not a bad idea under Bush and the GOP.

They are imbeciles.

[manic expression]

2. Of course, I have duct tape

On a more serious note, would just having a reasonable amount of water and canned food be enough?

[melnjones]

8. Absolutely not, in a serious disaster that is...

One, if you rely on prescriptions, then obviously that is a must to store. However, having other items is important too. What if you end up with a fever and have no access to medical care? Better damn well have some aspirin to bring down the fever. Same goes for basic first aid, etc. My survival supplies includes food, water, first aid, radio and flashlights with batteries, matches, sanitary supplies (especially important for women!), plus food and supplies (first aid included) for my dog and cat, including crates and leashes if we need to evacuate. I am adding more items as I can afford them, but I keep several weeks of food in the basement, plus a couple bags containing 3 days worth of food, water, and supplies for myself and the animals in case we need to flee. ID information, credit card/bank account info, emergency contacts, all of this stuff is important as well (see http://permanent.access.gpo.gov/websites/www.ready.gov/... this is excellent). This website gives good suggestions http://www.redcross.org/services/disaster/0,1082,0_3_,0... . It's not about panicking or freaking out, simply about being prepared so that we don't have to rely on the government, and so those who DO can have greater access.

[manic expression]

25. Thanks for the info n/t

[TahitiNut]

3. It depends on what emerges.

When I lived in the Bay Area, I kept my Earthquake Preparedness Kit like any sane person. I didn't need it for Loma Prieta ... the closest I came. (The mess was awful, though. Took a couple of days to clean up.)

[livetohike]

4. I did a few things after the horror of the wildfires we had here

a few years ago. I have all of our important papers,etc. in an expandable folder. I have a check list of things to take if we have to evacuate. Don't forget to provide for any pets, too.

[melnjones]

9. re: pets...

http://www.ready.gov/america/_downloads/pets.pdf

[cynatnite]

5. As long as I have internet access...

I can survive anything.

[megatherium]

6. No. I lose it when my cable TV goes out.

God knows how I'd cope with a real disaster.

Actually, I have a couple of weeks of canned food and some jugs of water in a cupboard.

[breakaleg]

7. No. But when I lived in an earthquake prone country I did.

And the kids had a pack at school with passport infomation, family photos, contact information in our home country, all ready to go.

[knitter4democracy]

10. I have the storm box in the basement.

It's for tornadoes, our biggest threat most of the year. I should get more in the basement, though.

[datasuspect]

11. a 1974 plymouth fury

no catalytic converter or computer controls, so will run on regular gas (stockpiled in my underground tanks) or keep running in the event of massive EMP burst. being able to get away quickly will come in handy if there is a widespread zombie outbreak.

clothing: commando fatigues with all kinds of strategic pockets, black in color. 5 pairs of combat boots and shoe cobbler kit. lots of clean underwear and socks.

weapons: two 9mm pistols (german), roof mounted (on fury) 50 cal "mudhole stomper" with fuckloads of rounds, ak-47 with twin banana clips (extra magazines and ammo are like dandruff around here . . . ), "street sweeper" tactical 12 gauge shotgun with barrel magazine, ankle strapped sub-nosed .357 (lil chuck, as i call him), some rambo knives, a couple of tec-9 throwaways and a vintage uzi i culled from a chechen rebel.

alcohol: plenty of factory made whiskey. have knowledge and capabilities to produce spirits and beer.

compound: 1919 farm house in semi-rural area. one road in/out, surrounded by cattle pastures on all sides with various temperate savannah scrub and fencelines (good lines of sight everywhere). wire around perimeter, multiple closed circuit angles (powered by three diesel generators) diesel in underground tanks 4 and 5 which abut the south perimeter.

actual house structure - steel reinforced walls, cinderblocks layered against interior walls (no exposed windows) and exterior wrapped in corrugated tin. ventilation/gun holes punched throughout.

there's other stuff too, but i don't want you guys trying to come steal my food.

[guinivere]

12. whoa

Seriously? Um...what the hell do you think is gonna happen.


Not being snarky, just askin.

[datasuspect]

13. zombies, ma'am, zombies

i'm a itchin to fight some of them.


joke post

[guinivere]

15. *sigh* Oh. Oops.

I'm a bit toasty in the head after work today.


I work with a kid whom I suspect is a zombie. I'll send him your way.

[melnjones]

19. lol...

there's a book somewhere that's all about how to fight zombies. Quite detailed!

[MazeRat7]

14. Yes, we have a pack with everything needed for a long term event.

With the exception of Asteroid, that event (if large enough) would pretty much do us all in.

MZr7

[YellowRubberDuckie]

16. We have resolved to keep our gas tanks full...

In case we have to high tail it to Skip's parents' house. We also have a plan to get there on foot if we have to in case of anything. We were talking about it, and while it might sound like we are in the tin foil hat club, we aren't. We are just being careful. That reminds me. I need a backpack.
Duckie

[demgurl]

17. I have enough supplies to last me about .......

a year before I need to go out of my house. That is, if electricity keeps up. If not, I will have to go out and get propane or something to that effect. I stockpile my goods so I have enough feminine supplies, food, health and beauty items (toothpaste, toothbrush, soap, shampoo, cold meds, Preparation H, aspirin) water, drinks, etc.........I would need to go out for milk after December because the milk I have now is only good through that time but I keep adding more as expiration dates progress on the carton. I have between 35-45 cartons of milk.

This is just he way I have lived for I am not sure how long now. We are filled to the gill with items to cover ourselves and friends. It seems like I am constantly letting family or friends shop at our "store" (their words, not mine). I do charge sometimes but considering the last time my sister-in-law left my house she had about eight big bags of groceries and paid $5, I think our rates are very reasonable.

Next week I will be giving a bunch of groceries for a pounding. (people who got laid off and a few of us are getting together to donate our food for their families - down here, I have come to find out, it is called a 'pounding')

So we do share but I try to keep our supplies very well stocked at all times. You never know when you will need it with this bunch in office.

[nosillies]

18. One thing that's easy to grab and really makes a difference

Yeah, everybody knows food, medicine, gas, important documents, cash, etc. One thing I have always taken that has been wonderful is my tower to my computer. Drive to a friend's house, hook up to their monitor, and I'm good to go. Let's face it, not everybody has up-to-date backups of absolutely everything they could ever need off their hard drive right at their fingertips.

Bottom line is this: every time I have ever evacuated my home, whether it be for hurricanes, fires, etc., I have always left with the assumption that I will be coming back to total destruction, and that everything I don't take with me will be gone forever. If it's important to my daily existence or sentimental and irreplaceable, it goes in the car.

[LSK]

20. not really

But we dont have earthquakes or hurricanes, no volcanos and downtown Chicago would be the target, not 30+ miles out.

[Nicole]

21. I live in tornado alley, I'm always prepared n/t

[Viva_La_Revolution]

22. We're not prepared...

It's been a struggle just to keep food on the table and the lights on.

I try to stock up on canned food, but then we get a bad week (no work) and we have to break into the stash.

It's a never ending cycle, damnit!

[Bluebear]

23. Great advice, Philosoraptor

All kidding aside, Katrina showed us that we are absolutely on our own in case of disaster. Certainly this President will not be on top of things. Be prepared.

[mmonk]

24. I'm used to the occasional Hurricane

here in NC (no, I'm not talking about our hockey team). We have floods in the Raleigh area as well. Then of course, there's the ice in winter that takes tree limbs which knocks out the power. So I guess, yeah, pretty much.

[RB TexLa]

26. Yes, I do not expect anyone to do anything for me. n/t