More on Emergency Preparedness
This is something old I wrote which I serve up to you since I have nothing else today. Posting will be slow for the rest of the summer. I am sure I will have a lot to say about finances when my annual camping trip is done.
EDIT: I have added my own post by request. Click on ‘disaster survival kit’ below.
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I think Miserly Bastard and I have better disaster survival kit lists than the ones suggested by WiseBread, but ours are a bit more personalized too. Plus we discussed our reasoning for our items and our commenters left really good suggestions. It’s food for thought if you want to make your own kits. Truthfully, I don’t like calling them ‘disaster survival kits’. I pop into my gear when the power goes out during a storm. That hardly qualifies as a disaster, but preparedness in an emergency.
In light of Hurricanes Katrina & Rita and meeting some more Homeland Security types here in DC, the one thing I would have to edit is the length of time for which you should be prepared without assistance from your government. Realistically, now you should expect to shelter-in-place for 2 weeks and have enough supplies for that duration.
For me, I’m running out to Luray Caverns to a girlfriend’s country house. I know where she keeps the key. Or else that goshforsaken place my friends have moved to (requiring 4WD). Turns out I know at least 3 houses on the mountain. Someone should be willing to take me in!
I am kidding, but it’s true. My list was based on the assumption of 3-days in place, or else fleeing the city as fast as I can in case of attack. I just found out that the nearest metro to my house is not Ballston, as I thought, but possibly the Pentagon City station. (Not the actual Pentagon station, but the next one over.) This matters because of the DC Metroblogger map. Just kidding. That’s peripheral to my risk assessment of another Pentagon attack. Like how good is targeting on a bomb or missile? Within 1 or 2 miles? I’m sure it’s better than that, but say if it wasn’t? I could be toast. (Whoa! I was going to add the link, but Maureen is no longer keeping it. That’s ok, Buckethead doesn’t live on the Yellow Line anymore anyway.)
I was talking to a friend’s husband recently. It seems that perhaps I’ve not covered the scenario where I would have to walk out of a disaster area. Will have to rethink my exercise and backpacking capabilities. It’s a bit extreme, but food for thought.
Ted wrote:
Over at Random Nuclear Strikes, they’ve been updating a series called “By Ourselves, For Ourselves” where they discuss in some detail various aspects of disaster survival. It doesn’t all apply in every situation, but if nothing else it might bring up points that you haven’t considered.
Here’s the link: http://www.softgreenglow.com/wp/?cat=13
Posted on 26-Jul-07 at 10:59 am | Permalink
plonkee wrote:
Especially important is access to water. There are towns in Gloucestershire here in the UK that are going to be without running water for 2 weeks. Drinking water is getting delivered, but but not enough for washing in - you might want to have an extended supply of wetwipes.
Posted on 26-Jul-07 at 11:02 am | Permalink
beth wrote:
Did you write a post in the past that is your preparedness list? I”d like to see a link to that post, please!
I moved to earthquake country a year ago and only now am I starting to think about making a kit, so your list will be quite helpful.
Posted on 26-Jul-07 at 11:37 am | Permalink
mapgirl wrote:
Beth - Thanks for asking about the link. I didn’t want to toot my own horn, so I didn’t add it in at first. But I did it just for you!
Posted on 26-Jul-07 at 12:23 pm | Permalink
mapgirl wrote:
Ted- Thanks for stopping by and adding the link from RNS. This is the direct link that covers different scenarios. I haven’t read the whole thing, but it does cover some important stuff like bio-waste.
Posted on 26-Jul-07 at 12:26 pm | Permalink
Ted wrote:
In North Dakota, in the winter, you always kept a “blizzard kit” in the car. A few asphalt roof shingles for traction, a small shovel/entrenching tool for emergency digging out, some candy and dried fruit, a couple of plastic cups (to melt drinking water) and most importantly, some candles and a lighter (or matches). In a car, one burning candle can throw enough heat to keep one from freezing to death. Keep a window slightly cracked though.
A roll of bright orange flagging tape can come in handy too. If you have an antenna, tie a length to it so it can be seen from a distance. If stuck near trees, toss it up across the branches so it may be spotted by passers-by. They’re only a couple of bucks at the hardware store.
Posted on 26-Jul-07 at 8:10 pm | Permalink