Disaster Kits

[Racoon]

Throwing my 2 cents in here:

 

Thanks to conversations with Turtle-san, I do indeed have a MINIMUM 3 days..

However, 3 days I believe is not enough.. but its a start.

 

In addition to 3 days supplies, there should also be a contingency plan.

 

I have a beer-cooler with at least a weeks worth of food. Its on wheels and ready to go. complete w/ toilet paper and plastic sheeting etc...

 

The problem becomes water, due to its importance yet hefty weight.

I have mentioned my survival box before as well... Its a fishing tackle box that is easily portable, has matches, batteries, nutrition bars, water tablets, emergency blankets, knives, and stuff..

 

Racoon has gallons and gallons of water stored in the garage... a habit developed from Y2K. and they are continually being replaced, the ones in plastic.

I have several glass jars also filled with H2O...

 

Voted Yes.

[Turtle]

Great responses all! As of now we have 20 votes, 15 nay, 5 yeah. Looks like 100% have a plan and 75% of them plan to use the supplies put up by the prepare-ahead-ers.:hihi: :hihi: :evil:

 

 

 

The Ant and the Grasshopper by Æsop

 

In a field one summer's day a Grasshopper was hopping about, chirping and singing to its heart's content. An Ant passed by, bearing along with great toil an ear of corn he was taking to the nest.

"Why not come and chat with me," said the Grasshopper, "instead of toiling and moiling in that way?"

"I am helping to lay up food for the winter," said the Ant, "and recommend you to do the same."

"Why bother about winter?" said the Grasshopper; we have got plenty of food at present." But the Ant went on its way and continued its toil. When the winter came the Grasshopper had no food and found itself dying of hunger, while it saw the ants distributing every day corn and grain from the stores they had collected in the summer. Then the Grasshopper knew: It is best to prepare for the days of necessity.

[paigetheoracle]

No, I don't expect to survive any disaster, human or natural - my UFO is parked round the corner (So long suckers!)

[Mercedes Benzene]

I don't have any kit in case of disaster.

 

I remember when I was little, I saw the movie "Twister", and wanted to make one...

I probably put a bottle of water under my bed and forgot about it.

[Turtle]

:D This time of year I go through my disaster kit so as to keep it current. I replace water and expired medicines, foods, etcetera.

 

I had a big debate with a roomy earlier on the lack of government help/action in a disaster. While he agrees the government is going to be of little help - witness Katrina- he nonetheless has not prepared anything. More-or-less going to rely on me and other preparers I suppose, like the 76% who plan to do the same by evidence of the attached poll. :doh:

 

What's your excuse? ;)

[Mercedes Benzene]

I guess it's just that my area isn't very prone to distasters. If I lived an an area suseptible to earthquakes, hurricanes, tornados, and the like I guarentee I would have a disaster kit.

 

It just seems like my geographic locations does not warrant a kit very much. ;)

[Buffy]

I could never answer this poll question: I have a disaster kit but I hope my plan *not* to use it holds up!

 

No one expects the Spanish Inquisition, :lol:

Buffy

[Turtle]

I guess it's just that my area isn't very prone to distasters. If I lived an an area suseptible to earthquakes, hurricanes, tornados, and the like I guarentee I would have a disaster kit.

 

It just seems like my geographic locations does not warrant a kit very much. :lol:

 

Natural disasters in Washington DC: >> Category:Natural disasters in Washington, D.C - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

 

Our three weapons are fear, surprise, and ruthless efficiency...

and an almost fanatical devotion to the Pope....,

Turtle

[Mercedes Benzene]

Okay... so I *accidentally* lied. heh. :hyper:

There was that one hurricane in (2003?) that basically hit us directly. We were out of power for something like 5 days. Luckily a bunch of our neighbors got together and hooked up a system of gasoline-powered generators so that we could run the essentials.

 

Then there's that whole ever-present "terrorist threat". 9/11 was certainly a disaster, but it didn't require a disaster kit.

It just required us to (according to those electronic highway signs) "report suspicious activity"... as if we'd see something suspicious driving down the beltway ("I <3 Osama" bumper sticker?). :eek:

 

Still no disaster kits. :evil:

[Turtle]

Okay... so I *accidentally* lied. heh. :evil:

There was that one hurricane in (2003?) that basically hit us directly. We were out of power for something like 5 days. Luckily a bunch of our neighbors got together and hooked up a system of gasoline-powered generators so that we could run the essentials.

...

Still no disaster kits. :doh:

 

Uhmm...those folks with generators didn't just magically whip them up with fuel to boot. :eek::magic:They prepared. :hyper: I just think it's poor form and generally dangerous for so many to rely on the preparations of so few in the event of disaster.

 

Here is the governments way of saying "when things get tough, we hope you prepared cause we didn't (or maybe can't?)."

Ready.gov - Prepare. Plan. Stay Informed.

[Cedars]

I had to answer no. Technically I dont have a kit ready.

 

There is always plenty of food in the house but I dont have any powdered milk on hand (some canned milk). The lack of a generator is my biggest plan flaw. I have asked the kids to buy me one for xmas/birthdays many times but they wont do it (or a chainsaw). I am going to show them this thread and see if MAYBE I get a generator now :)

 

The biggest issue would be weather related around here which could disrupt services for days on end. We do have a power inverter for cars so I could run the fridge enough to keep the food in there good. As long as the cars would start. I dont think that would run the pump for water though. But I usually have 14 gallons of R/O water for fishtanks ready to go plus several gallons for coffee (we have very hard water). There is a stream below the hill that runs most years (even this year with the drought). The last time the stream didnt run was the drought of 88.

 

Were I to have to evacuate, we have carriers for two cats and Zoe likes to be on a leash and ride in cars, but its the issue of catching the other two after they see us bring out the carriers that would be the life/death dilema. Zoe needs her own carrier though.

[DougF]

I voted YES!

 

I keep a very good supply of water on hand (hard water here too).

I have a stocked pantry (can goods, snacks...)

I own two generators one would do but I got it at a good price and I like having the backup. 20 gal of gas on hand also.

one chainsaw (broken; let the kids barrow it) :singer:

 

I found all of this very useful in the 2004 Hurricane season, we were without power for 10 days my one generator powered two iceboxes, one freezer, three lights, two fans and my satellite dish and TV, I filled my 10 foot john boat up with water just to keep it from blowing away, then used that water for the restroom, sense 2004 I have increased the size of my disaster kit to two weeks of water and dry foods and added 5 gal of gas (this will make it last a week) the cut and run never worked for me those Hurricanes have a way chasing you up the state so I just duck and cover. :singer:

 

The Hurricane season is half over but the second half is the worst here.

Be safe my friends. DougF

 

2004 Atlantic hurricane season - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia