Emergency Preparedness

[learnteach]

Ran across a number of posts on go-bags today.  Fairly interesting in a rather clueless way, as people squabbled about what to put in an evac bag (emergency pack, etc.) but never really asked the relevant question that I believe you MUST answer before you put a bag together.

<lj-cut>

What sort of emergency would force you to be evacuated from your home/place of work/car?  (The three locations where you might put a gobag.)  

Secondarily, what role are you going to be playing in that emergency?

Where I live in Sunnyvale, I'd be evaced for a fire, or possibly a major flood.   Doubtful on both of those; the only other probability is a major civil disaster (earthquake, uprising, Bush becoming mayor and declaring war on Cupertino, whatever.)   In the first case I need to be able to walk out to the gather point.   In the second case I need to survive long enough to gather the clan and do the next step.

So what do I really need?

I need to be able to travel to my Mother's place in Mountain View by a number of possible paths.  If I'm at home, I've got the bike (motorcycle) and shank's mare.  Can I get there at night if the power is gone?  Do I know a safe route if major streets are down?   Can I walk the 5 miles reasonably?

I need to be able to communicate, if at all possible.  The cell system's fragile; the phone is better but not great on a floodplain in earthquake country.  Odds are after an emergency, when you get access to communication services the local last mile will still be out.  So, I'll call our a agreed upon emergency co-ordinator who everyone is supposed to call.  Where's the number?

So, the upshot of all of this is:  Take a long walk with a friend, it'll help in case of emergency.  More than most anything else.  

Serious emergencies--that's another matter.  Yes, I can survive 3 days.  Yes, I have a month's supply of food laid in (but not water...need to fix that.  Although I do have purification methods and a local creek, but...this is a superfund cleanup valley.)

******

More to the point, the most likely emergencies aren't general at all.  They are personal/family emergencies--accidents, illnesses,  the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune.    I've seen a few of those (not like some) and my conclusion?  A good will, some estate planning, and taking care of my health as much as possible.  

Back to those long walks with friends.    Hmmm. 

There's a plan for next week....

Comments

[jesijoy.livejournal.com]

I keep a bag that is ready packed with random stuff for the kids and my self if any thing ever happens here.. mostly just weather foo.. my people have 4 wheel drive and can come and fetch us if it gets bad here..I also horde food stuff and I am teaching my self to make most all of the stuff we like to eat from scratch.. I try to keep all the supplies on hand just in case..because with the fun weather that Reno has sometimes it is hard to go out.. not this year so far but you never know..