Emergency preparedness.

[Funk_Buddy]

I know this may be lost on some of the younger folks here, but I thought I'd ask anyway.

Does any one here have an emergency survival plan? Please don’t think I’m a survivalist wack-job or nut, but I’ve been working on some supplies to have just in case. Thank goodness there are not many natural disasters except tornados, here in the Midwest. You costal guys have earthquakes and hurricanes to deal with. Then there is the chance of terror type attacks… 
 
Here is a good place to start for some information and supplies:
 
http://www.ready.gov/america/index.html
 
http://www.72hours.org/pdf/72Hours.pdf
 
http://www.adventuremedicalkits.com/
 
http://beprepared.com/
 
http://www.waterbob.com/
 
Your most important things (in order) are:
 
Air
Shelter
Water
Food

For the price of two new games you could have enough food and water to get two people through the first 72 hours in a natural disaster. That alone seems to be a smart plan.

Anyone?

[captain_nintendo]

Not too much in the way of natural disasters here in Az, but good info none the less.

[Tan]

Natural disasters, zombies, civil unrest, I'm always prepared for just about anything. 

Seriously though, I'm as prepared as one can possibly be living in the city in an apartment. I don't keep jugs of water and emergency supplies around and I doubt few people have the room for that type of stuff anyway. But I can grab documents, know the best routes, have the tools and can defend my family, all within easy reach.

My training and proficient use of firearms puts terrorists as the least of things I'd worry about, as opposed to natural disasters. Making a head shot at 500 yards is a lot easier than trying to escape for higher ground during a flood.

[Funk_Buddy]

You should check out the 3 day backpacks. They’re reasonable and will not take up much space. A case of MREs doesn’t take much space either and that’d give you 12 meals that don’t need water or really be heated.

Of course a good .22 with 10000 rounds is pretty cheap and you could always kill/eat tree rats. 

[James]

We've got a "Survival Kit" out in the office. It has everything you would need in an emergency - A poncho, a batteryless torch/radio and some waterproof matches. Too bad it has the zip tie still on it. We'd be screwed if we couldn't get into it.

[Tan]

You should check out the 3 day backpacks. They’re reasonable and will not take up much space. A case of MREs doesn’t take much space either and that’d give you 12 meals that don’t need water or really be heated.

Of course a good .22 with 10000 rounds is pretty cheap and you could always kill/eat tree rats. 

I've "enjoyed" your Meals, Rarely Edible when I was in the military, believe me, that's not surviving. Get yourself some Canadian IMPs or learn to live off of ranger pudding, your bowel and your taste buds will thank you for it.

Of course I'm also confident that I can live off the land if need be and be self-reliant. Disappearing into the bush for a week or two admittedly is a favorite getaway of mine. My rucksack is usually filled and ready anyway to save preparation and room. I'm the guy who goes camping, ready to live there if he has too.

[Funk_Buddy]

I've never had an MRE, but if I had to eat something to survive, I'm sure they'd do. You're a leg ahead of most, including myself. I have the firearms I'll need, but not too much else. I try to keep the gun talk to a minimum on site with international members because it always turns nasty.  I'm starting to put some items back just because I think it's needed, not much but it's a start.

[Tan]

I've never had an MRE, but if I had to eat something to survive, I'm sure they'd do. You're a leg ahead of most, including myself. I have the firearms I'll need, but not too much else. I try to keep the gun talk to a minimum on site with international members because it always turns nasty.  I'm starting to put some items back just because I think it's needed, not much but it's a start.

Well I can't speak for everyone globally, but even in Canada where we have strict firearm laws, most rural families and others living in remote areas own firearms. Not so much as a hobby but as common sense and security. I'm a country boy living in the city now, so my way of life has carried this with me.

People associating firearms with violence are short sighted and ignorant, simple as that. It doesn't matter where in the world you come from, firearms are tools and there usage relies in the one wielding them.

You can't survive on plants and traps forever, and you can't defend yourself or your family with a kitchen knife or baseball bat. Better to have and not need than to need and not have.

Another handy item that could probably save your life is a SAS survival book. I have a pocket sized version of it, a handy item to have. Everything from plant and herb usage, medical knowledge, weather, animals, shelter to covering every climate and condition. I mean every possible situation here. You could literally walk into the woods with this book and little else and you'd be fine.

[Arrrhalomynn]

I watch Bear Grylls and Ray Mears do their thing in the wilderness and that's about it. I'm not counting on any natural disaster or other large tragedy happening here, so I don't see a point in preparing for it.

[Funk_Buddy]

Being in "tornado alley" I think it makes sense for myself. Some folks are lucky (as I have been) and never will have a natural disaster strike them, but I'll be damned if I'm going to have to loot for some food or water.

[The Metamorphosing Leon]

Gotta save your energy for those TVs and consoles amirite?

[Hydrobond]

I do not do too much in terms of emergency preparedness, I have happened into most of what I do by chance, really.  I have a flashlight with batteries always in the same place in case of a power outage.  I usually have over a gallon of purified water on hand, as well as lots of soft drinks, so hydration wouldn't be a problem. (I live alone, so only need enough for one.) I keep my car's fuel tank filled with enough fuel to drive to my parent's house, or at the very least get out of the city.  (During college this was half a tank, now its 1/4 tank.  I don't drive enough for the extra weight to matter.)  When I turned 16 I got two different emergency kits for my car, one for cold weather and one that is more focused on first aid.  Unfortunately, I don't have a lot of long lasting food on hand, but that is related to my dietary choices. 

Oh, and I have 4 cases of beer, a few bottles of wine and a few bottles of liquor on hand.  So in the event of a natural disaster, I have the ability to not care. :-)

[TraderJake]

Liquid Bread. Good Idea.

[Zimbacca]

We don't have too many natural disasters around here.  Just a volcano exploded once, and a flood not too long ago.   I'm more concerned with a zombie plague than natural disasters.  in which case I am pretty much prepared for I don't have a gun but I'm prepared to survive without one.

[Funk_Buddy]

Gotta save your energy for those TVs and consoles amirite?

You got me lol.