Posted by HisHughness on 4/18/11 8:54pm
Msg #380331

Seems we are beset with disasters nowadays

Tornadoes, earthquakes, tsunamis, floods.

I have started a disaster box that hopefully will include sufficient items to carry me through for a few days until things stablelize, when I can get down off that floating roof -- or out from underneath it. It includes such things as hand sanitizer, multifunction tool, flashlight, paper towels, peanut butter, canned meats and fruits, ramen, powered milk, small camp stove, bottled water, etc. Just one box big enough for one person to carry..

This is a short week. It might be a good task to use that day to begin putting together your own box.

Reply by BrendaTx on 4/18/11 9:15pm
Msg #380337

Not only that, but notaries should have a disaster

business plan for their data and other important business items.

Reply by JandB on 4/18/11 9:47pm
Msg #380353

Are we bored...or what?! n/m

Reply by Susan Fischer on 4/18/11 11:47pm
Msg #380369

Not bored here. As HisHughness pointed out, in these

times, a "go-bag" is a good idea. Every pregnant woman knows this.

I see it as the exact opposite of boredom.

In Girl Scouts, we learned that Forewarned (knowledge) is Forearmed (preparedness,) and Boy Scouts learned to Be Prepared (Stop, Look. Listen. Analyze. Act.) All you really control is yourself, right?

Sharing good information is critical to our very survival, on myriad levels.

For instance, Flashlight, Knife, and Whistle. Don't leave home without 'em.

Signed,

Not bored.

Reply by bagger on 4/19/11 7:43am
Msg #380383

Re: Not bored here. As HisHughness pointed out, in these

In these days, that knife could get you arrested, depending on where you are going.

Reply by Les_CO on 4/19/11 9:23am
Msg #380393

Re: Not bored here. As HisHughness pointed out, in these

I agree, leave the knife home...take the 38 instead !

Reply by jba/fl on 4/19/11 9:38am
Msg #380397

Re: Not bored here. As HisHughness pointed out, in these

A rifle to shoot game if needed; 38 for 2-legged varmits. Need good knife for skinning, fileting, spreading icing on that cake you bake, etc., though.

Reply by 101livescan on 4/19/11 12:19pm
Msg #380445

Re: Not bored here. As HisHughness pointed out, in these

HA! I remember when we had the LA KING RIOTS, at least along Fairfax Avenue in LA, some of my friends were sitting in their LIGHTS OUT living rooms armed and ready to protect their familities with shotguns. The police came around and asked if they were armed, and when they said yes, the law said, GOOD, you might need them. Of course times have changed...

Reply by Susan Fischer on 4/19/11 11:14am
Msg #380424

Of course, I'm not talking about a butcher knife - I mean

a pen-knife, or pocket knife, a handy one, like a Swiss Army knife.

We're talking here about emergency supplies/tools, not weapons.

Reply by bagger on 4/19/11 11:23am
Msg #380428

Re: Of course, I'm not talking about a butcher knife - I mean

Susan - (Ms. gotta be right). Try taking a pen knife or even nail clippers on a flight.

Reply by jba/fl on 4/19/11 1:23pm
Msg #380465

Or into Fl courthouses, or.....many places these days. n/m

Reply by jba/fl on 4/19/11 1:38pm
Msg #380473

Re: Of course, I'm not talking about a butcher knife - I mean

"We're talking here about emergency supplies/tools, not weapons."

Weapons are part of the supplies one may need WTSHTF or TEOTWAWKI happens.

Reply by FlaNotary2 on 4/19/11 9:04am
Msg #380389

I sure am bored

This forum has been extremely boring for several weeks. I can't think of a single topic within the last two weeks that has actually interested me.

Reply by C. Rivera Chicago Notary Services on 4/19/11 9:40am
Msg #380400

I can think of a few....if its SPICE you want! =) n/m

Reply by FlaNotary2 on 4/19/11 11:08am
Msg #380420

Bring it on n/m

Reply by FlaNotary2 on 4/19/11 11:08am
Msg #380421

"You listen here Miss Star Jones - I will take you down!" n/m

Reply by Susan Fischer on 4/18/11 10:29pm
Msg #380360

Radio. There are some very affordable, powerful, and

multi-platform units available now. CB too, (I've always treasured Citizens Band.)

A list of medications for each person. (Copies of prescriptions with Dr Names/#s; Diabetics should have a get-away pouche in several places, imho - hits close to home, is all)

Have children fingerprinted/photographed, and get pets chipped - so helpful in sudden disasters for reuniting loved ones.

Water. Potable water tablets (research).

Flashlight, pocket knife, and whistle. (As a Stu in the late 60s for a non-sched with a MATS contract in re Viet Nam, those were a part of the uniform, and so an absolute law - right under Rule Number One: The Captain is God - because, literally, he holds every Soul On Board in his hands.)

A box of Chicklets. (Box is teensy - so fill it full.)

Soap, (and a bar of LAVA if you've got the room, because it's so abrasive, and handy as a shirt on a pocket; Insta-sponge - the ones that need water to come to life - tooth/denture brush/Arm & Hammer baking soda. Travel-size shampoo/baby powder. (PS: Dr Bromer's liquid soap will work on everything body-cleansing related except the toothbrush/talc, plus one generous 8oz squeeze bottle takes up less real estate than lots of stuff.)

Space Blanket. Slim, fits in a glovebox. Saved many a life in many situations.

Flares.

5 MREs.

P-38. Opens anything. (Warning: TINY! Don't lose it!)

The best First-Aid Kit you can afford.

Something you love.

Reply by JanetK_CA on 4/18/11 10:53pm
Msg #380363

Re: Radio. There are some very affordable, powerful, and

Great list, Susan! I've also heard that you should keep an emergency kit both at home and in your car. The latter is probably especially important for us... Other recommended items include a change of clothes, including a comfortable pair of shoes, a hidden stash of cash (in fairly small bills), flashlight(s) and batteries, matches or a wick lighter, and well, the list could go on and on.

There are many sites online that have information on emergency preparedness, as will most local fire departments, etc. I doubt there is any place that is immune from some kind of potential disaster.

Thanks for bringing this up, Hugh. Can't have too many reminders... We may never get to a point of total preparedness, but if we keep working at it, we'll get closer and closer.

Reply by jba/fl on 4/19/11 12:14am
Msg #380371

Smart thinking! Having just ungone 40+/_ hours w/o power

I was happy to be a camper, literally. I also belong to a couple of survivalist sites through Facebook where I look for the smallest things with the greatest impact. that P-38 can opener is superb, but not for older fingers necessarily. Be sure to have manual can opener.

I do not use water purifier tablets - don't like taste. But I do have 2 others that are wonderful: Kayadyn pocket which one of the survivalists on tv used in elephant dung (not me!) and a SteriPen, which uses UV light to kill everything, which I keep with me at all times. We can do without food, but not water.

Every list/box/bag will be different, depending on each individual's needs. Great catalog from Campmor; Camping Survival is fantastic on FB and own site and new one: Do1Thing
http://www.do1thing.com
Being prepared for disasters and emergencies can seem like a big job. Many people don't know where to start, so they never start at all. With Do 1 Thing you can take small steps that make a big difference in an emergency...

Excellent plan Hugh. I've got mine in place whether I stay at home or have to leave.

Another great product: Water Bob: it is a bag that fits into the bathtub that one fills with water. a siphon pump is attached (included) to use as needed. Avg. tub: 100 gal. No contamination worries. About $20

Reply by jba/fl on 4/19/11 12:22am
Msg #380372

Re: Smart thinking! Having just ungone 40+/_ hours w/o power

Firestarter: cotton ball w/vaseline will burn for 8 mins. once it catches spark. A couple could dry smaller tinder to get a good fire going

Cotton is rotten; friends don't let friends wear cotton - holds moisture too long causing hypothermia.

Reply by HisHughness on 4/19/11 12:51am
Msg #380375

If you want to include whole milk, try shelf stable milk. Quart box is only $1.50, and it lasts a year if you don't open it. Since the taste is indistinguishable from regular milk, you can just rotate it out of your box as the expiration date rolls around.

Another tip I picked up from camping is to mix powdered milk and coffee creamer. The creamer gives the powdered milk the taste it lacks, and it becomes a pretty good approximation of whole milk.

A spice jar without a shaker top is a good waterproof container to fill with nails and matches.

Chemical handwarmers are inexpensive, spacesavers and quite effective. Throwaway plastic panchos are also spacesavers.

Swiss Army knives are always handy.

My daughter has a solar-powered charger for her cell phone and other battery powered devices in her box; they are available for $20-100+. Also available are hand-cranked chargers.

I've tried to limit my stash to what I need to survive about three days. First, I think three days is about all I could survive without at least a rerun of "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation." Second, if somebody can't get to me in three days, the I doubt I'm going to live in what's left of the world.

Reply by jba/fl on 4/19/11 7:58am
Msg #380384

As always, you ended with a foot-stompin' punch!

Reply by MW/VA on 4/19/11 8:43am
Msg #380385

What?? None of you have included booze in your emergency

kits--strictly for medicinal purposes, that is. LOL

Reply by bagger on 4/19/11 11:03am
Msg #380418

Re: What?? None of you have included booze in your emergency

Like W C Fields once said.
I always carry a bottle of gin with me, just in case of snake bite.
I also carry a very small snake!

Reply by 101livescan on 4/19/11 9:22am
Msg #380392

The first winter I was up here on COLD MOUNTAIN, we lost power over the weekend. No heat, email, tv, radio, completely on our own. The hot burning wood stove and the ability to pop popcorn on the stovetop, and the propane barbeque/grill kept us enthused and warmed. We actually played board games all day and night, with emergency solar lights. Good training for a real disaster. Trees fell on our major powerlines down below and cut power to everyone up here (300 homes). Made me realize how important it is to have a well stocked pantry. Remember the Northridge earthquake, well my car was on gas fumes, pumps couldn't pump because electric was out. I had a neighbor who had a five gallon gas can. Mostly I rode my bike everywhere! for about a week.

Yes, I am thinking about restocking and adding to my emergency box.

Reply by Moneyman/TX on 4/19/11 9:48am
Msg #380406

Good thread Hugh.

When I sold retail online around this time of the year (probably should have offered it all yr) I used to put together several small emergency packages, or kits. For me, that came out of the hurricanes in the Gulf but you are correct that there are many more reasons for these kits.