A conversation in another thread got me thinking. How prepared for 'an emergency' are you? What do you do to prepare? Have you prepared? Have you thought about it at all.
My wife and I have broken our prep down into 3 styles of emergencies. "Stay in", "get out" and "vehicle"
Stay in is pretty easy prep. We keep roughly 2 weeks worth of varied meals that are easily prepared on hand, make sure that at least one propane tank for the BBQ is full at all time, and that we have 2 propane canisters for our camp stove.
The 'get out' scenario we made some assumptions. First, we're lucky in that we have family and good friends in all corners of the city, so if we had to abandon our house for some reason (fire, flooded, whatever) we'd have someplace to stay. So the question became 'what do we take with us'?
We decided that all the stuff we have, whatever it is, is just 'stuff', and in an 'seconds count' emergency, we'd be saving our three cats. To that end, each cat has their own carrier. The three carriers are different sizes. The biggest one is kept upstairs, and can fit all 3 cats. They aren't likely to enjoy it, but it can hold them. It's also near the front door.
The other two carriers are medium and small. Two cats can fit in the medium, 1 in the small. Those are kept downstairs, and near the back door. If something happens, the plan is to grab the cats, carrier-stuff them, and get out. We've even practiced this several times, to make sure we have it in our minds what will need to be done, if/when the time comes to do it. Additionally, my wife has a small backpack that has a first aid kit, a change of clothes each and some cat food in it.
For 'vehicle', we've taken some prep steps there, too. We each have a key to the other's vehicle, and we sprung for an extra key for each vehicle, which is kept at our parents house.
We may live in the city, but we both travel outside of it on occasion. Each vehicle has, in the trunk, a heavy jacket for each of us, heavy toque, heavy gloves and heavy socks. A first aid kit with matches and candles as well as energy and granola bars.
We've both practiced using these items and putting the cats in carriers quickly. We both understand that when an emergency is happening is not the time to 'blow the dust off the emergency plan' or discover that your matches got wet a while ago and don't work. Or to realize that one of your pets runs off to a certain place you need two people to get her out of. You want to know that before you need your plan and your stuff.
Thankfully...never had to use any of these plans or gear. But I like knowing that if something happens, I will generally be prepared to take care of me and mine for a bit.
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What kind of an emergency are we talking about, one that just effects you or your family? Or one that effects society as a whole.
Because for you and your family, ie flood, fire, the emergency plan is to make sure that your car runs, you have a place to stay or money to take care of lodging and food.
If its societal where we're talking the imminent collapse of society as you know it, the end of the rule of law, the end of health and law enforcement services, the rules completely change.
Murder, pillaging and foraging will become the rule of the day, and if your house is in the middle of a city, the best plan is to flee before all of the secondary death factors occur.
Accidents that would normally be survivable. Disease caused my mass rotting bodies. Roving bands of jerks.
The best plan is to have a bolt hole as far from society as possible to wait it out until either order is restored and services are restored, or until your neighbour becomes the reigning war lord of the apocalypse and he likes you enough to join as long as your wife becomes a member of his harem.
When Stephen King wrote the Stand, he wrote this amazing chapter of what happened right after Captain Tripps ended society, and the people that were immune were killed off by minor infections, minor accidents, and major cases of the stupids.
__________________
My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings;
My preparedness amounts to keeping toque and mitts in the car all winter. Nothing really beyond that.
In my mind any huge issue will be solved by credit card/insurance so what is there to be prepared for? If its end of the world situation well I don't ever think of that.
I do plan if I go on a road trip though but I don't really call that preparedness.
Thankfully...never had to use any of these plans or gear. But I like knowing that if something happens, I will generally be prepared to take care of me and mine for a bit.
one thing you didn't mention is how full you keep your gas tanks at all times. do you ever let it get below half full? also, how much cash do you keep on hand for emergencies?
what about a "get out" scenario where it affects the city as a whole, such as the fort mac fires?
if you're going through all this effort to be prepared, you really should be prepared for something where you have to flee the city.
where do you go, especially with three cats, for starters.
one thing you didn't mention is how full you keep your gas tanks at all times. do you ever let it get below half full? also, how much cash do you keep on hand for emergencies?
what about a "get out" scenario where it affects the city as a whole, such as the fort mac fires?
if you're going through all this effort to be prepared, you really should be prepared for something where you have to flee the city.
where do you go, especially with three cats, for starters.
This was a big learning for me out of Ft Mac. I'm terrible with this and usually run my tank pretty low. We were lucky on site as we had on-site fuel. Coworkers were talking about 4 hr to drive what usually took 45 minutes, and we were only going to the aerodrome. Nothing like the folks in ft mac who had to drive south.
When I was young, I used to have a kit that I could throw in the car.
Basically it was an extra set of what I would call cold weather clothing. two changes of clothes. A stack of Canadian and American money. My pass port and identification. Some food bars and battled water and an oxygen candle.
I modified it with a few of those painter masks.
Now, I'd be adding things like extra batteries for cellphones and a solar charger.
I saw one of those emergency car jump kits, I think that would be a good idea to have.
__________________
My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings;
Maybe, if it was the major type of emergency, like a nuclear or biological or chemical attack, where your plan is to flee the city, then yeah, a gun is a good idea. Personally claymore mines would be a better idea, but those are hard to get.
__________________
My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings;
This was a big learning for me out of Ft Mac. I'm terrible with this and usually run my tank pretty low. We were lucky on site as we had on-site fuel. Coworkers were talking about 4 hr to drive what usually took 45 minutes, and we were only going to the aerodrome. Nothing like the folks in ft mac who had to drive south.
A bit off topic, but you don't want to drive around with an empty tank anyway. The fuel pump sits in the tank at the bottom, and is kept cool by fuel. When you drive empty all the time it doesn't get the cooling and burns out sooner.
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A bit off topic, but you don't want to drive around with an empty tank anyway. The fuel pump sits in the tank at the bottom, and is kept cool by fuel. When you drive empty all the time it doesn't get the cooling and burns out sooner.
Sure if you run out of fuel often.. But most vehicles are designed to run a bit after the light comes on without having any concerns for the fuel pump. I don't know anyone who consistently runs to empty.
Maybe, if it was the major type of emergency, like a nuclear or biological or chemical attack, where your plan is to flee the city, then yeah, a gun is a good idea. Personally claymore mines would be a better idea, but those are hard to get.
I'd argue any sort of extended power or utility disruption could lead to conditions where you'd like to be armed for self defense purposes.
Plus having firearms would be useful in any scenario where food distribution logistics are disrupted (again for extended period) so you could hunt any small to large game.
Sure if you run out of fuel often.. But most vehicles are designed to run a bit after the light comes on without having any concerns for the fuel pump. I don't know anyone who consistently runs to empty.
Not run out of fuel, run low. So like, consistently drive with 1/4 tank, and add $10 whenever you need gas. The pump is not entirely submerged when you do this, so it runs hot.
Not run out of fuel, run low. So like, consistently drive with 1/4 tank, and add $10 whenever you need gas. The pump is not entirely submerged when you do this, so it runs hot.
It is though. When the gaslight comes on the pump is still fully submerged. Which is why you should get gas ASAP.
It is though. When the gaslight comes on the pump is still fully submerged. Which is why you should get gas ASAP.
Bit of a side topic though
I'll just have to disagree with you, and assume you have never actually seen a fuel pump in a tank if you believe it is fully submerged when you have 5 litres of gas left, and that a quick Google will tell you you are wrong:
I'd argue any sort of extended power or utility disruption could lead to conditions where you'd like to be armed for self defense purposes.
Plus having firearms would be useful in any scenario where food distribution logistics are disrupted (again for extended period) so you could hunt any small to large game.
Sure, I don't disagree.
I had this long discussion with a friend of mine years ago when we were drinking a nice bottle of whisky and smoking good cigars and having the deep topic of what happens when the world ends.
We came up with this scenario
Threat of world ending
Johnny Survivor gathers his wife and kids and throws them in the car "We're going to the moutains kids to hide out"
Gas station is open fills up his car, busy a couple gas cans worth of gas, and 10 packs of cigarettes.
Gets stuck in traffic, nervously smokes a cigarette "His wife scolds him about smoking in the car" "Damnit woman the worlds about to end.
Finally gets free, gets on the highway, see's a flash but he's staring straight ahead, wife looks in the mirror and scorches her eye balls.
Keeps driving, emergency broadcast systems repeats message that major cities have been nuked.
Finally gets out to his cabin, the road is muddy, curses that he bought this car instead of something more robust. Barely makes it to the cabin.
Gets the kids in the house. gets the wife in the house. Fires up the generator and nearly burns the house down. But gets it going
Week 1 - Wife is still blind, but he doesn't want to leave the house. They're going through canned food in a hurry. Siphons gas from car to keep the generator going.
Week 2 - Wife is slowly going crazy listening to the emergency broadcast network, the kids are bored and making trouble. Canned food is almost gone, nearly time to be a survivalist.
week 3 - Cellphone signal dies. Out of food, Dad decides to go hunting, nearly blows his foot off, doesn't hit a damn thing. Decides that acorn.
Week 4 - Snow, frack. Almost out of gas. Tries to build a fire, but without the natural gas line isn't working so he does it the old fashion way.
Goes out the next morning to hunt, they're down to oatmeal and ketsup soup. Makes a luck shot and hits a deer. Turns on his phone to do a google search on how to dress a deer, but the internet is down. Does a bad job and the meat is infected with fecal matter, but they're hungry.
Kid gets sick, desperately drives into the nearest town, but the hospital and police station are abandoned. breaks in and steals some drugs and whats left of the canned food, however everything fresh is gone or rottenHalfway back the car runs out of gas.
Carries his kid back to the cabin.
runs out of powdered milk, there's canned fruits and vegetables but not much.
Tries some of the medicine on the kid, but without the internet, he's just guessing. Kid dies.
Wife is full raving crazy now and blind. with no hospitals or doctors, he decides to end her misery.
Tries to cook what;s left of the deer meat but it tastes rotten.
Kid goes out to play, steps on a rusty nail. He tries to treat it as best he can.
Needs more wood, damn near cuts his foot off. See's another deer and shoots it. Does a better job of butchering it.
Kid gets sicker, he tries some of the anti-biotics, but the kid developes a horrible rash and a massive fever.
Without the internet, he's helpless in looking things up, without the cellphone network he can't reach out.
Week 5
Kid dies.
Alone he can now build a fire, is a decent shot, knows how to dress a dead animal.
First snow fall of winter hits, with 5 feet of snow.
Starts developing weakness, he's had to limit the consumption of canned fruits and vegetables.
Weather drops, tries to keep the fire going.
Hears a noise outside of the cabin. Pulls open the door and runs out because he thinks its people, he's hallucinating. Trips and hears his ankle snap, crawls back into the cabin and binds it best he can. Tries to take some pain killers that he took from the hospital.
Dead.
__________________
My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings;
Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!
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Is planning for an extended power or utility disruption realistic for the average person though? I think the 72 hour planning is a better choice for most.
I had this long discussion with a friend of mine years ago when we were drinking a nice bottle of whisky and smoking good cigars and having the deep topic of what happens when the world ends.
We came up with this scenario
Threat of world ending
Johnny Survivor gathers his wife and kids and throws them in the car "We're going to the moutains kids to hide out"
Gas station is open fills up his car, busy a couple gas cans worth of gas, and 10 packs of cigarettes.
Gets stuck in traffic, nervously smokes a cigarette "His wife scolds him about smoking in the car" "Damnit woman the worlds about to end.
Finally gets free, gets on the highway, see's a flash but he's staring straight ahead, wife looks in the mirror and scorches her eye balls.
Keeps driving, emergency broadcast systems repeats message that major cities have been nuked.
Finally gets out to his cabin, the road is muddy, curses that he bought this car instead of something more robust. Barely makes it to the cabin.
Gets the kids in the house. gets the wife in the house. Fires up the generator and nearly burns the house down. But gets it going
Week 1 - Wife is still blind, but he doesn't want to leave the house. They're going through canned food in a hurry. Siphons gas from car to keep the generator going.
Week 2 - Wife is slowly going crazy listening to the emergency broadcast network, the kids are bored and making trouble. Canned food is almost gone, nearly time to be a survivalist.
week 3 - Cellphone signal dies. Out of food, Dad decides to go hunting, nearly blows his foot off, doesn't hit a damn thing. Decides that acorn.
Week 4 - Snow, frack. Almost out of gas. Tries to build a fire, but without the natural gas line isn't working so he does it the old fashion way.
Goes out the next morning to hunt, they're down to oatmeal and ketsup soup. Makes a luck shot and hits a deer. Turns on his phone to do a google search on how to dress a deer, but the internet is down. Does a bad job and the meat is infected with fecal matter, but they're hungry.
Kid gets sick, desperately drives into the nearest town, but the hospital and police station are abandoned. breaks in and steals some drugs and whats left of the canned food, however everything fresh is gone or rottenHalfway back the car runs out of gas.
Carries his kid back to the cabin.
runs out of powdered milk, there's canned fruits and vegetables but not much.
Tries some of the medicine on the kid, but without the internet, he's just guessing. Kid dies.
Wife is full raving crazy now and blind. with no hospitals or doctors, he decides to end her misery.
Tries to cook what;s left of the deer meat but it tastes rotten.
Kid goes out to play, steps on a rusty nail. He tries to treat it as best he can.
Needs more wood, damn near cuts his foot off. See's another deer and shoots it. Does a better job of butchering it.
Kid gets sicker, he tries some of the anti-biotics, but the kid developes a horrible rash and a massive fever.
Without the internet, he's helpless in looking things up, without the cellphone network he can't reach out.
Week 5
Kid dies.
Alone he can now build a fire, is a decent shot, knows how to dress a dead animal.
First snow fall of winter hits, with 5 feet of snow.
Starts developing weakness, he's had to limit the consumption of canned fruits and vegetables.
Weather drops, tries to keep the fire going.
Hears a noise outside of the cabin. Pulls open the door and runs out because he thinks its people, he's hallucinating. Trips and hears his ankle snap, crawls back into the cabin and binds it best he can. Tries to take some pain killers that he took from the hospital.
Dead.
That must have been a very dark evening discussion.....
Realistic Emergency Preperations
