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Ask Slashdot: How Prepared Are You For a Major Emergency?

Posted by timothy on from the supermoon-induced-volquakeno-blizzards-loom dept.

The northern US has been buried under snow several times this winter, and flooding has struck quite a few places in the southwest. Those pale, though, beside the recent disasters in Haiti, New Zealand, and Japan, and the seemingly inevitable arrival of a serious earthquake on the West Coast of the US. All of which has me thinking about my (meager) preparedness for a major disaster. Despite plans to stock up in case of a major storm or other emergency, right now I'd be down mostly to canned beans, sardines and Nutella. How prepared are you to do deal with a disaster affecting your region? Is your data safe? What about your family? Do you have escape, regrouping, or survival plans in the event of an earthquake, tsunami, hurricane, industrial accident, or whatever hazards are most relevant where you live? It would be helpful if in comments you disclose your region and environment (urban? rural? exurbs?) and the emergencies you consider worth preparing for, as well as talking about any steps you've taken or plan to take.

2 of 562 comments (clear)

  1. No by line-bundle · · Score: 4, Informative

    I am not prepared.

  2. Here is my list by ShanghaiBill · · Score: 4, Informative

    Home:
    40 cu ft Pantry full of food
    5 gal jug filled with dried beans
    5 gal jug filled with rice
    8000 sqft backyard garden (mostly root crops this time of year)
    5 x 5 gal jug filled with drinking water
    half a cord of Firewood + ax and bow saw for collecting more
    Several sacks of charcoal
    Spare tank of propane
    Box of candles
    Large first aid kit
    Iodine tablets
    Fire extinguisher
    Deep cycle battery + trickle charger + inverter
    Large toolbox full of tools
    Rechargable flashlights in every bathroom
    A fireproof safe, bolted to a concrete floor, containing:
    Original copies of important documents
    Several USB drives with backups
    Cash, other valuables
    AR-15 assault rifle + 500 rounds of ammo + cleaning kit

    pockets:
    cellphone (the lcd screen can be used as a flashlight)
    fine tip sharpie pen
    on keychain:
    4GB USB thumb drive
    mini leatherman (scissors, knife, tweezers, screwdriver)
    screw top tube containing:
    needle+thread, safety pins, waterproof matches,
    asprin, antibiotic pills

    trunk of car:
    Jumper cables
    flares
    First aid kit
    Water
    Breakfast bars
    plastic bags
    duct tape
    epoxy glue
    needles / thread
    parachute cord
    pliers
    screwdrivers
    scissors
    $200 in twenty dollar bills