TonyD
One Shot One Maggie's Drawers
I realize that there is the ADD (Apocolyptic-Dooms-Days) crowd out there but I really believe that preparation needs to be tempered with common sense. I don't think we've quite reached the bomb-shelter-in-every-backyard menatlity like the days of yore, however, the current climate of the world does demand a little more cognitive attention to preparation than most folks have given it in the recent past.
First, and foremost, we need to intelligently analyze what is most likely to occur, what is probable, what is obscurely possible and prepare accordingly. While a nuclear holocaust is possible I don't consider it likely. I do, however, concede that a "dirty-bomb" is more likely on that end of the spectrum.
So, where does that leave us? I prefer to concentrate primarily on the daily likelyhood for personal disaster, meaning - carjacking, robbery, random violence, vehicle accidents, house fire,ect. Preparation being defensive skills - empty hands, sticks, knives, firearms, etc. Also, emergency medical training and home-emergency planning.
Second is the planning for natural disasters. This is where the stores and wares come into play and the common discussion of "bugging" - either in or out. Natural disiasters are geographical in their most likely form and some give several days warning and others do not. Prepare a 'hurricane' kit and a check list for your family. Ideas for the contents can be found through FEMA, CDC or you local Emergency Management Agency.
I don't believe there is much of a likelyhood that would call for a slit-second bug-out. You are either going to be at the perverbial "Ground-Zero" or have time to gather your necessaties and travel to a more conducive environment. Or, you're going to ride the storm out at your place of residence.
Shelter is paramount in surviving and most often than not, your house is the best source. The exception is the eye of the hurricane, wild fires, etc. Even then, history shows us than many folks stay put and survive - at least until LAPD shows up. I'm of the opinion that if you prepare for the daily violence, have a "hurricane kit", a little cash on hand, a full tank of gas, and somewhere between three days and two weeks worth of food in the pantry, you'll be prepared for 99% of what comes your way.
The food is relatively easy. Every trip to the grocery store pick up three extra can-good items and stick them in the back of the cabinet. Eat the perishable items in fridge first, the frozen foods from the freezer next and the shelf goods last. Cooking methods can be a fireplace, propane, charcoal, camp stove or a fire pit in the back yard.
Just about every house holds enough water for a family of four for about two weeks. Two quarts per day, per person drinking, about a pint per person, per day for hygiene and maybe a quart per day, per four persons for cooking. Most water heaters hold around 50 gallons. Strain it through a T-shirt to filter out sediment and treat each gallon with about an 1/8 teaspoon of house-hold, non-scented bleach, let stand 30 minutes and use as needed. The exception to this is the case of a biological terrorist attack on the communities water supply.
If you decide that leaving is the best option, grap / pack the hurricane kit, personal defensive weapons and ammo, fill up a couple gallons of water, grap a little bit of emergency rations, and head towards either your short, medium or long range destination.
First, and foremost, we need to intelligently analyze what is most likely to occur, what is probable, what is obscurely possible and prepare accordingly. While a nuclear holocaust is possible I don't consider it likely. I do, however, concede that a "dirty-bomb" is more likely on that end of the spectrum.
So, where does that leave us? I prefer to concentrate primarily on the daily likelyhood for personal disaster, meaning - carjacking, robbery, random violence, vehicle accidents, house fire,ect. Preparation being defensive skills - empty hands, sticks, knives, firearms, etc. Also, emergency medical training and home-emergency planning.
Second is the planning for natural disasters. This is where the stores and wares come into play and the common discussion of "bugging" - either in or out. Natural disiasters are geographical in their most likely form and some give several days warning and others do not. Prepare a 'hurricane' kit and a check list for your family. Ideas for the contents can be found through FEMA, CDC or you local Emergency Management Agency.
I don't believe there is much of a likelyhood that would call for a slit-second bug-out. You are either going to be at the perverbial "Ground-Zero" or have time to gather your necessaties and travel to a more conducive environment. Or, you're going to ride the storm out at your place of residence.
Shelter is paramount in surviving and most often than not, your house is the best source. The exception is the eye of the hurricane, wild fires, etc. Even then, history shows us than many folks stay put and survive - at least until LAPD shows up. I'm of the opinion that if you prepare for the daily violence, have a "hurricane kit", a little cash on hand, a full tank of gas, and somewhere between three days and two weeks worth of food in the pantry, you'll be prepared for 99% of what comes your way.
The food is relatively easy. Every trip to the grocery store pick up three extra can-good items and stick them in the back of the cabinet. Eat the perishable items in fridge first, the frozen foods from the freezer next and the shelf goods last. Cooking methods can be a fireplace, propane, charcoal, camp stove or a fire pit in the back yard.
Just about every house holds enough water for a family of four for about two weeks. Two quarts per day, per person drinking, about a pint per person, per day for hygiene and maybe a quart per day, per four persons for cooking. Most water heaters hold around 50 gallons. Strain it through a T-shirt to filter out sediment and treat each gallon with about an 1/8 teaspoon of house-hold, non-scented bleach, let stand 30 minutes and use as needed. The exception to this is the case of a biological terrorist attack on the communities water supply.
If you decide that leaving is the best option, grap / pack the hurricane kit, personal defensive weapons and ammo, fill up a couple gallons of water, grap a little bit of emergency rations, and head towards either your short, medium or long range destination.
