7 ms·

I've been in a number of major natural disasters at this point. Fukushima, Ike, Colorado's 2013 floods. I've also been in two shooting incidents (where fortun

I've been in a number of major natural disasters at this point. Fukushima, Ike, Colorado's 2013 floods. I've also been in two shooting incidents (where fortunately only the shooter was hurt). My point is, I've been lucky so far because none of these posed a major problem for me. I made it out with manageable inconvenience. However, I can only get lucky like that so many times. So now I keep the following at home: * 5 gallons drinking water * Canned food for a week * First aid kit * Matches, lighter, Sterno cans * Solar USB charger * Many flashlights with spare batteries, plus a battery-powered lantern * Hand-crank radio * Solid liquor collection ;) * Equipment to make a fresh cup of coffee with no electricity (Sterno, hand-crank coffee grinder, French press) * A big bucket for, well, sanitation I've also got my camping supplies, which includes a Coleman stove and a few small propane canisters. Having been in a few floods I will also never live in a ground-floor apartment. I also keep all this stuff boxed up in plastic crates, so if I needed to evacuate I could load up my car with all this gear in about 20 minutes and be on my way. My goal is to be able to survive a week trapped in my apartment with no utilities, or living out of my car for the same amount of time. I bike to work and in my pannier I keep a Leatherman multitool, pocket knife, latex gloves (mostly for fixing my bike chain, but also useful in other emergencies), 3M N99 mask, flashlight, poncho, a garbage bag and a small thing of duct tape. In most of the kinds of disasters that hit Colorado, I would be able to get home, either walking or by bike. I only live about three miles from work.

vvanders 9y ago
It might be crossing into the prepper territory too much but I'm really happy to have a 2 meter radio in my car/handheld tranceiver in my bag. The cell network went down south of us during the eclipse but repeaters were still running just fine. Even if you don't have a license you're allowed to transmit in emergency situations.
- knz 9y ago
  Is there a 2m radio model that you would recommend?
  - the_prepared 9y ago
    We like the Beofeng 8 watt https://goo.gl/q8nSvA https://goo.gl/q8nSvA It's only about $60 and there are some nice accessories like better antennas and batteries.
    - 0xbear 9y ago
      I think you need a license to operate that, though
      - vvanders 9y ago
        You need a license to operator all 2m/70cm radios on non GMRS/FRS frequencies. However FCC suspends those rules in the case of emergencies[1]. [1] https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=4cae37ae392f692b37ad22e82167f88c&mc=true&node=pt47.5.97&rgn=div5#se47.5.97_1403 https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=4cae37ae392f692b37...
      - mikestew 9y ago
        You need a license to operate anything on 2m (or 70cm), which is what the original question referenced.
    - webnrrd2k 9y ago
      I could be wrong, but I thought that you needed a license only to broadcast, and you could own a ham radio and listen without a license. You can certainly buy all sorts or radio gear without a license.
      - uabstraction 9y ago
        This is correct. You do not need a license to possess any ham equipment - including equipment that is capable of transmitting. All ham communications are explicitly public, and there is nothing wrong with listening in. You only need a license to transmit.
    - fapjacks 9y ago
      I use this radio for my primary talker.
- mikestew 9y ago
  It might be crossing into the prepper territory too much Bah, a 2m radio is useful for more than EOW scenarios. I used mine just this past week during the eclipse thingy. No cell connection where we were at, but I could hear the local repeater and could make simplex contacts. Found out that Madras, OR was just as much of a goat rodeo as predicted, and just general chat. Had we had an emergency, I would have used the DeLorme (now Garmin) InReach satellite communicator, but probably would have tried to raise someone on the radio as well. And the InReach still relies on some infrastructure being in place (so I assume). Even if it all goes to hell, one radio will always be able to talk to another that's in range (which won't be but a few miles with a handheld, prolly 20 max). For other camping scenarios, I've found the radio handy for getting the local lay of the land from time to time. If one wants to purchase a radio, take the minimal time and effort to get a license. Sure, you can transmit in emergency situations, but that won't do you a damned bit of good if you don't know how to get the repeater to retransmit your signal, or what the calling frequencies are, or what all those buttons on the radio do. Take a class or read a book, get the license, know what the hell you're doing. There's a reason amateur radio operation is licensed, and it's not just to get $50 out of you every ten years.
  - uabstraction 9y ago
    Solid advice. As a recently licensed ham, I could tell you without a doubt that if I pulled my radio out of the box and tried to figure out what the hell to do with it in the midst of an emergency, the only thing I would accomplish is wasting LOTS of valuable time. It took me weeks to get my radio set up exactly how I like it, but now I can tune into emergency services, GMRS/FRS, Marine VHF, and hundreds of ham repeaters throughout the NYC metro area. My two key takeaways so far are A: you will not be able to look up what frequencies are used by which services if you don't plan ahead of time. RadioReference and RepeaterBook are useless if you can't get online. Your radio will be useless if you don't take the time to program it for your needs ahead of time. B: If you expect to lean on your radio for communication, there is simply no way to assess it's capabilities unless you put it to use, and for this you really ought to get a license. The technician class license only requires a passing score on a 35 question test. It should be well within reach for many of the technically minded folks who read this forum. As far as general emergency preparedness goes for myself, what I like to do is take on hobbies with an emergency/survival aspect to them. I go hiking and camping and have the bare necessities to survive in the wilderness for a while. I do ham radio so I can figure out what the hell is going on if the cell network or internet becomes inaccessible, and I play Airsoft with my buddies every once in a while, which affords me some gear and a skill I'll hopefully never need to use off the field. I do all these things because they are interesting to me. The survival/preparedness aspect is just an additional benefit / excuse.
- tzs 9y ago
  > Even if you don't have a license you're allowed to transmit in emergency situations. True, but I'd say get a license anyway so that you can at least practice live with the radio before an emergency. All that is needed for 2 meters in the US is a Technician class ham license, which requires getting 26 questions right on a 35 question multiple choice exam. I'm confident that most people on HN could learn enough to pass in a weekend of casual preparation, assuming they have had high school physics or equivalent. The test is divided into several subsections, with only a handful of questions from each subsection, so even if you are weak on some particular area the impact is limited. The question pool is available to the public and there are excellent apps and websites that will drill you with the actual questions. After a weekend of that many people find that they have accidentally memorized the answers. There are no FCC fees for the test or license. Third parties actually conduct the test, and they are allowed to charge. The largest organization giving tests, the ARRL, charges $15 I believe. There are smaller groups that don't cover the whole US that are cheaper, or even free. The license is good for 10 years, renewal is free, and does not require any additional testing. (The only time you need additional testing is to upgrade to a higher class of license, which gives you access to more frequency bands and/or more power and/or more operating modes). You can get a handheld 2 meter transceiver for $30ish. So...under $50 to get licensed AND get a radio! (Of course you CAN spend a lot more on a radio if you wish. I have a Kenwood handheld that transmits on 2 meters, 1.5 meters, and 70 cm, and can receive everything from 10 KHz to 1.3 GHz minus cell phone frequencies, and can receive on two frequencies at once. It was around $300). Two recommendations for those who decide to do this: 1. Before you apply for a license create an account at the FCC site. That will assign you an FCC ID number, which you can give to the testing organization when you take the test. If you don't have an FCC ID number you have to give the testing organization your Social Security number. 2. Once you have your license, people can look you up by call sign at the FCC site. The information available includes your name and address. If you don't want your home address published that way, you can register with a PO box.
bupku5 9y ago
And I have a Glock 17 and a years' worth of ammo, so I don't need to stockpile the other stuff, you are doing it for me. (edit: hopefully it is obvious this is a play on words, speaking in the voice of a hypothetical desperate citizen. obviously I do not own a gun for the purposes of threatening others, only for self-protection) Sounds trollish but my point is that Californians in particular eventually need to square this neo-survivalism with their long-standing desire to create a gun-free society. You should not assume friendly cooperation in a crisis. You should assume people will do what they have to do or have always wanted to do. The Bay Area in particular is deeply polarized and we should assume the worst if law enforcement is temporarily absent
- maxerickson 9y ago
  Why would you travel to Colorado and take his supplies during a California disaster? Do you think it would be worthwhile to go so far? I'm being really sarcastic, but it's kind of hilarious to post such an abrasive comment while not even noticing that they aren't in California.
- saryant 9y ago
  Well, for one I live in Colorado, not the Bay Area. Two, you're assuming that I also don't have a firearm. I actually don't, but you're still making a big assumption that whoever you try to steal from can't fight back. How much overlap do you think there is between emergency preparedness and firearm possession? Certainly in Colorado, even Boulder, that's not a bet I would be willing to take. This is a situation where you get one shot, since emergency services likely won't be able to save you if you get shot. If you've got a handgun but I've got a pump-action shotgun packing buckshot, I would have a decent shot since I only need to aim in your general direction but you have to aim pretty well, in a stressful situation that you've probably never been in. Ever shot someone? Three, consider what you're honestly suggesting here. I'm not anti-firearm, but I am against the the disgusting sentiment you espouse in that post.
  - freehunter 9y ago
    You make a damn good point. I was talking to some of my more conservative friends the other day about the potential for civil unrest at some point in the future, and they said something along the lines of "rednecks have guns, they'd win the war". Problem is, while I'm not really a "gun person", I'm not anti-gun either. I don't go around bragging about my gun collection or how much ammo I have, and I also don't go around in public showing off or even talking about the four rifles, two shotguns, and the handgun I own. Even my closest friends, while knowing I own guns, have never seen them unless we've hunted together. It never really gets talked about much, but if the people who like to brag about their guns somehow think they're the only ones who own guns, they're going to be very surprised in an actual emergency situation. Plenty of people quietly own a gun and would be willing to use it to defend their property again criminals. I mean if you think about it, how many people own a bicycle? Now how many people are dressed in spandex in public bragging about their VO2 max? There are a lot more quiet, casual bikers than there are braggadocios bikers. You just only hear/see the ones out bragging about it.
BatFastard 9y ago
That will get you thru a week. But a week will get you thru everything but society collapsing, and if it does collapse I am not sure I want to continue.
- deleted 9y ago
  [deleted]
- module0000 9y ago
  If you have family depending on you, unfortunately you don't have a choice. Can't throw in the towel for other people(well I guess you can...but that's not gonna happen). Getting ourselves through a week might not be bad, but throw in family and [young?] children to the mix, and things get dicey and really complex.
- fapjacks 9y ago
  Actually, having toured various places where society has collapsed, it's actually not as bad as people imagine. Some people live their entire lives in collapsed societies. There is sometimes still electricity, food, water, security, and sometimes even phone service, depending. And after many years of study, I'd even say that those "collapsed societies" are actually more like most human communities of the past. It seems to be a kind of natural state of human civilization. We're just living in some damned lucky times.
- PeterisP 9y ago
  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Sarajevo https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Sarajevo is a good example of an unexpected situation that lasted much longer than a week, the society halfway collapsed, but it was clearly worth to continue.
FuriouslyAdrift 9y ago
You should add an sillcock key set for water access... they're handy. http://www.homedepot.com/p/HDX-4-Way-Sillcock-Key-UWP0002D/204284856 http://www.homedepot.com/p/HDX-4-Way-Sillcock-Key-UWP0002D/2...
- nebabyte 9y ago
  As someone else posed, "access" meaning looting?
  - rtkwe 9y ago
    Sillcocks are just a fancy name for hose faucets of the outside of buildings. If those still have water municipal water is likely still working so it's the most minor bit of stealing I can think of.
  - bluGill 9y ago
    If the total population of a former large city is in the 1000 range is it looting?
the_prepared 9y ago
Would highly recommend storing the most important stuff in a bug out bag backpack, packed and ready to go at all times. Can't assume you'll be able to use your car. We recommend the Kelty Redwing 44 backpack: https://theprepared.com/reviews/best-bug-out-bag-backpack/ https://theprepared.com/reviews/best-bug-out-bag-backpack/
laydn 9y ago
I haven't lived in an area prone to weather-related disasters. But, I feel like, most of these are avoidable (I mean, not the disaster itself but the "riding-it-out" part). Usually, there is plenty of time and warning so you can get out. Earthquakes though, are unpredicatable and they arrive with zero notice. And should the worst happen in an earthquake, you would not need many of the supplies in the list above. Water, canned food, first aid kit, radio, a megaphone and a flashlight in a backpack. Packed, ready, and placed in your potential escape route.
- grogenaut 9y ago
  Tornados are about as unpredictable as earthquakes.
  - saryant 9y ago
    Yep. Been through those too when I lived in Wyoming. Fortunately never anything larger than an F2.
    - grogenaut 9y ago
      Better now with the amber alert type system. Horror stories of being in a theater and getting hit by a twister with no notice.
  - knz 9y ago
    I disagree - tornadoes generally come with many warnings by metrologists and often tornado sirens. Earthquakes come with a split second rumble if you're lucky. I've experienced earthquakes, cyclones/hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfire, flooding, blizzards, and all kinds of severe weather - they're all awful in their own way but being caught in a tornado outbreak (30 in 90mins, some over a mile wide) was by far the worst I've experienced - sheltering for hours while sirens scream, drains howl as tornadoes go past, and the roof peels off is up there with the helplessness of being stuck in a violently shaking building for a few minutes (I've experienced a few 7+ shakes and also lost friends and family to earthquakes that destroyed my home town so know how intense that can be).
  - 9y ago
jordanb 9y ago
> I've also got my camping supplies, which includes a Coleman stove and a few small propane canisters. I have a Primus Omnifuel, which can burn propane, white gas, gasoline, kerosene or diesel fuel. It needs preheat using alcohol or to burn the latter two though.
ChuckMcM 9y ago
Sounds like a great list. In my earthquake pack that is always in my car are a set of supplies that would let me hike from pretty much anywhere in the bay area back to my house. One of the things I added was a 'suture kit'. This is a sealed set of supplies (the mechanics) that would let anyone trained in emergency medical care to address a fairly major laceration. I don't have those skills but as we have observed in disasters people with those skills tend to be fairly evenly distributed through the affected population but supplies for them to anything about it are impossible to get. As a result I've encouraged people to carry one "part" of a complete medical load out so that when they converge post disaster they will be able to assemble the necessary supplies for any doctors, nurses, or PAs in the group to work with. It also keeps peoples earthquake supplies from being a 'target' by looters who would look for drugs. No single individual has anything really 'loot worthy' for those people.
- nebabyte 9y ago
  > As a result I've encouraged people to carry one "part" of a complete medical load out so that when they converge post disaster they will be able to assemble the necessary supplies Twitch Plays Medical Monopoly
afterburner 9y ago
"I've been lucky so far" I'd say you were UNlucky so far to have been involved in all of those incidents in the first place. Or was it not by accident?
- icebraining 9y ago
  Yeah, reminds me of Orwell's comment upon having been shot in the Spanish Civil War :) No one I met at this time — doctors, nurses, practicantes, or fellow-patients — failed to assure me that a man who is hit through the neck and survives it is the luckiest creature alive. I could not help thinking that it would be even luckier not to be hit at all.
ZenoArrow 9y ago
Looks like a good list. The only item I'd add to that is a LifeStraw (or something similar), but I don't know how close you live to a water source: http://lifestraw.com/products/lifestraw-mission/ http://lifestraw.com/products/lifestraw-mission/

vvanders 9y ago

It might be crossing into the prepper territory too much but I'm really happy to have a 2 meter radio in my car/handheld tranceiver in my bag. The cell network went down south of us during the eclipse but repeaters were still running just fine. Even if you don't have a license you're allowed to transmit in emergency situations.

knz 9y ago
Is there a 2m radio model that you would recommend?
- the_prepared 9y ago
  We like the Beofeng 8 watt https://goo.gl/q8nSvA https://goo.gl/q8nSvA It's only about $60 and there are some nice accessories like better antennas and batteries.
  - 0xbear 9y ago
    I think you need a license to operate that, though
    - vvanders 9y ago
      You need a license to operator all 2m/70cm radios on non GMRS/FRS frequencies. However FCC suspends those rules in the case of emergencies[1]. [1] https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=4cae37ae392f692b37ad22e82167f88c&mc=true&node=pt47.5.97&rgn=div5#se47.5.97_1403 https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=4cae37ae392f692b37...
    - mikestew 9y ago
      You need a license to operate anything on 2m (or 70cm), which is what the original question referenced.
  - webnrrd2k 9y ago
    I could be wrong, but I thought that you needed a license only to broadcast, and you could own a ham radio and listen without a license. You can certainly buy all sorts or radio gear without a license.
    - uabstraction 9y ago
      This is correct. You do not need a license to possess any ham equipment - including equipment that is capable of transmitting. All ham communications are explicitly public, and there is nothing wrong with listening in. You only need a license to transmit.
  - fapjacks 9y ago
    I use this radio for my primary talker.
mikestew 9y ago
It might be crossing into the prepper territory too much Bah, a 2m radio is useful for more than EOW scenarios. I used mine just this past week during the eclipse thingy. No cell connection where we were at, but I could hear the local repeater and could make simplex contacts. Found out that Madras, OR was just as much of a goat rodeo as predicted, and just general chat. Had we had an emergency, I would have used the DeLorme (now Garmin) InReach satellite communicator, but probably would have tried to raise someone on the radio as well. And the InReach still relies on some infrastructure being in place (so I assume). Even if it all goes to hell, one radio will always be able to talk to another that's in range (which won't be but a few miles with a handheld, prolly 20 max). For other camping scenarios, I've found the radio handy for getting the local lay of the land from time to time. If one wants to purchase a radio, take the minimal time and effort to get a license. Sure, you can transmit in emergency situations, but that won't do you a damned bit of good if you don't know how to get the repeater to retransmit your signal, or what the calling frequencies are, or what all those buttons on the radio do. Take a class or read a book, get the license, know what the hell you're doing. There's a reason amateur radio operation is licensed, and it's not just to get $50 out of you every ten years.
- uabstraction 9y ago
  Solid advice. As a recently licensed ham, I could tell you without a doubt that if I pulled my radio out of the box and tried to figure out what the hell to do with it in the midst of an emergency, the only thing I would accomplish is wasting LOTS of valuable time. It took me weeks to get my radio set up exactly how I like it, but now I can tune into emergency services, GMRS/FRS, Marine VHF, and hundreds of ham repeaters throughout the NYC metro area. My two key takeaways so far are A: you will not be able to look up what frequencies are used by which services if you don't plan ahead of time. RadioReference and RepeaterBook are useless if you can't get online. Your radio will be useless if you don't take the time to program it for your needs ahead of time. B: If you expect to lean on your radio for communication, there is simply no way to assess it's capabilities unless you put it to use, and for this you really ought to get a license. The technician class license only requires a passing score on a 35 question test. It should be well within reach for many of the technically minded folks who read this forum. As far as general emergency preparedness goes for myself, what I like to do is take on hobbies with an emergency/survival aspect to them. I go hiking and camping and have the bare necessities to survive in the wilderness for a while. I do ham radio so I can figure out what the hell is going on if the cell network or internet becomes inaccessible, and I play Airsoft with my buddies every once in a while, which affords me some gear and a skill I'll hopefully never need to use off the field. I do all these things because they are interesting to me. The survival/preparedness aspect is just an additional benefit / excuse.
tzs 9y ago
> Even if you don't have a license you're allowed to transmit in emergency situations. True, but I'd say get a license anyway so that you can at least practice live with the radio before an emergency. All that is needed for 2 meters in the US is a Technician class ham license, which requires getting 26 questions right on a 35 question multiple choice exam. I'm confident that most people on HN could learn enough to pass in a weekend of casual preparation, assuming they have had high school physics or equivalent. The test is divided into several subsections, with only a handful of questions from each subsection, so even if you are weak on some particular area the impact is limited. The question pool is available to the public and there are excellent apps and websites that will drill you with the actual questions. After a weekend of that many people find that they have accidentally memorized the answers. There are no FCC fees for the test or license. Third parties actually conduct the test, and they are allowed to charge. The largest organization giving tests, the ARRL, charges $15 I believe. There are smaller groups that don't cover the whole US that are cheaper, or even free. The license is good for 10 years, renewal is free, and does not require any additional testing. (The only time you need additional testing is to upgrade to a higher class of license, which gives you access to more frequency bands and/or more power and/or more operating modes). You can get a handheld 2 meter transceiver for $30ish. So...under $50 to get licensed AND get a radio! (Of course you CAN spend a lot more on a radio if you wish. I have a Kenwood handheld that transmits on 2 meters, 1.5 meters, and 70 cm, and can receive everything from 10 KHz to 1.3 GHz minus cell phone frequencies, and can receive on two frequencies at once. It was around $300). Two recommendations for those who decide to do this: 1. Before you apply for a license create an account at the FCC site. That will assign you an FCC ID number, which you can give to the testing organization when you take the test. If you don't have an FCC ID number you have to give the testing organization your Social Security number. 2. Once you have your license, people can look you up by call sign at the FCC site. The information available includes your name and address. If you don't want your home address published that way, you can register with a PO box.

bupku5 9y ago

And I have a Glock 17 and a years' worth of ammo, so I don't need to stockpile the other stuff, you are doing it for me. (edit: hopefully it is obvious this is a play on words, speaking in the voice of a hypothetical desperate citizen. obviously I do not own a gun for the purposes of threatening others, only for self-protection) Sounds trollish but my point is that Californians in particular eventually need to square this neo-survivalism with their long-standing desire to create a gun-free society. You should not assume friendly cooperation in a crisis. You should assume people will do what they have to do or have always wanted to do. The Bay Area in particular is deeply polarized and we should assume the worst if law enforcement is temporarily absent

maxerickson 9y ago
Why would you travel to Colorado and take his supplies during a California disaster? Do you think it would be worthwhile to go so far? I'm being really sarcastic, but it's kind of hilarious to post such an abrasive comment while not even noticing that they aren't in California.
saryant 9y ago
Well, for one I live in Colorado, not the Bay Area. Two, you're assuming that I also don't have a firearm. I actually don't, but you're still making a big assumption that whoever you try to steal from can't fight back. How much overlap do you think there is between emergency preparedness and firearm possession? Certainly in Colorado, even Boulder, that's not a bet I would be willing to take. This is a situation where you get one shot, since emergency services likely won't be able to save you if you get shot. If you've got a handgun but I've got a pump-action shotgun packing buckshot, I would have a decent shot since I only need to aim in your general direction but you have to aim pretty well, in a stressful situation that you've probably never been in. Ever shot someone? Three, consider what you're honestly suggesting here. I'm not anti-firearm, but I am against the the disgusting sentiment you espouse in that post.
- freehunter 9y ago
  You make a damn good point. I was talking to some of my more conservative friends the other day about the potential for civil unrest at some point in the future, and they said something along the lines of "rednecks have guns, they'd win the war". Problem is, while I'm not really a "gun person", I'm not anti-gun either. I don't go around bragging about my gun collection or how much ammo I have, and I also don't go around in public showing off or even talking about the four rifles, two shotguns, and the handgun I own. Even my closest friends, while knowing I own guns, have never seen them unless we've hunted together. It never really gets talked about much, but if the people who like to brag about their guns somehow think they're the only ones who own guns, they're going to be very surprised in an actual emergency situation. Plenty of people quietly own a gun and would be willing to use it to defend their property again criminals. I mean if you think about it, how many people own a bicycle? Now how many people are dressed in spandex in public bragging about their VO2 max? There are a lot more quiet, casual bikers than there are braggadocios bikers. You just only hear/see the ones out bragging about it.

BatFastard 9y ago

That will get you thru a week. But a week will get you thru everything but society collapsing, and if it does collapse I am not sure I want to continue.

deleted 9y ago
[deleted]
module0000 9y ago
If you have family depending on you, unfortunately you don't have a choice. Can't throw in the towel for other people(well I guess you can...but that's not gonna happen). Getting ourselves through a week might not be bad, but throw in family and [young?] children to the mix, and things get dicey and really complex.
fapjacks 9y ago
Actually, having toured various places where society has collapsed, it's actually not as bad as people imagine. Some people live their entire lives in collapsed societies. There is sometimes still electricity, food, water, security, and sometimes even phone service, depending. And after many years of study, I'd even say that those "collapsed societies" are actually more like most human communities of the past. It seems to be a kind of natural state of human civilization. We're just living in some damned lucky times.
PeterisP 9y ago
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Sarajevo https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Sarajevo is a good example of an unexpected situation that lasted much longer than a week, the society halfway collapsed, but it was clearly worth to continue.

FuriouslyAdrift 9y ago

You should add an sillcock key set for water access... they're handy. http://www.homedepot.com/p/HDX-4-Way-Sillcock-Key-UWP0002D/204284856 http://www.homedepot.com/p/HDX-4-Way-Sillcock-Key-UWP0002D/2...

nebabyte 9y ago
As someone else posed, "access" meaning looting?
- rtkwe 9y ago
  Sillcocks are just a fancy name for hose faucets of the outside of buildings. If those still have water municipal water is likely still working so it's the most minor bit of stealing I can think of.
- bluGill 9y ago
  If the total population of a former large city is in the 1000 range is it looting?

the_prepared 9y ago

Would highly recommend storing the most important stuff in a bug out bag backpack, packed and ready to go at all times. Can't assume you'll be able to use your car. We recommend the Kelty Redwing 44 backpack: https://theprepared.com/reviews/best-bug-out-bag-backpack/ https://theprepared.com/reviews/best-bug-out-bag-backpack/

laydn 9y ago

I haven't lived in an area prone to weather-related disasters. But, I feel like, most of these are avoidable (I mean, not the disaster itself but the "riding-it-out" part). Usually, there is plenty of time and warning so you can get out. Earthquakes though, are unpredicatable and they arrive with zero notice. And should the worst happen in an earthquake, you would not need many of the supplies in the list above. Water, canned food, first aid kit, radio, a megaphone and a flashlight in a backpack. Packed, ready, and placed in your potential escape route.

grogenaut 9y ago
Tornados are about as unpredictable as earthquakes.
- saryant 9y ago
  Yep. Been through those too when I lived in Wyoming. Fortunately never anything larger than an F2.
  - grogenaut 9y ago
    Better now with the amber alert type system. Horror stories of being in a theater and getting hit by a twister with no notice.
- knz 9y ago
  I disagree - tornadoes generally come with many warnings by metrologists and often tornado sirens. Earthquakes come with a split second rumble if you're lucky. I've experienced earthquakes, cyclones/hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfire, flooding, blizzards, and all kinds of severe weather - they're all awful in their own way but being caught in a tornado outbreak (30 in 90mins, some over a mile wide) was by far the worst I've experienced - sheltering for hours while sirens scream, drains howl as tornadoes go past, and the roof peels off is up there with the helplessness of being stuck in a violently shaking building for a few minutes (I've experienced a few 7+ shakes and also lost friends and family to earthquakes that destroyed my home town so know how intense that can be).
- 9y ago

jordanb 9y ago

> I've also got my camping supplies, which includes a Coleman stove and a few small propane canisters. I have a Primus Omnifuel, which can burn propane, white gas, gasoline, kerosene or diesel fuel. It needs preheat using alcohol or to burn the latter two though.

ChuckMcM 9y ago

Sounds like a great list. In my earthquake pack that is always in my car are a set of supplies that would let me hike from pretty much anywhere in the bay area back to my house. One of the things I added was a 'suture kit'. This is a sealed set of supplies (the mechanics) that would let anyone trained in emergency medical care to address a fairly major laceration. I don't have those skills but as we have observed in disasters people with those skills tend to be fairly evenly distributed through the affected population but supplies for them to anything about it are impossible to get. As a result I've encouraged people to carry one "part" of a complete medical load out so that when they converge post disaster they will be able to assemble the necessary supplies for any doctors, nurses, or PAs in the group to work with. It also keeps peoples earthquake supplies from being a 'target' by looters who would look for drugs. No single individual has anything really 'loot worthy' for those people.

nebabyte 9y ago
> As a result I've encouraged people to carry one "part" of a complete medical load out so that when they converge post disaster they will be able to assemble the necessary supplies Twitch Plays Medical Monopoly

afterburner 9y ago

"I've been lucky so far" I'd say you were UNlucky so far to have been involved in all of those incidents in the first place. Or was it not by accident?

icebraining 9y ago
Yeah, reminds me of Orwell's comment upon having been shot in the Spanish Civil War :) No one I met at this time — doctors, nurses, practicantes, or fellow-patients — failed to assure me that a man who is hit through the neck and survives it is the luckiest creature alive. I could not help thinking that it would be even luckier not to be hit at all.

ZenoArrow 9y ago

Looks like a good list. The only item I'd add to that is a LifeStraw (or something similar), but I don't know how close you live to a water source: http://lifestraw.com/products/lifestraw-mission/ http://lifestraw.com/products/lifestraw-mission/