Supplies for a disaster

[Ljbonobo]

I was sitting thinking about how lucky I am not to be in the direct path of any hurricanes, and what I would do if I were. Then I realized I'd be better off than most people in an occurrence like the gulf coast is going thru this hurricane season. I love the outdoors, backpacking, camping, hiking, whitewater kayaking, etc. If I had 2 days notice before something like that'd happen I'd be able to stockpile more than enough food to be able to last a few weeks.
Needs:
Shelter - my apt or my tent if necessary
Water - well besides buying all the bottled you can, I have a very easy to use water filter for backpacking, now some of the chemicals N.O. had to deal with would have caused me problems but other than that, it'll take out any bacteria or baddies except viruses (which aren't common in the US anyhow)
Food - my backpacking stove runs over a half hour continuously on full blast on 3-5 oz of fuel (either coleman white gas or unleaded). And it only takes 3-4 minutes to boil a quart of water (another way to purify water if needed)

I have my kayak if I was flooded out.....

With a little bit of planning a few weeks would not be pleasant but could be survived.....

Thoughts?

 

[NaughtyLil1]

I've been through a few storms, although none as severe as Katrina. I always thought of it as a camping adventure. The stove and the lanterns were lifesavers.

 

[dcraz]

Well you are more prepared than most. And not just because you have the equipment. But because you know, when and why to use it. The problem for most people is they have no idea what 'roughing it' means. Most people like to think they could take care of themsleves. The old 'my family used to do lots of camping when I was a kid' mentality. When in reality, most people could not spend the night in their back yard if given a weeks notice.

Like you, I spend a lot of time backpacking. Hiked the Grand Canyon for 10 days over spring break. We had to do more than purify water. We had to go search for it when we were half way up the other side! The difference is that you not only have the experience and the skills, but you also have the confidence. It is the stress as much as anything that limits peoples ability to adapt to unusual environments.

That and hte ability to handle so many things with the understanding that you may not have any help other than your own wits. This includes not just shelter, food and water, but first aid. Especially 'wilderness' first aid where you have to make do without the benefits of running water and all the goodies you keep in the bathroom. Also how to plan ahead, how to help others and how to help rescueres find you.

It is a fine ideal to imagine everyone should be able to take care of themselves, but impractical in today's society.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[Ljbonobo]

Well you are more prepared than most. And not just because you have the equipment. But because you know, when and why to use it. The problem for most people is they have no idea what 'roughing it' means. Most people like to think they could take care of themsleves. The old 'my family used to do lots of camping when I was a kid' mentality. When in reality, most people could not spend the night in their back yard if given a weeks notice.

Like you, I spend a lot of time backpacking. Hiked the Grand Canyon for 10 days over spring break. We had to do more than purify water. We had to go search for it when we were half way up the other side! The difference is that you not only have the experience and the skills, but you also have the confidence. It is the stress as much as anything that limits peoples ability to adapt to unusual environments.

That and hte ability to handle so many things with the understanding that you may not have any help other than your own wits. This includes not just shelter, food and water, but first aid. Especially 'wilderness' first aid where you have to make do without the benefits of running water and all the goodies you keep in the bathroom. Also how to plan ahead, how to help others and how to help rescueres find you.

It is a fine ideal to imagine everyone should be able to take care of themselves, but impractical in today's society.

Just my 2 cents.

You nailed my thoughts on the head. Its just that given those situations very few people nowadays would be able to survive, pretty scary in reality.

 

[satchel6978]

i live about 4 hours inland of where rita is landing tonight and the past couple of days around here, you would think the world is coming to an end. gas is in short supply or gone as are many grocery items in the stores. while i do expect rain and wind, i don't think it's gonna be as bad as the mob thinks it will be.

 

[Miss Trickery]

I live over in the pacific and we've had a few hurricanes heading out way - actually, most of them have turned into tropical storms but as for preparation - my man has definitely got it all covered.

1) absolute necessities... barrels of sealed water - canned/freeze dried foods, MREs... way too tired to continue listing lol (all sealed up and ready to go)
2) shelter. our house actually has a reinforced structure designed for hurricanes. So I hope that pretty much keeps to. Also nice and cozy - solar panels just in case too.
3) we don't live near any bodies of water so flooding may not be an issue.
4) is there a 4?

I think our biggest fear was, what if it turned out like New Orleans... and people just went crazy. Just exactly how do you prepare for something like that? Kill or be killed? sheesh i'd rather not think about it.