Our hearts go out to those folks that have literally lost everything (and I suggest that if you wish to make a donation to help out, go to Samaritan’s Purse) but after watching the disaster that has hit the Gulf areas of Texas for days now, one has to wonder: what DO you do to prepare for that? Especially if you are one of the tens of thousands (millions?) that had to leave? Well, if you can’t “hunker down / shelter in place”, it IS time to get out of Dodge.
Like the image says above “Get a Kit, Make a Plan“. A lot of people look down on “preppers” as being kooks, freaks, extremists, and “just out there” and the National Geographic series “Doomsday Prepper” did their part to reinforce that outlook just like the liberal MSM did to the TEA Party. However, in our harried scheduled, just-in-time purchasing lifestyle, what DO you do when all of a sudden when normal life breaks down – completely? As the residents of a lot of the impacted areas found out, in some cases, there is no 911 to call and you quickly realize that YOU are your own first responder (irrespective of those that have chosen to outsource their basic self-responsibility to Govt, like J@Womenspeakup). What are you gonna due?
Frankly, this is not rocket science – it’s actually a throwback to our grandparents and great-grandparents (and further back) times as like was not as secure as when things are “normal” – the only thing about certainty is that it was uncertain. They actually had pantries that could stretch over a rash of bad times – they saved for that proverbial rainy day. I remember going to my (favorite) aunt’s house all the time – and walking into her pantry loaded from top to bottom with staples. And it worked for her on a number of occasions. She and my Mom grew up during the Depression – they relearned lessons that I think a lot of us today have forgotten about.
What’s “a Kit”? That depends on you and what your “disaster” happens to be. For those in Houston, in hind sight, the Kit should have been oriented in getting out of Dodge and it should have been those things you’ll need for a few days that is already pre-packed and ready to take – clothes, cash, some food, toys (for the younger set), and important papers. And a place already picked out to go and go before the highways turned into parking lots.
It was heart wrenching to see people totally unprepared just slogging through the flood waters with perhaps a garbage bag of things if anything at all. Only God knows if they will have anything to return to.
The “Plan” should hold the important papers (birth certificates, marriage certificate, mortgage info; stuff that would prove you can go back to your home if the police are limiting entrance as well as for other purposes if not. It should have some thoughts about and on “what if this? what if that?” – that your family members would know about and know how to execute if you aren’t there. What do you do if you have to “bug out” – what do you take, what do you leave, where do you go, and if the family is scattered, where to go to get together?
For those who could stay in place (and certainly there were those experiencing, the Plan should outline what needs to be done – for Houston, perhaps how to shut down the gas line, the electricity, and the sewer lines. What else to do (like sandbags)? What to do during “an event” – and afterwards? Getting details down before you need them, when you have to time to sit and think, is far better than afterwards,
No, you can’t think of everything and few of us can (or want to be) be “full time Doomsday Preppers” – but not having to panic and scramble. Look even Govt says to have 3 days of food on hand even if it is just normal stuff from the grocery store. Heck, run down to your local outdoor store (like EMS or REI) and get a few packets backbacking meals. Go to a BJs, Sam’s, or Costco and get a couple of 5 gallon jugs (figure on a gallon of water per person per day). Got Flashlights (and batteries) and a few candles? And a portable radio (preferably you’re not thinking of the one in your car)?
I really wasn’t looking to write this kind of post but as always, Instapundit had a coupla posts that I thought I’d pass on as the remnants of Harvey stream northward and Irma is winding up out in the Atlantic and may come up the East Coast. He’s dropped hints about his preparedness over the years and that a lot of his readers should think about it (and I bet most have and are). Frankly, it isn’t “prepping”, it is just good commonsense and trying to make sure that you’ve “gamed out” stuff to keep your family safe – especially when the first govt responders aren’t around and aren’t going to be for a while. For me, it’s just another form of programming.
Anyways, here’s the posts that spurred this on – and yes, I have a BOB and have used one (and subsequently flooded the bathroom because I goofed up – enough said):
*****
GOOD FOR HURRICANE PREP: WaterBOB Emergency Drinking Water Storage.
UPDATE: In the comments from Beldar: “Five stars for this product. I’m a Houstonian, and the peace of mind these gave me and to family — one’s in my bathtub right now, another at my ex’s, and we’re not going to drain either for another few days in case Irma heads this way — is well worth the price. This is cheap and effective disaster mitigation. . . . I first saw this product on InstaPundit in 2015, and immediately ordered four. Thanks, Prof. Reynolds!”
You’re welcome. And anybody along the huge swathe of coast that’s currently threatened by Irma, etc. may want to take this advice.
After all, those pump houses and well pumps aren’t gonna run themselves if there’s no juice – but that’s another post (maybe).
*****
DOES HURRICANE IRMA POSE A THREAT TO THE US? Too early to be sure, but if I lived anywhere along the gulf or east coasts I’d be making my initial preparations and keeping a close eye.
Related: Hurricane Irma expected to strengthen in Atlantic Ocean this weekend.
UPDATE: Good advice:
I hate shopping of almost any kind but if I have to do it, I’m going when most people aren’t.
*****
AT AMAZON, save in Disaster Preparedness.
Actually, click on our Amazon link in the right sidebar and we’ll get a spiff at no cost to you and it helps the ‘Grok!
*****
And as I’ve said before, I have no intention putting my family through what we did when ice storms hit the Northeast US back in the early 90s.
