What is your level of emergency preparedness?

[JoeyP]

Without hijacking this thread, what is your level of disaster/emergency preparedness?

After a couple ice storms and sustained power outages, I went out and bought a generator capable of driving 6 15 amp circuits via a manual transfer box (this is through the generator's 30A outlet, but the 6 circuits never pull that much). This powers furnace blower, fridges, water heater power vent, a few lights, sump pump, etc.

We also keep at least 10 gallons of gasoline on hand, and cycle them so they are fresh.

For water, we have a 350 gallon hot tub. In a pinch, that water can be consumed, provided it doesn't spoil. Water heater has 40 gallons.

We keep a pretty full pantry. With fridges running, plus pantry, plus water, I think we can go a month on lean rations.

No firearms, but I've thought of that as being something to have.

 

[bignateyk]

I have lots of guns, so I'll just come over and kill you and steal your loot.

 

[mizzou]

how could you possibly start this thread and say you have no firearms

this is equivalent to starting a "how awesome is milk" thread, and closing it by saying you wish you could drink milk but you are lactose intolerant

 

[darkxshade]

A gun with one bullet is as prepared as one can get.

 

[JoeyP]

I'm not talking about the apocalypse or zombies, just natural disasters and/or prolonged loss of utilities.

But I like the way you guys think.

 

[EagleKeeper]

Family can survive 2 weeks without external power and using water conservation.

In winter; there is usually plenty of snow to back up the bottled water.

 

[dmcowen674]

10 gallons of gas won't get you very far.

 

[z1ggy]

Depends on emergency. Zombie outbreak?? Okay I have a gun and some ammo.

Hurricane knocking out power for weeks on end? Okay, not as prepared.

 

[mizzou]

Mmmm hot tub water

would work though!

 

[JoeyP]

10 gallons of gas won't get you very far.

If my vehicles are full, that's 46 gallons. The 10 gallons was for the generator, which already has a 5 gallon tank I keep full. The gasoline is not for evacuating.

 

[gmaster456]

No firearms, but I've thought of that as being something to have.

You can get a mosin nagant for about $120 out the door depending on where you leave, and online you can get a tin of 440 rounds of ammo for around $90 shipped. Then you'd be set in the firearms department unless you wanted a handgun or shotgun. If you have the funds, I'd definitely get a 12 gauge. They are extremely versatile and offer the best "bang for your buck".

 

[vi edit]

I *really* wanted to put in a natural gas based generator that had auto fail-over to the rest of the house in the event of power loss. But budgets got tight on my home construction and that was an expense that got dropped out.

I'm on a well and septic system. If I lose power I have zero water coming to the house. I've got a 10 gallon R/O tank plus a 50 gallon water heater. So I have 60 gallons'ish in a pinch. I've also got natural gas stove & grill so I could in theory continue to cook and even heat the house to some extent. I've got radiant heat in the basement that is natural gas powered and it never gets below 60 in there. Could in theory camp out there until power is restored and blowers on the furnace work.

I'm not super prepared, but could be worse off.

 

[Imp]

Zip.

I will submit to the strongest person left on the planet and be his/her bitch.

 

[surfsatwerk]

Zip.

I will submit to the strongest person left on the planet and be his/her bitch.

Do you have a purdy mouth? This is important.

 

[Ns1]

Need to buy some MRE's, water, guns, bullets, and cigarettes.

That's all I need right?

 

[MontyAC]

Zip.

I will submit to the strongest person left on the planet and be his/her bitch.

In that case, you need to stock up on lube.

 

[silverpig]

My preparedness level is 12. Maybe 11.5 on a bad day.

Seriously though, I live downtown, so my preparedness level depends on how close I am to the grocery store when the shit hits the fan.

 

[rudeguy]

A couple guns
Lots of ammo
Shitload of batteries
I live near stores...so I don't stock up on other stuff.

 

[God Mode]

Nothing. I have like 3 cans of chef boyardee somewhere. If someone would let me join their apocalypse gang I would appreciate it.

 

[Imp]

Do you have a purdy mouth? This is important.

Gay friend told me I shouldn't ever bend over in a gay bar. Think I'm set.

 

[Red Squirrel]

I have offsite backups of my most important data, everything else can be replaced. As for food and such in a large scale emergency, I don't have much of a plan, I probably should though. The odds of a large scale disaster here is slim to none but does not mean it will never happen so it's always good to be prepared. I was following the hydro lines for fun, and there are 3 dams that feed this city but a big enough forest fire could potentially wipe all 3 leaving us without power. Though I think we'd be able to get it from the south, so not even sure if that would cause a blackout.

Eventually I want to look at getting a Generac stationary generator with ATS, as well as a chest freezer to always keep stocked with food. At least it would help me in a blackout type emergency. But something like a hurricane or an earthquake, there's no point in having a freezer full of food or a generator when it's a big pile of rubble when all is said and done. At that point pretty much have to salvage what you can and play it by ear and find a way out of town to get to civilization as the whole town is now just a pile of rubble. First thing would probably be to try finding out if there is any aid available on getting out, such as busses or what not, kinda like New Orleans had. The main goal is pretty much GTFO before things get hostile, and diseases start to spread from all the dead bodies etc.

 

[KMc]

I use the Ron White Emergency Threat System. It has two levels of preparedness:

Level 1 - Go get a helmet
Level 2 - Put on the damn helmet

 

[dighn]

ok so umm i got a flashlight, some water, and some ramen noodles.

 

[Printer Bandit]

< 1day, since i eat out for breakfast, lunch, dinner 7 days/wk.

 

[HeXen]

got a car with plenty of gas and inflatable raft. That's all i need, Depending on the disaster, you house may not protect you, but with a vehicle and an inflatable raft, you can at least get the hell away from there.