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| Author: Posted: Nov. 17, 2002 | This Page Viewed: 3,845,359 |
Question of the Week: 101 - 3/3/2003 Have You Made Any Extra Security Preparations? Faced with the potential threats of terrorism and/or war, many governments have asked their citizenry to ‘be prepared’. Have you stocked up on any items? Do you have a first aid kit? How’s your plastic to duct tape ratio? Should you ever have to vacate your home and you could only take ten (10) items with you, what would these items be? If you are trained in outdoor survival skills, medical emergencies or in other related areas, what advice can you share with us on how to be prepared in case the unthinkable does come to pass? What ten things do you think everyone should have on hand? |
| Reponses: There are 85 responses posted to this question. | Reverse Sort |
| Millionare! | Mar 3rd. at 8:27:34 pm EST |
| Meenakshi (Missouri) | Age: 20 - Email |
|
When i first read this question, it reminded me of an episode of "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?" I chanced to watch. The guy was on his last lifeline, $50, 000, and Regis read off the question; During Cold war times, what were the instructions given to the people of the United States, in case of a nuclear attack? Was it... A. Run and Jump B. Duck and cover C. Run and hide or D. Sit and spin. Well, i thought to myself, if it IS a nuclear attack, there isn't much you can do about it now, you might as well sit and spin. I guess what I'm trying to say is, make sure you live life every day with the attitude like you were going to die tomorrow. Make sure you can lie down in your bed each night and tell yourself, I have provided for my family, accomplished everything I can today, shown the world what kind of person I am and can be, and hey, You know what? If i die tomorrow, that's fine with me. I laugh when i see the people on T V smothering their houses with paper and tape. If they are that afraid of dying, It tells me that they've still got things left to do in this world, and don't want to leave it yet. my question is; shouldn't they be spending time actually DOING the things they want/ need to do instead of wasting time preventing something they might not be able to stop? Blessed be, Meena |
| Threat | Mar 3rd. at 8:22:45 pm EST |
| Meryl (Connecticut) | Age: 16 - Email |
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I have not prepared for the war. I live 10 min from New York City and 10 feet for the NY border. People would consider that dangerous, but as someone before said, if something really bad happens, I don't know if I would want to be alive to see it, escpecially if all my friends were killed. So far, though, I'm not very worried. I think the government has de-sensitized me to orange alerts because my area has been on it for many months, and nothing happened. -Meryl |
| The Quick Answer... No! | Mar 3rd. at 8:18:35 pm EST |
| Kro'dog (Caer Gloyw) | Age: 35 - Email |
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The long answer is far more complicated. We live not far from Britians central military communications centre. I am a father, I have children to think about. I don't think we are in any danger, though a very scary part of myself almost 'wants' us to be threatened. The people here are sooo removed from the war. But many can see the horror that could be unleashed on the people of Iraq. But these people have suffered greatly already, many people around the world suffer. While we try to make ourselves even richer. I think this is something we have created! I say 'we' but I'd hate to associate myself with those greedy things that infect our society. But my life style is by no means perfect. I'm not afraid, I'm angry. |
| Unfinished Business | Mar 3rd. at 7:45:21 pm EST |
| willow (ottawa) | Age: 41 - Email |
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I've read the posts and understand where everyone is coming from. My partner and I had this discussion just last week. Interestingly, we do not feel the same threat as our American neighbours, however it truly is equally real here. I live in the nation's capital. I remember when i was a young girl in grade 5 my teacher saying during a science class, "If they ever drop a nuclear bomb in Montreal (1.5 hours away by car) , you had better duck". I guess my thought is, if there IS such a disaster, do i really want to survive it??? I can hold up in my house with all the protection there is available, but sooner or later i'm going to HAVE to come out. Will there be anything out there to come out to? Will any and all water, food, etc be contaminated? h'mmmm i guess i'm a coward at heart and far prefer to go quickly. All of this terrifies me in some ways. I had a dream a number of years ago where i was standing outside and i SAW a bomb fly overhead. All i could think of was, "Are my children safe?".. i was standing with my best friend and she started to panic.. and i remember turning to her and saying, "it's okay, it wont hurt and it will be fast".. and then standing facing the oncoming rush of heat .... I woke in a cold sweat... There is no amount of preparation that i feel would make me safe. I'd only be prolonging the inevitable. Call me a pessimist.. i prefer to think of it as realism.. I dont want to prolong illness... and to be honest, when watching the news and seeing the people with the plastic and duct tape.. well.. fill your boots, i found it amusing... sorry my preparations currently are to be certain that when i go out the door to work, or my daughter leaves for school or to meet friends.. that i tell her every day that i love her.... THAT is what needs to be done... making sure all the i's are dotted and the t's are crossed. In love and light |
| . | Mar 3rd. at 7:29:44 pm EST |
| Sirafirinn (Ottawa, Ontario) | Age: 15 - Email |
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Luckily, I'm canadian, but I do like to be prepared. I keep plant guides around (for my area) and I have several books on medicinal herbs that I would bring with me. I would grab the bag of books I keep (my parents consider the interest in herbology as a "Witchy" thing, so I hide the books) , Grab all the birds, stuff em into their carriers (which I keep right by them in case of any emergency) and grab the sealed plastic food bin (which contains their bottled water) . I'd take the dogs and their leashes. That's one bag, one bin, two dogs & leashes, three carriers (one for finches, one for budgies and ***atiel and one for the homocidal quaker) , which is 7 items (the dogs and leashes only count as twop items) . I'd add the hamster in her carrier. Sadly, I'd have to drop a two week (or month) food pellet in for the fish and leave them. 8 items... I'd take my BoS and my journal besides that. Gotta take care of the pets. I promised all of them when I got them that I would never leave them behind. The dogs can hunt for their own food and the birds can be provided for easily enough. The hamster as well (just gotta find what the local mice are eating) . :) So, that's what I take. Sira |
| Run Away! | Mar 3rd. at 6:32:57 pm EST |
| Good Trinity (Glenwood Springs, Colorado) | Age: 32 - Email |
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My best, and favorite, option would to be to hop on the next plane to New Zealand! That is, if planes are still flying around... Alternately, I'd head up into the mountains to find that food stash I buried for Y2K... There are many deep caves in our area that would also be good for cover. I know the stuff is great, but I really don't buy the idea that Duct Tape will save us. I was evacuated for our Forest Fires this summer, and my list of important items would be similar: camping gear, tools, the Dog, a radio, and a healthy stash of food and water. I also like the idea of being able to defend myself, in case my preparedness were to lure others. Whichever Way, I don't expect any advance notice. |
| Nothing Out Of The Ordinary . . . | Mar 3rd. at 6:01:29 pm EST |
| Celticmoon (Oklahoma) | Age: 54 - Email |
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We aren't doing anything that we haven't done over the years, except enlarge our stash of medical supplies. We live about 2 miles from an AFB, so we might need to haul @$$ quickly! BUT we would take the time to load dogs, cats, and horses. Horses don't need gas and are better than SUVs. One of the most important items in our medical stash is colloidal silver, 500 ppm. At this strength, it is an excellent, all-purpose antibiotic, and has a shelf life of years. I have always stored food, blankets, candles, lanterns, etc. I think the plastic and duct deal is hysterical!!! Needless to say, not stocking up on that. Hopefully, we will never need our stash. Blessings to all |
| I Feel No Need...... | Mar 3rd. at 5:12:40 pm EST |
| LoneGnome (Oregon) | Age: 35 - Email |
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I feel no real need to stock up on anything since I live in a small coastal community that holds no real terrorist or military interest. If I do have to evacuate I'd take what few camping items I actually own, some blankets, my portable radio and cb, and what food I could. I spent over ten years in the military so the best advice I could give someone if the unthinkable does happen is first DO NOT panic. It will only do more harm than good. Leave the area as fast and as safely possible. Head upwind if possible, most harmful things will be blown away from you by the wind. Blessed be Mother Nature. As soon as you're sure you're out of the affected area clean yourself and anything you took with you as thoroughly as possible and take only what you need to survive with you. As far as what you should take with you bottled water, canned food, a complete rain suit including the boots, a water proof tarp (these will help keep any chemicals from getting on you) , some basic cooking utensils, a portable radio w/batteries, and a flashlight. |
| Here's The Thing... | Mar 3rd. at 5:04:57 pm EST |
| lilith (lost angeles) | Age: 33 - Email |
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i live in southern california, so we pretty much already have a basic idea of emergency preparedness, ie bottled water, first aid kit, and shoes always handy in case ya have to leap out of bed in the dead of night after window glass has shattered out. and that was no joke, by the way-- i had to take my sister to the hospital after the northridge quake due to a glass shard related injury and when we got there they were on full backup electricity and there was blood all over the floor from people who had slashed their feet getting out of bed. honestly, however, i dont believe in this terror preparedness crap. for one thing all the bottled water in the world couldnt have mitigated the effects of the collapse of the world trade center in nyc, and no amount of duct tape or plastic or blah blah blah would have really helped, even if it was already in place when the attack occurred. even hospitals would be unable to deal with the fallout of a major bio-chemical attack. i think these terror alerts are just a way of freaking people out, ratchetting up the jingoistic talk for war, and making people feel like our government is on top of things when clearly it is not. having said that, here's my emergency list: water is the most important thing, since dehydration kills; blankets are good, since hypothermia kills; canned and dried food is good, since starvation kills; first aid kit obviously; flashlights and radio is good, since lack of information and light can present a serious danger; and last but unfortunately not least, a firearm of some kind would probably come in handy if a real disaster were ever to strike. of course to me this list only exists because of earthquakes, civil disturbances, and volcanic eruptions. i assume it would be useful in some kind of national emergency as well, but honestly, i am more afraid of our government than anyone elses government or organization. |
| Why Should I? | Mar 3rd. at 4:22:36 pm EST |
| OtepSkye (Las Vegas, Nv) | Age: 22 - Email |
|
Honestly, I see no point in being afraid of an organization that revels in wreaking havok. If we all freak out, they win. That's why it's called "Terror." I'm not saying that I don't care whether or not we are attacked again, I'm just saying that if the Gods feel that it's my time, then the only preparations needed are "Goodbye"s and "I love you"s. Hail Odin! |
| Tuna For Terror | Mar 3rd. at 4:01:22 pm EST |
| Rebecca (Las Vegas NV) | Age: 31 - Email |
|
I have been thumbing my nose at Ridge's security warnings. If a bio-terror/nuclear/other attack comes, I'll have bigger things to worry about than the amount of pasta in my cupboard. However, I read a news story about a man in NY who was making a "terror kit" which included enough cat food for 30 days for his two cats. This touched me in a way I hadn't thought of before. I may have plenty of dried goods around the house (in nor organized place or manner) but my cat food is purchased week to week. I'm not making a kit (but if I were, flashlights, candles, dried milk and lots of pasta and water would be on the list) but I am springing for a case of tuna and a large bag of Cat Chow. Can't hurt to buy, my three cats will eat it eventually and I'll feel a little more like I've done something to help the critters I love besides arrogantly dismissing the ridiculous notions of an administration determined to cover its collective fanny. |
| Just The Usual Preparedness For Me | Mar 3rd. at 3:53:19 pm EST |
| Starwalker (Down East NC) | Age: 54 - Email |
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Which is probably 200 times more "prepared" than the average bear.. I have always stored 1. food... somewhere between a month and a year's worth (depending on how long it's been since the last time I needed to USE it or move) 2. alternative ways to heat, cook and light (20 lb and disposable propane cylinders, kerosene, camp stove, screw-on heater for 20 lb propane bottle, lamps, candles, flashlight, batteries, lighter and matches 3. battery operated radio that uses 12v and connection to car battery; small inverter for cigarette lighter plug in car 4. "72 hour kit" for potential evacuation which includes clothing, OTC meds, first aid, blanket and pillow, and usuall the camp stove, a canister of fuel, flashlight, candles, lighter, matches, canned goods and easy to store / transport food for 72 hours. 5. several gallons of water and am prepared to fill many containers with water in advance of an impending problem. I try to carry BARE NECESSITIES in my vehicle at all times; a space blanket, some munchies, a gallon of water, first aid kit and OTC meds, extra shoes and sox and a change of clothes, candles, matches. Has come in handy in the oddest of circumstances! my 10 items would be: (in addition to what I have in the truck) : my 72 hour kit, my main workstation, monitor (for my business) , "tin box" in which copies of all my business and personal papers are kept, "ritual in a box" portable altar and supplies, my Staff, my briefcase, animal crate with my crew of catz, and the other items would be determined by the nature of the emergency that caused the evacuation and my best guess at the length of evacuation. As far as survival goes... the best things you can have on hand is your BRAIN, a sense of humor, and an ability to be flexible and think outside the norm. |
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