Preface

[Guest Guest]

This may feel slow going at times, but it takes an inordinate amount of work to organize something as important and serious as our manual.

 

It seems that we all agree that we should preface in the beginning of our manual the times of disasters that could befall any of us at any given moment. These include:

 

Nuclear Attack

Hurricanes

Tornados

Pandemics (Avian Flu)

Chemical Terrorism

Biological Terrorism

Earthquakes

Snow Storms

Ice Storms

Floods

Civil Unrest/Riots

Astroid Hits

Tital Waves/Tsunami

Lahars

EMP

Fires

War

Hail

Unemployment

Death

 

I'm sure there's a few more that can go into the list, but people need to admit that many unforseen interruptions can occur in their lives and to some extent they need to have preparations.

 

The fact that we are not facing a very real threat in several ways, the urgency to prepare is even more critical.

 

Ok, so, if we start the manual reminding them of these potential disruptions, which subject should we turn to next?

 

In other words, should it be about having preps for 3 days/7 days/30 days, etc.? Or should something else follow?

 

Am I making any sense? lol

[ricardo]

I thought even the government was stating to have preps

for 7 days now and not the 3 that they had mentioned

last year.

 

This is what I found from FEMA.

 

"You may need to survive on your own after a disaster. This means having your own food, water, and other supplies in sufficient quantity to last for at least three days. Local officials and relief workers will be on the scene after a disaster, but they cannot reach everyone immediately. You could get help in hours, or it might take days."

 

"Basic services such as electricity, gas, water, sewage treatment, and telephones may be cut off for days, or even a week or longer. Or, you may have to evacuate at a moment’s notice and take essentials with you. You probably will not have the opportunity to shop or search for the supplies you need."

 

They tell you food for 3 days but your essentials could

be down for up to a week.

 

My vote would be to have extra/emergency food for 1 week.

 

[shadypines]

My suggestions only

I. Preface

II. Preps

III Sheltering In Place

A.Where to shelter

1. Biological & Chemical

a. As high as possible

2. Nuclear With Radiation

a. As low as possible

3.

4.

5.

6.-20 (tired of numbering)

B. Building a safe room

1. Materials needed

IV. Evacuating

A. BOB

I hope this makes sense.

 

[HapyGirl]

I would start off with 3 levels of preps-

Beginner- 1 week- 1 month kit (Katrina proved 72 hrs is too little time to prep for!)

Intermediate- 1-6 month preps

Expert 6 month- 3 yr preps

 

There will be some overlap of course. I think we should stress that most preps are good for all the scenarios, but each threat has it's own special preps and plans to have in place.

 

Or we could categorize it by general preps - good for all situations, and specific threat preps then people could start adding the special ones that they are most concerned with- like bird flu right now.

 

[gardnmom]

The first thing to consider in any emergency are the basics,

Water, shelter, and food, in that order.

Water because you can only survive 3 days with out water.

Shelter you need a place to stay warm and dry.

Food because you can live only 2 to 4 weeks with out food.

If we then address them in order, it sets the stage for the progressive chapters.

[Freetobeme]

How about safety? If you can't or don't know how to avoid a threat (natural, terrorist, nuclear, etc.) you won't live long enough to worry about preps.

[Guest Guest]

yoo hoo...

[shadypines]

[moonstar]

For what it's worth: How about:

Figure out what you would or wouldn't need for each emergency. ie: Say an Economic Collapse-

Wouldn't Have:

Transportation of food to stores would stop

Money would be worthless

Industry would largely grind to a halt

No money from gov't sources, education, pensions, SS, health

care , etc.

Society would slip into a lawless anarchy

Food available would cost outrageous amounts

Bank accounts would we frozen

Food would disappear from store shelves fast

 

Then list what would be needed to survive.

Food, bartar items, way to grow your own food, etc.

 

Maybe a chart with a check off list would make it

easier.

??

[Freetobeme]

Ok, second try...

I wrote a bit on this while waiting in the dentist's office.

 

Assessing the Hazards

The hazards you and your family may face depend upon a number of factors such as where you live, where you work and/or go to school, your financial status, and your health. These hazards can be placed into categories:

 

Weather related hazards

Tornados

Flooding due to rain

Blizzards

Hurricanes

 

Geologic hazards

Earthquakes

 

Man-made hazards

Chemical spills/releases

Nuclear plant malfunctions

Dams/Levees

 

Terrorist actions

Chemical, biological, radiation related

Nuclear detonation

EMP

Bombs

 

Financial problem due to job loss or illness

 

National/Global problems

Recession/Depression

Epidemic/Pandemic

War

Food Shortages

 

 

These are just the things that were running about in my head at the time. I know some of them have already been mentioned, but I hoped to put together a pretty comprehensive list.

 

 

[bee1425]

Would someone kindly tell me what EMP is? Thank you, ever so much!

[Freetobeme]

EMP is an electomagnetic pulse. It is a type of energy wave that can be used to knock out electronics (radios, phones, computers, etc.) by frying the circuits. Apparently, a fairly large airborne detonation over the middle of the country could knock out most communications and computer systems that are not protected.

[bee1425]

Thank you, goatherder! I wracked my brain and couldn't figure out what it meant.