Who here has a disaster kit?

[Miss Jasmine]

Yes we have a disaster kit. It is two rubbermaid tubs that we can grab and go with since in the case of a hurricane DH and I have to go into work (yeah lucky us, lol). In the one container is an air mattress, sheets, batteries, lantern, flashlights, canned food, crank radio, and battery TV (I think there are some other things in there but can't remember, it's been a few months since we went through it). The other container has all of our important documents including a list of all our liabilities and assets (this information is needed if applying to FEMA for aid). There is still room in this container for things like clothes and toiletries which we would add before we left. We also have water set aside that we would take with us. DH has other things in his own stash since he is a police officer.

 

[froglady]

I have two plastic rolling trunks. One my DD used for camp, so that's where I store the camping supplies, such as sterno stoves, metal mess kits, sun shower, folding water containers, etc. The other is bright red, and is where I store paper plates, toilet paper, etc. I would also modify it if ordered to evacuate (Cat 4 or higher storm) by putting water,canned goods, etc in it. I have a list as to what goes where, depending on circumstances, so can make the transfer in a few minutes.

If a lesser storm,we have a generator, window A/C. I also have a large medical "kit" in addition to a large pre-packaged firstaid kit. Since both DH & I have medical backgrounds, we have things like suture sets, casting materials, and IV supplies.

Everyone has a backback, also, for clothes, toiletries (which are always packed) snacks, personal light and batteries, etc.

 

[bsnyder]

DH found a crank radio at Radio Shack that has adaptors that you can use to charge the cell phone

Eton AM/FM/TV/Weather Band Radio with Wireless Phone Charger

$49.99 Brand: Eton
Catalog #: 20-235 Model: FR300

Thank you!

Have you tried it out? Does it work okay?

 

[Free4Life11]

No because I can't think of any reason why I would need one. I live in a large apartment building that has interior hallways and I doubt they'd let us college students get trapped in here. All we face is tornados and they pretty much never hit the city.

 

[bsnyder]

No because I can't think of any reason why I would need one. I live in a large apartment building that has interior hallways and I doubt they'd let us college students get trapped in here. All we face is tornados and they pretty much never hit the city.

But if your city faces a terrorist attack and you're stranded without food and water for several days until the feds can respond, you'll blame them for being slow, right?

 

[bsnyder]

No because I can't think of any reason why I would need one. I live in a large apartment building that has interior hallways and I doubt they'd let us college students get trapped in here. All we face is tornados and they pretty much never hit the city.

I've got two college students in my household. I've told them both that under no circumstances should they automatically assume that they can rely on their university officals if there's a catastrophic event.

 

[Free4Life11]

But if your city faces a terrorist attack and you're stranded without food and water for several days until the feds can respond, you'll blame them for being slow, right?

Right.

 

[Free4Life11]

Yes, we've had a disaster kit since Y2K.

Oh man Y2K. What a flop! I actually filled some milk jugs with water and stored some canned goods, flashlights, candles, etc. After all that trouble I wanted something to happen just so my family wouldn't tease me LOL.

 

[HaleyB]

I do, force of habit I guess. I lived in California long enough to know how important these are. A few ideas.

Have a smaller secondary kit in the trunk of your car. You never know when you might break down, and you might not be home (or able to get there) when a disaster strikes.

Don't keep it all in one closet. Some things should be under your bed, a flash light and sneakers (unless you keep your shoes in your room) and some water. Those will help you get to your kit if a disaster strikes at night. If it is daytime yoiu should have shoes near by and the day light but at night those two things can be a real problem. Imagine waking up to your windows bursting in a California earthquake... with no shoes and no light you are in trouble.

Twice I have needed to use my kit. For awhile I felt like the earthquakes in California were my fault--- I lived in Northridge for that quake and in the city next to Diamond Bar for that one, and I was in San Francisco for the big quake there. Thank goodness Austin is geographicly stable! No earth quakes here, just tornados.

 

[bsnyder]

Oh man Y2K. What a flop! I actually filled some milk jugs with water and stored some canned goods, flashlights, candles, etc. After all that trouble I wanted something to happen just so my family wouldn't tease me LOL.

I get teased by a few family members, and friends, for being "overprepared".

I'd rather be teased than dead.

 

[froglady]

I get teased by a few family members, and friends, for being "overprepared".

I'd rather be teased than dead.

ITA!

 

[LisaR]

Let me share something that we found invaluable after Charley.

Stock up on jar candles, but also have jar shades so you don't have as much of an open flame. I know you're not supposed to do this, but we would leave the candles on all night because my DD was really afraid of the dark. We felt safer with the jar shade.

It is amazing how dark "dark" is when there are no lights. So have a few jar shades available.

I know you know the dangers of this and I am not trying to lecture but you should really reconsider this. Leaving candles burning all night is a disaster waiting to happen. My kids have little lanterns (Target) that we let them leave on all night. We just buy extra batteries. The longest we have ever been without power was 2 1/2 weeks and the lanterns made it with only one change of batteries.

Lisa

 

[WebmasterAlex]

Another safe option are the small mag lites that take 2 AA batteries. If you take the top off and turn it over and put it on the base they make great little "candles"

 

[halestrm]

There are a lot of people asking about kits, may I remind you to make an emergency kit for any pets also?

I know some of you do not like FEMA right now, but I did find the website helpful. Also, for documents and other items, email them to yourself. If you get a free email address at HOTMAIL or GOOGLE, you can access if you have a computer. My husband and I got back in the states the day before 9/11. We could have been out of the country without access to many things, like our mortgage company info, credit card company #'s. This came in handy when my purse was stolen in Cabo. I went to the internet cafe, and all info was there.

Red Cross also has good info to help you make sure your work and schools are protected. Hope these help!

Here are some links that may help. I like the kids area, it allows my daughter to check out how I am doing once a year. She enjoys finding mistakes.

Disaster kit scavenger hunt: http://www.fema.gov/kidsApps/quiz_multiset_questions.do?quiz=quiz_disasterkit&action=init

PET Disaster kit: http://www.fema.gov/kids/petkit.htm

Are you prepared PDF: http://www.fema.gov/pdf/areyouready/basic_preparedness.pdf

Red Cross Disaster Kit for home:
http://www.redcross.org/services/prepare/0,1082,0_91_,00.html

 

[bsnyder]

I know you know the dangers of this and I am not trying to lecture but you should really reconsider this. Leaving candles burning all night is a disaster waiting to happen. My kids have little lanterns (Target) that we let them leave on all night. We just buy extra batteries. The longest we have ever been without power was 2 1/2 weeks and the lanterns made it with only one change of batteries.

Lisa

This is a good point. We had a fire on Christmas Eve, due to a votive candle in a glass jar breaking. Those things should never be left burning for very long.

 

[WebmasterAlex]

I know some of you do not like FEMA right now, but I did find the website helpful. Also, for documents and other items, email them to yourself. If you get a free email address at HOTMAIL or GOOGLE, you can access if you have a computer. My husband and I got back in the states the day before 9/11. We could have been out of the country without access to many things, like our mortgage company info, credit card company #'s. This came in handy when my purse was stolen in Cabo. I went to the internet cafe, and all info was there.

I'm not sure that is a good idea. I would not consider a hotmail or google account anywhere near secure. Somebody could get all of your info.

 

[halestrm]

I'm not sure that is a good idea. I would not consider a hotmail or google account anywhere near secure. Somebody could get all of your info.

Must admit, I use my work email account because I have offsite access. Should have thought before I said HM and Gmail. THANKS! Would have felt horrid if someone got there info stolen!

 

[luvthatduke]

DH & I each have 30 gallon Rubbermaid
trash cans w/wheels and locking lids,
they have great handles for pulling,
and can even fit on the roof of the car.
They're big enough for a sleeping bag
in the bottom, and all the other supplies get
stacked/bagged on top.
I also use sticky velcro to loop things that we
may need frequently and that makes them
easier to grab, especially in the dark (like flashlights, multi-tool, etc).
There was a thread a bunch of posted on this week
that had everyone giving suggestions on what was
in their kits - I'll try to find it & post the link.

 

[ThAnswr]

I know you know the dangers of this and I am not trying to lecture but you should really reconsider this. Leaving candles burning all night is a disaster waiting to happen. My kids have little lanterns (Target) that we let them leave on all night. We just buy extra batteries. The longest we have ever been without power was 2 1/2 weeks and the lanterns made it with only one change of batteries.

Lisa

I know, I know, I know............no problem with lecturing me. But, I made sure I used those shades on the jar and that did make a little less dangerous.

And, now Ophelia's on the way.

 

[luvthatduke]

Here's the link to the similar thread,
if it's any help to anyone:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=902619