We don't have natural disasters here...the county supervisors voted against them.

Seriously, I suppose it's possible we could have:

1. An earthquake of significant magnitude. We felt one here a couple of months ago that originated waaay up north off the coast, but hardly felt the '89 Loma Priata quake, which hit much closer to home. I feel we're overdue.

2. A volcanic eruption. Mt. Konocti is about 2 miles from my house and is listed as dormant. There is a fair amount of geothermal activity in the area, I.E. hotsprings in spots in the lake, a major geothermal powerplant on the top on some nearby mountains, etc. It's said there is a huge pool of Magma underneath part of the county, something like 30 square miles.

3. Winter flooding. This happens every winter. Roads are covered, alternate routes must be taken. People who live in the danger zones have finally learned and built their houses up higher. I don't live anywhere near a flood zone anymore so it hasn't been a problem for me, but over on the other side of the lake where I used to live, it was pretty bad. We could become trapped in our house for up to a couple of weeks at a time when the creek came up and flooded the bridge. I was thinking of building a hovercraft, moved instead!

If anything happened here, (barring a volcanic eruption) the best place for me to be would be right here at home. I have a generator, wood heat, a year-round running creek for water, always keep about five gallons of emergency water on hand but could run the pump off of the generator for well water, propane appliances...the worst catastrophe would be the loss of the Internet and FTE! Been a country boy all my life, I know how to make do. Bring it on, I can handle it!

 

Its real easy. See there is this new wonderful invention that has been around for the last 60 years, called the television. Certain channels on this new invention have 24 hour a day weather reports. They also post evacuation warnings. Sorry for this sounding sarchastic, but I am a survivor of Ivan. With all the help that we received from MS, and LA, I cannot for the life of me figure out why anyone would stay, trying to shelter in place after seeing the aftermath of a catagory 4 Hurricane. If you stay, you cannot save anything anyway.

Ryan

 

good point ryan. im still trying to figure out why somebody would want to live in a area that is below sea level and that is right next to the sea, it just doesnt make any sense. TigerDan has the right idea too, just keep what you need at home and dont live in a flood zone or near the coast. the 1000 gallon water barrels would help out a lot, plus some nice dino fuel would be nice to have around.

 

No place is 100% safe to live.

Don't forget about forest fires.

Disasters can happen everywhere.

Bottom line is just be prepared, by whatever means that fits your particular needs.

 

im sorry, sierraben, but your last post came out sounding really funny. not sure why, but it sounds like the guys with NASA who are looking for ways to protect us form a meteor strike and are allways looking for a way to get killed.

 

I hate to say it, but that's a true statement about Western New York. Our winters suck (they're 10 months long), but we don't ever seem to face huge natural disasters. We might see one tornado every 30 years- that's it. Seriously, if you could name a natural disaster we might face here, then I might take a different attitude, but my sole preparedness is owning a generator.

 

I have 120 gallons of water for showers, flushing toilets. 35 gallons plus RO/DI for drinking and cooking. An advantage from keeping saltwater aquariums. We keep propane, lanterns and stoves ready. Have plenty of dry food, Freezer will keep food frozen 5 to 7 days, and cold X number of days. Always keep ahead 30 to 120 days on my meds, and can stretch them out. Having three Women/Girls in the house we have enough shampoo, soaps, deodorants, perfume, and detergents to get us by for about five years

 

Ben makes a good point though, Jeff. A fire can nail any of us, anywhere...except maybe in the middle of the desert. Sand doesn't burn too well!

 

I totally forgot about them meteors.

I better get started on building that meteor proof shelter.

Now back to my NASA research on meteors

Seriously, I was trying to say that a disaster can happen anytime/anywhere.

 

If I can get a warning on the Meteor hit I'm protected. All I have to do is tie all the shampoo and liquid bath soap bottles together with string and place them on the roof. The meteor will either bounce back in space or land in France, which remains unprotected.

 

I've learned how to survive in the wilds with nothing on me. I practiced these survival skills when I was a boy. I just hope I never need to use them although it would be fun, sort of.

-1bigsteve (o:

 

I would defenitly add to my list a gun after what is happening in New Orleans.

- Chris

 

You got that right.

 

I've got a bug out bag assmebled and ready to roll any given moment. Other supplies that ren't in it are usually no more than a few feet away from me at any given moment.
The list includes:
-a 100' rope, heavy enough for lifting and securing most small items or myself
-10'x10' tarp, can be made into a tent or rain poncho or other useful need as the need arises
-Water, lots of it.
-Food I have a few basic neccesities, the rest can be readily found (meat) with other items not yet listed.
-camo clothing, a blanket, a space blanket, boots and raingear is usually nearby, especially near the bag, which is in the truck
-Food, that what my Ruger 10/22 is for, no need to carry somethign to shoot a deer, the meat will go bad before you can eat it all, squirels, rabbits and small game will be better
-Person defense, 9mm, lots of ammo, all Cor-bon holoow points.
-Remington 870 12 gauge, again lots of assorted ammo, mostly #7 1/2 and #00 or #4 buck
-sharp items, big one and small one
-matches, lighters, stored in a ziplock bag
-flashligh, extra batteries
-topographic maps
-GPS, with a weather radio and/or CB radio
-other items too but those will get you a day or two into the mess!

When the fesces hits the rotating blade I know either of two places where I'm going, others know where I'm going and they know if they want me to help them where they can find me.

 

Remember the "American Survivalist" magazines from the 70s and 80s? Used to read those all the time while living up at the mine and down here. Of course, everyone was thinking more along a Nuclear War than just earthquake or flooding. But the basics are the same.

We have always kept emergency items on hand just in case the roads were washed out at the mine. Would go for days before we could finally fix them well enough to drive out. Now living down in the valley flatlands, it's when the power goes out after a big Monsoon storm. The lessons learned from the mine are still kept.