So how prepared are you for the big one?
 

No, this is not a thread about getting a lap dance at a dollar bar......

Us California (and Missouri) Pelicans should be ready for the next Big Quake.

It's as simple as being prepared, right now, without stopping on the way home, to survive for 2 weeks at home. Food, drink, water, and fuel. And if you have all that, some way to defend against someone taking it away from you.

Don't forget to have portable (non-potable) water to make the toilet flush, or that the holding tank on the RV or Porta-Pottie (on sale at camping world right now) is ready to go.

Tape (duct) an old (but well oiled/WD-40'd) crescent wrench to the gas shutoff valve, and show everyone in the household how to use it. Be ready to deal with the tipped over water heater (and the broken gas line there). Strap it to the wall now. It's 40+ gallons of water you might want later.

Instruct the kids (or whoever is home) to fill the bathtub after a shake while the water may still be on.

Do you have a non-cellphone meeting plan? Assume NOTHING is working. Do you have a camp stove and fuel to power it for cooking?

My parents used to make us measure how much water we used personally each day when we were kids as a guide for what we'd need. It was a shock to us kids, just how much we did actually use.

Have a gen set at home and fuel to power it? Just for the fridge, freezer and the TV? Heat if you have no fireplace? Ever tried actually running those off of it with extension cords to see how much fuel would be required?

I look at the lessons of Katrina, and realize how unprepared we all are to be on our own. Can you imagine Los Angeles without power, gas, fuel and water? You'd better.

What worries me is the people who barely get by with supplies readily available, and what those people will do when they get cut off and desparate.

For the record, I unplugged the boat from all shoreside services, and I went three weeks (prepared). The 'hurts' were fresh foods and fresh water. That was with salt water for the toilets.

After you've done the basics for your house, how about your parents. Your kids. Your idiot sister.

It's coming. You ready?

i am effed if the big one hits.

but on the other hand, ever cruise downtown san francisco? all those hotties with the high heel strappy shoes? they are totally goners if they have to get out of a wasted building. fire, glass, steel....i see it on BART, airplanes too. i think youhigh-rise office people need a small survival, get out of the building kit. boots, flashlights, hardhat, gloves...

Re: So how prepared are you for the big one?
 

No.

I'm pathetically ill prepared. Lulled into complacency by 48 years of "rolling with it" in the Bay Area. I'm hoping your post will motivate me to get ready.

Remember, most injuries after a quake are on the feet from broken glass. At the very least, keep shoes and a flashlight at the bedside.

some of the way there. About 10 gals of potable water. 10 days worth of MREs for 2. First aid and meds. A ton of batteries. 2 Sigs and 1K+ rnds.

you have a thousand rounds???! if you dont have the supplies, you can surely go and get them, forcefully.

i shopped for a yamaha, or honda generator. i want one that runs on propane. with a few tanks, i could totally keep the lights on. DAMN EXPENSIVE!

I'm not too bad. Probably 30 gallons of rotated water. Camp stove with two-5 gallon propane bottles. Enough food, 25K of water in pool, which might drain out if it cracked. Some ammo., could have more. What I'm really lacking is is cold hard cash, maybe $200 in the emergency fireproof safe, need more.

Get in the FJ40, go over the mountains to the central valley.


Hope the battery isn't dead.

Hugh, I hadn't thought of that. But travelling for a living, I usually have a couple hund in my pocket. That's right, no ATM's.

Good one!

how long does bottled water last?

i got rice, and canned food. i need more.

i have a honda EM500 generator at the ready. it will run my small garage fridge. i have a shotgun, pistol, and a compound bow for my neighborhood cat stew recipe. and i do have deer galore.

Back in the 50's, the discussion was about the big one being a nuclear attack and how people would react. We didn't build a fallout shelter because we just couldn't see using guns to fend off the neighbors. I don't recall mass terror and riots after Northridge or SF 89.

If a truly cataclysmic event occurs you won't be able to get home.

Don't live near 'quakes, but we do get Hurricanes here in Fla.

I have 13,000 gallons of non-potable water for washing, flushing, etc. (pool) 100 gallons of drinking water (rotated thru during the year) and plenty of non-perishable grocerys. Got a 6kw generator, and 2 1200 watt inverters I can run off a car or my lawn mower. When the weather announcement comes, theres usually 4 or 5 days to go and get an extra 50 gal of gas for the gen and cars. And to keep it all mine, I've got that FAL I just got, as well as other "toys". Should it really come to it, there is a 300 acre pine farm across the road from me that has plenty of deer, turkeys, rabbits, and squirrels, as well as near by farms with veggie crops.

2 years ago, without the generator, we did ok with no power, etc. for two 1 week sessions, with a 3 year old and a newborn. Now that the kids are older, and I have the generator, we should be fine.

Michael,

Went through this years ago. Was a boy scout and try to be prepared, but its good to re-assess every year or so.

Drinking water inside the house to last 6 months, not including the pool. Stored in 2 liter plastic bottles in each bedroom of the house. Another 23,000 gallons in the pool and hot tub. Food to last at least 6 months as well, but it would be tuna/chicken in a can the last few months as well as beef jerkey.

Enough gold and silver in coin, bar and jewlery to last 6 months (do not ask how much, aint gonna tell anyone) and always have at least $3-5k in cash at home (again, do not ask where it is, but its encased in concrete in a safe which is under a hidden compartment, so have fun finding it) not to mention enough trading stock.

Never talk about any weapons I might have but it would be better that no one ever try to break in the house. Its very well protected and the guy taking care of the house while I am gone is an ex-US Navy SEAL.

No natural gas in the house to shut off, its all electric. Propane to last 2 months on average. Generator at the house for emergency power. Solar panels in the back to heat the pool also double to generate 12v in case of an emergency.

When any of the cars I have get down to a 1/2 tank of fuel they are filled up again, and there is always at least 30-50 gallons of fresh fuel in 5 gallon "jerry cans" at the hangar, with another 25 gallons onboard the plane. Hangar is 1.5 miles away.

Several battery powered radio's and one 12v television and flashlights and batteries out the wazoo. Ham and CB radio as well, both operate on 12 and 110v power sources. Two complete medical first aid kits, one surgical with basic instruments. Antibotics and pain medicine along with all sorts of asst over the counter items.

If the brown material hits the fan, head to Phoenix and you are welcome anytime.

My wine cellar is pretty well stocked. Does that count?

From my Hurricane prepardness the past three years - although been in Florida 16 years...

1. Cash - ATM's don't work without electricity. Cash talks in time of crises.

2. Water - Keep some potable handy - if you have a pool great - some stored - some in bathtubs - get some bleach - a couple drops in a 5 gallon bucket kills the bugs

3. Gas - if you have gas you can leave, pack your crap and go. without you can be a prisoner in your own home. Fill up early. Buy some 5 gallon gas tanks. My goal was always 250 miles. I figured if I can get 250 miles away from where I am right now - I can probably get to some area that wasn't affected. If electricity goes out - then the gas pumps can't pump. (I keep my boat with a 68 gallon gas tank topped up during hurricane season for this reason alone)

4. Propane - buy a few extra cylinders and keep them as spares. You can heat up water to bathe in, cook food - etc etc.

5. Action plan - if cell phones go down - where are we meeting as a family. a location, a time.

6. Regular phone as in non-cordless. plug into a jack - yes, they still exist, and even without electricity - it's good to have a phone that works.

7. Portable TV (battery powered) and Flashlights and candles.

8. Car charger for your cell phone. Without house electricity - you may still be able to use your cell phone, but only if it's charged - and analog service (which was available for short durations during one of the hurricanes) uses more battery...

9. Central location for all your important crap - birth certificates, insurance policies, kids pictures, important items, valuables, weapons, computer back up. Our goal is within an hour - we can collect our belongings and go - make a list now. Scan every important document you own, car titles, insurance cards, driver's license, birth certificates, insurance certificates, stock certificates, bank account info. Always best to have originals - but 2nd best is a good digital copy...

10. Video tape your belongings and redo twice a year. Go through the whole house. Keep receipts - take pictures - stick on a CD and send to your relatives in a far place.

- That's my top ten.

Here are some awesome maps and info:

San Francisco Bay Region Geology and Geologic Hazards

http://sfgeo.wr.usgs.gov/

Sidewalk shows creep of the Hayward fault:
http://sfgeo.wr.usgs.gov/quaternary/...aywf_creep.jpg

If one neighbor has all kinds of water and food and supplies, and the other neighbor has lots of guns, who do you think will go hungry? ;)

If they are good neighbours, they will share. I would with mine...

Great reminder. I have some water that has been sitting way too long. Time to get some fresh stuff. Most of the other things mentioned are available, but probably not in the quantities that I should have.

I would also be happy to invite the neighbors over for deer after a little stroll through the woods.

Actually just the opposite. The neighbors that were willing to pitch in and help each other did rather well by sharing their resources. the others that were jerks were immediately discounted and did not fare as well - this was our little impromptu social experiment... Actually got to know a few neighbors REALLY well - not sure I would have in normal circumstances.

yeah but think how agile, coordinated, and limber will the surviving ones will be! :D


i guess i'm on the opposite spectrum. can't do it now b/c of work, but if i were to move somewhere, san fran would be my first choice. right up there w/ nyc. go figure. maybe i should wait for the real estate prices to drop after the big one? :p