And I thought I was ready for a disaster.....

[bagwell1987]

I just got the scare of my life today. The Tsunami sirens were going off. Because I'm an early person I generally have to have a nap by 10 am and I was dead asleep, all I heard was sirens, going and going and going. I got up and ran to the closet and got the bags thrown out the front door. MH had moved the truck to wayyy back behind the house so I had to get the pups to the truck, running while herding 3 and carrying 1. They weren't complying, I had to throw 1 in and race back to get the others- all the while sucking for air, I have stress induced asthma. Raced back into the house for my meds and phone, can't find my phone!! Can't find my phone.....sirens going and going... LOUD! Dog in one arm, can't find phone...why hasn't someone called me....need to get to the truck....can't breathe...really can't breathe...legs shaking....

 

Found the phone, called G. asked him if he was going to the cemetery.... G. said it was a drill....sirens finally stopping...

I was so mad I hung up on my friend G. 

 

Do we really think we're ready for the real thing? I don't, I know I'm NOT, I thought I was, really thought I was. I waited for a couple hours and called MH, told him there needs to be a family meeting tonight and we're going thru the go-bags, fueling up the truck, moving it by the front door- it will always stay parked there from now on. Bags, blankets, water, supplies and a prepaid- non expiring minutes phone will now go into the utility box in the back of the truck. TONIGHT! Because I was so stressed I couldn't see the phone on the counter in front of me, I decided I'm buying one that won't expire and keeping it in the jockey box in the truck, I don't ever want to be isolated again by not having a phone. 

 

It's been 31/2 hours since this happened, I'm still shaking and I broke down in tears when I talked to MH, I'm not one for breaking down in tears. This has proven to me I have become relaxed in my preparedness. I have so much work to do. Ashamedly I didn't even have a Bible in my bag yet. 

 

Some day maybe you should try this. Set an alarm so it wakes you when you don't expect it, then try to keep it together as you stumble around trying to figure out what's happening and get everything and everyone in your rig, do you have everything you'll need? I didn't.

 

 

[normadenardo]

I too am so unprepared. Love you sis. Find someone to hug you to help the shaking stop.

[Lance]

Well you live in tsunami area... That is nerve wracking ..if you have only 10-15 min to get out..

The old adrenalin kicked in.. It is hard to think when you are thrown into an emergency situation... I am getting better at it but it takes a week or so to really wind down.... Came upon some accidents and you really have to force yourself to go into checklist mode...

Around here it is either a flood, fire or earth quake... Got an emergency bag in the car .. Since we go up through mountain passes in the winter and a more substantial one in the garden shed with camping gear.. I just have to keep the water and canned goods fresh .. Something I put off until I remember again..

Edited October 16, 2015 by TheDoorGuy

[bagwell1987]

Thanks Norma, I can't believe I'm so affected by this. I'm still unnerved. We didn't get to the go-bags tonight like I wanted but Lew moved the truck by the front door for me. It shook him up too and this weekend we will be doing everything like we need to. I have space bags to protect blankets and bags from mold and bugs and they will be put in the box in the back of the truck.

 

Thanks for the calm words Lance. It really shook me, more than I realized. I have helped in auto accidents and they didn't affect me like this did, possibly because I couldn't find the phone and felt so alone. We are getting fresh water and batteries, I have a new Food Saver and most things will be put in those bags. I haven't changed the packs out in a year and a half, I felt so neglectful. Jehovah always reminds us to keep them up and be prepared. But I wasn't, not like I know I need to be. VITAL lesson.

 

If anyone doesn't learn from this post perhaps they should set an alarm and see how their own family functions when there's an "emergency" I'll bet you'll be surprised.  

Edited October 16, 2015 by bagwell1987

[kejedo]

Many of us, like myself, are still working on organizing the "go bag." Thanks for the reminders. I am going to order a back up emergency essentials pack for my car. I have decided my emergency food will be powdered milk (got it), powdered peanut butter (gotta get it) and boxed water (need some more). Mixing these three together can sustain a person and is light enough for me to carry. Thanks for the reminder to check our emergency plan. Hope you have been reassured, rested, and are experiencing the peace of God that excels all thought. 

[shali]

That space bag thing is a great idea Cheryl! I always thought having to put clothes in my to go bag would make it way too big and heavy to run with and you just provided a great solution to that! Plus you can throw in a pillow\blanket or two! I can even keep it in the trunk of my car during the winter in case I get stuck or stranded! Thanks for sharing your anquish! LOL!

Edited October 16, 2015 by shali

[bagwell1987]

Thanks girls. It was so real for me. The sirens going off for so long was unusual. It was like it was happening, really happening. Thankful it wasn't but it made me aware of what I need to do. Tell my friends about today and get off the stick, get it together. 

[kejedo]

This is also timely for me because I was going to throw out a bunch of clothes (went down a size,) but now i can use the old clothes as a disaster bag back up. Getting motivated to do my fall cleaning/ re-organization. 

[Omoyeme]

Just received my go-to-bag in the mail recently.  I'm not able to carry anything heavy so I'll have to pick and choose what to place in there.  (I'm glad this thread was started so thanks Sister Cheryl for this).  I have a long way to go but fortunately I can start with what I already have in the home. (We haven't experienced flooding in our area but we have had two minor earthquakes.) And I remember the COBE reading an "emergency letter" every year for the last three years.  Apparently, this is something the Branch really wants us to be prepared for.  Take heed! 

[bagwell1987]

This is still fresh in my memory. I have things better organized and feel more put together but I hope a devastating event will happen with more time to get out and run. 

Golly I hope I have it all together. Then we had a big newsy article about the tectonic plates and earthquake possibilities......I realize we can't be concerned about every little thing but, well I hope I have it together enough to live for a while.

[Tortuga]

Most of the emergency packs that I've seen in the stores are small backpacks, I decided to use two carry-on luggage as our to-go bags. It seems that it would be easier to manage two small pieces of luggage instead of two backpacks but i'd love some feedback. ..besides, there will be porters available even during an emergency won't there???

[Old]

5 minutes ago, Tortuga said:

Most of the emergency packs that I've seen in the stores are small backpacks, I decided to use two carry-on luggage as our to-go bags. It seems that it would be easier to manage two small pieces of luggage instead of two backpacks but i'd love some feedback. ..besides, there will be porters available even during an emergency won't there???

Those carry-ons might work if you depart your home on pavement. If security requires travelling in wilderness conditions, slick trails, having to climb, support a family member, backpacks might be better. Think about climbing through tornado debris with a rolling carry-on. I think it would be important to have both hands free. I am sure I would have to have one hand for my wife, one hand for my walking staff.

[Tortuga]

29 minutes ago, Old said:

Those carry-ons might work if you depart your home on pavement. If security requires travelling in wilderness conditions, slick trails, having to climb, support a family member, backpacks might be better. Think about climbing through tornado debris with a rolling carry-on. I think it would be important to have both hands free. I am sure I would have to have one hand for my wife, one hand for my walking staff.

Based on where I live I won't run into a lot of that type of travel but I do have a large duffle bag in each carryon in case I need to transfer everything into the duffle bag.

[maladee]

when I had dogs I always had leashes and collars, ready to go by the door(I am in a earthquake area), I woulsd have crates in the van too. 

[Tortuga]

2 minutes ago, maladee said:

when I had dogs I always had leashes and collars, ready to go by the door(I am in a earthquake area), I woulsd have crates in the van too. 

Thats a good idea. We have two cats and only one cat carrier, it's on my TODO list to buy another pet carrier but I haven't done it yet.

[bagwell1987]

Ok, full time leashes/harness are on my game plan now.  And, sadly, the go-bags are in the truck that's in the shop. So boy do I feel at a loss. My go bags are duffel with a long strap I can sling over my neck and heave onto my back. I need hands free. 

Water has been an issue with me. I don't like to keep plastic bottles in the pickup because of the toxicity levels in heated water in plastic . So I decided I'll keep gallon jugs by the door. I supply fresh spring water to my customers so I think I'll just rotate the jugs each week and no matter what I'll have at least 2 gallons ready by the door. 

I also picked up 2 weeks of meds from the pharmacy which was incredible. Some pharmacies don't like to do that. 

[Allabord4Jah]

Some of us don't live in an area where major things happen, but then of course these are turbulent times, and we never know.  I went to Amazon, and I found a ready survival backpack for under $70.00.  It comes with 5 day supply of water, food, essentials including, crank radio, whistle, etc etc etc.  Am just adding some oatmeal packages and a few personal things inside, inculcating a couple $1.00 bills, med's, home ins papers.  I can't make it to heavy or else I won't be able to lift it!   On the East Coast we had a earthquake in 2011, who's to say what else can pop up in my neck of the woods!

[Omoyeme]

Yes Sister Lisa...these are turbulent times indeed. 

[Tortuga]

The fire in Alberta has me revisiting my disaster preparation plan and emergency evacuation kits. I also contacted my home insurance company and asked them what I could do to help expedite the insurance claim in case of emergency, the first thing they told me was to have a good record of the home inventory, the serial numbers and purchase price.  I have a video inventor of each room and it's uploaded to my Onedrive account but I don't have a record of serial numbers.

 

Does anyone have a method or software that records your home inventory along with serial numbers and purchase price?