So you're saying people should prepare for some emergencies (like "a good size earthquake around here"), but not for any possible emergency (like Katrina). OK, good thinking... I'll go away now.

I think what you are seeing are different levels of "being prepared" remember the question

If a disaster were to strike today would you be prepared?

I you think your community will band together in a major disaster, I have to let you know I have been is 2 and in both cases that is only a small part of what happens. In 1989 when the earthquake hit SF during the world series I had both my cars broken into, I had random gunfire for several nights on my block and there were no streetlights or power for 9 days. I came out one morning and every single car window was broken on my block, every store was broken into within a couple city blocks and the hospital was locked down due to so many problems.

In 1982 I was in a major fire in Napa, everything burned to the ground. The second an area was evacuated building were getting broken into.

I was very young and not prepared during those events. I am now very well prepared and very well armed. For me they go hand in hand. Peace, Love and help thy neighbor simply does not happen in reality, sure there are a few events where it does, but I would not count on that.

My Motto for disaster preparedness is “If your prepared, be prepared to defend it.” Any good weapon owner will tell you that does not mean shoot up the neighborhood, it means don’t be the easiest target. The better you are prepared the more comfortable you will be during a difficult and unknown time.

Sorry folks. I was just trying to keep things on a positive note.

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"What you hear in a great jazz band is the sound of democracy. “The jazz band works best when participation is shaped by intelligent communication.”
Harmony happens whenever different parts get to form a whole by means of congruity, concord, symetry, consistency, conformity, correspondence, agreement, accord, unity, consonance…….

Here are my suggestion by the way, all possitive and back on the topic

-Always have at least 5 gallons of drinking water for every person in the house
-Have a stove for cooking, white gas is the best because you can use any fuel if you run out of white gas. You also need this to boil water to drink, it’s very important.
-Have lanterns, again white gas not those stupid propane tanks.
-Have a couple flashlights, but don’t makes these your primary light source, they are weak and the batteries are hard to come by, Use as much white gas powered devises as you can, they last as long as you can find fuel and your car will probably have many many days of it in the tank if you need it.
-Have a radio, but again batteries are to difficult to find, keep that generator going and watch TV for the best news.
-Have at least a 2500w generator and 7 days fuel.
-Be sure to stabilize all your fuels for long term storage
-Have a couple sheets of plywood handy for covering broken windows
-Have a meeting place other than your home in the event it’s gone
-Know where the water and gas mains are
-I find storing food to be a little overkill, most families have enough food around to last a week or 2, with the generator and stove you can keep food fresh and cold anyway.
-If there is a disaster fill up every sink and tub with water as soon as you can in the event the water system gets contaminated.
-Have at least 1 weapon and make sure EVERYONE in your house knows how to use it and is trained properly in gun safety.

Know one warned me about earthquakes in cali! Just booked my Holiday there :-) LOL

On a serious note I think it is good to prepaired for problems and to look after your family,I some times think it would be nice to have a gun,but If every one has a gun which by the sound of this post most people do what advantage do you have?

I agree with one of the earlier post about glocks I have a glock 19 a loverly gun but would not stop a intruder as it only fires BB's unless I hit them in the eye, LOL Can anyone goto a shooting range as I would love to fire a real gun when I am there in two weeks?

It is very interesting how different communities respond to natural disaster situations. In my area, hurricanes are our thing. Over my lifetime (nearly 46 years!), with several brushing the area, and a few as direct hits, I have NEVER seen my area degenerate into thuggery or lawlessness. However, we saw exactly that a few miles west of me, in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. I think it is simple fact that you have no control over how your neighbors will behave. Even worse, you have no control over those who pile into your area, as they are evacuating their own areas. Some will be good, honest people who are grateful for any help. Some would best benefit society by disappearing.

What do I do when I see a hurricane possibly headed my way?

1. Gas up the cars. Make sure the extra gas cans are full.
2. Back up my home computer on an external hard drive, that gets thrown in the back of my X5.
3. Put a Rubbermaid box with important papers in the car.
4. Get guns and ammo ready.
5. Make sure my nat gas home generator is ready to run.
6. Board up the front door, move the lawn furniture and get ready.

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Sometime ago I picked up one of these Knaack boxes. http://www.knaackbox.com/main_invent...aack_boxes.htm The Ceo promptly filled it with 2 tents a stove and countless other items. She recycles the foodstuff once a year and now she's nagging me to get this http://www.quakekare.com/survival_kit_skbp4d.html and put it in the X. Along with that there are other forces that are urging most of the people I know the get their act together. I suppose that's what prompted me to post this thread. I was hoping some of you would take it seriously because it is important.

__________________
"What you hear in a great jazz band is the sound of democracy. “The jazz band works best when participation is shaped by intelligent communication.”
Harmony happens whenever different parts get to form a whole by means of congruity, concord, symetry, consistency, conformity, correspondence, agreement, accord, unity, consonance…….