Evacuating

[Deleted]

Loathe as I am to bring up this topic, I feel an obligation to share what could be vital information to those who might (God forbid) find themselves in this situation.
I'll pose it this way to make it easier and prolong the thread as questions and ideas come up.
Say you have 24 hours to evacuate your home; what preparations would you make,what would you take?

[palesa]

casimira, I have never considered the fact that I may need to evacuate my home, so I do not have the foggiest idea as to what I would do.

Make sure I had my dogs, beds, blankets, leads, collars and meds.
Pack necessary clothing and toiletries
Make sure our car had petrol
Empty the fridge and freezer
Turn of electricity and unplug everthing
Pack photographs and sentimental things that would fit in the car

Evacuate, not sure where to though

[Deleted]

Very important to have legal documents and other important papers, I've even gone so far as to have my medical records put on CDROM due to snafus that occured while gone and having to avoid repeat medical testing.

[Deleted]

Having lived in hurricane country, earthquake country, flood country and wildfire country, I am feeling pretty safe where I am these days, at least compared to those other dangers.

Nevertheless, the city of Paris does have a major evacuation plan ready for the return of the Big Flood. The last once-a-century flood took place in 1910 and flooded most of the city (not only am I on high ground but I am at the top of my building), and it will happen again some day. Some of the principal worries concern the Louvre, the Orsay and the Quai Branly museums, all of which are right along the Seine so there are secure warehouses to which everything can be moved with 48 hours warning. But the work involved in doing such a thing boggles the mind!

[Deleted]

I am also on high ground (ha ha). But,seriously,I live on what has been coined "the isle of denial" or "the sliver by the river". High ground,top of the building (known as "going vertical"), once the waters come and swamp all else,ithere goes the infrastructure and you're FUCKED! Better have lots and lots of provisions.

[spindrift]

I have already got a small amount of food provisions in my house. I have copied a friend who lives in Switzerland. Not only do the Swiss have access to nuclear shelters, they are also obliged to keep them stocked with necessities.

So, under the stairs and waiting for a rainy day, I have large packets of rice, lentils and dried legumes, tins of tomatoes and puree. To this stock I might add tins of fruit.

After all, I heard only last week that one of the major banks in the uk was within hours of closing its doors and its ATMs... this would have brought about the prospect of shops being looted (4 hours is the usual length of time if people have no access to cash)..

I have thought about the prospect of evacuation only because I live in a town that is built in a large depression which might be used as an 'example' of dirty bomb attack...

[happytraveller]

I would make sure I had my man, my dog, my rabbits (now THAT would be a challenge) my handbag with money and IDs. Some pain killers. Some food for us and the animals, spare clothes and our sleeping bags and the hiking tent.

[Deleted]

Lots and lots of H2O,not just for drinking.

[spindrift]

We might need a cart to put our stuff in. I could knock down my shed to make one but I wouldn't have any wheels.

[bixaorellana]

Those with stockpiles of canned goods need to review them occasionally in order to use them before the expiration date & replace them with new stock.

[palesa]

Before our first democratic elections in 1994, there were a whole lot of people who thought that South Africa would collapse overnight. People stockpiled, and I mean stockpiled, so much so that I imagine they are still munching on tins of baked beans bought in 1994. It was rather pathetic really.

If I were in an area that may require evacuation etc. I am sure I would have some kind of a supply (actually my pantry is pretty well stocked) but I am much more of a "whatever will be will be". Luckily I have some lovely veggie growing in my garden.

[Deleted]

Apparently most canned goods are considered to be edible for 15 years if there are no defects. The consumption dates printed on a can generally concern nutritional value and taste but not really safety if you eat it 10 years late.

Nevertheless, this is probably the last year that South Africans who stocked baked beans in 1994 should be eating them.

[gringalais]

Here the main worry is earthquakes. I have some supplies stocked for that, but probably should replace the bottled water. It has been there for a while.

My parents live on the North Carolina coast, so they are expert evacuators by now.

[Deleted]

There has been an intermittent truck strike here in recent days, and some of the empty shelves at the supermarket have made me realize how quickly city people can be starved if there are not regular deliveries. On certain days the baked goods were missing, on other days the dairy products or some of the canned goods. Seeing them disappear makes you realize how fast the items are stocked and then purchased. When you see full shelves every day, it makes you think that items are unlimited with a lot of stock in the storeroom. But it's not true at all. Those big trucks need to arrive each and every day.

[imec]

Another interesting lesson here is to not get all teary eyed next time you hear the supermarket chains complaining about their minuscule margins - 1 or 2% return on their money every few days (even weeks for that matter) ain't so bad...