I believe in always being prepared, so we are. But a bit of a note for those that believe it will be all Hakuna Matata around here, you might want to look at the ares a round you. If times became tight, you can bet your booty that we will have "neighbors" in here looking for goods. Heck, they already do.

I worked in Washington, DC. After 911, we were advised to have a "Go To Bag" in our office that included water, batteries, masks, bandages, antiseptic wipes, non-perishable food, flashlights, etc. My boss and I always wondered who would get the one oxygen mask that we were given.

I also kept these supplies at home and a small generator for lights and to charge my cell phone. Oops, I forgot we were also advised to keep prescriptions readily available.

BTW after the towers were hit, I gathered with a group of about 90 people at someone's home. My cell phone was the only phone that worked that day!! Everyone used my phone to call home.

Government and agencies such as FEMA and Red Cross ,insurance companies etc, work fine when a situation is more or less localized. The big BUT is is a situation is multiple,across the US . If many cities are affected or all coasts are swamped or a plague like epidemic occurs the fair m

Sorry hit wrong key.....the bottom line is do not expect someone or some agency to take care of things.Staying informed , have an evacuation plan,gathering emergency goods and knowing ( judging) the preparedness of the surrounding countryside ,road maps and spare cash or barter goods. This is standard procedure in every countries field manual.
Prayer are always needed anytime, anywhere.
The Creator gave us ; senses, emotions , humor and logic to use,do not waste these gifts.

I agree that you should be aware about what is going on around you. Don't panic or go overboard but be prepared with supplies and a possible evacuation plan. If an event should happen, you need to know if you should evacuate, where you should go or whether you need to "shelter in place".

I now live about 30 miles from Toledo, Ohio. A few weeks ago the Toledo area had a "water scare". All of our local stores were sold out of water in a few hours. If the news even mentioned it "might" snow when I lived in the DC area, all of the store shelves were emptied.

O.k.---this discussion is on "what if" situations. So, what if Issis does in fact begin on our shores what it's doing in the MIddle East?? Where would we go? How would we react?? Would we lock up our homes and stay?? Consider this...it could happen! I think I'd be more concerned with something like this rather than the natural disasters mentioned.

Preppers?? We could prep but for how long and how much to store up?? It could be for the "long haul"!

The Ebola virus is probably a bigger threat at this time than a plague like epidemic.

So true janmcn! Avoidance of people is only means of protection from Ebola. The right masks,gloves and protective suites were used by the WHO and CDC and it still killed.
Having stocked food and water might help but as said above, who knows for what time duration you would/ should stock up for. Food for thought.

I am late catching up with this thread. It certainly is a to each his own comfort type subject.

Make sure you always have a cash stash available. Money always talks!

Think twice about the evacuation event. Even with a full tank of gas you have no idea how far you will or not get. And then there is the crushing demand for gasoline that will run the supply line dry in not too long a period.

We had to evacuate once while in Beaufort, SC. Because I had friends in the "system" I found out about an evacuation order that was to come in 24 hours. We chose to head north to our lake home. Once the evacuation order was given the roads were clogged....completely bumper to bumper for at least 100 miles heading north. We had many friends who waited out the oncoming hurricane in their cars!!!! There was no way to go or do anything else.

So give some real thought to roads that could be used. How far would one likely get if there was in fact grid lock?

If the disaster is regional there is not much choice? If it was national there would be no choice at all. If it were local (south FL or central FL, etc) there may be some choices.

Also remember that self preservation breeds a much different behavior pattern in us humans and does not take long for civility to decay!

The best plan is to try to out guess the inevitable and respond ahead of the masses if at all possible. You may wind up making an uneccessary trip (known after the fact) from time to time.....but isn't that a much better outcome.

Time to go get a beer and watch something uplifting....let's just :pray: we never are tested!

Other than keeping our passports, some cash and important papers in a "special" location, I can't say we're very prepared or concerned.

In 1999, I recall all the dire predictions about what would happen when the year 2000 rolled in.
I was living on a horse farm outside of Toronto. Neighbors were burying money in their backyards.
Many were preparing to fend off with guns, the hungry hordes who would be swarming up from Toronto looking for horses to eat.
It certainly doesn't hurt to be prepared, but I've found most disasters are of a nature we would never anticipate.

I'm naturally sardonic and probably pessimistic, but it's not reallly Hakuna Matata -- it's more that if there was some global catastrophic event, what's the point of running and scavenging and extending my life maybe a month? I'm not talking about precautions against tornadoes or natural disasters and whatnot, but if we all became Road Warriors, I definitely wouldn't be one of those people fighting tooth and nail over the last scrap of food. Eh, you take it.

Very Good Points
 

You certainly bring up some very good points! I would hate to get stuck on some interstate for days on end. I my opinion the point of being "prepared" and ready to leave on a moments notice is what it is all about. You can choose to leave or not but at least you are ready and you have a plan. Hopefully if you hit the highway before the masses you not be one suck in a jamb. Should something big happen we would much rather be in our home in TN than in the Villages! In TN we can survive for quite a long time as there is abundant water, food, and other supplies.

Like you say hopefully you will never have to take such actions! Now where did you say you were having that beer? :beer3: