Emegency Preparedness

[DeputyJ]

I live in the Bay Area of California where natural disasters and civil unrest are a reality of life, I am also a member of my department's tactical team and am on call 24/7/365. As a result, I began taking emergency preparedness seriously. I researched the subject, invested time and money for the neccessary items/gear (of course there are more items/equipment I want). I carry a Get Home Bag whenever I leave the house and although I plan on anchoring down at my house, I have a plan and the gear neccessary to leave if my family and I have to evacuate.

I was wondering who else on the forum has an EveryDay Carry Bag (EDC), Get Home Bag, A Bug Out Bag (72 Hour Bag) or something similar. I would also like to know who has had to utilize their bags/gear during an emergency (minor or major). I have used my Get Home Bag (also my EDC) for needed items during minor emergencies (call outs for Occupy/War Protests).

Stay Safe.

[DCPSPDcop]

Yeah, I keep a Go Bag in the trunk of my car. I have a few extra clothing items, extra radio batteries, extra GLOCK magazines, a rain coat, a few LED flashlights and a small power inverter in there. Basically, stuff I'd want to have if I weren't allowed to go home from work for a few days.

I've never really put together a Bug Out Bag or otherwise went out of my way to prepare for an emergency with extra food and water, because it has always been assumed that I will either be at work or be recalled to work if something really terrible were to happen... and once I am at work and not allowed to go home, it becomes the government's job to meet my food, water and sleeping needs; so it's kinda pointless to have that stuff sitting at home.

[HotelSecurity]

Don't need one. I work in hotels.

[Jim1348]

I agree that emergency preparedness is something good to be thinking about. Before retiring as a deputy sheriff 2 years ago, it seemed like the first two things I needed if something went "beyond the normal" was:

-Spare Portable Radio Batteries

-Flashlight Batteries

I tried to have a spare of both with me, because if it is with you, you won't have it when you need it.

I also took a number of FEMA and Minnesota HSEM classes. They helped me think about the big picture when disasters would strike.

I also tried to always have a cooler in the car with me and some Gatorade in there. Hydration is important, regardless of weather, when something happened. Even something as mundane as directing traffic at a crash for an hour when it is a mild 80 degrees can really dehydrate a person pretty quick.

[Pop pop]

http://www.dhs.gov/national-preparedness-guidelines

[sierra49]

Many of us have the kind of jobs where you can't call in "sick" due to power outages and inclement weather. These are the times our clients need us the most. To stay mobile, I keep a "trunk box" in each vehicle.

Each box contains; 1 empty 2 gal. plastic gas can, a siphon hose ..., tire leak sealant, a few flares, a traffic wand for the flashlight, and a cell phone charger adapter for the car.

In colder months, I include; a candle and holder, matches and/or lighter, and a blanket or two. Somewhere along the line I heard that a single candle will keep enough heat in a sedan to keep you from freezing to death. One of these freezing days I'm going to give this a test. If I don't report back, you know it doesn't work.

[copelandamuffy]

December 26, 2010. Massachusetts
1100 hours. You sensed this blizzard meant business. This was no 2" of light fluffy snow

I am the site supervisor, and it was my duty to ride out this nasty storm

1100 hours, and my wife packed me many meals, gallon of milk, Pepsi's, and coffee
I got to the gatehouse at 1145

By 1500 hours whiteout conditions
The wife's Chevy, her car could climb Mt. Everest, was already covered in snow
Gatehouse rattling from the gale force winds
I prayed we did no lose power
We did not

I had my Notebook Computer checking in with live
radar from the Boston's television stations

!500 hours, December 26, through until 0800 hours December 27
Snow, snow,snow
Contractor, plow guy, whizzed through the parking lot every few hours,
but it was a losing battle until this storm got quiet
I'd go out shovel the wife's car, but I was losing
Snow all through the night
Gatehouse caked in snow
Surprise, surprise, plow guy brought me coffee in the wee hours
I could have married him

By 1000 hours, 12/27 the storm got quiet, and the sun was peaking out
1200 hours my relief shows up
Interstate 495 had been plowed
Got home tired, and exhausted

I will not endanger my Security Officers in snow, or as of late Hurricane Sandy
No one drives in bad weather
I don't, and my Officers do not

[KeithSDavid]

My preparedness is layered and it each layer is designed to complement at least one other layer. For example, I have a drawer at work where I keep a couple bottles of water and extra food in the event that I get snowed in. Now in my car, I have an old foot locker where I have extra clothes, warm clothes (base layers, outerwear), extra food, sleeping bag, camping pillow, and water. In addition I keep a small survival kit that contains a candle, fire starting materials, etc. Next to this foot locker is my GHB, which contains even more water, food and seasonal clothing along with hiking boots. If I were to be snowed in at work, I can use the sleeping bag (if the snow storm was bad enough. We have had officers stuck at sites for up to a week in the past due to snow), food, water, etc from the car to supplement that which I keep in my drawer in the office. Another benefit of using a layer system is that if anyone item fails, in theory there will be a ready back-up to replace it, because 2 is one, and 1 is none.

I believe it's everyone's duty to be prepared for reasonable emergencies where they live. So since I live in Colorado, I don't plan for hurricanes, but I do plan for blizzards, earthquakes and tornados.

[tacticalguy]

Yes, I have a Bug Out Bag. I take it with me to work every day that I work. I have a second flashlight, raincoat, spare full magazines for my Sig, chem lights, a liter of water, extra handcuffs, a second notebook, extra pens, bug spray and a couple of protein bars.

[TamaDrummer88]

Even though our company doesnt certify everyone in CPR/AED, im still certified, so i carry a First aid kit and pocket mask in my gear bag as well as a box of latex gloves. I also carry my standard Pelican 7060 LED flashlight and a big D-Cell maglite as a backup as well. Im also considering taking FEMA courses and becoming a volunteer with my State Civil Defense. They help out the first responders in event of heavy flooding and rains and natural disasters. You get a radio that has access to the Fire/EMS channels and police channels, a high visibility shirt.

Plus it gives me an excuse to deck out my car in flashing clear strobes and amber wigwags LOL.