Hi Guys,
Great stuff so far. As a survivor of a few hurricanes including Andrew let me throw in my 2 cents.
Among your preparations include gasoline and cash. When the power goes, the gas pumps and atms don't work. Yes I know some gas stations claim they taken steps to correct this. Guess what........ Locking gas caps are a great idea. When the gas lines get long the sipheners come out, beware!
Storing water is okay but now I also keep a couple of filters handy. Gas grills are preferable than barbecues. You can regulate the heat with the gas grills. Canned food is good. We were able to cook meals that where pretty good. Consider rice, pasta and other goods that don't need refrigeration. We stock up on things we'd eat anyway. Powdered baby formula is essential if you have a child. Make single servings to avoid spoilage. If you're into coffee it's a great moral booster. If you can manage both, you can barbecue your meats just after the storm, befriend your neighbors, and plan for the common defense. Sounds cooky but it made a huge diffrence for us during our two weeks of darkness.
Baby wipes, duct tape, industrial size tie wraps, and work gloves should all be in your kit. Baby wipes help maintain everyones hygine not just clean your baby's butt. Duct tape, need I say more. Work gloves are essential for avoiding blisters when clearing debry. You do have an ax, saw and/or chainsaw? Industrial tie wraps for detaining looters. Maybe they surrendered. No I haven't needed them, but heard of several cases where they would have been useful.
During natural disasters you'll see incredible acts of kindness and neighborly love. Unfortunately you'll also see some of the most discusting opportunist taking advantage of the chaos. Looters come out of seemingly everywhere including other states. Consider using the debry to control access to your area. We blocked of one side of the culdesac we used to live in with the downed trees we where clearing. This severely limited access to vehicles. From listening to a police scanner we knew looters where going to isolated neighborhoods in 4 wheel drive vehicles ,in large numbers , and armed to the teeth. Having firearms available at least would give us a fighting chance. Controlling the terrain is a defininte advantage. Pistols are okay but rifles rule. Long guns, particularly military style rifles are really what you want during times of civil unrest.
The police cant help you immediately. In fact we where on our own for days. Fortunately nothing happened. As a husband and father it is my duty to protect my familly. Fortunately I have friends and familly that could aid us in the common defense. There was one case where armed looters disarmed and robbed a community. The people of this community where unwilling to shoot the looters who where also armed. They layed their arms down and stepped aside while the thieves took what they wished. Fortunately they didn't take their women or children.
Communication is essential. Having a NON cordless telephone available is very useful. Lan lines often work even when the power is down. Cordless phones however need electricity from an outlet to function. Cellphones are great, yet will not work if the cell towers are damaged. Still having a converter which allows you to charge things with your car is a great idea. Often times pay phones will also work. Still having a plan is essential. A list of people to call after the storm is a good idea. Meeting points are great when appropriate.
By the way 911 wasn't working for days after one hurricane just grazed us. Make sure you have good supply of any medications. A friend discovered much to his distress the VA hospital didn't have his life saving medication and wouldn't have it for days following a hurricane. Of course the usual aspirin, tylenol stuff should also be included. As should citronella candles. Mosquitoes, heat and other discomforts just add to the misery. If you could swing it, small battery powered fans, the type you could use while camping do wonders in creating comfort. Portable battery powered dvd player/tv's are great for entertainment particularly for the kids. Remember that converter to charge things from your car? We played cards, dominoes, and board games.
Hope This Helps,
Tony Torre
Miami Arnis Group
www.miamiarnisgroup.com
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