Posted by
mike from tucson on Saturday, September 09, 2006 10:11:57 PM
Pt. 3 There is an interesting psychology involved in coming to grips with saying goodbye to the end of the normal world you have always known. Some years back Robin Williams starred in a movie called “Moscow on the Hudson. It‘s plot had to do with a Russian émigré‘s problems understanding the immense wealth of his new home in America., Unlike the Soviet worker’s paradise, there was such abundance available in the common supermarket he visited that he had sensory overload and passed out. Try if you might to imagine the opposite. Supermarkets empty of all goods. Streets devoid of all commerce. People starving and desperate to the point of killing each other for a slice of moldy bread or a bottle of muddy water. It can happen. It has happened elsewhere to people just like you. It may happen here. If it should and if the first main question was, “In a devastating natural disaster or WMD attack that leaves many thousands dead and dying and your city and possibly many more in ruins, would you want to survive?” Would you? If you say yes, are you willing to do the planning and preparation necessary to give you favorable odds to make it through? Assuming you are, the second question should be: How can you assure yourself and family a fighting chance?
“When in doubt, run in circles, scream and shout!” OR.. Make a list. And again, have a comprehensive plan. It gives me great comfort to make lists It’s almost like meditating, or at least what I imagine meditating would be like if I actually did. Making these lists is the first stage of planning. It is also the first stage of beginning to take responsibility for yourself and family. Be a proud and classic American of old. Stand to be counted and ready to survive and to help others.
Without a list I can’t go shopping or plan a week’s work schedule. Without a dozen lists and budget sheets our house and doings would be unmanageable. So, my advice, make a list, better yet, a bunch of lists. Lists that have dozens of headings and should eventually cover several large notebooks.
Start with list Heading A- 1 What are the basic necessities for me and my family and for how long should our stock-up be designed to keep us alive? Let’s start with water.
WATER! “Old Dan ‘n I with throats burned dry and souls that cry…for water…” From: “Cool Water“, Sons of the Pioneers. One of the greatest songs ever recorded by the greatest western group that ever sang a song. Well? Where does water come from? And not just water, potable water. Stuff you can drink with out getting the trots or worse. When the local water company can no longer produce the life giving elixir, you are left dry. Or are you? If you didn’t stock up ahead of time you still have a water heater in your home or apartment and in it you have 30 or 40 gallons . Your water heater should even have a drain faucet. When the taps run dry and the electricity is out and you are getting thirsty you must then do a few simple things. If it’s dark take one of your LED flashlights (you do have super long lasting LED flashlights, right?) and first, turn off the electricity and/or the gas to the water heater. Why turn off the electricity when it’s already out? Or the gas? Because they may come back on when your water tank has no water in it and cause problems. Or; Some fool down the line may have a big generator and stupidly back-feed power into the grid. His gen. would not survive for long under that kind of load but it might last long enough to permanently curl your bangs. While you are at it, trip off all the main breakers in your dwelling’s electrical supply box. Learn how friend. When gas is no longer available turn off the stove, the furnace and all other gas appliances. Don’t forget the pilot lights. Go ahead and pull the plugs on all electrical appliances and lamps etc. No point in getting any mean surprises. (We will talk about the perishable foods you have and what to do with them later). As for the water heater, the Instructions are normally printed on the front. If you are not sure ask for professional advice before hand. Educate yourself. Study, Excel, prevail! Finally, to drain some drinking water from the hot water tank, plug the bathroom tub and then carefully open the tub’s hot water tap to vent the tank, (water may still be hot and under residual pressure!) just as carefully open the water tank faucet with pot ready and run just enough out to cover your immediate needs. If your tank has been around for a while (like mine) you may see white minerals in your catch basin. Clean them out by pouring the water through a coffee filter. The minerals won’t hurt you. They’re mostly calcium anyway. Leave another pot under the faucet to catch any possible drips. Don’t waste a drop. Is a water heater tank full going to be enough? There really is no way of knowing how long an emergency will keep utilities turned off. It may be for just a few days and then again it may last so long as to force you out. (We will talk later about your possible forced relocation) More Later