Have you listened to the warnings about being "prepared" for an emergency?

Question

Our government has been telling us, over and over, to assemble a "kit" and "be prepared" in the event of a natural, or other, disaster emergency? Are you even close?

Do you have at least 3 days food and water available right now?

Why/why not?

kenson b: if anything happens, you WON'T be able to get the things you need. Stores could charge 100x the present cost for water/food. What would you do, where could you go?

megan: ditto my answer to kenson b, you won't be able to find or afford them

megan: ditto my answer to kenson b, you won't be able to find or afford them

Shelley K: don't think we should sit and wring our hands in fear, but a good offense is the best defense

Sarabrooke: We are all broke, but I started buying one gallon of water and a couple extra cans of food on every trip. You have two toddlers, what will you tell them if there is nothing to eat for a week?

Miss Delanne: my point exactly and the real reason we should start looking out for our own butts!

Answer 1

I have much more food and water than for 72 hours. I am a Disaster Recovery Planner by profession, and I also follow financial and economic happenings closely.
The emergency that may be coming could be a combination of several things.
There has been a marked increase in earthquake & volcanic activity around the world in the last couple of years - the BIG ONE that might split off part of California is long overdue according to seismologists.
There is a 'dormant' volcano in the islands off the coast of Spain that some scientists think could erupt violently, and if it does it could result in a Tsunami that would affect the entire eastern seabord of North America.
In Yosemite park there is an old Caldera (that is the remains of an ancient volcano that exploded). There has been some underground activity in that area that has caused significant bulging of the ground. A lake has actually been pushed out of its lakebed and is now into the woods. If this caldera explodes again (and it is overdue also), it could result in large areas of North America being covered with foot-deep ash, and the dust in the atmosphere would threaten agriculture and drop temperatures significantly for awhile.
Warming of the global climate (which is not mainly due to man's polluting by the way - Mars is warming too!), is melting the glaciers & icecaps, which will cause a rising of sea levels which would flood low-lying coastal areas (Florida, New York city...). This might happen more quickly than you might think.
Going to the financial aspects - the US dollar is at the beginning of a long downward spiral - this will affect economies world-wide and make many things much more expensive. There is a current overhang of derivatives (which are essentially just "bets") of about 2 - 3 times the world's gross national product that is on the verge of collapse just like dominoes in a row. If and when this goes look for transportation (personal and goods, food etc.) to be seriously impacted. Look for local suppliers of essential items. Lay in a stock of anything that has to be shipped from any great distance.
I could go on but I don't want to bore you...

Answer 2

i stopped listening to the government telling me to do anything shortly before i finished my enlistment in usmc so many years ago. on the other hand, there's a backpack full of gear and food two feet from my front door. the pack and gear have been changed over the years, the location has changed, many different states and countries over the years. one thing hasn't changed, and that is level of preparedness. i have food, clothing, and shelter for more than any weekend. in todays world, those not prepared may die.

couple years ago a big wind storm send america a wake up call; unfortunately many hit the snooze button and went back to sleep. people died. yet i read here above me that it's all BS. as stated before, i don't listen to the government, but:
I've got my eyes wide open
Eyes wide open all the time
Because you never know
what you might see...

Answer 3

It is a great idea to "prepare for disasters", unfortunately everything has become so darn expensive most people cant afford to. The most reasonable thing to do is to try and buy a couple extra non perishable items a week and just put it in a box in a closet.Check dates on items and use/replace as necessary. We should all try and be a little more responsible for ourselves/families.....take notes from Katrina

Answer 4

Nope, not all. The government is full of bs. The government lied to us about WMDs in Iraq, they lied about preparing for emergency, they lied about everything; so why should I listen to the government?

Answer 5

I dont , probably because i live in england and not that many bad things happen. If one did, we would be un prepared.
If the country and place where i live was at danger, i would definately get all the stuff.

Answer 6

Yes I have. I live in California so I see disasters every few years. It's not that difficult and not that expensive!

Answer 7

Yes, my wife and I are prepared just in-case, we have the thing we need, we also have above all things God to trust. God Bless

Answer 8

I have food and water, yes, but not in any sort of "emergency kit.". Frankly, I don't stress myself out about this sort of thing.

Answer 9

yes I do actually and when travelling I always take water and snacks just in case I get trapped.

Answer 10

r i g h t ... I'll get right on that. I don't even have enough food in the house to get till tomorrow morning.
those warnings are all a load of crap.