develop a sensible disaster plan and survival kit

• flashlight
• Grundig FR -200 handcrank radio
• Nalgene bottle
• 30’ of rope
• Cellboost for my phone
• water purification tablets
• 3 space blankets
• duct tape
• leatherman multi-tool
• stormproof matches
• first aid kit

• bottled water
• bleach
• duct tape
• sunscreen
• whistle
• energy food bars
• pencil & paper
• spool of wire
• plastic bags (ziploc & garbage)
• tent
• hat & gloves
• sleeping bag
• your medications – a week supply

• birth certificate, bank account numbers, mortgage, will, legal docs
• photocopies of prescriptions
• cash in smaller bills

I completed the survival kit yesterday—ordered a few items that are in the mail but I’ll consider it done as I’ve got 80% of what I need in a backpack. Stored water and food at the house and I have a communication and meeting plan with family members.

Here’s an interesting article from last Sunday’s Seattle Times. It reminded me that I’m supposed to get a hand-crank radio and cellphone charger. I just bought the Grundig FR200 hand crank radio for $39 off of Amazon. I opted for the older model (the article touts the newer FR300 for $49) based on some customer reviews and the simplicity of the original desgin.

I haven’t found a hand-crank charger for the Treo.

Ascott forwarded me this article. Another good reason for having a good supply of non-perishable food at home. In the case of quarantine you could potentially wait it out at home.

Okay, so you’ve got your house bolted down, you’ve got your month’s worth of emergency food and water, and you’ve got all your camping/survival gear together. You’re all set. Except what if disaster strikes when you’re away from home?

When I lived in California, some friends and I devised a template “doomsday box” for our cars. This was California, remember, so public transit didn’t figure into the picture much—everyone drove. So, if you weren’t home, you were probably near your car.

Even living in the Seattle area, I still think the odds are I’ll be near either my car of my home. So, I’m re-creating the doomsday box for our two cars:

• 2 liters of water
• 1 box of Balance bars (200 calories, balanced carbs/fat/protein)
• 2 changes of adult clothes (they’ll still cover kids in a pinch) including sneakers
• first-aid kit
• flares
• fire extinguisher
• jumper cables (why keep ‘em separate?)
• 50’ twine
• duct tape

The key, of course, is getting the smallest possible usable items since you likely want to put other items in your trunk from time to time.

$7.95 for 50ea. of Iodine and taste neutralizer tablets%

I’ve never used water purification pills, but I’m told that the taste neutralizers pretty much removes the nasty iodine taste. Which I’ve never experienced, so don’t listen to me.

Nice article from this Sunday Seattle Times.

I was chatting with Ivan about this. A few more things we were thinking:

• $1,000 cash—always have cash on hand (best probably in 20s)
• camping gear should mirror survival gear so it’s useful in your regular outdoors life
• boxes of Cliff Bars or other packaged energy bars are a cheap way to bulk up on long-lasting non-perishable food
• a water tank can double as a drinking water storage device provided it doesn’t burst and your basement is still accessible
• first aid kit
• bike

This is actually a very interesting mental excercise - and fun as hell to talk about. Ivan was recalling that during the 2001 Nisqually earthquake he was outside his office and had less than a dollar on him. His wallet was in the office, but no one was permitted back in the buildling for days. Cash machines weren’t working - therefore he had no money. Had it been a slightly more serious earthquake he may have been without cash for a long time.

My family lived through the 1964 Alaska earthquake (although I wasn’t yet born). Plenty of people in AK had gas powered generators and camping supplies which likely came in handy.

During the Fairbanks flood of 1967 folks were evacuated to Anchorage. Most lost “everything” and had not access to money for a period of time, which emphasizes the need for a bit of liquid cash (bad pun).

After the 6.8 Nisqually Earthquake in 2001 I had my 1912 Cap Hill house earthquake retrofitted. That involved about a day of work from a certified contractor. Lars (the contractor) added particle board braces between basement studs, strapped beams which were simply using gravity to stay in place, and bolted the frame of the house directly to the foundation. Many Seattle contractors are now certified for this type of work. In addition, I’m strapping my gas water heater to the wall to prevent it from toppling in an earthquake. Ivan tells me that gas water heaters are a major fire hazard in earthquakes.

• hand crank radio
• hand crank electricity for cell phone
• magnetic flashlight (got it)
• food, water supplies

I don’t want to go nuts—just the basics. Also, some sort of communication plan with friends/family.

1. my recent trips home to Alaska made me realize how much more some people are prepared up north for survival—and how easy it is to be lulled into a false sense of security in the city
2. Hurricane Katrina (like most disasters) got me thinking about this again
3. a conversation with Josh

The house should be in good shape after I strap the water heater in place this week. Next up: supplies and a disaster plan. Advice and conversation on this topic is welcomed.