O.k. Jeff, perhaps apples and lemons... However, regarding Mt. Saint Helens, people had information (i.e. warning) the mountain would blow, yet several or many basically said "to Hell with the warnings", I'm not gonna leave...this is my home. I don't believe the warnings... regarding Hitler, people (i.e. nations) had preliminary information about his actions and the dangers preceding his conquering ways, yet didn't address this head on... The only example where information nor supplies helped was 9/11...and it is debatable whether information could have helped had it been appropiately handled... You see Jeff, my point is all the supplies in the world won't do any good if you don't have the information...Our Government is doing the right and responsible thing in given us the information by way of the higher alert warning. Furthermore, I won't worry and don't want anyone else to either...BUT I will do something...I understand I have the right not to listen or bother to warnings/information...but I WILL do what I feel is the right and prudent thing to do. Simply because I care, I implore others to do the same.
From Reuters: (Link) ...The broadcast of the bin Laden tape reinforced jitters over a feared new terror attack in the United States, where the Bush administration has advised Americans to keep tape and plastic sheeting available so they can seal off a "safe room" against radiation, deadly germs or chemical gas.... Also, How to Create a Safe Room using duct tape and plastic sheeting.
I have extra drinking water (and my firearms) but that's about it. The bottom line here Max is that should they ignite a dirty nuke on your street...you're toast. It doesn't matter what you have (unless it was one of those nifty suits from Outbreak). Be prepared...keep gas in the car and extra drinking water around. After that...pray to God that nothing happens. Oh and I almost forgot...(singing) you're a mean one...Mr. glynch...you really are a heel.....
I don't recall of anyone ever dying during a terrorist attack because they didn't have bottled water and cans of spaghetti. I also don't know how duct tape and plastic sheeting protects you from radiation. If only the Russians had known that at Chernobyl. Seriously though, what are the prime targets in this area? I'm guessing the refineries and the Port. I think there's also a nuclear plant around here somewhere, Bay City? I guess unless you live on the east part of town there's not too much to get crazy about.
Well, warning that a volcano is going to erupt based on imperical scientific data is a little different from a vague warning. I mean, hell, you KNOW where the volcano is. Yes, but no individual with duct tape and plastic could have done anything. It took most of the world to take that guy down. Well, I have no problem with the warning. They have their own asses in a sling either way. You say it and nothing happens, you look like the Boy Who Cried Wolf. You don't say anything and something happens and you're laying down on the job. I understand why they are doing it and I'm fine with that. Like I said, I respect the position. I just think that there is an AWFUL lot of hype surrounding all this. I mean, I have something like 25 windows and doors on my first floor alone. If someone drops a chemical bomb on my block, how is a bunch of plastic and duct tape going to help me close all that off? Truth is, no amount of preparedness when it comes to things like food or whatever can prepare you for something like a terrorist attack. It is the reason terrorists do it in the first place...to scare the living **** out of you and make you change your way of life. You get scared enough, you'll give them what they want. End of story. Unlike a hurricane or volcano where we can imperically measure the effects and even guage the location, within a certain degree with hurricanes, terrorist acts are way too random and uncertain to prepare for. We don't even know what the hell we would prepare for. It's all a big guess.
The truly hardcore survivalist is normally a 'normal' person. He does, however, have a concrete-reinforced bunker (also with a high degree of bio-integrity - germ-proof) with a years' worth of water, POL, and ammo stashed at least 30 miles away from the large city that he lives and works in... Relax. We will win this war without having to evacuate our homes and abandoning our cultured state of being. Life will go on as normal after the next attack
Here is a list of items which I found on another BBS concerning (thanks to http://www.freerepublic.com) concerning what items to buy: ******************************* You should have: (Immediately available ) Battery powered radio Flashlight and extra batteries Emergency Needs Instruction Manuals on Emergency Preparedness Water storage Sleeping bags and blankets Sanitation Kit Plastic bucket with tight fitted lid Plastic bags and ties Toilet paper Disinfectant Improvised toilet seat (for bucket) Feminine hygiene needs Paper towels Soap Paper cups Paper plates Plastic utensils Can opener Utility knife Stress Factors Children - coloring book, crayons Adults - books, needle work In the Car Standard First Aid Kit Blanket Flashlight and batteries Reflectors and flares Individual Medical Needs Suggested Additions Family Photographs Medical Information Sheet Insurance Information Identification for each Family Member Will or Trust Information (copies of each) Food - Ready-to-eat Meats: canned Fruit Cocktail Peanut Butter Powdered Milk Infant Care: Canned milk and bottles Dried Fruit: (caution - drink plenty of water.) Raisins, prunes, fruit leather Crackers Stress Foods Sugar Cookies Sweetened Cereals Hard Candy Standard First Aid Kit First Aid manual Spirits of ammonia Scissors Table salt Baking soda Eye drops Safety pins Matches Adhesive or paper tape Bandages Telfa pads (4"x4") Triangle Bandage (37"x37"x37") Roll of Gauze Elastic Bandage Splints Popsicle sticks shingles or thin board 40 page newspaper or magazines Heavy String At least one change of clothing for everyone including shoes ******************************* Getting these items may sound silly, but consider what will happen if THOSE RAT BASTARDS poison the water supply with chemical materials. We'll need the extra water just for using a portable toilet, let alone for drinking. No way my bipi is going to touch the toilet seat with anthrax and Lord knows what else running through my septic tank. Also, I would seriously consider having cash on hand (at least $1,000 if possible). Getting a gas mask with full protective suit gear at an Army-Navy store should also be seriously considered. It's better to be prepared than sorry. God, please protect us all!
I have my disaster kit already put together. 1. 30-Year Old Bottle of Glenfidich Single Malt 2. 1 Pack of Havana De Cubano Cigars 3. Gatorade and Tylenol (please refer to #1) 4. A big tube of chap-stick so I can kiss my A** goodbye. In all seriousness, there is nothing you can do to be prepared for the unthinkable, just enjoy yourself and keep your eyes open.
When your time comes up, you are going to die, and there isn't a damn thing you can do about it, except live every day to the fullest until that time comes. With that said, everyone meet me for happy hour at Treasure's today. I'm buying. I mean, what's money worth when you're dead, right?
Wait...where is the clean underwear? Didn't everyone's mom warn them to always have a clean pair of underwear just in case you did in a nuclear disaster or something?
Originally posted by Jeff ROX: With all due respect, what would ANY of your supplies have done for you had you been: a. near Mt. Saint Helens when it erupted b. a Jew in Nazi Germany c. sitting on the 80th floor of the World Trade Center on 9/11 ??? Those would be great analogies, if we lived by an active volcano, were a Jew in Nazi Germany, or were sitting on the 80th floor of a skyscraper. What we are are Americans who may be targets of terrorism. That could effect any of us, and it doesn't have to be a fatal 'effect'. No power or water for days could create problems. I admire your dedication to being prepared, but the worry over an event that is less likely to effect you than being clunked on the head by a meteor seems a tad out of place. Obviously, there is nothing wrong with being prepared but, the truth is, none of your preparedness could have saved you from the situations you mentioned. Since attacks on the power grid or water supply (possibly) could effect many many more people than 9-11, it remains to be seen whether the likelihood is the same as getting hit by an asteroid. You cannot apply statistics to events like terrorism. That would be like the British saying, pre-WWI, 'the likelihood of getting killed in a War with Germany is practically nill'. ROX, I think people are just enjoying a little release. What may be obl's favorite weapon is fear. Humor is a good counter-measure.
Hey, wait a minute. If a dirty bomb is released and there is all this radiation in the atmosphere, do I need to still buy a microwave? I mean think about it, microwave popcorn bags could be going off everywhere...... Damn you Al Qaeda, damn you straight to Canada!!!!
If the US is code Orange..... I wonder what color code Iraq is currently? Maybe they are accumulating duct tape and plastic sheets and drinking water not because of the threat, but because of the inevitablility that US Smart bombs are going to start reigning down on their country. Imagine for a second that every fear that we have multiplied by 100 when you are in an Iraqi city and your only crime is to be born there. Does anyone remember the footage from the Gulf War when the Army simply FLATTENED cities. The entire sky was full of tracer fire, which to my recollection is 1/100 of all munitions.
I think Iraqi's in the streets cheering on 9/11 and when our space shuttle blew up is enough of a crime for me. They have for to fear from their own government than they do from US Smart Bombs.
I`m not going to panic although I did take a few items down into my basement in the unlikely event that something does happen. Better to be safe then sorry.
One of my co-workers wifes is a reporter for USA Today in DC. He was telling me that a bunch of her co-workers who spent the day with Tom Ridge yesterday are worried and went shopping at 11:00pm last night for supplies. The way I see it, your damned if you do, damned if you don't. On antoher note, anyone see that the IAEA has found N. Korea in violation and is sending the matter to the UN. Interesting times we live in....
I have a house in the Heights. No plastic sheeting or duct tape will make it airtight. On the bright side, I have developed an immunity to iocane powder over the past few years.
