[Jeff Head]

My thoughts on this horrific disatser and tragedy.

[Jeff Head]

FYI

[Brad’s Gramma]

Thank you Jeff. Printing it out!!!

[apackof2]

Excellent, printing out and sending along

[airborne]

And why do they call it a "mandatory evacuation" if it ends up being voluntary?

[RichInOC]

Equipped, yes. Prepared...in this case, clearly not.

[RTINSC]

Kudos. Well thought and written.

[RobFromGa]

well done, I have bookmarked this to review later.

[Eva]

I agree with all you have said, but number six needs a little clarification.

The federal gov't is not supposed to be the first responder. As a matter of fact, FEMA is not allowed to come in until after the state and local emergency plan has been implemented. In this case the local and state plans were never implemented and FEMA's request that they be allowed to direct the efforts were turned down.

[CheezyChesster]

Lesson Number 7: Eliminate those individuals from authority who would rather examine every disaster after the fact to better know what to do before the next one hits. "But William Parrish, who formerly held a number of Homeland Security senior positions, said now is not the time to point fingers.

"Every time we have a disaster we have to look at it and see what we can learn from it. This one is going to be studied and studied and studied," said Parrish, now a professor of homeland security and emergency planning at Virginia Commonwealth University."

Lesson Number 8: Put people into authority that automatically know what needs to be done before a disaster strikes.

Lesson Number 9: Now absolutely IS the right time to start pointing fingers !

[Fenris6]

"... [those] who were partying in the path of this storm on live news coverage up to the time the storm began to come on shore..."

In the future, they should be shot & killed on sight, so that follow-on rescue teams can devote their attention to the real victims.

[melt]

Excellent post.

I'd also suggest having some antibiotic like Cipro on hand, just in case.

[melt]

One other thought. You should probably post this thread again tomorrow, during the day--- for maximum exposure. Most people are in bed right now.

[the irate magistrate]

Excellent article Jeff.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us.

[investigateworld]

Excellent article. You and other writers have touched on the "mental attitude" to survive these events and I believe that something which can't be taught.
Dealing with subjects who haven't prepared themselves and who want what you got is going to be a serious issue. No easy answer, except to remember there's a little one counting on you.

[cva66snipe]

This is the best advice and general description of this I have read yet. I would add one item to my list. A police scanner is far more valuable for gaining a fast grip on what is going on in any event from civil unrest to fire, weather, or any major event. They aren't that hard to learn and you can monitor all agencies.

For example a tornado watch is issued. When that happens in most communities a person can monitor the SKYWARN program. These are trained weather watchers who are HAM Radio operators and have direct immediate contact with NOAA. You can get up to 5 minutes heads up depending on how many are spotted.

You can in most places monitor fire, police, paramedics, State Emergency Management Agencies, Local Emergency Management, State Police, Coast Guard, Rail Roads, Utilities, and even some federal agencies including the military. A word of caution to everybody use them only as an observer. If you hear a call or report of something happening stay home. They don't need you to respond and add to the confusion. Showing up on scene with a radio makes you an ambassador of ill will very quickly.

Learn your local agencies frequencies, tower locations, and codes etc. If you live in an area that uses 154-159 MHZ systems these likely will still be working after most any disaster in some capacity and have good transmission range. The 450-460MHZ systems are a close second but require repeaters. Most repeaters have battery back ups and some have generators as well.

Agencies using the Trunking 800MHZ systems are the most likely to fail due to a computer dependency design. I think NO used the 800MHZ systems which would account for major communication failures. They should have passed out VHF radios as a back up. This was one of the harsh lessons NYC learned and they reverted back to a simple precinct assigned frequency repeater system.

You can even know what your local utility is doing during major outages. I can guesstimate if I'll have power in a few hours or a few days by hearing their damage reports. I can also know when they are fixing to restore the power :>} The more information anyone can acquire in a disaster the better equipped they are to make decisions.

[SevenDaysInMay]

Jeff and Newbees, I would increase the ration to 10 days, 10-12 Kcal, with a ~liter bottle with internal compound "bug cather/carbon" filters rated to <200 gallons via a straw. Camelbaks packs carry 3 liters (~7# water). I'd sure add iodine/chlorine water treatment tablets. Shake-rest-repeat to outgas the chem smell a little. The tiny LED torches and the (French) Petzl LED headlamps with flash mode are great.

I pack ~ 1x2 yard square of mosquito netting as a portable pie safe (and sleeping-facenet) to keep flies off my food and drink, given corpses' special spices which might well be added to lunch.

Folks, Leatherman "Crunch" multi-tool and 5-7" serrated combat/rescue knife (K-Bar-ish) goes with the handgun, Swiss Army "Hunter" model is a minimum: carry rat-shot for rats, squirrels, birds - snarling pack dogs get hollowpoints along with strangers who do not honor the FBI's 21'+ Rule or common sense to move along and don't come back. Carry a small magnifying glass for fire if not a magnesium striker and Fire Ribbon napalm in a tube...

Carry lots of Nitril (far stronger than latex) gloves, eat with them - as you should never eat with your hands, even if "washed" under hellish conditions.

550# paracute cord, 300-500 feet. "100mph" high quality duct tape. Lots of 30 and 55 gal. trash bags for everything, poncho - shade (fabric shower curtain is lighter than tarp) taped &/or corner knotting) etc., etc., etc.

Think multi-use and creatively. In a meltdown - locally, regionally, or nationally - plan on being paranoid, BUT survival may depend on forming up random tribes to watch your 6 day and night. I pack peppermint hard candies by the scores because it is calming to kids and adults alike. I take several # of good quality dogmeal with small Milk Bones because you may need a foundling as your night-watchman. You never know when you may need to take a dog for a wok.

As my primary bugout bag, I like a large "whitewater" pack/bag that is nearly 100% water-proof because one never knows when water may not save your life. I have put together now 5 slightly varied purposed/seasons bags with 2 medical kits small and large for when things are bloody bad And ONE ALONE IS THE MEDIC. Pack 2-4 weeks+ worth of critical meds - IF PACKING FOR A FAMILY, DON'T PUT ALL YOUR MEDS IN ONE pack - if one is lost.

My 7 somewhat redundant bags with at the ready fail-safe tools fill a Suburban. I can travel heavy, Toyota Corolla medium or pedestian lite - and INJURED EVAC VERY LITE.

I have thought through what it would be like to leave my home within 30 seconds to 3 minutes to never return.

Always have enough to share something. My 2 cents tonight.

[Gritty]

Excellent observations, each one of them right on target!

[Musket]

Good stuff. Thanks.

[MileHi]

bumping a great thread

[AmericanInTokyo]

Exactly what has been bouncing around in my mind for the last eight days.

You had the good sense and writing prowess to put it to paper.

The only element of the formula (unfortunately) that does not fit for foreigners living in earthquake rich Japan, for example, is that there will be no personal procurement and keeping of firearms and ammunition. Other than that, the advice is sound in any country.OTOH, there will be about 0% worries of theft, violence and looting in the event of a major disaster or pandemic in Japan.OTOH, even less reliance should be placed on the government in Japan in the event of a disaster. The US is still far ahead in crisis management. It is accordingly difficult to say WHICH country, Japan or the US, one would would to be stuck in after such a calamity....