Sir,
Thanks for SurvivalBlog and the efforts you put into it. I have read your
online information over the years, going back to just before Y2K.
Your insights, common sense and information diversity are great indicators of
what it means to prep, get prepped and maintain. I have a few of your books,
and have used your information and insights to help get my brother and his family
started on preps.
Recently, I experienced a situation that required evacuation and relocation on
a personal/ family level. In our utility area, where the washer and dryer are,
we had a fire. I was at work, my wife at home, with our pets (two cats), The
smoke
detector went off, My wife got out of the house with the pets and the strong
box, and the Fire Department showed up quickly, getting the fire out and reducing
damage on a very large scale. The smoke smell is not bad, but anything that burns
can have other chemical issues that are negative to your health, especially if
you already have allergies, or illnesses. Due to the smoke, however and a request
from our insurance company to not use any appliances until inspections could
be completed, we had to relocate to another place. Our policy covered a hotel,
and we had an alternate location for the pets. We are now all co located in the
alternate location, and the day to day living goes on, with minimal (fortunately)
changes. (The clean up cost around $6,000 in USD.)
This brings up the subject of rapid evacuation and not necessarily having any
load out time for kits, supplies or BOB/G.O.O.D. bags. For my wife, she got out
in
about three minutes, including the 911 call.
Fortunately we were able to get back into the house and secure things like additional
clothing and the bulk of our kit. This was after the fact and not able to do
so during the event. Again I was at work, my wife at home, my step daughter at
school for the day.
However, this brings to mind a few learning points.
A. It is not enough to have Smoke and CO detectors only in the main living quarters
of your home. Get them in your utility rooms and garage as well.
B. Take the time to add adequate fire extinguishers in those same locations (ABC
chemical and larger than the car trunk style about the size of a quart bottle)
C. Review your coverage before you need it. Car/Home/ Renters insurance. Like
other preps, this is something that needs review, just like inventories.
D. Maintain a solid contact list. Update the list and the contacts on your situation
asap.
E. Some add on suggestions to the strongbox, for your important papers, Stamps
and envelopes, both calling cards and a few rolls of quarters for immediate laundry
when possible.72 hours worth of clothing is quickly run through. (We had to mail
in our house payment, but I had to get stamps, "Doh" to me for that one.)
Thanks, - T. in the Pacific Northwest
Visitor Map
