James:
The following is mostly for the benefit of SurvivalBlog readers who live in Israel, but other readers might find it of interest.
Here we go again! Hizb’allah has apparently taken down the somewhat western-aligned government in Lebanon. I want to put not only Israeli readers on warning to have some extra supplies on hand but also collect bedding and blankets to be ready to accept people into your home seeking refuge from the north along the Lebanon and Syria borders. This time around it is important even for people living in the merkaz and possibly even south of Jerusalem to be on alert since the Hizb’allah has been re-equipped since the last rocket war with a far larger arsenal especially of longer-ranged weapons. Stocks now include mobile launcher SCUD ballistic missiles. I don’t think much anymore of the Iraqi WMD migration to Syria but keep NBC precautions in mind anyway.
If not equipped ask if there are still stocks of subsidized gas masks for the whole family at the post office — now designated by the Interior Command as the new mask distributor. Atropine injectors for nerve gas are no longer issued in the package. Hotels keep stock of masks for all visitors. Find out now who is in charge of your community bomb shelter if you do not have one in your home. Volunteer to help clean out cluttered or overloaded shelters especially in your own home. Most community shelters are either a hardened basement in a public building or purpose built shelter which is used by community groups. If their is a drainage or maintenance issue with your community meklat (bomb refuge) addressing your city or area council is probably the fastest way to get repairs done. You should have grab-n-go bags if you do not have a shelter in your home with a minimum of toilet paper, your gas mask, a trash bag, 2-4 liters of water, ready to eat food, and a AM/FM radio to listen for bulletins on army radio and other stations. Home shelters and some public shelters can be pre-stocked if you know the keeper but anything in a public shelter will end up being shared.
Lastly, I ask readers worldwide to address our creator and keeper and pray for peace. Shalom, – David in Israel