One possible scenario is the unexpected emergency evacuation. It could go like this: it's a peaceful evening. You've just finished dinner and are sitting down with a good book when there's a knock at the door. Who could that be? My goodness, it's a police officer. "Officer, how can I be of assistance this evening?"
"There's been an accident down the road. A truck carrying hazardous materials is overturned and if it catches fire, there'll be cloud of poisonous gases that'll come right over this house. We're evacuating the neighborhood. Get out immediately!"
What do you do?
Keep a duffle bag packed with a simple change of cloths for everyone in the family.
Keep your shaving kits packed and prescription medications in one place.
Keep your important records and papers (medical records, insurance records, deeds, titles, recent financial records, etc., adoption papers, wedding records, important legal records, etc.) all in one place. Keep keys to any car or RV you don't use often in this same place so you don't have to hunt for 'em. Same for keys to any second residence you may have. Also keep a list of phone numbers of family and friend you might need to call as well as professional contacts such as insurance agents, your broker, lawyer, doctor, etc. I recommend one of the Sentry fire-resistant chests. Not only will it protect your records, but it has a handle on it and you can grab it and throw it in the trunk. I call mine "the football" after the briefcase full of crypto codes and equipment kept near the president to handle military emergencies.
Keep emergency bedding such as sleeping bags ready to go and in one convenient place. A shelf in the garage works well. Other basics such as have been outlined should also be kept collected in one place.
If you have pets who will come with you, collect their needs, a spare bowl, a spare leash, a few days worth of food, etc., into a handy duffel bag.
If you have pets that will stay (fish, for example) have the supplies and equipment they'll need (a time-release food cube, a timer for lights, etc.) organized and ready to go.
If you have a baby, prepare an emergency diaper bag including baby food, etc. and keep it ready to go.
It's also a good idea to mark the circuit breakers in your electrical panel that you'll want to hit off on the way out. Of course, don't turn off the one that has the fridge on it, leave the heat on. The one with the heating tape on the pipes on it should stay on, but the rest just turn 'em off. This way you don't waste time running around the house making sure you've unplugged the iron, etc. Just hit the breakers and go.
Next, prepare an "emergency egress checklist." Organize it so that you can make one and only one trip through the house picking up what you need from each room and making sure that everything is secure as you go (windows are closed, faucets are turned off, the fridge door is closed, etc., etc., etc.) all in one quick trip. The final item on the list is "Lock the front door behind you."
Finally, drill everyone. Some evening when the family is all sitting quietly, just jump up and declare an emergency evac drill. Start your stop watch and see how fast you can get the house secure and everything and everyone into the car and ready to go.
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Chuck
Balisongs -- because it don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing!
http://www.4cs.net/~gollnick
