Earthquake carry

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Jun 22, 2020
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I experienced second really strong earthquake this year.

6.3 Richter this time.
Even 5.4 one at March did lots of damage to the city and has caused a crack on my house.
Lucky for me it didn't get much worse.

I have backpack ready to go, Esee 3, Boker GoBag and Warcraft Tanto are inside and ready to go.

And despite all that, I'm carrying the Peace Maker III on my pants entire time. I might not be able to get my backpack or get to my backpack in time if it shakes again.

All tips are welcome.
 
Sorry to hear about the quake, and just as a friendly reminder, if there is more quake expected in the following hours/days, I really think what blades to carry is probably not high on the priority list for your survival. If you suspect your building may not be safe structurally(or don't want to wait until the inspection), maybe it is time to move out to a safe location now.

Here are a few links for earthquake prep after a quick google search:
https://www.ready.gov/earthquakes
https://www.redcross.org/get-help/h...rgencies/types-of-emergencies/earthquake.html
https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/earthquakes/prepared.html

Personally, I would rather to have water, mask, phone, flashlight, whistle on person, and I probably would favor a mini prybar(or a fixed blade that is strong enough for prying, such as BK3) than just a cutting tool.
 
What all is included in your go bag? Any additional equipment in the vehicle?

What's your plan, where do you go?
 
Sorry to hear about the quake, and just as a friendly reminder, if there is more quake expected in the following hours/days, I really think what blades to carry is probably not high on the priority list for your survival. If you suspect your building may not be safe structurally(or don't want to wait until the inspection), maybe it is time to move out to a safe location now.

Here are a few links for earthquake prep after a quick google search:
https://www.ready.gov/earthquakes
https://www.redcross.org/get-help/h...rgencies/types-of-emergencies/earthquake.html
https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/earthquakes/prepared.html

Personally, I would rather to have water, mask, phone, flashlight, whistle on person, and I probably would favor a mini prybar(or a fixed blade that is strong enough for prying, such as BK3) than just a cutting tool.
Thanks a lot, I'll check out these sites.

There are tremors entire time, we had 5.4 quake in March, 5.1 quake few days ago and 6.3 quake today. In between those there was extremely large number of other weaker quakes. They did say there is a chance that plate is about to crack here so it's possible even level 7.5 will hit us. They have been saying this ever since March.

And I can't carry that much stuff on me entire time. I have a knife and a lighter, I'll add a whistle too. So thank you for that.
What all is included in your go bag? Any additional equipment in the vehicle?

What's your plan, where do you go?
In my bag:
Powerbank, some chargers, DC4 sharpener, first aid kit and over the counter meds, some water, protein bars and some clothes.

I don't have a car and I don't know where to go, but there is a lot of people offering their homes to people who just lost their homes.
Even I offered some people fo come here if they have no other place to go.
 
Your covered in the knife department lol.

I would add a quality first aid kit with no expense spared (cat or sof-t tourniquet, olaes or Israeli bandage, quick clot or other hemostatic agent, petroleum jelly gauze or designated chest seals, thermal blanket, etc.)

I would also add some basic survival stuff like a whistle (for comms if trapped), two good flashlights with extra batteries, 550 cord, lighter, a lifestraw, eye protection and mask or a gas mask, snacks, cash, etc.

ps- personally I would drop the larger knife and add a small hatchet. Esee 3 and a one piece steel hatchet like an estwing or something. Better for breaching and stuff. Just my .02.
 
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Personally I’d ditch 2 of those fixed blades and add a multi tool or SAK. I live in the Midwest, so I also keep a bag packed (F1 and ST300) for natural disasters...here it’s tornadoes. First aid kit, a weather radio, clean socks, bic lighters, candles, flashlights, batteries, energy bars, and bottled water are a lot more useful than being weighted down with knives.
I keep a box of .38 hollow points in my most equipped bag, but that’s more for peace of mind.
 
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Personally I’d ditch 2 of those fixed blades and add a multi tool or SAK. I live in the Midwest, so I also keep a bag packed (F1 and ST300) for natural disasters...here it’s tornadoes. First aid kit, clean socks, bic lighters, candles, flashlights, batteries, energy bars, and bottled water are a lot more useful than being weighted down with knives.
I keep a box of .38 hollow points in my most equipped bag, but that’s more for peace of mind.
True, I'll ditch GoBag and leave ESEE3 and Warcraft.
I don't have a SAK tho.

I do have a lighter, but no flashlight or gun.

About clothes - socks and underwear mostly. As far as food goes - protein bars and bacon is all I got.

But not to joke around, I gotta go to work tommorrow and also I'm sometimes outside on my yard. So I'm carrying a PMIII since I won't run into my house to get my backpack if it's shaking when I'm outside.
PMIII has a nice clip on the sheath, it's not too small or too large, and it's very light, stainless and 4116 is easy to sharpen. So I know I'd be able to get it sharp even without dedicated sharpening stone, or ceramic/diamond. Carrying my D2 blade for such purpose wouldn't be very smart of me since I don't know for sure I'd be able to get it back to sharp once it went dull.
 
Thanks a lot, I'll check out these sites.

There are tremors entire time, we had 5.4 quake in March, 5.1 quake few days ago and 6.3 quake today. In between those there was extremely large number of other weaker quakes. They did say there is a chance that plate is about to crack here so it's possible even level 7.5 will hit us. They have been saying this ever since March.

And I can't carry that much stuff on me entire time. I have a knife and a lighter, I'll add a whistle too. So thank you for that.

In my bag:
Powerbank, some chargers, DC4 sharpener, first aid kit and over the counter meds, some water, protein bars and some clothes.

I don't have a car and I don't know where to go, but there is a lot of people offering their homes to people who just lost their homes.
Even I offered some people fo come here if they have no other place to go.

It sounds pretty serious, and hope you would stay safe.

Couple more suggestions:

1) I strongly recommend to keep a full charged phone with you, within arm reach and ring volume to max, at all times. If something bad happen, that is your most important signal device.

2) Do you have any friends/family within the city? I would really recommend to create a protocol within various groups of friends/family (for example, 4-5 families). And contact each other via apps/phone every 6-12 hours. That is to ensure if something bad happen to the group/person, others could report the emergency and start the rescue.

3) Collect all important documents you need(passport/legal papers/etc) and harddrives for your personal/business data and family photos/videoes.

4) In most cities, there is always a emergency shelter in place to deal with this kind of situation. If there is one and you suspect your building is no longer safe to stay in, by all means go there now. Read those links I sent earlier, there contains some info about sheltering during a pandemic.

Good luck!
 
I was in the San Francisco Loma Prieta earthquake in 1989. Magnitude 7.2

Lessons learned and published by first responders after everything was said and done, the "Ontario Rescue Tool" or anything like it: hydrant wrench, gas shut off and spanner wrench, axe and pry bar. Add to it a SAK for opening packages. Ditch the fix blades. Think twice about carrying a firearm. Local laws apply especially during a disaster.
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True, I'll ditch GoBag and leave ESEE3 and Warcraft.
I don't have a SAK tho.

I do have a lighter, but no flashlight or gun.

About clothes - socks and underwear mostly. As far as food goes - protein bars and bacon is all I got.

But not to joke around, I gotta go to work tommorrow and also I'm sometimes outside on my yard. So I'm carrying a PMIII since I won't run into my house to get my backpack if it's shaking when I'm outside.
PMIII has a nice clip on the sheath, it's not too small or too large, and it's very light, stainless and 4116 is easy to sharpen. So I know I'd be able to get it sharp even without dedicated sharpening stone, or ceramic/diamond. Carrying my D2 blade for such purpose wouldn't be very smart of me since I don't know for sure I'd be able to get it back to sharp once it went dull.

I think it only make sense if you can carry those emergency supplies/important belongings with you when you head out. If you are not living or working in a highrise, I do suggest to choose the stairs instead of elevators. Flashlight is important, find one if you can, since you will really need it if there is a blackout. Also, don't forget proper clothing. Once again, good luck!
 
Think twice about carrying a firearm.
I don't own a firearm or have permission to carry one, so I will not carry one.
Ditch the fix blades
They are only thing I have, and only thing I can have with me on person during the day.
I don't have a SAK, and even if I did - I'd want a fixed blade next to it.
My resources are limited.
It sounds pretty serious, and hope you would stay safe.

Couple more suggestions:

1) I strongly recommend to keep a full charged phone with you, within arm reach and ring volume to max, at all times. If something bad happen, that is your most important signal device.

2) Do you have any friends/family within the city? I would really recommend to create a protocol within various groups of friends/family (for example, 4-5 families). And contact each other via apps/phone every 6-12 hours. That is to ensure if something bad happen to the group/person, others could report the emergency and start the rescue.

3) Collect all important documents you need(passport/legal papers/etc) and harddrives for your personal/business data and family photos/videoes.

4) In most cities, there is always a emergency shelter in place to deal with this kind of situation. If there is one and you suspect your building is no longer safe to stay in, by all means go there now. Read those links I sent earlier, there contains some info about sheltering during a pandemic.

Good luck!
My phone and my wallet are in my pockets entire time. And I also have digital version of my documents on my phone.
 
I think it only make sense if you can carry those emergency supplies/important belongings with you when you head out. If you are not living or working in a highrise, I do suggest to choose the stairs instead of elevators. Flashlight is important, find one if you can, since you will really need it if there is a blackout. Also, don't forget proper clothing. Once again, good luck!
I'll get a waterproof flashlight tommorrow.

About my stuff... I might lock them in a wooden barn next to my house. It's really hard to break in there, and also, my dog likes to sleep in there - so it's last place where you want to break in.
Even if it goes down in a quake - it'll be easy to still get my stuff from those ruins. But wood doesn't crack as corncrete and bricks so it should be fine.
 
I’d buy the flashlight (hell, despite all the fancy lights you see on here, a AA LED Maglite is an excellent tool), and a basic SAK first. Think canned food...it can be found at any store, is relatively cheap to stockpile, and a cold can of chunky soup would taste like a gourmet meal if you’re REALLY hungry. That can opener might be the most important tool you’ll have.
 
I was in the San Francisco Loma Prieta earthquake in 1989. Magnitude 7.2

Lessons learned and published by first responders after everything was said and done, the "Ontario Rescue Tool" or anything like it: hydrant wrench, gas shut off and spanner wrench, axe and pry bar. Add to it a SAK for opening packages. Ditch the fix blades. Think twice about carrying a firearm. Local laws apply especially during a disaster.
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Best answer, but pricey. The individual tools are cheaper. Also, add a flashlight with spare batteries.
I'm a second generation California native and have in So Cal most of my 68 years.

Do not stash weapons. You need tools and knowledge.
Know where the gas shutoff is.
Know where the water shutoff is.
Have something to turn them off, and know how to do so.
Have an emergency supply of any required medications.
Have enough of a med kit that you can stop bleeding.
Identify a safe spot in your house or apartment. Under a heavy table, beside the bed or next to something which will shelter you from falling debris.

The idea is to survive the quake and its immediate aftermath. There is help that will come afterward. You are not preparing for a zombie attack scenario.
 
I live in California, where we're still waiting for THE BIG ONE. Unfortunately it's simply not practical to carry everything a person might need after a natural disaster.

As far as things one could reasonably carry, knife wise, if I were trapped in a building I'd want a stout and pointy fixed-blade. One that could be used to punch/chop through a wall, and handle some moderate prying. Naturally it wouldn't be as good as a hatchet/axe or full size pry/crow bar, but those items might be impractical to carry.

I remember a story from 9/11 where people chopped their way through a wall using parts from a cleaning man's squeegee. I remember it was difficult and they had wished they had a knife.

Another item I would recommend is something with your name, blood type, any allergies, and emergency contact info on it (family names, addresses, phone numbers). Right this information down on multiple pieces of paper and carry them in different places on your person and in your stuff in little ziploc bags or clear plastic vials with "EMERGENCY INFO" written on them. I know people who have had such info engraved on military-style dog tags which they always wear, with extras secured in the laces of each of their boots and used as zipper pulls on bags and jackets.

Don't count on being conscious after an earthquake or it's aftermath to identify yourself or provide vital information to medical personnel. You could easily become one of those people who end up in a coma during a natural disaster that no one can identify. And don't count on your cell phone, or wallet to identify you. People still get robbed during natural disasters (perhaps more frequently, civilization and law enforcement tend to break down), and if you are unconscious, your bag and wallet could be stolen, and your pockets emptied.

As a general policy, I follow the philosophy- "Never put all your eggs in the technological basket". People tend to live through their phones and laptops, completely depending on them for everything (like storing important phone numbers and personal documents). But I can't count how many times I've seen where someone either lost their device, or it was stolen, and they are screwed because as they say- "my whole life was in there!".

I see you have a powerbank. I bought one recently and really like it (pictured below). The one I have can jump start multiple vehicles, charge a phone, power a laptop, and power any 12 volt device (I sometimes use it to power a portable tire inflator). It also has a built-in LED light and it can easily fit in my back pocket with room to spare. It came with a variety of attachments and adapters (just a few shown).

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Some years ago when they had that big one in Japan, our niece was on the U/S.S. Blueridge and was part of the relief effort. She was working on restoring communications and everywhere she went, she had an escort of a few Japanese civil defense workers. They all carried a short D handle shovel that was used like a crowbar, digging tool and hatchet with one edge sharpened. Each had two flashlights and canteens, and large adjustable wrench. Clean water was a high priority and hard to get the first 24 to 48 hours. Fixed blade knives were very far down the list of things needed. Allyssa had her tool kit and a Leatherman tool that was used a lot.

Some dried food bars and clean water, and a good flashlight are going to be more valuable than large knives. Short shovel/entrenching tool is very good for multiple uses.
 
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