Got an earthquake/disaster kit?

[termiteslayer]

I'm currently in So. Cal. and have felt tons and tons of quakes/aftershocks since the recent 7.2 Mexicali quake. Just felt a 5.8 around 9:30ish pm, here.
It got me looking at my supplies and I realized that my freshwater supply is basically not there.
Not good for being in the middle of millions of people in the desert.
Tomorrow, I'm stocking up on water, just to be prudent.
Anyway, just a FYI for you folks -
My boss' wife works for the Cal. Highway Patrol and she said that they were told to have enough food and supplies for their families for at least two weeks without any outside assistance.
The idea is that a disaster will happen somewhere, sometime and the government WON'T be able to help you... you'd better be prepared.
She said the tone of the CHP meeting was mostly about a potential superflu, but it could obviously be anything.
Just thought I'd throw this out there, hope this is acceptable to post within this part of the forum.
If more people are prepared for a bad event then it should significantly lesson the severity of said event.
Take care, folks.

 

[redpoint]

I too live in an earthquake zone and think about this often, but have yet to formally put a 'kit' together. I do however have an extensive gear cache all in one place, but no provisions stored there. Earthquakes are unpredictable [beyond knowing that you live in an earthquake zone] which makes preparing for them different than other types of natural disasters which maybe forecasted [e.g. hurricanes]. Personally, I think it's important to consider that driving away from the disaster scene may not be an option: traffic, obstacles etc. So, I've been considering a couple of options: a stationary cache and also a mobile set-up [the latter to be used in conjunction with the former]. The 'stationary' cache would really just have a lot more provisions: fuel, water etc. The 'mobile' set-up would rely more on equipment [i.e. a robust water filter] to obtain things like water rather than having to carry it.

This is not meant to be an exhaustive list just some things I've been thinking about without having to spend huge amounts of money [i.e. things I already own].

Stationary items:

5x20 liter MFC [military fuel cans] full of gasoline [with stabilizer] - just in case I can use my car

5x20 liter MWC [military water cans] full of water

Enough food [freeze-dried] and vitamins to feed a family of three for 1-2 months

Enough white gas to boil water/cook for 1-2 months

Large cache of cr123 [they can be stored for up to 10 years] batteries to run lights

A selection of knives and basic tools [axe, crowbar, saws, wrenches etc]

Extensive first-aid kit

I'd love to have a chainsaw too ... though I don't own one now.

So basically that stuff is the heavy stuff. Now, if we had to bust out of here without the car, we could use our mountain bikes or hike if need be.

Mobile items:

Basically everything that I would take on an extended climbing or ski trip plus a few extra tools and as much freeze-dried food as I could carry.

lightweight tent
tarp
sleeping bags
appropriate clothing and footwear
flashlights and headlamps plus a selection of batteries
stove+pot+fuel
water filter [go robust here - I have a Katadyn PF = awesome]
axe+heavy use knives
medium-duty FAK
GPS+maps of the surrounding area inc. the city you live in
cash+passports
personal hygiene items [basic]
etc etc ... basically as much of my outdoor gear as humanly possible.

This gear [ideally] would be stored in two waterproof backpacks [one for me and one for my wife] so we could bust-it-out on foot if need be. Stored near the entrance to our home.

I'd also suggest that you establish a 'meeting place' for you and your loved ones in the event of a disaster - someplace safe. We've selected a large sports field near our home.

Another thing I just thought of: rather than toss-out expired gas and provisions at regular intervals, just keep rolling them through. Use the gas in your vehicle, but then fill up the can; use the water to water your plants and then refill etc.

It's a tough thing to plan for, but good on you for at least thinking about it.:thumbup:

 

[JCavSD]

Last night's quake was the first one I've felt while in the car. At first I thought someone was on the outside rocking the car from side to side.

At home I'm fairly well stocked up, although I'm going to go get a few more five gallon jugs of water tonight just for good measure. However, in the car I have no food and no water. I spend much less time in the car than in my home, but it's probably enough time justify additional supplies. Five gallons of water and some granola bars going in tonight.

 

[Mannlicher]

not so many earthquakes in Florida, but I am fairly well geared up for hurricanes.

 

[Smash05]

Doug Ritter has an extensive list that I use for reference, and reference it out to others when asked. Keeping a list is a good means of inventory when you need it.

http://equipped.org/disastertoc.htm

 

[shangchi108]

Well, this forum is about survival in the wilderness. I think anyone involved in an earthquake in the wilderness is in pretty much the same shape as they were before the earthquake, if they survive it. The real danger is being in an urban environment and having all the infrastructure of a modern civilization go away. No power, no gas, no running water, etc. And you can't just go outside and find water, or dig a latrine, if you live in a concrete jungle.

And I do live in a concrete jungle.

As a rule, I keep lots of canned goods around, that can be eaten without heating. I have a folding stove with canned heat. About 7 gallons of water per person (I need more). Good store of medical supplies. Lots and lots of batteries for various flashlights. Fire extinguisher (the number one killer after an earthquake is fire). Emergency shelter and supplies if I have to relocate to a refugee area. Tools for digging myself and others out of whatever rubble there may be, and for performing small repairs. Lots of duct tape. Weapons for defense, because there will be a lot of survivors walking around who didn't prepare. Some will be nice, some will be not nice. It's good to be prepared for both.

I also carry a whistle (Fox 40) on me wherever I go. It would help if I were buried under rubble and still had life and breath in my lungs to call for help. Not much point of having supplies if you can't get to them, and you can't be found. You never know.