Hurricane preparedness ?

ryan9977

ryan9977

Joined
Feb 16, 2006
Messages
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Hey everyone , the mrs wants me to put together a bag in case we gotta get outta dodge quickly....we live in nj and endured sandy.....our home was damaged and during the storm we had to leave quick....I didn't have anything ready....and we took like five minuted to grab what we could and leave....well needless to say I wanna be ready next time.....

As far as what size bag, I'm thinking anything reasonable....medium sized duffel bag,,,large backpack etc.....I'm not too concerned for size....I mean I'm gonna carry it to my car and drive off.....I'm not walking in the woods with the thing.....


As far as contents, what should I pack....the things I needed that were in short spply were batteries, a way to charge your cellphone and we were freezing so I figure some sort of space blanket type thing would be useful.....

Anyway what else could u guys recommend as far as what to take with us?....I'd imagine a scenario with no power for a while....food we were sort of ok for during the storm....we were eventually able to get a generator but it took a while unfortunately.....anyway any suggestions would be appreciated.....

Also what's he deal with space blankets....are there good ones and bad ones....do they all work....any particular one I should get....don't know much about them....ryan
 
What part of NJ?
Bugging out in Vernon in the winter can be epic, while South Jersey not so much.
I'm in Morris County...I oversaw the running of our emergency shelter during Sandy.
Some folks couldn't even make a PB&J sammich...others were GTG except for WIFI.
Before I spent any money on fragile space blankets, I'd run out to Dicks and buy a fleece bag liner and look for a casualty blanket online...zipped into the bag liner with the casualty bag as a wind shield keeps you warm and fairly dry.
For me; winters are spent staying dry while outside...cold isn't as big an issue.
Water and the ability to find shelter and warmth (dry clothes) is key.
Rugged comfortable footwear and work gloves should be part of your preps.
Each of our vehicles has changes of clothes, rain gear, water and power bars, jumper cables and basic tool kits.
Each family member also has a backpack.
I have a Rubbermaid tub of items that will go with us in the event we need to leave ASAP.
During the last 2 big storms, our generator and chainsaw were used extensively.
I'll be adding another saw before October.
This may or may not be a necessary bit of info, but when they start talking about bad weather in NJ...it's too late to go shopping unless you are VERY patient.
Wifey and the kids know that we refill gas tanks when they get to the 1/2 full mark.
We do not use stored fuel to top off tanks without refilling immediately.

Good on you for getting prepared...
Pete
 
1. goal zero solar panel to charge aa/aaa batteries or cell phones. the larger the panel the faster it'll charge...click on my sig for my review.
2. since you'll be putting it in the car, skip the space blanket and buy some surplus wool blankets or sleeping bags - much more comfortable.
3. gas cans.
4. cash in low denomination ($1, $10 or $20s).
5. gas stove like a snowpeak or jetboil so you can quickly boil water for coffee, etc. having something hot to drink when you're cold boosts morale.
6. tarp and cordage.
7. emberlit wood stove. it doesn't take much wood to boil water.
8. small radio to get updates/local news.
9. water filter.

basically, start going on overnight camping trips. a lot of the gear and skills you'll acquire are useful for all kinds of emergencies. using the stuff before you actually need it is a good idea.
 
Don't overlook the mighty power of the hot water bottle. I know they are a bit old granny but get past that. Sure you could grab a box of chemical type ones but there is something great about the basic rubber hot water bottle in that all the time you can find something to burn you can loop the contents round and round, so free heat. I'd pay extra attention to this given they stack flat and don't have to be man-portable, have two or three. One of those is going to provide a day and night difference in a sleeping bag, and for size and weight offer you much more that any blanket can. Hell, I've got some kiddies sized ones not much bigger than a fag packet that I habitually use when out in snow – bit of string loop on 'em and poke 'em down the jacket. I'm sure the regular big foot long ones have a lot of cuddle to offer someone that has just taken a shock too.
 
I live in NJ too. Outside of folks suggestions on clothes we have an emergency plan for our pets as we have lizards and cats. So we have pet carriers all placed in one exact spot in the attic. We also have a safe with all of our documents. Passport, mortgage, house insurance, birth certificates, social security etc etc and right next to it I keep two garbage bags and a school bag to wrap the important documents in. I know its not imperative but it's solid planning should we need to rebuild our life after.
 
Also if you hhave a house and no generator buy yours early. Unsavory people were charging 3k for a 700 dollar portable Gen after the hurricane. I had bought mine in may. In case you do have to stay get a marine gas tank 30 Gallons or at least as many gas cans that you can carry figure 7 gallons on average will get you through the night. I keep four of the five gallon cans myself. I also purchased a backup sump pump drop in style in case my regular one fails.
 
1.Personal Information Management (PIM) system with backups: Proof of identity, proof of ownership, proof of insurance, qualification certificates, contact information, legal documents (marriage, birth etc) and any other documents you will need to restart your life somewhere else. An encrypted thumb-drive in a go bag works.

2. Money: Cash, checks, debit and credit cards, the information required for online banking, enough of a savings-buffer to be able to walk away. Money is easier to transport than stuff.

3. Communications: Phone/Smartphone/laptop. Being able to keep in touch with the rest of the world is invaluable in a disaster scenario. Modern phones have GPS units, maps, access to the internet, weather and news services.

4. A plan: Do not just walk out the door aimlessly. Where are you going, how are you getting there, do your loved ones know the plan? Have a backupplan and the items that will get you there. Also have a plan for what happens when you get to where you are going.

5. A means of transport: Walking is your last resort, and riding a bike is only a little better. Motorized transport is the way to go even if that means taking a bus.
 
I second the Rubbermaid tub or better still, the heavier duty Action Packer chests. Sized to fit several in your car. And some sort of pack/container for important papers. More batteries than you think you will need for flashlights and small radio, car chargers for the cell phone. One chest can hold food and food prep gear, the other blankets, clothing and shelter. Basicly, I prepared for a week long camping trip whether I evacuated or bugged in. A case of water at least. More depending on number of adults, children and pets. I was hit dead center by hurricanes Opal and Erin when I lived on a spit of sand in the Gulf of Mexico and was without power for a week each time. My wife, two children and dog made it through just fine.
 
As threads progress...the jewels are found.
1) Have a plan.
2) Small denomination bills.
3) Personal information
4) Buy/store equipment prior to the event.

Wifey and I figure we are good for 30+ days without power...in the dead of winter, we'd have to drain down the water lines and live on cots in the basement.

As far as walking any distance; I'd stash a couple sets of trekking poles in the car.

While NJ is not wilderness, you may want something to protect you from 2 legged predators.
Traversing any of our fine metropolis areas during a disaster can be very unsettling.

I like the Gray Man concept: avoid military clothing and packs of possible. 511 vests are handy but you'll draw less attention if you wear a cheap windbreaker over it.
 
You do not really need a lot of stuff to travel around these days. Example: Here is a blog of a guy who traveled around the world without any kind of bag whatsoever.

http://www.rtwblog.com/
Edit: His packing list would fit into a fishing vest.
http://www.rtwblog.com/2010/08/how-to-pack-for-a-journey-with-no-luggage/

For grab and go type stuff when everything is still up and running you really do not need much beyond yourself and your critical information. The important thing is having your affairs in order so you can go if you have to. Not so you are trying to collect all the family photos and find whatever documents you need when the time comes. Have a plan and set up the logistics so that plan will succeed with a high probability.

The plan is 1)Stay or 2)Go to a prearranged location.

You need food, water, shelter, and sanitation until you can make it to your destination. There is a high probability that you can acquire those things along the way as long as you have your other affairs in order.
 
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Edit: His packing list would fit into a fishing vest.
I have a fishing vest and BDU Field Jacket liner that I put together as a minimalist BOB rig...now to find it in the man-cave.
 
I'd also suggest adding some MREs to your gear. They're relatively small and you can carry quite a few in a car. Get the ones that are totally self-contained including water for the heater. A full MRE once a day and some Coast Guard / FAA type survival squares can keep the two of you going for several days if necessary. Some water purfication / filtration is also eas to carry and use and may come n handy. I have all of this in a Maxped Proteus along with a multitool, a heatsheet, some lighting, and spare batteries. It just goes with me everywhere on the floorboard behind my seat.
 
Great ideas, Already posted and you should implement all of them.
I would also stress that you should take photos of your house and everything inside of it. Even better take a video of everything. That way when the problems start with the insurance you can show them what you had. Scan every important document you have and save it as well. Take pics of your family members where you can see there faces clearly. So is a scan of your driver lic or ID. A thumb driver is cheap now days. You can have more info then you need on a single 5gig. Have each family member carry basic info on each memory stick. Make sure you and your wife carry all the important info that you might not want your kids to carry. Find a nice metal container that is water proof to keep the memory stick in. If family member is lost they could provide a pic of the parent or a pic of the child to who ever is in charge. Carry a map of the area, mark places where you might meet in diffrent senerios(sp) each place should have a number and a letter. This way you can just give that info and they would know where to meet. You should have a meeting place set up that is close to where everyone is and few meeting places that would take longer travel to get there. Carry some two way radios, All electronics you going to store keep with them the Lithium batteries. They last 10 years in storage and they have twice the energy of a regular battery.
Remember that it would take alot longer to travel in case of an emergency.
I'm trying to get all family members over here on board in case of an earthquake. My idea is that we going to meet at my parents and stay there. I also consider that I might have to walk 30 miles to get there. I'm giving my self three days to do that. Expecting that it would take longer to walk with some areas that I might want to walk around. As well with the idea that many roads would be closed and bridges would collpse that I wont know about till I get there. So those 30 miles might become 40-50miles.
 
I put together an action packer similar in size to a 48 qt ice chest after recent fires required a lot of people to leave their home in less than a few minutes. I cleaned out the closets and filled the box with old clothes and enough medical and toiletry items for each member if the family to stay in a home for 3 days. This should get us through. Also have the weather radio and a few small hand tools along with the 80 go portable storage backup for the home pc. Enough to get by with but not be in a pinch. The rest of the items such as bottles water and groceries are close enough I can throw them in an ice chest and go.
 
I'm not in an evacuation zone for storm surge or fresh water flooding, and the house has been 125mph, so a direct hit from a Cat 4 or 5 for me to evacuate... I store my storm electronics and di di mao gear in a rolling tool chest with handle... gives me the ability to use it as a hand truck to stack a couple of the totes or 5gal bucketsd on top, or to sit on if I should have to spend time at a shelter... included to leave with it...5 gal bucket of individual Mountain House entrees... Sawyer .1micron 5 gal bucket filter...Sawyer DEET bug spray... Sanyo Eneloop AA batteries with a Fujifilm SCH 808f controller charger that works on 12v cigarette plug and 120v wall adapter... AA powered LED headlamp, LED task light, LED area lantern, Midland 300 Weather alert AM/FM radio....12v and 120v phone charger... my old flip phone uses miniUSB, so charges from my Goal Zero Guide 10 battery pack...the Guide 10 pack can charge from the 7w panel as well as the 120v to 5v transformer via USB... GI mess kit... toiletries kit with TP...nylon change of clothing... good towel... extra cash...thumb drive of papers...family photo album not on disc... to cook a single burner unleaded gas Coleman... battery powered fan...additionally two 5 or 7 day coolers... one for perishables and one for ice...prescription for meds... meds (prescription and OTC)...GoreTex jacket... sandals to allow feet to dry... I keep a mini trauma kit with my pistol... one of the ARs... I keep a pretty good first aid kit in the car... I've been here since Donna in 1962....

 
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