Last night I had the distinct pleasure of sitting atop a 6.0 earthquake. :eek:
There were definitely some things that I suddenly found I really wished I had thought of beforehand! When you're getting shaken like a martini in pitch blackness while everything you own crumbles around you it's a rather disorienting experience, even for a generally cool customer such as myself. Glad it was just a 6.0! I'll chalk this one up as a learning experience.
Note to self: Have some good boots and flashlight ready at both bedsides.
Some good clothing as well for if you have time for it. I pride myself in knowing the layout of my house so well I can traverse it in pitch black. Fat lot of good that did me. Everything had moved and there was broken glass seemingly everywhere. I still had a pistol handy, but it wasn't that kind of emergency! I had ended up on the floor over on the wrong side of the bed.
Note to self: Make BOB more easily accessible.
The coat closet by the front door was way too far to go for my BOB. Yes, 20ft was too damn far! I got my go bag over my shoulders in case I had to make a mad dash and then worried about getting the appropriate footwear. What good is it to survive the shake only to go out on a stupid wound immediately after the fact? The house was a disaster. One could have been seriously wounded trying to get through the wreck without good boots and a light.
Note to self: Headlamp!
I felt like an ass holding my compact flashlight in my teeth because my hands needed to be free to get ready and clear a path out. What if I dropped it? Get a headlamp.
Note to self: Got to be faster!
Okay, we were not the fastest ones to make it outside. What greeted us next drives home why we prepare...
Note to self: More water, more guns.
Almost everyone else in the neighborhood emerged in their nightclothes armed only with cell phones (which of course did not work). Okay, so our houses didn't fall down, but come on! Just about everything else did, including chunks of walls. Only one other couple emerged from their home with boots and bags on, carrying real flashlights. All of these people are my neighbors and my allies. In the short term my interests are closely intertwined with theirs. Later on, they may become my enemies as I might be seen as possibly having what they want/need, or maybe just because.
Note to self: Be a little less obvious.
Perhaps the fact that I had a camo bag with an axe hanging off it made me stick out a bit? It might have been appropriate where I used to live, but here it would be better if I look like a student rather than a redneck. I went ahead and purchased a high-quality pack with an internal hybrid frame that looks more like a plain college kid backpack today. I'm going to let it go that I emerged dressed with real footwear while most sported pajamas, but I can improve on the pack without compromising readiness.
Note to self: Better bug out vehicle.
Our homes sustained a good bit of damage. Many chose to leave. Wait, how much gas do I have? What if this had happened away from home? I need to make sure I improve the kit in my truck. Not just a walk home bag, but a walk away bag? Not to mention having the gas to get out to our relatively far away BOL if necessary. Also need to have an extra key made and hidden on the vehicle in case I do not make it out with keys.
Note to self: Improve bug in plan.
Our bug in supplies were stashed in the kitchen. Big mistake. That room was a war zone. It probably fared the worst. We could not access those things without considerable effort. Have a few stashes around the house. Battery powered lantern. Get one. Get more than one. I had lots of emergency candles we didn't use. Fire + aftershocks or leaking gas lines= crappy.
And an extra note:
I had the presence of mind to yank power cords out of the wall as we made our way out. Probably avoided a good fire in doing so, as many of the electronics were compromised in some way. Plan for this, maybe find a way to make it easier/faster.
The day after:
Most stores are closed. They all got trashed just like our homes. Price gouging is in full effect. Many are still without power or other resources. I heard every generator at the hardware store was bought up bright and early this morning. Didn't venture to the stores, but I'm sure the same goes for general supplies where they were available.
Your feedback is greatly appreciated. If any of you read this and think "I need to do that" then I accomplished something good here. Cheers!
There were definitely some things that I suddenly found I really wished I had thought of beforehand! When you're getting shaken like a martini in pitch blackness while everything you own crumbles around you it's a rather disorienting experience, even for a generally cool customer such as myself. Glad it was just a 6.0! I'll chalk this one up as a learning experience.
Note to self: Have some good boots and flashlight ready at both bedsides.
Some good clothing as well for if you have time for it. I pride myself in knowing the layout of my house so well I can traverse it in pitch black. Fat lot of good that did me. Everything had moved and there was broken glass seemingly everywhere. I still had a pistol handy, but it wasn't that kind of emergency! I had ended up on the floor over on the wrong side of the bed.
Note to self: Make BOB more easily accessible.
The coat closet by the front door was way too far to go for my BOB. Yes, 20ft was too damn far! I got my go bag over my shoulders in case I had to make a mad dash and then worried about getting the appropriate footwear. What good is it to survive the shake only to go out on a stupid wound immediately after the fact? The house was a disaster. One could have been seriously wounded trying to get through the wreck without good boots and a light.
Note to self: Headlamp!
I felt like an ass holding my compact flashlight in my teeth because my hands needed to be free to get ready and clear a path out. What if I dropped it? Get a headlamp.
Note to self: Got to be faster!
Okay, we were not the fastest ones to make it outside. What greeted us next drives home why we prepare...
Note to self: More water, more guns.
Almost everyone else in the neighborhood emerged in their nightclothes armed only with cell phones (which of course did not work). Okay, so our houses didn't fall down, but come on! Just about everything else did, including chunks of walls. Only one other couple emerged from their home with boots and bags on, carrying real flashlights. All of these people are my neighbors and my allies. In the short term my interests are closely intertwined with theirs. Later on, they may become my enemies as I might be seen as possibly having what they want/need, or maybe just because.
Note to self: Be a little less obvious.
Perhaps the fact that I had a camo bag with an axe hanging off it made me stick out a bit? It might have been appropriate where I used to live, but here it would be better if I look like a student rather than a redneck. I went ahead and purchased a high-quality pack with an internal hybrid frame that looks more like a plain college kid backpack today. I'm going to let it go that I emerged dressed with real footwear while most sported pajamas, but I can improve on the pack without compromising readiness.
Note to self: Better bug out vehicle.
Our homes sustained a good bit of damage. Many chose to leave. Wait, how much gas do I have? What if this had happened away from home? I need to make sure I improve the kit in my truck. Not just a walk home bag, but a walk away bag? Not to mention having the gas to get out to our relatively far away BOL if necessary. Also need to have an extra key made and hidden on the vehicle in case I do not make it out with keys.
Note to self: Improve bug in plan.
Our bug in supplies were stashed in the kitchen. Big mistake. That room was a war zone. It probably fared the worst. We could not access those things without considerable effort. Have a few stashes around the house. Battery powered lantern. Get one. Get more than one. I had lots of emergency candles we didn't use. Fire + aftershocks or leaking gas lines= crappy.
And an extra note:
I had the presence of mind to yank power cords out of the wall as we made our way out. Probably avoided a good fire in doing so, as many of the electronics were compromised in some way. Plan for this, maybe find a way to make it easier/faster.
The day after:
Most stores are closed. They all got trashed just like our homes. Price gouging is in full effect. Many are still without power or other resources. I heard every generator at the hardware store was bought up bright and early this morning. Didn't venture to the stores, but I'm sure the same goes for general supplies where they were available.
Your feedback is greatly appreciated. If any of you read this and think "I need to do that" then I accomplished something good here. Cheers!
Earthquake Lessons From Last Night
Aucun commentaire:
Enregistrer un commentaire