Just how prepared are you?

[Edbear]

Shameless plug, I know, but the situation in Chch has no doubt caused most of us to look to our resources for an emergency. Civil Defence has been telling us for years now to get a basic survival kit together. So while convalescing from spinal surgery, I've had the time to have a wee think about what would be in my ideal survival kit should such a thing happen in my neighbourhood.

We've got a couple of knapsacks ready with food and stuffs like spare batteries and a couple of torches, and we've got our camping gear to hand including one of those cannister-powered camping stoves and battery lanterns, an airbed or two, etc. But my business Fire & Light sold dozens of our dynamo-powered LED torch/radio/alarm's until we ran out and the next shipment isn't due until Nov. darn it!

So I put the thinking cap on and came up with these emergency kits that I'm going to begin selling. I've had some good responses to them so far, and would be interested in seeing if there might be a market for them so comments, (polite ones of course), would be appreciated. 10% off to KB'rs.

[imdying]

Yup, doesn't matter where you live... the whole fault line is looking pretty active...



/edit: I expect that image will change, so it if does, it basically shows (recent) quake sites up and down the entire country.

[Maha]

I have a quick bike, thats all I need.

[geoffc]

A good store of water is a must. Power & water supplies are likely to be cut in a large earthquake as was the case in Chch. We invested recently in a 500 litre water storage tank. We have it to water our garden & would be very useful if water supplies were cut off temporarily.

[Edbear]

I have a quick bike, thats all I need.

Judging by the roads after the Chch quake, you'll need a trail-bike or ADV bike!

A good store of water is a must. Power & water supplies are likely to be cut in a large earthquake as was the case in Chch. We invested recently in a 500 litre water storage tank. We have it to water our garden & would be very useful if water supplies were cut off temporarily.

My Bro-in-law in Rotorua makes storage tanks for lifestyle blocks and waste-water/roof run-off for watering gardens etc. I must ask if he's had enquiries for applications like yours?

[Slyer]

Don't most all houses on the Hibiscus Coast have water tanks?

[Edbear]

Don't most all houses on the Hibiscus Coast have water tanks?

Out on the peninsula they do past Red Beach, but the closer you get to Orewa more are on town supply. It's amazing over Summer to see the water trucks pounding up and down the peninsula flat out delivering water all day every day, from daylight til dark!

[Banditbandit]

I'm ready - I have a shot gun and three cases of shells ...

[avgas]

Since the quake I have put a big wheelie box of goodies under the bed. Self power torch is blue tacked to the headboard so that all I do is grab the torch, grab the wife, and grab the box while getting the fuck out.
Box has EVERYTHING I would require if I needed to get out and survive. Some strange things that you never think about:
- passports / birth certs / important documents
- painkillers
- keys
- hard-drive with all important data (digital photos)
- spare cellphone
- Clothes.... among many others.

Also we store all the canned goods in this box now. As chances are something simple like Pams Fruit salad could be all the difference between making sane decisions, or bawling your eyes out.

Also your pack needs to be set for a fast get away. Think of it like this, if you had 30 seconds to grab all your belongings, chuck em in a car and drive as far away from home as possible.......what would you grab? vs What could you grab?

[Edbear]

Since the quake I have put a big wheelie box of goodies under the bed. Self power torch is blue tacked to the headboard so that all I do is grab the torch, grab the wife, and grab the box while getting the fuck out.
Box has EVERYTHING I would require if I needed to get out and survive. Some strange things that you never think about:
- passports / birth certs / important documents
- painkillers
- keys
- hard-drive with all important data (digital photos)
- spare cellphone
- Clothes.... among many others.

Also we store all the canned goods in this box now. As chances are something simple like Pams Fruit salad could be all the difference between making sane decisions, or bawling your eyes out.

Also your pack needs to be set for a fast get away. Think of it like this, if you had 30 seconds to grab all your belongings, chuck em in a car and drive as far away from home as possible.......what would you grab? vs What could you grab?

Being somewhat disabled at the moment, I couldn't get away very quickly at all. It'sa good idea to have your important documents stored in one place, and many people have a small fire-proof safe for these. Unfortunately one can't prepare for everything and if a fire breaks out it is unlikely you'll be able to grab much more than yourselves.

A fire-extinguisher should be standard equipment as with a smoke alarm, as while you may not use it to save property, you may need it to help a trapped person and a minimum of 2kg should be the smallest. I know the advice is to get out and get safe first and don't try to be a hero but smoke alarms give an early enough warning that anyone trapped or disorientated could be saved if a fire-extinguisher was to hand. I carry one in the car as well, they may buy just enough time to get someone out.

I also sell rescue equipment such as breaking out tools for buildings and vehicles although if you have a good medium axe you'd be surprised what you can do with it in an emergency.

The bottom line is that you can go overboard with stuff but there are a few items that should be a minimum requirement and anyone who's been through a disaster will tell you how surprised they have been to realise how much on their own they were at first.

[Shadowjack]

As an ex-Civil Defence responder, I have taken their teachings to heart, and felt (almost, not quite) comfortable-ish about how events may have gone (albeit the house was still standing).

Not forgetting how you may have to get home if you are at work (or whatever). In Chch, for example, you may be screwed if you have to get north (or south) of the Waimakariri. Not a lot of folks are happy about having to maybe walk 10-20 kms.

My son's response (he's in a flat across town) a few months ago when I asked him the OP's same question was..."I'll just come over to your place, Dad". Right...

[Hitcher]

In your emergency kit also put $50 cash in a plastic zipper bag. If there's a major power outage, cash machines and EFTPOS won't work and you may need to buy something.

Although "kits" are a good idea and easy, I recommend that people assemble their own kits from a list (www.getprepared.co.nz). Firstly it's cheaper; secondly, you know what's in it; thirdly you may take time to learn how to use some of the things that are in there.

Food and water should be regularly cycled through your kit. Refresh your water each year -- write the date you do it on the outside of the canisters in indelible pen. Add one drip of Janola for each litre inside. Have a "chocolate party" every second year where you consume or donate your old chocolate stocks and replace them with new fresh. Canned food also needs to be managed for its "best by" date.

Also do good neighbourhood watch stuff too. Introduce yourself to your neighbours. Find out their contact details and if they have special needs. If you have special needs yourself (e.g. medical conditions like diabetes) make sure you share that with your neighbours. You may like to discuss things in advance, like where you're going to dig latrines and so on.

Also let your neighbours know where your emergency supplies are. If you're not able to get home or are killed or hospitalised, chances are they may be able to make good use of your stuff.

[Grasshopperus]

You guys are all idiots; I rate your ideas and kits as a 1/10 for zombie apocalypse survival purposes.

Zombie apocalypses being far more likely now than another earthquake.

[Edbear]

In your emergency kit also put $50 cash in a plastic zipper bag. If there's a major power outage, cash machines and EFTPOS won't work and you may need to buy something.

Although "kits" are a good idea and easy, I recommend that people assemble their own kits from a list (www.getprepared.co.nz). Firstly it's cheaper; secondly, you know what's in it; thirdly you may take time to learn how to use some of the things that are in there.

Food and water should be regularly cycled through your kit. Refresh your water each year -- write the date you do it on the outside of the canisters in indelible pen. Add one drip of Janola for each litre inside. Have a "chocolate party" every second year where you consume or donate your old chocolate stocks and replace them with new fresh. Canned food also needs to be managed for its "best by" date.

Also do good neighbourhood watch stuff too. Introduce yourself to your neighbours. Find out their contact details and if they have special needs. If you have special needs yourself (e.g. medical conditions like diabetes) make sure you share that with your neighbours. You may like to discuss things in advance, like where you're going to dig latrines and so on.

Also let your neighbours know where your emergency supplies are. If you're not able to get home or are killed or hospitalised, chances are they may be able to make good use of your stuff.

All good advice, esp about having a bit of cash on hand if you can't get out to another town unaffected by the event. And we also made up our own kits by shopping around. Supermarkets, TWH and hardware stores can offer cheaper products.

My kits are a way of getting high quality stuff, like Pelican and Firemaster at prices you can't get elswhere. No point for me to compete with TWH for cheap stuff and I'd rather sell quality to avoid the inevitable warranty replacement hassles when the stuff breaks the first time you unwrap it.

Just as an example of the price and quality, the Pelican 2410 Recoil LED torch is a dive torch, watertight to 500', guaranteed unbreakable for life and retails at $193.2o. It uses the latest recoil LED technology. The headlight, the Pelican 2620 retails at $118.45.

[Hitcher]

You guys are all idiots; I rate your ideas and kits as a 1/10 for zombie apocalypse survival purposes.

Zombie apocalypses being far more likely now than another earthquake.

Fair enough. Just don't come bludging around my place if you need anything. That's if the zombies don't get you first.