SHTF preparedness

[odysseus]

bbguns44, you seem to gloss over BillCA's well applied reality. Sure for many in the state who live farther from fault lines, perhaps you will not be hit hard at all, but your access to resources might be encumbered. However for many the reality of a devastating earthquake will become a rolling build up of increasing possible disaster. There is no infrastructure to handle a massive one. Police, Fire, Hospitals, engineering, etc. will not handle a major disaster. Even the north central valley through Sacramento's levy systems are a natural disaster waiting to happen, that everyone knows is a ticking time bomb.

I too was in the 89 quake. I saw the Cypress Structure devastation in person, with crushed cars still smoking. It was a small quake in comparison to what could happen, across a far reaching swath of population centers. I am not sitting around thinking, "oh that's it?". That would be a very foolish thing to rest on, but go ahead and roll that way if you choose to, it's your life (just yours I hope).

However I am saying this not to you since you sound far gone, but to anyone hanging on the fence. Be prepared, and hopefully never have to use it. Be there to help your family and even your neighbor. Be a person who can sustain and overcome a desperate situation that can be a rock in times of need. The more who do, the better all of us can be.

[Californio]

My Grandfather was 17 in 1906 and living in San Francisco. Another 1906 type event, in a population area, is not something to blow off, it will be eye opening.

[Lucky Scott]

Although I have an RV with generator, water, etc, I plan on sitting it out right here and riding the disaster out.
I feel I have a better advantage being in a defensive position.
Got enough supplies for over a month. Last thing I added was a months worth of dog food. Damm, I cant believe I didnt think of that before.
I got two big 100 pound german shephards that love me to death and are part of my defensive plan. Got to make sure I have food and water for them for a month. Just got that handled.

Food, water, dog food, guns, ammo, generator, I feel I am better off at home.
last case plan B is load up the RV and hit the road, but I would rather not.

[Spyguy]

It means learning the nutritional values of foods like barley, lentils, grains and fruits to make low-meat meals.

When the SHTF, why suffer low-meat meals when there are so many free-range semi-domesticated "animals" to be bagged the Bay Area? Easy to spot by their spiked red or green plumes, nose rings (handy for tying the critters to a post), and Obama or Che t-shirts.

Just be sure to cook 'em well-done to kill any diseases they may be carrying.

[Spyguy]

ive stocked up on 60lbs of rice

I buy rice by the 50lbs sack for my family's normal consumption. But that only lasts about a couple of months.

Yeah, it's an Asian thing.

[Federalist]

Last thing I added was a months worth of dog food. Damm, I cant believe I didnt think of that before.
I got two big 100 pound german shephards that love me to death and are part of my defensive plan. Got to make sure I have food and water for them for a month. Just got that handled.

I have one 33lb bag of dog food per dog. (I have two labs.) In relative terms, that means I may have more dog food than I have people food in my SHTF storage. Not only are they our kids, but they are our 24/7 alarm system if we lose power or we have to bug out.

[Biff...]

Only one 55 gallon drum, shoot I have 6 of them in my back yard. I've had them for over eight years. Change the water out every five years, last time I did it the water came out clear as day, and tasted pretty fresh. I also have:

One year food supplies for four people
Bartering supplies
entertainment supplies
medical supplies

[RolinThundr]

...But like Real estate, it's location, location, location for SHTF scenarios. I live in the most conservative county in California. I moved here for a reason. No masses of people all trying to jam the freeway getting out...no large urban areas to get stuck in...I just don't want to be one of the endless lines of refugees who didn't plan and end up at the mercy of everyone around them...

Oh but the endless lines of refugees from the LA area will be heading your way.

"Good luck ordering that pizza"

Total BS...Earthquakes are very unpredictable. While it may
cover a large area, only some small portions of the area will sustain damage.
All of the other areas will be just fine. Power, phone, roads, stores will all
be operational. I don't expect any problems getting my $10 large pizza.

Depends on where your house is standing. If you're on rocky ground it won't be so bad, but a lot of areas are sitting on landfills & soft ground that liquifies during an earthquake resulting in more damage. Also depends on the magnitude of the quake- if I remember correctly magnitude increases exponentially. Just because '89 wasn't so bad doesn't mean the next one won't be.

That's the problem too many people think of today and don't prepare. those same people will be sitting on their azz and they will be expecting the government or YOU to take care of them or help them. I mean after all they need help and its your job to help those in need because you have the supplies and they don't so they figure since you have and they dont you need to share. At least that's their thinking.

Sounds about right, they do it with the nation's wealth, why not everything else.


I am working to prepare my family as well. I have a case of MREs, guns, ammo (want to keep more on hand though), flashlights, candles, and first aid supplies. I'm hoping to add another case of MREs, canned/dried foods, water (& accompanying supplies), and expanding my first aid supplies. I also have these:

They don't just sit around, I use them when I want to freshen up but don't have time to shower. I just keep plenty on hand in case something happens. I think everyone should include an E-tool (or similar tool), Leatherman or Gerber multi-tool, rope, duct tape, and plastic in their supplies. Portability is also something to keep in mind, just in case a bug-out is necessary.

[BillCA]

"Good luck ordering that pizza"

Total BS. I was here in 89. I was in the garage & ran out to watch my
house sway for a few seconds. I remember that night sitting in my lazy
boy, drinking hot chocolate, eating cookies & watch TV coverage of the
damage in the Marina district of SF thinking I'd sure hate to be in those
pancaked buildings. I answered a few calls from family & friends concerned
about my situation. Then I went to bed.

89 was not that bad. Earthquakes are very unpredictable. While it may
cover a large area, only some small portions of the area will sustain damage.
All of the other areas will be just fine. Power, phone, roads, stores will all
be operational. I don't expect any problems getting my $10 large pizza.

First off, the 1989 quake was a small quake relative to the potential of the San Andreas or Hayward faults.

Since you don't indicate where you live in your profile nor state the part of the state where you live, I have to presume you were well North/East of the bay proper. Because you sure weren't anywhere on the penninsula, south bay or along the coast.

This was the only 'quake I ever experienced while riding a motorcycle. At that, I was some 19-20 miles from the epicenter and it became an "E Ticket" ride. I saw first hand the evacuation of Watsonville hospital. I saw a trailer park with two trailers in flames. The inside of my office in Watsonville, right near Hwy 1 & 152, looked like downtown Beruit in '86.

The point I was trying to make, which you missed, is that the magnitude scale is a log scale. 10x10x10x10... That means a magnitude 5 quake is 10 times stronger than a 4. A magnitude 6 is 100 times a M4. Another 1906 quake will be 10 times stronger - more violent and energetic - than 1989's quake. That means more ground motion, probably for a longer time too. An Alaska-sized event, like 1963, would be 100 times stronger. And that's credible on the San Andreas.

The next "likely" catastrophe will be a rupture of the Hayward fault in the East Bay. It runs through some of the most heavily populated areas around SF bay. A 6.8 or larger will shut down 880/680/580 and numerous other major roads. A larger 7.1 quake may render uninhabitable about 30-35% of the housing. It could shut down both SFO and OAK airports which are built largely on fill. As one USGS expert said, any way you look at it, it's gonna be ugly.

By the way, if the earthquake doesn't scare you, maybe this will. Fires are the biggest threat in the aftermath of a quake. The fires in the Marina were started by secured water heaters ripping loose when walls cracked. Another fire on the peninnsula consumed three houses and was started by a candle against a tablecloth. Fire consumed a couple of blocks in Watsonville too.

With ruptured water lines it's almost impossible to contain, let alone fight, a fire. And the worst cases involve a major summer quake when the hills are dry. OES indicates that wildfires will burn freely while all efforts go to the cities.

[cudakidd]

[QUOTE=RolinThundr;2979046]Oh but the endless lines of refugees from the LA area will be heading your way.



With only one way, I5 out of LA and how it came down in the last quake...I don't see people trying to Hike a 100 Miles plus out of LA...

I actually live west of Bakersfield proper, no freeway overpasses near me, no major population centers...

I still need to buy a generator, probably Honda so my neighbors may not notice it running, don't plan to run lights and advertise I've got power, just to keep fridge and freezer running.

Anyone else watching Best Defense on Wed nites? Talk about fueling my need to get list...didn't even think about having ready cash in gun safe for emergencies. I plan to have $500 in small bills.

Will also pull silver coins out of Bank Safe deposit box, no point having them there if I can't get to them in a SHTF scenario...

All my friends here have plenty of Firearms, no worrys, Spouse is medically trained, vehicles are all up to snuff, house prepped. So it's not a worry here.

And preparedness is just that, one less thing to worry about!!

Now about sighting in those new toys...

[command_liner]

A few quick thoughts.

Here in the LA Basin, when the quake happens, it will be bad.
The rupture will follow this pattern. P-wave spreads across the basin
in about 20 seconds. Sharp, small displacement hit that will raise dust
and shock 15,000,000 people. S-wave spreads across the basin
with 7-9 major peaks. S-wave lasts 100 to 150 seconds. Timing
between the P and S waves will depend on your location relative to the
quake.

More concentrated, widespread, violent destruction of property will
happen in 120 seconds than has happened anywhere else in the world,
ever. Fires will start within 10 minutes and burn for about 2 weeks.


Oh, and everybody seems to have forgotten one item. Dust masks.
The non-junk ones, like the Norton welding-rated masks with flapper
valves are the ones you want. The cost about $5 each. Buy a dozen,
but only if you want to breath after the quake. Men will need to shave
to get a good fit. Put a few razors and a bar of soap in the box with
the masks.

[cineski]

What's the best brand of portable first aid kit? There's the REI emergency kit, but is there one that's universally accepted as the "one to have?"

[Californio]

A few quick thoughts.

Here in the LA Basin, when the quake happens, it will be bad.
The rupture will follow this pattern. P-wave spreads across the basin
in about 20 seconds. Sharp, small displacement hit that will raise dust
and shock 15,000,000 people. S-wave spreads across the basin
with 7-9 major peaks. S-wave lasts 100 to 150 seconds. Timing
between the P and S waves will depend on your location relative to the
quake.

More concentrated, widespread, violent destruction of property will
happen in 120 seconds than has happened anywhere else in the world,
ever. Fires will start within 10 minutes and burn for about 2 weeks.


Oh, and everybody seems to have forgotten one item. Dust masks.
The non-junk ones, like the Norton welding-rated masks with flapper
valves are the ones you want. The cost about $5 each. Buy a dozen,
but only if you want to breath after the quake. Men will need to shave
to get a good fit. Put a few razors and a bar of soap in the box with
the masks.

Costco sells three packs of Eye Saline Rinse which will really help after an initial water wash then quality goggles.

[RolinThundr]

What's the best brand of portable first aid kit? There's the REI emergency kit, but is there one that's universally accepted as the "one to have?"

I put together my own first aid kits, tackle boxes/bags work well as can the Plano field/ammo boxes. You can try Galls (www.galls.com), they cater to first responders.

[car15]

Read most of the pages. If your water heater is new/clean enough that gives you 35-50 gallons of fresh water. You can even plum a second tank and double your capacity . I have ten 5 gallon water bottles and it SUCKS dumping and filling them even once a year.