Are you prepared for a disaster/terrorist attack?

[CoffeeCat]

I was just wondering if DUers have done anything to prepare for a disaster
or a terrorist attack?

I'm not advocating paranoia. However, we all saw what happened to our friends
along the coast when Katrina hit. In my area of the country (Midwest) a tornado
wiped out a small town and they are still waiting for their FEMA checks. The storm
hit more than a year ago.

I don't trust this administration. If something--anything--should happen, I feel
that being totally unprepared puts my well being and safety in the hands of people
who took a week getting the residents of NOLA bottled water.

What about you? How have you prepared for any unforeseen circumstances that may
arise in the future?

[saltpoint]

1. This is what I have done to help reduce the likelihood of an attack:

I've registered to vote Democratic.

[wellst0nev0ter]

2. I'll Tell Every Muslim I Know Not To Apologize For A Terror Attack

If there are Americans are not sorry for waging a full on revenge war against Muslims going on right now, then Muslims living here shouldn't be groveling for forgiveness for every terror scare.

[longship]

3. What? In Ontario, California?

More likely I'm ready for an earthquake.

[TomInTib]

4. Our town has a very comprehensive disaster plan (earthquake).

http://getready94920.org/

Every section of every street (this is a somewhat unique community - Tiburon, CA) has an assigned co-ordinator.

In my case it is my over-the-top control freak nextdoor neighbor.

On Belvedere, they told every one to get on their boats and get out into the Bay.

But, yes, I have a plan.

And it definitely ain't theirs.

[CoffeeCat]

6. Can I ask an ignorant earthquake question?

You said, "On Belvedere, they told every one to get on their boats and get out into the Bay."

So, if an earthquake hits, are you the most safe, out on the water?

[TomInTib]

13. Oh, yeah

once the tremor has passed, the water is the most safe place.

[sandnsea]

14. What about a tsunami?

Is there some reason that California wouldn't be hit by one?

[TomInTib]

23. Now THAT could be a problem

Especially considering that SFBay is only 11 feet deep, on average.

My house, however, is 65 feet above the water.

I am not worried at all. There is far greater danger in stepping off the curb.

[sandnsea]

24. Ah well, 11 feet

Quite a bit different than having the ocean at your doorstep. I was just surprised at the head for the water recommendation because tsunami warnings are the first thing we look for after any west coast earthquake, and the only real natural catastrophe we have to worry about at all. I also didn't realize the bay was so shallow.

[TomInTib]

26. I was absolutely floored at the 'get on your yacht' response

It sounded so effing elitist. This was uttered at a public meeting on earthquake preparedness.

The yachtless among us were outraged.
The first thought I had involved running down to the Yacht Club, armed to the teeth, and appropriating the boat of some pompous ass in the event of a disaster.

I lived here for years before finding out about the Bay depth (or lack thereof). It is due to mining sediment runoff dring the latter part of the 19th century. Nice, huh? If there is ever a major disturbance of the Bay floor, we here will all be totally screwed.

[sandnsea]

28. Well see there

You understand why I'm delighted that they stick to their gated communities when they move up here. :)

We don't have actual yachted ones though, I think they consider their gated McMansions to be cabins, for when they want to get back to nature and rough it; you know - walk on an unmanicured beach with shells and driftwood and stuff. :rofl:

Actually most folks here are very nice, no matter where they come from or what their economic background. After the big tsunami, we immediately improved our warning system and I'm sure some of the wealthier among us made that possible. They also usually vote to improve the schools and library, so I can't complain too much.

[Critters2]

29. In the case of a tsunami

it's safer to be on the water in a boat than on land near the ocean. Some people on boats during the Asian tsunami felt very little, though divers underwater knew something was wrong. The energy of a tsunami becomes a problem when something gets in the way--like a coastline.

[TheWraith]

5. Not really, no.

Around here, the worst disasters we get are bad winters, flooding every 5 years or so, and a tornado every 15 years or so. And I'm about eight million miles from anything that any terrorist would hit, even if they could. So no, I take no special precautions. Besides, I have a well for water, adequate food for a week at any given time, and personal transportation--what more do I need? I devote more emergency planning to the possibility of friends and family getting into some kind of trouble than I do to disasters or anything else so unlikely.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

7. I have some stuff I'd need in the event of a power outage

or a blizzard, that kind of thing. I think it makes sense to keep some emergency supplies around. Beyond that -- no. It's impossible to predict what kind of emergency might occur (except that I don't expect hurricanes in Minnesota, but we do get tornadoes and blizzards). And the probablility that any particular person will be the victim of a terrorist attack is almost immeasurably small; you are much more likely to get hit by lightning or drown in the bathtub than get whacked by Al Qaeda.

Here are the odds of meeting one's demise in a particular way, from CDC data: http://www.anotherperspective.org/advoc530.html

1 in 88,000 of a terrorist attack
1 in 1,500,000 of a terrorist-caused shopping mall disaster assuming one such incident a week and you shop two hours a week
1 in 55,000,000 in a terrorist-caused plane disaster assuming one such incident a month and you fly once a month

1 in 55,928 of death by lightning
1 in 20,605 in your clothes igniting
1 in 10,455 of dying in your bathtub
1 in 10,010 by falling from a ladder or scaffolding
1 in 9,396 due to excessive heat
1 in 8,389 due to excessive cold
1 in 7,972 in a drowning accident
1 in 6,842 in a railway accident.

With those odds, I'll just keep a few extra canned goods and warm blankets around for bad weather, try not to drown in the bathtub or fall off a ladder, and not waste money on duct tape and plastic sheeting for when Al Qaeda invades Minnesota.

[serryjw]

11. I live in Denver

If NORAD gets hit, I'll be gone. Why worry. I live in a small footprint, don't have a car and use the bus or walk. I live 2 blocks away from Wild Oats and buy local organic as much as I can afford.

[Dover]

8. Have duct tape and plastic on hand.

One way to stop the terror is to use these supplies to wrap up Bush and his cronies like mummies

should we hear one more word from their tight, shrivelled little mouths. Mum's the word.

The Bushies got a big smurky laugh out of the whole duct tape thing, so it seems fitting that we use it on them.

[Kailassa]

12. Perfect. No neocons = no terror. ;-)

and here is how it should be done.

[NMMNG]

17. You have the right idea

If we want terrorism to end we need to eliminate the cause. Get rid of the imperialistic, warmongering, oil-stealing, neocon SOBs and watch how quickly terrorism dies down to virtually nothing.

[Dover]

9. My 'preparedness' is actually more akin to a lifestyle change.

Solar panels, rain water catchment, garden, etc.

[Cleita]

10. Uhm no, not really. I always have earthquake hanging over

my head but even since the last one I'm sort of only half way there. I have battery lights and emergency communication stuff. I really haven't taken care of everything. I have to say no.

[Nicole]

15. Disaster - Yes, Terrorist attack- No

I live in tornado alley so I'm always prepared for that.

I don't have a clue how to prepare for the unknown.

[Omphaloskepsis]

16. My sister had twins five years ago...

We have food for three days. </welcome to hell>

[Richard Steele]

18. Yes. eom

[treestar]

19. Do you have an evacuation plan in case of fire in the building you

work in?

Most people pay no attention to fire drills. They have no plan, so if something does happen often people do something stupid. Yet we were trained to do this in elementary school.

I say plan for the most likely scenarios. If you live in the areas affected, be prepared for earthquakes/hurricanes. Otherwise, drive carefully (the way you are most likely to be killed, terra notwithstanding) and have a plan for getting out of the house/office in case of fire and rehearse it.

[H2O Man]

20. This summer

my wife was preparing a disaster response training for mental health professionals in central New York. And the flood came.



It was an overwhelming experience. Thousands of people from the small town where I grew up had to be evacuated on an emergency basis. Hundreds of houses were destroyed. Bridges washed out. Roads were torn apart. On Interstate 88, in Delaware County, the water tore through the highway, and two trucks were washed away, killing the drivers.



My wife spent about five days working with little sleep, helping on every level possible. My children helped at the homeless shelters, and in reaching out a helping hand to elderly victims of the destruction. Then, after the initial response, another stage began.

It's the type of thing that you see on tv .... the damage, the National Guard .... it was and is surreal. That part of I-88 is still closed, of course, and so it is difficult to get from Binghamton to Oneonta without being delayed by the detours. Trash and garbage line the streets of many communities still dealing with the damage.

[sinkingfeeling]

21. No, I don't worry about either one. I have a mental plan on what I would

grab (including all dogs & cats) if I had to evacuate, but that's it. I refuse to live my life in a constant state of fear or terror.

[Mike03]

32. one side benefit

of preparation is precisely that one does not then have to live in terror or fear.

[madokie]

22. I'm afraid that would be kowtowing to the terriorest wants

but somewhat a little

[LSK]

25. no

[Xenotime]

27. The only way to prepare for a disater is to get dems back into..

the white house, congress, and the judicial benches. For too long the republican political machine of hate, torture and murder has been allowed to do whatever it wants. It needs to end now.

[Mike03]

30. To the degree possible

I have attempted to prepare for a disaster, not only for something that might occur in my proximate area but anything that might disrupt national supply lines of transportation, affecting food/water/availability of funds, etc... My approach is a bit extreme and I do not necessarily recommend it, but encourage people to be able to survive for approximately six months without leaving their homes. That's just me, and I'm aware that it is extravagant compared to the advice of our oh-so-dependable agencies like FEMA and HSA.

By way of explanation, I do not live close to a large city, so my fear is that if transportation were to be crippled, my local grocery stores would be empty. I also think if there was ever an epidemic or disaster there could well be a run on many local goods and services, and that it would take some time to resucitate supply lines.

[slackmaster]

31. Well prepared for earthquake or other disaster

Plenty of water, food, camping gear, and ammunition on hand.