Readiness

There are many different degrees of preparedness, from the standard 72-hour kit recommended by the American Red Cross, to those who plan for survival in the case of complete social and economic collapse (often referred to as SHTF, or when the "S@&* Hits the Fan"). To each his or her own, of course, but surely there is some value in considering how to deal with various difficult situations.

From 9/11 to Katrina to the tsunami and nuclear disaster in Japan, there are many possible events that could disrupt utilities, transportation, communication and more. Closer to home and higher on the probability scale are situations like Hurricane Fran, or ice and snow storms that leave large numbers without power for several days.

In this post I will describe my own level of readiness for different situations. In each case I try to consider hygiene, shelter, food, water, first aid, pets and how to pass the time.