Reptile & Amphibian Forums

You all have been very quiet the last few days.

I have a serious question for you. In light of the southern California fires, hurricanes, tornadoes, etc., are you prepared? I realize that the perils are different in various places, but we all are subject to some type of natural disaster or even a house fire.

Have you reviewed your insurance policies? Do you have emergency plans in place for you and your animals? Emergency supplies on hand, including medications, cat food, litter, carriers? Don't forget to change the batteries in smoke detectors next weekend (or do it sooner if you think you'll forget).

Hi,

I thought I was pretty well prepared until the wildfires started and I thought about the possibility of evacuation. I realized that the best thing would be to keep the car packed with emergency supplies so I could just concentrate on getting my cats out if that became necessary.

From now on I will always keep basic supplies in my car, at least a 3 day supply. Also, a backpack packed with more supplies in the house that can be grabbed easily on my way out. The pack in the house will contain some things that have to be rotated occasionally.

Another thing I realized is that I need to have more of my important papers packed and ready at all times. I'll be working on this ASAP.

PHKitkat

I started thinking it thru when I first got the boys 16 years ago. It falls into two categories for me. Immediate danger (wake up in the middle of the night and the house is on fire/cracking in half from an earthquake or tornado) or you have some warning (hurricane is heading up the coast to your area over the next few hours/couple days).

For no notice, I'd grab Pookey and react accordingly. This area is not hurricane/earthquake/forrest fire prone; Building fires and Tornados would be the most probable natural disasters to hit this region. We'd sit in the inner bathroom for a Tornado and we'd get out of the house to the car for a building fire (I could keep him with friends in a true emergency in a spare room or board him at the vets temporarily) I can buy all the cat basics at any grocery store.

With a little more warning, I know the items I'd grab if I had to evacuate. I've thought about do not aside emergency meds and food (Stanley was the only one needing meds later in life, Pookey doesn't yet)... Both expire and spoil... I'd have warning, I'd take basic supplies I have at home and pack the car up (he'd be in a cat carrier). Since we aren't prone to large scale distructive events (hurricanes/earthquakes/forrest fires) due to the location/geography, I can't think of anything that would have a long lead time for warning. It would be a hurricane of a magnitude we've never seen before hit the East Coast to get this far inland (we had high winds and strong rain from a Cat 4/5 before, but it slowed down to below hurricane category going over a lot of land to get to us). I live on a hill of sorts, so if there is a flood, I am not driving anywhere out of the lot -- I'm heading to the roof and waiting on Noah to take Pookey at that point...
-----
Tammy and Pookey
(Stanley 8/91 - 8/07)

Since the rolling blackout that took out much of the eastern US a few years ago I've kept bottle water stockpiled. I use to have a carrier big enough to handle all three cats in a pinch but someone borrowed it last year and never returned it. That is a problem - Stink could and would shred any pillow case I stuffed her in. Paperwork is in a fire safe and we just did a review - found one policy that wasn't updated with the rest two years ago when we married. opps!

Having lived in a building that caught fire 5 times in 3 years, I think most people don't realise just how easy it is to start a fire. And some say you should replace those smoke detectors every 10 years, more often if you smoke. It was the first thing I did when I moved in with BSM.

Sometimes I get a bit irritated with endless lists of things "in case of emergency". They come across as an overwhelming amount of work to many people when we really need to keep a few critical basics - up to date insurance, smoke detectors, CO2 detectors, water, daily meds, pet carrier of any sort, a list of phone numbers in your wallet, a half a tank of gas. And look around your life/home/situation - I don't carry jumper cables in my car because sooner or later someone will come along who has them, but the lamp in the baby's room was choosen to help me break a window in case of fire.

And another thing - our neighbor was broken into, and shortly after police busted a guy who had two houses - several semi truck loads - of stolen goods, mostly tools. They had a warehouse where you could come claim your stolen items. So off went our neighbor with his ID and police report in hand only to be stopped at the door because he didn't have purchase receipts as proof he ever owned what he claimed was stolen! Hearing that, I went around the house and took photos of anything I thought someone might want to walk off with, in place, then e/m them to myself on my yahoo account. If my computer dies from fire, flood, wind or my own stupidity, they are out there in cyberspace. (should have burned them to CD as well)

Well lucky me, Im no stranger to emergency situations..and I have learned a thing or two along the way. Number one, be prepared. If you get notice to evacuate, DONT WASTE TIME, the roads are going to be packed and and driving conditions may be poor,the sooner you leave the better. Make sure you know where the emergency supplies appropriate for your areas disasters are and that they are accessible. Its very easy to bury them under a pile of stuff. Don't forget to do things like turn off the gas and electric. In hurricane prone areas, if a storm is coming, fill your gas tank. Make sure to pick up anything laying around outside. Its amazing how much damage a small thing can do with the force of hurricane winds. Things like nails or screws can become deadly missles...most of all stay safe...dont venture out for a look around, its not worth your life...
-----
PHTessie

One other thing, money, make sure you have enough cash for at least a week. If power is out your not gonna be going to the bank.
-----
PHTessie