# Do you have a Terrorism/Emergency Survival Plan? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 11, 2003, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-terrorism-emergency-survival-plan/154375 "2003-02-11T16:59:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![clayton\_e](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c57346/32.png) [@clayton\_e](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clayton_e)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2003, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-terrorism-emergency-survival-plan/154375/41 "2003-02-12T22:33:01Z")
I have one of those “RUN LIKE HELL” plans in my mind. ---
**Author:** ![B.Serum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/b.serum/32/14266_2.png) [@B.Serum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/B.Serum)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2003, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-terrorism-emergency-survival-plan/154375/42 "2003-02-12T22:40:20Z")
I’m preparing the same way I prepared for the “Millenium Bug”… carrying on as usual. There is no way I am living my life in fear of some imminent horrible thing that [insert threat here] is going to do. I will not be terrorized. ---
**Author:** ![montana\_cricket](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@montana\_cricket](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/montana_cricket)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2003, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-terrorism-emergency-survival-plan/154375/43 "2003-02-12T22:51:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by techchick68 \* > **Sorry but floods where I live is extremely unlikely, Hurricanes are completely unknown and has to be a complete freakish anomonly, tornados can happen but in my 34 years never a one has hit, and as far as our power lines…well we are a local electricity dependent group of people, meaning we are a city owned utility. Yes it goes against my policitical beliefs, it is not run by some comglomertate (sp) and therefore our prices tend to be less and frankly, if I had to be out with electricity, I would survive.** Do you have a well? Requires Electricity to pump the water. I believe also that Colorado Springs is in some pretty prime earthquake country…but that’s definately your choice. ---
**Author:** ![Badtz\_Maru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e36b37/32.png) [@Badtz\_Maru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Badtz_Maru)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2003, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-terrorism-emergency-survival-plan/154375/44 "2003-02-12T23:17:31Z")
My plan is to run around in the streets screaming ‘Praise Allah!’ and doing everything I can to make things easier for our new Arabic overlords. ---
**Author:** ![celestina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/258eb7/32.png) [@celestina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/celestina)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2003, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-terrorism-emergency-survival-plan/154375/45 "2003-02-12T23:46:21Z")
Well of course I have a plan. I’ve got my liquor cabinet stocked 😃 so that if I’m home when an attack comes, I can giggle and raise my glass in a toast to the chemical or biological crap or the nookular warheads, the lil fuckers. Maybe the cockroaches or whatever manages to survive will do a better job on this planet than humans who’re stupid enough to create and use Weapons of Mass Destruction. And, I really don’t see what point there is in duct-taping the house up. There’s no way to completely air-proof a house, and at some point I’d have to go outside to face the world anyway. Might as well meet it head on and be done with it. [shrug] ---
**Author:** ![cadolphin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c37758/32.png) [@cadolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cadolphin)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2003, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-terrorism-emergency-survival-plan/154375/46 "2003-02-13T00:14:54Z")
In the last three weeks **Rico** has had to go to the doc 2x, I’ve gone once and our daughter has been 3x. Between office visits, scripts and lab fees, etc. we are more then strapped right now. But since we’ve been buying an extra can or two or package of tp or bar of soap whenever we go shopping, I don’t have to choose between feeding my family and paying the utilities. I’ll still have to call the utility companies and make arrangements and we won’t be having fresh vegies or milk or maybe what we _want_ for dinner, but we will have dinner. I guess it all depends on your definition of an emergency. Kathy ---
**Author:** ![LolaCocaCola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7cd45c/32.png) [@LolaCocaCola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LolaCocaCola)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2003, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-terrorism-emergency-survival-plan/154375/47 "2003-02-13T04:01:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Badtz Maru \* > \*\*My plan is to run around in the streets screaming ‘Praise Allah!’ and doing everything I can to make things easier for our new Arabic overlords. \*\* lmao ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2003, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-terrorism-emergency-survival-plan/154375/48 "2003-02-13T06:00:09Z")
My plan: 1. Stay calm. 2. Control my breathing. 3. Don’t do anything stupid. ---
**Author:** ![CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crankyasanoldman/32/11670_2.png) [@CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrankyAsAnOldMan)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2003, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-terrorism-emergency-survival-plan/154375/49 "2003-02-13T06:12:31Z")
Hey, for some people, thinking these things through helps them to deal with their fears, whether or not those fears seem justified given the present level of risk. I just care about having some preparedness in the event that something unexpected happens. We live in an attached townhouse, so a fire in our neighbor’s house could mean we’d have to get out. And around here there are occasionally train derailments where they evacuate people. It never hurts to have a little bag packed with stuff that you can grab on the way out. Some of the preparations I’ve heard about sound like people are ready to hunker down for some post-apocalptyic nightmare. Sounds extreme and unnecessary to me, but if it helps 'em sleep better at night, then they’re doing the right thing. ---
**Author:** ![lokij](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/5e9695/32.png) [@lokij](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lokij)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2003, 7:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-terrorism-emergency-survival-plan/154375/50 "2003-02-13T07:57:51Z")
I just have the common sense items that one needs in any emergency where you might have to do without power, water or transportation for a few days. Wasn’t that long ago that a major tornado struck my city, ice storms and floods do occur occasionally. IF however something majorly bad did happen my family does have a backup plan and knows where to meet to ride things out. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2003, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-terrorism-emergency-survival-plan/154375/51 "2003-02-13T11:48:44Z")
**Broomstick’s Emergency Survival Plans:** At work: Get real. I work in the Chicago Loop. You know - those glass canyons. I work in a small building, true - it’s “only” 40 stories - but let’s get a grip. If Bad Stuff happens there really is only one good course of action: _run like hell!_ But preferably away from the Bad Stuff, not towards it. At home: Over 100 gallons of water in home (50 gallon reserve tank on the well, 50+ hot water tank). Food for 2-4 weeks. Might need more Brita filters and TP - time for the monthly stock up shopping expedition. Have candles, kerosene lanterns. There’s a “decommissioned” wood stove in the front room that could be 'recommissioned" in a day. Lots of blankets, tools, etc. Radio gear (we might even consider putting the 65 foot antennae back up). Bicycles for non-petroleum transportation. A truck and a car in good condition for evacuation purposes, if necessary. Not bad for a city girl, ay? ---
**Author:** ![CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crankyasanoldman/32/11670_2.png) [@CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrankyAsAnOldMan)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2003, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-terrorism-emergency-survival-plan/154375/52 "2003-02-13T13:36:10Z")
Another thing that inspired me is my brother-in-law. Last year he went on a simple “weekend with the guys” and they ended up spending their vacation in a Red Cross shelter with only the clothes on their backs because the authorities suddenly evacuated the town where they were staying (forest fire suddenly switched direction and got out of hand). He assured me it suuuuuuucked. Of course, they got evacuated off a golf course so they couldn’t help being caught short, but it was a reminder that it can happen to anyone. ---
**Author:** ![Missy2U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@Missy2U](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Missy2U)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2003, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-terrorism-emergency-survival-plan/154375/53 "2003-02-13T14:20:25Z")
My plan? Panic. It’s pure and it’s simple. ---
**Author:** ![krisolov](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/krisolov/32/3724_2.png) [@krisolov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/krisolov)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2003, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-terrorism-emergency-survival-plan/154375/54 "2003-02-13T14:29:42Z")
well, having had a dress rehearsal a few years ago when the power went out for three days due to an ice storm, yeah. Plenty o’camping stuff, propane stove, first aid kit and non perishable food for a week or so. Some ammo for the firearms. If Really Bad Stuff happens, we know where we’d go to get out of the area. I’m not worried about what the fear mongers are whipping up; my plans are simply based on past experience. I already have duct tape. It’s the tool with 1001 uses after all! ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2003, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-terrorism-emergency-survival-plan/154375/55 "2003-02-13T15:42:25Z")
Read this thread BLAST IT! [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=162871](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=162871) ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2003, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-terrorism-emergency-survival-plan/154375/56 "2003-02-13T17:29:56Z")
I have plenty of camping equipment (sleeping bags, propane stove, propane bottles, etc.) and plenty of canned goods and batteries and 2 radios, so I’m not too worried, but this made me wonder: > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Broomstick \* > \*\*[At home: > Over 100 gallons of water in home (50 gallon reserve tank on the well, 50+ hot water tank). \*\* I forgot about the water heater. I also have a 50-gallon water heater, but don’t know how to tap into it for the water. How do I do that? ---
**Author:** ![Balle\_M](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/13edae/32.png) [@Balle\_M](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balle_M)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2003, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-terrorism-emergency-survival-plan/154375/57 "2003-02-13T18:12:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Rico \* > > We are talking about an _emergency survival kit_. As a survivor of three major earthquakes, I can vouch for the good sense involved. OK, I’ll give you one, but after the **SECOND** major earthquake item #1 on your survival kit should be **MOVE** ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2003, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-terrorism-emergency-survival-plan/154375/58 "2003-02-14T01:00:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by BiblioCat \* > I forgot about the water heater. I also have a 50-gallon water heater, but don’t know how to tap into it for the water. > How do I do that? Well, I’m pretty sure most of them have a small tap on them, usually near the bottom. Something that allows you to drain the water out of the tank for repairs, removal, and so forth. But if yours doesn’t, or you’re real desparate and don’t much care how useful the hot water heater will be as a future hot water heater, there’s always the Hammer and Hard Sharp Object method. ---
**Author:** ![cadolphin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c37758/32.png) [@cadolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cadolphin)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2003, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-terrorism-emergency-survival-plan/154375/59 "2003-02-14T01:43:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Balle\_M \* > \*\*OK, I’ll give you one, but after the **SECOND** major earthquake item #1 on your survival kit should be **MOVE** \*\* 1. welcome **Balle\_M**! 2. Since **Rico** and I live in Los Angeles, I wish moving out of here was an option. Earthquakes are not my idea of a good time. If the opertunity presents itself, like any of you know of a good job for **Rico** somewhere else, I’ll start packing tonight! 3. **Bosda Di’Chi of Tricor** I’m not panicing nor do I intend to panic about the everyday events that add up to create a need for pre-planned insurance such as a supply of food and \*especially \* not about an attack by terrorists. Your rant is more disturbing to me then any possible crisis. :wally I’m done now… Carry on folks. Kathy ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2003, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-terrorism-emergency-survival-plan/154375/60 "2003-02-14T21:29:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Broomstick \* > \*\*… or you’re real desparate and don’t much care how useful the hot water heater will be as a future hot water heater, there’s always the Hammer and Hard Sharp Object method. \*\* 😃 Yeah, that was my line of thinking. Then I asked my husband and he showed me where the valve is to get the water out. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-terrorism-emergency-survival-plan/154375.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-terrorism-emergency-survival-plan/154375.md?page=4)