# It's National Preparedness Month! **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 24, 2006, 11:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-national-preparedness-month/373935 "2006-09-24T11:33:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2006, 11:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-national-preparedness-month/373935/1 "2006-09-24T11:33:30Z")
[No joke.](http://www.ready.gov/) So, my questions are:[ul] [li]Did you already know this?[/li][li]Are you prepared?[/li][li]If you’re _not_ prepared, are you planning on changing that?[/li][li]Can you stop thinking about Batman?[/li][li]Besides the things listed on the [Ready Kit](http://www.ready.gov/america/getakit/index.html) page, can you think of anything else one should have?[/li][/ul] My answers: Not until I heard the CFR podcast mentioning it. Nope. Yup. Rarely do think about Batman. Might ought to have some kind of weapon either for self-defense or hunting game. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2006, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-national-preparedness-month/373935/2 "2006-09-24T11:56:46Z")
Think ahea- d! ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2006, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-national-preparedness-month/373935/3 "2006-09-24T11:59:15Z")
We are having a National Preparedness Month Picnic. We hope to have it ready by next Sunday. ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2006, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-national-preparedness-month/373935/4 "2006-09-24T12:46:07Z")
Yes, I knew. Yes, we’re prepared Who is Batman? Yes, lots. We took the attitude that we’re on our own for at least three days, so we prepared to go camping for a week. We live in an earthquake prone area, so WCS (worst case scenario) is our house falls down. We have food, for us and the cats, water, clothing (including shoes), bedding, cooking equipment for an open fire, (remember a can opener) a few tools. As well as a bit of money, and ammo. All is stored in two large plastic storage bins in our utility shed. They have combination locks, and alarms. We take everything out and check it around this time every year. ---
**Author:** ![pudytat72](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@pudytat72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pudytat72)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2006, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-national-preparedness-month/373935/5 "2006-09-24T13:12:40Z")
Did not know. Have been getting prepared (bird flu pandemic scenario), bought 2 flashlights the other day, one hand crank, one shake-to-charge, have been buying extra food for pantry, looked at tents the other day(would not need tent for bird flu scenario but general survival) ---
**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:** [September 24, 2006, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-national-preparedness-month/373935/6 "2006-09-24T14:50:50Z")
In my emergency scenario, pets and children ARE the emergency rations. I can’t understand why the offical list doesn’t include firearms, explosives, and some more primitive weapons like bows and slings, Oh yeah, a list of needs and a nice change of clothes for a TV interview. I’m probably more likely to hook up with a CNN reporter than a federal disaster official. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2006, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-national-preparedness-month/373935/7 "2006-09-24T15:25:54Z")
I’m fairly prepared. The likely emergency here is a hurricane, and in that case where I am there isn’t much of a flood risk. It could be uncomfortable for awhile waiting for the lights to come back on, but not really deadly. I’ve got water, candles, battery operated lanterns and such, a crank operated radio, I try to keep extra food around in the kitchen, plenty of first aid stuff, and a shotgun. I really ought to have a kit for the car, though. Also, I feel a little silly about it, but I put a hatchet in with the supplies after Katrina. I figured I’d feel dumb with my little hatchet, but I’d feel a lot dumber if I _really needed_ it and didn’t have it. It would be a truly epic deluge, though - then again, I know plenty of people in Albany, GA who were on the 500 year flood plain and got it. ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Pageant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ab097/32.png) [@Silver\_Pageant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Pageant)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2006, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-national-preparedness-month/373935/8 "2006-09-24T16:00:14Z")
Really, all you need in any crisis situation is a ladder and a frying pan. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2006, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-national-preparedness-month/373935/9 "2006-09-24T17:00:00Z")
[QUOTE=Tuckerfan] [ul][li]Did you already know this?[/li][li]Are you prepared?[/li][li]If you’re _not_ prepared, are you planning on changing that?[/li][li]Can you stop thinking about Batman?[/li][li]Besides the things listed on the [Ready Kit](http://www.ready.gov/america/getakit/index.html) page, can you think of anything else one should have?[/li][/ul] [/quote] I thought I was prepared, but I wasn’t expecting this sort of Spanish Inquisition! ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2006, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-national-preparedness-month/373935/10 "2006-09-24T17:44:54Z")
> [@](#): > > Besides the things listed on the Ready Kit page, can you think of anything else one should have? Guns (preferably rifles) and lots of ammo. ---
**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2006, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-national-preparedness-month/373935/11 "2006-09-24T21:19:19Z")
I wasn’t prepared for this news! ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2006, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-national-preparedness-month/373935/12 "2006-09-24T21:28:44Z")
Prepared for what? The senior prom? Robin ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2006, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-national-preparedness-month/373935/13 "2006-09-25T02:04:01Z")
I like [Tony Kornheiser](http://www.clearlight.com/~jtrosen/tony_stuff/december261999.html)’s take on the whole preparedness thing (circa Y2K): > [@Tony Kornheiser](#): > > Just to do something, I bought five gallons of water and 10 cans of tuna. > And I went to the bank and got $500 in fifties. > > “Why fifties?” my friend Nancy asked me. > > “In case I need eggs,” I said. > > “I’ve got twenties,” she said. “I’m sure I can get eggs for $20.” > > “Not if I’m offering $50,” I said. ---
**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:** [September 25, 2006, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-national-preparedness-month/373935/14 "2006-09-25T02:28:03Z")
I started thinking about how the survival list would be different if the list really **was** about the total collapse of governemt and the economic infrastructure. Your basic no more electricity or gas _Mad Max_ kind of thing. I came up with two things to add to the list. An armory, and an army. You need weapons to protect your stuff and yourself, and maybe to tale stuff away from the “less deserving”. And an army? Well, really, a community it what you would really need to have the best long term chance of survival. So you and your community can become an army for a while if you have to, or a construction crew, or crop pickers. I’ve never lived in a place where I know and trust the people well enough to have any faith they could accomplish this. ---
**Author:** ![2lazy2pee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/2/4bbf92/32.png) [@2lazy2pee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2lazy2pee)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2006, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-national-preparedness-month/373935/15 "2006-09-25T02:35:32Z")
Uh. I did not get the memo about this. I think it went to my Spam box. ---
**Author:** ![jackelope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@jackelope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackelope)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2006, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-national-preparedness-month/373935/16 "2006-09-25T03:29:50Z")
I try to keep up with [important news](http://www.theonion.com/content/node/34594) on this topic. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2006, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-national-preparedness-month/373935/17 "2006-09-25T04:03:33Z")
[QUOTE=Marley23] I thought I was prepared, but I wasn’t expecting this sort of Spanish Inquisition! [/QUOTE] [Obligatory Response] No one ever expects the Spanish Inquisition! [/OR] ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2006, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-national-preparedness-month/373935/18 "2006-09-25T04:17:03Z")
Earthquake country + paranoia = ready for anything. We have at least a week’s worth of water, a month’s worth of food for both us and the cats, several month’s worth of other supplies, and a healthy attitude. The kids ask about the MRE’s in my filing cabinet at school, but that’s a minor consideration. ---
**Author:** ![August\_West](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/august_west/32/18069_2.png) [@August\_West](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/August_West)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2006, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-national-preparedness-month/373935/19 "2006-09-25T15:37:15Z")
We live in the safest area of the country, disaster-wise ([cite](http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4196/is_20060719/ai_n16542074)), but even so we are fairly well prepared. Answers to your questions: [ul] [li]Yes I knew, due to emails I get from the county as a CERT member.[/li][li]Yes, we are prepared , but would still like to get a few more things.[/li][li]No thoughts of Batman, but now that you mention it, a big cave _would \* be nice![/li][_]I think having copies of important documents scanned onto a thumb drive, and stored somewhere other than your house, is a good idea.[/ul] ---
**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:** [September 25, 2006, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-national-preparedness-month/373935/20 "2006-09-25T15:42:52Z")
This morning, I took my Swiss Army Knife, & skinned a Boy Scout. _He_ **wasn’t** prepared! But I (and Batman) count as prepared!