The lesssons I have learned from the Hurricane Katrina disaster and tragedy

JEFFHEAD.COM ^ | September 5, 2005 | Jeff Head

[cva66snipe]

This is the best advice and general description of this I have read yet. I would add one item to my list. A police scanner is far more valuable for gaining a fast grip on what is going on in any event from civil unrest to fire, weather, or any major event. They aren't that hard to learn and you can monitor all agencies.

For example a tornado watch is issued. When that happens in most communities a person can monitor the SKYWARN program. These are trained weather watchers who are HAM Radio operators and have direct immediate contact with NOAA. You can get up to 5 minutes heads up depending on how many are spotted.

You can in most places monitor fire, police, paramedics, State Emergency Management Agencies, Local Emergency Management, State Police, Coast Guard, Rail Roads, Utilities, and even some federal agencies including the military. A word of caution to everybody use them only as an observer. If you hear a call or report of something happening stay home. They don't need you to respond and add to the confusion. Showing up on scene with a radio makes you an ambassador of ill will very quickly.

Learn your local agencies frequencies, tower locations, and codes etc. If you live in an area that uses 154-159 MHZ systems these likely will still be working after most any disaster in some capacity and have good transmission range. The 450-460MHZ systems are a close second but require repeaters. Most repeaters have battery back ups and some have generators as well.

Agencies using the Trunking 800MHZ systems are the most likely to fail due to a computer dependency design. I think NO used the 800MHZ systems which would account for major communication failures. They should have passed out VHF radios as a back up. This was one of the harsh lessons NYC learned and they reverted back to a simple precinct assigned frequency repeater system.

You can even know what your local utility is doing during major outages. I can guesstimate if I'll have power in a few hours or a few days by hearing their damage reports. I can also know when they are fixing to restore the power :>} The more information anyone can acquire in a disaster the better equipped they are to make decisions.

[SevenDaysInMay]

Jeff and Newbees, I would increase the ration to 10 days, 10-12 Kcal, with a ~liter bottle with internal compound "bug cather/carbon" filters rated to <200 gallons via a straw. Camelbaks packs carry 3 liters (~7# water). I'd sure add iodine/chlorine water treatment tablets. Shake-rest-repeat to outgas the chem smell a little. The tiny LED torches and the (French) Petzl LED headlamps with flash mode are great.

I pack ~ 1x2 yard square of mosquito netting as a portable pie safe (and sleeping-facenet) to keep flies off my food and drink, given corpses' special spices which might well be added to lunch.

Folks, Leatherman "Crunch" multi-tool and 5-7" serrated combat/rescue knife (K-Bar-ish) goes with the handgun, Swiss Army "Hunter" model is a minimum: carry rat-shot for rats, squirrels, birds - snarling pack dogs get hollowpoints along with strangers who do not honor the FBI's 21'+ Rule or common sense to move along and don't come back. Carry a small magnifying glass for fire if not a magnesium striker and Fire Ribbon napalm in a tube...

Carry lots of Nitril (far stronger than latex) gloves, eat with them - as you should never eat with your hands, even if "washed" under hellish conditions.

550# paracute cord, 300-500 feet. "100mph" high quality duct tape. Lots of 30 and 55 gal. trash bags for everything, poncho - shade (fabric shower curtain is lighter than tarp) taped &/or corner knotting) etc., etc., etc.

Think multi-use and creatively. In a meltdown - locally, regionally, or nationally - plan on being paranoid, BUT survival may depend on forming up random tribes to watch your 6 day and night. I pack peppermint hard candies by the scores because it is calming to kids and adults alike. I take several # of good quality dogmeal with small Milk Bones because you may need a foundling as your night-watchman. You never know when you may need to take a dog for a wok.

As my primary bugout bag, I like a large "whitewater" pack/bag that is nearly 100% water-proof because one never knows when water may not save your life. I have put together now 5 slightly varied purposed/seasons bags with 2 medical kits small and large for when things are bloody bad And ONE ALONE IS THE MEDIC. Pack 2-4 weeks+ worth of critical meds - IF PACKING FOR A FAMILY, DON'T PUT ALL YOUR MEDS IN ONE pack - if one is lost.

My 7 somewhat redundant bags with at the ready fail-safe tools fill a Suburban. I can travel heavy, Toyota Corolla medium or pedestian lite - and INJURED EVAC VERY LITE.

I have thought through what it would be like to leave my home within 30 seconds to 3 minutes to never return.

Always have enough to share something. My 2 cents tonight.

[Jeff Head]

You are weclome AG!

[Jeff Head]

In the human condition, we are going to make mistakes. We are not perfect planners or perfect in our execution of even the best plans. In addition, nature itself will surprise us.

Even if everyone were prepared as I indicate there would still be some mistakes made. The secret is to avoid the truly large ones if at all possible and to learn from them. The very method we document history and hope that leaders bring that documentation with them is through the method I described above. I expect that method will be ongoing until Armegeddon, after which time, our Savior will be on the earth. We will survive Armegeddon precisely because of His appearance IMHO.

[Jeff Head]

Adversaries?

I do not believe that admitting that we, as individuals, can and should learn from our mistakes is contrary to the general ideology on FR.

As I stated, we are imperfect humans, each one of us. The solution is to remedy that on an individual basis, using the very foundational moral principles upon which our liberty os based...not depend on government to do it for us.

[Jeff Head]

Although its just common sense.. thats becoming increasingly less common..

Amen my friend...amen. Governmental agencies and ideologies and those in favor of "big governemtn", particulalry as they create conditions like the "Welfare State" which they termed the "Great Society" only prove and punctuate this point.

[Jeff Head]

Hipefully, within the first aid kit, the necessary items are included. Probably should have a seperate listing of the types of things to include in the first aid kit too.

[Jeff Head]

You are welcome my friend. Hope all ios well there in N. Bluegrass. Pass on my regards to the Colonel and the boys at the dump.

[Jeff Head]

I believe if similar conditions occurred in any other major metroplitan area contianing a large inner city, welfare oriented segment of society, regardless of race, the results would be similar.

The ingredients are a major catastrophie with any kind of general breakdown of infrastructure, basic services and law enforcement for an extended period...say 3-4 days with no immediate end in sight.

[Gritty]

Excellent observations, each one of them right on target!

[Jeff Head]

Dealing with subjects who haven't prepared themselves and who want what you got is going to be a serious issue.

That's why it is critical for law abiding, moral citizens to stay armed. When governmental law enforcement is absent...you have to enforce the very basics yourself...such as, not stealing from others. Unarmed, you become defenseless.

The 2nd amendment is a good anti-dote for the interim until basic services can be restored, and in fact thereafter as well...to keep the governmental part in check as well (which is what it was intended for).

[Jeff Head]

Agreed!

Earlier Squantos also mentioned communications and I indicated in a response that this was a very basic ingredient and necessity I had left out. It should mst definitely be a part of the 96 hour kit as number eleven to include an AM radio (Squantos highly recommends XM), a portable scanner, and perhaps a couple of 2-ways.

Thank you my friend for the great input.

[Jeff Head]

Great input! Excellent advise on both specific items and the logistics of packing and carrying those items.

Never can get enough good advise. It is then up to us each to apply it to our individual circumstances and situation.

[Jeff Head]

Thank you. I hope others, particularly my own, will benefit from it.

[Muzzle_em]

Get a gun and...
take a gun safety course before loading it or doing anything with it.
Then, find someone who knows guns WELL and have them teach you how to shoot.
Find a firing range and go practice regularly.
If you have kids in your home, keep your gun WELL out of reach, preferably in a locked cabinet.

[Musket]

Good stuff. Thanks.

[serpentineshel]

Great post. Well stated.

This is a really comprehensive list of what to have ready in the event of a disaster. I found it when looking for "disaster preparedness kit":

http://www.equipped.com/earthqk.htm

[Jeff Head]

Thanks for that link. Great stuff. The more info the better.

[Jeff Head]

You are welcome.

[MileHi]

bumping a great thread