[wizr]

I started planning, many, many years ago, while living in SoCal.

After watching people vacate on Friday nights and return on Sunday nights, and the traffic it created even then, I decided I was not where I wanted to spend the rest of my life.

Crowding people together causes a stressful situation. IMHO, it’s like jamming rats in a cage.

Overcrowding, traffic, time constraints and just everyday problems multiply. Everyone is in a hurry, running over each other.

When there are times of crises, like now, do we help each other? Too many are tied up just keeping on track to reach out and help others. Then, we don’t know how to help, if possible.

No, not everyone acts just for themselves. But, we need more small groups, neighbors, to start helping each other on a day to day basis. Then we will know how to better help each other in emergencies.

Me, I like small towns. The smaller the better. People relying on each other every day. Knowing each others needs, and helping where we can.

I really don’t know how L.A. would react to a real crisis, except chaos and hysteria. Chaos and hysteria are also my description of Hell.

[pianomikey]

I would say that the “charity begins at home” moral applies here as well. If you’re in a disaster situation, your absolute number one priority is to secure yourself and your immediate family. Otherwise, you may become the problem, spreading resources that much thinner. Self-sufficiency is the most important quality to have during a disaster.

Of course, there are many legitimate reasons that you aren’t able to, which is why we have disaster management teams, FEMA, evacuation shelters, etc. That’s where FReepers and other civic-minded citizens pitch in to help those who can’t help themselves.

But first and foremost: be prepared to take care of yourself!

[Quix]

Yes. I loved living the 10 years in San Diego. Loved it.

Still miss the place.

But I realized then that too many others felt that way. And even then I saw that the border was a joke, in many respects . . . 1970’s.

But there are beloved wonderful people there and we need to help them plan and learn to support one another

AHEAD OF the next crisis.

[MamaB]

We have had several huge tornadoes here in the past plus a 100 year flood in my part of town. We have plans to help those in need. Churches send out their disaster teams which include clean up, hot food, getting people shelter, etc. The Southern Baptists have teams already set up to go where needed. It is neighbor helping neighbor or fellow citizens. Disaster drills take place about every 6 months with victims, etc. Our tv stations all have radar to track tornadoes or thunderstorms. We know hours ahead of time where a tornado is headed and if action is needed, we take it. The stations learned their lesson back in 74 when a tornado knocked all of the tv stations off the air so they all have generators, now. People complain about the coverage especially if it is in the day time but I had rather know where a storm is headed than watching bed swapping on tv.