evacuations

[cellio]

Katrina is certainly a tragedy, and I feel really bad for the people who've lost lives and property. My heart goes out to those people. But two things: (1) this is not anything like the tsunami in magnitude, Mr. Mayor, and (2) there are other things going on in the world too and I'd like the news to cover them. (I mean, really, if I were a nefarious government agent itching for some shenanigans, this would be the perfect time.)

anastasiav posed a thought experiment today. Given 12-24 hours' notice that you have to clear out and you have only your current vehicle with which to do it, what would you take? I have sometimes played through the "the house is on fire" scenario, where you maybe grab something on your way out the door, but this is a different scenario.

This isn't the order in which I thought of things, nor is this in full priority order, but I'm trying to group things for easier reading. For purposes of the exercise I'm assuming that my VW Golf is not currently in lemon mode. :-)

The universal "this goes without saying, right?" list: passport, cash, checkbook, cell phone, non-perishable compact food, drinking water, medicine, blankets, a few changes of clothes, toiletries, contents of the "important papers" drawer.

Every bit as essential to me: the cats (duh), some food for them, computer CPU and external hard drive. Yes, if a shelter turned my cats away I'd keep driving, as long as I possibly could. (And by the way, the cats and the external hard drive -- in that order -- are what I'd grab in the event of a fire.)

Thinking practically: contents of the "original work" drawers (research notes, sheet music, etc that aren't on the computer), one good knife, photos of items being left behind (including contents of bookshelves) for the insurance claim and to help with rebuilding,

Sentimental stuff: photo albums (I don't have a lot), the afghan my grandmother (of blessed memory) made for me (doubles as a blanket, too), a few (specific) pieces of jewelry, copies of my band's CDs (one each, I mean, not stockpiles), kiddush cup from our wedding, Shabbat candlesticks from a good friend.

Special and possibly surprising to some: about a dozen specific religious texts, or that entire section of the bookcase if I had room. Books are replacable, but that's not the point. I would do my best to specifically rescue the books containing the (real, not translated) name of God. I would also check with my synagogue and offer to take one torah scroll with me if needed. Yes, I would give my religious community a chunk of my evac space for something that important; it's kind of like tithing, when you think about it.

(Oh, in case you're wondering, Dani has his own car. We'd certainly try to use both. So I haven't factored him into this. This is my list, not our list.)

Unless there's room (which I kind of doubt), my hammer dulcimer didn't make the cut (though I'd grab the bag of hammers; good hammers are really important, and they're small). It's expensive and it would be a shame, but I do know where to get another. Losing the case would be annoying (not commercially available), but in this scenario I'd be doing enough rebuilding of the core parts of my life that this would be noise. (Err. So to speak.)

Sure, I've got lots of other stuff -- but most of it is stuff that could be replaced. It's just stuff. The things I listed go beyond "just stuff".

What are the things that you consider to be beyond "just stuff"?

Comments

[xiphias.livejournal.com]

In terms of number of deaths, the tsunami was bigger.

However, in terms of worldwide economic impact. . .

Well, the Port of Louisina is apparently the single biggest grain-exporting port in the world. Depending how badly that port is smashed up, this could suck for people EVERYWHERE.

[arib.livejournal.com]

Assuming I had renter's insurance? :-)

Grab my grandfather's dogtags and head for the door. I don't think there's anything else that isn't replaceable.

[figmo.livejournal.com]

The dog, the computers, some clothes, meds, musical instruments, and photos. Maybe some jewelry. My piggy bank.

evacuation of dwelling, 12 hrs

[anniemal.livejournal.com]

We have a friggin' big van. That given, and its tank is full, we'd have:
20-30 gallons potable water
3 folding chairs
3 coolers stocked with dry ice before emergency set in.
2-3 folding tables +trays
2-3 tents
1 big tarpaulin
3 small tarpaulins
Many extra sticks to rig tarps as needed
Lots of rope.
camp stove for boiling water
Fuel for same
3 kitchen knives (dagger works) and a couple wooden spatulas
Basic feast gear. Glass if optional
Mixing bowl
cutting board
bedding (in bundles in storeroom)
Keys
cash (lots)
whatever is perishible in the fridge
canned food (for people)
Dry food (for people and aminals)
Boxed soy milk and soup
cast iron implements
Candles & lanterns + wax
flashlights, batteries, and rechargers.
Dry hardwood
Personal documents--I am a USer--no passport, but an original BC.
Various books _ I know what they are_
Good jewelry. It can be bartered.
Clothes for several+days. I'm not fussy that way. Just something for any condition of heat, cold, or damp. I know where they are. I won't be stylish, but I will be comfortable.
Toiletries + first aid kit which includes antiseptics and bandages. They overlap.

If there's time I could get sentimental. But I'm assuming 12 hrs. Our house is thick brick with a reasonable roof, so I'm hoping for the best.

But I keep this in my brain for reference. Don't know how and hope never to need it. But someone should know this stuff in any given residence at all times. We've got a tornado watch on.

[zare-k.livejournal.com]

This question is probably easier for me because of the recent two cross-country moves done in my car, so I know what an amazing amount of stuff I can cram in there. The answers also depend heavily on where I intend on /going/ with all this stuff in my car. I can be in NorCal in less than a day, and probably still know enough people in Pittsburgh to couch-surf for some while and that's only 3-4 days' drive (of course, having everyone trying to bail out of an area at once would certainly increase travel times). If I planned on literally camping out somewhere that would naturally require different provisions. This assumes that only a relatively isolated area is affected, rather than the entire country going splat. Anyway, in no particular order:

Vital paperwork: passport, bank and credit card info, IDs, insurance info, etc
Cat, cat food and dishes, litter and box, carrier
Enough cash for about 2 weeks. Checkbook and credit cards.
Small folder of heirloom photographs, cards, and other compact things of sentimental value
Basic kitchen gear: chef's knife, paring knife, saucepan, wooden spoon, mixing bowl, cutting board, a couple of sets of plates and utensils, other items as space permits, a cookbook. Valerie's silverware.
Drinking water in large and small containers
High-energy and less perishable snacks: energy bars, soy milk, apples, Red Bull (my driving upper of choice)
About a week's worth of basic clothing including overcoat and boots depending on season, plus an interview suit and one dressy outfit
A few favorite pieces of jewellry
Toiletries and medications
Communication: cell phone w/ car charger, laptop, PDA, mp3 player, some CDs (rural radio sucks)
A few books for entertainment
Batteries of various sizes
Flashlight
Rope
Swiss army knife and pocket knife
Favorite stuffed animal
Pillow, sheet, blanket

Assuming my renter's insurance still exists, most everything else is "just stuff."

No idea

[zachkessin.livejournal.com]

We don't have a car, so its an interesting question. Thankfully weather like this doesn't tend to hit here, so its more accademic. If things happen its eather they decide to evacuate us, in which case we have months to figure out where to go, or G-d Forbid Iran gets the bomb, in which case we have enough time to say a short prayer and run for a shelter.

Passports, ID's etc
The Dog and the Cat
Food

A few pictures,

Laptops.

[anastasiav.livejournal.com]

But two things: (1) this is not anything like the tsunami in magnitude, Mr. Mayor, and (2) there are other things going on in the world too and I'd like the news to cover them.

(1) several good points have been made here already, so I guess I'll just add that New Orleans alone has a regular population of over 400,000. Add to that all the outlying areas, plus the coastal areas in Alabama and especially Mississippi that have been totally destroyed. New Orleans is being completely evacuated and no one knows when (or if) people will be able to return. Its not completely unlikley that a million people -- a million people will be completely homeless for at least several weeks, if not more. FEMA is talking about setting up refugee camps (http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/texassouthwest/stories/082905dntexafterkatrina.31f1021.html) to deal with those who have nowhere else to go. Perhaps the loss of life is not as great as it was in the Tsunami, but the impact to an entire region will be as great ... if not greater. And the most frightening part? Its not even peak Hurricane season yet. Remember those refugee camps? Now imagine if a second storm, of any strength, strikes the area.

(2) On the contrary, I want to see the same level of coverage for Katrina that we saw for September 11th. I want to see all news, all the time. I want the commercials to stop running. I want America to wake up to see what's happened here. Charities and relief agencies raised over $657 million in the three weeks following September 11th. 2,776 families shared donations totaling $54.3 million from the Red Cross alone. That's just a hair under $20,000 per family -- and these were people who lost a life, yes, but not a home; not everything they own except the clothing on their backs. Yes, insurance and FEMA will help some, but it won't be nearly enough. Katrina is, by far, the worst natural disaster ever on American soil.

Sorry to rant, but I'm fearful that the help that is needed will simply never materialize. I'm fearful that American's are tapped out on crisis, that they feel as you do -- that it doesn't affect them, that they just want to see other news, hear other stuff. I'm fearful that we'll have honest-to-god refugee cities in America for a year or more to come. I'm fearful that New Orleans (in particular) will become a lawless hot-zone that can never be reclaimed. I'm fearful that America just doesn't want to pay attention, and these people who are suffering now -- and, in particular, those who lack the means to rebuild their lives -- will suffer more, and worse, before the end of the week, not to mention the end of the year.

If smart people like you can feel this way, what chance does the rest of America have?

[cafemusique.livejournal.com]

On the practical side, I don't know...I'd probably just pack a bag.

The main reason being no car, no license...it may take all that time to find a way to leave, especially if people are jamming their vehicles with their possessions.

That, and there's very little in terms of stuff that I'd rate with high importance. And pretty much all the music I"ve written that I'd want to save is online...I'd have to trust it could stay up long enough for me to get it. (So don't happen this week, because my hosting needs to be renewed by Friday.)

[tsjafo.livejournal.com]

We've had to pick up and leave on short notice before, sometimes with as little as 30 minutes. For a long time we kept bags packed just in case. Haven't done that in a while now, but we are getting our readiness level back up.

[goljerp]

I used to think about what I'd grab out of my room if something were to happen as a way of going to sleep. Yes, I'm a bit odd. It usually turned into a dream where I had lots of time, and was able to carry, essentially, everything. Once it turned into a dream where my whole room was transported someplace else and I had to make do with what was in it.

But to the question at hand: like cafemusique, I'm hampered by not having a car, and living in a large city filled with other people who don't have cars. I'd want to take everything; I'd have to settle for taking a good deal less... hmm... I don't really have time to write a good answer, since we've got to finish Joy's move today...

[magid.livejournal.com]

It looks like a lot of people have interpreted your thought experiment to mean "What would you take to prepare for what comes next?" Which wasn't my first assumption (though it probably should've been). I was thinking more "What stuff has so much value to you that you couldn't bear to leave it behind?" (less than or equal to the volume of space available in my car, obviously).

There would be the universal stuff you list, documents, money, jewelry. Also photo albums, written journals, and boxes of letters. Certain unreplaceable books (some out of print, some signed by the author, one hand-sewn for me when I was an infant). My teddy bear. As many of the original paintings (and one wall hanging) as I could fit (one or two are investments, others presents from friends who made them). The essential things from my computer put on CD. A couple of unfindable-again CDs. If there's room, some of the tiny things given to me by different relatives (some deceased). If I magically found time to get a bike rack, I'd take my bike; it's an old Italian racing bike that used to be my dad's. But that's unlikely.

[sue-n-julia.livejournal.com]

This differed from the tsunami in two very important ways:

1. We had lots of warning this scenario might happen; we could evacuate.


2. The loss of life was mostly preventable; most of those who died chose to stay.


I feel for those who've basically lost everything, but, again unlike the tsunami victims, they've got the resources to rebuild.

Now, for what I would take (just me, not including Juliana's car):

• Clean undies


• The kitties and bird + food + litter


• Electronics: Laptop, cell phone, pda


• Meds: ibuprofen and any prescriptions I happen to have (while I can be the vit. I in stores, I might need too quickly)


• Drinks (so I can get further before stopping)


• Scroll case with our awards


• Some knickknacks from my deceased grandmothers




Pretty much, whatever is irreplaceable. Of course, Julia and I had this thought experiment a few months ago because of wildfire season (not that it is too likely to threaten us).

S