Do you trust FEMA to help you? Are you ready for a natural disaster? Could you leave on short notice?
Myself, I made Bug Out Bags (BOB’s) for my family. Their small bags kept in the house for a quick exit. Each family member has their own bag, so it’s tailored for them. The bag looks like a large gym bag and it has shoulder straps.
In each bag there is a change of clothing and stout shoes.
A travel size first aid kit. (cheap from Wal-Mart and Dollar Store)
A small sample size toiletry kit. (cheap from Wal-Mart)
Three days worth of food, like energy bars and mountain house freeze dried food.
Ziploc bag with salt, pepper and plastic cutlery.
Small pocket knife and multi-tool.
Space blanket.
Windup flashlight ( cheap from Dollar Store)
One chemical light stick.
Two army canteens with drinking cups and water purification tablets.
Two packs of travel size Kleenex.
One butane lighter.
Two small tea candles.
Pepper spray (for 2 and 4 legged varmints)
Small AM/FM radio.
Rain poncho
Xerox copies of birth certificates, drivers licenses, insurance papers, address books, etc.
Rechargeable phone calling card with at least 120 minutes.
A small notebook with a pen.
Also each bag has $300.00 in small bills and two rolls of quarters.
The bags don’t weigh much, but they can be worth their weight in gold if needed.
Not such a joker afterall !! ☺☺☺
I am ALWAYS ready —- I live in the smack middle of tornado alley and have had three of them run slap over my **** within my lifetime !! So, believe me, here — at a moment’s notice — I can be GONE from any activity at all with not even a glance in the rearview mirror !!
I wouldn’t trust FEMA to be able to find its own tail with directions from God printed on the palm of their hand !!!
We don’t live in an area that’s hit with very many natural disasters on a large scale. We do, however, live close enough to the “bull’s eye” drawn on D.C., if Al Qaeda ever succeeds in nuking the Nation’s Capital. In which case, having a special emergency kit will be kind of a moot point, right?
I know it sounds pessimistic, but I’m also being for real. If it’s dirty bombs, we might stand a chance. A full-out nuke? Well, there’s that old saying about bending over, putting your head between your legs and kissing your @$$ goodbye…
Otherwise, the Bug Out Bag is a good, sound idea. Although I know some people who would feel it wasn’t complete without a taser or small firearm, since civil services will be non-existent (look at what happened in LA after Katrina.)
It’s not really a matter of whether FEMA should be trusted. If people were on the ball, as you seem to be, there would be little need to test the reliability of the agency. It would be nice if people took responsibility for their safety and that of their family more seriously, and didn’t wait for the government to get them out of an avoidable disaster area, after the fact.
If everyone was prepared like the questioner then we would not have to rely on FEMA. They just can’t take care of everyone no matter how good they are–face it, we have them out numbered.
Everyone should have a disaster supply kit and be able to take care of themselves in an emergency either when they need to leave home quickly or are unable to leave home.
Don’t forget extra prescription medication and rotate anything out with expiration dates.
FEMA is NOT here to help. After all, those trailers they so “nicely” gave to all those affected by Katrina were tested positive for formaldehyde. So, I would much rather do something like you did. Never rely on the govt. to help you.
Why would anyone expect FEMA or the Federal Government to help them out in an emergency? They’re not prepared and they’re unorganized. Everyone should have a basic survival box and be ready to leave on short notice. It is your own responsibility to take care of your family and yourself. It’s just common sense. I live in an area that has occational hurricanes (about every 10 years), I live less than 60 miles from an active volcano, Mt. St. Helens, and I’m also in an earthquake zone – so I’m always ready.