Are you ready for an Emergency?

Oh, what a great topic!
Out here on the Left-Coast (and FEMA), we teach/train people and families to have stores for a minimal of 72 hours. This should include 6 gallons of potable water per person/per day. Food rations like MRE's, canned meats for protein, snacks in individual packets to preserve freshness, as well as canned fruits. Also, a 1-gallon container of Standard Household Bleach: No perfumes or others frilly stuff. This can be used for numerous things regarding sanitation. 2-tsp in 1-gallon of "questionable" CLEAR water will render it safe for drinking.

Don't forget Flashlights with batteries and a protable AM/FM radio. With today's LED flashlights, you can generate lots of light for little amperage draw. Nothing fancy, just something to get info from.

And Ham Radio ops; don't rely on that repeater to be functionable. Have a spare J-Pole for 2m/440 that can be planted in a bucket of gravel/rocks for simplex comms. HF will be the biggest asset in times of big disasters, just remind yourself "how am I going to power this rig"?

Oh, last but not least, those on medications: You need to have enough also. I know that we all forget these UNTIL we need them.

Good luck and remember to be safe.

Bill Hays - N9QO
CNL Coordinator
Sierra del Mar Division
Salvation Army