In addition, I heard of a trick you can do to contact people locally when “all circuits are busy” – try calling someone out of the area. Much of the time the local lines are jammed but calling someone long-distance will allow your call to go through. By having a contact person (in our case, my parents in Oregon) we can call to check in and make sure everyone is OK, as well as coordinate our next steps.

Funny, you’re doing a great job of being prepared!

Chas, I think a root cellar will be a great addition to your home!

While a 72-hour kit is essential if you’re stuck or stranded without water and electricity, you also need a “grab and go” kit – this has copies of your insurance policies, birth certificates, mortgage papers, house deeds, etc.

Many Hurricane Katrina survivors had a hard time getting FEMA assistance simply because they couldn’t prove that their house was indeed their own.

Here’s another great resource for you – a site called WhatHappensNow.com. They have more than enough info to help you get ready for any disaster, including grab and go kits: http://whathappensnow.com/articles_show.cfm?id=243&cat=4&sub=4

Mercifully, the area where we live is not prone to tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, mudslides, or wildfires. If we had a real emergency, it would be man-made: a major terrorist attack, for example. I doubt there would be much you could do in the event of a nuclear bomb, a gas attack, or germ warfare.

In general, I try to keep at least a half-tank of gas in the car and an extra canister of propane in the back yard. I have a couple of three-gallon water bottles that can go in the vehicle. And I’d never cancel the land line: it works even if the power is out, & you don’t have to recharge it. There’s really not enough room to store a lot of dried or canned food; besides, you have to eat that stuff regularly and restock it, and I wouldn’t…so it would probably be dead stale by the time I needed it. I probably should get more into the habit of stocking and eating beans and rice, and a few cans of fish and vegetables would be useful.

Remember that the water heater contains 40 to 60 gallons of water. And if you’re forced to leave your home, remember to bring toilet paper!

Scott, I remember when the blackout in New York happened too. My brother was there and told me what it was like. I remember he said everyone was pretty considerate for others.

Mrs. Mordecai, I agree, it was easy to just buy extra of our regular food that would store well.

Wise words, Alex. I’m amazed by the way the people in Central Florida have weathered all of the storms and hurricanes each year.

Meg, you are getting things done! I’ve seen the photos of your beef jerky and bottled water.

Leslie, good points about the propane stove and the phone, and I’m going to refill our envelope of emergency cash.

Great idea Karen! Especially if mobile phones are down like Leslie mentioned.

Jill, your drug provider probably won’t deviate from the written prescription, but maybe your doctor will write one for an extra month’s supply. If not, see how early you can purchase the next refill. If you can get it after two weeks instead of having to wait a month, then that’s two weeks you can keep for emergencies.

Deb, I know, it’s out of sight, out of mind. I think hearing about other people’s personal accounts helps me to focus more.

Alison, great idea for food rotation to keep costs down.

Pooja, I can’t imagine losing everything the way you did, and then starting again. (I think you should write a blog post about it.)

Yes I agree with you that be prepared for a disaster, emergencies strike and spares no one. Its good be at least prepared.

Thanks for reminding again.