Hurricanes, Tornadoes, and Flooding- Are You Prepared?

I have been asked a couple of times recently what I would have done if I was living back on the east coast last week when the hurricane hit.  The answer is always the same: My house has wheels, I would have moved a few hundred miles away and only come back when everything was better.  Ahhh, the advantages of Greendocking.

This has been a crazy summer with many weather related stories.   Tornado outbreaks, the hurricane, the heat and drought conditions that some Americans are facing are all reasons to be thankful that my house can be moved.  It is more than just that though.  I know that I can also survive with no need whatsoever to be hooked up to the grid.  I really feel sorry for the many people who have lost so much already.  By the time the electricity comes back on for these same people, they will have lost much of their food as well. 

For those of you that don't have the advantage of moving your 'house', I would like to suggest that you keep a G.O.O.D bag around.  This GOOD bag stands for "Get out of Dodge".  In the military it is called a bug-out bag.  Wikipedia even has a lot to say about it.  Basically it is a portable 72 hour kit filled with things you would need to have in order to survive in a short term evacuation. 

According to Wikipedia, the suggested contents of a bug-out bag vary, but most of the following are usually included:

• Enough food and water to last for 72 hours.
• A first aid kit
• Fire starting tool (e.g., matches, ferrocerium rod, lighter, etc.)
• A disaster plan including location of emergency centers, rallying points, possible evacuation routes etc.
• Professional emergency literature explaining what to do in various types of disaster, studied and understood before the actual disaster but kept for reference
• Maps and travel information
• Standard camping equipment, including sanitation supplies
• Weather appropriate clothing (e.g., poncho, headwear, gloves, etc.)
• Bedding items such as sleeping bags and blankets
• Enough medicine to last an extended evacuation period
• Medical records
• Pet, child, and elderly care needs^]
• Battery or crank operated Radio.
• Lighting (battery or crank operated flashlight, glow sticks).
• Firearms and appropriate ammunition
• Cash and change, as electronic banking transactions may not be available during the initial period following an emergency or evacuation
• Positive Identification, such as drivers license, state I.D. card, or social security card
• Fixed-blade and folding knife
• Duct Tape and rope/paracord
• Plastic tarps for shelter and water collection
• Slingshot, pellet gun, blowgun or other small game hunting equipment
• Wire for binding and animal traps

I hope that everyone will take the time right now to get these things together in one place.   If you need to get out in a hurry like a flash flood or tornado warning, you probably will not have the time to try and find these things.  Hopefully, your GOOD bag will never be used.  However if you ever find yourself in a situation when you need it,  you will be very grateful that you did have it available.  Happy Trails!