Are you prepared for a major disaster?

[okarol]

In a major disaster, it might be several days before vital services are restored. Below is a suggested "kit" (not sure where I would store all of this!  ) Go the site (link below) to find out how you can prepare yourself and your family for an emergency. You can also learn what to do in response to a specific disaster, like a tsunami, just in case.

Are you prepared?

Build a Kit

After a major disaster the usual services we take for granted, such as running water, refrigeration, and telephones, may be unavailable. Experts recommend that you should be prepared to be self-sufficient for at least three days. Store your household disaster kit in an easily accessible location.  Put contents in a large, watertight container (e.g. a large plastic garbage can with a lid and wheels) that you can move easily.

Your basic emergency kit should include:

Water – one gallon per person per day
Food – ready to eat or requiring minimal water
Manual can opener and other cooking supplies
Plates, utensils and other feeding supplies
First Aid kit & instructions
A copy of important documents & phone numbers
Warm clothes and rain gear for each family member.
Heavy work gloves
Disposable camera
Unscented liquid household bleach and an eyedropper for water purification
Personal hygiene items including toilet paper, feminine supplies, hand sanitizer and soap
Plastic sheeting, duct tape and utility knife for covering broken windows
Tools such as a crowbar, hammer & nails, staple gun, adjustable wrench and bungee cords.
Blanket or sleeping bag
Large heavy duty plastic bags and a plastic bucket for waste and sanitation
Any special-needs items for children, seniors or people with disabilities. Don’t forget water and supplies for your pets.
A component of your disaster kit is your Go-bag. Put the following items together in a backpack or another easy to carry container in case you must evacuate quickly.  Prepare one Go-bag for each family member and make sure each has an I.D. tag. You may not be at home when an emergency strikes so keep some additional supplies in your car and at work, considering what you would need for your immediate safety.

Flashlight
Radio – battery operated
Batteries
Whistle
Dust mask
Pocket knife
Emergency cash in small denominations and quarters for phone calls
Sturdy shoes, a change of clothes, and a warm hat
Local map
Some water and food
Permanent marker, paper and tape
Photos of family members and pets for re-identification purposes
List of emergency point-of -contact phone numbers
List of allergies to any drug (especially antibiotics) or food
Copy of health insurance and identification cards
Extra prescription eye glasses, hearing aid or other vital personal items
Prescription medications and first aid supplies
Toothbrush and toothpaste
Extra keys to your house and vehicle
Any special-needs items for children, seniors or people with disabilities. Don’t forget to make a Go-bag for your pets.

http://72hours.org/build_kit.html

[Rerun]

Really?  and a pack mule.......

[Zach]

I believe in the old Cold War disaster instructions:

"Place your head between your knees ... and kiss your a*s goodbye!

[okarol]

I believe in the old Cold War disaster instructions:

"Place your head between your knees ... and kiss your a*s goodbye!

Really?  and a pack mule.......

[tyefly]

and dont forget the gun to make sure you can get something to eat..... and dont forget those veggie seeds....  and how about a book on native plants that you can eat......   oh forgot one thing......   hooks and line...... dont forget the hooks and line......  We love fish....

[Bill Peckham]

If you use dialysis you should have a week's worth of the emergency diet, you really should. If your dialysis schedule is disrupted you'll need to support the decreased frequency with a modified diet. The easiest way to have an emergency diet on hand is to buy Coast Guard approved emergency rations. Coincidentally what you would want to eat if you had working kidneys and were adrift in a raft is just about exactly the emergency diet for people who use dialysis.

For $40 you can have a week's worth of calories available without preparation, transportable if you had to evacuate, and they last basically forever. They're labeled for a five year shelf life but if you keep them indoors - in a box in a closet, where they are cool and/or constant temperature, and dry, they'll last for a very long time. A $40 insurance policy. A $40 bridge over disruptions due to Mother Nature.

[monrein]

I'm with Zach on this one  and Rerun....you cracked me up as you often do...dry and to the point. 

[phyl1215]

Having lived through 3 Hurricanes in Florida I can prepare very quickly and do prepare here in Ohio for Tornado season.  Praying for the people in Japan.  My daughter-in-law's family is safe, we are very thankful.

[paris]

Yes, we keep a Hurricane emergency kit. When we were hit a few years ago, we had no power, grocery stores, gas stations, etc. for days.  My family use to laugh at me until then and they were very glad to have water, canned food, flashlights,  a 5 inch tv with batteries and a full tank for the gas grill.    BUT, what happened in Japan, well, I don't think anyone could be prepared for that.  So sad.

[greg10]

... The easiest way to have an emergency diet on hand is to buy Coast Guard approved emergency rations. Coincidentally what you would want to eat if you had working kidneys and were adrift in a raft is just about exactly the emergency diet for people who use dialysis...

Thanks to Bill for the link for the rations.  There are three mentioned in that popular mechanics article but they are all available on amazon:

ERbar: http://www.amazon.com/3600-Calorie-ER-Bar-Emergency/dp/B0007VSID8

Datrex:  http://www.datrex.com/catalog.html?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage_new.tpl&product_id=1&category_id=29
http://www.amazon.com/Datrex-3600-Emergency-Food-Bar/dp/B001CSAHW0/ref=sr_1_cc_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1300326451&sr=1-1-catcorr

Mainstay:  http://www.survivorind.com/1200.html
http://www.amazon.com/Mainstay-3600-Emergency-Food-Rations/dp/B000QZ3CWC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1300326526&sr=8-1

Some of the ingredients, doesn't look like it is protein rich, no mention of phosphorus:

Ingredients
Enriched Flour, Vegetable Shortening, Sugar, Corn Syrup, Soy Flour, Corn Starch, Potassium Sorbate, Vitamins (Vitamin A, Iron, Vitamin E, Riboflavin, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12, Pantothenic Acid, Copper, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Thiamin, Niacin, Falate, Biotin, Iodine, Zinc), Artificial Lemon Flavoring, Artificial Vanilla Flavoring, Artificial Butter Flavoring, Artificial Coloring (Egg Shade).

[Bill Peckham]

You're right Greg. They would not provide adequate protein over time - the ER Bar has only 7g of protein per ~400 calories - but in an emergency situation you need calories without sodium, potassium or phosphorus. Protein can be deemphasized during the emergency.

To me the key is the low sodium, 5mg per ~400 calories. The way I would personally use the ER Bars I own would be as an adjunct to a typically salty MRE or canned product, which I also stockpile (I assume they have a 10+ year shelf life; I'll be happy to restock in about 5 years). So I could eat an MRE with 800 mg of sodium and half my ER Bar to get my calories without getting too much sodium. And so long as coffee is available I'll be able to choke down the ER Bar.

Sodium is important to avoid because you'll need to be vigilant about fluid assuming you're dialyzing less - 2/week or shorter runs in the case of contracted capacity. The Coast Guard approved rations work because they are designed to not tax the kidneys and to not cause thirst (which if you're adrift in a raft not causing thirst would be an important feature). Potassium is something that can accumulate and be deadly if you have no renal function. You have to watch out for supplements high in protein because often they are made for people lifting weights and trying to bulk up so they may also be high in potassium.

I ran my idea for using Coast Guard approved rations by Katy Wilkins, NKC's go to renal dietitian with decades helping people who use dialysis, Katy thought it was a good strategy. The recommended renal emergency diet, published by Medicare and quoted widely, came out of the Northern California Renal Dietitian council or some such ... it would keep you alive but who has that stuff stockpiled? The shelf life on a lot of the elements would require yearly restocking for one. I've long wanted to do a blog post pricing the suggested renal emergency diet and evaluating the storage life of the various elements. I think Coast Guard rations would be shown to be vastly superior. What needs to happen is for renal dietitians to take this on and update the advise.


Edited to add: the soy flour is the protein I think

[okarol]

Here's another related thread "Missing Dialysis" http://ihatedialysis.com/forum/index.php?topic=4847.0

[texasstyle]

A kit is a good idea in my opinon, but in a real castrophe if may might not be available. A catstrophe is just that . When you have nothing and everything is in total disary. My sister lives in Texas. They have an axe buried just slighty under the grass/dirt level in the corner of their property. She said should a tornando ever strike,they could dig this axe out with their hands.It could be used to break through their home or others to possibly rescue people. I would have never thought of that.

[Big E]

Thanks Karol, Greg and Bill for your very helpful posts.  Emergency planning isn't exactly a fun topic, but after seeing all the post-disaster chaos in Japan of all places, I guess we should all assume that after such a huge disaster there's a limit to what the authorities can do.  I just ordered a 4-person emergency kit from Safety Max, which makes me feel a bit more secure.  I'm also thinking I should refill my prescriptions sooner so I don't run out.

Why does life have to be so complicated...
 
BTW, I hope any any IHDers with friends or family in the affected areas of Japan have heard from them that they're OK.

[carol1987]

I know I should have a few more supplies on hand and keep my immunosupressant meds fully stocked..

[Bill Peckham]

It's a good habit to have a week or more meds on hand when you receive your resupply. I did this by making a point of ordering meds (I'm limited to a one month supply) when I had five pills left. Within a couple months you can build a cushion - just make sure to rotate your stock.

Month one I ordered five days early. When they came I added the month two meds to the month one container - leaving 8 pills in the month two container. Then you repete - leaving 12 pills in the month three containers. pretty soon you can get up to a month's stockpile which is a good idea if your meds are stable.

[carol1987]

Thanks Bill!!