BabushkaLady
24th November 2011, 03:43 PM
Living the homestead/prep lifestyle also means that you need to think of emergencies before they happen.
Fire is a big concern out in the West. Summertime it's wildfires; wintertime it's chimney fires.
Some of the things I've put in place are just my own mental exercises:
if a winter fire broke out, how would I get out? Are my boots always in the same place? How about my car keys?
Time permitting:
1) I'd get the dogs into the vehicle so they don't distract me or fireman, as I try to salvage important stuff.
2) I've already determined what's important ahead of time. I've placed my almost irreplaceable books together on a bookshelf. Important papers are all together in one file at the front of the file cabinet. Photos are in the house; negatives are stored in the shed. Computers are in the house, external back-ups are not in the house.
3) Paper assets are not in the house; hard assets should weather a fire ok if they had to. Don't put all your eggs in one basket.
4) As you look rooms over; what would you take? How would you carry it out? I leave travel bags in the closet to be available to load up.
Several years ago I noticed a wildfire in the proximity of my friend's house. I went over to see if there was anything I could help with. She seemed dazed and knew the evacuation was imminent. I started looking around her house and was loading things up that she didn't even think of; her computer; her checkbook and files; children's awards, photographs, momentos. Basically I was trying to load up things that would make an after-fire transition easier on her and her family. Small personal things saved can mean so much!
Everything in my mind is based on how much time? 15 minutes? 10 minutes? 5 minutes? Prioritize what's important after your family's safety and get a plan.
Fire is a big concern out in the West. Summertime it's wildfires; wintertime it's chimney fires.
Some of the things I've put in place are just my own mental exercises:
if a winter fire broke out, how would I get out? Are my boots always in the same place? How about my car keys?
Time permitting:
1) I'd get the dogs into the vehicle so they don't distract me or fireman, as I try to salvage important stuff.
2) I've already determined what's important ahead of time. I've placed my almost irreplaceable books together on a bookshelf. Important papers are all together in one file at the front of the file cabinet. Photos are in the house; negatives are stored in the shed. Computers are in the house, external back-ups are not in the house.
3) Paper assets are not in the house; hard assets should weather a fire ok if they had to. Don't put all your eggs in one basket.
4) As you look rooms over; what would you take? How would you carry it out? I leave travel bags in the closet to be available to load up.
Several years ago I noticed a wildfire in the proximity of my friend's house. I went over to see if there was anything I could help with. She seemed dazed and knew the evacuation was imminent. I started looking around her house and was loading things up that she didn't even think of; her computer; her checkbook and files; children's awards, photographs, momentos. Basically I was trying to load up things that would make an after-fire transition easier on her and her family. Small personal things saved can mean so much!
Everything in my mind is based on how much time? 15 minutes? 10 minutes? 5 minutes? Prioritize what's important after your family's safety and get a plan.