Mini earthquake guide

1)Careful with heavy objects, paintings or mirrors. If there’s an earthquake, do you have any such object next to your beds where they could fall and injure people?

2)Have a plan for when the earthquake strikes. A location out in the open where everyone will run to as soon as it starts, instead of staying stunned and scared. Keep in mind the best route for a quick and safest exit, door portals and corners are generally more resistant, don’t walk across the center of the room but avoid walls with bookshelves and other objects that may fall. Heavy desks or tables made out of solid wood can provide some cover if there’s not another floor over the one you are in.

3)Have a second location to where to go in case the family lost contact with one another and can’t get home.

4)Have a bug out bag (a backpack) per family member ready with the following supplies:

A)2 liters of water per person.

B)A firearm and 50 rounds of ammunition, along withtwo spare magazines, a gun belt and holster ( adult’s bag)

C)Cooking pot and stove

D)Plastic cups, dishes, spoons and forks

E)Fuel for the stove.

F)Ready to eat food. Lentils. Dried pasta. Candy. Powdered milk. Sugar. Canned meat. At least a week worth of food since that seems to be the average time for help to be organized in disaster areas. 2 weeks would be better but keep at least a week in the pack. Lentils and dried pasta usually give you the best bang per buck in terms of nutrition per volume.

G)Tent and sleeping bags.

H)An extra change of clothes and shoes in a large ziplock bag. (you may have to run out in the middle of the night only in your underwear)

I)LED flashlight that uses a single battery and at least 10 spare batteries. You can add specialty or “tactical” flashlights, but the emergency flashlight must use commonly available AA or AAA batteries.

J)Radio that uses those same batteries.

K)Multitool (Leatherman Wave or Charge highly recommended)

L)Lighters and storm proof matches in a waterproof container.

M)Gloves.

N)Alcohol hand sanitizer.

O)Baby wipes for cleaning up (jumbo pack)

P)First aid kit.

Q)Medicine for medical conditions.

R)Diapers, powdered formula, spare bottle if there’s a baby.

S)Emergency cash, spare credit card and ATM for emergencies. Scanned copies of important documents in a waterproof memory stick.

T)Pre paid cell phone (solar and crank operated charger recommended too)

U)Spare set of keys, house and car.

v)Water filter

Other items recommended:

5)More water would be recommended, but the bug out bag must be small and light enough to grab and go in just a matter of seconds. More bottles of water in a shed or other secondary location is a good idea.

5)Two extra gas tanks worth of fuel in jerry cans will allow you leave the disaster area in most cases. Check for leaks and the fuel every 6 months. Replace containers that leak, bulge or deform.

6)You may want to keep a rifle per adults with the bags as well, with a small bag or bandolier with ammo or loaded magazines. Remember. It must be light so as to grab and go in just a couple seconds. That may be the difference between making it out of the building alive or not.

The earthquake means loosing your everyday items, you homes, clothes, no power and no water for a nice bath. Your bag should allow you to deal with all this.

As many Chilean survivors noted, the worst may come AFTER the earthquake itself, in the form of lawlessness and looters, so plan on organizing watches with your neighbors to watch after one another.

I've added the links with prices to several of the items mentioned. Many of us already have all or most of these around the house. Its just a matter of getting busy and putting it all together in a backpack, filling in the holes you many have.

Comments and suggestions welcomed guys.

FerFAL