Hi Jesselp,

Greetings from Bay Ridge, Brooklyn! and yes the tornado hit just 2 blocks from my house, no damage though, just turned over flower pots. I share your concerns and have spent considerable time thinking about preparation since 9/11. I also am most concerned about my wife and children and have set up a full bug-in supply set. For work, my wife has a complete go bag to get home and I am fully prepped as well. It's great to see fellow Brooklynites prepared.

A few thoughts for you to consider:

1. Include your son's caregiver in your scenarios. They should know exactly what to do and how to manage things for you at home until you arrive (assuming you have in him cared for at home) If he is cared for in a daycare setting, know exactly what they will do. We have an AuPair and she is completely on board with what I expect in an emergency situation.

2. Stock your get home from work bags well. Depending on what you wear to work, be sure to include a full change of season appropriate clothing and comfortable broken-in walking shoes. I still think of my friends who had to walk back to Brooklyn in wingtips on 9/11 and during the blackout - biggest blisters I'd ever seen.

3. Even though I see that we are not in a flood zone either (thanks to the recent mailing from the city) my wife and I think we'd bug out for a hurricane. If we had a days notice, it would be a traffic jam from hell, but I think we could get to my upstate relatives. I just wouldn't want to face blown out windows and flying debris with the kids at home. I don't have anything to back up my reasons why other than I just think it would be better to get out if we had some notice.

4. I don't know about the bicycle bug out idea. Imagine trying to bike down Atlantic or Flatbush to reach the Brooklyn Bridge and some desperate guy thinks he needs the bikes more than you do. It would be difficult to physically defend and you'd have both your wife and baby to watch out for. I know that sounds extreme since my personal experience on 9/11 found lots of helpful people, but it would worry me.

Good luck in your preparation planning and please keep us updated.