There is a poll on www.cnn.com today asking if you've "made preparations in case of a natural disaster". Here are the results as of 9:30 this morning:

Quick Vote
Have you made preparations in case of a natural disaster?
Yes 24% 11389
No 76% 36676
Total Votes: 48065

Abysmal.

Yes 23% 13022
No 77% 42573
Total Votes: 55595

Abysmal and going the wrong way

Yes 23% 13269
No 77% 43480
Total Votes: 56749

Yes 23% 13972
No 77% 45963
Total Votes: 59935

"...Yes 24% 11389
No 76% 36676..."


Typical. Which is why we always see the run on plywood, water, flashlights, etc, every time a hurricane is coming...

All the more reason to be prepared to guard your stash during and after an event.

I hang around survival sites hoping someone near me starts bragging about their stash. Then I know where to go when something happens.



(that's a joke)

I'm surprised that as many as 24% say yes, but I wonder what that means? The have a flashlight and radio (both with three year old batteries) or they can survive in their homes for a week without outside assistance? Or presumably somewhere between those extremes?

My guess, personally embarrassing as it is, is that I EDC more "junk" than most people keep on hand for home emergencies. (Okay, I don't carry candles, but I certainly have an EDC kit that I've spent far too much time thinking about. ) However, there is nothing in my EDC kit that I haven't used except the pepper spray. (One day, the sole fell off my very expensive Asolo mountain boots. My tiny role of duct tape saved the day and perhaps a toe; I think it was -20F that day w/o windchill.)

Edit: In Asolo's defense, I should say these boots had been heavily used and abused but I grow bizarrely attached to broken-in footwear. And these boots took a loong time to break in.

One guy I know jokingly claimed his survival plan involved an assault rifle and a list of all the Mormons in town.

Jeff

I'd say in most cases you will find a large part of the 24% who are closer to just having a flashlight and radio than being able to survive in their home for a week without outside support.

As for my millions of fellow New Yorkers, I think very, very few would be able to last that week, if for no other reason than a lack of water. I don't know of many New Yorkers that have even a few gallons of water stored in their home. I feel unprepared because I don't think I have enoughw ater stored, but I probably have more than 95% of New Yorkers.

I was with a few New Yorkers and former New Yorkers last night who were surprised I had tool in the car to cut a seat belt and break a window, if it was needed. For having it, I was called a "survivalist." It would have been much worse had I pulled out the stuff I EDC, even my SAK would have made them flip.