What games, if any, do you carry in your EDC for diversion should you become a resident in a shelter unexpectedly?

I carry a small magnet chess / checkers game and occasionally a game of Cosmic Wimpout. (dice game)

What, if any, are in your BOB?

I have a deck of cards there and always a game of cosmic wimpout.

I also carry eyeshades and ear-plugs in my EDC and in my BOB. The potential of trying to get some sleep in a crowded shelter whilst my kids and everyone elses are screaming / crying / begging (for a slap) is frightening enough for me to make the attempt to be prepared.

In my small camping/BOB pack I also carry a small magnetic chess / checkers game. I also have two decks of cards, a folding cribbage set (size of a Altoids tin when folded), a small magnetic backgammon set, travel Scrabble and a small harmonica. I also have ear plugs & eyeshade but most important is the Mini-Disc player and 25 hours of music on six discs. To round things out I have tossed in four thick paperbacks that are old friends(ie I can reread them over and over).

CJ

Never occurred to me as a survival item...

I carry a Palm every day, all day, on my belt, and IMHO it has real survival value in several ways, but it also has quite a few games loaded... as well as music, movie trailers, a small library of e-books, maps....

If it fails, I'm no worse off than if I didn't have it.

I carry rock, paper and scissors… Don’t know how to play it yet but I heard it’s lots of fun.

Matt

IMHO making myself blind and deaf in a crowded shelter when alone or with my family would be out of question. If the situation is bad enough to stay in shelter it means it is a real emergency and you'd better be very careful with people around.

Just my thoughts.

Burak
Istanbul

while I agree that the crowded conditions of a shelter can be a cause for some extra caution it also depends upon where that shelter is and who the co-habitants are. An urban shelter where I an thrown in with strangers from all walks of life from many socio-economic stations would be very different from a shelter in a suburban / rural highschool where I know 50-70% of the families there. My most common scenarios are the later. Further, as an active, emergency communications certified, HAM I will probably be in the corner with a bunch of other HAM's taking shift duty with them. Those awake and on-duty will be aware of what is going on and those off duty must get as much sleep as possible in order to be fresh for their duty time. Being involved in the ongoing effort to maintain civilization has it's perks, such as having trusted comrades working with you to protect a common good - rather than being thrust, on your own, into a situation where all others are considered threatening.

Great points, I agree.

I agree with you on the second scenario. I work with HAMs in disasters and respect their work very much. But I was speaking in general not knowing your duties. Sorry if I made myself misunderstood.

Burak
Istanbul