Here are my thoughts on your questions. I've some practical application from being in natural disasters before like stranded from an ice storm, the Mt. St. Helens aftermath (feet of ash), a 8.1 earthquake on a tropical island, and a few CAT 4 & 5 Typhoons.

How do you protect yourself from possible physical dangers (falling debris, fires, etc...)
Luck is a lot it at the moment. But before luck comes you must plan for luck to happen by researching where you will be living vs. mostly likely disasters. Can you chose a location out of a flood plain, away from fire hazards, easy egress. This also goes for how you work by trying to secure a good work location.

How do you find your family?
Our kids are young enough that they are always supervised at school or with family. Cell phones for contact and prearranged safe locations (family/friends)if caught out of the home. Our handheld Motorolas work far enough for our needs around the house for supplies and recons.

How do you get home?
Hopefully by vehicle, I have a BOV that can overcome most any obstacle getting home or getting family to get home. Speaking for myself, I can right now and have in the past run marathons on a whim, literally just get out of bed and do it for my workout that day. I did it last month. Last year I dropped my car off to be serviced and ran home ten miles with a 42lb pack, a overstuffed BOB. I averaged 11 minute miles. IIRC. Yesterday with one day notice I ran an event called the Spartan Race, 8 miles, 15 obstacles. (Fun by the way, try one in your area) Easy, easy for me. Being in good physical shape + the luck to not be trapped or injured is key here. Practice what you expect.

How do you find aid stations?
A CVS is 1 mile away. A main fire station is less than that in the other direction. Plus a large high school, 1 mile away, I am sure would become a Red Cross facility. A massive ER/hospital is 3 miles away. To go back to a previous question, we bought our current house based on the proximity to a quality hospital/ER. Two Urgent Cares opened recently within walking distance.

Will you be able to get news from radios?
I have some Eton radios, hand cranked for power. And a transistor radio from Radio Shack. My iPhone has an app called Oo Tunes which streams local police, fire, emt radio traffic. I should look into a CB/Ham/shortwave for my Jeep.

Sidenote: Several years ago I bought a very small AM/FM radio (earplug only) and tried to replace it last year. It was the size of a credit card, about 1/4" thick. Could not find one locally or online. The smallest radio's I could find where workout arm band styles that were too bulky for me. This troubles me.

How can you tell if you've been exposed to radiation?
I think this is low on my priority list though I have a nuclear energy plant 60 miles away from my house. I have a print out of the fallout radius. Wind direction favors my part of the valley to avoid serious contamination. We have Bug Out routes in several directions to avoid specific disaster conditions.

What will happen if you are exposed to radiation?
Good question. I think again this is low priority for me. We have iodine in our home FAK. If suspect, see aid stations answer above.

When will "help" arrive (I know this is a potentially loaded question)?
Situationally dependent if its a localized, county, State or national emergency. Our city has gone to great lengths to protect its 1st responder, critical aid infrastructure throughout our national economic conditions. We can be self sufficient for several weeks if we are simply cut off.

What will aid stations be like?
(I am answering this from a basic shelter/food/water needs point of view)
My part of town has lots of elderly and 'Snowbird' (out of staters from fall to spring)so I suspect a lot of critical needs will go to those needing oxygen and shaken from the event. I have always tried to avoid aid stations by realizing, getting out to someones house is far better than suffering in a HS gym with 3,000 other people.

Can you drink water coming out from a broken water pipe?Sure. I carry purification tabs in my EDC. My BOB has a pump hiking filter. But you must prepare to be lucky. I have over 60 gallons of potable water in storage at house. We have standing orders to fill both tubs when emergency confronts us, another 60+ gallons combined. A 300 gallon hot tub with top cover and under a patio roof. Also a 50,000 gallon pool. And gallons of bleach.


Is that all the questions. Wow that was just off the top of my head without thinking hard.


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