That's our assumption in the San Francisco Bay Area. Our fire department trains CERT volunteers on the assumption that whoever is here when the quake hits (fire, police, EMI) is all there _will_ be here for weeks, maybe a month. Help will not arrive soon, so we're all on our own.

My assumption is that we'll all get together and help out whoever we can. CERT volunteers are trained in triage, and we'll do what we can. I have no animus toward the clueless. We're all in the same boat and making friends with everyone is a good thing, in my humble opinion. If a person isn't trained in first aid and has little to contribute in terms of food or water, they can be used as a messenger, as someone to gather food, water, wood, to hold the hands of the hurt and confused. Everyone's welcome, even the clueless. Turning away people as unworthy is just not right.

Sorry Phillip,
Didn't want that distiction to come out as cold- I guess I was drawing a distinction between the helpless, who I want to help (good neighbor rules in effect), and the clueless, who, for example plan to throw a hurricane party instead of getting out of the way of a Cat 5 barreling down on them.
I survived the 89 quake in Fremont with nothing but "distraction" while those on your side of the Bay faced disruption and even disaster. I know the cards you are dealt in an earthquake are the cards you are dealt, and am planning to make some "new friends" on that day should the time come again on the new fault line I live near :-)
The fact of the matter is, I don't have CERT training, so I myself fall into the catagory of clueless in many respects, but you are absolutely right that even my lack of training doesn't prevent me from contributing to the solution rather than the problem.

From FEMA: "Your disaster supplies kit should contain essential food, water, and supplies for at least three days."

Well, it's been three days since the earthquake, and Japan is demonstrating how ineffective THAT is!

So much for the 3 Days Rule!

On to Plan B.

Sue

I think the important phrase in the FEMA statements is "at least" three days. Obviously, more is better. Once you have the basics, you can extend the duration of your emergency preps by simply adding more food and water. Since most people make no advance preparations at all, three days for most of the population would be a vast improvement.

Nobody is dying of starvation or thirst as far as I know. The disaster there is somewhat unprecedented (EQ, Tsunami, Nuclear problems). I think they're doing ok all things considered.