Sitting in the theatre watching "Day After Tomorrow" got me thinking about the plethora of resources available in any office building. Although knowing about such things is obvious to me because I've worked in offices practically my whole life, it may not be as obvious to others who have not. Therefore I will present some information gleaned which I hope may be of some use.
Let's imagine for a moment that
Something
Bad
Has
Happened that has you stranded for a couple of days in a commercial/corporate area. Without looking too deeply at the 'whys and wherefores' of this scenario, let's look instead at the critical thinking necessary to secure the three basics: water/food, fire, and shelter.
Everything you need to survive comfortably can be found in the typical office complex, which is usually overlooked because they're so common that they've become invisible.
We'll look at the food and water first because it's the easiest.
[color:"blue"]Water[/color] - in abundance (and packaged for long-term storage) in the form of 5-gallon water cooler jugs. I think I've been in two offices in my lifetime that didn't have bottled water available. This will either be in the kitchen or in a side area with the bottles stored nearby. Ice from the freezer may not be potable but could be used for washing after its melted.
[color:"green"]Food[/color] - Breakroom/lunchroom/kitchens are the best source of food, although most of it will be perishable. Some companies, however, will have snack vending machines which, although difficult to penetrate, can be a source of packaged snacks and/or drinks. The trick to getting at the food is the ability to create the right tools out of coat hanger wire. Or break the glass...!
Another good source of food is the drawers of desks. Some cubicle dwellers keep a secret snack stash in a drawer. Also check storage closets for bulk snack food or sodas if the company refills their own machines or provides food for the employees.
[color:"red"]Fire[/color] - Not so easy to spot as you will be looking for lighters left behind by their owners. Depending on the nature of the SBHH scenario, there may be a lot of clutter or destruction. Be careful searching because of broken glass from pictures, monitors, lights and windows. Check desk drawers and purses. Matches may be found in kitchen drawers, but it's becoming increasingly rare to find firemaking materials in urban non-smoking offices.
Fuel for fires is everywhere; look for paper shredders and hole punchers which provide a resource for small bits of paper. Older furniture may be filled with padding other than fire-retardant foam, but any worn loose-weave fabric is good. Once started, wood from furniture or tightly-rolled paper can be used to keep a long-burning fire going.
[color:"red"]Warning![/color] beware of chemicals if building an indoor fire! Sheltered but ventilated areas are best. Place your fire making materials inside or on something to contain it. Some things that immediately come to mind are metal waste cans and desk drawers. In every case, I would place these containers directly on concrete or tile, not on carpet or linoleum. Find and have a fire extinguisher with you (check the kitchen and next to stairwells).
Be careful where you start a fire as fire-sprinkler systems will most likely still be active following a disaster. The average sprinkler head discharges approximately 25 to 35 gallons per minute. Better to be cold and dry than cold and wet. Sprinkler heads are activated by heat only. Smoke without heat will not cause a sprinkler to activate. Here is a pdf file on
how fire sprinklers work. An average temperature rating is 165° but the glass bulbs may have different heat ratings depending on the area; an office sprinkler rating may be set lower than ones in a parking garage or warehouse. As an example,
Potter Roemer Sprinklers have these degrees and ratings. Do NOT start fires in computer rooms, clean rooms or anywhere a halon fire containment system is in place!
[color:"purple"]Shelter[/color] - Shelter is everywhere in a professional complex. Look at server rooms, bathrooms, closets and offices with doors. Stairwells are a good place to seek refuge, especially those in parking garages. Look for large signs or banners that can be rigged as a lean-to or pup-tent with rope made out of electrical cords. Better yet, check closets and conference rooms for a projector screen. Otherwise, large shipping containers, pallets, cubicle walls, bookcases and the like can all be used to create a cozy shelter. Be on the lookout for sweaters and coats or jackets for warmth.
[color:"#666666"]Other[/color] - Flashlights, medicines, jackets, things that could be used as weapons, portable radios, toolkits (check the MIS department or server room) and comfort items like books and games can be found in almost every office. Find the first aid kit or, if you're lucky, cabinet. Bathrooms are a source of toilet paper and soap. You never know what you'll find in supply cabinets, especially in the marketing department. Receptionists are often the "catch-all' for miscellaneous items and of course, warehouses can provide limitless scavenging possibilities.
If you can't take refuge in a Wal-Mart, an office building could be the next best thing.
~Sarah