How are you going to buy anything if you are stripped naked and everything you have on you [including your wallet, I.D. and money] is carted off as hazardous waste and destroyed?

I'm not sayin' I don't believe this. But in a scenario where they have thousands of people to do this to, that leaves, well, thousands of people without money or more importantly, identification. Do They take the time to note each person's ID before your belongings are taken, or what? I mean, if I've really been exposed to toxic stuff, I'd rather not have to fill out a bunch of paperwork. On the other hand, if I don't look or sound American, I'm going to want some way to prove I belong here. This sort of procedure could leave the surrounding jails full of "to be determined" status people wearning paper jumpsuits.

Hey guys, has anyone every considered one of those services that will alert your cell phone or PDA (BlackBerry, etc.) with an emergency bulletin? If you spend a lot of time in a big city it might give you and yours a headstart to safety.
Also, in my gear bag, I carry a few of those "pee-pouches", just in case I get stuck in an elevator. It may not qualify as a true emergency, but if you're stuck and you or someone else has to go, they'll come in handy. - Dave

I've used this one in the past and the price is certainly right (free):

http://www.emergencyemail.org/

Where can we get pee pouches at? I was just going to use the ladies purse next to me but I think your idea would save a fight or a lawsuit. I honestly never thought about the situation.

I think they are saying that any extra stuff will be seized.

My urban EDC would be to replace the Supertool with my old PST, and have it be side-kicked by my Victorinox in my Pack-Rat. That would be about it. That Leatherman is basically a part of me, and I would hate to loose it through some stupid government feel good operation. And with luck, I could convince someone to let me smuggle my Supertool through like my glasses. So long as it isn't a cavity search, I WILL save my Supertool.

Putting the data recover and security tool kit onto a fresh thumb drive would be a pain in the butt, but that would most be trying to find a write-protectable usb drive that I liked the form factor of.

Other than that, there is nothing I carry that I would get all that worked up about if I lost it. I'd be out maybe week's pay, with the most expensive item being my calculator (and I don't really like the TI-83 I carry in my 'rat; there is a reason the -89 stays home). If I'm near anything terribly interesting and worth destroying, I might not even carry my medicine pouch, and that is heresay for me. I'd rather have my guides annoyed with me than lose that.

(For those of you who don't know the reference, imagine kicking your patron saint/gaurdian angel/ancesotry spirit/best friend in the shins and telling him/her/it you need to go it alone for a bit. You become a very unpopular mortal for a little while.)

I guess what I'm saying is, don't get too attached to your EDC. Too many ways to loose it.

Are you sure you are not a Texan?

You can toss the potassium iodide. It protects the liver. The rest of you will suffer radiation no less. Sadly, for most of us emergency personel only means the flashing lights in the rear view mirror that mean our insurance premiums are going up. Have you ever inquired about any seminars, volunteer opportunities or equipment shortages various agencies offer, or lack? I was involved in another sad event just today, which I posted on in THE CAMPFIRE. After several hours some of the officers and EMTs were teary eyed and drymouthed. A patrolman who knew me from a trainwreck ( same lousy road) didn't even have to ask, he just popped my trunk and distributed the case of individual bottled waters I keep back there. This doesn't get me any 'get out of jail free cards' quite the opposite, I'm even more circumspect for fear of getting pulled over now <img src="/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />. Disasters disrupt the physical infrastructure; both physical and social.The more you can build on that community structure, the less nature or the inhumanity of man can destroy.

Make your own pee pouch - quite simple - get the type of sponge that comes dry and compressed, put a couple in a 1qt ziplock bag (2 qt if you have a big bladder), seal the bag, put in pack - instant "piddle pac"