tropical depression is moving toward FL now. It will hit FL as storm. Storm season is coming this summer. Are you guys more prepared this time? I hope someone learned from Katrina experience. I don't have to worry since I live in Canada eh. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> I am ready for any contigencies.

Where in Canada? The maritimes have been hit by hurricanes before, and BC is long over due for something wonderfully cyclonic to visit. They are rare, but they happen.

I live in Toronto. We get mostly rain here whenever a storm hit Florida. The worst disaster toronto faced was power blackout. There is no tornado here yet. There is occasional snow storm but they aren't powerful as those west or east of Toronto.

I can honestly say that I've seen more and more people "preparing for the 'storm' ".....whatever that may be (ie. hurricane, flu etc). It seems that people are starting to get the idea that big brother will not always be there to help you. Not that I wouldn't take what he was willing to give me BUT I'm not going to RELY on it coming. Yes, people are preparing. I'm still concerned though....

My wife and I bought a generator. We are on a well and we have things that NEED to be refridgerated. Initially she wondered why we weren't getting one sooner. All of these other people were rushing out and buying them....we finally bought one ( after putting together a list of voltage and amperage requirements..including surge requirements ) and immediately went to a local electric supply store for supplies (the wire/outlets/plugs for the 220 well). We asked the people there what all these people were going to do when they get home and realize that they can't just plug their well equipment plugs directly into the generator. Right after we asked it, an older gentlman walks in and asks what he need to be able to power his well from the generator he had just run out and bought. <img src="/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> The people in the store looked at us and said, "That's what they are doing....coming to us." <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> They were happy to see that we thought about it BEFORE we ran out and bought the generator.

The older man did not have the SLIGHTEST idea of any of his equipment's requirements (voltage, amperage) so the store employees told him what he needed to do to find it and to come back when he had an idea as to what he needed.

These are the types of people I see on a regular basis....they are clueless. Last year we transported multiple people with Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. On family in particular comes to mind......the father was INSISTANT that they couldn't possibly have CO poisoning. This despite the fact that all of the emergency crew's CO alarms were going off like mad. <img src="/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> "Oh it can't be," he says. This despite the ER doctor telling him he has it.....some will just never learn.

Yes they are preparing.....but to what extent............? <img src="/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

I think the FEMA screwup quite possibly was the best thing that could have happened (all nasty consequences aside). It rammed home just how little of which our governments are capable. I know that Katrina and epidemics that could be coming like Bird Flu are part of what made me come to this site. I'm a lot more prepared now than I was 1 year ago after visiting regularly, and way more prepared than I was even 2 years ago.

There will always be the clueless. All I can do is plan for myself and help my loved ones plan for themselves. Living rurally helps as most folks are self-sufficient or could be if the need arose. And hey, at least the old guy figured out that he needed more. Some folks would stock pile something like that, bust it out when the time comes and only then realize that they can't use it! Or they won't have the fuel to run it, etc.