One fact in life is that you can not plan for every event that might happen. It just bogs you down, OK.
Accepting your scenario at the sketchy gas station...
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S.T.O.P.


STOP - Take a deep breath, sit down if possible, calm yourself and recognize that whatever has happened to get you here is past and cannot be undone. You are now in a survival situation and that means . . .

THINK - Your most important asset is your brain. Use it! Don't Panic! Think first, so you have no regrets. Move with deliberate care. Take no action, even a foot step, until you have thought it through . . .

OBSERVE - Take a look around you. Assess your situation and options. Take stock of your supplies, equipment, surroundings and the capabilities of fellow survivors . . .

PLAN - Prioritize your immediate needs and develop a plan to systematically deal with the emergency. Make a plan. Follow your plan. Adjust your plan only as necessary to deal with changing circumstances.


PRIORITIES: 1. Medical Care
2. Shelter & Fire
3. Signaling & Communication
4. Sustenance


Equipped To Survive™ - Immediate Action Survival Plan™ - http://www.equipped.org/stop.htm
© 1997 Douglas S. Ritter - All rights reserved.
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All right, lets look at the car at a sketchy gas station.
OK, you did a quick inventory of what is in your pockets, now what else have you got around you?
Is anybody hurt, do you need to do first aid on anybody? Is the store still standing?
Is the area safe to be in, or is their a risk of an explosion or electrocution from downed wires?
How about the risk of after shocks from the quake?

If you can go into the store is it a safe place to be out of the rain?
What kind of goodies do they have?
You have cash and can buy stuff if you need to, but you might not need to buy it...
Water, clothing, a rain coat, food, lighters, a working phone, toilet paper, you know, goodies?

Are the roads all closed? Are there other people you can get to give you a ride out?
Think about this part.
If you are still uninjured in your scenario then you are in very good shape in an area rich in resources.

Sometimes you have to adapt to the situation as it is to survive it.