- Let's see, what dangers and problems could be created by the situation? How about downed power lines? Broken bridges? Do you try to cross one if it is the only way to get where you are going? Broken/leaking natural gas lines? Falling debris? Fires? How about looters? It may take a while for them to appear but you never know. Along the lines of looters, you may have to fight your fellow survivors for any supplies if enough are not available, especially at the relief stations (think Haiti a week or two after their big quake). All the while you need to deal with the immediate needs of a survival situation. Shock is a definite possibility so don't overlook it. Also, you need to tend to your own needs, the basic human needs that don't change: shelter, warmth, water, and food. If you are hunkered down somewhere that you will be staying a while, a fire (if it is safe) could be a HUGE morale booster (and allow you to purify any questionable water). If your own survival supplies have been destroyed or lost, scavenging may be the only way to get the materials you need to effect your survival. The ability to improvise will prove VERY useful.


- Situational Awareness and Extreme Caution … think before you act or move. A hardhat, protective gloves and a dust mask (at least a bandana) would be nice too but are no substitute for simply paying attention to what is going on around you.


- DW works here in town less than a mile from my office, DS goes to school then daycare outside the city. He would not go unsupervised but it’s only a 13-mile distance from us here in town if we had to walk. A situation like that would make me glad I sprang for the Rockports that are more comfy than most walking shoes. Other family members and friends are within a mile of him and could pick him up if they were able. This does remind me that DW needs to consider how she would get home in this situation if both vehicles are unavailable, tho in all likelihood being a hospital employee (social worker, not a doctor or nurse) she could be considered essential personnel in a situation like that and have to stay anyway. Her hospital runs drills for situations where mass casualties are brought to the hospital, tho I am fairly certain nothing comparing to one of this magnitude.


- Hopefully either DW’s vehicle or mine has survived but as mentioned before it is only 13 miles and we could make it on foot. But this reminds me DW and I need to agree on a meeting place in this instance in case phone communications are down. Hopefully the GHB's have not been destroyed or made inaccessible either.


- Our home is only a mile from the volunteer fire dept for our area of the county; DW works at the local hospital; and the city fire dept is a mile or less from both our workplaces.


- Assuming the local radio stations are able to broadcast (I would hope at least one of them would) we have a battery powered radio at the office, any number of car radios, and worst case a crank/solar powered radio at the house (after walking the 13 miles to get to it).


- Others have already mentioned the signs of radiation exposure and sickness, otherwise no way to tell. I can say that being in coal country here, the nearest nuclear power plants are hundreds of miles or more away so our potential exposure is almost nil.


- See above


- Hard to say for certain, but our community of county churches (those outside the city limits) have historically responded quickly to natural disasters. Our own church responded to 3 recent floods with water, bleach, cleaning supplies, food and other necessities within 24 hours. Of course we can’t assume all the area churches will be able to respond to a massive disaster that is being envisioned here so most likely within a week’s time.


- As others have said, crowded and chaotic … expect to fight for a bottle of water or a band-aid.


- I wouldn’t take a chance … setting up a way to reliably filter and purify water will be a priority, after tending wounds and providing shelter of course. Water purification tabs will work short term, but long term will likely require boiling. Like many here, I hope to be in a situation to help rather than be another victim. Living outside of town means my home will hopefully be spared, but working in town means I have to consider the possibility of being caught in the destruction and the problems of communicating with DW (hopefully cell phone service will be available shortly after) and getting home and to DS. As stated above tho we are fortunate to have trusted neighbors and family members who could get to him in the event we could not. If something happens that they could not either then we would have MUCH bigger problems.