Are you ready for the big one? WELL ARE YOU

[Nathan N]

step back and look at the bigger picture. food is shipped in to most towns and cities. if the roads or ports are taken out will you have problems? how about electric power? no power in most cases means no water. I would love to have an old style hand pump well on my place just incase. But its something to think about. We should all be prepared for events that could effect our well being. Its good to have supplies. Don't get me wrong, The sky is not falling. I would just like everyone to be prepared and safe.

Pricey, but this outfit might just have what you are looking for: http://www.bisonpumps.com/

[Big Dan]

Thanks for the link nathan. I was thinking I was going to have to drill a new well I didn't know I could use the same well caseing. that make one of those hand pumps look like a bargin

[Big Dan]

I knew something was going to bust loose. There has been alot of activity on the USGS map.http://earthquake.usgs.gov/.

[eamarquardt]

Having lived through several BIG earthquakes here (Northridge 1994 and Sylmar 1971) I've noted that the damage is somewhat localized. As few as ten miles away from areas with devistating damage, things are quite normal and you can get just about anything you need. If worse comes to worse, you can just get the heck "outta Dodge". You may need to take a circuitous route but I'm reasonably confident there will always be a road out of the area open (or soon will be).

I think the risk of Tsunamis is the risk that is underrated!!! Japan, as we speak, is finding this to be so and I think before the day is over that other areas will also find themselves in trouble. They do a much more through job of wiping the slate clean than an earthquake alone does.

If a big one hits, get on the telephone immediately (even before the ground stops shaking) and call someone out of the area to let them know you are ok. They can then call your friends and family (prearranged lists) and let them know you're ok. The phone networks will soon be overloaded and be shut down. In the moments following a quake, though, they will still be working. This is based on my experience after two big ones and working in the phone company's "Emergency Operating Center".

Cheers,

Gus

[doitright]

Just turned on the radio and they said that home land just bought 1 billion dollars worth of mres (sp). Wonder what they are worried about? Maybe the big one? I know it was one of the HYPE stations that yell wolf but at times they do tell the truth but them blow it out of proportion.
doitright

[Big Dan]

Is it correct that you don't need water to prepare an MRE? I have had the freeze dried packs that you have to add hot water to, to rehydrate them. MRE's don't keep as long as freeze dried food but you don't have to mess with the water. ( I think). Doitright are you talking about home land security?

[Gage]

I'm so prepared; I live on a major fault line. Besides having the trailers stocked and ready to go, I have a 50 gal drum filled with food and water, small stove and lantern plus a crank radio (that doesn’t get anything). And I also carry in the cars a day pack that carries enough food and water for two for 5 days (in case we get stuck away from home). I think I need to add dog food for Mickey.

[doitright]

Is it correct that you don't need water to prepare an MRE? I have had the freeze dried packs that you have to add hot water to, to rehydrate them. MRE's don't keep as long as freeze dried food but you don't have to mess with the water. ( I think). Doitright are you talking about home land security?

yes I was talking about Home Land Security. Now like I said that it was one of the hype stations I was stationed to so take it for what it is worth.
doitright

[doitright]

I'm so prepared; I live on a major fault line. Besides having the trailers stocked and ready to go, I have a 50 gal drum filled with food and water, small stove and lantern plus a crank radio (that doesn’t get anything). And I also carry in the cars a day pack that carries enough food and water for two for 5 days (in case we get stuck away from home). I think I need to add dog food for Mickey.

You are the man Gage but do not forget the Mickey but dogs will help you eat your food.
doitright

[Miriam C.]

We talked about opening up a well in our yard before Y2K but the local geological office said the ground had been punched too much from lead mines. He suggested that any well would need to be sleeved to be safe.

Gage when we travel away from home we carry the same kind of pack. We used to be better at it but got forgetful.

If I were traveling in an earthquake area I would definitely carry a pack, but there are other things that can keep you from getting home or to supplies.

[john warren]

michigan,,,limited earthquakes, hardly any volcanoes, lots of water and critters to eat.

[Bikerman]

I'm not far from New Madrid and while we are probably far enough away not have the house fall in, it could be damaged. Our area will be a staging area for the relief and they are running an emergency drill soon for the hospitals and support folks.

I have visted some of those "survival" sites and there are some real tin hats out there. While anything can happen seems bugging out is really a last chance tactic, IMO. If my home were not in flames, I'd rather stay in the back yard....I think.

As to the well and being an electric pump, wouldn't a generator be cheaper? Solar with batteries and an inverter? How long would that pump need to run to give you a weeks worth of water? Good luck with your paln.