Forest fires

[FreeinChrist]

I read this:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/california-wildfires-emergency_55f585b3e4b042295e369bf6

IT made me wonder, what would I take if a forest fire required an evacuation?
My computer, important papers, essential clothes and photos came to mind.


What would you take, and how would you prepare?

 

[nonaeroterraqueous]

For most people, the number one thing they try to get out first is their animals. If they have a hobby ranch, then it sometimes means they have too many animals, and the owners die trying to save them. They have to wait to borrow a horse trailer, but their friends are all, naturally, using theirs to evacuate their own horses. Then they do get a trailer, and they discover that their horses refuse to go in it, because they've never been in a trailer before. Finally, they get the horses in by brute force, and the pig has a heart attack while being moved, because it's never been out of its pen before. Then come the chickens, and by then the fire has either killed everyone, or else it just happened to blow past them without affecting them, directly. My parents learned that the hard way. The first time it happened, the fire decided to miss them, though I see no natural reason why. The second time, they were a little better prepared. They got all of the animals out and had a little time to save some mementos.

My thought would be to grab my external hard drive, which has everything on it, some clothes, a netbook, my wallet, cell phone and car. I'm always surprised at how many people leave behind their car in a forest fire.

 

[FreeinChrist]

I was thinking that the car was the way to leave the area.

If I had animals, they would be on the list too.

 

[Fireinfolding]

The dog and the firebox and obviously a few pairs of clothes.

The firebox has everything that is in the house in it.

I recall watching that one man who didnt leave who remained in his house (all concrete) and the fire roared over and past him and he and the house survived, that was so cool.

Can you imagine?

Here comes a fire "everyone inside the house"!

 

[SavedByGrace3]

Wow.... living at 6 foot above sea level on an coastal island, we have similar considerations regarding both hurricanes and tsunamis. There is basically one bridge leading off Port Royal Island, and 175,000+ people will be trying to get across it. With the hurricane we would have a bit more advance time. The last time the Hilton Head area had a hurricane highway 26 was at a standstill even with all lanes heading west. 95 north is at a standstill with normal traffic. One car stalls and the thing is stopped for 30 miles. Think of the final scenes in the movie "Deep Impact." A tsunami would be more difficult. If one of the Atlantic volcanoes exploded or some unknown offshore fault line blew... we may have only hours to react. At some point you just have to say "Thank you Lord, we will do our best to live on... if not, then may our departure be with joy."

 

[William67]

Wow.... living at 6 foot above sea level on an coastal island, we have similar considerations regarding both hurricanes and tsunamis. There is basically one bridge leading off Port Royal Island, and 175,000+ people will be trying to get across it. With the hurricane we would have a bit more advance time. The last time the Hilton Head area had a hurricane highway 26 was at a standstill even with all lanes heading west. 95 north is at a standstill with normal traffic. One car stalls and the thing is stopped for 30 miles. Think of the final scenes in the movie "Deep Impact." A tsunami would be more difficult. If one of the Atlantic volcanoes exploded or some unknown offshore fault line blew... we may have only hours to react. At some point you just have to say "Thank you Lord, we will do our best to live on... if not, then may our departure be with joy."

Another reason I would never live on the coast, especially between Myrtle Beach, SC and Wilmington, NC. I remember watching reports of people evacuating from down there during Hurricane Hugo over 25 years ago.

 

[Goodbook]

If its a fire, me and my household.
People and animals. Dont have time to care for anything else. Jesus warned about not looking back like lots wife.

 

[William67]

If its a fire, me and my household.
People and animals. Dont have time to care for anything else. Jesus warned about not looking back like lots wife.

Several reasons are given in Jewish legend about why Lot's wife, whom they call Edith in the Midrash, was turned into a pillar of salt. One was that she saw God descending to rain fire and brimstone on Sodom and Gomorrah. Another was that she secretly longed for, or had sympathy for, wickedness. And yet another was that it was purely because she disobeyed the Angel's command.

 

[The Lone Ranger]

Everyone should have a camper of some sorts. Some sort of hard surfaced camper/trailer/ ma/pa kettle apparatus where they could live in it for an indefinite amount of time if need be, with locking compartments, and etc... either towable, or an add on to their truck/suv, in the U.S. Or bicker about fema camps/living in the auditorium at the local High School.

 

[Goodbook]

Im thinking of buying a shepherds hut but my dad said it wouldnt fit in our backyard. :-(

Anyway this thread reminded me of forest fires raging in australia. Australian bush is dry and theres frequent risk of fires, but they have volunteer fire fighting associations set up.

 

[FreeinChrist]

I live in a area where the local farmers will burn the farmland or other owners burn the brush to clear the land. But we do not have a wonderul fire department situation. The water has to come in separate trucks. Luckily, the land here is so green, the fires seem controlled. Still, it is something that comes to mind.

I have to be sure to take my passport, credit cards and money, some clothes and my computer, and in my car if possible. It helps that we have a 8000 gallon water cistern under the house and could spray around the house to stop a grass fire.

Tsunamis always worry me when on the ocean. One thing that was pointed out after the 2004 tsunami in Thailand is that many tourists and locals did not realize that the way the water left the shore so much was a big sign that a tsunami was coming. Others just did not get the word, even if they knew.

 

[FreeinChrist]

Wow.... living at 6 foot above sea level on an coastal island, we have similar considerations regarding both hurricanes and tsunamis. There is basically one bridge leading off Port Royal Island, and 175,000+ people will be trying to get across it. With the hurricane we would have a bit more advance time. The last time the Hilton Head area had a hurricane highway 26 was at a standstill even with all lanes heading west. 95 north is at a standstill with normal traffic. One car stalls and the thing is stopped for 30 miles. Think of the final scenes in the movie "Deep Impact." A tsunami would be more difficult. If one of the Atlantic volcanoes exploded or some unknown offshore fault line blew... we may have only hours to react. At some point you just have to say "Thank you Lord, we will do our best to live on... if not, then may our departure be with joy."

It looks like there are land masses that would break up the tsunami at least.

 

[FreeinChrist]

I did see this:
http://www.offthegridnews.com/extreme-survival/5-items-under-5-that-should-be-in-your-bug-out-bag/