What emergencies in life did you prepare for?

I live in an area that is frequently hit by hurricanes. I have gotten very good at preparing. Thankfully we haven’t had to rely on our preparations for survival.

Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition.

The chief weapon is surprise…surprise and fear…fear and surprise…. Their two weapons are fear and surprise…and ruthless efficiency…. Their three weapons are fear, surprise, and ruthless efficiency…and an almost fanatical devotion to the Pope…. Their four…no… Amongst our weapons…. Amongst our weaponry…are such elements as fear, surprise

@Forever_Free Ok. Is time for you to have a juice box and a nap

@RedDeerGuy1 Is there bourbon in that juice box?

@Forever_Free If you want.

@RedDeerGuy1 Juice box and a nap…that’s funny!! Love it! I was thinking they’d had too much coffee.

1989 – Loma Prieta Earthquake. Minor impact in my neighborhood, disruptive to a lot of friends.

1991, Oakland Hills Fire, Fortunately, the wind turned right before it would have hit my parents neighborhood. My parents were on a trip so I had to clear out a number of valuables in case the fire broke through.

Most “emergencies” aren’t really that urgent. Nobody really ran out of toilet paper in 2020, they just freaked out because other people were hoarding. No one had to wipe their ass with their bare hand.

Low or flat tires. I have a repair kit, compressor, air hose and chuck.

One wasn’t really my emergency, but I was involved and it scared me to death – I was 9, my 3 y.o. sister was riding on the back of my 12 y.o. brother’s bike – you know, they had that flat thing over the tire you could sit on. She was barefoot and her big toe got into the spokes and cut off about ⅓ of it. Rush to the hospital, brother and I stayed home with a neighbor, another neighbor was looking for the piece of toe to try to save it…crying my eyes out.

3 years ago: Fire in next door neighbor’s apartment. Had to evacuate building. I was late because I was sleeping and didn’t hear the alarm. Was standing on balcony on 2nd floor. Man was able to get to balcony and tried to help me out but smoke was too much, so we waited on balcony. Firemen came, put up ladder. I’m scared of heights so wouldn’t go down. They put O2 mask on me and helped me down smoky hall and stairs. People cheered when we came out. Embarrassing. Had to live in a motel for a month while trying to find another apartment because they were going to gut my building.

40+ years ago: Roommate was cutting grass at her house, I was sunning. Stupid stupid woman turned mower over because something was caught. Didn’t know if her fingers were cut off. I had to drive 15 miles with blinkers on and honking (no one gets out of your way!) to Vanderbilt Hospital where she had surgery. Saved her fingers but she had difficulty writing.

30 + years ago: Went home for lunch and found house door open. Sped to nearest gas station to get away and call police (pre cells). Sheriff was there when I got back. Bunch of stuff stolen including father-in-law’s guns he’d let us use for protection. (Lived on 300 acres up a mountain, no neighbors)

Trauma more than emergency…camping out age 14 in an army tent. Woke up unable to breathe. Could see dark shape of man over me, hands on my neck. Scared him off when I woke up. Never found out what the deal was.

A few other more minor ones.

A timely question for me with Lee heading this way. But it looks like it will pass us by, just mess up the coastal rip tides and probably dump some rain on us.