Kaze Uta Budo Kai Forum Archive

From the OKC Police Department's Citizen Alert Page:

During the entire month of September there will be a nationwide effort to encourage Americans to take simple steps to prepare for emergencies. The Oklahoma City Police Department, along with numerous other agencies, is taking part in this program. We will have specialized units from our department at Septemberfest, which will be held September 9th at the Governor’s Mansion, as well as the State Fair of Oklahoma, passing out information regarding keeping you and your family safe in the event of an emergency. To learn more about National Preparedness Month, go to www.ready.gov or www.citizencorps.gov.

Preparedness is one of the subjects that I really think doesn't get adequate coverage. The recent disaster in Japan, and the subsequent nuclear issues at work, really highlight this.

Once radiation was discovered at levels unsafe for infants in the Tokyo water supply, there's been a run on bottled water.

As vital as water is to our survival, I've heard folks on TV shows like 'The Best Defense' as well as books recommend having one gallon per person per day on hand. Bottled water is cheap at the store and doesn't take a lot of space.

If you plan ahead, you can turn off the incoming water supply to your hot water heater. Then turn the heat source off, either electric or gas, to prevent a pressure buildup. Using a water hose attached to the drain, you can pull off nearly the entire contents of the hot water tank for use as drinking water. Something to think about.