What would you take with you?
 

The Katrina thread got me to thinking...

If you had to evacuate your home, knowing that you might never see anything in it again, what would you make sure you took with you (other than obvious things like toiletries, clothes and medications)?



I would take photos, my PC (too much info on it to risk losing.. might just backup some stuff, depends on how much time I had), a sapphire ring that my great aunt gave me before she died, andsome antique cups and saucers that I inherited from my grandma. Those are the things I consider irreplaceable.

Dee

Hi, I have six cats and a dog, so I suspect rounding them up might take all the time I had.

It's not easy to round up six cats, but seriously, I would be the crazy lady standing on her roof as the water rises, refusing to leave without every last feline.

My laptop, too much info to risk losing, my photo albums, and my cell phone. My phone is like a security blanket to me, so even with outages I'd feel better w/it on me.


....and a good book :)

Having survived one fire, I can remember standing in the middle of my room, thinking, "Well, this is that moment - what would you take with you from a burning building?" And just as quickly, I realized that there are no material objects that are precious enough to risk my life for. I made a grab at my dresser, then headed out.

Once I was outside, I looked at my hands, and saw that I had taken my watch and my keys. Practical to the end!!

(But I didn't own any pets at the time...)

As much as I could fit into the diaper bag!

I am such a pack rat and am one of those people who can find sentimetal value in ANYTHING...I would have no idea where to start. I think it would just have to be an instictual thing.

I was thinking about this earlier today, and honestly though this might sound crazy to some people if I could not get out of my house with my dog, I wouldn't leave. If that meant that both of us were going to drown, I'd still stay...but I am insane and I love my dog so much, just the THOUGHT of not having him brings tears to my eyes...which I don't think is normal, but oh well...we've all got our things.

Other than my dog, I'd try to grab my laptop, maybe my phone, but most definitely my scrapbook/photo album. Pictures and things are irreplaceable, and while I wouldn't put myself into extreme danger (as I might with my dog) to get them, I'd definitely miss those the most of all if I lost them.

My computer
My cat
My camera
My Ipod
My boyfriend :p

It depends on how much warning I had.

If I just had a few minutes' warning, I'd run like he!!. If I had children or pets, I'd grab them. Material possessions can always be replaced; lives cannot.

With an hour or two of warning, I'd grab wallet and keys, a few important documents, cell, PDA, laptop, and some of my more valuable jewelry, in addition to the obvious clothes, toiletries, and meds.

With several hours of advance warning, I'd grab everything that would fit into my car, lol.

My dog, of course. :D (If I could only grab one thing he would be it) Other than that, my purse (wallet, keys, checkbook, work ID, bus/train pass, phone, Ipod etc are generally all in there), my Oscar the Grouch puppet which I've had since I was a baby, my photo box, glasses & contact case, my computer, my jewelry case (with all the stuff in it), my passport, as many books as I could stuff into a bag...heck, given enough warning, everything I could fit into my car. :D

The extremely sad thing is people had enough warning, and the means to get out if they had no transportation.

Note to board members: If your community comes under a mandatory evacuation, GET THE HELL OUT!!! This is what happens when you don't......

No way that I could leave without my "child" - on very spoiled bulldog named Winston.

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a1...n/34e10e14.jpg
How could I leave him??

As for other things. I am a packrat, and have NO clue what I would take....

On a side note: I belong to a message board for people with bulldogs. When people with bullies couldn't find hotels to stay in, everyone started offering their homes as a place of refuge. It was really cool to see people helping out others. We have heard that one of the bulldog owners is back in his house (minus power, phone lines, etc.)...so he is looking to a friend to board his bullies till he gets power. He was so grateful to find his house was still there....

/end hijack

I could grab everything of importance to me in about 4 munites.

(I travel light and dont have a lot of stuff)

I'd take all my HS and College memorabelia - which is convientiently packed in my dad's old AF Foot locker. So that would be easy to grab and go.

My blue lockbox with important papers and dads's college ring.

My PC. My world is on there. Its already backed up at a remote location, but still.

My cowboy hat and as many clothes as I could throw into my luggage real quick.

A few framed photos and my wallet, keys and cell phone and charger.

Then I'd be out the door.

I do drive a truck so I could load it up real good if I had to.

I often wonder if there was a fire here, how quicky I could get out. If I used the footlocker to bust the windows and threw it outside and then threw the rest of the stuff out after it, I imagine I could be out of here with everythign I want/need in 90-120 seconds.

Yeah, I am wierd like that.


On a serious note:
My friend from college who is from NOLA and moved back after college left NOLA on Sunday and came to Houston. She told me today that she got everything out that she wanted. Her artwork, clothes, marrage stuff and photos and the baby and she was out. She did have to leave behind her stuff from China and jokingly wondered if FEMA would fund a trip there for her to replace it.

no time...my cat, my purse, my keys. out the door immediately.
given time, we can add into it some jewelry and other stuff

I have very little here that I couldn't live without (in a new apartment) so I'd probably grab my Glo-Worm that I've had for 22 years and my bookbag (always has my wallet, cell, etc) and then help my neighbors evacuate their pets, since I live in the "puppy palace" of my complex.

If I was at my parents' house, I'd grab our dog first thing, and if I had time, family photos.

docetboy made a good point though - these people were given ample time to leave. I don't think that I would stay - I'd get the Hell out of Dodge.

my kids!!! and every scrapbook/photo/photo cd I could pack. Who cares about material things at a time like that...I want my personal mementos that have no value to anyone, but me. I have a few antique items like my great grandfather's violin I would take, but if I couldn't then so be it. Of course with a 9 month old in the house diapers/wipes/water/formula would be something we would need as well.

*the dogs. I could never leave them to fend for themselves. NEVER. You'd have to shoot me to make me leave them behind. I've had Tippy since she was 8 weeks old...I couldn't look into her eyes and say "there's no room for you".

*I'd just take my computer tower..the monitor and stuff can be replaced, but all of my research and articles and a decent part of my photography portfolio are on my harddrive.

*My stuffed lamb I've had since I was a baby. (oddly enough, my sleeping position developed out of my fear of fire and that I'd lose my lamb if the house caught on fire...I was an odd child).

*Insulin/needles/pump supplies/glucometer/batteries. This is DESPERATELY important

*The firesafe in the basement...its got my passport. BC, Soc card, airplane tickets to ireland, etc along with all the stuff that mom and dad have.

*Camera bag...this is sort of something I could leave behind, but if there was room, id definitely be taking my cameras.

*my bike...its the largest investment I've ever made on my own, and I love it like a child (i talk to it...bathe it...polish it..it has its own blanket). I could put it on my roof rack and fit extra stuff in the gear box that's up there too...might actually be a usefull thing to have post-disaster. Again though, the bike could be left...it would be covered by homeowner's (i think).

Again, if we had been told "You've got to get out by tomorrow" this is the stuff I'd take. If it was a "you've got 2 minutes"...the dogs and the medicine (and the lamb). The research could be re-done, the bike could be rebought, the documents and passports could be re-filed. After the floods last year, dad put gallon jugs of water in the back of each car with first aid kits and those ready made meals with the heat packets they use in the army (MRE's?). I managed to grab some inflateable life belts (where you pull the chord and a pillow comes out behind your fanny). Flashlights, blankets, and a change of clothes are back there too. It makes going to the grocery a pain...but you never know.

My dogs. Since we live an hour from the coast and news reports have said that their will be more hurricanes this season, and Katrina was so severe, we actually made a plan (we've NEVER made a hurricane plan before). This was not easy since we have 4 dogs- a 16 yr old Bichon that doesn't like the 3 yr old
a 12 yr old Lab/Beagle that only gets along w/ the 1yr old
a 3 yr old Border Terrier mix that only likes the 1 yr old (and will fight with the other 2)
a 1 yr old Pit Bull mix that gets along with everybody.
Mom will take the two smaller dogs (even though they don't get along) b/c she drives a small truck one will be in a cage and i'll take the bigger two dogs since I drive a Bronco (one will be in a cage)

Also,
My laptop
My pictures and HS yearbooks
My cedar chest if there was room (has most of the imp. stuff that was handed down to me, as well as imp. stuff from my childhood.

What is a glo-worm?

-Rudey

Sort of but mine is an old school green one. :)

http://www.bulkfoods.com/pictures/2489.jpg

I think this would be better.

-Rudey