Food for the two people? Clean water? How long before you think you could get them again? Where are you going? To visit the relatives, or live in your car for a couple months?

What would you take if you had one armful each, one trip to the car as the water comes up over the hubcaps in driving rain, at night (besides your car keys)? Identification?

Thing is, we wouldn't be thinking. We'd be running on adrenaline, and entering a state of shock, trying to make crucial decisions by which our life stops or goes on, with not enough time, and no do-overs possible.

Too hard to do this (in real life). Too easy to think it through in the office chair. We all feel so helpless to help.

I saw firefighters in hazmat suits, their headgear and SCBA beside them, and only a duffel bag for their other stuff, in the waiting areas at Atlanta airport Monday, catching free rides into New Orleans. On my flight we had two policemen in uniform going that way. Once aboard, they got applause from us other passengers.

I wouldn't give two cents for all the government did when people were out of water and food those first five days. Can we learn to handle millions of people evacuating a large geographical area in the US. Now we know simple identification is a problem, much less feeding, clothing and housing them. Many of the evacuees are permanently displaced.

Question is, can we do it again in six weeks and do it better? Here comes M, N, O, P, and Q-canes. We need to be able to respond as the crisis is unfolding, pre-staging supplies as close to the crisis zone as possible, then getting in there at first daylight on the morning after. Not just a fly-over with a camera.

How many people does it take to load a pallet of bottled water and nutrition bars onto a helicopter, fly it in, fly out with a few critically ill or injured people, deliver them to a hospital, refuel, and do it again? How many helicopters were in service within 300 miles of New Orleans, private, corporate, and government? A thousand? Can't they fly to a Walmart, land in the parking lot, buy food, water, diapers, and so on (or leave an IOU), and just get it there, now? The FAA might get bunched up about it, but some people would understand.

Next time we shouldn't wait to be invited or just watch. To paraphrase Heron Gil's 1975 song, The Next Natural Disaster Will Not be Televised; it will be Live. Let's get ready, and help each other more.

Thanks for putting up the banner for the missing kids. I hope your service and your readers make a connection between lost parents and their kids because it is there.

I couldn't really disagree with anything on your list, except for food and water, which as was mentioned, would depend on specifically where you are going. I would add several flashlights and batteries, if you had them in the house. But I'm guessing if the time comes, people don't think rationally and just grab stuff they really don't need.

My wife. My kids. My dog. Chuck the rest. Well, the car too, I guess we'd be in that right?

Hmm, if I had to get out quick, food, water, clothes, passport/ financial documents/ identity card, mobile phone, and medicine.

If for some reason I can leave in a car and have the luxury of a trunk space, I will bring more food, more water, Bible, pen, paper, backup of my computer documents, pillows, blanket, address and phone list of friends and relatives, soap, and probably a few more things I can't think of now.

Well, everyone is constructing their own "what if" scenarios, and that's really the point of the exercise. My own was such that I assumed we were leaving, taking BOTH cars, and heading for friends/family, so that food and water (and even batteries & flashlights) wouldn't be necessary. My list would change drastically if we had no firm destination in mind.

But I have to smile at Jim's apparent ascetism...two hours to pack and a car to pack in, and you wouldn't take ANYTHING but carbon-based lifeforms? I suspect you'll want to consult with your wife before you really have to do this. ;-)

Oh, and Mis_Nomer, you can't really be serious that you wouldn't pack your running shoes? Or are they included in your generic "clothes" grouping?

Passport.
Credit Card.
Piggy bank.
External harddrive.
Journals/Sketchbooks.
Cat.
Favorite books.
My shoebox full of photos.
Grandma's Jewelry.
Parents.
Water.
Cookies.
Febreze (that's called "doin' my laundry")

Most of my art is saved as a digital file on the external drive. Same with financial records, which are also easy to access on the internet. That'd be it.

First and foremost, I hope that everyone reading this has a Bug-Out kit packed and ready to throw in the back of the car/truck/van in less than 30 seconds. I'm going to be writing more about this soon, but by all means, Google it now. You'll be shocked to find out how un-seriously you're thinking about it, I reckon. I was, and still am to some degree.

Second, if you're really serious about this, make the list of photos & books & etc. (with locations), laminate it, and keep it close so that you can make the absolute best use of those remaining 119.5 minutes. Update it every 3-6 months.

This is Boy Scout stuff: Be Prepared. Seriously...Be Prepared.

Having to pack up and leave in less than 2 hours? I don't think I could pack my CD collection in 2 hours, much less anything else.

I suspect that's why a certain somebody mentioned,

"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal;" (Matthew 6:19)

On that note, I'd better make sure I have a few extra-large waterproof heavy-duty ZipLoc bags to store my 8x10" of Rosalinda Celentano and the flashdrives full of her photos. I'll file those under "artwork with value in excess of insurability, or sentimental value". ;-)

I mentioned the car too. But in a way, I guess that's also a carbon based life form.

There will be no need for consulting my wife, I'm sure she will be watching very closely as I, following her orders, go back into the house to get just a thing or two more (like Febreze, definitely Febreze -- as usual, Julie knows what's up).

Glad I made you smile!

A good exercise. I just went out and bought a small safe this weekend and put our most important documents, ID and momentos in it. It's small enough to carry out if needed, heavy enough to stay put in a tornado (I think), and "fireproof."

Next up is the "refugee" kit which will have standard survival gear in it such as water purifier tablets, first aid kit, dried (camping) food, sterno, water proof matches, flashlight, weather radio, batteries, knife, blankets, pillows, shoes, soap and other hygiene products, towels, air mattress, etc. etc. We may need a U-Haul. :-)

As for personal belongings, once the family and pets are accounted for (my daughters are famous for running the goldfish and hamsters UP and then back DOWN the stairs when we have tornado warnings, in a state of panic and confusion), it's definitely the family photos, jewelry and a few books (the Bible being first). Oh yeah, and my purse! See there, I will forget the most common everyday necessity that contains everything I need to live comfortably for at least a year (i.e. my credit cards). That is assuming there still exists some forms of civilization (gas stations, grocery stores, hotels). If not, well then, it also contains my lucky frog and a chess set and the New Testament...what else could a person really need? :-)

...it also contains my lucky frog...

One might be tempted to say that if you have found yourself in the position you describe, it's distinctly possible that your lucky frog is falling somewhat short of expectations. ;-)

Re: the refugee kit. Mine would contain a portable water filter. Katadyn and MSR both make some excellent models.

Ah, yes, you are right. :-) LOL

It might also mean that God is not pleased I am carrying a "lucky charm" in my purse, next to the NT. Just hedging my bets. ;-)

Then again, it might mean that I lost my purse.

Good idea re: the water filter. Thanks!