How Ready are you?

[SpeedRacer2002]

Being a resident of the California Bay Area, I don't have the option of Concealed carry that others here on the board enjoy. However it has given me a chance to think some things over. From reading others posts on the subject, it seems that one of the major factors in an idividuals decision to carry a handgun (or even keep any firearm handy in the house) is to be prepared for the eventuality that one needs one. The old better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it school. (Obviously others would claim that they carry because it is their right to do so, and while true that is not really the point of my question here.)

What I was wondering is how many of you who keep a firearm available against possible need, feel that you exercise the same level of preparedness in other areas of your life.

Example: If you keep a firearm handy, do you also keep a fire extinguisher close at hand? Have emergency kits ready for both home and car? Keep a stock of food and water for emergencys? Carry a pockettool or Leatherman regularly? Have jumper cables in the trunk? Etc.

The point of this question is not meant to be mocking in any way. I'm merely interested in seeing how many of us keep "prepared" in some of the more mundane areas of our life, but areas that are just as important. And I actaully very interested to see if there are those who are willing to admit to being "prepared" to defend themselves, yet will admit to be "unprepared" in some of these other areas.

While my 9mm is not instantly acessible, it is always available, and I always keep at least a hundred rounds of ammo available.

Speed Racer

 

[MJRW]

For me it depends on the need for immediate reaction and the consequences of being unable to do so. I keep a stock of food. Enough for a month as well as a week of water. Fire extinguishers are a yes (bedroom, two points in the kitchen, and car). Not reacting immediately to a fire can have disastrous results. However, things like heating supplies...I don't need to react immediately to a significant power outage. I may need to react, but there is no immediate unrecoverable disastrous consequence of being without heat. That's my foundation for preparation: the need for immediate reaction.

 

[PATH]

I's have to say that since 9/11 I have been very careful. We are at war and I act accordingly. I am not hyper vigilant but I am prepared for the worst.

 

[10-Ring]

Learned from experience to keep a few things "at the ready" in my vehicle...jumper cables, fire extinguisher, change of clothes (for whole family), even a little cash. The firearm is brought along on rare occassions as potential need increases.

 

[Smoke]

Enough. (I think...but you never know)

 

[TheEgg]

I may be missing something but

it is not for lack of trying. Although I think that disaster is most likely to come from natural sources (I have had to deal with earthquakes, snowstorms, tornadoes, forest fires, floods, etc.) all of those experiences have taught me to be prepared. Food, fuel, money, water, clothes, first-aid, fire-extinguisher, extra medications, tools, and so on are all kept handy and checked periodically.

Please note that guns and ammunition are only a part of my survival kit -- a way to keep warm, dry, and fed is likely to be the most valuable in my experience

 

[Viking6]

Somewhere in between. The fire extinguisher in the kitchen came in handy around two in the morning a couple of years ago. It probably kept the whole house from going up until the fire dept. folks got there. I used to carry quite a few tools in my old Jeep but since I got rid of it, a cell phone will suffice. Stopped carrying my Leatherman as much since all the airport regulations for carry-ons, etc.

 

[El Tejon]

I've never understood the "Captain Tacticals" (mall ninja wannabes) who laugh or sneer at me carrying Kotex around or urging others to get a first responder class from the FD (well worth it I might add). They always seem "prepared" to get in a fight with a platoon of mutant, zombie bears, but never consider the possibility of getting hurt themselves.

 

[Johnny Guest]

Class me as about half-and-half - - -

In my primary vehicle - - -
Fire extinguisher
Water
Extra cold weather clothing
Minor first aid stuff
Some medicine
One MRE
Fire starting materials
At least two flashlights
Military ammo can with at least one gun-load for practically every firearm I might carry along.
Carbine or rifle

No camping gear
No extra money

When going camping or hunting, I carry a LOT more stuff--This is just for normal doings.

Johnny

 

[CWL]

No fire extingusher in car, but enough things in my car to outfit me for a 50-mile walk if the freeways are blocked.

Home is prepared. Alternate site is stocked.

 

[Woodchuck]

In the trunk: A single shot 12 gauge(top break, broken down) and wrapped in a blanket. 1 box of 00 Buck 1 box of 1 oz. slugs. Jumper cables. 3.5" lockblade knife Spare clothes, jacket, hat and mits. pac boots, matches, flares, flashlight w/ xtra bats, walkman radio, hatchet, fire ext. rain suit. several packs of freeze dried food and a rope. If your car is ever stolen you don't have to worry about losing a handgun, just a cheap $80 single shot.

 

[Grampa]

Johnny Guest and I are very, very similar in what we carry. Uncanny. I have an extended cab pickup, and have a cargo box behind the seat with these items.

And at home, like preparation.

 

[MarineTech]

I'm as ready as I'm likely to need to be. I carry a firearm. In the trunk of my car is:

A complete first aid kit. This is a Navy issue "Unit 1" bag and I've got the first aid skills to use it effectively.

Flares

Military issue wool blankets

Maintenance kit that includes: 104 pc tool kit, all fluids my vehicle takes, spare belt, duct tape, bailing wire, and jumper cables.

Maglight

E-tool

Fire extinguisher

Either Marlin 1895G Guide gun, or M1 cabine.

Think I keep prepared enough with my vehicle? Trust me, my home is even more prepared. I beleive in keeping a high level of self reliance.

 

[Trisha]

In the car:

Welded-to-the-frame simplex pistol safe with .45 in shoulder rig.
Tool kit (including all vehicle fluids and hoses/belts), jumper cables, flares, two flashlights (including a 1 million cp spot with 12vdc recharger), lightsticks, extensive first-in medic's kit, change of clothes (mil surplus), parka and mittens, leather gloves, large fire extinguisher, rope (100 meters braided rappeling), serious crow bar, large axe, shovel, food, insulated 1 gal water, compass, and a favorite book.

Bug-out bags include back-up disks that contain scanned copies of all important paperwork, shotgun, guide gun, two .45 in rigs, knives, clothes, additional medical supplies, food, water, 16x20 tarp, tent, sleeping bags, and so on.

Our home is self-sufficient without power, and I keep a 6-month supply of all consumables on hand.

Ditto for secondary location.

A chain saw and a pair of jerry cans are within reach of the bug-out bags, as is a 1kw generator. . .

Living in the mountains, this is pretty basic.

Trisha

 

[DeltaElite]

I have all of what you list, but then again, I am a paranoid.

 

[Mike Irwin]

But still no Model 58, Delta.

You're not prepared...

 

[Kahr carrier]

Living in the Prk you should always have an Earthquake kit,preferably stashed outside the house . Mines has drinking water ,a couple of sleeping bags ,some Mres a small stove and lantern and other small items.

 

[cratz2]

I'm not trying to say that I worry about almost every scenario, but our newest house was chosen partially because the kids can jump off the deck off their room and reasonably safely land on the hill our house is on in case of a fire.

Current house has, new house will have smoke detectors on every floor and in every bedroom, several extinguisher and charged MagLights, strong room with ample defense etc... After seeing Panic Room, I do need to wire something up that runs to the top of the house so a cell phone can call from that room.

In my car, I have several blankets, a coat for each person that should be in the car, a well concealed firearm, 3 flares, canned food, can opener, an emergency back up cell phone and extra car charger. I used to have a second battery in the trunk but haven't got around to that just yet with my latest one.

We're pretty prepared for many scanarios.

 

[jmbg29]

Example: If you keep a firearm handy, do you also keep a fire extinguisher close at hand? Have emergency kits ready for both home and car? Keep a stock of food and water for emergencys? Carry a pockettool or Leatherman regularly? Have jumper cables in the trunk? Etc.

Yep.

Yep.

Yep.

Yep.

Yep.

and Yep.

My most important emergency device is stored between my ears.

OTOH

A towel ... is about the most massively useful thing an interstellar hitchhiker can have. ... You can wrap it around you for warmth as you bound across the cold moons of Jaglan Beta; you can lie on it on the brilliant marble-sanded beaches of Santraginus V ... wet it for use in hand-to-hand combat. ... Any man who can hitch the length and breadth of the Galaxy, rough it, slum it, struggle against terrible odds, win through and still know where his towel is, is clearly a man to be reckoned with." — The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Douglas Adams

That along with the admonishment, "Don't Panic!" is good advice as well.

 

[Porter Rockwell]

I Don't Want To Hijack This But-

Why are there men who were not Boy Scouts?
Be Prepared covers all things in life..