Earthquakes - Good Reason for being MOBILE

[Dust of the Sun]

Today was a first in my life - a 5.9 EARTHQUAKE in Virginia, of all places. The Pentagon and lots of Washington DC evacuated.&nbsp; I have friends in High Point North Carolina and THEY felt it...epicenter possibly 41 miles NW of Richmond.<br><br>This brings me to a major reason I want to go mobile and find that great 26 foot Born Free or Chinook...it HAS to be solid rationale to be able to MOVE to avoid catastrophe...This whole website just took on further importance to me personally.<br><br>I'm wondering if anybody has had any personal experience with being mobile in their RV at an opportune time to get away from some natural disaster?? And what additional preparations should we consider over and above what supplies and gear you all have on hand in normal times??<br><br>My study has assured me that Earth Changes have just begun and we need to get ready for ANYTHING.&nbsp; Even the Mexican Government has just announced they will soon release STATE SECRETS concerning 80 year old protected information on what the Mayans revealed that is apparently now beginning!!!! Thoughts?? Thx as always for this groups integrity and willingness to help and inform!! Dust<br><br>

 

[Butternut]

<font face="Courier" size="3">That was some earthquake. We felt it in Western Mass! Tornado and earthquakes in Massachusetts can't be a good sign.</font><br>

 

[dragonflyinthesky]

<P><FONT size=3><b>I'm glad you are both alright.&nbsp; Hurricane Ike hit OHIO badly a few years back. It was unbelievable the damage done with the sun shining. The hurricane sort of hit us several feet above ground most of the time and twisted trees and tore off roofs and so forth. Dayton Power and Light had sent trucks toward Fl and TX not expecting us to be hit a few days later. Power was put out immediately-remember, I said this was with the sun shining-go figure. I was one of the unfortunate who had power out 10 days due to my rural location and the grid layouts.&nbsp; A friend of my parents beat me to my parents freezer so I wasn't able&nbsp;to save my meat. Some people went to Indiana to find generators.It didn't even occur to me to do something like get a little self contained&nbsp;travel trailer&nbsp;from somewhere. With the help of this site and forum I feel that I have come a long way toward empowering myself. (still no real urge to get a gun or anything)&nbsp;I have been guilty to long of relying on private and government services to protect me. There may be times coming very soon, esp with this ruptured economy and desperate folk with no jobs. How much longer can we rely on the services that are &nbsp;being supplied to others to keep them happy? More entitlements are being cut and around here, the foodbanks and churches are spread thin.&nbsp;Sometimes even people who are good may do bad things to save themselves or their family. I won't even go into&nbsp;the chosen lifestlyes&nbsp;in&nbsp;&nbsp;several&nbsp;neighborhoods around here where disagreements are regularaly met with gunfire and sensless deaths for silly dis' or whatever&nbsp;disrespect is&nbsp;called now.At this point in my 'developement' I want to be ready to leave as opposed to digging my heels in and fighting.&nbsp; Sorry for such a negative sound to this post. Most of the time dire predictions never happen but we should not be relying on others (government)&nbsp;for our well being.</b></FONT></P>

 

[Les H]

Hi Dust,
No van , Rv, or even plane can outrun an earthquake. No (practical) way of recieving advanced warning ( at least at this time). Tornados may have 20-30 minutes,thunderstorms, several hours. Winter storms and hurricanes often have several days lead time. So, I believe using our vehicles to get out of damaging storms may be possible, if there is enough warning. Please keep in mind that tons of other people will use their vehicles to try to get out of the storms too ( possible gridlock, fuel shortages, etc).
There have been many discussions on the yahoo vandwellers group about bug-out-bags ( bare essentials available on a moments notice to get out of a jam) Perhaps you can search their archives. If technology takes a hit though, and computers fail, you will be left with your wits and what you can carry.
Lastly, I will point out, that as self contained units that are accustomed to living on/with less stuff, WE are qualified to head INTO disaster zones and assist in whatever way we can. I say this with firsthand knowledge.... After the April 27
storms (tornados) that destroyed much of the south, my van housed my stepson and I as we volunteered with cleanup and tree removal, tarping of roofs, food and water deleveries and whatever else we could do. I have a thread, with pictures here
phttps://vanlivingforum.com/post?id=5208414

Les

 

[VanTramp]

While it may not be as possible to bug out quickly for a specific natural event ,especially given some of the short warnings, it is very helpful to be able to move from various areas before they enter their "Bad Seasons". &nbsp;Much like snowbirding. Most areas of the country have specific times when they have more extreme weather events and related disasters from floods to wild fires. Living mobile is huge in being able to avoid those areas at those times.<div><br></div><div>We spent some time in MN last year during the stormy season while visiting my Sister &amp; Mom. We did opt to drive out of range of an impending hail storm rather than sit and hope. I blogged about it here --&gt;</div><div><br></div><div>&nbsp;<a href="http://www.vantramps.com/2010/07/run-taj-run.html" target="_blank">http://www.vantramps.com/2010/07/run-taj-run.html</a></div><div><br></div><div>Another thing relevant to this thread that Dust and Les both mentioned is the self-contained aspect of our chosen homes. It is always interesting to see how people react when they lose power in their homes and don't have backup. We have been parked here at my Dad's ranch several times during power outages and end up doing all the cooking for the house in Taj as well as being much more comfortable with heat and hot water etc.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>All great things about this lifestyle <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"> It doesn't solve every problem, but it definitely can keep you ahead of the game!</div><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8">

 

[sl1966]

Glad everyone is ok and all. Having said that and grown up in Socal ... 5.9's make us giggle!<div><br></div>

 

[twokniveskatie]

i saw a picture of east coast earthquake damage. it was a tipped over lawn chair.

 

[Guest]

we were living on chas AFB when hurricane hugo hit. i had 4 small children, one being a 2 month old baby. <br>it was my grandmas birthday that night and she stayed with us. we camped out in the hallway of our base house on mattresses. <br>we were in a spot on the base that didn't get too much damage, but we had some and no power for 3 weeks. the water had been tainted with pine trees but was usable. we had gas for the stove so i boiled it. <br>i was not up on all this as i am better today. but pretty much i did what a sane person would. i stocked up on food and water and whatever i thought we would need for awhile. it was not enough at all.<br>the day after the hurricane, the base and all surrounding areas looked like a bomb hit. talk about local infrastructure being overwhelmed and stunned.<br><br>about 2 days i think later, the commissary opened up and items were rationed. the place was all torn up but had tarps all over. i stood in line for 2 hours waiting to get in. we could write checks and the bank was demolished so they didn't process them for 6 weeks.<br><br>every day a flat bed trailer would drive down the road and hand out something. sometimes a gallon milk, other times a pak of dry ice. you just stood there and they handed it to you.<br><br>i washed clothes in the tub and hung out on line. kept a cooler going and used cloth diapers and breastfeeding. <br><br>there was martial law right away. we had national guard on base and off, walking the streets with M16's. you better be in your house by dark.<br><br>my husband charged an old battery up in the car and brought it in at night for 3 hours, hooked it to a small camper tv. we watched the news. we were the only ones in several blocks that had this. some of our neighbors would come over and watch with us.<br><br>people really banded together that i remember. it was a state of shock for everyone.<br>i wrote a 3 page poem about it and my friend called into the radio station (only one on) and read it.<br><br>it was September and very hot/humid. no a/c. the kids got up after daybreak and conked out at dark. we had very little camp type stuff.<br><br>my sister worked for florida power and light then and came to work in chas. she brought a massive box full of oranges. we shared with everyone. <br>my grandpa fixed up a bunson burner for grandma to cook on. they had a big property and there was a tree through their roof.<br><br>i still have the vcr tape of the news shows i made on the little camper tv. and the base put out a daily one page paper. personnel would walk the base and hand it out.<br>&nbsp;<br>most of the buildings on the base were destroyed. i think the thing that saved us was being on the base, as we had our power and all back in before most. <br><br>what i remember about that time is that it was kind of like camping and i had to really be frugal and everything had to be done just right. and all off grid except the gas stove. <br><br>what i learned from that was to never ever be unprepared for whatever disaster is most common in the area you are. to always have some things put back and garden if possible. and learn to do all you can "the old way".<br>&nbsp;<br>many years later i trained as an EMT/firefighter. i was also on a DMAT team. i think going through that experience pushed me to want to homestead. i did not want to ever be so unprepared again.&nbsp; <br>

 

[johnny_canuck]

<font size="4" face="Arial">I keep my gas tank at 3/4 full.&nbsp;Extra&nbsp;5 gallons gas. Have 4-5 days of dry foods and potable water in my ride. Always have an exit plan! If power is down for a few days, nobody is getting any gas.&nbsp;</font>

 

[Guest]

well said guys..and remember OPSEC in your AO<br>

 

[butterfly]

<p><font size="3" face="Tahoma, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Meg,&nbsp; what is OPSEC and AO?&nbsp;&nbsp;Can't remember&nbsp;it if I don't know what it is.&nbsp; Thanks</font></p>

 

[Guest]

safety in your area<br>

 

[rattlesnake joe]

<p>Look at the Lost &amp; Found section in local newspapers.&nbsp; When you begin to see lots of dogs and cats missing in your area, you know a Earthquake is coming soon.&nbsp; Stay away from the coasts because of Tidal Waves.&nbsp; Make your Van into a big bug out bag.&nbsp; Go inland and get up high.&nbsp;</p>

 

[Seraphim]

<p style="margin: 0px;">Only natural disaster I've been through was Hurricane Frederick.&nbsp; I slept through it. Boy was my wife PO'd.&nbsp; I told her she could have woken me if she was frightened...</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">... it took a long time before I was forgiven for that one.</p>

 

[akrvbob]

This topic came back up at almost the perfect time. March 27, 1964 was the date of the largest earthquake in North America in Alaska. I was nine years old when it hit and I remember it just like it was yesterday.&nbsp; As I've gotten older, I often wonder how much affect it has had on me psychologically.&nbsp; May be part of why I have such a compulsion to live in a vehicle and travel.&nbsp; <br><br>On cheapgreenrvliving.com I have 365 tips on green living for vandwellers. March has 31 tips on emergency preparedness and survival.&nbsp; All of them dedicated to that day in March, 1964.&nbsp; Find them here:<br>http://www.cheapgreenrvliving.com/365_March.html<br><br>

 

[yesican]

<p>I have a bug out container...Its buried under 4 ft of snow in my garage that collapsed after 2 windstorms (80-100mph) followed by lg amt of heavy snow.&nbsp; Hopefully no quake before I can get to it.&nbsp; My truck is going to become my bug out vehicle...Gotta get it running though!</p>

 

[owl]

<P>akrvbob, were you there? I was 17 and lived on birchwood loop rd. between Palmer and Eagle River. That was quite an experience.</P>

 

[angeli]

Bob, I think you may have something there.&nbsp; I grew up in Los Angeles, and the first quake I remember is the 1971 quake that destroyed so much of South LA.&nbsp; I remember sitting on the hill where I lived in West L.A. and watching the oil refineries blow up in the early morning sunrise.&nbsp; The next big one was the Northridge Quake.&nbsp; I was living in Reseda at the time, about 2 miles from the inland epicenter.&nbsp; That was also a big one, but not as big as Alaska!&nbsp; Down the block from us, a 6 story office building was still standing, but the walls had fallen off.&nbsp; The desks and chairs and wires and tubes stuck out into the air.&nbsp; We lost everything, except us and the animals, so really we were OK.<br>I've wondered as well how much of that has influenced my desire to be mobile.&nbsp; I was for many years, and am now waiting to do it again.&nbsp; I feel more comfortable in my own small space on wheels than almost anywhere else!<br><br>Now, of course, I'm in hurricane alley in N. Fl, so no more earthquakes!&nbsp; LOL!!<br><br><br>

 

[yesican]

<p>I can't think of any place that doesn't have some type of natural disaster waiting to fling itself on the area.&nbsp; Being mobile, you can move one block to higher ground or to another state and never be without your usual amenities.&nbsp; Even if I can't get out vandwelling this year, I want to have my vehicle up and running&nbsp; and ready to go by the end of summer--just because!</p>

 

[blars]

My RV shakes in the wind sometimes almost as much as the biggest earthquake I've ever felt.&nbsp; (northridge)<br><br><br>