Originally Posted By kmsandrbs I'm another one with kids (1, 5, and 7), but I know I'd stay to help where I was. We also have an out of town contact, so I would be trying to verify that everyone was okay right away. A hareder question for me is ... I find out that one of the kids is injured and in the hospital. The rest (and mom) are okay. It will take a long time to get to the hospital (if I can at all). Where I am at there are a lot of life and death type things that need to be done where I am at that I can help with. Do I stay and keep helping or do I go to my family?
Originally Posted By Big Thunder knowing how I am I would stay and try to help those around me until more help arrived. I'd be worried about my family, but leaving and searching for them really wouldn't help matters nor would it help them. Also, that's what we've discussed, if something happens, wait it out for emergency help if it is safe to do so, pray, and we'll be in touch eventually.
Originally Posted By Liberty Belle I would stay and try to help for a while, but in all honesty, as soon as I could I would try to head home or contact my family. I don't know that I'd be able to do a lot to help, but I would try to do what I could, at least to calm people down or make things a little bit better. But I can't say that my family wouldn't be my first priority.
Originally Posted By Deogges Mom As a county employee, I'm required to report to my workplace in the case of an emergency or diaster. I would be calling my family to let them know I was ok. If I couldn't get to work, I would stay where I was and try to do what I could to help those around me.
Originally Posted By Mrs ElderP I know ElderP would be doing the best he could to head in to work, like Deogges' Mom, he's a county employee. I also know from experiance that when I'm busy being sepperated is no big deal, but if I can't stay busy (being helpful) then it's very painful and worring to be apart like that. So, if I thought I could help I'd be busy doing that, but if there is nat enough to do I'm going to start walking to Riverside.
Originally Posted By Elderp "I'm going to start walking to Riverside. " I can't imagine the size of the disaster to make that happen. It is a nice thought though and that is why I am married to Mrs. P.
Originally Posted By beamerdog >>I become eeriely calm, organized and productive. It's scary.<< Me, too. Wierd, isn't it. When I was 11, I was around a campfire when someone (who had been using kerosene) caught fire. Everyone was staring, stunned. So without even thinking about it, I jumped up, took off my jacket and got the fire out as best I could. I still can't believe that I did that.
Originally Posted By goodgirl This is kinda up my alley. You see last fall I finished eight weeks of training to be certified as a CERT member. CERT stands for Community Emergency Response Team. This national program arose out of the Homeland Security Department. The core curriculum came from a fire department in California who developed it for earthquake emergency teams. The police and fire departments in my little town applied for and received a grant to offer the CERT program. Looking for a way to give back to my community, I signed up. Initially one should have emergency preparedness kits for each person and pet in their home as well as items at the office and in their car. While you may typically hear of the "72 hour kit" in the coming months/years it will be changed to a "5 day kit." If you need help in what to put together for your household, I can assist with that. In the event of an event (earthquake or other natural disaster, chemical spill, terrorist attack etc.), my first efforts are to ensure my safety and the safety of my family (in my case my sister next door). Then I extend my assistance to my neighborhood. Then I report for duty at the emergency center. Our CERT could be directed in a variety of efforts. I have been trained in such things as: medical ops, medical triage, search and rescue, and fire suppression. Our "final exam" was to report to an area of the city to aid in rescue. An earthquake had occured and there was an unknown number of high school students who had been on a field trip. Interestingly the scenario was at night. We arrived. It was dark, cold, there was noise everywhere, flares everywhere giving off smoke. They engaged the drama departments of the local high schools to help out. They were mucked up with blood and gore and given roles to play (head injuries, broken legs, etc.). It was quite an experience. In the trunk of my care I carry my CERT backpack, boots, hard hat, etc. It's one of this things where you hope you never have to use your training. So, yeah. I'd stick around and help out.
Originally Posted By beamerdog ^^^Two people from Canine Partners just participated in one of those in the Philly area. It was scary that after one person became unconscious, they didn't know what to do with her dog. And the other guy was dragged from the train without his dog. He was yelling, kicking and screaming not to leave his dog on the train and they thought he was delusional. After a while, they said to one another, "Do you think we ought to check under the seat to see if a dog is really there?" I've thought about getting an addition on my id bracelet that says "I have a service dog". Ok, back to topic.
