It is VERY frustrating to watch people suffer and die.

[uppityperson]

Help is always slower to get to disasters than we wish. The destruction of infrastructure can be huge and difficult to understand "why can't they just..." when they would if they could and they are trying but they can't.

It is very frustrating and VERY sad to watch people suffering.

Donate to reputable organizations like International Red Cross, MSF (doctors without borders) and other places that have been posted. Realize that just because it is easy to donate via cell phone that that money may not be used for the current disaster but held for some future disaster. If that is fine with you, go ahead, but realize that some relief places do this with the money they get.

For yourself, fix a 7 day survival kit at home, in your car, at work or school or elsewhere you may spend a lot of time. If you can walk to your home in an hour, that may do, unless your home is flattened or on fire. Rotate the water/food/medicine/pet food regularly (something I have a hard time doing, so check it every spring and change it all out).

Help each other.

Volunteer for organizations and donate to those who are truly helping. And know that it is very difficult to watch and wait for help to come. The level of devastation can be huge, getting a place to put supplies difficult and figuring out how to get them there incredibly hard.

Donate and volunteer with places that help others.

[LakeSamish706]

1. Great post. n/t

[uppityperson]

2. Thank you. I understand well the sentiment and the problems. It sucks. nt

[jtuck004]

3. Stay prepared

Those are some good ideas in that post.

One tip on storage - make it things you use often, and use them in your cooking at least once a week or more. Put new ones in the back and pull from the front. That way not only is everything fresh, but you know what to do with it, and it tastes good.

Don't forget water, in several containers, and rotate them the same way.

And as suggested, please - prepare for your pets. They can't.

Btw - if you have a friend who lives some distance away, plan together. Share some meals, make sure you both have stuff stored. Make a pact so you can help each other, and don't assume your home will be usable.

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. It's that time of the year for us

so I am going to invest in Coast Guard Certified water, more expensive but has a shelf life of five years, and MREs... easier to take out as well.

[jtuck004]

5. Make sure you try the MRE

You are correct about their portability, but know that some are not bad, some, well, you would have to be hungry several days to choke those down ;) If you have the space, be sure and keep a few cans of really edible food as well.

We made a connection with a lady at a Presbyterian church that cans and keep a few things on hand from that. We get new tomatoes every year (lots of liquid), but they are glass, of course, so you have to protect them.

You can buy big cans of tomatoes, peanut butter, etc at the less expensive stores, and several other canned things. To use such quantities make stews or peanut butter cookies, take them to the local democratic (or wherever) meetings. By using and replacing it helps keep things fresh.

In this country, most of our emergency needs are from a couple days to two weeks. That's rather a lot of supplies, especially water, so canned tomatoes, beans, and other water-packed things can substitute for some of that. When I was in Oklahoma City we lost power from funnels that would just wrap up the wire - out for a few days. But entire small cities sometimes have a half-mile swath removed down to ground level as well, so cellar storage is a handy thing to have.

The Mormons have been working toward self-sufficiency for decades, and have a food pantry in many cities where they get together and can food. I asked to help at one during an afternoon a few years ago, and they were great people to spend a day with, working and learning. I think they were a little afraid that I looked down upon their religion (actually I believe in DOG, and in our pack, we don't judge, except to sniff food), so as soon as they figured out I really respected their beliefs we had a great time! I wish I knew half of what they know about this subject, and as many two-legged friends that I could trust as they seem to ;)

[vadawg]

7. we have a large garden in the spring, summer, fall and in winter under glass

we can lots of stuff, and have well water and emergency generator, and we had a practice run with my wife and kids only getting out of the house for 2 days in the past month due to snow, a big survival tip is to be careful who you invite over to your home, you dont know if they will invite friends as well so suddenly you go from 2 couples with enough for a month to 5 or 6 couples with kids and food for a couple of days :)

[LatteLibertine]

6. Completely agree

I am a bleeding heart anyway :P

Folks should give particularly if they are experiences hardships themselves. It may throw open doors to unexpected blessings and it grows your humanity.

I'm currently uninsured and unemployed yet I donated as liberally as I could to assist. I've heard of many hungry Haitians trying to feed others. They also often try to dig others out of rubble while having no shelter, and no food or water.