Californians believe that their state is prone to disasters, but see little motivation to prepare for nature’s crushing blows, a new poll has found.
The poll, sponsored by the Insurance Information Network of California and Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company, found that only 22 percent of Californians consider themselves to be prepared or very prepared for a disaster in their area.
Nearly half singled out “common sense” as the reason to prepare for disaster, but noted few incentives that would motivate them to be ready for future earthquakes, floods or fires. The largest segment of respondents — only 10 percent — cited a local disaster as the reason to prepare for future risk. No other possible motivation — from financial incentives to educational programs — was acknowledged by more than 9 percent of those polled.
What me worry?
John, what’s your disaster plan?
I have lived in CA on and off for most of my life. I always had some MREs and a couple gallons of water in the trunk of all of my cars, and I always had the same in my home. I figure that is the least you should do. I had mentioned this to my acquaintances, and they though I was paranoid.
At that point, I chose not to mention the fact that my distaster preparedness also involved a few fiearms. 😉
Mre’s! where do you live? Just order Pizza/Beer via the wireless internet!
Yup, that’s the mentality with everybody, I think! But then one day you drive your Chevy to the levy and it’s dry………………
, huh, lol! I’m watching it now! Great idea! 🙂
Why not have an emergency stash? We get a few tornado warnings each year so I put some food and water, blankets, change of clothes, candles and extra batteries, and other things in a closed container in the crawl space. The emergency stash also wards off tornadoes and power outages.
At least you can see a hurricane coming. California’s next big one is going to be another big “surprise”.
“At least you can see a hurricane coming.”
Just how easy do you think it is to pack Everything you value (living and inanimate) into a vehicle and drive to an unknown destination in bumper to bumper traffic for 15 or 20 hours, with no cell phone service, no banks open, credit card machines failing, no hotels with occupancy.
Given that I’m surprised more people weren’t trapped in Katrina’s path.
I have been wondering…..did they evacuate the jails when Katrina came?
For some reason it would be appropriate for them to have done that and left the regular citizens trapped and drowning.
What a lot of people don’t relize: their local grocer has moved to a ship then sell it model, just like everything else. Most stores will not serve you if the power is out.
They say we need to be ready in for three days, you can die in three if you don’t have water. While Not perfect, I clean out 2-liter bottles after soda and store water in them about 40 of them in the garage, add a new one – throw the oldest one away. Just an idea for some.
Sounds like N.O. all over again
My disaster plan is to live anywhere but California, though the most likely disaster is probably being involved in a chain car wreck precipitated by the looney drivers in your state. Driving on I-5 south of Sacramento is scary.
Disasters can be somewhat satisfying to those of us who spend the time and money to prepare while we watch those “ignore-ant” people suffer for their total disconnect of reality until the disaster occurs. I guess it comes down to survival of the fittest or smartest which is the way of nature. I simply treat preparation as “life insurance”.
BTW. Don’t cry to me about financial ability to prepare because it is the risk you take to buy an Xbox360 instead of shutters or propagating 5 children which you can’t adequately feed or protect from natures threats. Reap what you sow and suffer for irresponsibility. OTOH, there are people which are caught in SUDDEN disasters for whom I do feel remorse.
Suzie,
Good One 🙂