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Phoenix
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This is just one incident among many, however. Security is the overall problem. They pretty much just let China waltz into US nuclear research labs and send information about how to build thermonuclear weapons back to the homeland; GAVE the Chinese the missile technology to send them over should they choose to, and by leaving the borders porous and unsecured, along with cargo shipments, allowed the terrorists we're supposed to be fighting easy access into this country. There are so many possible "nightmare" scenarios that could happen I could sit here and write them up one at a time and never run out of material.
There's the problem. There are so many rumors of what might happen, that people can become paralyzed over what could happen. I think there should always be concern, yes, but don't let fear control you. Keep living the best you can, but in case something bad happens it's never a bad idea to have a few sane supplies around - water purification tablets, a painter's chemical mask with spare filters (or you can get M-10 gas masks pretty cheap), rubber gloves, canned food, etc. Gas masks aren't necessarily for a chemical attack, remember dead bodies and industrial chemical spills create toxic vapors too. Some weapons and ammunition are a great idea, especially when you consider the possibility of lawlessness in the wake of disaster. This isn't just "in case of terrorism", but look at what Katrina did. What's unreported is a lot of people were left to defend themselves from the thugs and gangs when the city went under. Of course, when the "authorities" came back into the area the first thing they were told to do is disarm everyone because of political attitudes, so watch who you "trust" if you're ever caught in that kind of situation. A bad blizzard can starve and freeze you to death and there's absolutely nothing you can do to stop that either, and they're a lot harder to get away from than a hurricane because you can't always see it coming. If you live in an area prone to cold and snow storms, having a portable heater with fuel is always a must. It will keep you alive should the power and/or gas fail.
Something else to consider is emergency medical supplies. A lot of times people have no access to antibiotics and other life-saving medicines. An overlooked potential (emphasis on potential) source of medicine is veterinary meds. They're marked "not for human consumption", but they're pretty much the same thing and it's possible to procure them without prescriptions. Now I'm not giving medical advice here, but should someone be cut off from medical care, they offer a potential for saving someone's life should they become severely ill if you have them onhand at the time. Gastrointestinal disorders like gastroenteritis, dysenterry, etc, left untreated can kill you, and often bacterial infections commonly cured today by a quick trip to the doctor can run rampant in an area where something bad happens, especially if the water supply is compromised.
Another good thing to use, and something I always recommend is silver hydrosol. What is that, you say? It's a colloidal solution of very small silver molecules within distilled water, between 10ppm and 20ppm. It has lethal effects on bacteria, but is harmless to multicellular organisms (like people or birds). It can be ingested, applied to the eyes, inhaled into the sinuses, and poured on open wounds. Before 1930 and the rise of the pharmaceutical companies, this was used to great effectiveness for curing bacterial infections. I've seen it's properties work myself, as well as independent laboratory testing that confirms it works on even the nastiest bactiera (Staphylococcus Aureus for example) and it's not a "quack" healthfood craze like so many things are these days. I use it myself to keep my sinuses clear. I used to have horrible problems with sinus infections, of which I'm very prone to and especially since the air is so polluted. I no longer get them. Period. At all. None, zero, never. That's how good this works. It works by interfering with the part of a bacterial cell that metabolizes oxygen. It's not a "drug", and bacteria have shown absolutely no capacity to adapt to it and develop resistence. It's something that I recommend to anyone without hesitation, as it can be a lifesaver at best, and at the worst (unlike antibiotics) it cannot hurt you.
I didn't intend on making this thread some kind of "emergency preparedness" thread, but I just think being ready for *any* disaster-type situation is better than fretting over every little thing that *could* come along. We should always keep our eyes open, but we should also make sure we have the tools to help ourselves, and others who may be in need, should such a situation present itself. If Katrina has shown you anything, it's that relying on the government to "save you" is folly. Be ready to look after yourself, and those you love, for you may very well be on your own should the worst happen.
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