What would you/could you take?

[Feral007]

Based a little on our recent experience with what we could/would pack when we had to leave in a hurry from a fire.
So under stress. Taking your car's capacity into consideration.
And also that if you dither too long it may be too late, in the last fires in Vic, many perished on the roads because they delayed and then were overtaken by the fires on the road.

So not a oh well, maybe, but if...


We took our animals first. The easy floaters first (I'm a nurse, I know that the walking patients are evac'd first)
Then daughter and I packed a few clothes. Knickers, for some reason were very scarce. I put in the new top and pants I just bought, because they were just hanging there still in the bag they came with.
I ended up with 3 pairs of 3/4 pants, two tops, shampoo, brush, no deodorant, no toothbrush (but with toothpaste) a pair of canvass shoes (not matching altho similar)

My work certificates. Some scarves in case we needed to wet them and breathe thru them.
Some homeopathic remedies. All the horse, dog, chook, cat feeds.

I took no photos the first day as we couldn't fit them - oh yeah, daughter bought a guitar the day before so that was in.

The boys brought the harddrives out of the server. I brought myk laptop. And one library book.

The next trip, photos, some underwear and the toothbrush -right there where you'd expect them when you weren't stressed.
Deodorant, seeds box , a friends book that I've meant to return for 5 years, a recentlyd borrowed textbook, the library books, towels, some work clothes.

A long pair of pants.

My two dolls and a thread bear.

No jewellry. A couple of dvd's. The funny ones.

So the interesting thing is what is left. A house full of Stuff.

So as I'm packing I'm thinking. If we get back here. I can throw all this out. I can give it away. I don't need it.

I did take a pair of scissors and the bolt cutters (you never know when you're going to need bolt cutters)
Also a couple of daughters school reports, because they were there. One horses written history. The phone book. And get this. A spray can of eucalyptus. Yes, and why would you need that? What is the priority? Who the heck knows.

Met another lady who said she looked at what she packed - a lovely silk dress! And where the heck is she going to wear that?

What goes thru your head? Why do we take some things? Why do we leave others?

My son is a little worried by the amount that he didn't take. He's never been materialistic, but he could see that people would think it odd he didn't want to take much.

So what would you take? What would you leave?

[Feral007]

Oh, and a friend who was evac'd in tasmania a few days before told me - take plenty of sunscreen and some toilet paper, because you never know where you'll need to go!

I would like to add - take the chapstick. Chapped lips are no fun, but going to the supermarket to buy one when you're getting animals out is not an option.

[mothhawk]

Here in the UK it's more likely to be floodwater that drives you out, not fire, and with our climate, chapped lips are not very likely! I would say family and pets first, plus credit/debit cards. Just about everything else is replaceable. Make sure NOW, before any disaster occurs, that any treasured photos or papers are copied, backed up and safely stored in online storage. Some things I might be sad to lose, but they are just things, I wouldn't risk drowning or burning to save them.

[veggiechicken]

Good question Feral.
I'd take the dogs obviously, laptop, phone and camera, any cash that was handy & my credit card, the jewellery that my husband gave me, underwear and socks, a couple of T shirts and jeans, walking boots in case the car broke down and I had to walk out, my emergency bag of toiletries (that I should dig out and renew as its so long since I've used it) and a big bar of chocolate!
Suppose I'd better take the VSP too

[SarzWix]

All of our family photos are in storage boxes on a fairly high shelf in the hallway, easy enough to grab. Apart from that, laptops, phones, purses, wallets. Everything else is replaceable, so would be left (the dog would bring herself and the cats would be long gone all on their own if fire was approaching.) Would be very sad to lose all my books and uni coursework, but wouldn't be worth dying for them...

[northepaul]

Obvously family and the cat - then phone, camera(s) my box of negatives, laptop or backup, box with all my important docs in, credit cards, sentimental stuff. Maybe a few clothes, etc.

Luckily most of these items are within afew feet of each other, so easy to get quickly....


Hope everythings ok with you Feral007

[FROSTYFRECKLE]

Mr Frosty and I would not take an awful lot. The priority is life. So pack a small ruck sack, change of clothes, knickers and socks. Spare pair of shoes (sturdy shoes!). Toiletries, meds, wet wipes (can be used to freshen up or as toilet roll). Money and cards on your person. Then get the h*ll away from the fires. Mr Frosty is a retired fireman and has been shouting a lot at the TV. Let your home burn as long as you are alive and safe, that is all that matters. Keep safe Feral.

[Moopmoop]

I would take my pets, mobile phone, laptop and purse. Maybe a spare change of clothes if time permits and I guess I should say the other half too . As above, everything else is replaceable, I would be sad to lose photo's but there's no point in risking my life to save them (they aren't in easy to reach places like yours Sarzwix). I agree with Feral about the stupid things that I would pack, if I had a few hours and not just minutes I dread to think what junk I would think we might need.

I moved house 2 years ago in April and I still have about 12 boxes that haven't been unpacked yet, I obviously don't need the stuff but when the O/H suggested throwing them away I refused. Why do we have so much stuff? Maybe it's time to think about what week I will have spare of the 52 week challenge, I'll use it to de-clutter. What month is for spring cleaning?

[Florence Fennel]

A change of clothes and a bag of essential toiletries, my phone, handbag and purse. I am now of an age where I don't really care enough about possessions to take any with me. Most things can be replaced, or fondly remembered.

[mothhawk]

I'm amazed how many folk seem to think that phones, laptops clothes and toiletries are not replaceable. or are you all imagining being alone in the bush, as presumably Feral would be? There's not that much "bush" anywhere in the UK and nowhere is more than a days walk from habitation.

[veggiechicken]

We don't really know what the emergency situation would be. Is it, you smell smoke in your house see the flames and have to make a run for it. Or the flood waters are rising and you have an hour to evacuate ..........or even, are we saying, you can fill your car with whatever you want to keep for ever, but everything else is destroyed?
I'd make different choices for each of those scenarios!

[Moopmoop]

I'm amazed how many folk seem to think that phones, laptops clothes and toiletries are not replaceable. or are you all imagining being alone in the bush, as presumably Feral would be? There's not that much "bush" anywhere in the UK and nowhere is more than a days walk from habitation.

It's not that I think these aren't replaceable, I would like to be able to tell my family that I was safe, whether I was alone in the bush or in a hotel. I personally would not like my family to worry for a whole day while I walked back to habitation.

[rustylady]

In a real emergency I would take my dog and my purse. My mobile phone is always in my pocket anyway.

[Florence Fennel]

I'm amazed how many folk seem to think that phones, laptops clothes and toiletries are not replaceable. or are you all imagining being alone in the bush, as presumably Feral would be? There's not that much "bush" anywhere in the UK and nowhere is more than a days walk from habitation.

Of course they're replaceable MH they're just what I'd grab if I had the time. The only time I've had to speedily evacuate my home I just grabbed my children and got out as fast as I could.

[Bren In Pots]

So long and me and Mr Pots got out safe everything else is replaceable, but if I was given say 10 mins it would be money/cards, phone and the few photos/scrapbooks that aren't backed up on-line.