Preparedness for when

nuatha

Karmacat wrote: »

Thank you Doveling, thats kind. We're okay - it was raining hard for about an hour early this evening so the built in wardrobe under the destroyed bit is now empty, everything I can get off the floor on *both* floors is up resting on something else, unplugging is going on.

Just going to clear a bit more before I go to bed. Difficult when this is about water coming from *above* in the house - its not coming yet, and I've no idea where it might make its way through.

My sister has a builder she's used for years, so she was first on his list, but I've only used my builder twice, he's managed to get the roofer around today, but no work can be done till tomorrow at the earliest. No idea what I'm going to wake up to!

I hope you've slept well and woken up to nothing worse than when you went to bed, enjoyed a cuppa and then had a knock on the door from your builder's roofer, who can at least make things weatherproof today.
Fingers crossed I'm not too far off the mark.

NewShadow wrote: »

If safe, run.

If not, hide.

Stay as silent as possible (Remove heels and turn off phones).

Follow any instructions given over the tannoy.

Do not gather in the normal fire evacuation location (go home).

If you don't think the police have been called (you were there at the start) call the police.

Do not try to call the office/your boss for updates - wait to be called.

You've turned off your phone, you won't get updates
Assuming daylight I'd silence my phone but leave it on, low light or darkness I would turn off my phone, otherwise some PPI salesman would light up my location at just the wrong moment.

milasavesmoney wrote: »

Call and report gunshots to emergency services. (911 in the US)
The next, accessing the situation, depends on how close the gunshots were heard to you. If at a distance, then exit the building and seek cover. If close by, lock doors if possible (if not, then try to block doors) and seek cover.
(Of course this 2nd one goes against my nature as I would want to investigate the situation)
I'd probably then call near coworkers to see if anyone knew what was hppening to keep myself from going to check it out.
Kick myself that I hadn't taken a consealed weapons course....yep, I live in the US and am a good shot...when I practice.

I used to shoot fairly accurately, but we've never had civilian concealed carry permits. Its a fairly safe assumption in the UK that anyone not in uniform (or accompanied by such) is a hostile.
Calling your co-workers could draw attention to their location resulting in their injury or fatality.

Its a few years back, I was in an office that comprised two 70's build low cost houses in the corner of a close surrounded by residential housing. A hot hatch type car turned up announcing its presence with very loud drum and bass or rave type "music." Annoying but not unusual for the area at the time. Then a window broke and one of the staff commented, "not again" looked out of the window to see if she could see who had thrown a stone, to see people from the car pointing guns at a neighbouring house.
We got to the back of the house, as much space between us and the shooting as we could get. To find the back door was locked and no one had any idea where the key was. Someone did phone the police. Someone else removed the beading around a large window and we lifted the double glazed unit out of its frame and put alongside a wall out of the way. This gave us all an exit from the building. It was at least 15 minutes before the police were on site and the resulting standoff lasted several hours.
The police evacuated people via their back doors and into a community centre down the road. It another two days before I was allowed to collect my car.
It was drug related and the shot that broke the window was either a stray or a ricochet. "Music" was loud enough that we didn't hear the shots fired.

[Deleted User]

nuatha wrote: »

low light or darkness I would turn off my phone, otherwise some PPI salesman would light up my location at just the wrong moment.

That's the advantage of a flip phone.

I have the Alcatel 2012G

I can switch it to silent mode, in under 3 seconds, and the only visual signal is a tiny LED, which won't even show through a pocket.

If you are really worried, you could stick a label over the LED.

nuatha

Bedsit_Bob wrote: »

That's the advantage of a flip phone.

I use an XDA Orbit, a relatively early smartphone, it gives full satnav for Europe, FM radio, a decent camera as well as PDA and phone functions. I've rebuilt two over the years and have components to build another couple if need be, so don't particularly have plans to change phones. It also has an in use battery life of about 5 days (assuming no GPS) 3 days with bluetooth enabled.
Most flip phones fail at the hinge, my failures have been two fairly spectacular falls, one where my entire body weight drove the screen onto a wooden point. SIM and memory into a backup phone and back in service before medical treatment. Replacing the screen happened a couple of days later when I had full use of my hands again. I've been using these for almost 10 years, and my backup has 10 years service (I alternate phones summer/winter to spread the wear and tear)

Frugalsod

milasavesmoney wrote: »

Interesting take on Trump/Sanders. I think Trump is actually a huge backlash to hatred of Obama and his policies plus embarrassment at the inability of the Republican Party to get anything done. Sanders has been embraced by the college age and up to 40 crowd. I am at a loss as to who to vote for, as are so many Americans because we can't stand Hilary. Interesting times for those of us who are middle of the road types. Well actually, interesting times all around.

I suspect that there is a significant racist element as well against Obama. Though the KKK did endorse Hillary as well.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2016/03/15/kkk-grand-dragon-endorses-hillary-clinton-for-president.html

I am not the only one who thinks the voting is against the current establishment.

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2016-03-12/nassim-taleb-sums-americas-election-17-black-swan-words

though his preferences are as follows.

http://investingchannel.com/article/385426/Nassim-Taleb-I-Prefer-Sanders-To-Trump-But-Absolutely-No-Hillary

milasavesmoney wrote: »

As for third world nations are concerned, I think you had better define that notion for me. We just simply don't fit the criteria, unless you have a different definition than me. Interesting fact, it was originally coined for any nation not in NATO or the Communist bloc during the Cold War. We are still in NATO (being silly here:D)

I was only describing the nations infrastructure as worse than many third world nations. LaGuardia airport is described by many travellers as one of the worst in the world with even Joe Biden likening it to a third world country.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/travel_news/article-2799917/the-world-s-10-worst-airports-revealed-tourists-likening-one-prison-branding-human-sauna-luton-makes-list-worst-european-hubs.html

Then there is the general infrastructure like roads and bridges.

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/falling-apart-america-neglected-infrastructure/

This does not count the paved roads that need to be replaced thanks to the truck movements around fracking sites which have turned many into mud tracks.

http://journalistsresource.org/studies/government/infrastructure-government/costs-shale-natural-gas-extraction-local-roads

Then you have the civil asset forfeiture programs that now mean that the police steal more from the people than burglars.

http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2013/08/12/taken

This is the sort of corruption that you expect in third world countries.

Though everything I have described is a symptom of a broken political system and the public want change and not even Clinton or Cruz would offer that. The only real options for change are Trump or Sanders.

NewShadow

May I suggest we step away from politics again?

It was commented (my fault) earlier that some find the discussion less than relevant to the topic.

Additionally, not that anyone would intentionally, but it's very easy for a conversation about the pros and cons of a country to feel like an attack.

Plus, America's frig-gin' huge and generalities are one of my pet peeves :cool:

nuatha

NewShadow wrote: »

May I suggest we step away from politics again?

Thank you.

It was commented (my fault) earlier that some find the discussion less than relevant to the topic.

It can be relevant (politics) and to some extent whoever becomes the next President of the USA will have an effect on the UK - the political race will not.
Given we're a UK based forum, with some non UK members/participants the political processes of non UK countries are likely to have minimal impact on most of the members herein.

Additionally, not that anyone would intentionally, but it's very easy for a conversation about the pros and cons of a country to feel like an attack.

Plus, America's frig-gin' huge and generalities are one of my pet peeves :cool:

I find myself increasingly in agreement with you. (that probably should be of concern )

Though a number of the comments Frugalsod made about the USA are little better than the pot calling the kettle - UK infrastructure is well below the standards it could and should be. If another government was disposing of assets to the benefit of its apparent cronies the way UK governments have or propose corruption would be the politest term used.

I've just replaced suspension springs on Herself's car and its only 9 months since two of them were last replaced, that's an indication of just how bad roads in this area are. (Or how useful a pair of spring compressors are in a prepper's toolkit)

NewShadow

nuatha wrote: »

I find myself increasingly in agreement with you. (that probably should be of concern )

If we are all in agreement on the decision - then I propose we postpone further discussion of this matter until our next meeting to give ourselves time to develop disagreement and perhaps gain some understanding of what the decision is all about. Alfred Sloan

Siebrie

Siebrie wrote: »

Due to the disruption in Brussels, and some banks having a bank holiday on Friday and Monday, my monthly salary will reach my bank account five days late. We are fine, and I assume most people here would be fine. Am I right?

Make that six days late - I still don't have it. Still fine, I just don't want to move money from a savings account into the spending account.

NewShadow

Siebrie wrote: »

Make that six days late - I still don't have it. Still fine, I just don't want to move money from a savings account into the spending account.

Sorry for being nosy, but do you work in/work for a company based in Europe?

I only ask as I think you're the only person I know who's payroll has been effected by the attacks.

jk0

Yesterday I went to the Ideal Home Show with GF which we both enjoyed. However, on the way there I went on the old '125' train to Paddington. I must have been about 7 coaches from the engine, but could still smell awful fumes which made me cough. One or two other passengers were coughing also. I came home on an electric train via Clapham Junction.

Anyone else noticed awful fumes in those trains?