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Let's say, among all this extreme heat, the Big One hits? Electricity is knocked out, water isn't working and the city is basically shut down.
What are two of the most important things you need right now?
It's water and shelter (you can go without food for much longer than without water). On the water issue, are you ready? Brita filters don't count. Neither do a few water bottles.
We're talking 7 days worth of water you have stored (ideally, it should be 21 days), preferably less than six months old, and not sitting directly on concrete because your water is now contaminated. Did you know that your water heater contains 40 gallons of potable water? And while it kind of feels gross when you think about it, the cistern of the toilet is safe too (if you don't put chemicals in that is).
So, please, LAist begs of you. Take some time and get prepared. At the minimum, think about water, water, water, water, water, water, water. That's a good start! There are a lot of resources out there and it's up to you to be educated. A good start is by going through the complimentary CERT training provided by LAFD. New sessions begin in August and we'll make sure to remind you beforehand.
Photo at Universal Studios by Skept via Flickr
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Please. As everyone in West LA knows, you don't need bottled water to survive a natural disaster! Just a few private security guards and lots and lots of cash. Cash is the one thing Hal Fishman never tells you to stock up on. It's a conspiracy: Hal doesn't want you to know his pillow's stuffed with twenty-dollar bills. Of course, if you live in a canyon and you're unfortunate enough to have the house of some sans-culotte slide to a point where it fucks up your landscaping, you might have to pass the proverbial sushi platter to some of the less fortunate. But don't worry; just because half the Hollywood Hills is sitting in your backyard, you're still not technically in the valley...
So are my Arrowhead 5gal water bottles that are delivered every month contaminated because they sit on concrete?
If there is something between the bottles and the concrete, you are fine. So the cardboard that is pretty standard with bottles is suffice. I can't speak to a blanket or sheet though.
What happens is that people may store those 5 gallon bottles in their garage and they end up sitting on the concrete. No good.
And in regards to Josh's comment. He has a point. It is recommended to have $200 in twenty's as part of your preparedness. With electricity down, credit cards are worthless.
OK. Call me a skeptic.
What exactly is the contamination risk here?
Radon? And you think that cardboard will block it, but the bottle will not?
Or is there something I don't know here?