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Emergency Preparedness: What's your take?

So, [even] the federal govenment recommends that you and I have emergency food & supplies set aside:
http://www.ready.gov/america/getakit/

The U.S. Government is recommending ~at least~ [a] three days supply of food and water (and other things, too).
Have you done this or do you think you can get 'er done after 'something' has happened? If you have prepared, what have you done? How many days worth of food do you have for each person under your roof? Have you made any provisions for other people / family [members] that might show up? What about provisions for water? Do you have water stored? If yes, how (in what-type container, etc.)? How much (per person)?

What other provisions, if any, have you made? Do you think it's all for nothing, or are you taking these recommendations seriously?

I notice that no where on the government's website do they talk about provisions for personal security. I find that very odd, if they truly wanted to make a list of "must have's" . It stands to reason that if something major were to happen that would cause a person to need emergency food, water, etc, that things would be chaotic....seems like the police would be rather strung-out and busy doing all kinds of things (like trying to stop people from looting food and worse). So, do you have a weapon of some sort, or will the police be there for you if you needed them?

While the "weapon" question might be to most entertaining (to the cynical-type), please try to be sincere and answer all of these questions. I am genuinely interested in finding out what measures people have taken, if any, to prepare for "something".
I am not trying to incite anyone. I am asking for a reasearch project that I am doing. So, you can snuggle in with your book, just after you read to gov't website link about preparation. If anyone is "inciting" it is the fed. govt

Public Comments

1. it's a simple plan, but for once they are right. i live in "tornado alley" even a straight wind storm can cause us to go days without services.

2. It seems to me that you are trying to incite everyone, into getting ready for a War, which really none of us in our right mind have no intentions of doing. We are not going to War that I have heard of, and it is only the Middle East that go in for that sort of thing.So why dont you just settle down with a good book, and then it will all go away.I have a few, if you live near.

3. Three days is minimum. It will take at least that long for disaster response organizations to get to the people who are not injured, particularly if the disaster is region wide and involves the metropolitan centers. It's not for nothing; everyone should have a disaster plan to evacuate their home for an indefinite period with less than 10 minutes notice.

Take a Katrina level disaster and you see why three days is minimum; it could take much longer.

The main threats here are earthquake and forest fire.

I hike a lot. My disaster response kit is my backpack. It would take me longer than 10 minutes to put it together. I have a camp stove and usually have at least a weeks worth about the house. I have at least three days of food in the kitchen. I have a water filter and know where I can go to get reasonably clean reliable source of water to treat.

I currently am holding a larger amount of cash than usual due to fears of bank failure. I am considering to buy silver bullion.

My 'weapon' is a wooden pick handle which I acquired for Y2k. I also have a sling shot with about a hundred steel balls capable of putting out someones eye if they were standing too close.

I have the materials to strap the water tank to the wall but its been on my to do list for a few months now.

The provisions for personal safety are not discussed on websites because people are not normally subjected to attacks on personal security during a disaster. There would have to be a complete breakdown in government for a long period with little hope of a return to governance and law and order. A good example of what would happen is Afghanistan and Somalia. You would need a severe disaster, say an asteroid strike with ELE potential, to make such an occurance possible here.

In a disaster the police will not be there if I need them to defend myself from my neighbours. If they are on duty at all and not dealing with their own personal tragedies. The potential for riots goes greater the longer the response organizations take to get organized. Three days is optimistic.

You saw the fires in Australia and the outrage expressed when the news reported that some of the fires were deliberately set. As far as I am aware there was but one person actually arrested. There will be similar rumours during any disaster. Best get yourself a radio and batteries to operate it to help keep informed.

A good fictional book (psi phi) describing how people survived a worst case disaster is Lucifer's Hammer by Niven and Pournelle.

A good business continuity plan is a requirement by law for many types of companies. A good example is Cantor Fitzgerald. The company was open for business 12 September 2001 after losing its head office and many key people. So why don't you have a business continuity plan beyond basic fire insurance for your home?