Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Cohousing and Y2k (still pretty long)

[Stevenson/Bitner (lilbert]

>Given that Southside Park is not only in an earthquake zone, but in a flood
>plain, what plans is *your* community making to help each other out in the
>event of an emergency?  How could these provide lessons for other cohousers?
>
>I agree that disaster preparedness, by itself, is probably off-topic for a
>cohousing list.  However, I feel that it has aspects which *are*
>cohousing-related, and which I feel might make proper subject matter for the
>list.
>
>Just a few thoughts...respectfully submitted, as one voice among many...
Oh, all right.  But you don't sound very respectful to *me*. 

And I *do* think that one issue tends to get discussed at a time, and 
I've seen important things get shoved aside for issues I think are not 
important, but, no, I won't give a list.  I'm not here to win arguments.

 We have a phone tree, actually being tested this weekend, that will 
facilitate communication, but I doubt it would be much help in an 
earthquake.  We'd probably just see who had survived the quake by poking 
our heads out the window.  We discussed having extra supplies in the 
common house, but decided it was probably not feasible.  It's hard enough 
to keep it stocked properly for regular meals without wasting food that 
sits around too long.  And why have food in the CH?  We all have our own 
supplies at home, where we are more likely to be, and we will share when 
the time comes.  What if the common house is flooded, or destroyed? There 
go all your precious supplies, when you could have had them at home.  We 
have had flood danger before, and local authorities had sand and bags 
ready for the taking.  We went and got the stuff, but didn't have to use 
it.  As for earthquakes, I've lived through a few, and this is my take on 
it.  If you have the things you are supposed to have, you will be fine in 
a moderate quake, like the Loma Prieta.  If it's much worse than that, 
you will either make it or not, but preparedness won't help you much.  I 
don't mean to sound like one of those people who won't wear seat belts 
because"when it's my time, it's my time", I just mean that there really 
isn't much to be done if your house collapses on you.  

How does one prepare for a disaster?  I think that it is difficult, if 
not impossible.  The nature of the beast is so unpredictable that I think 
the best defense is living in a community where you can count on your 
neighbors.  On the other hand, maybe you won't be able to get home.  I 
spent the night after the Loma Prieta earthquake at work, in the "worst" 
part of San Francisco, where by all racist ideas, I should have been very 
unsafe.  Everyone was wonderful.  Yet there will be times in the future 
when looting and riots break out.  I can't predict that, and I wouldn't 
bother trying.  

And here I am discussing something I said shouldn't be discussed.  Oh, 
well, it's not the end of the world!  ;)

Here's hoping we all survive the apoc- I mean, the millenium.