I had a “non” event this weekend. It was an event for those who’s property was damaged or power was out but for the most part it was a non event. I learned a few things that I thought I would share. Normally I would post it here: http://internationalpreppersnetwork.net/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=688 but the people parts I think need to be discussed.
A little back ground:
I have only been in my place a few years. I am doing major renovations due to issues with the house. It is my first time living alone. Life has been a challenge.
When I was with my ex, we had fully renovated our old house. We lived in one of the poorest neighbors in the city but they were a friendly drunk bunch. Always ready to lend a hand if you needed it. Even the gang bangers would come over and help me with my gardens. I had an amazing garden which I miss. 🙁
During the “big blackout” we pulled together as a neighborhood. I make coffee, tea, etc and baked on the bbq, serving people at the sidewalk. We had a street BBQ with the things that could go bad in fridges. In short it turned into a food fest party.
Fast forward to this past weekend:
My neighborhood got hit by a straight line winds http://www.thespec.com/news-story/3903226-storm-damage-not-caused-by-tornadoes/
Wow what a difference in the people response and their knowledge/caring.
• If their home was not damaged, they didn’t help or care
• Only one family on the street even had working flashlights (besides me)
• Only one family even had a bbq but no charcoal
• One family borrowed a bbq for cooking on Sat night and had no clue how to start the charcoal (yes I lit it for them)
• The assisted living house did have a back up generator but no one knew how to get it to work (no I was not even going to try)
• There was no way out of the neighborhood accept on foot due to all the roads having trees across them. Only one person tried to clean up the mess from trees that were not from their property – a 40 something year old woman with the mental level of a 10 year old (she told me so lol)
• The moment people could get out of the neighborhood they did without a thought of others
• Not one person had tools to remove branches (yes I loaned out my hand saw & cutters)
• No one knew to turn everything off and unplug appliances, computers, etc
• No one knew “do not go in the frig or freezer”
• People were nasty to the city crews that had been working around the night for several days to get the mess cleaned up
• Often people refused to even clean up their own property of fallen trees saying “it was the city’s responsibility to clean it up”
Is it just me or are people getting more selfish and less responsible for their own actions & property?
I am glad to hear you are ok now.
That is sad. I am always surprised at how many people are so ill prepared. And when something does happen they expect someone else to take care of it. During the ice storm a few years back, people in my neighbourhood were lost. No one knew what to do. I was not prepping back then but had all kinds of supplies on hand - food, water, propane heaters, bbq, coleman stove, crankable flashlights, radio, etc. (I did lot of camping and when I was younger went through a time with little money or food, so now I always stock up). We were only out of electricity for a week but I rallied everyone (that didn't have someplace else to go to) to come to sleep at my place (since it turns out I am the only person in my neighborhood with a wood fireplace and lots of firewood), tons of fancy electric ones but hey, not so practical without electricity. Food was not problem because people didn't want to lose the food in their freezers so everyone brought steaks, chickens etc. We ate like kings and kept warm in my little house. I got to meet a lot of different people that I had never met - even though they lived around the corner. The nice thing is that once things went back to normal, I had people coming and shovelling my driveway (I too am alone so this was a real treat) bringing me goodies, helping me in any way they could. Even to this day, people are always ready to do nice things for me. But still none of these people have learned to be more prepared in case of an emergency. Maybe they think they don't need too, cause they can always come to my place. They might a bit surprised when I move.