GATHER GROUP DISCUSSION 1

I am just an old engineer that wants to help all of you redesign your home so you will not have to suffer as in the past when nature gets mean and destroys all you have. My problem is that I am a technical person and do not know how to reach you in a way that I will not be too boring. I have tried many things from using sections of my book to telling you things to help you at this moment. So far I have failed; therefore I am asking you to let me know what you are interested in.

First, we need to understand that the cities have detailed plans to put into operation when a hurricane or other disaster strikes. They do not need me to help them on this area of planning, and I am not.  I want to spend our time on the part that these huge plans forget, or do not have time to consider. I want to show you, the owner or renter of a house or apartment how to take care of you so you will not be left to suffer while the city spends your recovery money on the large structures.

The areas we need to discuss are:

            Food inventories

            Drinking supplies

            Emergency procedures

            Housing designs both inside and out

            Exterior design of house

            Property design

            Neighbor location and how it affects us

            Utilities and dependability

            Evacuation plans and where to go.

            Neighbor team work and planning

            Drainage of property and area

            Things that can move or fall on your house

            Car protection and use

            Contacts for help and to help

This is just a few to get you thinking, but if we take these and study them, it should bring out how much we need to prepare in advance. Most of these are general for any disaster, but I would like us to locate and prepare for all the different disasters waiting to strike. I am sure most of you have little concern for terrorist attacks, but as we get into our discussion, this may be the one for most concern.

If you post your main concerns, we can resolve them one by one, but if you all remain quiet then I will just start on some and let you join in or consider this Group not worth your time. I hope that you will all remain and bring as many friends into the group as you can so we can increase our knowledge.