h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

It's hot today, and dry, and dusty. There's quite a strong breeze blowing. This is dangerous weather, and it seems there's at least one fwit out there who knows it.

As I came home this evening, about an hour ago, a plume of smoke was clearly visible coming from Cooleman Ridge, about 200 metres from my house. As the bus passed the stop before mine I could see flames.

It's a grassy area, and has been since the original bushland was destroyed in the 2003 firestorm. (The seventh anniversary of that fell on Monday. Five hundred houses lost, many of them in this suburb, and four people dead.) There's not much up there that could catch fire by natural means in the absence of lightning. It's certainly not the weather in which the rural fire service carries out controlled preventative burning. This must have been deliberately lit.

A number of emergency vehicles sped up to the ridge as I was walking home. I'm confident that the fire is now under control, if not actually extinguished - I can't tell from here as there are buildings and trees in the way, and the last thing one should ever do is go to have a closer look. So I'm sitting here, assuming matters are under control and relying on ABC Local Radio (callsign: 666 Canberra) to tell me if anything happens. In the meantime, I'm thinking.

I'll leave aside the matter of what I'd do to arsonists. Let's just say that Gandhi wouldn't approve at all.

The question is - what would I do if the situation was not under control, and a firefront was approaching? The standard advice is to get out early, or to stay and defend your property. My usual position on this is that I would definitely go early. I have insurance, so does my landlord, and all my belongings here are just Things, when it comes to the crunch. But as I got to the front door this evening I had a sudden thought that maybe I *would* stay after all. There's more of my life bound up with all these things than I've ever really considered before. The catch with staying and defending, of course, is that once I've decided to stay there's no opportunity to change my mind if things go badly...

Of course, there's a subtle difference between knowing in advance that a fire's on its way, thus giving time to pack essential items and leave, and a situation where one gets home from the office to find that there's no time to grab anything much, only time to leave and leave fast.

So I feel lucky that today's episode is not an emergency for me personally, but a pointed reminder of what has happened here before and might happen again.

Tomorrow I might gather up the photos, a few other odds and ends, a change of clothes and my insurance papers and put it all in one place so that I can just pick it all up and go if the need arises. But would I go? I know I should, in such an emergency, but how can I be sure of what I'd do?

I know I need to make a plan and stick to it. I know this. But...

*takes deep breath and retires into mental confusion, occasionally glancing out the window in case there's something to see*

good to plan ahead in the event of an emergency. But still,

Having the things you really want in bag ready go is really sensible Ivan I'm relieved because it means if you want to go you don't have to make a decision about whether to take the time to get things.

How skilled and capable do you feel dealing with the situation if you were to stay? Would you be on your own?

oh blimey not again!

I would plan ahead and then assess the situation at the time, it is hard to say whether I would stay or go, mostly, I think I would go, I would rather be safe then not.

Here have some and a blottle of

Thanks Helly. I was going to open a bottle just as soon as I could be sure there was no lingering problem out there.

Kea, I think I'd be able to cope up to a point, and I know that in extreme circumstances I surprise myself with what I suddenly find I can do. But I think that I *should* go, nevertheless. The flipside to that, of course, is that there might not be time to make a decision. Staying and defending could be the only option in some circumstances - if there's no way out, for instance. (This almost happened last time; the roads out of this part of town were either clogged with traffic or blocked by flames. For a while afterwards it was common to see cars with melted wing mirrors drivng around.)

Anyway, whatever happened up on the ridge today, it's probably good that this is making me *think*. It's so easy to ignore the possibility that something bad could happen in this weather... I need to be ready for it if the time comes.

I sometimes think what would I do if my flat or apartment building went up: I'd undoubtedly run.

I've got a big rucksack that lives in my bedroom which I'd stuff all my most valuable things into: various souveniers and knicknacks, a few books, my USB which has all my photos on, my ID and some clothes. All of these could be rounded up in a few minutes.

Then I'd be out of the door or window. Stuff can be replaced, new memories made but there's only one Iago (or Ivan).

Defending as such sounds quite questionable.

As for precious things... I know I'd miss them, but then it might be a relief at the same time. There's quite a lot of things I could happily live without but I don't dare to leave them behind.

And I just happen to prefer a new start to a painful end.
(You know I don't do positive thinking, so there.)

If I could send the snow we have here over to your corners, then all the problems would be solved. The temperatures might not be the merriest but still survivable.

I certainly hope you would leave at the earliest opportunity, Ivan. As you don't drive, what transport would you use? I'm sure the busses would be the first to stop running.

I would prefer an Ivan with a few battered photos and ready to do battle with female kangaroos, rather than an Ivan singed around the edges and no photos

pack your bags now, leave instantly if fire comes your way. memories don't burn anyway

If it comes to it, I take what I can carry and I walk away, downhill. (Fire of course trends uphill unless it's got a particularly strong wind behind it.) I'd head for the main road through this district and hope for assistance. Failing that, I'd go to the large-ish shopping complex about 2km away. (Cooleman Court, Helly.) That would provide shelter of a sort, and in the worst scenario it would be reasonably safe in the middle of the fully paved carpark - except in the event of ember attack, but that's another matter.

If it were safe to go further I'd walk over to the concrete gulch that is Woden. Major shopping centre, office towers, lots of people, it's definitely a place that would be defended. It's about an hour from here on foot, but I'm quite capable of walking that far, especially if my life depends on it...

The catch with the Woden plan is that last time around there was an evacuation centre in Woden, but that had to be evacuated as things got worse and worse. No plan is foolproof. In the event of an emergency I'll just have to do what seems best at any given moment.



The good news of the day is that the fire on the ridge was soon extinguished and there's not even a hint of smoke around the place. the bad news it that it'll be another horrid day. (The temperature at 6am was 26C.) I shal carry on as normal, but I'll be listening to the radio and keeping an eye on things at intervals.

It always feels so melodramatic, planning what I'd do in an emergency - but it has to be done. Coming home last night and seeing actual flames on the ridge was a fairly strong incentive to double-check the plan.

Right now, though, it's one of the permitted garden-watering times. I'll go and water the garden a bit now, and I'll give it a good soak at the permitted time this evening. I'll feel better knowing that there's a bit of moisture around.

(Hati, a bit of snow would be lovely. Just wrap it in plastic and send it down. )

Ivan, a few days ago I could have sent you too but it has gone now and we have rain instead though more snow is possible next week apparently.

I have never been in the position of having to leave my home in a hurry and I feel for all those faced with it, whether from fire or flood or any other natural disaster.

I think it is wise for everyone to consider what means the most to them, what is irreplaceable - photos, letters and sentimental stuff for a start. Essential medication, insurance papers and contact phone numbers and addresses if not in your mobile. When it comes to it your life is the most precious, and goods and chattels can be replaced, especially if you are insured.

In flood prone areas here I have never understood why people keep essential paperwork, photos and precious mementoes downstairs.

I hope you are worrying for nothing, but putting stuff in place for a quick getaway must surely give you some peace of mind.

Take care,

Websailor

Having been in several "get out quick" situations; i'd say definitely have a bag ready with personal stuff, like passport, ID papers, precious photos, address book, mobile phone, notepad/laptop computer if you have those, plus a wallet of enough actual cash to keep you going for a while. Banks may be out of action. Some sort of warm covering like a sleeping bag, even if it's hot, people get shock && may need warming up.

if you have a companion animal; have a secure box ready also.

Obviously a basic First Aid kit, water & high carbohydrate food which is in dry form, so doesn't go off.

A radio which recieves World Service is a very god idea too, add batteries to keep it going so you can monitor the situation & charge the phone.

Armed with that, you will survive, whether you decide to stay & try & defend your stuff is your decision; personally; we got out of the Kuwait Invasion ASAP; in Pakistan we had no choice, ordered to go 'cos of political coup within 24 hours.

Maybe also a portable music player, which includes the song 'I will survive' to keep your spirits up!



zdt

Terri, Now that's what I call sound advice based on real experiences.

Websailor

Terri, that's a very sound list of things to consider.

Laptop, mobile phone and battery-operated radio - yes. Laptop in use right now (obviously), phone in pocket, radio just over there.

Essential personal papers - insurance documents, passport & birth certificate - yes, all here. (Passport & b/cert are always with me, as it happens, as they're my only ID.)

Water. Definitely.

The last time around, the water supply to this part of town was cut and afterwards residents had to boil drinking water for a couple of weeks. The power supply was cut, of course. Both phone systems failed to some extent. (And the sewage works was badly damaged, leading to instructions to those of us who still had homes to avoid flushing the loo for a couple of days.)

The most essential thing, psychologically, is to remind oneself regularly that non-essential physical possessions are just Stuff.

And a note to anyone considering defending property against fire - for the love of Bob, wear natural-fibre fabric, and cover your arms and legs even if it is bloody hot.

*Makes notes*

Do what I say, don't do what I do.

Make sure that things which are precious and on the laptop are backed up offline, for example have your best photos on Flikr, have Gmail as your primary email account, store other important documents in Google Docs. Or use one of the on-line back-up services. There is no need for data to be tied to a physical entity like a USB stick. If you do have a USB stick, get one that can be attached to something you will keep track of anyway, like your keys or your work ID.

Consider asking your bank to look after your insurance papers and other legal documents. Photocopy them before depositing them, and keep the copies in the emergency-grab-bag so you aren't slowed down if you need to make a claim. But you don't need the originals with you. Keep your passport and driving licence on you.

Now, I *know* I should take my own advice here...

Good luck.

Ben

PS - the husband of a friend of mine escaped Kuwait ahead of Saddam Hussain's invasion; he said his feet quite literally itched with the need to get out. That tells me it would be worth making sure you are wearing good shoes.

Whatever you decide, make up your rucksack *now*, while you're calm, and under no pressure. You can't wait to the last minute to try and remember what's important. You won't have time, and photos you wanted to keep won't give you any comfort if you don't survive. Just sayin'

Keep safe!

The bag is indeed ready to go. Here's hoping it never has to go as such.

Ben, that's a good idea about photocopying documents. Fortunately my affairs are so straightforward that all I really need is my ID, my ATM card and the number of my insurance policy. All of the important 'family' documents are already in a bank vault, so that's something I don't have to consider, which is good.

As for backing up things on the computer - there's not much on here that's worth keeping, let alone backing-up. All the w*rk stuff is on the w*rk servers, and if they go pear-shaped it's definitely Somebody Else's Problem.



The main thing for now is that we're halfway through the fire danger season. I just want the second half to go as smoothly. And after that, I'll be able to relax a bit and not get all jumpy every time I smell smoke. Sometimes it is only a barbecue, after all.

hm, as for that 'last-moment-decision-about what-to save' i once read a list of what people had actually saved

it was both sad and hilarious. sad because people lost things that were really valuable to them (like family photos), but also hilarious because the items saved were usually absurd. like grabbing an old shoe or a potted plant instead of the wallet with money and id's

this in return reminds me of the young couple who rushed to the maternity home with the soon-to-be-father's squash racket and other sporting gear instead of you know what

here's hoping you will never need to grab your bag, ivan

Thanks Pierce.

My grandmother once told me what she took when she had to leave the family home (not because of fire, but because of the Red Army). As many clothes as she could carry, for herself and for my 13-month-old mother. Two tin plates. Spoons. A cup and a small saucepan. A small sewing-kit. Her passport and a few other papers. She couldn't find Mum's birth certificate, which caused a few problems later (and still does, from time to time). Then they left.

Then, having found a safe place to leave Mum, she went back, hoping to pick up some photos at least. She found the house occupied by German troops. One of them was looking through her photo album. Naturally he recognised her and gave her the album. He also helped her bury a few small valuables, which are probably still there, and a safe-conduct pass back through the lines.

The album was discarded at some point. Mum has the few photos that survived, along with one of the tin plates. My grandmother's passport and other papers are in the bank vault. They tell quite a story; in due course I plan to give them to the Migration Museum in Adelaide.