What would you save from your home in an Emergency?

hollydolly

hollydolly

SF VIP
Location
London England
This week there's been a serious threat of flooding up in the North of England, the threat of a reservoir bursting it's Dam, and potentially destroying many homes in a small town all within 70 short seconds . The Emergency services have evacuated the area..everyone was given 15 minutes individually to return to their homes , and grab emergency supplies...medication, pets or whatever they needed.

The 15 minutes was strictly timed, because the police had to get everyone in and out quickly, so they had to move fast .. and the homeowners have been told at best the threat will be offset, and they could return to their home within 7 days..if the authorities manage to drain the reservoir!..so in essence whatever they saved in that 15 minutes might be the only thing they're left with worst case scenario..

Now this is my question.... I think we've all imagined that in the event of a fire or flood, and we had to leave quickly, what items we would grab!! medication, treasured photos..pets of course..etc.. but I saw the photos of the people today bringing their treasures out in the short space of time they had..and I was stunned at what some people were brigning out... a Lamp, and a Vase... a couple of pot plants and very odd little bits and pieces... remember that flood is usually not covered by home insurance so they may not be able to afford replace precious items, much less sentimental ones... Sooooo.....


have a really good think..you've been given a maximum of 15 minutes to save something from your home, which maybe all you will own if your home is destroyed.. Aside from pets, and humans... what do you run into the house and grab?
 

Last edited:
hollydolly said:
This week there's been a serious threat of flooding up in the North of England, the threat of a reservoir bursting it's Dam, and potentially destroying many homes in a small town within 70 short seconds . The Emergency services have evacuated the area..everyone was given 15 minutes individually to return to their homes , and grab emergency supplies...medication, pets or whatever they needed.

The 15 minutes was strictly timed, because the police had to get everyone in and out quickly, so they had to move fast .. and the homeowners have been told at best the threat will be offset, and they could return to their home within 7 days..if the authorities manage to drain the reservoir!..so in essence whatever they saved in that 15 minutes might be the only thing they're left with worst case scenario..

Now this is my question.... I think we've all imagined that in the event of a fire or flood, and we had to leave quickly, what items we would grab!! medication, treasured photos..pets of course..etc.. but I saw the photos of the people today bringing their treasures out in the short space of time they had..and I was stunned at what some people were brigning out... a Lamp, and a Vase... a couple of pot plants and very odd little bits and pieces... remember that flood is usually not covered by home insurance so they may not be able to afford replace precious items, much less sentimental ones... Sooooo.....


have a really good think..you've been given a maximum of 15 minutes to save something from your home, which maybe all you will own if your home is destroyed.. Aside from pets, and humans... what do you run into the house and grab?
Click to expand...

Sorry to hear this @hollydolly ! I know you are safe in your area and hoping if you have friends where the flooding is, that they are alright!
 
As long as my husband and I are safe, that's it. I'd probably grab my purse, laptop, and a few clothes for convenience, but I'd not bother to try to save "things." We have an "evacuation case" that we prepare each year for hurricane season with important documents, though.
 
Marie5656 said:
My wallet, my car keys and myself. Stuff can be replaced
Click to expand...
That's my point you see Marie, stuff can't always be replaced, especially when the insurance company won't pay out in the event of an ''act of God''... I'm not sure some of these people were thinking straight taking things like pot plants and vases. Some people didn't even take clothing...the shock must have been profound, I saw people our age sobbing in their cars at the shock of it all....
 
Last edited:
C'est Moi said:
As long as my husband and I are safe, that's it. I'd probably grab my purse, laptop, and a few clothes for convenience, but I'd not bother to try to save "things." We have an "evacuation case" that we prepare each year for hurricane season with important documents, though.
Click to expand...
This is almost precisely what I told my friend today that I would save..

My handbag which has my credit cards..my passport.. My computer and External hard drive, a few clothes, a box which has sentimental things from my daughters' childhood, and my meds....and I'd be in and out in 15 minutes...
 
I posted this years ago I think, but long ago, my aunt had a fire in her 3 floor apartment building. Her daughter and son in law where there when the firefighters told them they had X amount of minutes to get out.

Her daughter grabbed a stack of movie magazines and the son-in-law, a big 6'2" guy, went running out with candy dish!
 
Of course my pets come first and getting them out safely might be all the time I have to leave but if there would be more time then my purse, cash. I don't have anything of real value aside from that.
 
RadishRose said:
I posted this years ago I think, but long ago, my aunt had a fire in her 3 floor apartment building. Her daughter and son in law where there when the firefighters told them they had X amount of minutes to get out.
Her daughter grabbed a stack of movie magazines and the son-in-law, a big 6'2" guy, went running out with candy dish!
Click to expand...

Thanks for the laugh on a depressing day!
 
I would take my photo's and all my important papers. My papers are in a metal box so they would be easy to get and my albums and photo's are also in a case. I would miss some other things that might get destroyed but not enough to take more time getting to a safer place.
 
I have already been in this situation, when a fireman banged on my door and told me the house next-door was on fire and I should get out. I always keep all my personal documents and money in one bag, so I grabbed that and picked up the cat and went outside. Ornaments etc. can be replaced.
 
Rosemarie said:
I have already been in this situation, when a fireman banged on my door and told me the house next-door was on fire and I should get out. I always keep all my personal documents and money in one bag, so I grabbed that and picked up the cat and went outside. Ornaments etc. can be replaced.
Click to expand...
oh that must have been a scary experience :oops: I hope all was well in the end!!
 
What is one man's trash is another man's treasure. I get it, running out with a lamp. I would take mine too because it was my mother's antique. It's so pretty, sits on my desk, and lights up my world on dreary days. It's dark here right now and it's on.

I even get it, running out with a plant. My mother was into geraniums and I have her favorite one....well, she did a painting of it so I'd probably take that instead. The thought of losing lots of memorabilia is devastating. I feel for others facing this in an emergency šŸ˜ž
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top