Hi far and near friends,

After reading the posts regarding evacuations, I thought I would
re-post an email I sent to the group in 1999. (BIG, I hope this is OK!)
But first, an update. We no longer have ferrets, BOOHOO, but we do have
cats, dogs, a gerbil, and a part-time Guinea pig. At the end of this
post, is a bit on how I changed my plan.

We are about an hour west of Raleigh, NC. We don't live in a
flood-prone area, hurricanes are sometimes an issue, but we are a
few hours inland, earthquakes are very rare, and tornados are not
common either. We do have tornado watches and warnings, but so far,
our immediate area has been spared. Other scary, non-environmental
unplanned emergencies can and do happen...

         ---------

Well, it happened. I got to try out my evacuation plan and you know
what? IT STINKS! It took FOREVER to get my daughter, three cats and
eight ferrets out of the house by myself! As it turned out, my house
was not on fire and the fumes were not toxic but what if this had been
a real fire/toxic fumes?

I had to call my neighbor to make sure she was home and that I was on
my way with my daughter, all the while putting on her panties, pants
and grabbing her shoes. My neighbor met me half way, I handed off
Rachel and ran back to the house. A cat was the first critter I came
to. I grabbed him, ran out the door and put him in my car. Ran back in,
grabbed another cat, back out. Ran in, had to pretend to feed so that
I could get the other cat. Ran in grabbed a carrier and stuffed three
ferrets in and out to the car I went. Ran back in (fire department
arrives and I open the door for them), stuff two ferrets in one carrier
and three in another and out I go. At this point I'm VERY out of
breath.

It took A LOT longer than I ever anticipated!!!!!! I didn't get their
medical/vac records, food, etc. My cats weigh 18, 17, and 9 pounds.
That is why I only carried one at a time. That and the claw factor.
~LOL~

A tree branch fell onto our power line that connects to our house and
broke the "neutral". What that means is 220 volts slammed into our
house. The house shook, the cats scattered and I wondered if we were
having an earthquake or a car had bumped into our house! About two
minutes later, things got really exciting. The TV went out as well as
the cordless phone. The lights and appliances were humming and popping.
Then there was an AWFUL smell! Sort of like a burning chemical. The
cats were agitated, things are humming, crackling and popping and
stinking. No smoke. I call Duke power on the "hard line" phone. Get
this lovely automated message... wait for the extension that I think
this falls under, hold......get a human, explain what is happening....
get put on hold...lovely music. In the meantime, the smell is getting
worse, the humming and popping is getting worse and my daughter is
complaining about the smell. The lady from Duke power finally comes
back on and I tell her how things have escalated. She said to evacuate
and call 911. I page my husband, call my neighbor, and well, you know
the rest of the story.

We lost our tv, two vcr's, a clock radio, the heating and cooling
system (my husband is having his own meltdown now) and the surge
protector on our NEW computer saved our 'puter!!! Yea!! The surge
protector was fried and that was part of the awful smell.

Anyway, my plan was NOT GOOD ENOUGH!! I had never "practiced" the plan.
Have you practiced yours? Do you even HAVE a plan? It can happen to
you! No wind yesterday, no nothing. Just a fluke. Our house is over
sixty years old. The firemen said we were fotunate that our house had
not burned down. Are you prepared?

My ferrets were contained in their cages in one room and it still took
six or seven minutes to get out. That is not acceptable. It would have
been longer had they been free in their 16' x 29' room. They are squeak
toy trained, but.....

I am thankful that all is well. I was by myself, no help. It could have
been bad. Very bad. Plan TODAY.

Tequita Williamson
[Posted in FML issue 2862]

         ---------

After this "event," I obviously had to rethink my plans. This is what
I did:

Had all necessary carriers stacked by the door. In each carrier, I had:
litter/pan, food/water containers, bedding, and leashes. This was 1 cat
per carrier due to their size. I had to determine which ferrets could
be put together in a carrier and had this written on a card. (Not that
it would matter if the idea was speed! I could always sort them after
the immediate danger passed!) I kept the food and water rotated and I
had gallon jugs of water ready. Inside a bag with the carriers, was a
copy of each animal's health record, id's, extra squeaky toy, etc. Our
ferrets had free roam during the day (usually), and were put to bed at
night or when we left home. In case you are wondering, I kept a bag
ready for our daughter too! I also knew where we would be going! With
that many animals, not everyone would welcome us!!

Thankfully, we have not had to use our plan. We still have one, even
though it has changed due to the different animals. Do you have a plan?
Does it work? Today is the day to see....before it is too late!

~Hugs,
Tequita

Tequita Williamson, Certified Birth Doula (DONA)
PLEASE spay and neuter. It SAVES lives!

"The penalty good men pay for indifference to public affairs is to be
ruled by evil men."
- Plato

[Posted in FML 5711]