If you only had 30 minutes to evacuate?

Watching the news on flooding and one man said he was told he only had 30 minutes to evacuate reminded me of conversations  with friends on what we'd take if we only had a few minutes to leave our home.

Most of us said family photos.  Besides that, I have some glassware that's been in the family which I'd take.

Do you know what you'd grab to take with you?

Definitely my box of photo albums.. After that..(obviously my pets) and some of my BF's collectibles.. everything else can be replaced

30 minutes is a decent amount of time and I live in a studio apartment... so I'd shove my favorite clothes and dvd book into a suitcase with my laptop since that's where all my photos are, grab my camera and my dog. The only stuff I'd really be leaving is some books and my sofa.

1) The Cats

2) Computer and box of stuff

3) Probably some of the stuff in the glass display

Probably that's all we'd have time to evacuate....

30 minutes is plenty of time to get those things that are really important.  My father woke up with his house one fires a couple of weeks ago.  He woke up his wife and sent her out the front of the house and then he stopped at his dresser to pick up his keys and wallet and it almost cost him his life.  He became disoriented in the smoke and couldn't find the door.  He got out by following the voice of his wife who was already outside. Luckily they both got out alive.

(Assuming kids and cat are out of the house already) - all of our photos are scanned on our computer, not to mention all of our financial records, so we'd definitely take that.  And our safe with important docs.

After that, we'd have to make choices based on what we could get and also take into consideration the kids.  Toys with sentimental value, my wedding dress, jewelry box, a particular knitted blanket - and whatever we could still fit in the car, I suppose.

My apt was flooded once; and the most horrible thing that I lost was ALL of my photos from when I was ages 10- when I graduated college.  Not even the shoes that I lost; or my fav clothes that were ruined were as horrible as that!  So if there was to be another time when I needed to grab stuff and run-  it would be photos and pets!!!!!!!!!!!

thawley:  glad your dad is ok.

If I didn't waste the time in a panic I'd grab an old lamp that has been in my bedroom my entire life.  Maybe I could lay it on my dad's rocking chair which I refinished and drag them both out at once.

I saved old cards from when my kids were little and wrote sweet notes in them but don't know where they are, but I'd want those also.

My g'parents farmhouse burned down once and I now have some of the things that were saved, so would be compelled to save those again, (glassware).

my laptop, my treasured teddy bear from childhood, my diaries, my purse, my sentimental jewelery (and any other pieces laying around that I could quickly grab) and the quilt my grandma made.

All my treasured pictures are scanned or uploaded onto my laptop, so as long as I have my laptop I have all my work, documents and pictures that I need.

Hmmm... nothing like a post like this to realize just how little I own. I'd actually consider taking the coffee maker! =)

My cats, the guinea pig, my digital camera, my wedding ring, my stuffed penguin, and my baby pillow.  If I had time I'd crap my CPU and my sewing machine.  If I didn't have time, Alex better be wearing waders, 'cause he's going to save them for me.

my dog and cat (of course), my laptop which has most of my pics (and charger), some of the framed pics, some clothes, keys & wallet, passport....that all I can think of.

I'm not very sentimental when it comes to 'stuff', it's the memories that make something special and I'm not going to forget them.

I would take:  The big folder holding passports, birth certificates, insurance info and shot records.  I would also grab the kids baby books, of course my dog, and all the photos.  And my meds.

We live in hurricane country so we usually have a good 10 hours to prepare.

Cats, box of pictures, camera, computer, ps3.

30min is lots though, could probably pack some clothes and other various items.

This all reminds me of the need to have an emergency kit...it's almost making me think of keeping a tote bag next to the filing cabinet to carry out the important papers...My computer is a given. The cat (duh).  My passport. Actually, most of the important papers can be skipped if I have my computer.

I don't live in hurricane area. And I'm not near a major river (plus I live on the second floor). So fire is really the most likely problem (possibly tornado) and in that case, I really don't have time to grab anything other than the cat. Maybe I should be packing up my laptop every night...

If you;re worried about your photos or important documents, upload them to an internet server, or make copies on cds and give them to your family/friends.  I just back up all my important documents and programs onto my external harddrive, that way in a fire or an emergency I just have to grab my tiny harddrive and not the entire tower!

Of course if you have a laptop it would be much easier to grab but still if it gets dropped and there's water (flood) or smoke damage, if you have your photos/documents saved somewhere else online, you don't have to worry about losing all those memories...

I'd grab my dog, leave everything else, and beat the traffic out of town.

I wouldn't grab anything, i have no pictures (i have memories) the laptop, my phone, my camera can all be replaced, although thinking about it i would grab my douvet soak in water and carry it over my head (in a fire) and before i escape i'd probably read my insurance policy and see whats covered and grab what isnt, oh i left car keys and the bike keys, i'd run back with the douvet and grab them

I need to call my insurance co. and ask about flooding, but I already think flood insurance cost extra and is expensive.

And, I'd grab my wallet to havea credit card, to be able to get a room somewhere and to have my drivers license and not have to mess with getting a new one.

~my list keeps getting longer~

My wedding album, my hard drive, my cat, and "legal" file (birth certificates, passport, etc).

Depending on whether I was hoofing it, and had to carry what I wanted on my back, I might take my stuffed bear fluffy, and the remainder of my photos.  But, if really pressed for time and space, I would only take what mentioned above.

My pilates instructor is from Iowa, and apparently her dad's place was flooded out this week.  He didn't leave when he was told to, and had to be rescued via boat by the sheriff.  Once he was safe and sound, she saw it as a blessing since it would force him to get new furniture.

I would say loved ones are more important than things, and would make sure everyone got out SAFELY!

me, my husband, my kids, my cats. Aside from that a few sets of clothes a piece, briefcase of important papers, and cat food. Nothing else is that important to me.

I'd grab my laptop, my car keys, my wallet, my external harddrive, my MP3 player, and my Xbox 360. I'd cram them into my backpack and get out.