Think fast: What would you take?

It is when people don't care enough to even try to understand other's points of view or investigate why some are hurt or angry that causes many problems.

Kneeling, protesting, etc.  Before one gets angry, ask why they are doing it in the first place.  you then either agree or don't.  If you live your live having guns pulled on you by police on a routine basis, or beaten by police, for no reason and your friends and family suffer the same your entire life, then maybe you would understand the hurt and anger.  Simply kneeling to show protest does not dishonor the flag.  

Now we are in the age of video.  So, for good people to still deny that serious evil is happening, is mindblowing.  I have friend that are on the far right and also on the far left.  They are both talking past each other and not listening.  that is the problem.  But, if you think that what people are complaining about (abuse, killings, racism, etc.) isn't and hasn't been happening still, your head is in the sand.

On the subject of what to take, I worked in emergency operations for quite some time and remember insurance companies telling me that people have extreme difficulty in making claims after an event happened, because they have no records of what they owned.  They suggest taking pictures of everything, cars, furniture, clothing (yes clothing), stereo equipment, valuables.  making a detailed list, including copies of receipts, etc. and storing them somewhere else.  If you can't prove you owned it, they will probably not reimburse you.

Insurance companies are in the business to make money.  Period.

Have a box of things that you can take on short notice.  All of your belongings that you can't take should be documented and if you have not already provided that list to your insurance agent, then at least have that list and supporting documentation off site somewhere else.

You are already hurt, angry, upset on losing your belongings, it is worst, when the insurance company refuses to cover your loses because you can't prove you owned the items you claim to have lost.

Me?  I have a box with important documents that I would grab.  If I had advance notice and time, I would pack up other things.

Also, important, have a agreed upon contact method for friends and family.  Southern California has earthquakes, among other problems.  If a major earthquake happens and the power is out, well guess what?  so is the water pressure (takes electricity to power the pumps for water), phones will probably be out also.  So how will family and friends know how and where to contact you?  Hmmmm??

Sorry for the issues in Oregon, Washington, California, and other places. 
We should be listening to each other more and helping each other.

 be well.

First one must assume that they are dealing with intelligent reasonable people.  If they are dealing with Stupid totally unreasonable people, then that is like arguing with a pig.  it will go nowhere.

For anyone to stand in my face and say that police brutality and killings don't occur on a routine basis, means that they are either incredibly stupid or just ignorant.  I chose to believe they are ignorant.

The only difference between now and the past is that now has video.  Many police departments around this country have over the decades been trained to keep certain people subjugated.  This is fact.  Using any means necessary.

Let me know how many times you have been pulled over by police for doing absolutely nothing wrong (called driving while black or Latino), and told to get out of the car with several guns drawn on you.  I'm waiting.....

If you twitch or respond in an unacceptable manner you are gone.

for intelligent people, take a breath, take a step back.  Listen to the actual people that it is happening to first.  They have first hand experience.  Don't dismiss what they are saying as if it is untrue.  Who are you to say it isn't? 

I've lived my entire life with this nonsense.  So, not only have i seen it many times, I have experienced it many times.
So, I definitely understand the anger.  This has gone way past telling people what is happening in order to get change.  That is why so many are so angry.  Look at many of the responses here.  

Many people even here are intelligent but clueless and don't care to know the truth.  Which feeds the fire even more so.  You have become (or always have been) part of the problem.

Your first inclination is to grab your guns to protect yourself.  From what???  The protest were to put a spotlight on the problems in order to enact real change.

Yet all many see are the stupid people that looted.  Those people were not part of the protest movements in the first place.  Never were.

Yet, that is all certain people see.

Since many don't live in those areas, don't watch certain news programs, and don't care, they are totally clueless as to what is really going on.  They chose to keep their heads in the sand as if it is made up.

it isn't.

Instead of asking, why are people protesting and do they have a point?  They are saying, look at those ????!!!!! people making trouble.  

When it is your friends, family, children, or yourself routinely treated this way or killed for being (black or latino) and not even armed, maybe you will understand.

Sorry for the long post, but there are many that really don't care or don't want to care or are stupid (hopefully not) or just plain ignorant.

I wish you all well.  These are very difficult times.  But, not much has changed from the 50's and 60's in a positive way.  In many ways, it is worse.

I reiterate that in the event of an emergency, fire, flood, hurricane, earthquake, etc.  have emergency contact information spread to your family ahead of time.  Where you will meet, when and how will you communicate.  Phones will probably be out.  have emergency documents and items already ready for quick transport and property information already copied elsewhere and provided to your insurance agent.  Including receipts and lists of possessions and most helpful, photographs.

The worst feeling is losing your home and filing an insurance claim only to have the agent tell you that everything isn't covered because you don't have documentation of possession or ownership.  

Take a breath, usually when someone is screaming in pain, it is because someone or something is causing that pain or kneeling on their neck.  Just because you don't see it or haven't experienced it does not mean it is not happening.  

enjoy

Stilgreen;  not once have I brought any form of politics into this discussion.  My reply had nothing at all to do with politics but was a response to the OP original post regarding riots and others misinformed responses regarding guns for the "protesters"

also, not once did I insult anyone.  

the OP discussed what to take, but also described which circumstances would force him/her to leave and take items.

That and the several subsequent replies from others prompted my response.

If you don't care or don't want to hear it, then fine.  keep your head in the sand.

This is the same uninformed argument surrounding the response to people that peacefully protested police abuse by knelling while the anthem was being played.

It is amazing how for certain people they are more upset about the kneeling that about unarmed non confrontational people being murdered on video right in front of them .  That tells me all i need to know about the "humanity" of some.

So my original assessment and response stands.

One on my very best friends (who happens to be white) didn't believe a word of this until he personally witnessed it happening to me by university teachers and by police many times.  It was simply unheard of and couldn't possibly be true until he physically saw it happening to someone he know quite well.

I guess telling people is one thing, but either having it happen to you or yours or watching it is something altogether different.  For those of us with compassion and understanding that is.  

However, that can't be altogether true either, because, in the age of video, people still refuse to acknowledge it is happening or keep denying it anyway.

And yet some wonder why there is so much hurt and anger.

apologies if my response insult or hurt you.  Was and is not my intent. my intent was to reply to the OP original post and the many responses subsequent, with truth and understanding.

As long as people keep their head in the sand or forcefully deny what other's that are experiences this are saying, there will be anger.  

it will take the entire village to right these wrongs.

thanks Dave1980, that is what I have been saying.  It is good to hear directly from an insurance agent on this issue.

it was a shock when I discovered the extent that one must document their belongings.

You are correct.  If one want to be covered and reimbursed, you need a list of everything, including clothing.

The problem is when a disaster happens is too late, I can't think of anyone I know that would remember every little detail and item.

Here I am in my office typing and looking around and realize that I really need to update that list, photos, documents and provide it to my insurance agent.

enjoy