Korean Job Discussion Forums

[moosehead]

well no one more than me hopes nothing comes of the recent teeth gnashing and saber-rustling up north of us

however - having been both a Girl Scout as well as lived on the Gulf Coast thru more than 1 hurricane - and in NYC during 9/11 I found myself making emergency preparedness plans recently, to wit:

1) atm machines in many places in Manhattan were knocked out and stayed out for up to a week (some were even destroyed altogether, including banks that were in or near the WTC); many people were caught off-guard by the fact they couldn't immediately access cash.

*make sure you have a sufficient amount of cash on hand

2) when electricity goes so does the water - pumps need power to work

*ditto the fresh water - a week's supply at least

3) what would you do if you couldn't come here to Dave's and post your questions? because....maybe the internet would be down? for whatever reason....just sayin' ....don't let this be your only source of info.

*know where transportation hubs are - trains to the airport, buses, etc.
*the U.S. Embassy has a 24 hr number - does your embassy? sign up for alerts on their websites, keep abreast of the latest possibilities for....anything

4) speaking of which - maybe you have a cell phone - do you know how to use a pay phone in Korea? there are more than 1 kind - again, during 9/11 cell phones were disrupted because the WTC had the antennas on top of them as well as radio and some tv broadcasts antennas; it was very very surreal that day turning the radio dial as I drove towards downtown and heard static on the air....

*buy a KT local phone card for as little as 5,000 won and know how to use it; charge up your cell phone, keep money on it, know how to dial an international number on it , etc., etc.

5) sometimes when I travel out of the country I designate someone who I stay in touch with on a regular basis, they have instructions as to my itinerary and what to do if they don't hear from me at specific intervals.

*who is your contact person? don't create unnecessary fear and stress for loved ones back home

6) have a route planned out to get to the airport, always, if you are an expat, your embassy will evacuate you in case of a military emergency but in chaotic situations you really have to depend on yourself.

7) know where your embassy is, just in case.


**post edit** if you take prescription meds - make sure you have at least a month's supply at all times

ok, no nonsense here, no fear mongering, just good ol' preparedness. you can all go back to the soju now

[digsydinner]

..way to spread unnecessary panic there...geez.

i guess when the north attacks with nuclear weapons, depend on your local girl scouts!

[nuthatch]

good post, Moosehead -

the ATMs - yes

good to have some intuition and awareness about what is going on around one

nice to see that someone does not have their ostrich head in the sand

[blackjack]

If NK invades having money on hand is not going to help (it's almost funny money as is)

Pay phones? most of us live in or near seoul, we will be dead any way (another reason money is not going to help). And neven if it is not a lake of fire then if cells go off why wouldn't payphones?

Living in my 15th floor officetel for a week(if we are not all dead) yeah can't see that happening.

My embassy sorry just had to laugh

[John_ESL_White]

Water for 20 days is a must. The car trunk is filled with water bottles and some hite bottles, but mostly water. As are the cabinets and some closet space.

You should have canned food for at least a week.

Not because of the N.K. thing, but just because anything can happen.

You never know and its better to be safe than sorry. I have a phobia of running out of water because of a past exp., being stranded in the desert. So, my hording may be out of the ordinary, but still, "be prepared".

[bluelake]

I registered with my embassy many years ago and have updated info ever since. For US citizens, you can do so at https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/ui/

IIRC, in the case of a national emergency here in Korea, US citizens would be put on transport out, often military, and charged the book rate for transportation.

[Yu_Bum_suk]

If you're in Seoul or Incheon, you'll want to have materials (plastic sheeting and duct tape) to seal off a room in the event of a chemical or biolgoical weapons attack.

[michaelambling]

[harlowethrombey]

[waseige1]

Good ideas. Thank you.