If forced to evacuate, Aurora Suchland would reach for her creepy crawler and other non-human members of her household. "I'd bring my pets--a tarantula, guinea pigs and dogs," the 20-year-old biology major said.

Francine Davis didn't mention any big spiders, but in a disaster she'd make a point of saving family pets first. "My husband is self-sufficient," explained Davis, a 35-year-old fiscal officer for the School of Management.

Mindful of the chaos and anguish accompanying Hurricane Katrina and more recently Hurricane Rita, journalism students fanned out from the Bunnell Building last week and collected evacuation priorities from about 30 members of this campus community. The non-scientific survey consisted of a single question: "If an earthquake or other natural disaster forced you to flee the house, what would you bring?"

Biochemistry student Jeff Gimbel knows where his priorities lie. "I'd take my pet dog Schooner." After a pause he added, "I guess my fiancée Kari would be good, too."

Philosophy student Cody Dout, 24, boiled his evacuation kit down to a pair of essentials. "Toilet paper and macaroni," Dout said. "You have to eat and wipe your ass."

Biology major Mikey Turner, 25, had a short list. "I would take my cat, my family," he said, "and, damn, yeah, that's it."

"My dog," said Carolin Remmen, 27, who works for the Literacy Council. "Cash. My ID, definitely. Just the bare necessities," she said, then added: "My dog above all."

As emergency officials learned in New Orleans, the logistics of saving pets complicates evacuation plans for many.

Theater major Fiona Lundquist, 20, figures to save her photos and animals, though she recognizes that hauling out her menagerie may pose a challenge. "We're pretty disorganized so we'd probably shove them in a couple of carriers and hope they don't fight!" said Lundquist, who owns one rabbit, a pair of cats, three lovebirds and three rats.

Amber Steinfort simply wouldn't leave because of pets. "I'd be like the holdouts in Louisiana," she said. "They'd have to force me out at gunpoint."

Saving families, both formal and informal, emerged as another chief concern.

Will Rhodes, 27, a graduate student in environmental engineering, didn't think twice about who he'd rescue. "My daughter," he said.

Friends come first for Lyle Croft, a senior studying biology. "I would bring my housemates," Croft said, "because I wouldn't want them to die.

"Then I would take my TV," he added with a grin. "It's pretty important to my life."

Hank Wichmann, 66, would save family, cash and transportation. "My wife, kids, dogs, money, and car and," the accounting professor said, "my airboat if I had the time."

Escaping with photos and personal mementos also ranks high.

Assuming his family-- and that includes their golden retriever-- was taken care of, Ethan Aronson would reach for the hard drive with all of his digital photos. "My wife made quilts for our two children when they were born," added Aronson, who was on campus registering for an emergency medic recertification course. "I'd grab them too."

Hard to replace personal papers and practical items topped the list given by UAF graphic designer Lisa Penalver, 45. "I would take important documents, family pictures, my kids, computer (CD) back-ups, laptops, changes of clothes, food, money," she said.

Earlina Bowden, director of the campus equal opportunity office, said she would take practical essentials.

"I would take important papers in a portable safe," the 54-year-old Bowden said, "irreplaceable items that can be loaded into a trailer or camper, survival gear, extra water,clothes."

Computer technician Bob Callahan, 59, weighed the choices methodically. "The big question is: A. Do you have a vehicle? Or, B. Do you have to carry these things on your back?

"Important records," he eventually concluded. "Wills, insurance papers, passports, birth certificates"

Nick Crook, 18, is visiting family before heading off to the Air Force. He would save them before reaching for personal necessities, including clothing, survival needs. "Probably my cell phone," he added.

Music major Uyoyou Ogbe, 25, would consider both practicality and luxury. "I'd take pictures of my family, my CDs, several changes of clothes, my address book, documents, lotion and stuff, money, oh," she said, "and food."

"I would bring my favorite books," said Josh Mesch, a 29-year-old mining engineering student, citing past experience hastily leaving home.

Commercial fisherman Frank Edwards, 20, would bring spiritual tools. "My bible and pictures," he said, "because they would help me move on and preserve memories."

As might be expected in Interior Alaska, many respondents gave weight to practical considerations.

"Food, water cell phone, gun, sleeping bags, dry clothing, and plenty of tarps," said Bruce Johnson, a Duckering project researcher. "I think you could survive anything."

Mike Matsakyan, an economics student from Armenia, would pack solely what he needs. "I would take food, as much as I could carry," the he said, "then maybe clothes to stay warm".

"I would bring food, clothes, first-aid kit," said Derrick Blackburn, 25, whose sister attends UAF. "Probably lose everything else. Oh," he added, "and soap!"

One campus visitor figures to literally pack out his residence. "I live in a yurt," said Aaron Engers, 21. The Mongolian shelter is portable, he explained, and fits inside his Subaru. "I'd just fold it up and put it in there."

Twenty-year-old student Carlos Elizondo would preserve his favorite diversion. "I'd grab my X-box," he said, referring to the popular video game system. "To take my mind off the disaster."

Forced to flee, wildlife biology student Andrew Wu, 24, plans to travel light and fast. "Just get out and get on with life," he said. "You can replace everything."

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