19 Kit Calendar

Getting That Kit Together

Whenever the topic of Disaster Preparedness comes up, one of the comments I hear most often is, “I don’t know where to start!”  I always try to soothe their fears by telling them they don’t have to build their kit all at once, nor does it have to torpedo their budget in the process.  I subscribe to the “Just Do Something!” school of thought.   Even though you may be at a loss as to how to get started, just buying new batteries for your flashlight, maybe a few candles and some Spam (for the shelf, of course) is a move in the right direction.

Someone recently handed me a booklet produced by Coos County Emergency Management.  This little book is chock full of great ideas.  There is a rundown of all the various kinds of disasters, both natural and man-made that could conceivably affect our lives here on the south coast. Included are sections on planning, document storage, evacuation and helping children cope, among others.

All of the information in the booklet is good stuff, and very relevant to our area.  The best part of the publication is the section titled “Your Disaster Supplies Calendar”.  This chapter takes you on a 24 week journey that will assist you in creating a family disaster supplies kit.  The step-by-step guide gives you a list of practical things to purchase each week.  Not only a shopping list, but a weekly to-do list as well.  If you follow this guide, by the end of the six-month period you will be well-stocked and ready to face any disaster that may come your way.  

Many of the items on this list are things you probably already have on hand, but it never hurts to have an extra pair of good work gloves in your kit.  At least you know where they are.  Both of them.  

Now for the really best part.  This booklet is free and it is available online to print off on your home printer.  Just go online to http://www.co.coos.or.us/ccem/emindex.html, or Google “Coos County Emergency Management”  look for “Are You Ready Booklet” on the left side of the page.    I’m sure you’ll find it a valuable resource as you move toward being prepared.  As always send your questions or comments to disasterprep.dave@gmail.com.

18 Medical Kit

Getting Your Medical Kit Together

First aid kits are cool!  Like gadgets, I can’t pass up a good one.  Every time I see a display of first aid kits I have to stop and look them over.  I don’t always buy, mind you, but I do check out the contents to see if this one is any more comprehensive than the one I just looked at.  Fact is I have one in every vehicle I own, including a special “Outdoorsman kit” in the tool compartment of my ATV!  I once ran across a real sale at an Eddie Bauer store and bought a very nice travel kit that was marked 75% off!  The fact is most first aid kits all contain the same things.  A few Band-Aids, gauze bandages, some tape and maybe some pain killers or antacid tablets.

The problem I see is that if I happen upon an accident that truly requires some serious medical attention, a few Band-Aids and some little gauze patches aren’t going to do  a whole lot of good.  I don’t suggest you carry a full-blown trauma kit with you every where you go, but what I do suggest is that you at least take a good look at what you have in your trunk and possibly upgrade it a notch or two.  Bigger, better bandages, maybe a triangle bandage or something you can use to fashion a splint.  Better yet, get some training on how and when to use a splint or triangle bandage.  
A generation ago my wife and I went through E.M.T. training (at least that’s what they called it back then) and we volunteered on the local ambulance crew.  Some of what we learned back then is now out of date.  Is it five chest compressions and three mouth-to-mouth breaths or is it fifteen compressions and five breaths?  Fact is, neither are correct according to today’s paramedics.  The Red Cross website (www.redcross.org) now advocates a hands-only technique that does not use the mouth-to-mouth method at all.  (Whew what a relief, I’ve tried mouth-to-mouth and it is no fun!)  Go to a class and as you update your skills, you will update your confidence level as well.  I should add that full CPR training is available upon request, but learning the hands-only method can be done on-line by watching a video at the Red Cross website.
The kit you have in your car should look different from the kit you have at home.  Your  home kit should have more of a long-term feel to it.  Extra over-the-counter medications like antibiotic ointment, hydrogen peroxide, some alcohol (no, not that kind) and some diarrhea medication.  Once you get started it will grow and you’ll need to get a bigger box to hold it all.  (Experience talking here.)  As you already know, I am an advocate of building your own kits.  You’ll save money, plus you will have quality components and not a lot of stuff you’ll never use.  As always, your questions and comments are welcome at  disasterprep.dave@gmail.com

17 After The Shaking

After the Shaking

I personally have only experienced one minor earthquake.  What I remember is that my recliner was moving from side to side for no reason.  About that time my wife commented that “we’re having an earthquake!”  I walked in to the dining room and we both watched the chandelier over the table sway back and forth.  What I marveled at was that everything I had ever considered solid, stable and unshakable, wasn’t. I hadn’t realized it until then, but my whole paradigm of conscious living was based on the earth being solid.  It was pretty unsettling to discover otherwise.  All you transplanted Californians are old hands at this, but we Oregonians don’t exactly have our sea legs just yet.

I was recently reminded of a very good tip.  Keep a fair-sized trash bag under your bed that contains a flashlight, a warm shirt, pants and a good heavy pair of shoes.  Secure the bag’s draw-strings to the leg of your bed so that you always know where it is.  Push the bag under your bed and forget about it, until you need it.  Folks underestimate the amount of breakage that can occur during a quake. Running through your house in the dark barefooted is not what you want to do with broken glass all over the place.

Last time we learned what to do during a quake.  This time we’re going to take a look at what to do after the earth stops moving.  Wait until the movement stops.  If you’re inside a building, get out when it’s safe to do so.  Spending the day at the beach?  Get to high ground, and quickly.  In fact, make up your mind right now to act quickly!  Depending on the location and severity of the earthquake, you may only have ten minutes to get out of the tsunami zone.  

Once you’ve determined that you’re ok, then look for others that need your help.  You have just become a first responder.  The police, fire and emergency medical personnel are going to busy elsewhere, so you’re it!  How about your neighbors that may need help?  Are there seniors with mobility needs?  How about families with infants or special needs children.  I covered this in an earlier column about mapping your neighborhood.  If you have done all that, then you already know who will need assistance.

Along the way check the homes that have natural gas or propane. Inspect the control valves just in case there are any leaks. This is exactly why all the literature tells you not to light matches or candles following an earthquake and why they tell you to keep a wrench handy.

One more thought;  An old saying about keeping your head while all around you others are losing theirs, is wisdom worth having.  You can train yourself not to panic, your survival depends on it.  The survival of others may well depend on your ability to keep your head about you.  Determining now what action to take when the occasion arises will save time and quite possibly the lives of your neighbors when the time comes. As always you may contact me for comments or questions at disasterprep.dave@gmail.com.

16 During An Earthquake

During An Earthquake

A recent 6.0 earthquake off our coast is being viewed as either practice for the “Big One” or a stress reliever for our ever-moving tectonic plates.  We have previously explored what to do in preparation for an earthquake.  In this installment we’re going to learn what to do during a seismic event.  As I’ve mentioned earlier, most Oregonians are unfamiliar  with earthquakes and as a result, we don’t know how to behave during a seismic event.

Indoors.  The approved technique here is DROP, COVER and HOLD ON.  My instinct always told me that if I were inside a building, I should GET OUT!  Wrong.  More people are killed by falling building debris than being crushed by pancaked buildings.  So DROP to the floor so you don’t get knocked down by the violent shaking.  Get under something solid like a strong table or desk, that’s the COVER part.  If there’s nothing to get under, cover your head and face and HOLD ON until the shaking stops.  

Stay away from glass, windows, outside doors and walls and anything that fall. If you’re in bed, stay there.  Protect yourself with your pillow unless you are under a heavy light fixture or fan that could fall.  In that case move out of harm’s way.  And don’t go jump in the bathtub, that’s the wrong disaster.  That’s for tornadoes.    Doorways are a good refuge if you know they are a good solid, load-bearing doorway, and if they are close by.  Don’t go running around trying to find a protective doorway.  More injuries occur when people are looking for a sheltered spot than if they had just dropped to the floor to ride out the event.

Outdoors.  If you’re outdoors, stay there.  Move away from trees, power lines and anything that could potentially fall on you.  Ground movement is seldom the cause of fatalities, rather falling debris from collapsing buildings, shattered, flying glass and other falling objects are the biggest killers.

In a moving vehicle.   Stop as soon as possible.  Stay in the vehicle.  Avoid overpasses, stopping under or beside buildings, bridges, utility wires and trees.  

Don’t take time trying to decide what to do when it happens.  Make up your mind right now what you’re going to do, and when the shaking starts, do it!  The anatomy of an earthquake is such that  you must act quickly to stay safe.  Shed your normalcy bias and be ready to respond when you feel lthe first shake.  Doing so will provide leadership to those around you, minimize your own chance of injury and quite possibly save the life of someone else.  As always, if you have questions or comments you may contact me at disasterprep.dave@gmail.com.

15 Normalcy Bias

Normalcy Bias

        I recently came across a term that relates directly to disaster preparedness.  Normalcy bias.  Before I go any farther, I want to offer a disclaimer.  I am not a psychologist, although I have been known to try (as an amateur) to get inside someone’s head from time to time. I’m totally unqualified to comment on, analyze or otherwise complain about anyone’s behavior.  However, that never stopped any of us.
Normalcy bias is defined by Wikipedia as the state of mind people enter when faced with a disaster.  It causes people to underestimate both the possibility of a disaster occurring and its possible effects. This often results in situations where people fail to adequately prepare for a disaster, and on a larger scale, the failure of governments to include the populace in its disaster preparations. The assumption that is made in the case of the normalcy bias is that since a disaster never has occurred, then it never will.
Normalcy bias refers to our natural reactions when facing a crisis that since something has never happened to me before, then it never will. It is human nature. Having a strong normalcy bias will prevent someone from preparing or planning for a disaster.  Think ostrich-like behavior.
Like a teenager with a fresh drivers license.  He has never had an accident, so therefore it won’t happen to him.  The normalcy bias often results in unnecessary deaths in disaster situations. When Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans a few years ago, the government, at all levels, waited far too long to respond.  Even as it became clear that the levee system was not going to work, tens of thousands of people stayed in their homes, directly in the line of the oncoming waves of water. People had never seen things get this bad before... so they simply didn't believe it could happen. As a result, nearly 2,000 residents died.The lack of preparation for disasters often leads to inadequate shelter, supplies, and evacuation plans. Even when all these things are in place, individuals with a normalcy bias often refuse to leave their homes. Studies show that more than 70% of people check with others before deciding to evacuate.
As Barton Biggs reports in his book, Wealth, War, and Wisdom: "By the end of 1935, 100,000 Jews had left Germany, but 450,000 still remained. Wealthy Jewish families kept thinking and hoping that the worst was over.” This is one of the most tragic examples of the devastating effects of the "normalcy bias" the world has ever seen.
Perhaps the very first survival skill that someone could have is eliminating their normalcy bias. The realization that your comfort zone can change, and change rapidly, is the first step towards being adaptable. It is impossible to think about or plan for disaster if your mind cannot accept that it could actually happen.
As always, you may direct your comments and questions to disasterprep.dave@gmail.com.

14 Fear Factor

The Fear Factor

        I always wear my seat belt.  I wear a helmet when I ride a motorcycle.  Most of us have learned that these things are in our best interest, just in case something goes wrong.  I do these things because in the event of an accident I am protected.  I do not wear them out of fear, but out of wisdom.  An ancient Hebrew proverb says, “A wise man foresees trouble and plans for it.  A fool goes on blindly and suffers the consequences.”
        If you make preparations out of fear, then you’re going to a lot of effort for the wrong reasons.  Several months back we held a Disaster Preparedness class at our church.  About 25 people attended.  At the class we discussed being prepared, having a kit, making a plan and being informed.  Among the topics discussed was the probability of an earthquake off the coast followed by a tsunami and the impact such an event would have on our region.          One of the attendees was a young mom who went home, grabbed her kids and pitched a tent out in a field near her house for fear of an earthquake leveling her home in the night.  That’s not exactly what we had in mind when we scheduled the class.
        The point is, get your kit together but not out of fear.  Make your plans and preparations out of wisdom so that when things do go wrong you will be better off than others.  You will be in a position to extend help to your neighbors rather than being a victim.
        I recently read an article in The World newspaper headlined, “Deputies rescue two motorists stuck in snow.”  It seems that this couple (Mensa candidates, I’m sure) was on a Forest Service road near Bend when they became stuck.  After trying to get unstuck, the guy takes off on foot for help.  Eventually the woman gets worried and dials 911.  He gets very cold after walking about three miles, turns around and goes back to the vehicle.  The story has a happy ending as searchers find them in their vehicle that same evening.  Now get this, a Deputy Sheriff reports that the man was wearing tennis shoes, jeans and a T-shirt.  Huh?
        Ok let’s analyze this.  Number one, if they have cell service why didn’t they just call for help to begin with?  And secondly, a T-shirt?!  Are you kidding me?  Don’t you think that if you are going to be out in the hills playing in the snow you might at least have a sweatshirt or jacket?   After all you could get stuck and have to walk out.  Not many of the canyons and gullies in our area have cell phone coverage.  At least he did have the presence of mind to get back to the vehicle, but overall I’d give him a “D” minus in survival sense.
        As always, if you have any comments or questions you may email me at disasterprep.dave@gmail.com.

13 Documenting Your Evacuation

Documenting your Evacuation

In the last installment, we discussed evacuating in the event things go very wrong and your home is no longer a safe place.  Just recently several families had to evacuate out of Mapleton and the Mohawk area in Eugene because of flood conditions.  In our own county, residents of Allegany were both isolated and evacuated.  Remember we are all only a major weather event away from being an evacuee.  
Several people locally were stranded in their homes by high water for up to four days or more, (including one of my employees).  Many were without power, thus underscoring what I’ve been saying all along, “Get A Kit, Make a Plan, and Be Informed.”  When you stay informed, you know when the creek is rising, when the wind is going to blow and how to prepare.  For those of us who have been around a while, we know which roads are going to flood and how to navigate around the problem areas.  Ranchers know when to get their livestock to high ground and schools know when to send the kids home.  Early pioneers learned their lessons the hard way.  The first settlers built their new town in the flat below what is now Myrtle Point.  After being flooded out three years in a row they decided to abandon the flood plain and build on the point of land above the river.  There must have been a stand of Myrtle trees nearby, because the new city eventually came to be called Myrtle Point.

Back to evacuation.  As I hinted in the last installment, “Prior planning prevents people yelling at each other.”   Ok well maybe that’s only partly true, but prior planning does diminish the energetic conversations when the evacuation is in progress.  One of the areas that is sometimes overlooked is that of document preservation.  The documents that people most resent losing are understandably their photographs. Second are vital records such as marriage certificates, birth certificates and other documents that are difficult to replace especially if government services are somehow restricted.  Lastly bills, insurance records, and bank statements.  If you need a list, send me an email (see e-dress at the end of this column) and I’ll forward a comprehensive list to you.  Free of charge.

There are two primary ways to preserve all of this.  First gather all your photos and other documents you want to save, go to somebody with access to a Xerox copier and have everything copied.  At this point you may want to visit a notary public and have certain documents notarized. Then bundle up your high-quality copies and put them in a safe place.  One suggestion is to mail them (via the United States Postal Service, of course) to a relative or trusted friend that lives out of the area.  

The second method is somewhat more hi-tech and requires a computer,scanner and flash drive. Scan your documents and save them on your flash drive, or use one of the online “cloud” technologies available for free.  If all this hi-tech stuff raises your anxiety level, then refer to the above paragraph.

I suggest you have fun with your preparations.  Make it a family affair.  In the event you ever need to use your preps your chances of survival are greatly increased.  As always, if you have questions or comments you may email me at disasterprep.dave@gmail.com.  

12 Earthquake Prep

Earthquake Prep

Most Oregonians have never experienced a severe earthquake.  If you’re a transplanted Californian you may be an old hand at surviving shakers but your native neighbors are, for the most part, uninitiated.  I remember a few mild tremors some years back, but nothing that could qualify as severe.  Here are some things I’ve learned.  First of all if it is on a shelf and breakable, it will be on the floor and broken.  If it is vertical and heavy, like a book case or tall filing cabinet, it will tip over.  If it can make a mess, it will.
Earthquakes have proved to be impossible to predict with accuracy.  Because most of the school buildings in Oregon are nearly 50 years old, they weren’t designed with earthquakes in mind.  In fact, one study showed that many schools in the state were 100 per cent likely to collapse in a big earthquake.  
The Myrtle Point School District was just awarded a $1.5 million grant to reinforce the high school building against seismic activity.  Government agencies, schools and municipalities are all taking the threat seriously.  Even moderate quakes have the power to kill people.  An older building with a brick facade only needs a minor shaking to bring down the bricks.  Most of the people killed in recent years by earthquakes in the northwest have been struck by falling bricks.  
Injuries inside the building happen when knick-knacks, china or glassware on display become missiles during an earthquake.  If you display such items in your home it is a good idea to get some sticky craft putty from a craft store and secure those potential projectiles to the shelf.  
Another hazard is that big bookshelf or china hutch, both are heavy enough to cause injury by falling on someone.  Using plumber’s metal tape, secure tall, heavy items to the wall to keep them from falling over.
Then there’s fire.  During the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, fires caused more damage than the quake.  Gas and water lines ruptured, a spark ignited the gas and because there was no water to fight the blaze, the fires burned unchallenged.  This is why all the disaster prep lists tell you to keep a wrench handy for shutting off the gas.  For the same reason it’s a good idea to keep a fire extinguisher handy.  Most insurance companies in Oregon have stopped offering earthquake policies.  If your home catches fire as a result of an earthquake, your insurance won’t cover it.  If you can get an earthquake policy, the premiums are high and so is the deductible.  As a result, most Oregonians don’t have earthquake coverage.
As destructive as earthquakes can be, and as unpredictable as they are, it is still possible to minimize the negative effects with some simple precautions.  As always, if you have questions or comments you may contact me at disasterprep.dave@gmail.com.  

11 Evacuation

Evacuation

Those who prowl the websites, forums and blogs of other preppers will find an entire subculture of otherwise normal people.  People who have elevated disaster preparedness to a science or an alternative lifestyle.  Terms such as “bugging-out” or “T.E.O.T.W.A.W.K.I.” are common lingo.  Discussions about firearms, pickup loads of ammo and fortified hidey-holes somewhere in the mountains are concepts routinely bandied about.  
Bugging out is also referred to as evacuating.  (You remember that from watching all those reruns of M.A.S.H.)  T.E.O.T.W.A.W.K.I. is short for “The End Of The World As We Know It.”  Evacuation is only necessary when it is imminently likely that your humble abode will no longer be “abode-able”.  Maybe your house is on fire, maybe there is a wildfire on the way, or maybe Hurricane Katrina is bearing down on you.  Or as some experienced  just recently, the rains have swollen the streams to the point where your home is in imminent flood danger and you are ordered to evacuate.
T.E.O.T.W.A.W.K.I. can occur through natural disaster, economic or societal meltdown, coronal mass ejections (solar storms) or simply the expiration of the Mayan calendar.  
Some experts suggest the need for three evacuation plans.  A 60 second plan, a one hour plan and a twelve hour plan.  So let’s pretend you wake in the middle of the night with the smell of smoke in your house.  After much panic, screaming and frantic rushing about, (not to mention R-rated language) you get your family and pets out of the house, hopefully without injury.  That’s an example of the need for a 60 second plan.  I have a theory that  the panic and screaming factor will be reduced in direct correlation to how much you planning you have done.  

On the other hand if the authorities tell you a wildfire is headed your way or the flood waters are rising and you have one hour to get out, you still need a plan.  Again, more planning equals less panic and screaming, which equals less stress on the marriage. What to take, what to leave behind, who to notify and oh yes, where to go.  When considering where to go, consider this, there is a term for someone who leaves their home with hopes of escaping to some unknown place of ‘better-ness’.  They’re called refugees.  

The 12 hour plan is also known as the “Just in Case” plan.  “C’mon honey lets gas up  the car, and stock up on toilet paper, just in case.”  This also gives you time to sit down make a list, (if you don’t already have one) empty the fridge, unplug your big screen TV, your computer and even flip the master breaker switch on your panel.   But then those things should already be in your plan.  All in all, we can diminish the damage from a natural disaster and better our chances of survival by simply taking some time to “Make a Plan.”

Next time we’ll talk about getting your vital documents scanned and stored safely.  As always if you have any questions or comments you may contact me at disasterprep.dave@gmail.com

10 Now Where Did I Put That?

Now Where Did I Put That?   #10

Twice now I have been asked, “Where do I put my stuff?”  We go to a lot of effort to gather our disaster kit.  And now that we have it all together, ready for any emergency  where do we store it?  Ideally we’d all have a storage pod that’s burglar, fire and earthquake-proof.  Situated somewhere handy, secure, temperature controlled, but out of the way.
I mentioned a while back that during an emergency, we sometimes don’t think as clearly as when nobody is screaming.  If your house is on fire, it’s best to have a pre-arranged meeting place and alternate routes to get out of the house.  If this is all decided ahead of time, then when the need arises, people won’t need to be told what to do.  My point is if your kit is scattered throughout the house, then you’ll have to stop and think about where you’ve put all your stuff.  For that reason it’s best to keep it all in one place.  Trying to round up your emergency gear in the middle of chaos is just that, chaos.  I recommend you start with a couple of big totes then find a place for them.  Which brings us to the next question.  Where?  In the basement?  The attic? The storage shed?
Those choices may all be correct depending on your personal circumstances.  Or not, depending on circumstances.  In the event of an earthquake, it might not be a good idea to store your kit in the basement.  Some items, mostly foodstuffs, recommend storage in a cool, dry environment.  
One person I know bought a surplus military communications “cube”.  It is six feet square, designed to house military radio gear and to be hauled in the back of a pickup.  He remodeled the inside to organize his kit.  It is weather tight and portable.
If you own an RV, you already have your cooking apparatus, probably some pots and pans and other supplies.  In the event you’d need to evacuate you wouldn’t have to round up all your gear.  It’s already in one place.
For the rest of us we need to find the best possible place that would keep our gear safe and accessible.  It is impossible to plan for every contingency, but every home has a ‘best’ spot for storing your kit.  Make it a family project, get some suggestions, do some brainstorming and I’ll bet you can come up with the best location in your home to store your supplies.  If you come up with a unique or interesting location to store your kit, email me at disasterprep.dave@gmail.com.

9 Making a List

Making a List, Checking it Twice

Seems like most folks I talk with about disaster prep sooner or later ask for a list.  At that point in the conversation I usually do one of two things.  I tell them to just imagine not being able to go to the store for a long period of time.  What would you need to get by?  It’s a little like planning a camping trip, what are you going to need?  Make a list then lay in some supplies that would see you through most emergencies.  The other option is to refer them to www.ready.gov or www.redcross.org.  Both websites have excellent lists and suggestions for getting your kit together.  
But for those who need that list right now, here’s a good starter:
1.  Water-at least a gallon per day per person.
2.  Food-a three day supply of non-perishable food, (more is even better)
3.  Radio-battery powered or hand-crank and a NOAA weather radio.  Batteries for both
4.  Flashlight and extra batteries (lots of batteries, and don’t forget bulbs).
5.  First aid kit.
6.  Whistle-to signal for help
7.  Moist towelettes, five gallon cans and garbage bags for sanitation purposes.  (Eeeew)  The term “bucket seat” takes on a whole new meaning.

The list can go on, but don’t forget things like duct tape, zip ties, a wrench for shutting off the natural gas or propane, plastic sheeting, some cash, extra medications, and vitamins.  This would be a good time to sit down with the family and brainstorm.  

It is best to get a couple of totes and keep all your stuff in one place.  Things like matches, candles, flashlights, batteries, some fuel canisters for your Coleman stove, and don’t forget a hand-crank can opener.  I know from experience that kits tend to ‘grow’ as you accumulate more essential items.  Vitally essential items, you understand..  

Your list is going to be different than your neighbor’s.  Their needs and priorities are different than yours.  The needs of seniors will be different from the family that has an infant or children in the house.  Also your home list is going to look differently than your “get home bag”.  That’s the one you carry in your car to get you through an emergency if you happen to be away from home when disaster strikes.

If you’re at a loss as to what to add to your list, there are dozens of websites that are eager to sell you a kit.  Click your way to their site and go over the list of contents in their kits.  You will get good ideas on what to put in your own kit.  

Next time we’ll discuss some of the gadgets on the market.  As always, if you have questions or comments you may contact me at disasterprep.dave@gmail.com

8 Make A Plan

Disaster Prep #8

Make a Plan

The theme for disaster preparedness nationwide is, “Get a Kit, Make a Plan, Be Informed.”  We have discussed the “Get A Kit” part, now lets “Make A Plan”.  We all remember fire drills from our school days.  Everybody knew exactly where to go and how to get there.  There was no standing around discussing what to do.  We didn’t vote on our options nor did we argue, we had been trained and if there ever had been a fire, we had a plan.  For that reason deaths from school structure fires are extremely rare in the U.S.  Likewise we should plan for our personal emergencies as well.

When planning what to do in the event of a disaster, we need to identify the types of hazards we may face in our region.  Here on the Oregon coast, it is unlikely (although not entirely out of the question) that we will be hit by a tornado.  Likewise hurricanes and winter blizzards are for the folks in other parts of the country.  We could have severe winter wind and rain storms, some flooding, or the big concern, earthquake followed by a tsunami.  While it is impossible to plan for every contingency, it is possible to make general plans.  

The military knows that when the shooting starts, soldiers don’t necessarily panic, but they don’t think as clearly as usual.  When the pressure is on, soldiers rely on their training.  Same thing happens with the rest of us in an emergency.  If we have a plan we can move decisively and save precious seconds, possibly saving lives.

Discuss with your family what to do if the house is on fire.  What steps would you take to re-unite your family if you are shopping in another city while the kids are at school and a disaster happens. If it is impossible to get back home do the kids know what to do?  Is there a friend who can step up and take care of your little ones until you can get home?

How about if the roads are flooded unexpectedly and the buses can’t get your students home?  Do you know the School District’s policy regarding natural disasters?  If not, take a look at your child’s student handbook and familiarize yourself with the policy.

Not only do you need to plan for various contingencies, but plan for various locations.  You will plan differently for your workplace than if you’re at home.  When the twin towers were hit on 9/11 many stood around discussing what to do.  Consequently lives were lost because of wasted time.  Have a plan and if you need to use it, act quickly, as in RIGHT NOW!

While we’re planning, don’t forget to plan for your pets.  One of the lessons learned in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina was that pets are often neglected in the chaos of a disaster.  It doesn’t hurt to have some extra dog food on hand.  Extra meds if needed.  

So do some “what if” thinking about various scenarios and see what you come up with.  Remember a failure to plan is a plan to fail.  As always you may contact me with questions or comments at disasterprep.dave@gmail.com

7 Generators

When the lights go out

       
        I am always impressed at how well our electricity stays on, especially during some of our big wind storms.  But we all know that every so often, our power goes out for one reason or another.  A transformer blows, a tree comes down across a line somewhere, or a drunk driver takes out a power pole.  Whatever the reason, we are sometimes left in the dark.  That’s when we grab a flashlight, start looking for those candles and drag out the Coleman lantern.
        That’s also when we walk into a darkened room and out of habit flip the light switch.  Then we feel just a wee bit silly and hope nobody else noticed.  Admit it, we’ve all done it.  I thought so.
        So let’s talk about emergency generators.  Should you buy one, which one do you need?  Can you justify the expense? How much gasoline should you store?  Here’s my take on the subject.  I own a generator, but I don’t consider it a long term solution.  Three or four days maybe a week at the most.  The reason?  They require fuel.  Most are gasoline powered; some are propane, some diesel and some even use natural gas. But few of us can, or are willing, to store up that much gasoline.  For short-term use, a generator can mean the difference between keeping your fridge running or throwing out a bunch of spoiled food.  It can also supply electricity to pump water out of your well.
        If you make the decision to buy a generator, here are some things to keep in mind.  Consider the wattage output. How many watts do you need?  If you buy a 4000 watt unit, what can you expect that it will power up?  Here’s a little table to help:
                                Starting wattage                     Running wattage
Refrigerator               1600                                     200
TV  (tube)                 300                                       300
TV (flat screen)         190                                       190
Coffee maker            600                                       600
Dishwasher (cool dry)540                                          216
Clothes washer          1200                                   1200
Dryer                       6750                                 5400  (requires 240 volt)
Water Heater           4500                                 4500  (requires 240 volt)
        Much more information is available online, but you get the idea.  You can’t expect to power up your entire home on a 4000 watt generator.
        Now a couple of things not to do with a generator.  Don’t leave it running in an enclosed area, like your attached garage or back porch or basement.  The reason?  Carbon monoxide will kill you.  Secondly, some ingenious types have figured out that if you wire a male plug to both ends of an extension cord, you can plug into any outlet and power up your house.  This is a bad idea for several reasons.  You could overload your generator and possibly burn it out, you could heat up your electrical circuits causing a fire hazard and most importantly it is a danger to utility workers.  When a worker is repairing a line he thinks is dead and Harry Homeowner has plugged a generator into the system it will energize the line he is working on.  I’m no electrician but I’m told when 240 volts passes backwards through the transformer into the power grid, it becomes 24,000 volts.  My numbers may not be accurate, but the principle is correct. Understandably utility companies really frown on this practice.  Don’t do it!
        Do your research, shop around and use some common sense.  As always if you have any questions or comments you may email me at disasterprep.dave@gmail.com      
       

6 Water

Water

The Red Cross (www.redcross.org) and FEMA (www.ready.gov) are two of the best disaster preparedness online resources.  Both websites urge the public to “Get a kit, make a plan, and be informed.”  The first item mentioned on both websites, under “get a kit” is water.  Both organizations recommend storing a gallon per day per person for a three day period.  Let me see, there are five people living at my house, three times five times three comes to... a lot of water.  In fact the Red Cross says that the three day supply is only in the event you have to evacuate.  For home purposes, you should have a two week supply on hand.
In reality, we can go several days without food, but water is essential to our existence.  Without water we don’t last very long.  Clean, pure drinking water is a must.  We seem to have an abundance of water in our area most of the year.  However I can recall in recent history that both Powers and Coquille have issued “boil your drinking water” orders to their city water consumers.  Even this past summer in Myrtle Point many of us stopped drinking city water because of an objectionable odor.  
There are two primary ways to purify water: boiling and adding bleach. If tap water is unsafe because of water contamination (from floods, streams or lakes), boiling is the best method.  Cloudy water should be filtered before boiling or adding bleach. Filter your water using coffee filters, paper towels, cheese cloth or a cotton plug in a funnel.
Boiling is the safest way to purify water.  Bring the water to a rolling boil for one minute then let the water cool before drinking.
If boiling is not possible, treat the water by adding liquid household bleach, such as Clorox or Purex. Household bleach is typically between 5 percent and 6 percent chlorine. Avoid using bleaches that contain perfumes, dyes and other additives. Be sure to read the label.
Place the water (filtered, if necessary) in a clean container. Use basically ⅛ teaspoon of bleach per gallon of water  up to ¼ teaspoon if cloudy or very cold.  Mix thoroughly  and allow to stand for at least 30 minutes before using (60 minutes if the water is cloudy or very cold). More information is available on the State of Washington, Department of Health website.
Personally I own a water filter that requires no electricity.  It works with a ceramic filter system and strains out all the harmful bacteria.  It even filters out objectionable odors as I found out this summer.  It is available online from British Berkefeld.  Another option is one developed by the Texas Baptist Men's Water Ministry, who take their filter into areas recovering from a disaster.  Check it out at www.monolithic.com.  It is built from two five gallon plastic buckets with ceramic filters.  You can even make your own.  Buy the components and drill the appropriate holes in the buckets and bingo, instant water filter.  I highly recommend that every home have a filter of some type to purify drinking water.  Even if for no other reason than it smells nasty.  
As always, if you have questions or comments you may email me at disasterprep.dave@gmail.com.  

5 The REAL First Responders

The REAL First Responders

“They” are always there.  Pick up your phone in any emergency, dial 9-1-1 and you get a response.  They are the first ones on the scene.  That’s why they’re called “First Responders.”  Whether its the Fire Department, Police, Sheriff’s Deputies, State Police or Ambulance (EMS) personnel, we have learned to rely on their dedication, professionalism and faithful attendance to our emergency needs.
But what if, just what if you dial that number and nobody responds?  In the event of a disaster, “they” are going to have their hands full and your emergency is going to take a low priority.  If you can get through at all.  That’s why your neighbors are your REAL first responders.  All across the country neighborhoods are forming N.E.P.P. groups (Neighborhood Emergency Preparedness Plan). Using a technique known as “mapping your neighborhood,” neighborhoods are getting organized, inventorying their skills, equipment and their demographics.  
This is not another government-sponsored program.  This is a grass-roots, community based effort designed to bring people together.  For example are there seniors in your neighborhood who will need assistance in the event of a disaster?  Which of your neighbors has infants, toddlers or possibly special needs children?  Who has plumbing or electrical skills?  Who can run a chain saw (everyone in Oregon) or who has access to a backhoe?  Mapping your neighborhood documents all of this.  Which of your neighbors has natural gas that may need to be shut off in the event of an earthquake?  Where are the propane tanks located?  Which ones are handicapped? Is anyone insulin-dependent?  Their insulin will need to be refrigerated.  Anyone on oxygen?  Mapping your neighborhood will create an inventory of all these matters and will save lives in the event of a disaster.  
The need is for people to get involved.  If you’ve ever wanted to do something of significance for your community short of running for public office, here’s your chance.  This will require someone in each neighborhood contacting your neighbors to bring them together for this endeavor.  If this interests you and you’d like more information you can contact the local emergency services coordinator.  They will be happy to provide you with the information you need to get started.
As always if you have any disaster preparedness questions or comments you may email me at disasterprep.dave@gmail.com.

4. Gettin' Home

Getting Home

I read somewhere that “The best kit, is the one you have with you.”  We can have our homes prepared to the max, but if we aren’t home when disaster strikes, it does us little good.  It was November 18, 1996.  I was at work at the Post Office in Langlois.  As I recall, it was raining when I got up that day, but by mid-morning it really began to rain, in earnest.  Along with the rain high winds swept in off the ocean and before long we had one of the most vicious storms I had seen.  The rain-swollen streams began to sweep all manner of debris along with the water and soon clogged culverts, flooding the roads.  By mid-afternoon it was apparent there was no let-up and I began to hear reports that Highway 101 may close down. I live in Myrtle Point and I use a stretch of Highway 101 to get home.  After I closed the post office  and started home, I made it as far as Bradley Lake Road, four miles south of Bandon before ODOT  turned me around.  I had no choice but to head back to Langlois and prepare to spend the night.  I had previously stashed a sleeping bag, a shaving kit and a few cans of non-perishable food at the post office.  
I stopped by the Langlois Market to get some more groceries, Lee Pestana, owner of the market asked if I was going to be able to get home.  Lee invited me to bunk in at his house that night.  In fact, he wouldn’t take no for answer.  We cooked a batch of spaghetti for dinner and later when the crew from Bandon Power showed up, we cooked dinner for them.  My point is that I wasn’t completely unprepared, although I was pleased I didn’t have to spend the night on the floor of the post office.
If I had my way, any disaster would take place while my family and I are comfortably at home.  But we can’t schedule storms or earthquakes, the reality is now I work in Bandon and spend eight or more hours a day in my office there.  My wife spends all day at her job in Coos Bay.  The likelihood of at least one of us being stranded away from home in an emergency is very good.  So let’s play a game of “Let’s Pretend.”  If you were stranded in another city during a disaster, would you have what you need with you to get by?  And oh by the way, all the stores are closed and the ATMs won’t work because the power is out.
If you ask most people, “What would you do if you were in another city during an emergency?”  Most people would say, “I’d get home as soon as possible.”   Have you considered that you just might not be able to get home?  Trees, power poles, power lines, building debris, massive traffic jam with everybody else trying to do the same thing, bridges out,  and roads flooded are all realistic reasons why your best option may be to sit it out for a few hours.  If the emergency is an earthquake, make sure you’re out of the tsunami zone and sit tight.  If you have your kit with you, you’re good.
So what’s in a kit?  Everyone’s kit will look different depending on your specific needs.  We all have the same four basic needs:  (1) food, (2) water, (3) shelter, and (4) security. (Maslow’s hierarchy of need notwithstanding.)  Good, strong walking shoes are a must, if you take some kind of maintenance medication, then you should have your meds with you, at least three or four days worth.  It’s called a “Get Home Bag”.  Yours will look different than mine, but water, food and shelter are the basics.  Some extra clothes, but the shoes you wear to work are probably not the ones you want to wear to walk any distance.  Get a bag, get started and just imagine what you’d do if you were stranded some distance from home.  As always you may email your questions or comments to disasterprep.dave@gmail.com.

3. Earthquake

Earthquake!  Not If, but When

No conversation about disaster preparedness would be complete without mentioning earthquakes.  Historically we are visited by a major offshore seismic event every 300-600 years.  There have been many quakes in Oregon in recent history, but the last notable quake to strike our region was in 1700.  The general consensus among geologists is that it’s not a matter of ‘if’ it happens again, but rather a matter of ‘when’.

Major earthquakes out in the ocean generate tsunamis.  Everyone remembers the December quake a few years back when the ensuing tsunami struck Southeast Asia, then again the Japanese earthquake on March 11, 2011 followed up by the relentless destruction of a tsunami.  So if the experts are right, we can expect a tsunami-generating quake off the coast at any moment.

Communities along the coast are in significant danger depending on the size and location of the quake.  Every coastal city in Oregon has taken the matter seriously by installing tsunami warning systems, safe centers and signs pointing to escape routes. Experts believe this is not a matter to be taken lightly.

Aside from the initial damage, there are two major problems I see when it comes to quakes.  First, electrical power will be interrupted for a lengthy period of time, shutting down most banking and retail stores.  Secondly, roads and bridges will be impassable based on the strength and location of the seismic event.  Next time you drive out of the area, count the bridges that will require inspection following a quake before ODOT will allow their use.  Also count the ‘cuts’ in the hillsides that may liquefy and block the road.  Not only will we be isolated and restricted from traveling to the outside, but any efforts to be resupplied will be severely restricted due to impassable roads.  

In regards to communications, you can plan on your landline phones to be down for a time.  Depending on whether or not the cell phone towers and fiber optic cables remain intact, we may or may not have cell service.  While I’m on the topic of cell phones;  In the event of any disaster, take a hint from the kids and use your texting function.  Sending a text message uses less ‘space’ on the system and greatly increases the chance of your message getting through.  ‘Voice’ messages will often get a recording, “Sorry all circuits are busy, please try your call again later.”  Not what you want to hear when trying to connect with your family.  If you don’t know how to text on your cell phone, just ask the nearest kid.  

FEMA and the Red Cross have always advised us to have food and supplies to last 72 hours, no wait, seven days, even better, 14 days.   So you get your kit together, and you’ve got some peace of mind.  That winter storm can come and you’ve got no worries, an earthquake can strike and your chances of survival are greatly increased.  So what happens if you aren’t home when disaster strikes?  Check back in with me next time when we discuss getting home. As always you may email me with your questions and comments at disasterprep.dave@gmail.com.

2 What's On The Menu?

Disaster Preparedness For The Rest Of Us

What’s On The Menu

We were having one of our winter storms.  I was at work in Bandon when my wife called and announced that the power had gone out and wanted to know where I had stored our camp stove. It was in my shop and I told her how to find it.
A short time later, I received another phone call, this one with a bit more volume behind it, if you know what I mean.  She found the stove was right where I said it was.  What I had neglected to warn her of, you see, was that there were at least two killer mice living inside the box where it was stored.  (I seriously did not know this ahead of time, really!)  As she described it, both mice ran down her arm and escaped into the nether regions of my shop.  But not before doing irreparable damage to her mouse-aphobia.  You can imagine her delight as she related the story.  That was about when I asked if the mice were ok...but that’s another story.
Arriving home, I fully expected to dine on canned chili or beef stew.  Much to my surprise she had fixed pork chops, mashed potatoes, gravy and vegetables for dinner that night.  
Not all ‘survival’ meals are going to measure up to that one.  But with a little planning and not a whole lot of extra expense, you can build up a decent pantry to draw from during a disaster.  
About this time I know you’re thinking, “I’ll just go to the store and get what I need after the lights go out.”  That’s a little like trying to buy car insurance after the accident.  You can expect there will be a run on the store, experts believe most stores will be emptied out within four hours, and in the event of a major earthquake, we can expect to go several days, possibly weeks before our local stores are resupplied.
Now is a good time to mention that if all the power in the region is out, you won’t be able to rely on your debit card to cover your purchases.  It’s likely the grocery stores will have generator power to keep their refrigerated inventory cold, but if the banks are all shut down no one is going to honor your plastic.  Stores may be operating on a cash-only basis.  So it’s a good idea to have a bit of cash set aside to cover expenses under those conditions.  How much cash you keep on hand is up to you and your budget.
Now when you’re stocking up, it’s a good idea to buy things that you can prepare just by mixing with hot water.  Soups are a good choice, especially in colder weather.  If you think about it, most power outages come in the middle of a wind-rain storm.  Ideal soup weather!  Kids love Ramen noodles, they’re not all that nutritious, but they’re inexpensive and easy to fix.
Secondly, buy foods that you are accustomed to eating.  There is no benefit to throwing your body into a gastric crisis because you suddenly have only MREs to eat.  (MRE:
Meals, Ready to Eat, used by the military when out in the field, away from a ‘real’ mess hall.)  Or you have only stocked up on freeze-dried backpacking fare without ever trying one out. You are already in a stressful situation, your body knows it and it will revolt if you suddenly switch your diet.  
I’ve given you plenty to think about this week, but the next time you go grocery shopping, grab a couple of items to set aside for that very rainy day.  If you have questions or comments you may email me at disasterprep.dave@gmail.com