Ready Kids

None of us would consider going on any kind of road trip without a spare tire.  Few women would entertain leaving the house without their purse.  Just in case.  If you are low on Band-Aids at your house, you stock up, just in case.  Yet often the same people can’t see the need to prepare for a disaster, just in case.  Go figure.  

A really great resource is our own Coos County Emergency Management website.  Click on  the “Fun For Kids” link.  It will take you to FEMA’s preparedness page designed for kids.  There are games, exercises puzzles and even a scavenger hunt to get the kids involved in being prepared.  Every child needs their own kit and this will help include them in the conversation.  Kids like to be a part of what’s going on with preparations.  To them it’s like getting ready to go camping.  In fact when you do go camping, take their kit along as a sort of shake-down cruise to see whether or not you’ve missed anything.  Each child should have their own backpack with extra clothes, flashlight, games, and other items they would need in the event of a disaster.  Use your judgement in supplying age-appropriate items such as a pocket knife, hatchet or fire-starting implements.  And remember to keep it positive!  Do your best to keep out the fear-factor. Keep in mind you don’t have a spare tire because you’re afraid, you have it “just in case.”

       Hardly a day goes by without someone asking me whether or not I watch “Disaster Preppers.”  (I don’t happen to have the National Geographic channel in my satellite TV package. Yet.) I am aware of it and have watched a few episodes on YouTube.  The thing that strikes me is not only are they obsessive, but they are all afraid of a particular disastrous event.  Some choose coronal mass ejections (solar storms), some are afraid of economic collapse, and some have picked nuclear holocaust as their disaster of choice. It seems that they have “picked one” and planned entirely around that event.  Some of the information is excellent, but keeping it balanced is definitely not in their plan.  Just my humble opinion.  
       Another link on the Coos County Emergency Management site is the “Are You Ready” booklet.  This booklet is free, and designed to let you print your own copy.  I mentioned this resource a few weeks back, but it contains a disaster supplies calendar including a shopping list and a “to-do” list for each week.  It will give you a starting point and keep you on track for being prepared in six months.

As always contact me with your questions or comments atdisasterprep.dave@gmail.com.  

Severe Weather Planning

As the seasons change and we seem to be working our way out of the rainy season, I find myself breathing easier.  And though adverse conditions are always a possibility, the hazards seem to lessen this time of year. (Of course the fact that I’m writing this after one of the most beautiful Spring days we’ve had so far has nothing to do with my optimism!) But it’s also the time of year when the rest of the country has worries about tornadoes, hurricanes and hailstones the size of golf balls and bigger.

For us it may be time to take a look at our emergency kit.  If you stocked up on jerky a few months ago, or if cheese crackers are a part of your get home bag (like mine) then you may want to rotate your supplies.  Check for freshness or vermin or just make sure that the dates are current on your canned goods.  If not then it’s time to move those items to the front of the shelf and re-stock with fresh.  I use a vacuum food sealer to store some items (not just food) to keep them dry and dust-free.  I have found that sometimes the seals come undone, so be sure to double-check those items and re-seal the ones that need it.  
Check your emergency water supply.  Those 2 ½ gallon jugs with the built-in spigot are really handy for short-term use, camping and sliding in the refrigerator, but they tend to leak if you leave them in the closet for lengthy periods of time.  Personal sized water bottles are handy to have, but they too, need to be exchanged for fresh ones after a few months.
I rarely recommend gadgets and gizmos to purchase, but after you’ve saved up for your water filter, I suggest buying a NOAA (National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration) weather radio.  NOAA Weather Radio (NWR) is a nationwide network of radio stations broadcasting continuous weather information 24-7.   NWR also broadcasts warning and post-event information for all types of hazards – including natural (such as earthquakes or avalanches), environmental (such as chemical releases or oil spills), and public safety (such as AMBER alerts or 911 telephone outages).  Make sure it’s one that is battery powered.  There are also several that are solar, hand-cranked, and battery powered.  One for every budget. Shop around and find one that appeals to you.  
As always send your emails with comments or questions to disasterprep.dave@gmail.com

To Gun or Not To Gun

        I knew once I began the discussion on disaster preparedness, sooner or later the topic of guns would come up.  I have purposely avoided the subject because of strong feelings on both sides of the issue but the question has come up, so let’s take a look.
        The widely accepted opinion is that during times of disaster the police are overwhelmed.  Watching looters during race riots or Hurricane Katrina tells us that a certain element of society will run amok if it is obvious they can loot, pillage and burn with impunity.  An old axiom is, “When seconds count, the police are only minutes away!”  Considering this, many disaster preppers consider gun ownership as a vital part of their preparations.      
Let me say right up front I’m a gun owner.  I am a past member of the NRA and consider myself a recreational shooter.  As a former police officer, the firearm was simply a tool of the trade.  My family grew accustomed to seeing my duty belt (with loaded .357) hanging from the gun rack in our bedroom.  But then, not all families are accustomed to having firearms in the home.  Not only are they nervous around anything gun related, they are vehemently opposed to anything to do with a firearm.
        Gun ownership in the United States is at an all-time high.  More people are buying firearms now than at any time in our history.  At the same time, violent crimes including murder, rape and armed robbery are at a 30 year low!  Coincidence?   Author Robert Heinlein once wrote, “An armed society is a polite society."
        Attempting to determine how many people own firearms resulted in vague answers.  Nationwide, it is estimated the percentage of households owning firearms is somewhere between 39% and 50%.  I believe that the percentage in Southwestern Oregon is markedly higher.  Just a feeling I have.  Of course there are population pockets throughout the U.S. where gun ownership is believed to approach 100%.  A more exact statistic is in regard to concealed handgun licenses.  Coos County currently has on the books over 3800 permits.  With a county population of 63,000, 6% of our citizens are licensed to carry a concealed handgun.  Statewide there are nearly 147,000 concealed handgun licenses issued.
        How you choose to protect your family is your business.  The police will likely be unavailable during any significant emergency.  If your choice is to purchase a firearm, then that’s a decision you shouldn’t make lightly.  Do your research.  Get some training, get some more training, and practice safety!
        As always, send your questions or comments to disasterprep.dave@gmail.com.