Welcome

This blog has grown out of my weekly newspaper column. Enjoy.
A prudent person forsees danger and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences. Proverbs 22:3 (NLT)

Monday, December 31, 2012


Building Your Kit
Week 5
        According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (F.E.M.A.) and the Red Cross, the mantra for disaster preparedness is:  Get A Kit, Make A Plan, and Be Informed.  Trust me when I say that survival is not a kit.  Knowledge is more important than “stuff.” Preparedness and survival is all about a plan, your kit is simply a big part of your plan.  I must admit that building a kit is more fun than making a plan, but it is all about a balanced approach to coming out ahead in the event of a disaster.
        For the past few weeks, I have been providing a shopping list and a list of tips for building a 72 hour kit.  I firmly believe a 72 hour kit is only a good start.  Your plan should be to extend your kit to a fourteen day supply as most disasters don’t know to stop at 72 hours.
After seven weeks, those who participate will have a well-rounded starter kit that should see them through most emergencies.  Because we all have different needs, everyone’s kit will be different.  Some of us have babies in the house, so those families will want to stock up on infants’ things, others will have folks with special needs and those requirements must be considered as you build your kit and make your plan.  For those reasons, I don’t recommend buying one of the kits on the market, as they will probably not meet your family’s complete needs during an actual emergency.
        Shopping list for Week Five:
1.     Gloves.  Latex or non/latex, plus a good pair of work gloves.
2.     Paper plates, cups and utensils
3.     Canned vegetables, soup/stew.
4.     Toilet paper (lots) and paper towels.
5.     Travel sizes of personal hygiene items, dental care, soap, feminine care, deodorant, etc.
6.     Disinfectant wipes.
7.     Supplies for baby, elderly or special needs.
Tips for Week Five
Select an emergency contact person residing out of the area for family members to contact in case they are separated.  Sometimes it’s easier to connect a phone call out of the area than it is locally.
Keep a copy of this seven week list in your car when you go shopping.  Check off items as you go.
Make sure that all adults and teens in your household know how to shut off water and utilities.
Never use a portable generator in an enclosed area.  Follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
  Clean, pure drinking water may be in short supply during an emergency.  For a free set of plans to build a water filtration system send me an email.  You may also send your comments and questions to disasterprep.dave@gmail.com.  

Tuesday, December 25, 2012


Bit by Bit Building a Kit
Part 4


        This is part four in a seven-part series on building your own 72 hour emergency kit.  By way of review, nearly everyone agrees that we should be prepared to ride out a disaster.  Some folks are unsure how to go about being prepared, what to do, what to buy and how to proceed.  For the past few weeks I have presented a list of items to buy and some tips on what to do to get ready.  At the end of seven weeks you will have a fully stocked 72 hour kit and will be prepared to face most disasters.  I actually encourage having a 14 day kit, because some disasters don’t know they’re only supposed to last for 72 hours.   In the case of our area, some predict a massive earthquake.  When an earthquake of that magnitude occurs, it may be weeks before stores can be restocked as roads leading to and from our region may be closed.
Things to buy Week Four:
1.      Disposable camera with flash for documenting damage.  While I’m on the topic of photographic documentation, now would be a good time to get a video inventory of your home and its contents.  If you have a video camera, simply walk through your house and give a running commentary on your possessions, value and when purchased.  Invaluable
2.     Utility knife and/or scissors.  This is separate from the scissors in your first-aid kit.  These are for heavy-duty cutting.  Hundreds of uses for sharp cutting instruments.
3.     Heavy duty trash bags
4.     Matches in waterproof container.  Be sure to get the “strike anywhere” style.  Matches are like duct tape and zip-ties, you can never have too many.
5.     Sanitizing wipes.  Good for cleaning things other than the baby’s bottom; like your hands, face and elsewhere!
6.     Extra set of car and house keys.  Store them in a secure location away from your primary residence.
7.     Fruit, canned or snack-pack.

Tips:
Begin thinking about packing a “go bag” with a condensed version of your home emergency kit in case you need to relocate temporarily.
Stay in the habit of keeping your gas tank half full and keeping your cell phone charged.
If you need to evacuate, be sure to remember your car phone charger.  Better yet, get an extra and carry it in your glove box.
As always send your comments and questions to disasterprep.dave@gmail.com.  

Monday, December 17, 2012


Building Your Kit
Part 3

This is part three in a seven-part series on building your kit.  It seems that lots of folks don’t know where to start or what items to include in their kit.  I advocate sitting down with your family and make a list of what you would need if you couldn’t go to the store or get to the bank for several days.  Then go to work and bit by bit, build your kit.  It can be a fun family project that has an added benefit of offering a greater piece of mind when a disaster does strike.
Building a kit following this seven-part, piece by piece plan will give you the basics.  You will have a 72 hour kit.  It is my experience that most kits expand over time and eventually you will want to have a 14 day kit on hand, but this is a good beginning.
Things to buy for Week Three:
1.  Dust filter masks.  Look for the ones rated “N95”, they are designed to keep out airborne dust, pollen and possibly protection from disease.
2.  Whistle to signal for help.
3.  Finish buying water, at least one gallon per person per day.
4.  Cash.  Set aside as much as you can reasonably afford.  Small bills are best.  During a widespread power outage your debit card is of no value.  Neither is the money you have stashed in a savings account.  
5.  Make copies of your important family documents.  You can scan them to a flash drive and store in either a “go bag” or other safe location away from your home.  These documents may include copies of insurance policies, deeds, passports, birth certificates and titles to your vehicles.
6.  Regular, unscented, household bleach for purifying water.  Also pick up an eyedropper.  Experts recommend 16 drops of bleach to purify one gallon of water.
7.  Juice.  Get the single-servings as refrigeration may not be available
8.  Nutrition/high energy bars
Tips;
Plan and discuss how you would evacuate your home in the event of a sudden emergency.
Tap water may need to be purified with bleach in the event of a disaster.  Consider purchasing or building a stand-alone water filter.  (Email me for a free set of plans to build a filter.)  
Plan to have at least one can of meat or meat entree for each family member per day.
Select two places to meet with your family after an emergency or disaster-one near your home and one outside of your neighborhood in case its not safe to return.
As always, send your comments or questions to disasterprep.dave@gmail.com.  

Wednesday, December 12, 2012


Building Your Kit  Part 2

Last week we survived our first major storm of the winter.  Winds in the 100 mph range were recorded in various places along the coast.  Heavy rains brought flooding in the low-lying areas with no major problems.  I did see one dairy cow either swimming or wading in deep water away from the barn.  Electricity outages were limited although power fluctuations caused havoc with computers in several offices.  I also noted several trees and branches blown down along my morning commute.  The fallen trees simply underscore the need to drive a bit slower during and immediately after a windstorm.  Coming around a blind corner and facing a tree across your lane of traffic is an adrenalin-pumping eye-opener in the early morning darkness.
Also last week, I addressed the question of, “How do I get started building my kit?”  Truly some folks are simply overwhelmed by the task.  “What do I buy?  How much do I need? Where do I store my kit?” are all questions commonly asked.  Each week for seven weeks I will create a list of items to buy and things to do. After seven weeks, if you follow the steps, you will have created a kit capable of getting you through the first three days of most disasters.  My recommendation is that you keep building on your own until you have a minimum of 14 days’ supplies, but this is a great start.
Week Two shopping list:  
1.  Manual can opener.  
2.  First aid kit.  Should start with gauze and bandages, tweezers, scissors and antiseptic ointment.  Add some hydrogen peroxide, alcohol, suture kit, the list is endless.
3. Airtight bags, storage containers and a permanent marker.  I find that both two gallon and five gallon buckets with lids are ideal for storage.  Use the marker to list the contents and the date.
4.  Extra prescription medications, eyeglasses and contact lens solutions.  Collaborate with your doctor on this one.  He (or she) will probably be sympathetic once you explain why you need extras.  Your insurance provider may not be as sympathetic, but you might work with your pharmacy on this one.  
5.  Bring home another gallon of water.
6.  Non-perishable food.  Start with a few cans of meat, fruits, some peanut butter and crackers.  Try to stick with food that you are accustomed to eating.
7.  Plastic sheeting, tarp and duct tape.  
Tips for Week Two:
1. Collect your supplies in one place.  When the lights are out and confusion reigns, it is just simpler when your kit is together.
2.  Consider having two kits.  One at home and one in your car.  Not everyone is at home when disaster strikes.  There is a multitude of kits on the market, but it is still best to build your own.
3.  Rotate your stock of food, water, medicines and batteries every six months to ensure freshness.
As always, send your comments or questions to disasterprep.dave@gmail.com.  

Thursday, December 6, 2012


Kit Building

Lets revisit the motto:  Get a kit, make a plan, be informed.  I get comments nearly every day about this column.  Most everyone is positive and say they enjoy the information.  When I ask whether or not they’re actually doing the stuff, quite often they admit that they know they should, but just haven’t gotten started yet.  Both F.E.M.A and the Red Cross recommend having a 72 hour emergency kit.  That is having enough supplies and equipment to get you through three days without electricity, water or trips to the store.  Just for the record I think 72 hours is a good start, but a 14 day kit is even better.  Maybe we should ask the folks back east who just survived Hurricane/Superstorm Sandy if they think 72 hours is enough.  
One of the concerns I often hear is, “I’m just not sure where to begin.”  So beginning today, for the next seven weeks I will be posting a step-by-step kit-building plan.  At the end of the seven weeks, if you follow the steps, you will have a kit that will get you through the first 72 hours of most disasters.  Not only will you will have a kit, but you will have a plan in place that will increase your family’s chances of survival.  Keep in mind it is my experience that kits naturally grow because once you begin you keep finding essentials that you just can’t live without.  So lets get started.
Things to purchase Week 1:
1. A battery-powered radio, one with a N.O.A.A. weather channel and extra batteries.
2. Flashlights or battery powered lanterns (with extra batteries, of course)  Avoid using candles because of the fire hazard.
3. Water to last three days.  At least one gallon per person per day.  Start with one gallon this week.
Tips for Week 1:
1. Start with these items that emergency responders consider the most critical to getting you through the first 72 hours until basic services may be restored.
2. Don’t be overwhelmed by a huge list of items.  I’ve identified the most important things.  Just buy a few items each week for seven weeks and you will be prepared for the most likely emergencies in our area.
3. Commercially bottled water is recommended to ensure safety.  Replace before “use by” date expires.
I suggest you keep your kit in one general location.  That way, when the power is out, you won’t be running around in the dark searching for your stuff.  Every household is different and each house has a ‘best,’ if not ideal spot for your emergency kit.  If you have a container in which to store your gear, all the better.  One friend of mine uses an old ice chest for certain essentials.  But most any good quality “tote” will suffice.  As always send your questions and comments to disasterprep.dave@gmail.com.