Tune-Up Time

Every now and then it’s a great idea to “tune-up” your supplies.  A few weeks back I wrote about building a “Get Home Bag.”  Many preppers have a “Bug Out Bag” they keep stocked and ready to grab in the event they have to evacuate.  Mine is a “Get Home Bag” in case something happens when I’m away from home and need a few things with which to survive so I can get home.  In my case I usually have one or more of my grandkids along wherever I am and sooner or later one of them needs a Band-Aid, or a Tylenol (or similar pill) or I find myself using my flashlight or someone needs a knife.  You get the picture.  

Now would be a good time to bring your bag to the kitchen table, (tell your wife I said it was ok and that you’ll clean it all up right away) empty it out and go through your stuff.  Be on the lookout for jerky that’s way past it’s “best by” date, or stale crackers and any other food that is no longer edible for whatever reason.  Make a note to replenish and add to the food items you carry with you.  Check out those little packages of tuna and crackers the next time you’re at the store.  Some contain mayonnaise and even relish to mix and put on the crackers.  They’re a great snack and come in handy when the grandkids need a snack even when there’s no emergency.  Hey when a kid is hungry and you’re out somewhere, that IS an emergency!  I personally carry a couple cans of Spam in my bag.  Most of the American population goes into “Yuck!” mode when Spam is mentioned, but when sliced and fried, I convinced my kids it was “camping bacon”.   Some folks I met from New Zealand had purchased two cases of this delicacy and were shipping it home (at considerable expense) because they couldn’t get Spam at home. Don’t turn up your nose too quickly, it is protein and stores handily for a reasonable period of time.  

Then pick up a few extra Band-Aids and re-supply your First Aid kit. You DO have a First Aid kit don’t you?  Research shows that 44% of households in the U.S. don’t own a First Aid kit.   Make sure those little bags of gauze pads and other items are still sealed and not torn open or have otherwise lost their sterile integrity.  If your insect repellent is of the aerosol variety, check to insure it hasn’t all leaked out for some reason.  Consider buying the little pads that are just wiped on the skin.  They don’t take up as much room and aren’t as messy in the event something has accidentally pushed the button on the spray can.

Check your flashlight to make sure the batteries are good.  Consider carrying extras in your bag.  Seems like my flashlight gets used more often than any other item in my bag.  So I keep it handy and replace the batteries often.

Now check out your supplies inventory in the house.  Same thing goes, if you’ve “borrowed” from your toilet paper supply, restock. Make sure your supplies are bug-free, rodent-free, moisture-free and otherwise intact.  Your emergency lighting, cooking implements, and other equipment should be tested, cleaned and stored away in that special location until needed.  Sometimes peace of mind is as simple as a quick tune-up.

As always send your questions or comments to disasterprep.dave@gmail.com. 

Tsunami Tsafety

    Every city on the Oregon Coast has a tsunami warning system in place.    Officials in coastal communities have taken the threat of earthquake/tsunami seriously enough to create evacuation routes and a warning system designed to minimize casualties. Those little signs point the way to higher ground and safety from an incoming tsunami.  I’m always mildly amused by the sign that says, “Leaving Tsunami Zone.”  How do they know?  What if that sucker is two feet higher, or ten feet higher than their signpost?  Now I’m not privy to all of the scientific planning that went in to marking the zone, but I’m assuming that their data is solid and was attained through sound processes.  Just to be on the safe side, if I’m on the way out, running from a tsunami, I’m not stopping at that sign!

    Another thing not mentioned on the “evacuation route” signs is that if the anticipated earthquake is as severe as many think it will be, there is no way we can jump in our cars and simply drive our way to high ground.  Streets will be broken, bridges impassable, building debris is likely to cover the road, power poles and power lines will block streets and trees are apt to have fallen in inconvenient places.  More and more I’m hearing that folks are being instructed to “walk” to higher ground.  I’m thinking “run” is more like it, but some of us don’t run much anymore.  Not for very far anyway.  

    Also if you’re on the beach or at sea level and you feel the shaking of a quake, don’t wait for the siren.  That shaking is likely the only warning you will get.  Computer simulations have demonstrated that on January 26, 1700, when the last Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake stuck our coast, it is estimated that there was a 20 to 30 minute time period before the initial tsunami wave hit.  Geologic history has showed waves were at least as high as 30 feet and some believe much higher in places.  

    Another evacuation tactic is also being suggested: The concept of vertical evacuation.  That is, finding a sturdy building at least three stories high and climbing to at least the third story.  Again, if the building is higher, don't stop at the third floor.

     Whatever you do, DO NOT head for the beach to watch the action.  My friend Mongo, has an amazing webcam setup capable of capturing all the drama of  a tsunami.  Check out his website at www.bandon.tv.  He updates the site daily, and there is always a webcam pointed toward the ocean.  If you've ever had any inclination to ignore the above advice, just check out the videos on YouTube of the 2011 Japanese Tsunami.  Hopefully you will be convinced to act accordingly.

As always, if you have questions or comments, you may email me at disasterprep.dave@gmail.com. 

Wildfire Evacuation

    When it is no longer safe to live in your home, then it’s time to evacuate.  Some evacuations are middle-of-the-night, grab what you can and run because the water heater just set the house on fire.  But more often we think of evacuating in the face of a hurricane, tornado, or other cataclysmic event.  Then there are the times that you have a little more warning.  In past columns, I haven’t dwelt too much on evacuation because in our region, hurricanes and tornadoes are just not that common.  

    All that changed for several residents of Southern Oregon these past few weeks.  On Friday, July 26, some 311 lightning strikes ignited fires in Coos, Douglas and Josephine Counties. Within three days 3600 firefighters, 17 helicopters, 142 wildland fire engines, 22 bulldozers and 6 air tankers were on the scene, battling the scores of fires which have now grown to cover nearly 45,000 acres.

    According to officials, 470 homes were threatened and hundreds were ordered to evacuate their homes.  In Oregon, evacuation orders are issued by the County Sheriff, although the actual door-to-door work can be with the cooperation of the various agencies battling the fire.  

    Paul Ries, Public Information Officer with the Oregon Department of Forestry, gave me a rundown on how evacuations are handled.  When it comes to wildland fires, there are three levels of evacuation notices with which folks should be familiar.  Level 1 is to be ready.  Residents are encouraged to move livestock and pets out of the area.  Evacuation is voluntary at this point.  Level 2 Residents are ordered to leave soon!  Roads are usually closed and entry to evacuated areas may be denied.  Residents may have time to gather necessary items, but will do so at their own risk. A Level 3 notice is an order to leave immediately, that imminent danger exists and there is no time to gather personal belongings.

    According to Ries some were more “disaster-ready” than others.  Each family was told to consider the 5 “P’s” when making plans to evacuate.  The 5 “P’s” include People and Pets (and other livestock too), Papers (important documents), Prescriptions, including hearing aids, eyeglasses and your medications, Photographs, so your memories are preserved and last is your Personal Computer.  There is often invaluable, irreplaceable data on your hard drive.

    Of course, having a complete 72 hour kit at the ready is going to ease the task of what to take, but as always having a plan in place will eliminate a whole lot of confusion when the time comes to evacuate.  When you have a plan, the panic factor, not to mention the stress on the marriage, is greatly diminished.

    Miraculously, at this writing, there have been no homes lost and some families are being allowed back into their houses.  Residents were quick to praise the high level of professionalism of the various agencies and the manner in which each facet of the evacuations were carried out.  

    Get a Kit, Make a Plan, and Be Informed is still the theme for every disaster.  The best time to make ready is now, before the event.

    As always, send your comments and questions to disasterprep.dave@gmail.com.