C.O.O.P.

Everybody likes to poke fun at the government, especially the post office. I have worked for the Postal Service for over 30 years and have heard all the horror stories, complaints and “suggestions.” And yes, I admit, we do make mistakes, but we also do lots of things right. One of the things we do well is keeping the mail moving when nothing else seems to be.

When Hurricane Katrina simply wiped some post offices off their

foundations and filled others with water and debris, the Postal Service was one of the very first agencies to respond quickly and get the mail moving in areas where other government services were paralyzed for days, and in some cases, weeks.

Each year every postmaster is required to complete a Continuation Of Operations Plan (C.O.O.P.). This plan lists the personnel who are capable of providing leadership in an emergency, establishes an alternate post office in the area if your local office is somehow rendered unusable, and forges a plan to keep the mail flowing as much as possible.

For those of us on the South Coast of Oregon, keeping the mail moving to and from the region will depend on the bridges remaining in service and the roads being open, which in the event of an earthquake may or may not be realistic. The experts tell us a major quake will isolate us for several weeks due to closed roads and bridges. That will affect the trucks which transport our mail as well. Limited mail service could possibly be handled by airplane or helicopter until the roads are again made passable.

While I’m on the topic, your grocer’s trucks won’t be able to get through either. Experience in other areas has taught us that grocery store shelves empty out within hours of a major event. I’m not here to scare you, but you really do need to be putting aside some groceries.

For those who receive medication by mail, this is another matter to consider. Connecting with your doctor to arrange an extra supply of needed prescriptions would be something you may want to discuss on your next visit.

Back to C.O.O.P., if you own a business, do you have a plan to continue operations without power? If an event happens during mid-workday and your employees can’t get home, is your workplace set up to provide for their needs until they can get home? I realize this is taking the conversation to a higher level, but if you’re serious about being ready, these are questions you need to ask yourself. This would be a good topic of discussion for your next staff meeting. Asking, and finding answers for, the hard questions now will lessen some of the hard decisions you may have to make when the time comes.

As always, contact me with questions or comments at disasterprep.dave@gmail.com.  

More Tips For Seniors

    The topic of Disaster Preparedness seems to resonate more with Seniors than with the younger set, partly because of vulnerability due to special age-related issues.  Many Seniors live alone and some are dealing with mobility issues.  Yet most have developed a wisdom that often accompanies gray hair that something bad CAN happen because they have lived through at least one disastrous event in their lives.

    The mantra of “Get A Kit, Make A Plan, and Be Informed” still applies to the mature crowd and there are many low cost-things Seniors can buy and no-cost plans they can make to avoid that feeling of helplessness and despair.

    In my humble opinion, the single most important thing anyone can do to prepare for a disaster is to organize their neighborhood.  And it doesn’t cost a cent!  Contacting your neighbors, especially fellow Seniors can build a sense of community and camaraderie along with an assurance no one need to face adversity alone.  Introduce the topic at the Senior Center, or your church group or the quilting group.  Collaborating on projects can not only bring some peace of mind, but just may bring some new friends into your life.

    According to the American Red Cross it is still your responsibility to know what to do when disaster strikes.  Remember, the first responders are going to be overwhelmed and Y.O.Y.O.  (You’re On Your Own).

First thing to do is gather enough supplies to get by for several days without going to the store.  In the event of an earthquake, the stores will sell out within hours and there will be nothing to buy anyway.  If you live in a location that requires evacuation, you will want to store your supplies in totes that have wheels.  Easier to move that way.  

    If you require a cane, walker or wheelchair, be sure to label it with your name, address and phone number just in case you and your equipment get separated.  

    Remember to rotate your supplies.  Keep an eye on the “best if used by” dates.  Then simply rotate your stored supplies into everyday use.  Also shift your batteries, medications and other perishable items before they expire.  Keep in mind you may want to stock up on certain medications.  Most doctors are sympathetic to your needs regarding planning for disaster and are willing to cooperate by prescribing most maintenance medications in advance.  The difficult thing here is to get your insurance to get on board with that concept. So any advance preparations you make in that regard may have to come out of your own pocket.  Then be sure to take special care to mind the expiration dates on your meds.  I’m told that most medication doesn’t actually “go bad” but it does tend to lose its potency and effectiveness over time.  Also try to see your way clear to pick up an extra pair of eyeglasses.  Some of us have enough trouble keeping track of our glasses even without a disaster, so adding a pair of drugstore “cheaters” to our kit just might not be a bad idea either.

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

Seasoned Preppers

    One of the most vulnerable groups is that of our “seasoned citizens.”  Whether it’s mobility issues, health concerns or just simply the “alone factor,”  our seniors often have different needs than the younger crowd.  

    This week’s column is provided especially for our seniors although the information is just as relevant for the post-boomer generation as well.  As I have mentioned before, when disaster occurs, the first responders are overwhelmed.  Y.O.Y.O then becomes a reality.  (You’re On Your Own).   The American Red Cross recommends you create a Personal Support Network made up of several folks who will check in on you, ensure your wellness and give assistance if needed.  This network can consist of friends, roommates, family members, relatives, personal attendants, co-workers and neighbors. Ideally, a minimum of three people can be identified at each location where you regularly spend time, for example at work, home, or volunteer site.

    There are seven (7) important items to discuss and implement with a personal support network:

1.  Make arrangements, prior to an emergency, for your support network to immediately check on you after a disaster and, if needed, offer assistance.

2.  Exchange important keys.

3.  Show them where you keep emergency supplies.

4.  Share copies of your relevant emergency documents, evacuation plans and emergency health information card.

5.  Agree on and practice methods of contacting each other in the event of an emergency.  Do not count on the telephones working.  (Dave’s note:  Check out FRS radios or consider sharing the cost of a goTenna with someone.  www.gotenna.com.)

6.  You and your network should always notify each other when you’re going to be out of town and when you will return.

7.  The relationship should be mutual.  You have a lot to contribute!  Learn about each other’s needs and how to help each other in an emergency.  You can even collaborate on making preparations to be ready for a disaster.  

The single most important thing anyone can do to prepare for a disaster is to organize their neighborhood.  And it doesn’t cost a cent!  Contacting your neighbors, especially fellow Seniors can build a sense of community and camaraderie along with an assurance that no one need to face adversity alone.  Introduce the topic at the Senior Center, or your church group or the quilting group.  Collaborating on projects can not only bring some peace of mind, but just may bring some new friends into your life.

Keep in mind you may want to stock up on certain medications.  Most doctors are sympathetic to your needs regarding planning for disaster and are willing to cooperate by prescribing most maintenance medications in advance.  The difficult thing here is to get your insurance to get on board with that concept. So any advance preparations you make in that regard may have to come out of your own pocket.  Then be sure to take special care to mind the expiration dates on your meds.  Also try to see your way clear to pick up an extra pair of eyeglasses.  Finally, some of us have enough trouble keeping track of our glasses even without a disaster, so adding a pair of drugstore “cheaters” to your kit just might not be a bad idea.

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

Sprouts

    Fresh vegetables can be a rarity in the event of a disaster.  When supply lines are disrupted, the foods we take for granted could be in very short supply.  Many have already set aside non-perishable food to eat when the stores are empty. However fresh vegetables may be another matter.  Thousands of folks plant a vegetable garden every year to raise their own vegetables.  Some do it as a hobby and some as a matter of necessity.  Either way the experts tell us home-grown veggies are better tasting and in most cases, better for us.  Obviously gardening is a long-term project not to be rolled out the day after a disaster with the expectation of a ready food supply.

    Recently I was reminded of a process our ancestors used, later adopted by the back-to-the land folks of the 60’s and 70’s.  Sprouts.  Sprouts have long been celebrated for their healthy properties, and more recently for their ability to treat certain kinds of cancers, high cholesterol, even arteriosclerosis and certain cardiovascular disease.  Some studies even indicate that sprouts protect us from the ongoing effects of aging.

    I was given a partial bag of lentils and a few simple instructions.  “Put two tablespoons of lentils in a quart Mason jar.  Cover with water overnight then rinse a couple of times every day.”

It has been almost a week and my sprouts are nearly filling the (wide-mouth) Mason jar.  Some sources say to cover the opening with cheese cloth or plastic mesh  to facilitate the rinsing and draining process.  I cut a piece of hardware cloth to fit inside the jar ring.  I have learned that plastic screen is preferable to metal, but the metal seems to be working at this point.  

There are several on-line sources of information as well as sprout kits available for purchase. Plenty of places on the internet offer sprout kits.  Costs run from $3.31 for a set of plastic sprouting jar lids to $55.00 or more for a full-on kit including organic seeds and full-on instruction book.   Most grocery stores offer a selection of sprouting seeds located somewhere near the produce section.  Some popular seeds include lentils, alfalfa, sunflower, mung beans, radish, clover and soybean.  Experimentation will prove your favorites, although I’m told the biggest sprouts come from the mung beans.   

So whether you are intrigued by a little science experiment in your kitchen (with benefits) or you need to get some edible greens in a short amount of time you might consider growing sprouts.  One more tool to add to your kit.  After all skills and knowledge are more important than stuff.  Stuff is good, but skills are better.

As always, send your comments, questions (and sprout hints) to disasterprep.dave@gmail.com.     

The Good (and Careful) Samaritan

    Last winter a killer blizzard struck the eastern part of our nation.  The stories of heroism, survival and human kindness make me proud of mankind.  Time after time motorists stopped to lend a helping hand to someone who was stranded.  Some towed another out of a snow-filled ditch.  Others left hot coffee and sandwiches for complete strangers while they waited for the roads to clear.  

    Then there are the stories of tragic consequence as a result of insane behavior.  According to Fox News, a 26 year old man stopped to help another man whose car had spun off the road and into the ditch in the midst of the storm.  As the Good Samaritan approached the stricken vehicle and offered assistance, the driver became belligerent and ultimately pulled a gun and shot and killed the Samaritan.  

       No, I will not allow this report to deter me from stopping to help someone in distress. I realize this is an extreme, isolated case and most folks are more than happy to receive assistance.   

    The news report goes on to say that the person who had lost control was under the influence of alcohol and by the time the S.W.A.T. team arrived, they found him passed out. He is now facing a murder charge.  This is a situation all too familiar to police officers and EMS personnel.  When contact is made, the first responders never know if the person is high on drugs or booze or just having a bad day.  Possibly the person just had a serious battle with his spouse and is in a dangerously precarious state of mind.  The police are trained and equipped to handle these guys so they don’t back away..

    My advice:  If you stop to render assistance and the victim doesn’t seem “quite right.”  Back away, and call the professionals.  They may take a while to get there, but at least you’ll be alive to tell the story to your kids when you get home.

    When there is a disaster, whether a snow storm, hurricane, tornado or earthquake, there will always be victims and heroes.  The victim is trapped under debris or in a ditch, while the hero is there for the rescue.  Victims are usually dealing with a huge fear factor and every first responder and ER nurse will tell you, “scared people behave badly.”  Disasters bring out the worst AND best in people.  The tragedy is compounded when the hero is injured or killed trying to help someone.  

    We all need help from time to time and even more so when there’s a disaster.  There is a need to pull together and lend a helping hand.  There are always risks involved, listen to your gut, if it tells you something doesn’t feel right or something’s wrong, back off.  

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

Paracord

Duct tape, zip ties, WD-40 and flat black spray paint are all basics for any tool kit.  Bug-out bags have their basics as well.  Water, filter, fire-starter, extra meds, paracord… Wait, what’s paracord.  Almost any prepper worth her salt knows that there are times when things just need to be secured or you just may need a few feet of line.  More and more folks are discovering the versatility of paracord.

Originally used in the suspension lines of parachutes, it is commonly known as 550 cord or 550 paracord referring to the nominal breaking strength.  Most paracord is described as a nylon kernmantle rope which is made up of nylon strands braided around an inner core for strength.  These strands can be unravelled to make sewing thread, dental floss or even fishing line.  Also now available is “fire cord.”  One of the inner strands is made from jute and some is impregnated with a flammable accelerant.  So in time of emergency, unravel your cord, pull out the center filament and strike it with your fire starter. Bingo instant fire.  

A quick search on the internet shows paracord used in firefighters escaping the second floor of a burning building.  Another story reports an emergency snow shoe repair in arctic backcountry.  There is even a wildland firefighter replacing a melted shoelace with paracord.  So how is it all these people have their paracord so handy you ask?  Survival bracelets braided from paracord.  Just do an internet search for paracord and probably the first thing that pops up is a wide selection of survival bracelets.  Braided from twelve feet or more of paracord a survival bracelet is almost required gear for backpackers, outdoorsmen, firefighters, police officers and EMS personnel.  They come in all sorts of colors and some even have useful items integrated into the design.   Mine has a whistle and a fire striker built in to go along with the fire cord core.  Some also have a small compass and even a built in thermometer .  

The idea is if you are ever in a situation where you need a rope or heavy string, simply unravel your braided paracord bracelet and you suddenly have several feet of usable shoelace or rescue rope or even firestarter.  And the designs aren’t just limited to bracelets.  How about a key fob or lanyard or rifle sling?  All these and more are available for purchase online, but if you’re a do-it-yourselfer you can make your own.  Even Wal-mart sells a kit with all the starter supplies and a step-by-step instruction book.  Bulk paracord is easily available and can be used to hoist your food supplies off the ground when camping, securing your tent if the regular tent ropes aren’t up to the task or if you’re really in a survival situation, making a snare to catch something to eat.

Bracelets come in all kinds of themes. All branches of the military are represented along with most colleges (yes I even found one to celebrate the University of Oregon Ducks).   They come in camo, pink camo, and every conceivable color combination you can imagine.  So now you have one more item to add to your get-home/bug out bag.  Paracord.  Not expensive, but priceless if you need it.

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