tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30048243483474668162024-03-19T15:47:34.458-07:00Disaster Prep For The Rest Of Us Dave Robinson is a retired Postmaster, living in Myrtle Point, Oregon, with his wife, 2 grandchildren, a yellow lab named Bo and some cats. He is the author of “Disaster Prep For The Rest Of Us,” available at Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble.com and other online booksellers.
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10364557586173669827noreply@blogger.comBlogger178125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3004824348347466816.post-9283086585671115282019-01-09T20:43:00.001-08:002019-01-09T20:43:52.017-08:00<div dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-fe474ee5-7fff-c56b-f9a4-969c315fa0ca" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">J.I.T.</span></div>
<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In September 1976, Soviet Air Defense Command pilot, Lieutenant Viktor Belenko, flew his highly classified MiG 25 fighter jet to Japan, landed at an American Air Force Base, defected, and asked for asylum. Part of his acclimation to American culture was to allow him to travel alone randomly throughout the United States. One of the observations he made was everywhere he went, the grocery stores were full of fresh, healthy produce. Not rotting and unappetizing as he had experienced in his native country. He was certain American officials had predicted his moves, gone ahead of him and staged the “fake” displays just for his benefit. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 48px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Every few days we make a trip to the local grocery store. Under normal circumstances we make our purchases and fill our shopping lists with nary a thought about how all those items came to be so plentifully available for our needs. We want them and there they are! Simple as that. Unbeknownst to most of us, our grocer’s shelves are filled using a technology known as “Just In Time” inventory management. Commonly referred to in the business as, “J.I.T.” </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 48px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Excess inventory is a waste of company resources, (translated: costs go up), while too little inventory is damaging to customer confidence. “They NEVER have what I want!” </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 48px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To maintain that delicate balance of inventory, J.I.T. is maintained with a set of precise and delicate shipping schedules from a variety of vendors to keep our stores stocked so we consumers always get what we want. At the same time, the razor-thin profit margin is protected by this oh-so-fragile system we have taken for granted.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 48px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So let's pretend for a moment there is a glitch in the system. A major cataclysmic event notwithstanding, say an ice storm in a major city which serves our area. Highways are closed, trucks can’t get to the distribution points and our stores don’t get their inventory. Most retailers know if their J.I.T. schedule is interrupted, their shelves would empty in 3 to 5 days. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 48px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Just pretend you go to the store and notice some bare shelves. Your curiosity kicks in and you ask an employee what’s going on. “Oh our trucks can’t get here due to the ice storm and we don’t know when we’ll get more supplies! It may be two weeks or more.”</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 48px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You, being a rational person decide stocking up right now would be a very good idea. That is IF there’s anything left to stock up on! As soon as word gets around, panic buying soon follows!</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 48px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Past experiences show during imminent hurricanes, or major snowstorms, the stores clear out within 3 to 4 hours. Now factor in an earthquake in your region and let your imagination run. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 48px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In case you were wondering, there are no local, government warehouses stocked with emergency supplies set aside for our use during such an event. Even the food banks are dependent on donations from various sources, both public and private, but they are not equipped to provide for the needs of the general populace in an emergency. The only sure source of feeding your family is what you have on hand. If the J.I.T. infrastructure failed, how long before you are in deep trouble? </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 48px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The best thing you can do is begin now by setting aside some of the items your family uses anyway. Watch the sales. “Buy one get one” or BOGO sales are great for setting aside extra groceries. One “coupon” person emailed me several months ago and let me know she saved over $8,000.00 on their grocery bill over a year's time by “coupon-ing”, and a by-product was she accumulated a significant amount of groceries to be used in an emergency. Whichever method you choose to build your food supply, just do it! (Thanks Nike!) Before long you will have enough extra that if there indeed is an interruption in the supply chain, it will have minimal effect on you and your family.</span></div>
<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10364557586173669827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3004824348347466816.post-5792943371905199502019-01-07T18:17:00.000-08:002019-01-07T18:17:00.366-08:00<div dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-a44b88c6-7fff-5c37-1a76-165acac1cf6f" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Christmas Treasure</span></div>
<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now that the winter holidays and the mystery and excitement of Christmas gift giving is behind us, it’s time to settle into the New Year and get serious about all those new “resolutions” for which we always have such great intentions. I heard once that we judge ourselves by our intentions, but we rate others by their actions. If that’s the case, we always give ourselves high marks, even if we don’t keep those New Year’s resolutions.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As for the gifts, I find it humorous, prefered and altogether fitting to receive prepper-type gifts for Christmas. Back in the day when .22 ammo was less expensive, we routinely exchanged bricks of .22 shells for stocking stuffers. Even so, it was almost considered ho-hum. Then during the time when .22 ammo was completely unavailable, it lost the “ho-hum” factor and was highly prized. Although ammo is more readily available now than in the recent past, I don’t believe we had one single box of ammo given as a gift this year in our home. There was, however,no shortage of paracord, solar collectors, solar-powered lights, multi-tools, knives, LED flashlights and all other kinds of prepper-type stuff. Even a case of Mountain House freeze-dried food was gifted to one family member. So, for future reference, if you’re thinking of putting together a kit, find out what item your loved one is missing and fill the need. Can’t go wrong with prepper gear.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now for those New Year’s resolutions, and I can’t find anyone who still makes them anymore, so maybe I’m way out of vogue on this one. But if you’ve been thinking about building a kit, just in case, now’s your chance. Start small, but get a tote, cardboard box or a backpack and put in a few things, just in case. You can park it inside your closet, beside your front door, or even in your car’s trunk. Get a list of items and one by one, add to your kit. If you can’t find a list, email me and I’ll send you one. Just get started. If you drive one vehicle and your mate drives another, then get two backpacks. Here’s a hint: lapolicegear.com sells a really nice 3-day backpack for $42.99. It makes a great starter kit. If you’d rather keep things at home, pick up a nice large tote at your local hardware store and fill it with your necessities. That snap-on lid will keep vermin at bay. The point is: Do something! As time goes on and you accumulate supplies and gear, you’ll thank me. Not only that, your kit will grow and I predict this time next year, you’ll outgrow your backpack, or you’ll need two totes. And that’s a good thing.</span></div>
<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10364557586173669827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3004824348347466816.post-39117881568828996192019-01-07T18:11:00.001-08:002019-01-07T18:11:16.592-08:00<div dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-5ecd98cb-7fff-2388-1520-21e2670f962c" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Earthquake Wakeup</span></div>
<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 48px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Last week’s 7.0 earthquake in Anchorage, Alaska, should serve as a wake-up call. Those of us living on Oregon’s Coast know about the Cascadia Subduction Zone and the threat posed by it. Two tectonic plates, the Juan de Fuca and the Continental Plate are locked in a Sumo match about 60 to 90 miles off the coast of Vancouver Island, Washington, Oregon, and northern California. The experts say when those two plates finally slip, we will see an earthquake of the likes not seen in recent times. Predictions of 9.0 or better are common when the seismologists speak of the anticipated Cascadia quake.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 48px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Friends in the Anchorage area sent photos of their workshop. It looked like a hardware store dumped a truckload of merchandise on the floor. Other news photos show busted roads, store goods scattered and videos of teeth-rattling action. Consider the Anchorage quake registered 7.0 on the Richter scale and the amount of damage experienced was significant.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 48px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The most recent Cascadia quake occurred on January 26, 1700. There were no white men living in the Northwest at that time, therefore no one kept written records. There was, however an orphan tsunami in Japan which wiped out several fishing villages. The Japanese called it an orphan tsunami as there was no earthquake, hence no warning preceding the damage. Experts surmised an earthquake occurred elsewhere on the planet. Later they connected the dots and coupled with First-Nations lore handed down from one generation to the next, concluded the two were connected.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 48px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Core samples taken from estuaries up and down the Pacific Northwest coast tell a story of multiple earthquakes over the past 10,000 years. Over that period of time, the Pacific Northwest has experienced 41 subduction zone earthquakes. Divide 10,000 by 41 and the answer is 243. Two hundred forty-three years average between subduction zone earthquakes. With the most recent in January 1700, we’re due. Overdue in fact! We are now nearly 319 years into a 243-year cycle.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 48px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">According to Kathryn Schulz writing for New Yorker Magazine, “Twenty-two per cent of Oregon’s coastal population is sixty-five or older. Twenty-nine per cent of the state’s population is disabled, and that figure rises in many coastal counties.”</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 48px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Local authorities are quoted “We can’t save them, I’m not going to sugarcoat it and say, ‘Oh, yeah, we’ll go around and check on the elderly.’ No. We won’t.” Nor will anyone save the tourists. Washington State Park properties within the inundation zone see an average of seventeen thousand and twenty-nine guests a day. Oregon authorities estimate up to a hundred and fifty thousand people visit Oregon’s beaches on summer weekends. “Most of them won’t have a clue as to how to evacuate, and the beaches are the hardest place to evacuate from.”</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 48px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Schulz continues, “There are estimates that in the I-5 corridor it will take between one and three months after the earthquake to restore electricity, a month to a year to restore drinking water and sewer service, six months to a year to restore major highways, and eighteen months to restore health-care facilities. On the coast, those numbers go up. Whoever chooses or has no choice but to stay there will spend three to six months without electricity, one to three years without drinking water and sewage systems, and three or more years without hospitals. Those estimates do not apply to the tsunami-inundation zone, which will remain all but uninhabitable for years.”</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 48px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I never write to cause concern or fear, but to motivate folks to awareness and action. If a shocking analysis brings action, so be it. </span></div>
<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10364557586173669827noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3004824348347466816.post-66766361311724886532019-01-07T18:07:00.000-08:002019-01-07T18:07:05.429-08:00<div dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-06b7b551-7fff-3403-5b70-ecb7f7bbe520" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Rechargeables</span></div>
<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The evolution of technology has brought us from the age of the gas-pumping Coleman lantern, to the battery-powered emergency lights to rechargeables to solar powered gadgets. Companies like Goal Zero have raised the bar for emergency lighting when the grid is breached. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Rechargeables are one of my favorites because there are no worries about keeping fresh batteries on hand. Still there is a weakness. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 48px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I have a Black and Decker “Storm Station”. The rechargeable battery powers emergency lighting and even has a built-in inverter to provide 110 volt AC for small appliances (for a short time). The instructions said to plug it in, and when the need arises, you’ve got emergency power, light, even a built in AM/FM radio. Now to be fair, the radio runs off D cell batteries. The rest of the unit is powered by a rechargeable 12 volt battery. The problem is this; you plug it in and leave it for say, three or four years. Come time to use it, the battery is toast. The reason you bought it was to light your unlighted abode. And you’re still in the dark. Fortunately the problem is an easy fix. You take the unit apart, get the battery number, match it to one on Amazon and bingo, problem solved. Trouble is, that doesn’t help you in mid-disaster.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 48px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here’s what I propose. Plug in your rechargeable unit. Once fully charged, unplug it. After that, plug it in for a day or two at a time every 30 days. That will keep it topped off without burning out the battery. Then when the grid goes down, you’re golden. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 48px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I even rescued a new-looking rechargeable lantern from a trash can once, took it home, ordered a new battery and voila, it worked like new. Someone had bought it, plugged it in for a couple of years and tossed it when they thought it was somehow defective. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 48px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Earlier I mentioned Goal Zero. If you’re interested in buying your prepper a great, high quality gift, check out Goal Zero. From a solar-powered “crush light” ($19.95) to a 3000 watt portable power station, the Goal Zero Yeti is capable for powering up your refrigerator (for a limited time) and sells for a mere $2,399.99. Powered by A/C or solar panel, the rechargeable battery is rated at 3075 watt hours of storage and has no fewer than ten outlets including USB, 12-volt and 110 volt plug-ins, Goal Zero also offers a wide range of solar panels, both portable and stationary. There is a great selection of lighting items along with high-quality power banks and phone chargers. I have found their products to be well thought out and nicely designed for the prepper/survivalist. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 48px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The holiday season is upon us and between slick roads, winter weather and increased fire hazards in the home, it is your responsibility to stay safe and yet be prepared for any disaster. Now is a great time to check your battery supply and make sure your rechargeables are functioning.</span></div>
<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10364557586173669827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3004824348347466816.post-78272982025567404062019-01-07T18:02:00.001-08:002019-01-07T18:02:33.819-08:00<div dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-5c6e3ef0-7fff-6494-3c92-65b26ddfe3d8" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #b7b7b7; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Paradise Lost</span></div>
<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #b7b7b7; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #b7b7b7; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">An entire city in northern California has been evacuated because of wildfire. The City of Paradise, population 27,000, has been leveled by a late season fire. Churches, hospital, shopping mall, and hundreds of homes are flattened by flames. Six thousand firefighters and support personnel are on the scene while residents were evacuated to nearby cities and shelters. Named the Camp Fire, because of the originating location, no one really knows how the fire started, and has (at this writing) covered nearly 110,000 acres in the last three days. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #b7b7b7; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #b7b7b7; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dozens of heartbreaking videos of people racing to safety are posted on social media, documenting their panicked flight to get families out of harm's way. One survivor reported he only had time to grab his Bible and get out of his home. Others offer a tear-filled commentary on the damage and loss. At this time, 29 deaths are recorded in the northern California fire.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #b7b7b7; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #b7b7b7; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In February 2017, 120,000 people were evacuated from nearby the Oroville area when the Oroville Dam suffered a structural issue, threatening collapse. During the Oroville evacuation, thousands were forced to simply leave with no destination in mind. The term for that person is “refugee”. Others took time to make hotel reservations while yet others went to friends and relatives. Some with RVs simply found a place out of danger and set up camp until the all-clear was given.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #b7b7b7; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #b7b7b7; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This is a textbook example of the necessity of being prepared. If your family has a plan in place, a bag prepared and a destination, then an orderly evacuation can take place in very little time and you’re way ahead of the crowds. (And way less stress on the marriage, I might add.) Keep your panic-level down as your kids take their cues from their parents. When you freak out, they get panicked as well. If you’re cool, calm and collected (as much as you can be) then your offspring will manage better overall.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #b7b7b7; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #b7b7b7; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’m hearing on the news this fire was consuming, in extreme cases, one acre per second. That’s sixty acres per minute! If a fire is moving that quickly, there is no time for second-guessing, indecision or trying to decide whether to take the blue shirt or the brown shirt. Some of those decisions become very minor in importance when faced with a level three evacuation.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #b7b7b7; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #b7b7b7; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you’re not living in the area of any disaster right at the moment, I want to challenge you to do three things:</span></div>
<ol style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #b7b7b7; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 25.75px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #b7b7b7; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Say a prayer of thanks for keeping your family safe from some kind of major disaster.</span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #b7b7b7; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 25.75px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #b7b7b7; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Say a prayer for those who have been endangered, displaced or suffered loss from wildfire.</span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #b7b7b7; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 25.75px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #b7b7b7; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Gather your family around the table with a blank sheet of paper and make a plan. A plan that may save their lives should, heaven forbid, any calamity come your way.</span></div>
</li>
</ol>
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #b7b7b7; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; word-spacing: 0px;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #b7b7b7; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; word-spacing: 0px;">If you have no idea where to begin, send me an email and I will give you some resources to make the first steps. But first, check out my blog at </span><a href="http://www.disasterprepdave.blogspot.com/" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #b7b7b7; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">www.disasterprepdave.blogspot.com</span></a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #b7b7b7; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; word-spacing: 0px;">. </span><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10364557586173669827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3004824348347466816.post-10646730268395155072018-10-24T18:55:00.001-07:002018-10-24T18:55:09.714-07:00<div dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-274f2aca-7fff-5fa1-57de-b60ec729a110" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jump Starting Your Food Supply</span></div>
<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Whenever a person thinks of prepping, the first thing to come to mind is food. What to store, how much to store, how to store, and which store to go to? There are all kinds of food packages you can purchase. You can get a year’s supply of dehydrated or freeze-dried fare for $4,000 (Costco) or a 72 hour kit for one person at WalMart for $64.00.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This week I’m going to give you a list of items you can buy at your local grocery store, things you would probably have on hand anyway. The dehydrated kits you buy generally tout a 25-year shelf life. So the normal things you purchase, should be rotated out every few months or so. One rule of thumb when it comes to storing up food; buy food your body is accustomed to eating! During a disaster, your system will be on overload anyway, and there is no benefit to introducing a whole new menu to your gastric system in a time of crisis. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Some people lay in backpacking freeze-dried food to be eaten when the time comes. That is all well and good, unless you have never tried those entrees and you experience a revolt of sorts when you’re already stressed out anyway. Store up food to which your body is already accustomed! Or at least you know the kids will eat.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here’s the beginning of a shopping list: (The second half will come next week.)</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1. 20 lbs of rice. Rice seems pretty boring, but it is filling, nutritious and adaptable to a wide variety of entrees.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2. 20 lbs of pinto beans. Beans are also a valuable part of every storage plan. Combined with rice they fulfill a protein need in your menu.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">3. 20 cans of vegetables. Green beans, peas, corn and canned tomatoes are a good start. Buy what you already eat and enjoy.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">4. 20 cans of fruit. Peaches, pears, pineapple, fruit cocktail, all to your taste. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">5. 20 cans of meat. Chicken, tuna, shrimp, salmon, vienna sausages, beef stew and don’t forget Spam. Those square cans fit really well on the shelf and if it’s fried, you can make the kids believe it is “camping bacon.” It worked for my kids anyway. I even recently found some canned roast beef.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">6. 4 lbs of oats. A warm bowl of oatmeal can be a welcome meal any time of day. Topped with some canned fruit, it makes a refreshing treat.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">7. 2 (or more) large jars of peanut butter. A good source of protein and surprisingly filling. Tastes good too!</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">8. Pick up a supply of powdered drink mix. Tang, Crystal Light or similar product. Make sure it’s loaded with vitamin C.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">9. 5 lbs of powdered milk. It’s great protein and is loaded with other nutrients. It’s filling and can be used on that oatmeal as well.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">10. 5 lbs of salt. Salt is an essential for survival as well as a food enhancer. Our bodies need salt to survive.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You don’t need to fill this shopping list all at once. Watch for sales. Pay attention to the “buy one, get one” promotions. Use coupons. One reader told me she saved several thousand dollars in just one year by using coupons. At the same time she built a substantial pantry for use in a disaster. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As always, send your comments and questions to </span><a href="mailto:disasterprep.dave@gmail.com" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">disasterprep.dave@gmail.com</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Dave Robinson is the author of “Disaster Prep For The Rest Of Us,” available on Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble, and other online booksellers.</span></div>
<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10364557586173669827noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3004824348347466816.post-19700981801256497942018-10-21T18:51:00.001-07:002018-10-21T18:51:20.742-07:00<div dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-91137a8f-7fff-7ef3-af96-5afa3716d004" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jump Starting Your Food Supply</span></div>
<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Whenever a person thinks of prepping, the first thing to come to mind is food. What to store, how much to store, how to store, and which store to go to? There are all kinds of food packages you can purchase. You can get a year’s supply of dehydrated or freeze-dried fare for $4,000 (Costco) or a 72 hour kit for one person at WalMart for $64.00.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This week I’m going to give you a list of items you can buy at your local grocery store, things you would probably have on hand anyway. The dehydrated kits you buy generally tout a 25-year shelf life. So the normal things you purchase, should be rotated out every few months or so. One rule of thumb when it comes to storing up food; buy food your body is accustomed to eating! During a disaster, your system will be on overload anyway, and there is no benefit to introducing a whole new menu to your gastric system in a time of crisis. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Some people lay in backpacking freeze-dried food to be eaten when the time comes. That is all well and good, unless you have never tried those entrees and you experience a revolt of sorts when you’re already stressed out anyway. Store up food to which your body is already accustomed! Or at least you know the kids will eat.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here’s the beginning of a shopping list: (The second half will come next week.)</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1. 20 lbs of rice. Rice seems pretty boring, but it is filling, nutritious and adaptable to a wide variety of entrees.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2. 20 lbs of pinto beans. Beans are also a valuable part of every storage plan. Combined with rice they fulfill a protein need in your menu.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">3. 20 cans of vegetables. Green beans, peas, corn and canned tomatoes are a good start. Buy what you already eat and enjoy.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">4. 20 cans of fruit. Peaches, pears, pineapple, fruit cocktail, all to your taste. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">5. 20 cans of meat. Chicken, tuna, shrimp, salmon, vienna sausages, beef stew and don’t forget Spam. Those square cans fit really well on the shelf and if it’s fried, you can make the kids believe it is “camping bacon.” It worked for my kids anyway. I even recently found some canned roast beef.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">6. 4 lbs of oats. A warm bowl of oatmeal can be a welcome meal any time of day. Topped with some canned fruit, it makes a refreshing treat.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">7. 2 (or more) large jars of peanut butter. A good source of protein and surprisingly filling. Tastes good too!</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">8. Pick up a supply of powdered drink mix. Tang, Crystal Light or similar product. Make sure it’s loaded with vitamin C.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">9. 5 lbs of powdered milk. It’s great protein and is loaded with other nutrients. It’s filling and can be used on that oatmeal as well.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">10. 5 lbs of salt. Salt is an essential for survival as well as a food enhancer. Our bodies need salt to survive.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You don’t need to fill this shopping list all at once. Watch for sales. Pay attention to the “buy one, get one” promotions. Use coupons. One reader told me she saved several thousand dollars in just one year by using coupons. At the same time she built a substantial pantry for use in a disaster. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As always, send your comments and questions to </span><a href="mailto:disasterprep.dave@gmail.com" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">disasterprep.dave@gmail.com</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Dave Robinson is the author of “Disaster Prep For The Rest Of Us,” available on Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble, and other online booksellers.</span></div>
<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10364557586173669827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3004824348347466816.post-1697929637212960752018-10-19T20:33:00.002-07:002018-10-19T20:33:18.038-07:00<div dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-b42540ea-7fff-2f99-f557-b681cd506268" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bucket Kit</span></div>
<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Seems as though nearly every prepper has one problem in common. Where to store their supplies. Some folks use plastic totes, some use paper boxes and one solution I have found to meet most needs is the five-gallon plastic bucket. Available everywhere, they are waterproof, bug proof, dust proof, mouse proof and big enough to hold a decent amount of equipment and supplies. On the other hand, they aren’t so big you can’t carry one full of gear. Buckets are not only portable, but stackable and they come with a handle. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Food-grade plastic buckets are available at most hardware stores. Check the paint department and if the five gallon size is too much to handle, there are 2.5 gallon sizes available. To keep things in perspective, at 8.34 pounds per gallon, a five gallon bucket of water will weigh 41.7 pounds. For those of us who qualify as seasoned citizens, nearly 42 pounds may be a bit more than we want to lug around. You may want to opt for the smaller size just for the sake of management or storage space. Still to keep your supplies dry and spider-less, they are a great solution. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Some will mention that once you get that lid sealed on, it is murder to get open. I have two solutions: First pick up a lid-lifter. That’s a plastic tool designed especially for prying up the lip on a bucket, making your job easier. Available at the hardware store for about $6.00 Pick up a couple and zip-tie one to a bucket handle. That way you don’t have to hunt for an opener when you need one. Second, learn about gamma-seal lids. Home Depot carries them for $7.25. A gamma seal lid snaps tight to the bucket, just like the regular lid. The advantage is the center of the lid unscrews to access the inside of the bucket without going to all the manual labor of prying the lid off. The center is easily replaceable and still maintains the airtight integrity of the bucket. Whichever method you choose, it will make your life easier should the need arise for immediate access to your gear.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A five-gallon bucket also makes a great makeshift toilet. No one likes to think about sanitary needs during a disaster, but sooner or later everyone needs a potty. Several companies make a snap-on toilet seat to fit a bucket. Line it with a plastic kitchen garbage bag and you’re set to “go”. (Sorry.) It solves a problem most people don’t want to think about until it’s too late.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you plan carefully, an entire 72 hour kit will fit nicely into a five-gallon bucket. (Check my blog for a list.) Let me caution you though, a 72 hour kit is a bare minimum. Disasters know nothing of 72 hour time limits. Ask the folks who just survived Hurricane Florence. You may want to have another for your car. Have you ever considered how you would fare if disaster struck while you were away from home? Do you have the items you need to spend the night away from home unexpectedly? That plastic bucket just may be the ticket for your disaster preparedness plan.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As always send your comments and questions to </span><a href="mailto:disasterprep.dave@gmail.com" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">disasterprep.dave@gmail.com</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Dave Robinson is the author of “Disaster Prep For The Rest Of Us,” available on Amazon.com, Barnesandnoble.com and other online booksellers.</span></div>
<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10364557586173669827noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3004824348347466816.post-92043840267721307682018-09-25T14:29:00.001-07:002018-09-25T14:29:40.584-07:00<div dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-bda785c7-7fff-b844-1dc2-383a3950d65c" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #d9d9d9; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Generator Time</span></div>
<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #d9d9d9; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #d9d9d9; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A year ago Hurricane Maria slammed into Puerto Rico. That island nation is still trying to recover. For a nation already struggling with economic collapse, their oh-so-fragile electrical grid was destroyed and still hasn’t been fully restored. Granted chaotic political factors may have contributed to their woes, but the bottom line is still many areas are without electrical service one year later. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #d9d9d9; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #d9d9d9; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Those of us living elsewhere in our great nation are rarely without electrical service. Folks who recently found themselves in the path of Hurricane Florence discovered dozens of electrical service trucks from all over the country parked in local motel and Wal-Mart parking lots. In an effort to minimize downtime of electrical power the federal government ordered a massive pre-staging of workers and equipment days before the storm was predicted to make landfall. Still, thousands of folks had to deal with outages for several days. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #d9d9d9; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #d9d9d9; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The solution for many is to buy a portable generator. A generator is likely one of the most expensive investments you will make as a prepper, therefore it is important you choose wisely. First of all decide if there really is a need. Buying a 9000 watt generator to keep your TV, Xbox, and wifi running is a nice plan, but those really aren’t necessities. For some folks, using a portable generator (gen-set) to pump water out of the well might rank as a higher priority. For me personally, I bought a half beef not long ago and would prefer not to lose it just because I can’t keep it frozen. Then there is the person who needs to get their car out and that garage door opener needs electricity to operate. (Although most modern units have a battery backup system.) Most refrigerators use electricity and many consider it a “need” to keep their food cold. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #d9d9d9; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #d9d9d9; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Do your research, add up the wattage you absolutely need. Then make your decision. Don’t forget to read the reviews of units that catch your interest. One of the best generator buying guides is on Northern Tool & Equipment’s website. According to Northern Tool, here is a list of questions you should ask yourself:</span></div>
<ul style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #d9d9d9; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; margin-left: 20px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 25.75px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #d9d9d9; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What is the generator's wattage capacity and will it support your needs, including startup surge power required by some equipment?</span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #d9d9d9; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; margin-left: 20px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 25.75px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #d9d9d9; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Does the generator have enough outlets to plug in all of the items you want to power?</span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #d9d9d9; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; margin-left: 20px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 25.75px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #d9d9d9; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How noisy is the generator? Are there noise restrictions in your neighborhood?</span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #d9d9d9; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; margin-left: 20px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 25.75px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #d9d9d9; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What type of fuel does it use?</span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #d9d9d9; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; margin-left: 20px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 25.75px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #d9d9d9; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How large is the fuel tank and how many hours of operation will it provide?</span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #d9d9d9; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; margin-left: 20px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 25.75px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #d9d9d9; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Is the generator easy to move around? Does it have built-in wheels and handles for portability?</span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #d9d9d9; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; margin-left: 20px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 25.75px; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #d9d9d9; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What accessories will I need to run the generator (fuel, heavy-duty extension cords, transfer switch)?</span></div>
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</ul>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 48px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #d9d9d9; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">These are all qualifiers you need to discuss before you make the plunge. Also don’t forget to look for bargains on Craigslist (or similar websites), garage sales or local shopper ads. Now for the downside; Generators take fuel. Consider how you’re going to store that much fuel. Today’s ethanol-infused gasoline is prone to attracting water and water can diminish the quality of your gasoline. Some folks use non-ethanol gasoline and set it aside solely for their generator. Others use products such as Sta-bil which can be used to extend the life of stored gasoline. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 48px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #d9d9d9; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There are a few rules about generator use. Never use it indoors. That seems like an overly cautious warning, but every year someone parks their generator in their garage, closes the door and there’s a disaster. Carbon monoxide from a generator is just as deadly as from your car. Then there’s the guy that figured out if he wired a male plug on both ends of an extension cord, he could power up his whole house. Bad idea! That can overload your home’s circuits, and possibly kill a lineman miles away working on what he thinks is a dead line. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 48px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #d9d9d9; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Do your research, read the reviews and make a decision based on your need, not some advertisers slick campaign. Or you can email your questions and comments to me at </span><a href="mailto:disasterprep.dave@gmail.com" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #d9d9d9; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">disasterprep.dave@gmail.com</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #d9d9d9; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Dave Robinson is a retired Postmaster and the author of “Disaster Prep For The Rest Of Us,” available on Amazon.com, Barnesandnoble.com and other online booksellers. </span></div>
<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10364557586173669827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3004824348347466816.post-37964772976580356912018-09-10T13:06:00.001-07:002018-09-10T13:06:30.919-07:00<div dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-f10a96d4-7fff-7d02-a81a-fd99781580dc" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Disaster Preparedness Month</span></div>
<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Each year, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (F.E.M.A.) designates the month of September as Disaster Preparedness Month. The idea is, I’m sure, to nudge would-be preppers to get off their couches and finally do something about preparedness.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Winter months are approaching, bringing with them news of blizzards, winter storms coming in off the Pacific, and even as I write this, Hurricane Florence is threatening the eastern seaboard. According to F.E.M.A.’s website (</span><a href="http://www.ready.gov/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">www.ready.gov</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">), now is the time to take that CPR or first aid class. Also check your insurance policies and find out if you actually have the insurance coverage you’re going to need in the face of the disasters you might face like flood, earthquake or tornado. Additionally, now is a good time to start setting aside a little cash to cover the costs associated with an emergency. Besides, when disaster strikes, ATMs are usually disabled and all the money in your checking and savings account down at First National will do you no good. Only the cash you have on hand will be accessible and available for purchasing goods or services. What few items are usually available during emergencies. Likewise, now is a good time to review the process for shutting off water, natural gas and propane valves. And don’t forget to locate the right-size wrench in a handy location.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">F.E.M.A. has designated a theme for each week of the month. Week 1: Make and practice your plan. Week 2: Learn Life Saving Skills Week 3: Check Your Coverage. Week 4: Save For an Emergency. For a more complete list of specific activities, go to www.ready.gov.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Following these simple themes each week will raise your preparedness level and make you more ready for whatever winter throws at you. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here’s a new offering from F.E.M.A.: Text PREPARE to 43362 (4FEMA) to receive</span><a href="http://www.ready.gov/get-tech-ready" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">preparedness tips</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> on your phone. Keep in mind that standard messaging and data rates apply.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Likewise the Red Cross (</span><a href="http://www.redcross.org/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">www.redcross.org</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">) has several suggestions for the month. Their focus is on evacuation and highlights of their list include the following: 1. Follow the instructions of the authorities when it comes to evacuating. They know more than you do. 2. Keep your gas tank topped off when you hear a storm is coming. After the power goes out it’s usually difficult to make gas pumps work. 3. Decide ahead of time where you are going to go. Either Aunt Tillie’s or just getting your RV to a safe place requires prior planning on your part. And don’t forget to give Aunt Tillie a call to let her in on your plan. 4. And lastly, don’t forget your pets. Pick up an extra sack of dog (or cat) food. Also get a one-gallon canteen, fill with water and include it in your plan. Pets need water too. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As always send your comments and questions to </span><a href="mailto:disasterprep.dave@gmail.com" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">disasterprep.dave@gmail.com</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Dave Robinson is a retired Postmaster and the author of “Disaster Prep For The Rest Of Us,” available on Amazon.com, barnesandnoble, and other online booksellers.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10364557586173669827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3004824348347466816.post-52456812369237698142018-09-10T13:01:00.002-07:002018-09-10T13:01:04.643-07:00<div dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-a33808d3-7fff-7b77-d981-5bea193b0fa3" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tactical Air Support</span></div>
<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 48px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Every so often, I’ve had questions from readers regarding food supplies. Somewhere, folks have gotten the idea the government (or some relief agency) has massive amounts of food and supplies stockpiled in their neighborhood ready to roll out when the need arises. Truth is, there are no stockpiles, only what individual families and some charitable organizations have on hand. Back in the Civil Defense days of the 1950’s, there were some isolated M.A.S.H. units tucked away in undisclosed public buildings. (That’s Mobile And Surgical Hospitals, for those of you who don’t remember the TV series of the same name.) The last unit I knew of was located on the grounds of a regional airport in my home county. The only reason I was aware of it was because it fell to my shoulders to dismantle and dispose of the fifty-year old cots, equipment and supplies. The only things lacking were the personnel and current medicines.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 48px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Today there a few isolated community “prepper” groups who have acquired a storage container or two and have begun accumulating supplies, but nothing significant. Certainly not sufficient to provide for an entire community in the event of disaster. Government officials assure us they will swoop in with supplies if there is ever a major earthquake event or notable disaster. We’ve all seen how well that worked with Katrina, Andrew and a few other hurricanes in the Southeast. Although I will admit F.E.M.A,’s responses have much improved since Katrina. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 48px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Recently a news article came my way announcing an exercise conducted the weekend of July 12-15 here on the Oregon Coast. Titled “The Cascadia Airlift Exercise”, the article says the 173rd Fighter Wing of Little Rock Air Force Base will be bringing some C-130 aircraft to Oregon to participate. They will practice loading and unloading cargo from the C-130s giving their crews the opportunity to evaluate their aerial logistics capabilities in the event of a Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake. The article goes on to say the airmen will be testing aircraft arrival plans, parking plans, cargo loading as well as fuel and maintenance support. For further information, check out Klamath Alerts website at </span><a href="https://klamathalerts.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://klamathalerts.com</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. (Used by permission.) I’m grateful for this effort and would encourage more of the same. Just in case!</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 48px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Many Oregonians are aware of the threat posed by the Cascadia Subduction Zone and its violent history. While it’s good to see planners are taking steps to mitigate any disaster, it is still vitally important for individuals to have their own preparation plans. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">No matter where you are, take a few minutes to send your congressman or senator a quick email and ask what the disaster preparations are for your locale. Now is the time to get your representatives thinking about covering your backside in the event of an emergency. I’m sure this just might turn into an opportunity for you to get involved and make a difference for your community.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 48px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Send your comments and questions to </span><a href="mailto:disasterprep.dave@gmail.com" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">disasterprep.dave@gmail.com</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Dave Robinson is a retired Postmaster and the author of “Disaster Prep For The Rest Of Us,” available on Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble and other online booksellers.</span></div>
<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10364557586173669827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3004824348347466816.post-13806020060092677202018-09-10T12:43:00.000-07:002018-09-10T12:43:09.620-07:00<div dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-120fe0fd-7fff-e175-cda7-384f20fb1d11" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">School Shootings</span></div>
<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 48px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hardly a week goes by anymore that we don’t hear of a school shooting. A generation ago such an incident was entirely unheard of, and the term “school shooting” was a foreign concept. Now we all know immediately what happened. Some nutjob decided to make a name for himself by shooting up a school, including the taking of innocent life and more often than not, taking his own life when he’s backed into a corner.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 48px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Every time this happens, I seem to have difficulty sorting out my feelings. Anger, that this could happen to innocent lives, both students and teachers. Frustration that we, as a nation, can’t seem to put a stop to these tragedies. And then there’s always the call by high-decibel politicians for more and stricter gun laws. If a person is deranged enough to shoot up a school, is he really going to be deterred by one more law? </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 48px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This is the nightmare every school administrator prays never happens. Police officers train and school administrators plan for what they hope will never happen on their watch. Lockdown drills are held in schools all across the country. Some states even require periodic lockdown drills. But no amount of preplanning can cover every contingency. Every police officer, paramedic and emergency room worker knows that scared people behave badly. That’s when dozens of mildly (to not-so-mildly) anxious parents begin arriving at schools to pick up not only their own children, but in some cases, their friends’ kids as well. Phone calls clogged lines into the administrative offices, and traffic flow problems restrict the movement of school busses. Add to this certain school policies designed to keep kids safe by restricting who can pick up whom and you’ve got the recipe for a secondary disaster. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 26.49px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 48px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now take this to the next level. Let's suppose there is a natural disaster. We’ll use “earthquake” just for the sake of discussion. The roads are busted up, the phone lines are completely down, electrical power is out and the schools are full of our kids. Have you discussed this scenario with your family? Do you have a plan to reunite your family if this happens? Even if schools can deliver your children home, is anyone going to be there? Who have you authorized to pick up your children at the school if you can’t get there? Do your kids know what to do? These are all questions families need to address and get settled now, before something happens.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 26.49px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 48px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Likewise, schools need to work on disaster planning. Is there a drill that can be designed to simulate a disaster and how do we pull it off. Something that goes beyond the lockdown or the “soft lockdown”. How do we make it work when nothing else (like phones) does? Fire drills are proven to save lives and have for decades. Lockdown drills, unscheduled school closure drills and serious disaster drills will save lives as well. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 26.49px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 48px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As always send your questions and comments to </span><a href="mailto:disasterprep.dave@gmail.com" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">disasterprep.dave@gmail.com</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Dave Robinson is a retired Postmaster and the author of “Disaster Prep For The Rest Of Us,” available on Amazon.com and other online booksellers.</span></div>
<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10364557586173669827noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3004824348347466816.post-47063228579334143602018-09-10T12:38:00.002-07:002018-09-10T12:38:31.718-07:00<div dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-067c7866-7fff-bc20-da22-e0618b73c661" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">More About Water</span></div>
<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 48px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Some months back, I was asked to speak at a Disaster Preparedness Fair. After my prepared remarks, an innocent-looking “seasoned-citizen” lady raised her hand and asked if I could explain the difference between filtering and purifying water. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 48px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Storing water is the number-one item mentioned on both the Red Cross and F.E.M.A.web pages. We humans are designed so that water is a necessity and to deprive ourselves of water for very long is not recommended. I had mentioned, during my presentation, that a means of purifying water is one of the essentials if you’re going to consider yourself prepared for a disaster. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 48px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My response to the question went something like this: Filtering is just that. Causing the water to pass through something (a filter) that removes the offending elements. Elements such as bacteria, bugs and other things that can make you sick. Purifying can be infusing the water with chemicals such as chlorine to kill the bacteria, parasites, or other illness-causing factors. Boiling is the simplest way to purify and requires no chemicals. Either boiling or chemically treating the water is an effective way of achieving purity or drinkability of your water source. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 48px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Later, when I had returned to my book-booth, the innocent-looking questioner came for a visit. After reminding me she was the one who had asked the question about making water drinkable, she informed me she was a retired microbiologist. Talk about being set up! “So, how’d I do?” I inquired. Her response indicated I had somehow muddled my way through and provided an acceptable answer.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 48px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Water is that thing we so easily take for granted. And here in our country, pure water is a given. Bottled water is so common, and so commonly purchased we don’t give it a second thought when we pick up a case of purified/filtered water at the store. Consider this, in the event of a disaster, the supply lines are interrupted, the stores aren’t getting their shipments and the municipal water supply isn’t producing. The water in the rivers or rain falling from the sky may be your only option. Are you set up to purify or filter? Either way will make water useful for your drinking needs.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 48px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Personally I have a Big Berkey filter that uses two ceramic filters to remove the creepy-crawlies. There are other kits sold online that will do the same thing. But the primary thing to keep in mind, if you get sick from drinking contaminated water, your chances of making it through the disaster just got worse. So be prepared to either purify or filter. Either way works, but getting ill from impure water is not an attractive alternative. Especially during a time of disaster.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 48px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As always send your comments and questions to </span><a href="mailto:disasterprep.dave@gmail.com" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">disasterprep.dave@gmail.com</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Dave Robinson is a retired Postmaster and the author of “Disaster Prep For The Rest Of Us,” available on Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble and other online booksellers.</span></div>
<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10364557586173669827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3004824348347466816.post-3700625372816038152018-09-10T12:30:00.002-07:002018-09-10T12:30:48.979-07:00<div dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-b9329a80-7fff-cd57-061a-0f6e97d2e03c" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Decisions Decisions</span></div>
<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 48px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Back in my flying days, I read with interest stories of airplane accidents. Several months following an accident, the National Traffic Safety Board (NTSB) usually issued a detailed and very complete report on what led up to the accident. More often than not, the accident was not a sudden, traumatic event causing an accident. But rather a decision made by the pilot or an incident occurring several hours before the event that led to disaster. Maybe it was failure to top off a fuel tank, or a decision to fly in spite of a bad weather report. Sometimes it is a culmination of seemingly insignificant decisions or events that result in a “tipping point” leading to an unfortunate conclusion. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 48px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Last Friday, my 18 year old grandson received a call for help from one of his friends. It seems the friend was stranded in a remote area. “Can you come pull me out, we’re stuck in the snow?”</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 48px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My grandson filled me in on what was happening and I quickly loaded him with tow strap, extra gasoline, and a few other items we thought would come in handy. His 4 x 4 Toyota Tacoma is equipped with traction tires and is in good running order. He had already contacted another friend to accompany him on the mission.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 48px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It seems as though the stranded friend was on his way home from college for the weekend when a multi-vehicle accident had clogged the interstate. He and his companion had made a decision to cut across the Coast Range mountains of Southwestern Oregon from Grants Pass to the Coast. Normally this Forest Service/BLM road is easily passable in a car, but this time of year, there is often snow accumulation at the higher elevations. Things went pretty well for about an hour after leaving the Interstate, that is until the pair reached one of those higher elevations. Topping a hill, they ran into snow, and then plowed their way down hill. All was good until they came to another rise, this one covered in deeper snow which stalled their two-wheel drive car. Turning around, they found they were unable to climb back up the snow-covered road and there they were, unable to go either way.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 48px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Providence had smiled on the stranded couple by granting cell phone service even in this remote area. Those of us who play in the backcountry know all too well coverage can be sketchy at best in many locations. In this case, they were able to successfully make a call for help.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 48px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When I interviewed the young man, he said they were equipped with some granola bars, some bottles of water and a few bottles of Gatorade. Even if they had to spend the night, there were also blankets in the car. He agreed leaving the Interstate wasn’t the best plan, but at the time he and his companion agreed they could save some time taking the back roads when their option was to wait four hours for the traffic to clear.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 48px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This story has a happy ending for several reasons. Cell phone coverage made it possible to call for help. The rescue team was able to reach the stranded vehicle and get them back onto a bare, snow-free road. Finally the stranded pair, although making a questionable decision to use the back roads, had enough snack food, drinks and blankets to survive a short time without major discomfort.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 48px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I was reminded of the family from San Francisco a few years back who became lost in this same general area. They tried to take a similar shortcut and lost their way in the maze of logging roads and ultimately were stranded by snowfall. After nine days the husband/father struck out on foot to seek rescue. His body was found a few days later. The mother and both children survived. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 48px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This kind of story has always fascinated me. The little things folks do or didn’t do can make a difference between survival or not. Life and death. And many times those choices are made hours or even days before the event. The lesson is this: When you venture out into the arms of Mother Nature, be wise, she’s not always in a nurturing mood.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 48px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As always, send your comments or questions to </span><a href="mailto:disasterprep.dave@gmail.com" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">disasterprep.dave@gmail.com</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Dave Robinson is a retired Postmaster and lives in Myrtle Point, Oregon. He is the author of “Disaster Prep For The Rest Of US,” available on Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble and other online booksellers.</span></div>
<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10364557586173669827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3004824348347466816.post-36602857435250007312018-09-10T12:25:00.002-07:002018-09-10T12:25:57.036-07:00<div dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-0819c106-7fff-1afc-c7c5-39f6f17dd6a5" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Going Viral</span></div>
<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 48px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Going viral in our time has come to refer to a video or photo that gets coverage or viewership all across the internet in very short order. According to one definition I found on Bing: “Viral” is the adjective form of the noun "virus.". Something that's viral</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">is figuratively something spread from person to person the way a virus spreads a sickness such as a cold or flu. Everyone sent the video to their friends until thousands or millions were watching it. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 48px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For the past few weeks a virus has ravaged the Robinson house with a vengeance! First my 11-year old grandson, then the 18-year old, my wife and finally, yours truly.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Notice I haven’t used the term “flu” as that would be an inaccuracy. Many serious colds or some viruses are generically referred to as the flu as we really don’t feel good and sometimes the symptoms mimic flu symptoms. But that is rarely the case.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 48px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In my case, I made a trip to see my own doctor. He made some suggestions regarding the medications I already take and sent me home with some specific instructions. Not once did he use term “flu.” It also happens that my wife works for a pediatric office. The doctor she works for jokingly considers me his oldest patient. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 48px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There is no disaster like feeling like you’d have to recuperate in order to have the strength to die. I won’t go into the details here, but you’ve all been there and we all have horror stories about symptoms. So there’s no need to get descriptive.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 48px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">One doctor I spoke with offered some suggestions: One is to wear rubber gloves to avoid passing germs. Likewise use lots of hand sanitizer. These alcohol-based products kill germs on contact, besides they come in various flavors so you can choose your preference. My wife uses bleach-based cleaners to clean the sink, counters and bathroom fixtures. Studies have also if you keep the temperature in your home higher, you are more susceptible to disease than if you keep your home cooler. For example if you keep your living room temperature at 75 degrees fahrenheit you are more likely to catch a bug than if you keep your temperature at 65 degrees. Of course you may have to snuggle on the couch, bundle up or drink some hot chocolate, but the experts say it is healthier to keep your house cooler. Opening the windows to freshen the air is also a good idea as well. So just chill! (Sorry.)</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 48px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As always, send your comments and questions to </span><a href="mailto:disasterprep.dave@gmail.com" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">disasterprep.dave@gmail.com</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Dave Robinson is a retired Postmaster and the author of, “Disaster Prep For The Rest Of Us,” available on Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble, and other online booksellers.</span></div>
<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10364557586173669827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3004824348347466816.post-84304475880998608722018-09-10T12:19:00.002-07:002018-09-10T12:19:40.727-07:00<div dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-a6448452-7fff-3b78-91c6-13e51667b899" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">New Year’s Resolution</span></div>
<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 48px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I can’t seem to find anyone who actually makes New Year’s Resolutions anymore, much less find anyone who has actually ever kept those self-promises. But here’s one for you: (Raise your right hand) I hereby solemnly resolve to begin to make preparations for disaster. I will begin by sitting down with my life mate and make a list of things we may need to accumulate to survive any disaster. Then we will begin building our kit.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 48px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The East Coast is just now recovering from a “bomb cyclone.” (Has anyone else never heard of a bomb cyclone?) The National Weather Service defines a bomb cyclone as weather system that undergoes a sudden, drastic drop in atmospheric pressure and quickly intensifies. Think a blizzard with hurricane-force winds.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 48px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A few days’ warning from the weatherman still seemed to have no effect on the general populace. Reports of empty shelves at the store and long lines at the gas station were common. One person said he had gone to the store simply for bread and milk, only to find empty shelves. “Sheltering in” became the order of the day when the storm hit as it was unwise to drive on the snowy, icy roadways. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 26.49px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 48px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">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. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 26.49px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 48px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">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.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 26.49px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 48px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">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.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 26.49px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 48px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">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.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 26.49px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 48px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As always send your questions and comments to </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">disasterprep.dave@gmail.com</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Dave Robinson is a retired Postmaster and the author of “Disaster Prep For The Rest Of Us,” available on Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble and other online booksellers.</span></div>
<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10364557586173669827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3004824348347466816.post-15161091380732243082018-09-10T12:07:00.000-07:002018-09-10T12:07:06.247-07:00<div dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-cea22aea-7fff-db55-a9f0-aa5431577a78" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Surviving Winter</span></div>
<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Just by definition, winter carries its own personality. The weather is cold, icy, snowy and in my neck of the woods, rainy and windy. Any responsible adult taking to the highways during the winter months will take extra precautions before he travels. Checking the weather and forecast for his route of travel, and his destination. It’s not uncommon for pilots to cancel their flight plans at this point, but earthbound travellers will rarely cancel their roadtrip merely because of bad weather. Unfortunately every year many pay the price simply because they underestimated mother nature and their level of preparedness.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The wise traveler will already have a kit in the trunk of his car. Maybe a couple of blankets, some snacks and a thermos of coffee. If heading into snow country, tire chains or at least studded tires are a good-sense requirement. Of course a small shovel, some kitty litter or sand, maybe even a tow strap would mean the difference between spending the night in your car or at grandma’s house. And don’t forget, keep your tank on the top half. It costs no more and would really come in handy when you’re stuck behind the guy that’s stuck in a snowbank. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Keep a phone-charging cord in your car. A phone call may be the key to keeping you alive if stranded. The key here is “keep it in your car.” Sometimes we need a charging cord and it goes in the house where it does us no good at all when our phone is dead miles from home.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Winter can be very unforgiving for the unprepared. Always be thinking, “what can go wrong?” Try to run through every scenario and imagine what you will need if disaster happens. Then resolve (after all this is the New Year and you need to make at least one resolution) to get your car prepared for winter driving.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Even if you’re not planning winter travel, there are other considerations to keep in mind. Many years ago, when I heated the house solely with firewood, I neglected to stock up on wood. I can recall splitting up the chopping block, throwing the wood in the woodstove and heading for the woods with my power saw. Not the example I want to set for my kids or neighbors. Keeping the pantry stocked with soup mixes or other easily prepared foods will help get you through that power outage or when snow-blocked roads keep you hunkered down at home. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A small amount of preparing and planning may just make a difficult season so much easier this winter. Remember what your mother used to say, “a stitch in time saves nine.” That same bit of philosophy works for preparing your family’s survival.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As always, send your comments and questions to </span><a href="mailto:disasterprep.dave@gmail.com" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">disasterprep.dave@gmail.com</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Dave Robinson is a retired Postmaster and the author of “Disaster Prep For The Rest Of Us,” available on Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble and other online booksellers.</span></div>
<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10364557586173669827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3004824348347466816.post-42466405602150263682018-09-10T12:00:00.001-07:002018-09-10T12:00:58.404-07:00<div dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-549e4a4f-7fff-5bce-6936-fc54ae7dbc08" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">After the Fact</span></div>
<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Every week I receive emails from readers with questions regarding being prepared for disaster. This week I received a request from a reader that went like this: My friend just lost his home to the fires in Southern California, he was totally unprepared and lost everything. What advice would I give to someone who is in the recovery process?</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This is a bit of a paradigm shift for me as I always deal with the preparedness aspect of disasters. It is my hope that readers will take the message seriously, make some sort of preparations which will lessen the trauma (and drama) of a disaster. Human nature being what it is, there are always those who put off prepping or for one reason or another, blow it off altogether. I’m going to resist the “I told you so speech,” and instead give some advice on how to cope with your loss.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Having never suffered a major loss from disaster, I contacted a friend who, some years back, lost their home to an early morning house fire. They found themselves standing out in the street in bathrobes in 30 degree weather while all their precious possessions went up in smoke. House fires are the most common disasters in the U.S. so some of you can identify with such a loss.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My friend first offered that the recovery experience was a process. Not unlike dealing with the death of a loved one. Very similar to the five stages of grief offered by Elizabeth Kubler-Ross in her 1969 book, “On Death and Dying.” A bereaved survivor is known to experience denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance, usually in that order. Losing your home to fire can trigger those same responses. That helpless feeling of being unfairly violated when a home is lost is akin to the feelings of being ripped off, sexually violated or somehow abused by someone more powerful than you. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My friend doesn’t recommend engaging in the “anger” phase of the process when a home is lost as it is a waste of time, energy and emotional investment. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In most cases of widespread natural disaster, insurance companies will set up special field offices to process claims more efficiently. Take full advantage of those facilities and get your claim going as soon as possible. Get on a first name basis with the agent handling your claim and respond promptly to their requests for information.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Finally, fly the plane. Some years back when I was taking flying lessons, my instructor would create situations to teach me how to respond in an emergency. For example we would be flying along on a beautiful Oregon day and he would reach over and cut the power to the engine. “What you gonna do?” he’d ask. Resisting an impulse to smack him (not recommended) I’d start through the checklist. First is to establish an angle of glide. That is, point the airplane downhill just enough maintain sufficient airspeed to keep the thing in the air. In other words, fly the plane. Then you can go through the checklist to get that big fan turning again. When we encounter disaster, sometimes we forget the basics. We neglect some of the things that are otherwise routine. Things like eating, sleeping, showering or taking our daily pills. Keep some semblance of a normal schedule. In short, don’t forget to fly the plane. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As always, send your questions and comments to </span><a href="mailto:disasterprep.dave@gmail.com" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">disasterprep.dave@gmail.com</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Dave Robinson is a retired Postmaster and the author of “Disaster Prep For The Rest Of Us,” available on Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble and other online booksellers.</span></div>
<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10364557586173669827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3004824348347466816.post-21787967456689964322017-10-22T21:16:00.000-07:002017-10-22T21:16:24.986-07:00<b style="font-weight: normal;"><div dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-1ab0adbf-4771-7290-1e14-43f59c0d6d3d" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #b7b7b7; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Winter’s a’comin’</span></div>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #b7b7b7; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Morning temperatures are sliding toward the freezing mark here on the Southern Oregon Coast. Many folks in our area still heat with wood thus creating a hazard all its own. Injuries occur when neophyte chain saw users take to the woods to cut their own firewood. Felling trees, cutting (bucking) firewood chunks, loading and stacking are all hazardous. More injuries occur when even experienced woodcutters try to split their wood. Some years ago, a friend of mine managed to cut himself seriously with a chainsaw while getting firewood. Problem number one, he was about 20 miles from town and bleeding badly. Problem number two, he was accompanied by his eleven year old son. Fortunately his son was more capable than most eleven year olds and managed to drive the pickup back to town. No permanent damage. Both father and son have a story to tell their grandkids. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #b7b7b7; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">A residential fire is the most common disaster in the United States. Over 3500 adults die in home fires every year. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #b7b7b7; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Now’s the time to do a safety check around your home. You don’t have to be an expert in locating and fixing fire hazards. For those of you who burn wood, have your chimney inspected </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #b7b7b7; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">by an expert. Destructive flue fires are the by-product of neglecting chimney maintenance. Soot and creosote build-up are like fatal cholesterol for your flue. Easily remedied by a competent chimney sweep.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #b7b7b7; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Cooking equipment should be inspected periodically. Most cooking utensils cook with electrical heating elements. Wires can become frayed or loose with time and usage, and a simple visual inspection can discover a loose wire or screw. Oftentimes a repair can be made with only a piece of electrical tape or replacing a cord. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #b7b7b7; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Faulty wiring can be another fire-starting culprit. If your home is 30-40 years old, chances are your wiring can be overloaded. Shorts, overloads and huge sparks can set off fires inside your walls, delaying discovery of a disaster by precious minutes. Another case for having an expert inspect your home. The cost of an inspection is certainly worth the peace of mind and less than trying to rebuild.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #b7b7b7; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Dryer lint. Nothing ignites a campfire like a big wad of dryer lint. A good prepper hack is to save your dryer lint, stuff a wad into the compartments of a cardboard egg carton, then dribble some candle wax on it to hold it in place. The dryer lint catches a spark from your favorite fire starter, the cardboard burns nicely and the candle wax prolongs the blaze, thus igniting your kindling. The downside against anything that flammable is that if it catches a spark at the wrong time, the results can be disastrous. The moral of this story: Clean your lint trap after each dryer load.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #b7b7b7; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Candles. Our grandparents trimmed their Christmas tree with candles. I cannot imagine how many Christmas tree fires resulted from that little bit of genius. Fortunately we no longer use candles on our trees, but candles can still be a hazard. Personally I like the smell, the atmosphere and coziness candles provide. But they are still an open flame and if placed in the wrong location, they can still be dangerous. Try to use candles that are short and wide, not the “easily tipped over” variety. Also be very careful when you set the thing out. Keep it away from curtains, or anything easily flammable. Just a little bit of wisdom can keep you from being a statistic.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #b7b7b7; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">As always, send your questions and comments to </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #b7b7b7; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">disasterprep.dave@gmail.com</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #b7b7b7; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">. Previous columns can be found on my blog at </span><a href="http://www.disasterprepdave.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #b7b7b7; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">www.disasterprepdave.blogspot.com</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #b7b7b7; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">. Dave Robinson is a retired Postmaster and the author of “Disaster Prep For The Rest Of Us,” available on Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble and other online booksellers.</span></div>
<br /></b><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10364557586173669827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3004824348347466816.post-52781714477932259562017-10-22T21:14:00.002-07:002017-10-22T21:14:39.455-07:00<b style="font-weight: normal;"><div dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-4e055b59-4770-2681-e43a-816491dc637d" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #b7b7b7; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Financial Readiness</span></div>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #b7b7b7; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Disaster victims at all levels face the same challenges when it’s time to rebuild after a disaster or emergency. Having your personal financial, medical, and insurance records organized before disaster strikes will take a load of stress off when you start to put things back together after the big event.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #b7b7b7; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">FEMA’s website, </span><a href="http://www.ready.gov/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #b7b7b7; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">www.ready.gov</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #b7b7b7; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">, offers the following tips for dealing with the business end of a disaster:</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #b7b7b7; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Gather all your crucial financial, legal, personal and medical information. This can mean scanning copies of your insurance policies, vehicle titles, divorce or child custody papers and storing the copies electronically to a flash drive or on on the cloud in an environment you can access from a different computer. Sometimes it’s just important to be able to provide a policy number.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #b7b7b7; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Put aside some cash at home. Disasters routinely take out ATMs or any means of using a debit or credit card. Cash in small bills can help make those necessary fuel, food or supply purchases. How much cash you tuck away depends on your personal situation. If you can manage more, then tuck away more. Make sure you save small bills and (I shouldn’t have to mention this, but) keep it confidential.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #b7b7b7; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">If you don’t have it, get insurance. Homeowners, renters, health and life insurance will all help with the process of recovery. If you already have insurance, be sure to review your policies so you are comfortable with the amount and extent of coverage you have in place. Also note that most homeowners policies do not cover flood damage, so you may need to purchase additional flood insurance from the National Flood Insurance Program if you live in a potential flood zone.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #b7b7b7; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Here are a few random items you may want to consider. Veterans make sure you have a copy (originals are better) of your DD214. Photos or scanned copies of social security cards, birth certificates, car titles photo IDs for family members and mortgage information. The list goes on and on. Just ask anyone who has lost everything in a house fire how many things there are to replace and you’ll understand your life will be so much easier if you have planned ahead and followed this advice.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #b7b7b7; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">If you receive retirement checks through the mail, now would be a good time to have those things deposited directly. If the U.S. Mail isn’t running and you can’t get your check, at least it will be in your bank account on a hassle free basis. If you are one of those that doesn’t trust direct deposit, get over it. I have been having my paychecks and now social security checks directly deposited for 35 years and I have never missed a beat. It makes things really simple when you’re out of town or can’t get to the bank for some reason. The deposit has already been made for you. I can remember delaying travel plans for the simple reason I had to wait for the check to come so I could get it in the bank. No more. The twenty-first century is upon us folks, might as well get updated.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #b7b7b7; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Planning your financial well-being isn’t as exciting as buying supplies or even a new gun, but having your stuff together will make you a real hero when the time comes to rebuild after a disaster. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #b7b7b7; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">As always email your questions and comments to </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #b7b7b7; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">disasterprep.dave@gmail.com</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #b7b7b7; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">. Older columns can be found on my blog at </span><a href="http://www.disasterprepdave.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #b7b7b7; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">www.disasterprepdave.blogspot.com</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #b7b7b7; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">. Dave Robinson is a retired Postmaster and the author of “Disaster Prep For The Rest Of Us,” available on Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble and other online booksellers.</span></div>
<br /></b><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10364557586173669827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3004824348347466816.post-43480496845942875272017-10-22T21:13:00.002-07:002017-10-22T21:13:25.781-07:00<b style="font-weight: normal;"><div dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-c1541fe6-476f-196f-b55a-ba51df55b73e" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Check Your Pulse</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">If just watching the news the past few days doesn’t motivate you to begin to prepare for a disaster then you might want to check your pulse. Locally we have wildland fires that are burning unchecked across a large portion of the Northwest. Offshore breezes have improved our air quality, but the landscape is still being scorched. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Reports of a major earthquake offshore from Mexico City remind those of us in the Pacific Northwest of the Cascadia Subduction Zone parked off the coast about 60 miles that could break loose at any moment and unleash a 9.0 earthquake, the likes of which none of us have ever seen. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Then there is the mop-up still underway in Houston and vicinity. Thousands of volunteers, electrical linemen, EMS and even the Cajun Navy is still busy rescuing folks out of their flooded homes. One video I saw even showed a couple of guys on their jet skis picking up flood victims and taking them to dry ground via jet ski. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">At this writing, Hurricane Irma is churning her way up the West Coast of Florida, leaving a path of destruction in her wake. I believe this is the first time I have ever witnessed the encouraged evacuation of an entire state. Most are heeding the urgings of authorities while some are staying behind to “ride it out”.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">For those still affected by the disaster in your area, there’s not much you can do now to pre-pare. If you haven’t pre-positioned your supplies or your plan, now is too late. You are either at the mercy of the weather, the shelter managers or the incident commanders in your area. Either way, because you have failed to make decisions ahead of time, someone else is making choices for you. Personally I prefer to make my own choices. It is just possible that someone else’s judgement is flawed and to subject my safety and the well-being of my family to their choices is simply not acceptable.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Make a commitment right now to start putting things together when this is over. Never again do you want to be in this situation. Never again do you want to be “not in control” of your safety when disaster strikes. If you’re telling yourself that this will never happen again, then you’re listening to a fool! Get over yourself and start doing the responsible thing. There is simply no excuse for not laying in extra canned goods. Shop the sales and the BOGO deals. Watch for the cases of bottled water to come on sale. Check the garage sales for a good camp stove. Pick up a few extra soup mixes the next time you get groceries. There is no need to buy one of those expensive kits online. You can make your own for usually much less than the guy online is asking for the pre-assembled kit. Often they contain items you will never use, or take the time to learn about. Buy your own kit components, that way you are invested and you know what you’ve got in that bag. Plan on starting with a 72 hour kit. If you live along the California, Oregon or Washington coast, keep going until you have at least a two or three week supply. There are great lists on my blog, ready.gov, or </span><a href="http://www.redcross.org/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">www.redcross.org</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">. (You could buy my book and it’s all spelled out there.) Point is, there is no time like right now to get started. Your children and loved ones are counting on you.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">As always, send your questions and comments to </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">disasterprep.dave@gmail.com</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">. Previous columns are on my blog at </span><a href="http://www.disasterprepdave.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">www.disasterprepdave.blogspot.com</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">. Dave Robinson is a retired Postmaster and the author of “Disaster Prep For The Rest Of Us,” available on Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble and other online booksellers.</span></div>
<br /><br /></b><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10364557586173669827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3004824348347466816.post-2998281843437010562017-10-22T21:11:00.002-07:002017-10-22T21:11:37.813-07:00<b style="font-weight: normal;"><div dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-dcda1d1e-476d-59fb-e7d6-1e878da438e0" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Fire and Flood</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">In my neighborhood, there is no need to turn on the news to find out what’s going on with the weather. One hundred degree heat, and visibility of ¾ mile due to smoke and airborne particulate matter make for interesting moonrises. Southwestern Oregon is circled with wildland fires along with a huge portion of the rest of the state. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">And then there’s Hurricane Harvey. Houston, Texas, is still reeling from 130 mile-per-hour winds bringing destruction, power outages and flooding not seen in anyone’s memory. This storm has, so far, earned two presidential visits and a host of organizations and thousands of private volunteers. The “Cajun Navy” has risen to the occasion with a miles-long procession of pickups pulling boats into the region to help evacuate people to safety. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Every disaster, whether forest fire or hurricane, draws its share of news trucks, TV cameras and (sometimes pesky) news hounds trying for the perfect camera angle or profound sound byte. While most news organizations manage to cover the story in some fashion, it’s the untold stories that fascinate me. There are heroes whose pictures and stories are posted all over the newscast, and there are heroes who nobody ever hears about.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">One fellow I spoke with has hauled nearly 10,000 pounds of livestock feed to supply animals evacuated from a wildland fire. Hundreds of animals were sheltered in a nearby county fairgrounds facility. Others have hauled thousands of bottles of water to keep the firefighters hydrated, while still others have brought in donated travel trailers and fifth wheel trailers for displaced folks to have a place to lay their head. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Stories of generosity and heroism continue to leak out in spite of no major media on the scene. It’s those stories that continue to reinforce my faith in humankind. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I have always advocated that the most effective thing you can do to prepare for a disaster is to inventory your neighborhood. “Mapping Your Neighborhood” consists of bringing your neighbors together and learning who lives in your immediate area. Find out if your neighbors have skills that are useful in the event of a major disaster. Who has medical training, who is experienced in dealing with folks who have been traumatized: How about a counselor or minister or teacher who can manage children? Is there someone who can play a guitar or piano? How about someone who owns a backhoe, or generator or can operate a chainsaw? How about someone skilled in carpentry or plumbing? All these things are useful when the phones don’t work and the usual first responders are tied up with someone else’s emergency. This system makes you a first responder for your neighbor and vice versa. If this interests you, simply do an internet search for “Mapping Your Neighborhood” and get started. There is no cost involved, all it takes is one person willing to assume the role of leader/facilitator. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">As always send your questions and comments to </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">disasterprep.dave@gmail.com</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">. Previous columns can be found on my blog at </span><a href="http://www.disasterprepdave.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">www.disasterprepdave.blogspot.com</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">. Dave Robinson is a retired Postmaster and the author of “Disaster Prep For The Rest Of Us,” available on Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble, and other online booksellers.</span></div>
<br /></b><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10364557586173669827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3004824348347466816.post-41473408498492800872017-10-22T21:07:00.002-07:002017-10-22T21:07:36.053-07:00<b style="font-weight: normal;"><div dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-ccdac4f1-4769-b136-26e4-39068ac68c7e" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Chicken Delight</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I live a short distance from town. Small acreage, just right for the frustrated gentleman farmer in me to get some satisfaction. I don’t do horses, cows, pigs or goats. Well, I tried goats a few times to control the brush, but they also control my wife’s roses and other ornamentals so we have an agreement which includes the phrase: “No more goats or else!” What we do have is chickens. We like farm fresh brown eggs and when we can collect them directly from the “factory” we know they are indeed fresh and haven’t been shot up with a bunch of stuff we’d rather not ingest.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I’ve had some successes and some failures with the chicken venture. True, we do get a ton of eggs and when the chickens are producing, we have plenty to share. The biggest problem I have had with chicken farming is they keep getting murdered. I used to think raccoons were cute when they would sneak up on my deck and eat dog food out of the dog’s dish. When they got comfortable doing that, they would bring their babies and make sure the little ones got fed as well. When I discovered my chickens were being picked off by the little suckers, they stopped being quite so cute. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">In the past I have allowed my birds to roam “cage free” and then lock them securely in the chicken house at night. The trouble with that plan is that sometimes raccoons (who are reportedly nocturnal) forget they are supposed to sleep in the daytime. By the same token, chickens are easy pickin’s for any neighborhood dog who happens to also be at large.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I purchased a whole new batch of chicks in February and have been diligent to keep them secured inside a pen or locked up at night. They should start producing eggs within the next four weeks. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">If you’re interested in disaster preparedness, then maybe you should consider chickens as a part of your plan. First of all once they mature, they provide a steady supply, and sometimes an overabundant supply, of fresh eggs. Be careful because once you’ve had farm fresh eggs, it ruins you for the store-bought variety. Some folks even get a rooster and work at hatching their own chicks, thus perpetuating the flock. No you don’t need a rooster to get eggs, only if you want those eggs to hatch into baby chicks. If that confuses you, then you need to ask your mom to review “the talk”! </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Then some raise chicks especially to butcher. There are some varieties that gain weight very quickly and can be butchered in six to eight weeks time. Certain breeds are better for laying eggs, and still some are a good cross between both types. My most recent chicken purchase was for 24 Cinnamon Queens. I chose that breed because of their reputation for early production and their ability to produce large, brown eggs. As always send your comments, questions and chicken stories to me at </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">disasterprep.dave@gmail.com</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">. Previous columns can be found on my blog at </span><a href="http://www.disasterprepdave.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">www.disasterprepdave.blogspot.com</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">. Dave Robinson is a retired Postmaster and the author of “Disaster Prep For The Rest Of Us,” available on Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble and other online booksellers.</span></div>
<br /></b><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10364557586173669827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3004824348347466816.post-15888645580912885152017-10-22T21:03:00.003-07:002017-10-22T21:03:15.396-07:00<b style="font-weight: normal;"><div dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-0e66e516-4765-aee3-fd40-b0c419346405" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #b7b7b7; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Directions By Phone</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #b7b7b7; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Global positioning satellite (GPS) technology has wormed its way into our daily lives in ways that only science fiction writers could imagine just a few short years ago. We first made friends with those little hand-held receivers that hunters, hikers and holiday travellers used to navigate. We learned to find our way back to the truck while hunting and then found our way over the hills and through the woods to grandma’s house. Not only that but we learned how to get to our favorite restaurants, the hotel and we figured out where to gas up. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #b7b7b7; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The drawback was you had to read that little book that came with the device. I have had more than one person tell me, “I’ve got a GPS, but I have no idea how to use the thing!” True, unless you spend an evening reading the book and playing with “the thing”, you probably expected it to just operate itself. That’s where we can get into serious trouble. There is no shortage of internet stories about people who misused either their GPS receiver or their common sense. One fellow planned a trip from New York to Pennsylvania. The GPS directed him to drive north, which he obediently did and wound up in Canada, rather than Pennsylvania. The lesson here is don’t let your common sense take a vacation when using a GPS.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #b7b7b7; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Two weeks my wife and I flew to the east coast for business. Because we felt taking our grandkids along would be beneficial to their overall education, we included them. Most of us carry an iPhone. Including the grandkids. Who knew Siri would know the way from Washington, D.C. to Annapolis, Maryland? We rented a car and the agent asked if we needed a GPS. I almost said “yes” when my grandson said, “No thanks, we got this.” Without flaw, Siri led us from Reagan National Airport to Annapolis, Maryland, and got us exactly where we wanted to go. If you have no idea who Siri is, ask your kids or grandkids. After an amazing lunch at Buddy’s Crabs and Ribs in Annapolis, she guided us through the maze of interchanges, off ramps and exits right back to Reagan National. All you have to do is speak into your iPhone, “Hey Siri.” She confidently, calmly, and without raising her voice I might add, directs you to take the left at the proper exit and to “proceed for eighteen miles.” Easy as pie. No booklet required. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #b7b7b7; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">There is however, an app for the older style GPS that gets you back to your hunting rig. It takes a bit of practice, and it’s all in one handy little package that we all carry nowadays. The cell phone.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #b7b7b7; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Combat units use GPS technology to track their soldiers on the battlefield. Postal managers follow the progress of mail carriers, as well as UPS managers, trucking fleet dispatchers, armored truck companies and almost every company whose employees are on the move. GPS technology is not only here to stay, but is growing every day. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #b7b7b7; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">As always, send your questions and comments to </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #b7b7b7; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">disasterprep.dave@gmail.com</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #b7b7b7; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">. Previous columns can be found on my blog at </span><a href="http://www.disasterprepdave.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #b7b7b7; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">www.disasterprepdave.blogspot.com</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #b7b7b7; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">. Dave Robinson is a retired Postmaster and the author of “Disaster Prep For The Rest Of Us,” available on Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble and other online booksellers.</span></div>
<br /></b><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10364557586173669827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3004824348347466816.post-21695689524366330372017-10-22T20:58:00.002-07:002017-10-22T20:58:51.207-07:00<b style="font-weight: normal;"><div dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-d134e521-4761-c3fe-536a-5b7bbcf9fa36" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #b7b7b7; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Prepper or Survivalist</span></div>
<br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #b7b7b7; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Most everyone has heard this one: What’s the difference between a violin and a fiddle? The answer: The person who is playing it. So what’s the difference between a Prepper and a Survivalist? </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #b7b7b7; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Here’s my humble opinion. A survivalist makes plans for a widespread apocalypse including societal, governmental and economic collapse. He stocks up beans, bullets and bandaids. He has a plan for every contingency. He owns a bug-out vehicle, fully stocked to take him and his family to his ultra-secret bug-out location where he will hole up and ride out the storm. For him this is nothing short of a sacred calling. His passion is kept in check only by his concern for “op-sec”, that is operational security, otherwise he will be doing his best to convince everyone in earshot of his amazing skills, plans and inventory of supplies. His guns, his food,his skills and his supplies are going to carry him through until sanity is once again restored.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #b7b7b7; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The prepper knows that someday the lights may go out and he will be required to get by on what he has on hand. Power outages, wind storms, tornados, blizzards and earthquakes are more his concern. He knows if an event disrupts the normal flow of life around him, he will have what it takes to get him, his family and yes, maybe even some of his neighbors through the crisis. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #b7b7b7; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Ultimately both guys are planning for the same thing. And that is to come out the other side of whatever happens to interrupt the status quo. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #b7b7b7; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Both are planning on success, both are being wise with their opportunities at the present, and both are taking precautions on a future event that may or may not happen. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #b7b7b7; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Now this may not concern you. But I’m betting that you carry a spare tire in your trunk. Why? </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #b7b7b7; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Just in case. That’s why. Some of us also carry a few tools with us. Why? Because you may encounter someone who needs a bolt replaced or a radiator hose tightened. Just in case. Most women carry a purse. That’s where they carry their hairbrush, lipstick and maybe a makeup kit. (We used to call them a “compact”, who knows what they’re called now.) Why? Just in case. That is ultimately why preppers and survivalists do what they do. Just in case. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #b7b7b7; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">So the difference between a prepper and a survivalist is, the person doing the prepping. Their motivation and their mindset distinguishes their behavior and how they interact with their neighbors. No matter which category you identify with, whether you prefer the toe-tapping music of a fiddle or the melodious strains of a well-played violin, your end result is the same. And that is to emerge from the other side of an emergency reasonably intact. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #b7b7b7; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">As always send your comments to </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #b7b7b7; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">disasterprep.dave@gmail.com</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #b7b7b7; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">. Previous columns may be found on my blog at </span><a href="http://www.disasterprepdave.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #b7b7b7; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">www.disasterprepdave.blogspot.com</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #b7b7b7; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">. Dave Robinson is a retired Postmaster and the author of “Disaster Prep For The Rest Of Us,” available on Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble, and other online booksellers.</span></div>
<br /></b><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10364557586173669827noreply@blogger.com0