Ready Kids

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

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

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

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

Severe Weather Planning

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

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

To Gun or Not To Gun

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

                                                                           Planning to Live

When I first started making preparations I was convinced it was all about adding another can of Spam or some more beans to the pantry.  The more I learn and the farther down this road I go, the more my thinking has evolved.  Your plan is every bit as important as having your  shelves full of food.  You may have the most well-equipped pantry and every one of your cars has a get-home bag, but without a plan it may all be for naught.
Your response to disaster will be different if an earthquake occurs when you’re 100 miles from home than it will be if you’re sitting in your living room.  When a fireman knocks on your door and says you have one hour to evacuate because of a wildfire heading your way, your plan has to be flexible enough to accommodate that scenario.
Some years back, as a student pilot, my flight instructor drilled into me the importance of always keeping a landing area in mind.  There aren’t too many flat areas in Western Oregon to land a small plane, but if I expected to survive an engine failure or other emergency, I’d better have a plan where I was going to land that airplane.
No plan can cover every scenario, but a primary basic to every disaster plan is communications.  How do you plan to get in touch with your family?  Have you discussed with your family who they should contact if they can’t get in touch with you?  One method widely encouraged by experts is to establish an out-of-state friend or relative to be a clearing-house for your family’s communication.  Many times it’s easier to make an out of state call than to call next door.  If local communications are disrupted, quite often calls out of the area more successful than local calls.
So sit down with your family and decide which out of state relative or friend will make a good contact hub for you.  Make sure each family member is supplied the necessary contact information and under which circumstances you will make contact.
Making plans isn’t as exciting as finding a bargain on freeze-dried food or discovering another new gadget.  But if you don’t have a plan in place, none of the survival food nor the latest GPS receiver is going to be of any use to you.  After all you’ve got to have a place picked out to land that airplane.  Every pilot knows if they fly long enough, sooner or later they may have to make an emergency landing.  You’d better have a plan!  Remember the credo: Get a kit, make a plan, be informed!  Don’t overlook the ‘plan’ part.
As always contact me for questions or comments at disasterprep.dave@gmail.com

Tech Ready

    I have already confessed to being fascinated with gadgets. I’m pretty sure I’m in the majority.  Otherwise how do you explain the millions of iPads out there and why is it the owners manual for your smartphone now comes on a CD?  Things are getting more and more complicated because that’s what the public demands.  
    F.E.M.A (Federal Emergency Management Agency) has instituted a program titled “Get Tech Ready”.  This site is designed specifically for those who have grown accustomed to using technology as a matter of routine.  My generation had to learn to come up to speed with computers. I remember taking a computer class with my wife in 1982 or 1983.  The class was taught by a high school teacher now retired (Art Denning).  The computers were Apple II’s, as I recall.  (Look that one up in the history books kids.) We came away from the class with the opinion that they could help keep the checkbook straight (maybe) and play some cool games, but that we would probably never have need for one in our home.  (No wonder I could never make any money in the stock market!)
    Get Tech Ready is a resource that educates families about how using technology can help them prepare for and recover from disasters.  A survey by the American Red Cross shows that the internet, including news sites and social networking platforms is one of the most-used tools that people employ to let loved ones know they are safe.  

Some preparedness tips offered by Get Tech Ready include: (1) Learn to use your mobile phone for alternative communication methods, such as texting and email, in the event voice communications are not available.  (2) Store your personal and financial documents using a cloud-based (online) site or on a flash drive you always have handy.  (3)  Create an Emergency Information Document using the Ready.gov Family Emergency Plan template in Google Docs or by downloading the Ready FamilyEmergencyPlan to record your plans.

The American Red Cross has developed some very cool applications (apps) for your smartphone.  They have a shelter finder app and another titled Safe and Well is an amazing tool to let your loved ones know that you are indeed safe and well.  It will also give you information regarding the whereabouts of your friends and family.  It’s time to shed your bias against technology and let technology work for you.  It could, after all, keep your family alive.  Computers, like the horseless carriage, television and rap music, are not going away.

Finally don’t feel left out if you don’t own a computer or don’t know anything about today’s seemingly complicated technology.  It’s never too late to learn and it might even be fun.  Ask your grandkid to help you.  After all I learned to text so I could stay in touch with my grandkids.  You can do the same.  As always contact me for questions or comments at disasterprep.dave@gmail.com.

Asset or Liability?

Asset or liability?  Terms normally reserved for bean counters, accountants and other bookkeeping types.  In the event of a disaster there are both.  Those who are part of the problem and those who are part of the solution.  Assets and liabilities.  I have mentioned in past columns about the probable lack of ability of our first responders to answer every need in the event a major disaster.  Not through any fault of theirs.  The first responders I know are dedicated professionals who train ceaselessly and devote their lives to public service.  It’s simply a matter of being overwhelmed when anything of disastrous significance occurs.  It is routinely understood among fire, EMS and law enforcement people that they will be unable to respond to many calls for assistance.  In short, they need more assets.
My wife and I spent a recent weekend attending Community Emergency Response Team (C.E.R.T.) training.  Along with twenty others we had classes on first-aid, triage, light search and rescue, terrorism and other related topics.  The concept of a trained cadre of citizens was developed by the Los Angeles Fire Department in 1985  to augment their staff in time of disaster.  Today the program is under the covering of F.E.M.A. and the administration trickles down to the local fire departments through the county’s Emergency Services Co-ordinator.  C.E.R.T. volunteers were recently activated during the recent rash of tornadoes in the south and last year in the Joplin, Missouri, tornado.
On March 11, 2011, when the tsunami from the Japanese earthquake threatened our coast, a dozen CERT members from Astoria and neighboring towns were activated.  The team reported to a local elementary school to set up a tsunami shelter. They brewed coffee and prepared food for the firefighters who had been up all night trying to warn people to relocate, as well as for citizens who came to weather a possible tsunami wave. The CERT staged these activities from its "CERTmobile" a former ambulance that not only has food-preparation space, but also holds emergency equipment, including chainsaws, generators, floodlights, traffic signs, and radios for all law enforcement and amateur radio channels. The CERT coordinators kept in constant contact with amateur radio operators observing conditions along the coast.
The CERT members staffed the post until it became clear later that morning that their area would not be hit by the tsunami, although parts of the southern Oregon and northern California coasts were damaged.
It’s your call.  Asset? Or liability?  The training will be offered again in a few months and will benefit anyone who attends.  Not only that, but your newfound skills and energy will become an asset to your community.  If interested contact Glenda Hales, Coos County Emergency Management, get your name on the list for training.
 As always comments or questions may be sent to me at disasterprep.dave@gmail.com.

Weird Weather

How many times lately has someone mentioned how weird the weather has been?  Our recent snow storm seems to caught everyone, even the weatherman unawares. It seems everyone has a story to tell about their experiences when they woke up and discovered somewhere between six and ten inches of snow in their yard.
What struck me was the degree to which our lives were impacted, by only 8 inches (at my house) of snow.  Power lines were down, trees across the highway, and a whole bunch of driveways (mine included) blocked by fallen trees.  Some folks were without electricity for at least three days.  Not to mention the slick roads.  A deputy sheriff was overheard making the following radio transmission:  “I’m just going to arrest people for driving!”
One area police department was unable to use their patrol cars as they had no system in place to get tire chains installed. That coupled with the fact city hall was without electricity (no generator), the phone system and base radio station were inoperative.  Officers were patrolling in their privately owned four-wheel drive vehicles, even responding  to some calls on foot.
The up-side is we all had a chance to learn some valuable lessons.  Some folks I know are also some of the best-prepared-for-disaster people around, yet they related to me one lesson (among several) they learned.  No electricity required them to use their kerosene lamps.  The lady of the house told me she discovered whatever they used for fuel in the lamps gave her a headache.  Time to re-evaluate their fuel, maybe paraffin oil.
In my case, the last time I used my chain saw I put it away dull.  I remember thinking, “I’ve got to file that chain.”  Little did I know how quickly I was going to need it again.  Then when faced with a tree across my driveway, I realized the error of my ways.  Going to my shop I had resigned myself to sharpening the saw, then cutting that tree out of the way and going on to work.  In my not-so-tidy shop, I was unable to locate a file, so then I find myself griding away on that tree with a dull saw.  I finally got it out of the way, but my task would have been much less stressful with a sharpened, ready-to-go saw in the first place.  Just in case you’re curious, I have since purchased two new files, cleaned up my workbench, and my saw is now gassed, sharp and ready for action!
And that area police department? (Not Myrtle Point by the way.)  Steps have been taken to bring their readiness to a higher level in the event weather repeats itself.
No matter what your experience taught you, I’m willing to bet you and your family learned some lessons. We all learned some about how prepared we were, and how we could have been just a bit better off with some minor adjustments.  A few more candles or some extra gas for the generator could have made a difference.
As always if you have questions or comments or just want to know where you can get a good deal on round files, contact me at disasterprep.dave@gmail.com.