Disaster Prep Self-Test

This post is a repeat of one I put up several months ago.  If you took the test back then, you can re-take it now and self-rate your improvement.  Enjoy!

Would you know what to do in case of an emergency?  Most of us have never suffered the likes of Hurricane Katrina, the Thailand tsunami or the earthquake in Japan.  Many of us though have been inconvenienced by the loss of electricity or a snow storm that kept us from leaving our home.  What about an earthquake, fire or flood? Are you prepared? Just for fun, let's take this little test to see how we rate.

1.  Has your family rehearsed fire escape routes from your home?  Yes-No

2.  Does your family know what to do before, during and after an earthquake?  Yes-No

3.  Do you have heavy objects hanging over beds than can fall during an earthquake?  Yes-No

4.  Do you have access to an operational flashlight in every bedroom?  Yes-No

5.  Do you keep shoes near your bed to protect your feet from walking on broken glass?  Yes-No

6.  If a water line was ruptured during an earthquake, do you know how to shut off the main water line to your house?  Yes-No

7.  Can this water line be turned off by hand or is a tool required?  Yes-No

8.  If you have natural gas or propane, do you know where the main shut-off is located?  Yes-No

9.  If you smell gas, do you know how and would you be able to shut off this valve?  Yes-No

10.  Do you have working smoke alarms in the proper places to warn you in case of fire?

Yes-No

11. In case of a minor fire, do you have a fire extinguisher that you know how to use?  Yes-No

12. Do you have duplicate keys, copies of important papers or documents stored in a location outside your home?  Yes-No

13. Do you own a radio capable of receiving emergency information?  Yes-No

14. If your family had to evacuate your home, have you identified a meeting place?  Yes-No

If an emergency lasted for 72 hours before help was available:

15.  Would you have sufficient food?  Yes-No

16.  Would you have the means to cook without gas or electricity?  Yes-No

17.  Would you have sufficient water for cooking, drinking and sanitary needs?  Yes-No

18.  Do you have access to a 72 hour evacuation kit?  Yes-No

19.  Would you be able to carry or transport your kit?  Yes-No

20.  Have you established an out-of-state contact?  Yes-No

21.  Do you have a first aid kit in your home and in each car?  Yes-No

22.  Do you have work gloves and tools for minor rescue and clean-up?  Yes-No

23.  Do you have some emergency cash on hand?  Yes-No

24.  Do you have a means to heat your house other than the normal way?  Yes-No

25.  If you need medication, do you have a month’s supply on hand?  Yes-No

26.  Do you have a plan for toilet facilities if there is an extended water shortage?  Yes-No

Just to clarify, it is believed that if a major earthquake strikes off the Oregon coast, our region will be isolated from assistance for several weeks.  I recommend you prepare accordingly.

Now about the test, if you answered “no” to any of the questions, then I suggest you take another look at your preparations and make some adjustments.  As always email me with questions or comments at disasterprep.dave@gmail.com.

                                                    The Bag

January 1949, Nebraska Sandhill Country.  My father worked for the U.S. Forest Service on a remote station some 80 miles from the nearest town.  It was a Saturday afternoon, the day when all good country folk went to town for their weekly shopping trip.  I was only eight months old and they finished shopping early and headed home.  At about 3:00 PM the great blizzard of ‘49 struck. Dad was driving along a two-track “sandhill road” when their old Chevy became bogged down in a snow drift.  Knowing they were not far from a ranch, they packed up their eight month old son, along with all they could carry and hiked three miles through the blizzard to the ranch.  It was six weeks before they could get back to retrieve the car.

    Most preppers have a “go bag,” or a “ready bag” or some refer to it as a “bug-out bag.”  Those folks have a belief they may need to evacuate their home on short notice and the supplies in their “bag” will be needed for survival. It is my position for those of us living in Southwestern Oregon, our need to evacuate is minimal.  My bag goes with me everywhere and I would rely on its contents for survival if the need arose.  

    I’m pretty sure my parents didn’t have a “get home” bag, but I do know we carried certain things with us at all times “just in case.”   This morning it was 17 degrees Fahrenheit at my house.  Cold temperatures on the South Coast of Oregon are pretty rare.  In the past two days Interstate 5 has been closed because of road conditions and there are reports all over the state of motorists in the ditch, accidents and all manner of incidents directly related to adverse weather conditions.

    Get a bag!  I use a backpack I ordered online for $28.00.  My list is going to be different from yours, but just imagine being stranded somewhere other than your warm, comfy home, and consider what you might need to have with you.  My bag includes some food, some extra blood pressure bills, a Sterno stove (and fuel), some matches, and a disposable lighter, a flashlight, a multi-tool, some extra socks and pair of underwear.  (I know you wanted to know that!) I also have a screwdriver (the kind with interchangeable bits) a small adjustable wrench and a folding saw.  I found an old military mess kit and a pot that contains two drinking cups. I carry my SteriPEN for water purification, some warmer clothes, a First Aid Kit and a couple of good knives round out the basics.  I suppose there are a few other odds and ends, but you get the idea.  There are a couple of cans of Spam in there and I discovered recently the lip on the can makes an acceptable ice scraper for your windshield if you have need for one.  Note of caution here:  The metal will mar your windshield and you’ll have to deal with that later, but it does remove frost!  

    I shared with someone recently that I take my bag with me everywhere.  If I have to leave it behind for some reason, I have the same uneasy feeling as when I forget to buckle my seat belt.  So “Bag-Up!”  Now’s the best time, before you get stranded somewhere.

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

Batteries

    One of the funny memories I have of my son is when he was in the first grade he had accumulated (of all things) a collection of dead batteries!  Every kid always packs their dearest treasures to school for “Show and Tell.”  No matter how we coerced or cajoled, he insisted on taking his entire collection to school.  (I guess he thought the other kids would get a charge out of his battery collection.)  At the end of the day, his mother was prepared to offer encouragement and comfort as she was certain he would endure the worst manner of ridicule at the hands of his classmates.  “You were wrong!” he exclaimed, “They loved it!”

    Every disaster preparedness list shows the need to stock up on batteries.  Whether it’s a tree down across a power line, or widespread regional destruction, the first thing to go is usually the electricity. Then your priority is to re-establish lighting.  Batteries are like duct tape and nylon zip ties, you can never have too many.  

    Raising two grandsons puts a constant drain on my battery supply, but I know what to keep in stock and I make sure my battery inventory stays charged up.  (Sorry.)  While some folks still rely on candles, hurricane lanterns and the occasional Aladdin lantern, F.E.M.A. and the Red Cross both urge the use of battery powered lighting to avoid the problem of fire danger.  

    Check your battery inventory, whether AAAs, AAs, Cs, Ds or 9-volt, you should have a good stock of the various sizes on hand.  Especially if you have kids in the house and they need to resupply the remote control unit on their radio controlled dune buggy.

    Somewhere I heard that you can slow the discharge rate of stored batteries by placing them in the freezer.  The following is reportedly the results of a study conducted by Consumer Report:  “Consumers Report magazine took exactly 432 AA, C and D batteries. They stored some in the refrigerator, and some at room temperatures. At the end of five years they found that indeed the refrigerated batteries had more charge, but not by much. The room temperature batteries still had 96 percent of the charge of the refrigerated ones.”

    Duracell says:  "Do not refrigerate DURACELL Batteries. This will not make them last longer. Most DURACELL Batteries will provide dependable long life even after 5 years of storage in these conditions."

    And finally Energizer says: "Storing batteries in refrigerators or freezers is not required or recommended for batteries produced today. In fact, cold temperature storage can harm batteries. To maximize performance and shelf life, store batteries at normal room temperatures with moderate humidity levels."

    Lots of folks are turning to rechargeable batteries. While they are a bit more expensive to start with, you can extend your investment by adding a solar charger and then if the power is out for a lengthy period, you’re set.

    So before there’s a power outage, pick up a few new batteries, maybe a rechargeable lantern if you find one on sale and you’re set for that winter storm.

   

Storage Solutions

Every self-respecting prepper has the same problem.  Storage.  Preppers, by nature have stocked up on all manner of usable goods.  Whether it’s First Aid supplies or food or gasoline or medication, storage solutions must be found for all of your supplies.  Some food items can be canned, frozen or dehydrated.  Food must be kept safe from freezing, (unless, of course you want it frozen), dry, free from mice, bugs and other vermin.  One of the best things I have discovered for general purpose storage is a five-gallon bucket (food-grade plastic, of course) with a gamma-seal lid.  A gamma-seal lid is one that snaps onto the bucket, then the center of the lid is removed by unscrewing.  The whole affair creates an airtight, waterproof seal capable of protecting your stored supplies.  Gamma-seal lids can be ordered through several outlets online.  Standard lids are fine, but they create a problem when you try to open them (especially without tools) and then reseal the container.  Buckets stack neatly and are easily portable.  For more  ideas check out www.fivegallonideas.com.

    Another tool that comes in handy is a food vacuum sealer.  You know that thing that sucks out all the air and moisture from your salmon, elk and venison steaks.  When you’re putting together your get-home bag, use the vacuum sealer to store items you don’t want to get wet and also to save space.  Not only are food items protected, but so are matches, batteries, ammo and various other items.  Vacuum sealers can be expensive, costing as much as $500, but I actually picked one up  for $15.00 at a garage sale recently.  They usually require special bags, but are really quite handy for storing some of your essentials.  

    Then there is first aid gear.  First aid kits are self-contained and usually are designed more for successful marketing than for actual use.  (Sorry, it’s the cynic in me!)  Imagine showing up at an accident scene and jumping out of your car to help with first aid kit in hand.  Popping open the lid you find various band-aids, some gauze pads and a small roll of bandage tape.  Oh, and maybe a mini-packet of Tylenol.  It’s then you discover the accident victims have injuries of the life-threatening kind and even if you combined all the stuff in your kit, it wouldn’t begin to help.  I carry a kit in the tool box on my ATV.  It is marketed as an “Off Road” kit.  I was pretty proud of it until I realized that any accident involving an ATV or hunting accident was going to be way above the pay-grade of that little first aid kit.  Having said that, I began accumulating bandages, suture kits and various other over-the-counter remedies to the point I needed a storage solution. I finally wound up with a tool box that seems to fill the bill. It’s a plastic one made by Husky with a cantilever-style top and carries a massive amount of gear.  Trouble is, now it’s full.

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

Wilderness Survival

    I don’t know about you, but I just love a good survival story.  When I read of someone who has been given an opportunity to lose a battle against nature, but then comes out on top, I want to find out how he did it.  What did he do?  What did he have with him that was useful in his battle against the elements?  What little tidbit can I learn that I may be able to use if I’m ever in that situation?

A few weeks ago, most of the major news networks carried the story of 72 year old Gene Penaflor who had gone deer hunting in Northern California. Nineteen days earlier, Penaflor and his hunting partner split up to try to flush out a deer.  A search was launched after Penaflor failed to meet up with his companion a few hours later.  Unknown to his hunting partner, Penaflor had fallen and was knocked unconscious for several hours.  When he woke, it was foggy and he was disoriented.  According to news reports, he kept his wits about him and managed to get a small fire going and find shelter.  Among the items he carried were a rifle and some ammo, two garbage bags, a knife, a lighter and a water bottle.  The knife and water bottle were lost in the fall.  

Although the temperature at times fell to 25 degrees, he built a small fire and sought shelter from rain and snow under a fallen tree.  He also stuffed dry leaves and grass under his clothing for insulation and used the garbage bags as makeshift rain gear.  His Gore-Tex boots were another key item credited with his survival.  

Penaflor reported he survived by eating three squirrels, one snake, two frogs and two lizards.  He simply threw them on the embers of his fire and made sure they were thoroughly cooked before he ate them.  

He was rescued 19 days later by a group of hunters who heard him yelling for help.  After a short stay in the hospital for observation, he was released and is reportedly doing fine.

So lets take a look at what he did that helped keep him alive.  First, although he was injured and disoriented, he did not panic.  He simply took stock of his situation and calmly did all the right things.  

Secondly he had some things with him that were of value.  A cigarette lighter probably contributed greatly in that it was a great fire starter.  Not only was the fire used for warmth and companionship, but he now had a means by which to cook his food.  And speaking of food, you and I might think it odd (or downright icky) to eat squirrel, snake or lizard, but we only say that because we aren’t real hungry at the moment!  Never look down your well-fed nose and say you wouldn’t eat something like that just because at the moment it seems gross!  Your opinion may change if you haven’t eaten for a few days.  

Lastly, we get a hint of the value he places on quality equipment when we learn he was wearing Gore-Tex boots. Some life-saving decisions are made before you ever leave home!

So the next time you prepare to venture out, pause for a moment to consider what you may want to add to your pockets (or backpack) that just may increase your chances if something goes wrong.

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

Fire Season

    Already this weekend,I have heard the fire siren go off at least three times summoning our volunteer department to respond to someone’s personal disaster.  Personally I chalk it up to wood burning stoves, excessive creosote buildup and possibly a lack of proper maintenance.  According to the American Red Cross, home fires are the biggest disaster threat in the United States.  The Red Cross responds to a fire in someone’s home about every eight minutes.  Home fires are more prevalent than floods, hurricanes, and tornadoes.  Simply by following a few simple safety rules you can drastically reduce the danger of fire in your home.  

    Before I start with safety rules, I want to mention a couple of pieces of equipment.  First are your smoke detectors.  The Red Cross recommends having a working smoke detector on every level of your home and in every bedroom.  Test them each month by pushing the little button and while you’re at it, get the kids in on the act to teach them what the alarm sounds like and what means if they hear it go off.  Then pick one special day each year to replace the batteries.  Or at least listen for the little chirp that signals an almost dead battery and swap out the battery right away.

    Secondly, how many of you actually have a fire extinguisher in your home?  Before you run out and buy a supply of fire extinguishers for home use, stop by the local fire department for suggestions on the right type (usually a Class A,B,C) and instructions for proper use.  And for those of you non-NRA types who are opposed to using guns for home defense, if the occasion arises and you need to defend yourself and your family, just hose the perp down with your fire extinguisher.  Besides being 100% legal to have in your home, you can purchase one without a permit, (or a background check) and it will incapacitate an attacker by making him unable to breathe, see or even hear anything.  

Electric heaters; get the kind that turn off automatically when they tip over.  Also never leave them running when you leave the house or go to sleep.  Talk to your kids regularly about the dangers of fire and the misuse of matches and lighters.  Keep them out of reach of small children.  And here’s one for the “duh” category; Never smoke in bed!  For a more complete list, go to www.redcross.org.  There is a printable checklist on their website.

Don’t forget to have a fire escape plan.  Not only should your plan include alternate routes to get out of the house but a common gathering point needs to be established as well.  And finally if your power goes out and the temperature in your home is dropping, DO NOT use a charcoal grill for warmth.  Every year I read of some bonehead who brought the charcoal grill in the house and tragedy ensued.  Carbon monoxide kills!  

If you burn wood for heat, have your chimney inspected and cleaned, if necessary.  Don’t cut corners when so much is at stake.

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

Winter Travel

    “Over the river and through the wood, to Grandmother’s house we go.  The horse knows the way to carry the sleigh through the white and drifted snow.” And so goes the old song about holiday travel to visit the relatives.  Now I’ll admit I have never actually travelled by sleigh to visit relatives, but plenty of us hit the road during winter months to spend the holidays with loved ones.   Winter travel requires some extra planning to make your trip a safe one.

First, factor in a little extra time for your journey.  Safe driving in nasty weather requires slowing down.  In fact, snowy and icy roads require a whole different skill set.  If your route takes you over any mountain passes, the possibility of snow and icy roads may affect your trip.  Making sure your car is ready for the trip is just smart planning.  Are your tires up for the trip?  Do you have a set of tire chains that actually fit your car?  Do you know how to install your chains?  Studded tires are always an option, although here on the South Coast of Oregon few motorists make that investment as we rarely have a need for them.  And you can file this one in the “Duh” category, is your gas tank full? More than one motorist has been stranded along the interstate for several hours because of nasty weather.  Running out of gas is unacceptable, as is being without a couple of blankets in the trunk or some snacks for the kids.

So when you get ready to head out, go to the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) website and check their webcams at www.tripcheck.com.  Every known hazardous spot (and some that aren’t so hazardous) has a webcam set up monitoring the road conditions.  Accompanying the video display is a list of up-to-the-minute weather conditions listing the temperature, wind information and precipitation. The wise traveler will adjust his travel plans according to what he learns about the weather conditions enroute.  Every pilot has had to either cancel a trip or change his flight plans because of weather.  There is an old saying, “there are old pilots and bold pilots, but there are no old, bold pilots!”  The same may be true for the winter traveler.  Making changes in your road trip shows wisdom and maturity of thought for the safe consideration of your loved ones.   

Before you head out, grab your “go” bag, top off your gas tank and your coffee thermos.  A few food items can’t hurt, along with your tire chains, tow strap, jumper cables (for someone else, you understand) and maybe one of those folding shovels.  Be sure to get an early start, because those slick roads demand slower speeds, and a willingness to abort the mission if it gets a little too risky out there.  This trip isn’t worth anyone getting injured just because your bone-headed macho-man attitude wasn’t about to be pushed around by some little ol’ snow storm.  Be a real hero to your family and make the hard decision if you need to.  Ultimately being prepared will bring a whole element of safety to your journey.

“Over the river and through the wood, now Grandmother’s cap I spy.  Hurrah for the fun.  Is the pudding done?  Hurrah for the pumpkin pie!”

As always, send your comments, questions and winter driving stories to www.disasterprep.dave@gmail.com.