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.

Do You Know Where Your Flashlight Is?

    As I write this, the first notable storm of the season is blowing in off the Pacific.  A moderate amount of rain coupled with predicted wind gusts of 70 mph makes for that howling, drumming sound we have all learned to recognize as our regional storms.  Reports of electrical power outages in the area have already been reported, along with some flooding caused by increased runoff.  

    Considering this, it’s time already to make sure you know where your flashlight is.  Do you have extra batteries?  Batteries are like duct tape, you can never have too many.  Is your cordless drill charged up so you can screw plywood across that broken window (for your neighbor, of course)?  And naturally you have a box of screws for just that purpose.

    My wife and I are privileged to have our two grandsons live with us.  For those of us who have children in the house, there are some simple things you can do to set their minds at ease in case the electricity goes out, or worse.  Storms are naturally scary for kids because of all the racket outside.  Then when a tree goes down across a power line amidst all that noise, suddenly the house goes dark, the TV dies and the playstation quits at the worst possible time.  The sudden darkness can be upsetting to kids and if you’re prepared with emergency lighting and other readiness items, you can go a long ways toward making this a “camping in” experience rather than one that causes needless drama.  

    You could even gather the kids around the table some evening and talk to them about disaster preparedness and how important it is to know where things are.  Then turn off the lights  and tell them “we’re having a drill.”  See who can find a flashlight first.  You could possibly assign other tasks such as selecting someone to stay with the baby, or have them pair up as in the Boy Scout days of using the buddy-system.  Only one rule, no turning on any lights.

We tried this at my house recently.  My adult daughter and two grandsons participated.  The 14 year old grandson found a flashlight within 60 seconds.  One thing I hadn’t counted on was handheld mobile devices provide a sufficient amount to find your way in the dark.  Also the outside yard light provided some light with which to find our way about.

When your electricity fails, be sure to reassure the kids there really is nothing to worry about.  Talk to them about what may have caused the outage, and that there are crews out in the storm right this minute working to restore service.  In most cases the lights come back on in a few hours and life returns to normal.

Children learn to take their cues from the adults in their lives.  If the grownups are panicked, then children will likewise be undone.  But when your attitude is, “I’ve got this,” then the kids are comforted in the understanding their parents really do have the situation under control.  When you have made some simple preparations and are ready to handle the unexpected, it will serve well to bring stability and avoid all the drama associated with fears.  Be sure to ask the kids if they’re afraid, and what are they afraid of?  Reassure them you are there with them and nothing bad is going to happen.  Tell them you have plenty of food and supplies and remind them they are warm and dry and because you are a wise and caring parent you have already prepared for just such an emergency.  No worries!

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

Building Skills For Disaster Prep

    Some folks have the misconception that being prepared is all about having your pantry full.  No doubt about it, that’s important, but other things are equally vital.  Any prepper website can give you a checklist of equipment you’re going to “need” in a disaster.  And while equipment can be useful, if you don’t have the skills to use your gear, it is of no value.  No off-the-shelf kit will contain everything you need to survive, in fact most of the tools you need for survival are between your ears.

    In this week’s column we’re going to look at some skills that you may need in the event of a major earthquake, a big wind storm or a prolonged period of below-freezing weather.  First, a working knowledge of carpentry skills is basic.  When a major earthquake strikes, structural damage to your home will be a given.  Whether the roof caves in or just a few windows are broken, plan on being on your own for repairs.  Basic tools, some plywood and maybe a few 2 x 4s are going to come in handy when you need to make quick repairs.  Following that, some PVC fittings, glue and an extra piece or two of pipe will make for a quick plumbing fix.  Pipes usually burst at the most awkward times and never when the hardware store is open nor the plumber available.    

    Our most frequent disaster here on the South Coast is the winter wind storm.  Trees are blown down, sometimes across power lines, sometimes across our driveway and sometimes even across our houses. If you own a chainsaw, then keep it sharp, fueled and ready to go at a moment’s notice.  If you’re not familiar with its use, go practice with it.  You’d be surprised at how many people own equipment but have never gotten familiar with it.

    First aid skills are always in need during a disaster.  What you know may save a life, maybe even your own or that of a family member.  Now’s a great time to upgrade your knowledge.  Check out the training available on www.redcross.org.  Take a look at your first aid kit, make sure it’s well-stocked.  

    If you lack skills, then it is important you connect with your neighbors and combine your energies.  I’m willing to bet there’s someone in your neighborhood that has the skills you may lack.  Mapping your neighborhood will not only help you get acquainted, but will combine the skills and knowledge of your neighbors in the event of a disaster. If you want more information on Mapping Your Neighborhood, contact me by email and I will forward information to you helpful in getting organized.

    Finally, a product review.  I recently “bit” on an advertisement called “Family Survival System.”  A very slick video presentation offered a book promising to be the ultimate in disaster preparedness information and survival information.  The video presentation claims the author is a military man (Army) and he purports to be an expert on the topic.  I clicked on the “purchase” button and invested $37.00, hoping to expand my library for research and information.  What I received is an electronic book downloaded to my computer.  Printing it off, I have a 41 page booklet of basic prepper/survival topics.  I find the booklet to be poorly written, shallow and lacking in the “meat” for which I was hoping.  Furthermore, there were two free publications offered, but when I downloaded the book, those links disappeared and I have been unable to locate them again.  So save your money and simply research this blog instead. Besides, its free.   As always, send your comments and questions to disasterprep.dave@gmail.com.