Mini Storm, Major Damage

As far as storms go, it didn’t last long.  Maybe twenty minutes.  But the intensity made up for the lack of duration.  Preceded by thunder and lightning then followed up by a blast of high wind and then a deluge of rainfall that dropped a bunch of rain in a very short period of time.  

Hundreds of trees in our region went down and in the process the electricity went out.  Over 13,000 customers just in the local area alone were without power.  Roofs blew off, trees fell across houses, roads and fences and the only grocery store in our city closed its doors.  With no electricity the gas stations closed and those with their tank on “E” simply had no recourse.

At my house, we retrieved the Coleman stove, broke out the cast iron cookware and made breakfast.  Camping in became the order of the day with Yahtzee replacing wi-fi fueled electronics.  And reading actual books helped pass the time instead of watching TV.

Later in the day the generator provided energy for the fridge.  My wife even vacuumed the living room carpet, thanks to the generator.  A craving for snacks, and I hooked up the microwave and the odor of popcorn soon wafted throughout the house.  Propane lanterns provided light (and some warmth) until bedtime.  

There is a certain segment of the population who doesn’t plan or prepare.  These folks go to the grocery store nearly every day to wander the aisles and decide what to have for dinner.  Here’s a money-saving tip:  Plan for a week in advance, then go shopping on Sunday afternoon and get what what you’re going to need.  Not only will you save big bucks, but if for some reason the store is closed, you can smugly prepare your meal with no worries. And here’s another:  When your gas tank hits the “half” mark, fill up.  It costs no more to drive on the upper half of the tank than the lower half.  Then when you get that call at 2:00 AM that your rich aunt is in the hospital a hundred miles away, you’ve got the means to get there if all the gas stations are closed.   

Now about power failures:  Call your power company to report the outage. I have always been of the opinion they know the electricity is out and my call is only going to add to their workload.  Not so, electric companies want to know where you are and exactly when your power failed.  It may show a pattern that helps  track the problem and assist in a strategy to get the lights back on.  And remember, do not call 911 to find out when the power is coming back.  Your power outage is not an emergency and all you’re doing is clogging up the emergency dispatch lines.  If you need to know when the electricity will be restored, call your power company.  They usually have a recorded message with the appropriate information.  

The lesson here is DO SOMETHING to prepare!  If a 20 minute wind storm can cause this much havoc and disrupt our lives like this, can you imagine what a major earthquake would do?  Now is the time to lay in some extra non-perishable food items, a case or two of bottled water, some batteries, a box of candles...well you get the idea.  After something happens is way too late to prepare.

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

Run, Hide, Fight

    I find it curious how our definitions change.  Disasters come in all different shapes.  Ordinarily we think of tornadoes, blizzards, house fires, or earthquakes.  Recently we have been forced to add another category:  Man-made disasters.  In recent memory it was attacks by terrorists on our military installations and naval vessels.  Now it has come to include active shooters in schools, malls, theaters, workplaces and even churches.  

    The odds are still astronomical that you will ever be involved in one of those situations.  But with a school shooting at a nearby community college and now a company Christmas party it seems someone is turning up the volume, so to speak, on man-made disasters.  With the worldwide political climate being what it is experts aren’t seeing a decrease in violence any time soon. At least one college president (Liberty University) is calling for students to get their permits and carry concealed.  County Sheriffs all across the nation are urging responsible citizens to do the same.  “The only thing that stops a bad man with a gun is a good man with a gun!”

    So put yourself in this scenario.  You’re in a building and hear shots fired.  Most of us have trouble dealing with that because we just can’t believe it’s happening.  Our normalcy bias kicks in and tells us since we’ve never been involved in anything like this, it’s probably just a backfire, someone dropped a stack of books or some other innocuous loud bang.  By the time most people come to grips with what is actually happening they have lost precious time they could have used to better their situation.  

The City of Houston, Texas, in cooperation with the Department of Homeland Security has produced a video designed to offer a plan for what to do if a shooter “goes active” in your space.  “Run, Hide, Fight,”  is a six-minute video offering advice you hope you never have to use.  

    Most shootings are over within minutes, and by the time the police arrive the shooting has stopped.  It is in those first few minutes the action you take may save your life or the lives of others.

Run.  Get out of the there!  Leave your purse, your cell phone and anything else you think is so important.  Go out the back door.  Get others to leave with you, but without wasting time convincing them to do so.  I don’t mean to sound selfish here, but this is YOUR life at stake.  Get out and get away.  And try to not look like a perpetrator.  There just may be police or security personnel out there and if your hands are raised and you’re crouching, that may score some points for your non-perp-ness.

Hide.  Sometimes you can’t get away.  The shooter is between you and the exit.  If it’s an office or class room, barricade the door, hide in a closet, under a desk or table.  Get out of the line of sight of someone looking to find you.  And don’t forget to silence your phone!

Fight. As a LAST resort!  This is the one that seems to raise the most controversy.  If a shooter is bent on taking lives, there is no sense in just letting him have his way.  Don’t just stand there waiting to be another statistic.  If multiple people rush a shooter, he can’t get all of you.  Grab something to use as a weapon and when he enters the room, take him out!

    I really hope none of us ever need this information.  But decide right now to do something if that moment ever comes.  A little “preparedness” may come in handy and just might keep you alive.

    As always send your questions and comments to disasterprep.dave@gmail.com.  Dave Robinson is the Postmaster in Bandon, Oregon, and the author of “Disaster Prep For The Rest Of Us.”

goTenna Part 4

    So wouldn’t you just know it?  The day after I wrote the previous column about how I hadn’t yet received my goTennas, guess what showed up in the mail.  You guessed it!  My pair of long awaited, pre-ordered goTennas.  

    If you’re wondering what I’m talking about, check last week’s column or go to www.goTenna.com.  This is the new device which enables smartphone users to send and receive text messages when there is no cell phone service.  Whether you are out in the hills away from a service area, or there is a cell phone outage, you can still communicate by secure text message.  

    The pair of devices arrive in a cleverly designed, no nonsense box  Included are two goTennas and two USB cables for charging.  The company claims the unit will operate for 24 hours on a full charge.  The units are identical except for the different colored ½ inch web straps affixed to the back of the unit.  One reviewer stated they were about the size of a Snickers bar.  Not any Snicker’s bar I’ve ever seen.  If you must compare it to a candy bar, I’d say it’s more like a rectangular Tootsie Roll.  Measuring 5 ¾ inches long with the antenna retracted.  Extending the antenna (total length 8 ⅛”) turns the unit on.  A single blinking LED signals power-on and successful Bluetooth pairing and readiness.  

    Setup requires going to Google Play for Android users and the App Store for iPhone customers.  Simply download the app, follow the simple instructions and you’re ready to proceed.  Included in the app is a high-quality map, similar to Google maps.  Your position is pinpointed as is your companion’s. The menu offers choices for a “Shout Chat” (, “Group Chat” or a “1-to-1 Chat.”  So far I have only tried the 1-to-1 function.  My companion was located about ¾ mile away (the device gives you distance information as well).  We had almost a clear line of sight and were able to communicate with no problems.  I was on a hill and he was in the valley, seated in his car.  We did note that it worked better when placed the goTenna on the roof of his car, rather than inside.   We tried later with a hill between us at approximately the same distance;.  No contact.  

    Even with that, I’m still impressed with the goTenna.  It is lightweight, compact, seemingly rugged and fills a niche no other product can touch.  The app is simple and straightforward, with no bugs.  At least none that I’ve found.  I do wish it had more “horsepower” but I have a feeling that will come in time.  Most electronic devices these days seem to increase in power and capability as time goes on.  Even as it is, I highly recommend the goTenna.  It will make a great Christmas gift for your outdoorsman or prepper.

    On a different note.  We were again saddened and shocked this week by yet another active shooter incident.  There is a training video produced by the City of Houston Mayor’s Office and Department of Homeland Security.  The title of the video is “Run, Hide, Fight.”  So many times during a shooting incident, the victims simply stand idly waiting their turn to become a statistic.  This six minute video gives good advice on what to if an active shooter invades your world.  This video will save lives!  Just go to www.youtube.com and enter “Run, Hide, Fight.”  Great advice you hope you will never need.     As always send your questions and comments to disasterprep.dave@gmail.com.   Dave Robinson is the Postmaster in Bandon, Oregon,  and the author of “Disaster Prep For The Rest Of Us.”

goTenna Update

    Every disaster planner knows the importance of reliable communications when something goes wrong.  Which phone lines are secure?  Which radio frequencies need to be set aside for fire, police, and EMS?  What if everything goes down?  What if your cell phone no longer works?

Enter the goTenna. I wrote about this product a few months back while it was still in the development and government red-tape stage.  The goTenna was invented by a lady on the East Coast that lived through Superstorm Sandy three years ago and lost all communications. Vowing to never experience a total communication blackout again, she developed the goTenna. This device pairs with your smartphone through bluetooth technology and enables you to send secure text messages to another goTenna holder.  

Think about it, if there is no cell phone coverage, you may need to connect with your kids who are still in school.  Do they stay put?  Are you on your way to get them?  Should they head home?  Or how about this:  You are hiking or hunting with your companions.  Suddenly you realize you are separated from your group.  No problem, just give ‘em a call on your cell phone.  Oops, no coverage out here in the hills.  That’s when you pull out your goTenna and establish contact with your friends.  One feature of this little device is that it includes a topographical map that displays the exact location of your hunting partner on your phone.  Likewise, his phone also shows your location.  When in range you simply text back and forth and the day is saved.  

Initial claims of 50-mile effective range have been adjusted to a more realistic 1-5 miles (maybe slightly more) based on terrain and conditions. According to the photos on their website, the goTenna seems to be about the same size and shape as the toothbrush holder I carry in my shaving kit.  Naturally they are rechargeable and easily slide into your backpack or Get-Home bag.  You might argue that similar technology is already available with products such as the Garmin Rhino GPS radio.  This is true, but a Garmin Rhino, fully equipped will cost up to $450.00 per unit.  Besides the communication is in no way secure.

One popular feature is that your messages are encrypted.  When the cell towers are bypassed, there is minimal opportunity for eavesdropping.  Also you can opt for a “message destruction” feature that is also secure.  All of this means something to the folks that are concerned about the security of their messages even if you are in an area that has cell service.  Not only will this product work when you are out in the hills, but in the concrete jungle as well when you want to keep your messages private.

I was given a pair for Christmas last year.  Only problem is I haven’t received them yet as they have been undergoing final testing and bureaucratic approval for the past several months.  Some friends of mine have reported they now have received theirs, so mine should be in the mail any day now.   This might just be the solution to your Christmas  shopping for that hunter/outdoorsman/prepper that already has everything.

When mine arrive, I’ll write a review on how well they perform.  Until then send your questions and comments to disasterprep.dave@gmail.com.   Dave Robinson is the Postmaster in Bandon, Oregon, and the author of “Disaster Prep For The Rest Of Us.”  

Active Shooter!

“Active Shooter On Oregon Community College Campus!” was the CNN News feed to my smart phone.  My blood began to race and I nearly dropped my phone bringing up more details.  I have two grandkids in the local community college.  As it turned out it was another campus about 60 miles away.  

Stories of heroism along with stories of unthinkable insanity are still coming out.  Political types are quick to make hay of one form or another.  Everyone in Southwestern Oregon is grieving not only the tragic losses, but just the fact that “this happened here!”

Police 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 lockdowns.  But no amount of preplanning can cover every contingency.  The day after the Umpqua Community College shooting, certain mis-information and misguided posts on social media led to mid-morning school shutdowns in our own county. Every police officer, paramedic and emergency room worker knows that scared people behave badly.  That’s where dozens of mildly (to not-so-mildly)  anxious parents began 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 restricted  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.  

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.

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.  

To plan for just such a contingency, some schools have purchased lockdown kits.  The kit is usually stored in a five-gallon bucket and contains water pouches, food bars, first-aid supplies, and many other items considered useful to weather such an incident.  Some even include a snap-on toilet seat/lid complete with toilet bags to provide for the sanitary needs that would eventually arise.  Ideally each classroom would have a kit with enough supplies to meet the needs of several students.  One kit I checked out sold for $70.00 and contained 30 water pouches.  It also had a battery powered radio, several light sticks and several other items.

It is unfortunate we have had to turn our schools into fortresses, but with the right planning and some supplies on hand, we can make our schools safer for our kids.

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

Hunting Prep

Every year about this time, hunters all across the country head into the woods in search of wild meat and some outdoor adventure.  In our area it’s elk, deer, bear and sometimes wild turkey.  It is also about this time every year when we read stories of hunters getting lost, stranded, injured, or otherwise having more adventure than they bargained for.

Having hunted, fished, camped and backpacked a time or two in my life, I have picked up a few lessons about being in the out of doors.

First, get your vehicle in shape for where you’re going to be hunting.  Many years ago when I was a Deputy Sheriff we received a call that a single mom was overdue from an elk hunting trip on State Forest land.  The dispatcher took all the pertinent information from the caller and assigned a couple of us to search for the missing hunter.  We found her the next morning where she had slid her Oldsmobile sedan off in the ditch and spent the night in her car .  (Pre-cell phone days.)  She and her four year old son had slept in the car and were little the worse for wear.  But an OLDSMOBILE!!?  I have no idea what she thought she was going to do with an elk if she actually shot one, but her story is just so wrong on several levels. I have often used her story as an example of how not to go  hunting.   Your rig should be fully capable of navigating back roads and in good repair with good tires and recently inspected belts and hoses.  Oh and don’t forget to top off your fuel tank!  I know it sounds way too basic, but you never know.

    Secondly, take a few things with you that you can use just in case you can’t get out.  Sometimes a tree will fall across the road, blocking your way.  That chainsaw you threw in the back on impulse could be a lifesaver.  Or you could use it to cut firewood if you wind up spending the night.  Some extra food never hurts.  Most hunters take along plenty of snack food and some water or a thermos of coffee.  How about a first aid kit?  Some extra band-aids and gauze pads, tape, anti-biotic ointment are easy insurance and can bring peace of mind to what could be a trip-ending cut or other minor injury.  Firestarter.  Can you start a fire with what you have with you?  Matches, a small propane lighter or a ferro rod and steel striker like a Lightning Strike starter should already be in your kit anyway.  A good pair of walkie-talkies can be valuable when you and your companion get separated.  The list goes on, but you get the idea.  Murphy’s Law is always looking for a place to strike, so try to cover all the possibilities

    Finally, take along a good dose of common sense.  Always let someone know where you’re going, when you’re going to return, and then stick to the plan.  It’s a good idea to take a companion.  After all, you need somebody to wrap that winch line around the tree and besides it’s just easier to have help packing your trophy out of the canyon.    Remember your hunting grounds may not have cell phone service so don’t rely completely on that smartphone to get you out of a jam.

    As always send your comments, questions and hunting stories to disasterprep.dave@gmail.com.  Dave Robinson is the Postmaster in Bandon, Oregon, and the author of “Disaster Prep For The Rest Of Us.”

Attitude Attitude

I have enjoyed watching the TV series "Alone".  Aired by The History Channel it is the story of ten men chosen for their survival skills.  Each man was given certain items useful in a survival situation and then dropped off somewhere on  the northern tip of Vancouver Island, British Columbia.  No one was aware of anyone else's location.  Each contestant was equipped with camera gear to film their own adventure and a satellite phone to call for help if needed.  The phone was also used to notify the producers when they had enough and wished to be extracted.  The motivation was $500,000 in cash to the last man standing.

The first to call it quits did so after spending one night in the wild.  He was visited by a couple of curious black bears and was totally undone by their presence.  One tapped-out when he lost his fire-striker and with it his will to continue.  Some gave in to homesickness, another drank bad water and became ill and yet others were affected by the dismal and sometimes stormy weather.  On the positive side, one guy  built a yurt, a canoe and even a guitar.  Each man built a shelter and all found some manner of food although some food items were  more appetizing than others.

One by one they tapped out for various reasons.  Finally there were two men left. One finally talked himself into making the call when he dwelt on his personal situation at home. The eventual winner actually cooked and ate slugs.  He also ate fish, shellfish, bull kelp and sea lettuce.  His shelter wasn't the fanciest, nor were his skills the best.  What he did have was a positive attitude and the ability to laugh at himself and not to get down in the dumps when it was cold, wet and windy.  In the end it was his attitude that kept him going for 56 days and rewarded him with a $500,000 payday.

Then there was the 62 year old woman near Fresno, California, who recently went for a day hike with her Sierra Club friends.  When her group returned to the base camp, she was discovered missing.  Nine days later she was rescued alive and hungry.  She reportedly carried a few supplies in her backpack, although not exactly equipped for an overnight outing high in the Sierra Nevadas.  She had somehow fallen and fractured a bone in her lower leg, then spent two days crawling to a creek.  She did have a small water filter to purify her drinking water.  The nighttime temperatures had fallen to the low 30's and after nine days she heard the voices of searchers.  Using her whistle she got their attention and was flown out to a hospital where she was treated and released.  Attitude!

Equipment is good, food is necessary, and good skills are vital, but in the final analysis, if you're going to survive any disaster, it's your attitude that will carry the day!  As always send your questions and comments to disasterprep.dave@gmail.com.  Dave Robinson is the Postmaster in Bandon, Oregon, and the author of "Disaster Prep For The Rest Of Us."