Earthquake Preparedness

Well the Fireside on March 19th was well attended. It was nice to hear Earthquake facts rather than hype or rumors. I hope you'll take some time to look through the publication at BeReady Utah.com that was recommened by our Speaker Dr Gerber: Putting Down Roots in Earthquake Country

If you missed the Fireside, here are just a few things to remember:
Duck Cover and Hold
- DUCK or DROP down on the floor.
- Take COVER under a sturdy desk, table, or other furniture. If that is not possible, seek cover against an interior wall and protect your head and neck with your arms. Avoid danger spots near windows, hanging objects, mirrors or tall furniture.
- If you take cover under a sturdy piece of furniture, HOLD on to it and be prepared to move it. Hold the position until the ground stops shaking and it is safe to move.

Practice turning off your electricity and water. Know how to turn off the gas, but do not practice this step. In the event of an earthquake, once you turn off your gas, only your utility company should turn it back on for safety reasons.

OTHER THINGS TO KNOW:
HIGH-RISE BUILDING, move against an interior wall if you are not near a desk or table. Protect your head and neck with your arms. Do not use the elevators.

OUTDOORS, move to a clear area away from trees, signs, buildings, or downed electrical wires and poles.

on a SIDEWALK NEAR BUILDINGS, duck into a doorway to protect yourself from falling bricks, glass, plaster and other debris.

DRIVING, pull over to the side of the road and stop. Avoid overpasses and power lines. Stay inside your vehicle until the shaking stops.

CROWDED STORE OR OTHER PUBLIC PLACE, move away from display shelves containing objects that could fall. Do not rush for the exit.

in a STADIUM OR THEATER, stay in your seat, get below the level of the back of the seat and cover your head and neck with your arms.

Earthquakes #2

I thought this was VERY interesting. These gals at http://foodstoragemadeeasy.net/ held a 7 Day Challenge last Sept and one day was about earthquake preparedness. This is what they had to say on their website:

One of the days we practiced living through an earthquake. What were some of the things our readers said they wish they had after "practicing" this scenario? Here are just a few:

- I need to get my cars prepped for emergencies, I have nothing but booster cables in them

- Get a family size tent to use until home is declared safe

- Have shovel and bar of some sort for clearing the road

- Have more crafts and activities ready

- I need a good supply of fuel and extra water to cook with

- We need a few more flashlights, car emergency kits, some non gas lanterns would also be nice I used the last of the charcoal and so I will have to find something else to cook with tomorrow I'm going to try out our portable camp stove that we have, but never used, to make sure it works and find yummy recipes my kids like

- Will try to work on getting a generator

- Having an extra propane tank just in case, and the shovel

- Shovel for the car and some MRE's More tin foil, tarps, staple gun, duct tape, more germex, chain saw I need to do some serious work to prepare for an earthquake

- Finding some games to play (simple ones) but we did have fun talking about old times

- Probably store some wood for camp fire style cooking

- Have 4 pages of a "to do list" and to buy list

- Buy more paper products, washing dishes by hand and heating the water is SO MUCH WORK

- If there is a real earthquake I will need to secure the tall shelves in my garage to the wall so they won't fall over

- Must have 3 month food supply in place sooner I'd like my water easier to get to, it is in 30 gallon barrels, and the pump is not very reliable - I need my strong husband and sons for it

Info on the Web

"Preparation through education is less costly than learning through tragedy"
- Max Mayfield, Director National Hurricane Center

Over the past couple of years I've tried to use this blog to help others find worthwhile information about Emergency Preparedness. There's a lot out there and not all of it is trustworthy!!!! OUCH! Actually, some of it is meant specifically to make a buck through "scare tactics" and that's just not where we need to be putting our money nor our focus. There's work to do and we need to be taking care of business!

I have found that some sources are consistently reliable while others aren't even worth a bookmark and on my computer...that's pretty bad. This morning I decided to begin a series of links that I think have very useful information and the first one that I turn to is Emergency Essentials. (My opinion: If you shop their sales this company is a great source of preparedness items - get on their mailing list and see what's going on with them for the month. With stores on 106th South in SLC and one next to the Distribution Center in Orem, it's easy to just swing by once a month to pick up their specials.) When you go to their website they have file tabs at the top of the page - One is called Insight Articles and will take you to their archive of article categories. Each family is at their own level of Preparedness - we need to budget our time, money and focus into one thing a month to make great strides - so I felt that this would be especially helpful for my readers to click on the category that is your focus for this month. Here ya go....enjoy!
Emergency Essentials Articles

Do you know your numbers?

There are some Emergency Preparedness measures that are SO EASY to do that there's just no excuse for not doing them. Having a list of Contact Information is one of those. If you will click on this link at Be Ready Utah, you will find a printable form for recording that information for your family. All you need to do RIGHT NOW is:
Click
Print
Complete
Post (where everyone can find it)

Special Needs Survival

Is there someone in your life with special needs? Pay close attention and acquire the necessary medication and equipment to help them during an emergency.

Special Needs Survival

The 9 Essentials to Sheltering in Place

The following article is taken from The Ready Store It caught my attention because we live in a "Shelter In Place" Area. This means that during a disaster, such as an earthquake, there will probably be no exit from our general neighborhood. Freeways shut down immediately because of fallen bridges, We are surrounded by earthquake faults, our only way out would be through side streets which will be congested with paniced people and possible broken up and unpassable. So we need to be prepared to "Shelter in Place" (take care of ourselves until life gets back to normal which could take weeks!) At the bottom of the article I've also included some valid comments that readers left.

The 9 Essentials to Sheltering in Place

When it comes to emergencies there’s items that are necessities and there’s items that are luxuries. Generally speaking you want to tackle the necessities first and then add additional items to increase the comfort level of the situation.

Here are 9 essentials you should have during a sheltering in place scenario, (keep in mind that you may be required to shelter in place somewhere besides your own home):

1. Water - Plan on 1 Gallon per person, per day for drinking and sanitation. Our water storage category includes items like Datrex Water Pouches and 5-Gallon Water Containers that can help you with your water needs.

2. Food - A supply of 3-5 days per person. For a lot of people the first couple of days can be supplemented by what’s already in the house. However, to insure that you always have your emergency food supply ready to go I recommend one of our 3-21 Day Food Supplies.

3. Clothes - In your 72-Hour Kit you want to be sure you have an extra pair of clothes and shoes for each person in your group/family.

4. Medications - It’s a good practice to collect 3-5 days worth of any prescription medications that you’re taking.Also be sure to note expiration dates so that you can rotate them appropriately.

5. Flashlight - When it comes to flashlights, don’t go cheap. There are good flashlights out their that are very affordable. Here’s some great options: Ultra-Bright 3-LED Dynamo Flashlight, 12-LED StreamLine Flashlight, or theULTIMATE Dynamo Solar Powered Survival Radio.

6. Can Opener - This is another item that you want to be sure is high quality. There’s nothing worse than a can opener that won’t open cans.

7. Radio - The ideal option for a radio is one that has multiple options for powering the radio including, batteries, hand-crank, AC/DC, and/or

solar. The ULTIMATE Dynamo Solar Powered Survival Radio is a great option for this.

8. Hygiene Kit - Start with just the basics, soap, toilet paper and a toothbrush is enough to get most people by for 3-5 days.

9. First Aid Kit - Again, from a starting point perspective make sure that your first-aid kit at lest includes, antiseptic, gloves, bandages and your non-prescription medicine such as aspirin or Tylenol.

Put these 9 essential items in place and you’ve got a good foundation for a sheltering in place emergency kit!

Comments:

Also need some kind of self defense.

Tents, sleeping bags, blankets … some sort of warmth and protection from the elements might be a good idea. How ’bout matches or lighters ?

Containers for boiling water, I pack emergency supplies in coffee cans.

Also, extra supplies for trade - money will have little value. Useful goods (food, toilet paper and other basic necessities) will have higher value than coins.

to this list, I add plastic sheeting and duct tape. Your emergency could be spilled chemicals or something where you need to cover the windows.

CERT Training for the Prepared Volunteer

Excellent Article! Hope you'll take the time to read it!

CERT Training for the Prepared Volunteer

Medical Independence

About a year ago I attended a cooking class at Macey's in Plesant Grove. That's where I met Kellene Bishop. Just the fact that I'm telling you about her should be a clue that I was so impressed with what this woman knows! Kellene has a website called: Preparedness Pro. Using her vast background experience, she covers all kinds of wonderful information about all things that are Emergency Related. This coming Saturday she is going to begin an online radio class. During this time you can call in to ask your questions or ask them in a chat room she has. Here's the information for this week's show: Preparedness Radio

Saturday, October 23rd 10AM - Noon MST

Today's show will focus solely on Medical Independence. We’re going to discuss why we know so little about taking care of ourselves at home and what we must do about it. Even a person with serious disease or disabilities can be much improved by learning some of these key tips towards medical self-reliance.

Each week Kellene will cover in great detail one of the 10 Principles of Preparedness that are necessary for your everyday independence and competence as well as during tougher times: Medical Independence,
Stocking up on a Dime,
Sprouting, Making Wheat Meat,
Necessary Self-Defense,
Physical Preparedness,
The Elimination of Fear,
When the Lights Go Out,
The Looming Financial Collapse,
A Thriving Knowledge of the Constitution,
and more.

Ham Operators

"During the 2003 San Diego fires it was a HAM radio operator who was a ward member who was able to deliver the message to evacuate. The 911 system did not notify residents and the office of emergency preparedness was closed as it was a Sunday. Eleven families in that ward lost their homes but thanks to a HAM who was in touch with first responders, no lives were lost." by Don L. Nicolaysen (KR6US)

We have an excellent opportunity to attend a One-Day Ham Operator Class on Oct 16th at BYU. It's an accelerated class offered by Kenneth Moravec. Seating is limited so if you would like to attend, you will need to register right away. Click here for details.

Ham Operators will be vital for our neighborhood during an emergency. To get this training during a one day course will give you an invaluable tool for the rest of your life - wherever you are.

Communication

Here's an excellent article on Communication in an Emergency.  I've thought about this a lot and I think that with the help of neighbors, we can all figure out how to get through the aftermath of a disaster but my biggest scare would be in wondering if my family is OK at work or school or wherever they were at the time. I hope you'll take time to read this article but here are a few pointers that she gives:

• Know the different types of emergencies and their appropriate responses.

• Learn about local emergency plans, warning systems, radio stations and other emergency messaging resources for your community. Find out what agencies will respond to an emergency.

• Keep a list of phone numbers for family (home, work, cell numbers), numbers for your children’s school, church leaders, doctors, hospital, fire, and police. The 911 circuit will be overloaded. You will need direct numbers to get through.

• Keep a list of essential info like social security numbers, a photo of each family member, and a family group photo with your plan documents.

• Use landline phones sparingly. In the hours immediately following a disaster event, phones will be essential to save lives. Make only brief and informative reports to your out-of-town contact, and ask them to make the calls to your extended family and friends to report your condition. They will need a list of your family contacts as well.

• Cell phone towers may lose power, and will be overwhelmed with cell traffic. Be prepared to text with family members, as text data will often go through when voice calls are failing.

• Consider amateur (ham) radio as part of your family emergency plan. Ham radio operators are likely to be helping first responders and relief organizations like the Red Cross. Get a ham radio license and learn to use VHF radios to communicate with others in your area.

Can It Happen Here?

Here's some after thoughts to Friday's story about the San Bruno CA explosion. Definitely worth being informed about: 
Aging Gas Pipes at Risk of Explosion Nationwide

Back to the Future - A World Without Electricity

Here's some great information about Electromagnetic Pulse Weapons  - Ya...I didn't know what that was either until I read this article. It's pretty interesting reading.

Back to the Future - A World Without Electricity

Triage Bandages

Following any natural disaster there will be a period of time when community emergency crews will not be able to reach each household. Depending on the degree of the disaster this could take up to 2 weeks or more. In the case of medical attention, this can present major challenges. The CERT team in our neighborhood is trained to do light search and rescue of each household (for our neighborhood only) and they have basic training of how to triage bleeding wounds and broken limbs to maintain cleanliness and comfort until professional medical attention can be given. This process will be facilitated for each family if each household has prepared bandages for their family's use. By clicking on this link you will find instructions for making your own Triage Bandages. We encourage each of you to involve your family in preparing these bandages and then place them with your other emergency supplies (closest to your front door - as in a coat closet).

30 Things to Prepare That Are Free, or Almost Free

The following list is taken from a Meridian Magazine article. I've only included the first line of each item in the list. If it peaks your interest - I encourage you to take a few minutes to read the entire article.

1. Protect your photos, journals and scrapbooks by moving them to a safe place in your home, making them easier to grab in case you have to evacuate for a fire, flood, or other event.
2. Contact a friend or family member living at least 50 miles away and ask them if they would be willing to be your family's “Out of Area Contact”.
3. Record the serial numbers of major appliances and electronics.
4. Collect change from the sofa cushions, everyone's pockets, car, and the bottom of purses and place those coins in your 72 hour kit.
5. Teach your family about pandemics and discuss a plan for caring for immediate and extended family when a pandemic arrives.
6. With your extended family, prepare a list of those who may need help to prepare for a pandemic or who may need a place to be cared for when a pandemic arrives.
   
7. Call your child's school and ask for a copy of the school emergency plan. If they don't have one ask some specific questions.
8. Find out which radio and TV stations are part of the emergency broadcast system for your local area.
   
9. Create phone trees for friends, neighbors and family.
   
10. Create a Help List of friends and family who may be able to help with some of your preparedness needs.
    
11. Contact at least 2 of the people on your Help List.
    
12. Compile a list of handicapped or elderly neighbors who may need help evacuating during an emergency.
    
13. Gather your first aid supplies from around the house and in your vehicles.
    
14. Choose a secret message place.
    
15. Compile a list of family heirlooms to grab if there is time when evacuating.
    
16. Begin gathering as many of those items as possible into the same location, making them easy to grab during an emergency.
17. Check your home owners insurance and make sure you are adequately covered.
18. Print several copies of the Ground to Air Rescue Signals form.
19. Make an ice pack or two.
20. Make a list of items you need for your emergency supplies but have not been able to afford to purchase.
    
21. Create a list of preparedness items you can give as gifts to family and even your children.
    
22. Find a pet sitter.
    
23. Learn to use the manual release on the garage door.
    
24. Get on line and print off a copy of your credit reports. Fix any mistakes now!
25. Gather, count and clean all sleeping bags.
26. Prune those trees and bushes.
    
27. Copy your tax returns for at least the last 2 years and add them to your adult 72 hour kits and store a copy at your Out of Area Contact.
    
28. Hold a family fire drill.
    
29. Inventory your food storage.
    
30. Check your stored water.
    

General Emergency and Disaster Preparations

Over the next week I thought I'd post a few little this and that ideas that we can do TODAY without having to go out and buy alot of stuff. You may have noticed that the little town of Salina UT had 3 small earthquakes this week. Hmmmmm...makes you wonder when our big one is coming around the corner. I had a very good friend of mine in AZ who had this beautiful home office where the walls were lined with those big oak bookshelves - GORGEOUS! One day she was sitting at her desk doing her paperwork and the shelves fell right over onto her. Broke her back in 3 places! She has sinced passed away from unrelated illness but those last few years of her life weren't the greatest with all the pain in her back. She was only in her 50's when this happened.

So here's thought #1 for the week: secure things to your walls - things like bookcases, entertainment centers, China Closets, WATER HEATERS and gas appliances. Yes the walls may come down during an earthquake but maybe not....you're giving yourself a head start if these tall things are bolted down. I know it goes against the grain of all we've been taught about not putting holes in the walls etc but a couple of small L-brackets that are screwed into the wall on one side and into the top of the piece of furniture on the other will do the trick. I've seen very sad situations where little kids climb up the shelves under an entertainment center and the TV tips forward and smashes them - same with dressers when they climb up the dresser drawers to get to all those wonderful goodies that are stored on top .....

As for the water heaters - the little straps that are used for building code don't always do the job. Home Depot and Lowes sell a $20 kit that has everything you need to strap the heater to a stud in the wall. Do you understand why we want to do this? Yes it would be nice to avoid water damage but more importantly...we want to avoid the breaking of the gas line that goes into it because that increases the fire/explosion hazard. While you're in there doing the strapping, check to see that your heater has a FLEX hose connecting it to the gas line. It gives a little leeway from the breakage.

It's a quick simple fix for some very serious problems. Please take a half hour on Sat morning and do this!

If you have any ideas of your own - please feel free to share them with the rest of us by clicking on Comment at the bottom of this message or you're welcome to email me at ritarawlins@yahoo.com.

Winter Warmth

I've really made an effort to avoid using "scare tactics" in this blog. This is really hard to do because some of these situations can be pretty scarey. But I feel that this morning I have to point out the article on Yahoo's front page:

Thousands may face frigid, lightless nights ahead

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – More than a million homes and businesses left in the cold without power Thursday in the wake of an icy winter storm could face a lengthy wait for electricity to come back, even as federal help was promised to two states hit hardest by the blast.
Utility officials estimated more than 1.3 million homes and businesses across a wide swath of states were powerless early Thursday, and warned it could be mid-February before some customers had power. Read full article here.

This is a good time to check on how we're doing about being prepared to keep warm this winter. We never know when our own lines can go out. HINT: Candles are not going to be enough to get us through!
What are our choices? Backup generator, Kerosene heaters, Propane heaters, wood for a wood burning fireplace, Plastic & duct tape for those windows, polar fleece blankets, sleeping bags.... Which is your family prepared with?

I'd like to add to the list what my personal favorite would be: the new Marriott Springhill at Thanksgiving Point (HA!) but the reality is that if we're without power - they probably are also.

Target is selling out a lot of their camping things on a clearance - GREAT prices. You may want to check them out but you'll need to hurry. I hear that people are going crazy there!

Winter Storm Preparedness Class

Last night's Winter Storm Preparedness class was so good. I learned SO MUCH from these Scouts. They gave a wonderful presentation, were completely set up by the time we got there and they were very well versed in their subject. I also realized that my car emergency kit is so "woozy" that if I ever get caught in a blizzard I'll probably be dead meat. So today I have to get on the ball and update, update, update!

Here are the lists of kit items that they suggested for having in your car during the winter. You would adjust these according to the season.

Small Kit - for all times!
Flashlight - suggested that you place one battery in backwards to stop the batteries from draining while in storage.
Gloves
stocking cap, extra shoes
water
cook tself meals
matches/lighters
glow sticks
hard candy
knife/ pocket knife
hand warmers
small 1st aid kit
cell phone (Did you know that even an old cell phone that doesn't have coverage will connect for a 911 call? And when you call they can pinpoint your exact location?)

Medium Kit - For day trips
All the contents in in a Small Kit pus......
granola bars / protein bars
toilet paper
diaper pack if you have a baby
thermal blanket

Large Kit - When traveling a distance away from home
All the items in the Small and Medium Kits plus....
flares
jumper cable
gas can - empty!
tow rope/strap
crank radio - click here to see some options
small medicine pouch
little snacks
candle (100 hour plus - can be bought at Emergency Essentials etc.)
book/games/cards/entertainment
shovel - the folding ones are nice
extra batteries

Emergency Laundry?

The following email was forwarded to me yesterday. I guess this isn't an area that I've thought alot about but at this price - why not? I'll just post her entire email and let you see it for yourself. I Googled this product name and found this link that has a video showing how this works: Breathing Washer

My friend bought a Mobile Breathing Washer to wash her clothes during an emergency or if the power goes out. She loves it and says even her kids can operate it. It is just a simple hand-held device that resembles a plunger but has some parts on it that agitate and suction the clothes to get the dirt out. She says hers works great. I see that a number of emergency suppliers sell this specific one and I have seen it demonstrated in emergency seminars.

I called the company and talked to the owners. They have never had one returned and they guarantee against breakage or our money back. You can Google this device and see it at "The Breathing Mobile Washer" to see what it looks like. They will sell them to us at 50% off the retail. The retail is $17.00 but we can have them for $7.50. Add in the shipping and each of us will only have to pay $8.18 for each one. We have to order 30 at a time.

If you want one of these next week, e-mail me your name, e-mail address or phone number and the quantity. You can pay me when they come in and you pick them up. I will not place the order unless I get 30 or more orders. Please call or e-mail me ASAP if you want one. You don't have to pick up/pay until next week.

Tina Crowder
tinatcrowder@ gmail.com

Top 5 things

What were the top 5 things you did for your family's Emergency Preparedness this past year?

Mine were:
1. I became CERT certified
2. I set up my Water storage.
3. I set up my Cooking From My Pantry Food Storage plan
4. I got my 72 hour kits in place
5. I set up this blog so that I could share my research with my friends in the neighborhood.

You may have noticed that the #1 thing on my list was the CERT training. I place this here because I think it was the most valuable tool that I acquired this entire year. The skills that I learned there left me feeling "empowered"!

There are lots of different training programs that are offered in our state - but I feel that they all pale in comparison to this training done by this instructor. His practical knowledge and experience make all the difference. He donates his time and charges only for the equipment that the student gets to keep. The down side to his training is that he is in such high demand. His schedule allows him to teach 1 class (2 Saturdays) a month and they fill up quickly. Such is the case with the upcoming class on Jan 3rd. In speaking with the instructor he has given permission for our group to join in the already full class as long as we can provide him with a list of names of those attending by tomorrow Monday, Dec 29th. If you have made the decision to take this training, please let us know right away. (You pay at the door - $40/person.) This class is being held in Alpine. To get your name on the list you can email: mcshanta@gmail.com or call your block captain - but either way it needs to be done today!

The next class offered in our area will be in Cedar Hills in March and then that will be the last in our area until the end of the year. So this really is the best time to take the training.

Just a little about CERT - it is a non denominational, government sponsored program that teaches light search and rescue skills. It is not just another first aid class. It's purpose is to prepare people to know how to keep themselves and their families safe while safely assisting others during the first 72 hours following an emergency until the emergency crews can reach them. For Example: If you have a loved one who is trapped underneath a heavy object such as a wall - Do you know how to safely lift that object off of them to save their life? OR Have you ever used a Fire Extinguisher to properly put a fire out? Those of us who are CERT certified have actually practiced doing these things!!!

PLEASE join in on this neighborhood effort to be trained and ready for any emergency. If we know what we are doing and have the skills to move about safely - we can save lives! And the best part about that is that it will be the lives of our own family and neighborhood friends. Get registered today!

New Year Preparedness Goals

The New Year is a time of making resolutions and goals for the year to come and leaving any regrets behind you. Now is a great time to make a goal to be prepared.

In breaking down your preparedness goal you first need to determine exactly what you want to accomplish. If you plan to set aside a little money each week or month to go towards your family's preparedness, you will be surprised what you can afford.

To start, you could plan a budget for buying emergency supplies that deal with water. Water is the first item to store because it is the most crucial item to have available during an emergency. It is recommended to have both portable and stationary water sources....

The next step is to set up a schedule of certain things you want to buy each month
One month you could buy emergency preparedness items that deal with warmth, such as blankets, sleeping bags, hand and body warmers, etc. Watch the ads. As the stores clear out their last year's left over inventory to make room for the new stuff - you can find some great deals! Another month you could focus on purchasing items that deal with emergency lighting, such as Candles, lamps, light sticks, matches, or flashlights. This may seem like a lot of items to buy, but purchasing them in stages will help ease the stress on your pocketbook.

Think about setting a goal to save enough money to buy food storage. You can accomplish this by setting aside a weekly amount, and then using that money to buy the items that you need that are on sale at that moment. When we use the foods that we store and store the foods that we use - we don't have to worry so much about the expiration dates. If you need some help with this - check out my blog at Cooking from My Pantry.

When you are planning your New Year's resolutions, think about setting a goal of food storage and preparing for emergencies. If you make a plan and a budget, it will be easier to get the things that you need without added stress and worry. Now is the time to get prepared.
We CAN be prepared!