Disaster Prep 101

A Few Tornado Tips

2012-01-22T20:07:00.003-05:00

Lots of severe weather tonight.

Several tornado watches and a couple of warnings across the US.

A few tornado tips:

1. Don't wait for the warning or sirens. If a watch is issued, stick close to shelter and any safe room you might have (strike that - SHOULD have).

2. If (and only if) your safe room is also your laundry room, you can put a small child or pet inside your front-loading dryer, but don't close the door. This adds a layer of protection around them.

3. If the kids have bicycle or skateboard helmets, have them wear them.

4. Pets should go in their carriers. Protects them and in most cases actually makes them feel safer amid the noises of a heavy storm.

5. In prepping for future storms, train your pets to go to the safe room on command. This frees you up (especially single Moms) to round up the kids and do last-minute prep work on your safe area.

More at: http://www.disasterprep101.com/tornadoes.htm

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Our New Facebook "Like" Page

2012-01-22T11:52:00.003-05:00

We've always focused more on substance than sensationalism, but the better our substance, the more it needs to be known, right?

So, we have finally put together a Facebook "Like" page to get the word out to more and more people.

We're at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Disaster-Prep-101/190305337682935

Please drop by and post suggestions that will help others be more prepared.

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Georgia Senator Update

2012-01-21T21:30:00.002-05:00

As it stands now, Saxby Chamblis has withdrawn his support of PIPA / SOPA!

While the "spirit" of the bill, on its face, is good, the overall language of the bill makes it extremely dangerous to free speech and due process.

Though Saxby has withdrawn his support, and the bill itself has been pulled, it will be back in different forms.

Those of us who use the internet to teach others thank you Saxby!

Travel Disasters and Situational Awareness

2012-01-20T09:29:00.005-05:00

The news lately has focused heavily on the cruise ship disaster involving the Costa Concordia off the coast of Italy.

Several interesting points come to mind on first glance at this mishap. First, when were passengers given a safety briefing? Some sources say they had one already and others say they were not due their first one for several hours. Also, we know the Captain abandoned ship and we also hear reports that many of the crew were not aiding passengers in distress. Next, with the ship not completely sinking and with being so close to shore, how could anyone have actually died? (Though with a passenger load in excess of 4,000 people, the number of deaths was relatively very low.)

The point of today's post is not to criticize what did or did not happen aboard the Costa Concordia (especially since we weren't there), but to focus on things to help protect you and yours if you find yourself in an emergency situation whether aboard ship, an aircraft, a train, or even in a public building.

The key is “Situational Awareness” which means you’re aware of where you are, what’s going on around you, what might happen, and how you might react. Whenever you’re in a new place, whether it’s aboard a ship, aircraft, train, or even in a new building, you should know your surroundings, the threats you may face, the ways in which you might learn of an emergency, and the assets around you.

Here are a few thoughts:

1. Know the layout of where you are. In a public building for the first time? Look at the fire escape plan which should be posted near elevators or stairs. (Hint, if the risk of an event is high, take a picture of the floor plan with your phone.) How many doors are between you and an exit? Could you find the exit in heavy smoke by counting doors as you crawled along the floor to safety? How about a plane? (Read the info pamphlet about the plane you’re in and pay attention during the safety briefing.) Where is the closest exit (remember, it may be behind you) and how many seats are there between you and the exit? Aboard ship? Attend any safety briefing, not just the mandatory ones. Which passageway do you take to reach the lifeboats from your room? From the galley? From the entertainment areas?

2. Learn to identify safety personnel. Aboard an aircraft it’s easy; they’re your flight attendants. What about aboard ship? Not all crew are trained to handle guest safety. Some are assigned specific ship protection duties in a crisis. Can you tell the difference? What about in a building? Who’s with security and how do you identify them? Do you know the location of the security office or posts? How about aboard a train?

3. Note the location of safety equipment. Where are the fire extinguishers? How about AEDs (Automatic Electric Defibrillators), fire hoses, first aid kits, fire alarm switches, emergency call boxes, flotation devices, emergency brake pulls, attendant service buttons, etc.? How many of these do you know how to operate should you be able to locate them? And, always remember that your cell phone can act as your emergency flashlight.

4. Talk with family members about what to do should an emergency occur. How many in your family know first aid or CPR? Do you plan meeting times or rendezvous points when at sporting events or the mall where you might separate for a bit? Note: When working on steps 1 through 3 above, make sure you involve others you’re with or teach them to do the same steps.

5. Maintain your health and physical capabilities as best you can. Getting out of a sinking ship, a wrecked train, crashed plane, or burning building are stressful and physically demanding. The healthier you are, the safer you are, and the more you’re able to help others.

Georgia Senators Fail to Protect Us

2012-01-18T15:40:00.002-05:00

I was saddened to learn today that both Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson are in favor of PIPA / SOPA. Though I voted for both of them, I called, emailed, and faxed both offices to voice my opposition and to flatly let both offices know how disturbing it was that they would even entertain this legislation. As a holder of multiple copyrights and trademarks, and as an investigator with years of experience, I can unequivocally state that PIPA and/or SOPA offer zero legitimate protection against piracy and do nothing but further erode due process and civil liberties.

House Structure in Disasters

2012-01-18T13:32:00.003-05:00

We've seen more tornadoes and earthquakes in the past year than we've seen in generations.

Reasons why aside, let's look at what it means to you as an individual, or for your family.

What it means is simply this: Life still has plenty of dangerous things in it and you should be prepared.

With regard to tornadoes and earthquakes, if you improve your home's structural strength in anticipation of one, you've also helped protect yourself against the other.

In fact, improving the strength of your home helps protect it and/or you in any number of destructive events such as hurricanes or even the shock wave from a nearby nuclear detonation (okay, not too nearby!).

Though we discuss this in great detail in our manual "Disaster Prep 101," here are the "basic three" for economically improving your home's structure:

1. Better anchor your home to its foundation. This could be done with something as simple as some large angle brackets and bags of concrete mix, or with something as readily available as railroad ties that you bury halfway and bolt to your house. Your nearest home improvement store might have some folks that can tell you more if you take in a picture of your house and basement if you have one.

2. Add more anchor points from your roof to your walls. Walls are partially supported at the top by your roof's structure. If the roof is blown off, your walls may collapse more readily because that upper support is gone. Same thing here. Ask folks at your hardware store what you can do. Also, do an Internet search using the term hurricane retrofit roof. You'll find numerous instruction booklets on how to brace the joists, anchor them to the house, and reinforce the sheathing from underneath.

3. Anchor your appliances and large furniture. Large appliances are good structure and can actually help keep walls from moving, ceilings from collapsing all the way, and having them anchored in place is always much better than having them move around in a crisis situation. In this list would be your water heater; stove, fridge, and freezer; washer and dryer; and large furniture such as a chest of drawers that lives up against the wall.

In simplest terms, remember this: Anything heavy anchored to anything else heavy is a structural improvement.

More later.

Water in Anticipated Shortages

2012-01-17T09:14:00.004-05:00

Some emergencies are thoughtful enough to give us advance notice.

We know when a hurricane is heading our way, when a heavy freeze or blizzard conditions are probable, and we're pretty accurate at predicting torrential rainfall that can cause flooding.

These are some of the conditions that can cause a temporary water shortage when municipal supplies are cut off for a bit. Destructive weather can break water mains, freezing conditions can cause your incoming lines or house pipes to burst, and so on.

When these conditions are announced on the news, it's wise to make sure your water stores are fresh and filled. Granted, you want to adjust how much water you store, and where, based on the probability of the event causing a shortage and the anticipated duration of the water stoppage.

For example, a water line burst from freezing might only cause a problem for a day or two. A water main washed out by a flood might take a week to fix, and a hurricane could shut down a city's water for a couple of weeks or more. So, plan accordingly.

When you do store water, keep in mind those little "hidden" places you use water or could store water that you don't normally think about in emergency situations. Here are some examples presented in something of an "increasing severety" order:

1. Fill all your pet water dishes to the brim.

2. Fill all plant watering cans.

3. Fill any and all drinking water pitchers (either filtering pitchers or just water jugs that live in the fridge).

4. Wash out leftover 2-liter plastic soda bottles to fill with water. Put some in the fridge and put as many in the freezer as you can (but don't fill them quite all the way since you want room in the bottle for ice expansion). A full fridge and freezer uses less power since it cycles less often, and in a power outage, your frozen bottles will help keep your food colder for a lot longer.

5. Fill your kitchen trash can. In fact, in our classes, we teach folks to buy two kitchen trash cans and leave one sitting inside the other until such time as you need the extra one for water storage. It'll always be there waiting and won't be in the way.

6. Fill your bathtubs (after you give them a quick cleaning of course). You might not want to drink this water, but it'll be fine for sponge baths, washing dishes, flushing toilets, and so on.

7. Start your washing machine on its cold water cycle and unplug it when the drum is full.

Remember these steps when an emergency that carries an advance warning is heading your way.

For more info on hurricane prep in particular, read our full length article at: http://www.disasterprep101.com/hurricaneprep.htm

MLK Day

2012-01-16T11:23:00.002-05:00

It's MLK Day. Think about service to others. What do you have in your emergency plans, gear, or supplies to help friends and neighbors?

When planning to help others always remember balance. Here are a few notions:

1. Take care of you and your immediate family first. You're no good to others if you yourself are not able.

2. When helping others prepare, don't tell them everything about what you have stored. Some people just won't prepare as they should and in a severe crisis, they may remember how much you have and try to take it.

3. Set aside the little things that will make a huge difference with others. Things we take for granted like toilet paper, chocolate, coffee, and so on will be worth their weight in gold in an emergency that might drag on for a bit.

4. Learn first aid and CPR and urge your neighbors to attend class with you.

5. Overlap some skills with your friends and neighbors. Learn something they don't know. For example, if everyone you know is a good cook, you'll probably have a good handle on food. But, how many of you know how to turn off your utilities and then turn them back on? Look for necessary skills that aren't common among those you're close to.

Winter Isolation: Sedatives

2012-01-15T11:35:00.002-05:00

Okay, we're not talking about doping the kids. Or are we?

Picture this: It's the middle of winter, heavy snow has closed work, school, and most of the roads. The kids are home, Mom's getting some things done around the house, and Dad's out shoveling the driveway even though there's nowhere to drive. Next thing you know, someone's hurt and bad! Were the kids rough-housing and break a bone? Mom fall off a ladder hanging pictures? Dad have a heart attack doing the weekend warrior workout thing? Who knows?

The thing is, who's coming to help you if the ambulance can't reach you and you can't even get yourself to the hospital.

Furthermore, what if an ambulance is trying to reach you for a moderate injury, while someone somewhere else suffers something life threatening?

The point here is this: When you're in an isolation situation, whether it's snow, a hurricane, a pandemic, or any other area emergency keeping you inside, one of your chief concerns is to make sure a bad situation is not made worse by the addition of a second emergency.

Here are a few tips:

1. Prep foods that are more likely to be calming than immediately energizing. Have any turkey in the fridge? The Tryptophan will help bring on some naps. Another thought is to prep a few heavier meals. Digestion uses energy. Aslo, keep the kids away from caffiene and sugar. Chamomile tea has a calming effect as does Valerian Root (but check with everyone's doctor before introducing any new food, drink, or supplements).

2. Have plenty of quiet activities the family can engage in either as a group or as individuals. But, make sure the activity is soothing. Soft music, non-violent movies, good books, or board games that don't cause family conflict.

3. If anyone feels the need to burn off physical energy try to direct them toward low-impact exercises. Keep a few Yoga or Tai Chi videos on hand.

4. Keep in mind though that these suggestions are only for times in which you have plenty of heat, water, food, and all other creature comforts.

Winter Fire Tip: Baby Monitors

2012-01-15T11:28:00.003-05:00

One of the most economical and easy to use pieces of fire protection equipment is the smoke detector.

Make sure you have one by your bedrooms, one near the kitchen, one near any media room or room where you have a lot of electronics, one in any family area where you might have a fire place or use other alternative heat sources during the winter, and preferably one in the attic.

The only problem with smoke detectors on the other side of the house is that you might not hear them if you're a deep sleeper or hard of hearing (like your elderly relatives might be).

A simple and economical solution is to get a baby monitor. We got ours at a yard sale for about $3. You put the transmitter near your farthest smoke detector (or the one in the area with the greatest fire danger) and you put the receiver in your bedroom so that if the smoke detector goes off in the middle of the night you're sure to hear it.

Winter Driving

2012-01-09T09:50:00.003-05:00

With all the snow and ice poised to hit several areas of the country, we thought we'd repeat a couple of tips about winter driving.

1. If you don't have to drive over snow or ice, don't. Stay home if you can, leave work early, or do what you can to cut your driving to a minimum.

2. If you get stuck in a patch of ice and need to get out, the first thing to do is exercise caution. Don't get out to work on your stuck vehicle if other cars are driving through the same patch of ice. They may lose control and hit you.

3. The next thing you need to get unstuck from a slippery spot is a little traction. Carry a large bag of coarse sand (from your favorite lawn & garden or home improvement store) and a box of rock salt. Sprinkle some sand and salt against and behind or in front of your tires. Where ever it is you need the traction. Some people recommend carrying kitty litter, but to that we say NO! Most kitty litters are clay based and get rather slippery when wet. This will only add to your problem.

4. In case you may be stuck in a spot for a while in cold weather, make sure you have water, snacks, an extra blanket or two, and a cell phone charger in your car. You'll need to stay safe, warm, and in contact with either loved ones or emergency personnel until you can get going again safely.

Staying Warm in Cold Weather Emergencies

2012-01-06T10:11:00.002-05:00

Just a short thought for today.

To help keep you warm in cold weather emergencies where the power may be out and you don't have any of the commercial "hand warmers" or other heaters, don't forget the good old-fashioned hot water bottle.

These are usually flask-shaped rubber or heavy plastic bottles with a screw-in plug that seals in the water.

Heat the water over open flame, on your car's manifold, or by whatever heat source you have available during your emergency, then fill your bottle, screw in the plug, and keep it next to you to keep you warm for a while. Later, after the water cools, you can drink it if you need to.

Rotate Your Clocks, Rotate Your Stocks

2011-11-06T12:48:00.001-05:00

“Rotate Your Clocks – Rotate Your Stocks”
Another Set of Disaster Preparedness Tips by Paul Purcell

It’s time to change the clocks again. Normally that just means we get an extra hour’s sleep this weekend, but for those in the know it means we also get an opportunity to check our family’s safety. We do this by using the twice-a-year time change as a reminder to review the parts of our family emergency assets that might need to be updated.

Here’s a quick list of but a few things to look at:

1. Change your smoke alarm and carbon monoxide detector batteries.
2. Check the batteries in your emergency gear (you should always write the dates of purchase on them).
3. Expiration dates of medications (including over-the-counter stuff and meds for your pets).
4. Conduct a fire drill along with a seasonal / regional drill such as a tornado or hurricane drill.
5. Check the expiration dates on important documents and policies (and list all dates in a calendar program).
6. Check the dates on any stored water you’ve put away.
7. Review maintenance needs for your vehicles.
8. Rotate and/or use any food in the pantry that is approaching its expiration date.
9. Look at the purchase or inspection dates on your fire extinguishers (do this when conducting your fire drill).
10. Change your password and run an anti-virus and anti-spyware scan and data backup your computer.
11. Put any stored gasoline in your vehicles and refill the spare cans with fresh gas.
12. Health improvement: review your exercise plan or get a medical / dental checkup.
13. Gotten your flu shots yet?
14. Update your emergency contact information.
15. Log on to www.disasterprep101.com for additional how-to articles.

Feel free to pass this list along to others! (Provided all portions stay intact that is; Copyright 2011 – Paul Purcell.)

Radio Interview on The Survival Mom

2011-10-25T12:12:00.001-04:00

I'll be on air Thursday night, 6:40 pm Eastern, 8:40 Mountain, to discusss disaster preparedness myths. Log on to http://thesurvivalmom.com/radio/the-survival-mom-radio-hour/ to listen live.

Upcoming Radio Interview

2011-10-17T14:44:00.000-04:00

on 10/19/11, 7pm Eastern, I'll be on the "Total Health Freedom" radio show found on Survive2Thrive.net. Click on "Listen Live."

Reporting Suspicious Activity

2011-09-10T20:38:00.000-04:00

To help civilians, such as Neighborhood Watch groups report suspicious activity to the authorities, we've released a few of our "Suspicious Activity Report" forms at http://www.disasterprep101.com/documents/SuspiciousActivity.pdf .

Tornado Preparedness Part Two - Last Minute Steps for Severe Weather Readiness

2011-05-02T16:09:00.001-04:00

This is a short excerpt from our training material covering some of the things you can do as a thunderstorm or weather front approaches (Tornado Watch), but not when an actual tornado has touched down (Tornado Warning).

If there’s some good news, it’s that tornadoes come with a little bit of a warning, even before an “official” warning is given. In other words, tornadoes don’t generally drop down out of a clear blue sky. So if severe storms are predicted and certainly when a “Watch” is issued, you’ll want to take specific steps to help protect you and yours.

To preface our “to do” list, let’s set the stage with some general pointers.

A tornado requires a “shelter” reaction so everything below is organized in an “outside first then inward” progression. Everything you do should take you closer and closer to your safe area. However, keeping in mind that time is our most valuable asset, remember that storms don’t always come through in “fronts” that can be tracked from far away. Some “pop up” thunderstorms can spawn tornadoes too.

If severe storm or tornado “Watches” have been issued for your area (that means conditions are right for one to form but nothing has happened just yet) the first thing you should do is reconsider any travel plans you might have for the day. Limit your exposure outside of buildings. Think of spending the day at home if that’s possible or staying close to the office if that’s an option.

We’ll reiterate the point that with any emergency, especially with something as destructive as a tornado, we recommend you take all the steps you can in advance, before the “season” even begins. If you haven’t read it already, “part I” is called “Tornado Preparedness: The 6 Keys to Safety” and can be found at http://www.disasterprep101.com/tornadoes.htm. It covers a lot of the precautions you can put in place early such as creating a safe room (or making a storm cellar out of a septic tank), equipment you should have on hand, and other preparedness pointers.

Remember that heavy storms that might generate a tornado also carry with them lightning, heavy rains, and possibly hail. That means you have to keep in mind threats of fire, flooding, and hail damage.

This quick list should take you no more than thirty minutes and it applies more to your reactions at home than the workplace. A list of steps to take at the workplace will follow in another article.

1. In inclement weather, keep your radio and/or TV tuned to news and weather stations. You can also find weather notices that can be sent to your cell phone. If any alert or “watch” is issued make sure the rest of your family knows. Do the same for neighbors. If a “Warning” is issued, skip all these steps and head straight to your safe area.
2. Plug in all cell phones and communication devices, laptop computers, etc that need recharging so they’ll be fully charged if you lose power. Don’t do this if a storm is already on you and lightning is occurring.
3. Turn your fridge and freezer to their lowest settings. Your food will stay cold longer if power is lost.
4. Set your AC or heat to cooler or warmer settings than normal. This will keep your interior temperature comfortable longer should you lose power. (Barring any destruction of course.)
5. Working from the outside-in, bring in any outside pets or animals.
6. Next, secure loose items like patio furniture, your grill, etc., that can turn into projectiles in high winds.
7. Move vehicles under protective shelters or in the garage to protect them from hail, falling limbs, debris, etc. If covered shelter isn’t available, secure your vehicle to any in-ground anchor points you might have (a common practice in tornado-prone areas). This can help protect your vehicle from being picked up and flipped in high winds.
8. Close the doors and windows on any out-buildings and your garage. Anything you can do to keep wind from entering a structure, the better off that structure is.
9. If you own an electric generator, make sure it’s fueled, ready, and protected.
10. Close any storm shutters that require closure from the outside.
11. Close, lock, and deadbolt all exterior doors. Deadbolting the door helps keep strong winds from forcing it open.
12. Close and lock all windows from the inside and close the blinds and draw the curtains (provides limited reduction of flying glass if windows are broken).
13. Close (but don’t lock) interior doors to reduce air flow if a window breaks or exterior door gives way.
14. Prep your safe area (an area you should have chosen and preferably reinforced long before now) by bringing in any last minute protective items you might need. For example, if your kids wear helmets when they ride bikes, bring in the helmets. If your plan is to lie in the bath tub, you might bring in a small mattress to lay on top of you.
15. Stock your safe area. Make sure you have a battery powered radio, some water, snacks, your first aid kit, and most importantly, some signaling devices such as a couple of flashlights, a good whistle, and preferably, an air horn to signal rescuers if your house crumbles around your safe room.
16. Put your purse and similar personal items that you’re not actively carrying on you in the safe area. Also include important medications (insulin, etc.) or your fireproof safe with important documentation. (You might already have all this in your safe room if that’s where you store emergency items like your family’s “Bug Out Kit.”)
17. Corral the pets. Go ahead and put pets in their carriers (if possible) and put the carriers in the safe room. Having pets in carriers may provide a little extra feeling of security for them and it offers a little more protection. In addition, if rescuers have to come and help you out of the rubble, pets in carriers are far easier to manage.
18. Prep the kids. We mentioned pets first because they’re easier to put in place when things are calm and less likely to respond when things get hectic, so we got them out of the way first. With the kids, age is a big determining factor in how you get them ready. Babies should be put in their travel carriers with a diaper bag already placed in your safe area. Toddlers can be kept with you until time to go to shelter, and older children can help you with most everything you’ve done thus far.
19. By now, the storm front is probably rolling in. Disconnect all the electronics you had recharging and unplug any of your more expensive electrical equipment to protect it from lightning strikes. Put your laptop and other communication devices you’re not actually carrying on you in your safe area. Leave your radio on and have your phone handy to hear the tornado “Warning” (meaning one has actually touched down). Note: If your safe area is an external storm cellar, go ahead and settle in before a Warning is actually given.
20. When the warning is given (or if the storm is that bad and you want to do the smart thing) go to your safe area and “duck and cover” to protect you and your family members.

Remember, any time a Warning is given, get the kids and the pets to your safe area.

Though this might seem like an awful lot of detail, it’s actually a general guideline and only a small portion of the tornado preparedness we teach. It’s presented here so you can add some extra thought ahead of time to all the things you should consider in an active weather event where a tornado is a distinct possibility.

Read these steps now, learn them, walk through them a time or two, and customize them to suit your particular needs. When the time comes to put them into action, you’ll already know what to do and will breeze through a life-saving reaction like you’ve been practicing for it your whole life.

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Copyright 2011 – Paul Purcell. Permission is granted to share this article with others provided all portions remain attached an intact. For other preparedness articles visit www.disasterprep101.com .

Tsunami

2011-04-08T21:13:00.005-04:00

Indonesia 2004, Chile 2010, Japan 2011: Sizable earthquakes caused Tsunamis that rippled across the Pacific Ocean affecting far more people than just the ones close enough to feel the tremors.

When one Pacific Rim country experiences seismic activity, other areas along the rim will have an event in the very near future and frequently that means Tsunami. It’s just as important to remember that the Atlantic coastline and even the Gulf of Mexico are just as likely to catch a Tsunami generated by a variety of possible events.

Before we get into reaction steps, let us say this about Tsunamis: When you hear a warning of something as “small” as a six-foot wave, don’t think of the tall wave that rises up and crashes on the sand at the water’s edge. The concept is more like the sea suddenly rising six feet and a wall is coming at you at 300 miles per hour. If this happens, are you ready? Do you know what to do when 20-foot W.A.V.E.S. come racing inland?

Warnings – Does your area have official Tsunami warnings? Would you recognize natural signs?
Altitude – Where would you go in a Tsunami? Tall building? High ground?
Vehicle – How will you get to high ground? Is your evacuation vehicle ready to go? Do you have a Plan B?
Evacuation – How ready are you for an evacuation scenario in general?
Safety & Secondaries – Is the primary emergency the only emergency that’s going to happen?

Warnings
1. In the past several years, especially since the 2004 Indonesian earthquake and resulting Tsunami that hit Thailand, warning systems including seismic sensors, Tsunami detecting buoys, and communication and warning systems have been improved dramatically. If you live (or are visiting) near an area at risk for Tsunamis, have you stopped to learn about the official warning system? Who gives it? Will they give you any instruction? What does the siren sound like?

2. In some instances an incoming Tsunami will draw water away from a beach as it heads toward shore. In fact, in 2004, an Australian Life Guard working in Phuket, Thailand knew what it meant for the tide to go out farther than normal and he managed to clear his beach and get guests to safety. Keep an eye on the tide, but don’t go to the beach to look at it. Stay away if a Tsunami Watch (and especially a Warning) is given.

Altitude
1. One term you’ll hear is “vertical evacuation.” This means go up, either to upper floors in a strong building, or to high ground.

2. Where is the destination you’d go in a particular area? One habit to get into, regardless of the emergency or where you might be, is to look around for emergency warning signs or systems, gear, shelter, supplies, and evacuation destinations. Make it a habit of yours where ever you go regardless of potential threats you may face.

3. Look around your area and remember which buildings are more substantial. Some may actually have Tsunami info posted telling visitors that in event of a Tsunami they are either to head to upper floors (but NEVER use the elevator!) or to vacate the building in favor of a different location.

4. Some locations will identify Tsunami evacuation roads and will have specific destinations for motorists.

Vehicle
1. In any evacuation scenario you may have to rely on your primary vehicle to get you out of harms’ way. Is yours ready? Do you always have your keys on you? Do you keep the gas tank full at all times? In Tsunamis past, we’ve seen footage of people lined up at gas stations. This is severely wasted time, and in any emergency time is our biggest asset. Keeping your gas tank full at all times not only helps your family by allowing you to get to safety quickly, it helps others because you’re not one of the people in line at the gas station.

2. Though we mention your vehicle here, we’ll revisit the fact that your evacuation destination might well be an upper floor of the building you’re in. Your decision on whether to go to an upper floor or higher ground location should be dictated by A) Time – how long before the first wave hits and how much time you might need to get to another location, B) Where you’ll be the safest, C) Road conditions and current traffic since you don’t want to be sitting unprotected in gridlock traffic, D) Whether or not you need to provide safety to others, and E) Where are your safety supplies and gear?

3. Though your primary vehicle should be your first choice, what if you cant’ get to it? Do you have a Plan B? Are local busses or other vehicles getting people to safety? Is there even time to look around for other transportation? Do you have a bicycle (an early warning and a bicycle will get you farther than standing around not reacting at all)? In an emergency, options are our friends. Know your options.

Evacuation
1. A Tsunami is an evacuation scenario if there ever was one. How ready are you to perform an evacuation at all? Since time is our most valuable asset, how much time have you saved by having a pre-packed kit for each family member and pets? Are you ready to “grab and go?” Do you have your “bugout kits” ready?

2. As you contemplate heading to upper floors or higher ground (now, while we’re discussing this academically and it’s not an actual emergency), remember that this scenario is an evacuation that is coupled somewhat with shelter-in-place reactions. Therefore, you want to be equipped and ready for both. So… where’s your kit? What does it contain? Will it help you get out of harm’s way as well as sustain you once you get where you’re going? Do you keep a kit at home, at work, or in the car? Maybe you have items at all three locations? Remember this too, that if you’re simply climbing the stairs to upper floors in the same building (NEVER use the elevator) that it’s still an evacuation and you should carry your gear with you because when the emergency occurs, you may be left with only what you have with you.

3. Since time is one of our most valuable assets in any emergency, what do you have in place that will help you save time in this scenario? We mentioned keeping your car gassed and ready (sitting in line at a gas station is not a model of an efficient evacuation), and we just mentioned your gear. How about knowledge? Do you know where you might go? Do you have hardcopy maps in case the smart phone isn’t working or the cell towers are down? Do you have alternate ways to communicate with loved ones if primary communication methods don’t work?

Safety & Secondaries
1. Misery loves company, so one of the key points to keep in mind is that a major emergency is probably not going to be the only emergency. You might have made it under a table in time during the earthquake, but what about the dam up the river that was cracked and is about to break? What if there’s a panicked evacuation and you or a family member are injured? How ready are you for that? Do you have your first aid gear? Are you trained to use it? Do you have gear for only your area’s most likely scenario, or are you ready for an all-hazards scenario?

2. Need a list of things to keep in mind? Tsunamis don’t just happen. They’re usually triggered by earthquakes. So, when the earthquake hits are you going to automatically think “Tsunami?” How about fire? Fire is all too common an occurrence after destructive events – even floods. And floods? Tsunamis aside, what if the dam breaks after an earthquake? Do you know how many dams there are in the US alone?

3. The main point here is to be ready for “the other shoe to drop.” Maintain your composure in the first emergency by being prepared so that when the second emergency crops up you’re able to handle that as well.

Though just a small, small section of Disaster Prep 101, we wanted to pass this along to make you think of two things. One, disasters are survivable if you’re prepared. Two, there is so much more to know with Tsunami preparedness (or any disaster) than an academic discussion of how the event occurs – which is pretty much all we’ll get from most news channels.

How ready are you? Did the news give you a good wake-up call?

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© 2011 – Paul Purcell, courtesy of Disaster Prep 101 at www.disasterprep101.com. Permission granted to share this article provided all portions remain attached and intact.

Coupons!

2011-04-06T17:48:00.002-04:00

One of the many, many things we teach regarding disaster preparedness is saving money. We've grown up hearing about "saving for a rainy day," so what if the day finds the rain coming in sideways driven by high winds, or if it's a Tsunami spawned by an earthquake? Money is an asset in any emergency, and it's a family asset first and foremost. We wanted to announce a new TV series we learned about called "Extreme Couponing" and it starts tonight, April 6, 2011 on TLC (The Learning Channel).

2010-09-06T16:43:00.000-04:00

Hurricane Preparedness
30 Tips for Riding out the Storm

Another hurricane season is here, and like some before, it’s predicted to be an active one with quite a number of named storms, some projected to hit the US.

For years we’ve heard “Have a kit, have a plan,” but what kind of kit? Are kits really useful? And what kind of plan? What are the considerations? What should I actually DO in a hurricane?

As a short answer to that last question, we put together a short list of things you should do if a hurricane is headed your way. Keep in mind though that this is an intro list. You’ll find the link to the full article below.

For now we’ll assume that you’re not in a coastal area, you’re not under mandatory evacuation orders, and that you’ve decided to stay and shelter in place. So, we’ll start by saying that under certain circumstances it is possible to ride out the storm safely, if you know how to R.E.A.C.T.:

Reinforcement – Have you prepared your home structurally in advance, even if it’s just shutters?
Equipment – Do you have all the supplies you’ll need on hand, or are you waiting for the last minute?
Awareness – Do you have a way to track the storm, and do you have a way for others to track you?
Cautions – Are you aware of the various risks involved in staying in place in a hurricane?
Timeline – You’ll need to do a few things as the storm approaches, and timing is a factor.

For our “30 Tips” intro article, we’ll cut directly to the “Timeline” portion of this piece so you can see a list of considerations for bracing against the storm:

Timeline
Some things you need to do well in advance of a major storm and some things have to wait until the last minute. In any event, with something as large and dangerous as a hurricane, there are always details that need to be tended to and you have to consider your timing in the process. These are presented in something of a chronological order and you’ll notice these also happen to be arranged in an “outside in” order, meaning that you want to do the things that are farthest away from home first and work your way in.

Important note: Below when we say “out” referring to how close the storm is, we’re referring to the nearest edge of the storm that’s going to reach you first, and not the eye of the hurricane. Keep this in mind since most weather stations will measure from the eye of the hurricane. It’s up to you to know the difference.

Before Hurricane Season Starts
1. Make sure you performed all the structural enhancements you could for your home.
2. First aid and CPR classes are great classes to take.
3. Make your decision well in advance on whether you want to evacuate or stay put.

A Week Out
This is about as long a warning as we’d have that a hurricane was heading toward any particular region.
4. Look at the structural integrity of your home and make sure you have all the shutter material and hardware you’ll need already on hand.
5. If you have a gas-powered generator make sure it works. If it needs repairs you’ll want to know now.

Three Days Out
This is about the last day you want to be out and about running errands or buying supplies.
6. Make sure your pantry is full as you’d like it to be.
7. Get longer shelf-life items like canned goods and have ways to cook such as charcoal, gas for your grill, etc.
8. Make sure you have a good supply of non-perishable “comfort foods” on hand. Include treats for your pets.
9. Check your stock of all medications, both prescription and over-the-counter. Include your pets here too.
10. Gas up all your vehicles and fill a couple of 5-gallon gas cans to keep on hand.

Two Days Out
At this point the weather forecast is going to be pretty accurate as to whether or not your vicinity will feel the effects of a hurricane.
11. Fill some empty milk jugs or plastic soda bottles with water and put them in the freezer (as many as you can fit). Let them freeze solid. If the power goes out, these will help keep your fridge and freezer cold longer.
12. Secure your more important household items such as backup computer disks, paperwork, heirlooms, etc. by putting them in plastic tubs.

One Day Out
13. Start doing some safety landscaping by removing dangerous tree limbs, loose yard furniture, and so forth.
14. Put your storm shutters in place.

Six to Eight Hours Out
At this point, you’ll probably know whether or not the storm is going to be a direct hit for your area.
15. Take last minute photos of property and family members.
16. Recharge all your electronics (cell phone, laptop, etc.) while you still have power.
17. Turn your fridge and freezer down to their lowest setting to keep food colder longer should you lose power.
18. Move your cars to higher ground if your home might flood and move your more valuable furniture and possessions off the floor.
19. If flooding is not an issue, park your car in the garage or other protected area.
20. Brace your garage doors so they don’t cave in during high winds.
21. Make sure the kids are home.

Two or Three Hours Out
Again, please remember that when we say “so and so hours out” we’re referring to the leading edge of the storm that will hit you first, and not the eye of the storm.
22. Bring the kids in the house and have them help you with last minute stuff.
23. Bring in all outdoor pets. If they can fit in the house they should be brought inside the house.
24. Start building a “nest” in the room that’s the safest area of the house. Put down a mattress, have some snacks and water handy, make sure you have a radio and flashlights all with extra batteries.
25. If the kids have bike or skateboard helmets have them put them on.
26. Start filling your extra water containers (bathtub, etc.) in anticipation of a loss of water.
27. If you can secure them (so they don’t blow away), your outside trashcans can be used as rain barrels.

As the Storm Comes Rolling In
28. Unplug all the electronics you were charging and unplug any valuable electronics like your television, stereo, desktop computer, etc. to protect them against surge from lightning strike.
29. Close but don’t lock all your interior doors to limit flying debris or wind flow should a window break.
30. Move to the “nest” you made in your safe area and stay put until the storm is over.

Next, you’ll want to read the full version of this article, complete with outside links for additional free information and lots more important detail than we can post in this abbreviated version. For the full article complete with free PDF download visit www.disasterprep101.com and look for it on the “News and Articles” page.

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About the Author: Paul Purcell is a terrorism and natural disaster preparedness consultant in Atlanta, GA. He’s also the author of “Disaster Prep 101” found at www.disasterprep101.com. © 2010 – Paul Purcell. Permission granted to share this article with others provided it is distributed for free, and that all portions, including footnotes and “About the Author” sections remain intact and attached.

Flood Preparedness

2010-03-17T13:24:00.002-04:00

We wish we had a crystal ball and could’ve posted this article weeks ago before the rains came. But, if we knew when emergencies were to hit, they’d be called “annoyances” because we’d be ready.

Though we can’t predict every subtle nuance of every disaster, we do know 2 absolute facts: One, if you were in a flooded area, you’ll want to be ready in case there’s a repeat. Two, you’ll be telling friends in other areas how important it is to be prepared, and you’ll want some suggestions to pass along.

Let’s look at 4 areas:

Situational Awareness
1. You need to know if you’re in a flood zone. You can get flood maps now from http://www.floodsmart.gov.
2. Get an NOAA approved Weather Alert Radio. Not only can they keep you up to speed on the weather, the Emergency Alert System uses weather alert radios to broadcast other emergency info.
3. Though you might not live in a flood plain or near a waterway, individual neighborhoods can flood when storm drains are blocked.
4. Get a “basement flood monitor.” They’re little gizmos that sit on the floor and alarm when water is present on the floor. You can get them at most any hardware store. This will tell you if water is creeping into the house, or if your water heater has ruptured, etc.

Know What to Protect
1. People and pets come before property, but as a flood develops, you’ll want to protect certain possessions, assuming you have time (time is the number one asset in any emergency). So, look around now and determine what’s worth protecting. Next, figure out how you might accomplish the task. Do you load things in your evacuation vehicle? Do you move things upstairs? One suggestion is to put expensive furniture on top of the cheap stuff. Put your ingenuity to work here.
2. Inventory your property. Take photos of everything you own and save receipts. Regardless of what kind of insurance you have, you’ll need to prove loss.
3. Vehicles are important, and today, most families have more than one. You can save time if you park one vehicle on higher ground when flooding is predicted. People in regular flood areas call this “docking.”

Prepare to Evacuate
1. Just because water might be only a trickle now, don’t assume a flood will develop with uniform slowness. The term “flash flood” was coined for a reason. Make sure you have a way to get out of your home and out of the area.
2. In a flood you’d naturally head for higher ground, which could be just a few houses away. One of the things you could do in advance (if flooding is predicted) is to tie a rope “railing” from your exit door to a neighbor’s tree so you can have something to hang on to if water levels rise faster than you thought. As a helpful hint, knots are useful in any number of scenarios. Go to www.youtube.com and learn how to tie the following knots: bowline, taught line hitch, and Siberian hitch.
3. When leaving your house, turn off the power at your breaker box, but ONLY if you’re standing on a dry floor to do it. You want the power off so rising water will not short out your wiring and burn your house down.
4. If water is already over the roadway, don’t drive. Find a high and dry spot where you are and try to stay put. Six inches or rushing water can push a car off the roadway.

Financial Protection
1. It’s good to have flood insurance if you live in an area with even a slight potential for flooding. However, do 2 things. One, have an inspector verify your property now to make sure the policy is valid even if you’ve been making steady payments. Two, be sure to document all your belongings now, and your losses when incurred. When cleaning up damaged property try not to throw anything away until an insurance adjuster has inspected. At the very least, photo and/or video all the items you have to discard, and save every repair receipt to verify loss.
2. Flood damage also means you’ll have to deal with service companies. Make a list now of the companies you may need in the wake of a flood and keep their contact information with your emergency documents. If none are available, be sure to check out any new companies before authorizing them to work on your property. Consumer reports has a good “honest contractor” checklist at: http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/resources/images/PDFs/HowtoHireaContractorChecklist.pdf
3. For emergency grant information, visit www.fema.gov.

Special note: Send us an email at disasterprep101@aol.com and we’ll send you a copy of the 23-page report “Your Flooded Home” which details the steps you need to take when cleaning and repairing a flooded house.

(Copyright 2010 – Paul Purcell. Permission granted to distribute this article provide all portions remain intact.)

“Rotate Your Clocks – Rotate Your Stocks”

2010-03-14T00:50:00.002-05:00

It’s daylight savings time yet again. Normally that just means we lose an hour, but for those in the know it means we gain an opportunity to check up on our family’s safety. We do this by using the twice-a-year time change as a reminder to review the parts of our family emergency plans or gear that might need to be updated.

Here’s a quick list of but a few things to look at:

1. Change your smoke alarm and carbon monoxide detector batteries.
2. Check the batteries in your emergency gear (you should always write the dates of purchase on them).
3. Expiration dates of medications (including over-the-counter stuff and meds for your pets).
4. Conduct a fire drill along with a seasonal / regional drill such as a tornado or hurricane drill.
5. Check the expiration dates on important documents and policies (and list all dates in a calendar program).
6. Check the dates on any stored water you’ve put away.
7. Review maintenance needs for your vehicles.
8. Rotate and/or use any food in the pantry that is approaching its expiration date.
9. Look at the purchase or inspection dates on your fire extinguishers (do this when conducting your fire drill).
10. Change your password and run an anti-virus and anti-spyware scan and backup your computer.
11. Put any stored gasoline in your vehicles and refill the spare cans with fresh gas.
12. Health improvement: review your exercise plan or get a medical / dental checkup.
13. Update your emergency contact information.
14. Log on to http://www.disasterprep101.com/ for additional how-to articles.

Feel free to pass this list along to others! (Provided all portions stay intact that is; Copyright 2010 – Paul Purcell.)

Swine Flu: 21 Things Law Enforcement Needs to Know

2009-05-01T00:41:00.003-04:00

Overview
At the time of this writing, only the potential for a pandemic has been mentioned, and summer approaches; not your “usual” cold and flu season. One school of thought is that we will see a relatively minor wave of flu cases which will diminish toward the end of the summer. However, when fall starts and schools are back in session and traditional cold and flu season begins, it’s possible we’ll see a more massive wave of infection and reach true pandemic status.

This short article is not intended to be a medical or scientific discussion of the current strain of flu or its treatment. Instead, this piece is meant to inform law enforcement of some of the many unique threats and assets that may present themselves during a developing pandemic, along with some tips on what to do at present to mitigate future problems or obstacles.

The Hidden Threats
Aside from the obvious concerns related to staffing, service, and supply shortages that will likely affect police work in general, a pandemic scenario carries with it unique issues based not on the disease itself, but on both official and societal reactions to the emergency.

As a pandemic progresses in severity, the most probable reaction will be “mass social distancing” whether instituted or spontaneous. “Instituted” would insinuate that government entities have enacted measures leading to social distancing such as the closure of schools, public gatherings, non-essential business, and possibly setting curfews, leaving people with little to do but remain home. “Spontaneous” social distancing would occur when families take it upon themselves to stay out of public locations. We may see spontaneous school closures when parents keep their children home en masse, and parents remaining at home to care for their children will see some business curtailed as a result. Other threats could present themselves as well.

1. Robberies, particularly bank robberies, are likely to increase. People will begin wearing the N95 cloth masks in public, and one of the first groups of people to take advantage of this will be the criminal element who will realize they can easily walk around in public already wearing a mask. Given the current financial situation, the stress and civil unrest added by a developing pandemic and the resulting economic effect of a pandemic, it is probable that the numbers of potential robberies will increase substantially.
2. Domestic violence may increase dramatically since social distancing will alter the family dynamic. Families are accustomed to being apart for most of the day, and in this scenario, everyone will be home and “on top of each other” with the pandemic itself adding a level of stress. The potential for loss of income will also add considerable agitation to an already difficult situation and domestic violence will be a likely result.
3. Suicide and suicide attempts may also increase for obvious reasons.
4. Though not directly police-related, there will also be an increased risk of fire. Cold and flu season is traditionally during the colder months and social distancing means that more people will be at home for longer periods of time and possibly using alternative heating devices (especially if there are issues with our critical infrastructure) for longer periods of time. Add to this the fact that more people will be cooking at home and we can readily see the risk for fire increases significantly.
5. The potential for terrorism increases. We know pretty much every metropolitan area of the country has terror cells, and we must assume that some have standing orders to make a bad situation worse. For example, if we see mass social distancing that appears to be stemming the progress of the pandemic, we may see an attack on critical infrastructure. Water tops the list because people would have to venture out of their houses into groups to collect water from delivery trucks. This close proximity between people would negate the benefits of social distancing. Too, the loss of water would cripple effective treatment at hospitals.

The Hidden Assets
Just as a pandemic carries with it certain threats and negative issues, it will also create certain assets and advantages that should be recognized now so they can be put to use when the time comes.
1. During a developing pandemic, local trade, tourism, and commerce will probably plummet leaving certain businesses closed… and available. Top of this list will be hotels and motels which can be pressed into service (through MOU, etc.) to serve as dormitories. Locations near precincts or stations could be used for officers wanting to stay away from their families (not bringing home the virus). You might look at having a rotation schedule for groups of officers. Motels near hospitals could be used as either dorms for their staff, or for off-site clinics for non-infectious, non-flu-related patients (such as the victims of domestic violence who don’t need to be taken to a flu-infested emergency room for the treatment of minor injuries).
2. As schools close, your dedicated school resource officers will be freed up providing extra personnel or “force multipliers.”
3. School counselors will also be freed up and could possibly staff phone banks from home. These phone banks can prove useful in dispute resolution (stemming from the domestic violence listed above), suicide prevention, grief counseling, and officer morale.
4. As local business dwindles, some private security personnel may be freed up offering additional force multipliers useful in some capacity. To this list add private investigation firms. Many states, such as Georgia, require private-sector continuing ed hours to include regular instruction in the area of “homeland security” for just this purpose. Other private-sector assets related to this area include BENS (Business Executives for National Security), CERT (Community Emergency Response Teams), Neighborhood Watch, COPs (Citizens On Patrol), VIPS (Volunteers In Police Service), as well as Explorer Scouts.
5. Additionally, as a pandemic progresses and the likelihood of an SNS (Strategic National Stockpile) release becomes likely, you’ll need secure transportation to safeguard the delivery of pharmaceuticals to the PODs (Points Of Dispensing). Your local private-sector armored truck companies should have plenty of units (with guards and drivers) that can be volunteered since it’s likely they won’t be needed for private commerce.
6. One asset that will not necessarily be “created” but which is commonly overlooked in many community public health plans is the fact that many restaurants may be closed down, and some will still have a respectable supply of non-perishable food on-site (especially if they are closed down rapidly or too early in the game).

What to do Now
Though we may be at the beginning stages of a global pandemic, there is still time to set certain things in place to mitigate the negatives and strengthen reactive capabilities.
1. Ensure your officers’ abilities to report for duty and remained focused on the tasks at hand by providing enhanced family preparedness instruction. Officers will more readily report when they know the family they leave at home is as well-prepared as possible. The short list of preparedness goals includes 4 weeks of food and medication, current medical checkups and adequate prescription meds (including dental checkups and vet checkups for pets), and entertainment for long periods of time in isolation at home. For a detailed preparedness information source, visit http://www.disasterprep101.com/.
2. Maintain communication with your department of public health or primary source of medical care to make sure officers receive prophylactic flu treatment if and when available.
3. Set MOUs in place for those assets (listed above) you may wish to utilize in a pandemic scenario.
4. Establish orientation / training sessions with those groups you may wish to utilize. Though most would not be directly involved in police work, many can be called upon to monitor their own neighborhoods to some extent or fulfill some lower level security function and thereby shoulder a small percentage of the workload.
5. Set a policy to top off the gas tanks of all vehicles on a daily basis in case fuel supplies are interrupted.
6. Start stocking a certain amount of non-perishable foods at the station in anticipation of a loss of food supply.
7. Encourage your PIOs to perform community outreach functions and speak to civic groups on the topic of enhanced / last-minute preparedness. Fewer victims in a scenario such as this is always a good thing, and cementing the relationship between law enforcement and the general public is worth its weight in gold.
8. Train all officers on infection control procedures to be used during arrests, to include masking suspects, regular handwashing, and squad car sanitation (see CDC interim guidelines for cleaning EMS transport vehicles). Officers should be equipped with N95 masks, eye protection visors, and nitrile gloves to protect themselves when handling arrestees, and while operating a contaminated vehicle.
9. Determine a codified “altered standards of response” for periods of reduced staffing. For example, you might be able to justify a “no response” to nuisance calls such as someone playing a stereo too loud, but could you ignore a home invasion? Putting your reasoning in writing and in detail now may prevent future lawsuits.
10. Once a pandemic is declared and mass social distancing enacted, raise the terror threat alert levels at critical infrastructure sites to red / high, and be ready for this eventuality by assisting these facilities in a review of their preparedness / business continuity plans today.

These are just a few of the hundreds of details law enforcement officers should know during a pandemic. We will try over the coming weeks to provide additional short articles to cover additional concepts.

***Permission granted to share this article, provided all contents - including source - remain intact.***

About the author: Paul Purcell is a security analyst and preparedness consultant with extensive experience in pandemic influenza readiness planning. More information and additional articles may be found at http://www.disasterprep101.com/. © 2009 Paul Purcell

50 Ways to Conserve Water at Home

2007-11-07T16:20:00.000-05:00

With many areas of the country in drought conditions – some severe – and others sure to follow, all of us could use a reminder list of ways to cut back on our water consumption around the house.

None of the following steps are as difficult as the results of a drought could be, and as far as disasters go, a severe drought can be the worst. You can go three weeks without food, but only three days without W.A.T.E.R.:

Waste: “Waste not, want not.” Tighten plumbing leaks and prevent other needless losses of water.
Application: Where do you use water that you don’t need to?
Teaching: It’s good you’re following these suggestions, but what about others? Pass these along.
Economy: Where do you need to use water that you could use less?
Reclamation: Where can you get extra water?

Though the following steps fall into the categories just mentioned, we’ve mixed them up in no particular order to encourage you to read them all. These are excerpts from “Disaster Prep 101.”

1. Fire Safety. Summer brings us heat and dryness that leads to wildfires and winter sees increased house fires from the use of additional heating sources. As a sizable fire would need hundreds or thousands of gallons of water to fight, any fire prevention steps taken are water saving steps.
2. Brick in the toilet. A brick in the toilet tank is meant to take up space to replace water. If a brick takes up about half a quart of space, then you save half a quart per flush. Hint: Since bricks can dissolve, paint it with basement water sealant. Another hint: If you can’t fit a whole brick in your tank, use half a brick. Just make sure nothing blocks your valves or causes a leak.
3. Color coded conservation. You don’t always have to flush your toilet each and every time. To borrow an old adage, “If it’s yellow let it mellow, if it’s brown flush it down.”
4. Buy a low-flow toilet. Though an expensive option, it’s easy to incorporate into your lifestyle, and in fact, some communities offer homeowners rebates for installing these water-savers.
5. Rain barrels. Rain barrels can help save rain water that otherwise would have come down your gutters and soaked into the ground. While you can’t immediately drink this water, you can use it in your food gardens, for outside washing (like if your car really needs it), and you can purify it for drinking or bathing if you’d like. Also, you can buy storage barrels to keep in the garage or other storage area, and use them to store water saved by some of the methods listed in this article. Be sure to mark the barrel as to whether the water is drinkable.
6. AC condensation. If you have central heat and air, you have a drain line that carries away the condensation that collects from your air conditioner coils. If yours is not connected to sewage lines you can collect and use this water. However, DO NOT DRINK THIS WATER! It can be used, though, to water your garden, outside washing, or watering the house plants. You can collect up to two quarts per day during humid weather.
7. Squeeze-handle shower head. You can buy shower setups that have the head on a hose, and the head is activated with a squeeze lever. This will let you wet down, lather up, and then rinse off without leaving the shower running. If the squeeze-handle variety won’t work for you, you can easily find low-flow shower heads that provide the same pressure but use less water overall.
8. Faucet restrictors. Like the low-flow shower head, you can also find low-flow faucet restrictors.
9. Liquid soap. For hand washing, nothing saves water like liquid soap since it lathers more quickly than bar soap. Squirt a small dollop of liquid soap, give a quick burst from the faucet, thoroughly lather, and then turn the faucet back on briefly to rinse.
10. Spray bottles. Keep a small spray bottle of water by the sink. When washing your hands (with liquid soap), or wetting your toothbrush, all you need is a quick spritz from the bottle instead of using the faucet.
11. Plastic gloves. We’re talking about the inexpensive plastic foodservice gloves that come 100 to a box for just a couple of dollars. If there’s anything you’d do that would make you wash your hands before, during, or afterwards (like painting, cleaning the cat’s litter box, etc.), then wearing gloves will save a hand washing.
12. Paper plates. In times of drought; water takes temporary precedence over other resources. Using paper plates saves dishwashing water. The same goes for paper towels which will cut down on the number of cloth hand towels you have to wash.
13. Keep a jug by the sink. Keep an empty water jug by the sink to catch and save cold water coming from the tap while you’re waiting for the hot water. If you collect a lot of water this way, put it in your storage barrels.
14. Consolidate heavy work. Do you do things at different times of day that make you sweaty? On some days do you take more than one shower or change clothes a couple of times? Consolidate these laborious efforts. If you work out regularly and also work in the yard, try to work out and then immediately do your yard work. Stay sweaty, take just one shower, and wear just one set of clothes.
15. Waterless car wash. Several companies produce “waterless carwash” products that let you spray them on and wipe them off leaving your car spotless without the use of water. (For one that benefits schools, see http://www.beatthedirt.com/ or give them a call at 601-503-8300.)
16. Disposable paint brushes. If you have to paint, try to use zero water. Wear your plastic gloves and use brushes you can just throw away.
17. No lawn watering. This goes without saying. However, if you collected the rain water or AC condensation earlier, you might use a watering can to cure brown spots, or water shrubs or trees that might die.
18. Check faucet washers. Another no-brainer is to make sure you have no leaky faucets. However, a word of caution. Know what you’re doing before tackling the repairs yourself since a plumbing accident could spew more water than your faucet would ever drip.
19. Full dish washer. Letting the dishes pile up in the sink is okay if you’re waiting for enough to make a full load for the dishwasher.
20. Full clothes washer. Full loads of laundry are best as they’re more water-efficient. And if you have just one or two items to wash? Hand wash them in the sink.
21. Hand wash over dishes. If you’re letting dishes pile up and some need some presoaking, use the kitchen sink for hand washing. Let the soapy water accumulate and pull double duty by pre-cleaning your dishware.
22. Dig a well. If you’re on municipal water, yet live in an area where you can have a well, please dig one. Though pricey, it will give you an alternate source of water and will help conserve city water.
23. Dixie cups. These tiny cups can let you see how much (or little) water you need for things like rinsing after brushing your teeth. And since they’re disposable, you don’t have to wash.
24. Pass this list to a friend. It’s good that you’re reading this list. Passing it along to others helps them conserve too. With conservation, it really is “the more the merrier.”
25. No new aquariums. If the kids come home wanting anything more than a fishbowl for a new aquatic pet, do what you can to talk them out of it. Unless of course, you fill it and maintain it with rainwater.
26. Nuke your water. For some hot water needs it’s thriftier to fill a cup with cold water and zap it in the microwave to heat it, rather than let the water run until the hot water shows.
27. Shave from a cup. One use for your cup of hot water is shaving. Rather than let the water run during a shave, just rinse your razor in the cup. Too, you’ll use less water in a cup than you would by having an inch or two in the bottom of the sink. Better yet, if possible, use an electric razor.
28. Skip a shower. If you’re not dirty and you’re not going to do anything but hang around the house, especially if by yourself, why take a shower?
29. Let the kids skip a bath. If you want to be a hero to your children, provided they’re really not dirty and don’t need it, let them skip every other day’s bath or shower.
30. Baking soda for Fido. Your dog’s baths can be a little farther apart too, if you give them a dry rubdown with baking soda in the interim. Rub it in their fur and then brush it out thoroughly. They’ll smell lots better, and be happy they skipped a soaking.
31. Nuke a washcloth. Wet a washcloth with a quick blast from the faucet, add some liquid soap, and zap it in the microwave for a few seconds. You could wash your face and hands, and probably take half a bath. Wet another washcloth and microwave it a few seconds for a quick rinse cloth.
32. Paper towel dry-off. After your sponge bath with your microwaved washcloths, dry off with paper towels. Like paper plates, they don’t need washing.
33. Kiddie pools. If you’re lacking rain barrels and want to catch a few drops, get one of those rigid plastic “kiddie pools.” They’re only a few dollars and will hold gallons of rain runoff from your gutter downspouts.
34. Solar showers. Have a private back yard? Like being outdoors? You can get “solar showers” at almost any camping supply store (it’s a black plastic jug with a shower head on a hose). You can use your collected rain water for that occasional warm-weather outdoor shower.
35. No swimming pool. Yet another entry in our no-brainer list, everyone knows that you save lots of water by not filling your swimming pool. But how could you use existing pool water in a water shortage? The chlorine will evaporate in a few weeks if not maintained, but not enough to drink the water. However, you could use the water for outdoor washing, your outdoor shower, flushing your toilet, or as a firefighting water reservoir if your home is in a wildfire area. (See http://www.disasterprep101.com/wildfire.htm )
36. Check your meter. Check for leaks at your water meter. If yours is leaking, notify your local water authority. Also, many meters have flow indicators that move when water is flowing through the pipe even slightly. If you’ve turned off everything in the house and the flow indicator is moving, you might have a hidden leak.
37. Check for a leaky toilet. Put a few drops of food coloring into your toilet tank’s water. If you see the colored water in the bowl after a few minutes it means you have a leak and might need a new tank valve. Hint: Some toilet tank valves are degraded or corroded by the chlorine contained in many toilet bowl tank cleaner / additives. When in doubt, leave them out.
38. Tie up a tarp. If you’re really serious about collecting rain water, tie a few tarps in place to where they drain into your kiddie pool or other collection point.
39. Frozen water bottles. Keep plastic bottles of water (about 4/5 full) in your fridge and freezer (you’ll save electricity since your fridge will run more efficiently). When going on picnics or using your cooler, use a few frozen bottles of water to keep food cold. The water in the bottles can be consumed when thawed (or refrozen), while ice will melt and be dumped out.
40. Water at restaurants. If you don’t plan to drink it, don’t let the waiter leave you a glass of water at the table.
41. Dishes: wipe vs. rinse. If the dishes are too dirty to stick straight in the dishwasher, wipe them off with newspaper rather than rinsing them. You save water and get double-duty from your newspaper.
42. Let Fido lick the bowl. If you have a dog, let Fido clean your dishes before they’re put in the dishwasher. (Just don’t give Fido too much, or anything bad for a dog.)
43. Aluminum foil. When cooking at home, line your pots and pans with aluminum foil. When you’re done cooking, remove the foil to make cleanup easier.
44. Buying your water. If you buy your drinking water, go for the gallons of distilled water rather than the smaller bottles of mineral water. The distilled is a better value and is actually more pure than the “designer waters.”
45. Bug sprayers. Your lawn and garden store will have 2-gallon pump-up sprayers. Most cost less than $20 and will help you use your collected rain water or pool water for washing (and even fighting small fires).
46. “Go Jo.” Go Jo is a waterless hand soap that mechanics use. It’s rather effective on really dirty hands and can be used completely without water. Similarly, you can use the little bottles of clear hand sanitizer.
47. In-line water heater. In-line water heaters can be installed closer to the faucets or tubs they’re to heat, and they use less energy. If you get one, great, but don’t do away with your old water heater (even if you cut off the gas or electric to it) since it’s a great backup reservoir in water shortage scenarios.
48. No mopping. Most households now have a “Swiffer” or comparable cleaning aid intended to replace old-fashioned mops. If you haven’t made the switch, doing so will save a few gallons of water per year.
49. Skip a laundry load. Once in a while, some clothing really doesn’t need to be washed. In mild weather, outer shirts that were only worn briefly might need just a “fluff in the dryer” or another ironing to be perfectly ready to wear. Bachelors have known this secret for years.
50. General safety. We started this article with fire safety and we’ll close with general safety. Each time you prevent a trip to the hospital (or dentist), you prevent the extra water that would be used during your visit, even if it’s just from the doctor washing up to examine you.

Water is like money. We should learn to save it well and spend it wisely. We hope these simple ideas prove useful, and we invite you to check back for our next article which will cover municipal water savings.

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About the author: Paul Purcell is an Atlanta-based security analyst and preparedness consultant with over 20 years risk management experience. He’s also the author of “Disaster Prep 101” at http://www.disasterprep101.com/, and a partner / advisor with 1-800-PREPARE. © 2007 Paul Purcell.
(Permission is granted to reprint this article provided all portions, including author info, remain intact.)

Wildfire Preparedness: The Five Aspects of Readiness

2007-05-22T02:37:00.001-04:00

A classic 70’s tune gives us the lyrics, “She ran calling ‘Wildfire’…..” Then a love song, but today, possibly the beginnings of an action / adventure / horror movie. With rainfall low, and temperatures and winds high, the wildfires we’re currently battling across the country are heavily taxing our first responder assets. More fires will surely follow if these conditions continue.

First responder assets aside, these fires have affected local civilians. Thousands have evacuated, and many find nothing but charred vacant lots when they return. What are some innovative ways civilians can protect themselves, their property, and actually help firefighters in the process?

At the household level, most of us have smoke detectors. That’s good, because in a house fire, as in a wildfire, where there’s smoke, there’s F.L.A.M.E.:

Family – Something as massive as a wildfire will affect your whole family. Prepare them now.

Landscaping – Simple and subtle steps can make your property much more fire resistant.

Awareness – In an emergency, time is crucial. Stay aware of the threat and get the warnings early.

Moisture – Some say you fight fire with fire. We say you fight fire with water.

Evacuation – Even after taking all the other steps, a wildfire is something best avoided.

Family
A prepared and involved family is far more able to handle any type of disaster than those who wait for last-minute instruction. Therefore, one of the best things you can do for your family is to prepare them for one of the most common and least forgiving enemies; fire.

1. Take the family on a fire-safety tour through the house. Locate dangers such as overloaded electrical outlets and safety items such as extinguishers and escape routes.

2. In emergencies, redundancy is our friend. You should have more than one smoke detector, fire extinguisher, and escape route from rooms or the house. Hint: If you’re a heavy sleeper, buy a “baby monitor.” Put the transmitter near the farthest smoke detector and the receiver in your bedroom.

3. Make sure everyone in the family knows how to use a fire extinguisher, and how to call 911.

4. Have regular fire drills. Let each family member have a turn being the one who discovers the fire and who has to warn others. On at least every other drill, have everyone evacuate blind-folded on their hands and knees (while exercising due safety) to mimic the realistic conditions of a fire evacuation.

5. Revisit every family emergency plan with the whole family during wildfire season and certainly if one is in your area and possibly heading your way.

Landscaping
Though tragedies usually take the lead in newscasts, stories still abound of how some homeowners managed to protect their properties from wildfire by simple and subtle changes with their landscaping and home. Take these steps now, since in a fire, time is of the essence.

1. Your main landscaping consideration is to remove any dead, dry vegetation, whether on the ground or in your trees, that could transfer fire to your house. Since this aspect of wildfire preparedness has been adequately covered by others, here are a few good outside sources:

- General wildfire landscaping tips: http://www.firewise.org/resources/files/wildfr2.pdf .

- Florida wildfire landscaping pointers: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/FR/FR07600.pdf .

- More on landscaping during wildfire season: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/FR/FR04700.pdf.

- Fire-resistant plants: http://web1.msue.msu.edu/emergency/pubs/wildfire_resistant.pdf.

2. Be ready to seal your house before evacuating. Create covers for any opening on your home such as attic vents (roof turbines can be covered with metal trash cans), crawlspace openings, etc. Gather your material (such as plywood) and cut, paint, and label (where it goes) each cover now, keeping them stored on your property for immediate use. Put a couple of hooks over each opening you might cover and drill corresponding holes in the plywood covers. The hooks will hold the cover in place while you drill in the screws. This allows one person to do the job and frees up others to perform other necessary tasks. Hint: Also make covers for your windows (including garage door windows) just as if you lived in a hurricane zone.

3. Create a “fire tool box” and include everything needed to prep your house in advance of a wildfire. Store extra garden hoses, water sprinklers, “Y” connectors for extra hoses, wrenches to turn off your gas, rolls of heavy-duty aluminum foil (to cover the openings you didn’t make covers for), machetes and gloves for last minute brush clearing, etc. Store extra tools because you won’t have time to replace tools that might have been broken or lost.

4. Make sure first responders can see your home’s address. Put your house number on your mailbox, near your front door, and painted on the curb by your driveway.

Awareness
A common theme in all our publications and presentations is the fact that in an emergency, our most crucial asset is time (see our other articles at http://www.disasterprep101.com/). The two key elements of time in a wildfire are one, to have as much done in advance as possible, and two, get as early a warning as possible.

1. Don’t wait for a wildfire to approach to start your landscaping. Perform that now and keep your property as fire-retardant as you can.

2. Don’t wait for the smell of smoke to warn you a fire is on its way. If fire conditions are right, monitor news channels and listen for community warnings.

3. Learn to recognize your community warnings. Does your community have a reverse 911 system? Sirens? Will the local TV or radio station broadcast the alert? If your community doesn’t have any of these systems, why not start them in your neighborhood? At the very least, have a phone tree.

4. Buy an NOAA Weather Alert Radio since they’re being incorporated into the overall Emergency Alert System. You should also know who your local Ham Radio operators are. See http://www.arrl.org/.

Moisture
Water is the king of firefighting and fire suppression substances. The best protection for your property lies in your ability to keep a “dome” of moisture in one form or another all over and around your home.

1. One publication under “landscaping” above lists beneficial plants that hold their moisture well. Regardless of the types of plant life in your yard, keep them well hydrated (while following watering ordinances).

2. When setting up your sprinklers, give your yard adequate spray coverage, especially over areas that might worsen the fire such as an above-ground propane tank or wooden deck attached to your house. The best sprinkler for surface areas is the professional directional type rather than the small garden variety that only sprays a weak pattern over a small area. Your garden store rep can help.

3. Put sprinklers on your roof, being sure to anchor them in place since the high winds generated in some wildfire wind storms can blow them off the roof.

4. If you have an in-ground sprinkler system, great! It will give you even water coverage over the grounds and provide a good foundation for the comprehensive water system you’ll need. To your in-ground system add separate “fire” lines that feed water to sprinklers that either spray directly against your house, or outward from your yard to cover vegetation surrounding your property. Too, have a sprinkler line permanently installed on your roof to save you the time of manually putting sprinklers up there. Also, install an additional input valve to allow water from a secondary source like a water pump drawing from your swimming pool.

5. If you have a pool, pond, well, or creek, you have a reservoir that should be put to good use so you don’t draw off the municipal water firefighters need to prevent fire from nearing your property in the first place. It’s a simple matter to keep a gas-powered generator (which self-reliant families should have) and a water pump (such as a pressure-washer), and use the two to draw water from your pool and feed it to your sprinklers. If you have a well with an electric pump, hook your generator to the pump to keep it running should local power fail. Exercise caution when setting up your generator so it doesn’t start its own fire.

6. A final consideration with sprinklers is position. Cover the outer perimeter of your yard, spray against the outer walls and roof of your house, and cover the crowns of your trees if possible. Also, consider outward-pointing sprinklers anchored to an elevated position such as an upper floor deck or porch, or your roof.

Evacuation
We strongly recommend evacuation, even if you’ve taken all the above steps and feel they might work. It’s best that you be pre-prepped and ready to leave at a moment’s notice since time is our most valuable asset. The more ready you are in advance, the more time you have.

1. All your landscaping steps should be taken care of now and maintained, especially during fire season.

2. In wildfire-prone areas, and especially during wildfire season, keep your bugout kits and vehicle ready at all times (with fuel tanks topped off). Hint: With your documents, keep the non-emergency numbers for local authorities so you can call to find out when it’s safe to return.

3. Perform last-minute landscaping ONLY if time allows, since you’ll want extra time to perform the household shutdown steps. However, don’t do anything until you’ve loaded your car with provisions and have nothing left to load but people and pets (in their carriers and/or ready to go).

4. Inside the house do the following:

- Move all flammables (such as furniture and curtains) away from windows making sure each is closed and latched. Lower and close any metallic blinds.

- Leave your fireplace damper open, and close the fireplace protective cover.

- Close all interior doors but don’t lock them.

- Turn off your heat/AC system, and cover any window air-conditioners or floor heater vents with aluminum foil and duct tape inside and out.

- Turn off all gas coming into the house whether from underground line or above-ground tank.

- Turn on inside and outside lights so your property is visible in heavy smoke. Firefighters may need to use it as a beacon.

5. To protect the valuables you don’t have room for in your evacuation vehicle, consider these:

- For waterproof valuables, put them in a bathtub, storage tub, or trashcan you’ve filled with water. (Notice we didn’t recommend your pool, since you should be using it to feed your sprinklers.)

- Large valuables such as antique furniture, etc. should be carried into the center of the house on the lowest floor (the same place you’d go in a tornado).

- Major appliances, such as your oven, fridge, freezer, dishwasher, clothes washer, and dryer, tend not to be consumed by flame or crushed by debris and thereby offer a protected storage location for other valuables. Hint: Disposable diapers are surprisingly flame resistant, and might be useful as wraps for some items stored in an appliance.

6. Lock up the house, leave a note on the door telling authorities you’ve evacuated, check with neighbors to make sure they’re on their way to safety, hop in your vehicle, and leave. Hint: If the area is getting smoky, listen to your radio for road closure information, turn your headlights on low, and set your climate controls to “re-circulate” so as not to draw in smoke from outside the vehicle.

Naturally, this is an article that could go for a few dozen more pages since it’s such an important topic and certainly one where we could offer extensive detail. For now, this will have to do. Will the above information make you fireproof and prevent any damage to your property? No. But it’s very likely to help, especially if you take these steps now. Taking these measures also helps firefighters since any time a wildfire is delayed or a home protected, you take one more item off the shoulders of first responders. Prep now, stay safe, and remember that preparedness is not only a social responsibility; it’s your only true protection.

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About the author: Paul Purcell is a security analyst and preparedness consultant with InfoQuest in Atlanta, GA, and he’s also the author of “Disaster Prep 101.” For additional preparedness-related articles visit http://www.disasterprep101.com/. Permission granted to reprint this article provided all portions remain intact. © 2007 Paul Purcell.

Tornado Preparedness: The Six Keys to Safety

2007-05-04T22:13:00.000-04:00

The US has more tornadoes than any other area on the globe. We get them in the spring, as weather changes in the fall, when summer storms hit, and as byproducts of hurricanes. Though the Midwest is known as “tornado alley,” there’s really no place in the country that’s immune. Add to this the fact that hurricanes and severe thunderstorms can produce directional winds nearly as destructive as the vortex of a twister, and it’s easy to see that we need additional preparedness info beyond “duck and cover.”

We’re going to cover the six main areas of tornado preparedness that will help you before, during, and after a tornado or heavy storm strikes. Appropriately, we’ll use the acronym S.T.O.R.M.S.:

Shelter – Strengthen your home and know where to find expedient shelter.
Time – Increase your chances of getting the early warning.
Others – Safety and protection involves the whole family and communicating with others.
Resources – You’ll need everything from immediate supply to good insurance.
Medical – Help yourself now to save the injured later.
Sweeping Up – Tips and tricks for dealing with the aftermath.

Shelter
Severe storms with driving rain, possible hail, and projectiles hurled by strong winds offer extreme dangers from which we need to protect ourselves. The best protection would be a steel-reinforced concrete safe room located in the basement of a structurally sound building. Lacking that, let’s look at a few things you should do now:

1. Reinforce your house. There are simple things we can do to greatly strengthen our homes. Ask your local home-supply store rep about angle brackets, strapping, and techniques to install them to make your roof, walls, and connection to the foundation stronger. Also, do an internet search for “hurricane retrofit” (including quotes) to find additional instruction. One such source is from the Institute for Business and Home Safety at http://www.ibhs.org/publications/downloads/128.pdf.

2. Create a safe room or area within your home. The general rule of thumb is to pick an area near the center of your house and below ground if possible or at least on the lowest floor. Consider these points:
A. Turn your walk-in closet into a safe area. Remove the sheetrock from walls and ceiling, add extra wall studs held in place with screws, strapping, and angle brackets, and then replace the sheetrock with one or two layers of ¾” marine plywood held in place with structural adhesive and screws. Finish and paint the walls and you’ll never know it was retrofitted.
B. For some online sources of “safe-room construction” do an internet search or see:
· National Hurricane Center http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/HAW2/pdf/building_safe_room.pdf.
· The University of Missouri has a detailed “Storm Shelter Pack” available online at http://extension.missouri.edu/webster/webster/security/Storm_Shelter_Packet-2007-03-05.pdf.
C. If you live in a mobile home, your best bet for safety would be a storm cellar. One simple and relatively inexpensive way to make a storm cellar is to have a septic tank company install a clean new unit in your yard, but leave about a foot above the ground. You can build a strong cover over that and use it as an outdoor deck, or as the foundation for a storage shed.
D. Some locations might reimburse you for building a safe room. Check with your tax assessor, county extension office, insurance provider, insurance commissioner, or local emergency management office.

3. Learn the “safe points.” When a tornado strikes you might be at home, but it’s more likely you’ll be at work, out running errands, or on a trip. Learn to recognize all the locations that will provide protection. Does the building you’re in have shelters? For example, in the Denver Airport, the restrooms are designated tornado shelters. Does the building have a basement? Are you on the road? How far are you from a known safe building, or from a deep ditch?

Time
In emergencies, our most important asset is time. The two best ways to gain extra time in weather emergencies are to prepare now, and to get as early a warning as possible that severe weather is heading your way. If you wait for your community’s alert sirens, you’ve waited too long.

1. Buy a Weather Alert Radio. Not only do they warn you of inclement weather, but the system is now being tied in to the regular EAS system to warn you of other emergencies.
Sign up for an alternate alert service such as the Weather Channel’s at www.weather.com/notify. Hint: When you get the warning, take action! Don’t do dumb things like videotaping the tornado.

2. Learn the indicators of severe weather. The Weather Channel and others such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration at http://www.noaa.gov, have educational information that will teach you how to spot incoming severe weather. Some “symptoms” may include:
A. A large anvil-shaped thunderhead cloud or a thick, very dark, cloud cover with a pea-soup consistency.
B. Hail or, in some cases, unseasonable snow.
C. Green lightning (as lightning flashes behind clouds heavily laden with water).
D. A sudden change in humidity, wind direction or wind speed, rain volume, or rain direction.
E. A sudden change in air pressure (your ears may pop).

3. Network with others. Sometimes our friends and coworkers are our best early warning system. Develop a phone tree or at least a general agreement among friends and relatives that you’ll warn each other about dangers in the area.

Others
There are two sets of “others” you might deal with in concert with a severe storm. One is your family and the other is first responders. Communicate with your family both now – to prepare for a tornado – and later in the event a tornado watch or warning is given. You also may need to communicate with first responders if you experience injury or certain types of property damage that requires official assistance. Consider:

1. Tornado drills. Emergency reactions are worth practicing. Have your family practice getting into the safe room and into a safe position (“duck and cover”) within 30 seconds or less.

2. Protect your pets. On warning of severe weather, round up your pets, put them on leads or in carriers, and take them to your safe area. If your house is damaged in the storm your pets are more protected and easier to care for afterward. Hint: You can train your pets to head to the safe room on command. Your vet can give you some training pointers.

3. Communication and signaling may be vitally important if your home is damaged and/or someone sustains injury during a tornado. For example, though everyone might be uninjured, you may be trapped in the debris that was once your home and need someone to dig you out. In addition to your house phone and cell phone, have backup options like a hand-held two-way radio, and something that can make a loud noise such as an air-horn. Also, make sure your neighbors know you have a safe room in the house, or storm cellar in your yard. They can tell authorities where to look if no one has heard from you.

Resources
In a disaster, you’ll need goods, gear, or services to help you deal with the event and then recover afterward. Make sure you have adequately covered each of the following areas:

1. Make sure your insurance policy covers all types of natural disaster including water damage from rain or flood since many policies have strict exclusions. Also, make sure your policy will provide for the costs of temporary lodging and the full replacement value for your property and possessions.

2. Keep your isolation and evacuation supplies together in a protected spot where you can access them immediately, or where they’ll be protected if your home is damaged while you’re away.

3. Make a list of services you might need after a tornado, such as cleanup and repair services or temporary lodging. Look through your phone book to find services like tree-cutting and debris removal, structural home repairs, automotive repairs, lodging, etc. Write their contact information down and keep it with your emergency kits so you can call these services immediately after a disaster to get your name on their lists.

Medical
We’re hoping that all the advice above has kept you safe in the event of a tornado. However, we know things do happen and people get hurt. Cover the following, just in case:

1. First aid training is important for every family regardless of the threat, so learn the basics of general first aid and CPR. Next, talk with your doctor about first aid measures for specific ailments. For example, if someone in your family has Asthma and they have an attack, what are some things you can do to care for them if you can’t immediately get to their inhaler or medication?

2. First aid kits are a must and families should have several and not just one. The main kit should be kept in the home, but smaller kits should be kept in each automobile and at your workplace.

3. Copies of medical information should be kept at home. After a destructive event there’s no guarantee your family doctor will be available or that the hospital’s computers will be functional. In case of injury, medical practitioners will need to know a general medical history of the injured. Keep a list of ailments, conditions, special medical needs, and current medications of each family member (including pets). Remember, even though you’re the head of household and you know all that information, you may be injured and unable to communicate.

Sweeping Up
All destructive events have at least one thing in common; they’re going to create quite a mess. Here are a few tips to help you stay safe while cleaning up:

1. Though you might think the power is completely out, stay away from downed power lines.
Stay alert to the hissing sound of a broken gas line or the smell of gas.

2. Dress for the weather, but still dress to protect. Wear sturdy shoes or boots (and watch out for boards with nails), a hat and sunscreen, insect repellant, and heavy work gloves. The hospitals will be too full of major injuries to deal with the minor injuries you could have prevented.

3. Physical labor after a stressful event can be quite taxing. Drink plenty of fluids, eat regularly, and take periodic breaks.

4. Here is where you’d need your list of professional cleanup services. Call as soon as possible.

5. In the case of total destruction, your property itself will be a trash pile. Therefore, use your main trashcan as a receptacle for the items you want to salvage. Label it accordingly so no one throws away its contents. Hint: Take photographs or video of all the damage for insurance purposes.

6. It’s possible that your valued possessions might be strewn about the neighborhood. It’ll be easier to have things returned if your name is written or engraved on them. If you don’t want to use your name, use a unique identifier such as the first phone number you can remember from childhood. Hint: Never use your Social Security Number.

Though this article is longer than average, there is still no way we can pass along all the helpful hints and tips that will keep you safe in an emergency and help you recover afterward. Do what you can with the information presented, and continue your education on your own. The steps you take to protect yourself against tornadoes will help protect you and yours during any number of other disaster preparedness scenarios. Stay safe!

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© 2007, Paul Purcell. About the author: Paul Purcell is the lead security analyst and preparedness consultant for InfoQuest in Atlanta, GA. He’s also the author of “Disaster Prep 101 – The Ultimate Guide to Emergency Readiness.” For more information about the author and other storm and preparedness-related articles visit http://www.disasterprep101.com. Permission is granted to reprint this article provided all portions remain intact.

Seung-Hui Cho, Virginia Tech, and Homeland Security

2007-04-23T17:25:00.000-04:00

In today’s news, coverage of the Virginia Tech massacre continues as does the debate over whether or not the shooter’s twisted, angry, “multimedia manifesto” should have been aired, and/or whether or not the content should be pulled. Both sides of this debate are heavily weighted, but let’s look at a few key issues.

On one hand, there are those who feel air-time for killers only breeds more killers; that it spurs on the copycats and gives the proverbial “15 minutes of fame” to those least deserving. There is logic to this as evidenced by the fact that there have been cases of similar threats on at least ten campuses around the country in recent days (though we don’t know if they were copying the incident or acting out due to the tape).

On the other hand, there is immense educational value afforded by the fact that such a deranged diatribe as this is available for study. Used in the proper way and kept in the correct context, this video collection of self-exhibited symptoms is a priceless source of psychological insight rarely found.

We owe it to those who lost their lives in this tragedy to glean every positive detail that can be used to make our world a safer place. This should be done for much the same reason that we might conduct an autopsy, reconstruct an accident, or dissect a terror attack. To do anything less would be to fail to honor the memory of the victims.

What is puzzling is the fact that several networks have said they will not broadcast Cho’s recorded rant. However, they have not hesitated to discuss in detail each minute step of the attack starting with the first murders in the dormitory, all the way through Cho’s chaining the doors to hold his victims captive as his rampage took him classroom to classroom. This does nothing but provide a tactical education to potential copycats. On top of that, refusing to air the video offers a level of privacy and consideration to an individual who was of smaller caliber than either weapon he carried, and whose rights were forfeited by his own actions.

To the peaceful majority of the general public, and to the growing population of public safety professionals, Cho’s tape and its availability offer several unique considerations and distinct opportunities:

1. Not airing the tape, with its undeniable demonstration of the depths of Cho’s disturbance, would give too much room for creative speculation of “why.” Without showing his depravity, troubled and impressionable minds might envision him a hero in much the same way Jesse James and Billy the Kid - both notorious outlaws - were elevated to hero status simply because so few people knew how vicious the two really were. Airing the tape gives us the opportunity to show Cho for what he was and let those who may be contemplating similar acts see the true nature of such perpetrators. They are not heroes, they are not normal, they are not revered, and what mental malfunctions they may have will be shown to the world.

2. Broadcasting the tape allows those with human resources management responsibilities, whether in an educational or professional setting, to see some of the “red flags” of potentially dangerous behavior and to hopefully learn some of the indicators that may be present when someone is about to “pull a Cho.” Failing to show the tape would let this type of education slip by.

3. The most important aspect of all is the in-depth glimpse Cho’s diary of dementia gives both the public and homeland security into the hate-induced perspective of the terrorist psyche. Despite outward appearances and statements to the contrary, little terrorist activity is based on religion or politics. Terrorism is generally based on fear and envy; mostly the envy of the “have nots” who feel we are the “haves” and are somehow responsible for their misperceived lot in life. There is no reasoning with this type of mindset, no placating, no negotiation, no pacification, and this mentality isn’t something that can be switched off by dollars or dialogue. So it is with terrorists, so it was with Cho, and so we need to better understand those who seek to do us harm.

A full discourse giving proper attention to both sides of the “to air or not to air” debate could occupy volumes that would dwarf the Encyclopedia Britannica. It is not the purpose of this short article to come to a concrete conclusion, but merely to point out the fact that we do have treasure that can be extracted from the tragic, and that hopefully this type of valuable education can avert the next potential atrocity.

Learn to draw meaning from misfortune, always be kind to others, and above all stay safe!

****************************
About the author: Paul Purcell is an Atlanta-based security analyst and preparedness consultant with over 20 years risk-management experience, and is also the author of both “Disaster Prep 101” and “The Case File.” More about the author and additional articles of interest can be found at: www.disasterprep101.com.

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The Secrets of Teaching Disaster Preparedness

2006-12-02T01:00:00.000-05:00

The Secrets of Teaching Disaster Preparedness

Headlines are full of hurricanes, earthquakes, bird flu, terrorism, and other dangers of the world in which we live. However, most civilians aren’t prepared to face a disaster or even a family emergency. This begs the question “Why not?” This article is intended for those who want to change this fact by teaching others, including their own families, to be better prepared, safer, and more self-reliant.

We’ve identified several “learning obstacles” that prevent individuals and families from being as emergency ready as they should be. We’ll list them here quickly then cover each in more detail and discuss ways to jump these learning hurdles.

Since we’re talking about educating families – the cornerstone of all reaction plans - let’s use the acronym F.A.M.I.L.I.E.S.:

Fear – “It’s too scary to think about.”
Attention Span – “I’m too busy to learn or do anything new.”
Media – “There’s always a weatherman in the hurricane.”
Info Levels Now – “A 72-hour kit is all I need.”
Lifestyle Ties – “I don’t want to change the way I live.”
Income – “I can’t afford to buy the gear or take the steps.”
Ego – “I’m so important that others will look after me.”
Selflessness – “I’m not worried about me, I want to help others.”

Why is it important to increase the level of civilian preparedness training over what we have through sites like ready.gov? That question can be a series of articles on its own, but the 4-part short answer is one, most free websites have only the bare minimum info; two, the fewer victims we have in a disaster the better off we’ll all be; three, all business continuity plans rest on the ability of employees to return to work; and four, the term “civilians” includes the families of first responders. The more prepared the family, the more able is the responder to report for duty.

As we cover each learning obstacle below, you’ll find a brief description of the problem followed by a few specific tips on how to deal with that particular issue. When teaching, remember that people have different learning styles. Visual learners do best by watching. They are receptive to videos, PowerPoint, or live demos. Auditory learners prefer verbal communication such as podcasts, or books on tape. Kinesthetic learners benefit from hands-on experience. Try to incorporate a little of each into your presentations.

Fear
Fear is probably the number one reason people don’t prepare. Too many people focus on the dangers they may face in disasters, rather than the benefits of self-reliance. Worse, many so-called experts dwell on nothing but the threat since they have little to no new preparedness information. Let’s look at ways to teach readiness while avoiding fear:
1. Take a tip from insurance salespeople. They focus on the benefits of the policy rather than the reasons you might need one. Accentuate the positives of preparedness, not worst case scenarios.
2. Use “mundane” threats to get people to prepare for more dire situations. For example, people living on the coast understand hurricanes and are receptive to helpful tips regarding evacuation. However, you might get a negative reaction with a “nuke in the harbor” scenario.
3. Teach preparedness without mentioning a threat. For example, focus on financial planning. It’s more economical to buy groceries in bulk and cook at home, and it’s also healthier. Guess what? This means you’ll have more food at home in a shelter-in-place situation. Also, encouraging families to take up camping as a hobby inadvertently helps prepare them for an evacuation.

Attention Span
With microwave ovens, ATMs, email, and so forth, we live in a world of instant gratification. We have become a society whose mantra is “Just give me the condensed intro, not the whole pamphlet.” We rarely take time to do a thorough and detailed job of anything, and the notion of adding things to the list, even something life-saving, is out of the question.
1. Most people don’t realize that being prepared for disaster takes only subtle modifications to your life and doesn’t require extensive study or training.
2. People in this category appreciate “helpful hints,” so break things down into bite-size pieces. Use simple (though detailed and thorough) checklists and bulleted lists rather than wordy text or long speeches. For one such list, see “50 Emergency Uses for Your Camera Phone” at http://www.disasterprep101.com/news.htm.
3. Show them how some aspects of preparedness can save time. For example, having more food in the pantry saves shopping time. Also, being current and comprehensive with your insurance policies and personal documentation will save months worth of time getting your life back on track after a disaster.

Media
News channels can be a double-edged sword. They’re great for emergency warnings, but sometimes contradict themselves. For example, weather stations will pass along evacuation warnings in advance of a hurricane, but then they’ll send a reporter out in the middle of it to give a live report. Some people see this and think hurricanes are no big deal. We’ve seen the same in minor chemical spills. Let your preparedness students know that:
1. Things are always smaller and friendlier on TV than in real life. A picture of a snake isn’t the least bit alarming. However, turn one loose in your classroom…. (No, don’t actually do this!)
2. News sources live and die on ratings, viewers, and subscribers, and therefore take risks. However, these are usually controlled risks, since, for example, the weather reporters are usually in a side area and not in the direct path of the eye of the hurricane. So don’t do what they do, do what they say.

Info Levels Now
Most “emergency” sites on the internet with “readiness information” have nothing but variations of the 72-hour kit checklist. The other end of the spectrum finds all the “survivalist” info concerning edible plants and living off the land. These two extremes can mislead the public in two distinct ways. One, the simplistic info might tell people that a 72-hour kit is all they’ll need and the government will come protect them. Two, the other extreme relates to fear since it tends to tell people that “things will be so bad that you’ll need these survival skills.” The extremes should be avoided. Shoot for the more realistic middle ground.
1. “72-hour” kits are the absolute minimum. Recommending only a 72-hour kit is like telling a family on a vacation road-trip to get only enough gas to get to the next exit where there might be another station.
2. If you teach outdoor survival skills, remind people that these skills aren’t the very next option after their 72-hour kit runs out. They’re there for the most severe cases in isolated incidents.
3. Bridge the gap between these extremes by providing instruction on how families can use simple measures to stay safe and secure for up to four weeks, either during an evacuation or extended shelter-in-place. A good example is the four weeks of food and water stored in the pantry. Four weeks is a more realistic figure and fills the void between simple kits and survival skills.
For more thoughts, see “The Disaster Dozen: The Top Twelve Myths of Disaster Preparedness” at http://www.disasterprep101.com/news.htm.

Lifestyle Ties
Essentially, this is another form of fear. It’s the fear of changing one’s lifestyle to incorporate readiness, and it’s the fear of losing one’s current lifestyle in the wake of a disaster. Two points come into play here.
1. One of the main goals of true readiness training is the preservation of our lifestyle as we know it, and not just mere physical survival. Therefore when discussing disasters, cover their aftermath and what it will take for families to return to normal. Don’t cut the subject short.
2. Realistic preparedness doesn’t involve major changes, but incorporates subtle modifications to the things we already have and do. For example, the simple habit of topping off your vehicle’s gas tank three times a week is easy to develop and ensures you have as much fuel as possible in an emergency. Simple task, powerful results, no appreciable change in your lifestyle.

Income
Many people see ads for high-priced “disaster” goods and gear and assume that protecting their family will be a major financial investment. This isn’t necessarily the case. If done correctly, protective measures can actually save a family money, or at least zero itself out on your household budget.
1. In our discussion of the 4-week pantry we pointed out how storing this much food could actually save time and money.
2. You don’t need to buy expensive gear. In fact, we recommend finding things you need at thrift stores or yard sales, and in other cases, making your own gear. For example, our “mess kits” were made with leftover plastic dishes from microwave dinners.
3. Part of any comprehensive family preparedness training should include a section on frugality, or how a family might save money by reducing expenses and through better household budgeting.

Ego
Ego can also be called self-esteem, and this can either go high or low. In the case of high self-esteem, some people may think, “I’m so important that others will take care of me.” Low self-esteem carries its own peculiarities as well. These folks might think, “No one will help me,” or “Nothing exciting ever happens here, so why prepare?” Though not directly ego-related, many people hold that same belief that “Nothing will happen here. Things happen to other people.”
1. Since we want to avoid generating fear, don’t fight the “I’ll be taken care of” attitude with stories of how bad things could get. Instead, use this high self-esteem by pointing out that one reason people don’t prepare is because their friends don’t. Therefore, tell this group the truth that they can help get others to prepare by being prepared themselves, and setting an example.
2. People with low self-esteem should be shown that self-reliance really is possible for them. These folks have low confidence levels. Once they see examples of how easy it is to be far more prepared and protected than they are, they’ll appreciate their new confidence and may continue their education on their own.

Selflessness
Many people are so concerned about others that they neglect themselves. This is one of the reasons we see incidents of PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) in people that were never in the actual emergency. This type of distant stress is caused when these folks see bad things happen to other people but they can’t do anything about it.
1. A good reminder for this group is that you’re more able to help others if you yourself are well prepared. And guess what? “Others” includes pets!
In the stocked pantry example, you’ve helped others by already having your supplies, which makes for shorter lines and more stock on the shelves when the unprepared make that last-minute scramble for supplies at the grocery store.
2. You also help others by setting the example that preparedness is socially acceptable, much in the same way that we wear our seatbelts so our children will.

The most important point of all is that your main goal is to teach both the importance and techniques of disaster preparedness in order to make our world safer. So, we have one last acronym for you; the word T.E.A.C.H.
Treat each family member as unique.
Emphasize the benefits and not the threat.
Allow for different learning styles and speeds.
Confidence building is goal number one.
Help others to help themselves, and to then help others in turn.

About the author: Paul Purcell is a security analyst and preparedness consultant and is the author of “Disaster Prep 101” (www.disasterprep101.com.) Copyright 2006 Paul Purcell. Permission is granted to reprint this article provided all portions stay intact.

Hurricane Season 2006: Four Steps to an Efficient Evacuation.

2006-06-15T23:38:00.000-04:00

Hurricane Season 2006: Four Steps to an Efficient Evacuation.
By Paul Purcell

It’s hard to believe it’s already hurricane season, and it’s also hard to believe that this season is projected to be as bad as or worse than last year’s season that saw hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma. We’re here to help you prepare, but rather than repeat the usual “flashlight and first aid kit” disaster preparedness checklist, we’re going to give you a few details that will help your family plan an efficient evacuation should a severe hurricane threaten your area.

One of the most crucial assets in any emergency situation is time, and nowhere is time more important than in an evacuation. When the evacuation order is given, all you want to have to do is go. A safe and speedy evacuation does two things. First, it gets you and yours out of the way before the massive traffic gridlock takes place, and two, if enough people evacuated earlier, this gridlock won’t be as bad for the people who did not prepare as they should have.

Let’s look at a few ideas that will save you considerable time in an evacuation scenario and help keep your family safe. Going with that theme, let’s use the word S.A.F.E. to cover these hurricane preparedness topics, namely Shutters, Accessories, Fuel, and Evacuation.

1. Shutters. Get your shutter materials today. If you plan to protect your windows and doors before you evacuate, get the materials you need now, and prep so you can put these shutters up by yourself. For example, if plywood is your choice material, you should already have it on your property somewhere and cut (for fit and manageability) and labeled as to which opening it covers. Have small hooks over each window and corresponding holes in the plywood so you can hang the shutter in place by yourself while you drill in the screws. During an emergency, you shouldn’t waste time and money gathering materials you should already have, and you don’t want to tie up other people performing chores that could be done by one person.

2. “Accessories” covers both your household supplies and your evacuation gear. One common time waster is standing in line at the grocery store for consumables you should already have, so get your food and water now. You should always have between 2 and 4 weeks worth of food in your home (including pet supplies), and you should continually rotate your stock so you don’t have a separate stash that reaches its expiration dates and is lost. Besides, if you’re stocked ahead of time, you’re helping others by being out of their way when they make last-minute shopping trips. Also, you want to have adequate supplies of food and water on hand after the storm when stores will be closed or empty, and you won’t have the time, money, or gasoline to shop.

Next, keep a “Bugout Kit” packed 24/7 with a “last-minute list” on top. In an evacuation, you should grab your kit, your few last minute items that could not be prepacked (such as perishable medications, etc.), and be out the door. Your kits should be inexpensive, second-hand backpacks or wheeled suitcases, and they should be packed as if you were going on a two-week trip with only “carry-on luggage.” Pack what you need, but pack lightly. Also, you must have copies of important documents (hardcopies and computer disks) including insurance papers, household inventories (with photos), child ID kits, etc. Having your paperwork with you is the only way to make sure you get your life back in order as quickly as possible. (For the very basics, see http://www.redcross.org/, or http://www.ready.gov/. For a “Last-Minute List,” write us at info@disasterprep101.com.)

3. Fuel. Always keep your car’s gas tank full. Forget everything you’ve heard about the “half-tank rule” and make it a firmly entrenched habit to top off your tank about 3 times a week, even if it only needs a gallon or two. When it’s time to leave you don’t want to waste time in line at a gas station that may not have gas when you finally get to the pump. Also, if you have gas-powered lawn equipment at home, keep a 5-gallon gas can rather than the 1-gallon size. This will let you top off your tank before hitting the road.

4. Evacuation means worlds more than “get out of the house.” For this short article, we’ll focus on your destination. Line up your evacuation destination today, and choose one that provides the best balance between protection, accessibility, and economy, selecting a location that offers protection from the storm, but yet is close enough for you to get back home quickly. A friend or relative’s house tops our list since you’ll save money and you’ll be around loved ones. Balance your options, but make your choice now, so you’ll definitely have a place to stay, and make this destination a prominent part of your plan. (For a destination criteria checklist, email us at info@disasterprep101.com.)

Put these ideas to use today as you make your family’s evacuation plans, and plan now so when the hurricane is heading your way, all you have to do is act. Time is that critical.

About the author: Paul Purcell is a security analyst and preparedness consultant and is the author of “Disaster Prep 101” (http://www.disasterprep101.com/.) Copyright 2006 Paul Purcell. Permission is granted to reprint this article provided all portions stay intact.

The "Disaster Dozen" Top Twelve Myths of Disaster Preparedness

2005-11-20T22:27:00.000-05:00

The "Disaster Dozen" Top Twelve Myths of Disaster Preparedness
by Paul Purcell

Hurricane Katrina and others in the season have given us yet another disaster preparedness wake-up call. Do we pay attention now or hit the snooze button again?
Pushing past the debates over government reaction, we come to the bottom line conclusion that, "Yes, more could have been done." In other articles we’ll get into some of those debates, but for now, let’s look at the most important part of a comprehensive emergency readiness plan, and that is the preparedness levels of individuals and families.

We find that the biggest obstacles to comprehensive family emergency readiness education are the misconceptions surrounding the true nature of preparedness. So, to set the stage for better education, and ultimately better public safety, let’s take a look at some of these myths.

1. "If something happens all I have to do is call 911."
Help can only go so far, or be there so quickly. Security, like charity, begins at home and the responsibility for your family’s safety rests on your shoulders. This isn’t to say that you shouldn’t call for help when it’s truly needed, it’s to remind you that you may be on your own for while, especially if the situation is an expansive, or severe one.

2. "All I need is a 72-hour kit with a flashlight, first aid kit, some food and water, and a radio."
We’re not sure where the "72 hour" figure came from, but it’s an extremely minimal amount of time and not very realistic. A more practical goal is to be self-sufficient for a minimum of 2 weeks. Why 2 weeks? As bad as Katrina was, there are numerous disaster and terrorism scenarios that could see substantially more damage, and a disruption of local services for three weeks or more. Also, many biological scenarios may see a 2-week quarantine. Regarding supplies and equipment, avoid the "one-size-fits-all simpleton lists" and customize yours to your family’s unique threats, needs, and assets. (See http://www.disasterprep101.com.)

3. "My insurance policy will take care of everything."
SWAT teams of insurance agents aren’t going to instantly rebuild your life like on TV. Insurance companies will be far more concerned about their own bottom line than yours. In fact, many insurance companies are rewriting policies to redefine some rather common terrorism or disaster related incidents as being excluded and not coverable. Check your policies closely!

4. "Good preparedness is too expensive and too complicated."
Nothing could be further from the truth. The problem is, we haven’t made preparedness a part of our overall education. We get more preparedness info on an airline flight than we get as citizens. Most of us aren’t taught that there are literally thousands of subtle, simple, and economical things we can do to drastically improve our emergency readiness. The notion that it might be expensive or complicated has come from companies that aggressively market high-priced unnecessary gear.

5. "We can only form a neighborhood group through FEMA, the Red Cross, or local Law Enforcement."
Neighbor helping neighbor is one of our highest civic duties. No one regulates this and you don’t have to get anyone’s permission to coordinate your safety with others. Working with these groups is rather advantageous, but not required.

6. "In a ‘Weapons of Mass Destruction’ terrorist attack, we’re all dead anyway."
"WMDs" might kill larger numbers of people, but that doesn’t mean widespread destruction is a guaranteed thing. In fact, for widespread destruction, a top-grade WMD must be expertly and precisely applied under ideal conditions. This does not mean that WMDs are to be ignored or that they’re nothing to fear, it’s just that "Mass Destruction" does NOT mean "Total Destruction" at all.

7. "Nothing like that could ever happen here."
Though some areas are more prone to certain types of disasters, say earthquakes in California, or terror attacks in New York, no area on earth is completely immune. Too, with as much as people travel, you might travel somewhere and wind up in a disaster you never thought about.

8. "All I have to worry about is my own family."
Technically yes, but the more you’re able to care for your own family, the more you can and should help others.

9. "If preparedness were really important it would be taught in school."
Preparedness really is that important, but schools only have so much time and budget to teach the things they already do. This is one of the many things we’re trying to change, but for now, you’re going to have to not only realize the importance of thorough emergency readiness, but to teach your family yourself.

10. "I can get free preparedness information on the Internet."
Many free sources contain really good information. However, it takes time and experience to filter the trash from the treasure. Worse, some of these free sites have "information" that could actually cause more problems than they cure. This is why we spent years in gathering the over 400 additional books and training manuals on the CDs in "Disaster Prep 101."

11. "Full preparedness means I have to get a lot of guns and be a ‘Survivalist."
While personal security and family safety are valid concerns, the vast majority of people around you will not be a threat. In fact, though looters gained a lot of media attention after Katrina, there were far more numerous stories of heroism. We suggest you balance your personal security needs with your desire to help those around you and strive to reach the best of both worlds.

12. "If something really bad happens, NO one will help."
There’s no such thing as "no one helping." However, the best thing people can do to is to prepare their families so they need as little outside help as possible. There’s always someone needier than you and the more prepared you are, the more you free up assistance resources so they can help those less fortunate.

Copyright 2005, Paul Purcell. About the author: Paul Purcell is an Atlanta-based security analyst and preparedness consultant with over twenty years risk management and preparedness experience. He’s also the author of Disaster Prep 101. More information on Paul and his book can be found at www.disasterprep101.com.

"50 Emergency Uses For Your Camera Phone"

2005-11-19T10:47:00.000-05:00

50 Emergency Uses for Your Camera Phone
by Paul Purcell

In an emergency you'll need to provide and receive help, and after it's over, you'll have to return, repair, and rebuild. Central to this is communication and documentation. Our society loves red tape, especially after disasters. Below are 50 ways the camera phone can be used in an emergency to document, record, and relay important information.

Any camera could be used for some of these things, but the phonecam carries a distinct advantage. It can immediately transmit your pictures. If you don't have a phonecam, go with what you have, or what you can afford. Disposable cameras and digital cameras are acceptable. However, the phonecam rules, so let's look at ways yours can be used in an emergency. These are excerpts from "Disaster Prep 101" at http://www.disasterprep101.com/.

1. Last minute child ID. Whenever the family might be separated, take last-minute pictures of all family members, especially the kids, and pets.

2. Send a map. To send or receive directions to or from a location when voice directions aren't working, draw a map on paper, take a picture, and send.

3. Injury photos to the doctor. Suppose help isn't available, and someone's sick or injured. If there are visible signs or symptoms, relay pictures to medical personnel who can walk you through whatever treatment is possible where you are.

4. Damage documentation. In catastrophes, it'll be days before insurance adjusters get there to file claims. Photo all damage in case some of it gets repaired or cleaned up before agents arrive.

5. Report suspicious activity. If you see suspicious activity in your neighborhood, upload pictures of suspects and the situation to the Police immediately.

6. "Here's the landmark." Gathering the family is critical. If you don't have a fixed meeting place, send pictures of where and what you're near so others can find you. This also works well if you're lost in the wilderness and need to relay pictures of landmarks.

7. "Meet us here." If you have a fixed rendezvous point, send a pic you already have on file, so others will know where to meet. Take these photos while compiling your family emergency plan.

8. Photo shopping list. When stocking up in anticipation of an emergency, take a picture of your pantry as a quick shopping list.

9. Driving directions. If you're trying to tell others where a certain location is, send a picture by picture set of directions. Create this file while assembling your family reaction plan.

10. "Meet this person." If your family evacuates, and they know where to go, but haven't met the family contact person, send them a picture of the person they're to meet, or send that person pictures of the people heading their way.

11. Last minute property inventory. If you're evacuating, snap quick shots of your property to include purchases not on your last home inventory, and the current condition of your property.

12. "Adventure" journal. Take pictures to record what you do, where you go, and people you meet during an evacuation, etc.

13. Situational severity. In a large-scale emergency, first responders will be overworked. They might not be available for a "minor situation." However, the situation might be worse than they understand, and you might need serious help. Send a picture of how bad things are.

14. Quick text messaging. You might not have time to type a message, and the lines might not be open long enough for a conversation. Write a note on paper, take a picture, and send that.

15. Minor traffic mishap. In a minor fender-bender, with no injuries or disabled vehicles, most jurisdictions will tell you to "swap info and move along." If that's the case (always call 911 to make sure), photo the vehicular damage, people involved, witnesses at the scene (and their car tag numbers), and of others involved in the accident to show their injuries (or lack thereof).

16. Wallet backup. Take pictures of your wallet's contents (or important documents) to record numbers, and show that cards are or were in your possession. Be careful with this info as it's very sensitive and can be used for identity theft!

17. Inclement weather reporting. If you're the first to see the funnel cloud, hail, or a river overflowing, send a picture to the weather service or authorities as rapid proof an emergency is developing.

18. First Responder intel. The more first responders know about a collapsed house, an auto accident, a fire in progress, or any other emergency, the more rapid and appropriate a reaction they can make.

19. Missing persons. Send picture of picture. In addition to last minute family photos, send a picture of a photograph in your purse or wallet of a missing family member.

20. Relay property damage to or from neighbors. After a disaster, whoever goes home first, either you or your neighbors, could photograph area damage and relay info to the other.

21. Help insurance adjusters find your property. After a devastating incident, street signs will be gone, house numbers won't be visible, etc. Take current pictures of landmarks or unique damage near or at your property to make it easier to find you.

22. Copy bulletin boards. If you're in an emergency shelter, and there's an info
bulletin board, you'll need the info but might not be able to write it down. Take a picture!

23. Bus, subway, or city map. If you're anywhere you're not familiar with and there's a posted map, take a picture of it for later reference if you get lost.

24. Document your route. When traveling to a new area, and you want to find your way back, take pictures along the way of landmarks at turns you make, forks in the road, etc.

25. Record medicines or food brands. To relay information about medications, or if you have special dietary needs and are sending information regarding certain brands to someone, a picture really is worth a thousand words.

26. Parking spot locations. Don't trust your memory, trust a picture. Take a pic of where you left your vehicle either in a lot or in a parking deck.

27. Engine repairs. Should you break down and your vehicle shows outward signs of problems such as steam shooting from a hose, or liquids dripping from the engine, send a pic to a mechanic who may talk you through a quick fix.

28. Business or service function and hours. Copy posted business hours or listed service functions (and pricing) for later review and recall. This is also a good way to report price gouging.

29. Child custodian. If you can't get to your kids at school or other function, relay a picture of the person who is coming to pick them up. Send this picture to the school or function, and to your child (if they have a phonecam).

30. Info on injured or hospitalized people. You might be in a position to send pictures to people looking for loved ones or vice-versa.

31. Hotel room number. Whenever you get a hotel room, take a picture to find your way back. Photo the room number on the door, and the name of the motel and adjacent buildings.

32. ID your evac gear. As with all belongings, take a picture to prove ownership. This might come in handy with theft in emergency shelters. It's a rare occurrence, but be ready to prove things are yours.

33. Photo scavenger hunt. You'll need something to entertain the kids. Give them a short list of things they should take a picture of. First one to take all the pictures wins!

34. Identify the close-up. Another idea is to take a really close up picture of something while the kids aren't looking, and have them figure out what it is.

35. Document your whereabouts. Let's say looting or rioting is occurring. You can help Police by secretively taking pictures of the perpetrators (not really recommended for safety reasons), or take pictures as you're leaving to document the fact you weren't involved.

36. ID the rescuer. If a rescuer is picking up your child or pet, photo the rescuer (and the child or pet) and the vehicle they used. Photograph their name tag as well as registration numbers on helicopters, vehicle tag numbers, or names of boats.

37. Document your cleanup. It may be a while before your insurance adjuster can arrive. Take pictures of the damage as you found it, and steps you took during cleanup. Regarding insurance, NOTHING beats documentation!

38. Document expenditures. If you buy goods or supplies, rent equipment, or hire a service, in addition to receipts, photograph the goods acquired, equipment being used, services being performed, and the people involved.

39. Property pics for retrieval companies. Some scenarios will see you unable to return home. Some companies are trained and equipped to go into these areas to gather people's belongings. Property photos will allow you to identify specific items you'd like retrieved.

40. Evacuee status. Authorities will want to know who is injured, dead, or missing, and who is okay and where they are. Taking pictures of those you meet along with way, or at your emergency shelter, will help ID the living and well.

41. Language barriers. Ever try to find the restroom in a foreign country and you didn't know the phrase? Imagine how guests in our country feel in emergency situations. Pictures make communication easier, whether you're trying to understand their needs, or relay yours.

42. Transmit road conditions. Let's say after a hurricane, you're one of the first families returning home, and you're taking back roads. Authorities (or others following) might not have checked every avenue of return. If damage needs to be reported, or there's no damage (report that too), sending a picture can relay tons of information.

43. Relay traffic conditions. If family members are separated, or heading different directions, pass along traffic conditions or info from traffic warning signs.

44. Crime scene evidence. People have returned to a home undamaged by a disaster, but later looted. Since Police might not be able to show up right away, take "crime scene" photos (for both Police and insurance).

45. Too much on the screen? Should the TV flash pertinent information and you don't have time to write, or there's a lot of text on a computer and you can't print it, take a picture of the screen for later review.

46. ID for doctors or pharmacies. Medical needs are a real probability during an emergency. Since you can't get to your doctor, and they might phone in a prescription to a pharmacy that doesn't know either of you, use your phone to verify your identity to your doctor, and your doctor can relay the picture to the pharmacy.

47. Emergency supply information. Suppose a developing emergency finds you low on goods and you send different people to different supply locations. If supplies are low, these folks can send a picture of the types or brands of items available so you can make educated purchase decisions.

48. "Last Minute List" items and shutdown. Though everyone should keep a "bugout kit" packed and ready, there will be items which cannot be packed in advance. In addition to a written list, create a photo file showing items you need to take (and their location) and steps to secure the house before leaving.

49. Evac atlas. Create a "travel atlas" of emergency assets available along evacuation routes. Include lodging, ATM locations, emergency rooms, etc. Travel the routes and take photos, or draw maps and shoot those.

50. Reaction plan for the reading disabled. If a family member suffers from any reading disability, using photos is a must. Create a photo file that will relay your entire emergency plan without using text.

Copyright 2005, Paul Purcell. About the author: Paul Purcell is a security analyst and preparedness consultant with over twenty years risk management and preparedness experience. He's also the author of "Disaster Prep 101." More information can be found at http://www.disasterprep101.com/.