Author: Paul Faust

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Monster Surf Preparedness

When you think about emergency preparedness, high surf is probably not the first thing that comes to mind – unless you’re living in Hawaii. However, the city Department of Emergency Management in Honolulu, Hawaii recently opened emergency shelters in anticipation of high surfs. Residents can even bring their pets if they’re on a leash, or in a cage or carrier. Once there though, residents are on their own:

Those who go to the shelters will need to provide their own food, water, clothing, medical supplies and personal items for two days, the city says. Individuals should bring what they can carry on one trip to an evacuation center.

Preparing for high surfs is much like prepping to evacuate due to a tsunami or other natural disaster. You’ll need a car kit with enough water, food, medical and other supplies to last you at least three days.

Going to a shelter should not be a part of your emergency plans. Rather, be prepared and get what you need in pre-made kits that can help sustain you and your family while you wait for things to return to normal.

Source:

http://www.starbulletin.com/news/breaking/78657752.html

http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20091206/BREAKING01/91206061/High-surf+evacuation+shelters+open+on+Leeward+coast+and+North+Shore

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Local CERT Gets Grant Money

Community Emergency Response Teams (CERTs) are sprouting up in most communities across the United States. The purpose of these groups, funded by federal and state governments, is to mobilize a trained group of volunteers in emergencies, due to natural, man-made or other disasters. They’re under the leadership and control of the Emergency Management Agency, and they can be called upon by police and fire departments for help.

The Columbiana County Emergency Management Agency in Ohio received a $6,650 federal grant to go towards to training and giving equipment to its CERT group for use in emergencies. However, Director Darren Dodson wants to use some of the money to train crime watch volunteers.

Dodson said crime watch organizations appear to be on the rise, and the skills it takes to participate in such an organization are similar to those employed by members of CERT – Community Emergency Response Team – the volunteer group of emergency responders formed several years ago by the EMA.

Dodson’s statements seem to imply a connection between emergency preparedness and personal or family protection. In addition to preparing for emergencies, you have to think carefully about how you plan to protect yourself and your family in the event of civil unrest as a result of an emergency. A neighborhood crime watch is a great tool, but you first have to plan for keeping your own home safe.

Source:

http://www.salemnews.net/page/content.detail/id/520401.html?nav=5007

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City Opens Warming Shelters after Declaring an Emergency

The City of Bend, Oregon has declared an emergency due to extremely cold temperatures. As a result, the City will open up warming shelters for the homeless when other shelters reach their capacity. The Boys and Girls club has been converted into the warming shelter.

“It’s an opportunity for people to get in, get out of the cold, be warm, just for that night; they leave the next morning, and then if the conditions are still the same that night, then they can come back,” says Chris Clouart, Managing Director at the Bethlehem Inn. This declaration will be valid through March for nights when temperatures drop to twenty degrees or below.

You may not be faced with similar circumstances now, but we all are vulnerable to emergencies, whether or not our city declares one. What will you do in the event of a natural disaster that occurs during the winter months, which knocks out power lines? How will you keep warm? Are you counting on going to a warming shelter, or are you prepared to keep warm?

Take the time today to take inventory of what you have to keep warm. Emergency blankets, tents, hand and foot warmers are good to have on hand in a pre-made home survival kit. Also, heaters that don’t use electricity may serve as a good backup during power outages.

Source:

http://kohd.com/page/153285

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California on Tsunami Preparedness

Tsunamis happen more often in California than you might think. The damages also cost the State a pretty penny. In response to this, California is getting proactive about warning residents to be prepared for tsunamis. Humboldt State University has produced a pamphlet on emergency preparedness and Tsunamis.

“I can’t think of any other natural disaster where awareness and knowledge is as important as with tsunamis,” said Lori Dengler, chairwoman of Humboldt State’s geology department. “Knowing to drop, cover and hold on during a quake, that is a good thing to do, but how we build our structures is more important in protecting lives.”

For a tsunami, knowing enough to flee beaches and low-lying areas for high ground in the event of an earthquake or a drop in sea level will save your life, said Troy Nicolini, the warning coordinator for the National Weather Service in Eureka.

The need to act quickly in a Tsunami is crucial. You won’t have the luxury of time to gather what you need to evacuate. Therefore, plan ahead of time where to evacuate to and have a pre-made car kit ready to go. You can also use your home kit to bunker down after an earthquake.

Source:

http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091206/ARTICLES/912069979?Title=California-emergency-preparedness-includes-Tsunami-with-quake-threat

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Winter Preparedness on the Minds of Governors

Governors across the United States are warning residents to prepare for winter related emergencies. This includes homeowners getting their homes ready for winter, making sure they able to stay warm, and then helping their neighbors who need help getting prepared. For example, Governor Brian Schweitzer has issued a call to action for Montanans to prepare for the winter months.

“I’ve issued a call to service to be winter ready because we know Montana winters are rough and we need to be prepared,” he said. “So, we have something called warm hearts warm homes. In particular we want to help people who need a little extra help.”

First Lady Nancy Schweitzer is asking residents to help neighbors by donating coats. The One Warm Coat Drive has already collected nearly 4,000 coats.

It’s a great idea to encourage neighbors to help them get prepared. Going beyond just giving out coats should be a part of your emergency preparedness plans. For example, do you have an extra car kit or home survival kit to share with elderly neighbors or the poor? Make sure you have the kits you need for your household, and then get extra. You can be both charitable and prepared for emergencies.

Source:

http://www.kulr8.com/news/local/78659002.html

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A Reminder about Wildfire Preparedness from the Aussies

Wildfire season in Australia lasts about four months around the Australian summer. Australians faced their deadliest wildfire season yet last year, leaving 173 people dead. More than 2,000 homes were destroyed. On average, Australia has to fight more than 50,000 fires in a typical year. Kevin Tolhurst, a fire management expert offered the following advice:

“People need to be more self-reliant, they need to be able to respond in a sensible and positive way,” Tolhurst said. “That requires good information, about the fire danger but also about where to go and when. We need to be building up our ability to get the word out quickly.”

He suggested using mobile phones or social networks such as Twitter to disseminate information not only to the public but also in the other direction, with people providing updates that can be used by fire towers and aircraft.

If you live in a hot spot that’s prone to wildfires, it’s important to learn all that you can about wildfire preparedness. You may need to evacuate your home in hurry, which means you’ll only have time to grab a “bug out” bag and run. In some cases, you may be able to stay where you are and put out small fires if you have the right tools and skills to do so.

Source:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/06/AR2009120601163_1.html

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Non-Government Entities Distribute Preparedness Kits

The Federal Management Agency and its local entities are trying to figure out ways to improve disaster aid to victims of natural and man-made disasters. However, government officials are not the only ones seeking to give aid in a crisis. Non-profit organizations, like the American Red Cross, also provide disaster aid to unprepared victims. So do religious not-for-profit organizations, like the Salvation Army.

You see them during the Christmas holiday season, collecting coins in red buckets at the supermarket or shopping mall. The Salvation Army provides food boxes to the needy during the Christmas season, but it also provides emergency assistance to victims of natural and other disasters.

When it comes to emergency preparedness, the best way to help your neighbors is to provide direct assistance when they need it. That means being prepared to take care of yourself and your family, and having extra supplies on hand to help others. You won’t be able to help anyone if you’re hungry or thirsty. Therefore, make sure you have a survival kit stocked with enough water and food to sustain you for at least 72 hours.

Once you have minimal survival kits for everyone in your household, think about stocking two or more extra kits for neighbors who might need your help. You can also get the people you want to help thinking about emergency preparedness by gifting them a survival kit. They’ll appreciate the gift, be more prepared, and get them on the path to thinking about surviving natural and man-made disasters.

Source:

http://www.uticaod.com/news/x1682952138/Salvation-Army-at-a-glance

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Community Emergency Response Training

Entire communities are getting together to collectively prepare for emergencies. One example is the Smith Valley Community Emergency Response Training group, located in Nevada. The CERT group is part of a national program sponsored by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. They hold meetings at a local high school and adults and teens are invited to attend.

The last meeting held by the group was centered around a mock drill based on a major earthquake. More than 30 students and adults participated in the disaster drill. Each participant completed 5 workstations that address a particular disaster and emergency preparedness skills. These included:

  • Automatic External Defibrillation
  • Treatment for bleeding and shock
  • Search and rescue
  • Triage
  • HazMat and fire suppression

These are vital skills that every individual should aspire to learn as part of emergency preparedness. Having the right survival kits is an essential start. However, knowing how to use your supplies is crucial.

If your community does not have a CERT group, consider taking first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and fire safety classes. You can often enroll in these classes for free or for a small fee at a community college or public library. Various groups and associations also offer similar classes to group members and the public.

Source:

http://www.rgj.com/article/20091204/MVN04/912040373/1041/mvn

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Emergency Preparedness Bills

United States Senator David Pryor plans to file the Emergency Response Act of 2009 that would make man-made disasters, public health emergencies (such as Swine Flu), terrorist attacks and more, eligible for federal emergency assistance. Pryor plans to amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act of 1988 with his proposed bill. Pryor said,

“The Stafford Act not only triggers FEMA (the Federal Emergency Management Agency), but it also allows federal agencies to coordinate their efforts, give technical assistance, give advisory assistance … really work with local authorities and people in the private sector.”

The Stafford Act only covers natural disasters. The Emergency Response Act would include terrorist attacks, flu outbreaks and other public health emergencies.

Pryor’s effort to have the government provide assistance to local communities is an opportunity to think about your preparedness plans in your own home. Countless news reports show that no matter how well intentioned government officials are, they may not be able to give you assistance in the time of a crisis.

Take a look at the three areas Pryor wants to address with the Act, and think about how you’ll deal with man-made disasters, public health emergencies and terrorist attacks. Do you have a plan?

Source:

http://www.lonokenews.net/articles/2009/12/04/lonoke_democrat/news/nws05.txt

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Government Gives “Preparedness Kits” to Students

Students attending public school may receive more than an education these days. They may receive survival kits direct from the government. In Florence and Lauderdale Counties, they’re handing out 300 kits to students, administered by the Emergency Management Agency.

However, as a parent who is concerned about emergency preparedness, you won’t want to rely on these kits. Here’s what’s in a kit:

“Notebooks, pens, pencils, glue sticks, dictionaries and three ring binders,” said Lauderdale County EMA Planner Mark Senf.

What makes this a preparedness kit? Well, the kits contain information from the Department of Public Health about cleanliness and the flu, plus pamphlets on how to prepare for emergencies, disasters and severe weather.

It’s interesting that the Emergency Management Agency has dubbed these “preparedness kits” because of the addition of the pamphlets. If you rely on these for your children, or if you’re a teacher and rely on these for your students, you won’t be prepared. It’s great to get informed about what to do in case of emergencies, but you need more than information in a time of crisis.

Instead of brochures and pamphlets, make sure you give your kids a children’s survival kit, which contains supplies that are geared toward children. If you’re a teacher, making the investment in a classroom survival kit for students ensures that students without kits will have the supplies they need.

Source:

http://www.whnt.com/news/whnt-ema-gives-preparedness-kits-to-students,0,7000254.story