Author: Paul Faust

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National Preparedness Month

September is National Preparedness Month. It is sponsored by the Ready Campaign in partnership with Citizen Corps and the Advertising Council. It is held each September to encourage Americans to take simple steps to prepare for emergencies in their homes, businesses, and communities.

This is a great time to take a look at your own personal level of preparedness. It is also a good time to sit down with family members, business associates and friends to discuss these important topics.

Some things to think about and discuss:

*What types of events may happen in your area

*Putting together plans for how to deal with each situation.

*Plans for evacuating or sheltering in place

*What supplies and/or emergency kits should you have on hand

*How to deal with a situation where people may be separted

*How you plan on communicating

*Does your office, neighborhood or community have any plans in place

*Putting together a preparedness checklist

If you have taken the steps to better preparedness this is a great opportunity to share what you have done with others and encourage them to do the same. If you have any special knowledge or skills you could consider organizing your own preparedness awareness event in your area.

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General Preparedness Preparedness Planning

Preparedness Drills

One important step to better preparedness that is often overlooked is basic drills. If you have lived in a certain community for any length of time there is a good chance that you will know many of the types of emergency situations that could arise. This could include: earthquakes, floods, wild fires, tornadoes, blackouts, hurricanes and for just about everyone house fires.

Taking some time to come up with a plan, discuss it with your family and practice it a few times will go a long way to keeping you safe. The time to figure out what to do isn’t right before or during the emergency.

When putting together your plan some things to consider would be:

*What situation might you face

*What would the impact be

*Will you need to flee or shelter in place

*What type of emergency kits of supplies would you need

*Who will need to react. If small children….how will they be handled

*How long might you need to be prepared for

*If you need to shelter in place…what room or rooms will you use

*What if any utilities will you need to turn off

These are just some ideas. Once you have thought about these things you should take some time to discuss it with everyone in your family. Everyone should know what to do and where to go if a situation arises. Having a drill every 3 to 6 months just to keep it fresh in everyone’s mind is important. Here you can answers questions, refresh any supplies and/or change things as needed.

By discussing these things and practicing you will help reduce the chance the panic and hopefully make yourself and your loved ones a little safer.

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General Preparedness

Blackout Kits

With severe weather hitting around the country  many communities have experienced sudden power outages. In some cases the power returns in a matter of minutes or hours and in some cases it lasts for many days. For some, a power outage can be just a mere inconvenience while for other who rely on electricity for vital equipment it can be much more dangerous.

Having some basic supplies on hand can help you and your family better deal with the situation. For most people the important things to consider are lights (flashlights, candles), warmth (hand/body warmers, sleeping bags, adequate clothing) and first aid in case of injury. If you have young children you may want to add light sticks as kids enjoy them and they help keep their mind off the situation.

Our recently adding blackout kits put many of the items you may need in one place for quick and easy access. Below is a list of some of the items included in a basic kit. You may want to add other items that you think you and your family may need.

Flashlights

Water Proof Matches

Candles (be careful as candles pose a severe fire hazard)

Hand Warmers

Emergency Sleeping Bags

Emergency Radio

First Aid Kit

While many people already have these basic items in the home, it is recommended that you have a set put aside specifically for a blackout or other emergency. During a blackout you don’t want to have to look around your home for these items. In addition…the batteries in the flashlight may be dead and the first aid kit could be out of some of the items you need. Having an “emergency kit” of these items for use ONLY during an emergency, stored in a place everyone in the home knows is a smart decision.

For those with special needs that require power you may want to investigate having a generator for your home. There are many different types and you should consult with an electrician as to which is best for you and your home.

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Earthquake Preparedness

Some Tips on how Senior Citizens Can Prepare for Earthquakes

With so many earthquakes happening across the world, you may be thinking about your own preparations for one where you live. As a senior citizen, you have to take more steps than others to gather the supplies you need in advance and to take cover during the earthquake.

Plan to Take Cover

During an earthquake you may have to take cover under sturdy furniture. A work desk or table will do, and picking one out ahead of time is important. You don’t want to have to worry about figuring it all out when an earthquake happens. Do a “take cover” drill once a month, so that going to the desk of choice becomes a habit, and doing a drill makes your plan easier to remember. It will also give you a chance to remove things that are blocking your way or would be dangerous to have nearby during an earthquake. For example, if the desk is located near a shelf that has heavy objects, you’ll have to remove those objects to a lower shelf away from the desk. During an earthquake, those could fall on you and cause serious injuries.

Anchor Equipment

Heavy objects on high shelves are not the only things to worry about in an earthquake. Some of the special equipment you use on a daily basis, such as oxygen tanks and other life support equipment need to be anchored to the wall or floor. You will avoid the risk of your equipment crashing into you or falling on you when the ground shakes.

Extra Walking Aids

If you need assistance walking, it’s important to buy and store extra canes, walkers or other walking aids around your home. An earthquake may cause you to stay in one part of your home for a while, and it would be good to be able to move around when it’s safe. If you couldn’t get to your walking aid in time, you could be stuck.

Keep an Emergency Kit Where You’ll Take Cover

You’ll need a well stocked emergency kit to help you survive an earthquake. It should include enough food and water, medical and first aid supplies including prescription drugs, eyeglasses and hearing aids and other things you’ll need to stay alive and well for at least three days. If an earthquake happens, your kit will already be in the place you plan to take cover. You won’t have to worry about finding it first.

Communications

A pre-made commercial emergency kit will include an AM/FM radio. You’ll need one to find out the status of the earthquake in your area. In addition to a radio, phone lines may be down. Planning a chain of communications ahead of time will help friends, family and others know that you are safe or need help. Talk with a neighbor that you trust to check in with you after an emergency. Share that person’s cell phone and land line numbers with family in case there’s an opportunity to communicate using a phone. Have one or two other neighbors lined up to do the same. If one person is unable to come to your aid, at least you’ll have a backup or two.

Any area can be hit by an earthquake. Don’t ignore preparations just because you believe you live in an area that is not high risk. Getting some basic preparedness supplies, an earthquake preparedness kit and learning a little bit about what to do will pay dividends later.

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General Items in an Emergency Kit

Just some of the main items you should have in your emergency kit

  • Water and water purification tablets (at least a 3 day supply)
  • Food Bars (high in calories, but make sure the ingredients are safe for you to eat based on any medical conditions)
  • Radio (battery operated or hand cranked)
  • Flashlight (preferably one that doesn’t require any batteries)
  • Emergency candle (one that will last for 30 hours or more)
  • Waterproof matches and lighter
  • Whistle (to help rescuers and others find you if you’re stuck in your home or other location)
  • Emergency sleeping bag (these are compact and lightweight)
  • Lightweight poncho
  • Multi-function knife
  • Dust mask (N95)
  • Hygiene kit ( including items such as toothpaste, toothbrush and deodorant)
  • Tissue packs
  • First aid kit (including alcohol pads and bandages of varying sizes)
  • Entertainment (cards, pencil, notepad)
  • Waste bag
  • Some cash in case ATM’s aren’t working or available

You should also be sure to add personal items specific to your needs. This can include prescription glasses, contact lenses, medicines you require or any other items you would like to have with you. It is also a good idea to keep a list of emergency contacts and at least a copy of important documents.

Please add your comments here if there are items you think should be added.

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Earthquake Preparedness

Some Guidelines for Earthquake Readiness

Earthquake readiness is crucial if you live in populated areas because they can cause damage to your property, and bodily injuries. Some earthquakes have been severe enough to  cause a significant amount of deaths. Every region is at risk, and there you need to know what to do to be prepared:

Some things to consider.

Anchor Furniture and Large Objects

Keeping things pinned down is important so that furniture and other large and heavy objects don’t roll around in the room or fall causing injury. Use fastens and braces to secure items to walls on or on floors. Bolt down heavy appliances such as your refrigerator or water heater. Anchor large fixtures on the ceilings, such as lights. You can prepare in advance by anchoring furniture and large objects ahead of any earthquakes. You won’t get any warnings of earthquakes, and therefore it’s important to do the work now.

Practice Readiness Drills

Do you and your family know what do in an earthquake? These happen so suddenly, that you won’t have time to yell instructions. Prepare for earthquakes now by practicing what to do when one strikes. Your drill should include:

  • What rooms to run to
  • How to hide under a table that’s sturdy
  • Dropping to the ground, rolling against an inside wall and crouching in the corner, and covering your body
  • A warning to stay inside until it’s over

Don’t just know what to do. Schedule time quarterly or monthly to practice what you’ll do if there’s an earthquake.

Store Food and Water

It may take a while for things to return to normal after a severe earthquake. You don’t want to be stuck waiting with food and water. Store what you need ahead of time to last you two or more weeks after an earthquake. This includes:

It may become necessary to stay home during the aftermath of the earthquake, and therefore store extra food and water for you and your family, and even neighbors. Consider a ready made earthquake preparedness kit.

Shut off Gas and Water

You’ll need a quick and easy way to shut off your water and gas immediately after the earthquake.  Consider buying an emergency gas and water shut-off tool that you can use to cut off your utilities. You can fit one in your emergency survival kit, because they’re light enough break down into pieces.

Learn CPR

Earthquakes can cause so much injury that it’s important to learn cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) as part of earthquake readiness. You can help save the lives of your family members and neighbors while awaiting (or getting to) medical help. You should also learn basic first-aid techniques. Check your local newspapers for announcements of free or low-cost classes to take in the near future. You can use your knowledge to prepare for all disasters you might find yourself in, including earthquakes.

Follow these guidelines for earthquake readiness, and you won’t get caught off guard. Your family can remain safe, and have the right supplies (and know-how) while you wait for things to return to normal.

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Lieutenant General Russel Honore Joins 1-800-PREPARE.com as Advisor to the Board of Directors

We are very pleased to announce that Lieutenant General Russel Honore has become an adviser to the board of 1-800-PREPARE.com. We share the mission of changing the culture of preparedness in this country and are excited about working with the General.

Read our full press release here.

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New Earthquake iPhone and iPad App Can Help Save Lives

A Belgian company just released a new APP for use with iphone’s and IPAD’s that is free and could be very helpful for those who live in earthquake prone areas.

The APP can be downloaded from Apple’s App store, provides those living in earthquake prone areas with the latest earthquake information and news as well as a quick way to cry for help if caught in a devastating tremor.

The app also provides the latest earthquake news and information. The News part of the application provides the latest earthquake news directly to your device while the Quake section provides real earthquake data and maps.

For more information you can visit their website as well at quakesos.com

At 1-800-PREPARE.com we are always on the lookout for the latest preparedness products and services to help you better prepare.

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Charities/Groups we support Emergency Responders Search and Rescue

Search and Rescue Dogs

I just had the pleasure of spending a couple hours at the FEDSAR Spring Conference that was hosted by Long Island K-9 Search and Rescue. It was great to actually get to meet some of these amazing search dogs and their handlers. These handlers and their dogs are extremely dedicated to their training. They are all committed to learning the skills necessary to respond to emergencies and disasters that require their specialized talents.

Most people are unaware of what these amazing teams can do. I think many of us take for granted that there are search and rescue teams out there that stand ready, willing and able to assist us in our times of need. These teams are the quiet heroes who come in, do their job and then return back to their own lives. Often they receive (nor do they ask for) credit for what they do.

Search dogs and their handlers train for such things as: searching for missing or lost children, hikers, alzheimer’s patients and others, quickly searching disaster areas for survivors as well as searching for the remains of people who have been died.

Through our association with Robin Habeger, a NASAR evaluator for area search, trailing and HRD we are currently helping to support her and her dog Moses (aka DUNDER). Our goal is to make DUNDER the most well known search and rescue dog in the world.

At 1-800-PREPARE.com we are committed to helping raise awareness for these dogs and their handlers. They are such an important component of our country’s rescue community that we need to do what we can to support their efforts.

In the next few days we will post some photos and videos from the training conference.

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Prepare for Blackouts

Have you thought about how you’ll be able to complete important tasks during power blackouts? You’ll need to eat, drink, stay warm, sleep and even entertain yourself. It’s easy to take these simple things for granted when you have electricity, but you need to be prepared to do them without power. Here’s how to prepare for blackouts:

Decide on Where to Meet

If everyone is at home during a blackout then you won’t need to worry about getting your family together in one location. However, if family members are scattered at different locations, you’ll need to agree ahead of time where to meet. Your home may be the ultimate destination, but you might need to meet somewhere else first before you travel there. Come up with a plan to meet in a safe location, such as a close friend’s house or your workplace. Then come up with plan B and plan C, in case it’s impossible to get to certain places during a blackout.

Plan Who to Call

You may not be able to make local calls during a blackout. Choose a relative or friend who lives out-of-state for everyone to call. This is a way for everyone to “check in” and notify each other of where they’re located, if they can’t get to the designated meeting place. You should ask your contact ahead of time if they would be willing to be a point of contact during emergencies. It’s important to choose someone who is reliable and easy to reach.

Store Wool Blankets

If your only heating source is an electrical heating system, you won’t be able to warm yourself if a blackout occurs during the winter. One way to guard against losing body heat is to store wool blankets, which retain more body heat than other blankets available. Cotton blankets don’t store heat well, and won’t dry in cold weather if they get wet. If you can’t afford to buy (or can’t find) a 100% wool blanket, at least buy a wool blend.

Get an AM/FM Receiver

You don’t want to miss any announcements and news about the blackouts. How will you know what’s going on if you can’t turn on the television or radio? You can get updates with a hand-cranked AM/FM receiver. You don’t need batteries or electricity to operate these. Just crank one up, and you’ll be able to hear weather reports and other communications about any blackouts.

Buy an Emergency Backup Generator

You won’t have to worry about blackouts as much if you have a generator. However, it may not be a viable (or legal) option for you if you live in an apartment or an urban area.

If you can use an emergency backup generator, it’s a good idea to buy one for blackouts. These require gas, diesel, propane or solar power to operate, and provide you with electricity when your power company can’t. You can buy a temporary, portable generator or get a licensed electrician to install a regular one directly into your home’s electrical system.

How you prepare for blackouts is dependent on your location and unique family circumstances. However, everyone can benefit and be better prepared by following the above steps.

In addition to the above…a basic preparedness kit will give you most of the items you need to wait out the blackout. Having the right kit will keep you calm and allow you to address to situation knowing you have some options such as sheltering in place or evacuating the area.