Emergency Preparedness

My best wishes go out to all who have suffered as a result of the earthquake and resulting tsunami this past week. I've seen a number of posts, blogs, etc. on preparedness and I feel I want to provide one as well. You don't have to have everything I'll recommend, but you should give it all a reasonable amount of thought. My favorite saying, "Failure to prepare is preparation for failure," fits well for this topic.

There are some excellent resources out there you can consult to build your kit(s) like FEMA and the Red Cross. Use them as a starting point and tailor it to your specific needs. My experience with this topic comes from training I've received in law enforcement, being a part of a crisis negotiations team and being a CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) member.

First, make sure you have what is commonly referred to as a bug-out bag. This is anything that can carry your equipment and can be grabbed quickly if you need to evacuate. I like using a back pack that contains a bladder for water in case I find myself hiking. I used this when I worked in LA and needed to plan for the 50 mi hike back home. I kept this bag in my car. I also use a larger back pack for my home. I pack as though I need to evacuate (as opposed to sheltering in place) and here's what I keep handy:

• Food and water. I prefer MRE's w/ chemical heaters. There are many businesses that offer an excellent selection of products (e.g., www.longlifefoods.com). But canned goods, packaged food, dehydrated foods can be just as good. Water will be your most valuable commodity. You can't survive more than 3 days without it and you use it for cooking, cleaning, first aid, etc. I recommend 7 days worth food and water. Figure at least a half gallon per day, per person just for drinking. Add more for cooking and other uses.

• Clothing. Three days worth should be adequate for most situations. Always consider having extra undergarments in case you get wet. Socks are also important.  Have plenty so you can keep your feet dry and clean. Also, think layers. It’s the easiest way to regulate your comfort. Consider your year-round climate. Surviving in southern California is different than upstate NY in the winter. This includes footwear. Keep it utilitarian and comfortable in case you have to walk or hike.

• Sanitation supplies. Toilet paper, soap, cleansing wipes, heavy garbage bags, tampons/panty liners (also good for first aid), sunscreen, rags or towels, and waterless hand sanitizer.
  
  
• Extra medication/prescriptions/eyeglasses/contacts. You'd probably be ok without for a couple of days if you don’t have a serious medical condition or have extremely poor sight but we need only look at large scale disasters to know we might have fend for ourselves for a longer period of time.
  
  
• Heat and light sources. Stay alive and NEVER use heaters that burn fuel, consume oxygen, or produce carbon monoxide indoors (without adequate ventilation). Many people die from CO poisoning each year because of this. That said, do what makes sense in your environment. Get waterproof matches, magnesium fire starters, refillable lighters and batteries. Use camping lights (battery or propane). These can be found in a variety of sizes to fit your needs. Flashlights are a good option but they only provide directional light and aren't good for lighting an area. An easy source of tinder is the lint trap in your dryer.  Fill a big baggy with the stuff!
  
  
• Basic kitchen supplies. You may even want to get camping style supplies. Many of these are light and collapsible (e.g., MSR products). If you use MRE's some of this will not be needed. Forks, spoons, knives, cups, aluminum foil, small pot/pan/fry, and a manual can opener are all good to have.

• First aid kit. There are many commercially available but I prefer to make my own. I put mine in a medium sized, plastic tool box for easy access and carrying. In addition to the standard fair, consider some OTC medications for stomach upset, diarrhea, asthma, allergies (benedryl is good here and can also be used as a sleep aid), and skin rashes. I also include large wound kits, an anticoagulant compound for stanching sever wounds like gun shots, a scalpel, forceps, rubber tubing, a camp knife and an advanced first aid manual.
  
  
• Self-defense. This is a personal choice and my recommendation is that you do not have a weapon if 1) you’re not willing to kill to protect yourself (waving a gun or knife around is not much of a deterrent if someone is going to hurt you); and, 2) you don’t know how to deploy the weapon in a way that can ensure your safety. All too often weapons are taken from their owners and used against them. Also, avoiding a fight that is avoidable is always in your best interest. If you’re in your home my first choice is a shotgun with a short barrel and ghost ring sights. I suggest 12ga but the .410 is becoming popular. I prefer pump action because just the sound of a round being chambered can be a “come to Jesus” moment for anyone wishing you harm. Shotguns will also stop most intruders in a shot or two. Buckshot is your friend. If you prefer a handgun, be reasonable. Use what you’re comfortable with and choose self defense rounds. How many rounds to stock is up to you and how good a shot you are. I’d recommend a wheel gun (“six-shooter”) over semi-auto if you don’t plan on maintaining it regularly. Yes the semi auto carries more rounds, but if it jams because it’s dirty it’s just a paperweight. Remember using a firearm in real-life is not like the movies. People don't fly backwards, immediately fall down after being shot, or explode in a bloody mess. Keep shooting until the attacker stops being aggressive toward you. I’ve never trained with knives so I’m not giving any advice on them. Suffice it to say that I’d rather not get that personal with an attacker.
  
  
• Entertainment. Yes, we may need a fun diversion. A deck of cards, paper and pencil for drawing (other “survival” uses too), anything small and easily carried to pass the time.
  
  
• Shelter and sleeping. Tents are your best bet, but unless you back pack regularly yours is probably too heavy to carry. Large garbage bags, corrugated cardboard, fallen trees or limbs can be easily used to make lean-to’s and temporary shelter. Invest in some nylon parachute cord and you can turn almost anything into a shelter. A rain poncho and some cord is all you need to make a decent lean-to. Sleeping bags area great to have too. If you were going to buy something I’d recommend getting one for each person. Buy something that meets your environmental needs, that is light weight, has some water protection and can be opened fully (not the mummy style). This type of bag will give you the most flexibility.
  
  
• Communications. Your cell phone probably won’t be able to make calls but, if you use Twitter or Facebook you may be able to get a few messages out to let your people know you are OK. There are some solar devices you can buy to keep electronics juiced, but they can be expensive. Again it’s up to you. Get a battery powered (or hand crank) radio. Information will be disseminated and you’ll want to know what is being done, what to expect and where to go if there are places to go. I like to newer generation of walkie talkies. These can be great for a family especially if you get separated for any reason.
  
  
• Cash and ID’s. Take what you have. But remember, ATMS, Banks and the like will not be available if there’s no electricity. For this reason keep some real money handy. There’s no guidance for how much to have so use your best judgment. And for goodness sake, don’t advertise that you have a wad of cash in your pocket!
  
  
• Plan, Plan, Plan and Practice, Practice, Practice. Make an emergency plan to follow and build in contingencies. Share the plan with family that does not live nearby so they have an idea what you will likely do in a disaster event. Set up a communications plan so that separated family can have a hub from which to get information about you. For example, I use a family member in NY as my hub (I’m in CA). If I get separated from my family here and I’m unable to reach them, I may still be able to reach my hub and leave a message. Others can get this message if they’re not able to reach me. It’s not perfect but it’s a plan. Practice your plan. First to work out the kinks. Second, so that it is second nature if you need to implement it. The best of plans is no good if you wander around wondering what to do next. And you might not have the luxury of time. Finally, following a plan is a perishable skill. You need to practice it regularly enough to be able to follow it well.

A word about our non-human family members: Depending on your pet type, you may not be welcomed into a shelter. This is especially true for dogs and exotic pets. You’re going to want to check on boarding or other services available before disaster strikes. And all of the above goes for our pets too. They need water, food, shelter, medication, first aid, etc. if they’re going to survive.

Finally, prepare for the worst and scale it back if it doesn’t happen. Think about how you’d survive a major event that puts you out of your home and with little assistance from public safety personnel. Think Katrina, 9/11, or last week’s earthquake in Japan. How will you survive if all you have is yourself to rely on?

This list is by no means exhaustive. Hopefully it gets you to start thinking about your safety and planning what you will do in an emergency. We may never need to implement our plans but if we’re unprepared, we will likely fail.

Be safe.