Emergency Prepared

Off-topic but of interest to me...

2009-11-09T14:36:00.002-06:00

I know this is off-topic, but it is of interest to me. I have been snowed under for the last year, which is why I haven't posted much. Okay, haven't posted anything. I even had 3 or 4 posts written but before I could get them posted, life got really busy. It wasn't quite an emergency (I might have been prepared for that).

It was just life getting really busy and really crazy. And the economy going south. And trying to be prepared for what might come as a result.

One of those consequences was that my job was eliminated. I did too good a job and they decided that things could rock on for a while without me (and half of my team.) And my wife had surgery... twice. And my brother died. And my brother-in-law.

So, for now (and for a while to come), I am focused on staying in a position to be able to weather emergencies.

And to that end... the point of this post.... I am starting a business helping creative people improve their businesses. If you know someone who can use a little help making their business run better (and in this economy there are plenty), then send them to my website. That site is www.careerandbusinessmentor.com and is live right now. I am actively at work expanding it.

And once things get back a little closer to normal, I expect to be back and posting Emergency Preparedness tips and info.

Thanks for bearing with me.

Lessons from the Hurricane - Hidden in the Humor

2008-09-28T12:40:00.001-05:00

I got this from a friend (who lives in the Pacific Northwest now, but he used to live in Houston.) While it is an exaggeration, there is a significant kernel of truth in it... and even a few lessons on emergency preparedness hidden away in there.

See if you can find them.

(By the way, Centerpoint is the electric provider in that area.)

You know you're from the Gulf Coast when….
1. You have FEMA's number on your speed dialer.
2. You have more than 300 'C' and 'D' batteries in your kitchen drawer.*
3. Your pantry contains more than 20 cans of Spaghetti O's.*
4. You are thinking of repainting your house to match the plywood covering your windows.
5. When describing your gutted house to a prospective buyer, you say it has three bedrooms, two baths and an open air feel to it.
6. Your SSN isn't a secret, it's written in Sharpie on your arms.
7. You are on a first-name basis with the cashier at Home Depot.
8. You are delighted to pay $3.50 for a gallon of regular unleaded.
9. The road leading to your house has been declared a No-Wake Zone.
10. You decide that your patio furniture looks better on the bottom of the pool.
11. You own more than three large coolers.*
12. You can wish that other people get hit by a hurricane and not feel the least bit guilty about it.
13. You rationalize helping a friend board up by thinking It'll only take a gallon of gas to get there and back
14. You have 2-liter coke bottles and milk jugs filled with water in your freezer.*
15. Three months ago you couldn't hang a shower curtain; today you can assemble a portable generator by candlelight.
16. You catch a 13-pound red fish - in your house.
17. You can recite from memory whole portions of your homeowner's insurance policy.
18. You consider a vacation to stunning Tupelo, Mississippi.
19. At cocktail parties, women are attracted to the guy with the biggest chainsaw.
20. You have had tuna fish more than 5 days in a row.
21. There is a roll of tar paper in your garage.*
22. You can rattle off the names of three or more meteorologists who work at the Weather Channel.
23. Someone comes to your door to tell you they found your roof.
24. Ice is a valid topic of conversation.
25. Your drive-thru meal consists of MRE's and bottled water.*
26. Relocating to South Dakota does not seem like such a crazy idea.
27. You spend more time on your roof then in your living room.
28. You've been laughed at over the phone by a roofer, fence builder or a tree worker.
29. A battery powered TV is considered a home entertainment center.*
30. You don't worry about relatives wanting to visit during the summer.
31. Your child's first words are hunker down and you didn't go to Ole Miss!
32. Having a tree in your living room does not necessarily mean it's Christmas.
33. Toilet Paper is elevated to coin of the realm at the shelters.*
34. You know the difference between the good side of a storm and the bad side.
35. Your kids start school in August and finish in July.
36. You go to work early and stay late just to enjoy the air conditioning.
37. Your garage smells like gasoline.
38. Your more concerned about someone stealing your generator then your car.
39. You get excited when you see a Centerpoint truck in your neighborhood.
40. You get really excited when you see the cable guy.
41. You can create memorable meals with a can of SPAM and one gas burner.*
42. You are prepared to wait in line at Starbucks for 2 hours to get a cup of coffee.

Well, how did you do? I'll give you a hint... look at the lines with the * at the end.

Technorati : Preparedness, disaster, emergency, humor, hurricane, smarter living
Del.icio.us : Preparedness, disaster, emergency, humor, hurricane, smarter living
Ice Rocket : Preparedness, disaster, emergency, humor, hurricane, smarter living
Zooomr : Preparedness, disaster, emergency, humor, hurricane, smarter living
Buzznet : Preparedness, disaster, emergency, humor, hurricane, smarter living
Riya : Preparedness, disaster, emergency, humor, hurricane, smarter living
43 Things : Preparedness, disaster, emergency, humor, hurricane, smarter living

Lessons from Hurricanes - Prepare for the aftermath

2008-09-20T18:07:00.001-05:00

If you follow the standard Red Cross and FEMA guidelines for storm preparation (such as for a hurricane), you will have 72 hours worth of food and water on hand. (Food that does not have to be cooked or heated to be edible.)

The guideline is based on the statistics that emergency aid workers will be able to arrive in the storm-ravaged area and provide food and water to distressed victims within three days.

This, of course, assumes that the victims will be able to get to the aid workers. And that the storm survivors will want to spend their days at an aid center (I am resisting the urge to call it a refugee center). If their only food and water (and toilet facilities) are at the aid center, then there is not much choice but to hang around. And besides, you will be standing in long lines with all the other aid recipients, moving from line to line, so there isn't much time to go back home, anyway.

But what if you would rather be at home, cleaning up the debris, working on getting what you can of your life back together?

Then, you need to be prepared to be without external assistance for more than 72 hours, don't you?

And don't forget that you will need things besides food and water (as important as those are.) The Houston area residents report serious shortages of toothbrushes, toothpaste, toilet paper, soap, and similar "comfort" items. It is important to pay attention to good hygiene in the aftermath of a disaster or you will become a victim, yet.

By the way, if there is no power, the ATMs won't be working . A bit of cash you can draw on might be helpful, too.

Technorati : Preparedness, disaster, emergency, family safety, planning, weather
Del.icio.us : Preparedness, disaster, emergency, family safety, planning, weather
Ice Rocket : Preparedness, disaster, emergency, family safety, planning, weather
Zooomr : Preparedness, disaster, emergency, family safety, planning, weather
Buzznet : Preparedness, disaster, emergency, family safety, planning, weather
Riya : Preparedness, disaster, emergency, family safety, planning, weather
43 Things : Preparedness, disaster, emergency, family safety, planning, weather

Lessons from Hurricanes - Houston

2008-09-19T19:08:00.002-05:00

Last time, I talked about lessons from hurricanes... and how some learn them and others don't. We have touched on those who experienced Hurricane Ike in Galveston. Now, what about those in Houston?

Downtown Houston is about 45 miles inland from Galveston. Of course, greater Houston encompasses all the way to the coast. And Galveston Bay gives way to the Houston Ship Channel on the eastern edges of greater Houston. Being further inland (and 50 ft higher) gave them the ability to only require evacuations from the lower, flood-prone areas.

Of course, there are still the hurricane winds and debris to deal with. Which they did. And while Greater Houston is still standing, the general description is likening it to a war zone. Trees down everywhere. Power out (at the one week mark they were boasting that they had restored power for half the area). Water supplies compromised. Waste water treatment unavailable. Services out.

More than a week after the hurricane, there are no gasoline supplies in the area.

The lessons from this aspect of the hurricane, is that even if your structure survives intact (and many did not), you still have to cope with the aftermath. Do you have the supplies you need? How long will you need to be using your own supplies (because the stores aren't open)? Do you have enough?

Next time, I would like to touch on some of these questions.

Lessons from Hurricanes - Galveston

2008-09-18T09:11:00.001-05:00

Hurricane Katrina gave people some valuable lessons in emergency preparedness... including what to do (and not do) after a problem situation.

The lessons were not new to those who have been studying emergency preparedness, but the lessons must be re-learned by new generations and new groups of people as the years go by.

Now hurricanes Gustav and Ike have given new opportunities for learning. Folks in the New Orleans area learned their lesson from Katrina and evacuated promptly. While New Orleans did not bear the brunt of the storm - and the levies held - it was not missed by much, so evacuation was the proper procedure.

That evacuation was much smoother and more successful than the one relating to Katrina. See, humans can learn - if the stakes are high enough or we are motivated enough.

Of course, that learning was not transferred to the residents of Galveston and Houston. It seems incredible to those of us watching, that 40 percent (dangerously close to HALF!) of the residents of Galveston Island did not obey the evacuation order. It is even more amazing when you consider that Galveston Island is for all intents and purposes, at sea level. Unlike islands that are formed as a result of volcanic action, there are no mountains, hills, or elevated places on Galveston (except for what has been man-made). This virtually guarantees flooding when the seas are high (which happens in tropical storms and hurricanes.)

Of course, many of these people changed their minds when the storm actually hit and the water was entering their houses. And kept rising. Then they called for help. Of course, by that time, the hurricane winds were enveloping the island and rescue was impossible. That is bad enough, in my mind. But then, after surviving, many complained that rescue workers and "the government" were "unresponsive" and "uncaring".

Nothing about their own unpreparedness. Nothing about their own poor choices. Clearly, the blame belonged elsewhere.

They were fortunate that the storm softened just before landfall or they wouldn't be able to complain afterward.

There are other lessons for the rest of us and we will address those in upcoming postings.

Technorati : Preparedness, disaster, emergency, family safety, philosophy, weather
Del.icio.us : Preparedness, disaster, emergency, family safety, philosophy, weather
Ice Rocket : Preparedness, disaster, emergency, family safety, philosophy, weather
Zooomr : Preparedness, disaster, emergency, family safety, philosophy, weather
Buzznet : Preparedness, disaster, emergency, family safety, philosophy, weather
Riya : Preparedness, disaster, emergency, family safety, philosophy, weather
43 Things : Preparedness, disaster, emergency, family safety, philosophy, weather

Are You Ready for Severe Weather?

2008-02-25T09:35:00.001-06:00

It used to be that there were pretty defined seasons for certain severe weather -- like hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires (which are the result of a combination of severe weather conditions), blizzards, etc.

But, with the climate change that is occurring, those defined seasons are blurring. Tornadoes are happening throughout the USA--even in places that seldom (or never) see them. Flooding rains are dumping on places that don't normally get such rains. And the severity of such storms is increasing.

It is pretty clear that for the next few years, at least, we will be experiencing more extreme weather--both in the US and around the globe.

Are you prepared for it?

If you are not, what do you need to do to get ready?

To help answer that question, I would like to refer you to the US National Weather Service. They have put together a Severe Weather website that draws upon many websites (and organizations) to help you prepare. Please visit www.srh.noaa.gov/lub/safety/swaw and browse around the site. It has tabs that cover Thunderstorms (including hail and lightening), Tornadoes, Hurricanes, and Flash Flooding.

The information covered here comes from more than just the usual government sources and is a great starting point to helping you get prepared for severe weather and it's aftermath.

Do you have a favorite site for preparing for severe weather? If so, don't keep it to yourself. Share it with us.

Technorati : Preparedness, disaster, emergency, family safety, planning, weather
Ice Rocket : Preparedness, disaster, emergency, family safety, weather
Zooomr : Preparedness, disaster, emergency, family safety, weather
Buzznet : Preparedness, disaster, emergency, family safety, weather
Riya : Preparedness, disaster, emergency, family safety, weather
43 Things : Preparedness, disaster, emergency, family safety, weather

A mini-Maglite for your Preparedness bag?

2008-02-11T13:56:00.001-06:00

Here is one reason to have a mini-Maglite for emergency preparedness.

Maglight Mod Fire Power - Free videos are just a click away

If you want to go to the site directly, then click this link: http://www.metacafe.com/watch/839261/maglight_mod_fire_power/

Admittedly, you have to have a couple of extra pieces (like steel wool and exposed wire/paper clips) but it does illustrate what you can come up with when you start asking "what else can I use this for?"

What are your favorite "what else can I use this for" uses?

Technorati : Preparedness, Scouting, emergency, light
Del.icio.us : Preparedness, Scouting, emergency, light
Ice Rocket : Preparedness, Scouting, emergency, light
Zooomr : Preparedness, Scouting, emergency, light
Buzznet : Preparedness, Scouting, emergency, light
43 Things : Preparedness, Scouting, emergency, light

Flashlight for Preparedness

2008-02-05T08:43:00.001-06:00

There are two flashlights that I always reach for when I need one. Both are LED flashlights.

The first is a Maglite. It is a two cell model that uses size D batteries. It is comfortably weighty without being too heavy. It is about 30 years old and did not start life as a LED light. It started out as a regular bulb light. Later on, when Maglite came out with the krypton bulbs, I put those in for greater light. Finally, about 2 years ago, Maglite came out with an LED model and a conversion unit for older units. I bought a conversion unit on hope... and was not disappointed. I love it!

Because my 2D Maglite is as old as it is, I will probably replace it with a straight from the factory LED model. (My old one is a bit fritzy.... but not because of Maglite but because of some batteries that went bad in it. As a result, there are a couple of spots that cause a short when I twist the focus ring. It is a minor annoyance and doesn't impair the general functionality of the light.)

The other light I reach for is a Princeton Tec Impact II. It is an LED light that uses 4 AAA batteries and is both lightweight and handy. It has a built-in belt clip and a focused beam. I was initially skeptical about the AAA batteries as they just don't have as much staying power as the larger ones. But they really work for this unit. I am still on the original set of batteries (I think). I bought this flashlight four or more years ago! And that is one reason I love LEDs for emergency preparedness.

The other reason I love LEDs is that they are impact resistant. Anyone who has used filament bulbs in flashlights very much has had the experience of dropping the light and having the bulb filament break from the impact. That is why spare bulbs are always advised. Have you ever tried changing the bulb in the dark? I mean the really dark of a moonless cloudy night or in a cave? With an LED, you just don't have to worry about it. If the impact hasn't broken the wires leading to the LED, it is going to light. It adds to the dependability factor, which is just what you want in emergency preparedness.

I have other flashlights and use them on special occasions. I will talk more about them in another post. And also why I like these over crank or shake lights for emergency preparedness.

In the meantime, you could do much worse than getting the LED Maglite or the Princeton Tec Impact II.

Do you have a favorite flashlight we should know about? Don't keep it to yourself... share it with us.

Technorati : Preparedness, Scouting, emergency, family safety, light, planning, safety
Ice Rocket : Preparedness, Scouting, emergency, family safety, light, planning, safety
Zooomr : Preparedness, Scouting, emergency, family safety, light, safety
Buzznet : Preparedness, Scouting, emergency, family safety, light, planning
Riya : Preparedness, Scouting, emergency, family safety, light, planning
43 Things : Preparedness, Scouting, emergency, family safety, light, safety

Emergency preparedness vehicle

2008-01-27T10:34:00.002-06:00

Our current emergency preparedness vehicle is a '92 Ford Explorer with over 200,000 miles. It was not originally purchased as an emergency preparedness vehicle, but as a family vehicle. Due to the fact that it was an SUV, it was easy to look upon it as an emergency preparedness vehicle as well.

If we were buying an emergency preparedness vehicle today, I would make different choices. In fact, that's just what I need to be doing.

If I were going to be looking for such a vehicle, what would it need? Since our needs very from person to person, the answer for each of us will be very different. Here are some qualities I think should be in an emergency preparedness vehicle.

It should be dependable and reliable.
It should be capable of navigating difficult terrain.
It should have the ability to carry cargo, as well as people.
Some means of protecting the cargo from the elements is also a good thing.
Good fuel mileage is desirable.
It should have a reasonable level of comfort.
A trailer hitch (and the power to pull a trailer) is desirable.
A front mounted winch is a handy accessory (and something I have wished I had on occasion.)

For these requirements, if money were no object, I would probably try to pick a hybrid SUV for the combination of space capacity, reasonable gas mileage, and comfort.

However, in addition to normal emergency preparedness requirements, our family has an additional requirement or two for the vehicle. I can't afford to have a dedicated emergency preparedness vehicle (one which will be used only for bugging out or going for help, or that sort of thing.) Since, like most people, I can't afford to have a dedicated emergency preparedness vehicle, my emergency preparedness vehicle also has to serve as a work truck for us.

Because I need to be able to carry our dogs to the vet (or if we had to bug out), as well as cargo to and from the home center, hauling our trailer around, providing moving services for the kids and other things that require the vehicle to help pay its way, a hybrid SUV isn't the right vehicle. So right now, I think I have figured out a set of compromises and features that I will be looking for.

So, I think I am looking for a pickup with crew cab (that's got more room for the passengers than an extended cab), four-wheel drive or all wheel drive, trailer hitch and appropriate towing package, and a bed topper (the boxlike cover that fits over the bed of a pickup). This combination should give me a reasonable bug out vehicle as well as a family work truck. I expect to leave the topper off for day-to-day use and put it on when I need to keep the cargo protected from the elements.

Now all I need to do is find such a vehicle at a price I can afford.

What do you think? Would you choose differently? Leave a comment and tell me.

Technorati : Preparedness, car, emergency, planning
Del.icio.us : Preparedness, car, emergency, planning
Ice Rocket : Preparedness, car, emergency, planning
Zooomr : Preparedness, car, emergency, planning
Buzznet : Preparedness, car, emergency, planning
43 Things : Preparedness, car, emergency, planning

A Bandanna for Emergency Preparedness

2008-01-20T12:57:00.001-06:00

When you start to put together your emergency kit, I would suggest you strongly consider the lowly bandanna.

Why? The bandanna has many things going for it is cheap, it is versatile, and it covers a lot for such a small piece of cloth.

The bandanna is so useful that it is considered a staple in travel guides, and it is also recommended in hiking and camping guides.

What are some of the things you could do with a bandanna from an emergency preparedness standpoint? For starters, a bandanna can be used as a cover-up went for your head, neck, and face. It can be used in first aid. It can be used to keep the sun out of your eyes. It can be used to cool an overheated person or serve as a wind break to warm exposed skin.

Let's just run down the list of some of the things that you can do use it for:

a head scarf (pirate style)

a headband

A hat (knot each of the corners) -- it's not fashionable, but it keeps the sun off your head

a sunshade:
- Foreign Legion-style (hanging from the back of your hat )
- from a rolled-up car window
- around your neck

a dust mask--just like the Cowboys in the western movies

A sleep mask or a blindfold

a washcloth

a towel (although you can't use it as a washcloth and a towel at the same time)

a bandage

a tourniquet

a cold, wet compress

a hot pad

On camping trips I've seen people use it as

a toothbrush

as a flyswatter

as an oven mitt picking up the coffee pot or other hot-handled items

I've seen them use it as fingerless gloves to protect the hands when they didn't have gloves.

Are there more uses? No question about it.

Since the bandanna can be obtained for as little as one dollar apiece and take up very little space, is there any reason we shouldn't have one or more in our emergency kits?

Do you have additional uses for a bandanna? Share them with us, please.

Technorati : Preparedness, Scouting, car, disaster, emergency, family safety, safety, security
Del.icio.us : Preparedness, Scouting, car, disaster, emergency, family safety, light, safety, security
Ice Rocket : Preparedness, Scouting, car, disaster, emergency, family safety, safety, security
Zooomr : Preparedness, Scouting, car, disaster, emergency, family safety, finances, safety, security
Buzznet : Preparedness, Scouting, car, disaster, emergency, family safety, safety, security
Riya : Preparedness, Scouting, car, disaster, emergency, family safety, finances, safety, security
43 Things : Preparedness, Scouting, car, disaster, emergency, family safety, safety, security

Emergency Preparedness -- Which Way to Go?

2008-01-14T19:13:00.001-06:00

At the end of December I posted a blog that talked about my new website Emergency-Prepared. At that time I promised to continue blogging. I have fulfilled that promise, but not as well as I would like.

I have been busy with the website, but also with other things related to emergency preparedness. (And also financial preparedness--like making sure I have an income.) I have been on other forums, keeping involved and continuing to find appropriate material for blogging. (And for the website. ) Now that the holidays are behind us, and life is settling in, I am expecting to be able to devote more attention to this blog and I hope you'll join me.

Also, I hope that you will join me and make this a dialog and not just a monologue. I'd really like to know what you are interested in, especially as it relates to emergency preparedness and where you're at in your preparations.

There are a lot of directions that I could take this blog, emergency preparedness has so many different facets. I would love to be able to aim it in ways that are most useful to you. Some of the ways we could take this--you and I--we could talk about emergency preparedness on a shoestring (a limited budget.) We could talk about how to buy your way into emergency preparedness. We could talk about emergency preparedness for natural disasters, or man-made emergencies, accidents, -- a huge assortment of possibilities. We could also talk about emergency preparedness as it relates to the Scouting movement.

Depending on your personal situation, you might also be interested in a discussion on emergency preparedness as it relates to your personal economic situation. In uncertain economic times, it's important to be prepared for financial emergencies. Financial emergencies can arise from losing your job or an unforeseen health issue, or even an inadvertent speeding ticket or legal matter. Preparation can lessen the impact of all of these.

I'll write again, soon. You write, too. And in the meantime, stay prepared.

Technorati : Preparedness, Scouting, disaster, emergency, finances, safety, security
Ice Rocket : Preparedness, Scouting, disaster, emergency, finances, safety, security
Buzznet : Preparedness, Scouting, disaster, emergency, finances, safety, security

Flashlight or Glowsticks for Your Car?

2008-01-01T11:22:00.001-06:00

Recently we have been discussing preparedness kits for your car. In several of those posts, I mentioned the kit that my wife put together to be prepared for winter. Then I talked about a year-round kit.

As I was reading a post on a Yahoo forum, the writer talked about putting glow sticks in his car kit. This sparked a discussion with my wife on the pros and cons of glow sticks and flashlights for the car.

I realized that I did not list any sort of lighting device in the year-round kit (and only barely -- disposable lighter and candle--in the winter kit.) Part of the reason for that is because my flashlight lives in the glove-box of every car we have. When we replace a car, the flashlight comes out of the old one and goes straight into the new one. As a result, I don't think of a flashlight when I put together a car kit, as I already "know" that a working flashlight is in the vehicle.

But not everybody does. I know that. But I don't always remember it. So, I am glad to have these reminders. (Together we will be better prepared than any one of us, alone.)

So... in the interests of preparedness, I am augmenting the kit list. Please add a flashlight to your list. Any flashlight (so long as it works). In another post (or possibly in an article on the website), I will deal with the pros and cons of the different kinds of flashlight. But for now, please put a flashlight in your car. It can be cheap or expensive. It can use regular batteries, alkaline batteries (recommended) or lithium batteries. It can be a regular bulb, a halogen bulb, or an LED flashlight. Any of those are better than no flashlight. So, please, put a flashlight in your car if you don't already have one.

Now, what about glow sticks?

If you can get them cheaply, then toss a couple of them in your car emergency kit. They can certainly augment it. But they can't replace a flashlight. Especially in winter.

Why not? Because glow sticks are temperature sensitive. The chemical reaction doesn't work very well when it gets cold. They are not useless, but they might have to be prewarmed a bit for best illumination.

They also don't provide bright, spot illumination (it is very hard to work on the engine of your car using a glow stick.) Their provide a dim, area light. This can be useful for moving around your car when there is no other light (say a cloudy night in the country.) They might illuminate your trunk enough to help you get your kit out and see to change a tire... maybe.

Their best use might be to mark out the location of your car (to assist rescue personnel). But there are better tools. (Reflective triangles, reflective tape, flares, LED flares (but these are expensive).)

Remember, too, that once activated, you cannot shut them off. They are single use items. They will glow for up to 10 hours (which can be good in certain circumstances) whether you want them to... or not.

My recommendation?

Get a good flashlight and put in your car. If you have the opportunity to get some glow sticks cheaply then put a couple of them in your car kit. (I have seen them in the dollar stores at certain times of the year.) If you do get glow sticks, then please opt for the yellow-green ones or the orange ones. These have repeatedly been shown to give off the brightest, most usable light.

Technorati : Preparedness, car, disaster, family safety, light, security, winter storm
Ice Rocket : Preparedness, car, disaster, family safety, light, security, winter storm
Buzznet : Preparedness, car, disaster, family safety, light, security, winter storm

New Website - www.emergency-prepared.com

2007-12-29T11:08:00.000-06:00

I have a new website for emergency preparedness. Please check out www.emergency-prepared.com at your convenience.

I expect this to be growing over the next several weeks and months. The goal is to provide you with information and tools that you can use to become (or stay) prepared. The plans call for much more than I can do in a blog. I intend for it to cover a wide range of emergency preparedness situations.

But, never fear, I still intend to keep blogging on emergency preparedness. There is an immediacy to blogging that I don't want to lose.

So, I invite you to check out the website... (and be kind when you view it, it has to get built in my spare time. I have a full-time job just like most of you. But I expect it to take shape rapidly.)

And keep checking back here (or subscribe to the feed) as I have a lot more to say.

Year-round Car Kit - Part 2

2007-12-23T12:05:00.000-06:00

In part 1 I talked about the first three items that should be in your car all year. I discussed the reasoning behind the items and why you might want them. This time, I want to talk about the last two. You will remember that the items in your year-round car kit are:

A Year-round Car Kit

Mechanic tool set

First Aid kit

Fire Extinguisher

Jumper cables

Tire changing kit

Jumper cables

Jumper cables are used for starting cars whose batteries are weak or dead. I can't count the number of times that I have used a set-either on my own car or someone else's. Sometimes a battery doesn't give the indications that it is going bad... or conditions don't highlight that it is weak... until.... When that happens, you are stuck in the parking lot, or in the snow, or under the melting sun until a rescuer comes along. That rescuer can be the mechanic or tow truck (think $$$ as well as discomfort)... or it can be the person who has a car that starts (if you have jumper cables).

Having jumper cables also lets you be the "good samaritan" who can help someone else who wasn't as prepared as you are.

Tire changing kit

When automobiles come from the factory, they come with a spare tire (of some sort) and the tools required to change a tire. Over time, things happen to that kit. Somehow, they disappear. If you are not buying the car brand new from the dealer, it is a surprise bonus to find that the car still has the tire changing equipment. Either way, make sure that all parts required to actually change a tire are there.

Even if they are all there, let me suggest that there are a few more things you can add that will make it easier, safer, and cleaner to change a tire, should you need to do so.

First of all, sometimes the equipment that the manufacturer makes is pretty minimalistic. In fact, some of them provide equipment that do make it possible to change a tire by the roadside, but not probable. And certainly not fun or safe. If your car is in this category, please consider upgrading to some better tire-changing tools. Auto parts stores carry lots of better replacements. If you can't afford that, try a used parts yard, often you can get what you want for lots less money.

Next, throw in some latex (or vinyl or similar) gloves . These are remarkably handy for keeping your hands clean while handling that dirty tire. Notice how often a roadside emergency occurs on your way to work? Or to someplace where you are not wanting to show up with gunky hands? The gloves are cheap, disposable, and keep your hands clean while working on the car.

If you want to really be prepared, throw in an old set of clothes (preferably oversized) or a set of coveralls. As noted in the earlier paragraph, most of the time you aren't dressed for changing a tire. Having something you can slip on over your clothes to protect them while you work on the car can set you apart as a genius when your friends find out about it. (If, instead, they make fun of you for being concerned about your clothes, you might want to take that as a sign that you need new friends... but, hey, it's your decision.)

Bonus item:

If you get a little bag (maybe a child's old backpack) to keep your car kit in, toss in a quart of oil, as well. It may ride there for years, but be just the lifesaver to get you to a station when your car develops a sudden thirst for oil. (I've seen it happen way too often.)

Even with all these things in your car, there is plenty of space left over for all the other junk that naturally accumulates in car trunks, so don't worry about that. If you are one of those compulsive people who vacuums their trunk weekly... definitely fit this stuff into a bag so you can easily move it aside when you vacuum. For the rest of you, a container of some sort does help keep the emergency preparedness stuff from getting in the way when you do want to use your trunk as a trunk.

Note to pickup truck owners: don't put your kit in the bed of the pickup... put it behind the seat (bench seat, back seat, however your pickup is configured.) If you don't know why I make that recommendation... think about it for a while... or just try it yourself... but be prepared to replace it.

What have you found to be indispensable in your car kit? Have I missed something? Tell us what and why.

Your Year-round Car Kit

2007-12-20T15:48:00.001-06:00

In the past few postings (see the Winter Preparedness category for all of them), I have been dealing with having a kit that you should have in your car during the winter. If you just read those, you would still be missing some things because I believe that there are a few other things that you should have in your car year round. And I didn't reference those at all in the postings.

A Year-round Car Kit

Mechanic tool set

First Aid kit

Fire Extinguisher

Jumper cables

Tire changing kit

Now let me explain why.

A Tool Kit
Everybody should have a small took set in the trunk of their car (or under the seat). It should include both metric and inch wrenches. A socket wrench is useful (but you can usually get by without them if you have open and box-end wrenches.) It should have pliers, flat-blade and Phillips-head screwdrivers. You can often find a pre-built kit at a really good price around Christmas, Father's Day, and Mother's Day (usually comes in pink or pastel blue for Mother's Day.) Since you are only expecting to use it very occasionally, you don't have to get top of the line.

I know. Some of you are saying, "but I wouldn't know which end of the wrench to hold. It is pointless for me to have a tool kit in my car."

Unless, of course, a "rescuer" stops to help, has the knowledge, but doesn't have the tools. (Maybe he (or she) is in a rental car, so they are away from their tools at the time.) If you have the tools, you have the help. All it takes is one of those times and you have saved the price of the tools (and then some.)

First Aid Kit

You had to change a tire, work on the engine, remove the plastic bag that fluttered up against the nose of the car and started the engine overheating. In the process, you

scrape your knuckles

cut your finger,

get a nosebleed from bending over and looking under the car

bump your head (and now there is a nasty welt as well as a headache)

or all of the above

Right about now, wouldn't it be good to have a first aid kit handy? It doesn't have to be a huge thing, either. Big box discount department stores and drug stores sell car first aid kits--incredibly cheaply. You could also go to a sporting goods store or auto parts store and find one--they just won't be as cheap.

Like everything else I've mentioned, they don't take up much room and can be a life-saver. Literally.

Fire Extinguisher

This is one of those items that all the "experts" tell you should have... and that nobody does. Well, nobody except me, my wife, and the experts. I know another guy who does. I don't know his name because we didn't have a formal introduction.

A number of years ago, I was sitting in the turn lane at an intersection waiting for our turn. I looked in the rear-view mirror and saw what looked like smoke coming out from under the hood of the pick-up truck just behind me. He was just jumping out of the cab. As he opened the hood, we saw orange flames shooting up from the air filter and carburetor. I jumped out of my car, popped open the trunk, pulled out the fire extinguisher and calmly sprayed the base of the flames. The fire went out, the danger was over, he started the truck--no fire, the light turned green and I got back in the car and drove away. Really glad that I had a fire extinguisher in my trunk... and so was he.

I guarantee you that he has a fire extinguisher in his car to this day.

I know of two other people who wish they had one... in time. In the last two weeks I have seen two car fires. One was just the burned out hulk on the shoulder of the road. It hadn't been there 12 hours earlier. The other had the dash burning, the driver was standing in front of the car, helpless, just watching it burn. I was in the wrong lane of a divided highway with no exit for several miles. It would have been five minutes at least before I could get back around to him... maybe more. (And this was a rush-hour traffic.) By that time, his car would be a cinder. I really don't know if someone on his side of the road saw it and had a fire extinguisher. By the time I came that way the next day, the car had been removed.

What do you think they would have said if you had asked them why didn't just put the fire out? No fire extinguisher, of course. Why not? Do you think they thought it was too expensive? Or that they had never needed one before, so it was just a waste of money? Or perhaps it would roll around in the trunk and make a lot of noise and was just too much bother?

I have no idea what started any of the fires I have mentioned. Only a small percentage of the automobiles on the road catch fire... but when they do, if you don't have an extinguisher, you are highly likely to watch your car burn up. Every year, several thousand automobiles are recalled by their makers because "x" could happen, possibly causing an engine fire. (Don't believe me? Look it up.)

So do me a favor. Get a fire extinguisher for your car (and put it in it.) I don't want to lose a reader because of a car fire. :-)

In the next post, I'll talk about the other things.

Winter Kit for the Car - explained (Part 2)

2007-12-19T16:24:00.001-06:00

In Part 1, we explained the reasoning behind a few of the items in my wife's Winter Kit. There are a couple of other things I want to touch on before we leave the subject. You will remember that her winter kit consisted of

- plastic shopping bag from _____ (pick any grocery or chain store here)
- plastic trash bag (big, black one)
- bottle of water (pick your favorite brand) sealed in
- quart-sized plastic bag (just in case the bottle freezes and splits)
- polar fleece wrap (blanket may be substituted)
- fuzzy hat
- "magic" gloves (these are the knit gloves that stretch forever)
- two votive candles
- clean, empty flat can (like a tuna can or a cat food can)
- disposable butane lighter (to light candles)
- energy food snacks (just a few)
- disposable latex gloves (to waterproof magic gloves)

This time I want to talk about the plastic trash bag and about the snacks.

Trash bags aren't just for trash

The trash bag is has a variety of emergency uses. It can hold water, if needed. It can be a waterproof shelter. It can be a raincoat. (Slit a hole in the bottom at the middle (for your head) and one in each side seam (for each arm... if you have more arms than that, the add the appropriate number of holes in the proper places.)) If you have to change a tire in weather that has turned to freezing rain, you will appreciate having something that keeps your torso dry. I suspect if you think about it, you will come up with even more uses for it.

By the way, I would use the heavier-duty bags if you have them (or need to get more bags.) If you just have lighter-weight trash bags, then use one of them, but consider getting the heavier lawn and garden ones or even the ones designed for construction trash. Whatever you have, put something in your trunk. It is better to have something (even something that is mildly inadequate) than nothing.

Snacks, anyone?

Yes, I really think that you should put some snacks in your winter kit. Whether you store the kit under the seat or in the trunk, a winter kit really needs some energy snacks. Why? Because if you are in an emergency situation in the winter, there is likely to be cold involved. (As you know, cold happens much more frequently in the winter than in the summer.) Our bodies use a lot of energy dealing with the cold. If you don't have an external source of heat (such as your car's heater or a fire) you will be using a lot of food fuel just to keep warm.

Do you need to put a lot of snacks in your car? For most situations, probably not. If you know that you are going to be taking a three day trek across the backroads of Montana, then you might consider adding a bit more than usual. But for most of us, a couple of energy bars is probably enough.

Now, I will tell you right here that I don't like energy bars (and neither does my wife) so that is not what we use. I like "trail mix" and so that is what we use. (Your emergency snack should be something that you are willing eat should you have to, so chose wisely.) I like trail mix as an emergency food for several reasons:

nuts and peanuts for protein (longer-term energy generation)

raisins and coated chocolate candies for quick carbs (immediate energy)

long-term storage potential (the salt will help the nuts keep, the raisins are naturally long-lived)

reasonably tasty (nice mix of salt and sweet)

it comes prepackaged in convenient sizes

it isn't a "designer" brand so it is pretty inexpensive (compared to energy bars)

versatile - it is a food item that is useful year-round and for other situations

But you might like energy bars. Then, by all means use them. You could be allergic to peanuts. Then don't use trail mix as I have never seen any that didn't include peanuts. The most important thing is to find something that will give you quick energy, keep providing energy for a while, be relatively insensitive to heat and cold, and to have a long shelf life.

Do you have an emergency snack that fits the bill and is your favorite? Why don't you share it with the rest of us? (I know there probably won't be enough to go around, so just tell us what it is and why you like it for this purpose.) You comments of this are welcome.

Winter Kit for the Car - explained (Part 1)

2007-12-18T19:18:00.001-06:00

As promised, I want to discuss a few of the items that my wife included in her Winter Kit that she put in her car.

You may remember that she put together a winter kit when she realized that she didn't have one yet, this winter, after I mentioned it in a posting about the mid-west ice storm. What she put together was:

plastic shopping bag from _____ (pick any grocery or chain store here)

plastic trash bag (big, black one)

bottle of water (pick your favorite brand) sealed in

quart-sized plastic bag (just in case the bottle freezes and splits)

polar fleece wrap (blanket may be substituted)

fuzzy hat

"magic" gloves (these are the knit gloves that stretch forever)

two votive candles

clean, empty flat can (like a tuna can or a cat food can)

disposable butane lighter (to light candles)

energy food snacks (just a few)

disposable latex gloves (to waterproof magic gloves)

Understand, that I am not saying that this is what everyone should have, or that it is the perfect kit, but it is a quite adequate kit for our area (North Central Texas).

Some of the items may be quite obvious to most people, but a few may be obscure to the uninitiated in emergency preparedness. So, if this is old hat to you, please just bear with me.

Small can (yes, you can)

For the rest of you, you may be wondering about the tuna can. It serves a couple of purposes. In a pinch-say being stuck out on a deserted snowy road because your car suddenly quit running-you may want to use a candle to provide a bit of heat (and light). You might not want candle wax all over your car. Put the candle in the can and now you have a bit of protection for it. You could also use it to melt ice or snow (use the candle for heat) for whatever purpose you need water. The standard cautions apply to combustibles (candle) in enclosed spaces (keep a window cracked for fresh air supply.)

Some of you may be saying to yourselves, why not take an unopened can of tuna and then you have your food and your can in a smaller package. That is great thinking... unless you need the can but aren't hungry for tuna at the time. While I generally advocate items that can do double duty (see the entry on gloves below), this is one of those times that recommend a little more separation of duties.

Magic fingers

The "magic" gloves and the latex gloves can work together to provide a pair of waterproof gloves that will keep your fingers warm in the event of having to clear off ice or snow from the windshield (or other similar chores). Sure, you should have an ice scraper in your car and a pair of winter gloves, too. But, if you managed to get away without those-or you had to let your freezing kid sister (or freezing kid) borrow yours-you have a way of improvising your own.

Naturally, you can also use either pair of gloves alone, too. The knit gloves can provide warmth by themselves if they are kept dry. The latex gloves can be used if you are having to change a tire or work on your engine. When you are done, strip off the gloves for relatively clean hands.

Fire when you need it

A disposable butane lighter is preferable to matches (even the waterproof ones) because you get a lot more fire for the same space and weight. And it works, even if it gets wet. For the survival minded, even after the butane runs out, there is a sparking mechanism that can help you build a fire if you know what you are doing. (Ask any pyromanical Boy Scout. No slur intended. I used to be one. And I raised a couple. Most boys have a fascination with fire and the Boys Scouts gives an outlet for it.)

In part two I will discuss a couple of other items.

Water in a Winter Car Kit?

2007-12-16T18:31:00.001-06:00

In the winter car kit post, I mentioned a bottle of water being included in the kit. Now, I can already hear some of you saying, "You must not live where where it gets cold and stays cold. That would be a bottle of ice where I live."

First of all, let me say... Thank You for Sharing. :-) Actually, I live in the Dallas/Forth Worth, Texas area and, while it does get cold here (last night it was 22 degrees (F) at our house), it doesn't have the deep, extended cold that some places up north get. And for which I say, Thank You Very Much!

For climates like ours, the chances of the water bottle freezing and splitting are pretty slim. Last year, I had a bottle of water in the winter kit all winter long and never had it freeze, not even a crystal. My car sits in a carport and not in an enclosed garage, so this is not to be glossed over. True, the water bottle was in the passenger compartment and not in the trunk, so it got heated every day when I drove. It might surprise you how much warmer the passenger compartment of your car can be compared to the trunk. (Most cars have some insulation for the car interior... we tend to complain if the inside of a car bleeds heat or cold too fast.) Anyway, you may find that your water bottle never freezes if you treat it right. (And I am NOT talking about putting a bit of "additive" in it as antifreeze.)

Brrrrrrrr.....

On the other hand, I have lived where it often got down to 0 degrees (F)... or close to it, at night. Yep, it was one of those places where the parking garages had plug-ins. (For those of you who live in the sunny south, a plug-in is an electrical outlet at the head of the parking space where you plug in your electric oil heater. You do this so that your engine oil stays fluid enough to easily re-coat the engine when you start up again. There are two basic varieties. One is the dipstick replacement with a heating element on the end. Then there is the more effective, but more expensive, oilpan replacement which has the heating element built into the floor of the pan. And now you have another reason you are glad you live in the sunny South.)

Yes, a bottle of water left in your car overnight in that kind of climate, especially if parked in the driveway, would probably freeze.

So what should you do?

Why don't you tell me? Those of you who live in colder climes and have a winter car kit, what do you put in it? Do you toss a bottle of water in your coat pocket so you have it should you need it when you are out? Or maybe you have problems remembering to do that (which is why we have a bottle stored in our cars)? Or do you just figure that you won't need water so you don't even bother?

And next time, we'll discuss that Winter Kit for the Car like I promised last time.

A Winter Kit for the Car

2007-12-15T21:00:00.001-06:00

In an earlier post, I referenced extended family members who had a basic winter kit in their cars. As my wife and I discussed the post, we realized that she didn't have a kit in her car, yet. So, off she went and created one.

What she did was quite sufficient. It is not what I have in my car, but it will pass muster. I thought I would share with you what she put in and maybe provide either a starting point for you or start a discussion on it. I will list her kit and then comment on it.

Her kit:

plastic shopping bag from _____ (pick any grocery or chain store here)

plastic trash bag (big, black one)

bottle of water (pick your favorite brand) sealed in

quart-sized plastic bag (just in case the bottle freezes and splits)

polar fleece wrap (blanket may be substituted)

fuzzy hat

"magic" gloves (these are the knit gloves that stretch forever)

two votive candles

clean, empty flat can (like a tuna can or a cat food can)

disposable butane lighter (to light candles)

energy food snacks (just a few)

disposable latex gloves (to waterproof magic gloves)

That's it. All of it is stored in the plastic shopping bag. And the whole thing is stored in the trunk. But is small enough that it could be on the floor behind the driver's seat or even under the seat.

I like a nice big blanket (mine lives in the trunk of my car year round.) I use a cheap olive-drab knockoff of an army blanket. It is durable and warm enough for emergency use and company never sees it. My wife likes polar fleece (and got a great deal on some in the summer) so she picked what was at hand. Inexpensive and available beats expensive and "we'll get it when we can afford it" every time.

Her energy food snacks are pre-packaged peanut-butter crackers, a bit of candy, and a couple of packages of trail-mix. A couple of energy bars would be just as good, but we don't like energy bars. They taste horrible to me. I like trail-mix and we have some around. It's a "good-enough" choice because it has nuts for long-term energy (protein), raisins and chocolate candy for immediate energy (carbohydrates).

We have a few disposable lighters around (even though we don't smoke) because they are generally reliable fire-starters (and can burn longer than a book or box of matches.) We get them by the multi-pack at the dollar store. (Tip: when you bring them home, open the package and try each one to make sure it works reliably. Now you can toss them in your kits knowing they will be there (and work) when you need them.)

In the next post, I will touch on the use of a few of the things in her kit that might not be apparent if you are new to emergency preparedness. In the meantime, if you don't have a winter kit for your car, you could do a lot worse than to make one like hers.

More lessons from Mid-west Ice Storm

2007-12-14T15:45:00.000-06:00

Last time, we talked about a fellow in Oklahoma who was sort-of prepared. He had food. He had water (at least, we think he had water), he had a generator. But he wasn't really prepared for the power to go off.

His plan was to simply start up the generator if the power went out. But he didn't consider the situation where the generator didn't work. Worse, after he got the generator working, he didn't consider the annoyance factor from the noise.

Now, let me say right here, that I am glad that he had a generator. In that sense, he is way ahead of most folks. However, let me also say, that before you go high-tech (yeah, I know that in one sense, a gasoline-powered generator is not considered high-tech), I think that you should first make sure you are covered low-tech. Even though low-tech can be less convenient.

Here's what I mean

To me, low-tech is basic. It doesn't require moving parts (or has very few parts to mess up on you.) It doesn't require a lot of skill or knowledge to use.

Here are some examples:

Low tech

bow saw

flashlight w/ spare batteries (candles in some cases)

water bottles (sealed)

certain water filters

MREs, canned meat or tuna, "open and eat" foods

blankets

High tech

chainsaw

generator

certain water filters

microwave foods

foods that must be baked

electric blanket, heating pad, electric heater

The idea, of course, is to have something that doesn't need special events or conditions in order to work. After you have those, then graduate to higher tech and more convenient.

This principle, or philosophy if you prefer, isn't just about winter preparedness. It is a fundamental concept to being prepared whatever the season and what the disaster/emergency/situation that you are considering.

So... how are you being prepared?

Emergency Preparedness lessons from Mid-west Ice Storm

2007-12-13T10:05:00.000-06:00

There are lots of lessons coming out of the December 2007 ice storm that hit the Mid-west.

Some of my extended family live in Oklahoma. They are pretty prepared... at least compared to most of the population. They shared a story they were personally involved in.

An elderly friend of theirs lives by himself in a mobile home. He has a daughter-in-law in the same town who does check on him, but she has other responsibilities, as well. So, my extended family checked with him by phone shortly after the ice storm hit. He was doing fine, then. Later in the night, however, the power went out. Their call the next day found him alive, but cold. And maybe a little befuddled.

They ventured out to check on him in person. He only had a sheet and an electric blanket on his bed. That was fine for him when there was power... not so good when it is freezing outside and the power is out. He had a generator... but couldn't get it started. (He is about 85 years old.) He was looking for a kerosene heater as he had plenty of kerosene. (We'll discuss the dangers of that another time but in the meantime, be very cautious about using combustible heaters inside! The fumes can kill you!

The family had blankets in their cars (traveling icy roads in winter means a blanket in the trunk). They got them out, wrapped him in one and put the other blanket on the bed. Then they got the generator started. With power again, his heater worked, he was able to have a hot meal, and all was right again. For a while.

When they called to check on him the next day, they discovered that he had shut off the generator because the noise bothered him. However, he had slept warm due to the blankets they had given him. (It seems he doesn't even have extra blankets because the electric blanket had been plenty good enough for him in the past.) But he was getting cold again without power. (Mobile homes especially have a tendency to do this.)

They called the daughter-in-law (who was going to be going by to see him anyway) to alert her of the issues. If I recall correctly, power was restored after only a couple of days and he is fine.... But only because of caring (and thinking) friends and relatives. This could have easily turned into another news statistic of another victim of hypothermia (the term for dying from too much cold.)

You did catch the lessons in this, didn't you? He did some things right, but wasn't really prepared.

Next time, we'll visit more about what we need to do to stay prepared in situations like these.