Hurricane Safety

Probably if you are in hurricane range, you already know a thing or two about what to do if a hurricane is imminent.  If you don't live in hurricane range, you might not have any clue what to do and you might be thinking, "So what?"  But the thing is, you never know where you (or loved ones) might live in the future, or what set of emergency circumstances you may be in, and having a handy set of hurricane survival skills for reference just might save your life.  So, why not?

Hurricanes are among the most costly of catastrophes.  If a hurricane approaches, you will need to prepare you and your family both physically and mentally.  Fortunately with hurricanes (unlike, say, earthquakes?), we're given a small window of prep time when we can see what's coming but it isn't here yet.  However, you definitely don't want to put off your preparations until the last minute or you are very likely to be caught without adequate preparation.

1. Prepare Yourself
You'll need to have an emergency disaster kit already prepared, if you don't already.  If you've waited until the last minute, some of these items may be very difficult to find or you may not be able to find them at all.  The best plan is to have your disaster kit already prepared long in advance so you only need to put forth minimal effort to keep it current.  Your emergency disaster kit should include important documents, first aid, food and water, clothes, prescriptions, etc.  See this page for a thorough and descriptive checklist to guide you.  You'll want to keep everything packed for portability - like in backpacks, or a large trash can - in case of evacuation.  Make sure your food and water are rotated frequently as well as clothing for changing sizes and seasons.

2. Prepare Your Home
You can't hold back hurricane winds, but you can take steps to minimize the damage.  Your home stands a greater chance of resisting damage if it has a sturdy build that follows up-to-date codes for strength in natural disasters.  Doors, garages, and windows can be boarded to prevent wind damage, but again, don't wait until the last minute unless you want to stand in long lines at the store for wood.  Trees and bushes can be trimmed.  Sandbags can be placed around your home to prevent water damage.  Of course, even with the best preparations sometimes the damage is extensive.  Insurance can be purchased long in advance to help cover costs of damages.  Take a look inside and around your home for irreplaceable items and make plans to move them or keep them safe.  Anchor what you can.  In any case, it would be wise to prepare yourself mentally for the worst outcome but continue to hope for the best.  Devastating circumstances can often be made more bearable if we can look around us with a sense of gratitude and count what blessings are still ours.  This is always easier said than done in the face of an emergency, but one can start with being grateful to be alive and breathing.

3. Make Your Plan
Do you stay or go?  Emergency reports will let you know if you are in a flood zone or storm surge zone.  If so, GO!  Same if you are in a mobile or very old home.  And don't wait until the end (traffic will be BAD).  Unplug all appliances, shut off the main water, and electricity to your home.  If indicated by emergency officials, shut off your main gas valve.  Find a friend or family member you can stay with out of the hurricane's reach, or book a hotel.  Plan for your pets as well.  If you make the choice to stay in your home, the safest areas will be in the interior, away from large windows.  Keep a radio and your disaster kit on hand.  Move valuables and documents to your home's highest level.  Keep doors and windows shut throughout the hurricane.  Turn your fridge and freezer to their coldest settings so food will stay good longer.  Prepare a plan for evacuation, just in case.  Whether you are staying or going, make sure you have an emergency contact outside the storm's reach who you can notify what your plans are.

Long-term Food Storage Guidelines

Hopefully you already have a 72-hour supply of emergency food you can grab and take with you at a moment's notice.  But it's also a wise idea to keep an ample supply of long-term food and water on hand for your family in case of extended emergencies.  First, you need to be aware of and follow several guidelines.  Don't get yourself in such a food-storing frenzy that you do it incorrectly and waste your efforts.  If stored improperly, food can quickly spoil or make you very sick.

• Store foods you like that you use often.  Being familiar with the foods you store will help you use them better and are more likely to be eaten by your family.  Plus if you use them regularly, they will be easy to rotate so your stored food won't spoil.  Label all foods with a purchase date so you can see how old they are in the future.  Place newer items behind older ones on home shelves and make it a habit of practicing the "first in = first out" rule so that you continually use older items first.  (As a personal note, my husband just recently built us some new storage shelves at a slight angle so that canned goods automatically roll into place.  New cans are placed at the back and cans for current use are taken from the front so the whole group continually rotates the older forward.  It is a simple yet incredibly handy adjustment you can make to some of your own storage shelves for easy rotation.)  Foods have the best taste and nutrition if you follow the "best if used by" date; however, food can still be useful and sustaining even after that.
• Foods recommended to be rotated every 6 months:
• Powdered Milk in boxes
• Potatoes
• Dried fruits (in metal containers)
• Dry crackers (in metal containers)
• Water from home storage containers
• Foods recommended to be rotated every year (though personally, I've eaten several of these things beyond a year and they were just fine):
• Peanut Butter
• Jams and Jellies
• Canned Fruits, Vegetables, and Juices
• Canned Condensed Soups
• Cereals or Instant Oatmeal
• Canned Nuts
• Candy
• Vitamin C
• Home-canned food
• Commercially Prepared Water
• Foods that last "indefinitely" with proper storage and good storage conditions:
• Salt
• Baking Powder
• Bouillon 
• Vegetable Oils
• Wheat
• White Rice
• Soybeans
• Dried Corn
• Dried Pasta
• Powdered Milk in nitrogen-packed cans
• Honey

• Many milled grains (flour, cereal, cornmeal, etc.) or foods high in natural oils (nuts, seeds, brown rice, etc.) deteriorate faster than other foods, though I have yet to find a source that says exactly how much.  If you choose to store them (like I have), make sure you rotate them often to make use of the full nutritional benefit.  Other foods that should be rotated frequently include canned foods with a high acid content

• Some emergency supply places offer great options for long shelf-life foods.  Many companies offer dehydrated or freeze dried foods that can last for up to 25 years.  Some offer quick and nutritious meals that only need water to be ready to eat (you'll want to store extra water in that case).  However, if you are unfamiliar with the food or unlikely to actually put it to use, look into other options.  Grocery stores that offer bulk foods is a great option.  When stored correctly, items like oats, pinto beans, and sugar can have a shelf-life over 30 years. 

• The best foods are ones that don't require refrigeration, cooking, or special preparation.  Look for nutrient-rich foods with high calories to keep your body systems energized.  Stay away from foods that are very salty (they'll make you thirsty), and look for foods high in water content.  And don't forget to store vitamins!

• Good containers for storing foods include foil laminate/mylar pouches made of polyethylene terephthalate (non-toxic, food-grade plastic that helps keep out oxygen and moisture), glass jars with tight, screw-on lids (of course cleaned and sterilized before using), or plastic food containers with the letters "PET" or "PETE" next to the recycle symbol at the bottom (made of the same plastic in laminate pouches).  All containers should be cleaned and sterilized and have an air-tight seal.  Avoid paper or foam lid seals and instead opt for plastic.  Foods in boxes or bags that can go stale can also be doubled wrapped and sealed tightly in plastic containers to keep them fresher longer.

• Keep foods in a cool (40-70 degrees), dark area away from pipes or appliances that create heat or moisture.  Moisture, oxygen, and heat will spoil foods quickly.  A storage room in your basement would be great, or under the stairs, in a closet, or even under your bed!  Be creative if you need to.

• Once you've got your 72-hour food supply ready, build up to a 3-week, then 3-month, then even longer supply for your family.  This could mean half of the day's typical calories per family member for rationing (though better would be to plan for the full day's normal calories, just so you are prepared), plus 1 gallon of water per person per day (more according to individual circumstances, and don't forget bleach for purifying).  If your means are limited, start by buying one or two extra items every time you shop, like an extra bag of beans or can of fruit.  For reference, the minimum recommended amounts of food for one adult for one year are:
• 300 lbs. grains (wheat, pasta, rice, oats, etc.)
• 74 lbs. dairy (powdered milk, evaporated milk, freeze-dried cheese, etc.)
• 60 lbs. legumes (beans, peas, lentils, etc.)
• 60 lbs. sugars (honey, brown sugar, white sugar, jam, drink mixes, etc.)
• 13 lbs. oils (vegetable oil, olive oil, coconut oil, peanut butter, etc.)
• Baking essentials (baking powder, baking soda, yeast, salt, vinegar, etc.)

• Oxygen absorbers can be purchased at many emergency supply stores.  When added to food storage, they will extend the shelf-life of your food by eliminating oxygen (a food spoiler) in the closed container.  Super handy to have.

Another great way to build up an emergency food supply is to grow a garden!  Not only that, but it is a very satisfying skill to obtain.  By growing a home garden you can take advantage of the abundance of a fall harvest to boost your stores.  An old saying goes, "Eat what you can, and can what you can't!"  Canning is a great way to store food for a later use, or even just during the winter when harvests have passed.  Canning has many of its own guidelines, however, so make sure you talk with someone with experience or seek a dependable resource (many cities have them for free).

In general, humans can survive for quite a while on limited food rations.  Water...not so much.  Of course, children, the elderly, ill, or pregnant women have different nutritious needs that need to be considered.  The best advice is to reduce your activity as much as possible, try to maintain an even body temperature, and stay hydrated.

How to Prevent Frostbite

It's a post that makes me cold just writing it.

I fully intended to post a picture of real frostbite so you could get an idea of what it is like, but it is truly gruesome.  The blackened fingers and yellow-gray blistery skin made me feel ill just looking at it.  If you really want to see it, there are countless photo references to be found on the web, or you can just take my word that it is horrible and follow the tips below to avoid it.

Frostbite is tissue damage as a result of your skin freezing.  It starts first in the extremities (fingers, toes, nose, ears) where heat has a harder time reaching but can move deeper with increased exposure.  Frostbite begins as frostnip, then progresses as superficial frostbite, then deep frostbite.  Here are some tips to avoid getting frostbite:

1. Dress for the weather.  This may seem an obvious tip, but it is for that reason that it is easily neglected.  Don't underestimate the weather.  Make sure your head is covered since a large portion of your body's heat is lost through the head.  Make sure you have well-insulated clothes against wind and rain and pick fabrics that will insulate you even when wet (wool = yes, cotton = no!), but try to stay dry anyway.  Dress in several thin layers but make sure your layers aren't too tight because this could restrict circulation.  Mittens rather than gloves allow your fingers to benefit from the warmth of nearby fingers.  You can also use body warmers to counteract the cold.  Keep all your body warm to aid the extremities.
2. When participating in outdoor activities in freezing weather, monitor your energy levels.  Don't exhaust yourself because that could affect your ability to detect and fight the frostbite.  Stay well-fed and well-watered.  Eat small servings of simple carbohydrates frequently to keep up your energy and heat supply.  And as in almost anything else, dehydration will only interfere with your body's efficiency and speed the frostbite.
3. Numbness is one of the early signs of frostbite.  Rubbing before frostbite has set in helps to warm your body by creating friction and increasing circulation.  Keep moving to keep blood flowing.  Be wary of patches of white, very cold skin (frostnip) because it could very quickly become frostbite.  Tuck cold toes and fingers inside your clothes next to warm skin to help their temperature return to normal.  Don't rub body parts that have frostbite already or subject them to high heat because that could make the damage worse.
4. Avoid drinking alcohol.  This not only impairs your judgement, but also dehydrates you.  Caffeine and nicotine are also no-no's because they constrict blood vessels and impair circulation.

Earthquake Preparation

Earthquakes are so unpredictable, and sometimes so devastating.  Even so, there are things we can do today to help protect us against the effects of one.  To evaluate your risk of an earthquake, first locate your state or territory on this color-coded FEMA Earthquake Hazard Map.  The darker the color, the greater the seismic hazard levels in your area.  As always, mountainous regions, fault lines, and areas of volcanic activity generally have a higher risk.  Other factors that affect your risks are your city's population size, the construction quality of the buildings, and whether or not they have been built under current seismic building codes.  Now let's prepare:

1.      Secure Your Breakables - Take a tour through your home, office, or school to identify objects that may be at risk for falling.  This may include televisions, computers, fine collectibles, lamps, pictures, bookcases, etc.  Move heavy objects to lower shelves.  Many objects can be tied down, closed in locked cabinets, or secured with QuakeHold Museum Putty on various surfaces.  Keep flammable material away from possible ignition.  It's especially important to secure your water heater, furnace, or other gas appliances.  A water heater falling over could cause a gas line or water line to break leading to a fire, flooding, or the loss of a valuable water supply.  Your water heater should be strapped on both the top and bottom with heavy-gauge metal strapping and bolted into the wall studs.  It should be less than 2 inches from the wall or attached to a block bolted into the wall.  You could also replace any copper or metal piping with flexible connectors to help prevent the lines from breaking.  If you're truly serious about securing your home, you might consider hiring a contractor or engineer to identify structural changes that could be made to fortify your home.
2.      Prepare an Emergency Disaster Kit and Make a Plan - A disaster kit is important to have on hand for various emergencies, including earthquakes.  Check here for a comprehensive list of items to include as you make a kit of your own.  Store your kit in a container that can be accessed and transported easily in case you need to evacuate.  Choose a location outside your home/school/office where family members/classes/employees can meet after a disaster.  Designate an out-of-state contact in your family that all family members can call for relaying and receiving information.
3.      Practice Important Earthquake Survival Skills - Hold practice drills to look for cover in an earthquake.  Taking as few steps as possible, crouch near the inside corner of a wall or locate sturdy furniture you can duck under, and hold on tight!  If you do not have any protection over your head, keep your neck and head covered with your arms.  Avoid crouching near windows, large mirrors or glass, fireplaces, or hanging objects.  Falling objects - not the shaking ground - is the main cause of most deaths during an earthquake.  If outside, you should move to an open area to avoid falling trees, buildings, and power lines.  If caught under debris, tap on a wall or use a whistle so rescuers can find you.  Refrain from shouting since it may cause you to quickly use up oxygen and inhale dangerous levels of dust.  Keep your mouth covered if possible.  Other important survival skills include CPR or other first aid training.  Know how to look for, assess, and treat various injuries.  Familiarize yourself with signs of damaged water, gas, or electrical lines and know how to shut off your utilities.  Use the radio from your disaster kit to receive local emergency information.

Make a Family Fire Escape Plan

You probably remember those fire drills in school with the flashing, blaring alarms and everyone walking outside to stand single file while taking roll.  It was boring but we loved it nonetheless because we got out of class.  And without our realizing it, we were receiving early lessons in emergency preparedness.

Recent fires raging in the western United States and other places have brought up the question, "When was the last time I made a home fire escape plan?"  And honestly, for me it has been a while.  So here are some guidelines to help us create a plan.  Set aside an evening, call all the family together, and practice where you'd go and what you'd do in the event of a fire in your home.  Save yourself the heartache of "I was going to get to it but just didn't have time!" because that won't help your family in an emergency.

1. Draw a basic map of your home showing all doors and windows.
2. Go to each room. Find two exits (usually a door and a window) and indicate them on your map.  Test all doors and windows to make sure they open easily and let your kids practice opening them.
3. Mark each smoke alarm in your home on your map with a circled SA.  Test each one to make sure it is working properly.  (You should have at least one per level in your home, typically between the sleeping areas and the rest of the house.  If you sleep with your bedroom door closed, have major appliances that could cause a fire, or smoke in your room, you will want to add an additional alarm to that room.)  
4. Pick a meeting place at the front of your house where all family members will gather.  Mark this meeting place with a star on your map.  Make sure your house/building number can be seen from the street.
5. Learn the number for your local fire department or have it easily accessible.
6. Practice your family fire escape plan with the whole family.  You should practice at least twice a year at different times of the day and with different scenarios.  Practice crawling in case of lots of smoke.  When you come to a closed door, practice feeling the doorknob and door to see if they are hot.  Practice taking alternate routes if a fire is on the other side of a closed door.  You should also teach children to stay out of the house once they have left.  If a family member or pet is trapped inside, inform firefighters immediately since they are equipped to handle such situations safely.  

You might also consider calling your local fire department to ask about taking a tour.  This can be especially beneficial for small children to be familiar with firefighters and feel more trusting of them in an emergency.

Go to http://www.sparky.org/downloads/escape_plan.PDF or http://www.scholastic.com/firesafety/escapeplan/ for free printables and helps to make a family fire escape plan.