BeReady for Ice storms and Winter Weather

• Stay indoors: It is generally recommended to stay indoors during an ice storm unless absolutely necessary.
• Avoid travel: If you must travel, exercise extreme caution and drive only when necessary. Make sure your vehicle is winter ready and reliable, Carry ice scrapers, tire chains and have the proper tires. Have your BeReady kit for the Car. Watchout for black ice and know how to react to hydroplaning. 
• Watch for objects that could potentially blow into the roadway. Tree limbs may break and/or other debris may come loose during strong winds. Listen to the radio for changes in weather conditions that could create more dangerous driving.
• If winds are severe enough to prevent safe driving, pull over into a safe parking area (the shoulder of a busy roadway is not safe) and stop, making sure you are away from trees, power lines or other tall objects that could fall onto your vehicle.
• Have an emergency kit ready with supplies like flashlights, batteries, non-perishable food, and a first-aid kit.
• If your primary heating source relies on electricity, have an alternative heating source available and ensure it is properly ventilated.
•  Check on elderly or disabled neighbors and family members who may be at risk. 

Build your BeReady kit for the Car

• Try to have at least half a tank of gas in your car at all times.
• Some cash
• Phone chargers
• Keep snacks in your car. Rotate food frequently to keep it wholesome.
• Extra glasses and meds
• A roll of papers towels
• Dust masks
• A blanket and/or space blanket
• Keep water in your car and rotate it frequently, try for a couple of gallons.
• Pet items, treats, food, meds.
• A whistle, in case you can’t be seen
• Jumper cables as well as tire repair kits and an inflater and battery back up if possible.
• Emergency signals, flares, a yellow vest and signs to add to your kit so that people can see you in the dark or to signal for help. This kit has most of the things already in it, or get what you want separately
• A flashlight and batteries or charger
• Basic first aid kit If you are a health care provider you may have more advanced tools.
• A fire extinguisher
• Extra shoes and clothes for everyone
• Rope and a knife or multitool.
• Bungee cords, zip ties or Velcro to secure loose objects in car. (in case you have to stop fast or get in an accident)
• See my post on this topic  If your car goes into the water 

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BeReady for an Earthquake

Earthquakes are unpredictable, mostly because they may occurred in areas that have no history of earth movement. Everyone should BeReady to react to an earthquake no matter were you are.

Before an Earthquake occurs:

• Identify hazards and secure moveable items.
• Find out if your home, apartment or mobile home is safe and where it may fail in earth movement.
• Secure heavy furniture or loose items
• Practice “Drop, Cover, and Hold On” drills with your family.
• Consider earthquake insurance if available, your regular home or renters policy does not cover earthquake damage.
• Know if you are in a Tsunami zone and make extra arrangements, don’t wait for an official notice of tsunami after a large earthquake
• Have your disaster supplies available

During an Earthquake

• Drop, Cover, and Hold On
• Stay away from windows, stay inside until the shaking stops
• If there’s no shelter, crouch against an inside wall
• Cover your head and neck with your arms and hands
• Hold on until the shaking stops.
  

After an Earthquake

• Check for injuries and apply first aid as necessary
• Check for gas leaks and know how to turn off utilities watch this video on how to shut off the gas
• Don’t go back inside until the structure is cleared for soundness
• Consider wearing dust masks after an earthquake

Most of us would not seek out active Civil Disobedience. However,  you could get caught in a situation when law and order breaks down. This could happen in most any where people gather.

• Shopping areas
• Down town government centers
• During a peaceful protest
• At public gathering or festivals

Public dissent could spread to freeways or targeted businesses. People might participate in violence because of anger towards the system, thrill seeking or intent to commit crime.

If you are in a situation where a riot may break out

Read the crowd, trust your instincts and leave if it feels like something might happen.
Establish a meet up point and keep track of your companions
Know the area you will be entering
Wear neutral clothing, no camo, no black hoodies.  If wearing a work uniform try to hide logos or turn shirts inside out.
Stay hydrated
Do not wear a ponytail, scarf or things that can be grabbed
Keep your things in a cross body bag
Wear sturdy shoes
Wear long sleeves and long pants
Carry toothpaste and smear it under eyes if case of tear gas
Wear glasses instead of contacts
Bring your inhaler if you have asthma
Avoid wearing heavy sun screen, makeup or lotions, tear gas may stick to this
Carry googles, latex gloves and ear plugs
Keep your ID and emergency contact info with you
Consider having a second cell phone
Keep your arms at your chest level to protect your lungs if caught in a crowd crush

Get away from the riot

If you are driving, stay calm in your car and slowly leave the area if possible, try not to stop.
Avoid high traffic areas and move away from the riot
Keep children in your arms
Lock Elbows with your companions
If there is a rush of people and you fall, roll up into a ball
Travel in the direction of the crowd
Stay with other people, avoid being alone
Move carefully and purpose fully towards shelter, you may not want to run, instead look for places that are safe.
Avoid chain and luxury stores, which are often targets for looting
Once indoors find a secure place like a basement. However, avoid being alone in a secluded place
Move away from glass windows and doors
Be aware of escape routes in case of fire
Try and get information from news sources, social media or radio
If you get mugged give them your stuff
If some try’s to assault you, be fierce, there is no right or wrong, just survive

If you’re exposed to tear gas or pepper spray

Do not rub your eyes, mouth or nose if hit with tear gas
Use water or saline to flush eyes of tear gas and pepper spray
A solution of half liquid antacid and half water may help to rinse eyes
A spray of half water and half  milk of magnesia may help to rinse skin

If you are at home near the disturbance

Shelter in place, keep an eye on the situation and consider moving to a secure location in the home
Stay away from the windows
Have an escape plan
Turn off heaters AC and fans
Stay informed with Social media TV and radio

If you are arrested or confronted by law enforcement

Take this advice from the ACLU

Your rights

• You have the right to remain silent. For example, you do not have to answer any questions about where you are going, where you are traveling from, what you are doing, or where you live. If you wish to exercise your right to remain silent, say so out loud. (In some states, you may be required to provide your name if asked to identify yourself, and an officer may arrest you for refusing to do so.)
• You do not have to consent to a search of yourself or your belongings, but police may pat down your clothing if they suspect a weapon. Note that refusing consent may not stop the officer from carrying out the search against your will, but making a timely objection before or during the search can help preserve your rights in any later legal proceeding.
• If you are arrested by police, you have the right to a government-appointed lawyer if you cannot afford one.
• You do not have to answer questions about where you were born, whether you are a U.S. citizen, or how you entered the country. (Separate rules apply at international borders and airports as well as for individuals on certain nonimmigrant visas, including tourists and business travelers. For more specific guidance about how to deal with immigration-related questions, see our immigrants’ rights section.)

How to reduce risk to yourself

• Stay calm. Don’t run, resist, or obstruct the officers. Do not lie or give false documents. Keep your hands where the police can see them.

What to do if you are arrested or detained

• Say you wish to remain silent and ask for a lawyer immediately. Don’t give any explanations or excuses. Don’t say anything, sign anything, or make any decisions without a lawyer.
• If you have been arrested by police, you have the right to make a local phone call. The police cannot listen if you call a lawyer. They can and often do listen if you call anyone else.

If you believe your rights were violated

• Write down everything you remember, including officers’ badges and patrol car numbers, which agency the officers were from, and any other details. Get contact information for witnesses.
• If you’re injured, seek medical attention immediately and take photographs of your injuries.
• File a written complaint with the agency’s internal affairs division or civilian complaint board. In most cases, you can file a complaint anonymously if you wish.

What you can do if you think you’re witnessing police abuse or brutality

• Stand at a safe distance and, if possible, use your phone to record video of what is happening. As long as you do not interfere with what the officers are doing and do not stand close enough to obstruct their movements, you have the right to observe and record events that are plainly visible in public spaces.
• Do not try to hide the fact that you are recording. Police officers do not have a reasonable expectation of privacy when performing their jobs, but the people they are interacting with may have privacy rights that would require you to notify them of the recording. In many states (see here) you must affirmatively make people aware that you are recording them.
• Police officers may not confiscate or demand to view your photographs or video without a warrant, and they may not delete your photographs or video under any circumstances. If an officer orders you to stop recording or orders you to hand over your phone, you should politely but firmly tell the officer that you do not consent to doing so, and remind the officer that taking photographs or video is your right under the First Amendment. Be aware that some officers may arrest you for refusing to comply even though their orders are illegal. The arrest would be unlawful, but you will need to weigh the personal risks of arrest (including the risk that officer may search you upon arrest) against the value of continuing to record.
• Whether or not you are able to record everything, make sure to write down everything you remember, including officers’ badge and patrol car numbers, which agency the officers were from, how many officers were present and what their names were,  any use of weapons (including less-lethal weapons such as Tasers or batons), and any injuries suffered by the person stopped. If you are able to speak to the person stopped by police after the police leave, they may find your contact information helpful in case they decide to file a complaint or pursue a lawsuit against the officers.

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I’m pretty fortunate these days in that I have a little extra space to store extra food and a little extra money to stock up.  But it wasn’t always that way.  In fact, when I had kids it was even more important to make sure I prepared for poverty and a dry bank account.

It stands to reason if you have food in the house you may not go to the store as often. You might be able to eat healthier food as well.

Try and have 1-6 months of food stored in your home.

Don’t buy food you don’t normally eat. If your family eats burgers and pizzas regularly, A lock down may not be the time to try that fancy lentil curry recipe you’ve been wanted to try.  Keep it simple. Don’t expect people to be reasonable. Do your best with your wacky family.

Rotate the food you’ve stored up as you eat it.

Disaster food kits are expensive and will probably expire before you need it.
MRE’s are great for a disaster shelter before the kitchen gets set up, not so much for home preparedness.
Dehydrated food may have a place in your disaster kit. Think freeze dried ice cream for someone who wont eat anything but ice cream. Come to think of it, it might be good for us all when under stress.

Stretch your budget while preparing to shelter in place.

Rice*

Surprisingly, When there was three of us we would go thru 50lbs in a couple of years. I don’t want to do the math on this, I’m, not really sure how long it took to use it up, it doesn’t matter because rice doesn’t go bad easily, Uncooked white rice can last indefinitely when stored properly. It’s also the filler for a vegetable and protein meal.  Grab as much rice as you can afford and keep it in a way where it wont get wet in a flood or infested by vermin.

We found these storage bins for $9.97 from Walmart 

I’m not sure how much rice is going for at the local Costco, it’s gotten pricey, but still available at the  dollar more or less store and your local grocery in small bags.

Use up the fresh stuff first after a disaster.
Boil Chicken in salted water until cooked, 45 minutes or so and Pull out the bones. As long as you keep an eye on the pot and don’t let it boil dry or burn it’s hard to mess up. Serve over rice.

Add seasoning and/or vegetables

• Garlic powder or garlic*
• Onion powder or onions*
• Celery
• Bell peppers
• Lemon juice*
• Corn starch* mixed with water and used for thickening
• Canned* or frozen veggies*
• *Dry or *canned beans
• Any vegetable actually, the more veggies you add to more stew you have.
  Cook hamburger in a pan, drain the grease, add beans, tomato sauce and veggies.
  Try Korean army stew.
• Canned fish*
• peanut butter* and jelly*
• oatmeal*
• dry* or shelf stable milk*

Ramen*

Like rice, ramen can make a meal with canned veggies, or use up stuff from the freezer in a power outage. It’s easy to cook as well on a busy school night.

• Pasta*
• Tomato sauce*
• Seasonings*

*look for this at the dollar, more or less store.

Seal up bags with a Use a hair straightener

Use a hair dryer as a vacuum sealer

Note: Don’t try to preserve cooked food this way. Only things dry ingredients you don’t want to get wet in a disaster.

We found these storage bins for $9.97 from Walmart 

CPR + AED Awareness Week (June 1 – 7)

National CPR & AED Awareness Week takes place every year from June 1 – 7. During this week, we recognize the importance of initiating CPR and using an AED as a response to cardiac arrest. More than 350,000 people suffer cardiac arrest annually, but less than 10% survive.

Every second counts when responding to cardiac arrest. If you see someone suddenly collapse, become unresponsive, and stop breathing, call or ask someone to call 9-1-1, send someone for an AED, and begin CPR. Even if you aren’t trained, doing chest compressions (pushing hard and fast in the center of the chest) is better than doing nothing. In many cases, the 9-1-1 operator can talk you through CPR.

Learn Hands only CPR
First aid and CPR Classes
Where you can buy an AED for your business

Wild fire Season is here. Here is what you can do to BeReady .
Take a look at the defensible space around your home.
Expect public safety power shut offs (PSPS) during extreme fire danger.
Obtain Battery back up for medical and communication devices
Have a couple days (minimum) food and water in the house
Don’t forget your neighbors!
BeReady to evacuate
Consider the needs of large and small farm animals
Keep an eye on the weather Install smoke detectors, Free help may be available or call your local fire department.
Get fire extinguishers and fire smothering blankets
Use generators and heaters properly and with proper ventilation, install Carbon monoxide detectors
Create an evacuation plan in the event of wild fire.
Know alternate routes out of your neighborhood.
Consider wearing dust masks or respirators during and after wild fire
Never leave campfires unattended, properly dispose of cigarettes and matches, and avoid igniting materials in dry conditions
Wildfires spread rapidly in dry conditions, especially when fueled by wind.
Keep vehicles out of dry grass
Avoid target shooting during extreme fire danger

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Grow a garden
Preserve food
Get chickens
Get a Ham radio license
Get whole home battery back up
Electric bike

No one has the perfect family, you maybe the only person willing or able to make decisions in an emergency.  Planning ahead for young people and people with impairments may help to preserve your mental health and make stressful times easier for your dependents.

• Discuss a plan with your dialysis center and plan early for treatment
• Invest in Portable coolers for refrigerated meds
• Make sure you have information for a contact that knows your medical needs (your cell phone maybe unusable or locked up)
• Install emergency lights in rooms

Elderly/Disabled

Some persons may not comprehend what is happening and maybe difficult to evacuate.  Planning ahead is critical for caregivers. Have identifying information and contact info for in case they get separated from their care givers.

• Be aware of shut ins in your neighborhood to avoid isolation
• If you are unable to locate or connect with a loved one or friend who has been impacted by a current disaster event, the American Red Cross can help you locate them if they meet certain criteria.

If you live alone and are disabled

• Contact your local fire department and police department to find out how to give them important information about you, including a recent photo that will help them rescue you.
• Tell people you trust, such as family members, friends, and neighbors, that you have dementia and ask them to check in on you if there is an emergency.
• Talk with your health care provider and paid caregivers about planning for your medical and personal care needs in an emergency.
• Have an evacuation plan for the home

For caregivers

• Stay calm and patient
• Add comfort items to your emergency kit.
• Add extra items to disaster kits such as eye glasses and hearing aids, canes, etc.
• Be prepared to shelter in place if evacuation is not possible
• Ask for help and find people and agencies that can help, provide advocates with your emergency plan

Language, cultural issues

Some people maybe triggered by loud noises and shaking and relive old trauma. They may not have English skills to understand what is going on.

• Create disaster  information in the language of the person. Use pictures. Learn basic words to explain earthquake, tornado, safe, evacuate etc.

Neurodivergent (autism)

If you or family members are neuro divergent and will have trouble coping with emergencies consider finding safe and quiet places mentally and physically. If you are in a shelter with many people you might ask for a quiet place or request medical help. There is no need to “tough it out”.

Children

• The American Red Cross has put together a program called Prepare with Pedro
• Prepare with Pedro is available in many languages, in multiple topics and has Materials available for teachers.
• Look for activities to keep the children occupied during an emergency, stickers, drawing books, etc.  Down load activities for a tablet.
• Consider adding food items to your emergency kit that give comfort while still being marginally nutritious. It’s probably not lentil soup.

 

 

 

Pets and Livestock

If you have large animals you may be living in an area susceptible to wild fire.

Service animals that assist people with disabilities are allowed in Red Cross shelters, but pets are not allowed.

Make sure your pet is chipped and up to date on vaccinations

Focus on defensible space around pens and corrals