A timely topic: Emergency Preparedness.

[silverweb]

There have been several inquiries over the past few months about forming an Emergency Preparedness group that, despite interest, have not resulted in a new group.

I don't see a single reason why this group would not be ideal to cover emergency preparedness discussions and ideas. In a disaster situation, we would certainly have to know how to be frugal and energy efficient, right?

My son gave me, as a Christmas present two years ago, a _Red Cross emergency backpack_, along with lots of useful tips.

Said son has had military survival training, has earned a masters degree in disaster management, and is working on his Ph.D. in public health -- so he's sort of full of good ideas on this subject... and he's on call for advice. :-)

So... where do we want to start? Recommendations for supplies to have on hand? Neighborhood preparedness associations? Solar water distillation plans? Emergency sanitation plans?

Let's kick this thing off and see how it goes. I'll bet there's a lot we can teach each other.

[SteveM]

1. Here's my $.02: contradictory advice on gasoline purchases:

During the approach of Hurricane Ike, news outlets were warning citizens to fill up their tanks. Shortly thereafter, citizens were warned NOT to fill up their tanks because that would leave others without fuel when station storage tanks ran dry (not to mention causing a spike in prices). There should be better -- and consistent -- advice on gasoline purchases.

Maybe a point of departure for this discussion is to look at the threat (hurricane, blizzard, etc.) and identifying services you need but WON'T have. Power outage, fresh water cut-offs are obvious, but during Katrina law enforcement was non-existent in many areas. Was this anticipated by planners?

[silverweb]

2. Wow, that IS contradictory.

I don't have a car, so I don't closely monitor gas prices. However, my dad had a rule of never letting his gas tank get below half and taught me to do the same "because you never know when you might have an emergency and not have time to look for an open gas station." That was well before gas shortages and 24-hour service stations.

I realize it's not entirely feasible for everyone, but it was good advice then and it's good advice now, especially in light of the uncertainties we face.

It would be nice if our "official" planners had some actual practical advice about this... but I think we have have to wait for a Democratic administration to put some actual trained and competent people in charge of these things.

[silverweb]

3. VERY interesting article in Discover Magazine...

Ideas that could be fairly easily adapted to survival needs either living off the grid or if there's a significant collapse:

Instead of calling on complex solutions (reliant on engines and imported resources) for low-tech problems (such as cooking and lighting), some researchers are now developing what they call "confluent" technologies—ones that are effective, affordable, and sustainable for use in the developing world. Here's a look at the latest breakthroughs:

<headings only snipped>

1 Energy in a Bucket of Dirt
2 Micro-Hydroelectric Power
3 Biodigesters
4 Wind Power on $2 a Day
5 Sunlight Stored in LEDs
6 Solar Water Heater
7 Pedal-Powered Grid
8 Sugarcane Charcoal
9 Irrigation by Foot
10 Chlorine from Salt

Source article: _10 Everyday Technologies That Can Change the World_

[ColbertWatcher]

4. Maybe what we can do is try to section off the work ...

... and people can choose which they want to help with or research?

Stuff like:

Preparation before an Emergency

SECTION 1: Supplies to have set aside:
1.1 FOOD
1.1.1 human food
1.1.2 pet food
1.2 MEDICINE
1.2.1 human medicine
1.2.2. pet medicine
1.3 WATER
1.4 EQUIPMENT AND TOOLS
1.4.1 battery-operated radio
1.4.2 cellphones
1.4.3 flashlights
1.4.4 can opener
1.5 MONEY

SECTION 2: Knowing evacuation routes
2.1 maps from home
2.2 maps from work
2.3 maps from school(s)
2.4 family rendezvous point

SECTION 3: Contacts
3.1 FAMILY MEMBERS
3.1.1 family members in city
3.1.2 family members in state
3.1.3 family members outside state

3.2 DOCTORS
3.2.1 main family doctor email(s)/cellphone(s)
3.2.2 alternate family email(s)/cellphone(s)
3.2.3 veterinarian email(s)/cellphone(s)
3.3.4 hospital contacts

3.3 INSURANCE
3.3.1 local agent email(s)/cellphone(s)
3.3.2 alt local agent email(s)/cellphone(s)
3.3.3 national office email(s)/cellphone(s)/office number(s)

SECTION 4: Checking the house for FIRE preparedness
4.1 check electrical outlets
4.2 check multiple outlet strips
4.3 check appliances

SECTION 5: Checking the house for FLOOD preparedness
5.1
5.2

SECTION 6: Checking the house for EARTHQUAKE preparedness
6.1 refrigerator/water heater
6.2 shelving
6.3 automatic shut-off valves (water and gas)

SECTION 7: Checking the house for HURRICANE preparedness
7.1
7.2

SECTION 8: Checking the house for TORNADO preparedness
8.1
8.2

SECTION 9: Emergency Drills
9.1 family at home
9.2 children at school

I'm no expert, so some of these sections are empty. But, once we get a bunch of people working on the section they feel comfortable with, we can fill in the blanks. Of course, all of this can be changed as well.

I put them in numbered sections to make it easier for people to add stuff.

[silverweb]

5. Wow... you've put a lot of thought into this already!

I like the idea of sectioning it up the way you've done.

People can choose what type of natural disaster they're more likely to experience -- or have already experienced -- and bring their particular expertise to section.

We can do this -- and I think we can draw together experiences and advice from multiple sources to provide a valuable "go to" resource.

Let's do it!

[ColbertWatcher]

6. "you've put a lot of thought into this already!"

I'm one of the people who's been complaining about not having an EP forum.

[silverweb]

7. Sorry....

I knew there were people pushing for the EP forum, but didn't keep track of who those people were. :blush:

[ColbertWatcher]

8. Meh, no big deal. There are a lot of people on DU! n/t

[silverweb]

9. And I'm a hit-or-miss kind of DUer.

I'm usually peeking in while working or otherwise multitasking....

And then there's my natural scatterbrainedness... :D

I think this group will do very well as a atarter EP forum. I also think I'm going to change my signature line to invite people to get active in it.

What do you think?

[ColbertWatcher]

10. Sounds great! n/t

[ColbertWatcher]

13. kick n/t

[RebelOne]

11. Lots of emergency and survival tips at this Web site.

http://purecajunsunshine.blogspot.com/

[silverweb]

12. What a great site!

Lots of information on all kinds of things.

I have a new project now _{(like I need another one)} -- extracting EP-type stuff to post here.

And I loved this bit:

Dear U.S. Department of Homeland Security:

I am writing to you for further instructions as to what the next step is for me to take in protecting my family from possible attacks by terrorists. I have my duck taped ... now what?

:rofl:

[Jamastiene]

14. Kicking

:rofl:

[conscious evolution]

15. Boy Scouts have an emergency preparedness merit badge.

Or at least they used to have one.If anyone here has kids or knows someone with kids I would recommend checking that out.

One thing I reccommend for EP is having water purification supplies around.Bottled water is okay but if it runs out and there is no more available being able to purify water is pretty darned important.
For just a fewpeople one can use chlorine or get a small filtration ssystem at camping supply stores.
However,for larger groups of people something larger would be needed.I have been thinking that swimming pool filtering systems could be cobbled together to purify water.
Anyone have any thoughts on this idea?