The Professional Expert

Emergency Preparedness – Supplies

Now is the time to get your emergency supplies together. Here are some suggestions.

From “Preparing for Disaster.” Developed by the American Red Cross and the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency:

There are six basics you should stock for your home: water, food, first aid supplies, clothing and bedding, tools and emergency supplies, and special items. Keep the items that you would most likely need during an evacuation in an easy-to carry container–suggested items are marked with an asterisk(*). Possible containers include a large, covered trash container, a camping backpack, or a duffle bag. 

Water

• Store water in plastic containers such as soft drink bottles. Avoid using containers that will decompose or break, such as milk cartons or glass bottles. A normally active person needs to drink at least two quarts of water each day. Hot environments and intense physical activity can double that amount. Children, nursing mothers, and ill people will need more.
• Store one gallon of water per person per day.
• Keep at least a three-day supply of water per person (two quarts for drinking, two quarts for each person in your household for food preparation/sanitation).*

Food

• Store at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food. Select foods that require no refrigeration, preparation or cooking, and little or no water. If you must heat food, pack a can of sterno. Select food items that are compact and lightweight. Include a selection of the following foods in your Disaster Supplies Kit:
• Ready-to-eat canned meats, fruits, and vegetables
• Canned juices
• Staples (salt, sugar, pepper, spices, etc.)
• High energy foods
• Vitamins
• Food for infants
• Comfort/stress foods

First Aid Kit
Assemble a first aid kit for your home and one for each car.

• (20) adhesive bandages, various sizes.
• (1) 5″ x 9″ sterile dressing.
• (1) conforming roller gauze bandage.
• (2) triangular bandages.
• (2) 3 x 3 sterile gauze pads.
• (2) 4 x 4 sterile gauze pads.
• (1) roll 3″ cohesive bandage.
• (2) germicidal hand wipes or waterless alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• (6) antiseptic wipes.
• (2) pair large medical grade non-latex gloves.
• Adhesive tape, 2″ width.
• Anti-bacterial ointment.
• Cold pack.
• Scissors (small, personal).
• Tweezers.
• CPR breathing barrier, such as a face shield.

Non-Prescription Drugs

• Aspirin or nonaspirin pain reliever
• Anti-diarrhea medication
• Antacid (for stomach upset)
• Syrup of Ipecac (use to induce vomiting if advised by the Poison Control Center)
• Laxative
• Activated charcoal (use if advised by the Poison Control Center)

Tools and Supplies

• Mess kits, or paper cups, plates, and plastic utensils*
• Emergency preparedness manual*
• Battery-operated radio and extra batteries*
• Flashlight and extra batteries*
• Cash or traveler’s checks, change*
• Non-electric can opener, utility knife*
• Fire extinguisher: small canister ABC type
• Tube tent
• Pliers
• Tape
• Compass
• Matches in a waterproof container
• Aluminum foil
• Plastic storage containers
• Signal flare
• Paper, pencil
• Needles, thread
• Medicine dropper
• Shut-off wrench, to turn off household gas and water
• Whistle
• Plastic sheeting
• Map of the area (for locating shelters)

Sanitation

• Toilet paper, towelettes*
• Soap, liquid detergent*
• Feminine supplies*
• Personal hygiene items*
• Plastic garbage bags, ties (for personal sanitation uses)
• Plastic bucket with tight lid
• Disinfectant
• Household chlorine bleach

Clothing and Bedding
*Include at least one complete change of clothing and footwear per person.

• Sturdy shoes or work boots*
• Rain gear*
• Blankets or sleeping bags*
• Hat and gloves
• Thermal underwear
• Sunglasses

Special Items

• Remember family members with special requirements, such as infants and elderly or disabled persons
• Written instructions for how to turn off gas, electricity, and water if authorities advise you to do so. (Remember, you’ll need a professional to turn natural gas service back on.)

For Baby*

• Formula
• Diapers
• Bottles
• Powdered milk
• Medications

For Adults*

• Heart and high blood pressure medication
• Insulin
• Prescription drugs
• Denture needs
• Contact lenses and supplies
• Extra eye glasses

Entertainment

• Games and books

Important Family Documents

• Keep these records in a waterproof, portable container:
  • Will, insurance policies, contracts deeds, stocks and bonds
  • Passports, social security cards, immunization records
  • Bank account numbers
  • Credit card account numbers and company numbers. You can make a copy of your credit card to get this information.
• Inventory of valuable household goods, important telephone numbers
• Family records (birth, marriage, death certificates)
• Store your kit in a convenient place known to all family members. Keep a smaller version of the supplies kit in the trunk of your car.
• Keep items in airtight plastic bags. Change your stored water supply every six months so it stays fresh. Replace your stored food every six months. Re-think your kit and family needs at least once a year. Replace batteries, update clothes, etc.
• Ask your physician or pharmacist about storing prescription medications.

For more information, you can visit the Red Cross at www.redcross.org.

Tomorrow we’ll discuss what to do if an actual natural emergency strikes…

Emergency Preparedness – Family Disaster Plan

It is a good time to review your family disaster planning – what to do in case of fire, flood, tornado, storm, or other emergency.

Know the most likely natural disasters for your area. Your local Red Cross chapter or emergency management office can help you find out what they are.

With the family, go over the possible natural disasters and what to do in each case.

Severe Thunderstorm or Tornado:

Review:
Tornado WATCH: conditions are favorable for a tornado to form
Tornado WARNING: a tornado has been spotted

In the case of a severe storm, especially a tornado, the basement is the best place to be. If you do not have one, get real chummy with a neighbor who does or go to an interior room or hallway with no windows.

Fire:

Determine at least two ways to escape every room in your home.

Know how to use the escape ladder, if your sleeping areas are on the second or third floors.

Make sure everyone knows where to meet in case you need to evacuate. We meet at the mailbox or in front of the neighbor’s home if the mailbox is not an option.

Everyone should know how to use the fire extinguisher.

Practice your escape plan at least twice a year.

Earthquake:

Choose a safe place in each room, such as under a table or desk. If nothing like that is available, choose an inside wall where nothing can fall on you.

Hurricane or Other Evacuation Situation:

Review:
Hurricane WATCH: hurricane conditions are possible within 36 hours
Hurricane WARNING: hurricane conditions are expected within 24 hours

Know where you would go if you needed to evacuate.  Choose several places such as a friend’s home in another city, a hotel, or a shelter. Know the location of your local shelters.

Determine how you would care for your pets in the case of an evacuation. Pets are not allowed at local shelters.

Have a local map on hand in case you need to take unfamiliar routes during an evacuation.

Keep important phone numbers including your evacuation destinations with the map.

Other Basics:

Make sure everyone in the family knows your address and phone number.

Decide on an out-of-state friend or relative to be the contact point for your family in case you get split up during an emergency. Everyone should know their number, too.

Even young children should know how to phone emergency services (i.e. 911). It is also a good idea to have a list of emergency phone numbers, including Poison Control by the phone.

Each family member should know how and when to turn off the utilities, such as water, gas, and electricity, at the main switches.

For more detailed information on disaster planning, visit the Red Cross at www.redcross.org.

Tomorrow we’ll discuss the supplies you should have handy…

Emergency Preparedness – Around the House

Springtime gives a hint of the sunny, warm summer weather to come.  However, there is a darker side to summer weather, the occasional big storm, tornado, or hurricane.  Spring is a good time to review preparations for the (remote) possibility of “the big one.” 

Around the House:

It is a good idea to clean up any debris left over from the winter, especially those things that reappear after the snow melts, such as toys, gloves, newspapers and other debris. 

Check around for broken tree branches and other damage from the winter’s snow and ice.  Remove diseased and damaged limbs.

This is also a good time to look around for anything that could become airborne during a strong windstorm and cause damage to the house or car.

Make sure all of the windows work, so there can be a quick exit if necessary. If you are on the second floor, have a plan for getting to the ground floor, such as having a foldable ladder already upstairs.

Check the fire extinguishers. Look at the gauge and verify that the pressure is in the green.

Make sure there are smoke alarms outside each sleeping area and on each level of your home. Test them and vacuum away dust monthly and replace the batteries once a year. Replace the smoke alarms every ten years since they become less sensitive over time.

If your home uses natural gas, consider getting Carbon Monoxide Detectors.

If you are along the coast where hurricanes are possible, install hurricane shutters or purchase ½” precut outdoor plywood for your windows. Install the anchors around your window and pre-drill the holes in the plywood so you are ready to put them up quickly if needed.

Understand your home insurance policy. Some natural disasters, such as flooding, may not be covered.

Tomorrow we’ll discuss Family Disaster Planning…

Lawn Mower Tune-up

If you would like to do your own lawn mower tune-up, it should take 2 hours to do. You can also do all but sharpening the blade and take it to the garden center to have that done.

Spark Plug

The spark plug has some letters on it that indicate what type it is.  You can take it out and bring it to your local big-box home improvement/garden center. They will have spark plugs there. Just find one with the same number as yours.  Don’t go crazy when you tighten it or you can strip out the threads, which will ruin the motor, just tighten it firmly.

Oil

Your owner’s manual will specify what type of oil to use. If you don’t have the owner’s manual, they also have oil labeled by the motor manufacturer (Briggs & Stratton, Tecumseh, or Honda) at the store. You can just use that.  You will need to drain the old oil out and dispose of it.  Most auto parts stores will take used oil.

Rope

Check the rope on the pull handle for worn out sections. You don’t want it to break while you are trying to start it. Depending on how handy you are, you might want to replace it yourself.  To do so, you will need to take the top of the engine cover off (3-4 bolts) to get at the starter rope.  There are many different configurations of this, so I can not go into detail. You should be able to see where the knot in the end of the rope is, so you can cut it off to remove the old one and then slip the new one thru it.  Don’t let the spring unwind while you are doing this.

Blade

If you have a grinder, or know someone who does, you can sharpen your blade.  It is important to make sure it is still balanced when you are done.  The easiest way to check is to hang it on a nail and see if it sets level. Just grind a little bit more off the heavy side.
Happy Mowing!

Spring Yard Maintenance

If you live where it freezes outside, you can turn your outside faucets back on. Flush them out for a few seconds to get the bugs out. Then you are ready to hook up the hoses. 

You will want to check out the hoses for cracking at the ends and any other damage that you missed last fall when you put them up for the winter.  Look for washers inside the connection when you hook them to the faucet, if it is missing or hard and brittle you should replace it.  Your local home improvement store has them in the lawn and garden section with all of the hose nozzles and sprinklers.

This is also a good time to do your lawn mower maintenance.  There are shops that your garden center can recommend which will do a “tune up” for $100 or so.  They will change the spark plug, sharpen the blade, replace the oil, and check the general condition of the mower.  If you do any of this stuff on your car, you can do it on your mower. We will cover how to do that tomorrow.

You can also get out your other lawn tools, such as the edger and weed whacker. Check them over, start them up, and let them run for a few minutes.  If you can’t get them started, you can get them fixed before you need them – this way they are ready when you need them.

Now head out into the yard. Check for any damage that happened over the winter, broken branches, damaged gutters and downspouts.

If you are going to, this is the time to apply “pre-emergent” weed preventers to your lawn.  These prevent seeds from sprouting, so be careful where you apply it.  These products do a pretty good job of reducing the number of weeds in your lawn.  Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s directions carefully and only use the amount specified, as the excess will end up in the local water supply.  Do not use this stuff if you are going to over-seed.

What is over-seeding?  In some climates (check with your garden center) you will want to over-seed, which is planting additional grass seed over the existing grass.  This will thicken up the lawn, fill in thin spots.  There are directions on the package for how heavily to spread the seed.

Tomorrow we’ll cover that lawn mower tune-up…