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There is so much happening I am having a hard time deciding what to post today. I think gas prices and debt can wait as there are some serious weather threat today. First, let talk about our General Store. I have not forgotten our food storage 101 classes but again that can wait until tomorrow as I think helping those in the path of weather  disaster is more crucial today. I don't want you to get behind on your General Store however, so…this week add six cans of fruit/person to your store. For those working on non food storage add batteries this week. Pull out your flashlights, HAM radios, radios, clocks and other items that use batteries and purchase the appropriate sizes. Purchase as much as you can afford now. We will be adding to these again. Remember batteries should NEVER be stored in the item needing them. Store batteries next to the flashlight, not in them. Be sure to check the radios and flashlights in your car and 72 hour kits.

Today there is flooding in the northwestern part of the United States. This is expected to continue and the wet weather has caused flooding in many, many area. If you are in one of these areas there are a few things you can do today to be Totally Ready should the worst happen. If you are in the path of the expected ice storms tomorrow you will also want to take some of these steps today.

1. Do your laundry. During a flooding crisis or an ice storm you do not want to be caught without clean clothing. In both cases there is a good chance, a very good chance the power will be out so get caught up today.

2. Store water. Be sure everything that will hold water in your home is filled, pitchers, camping coolers, bathtub, stock pots, canning pots, etc. . Once flooding occurs the water treatment facilities will be overloaded or down completely and there will be no water appropriate for drinking and cooking.  Again, a good tip for prepping for both floods and ice storms.

3. If you are dealing with the prospect of flooding move all your values to the highest level in your home, second story or attic. You should be preparing now to evacuate. Pack up your heirlooms, photos, journals and back up your computer records of site or to a thumb drive. If you live in a one story home move as much as you can onto counters and fill those plant shelves about the cupboards with as much as possible.

4. Practice an evacuation. Measure the items you are planning to take with you to be sure you can fit them all into the car and still get the kids and pets in. If not, you still have time to purchase or "create"  a car top carrier.

5. Cook. Today is the day to make stews, soups, chili or other items that can easily be reheated over a barbecue or camp stove or in a Dutch oven if you are left without power for a few days, or more. Now is the time to get out your preparedness binders and look through the section about cooking without power. There are several options in the newsletters so if you are behind in making copies do that today.

6. Make a run to the store now. Be sure your have batteries, milk, bread, produce, and TP. They will be the first items to go.

7. If floods are the outlook move everything you can carry into the garage or house. The flooding may still get them wet but at least they won't float away and if they are destroyed they will still be there to take photos of as proof when you are making insurance claims.

8. If ice storms are on the horizon gather all your sleeping bags and warm blankets. Choose a room you can most easily keep warm and prepare to use that room as your place of refuge should the power fail. This room should ideally have a heat source like a fireplace and should be able to be isolated from the rest of the rooms in your home. This can be done by closing doors or hanging blankets or drapes to block off adjoining hallways. If you still have power be sure to tune into READY OR NOT tomorrow night for more tips for surviving without power.

9. Gas up the car. If you need to get out quickly you will not want to take time to gas up the car. Do that now. Should the power go out gas pumps will not work so even after the ice has melted a little and travel is possible, there will be no gas available. Don't be caught without.

10. Consider your pets. Do you have plenty of pet food if stores are closed? Do you have plenty of water for your pets if the tap is dry? If you are expecting flooding you should consider taking your pets to a friend or family member now. Pets will only take up valuable space in your car later, which could have been devoted to family photos and clothing, should you have to evacuate.

Take time tonight to prepare.

I’m changing all the recommendation for our General Store today  aware that the east coast should be preparing for hurricane Earl to make landfall, just in case. Right now Earl is a CAT 3 hurricane and by the time most of you read this I am sure it will be a 4. I remember living through a hurricane as a child in New Jersey.  Hurricanes are not as frequent in that area but I remember hunkering down in the basement for hours as the storm passed and then going out to see trees down and a huge mess of branches, debris and neighbors’ belongings in our yard. At present weather forecasters are still concerned that all east coast residents, especially those further north than North Carolina review their evacuation and other emergency plans. The storm may turn east and the worst may go out to sea but even a nor’easter will leave plenty of damage. What should you be doing right now to prepare?

1. Review your evacuation plan. If you are near the coast and the storm does pass over you evacuation will be necessary to avoid the tidal waves and damage from flooding as well as winds. You may also be ordered to leave if the eye will pass over your area. Prepare to leave.Get out those maps now and mark several routes out of town so when the order comes to evacuate you are ready to pack up and go. Your GPS should not be counted on for guidance.

2. Remove everything from your yard that may blow away. A category 3 hurricane can lift heavy tables, flower pots, swing sets, out door lighting, just about everything, be aggressive and remove anything that may become air-born and fly through a window. Outdoor solar lightning is a great light source during a power outage. Gather them into one place and leave them in the sun to charge as long as possible, just don’t forget to  bring them in before the blowing begins.

3. If you have trees with limbs that could potentially reach a window if blown hard, trim them now.

4. Move your cars into the garage.

5. Collect flashlights, glow sticks, and candles. Get out your solar, crank or battery radio. Be sure you have enough fresh batteries to last several days.

6. Gather your important papers (mortgage, insurance, birth certificates, pink slips, etc.), family photos, heirlooms, 72 hour kits, clothing and hygiene supplies so they can be quickly moved to your car.

7. Backup your computer files to a disk or off site.

8. Fill your gas tank.

9. Wash all the laundry so you start out with clean clothing and bedding in case the power is out for an extended period of time.

10. Cook. Make a few meals such as soups and stews that will be easy to reheat on an improvised cooker or camp stove. Freeze them so they will last longer. A well stocked freezer will keep foods frozen for up to three days. If you have room in the freezer add plastic containers of water to keep the temperature colder longer. These can then be used for drinking or cooking as they defrost. There are directions in past newsletters and on the blog for making paint can cookers and tuna can heaters. If you have not done that and do not have a camp stove with plenty of propane look up those directions and get busy.

11. Get some cash in small denominations. When the power is out so are ATM and credit card machines.

12. Discuss your plans with your family and prepare them. Be sure they understand what to do if they are at school or work when an evacuation is ordered.

13. Notify your out of state contact and inform them of your plans to evacuate to their home. This will give them time to stock up on a few extra supplies.

14. Renew any prescriptions that may run out in the next two weeks.

15. Gather your cleaning supplies and fill in any gaps. We will add a few to our General Store this week but you will need more so check your supplies carefully.

16. Fill everything in your home that will hold water with water. Wait until just before the storm hits to fill your bath tub. You can use this water to clean and bathe but not drink. Purchase bottled water if your water storage is low.

17. Check your pantry and make sure you have plenty of easily prepared canned foods. Remember dehydrated and freeze dried foods need water to be reconstituted and you may not have water. You will also not want foods that don’t need to be cooked but rather store those that just need heating. You will want to conserve your fuel sources. Sandwiches, canned soups and stews are good. Don’t forget snack foods, especially if your have children. They will help keep the peace. Never, Never use your barbecue inside your home! If you must use a barbecue only use it in the garage with the door open and the cars pulled out.

18. Plan for sanitation. How will you handle bathroom needs if you have no water to flush. If you have a camping port-a-potty or a potty seat and a bucket get them out and set up an area in the garage. If you are in an apartment then set it up in a bathroom but the garage will keep the odors at bay.

19. Pull out that old plug in telephone. Portable phones will not work when the power is out. Cell phones will be jammed and are often taken over for emergency purposes.

20. Check with elderly and disabled neighbors and friends and make sure they have a plan.

If you have never thought about some of these things don’t you wish you had? You still have a few days to prepare so take that time to ask questions and learn. Ask friends. Ask our yahoo group. Ask me (carolyn@TotallyReady.com). As the storm gets closer store shelves will empty very quickly so please don’t wait.

This week we will be adding work gloves, at least one pair per family member, and disinfectant cleaners to our General Store. After a storm water will be contaminated and everything that has been touched by storm water will need to be disinfected before use.

For those working on the food shelves of their General Store we were going to add condiments this week since they are on sale for Labor Day picnics but I noticed we have not added gains yet and those who may get caught in this storm will need those more than condiments.  This week add six pounds of grains per family member. If you are on the east coast make some of them bread and crackers that can be eaten without cooking. For others add oats, rice, wheat, barley, pasta, any grain your family likes to eat. Variety is important to avoid appetite fatigue so don’t purchase just one variety.

Please tweet, facebook, email or share this post in any way possible with your family and friends on the east coast. They may think you are a little nuts but they will be grateful later or they will be ready to listen next time! We will hope and pray the storm turns out to sea, but just in case…

Eight Days until my new radio show!! Don’t forget to let me know what you’d like to hear! Would you like to be a guest on the show?

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Back issues: Totally Ready Newsletters July 2009- June 2010

This morning I did another blog talk radio show with Halli. It was all about the economy and food storage. Have a listen: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/idahotalk/2010/07/16/hfalli-friends

I never intended Totally Ready to become a food storage site but rather that food storage be a part of the preparations we are making to become Totally Ready for whatever comes. With the economy, job losses, the highest unemployment rate in history, unemployment benefits running out, foreclosures at an all time high and new taxes coming, food storage must, of necessity come to the forefront for at least a short time. We cannot however, forget that we must prepare to become self reliant in all things.

Hurricane season has begun and if the experts are correct it is predicted to be a severe one. For those who are here because they have caught the food storage bug I hope we can help you realize the importance of becoming aware of the things you can do now to help you to be better prepared when a disaster strike. Those who prepare not only survive at a much higher rate than those who do not but they thrive. During a crisis we don’t think clearly so the more we have thought about a disaster such as a fire or flood or hurricane the more ready we are to make wise, life saving, decisions.

Some of you may feel you can now stop reading since you don’t live in a hurricane prone area. Consider this, are you planning a vacation to an east coast, west coast, gulf coast state or Hawaii or a Caribbean island or Mexico this summer or fall? If you are you better be ready, just in case. What should you be doing now to prepare for hurricane season?

Prepare an emergency kit with food, water, clothing, a first aid kit and other supplies that you can grab and flee if you need to evacuate. We used to call these 72 hour kits because we believed relief agencies and the government would come to our aid in that amount of time. We now know that is not always the case.

Create an evacuation plan. If you should need to leave do you know where you will go. Have you made arrangements with that family member or friend so they know you will be coming and they agree to care for you. They will have some preparations to make now also so be courteous and discuss the possibility with them now.

Evacuation plans should include maps, not a GPS alone, with various routes out of the city marked ahead of time. During an evacuation some routes will be not much more than a parking lot and others will be close all together.

Compile a list of emergency phone numbers and place it in your car now. Send a copy of this list to the location to which you will be evacuating with numbers noted of people you want notified with your evacuation plans and progress. Family members will be concerned and having one person with whom you communicate will be a huge relief to you. It is then their job to notify everyone else.

Make arrangements for your pets. If you intend to evacuate to a shelter be sure they will allow pets.

Make those repairs to your home now. If you have loose shingles or outdoor light fixture fix it now. Cut down that dying tree before it it ends up in your living room. Stockpile sheets of wood and the nails necessary to attach them over windows before your exit.

Review your insurance policy to be sure you have included any new additions to your home or improvements or new furnishing to be sure they will be covered.

Do a home inventory. Take photos or use a video camera and make a record of all your possessions putting you at the head of the payment  line.

Prepare a good car kit. We have talked about these many time so go back and check former post and newsletters for specifics.

Review the September 2009 Newsletter for evacuation tips, May 2010 for Escape Plan information and June 2010 for a list of items to include in an Auto Kit.

Once you have everything organized do a trial run. Throw all your most precious possessions, emergency kits, kids and pets into the car to see if you all fit. Really. I know a woman who loaded her car with photos, her computer, emergency kit, a few clothes and her dogs wouldn’t fit. Out came the photos and other  family heirlooms and she evacuated. She lost her home and all those treasures. Do a  trial run. If you don’t have room purchase a car top carrier or come up with another plan but once the hurricane, fire or flood is on it’s way it is too late.

Stash some cash. If you need to evacuate you may not be able to use a credit card as the rush of people all making charges on their cards will overload the system. If the power goes out there will only be the cash option. We have talked about this before but remember small bills, nothing bigger than a $10.00 bill.

Finally, at least for today never let your gas tank get below half a tank. This is so very important as gas stations will be out of gas quickly with thousands of cars leaving town. If you are vacationing, keep that tank full!

****Win a Consultation!***

To help motivate you to share I am offering the chance for you to win a personal one hour consultation. This will be a phone call where you can ask any questions you may have. You may even ask a group of friends to join you on a conference call or just using your speaker phone. To win one of five  consultations just refer five friends to blog.totallyready.com and our yahoo group. Have them mention your email address when they log into the yahoo group and leave a comment on any blog post. Ten friends and you get two chances to win. Fifteen friends and I will call you, guaranteed! It’s that simple. Watch for other special offers as we progress. I know I don’t want to look back when things get worse and think I could have done more to help you.

Confused about the solar storms NASA is anticipating? Take some time and listen to my show with Halli.

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My discussion with Doctor Prepper all about food storage.http://www.blogtalkradio.com/doctorprepper/2010/07/08/doctor-prepper-show

Back issues: Totally Ready Newsletters July 2009- June 2010



Yesterday NOAA released their hurricane predictions for the 2010 season. They were ominous. Hurricanes are fed by warm waters and the water temperature in the Atlantic this year is above normal all the way up the eastern coast of the United States. Making this an even more serious and frightening problem is the addition of the oil spill in the Gulf. Several weeks ago thew water temperature in the gulf was 3-4 degrees below normal. Today the temperature is above normal. Is this the result of the oil? No one seems to know. Can you imagine the mess and the dangers of having storm surges which carry the oil far inland? We are now hearing the slick could move around Florida and make it’s way up the Atlantic coast. NOAA is warning us to prepare for a serious season.

In one of the emails I received with a survivor’s story Nicole mentioned she wished she had done more to warn her friends and clients before the blizzard this past winter. We all need to do all we can to warn everyone of the dangers and steps they should be taking to prepare for hurricanes this summer. It is time to begin forwarding posts from this blog and other reliable source, as well as encouraging others to join our yahoo group to learn and the ask questions. Don’t regret later not taking the time to get the word out.

The NOAA website states:” An “active to extremely active” hurricane season is expected for the Atlantic Basin this year according to the seasonal outlook issued today by NOAA– Climate Prediction Center a division of the National Weather Service. As with every hurricane season, this outlook underscores the importance of having a hurricane preparedness plan in place.

Across the entire Atlantic Basin for the six-month season, which begins June 1, NOAA is projecting a 70 percent probability of the following ranges:

• 14 to 23 Named Storms (top winds of 39 mph or higher) Average is: 10
• 8 to 14 Hurricanes (top winds of 74 mph or higher), of which: Average is: 6
• 3 to 7 could be Major Hurricanes (Category 3, 4 or 5; winds of at least 111 mph) Average is: 3

“If this outlook holds true, this season could be one of the more active on record,” said Jane Lubchenco, Ph.D., under secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator. “The greater likelihood of storms brings an increased risk of a landfall. In short, we urge everyone to be prepared.” “(items in red added by me)

Today let’s make sure we all have, and all of our friends and family have, an out of state or out of area contact person. This should be someone who lives a minimum of fifty miles away. After Katerina power was out fifty miles away.

A great Out of State Contact will:

1. Live 50 or more miles from your home

2. Be willing to house your family during a crisis

3. Have a home large enough for your family to fit comfortably or have tents, camping equipment, motor home etc. to help with housing.

4. Be willing to act on your behalf by:

• Calling everyone on your contact list

• Relaying messages between you and all family members

• Safeguarding copies of important documents and family photos

• Fax/Email copies of documents and family photos to first responders, hospitals, rescue agencies, insurance agents, doctors and others.

This week send this post to everyone on your contact list, post a link on facebook, tweet, or call but please get the word out. Next week we will work on another aspect of preparing for hurricanes, and other emergencies.

Remember emergency preparedness = emergency management. If you are prepared you can manage any emergency!

http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2010/20100527_hurricaneoutlook.html

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Truthfully I am a little tired of Money Saving Tips. I have posted so many and I am feeling a little burned out so I am changing direction for a little while. I hope those who have been following the tips will understand that I am trying to help you create a self reliance life style so all of these aspects are important. We will return to the money tips but for now I want to share some of the survival stories I have been receiving. I love your stories as I learn something from each one. Please keep them coming.

How do we prepare for emergencies and how do we manage them once they happen?

Today I want to share the experience of a family who survived the San Diego fires two years ago.

We had a half hour notice to evacuate. A friend called when he was called by a friend who received a reverse 9-1-1 call. My initial thought was, this is a drill, we’ll be back tonight, we’ll be the only ones on the road. All of these assumptions were wrong. My husband grabbed the kids and told me to grab a few things. What did I grab? Makeup! Of course when he came in and saw me I woke up to the important things. We ended up taking three days worth of clothes, photo albums, camera, computer, file documents, journals, scriptures, 72-hour kits, and the kids each picked one toy. There was no forethought; I just grabbed what I could, what was visible.

I wish I had taken past journals, letters from my mission, my wallet, CDs and movies for the long drive. Can you believe I forgot my wallet?

A drive that would normally have taken an hour took three times that long. We did not take food, so our 72-hour kits were used to supply snacks in the car. We learned that you never put mints of minty gum in your kit without wrapping it separately. Everything tasted like mint.

I now have a plan, an updated box of important documents is ready to go in the garage, and we always have at least a half tank of gas. The experience affected my children more than I thought it would. The smoke was very scary for my son, and he still talks about it. He still pretends to put out fire in our grass.  I know they had feelings of displacement and confusion. We went to Toys R Us when we were in LA that night. Toys and food are what they needed.

There are a few unspoken tips here. First, you need to take food, at the very least the food in your 72 hour kits. You may be heading to a great final destination (your out of area contact) where they will feed and pamper you but the drive there will be long. You will not want to exit to purchase food as there may be long…lines of traffic waiting to get back on the freeway. Avoid stopping for anything if at all possible. A quick ten minute stop may end up adding an hour to your trip.

Second, you grab what you can see so place a list near your exit door so you will SEE it. This list should include items you had deemed important to grab when you need to evacuate quickly. A great list does you no good if you fail to use it. Place your Disaster Preparedness Binder next to your computer so as you grab the hard drive you remember you binder which will also contain vital information.

Third, kids need comfort. They need to know everything will be ok and they can feel your stress. Be sure to include some new toys, travel games, etc. in your 72 hour kits to distract kids on the long drive. If you have a DVD player in the car include a DVD in your kits. It can be a favorite or one that is a classic like Swiss Family Robinson or Mary Poppins.

Please send me your stories and I will share them here.

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Today is a run, run , run day but I need your help so I am digressing from my normal post for the day. As many of you have noticed I have a link on my blog to the can organizer. I am having trouble with the link and would appreciate your help. If you have ordered organizers from them will you please email me what you ordered and when you ordered your can organizers. Thanks so much.

OK…Now, I am working on another book and as always on magazine and newspaper articles. I am also working with James Talmage Stevens on a new project which I will tell you all about in a few weeks. Since I always learn so much from you, and others want to know of real life experiences, I am asking that you email me your experiences during a disaster, Carolyn@TotallyReady.com or just leave a comment.  I would like to know:

What the disaster was…job loss, hurricane, earthquake, house fire, burglary, lost in the woods, etc.

Where the disaster occurred…just general, no addresses or info that could identify you.

Did you have warning?

Did you evacuate?

What had you done right before the disaster?…Glad you had insurance, a home inventory, meeting place, etc.

What you learned or wish you had done differently before the disaster.

What you wish you had done differently during the crisis

What you are doing now to be better prepared.

I know that seems like a lot but if you can only answer a few, all answers will really help. This  “crisis” can also include a self imposed drill. I know some church groups and some families have simulated a disaster to see if they were ready. If you have done that I would like to know about those also. Thank you so….much!

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When living in the city or commuting a distance you should always be prepared with a good kit in your car. For city dwellers we all know we can be “stuck” at work for the night due to power outages, civil disruptions, weather, or a variety of other reasons. Having a good kit in your car can make this overnight an adventure rather than a drudgery. If you should have to, or choose to, leave the city due to a disaster of any kind having a kit already to go in your car may save valuable time as you attempt to beat the inevitable traffic nightmares.

Some of the basic items to include:

• Jumper cables
• Flare and/or Emergency 12 inch glow sticks
• Two quarts of oil
• Gallon of antifreeze
• Extra fuses
• Multi purpose tool
• Tire inflator (such as a Fix-A-Flat)
• Tire pressure gauge
• Work Gloves
• Set of maps marked with evacuation routes
• Emergency contact phone numbers
• Cell phone charger
• 70 feet of Rope
• Rescue Tape
• First aid kit
• First Aid Guide
• Wool or Wool blend Blanket
• Number ten can to be used to scoop snow or water, build a fire, heat food, etc.
• Water proof Matches or Fire Starter
• Mylar Emergency blanket
• Flashlight and extra batteries (not stored in flashlight) and/or 6 inch Glow Sticks
• Rags
• Roll of paper towels
• Towelettes
• Roll of toilet paper
• Spray bottle with washer fluid
• Rain Poncho
• Ice scraper
• Pen and paper
• Help sign
• Survival Energy Bars
• Survival packaged water
• Whistles
• Change of clothing
• Sweater and/or jacket
• Hat
• Walking shoes
  
• Sunglasses
• Cash in small denominations

Begin today and gather the items you already have around your home. Place items in a back pack so should you have to leave your car and walk you will still have hands free to deal with debris or to help children, the elderly, the injured or pets.

Just a reminder, because of my concern for rising food prices,  I will send any new subscribers to the Totally Ready Newsletter

a copy of our March issue which includes the information you will need to store a nutritionally balanced three month supply

designed for your family’s needs, not a generic list you may find other places.

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I got a call from a man in far northern Canada this week asking for permission to use some of my articles for a preparedness fair. We had a great visit but it got me to thinking about winter. I know for those of you in the northern hemisphere the timing for this is bad but for those in Australia and other points south now is the time to think winter. For the rest it’s always the right time to learn another self reliance tip.

When my kids were living in North Carolina they experienced a week long power outage after an ice storm. They lived in a home without a fire place and they were poor students without much in the way of emergency supplies and definitely not much in the way of camping supplies. Those camping supplies are such a blessing. They ended up huddling together in one room trying to keep warm. They created a tent under a table and the two little ones slept in there.

As part of your preparedness plan purchase a tent with an outer support frame. If you live in the city and have a large family you may consider purchasing more than one so they are a size that can be carried strapped to your back pack should you have to walk away from home. For those who are planning to shelter in place a larger tent is appropriate. Your tent should be, when possible, large enough to sit in and a best case scenario, large enough to place a chair in and still not hit your head on the ceiling.

Tents are great for both summer and winter power outages. During a winter outage you can move a small table and some chairs inside the tent which you have set up in the room easiest to keep warm or the room with a fireplace. Place your tent a safe distance from the fire. You are now ready to have meals, play games and work on projects inside your tent. The tent will contain your body heat and you will be amazed at how warm you will be. At night simply take out the table and chairs and bring in the mattress, air mattress or sleeping bags and settle in for the night.

During the summer your tent can be used to protect you as you sleep outdoors during an outage. If you get a great breeze through your home stay in your own bed but if you do not, place your tent in a location that will catch a breeze. If you are in the city, set up on your apartment building roof or your balcony, and you will be protected from mosquitoes and other bugs, mice, cats, etc. Open all the flaps and catch those breezes.

If your disaster should make your home uninhabitable a tent can be used for camping in the yard while you protect your possessions. A tent can also be used to store items you have salvaged from your home, protecting them from rain damage and also from curious eyes. A tent is also a great way to create a potty area affording privacy as well as protection from the elements.

Summer sales are beginning now on camping supplies and clearance sales are happening for those with winter approaching. Watch for a great sale and get a tent or two.

Just a reminder, because of my concern for rising food prices,  for the next two weeks I will send any new subscribers to the Totally Ready Newsletter a copy of our March issue which includes the information you will need to store a nutritionally balanced three month supply designed for your family’s needs, not the generic list you find other places.

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Last week we had Stacy and Lady M comment on an episode of The Twilight Zone. That show used to freak me out as a kid! They referred us to an episode that dealt with a family who took shelter in a safe room and what happened with their neighbors who hadn’t prepared. It was very good and not too freaky. The episode is called the shelter and really is a great place to start a conversation. It would be great to show at the beginning of a discussion on preparedness. For older children it would also be a great conversation starter and point out why we prepare and why we don’t tell everyone exactly what we have and what we are doing.

With all the interest and discussion in our yahoo group about EMPs I would also recommend again the book: One Second After. It is fiction and may not all be appropriate to share with your family but it will give you some ideas about what topics to discuss and how to prepare for a society without electricity and the perks that go along with that.

Safe Havens and Safe Rooms
With spring storm season upon us and tornado season approaching let’s take a look at ways to protect against their fury. A safe room has traditionally been defined as a place where the family can gather and wait out a storm under the safest possible conditions.

In recent years we have seen the evolution of the safe room. A safe room is now defined as a concrete or reinforced “bunker” in your home, basement or garage. Homes in tornado- and hurricane-prone areas are now often built with a concrete safe room in the center of the home.

For our purposes here let’s make a distinction between a safe haven and a safe room as this — a space in a home or business not specially built for this purpose that satisfies most of our requirements is a “safe haven,” and an area designed and built for this purpose is a “safe room.”

Concrete safe rooms can be expensive to add to an existing home. As you save to build your bunker, there are some immediate steps you can take to improve your chances of surviving a weather emergency. Nothing will protect you completely or under all circumstances, but your chances for survival are greatly improved if you have a well-equipped safe haven.

Building a Safe Haven

Begin by choosing an area in the center of the house that has no windows. A bathroom or large closet under a staircase will work well. A basement is the best location in tornado or hurricane country, but only if you are located away from a storm surge area or flood plain.

Reinforcing the structure of your safe haven is definitely something you should consider doing now. Remove the sheet rock and bolt the framing to the floor and to each other where the corners of the room and the ceiling meet. Add more bracing between the studs.

In extremely high winds, debris can be thrown at a building with enough force to penetrate even masonry walls, so our objective is to protect the room against penetration. Adding sheets of plywood to the walls will greatly increase the safety of your safe haven since most injuries during a storm are caused by this flying debris. Although plywood is not going to completely prevent debris from penetrating your haven, it will provide greater protection than sheet rock alone.  Don’t forget to re-enforce the ceiling, because debris can be forced through the ceiling as well. Remember high winds cause the twisting of building components, so your job with all this reinforcement is to help minimize that twisting.

If you have hollow core doors, you will also want to replace these with solid wood or metal doors.

Using a Safe Haven

Before entering your safe room or safe haven, close all doors in your home. Close and lock all windows in your home, too. Lower all blinds, and close all of the drapes. Shut off the air conditioner and heater. We used to believe opening a window would help in a storm. It does not. Any time you invite air into your home you increase the damage.

Very Basic Supplies for your safe haven or safe room:

• AM/FM radio — battery or crank operated.
• Glow sticks or flashlight — NO CANDLES (for safety in case of gas leak).
• Blankets to use for protection from flying debris
• Your 72-hour kits, for use after the storm has passed.
• Important documents, which should already be in your 72 hour kits.
• First aid kit.
• Land line phone with cord, as well as cell phone. (Cell phones will probably not work after a natural disaster.  Sometimes land line phones will be working.)
• Personalized phone directory with local emergency numbers as well as the numbers for out of state contacts. Local lines may not be available and your only communication option may be out of state or out of the area contacts.
• If you have walkie-talkies, use them if you must be separated after the storm or event – phones may not be working.
• Fire extinguisher.
• Folding shovel and axe to help you dig out.

Although most storms pass fairly quickly and you may not need all these items, they will become very valuable after the storm has passed. During the storm, cover family members with blankets and pillows to protect from debris.

When you are sure the storm has ended, be careful when exiting your room. There may be unexpected debris as well as rodents, snakes and insects that are not normally present. Never exit without shoes on. Watch for downed power lines and stay at least 30-feet away from any you encounter. Remember that water conducts electricity.

If it is night and you are confident there are no gas leaks or danger of further collapse, wait until there is light outside before leaving the immediate area. If you do smell gas or your home is unstable, take your 72-hour kit and leave the area. Listen to the radio for directions to shelters or other information to determine which areas are safe to evacuate to and which are not.

If you are in the center of a tornado or hurricane, nothing except a concrete safe room will completely protect you. If you are outside the center of the storm a safe haven may well save your life.

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Our April Newsletter is out so if you have subscribed and did not receive one please let me know. April’s issue includes:

General Store: Items stored as of April 1st

Tips of the Week: Expanded for the month of March

Storing Food Safely

Containers Appropriate for food storage

Containers NOT appropriate for food storage

Dutch Oven Cooking: How to Purchase a Dutch Oven; How to Season a Dutch Oven

Recipes: Bread Recipes: Dutch oven cooking from breakfast to dessert

On to our tips…When I was young I experienced the horror of civil unrest. It was during the age of race riots and people were actually sent into the city where I lived to insight unrest. It was very frightening. We could hear gun fire at night and knew no one was safe out on the streets. My parents bought a big dog and endured many sleepless nights with a baseball bat close at hand. For those who live in the city this is a real concern when planning for an emergency. After every disaster we have witnessed some of this lawless behavior.

Many times people who feel entitled loot and burn stores. They threaten those who are trying to escape the area. Occasionally we see these groups invade homes, but usually they focus on stores where there is much greater to collect. When the time comes that there is a major disaster and the store shelves are empty where will these people go? They will be hungry and they will attack anyone they believe may have food and supplies. Obviously, this is of much greater concern in the city than it is in the suburbs. There are things to do now to prepare.

Last week we talked about getting to know your neighbors and making plans with some of them. I would not make a big announcement of my intent and preparations but I would approach people individually. Preparing together serves two purposes, first you don’t have to store everything, you can share, and secondly if your home is invaded or becomes uninhabitable you have a place nearby to seek help and refuge.

After a disaster plan to lay low: Don’t run out to stock up on milk or other perishables. This makes you an obvious target, you are taking home food and you have money. If you don’t have it, do without. Now, if you know a storm is coming everyone will be stocking up so by all means, go stock up.Only if the disaster is sudden and unexpected should you stay put.

Be prepared to be sneaky: If you have a generator and can run a computer or your fridge, do so during the day. Use glow sticks and flashlights at night and if you must use the computer after dark close all the blinds so no one can see that recognizable blue light that it emits.

Whatever your supplies make it look as if you are struggling as much as everyone else. Don’t do anything to single out your family. As your food defrosts, if you are going to use a grill to cook, fill it as full as possible and cook everything at once. Everyone will be cooking up their freezer stash the first few days. You will want to have your food cooked and ready to just reheat after these initial few days. Nothing will cause people to show up on your doorstep like the smell of meat being grilled.

Cover your windows so passers by or those in the apartment opposite yours can’t see what you have. I love mylar blankets for this purpose. Tape them in your window and they will keep out lots of heat during the summer as well as providing privacy any time of the year. No one will be able to see into your home but you will be able to see out.

If you fear roving bands make it look like your home has already been ransacked. Scratch up  the door and the lock so it looks like someone has already looted your home. This is the time your HAM radio license will be of great value. You will know the frequencies to monitor and you will hear of dangers in your neighborhood and you will be able to alert the authorities as you observe lawless behaviors.

Have an escape plan. If you are plan to evacuate the city do so immediately. Don’t wait to see what happens. If you have warning of an impending disaster do not wait until authorities say it is time to go, just go. Too often, especially for those leaving a large city,  traffic jams can make an hour drive turn into three or four. This uses up gas, makes tempers rise and means potty breaks you could avoid by going early thus being on the road less time. Yes, potty breaks. This may seem silly but every time you have to stop you are in danger of not being able to get back on the road and you risk being hassled by those looking for food or money because they failed to plan. Remember we are focusing on civil unrest today. You are the safest when you are in your car so make every provision you can to remain on the road once you have made the decision to leave.

I’m sure you are wondering about now why I have not mentioned ways in which to defend yourself. First, if you can avoid confrontation that is always safest for you and your family. Second, because I have made it a policy never to advise anyone to purchase a _____ or _____, you get the idea. I do not want the responsibility either moral or legal if an accident should occur. Defending your castle is a matter for your own training, family circumstances and moral compass.

There will be civil unrest after a disaster. Plan on it and plan for it.

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I received an email today from a reporter friends who I have worked with on a few preparedness article. He asked me about those who escaped the fires and complete destruction after the 1906 earthquake in San Fransisco.  Just yesterday there was a report on the national news about the dangers and possibly imminent chance of a massive earthquake in California.

I know most of you don’t live in California but may have friend and family here or would love to visit the beach, Disneyland or Yosemite, (my backyard) or go skiing in the Sierra. I remember growing up in New Jersey that everyone wanted to visit California. We all had visions or everyone playing volleyball on the beach and surfing. I love it here but unfortunately the political climate is terrible and this has become the number one welfare state in the country. Much of this is what will  spell disaster when the “big one” hits.

After the 1906 earthquake my husband’s grandparents lived on the “highway” near Modesto, California. They would often tell stories about the great quake more than 70 miles away. In those day most people traveled by horse and buggy and a trip to the city took days. Yet, in the aftermath of the quake the road in front of their home was crowded with those escaping the Bay Area. They came with very little and relied on the generosity of strangers for a place to sleep and something to eat.

Grandma said the day of the quake they felt the earth move and knew something had happened but in a day of no television or radio they did not begin to imagine the destruction. By the next night the sky glowed in the direction of the city as it burned, remember it was 70 miles away. Finally on the third day the refugees began pouring in.

Each time we make the trek over to the city I wonder what will happen when the next big one comes. I have some idea. We saw a preview during the Loma Prieta quake in 1989. Many assumed that was the big one at a 7.1 but they are wrong. Not only is a bigger one expected but it is expected in a more populated area.

So what do those of us close to, but not in the bay area, need to know and to do?

First, there will be fires. After earthquakes there are always fires and more fires in more wealthy areas, such as the Untied States, compared to Haiti. We have lots more gas lines, petroleum facilities, and power lines to spark a fire. People will be looking to get out.

There will be civil unrest. We have seen that this week in Chile even more than we did in Haiti. People will want to get out.

There will be flooding. The Sacramento/San Joaquin water system in comprised of thousands of levees, many or which are failing. It is expected that many will fail when the earthquake occurs. What this means for those in the nearby areas is that we may have those evacuating because of the quake from one area and those evacuating from the central valley for another, all coming our way. This will also cause water shortages in the LA area since they get their water from that same Delta system. People will want to get out.

The ports will be closed for weeks. Much of the food, clothing, and other items we import come through the ports of California. There will be shortages for everyone who depends on those ports, everyone in the United States. Hours may be reduced for workers in industries who cannot get the supplies they need.

Sound grim? It is. The situation is not any better in  LA  where ports will close, much or their electricity comes in across fault lines and most of their water comes from northern California through a pipeline which also crosses fault lines.

Before and after Katrina many, many, evacuated. In one church building 40 miles from New Orleans the power went out as a result of the hurricane. The evacuees were once again in the dark.

Yesterday we began to stock our General Store with non food items. This week was dental care, toothbrushes and dental floss. I encouraged you to add a few extra in case you are asked to provide refuge. With modern means of travel evacuees can now travel many, many miles to find help and we need to be ready in case they come our way. They will empty the store shelves of everything from food to clothing to medical supplies and then they will become desperate, just as we all would under those circumstances.

I am very frustrated that we have not been given the information we need to properly prepare. Even those who are able to grab a survival kit and a few other items will never be able to carry enough to sustain themselves, yet, we are told over and over to prepare a three day supply of food and water. Who are they kidding?

In the March issue of the Totally Ready Newsletter there are tips for preparing to provide refuge. We will discuss these throughout the year but get a jump start by reading the article today and making a copy for your preparedness notebook.

That’s right the Newsletter is out! This issue includes:

Our General Store:

A Complete Inventory of everything we have stored over the past year.

52 Weeks to a Three Month Supply

Guide with tips and directions

Tip of the Week

Ordinary Items,Great Survival Tools

Protecting Your Identity

Articles:

Providing Refuge

Getting Your Children Involved in Preparedness

Foil Dinners

Teach Kids to Use 911

Recipes:

Cheeseburger Foil Dinner–Taco Time Foil Dinner–Instant Oatmeal–Orange Muffins–Buttermilk Biscuits

Basic Whole Wheat Bread– Whole Wheat Pancakes–Pull Apart Herb Bread–Germade Bread–Cornbread

Four Bean Salad–Spanish Rice

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With all the snow and ice storms on tap for the east coast this weekend I thought getting you thinking about the items you already have in your car, which could be used if you are stranded, might make an good post. We often have items around us which we can use for survival but we just don’t take the time to consider how they can be used. We should all have a good car kit and anyone traveling in snow country would be very foolish to leave home without one. There have been occasions when motorists have been stranded for hour on a highway because of an accident coupled with white out conditions. Other times we head out not realizing just how bad a storm is only to find our car sliding off a more remote road with no traffic as others have opted to stay home in front of a warm fire.

Before running the engine of your car be sure the tail pipe is not blocked or you could poison yourself and your passengers. If you do find yourself stranded do not run your car for more than 10 minutes every hour. This will heat the car and provide you with a few minutes to listen to radio reports but will not exhaust your fuel supply. You don’t know how long you will be stranded so don’t waste you car and end up with a very, very cold car because your supply has run out.

Whatever the reason for our predicament we have common items which can help while we wait for rescue.

Lipstick

Great for writing a message on the window of a car if you are leaving the car. However, leaving the car is not a good idea unless you know exactly where you are going and are sure of the walking distance, or the car is in danger because of a gas leak.

Because of the wax and oils in lipstick, it is also good to help start a fire. Just rub some on a flammable material, and light.

Petroleum Jelly

Often used as a lip balm, and can be used to start a fire. Rub on another flammable material and light it with a match or the car’s cigarette lighter. It can also be rubbed on the door gaskets to help stop drafts.

Mirror

A great signaling device. Not only your makeup mirror but also the rear-view or side mirrors on your car. Rip one off and use it to signal when you hear aircraft (obviously, you need direct sunlight in this situation). If you are leaving your car, take a mirror with you.

Feminine Products

These are a great item to add to that small fire you have started. Remember adding the lipstick and petroleum jelly will increase the time they will burn. Feminine pads can be burned, but are also valuable first aid compresses for an injury.

Other Fire Starters

If you happen to have these items, they are also great to help start a fire: cotton balls, cotton swabs, paper towels, newspapers, cardboard.

Pencils, Rulers, Wooden Toys, and Everything Wooden

These make great kindling once you have a small fire started. Search outside the vehicle too for dry wood scraps and any flammable material that can be used to build a fire.

Hair Spray and Perfume

Both of these products contain alcohol and will aid in fueling a small fire.

Prescription Glasses

Do you remember as a kid starting a leaf on fire with a magnifying glass? Prescription eye glasses will accomplish the same thing.

Credit Cards

These make great ice scrapers. Be sure to wear gloves or a plastic bag on your hands to minimize getting wet.

Cigarette Lighter

Use carefully to light paper or other easily flammable item. This can then be used to start a fire or to light a candle.

Candles

These may not be a normal items in a car but they are worth a mention here because it seems they are a frequent gift. If you happen to have one in the car or trunk light it and carefully place it where it can’t tip and catch items around it on fire. A burning candle is enough heat to help prevent freezing inside the car.

The Horn

Don’t forget your best signaling device. The universal signal for help is a long blast either from a whistle, horn or as a last resort, your voice. Sound it long, follow by a short pause and then another long blast, and then a third. An SOS is sent by honking your horn three times in short intervals, then three long and then three short.

Newspapers and Magazines

These are not only great for fuel, but also for insulation. When my children were young I was asked to train as a counselor for girls’ camp. At the time this involved a two-day hike and night in the great outdoors. Boy, did we pick the wrong week. As we got our little two-man tents up, down came the rain and up came the wind — and then there was lightning and thunder. It was a really frightening night.

As we lay awake in our tent watching it sway, we got little sleep. When we ventured out in the morning, we discovered some of the women had taken refuge in a car. They froze — while we were nice and warm. The difference? We were on the ground, and they were in a car with the cold winds blowing not only around them but also under them.

I learned the lesson. When you are in a car, you need to keep in as much heat as possible and prevent cold air from coming in. That means insulating the floor. Newspapers and magazines are a great insulator. Layer them on the floor and then cover with any extra clothing, rags or blankets. Search out all the empty backpacks, clothing, or paper grocery bags you may have in the car and use them to keep out drafts or to layer on the floor.

Umbrellas

Most of us have an umbrella in the trunk. If not, get one. If you are stranded in your car, it is important to keep a window open slightly, especially when the engine is running. This window should always be one that is downwind. This may not always be possible because during a storm the winds may be blowing. If this is the case, open the window slightly, slip the handle of the umbrella out the window, and open the umbrella. Pull the umbrella tightly against the car and close the window. The small space that remains will support the umbrella and will also provide air circulation. The umbrella will prevent cold gusts and snow from being blown into the car while allowing air to circulate, thus preventing carbon monoxide poisoning. Try to choose a window that is upwind from the path of the exhaust when the engine is running.

Umbrellas can also be used to shield a fire from wind gusts until it can become established.

When building a snow cave or other shelter, an umbrella can be used to “seal” the doorway. In the case of a leaky roof in your snow cave, an umbrella opened inside may protect you from getting wet. Again, don’t leave the shelter of your car if it is possible to stay safely there. If you do leave, leave a message on the car with your location or direction of travel. But generally, do as Scouts do. They are taught to hug a tree if they become lost. The same wisdom applies here — stay in your car or you may not be found by your rescuers.

Take precautions now to be safe through this winter season. For those on the east coast now is the time to think about what you will do if the power goes out this weekend. Review last week’s Tip of the Week.

I WAS ASKED AGAIN FOR THE BEST PRICE ON BERKEY FILTERS SO HERE IS THE LINK: berkey fliters

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There are many things we can learn from the disaster in Haiti this week. It may seem there is no way we could ever experience devastation like that seem in Haiti and that may be true. Our building standards are much superior and our economy and infrastructure much stronger. While that is true, we may face a disaster just as deadly, and even if the one we face is less catastrophic there is still much to learn.

Do you realize that we have a very serious earthquake threat in the central part of the United States. It is called the new Madrid fault. The fault is not expected to move any time soon but when it does it will cause massive destruction of buildings, just as the quake in Haiti. This will have nothing to do with construction but rather what is beneath the ground. The quake will cause liquefaction. This means the earth will become like a sandy liquid which will shift and sink and cause buildings, roads, everything, to sink with it, much like sink holes, though not quite as dramatic.

There had not been a major earthquake in Haiti in two hundred years. They were overdue, just as, San Fransisco, Seattle, Los Angeles, the Wasatch front in Utah, New York, Idaho, and Reno-Lake Tahoe, to name a few.  Outside of the United States:  Ramallah, Jerusalem and Bethlehem, Tokyo, Burma, Vancouver and other areas are also overdue.

We all know earthquakes are not the only threat that is unpredictable and devastating. Terrorism can occur at any time, in any place and it can be just a deadly as the disaster in Haiti. Since we have many new readers this year I want to make sure they all know what those of us know who have been around for awhile and that is that I believe as Helen Keller: “Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less”. I do not believe in fear. I believe knowledge will set us fear.

During 2008 we spent the year working on our Seven Steps program. This was a plan to do seven things each week so by the end of the year we would be prepared. One of the things we discussed was the possibility the family members would become separated. We have seen that in Haiti. As roads have become impassable and communications non-existent family members may be safe but unable to reach you. We talked about several things that you should do to be prepared for this.

1. You should have current photos of each family member. You need a photo of you and your family together and a photo of each family member individually. You should also include your pets in your family photo. Both photos are important. You may need an individual photo if you need to ask for help in finding a family member.  Once you have found that member a group photo will help to establish your relationship to the person. After the tsunami in 2004 people were claiming children as their own after losing their own in the disaster. As much as we hate to think about it there are always those who would exploit a disaster situation. In first world nations it may be very difficult to claim your own child as officials choose to ere on the side of caution. If you find an older child or spouse and they are in a hospital it will help to establish you as a person who can make medical decisions for that adult if they cannot make them themselves.

2. Once you have these photos be sure they are in all of your family’s 72 hour kits and in your wallets and/or desk drawers at work. Be sure your children have copies in their school backpacks.

3. Send copies to your out of area contact. This person can then search for you if the need arises, or they can email or fax copies to government officials  or relief agencies. They would also be able to post those pictures on message boards, which are always created after a major disaster, if the power is down in your location.

There is much more to learn from this tragedy and over the next few days I will discuss them so please check back.

Favorite items to check out:

Berkey Water Filters

Where are those entries for our Give Away…Don’t Miss out!!

Flooding on the east coast of the  United States has been awful this week. The flooding continues and now the clean up begins. I hope the following tips will help. Please pass this link along to anyone you know who may bne going to help or who may live in a flooded area.

When homes flood, the water can wreak havoc on the structure of your home, your personal belongings, and your health. After a flood, cleaning up is a long and hard process, but if it is begun immediately many family treasures can be saved.

As with every disaster, whether it is hurricanes, floods, fire, earthquakes, or tornadoes, your first response should be to call your insurance agent and begin taking lots and lots of pictures. Call your insurance agent no matter what time of the day or night. The sooner you call the higher you are on the priority list. Even if you are not sure of the extent of the damage, call. If you wait for your agent to show up, it may be too late to save some of your most valued possessions. So begin clean up — but never before taking lots of pictures. Take photos constantly during the process. Document everything.

As you begin, take precautions to protect yourself and all those who may be helping. Be sure everyone wears gloves, boots, goggles and masks. Masks become increasingly important as days pass and mold grows. Items that are wet quickly develop potentially deadly molds and fungus. You should have N95 medical masks in your 72-hour kits and pandemic supplies. Use them. They will protect against bacteria and other small spores that an ordinary mask from a home improvement center will not.

One of the greatest health risks following a flooding emergency comes from standing water. Standing water is not only a breeding ground for microorganisms, but it also harbors mosquitoes. Bacteria, viruses, and mold grow quickly on wet and damp items. These can become airborne and inhaled, putting everyone at risk for lung diseases and complications for those with asthma and other respiratory ailments.

Now that you are properly clothed and ready to work you can begin:

• If mold and mildew have already developed, brush off items outdoors to prevent scattering spores in the house.
• Shovel out as much mud as possible , then use a garden hose to wash away any remaining. Be sure to have someone assigned to sweep the water out of the house as you do this.
• Clean and disinfect every surface . Scrub surfaces using a heavy-duty disinfecting cleaner. The key here is to scrub making sure you get the cleaner into the small crevices. Be sure the product you use is designed to kill germs. If you do not have access to a commercial product, use a bleach mixture. Combine 1/4 cup bleach with 1 gallon of cool water. For smaller jobs or if you have a smaller bucket, use1 tablespoon of bleach to 1 quart of cool water. It is vital that you thoroughly dry all surfaces after they have been treated. Use small fan and open all the doors and windows to circulate air.

To clean glass, porcelain, china, plastic dinnerware and enamelware, soak for 10 minutes in a disinfecting solution. Air-dry dishes. Do not towel dry. These items are safe to place outside to dry.

Disinfect silverware, metal utensils, pots and pans, and all other metal items by boiling in water for 10 minutes. Bleach should not be used because it reacts with many metals and causes them to darken. Again, air dry.

Cupboards and counters need to be cleaned and rinsed with a disinfecting solution before placing anything back in the cupboards. Again it is very important that the walls, doors and shelves all be completely dry. This may take a few days, depending on weather conditions.

Take furniture, bedding and clothing outside to dry as soon as possible. When possible, place furniture in a shaded area to help prevent warping of the wood and fading of fabrics. If you cannot start right away to wash clothing and bedding, hang it on a clothes line or in trees to dry. Better yet, see if friends outside the flood zone would take over washing and drying these items as a service project for you. Some who cannot stand shoulder-to-shoulder with you, may be able to help in this way. Since the ground will undoubtedly be damp, do not lay items on the ground to dry.

Mattresses should be thrown away. Unfortunately there is no safe way to disinfect a mattress. Do not take any chances.

Upholstered furniture is also very difficult to properly disinfect. Have it cleaned by someone specializing in this type of clean-up.

Wood veneer furniture will usually not survive a flood well. Unless an item has great sentimental value, it is probably not worth trying to restore. Solid wood furniture, however, can usually be restored if it is dried out slowly and immediately.

Soft toys, stuffed animals and pillows should also be thrown away.

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Photographs, books and important papers can often be salvaged. They should be gently rinsed off in a bucket of clean water. Carefully separate papers and photos, and rinse. Never use running water to clean photos and papers. Never rub the surface, simply swish the item through the water. Do not rub to dry them.

Place cleaned items on absorbent paper or towels to dry. Never use printed paper towels; use plain white paper towels only. Never use newspaper, because the inks will ruin damaged photos or papers. Change the towels or paper every few hours to aid in drying. Do not dry items in the sun. Place a fan nearby to aid in drying. You can also dry items by using a clothes line and clothespins, but this may damage corners.

If you cannot dry items immediately, clean them and stack a few together. Place them in a resealable bag and place them in the freezer. When you have the ability remove a few, lay them out and dry them. They should be dried carefully and slowly.

Check back tomorrow for more clean-up tips.

DON’T FORGET OUR RAFFLE!

1. You may not be able to go out and prune branches off of trees so you will have to take another approach to protecting your family. If you have a tree that is very close to your home with branches that can potentially come crashing through a window, close the blinds or other window coverings and place a mattress in front of the window. Move a heavy piece of furniture in front of the mattress to secure it. Do Not use a book case filled with books as they can become dangerous if the bookcase should tip over. Once you have the mattress secured close the door and leave the room. Several years ago our daughter and her family had a tree fall during a storm and crash through a window. It was very frightening so take a critical look at the trees around your home.

2. Cover your windows. This storm holds the threat of high winds far into the state. As renters you may not be able to board up your windows so you will have to use another approach. Close the windows. The old advise was to leave your windows slightly opened to reduce the pressure and prevent windows from exploding. This advice is the wrong advice. Never leave windows open. Close the blinds. Place a blanket over the window and secure it by using firring strips or half round or quarter round moulding. Place the moulding over the blanket and nail through the wood strip and blanket to secure them. Painters drop clothes may also be used as a cover. Since they are thinner than a blanket I would double them before securing them to the wall. This will not prevent your windows from breaking but it will contain the glass and debris which might otherwise end up in your home. If you want to leave a window uncovered, so you can see what is going on outside, choose the smallest window.

3. You may think you don’t have anything outside to worry about but do you have a plant outside your door or wind chimes, or a bistro set or a trash can? All can become dangerous in a high wind. If you have a sliding door remove the screen and bring it inside. If your landlord provides a gardener check to make sure they have not left any tools behind that could become air born. Even tropical storm winds are strong enough to propel heavy pruners or a lawn mower.

4. Protect your car. If you have a garage do whatever it takes to get the car inside. If you don’t but your apartment complex offers some covered parking watch for a space to open up and get your car under cover. If you have only street parking try to find an area which is relatively free of trees and power poles. It may even be wise to take your car to your Church’s parking lot or other large lot and park in the middle. Nothing is completely safe but look at your parking choice with a critical eye.

5. As with everyone preparing, designate a place to gather if the worst should happen and things in your home should begin flying around. If you do not have a room without windows such as a laundry room or bathroom, prepare the room with is smallest window as a refuge. Move chairs away from your dining table and have it ready as a place to duck, cover and hold on. Move the table away from windows. Place a large blanket under the table. If you should have to head there. Cover your family with the blanket and hold on to the table and each other. Hopefully if you are in that much danger you have evacuated.

6. When you do your “stocking up” shopping buy a few tarps, if there are still any available. As renters you may be on your own to protect your family. Home owners should have purchased tarps but renters rarely think of this. A landlord may not be able to get to you to cover the leaky roof or broken windows for days after a storm be ready to do it yourself.

Bottom line..treat your rental as if it were your home. It is, after all, your family inside.