3 Comments

1. 

   Peter on January 14, 2010 at 11:15 am

   Hi

   Considering what’s happened in Haiti, i’m sending this out to all my friends in California, Hawaii, Oregon & Washington. It’s based on the training I’ve gotten from American Red Cross and the LA fire Department Emergency Response Team. I’ve sent it to some of you in the past…but now would be a good time to do a little implementation.

   I hope you never need to utilize it.

   Here’s a list of what I’ve learned that is important for sustaining a sense of sanity and safety after an earthquake…or any big emergency, actually. But it boils down to a few essential things:

   1 – You need to have more water than you think. No, it’s not because you’re thirsty but because you need to keep clean so you won’t get infections, and you might even need to cook up a pound of rice, which will keep you alive a long ass time. 15 gallons per person..no, really. Hell, I’ve got 60 gallons, and I’m barely home. If all hell breaks loose, water is the #1 commodity.

   2 – You need to have more batteries than you think, and one flashlight per person (all the same batteries make life simpler), plus one flashlight in the car.

   3 – Work gloves – they don’t have to be fancy, but they need to be leather, NOT cloth, because if you end up working a fire, cloth burns faster. Your hands are the most valuable tools you own…protect them. A gash or burn across the palms will quickly render you useless.

   4 – A crowbar in your bedroom to get you out of your bedroom. A crowbar in your kitchen to get you into your bedroom…or anyone else’s!

   5 – You need to learn exactly HOW TO:
   shut off your water
   shut off your gas
   shut off your electricity
   work a fire extinguisher (aim it at the BASE of the fire, NOT the flames and use sweeping motion to kill a fire)
   put together an out-of-state contact number for the family to communicate – long distance lines are up sooner than local lines, and cell lines will probably be down all together.

   OK, here are the basics:

   HOME:

   minimum of 15 gallons of water per person (don’t forget pets – a gallon a day)
   first aid kit
   work gloves
   heavy shoes – extra pair in your car for walking home when the roads are blocked
   2 crowbars
   canned food for one week
   can opener (non electric)
   $100 in singles
   $20 in quarters
   one flashlight per person – 2-D cell (or higher number of D cells)
   20 D-cell batteries…or more – not less
   1 box of strike anywhere matches
   1 camp stove
   3 canisters of camp stove fuel
   1 pipe wrench for shutting off your gas line (and restoring it)
   1 week supply of pet food
   1 deck of cards for keeping children out of your hair
   1 phone that plugs into your wall and requires NO batteries
   1 portable radio and/or TV plus 3 set of batteries for it
   10 candles (make sure there is no gas leak BEFORE ever using them)
   extra medications
   minimum of 1 roll of duct tape
   1 whistle per person (so people can hear you if you’re trapped)
   1 roll of plastic sheeting for instant repair to broken windows
   photos of family – to help emergency services locate them

   CAR: (put this in a knapsack)

   1 gallon of water
   snacks – granola bars or trail mix is simplest
   heavy walking shoes/boots
   work gloves
   $50 in singles
   1 first aid kit
   one 2-D (or higher) flashlight
   4 extra 2-D batteries
   map of your area
   pad and pen – to leave a note of your whereabouts and route taken
   extra socks
   portable radio
   1 whistle
   2 disposable foil sleeping bags (AKA “space blanket”)
   photos of family

   OFFICE:

   1 flashlight and extra set of batteries
   1 gallon of water
   1 pair of heavy shoes for walking home
   1 pair of work gloves
   snacks
   1 first aid kit
   extra medications
   $10 in change (pay phones are the first phones to go back on-line after an emergency – use one to call out of state contact)
   1 crowbar
   1 whistle

   SCHOOL:
   1 flashlight and extra set of batteries
   1 bottle of water
   1 pair of work gloves
   1 snack
   photos of family – to keep calm
   $5 in change
   1 disposable foil sleeping bag (“space blanket”)

   I know this can all sound daunting, maybe even crazy, but all this stuff is going to cost a lot more if you don’t have it. Peace of mind and a sense of preparedness can save your life and the lives of others around you.

   Good luck,

   pjh

   Reply
2. 

   Devin Galaudet on January 14, 2010 at 11:26 am

   Thank Peter,

   This is an incredibly important list and worth the time and bucks to keep yourself prepared for an emergency.
   d

   Reply
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