We had CRAZY winds here in Los Angeles and trees were falling all over the place, knocking over power lines, houses, and cars. Altadena, Pasadena, and other nearby areas got hit hard. It seems like a good time to share some notes I have on emergency preparedness.
Earlier in the year, my workplace had a firefighter come and give the staff a CERT refresher lecture. CERT stands for Community Emergency Response Training. This program educates regular folks on what they can do to prepare for a disaster. In case of a severe disaster it may be a few days before emergency services could get to you, or even longer before basic utilities may be up and running. It was such a great/terrifying class. And this wasn't even the full course, which takes weeks. I thought I'd share my notes from the class. My notes are kind of stream of consciousness, and skip around topics, but the info is accurate. I hope they can be helpful to someone out there.
Disclaimer: This is not a comprehensive list of everything you need in case of emergency. There's much more to be aware of and do. Honestly, I think everyone should try to find one of these courses and attend. It's so informative!
EMERGENCY KITS - In additional to regular emergency kit stuff like food and first aid and medications, you should add goggles, dust mask, universal gas shut off tool with glow stick attached, cash in small denominations (no one will have change at the end of days apparently), radio, crowbar, one gallon of water per person or pet per day. Solar panel charger for gadgets, phones, etc.
Keep your kit split in two, 1/2 in a rubbermaid shed in the shade, another 1/2 in your garage.
PETS - Pet supplies for emergencies. Make sure to pack water and food and medication for them in your emergency kit as well. The firefighter suggested getting a backpack for them so they can carry some of their own supplies if you have to relocate. Pets can freak during disaster and run off even if that's not their normal behavior. Keep photos of your pets in case they get lost. Keep them microchipped (Personally, I've also recently gotten Tagg trackers for my pets. This is a device they wear on their collar that tracks them using GPS.)
STORING WATER - Milky white plastic bottles store for 6 months. Regular clear water bottle material keeps for 2 years. Hard plastic bottles (used on water coolers) that still have their factory seal will keep for 5 years. Be sure not to store water bottles of any kind on the bare floor, because of radon contamination coming from the earth or concrete. It will spoil your water faster.
PURIFYING WATER - Boil for five minutes at a rolling boil (but this method wastes water). Alternatively, you can use 2% tincture of iodine, 12 drops per gallon. Or unscented chlorine bleach at 4 drops per quart, 16 drops per gallon, 1 teaspoon per 5 gallons. If your water is cloudy, double all boiling times or chemicals.
WATER HEATER DRINKING WATER. Your hot water heater can be a water source during emergency. But if you want to use it, you should keep a maintenance schedule for cleaning out mineral deposits. Once a year, turn off the gas to hot water heater, and let the water cool. Connect a garden hose to the lower spigot and let the water run until it starts to run clean (about 10-15 minutes), then close spigot, disconnect the hose, and relight pilot. In an emergency, if you want to use this water, you need to immediately turn off the incoming water because municipal water may not be clean during a disaster and you want to keep your clean water untainted.
MAKING YOUR HOME A SAFE PLACE - Switch glass for plexi in all your framed items. Use earthquake film (EQ) for windows to prevent shattering. Secure all appliances, furniture, etc. to the wall, strap hot water heater to wall. Keep eyeglasses everywhere if you need them. Cabinet locks for kitchen, etc. In case of emergency keep two predesignated meeting places for your family, one in front, one in back of your house.
EARTHQUAKE AT NIGHT - In an earthquake, if you live in a single family home with no garage underneath and no stories/floors above, stay in bed during shaking, assuming everything around you is secured and shatterproof. If you have another story on top of yours, you might want to try getting into the "triangle of life" next to your bed. (I know this is a controversial methodology and people still say "drop and cover" is still the way to go, but I'm just repeating what the firefighter said.)
EARTHQUAKE WHILE DRIVING - Slow down and pull to the right. Turn on the radio. Avoid damaged streets, power lines. Beware of underpasses, bridges, and trees. Do not drive through water, because sinkholes can form during earthquakes. Do not abandon your car unless you have to but leave a note in your car telling emergency services where you are going.
GAS SHUT OFF - In case of gas leak, turn off your gas with a universal gas shut off tool or an appropriate wrench. Quarter turn only. Remember when you get all clear from gas company to turn it back on, you have to relight all your pilot lights (water heater, dryer, etc.) that do not have automatic pilot lights. Factoid: flies and mosquitos are attracted to natural gas leaks so you may see them swarming around a leak.
ELECTRICITY SHUT OFF - You might want to turn off your electricity after a major earthquake. Electricity may be unstable for a while and have surges that can over heat things. First turn off all your lights, electronic devices, and appliances, then turn off the smaller breakers in your fuse box, then last turn off the main breakers (the red ones usually). Do the reverse when you are turning the electricity back on.
WATER SHUT OFF - If you live in a house, your water meter is probably in front of the house on the parking strip. You probably also have a water main valve near a spigot at the front of your house. Check that your valve works periodically before you need to use it. The valve by the curb is usually nasty to use because it is underground so you probably want to stick with the spigot one.
GENERAL UTILITIES - If there's an emergency and you are leaving your home, or if you're just going away for a while and the house will be empty for a while, turn off all your utilities.
FOOD - Do NOT open freezer when power goes out. First go through eating all your refrigerator food. Then eat your freezer food. Last you eat your pantry food.
POOPS - I know people are getting into composting toilets these days, but that's not for me. I'm enough of an armchair epidemiologist to know that number 2s are so much more dangerous than number 1s. Don't do your doodie in a hole in the ground in your backyard because then you've contaminated your yard. Put your business in a plastic bag and into the black bin, and make a sign for the bin that says BIOHAZARD. We don't want to end up with human poop everywhere and everyone getting cholera and dysentery. Keep LOTS of wet wipes. You don't need this to survive, but you'll be SO happy if you have them.
FIRE PREVENTION - Don't overload outlets (electrical octopus). This includes power strips. Spread out the plugs so you don't overheat a single socket. Also remember that surge protecters need replacing every 2-3 years. No cords under carpets. No frayed cords.
(Especially for people with pets that shed a ton) Pull out your fridge and clean/vacuum around motor and clean coils on the back of the fridge regularly (1-2x per year). Same with stove and dryer. Clean your dryer and furnace vents and exhaust hoses.
HOUSEHOLD CHEMICALS - (L.I.E.S.) Limit number of chemicals, Isolate what you have, Eliminate what you don't need, Separate incompatible chemicals (i.e. bleach and ammonia make mustard gas and will kill you). Read labels because a lot of cleaners have added chemicals that may interact.
For storing your chemicals, outside is best. Garage is okay. Either way, put your stuff in a metal cabinet with locking and latching doors. Large containers at the bottom.
FIRE EXTINGUISHERS - Look for this on the label: size 2A:40B:C. The small car extinguishers are useless, you need a regular big, "commercial" type with metal head and attached hose nozzle. Keep 2 dry chemical extinguishers for the home. Factoid: baking soda is the main ingredient in these. Invert your extinguisher monthly to prevent caking of the dry powder.
Using a fire extinguisher. Pull pin. Aim at the BASE of the fire where the fuel is. Squeeze trigger and keep holding it down. Sweep the spray back and forth slightly past the fire.
Keep your extinguishers filled and updated (should be a card with place to write date when you check/invert it and a little dial on the head that says if the extinguisher is still "good."
ONE FINAL NOTE - Know your neighbors and help them. You won't survive the apocalypse on your own.
-J
EARTHQUAKE WHILE DRIVING - Slow down and pull to the right. Turn on the radio. Avoid damaged streets, power lines. Beware of underpasses, bridges, and trees. Do not drive through water, because sinkholes can form during earthquakes. Do not abandon your car unless you have to but leave a note in your car telling emergency services where you are going.
GAS SHUT OFF - In case of gas leak, turn off your gas with a universal gas shut off tool or an appropriate wrench. Quarter turn only. Remember when you get all clear from gas company to turn it back on, you have to relight all your pilot lights (water heater, dryer, etc.) that do not have automatic pilot lights. Factoid: flies and mosquitos are attracted to natural gas leaks so you may see them swarming around a leak.
ELECTRICITY SHUT OFF - You might want to turn off your electricity after a major earthquake. Electricity may be unstable for a while and have surges that can over heat things. First turn off all your lights, electronic devices, and appliances, then turn off the smaller breakers in your fuse box, then last turn off the main breakers (the red ones usually). Do the reverse when you are turning the electricity back on.
WATER SHUT OFF - If you live in a house, your water meter is probably in front of the house on the parking strip. You probably also have a water main valve near a spigot at the front of your house. Check that your valve works periodically before you need to use it. The valve by the curb is usually nasty to use because it is underground so you probably want to stick with the spigot one.
GENERAL UTILITIES - If there's an emergency and you are leaving your home, or if you're just going away for a while and the house will be empty for a while, turn off all your utilities.
FOOD - Do NOT open freezer when power goes out. First go through eating all your refrigerator food. Then eat your freezer food. Last you eat your pantry food.
POOPS - I know people are getting into composting toilets these days, but that's not for me. I'm enough of an armchair epidemiologist to know that number 2s are so much more dangerous than number 1s. Don't do your doodie in a hole in the ground in your backyard because then you've contaminated your yard. Put your business in a plastic bag and into the black bin, and make a sign for the bin that says BIOHAZARD. We don't want to end up with human poop everywhere and everyone getting cholera and dysentery. Keep LOTS of wet wipes. You don't need this to survive, but you'll be SO happy if you have them.
FIRE PREVENTION - Don't overload outlets (electrical octopus). This includes power strips. Spread out the plugs so you don't overheat a single socket. Also remember that surge protecters need replacing every 2-3 years. No cords under carpets. No frayed cords.
(Especially for people with pets that shed a ton) Pull out your fridge and clean/vacuum around motor and clean coils on the back of the fridge regularly (1-2x per year). Same with stove and dryer. Clean your dryer and furnace vents and exhaust hoses.
HOUSEHOLD CHEMICALS - (L.I.E.S.) Limit number of chemicals, Isolate what you have, Eliminate what you don't need, Separate incompatible chemicals (i.e. bleach and ammonia make mustard gas and will kill you). Read labels because a lot of cleaners have added chemicals that may interact.
For storing your chemicals, outside is best. Garage is okay. Either way, put your stuff in a metal cabinet with locking and latching doors. Large containers at the bottom.
FIRE EXTINGUISHERS - Look for this on the label: size 2A:40B:C. The small car extinguishers are useless, you need a regular big, "commercial" type with metal head and attached hose nozzle. Keep 2 dry chemical extinguishers for the home. Factoid: baking soda is the main ingredient in these. Invert your extinguisher monthly to prevent caking of the dry powder.
Using a fire extinguisher. Pull pin. Aim at the BASE of the fire where the fuel is. Squeeze trigger and keep holding it down. Sweep the spray back and forth slightly past the fire.
Keep your extinguishers filled and updated (should be a card with place to write date when you check/invert it and a little dial on the head that says if the extinguisher is still "good."
ONE FINAL NOTE - Know your neighbors and help them. You won't survive the apocalypse on your own.
-J
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