Catastrophic events require plans for pets here is a plan to make a plan to plan to do just that, keep reading.

We make a promise to our pets when we take them on, it's unwritten but it is a serious commitment, we are beholden to protect and care for them, in every situation.

It's started to rain, finally, the last time we received it was May 2018, that long of a pause is not unique for us. Drought is the norm in the Western United States, we all know that but effectively fooling ourselves into believing the opposite. All in all the rain isn't a problem, we need it, if it had not arrived when it did the Campfire would still be burning nearly out of control. The problem is we only get rain like this every 10 years or so, It would be nice if this is the new "normal", we won't hold our breath. It made me start to think about the impending floods and mudslides which are likely just around the corner. One of the victims of flooding are the families pets, in the case of my dog, she won't go out the door in weather that is even just mildly weather, like Rain, wind or blustery? Forget about it, she won't leave the house. So what if it floods? Will I get her to do anything? I fear she will run off and never be seen or heard from again.

Skunkpuppy waiting for the next explosion.

That's not the only panic-inducing event for them, we must include tornadoes, hurricanes, and violent storms as well. Cats react to catastrophic situations in a different manner than their canine nemesis. One difference is Cats have more of a tendency to hide versus running off in a panic. Many of them have been discovered hiding close to home in bushes, and outbuildings after the episodes are drawing to a conclusion. Exposing themselves only when the coast is clear and activities have settled down they saunter out from under a bush as if nothing has happened. Showing themselves after a week or longer of hiding out in a safe spot is when they are at their most vulnerable, for one they have not eaten for several days if not during the entire adventure.

It's not exactly the kind of emergency kit they will need but they
deserve an "A" for effort.

Dogs, on the other hand, will respond in a different manner, they panic and run far, fast, and for a long time, making themselves hopelessly lost. Normally running 10-15 miles per hour (16-25 km) they are capable of covering a lot of ground in a short while, in 15 minutes 3 miles is in the realm of possibilities. Some return home, some are found, and others are never seen again, the later is far too common. We are seeing the results from the Northern and Southern California fires, the various animal protection services have full houses while desperately seeking owners. Some of them will not be found, in that case, new owners are sought by placing ads in newspapers, and on the internet.

My partner "Skunk Puppy" is a "country dog", Heinz 57 variety, having the distinction of possessing DNA from every canine that has ever walked the face of the earth. She was rescued from under a dumpster in Fresno, afraid of everything and extremely defensive. She's never had a collar around her neck, thickening the plot. She snarls and growls at everyone. having little toleration of being "messed around with", or being near her. I'm confident she has a severe problem in her head like a bat's in the belfry style. She may merely be overprotective of me. after all, they protect us from other dogs and we them from people. I place her in an at-risk position if anything out of the ordinary takes place, she will panic and I must make sure she is safe. Taking on a pet we also take on the responsibility of providing them safety and solace. When they run off and return, we need to be prepared to receive them.

FEMA's suggestion is to take a picture of yourself with the animal. People will be able to put the two of you together, as most of the neighbors are familiar seeing you with her, as the theory goes. If she runs off into the hinterland it may improve the chances of finding her. If the animal, whether dog or cat, has medical issues (as does Skunkpuppy) the urgency to locate them is increased. Creating a flyer and placing them (make plenty of copies) in along with the family emergency plan and evacuation kits will place us steps ahead to help a speedy recovery of the animal. (Link to FEMA's planning templates)

A survival backpack for the dog/cat is important as well; 7 days food, clean water (never ever use flood water for anything), medication and a couple of familiar toys will add a few comforts of home. Include a blanket, small pillow, or another item with their scent on it as a comforting medium for them. A lesson I need to learn is to keep a collar on her that fits, partnered with a stout well-built leash, and the most important thing is to use them.

They can carry their own stuff.

While constructing our emergency plan we would be wise to plan for a longer period of time than what is expected, most disasters extend long past our planning. A contingency to plan for is in the case of disabled people, we may be evacuated due to an inability to walk, few first responders will take the animals. Then what?  I would not be able to leave her here, a more extensive plan is in order, other than "swim girl swim!". It will take a bit of research but there are facilities that will accept them, one of the keys is to arraign for the interim, that day or two when we are not with them and the shelter receives them. A good solution, if it is possible, would be to make a list of hotels, motels, or evacuation centers that will let animals stay with the owners. The further away from the predicament the more likely rooms will be available, search far and wide extending the search miles beyond the affected area. Place the contact numbers in your seven-day kit which is sitting by the door, take a look, there it is.

An emergency plan for the animals is the beginning It will morph into an evacuation plan for the entire household I'm quite confident of. The dog generally kind of does what I tell her to, the people here, however, are a different story. Bossing them around doesn't work well most of the time, we're all connected here, river, dog, levee, and people. Including all of the household members in the planning will increase the chances for it to be successful. Children have valuable contributions to be made and paid attention to when we appreciate and use their contributions acceptance of the plan by them is a good way to increase their self-confidence and co-operation. Having them add a few items to their pack will go a long way towards putting them a ease.

Practice the plan, read it over as a group, it is a living document and may be added to or edited as needed, life is constantly changing. Walk through all of the steps making sure we all know where to evacuate to, what to do if we are home alone, the contact number out of the area, and the seven- day kits. The recommendation from first responders and governments planning entities (FEMA being the most prominent) is to have on hand 3-days of supplies in a portable kit that is easy to handle. It is great advice, however, in the spirit of preparing for longer, I am an advocate of keeping 7-days supply on hand. Adding to the 3-day kit is all that is needed, add more water, one 24 pack of pint bottles are needed for each person which will last the 7-days for drinking only. One of the kits may be a rolling bag, and the other a backpack, the pet's kits will be considerably lighter making a good weight for a knapsack style. Some animals are capable of carrying their own, it may worth exploring as there are several ways to accommodate all we need for one week.

Planning for us and our pets in advance is prudent.

I won't be able to save the worm farm I maintain or my guitar, and a lot of the other stuff we claim is valuable, but most of it isn't as important as Grandma, Wife, Kids, Pets, and Me, it will be missed but it isn't worth risking a life for. Thanks for reading and sharing leave a comment, I'd like to hear your input. Thanks.

JacquesLebec      emergencykitsplus.com

Disasters are deadly after the event ends and the cleanup begins, this is one reason why they are.

Our self-awareness, self-reliance, and acceptance of our personal responsibilities are all needed after a Catastrophe ends and the cleanup begins. Earthquake, wildfires, hurricanes, plus flooding and more create dangerous situations after they recede. One of the dangers is Carbon Monoxide, (Carbon Dioxide is included along with this.) a threat that may be the furthest from our mind when returning to our homes. However, it should be the first of our thoughts when restoring utilities, cleaning up and rebuilding.

This blog was posted June 2017, its time for an edit and repost in light of the natural disasters we have experienced. Flooding is a constant menace, common after wildfires, hurricanes, and heavy rainfalls. Carbon Monoxide is a real threat often not thought of during times of stress while recovering and rebuilding, they are related to one another.

Carbon Monoxide, odorless, colorless and heavier than air, it's a stealth-like invader often we don't realize it's lurking in otherwise secure places. It's poisonous to most animals and humans when it is concentrated in air greater than 35 ppm. Cattle produce it, most mammals do, in an enclosed space it is able to collect if there is no outlet. All living creatures produce it, breathe in oxygen, exhale carbon dioxide, humans, reptiles, and birds alike. Rotting vegetation, burning fossil fuels, and electrical power plants using wood are other producers.

Oh Oh, she's smiling. 

The odorless gas sinks, making ground vaults extremely dangerous, typically having no vents, air inlets or outlets. Normally having one entry/exit point making them dangerous to enter prior to testing the space for oxygen levels (21% is normal, for entry 19.5% is allowable) and the presence of poisonous gases.

A ground vault is one of many spaces which is an enclosed area referred to as a "Confined Space." Confined space training is mandatory for people who must enter these spaces. Confined spaces may be a tank, cargo trailer, processing machine or any vessel or room that has one entry, no vents, windows or fans. Most confined spaces hold a commodity, fuel or compressed gas. Before entering one the atmosphere must be tested to be sure it is gas free and the correct concentration of Oxygen is present. When the confined space has an entry of some sort, normally it is an airtight and watertight type of "hatch" or a swing door that is bolted all around. Before entry it must be set up, a trained person is assigned to watch the entrants, test the environment inside and keep track of the sign-ins and outs of the people working inside. The entry is typically called "the hole", the person assigned as the attendant is called the "hole watch". They must go through training, there is a lot of responsibility. No one is allowed in the hole without an attendant present, and when the hole watch leaves everyone must exit the confined space. If the attendant must vacate his position he must account for everyone that had signed in to be sure they signed out. Upon determining the space is empty the attendant then covers it with red caution tape.

OSHA requirements of attendants here.

When the attendant returns the caution tape is removed, a test of the atmosphere in the space is performed as is making sure everyone is wearing their safety gear, only then will he allow the entrants to sign the muster sheet in. If an entrant collapses while inside the space, everyone must leave, the injured person may be carried out if people are in there with the victim. In the event a person is inside the space alone and collapses, do not enter to help him out. There is a reason that caused the person to collapse, it may be a deadly gas or all of the oxygen has been depleted for one reason or another. Many people have gone in a confined space due to someone being unconscious, many died with the originally stricken person. Do not attempt to "rescue" someone from a confined space unless you are a trained "confined space responder", a very organized and well-trained group of people.
 

There are procedures for rescues, please don't take shortcuts.

While working in and around confined spaces my entire career, a dangerous situation many times are made safer through training. If one comes up to a compartment or vessel that is interesting, it must not be entered unless proper precautions are taken.

I worked in a plant where a man was killed after entering a boiler, everyone was on their lunch break, the attendant secured the entrance. The victim went to the "hole" removed the red tape and entered, it was a very tall boiler firebox. The man climbed up four decks, the box was 110 feet high inside. A red hot "clinker" fell in an adjoining cyclonic separator filling the firebox with red hot ash, he did not live through it. A terrible avoidable tragedy, there is a lot more to the story but the gist of it is, don't enter without training and signing the entry sheet when an attendant is not at the post. But that's an industrial site, around the ranch, farm or home there are confined spaces as well, do not enter any space prior to checking the atmosphere inside.

A garage is a confined space, a vehicle exhaust is carbon monoxide, if the car is running in a closed garage it is deadly. Some cellars and basements have entries from the garage, it is advisable to remember CO2 gathers in the lowest places, your own basement could be a confined space. A roadside ditch abandoned buildings, old storage tanks and silos are all suspected confined spaces. Receding floodwater may expose many more.

The water leaves soaked organic material, dead animals and stagnant water in low spots, basements and home crawl spaces are just two examples. Caution should be exercised if there is a need to climb into a ditch or pump house to secure valves or switches. Main breakers must be opened whether or not the power is on. A power outage is not a safe isolation for electricity as it may be restored in an instant, most of us know how it can return for a few seconds then off again. That is enough time to render a fatal electrical jolt through the human body, .2 amps are capable of killing a human being. If the smell of natural gas is detected the main valve must be found and secured, it is a worthwhile task for a homeowner to learn. Call the utility immediately to report a gas leak, then move far from the building as a precaution, if the house fills with gas an explosion is most likely on the agenda.

Houses can fill with gas and explode.

The state of Washington has a great confined space website here.
 
Every place in the world experiences catastrophic natural or man-made disasters, exposing many inherent dangers. Taking the time to investigate before entering will be worth the time, these dangers should be noted on the emergency plan of every household.

(FEMA's planning template Link)

Special tools needed to isolate electrical equipment, water supplies, and gas lines may need to be placed in the emergency evacuation kits set up by the door.  It's extremely important that if you look inside a space and a person is down do not attempt a rescue, you will most likely die, every year we hear reports of people "rescuing their co-workers only to be met with the same fate.
 
Thanks for reading, commit this information to your memory, in a disaster evacuation there are many undefined enclosed spaces. Don't assume the spaces are safe, they are not. Please comment, tell me a story related or not, suggestions are welcome.

JacquesLebec  EmergencyKitsPlus.com  

Coyotes running amok in our cities pose challenges here's 13 ways to deal with them.

Song Dog.

Song Dog is the name our First Nation gave to the Coyote, Coyotl is the Aztec name, Canis latrans the scientific name it bears. Canis latrans translates to "Barking Dog", it's a good tag for them, they can be heard throughout the country after dark. Sporting long snouts, busy tails slung low with a black tip, and an appearance resembling an underfed German Shepard. The Song Dog is in the news again, this time the residents of San Francisco are on the alert. They have lived there for the past untold centuries and have never left, they have adapted to living among people, now the people must learn to live with them. Occupying Golden Gate Park they are doing fairly well scavenging in the alleys, yards, and parks of that iconic city.

Female Coyotes are smaller than the males, mating in February with the birth of 5-10 pups occurring in late May and early June. They live with their parents until reaching the ripe age of 7-8 months after having experienced all of the education they need to be on their own. When they attain 10 weeks of age they begin to hunt with the parents. Working year round they do not hibernate and are active day and night, sightings at dawn and dusk are common.

Having phenomenal hearing, smell, and vision (many canines have poor eyesight), they hunt solo or in pairs. It is common to observe two of them together in the open fields and crossing roads. Being adaptable they develop hunting skills to match the habitat they claim as "theirs", they are territorial, working actively keeping non-family members at bay. They will at times hunt in teams taking turns chasing their prey.

While working in a remote part of the San Joaquin Valley 30 years ago I observed a display of Coyotes hunting Jack Rabbits. There are plenty of both species on the West Side of the big valley, I worked on a 180-acre power plant site, there are still acres of empty land. Four Ranches met in one corner of the property, a dump site was shared by all, including wildlife. Each night at dusk while the dust was hanging in the air we would see the Jack Rabbits congregate to eat the foliage. Shortly after, the Coyotes would slowly begin to appear two or more at a time, advancing slowly they would form a circle around the long-eared prey. The rabbits did not appear to notice them, the Song Dogs are old hands at this, but I thought the rabbits should have been also. Suddenly some unseen, and unknown signal alerted them the time was ripe to attack. So much action and commotion turning up the dust so thick neither the hunters nor the hunted could be seen. One would think that after many years of this going on night after night, the Jack Rabbits would learn, but all they did was get faster however not fast enough.

A Coyote family.

Watching them is seen as many people as a benefit of living near their habitat, it is a mixed experience, such as where I live. Across the river is a large cattle pasture, normally between 150-200 head graze year round. Coyotes are seen and heard after dark baying and howling, it is a haunting sound, it's enjoyable watching them for me, but the Rancher has a different viewpoint. Rightfully so as with everything in life, there are two sides to a coin, to him they are predators and to me something to look at. It is an active Ranch, meaning the Cows have calves continually, the Coyotes will prey on the small ones, the Rancher must protect them. He has a substantial investment in the livestock, normally it represents nearly their entire worth, he cannot afford to lose one calf.

They are opportunistic eaters, whatever is available and easy to get access to constitutes a meal. Feeding on fruits, berries, rodents, insects, and birds they are scavengers as well. In Cities and Suburbs garbage cans, pet food, trash dumps, and yards supply the bulk of their diet. Much is made of them preying on small pets, which is true but it may be a surprise how little they comprise of the total diet. Domestic Cats in L.A. county comprise 8% of their diet, pet dogs are much more difficult to determine. Dogs have DNA similar to Coyotes which makes it impossible to distinguish from the Song Dogs.

Follow this Link for an explanation of the study in L.A.

All of the Coyotes activities intertwine with finding their next meal, with that in mind here are some good practices to use to make our property less attractive to them.

1)  Don't feed them, as with most wild animals it will only encourage them to come back for an easy meal

2)  Never approach them or attempt to pet them, if you see pups stay clear, wildlife parents are extremely protective of their young.

3)  Keep pet food indoors the odors it emits will attract not only Coyotes but our eternal buddies the dreaded Racoon.

4)  Trashcans will be knocked over and need to be secured, a bungee cord works well, the idea is to secure the lid.

5)  Seal off the house, access to crawl spaces under the structure must be addressed, they have no problem using it for a den.

6)  Coyotes size everything up with the eyes of a predator which means our pets, especially the small dogs and cats, don't leave them outdoors unattended. Birds of prey are also a concern.

7)  When raising Rabbits and Chickens the hutches must have a solid bottom with wire fence fabric buried one foot deep around the perimeter, use heavy wire, chicken wire will not serve well.

8)  Keep fruit trees clean, pick as soon as it is ripe, rotten fruit on the ground will attract them keeping it cleaned up is to our advantage.

9)  Trim and clear shrubbery, it will give them a place to hide of which they may inhabit. Fire safety is another benefit of keeping a clear 100-foot perimeter.

10) Regular visitors can be discouraged with noise, lights, human recordings (talking), mothballs scattered around, and ammonia-soaked rags. Loud bangs, motion lights, and large dogs (large) are effective.

11)  Spay and neuter your pet dogs, it's nature and it will attract them.

12)  Trapping and relocating is illegal, there are exceptions, but not in suburban or cities environments. Inquiring with the State fish and game will answer all questions.

13)  Working with the neighbors will realize the best results, if we all use these 13 points it will help to keep them away from our sensitive living areas.

Jack Rabbits, large ears and fast.

Living in an urban or city alongside Coyotes is a challenge at times, with effort and consistency it can easily be less demanding. If a Song Dog is sighted in the yard or a park the proper reaction is to give them room, do not turn and run, as with any predator, they will chase you. When living in a rural area it pays dividends to understand the plight of the Ranchers, they must go about their business to protect the livestock. Whether we agree or not following the laws and regulations governing interactions with wildlife must be maintained on an individual basis. The price is too steep for not, we do not want to experience the wrath of the Federal Government when it comes to dealing with wildlife protected or not.

Thank you for reading and sharing my blog, we will do well to remember that all of us on this earth are struggling for the same end, survival, it's no different for the wild animals that we share our environment with. Thanks to  www.nativeanimalrescue.org for providing references.

JacquesLebec   Emergencykitsplus.com

How many shovels, rakes, and hoes will it take to clean up the wilderness areas of California, keep reading.

Our thoughts are on the refugees from the California fires,
may all of their loved ones be safe.

It is raining today, California woke up to a substantial amount of rain, it is gladly accepted by the vast majority of us as it's been a smokey dry two weeks. It adds to the suffering of the victims of the fires, Southern and Northern, as most of the state is getting washed by it. Six inches of rain is forecast for Friday, we have received 1/3 of an inch during the past 24 hour period, right now it feels like it is of biblical proportions, the relief is being celebrated.

It is in some ways startling how the weather can change so drastically in such a short amount of time, from witnessing the sheer terror and suffering of the people left homeless in tents breathing smoke, now the fear of flooding. It is not only flooding, but we are also back in the teeter-totter of fire/landslides. The one silver lining is the fires are almost extinguished, the dark lining is now the firefighters are preparing the barren hills to stop or at least slow down the erosion.

The concern of overflowing reservoirs is a matter, Six inches of rain is an incredible amount of precipitation to collect on top of the wildfires. It is snowing in the Sierra's, which is good, California receives 50% of its water from mountain run-off. Happening twice, once during the rain events, then again during the spring snowmelt. It is the third largest state in the union, Alaska holds the #1 spot, and Texas #2, all three have extensive wilderness areas.

California is #35 having 14% in regard to total acres of wilderness, it lies between Indiana with 19% and Colorado which has 17.5%, holding the #1 spot Maine with a whopping 89%.

The Wilderness Act of 1964 defined wilderness as: “An area where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain.” An area of undeveloped federal land retaining its primeval character and influence, without permanent improvements or human habitation.”  ( Quoted copied from the "California Wilderness Coalition")

The BLM has a lot of areas to maintain.

California is a big state, 14,967,957 acres total with 2,095,514 sq. acres (3274.25 sq. miles, 5,427,357 sq. kilometers) designated wilderness, when the mountains are taken into consideration it is a wild and dynamic environment, 20% of the state is National Forest Lands. It is a diverse state which includes beautiful Southern warm Beaches and Northern cold rugged coastlines bordered by the Coastal Mountain Range from the Oregon border to Mexico. Inland 50 miles stands the Diablo Mountain Range stretching from the Cartenize Straights North and East of San Francisco Bay to the Tejon Pass (the Grapevine) 304 miles south, (489.24 kilometers), there three Mountain Ranges meet. The Sierra Nevada Mountain Range extends from the Tejon Pass North to the Oregon border, 792 miles distant, (1274.6 kilometers) Occupying the Southern part of the state are three main ranges, the San Bernardino Mountains spanning two counties an area of 2,063 square miles is covered, the San Jacinto Mountains bordering Palm Springs they are the northernmost of the Penisula Range.  Extending 930 miles (1500 kilometers) from Southern California to the South end of the Baja California Peninsula. Grasslands, Desert, and Wetlands complete the vast array of landscapes, it is a huge area, but not all of it is wilderness.

A common misconception is that the state is crowded, every spot is occupied with Movie Stars, Disneyland, and Silicon Valley, although there are a lot of residents (39.5 million) they are congregated in two major areas, San Francisco and Southern California (I'm including L.A. south to San Diego). There are smaller major cities scattered throughout, there remain wide open spaces between them. Bordering every area are wilderness areas prone to fires, landslides, and flooding, they are some of the most rugged and isolated spots in the country.

Isolated and inaccessible the wild areas are hard to manage, especially when dealing with the natural disasters that nearly overwhelm us every year. The 20% of Federal lands are managed and controlled by the Forest Service, National Park Service or the Bureau of Land Managment, and all are responsible for maintenance. The State of California has spent $250 million during the past ten years clearing, cutting and burning wilderness areas for fire prevention, the Federal Government's share was $5 million. That's about twenty dollars per acre to make the forest fire safe, with limited resources they are directed by priority. Of course, the priority is making the residential areas as safe as possible, the state is doing a good job. Even in areas of Wilderness Urban Interface, dubbed WUI for short, it is the places homes and structures are built near high-risk areas. WUI is defined as the zone in which structures (houses mainly) are built near or inside wild areas. Measured by the number of people and houses in the area, that number has increased over the years. The cost involved with fighting wildfires in these areas has increased steadily even though the number of fires has not risen significantly. Intensity, velocity, and area burned have been on a dramatic incline, fueled by high winds, drought, and an abundance of fuel.

Typical undergrowth, it burns.

The WUI (Link) between 1990 and 2010 has increased to 190 million acres nationwide, an increase of 33 percent, the number of homes has inflated by 41%. Nearly 31 million new homes have been constructed adding to the cost of damage wildfires cause due to the increasing difficulty in fighting them as well as raising the risk of more breaking out. Humans are the cause of 90% of all fires, we do well to remember Smokey Bears motto, "Only you can prevent wildfires."  It's not all bad because these areas are also the best-maintained areas, most of the property owners are well aware of the threat. Normally taking responsibility for the area surrounding their structures the advice from the various agencies responsible for maintenance is taken seriously. Constructing a safe zone around the property is common practice in most isolated areas, consisting of clearing a 100-foot area free of flammable debris and keeping undergrowth cut and trimmed goes a long way in prevention. In every place I have lived in this state the local fire department will once a year inspect and leave notices on properties that are in need of cleaning up, it works well. WUI is an issue, but it is one that can be managed and improved by implementing more programs and assistance to those in high-risk areas.

The real problem is what to do with the remaining acreage designated as wilderness, most of those areas are inaccessible. Logging and thinning of the forest are one step forward, but it has it's challenging as well. First, it has to be a long-term commitment, the logging companies, to begin with, will not commit themselves to a one or two year program. There is a lot of infrastructures that must be in place prior to beginning and the companies must be able to recoup their investment. Second, when trees are cut down the branches are stripped and left in huge piles adding to the fuel for the fires, to their credit the lumber industry is working on making use of a lot of the debris when making particle board and other chip products. But they cannot use all of it. The last challenge with thinning is if done incorrectly allowing too much sunlight onto the forest floor small trees emerge close together creating a densely populated small forest which burns intensely during a fire. But that is all manageable, it is this last issue that causes the most problems.

The reason I began by describing the area of the state is to become aware of how large it is and to point out how inaccessible it is.  The timber industry is able to cut logging roads and build the infrastructure but most of the wilderness areas are very remote and impossible to service with vehicles. It would do no good to drop woodcutters off and have them start cutting trees down, it would merely add to the fuel. In areas where there is access are a problem as well, there is no profit in cleaning the forest floor as far as the companies are concerned, they cannot do it for free. It is impossible to remove this stuff manually, and too expensive with equipment.

There are spots such as a canyon by the name of "Jose Basin" in Fresno County, in the Sierra Nevada's, it is a 500-foot deep canyon about a mile long. The depth of the crevice gets shallower as it progresses downhill, but it is full to the top with dried manzanita. With more growing on top of the dead material over the decades the fuel has been adding up. It's still there, the last time I was up there was in the mid-1980s. There is no way to clear that jumbled mess except to burn it, manual, mechanical, or any other means would be a useless attempt. There is not a company on the planet, or any amount of shovels, rakes, and hoes that can remove it. Jose Basin is an accessible spot, an old logging road runs 1/2 way around it, easy to get to, impossible to clear.

Controlled burns are one way to clear the debris.

What can we do? Nothing isn't the answer, we have to start with priorities, protect the people. To begin the focus should be on making sure the wilderness areas surrounding the small cities and towns have all of the support from the Federal and State Governments possible. The budgets for maintenance, prevention, and firefighting needs to be increased, as well as the realization that we are in a virtual war with these monsters. The finger pointing needs to stop, all of these entities that have been created to deal with this catastrophe need to realize we are all in this boat together and pull together. The Utility Company should not be a for-profit company where profits for the shareholders outweigh the concerns of our population, they should be state-run, abolishing the Public Utilities Commision should be on the list.

Luckily the environmental groups, Federal and State Governments, and Lumber companies are all realizing we have been addressing the fires wrong for a long time and are beginning to work together. Money is only part of the solution, we would be able to make a considerable amount of headway if state commissions were to be formed with the intent to investigate, and offer some ideas as to the best practices to reduce these incidents, they will never be completely eliminated.

In the short term, we will cherish the rain, curse the floods and landslides, the unfortunate victims of the latest fires will begin to rebuild, and the politicians will be politicians. Thanks for reading and sharing, if you have anything to add leave a comment. Thanks again, it's a big area to maintain.

jacquesLebec  emergencykitsplus.com

Wildfire causes, arson or natural must be investigated, witnesses must be questioned 20 are listed.

“Why do you have a cigarette lighter in your glove compartment?" her husband, Jack, asked her. "I'm bored with knitting. I've taken up arson”
― Audrey Niffenegger, Her Fearful Symmetry

Arson is difficult to prove if we are a witness the odds will
be improved. 

It is late in the season for a wildfire to be on every resident of the Western United States mind. The rain we had over the winter, coupled with the mild temperatures of springtime led to an abundance of tall grass, weeds, and undergrowth. The winter rains have been followed by days of temperatures exceeding 100 degrees F, rapidly drying out the landscape.

Many of the fires are suspected to be "Arson", which is defined as "the intentional act with the intent to start a fire solely for the purpose of destroying a structure." Some are lit for vengeance, some for insurance settlements and some are set by people just to see stuff burn. There are many psychological explanations for the causes of a person becoming an arsonist. Finding them, proving arson and conviction are difficult in the least.

There is another side of fires, whether they are arson or not, wildfire or city fire, the people who are the first to come upon a fire, are considered "witnesses".

In the event that you observe a fire being started, or shortly after, you have just become a witness. It is not your decision to determine if what you saw is valuable to understanding what took place, the fire inspector will decide that. After identifying ourselves to authorities as a witness we will be expected to tell investigators what was seen, smelled, heard, and observed. When lives and property have been damaged one of the worst things to do is to walk away after being a witness without telling anyone what you saw, the information you have is important. It's in society's best interest to have every fire solved, and any cause identified, we can all help by volunteering what we see to the fire inspectors.

There are two types of witnesses:

1) People who see the fire as it is started, or arrived within minutes afterward.

2) People who were not on the scene and not close enough to see what happened, these individuals are familiar with the area of the fire the buildings, terrain, and they are more aware of people that frequent the area.

Fire inspectors are meticulous. 

Witnesses in category 1 are able to describe either how it started (if they saw it) or the speed and direction of the fire spreading after the first ignition. Sometimes a witness is someone that smells smoke then opens a door and is met with fire.

Some questions asked by the fire inspector may include:

1) Were you there when the fire started? If so explain what you saw prior to the fire starting, what were the conditions leading up to the fire starting.

2) When you initially saw the fire what did you see?

3) What action did you take after you realized a fire had started?

4)  What is your experience with the area?  Do you know of any hazards that were in existence prior to the fire starting?

5) Did you notice any paint, chemicals or combustibles in the area?

6)  When you first saw the fire, what color was it, how did it act, how hot was it, was it moving rapidly? You as a witness will be asked a lot of questions, with plenty of time to think and answer them.

7)  Did the fire smell abnormal, what color was the smoke, was there a lot of smoke?

8)  Do you know where the fire started?

9)  Were any people in the vicinity when you first noticed the fire? Do you know them, if so who were they?

10) Did you notice if anyone else was present? If so what were they doing? Were there cars in the vicinity, did any drive by, if so can you identify them?

Who, what, where, when and how is the line of questions to be asked, basic yet important to the investigations.

(Follow this Link to read more on how to be a good witness.)

As the primary witness write down what you saw at the earliest possible opportunity, do not remain in the area to gather this information, your first duty is to stay out of harm's way.  A request may be made to record your findings, that is a voluntary choice to be made by you. Contact may be made with the fire inspectors after the emergency phase is over, it will be studied for several weeks.

The witnesses in the 2nd category have information on how the fire spread, however, the most important information they have is of residence. These witnesses most of the time have information pertaining to the conditions of the area prior to the fire. Knowledge of suspicious activities, feuds, arguments, threats and the like. If the local that suffered the loss is a business many times employees are 2nd category witnesses.

Huge crowd, how many are witnesses?

Some other questions they may be asked are:

1) Did you discover the fire, did someone tell you? How did you find out about the fire?

2) What time of day did you first discover the fire?

3) Did you call and report the fire? If so what was the conversation? Did they initiate any activities that you know of?

4) Tell us what you saw at the fire scene, everything you can remember.

5) Did you see anyone in the area, near the building, in the field or walking by? Do you know them, did they look familiar?

6) Why were you there? There will be numerous questions pertaining to your activities in the direct area and how familiar you are with it.

7) What goes on around here during the day and night? Did anything out of the ordinary occur that day, week, or month? This is where the true value of a local resident is important, people are astute and notice when situations are out of order.

8) What time did you come upon the fire? Are you sure of the time?

9) Do you know the people normally here? Do you converse with them? Are you on friendly terms with them?

10) Have you observed any suspicious activities or people merely "hanging around" over the past few months?

 (Follow this Link for an explanation of Witness Statements)

Normally there will be more questions than you have answers, just relax and be truthful everything will be fine. It is best at the first opportunity to write down all you remember about the event, everything, and don't hold back. The investigator will ask for your contact information, it is rare during an investigation to not come upon the need for more questions to be addressed.

In summary, it is good practice to be forthcoming and completely honest with the investigators, they truly do work in the interest of society. Their main goal is to discover the cause of the fire and if it is arson, the perpetrators are held accountable. Whether a wildfire or a city fire, if you discover it, call 911, before doing so know where you are. Street address, city, as well as your name and telephone number. Knowing what to expect will remove some stress out of what could prove to be a trying situation. This brief description is close to what will take place if you are a witness.

Thanks for reading and sharing, the chances of becoming a witness to arson is fairly low, but it is incredibly important if you are. To report as a witness is entirely voluntary.

jacquesandkate  emergencykitsplus.com

Wildfire, what are our government agencies and utilities doing to improve response? A lot read about it here.

Smoke follows beauty we said around campfires, if that is so everyone in California must be extremely pretty, it's following all of us. 

Wildfires are bad news every summer in the western U.S.

The sky is once again filled with smoke the fires are 100 miles north, and are burning with minimal controlled. Northern California is on fire again, the wind is up, the air is dry, and the terrain is dried, perfect conditions for these events. 145,000 acres have been eaten up by the Campfire. (It is as of Sunday 11/18/18 55% contained.) The Northern California Utility, Pittsburg Gas, and Electric have developed a new strategy, and I don't blame them. The origin of last years fires are firmly placed in their lap. The cause of ignitions of seventeen of the states 21 wildfires during the 2017-2018 season have been placed on the giant company. Being human we always need someone or something to blame for everything that takes place. Most of the time it is the taxpayers that end up footing the bill. In this article, we will explore the relationship between Wildfires, their possible causes, and what proactive measures are being exercised.

(Follow this Link for insight on Smokey Bears prevention of wildfires tips)

90% of wildfires are caused by humans due to campfires being left unattended, burning of debris, or arson being common sources. Most fires can be traced to the point they originated, the causes are identifiable. Arson is a different story, the perpetrators are very rarely identified, about the only way is through eye-witness accounts. Lightning, machinery sparks, and electrical distribution failures are other common wildfire starters.

Wildfires can start anywhere, the largest of them begin in isolated areas where there are few humans to sound the alarm. Forested areas, grasslands, and residential areas adjacent to isolated wild areas are typical of places where they begin. Discarded cigarettes tossed next to roads cause many fires, as do neglected campfires.

They start any time of the year, although the most common time is during the hot summer months when the landscape dries out. Low humidity, high winds, and hot temperatures are prime conditions for the blazes to start. Winds contribute greatly to the intensity and the speed of travel, the Campfire burning now in Northern California has destroyed the entire city of Paradise.

The wind gusts between 25 and 50 miles per hour during the summer months, winds as high as 80 miles per hour are not real common, however when they do occur the fires are impossible to control. The winds gain velocity when they are directed through the valleys, canyons, and over the top of steep hills.

PG&E has initiated the "Wildfire Center", a new department dedicated to preventing wildfires caused by their equipment. Two days prior to the Campfire starting the Utility issued a warning they were studying if the service would be disconnected. The assumption was by many people (myself included) they had made the decision to do just that. That was not reality, the electrical service remained on, 2 hours before the fire started an interruption in a line close to the epicenter was reported. It is still too soon to commit any resources to uncover the causes, leaving it an unknown if they are culpable. The new Department has been designed to reduce fires, PG&E distributed a statement defining their intent, this is a direct quote as reported on the Yuba.net website.

“For your safety, it may be necessary for us to temporarily turn off electricity to your neighborhood or community when extreme fire danger conditions occur. We know how much you rely on reliable electric service and would only consider temporarily turning off power in the interest of safety, and as a last resort. If we need to turn off your power, we will attempt to contact you in advance to ensure you have enough time to prepare. We will also provide updates until power is restored.”

A downpour is a firefighters dream during the fire season.
The dream may come true as early as Monday in the North,
the prediction for Southern California is much more positive.

What does "Extreme fire danger conditions" mean in a real-world situation? Critically dry vegetation, low relative humidity, and a period of high winds. The decision will be the conclusion of an involved discussion including how large an area is affected. It is a step in the right direction if just one wildfire is prevented the new procedure and formation of the Wildfire Center will be well worth the effort. This is the first wildfire season this new program has been involved with, it will get better.

California Fires mission is to prevent wildfires, they are active in a variety of preventative measures of which they undertake throughout the year. Vegetation management, engineering of wildlands before fires begin, along with education and law enforcement are some of the tasks they are actively involved in. Firebreak construction, reduction of fuel, and controlled burning of areas of extreme fire danger conditions.  Cal Fire clears brush in communities, roadsides, and evacuation routes. Planning comes into play as well, emergency evacuations must be planned and practiced well before an event occurs. The implication of the State Fire Plan, fire investigations to determine the origination and cause, arson investigations, and supporting local governments wildfire planning are all included under their umbrella. Cal Fire is active in the education of the public through social media, as well as school presentations, fair exhibits, flyers, posters, television commercials, and any other means of informing as many citizens as possible. Their efforts to reduce the outbreak of fires, making the programs well worth the expense, time, and energy.

The state of California has spent $250 million over the past 10 year period dedicated to cleaning up the wildlands. That's a fairly large investment, one that we can only assume has reduced the damage of the fires. That is impossible to judge, we will never know how much it helped, but it most certainly must have. A bill has been introduced in the state Legislature to allocate $750 million over the next ten years, it may be raised to $1 billion. The Federal Government will reimburse the state $388 million. It's a good commitment at $75 million per year.

The U.S. Forest Service program is called "The Firewise Program", a multi-agency department created to assist homeowners, community leaders, planners, and developers. Organizing and working together in their effort to protect people, property, and natural resources from the wildfire outbreaks. The Firewise program encourages wildfire readiness, encourages wildfire conscience community designs. The recommendation of the use of fire-resistant building materials, wildfire resistant landscaping, and prevention methods. The forest service is active in every state of the Union, aviation, communications, fire science are all part of the service. The "Ready, Set, Go!" program enables residents to prepare for wildfires, knowledge of what to do when an evacuation is in order, and conducting an organized successful evacuation.

(Follow this Link to learn more about the "Firewise Program".)

Wildfires in the west affect all of us living here, during the summer months the air is constantly filled with smoke. It is late in the season, zero rainfall has created extreme dry conditions, with the introduction of the "Diablo" (Northern Calif.) and "Santa Ana" (Southern Calif.) winds combining to become a perfect storm. Yesterday the sun was obscured by it, each day that passes introduces another that is more smoke filled. Yesterday visibility was 1/2 mile, today it is 1/4 of a mile. The degradation of the air is evident, the smoke has nowhere to go. (This morning visibility is 50 feet, but it's mixed with a measure of fog.)

Fire prevention agencies have reached the point that the wildfires are accurately predictable, under certain conditions which PG&E defines as "Extreme fire danger conditions", and recognizable to most people residing here. They have achieved such a high level of prediction that with the Campfire predictions the fire started shortly after it was issued. (within 24 hours)

San Francisco, 11/15/2018

I wonder how many are started by an arsonist, a man was arrested last year for starting the fire in Southeastern Colorado from a campfire left unattended. The Concord fire of last year was started when a vehicle pulled off the road experiencing trouble, it ignited a blaze. We know they are coming, its good to know that there are public and private entities working together to reduce, and hopefully at some time put an end to them. Arson is a subject for another blog, my next one.

( Link to a commercially available Wildfire Emergency Kit.)

Thank you for reading and sharing this article, leave a comment or story, and take a look around to make sure you are in a good position if a fire begins near you.

jacquesandkate emergencykitsplus.com

the Air Quality Index explained as well as 10 precautions to take when in a wildfire smoke filled area.

Smoke from the Campfire blaze is shrouding San Francisco.

Smoke has invaded the entire San Francisco Bay area, it is gathering in the valleys trapped by the mountains and an air dam at the Golden Gate. A high-pressure area forms at sea just west of the city, normally it brings in warm temperatures and no wind in that position. It does drive the Diablo wind further north, right where the Campfire is burning. It takes it's position several times a year, during the summer months high temperatures are the immediate result. But it presents a different situation to the north, and it's not very far it causes winds 100 miles from the Bay. This configuration will continue according to the weather forecasts until Thanksgiving.

It is an intense shroud of smoke, during normal situations the visibility is at least 20 miles, today it is about 400-600 yards. It is getting worse, today is the unhealthiest day as of yet since the Campfire has started. San Francisco and Sacramento are each experiencing an unhealthy air quality index rating of over 300, normally during a wildfire it is half of that rate. The index was created for reporting on the daily air quality, it is listed on the weather page of the local newspaper, and mentioned during the weather reports on television as well. Air Quality Index tracks five major air pollutants, ozone on the ground, the number of particle pollutants, Carbon Monoxide, Sulfur Dioxide, and Nitrogen Dioxide. In this country, ground-level ozone and particulate matter are the greatest threats for those with compromising health issues. The AQI is based on a scale of 500, the higher the number the higher the threat. A reading of 25 designates the air as being "Good", whereas an Index number of 300 earns a "Hazardous" rating, there are six categories:

1) 0-50 symbolized in green the air quality is "Good", air quality is at a level that poses little or no risk.

2) 51-100 is designated in yellow and is a "Moderate" range. Air quality in this range is considered to be acceptable, those more sensitive to air pollution may suffer some symptoms.

3) 101-150 Color is Orange having an "Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups" label. Those of us who are in sensitive groups may exhibit some symptoms, but the majority will be unaffected.

4) 151-200 Red means it is "Unhealthy. Everyone may possibly experience adverse effects on their health, heart patients, and those with respiratory illnesses should stay indoors and when not should wear a respirator mask.

5) 301-500 Maroon in color and has the highest rating and title "Hazardous". The most unhealthy rating and the most dangerous, the incidences of stroke, heart attack and respiratory failure increase during this alert range.

The Good and Moderate index ratings are safe for everyone, working outdoors is OK as well as all other outdoor activities. When the ratings enter the 101-500 ranges persons with health issues are at extreme risk. Levels above 500, they do occur, are outside of the Air Quality Index's sphere, definitely, the precautions for the "Hazardous" category should be adhered to.

The air quality index is used throughout the Country.

Three groups of people are considered to be at the greatest risk when in a wildfire smoke area:

* People diagnosed with Heart disease, Lung illnesses, Asthma or Chronic Bronchitis.

* Older Adults due to them having an increased risk of heart and lung diseases are more likely to be affected by the smoke. It may be just enough to initiate a coronary issue or a flare-up.

* Children's respiratory systems are developing they breath more air per pound of body weight than adults, as well as spending more time out of doors places them in the high-risk category.

We can take some measures to reduce our risk from the smoke;

* Keeping track of the local weather reports, normally wildfires take center stage during the news broadcast, pay particular attention to the Air Quality Index report. Be familiar with the manner it is reported, most stations have their own unique way of describing their broadcast areas, learn them.

(Link to an explanation of the AQI)

* Visibility can serve as a guide, we all know how far we can see on a clear day, and we notice when that visibility is restricted, if we pay attention it will give us an advanced warning. Most communities have in place monitors that measure the distance that is visible, we hear them when the fog rolls in, snow storms, and of course wildfire smoke. Visually determining the cleanliness of the air is a viable way to determine if we are at risk.

* Secure all of our doors and windows with the goal of keeping the air indoors as clean as possible. The air conditioner may be run but close the outside air intake and make sure all filters are clean which will prevent the contaminated outside air from entering. If an air conditioner is not available and it is too hot to remain indoors, seek a designated evacuation center or leave to an unaffected location.

* Don't burn candles, have a fire in the fireplace, or run gas stoves as they will increase the indoor pollution. Vacuuming will cause particles already inside the house to become airborne adding to the particulate matter in the room. Smoking will also increase the level of contamination, it's a good time to quit.

* Construct the wildfire safety zone around the home if the residence is in a rural area. A 100-foot area cleared around the house is recommended, placing a sprinkler on your roof will help protect it from flying embers and will keep the pollutants down helping to keep them from entering through windows and air leaks.

* Prevent the wildfires from starting, when we are camping, hiking or having a picnic be certain to build the campfire in a safe manner, upon leaving them make double sure they are completely extinguished. Check with the Rangers or local fire department if a campfire is allowed.

* Follow the Doctors orders, plan to evacuate if you are an at-risk person.

* Dust mask are for blocking large particles, the paper mask is slightly better than nothing but should not be relied upon to block all particles from entering the respiratory system. They do not block the PM10 of which smoke is mostly made of, our best choice is to purchase a "half face mask" with appropriate filters. By all means, if the paper mask is all that is available wear one.

The N95 mask, some have mesh some do not, they are not the best protection
however, they are better than being without one.

* If told to evacuate, go, do not hesitate or argue with the messenger he is there to save our lives.

* Purchase air purifiers, it is not necessary to have one that purifies the entire house. All it has to do is clean the air in the room (s) that are occupied, calculate the square footage of an area easily blocked off and make certain the filter is able to process that much air. It is less expensive to purchase units that will clean a small room if more than one is to be used. One that will purify 150 sq feet is fine for a bedroom, when ganged together two will purify 300 square feet for 1/2 the cost of a 400 sq ft unit.

* All smoke ends up on the ground, protect yourself after the fire and the smoke event. When involved in the cleanup efforts continue to wear the respirator, gloves, goggles, long pants, and all other safety equipment.

The 3M "half mask" positively eliminates the small particulates contained in smoke.

Wildfires are increasing in the number of occurrences, the intensity of the fires, and the area they are engulfing producing more smoke than ever before. That smoke is a combination of the gases released by burning trees, grasses and other fuel in the forest and the structures they burn down. It irritates our eyes, changes our voices when it infiltrates our respiratory systems, and worsen chronic conditions such as heart and lung disease. The wild areas are bone dry and will remain so until the rains begin, the chance of them starting are at an extremely high level right now. Be attentive of warning of wildfires, instigate proactive measures to protect yourself all year round. Take the warnings seriously, these fires are fast moving and terribly destructive. Take some actions to protect yourself from the smoke.

Thanks for reading and sharing, when in a wildfire area we must practice caution in everything we do from parking on the shoulder of the road to starting a campfire, we can do a lot to mitigate the dangers. Thanks again.

JacquesLebec Emergencykitsplus.com 

Wildfires give us one minute to escape with our lives, this is how to get out in one minute.

                                  Failure to Plan is a Plan to Fail.

The Campfire yesterday 11-13-18

Thirteen wildfires are now burning throughout the state of California, some on their way to containment, others cannot be approached yet. Fires of the magnitudes of these currently burning are unprecedented, the state is experienced with them, however, they continue to become more intense, larger, and unpredictable. They burn fast, one report stated the Campfire was burning the length of 80 football fields a minute (4.5 miles 7.25 Kilometers) 90 miles per hour (145 kph). Once the fires reach a home the residents have one minute to get out and be on their way to safety. We hear and read a lot about being prepared for evacuation and all of the gear we need to grab before we go, it can be overwhelming. By the time a wildfire reaches our doorstep, it is far too late to decide what to take along that is of the utmost of importance. We don't have time for that, there is only time to save our lives. Our thinking needs to be adjusted a little bit, and in some cases a change of thought is monumental.

(Follow this Link to FEMA's page on Wildfires)

We should accept the fact that a one minute escape is possible when pre-planning is performed. It will take a paradigm shift, the new planning and preparations will become a major part of our lifestyles, some tasks we perform every night, others twice a year. The one-minute escape plan precludes our normal family disaster planning, it is in effect a plan "B" which is relevant to other natural disasters as well. We won't have time to secure every valuable possession in the home, but we will be able to save ourselves. When is the appropriate time to begin to think in the one-minute escape mindset? Today, we will begin.

Use a FEMA template and put together a family disaster plan, the full-scale one includes every item on the list. This is one of those things that doesn't change, we still need a written plan, when tasks are written down we have a tendency to remember them better. The plan will include all of the issues we should be paying close attention to when an emergency begins, some disasters we will have time to exercise all of them, others as in the one-minute plan, won't. One of the most critical reasons to make a plan is to practice it with the family and other household members. During times of stress, we will follow our instincts, and after practicing our emergency plan it will be committed to memory, becoming instinctive. Every item will not be remembered during a catastrophic event, but enough of it will be to enable our escape. It will bring a sense of order to a confusing situation that many of us have never experienced before.  Even at that, the disasters that call for an emergency plan to be constructed will give us about 5 minutes to prepare for what is on the way, but it will not address the need to get out right now.

(FEMA's family planning Link)

Included in the plan should be an out of area contact number to leave messages. Everyone in the area will be on their cell phones when the event is in full swing, the local lines will be jammed up, after a short while the cell towers will not be working. Texting may work, it doesn't use as much airspace compared to a cell phone, most likely all text lines will be jammed as well. Not so with out of area numbers, choosing one out of state may be a wiser choice, mine is a brother in Minnesota. Call once, then after 4-5 hours leave another message and pick up those that are for you.

Now we can get into what makes up our every night tasks that make up our one minute plan:

Charge the Cell Phone every night before retiring, plug it in before bedtime allowing enough time for it to become fully charged. Every member of the household should do likewise, and charge the auxiliary charger as well, they are available online and in most big box variety stores. The charger need not be fancy, one that will provide 3 charges is fairly standard unless it is convenient do not worry about the charging cords and box, just charge the unit.

Make sure it is charged each evening before bedtime.

Keep a leash handy for the family pets, whether it is a dog or a cat panic will set in for them. Dogs have a tendency to panic, causing them to run fast, and far, most of them will never be seen again. Cats, on the other hand, are a mixed bag, some panic and run, others will stay close to the house and hide, often they survive. It is much better and safer for the animals to keep them on a leash, there is no time to place them in a carrier, we'll be lucky to have time to put the leash on them. Place the restrainer in a pocket as well, that way we know where it is.

Prior to bedtime set up the bed to enable an escape, each family member must do it. Next to the bed set up a complete set of clothing, shoes (leather are best), long sleeve shirt, cotton slacks, socks, a hat, and jacket. In the pockets fill them up with your cell phone, charger, a pocket knife, the family disaster plan card, and car keys. (placing a set of keys in one pocket of everyone's jacket is a good idea) Clothing with a lot of pockets will allow more items of importance to be included, in a family of four that is a lot of pockets and a lot of articles. Medication must be in one of the pockets, it is advisable to set up a weekly pill organizer, put it in a pocket. In another pocket sunglasses and readers may be placed, another of the rear pants pocket place your wallet. In the one minute plan, we don't place an emergency kit next to the bed, we have another spot for it.

It's often difficult to do and remember but it is important to keep the vehicles fuel tank 1/2 full, it will be enough to get us far away. Normal maintenance at the prescribed intervals is sufficient to be sure the car is in suitable condition to escape. The vehicle's trunk is the spot for our supplies, whether it is an emergency kit or a supply put together by us makes no difference. This is where to put the case of water, some granola bars and whatever equipment we each feel we will need to survive. There is a good chance the vehicle will be destroyed and we will have to run ahead of the flames, it is best to expect that scenario.

Learn how to open the garage door when the power is out, normally there is a rope that disengages the drive from the door. That rope has a red handle, pull it then drag the door towards the wall, pull hard at first then it will fly open. Closing the door after the car is out is best practice, but that takes a few precious seconds which could be the difference between life and death. Besides the house is most likely a complete loss so why risk our lives to preserve the adobe for a few more minutes.

Pull down and then pull away from the door, it will take an effort to
get it moving.

Write a one-minute escape plan also, events will unfold too fast to read it, but with practice, it will be second nature. Reading through the plan once a week at first, continuing with monthly readings will commit it to memory, simply walking through the plan will take less than a minute after it has been done a few times. Talk about it, practice it and fix any discrepancies before it is needed, remember the one-minute plan is merely to get us out of the door, everything behind that door is dynamic and unpredictable. Decisions will have to be made within seconds, the pressure will be immense. What we have in our pockets and on our backs is all we will escape with, our material items will be lost, hopefully, the homeowners will cover it.

People with disabilities and the elderly have special needs, one person in the household must be assigned to assist them. I am disabled, my walking distance is 50 feet, that's it, we also have my 95-year-old mother in law with us. Writing down a one-minute escape plan is of the utmost importance to a household like ours. But we are fortunate because both my mother-in-law and I are mobile, my scooter is just outside the door. Other households have a situation where a person is bed-ridden, these are the truly at-risk people. In these cases, the one-minute plan turns into a one-day escape plan, as far as wildfires are concerned. When the weather bureau predicts high winds and dry conditions it is usually made public several days before the wind event occurs. Our electric utility will begin to investigate whether we are at risk for wildfires and if the service will be secured, if the prediction is ripe for the fires to start, perhaps that is when we should leave.

(FEMA's page on the evacuation of disabled persons. Link )

The spirit of the one-minute escape plan is to get out of the house, at that point nothing else matters. That is also the point we accept that all is lost, to leave my guitar behind will be a life-changing event, but not as much as the wildfire. The guitar stays, there were a million made all those years ago, more are available. This is where reality hits us hard, just the thought of losing everything is tough to think of, but it must be accepted. Our priorities are of the living kind, Children, Wife, Mother-in-law, Pets, and then Me everything else is on the back burner and will be lost. There will be plenty of time to lament over the unbearable loss, but you know what we will survive. The object is to realize the threat of a flaming infernal traveling towards us at breakneck speeds demanding our reaction to be swift and sure. Developing a one minute plan will serve to address that situation, indeed just realizing it is a very real situation is a giant step forward, it doesn't promise we will all escape but it will surely increase our chances.

Thanks for reading and sharing my blog, the human suffering continues there are 13 wildfires burning (Link) as this is being written making it impossible to keep up with them all. People are dying, the property is being destroyed, and the emergency response is exemplary, there is no comparison to any other actions being performed. These people are amazing, they are actually fighting a war when the conditions don't allow them to fight the fires they are saving people, what an amazing group of people. The suffering of the victims makes my problems insignificant. Thanks again.

JacquesLebec  emergencykitsplus.com