What is your reaction when it is raining, sometimes it's just rain and others it is rain, read the difference.

Rain may extinguish the problems of the day, but if we are not careful, it may wash everything away. 

The Western States rainy season often is the cause of flash floods, mudslides, sinkholes, and washouts. But the rain isn't really the problem, we get good rainfall like this year is shaping up to be every 7-10 years and that is a problem.

Two heavy rain years in a row are not typical, but not all that unusual either and after the cycle is completed a new drought will most likely begin. During the lack of rainfall during the following years causes the entire state to dry out completely, it may be why the motto is "The Golden State". Debris piles up in the drainage canals, river and lake shores. It all floats downstream and clogs something up, then water backs up and voila, a washout, or a flood.

When excessive rain has fallen on the farms of the central valley dikes are built along the roads and rural highways. Water is diverted down them to the Central Valley Bypass, or into ponding basins created by the farmers, too much water is far from being a blessing. If it would perk down to the water table that would be a solution, but because the big valley has two layers of clay, known as "hardpan" it takes a long time for it to make it to that level. Instead, the liquid lays on the top of the underground dams forcing it to rise to levels just below the surface. Selenium (salt) rises to the top of the soil and will continue to for the summer. Selenium will kill any crops planted in the fields, to answer this dilemma underground drains are laid to enable the water to be directed off the fields into ponding basins, that creates another problem. Toxic water is expensive to deal with, it contains not only the natural salts but chemicals used in the fields such as fertilizer, pest, and weed control.

On the 3 miles long dead-end road our house is on, three huge eucalyptus trees (3-4 foot diameter) fell across the road during a particularly brutal storm. People on the wrong side (both sides are the wrong side if you think about it) had a 3-hour delay waiting, and helping to clear the road. That's when it pays to have a kit in your trunk, water, granola bars, and extra clothes as a minimum.  A sleeping bag, flashlight, water, jumper cables, and collapsible shovel are a few items a person may stage. In this case, a few people had chainsaws in their trucks, that is not so rare in rural or country areas.

In a situation like the fallen trees, one goal is to be in a position to help, some communities like ours are self-sufficient, county services take a long time to respond. Sheriffs Deputies, EMT, and Fire responses are all fairly quick, but road service and utility responses take a considerable amount of time.


House fires are a different cut altogether when the fire is between where traffic is stopped and our homes, we are stuck until it is extinguished, there is one way in and one way out. That has happened to me, there is nothing that can be done, it's a night in the car in most cases. It's important to determine the difference between predicaments and plan accordingly, we cannot predict when an event like home fires may occur but we can certainly prepare for them. In the tree situation, it's OK to park your car and walk home in the rain if there is somewhere to park it, and only if you are prepared for a long walk in the rain.

Though it is within no more than 3 miles from home the situation has the ability to become a life or death predicament. In a driving rainstorm walking next to a river, in the dark with no lights may be a terrible choice. During a snow stranded situation it's best to not to attempt to walk out, even if it's a short distance. I parked in a lot of the Post Office during one house fire, which afforded me a clear view of the fire across a pasture which is more than a mile wide. Others parked there as well, neighbors most of us knew one another, and met those new to us. We got word within a few hours that a path had been made for cars to get by the emergency vehicles and make it home.

 An inexpensive source of heat to keep in the trunk is a candle, a small clay flower pot and the basin that goes under it. Place the candle on the basin, light it and cover it with the pot. Make sure to have a gap under the pot to allow air to flow. It may keep a person from freezing. The candle will consume oxygen, however just to be safe crack a window. When running the engine of the car to maintain warmth lower two windows at least one inch to aid in air circulation.

Last year in a rural California County, a school bus carrying children was driving down a state highway in the rain, this is a road in the middle of nowhere. It divides huge farms on the west side of the valley. A power pole fell over with the conductors draped over the bus, bringing nine more poles down with it, the domino effect. The bus driver had all the kids stay in their seats not touching anything metal until the Utility arrived and cleared the lines. That bus driver may have, and most likely did, keep the kids safe and alive, he is an extremely astute man. I know that area well, I worked for an electrical producing station not far from that near disaster. Some of those electric lines carry 15,000 volts, terrible in any conditions but much worse in the rain with deep puddles everywhere. It's best to assume every electrical line is "live", 15 kilovolts can jump a long way to ground. The ground may be through a person. Stay well clear of downed power lines, if a person is down with a line over them, do not touch the wire, or the person, he may have been electrocuted. Water and Electrical current are not a good combination.

(click here for advice on power line safety.

The rain is a blessing out in the Western U.S., back East they seem to always get more than the lions share, the Midwest rains are often combined with Tornadoes or sleet. Driving through Nebraska during a summer cloudburst will definitely make a person realize how important it is to be prepared for it.

As with every emergency, even if it seems minor, an hour or two of pre-planning and then taking a survey of the situation when it is underway may be a deciding factor in making a choice to avoid it becoming deadly. Each Catastrophe' is unique, preplanning, then taking a few seconds to size up what is happening is a good way to keep from panicking and stressing out by using a logical plan. Planning and practicing it builds confidence, and adds to our self-awareness, which is the ability to know our limitations, and when to find help.

I am thankful I don't have to work in it any longer except during emergencies, but even at that, I'm not a big help. Placing ourselves in the position of being able to help victims during a disaster is a goal we should be working towards. Most disasters that occur are isolated and affect few families for the long term, in the case of house fires one family suffers for about two years until the home is rebuilt. The rest of us, however, are inconvenienced for several hours, until we return home and maintain our normal lifestyle. It is prudent to build a plan, pack a commuter kit for your trunk, most of us are more prepared for a delayed commute than we realize, and learn to recognize the severity of situations to determine whether to sit it out or look for other alternatives.

Thanks for reading now spread it far and wide, this is important stuff, it may save our lives. Thanks again.

JacquesLebec           emergencykitsplus.com