Here are 7 things to do after you receive your emergency kit supplies, are you prepared or worried? Get ready read this:

    Freeze dried emergency food, that is a long mouthful description. It is also referred to as "freeze dried backpacking food". It's what is commonly included in a commercially packed disaster evacuation kit, or a "grab and go", "bug out bag" or simply as an "emergency pack." So after you purchase your three day kit, what in the heck do you do with it? The kits have a lot of items in them;
    1) The first thing to do is to unpack the contents and read the descriptions. Take an inventory, get to know what each item is, which items you should use first to last. There will be some items not in the kit that you would like to add, so add them. Each kit ends up being a "custom" kit, the basics, water, lights, a poncho and a way to start a fire are some of the rudimentary items in the kit. You may want to add extra clothes, a small stove (some kits have a small stove included), and a way to purify water. If you're like me, I added a pot to boil water, and coffee and a cup.

It doesn't have to be fancy, only effective. Now to find
a solar coffee bean grinder. 

    2) Whatever kind of pack you choose, make sure it fits you, in the event that an evacuation is required we don't want to adjust it on the way out the door. Make sure the children's packs fit them, if it's a rolling bag make sure you and your child know how it works. Be certain to keep your packs in a convenient spot that is easy for the person responsible to access, practice going to it and putting it on or pulling it out the door. Be sure not to over pack it, all zippers must be secured and closed, if a second bag is needed for one person a backpack and a rolling bag may just be the ticket. You don't want articles hanging out exposing it to the weather. Doesn't it seem emergency's have a tendency to happen at about 2 am? Make the kits as easy as possible to grab.
    3) Not every event mandates evacuation to a remote place, sure floods, collapse of the home, house or apartment fire and the like depending on the amount of damage are common evacuation disasters. A disaster may occur many miles from your location and still cause a utility outage that lasts many days, possibly even weeks. Many times a utility outage can go on for days on end, allowing you to stay in the home. In a case like that the contents of the 3 day evacuation pack should be used last, relying on food in your pantry until it runs out.
   4) You know you can rely on your camping equipment, that camp stove is a very universal device. I prefer liquid fueled stoves, typically they are called "dual fuel" meaning they can operate with unleaded regular gas or readily available stove fuel. The limiting factor on a camp stoves use is the fuel, propane is fine however you will store more liquid fuel in the same space as a "gas bottle". Fire starting compounds can be used for many outdoor activities. We heat our house with wood pellets complimenting it with a wood burning stove on the 3rd level.
 

Over kill for me in the desert, but not if you live in
the Northern locals. 

5) Heat, the pellet stove we use can be rigged up to run off of a 12 volt car battery. That will dictate keeping a way to charge the battery, a solar cell or a small turbine could be used. Honestly we most likely would use the wood burning stove exclusively, reacquiring wood. How much firewood to keep on hand? It depends on where you live, in the north during a blizzard a great amount will be required. Where as in the southern deserts you will need much less.
   6) If your kit contains freeze dried food, vegetables and meat, the meals can be extended by making soup. Packets normally contain 1 meal, some contain as many as 8 servings each. One package of vegetables, one of meat and a little bit of rice in 1 1/2 gallons of water will make a very good soup, a little salt and pepper will do wonders.
    7) Flashlights and lanterns, make sure to have a few extra battery's if your's is not a solar or wind up type of light. Some emergency lights are solar, some you have to crank and some are multi-powered. A real good direction to go, and a lot of kits have them, is a radio, light and charger combined. There are also lights that create electrical current (Tea Lights is one common name), they are expensive but it all depends on your personal needs. My indulgence may just be a propane powered coffee pot, we're all different, customize your kit, make it your's. If your kit provides 80% of your needs, you are doing better than 90% of everyone else.  Kit suggestions click here.

Tea lamp, Burns candles, makes enough electrical energy
to charge your cell phone, or flashlight. 

    Our goal at EmergencyKitsPlus.com is to help you make it through the initial three days of a catastrophic occurrence. There is a chance the event can last for several days longer, or even several weeks. We suggest taking care of the immediate emergency now, and slowly building up your long range food inventory over several months or a year or two. Preparing for an event can become an overwhelming experience, depending on the amount of preparation you want to make. We will help with all of your needs for survival, but first let's concentrate on the shortest preparation needed. If we get past the first phase (3 days plus perhaps) we will be doing great. So get prepared today, look through EmergencyKitsPlus.com, email us with questions and together we will make it through the next event with your emergency kit supplies.
    Thank you for reading the blog, I hope it helped clear some things up, maybe simplify the choices, hopefully inspire you to get prepared and stay prepared today.

Thanks jimandkate  emergencykitsplus.com   emergency preparedness supplies 

    It is impossible to predict when we will be faced with an evacuation emergency. There is however some things we can make part of our everyday lives to make an unpredictable event more manageable when it raises it's ugly head and starts to breath fire. A few of the emergency's are Wildfire, Earthquake, Flood, Home fire and Hurricanes, most will dictate relocating for a least a short while.  More on descriptions of natural disasters here.

    Living in a large City presents it's own unique challenges, this is written as if a person just left the home to walk to a market two blocks away when en-route an incident occurs. I will write today about the things we can be pre-planning as the basic tenets of our evacuation. Here are six things we can do:

Happiness is being prepared.

    1: Buy a water tight fire proof safe for important documents. In it should be Passports, Birth Certificates, Cash Money, Insurance Documents, and any papers or documents that are not available to be reproduced anywhere. Once the documents are in the safe you will not have to worry about them again.
   

This may be a bit over sized for our use. 

2: Make a plan, make several plans, one for different circumstances. For instance if you are walking to the market a few blocks away, your spouse is working and you have a child in school, you are all separated. Make sure you have a way to communicate that you are alright. One very good way is to have an out of the area relative as a contact, everyone calls this person to relay the message that you are OK. Most likely the local cell phone frequencies will be completely jammed up, but numbers out of the area will be open.
     3: Before you leave the house, put your dog in the yard, be certain your cat has a way out, install a doggy door or another safe pet door. I have a neighbor that was moving into a house that they had just had remodeled. On the first day of their move in they decided to go to lunch, they locked the place up with their pet dogs inside. While they were gone the Utility Company turned the electric service on and after checking it out they left. The house burned to the ground in about 15 minutes after the workers left, both dogs were lost in the fire. It definitely can and does happen.
    4: In your purse or messenger bag have these three things- First: a small flashlight, if you are gone past dark or you have to enter your house when it is dark. Second: a small pocket knife or a leather-man type tool, it should have a Phillips and regular blade screwdriver, tweezers, small scissors and a cutting blade. Third: water, when you leave the house have at least two pints of water. These seem like very small things, but they will be the most valuable things you have in an emergency.
    5: Wear clothing appropriate for the weather and take a look at the forecast, a light sweater or jacket is not a heavy load. Dressing as if you are a refugee is not reasonable, and carrying a complete set of clothing isn't either. Just in case bring a jacket, normal for a lot of people.

A little bit of planning and everything will be OK!

    6: Practice your plan, everyone in the family needs to understand where to meet, how to communicate and what to expect from each other. The more children practice according to your plan the more second nature it will become. Be sure to have a meeting place, go to it while going over your planning. The gathering spot could be a park or a parking lot, any place away from buildings that may collapse or catch fire. Make sure each person has a copy of the plan with all telephone numbers and addresses on it, the meeting place and other important information. The plan may prove to have flaws, regardless it will still work, just having a pre plan ready will reduce stress.
    There is really no reason to be all consumed by the idea something is going to happen, things happen every day. The idea is to incorporate a few behaviors into your normal day to day activity's that in the rare chance something were to happen you were prepared. It's important, so sit down and write a plan out, get input from everyone in the house, practice the plan, keep a few things in your pocket or messenger bag and have some water with you. Keep the disaster plan in your wallet or purse always. Most likely nothing will happen, but it never hurts to be prepared.
   Thanks for reading my blog, I welcome comments, suggestions and stories. Please comment.

jimandkate   emergencykitsplus.com   must have survival gear

Smoke Detectors, how many, where should they be installed, who can install them? How many does your house require....

Smoke Detectors, how many, where should they be installed, who can install them?

Special rules for this house, check your local codes.

    Smoke detectors need to be installed in each bedroom, in the hall or near the entry of bedrooms, install on every level of the house even the basement. If there are no bedrooms on the level install them in common areas, Dens, Sitting rooms, Kitchens and Home Offices. The main concern is to look at your house and do not leave any rooms without one.
They are important in a garage and inside the entry door to the house from the garage. Install one at the bottom of stair wells and at the top, smoke rises, we want to detect it under any possible condition. Install a smoke detector in your attic as well, a fire can start anywhere. In areas that several alarms are to be installed close to one another, they must be wired together enabling all of them to be activated at the same time. For information from the National Fire Safety Association click here.
    When properly installed and operating smoke and fire alarms are in a home the odds of surviving a fire is increased by 50%, as stated by the California State fire Marshall. Most localities in the United States have very strict building codes pertaining to the number and locations smoke alarms must be installed in residences. Operation, location and how many are spelled out in most building requirements. Some County's also mandate installation of sprinkler systems on new homes and houses that have had fires. Older homes sometimes have special laws written dealing with smoke, fire and Carbon Monoxide sensors. Rental homes are also covered by special rules and here.

Dad's cooking again it appears. 

laws, making it imperative to check with your local planning commission on installation. Some codes require the alarms not only be battery energized but must also be installed into the electrical wiring system of the home. If the home was built prior to building codes requiring them (grandfathered in), battery's only are acceptable for a power source. Many areas now require smoke alarms to have a battery that has a ten year life and is installed permanently, when the battery dies the detector must be replaced. If the home is being renovated, the new codes and requirements must be met, sometimes including sprinkler systems. Most are exempt if the renovation is entirely outside the home, however if ceilings and walls are removed inside, the new codes must be met. Rental properties will sometimes have special laws dealing with who is responsible for installation and maintenance, sometimes there is a difference between leased and rented homes. The land lord is responsible when the new tenant occupies the residence on the first day of occupancy. Most localities require the land lord to maintain, replace and repair the alarms, but check your local laws. These issues should be discussed prior to renting or signing a lease, spelling out clearing each person's responsibilities pertaining to them. You can read about some requirements for installation

Not quite that loud, they will wake you up!

    Smoke detectors save many lives each year, often we hear of deaths during home fires only to find out there were no smoke detectors installed or the battery's were discharged. Smoke detectors are required to beep when the battery's are getting weak, everyone in the house should be aware of what that sounds like. On a similar note everyone in the house must know what the alarm sounds like when it is activated, as well as know the escape routes out of the home.
    The installation of the correct number of smoke detectors in the home is very important, use the County codes as a guideline, install more if you are in question, don't put your family in peril, it's just fine to install too many.
    Thanks for reading, leave a comment, suggestion or your experience.

jimandkate  emergencykitsplus.com    Emergency Survival Supplies

    The onset of a disaster for most of us is an extremely confusing chain of events, resulting in the situation slowly becoming less stressful. It's a different story for the millions of people dealing with a disability, it could be just the beginning of a much larger struggle. People with a hearing loss will have a hard time communicating, people with loss of sight can become easily confused in an evacuation event. Service dogs can become disoriented and confused. People with disabilities

Accept assistance when it is offered if
you need it.  

become accustomed to ramps, handrails, handicapped restrooms and similar aides for mobility. When rapid movement and quick communications are needed disabled persons are at a distinct disadvantage. Many times the needs of disabled people are not addressed in emergency response planning. Some of the critical needs during emergencies are access to transit, the ability to arrive at a safe shelter, and evacuation transportation that may or may not be available. If a disabled person is a relative, neighbor or friend they are in need of special planning and precautions during an evacuation event. (Click here for information.)
    Assistants to the disabled: Remain calm, do not get stressed and if you are don't show it, fear and panic are contagious.
    Visually disabled persons: It is reasonable to assume that during an evacuation event a visually impaired person will become confused and disoriented. If there is a service dog involved the animal will most likely be confused as well. The dog will have to be taken care of, and the disabled person will need someone to guide their way to safety.
    People with a hearing disability: Will not be able to hear warning sirens, knocks on the door, explosions or calls from emergency response teams. They will need to be physically awakened and assisted to safety, a written emergency response plan can be shown to them for a fast explanation of what is happening.
   

The service dog will need help as well.

Mobility disadvantaged people: At best have a hard time walking and the most in need of help are those who are not mobile at all. Some will need a lot of assistance, others minimal, the needs must be described in detail in the emergency preparedness plan. It will have to be decided in advance if wheelchairs, mobility scooters or other devices will be needed or will even be able to be used. Some of the decisions will be made during the crisis. If the person is completely immobile they may have to be carried, it must be written into the plan and advance planning is mandatory.
    People with intellectual disabilities: Pre-Planning and rehearsals are essential, confusion will be the order of the day, everyone will be disoriented. The intellectually challenged may be more confused, however practicing what is in the preparedness plan regularly will breed familiarity and people will act according to how they practice. Every person will have different and unique needs.
    People with dementia: Will have a need for more direction than normal, they will have to be lead to safety.
    A few other needs:
    If in an apartment building make sure the exits are clearly marked and make arraignments for help to leave the building. Make sure emergency doors and lights are in working order, if they are not talk to the apartment manager for repairs.
    Make sure to wear alert tags or bracelets that identify disabilities. Have all medications in an emergency evacuation kit. If there is a need for special facilities such as dialysis machines or refrigeration for special medications make arraignments in advance and have more than one facility available.
    Check with emergency response capabilities of the local community, register with them and become familiar with their procedures and requirements for evacuation. Some will not evacuate pets, be certain to make arraignments for them, some disabled people will not leave them behind. Pets must be in the planning checklist and arraignments for them must be made for long term care in the event the owner has to live in a special facility for a while.

Yes it is important. 

    The creation of a network of relatives, neighbors, friends and emergency response units will aid in the emergency. Be certain someone knows how to operate essential equipment. Be certain to have included in the emergency response kit all medications and medical supplies that are needed, there may be just a few minutes to get to safety.
    With planning and rehearsing your plan and emergency will be more manageable and second nature than responding "cold turkey".  (Planning templates are available here.)
    Thanks for reading, I welcome all comments I would like to hear them and suggestions. Thanks!

jimandkate  emergencykitsplus.com   Emergency Disaster Kits
   

Most of the people that died during Katrina were Elderly, how important is social infrastructure..

    How important is "Social Infrastructure" to our society? Reading some disaster reports it seems when it comes to elderly people in emergency situations it is quite important. Over 1/2 of the deaths from Hurricane Katrina were elderly, most died in their own homes due to drowning or lack of medications for pre-existing conditions such as heart disease. Many elderly are isolated, in the homes they have lived in for decades by the fact they don't drive, rarely go to the grocery store, have few visitors and absent family. Neighbors have a tendency to not really ignore them but to assume if they are up and in their yards they are doing fine. We must remember the scenes from Japan during the Tsunami, groups of people running to higher ground followed by older people walking slowly up the hill, we have to do better. (Click here for advice.)

Elderly really do need our help during an event. These guy's
are good neighbors. 

    We can do better as neighbors and relatives. Before a storm is to strike our area make a trip to their house to check if they need anything from the grocery. Help them if there is a problem in their house, arraign to have a broken window repaired, or locks put on a door. Make sure the stove works and there are no gas leaks, make sure phones, heater and water systems are in working order. Ask them if they would be prepared to evacuate if need be, help them make an evacuation plan. Write it down and put it on the refrigerator making sure to include a list of medications and their doctors name, address, and phone number. (Print a plan checklist here.) Many older residents call their doctors by their first name only "Doctor John" and normally have not committed phone numbers or addresses to memory. Ask if they would like assistance in preparing an evacuation set of clothes, set up an emergency pack with them. It's just being neighborly, if a few preparatory steps are not taken before an event occurs there is a likely hood emergency actions will be resisted during an event. Older people have a tendency to trust a relatively few people, a relative or close neighbor are among the accepted. Distrust is big, they have been isolated, from choice or circumstance, for a very long time and are very independent. That independence is a thin veneer,

Our reality is a little different than how
we sometimes see ourselves.

at one time they very independent however during an emergency event their stamina is not able to keep up with the demands of the Catastrophic occurrence. We would be doing a service to them to prepare their pets needs as well, many will refuse to evacuate without them. Help to find a safe place for their pet in the chance they may have to spend an extended time in a relief center. If damage occurs to their home, they may be out for many months or even years. A very important aspect is to be certain that the feeling they have of independence is not compromised, they do not want to appear weak and dependent. That is a big reason to be neighborly before, during and after a disaster event.  (Survival kits are available click here.) Help them contact their relatives, meet their relatives either on phone or in person prior to the event occurring, get their contact information. During the event make a call to them if possible to keep them appraised of the situation and the location of their relative.

Older citizen's and Children are affected
the most in a natural disaster. 

    The effects that natural disaster's have on Cities, County's and Humans is obvious most of the time. There is however a disproportionate toll taken on the elderly, 65 years and older will need some sort of assistance during a natural event. To shore up the "Social Infrastructure" is not a massive government program or organized by the state, it's simply being neighborly. Take an interest, be compassionate and interact with your elderly (indeed all) neighbors it will make our communities stronger and make times easier if we are faced with a confusing evacuation disaster.
    Thanks for reading my blog, I welcome comments and suggestions. Do you think I'm on the money with this or am I soaking wet? Let me know.

jimandkate  EmergencyKitsPlus.com    emergency kit supplies

What do you think of having a child's harness and lanyard in a disaster? How about toilet facilities? What's a mother to do...

    During and after an emergency event the most vulnerable among us are the children, elderly and disabled. This blog will focus on the children today, how to make sure their safety needs are met, during a flood event.
    It's very important that the adults involved with the incident stay calm, it is possible to deal with emergencies in a stress free manner. Stress is contagious, if you find your self acting impulsively, fearful or angry take deep breaths, sit down and take a break. Make sure that you are in a protected area that is safe for your children and you. The first person to take control of is yourself, it is extremely important to be mentally strong.

    The more preparation and practice you do prior to an event will pay dividends to you when an actual survival situation presents it's self. A disaster plan, written down and practiced is one of the most important task to complete. Practice will become second nature, the more you walk through the plan with your child the more at ease you and the child will be during the event. Walk through the plan with your child, start in their bedroom and explain every step of the way. Show them how to put on their emergency pack, show them the two ways to exit the house, and explain what the reasons are for using each. Make sure they know they can leave the house whether or not you are with them, it's that confusion that can turn into a regrettable outcome. Stress they must get out fast, assure them you will be alright. Have a kids survival kit ready for every child in your house. A more extensive kit must be made available for each adult as well.
     While you are in a flood event, make sure you have a life preserver for everyone, especially the little ones. Teach them how to put the PFD (personal flotation device) on, practice many times. Teach the kids about the dangers of electricity, fallen power lines, outdoor electrical sockets and the danger of going into flooded basements.
     

Hey Hon! See if the lights work yet! 

Make sure to treat minor wounds rapidly, there are many dangers in flood water, parasites, bacteria and cholera to name a few. Even a small scratch can turn into a very bad infection, especially if you are stranded for days or even weeks.
     Teach them about the dangers of human waste, tell them about the diseases it can cause when introduced into water. Set up a toilet area, a tent, cardboard box, a blanket set up between trees, a spot that is secure for the children, you can use it as well. A port a potty can be made with a 5 gallon bucket, trash bags and a swimming noodle, sanitary paper is normally in each commercially prepared Emergency Kit.

A good solution to a tough situation, use a 2 1/2 gallon
bucket for the little ones. 

     Mosquito's go on a crazy breeding binge during a flood, teach the kids about mosquito's, some of the diseases they carry make sure to apply calamine lotion to calm the itching. Long pants and long sleeve shirts should be the uniform of the day, stay covered. A small fire will keep the pest at bay.
    Make sure to have plenty of water for them and you, a 1-3 year old needs 4 cups of water daily, minimum, more is better. 4-8 year old need 5 cups of water daily, any one older needs 1/2 gallon per day. Never under any circumstances use flood water for anything. Dehydration is a very real and dangerous every day concern no matter what is happening around you. Make sure everyone drinks at least their daily requirements.
    Typhoid fever, Cholera, diarrhea, and hepatitis are common diseases children get during a flood. Teach them to wash their hands with soap and water, don't wade or swim in the flood water. Be observant of what they eat, make sure it is not contaminated with flood water or full of bugs. Make certain they drink water that has been boiled or from a sealed bottle or container that you know without question is safe. Do not use well water during a flood, it has been contaminated by the flood.
   

Hey Mom! Is this the emergency kit?

I have often thought that to have a child's harness and lanyard during any emergency event may be prudent. I live next to a river, in a flood zone so this is very real to me and I've thought about it a lot. Those harness and lanyards look a bit archaic, appear to be mean, however I think during a flood they may be a blessing. It may just eliminate a little of your stress as well, an over active 6 year old will become a challenge to the most energetic parent during an emergency.
    These are just a few of the many concerns that children and parents face during a flood, indeed during any emergency. I welcome your comments, please tell me your experience and concerns with flooding. I welcome guest blogs, I will also write blogs for you. Thanks for reading!

jimandkate  emergencykitsplus.com
 

High heat, the desert, flies, electrolytes with lots of water; they are connected, it can be dangerous

    It seem's like no matter what the weather conditions are there is always someone walking down a highway in the middle of no where. When I lived and worked in the California desert just south of Palm Springs there was always people out in the 110-125 degree heat. I would see migrant workers walking across the desert with an old milk bottle full of warm water, heading north. I knew several people that suffered from de-hydration, even though they consumed water all day long.

Have you been here long?

We would typically drink over a gallon of water a day. It's the type of environment that flies die in, they die at 120 degrees F. When a person has a water hose and makes a puddle it is instantly covered with flies getting water. Life and death is very real when the temperatures are above 110 degrees F.
    When working outside, or having to walk a distance during that kind of heat is very taxing. Under company directions we were allowed to work 1/2 hour in the heat and retreat to the air conditioned shop where our opposite crew took over. We rotated that way for weeks on end, people still suffered from de-hydration. We had a heat safety meeting once a month, a doctor would come to the site and speak of heat related subjects. We learned a lot about hydration, "stay hydrated" was our battle cry. Sweating in the heat our clothes would get soaking wet, it would keep us cool, after it dried white streaks would show up on our clothes. The white streaks are an indication that your body is losing minerals.

Find shade, and stay there until you've
cooled down. Drink water all day long. 

 A good way to replenish the lost minerals is by consuming a drink such as Gator-aide or a number of other products. These products are not without concerns of their own. There are a lot of electrolytes in a container of one of these drinks, we were told to always mix them no more than 50/50 water to solution. Then drink a lot of clear water all day long, it works most of the time. I was working with a man that followed all the precautions we worked with, he still collapsed from heat exhaustion after 10 minutes in the sun. Granted it was his third or fourth shift and we were all getting tired, we still had to carry him in, he did recover. Drink lots of water and rest in a cool spot, don't rush it, wait until you've cooled down and make sure you feel OK.
    A mistake I made through ignorance of chemistry I suppose it would be called was when I was going to make a "batch" of one of the electrolyte drinks. I saw the water cooler and thought it was a good idea if I were to take a powdered packet and mix it in the 5 gallon container of water. I thought we would have a cold drink and it would be better. I remember the color of the concoction was green, it was in the water cooler over night. Now I don't know what caused this to happen, but it did, and I felt bad and frankly really kind of dumb. The first person to drink from the water cooler took a long drink, it was in his stomach for about 1/2 of a second when suddenly he vomited. All I can figure is there was some algae or bacteria or something in there that interacted with the drink and made it something else. I learned at least two things from that, one of course don't put that stuff in a water cooler bottle. The second is to clean the cooler once in a while.

    Now there is nothing wrong with any of the drinks, we need to realize it is not a matter of "if a little is good, a lot should be a lot better." I believe it would be better to refer to dealing with anything in the heat, water included, "proceed with caution". My advice, drink a gallon of water a day at least in the high temperatures, mix it on occasion 50/50 with an electrolyte drink and pay attention to your body. There are special ways to dress as well, but that's another blog.
    Thanks for reading, comment I'd like to hear from you, drink lots of water and pay attention to your body, you'll be alright in the heat.

Thanks jimandkate emergencykitsplus.com    emergency preparedness supplies