Popcorn, Steam drums, wet boots and socks; it sounds a little unrelated, unless you are stranded.

     As I was in bed this morning waking up I began to think about popcorn. The seed with the rock hard outer shell and softer interior, I don't know what's inside of it. I do know however that the internal temperature of the seed has to be 180 degrees F. Part of what's inside the popcorn kernel is water, it doesn't take very much. The water flashes to steam and the kernel explodes. Now you're wondering what in the heck doe's this have to do with self reliance. The answer is, Steam. The danger of steam in an enclosed space. A little about popcorn; click here.

What's he doing here?

     I worked with steam boilers for 20 years, I know a little about them, not nearly everything, not enough to refer to my self as "expert". I do know enough to talk about some dangers associated with it. When steam is released from a contained vessel it expands 1700 times in volume, that's a lot. When the popcorn exploded that's exactly what happened, the little bit of moisture expanded 1700 times in volume. Steam vessel's, (referred to as steam drums), contain 2,000 pounds pressure or more, and a volume of hundreds or thousands of gallons. When steam is generated in the fire box it is sent to the "steam drum" where it is held under pressure and metered for use. On top of the drum is a safety relief valve, at least two, sometimes three. One set just above the safe pressure and another at the set pressure, if one fails the other releases. The popcorn kernel does not have a relief valve, so it explodes into a kernel of corn. If a safety valve on the drum is disabled, there are many ways to do that, the drum will explode. It's happened many times, especially prior to safety valves being invented and used.
   

Antique steam drum, I don't see a relief valve, hmmm. 

 It involves self reliance in this way. In the event of a catastrophic event, where you are stranded outdoors and must make do for a few days. There is the possibility of getting your feet soaking wet, sometimes boots, socks, everything you're wear gets wet. With wet feet, wet boots and wet socks, cold feet and a fire burning. It's normal for us to sit next to the fire and prop our feet close to it to warm and possibly dry out our boots or shoes. The heat will penetrate the leather souls of the boots, warming wet socks and boots. As the moisture inside the boot increases the steam begins to build up. Suddenly your feet are in intense pain, the water in your boots has turned into boiling water becoming steam. Your feet have just been burnt, maybe severely. Most of the time we remove our shoes or boots before it gets to the point of second or third degree burns, but it can happen. Your shoes or boots have been turned into a steam drum, the hot steam and water have no where to go, the heat is trapped next to your bare foot.
     The proper course of action is to remove your foot coverings and socks, lay them next to the fire, heel down propped up. Hang the socks on a stick a foot or so away from the flames. If you don't have spare socks and shoes the challenge is now to keep your feet warm until your socks dry out, much better than burned feet.

Lay the boots down, the condensate will flow out better. This way
the moisture will condense on it's way up and out. 

     Just a cautionary note on steam, we use it, see it and live with it, that makes it dangerous. Whether removing a lid from a pot, taking the cap off a hot radiator or opening a steam valve it is prudent to respect it's power.
     Thanks for reading, do you have experience with steam or heat? I'd like to hear about them if you do, or a few questions or a general comment I like to hear them all. I'm always up for a story as well, suggest a blog topic as well. Thank you!

jimandkate emergencykitsplus.com  emergency preparedness supplies

Have you ever had a major fire while Bar B Que'ing? Maybe read this to make sure you won't, I have.

    I'm big on suggesting the most important supply to have on hand in ample quantities is water. Second to that is a way to purify water, generally some sort of stove or Bar B Que. It's fairly common and logical advice, after all we can go three days without water before bad things happen like dehydration and tragically death.
    This blog is not about water, it is about the means to purify water, which renders down to some way to boil it. I am taking particular homage to boiling water with Bar B Ques. Specifically I will relate two instances of fire danger with two different types of out door grills. One is a charcoal Weber, my favorite style of Bar B Que. The second style is a pellet type grill, a great way to cook.
   

We'll just let it burn out on it's own. 

This incident happened to me about 4 years ago on my porch. We live in an area where high winds are not uncommon, on this particular day it was gusting between 15 and 20 miles per hour. I started the Weber with a can starter and newspaper. The fire started and I poured the hot coals in the bottom of the grill then placed more charcoal on top. After the fire got up to cooking temps I replaced the cover and went into the house, the wind was strong. When I went back outside with a tray of food, I was astonished at what I saw. There was a flame shooting out the air vent on the bottom of the pot, flashing right on the plastic wheel about 2 1/2 feet below it. The wheel was on fire, the deck was on fire and the enclosed handrail was on fire inside. We successfully (two grandson's and myself) extinguished the flames, the boys were set on "fire watch" to take turns watching for flareups. What happened? The wind was so strong it reversed the draft in the firebox, causing the wind to blow from the top vents through the grill out the air vents on the bottom. I never dreamed this could happen, yet it did. The lessons, I will not BBQ in a high wind again, I will control the draft better and stay near the grill while it's heating up.  I wish I read this prior to grilling in the wind.

Hey hon! How's the chicken doing?

     The second event occurred with a pellet style Bar B Que, this is one of the best ways to cook outdoors, however not without dangers. On this day there was no wind, we were on the deck cooking out again. The pellet stove was performing well for the first five minutes or so when the temperature started rising, rapidly. As the grill got hotter and hotter the steel shell began to glow red, the gauge maxed out at 500 degrees. As the paint was peeling off I realized it was burning much hotter than 500 degrees. The pressure in the fire box was lifting the lid up allowing flaming gas to belch out, smoke and flames dominated the evening.
We turned the thing off, the reasoning was to let the fuel in the fire box to burn away. It was the right course of action to let it burn its self out, it took 30 minutes for it to settle down. This time the porch did not start on fire, the grill looked to be destroyed. What happened? I spent a great deal of my working life working on solid fuel boilers, I understand them well. Solid fuel (pellets in this case) will bridge over in a fuel supply hopper causing a lack of fuel. Pellets do one more thing when they get moist, they puff up a little bit and become sticky causing bridging to be a natural result. The pellets will also clump together causing more fuel to be put into the firebox than should be. That is what I think happened, clumps of fuel were being fed into the firebox overcoming the flame until enough air was introduced then wow, huge flames.

What do you suppose caused the grill to explode?

temperature
    We were fortunate in both instances that no one was injured and the house did not burn down. There was salmon in the pellet stove of which my son sampled and did not thing was "too bad". We painted the pellet stove and cleaned it up, we use it all the time, although the same thing happened again last night. We moved the Weber to another spot off the patio and still use it as well.
    I would like this blog to raise awareness to the fact that as convenient as a outdoor grill is we sometimes (I do for sure) take the safety for granted. Maybe due to using them all the time I became lazy and assumed too many aspects of grilling. In other words, carelessness seems to have been the predominant cause of both incidences. So in the spirit of being self reliant and resourceful I will add another bullet point to my emergency preparedness plan; Take nothing for granted and assumptions are dangerous.
    Thanks for reading, I'd like to hear from you, have you ever almost burned your house down while Bar B Que'ing? I'm sure there are stories out there, I'd like to hear some.

Thanks jimandkate emergencykitsplus.com

You say it takes how many acres of Potatoes to feed a guy over the winter? Wow, how many for 4?

    People are very resourceful, most of us have had experience's when we see or hear of someone performing under stress that would be unnatural during normal circumstances. Such is being as self reliant as we are each able to be. Being and staying self reliant is not an instant occurrence, it is a lifestyle that is not very hard to harness. I'm not talking about having a bunker and all the supplies one would need to survive for years on end. I'm talking more of making it through the first few days or a week after an unexpected emergency event. If we make it a habit of rotating water supplies, canned food and basic food items a large portion of the preparing task is complete. However should all of our needs come from stored supplies? Depending on the time of year, scavenging may be a real alternative. We are fortunate where I live, there are a number of abandoned fruit trees, wild

Unfortunately seasonal, but oh so good. 

asparagus, wild zucchini and nut trees. Unfortunately most of the produce ripens almost at the same time. At the right time of year it is a bounty that I take advantage of when available. A large part of self reliance is to have a garden. A garden does not have to be large, in past days the average garden was 2 acres for sustenance. An eye opening fact is it takes 1/4 acre to grow enough potatoes for one person's consumption over the 5 months of winter. To raise enough for a family of 4 would take an acre. That should not discourage us however, plenty of vegetables can be raised on a patio or a small yard. Vegetables that have a long shelf life are best, most of those are root vegetables. Beets, turnips, squash and carrots are a few examples capable of surviving in a dark cool spot. Most of the plants that produce them can be grown on trellises out of containers.
   

Squash on trellises grows well and has a long
shelf life when stored properly.

Although it would be ideal if everyone lived next to a pristine mountain spring, it is not reality. In the event we should lose our water supply we can rely on stored water that is purchased in the local grocery. If the cases of water are rotated with use they should remain safe. Water for other uses can be rain fall collected in large plastic barrels, or specially made collection systems. This water could be used for drinking after purification.
    It is prudent to have a tool kit with basic tools in it, hammer, saw, screwdrivers and a flashlight. More important than having them is the ability to be able to use them, and know what they are. If your have a chain saw for example, know how to use it before you need it.
    A good mental attitude is very important as well. If other people can do it so can I, is the type of mentality to possess. Learn how to perform basic skills, sewing, painting, the difference between various fasteners such as nails, screws and glue. When the comment "gee, that's funny" is heard, curiosity should be awakened, something is up. Look into it, learn from it and finally use the skill. Before a disaster strikes is the time to learn, if we think we can do a thing we can, if we think we can't well you finish that line.
    We don't have to wait until a catastrophic event takes place to be self reliant, we can live it every day. Being proud of what you can accomplish with limited space or resources is half the challenge of being practical and confident. When we bring our selves to a level of being able to rely on our own skills and abilities in every day life, they will be second nature when we are stressed by an emergency. "Here, let me try doing that" is not just words, it's a learning experience.

Self confidence feels better than a hot shower!

    Thanks for reading, I welcome comments, suggestions or questions. Let me know a few skills you possess that are unique and help's your self confidence.

    jimandkate emergencykitsplus.com

Dog flea repellent, garlic, rosemary, apple cider vinegar really? What do you use, homemade or commercial?

    I really don't like putting flea and tick repellent on our wild eyed mixed breed Heinz 57 family dog. She doesn't like it one bit, true to form she makes it as difficult as possible to put it on her. The commercial stuff is expensive, and I'm not sure if it's not toxic. I've been looking for home made formula's for repellent. (EPA on fleas here.)

    Fleas and ticks will be prolific in your yard when the the soil temperature reaches 45 degrees Fahrenheit and it is maintained for at least 2-3 weeks. Keeping them out of your yard will help keep them off your dog. The first item we need to take care of is to make sure our lawns are mowed, the little critters love long grass. Nematodes are the answer, nematodes control ants, termites, grubs and Fleas, they feed on them. Nematodes are living creatures, they can be bought at garden centers, big box hardware stores and on line. When they arrive make sure to use them immediately. Add water according to the suppliers instructions, pour in a sprayer, or watering can and spray throughout your yard. (Click here for more on nematodes.)
    Rosemary, Catnip, lemongrass, basil, lemon balm, sage and mint are some plants that naturally repel insects. Plant any of these in planters and place them by your entry ways, they will naturally repel fleas and keep them out of your house. Some work excellent to repel mosquito's as well.

Where are my humans when I need them, don't they know I can't
reach that spot? Good Grief. 

    Diatomaceous  Earth, not the swimming pool type, it has chemicals in it for commercial uses. Buy food grade Diatomacious Earth only, abbreviated DE, it is available at many dog supply stores. Dust your yard where your dog spends most of it's time, where ever he/she rests is a good spot. DE is extremely dry and will dry out the flea and ticks eggs that lay in the grass and dirt. It doesn't take long before the pest will be eradicated, if it is applied regularly. Once a month, and after every rain fall after the ground dries out.
    Boiling 7-8 heads of garlic chopped up in a gallon of water, let it steep for 12 hours, strain it, pour it in a yard sprayer and lightly spray your yard. Moderation is the key, garlic also kills some beneficial bugs, don't soak the ground and you'll be OK. When I was young we fed our Labradors garlic for flea control, I remember it working. People that recommend it now use 1/4 garlic clove per 10 pounds. If your dog is 100 pounds you would then use only 2 garlic cloves, once monthly.
    Apple Cider Vinegar, 8 ounces of warm water, 12 ounces of apple cider vinegar, and 1/8 teaspoon of sea salt or Himalayan salt. Combine all of the ingredients, pour in a spray bottle and spray on your dog once a week. Make sure to avoid open sores or areas that are skinned or raw.
    Essential oils mixed with a neutral oil such as vegetable oil, olive oil or grape seed oil (to name a few.) A few drops placed on a collar or bandanna around your pet's neck will repel pests. Take the collar off before entry back into the house. Essential oils such as Lavender, Lemon, Cedar and Peppermint are some. Be cautious with them and again moderation is key. This would be my last choice, it just seems like a lot of preparation just to be used outdoors.
For every day flea and tick repellent use, 1 lemon, rosemary 3 sprigs, 2 garden sage sprigs 1 quart of water. Boil the water, slice the lemon then add the sage and rosemary with it into the water. Place a good cover on it and let the concoction steep at least over night. Make sure to strain it before putting the solution into a spray bottle. This will last 1-2 weeks when refrigerated.
    The Internet has many recipes and solutions to deal with fleas and ticks, do not use the same solutions on cats.

It's good to be good!

     Thanks for reading, tell me what you think, have you used home made flea repellent for your pets? I'd sure like to hear about it. Leave a comment, what have you found that works?

Thanks jimandkate  emergencykitsplus.com

Have you set up your survival kit for the kids yet? If not, we better get with it soon.

   While reading blogs on the internet that pertain to my website niche I noticed that there are a number that list suggestions on what to have in an emergency kit. There is a lot of information in most of these writings, they range from about 500 words to many pages long. If a blog is too long it begins to get a little tedious to read, the same holds true if they contain too much information. The ones I was reading listed what should be in a "bug out bag", or "BOB". In all fairness most are listing the supplies that one would need for an extended evacuation. Some suggest having a "safe" secondary home set up for an extended event, a very seriously high level of preparation. I understand that level of planning. Today however I am writing about another level of preparedness, that is making sure the kids are taken care of.

Maybe not everything they want. 

    I remember growing up during the 50's and 60's, we had nuclear bomb threats, Russia was going to drop a bomb on my home town in Minnesota. I was afraid, I was in grade school and the threat was very real. During a catastrophic event a lot of confusion is created, and true to form the last ones to understand it are the kids. (here to look at a kit)
If there are children involved in the planning of an evacuation, we must take their concerns seriously and provide for them. We need to make sure they have a survival pack of their own, it must have "comfort" items in it. A good place to start is the purchase of a dedicated survival pack just for them. When a pack is purchased and it arrives at your door it needs to be inspected. Take an inventory of what's in it, have the child with you make sure to pay attention to their input. In the pack will be basic stuff, flashlight, water and a little food. There is a lot of small items as well, there are also some that need to be added, these are basic supply kits.

Dress in layers, stay warm and dry.

They are generic kits set up to accommodate the majority of what is needed. Inspect the kit with your child, ask him or her what they would like to add. Remember they may be standing for hours in a safe place during a flood, after a tornado, watching their house burn down or a number of other events. They will eventually get so tired they will not be able to stay awake and they will get aggravated. Some of the items to consider may be: bathroom facilities, a porta potty and a tent, or a bucket toilet. A favorite toy or article that will serve to comfort them. A hat, jacket, socks, shoes and a sleeping bag. A rain parka may come in handy along with sunglasses. Bug repellent, sun screen, chap stick and other personal hygiene items may be included. (Click
    Dealing with a short term evacuation does not involve as much stuff as being in a permanent situation, but the first 72 hours is very critical. To try to make ourselves as comfortable as we are normally at home will be impossible. It is more prudent to expect that if 80% of our needs are met during an event, we are doing exceptionally well. Most people will be closer to 20%, they might have a bottle of water or two. That's fine, but for our little ones it isn't, especially if you have a baby or two, the challenges multiply. The responsibility will rest (you guessed it) in the arms of Mom, make it as easy as possible on your self, you will be stressed as well. Don't wait until something happens to make a plan and buy a bag, be set up early. You can build your own bag, the problem is it never leaves the planning stage or we use the items gradually not noticing they are depleted. The best course of action is to buy a prepared kit and add to it, I believe you will be better prepared.

Child's survival kit, well supplied for basics.

    Thanks for reading, leave a comment, what will a child need during an event? I'd like your input.

Thanks jimandkate emergencykitsplus.com
 

Spring has sprung! Every creature is active right now, some coming out of hibernation not bears, Rattle Snakes!

    The weather is great in the spring, the last days of winter are longer, there is still a bite in the air we can feel and smell the northern thaw. We know summer is on the way, all of the birds are roosting, the small furry animals have baby's everywhere and the wild turkeys are finally not to be seen for a while. If you live like we do in a western state (California), and in the boonies, spring is also snake season. Most of the native snakes in my area are non poisonous, a lot of gopher snakes, black water snakes and garter snakes. I have seen some rare snakes, one was a California Whip Snake a beautiful creature about six feet long and the diameter of an index finger, harmless snake.

California Whip Snake, or Striped Racer, harmless.

Another rare snake I've seen is a California Boa Constrictor, they live at the tree line in the mountains. The California Boa is a small pink snake, about 6 inches long and the diameter of a thumb, they too are harmless.
    In my younger years my kids and I hiked a lot in the mountains. Sometimes day hikes, but mostly overnight backpacking, watching for Rattle Snakes was part of the experience. This time of year the Rattle Snakes  are starting to emerge from their hibernation dens, they get warm on rocks and roads. They can be found in tall brush, wood piles, rock piles, cow pastures and anywhere they can go from shade to sun fairly easily. The risk of being bitten by a rattlesnake is not as high as people may believe, they truly are more afraid of us then we are of them. Most snake bites occur between the month's of April and October, when we are most active outdoors. (Snake safety article here)
    After a cool night rattlesnakes look to warm themselves by basking in the sun. Rocks, Roads, Logs and hiking trails are common spots to see Rattlesnakes sunning. They are most active at dawn, dusk and night. There are 7-8,000 people bitten by rattle snakes each year in the USA. Some bites are fatal, 95% of bites are from Western varieties of Diamond Back Rattle Snakes. The remaining 5% are caused by Water Moccasins, Copperheads and Cottonmouths, between 1960 and 1990 no more than 12 fatalities from snake bites were reported.
    If you are around tall brush, wood piles or any place that looks like a good spot to hide wear the proper clothing. Sturdy leather boots and loose fitting long pants (cotton jeans) should be the uniform of the day. Never wear flip flops, sandals or bare feet. Rattle Snakes don't always rattle if they are surprised, they instinctively strike if you are too close.

Good protection choice. 

    Avoid tall grass, heavy underbrush and weeds while backpacking, keep your eyes on the trail about 10 feet in front of you. I have walked up on Rattle Snakes basking on a trail, some look so much like a cow pie it's hard to tell the difference. Don't just look for them, look to see them, expect to see one don't let it be a surprise. Do not try to pick up a Rattlesnake, a lot of men and boys are bit on the hand by trying to do so, (few women get bit on the hand, no questions here, it just makes sense for some reason). Step on rocks and logs not over them, look on the far side before stepping down. Check out where you park your car, look for snakes where you are planning to park, people have been bit stepping out of their vehicle.
    Yes Rattle Snakes can swim, don't reach for sticks or branches while swimming. Be careful when stepping over doorsteps, they like to crawl along the edge of buildings.
Don't hike alone, go on the buddy system, it's smart for a lot of reasons.
    Don't handle freshly killed snakes, their venom is still poisonious and they can still inject it. Leash your dog and teach your children to respect them and leave them alone, like I said a lot of men and boys are bit on the hand from trying to pick up a Rattle Snake.
     When outdoors stay alert and look to see, too many times we look without seeing, it's like looking at the windshield instead of through it. Gopher Snakes are often mistaken for Rattle Snakes, we are best served giving every snake plenty of room. Being outdoors is safest when we exercise common sense and awareness, be careful and know what you are looking for. If it looks like a snake, it may just be a cow pie.

Not a Snake. But they can look like one. 

     Be careful, have fun and I hope this blog will raise the awareness of beautiful weather being great for all creatures big and small, respect them and they and you will be just fine.
    Thanks for reading, leave a comment, give me some pointers on what precautions to take and what to be aware of in Rattle Snake Country.

jimandkate emergencykitsplus.com

Doe's your community planning for disaster management include long term evacuations?

     At the fourth level of disaster response is the long term event causing evacuation or staying at home with no services. After the initial 72 hours that very easily can expand to one or two weeks, the realization is this event could be a permanent situation for a few months or longer.
    We have used our pantry foods first, they lasted for a week, we then used our 72 hour supply of food. We kept the water in a pouch intact, in anticipation of having to use it when walking someplace. At the beginning of the second week the years supply of dehydrated food was opened. Now at this time we can pretty much expect to be feeding our neighbors and perhaps family members that showed up from somewhere else. We have already established ground rules for the "tribe" we created consisting of the neighbors that have stayed. In order to conserve the food a decision was made to make big pots of soup, dehydrated foods make great soup.

Get a big rock with lots of moss on it. 

    It would be a very rare occurrence for an emergency situation to last longer than a month, however when faced with the possibility it is prudent to start to make long term plans. The original plan we put together has now been expended, the long term plan we made is obsolete due to the added members of the community. Great co-operation among the members will have to be maintained, it will be trying. People will have to be assigned jobs or chores, depending on the time of year a garden will have to be planted, livestock found (I'm thinking chickens), firewood and everything needed to sustain ourselves will have to be addressed.
   

The master plan said Water, dang it, Water!

Water will have to be continually purified, there will have to be people dedicated to production of water. Related to that is people making sure there is a continual supply of fuel to keep the water fires going. Water purification will have to be accomplished by boiling water in huge kettles, allowed to cool, then stored in food quality containers.
    What are the chances of an emergency event taking on a life of it's own and being of an exceptionally long length? I don't know, a better question perhaps is how is your community planning for disaster managment? Will it be every man for himself, or is there a written plan somewhere? Too often plans are not recovered until they are needed, it is much better to have one in advance. Community plans are a lot of times posted on line or like where we live at the local post office.
    Many Government and private entities reccomend having at least two weeks survival supplies on hand. The very minimum after that is a two week supply, two weeks is a common evacuation period.

Could you please get the remote for me?

    It would be very difficult to keep enough water fresh and on hand to sustain us longer than a few days, 1/2 gallon of water per day per person is the minimum needed. The actual amount is at least 1 gallon a day, twice that if you have a baby. Unless you live near a lake, river or spring, finding a good source of water will be tough at best. Never use flood water for anything.
   plan. If you are able to provide for 80% of your needs you are doing very very well.
I hope this blog will be food for thought, people no matter how far removed from this thinking should at least make a mental plan. A written plan, a 72 hour kit and a good predictable way to "make" water pure should be a minimum. If you are stranded in your home, you are most likely OK, if in a shelter we will most likely be fine as well. If your evacuation spot is more remote, such as a forest, the challenges will be compounded by either lack or planning or lessened by having a
    Thanks for reading, your comments are welcome always. Thanks
jimandkate emergencykitsplus.com