Tag: Emergency kit

Yes, where you’re located makes a difference when it comes to emergency planning. I’m writing from sunny Southern California, just about 12 miles from the Pacific and its beaches. We plan a lot for earthquakes, but seldom if ever for tsunamis. But we need to keep remembering that everything is changing these days! On January 15, just 3 weeks ago, we were alerted by a series of unexpected but real tsunami warnings!

A volcanic eruption near the Tonga Islands in the South Pacific was the cause . . . and I’m sure you have seen images of what happened there. (Actually, not many images have surfaced since the eruption and waves destroyed all internet connections in the area.)

While effects were minor on the West Coast, some marinas and harbors were hit, some streets and parking areas were flooded, and a few boats were damaged or even sunk.

Could you find yourself in a Tsunami Danger Zone?

Maybe a LOT more easily than you think!

In the U.S. residents of coastal cities are at risk for tsunamis: in Hawaii, Alaska, Washington, Oregon, and California. We need to add to the list US business travelers and tourists heading to Japan, Thailand, Singapore and anywhere in the Pacific Ocean’s “Ring of Fire” countries. That’s a lot of people and a lot of places!

My son was caught in the tsunami that hit the Pacific in 2004. He was vacationing in Thailand. As he reported it live on Larry King (!), he saw a “strange long unbroken wave” forming way out in the bay. He even paused to take a photo without realizing that the wave was bearing down on the beach much faster than he could run.

Yes, he was caught, washed off his feet and pushed into a building, where he was able to clamber up above the water and wait until it went down. He was young and very strong and lucky. He lost only a shoe and a camera. Over 227,000 people around the Indian Ocean weren’t so lucky. They lost their lives. This little map shows just how far that tsunami reached! 

That was in 2004, and many Americans really didn’t know how to recognize a tsunami. My son didn’t. He would now, though, and you should be able to, too.

Be prepared before you ever hear tsunami warnings.

I’ve written before on how to know you’re in a tsunami zone, and what do to to be ready in case one hits. I just recently came across and excellent video on LinkedIn and I decided it was a lot better than my earlier written description!! Even if you think you’ll “never be in a tsunami zone” someone you love may be headed on vacation next summer. Be sure they see this video, too!

Some compelling highlights from the video

1. Are you in a tsunami zone right now? If you’re in the US, you can check at http://www.tsunamizone.org/knowyourzone/. Or if you’re on the road, check the World Map at http://www.mapsofworld.com/world-maps/tsunami-zones.html
2. How will you know a tsunami is on its way? NOAA emergency radios and various alert apps broadcast this information. You may hear local sirens if the tsunami is threatening.
3. If you are in a zone — particularly if you are traveling and in an unfamiliar place — you MUST know the evacuation routes! (Steve’s video makes this very clear!) Family members need to know them too, because you may not be together when you hear the tsunami warnings. Nor will it necessarily be in the daytime, during moderate weather, etc.
4. If you feel an earthquake and are on the coast, and if you hear tsunami warnings, how long do you have to get to safety? It may be as little as TEN MINUTES! That means you won’t have time to run back home or to a hotel to get personal things or your emergency kit. So — be sure every family member has at all times a day-pack that holds some essentials, including emergency contact information. A jacket, snack, etc. would be good, too. You may not be able to get back, or get back together, for hours or even days.

Pass along this information to friends and family – and stay safe! Don’t wait until World Tsunami Awareness Day comes around on November 5 to be better prepared for this hazard.

Virginia 
Your Emergency Plan Guide Team

P.S. While we’re talking about tsunamis and earthquakes, did you know that April 26 is National Richter Scale Day?

How many cars do you have in your family? Which car do YOU take when you head out? How many people usually ride with you? How far from home do you get on a regular basis?

Have you ever been stuck in your car?

On any given day if you are more than a couple of miles from home, being stuck in your car could become an emergency.

Imagine any one of these things happening, to you or to a family member . . .

• You run out of gas coming back from a sporting event. You are on a strange road.  And it’s dark.
• Fog causes a massive pile up on the interstate and you are caught in the middle of a mile-long traffic jam.
• A freak snow storm closes the pass. You can’t turn around and head back down. All you can do to pull over onto the shoulder of the road and hunker down.
• A downtown political rally turns into a riot and you need to find a safe way around the violence.
• You are heading back to the office from a remote client meeting when you hear on the news that a chemical spill has blocked the road home.

In all these cases, you are physically OK. Your car may be out of gas, or close to it, but it isn’t damaged.

But it looks as though you may be stuck in your car for HOURS. What do you have with you that will make this an adventure, instead of a disaster?

When you are stuck in the car you will turn to your Get Home Bag.

There are two aspects to each bag: EQUIPMENT and SUPPLIES. Let’s take a look.

Let’s look first at emergency EQUIPMENT for your Get Home Bag.

When I was a kid the only emergency stuff we carried in the car were tools, a jack and a spare tire. (We used a screw driver from the tool kit to pry off the hubcaps so we could use them as buckets for picking wild blackberries.)

Today cars are a lot more reliable. It’s rare that we get a flat tire or a breakdown. But incidents like those listed above – storms, accidents, out-of-control crowds — are in the news every day! And hundreds if not thousands of people are caught up in them.

If you’re one of them, you are going to be a lot more comfortable and safer if your Get Home Bag has some if not all this equipment:

• Lights for seeing and reading (flashlights, lantern)
• Flares for signaling.
• Radio reception so you can find out what authorities are doing. Your car has a good radio, but not if you run down the battery. You can also supplement with a battery, solar-powered or hand-crank emergency radio. Not knowing is scary and may lead you to make a dumb decision.
• Phone so you can call for help. Same issue with the battery. Do you have a power bank or solar charger? (That traffic accident could happen on the long desert road between Las Vegas and LA. Solar would work perfectly – though there may be limited or no service!)
• Some basic tools – pliers, wrench, tape – and a shovel and traction tracks for snow or sand. Samples below of each of these. Click on the images for full details and prices at Amazon.

Sahara Sailor Folding Shovel Camping Survival Shovel, Collapsible Tactical Shovel – Tri-Fold Handle, High Carbon Military Steel – Entrenching Tool with Storage Pouch ,Camping Survival Gear

I took a look at several shovels. I was looking for something small enough to fit in the trunk, but sturdy enough to be useful. The shovel above seems to fit the bill, plus it has a case. This same manufacturer also makes a more complete “kit” with multiple attachments. Check it out when you get to Amazon.

ALL-TOP 4×4 Recovery Boards – 2 Pcs Off Road Traction Tracks Mat for Sand Mud Snow 4WD Track Tire Ladder + Storage Bag (Red)

If you could be caught in snow or sand, having a set of traction tracks makes all the sense in the world. They come in varying sizes and weights, but I liked this set because of its orange color. One smart marketer has actually packaged these tracks with a shovel.

What about emergency SUPPLIES for your Get Home Bag?

Now we’re back to survival kit basics that you ought to be able to rattle off. Here are 6 main categories for every kit, including the get-home-bags in your cars:

1. What you need to keep you warm and comfy: clothing, blankets, gloves, comfortable shoes, hand warmers.
2. Food for energy and comfort: snacks, protein bars, raisins, hard candies.
3. Water to maintain hydration.
4. Towels or wipes to keep you clean in the car. Plastic bags for trash. Toilet paper to allow you to stay clean when you have to head outside the car. (Use that shovel to bury your waste!)
5. First aid kit for any scrapes, headaches, sunburn, etc.
6. Personal items: chap stick, sun glasses, pills, tampons, etc.

OK, those were the basics. Now, for two often overlooked items . . .

First, check out that guy in the image at the top of this page. What’s he holding? In this digital age, paper maps of your city and the larger surroundings may be forgotten. Your smart phone may be great for directing you to a specific address — as long as you HAVE a specific address. In an emergency you may not have an address. You may be trying to understand a much bigger picture, see all the options for getting around a barrier, a compromised bridge, etc.

There are many maps available, from state to region to city. Two major publishers are Rand McNally, and Delorme. Maps are harder to find than they used to be, so start your search now!

And the single most important supply of all:
A full or almost full tank of gas.

With plenty of fuel you avoid emergency #1 above altogether. You can turn the motor on to keep the car warm and check the news. You can drive the LONG way around the riot or the accident without worrying if you have enough fuel.

Should I carry or try to “borrow” extra gas?

It’s not a good idea to carry extra gasoline. In fact, it may be illegal. If you are determined to carry extra fuel, you’ll want to buy appropriate gas cans, fill them properly, and install a frame on the back of the car where they can be locked down for transport. (Be sure you have competent help with this.)

What about siphoning gas from another car? Newer model cars have a valve that blocks the gas tank from leaking if the car tips over. It will block you from siphoning in the old-fashioned way, too.

So an item for your “additional survival gear list” might be a siphon kit that uses a hand-pump instead of your mouth – lots easier and certainly safer. You’ll have to know what you are doing – attach the hose the right way, understand how gravity works to place the source and the container, etc. If you are shopping online, read all the reader comments!

The siphon above looks to be one of the best moderately priced siphon kits on the market. (Based on comments, the cheap versions don’t seem so reliable.)  Click on the image to get to Amazon.

The upshot: extra gas is hard to get.

So make it a new preparedness habit to stop frequently to top up your gas tank.  All it will cost is a little extra time.  But when you need that extra gas, the payback will be huge!

Wait, you’re not quite finished!

Now, back to our first four questions: How many cars do you have in your family? Which car do YOU take when you head out? How many people usually ride with you? How far from home do you get on a regular basis?

If you are stuck in the car, you want that car to have an emergency kit. But what if you discover this car has the wrong kit?

If you commute to work, and always in the same car, then you can pretty much review this Advisory, pack up what makes sense for you, and you’re set. (Of course, if you use a company car for travel during the day, then you’ll want to transfer your kit to that car for every trip!)

If one of your tasks is to haul the children locally to and from school and sports and whatever else, then THIS car needs a totally different kit. It needs to have a lot more clothing, more food, more water, etc. because “locally” may mean 30 or more miles in any direction!

In fact, you may want to pack one “family” bag for this car and then a small bag for each family member — including one for the pet that always rides along!

Get Home Bags are pretty easy to assemble, don’t cost much, and they will make life a lot easier if you’re ever stuck in the car. Put Get Home Bags on your To-Do list for next weekend!

Virginia
Your Emergency Plan Guide team

P.S. I expect you’ve been thinking of yourself and your family as you read this. But if you are a business owner or manager, stop right now and consider — are your EMPLOYEES prepared with Get Home Bags? Chances are just as good that an emergency will happen during their workday as when they are at home.

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As a pet owner, are you offended at this question:

“Do you consider your pet a part of the family?”

What about this question:

“Are you one of the 28% of pet owners who plan to buy their pet a gift at Christmas?”

I thought so!

With a gift for your pet in mind (!), don’t overlook the same thoughtful step you have taken for your family members – a survival kit.

There’s only one way to protect your pet.

In an emergency, you will surely want your pet near, safe and comfortable. The only way to manage that is to have a complete kit, ready to put into play at a moment’s notice if you must evacuate.

Even if you are sheltering in place at home, your pet’s routine will be interrupted. So having what you need on hand for your pet will allow you to focus on safety and security for the whole family.

Seven basics for your pet’s emergency kit.

Just like a personal survival kit for your 8-year-old daughter or your 81-year-old mother, your pet’s kit needs to be customized.  Still, there are basics that you can start assembling now if you haven’t already.

In fact, any or all of these items make great Christmas presents!

1.The container or kit itself.

Crates and hard-sided carriers work well if you have plenty of space, but a soft-sided carrier that folds flat may be the most practical for an emergency kit. Get the right size for your pet and the right weight for you, since you will have to carry the container with pet and with the other supplies that are part of it.

Look for sturdy handles and a shoulder strap or backpack straps. You may even want a container with wheels or that’s attached to a rolling cart. Here’s one from Amazon:
Snoozer Roll Around 4-in-1 Pet Carrier, Red & Black, Medium

(I saw it at more than one price, so be sure to shop. As always, if you buy through our link, we may receive a commission from Amazon. The price you pay is the same, no matter what.)

2.Food and water supplies.

Water is the most important, and the heaviest item to manage. As you plan for your family’s needs of 1 gallon a day/person, add extra for your pet. You may be able to store a couple of quarts in the carrier itself, along with a collapsible water dish.

As for food, canned wet food is convenient and doesn’t attract any bugs. BUT, be sure you have a can opener and be sure your pet likes the brand! You don’t want an animal with digestive problems on your hands. You could use the same collapsible dish mentioned above for food, or add a second dish.

3.First aid kit.

Every pet should have a first aid kit, again, customized for that pet (medicines, clippers, veterinary instructions) and for your part of the country (ticks, burrs, heat). Get the smallest kit that works, then add personal items. If you don’t already have what you need packed up in a bag, here are a couple of simple pre-built kits to start with.  Reviews of the second kit were particularly positive.

Essential Pet First Aid Kit

Pet First Aid Kit, Large – 50 Pieces

4.Safety items.

In an emergency, your pet needs a collar or harness and SHORT leash so you can protect it. Your dog may need a muzzle. Store these items in the carrier, too.

If you have to walk your pet, it would make sense to have a hands-free leash, since you are likely to be carrying a flashlight, a tool, or a child or holding hand somebody’s hand. You can get a simple hands-free leash for as little as $5. Here’s a more sophisticated and useful one you could use every day:

Outward Hound Kyjen 23003 Hands Free Hipster Dog Leash Storage Accessory 5ft Leash Included, Blue

5.Sanitary items.

IF YOU HAVE TRAINED YOUR PET IN ADVANCE to wear diapers, or to use pee pads, having a supply in your container makes sense. Obviously you’ll also want some of your usual poop bags.

6.Comfort items.

A familiar blanket and/or towel is probably one of the most valuable items to have in your container. You can wrap your pet for carrying, your pet can use it to lie on, or you can throw it over the container for privacy.

Having a source of light might make you both feel more comfortable; consider a couple of light sticks or LED Glow Stick like this one that has several “light modes” (steady, blink) as well as a whistle:

Life Gear Multimode 4N1 Glow Stick, Flashlight, Safety Flasher, Emergency Whistle, RED

A favorite toy also makes sense – but don’t get a fetch toy, or a tugging toy, or a toy that squeaks!  Here’s one that you might try out – according to the manufacturer it has a “protein taste and vanilla smell” and is likely to keep your pet engaged for a long time.

Petmate Dogzilla Rubber Dumbbell Shaped Dog Toy, Small

7.Pet ID

As you probably know, not every shelter allows pets, so you may be separated. Attach a waterproof envelope to the container that clearly identifies its occupant – with photo, name of owner, emergency contact information, history of shots, etc.  Keep copies of all this information for yourself, too.

Disclaimer: Joe and I don’t currently have a pet, though we’ve each owned several. We interviewed many enthusiastic pet owners for items in this blog post and have shopped in local pet stores for ideas and current brands.

We have also discovered in our community that more than half of our senior neighbors have pets. And nationally, while families with children are the most likely to have pets, more younger couples are getting pets, too, as they postpone having children. Who do you know with a pet? Be sure they have this information.

In an emergency, out of control lost animals will create heartbreak and danger for all.

Protect your pets now by putting together emergency kits for each of them.

Virginia
Your Emergency Plan Guide Team

 

Tell the truth.  Do you agree that an Emergency Kit is a good idea?

Do you need one for the car/s as well as for the house?  Do you need one at work as well as at home?  Do you need to protect all the members of your houslehold in an emergency and not just a few?

All reasonable people must answer YES!

So putting together an emergency kit makes sense …

But it’s just not simple!

First, you have to pull together a list of what is needed. That list starts with basics: water and food. From there, it varies quite a bit depending on where you live, the make-up of your family, your commute patterns, etc.

Second, you have to shop for and/or assemble all the items on the list. This may take several days or even weeks, depending on how much stuff is required and how much money you will have to devote to this action. Many people build a plan and then lay out a purchase schedule to fit their budget.

Third, you need to get the right size container for each kit. The family kit is likely to be the largest; car kits, smaller. A child’s kit, smaller yet.  A workplace kit could be much larger, depending on how many people it is meant to serve. Of course, your kits need to be manageable; a backpack or rolling cart seems to be the favorite container.

Can you do all this? Of course! But will you?

If you haven’t done it up ‘til now, what would make a difference for you?

Consider this game-changer: Invest in a ready-made kit!

Then, improve it or personalize it as you go.

Yes, there’s an upfront cost, and it may be more than you would like. And yes, you could probably save money by assembling the kit on your own. But frankly, if you value your time at, say, $20/hr. you will save money by simply taking action now to buy a ready-made kit!

So consider getting a kit without further delay.

Five popular kits compared.

We have taken our time to look closely at five of the best-selling family kits on the market. We compare them as regards to contents, quality and price.

• We start with the “basic” list of necessities, and note extras that some kits include.
• Quality is sometimes not the best because these providers are competing on price. But some kits are better than others, and we’ll point that out.
• Price ranges from $50 to $250 for a kit. Mostly the price depends on how many people the kit is meant for.

In our estimation, it doesn’t matter whether any given kit is perfect. What’s important is to have one for basic necessities, and then improve upon it when you can.

No more excuses.

If you haven’t put together your kit by now, you’re not going to…so be realistic! “I had it on my list of things to do…!” or “I was just trying to save money!” will be weak excuses when your family looks to you for help.

Check out our review of the Best Emergency Kits right now, pick the one that’s best for you, and get it. You will have taken a big step toward sensible preparedness.

Virginia
Your Emergency Plan Guide Team

When you buy your kit, let us and all our readers know what you got and how you found it, OK?? We appreciate your feedback!