Preparedness Drills - DIY

AP Wirephoto

In order for you to become proficient in handling emergencies and getting a feel for how your plan works you should drill just like safety professionals do. What better way for you to experience how it feels to be without power, lights, running water and whatever realistic situations you might encounter?

Another form of this drill would be for you to ask the family to prepare (on short notice - much like an unannounced fire drill at work/school) to evacuate your residence because of an overturned tanker or gas leak or flooding. Have you seen the media footage of people with advance notice of impending calamity needlessly carrying out their plasma tv's? "Unprepared" would be a very kind word to use.

Many people seemingly don't have to drill because they have this experience first hand - floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, fires etc.. Many of these folks are already well versed and often ready to respond. Most people still are not.

So, for those who aren't and want to actually see themselves and families in action - now is as good a time as any. Some family members may be reluctant to be involved but considering the consequences of not being prepared are great - it will be a time to test interpersonal skills as well.

Potential scenarios:

Shelter in place for one full day - yes- say 24 hours. No phones, no electricity, no running water - no TV. What back up plans are in place to deal with this and what equipment is set aside for this - use it like you would during the real deal.

Mock Evacuation to another location or relatives house packing your gear out in your vehicle or whatever conveyance you decided to use. City residents may have to try alternate means to get to their destination...make the drill as realistic as possible. Test your emergency shelter or vehicle equipment realistically. If you live in an industrial area you may need to recognize hazards and plan for emergencies that might occur. Don't wait for others to dream up these scenarios for you. They will be a long time coming!

Reroute Drill. Devise an alternate route home from school, work or a place you frequent due to an emergency like a plane crash, fire or traffic accident (fairly common) but close off your normal route and see what difficulties or challenges you encounter. You might even consider offering this as a game for the kids....within reason depending on age. Practice a first aid scenario and you can put a participant 's arm in a sling to replicate an injured limb.

Remember these situations are quite possible and it is better to know now what it might be like and how to compensate because it may save your life.

Post Drill:

When you finish your prescribed exercise, debrief everyone and make necessary changes to your plans. The experience and insight you gain from these exercises is the key as your actual plan may not adequately deal with the emergency exactly as you planned.

Your decision making skills and increased knowledge from interacting with your team will now allow you to make those important choices more decisively. Don't be dissuaded from conducting a drill because of what someone naysayer says - they will always be the first one's over to get YOUR help in an emergency.

Mindset:

Do this with trusted family or some friends and try it being low key at first. You don't want the whole neighborhood knowing you are the prepared one and having them show up at your door - or shelter, because they are feeling too entitled or downright lazy to take care of themselves.

We live in an entitlement (aka nanny state) society now and many expect that costly helicopter rescue to save their day - reality is something else altogether!

Seeing that government has not adequately involved citizens in any realistic drills or school training - you need to do it yourself. More to follow.

Boy Scouts Embrace Preparedness Concepts

It was no surprise when Tom Sciacca from CampingSurvival.Com and ICE4SAFETY co-hosted a group discussion with BSA Troop 888 in Oswego, New York last night. We were welcomed by an enthusiastic (large) and well informed group of Scouts and parents who found the discussions on wilderness and urban preparedness/survival to their liking.


What a tremendously polite and attentive audience we had!


Oswego lies in the Lake Effect Snow Belt of New York State and they get pounded yearly with records amount of snow...so they have an understanding for the need to be prepared. Scoutmaster Steve had made sure everyone was on top of their game for the evening when the scouts and the adults were engaged in the discussion.....we were having such a good time, Steve had to remind us when to leave!


Scouts got to sample some of Tom's survival ration bars while washing it down with some white pine needle tea which was brewed on the spot. A tip from the audience - white pine needles come arranged in groups of five - white has five letters....so easy to remember.


Our friend up above demonstrated for everyone how warm (and how much fun) he could have by just draping himself with one of the ICE4SAFETY survival kit rescue blankets - just one of the various practical survival tools demonstrated that night.


Realistic survival techniques and consideration discussions ranged back and forth from wilderness to urban situational awareness to evacuation or sheltering in place concepts during an emergency. The group was actively engaged and challenged to participate in the discussion about "dressing for success" and the concept of the "Gray Man" principle. There were some humorous moments for sure.


Survival rule of three (3) was driven home more than a few times as well....3 hours without shelter, 3 days without water and 3 weeks without food. We supplied the scouts with hand outs about Vehicle Emergency Equipment, Emergency Medical Info Forms, ICE Cards and Stickers, Brochures and of course MRE's (for home) and those survival ration bars ......they grow on you.


You probably won't see these scouts going to the winter ski hills dressed in summer flip flops and pajamas anytime soon like their young school friends - they know better. It looks like these folks will also be checking out a favorite survival school in the near future to further advance their learning experience.


One last point that was stressed - when it comes to being personally prepared....if YOU are prepared, then you will be able to actually help others (neighbors, friends, family) who may desperately need your help.


The Scout Motto to "Be Prepared" is as relevant today as it was when it was first adopted by the Scouts. Actually it has been in vogue since 2001.

CampingSurvival.com will feature more pics of the event shortly as well.


Thank you Scoutmaster Steve and Troop 888!


Girl Scouts next? Already been asked.....

Preparedness Tip - Refrigeration to Go

This might seem like a luxury during an emergency situation, but then every situation is different and everyone has different circumstances. Your situation may require you to maintain something essential to your health during an emergency or as a part of medical treatment or therapy when the alarms sound. That is no time to make ice or stop at the shop and rob - but you see video of this every storm....

If you have medicines that require refrigeration and you live in the Gulf States you might recall the 14 hour ride in your car during the Hurricane Gustov evacuation of August/September.

While you may not be able to stuff a large cooler in your car as tempting as it sounds - you may have to provide a refrigerated source for ill children or elderly folks on board.

Forget ice or plastic freezer packs because this cryo-gel dry ice replacement is better because it lasts longer - up to 96 hrs in some ideal situations.

We've had them out in the open over 5 hours and in collapsible insulated containers for days. They are used to ship food and drugs via UPS or FedEx. Non-toxic, water soluble and can be disposed of easily, they can be molded to a degree of usefulness unlike solid plastic containers.

See if you can get them at shipping stores like the UPS Store and save those you do get with your next birthday cake or steaks in the mail. Keep them in your freezer. We suggest placing them in a Ziploc bag while storing and in use.

Gustov Tests Preparedness Plans

Update 9-4-08: By all accounts our local/state/federal government agencies interacted well and service to the mass evacuation was performed well. This should be the new standard for future events of this nature. Practice does improve those odds. More storms loom on the horizon as this is written and officials are poised to respond again. Job well done.


Gustov is approaching the Gulf Coast as a Category 5 Hurricane...this is powerful...more so than Katrina. Federal, State and local officials are now working together and ahead of schedule in evacuations and moving assets to the area.
The lessons of Katrina may have been learned.

Still authorities stress that it is personal individual preparedness and readiness to react to warnings that have improved the survivability of this type of event.

Hurricane IKE is now enroute to the coast as emergency crews wait nearby on the ready to provide service as needed.

California Firestorm - October 2007

Latest information that continues to change is that one half million people have been displaced by these fires in California....400,000+ homes evacuated and over 400,000 acres of land scorched with over 1400 homes or businesses lost to the flames....wow. It keeps getting larger.

This is an area not unfamiliar with these types of incidents.....luckily many were prepared to leave...but not all and those poor souls interviewed on TV claiming to have had only an hour notice to pack and get out....were painful to watch. No sane, rational person enjoys seeing others suffer.


So, if you figure you can get your whole life packed up in an hour then have at it....more reason to prepare ahead of time...these evacuees are finding out that their temporary stay in sports stadiums and the like may prove to be a bit longer than anticipated.....many were observed carrying their belongings in paper bags..... this from people who lived in mansions and in fire prone areas.


Too much tree brush left behind because of environmental laws prohibiting clearing now increases the threat and fuels the fires...nature just took care of this itself. Living on the edge of a desert that has been known to dry up and catch on fire regularly - is not too smart. Call it like it is - great view but you risk losing everything. At least one life has been lost so far...

Now reports have it one or more fires were started by an arsonist. Nothing new there. Another story has a detained terror suspect telling the FBI in Denver this June that they planned to start numerous fires out west in several states and then leave the country. Plausible not hard to accomplish and perfect for terrorists.

In any event, you have a catastrophe, both man made in many respects and naturally occurring. Plenty of state and federal resources on hand working in unison with relief agencies this time to handle the situation and a competent Governor - not like the Katrina mess. National Guard has plenty of assets on hand and the Marines at Pendelton stand ready to help when/if called.

This may not be the case when you find yourself in a situation - it may be more localized or even more devastating and help less available. Still preparation - mentally and physically is key.
Expecting others to serve your every need is an unrealistic expectation - unfortunately one that our younger generation has come to expect.


Does anyone still need more incentive to have a plan and supplies on hand ready to go? How much fun do you think living in that tent at the stadium is going to be shortly? How safe as well? So far it looks good but lots of work will need to be done. Katrina was and is still a mess - sloppy planning/corruption and devastation.

So, no - don't go and hold up in a corner of your house and hide. Schedule in some time to assess your risk potential and take some assertive steps to ensure your family's survival when/if those risks play out. Good luck and to you all.