Winter is Coming

With fall rolling in at full force and winter soon on the horizon you can expect certain environmental changes to occur. The Most obvious changes are temperature drops, leaves falling and the usual rain and snow that accompanies the season. What most people don’t expect are the possibility of flooding, fire or wind, rain and thunder storms. Mother Nature never stops and so it’s good to remember that Preparation shouldn't stop either. Here are a few quick tips to get your winter preparation underway.

1. Food storage – This is something that really applies traditionally to winter time but is something to even think about throughout the year. Ensuring you have enough water and food to last you in case any of the public works fails is essential. The last thing you need is to be in a situation where you've become dependent on them to supply you what you need. We call this a “single point of failure” in the military and it’s a bad situation to be in. Having enough food and water for at least 72 hours is a must and enough for two weeks is ideal. Most public works issues are limited to under two weeks but it couldn't hurt to be more prepared.

2. Heating – Knowing how best to heat your home is essential. A significant chunk of money is spent annually on heating your home and there are a few tips out there that can help lower the cost. If you have a fireplace then having sufficient firewood is always important since this is very easy to find for free on sites like Craigslist.com. Look into high efficient portable heaters to place in the rooms you occupy most. There isn't a huge need to heat the whole house when you spent most of your time in only part of it. Look into homemade/DIY style heaters like my favorite “terracotta pot” heater (instructions for this can be found just by doing a web search). Also ensure that you have curtains that help hold in the heat. Check the attic to ensure you have proper and sufficient insulation. Renew your weather stripping around doors and windows if needed. Sealing up the house might take most of an afternoon but saves you on so many energy costs that makes it plenty worth it.

Terracotta Pot Heater

3. Contingency Planning – Most people think of the first two items but they forget that there are many other things they need plans for. Flooding and fire can occur frequently during fall as the seasons change and precautions should be taken. Have evacuation plans and thoughts of a secondary location if you need to leave for an extended period of time. Inventorying your valuables is one that most people forget. This is not only good in case of burglary but also for insurance purposes. Have a plan for every possible disaster. Most of these plans will look exactly the same but it’s good to consider them each individually.

4. Know your neighbors – I've found great value in knowing your neighbors and I encourage everyone to get to know theirs. There are some people that might live in areas where it’s a little frightening to become close to them. Each situation will be different but knowing who they are, what they do and their willingness level to assist you if you need it is paramount to a complete contingency plan. With a lot of people taking time off to travel during the holidays a good neighbor can help keep an eye on things while you’re gone.

5. Learn – Don’t be afraid to go out and do some research. I don’t believe that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. I think that there is so much that can be learned and so little time to learn it. YouTube.com has become one of my favorite sites to learn about new and innovative ways of taking care of home issues. There are thousands of quick fix and DIY videos on a wide range of topics. Go to the library and pick up some books about any survival and preparation topics.

Being prepared is the best way to have peace of mind over the things you can’t control. By expecting a wide range of possible occurrences you’re diminishing the potential danger to yourself and family. Please comment below about your own winter preparation preferences and what you plan to do this fall before the cold comes.

What Does "Preparedness" Mean? - Escape Plans

     There are too many reasons why everyone needs escape plans and emergency response plans. With events natural disasters destroying homes and the land we love on a regular basis it is only logical that you should be ready for them. Pretending they don’t exist is stupid but so is not planning for them. Whether it is simply escaping your house during a fire or running for your life in tornado alley there is no reason not to have a plan. I’d like to go over a few different plans that I have in effect and how my family would escape if we needed too. Understand that each family will need different plans in place depending on where they live. Earthquakes may not be common where you live and so planning for those might not be top priority. What I would recommend however is that you still plan for the less likely events regardless but cater them to be specific to your family and what works for you. 

     FIRE - According to the US Fire Administration (USFA), there has been an annual estimated average of “2,495 civilian fire fatalities [resulting] from 360,900 residential building fires. Of the total residential building fires, 1,600 of them resulted in fatalities. The overall fatality rate was nearly six civilian fatalities per 1,000 residential fires.” That means there is always a chance of this happening no matter where you are. It might be something you’re very aware of and maybe even something that you practiced in elementary school when the Fire Marshall visited your school but it most likely is something that needs revising. Is this a plan that you’ve actually practiced with your family? Is it one that accounts for new additions to the family whether children or pets? Each house is different and some might require ladders and alternative exits. My apartment complex had one exit that we could walk out of if there were fire. We need a rope/chain ladder to escape if someone else’s apartment was on fire. I have a dog which makes getting him out more difficult if we have to exit via the ladder. These sorts of specific plans will get you out if you plan and practice them. I recommend at least doing it once a year, especially if you have children. 

     Remember that fire prevention is just as important as planning your escape. Keeping matches and other firestarting items in safe and properly stored locations could spare you these problems. Turning off unnecessary electronics when not in use and keeping an eye on gas and heating appliances will also assist you. 

     EARTHQUAKES/TORNADOES – I group these together because they arrive with little warning. Tornadoes can arrive with more warning then an earthquake but they are still very unpredictable. I’ve only been through three minor earthquakes and I’ve been extremely lucky to have never been through a tornado. These events are the hardest to plan for but what is necessary in planning for these events is how to deal with it as it happens and what to do following the event. Earthquakes and for the most part are a roller coaster ride that you can’t do anything about except ride it out. The concern following the event is where your loved ones are and are they safe? Having a meeting place is necessary when cellphones and even landlines are down. Plan beforehand two safe locations so that if one of those is destroyed or unreachable there is a second that can be used. Know the means of transportation following these events. Roads might be broken or littered with debris and driving to where you’re going could be dangerous. Know the best way to get to where you need to go without the convenience of your usual mode of transportation. 

     HURRICANES/FLOODS – These events normally happen hand in hand and although you might have a flood without a hurricane you almost always have flooding with a hurricane. These events usually allow for some measure of preparation if you are paying attention to your local and national weather services. They might not always get things right but they almost always overcast worse than it really is going to be. Use this as an indication of what is to come and prepare accordingly. Do you have window coverings to prevent broken glass? Ways to store your cars to protect them from flying debris? Do you have proper supplies to ride out the event well in advance of the rush that occurs prior? Many people wait till the last minute to gather candles, matches, water and food stores and if you are caught in this rush you end up with barely anything and a headache from the struggle. Preparation prior to these events will give you peace of mind and safe you an unnecessary trip to the store when you could be preparing your home. When the flooding arrives do you have a way to prevent it? Do you have a way to get sandbags or create a miniature levy around your home? 

Flooding in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina

     The hardest thing for many people in these situations is to leave. Katrina did not catch anybody off guard but it did catch people who just stayed. Many people said they had nowhere else to go. I do not wish to be insensitive to the struggles of these poor people who lost so much but my question is, why stay when your life is at risk? Weighing whether you should white-knuckle the storm or leave can be the hardest decision but if the storm is large enough, and you’ve prepared your home to the best of your ability then it might be best to just get up and leave. If you can’t go to family or friends then plan to meet at a hotel or motel somewhere out of the area. If you are low on funds and can’t do that then take a tent and find a nice spot off the side of the road. There are always options. Don’t risk your life for your home because your life and the life of your family are so much more precious than your home. 

     SNOW – Most people don’t think of this one because most people live in areas where the snow is manageable. If you live in Colorado, or New York or Minnesota the chances of getting snowed in are even worse. Are you prepared with a sufficient amount of food storage? That must include water, dry stores, a cooking stove, matches, candles and if you can afford it a small generator with some fuel. Be ready to stay a while because with these events you can never know. Lastly, be prepared for the possibility of financial repercussions. Unlike most, I get paid whether I’m at work or not because I’m military but many people work on an hourly basis and if the snow prevents you from working you’ve lost more than just some of your food storage. Having a savings both digital and as cash in hand is extremely when these sorts of events occur. 

     KIDNAPPING – Most people wouldn’t group this in with natural disasters but I believe that having a plan for this possibility is just as important as planning for a house fire. Children are targeted more and more and the pedophiles are becoming bolder. Preparing your children against attack and kidnapping is essential. Rather than speak much more on this I would refer you to a previous article titled “Protecting Your Family”. 

     TERRORISM – This one is similar to the earthquakes and tornadoes because there is little prediction. Law enforcement and intelligence services work tirelessly to prevent these but as we saw in the case of the 2013 Boston Bombing it still wasn’t enough. We can never fully prepare for these but I believe that the best way to deal with them is much like an earthquake. You need to have the same plan in effect but you need an extra step that doesn’t always accompany earthquakes or tornadoes and that is emotion and mental healing. I don’t proclaim to understand much about this because I’m no psychologist. I do see on a regular basis my friends with Post Traumatic Syndrome (PTSD) returning from Iraq and Afghanistan and I understand how that can affect them. I know that getting shot at is different then something like the Boston Bombing but the affect can be the same and can do more damage than the physical scars. This is exactly why it’s called terrorism and why it is so deadly. 

Second plane striking the Twin Towers on Sept. 11th 2001

     Jack of All Spades was created not only on the basis of prepare and prevent but also of dealing with these events. The tragedy of Katrina wasn’t just the physical destruction is caused it was the emotional. People had lost more than just homes; they’d lost family, friends and entire lives. I worked with a wonderful lady who was about to retire to her home in New Orleans that year but had to return to work shortly after Katrina because she lost everything. It changed her life is so many ways. Understanding how to deal with whatever drama life throws at you is just as important as planning to avoid it. We don’t want these events to define us; we want to define these events. 

     The bottom line is that there can potentially be a plan for everything. The detail and level of dedication to these plans depends on you and your families but personalize it; make it your own. Each family has a responsibility to be prepared to act and not let these events act upon us. We can be stronger then Mother Nature and we can prevent these things from tearing our lives apart.

Peace Of Mind

     The greatest consequence of preparation for any event is peace of mind. There can be no greater feeling of relief before, during and after a terrible event than knowing that you were prepared. The eastern United States was hammered by one of the worst storms seen in years causing flooding, power outages, fires and even death. The complete consequences are still unknown while people crawl out of the devastation to see what waits. I first wish to express my deepest condolences to anyone who has been severely affected by this storm and wish a speedy recovery for everyone. 

     What really struck me was the amount of people that are completely unprepared for such events. I believe everyone understands the dangers of a hurricane, tornado, earthquake or other natural disaster but they lack the wisdom to prepare for these events. About four days prior to the storm making landfall the media and local leaders advised the citizens on how best to prepare. Most people ran to the grocery and hardware stores to gather supplies, fighting over the last jug of water or loaf of bread. Lines were seen out the door and most people left empty handed having to drive to another store in search of supplies. 

     Two nights prior to the storm making landfall I realized we had run low on milk and I went to the store to get some groceries. I was amazed that there was so little on the shelves. The normally stocked milk locker was empty of all but a few gallons of 2%. I walked past the empty shelves of the soup isles and the now barren drink isle. Even the bakery had been picked clean leaving just a few bagels and only one loaf of bread. 

     I smiled to myself at how wonderful it felt to have already had these items on hand. To be honest I should have picked up some milk earlier knowing that the unprepared were going to raid the stores but I could have lasted a few more days without milk. Preparation had once again saved me so much stress and hassle of not only fighting with people to get basics but waiting in endless lines for things I could have picked up weeks ago. 

Food Storage closet of an avid prepper.

     Not everyone has extra money lying around and I understand the economic strains that most of us deal with. The greatest thing is that if you can plan to have even $10 extra a month and you spend that on supplies you might need, you will be ready for almost anything. I set aside about $20-30 a months for my preparation fund. This means that I spend it on water, medical supplies, Go-Bag replenishment items, batteries, food storage and other items. My normal grocery list is full of items that I can use as food storage and I try to buy one extra can than I need so that I can stockpile some of the items. By using items I eat on a regular basis I can cycle through the items to make sure they’re fresh and ready. 

     I don’t have large food stores like I would need if it came down to surviving for months. Money is so tight I can only afford my $20-30 and at times I can’t even do that. Even at that level of preparedness I was able to ride out this storm comfortably without any fear of the dangers that were presented. I had a peace of mind and was grateful for it. 

     Storage space is also sometimes and issue and living in a small apartment like I do can be difficult deciding where best to store things. You would be surprised at the little amount of space six months’ worth of food storage can really take. I think that most people can find a place for it. Buying items like rice and oats are a sure way to stock your supply quickly and cheaply. Most of these items store well for extended periods and are great food in an emergency. Canned foods are also ready for easy storage and there are multiple options on how best to store them. Many storage container supply stores offer racks, shelves and other reasonable ways to store your food in ways that best minimize the amount of space they occupy. 

     The bottom line is that a month’s worth of food storage is minimal and nearly essential for everyone. Building up to six months or more can be difficult but worth it. Remember that preparing for these natural disasters is as important as providing everyday shelter and food for your family. Without these items you’ll be stuck in the line with others fighting over the last gallon of water or loaf of bread. Don’t be caught without the essentials when the time comes. Be prepared and receive that peace of mind.