Preparing for Disaster – Part Four – Transportation

Where the Rubber Meets the Road

Have your car supplied and in good running order could save your life.  In your car, place one gallon of water, per person, per day for three days. You need a minimum of three days of food as well. Do not forget pet food or special food for infants and others.

Even if you start out your evacuation in a car, you may need to continue on foot due to traffic gridlock, rising flood waters, bridge or road failure, car problems, mud slides or car jacking.

It is hard for me to consider going anywhere on foot. However, for many people in large cities, cars are not available or even feasible. In addition, your car may be disabled or trapped by falling trees, downed electrical wires or flood waters.

Where the Leather Meets the Road

You should be ready to evacuate on foot and carry what you need. You MAY be able to use a wagon, shopping cart or other wheeled storage container, but you MUST have everything you need in one bag that you can CARRY. If you have a family, this means one bag per person. These bags should be packed and put in a central location so that everyone may reach them quickly.

Find a waterproof lightweight backpack that you can carry (all day and night) or that will fit on your walker, bicycle, wagon, wheelchair, whatever. Remember, anything that is not waterproof will increase dramatically in weight when wet, especially the clothes you choose to wear. Cotton is the worst thing to wear.

Packing Your Getaway Bag

Pack and unpack the following items in your backpack until you feel comfortable that you can find everything quickly. A backpack with pockets may be good to organize your belongings. You could split the items between a purse and bag, but one bag would be better.

Necessary Items

• Laminated map
• Laminated list of medical information and contact numbers
• Prescription medicines (Insulin-can be stored with ice pack in a zip lock bag)
• Picture ID
• Money, gasoline card, ATM card (split money up among family members and carry on your person)
• Meals-Ready-Eat (MREs) -OR- small camp stove/fuel, dehydrated food, mess kit/utensils
• small water purifier (or water purifying tablets) – water weighs 8 pounds per gallon
• space blanket(s)
• waterproof flashlight(s)
• waterproof first-aid kit with instructions
• waterproof poncho
• waterproof tarp
• eyeglasses and clip-on sunglasses in hard case and zip lock bag
• hearing aid in hard case and zip lock bag
• travel sized toiletries in zip lock bag
• battery-powered or hand-crank weather band radio with am/fm
• compass
• Swiss Army knife
• duct tape
• rope
• small garbage bags and twist ties
• plastic zip bags
• candles
• lighters
• waterproof matches
• Super Glue

Place in separate quart sized plastic zip bags:

• cell phone
• cell phone chargers (electric and car adapters)
• extra batteries for flashlight, cell phone and radio
• magic marker, pens and paper
• keys to your home, car and lockbox (not all your keys)
• OTC medicines (aspirin or Advil, antacid tablets, anti-diarrhea, antihistamines, motion sickness pills)
• Granola bars, energy snacks and/or candy bars

In a large zip bag pack or space bag:

• one full change of clothes
• three pairs of socks
• three pairs of underwear

In another large zip lock bag or space bag:

• Lightweight, waterproof pants and windbreaker (jacket, gloves and hat if applicable)
• one pair of comfortable shoes or sneakers
• one pair of rain boots or galoshes

If you have room left, you may want to include:

• lightweight tent
• folded air mattress
• small umbrella
• rain hat

Other items that may apply to you:

• life jacket(s)
• thermal under garments
• fireproof shelter
• gun and ammunition – sad to say, but this was necessary in New Orleans in 2005
• pet Rx, pet food and leash
• formula, baby food, diapers

By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail – Benjamin Franklin

Written by Eileen Trainor aka CyberCelt of Texas RV Travel and Texas RV Travel blog  All rights reserved, but please feel free to distribute, as is, to others.  Originally written in 2005 after Hurricane Katrina. Updated Wednesday, September 1, 2011.

Preparing for Disaster – Part Three – Essential Items

Items to Save Your Life and Help You On Your Way

Make a list of your medicines, including dosage, times per day taken, prescription numbers, and the name and the phone number of your pharmacy. List any food or drug allergies. Write down diseases or health conditions of all family members.

Make another list with the address and the phone number of your family doctor(s) and next of kin, as well as any instructions to emergency personnel. Laminate these two items (back to back) so they are waterproof. You may also want to laminate your copies of directive(s) to physicians and power(s) of attorney for durable health care.

• Call your doctor and ask for an extra refill of all your prescription drugs. This can be expensive, so you may alternately keep all your prescriptions refilled and in one place. Alternatively, carry a written prescription.
• Have an extra pair of eyeglasses made. If you wear contacts, you will need eyeglasses or sunglasses. Debris, wind, rain and embers can blow contacts out of your eyes or affix them to your cornea.
• If you wear a hearing aid, you may want to buy a cheaper one to pack in your getaway bag; at least, make sure you wear it and have extra batteries packed.
• If you use a cane or walker, buy a folding cane or a lightweight folding walker with seat. Wheelchairs should be manual as batteries could be problematic in a flood.
• Remember your dentures and any prosthetic as well.
• Do not forget your diabetes test kit, blood pressure cuff and oxygen generators.

What is the Plan? Where is the Plan? Is there a Plan?

Call your council member, borough representative, county commissioner or whoever represents you at the city, precinct or county level. Ask your representative where you may find the area emergency and area evacuation plan on the web or have it mailed to you. Do not be surprised if there is NO plan.

Study the plan or make your own. On an area map, mark the various routes, shelters, police stations, firehouses and hospitals on the map. On another piece of paper, write down the emergency numbers for your area, including police, fire, EMS, coast guard, swift water rescue, sheriff, etc.

There is probably a page with all these numbers in your telephone book. Tear it out. Take the numbers and your map and laminate them (back to back) so they are waterproof.

Designated Shelters

Determine the closest designated emergency shelter(s) to your home. Walk or drive to the shelter(s) so you know exactly how to reach there. Plan your route so that you are on high ground and away from rivers and streams.

• Call and ask questions about food and water–for how many and how long?
• Do they have bedding, wheelchairs and medical supplies?
• Is there a generator, refrigerator and air conditioner or air filtration system?
• Is there a waste water system that will work in emergencies?
• What is the plan for security at the shelter?
• Does the shelter have communication with emergency personnel?
• What provisions, if any, have been made for pets?

Look for different types of shelters whenever you travel. Make it a game for your children. It might save their lives. It will hone your survival skills as well.

Weather Conditions

Flood

• If the area has had a lot of rain in the past few days, you will have less time to evacuate before the water starts running off into streets, ditches and rivers.
• Low-lying areas flood, so look to the high ground for a hospital, community shelter, high school or university building that is suitable as a refuge.
• If you cannot see the street under the water, do not enter water running over the roadway for any reason. A mere 18 inches of water will lift your vehicle. Once your vehicle becomes buoyant; the water will easily push it sideways. Most vehicles will then tend to roll over, trapping those inside and washing them downstream.

Earthquake

• I have never been in an earthquake or lived in an earthquake prone area, so please get the advice of someone who knows the area. I will share what little I know.
• Get outside once the earthquake has stopped.  There WILL be aftershocks and they may be as bad as the original quake. Look to open spaces, away from buildings with glass and brick.
• Wait until someone in authority gives the all clear signal.
• There are faults all over the United States.  No city is immune to earthquakes

Tornado

For tornadoes, go to your storm shelter or your basement, if you have one. If not, select an interior room, bathroom or closet without windows. Select which room, closet or bathroom you will use ahead of time. If you choose a closet, then get everything out of there that will not help save your life.

• Place a cache of water, matches, candles, flashlight, space blanket and non-perishable food in the selected room. This room is also probably the best place to store your weather radio.
• If you choose a bathroom, get into the tub and cover yourself with a mattress. If you select another room, crawl under a sturdy table and cover yourself with a mattress. Use your best judgment for how to protect yourself in a closet.
• If you are driving, get out of your car. Find a ditch, service bay, root cellar or crawlspace. Do not stay in your car. Do not try to outrun the tornado.

Hurricane

In case of a hurricane, you may have to drive to safety. Having your car supplied and in good running order could save your life and the lives of the ones you love. In your car, you will need to have one gallon of water, per person, per day for three days. You need a minimum of three days of food as well. Do not forget pet food or special food for infants and others.

• Leave first.  Do not wait for orders to evacuate.  Get out before the rush.
• In hurricane season, keep your car tank full of gasoline.
• Make sure you always have water, oil, tools, extra belts and hoses, inflated spare tire, and emergency flares in your car.
• Keep flashlights, first aid kit with instructions, space blankets, waterproof ponchos and a waterproof tarp in your car at all times.
• Plan your evacuation route. Have a detailed map in your car at all times.
• Do not expect anyone in a position of authority to know what is going on. If they are armed, follow their instructions; otherwise, do what you think is best. Why? You have prepared for this emergency and the authorities may not have prepared.
• People died of heat prostration on the gridlocked highways out of Houston in 2005.
• Others left their cars after the cars overheated or ran out of gas.
• Individuals were killed crossing the highway or getting out of their disabled cars.
• It took hours for the authorities to make all highway lanes outbound on the evacuation route out of Houston in 2005.
• It was the second day of the evacuation before authorities realized they had to get tanker trucks of gasoline out on the highways.  Guess what?  There were no lanes for the tankers to use.

Be aware. Do not wait for officials to declare an emergency. If you see that a hurricane or typhoon is heading toward your area, leave. If you see the water rising, evacuate. If you do not like the look of the clouds, prepare. If there is a fire in the forest a mile from your home, get out.

Written by Eileen Trainor aka CyberCelt of Texas RV Travel and Texas RV Travel blog  All rights reserved, but please feel free to distribute, as is, to others.  Originally written in 2005 after Hurricane Katrina. Updated Tuesday, August 30, 2011.

Preparing for Disaster – Part Two – What is Important?

First, ask yourself, your spouse and your children what they would save if they knew all else would be lost forever. Children treasure different items. You may be surprised at what they want saved. Help them decide between items. Decision-making ability is a good skill to develop.

Here are just a few items to start you thinking:

• wedding photographs
• Eagle scout patch
• baby pictures
• family Bible
• your scrapbooks
• book of poetry you wrote
• recipe cards left by your grandmother
• pressed flowers from weddings and funerals
• tiny porcelain animals your mother collected
• military medals
• family quilt

Gather these irreplaceable items, place them in a box and set aside for now. After you have found, copied and secured your important documents, you will have to decide what to do with these precious items. This will give you and your children some time to make changes.

Next, find all your important documents:

• will(s)
• directive(s) to physicians
• power(s) of attorney for durable health care
• household inventory for insurance purposes
• military discharge papers
• birth, adoption and marriage certificate(s)
• Insurance policies (life, home, automobile, RV, boat, etc.)

Put the documents in a folder. Take the folder and make two copies of first four items, one copy of next three items, keeping the originals separate.

If you do not have a safety deposit box, you will need one. You should have a key and the executor/executrix of your estate should have a key. To make things easy, they should sign a signature card to have access to your box in the event of your death. Otherwise, they have to get a court order to access.

Place one copy of your will(s), medical power(s) of attorney and directive(s) to physicians and the originals of all other important documents into your safety deposit box.

The original will(s) and one key to your safety deposit box should go to your executor/executrix of your estate. Send a copy of your household inventory to this person as well.

Forward the original durable power(s) of attorney and directive(s) to physicians to your designated next of kin, the person you trust to make the right decisions and uphold your wishes. Keep a copy of durable power(s) of attorney and directive(s) to physicians.

Buy a lock box that is both waterproof and fireproof. In this box place copies of important documents, such as your will, your insurance policies, birth and marriage certificates and household inventory. Keep one key and place the other key in your safety deposit box.

To make the copy/original process easier, I have a grid below to clarify.

Now, decide which precious items will go into the safety deposit box and which go into the lock box at your home. You may need a bigger safety deposit box or another fireproof/waterproof lock box!

Remember, usually the banks survive, but our homes do not always remain standing. This process will just take a few hours, a couple of stamps and a trip to the bank. Do it today. Protect your wishes, treasures and important documents first.

Stay tuned . . .

Written by Eileen Trainor aka CyberCelt of Texas RV Travel and Texas RV Travel blog  All rights reserved, but please feel free to distribute, as is, to others.  Originally written in 2005 after Hurricane Katrina. Updated Friday, August 26, 2011.