Simple Survival In the City
The City’s Department of Health is offering free H1N1 vaccinations to school kids. The shots will be available during school hours and at Saturday clinics in every borough. For schedules, locations and consent forms click here.
If you’d like to keep track of the number of children presenting flu-like symptoms at your kid’s school you can search the citywide database used by school nurses. Just enter the name of the school and the borough.
Wed, November 11 2009 » Disease » 1 Comment
By Paul Purcell In an emergency you’ll need to provide and receive help, and after it’s over, you’ll have to return, repair, and rebuild. Central to this is communication and documentation. Our society loves red tape, especially after disasters. Below are 50 ways the camera phone can be used in an emergency to document, record, and relay important information. Any camera could be used for some of these things, but the phonecam carries a distinct advantage. It can immediately transmit your pictures. If you don’t have a phonecam, go with what you have, or what you can afford. Disposable cameras and digital cameras are acceptable. However, the phonecam rules, so let’s look at ways yours can be used in an emergency. These are excerpts from “Disaster Prep 101” at http://www.disasterprep101.com.
1. Last minute child ID. Whenever the family might be separated, take last-minute pictures of all family members, especially the kids, and pets.
2. Send a map. To send or receive directions to or from a location when voice directions aren’t working, draw a map on paper, take a picture, and send.
3. Injury photos to the doctor. Suppose help isn’t available, and someone’s sick or injured. If there are visible signs or symptoms, relay pictures to medical personnel who can walk you through whatever treatment is possible where you are.
4. Damage documentation. In catastrophes, it’ll be days before insurance adjusters get there to file claims. Photo all damage in case some of it gets repaired or cleaned up before agents arrive.
5. Report suspicious activity. If you see suspicious activity in your neighborhood, upload pictures of suspects and the situation to the Police immediately.
6. “Here’s the landmark.” Gathering the family is critical. If you don’t have a fixed meeting place, send pictures of where and what you’re near so others can find you. This also works well if you’re lost in the wilderness and need to relay pictures of landmarks.
7. “Meet us here.” If you have a fixed rendezvous point, send a pic you already have on file, so others will know where to meet. Take these photos while compiling your family emergency plan.
8. Photo shopping list. When stocking up in anticipation of an emergency, take a picture of your pantry as a quick shopping list.
9. Driving directions. If you’re trying to tell others where a certain location is, send a picture by picture set of directions. Create this file while assembling your family reaction plan.
10. “Meet this person.” If your family evacuates, and they know where to go, but haven’t met the family contact person, send them a picture of the person they’re to meet, or send that person pictures of the people heading their way.
11. Last minute property inventory. If you’re evacuating, snap quick shots of your property to include purchases not on your last home inventory, and the current condition of your property.
12. “Adventure” journal. Take pictures to record what you do, where you go, and people you meet during an evacuation, etc.
13. Situational severity. In a large-scale emergency, first responders will be overworked. They might not be available for a “minor situation.” However, the situation might be worse than they understand, and you might need serious help. Send a picture of how bad things are.
14. Quick text messaging. You might not have time to type a message, and the lines might not be open long enough for a conversation. Write a note on paper, take a picture, and send that.
15. Minor traffic mishap. In a minor fender-bender, with no injuries or disabled vehicles, most jurisdictions will tell you to “swap info and move along.” If that’s the case (always call 911 to make sure), photo the vehicular damage, people involved, witnesses at the scene (and their car tag numbers), and of others involved in the accident to show their injuries (or lack thereof).
16. Wallet backup. Take pictures of your wallet’s contents (or important documents) to record numbers, and show that cards are or were in your possession. Be careful with this info as it’s very sensitive and can be used for identity theft!
17. Inclement weather reporting. If you’re the first to see the funnel cloud, hail, or a river overflowing, send a picture to the weather service or authorities as rapid proof an emergency is developing.
18. First Responder intel. The more first responders know about a collapsed house, an auto accident, a fire in progress, or any other emergency, the more rapid and appropriate a reaction they can make.
19. Missing persons. Send picture of picture. In addition to last minute family photos, send a picture of a photograph in your purse or wallet of a missing family member.
20. Relay property damage to or from neighbors. After a disaster, whoever goes home first, either you or your neighbors, could photograph area damage and relay info to the other.
21. Help insurance adjusters find your property. After a devastating incident, street signs will be gone, house numbers won’t be visible, etc. Take current pictures of landmarks or unique damage near or at your property to make it easier to find you.
22. Copy bulletin boards. If you’re in an emergency shelter, and there’s an info bulletin board, you’ll need the info but might not be able to write it down. Take a picture!
23. Bus, subway, or city map. If you’re anywhere you’re not familiar with and there’s a posted map, take a picture of it for later reference if you get lost.
24. Document your route. When traveling to a new area, and you want to find your way back, take pictures along the way of landmarks at turns you make, forks in the road, etc.
25. Record medicines or food brands. To relay information about medications, or if you have special dietary needs and are sending information regarding certain brands to someone, a picture really is worth a thousand words.
26. Parking spot locations. Don’t trust your memory, trust a picture. Take a pic of where you left your vehicle either in a lot or in a parking deck.
27. Engine repairs. Should you break down and your vehicle shows outward signs of problems such as steam shooting from a hose, or liquids dripping from the engine, send a pic to a mechanic who may talk you through a quick fix.
28. Business or service function and hours. Copy posted business hours or listed service functions (and pricing) for later review and recall. This is also a good way to report price gouging.
29. Child custodian. If you can’t get to your kids at school or other function, relay a picture of the person who is coming to pick them up. Send this picture to the school or function, and to your child (if they have a phonecam).
30. Info on injured or hospitalized people. You might be in a position to send pictures to people looking for loved ones or vice-versa.
31. Hotel room number. Whenever you get a hotel room, take a picture to find your way back. Photo the room number on the door, and the name of the motel and adjacent buildings.
32. ID your evac gear. As with all belongings, take a picture to prove ownership. This might come in handy with theft in emergency shelters. It’s a rare occurrence, but be ready to prove things are yours.
33. Photo scavenger hunt. You’ll need something to entertain the kids. Give them a short list of things they should take a picture of. First one to take all the pictures wins! 34. Identify the close-up. Another idea is to take a really close up picture of something while the kids aren’t looking, and have them figure out what it is.
35. Document your whereabouts. Let’s say looting or rioting is occurring. You can help Police by secretively taking pictures of the perpetrators (not really recommended for safety reasons), or take pictures as you’re leaving to document the fact you weren’t involved.
36. ID the rescuer. If a rescuer is picking up your child or pet, photo the rescuer (and the child or pet) and the vehicle they used. Photograph their name tag as well as registration numbers on helicopters, vehicle tag numbers, or names of boats.
37. Document your cleanup. It may be a while before your insurance adjuster can arrive. Take pictures of the damage as you found it, and steps you took during cleanup. Regarding insurance, NOTHING beats documentation!
38. Document expenditures. If you buy goods or supplies, rent equipment, or hire a service, in addition to receipts, photograph the goods acquired, equipment being used, services being performed, and the people involved.
39. Property pics for retrieval companies. Some scenarios will see you unable to return home. Some companies are trained and equipped to go into these areas to gather people’s belongings. Property photos will allow you to identify specific items you’d like retrieved.
40. Evacuee status. Authorities will want to know who is injured, dead, or missing, and who is okay and where they are. Taking pictures of those you meet along with way, or at your emergency shelter, will help ID the living and well.
41. Language barriers. Ever try to find the restroom in a foreign country and you didn’t know the phrase? Imagine how guests in our country feel in emergency situations. Pictures make communication easier, whether you’re trying to understand their needs, or relay yours.
42. Transmit road conditions. Let’s say after a hurricane, you’re one of the first families returning home, and you’re taking back roads. Authorities (or others following) might not have checked every avenue of return. If damage needs to be reported, or there’s no damage (report that too), sending a picture can relay tons of information.
43. Relay traffic conditions. If family members are separated, or heading different directions, pass along traffic conditions or info from traffic warning signs.
44. Crime scene evidence. People have returned to a home undamaged by a disaster, but later looted. Since Police might not be able to show up right away, take “crime scene” photos (for both Police and insurance).
45. Too much on the screen? Should the TV flash pertinent information and you don’t have time to write, or there’s a lot of text on a computer and you can’t print it, take a picture of the screen for later review.
46. ID for doctors or pharmacies. Medical needs are a real probability during an emergency. Since you can’t get to your doctor, and they might phone in a prescription to a pharmacy that doesn’t know either of you, use your phone to verify your identity to your doctor, and your doctor can relay the picture to the pharmacy.
47. Emergency supply information. Suppose a developing emergency finds you low on goods and you send different people to different supply locations. If supplies are low, these folks can send a picture of the types or brands of items available so you can make educated purchase decisions.
48. “Last Minute List” items and shutdown. Though everyone should keep a “bugout kit” packed and ready, there will be items which cannot be packed in advance. In addition to a written list, create a photo file showing items you need to take (and their location) and steps to secure the house before leaving.
49. Evac atlas. Create a “travel atlas” of emergency assets available along evacuation routes. Include lodging, ATM locations, emergency rooms, etc. Travel the routes and take photos, or draw maps and shoot those.
50. Reaction plan for the reading disabled. If a family member suffers from any reading disability, using photos is a must. Create a photo file that will relay your entire emergency plan without using text.
Copyright 2005, Paul Purcell. About the author: Paul Purcell is a security analyst and preparedness consultant with over twenty years risk management and preparedness experience. He’s also the author of “Disaster Prep 101.” More information can be found at http://www.disasterprep101.com.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Paul_Purcell http://EzineArticles.com/?50-Emergency-Uses-for-Your-Camera-Phone&id=95517
Tue, November 10 2009 » Emergency, Equipment, Uncategorized » No Comments
These articles and posts gave me lots of food for thought. Leave a comment if you read any of them I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Eric Sprott and David Franklin: US Risks Default
Senate Approves Jobless, Housing Aid
India Sells Dollars Buys Gold What Does It Mean?
Swine Flu, When to head to the Hospital, When to Stay Home
The 7 Survival Habits of Byzantium
Winter Weather Requires Preparedness
Mon, November 9 2009 » Emergency, Money, Survival, Uncategorized, Weather » No Comments
Free Preps
$1 Preps
$5 Preps
$10 Preps
Fri, November 6 2009 » Check Lists » No Comments
Mega Storage
I’ve seen pictures of massive food storage systems. I never even considered trying to do that. I don’t have room for a year’s worth of dehydrated and canned foods. There’s a company that makes canned cheese. I can’t imagine what that would taste like.
Even if I had the room and the money to go out and buy all of that stuff I wouldn’t eat it until I had too and in an emergency who wants to try to figure out what to do with dried meat and canned butter? Even if you don’t have a mega-food storage plan there are still plenty of good reasons to keep some extra food even if there’s no emergency:
Save Time and Money
If you’re like me any time I go to the grocery store for just a couple of things I come out with a cart full of stuff I picked up along the way. Invariably I spend more time and money than I planned.
Easier Menu Planning
You could plan out what you and your family will eat ahead of time because you know what ingredients you have on hand. Sometimes figuring out what to cook on a daily basis takes longer than the actual cooking.
Get Organized
Food storage is a twofer if you’re going to store a few weeks to a month of extra food you are going to have to have a place to keep all that food where you can see everything you have and get to everything easily.
You Can Stay Off The Road When Everyone’s Stressed
There’s a weather report that predicts a storm and everyone does the same thing they rush out to the grocery store to pick up food or other supplies. If you already have the foods your family likes to eat you don’t have to be on the road. Between the wet or icy road conditions and anxious drivers it makes for hazardous driving conditions. It would be better just to stay in and watch a movie.
Take Advantage of Sales
When your brand of pasta or anything else is on sale buy the max. When it goes back up to the normal price you won’t have to buy any. Eventually as you build your inventory you’ll be able to buy only what’s on sale when you go shopping. Kaching!
You Don’t Need to Focus on “Survival” Food
MRE’s, dried and canned stuff that you don’t ordinarily eat, beef jerky all that stuff that we see on survival websites. A simple rule of food storage is “store what you eat and eat what you store.” I didn’t invent it I just think it is a good rule of thumb.
I’ve never even seen wheat berries I’m not going to store a hundred pounds of them. Besides who needs to be sick in an emergency from eating unfamiliar food? If your family likes rice, white rice stores for a really long time, keep extra white rice. The same if your family likes pasta or potatoes.
At the very least keep the ingredients for your go-to recipes on hand. What ever you make quickly, easily and everybody in the household likes to eat.
When Emergencies Happen You Can Stay Out of Harm’s Way
If your neighborhood is not directly affected by the emergency it makes a lot of sense just to stay home. You’ll have peace of mind knowing that your family is safe and together.
You Can Help Others
If you have a relative or friend who was affected by a disaster you can open your door to them or pack them a box of food to tide them over in a difficult time.
Thu, November 5 2009 » Food Storage, Money, Organization » No Comments
There’s no one-size-fits-all prep plan that works for everybody. Prepping for bad weather is like every thing else the more information you have the better off you’ll be. If you’ve lived in your neighborhood for a while you know if your area floods when it’s rainy.
You might still want to check the Hurricane Evacuation Zone Finder you can enter your address and find out if you’re in an area prone to flooding. You can also sign up for Notify NYC this service offered by the NYC Office of Emergency Management will send text, email, and voice message alerts about emergency events.
I’m in a high-rise building, I’m not worried about the water coming up to my window on the 11th floor, but if my building’s basement floods there goes washing my clothes and it might affect my heat.
Get your emergency bag ready if you don’t already have one. If you have to leave your home you’ll have what you need for at least 3 days in it.
Have a battery operated radio so that you can stay informed about the weather in case the cable goes out. My internet connection comes though the cable company too so I wouldn’t have internet access if a storm knocked out cable too.
I’m looking into getting a space heater. Something that could keep at least one room in my apartment warm. If anyone has recommendations about space heaters I’d love to hear about it.
Have at least one flashlight and lay in a supply of batteries. I have candles, but I consider them the lighting of last resort. I’m just more comfortable with flashlights.
The Red Cross has a recipe for a basic kit that you can get you started. Add specific items that your family needs to round it out.
Wed, November 4 2009 » Organization, Weather » No Comments
As I was perusing the Office of Emergency Management’s website I got really overwhelmed. I really didn’t know where to start. I decided to prepare for winter storms first because we’re moving toward winter and the weather’s been getting kinda rough.
I got it together after I asked how would a really bad storm affect me and my daily routines?
I’m concerned about losing power. In the beginning of October high winds caused localized power outages in all 5 boroughs. I wondered briefly about buying a small generator but between the noise and the fumes it just wouldn’t work in an apartment.
I read about a window solar rig in Colin Bevan’s book,No Impact Man: The Adventures of a Guilty Liberal Who Attempts to Save the Planet, and the Discoveries He Makes About Himself and Our Way of Life in the Process
I wondered about getting back and forth to work safely. During a major rainstorm in August of 2007 it was tough. Many subway lines were at a stand still I was able to get only half way to work on the train I had to take a cab the rest of the way.
At my station on the F line the water came up to the lip of the platform. During an ordinary rain I often see little water falls coming out of cracks in the subway walls. Now, I carpool with a friend. Unless the roads are flooded or just completely congested I should be able to get to work.
I don’t have any problem with staying home for a few days. I save vacation time and I have at least a couple of week’s worth of food. I’d be able to easily stay in for a few days.
I think this process of examining how a hazard would affect me and my routines is a good place to start for planning preparations.
Tue, November 3 2009 » Survival, Weather » No Comments
For the next few weeks I want to look at hazards that can affect New York City. I had no idea that there were so many. I guess since they don’t happen often or even all at once they don’t come to mind unless they’re happening.
Come to find out our city is subject to: building collapse, carbon monoxide, coastal storms/hurricanes, disease outbreaks, earthquakes (OMG), extreme heat, flooding, radiation, severe weather, winter weather and utility disruptions oh my. You see the full rundown at the city’s Office of Emergency Management website.
I’m overwhelmed just looking at the list. For now I’m going to be doing basic storm prep.
During the month of November I’ll also be working on my food storage. I’ve been doing some reading up about how and what to store. My family has always stored the basics. My brother-in-law was visiting last week, he passed by the kitchen as I filled up the sugar bowl from my stored sugar. He was stunned that we had that much sugar.
I didn’t think anything of it until I saw his reaction. I thought everybody had 20 pounds of sugar and 20 pounds of rice tucked away in their cupboards. I did an informal inventory and we have at least three weeks worth of food just with the basic storage we ordinarily do. I’d like to get us up to a month’s worth.
Last Saturday, it poured all day it was great to be able to stay in and bake some bread and throw on a pot of soup out of what we already had in the cupboard. When I went to work Monday most people were talking about how they were out in the storm going to the grocery store or Costco.
This month I’ll be working on making spaces to store enough food to get us up to that month. I’ll be posting about that on Thursday’s except Thanksgiving day.
Mon, November 2 2009 » Survival, Uncategorized » No Comments
Feng Shui is known as the art of placement. Practitioners use a variety of techniques and practices to promote order, balance and a sense of peace in a home. It occurred to me that prepping for fire requires a similar mindset.
Fung Shui Principles:
Don’t Store What You Don’t Need
Feng Shui principles encourage us to get rid of excess stuff. Things piled up anywhere we can store them are just fuel waiting for a spark. Excavating our storage depots encourages the flow of Qi and eliminates fuel for fires.
Cleanliness is Lucky
In Feng Shui a messy home is a home where energy can’t flow. A stale place where Qi is stagnant attracts bad luck. Fires need fuel keeping surfaces clean cuts down the chance of grease fires in the kitchen. That seems pretty lucky to me.
Eliminate Clutter
Clutter stagnates Qi. Clutter also blocks walkways, staircases, hallways. The more stuff between you and the door the harder it will be for you and your family to get out quickly and safely.
Create a Calm Environment
One of the goals of Feng Shui is to create living environments that are comfortable, tranquil and safe. With your fire safety plan in place and your emergency kit ready to go, you and your family will be ready to leave safely and calmly if a fire does happen.
Can you apply a Feng Shui principle to your preparations today ?
Thu, October 29 2009 » Emergency, Organization » No Comments
Wed, October 28 2009 » Emergency, Equipment » No Comments
