Category: Preparedness Basic & Advanced

Organizing your Community for Disaster

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It’s a well-known idea in the prepper community that you cannot survive alone. Some folks may want to ignore this and try to get everything they could ever need, but prepping is not just about stuff. No single person can ever be totally self-sufficient – There will always be something you do not have the resources, skill or time to make. Heck even if you could, who will guard you when you sleep, shower, or well…

I think nothing is better preparedness than organizing your community for disaster. It is not easy, and you can’t do it fast, but it is worth every bit of time you spend to do it.

I like to say (which gets me strange or knowing looks depending on who I say it to) – “You cannot shoot everybody”. To me a good plan takes into consideration your neighbors, to get others near you to prep and plan for their own disaster needs. It turns neighbors into allies rather than enemies. It gives you someone to work with and makes a community.

The problem (as I see it) is that while all sorts of government and non-government agencies preach disaster preparedness a similar amount (sometimes under the same czar) or agencies post bulletins telling people to look out for people that prep. If you just tell everyone you’re a prepper you will most likely get invited to less neighborhood cookouts than more.

My attempt to try to organize my community is by going slowly and trying to organize a government sponsored group. That way if it takes off I can slowly build trust in the community, gauge capabilities, and eventually approach the likeminded for a more comprehensive plan.

DHS has a program through Citizen Corps called Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT). A CERT team is a group of volunteers that receive free training in emergency response. They take classes on basic disaster response, light search and rescue, first aid, firefighting, and other needed response activities. The idea is that in the immediate aftermath of a disaster, CERT members grab their gear, meet up, and rapidly assess the needs of the immediate community. They can then report back to the local emergency management agency a list of needs and hazards thereby making response faster and more efficient.

Because it is government sponsored and relatively well known it is a lot less “threatening” to non-preppers. I imagine going door to door talking about bobs, SHTF, WROL, and storing ammo would not be well received in most areas. Going door to door talking about an enhanced neighborhood watch sponsored by FEMA to make sure nobody is left to fend for themselves after a flood or tornado is much less “non pc”.

So what I did was approach the County Emergency Management Director and ask him for support. He told me he thought it was a great idea, but that he has tried it before and did not get a good turnout for the classes.

I then made a flier with the information, what CERT was, that it was free, that it did not take a lot of time, and the benefits. I printed out 100 flyers and over a weekend my wife drove me around to drop them off. I was surprised at the friendliness of my neighbors, I received a very positive response in all but two homes – one was too busy, and the other very haughtily told me she did not think anything could happen, that the government would help if it did, and she did not want to waste her time (I told the wife to remember her – she gets no help if something does happen).

So I passed the fliers out – Part one – hopefully I will get a response. If not, I will continue working in the yard and being a role model for “urban homesteading” and “sustainable living”, if a disaster ever strikes maybe enough will remember my attempt to organize which may give me some credibility toward a response after the fact. Obviously that is not as good as having a local group pre-disaster, but its better than nothing.

I was careful not to mention prepping in my CERT conversations; I am less worried about OPSEC than someone like Mr. Rawles from survivalblog. That is because of my firearm classes who I am and what I am doing is on the internet, but I feel like most who read my articles would be the type to join a CERT team, so I don’t worry about them. However, I did not want to talk about my preps to those that live down the street, as I would not want them to get the idea to take what is mine (Unlike Dilbert, I have no protein bars), if they try, I cannot shoot everybody – They may get me in a rush, but I can turn a head or 30 into canoes…

October 25, 2012
Where to Keep Your Car Survival Kits

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Car survival kits are specifically designed to provide survival supplies if you are trapped in or become disabled or lost in your vehicle. Automobile emergency kits are not the same as a Survival kit. An automobile kit generally contain flares, jumper cables, spare fuses, etc. They help the car, not you.

Most folks don’t understand why a car kit is important. However, those same people can vividly recall the news reports of a person pinned in their wrecked car for days.

A Truck is Not Always the Best Place for a Kit

Your supplies may be inaccessible in your trunk if you are actually trapped in your vehicle. This depends on you vehicle. For such a scenario, you’d want supplies within reach of the passenger compartment. This may not be a problem for a pickup truck, minivan or SUVs where there is access to the entire vehicle and you or your passengers can reach the supplies.

However, sedans with a separate trunk are trickier. You could be trapped in the driver’s seat and be unable to access your supplies. Although, such scenarios have a very low probability. Most victims are found before they needed life saving supplies.

Although, when it is just my wife and I, I move our kit to the backseat of our sedan. Keeping your car survival kit in the trunk would prove effective for the majority of your scenarios. However, an extended jam could have you wishing for water. Just think about the parking lot known as Interstate 45 from Galveston to Houston any time an evacuation order is given for a hurricane!

Hot Trunks Will Reduce Storage Life

Keep in mind, the storage of food supplies in a hot trunk will shorten the shelf-life of most food products. Refresh them annually. Similarly, certain first aid supplies can become unusable if exposed to long periods of intense heat. Consequently, check your supplies at the end of summer and refresh what is not useful.

While there may not be one right answer for where to keep your emergency kits. Any amount of forethought will do you well in locating your kits. Keep in mind that every area of the country has different hazard considerations. Your car survival kits and storage location should be based upon your higher probability disaster scenarios.

September 19, 2012
3 Ways to Prepare Children for Disasters

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Though some people do not want to think about it, disasters may occur no matter what. It is vital for parents to ensure that each member of the family is ready for a disaster. What should a parent do to prepare a child for unfortunate situations? The information below 3 Ways to Prepare Children for Disasters may help.

Encourage Memorization

In order to prepare a child for a disaster, it is necessary for a parent to teach a child personal information. If the child separates from the family during a disaster, he or she should carry the knowledge of the location of his or her home. The child should also know his or her name. It may not be easy to teach this information; however, that does not make the information less valuable or critical. The parent may wish to quiz the child on a frequent basis.

Understand the Signs

It is vital for a child to understand the signs of a disaster. It may not be possible for a parent to reach the child; therefore, the child should be aware of the signs of a dangerous situation. When the child understands, it is easier for the child to get away from fires, floods, and other disasters. The child should carry a cell phone; if a phone call is necessary, a loved one may be reached. If the home is unsafe, it is indispensable for the child to have a designated second shelter. A neighbor’s house or a church may suffice.

Teach Camping Techniques

It is not enough for a child to learn the signs of a disastrous situation; if a parent wishes to prepare a child for an emergency, camping techniques are crucial. A child should understand the steps necessary for assembling a tent. This does not have to be a dull lesson; the parent may wish to wait for a camping trip in order to add an element of adventure. If the family cannot go on a camping trip, the parent may wish to enlist a child in a summer camp program. Summer camp allows a child to learn critical survival techniques and interact with people of different backgrounds.

People do not like to think about disasters. Disasters lead to dangerous and deadly situations; this makes it an unattractive subject. However, a family should understand the steps that are necessary for these situations. If the family has children, the children should be aware of what to do in order to survive. The parent may wish to help the child memorize the physical address of the family. It is also beneficial for the child to know how to tackle basic camping strategies. When a child is aware of what to do, a disaster is less likely to push a family apart.

August 15, 2012
Preparing for Disaster with Your Child

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Today I have a guest Post from Nancy Parker on Preparing for Disaster with Your Child

There are many different kinds of disaster sand they are always out of the human’s control. As an adult you know how to prepare and what to do during a disaster, but what about the children? Some adults neglect to teach their child what to do base on the fact it could ‘never happen’ to them. Before it’s too late, here are ways to help you prepare your child for a disaster:

It is always good to keep your child informed of possible and potential disasters. Now this doesn’t mean that you educate them to the point where they live in fear but that they understand the potential disaster. When teaching them about disasters, keep the conversation upbeat and positive by stating that there is a solution to the disaster. Keep the conversations short, allow for questions and answer honestly.

Always be prepared, that is the best advice for a disaster. Get the supplies that you need to help yourself during a disaster. For example if it’s preparing for bad weather gather the tools you need like candles, emergency radios, food and water. Teach your child what is needed in certain disasters so that they know what is available for them, if ever needed.

Plan:

You should always have an emergency plan for you and your child for any dangerous situation. Teach them the first they should do for different disasters. Write out a simple and easy least that they can read. Typically that emergency plan should start with listen to an adult’s advice and/or call 911.

Practice:

Once you have purchased the correct safety tools and figured out the right plan, practice. Practicing with your child what to do during a disaster will help them if the time comes. Explain during the practice the procedures that they need to take and why. Practice this emergency plan every few months.

Reaction:

The most important advice that regency officials can give people during a disaster is to remain calm. Teach your child to remain calm during emergencies. You can do this by leading by example, if you remain calm you child is more likely to remain calm. Disasters have the potential to be worse if there is fear and panic to cause confusion and difficulty.

Disasters can’t be avoided but they can be lessened the more you are prepared and ready for one. Teaching your child this will help you and them in any future events. Remember above anything else, remain calm and work with them on the emergency plan.

July 25, 2012
Wuxun KG-UV3D Dual Band Handheld Review
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Now for those that care about these things, I have not received any compensation of any type for this review. I am reviewing this device because I think EVERY prepper should have at least one ham radio, and with the quality/price ratio this radio is worth looking into.

First strike against the Wuxun KG-UV3D radio is that is Chinese made. Some don’t care –some do, personally I’d rather buy American made, but a simple internet search will show you how hard it is to find a American made ham radio.

First positive comment is that it’s around $100 bucks. This is in a world where almost all other handhelds start at 5 times that amount. I first learned about this radio from a group of ARES (Amateur Radio Emergency Service) volunteers in East TN. These guys all had at least one and they were of the opinion that it was good enough, and sturdy enough, and if they broke the thing it was only a $100 radio.

As I said in the video my intent was to buy one, try it out, and if mine was as functional as the ones I was shown in Athens then I would buy a couple more for the wife and for storage. My wife is now expecting, so I had to add another prepper tier to my list, so the extra radios were bumped back, but I still intend to buy a couple more once I stockpile a lot of diapers and bottles…

I am not going to get into too much detail on these radios, as a ham will just go dig up the spec sheet and it may cause informational overload to a non-ham. But basically:

Wuxun KG-UV3D Features
- Dual band monitor (VHF/UHF, VHF/VHF, UHF/UHF)
  - You can monitor two different sets of frequencies at the same time
  - The radio comes in different flavors so you can almost pick which two bands you want.
- Selectable high/low power settings (VHF: 5W high/1W low) (UHF: 4W high/1W low)
  - You can select more time or more power
- 13 hour battery life
- Includes intelligent desktop 3-4 hour rapid charger
- Loud speaker audio output (500 mW)
- Bright flashlight illumination function
- Meets IP55 waterproof rating
- English female voice prompts enable non-sighted operation (can be turned off)
  - The Chinese lady scares me so I turned mine off
- 128 memory channels (shared)
- VOX Function
- Digital FM radio (76-108MHz) with automatic tuning and storing, radio frequency display, 18 FM memories in 2 banks
- Wide/narrow bandwidth selection (25 or 12.5 kHz)
- Power on display: show battery voltage, 6-character customizable welcome message, or display test
- Windows PC programmable, free software available for download. Optional low cost cable
  - This is the selling point for me – I found the manual programming wasn’t as bad as some reviews claimed it to be, but I liked doing it from my computer even though
  - There is some bugs in the setup and you may have to try more than once to get your radio to connect to your computer
- The program is limited to a “legal” frequency band and not actual – meaning I can listen to the weather radio and FRMS and GRMS frequencies (among other things) but I have to put them in manually.
- Radio to radio cloning with optional cable
- 105 groups DCS/50 groups CTCSS
- DTMF encoding (includes ABCD tones, continuous with button press duration)
- CTCSS encode/Decode (no decode delay)
- Stopwatch function
- SOS function
- Low-voltage voice prompt
- Busy channel lockout
- Selectable transmit over timer (from 15 to 600 seconds)
- Selectable step sizes of 5, 6.25, 10, 12.5, 25, 50 or 100 kHz
- Multiple scan modes including priority scan
- Keypad lock (auto or manual)
- Programmable by computer or keypad
- High contrast white backlit keypad. All keys are backlit (except A/B & TDR)
Conclusion

That’s a lot of stuff, add in that you can unlock the radio to get additional channels* and that it feels like a Kenwood (very sturdy feeling) transmits clearly and loudly and you can buy an adaptor to run a longer antenna makes it (IMHO) a very good buy.

*about that unlocking;

1. It’s most likely illegal, and I am not suggesting you break the law
2. With the advent of trunking and other digital radio advances just because you can transmit and receive on the local law enforcement channels on the Wuxun KG-UV3D or other radio does not mean you can communicate with them.
January 12, 2012