Officials: Plan to be on your own for a week

[question everything]

Monday, October 10, 2005

Officials: Plan to be on your own for a week

By: DAVE DOWNEY - Staff Writer
North (San Diego) County Times

(snip)

After what the world witnessed with the wrath of Hurricane Katrina, public officials are urging residents to stockpile enough water, food and medicine to sustain themselves for seven days because it may be that long before anyone arrives to help them after the Big One.

(snip)


Years ago, officials advised storage of drums of water, but Murrieta fire Chief Phil Armentrout said that is no longer practical. It is far better, he said, to purchase cases of bottled water, drink the water and replace it as the supply is used up. A practice of rotating bottles will ensure that a fresh supply is on hand when a disaster arrives.

(snip)

In the absence of a stockpile, people could fall back on the water in toilet tanks ---- but not in toilet bowls ---- to sustain themselves, Armentrout said. One could also use the water in a swimming pool. In both cases, the water should be purified, he said. To purify it, people should boil water on a typical propane barbecue stove or add 16 drops of regular household bleach per gallon, county officials say.

(snip)

People should also stock homes with first-aid kits, emergency tools, a battery-powered radio, flashlight, extra batteries, sanitation supplies, extra pairs of glasses and special items for babies and elderly or disabled family members, officials say. Be prepared, too, officials advise, to shut off the electricity, water and natural gas if utility lines are damaged.

http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2005/10/10/news/californian/10905190418.txt

Staff writer John Hall contributed to this report. Contact staff writer Dave Downey at [phone], Ext. 2616, or [e-mail].

[BiggJawn]

1. So much for "72 Hours", eh?

Food and meds I got. Water might be a little tricky...

Don't forget, campers, you also have between 30 and 55 gallons of potable water in your water heaters.

[Neocondriac]

2. Plan for a month......

And in all seriousness you'll need a firearm. The non-planners will come and take what you've got.

[cassiepriam]

3. We are on our own for as long as the repugs are in power. nt

[question everything]

4. That, too (nt)

[NJCher]

5. sounds like bad advice to me

Depending on what your pool guy puts in, swimming pools can harbor some of the most evil of chemicals. I don't even open mine anymore--the chemical fiesta is too much for me.

And bleach is a known carcinogen.

So I guess the choice is water you contaminate or water contaminated by the disaster.





Cher

[RaleighNCDUer]

8. 16 drops of bleach/gal is by far less harmful than untreated

water would be. And at that dilution, I suspect its carcinogenic properties would be almost nil.

[meganmonkey]

9. I also believe that after it kills the bad stuff it dissipates in some way

I am sure there is a proper word for it that I do not know. But an old roommate would put tap water in a pitcher and leave it out for a day because the chlorine would leave it in that time frame. So as long as you aren't drinking it immediately after adding the bleach, I think it safer.

[HereSince1628]

6. Anything needing batteries is a disaster kit disaster

Consider crank-dynamo devices instead...here is a site with some examples
http://www.sportsimportsltd.com/emwidysoflra.html

[madaboutharry]

7. My mother told me that during

the Cuban Missile Crises that New Yorkers were told that New York City could be evacuated in less than an hour. She thought it was such BS. "Where was I to go, run across the Brooklyn Bridge?" They have never had a plan.

[area51]

10. Welcome to YerOnYerOwnistan.

I heard that in the Galveston, TX, hurricane of 1900, help got to the affliected w/in 2 days.

I heard that in the SF quake of 1906, help got to the afflicted w/in 1 day.

Gee, we've progressed so far under a nazi administration. </sarcasm>

[Missy Vixen]

11. One of the local politicians

threw "better get a week's worth of supplies" into a political candidates' forum last week. If this doesn't scare people, I don't know what will. They're attempting to force the populace to do their own emergency preparedness, because FEMA is unable to respond in a timely manner.

We live in Washington state, which went for Kerry. I can't even imagine what would happen here after a high-number Richter scale earthquake; one thing's for sure, * and his little friends won't be racing to our rescue.

We're already discussing what we have on hand that will work for the "week of supplies", and making a list of what we'll need to purchase...

Julie

[SoCalDem]

12. Um...Ummmm. when your house washes away

doesn't your "stockpile" go with it?? I'm just sayin'......

[question everything]

13. This specific story is about earthquakes

where you really have no warning.

At least with hurricane you can gather your stuff before your house washes away.

[Missy Vixen]

14. Earthquake preparedness

>where you really have no warning.

That's right. There are a few things families can do to "prepare," but if one's preparations are in a now collapsed or unsafe to enter building, it's not going to work.

Three tips we learned after the last one: Keep $100 in small bills hidden in one's home at all times. After an earthquake, ATM's do not work without power, and most merchants can't take cards or checks. Keep a pair of sturdy shoes for every member of one's household in the trunk of the car; they come in handy if one needs to evacuate in the middle of the night. Have an out-of-state contact number to verify safety of loved ones; it's easier to call out of state than across town.

Julie

[question everything]

16. Yes, sturdy shoes

if you have to run through broken glass

and, when we lived in SoCal, after the 1994 one, we had a special tool to close the main gas valve, too.

I like the idea of small bottles of water that can be rotated. We had one of those large bottle of water that just sat outside and we gave it away when we moved.

[Reciprocity]

15. 100 Items to Disappear First in the Panic

I could have used lots on this list during Rita. I do think that Wine/Liquors should be higher on the list than 94.

Roof repair: Roofing cement (2 or 3 caulking tubes),
spare shingles, and
galvanized roofing nails.
Metal "roof flashing" (one roll).

Glue: 5 minute epoxy, contact cement, wood glue (Elmer's is OK),
automotive weather-strip adhesive (3M Super Weather-strip Adhesive or
similar, also called "snot glue", this is great for sticking rubber to
metal or for repairing rubber).

Caulk: silicone, rubber, etc.
Flashlight bulbs.

Locking gas cap for car.
Towing chain or cable for towing vehicles.

Flat tire fixer in a can. Tire patch and plug kits. Tire air valves
and valve removal tool. Air pressure gauge and hand-operated air pump.

Hand-operated drill ("Yankee Drill") and special bits to fit it.

Books to read.

Paper plates, cups, plastic utensils, paper towels, kleenex, etc.
"Feminine Hygiene Products" and those funny little balloons

Hand lotion ,
toothpaste, toothbrushes, soap, etc.

Plumbing parts: well pump parts, washers (especially the weird ones
for the "washerless" faucets), valves, connectors, adapters,
sections of pipe, pipe joint compound or Teflon tape.

Do-it-yourself plumbing books.

Antifreeze

Electrical wire, connectors, and fixtures,

Do-it-yourself electrical wiring books. Spare fuses or circuit breakers

Other commonly-needed home repair items (whatever routinely fails in
your house). Home repair tools, if you usually contract out your
repairs.

Hacksaw blades.
Plastic sheeting.
Duct tape.
Rope, string, twine, thread, chain, padlocks, hinges.
Screws, nails, nuts & bolts, etc.

Assorted building lumber.
Firewood or other heating fuels.

Gasoline
Windshield washer fluid, grease, oil, ATF, PS fluid, PB fluid, spare fan
belts, spare water hoses, spare automotive fuses, spare windshield wiper
blades.

Spare bicycle tires, inner tubes, etc.
Flashlights that take odd-size batteries (C and lantern).

Containers for giving water to your relatives and favorite neighbors.

100 Items to Disappear First in the Panic of
1999 By Joseph Almond
#1. Generators
#2. Water Filters/Purifiers
#3. Portable Toilets
#4. Seasoned Firewood
#5. Lamp Oil, Wicks, Lamps
#6. Coleman Fuel
#7. Guns, Ammunition, Pepper Spray, Knives, Clubs, Bats & Slingshots
#8. Hand-Can openers & hand egg beaters, whisks
#9. Honey/Syrups/white, brown sugars
#10. Rice - Beans- Wheat
#11. Vegetable oil
#12. Charcoal & Lighter fluid
#13. Water containers
#14. Mini Heater head (Propane) (Without this item, propane won't heat a room.)
#15. Grain Grinder (Non-electric)
#16. Propane Cylinders
#17. Michael Hyatt's Y2K Survival Guide
#18. Mantles: Aladdin, Coleman, etc.
#19. Baby Supplies: Diapers/formula/ointments/aspirin, etc
#20. Washboards, Mop Bucket w/wringer (for Laundry)
#21. Cook stoves
#22. Vitamins
#23. Propane Cylinder Handle-Holder (Small canister use is dangerous without this item.)
#24. Feminine Hygiene/Haircare/Skin products
#25. Thermal underwear
#26. Bow saws, axes and hatchets & Wedges (also, honing oil)
#27. Aluminum foil Reg. & Hvy. Duty (Great Cooking & Barter item)
#28. Gasoline containers (Plastic or Metal)
#29. XL plastic Garbage bags
#30. Toilet Paper, Kleenex, paper towel
#31. Milk - Powdered & Condensed
#32. Garden seeds (Non-hybrid)
#33. Clothes pins/line/hangers
#34. Coleman's Pump Repair Kit: 1(800) 835-3278
#35. Tuna Fish (in oil)
#36. Fire extinguishers (or.. large box of Baking soda in every room...)
#37. First aid kits
#38. Batteries (all sizes...buy furthest-out for Expiration Dates)
#39. Garlic, spices & vinegar, baking supplies
#40. BIG DOGS (and plenty of dog food)
#41. Flour, yeast & salt
#42. Matches
#43. Writing paper/pads/pencils/solar calculators
#44. Insulated ice chests
#45. Work boots, belts, Levis & durable shirts
#46. Flashlights/LIGIITSTICKS & torches, "No.76 Dietz" Lanterns
#47. Journals, Diaries & Scrapbooks
#48. Garbage cans Plastic
#49. Men's Hygiene: Shampoo, Toothbrush/paste, Mouthwash/floss, nail clippers,etc
#50. Cast iron cookware
#51. Fishing supplies/tools
#52. Mosquito coils/repellent sprays/creams
#53. Duct tape
#54. Tarps/stakes/twine/nails/rope/spikes
#55. Candles
#56. Laundry detergent
#57. Backpacks & Duffle bags
#58. Garden tools & supplies
#59. Scissors, fabrics & sewing supplies
#60. Canned Fruits, Veggies, Soups, stews, etc.
#61. Bleach
#62. Canning supplies (Jars/lids/wax)
#63. Knives & Sharpening tools: files, stones, steel
#64. Bicycles...Tires/tubes/pumps/chains, etc.
#65. Sleeping bags & blankets/pillows/mats
#66. Carbon Monoxide Alarm (battery powered)
#67. Board Games Cards, Dice
#68. d-Con Rat poison, MOUSE PRUFE II, Roach Killer
#69. Mousetraps, Ant traps & cockroach magnets
#70. Paper plates/cups/utensils
#71. Baby Wipes, oils, waterless & Anti-bacterial soap
#72. Rain gear, rubberized boots, etc.
#73. Shaving supplies
#74. Hand pumps & siphons (for water and for fuels)
#75. Soy sauce, vinegar, bouillons/gravy/soup base
#76. Reading glasses
#77. Chocolate/Cocoa/Tang/Punch
#78. "Survival-in-a-Can"
#79. Woolen clothing, scarves/ear-muffs/mittens
#80. BSA - New 1998 - Boy Scout Handbook
#81. Roll-on Window Insulation Kit
#82. Graham crackers, saltines, pretzels, Trail mix/Jerky
#83. Popcorn, Peanut Butter, Nuts
#84. Socks, Underwear, T-shirts, etc.
#85. Lumber
#86. Wagons & carts
#87. Cots & Inflatable mattresses
#88. Gloves: Work/warming/gardening, etc.
#89. Lantern Hangers
#90. Screen Patches, glue, nails, screws, nuts & bolts
#91. Teas
#92. Coffee
#93. Cigarettes
#94. Wine/Liquors
#95. Paraffin wax
#96. Glue, nails, nuts, bolts, screws, etc.
#97. Chewing gum/candies
#98. Atomizers
#99. Hats & cotton neckerchiefs
#100. Goats/chickens