As you might imagine, I am a big believer in doing all you can to get prepared. One of the things that makes me pull my hair out is that generally speaking, people wait to get prepared until it is too late. Like many of you, I always think I will be the exception to the rule. I will say to myself, “It won’t happen to me” or “That could never happen here” or (and this is the one most of us use) “Even if it does happen it won’t be that bad”. I look at having emergency supplies on hand like any other insurance policy that you hold. We insure ourselves in so many other ways, and yet we don’t purchase food, water and preparedness insurance like we should.

If you are reading this then you are making an effort to get prepared. Let me congratulate you on being some of the very few in the United States that don’t make the types of excuses I have outlined above. I am not a doom and gloom guy, we have enough of that going on. But I want to make sure you have the tools necessary to make it through life’s emergencies.

We are in the midst of one of those emergencies right now. The Swine Flu could turn into a serious epidemic. We need to be prepared for that. I understand we have had a number of near misses on the previous flu epidemics such as SARS and the Bird Flu (H5N1). Swine flu may fall into the same category. But, then again it may not. No one knows for sure. My crystal ball is on loan to some Wall Street analysts, so unfortunately, I won’t be able to tell you the future as clearly as normally could.

Over the years, I have come to the conclusion that whatever reason people have to get prepared is a good reason. Maybe for you, it is the “Swine Flu” and maybe it will be nothing. But, you will be glad that you have given yourself the peace of mind that comes with being prepared.

As you know, cases of the Swine Flu have begun to appear, first in Mexico, then the U.S. and now around the world. Back in 2006 we had the Bird Flu scare and without extreme measures being taken in Asia we could have had a worldwide flu pandemic. A pandemic is defined as an “epidemic over a large area” typically involving multiple countries if not the world. In the case of the Swine Flu, it is occurring around the world due to the ease of worldwide travel. As we have been told, this could easily turn into a pandemic flu that impacts the world as a whole.

I recommend that you regularly go to the www.CDC.gov website (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) to review their updates on the Swine Flu. I am not a doctor or scientist who studies viruses, but they have experts that do. You will get your best, most accurate information there. Getting your information only from the news media might induce unnecessary fear or complacency. Right now, it is especially critical that you get your info from reliable sources.

One of the biggest challenges with a pandemic flu situation is the possibility of a quarantine being imposed. Typically a quarantine is imposed within a limited area like a home, neighborhood or city (like with Mexico City). During quarantine you will need to be prepared to remain indoors with your family for a period of days or multiple weeks. That means you will be relying in part on your Shelter in Place supplies to help you get through that time. With that in mind here are some items I would make sure you have on hand:

• Respirator Masks – Have at least a good N95 mask, not just a simple dust mask. A mask will prevent germs carried in the air to enter your body. Keep in mind a mask is only as good as the seal it creates around your nose and mouth. I recommend that you change your N95 mask daily. N95 is a rating provided by NIOSH (National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health) which is a division of the CDC, and it means that 95% of all particulates that are .2 microns or larger will not penetrate the mask. An N100 rating means the respirator will prevent 100% off all particulates that are .2 microns or larger from passing through the respirator. One major issue to consider with any mask or respirator is that over a period of a few days you will have build up on the outside of the mask that can slough off onto your clothes. So change your masks regularly.

Here is a great article explaining the difference between an N95 respirator and a basic surgical mask: “Respirators for Public Health Emergencies”

• Two weeks of food – Have at least 2 weeks worth of food in your pantry or stored food. You may not be able to get to the store or the store may not get replenished as workers are unable to get restock. So make sure you have plenty of food.

• Store water – Just in case the water supply gets contaminated, make sure you also have a 2 week supply of stored water on hand. 1 gallon of water per person per day.

• First-aid, hygiene and medical supplies – Because hospitals and medical facilities get overwhelmed in a pandemic, you will be caring for your own more than likely. Make sure you have adequate first-aid, hygiene and medical supplies like latex or non-latex gloves, medicines, hand sanitizer, soaps and if possible antiviral medication like Tami-flu.

I don’t mean to overstate the urgency, but I think the worst kind of disaster, aside from a radioactive disaster, would be a viral pandemic. It is worse than an earthquake, hurricane, tornado or any other type of natural disaster. So, make sure you are getting prepared as best you can.

Sometimes it is good to just have a brief refresher of a few topics. One of our product experts wrote this up and I thought it was very good. Enjoy!

WARMTH & SHELTER: In extreme conditions, an individual will survive only about three hours without any protection from the elements. If you don’t have adequate shelter, you won’t have a chance to get thirsty or hungry before you start to suffer from hypothermia or extreme heat exposure. Shelter is anything that protects a person from his environment (including dangerous cold and heat) and allows restful sleep. It’s recommended always keep up to date clothes and a compact tent in your 72-hr-kit.

WATER & HYDRATION: According to the Red Cross, your body can only survive three days without access to water in extreme conditions. This is assuming you’re at sea level, room temperature, with relatively favorable humidity. In colder or warmer temperatures, the need for water is greater. (Need for water also increases with exertion. A lack of water causes dehydration, which may result in lethargy, headaches, dizziness, confusion, and eventually death. Even mild dehydration reduces endurance and impairs concentration, which is
dangerous in a survival situation where clear thinking is essential. We recommend that you have at least 3 different ways to access water.
Large barrels can store a large amount of water, but are obviously not portable since fully loaded they can weigh over 400 lbs. You need
portable water containers in case you need to evacuate your house, like the 5 gallon stackable water containers. You also need a way to purify
water if you have access to water, but it is unsafe to drink.

FOOD & NUTRITION: Depending on the conditions of your environment and level of activity, an individual can survive about three weeks without food. In extreme cold the lack of food can be dangerous, and in other situations, (like gradual dehydration), hunger
can bring about many consequences long before it causes death. These problems can include irritability and low morale, weakness, loss of
mental clarity, poor judgment, weakened immune system, and increased difficulty maintaining body temperature.

SANITATION & HYGIENE: During periods of emergency or disaster, sanitation levels can deteriorate rapidly and disease can
spread and even cause death in a matter of days. Maintaining good hygiene will prevent disease and illness from spreading. You will need
a way to use the bathroom, a way to keep your living environment clean, and a way to keep your hands, mouth, and body clean.

First Aid: First aid can help a person survive and function with injuries and illnesses that would otherwise kill or cripple him/her. It’s important to have a first aid kit in almost any emergency situation to treat any type of trauma like lacerations, which may
become infected, bites or stings from venomous animals, bites leading to disease, infection through food, animal contact, or drinking
contaminated water, bone fractures, sprains, burns, poisoning from consumption of, or contact with, poisonous plants or fungi.

TOOLS: In an emergency or disaster situation, tools and supplies are not one of most basic essentials, but they can greatly
increase your ability to effectively provide yourself and others in an emergency situation. A pocket knife, a shovel, some pliers, or a
compass could greatly improve your chances of survival if one finds themselves in a fleeing situation.

LIGHT & COMMUNICATION: As with tools, light and communication are not essential to your immediate survival, but they are invaluable tools in helping to protect yourself from greater danger and assisting you in acquiring safer and more stable living conditions.

Before we get to priority #4 here is the summary of your top 5 Priorities of Emergency Preparedness. They are:
1. Make a Plan. Review, Rotate, Replace. Make adjustments for family size, age and local community needs. Consider evacuation, communication and staying put.
2. Gather Grab and Go Supplies. 72 hour kits, MREs, food bars, water pouches, water purification, first-aid, storage.
3. Gather Shelter in Place Supplies. Radios, flashlights, first-aid, sanitation, hygiene, warmth, shelter, storage.
4. Clean Water. Water storage, barrels, filters, storage.
5. Shelf Stable Food. Items in pantry, short term and long term food storage items.

Priority #4 – clean water is something that I have addressed in different ways on this blog. The reason I keep going back to it, is because having access to clean water in an emergency is so critical and almost always overlooked until it is too late. Here are a few obvious points to understand about water, but that I want to make very clear:

• Without water you die very quickly – Depending on your health and age, you will live for 5-7 days without clean water. You can live much longer without food.

• Water is heavy and takes up a lot of space – A gallon of water weighs about 8.3 pounds. Water is not easy to transport because it is so heavy. That means your emergency water plan should account for that.

Keep these items in mind when you are doing your planning. For example, you may want to put a gallon of water per day in your 72 hour kit. But, that will weigh about 25 lbs. Are you strong enough to carry that water around? Are your children strong enough? Will it even fit? So make sure you plan.

The recommended amount of water from a variety of sources like the American Red Cross is 1 gallon of water per person per day. That is water for drinking, cleaning, cooking and sanitation. It is not for just drinking. You and I don’t drink a gallon of water on a normal day. But to be safe and to take of other needs, 1 gallon of water is the recommendation. If you start doing the math on how much storage space that would require for you and your family for 1 year, you will start to understand my recommendations below.

Here is my approach to water and what I recommend. In an emergency, you need to have a 3 ways of getting to clean water:
1. Store water – Every Shelter in Place supply should have water storage. A small word of caution: don’t try to go cheap on your water storage. Buy a food grade water storage container like a 55, 30 or 5 gallon container and use that. Don’t fill up your old juice bottles or worse your old milk jugs. The barrels and water containers are not to terribly expensive and when the time comes that you need the water, you will be glad you stored water you can actually use. Also, have a variety of sizes of storage containers. Don’t just have a 55 gallon barrel that you never move and never clean out or worse fill up. Use smaller, easier to transport containers like a 5 gallon stackable. Remember, water is heavy!

Also, you won’t rotate your water as much as you think you will, so make sure you use some sort of water stabilizer that allows the water to be stored safely for 5 years without rotating. We have a Water Preserver that works well. But, if you do have the water stored but you are not sure if it is safe or you come across water in an emergency and you don’t know if it is safe, that leads me to my 2nd point.

2. Have a portable water filter – These portable water filters are extremely handy and will allow you to clean suspect water that you come into contact with and make it drinkable. These portable micro filters are will remove bacteria and protozoa from the water, but won’t kill viruses. If you have a stream, lake, pond, river or well by your house, you will be able to clean the water from those sources uses these filters. Each filter will clean up to 500 gallons of water. That is nearly ten 55 gallon drums worth of water. An impossible amount of water for most people to store. I really like or MSR MiniWorks water filter and the Katadyn Combi. They are also great for backpacking and camping can have that dual purpose.

3. Have water purification tablets – These are very handy to have around and a small bottle will chemically treat up to 25 quarts of water. They work fairly quickly (typically in less than a half an hour) and will kill bacteria, protozoa and viruses.

Remember that if you don’t have any of these three things, you can still clean water by boiling it. As a matter of fact, boiling is most effective way to clean water except it won’t take out the floaties like a filter will. The problem with boiling water to drink is it uses a lot of fuel that you may not want to use for that purpose. Also, don’t forget to have portable water pouches in your emergency supplies. They have a 5 year shelf life and are very handy to have around.

Storing water is a very tricky thing to do. Shelf life is the biggest challenge. You can store water in large barrels, smaller 5 gallon containers and even with bottled water. Each method has different challenges, advantages and shelf life issues. Water that is stored by you out of the tap should be rotated annually. Bottled water purchased at your local retailer has about a 2 year shelf life. I recommend that you have some bottled water in your home if you are using it on a daily basis. Your price per ounce for bottled water is relatively inexpensive.

But the biggest problem with storing water is that people do not rotate the water as often as they need to. So when it comes time to use it, the water is not safe to drink and needs to be treated or filtered. Therefore, finding stored water that has an extended shelf life becomes very important for your emergency supplies. There are two options that I really like for portable, water storage. They are pouched water and boxed water. Both packaging options have a 5 year shelf life and are an excellent choice for portable, easy to store and carry water. I do not recommend pouched water for bulk water storage as your price per ounce becomes very expensive.

Let me give you a quick comparison of the water pouches and boxed water. Both taste great and don’t have any kind of aftertaste. Like I said both have a 5 year shelf life, which is far better than other water storage methods. So the difference boils down to packaging.

The Datrex water pouches are come in a 4.2 ounce foil pouch. These pouches were originally designed for use on lifeboats. 4.2 ounces is the recommended amount of water to drink with each meal during an emergency according the American Red Cross, so the portion is the right amount. The pouches are extremely durable and can take up to 600 psi before bursting. They can be frozen without bursting which allows them to be used for first-aid purposes. The shelf life is not affected by temperature and so they can withstand a large amount of temperature fluctuation. The pouches are about 6”x4” and are about ½” inch thick. Their biggest drawback is that after they are opened, you need to drink the whole amount. Normally, with 4.2 ounces that is not a big deal, but it might be with smaller children. There is a tare notch at the top of each pouch to make the easy to open.

AquaBlox is the boxed water brand and the small box contains 8.5 ounces of water. Think of juice box full of water instead of juice. Each box comes with its own straw attached. The box is 4” x 2 ½” x 1 ½” inches in size. AquaBlox shares all the same attributes as the Datrex water pouches except that it comes in this small box. The two biggest drawbacks with the boxed water is durability and portion size. Like most juice boxes, boxed water can crush easily. So if it is in a 72 hour emergency survival kit with other supplies it can get crushed and leak. The portion size is a plus and a minus. It is more water than you would need at one meal, but is also more water than what comes in the Datrex water pouch. The advantages are that they come in an easy use box with a straw and are very simple to use for children. AquaBlox work very well in institutional settings like a school where children will be using the product.

With hurricane season right around the corner, I have been thinking lately about generators and the need for portable power. As I did some research, I actually found some great information from an article on Amazon.com that I have included in the body of this post. I have edited
the article for content and brevity.

My recommendation is that each person should have in their Shelter in Place supplies a portable gas generator to give them needed power in case of emergency. A serviceable machine will cost around $500 and you will be happy you have it when you need it. Some people with a larger budget might opt to have an electrician install a standby generator at their home so that it kicks on when power is lost. In the article below
you will find everything you need to know about both portable and standby generators. Enjoy!

What Types of Generators Are There?

Generators come in two basic types: standby and portable. There also are inverters, which are not generators but may meet your needs. The
source of backup power you ultimately choose will be determined by man factors, including your power requirements.

Standby Generators: A standby generator is permanently installed outside your home or commercial building and wired directly
into the electrical system to provide power to some or all of your home’s circuits during a disruption of normal utility power. Standby generators are fueled by liquid propane or natural gas. The number of circuits to which a standby generator can provide power–and the number of appliances you can run on those circuits–is determined by the power capacity of the generator. Standby generators are about the same size as, and look similar to, a standard central air conditioner. A standby model may cost as little as $1,500 or as much as $15,000 or more–the greater the power capacity, the higher the cost.

Portable Generators: Portable generators are versatile. You can use them for

• • emergency power at home,
• • for power in remote locations where utility power is unavailable, or
• • for recreational purposes, like boating or camping.

Portable generators are fueled by gasoline and include 120-volt power outlets like the ones in the walls of your home. When the generator is running, you can plug appliances and tools directly into these outlets. Some generators also include 240-volt outlets (that is, the kind of outlet for an electric dryer or for other large appliances). Portable generators range in cost between a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars depending on the capacity and features.

Inverters: Inverters turn DC power into AC power, the type of current that powers everyday appliances. A common use of an inverter is to connect one into a car’s cigarette lighter and then plug small home appliances into the inverter. Inverters have added features over the years, and today many inverters include emergency radios, lights, or their own internal battery to store power. When you purchase an inverter, you need one that can handle the wattage of the appliances you intend to connect to it. Some inverters are made specifically to power low-wattage appliances, like portable phones or digital music players. Others can handle heavy-duty power tools. If you’re buying an inverter that’s powered by its own battery, you’ll have to consider how many hours the inverter can provide power before needing a recharge.

The rest of this buying guide focuses solely on standby and portable generators.

How Much Power Do I Need?

There are two basic power measurements for generators: peak power (also known as startup power) and continuous power. Both are measured in wattage.

• • Peak power is the wattage required for appliances at startup or when they are running at their highest levels of power consumption.
• • Continuous power is the wattage required for operation of those appliances under normal load.

Standby Generators:Standby generators create from 5,000 to 25,000 watts or more of power. You’ll have to choose a generator that supplies sufficient peak and continuous wattage for the appliances on the circuits you need to power.

You can choose between an air-cooled and a liquid-cooled model standby generator. Generally, liquid-cooled models are bigger and create more power.

Portable Generators: A small 1,000-watt portable generator may be all you need for recreational purposes. And you may use up to 8,000 watts if using a generator to power tools on the jobsite. Because you plug appliances directly into a portable generator, you’ll also want to make sure that your model has the number and type of outlets you need. The size of the fuel tank also is crucial. The bigger the tank, the longer your generator can run without refilling and produce power. If you want to use a portable generator to power specific circuits in your house–or the whole house–follow the guidelines for choosing a standby generator.

What Features and Accessories Do I Need?

Aside from pure power production, there are some useful features and accessories to consider when buying a generator.

Transfer switch:If you want to use your generator to power your home, you’ll need a sufficiently sized generator and a transfer switch. The transfer switch safely closes off the utility power line to your house’s electrical system and opens a direct line to the generator and reverses the process when utility power is restored.

Standby models can work either with a manual or an automatic transfer switch. The benefit of an automatic transfer switch is that it senses when utility power has been lost and automatically switches to generator power.

Wheeled Frames: As the name suggests, portable generators can be transported to different locations. The smallest portable generators are comparatively light–perhaps 50 pounds–and can be carried. Larger models can weigh as much as several hundred pounds, making a wheeled frame essential for transportation.

Other Considerations:

• • Noise: Generators aren’t necessarily quiet. Some offer extra features to reduce the noise created during operation.
• • Weather Protection: Make sure the generator you purchase is suited for the climate in which you’ll use it.

How Do I Install and Operate a Generator
Standby Generators: Installing a standby generator by yourself may void the unit’s warranty or violate local building codes, so research these
issues before you begin. The basic steps are as follows:

• First, mount the unit outside your home on a concrete
  pad or plastic mounting pads that come with the generator. You may need
  a contractor to pour the concrete foundation and mount the generator.

• Next you’ll need to contact your gas or propane company to connect the unit to its fuel source.

• Last, you’ll have to call an electrician to hook the
  generator up to your home’s electrical system. Some generators come
  with pre-wired kits that make it easier for the “do-it-yourselfer” to
  do the wiring. In most cases, it’s probably safest and best to have
  this work done for you.

Once installed, operation depends on whether you’ve used a manual or an automatic transfer switch. With an automatic transfer switch, if the generator senses a disruption in utility power, it turns itself on and takes over power production until utility power resumes. With a manual transfer switch, you have to handle these chores yourself. On a standby model, you’ll have to change the oil and filters on a regular basis.
Many manufacturers provide maintenance kits to make this easier.

Portable Generators: If you’re not planning to hook your portable generator into your home or building’s electrical system, there is not a lot of setup involved other than finding a safe place outside your home for the generator. Because portable generators create carbon monoxide, you should never run them inside a building, beneath   window, or near any opening to your house (doors, vents, etc.). Once situated, fill the generator with the required type of gasoline and oil and start the unit. Startup can be as simple as pressing a switch, but on some you’ll have to yank a manual recoil pull-cord. Of course, you will have to plug the appliances you want to power into the generator, refuel it as necessary, and shut the generator off when you’re finished with it.

If you want to connect your generator to your home’s electrical system, you’ll need a manual transfer switch. Make sure your generator’s manufacturer supports connecting your model to a transfer switch. If supported, comply with your model’s safety and warranty guidelines as well any local building codes during the installation. In general, it’s best to hire an electrician to handle the wiring of your home to the generator and transfer switch.

However you use your generator, over time you’ll have to change filters, oil, and spark plugs. Plus, you should not store raw gasoline in the generator when you’re not using it. Either run the generator empty or add a gasoline stabilizer that will prevent the gasoline from
“gumming” up. Many manufacturers sell tune-up kits for their models.

How Do I Run a Generator Safely?

• • Do not operate generators indoors, in enclosed spaces, or near a
  window. Make sure there is proper ventilation for all exhaust.

  • Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for installation, operation, and maintenance.

  • Do not operate generators near combustible materials.

  • Operate portable generators on a level surface.

  • Do not plug a portable generator directly into your house circuit.

  • Do not attach a generator’s transfer switch to your circuit box
  yourself unless you’re very sure of what you’re doing. Check all
  applicable local, state, and national codes and the warranty
  information before you do this.

This info will be broken into two posts covering short-term power outage (less than 12 hours) and extended power outage (more than 12 hours).

Interesting title and I wish the rest of this post were that exciting. Power outage is a serious problem for many people across the United States. Every day people lose electrical power to their homes and businesses for a variety of reasons. Many times these power outages are short and only last for a few hours. But on occasion, there can be a serious loss of power for extended periods of time due to extreme weather or after a disaster. For those of you that have experienced it, you will never forget it.

It is amazing how much we rely on electricity to maintain our comfortable lifestyle. If you want a challenge, try going without power for 24 hours and see what you notice. Now, try going without power for days, weeks or even months. Any exercise like that will give you tremendous insight into the comforts that electricity gives us.

For short-term power outages (less than 12 hours) you should have what I call “Lights Out” supplies. In my house they are in a cupboard and that is where we keep flashlights, batteries, candles, matches and a radio. Make sure you have a small stash of “Lights Out” supplies in an easy to find location.

Here are some ideas on how to manage short term power outages:

• Know where your flashlights are – I know this seems obvious, but . . . you would be surprised how many people have no idea where to find a working flashlight in their house at a moment’s notice.

• Make sure your flashlights work! – Again, obvious, but you need to have a flashlight that works. I LOVE my Lumin-Flash Rechargeable Flashlight. It plugs into the wall and turns on when the power goes out so I can find it when I need it. Very cool and very easy to use. I use it every time my power goes out.

• Have light sticks and lanterns available – I use our light sticks as night lights for our kids when the power goes out. Bedrooms can be very dark and scary for kids so our light sticks have been an awesome way of keeping them happy and (most importantly) asleep. A good camping lantern can be excellent as well. It will help give light to a larger room where your family will gather. One thing I know about power outages is my kids do not want to leave my side. Having a nice lantern has helped. Check out our GE Steelbeam Krypton Lantern. It has been great.

• Watch out for Carbon Monoxide – Remember that any equipment that burns fuel will produce exhaust. That exhaust is deadly and will contain carbon monoxide. Many times when the power goes out, people will use portable heaters to stay warm. They then go to bed and suffocate overnight from the exhaust produced by these heaters. Any equipment that burns fuel and produces exhaust needs to be used in a well ventilated area, preferably outside.

• Don’t leave candles burning all night – We sell a wonderful 115 hour ReadyCandle which is great, but never go to bed with a candle burning. In my case, I have kids that seem to get up throughout the night and they might play with it and get burned or tip it over.

• Have dynamo radios in your lights out supplies – Keep a wind-up dynamo radio where you keep your flashlights and other lights out supplies. This will help you stay informed with local information.

My next post will address extended power outages and specifically, portable and standby generators.

During periods of emergency or disaster, sanitation levels can deteriorate rapidly and disease can spread and even cause death in a matter of days. Maintaining good hygiene will prevent disease and illness from spreading. You will need a sanitary way to use the restroom, a way to keep your living environment clean, and a way to keep your hands, mouth, and body clean.

Some Hygiene or Sanitation items you should keep in an ‘easy to access’ place in case you find yourself in an emergency situation could include:

1. Waterless Hand Sanitizer
2. Antibiotic ointment
3. Antiseptic cleansing wipes
4. Bar of Soap
5. Tissue Packs
6. Toilet Paper Rolls
7. Latex-Free Gloves
8. Particle Respirator / Dust Mask
9. Toothbrushes
10. CombRazor

Some other less essential, but ideal items could include:

1. Clean Change of Clothes
2. Toothbrushes
3. Comb
4. Razor
5. Port-a-Potty Lid
6. Port-a-Potty Bags
7. Port-a-Potty Chemicals

Also remember to keep a clean, sanitary source of water at all times. You can store it by using any type of water preserver, or you can keep a water filter near by.