One of the great things about emergency preparedness is that often you can get creative and with a little time and effort you can make your own preparedness items. Recently my wife was browsing the blogosphere and came across a woman who had taken empty 24 pack soda cartons and with a few cuts was able to create a can tracker to store her small Campbell soup sized cans in her pantry.

With a little time she was able to make something for pennies on the dollar compared to a finished product intended for the task. Of course there are clear trade offs that are made when it comes to DIY projects versus a manufactured piece but that is the great thing you get to decide and who says having more options is a bad thing?

Another great idea can be found here. It’s a do it yourself alternative energy guide.  You can create your own energy through solar or wind power.  This is a great way to supplement your current power and help keep your essential items powered up in an emergency.  What I like more is that you can save loads of cash using these do-it-yourself methods.

I also like the guide to building your own emergency preparedness kit found at tipjunkie.com.   It’s a good start and gives several helpful hints on how you can build your kit for less.

Popular mechanics has an excellent article on do-it-yourself survival tips.  They cover topics such as hypothermia, lightning, drowning, and wound care.  This is a great guide that could even save your life.

We know we have a lot of do it yourself experts out there, please share your own tips below.

Depending on where you live, it’s important to understand the major disasters that affect your area.  This can make a big difference on how you prepare. Of course, you’ll always need to prepare for man-made disasters as well, which can happen anywhere.  But lets focus on the different challenges each area of the country can bring to your personal preparedness plan.

I’ve mostly lived in the western united states.  I can remember being a child and doing earthquake drills.  My own children participate in these drills in their classrooms today.  This is because the west if full of earthquake prone areas.  In Utah, we are are due for another big one.  So many companies, families, and individuals are gearing up for it.  Many older buildings have been worked on to make them structurally sound.  Other buildings have been purposely removed.

Is your home and community getting ready for the next disaster that is likely to  come your way?  Here’s a map (very high level mind you) of the general areas of our country and the general threats that we should always be ready for:

The West: From Alaska all the way down to California is earthquake country.  You should be prepared with extra water, food, clothing, and training on what to do before, during, and after an earthquake.  You should have a plan for work, school, and your home.   You should also be ready for tsunamis if you live in Hawaii or along the west coast of the continental United States.  In addition to this, the west is full of volcanoes that could erupt, and extreme temperatures from the very cold to the very hot.  Believe it or not, though rare the west has had the occasional tornado.

Midwest: Just because you live in the Midwest, doesn’t mean that you’re not a risk for earthquakes.  This can happen even to you.  However you are more likely to be hit by severe thunderstorms, power outages, flooding, and tornadoes.  If you live in the upper-Midwest, things can get very cold.  Some of the coldest temperatures in the country are found in the mid-west.  You should be sure to have an alternative heating source, and a plan for the storms that will come your way.  Also, along with your food and water storage, make sure you have a good light and communication device.

North East: I was actually in New York City when the recent earthquake hit in Virginia.  Many don’t know it, but that area of the country is also prone to earthquakes.  And as Hurricane Irene reminded us, the northeast is also in the path of hurricanes and flooding as well.  Many went without power for a week after Hurricane Irene.  Make sure you have food, water, fuel, sandbags, and an grab-n-go survival kit.  Many were evacuated from lower Manhattan.  If a big storm is coming, don’t get stuck in a dangerous situation.

South East: I lived in Alabama for a while and I’ve traveled to Texas and Florida.  There is no question that the states along the coast are in danger of hurricanes.  But farther up from the coast these same states are in danger of tornadoes.  Please make sure you know what to do in the case of a tornado and that you are ready to evacuate if needed.  Make sure you have ways of securing your home as much as possible in your absence.  The South is also very humid and hot and you need to be ready if you can’t get access to air conditioning.  The recent wildfires in Texas also showed that they can spread fast and cause huge damage.

Wherever you live, you’re bound to have a run in with mother nature. Please make sure you have a well thought out plan for the major disasters that may come your way.

Please share your experiences of what preparedness items have helped you in your area.

10. Blankets:
Make sure you have plenty of blankets on hand in case of a loss of power or loss of a heating source.
9. Alternative Heating Source
Make sure you have another way to heat your home and cook your meals.  Relying only on your primary sources of heat and power could leave you in a precarious situation.  Don’t make this mistake.
8. Food Storage
Stock up on food.  This will come in very handy if you are ever snowed in.  It will also be a great help to those of your friends, family, or neighbors, who may by in a time of need.
7. Water Storage
Don’t let your stored water freeze.  This can ruin the containers it is stored in.  Keep your water in above freezing temperatures.
6. Winterize your home
Extend the life of your fuel supply by insulating walls and attics, caulking and weather-stripping doors and windows, and installing storm windows or covering windows with plastic.
5. Insulate pipes with insulation or newspapers and plastic and allow faucets to drip a little during cold weather to avoid freezing. Also, winterize your sprinkler system.
4. Keep fire extinguishers on hand
House fires pose an additional risk, as more people turn to alternate heating sources without taking the necessary safety precautions.
3. Winterize Your Car
Cold weather can be very tough on vehicles.  Make sure that you’ve had your vehicles heating system checked.  Make sure your tires are ready for ice and snow. Make sure you keep at least a half a tank of gas at all times, and that you have an Auto emergency kit in your vehicle.
2. Check Your Roof
If you live in an area that gets a lot of snow, make sure you have your roof checked for integrity.  Can it handle the weight of the snow that will come?
1. Clothing
Make sure you dress appropriately for the cold weather.  Keep extra coats on hand in your car.  You don’t want to get caught in a snow or ice storm without the ability to stay warm.  Wear extra layers and keep scarfs, gloves, and a warm hat nearby.

Pandemics are real. Pandemics aren’t just something that happens in movies like alien invasions. They really happen, and even if they are not deadly… they can significantly impact people’s daily lives on a local, national and even global scale. Unfortunately pandemics, like many other natural disasters, usually are only a matter of public discourse and concern when we are in the middle of a major crisis because of one. It would be wise for us all to understand the historic context of actual pandemics, be aware of the possible complications of pandemics, prepare our families with a checklist of items we need to be ready, and have a plan for how your family will respond to a major pandemic.

HISTORIC CONTEXT
From June of 1918 to December of 1920 the entire world suffered from a major pandemic caused by the H1N1 influenza virus called the “Spanish Flu”. The virus spread throughout every region of the world from major population centers to remote islands in the pacific and even the arctic. It is estimated that about a third of the world’s population was infected an an estimated 10% – 20% of those that were infected died as a result. These were not young children, old people, and people with weak immune systems that died. The primary demographic affected were healthy young adults with strong immune systems that overreacted to the infection creating a fatal “cytokine storm” causing their own immune system’s reaction to the pathogen to lead to their death. It is estimated that 50-100 million people died globaly with around 600,000 deaths in the United States alone… that is an estimated 3% – 6% of the world’s population. Even in areas where people were not dying, so many were sick and in-bed that communities virtually shut down. Some towns closed all pubic stores or asked customers to leave orders outside. There were not even enough health-care workers to help the sick or the gravediggers to bury the dead because they too were incapacitated from the pandemic. This virus was very similar to the H1N1 that caused the “Swine Flu” scare in 2009. Fortunately for us, this time around the flu was not deadly and history did not repeat itself, but it will and the ability of pathogens to travel quickly with modern transportation systems and air travel is significantly increased. Not being prepared for a deadly pandemic is like playing Russian Roulette with nature… sooner or later there will be live ammunition in the chamber and nature will pull the trigger, so be prepared for the possible complications and help your family dodge the bullet.

POSSIBLE COMPLICATIONS

• Restriced Travel: Airlines may limit travel to and from certain areas and states may close borders.
• Unavailable Medical Services: Due to high surges in infected individuals seeking treatment, other medical services may be unavailable.
• Shortages of Vaccinations: Supplies of vaccines specific to the outbreak may be very short and production capacity on other vaccines may be shifted to supply vaccines for the pandemic
• Quarantine Mandates: Local, State, and Federal governments may mandate quarantines for infected individuals or families and might impose strict curfews on the general public
• Cancelled Public Gatherings: Large public gatherings like sporting events, school, cultural events, large business gatherings, and other public gatherings may be cancelled
• Depressed Economic Activity: If a large portion of the public is infected, basic services and economic activity could be hampered or halted due to a lack of available labor or fear of infection by coming to work
• Large Scale Fatalities: In a worst-case scenario, there will be large scale deaths with 1 in 20 dying as a result of the pandemic.

PREPAREDNESS CHECKLIST
The supplies you need to prepare for and mitigate the negative affects of a major pandemic are simple. So simple that it is easy NOT to get them, but don’t procrastinate. The next pandemic could happen this season or ten years from now, but it is better to prepare years early than a day late.

Particulate Respirators
Get some simple particulate respirators that meet at least the NIOSH N95 or NIOSH N100 rating meaning they filter 95% or 99.97% of airborne particulates, but keep in mind that viruses are very small and if not attached to a larger particle such as a dust particle or water particle (which most often they are) they can still penetrate the filter and pathogens can sometimes still get into your blood stream through your eyes. In order to get the best protection you need a full face mask. These will not ELIMINATE your risk of exposure… they will just REDUCE your risk of exposure. DO NOT just get a surgical mask or a dust mask… these WILL NOT even REDUCE your risk of exposure significantly.

First Aid & Medical Supplies
Make sure you have a good supply of first aid and medical supplies including medications that you might need. In an event of a pandemic available medical supplies and services will be very limited if available at all… and there will also be a higher risk of exposure to pathogens at medical facilities becuase there will likely be a higher concentration of infected individuals. If you can take care of any medical needs yourself it will help reduce your exposure.

HAVE A PLAN
You know your family better than we do, so it’s imperative that you make a plan for how you will respond so you don’t get caught up in the hype or don’t get caught unprepared for what may come. Most important though, don’t worry. Just make sure you understand what the risk is, and prepared your family to reduce that risk as much as possible and you’ll have the peace of mind that you have done everything you can.

The news on the job front on Friday was really bleak.  Net zero jobs…ugh.  It’s a sad state of affairs in our economy right now. We’ve been hovering around 9% unemployment for quite some time now.  The job market is really tough out there.  That 9.1% doesn’t take into account those who are under employed, and those that have simply stopped looking for work.

There are a lot of companies that are on the verge of more layoffs.  Is your job threatened right now?  Losing your job can be very traumatic.  How will you feed your family?  How will you pay the bills?  How long could you go until you land that next job?  Practical Preparedness isn’t about the end of the world.  It’s about real day to day disasters that happen all the time.

Jobs are always in flux.  Some people are fortunate to stay at the same job for a long period of time. Others are fortunate to own their own business.  But many unfortunately, are not in those situations.  Regardless of where you find yourself, there is hope. (real hope)  You can’t control everything, but you certain can control the important things.  Start now to focus your attention on putting together a plan that will put you in the drivers seat regardless of the health of the economy.

Self reliance can give you a great deal of peace of mind.  Getting prepared is very much like planting a garden.  You reap what you sow.  So start today by sowing seeds that you can harvest during the toughest of times. Make the security and safety of your family your job. Create a plan that allows you to be ready for a job loss, or any other kind of disaster.

You don’t need to spend your time in fear.  You have the power to take control of your families future.  You don’t need to be wealthy to get prepared.  If you are already prepared, spend your time helping others get prepared so that you can create a community of preparedness around you.  The more prepared your community is, the more self reliant you can be.  Jobs will come and go.  If we plan correctly, we can be ready for just about everything.