Bug out bag

Preparedness and Planning for “All Hazards”

~ grant.gallagher

Author Michael Daly is a former Captain in the United States Marine Corp. He holds a post graduate certificate in Emergency Management and Disaster Recovery from Norwich University and was responsible for planning and executing Continuity of Business and Disaster Recovery plans for one strategic line of business for CitiCards headquartered in New York City in the early 2000’s.

Many experts including the Government and private industry take an “All Hazards” approach to disaster planning and preparation, and you can use a personalized version in your home. This discussion will be a mile wide and an inch deep, intended to scratch the surface and get you started for your personal preparedness. In emergency planning the Government teaches All Hazards as something you plan at each level and in turn your planning dove tails into the next higher echelon. So it makes sense at the personal level to use a form of All Hazards planning for yourself.In an All-Hazards approach, you maximize available resources to meet an array of unforeseen events as well as probable events. In practically any event you will be directed either to shelter in place or to evacuate, be prepared for both.

There are five broad areas under All-Hazards preparedness; Biological Events, Chemical Events, Radiological Events, Natural Events, Trauma Events. What preparations might be common to all areas, what events local to you are then probable within these five areas (hurricanes, violent crimes, terrorism, etc).

There are a few basic steps you start with for All-Hazards preparedness; lets briefly discuss Go Kits, Communication Plans, Insurance Coverage review, and lastly how to remain informed.

A Go Kit is already packed and stocked to go with you if you are told to evacuate. Always packed and ready you grab and go, no wasting time gathering essentials or looking for important documents or medicines. Already packed. Consider a larger kit to shelter in place when authorities direct you to. Consider multiple kits; you’re at work and unexpectedly told to shelter in place? Or your kids are at school and told to shelter in place? What resources does your employer or your kid’s school have prepared and for how long? You’re on the road far from home and an event occurs, are you prepared to survive in unfamiliar places with only what is on hand in your car? There are many sources to look up suggested items for a Go Kit, more then I can detail in this limited space. Google and search, the CDC, FEMA, and Red Cross are great places to start. Also have an adequate stash of cash, bills and coin in *small denominations*.

Make a Communications Plan. How will you and your family communicate with each other if separated? Pick at least two meeting places to assemble as a group when the event happens; one immediately outside the home (for example, in the event of a home fire), and at least one place outside your immediate neighborhood if returning home is not an option. If you’ve already selected a “bug out” destination, ensure you can reach it on a single tank of gasoline.

Review your insurance coverage, are you adequately insured? Situations change over time, make sure you have adequate coverage that replaces anything that might be lost through an event. If you think you need flood insurance check into that. Do not assume Homeowners insurance covers loss by flood, usually it does not.

Stay Informed, be aware how local authorities will notify you of an event or update you with critical information. Ensure your prepared to get the best possible information in a timely manner to make proactive decisions. If one source such as your Smart phone fails (which it will), have additional backup means to receive information. Have a radio that receives NOAA weather alerts, it will also be able to receive Emergency Alerts. Even an old fashioned transistor radio to receive AM/FM terrestrial commercial radio transmissions for news is desirable. What about one with an integrated wind-up charger?

Always plan to be your own hero. Depending on the nature of an event, a local situation could become chaotic and full of fear, uncertainty, and doubt (FUD). With an All-Hazards approach you can be ready to respond to any threat, adjust to the situation, and manage the FUD. Do not make the mistake of assuming authorities will be set up to take care of your every need, they will have much bigger problems initially then taking care of you.

In summation. All Hazards planning gives us flexibility and efficiency to use available resources. Individual preparations can be very extensive and require far more detail to delve into then can be briefly touched upon here.

If you likes this post, or disagreed with it, why not eave a comment using the link at the top of the page? We look forward to hearing from you!

Basic Preparedness – One Woman’s Journey, Part 2

~ grant.gallagher ~ 1 Comment

Author Tara Fleming is 56 years old, a 25 year resident of NJ, mother of 3 and employed in financial services. This is the second of two blog posts.

We reviewed some ideas for how to prevent and avoid emergencies in Part I. Now we will review some ideas for preparedness for disasters, small and large.

If you are comfortable, you may want to learn to safely and responsibly operate a firearm. Many ranges offer their own training courses, but there are great independent trainers, such ScotShot LLC and Compass Defense LLC, who may work better for you. If you are a woman, you may want to join an association such as Armed Women of America, which has Shooting Chapters across these United States. This really does make it much more comfortable for the beginner to learn along with others at the same level, or benefit from the wealth of knowledge of more experienced shooters.

If you do decide to explore this self-defense option, it is incumbent upon you to undertake the appropriate training for safe handling and operation of a firearm. Be prepared to spend time and money. Understand that training and practice should be continuous and consistent. It is a serious commitment, but very rewarding and worthwhile. You will need to check the laws in your state regarding required permits and licenses. The best place to start is with your local police department website, where you will be able to find the necessary forms and applications. You will also want to join an association such as US Law Shield, to protect yourself from legal events.

Pay attention and be aware of your surroundings! This is super important, especially as we age. It may seem obvious and natural but I guarantee you that it is not. We must make a conscious effort when out and about to keep our minds clear of distractions, eyes up and forward and remain aware. This is not saying to be paranoid and fearful when out and about, in fact it is the exact opposite. It is not complete relaxation, such as when we are at home, but neither is it a state of high alert, which would be very stressful. It is somewhere right in between. Just a slightly elevated state of awareness is what we should work towards. This takes practice, but it can become intuitive.

If able, you should consider learning a self-defense skill, such as Krav Maga, which does not depend solely on strength or size for effectiveness.

Learn about long term food and water storage. An organization called Outdoor Core has an excellent set of short on-line classes that covers a wide range of preparedness ideas and skill-sets, including one on preparing food storage in your home.

Form or join a preparedness group or club in your local community. Your friends and neighbors are a good place to start. It is good to have a reliable local network of like-minded individuals. Take advantage of free resources, too – the Federal Government makes a great starting point.

Prepare a “bug-out bag”. This will help you get to safety if you have to move in a hurry. You can buy them, or build one of your own, that is tailored to your specific needs. This can be as simple as a back pack with some basic supplies, or as much as you can reasonably carry.

Have a plan to get in touch with family members, understanding that cell towers may be down or overwhelmed. Agree on a meeting place out of town for extended communications disruptions or emergencies. Many towns and cities have citizen volunteer organizations, such as fire departments, police auxiliary and emergency management offices. Consider joining one of these organization as the training and knowledge you will gain is priceless.
Consider getting your HAM radio license so that you can be a communications resource for your community. This is a bit involved but if you are mechanically inclined, you may want to give it a go. Again, you may want to start with Outdoor Core and their Ham Cram course.

Take a first-aid and/or CPR course from the Red Cross. I’ve taken a few courses and really learned a lot. You would probably want to take some of the courses every year or every other year to keep your skills sharp.

Please keep the gas tank full or nearly full in all of your vehicles. Please. If you have to leave the vicinity in a hurry, chances are so will everyone else. You do not want to be stuck on a gas line or worse if the gas station is closed. I have gone from someone who drove around perpetually on “E” to now filling my tank once it is half empty.

There is a lot to learn in the world of preparedness. It is important not to become overwhelmed and discouraged. Remember, take it one step at a time and do your best within the scope of your finances, skills, ability and available space. If you are able, consider dedicating one evening per week or one day per month to preparedness activities. This can be done in an enjoyable and fun way, especially along with family and friends. It should not take away from your other regular life activities, but rather should enhance them. It is very likely that some of the things you already enjoy doing or skills and knowledge that you already have (exercising, gardening, firearms training, canning, fixing cars) are also prepping activities!

So have fun, learn new skills and share your knowledge with others. Be part of the solution, not part of the problem! To quote the great Creek Stewart, “It’s not if, but when.”