Six Preparedness Articles

I received a phone call from the editor of earthtoys.com (a reputable alternative energy site) yesterday that they decided at the last minute to change their next newsletter. Because of the devastating hurricanes that hit the Gulf they decided to republish the six articles on using solar for preparedness in their next bi-monthly issue due to be published the first of October. Space was made for the six articles that would have critical relevance to the nations preparedness for emergencies.

These articles were written over a 12 month period in 2003, but their relevance is important to those desiring to learn more how to be better prepared using solar power. Other solar energy sites have published these stories and linked to these important pages.

I have been very concerned about the evacuees and residents of the Gulf since the hurricanes, but have largely felt helpless living here in Las Vegas. I have updated the SOLARprepared.com site (and created the Evacuees Move Across America site) to reflect many of these solar/preparedness principles with links to the six articles published on earthtoys.com. The six articles dig deeper than the site, so it is hoped that some of the principles discussed will be of benefit to the survivors of the hurricanes.

Already the national media told us that a family died as a result of using a gas generator for emergency power and last year when the four hurricanes hit Florida I was told of many instances where people were dying because of unsafe practices using the noisey things. I was told by Florida residents that the national media did not pick up on the terrible stories that were developed as a result of using gasoline generators after the hurricanes. It is a shame, because there is a safer way!

Most people buy generators so that they can run their energy hungry refrigerators but they do not need to use a gas guzzling, polluting, noisey, attention getting generator for this function. Use one large (75-100 watt) photovoltaic solar panel, a deep cycle 12v battery and a SunDanzer refrigerator. It is a shame more people don't know about this because those families that still have their homes in areas where the electricity won't be turned back on for weeks or months can live closer to normal with this minimal set-up. Save your money on a generator and put it towards a small solar system.

Well, enough preaching for now, I have been doing it for several years on this blog and other ways, but it is hoped that FEMA, Homeland Defense, and other agencies, organizations, groups and families take heed. I am working on many other concrete ways of making the information known, so if any of you want to help me with this important project please contact me at michael@vegastrailer.com.

The "Gulf Evacuees Move Across America" site mentioned above is sponsored by SOLARprepared.com and this blog. It is hoped that someone, anyone, benefitted from it.

Anyway, get your 72 hour kits ready, and always keep an awareness of preparedness principles and you will be safer before, during and after a disaster. It is just good sound insurance. You wouldn't think of not having insurance on your car, or a spare tire in your trunk. Why wouldn't you have a few emergency supplies "at the ready"? You know darn well that many of the victims of Katrina would have fared much better if they had even a backpack full of water with them during their flight!

We have all heard stories of New Orleans attic survivors with only a gallon or two of water that was rescued days or weeks after Katrina. They lived with no food or other supplies. Since life is threatened after three days of no water, how many deaths resulted (that we have not heard about) because residents of the gulf did not heed the warning to "be prepared"? Why leave your life and the lives of your family members in the hands of a government agency? Take the needed steps yourself. Forget government handouts that may not reach you in time. Sure we need them, but don't rely on them!

That's all for now my friend. Have a good day

Michael

Generators and Disasters

Immediately after a regional disaster we hear of individuals and families who die because of the use of gasoline generators. Last year I received several emails and even phone calls telling me about the disasterous effects of generators.

Today I heard of a family that died due to carbon monoxide poisoning but I did not hear if it was caused by a generator. I searched some of the media web sites but I did not find the story. Last year I was told by a Florida resident that many people were dying, but the news was not hitting the national media.

If you hear of a story or know where a link is to a story like this, could you drop me a line?
I would like to make these stories available to our readers.

You can read more about the dangers of using gasoline generators at SOLARprepared.com.

Though solar products can help many of the victims of hurricanes' Katrina and Rita, the major problem is locating available solar panels. We are having great difficulties in getting them right now due to the huge world-wide demand of solar PV panels. Many of the other products like solar cookers and solar distillers are available however.

It is hoped that some of the information in the archives will help give some ideas to the current victims of the tragic hurricanes of the gulf area.

Mike
michael@vegastrailer.com

Wanting is Not Enough

Wanting the people to be prepared is not enough.

For decades the American Red Cross and FEMA have tried to get the citizens of America prepared for emergencies. I doubt 5% of the populace have taken any notice. We saw the horrible results of this lack of preparedness during the aftermath of the hurricane in the Gulf.

Local, State, Federal government agencies and relief organizations should provide timely emergency rescue and relief operations after a disaster, but they should also actively help get the people prepared prior to disasters. An adequately prepared populace will make rescue/relief operations of these agencies and relief organizations much more effective.

Homeland Security, FEMA, NGO’s, State agencies, local police and officials should work together on a new plan to help its citizens get prepared.

Neighborhoods and communities throughout this great land need to organize and coordinate preparedness with other existing programs and training. Safety, First Aid, Neighborhood Watch, self sustainability, terrorism watch and other forms of preparedness needs to fall under the same umbrella: the local neighborhood group.

We live in a society where many of us don’t even know our neighbors. This needs to change if we are to adequately be prepared. We need to know our neighbors to draw from knowledge and skills of everyone near us. As I see it the most important step any government agency or relief organization can do is see that its constituency is organized, and prepared.

Each neighborhood group will have its own strengths and weaknesses and they will have to adapt to local situations. People who live in an area next to the ocean will have to take different precautions than if they lived in the desert.

Each member of a local organization could take on a wide variety of different responsibilities and activities. Here is a small list of things that a local neighborhood organization can do;

Train with local police for Neighborhood Watch to help identify criminal activity.

Sponsor First Aid and CPR classes by the American Red Cross.

Work with FEMA officials, Homeland Defense, USA FreedomCorps, etc.

Identify local establishments that can provide training and assistance in self sufficient living.

Schedule a tour of the nearest local hospital.

Volunteer at a local hospital and other care-giver facilities.

Hold neighborhood social events, pot-lucks, field trips, get-togethers, etc.

Identify the elderly and infirm in the area that will require specialized assistance.

Coordinate beginner and advanced training (classes, independent study) with all agencies.

Assist with the procurement and assembly of first aid kits, 72 hour kits and other emergency supplies.

Buy bulk storage/preparedness items as a group at a lower cost.

Establish neighborhood emergency contingencies, evacuation plans, etc.

Establish various forms of communications (ie web, email, VHF radios, CB’s, personal contact network, etc.)

Establish a local reference library (public & private) of acquired books, manuals, training textbooks & related documents.

Help train neighbors on fire safety, automobile safety, first aid, survival skills, etc.

Hold fireside chats with local officials, political leaders, organizations & church leaders.

Sponsor firesides with those running for political office.

As you can see, the list could go on and on, and the good that can come of this new program is unmeasurable. I can’t overemphasize that… “a well trained and prepared populace will be more effective during/after emergencies than billions of dollars in aid after a disaster”.

The old adage “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” applies to this very important task to prepare America.

It is hoped that the President, the new FEMA director, Dept. of Homeland Security, the Director of the American Red Cross and other leaders will get together to make this happen. A web site should be created to share what communities are doing around the country. Move from "should" and "could" to "doing".

Michael B Little
michael@vegastrailer.com

All must share in the Blame Game

In my previous post I mentioned some of the lessons we should learn from Hurricane Katrina. I mentioned that many are to blame in the blame game but little is mentioned in the media about the responsibility of the good people of the gulf. I said that the individuals and families in the region, especially New Orleans should have been more prepared, and they should!

This comment in no way implies that the officials in government should not take their load of the blame. They should, and I am sure they will get blame heaped upon them to the point that their political carriers are in the toilet. Good. The dominoes already have started to fall, and there will probably be many more before this national tragedy it healed. It has to be this way so that all persons concerned realizes that their responsibilities extend further than their job comfort zone. Lives are at stake and lives were lost due to their lack of planning.

Of course it usually takes a really bad thing to get something good. How many accidents and deaths does it take for a city council to demand a stop light at an intersection? What gave the fuel for a pacific tsunami warning system? Well, we could go on and on, but in the end, good will come out of this, for the future.

I still can't over emphasize the importance of the "people's" role in all of this. Each family and individual must be more prepared! Someone in each community must see that their residents are more prepared, especially in known threatened areas. Heck, if I lived in New Orleans, I would have had a boat tied to the ceiling of my garage with pulleys. I would have done a lot of other things, like stock water, food, and other emergency supplies too. I would not leave the safey of my family in the hands of federal or government rescue/relief personnel.

If the local community leaders won't take the necessary steps to see that their constituency is prepared, then individuals must take the lead, until the leaders follow along kicking and screaming!

We all must get out of our cocoons that says "it always happens to the other guy" and "the government will take care me". We must each take some of the blame, then do something about it so that it won't be as bad next time.

Disasters can happen anywhere on earth. Tornadoes can happen anywhere. Terrorism can strike anywhere. Fire, flood and earthquakes can happen anywhere. None of us are imune.

I think if I lived any where near the San Andreas fault in California, I would have a very secure disaster plan in place for my family.

It is good Mike Brown is gone from FEMA, because I think we need more than duct tape and plastic sheeting in case of a terrorist attack!

Please, don't make the mistake of blaming only government officials. They are at fault. But each person in America should share in the blame, whether we live in the gulf, or not.

Now, do something about it.

Michael

We must learn from Hurricane Katrina

For those of us not immediately affected by the devastating hurricane we must take action now to see that our families and communities do not make the same mistakes.

It seems certain that lessons will be learned on the national level, state level and city level. The public demands to know what happened, why it happened and why the relief efforts didn't happen quicker. Personally, I see huge deficiencies in all three areas, and one more. I exclude the Coast Guard from any criticism on the national level.

Each one of us has an opinion. As we watched the horror unfold in the gulf in television, we all thought of ways that things could have been different. It is hoped that these thoughts and opinions leads to action; nationally, statewide, on a local level and in our own personal lives.

Yes, we need government agencies to respond to disaster. Yes, they could and should have done it differently. It is most certain that they will respond differently in future disasters. The public and society will demand it!

But little, if anything has been said about the biggest and most important relief effort that should have happened in the Gulf.

The people.

The people were not prepared...at all.

I am not trying to add salt to the wounds of the victims, no, my heart goes out to them. But there are huge lessons here, and not only for the gulf residents.

Let me ask a couple of questions; What if every family in the Gulf had put together disaster supplies including an individual "mobility bag" of water, a little food, socks, shorts, first aid kit, flashlight, spare batteries, money, important documents, a radio and other critical supplies? They should ALWAYS have one on hand, and if they didn't, they knew the hurricane was coming and had time to get one ready for each member of the household. (Remember, most disasters occur without warning.)

What if that mobility bag were a backpack that went everywhere that person went while evacuating or riding out the storm? That bag would have most certainly gone up into the attic with the persons seeking escape from rising water.

What if everyone living below water level put an axe in their attic? Local governments could have helped by organizing a special program where every citizen had disaster supplies, including an axe in every attic.

What if everyone created a disaster/evacuation plan in case loved ones got separated they knew where to go and how to get in touch with each other? This would have been harder, but any plan is better than no plan. The American Red Cross and FEMA has been preaching these things for years!

I can't help but ask: Could some of the pain and suffering be lessened if the people were individually and collectively prepared? They will have to answer that themselves, and you will have to ponder it too.

Like I said above, I do not say these things to be hurtful. I say these hard words so that we all learn, and take the action needed to help insure the safety of our families.

I have a fear. It is going to eat me alive, and I just know it is going to happen. That fear will make me mad and angry, and it should you too. I am going to hate it more than I can say, even though I am 2,000 miles away from New Orleans. My fear is that the searchers will find people in attics who have died. They escaped the ravages of the hurricane, but they weren't rescued from their own attic because they didn't have an axe or were too weak to chop a hole in the roof, and they didn't have emergency drinking water.

Please, do not make the same life threatening mistake. Perhaps our houses aren't below sea level but we all have certain needs for the areas we do live in. If you are thinking about being better prepared for emergencies and want some ideas on what to do next, you can visit the "prepared" page of the new site: "Gulf Evacuees Move Across America"

As mentioned on the site, the most important emergency preparedness source is you!

Please have a safe day, Michael

Largest Listing of Missing Persons and Safe Lists on the Internet

The largest Katrina hurricane directory of safe lists and missing persons registries is on the Move Across America Site. There are important links for housing for the survivors of the massive hurricane and preparedness links and relocation stories for the rest of us.

Gulf Evacuees "Move Across America" was created to tell some of the many human interest stories of the evacuees. Links and stories help chronicle this aspect of the devestating hurricane Katrina. Las Vegas resident Michael Little created and maintains the site because of the personal frustration he felt not being able to help the victims on site. This is a small step in assisting the national effort currently underway.

Complimenting the site are links to help the rest of us get better prepared for emergencies. On one of the pages Mr. Little explains with harsh words what "could have been" if the gulf residents were more prepared. "Much of the suffering could have been avoided if all of the residents had emergency preparedness supplies, especially a "72 hour kit" or "mobility bag" with water, a little food, clothing, first aid kit, flashlight, small radio, extra batteries and other supplies." Every house below water level should have had an axe in the attic!

There are many lessons to learn from Katrina, and there is a lot of blame on the national and local governments but the fact of the matter is, the people should have been more prepared. Yes, the governments could have helped them, but the people weren't prepared enough. Each individual and family should take the steps needed to prepare for emergencies and disasters. Why rely upon others for your safety? Don't put the safety of your family in the hands of others. Be more self sufficient and if you are faced with a catastophic emergency you will be able to ride the storm better than the next guy.

Please share the url of "Move Across America" (http://moveacrossamerica.solarprepared.com) with others, including victims and other people you know. Submitting this site to other sites will help get the information out to a broader audience. We want this site to be a help and a source of comfort to people.

Thank You, Michael Little mailto:michael@vegastrailer.com

New Site for Evacuees of Katrina and Those Who Would Help

A new site sponsored by SOLARprepared (solarforemergencies.com) has been published that will help evacuees find loved ones, find housing, and tell stories about relocating across America. It also has links to important preparedness sites that the rest of us can use.

Gulf Evacuees Move Across America is a small site, but the missing persons and housing links are the largest collection that I have found on any web site. We want to publish positive stories about what people are doing across America to help these victims. Donated money is important, but I feel the great human interest stories are important too. This site may give ideas to someone who is contemplating hosting or sponsoring an individual, family or group. The problem is, I am having a hard time finding the stories. So, dear reader, if you know of a story and/or link to one, please email me or make a comment to this post.

Thank you and all the best to you and your family!

Michael

Updated SolarPrepared.com Web Site

Though not comprehensive, the new site solarforemergencies.com and solarprepared.com has been updated with new pages. It is hoped that the information can help residents of the Gulf who have been so devastated by hurricane Katrina.

Obviously those who's homes were completely destroyed or flooded will not be in a position to use solar to help ease their plight, but many who are without electricity can benefit from this information.

Those who come to this blog as a result of visiting Solarforemergencies.com can search the archives for discussions that will help! A series of links to specific topics will be published on this blog soon.

May God bless you in your terrible ordeal!

All the best, Michael

Looting in New Orleans didn’t have to happen.

It is heartbreaking to see what is happening to the citizens of New Orleans, but the unrest and the looting and some of the suffering need not be happening.

There is one thing that the people of the gulf region (and all of us) could have done to greatly lessen the current human suffering. They should have and could have been better prepared by putting away extra food and water in their pantries. Sure, many of the pantries would have been wiped out, but a lot wouldn't have.

The American Red Cross and FEMA have been preaching for years the necessity of storing emergency food and water. Most agencies suggest a 3 day supply. Why? Because that is how long they say will take for emergency supplies to get to the people. I have always said "Don't you believe it!" Don't put the safety of your family on someone else's guess. Store more, much more.

People sometimes ridicule and laugh at those who store food, water and other items. I am reminded of the childhood story of the grasshopper and the ant. The grasshopper laughed and ridiculed the ant for putting away food stuffs. The grasshopper was “living life to the fullest” during the warm summer months and couldn’t be bothered with such trivial pursuits. The ant went about his business and continually put away a little more each day than what he ate. Winter came and the ant had food and the grasshopper did not.

People are getting mad at the government for not getting food and water to them in the disaster area. Sure, it is easy to blame someone else. But what did these people who live in a hurricane zone do to ensure the security of their families? What does it take to continually put aside a little food and water? Do people nowdays regard their own lives and the lives of their family so little that they refuse to take this easy precaution?

One doesn’t have to be rich to make their family safer. Soon after I was married I earned so little that we qualified for food stamps. I used this resource for a couple of months, and it helped me for the next eight months because I used the food stamps to buy cases of food when they were on sale. I bought rice in 100 lb bags instead of smaller costlier quantities. Putting water in bleach bottles when the bleach is gone is a good way of storing water safely. There's a hundred ways of being better prepared without costing much money.

So, the good people of N.O. didn’t do anything to prepare and while they are waiting for the government to do something, many steal food and water from their neighbor’s grocery store. Now they are theives. What will happen when they are still hungry and all of the stores are empty? Will people turn to murder to get food and water?

Much of the suffering during disasters can be avoided if we all use a little common sense and put away extra food, water and other supplies for emergencies. It is hard to relieve these people's suffering right now, but we can all learn from this to help better prepare for the next disaster that could strike anywhere, not just to someone else.

In addition to food and water that should be stored, what about a simple transistor radio? Heck, when the power outage in the North-East happened 2 years ago everyone crowded around a fella who had one. Because of the lack of communication due to the power outage, communication was mostly down. These neighbors thought that that guys radio was the neatest thing since sliced bread.

This morning CNN said that the good people of N.O. were aimlessly wandering around parts of the city because they don't know what to do. None of them have radios with fresh batteries so that they can get instructions from city officials. How crazy is that?

I am just frustrated because I really believe that much of this suffering could have been avoided. We can't do much about natural forces, but we can do something to lessen it's devestating effect on our families.

We can learn a lot of other things from this disaster and I think city and state officials should have prepared more for just this type of a disaster. An effective contingency plan should be a part of any communities agenda. Heck, I was worried about New Orleans last year when one of the Florida Hurricanes came close. Everyone knows that they are a city at risk. An evacuation transport plan should have been in place for the poor of that city, and other at-risk communities. When a hurricane is approaching there is time - not much - but there is time, if prepared in advance. Other types of natural and man-made disasters give no warning. But common sense tells us that we can do more, individually and collectively.

I will get off my soap-box now, but I have been involved in preparedness most of my life. It is a way of life for me. I went door-to-door a few years ago and spoke with about 60 families in Las Vegas and only one person knew what I was talking about when I said "Emergency Preparedness". This guy told me that he had made a small first aid kit so he was "prepared". Wow. I mean it, no one had a clue.

I will tell you this: though I have been trying to prepare my family for emergencies, and am probably more prepared than 99% of my neighbors, I still feel inadequate and unprepared for what may happen. I don't sit and worry about it, but I do make it one of the priorities in my life to do what I can for my family "just in case".

Hope this preaching will light a spark is someone, I know it won't be appreciated by all. If you are interested in preparedness please search the archives of this blog as there is a lot of information in it. I wish I had more time to adequately make solarforemergencies.com a better site, but I have to rely on this simple blog to get the information out. If I can be of help to you online please don't hesitate to write (michael@vegastrailer.com) me or add a comment to these posts.

All the best, Mike