The Pacific Northwest
flies under the radar as natural disasters go. We get the occasional wind storm
or mudslide, and forest fires are certainly a summertime regular, but tornadoes
and hurricanes or weeks of sub-zero temps mostly stay away.
Which is partly
why the recent article in The New Yorker
entitled The Really
Big One by Karen Schulz shook Oregon and Washington residents to their
collective core.
An earthquake of absolutely epic proportions
is lying in wait just off the coast of the Pacific Northwest.
The Cascadia
subduction zone, a fault line where the Juan de Fuca oceanic plate is
slowly forcing its way under the North America tectonic plate, is part of the “ring of fire.” Lesser
known than the famous
San Andreas fault, the Cascadia subduction zone is becoming a household
name on the west coast. When these dueling plates give way, and they will, the resulting earthquake
could register an astounding 9.3. The tsunami that follows will destroy
everything in its path.
From the article:
“Our operating assumption is that everything west of Interstate 5 will be
toast,” says Kenneth Murphy, who directs FEMA’s Region
X, the division responsible for Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Alaska.
FEMA projects:
·
13000 deaths
·
27000 injuries
·
1M displaced people needing shelter
·
2.5 M people needing food and water
Survivors will face months if not years of
rebuilding.
Planning for this
sort of devastation is so overwhelming it seems almost pointless,
and that might be
one of the reasons most of us have neither an emergency kit nor an emergency
plan.
September is National Preparedness Month and this
is the third in a four part series of posts on Emergency Kits. Thus far we’ve
talked about the Car
Kit and the Under
Bed Kit. This week we will focus on the Stay at Home Kit.
We must understand
these THREE ESSENTIALS when building our Stay at Home Emergency Kits.
1. You're On Your Own
When disaster
hits, police, fire and medical go to the hardest hit, most highly populated
areas. Folks in the suburbs and rural areas may not see emergency help for
days.
Be prepared to:
· Turn off your own gas and water (if necessary)
· Repair your own residence
· Share equipment with neighbors (generators, fire extinguishers,
ladders)
· Care for children and elderly
2. It Could Last a Long Time
Utilities,
city services, roads and bridges will be restored and repaired in due time, but
be prepared to live without creature comforts for more than the standard 72
hours.
The
following will serve you well:
· Camping equipment
· Water purification systems
· Solar powered devices
· Dehydrated foods
· Non-local communication contact
3. Any Kit is Better than No Kit
It’s easy to become overwhelmed with all this planning,
but experts assure us any action is better than no action. Start by stashing
emergency supplies in one central location, a little at a time. Eventually you
will have a well-stocked Stay at Home Kit. Click on the links below for more
information about certain items.
|
THE STAY AT HOME KIT
| |
|
Container
|
Large Sturdy Bin (wheels are a plus) Large Trash Can with Lid (wheels are a plus) Assorted Bins for Smaller Items with Labels |
|
First Aid
|
Advanced First Aid Kit Sunscreen Bug Repellant Prescription Medications Anti-Diarrheal Pain Relief/Fever Reducer Antihistamine |
|
Shelter &
Warmth
|
Generator Tent/Tarp Extra Blankets/Sleeping Bags Space Blankets Stocking Hat Warm Gloves Warm Coat/Rain Coat Complete Change of Clothes Shoes & Socks Warming Packets Sunglasses |
|
Hands/Feet/Head
Protection
|
Sturdy Shoes Work Gloves Hard Hat |
|
Water
|
Bottled Water (1 gallon/person/day) Water Filter System Water Containment System Bleach/Eyedropper Hot Water Heater Pool/Hot Tub Water (ok for bathing or flushing) |
|
Food
|
Non-perishable Dry Goods Canned Goods Dry Milk Peanut Butter Nuts/Bars Instant Coffee/Tea Powdered Energy Drinks Emergency Supply of Food |
|
Important Docs
|
ID Documents Cash (small denominations) |
|
Tools
|
All Purpose Tool Kit Leatherman Tool/ Pocket Knife/Utility Knife Wrench (to turn off natural gas) Duct Tape Rope Dust Masks Goggles Crowbar |
|
Communication
|
Radio (solar, crank or battery) Hard Line Phone Mobile Phones Whistles |
|
Lighting
| Head-mounted Flashlights Flashlights (solar, crank or battery) Lanterns (solar, crank, battery or propane) Candles (contained) Lighter/Waterproof Matches Glow Sticks |
|
Power
|
Generator Batteries Solar Chargers Extension Cords |
|
Fire Safety
|
Fire Extinguishers Kitchen Garage Each Floor |
|
Food Prep
|
Camping Stove & Fuel BBQ Grill & Fuel or Charcoal Cooking Pot(s) Cooking Utensils Can Opener Knives Corkscrew Plastic Plates, Cups & Eating Utensils |
|
Hygiene &
Sanitation |
Wet Wipes Hand Sanitizer Antibacterial Dish Soap Laundry Soap Unscented Bleach Sponge Towels Paper Towels Garbage Bags |
|
Toiletries/Personal
Items
| Glasses Contact Case & Saline Hearing Aid Batteries Toilet Paper Toothbrush, Toothpaste and Floss Tissues Cotton Balls & Swabs Shampoo & Conditioner Body Wash or Soap Wash Cloths & Towels Deodorant Lotion Razor & Shaving Cream Nail File Feminine Products |
|
Baby/Children
|
Formula & Bottles Baby Food Kid Food/Snacks Diapers & Wipes Change of Clothes Blanket(s) Comfort Item Crayons/Markers Books/Activity Books |
|
Pets
(have your pet microchipped, if possible)
| Collar with Tags Leash Food & Treats Kennel/Cage Toy/Chew Toy |
|
Entertainment/Misc.
|
Playing Cards Pen & Paper Scissors Prayer Items Books & Puzzle Books Toys & Games Crafts & Projects |
Talk to your family.
Start making a
plan.
Start building
your kit.
Remember: doing
something is better than doing nothing!
Come back next week
for our final kit: the IDENTITY KIT
By the way, the
following websites have loads of information about disaster preparedness:
Ready.gov (a part of FEMA)
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