Shelter in Place

1. Shelter in Place An Introduction to Making Home your Haven T. Michelson

2. Definition • Shelter in Place is when you seek safety in the place you are at when an emergency occurs • This could be a home, office or anywhere you are at

3. Introduction • Majority of Canadians will have to Shelter in Place (SIP) in one form or another multiple times over their lifetimes. • Three different types of SIP are used: • Airborne containments • Physical Risks • Loss of Utilities

4. Airborne Contaminants • Securing yourself and others indoors against noxious smoke or chemicals such as released in an industrial or transportation system accident or other human caused danger such as terrorist attack • Usually only last for a few hours • Examples could be events such as the Bhopal chemical leak in India that killed and injured thousands www.cbc.ca

5. Preparing for Airborne Contaminants • Close and lock all entrances to your home • Doors • Windows • Chimneys • Seal off entrances • Plastic sheeting and good quality duct tape www.rffg.bc.ca

6. Occupy a small windowless room and seal it off as well (have emergency supplies on hand including a radio so you know when it is safe) • Shut off appliances that may bring outside air in • Air conditioners • heaters

7. Taking shelter to defend yourself and others from immediate physical harm from risks such as tornadoes and hurricanes. These last typically for a few minutes to a few hours Physical Risk http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earthquake

8. Preparing for a Physical Risk • Small structurally sound room with no windows (ideally an interior room in a basement) • Emergency Supplies and a radio

9. Disruption of Utilities or becoming isolated • Normal pattern of life is disrupted by something that requires us to stay indoors • Can be caused by storm, power outage, washed out roads, pandemic, earthquake that damaged infrastructure and so on

10. Minimizing Damages Inside your Home/workplace • Preparing for an earthquake scenario will be most efficient as it will cover many of the same factors for other potential risks • Many of the injuries and fatalities during an emergency come from falling objects and debris • Therefore best way to prepare is minimize heavy or breakable things that could fall on you

11. Secure heavy objects such as water heaters, bookshelves, china cabinets Bolting/screwing/strapping it directly to secure anchor points (such as a couple of wall studs) Is your building attached to the foundation Securing Heavy Objects http://www.waikatoregioncdemg.govt.nz/Information-Resources/Hazards/Earthquake/PROTECT-PROPERTY http://www.neighborhoodlink.com/article/Homeowner/Home_Hazards_Earthquake

12. Wall Hangings • Do not place heavy wall hangings above where they might hit people • Do not put heave things above door ways • Do not put heavy framed pictures or chandeliers above a bed • Things on walls can be bolted/screwed/strapped to wall studs http://www.earthquakecountry.org/core/public/showcontext.php/2518/13412

13. Shelves/Cabinets/Cupboards • Apply latches to cabinet doors • Have a lip or edge on shelving • Use putty or double sided tape to hold special objects in place (figurines, trophy's and so on) • Special items (Great Grandmas china) that you have but not on display should be stored as if you were moving • Quasi confined space wrapped in paper or cardboard and nothing nearby that can fall on it

14. Windows • Broken glass causes a number of issues • Pre-plan how you will contain it • Draw or close heavy curtains over windows when not in use (glass will still break but will fall into the curtain and then to the floor staying close to the wall) • Apply a grid pattern of tape (as you see in WWII films in London as they prepared for the bombings) • Apply a plastic film (shelf liner lets light through but will distort image, there are professional grade available) • Switch to shatter resistant glass http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-11167431

15. Preparing the Perimeter • Identify hazards to your home or workplace and then fix them • Remove or secure Large loose rocks on cliffs or hills directly above with netting or bolts • Remove or trim large trees and tree limbs (especially if dead) that could fall • Put away tool, toys, furniture, BBQ, Propane tanks http://camalittle.wordpress.com/category/fun/page/3/

16. Nearby Risks • Identify other risks that could endanger you (chemical factory, railway line, tsunami zone, flood plain, mudslide) • Take extra precautions for these risks • Every area is different (Low risk for Tornados in Victoria but at risk for Tsunami, Brandon Manitoba it is the opposite)

17. Shutting your Home Down • After a damaging earthquake you may need to shut off gas, water and power (keep tools nearby to facilitate)

18. Advise from Fortis BC • AFTER an earthquake • Check your natural gas appliances and equipment. • If you do not smell or hear gas escaping, consider leaving the gas on to provide a source of energy for heat, hot water and cooking. Check the vents, chimney and connections at each gas appliance to be sure they have not been dislodged or blocked.

19. Shutting off your gas • If you think you smell gas or hear gas escaping, act fast. • turn off your gas meter, if it's safe to do so • leave the building and call 1-800-663-9911 • Watch for and stay clear of downed power lines. Even if they are quiet and without sparks, they could be live. http://fortisbc.com/NaturalGas/GasSafety/SafetyHomeWork/CareOfYourMeter/Pages/How-to-turn-off-your-meter.aspx

20. Post Disaster Clean Up • Wear sturdy footwear and gloves • Sturdy broom • Mask • Eye protection

21. Emergency Kits • Plan your emergency supplies in various levels or tiers • Every Day Carry (EDC) • 7 Day Kit • Bedside Kit • Car Kit • Office Kit • School Kit

22. Every Day Carry (EDC) • Carry items on your person that can help you anytime • Personalize the items to yourself • Common items are • Light • Pocket knife (many options available) • Personal medication • Cash • Contact info • Lighter or matches • Band-Aids http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Everyday_carry

23. 7 Day Kit • More and more experts are advising that people move from a 72 hour kit to a 7 Day Kit as it is repeatedly found that it is taking several days for large scale help to arrive post major disaster (New Orleans) • This kit needs to be large enough to sustain you and your family for up to a week but be small enough it can be carried http://forums.backpacker.com/cgi-bin/forums/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=983107219;t=9991155302

24. 7 Day Kit • Needs to be accessible • Sturdy weather resistant container • backpack lined with plastic bags • Suitcase with wheels • Shelter element (tent or tarp) • Sleeping bag/blankets and sleep mat • Seasonal appropriate clothing • Hygiene supplies (Toilet paper, tooth brush, hand sanitizer, soap) • Cordage

25. 7 Day Kit • Water, water procurement and purification • Food and food procurement • Cooking supplies such as pots and eating utensils • Sturdy Footwear • Wood processing tools (knife, saw, axe or machete) • Comfort and entertainment (more important than you might think) • Communications (radio, signal mirror, flares) • First Aid supplies • Heat and light materials (headlamps, matches, lighter, candles, stoves and so on)

26. Bedside Kit • Ideally we should spend about 8 hrs a day sleeping (1/3 of the day) • 1 in 3 chance a disaster could strike while we sleep • By bedside you should have materials to evacuate quickly • Sturdy Shoes • Quick toss on clothing • Flashlight • Whistle • Tools (crowbar/axe) for getting out if door frame gets twisted binding your exit • Water and food • Cell phone • Keys (to access supplies in your car or garage)

27. Car Kit • Similar to your seven day kit but includes additional items • More food and water • Heavier tools (larger axe, shovel, saw) • Larger first aid kit • Vehicle tools (jack, spare tire, wrenches, screwdrivers, wire, electrical and duct tape, oil, tow cable, flares, jumper cables)

28. Office and School Kit • Often policies and regulations minimize what can be brought to schools and workplaces (knives for instance) so be sure you follow the rules • Most commonly recommended items are food, water, flashlight, glow sticks and emergency blankets

29. Sanitation • Keeping clean assists in maintaining health and morale • If you have ample water supply you can still use toilets even if water supply is interrupted by poring water into the tank (if you think the sewage system is compromised don’t do this) • Have a portable toilet

30. Toilets • Commercial toilets are available in different styles • Chemical • Toilet shaped plastic receptacle • Bucket with toilet seat • Toilet seat on a stool (place a bucket or sturdy bag under) • Reinforced cardboard box with punched openings • Toilet bags (foil lined bag that has a dry chemical inside that gels waste and minimizes odour) • Chemicals can be purchased separately for gelling wastes in all these cases

31. Improvised Toilets • Chair with a hole cut in it • Receptacle in a tub • Pit latrine (with bar to sit on) • Cat sanitation (dig a small hole, fill it, then rebury it • Use a bag held within another receptacle • Big bucket (more comfortable if you place boards over to act as a seat)

32. Deuteronomy 23:13 • And thou shalt have a paddle upon thy weapon; and it shall be, when thou wilt ease thyself abroad, thou shalt dig therewith, and shalt turn back and cover that which cometh from thee:

33. Cat Sanitation • Although humans have relieved themselves for millennia outside most of us have lost the technique • Watch the wind direction • Squats work well (may want to remove one or both pant legs) • Get a “balance bar” a tree or post you can hang onto while leaning back (legs can be stretched out (keeping pants on) • In treeless areas a shovel can be driven into the ground for your balance bar • If nothing avail to hang onto just squat or place hands behind you (like those crab races you did in elementary school)

34. Keeping yourself clean • Wash with soap and water when possible • Use wet wash cloth or baby wipes to have a sponge bath • Face, neck, arm pits, groin (ideally in that order) • Use hand sanitizer • Keep nails cleaned and trimmed • Brush and floss

35. Keeping Clothing Going • Have a sewing kit and know how to use it • Wash and dry when possible • Air out when possible • “Sun Wash” clothing by laying out in bright sunlight (same idea as vultures when they sit there with wings open) • Air out bedding whenever possible

36. Food • Choose food with no to little preparation • Emergency Ration Bars • Canned goods (have a can opener) • Energy or granola bars • Dried fruit • Jerky • Dried pepperoni • Crackers • Fig Newton • Toaster Pastries • Tortilla shells • Candy and snack foods

37. Easy Prep Foods • Add boiling water • Ichiban • Freeze dried meals • Rice • Mashed potatoes • Kraft Dinner • Stuffing

38. Food Advice • Try the foods before an emergency • Pick foods you like and ideally that are familiar (again going for stress reduction) • Choose high calorie shelf stable foods • Ideally foods that can be eaten hot or cold • Learn edible plants of your region (don’t count on “living off the land”) • If your personal convictions allow learn hunting, trapping and fishing techniques (including insects) • Look at what backpackers use • Remember it is fuel, not food

39. Water • Plan for at least 4 litres per person per day • Weighs 1 KG (2.2 pounds) per litre so seven days worth would be 28 KG (62 pounds) • Too much to carry so you need to have means of purifying water

40. Purify water • Boiling • Chemicals (leaves sediments, some kill virus) • Commercially available, just follow manufactures direction • Some leave a weird taste • Filters (removes sediments, does not deal with virus) • Filter then add chemical that deal with virus and you have best of both worlds

41. Finding Water • Hot water tanks • Toilet reservoir (not the bowl) • Water trapped in pipes • Open on the highest tap in the house then have a container ready under the lowest one and then open it • Collect rain water • use a clean catch area, water from the drain spout will have flowed over all the dirt, tar, bird poop and everything else before going down the ease trough

42. Heat • Propane heater • Candles • Ceramic/Candle heater • Heat as small an area as possible (close/tent off rooms) • Heat with sun in day then trap heat at night (southern facing rooms warmest) • Dress in layers, use a hat

43. Light • Headlamps • Lanterns • Flashlights • Hand cranked lights • Patio lights • Glow sticks • Candles http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:LED-headlamp.jpg

44. Pets • Have supplies on hand for them • Make plans for those that require special needs (constant temperature for example such as some fish and reptiles) • Not allowed in most emergency shelters so if planning to evacuate have plans for them

45. Alternative Power • Generators (have chain or cable to secure it, popular theft item during disaster) • Hand cranked generators (no emissions and quiet so it can be used indoors) • 12 volt Battery with AC adaptors • Solar and wind power

46. Communication • Battery Powered or hand cranked radio • FRS Radios • Cell phones • Amateur Radio • Whistles • Mirrors • Panels • Lights

47. Conclusion • Pick your shelter spot • Pre-place supplies if possible • Have “Go” Bags • Have a plan and communicate it • Practice your techniques • If you are prepared you shall not fear

48. Recommended Websites • http://providentliving.org/?lang=eng • Government of Canada • http://www.getprepared.gc.ca/index-eng.aspx • US Government • http://www.fema.gov/ • http://www.ready.gov/ • Province of British Columbia • http://embc.gov.bc.ca/em/index.html • http://embc.gov.bc.ca/em/hazard_preparedness/personal_safety.html • http://www.rdffg.bc.ca/services/public-safety/emergency-management-program/shelter-in-place • http://www.shakeoutbc.ca/downloads/ShakeOut_BC_TipsforSaferSurroundings.pdf

49. Recommended Books • SAS Survival Handbook by John Wiseman • Northern Bushcraft by Mors Kochnaski • When All Hell Breaks Loose by Cody Lundin • Bushcraft by Richard Graves • Camping and Wilderness Survival by Paul Tawrell • Survive by Les Stroud