The Basics of Preparedness

1. The Basics of Preparedness Robert Slaughter

2. Who Am I? • I am not an ex-soldier, former police officer, or tactical operator, just an ordinary citizen. I am a liberty-minded person, attempting to be responsible and self-reliant • I am a History major, currently employed in the information technology (IT) field • Within IT, I am an analyst – I examine issues, ask questions, do research, and come up with recommendations for solutions • I have a wife (and a cat), but no children • And I am concerned about several significant issues in the world today, so I prepare • Not a beginner, but not nearly as far along in my preparedness activities as I would like to be

3. Asking Questions • There will be ‘breaks’ in the presentation specifically for asking questions • But if you need to, please go ahead and just ask! “Hey Bob, I have a question...” • There are no silly questions. There are no stupid questions. There are no ‘obvious’ questions • If you're thinking it, so is someone else here, so … • Ask! Our preparedness is important

4. Let’s get started Preparedness – a summary

5. First – tell me a bit • What brought you here? • What is your interest in preparedness? • What preparations have you already made? • Is there any specific situation or scenario that concerns you most?

6. What is ‘preparedness’? • Preparedness is not just being prepared for ‘the end of the world as we know it’ (“TEOTWAWKI”), though it could be • It is simply being prepared for any abnormal and disruptive situation, so that you and your family can remain safe and reasonably comfortable for the duration • Possible situations: • Tornado or hurricane • Disease outbreak • Loss of job • Etc.

7. Are people, in general, prepared? • A 2011 poll of the Northeast US indicated that more than half of the families surveyed there had no emergency plan in place for a major hurricane or earthquake. • Even those with plans in place were lacking essential items like a flashlight, two days of food and water, key phone numbers, and extra batteries • Almost one-third of respondents believed that in a major disaster, calling 911 would bring help within an hour, while another 30 percent said they believed help would come within several hours. Only 19 percent believed that it could take more than a day • In October 2012, Hurricane Sandy hit the Northeast, and those plans and beliefs were tested • For many of those affected, it was at least a week before emergency services could reach them

8. Who is not prepared? • A Red Cross survey conducted in 2009 revealed that 51 percent of the people of the country have experienced a serious emergency, and 37 percent have been without power, heat, and/or water for at least three days • Only 12 percent of the country, according to the same survey, is adequately prepared for such an emergency • If we assume that 12% are part of the 51%, that means 39% of those impacted by a serious event are not prepared if it repeats • Similarly, at least 25% of those impacted for 3 days or more are not ready for a repeat event • 20 percent of Americans have done nothing at all to prepare

9. What should you be preparing for? • You have to decide what situations are significant enough for youand your family to prepare for • The list of potential problems is quite long • Shorter: flooding, storms, earthquake, civil unrest, radiation accident, etc. • Longer-term: EMP, financial collapse, asteroid strike, Yellowstone eruption, space aliens, epidemic disease outbreak, etc. • Preparing for something simply ‘because someone said you should’ can lead to frustration, especially if you don't believe it is likely to actually happen, or the ‘deadline’ passes with nothing happening • The good news: for almost all potential events, the basics of preparing for them are the same – one preparedness plan covers many eventualities • “If you're prepared for the zombie apocalypse, a hurricane is just a big thunderstorm.”

10. Questions? Next – how to get started

11. Where to start? • For many people, the initial desire to prepare is quickly replaced by shock and overwhelm • Start simple – the Three-Day plan • First, prepare for staying at home for three full days, assuming no electricity or safe water and no external aid is available • Then prepare for having to evacuate your home and fend for yourself for three full days, with no external aid being available

12. Why 3 days? • FEMA strongly recommends that a family have three days (72 hours) worth of supplies on hand, as that is typically the minimum time it takes for the government to react and arrive on the scene • Many typical situations do not last longer than three days • Ice storms, aftermath of tornadoes, power outages, flooding, local civil unrest, etc. • In preparedness practice, the items and skills required for three days are very much the same as what would be required for longer events (typically, just add more), so this is a good place to start • NOTE: FEMA is now starting to recommend 7 to 10 days

13. “Can’t I just buy a kit?” • Yes – buying a kit will still put you ahead of a significant number of people; a major step in the right direction • But alsoNo – most kits are the bare minimum • Even good kits cover some things well, other things poorly, and other things not-at-all • Most are assembled from low-cost components, which may not endure during an actual emergency • Kits are “one size fits all” – which means they fit no one very well

14. Questions? Next – 3 days at home

15. 3 days – hunker-down at home • What would you and your family need in order to remain at home, without power or tap water available? • Food • Water • Shelter • With heat in winter • Information • First Aid • Security • Medications ? • Any special considerations ?

16. The “Rule of Threes” • Rule – in any extreme situation you cannot survive for more than: • 3 minutes without air • 3 hours without shelter • 3 days without water • 3 weeks without food • The above rule-of-thumb is from the US Army Survival Manual, FM 21-76 • Also, you should have three different ways to provide each of any critical functions - “Two is one, and one is none.”

17. 3 days at home – water • Water is the most important item to be prepared • The typical adult can only survive three days without water before serious health issues start, and only a few days more can lead to death • A rough rule-of-thumb is one gallon per person per day, for minimal hygiene, drinking, and food preparation • More realistically, 3-5 gallons may be appropriate • Ways to provide water • Stockpile bottled water (especially when on sale) • Learn how to drain your water-heater tank • Buy a ‘water bob’ to turn a bathtub into water storage • Rain barrels to capture roof run-off

18. Commercial water • Two of several one-gallon bottles of water we have • Cost $1.00 each at Big Lots • We also have flats of 24 one-half liter water bottles

19. More about water • Water has nonatural odor or color – when in doubt, treat the water for your safety • Boil water – to a boil for at least one minute (kills organisms but useless for removing chemicals) • Adding chlorine – 16 drops per gallon, let sit undisturbed for 30 minutes (kills organisms but useless for other chemicals) • Filtration – Run water through filter per instructions (will take time, especially for large amounts. Filters vary on effectiveness on both organisms and chemicals)

20. 3 days at home – food • You typically do not need special foods for preparedness, if you already use canned and dry foods regularly • Preparedness-specific foods can take less time and water to prepare, and are often “heat and eat” in some fashion • Some foods like dry pasta use significant amounts of water – if pasta is part of your food plan, take that into account. Find ways to re-use that water • Cooking is typically the issue. Many home stoves do not operate in the absence of electricity

21. Where to get storage foods? • In addition to online sellers of specialty emergency foods, you can purchase normal foods at a significant discount via clearance racks and similar deep sales • A two-for-one sale is a great opportunity – one to eat and one to store • Watch for other sales, like “10 for $10” or similar

22. Cooking at home during emergencies • Single-burner butane stoves – often found at Asian grocery stores • Each canister is good for about 30 minutes of cooking. Not suitable for scratch soups or stews, but can boil water or heat canned soup easily • Charcoal and propane grills – should not be used indoors without suitable ventilation (carbon monoxide) • If you can’t feel a breeze or gentle air movement in the cooking area, it is not ventilated enough • Multi-fuel camping stoves also need ventilation

23. Cooking with a simple butane burner • This is an example of a simple butane single-burner ‘stove’ • Butane canisters available typically in 4- and 6-packs • Fairly simple to operate • Read the manual and practice

24. More on what food to store • Store what you and your family will actually eat • Storing dry beans, dry pasta, and other cooking basics only works if you know how to prepare them • Eating new-to-you foods is often stressful, especially for younger children • If you have never tried it, it may taste bad to you or have bad texture. If you won't eat it, it won't help you • Often, basic seasonings and spices help immensely, even with pre-packaged preparedness foods

25. Staples vs storage-specific foods • Meals Ready-to-Eat (MREs) typically cost around $10 each • Heat-and-eat, or even eat cold • Long-term specialty dehydrated / freeze-dried foods (Mountain House, Wise, Thrive, etc.) cost $8 to $15 per day (2-3 meals) • RTE – add boiling water, let sit, eat 5 min later • FD staples – add boiling water, let rehydrate 5-15 mins, use as fresh • The beans and rice shown here cost $2.75, makes 3 meals • Overnight bean soaking (unless lentils), 15 to 30 minutes to cook

26. Stored food – our example • Some of our food bins, with sale foods from grocery stores, and foods from ‘big box’ or discount stores • We have several bins like this, plus several boxes of similar foods

27. Don’t forget the utensils! • In a preparedness situation, a can of baked beans doesn't do you any good if the only can opener you have is electric • Take inventory of what you need, or use regularly. Make sure you have some manual version or other means to replace or substitute for any utensil or appliance • Remember: “Two is one, and one is none.” Have multiple copies or other alternate means for everything

28. Sheltering – at home • If you are sheltering-in-place at home, many, if not most, of your shelter needs are already covered • In winter, can you provide heating for people and pets in a grid-down situation? • Do you know what to do to prevent your pipes from bursting if the weather is freezing, and you are without power? • In summer, can you open windows to provide cross-ventilation to minimize heat build-up? • Do the windows open? Are the screens in place and in good condition to keep out pests? • When they are open, will rain get into the home (minimal/no eaves)?

29. Waste management • Disposal of human waste is a major significant issue for sheltering-in-place • Should be planned for, not improvised • Human waste can easily attract pests and promote disease. It also makes conditions very unpleasant due to odor • If enough water (2+ gallons) is poured into the bowl, a non-pressurized traditional toilet will flush. • Do not use your clean, drinkable water! • Numerous kits and DIY plans available to turn a 5-gallon bucket into a temporary toilet

30. What else should you consider? • A battery-operated radio, to gather news and other emergency information • A proper comprehensive first-aid kit, with more than just band-aids. Anti-biotic ointment, other wound cleaning and cover (gauze and tape), possibly splints and sutures • Lots of batteries that store long-term • Are there any medications or medical treatments that a long-term power outage would affect? • Are there any other considerations specific to your family situation that need to be addressed?

31. Radios • Useful for keeping track of outside events • Basic AM/FM radio • NOAA weather radio  • Scanner – monitor police and local emergency services • Shortwave – global range

32. Before you buy anything! • Take an inventory and make an assessment of what you already own first! • Inventory your food and water – how many meals do you already have on hand? What sources of water do you already have at or near home? • Inventory your material items – what emergency items do you already own? What items might serve emergency purposes (camping and outdoors to start with)? • Assess you skills and mindset – what issues or concerns do you have? What in the world worries you? What are your capabilities right now?

33. Questions? Next – evacuating you home for 3 days

34. Evacuating your home • In certain preparedness scenarios, sheltering-in-place at home may not be possible • Tornado or other severe storm damages the home • Flooding of local streams and rivers encroaches into the home • Chemical or radiological spill forces evacuation of your neighborhood • If evacuating on your own judgment, always ask: is it more dangerous to leave home right now than it is to stay?

35. Our initial evacuation scenario • We will start by assuming that • You can you use one of your family vehicles to leave • You should be able to load the vehicle and leave within 5 minutes • Once away from home, you will not have access to any emergency services • Preparing for the worst-case scenario – you are your sole source of food, water, and shelter for 3 days • The Rule of Threes always applies

36. First consideration – water • The need for water does not change – a gallon per person per day, minimum. More is more likely. • One gallon of water weighs eight pounds, and roughly takes up 2 two-liter soda bottles worth of space • One person's minimum water for 3 days is 3 gallons, which weighs 24 pounds, and the equivalent of 6 two-liter bottles • Water for a family of four for three days is 12 gallons minimum. That is 24 two-liter bottles and weighs almost 100 pounds (remember this point for later)

37. Next consideration - shelter • You will need to provide your own shelter • A tent and sleeping bags are typical • Blankets are a minimum • What other options might be available to you? • Motel / hotel? • School? • Friends / family? • Can you comfortably and safely use you vehicle? • Do not run the engine to keep warm or cool – there are carbon monoxide and other exhaust issues from a stationary vehicle

38. Next consideration – food • You will need to take your 3 days of food with you • You will also need all the equipment to prepare it, as well as utensils to prepare and eat it • In the evacuation scenario, the “heat and eat” style emergency meals have significant added value • Survival “cookie” rations are easily transportable, but lack variety and food fatigue sets in quickly

39. Loading your vehicle • If you have only 5 minutes to evacuate, you must be able to load your material and your family quickly. You will not have time to “pack” or search through pantries, closets, or cabinets. You will need to have most, if not all, of your equipment pre-packed and ready-to-load • It will probably take longer (2 to 3 times) than you expect to load – focus on getting the baseline as low as possible! • If you plan for 15 minutes but it takes 30 minutes, that is the difference between rising water encroaching your yard and being inside your home!

40. Evacuating • Have a specific destination in mind before you leave • It is best to plan for destinations well before any emergency • Emergency service announcements on the radio may give instructions of places to go or avoid • Have multiple options for routing to your destination • Listen to the radio to note traffic and other obstacles • Teamwork idea: Driver, navigator, and radio-listener • Keep you vehicle as full of fuel as practical as normal, everyday behavior

41. Questions? Next – next steps

42. Observation • By the time you have completed preparing for your self-reliance for just a three-day period, both staying at home and evacuating … • You will be prepared for most of the more typical emergencies • You will be better prepared than 85% of the population • You will have a better understanding of you and your family's specific needs and capabilities • You will have more confidence in yourself and your ability to handle emergencies of any size • Peace of mind!

43. Next considerations – sheltering in place • For sheltering-in-place, consider: what would it take to extend your capabilities to 5 days, 1 week, 2 weeks, or one month? • For sheltering-in-place, are there any scenarios where you would need to make plan changes? • Example: Chemical/disease – what if you could not go outside for any reason, or open any windows or doors? Or even needed to seal the windows and doors with sheet plastic? What changes in your preparation plans would this cause? • For sheltering-in-place, what would be necessary for an extended situation of 6 months or longer?

44. Next steps – evacuation • What would be involved in extending your evacuation capability to 5 days? 1 week? 2 weeks? One month? • For evacuating your home, what if your could not use your vehicle, but had to walk out? • In both of the above cases, you cannot realistically carry enough water. You need to have plans in place to obtain and treat water found along your evacuation route, and at your destination • For evacuation scenarios, what changes would be necessary for an extended situation of 6 months or more? What if you could never return home?

45. Next steps – practice makes perfect • Starting with small tasks, practice using your preparedness items and practice other preparedness-related skills and activities • If you have emergency food, try it. Is it actually edible? • If you have water filtration systems, use them. Do they work? How much time does it take to prepare one gallon of water? • Discuss with the family doing a “lights out” drill one scheduled weekend, then execute it. Make notes! • Practice loading the vehicle for evacuation. Time it. Discuss ways to cut down the time

46. Additional thoughts to consider • Is there a place at your work where you can store a small personal three-day kit? • Do you have enough supplies in you vehicle in case you are stranded on the roadside overnight? • Do your children know what to do if an emergency happens at school? Do they have an exclusive locker they can store a three-day kit in? • Do your neighbors have any preparedness plans? What about other social groups you belong to?

47. Planning • For any specific preparedness scenario you worry about, you should have concrete plans in place: • Who – who is involved, by name or by role? • When – under what conditions/events does the plan trigger? • What – what specifically needs doing? By whom? • Where – location of action, especially if not home • Having a plan provides clarity and acts as a memory aid, so items and tasks are not forgotten • Write it down!

48. Additional planning considerations • In an extended scenario, what additional skills or training would you need to be successful? To be more comfortable? Examples: • First aid • Food production • Food preparation • Security • In an extended scenario, what friends or family members could you rely on to work together with you for mutual assistance? What would you need to practice and/or work together on now in preparation?

49. Additional planning considerations [2] • If the circumstances resulted in the breakdown of law and order, what would you do? Are there additional preparations and skills you would need to keep your family safe? • For any and all scenarios, is everyone in your family in agreement with the need to prepare? Is everyone working on making sure they understand what they need to do, and are actively learning any necessary skills?

50. Consideration – “OpSec” • “Operational Security” or OpSec is important • One the one hand, you want your friends, family and neighbors to also be prepared. On the other hand, if they are not prepared, but know you are, they could become a problem