You're quite welcome, and I appreciate your good comments once again!
Because every disaster has its own signature, and there's often something unpredictable or different from the last one, even well prepared people can sometimes find themselves "without" something they think they need. Even though "chance favors the prepared", disasters almost always bring scarce resources of some kind or another. So you're right that people shouldn't think they failed if something doesn't go exactly as planned. In the heat of something going down, I think two additional principles can be applied:
1) Whatever you're dealing with at the time is just problem-solving, so think and act accordingly (never give up).
2) However scarce certain resources may be, you almost always can find something within your control that might be of help, whether it's converting something physical and practical into a new use, or just putting on a better attitude (see #1).
From: californiadisasters@yahoogroups.com [mailto:californiadisasters@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Lewack, Mark A.
Sent: Tuesday, September 11, 2012 11:36 AM
To: 'californiadisasters@yahoogroups.com'
Cc: Emergency-Management@yahoogroups.com
Subject: RE: [californiadisasters] soft drink bottles used for water
Thanks for the kind remarks J.
Your anecdotal commentary is awesome. Pre-event organization is the key to success. We just need to make the task more manageable for all citizens. We need to continue to say to folks, preparedness, as well as response and recovery are shared responsibilities. The best organizations to hold their hands are the NGOs and faith-based organizations. I’ve seen how well they do first hand, after Katrina.
The Government can’t do it all for those who can do at least some of it themselves and people should not be expected to bear the burdens of putting it all together themselves, either (except those who have the financial and logistical advantage probably do not need the Government to do anything for them).
Some degree of hand-holding must take place or we will not get buy in. National Preparedness Month and other local/state emergency management events are good ways to hold citizens’ hands.
It’s inevitable that one can be prepared according to the lists provided by FEMA (A great organization, by the way) and others and still not be prepared. Your tweezers story is a painful reminder of this. People need to be encouraged to do all that is necessary, but yet it may not be enough. We need to say to them, don’t despair or don’t feel overwhelmed. They need to tailor these lists to their own needs. I’ll bet the individual who didn’t have tweezers won’t forget them next time (but will the sequence of events in the next storm be like the previous one ???).
Every experience is a learning one, not one to criticize or feel ashamed of, if you didn’t get it 100% right. We can do this together!
I am reminded of my experiences during Hurricane Hugo. I lived ½ block from the Atlantic Ocean in Condado (San Juan), PR. Prior to the storm, I put together a preparedness kit and asked for advice on how to protect my apartment from major damage. When the Hurricane passed by Puerto Rico, my only loss was power.
You see, although the apartments in my building were extremely vulnerable to wind and water damage, I was one of the few (in my building) that experienced little or no damage. I also applied contact paper and strong tape to my windows (the tape was to seal the edges of all my windows and patio doors). I had at most a ¼ inch of water on the terrazzo-tiled floor of my apartment. None of my furniture was ruined and there wasn’t any loose gear or gear adrift from the storm.
Whereas I was spared much damage, a few of my compadres in the U.S. Virgin Islands and elsewhere in Puerto Rico lost more of their possessions and some saw their homes collapse under the fury of Hugo.
Very Respectfully,
Mark Lewack
Emergency Actions Coordinator
U.S. Office of Personnel Management
FSC, Emergency Actions Group
1900 E Street NW, Suite 1300
Washington, DC 20415
(202) 606-5415 (Office)
(301) 807-8943 (Cell #2)
From: californiadisasters@yahoogroups.com [mailto:californiadisasters@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Earthquake Solutions
Sent: Tuesday, September 11, 2012 1:54 PM
To: californiadisasters@yahoogroups.com
Cc: Emergency-Management@yahoogroups.com
Subject: RE: [californiadisasters] soft drink bottles used for water
Good remarks, Mark. Your point about people already having things, and that just need to get organized is so true. It also brings to mind a particular story that a woman in one of my audiences told perhaps in the mid-90's. But first, let me ask readers this: Can you imagine any household, especially one with a woman in it, being without a pair of tweezers?
Here's how the story unfolded. I was doing a preparedness talk to parents at a parochial school that was largely characterized by families living paycheck to paycheck. When I mentioned the need to have some emergency cash on hand a universal groan went up, and people were shaking their heads and looking at me like I was from outer space. In fact, several I'm sure were prepared to tell me so, but I couldn't help noticing a woman who stood up quickly in the back and who was really trying to get my attention. I called on her, and this is the essence of what she shared:
It was a very warm summer day that morning, and the kids were out of school. They were running around the house and playing, in shorts, no shirts, and barefoot. The older son was running right in front of a big window when the Sierra Madre quake hit (June 28, 1991). They lived in Sierra Madre. The window imploded and this little boy was covered in glass shards. What his mom said, with a great deal of convincing emotion was this: "That day", she said, "That day I would have given EVERYTHING I OWNED for one good pair of tweezers."
My further comments: This was a small scale event and outside help was in fact available, something that cannot be counted on in future events. Also, I would imagine that most home bathrooms probably have a pair of tweezers, but also when everything plummets out of unrestrained cabinets etc., most quake victims can't even tell if they have a gas leak or not because of the odors of all the hygiene products blending together in one air stew. So pulling things together in a protected place you can get to is a simple part of the message, as is the need to put positive latches on cabinets wherever possible.
But don't miss that the point of her remarks was also about the "cost" of being unprepared. There is ALWAYS a cost to being unprepared. Simply being organized with what resources you already have may save people from some of the consequences, or perhaps enable them to deal appropriately with challenges at the time. But it's more than just the practical piece -- being prepared may spare you from a lifetime of later regret.
From: californiadisasters@yahoogroups.com [mailto:californiadisasters@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Lewack, Mark A.
Sent: Tuesday, September 11, 2012 9:46 AM
To: californiadisasters@yahoogroups.com
Cc: Emergency-Management@yahoogroups.com
Subject: RE: [californiadisasters] soft drink bottles used for water
Interesting discussion!
Check your home before you buy supplies you don’t really need: One of my contentions with the notions of building a kit or stocking up on emergency supplies is that most people do not realize that they already have most of the supplies needed in their own pantry or work space (e.g. garage or shed). They just need to separate the things they have and place in a storage bin or two. These items may be used regularly, so at worst, they’ll have to replace the items they borrow/use from the emergency supplies kit or shelf.
This is (all at once approach) perhaps the one of the biggest obstacles to building a kit. The cost is secondary. I’m assuming that the ones that have the most difficulty assembling a kit or emergency supply locker are those who live on the margin of poverty and those who spend very little time in their homes.
Water: Regarding water, you can use coke bottles or even ketchup / larger condiment bottles to store water. Using smaller bottles, already portion out drinking water tailored to individual need, rather than using a larger container which would be hard to dole out individual portions. What we do is we fill a filtered pitcher (Brita) or two full of tap water and set aside bottles of water for emergencies.
We also have seltzer and Fruity Water (e.g. Giant Eagle Fruition) on hand. We will never go thirsty, but we may tire of the same ole’ drink for 10-14 days of sheltering or recuperating from a disaster. You should also consider keeping distilled water on hand. Also, be a good neighbor, have some supplies on hand to give to your neighbor.
DO 1-3 things per month vs all at once: I prefer the Do 1 Thing (http://do1thing.com) approach to stocking up, is that it seems less overwhelming than trying to put together a complete kit (using FEMA’s Checklist). Our biggest obstacle will be the lack of a generator to run essential appliances / lighting.
More than one kit? More than one kit is a good idea. How about assembling two identical kits; one for the house and one for your car, boat, van, etc.? Doing this will save you grief, in case you cannot get back in your home.
Essential vs. Optional: Also, IMHO, when putting together a kit, you should only set aside supplies that are essential, not optional. Everyone’s needs are unique, so don’t use a checklist that is one size fits all. This will limit the physical and emotional weight of putting the kit together.
Game it: Those folks with children (older than 5) at home should involve the entire family, make it a fun exercise/game (e.g. scavenger hunt) that everyone can play and feel good about their accomplishment afterwards.
Very Respectfully,
Mark Lewack
Emergency Actions Coordinator
United States Office of Personnel Management
Facilities, Security and Contracting
1900 E Street NW
Washington, DC 20415
Tel: (202) 606-5415
Fax: (202) 606-0624
From: californiadisasters@yahoogroups.com [mailto:californiadisasters@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Earthquake Solutions
Sent: Tuesday, September 11, 2012 12:09 PM
To: californiadisasters@yahoogroups.com
Subject: RE: [californiadisasters] soft drink bottles used for water
Yes, a good pantry of canned goods at home can supplement the need for liquids. But be sure to use cans that actually require a can opener, as you say, and not any of those with easy open pull tabs, as they do not have the same shelf lives or safety/security if kept too long. Choose items with high water or natural juice content, and nothing condensed.
From: californiadisasters@yahoogroups.com [mailto:californiadisasters@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Julie
Sent: Monday, September 10, 2012 9:10 PM
To: californiadisasters@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [californiadisasters] soft drink bottles used for water
I usually have a couple case of bottle water on hand in the kitchen, we use it and I keep stocking it up and some in our closet along with our quake kit... Now another place where you can get water from, when your water bottles break or the water turns green on ya or whatever happens to it and its undrinkable...go to your food cans, stock up them up esp your veggy ones, they have water in it and you can daily does of veggies..make sure you have a can open in your kit to be able to get into them. The cans are durable
On 9/10/2012 5:03 PM, Kim Noyes wrote:
Sunlight is hard on a lot of things and not just man-made things: many minerals experience color fading with prolonged exposure to direct sunlight such as amethyst and vanadinite and celestite.
You should store your water in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight exposure if possible. I would suggest changing your stored water once a year but confess I don't even follow my own advice on this with my own cache of 6 5-gallon jugs having not been changed in several years... gotta get on that methinks!
KimmerOn Mon, Sep 10, 2012 at 11:23 AM, aweaawea <windpower@earthlink.net> wrote:
soft drink bottles used for water
Using fruit drink and soft drink plastic - ~liter or two liter bottles to save-store water- how long should they be replaced, or at least washed out and new water put in.
What is plastic chemicals that degrade and get into the water?
I presume that it gets worse quiker with sunlight and Heat storage place?
I try not to drink out of it if stored more than a few months - but ?? Does someone have a "yard stick" of rules of thumb?__._,_.__--
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