A primary goal of the Aging with Pizzazz blog is capturing low-hanging fruit. Working with and writing about longevity from a simple point-of-view, one of my favorite pieces of advice has always been:
Avoid the Landmines.
Obvious huh? Nevertheless, whether it involves defensive driving, not smoking, thwarting slips and falls, emergency planning, or any other preventative action, the idea of ‘avoiding the landmines’ is a fundamental aspect of longevity.
I wish I had written this last month, as September is “National Preparedness Month’. I was tempted to follow that disclosure with the phrase ‘better late than never’ – but that particular sentiment is not always appropriate when we are suddenly caught up in a disaster. Let’s hope that none of us needed this information last month.
In September, I attended an impressive all-afternoon community preparedness program organized by city professionals. Granted, giving up the whole afternoon seemed a sizable sacrifice. But it has to be seen in perspective – when we don’t want to think about disastrous events, and thus are not prepared, we can be giving up a lot more than a few hours.
I will make the assumption that all readers have some type of plan. [If you don’t, no matter where or what situation you live in, start now. Check out the reference section below; I particularly like the one linked from the Red Cross, ‘For Seniors by Seniors’.] I don’t wish to repeat all the obvious suggestions. Instead I want to share some ideas or procedures from the city event that were new (or relatively so) to me. Thus, my new dozen are not necessarily all the priority-items, but additions. Hopefully they will add to your planning strategies as well.
Perhaps too, this list will encourage you to take some time to revisit your own plans. I must admit that several times during that instructional event, my husband and I agreed, “as soon as we go home we are going to do that” (whatever ‘that’ was). And we did a couple things. Nevertheless several weeks later some of those immediate-attention items have not been completed. I rather hope this post will inspire me to action along with you.
No one is immune, no matter the housing situation you reside in or area of the country. And as the presenters reminded us, we are never too young or never too old to be part of this planning. We only think we are immune when we have been lucky. Another comment from a presenter, while not surprising, was extremely poignant.
If you don’t have a plan written down,
supplies gathered or steps taken,
you don’t have a plan.
You aren’t ready.
My Top 12 Additional Takeaways about Preparedness
1. All ‘events’ are not the same. Advancing wildfire is different from a home fire. Flooding, earthquake, tsunami (for those at coasts or even near large bodies of water), landslides, severe weather, all need different planning.
2. Keep an old pair of shoes under the bed for easy reach. Many injuries from disasters come from lacerations to the feet trying to escape.
3. I hated hearing this one, because I am not a ‘texter,’ but…… during a disaster ‘texting’ is much more reliable than a voice cell phone. Many locales have neighborhood emergency teams and notifications systems for their residents and your local government officials can let you know if you have access to one. My community uses CERT (Community Emergency Response Team), which is not uncommon. Still, you may need to rely on simpler approaches: neighborhood watch groups, homeowners or block associations, facility employees, faith-based organizations etc. No matter the active system in your area, these are the people you need to alert about possible needs you may have for assistance preparing or carrying out a disaster plan. If your community has a ‘reverse 911’ system that lets you know about emergencies, it is best to sign up with as many avenues of communication as you can (email, text, phone, cell).
Personal note. If any weather condition or disaster were of long duration, communications could be a difficult situation. It’s possible cellular networks could be down or overwhelmed for a long while. However, if the cellular networks are still available but local landline communications are down, your cell phone becomes more important. Then the question is, if electricity is off, how do you maintain the charge for your cell phone? Even when you see ‘bars’ you may not keep the connection for long or the phone may go ‘dead.’ This is a reasonable argument (read that as a justification) for a new toy – a solar charger for your phone (or for other possible devices, appliances or tools).
4. Out-of-area Prep. During a disaster being lucky enough not to be present in the area would be the best situation, but that is one none of us can plan for. Still there are other ‘out of area’ advantages and connections to consider. Prepare ahead to send your 1st post traumatic text or phone call. Make sure you update your phone with contact information for an out-of-area contact (either family or close friend that can alert others or help you in some way). Before you lose cell charge, or use it for other things, make certain that you immediately write that text or make that call.
While on the subject of things ‘out of the area,’ keep an off-site catalogue (video, list, pictures) of your possessions. Perhaps even more vital are copies of papers and documents that secure your identity after a disaster. You don’t need the disaster of identity theft after a more natural disaster.
5. Do you need to worry about earthquakes – or aftershocks?- I live near (BUT NOT ON) the enormous Cascadia geological fault. Others live on or near faults they have never heard of or for which they aren’t aware. Do those of us rather removed from a fault line need to prepare for an earthquake? Here is an example to help you consider that question. In Japan, the 2011 Tohoku earthquake (and following tsunami) was a mega event of 9.0 magnitude with numerous aftershocks and thousands of deaths. The aftershocks were not only startling in number but in strength. There were very large aftershocks (recorded in the 7.0-7.9 range). But of interest to those who believe they need not concern themselves, due to their safe location, is the fact of how far away some of these aftershocks were felt. Numerous recordings were made in a hundred mile radius or more – AND even at such a remote distance they experienced 5.2 magnitude. Certainly in some places that could be ‘the big one.’
- Houses or buildings not bolted to foundations are easily destroyed by earthquake. While there are retrofit services to correct this, they are expensive. Bolting houses to foundation was not a required housing regulation in my area until the mid-1970s; some may still not require such forward-thinking construction guidelines.
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6. Your water heater may be key to survival (especially when you are not evacuating). The fresh water in your tank could mean the difference between safe drinking water or none.
To plan – make sure your water heater has a security band to keep it from tipping over, rolling away, doing other damage or losing its contents. You can also flush the water heater now as preparation for best water. We may not have considered this maintenance in 5-10-20 years (or ever).
In disaster – turn off the backflow nobs and the circulators to keep the water heater from being contaminated and to keep all the water in the tank. You can access fresh water in the tank by the drain valve at the base of the tank. If you have a gas water heater turn off the gas knob. If you have an electric tank make sure the electric is off (see #10). You don’t want the heat source (whatever it may be), coming back on at any time with a partially empty tank.
View the pertinent knobs on your water heater the next time you walk by so you aren’t confused during a crisis. In my situation, and maybe yours, you actually cannot just walk past and view the drain value. I have to unscrew a door at the bottom of the tank AFTER THE ELECTRIC IS OFF – and look back among some wires. There I can see a value just like you would see for your outdoor hose bib. That is the valve for which you both access water or flush your tank.
7. House fire. Most of us have heard the basics (even if we haven’t complied with the pre-planning). An approaching wildfire from a nearby forest or burning area may give you a good deal of time to fill your car with family heirlooms and keepsakes, whereas a house fire demands quick action to simply get out alive. Preparing for a house fire is normally more stressful, but necessary. And if you live in an urban high-rise or apartment building it is vital. Common steps often advised include having a smoke alarm in every bedroom and on every level, and never sleeping with the battery removed (which also means having extra 9-volt batteries on hand). Have a carbon-monoxide alarm, fire extinguishers in multiple areas, an evacuation plan (that you have practiced in some way or at least talked through). Again this is especially crucial for those in situations where escape routes are not obvious. [See the reference section if you are responsible for outside space, landscaping or greenery.] Here are 2 other proactive preventative steps I had not considered, one quite expensive as a retrofit and the other low-cost.
- Home fire sprinkler systems can contain a fire to a portion of a room versus ‘flashover’ (consuming the room) that can happen in about 3 minutes or less without the device. The materials and plastics of today’s household items and furnishings accelerate the flashover. We saw an on-site demonstration of this difference with side by side identical rooms – one with, one without a sprinkler. As they were meant to be, the results were frightening with smoke, flames, and astonishing heat even from 25 feet away. See video showing similar demonstration to the one we saw:
Note: the cost of installing these home sprinkler systems in new construction or during remodel is similar to modest carpet costs (approximately $2 or less/sq ft). The cost for a retro fit is substantially higher.
- Vent opening covers in the house or apartment (at attic, crawl spaces or basements) should be tight mesh (1/8”) to avoid burning embers getting in. Burning embers can travel approximately 1 mile. [Yikes. Read that sentence again and visualize what it means.] Mesh vent covers are a smart and inexpensive installation at any time; even an easy DIY (do-it-yourself) project for many people.
8. Earthquake action. “Drop, Cover, Hang on.” Don’t leave a building or house, which may be your natural instinct. Instead find the best (sturdiest) shelter to hide under – mostly to avoid flying glass. Only leave structure later. [This is one of the events that might find you camping in your own backyard afterwards; so camping supplies double as emergency provisions. Camping supplies, aside from gas and propane, may also help indoors when severe weather events create loss of electricity.] Also, think about this, If your sturdiest place to hide is under your bed, your shoes are already there waiting. (#2). 
9. Why consider landslides or flooding issues when we don’t live on a hill, coast, river or in a flood plain? Landslides do happen more commonly in steep terrains. But major hard rain can cause land to move quickly, resulting in downed trees and large debris that clog rivers, creeks or small streams, causing flooding where it may not be expected. Many towns have been destroyed or forever lost this way (check your state’s historical records). Dams are generally safe except for large magnitude earthquakes, but debris clogging can affect them as well. One particularly important consideration during flooding:
- 18 inches of water can float a car away. 6” of water can sweep a person away, less for a child. First and foremost, during heavy rains consider the aptly-named Arizona ‘stupid motorist law.’ Meaning, don’t attempt driving through questionable amounts of standing water – no matter where you live.
10. Energy Source Knowledge. Know about the energy sources where you live, and what to do when there is an event that might affect them. Remember that even if you don’t maintain a home, the managers, superintendents or facility workers may not be around to ‘take care of everything’.
For Electric. Know how to shut off smaller electric branches first (not just the main). If you do shut off the main, take care later. Before switching it back on, be sure to flip ALL of the smaller branch levers to the OFF position. Then switch on the main (with others off) and slowly bring on smaller branches one at a time. 
For Gas. If you can smell gas – turn it off. You can avoid an explosion or fire. This is so important for those who use gas that you should have an appropriate tool in an emergency kit to turn the gas off (outside). If you can’t smell gas, you may not be in harm’s way, but might be safer to turn it off ‘just in case.’ Know where your valve is at the gas line and have a tool ready near-by to turn the valve. You can prepare that now by finding a place to store the tool. There are new seismic shut-off valves that are placed on your gas line (on owner’s side of line) that automatically shut your gas off in the case of a seismic event. The item we saw (shown in picture) was rated for a 5.2 earthquake; we were told it sold for approximately $125-150.
11. Furniture straps. As I mentioned above one of the most frequent disaster-related injuries is from GLASS (especially in fire, landslides or earthquake). Many of our homes are filled with glass; mine is no exception. I have a large china cabinet filled with glass of all kinds, not only the type to cause injury but the type to cause heartache if the family piece was lost. A simple, relatively quick and inexpensive solution to limiting the damage from, and to, such pieces is a furniture strap. Consider this for large entertainment centers as well. They generally are attached to the wall as well as the piece, and some of the new Velcro-aided ones do not damage the wood. Your local hardware store will have one. I saw the style I want (not Velcro) at ACE for about $8.
Note: Between my first draft of this piece and the final posting, we purchased and installed a strap. It took about 30 minutes. It certainly feels strong enough, although seemed rather long. We looped ours a bit to take up slack.
12. Who is responsible? Most emergency professionals in every city have some type of preparedness program. One here is based on “Ready-Set-Go” which I have seen nationally as well. The ‘ready’ time is now, when you prepare (each section has outlined details INCLUDING FOR PETS); the ‘set’ part is when an event has begun (wildfire, earthquake, suspected tsunami) and you need to be set to leave “at a moment’s notice”. ‘Go’ is obviously the evacuation – meaning the recommendation is to leave without delay. In true community disasters you may get only one alert to evacuate–not necessarily another. Don’t believe the myth that you can rely on a personal visit to your door.
Planning is always the essential part of preparedness advice. Expanding on that idea, I heard a candid opinion from one of the presenters, a statement you don’t hear professionals make that often, namely that they may not be able to help you. In most American towns and cities we are accustomed to quick responses from emergency personnel; but in these cases they might not be able to respond in such a way. This is even more relevant in towns, cities or rural areas where our taxes fund a limited workforce.
So the bottom line is an important one. WHO is responsible for you in an emergency? That’s right – YOU.
Go ahead and grade yourself. I hope you got to pick a little more low-hanging fruit from this particular tree branch of Aging with Pizzazz.
Extra Credit. You get additional points if you have 2 emergency kits prepared – one kept somewhere near your door and another in the car.
REFERENCES:
Visit FEMA home page for many ideas about, and suggestions for, being prepared. Click here and scroll down page for “Brochures for Individuals and Families” prepared by FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency).
FEMA brochure R-6 Preparedness for people with disabilities.
FEMA brochure Preparing makes Sense for Older Americans
Red Cross. Disaster Preparedness For Seniors by Seniors. Thoughtful planning information in this booklet.
For Fire-wise toolkit and updates – Firewise.org
Department of Homeland Security recommends this printer friendly instruction sheet they offer especially for Older Americans (from Ready.gov)
Link to community efforts and Fire Adapted Communities: FireAdapted.org
NOAA (National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration) www.noaa.gov For weather information
Outside defensible space. If you have outdoor space and greenery you are responsible for, check out this link for basics of home defensible space.
AARP www.aarp.org. AARP has some good information on disaster preparedness. While I found some of the details in conflict with instructions from other professionals, it is still helpful. To check out specifics from them, click here.
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Picture credits: Title Image by Alexas_Fotos from Pixabay
