Showing posts with label Washington. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Washington. Show all posts

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Stay Ready

There has been a lot in the news lately about earthquakes (Chile, Baja, Haiti, etc). This is very concerning for many of us Seattlites because as you probably know we live on fault known for catastrophic earthquakes (9.0+). Being as we can't predict when it's going to happen that doesn't mean that we can't be prepared for whatever comes.


When I decided to do a post of this nature I needed some help and two people came to mind, Ray and Jen. They're the definition of Stay Ready. I've gone through and combined what they mentioned, along with tidbits from other people and myself to compile some great ideas that I think everyone should know.

The one thing that really stood out to me was the idea of short-term vs long-term. We'd like to think that should anything happen we'll be "rescued" shortly there after, but this is faulted logic. In the event of tragedy we must be prepared for all potential scenarios including that help doesn't come for weeks.

That being said I'm going to start with some tips to help you in the short term -

* Food: You're going to need to eat. Local government has been telling us to be ready for 3 days. 3 days is nothing. After Katrina it took over a week to help the people that had set up in the Superdome and there they were centralized. If you plan on making it at your own home you should have 2-3 weeks of food on hand. If you're going with canned food don't forget to keep a can opener with your stash. However you're probably better off going with dehydrated foods as it takes up less space and you're going to need water either way.

*Water: Having a stockpile of water isn't a bad idea so to speak. However what are you going to do if all your jugs of water bust open when the ground starts shaking? Have a water purifier of some kind, like you might take backpacking, on hand is good but you don't have to go out and spend a fortune on this either. A little bleach can go a long ways. Don't over do it though. You don't want kill yourself in the process of trying to safe yourself.

*Shelter: We life in Seattle, it rains. In the event that your home is not habitable you might find yourself on the street. Tents, tarps and the like might be your only chance of finding a dry spot. You may also be on the move so in addition to easily movable shelter having a large trash can on wheels will make moving your essentials a much less laborious task. Keep up your strength and energy in any way that you can!

*Communication: This is the most difficult task after a tragedy. With phone lines down communication becomes nearly impossible. It was brought to my attention that while most lines fail Ham radios have proven to be an effective means of communicating in past disasters. You can get receivers for around $300 and a license for $40. A bit steep but definitely worth while. This might also be an expense that you could bear with those close to you, as not everyone would need their own.

*Find your Constant: Another great idea I heard was having an out of state contact that you and your family all know of. Maybe it's an Uncle in Kansas, a sibling in Texas or Grandma in Boston. By having someone predesignated you'll be sure that everyone is calling the same person. They can then inform all your other out of state relatives that you're okay and transfer message between everyone in the affected area.

*At Work: It is very possible you're not going to be home. Keep an emergency kit at work. Even something as small as a back pack (Nintendo design optional) that has all the supplies that you're going to need in order to get back to your house: good shoes, parka, first aid kit, flashlight, etc. This is also something that you could establish with coworkers and designate a place in your office to keep them that is out of the way, but still easily accessible.

Now lets get into the long term -

Preparing for a lengthly disconnect with civilization is a hard thing to plan for. But it's not impossible. Now I should say that this is more in preparation for Armageddon than for an earthquake, but as the title says "Stay Ready".

Now I'm probably the biggest anti-gun advocate that there is, but this is where I see the reasoning. There are many reason in a post-apocalyptic world that you'd need a gun. If you have to take to nature and hunt for game having a gun will give you the edge on those trying to catch rabbits in snares. There is also the issue of self protection. People are going to be crazy, not to mention Zombies. Zombies are not to be underestimated. And I'm not necessarily saying that the dead will rise and attack us, but more the living may take on the attributes of Zombies and that's just as bad.

I recommend having a few key books in your collection as well. Something that covers the plants and animals that are native to the region can help you to identify what's edible and what's not. Having a book similar to "How things work" could also come in handy. While a map of the local area should already be in your short term kit a larger area atlas would be good in the event that you have to change areas all together.

One recommendation I would have never thought but is a great idea: have a jar of bacon fat. When food sources are scarce and you're eating dandelions and nettles it will give you the necessary fats to persevere.

The last thing that could be the difference between life and death is your knowledge. Know how to make fire from nothing. Get a basic understanding of how to start plants from seed and tend to them so that you can create a stable food source (a small seed bank of good local crops might be something to keep around). Remember that the first step to failing is giving up.

All of that being said there is one last thing that everyone should remember: you can't do it alone. When disaster hits many people are going to put themselves first and foremost, that's how we're designed. However I encourage all of you to keep your sense of humanity and if there is someone that you can help, do it! That person that you dig out of a pile of rubble might just be your key to survival. Remember it's the most difficult of times that show the true grit of our character.

*******************************************************************************

So now that I've got the basic covered I'm going to give you all a run down of what I have planned...

At home -

The original meet up place was going to be the Ballard Community Center, 6020 28th Avenue Northwest. It's not far from where I live and has a large open area to congregate. However after more thought I've decided it's not the best spot. It's still fairly low lying and may draw large crowds as it is. I thought about Woodland park, but I don't want to get mauled by a bear. So for now I'm calling out the intersection of 70th and 24th as the spot. It's up at the top of the hill, about 200 ft above sea level (should be tsunami safe?) and has a decent view of the surrounding area so you can get a feel for what's happening elsewhere. Anyone in the Ballard area that has a better idea let me know because I'm open to other suggestions.

At work -

My sister works up at Seattle University and as such I've decided it's the downtown meet up. The Quad is the designated spot on campus. Anybody in the Capitol Hill/Downtown area that needs a meet up spot there it is. If you are going to make that your spot, let me know so I know who to wait/search for.

After the initial -

I can't say with certainty how long I'd be in either of those places but I can tell you that I plan to establish some kind of registry to track who is there, who was there and where they were going. I think that this would help people locate each other. So if I'm not there, there should be a trail that you can follow easily. I'll probably be trying to find Ray and Jen :)


Well that's the plan. If I've missed anything that you think I should include hit me up in the comments or by email and I'll get it added in. I'd also love to hear what other people have set up in terms of their plans and where they're going to be.

Finally I'm going to end this with a huge THANK YOU to Ray and Jen for all their help. Of all the people I know they are the ones who are ready for anything! I wouldn't have been able to put this together without their input.

(Sorry I stopped with the pics half way through, it got to be very tedious)

********* ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ************

- Get CPR certified!

Thursday, September 3, 2009

The Flooding of King County

So if any of you have been following King County lately you probably noticed there's been a lot of talk about floods. Mynorthwest.com is running an article today about how the county is so concerned about flooding they're actually moving the elections office after not even being there for two years. I think it's time that we all get VERY concerned.

I'm starting to think that they're not disclosing everything they know. Floods happen in the Puget Sound area pretty much every year, so why now are they so concerned about it? Howard Hansen Dam.

In a great piece by the Seattle PI last week they stated the impact could include "The cities of Auburn, Kent and Tukwila could be anywhere from four to 10 feet underwater if storms are severe."

We are facing what could be a major deluge and I don't think that the county is doing enough to inform the public about the potential dangers. Yes they're trying to get the word out through "Preparedness Meetings" But this isn't enough. So to everyone out there if you have friends or family living in valleys of south King County I strongly urge you to make sure they are aware of what this coming flood season could mean for them.

There are many things that can be done to help minimize the devastation. First and foremost, if flood becomes imminent EVACUATE!!! Don't be the ones who get caught on the roof of your house because you didn't think it was going to be as bad as they say. It will be that bad. Just try to think about going to a swimming pool and imagine what it's like treading in 10 foot deep water.

Secondly make sure that you have a plan before it happens. Work it out with friends or family so that you'll have a safe place to stay away from the flood waters. By setting something up before hand you can cut down on the number of people who are going to be flocking to local shelters. And lets be honest, wouldn't you rather crash on your parents floor than deal with the insanity that is emergency shelters?

The last thing that I'm going to encourage everyone to do is contact your elected officials. Let them know that you're aware of the danger facing the region and that it is unacceptable to wait around for it to happen. This is a potential tragedy that can be PREVENTED! If the county can't fix the problem than the state and federal government needs to step up and protect the people. Below is a list of contact information for people that are in a position to stop this from happening:


Jay Inslee, US Representative 1st Dist
Rick Larsen, US Representative 2nd Dist
Brian Baird, US Representative 3rd Dist
Doc Hastings, US Representative 4th Dist
Cathy McMorris, US Representative 5th Dist
Norm Dicks, US Representative 6th Dist
Jim McDermott, US Representative 7th Dist
Dave Richert, US Representative 8th Dist
Adam Smith, US Representatative 9th Dist

***If you don't live in King County please still contact your representative. This is going to affect all of Washington state not just King County.***

Patty Murray, US Senator
Maria Cantwell, US Senator

Christine Gregoire, Washington State Govenor

Barack Obama, President

If any of you are interested in sending in a letter but aren't sure what to say contact me and I'll put together a sample letter.

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Too many thoughts

I feel older everyday. I understand that I get older everyday, but I'm not sure at what point I became fully aware of this. At what point did the little things start to build up to the point that they now reveal my aging? Is there some event that occurred or is it that I just have more time to think about such things? I'm starting to think that it may have to do with knowledge. The more you know, the older you feel. I kind of like that...

It's completely acceptable to be different...

Every time that I've tried to get coffee today something has gone wrong. Maybe I'll try again. Maybe I'll quit trying. No. I'll try again. Failure isn't an option...

We're supposed to have thunder storms today. I hope so. There is something about them I've always loved. It might be the electricity in the air. Maybe the raw power put on display for all to see and fear. Actually, its probably the rain...

I need to make it to the SAM. I haven't been to see the new exhibit yet. I'm debating whether or not its a good idea to go with the broken foot. I really want to go though. To go back to an earlier thought: would going to the art museum make me feel older? Or does art not count? Art usually makes me feel younger for some reason, so I don't think it counts...

I'm going into the doctor today. They're supposed to take out the stitches. I'm really hoping that means I can put my whole body in the shower while I bath. It's not the easiest to do with one foot out. I've found it easier to wash myself with a rag on a stick, but it makes me feel like a invalid...

The Flaming Lips are working on a double album. I'm so excited that I have wet myself more times than I can count. Pitchfork has a blurb about it here. The best news was the inspirations, "thinking Beatles White Album, Zeppelin's Physical Graffiti and even some of the longer things that the Clash have done". I can't wait. Damn. I just wet myself again...

Trade Show is this weekend. I'm not really looking forward to it. Its the only weekend that I have to work. I wish I didn't have to...

I'd rather be in the woods. Preferably near the ocean. Somewhere like Forks. I love Forks. When I get old I think that's where you'll find me. Tucked away in a little cove along the coast. Looking out across the angry blue expanse and up into the chaotic crossing of evergreens. At this point I'd even settle for this...




I forgot to mention, I finally got some coffee..

Friday, December 5, 2008

Dear Asshole

Someone stole the atheist sign from the Washington State Capitol. Now personally I wasn't a huge fan of the sign. I think that they could have gotten their message across without being so negative. However. This is America. You don't go around stealing fucking signs from a state building because you don't like what it says. Now I don't know about these asshole theives, but I'd rather not turn our great country into a fascist haven where all our rights are oppressed and you're nothing more than a battery for the state. The atheists have just as much right as every other religious group represented in our state capitol.
So to the person who committed this shamefully cowardice act I say, you're an asshole. And beyond that you are a threat to our freedom. I hope you're arrested and deported to some fucked up country. Like Burma. Where they do things to you that I won't mention in this forum.