Emergency Preparation

As we passed through Waterloo, Iowa on the way home from Tennessee, I saw an car accident. Here is a short clip:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxDhFCw_sR0[/youtube]

Dave and I went to the Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge on the evening of July 8, 2009. I brought my good video camera to see if there was anything worth filming. We saw several things, but this great blue heron catching his evening fish meal was by far the best!I love how he dances to the music after he’s caught the fish. Let me know what you think.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLVR4ZNCCjk[/youtube]

We attended our first neighborhood block party yesterday.  We met many new friends and had a great time. I wish our children were home and able to go–they would have loved it!

Knowing the people in the neighborhood is an important part of emergency preparedness. National Night Out Against Crime is coming up soon, a perfect opportunity to get to know your neighbors!

Dave and I attended our first CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) meeting at the Sheriff’s Department in Elk River. I was certified as a CERT member in Tennessee in 2005, so I am familiar with the program. Dave is new to everything. The person who leads the group here is Larry Narikawa, who has done a terrific job putting trainings together.

This evening, Larry and John Olsen, the Sherburne Emergency Services Director went over the basics of the program. I saw a couple of the guys from the Citizen’s Academy at the meeting–that was pretty cool.

This is a great program for people in the Sherburne area to get involved with–not only to help neighbors but themselves as well. Here is a description of the program from the Citizen Corp website:

The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program educates people about disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact their area and trains them in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations. Using the training learned in the classroom and during exercises, CERT members can assist others in their neighborhood or workplace following an event when professional responders are not immediately available to help. CERT members also are encouraged to support emergency response agencies by taking a more active role in emergency preparedness projects in their community.

Here is a picture of Larry showing us the supplies that CERT members receive after training:

Dave and I attended a one-day licensing course and test session today in Elk River. The event was sponsored by Sherburne County Amateur Radio Emergency Service (SherCo ARES).

As part of our Storm Spotter training last month, we also had to become licensed amateur radio operators. The class today was well-organized and Mike Steckelberg, the instructor, provided the information in a way that made it very easy to learn. We spent the day going over the 10 different sections of material that would be covered on the test, and then had breaks in between to study our test-prep handout.

The examiners came in and administered the test right before 4:00 pm. The test consisted of 35 multiple-choice questions and after spending all day preparing, was pretty easy.

Now, the next step is to figure out what kind of radio we need!

If you didn’t figure it out yet, we both passed!

Some of the material we had to study!

Yikes–there’s a lot to know!

Our class taking the licensing exam.

Mike Steckelberg (standing) and the examiners (from left to right)

John Smolenski, Boaz Erickson, Greg Ogden, and Ken Carlson.

After seeing the damaged caused last week in my former city of Murfreesboro, this is very timely information to review.

From Sheriff Joel Brott’s April Newsletter:

Did you know…About 1,000 tornadoes touch down in the United States every year?

Make sure you and your family are ready for severe weather -

Plan, Prepare, Practice, and Stay Informed

• Plan – Create a plan for your family.
• Prepare – Put together an emergency supply kit for your family.
• Practice – Make sure your family members know what to do in an emergency.
• Stay Informed – Listen to radio and television stations for updated storm information.

During a Tornado Watch

• Stay tuned to radio or TV for updates.
• Be prepared to take shelter at any time.
• Watch the sky for funnel-shaped clouds and pay attention to tornado danger signs including dark, greenish sky, large hail, and a loud roar similar to a freight train.
• Stay out of large, flat buildings with wide-open areas such as supermarkets or shopping malls.
• Stock your home shelter area with a flashlight, a battery-powered radio, extra batteries, water, and a first-aid kit.

During a Tornado Warning

• Head for the designated shelter or a central area on the lowest floor of a nearby building.
• In a high-rise, get to the lowest floor possible and go to an interior room.
• Leave vehicles and mobile homes at once. Seek shelter in a sturdy building.
• If you are caught outside, lie flat in a ditch and cover your head. Do not get under bridges or overpasses.
• Never attempt to outrun a tornado.

After a Tornado

• Watch out for debris—especially broken glass—and down electrical lines.
• Be careful when entering a tornado-damaged structure. Make sure the walls and roof are in place and the foundation is sound.

Resource: Sherburne County Are You Ready Workgroup

There were several tornado touchdowns in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. I lived in this area for 20 years before I moved back to Minnesota. I still have four sons and 3 grandchildren living there. I spoke to one of my sons who said he saw a lot of rain but was safe.

Tornado season is upon us in Minnesota as well. Be sure to review safety procedures and remind yourselves what to do in case of emergencies.

I attended the Skywarn class in Elk River yesterday. We learned a lot of good information about identifying storm systems and how to recognize storms that may produce hail and tornadoes. There were more than sixty people in attendance. Be sure to thank the people who volunteer their time to help keep you safe!

John Wetter, Coordinator of Skywarn Operations, National Weather Service, Chanhassen, MN

I attended our city’s Citizens Police Academy when I lived in Tennessee. The program was wonderful and I learned a lot about our community and law enforcement in general. The Sherburne County Sheriff’s Department is having a citizen’s academy here. I spoke to Roxanne this afternoon for more information–she is very kind and helpful. Give her a call and sign up!

This information is from SCTimes.com:

ELK RIVER — Sherburne County residents can get a taste for police work during an eight-week course.

Sherburne County Sheriff’s Department is conducting its Citizen Academy starting March 24 at the Sherburne County Public Safety Building in Zimmerman.

The course is from 9 a.m.-noon. every Tuesday until May 12.

Participants will learn about their local law enforcement, divisions in the sheriff’s office and be given an understanding of what officers need to be prepared for in their job.

People interested must be at least 18 years old and submit to a background check to be eligible.

Applications can be obtained by contacting Deputy Roxanne Schreder at 763-241-2535. Applications are due March 6.

Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have been counseled for many years to have a year’s supply of food. I found this article today on the LDSLivingOnline.com site. With the economy in a recession, preparing for emergencies is wise for everyone, not just the Mormons.

Activity at Bishop’s Storehouses New “Index” for Economy

Ashley Evanson – LDS Living

It’s been called the “Mormon Index,” and economists believe it’s an untraditional yet excellent gauge of today’s market.

The LDS Church’s Bishop’s Storehouse Welfare Program nearly doubled its regular volume of distribution in 2008, a sign of a hurting economy.

The 109 storehouses in the U.S. stock staple foods and essential household items, and allow needy individuals who have been approved by a local bishop to work or render services in exchange for the goods. As the activity at these storehouses has increased, many economists see an escalating anxiety about sustenance and safety for the future.

James Goodrich, who runs the LDS welfare program in Salt Lake City, recently told the press there was “no question that the economy has had an impact on our storehouses system-wide.”

Also on the rise—activity of the Church’s canneries. Members are heeding the council of the prophets more than ever these days, building up their food storages and water supplies. And actions like these have caught the attention of economists.

In a recent article published in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, economist and author Daniel Gross said the Mormon Index and similar boutique economic clues are often more reliable than big-gun barometers, such as housing starts and the unemployment rate.

“Some of the more obscure indicators actually tell you something real because they’re not subject to manipulation,” Gross told the press. “What they’re measuring is unambiguous, and in this case, these numbers are measuring stress in the Mormon community.”

The concept for the storehouses was conceived by Joseph Smith, but it really took root during the Great Depression when revelation was received for members to create a one-year supply of food storage and water.

“We encourage members world-wide to prepare for adversity in life by having a basic supply of food and water and some money in savings,” The First Presidency said in “All is Safely Gathered In: Family Home Storage” in 2007. “We ask that you be wise as you store food and water and build your savings. Do not go to extremes; it is not prudent, for example, to go into debt to establish your food storage all at once. With careful planning, you can, over time, establish a home storage supply and a financial reserve.”

For more information on the Church’s welfare system, go to providentliving.org.

-Information on Starting Your Own Food Storage-

To start your own food storage, here are a few tips from the Church’s website:

Three-Month Supply

Build a small supply of food that is part of your normal, daily diet. One way to do this is to purchase a few extra items each week to build a one-week supply of food. Then you can gradually increase your supply until it is sufficient for three months. These items should be rotated regularly to avoid spoilage.

Drinking Water

Store drinking water for circumstances in which the water supply may be polluted or disrupted.

If water comes directly from a good, pretreated source, then no additional purification is needed; otherwise, pretreat water before use. Store water in sturdy, leak-proof, breakage-resistant containers. Consider using plastic bottles commonly used for juices and soft drinks.

Keep water containers away from heat sources and direct sunlight.

Financial Reserve

Establish a financial reserve by saving a little money each week and gradually increasing it to a reasonable amount.

Longer-Term Supply

For longer-term needs, and where permitted, gradually build a supply of food that will last a long time and that you can use to stay alive, such as wheat, white rice, and beans.

These items can last 30 years or more when properly packaged and stored in a cool, dry place. A portion of these items may be rotated in your three-month supply.