Urban Survival Secrets

Shelter In Place Practice at 4 a.m.

Sometimes you need to make lemonade from the lemons given to you at 4 in the morning (yes- 4 a.m.!)

I was awoken by my wife this morning when the smell of skunk had permeated the house.  I quickly dressed and went out in the back yard with my flashlight.  I called the dogs in, which took much longer than it should have.  With my flashlight, I shined around the back yard and spotted a small skunk.  Keeping the dogs at bay, I was able to let it escape thorough the side gate.

Unfortunately, the skunk had sprayed outside the Master Bedroom.  I know since I walked the back yard to make sure there were no additional skunks.

I came in and then proceeded to practice Shelter in Place techniques (Urban Survival Technique Practice). No bettter time to  I first got up in the attic and shut down the fresh air system.  The grabbed the blue painters tape (it was a drill you know) and taped up the “cracks” in the back doors and windows.  Then I used my pre-cut plastic sheets and taped them up.  The smell stopped permeating the back side of the house. 

Now for decon.  I started all of the fans in the back of the house (bathrooms, laundry, shower, and kitchen) and opened the front windows.  Yes, the temps were in the low 40’s F.  When I left, it was smelling better!  However, I thought of some improvements to the process.

1. Separate bags for the plastic sheeting for each of the rooms for Shelter in Place.

2. Clearly Label the individual pieces of plastic for the windows and doors.  Time is of the essence during a shelter in place.

3. Relocate the switch for the fresh air ventillation. I had to climb into the attic via the Master Bedroom closet.

4. Have a sheet of plastic for the attic door.  I did not plan for that, though I still have a roll of plastic in the garage.  Further, probably should have plastic for the vent fans as well.

5. Have a discussion with the kids about flashlights.  I had to go out of the bedroom to find a flashlight.  During the recon, I found the bedroom flashlight in the kids retreat - argh!

Technorati Tags: Shelter in place

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Obama wins

Here we are the day after elections and the Dems have control - though not full control. I have to admit that our country is awesome - even though I do not agree with the President elects friends and politics. Urban Survival tactics may be our only hope!

For the record, I am a registered Republican (though I am an independent) and I vote how I feel and not for the sake of the party. Partisan voting is for lemmings - mindless rodents. Only reason I registered as a Republican is I am more conservative than naught. I do believe in LIMITED Welfare. Let me explain.

As a college student, I was at the store wondering if I had enough money to last the month for food - so I went bulk buy on everything and grabbed a couple of frozen chickens on special. When I got to the register, here was a family who was dressed well and had a cart full of meat and groceries. They were healthy, happy and in good shape. When it came time to pay, the wife pulled out a wad of food stamps to pay for it. Give me a break! Here I am busting my ass in school (to become an engineer) scrimping and living off of $600/mo for everything including insurance, food, utilities and rent and fuel and…. and these jerks were freeloading off the system - I wanted to puke right then and there. That was the day I went from a Ind-Dem to a Conservatice. Those lazy ass folks really ed me off.

Mr Obama - I hope that you and your admin will not drag our nation into a nanny state. I pray that you will not take my hard earned $$ that I put in many hours a week to earn to give to jerks like those folks. Also, if you fail to live up to your promises (especially on taxes) then I will be first in line to make sure you are voted out of office and will travel the country to make sure everyone knows that you are not the man you say you are. All you have my friend is your word - nothing more. Please do not mess it up!

We all need to support our president, regardless of party - you may not like him or his policies, but as long as we are free, we have it pretty good.

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Duck and Cover

OK folks

The election is at hand and I have been lying low.  My fear is that the Obama camp folks will be at everyone’s door who spoke out against him in any way shape or form. 

I just heard a speech by Charlie “the Tax Thief” Rangle.  His speech sounded like a rally at a Hitler Youth gathering or a Castro propaganda film.  Needless to say, I am in no way implying that Obama is a Nazi - though I do believe that this Democratic Perfect Storm will spin us into a socialist nation - look at the card check legislation for unions - talk about scare tactics.

If I was to be a conspiracy theory person, I would say that the market crash was caused by the Dem’s on Wall Street in conjunction with the Liberal Media to ensure that Obama could be elected.  But I am not a conspiracy person.  But, Wall street is up 300 points today.

So what should you do??

Stock up on food and cash
Stock up on water
Stock up on fuel

Be prepared for your taxes to go through the roof - no limit on social insecurity taxes, lowered promises by the Dems - 250K to 200K to 150K to 120 K to 75K - make up your minds you liars!

I am also concerned about freedom of speech.  Lets see if the Dems don’t start going after anti-dems who demanding the truth from the Lack of Truthers!  In Orwell Speak - Double Speakers.

May God be with us All.  Long Live Freedom

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Going for the Kill

You all must be thinking I am whacked with the title like that. What is an Urban Survivalist to do??

Lets see, Congress has lied to us again (thanks to Pelosi and Reid).  The 700 billion is actually over 800 billion due to pork and the stock market has tanked due to a lack of confidence of the government.  Gosh, I couldn’t agree more.  All of the liars (lets not forget B Frank and C Dodd) who are the Chiefs of Misinformation and political graft are driving the culture to a socialistic state. 

Yup, you watch.  We will lose gun rights (Second Amendment) at the beginning by having to register our firemarms.  Then, our taxes will increase, then companies will pass on the additional costs will be passed on to us….

Then, the new New Deal will be coming into effect.  You heard me!  If we get a new New Deal, our country will spiral downwards and we will be in a depression longer than we need to.  It is well known within the economic community that the New Deal kept us in the depression longer than we needed to be and what pulled us out was World War II  All the while, Europe was able to get out of the depression a lot quicker than we did.

Please do not get me wrong, there were some good things that came out of the New Deal - Social Security,er, what else - you tell me!

Being able to survive is very important and becoming self reliant.  Lets face it, the Government wants to take care of us and our paychecks - just like in the Soviet Union.  Face it, the only ones who made money in the Soviet Union was the folks in the Politburo, KGB, etc.  The rest of the country was repressed.  Do you really believe that excess taxes do the general public well?

An interesting tidbit - conservatives typically donate more money to tithing, charity, etc than liberals who espouse higher taxes.  If you are offended by that - I am just a reporter of the facts.

So, what can we do??

1. Have space - start your little garden with winter crops.  Also have some herbs growing in you kitchen.

2. Become educated in Politics for the next few days - not in the voting booth.   There are a whole lot of fools who are voting because they like the candidate, not on the platform.  I grew up in a Democratic house which was very political - my parents were always assising with campaigns…  The one thing I remember a congressman telling me that you should always vote on the issues regardless of party - that is what makes our country so great.  Sorry Ms. Pelosi and Mr Ried, you are putting Ideals above country.  Guess that is why I am a conservative Independent.

3.  Subscribe to my newsletter!  I will be sending out information on setting up your years storage of food which will not just be rice and beans!  You will have flavoring assistance (spices, herbs…) along with the staples and more.  Protien will be part of your food stores as well.  I am working with a few companies to have affordable 72 hour kits available. Yes, you can put one together yourself as well.

4.  Learn a new skill for yourself!  Why not look into First Aide? Or, Dutch Oven cooking - you never know when burning wood might be our only source of heat thanks to the Mid-easterners.

Until next time!

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$700 Billion in the hole

Now that our illustrious congress has passed a $700 Billion dollar bailout, what does this do for us lowly folks?

Well. lets start with the credit market.  The treasury has been pumping money in to the banks for loans for a while now and it still hasn’t helped.  While listening to the radio early this summer, I heard that money was being pumped in to assist with liquidity and the central banks in Europe was doing the same.  Nice, lets do more of the same, just on a larger scale. Do you really think this will help?  I personally do not as the banks are still reluctant to loan money at reasonable rates - they get it a 1% and loan it at 7+%

Jobs: All I can say that if a company is using loans to cover payroll - they are in a world of hurt.  Hate to say it, but maybe they should shut down!  I see some help with the pork in the bill (wooden arrows, wool research, money for the south pacific…) - which just sickens me.  Let take the bill from 3 pages to 421 pages - what a bunch of jerks.  At least my congressional delegate (Jeff Flake) was man enough to say NO! I really have a bad feeling when anyone political says this will create jobs.  Most of them cannot remember what a real daily job is!

Lets face it folks, this is a band aide approach.  Real economic reform is needed.  Better oversite on the market and accountability - yes, if you are a CEO of a company and it tanks, you should not collect your parachute.  Maybe a golden pile of Dung.

What does this men for you the Urban Survivalist?? Lets get into practical mode amd use a list

1. Live within your means.  Yup, give yourself a budget and stick with it.  I have a friend who was house poor several years ago.  The used the envelope method and literally used cash.  No borrowing forward unless it was an emergency.  Left over cash went into a savings account.  Smart thinking!
2. Kill your Debt.  Use Dave Ramsey’s snow ball effect to wipe out your debt.  Dave says to save $1000 for emergencies, then double your lowest credit card payment until it is payed off, then take that money and apply it to the next card…  You should be able to get totally out of debt in a few years.
3. Stock up- If you see a sale, stock up on food storage.  Take advantage of your freezer.
4. If you have kids, buy ahead thinking about shoe sizes, etc.  Listen to rebroadcasts of the Glen Beck show from Saturday (10/4 - you get the picture.)
5. Think - use your brain and watch out what is happening within your company.  Lord knows I do and a few others do.  Do you have an employment contingency plan?
6. Be sure to pay your tithing or donate to the charity of choice.  They could use it too - and no, this is not socialism in action!
7. Vote for who you believe will do the best for the people in our capital.

Take care

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Surviving the economic downturn

Have you ever wondered who has had their business go under as of late.  Look no further - I am a statistic.  Uban survival during an business FAILURE - yes EC.

You see, I supplied construction products.  I got in late on the curve and flamed out to say the least.  I hold myself responsible to a point.  Unfortunately, the company I repped also changed their business model which was pretty crappy - without discussing it with me or the other distributors.  So, I maintained a training center for a year and advertised, all the while they were cutting their advertising.  As the housing market tanked here in Arizona, the morons could not understand what was happening.  Well DUH, pull your head out of your ass and look!  Go figures that living in the mid west where the housing market never gets heated up would cause mental problems for my idiotic handler, er, business mentor.   I guess I should have seen the writing on the wall!

So, dealing with jerks like this, here is a lesson:

1.  It used to be a man could be held to a handshake - no more.  Get it in writing.

2.  If they do not offer terms - walk away.

3.  If they do not understand advertising - be cautious.

4.  Be concerned when the local market leads dry up and the handler calls up asking why sales in an area are down (and that market is not within the target demographics)

5.  Be sure to set loss limits - this just about killed my mariage when I explained to my wife the losses

6. be concerned that our Government is willing to bail out wall street and ignore those of us on main street!  When I got in the market two years ago, every financial advisor I spoke with said this was the right thing to do!  Now, nonoe of those yahoos are around and I am stuck with the bills.

7 renegotiate your debt - that is what I am doing - got no choice.  But my credit will probably be screwed. We’ll See

8 - You can help out by buying product on the reccommended pages - maybe I can get my soda fix this week

9.  Don’t trust anyone.  I have more bounced checks going in for collection than I can handle.  Yay, 50 cents on the dollar.

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Shelter in Place

With 9/11 upon us, lets take some time to think about all of the people who were directly and indirectly affected by terrorism.  As time marches on, the memory will fade, but we should make the effort to remember that we are all vulnerable to attack!  I was talking with an old timer the other day, and he reminded me that there were plane spotters all along the coasts looking for enemy planes during World War II.

What Shelter-in-Place Means:

One of the instructions you may be given in an emergency where hazardous materials may have been released into the atmosphere is to shelter-in-place. This is a precaution aimed to keep you safe while remaining indoors. (This is not the same thing as going to a shelter in case of a storm.) Shelter-in-place means selecting a small, interior room, with no or few windows, and taking refuge there. It does not mean sealing off your entire home or office building. If you are told to shelter-in-place, follow the instructions provided in this Fact Sheet.

Why You Might Need to Shelter-in-Place:
Chemical, biological, or radiological contaminants may be released accidentally or intentionally into the environment. Should this occur, information will be provided by local authorities on television and radio stations on how to protect you and your family. Because information will most likely be provided on television and radio, it is important to keep a TV or radio on, even during the workday. The important thing is for you to follow instructions of local authorities and know what to do if they advise you to shelter-in-place.

How to Shelter-in-Place

At Home:

• Close and lock all windows and exterior doors.
• If you are told there is danger of explosion, close the window shades, blinds, or curtains.
• Turn off all fans, heating and air conditioning systems.
• Close the fireplace damper.
• Get your family disaster supplies kit and make sure the radio is working.
• Go to an interior room without windows that’s above ground level. In the case of a chemical threat, an above-ground location is preferable because some chemicals are heavier than air, and may seep into basements even if the windows are closed.
• Bring your pets with you, and be sure to bring additional food and water supplies for them.
• It is ideal to have a hard-wired telephone in the room you select. Call your emergency contact and have the phone available if you need to report a life-threatening condition. Cellular telephone equipment may be overwhelmed or damaged during an emergency.
• Use duct tape and plastic sheeting (heavier than food wrap) to seal all cracks around the door and any vents into the room.
• Keep listening to your radio or television until you are told all is safe or you are told to evacuate. Local officials may call for evacuation in specific areas at greatest risk in your community.

At Work:

• Close the business.
• If there are customers, clients, or visitors in the building, provide for their safety by asking them to stay – not leave. When authorities provide directions to shelter-in-place, they want everyone to take those steps now, where they are, and not drive or walk outdoors.
• Unless there is an imminent threat, ask employees, customers, clients, and visitors to call their emergency contact to let them know where they are and that they are safe.
• Turn on call-forwarding or alternative telephone answering systems or services. If the business has voice mail or an automated attendant, change the recording to indicate that the business is closed, and that staff and visitors are remaining in the building until authorities advise it is safe to leave.
• Close and lock all windows, exterior doors, and any other openings to the outside.
• If you are told there is danger of explosion, close the window shades, blinds, or curtains.
• Have employees familiar with your building’s mechanical systems turn off all fans, heating and air conditioning systems. Some systems automatically provide for exchange of inside air with outside air – these systems, in particular, need to be turned off, sealed, or disabled.
• Gather essential disaster supplies, such as nonperishable food, bottled water, battery-powered radios, first aid supplies, flashlights, batteries, duct tape, plastic sheeting, and plastic garbage bags.
• Select interior room(s) above the ground floor, with the fewest windows or vents. The room(s) should have adequate space for everyone to be able to sit in. Avoid overcrowding by selecting several rooms if necessary. Large storage closets, utility rooms, pantries, copy and conference rooms without exterior windows will work well. Avoid selecting a room with mechanical equipment like ventilation blowers or pipes, because this equipment may not be able to be sealed from the outdoors.
• It is ideal to have a hard-wired telephone in the room(s) you select. Call emergency contacts and have the phone available if you need to report a life-threatening condition. Cellular telephone equipment may be overwhelmed or damaged during an emergency.
• Use duct tape and plastic sheeting (heavier than food wrap) to seal all cracks around the door(s) and any vents into the room.
• Bring everyone into the room(s). Shut and lock the door(s).
• Write down the names of everyone in the room, and call your business’ designated emergency contact to report who is in the room with you, and their affiliation with your business (employee, visitor, client, customer.)
• Keep listening to the radio or television until you are told all is safe or you are told to evacuate. Local officials may call for evacuation in specific areas at greatest risk in your community.

At School:

• Close the school. Activate the school’s emergency plan. Follow reverse evacuation procedures to bring students, faculty, and staff indoors.
• If there are visitors in the building, provide for their safety by asking them to stay – not leave. When authorities provide directions to shelter-in-place, they want everyone to take those steps now, where they are, and not drive or walk outdoors.
• Provide for answering telephone inquiries from concerned parents by having at least one telephone with the school’s listed telephone number available in the room selected to provide shelter for the school secretary, or person designated to answer these calls. This room should also be sealed. There should be a way to communicate among all rooms where people are sheltering-in-place in the school.
• Ideally, provide for a way to make announcements over the school-wide public address system from the room where the top school official takes shelter.
• If children have cell phones, allow them to use them to call a parent or guardian to let them know that they have been asked to remain in school until further notice, and that they are safe.
• If the school has voice mail or an automated attendant, change the recording to indicate that the school is closed, students and staff are remaining in the building until authorities advise that it is safe to leave.
• Provide directions to close and lock all windows, exterior doors, and any other openings to the outside.
• If you are told there is danger of explosion, direct that window shades, blinds, or curtains be closed.
• Have employees familiar with your building’s mechanical systems turn off all fans, heating and air conditioning systems. Some systems automatically provide for exchange of inside air with outside air – these systems, in particular, need to be turned off, sealed, or disabled.
• Gather essential disaster supplies, such as nonperishable food, bottled water, battery-powered radios, first aid supplies, flashlights, batteries, duct tape, plastic sheeting, and plastic garbage bags.
• Select interior room(s) above the ground floor, with the fewest windows or vents. The room(s) should have adequate space for everyone to be able to sit in. Avoid overcrowding by selecting several rooms if necessary. Classrooms may be used if there are no windows or the windows are sealed and can not be opened. Large storage closets, utility rooms, meeting rooms, and even a gymnasium without exterior windows will also work well.
• It is ideal to have a hard-wired telephone in the room(s) you select. Call emergency contacts and have the phone available if you need to report a life-threatening condition. Cellular telephone equipment may be overwhelmed or damaged during an emergency.
• Bring everyone into the room. Shut and lock the door.
• Use duct tape and plastic sheeting (heavier than food wrap) to seal all cracks around the door(s) and any vents into the room.
• Write down the names of everyone in the room, and call your schools’ designated emergency contact to report who is in the room with you.
• Listen for an official announcement from school officials via the public address system, and stay where you are until you are told all is safe or you are told to evacuate. Local officials may call for evacuation in specific areas at greatest risk in your community.

In Your Vehicle:

If you are driving a vehicle and hear advice to “shelter-in-place” on the radio, take these steps:

• If you are very close to home, your office, or a public building, go there immediately and go inside. Follow the shelter-in-place recommendations for the place you pick described above.
• If you are unable to get to a home or building quickly and safely, then pull over to the side of the road. Stop your vehicle in the safest place possible. If it is sunny outside, it is preferable to stop under a bridge or in a shady spot, to avoid being overheated.
• Turn off the engine. Close windows and vents.
• If possible, seal the heating/air conditioning vents with duct tape.
• Listen to the radio regularly for updated advice and instructions.
• Stay where you are until you are told it is safe to get back on the road. Be aware that some roads may be closed or traffic detoured. Follow the directions of law enforcement officials.

Local officials on the scene are the best source of information for your particular situation. Following their instructions during and after emergencies regarding sheltering, food, water, and clean up methods is your safest choice.

Remember that instructions to shelter-in-place are usually provided for durations of a few hours, not days or weeks. There is little danger that the room in which you are taking shelter will run out of oxygen and you will suffocate.

Technorati Tags: Urban Survival, WWII, World War II, Shelter in Place, 9/11, terrorism

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Huricane Ike Part ??

Listening to NPR today and they mentioned that many folks who did not evacuate did so because they remembered the traffic nightmare of Rita. Some did not because they thought it was not going to be a big deal. SO, 2000 folks evacuated from Galveston Island later, here we are. We wasted valuable resources because folks cannot follow directions! Especially some who lived in a retirement home a few yards from the sea wall. Brilliant!

Please understand that this is very frustrating to me. We waste time and money on rescuing people who believe they did not need to leave. Folks who decided to stay regardless of not having enough provisions for a week or so (yup, more than a 72 hour kit.) Living in 4 feet of storm surge for a few days usually dampens anyones mood. Some, could not afford to leave - well lets see, Red Cross was willing to transport folks out as well as local governments.

Enough is enough. Lets stop asking our Government to babysit and rescue us. Lets get our great country back to its strength. as a Marine friend of mine once said - Man up wimp! Follow directions and surviveTechnorati Tags: survival, marines, Huricane Ike, 72 hour kit, wasted resources, Red Cross, Evacuation

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Surviving Virus’ and more

If someone was to ask me to rate my personal life this week it would be a 3 star week. Lets say Virus City!

Here I am, a guy, with a bladder infection after having the flu. Now, for the feminine side, you are probably aware of the challenges. As a guy, I have never had one so here I am peeing like an 8 month pregnant woman (every little while with just a bit o pee!) Lets not say that it is very comfortable - I hear the woman folk laughing right now. So my plan is lots of cranberry juice over the next few days then move into anti-biotics if needed. I will need to discuss with my Doctor tomorrow at church.

There is an article in this months Scientific American regarding Solar Storms. This bugs me as an armature astronomer. Are the authors publishing fear or just data? Seeing that Sci Am is a genera reader, there is a fear factor which sells. I have read the article once and will report back on it. In short, what will happen to our communications and such when a huge solar storm hits us like in 1961 or in the 1800’s? Kind of shows our vulnerabilities since we are so electronically hooked up! As an engineer, this fascinates me a lot.

On another virus note, my desktop has been suffering as well. I have been the recipient of a nasty browser take over virus. Even with a few programs, I have yet to break the virus. Heck, I feel like I have the Bird Flu! So, I found the offending program after a few days, and am getting closer to solving the situation. Needless to say, the desktop is in quarantine until further notice. I was able to bring back my laptop to life with a little work.

I heard this week, that the Red Cross is $70 million in the debt. With Hurricane season in full swing and Hanna hitting, Ike getting ready to hit and Josephine forming, the Red Cross can use our help. Apparently, most folks have not donated because of the lack of a direct hit from Gustav. Come on Folks, I have put money in and I have a business that recently sunk faster than a torpedoed ship!

Anyhow, I am back in the saddle as far as I can see. I apologize about being gone for a while.

See you in a while!

CW

Technorati Tags: bird flu, flu, urban survival, Red Cross, Hurrican, Gustav, Hanna, Ike. Josephine, Virus, Scientific American

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Waiting it out

So I am listening to my radio and the local host flew down to Houston and is reporting in New Orleans at some hotel that has an emergency generator.  They are on the third floor in a room.  He is doing this instead of reporting on the Republican National Convention.

So, what is wrong with this?  They landed yesterday, stopped and got some supplies and hit the hotel.  They did not have a first aid kit, no bug out bag, just themselves and some supplies purchased at a super store.

First, going into a storm like this is stupid.  Yup, the news guys are stupid. Second, not having proper supplies is stupid - Yes, I said it.

A while ago the lights went out and they were smart enough to have a few glow sticks.  Good thinking.  I wonder if they were smart enough to buy duct tape and place tape X’s on the window to help prevent the window from shattering??

Enough bashing.  I am glad to hear that almost 2 million folks have headed to the high ground.  Lets all have a moment of silence at 5 p.m. for all of those out there and pray/medidtate for their safety.

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