Category Archives: General Preparation

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$230 won’t buy you much these days, but it can purchase enough fire extinguishers to protect your home and auto.

Used Fire Extinguishers

Now why would I spend this money on eight fire extinguishers?  The reason is simple, having fire extinguishers on-hand is one of the best ways to save lives in the event of a fire.  In 2012 there were over 1.3 million fires reported in the USA, which caused over 2,700 deaths, over 15,000 injuries, and over $12 billion in damage.  This is why corporations and governments take measures to prevent, fight, and mitigate fires.  You should do the same in your home.

Some newer homes have built-in sprinker systems but most domiciles don’t have any form of automatic fire suppression installed.  This means fire extinguishers will be the primary means of fighting fires in most homes.  You can read up on how to choose and use a fire extinguisher by going here, but I’ll recount my story of how I selected and purchased my fire extinguishers.

I decided that my house needed better protection than I was giving it, so I first examined the layout of my home to determine what I needed.  I wanted to have multiple fire extinguishers within easy reach so I could quickly put out a small fire before it spread.  With this in mind, I decided upon the following locations to install my newly acquired items:

  • Kitchen (most-important)
  • Garage (very important)
  • Living room
  • Dining Room
  • Master Bedroom
  • Office
  • Hallway

I also decided to get one for my car to replace the unit that was in my emergency kit.

Now, seven fire extinguishers for the house seems like a lot.  Perhaps it is but I wanted to have more than I needed since the cost-benefit ratio (not to mention the value of human life) in favor of purchasing additional is massive.  Plus the costs of the regular inspections are minor when compared to the damage even a small fire can cause.  In other words, having fire extinguishers is relatively cheap insurance.

I was able to save even more by going to my local fire protection company and asking them if they had any refurbished units for sale.  They had enough for my needs and I was able to purchase them for a fraction of the cost of new ones.  For example, the 5 lb. ABC units cost me $27 per unit used compared to around $60 new.  Plus, the ones I bought were from the Ansul Sentry line, which is commercial-grade equipment.  The bottom line is I was able to purchase 1-10 lb, 6-5lb, and 1-2lb extinguisher for $230 total.  This is less than half of what it would have cost had I went to my local big box retailer and procured similar units.

Regardless of where you buy them, having fire extinguishers are a crucial part of your preparation plan.  If you don’t have any right now or the ones you have are more than a few years old, consider getting replacement units.  Have your old fire extinguisher checked if you have one by a licensed fire protection professional, which you can find in the Yellow Pages or online.  Do it now so you won’t have to regret not doing so later.

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I remember reading an article a while back that highlighted the issue of information security and how it can be circumvented.  In this particular case, it was a NYPD officer abusing his access to department data systems to illegally obtain information about his fellow officers, including his ex-girlfriend.  However, there are many other cases where governments, departments, agencies, and bureaus abuse the power that is entrusted to them by the citizens.  At that point, Constitutional Rights become subject to the whims of unelected and increasingly unaccountable officials.

The point is, there is no such thing as true information security, no matter who has the data.  Even ostensibly trustworthy organizations like police departments can compromised by corrupt officers.  Ditto for credit card companies, banks, insurance companies, hospitals, and others entrusted with your data.  In future posts I’ll discuss steps you can take to address some of these vulnerabilities, for now just know that your data is not as safe as you think it is.

Keep in mind that abuse of power is not a new thing, after all there is nothing new under the sun.

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One of the first things I did when I moved into my house was install several exterior lights.

Exterior Light

This was done partly for looks but mostly for security.  Three of the lights had sensors built into them (the two by the garage and one by the front door) so that they would turn on automatically when the sun went down.  This illuminated my house at night, making it look occupied even when I was away.  This may sound minor but light is a powerful deterrent to crime.  Crooks have fewer places to hide at night where there is illumination, which is one of the reasons why streetlamps are installed in urban areas.

For around $300, I was able to purchase these lights and get them installed.  The energy costs are low since I use 15-watt CFL bulbs instead of incandescent ones, plus I haven’t had to replace one in the four years they have been operational.  Its a small investment that provides a large benefit to my home’s security.  So keep the lights on, its a great way of hardening your home!

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If you don’t have a security system, I suggest you get one as soon as you are able to.

GE Simon XT Home Security System

First, a few caveats.  Owning a security system will not make your home impervious to burglars.  It also won’t decrease police response times if the alarm is triggered.  Plus, most municipalities charge fees for security systems and fine you if a false alarm is triggered.

So why have one?  The short answer is that it adds another layer to your home’s security.  An alarm system provides some additional benefits on its own, but combined with high-grade locks, reinforced door jambs, lighting, window security film, and other measures, it becomes an integral part of a robust domicile.  A multi-layered approach towards hardening your home is less prone to being compromised because a potential burglar would have to defeat all security measures before being able to break-in.  More layers means more time and effort, which makes a secure home a less desirable target for a thief.

There are a myriad of different systems out there but most use three techniques to detect an intruder.  These are:

  • Motion sensors
  • Glass-break sensors
  • Door/window sensors

Also, the security system will use two primary means of contacting the alarm company if these sensors detect a problem.

  • Landline (telephone wire)
  • Wireless (cellular telephone)

Which one is right for you?  That’s outside the scope of this article but any reputable security company will send out a technician to evaluate the proper setup for a given home.  There are a lot of different options to choose from so carefully consider your home’s needs before making a decision.  What is important is that you add a security system to your home if you don’t already have one.  It will help deter criminals and give you greater peace of mind.

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Confession time, this series on “Hardening Your Home” is going to be a bit like a Tarantino movie.  No, these posts won’t involve snappy dialog coupled with bloody violence!  What I mean by that is the story will not be told in a chronological fashion.  For example, the deadbolts that are currently installed on my exterior doors.

Schlage Light Commercial Deadbolt

These were installed a few weeks ago, which was before I installed the EZ Armor I mentioned in the previous post.

While the timing isn’t important, the reason why I opted to update my lock hardware is.  Not long ago, I read some articles on lock bumping and decided to take measures to prevent this from happening.  Essentially, a criminal can defeat most locks in less than a minute using a bump key and a hard impact.  You can watch a video of it by going here, which shows how simple and fast this technique is.  Since my lock hardware was purchased from a big box retailer after I purchased my home, I decided it was time to upgrade and improve my defenses.

I decided to get Schlage Light Industrial deadbolt locks and passage handles.  These are only available from locksmiths and are constructed from higher quality materials than normal locks.  These locks are designed to be bump and pick resistant, which makes it more difficult and time-consuming for a would-be intruder to break into my home.  Another great feature is they can be re-keyed by a non-locksmith.  A set of these locks is about twice what a normal set would cost at a home improvement store, however the added security and peace of mind you gain is worth it.

Better locks combined with door reinforcement added an additional layer of security to my home.  In my next post, I’ll discuss how I use lighting to deter crime.

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Believe it or not, most criminals break in to homes through the front door.  The reason is most residential doors aren’t strong enough to resist an attack.  The door jamb usually lacks the reinforcement necessary to resist a strong kick from a criminal.  This means even if you lock your doors, your home and family still aren’t safe from a determined onslaught.

Two weeks ago, I decided to do something about this by installing EZ Armor on both my front door and my garage door.  I’d spent some time researching these types of products and found that this particular product was the best one available for my house.  EZ Armor comes in a kit that reinforces the door jamp, hinges, and locks with powder-coated metal plates.  These are mounted with long screws that go into the frame of the house, which further reinforces the door.  Watch this video and see for yourself.

I liked it so much I decided to post a link on my website so visitors can order it.  If you have some time, check out the manufacturer’s website for more information too.  Its a great product from a company with a compelling story to tell so give it a look.

The last thing to keep in mind is that effectively hardening your home is multi-layered and has redundancy built in.  In upcoming posts in this series, I will mention how important locks, security systems, and lights are to your home’s security in addition to reinforcing the door jambs.  While there isn’t a single “magic bullet” that will make your house safe, there are several steps security-minded homeowners can take that will make their domiciles more resistant to home invasion.

Click here to purchase EZ Armor for your home

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I’m working on a series of posts about how homeowners can make their domiciles more resistant to crime.  It will be called “Hardening Your Home” and is intended to give readers actionable security advice they can begin to implement immediately.  This will be accomplished by taking a multi-layered approach that adds redundancy to your home’s security.  I’ll recount my experiences with this process over the past few years as I have sought to increase my home’s security.  Hopefully my stories and advice will enable you to do the same and experience greater peace of mind as you take action to make your home safer.

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Most of us have cards in our wallets and purses.  How many of us have a few of these laying around?

Metro Transit Authority MetroCard

If you live in a city, you might want to purchase a few transit passes to have on-hand in case you need them.  Most transit authorities issue daily passes that don’t have expiration dates, meaning they hold their value over time.  Some passes can be “recharged” with additional funds in order to keep a balance on the card.

But why would you need transit passes when you already have a car?

Let’s say your car breaks down or you are unable to get to/from work.  What do you do?  Sure, if a family member or a friend is nearby and has the time they might be able to take you.  What if nobody was immediately available and you had a schedule to meet?  Sure, you could call a cab or rent a car but for much less ($3-5 per day) you could take the bus/trolley/train to get around.

Having transit cards (plural) gives you options when your primary mode of transportation is unavailable.  It may not be the most convenient or the fastest way to get around, but it will get you where you need to be.  Consider it if you live in a major metropolitan area where there is a mass transit system.

For me, I have ten one-day passes for my local transit authority.  I have a few in my car, one in my wallet, a couple at home, a couple at the office, and one in my go-bag.  If nothing else, I will be able to get home if my automobile stops working.  Your situation may be different but give it some thought and act accordingly.

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If you aren’t already, I suggest you get hitched.

Draw-Tite Receiver Hitch

No, I don’t mean getting married…

Your vehicle is a valuable tool both in everyday and emergency situations.  Adding a receiver hitch to your car/truck/SUV/van/RV makes it both more valuable and versatile.  Consider the following attachments:

I like the options a receiver hitch gives me, which is why it was the first item I had installed on my SUV.  Most of the time, I use it to hold my bike rack but having the ability to carry extra cargo externally or tow a trailer is a great option to have.  Consider a receiver hitch a valuable tool that you can add to your inventory, it may come in handy more often than you think.

I wrote about this subject last week over at Misfires and Light Strikes but thought it might be worth reposting here.

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When things go wrong, you don’t want your vehicle’s fuel gauge to look like this.  Its a good idea to keep your fuel tank half full for a number of good reasons.

During an emergency, you may not be able to refuel when you need to.  This could be due to a power outage, fuel shortage, civil unrest, or other factors.  Also, if an evacuation is called for (ex. hurricane), you want to have enough fuel to get out of town and on your way to safety.  That’s why many knowledgeable experts recommend you keep your fuel tank half full.  Sure, it means more frequent trips to the gas station but its a small price to pay for being more resilient.

Listen, I am guilty of letting my tank get down to the last gallon or two so this is one piece of advice that I am implementing myself.  My suggestion is that you start doing this now in order to save yourself from running out during an emergency.