Category Archives: General Preparation

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Imagine this city without power or fiber optic data connectivity…

San Francisco, CA

I was reading Bob Owens’ blog when I read this story about a power substation attack back in April and a widespread outage that took place a couple of days ago.  These events may be totally random, isolated incidents.  Another possibility is that somebody is deliberately targeting vulnerable electrical and data nodes in the Bay Area.

…and these are the events that are publicly known.

Now ask yourself what you would do if you suddenly lost power and/or data connectivity.  Do you have flashlights, candles, or other light sources?  How about food that can be prepared without an electric stove?  Have any battery-operated radios that you can use to get information on an outage?  How about your smartphone, do you follow your utility on Twitter?  Think about these and other steps you can take now to prepare for a power outage.  It could happen without warning and really cause a major disruption in your life.  Get started now!

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Looks like the Earth narrowly escaped being hit with a massive solar flare.

Credit: Space.com

This could have been a VERY BIG problem for a variety of reasons.  A Solar flare can cause massive damage to electronics, electrical transmission systems, and wireless communications.  You can read about a super solar flare from the 19th Century by clicking here, just imagine the impact a similar event would have today…

The good news is that damaging solar flares are relatively rare and don’t always cause widespread damage to electronics.  However, they can impact the electrical grid and cause widespread power failures.  The loss of power is the most dangerous aspect of solar flares since modern society is dependent on a reliable source of electrical power.  This is why having generators and/or batteries is so important in disaster planning.

In future articles, I will discuss topics like backup power and what to do during extended power outages.  For now, be aware that electrical power is vulnerable to solar flares and other natural phenomena.

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One concept that many of us need to be more aware of is Operational Security or OPSEC.  In a nutshell, OPSEC is keeping information from potential adversaries.  For the military, this means keeping details of movements and future operations secret.  For civilians like you and me, that means not broadcasting your whereabouts or other important details.  Being careful about where and when information is divulged will help keep you safe and protect your property.

This is important in today’s world.  Let’s face it, we live in a connected world where social media is ubiquitous.  Many of us can instantly communicate where we are and what we are doing with our smartphones and tablets.  While this can be fun and harmless, it can expose people to additional risk if the wrong people get hold of important information.  And as recent events illustrate, what gets posted on social media does not stay private.

What does this all mean?

If you are at a restaurant, sporting event, or landmark and you post about it on a social media site then everybody who can read your post knows where you are.  Criminals can use this information to stalk you, rob you, or break into your home.  I won’t get into the whole subject of meta-data collection, but the more you post on social media sites the more information private and governmental entities have on you.  Ask yourself if you really need to post your whereabouts and status to the world?

To maintain good OPSEC, consider making a couple changes in your habits.  First, only let trusted people know your whereabouts before you go somewhere.  Second, if you want to post pictures, review, or other observations about an outing, do so after the event.  Third, when you have plans to go somewhere, don’t feel compelled to let the world know about it on social media.  All of this information is not time-critical to those who aren’t going to be with you, it can wait.

The key concept is to be careful with what you divulge to others.  Information is power and the more you reveal, the more data a potential adversary (ex. burglar) has on you.  Both good guys and bad guys use social media so treat the information you post on it with great care.  Taking a few small steps to increase your OPSEC will yield much greater safety and security in the connected world we live in.

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The Detroit bankruptcy filing shows that if something cannot go on forever, it will stop.  Some acted surprised but this has been years in the making given the toxic combination of corruption coupled with lavish spending the city has engaged in for over a half century.  Decisions have consequences and math has finally trumped politics in Motown.  Sure, some will fight it but the reality is, Detroit can’t meet its financial obligations and its debts will have to be reorganized in Bankruptcy Court.  It won’t be the last city to enter Chapter 9 either, that much is a given.

Guess my predictions proved prescient.

City finances can impact crucial services like Fire and Police, which are being stretched to the breaking point by arson and crime.  Old equipment and poor maintenance contribute to slow response times, which endanger both lives and property.  As the Detroit Free Press reports:

The Fire Department’s average time is 7 minutes, and EMS’s response time is 15 minutes. That’s partly due to old trucks and ambulances that are poorly maintained combined with a never-ending string of incidents. Detroit has had between 11,000 to 12,000 fires every year for the past decade, and firefighters have been responding with “junk” equipment, according to an unnamed fire captain in Orr’s report.

If that wasn’t bad enough, 2/3rds(!) of the City’s ambulances are out of service.

Now Detroit may be an extreme example of municipal dysfunction but many of the same conditions exist in other communities.  Falling tax revenues, higher fuel prices, increasing benefits costs, ballooning pension commitments, and economic stagnation are a fact of life for all cities, counties, and states.  This results in fewer services, at a higher cost, with longer response times for citizens.

So don’t plan on government agencies quickly coming to your aid during an emergency.  Having first aid kits, fire extinguishers, firearms, extra food and water, batteries, flashlights, and KNOWLEDGE will help you help yourself when things go wrong.  Being prepared not only helps you, it also helps your neighbors and community become more resilient.

Take a look at this Steven Crowder video from 2009.

Big Government and Big Unions built that!

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If there were any doubts how deadly wildfires can be, last week’s Yarnell Fire should have removed them.

Credit: KTLA

A wildfire outside of Yarnell, AZ killed 19 members of a firefighting crew that were battling a blaze outside that small town.  By all accounts, the crew was well-trained and equipped to do their job.  However, the fire overwhelmed and killed them.

The lesson here is that wildfires are vicious and can turn deadly in a matter of moments.  They can kill even the best-trained and equipped first responders, so its important to take the danger of wildfires seriously.  I’ll discuss this subject in more depth in future posts but if you have property in wooded areas, here are a few tips to keep in mind:

  • Be ready to evacuate quickly – Wildfires can happen suddenly and change direction without warning.  If there are fires anywhere near where you live, know that you may only have minutes to evacuate.
  • Keep radios, flashlights, and batteries handy – Smoke and ash can create darkness even in the middle of the day.  Make sure you have flashlights so you can see even in obscured conditions.  Also, keep a radio handy so you can tune in to get up to date information on evacuations and other wildfire updates.
  • Know your escape routes – If you have to evacuate, have multiple routes planned in advance.  Sometimes roads may be closed either due to the fire or for use by emergency personnel.  Keep this in mind and have primary and backup routes mapped-out.

There is much more but the key concept is to plan to deal with wildfires before they happen.

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My girlfriend and I were in San Diego over the long Independence Day weekend.  It felt great to get out of the heat and relax just a few blocks from the ocean.  What made the trip even better is I had a chance to apply preparation in practice during non-emergency situations.  Doing so made the four days even more enjoyable and stress-free for both of us.  Here’s what happened:

My girlfriend has a iPhone and needed to charge her battery.  Her charger cable was getting frayed and she did not have a backup.  Before we left, I got one from my stash of cables and gave it to her.  Not only did this enable her to recharge her phone, it built additional goodwill between us.  I had an extra cable because the dual-mode USB charger I purchased came with both a micro-USB and iPhone cable.  My DroidX uses the micro-USB cable so I had a spare one.

Not only did I have a spare cable, I had a spare charger too!  I brought my Go Bag with me and amongst its contents is…a dual-mode USB charger and cable.  Since I already had another one in my automobile, we could both charge our phones at the same time!

While I have a first aid kit in my car, I also have one in the Go Bag as well.  After a busy day walking around, my girlfriend got a blister on one of her toes.  Since I had several extra bandages in my first aid kit, she was able to apply one and not have any more problems with her toes.

Remember how I wrote a while back about redundancy and dual-use?  Well, I was able to do some of that while in San Diego as well.  One night my girlfriend surprised me with some treats from a wonderful Italian cafe downstairs from where we were staying.  However, we needed a knife to cut the cannoli and the brownie she brought so we could share them.  Enter my Gerber folding knife.  In no time both treats were cut cleanly and we could enjoy both of them.  After a quick clean, the knife was back on the outside of my Go Bag.

You see, preparation is not just about getting ready for the next disaster.  Everyday life can become much more enjoyable when you have the products and tools you need nearby.  So put your preparations to work for you whenever the need arises, its good practice.

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A couple of years ago I purchased a small Worthington Industries propane tank, which has turned into a great purchase.

Initially I purchased it for camping trips.  Since I camp several times a year, I thought it would be a good idea to have a pony cylinder rather than the small, disposable ones most people use.  One of these tanks will usually last me a season’s worth of camping and ensures that I never run out of fuel.

The bonus is, having an extra propane cylinder really comes in handy around the house too!

Case in point, my sister’s BBQ grill.  A few months back, she ran out of fuel while cooking some ribs for a family meal we were having over at her place.  She called me in a panic and I said that I would bring my tank over right away.  In a few minutes, she was back to grilling and the dinner was only delayed slightly.  There have also been a few times when I started running low on fuel on my grill and swapped out the large tank with the small one.

Preparation is not just for disasters and calamities, being ready can get you out of a tight spot in normal situations too.  Having the right tools or extra supplies on-hand makes life easier and minimizes the impact of interruptions.  So if you already have a propane cylinder around the house, consider purchasing another, smaller one to have as a back up.  It will come in handy more often than you think.

Bonus:  Here is a good article on when you should replace your propane tank.

Click here to purchase a Worthington 1-Gallon Steel Propane Cylinder

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If the research is true, over 90% of you own a cell phone and over 60% of you own a smart phone.

However, like all electronic devices they won’t work without…electrons.  All cell phones have batteries of one kind or another.  Over the last ten years great strides have been made in both extending battery life and packaging cells, leading to smaller yet more powerful phones.  Having a working battery to store all those electrons is essential, having a spare cell phone battery is evidence of being well-prepared.

Let’s face it, despite all the advances in battery technology they will eventually start to wear-out and eventually fail.  Having only one battery on-hand means you may be incommunicado until you get a working battery installed.  If you don’t live in a major city or have an older phone, this could become a problem that lasts a few days instead of just a few hours.

The solution is to have a spare cell phone battery (or two) ready to swap-out when the need arises.  I purchased an extra one today for my NSA intelligence gathering and location tracking device smart phone for about $40, which is a cheap insurance policy for staying in touch.  Its a good purchase to make since cell phones/smart phones are great tools to have in an emergency.  My recommendation is that if you have a couple extra twenties in your pocket, get spare cell phone battery today.

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If you see this, its too late to prepare…

Credit: Onstar

As we saw last week, tornadoes can wreak havoc when they strike populated areas.  However, you can take steps now to protect yourself from them.  You can read more by going to ready.gov and reading their pages that discuss tornado preparedness.  There is more good information over at the CDC and the Weather Channel regarding tornadoes as well.  The Red Cross also publishes a handy, one-page Tornado Safety Checklist that you can view or download here.

There are also some important things to keep in mind when it comes to tornadoes.  Often times, heavy rain and hail accompany the storms that spawn tornadoes.  While the destructive path of a twister can be relatively narrow, the storms can be hundreds of miles wide and cause significant damage.  The rain, hail, and wind is more likely to cause damage to people and property, which needs to be accounted for in any tornado preparedness plan.

The aftermath of a tornado is something that needs to be accounted for as well.  Many times power lines are downed, causing loss of electricity for days or even weeks.  Roads can be blocked by fallen trees or other debris too.  The rain storms can also cause flooding that can wash out roads, bridges, and damage structures in low-lying areas.  While the tornado may only last a few minutes, the after affects will last much longer.  Here are some items you may want to have on-hand if you live in or near Tornado Alley:

  • Radio with NOAA weatherband
  • Flashlights and extra batteries
  • Water and food for three days (MREs, Datrex rations, granola bars, etc.)
  • First Aid kit
  • Medication
  • Cash
  • Chainsaw and fuel
  • Portable generator and fuel

Take some time today to read through some of these links and start making your tornado preparedness plans.

Bonus:  Here is a good article about what to do if you are in your car during a tornado.