Disaster

Preparedness

Why PREpare?

Donating blood is a part of Disaster Preparedness

by Patty Brooks

Did you know blood & Platelet donations are a huge part of emergency preparedness? Most people do not make the correlation between emergency preparedness and blood supply. During any disaster natural or man made, many people often suffer life threatening injuries that require the need for blood transfusions. Keeping an adequate supply of blood & platelets on hand is already a challenge on a daily basis. There are daily occurrences that constantly draw on supplies such as premature births, illness, traumatic accidents and research - just to name a few.

Having an adequate supply of blood immediately after a major disaster is not likely. Many people will come together AFTER a disaster to donate. It takes days to process blood & platelets before it can be utilized, many victims of disaster often don’t have days to wait and their lives can be lost without an adequate supply of blood.

Many people have prepared their family and themselves for a disaster by creating a family plan, keeping a Go Bag or home emergency kit on hand. Often when people prepare for a disaster, a vacation or even just a trip to the grocery store they check their supplies to assure themselves they will have everything they need on hand, but very few people realize that blood & platelets are also a needed supply that should be well stocked.

After a major disaster the Government may be able to provide some supplies after a disaster, usually they can buy trailers, ice, food, blankets to provide for an affected community, but they can not buy blood and platelets or replace a needed supply. Only the community itself can provide a well stocked supply by donating blood & platelets on a regular basis, by holding blood drives within our communities and getting the word out about making the correlation between blood supply and emergency preparedness. This is why I have been working diligently to get disaster preparedness organizations to implement this information into their literature and public announcements.

Often people assume that hospitals will have the blood type they need on hand, how can we be sure that there will be an adequate blood supply available BEFORE the next major disaster? There are a few answers to this question: Donate regularly and teacher your children early on about the importance of blood donations.

I remember going with my mother as a young teenager and watching her donate. I was able to ask her many questions and what she could not answer the person drawing her blood could. This was a wonderful experience for me as I grew into an adult I had no fears about donating blood. I was excited to donate my first time and went on to hold blood drives within my community. Contact your local American Red Cross (www.givelife.org/index_flash.cfm) and donate today. For more information on donating blood click the "Donate Blood" tab above.

Massive Economic Disaster Seems Possible -- Will Survivalists Get the Last Laugh?

By Scott Thill, AlterNet.
With multiple crises on the horizon, survivalist views don't seem as marginal as they did before.
They used to be paranoid preparation nuts who built bomb shelters for a place to duck and cover during nuclear dustups with communist heathens, but their tangled roots go back to the Great Depression for a reason. If you want to get sociological about it, survivalism started out as a response to economic catastrophe. And now, with a cratering stock market, a housing meltdown that has devalued everything in sight, and skyrocketing prices for food, gas and pretty much everything else, survivalists are preparing for -- and are prepared for -- the rerun. In fact, they may be the only people in America feeling good about the prospects of a major crash.
And the interesting thing about the once-fringe movement at this moment in history is that survivalism has now gone green -- at least in theory.

Anderson Dam could fail after

major earthquake

City officials and residents downstream from Anderson Lake were not surprised to learn that Morgan Hill could flood if a major earthquake occurs on a fault that runs under the reservoir.

A new preliminary study released this week by the Santa Clara Valley Water District says the 240-foot-high dam holding back the county's largest reservoir could turn to liquid if a quake of 6.6 magnitude or higher is registered on the Calaveras fault directly beneath the lake, or a 7.2 quake occurs within a mile or two on the same fault. In such an event, the top of the dam could slump and allow water to spill over, the study says, potentially sending a 35-foot wall of water rushing to downtown Morgan Hill, flooding Gilroy, San Martin and the entire valley floor up to San Jose within a couple of hours.

District officials say that because the reservoir is currently only about 64 percent full, the risk of flooding is low.

Read More Jan 6, 2009
By Michael Moore - Staff Writer

Another reason to PREpare

Terrorism

Homeland Security Live Alert

National Terror Alert

Terrorism Recruiting Manual Discovered By West Point Researchers Worries Authorities

Posted: 23 Mar 2009 05:38 PM PDT

For months now, counterterrorism officials have seen signs that al-Qaida has been looking for new and innovative ways to recruit terrorists, including a new manual that has surfaced on the Internet.

Researchers at West Point recently stumbled on the 51-page manual while they were visiting a jihadi chat room, called Ecles. It’s a Web site that allows members to have interactive discussions, post videos and download manuals. Ecles is the second most popular jihadi chat room on the Web, and al-Qaida often posts things there. Because of that, it is a place counterterrorism analysts track regularly.

So when the West Point analysts discovered a step-by-step primer called “The Art of Recruiting Mujahedeen,” it got their attention. On one level, the manual might be an early indication that al-Qaida is trying to identify new sleeper terrorists. On the other hand, the book is so basic it seems to suggest al-Qaida is getting desperate for new members.

Brian Fishman, the head of research at West Point’s Combating Terrorism Center, says he was struck by the remedial tone of the book. At the end of a chapter, for example, there are questions to judge both the recruiter’s progress and the recruit’s.

“The recruiter himself doesn’t have to use a lot of judgment — they are simply the intermediary for the technique that is being taught in the handbook,” Fishman says.

Here’s how the manual, as translated by the CIA, suggests a recruiter build a rapport with a recruit:

“This stage lasts approximately three weeks,” it says. “You must do something important at this stage. You must identify his interests and relations with people and how he spends the whole 24 hours, meaning you study him secretly to be reassured about your choice.”

This section touches on such things as being nice to the recruit. It suggests the recruiter pretend to be his friend, perhaps even buy him small gifts. It ends with a questionnaire to assess progress. “Is the recruit anxious to see you?” it asks. You get one point for “no” and three points for “yes.” Does he accept your advice and respect your opinion? It reads a little like one of those relationship quizzes in women’s magazines. “If you have received less than 10 points, you are on the wrong path, repeat the stages from the beginning. From 10 to 18, you are on your way.”

Read Full Article At NPR

Source

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To make emergency preparedness easier by providing one place to find links to a lot of the best information on Disaster & Emergency Preparedness

Shakeout 2008 Earthquake Scenerio & Preparedness

Currently the United States is in the midst of one of the largest food recalls in American history. As Americans dig through their cabinets and refrigerators to remove potentially contaminated food associated with the recent peanut recall, FEMA would like to also remind citizens to open and check their Emergency Preparedness Kits to remove any potentially harmful items from these also. Because peanut products are often recommended as staples in Emergency Preparedness Kits due to their long shell life and because they are a good source of protein, we encourage all kit owners to look at their kits to ensure food products are not on the peanut recall list. Please keep in mind that the peanut product recall extends beyond peanut-flavored products. The following are some examples of foods also included in the recall that may contain peanuts: Granola * Snack bars * Crackers * Cereal * Trail Mix * Cookies * Noodles * Dog treats

A full list of recalled peanut products and what individuals should do with recalled items can be found on the Food and Drug Administration Web site, http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/peanutbutterrecall/index.cfm

In addition to checking for peanut-related items, please be sure to check for other items in your kit that may have expired, including medications, food and pet food, water, and other recalled items. The U.S. government provides information on unsafe, hazardous, or defective products ranging from consumer products, food, medicine, and cosmetics at www.recalls.gov . Ensuring family and neighbors are prepared is an essential step in helping communities during and after an emergency. Families should have an Emergency Preparedness Kit in all locations that are frequented often, including homes, offices, schools, cars and day care facilities. These kits should hold a variety of essential items that are needed during a disaster, such as a flashlight, radio, cash, clothing, protective equipment, medicines, and of course food and water. For a complete list of Emergency Preparedness Kit recommended items, please visit http://www.fema.gov/plan/prepare/supplykit.shtm

What to do now to Prepare

1. Practice duck, cover, and hold drills at home with your family and at work.

Injuries and deaths during earthquakes are caused by falling objects and collapsing structures. Knowing how to protect yourself when the shaking starts may save your life.

(A) Duck;

Duck under a strong table or desk.

(B) Cover;

Cover your head and face to protect them from broken glass and falling objects.

Hold onto the table or desk and be prepared to move with it. Hold your position until the shaking stops.

Do not run outside during the shaking or use the stairways or elevators. Many people are killed just outside of buildings by falling bricks and other debris.

If you are driving when the earthquake strikes, move to the shoulder of the highway and away from bridges, overpasses, power lines, and large buildings as quickly as is safe. Stay in your car and wait for the shaking to stop.

If you are riding BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit), the train typically will stop. Remain calm and follow instructions from BART staff members who have been trained to handle earthquake emergencies.

S. Bay's Magnitude 4.3 Quake

Reveals New Fault

MORGAN HILL (CBS 5) ―

CBS 5 seismograph records the Morgan Hill quake.

A moderate earthquake in Silicon Valley that shook much of the Bay Area late Monday morning occurred on a previously unknown fault, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

The magnitude 4.3 temblor occured at 10:40 a.m. and had a depth of 3.9 miles, the USGS said. It was centered 11 miles north of Morgan Hill, 12 miles east of Seven Trees, 13 miles southeast of Alum Rock and 16 miles southeast from San Jose.

Geophysicist Jack Boatwright of the USGS said the small, unmapped fault that appeared to have produced the earthquake was believed to be a "splay fault" off the Calaveras Fault, which is itself a branch off the San Andreas Fault.

The fault crosses the hills east of San Jose, an area that is difficult to map. Because the new fault is not considered a major fault, experts at the USGS did not believe Monday's quake was a precursor to a larger temblor.

There were no reports of any damage or injuries from Monday's shaking, authorities said. Bay Area Rapid Transit and San Francisco municipal transit suspended service for several minutes to do a routine after-earthquake check for damages.

Caltrain spokeswoman Christine Dunn said the quake did not cause any delays for her rail agency and all trains continued running on schedule. Dispatchers with the Morgan Hill and San Jose police departments described the quake as "short, but strong."
Click to read full story

Source http://cbs5.com/earthquake/morgan.hill.earthquake.2.971428.html

Moderate quake strikes Salton Sea

9:50 AM | March 24, 2009

Another moderate earthquake struck today near the San Andreas fault in Imperial County, seismologists said.

The magnitude 4.8 quake hit about 4:55 a.m. two miles south of Bombay Beach on the eastern shore of the Salton Sea, according to the U.S. Geological Survey website. The quake had occurred at a depth of 3.5 miles.

"The only interesting thing about this one is that it occurred at the end of the San Andreas fault," said Kate Hutton, a seismologist at Caltech. "Bombay Beach is considered the southern end of the San Andreas fault. The last swarm of earthquakes similar to this was in 2001. We're watching it closely. We'll be analyzing everything."

There have been at least 23 aftershocks, the largest a 3.1, which struck at 6:52 a.m. in the same area, Hutton said. No damage was reported in the thinly populated area.

Over the weekend, the Salton Sea was struck by 42 smaller quakes during a 48-hour period, beginning Saturday morning and tapering off early Monday. Scientist have been keeping a close watch on the region because they believe an earthquake there could set off a fault movements leading to a major earthquake that would devastate Los Angeles.

Source-- Ruben Vives

More Reasons To PREpare

Weather & PG&E

Customer Safety Call 911 for Downed Lines Your safety is our first concern. If you see a downed power line, assume it is energized and keep yourself and others away. Call 911 immediately to report the location of the downed line then call

1-800-743-5002, PG&E's 24-Hour Emergency and Customer Service Line.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's
National Weather Service

Watches, Warnings or Advisories for California

Want to talk to others who are getting prepared ?

Do you live in San Jose CA or in a near by city? Here's a line of communication to find others who are in the area and share an interest in Emergency Preparedness community wide.

Many disasters can cause you to evacute at a moments notice

Current Data Websites

USGS Latest Earthquakes

California Department of Transportation

Highway Conditions State of California

Emergency Digital Information System

NNOA National Weather Service Weather

Radio All Hazards

http://www.disastercenter.com/Alfred E.

Alquist Seismic Safety Commission

Santa Clara County FireSafe Council

Department of Water Resources National

Statewide Water Conditions

Be Prepared

Join " San Jose Prepared"

Emergencies occur occasionally and
disasters may strike at any time.

You and your family can become
more self-supporting and self-sustaining
through advance preparation and training.

For more information please contact

" San Jose Prepared"

Prepared Citizens - Prepared Communities

This network was created to promote
emergency preparedness through
awareness, education, community
involvement and partnerships between
individuals, groups and organizations.

Visit Homeland Security Response Network

Parents, teach your kids about emergency preparedness

New website just for kids www.GoBagForKids.com

www.redcross.org/

Go Green

How to Make a Solar Power Generator for less than $300

http://www.rain.org/~philfear/how2solar.html

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