Firing Up The Grill

     For President's Day I wanted to cook bacon and a steak on the charcoal grill.  I had two forms of fuel I wanted to try:  canned fuel, and old chestnuts & packing materials I had kept and thought to burn.  If you note the date, I used the grill on Saturday, because Monday was forecast to be very rainy.

I put the canned fuel in the charcoal grill so it would be at a height a person in a wheelchair (myself) could reach, also so that it could be in a controlled situation for safety.  I tried some old matchbook matches and some little strike-on-the-box matches I'd been given.  I got them to work, but I think an easier means to light the can would be the long matches I have.  Yet I'm too frugal to just toss out the old matches.  

It all worked alright for cooking the bacon, though I found you can't just leave it to cook . . . it would burn the middle and not cook the rest:  I had the bacon laid out on a piece of foil (for easy dish duty/disposal).  It just takes keeping an eye on it and moving the bacon around to cook more evenly.  When you're done cooking you put the lid back on the can to use the rest of the fuel another day.  Be careful taking the hot bacon grease off the grill.  I adjusted the shape of the foil to remove it more safely.

Of course I could have cooked the steak over the canned heat, but I thought it not the best method . . . I didn't want to just burn a hole through the middle of my steak.  And, I had these old inedible chestnuts I'd been given, as well as packing material I'd saved for fire building.  I had old charcoals leftover in the grill, so I put them in the cardboard packing along with the chestnuts.

I crumpled up packing paper I'd saved, and ended up pouring the bacon grease from the canned heat experiment to be absorbed by the cardboard.  The grill helps a bit with controlling the paper ashes from flying all over.

A little smokey, but the steak came out very well. I was a little impatient to wait for the coals to really heat optimally. I had covered the grill with the lid to maximize the heat, and set the air intake and outlets fully open.

When my food was finished, I covered the grill with its lid and closed all the venting so the fire would die from lack of oxygen, thinking to preserve whatever might be left of the charcoals for another time.

Thus, taking the time to experiment with various options helps prepare for when we might have to adjust to what's available.  It's the practice with problem solving that is most useful.

Emergency Camp #3

Preparation . . . Problem solving . . . Adaptability . . . and Providence!

On a trip for my Travel blog https://www.travelpacificnw.com/destinations-in-the-pacific-northwest.html a little predicament of sorts became another Emergency Practice Camp, quite literally.

I was in Forks WA when I recognized that my body just could not make the drive home that day. Additionally, my cell phone battery died because of all the photos I’d been taking. Two problems. I had just enough battery to call a hotel, and found that not only was that hotel totally booked for the night, so probably were all the hotels in Forks. The only suggestion was Port Angeles . . . that just wasn’t going to work.

Problem #1: seemed insurmountable

Problem #2: two cell charger systems I had tried for my trips just hadn’t been successful, and the cigarette lighter plug-in the car was broken long ago. Problem not yet solved. I did consider going to an eating establishment or other business hoping to find an outlet I could use, but my body just wasn’t up for taking that chance.

I had not made it to Rialto Beach, which I had been told had an accessible platform from which to see the ocean, and against my own reason, I seemed to be impelled to go out there. How could anything be solved by going out there? But, I just headed out and kept going. I came to Mora Campground, and was gratified to find the rangers were still there (as I thought it was past hours). I posed my problems, and they said I could charge my phone in the restroom, and they found a campsite I could stay. I glibly said I could car camp–I knew I had another set of clothes, food, and other necessaries for travel. I was so grateful! Two problems Providentially solved!

Problem #3: my daughter was expecting me home that night, so I tried to send a message, but I had no cell service. This has been a problem on more than one trip to the coast. More than one person has suggested using Verizon instead of T-mobile. Right now I’m on a family plan, but I still hope some day to make the switch. In the meantime, the camp hostess told me that behind the Forks public library is WiFi access. I’d just have to wait until the next day for the message to send. Problem on hold ’til then. No choice but to adapt.

Problem 4: the meat stick and cheese snack I had eaten earlier was feeling fiercely fiery. However, I was prepared with pills to calm the heartburn (Tums in both in my car and in my purse). Problem solved by preparation.

Problem #5: dinner. I had a can of clam chowder I brought for my trip. I was about to eat it from the can. Then I thought, “But I have emergency stuff in my car, including a little camp stove and a canister of propane, as well as several fire starters! Now I get a chance to use them!” Preparation, right? Well, not quite. As I struggled with the back hatch and searching for said items, I knew where the stove and propane were right away. But I could not find the matches, it was getting too dark to see, and I needed a helper to look further. OK, time to adapt again: I ate the clam chowder from the can, and it wasn’t bad. I’m going to put a box of matches in a baggie (vs damp air), in my glove compartment where it’s easy to reach.

Problem #6: sleeping in the car. I knew from previous experience I would not be able to sleep in the front bucket seats. I got out pillows and blankets (while searching for matches in the back), and made up a bed on the middle seat of my mini-van. It was actually quite comfortable, even though it was short. Problem solved by preparation.

Problem #7: I had only come with enough pills for the planned days of the trip. I hoped I could manage the night without my diabetes pill (especially after indulging in clam chowder), and gabapentin for the pain. I did have Ibuprofen in my purse and packed for the trip, which I took 2 or 3 times in the night. But I only got 2 hours sleep. Next time, I’ll come with a full complement of meds.

My rear did get rested, at least–and I was able to get to Rialto Beach for a stunning sunset from the fabulous accessible platform. With my cell phone charged I continued picture taking at La Push, Forks (a terrific family and community friendly park), 2 or 3 places along the way, but mostly, I just needed to get home. And when I got home, as quickly as I could take care of minimal details after traveling for a week, I went to bed, and slept soundly all evening and through the night.

Despite challenges, it was a great trip–I got to see and do and accomplish a lot. I got a chance to test my emergency preparedness, get ideas for improvement, and feel some success at preparation, problem solving, and adaptability! Yes, I feel blessed.

Collaboration and Cooperation

Teamwork!

• 

• 

I thought the above little card (front and back) was so valuable for emergencies, as well as everyday success. I couldn’t say it better, summarize, or paraphrase. No intent to plagarize, so thought photos would show where I got the ideas.

And a Happy New Year!

Disasters aren’t Fun, but preparing for them can be! And being prepared is a lot happier than not.

Washington state has a Prepare in a Year–one hour a month plan that I’ve been following and suggesting fun games to involve the family without filling children with fears–empowering all to consider emergencies as adventures rather than dark dooms. https://mil.wa.gov/preparedness

Once your family is prepared, review your plans and preparations each year–month by month:

1. Brainstorm or review what emergencies might happen and what to do–play charades or each person draw a picture or make a poster about a possible emergency (everything from getting lost in the store, losing the car keys, or kitchen fire, to an earthquake or terrorist attack). You can find activity books and coloring pages online. I’ll include links at the bottom of this page.
2. Update contact information: daycare/schools/work, 911, out of area contact, family phones/emails (including extended family, trusted friends/neighbors). Play “Who ya gonna Call?” (pull emergencies out of a bag one by one, and everyone, or teams, yell out who you would call/contact for help), or “Who do you know?” (using a map you can play a game like Scattergories, listing people you know in each city or state and their contact info; for young children have pictures of relatives/friends that live in different areas or states so they can place the pictures–with contact info on the backs–on the map).
3. Renew your family emergency water supply. Use the old water to water the garden, wash the dog or car, or for a family water fight. Review how to create clean water, using filters & drops of bleach at home, boiling and distillation at home, on a hike, or vehicle breakdown in a remote location (including the desert or seaside). Have a friendly little competition of cleaning up quarts of dirty water, or create a family/neigborhood science fair on emergency sources/methods of clean water.
4. Review and renew your Grab & Go/72-hour kit. If possible, have a 2 week supply of necessities (including TP/cleaning supplies, meds, and pet care) for your family, in case you can’t get to the store, at least 3 days’ supplies in a kit if you have to evacuate. Make it a Scavenger hunt (at home or at the store) to find/replace expired items. Red Cross, Ready.gov, etc have lists of supplies to have on hand. Stage a family 72-hour emergency camp, pretending there’s no public electricity and/or water. You can stage your camp in the living/family room, backyard, or your favorite vacation site. Each person can have an emergency backpack and teens and up can have a friendly competition over who is best prepared to live for 3 days with just their backpack items.
5. Update family photos and copies of important documents. Along with contact info, each family member should have a recent family photo. This can be soothing for children, as well as help find separted loved ones. In fact, young ones could have a small photo “album” of the family having fun, making memories. You can divide into teams to take photos and collect copies of documents. Young children can choose family & friend photos they want to keep in their little emergency albums. Include extended family, trusted contacts/friends/neighbors. Put family photo & contact info in each family member’s emergency backpack/duffle bag as well as a family Grab & Go/72-hour kit.
6. Survey your family’s preparation for an extended emergency. For an extended event, consider  Lighting (light sticks, flashlights, batteries), Cooking (camp stoves, BBQ/charcoal, sterno, matches, etc; as well as disposable dishes you don’t have to use up water to wash), Shelter (tent/tarp/rope or cords, rain gear, sleeping bags, mylar/other blankets).  Frig/Freezer keep closed; if off several days:  if in doubt, throw food out.  Sanitation (heavy duty bags to line empty toilet/bucket/camp toilet, disinfectant, TP), Pets (water; google long lasting treats), Emergency Info (radio, batteries, cell charger). Again, you could stage a family emergency campout, in-house, backyard, or favorite campsite/vacation. You can include such friendly competitions as firestarting, camp cooking, putting up/taking down a tent. You can stage a quiz show on camp/emergency safety, such as Jeopardy, or play a game like Concentration or Bingo. Pictures for Concentration or Bingo can be actual photos of emergency supplies your family has, your own/family member drawings, or clipart/drawings you can find online.
7. Disaster can strike day or night.  It may be hard to think clearly and quickly.  “The more procedures you have in place, and the easier they are to remember and implement, the more effective and efficient will be your response.”  Get a box or bin that will fit under the bed, add critical items for day or night emergency evacuation, such as head/foot/hand protection from broken glass & falling obects, simple change of clothes, bottle of water & a prepackaged snack, light source, small pack disinfectant wipes. You can play a dress-up relay or fashion show of emergency items to have in a convenient bin under the bed. Take pictures for a slide show or make a little video for fun to share with family/friends, or just to enjoy watching as a family with popcorn or emergency foods.
8. Review how to shut of electricity, water, and gas in an emergency. It’s a gas, safe at last:  “Natural gas leaks and explosions are responsible for a significant number of fires following any major earthquake” But, shut off gas immediately only if you smell it .. . Hear a hissing sound . . . Or meter dials are spinning more than usual. That’s a turn-off:  “Water quickly becomes a precious resource following many disasters.”  Cracked lines can pollute your house water, gravity may drain your water and toilet tanks unless you trap it by shutting off the main house valve (not the one at the street). Shocking!  All responsible members of a household should know where the fuse box is, how to safely turn off/on power when needed. Game:  Power Down Relay:  time relay teams pretending to shut of gas, water,  and electricity.
9. Earthquake safety. Each year an international ShakeOut is held in October. Get ready for it by finding the safest way and place to find cover in each room of your home. Drill Bits activity:  go from room to room in your house and choose the safest place to Drop/Cover/Hold.  While in each room, you can have the youngest elementary school child be the leader (or take turns being leader/demonstrator) and show how to Drop/Cover/Hold, then call out “Earthquake”, and everyone quickly practice the earthquake drill. Elderly Alternate:  choose where you would be safest in each room (such as in an inside doorway)—one hold the doorway (brace yourself), the other hold your honey, heads down, close eyes. https://www.shakeout.org/
10. Practice Fire Safety. Take time to review your home fire escape plan, check your fire extinguisher, pantomime practice using the fire extinguisher, how to put out stove and oven fires (Don’t put water on an oil fire!  Smother a stove top fire with a lid, if you can.  Salt one in the oven, if safe).  Fires can get quickly out of control, get you and everyone out of the house and  far away; immediately call 911.  Teach kids to use 911 responsibly and not to play with fire/matches.  Practice/review putting out a campfire, how to keep a campfire under control. What to do in a wildfire situation? Where will you meet when evacuating your home, either for a house fire or a wildfire?
11. Practice Shelter in Place--A disaster may pollute the air. Your home is a good first barrier.  Prepare to seal off one room in your home for added protection. If in your car, roll up windows, shut off motor etc. to avoid drawing in outside air.  Breathe through a damp cloth. Brainstorm & collect fun games you can play while sheltering in place. If you have electricity or electronics in your shelter, that is one idea (family movie day or night), for others, see https://emergencyprepideasoptions.wordpress.com/2020/11/
12. As a family, complete a home safety inspection yearly. Put on a labcoat or suit-able Inspector HaZard costume, complete with clipboard and check-off list: Are your water heater, furniture (ie bookcases, etc), media, computers, large and small appliances, china, hanging plants or chandeliers, mirrors, artwork, secured to studs and so they won’t go swinging into windows?  Are your gas and water lines flexible enough to withstand the rockin’ & rollin’ of mother earth?  Inspect your foundation, roof, and chimney for secure fastening, no loose bricks, etc.  Make sure poisons, toxics, solvents, are not in breakable containers and susceptible locations for crash landings. Alternately, with young or older children you can walk through your home imagining what would happen in an earthquake and placing a sticky note on everything that could fall or cause a hazard. 

Emergency Prep Activity Books and Coloring pages for kids:

https://preparednessmama.com/preparedness-coloring-books/

https://www.kingcounty.gov/depts/health/emergency-preparedness/preparing-yourself/comics.aspx

https://www.oglecounty.org/departments/sheriff/emergency_management/emergency_management_for_kids/disaster_supply_kit.php

https://www.beready.af.mil/Kids/

https://www.cdc.gov/childrenindisasters/helping-children-cope.html

https://www.ready.marines.mil/Ready-Marine-Corps-Kids/Fun-Activities/

You can Google “emergency preparedness activity and coloring pages for kids” and you can find more on Pinterest.

Best Wishes for a Brighter and Better New Year, and always! ST

Click to access ShakeOut_P3_DisasterSuppliesKit.pdf

Spooky Spectres!

We’ve faced some pretty scary stuff this year . . . Have we learned anything?

Who knows what tomorrow will bring–time for a fall-back plan!

From COVID-19–did we learn to have some supplies on hand so we don’t have to panic if we can’t get to the store tomorrow? Got a little extra TP? Are we ready, if need be, to “shelter in place”?

From wildfires–does everyone in the family know what to do if there’s a small fire in the kitchen, a big fire in the house (escape plan and a meeting place), if we have to evacuate? Do we have a grab-n-go kit so we don’t have to spend time finding a change of clothes, a bottle of water and snacks, and copies of important papers?

From civil unrest–do the members of our family have problem-solving skills, conflict resolution skills, do we all practice respect for others (even those with different ideas, opinions, experiences, perspectives)? Do we really pledge allegiance to the ideals of Liberty and Justice for all? Of course that might look different through different eyes, but if we have people skills and respect for one another, we can work for solutions.

“A word to the wise ought to be sufficient”, my dad used to say. Let us be Wise!

Family Fun: “We Can with a Plan! Escape a Fiery Destruction”

-Take the measure of each room in your home, and draw up a rough sketch of your home plan (optional:  use grid paper).  For young children, you should do this before meeting with the children.  Indicate where the windows and doors are in each room.  Plan a fire escape from each room.  Think about what you would need to grab and go, put it by/under the bed.  Practice.

-Resources:

http://www.burninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/BI-escape-plan.swf

http://www.nfpa.org/public-education/by-topic/safety-in-the-home/escape-planning/basic-fire-escape-planning

Click to access m4340079_FireEscapePlanningFactSheet.pdf

http://www.redcross.org/news/article/A-Home-Fire-Escape-Plan-Can-Save-Your-Life

https://www.usfa.fema.gov/prevention/outreach/escape.html

–treat:  make a campfire treat, such as one of these 25:   http://www.countryliving.com/food-drinks/g2444/campfire-recipes/?

-song:  “Mrs. O’Leary’s Cow”: “Late last night, when I was safe in bed; Ms. O’Leary left the lantern in the shed; And when the cow kicked it over, she winked one eye and said, ‘There’ll be a hot time in the old town tonight.’  Fire! Fire! Fire!”

Before All Else Fails, Follow the Directions!

Photo by Oladimeji Ajegbile on Pexels.com

Great Courses has a couple lecture series on preparing for Disasters, you can watch a trailer and look at the contents:

• When Everything Fails:  Surviving Any Disaster, by Stephen Owen PhD, 14 half-hour lectures:  https://www.thegreatcoursesplus.com/when-everything-fails-surviving-any-disaster
•  Survival Mentality:  The Psychology of Staying Alive by Nancy Zarse PsyD, 12 half-hour lectures, the last two titles I think look especially important at present . . .      #11 Resilience in the Aftermath of Trauma, and #12 We Survive Together: The Power of Community.  https://www.thegreatcoursesplus.com/survival-mentality-the-psychology-of-staying-alive

Since emergencies don’t always happen at the most convenient times, an under-the-bed stash of a few things is recommended (like something to protect your feet etc if things have crashed on the floor).  Here’s a game for a fun family activity:

-Introduce the idea that if an emergency happens, you may not be able to think as quickly and clearly as you would like or need.  Having things ready and easily accessible, as well as practicing, will make the experience less traumatic for all.  Emergencies don’t always happen in daylight hours, so it is recommended having a few things under the bed . . .

-Play “Ready Relay”:  For each bedroom in the house, have an under-the-bed bin with:  sturdy shoes and work gloves (in case of broken glass, etc.), hard hat/helmet to protect against things falling, flashlight/light sticks, We’re OK/Need Help signs, tape or band-aids to put the signs in the front window.  Occupants of each bedroom are a team.  Set the bins at one end of the room or house.  At the blow of a whistle, one person from each team puts on the shoes, gloves, and hat.; Takes the light, sign, and tape/bandaids, runs to put the sign in the front window, and returns to teammate(s).  Teammate takes over shoes, gloves, hat, and light, runs to retrieve the sign from the window, and puts all back in the bin.  At the end of the game, put the bins under the beds in the bedrooms.

-options to add to under bed emergency bins:  binder/folder/manila envelope with important docs; water bottle, snack or meal replacement bar or can; small 1st aid kit, sewing kit, TP, hand sanitizer, whistle, small notebook & pen; pair of sox, undies, sweatshirt and pants; bag or backpack to carry all and a couple plastic shopping bags for garbage or whatever.

–treat:  your family favorite lite delights, or, find something fun at http://www.kraftrecipes.com/recipes/beverages/kool-aid-recipes

Just relaying the ideas, hope they are helpful–ST

Alarm, or Wake-Up Call?

Photo by Black ice on Pexels.com

Not sure the last time I heard the announcement we were so used to, “This is a test of the Emergency Broadcasting System”.  It began with a dreadful blaaaa sound, and was such an irritating nuisance!

Now we have been forced to test our Emergency Response system.  It’s a nuisance, uncomfortable, inconvenient.  Whether it will reach the widespread alarming proportions of the Flu Epidemic of 1918, we don’t know.  We hope that the measures taken will halt it long before that.  But we can see that some have already panicked, or become greedy, just as when the Great Depression (and other “Panics”) hit, which makes the whole experience worse.

Last month I posted an emergency consideration, “For the Long Haul” . . . because we never know what’s around the bend, over the horizon or hill, or how long it will last.  I didn’t know then that we would have a viral outbreak that would close down schools for 6 weeks, cancel events, cause quarantine concerns  . . . Just hope it doesn’t shut us down completely, with the attendant financial disaster.

Saturday I happened to need milk and a few things.  The photos above were taken at the store.  As I was finishing my shopping they were restocking, but I overheard one employee telling another that earlier there had been a long, long line of people outside the store anxious to stock up.

I was glad I already have some shelf-stable cartons and cans of milk, and dried milk if absolutely necessary, along with other options for eating:  bottled and frozen fruits from my garden, extra canned goods, water, extra eggs and cheese in the frig, etc.  I’m hoping that when this is all over, people won’t fall right back into complacency and wait for the next emergency to run out and clean out the shelves of the stores (or cause riots) because they didn’t see any reason to try to keep something on hand for possible emergencies.

I hope we will discuss with our families  how we could have been better prepared for this emergency, and take steps to remedy anything we may have overlooked or that overtook us unexpectedly.  I don’t think we can expect an emergency to not be inconvenient and uncomfortable, but I think we can even out the spikes of anxiety.  I hope we will try to

• keep at least 3 days of necessities on hand
• consider being prepared enough to live 2 weeks without having to go to the store
• keep a roll of TP and a container of disinfectant wipes in the car for using public restrooms–not just during viral epidemics, but for anytime.

A night or two previous to going to the store I happened to watch an old Sherlock Holmes episode, “The Case of the Perfect Crime”.  Watson becomes more and more alarmed as he sees more and more evidence that Sherlock is the perpetrator of a criminal spree stealing the most valuable and the most sensitive items of the Realm.  As it turns out, Sherlock was acting under instruction from the highest authorities to test their protective and crime solving systems.  The authorities had their eyes opened, and they took steps to resolve and strengthen weak areas of their security systems.

Before I conclude this post, I’d like to say a word about allaying the fears of our children, youth, elders, and those with intellectual or emotional disabilities.  Over and over again I have been irritated by characters in stories/films that try to soothe their children by promising things they have no right to promise.  “I promise I’ll be back . . .” they might say, or, “You’re going to be ok,” they tell a dying person.  It’s a cop-out, because they don’t want to speak truthfully and realistically.

I’m not saying we shouldn’t reassure the fearful.  But how does it help to lie to them?  It leaves them feeling betrayed if the promise doesn’t come through.

I’m suggesting that we tell those immobilized by fear something like, “It’s very important that we follow the instructions we’re given, so we can fight this and not let it crush us,” in a reassuring tone.  If the worst happens, we know we have done our best.  If the worst doesn’t happen, we still know that we did all we could and don’t have to be filled with regrets.  Bad things do happen in life, and sometimes we suffer.  But we can choose to be better for them, to take the positives from the experience.  If a loved one dies, we can rejoice that we knew them, think about how they have enriched our lives and made the world better for having been here.  We can also try to live so people will feel that way about us.

3 Days of Fun vs Frantic Fiasco

Overwhelmed with the idea of putting together a 72-hour (3 day) emergency supply/kit?  You don’t have to go out and buy it all in a maniac shopping spree–you may already have much of what you need around the house.  Here’s a fun way to put it together:

-Brainstorm a list of things your family would need to live for 3 days without  running water and electricity.  Divide the list among the members of the family—by teams, if you wish.  Opt. get in football formation/huddle, come up with strategic plays, and pass off the list, or plan with your team

—Scavenger Hunt: get items on your lists around the house, bring them back to one location.  Pack it all in something(s) for quick evacuation (such as backpacks each family member can carry, a duffle bag or two, wheeled cooler or shopping basket, wagon, for instance–remember, you have to be able to carry it, if you need to evacuate.  Some things may be kept in the car). If you need to, make a shopping list of things you are missing—you may spread the list over several months if needed.

—Bonus:  plan a 72-hour “camp out” in the living room or back yard  each summer and winter (like during school breaks), to rotate supplies, and see how well you planned—pretend there’s no running water or electricity.  How will you entertain yourself?  Practice on a 3-day weekend.  Keep it fun and light-hearted.  Young kids will likely find it all fun.  Older kids can build bonds and things to laugh about in years to come.  When your family has had experience, if a disaster occurs it will be so much less stressful and traumatic.

-treat:  if weather is nice, backyard BBQ; if weather is bad, do the “Can Can” (eat only what doesn’t have to be refrigerated or cooked: canned meats, fruits, vegetables, canned juices or meals, high energy foods such as PB, granola bars, trail mix, fortified cereals, jerky, “comfort foods”—crackers, hard candy, etc.—meal replacement drinks can help supply needed liquids as well as nutrition)

-game option for young children:  Play Noah’s Ark—load up a pretend Ark (couch, cushions, box, blanket on the floor, or whatever) with all the stuffed animals in the house.  What foods would they need?  What sounds do they make?  Make the sounds, animal by animal.  Pretend to be in a storm, and everyone is tossed from side to side (you may pretend some get seasick).  Pretend the sun has come out, and what a relief it is . . .  Retell/re-enact the story in a lively and fun way.  Google “Noah’s ark songs for children” for musical ideas.

-treat options for Noah’s Ark activity:  make pretend animal chow for each animal (each child chooses an animal to pretend to be, or take turns being different animals for a multi-course meal).  Find creative foods to pretend for each animal to eat.  Different kinds of cold cereal or cold cereal/cracker mixes is one idea.  Alternatively, carnivores might eat tacos/burritos, chili, burgers or hot dogs, shredded pork, meat kabobs or chunks, etc.  Plant eaters might have fruit salad (or individual fruits), a veggie plate or salad . . . pretend you are zoo keepers:  what will you feed each of the animals?

Who ya gonna call?

 

When an emergency happens, you need to know who to call.  Sometimes local lines might be jammed, so your family needs to choose an out-of-area contact that everyone can call to stay in touch (texting is even better).  Type the contact information for this person and give everyone in the family a copy for their purse/wallet/backpack/vehicle.  You may want to give school or work this emergency information.

Everyone needs to know how and when to call 911, parents and alternate adults, and schools/workplaces where people in the family might be when something happens.

Game #1:  Brainstorm emergencies that might happen, and write them on small slips of paper (such as, “You are lost …”, “An earthquake occurs …”, “There’s a fire …”,  “Someone is choking/had a heart attack/stroke …”, etc.)  Put the slips of paper in a bag or bowl.  Take turns pulling the slips out. Read each slip.  After each slip, everyone calls out together, “Who ya gonna call?!”  The person or team that pulled out the slip gives the appropriate answer.

Game #2:  “Who do you know … (that lives here)?”  Get a map or puzzle of the US, or your state/area.  Similar to playing Scattergories (rules for play on wikipedia.org), each person or team tries to list everyone they know that lives in each state/place (choose the places alphabetically, pulled from a bag/bowl, or toss a die/poker chip/coin onto the map).

Treat:  Call and exchange recipes with someone you know who lives far away.  Or get creative in the kitchen and craft food telephones by teams.

Shake, Shake, Shake!

http://clipart-library.com/clipart/56495.htm

Don’t Forget!  International ShakeOut earthquake drill 10/17 at 10:17am, I think.

Millions will participate in #ShakeOut on October 17 (though you can hold a drill any day of the year too). By now, your ShakeOut plans may be set… or you might need a little help – it’s okay! The ShakeOut Resources Page has many ways you can enhance your drill for wherever you, your friends, and co-workers may live, work, and play. Take advantage of a drill manual, share one of the preparedness guides for where you live or work, and download the drill broadcast videos to have ready for your ShakeOut drill!

What you do can help you become a Washington #ShakeOut Champion! You can survive the big one IF you get prepared. Visit mil.wa.gov/shakeout to learn more and to enter the 2019 Youth Video Contest (cash prize of up to $1,500), courtesy of the Cascadia Region Earthquake Workgroup.

Remember too that September is always National Preparedness Month. Be sure to involve people of all ages and backgrounds, think about all the hazards that can affect you, and ultimately: take action BEFORE the next disaster strikes. Be prepared, not scared.