Manage Debt to Minimize Emergencies

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I received a link about figuring the right amount of debt to take on for a mortgage. I thought it valuable to pass on, but no generalized advice can supplant really understanding your own situation. Banks use certain general calculations about how much to preauthorize for a loan. One builder we worked with said, “The bank won’t loan you more money than you can afford.” But that wasn’t true. We knew our expenses and how close to the edge we felt comfortable committing our reasonable resources and expectations for the future, and the bank’s pre-qualifications were above that we knew was wise for us. In the last housing bubble all kinds of ill-qualified middle-men jumped into the mortgage market and sold a lot of people on buying a home they couldn’t really afford. Not too many years later they were desperate for bail-outs, just as foolish corporations and those with ulterior plans and motives were.

Nevertheless, for what it’s worth, here’s a link to the article:

How Much Should I Spend on a House? 5 Tips to Help You Make a Decision

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.

Don’t Panic, but Prepare . . .

Food, Fuel, Finances . . . warnings of Stagflation, prices predicted to rise this winter for energy, everyday necessities, et al can cause some emotional and mental stress. It’s a good time to think about what we can do to mitigate possible difficulties.

Food

Fall is typically the time you can can/bottle/preserve/pickle . . . squirrel away supplies for the winter. What they do instinctively we can do intentionally: invite your kids to take a class in food preservation with you and have a family activity to practice the skills. You can make it fun, involve all in whatever is appropriate to skill level, have teams and a friendly competition, or as a family service project to elderly family, friends, neighbors. Consider using what you produce as Christmas/Holiday gifts.

Around the Holidays grocery stores have typically had sales on canned goods and cooking/baking supplies. It might be a good time to consider how to cleverly gather and store more–at least a 2 week supply at home, a 72 hour grab ‘n go kit (including food and water for pets) . . .

Fall is also a great time to prepare your place for gardening . . . soil enhancements that can improve over the winter, consider what to plant where and how . . . Read some fun kids books or helpful gardening books over the winter.

Fuel

For most of our urban society, storing vehicle fuel isn’t possible. But some time considering how to make the most of each trip you have to make makes sense. If you are planning to purchase a vehicle or appliances, it’s nice to give thought to energy efficiency.

In case you have to conserve household heat (or if friends, neighbors, elderly folk you know are in that situation), consider snugglies for gift giving . . . quilts, blankets, sweaters, warm wear . . . maybe moreso than usual at this time of year. You may need to give these gifts before the usual holidays. Beside improving insulation around doors and windows, you can get insulating drapes. If you need to keep just one room warm, which would be easiest to do so?

In case of energy emergencies, I think it best not to put all the eggs in one basket: have more than one kind of fuel or heat (and summer cooling), if possible. Don’t forget safety issues. Research a little online–RV or emergency solar panels and batteries, propane generators . . . all have pros and cons to be carefully weighed with your situation in mind. Probably any type of fuel will be hard to get when the time comes. Don’t wait to buy a snow shovel and ice melter until the blizzard.

Finances

Of course a budget is always essential. But this year it may more than ever need to have room for potential difficulties. Don’t count on the rest of the year to pay off holiday gift giving. A greater gift to the family is sound finances and saving for rainy/snowy/stormy days ahead. If it turns out it’s not needed after all, what a bonus! It’s a good time to discuss these things as a family and help to prepare the growing generation for grown-up responsibilities.

Skills

We are losing the generation that lived through The Great Depression, but I hope your family has some stories about how the survived the financial hardships they faced. I think it’s worth learning something about the way they solved problems or accomplished things without so many “power” tools (I mean in a wider sense). How did they make the most of limited resources–food, fuel, finances . . . ? It’s a great time to encourage creativity, engineering, problem solving . . .

If you missed the Date, it’s not too Late!

If you missed this year’s ShakeOut, you can still practice on your own, with family, and co-workers or at school–pretend practice anywhere, by looking around and imagining what would happen in an earthquake: wherever you are at (the store, the doctor’s office, on the street . . .), and how you could best respond. Even taking the time to think about it will help you have something to draw on in an emergency. Some valuable info I received and am passing on:

ShakeOut.org/resources for more information.

– Schools
– Colleges
– Businesses
– Non Profits and Other Organizations
– Government Agencies and Facilities 
– Options for Government Agency Participation and Outreach
– Healthcare

From the Earthquake Country Alliance:

Click to access ECA_Seven_Steps_Earthquake_Safety-EN.pdf

Here’s a helpful series of videos, including for those with various disabilities:

YouTube channel:

https://www.youtube.com/c/ShakeOutOrg2008

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

Get Your Game On!

I was disencumbering my life and came across an interesting issue of Reader’s Digest while considering what to write for my November post on preparing for emergencies. The issue was from October 2009, and page 106 reads “Anatomy of a Pandemic”. It’s about the swine flu: what the nation was dealing with at the time.

The cover of the magazine announces in bold yellow, “How to Survive Anything!” and suggests: a robbery, a traffic jam, an insane canine, a nasty boss, bad credit, a scary plane ride. If only that was the entire list of things to learn to survive! I tried to find the article at readersdigest.com. I didn’t find it, but then apparently there are 625 pages listing articles about surviving various experiences:

https://www.rd.com/?s=how+to+survive+anything

Lest all this is overwhelming, I have been following the Washington Emergency Management “Prepare in a Year” (one hour a month). See

https://mil.wa.gov/asset/5f171cc0a935f

Month #11 offers another scenario to prepare for: “For various reasons, the air could become contaminated, such as volcanic eruption, chemical accident, human offensive . . . Your house provides a good first barrier to hazards in the air.” 

It may seem like we’ve already been Sheltering in Place, or in Lockdown, for months, and what else could happen this year! But disasters don’t generally consult with one another, or with us, about convenience and taking turns, leaving a suitable break between.

“Even more protection can be afforded [against airborne poisons] by tightly sealing one pre-chosen and prepared room of your home.  You will probably need to stay inside several hours, but not several days.  A master bedroom with an attached bathroom is ideal to give you access to the toilet and running water.”

Pre-cut plastic to fit all windows in the room you have chosen, vents, and doors (label each piece), and have plenty of cloth or duct tape to tightly seal the plastic over the windows etc.  Create a box or container to hold the plastic and tape, beside a battery-powered AM/FM radio, extra batteries, snack foods, water, some games/activities to pass the time, towels and blankets.  Have this ready and explain your preparations to young children without filling them full of fears.

And here is where you can really make it fun: come up with some compact games to put in your emergency kit(s):

—paper games: tic tac toe, hangman (or a version thereof), dots and boxes, paper “fortune teller”, unscramble a word or find as many words from one long word as you can, fold a paper so each person draws just a part of an alien animal or robot, mazes, color by number, dot to dot, pictionary, a version of battleship or Scattergories…for more ideas Google “paper games for kids”

—action games: charades, role-play a favorite story, I spy, telephone, hot potato, relays (be creative in limited space), pantomimes, shadow play, Jenga/blocks, Twister…

—board games/card games: Uno, Concentration, checkers, Scrabble or Bananagrams, Clue, Monopoly, Candyland, Chutes and Ladders, Mancala, Ticket to Ride, Huggermugger, Apples to Apples, Yahtzee . . . travel versions are usually more compact–whatever your family favorites are.

—a list or draw bag for favorite songs, storytelling, 20 questions, and other activity ideasto stave off boredom and anxiety…

—photo albums and books already in the room can help young children cope through distraction, feel a sense of security and belonging as you calmly talk about the photos or stories, and jog your memory of more stories to tell.

I included a picture of an article from Reader’s Digest about getting creative with Peanut Butter sandwiches. If your family likes sandwiches, you can have a sandwich makings bag/box in the frig for everyday use, as well as to grab and go or shelter in place. For ideas, Google “peanut butter sandwich ideas”. If peanut butter is not your thing, you can go crackers in sealed packaging, canned fish/poultry/meat, pretzels and the like, snack mix, energy bars and/or drinks (if you don’t have to watch the calories), chips packaged for an individual, etc.

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!”

Practice Makes Perfect, or at Least Prepared

When you watch a disaster movie, what do people usually do when an earthquake occurs?  Why do they run, when they should “Drop, Cover, Hold”?  What happens to them? (falling objects cause injury and death)   “Studies show that in an earthquake more people in our country are hurt from falling objects than collapsing buildings. The panic instinct to flee is strong.  Practice helps your reason to respond instead of the fight/flight instinct..”

Here’s a fun little family activity to practice, I call it “Progressive Prep”.

-Start in the living room.  Someone call out “Earthquake—Drop, Cover, Hold!”.  Everyone races to safe cover (kneeling head down under a sturdy desk, table, etc), cover back of neck/head with one arm, close your eyes, hold on to a table leg in case it moves.   Move to each room in the house and practice the same, so that everyone knows just what to do no matter which room they are in, if an earthquake strikes.

-optional additional game:  Jenga, blocks, or dominoes—build them up, shake them down

–treat:  Jello Jigglers

“International ShakeOut Day is always the third Thursday of October (this year: October 15). While COVID-19 has brought many uncertainties and challenges, one thing’s for sure: ShakeOut is still happening this year!

“As always, you can hold your #ShakeOut drill when and where you want. You can choose another date or several dates, and include people in multiple locations (home, work, or school), perhaps through video conferencing.

“It’s actually a good idea to practice earthquake safety in different situations each year, and ShakeOut Organizers are here to support you.”

For More Information: https://www.shakeout.org/washington/