The Times-Picayune, which did such heroic coverage during and after Katrina, solicited these ideas from readers in 2006 and printed them weekly during hurricane season. In June of 2007, the paper reprinted “a comprehensive selection”, calling it the ”ultimate insiders guide to evacuee readiness. Enjoy and prepare.” The list is so interesting, because it reflects the real-life experiences of disaster survivors.

Though you may not agree with all of the ideas suggested and some are area specific, I think you will find it worth reading through this collection as a resource, an example of citizen resilience and even, yes, how humor is necessary in the face of crisis. The article is also an example of the huge potential the media has to spur citizen preparedness if it focused more on the topic.

The approximately 75 submissions have been divided by the author James O’Byrne into categories, including: On The Road Again, Kids And Pets, Staying Behind, Guest Relations, Take This Job And Leave It, Precious Papers Important Photos, Food For Thought, Potty Time, & The Big Picture. The tips range from ”Take blank checks, internet passwords, copies of bills, long distance phone card, walkie talkies” and “Apply for a gas credit card” to “Perfume. No showers for 10 days. We stunk so bad” and “Keep nice with your Dallas relative with the big house.”

Below are a couple of representative e-mails that will give you a sense of these survivor tips:

I always prided myself in being super organized before Katrina. In the safe-deposit box at the bank, I had placed the original savings bonds I was using to finance my sons’ college education, a video of my home’s contents and negatives of both my sons’ first days of life. My home in Lakewood South had 6½ feet of water. The lobby of the bank in Lakeview flooded, too!

Only copies of important papers are kept in the safe-deposit box now. I personally keep all original documents in a small fireproof box that is portable and will go wherever I go. In that box, too, is a stash of cash (proved to be very valuable last year) as well as my “password list” containing all necessary info to manage bills and finances online.

Videos of my sons have now been transferred to DVDs. They’re in plastic bags that are stored in the bottom of my Rubbermaid container that also will go with me. Digital pictures of my new home replace the home video. (After a catastrophic loss, the insurance companies want only pictures, I have learned.) I have my “Katrina Book” that also will go with me this year — inside is every important phone number, registration number, etc., which are critical for life after a storm.

CHERYL LITWIN,
New Orleans

What worked for us? Nothing. What would I do differently? I shall start listing:
Do not watch the news anywhere around your kids. Ever.
Do not leave ANY pet behind thinking you will only be gone for two days.
Know how to text message if the cell phones are no longer working.
Have an emergency account set up with a NATIONAL bank so when you cannot access money from your local bank there is a back-up fund.
Bring more than a few days worth of clothes.
Bring a copy of children’s shot records.
Know what “teaching methods” are taught in your school (yes, I was asked that question several times!).
Every year when getting your pets vaccinated, get a copy of updates to bring while evacuating.
Let people who want to take care of you and love you do just that. This is not boot camp or a pride parade. Let others help.
Bring pictures of items in your home for your insurance claim.
Bring needed medications.
Bring some wine.
Tell your family and friends where you are going and work out a “contact person” on the outside who can give your information to worried friends and family.
Never depend on the government. If it looks like a storm is coming and Bob Breck and Margaret Orr are a little stressed — GET OUT.
Brush up on some of those prayers your momma taught you. And just know we have been through the worst. It can never get as bad as it did. We are a strong people.

CLAIRE KOCH,
New Orleans

The entire article with all the tips/lessons learned can be found here.

On the IRS website, the agency posted “Four Tips on Preparing for a Disaster”:

Recordkeeping — Take advantage of paperless recordkeeping for financial and tax records. Many people receive bank statements and documents by e-mail. This method is an outstanding way to secure financial records. Important tax records such as W-2s, tax returns and other paper documents can be scanned onto an electronic format. You can copy them onto a ‘key’ or ‘jump drive’ periodically and then keep the electronic records in a safe place.

Document Valuables — The IRS has disaster loss workbooks for individuals that can help you compile a room-by-room list of your belongings. One option is to photograph or videotape the contents of your home, especially items of greater value. You should store the photos in a safe place away from the geographic area at risk. This will help you recall and prove the market value of items for insurance and casualty loss claims.

Update Emergency Plans — Emergency plans should be reviewed annually. Individual taxpayers should make sure they are saving documents everybody should keep including such things as W-2s, home closing statements and insurance records. Make sure you have a means of receiving severe weather information; if you have a NOAA Weather Radio, put fresh batteries in it. Make sure you know what you should do if threatening weather approaches.

Count on the IRS – In the event of a disaster, the IRS stands ready to help. The IRS has valuable information you can request if your records are destroyed. If you have been impacted by a federally declared disaster, you may receive copies or transcripts of previously filed tax returns free of charge by submitting Form 4506, Request for Copy of Tax Return, or Form 4506-T, Request for Transcript of Tax Return, clearly identified as a disaster related request.

And, on Consumerreports.org’s Money Blog, a post titled, “Emergency-preparedness, tax-wise and otherwise,” recommends:

As we’re in the season of hurricanes, floods and natural disasters of all kinds, now is the time to consider your family’s disaster plan. While you stockpile bottled water and put fresh batteries in your flashlights, also consider the safety of your financial records. The IRS recently offered tips for keeping your financial records safe. We’d like to add a few of our own.

Go paperless. If you haven’t already, consider signing up for paperless statements from your bank and other financial institutions. (You may also avoid fees for paper statements—a troubling banking trend.) Scan your tax returns and save them to a portable drive that you can then store in a safe place. While you’re at it, Consumer Reports Money Adviser tells you which papers to keep and which to toss.

Make a record. Take photos and/or video of your valuables and store in a safe place away from home. This is important for insurance claims. The Insurance Information Institute, the trade organization representing the property and casualty insurance industry, offers a free home-inventory tool at KnowYourStuff.org. The IRS Disaster Losses Kit (PDF) provides information on filing disaster-related tax documents.

Have a current emergency plan. Aside from having your important papers in a safe place, you’ll want to know what you should do if a storm is on the way. Read our how-to guide so you’re prepared for any emergency. And check out why you might need flood insurance.

Contact the IRS if you’ve lost tax returns in a disaster. You can get copies of previously filed federal tax returns (PDF) for free. The agency also lists recent tax relief information by geographical area.

Your local emergency management website (or office) is a place to start. There is also assistance at the “Determine Your Risk” page of  FEMA’s “Prepare for a Disaster” section. Among the steps it recommends taking: Identify possible hazards and emergencies (“Possible Hazards and Emergencies”); Review maps of your area FEMA Maps; Calculate your risk with assessment tools; Learn about FEMA’s mitigation activities; Identify possible hazards and emergencies. And, as we enter hurricane season, the National Weather Service’s “Storm Prediction Center” can also be helpful.

San Francisco’s 72Hours.org site

• Share your travel plans with a family member, neighbor or friend

• Listen to area radio and television stations and a NOAA Weather Radio for possible flood warnings and reports of flooding in progress or other critical information from the National Weather Service.

• Be prepared to evacuate at a moment’s notice.

• When a flood or flash flood warning is issued for your area, head for higher ground and stay there.

• Stay away from floodwaters. If you come upon a flowing stream where water is above your ankles, stop, turn around and go another way — 6 inches of swiftly moving water can sweep you off of your feet.

• If you come upon a flooded road while driving, turn around and go another way.

• If you are caught on a flooded road and waters are rising rapidly around you, get out of the car quickly and move to higher ground. Most cars can be swept away by less than 2 feet of moving water.

• Keep children out of the water, as their curiosity could cause them to get too close to fast-moving flood waters.

• Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize flood danger.

Download our Flood Safety checklist, visit redcross.org or contact your local Red Cross for additional information on how to prepare for emergencies and to get trained.

In the short video, Allison explains the steps every pet owner should do to prepare their animals for emergencies. In the background there is a Golden Retriever, Hunter, who stopped by (with his owner) to be microchipped and have a ‘go bag’  photo taken. I have found that pet owners tend to be among the most prepared groups, but I’m sure Allison’s recommendations will be helpful.

Allison Cardona, ASPCA, Disaster Response Director

“As the tax return filing deadline looms (this Thursday, April 15), OEM reminds New Yorkers to make extra copies of their returns. Following a disaster, insurance providers may request up to three years of tax returns to support a claim. Store copies of your tax returns in your Emergency Financial First Aid Kit while finances are still fresh on your mind.”

The Emergency Financial First Aid Kit was created to help the public identify important financial documents and serve as a quick reference guide for critical information. The American Red Cross also has a financial guide for disaster preparedness here.

To sign up for the weekly NYC OEM e-mail tip of the week, click here.

“With a 3-1 lead over the Phillies, the [UPDATE: World Champion] Yankees have been focused on driving runs home this World Series. But when the catcher is blocking the plate, a runner needs to change his plan.

Some emergencies may make it difficult or even impossible to return home. OEM recommends New Yorkers identify two meeting points— one close to home and another outside of the neighborhood— where loved ones can reunite in case an emergency blocks the way home.”

In a post titled, ” Flu Prevention Tips on the Fields,” Katie Stanton, “Director of Citizen Participation and a Soccer Mom,” writes:

“If your kids are playing on sports teams this fall, here are a few more tips to help them stay healthy:

* Have coaches remind children to cover sneezes and coughs with their sleeve or a tissue. Dispose of any tissues in a separate bag.

* Coaches (and parents) should make sure players stay home if they have a cough, cold, or flu for 24 hours after their symptoms have cleared.

* Have players wash their hands or use hand sanitizers before starting the game.

* Make sure players bring in their own water bottles and do not share them.

* Instead of post-game handshakes or high-fives, cheer or clap for the opposing team.”

My kids have soccer games scheduled for this Sunday (I’ll be refereeing), and I have passed this information on to our coaches and the league administrators.

PRESIDENT OBAMA WATCHING HIS DAUGHTER, SASHA, PLAY SOCCER  (ABOVE)

“Just as with our nation’s preparedness for natural disasters or terrorist attacks, our nation’s cybersecurity is a shared responsibility. And it’s an opportunity for you, as an individual, to personally contribute to our national security. Securing your home computer helps you and your family. And it also helps your nation in some very important ways. It helps by reducing the risk to our financial system from theft; and to our nation from having your computer infected and then used as a tool to attack other computers.

As individuals, the steps you need to take are clear, and they will make a big difference:

* Install and activate firewalls for your computer and internet connection

* Make sure your anti-virus and anti-spyware software is installed and up-to-date

* Check your computer settings to make sure your operating system and applications are automatically patched

* Practice good online habits by not visiting suspect sites, downloading suspicious documents or attachments, or opening email from people you don’t know

* Back up your files regularly and use strong and secure passwords; and

* Begin educating your children early about staying safe online.”

The full transcript and the web video can be found on the DHS website here.

The 8-minute video can be seen below or found online at www.thecell.org.

“RECOGNIZING 8 SIGNS OF TERRORISM” VIDEO (ABOVE)

Napolitano has spoken often about using the public as an asset in the nation’s homeland security yet the challenge is offering Americans guidance on exactly how to do so. This type of video is helpful in doing so. I would suggest that more law enforcement agencies around the U.S. use it or something similar to educate the public.

The video, produced with DHS grant funding, is narrated by Elway with Denver television reporter Kim Christiansen. It was produced through a partnership between the Colorado Office of Homeland Security, the Colorado Department of Agriculture, the Colorado Information Analysis Center (CIAC) and the Center for Empowered Living & Learning (The CELL) — a non-profit institution dedicated to addressing the global threat of terrorism. The video was shown during Secretary Napolitano’s tour of the CELL’s current exhibit, “Anyone, Anytime, Anywhere: Understanding the Threat of Terrorism.”

Below is a list of the Just1Things that the twitterers did (I actually did just 2 things in an unsuccessful attempt to win the contest’s cool Red Cross-themed prizes, including a vintage first aid kit pictured below):

KalCobalt: Gave house keys to trusted folks so if I’m separated from home by an emergency, my kitty can be cared for!

bbenagni: September is preparedness month! In the office, we are doing mandatory management fire safety training.

LouiseHornor: If we get separated from each other or our RV, our emergency meeting place will be closest Red Cross chapter. #just1thing

OberLaw: have beefed up supplies and created redundancy – car, home, work. inventoried everything w/ expiration dates!

nika7k: am dehydrating fruits, veg, trail mixes, and backpacking soups in case we have to eat w/o power! #just1thing

Bolz42: My #just1thing for today…staying home and not getting the office sick…

jcrawfordor: Finally joining Amateur Radio Group to participate in disaster management trainings

eakunkel: I’m putting together a disaster supplies kit (http://bit.ly/RLFvb) for the folks I’m house-sitting for

artisticbaker: I’m trying to keep first aid supplies handy in our house

MelindaJoy926: I’m buying bottled water

StumptownMom: My 1 thing presch emerg plan

KalCobalt: I live alone so when I leave friends’ homes late/in bad weather I schedule a “home safe” text. No text=rescue time!

OberLaw: finished installing child locks on kitchen cabinets so stuff doesn’t fly all around.

portlandgeneral: We heart preparedness! You know we’re gonna say our #just1thing is an outage kit – battery powered light, radio, etc.

lkissler: I keep lists of emergency numbers in multiple locations: home, work, car, phone, email/online #just1thing

alancsmith: For disaster preparedness, the last thing I’ve done is to check over our first aid supplies.

saraiderin: My one thing is washing my hands often as to not spread germs.

JohnDSolomon: putting ICE contact numbers into my cellphone was #just1thing i did today

kberkery: My #just1thing is learning social media at the OEMA conference with other Emer Mgrs. So amazing, going to help is communicate! #oema

winnie3k: To be more prepared, we are canning homemade grape juice to keep in our pantry. Fruit’s a necessity in our house!

kevintron: Thanks for the reminder! Bottled 12 gallons of tap water today to slightly improve my disaster readiness.

ENeitzel: Refreshing my supply cache ie. water, books, batteries etc.

dillpicklechips: My #just1thing to get prepared is to make sure I always have nearly a full tank of gas. Disaster = HUGE lineups at stations

mariuccia: I have my portable file with copies of all my important papers in it. I can grab and go in case of an emergency.

LastSup: Does an always fully stocked liquor cabinet count? (Also, dynamo-powered flashlights to find the booze in the dark)

JohnDSolomon: In addition to listening to the Ready Radio show, I just replenished my extra battery supply

LastSup: But in all seriousness, replenishing canned-good supplies and stocking extra cook stove fuel

Among the ‘Top 10′ participants in the video are: Chief Administrative Officer Richard Kane (”Replace Alarm Batteries”) Chief Response Officer Scott Graham (”Help Neighbors Prepare”), Chief External Affairs Officer Rosemary Mackey (”Make A Plan For Pets”) and Chief Executive Officer Terry Bischoff (”Learn First Aid & CPR”).

AMERICAN RED CROSS OF GREATER NEW YORK’S ‘TOP 10 TIPS FOR PREPAREDNESS MONTH’ VIDEO (ABOVE)

I also wanted to post another recent video from the Greater New York Chapter. In a very straightforward but compelling manner, Senior Director of Health Services Jim Parker makes a good case for learning CPR.

THE RED CROSS’ JIM PARKER URGES PEOPLE TO TAKE CPR TRAINING (ABOVE)

“Here’s a simple truth: It’s better to bend than to break, and it’s best to be prepared for the worst. This age-old wisdom is going by a new name in slide-rule circles: “Resilience engineering” starts with the insight that it’s smart to design and maintain systems so they have some give. That means building technologies that offer extra capacity to handle sudden loads, plenty of warning when normal operations are beginning to break down, backup systems in case things do go wrong, diverse digital architectures so that a single bug doesn’t produce widespread failure, and decentralization so that when (not “if”) communication breaks down things don’t grind to a halt…

…When it comes to large-scale emergencies, the country has a hidden weapon-and we can do more with this resource. I’m talking about a populace filled with self-reliant, community-minded individuals. During a major crisis, on the order of Katrina or a serious California earthquake, relief services can be overwhelmed. When individuals are prepared to look after themselves for a while, with food, water and medicine on hand, and alternative sources of heat or power, it makes a big difference. The government can’t take care of everybody at once. If disaster-relief staffs don’t have to worry about you, they can take care of others-which means that being self-reliant can actually help your community.

Often, government officials worry about the public panicking in a widespread disaster. But they have that backwards. In studies of more than 500 emergencies, the University of Delaware’s Disaster Research Center found that panic rarely occurred. In fact, people consistently jump in to help themselves and their neighbors. Research by scholars like Kathleen Tierney, who directs the Natural Hazards Center at the University of Colorado at Boulder, shows that the true first responders are often the people on the scene when a disaster strikes. They save lives by administering first aid, getting people out of hazardous areas and spreading warnings. Volunteers improvised the water-based evacuation of lower Manhattan on Sept. 11, called an American Dunkirk by some, that moved masses of people out of the danger zone.

A self-reliant attitude is good, but skills help mightily, too. Citizen training is available through the Red Cross, Community Emergency Response Teams and Neighborhood Emergency Response Teams. One underappreciated resource is the amateur radio community. Acquire a ham radio license (American Radio Relay League, ) and you can become a major resource if a disaster strikes. It’s fun, too.”

Thanks to the National Hazards Center’s Twitter feed for bringing this to my attention.

(Illustration by Paul Blow, Popular Mechanics)

* Create your own personalized list. You may not need everything included in “ready made” kits and there may be additional items you need based on your personal situation.

* Budget emergency preparedness items as a “normal” expense. Even $20.00 a month can go a long way to helping you be ready. Buy one preparedness item each time you go to the grocery store.

* Request preparedness items as gifts. We all receive gifts we don’t need or use. What if  your friends and family members gave you gifts that could save your life? Don’t forget to protect them by sending preparedness gifts their way, too.

* If you are prepared, you may be able to help friends and neighbors who need assistance. By sharing preparedness supplies, you can help each other.

* Trade one night out to fund your 72-hour kit. Taking a family of four to the movies can cost upwards of $80-$100. Just one night of sacrifice could fund a 72-hour ready kit.

The full “Top 10″ list is here.

The finalists are all good and their entries are better produced than I would have thought. Each makes useful H1N1 points in creative ways. And, the idea of asking the public to create PSA’s allows for more pushing of boundaries than if a government agency produced them. It is unlikely that the government would be able to show a man wielding a chainsaw through the streets to illustrate a version of  ’social distancing’ as one of the finalists does.

According to the rules set out in HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius’ own video on YouTube, contestants were asked to: “Create a 15, 30, or 60 second video Public Service Announcement (PSA) that will inform and motivate people to take steps that will help prevent the spread of the flu. Make your video fun, smart, and entertaining.”

Though I thought all the finalists were effective, only one video can win. So, in consultation with my two young daughters (my YouTube consultants), this blog picks “H1N1 Rap By Dr. Clarke” (see his entry below). In his video, Dr. Jon Clarke, in shades, raps about H1N1 prevention before concluding a little more soberly and without the sunglasses. We thought the combination was effective. If he is chosen, Clarke could be the breakout video star of the Fall.

“H1N1 RAP BY DR. CLARKE” (ABOVE). A FINALIST IN THE FLU.GOV H1N1 PSA CONTEST

It turns out that Clarke is a family physician in New York City with a music degree — and puts both credentials to good use in his entry. His YouTube page shows that he’s also rapped on behalf of diabetes awareness.

To watch all the finalists and vote go to the entry site here.

You can also view the entire group of 242 judged entries here. Most of these provide a more homemade video feel and are filled with kids, superheroes, and pigs. Some are also pretty effective. This one (below) called “Barnyard Conference” was a favorite among my kids, and it’s pretty funny (though it may not help efforts to replace the term “swine flu” with H1N1!).

ONE OF THE FLU CONTEST ENTRIES, “BARNYARD CONFERENCE” (ABOVE)

In all, I think that soliciting, unleashing and highlighting creativity from Americans with a desire to help on flu prevention — and from of a variety of ages, backgrounds, and points of view — was a terrific idea. It is fun, citizen-driven/focused, and most importantly should be effective in raising flu preparedness among the public. By the way, if you disagree with my selection please tell me why you picked one of the other finalists (or preferred one of the other 232 entries) instead.

“On Twitter [@RedCrossPDX], tell us just one thing that you’re doing to get prepared this September (aka National Preparedness Month). To get you started, here are some quick ideas:

–Buying enough water for my family
–Setting aside extra pet food
–Picking up a crank radio
–Taking the free online Be Red Cross Ready training
–Practicing the “sleeve sneeze”
–Putting games for the kids in my kit
–Picking a disaster meet-up place

You get the point. It doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive or hard. And if you tweet us with just one thing, we’ll enter you to win — not one, but three — prizes that will get you started on being prepared for anything:

*A Safety Starter preparedness kit
*A vintage first aid kit
*A “Be Prepared For Anything” t-shirt

You have until September 30 to send us your tweet (please use the hashtag #just1thing for tracking purposes) to be entered. If you win, we’ll send you your prizes via snail mail.”

Though there are many actions that citizens can do to prepare for emergencies, the idea of asking people to do just 1 thing is smart — making it seem far more manageable. And, though they won’t say it explicitly, the sneaky Cross Bloggers know that often when someone does one thing to prepare they ended doing many more. I look forward to seeing and posting their long list of ‘things done’ by the end of the month. So, do #Just1Thing and give them a tweet.

A VINTAGE FIRST AID KIT, ONE OF THE CONTEST PRIZES

It means that Ready.Gov’s “Get A Kit, Make A Plan, Be Informed” framework — which has been used by many federal, state and local preparedness sites since its launch six years ago — will likely get an overhaul. “We are taking a look at the website content,” Ready’s Acting Director Rebecca Marquis said last week.

Though changes have yet to be made on the Ready.Gov site, FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate has already been altering the Ready citizen preparedness message in a number of recent appearances. He has been urging people to “make a plan”, but has been omitting mention of a getting a (supply) kit. An example is the video (below) shot in the new Los Angeles Emergency Operations Center from FEMA’s website earlier this month in which he urges Americans to “get a plan, get trained.”

FEMA HEAD CRAIG FUGATE TALKS ABOUT PREPAREDNESS IN LOS ANGELES EOC EARLIER THIS MONTH (ABOVE)

The changes come as many in the preparedness community have expressed concern that asking Americans to create a full 72-hour supply kit may be too difficult financially and logistically. (In addition, people may already have some elements of the recommended kit, and it is more a matter of taking stock and/or updating them.) Making a family communications plan, Fugate has said, doesn’t cost anything. The emphasis on the “get trained” message was underscored last week when Secretary Janet Napolitano and more than 25 Homeland Security staffers took a CPR/AED/First Aid course.

The current “Get A Kit, Make A Plan, Be Informed” approach came out of an effort in the years after 9/11 to standardize and simplify the preparedness message to the public. While the Ready.Gov messaging has definitely made some awareness inroads with the public, I have found a general consensus in the preparedness field area that revising and augmenting the approach would be helpful. FEMA will be working with the Red Cross and other partners in developing the changes.

I think it is a great idea to take a new look at Ready.Gov and other preparedness messaging. My major suggestion, as I have written on the blog, is that any communications overhaul be done as part of an overall strengthening of the government’s citizen preparedness effort, because there is a limit to what even the most effective information campaign alone can do in changing public behavior.

“I have been a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) member in Cobb County, Georgia since 2004. It all started with my desire to help my family and neighbors to survive a disaster. I started searching on the internet to find out if any volunteer opportunities were being offered in my community, and that’s how I found CERT through Citizen Corps and ultimately Cobb County.

I participated in exercises, drills, training and recruitment opportunities. I took numerous FEMA independent courses in emergency management until I decided to enroll in a formal study program in emergency management. That is when I started the graduate certificate program in emergency management at Georgia State University.

Today that knowledge has allowed me to create a ministry in my church focusing on awareness of emergency management including conducting drills, exercises and training. Through that ministry, I have created vital documents such as emergency operations procedures for church and faith-based schools, continuity of operations plans, and evacuation plans–documents that I am happy to share with my neighbors.

In addition to the purpose of sharing those documents, and in the spirit of cooperation, I have established communication between the church and the Public Safety authorities including, the sheriff, police, fire and emergency management departments in the county. After all how good is a plan if it not shared with those who are there to help you?”

To read more stories of volunteers like Lisbeth R. or add your own, go to http://serve.gov/stories_safety.asp.

…as catastrophic as such an attack would be, it would not level an entire city, and a timely response could save many lives. Recent advances in techniques for mapping the path of radioactive fallout after an attack, combined with novel therapies for treating radiation victims, will improve survival chances, the report says.

“Clearly there would be loss of life, but it’s not hopeless,” says Georges Benjamin, head of the panel of doctors and public health officials that was convened by the National Academy of Sciences to assess the nation’s level of preparedness for such an attack. “We feel that there are things that one can do to mitigate it.”

Just knowing about the value of ’shelter in place’, for example, could be a lifesaver, according to the report:

For many people, the safest option would be to seek shelter in buildings or underground. Just staying inside could slash the immediate death toll from radiation by up to a factor of 100, or even 1000, [Fred] Mettler [of the New Mexico Veterans Administration Health Center] says. However, people must be told this in advance. “Without prior education, it would be a horrible issue,” he says.

One crucial factor will be for the authorities to get an instant picture of where the fallout is going and its quantity and speed. This will make it possible to figure out who should seek shelter and who should evacuate – and in which direction. It will also ensure that rescuers are not sent on “suicide missions” into areas of high radiation.The National Atmospheric Release Advisory Center (NARAC) at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California has for years been charged with providing predictions to emergency planners within a few minutes of serious incidents involving a release of radioactivity. NARAC’s model would be used to guide planes and helicopters equipped with radiation detectors, whose measurements would in turn refine the model’s predictions.

NARAC is now working to improve its modelling software to take into account variations in wind speed and direction in three dimensions and fluctuations over time; the last version assumed winds vary only with height. It will also take into account the way rain can scrub fallout from the air and deposit it on the ground. While this would prevent fallout drifting so far, it would also mean that larger amounts of radiation are deposited sooner and in different places than if there were no rain.

Even with prompt predictions and the possibility of broadcasting them by radio, it is likely that many people would not be aware of what they need to do or would fail to reach shelter in time. The result would be exposure to high levels of radiation, which inflicts its most immediate damage on rapidly dividing cells such as bone marrow and the lining of the gut.

Damage to bone marrow leads to reduced production of key immune cells and blood-clotting platelets. Very low levels of platelets can trigger dangerous bleeding even without any injury. Damage to the gut lining triggers internal bleeding, which is worsened by a lack of platelets. This in turn allows bacteria to leak into other parts of the body, resulting in potentially deadly infections, which are made worse by the lack of immune cells.

Two drugs approved last year could help cut down such complications, says panel member Nelson Chao of Duke University in Durham, North Carolina. Amgen’s Nplate (romiplostim), and GlaxoSmithKline’s Promacta (eltrombopag) were approved for use in people with a rare condition that keeps their platelets in chronically short supply. Chao says they might also help boost platelet numbers in radiation victims, preventing dangerous blood loss and infections.

To me, this report underscores the need to inform and engage the public on preparedness for even seemingly low probability/high impact emergencies such as nuclear terrorism. Just knowing a couple of small, easy to remember steps such as sheltering in place or not looking into the flash might be very useful.

The report can be purchased or read online for free at the National Academies Press website here. Thanks to David Shenk for bringing this article to my attention.

The Winners:

Scott Kidder/Oakland, California

I recommend keeping backup copies of your personal records in electronic form both at home and off-site. This can prove very useful in the event that your home is severely damaged or destroyed in a disaster. I purchased several rewritable DVDs with a capacity of 4.7 GB. Rewritable CDs may work, too, depending on how much information you want to store. To keep the information secure, I created an encrypted disk image (256-bit AES encryption) that contains all of my sensitive and valuable information. I consider it important to encrypt the data on the DVD so that the information is inaccessible should the disc become lost or stolen.

Jei-Nhy Quirantes/Kekaha, Hawaii

Information I store on the backup disc includes personal finance records (Quicken, Money, etc), tax returns, insurance policies, a home inventory (photos, videos, receipts), and irreplaceable photos and videos. I update the contents of the DVDs at roughly 6 month intervals. The update process takes only about 1-2 hours. You might keep a copies of the discs at work, in your briefcase/work bag, and in your go-bag/emergency kit at home. Having the information distributed lessens the likelihood of a total loss.

I’ve gathered important documents i.e. birth certificates, medical cards, insurance papers, will, placed them in a ziplock bag, and put them in my emergency kit. I’ve also scanned digital copies of each of them and uploaded them to a jump drive and emailed them to myself.

Rich Madden/Aurora, Illinois

The thing that most people overlook with emergency preparedness is that anything that you can do to mitigate the uncomfortableness of an emergency goes along way to keep them safe and sane. If you need to use restroom facilities and there are none, what are you going to do; I have heard to many stories of people using unknown leaves to clean themselves and using something like poison ivy, “Ouch”. Having a roll of toilet tissue and a garbage bag to contain the waste will go a long way to keeping you comfortable and safe. Also having a toothbrush and toothpaste helps with that morning after mouth that tastes so foul. Also having an extra pair of glasses just in case you loose your current pair so you can at least see clearly or not. The comfort of an event will go along ways to help ease the rehab of getting over the event.

One other thing if you have to evacuate your residence due to flood, fire, or earthquake, you will have to prove yourself to re-enter your community a copy of your homeowners insurance your, marriage license, your driver’s license or passport, will go a long way to secure your right to be in the community. These copies in certified form or in microfilm are acceptable.

Jon Abolins/Trenton, New Jersey

Mentally prepare for resilience in daily activities. One way is to develop the habit of “having an exit plan” mapped out as you go along. In the train carriage, note where the exits — including the pop-out window emergency exits — are. Count how many seats you are from the nearest exist. Similar practice applies to plane travel. When going into an office, school, etc. pay attention to the emergency exits, fire alarms, extinguishers, and such.

Mike Everett-Lane/Brooklyn, New York

Here are a couple I’ve gleaned from various sources:

1) Get several hundred dollars out of the bank, in small bills (ones and fives). If there’s a power outage, the ATMs and credit card machines will be down. Stores will run out of small bills quickly. Put the money in an envelope, and store it some place where you won’t spend it.

2) Make sure at least one of your phones can be powered with just the phone line, again in case of power outage you’ll still be able to make calls.

3) Keep a pair of old slip-on shoes under your bed, and a flashlight at hand. I use a Pak Light ( http://www.9voltlight.com/ ), attached with velcro to the underside of the bed frame.

David Chesler/Leesburg, Virginia

I work for the Loudoun County Chapter of the American Red Cross. As part of our Community Disaster Education (CDE) program I provide to any group or organization a free one-hour Disaster & Emergency Preparedness presentation. I promote Be Red Cross Ready… Build a Kit, Make a Plan and Get Informed. I start out with a ‘Shelter in Place’ scenario to get the group thinking. I enjoy this part of my job. I let them know when it comes to Disaster & Emergency Preparedness… I talk the talk, but more importantly I walk the walk.

CaliforniaVolunteers’ WEPrepare Disaster Kit

Patty Brooks/San Jose, California

Turn off your power and water for a weekend and survive it. You don’t really know how it will go until you try it. Trying this before you lose it in a real situation will give you an idea of what you will need when it really happens. Take notes and make a list of items most important to your survival. This is the best time of year for this drill. (its a great way to conserve energy and lower your bill).

I started a neighborhood association to get my neighbors together, then I held an Emergency Preparedness Awareness Fair and Blood Drive. We had a total of 327 attendees as follows: 275 guests, 12 staff , 12 agencies / 37 agency representatives, 3 City representatives &. 6 sponsors,

Our blood drive goal, 25 pints and we managed to collect 34 pints. The agencies included Ca, Highway Patrol (1) San Jose Crime Prevention Unit (3) Moreland School District (1) R.A.C.E.S (5) www.Iprepare.com (1) San Jose Prepared/CERT (4) Pelican Products (1) San Jose Fire Dept. & Paramedics (6) Ca Firesafe Council & Smokey Bear (2) San Jose Mounted Police (2 officers & 2 horses) Stanford Blood Center Mobile (6) S P N A (4) + 3 photographers + 10 staff volunteers. City Reps: Kim Shunk Director of the Office of emergency Services (1) District 1 Councilman Pete Constant & 1 photographer (2) Mayor Chuck Reed & 1 aide, 1 photographer (3)

Joseph Colon/Freehold, New Jersey (via Twitter)

Preparedness tip: cotton balls soaked with petroleum jelly stored in a medicine bottle make great firestarters — even in the rain!

Richard Holland/Houston, Texas

I have been through three hurricanes. It is certain that I will lose electrical power. I have started a spreadsheet listing the battery powered items that I have and the number and type of batteries it requires. I also have added an inventory of the batteries I have. This way I know how many to buy when a hurricane is noted in the Gulf. I have a 12 volt marine battery for my television and a solar charger to keep it charged. My current problem is my digital to analog converter. It is 9 volts. I will have to get a 12 to 9 volt adapter or a inverter to get 110 volts for the converter.

Rion Motley/Hampton, Virginia

I have a bit of property, and I grow fruit and vegetables (mostly blackberries and apples/pears/persimmons). So far I have randomly dropped by and talked to three relatively new folks in the neighborhood, and asked if they liked whatever fruit was coming into season at that point. Worked out pretty well. I’ve now got a retired (Armed) security guard, an experienced fisherman about my age, and a retired dominion power lineman on my list of neighborhood acquaintances. If you don’t have fruit trees (and why not?! it’s shade you can eat!) then bake some cookies or throw a barbecue or two and invite someone you drive past on your way to or from work. I was surprised at how readily people chatted with someone they didn’t know lived a few houses away. ;-)

Dadsfun5 (via Twitter)

Have a 3 party outside of ur area code ready for your family to call to pass infor on when us are a part in a disaster

The following entrants did not win the kit but offered good tips which I wanted to share:

Lloyd Colston/Altus, Oklahoma

For communications during a disaster, nothing beats amateur radio. The American Radio Relay League (http://www.arrl.org) is a group that helps obtain licenses. Local clubs abound nationwide to help local folks benefit from their new privilege.

Dennis Hanlon/Greenwich, Connecticut

Suggest people go home and turn off all their power (or at least pretend it’s off.) No tv (especially after June 12), no computer. Do they have flashlights at the ready? Do they have a battery powered radio? Do they have sufficient prescription drugs for 3 days? Do they have a first aid kit? Do they have a telephone that does not rely on electricity? Once folks see where there weaknesses are, they will be more open to other preparedness measures.

Jonathan Haber/Bethesda, Maryland

Here’s my preparedness tip: Help educate your neighbors by writing a letter to the editor of your local newspaper reminding them and urging them to take preparedness into their own hands. Just today, I sent the following letter to the editor of my local “gazette” newspaper: “Thanks to the free “Alert Montgomery” notification system, I received a text alert today about the potential for flooding during this week’s rain storm. Alerts from the system have also warned me about road closures and more. An interesting statistic was published at the bottom of the alert. It said that the alert was sent to 544 users. If true, doesn’t that sound like a very low number in a county of almost one million residents? Come on neighbors, it shouldn’t be news to you that taking a few simple steps can make a big difference in ensuring your safety and well-being during an emergency. Go online now and check out the free resources that federal, state and local governments provide to help you stay informed and prepare for an emergency. At the very least, you should visit Ready.gov and pandemicflu.gov. If you live or work in Montgomery County, visit the county home page (just Google it) and follow the link to sign up for the free “Alert Montgomery” system to stay informed of emergencies (weather, traffic, etc.) in your community. Don’t be caught off-guard. Take the time now to prepare you, your family and your business to weather the storm.”

p.s. As a follow-up to my suggestion above, the local newspaper (Gazette) did publish my letter to the editor under the heading “Free services prepare us for emergencies”: http://www.gazette.net/stories/06032009/montlet173009_32523.shtml.

Blair Buchmeyer/St. Louis, Missouri

I think that one of the best things you can do to help with community preparedness is to help everyone learn to grown their own food either on their own lots or in community gardens.

John Armstrong/Ottawa, Ontario

Led worklight can be used hands-free (it has magnets and a hook for hanging) produces enough light to light a large room and runs for 5 hours.

Sarah Ward/Orem, Utah

I recently invested in a solar oven as an outlet for cooking in an emergency. Since it’s difficult to acquire new skills under duress in an actual emergency, I have begun cooking with my solar oven now to familiarize myself with it. It is absolutely amazing. No water. No messy clean up. No worries of scorching or burning. No constant monitoring. And no fuel of any kind is required. The solar oven is now officially my new cooking nirvana. So far I have used my solar oven to cook delicious chicken, roast, baked bread, sausage, ham and even pasteurize water. In fact, this is a pic of my yummy chicken – look at all the natural juices that come from cooking it in the solar oven! http://twitpic.com/60rgi. For people who don’t want to shell out more money, it is possible to make your own. Details at http://solarcooking.org/plans/funnel.htm.

Bryan Salamon/Queens, New York

Simple trick I learned to get waterproof matches. Dip a match head into hot wax, and let it cool. Once the wax is hardened, you have yourself a waterproof match.

Andrea Truelson

I think the best tip I have is, not to overwhelm people! I have taught a couple of classes for my church on preparedness. I always tell people it isn’t about getting everything today, it is about getting one thing at a time, or learning something new. For example, have a flashlight under each bathroom sink, tape the power company phone number to it, and make sure it is always in the same spot! Also, learn how to open a garage door manually, or grow a basil plant in a sunny window for practice. Build on these new skills, and soon you will be a regular pioneer!

“Our digital security problems start with ordinary computer users who do not take security seriously. Their computers can be infiltrated and used as vehicles for attacks on military or corporate systems. They are also often the first place that adversaries go to steal credentials or identify targets as a prelude to larger attacks.

President Obama has recognized the need to educate the public about computer security. The government should jump-start this education by mandating minimum computer security standards and by requiring Internet service providers to deny or delay Internet access to computers that fall below these standards, or that are sending spam or suspicious multiple computer probes into the network.”

This is a subject I will be continuing to follow, and I’ll be interviewing Goldsmith to discuss it further sometime soon.

To avoid being struck by lightning, the National Weather Service recommends that you:

*Get into a fully enclosed building or hardtop vehicle at the first rumble of thunder;
*Stay indoors for 30 minutes after the last thunder clap;
*Monitor the weather forecast when you’re planning to be outdoors;
*Have a plan for getting to safety in case a thunderstorm moves in;
*Do not use a corded phone during a thunderstorm unless it’s an emergency; cell phones are safe to use;
*Keep away from plumbing, electrical equipment and wiring during a thunderstorm.

For more information, check out the National Weather Service’s Lightning Safety webpage here.

“As we head into, what by all accounts is likely to be a very costly heating season, these survey results and Fire Prevention Week provide a critical opportunity for us to remind people about the things they can do to prevent home fires and keep their families safe and warm this winter,” said NFPA President James M. Shannon. “If people use alternative heat sources to reduce energy costs, it is critical they use devices that are new or in good working order, and they turn off units when they go to bed or leave the room.”

The survey identified additional behaviors related to appliance maintenance and cooking that could also present home fire hazards this winter. The survey is being released during Fire Prevention Week, October 5-11.

“We hope this survey will encourage more people to take the simple steps necessary to protect their families and homes from fire,” said Gail J. McGovern, President and CEO of the American Red Cross. “Of the more than 74,000 disasters the American Red Cross responds to each year, approximately 93% are fire related, but unlike natural disasters, most home fires can be prevented.”

For fire safety tips, check out www.firepreventionweek.org or www.redcross.org/homefires.

Stacy Gerlich, a Los Angeles Fire Department Captain, has a creative and useful suggestion. And, she says two-thirds of recipients love it. 

According to Chip Jacobs’ Los Angeles Times story:

Dana Simpson – Austin, Texas

I do not have extended family in the city I live. I have often wondered how long it would take the city to find and notify my relatives that something happened to me and my immediate family. So I got together with one friend who lives in another section of the city and a neighbor across the street from me. Together we decided on a plan of action that includes always letting each other know if we are leaving town (complete with travel arrangements/agenda); contact information for relatives, etc.

Scott Miglin – Mount Vernon, Ohio

A twist on an old preparedness tip: Everyone needs a emergency kit at home. I plan on buying family members pre-made 72-hour emergency kits for Christmas from on of the several websites offering them. Sure, they may think I’m a lame-o, but their feelings will change after tasting the wholesome goodness of a 3600 calorie food bar …and I know they will something to build upon for an emergency plan.

Valerie Berg – Boulder, Colorado

The tip that I’ve adopted and convinced my family to adopt it: ”Half Full” is the new “Empty”.

After getting into the car with the gas tank at True Empty too many times, I told the family that they couldn’t use the car unless they filled it up at the halfway point. Being late for an appointment impressed on me the possibility of getting into the car during an emergency and finding an empty tank. No More!

Roger Ma – Brooklyn, New York

Here’s my tip – ziplock bags for your go-bag items. While having a
go-bag is essential, packing it properly is also important. Itemize
your gobag items by type/use, and store all of them in a quart,
gallon, or two gallon size ziplock bag. I have the ziplocks in my
gobag sorted by several different ‘types’, including food (energy
bars), fire/light (matches, batteries, flashlight, tinder), clothes
(shirt, pants, socks), etc. Not only does this make your gobag
packing much easier and efficient (just pull out the right ziplock),
but also waterproofs most of the critical items in case your bag gets
soaked in water.

One more related quick tip – don’t just buy something for your gobag
and throw it inside, packaging and all. Make sure the item is fully
useable when it goes into your bag so it’s immediately ready for use.I do not have extended family in the city where I live. I have often wondered how long it would take the city to find and notify my relatives that something happened to me or my immediate family. So I got together with one friend who lives in another section of the city and a neighbor across the street from me. Together we decided on a plan of action that includes always letting each other know if we are leaving town (complete with travel arrangements/agenda); contact information for relatives, etc.

Jonathan Haber — Bethesda, Maryland

Here’s a useful tip for people on the go: What would you do if your drivers license or passport became lost or was stolen? What would you do if it happened while you were out of the country? There’s an easy step you can take now that will make it easier to obtain help later. Scan these important identification documents into your computer, and them email the image files to yourself. That way, if you ever need to present backup copies of the documents, you would simply log in to email from anywhere in the world, and print the documents wherever you are whenever you need them.

Martha Garvey – Hoboken, New Jersey

When creating go bags for your family, don’t forget your dog. (We park our dog go bag, a small knapsack, right on top of our little box of poop bags.) Remember to pack a foldable nylon bowl, leash, pictures of your dog, a copy of the dog’s license and rabies certificates, poop bags, and, if your dog is prone to panic, a muzzle. Depending on how much weight you and your family can carry, I’d recommend a weeks’ worth of extra cans of food (either openable, or with can opener), bottles of water, and yes, treats or toys.

Grant Olsen – Boone, Iowa

The number one factor in stress reduction during a disaster is,
arguably, having information during the minutes and hours following a
disaster. Many preparedness lists recommend having a portable radio or

television to get information. Unless you’ve purchased a portable HDTV
in the last few years, your portable analog TV won’t be able to get
signals after February 17, 2009. Your local radio station might not
have a backup generator, leaving it vulnerable to a widespread
blackout. What device can offer multiple listening options? A portable radioscanner, a.k.a. police scanner. With a radio scanner, you can hear:

*FM radio broadcasts
*public safety two-way, including some law enforcement
*NOAA Weather Radio All-Hazards
*FRS/GMRS (family walkie-talkies)
*Amateur Radio Emergency Service operators (a civilian corps of
emergency communicators)

Bruce Curley – Mount Airy, Maryland

When our house burned down 5 years ago due to a defective circuit board in a Black&Decker electric mower (there is a Consumer Product Safety Recall on the product because it starts fires) in the garage, I awoke to hear my wife screaming like a banshee. I jumped out of bed and ran to my wife in the kitchen holding her face and screaming wildly. What I did not know is that she had tried to open the door to get our son and was burned. I could barely see because the toxic fireball in the garage was making my eyes water. She screamed, “GET EAMON!!! GET EAMON!!! (our 6-year old at the time) and pointed through the door to the fireball in the garage. “Eamon is upstairs!” I yelled, but she kept pointing to the garage fireball.

Because I saw Eamon when I ran down, I knew where he was but I did not argue with her. I tried to move her but she stood like a rock because she had been burned trying to go into the garage to get Eamon because she thought he started the fire and was in it. I ran upstairs, got Eamon and woke his older brother Josh by dragging him out of bed, and brought Eamon down to my wife. I pointed her head down past the smoke so she could see his feet. Once she saw his feet and realized he was not in the fire in the garage, her adrenalin rush broke and I was able to push them all out the front door, the last exit that was available.

My wife was only trying to get her son out of a fire and acting on the information she had. As she had not seen him in his room and because he used to sleep walk, she figured he had started the fire. I had different information and had to act on it. I could have kept arguing with her and trying to get her leave the kitchen, but she was convinced he was in the fire and she wasn’t going anywhere until she got him. I was able to get them both out because I did not waste time arguing. My preparedness tip is that in most emergency situations, it is a waste of precious time to argue. It’s better to act and, if need be, to argue after the emergency has passed.

Ralph Dutcher– Rochester, New York 

Get to know your neighbors, join a community preparedness group like
C.E.R.T. or Medical Reserve Corps. Volunteer for the Red Cross
disaster team. If there is none of these groups in your neighborhood start one. Remember that all disasters and all mitigation of disasters start locally!