On Sun, 14 Mar 2004 16:04:29 -0500, "Stormin Mormon"
wrote:



COMMUTER PREPAREDNESS

Picture the following scenario: Driving home in the
twilight from work, you're tired after the day's
pressures. Instead of concentrating on the road, you
are lost in thought about tonight's plans. Suddenly
there is a problem with the suspension in your car.
It feels odd and worsens rapidly. You get hit between
the eyes with a sudden, horrible realization that it's
not the car; it's an earthquake!

Everyone pulls over in alarm. The situation is
further complicated as you discover that the bridge
ahead has collapsed. Seen in your rear view mirror,
the overpass is a pile of rubble across the freeway.
Your goal is still the same, getting home.

I never want to be required to
follow through with my plans and I hope it never
happens to you. An emergency while traveling could be
many things; fill in the disaster "blank" for what you
are most likely to face in your area. Whether it be
floods, bushfires, earthquake in most places, tsunamis
on the coasts or even a flat tire can give you reason
to be thankful you planned ahead.

General Advice

Assume whatever "it" is, has just happened. Are you
safe? Do you need to move?

First, do CAPS (as in put on your thinking CAPS):

Calm down
Assess the situation
PRAY.
Set your course of action.

Mentally, go on Yellow Alert*, Red Alert** if you
must, depending on the situation. Forget unassociated
problems; concentrate on the difficulty at hand.
Relax and remember, it could be worse. Think
positively. You will get home safe and sound, this
event will fade and life will move on. Don't allow
yourself to be distracted from your goal of getting
home safely.

Yellow and Red Alerts are from Frank Cuccioni's
Tactical Response System.

*Yellow Alert is anticipating problems, observing your
environment, looking people in the eye as you pass
them. Avoid all trouble.


**Red Alert is handling trouble you can not avoid.



You'll have several decisions to make:

1. Should you be more, or less,
visible? (If possible). To hide or remain
visible... This depends on your unique situation;
follow your intuition. Being in sight helps someone
who may look for you know more about your situation.
Being out of sight may protect you and your property. Should you be on the
main roads, or try to sneak home out of sight by back roads?


2. Should you try to (a) get home by driving, (b) wait with the car for
help to arrive, or or (c) leave the car? Will someone be looking for you?
Can you contact others by cell phone, or two way radio? Is the car drivable?
Are the roads passable? Should you keep driving, hunker down and wait for
help, or get out and hoof it?


3. In either of these choicec, what is your course?
Sketch a plan. Divide the plan by setting goals like
landmarks. Go for one goal at a time. Make a mental list of alternatives.
Supposing the next bridge is out? Can you go left or right to change your
route?

In preparing to leave your car, gather your gear.
Check clothing and SHOES . Don't be in a hurry to hit
the road. You'll waste time and energy if you need to
return to your car for a forgotten item.

It may be wise to eat and drink before leaving or as
you set out. You have your supplies; snack and drink
frequently. This gives you extra time to think if
needed. Don't start out with a hunger or thirst
disadvantage. Your supplies may contain a meal that
is heavy or bulky. This is a good time to consume
that meal; there will be less weight to carry.

Before you have a problem, mentally explore multiple
ways to get home. Note bridges, overpasses, rivers,
bad neighborhoods etc., and take the course of least
resistance. "Never step on what you can step over,
never go over what you can go around, never climb up
what you can walk around". (Daniel Boone?)

Set a comfortable walking pace, slow down to baby
steps if necessary to climb or descend steep grades.
If your feet hurt, or you get a warm sensation
somewhere on the feet, STOP! Fix this problem before
you get a blister .

Remind yourself it could be worse, count your
blessings, stay calm. You must help yourself first
before you are fully capable helping family, friends
and others. For example, in an aircraft if the oxygen
masks drop, calmly put it on and start it. Then help
others put theirs on.

Stay on Yellow Alert; don't allow yourself to be
surprised by anything or anyone. Act confident and
look confident. This helps ward off predators.
Statistics show that would-be muggers avoid people
that walk purposefully and are aware of surroundings.

By the time you reach the first goal, a phone for
instance, hopefully the situation has improved.


Other possible first goals might be:

Someone is contacted to pick you up

Public transportation is running

Check into a motel or shelter

If your first goal is not met, go to the second goal
and keep walking .

Ten miles is a good hike, fifteen is a power hike. If
you're home is further than that, shelter becomes an
issue. This is a widely variable problem and not
easily addressed here. Bare minimum shelter is a Space
Bag or Space Blanket which keeps in your body heat and
weather out. Improvise if you can't make it home in
one day's walk.

Having emergency gear in your vehicle, having planned
ahead and by setting goals, you will greatly ease your
journey to get home.


GENERAL TIPS

TIP 1: Make friends along the way that you commute.
Is there someone you work with? Go to school with? Go
to church with? Make a note of their address and
phone number; they will be more willing to help than a
stranger.

TIP 2: If Goal Number One is a pay phone, call
someone and tell him or her your situation and plan.
In disasters, phone lines are often jammed with
incoming calls to stricken areas. This can prevent
local calls, but you can frequently call long
distance. Have an out-of-the-area emergency contact,
a friend or relative a hundred or more miles away, who
can relay vital information. Tell your family who
your emergency contact is before disaster strikes.
Consider a prepaid phone card.

TIP 3: The next time you are about to wear those old
reliable walking shoes or boots, stow them in your car
before they are worn out; make them your emergency
pair. They are already broken in, you know them and
they know your feet. If walking is required, you can
choose between what you're wearing and "old reliable".


TIP 4: Snack or drink when you feel the need. Don't
let yourself become run down from the effort.
Snacking provides a distraction from your chore, it
prepares your body ahead of an unforeseen exertion.
Stay on Yellow Alert.

TIP 5: If you don't walk or hike much, make time to
practice a portion of your route to get the feel for
it. Check out books on hiking; look for some that
explain walking techniques.

TIP 6: Do not allow your feet to blister! I can't
stress this enough. Buy sock liners, thin silk or
synthetic socks that go on under your regular socks.
You may also want to try a high performance sock for
walking, such as Ultra's. Check specialty stores like
Athlete??™s Foot or Paddy Pallin??™s.

If you suspect a blister developing.
Stop, remove your shoes and socks.
Inspect your foot, inspect you shoes.
Have moleskin in your kit and apply it to the
red-warm-inflamed areas.
When treated, and your foot is cool again, put on both
pairs of socks and then the shoes. Pay attention to
your feet!

TIP 7: Normally your last resort is walking home. If
another solution is workable or safer, opt for it.
Pray to make good decisions.


SUPPLIES FOR YOUR VEHICLE

Bug Spray or Lotion

First Aid Book

First Aid Kit with Moleskin, including prescription
medications

Foot Powder Lip balm, like Chapstick or Blistex

Sunscreen

Large Bottle of Mouthwash - according to Ted Wright of
"Wright's Complete Disaster Survival Manual",
mouthwash can be used for: mouthwash antiseptic saves
water when cleaning teeth soother for tired feet
underarm freshener washing minor cuts and wounds

Can Opener

Food: ready-to-eat, requiring no preparation; choose
individual serving sizes and snacks for on-the-go

Disposable Eating Utensils: plastic knife, fork and
spoon, if needed, depending on food choices

Plastic Cup Water, and/or Water Filter with a
container
Personal Hygiene Items

Premoistened Disposable Towelettes

Toilet Paper, folded and in a baggie

Trash Bags for hygiene purposes, small-size

Book

Cash: coins and small bills, enough for a motel room
or tow service

Knife

Map

Pencil/Pen Paper

Additional Clothing to suit seasonal needs such as
gloves, sweat suit, hat or windbreaker

Adhesive Reflector Tape (to be applied to your coat
and shoes if you have to walk at night)

Comfortable Shoes or Boots, extra socks and sock
liners, extra underwear

Disposable Face Masks

Extra Coat, jacket, or sweater. Waterproof may be a
wise choice

Sunglasses

Trash Bags for warmth or waterproofing, large and
heavy duty

Work Gloves


Backpack for carrying essentials if walking becomes
necessary

Candle, emergency type in its own shielded container

Duct Tape (it has a thousand uses!)

Fire Extinguisher

Pocket Lighter like BIC

Flashlight and Extra Batteries (metal flashlights can
double as weapon)

Heavy-duty Blanket or Sleeping Bag

Space Blanket or Space Bag

Tools: Auto repair items, belts, hoses, clamps, rubber
hose for siphoning, folding shovel, crow bar

Walkman type AM/FM radio and Extra Batteries

Whistle

The above items are minimums. You may also want to
consider the items on the list below. Customize to
suit your needs.

Cellular Phone and/or CB Radio

Cord, nylon that is thin, light and strong

Extra gasoline Can or gas in a DOT approved can

Reflectors, and/or Emergency Signs

Heat Source, Hand Warmer, MRE Heater

Weapon - personal choice item, and governed
differently everywhere.


TIPS FOR YOUR SUPPLIES

TIP 8: Always keep the fuel tank at least half full.
In areas of ice and snow, a full tank will provide
extra traction.

TIP 9: Be aware of temperature extremes in
automobiles. If an item has a shelf life, wide
temperature variations will hasten its deterioration.

Replace medications very frequently. Check with your
physician or pharmacist if your prescriptions, as well
as nonprescription items, are heat or cold vulnerable.


Replace your food supplies. I recommend hiking bars
you can eat and replace frequently. MREs, nuts, high
calorie bars, etc. are also good.

Replace batteries more frequently.

TIP 10: Water is heavy and bulky. It will constitute
the largest amount of weight allocated to supplies.
Check into filtration. Filter straws are available
that can generate 48 litres of drinkable water from a
20 litre mud puddle.

TIP 11: For convenience, you can store parts of your
kit in different areas of your automobile. Food can
be protected in the trunk in an ammo can or Tupperware
container.

TIP 12: A good knife is useful. Utility knives from the hardware store
are inexpensive, and useful.

TIP 13: Layer clothing for added warmth.

TIP 14: If you must walk, watch weight and bulk of
your gear. I travel very light. I love my torso
pack. All the weight is on your hips and your back
won't sweat. This is the area where the more money
spent on quality pays off in the end. Be picky about
your Pack! Consider something with wheels. Like the folding carts that
elderly people use to bring home two bags of groceries.

TIP 15: If you have chosen to stay in you car, be
aware of carbon monoxide poisoning. If you must run
the engine to keep from freezing, remember to crack a
window.

Best wishes and good luck.

"Gun Control, the theory that a 110lb grandmother should
fist fight a 250lb 19yr old criminal"