The Coronavirus - What We Can Do

Along with our annual flu, we are hearing a great deal about the Coronavirus (COVID-19). It has surfaced in the US and is expected to occur in all states.

What should we do now in our homes, schools and workplaces to stay healthy?

Basic Hygiene is essential and is something we can control.  Be strict about following these suggestions to prevent transmission:

Your Emergency Kits Revisited

The new preparedness standard is 120-hours.  Initially 72-hour kits were the recommendation.  Then the last few years it became a more realistic 96-hours.  At present, professional responders strongly recommend each person/family needs to be prepared to meet their essential needs for a minimum of 5 days and 5 nights.  We are told not to expect outside help reaching our communities in a major disaster for 120-hours.  They know this from reviewing the aftermath of many national major disasters.

How to revamp 96-hour emergency kits?  Add an additional day of water, food and medications to your Emergency Kits for each member of your household.

Don’t Take Your Water Heater for Granted

Do you know anyone who has had to redo their basements because of flooding caused by a failed water heater?  I know two families in the midst of the painful steps of recovering from this household disaster.  Let’s learn from their experience.

Because most water heaters are often tucked away in the basement, garage or an outside closet, we forget about them as long as we have sufficient hot water at command.

When did you last inspect your water heater?  It should be done annually.  As time pushes against the suggested life of this appliance, inspect more frequently.  If you are beyond the common life span (usually 7 years), pay attention.

Consider having a trusted plumbing professional do that inspection --- not every vulnerability is visible to the untrained eye.  For example, a failing temperature or pressure relief valve (that helps prevent a water heater burst) could fail.

120 Hour 5 Day Plan

For many decades the professionals urged us to prepare a 72-hour emergency kit in a backpack, for each member of our household. 

Five years ago, when the Salt Lake City S.A.F.E. Neighborhoods catastrophic disaster program was expanded to include all of Salt Lake County, we began educating everyone to refresh, update and expand their 72-hour kits into a supply of essentials that would serve each family member for 96-hours – that’s 4 days and 4 nights. 

Things That I Learned from Hurricane Sandy -- A Heads Up For All of Us!

by Frantz Ostmann on Saturday, November 17, 2012 at 7:13am 

1. The excitement and coolness wear off around day 3.
2. You are never really prepared to go weeks without power, heat, water etc. Never!
3. Yes it can happen to you.
4. Just because your generator runs like a top, does not mean its producing electricity.
5. If you do not have water stored up you are in trouble.  A couple of cases of bottled water is “NOT” water storage.
6. You should have as much fuel as water:   a. Propane,     b. Gas,      c. Kerosene,      d. Firewood,      e. Firestarter, (kindling, paper, etc.)
7. Even the smallest little thing that you get from the store should be stocked up. (spark plug for the generator, BBQ lighter, etc.)

Added Observations Regarding Hurricane Sandy

by Amie Ostmann

1. Store a lot of ‘mix-ins’ to help flavor your stored water.  
2. Being without running water was more inconvenient than having no power.  
3. Before-hand we stored milk jugs filled with water, ¾ full, and put in the freezer.  When we had no power, we put the jugs, a couple at a time, into the fridge to keep food cold.  When they melted, we used for drinking.  
4. I wished I had more candles.
5. 10-hour candles were awesome.  
6. Candles give a broader light than a flashlight.  
7. We had one lantern; it was better than the candles.  I wished for more.

12 Points of Business Continuity Planning

The Utah Department of Emergency Management (DEM) has many tools for businesses.  While most large corporations have emergency prepare and resilience departments with plans in place, many small businesses are not sufficiently prepared to respond to disaster and get back to business in the short term.  Unprepared companies may never open their doors again.

The DEM has education and training resources to create or support business preparation, response and recovery plans.  Resiliency is the key point.  The list below outlines topics covered in their free Business Preparedness Series.  Contact them at BeReadyUtah.gov.  Don’t put it off.