Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Check out this blog!

This is Lori (and her husband.)
This is Katie.
These 2 women do this blog (http://positivleyprepared.blogspot.com/). They are LDS, of course.





Today I found a most wonderful preparedness blog. With these ladies online, who needs me?
Seriously, if you want a a SUPERB site to teach you and motivate you about preparedness, this is it!!!! Be sure to check out their MY BLOG LIST. Just click on the hyperlink here to go right to it.

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Girls Die In Submerged Vehicle





This past week there was atragedy in NorthDakota where 3 young women lost their live. I wonder if they would still be alive today if they knew how to get out of a sinking car? I have posted a link on the left regarding this procedure.


Sheriff: 3 dead softball players likely didn't see pond
By BLAKE NICHOLSON
Associated Press
Nov. 4, 2009, 12:22PM

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/hotstories/6702737.html

DICKINSON, N.D. — Three college softball players found dead after their sport utility vehicle went into a pond on a North Dakota farm during a stargazing trip likely drove straight into the water in the dark, authorities said Wednesday.
Stark County Sheriff Clarence Tuhy said the women's SUV was found resting on its wheels Tuesday in about 10 feet of water hidden by tall grass, with the doors and windows closed.
“When you're not familiar with an area like that it would have been very easy to drive into,” Tuhy said.

The sheriff said the Dickinson State University students were on private property. He stopped short of saying they were trespassing.

No foul play is suspected in the deaths of Kyrstin Gemar, 22, of San Diego; Afton Williamson, 20, of Lake Elsinore, Calif.; and Ashley Neufeld, 21, of Brandon, Manitoba. The bodies of the women and Neufeld's dog were found inside the SUV after signals from their last desperate phone calls late Sunday helped lead authorities to the farm.

Police Lt. Rod Banyai said authorities do not expect autopsy results for a week or two. The autopsies will help determine the exact cause of death and whether the women were under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Authorities have said there is no indication they were. The North Dakota Highway Patrol also will examine the 1997 Jeep Cherokee to determine if the vehicle malfunctioned, Banyai said.

The students were believed to be in the Jeep when two of their friends received telephone calls late Sunday before the lines quickly went dead. Police described the first as a “very scratchy” call for help in which one of the students said they were near water.

Tuhy said the calls, which authorities were able to track to cell phone towers, were critical in leading searchers to the vehicle. He said it wasn't clear if emergency crews might have been able to reach the women had they called 911 instead of their friends.

“There could have probably been some location formed out of that (Sunday night) but if it would have been timely enough, I don't know,” he said.
University President Richard McCallum said classes were canceled Wednesday and a memorial service was being planned on campus Thursday.

“It is times like this that we realize our sense of humanity and our sense of connection,” he said.

Family members of the women planned to visit the site on Wednesday northwest of Dickinson, a city of 16,000 people that is about 100 miles west of Bismarck.
Gemar's father, Lenny, said Tuesday night after a prayer service on campus that “it's the worst day of my life.”

Neufeld's mother, Bev Neufeld, said her family was trying to be strong.
“That's what she would want, and we have so much support here (on campus),” she said. “We know how much Ashley loved this school. I would just like everybody to remember Ashley's smile and personality.”

The 2,700-student university listed Gemar as a senior business major who played third base on the softball team. Neufeld was a senior outfielder working on a psychology degree, and Williamson, a junior, was a pitcher majoring in psychology with a minor in coaching.

“I'm sure it will be difficult for quite a while. But we know that they'll be there with us. They would want us to play,” softball teammate Jessica Huseby of Hamilton, Mont., said after the prayer service. “We just know they're going to be the 10th, 11th and 12th players on the field with us."

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Preparedness Gift Idea #1

The presentation. In retrospect, I should have also put a big label in the package: EMERGENCY TOILET BAGS or something.
These are at Target in the aisle that has all the platsic storage bags, ziploc bags, foil, etc.


We all love to give gifts at Christmas time. What better gifts are there than those that help your loved ones be better prepared for emergencies?

Here is an item that will give a person great peace of mind!!! At least, it has that affect on me.

One of my greatest concerns in a worst case scenario after an earthquake is this: Broken water lines. NO water from the water department. No water from the faucets. Can't flush toilets. Where do you go potty? I do not want to sit on a bucket!

SOLUTION: Get extra strength 18 gallon white trash bags. I get mine from Target. 100 in the bag for a little over 7 dollars (including tax). See photo. For the presentation of the gift, I take the bags out of the main bag it came in (and the twistie ties) and put them (they are in a nice cylindrical shape, in a clear plastic bag and insert instructions that I have printed out.


THESE ARE THE INSTRUCTIONS YOU CAN CUT AND PASTE INTO YOUR WORDPAD OR OTHER PROGRAM:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

SANITATION
The lack of sanitaion facilities following major earthquakes can quickly create secondary problems unless basic guidelines are followed. If the water lines are damaged, or if damage is suspected, do not flush the toilet.

Avoid digging holes in the ground and using these. Untreated raw sewage can pollute fresh ground water supplies. It also attracts flies and promotes the spread of diseases.

~Store a large supply of heavy-duty plastic bags, twist ties, disinfectant, and toilet paper.

~A good disinfectant that is easy to use is a solution of one part liquid bleach to 10 parts water.

Dry bleach is caustic and not safe for this type of use.

~If the toilet is not able to be flushed, it can still be used. This is less stressful for most people than using some other container. Remove all of the bowl water. Line bowl with a heavy duty plastic bag. When finished, add a small amount of deodorant or disinfectant, securely tie the bag, and dispose of it in a large trash can with a tight fitting lid. This large trash can can also be lined with a sturdy trash bag.
Eventually the city will provide a means to dispose of these bags.

~Portable camp toilets, small trash cans, or sturdy buckets with heavy duty plastic bags can be used. Those with tight fitting lids are best.

~Large ziplock plastic bags and toilet paper should be kept at work and in the car for use if you are away from home. These can be wrapped in newspaper in preparation for future disposal.