Disaster preparedness and planning can be a complex, lengthy, and sometimes expensive endeavor. Communities, states, and federal authorities constantly refine their plans for response and recovery. Mitigation projects like flood control systems and building codes help reduce the potential effects of disasters. Preparedness requires that we acquire and maintain supplies, equipment, and trained personnel in a state of readiness. While our governing authorities do what they can, there remains one area of preparedness that no governmental entity can address: you and your family's own personal state of readiness. By undertaking a family disaster planning project, you can reduce your household's potential demands on your community's response. By extension, the more well-prepared families there are, the more prepared the overall community is.
There are dozens of resources online to guide you through various aspects of personal disaster preparedness. www.ready.gov is a great place to find basic information on disaster kits, food and water supply ideas, and other simple steps you can take.
While food, water, clothing, and shelter are absolutely essential to survival, I want to use this blog entry to remind you that following the immediate threats of an emergency, information is as essential to your recovery as the items previously mentioned.
A highly useful tool that I'm adding to my family's growing emergency plan is The Big Book of Everything, compiled by Erik A. Dewey. Clicking that link will take you to a page where you can download either an Adobe PDF, or Microsoft Excel version of The Big Book.
The Big Book may seem daunting at first, but by compiling the information in incremental steps over the period of a few weeks, you'll develop a comprehensive document that details emergency information such as family contacts, as well as capturing important financial and other critical data.
What do you do with all this valuable - and sensitive - information? I wouldn't recommend having a printed copy laying around the house for burglars to find your banking information. Instead, print out only those essential pages that contain emergency points of contact, and keep it safely stored in a location known by all family members.
An option that we're exploring is storing a non-editable PDF version of The Big Book on key-shaped flash drives. These won't occupy valuable space in your pocket, but will allow you to keep vital information easily accessible. Yes, it is sensitive data. But you can easily encrypt it using a very lightweight program called TrueCrypt, for which the price is right: it's absolutely free. We'll also store scanned copies of important documents in that encrypted file as well. If you wish, it may be helpful to have a non-encrypted version of The Big Book on your jump drive. Just redact any information that could be used should the drive become lost. (Think CIA black pen marks - just black out the sensitive information on Excel then save it as a PDF).
We'll most likely have multiple copies of these flash drives, distributed out to family members both locally and non-local. Twice a year (or more often if needed) they'll be collected and updated as information changes.
Why go through this exercise? We have the capacity to digitize a huge portion of our lives, for relatively little cost. I have several years worth of bank records, payroll records, and other documents stored digitally in multiple locations. In the unlikely event that a disaster requires our evacuation, consider how much time we would save by not having to identify, find, collect, and store the paper documents. Digital copies will never replace certified originals. Having volumes of information compressed into something the size of my house key, easily portable and securely encrypted will give my family the chance of a less-stressful recovery should we need it.
The Big Book isn't - and shouldn't be - your family's entire disaster plan. It is just one part of a multifaceted plan that includes out-of-town/state contacts, pre-determined family evacuation locations (in town, out of town), basic food & water supplies, and emergency action steps for specific hazards like fires and thunderstorms. The Big Book does, however, give you a one-stop-shop for a host of critical information that you'll wish you had.
What's your plan?
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Hazardous Weather Outlook, October 18, 2011
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON MS 452 AM CDT TUE OCT 18 2011 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR EXTREME SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS AND PORTIONS OF NORTHEAST LOUISIANA AND CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT A FEW STRONG TO SEVERE STORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE THIS MORNING INTO EARLY THIS AFTERNOON AS A STRONG COLD FRONT MOVES EAST THROUGH THE OUTLOOK AREA. WIND GUSTS UP TO 60 MPH AND SMALL HAIL WILL BE THE PRIMARY HAZARDS WITH THIS SYSTEM. IN ADDITION...BEHIND THE COLD FRONT A TIGHTENING PRESSURE GRADIENT WILL EXIST WHICH WILL RESULT IN SUSTAINED NORTHWEST WINDS AROUND 20 MPH...WITH GUSTS UP TO 30 MPH POSSIBLE THIS AFTERNOON OVER THE DELTA REGION. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY PATCHY FROST WILL BE POSSIBLE THURSDAY AND FRIDAY MORNINGS AS TEMPERATURES DIP INTO THE MID 30S BEHIND A STRONG COLD FRONT. PRECAUTIONS SHOULD BE MADE TO PROTECT TENDER VEGETATION. .SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT... THE ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS...HAM RADIO OPERATORS...AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL IN SUPPORT OF SEVERE WEATHER OPERATIONS...MAY BE NEEDED TODAY BUT OTHERWISE IS NOT EXPECTED THROUGH NEXT MONDAY.
***DO NOT USE THIS WEBSITE AS YOUR SOLE SOURCE OF WEATHER INFORMATION, ESPECIALLY WATCHES AND WARNINGS. THIS WEBSITE DELIVERS FOCUSED INFORMATION FOR A SPECIFIC GEOGRAPHIC AREA AND IS NOT INTENDED TO PROVIDE TIMELY WEATHER WARNING INFORMATION***
Saturday, October 15, 2011
20111 National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service
Candlelight Service: Saturday, October 15, 2011 5:00 - 7:00 PM Central Time (telecast begins at 5:15, service begins at 5:30pm)
Memorial Service: Sunday, October 16, 2011, 8:00 AM - 11:30 PM Central Time (telecast begins at 8:30am, service begins at 9:00am)
Memorial Service: Sunday, October 16, 2011, 8:00 AM - 11:30 PM Central Time (telecast begins at 8:30am, service begins at 9:00am)
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Hazardous Weather Outlook; October 12, 2011
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON MS 513 AM CDT WED OCT 12 2011 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR EXTREME WEST MISSISSIPPI... NORTHEAST LOUISIANA...AND EXTREME SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT A FEW STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING FOR LOCATIONS ALONG AND WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. DAYTIME HEATING AND AN UNSTABLE AIRMASS AHEAD OF AN APPROACHING COLD FRONT WILL SUPPORT THUNDERSTORMS. THE STRONGEST STORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING SMALL HAIL AND WIND GUSTS OF 40 TO 50 MPH. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY THE PROBABILITY FOR WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS LOW. .SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT... THE ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS...HAM RADIO OPERATORS...AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL IN SUPPORT OF SEVERE WEATHER OPERATIONS IS NOT EXPECTED THROUGH NEXT TUESDAY...BUT CONDITIONS SHOULD BE MONITORED FOR THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING.
***DO NOT USE THIS WEBSITE AS YOUR SOLE SOURCE OF WEATHER INFORMATION, ESPECIALLY WATCHES AND WARNINGS. THIS WEBSITE DELIVERS FOCUSED INFORMATION FOR A SPECIFIC GEOGRAPHIC AREA AND IS NOT INTENDED TO PROVIDE TIMELY WEATHER WARNING INFORMATION***
Monday, September 26, 2011
NWS Confirms Bolivar Co. Tornado
The National Weather Service in Jackson, MS, confirmed an EF-1 tornado as causing damage seen Sunday night, Sept. 25, 2011 along the northern side of Cleveland.. Additionally, an EF-0 tornado was confirmed based on reliable storm spotter sightings, and radar data. Here's the info regarding the Cleveland tornado. (original at http://www.srh.noaa.gov/jan/?n=2011_09_25_svr_bolivar_sunflower)
Rating: EF-1 (click here for EF scale)
Estimated Maximum Winds: 100 mph
Casualties: Zero
Damage path: 11 miles
Maximum Path Width: 800 yards
Approximate Start Point/Time: 6mi NW of Cleveland, 8:04pm
Approximate End Point/Time: 5mi ESE of Cleveland, 8:22pm
The tornado started out producing a relatively narrow path of tree damage along Township Road. It moved southeast through the Stanton subdivision, heavily damaging four trailer homes and caused minor to moderate damage to several other homes and outbuildings. It continued to move southeast causing tree damage, and widened as it moved into the northwest side of the city of Cleveland. As the tornado moved through the north side of Cleveland, it snapped and uprooted numerous trees, blew the signs out of several restaurants and stores, blew the doors out of the automotive area of a department store, and blew out a wall and a large part of a roof of another commercial building. Several homes suffered shingle damage and powerlines were downed. The tornado then turned more eastward, continuing to cause tree damage as it moved along and just north of State Highway 8 east of Cleveland. Additional powerlines were downed and a few more homes suffered minor roof damage due to wind or branches falling on them. As the tornado crossed into Sunflower County it moved more southeast again. It snapped several wooden powerpoles along and just south of Highway 8 along Mallette-Jones Road, along with destroying a greenhouse type structure and causing some roof damage to a frame home. The tornado continued to cause tree damage in a relatively narrow path as it crossed Walker Road, and then dissipated before reaching Lusk Road.
These images from the Jackson, MS doppler radar show a tornadic thunderstorm at 8:15pm just to the east of Cleveland. The image on the left shows 0.5° base reflectivity data, and the image on the right shows 0.5° storm relative velocity data. Click on the thumbnail below for a higher resolution image.
***DO NOT USE THIS WEBSITE AS YOUR SOLE SOURCE OF WEATHER INFORMATION, ESPECIALLY WATCHES AND WARNINGS. THIS WEBSITE DELIVERS FOCUSED INFORMATION FOR A SPECIFIC GEOGRAPHIC AREA AND IS NOT INTENDED TO PROVIDE TIMELY WEATHER WARNING INFORMATION***
Rating: EF-1 (click here for EF scale)
Estimated Maximum Winds: 100 mph
Casualties: Zero
Damage path: 11 miles
Maximum Path Width: 800 yards
Approximate Start Point/Time: 6mi NW of Cleveland, 8:04pm
Approximate End Point/Time: 5mi ESE of Cleveland, 8:22pm
The tornado started out producing a relatively narrow path of tree damage along Township Road. It moved southeast through the Stanton subdivision, heavily damaging four trailer homes and caused minor to moderate damage to several other homes and outbuildings. It continued to move southeast causing tree damage, and widened as it moved into the northwest side of the city of Cleveland. As the tornado moved through the north side of Cleveland, it snapped and uprooted numerous trees, blew the signs out of several restaurants and stores, blew the doors out of the automotive area of a department store, and blew out a wall and a large part of a roof of another commercial building. Several homes suffered shingle damage and powerlines were downed. The tornado then turned more eastward, continuing to cause tree damage as it moved along and just north of State Highway 8 east of Cleveland. Additional powerlines were downed and a few more homes suffered minor roof damage due to wind or branches falling on them. As the tornado crossed into Sunflower County it moved more southeast again. It snapped several wooden powerpoles along and just south of Highway 8 along Mallette-Jones Road, along with destroying a greenhouse type structure and causing some roof damage to a frame home. The tornado continued to cause tree damage in a relatively narrow path as it crossed Walker Road, and then dissipated before reaching Lusk Road.
These images from the Jackson, MS doppler radar show a tornadic thunderstorm at 8:15pm just to the east of Cleveland. The image on the left shows 0.5° base reflectivity data, and the image on the right shows 0.5° storm relative velocity data. Click on the thumbnail below for a higher resolution image.
***DO NOT USE THIS WEBSITE AS YOUR SOLE SOURCE OF WEATHER INFORMATION, ESPECIALLY WATCHES AND WARNINGS. THIS WEBSITE DELIVERS FOCUSED INFORMATION FOR A SPECIFIC GEOGRAPHIC AREA AND IS NOT INTENDED TO PROVIDE TIMELY WEATHER WARNING INFORMATION***
Hazardous Weather Outlook, Sept 26, 2011
There's a sneak-peek at this weekend's forecast, following the statement & graphic about storms and rain today.
***DO NOT USE THIS WEBSITE AS YOUR SOLE SOURCE OF WEATHER INFORMATION, ESPECIALLY WATCHES AND WARNINGS. THIS WEBSITE DELIVERS FOCUSED INFORMATION FOR A SPECIFIC GEOGRAPHIC AREA AND IS NOT INTENDED TO PROVIDE TIMELY WEATHER WARNING INFORMATION***
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON MS 449 AM CDT MON SEP 26 2011 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI... NORTHEAST LOUISIANA...AND EXTREME SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CONTAINING QUARTER SIZED HAIL...ALONG WITH LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL...WILL BE POSSIBLE TONIGHT FOR AREAS ALONG AND NORTH OF I-20. A STALLED FRONT WILL HELP FOCUS NEW STORMS LATER TONIGHT WITH ACTIVITY EXPECTED TO DEVELOP AROUND MIDNIGHT AND PERSIST INTO TUESDAY MORNING. IT IS THE EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME AND POTENTIAL FOR STORMS TO MOVE REPEATEDLY OVER THE SAME AREA THAT WILL POSE A HEAVY RAIN RISK. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY THE PROBABILITY FOR WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS LOW. .SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT... THE ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS...HAM RADIO OPERATORS...AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL IN SUPPORT OF SEVERE WEATHER OPERATIONS MAY BE NEEDED TONIGHT.
***DO NOT USE THIS WEBSITE AS YOUR SOLE SOURCE OF WEATHER INFORMATION, ESPECIALLY WATCHES AND WARNINGS. THIS WEBSITE DELIVERS FOCUSED INFORMATION FOR A SPECIFIC GEOGRAPHIC AREA AND IS NOT INTENDED TO PROVIDE TIMELY WEATHER WARNING INFORMATION***
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Updated Hazardous Weather Outlook, 9/25/2011 5:45pm
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON MS 340 PM CDT SUN SEP 25 2011 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR EXTREME SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS...AND PORTIONS OF BOTH NORTHEAST LOUISIANA AND CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT AND MONDAY... ...TORNADO WATCH 855 HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS THRU 10PM TONIGHT... IN SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS...ASHLEY AND CHICOT COUNTIES IN NORTHWEST MISSISSIPPI...BOLIVAR...SUNFLOWER...LEFLORE...HUMPHREYS AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES. .OVERVIEW... SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE ACROSS THE DELTA REGION TOWARDS GRENADA FROM LATE THIS AFTERNOON INTO EARLY MONDAY MORNING AS A LINE OF SHOWERS AND STORMS AHEAD OF A COLD FRONT IS EXPECTED TO DROP SOUTHEAST AND INTO THE REGION. DAMAGING WINDS AND HAIL UP TO 1 INCH IN DIAMETER WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS ACTIVITY. IN ADDITION...A FEW TORNADOES CANNOT BE RULED OUT OVER THE DELTA REGION BETWEEN 5 PM AND 10 PM AS THE LINE PASSES. PLEASE SEE UPDATED GRAPHICAST AT WWW.SRH.NOAA.GOV/JAN FOR A MAP OF RISK AREA. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY... THE PROBABILITY OF WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS LOW. .SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT... THE ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS...HAM RADIO OPERATORS...AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL IN SUPPORT OF SEVERE WEATHER OPERATIONS...MAY BE NEEDED FROM LATE THIS AFTERNOON INTO EARLY MONDAY MORNING.
***DO NOT USE THIS WEBSITE AS YOUR SOLE SOURCE OF WEATHER INFORMATION, ESPECIALLY WATCHES AND WARNINGS. THIS WEBSITE DELIVERS FOCUSED INFORMATION FOR A SPECIFIC GEOGRAPHIC AREA AND IS NOT INTENDED TO PROVIDE TIMELY WEATHER WARNING INFORMATION***
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