The writer, a native of Southern Pines, is now attending the Command and General Staff College in Fort Leavenworth, Kan. He wrote this as a class project.

As the Sandhills region of North Carolina recovers from the first substantial round of wintry mix since the blizzard of 2000, it seems fitting to highlight the need for actionable disaster preparedness plans that are easily executable by individuals, communities and municipalities.

Recently, Lt. Gen. Russell Honore, author of “Survival: How a Culture of Preparedness Can Save You and Your Family From Disasters,” spoke to our class at the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kan.

Gen. Honore served most recently as the commanding officer of the Hurricane Katrina relief effort in 2005. While listening to the presentation, I was amazed at how such a basic concept could carry such important effect. I was struck by how little effort it took to develop a plan of action that could possibly save the life of another person – something the general described as “the ultimate human experience.”

His message resonated with me -profoundly. And in light of the recent earthquake disaster in Haiti, I thought it fitting to do my part in helping create a culture of preparedness, starting with my hometown of Southern Pines.

Many hard lessons learned and stopgap measures came out of the Hurricane Katrina experience. A national disaster preparedness policy, however, did not. As we were all shocked by the images of unimaginable human suffering broadcast live from the flooded Ninth Ward, many of us were left asking how this could happen in America. How could we have been caught unprepared?

To illustrate and bring sharper focus to this point from a perspective a little closer to home, many readers will remember the blizzard of January 2000, when Moore County was thrust into survival mode during an unprecedented winter storm that hampered the -ability of local government and its -citizens to coordinate relief operations.

This is in no way a criticism of the way the local emergency management departments handled the disaster response; on the contrary, local -emergency crews responded superbly to the crisis. But it highlights the need for disaster preparedness plans that are on the shelf, ready to be executed when needed.

In his presentation, Gen. Honore detailed a “system of systems” approach to creating a culture of preparedness from the individual level to the government. He described many of the systematic failures of the planning, development and maintenance of key infrastructure components that currently exist in our communities – everything from bridge design to -hospital generator placement.

“A culture of preparedness will teach America to be survivors and not victims,” he said.

National disaster preparedness starts with individual disaster preparedness. Although many municipalities have a robust disaster response capability, a disaster of significant proportion will most likely overwhelm the responsiveness of emergency service agencies because of the sheer volume of requests for help.

It is with this in mind that every family should have a disaster preparedness plan on the shelf, ready to initiate during a fire, tornado or terrorist act. At a minimum, for every member of the family, the plan should include three days’ worth of food, water and medicine. Cash, a weather radio and a first aid kit are essential.

At the municipal level, plans should include considerations for not just the first order of effects, but the second and third order as well. Basic plans should include the basics – food, shelter and clothing.

Second- and third-order effects include planning and resourcing for command and control architecture; emergency services coordination; transportation and evacuation plans; mass casualty triage management and evacuation; long-term shelter for -displaced citizens and a resettlement plan; backup long-range communication systems; and an electrical grid powered by backup generators that could be brought on line quickly.

Additionally, Gen. Honore made specific mention in developing plans that took into account the poor, handicapped and those in nursing homes as priority.

The U.S. Army trains its leaders to “get to the left” of contingencies through use of many systems and tools. One of them, the “composite risk management” process, is a five-step model that can easily be adapted to any application, be it household or governmental department, to help logically and methodically assemble a disaster preparedness plan.

Step 1 of such a plan is to identify the hazard. Step 2: Assess hazards to -determine risk. Step 3: Develop controls to mitigate risks and make risk decisions. Step 4: Implement controls. Step 5: Supervise and evaluate your decisions

If we all plan for disasters by -developing preparedness plans, both individually and collectively as a -society, we can create a culture of -preparedness and become survivors and not victims.

[Via Thepilot.com]

When I was 10, a woman from our neighborhood whom my parents had never met came knocking with her pre-teen daughter in tow. She asked my mom if her kid could watch my dad, the songwriter Carl Sigman, write a song. My mom’s deadpan reply: “He does most of his writing on the john.”

What if the very idea of community connection leaves you cold? You don’t have kids or pets, the street is just a place to pick up your mail and the idea of getting to know your neighbors fills your heart with dread. In the great tradition of Frederic Nietzsche, George Carlin and — to a lesser extent — my dad, you’re a curmudgeon, and only being left alone can make you feel truly at home.

But, to paraphrase John Donne, no man can be an island. Surely you want to be linked up with neighbors in case of emergencies like earthquakes and fires. That way, when the crisis is over, you can return to your hermetic ways in one piece.

Feedback from my column last week about neighborhood email groups reveals that most parts of Los Angeles don’t have effective means of neighborhood-wide communication, let alone structured plans for emergency preparedness.

At least one area — Upper Nichols Canyon (UNC) — does have a remarkable plan. (If there are others, please let us know by commenting on this site.) This nest of 500 or so homes east of Laurel Canyon and west of Beachwood Canyon boasts a robust Association, led by president Susan Mullins and her “leadership team” of dedicated volunteers. Susan reports that the group has grown from a meeting of some 25 neighbors in a living room in July 2007 to now more than 450 participating neighbors representing some 80 percent of the area’s households.

Cristin Lindsay, who handles communications for the Association, points to two anchors for the emergency program: an email group and a website. The key word is “preparedness,” Cristin says. “Email and our website play their biggest role before disaster strikes, so we can get the word out about training, tips and best practices, share stories that inspire our neighbors to take steps towards preparedness and build relationships and clout with city agencies integral to disaster planning.”

Basic features that underpin the group’s efforts include:

1. Email lists targeted at the whole community as well as specific blocks.

2. Links on the website to emergency preparedness resources like the Los Angeles Fire Department’s “Ready! Set! Go! Personal Wildfire Action Plan.”

3. A sophisticated database which tracks emergency contact information about residents to keep track of households that may need special attention in an emergency because of kids, pets, disabilities, non-English primary languages, or residents who live alone. (This information is tightly restricted to protect residents’ privacy.)

4. That same database tracks gas shut-off locations and out-of-neighborhood emergency contacts for each household.

Association leaders keep a hard copy of this data in case of an earthquake or other natural disaster when power and internet access are out. With this information frequently updated, the organization then has a four part approach to emergency preparedness:

1. Disaster preparedness training.

2. Resource and skills inventory.

3. Emergency action plans in accordance with LAFD’s procedure.

4. Emergency communications — if wire lines and cell phone infrastructure is not operational, alternative notification systems and related plans.

(More details here.)

The organization is particularly proud of a 2008 training exercise — conducted in coordination with LAFD, LAPD, Hollywood Hills West Neighborhood Council, the lower Nichols Canyon area, the Willow Glen community, and many other city agencies — in which over 500 neighbors practiced evacuating the narrow, twisting canyon to a staged evacuation shelter at Hollywood High School. Pictures here.

Not surprisingly, Cristin is now considering incorporating social media tools like Twitter and Facebook to help get information out to residents who use those networks.

If all this seems way beyond your time, energy, commitment and resources — the UNCA doesn’t charge dues, but does accept donations — start small. Define a modest mission, use an affordable mass email tool like Infacta GroupMail or Google Groups, hold small gatherings to build a sense of community, mix communications methods — email and flyers and in-person — and seek out volunteers with web design and development skills. Then ally with city resources such as the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) — go here for more on CERT — LAFD, LAPD, Neighborhood Councils and LA DWP to leverage free or affordable resources, training and advice.

[Via Michael Sigman - The Huffington Post]

So, I was digging around on the ready.gov website and I came across a cool widget (Quick Share) that allows you to generate an email text containing emergency contact info for you to share with family, friends, etc.  In addition to your info, it shares your emergency contact, out-of-town contact, and neighborhood meeting place. Right away I thought this was winner; everyone in your circle has everyone else’s contact info already save to their iphone, blackberry, laptop, etc. before any emergency arises. When you consider how fast telephone switchboards get overloaded and cell phone towers shut down after a major emergency having a prearranged meeting place along with contact info for everyone is vital.

History’s most dramatic events — Hiroshima, 9/11, Hurricane Katrina and others — are examined and analyzed with hard data gathered from their massive aftereffects.

The disappearance of water and food supplies, the effects of deteriorated sanitation and health care on the remaining population, and the increased use of violence as a means of survival — all illustrate how societies have responded and survived in AFTER ARMAGEDDON.

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“Code was well aware of the dangers, and prepared carefully for his trips, taking an axe, knife, and a top-of-the-line 17-function utility tool.”

In what world was does an axe, knife, utility tool and no jacket prepare you for10 degree nights and heavy snow fall? I hope the late Mr. Code’s story provides an eye-opening lesson about using your noodle BEFORE you head outdoors.

[Via Equip 2 Endure]

The 33-year-old officer has been on the Bozeman force for three years. He is a K-9 handler and works nights, from about 9 p.m. to 7 a.m.

When he got to the grocery store on North Seventh Avenue, employees told Ziegler that a 32-year-old man had stuffed food and “pens, pencils, maybe markers, things for his kids” into his coat.

The officer arrested the man, cited him for theft and then released him.    But the story didn’t end there.

Ziegler had asked the man why he had been stealing.

“He was really upset,” Ziegler said this week. “Basically, he told me he’s having a hard time and can’t provide the food for his family right now, so that’s why he was stealing.”

Ziegler already had the man’s address, but asked for the man’s phone number.

“I told him, Give me 15 minutes,’ and I went and got him some food.”

Ziegler ran to Wal-Mart, picked up a few frozen pizzas and delivered them to the man’s house.

“Obviously, as a police officer, I have a job to do, but we’re still human, too,” Ziegler said.

When the officer handed over the food, the man shook his hand and thanked him for understanding, Ziegler said.

And then Ziegler kept the story to himself.

However, a Bozeman Daily Chronicle reporter was at the 911 dispatch center that night. She overheard tidbits of the officer’s report that he was going to buy the man some food. The Chronicle sought out the story. Ziegler wasn’t seeking attention for his good deed.

“These guys, they just don’t really brag about things like that,” Acting Police Chief Marty Kent said. “It wouldn’t surprise me that he wouldn’t say anything.”

Ziegler shrugged off the idea that he had done something out of the ordinary.

“It’s just what we do to take care of each other,” he said.

[Via Billings Gazette]

Note From Survival Spot: This story was particularly touching and inspiring to us. Individuals like this officer are rare/

Come wind, snow, rain or fire – or even the surprise crash landing of a jumbo jet – the village has to be prepared – just in case.

The village’s emergency plan is in the process of being developed with the aim of securing villagers’ safety.

So, if you can offer tractors, four-by-four vehicles, or you are handy with a chain saw, the parish council wants to hear from you.

The council wants doctors, nurses, vets and anybody with medical skills to get in touch and add themselves to the list of emergency contacts.

Cllr Colin Boylett said the plan was merely there to provide a safety net for the village and hopes it never has to be put into action.

“We hope we never have to use the emergency plan, but it’s better to have a plan in case. Extreme weather could cut the village off, so with the plan we would be able to provide the elderly and vulnerable with food and heating.”

Although Cllr Boylett is being realistic about how regularly the plan would be put into action, he said he was aware emergency situations could arise from anywhere.

“Anywhere can have a plane coming down or something like that. We have a railway line going right through the village and so there could be a serious train crash, or even a repeat of the serious storms of 1987, you just never know what’s going to happen.”

Cllr Boylett is one of three parish councillors and one member of the community who will put the emergency plan together.

The plan would be in place so the village, in the event of an emergency, could effectively link with district and county councils and the police.

Rother District Council emergency planning officer Charlie Sharrod said: “Rother District Council gives active support to all towns and parishes to develop their plans thus ensuring a measured and proportionate response can be made, if required, by any community whilst awaiting assistance from the Emergency Services and Local Authority.”

Cllr Boylett is asking people to get in contact with details of any useful resources.

Telephone him on 01580 819532 or e-mail colin.boylett@gmail. com

[Via Thisissussex.co.uk & The Prepper Web]

[Thanks to Prepperbuzz.com]