Week 17: Protect Your Data

This week's task:  Make and implement a plan to back up your data.

Many of us have important stuff stored electronically...especially in the form of digital photos and videos.  Your data could be damaged or lost due to fire, theft, a lost device, hard drive failure, or flood. Is your data backed up?  Are you going to be worrying about grabbing your computer when you should be focusing on getting yourself and your family out of a dangerous situation?

Things to consider:

1. How painful would it be to lose everything on my computer/smartphone/tablet?
2. How much data do you need to back up?
3. How much are you willing to pay for a backup solution?
4. Are you comfortable storing personal data online (i.e. encrypted and password protected, but in a remote location on a company's servers)?
5. Will you consistently take action to back up your data or do you need your backup system to run completely automatically?

If you care about protecting your data, there are two main ways to do it: (1) Back up to an external hard drive or (2) Online backup (i.e. securely back up your files to a company's servers located somewhere other than your house).

External Hard Drive:

Advantages:

• One-time expense: You can get a high-quality 1-terabyte external usb drive for less than $100.  This harddrive  allows wireless backups across your home network.
• You retain physical control of your data...it isn't stored on a company's servers.

Disadvantages of backing up to an external drive:

• If you have a small amount of data to back up (less than 5 gigabytes), you can get online storage for free.
• If you store the hard drive at home, you could lose your backed up data in addition to your computer in the event of fire/theft/flood. 
• If you keep your hard drive stored somewhere offsite, then you have to concoct a complicated plan of bringing it back for regular backups or using a rotating system with two hard drives. Unless you are unusually diligent about this, you will probably go for long periods without backing up your most recent data to the offsite hard drive. 

Online Backup/Cloud-based Storage (storing your data "in the cloud"):

Online (cloud-based) backup services store your data on the company's servers at some undisclosed location in the world.  If your data is backed up with one of these services and your computer explodes tomorrow, you can buy a new computer and download all of your files in a couple easy steps.  To use online storage, you sign up for a service, download some software to your computer, tell it which folders you want to have backed up (or put everything you want backed up into a special folder), and you're done.  After that, anything you add to the designated back-up folders will be automatically backed up.  Note that you can only access your data that is stored online using a login name and password - it is not accessible publicly.

There are a lot of cloud-based services out there.  For the last few years, I've used Dropbox.  If you have less than 2 GB of data, it's free. Otherwise it is $10/month to back up a terabyte of data.  (That's 1000 gigabytes.)  You can access your data from any of your computers or mobile devices, it backs up everything you add automatically, and you can even make your phone/ipad back up the pictures and videos that you take automatically.

Advantages of cloud-based storage:

• Automatically backs up all new files or changes to existing files to an offsite location, safe from fire/flood/physical theft.  
• Many back-up services integrate very well with mobile devices so that you don't have to deal with backing them up separately.  

Disadvantages of cloud-based storage:

• The ongoing monthly charge (if you need to back up more than a small amount of data) will likely be more expensive over time than an external hard drive.
• Your data is stored on remote servers and if you worry about hackers, this might cause you anxiety.  (Note that your data is not publicly available - it can only be accessed by you using a login name and password.  Also, the probability of losing your data to hackers is probably much, much smaller than the probability of losing it some other way because you don't have it backed up.)

Week 16: Staying Warm

This week's assignment:  Make a plan for staying warm when the heat is off.

The likelihood that you will be without heat for an extended period and the seriousness of being in that situation will depend on the type of heating system you have, the types of disasters you face in your area, the severity of your climate, and the health and ages of the people in your household.   Here are a few strategies to consider:

Tough it out: A household in a mild climate with only healthy adults older children may decide not to invest in emergency heating equipment.  Here are a few things that will help you stay a little warmer:

• Make sure everyone has warm clothes and blankets (especially warms hats, socks, and gloves).
• Consider getting a few emergency mylar blankets or bivies (sleeping bags).  If you want something a little more durable consider these blankets or bivies or these hooded blankets that can also be used as a tarp.
• Hand warmers or hot water bottles (if you have a way to boil water) can provide added comfort

Diversify: If you have natural gas heat, get an electric space heater.  If you have electric heat, get a propane heater (make sure you get one that is safe for indoor use, like the Mr. Heater Buddy, which is clean burning, has a low-oxygen sensor and is approved for indoor use).  If you have a wood-burning stove, keep firewood on hand (but be careful after an earthquake because your chimney will almost certainly be damaged).

Invest in a generator: I have no experience with these, so I will just point you to information here,  here, and here and let you and Google take it from there.

Factoid about utility restoration after the 1994 Northridge earthquake:  After the 1994 Northridge earthquake, 2.5 million people lost electricity, but over 90% of customers had power restored within 24 hours.  Over 150,000 people lost natural gas service.  Service was restored to 120,000 customers within 12 days and 9000 customers were still without service after a month.  (Note that 133,000 people turned their gas off as a precaution even though they didn't suspect a gas leak and this delayed service restoration significantly.  PG&E recommends that you only turn off your gas if you smell gas, hear a leak, or see a broken gas line.) 

Have other ideas?  Leave them in the comments.

Emergency Fair Handouts and Information about Upcoming First Aid Class

CPR/First Aid course this Saturday

Our Red Cross Instructor that spoke at the Emergency Fair is offering a CPR and First Aid class for us this Saturday, May 11th, at a discounted price (anyone is welcome to sign up).  Participants will receive certification cards for CPR and First Aid.

From the instructor: 

During this course you will learn skills that will enable you to help a person who becomes suddenly ill or injured.

What Life Saving Skills will I learn?

Adult, Infant and Child CPR - When and how to correctly administer CPR

AED - When and how to use an Automated External Defibrillator

Standard First Aid -When and how to administer First Aid

How do I register?

Click on the following link and follow the instructions. (NOTE: A Paypal account is NOT required. Once you click on the link below, choose "Don't Have A Paypal Account" and a form will appear requesting your credit/debit card info.)

https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=TX5W8Q63LVU4N

Will I receive confirmation of my registration?

After you have register, a confirmation email will be sent back to you.

When will I receive my certification card?

Generally our students receive their cards on the same day as training. In rare instances such as a delay at the processing center, you will receive your certification within 5 business days.

What materials will I receive?

All participants receive:

Participants Manual - large full color manual which contains all of the information covered in class and so much more.

Ready Reference Card - colorful display of techniques and information on a glossy, multi-fold card with step-by-step instructions.

Class Details:

Class: CPR/AED/Standard First Aid class for Adult, Child and Infant
Location: LDS Institute Building, 2368 Le Conte Ave, Berkeley
Date/Time: Saturday, May 11th, 10am-2pm
Cost: $60 (regular price: $110).


Handouts from the Fair:

Plan Ahead:

Family Plan Worksheet
Wallet-Sized Emergency Contact Cards
FEMA Fire Safey Checklist

Get Training:

Local CERT Training Information

Learn to shut off your gas:

Gas Shutoff Procedure

Paracord Bracelet:

Instructions

Berkeley Ward Neighborhood Emergency Groups:

I will send an email to the ward with the neighborhood group handout.

Week 15: Prepare to Shelter in Place

This week's tasks:

1. Learn how to shelter in place
2. Add shelter-in-place supplies to your emergency kit (sufficient plastic sheeting or heavy-duty garbage bags and duct tape to seal off windows, doors, vents, and outlets in your 'shelter-in-place' room plus duct tape for the car.)
3. Download the Red Cross Shelter-in-Place Fact Sheet and put it in your emergency binder for quick reference.

If hazardous materials are released into the air, communities can be ordered to 'shelter in place', which means to take your family and your emergency supplies, including a portable radio, to an interior room of your home (preferably with few or no windows) and seal it off with plastic sheeting and duct tape until the hazardous materials have dissipated enough that people can safely go back outside.   Those of you who are local probably remember the Richmond Refinery Fire last August, which prompted shelter-in-place orders in Richmond and El Cerrito.

How to shelter in place at home:

• Choose an interior room with few or no windows.
• Take your family and emergency supplies into the room (including food and water)
• Close and lock the windows, turn off your heating/air circulation system, and close the fireplace damper.
• Use plastic sheeting or heavy duty garbage bags (plastic wrap commonly used for food is too thin) and duct tape to seal off cracks around the door and window(s) and to cover and seal around air vents and outlets in your shelter-in-place room. Your goal is to keep all outside air from coming in.
• Listen to the radio to find out when it's safe to come out.
• When it's safe to come out, open all the doors and windows to air out the house.

If you are in your car:

• Pull over.
• Close the windows and vents.
• Seal the vents with duct tape.
• Listen to the radio for instructions and information.

How will you know a shelter-in-place order is in effect?  Communities have different ways of notifying their residents, but here are some possibilities:

• "All-Call" telephoning—an automated system for sending recorded messages, sometimes called "reverse 9-1-1."Emergency Alert System (EAS) broadcasts on the radio or television.
• Outdoor warning sirens or horns.
• News media sources—radio, television and cable.
• NOAA Weather Radio alerts.
• Residential route alerting—messages announced to neighborhoods from vehicles equipped with public address systems.

The Red Cross Shelter-in-Place Fact Sheet contains step-by-step instructions about how to shelter in place in your home, work, school or car.  Put a copy in your emergency binder for quick reference if you have to shelter in place.

Week 14: Fire Safety

This week's tasks: Hold a fire drill, test your smoke alarms, and review FEMA's fire safety guidelines.

Make an escape plan and practice a fire drill in your home:

• Click here to learn about making an escape plan.  Remember, every family member should know "two ways out" of every room.  Practice your plan twice a year.

Test your smoke alarms (and change the batteries if needed):

• Smoke alarms should be checked monthly.  In smoke alarms that take non-lithium batteries, the batteries should be replaced yearly.  In smoke alarms powered by a 10-year lithium battery, the battery cannot be replaced so the whole unit should be replaced periodically according to the manufacturers instructions.  Click here to find out more about smoke alarms.

Review FEMA's fire safety guidelines:

Download and review FEMA's Home safety checklist to see how you are doing with fire safety in your home.  The FEMA website also has a lot of other good information about fire safety.  Here are a few highlights and links to get more specific information:

• Earthquakes and Fire Safety - Check out this page to learn how to minimize the risk of fire after an earthquake.  You can download this handout as a quick reference to include in your emergency binder. 
• Fire Safety in Bedrooms: Bedrooms are a common area for fires to start.  Typical culprits: (1) children playing with matches (while hiding in confined spaces like under the bed or in the closet) - children start 35,000 bedroom fires annually, (2) electrical appliances, and (3) smoking.  Click the link to learn more about bedroom fire safety.
• Electrical Fire Safety - Don't overload your circuits.  Don't run cords under rugs.  Click the link to learn more.
• Fire Safety for High Rise Residents - Special tips for staying safe in a high-rise fire.
• Fire Extinguishers: Learn about the different kinds of fire extinguishers, how to use them, and how to know when to use them (versus just evacuating the building as quickly as possible)
• Cooking Fire Safety - Choose the right equipment and use it properly.  I used a fringed dish towel to take something out of the oven once and the fringes touched the heating element and caught on fire.  So don't do that.  Click on the link to learn more. 

Week 13: Assemble an Emergency Kit for your Car and Office

This week's task: Assemble emergency kits for your car and office

Car Emergency Kit

Your car emergency kit should contain supplies to help you if your car breaks down and/or if you end up stranded because of infrastructure damage after a disaster.  Of course, the types of items you will need will depend on where you drive and the weather in your area.   Here is a list to get you started (taken largely from this book):

Basic Emergency Supplies:

Flashlight
Water
Food
Sturdy shoes
Rain poncho
Coat or sweatshirt
Emergency whistle
First Aid kit
Heavy blankets or emergency blankets

Basic Automotive Supplies:

Jumper cables/jumpstart battery booster
Roadside triangle reflectors or flares (Cyalume flares, LED flares)
Small tool kit (screwdrivers, adjustable wrench, pliers)
Spare tire, jack, lug wrench,board
Maps and/or GPS units
ABC or BC fire extinguisher
Spare fuses

Additional supplies:

Work Gloves
Small gas can
Tow strap
Bungee tie-down cords
Fix-a-Flat tire inflator and sealant (quick temporary fix to flat tire)
Tire pump and guage (fill or check a leaky tire)
Cell phone charger

Cold-Weather supplies:

Windshield ice scraper
Bag of coarse sand (to provide traction in mud or snow)
Hand-ratcheted wench (to pull vehicle out of mud or snow)
Folding Shovel (for digging out tires)

I also keep backup child supplies in my car (diapers, sunscreen, food for the kids) both for emergencies and for run-of-the-mill forgetful parent moments.

Office Emergency Kit

I keep water, a flashlight, an emergency whistle and a little food in my office.  In some types of emergencies, you could be stranded in your location for awhile.  If you have to drive over a bridge to get home, you could be stranded for a few days.  

Week 12: Assemble a 72-hour kit, Part 2

This week's tasks:  Add a 3-day supply of food and a change of clothing to your 72-hour kit

Add food to your 72-hour kit:

How much food do you need?  The easiest way to figure that out is to count calories.  An adult needs 2000-2600/day and kids need around 1500-1600 calories/day.  If you are the mother of a nursing baby, click here for more information about keeping backup supplies on hand.  Once you add up your family's total caloric needs for 3 days, you are ready to go shopping - just add up the calories of everything you choose and keep buying more until you get to your total.  Remember that a post-disaster situation will be stressful and being hungry will make it harder to cope.

You have two broad choices for emergency food: (1) Emergency rations designed for long-term storage or (2) Regular, familiar food that has to be rotated regularly.   I have some of both.

Emergency Rations:  There are various options out there.  Here are a couple I'm familiar with.

1. High Calorie bars - These give you a lot of calories/square inch (the package has 3600 calories - inside the foil, they are wrapped in individual 200-calorie units). These particular bars taste like coconut shortbread cookies, but I've also seen lemon-flavored ones. They have a five-year shelf life.  
2. MRE's - These are what military personnel eat in the field.  This site has a large selection.  Keep in mind that the entrees only have 200-300 calories each, so 3 entrees are not a full day of food for an adult.  The 'side' dishes provide the extra calories (mixed nuts, peanut butter, crackers, drink mix, etc).  Shelf life is generally at least five years.

Buy real food I know my family likes:  Look for non-perishable items that have a lot of calories per unit of volume and have a shelf-life of at least six months to a year.  To make rotation easier, I keep my food list in a spreadsheet.  Along with the total calories, I write down the expiration dates so that I can scan the list every six months and replace the things that will expire soon (I wrote about my rotation plan in more detail last week).

Here is my food list for my family of 2 adults, 1 toddler and a baby: Excel spreadsheet, pdf.

Also, remember to include whatever dishes and utensils you will need to eat your food, open cans, etc. If you will need to wash dishes, include dish soap, a large ziploc bag, and dish cloth.

Add clothes to your 72-hour kit:

The Red Cross suggests that your 72-hour kit should include an extra change of clothes, a hat, sturdy shoes, and work gloves.

If you have kids/babies, consider items like blankets, jackets, burp cloths, diapers and wipes, and warm pajamas.  Often, a child doesn't have 'extra' pajamas, jackets, shoes, etc. that fit and can go in an emergency kit where they will rarely (or never) be worn.  I've gotten around this in two ways - for my baby boy, I put his big sister's old things that are too girlish for his regular use in the kit.  For my oldest, I put things in the kit that are a size too big - baggy clothes will work fine in an emergency.   I check the clothes at least once a year when I rotate the food, pull out the stuff she has grown into, and replace it with new stuff that is too big.  Shoes are more of a problem, but flip flops are a good option that are more forgiving if they don't fit right (especially if they are too big rather than too small).  If you have other ideas, put them in the comments.