CERT Classes to begin in September

There are CERT classes beginning on the 21 or 22 September at 6.30 pm. If you are interested in becoming trained to be part of CERT, sign up at the Provo City website, provo.org.
These classes are very informative and helpful. You can use them just to help yourself and your family or you can help in the community as part of a call-out team or as volunteers for community activities.
If you have any questions, please feel free to call me, Shawna 801.400.9444 or contact Chris Blinzinger, the city Emergency Management person.

Flood Update June 22, 2011

Hello Everyone,
We've (The National Weather Service) completed a new flood potential briefing for Wednesday.  This one looks at current snowpack, melt rates, river flows, and flood flows.  If you wish to view this 7 minute presentation, please click on the following link:
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/slc/wxbriefing/wxb22jun2011/player.html

Tuesday June 21, 2011 Flood Update

Hello Everyone,
Well, it looks like the temperatures are going to heat up before we melt off the large snowpack.  As a result, we have multiple rivers forecasted to rise above flood flow by Thursday, June 23rd.  This briefing will look at temperature levels, remaining snowpack, and areas that are forecast to exceed flood.  If you wish to view this 7 minute presentation, please click on the following link.
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/slc/wxbriefing/wxb21jun2011/player.html

Help Wanted

Freedom Festival is looking for some volunteers to work in a variety of positions.  CERT would like to be able to send a group of volunteers ( in our cute green vests) to help with this event on Parade day. There are a couple of different jobs available.

They are looking for people to work security. Here is the job description that we were given.

With 400,000 parade goers, the Provo Police and Utah Highway Patrol need some assistance. Persons will be assigned a block or Parade Staging are to patrol and ensure the trach is kept picked up and order is kept. All Security personal will be working in pairs. Will also be responsible in ensuring that only authorized persons enter certain areas, working closely with Wally Breitenstein Chieft of Security for the Grand Parade.

Job requirements: Must be able to be on their feet for up to 6 hours. Must be comfortable enforcing rules. Minimum of 18 years of age.

Time requirements:

(10 positions) Monday July 4, 2011 8:00 am to 10:00 am (2 hours) will walk in the preparade passing out trash bags for patrons to use and help in the overall Parade Route Beautification.

(20 positions) Monday july 4 2011 10:00 am to 1:00 pm (3 hours) Will work with Provo City in assisting the patrons pick up after themselves.

The Grand Parade could not be the event that it is without the volunteer spirit and enthusiasm. Thank you for your participation and willingness to serve your community. Please call or email if you want to be a part of the 2011 Grand Parade or with any further questions.

(10 positions) Pre-Night Shift  July 3, 2011  9:00 pm to 2:00 am (5hours)
(6 positions) Pre-Parade Shift July 3, 2011  2:00 am to Mon, 7:00 am (5 hours)
(54 positions) Parade Shift July 4, 2011 7:00 am to 12:00 pm (6 hours)

They also need banner carriers which entails walking and carrying a Parade Banner with a partner for the length of the Parade Route, approx. 2 miles, possibly in extreme temperatures, partnerships based on height to allow the optimal exertion of energy.

Job description: Must be able to walk a minimum of 2 miles in hot weather and must be at least 12 years of age. Good walking shoes are recommended. NO FLIP FLOPS OR SANDALS.

Time: Monday July 4 2011 at 8:00 am to 11 am (3 hours)

The last job that they need help with is Parade Route Beautifiers.
Job Description: Persons will walk at the end of the parage ensuring patrons pick up trash and that all sleep over items are picked up or they will be discarded. Provo City provides the trash bags and gloves and will also be in assistance in the clean-up effort.

Job Requirements: Must be at least 10 years of age and able to walk the 2 mile parade route.

Time Requirements:
( 10 positions) Monday July 4 from 8:00 am - 10:00 am will walk the parade route passing out trash bags for patrons to use and help in the overall Parade Route Beautification.

(20 positions) Monday July 4 2011 from 10:00 am to 1 pm (3 hours). Will work with Provo City in assisting the patrons pick up after themselves.

The Grand Parade could not be the event that it is without the volunteer spirit and enthusiasm. Thank you for your contribution and willingness to serve your community. Please call or email Chris Blinzinger 801.404.6368 or email him at CBlinzinger@provo.utah.gov

Just for your information....

We were just informed by the Provo River Commissioner that the lower Provo River will be coming back up 600 cfs over the next 30 hours.  The combination of how fast Jordanelle Reservoir has been filling (21 feet in 16 days), how slowly the snow pack at Trial Lake has been falling (still at 30", compared to a normal April peak of 25"), along with the forecast for hot weather this week has caused some concern.  The objective is to make sure that the reservoirs do not fill before the high runoff in the upper Provo River is past.
This situation is still not a major concern.  The flows in Provo River through town will now be in the 1100 - 1200 cfs range over the next week, well below earlier peak flows (1900 cfs).  The Lake Shore Pump Station will be turned back on; and other temporary pump facilities will remain mobilized, in case flows increase further.
The most significant impacts of this increase in Provo River flow will be that the elevation of Utah Lake may start rising again; and that the lower Provo River may again overflow the trail along the north bank, upstream of the State Park.
We will continue to monitor the situation, and update you as circumstances warrant.

Tuesday, 7 June 2011 Flood Update

This flood update is from Brian McInerney, Hydrologist with the National Weather Service in Salt Lake City.

We've put together the latest briefing as of June 7, 2011.  This briefing will look at our current areas of flood, the snowpack evolution from April 1st, our current and forecasted temperature levels, and the flood potential as a result of the physical parameters we've illustrated.  If you wish to view this information, please click on the following link.  The briefing will last 8 minutes.
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/slc/wxbriefing/wxb08jun2011/player.html

Flood Update 23 May 2011

Here is the current flood update as of 23 May 2011. Click on the link below and it will play a 9 minute report.
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/slc/wxbriefing/wxb26may2011/player.html

Snow Runoff Report May 20, 2011

May 20, 2011

Summary

The cool, wet weather this week has added to the snow pack, lowered current flows out of the frontal canyons and significantly raised the elevation of Utah Lake. Snow pack levels in the mountains east of Provo are up at least a couple of inches over the last four days. Over 2 inches of rain has fallen in Provo over the last three days. Expectations continue to be that runoff will be well above average this year, likely at least matching the flows experienced in 2005.

The elevation of Utah Lake is now 1.4' above compromise (up 0.6' in the last 10 days). It will likely rise at least another foot, or more this spring, certainly exceeding the nearly 2' above compromise reached in 1997 and ‘98. The rain has created additional inflow; while the cool, cloudy weather has minimized evaporation. Inundation of some of the agricultural area north of the lower Provo River now appears likely.

Flows in the lower Provo River are currently about 1400 cfs. The River spiked up to 1600 cfs with the rainfall last night, and flows are expected to be in the 1500 -1700 cfs range over the weekend, depending upon rainfall. Peak flows this year are still weather dependent, but Provo River flows will likely be in the 2000 cfs range in the next few weeks, similar to the 1900 cfs in 2005.

The weather forecast over the next week continues to be cool and wet. Flows out of the frontal canyons are in something of a holding pattern; pending warmer weather, possibly next weekend. Utah Lake will continue to rise.

Flood Update for May 17 2011

Here is a link for the flood update for this week if you are interested in listening to it.

http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/slc/wxbriefing/wxb17may2011/player.html

Updates and apologies

Dear CERT Friends:

Unfortunately, there will not be a Provo CERT class before the end of June. There was some confusion as to the expiration date of our grant. I apologize for the confusion. We will keep you updated as to when the next class will begin. It looks as though it will be the end of summer or beginning of fall. While we are still organizing and getting things in place, please hang in there because if we all work together our efforts will be successful in building a strong CERT program for Provo.

We will be having a monthly CERT training meeting that will cover different aspects of CERT and emergency preparedness. The first meeting will be Thursday, June 8th at 6 pm. The meeting in will be in the City Council chambers at the City Center and will inlcude a flood presentation and more information about upcoming training and drills. Some of these events will require lots of volunteer participation so plan on attending this meeting and getting more of the details.

Again, thanks for all your support and patience. See you June 9th!

Upcoming CERT training!

I know this is what you have been waiting for. CERT training class is scheduled for Thursday, 26 May thru 14 July. It will be from 6.30 - 9 pm. If there are not enough people for class, then class will not be held at that time.

If you are interested, follow this link to provo.org, click on the emergency management link on the left-hand side of the page. Find the CERT subject on this page, go there and at the bottom of the page you can fill out the form.

Also, if you are interested in training but this class doesn't work out, we have tenatively scheduled class for 8 September thru 27 October. Again, class will be held once enough people have signed up.

Tell everyone you know. We want lots of participation! See you there!

Thank You to everyone!

Thank you to everyone who went over and filled sandbags. I talked with Richard this afternoon and he said that they have all the sandbags filled so they do not need any more help at the time.

What You Should Know About Floods

Utah continues to prepare for possible flooding as increased temperatures forecasted for the next week could mean high runoff. There aren't any flood watches or advisories right now and rivers seem to have receded below flood stage, but temperatures are expected to reach the 60s and 70s in the next few days, and some volunteers aren't taking any chances. There is an opportunity to help fill sandbags in preparation for flooding. If you are interested in doing this, please call Richard Snyder at 801-852-7777. He is with Public Works and can tell you when they have groups scheduled to fill sandbags.

Also, here is a link to a wonderful source of information about floods and what to do if there is a flood.
http://bereadyutah.gov/family/documents/FloodsWhatYouShouldKnow.pdf

Volunteer Oportunity

Provo City is also asking for volunteers to help fill sandbags in case of flooding. If you would like to help with this, please contact ProvoCERT@gmail.com or Richard Snyder 801-852-7777.

I've had a couple of questions about flooding and have added the Snow Melt Runoff Report from the Provo City website for those that are interested and will try to remember to post again when the next one is out. You can access this and more information at provo.org.

SNOW MELT RUNOFF REPORT

May 2, 2011

Summary

High snow pack levels in the mountains east of Provo, combined with high soil moisture conditions and cool, wet weather throughout April; have created great potential for significant spring runoff this year. Current snow pack levels are at, or above 30-year highs for this time of year. Expectations are that

 

The elevation of Utah Lake is

0.7' above compromise. It will likely rise a another foot, or more this spring; possibly reaching, or exceeding the nearly 2' above compromise experienced in 1997 and ‘98. However, the elevation of the Lake is 2½ feet lower than at this time in 1983. The capacity of the Jordan River has been increased since the 80's, and more water has been released early from the reservoirs, in anticipation of high runoff, than occurred in 1983. These factors will keep Utah Lake from getting anywhere close to the elevations seen in the 1980's.

Current Elevation

Estimated 2011 Peak 4491.0' 2.0' above compromise

2010 Peak (2/6) 4489.2' 0.2' above compromise

Elevation 5/2/10 4488.9' 0.1' below compromise

Elevation 5/2/83 4492.3' 3.3' above compromise

1984 Peak 4495.0' 6.0' above compromise

4489.7' 0.7' above compromiseProvo River

Flows in the lower Provo River are approx.

925 cfs. The River spiked up to 1200 cfs on April18th, with the rain storm that day. Peak flows this spring are still weather dependent, but Provo River flows will likely be near the 2000 cfs range late this month, or in early June, similar to the 1900 cfs in 2005. Over 100,000 acre feet of storage capacity currently exists in Jordanelle Reservoir. This flood control capacity, combined with the early release of water out of the reservoirs, will keep peak flows on the Provo River well below the 2400 cfs seen in 1983.

Current Flow: Approx.

Estimated 2011 Peak: 1600 - 2100 cfs

2011 Peak 5/1 @ 47"

2010 Peak: 600 cfs (5/18) Current

925 cfs (cubic feet/second) Snow Pack at Trial Lake47"

2005 Peak: 1900 cfs (5/31)

2010 (5/2) 20"

1983 Peak: 2400 cfs (6/3) Peak 5/15 @ 21"

Note: Flows are measured below Geneva Road

Peak 5/13 @ 35"

Expected Remaining Runoff: 202,000 acre-feet (171% of normal)

Current Storage Capacity: 116,000 acre-feet 1983 (5/2) 31"

Peak 5/20 @ 35"

2005 (5/2) 33"

Frontal Canyons

Snow pack levels in the frontal canyons east of Provo are essentially the same as they were on

April 1

the frontal canyons will be well above average, but still within system capacity; or whether they

will be much higher. The main difference between 1983 and 2005 was that even though the May 2

st. Weather over the next few weeks will still be critical in determining if runoff flows out ofnd snow pack in ‘83 was lower than in ‘05; it only dropped 2" between the 2nd and 25th of May 1983, while in 2005, it dropped almost 2/3 (24") by May 25th. The 2005 flows were well below system capacity, which had been significantly increased (enhanced detention basins and improved outfall piping) since the high runoff of the 1980's.

Current Flows Snow Pack at Timp. Divide and Cascade Mtn.

Rock Canyon

2010 Peak - 6/8 @ 25 cfs Current

- Not yet started 2011 Peak 4/16 @ 48" 4/11 @ 24"45" 21"

2005 Peak - 5/23 @ 64 cfs

2010 Peak 4/15 @ 23" 4/14 @ 18"

Slate Canyon-

2010 Peak - 6/7 @ 4 cfs

2005 Peak - 5/23 @ 29 cfs 2005 Peak 4/11 @ 41" 4/1 @ 27"

(5/2) 37" 22"

Not yet started (5/2) 13" 10"

Little Rock Canyon- Dissipating above Sherwood Dr

2010 - No runoff 1983 (5/2) 32"

2005 Peak - 5/16 @ 4 cfs Peak 5/3 @ 32"

Note: Flows measured at canyon mouths

Outlook

The “nightmare” scenario would be another 2 or 3 weeks of cool, wet weather; followed by

suddenly hot weather, combined with heavy rain storms. This would result in a high percentage

of the snow pack running off over a very short duration of time. The “dream” scenario would be

at least a couple weeks of dry, warm (70's and low 80's) weather, before it gets hot. This would

allow the low and medium elevation snow pack to melt and runoff before the high elevation snow pack does; stretching out the duration of runoff, and reducing the magnitude of peak flows. The “likely” scenario is somewhere in between.

The good news is that the forecast over the next week is for dry, warm (70's, Thur - Sun) weather. This may start the melting of low elevation snow pack, but will have no significant impact on runoff in the Provo River, or the frontal canyon channels through Provo this week.

The next update will be issued Monday (5/9).

Little Rock Canyon, which has had flows trickling out of the canyon mouth for the last two weeks, will likely increase in flow; but not to significant levels. If flows in Rock and Slate Canyons reach the canyon mouths this week, they will be at very low levels. Flows in the Provo River are projected to remain in the 900 -1000 cfs range this week. The elevation of Utah Lake will likely continue to rise slowly, another inch or two over the next week.

Provo City Public Works Department

Greg Beckstrom, Deputy Public Works Director

801-852-6720

Utah Lake

runoff will be well above average this year, likely at least matching the flows experienced in 2005. While it is possible that mountain runoff could be the greatest it has been since the high runoff of 1983, the impacts within Provo City would not be nearly as significant, for reasons outlined below. Weather over the next few weeks (temperature and precipitation) will still have a significant effect on the magnitude and duration of spring runoff.

PROVO CITY

Putting Down Roots in Earthquake Country Handbook

I found this handbook this evening while I was putting information together for another class. I thought I would pass the information along. This information is directly from their website. I hope that it is helpful to those who have asked for more information about earthquakes and the Utah Valley. Here is the web address:

http://ussc.utah.gov/putting_down_roots.html

The Putting Down Roots in Earthquake Country handbook is a new and comprehensive resource that provides information about the threat posed by earthquakes in Utah, particularly along the Wasatch Front, and explains how you can prepare for, survive, and recover from these inevitable events.
If you live or work in Utah, you need to know why you should be concerned about earthquakes, what you can expect during and after an earthquake, and what you need to do beforehand to be safe and protect your property.
To obtain a copy of Putting Down Roots in Earthquake Country – Your handbook for earthquakes in Utah:

• Download a PDF of the pamphletHigh Resolution (16MB)Low Resolution (5MB)
• Pick up a free copy from the Natural Resources Map & Bookstore
• Pick up a free copy from the Utah Division of Homeland Security (1110 State Office Building, Salt Lake City)
• Pick up a free copy from your city or county emergency manager (for more information see the government section of your local telephone book)
• For bulk orders (ten or more), please contact Bob Carey (Utah Division of Homeland Security) atmailto:bcarey@utah.gov or 801-538-3784.

More information on faults and earthquakes in Utah can also be found at the Utah Geological Survey.

The First Bite - Where Do I Start?

Preparedness can be completely overwhelming. When I talk with people about preparedness, this is the one frustration that I hear. "I just don't know where to start." "I look at all that I need to do and I am completely at a loss as to what to do next". It reminds me of the story about eating an elephant.

How do you eat an elephant? One small bite at a time.

Take it one small piece at a time and over time, it adds up to a whole lot of preparedness. At first, it will seem as though you are not even making any progress at all. Then one day, you will look around and be surprised to see that you have 72 hour kits. Oh look, you have a 3 month supply. Water? I have water on hand for my family. It is mostly a matter of getting started, planning and then working on it regularly.

When I started I read everything I could find. And then I was completely overwhelmed by all that there was to do. In addition, I know that I tend to get distracted by everything and loss focus on the important things and the goals that I set. In order to combat this problem, I decided that I was going to have to set appointments with myself and treat them as though they are just as important as an appointment with someone else. I wouldn't put off meeting a friend for months and that is how I treat my appointments with myself. This may not work for everyone but it works for me. Each week I have 1 1/2 hours where I do nothing but work on preparedness. Sometimes it is planning what I need, sometimes it is organizing, sometimes it is going and picking something up. Remember when I planted tomatoes and peppers (which are doing great, by the way)? That was one of my appointments. Gardening is part of my preparedness plan.

To return to the elephant analogy, taking everything that the 'experts' suggested to I do to be prepared for an emergency, I broke it down into smaller, bite-sized areas and went to work. I decided which to work on, put them on the calendar and went to work. I am amazed at how much I have been able to accomplish in a short time. It has been about 3 years of constant focus and the reward has been peace of mind. We always have places we could do better but I do not worry because I know that we are getting there and eventually whatever is still lacking will be worked on.

The first thing that I worked on was getting a family emegency plan together. This helps my family know what to do if there is an emergency, who to call and where to go. BeReadyUtah.gov is a wonderful site to help with this. You follow the prompts and fill in your information and at the end it will print you out a page that has your family plan on paper plus it also will print out a wallet-sized card that folds up and you can carry with you that has all of the family plan information on it. I loved this! I now have this little card in my wallet that has all our contact information on it for my children, where they will be, where we met if there is a problem, etc. I think it will be helpful if there is a emergency and I forget everyone's phone number (if I can call) or where we meet if I can't get back to the house. And my children have one also. I thought this was a great idea because you could put it in your child's backpack and it would always be there if they needed it. It comes in handy even if there isn't a disaster if they need a family or work number that they don't remember.

Once my husband and I discussed all of the information on BeReadyUtah.gov and came up with a plan, filled out our plan information and printed off our cards, we then sat down with our children and had a family discussion. Realize that my children are teen-agers and college-age kids. They thought we were being a little on the loony side. We took a lot of hassling from them about being overly dramatic about the 'what ifs' and there was a lot of eye rolling and sighing. They are big people, you know, and can take care of themselves. They are grown but I still feel that by the end of the discussion, they learned something and to pacify their mom, they tucked their cards into their wallet or purse. Hopefully, they will keep it with them and never have to use it.

Here are some suggestions for making a family plan and discussing it with your family.

• Go to BeReadyUtah.gov and use their site. They have lots of basic information that is good to know. Their site can help you make an emergency plan, get a 72 hr kit together and has many other resources.
• Fill out your family plan
• Meet with your family members to discuss how to respond to the dangers of fire, severe weather, earthquakes, floods and other emergencies
• Find the safe spots for each type of disaster
• Discuss what to do about power outages and injuries
• Draw a floor plan of your home and mark two escape routes from each room
• Post emergency numbers near the phone
• Teach children when and how to call 911, police and fire
• Pick one out-of-state and one local friend/family member to call in a disaster
• Teach children your phone numbers, home and work
• Pick two reunion locations, one right outside your home, and one away from your neighborhood in case you cannot return.
• Take a basic first aid/CPR class ( http://www.utahredcross.org/general.asp?SN=3167&OP=3370&SUOP=12132&IDCapitulo=I2OD6QV708T ) and take a CERT class ( http://www.provo.org/fire.ppd_certprogram.html )

It sounds simple. It is simple. There's nothing to buy, you don't have to go somewhere to do this. You can do this at home with paper and pencil or a computer. It's just a matter of sitting down and doing it. I think when I did this, it took me about a week to do everything on this list that pertained to my family. Discussing it, finding the information, sitting down and actually putting it on paper, have a family meeting and then put the plan in our emergency binder. After I finished, I felt like a weigh had been lifted from my mind. Hopefully, if there is a problem, my family will at a minimum know where to go to meet and how and who to get in touch with so that we will all know that each other are safe.

Japan As a Reminder for Us to Prepare

A little girl stands in line with the rest of the people waiting for the second batch of water in Shiogama on Monday.  David Hogsholt for CNN

 

I happened to see this the other day while I was reading more about the aftermath of the earthquake in Japan. As horrific as the earthquake and tsunami were, many people have been motivated to start or assess their own preparedness because of it. This is a good thing as being prepared can make an emergency a little easier on yourself and your family. Our family is constantly praying for everyone who has been affected and they have been in my thoughts as I go about my day. They are having similar weather to what we have right now and my heart hurts for those who are in the cold and struggling to stay sheltered and fed. Food, water and shelter continue to be scarce even this long since the disaster. And now they have the added concerns of radiation in the food and water that is available.

I just want to remind everyone about the importance of storing water and food. 

 

"In many areas there is no running water, no power and four- to five-hour waits for gasoline. People are suppressing hunger with instant noodles or rice balls while dealing with the loss of loved ones and homes. "People are surviving on little food and water. Things are simply not coming," said Hajime Sato, a government official in Iwate prefecture, one of the three hardest hit.

. . . "I'm giving up hope," said Hajime Watanabe, 38, a construction industry worker, who was the first in line at a closed gas station in Sendai, about 60 miles (100 kilometers) north of Soma. Just then, an emergency worker came over and told him that if the station opens at all, it would pump gasoline only to emergency teams and essential government workers. "I never imagined we would be in such a situation" Watanabe said. "I had a good life before. Now we have nothing. No gas, no electricity, no water."  He said he was surviving with his family on 60 half-liter bottles of water his wife had stored in case of emergencies like this. He walked two hours to find a convenience store that was open and waited in line to buy dried ramen noodles."1

How fortunate for them that Hajime's wife stored that water for a time such as this. What a blessing it has been to their family. It has been days since the disaster in Japan and still many areas don't have any relief supplies. In some remote areas there has not been contact because of impassable roads. We could be in a similar situation should we have an earthquake. The government may not be able to get relief supplies to us for days or weeks. Being prepared is up to you.

Preparedness Fair

I had the opportunity to set up a booth at a Preparedness Fair today. The turn out was great. They had many people come and look through the booths, watch the demos and learn some new skills. There were lots of things to look at and I learned some new things that I hadn't know before. I love learning new things especially when they are preparedness oriented. I learned about making 'wheat meat' and sprouts (which tasted yummy) and saw this cool little stove that I think I might need. I can't wait to try this and a couple of the other things that I learned. Of course, when I do I will post pictures and how it went. I also talked with lots of people about CERT and had great interest in the program. YEAH! And I saw several of the members of our last class. I have missed them. I make friends at class and then I don't get to see them very often. It was a great day.

Are We Learning from Japan?

I have watched with sadness and concern the recent events in Haiti, Chile, New Zealand, and now Japan as these countries have dealt with devastating earthquakes and tsunamis. The pictures coming out of Japan have been particularly disturbing and have caused me to re-evaluate what we are doing as a family to prepare for potential earthquakes in our own state of Utah.

I read with interest an article by Malcolm Foster (AP) as the news broke concerning Japan's quake yesterday. We've all heard (and hopefully we've done something about it) that we should tie down our water heaters to prevent fires following an earthquake. But in Japan fires started for a number of reasons I hadn't really thought about. Cars were tipped over or crushed causing gas and oil to leak. Gas lines broke and not just those connecting to water heaters. Are there other things we should be thinking about besides securing our water heaters? Certainly our firefighters will be too busy dealing with fires to also deal with the other issues. Are we prepared to carry out search and rescue efforts on our own? Can we serve as providers of first aid?

Foster reported that critical roads and bridges buckled, collapsed or were covered with debris. By nightfall after the quake, the streets were jammed with cars, buses, and trucks trying to get around or out of the city. Are we prepared to shelter in place? Are we prepared to evacuate if necessary without the use of our cars and roads?

It's winter in Japan. Immediately after the quake power was out to over 14 million homes. Some could not get to their homes because the power outages meant elevators didn't work. Others lost their homes to flooding or collapse. One survivor stood in the street with an elderly parent. They couldn't get to their apartment on the 29th floor. She was quoted: "We are so cold. We really don't know what to do." And this is Japan, one of the most prepared and experienced nations when it comes to earthquakes. Have we thought about what we'd do for shelter and heat if our homes were not available? Or if power and natural gas were not an option?

Phone service was non-existent with both landlines and cell phones. This makes it difficult to know the welfare of family members who were not at home and likely scattered at school or work at the time of the quake at 2:45 p.m. Do you have a plan to communicate with family members if the phones are out?

We are probably not looking at damage from a tsunami here, but we live downstream from Deer Creek Reservoir and most of Provo lies in a flood plain should the dam fail. What are the implications of that for our families?

I don't intend to create fear by posing these questions, but we have a wonderful opportunity to learn. We need to be doing something today to put that learning into action.

It's that time of year when the world falls in love.....

Let's change the song a little. It's that time of year when the world comes alive....Yes, spring is coming. In my world, it's here. It's time to start getting out the seeds and random containers and starting to get things planted for warmer days to come. Even though it's still nippy outside, my little seeds will sprout and start a carpet of green to be transplanted later.

You may think that gardening is a summer project. Or perhaps it seems to overwhelming. And at times, it isn't the most inexpensive way to put some veggies on the dinner table. But gaining these skills can help ease the cost of having fresh produce and lessen your dependence on the grocery store.

Some seeds to start now would be tomatoes, eggplant, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, broccoli to name a few. Many of your herbs can be started in a warm, sunny window. Most plants are very senstitive to day length. When day length increases, they immediately begin to add new growth. Tomatoes and other seedlings can catch this wave of momentum; large containers will keep them from becoming root-bound before outdoor temperatures warm.

This doesn't have to be an elaborate or expensive project. A bag of potting soil can be picked up at the nursery, Home Depot or Wal Mart. I'm certain that you have some containers that you can dig out of the recycling. I have seed I saved from last year but even know seed packets are starting to show up in the back of the store. Or you can order some online or from a catalog like Burpee or Seed Savers. I used these little trays that I had left from past years and just added new little peat things ( don't know what they are called). I just drop a seed in each one and add water. Easy peasy. Now they are planted and I am waiting breathlessly for a little bit of green.

Mock Disaster March 5, 2011

Tonight was the disaster. It went well, as disasters go. We had lots of help getting the victims ready and ended up with about 35 gruesome looking victims.

Our CERT people showed up, picked an IC and got organized.

Then the responders got to work and rescued and treated the victims. They did a great job. More pictures can be found on facebook.com/ProvoCERT

What Do I do During an Earthquake?

We've looked at preparing for an earthquake. Now let's look at staying as safe as possible during an earthquake. Be aware that some earthquakes are actually foreshocks and a larger earthquake might occur. Minimize your movements to a few steps to a nearby safe place and if you are indoors, stay there until the shaking has stopped and you are sure exiting is safe. Earthquakes don't kill people, falling objects typically do. Moving away from objects that may fall on you should be your main goal.

If indoors

• If indoors, stay indoors. Do not run outside! Stay inside until the shaking stops.
• DROP to the ground; take COVER by getting under a sturdy table or other piece of furniture; and HOLD ON until the shaking stops. If there isn’t a table or desk near you, cover your face and head with your arms and crouch in an inside corner of the building.
• Stay away from glass, windows, outside doors and walls, and anything that could fall, such as lighting fixtures or furniture.
• Stay in bed if you are there when the earthquake strikes. Hold on and protect your head with a pillow, unless you are under a heavy light fixture that could fall. In that case, move to the nearest safe place.
• Use a doorway for shelter only if it is in close proximity to you and if you know it is a strongly supported, loadbearing doorway.
• Stay inside until the shaking stops and it is safe to go outside. Research has shown that most injuries occur when people inside buildings attempt to move to a different location inside the building or try to leave.
• Be aware that the electricity may go out or the sprinkler systems or fire alarms may turn on.
• DO NOT use the elevators.

If outdoors

• Stay there.
• Move away from buildings, streetlights, and utility wires.
• Once in the open, stay there until the shaking stops. The greatest danger exists directly outside buildings, at exits and alongside exterior walls. Many of the 120 fatalities from the 1933 Long Beach earthquake occurred when people ran outside of buildings only to be killed by falling debris from collapsing walls. Ground movement during an earthquake is seldom the direct cause of death or injury. Most earthquake-related casualties result from collapsing walls, flying glass, and falling objects.

If in a moving vehicle

• Stop as quickly as safety permits and stay in the vehicle. Avoid stopping near or under buildings, trees, overpasses, and utility wires.
• Proceed cautiously once the earthquake has stopped. Avoid roads, bridges, or ramps that might have been damaged by the earthquake.

If trapped under debris

• Do not light a match.
• Do not move about or kick up dust.
• Cover your mouth with a handkerchief or clothing.
• Tap on a pipe or wall so rescuers can locate you. Use a whistle if one is available. Shout only as a last resort. Shouting can cause you to inhale dangerous amounts of dust.

Before an Earthquake

Source: FEMA

During our most recent class a desire was expressed to learn more about earthquakes because we live on a fault line. Also, if you have noticed, the earth seems to be moving a lot recently.There have been 11 large quakes between 4.0 and 7.2  reported since the beginning of January. Earthquakes are measured on a scale of 1-10. The most recent was a small quake on 25 February 2011, west of Price, Utah. Below is a map of the earthquakes along the fault that we live on. The USGA rates Utah as having a high risk of experiencing earthquakes.

 I have included some basics about earthquakes that might be helpful to know and what we should do before, during and after a quake and what I am doing here at home.

Before a quake, there are several things that we can do to make our homes safer. By identifying these potential hazards and planning, we can reduce or eliminate the chance of serious injury or death. Here are some steps that FEMA has suggested we take.

1. Check for Hazards in the Home
   • Fasten shelves securely to walls.
   • Place large or heavy objects on lower shelves.
   • Store breakable items such as bottled foods, glass, and china in low, closed cabinets with latches.
   • Hang heavy items such as pictures and mirrors away from beds, couches, and anywhere people sit.
   • Brace overhead light fixtures.
   • Repair defective electrical wiring and leaky gas connections. These are potential fire risks.
   • Secure a water heater by strapping it to the wall studs and bolting it to the floor.
   • Repair any deep cracks in ceilings or foundations. Get expert advice if there are signs of structural defects.
   • Store weed killers, pesticides, and flammable products securely in closed cabinets with latches and on bottom shelves.
2. Identify Safe Places Indoors and Outdoors
   • Under sturdy furniture such as a heavy desk or table.
   • Against an inside wall.
   • Away from where glass could shatter around windows, mirrors, pictures, or where heavy bookcases or other heavy furniture could fall over.
   • In the open, away from buildings, trees, telephone and electrical lines, overpasses, or elevated expressways.
3. Educate Yourself and Family Members
   • Contact your local emergency management office or American Red Cross chapter for more information on earthquakes. Also read the "How-To Series" for information on how to protect your property from earthquakes.
   • Teach children how and when to call 9-1-1, police, or fire department and which radio station to tune to for emergency information.
   • Teach all family members how and when to turn off gas, electricity, and water.
4. Have Disaster Supplies on Hand
   • Flashlight and extra batteries.
   • Portable battery-operated radio and extra batteries.
   • First aid kit and manual.
   • Emergency food and water.
   • Nonelectric can opener.
   • Essential medicines.
   • Cash and credit cards.
   • Sturdy shoes.
5. Develop an Emergency Communication Plan
   • In case family members are separated from one another during an earthquake (a real possibility during the day when adults are at work and children are at school), develop a plan for reuniting after the disaster.
   • Ask an out-of-state relative or friend to serve as the "family contact." After a disaster, it's often easier to call long distance. Make sure everyone in the family knows the name, address, and phone number of the contact person.

Tomorrow I will focus on how to protect ourselves during an earthquake.

This is why we need a CERT program in Provo. This could happen to us and how great it would be to be organized in the chaos this creates. Thanks to all of you who are trained and continue to be involved.  I look forward to future drills that will help us prepare.

6.3 quake rocks New Zealand city; fatalities reported

www.msnbc.msn.com

A large temblor rocked the southern New Zealand city of Christchurch, crumbling buildings, causing fatalities and injuring dozens.

Payson Preparedness Fair March 5th

There will be a Preparedness Fair in Payson on Saturday, March 5th from 10:00 am- 3:00 pm.  There will be police, fire, cert, ambulance, tables with solar flashlights and water purifiers, 72 hour food kits, and fire starters, reusable canning lids, cylinder stoves, fire stryker tools, Springville cannery, back packs, info on home canning, demonstrations on making fire without matches, and more. Come join the fun and learn how to do something that you didn't know how to do before. See you there!

In the Beginning....

I saw the announcement for CERT class and thought it would be interesting. So I cleared my schedule and attended class. I fell in love. I love the subject matter, I love the fire guys, I love the people I went to class with. And because I love my family, each week I went home from class and did something to help my family be a little more prepared.

First week, I went home and we talked and made a family plan. I got online and went to bereadyutah.gov and used the site to print off our family plan and also a card with our information on it that we could each carry in our wallet or purse.

Second week, fire week, I bought fire extinguishers for the house and cars.

Third and fourth week was medical. I practiced my bandaging skills on my hubby and made first aid kits for the house and cars.

Fifth week, search and rescue: I bought a couple 2 x 4's and we cut them into pieces for cribbing. Over the summer as I had some 4x4's left from a project, we added to it.

Sixth week, CERT organization: I asked a lot of questions and left class feeling overwhelmed and confused as to what to do next. The teachers said that how we organize our neighborhood is up to us. Two of my classmates and I started working up a plan for our neighborhood, typed up cover letters, put on our vests and started walking our neighborhood. We passed out information on CERT, explained what we would like to do for a neighborhood plan and got to know our neighbors. We also set up a display at a preparedness fair and talked to anyone who came by. This took a couple of months.

Seventh week is disaster psychology and terrorism class. Interesting. When they showed a video to emphasis that we are going to see things that are going to be upsetting. I cried. I admit it. All I could see was that a mother lost a child. If I can relate it to me in any way, I will cry. I went home hugged my kids, put all our important documents in a binder and worked on my plan to round out my storage. I set some more preparedness goals.

Mock disaster week was enlightening. Kids came and acted as our victims and we rescued and treated them. It was cold and chaotic. And as we ran the scenario the second time, it cemented in my brain that the more we practiced, the easier this would be to deal with if we had to do it in real time. After I got home that night, and for the next three nights, I woke up in a panic in the middle of the night having dreams that there was a disaster and all those kids that I know, were hurt. I always have been fabulous in a crisis and can do whatever needs to be done but when the crisis is done, I weep. My way of handling stress. Apparently, mock or real, my brain can't tell the difference and it bothered me. I did recognize though, that with repetition, this would be easier in the long run on me because it would bother me less. I could see that more people need to know these skills and about this program. I decided that I was going to help make this program as successful it could be and so I went to the next class. And the next and the next and so on.

Now, I feel like the CERT mascot. I go to class and I help with the activities. I help things stay organized and do whatever odd job needs to be done. I connect with the people who come to class and answer questions. I talk and walk CERT.

 I want to help people be more prepared and so I try to spread the word.

Because I know that one can make a difference.