Hi everyone!

Here is a great idea to help you recover after a disaster of any kind!  An app to easily document your home and personal possessions via photos.  Minimize the problems proving your losses to your insurance and disaster recovery agencies.  personal-property-inventory-app info

Here's a community who "gets it"...

Bel Air Operations Manager Rick Cole points out some of the $50,000-worth of supplies the community has gathered to protect its residents in the event of a disaster. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

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Community is ready for the worst...

FREE eBOOK: Middle Ground Prepping – A Sensible Approach

Hayman at A Blog for the Peninsula CERT Community - 1 week ago

Middle Ground Prepping – A Sensible Approach eBook Available September 2nd! Jim Serre is proud to announce the launch of his new eBook. Learn how middle ground prepping can get you prepared without taking over your life. Somewhere in between … Continue reading original post →

  

First impressions:
I have read the introduction and glanced through the remainder with the intention for a more thorough read soon.  This looks like an ideal introduction to disaster preparedness which you could give to anyone who would like to see just what this "prepping stuff" is all about.  It even addresses the over-dramatized TV shows featuring wild, edge-of-reality preppers and shows how those stories were sensationalized.  The remainder of the book seems to cover historical disasters and moves into some basic preparations that are good for anyone to make.  More later...

Where to get this book: 

Search Amazon.com for "Middle Ground Prepping" and you will find that the Kindle version of this book is still free. .  If you would like the paperback version, it is $11.99.

A Different Look at CERT training - Levels-based training

Hi CERT members!

I recently had the privilege to chat with one of the leaders of a Northern California CERT program.  He introduced me to their "Levels" training.  In their program once you finish the Basic CERT training, you are welcomed to the team and he reported that many people decide to stop at that level.

However, they also have advanced training for those who wish to become more proficient in a wide variety of disaster operations.  There also is some sort of recognition for those who reach those higher levels of readiness but I didn't get any specifics on that aspect of the program.

He pointed me to their website for specifics on the advanced training and I was very impressed so I would like to share some excerpts of what I found with you.

Level One
This is the basic CERT training that is a part of all CERT programs and ends with a disaster simulation.

Level Two
Requires the completion of 2 American Red Cross (ARC) classes - Disaster Services Overview and Shelter Operations (a background check may be required).  In addition, the National Incident Management System IS-100, 200, 700 and 800b courses are required.

Level Three
Requires the completion of the Emergency Medical Responder course (either ARC Emergency Response or ASHI Emergency Medical Responder) and CPR for the Professional Rescuer.  Licensing as an EMT or health care professional also qualifies you for this level.

Additional Advanced Training is also offered (some of which are offered in the San Diego CERT program).

An 8 hour module on Wild-land Fire/Urban Interface
A 4 hour course on Hazardous Materials Awareness
A 4 hour course in Traffic Control
A 10 hour course on Flooding and Swift Water Awareness
A state-wide, CERT Instructor Training program
Other Training
Many other topics such as map reading and navigation, Pet First Aid, Helicopter Safety and Auto Extrication are also offered for their CERT Level 2 and 3 members.  They have also partnered with other programs for cross-training of CERT members in areas such as Urban Search & Rescue (US&R), the Chaplaincy Program and the Animal Response Team.

As I stated earlier, I was very impressed with their "Levels" program.  It would be nice to see something like that available for CERT programs everywhere.

Terry Walters
Mira Mesa CERT

Food Storage Shelf Life

Food Storage Shelf Life:
Okay, most of us should have food stored away as part of our emergency preparedness.  Keep in mind that only specially prepared products like camping meals, MREs and true emergency rations have multi-year expiration dates.  That means those cans of beans,  boxes of oatmeal and jars of peanut butter all have varying shelf lives.
This website lists expected shelf life for a wide variety of goods and is a great reference for folks maintaining their supplies.

Fire Station App for iOS devices

Fire Station App for iPhone/iPad locates and maps fire stations in CA! It's available in the App Store. Like us on FB at www.facebook.com/FireStationApp

Available on the App Store · http://www.firestationapp.com

Solar Power for Emergency Preparedness

Solar Power for Emergency Preparedness:

Being CERT-trained, we all have a better appreciation for being prepared for the unexpected.  We all know to store food and water and medical supplies to get us thru the first few critical days following a disaster, but have you thought about storing electricity?

As we have seen in the news recently, it is often the extended duration of power outages that can cause the most distress and inconvenience.  Some folks have generators, but it’s not the most efficient use of potentially scarce gasoline to burn fuel to run a few lamps or charge a phone.

Those that know me know are never surprised to find that I’ve added another  new technology/gadget/tool to my inventory.  Allow me to introduce Goal Zero. I have been keeping an eye on portable solar technology for some time, watching it mature and become more affordable.  Goal Zero is a Utah-based company that truly embraces the ethos of living off the grid but still using all our personal technology.

  This is the Lighthouse lantern.  It has a built-in battery that can be charged by AC adapter, car 12V, hand crank, or solar panel.  Here it is shown recharging from the Nomad 7 portable solar panel.

Besides providing six hours of light with a fully charged battery, the Lighthouse has a USB plug (how cool is that!)  The battery is, as shown here, strong enough to charge an iPhone.

Here is the Nomad 7 solar panel.  This panel generates 7W of power and also has its own USB plug that you can plug your smartphone into and charge directly from the sun.  This panel requires direct sun for best performance.

Here is the Goal Zero Escape 150 kit.  The Escape 150 is the tall unit that looks like a Thermos bottle.  It contains a large lead-acid battery (150 W-hrs) that can be charged from an AC adapter, car 12V or from the sun.  The panel generates 15W of power, uses more advanced solar cells and is completely weatherproof.  I have been using the panel indoors to keep the Escape 150 fully charged and it charges in a wider range of lighting conditions than the Nomad 7.

Here you can see what the Escape 150 is great at doing, providing you a 110V electrical outlet wherever you need it!  Besides the 110 AC outlet, there is also a USB plug.  Here you see that I am charging my iPad using the AC adapter.  This unit can also power a laptop too.

In this photo, I have some Goal Zero LED lanterns plugged into the Escape 150.  These lanterns put out a lot of light and you can daisy chain up to eight lights.

As you can see, these items can be useful in so many ways outside of a disaster scenario.  Goal Zero items can be found at Costco (only when they have a show), REI and Amazon.

Emergency Preparedness Includes Signals to Get You Rescued

Emergency Preparedness Includes Signals to Get You Rescued:
I’m often asked, what is the best way to signal for help? Your emergency preparedness plan must include various methods of attracting rescuers in different situations.
If you are lost or find yourself in need of rescue in the outdoors, and you don’t believe rescuers to be nearby, you first need to move to the largest available clear and flat area on the highest possible terrain that you can access. In daylight hours you can:
1. Use your available gear to create a signal on the ground; generally these could be unnatural geometric patterns such as straight lines, circles, triangles, etc. This could be done with reflective thermal blankets or a bright orange tube tent, using rocks to keep them in place. You could also use available tools or sticks to clear away weeds to create similar patterns on the ground that would be visible form the air. Such techniques may also help you avoid starting a wildfire.
Read the rest of this article here
This information has been provided for our CERT group’s use courtesy of GetReadyGear

Active Shooter Preparedness Training & Tips

Active Shooter Preparedness Training & Tips:
It has been so tragic to read about the recent shooter events in Colorado and Wisconsin, so it should be no surprise that there is preparedness materials and training available to help you should you ever find yourself involved in such a situation.
The Department of Homeland Security document “Active Shooter, How to Respond”  was first compiled in 2008 for retailers and mall operators. However, the guidelines are applicable to offices and any public gathering place.  A companion pocket guide is also available.  There is also an online FEMA training on this topic: “IS-907 – Active Shooter Response
Let us hope that none of us would ever have to deal with such a event, but now we know what resources exist if you feel the need to be better prepared.

Emergency Preparedness : Stocking Disaster Survival Supplies

Emergency Preparedness : Stocking Disaster Survival Supplies:

	Emergency Preparedness : Stocking Disaster Survival Supplies When stocking emergency supplies, it's important to consider how these supplies are going to have to be stored. Discover why it's important to use non-perishable food items in a survival kit with help from a street firefighter in this free video on emergency preparedness. Expert: Joe Bruni Contact: firestop.staylow@verizon.net Bio: Captain Joe Bruni has over three decades of experience as a street firefighter and company officer. Filmmaker: Christopher Rokosz	From: ehowhealth Views: 14256 38 ratings
	Time: 01:55	More in Howto & Style