Date Nights of the Old and Boring

Well, really, it wasn't boring, and we learned a lot.We are pretty old though....

 Last night the boss and I attended a citizen preparedness meeting up at the school. It was sponsored by our local state legislators and presented by the National Guard.

We may think we know how to be ready in a disaster....... I heard someone talking behind us....."Construction workers and farmers are more prepared than the entire community...." In some ways that it is probably true. As the man said, people who work outdoors in real and unpredictable situations learn to cope with them. However, there is always room for more information.

I read everything I can get my hands on about prepping, getting ready for emergencies, and all that, but reading isn't everything.

First of all, you have to actually do some of the things suggested. Thinking about doing them won't help...and that is my problem. My middle name isn't procrastinate, but it surely could be.

Then there is the new stuff that you didn't know that might turn out to save a life someday. Like turning off utilities...a good "how to" and information on necessary tools needed were offered last night. The guys know...me, not so much....except for circuit breakers. I have flipped those switches quite often over in the barn. We learned about fire extinguishers too.

We got to hear how well those sanitizing drinking straws work from someone...a National Guards woman...who actually uses one regularly. She said she has sometimes had to drink from mud puddles and has never gotten sick.

We learned that if you put a tourniquet on someone you must write a "T" on their forehead so responders can act accordingly. We learned about ten-year smoke detector batteries, and making provisions for pets in emergencies...hint...they should have their own "go kit" with vaccination paperwork and more. 

Righty Tighty Lefty Loosey was mentioned. I knew that one and use it often, but it never hurts to be reminded.

We learned that some of the most basic things you might need are a whistle, a phone, and matches. I carry all of those all the time, plus a Swiss Army knife.....I have read To Build a Fire too many times. The whistle is a shepherd's whistle left over from Border Collie days, but it is good and loud.

You can sign up for all kinds of emergency alerts on your phone at NY Alert. Areas for alerts can be adjusted to suit your region or even your travels. We heard an anecdote from one of the presenters about how such a warning certainly saved lives when he was running an adventure camp for kids. He received a high wind warning on his phone, a mere 15 minutes ahead of severe weather. Had he not been able to rush those kids to a safe place deaths would probably have occurred, as the area where they had been was devastated. Instead no one was injured. 

If you get an opportunity to attend one of these classes, I highly recommend it.

Here are links to some of the information:

Prepare NY

Montgomery County Emergency Management

NY ALERT