A favorite on the infomercial circuit, Space Bags bring many benefits to preparedness-savvy shoppers. Space Bags are used for reducing the space needed for storing clothes and bedding: with them, your emergency clothes and bedding take less space. They also provide protection from moisture, dust, smells, and bugs — very handy for emergency clothes in the trunk of a car. Some bags are designed to be rolled by hand to squeeze the excess air out, while other bags work best with a vacuum cleaner pulling out the air. Space Bags range from a cube large enough to store comforters and pillows, to smaller pouches that fit clothes for a day or two.

If you need more space in your emergency go-kits or if you just want better protection for your clothes consider adding Space Bags to your preparedness toolkit!

Tip: Space Bags can also be used for items that do not compact, such as papers and electronics. It’s a simple way of protecting items in a see-through package.

Share

March 21st, 2011 | Tags: clever, go kit, Off-the-Shelf, protect, shopping, skip kit, space, storage, supplies | Category: 2011, STAT, STAT 5MM | Comments (5)

Saving money and cutting costs is a popular and appreciated conversation in most circles. Presenting  your preparedness and mitigation efforts as a cost-cutting or money-saving measures can engage new audiences and reignite the interests of long-time supporters. One of the most beneficial ways to cut costs is to do some basic hazard mitigation: install cabinet latches, use museum wax to keep pictures and breakables in place, and move heavier items to lower shelves. Besides protecting the items, with a little non-structural hazard mitigation, you can avoid the costs associated with injuries to self or others, post-disaster clean up, and temporary relocation.

Other cost-cutting measures include:  buying emergency supplies in bulk, securing sponsorships or donations for necessary items, and finding discount coupons for preparedness items and classes.

Tip: Encourage and empower your super-savers and bargain hunters to be creative!  A cost-cutting contest or a fashion show featuring do-it-yourself disaster goods could be a fun event for all!

Share

February 14th, 2011 | Tags: bulk, contest, costcutting, discount, donations, hazard mitigation, money, save, supplies | Category: 2011, STAT, STAT 5MM | Leave a comment

An excellent way to create a shared vision and instill an aspirational mindset in your team is to create a preparedness and response wish list. At your next preparedness-related meeting, training, or presentation engage your team in creating a wish list. Anything that will help you achieve your shared goals makes a great addition. You can collect suggestions interactively and in person, by soliciting ideas via e-mail, or by simply posting an open list on a bulletin board.

Be sure to include free, easy, and low-cost entries as well as bigger-ticket items. Whether your team has volunteer needs, technology gaps, or would benefit from a one-time donation of services or everyday supplies, having a wish list gets everyone clear and focused in a fun and engaging way.

Tip: Keep your list updated and remember to check in with your community to see if they have leads on acquiring items listed. Be sure to thank contributors and to celebrate any successes! Please let us know if you can help us secure any items from CARD’s wish list!

Share

January 24th, 2011 | Tags: donations, goals, list, suggestion, supplies, team, wish | Category: 2011, STAT, STAT 5MM | Leave a comment

Few office supplies can rival the simple Post-it note for ease-of-use and convenience in emergency and disaster planning. Getting everyone involved in planning is one of the most important things you can do, and Post-it notes allow for fast and easy engagement.

A great way to start: put an emergency planning question on a bulletin board and have everyone write a suggestion on a Post-it. This gives everyone an easy way to contribute, and the person with responsibility a fast way to sort ideas.

Starter questions:

1. What emergency foods should we stock?
2. What needs to happen in the next four hours if we have to Shelter-in-Place?
3. Which people should fill each role on our emergency organization chart?

Bust out the Post-it notes in your next meeting and encourage creativity!

Tip: Check out the many different Post-it products available to help with your emergency planning.

Share

November 8th, 2010 | Tags: engagement, office, planing, Preparedness, simple, supplies | Category: 2010, STAT, STAT 5MM | Leave a comment

Given the proliferation and popularity of cooking shows (Hell’s Kitchen, Good Eats, Iron Chef, Top Chef, etc.) and how many professional chefs have become household names (Bobby Flay, Alton Brown, Giada De Laurentiis, Rachel Ray, etc.) it’s a great time to engage your team in cooking up some preparedness recipes, and planning how you’ll address feeding people with your emergency supply cache.

Two ideas:

1) Hold a preparedness potluck. Award prizes for the most creative and delicious treats made from foods in your disaster supply cache. Schedule this to coincide with when you need to check and rotate supplies.

2) Give everyone participating the same ingredients. Choose items like rice, beans and spices (think low-cost, healthy, long shelf life) and have a crisis and calamity cooking competition!

Empower the chefs on your team to cook up something great and fun!

Tip: Remember that Y2K left behind several books on disaster cooking — many available for just pennies!

Share

October 4th, 2010 | Tags: contest, Couch Potato Preparedness, empower, food, supplies | Category: 2010, STAT, STAT 5MM | Comments (2)

At 2:00AM, this coming Sunday, March 14th, most of the US will “Spring Forward” and set clocks ahead one hour.  Be forward thinking in your preparedness, by taking on as many of the following as you can:

• Check and refresh your fire extinguishers, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
• Examine and cycle your food and water. Consume anything about to expire, and replenish your supplies.
• Check any stored medications; you can take expired prescriptions to your local pharmacy for safe disposal.
• Use that handy Sharpie marker to clearly mark the expiration dates on all of your supplies.

Tip: Use online reminder systems to nudge you to do these and other preparedness tasks, especially if your clocks automatically reset the time for you!

Share

March 8th, 2010 | Tags: fire extinguisher, Preparedness, reminder, spring, spring forward, supplies | Category: 2010, STAT, STAT 5MM | Leave a comment

Now is the time (when calendars are still uncrowded) to make sure planning and preparedness activities are woven into 2010.

Some tips to make your calendar a structure for your success:

• Look at last year’s calendar for recurring items, and copy them to your current calendar. Include annual preparedness conferences, monthly emergency manager’s meetings, and other events where you share your preparedness efforts.
• Weeks before Daylight Saving Time, remind yourself to create and send action steps (e.g. rotating disaster supplies) out to your community.
• Note both major events targeting the larger community and small events targeting niche audiences, and see if your preparedness offerings can be included in the program.

Successful preparedness efforts take a bit of planning, so start the year with small manageable bits of preparedness prominently threaded throughout your calendar.

~~~ Save the Date: September 14th -17th 2010,  CESA Conference, Monterey California  ~~~

Share

January 4th, 2010 | Tags: Calendar, Daylight Saving Time, Planning, Preparedness, reminders, supplies, supply | Category: 2010, STAT 5MM | Comments (1)

Part of keeping yourself or others healthy, safe and well in emergencies, disasters and stressful situations is taking care of emotional well-being.  Consider the small things you can keep with you, or put in a kit, that will help you stay emotionally calm, positive and best able to handle stressful situations.

Possible items to boost emotional preparedness: photos of loved ones and pets; inspirational quotes, writings or prayers; physically comforting items such as small stuffed animals, tee-shirts or family heirlooms; scented oils or perfumes; religious objects; or song lyrics and music. Any small item with personal emotional significance –  whether a gemstone, a lucky charm of sorts, or simply a written reminder of your beliefs, values and commitments – can provide great emotional comfort.

Add emotional preparedness kits to your repertoire of suggested actions for your friends, family and staff.

Share

August 31st, 2009 | Tags: emotional preparedness, supplies | Category: STAT 5MM | Leave a comment

In every disaster, some people will evacuate with their pets, stay behind because of livestock or animals, or risk their lives and disobey orders to go back for animals.  Animals are clearly linked with human safety, wellness and well-being.   See how many of the items below you can pull together for yourself or an animal lover in your life.

Kit contents:  food, water, feeding dish, medications, leash or restraint, toy, medical info, date/ place where animal was micro chipped, pictures of pet with owners, description of animal with identifying marks, carrying/transport case, list of animal caregivers, and a map to where animals can be taken in an emergency.

Make sure neighbors and friends know what to do in an emergency for your pets. Consider posting animal rescue signs on your door.

Bonus: Check for a local animal ambulance service!

http://www.animalmedics.com/

Share

August 24th, 2009 | Tags: animals, supplies | Category: STAT 5MM | Leave a comment