Light and Communication

LIGHT

It is vital during a power outage to have an alternative source of lighting. It is best to have a combination of light sources in the home and in your emergency kit (e.g. flashlights & lanterns). Obviously, for safety reasons, battery operated lights are preferred over lanterns and candles. However, lanterns and candles may be helpful during an extended power outage. Take the time to practice using your various light sources so that you can see the realities of using them before the emergency comes.

1. Flashlights –
Waterproof, Heavy-duty flashlights: Keep flashlights and extra batteries and bulbs in your Emergency kit, First-aid Kits and in all areas of your home. Store batteries separately from the flashlights. Pack flashlights at the top of your 72-hour kit. Note that LED flashlights are a great choice for emergency kits because they are 70% more efficient than regular flashlights. The batteries in an LED flashlight will last 10x longer and there are no fragile parts to break (as with regular bulbs). It is recommended to replenish your kit with fresh batteries every 6 mo.

Other: Head-lamp Flashlights (great for hands free lighting) & Hand-crank Flashlights (just need extra bulbs).

Emergency Power-failure Lights – keep these plugged into an electrical outlet where they keep charged. When the power goes out, these lights automatically switch on and provide several hours of back-up lighting. They can be used to light up hallways, bedrooms, bathrooms, exits, and circuit breakers or fuse box areas. They can also double as a portable flashlight.

2. Batteries –
Store plenty of extra alkaline batteries for your flashlight, transistor radio, and any other items in your emergency kit that is battery operated. Alkaline batteries will give about 10 hours of continuous light. They have a 3-5 year shelf life if stored in a cool location in an airtight container. They provide a much longer shelf life than carbon-zinc batteries. They retain 90% of their power after 4 years (if unused) and 85% after 5 years of storage. (Lithium batteries are more expensive but have twice as long a shelf life of 10 years and can operate in extreme cold). Always store batteries near but separate from your flashlights or radios in their original packaging in a re-closable plastic bag. This prevents leaky batteries from damaging equipment.

3. Bulbs – Be sure to keep a couple of spare bulbs on hand for your flashlights.

4. Chemical Light Sticks –
Light from light sticks generally last 8-10 hours with the first 30 minutes being the brightest and most useful. These can help you to see in the dark as well as provide the psychological benefit of having light. They are the best light to use if there is danger of a gas leak (no sparks). They are flameless, non-toxic, cool, windproof and waterproof. They provide 360 degree light visible up to a mile away. They float on water and can be seen through smoke and underwater. Store several of these light sticks for each member of the family in your emergency kits, first-aid kits and in your home and car, but not as the sole source of light. Also include flashlights. Shelf life is about 2-3 years (from the date of manufacture) if kept sealed in the foil wrapper.

Uses: general lighting, traffic control, road safety, changing tires at night, reading maps at night, distress signals, roadside car accidents, building search and evacuation, medical triage & victim identification, checking circuit breakers or fuse boxes, used as a “night light” in children’s rooms, etc.

5. Candles & Candle Lanterns – for extra long power outages (but not where there could be a gas leak).
Candle Lantern with Carrying Handle – Safest holder for candles. The enclosed lanterns are wind-proof, water resistant and less likely to ignite surroundings if knocked over. Remember to store plenty of extra candles & waterproof matches.

Non-enclosed Candles – Make sure there is a broad base on the candle holder (small solid holders are best) and keep away from furnaces, gas appliances, children and combustible materials! White or light-colored candles burn brighter than dark candles. Small utility or camping candles are better than long dinner candles.

Liquid 100-hr Candles – come in cans; odorless & smokeless; uses liquid paraffin. They provide 100 hours of light and heat. If tipped over, most types extinguish the flame for an extra measure of safety.

Other Candle Notes: Tallow candles (contain animal fat) burn brighter, longer, and are fairly smoke free compared to wax candles). Candles burn more slowly & evenly with minimum wax drippings if placed in the freezer for several hours before using them. You can increase the light of candles by placing a piece of aluminum foil or mirror reflector behind the candle or by placing the candle in front of a mirror. It also helps to place the lantern on a light-colored surface. Do not let children carry fuel, lanterns or lighted candles. Candle snuffers are helpful to put out a candle quickly, safely & completely.

SAFETY: Never go to sleep with any unvented burning device in your home. Always crack a window open in the vicinity of the burning device such as a candle, lantern or kerosene stove or heater. Also, keep a battery-operated carbon-monoxide detector in working order nearby where open flames from heating devices are used and a fire extinguisher handy.


6. Battery-Powered or Fuel Lanterns and Lamps –

Fluorescent Lanterns (Battery Powered) – Very safe; Provide light for 24-86 hrs depending upon the size and quantity of the batteries. They burn brighter & longer than flashlights, but are also larger and weigh more. (Note: Due to the cold, they may not light at all in temperatures below 20 degrees.)

Back-packing or camp Lanterns (Liquid Fuel) – compact, collapsible & lightweight. Try to find one that uses kerosene (the safest fuel).

Kerosene (Hurricane) Lanterns – Perfect for home or outdoor use. They are an excellent source of light and will burn for about 45 hours on a quart of fuel. They burn bright and are inexpensive to operate. The main problem is failure to trim the wick correctly. Wicks should be trimmed in an arch, a “V” or “A” or straight across the top. Failing to properly trim the wick and maintain them results in smoke and poor light. To avoid a kerosene odor, light and extinguish a kerosene lantern outdoors. Light can be dimmed or brightened using the adjustable wick. Keep extra wicks and plenty of kerosene oil or lamp oil on hand.

Mantle Oil Lamps – For indoor use; They use kerosene or lamp oil.

Coleman Kerosene Lantern – For outdoor use -- safer and less expensive to operate than propane lanterns. They have a 5 1/2 hour burn time on one 32-ounce filling of kerosene. Puts out as much light as a 300 Watt electric light bulb. (Prices run $75 - $95).

Solar Lanterns – provide light on a full charge (8 hours of sunlight)

SAFETY: Always fill lanterns with fuel outside. Never use propane or white gas indoors. Never use car fuel. Read the instructions with your lantern to know where it may be safely used. Light all cooking, heating and lighting equipment preferably outdoors or by a window that is open several inches. Never use camping stoves or burning lights in a closed room.

7. Other Supplies
Fire Extinguishers – Having several ABC all purpose type fire extinguishers are essential, especially when alternative sources of heat and light are being used.
Carbon-Monoxide Detectors (Battery-operated) – Very important. Have at least two of these detectors in your home, especially near heating sources such as your water heater and wood stove or fireplace.
Smoke Detectors – Have at least 2 battery-operated smoke detectors in your home placed on each separate level of your home. Store extra batteries for them and check them twice a year.
Lamp or Lantern Fuel
Extra lamp & lighting supplies: Wicks, chimneys, matches, etc.
Emergency Road Flares – keep several on hand in your car.
Extra Fuses ( if your home has a fuse box)
Instructions and a crescent wrench – to safely turn of your gas, power and water if needed or directed to do so.

Communication

Communication is your contact with the outside world and is vitally important to you and your family’s safety during and after a disaster. During a developing emergency, keep a radio or TV on and await instructions. After disasters, the media serve as invaluable information centers for rumor control, announcements, etc. In time of disaster don’t believe and pass on rumors -- depend on the radio or TV for your information.

Radios
Ø **Battery-Powered Radio, AM/FM (with earplug or headphone) – important for info. & for morale; some can also pick up TV channels; Some available with 4-way power: solar power, alternate wind-up electric power; battery power & DC back-up power; Using headphones or earplug conserves battery power (by not having to power the speakers). Keep radio near the top of your 72 hour kit.

Ø **Extra Radio Batteries (alkaline)

Ø Weather Radio – Gives continuous weather info.

Ø Other: Car radio; 10-band short-wave radios (picks up broadcasts all over the world); Amateur or Ham Radio; Two-way Radios (range of up to 2 miles; help keep communication when family members are separated; no license required; runs on 3 AA batteries; 38 hrs of talk time); Walkie-talkies; CB Radio (portable, with car lighter adapter cord; Channel 19 is the emergency frequency; range 5-20 miles); Small battery powered TV (gives a much better visual understanding of the emergency at hand, however these TV’s will NOT work after Feb 2009 unless you have a digital portable TV. See attached article.); Portable Laptop; Cell phones with TV channels.

Maps
**Road Maps, Compass, & Community Maps (Get out of the phone book or from local Chamber of Commerce) – Mark location of potential hazards, evacuation routes, best walking routes to public emergency shelters, family meeting place, children’s schools, church, hospitals, fire and police departments, relatives and friends who live out of the area you could stay with after an evacuation; Make sure each family member is familiar with the map and important community locations.

**Family Disaster Action Plan – Have a predetermined action plan and an alternate plan to re-unite your family at a central location or meeting point in case family members are separated during an emergency. These points may be your own home (unless you are not allowed to go back to your home after a disaster), neighbors (such as with a fire), friends, relatives, Red Cross shelters, community or recreational centers, schools, parks, churches, etc. Go over the plan with your family. Make sure younger family members know how to get there. (Remember that messages can be left at some locations to help inform family members who arrive later.) Include important addresses and phone numbers (such as your out-of-area contact person) and recent photos of your family to help with locating missing persons. Decide how you will communicate with each other in an emergency. Keep a copy of this disaster plan in each person’s 72 hour kit, at work, and in the children’s school backpacks. Attach maps to the disaster plan. Also be sure that each person carries ID on them – wallet cards, dog tags, etc. with name, address & phone number.

Phones & Internet

Cell Phones – include recharger and a car cell phone charger (keep this in the car); Often during an emergency, cell phones get completely tied up but you can still get through on outgoing out-of-state calls. This is where the outside contact becomes very important. Also remember to include an “ICE” (In Case of Emergency) name & phone number on your cell phone under your “contact list” should you be injured and someone finds you. Don’t forget that texting will sometimes work even when phone calls can’t go through. (This was especially true during the recent earthquake in China).

Internet – Internet and email may be possible during an emergency as long as the phone lines are intact at both ends and power (or back-up battery power) continues to keep the computer running.

Pre-Paid Phone Cards –Hev in each 72 hour emergency kit. (Be sure there is no expiration date that the card must be used up by.)

Pay Phones – If you have no coins, you can get help by calling the toll-free numbers: 1-800-OPERATOR or 1-800-COLLECT; To have money wired, call 1-100-CASH.

**Out of Area Contact Person – Establish an out-of-area contact (at least 50 miles away) where family members can both leave and receive messages during or after an emergency. Family members can call this person and report their location and condition. Every family member should know this contact phone number by heart. Be sure to include these important phone numbers on the family Disaster Action Plan sheet described above. And, be sure to let relatives know you are safe after the emergency is over so they don’t come looking for you.

**Phone List - Complete an “Important Phone List” and keep copies in your car and emergency kits. (The list may include: 9-1-1, Fire, poison control, police, animal control, employer, attorney, bank, hospitals, cell phone numbers, doctors, church leaders, friends, close family, community emergency shelter, dentist, daycare center, disaster clean-up company, utility companies, e-mail addresses, employer, home-owner’s insurance agent, Highway Patrol, mechanic, mortgage company, neighbors, out-of-area contact people, pharmacy, plumber, road conditions, roadside help or towing service, schools, phone company, weather conditions/forecast, etc.) Also post emergency phone numbers by every phone in the house! Also keep a card with a list of family contact numbers in your wallet, purse, & children’s school backpacks. Remember that at an evacuation Center there may not be a phone book available and you might not be able to remember phone numbers when under stress.

Procedures for School Children
In an emergency, your children may be sheltered in place or evacuated from school. Do not go to the school. School personnel are trained to handle emergencies. Do not call your children’s school during the emergency – you may tie up lines need for emergency calls. Listen to the Emergency Broadcasts to know when and where to pick up your children.

Signaling Items
Emergency flares (can also double as a fire starter) – use for auto accidents or car problems
Signal Mirror (glass or metal)
Space blanket or emergency blankets – can also be used for signaling with their reflective surface.
Brass whistles with Lanyard – one per person, especially children; whistles carry much further than voices.
Car horn
Car mirror
Use oil under car hood burned in a hubcap to send up a miniature cloud which is visible for miles; Also, a burning tire makes a hot fire and lots of easy-to-see thick black smoke for 3-4 hours.

Remember: The #1 rule of surviving in the wilderness is to stay put. You are much better off spending the time preparing for an overnight or extended stay where you are. Your chance of being found, faster, is much improved if you are not on the move.


** = Very important!!


Goals for this month:

LIGHT: Obtain appropriate light sources for your home and emergency kit & cars (with extra batteries, fuel, lighting supplies, etc.). Also get carbon monoxide alarms & fire extinguishers as needed.

COMMUNICATION: Complete a Family Disaster Plan including maps, a list of important phone numbers, and a meeting place. Establish an out-of-area contact and let them know. Obtain needed communication & signaling devices (such as radios & whistles).

July 2008

Hi Preparedness Group,

Thank you to those who came to the classes today. We missed those who were on vacation this week!

Attached is the handout from our class today on Light & Communication.

Our new goals for this month are:

1. LIGHT: Obtain appropriate light sources for your home and emergency kit & cars (with extra batteries, fuel, lighting supplies, etc.). Also get carbon monoxide alarms & fire extinguishers as needed.

2. COMMUNICATION: Complete a Family Disaster Plan including maps, a list of important phone numbers, and a family meeting place. Establish an out-of-area contact and let them know. Obtain needed communication & signaling devices (such as radios & whistles).

Keep up the great work on your emergency kits.

Debbie