Can We Make Infrastructure Sexy?

Wednesday September 9, 2009

Can We Make Infrastructure Sexy?

It is very unfortunate that there is nothing sexy about infrastructure. If infrastructure was sexy and visible maybe we would spend some money and effort trying to maintain it. However, we usually don't even notice infrastructure until it suddenly breaks and isn't there to support us. This is what happened yesterday in Los Angeles, a water main which was installed in 1914 broke and millions of gallons of water rushed out. Giant sinkholes appeared in the streets and a fire engine was swallowed. Homes and businesses in the Studio City area of the city were flooded. Innocently parked cars were swept away in the torrent and Ventura Blvd. had to be closed. Los Angeles is getting slammed. First the massive ongoing wildfires and now the floods. Let's hope the plague is not next on the list.

Maybe we can't do anything about repairing large scale infrastructure (bridges, water systems, highways, etc.) but we can take responsibility for our own homes. Start by taking a good hard look at your house and yard. You should identify the weak points and figure out how to strengthen them. Perhaps you have a broken window which needs to be repaired. Do you think it could withstand a hurricane force wind without blowing out? Perhaps your gutters are all clogged up. How much tropical storm rain can they be expected to carry? Maybe you have allowed a lot of undergrowth to build up in your yard. Are you trying to feed the wildfires? Get to work and and make the needed repairs. Home repairs might not be sexy but they will keep you safe.

Photo by Al Seib

Additional evacuation information available at www.wineandchocolateplan.com

Don't Be Fooled

Tuesday September 8, 2009

DON'T BE FOOLED

It is easy to forget that we are still in hurricane season when you have a lovely peaceful day at the beach. Well, don't be fooled, we are. Hurricane season runs from June 1st through November 30th. Although it is possible for a hurricane to strike at other times, 97% of tropical activity happens within this time frame. This means there is still over 2 months left in the season.

By this time in the summer people have become complacent. After all we have just finished up the hectic Labor Day holiday weekend. Everyone is tired and ready to take a break. I understand. So here is a suggestion to get double duty out of the work you must do. As you clean up from your Labor Day cook-outs or picnics place all the supplies that would be useful in an evacuation into a separate container. Items such as paper plates, napkins, and plastic utensils are always needed during evacuations. You should get a big plastic container and start putting these things inside. Any non-perishable food (juice, juice boxes, sealed snack food, canned items, etc.) that were not consumed over the long weekend should also be tossed in. While you are packing go ahead and put in the batteries and manual can opener you bought at the beginning of the season.

Now store this container away in a closet. You won't have everything you need inside for an evacuation but you will have made a good start. This evacuation container will save you work and time when you are faced with a real evacuation.

Additional evacuation information is available at www.wineandchocolateplan.com

Stay Safe at the Beach

Monday September 7, 2009 Labor Day

Stay Safe at the Beach

I was at the beach two days ago and couldn't help noticing how unusual the waves were. They were rougher and from a different direction. As I stood there studying the waves, a family of tourists fueled up on excitement and alcohol rushed past me and straight into the water. I tensed and reached for my cell phone ready to call 911. I didn't have to make that emergency call because after only a minute or two the people decided that swimming wasn't such a great idea. I watched as they struggled out of the surf and up to their beach towels and beer cooler. Only after they were safely plopped down on the beach did I relax and go back to my study of the waves.

I was trying to see if I could detect any rip currents in the water. Many times rip currents can be difficult to identify. I have been taught to look for the out of the ordinary features within a body of water. Perhaps the abnormality will be a different color, a churning channel, a line of debris headed out to sea, or just an irregular wave pattern. If I have any doubts about the presence of one of these dangerous currents I don't go in. I am always more cautious after any big storm because I know that storms increase the risk of rip currents.

Here are a few important facts about rip currents.

If you are caught in a rip current don't panic or swim against the current.
You should swim parallel to the shore until you are free of the current and then swim towards shore.
If you are unable to break free of the current, float or tread water.
Try to draw attention to yourself by waving your arms and yelling for help.

Everyone have a safe and happy Labor Day!

Additional evacuation information is available at www.wineandchocolateplan.com

Tailgaters and Evacuations

Saturday September 5, 2009

Tailgaters and Evacuations

Today the college football season is starting and I couldn't be happier! I have been a fan of the sport for most of my life. This always seems to surprise people but it is the truth. I grew up in a football family and have spent many happy days and nights at various football fields cheering on my teams. These days I mostly stay home and watch the game from the comfort of my couch. On TV today there was a segment showing a group of excited tailgaters partying before the start of a game. As I watched them I realized that tailgaters are probably excellent at evacuation.

Seasoned tailgaters have the skill of compact packing down to an art form. They are adept at cooking and feeding large groups without the need of any power. Tailgaters always seem to be prepared for any sudden weather shifts with the necessary additional clothing, blankets, or rain gear. These are a group of people who have thoroughly considered what items will be most essential to them. They then drill week after week in the quick and efficient loading of their precious cargo. We can all learn some valuable evacuation skills by observing the tailgaters during this football season.

Additional evacuation information is available at www.wineandchocolateplan.com

Shoe Shopping is Required

Friday September 4, 2009

Shoe Shopping is Required

Today I started my walking routine again. I put on my tennis shoes and started trudging around my neighborhood with a scowl on my face. I hadn't gone three blocks when two of my decade younger friends whizzed by on their bikes. They were all tanned, toned flesh and cheerfulness. They recovered from their shock at seeing me out and upright this early in the day, called out words of encouragement and sped off. As I watched their firm legs pedal away I thought, "This is a lot to put up with first thing in the morning." However I resolved to remain persistent and just trudged on scowling and thinking.

I was thinking that shoe shopping should be part of evacuation preparation. Every natural disaster requires the wearing of sensible shoes to evacuate safely. Usually tennis shoes are the first choice for evacuations but hiking boots or walking shoes could also serve. A closed shoe with a rubber or non-skid sole is important. There could be dangerous debris on the ground which you wouldn't want to expose your feet to. It is also vital to not fall and injury yourself during the chaos of most evacuations.

Now that everyone realizes they need good walking shoes, you must next decide how many pairs you need and where you will store them. One pair might be fine if you will keep them in your car whenever they are not on your feet. If you are stranded on the road due to a disaster the tennis shoes at home won't help. This is a real concern if you spend a lot of time driving. It would only take one disaster (wildfire, flash flooding, earthquake, etc) combined with an unnavigable road system and you might have to get of your vehicle and walk to a safe location. So go shoe shopping and stick a pair of walking shoes and socks in your car.

Additional evacuation information is available at www.wineandchocolateplan.com

Sunset in the Country

Wednesday September 2, 2009

Sunset in the Country

I am not a country girl. I was raised in the city. My early childhood was spent in an urban apartment situated above my family's restaurant in Memphis, Tennessee. I was surrounded by good food, memorable characters, and amazing music but no safe place to play outside. Eventually my family did move to the suburbs where I became acquainted with this place called a yard. I learned that a yard contained many pretty things (grass, bushes, flowers, and trees) which had the ability to instigate horrible attacks of sneezing in me.

My allergies have gotten much better through the years. This is a good thing because, as luck would have it, I fell in love and married an outdoor, country boy. Most of the time everything is fine because I make him play outside without me. However last night he asked me to go on a drive with him and watch the sunset. I mean come on, who could say no to a romantic request like that? Not me.

So off we went to the country with the car windows down and all the fresh air rushing in. We drove up and down wooded lanes and past crop fields. Finally we pulled off the road, and the car bumped through a pasture and to the top of a hill for our sunset view. My husband jumped out of the car to view the huge orange globe descending in the sky. He excitedly called out for me to join him.

I tried. I really did but by this time I had sneezed 15 times and couldn't see. My mascara had turned into a toxic liquid substance which had blinded me. I started stumbling towards him sneezing violently and shedding copious amounts of black tears. My husband, glancing back to see what was taking me so long, blinked when he got a good look at me. There was my face with a red nose in the middle and mascara and snot smeared all around it. It must have been lovely in the full orange illumination of the setting sun. To his credit he didn't comment on my ravaged face. Instead he guided me back to the car where we finished watching a beautiful country sunset.

Later, after a hot bath and an allergy pill, I was recuperating on the couch when the news announced that the air quality in some of the wildfire areas had reached dangerous levels. It seemed to be an omen that I should share a little information related to air quality with you today.

Basically the air quality index measures the level of 5 major air pollutants in the air and how this air might impact your health. The measurements are from 0 (perfect) to 500 (find an air tank immediately!). Generally speaking, anything below 100 is okay. However, when the numbers go above 100 you need to take precautions. If the A.Q.I. (air quality index)is 100-151 there could be moderate danger to sensitive groups. A.Q.I. of 151-200 is unhealthy, 201-300 is very unhealthy, and 301-500 is hazardous. Special care should be exercised to limit the amount of outdoor exposure for active children and adults and people with lung disease and asthma.

Clean air is one of the most fundamental requirements for health. If you are living in an area where the climate has been impacted by the recent wildfires, please take care.

Additional evacuation information is available at www.wineandchocolateplan.com

WHERE ARE THE ANGELS?

Tuesday September 1, 2009

WHERE ARE THE ANGELS?

The name Los Angeles (as in the city and county where some of the major western wildfire are blazing) is Spanish for The Angels. I have also often read that the nickname for the city of L.A. is the city of angels. I certainly hope that the county and city are ready to live up to their name. All available angels are urgently needed to assist their namesake area through a difficult time.

The residents of the Los Angeles area are facing some tough times in the coming days. The wildfires just continue to grow despite the hard work and best efforts of the firefighters. The last report puts the number of acres burned at 100,000. More and more areas are threatened. More and more people have had to evacuate their homes with very little notice.

Several days ago I wrote about the danger to several critical communication towers. The fires are within a few miles of these towers now. There is very little which can be done to protect these towers because of the rough mountainous terrain. I urge everyone to make a plan now of how they would communicate with loved ones if phone reception is lost. Instead of heading back into a dangerous area to find family, you should pick a safe meeting place well outside the fire area for everyone to head towards. If you have to leave your home or work unexpectedly due to the fires, please leave a very visible note stating that you have gone and where. Many people are injured or lose valuable time searching for family or friends who have already departed.

Yes all the angels are needed. Perhaps you will encounter one in the midst of the dense smoke which is covering the area. If you don't see one materialize when needed then it is time for you to step up and strap on some angel wings. Many of your neighbors are in distress. You should aid and comfort them in any manner you are able to.

Here are just a few examples of how you could help.
-If you have time then volunteer at a shelter
-If you have money consider donating some of it to a local relief group
-If you have extra clothes or household possessions share them with a family who has been burned out
-If you love animals give a home or supplies to an animal shelter

Where are the angels? They are everywhere. All you have to do is catch a glimpse of yourself in the mirror after an unselfish act of assistance and you will find one.

There is more evacuation information available at www.wineandchocolateplan.com