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About Cottage Grove sentinel. (Cottage Grove, Or.) 1909-current | View Entire Issue (April 13, 2016)
4B COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL April 13, 2016 Are you ready? D ISASTER P REPAREDNESS Now anyone can build a disaster-resilient home (MS) — The calamities caused by extreme weather could be better controlled with stepped-up storm prediction, better citizen preparedness and by the ongoing ingenuity of the building sector, say observers in the fi eld of climate change. Governments, for example, are improving public warning systems and municipal infra- structure maintenance is an on- going priority. As a direct result of extreme wind, fi re and fl ood- ing, the damage costs on both public and private buildings in North America are expected to keep tallying into the billions of dollars — but there is good news. Builders already have the technology and means to con- struct disaster-resilient homes. “Now you can build a house with hurricane and tornado wind-resistance up to 250 miles per hour,” says Keven Rector at Nudura, the manufacturer of an advanced design for ICFs, insulated concrete forms. “As compared to wood, concrete walls stand up to the strongest winds and they are also far more sound-resistant, fi re-resistant, and give homeowners signifi - cant energy savings and occu- pant health benefi ts as well.” The construction system works like this: At the build- ing site, the ICFs interlock (like Lego) to create one thick monolithic wall. The assembly is quick, creates less waste and, according to Rector, this type of insulation material can save you up to 50 percent on your energy bills. “ICF home-building technol- ogy is solving storm security, energy costs, interior air quality, and occupant conservation pri- orities all at the same time,” he continues. “In addition to great- er impact resilience and a fi re- protection rating of up to four hours, concrete buildings are more comfortable to live in. For example, eliminated will be the uneven temperatures and drafts we’ve come to tolerate living inside wood framing. And since the walls are less prone to mold and toxins, the household air will remain reliable and easier to breathe. This rock solid enve- lope keeps more noise outside, requires far less energy for heat- ing and cooling inside and, by leaving more trees in the forests, every homeowner will be mak- ing such a sound contribution to the sustainability of the planet.” Concrete homes are visu- ally beautiful as well, Rector points out. Choose a fi nish on the outside like stone, wood sid- ing, stucco, and other aesthetic touches. And on the inside, many innovative architectural shapes like arches, bay win- dows, and decorative door styles can be easily designed. “Be sure to request ICFs from your builder early in the plan- ning stages,” he adds. “The sys- tem is well over a decade in use, but builders usually default to the standard construction meth- ods if not asked.” More information is available online at www.nudura.com. Bit By Bit, Building Your Kit Part 7 For the past several weeks I have been listing items to purchase to complete a 72 hour disaster preparedness kit. As I have mentioned a 72 hour kit is only a good start. Fourteen days is much better and more if you can manage it. Building an emergency kit does not need to break the bank. Picking up a few extra items now and then will build up over a period of time and before long your pan- try is fi lled with supplies that will carry you through a disas- ter. But for now the primary plan is to “just do it” and a 72 hour kit is a great start. Week 7 shopping List: 1. Small tool kit. Include a wrench (slip-joint wrench like “Channellocks” or water pump pliers) for shutting off utilities, hammer, nails, screwdrivers, screws, duct tape, zip ties and on and on and on…. This is one aspect of the kit that can grow, swell and improve with every trip to the hardware store. 2. Signal fl ares. 3. Insect repellent. While we’re on this topic, I have re- cently read about people using wasp/hornet spray for personal defense. It’s less expensive than pepper spray, reaches out at least 20 feet and temporarily incapacitates anyone intent on causing you harm. 4. Sunscreen. 5. Granola or dry cereal. 6. Extra pet food. Also if your pet requires medication, get some extra for them as well. And don’t forget, your pet re- quires water. 7. Fire extinguisher. Be sure it carries the ABC rating. If you need training in its use, contact your local fi re department. Tips: Be sure to include pets in your plan. When you leave town, take your go-bag along. Disasters don’t always happen while you’re at home. At that point it becomes your “get home” bag. Keep your car’s gas tank above ½ tank. You never know when you get that call in the middle of the night to go visit your ailing, wealthy aunt in the hospital. Not a time to be out of gas with none available. Remember, survival is not a kit. Survival is a plan and the kit should be a part of your plan. It is best to keep your kit in a single location, not strewn about the house, some things in one closet, other items in the basement and yet other things stacked in the garage. Try to set aside an area for all your gear and supplies. When the power goes out and things are mildly chaotic at your house, you don’t want to be searching in the dark for your stuff. Make sure the battery powered lantern is the most easily-located item in your inventory. The power seldom goes out during daylight hours. Flashlights, lanterns and other lighting devices are the fi rst things you will want to get op- erational. Happy prepping! This concludes the seven part series on Building Your Kit. As always send your questions and comments to disasterprep. dave@gmail.com. Previous col- umns are on my blog at www. disasterprepdave.blogspot.com. Dave Robinson is the Postmas- ter in Bandon, Oregon, and the author of “Disaster Prep For The Rest Of Us,” available at barnesandnoble.com and other online booksellers. E R O T S R E WINTER HOURS: T HURSDAY , F RIDAY & S ATURDAY 10 AM -4 PM Natural disasters typically lead to a spike in charitable donations. But donors must be wary of scammers looking to take advantage of their generosity. For Drop-off appointments, after hours, call the offi ce Warning Signs of Disaster Scams When natural disasters strike, many people immediately ask what they can do to help. Some may volunteer at disaster sites, while others may offer fi nancial donations from afar. While donors’ efforts are al- ways sincere, some of the peo- ple soliciting those donations may be anything but. The Inter- net and smartphones have made it easier for criminals to defraud well-intentioned men and wom- en who simply want to help at a time when that help is sorely needed. Fraudulent websites, bulk email solicitations and tex- ting scams that encourage dona- tions are each means by which criminals take advantage of conscientious donors. As eager as prospective do- nors may be to lend a fi nancial hand when disaster strikes, it’s important to take the time to confi rm that an organization is legitimate and not an operation organized by fraudsters looking to make a fast buck. The follow- ing are a handful of red fl ags that may indicate an organiza- tion seeking fi nancial donations in the wake of a disaster is not what it says it is. • Demands: Legitimate orga- nizations will never make de- mands of prospective donors, so men and women should be wary of organizations that solicit on- the-spot donations. Reputable organizations, such as the Red Cross, have enough resources to respond to natural disasters without demanding immediate action from donors. • Hesitancy to share informa- tion: Reputable organizations are transparent with regard to sharing information about their programs, relief efforts and allo- cation of donations. If solicited by an organization that seems hesitant to share information about itself, donors should po- litely hang up the phone or walk away. • Request for personal infor- mation: Some scammers will attempt to gather personal in- formation, including social se- curity numbers and credit card numbers, over the phone. Never share your social security num- ber with anyone, and keep in mind that the majority of chari- ties can now accept donations online, removing the need to share credit card information over the phone. Stop speaking with solicitors who continue to ask for personal information. • Checks: Some scammers will request that donors make donation checks out to fundrais- ers and not an actual organiza- tion. When making a donation to charity, make the check pay- able to an organization and not an event. Confi rm the organiza- tion is legitimate by visiting its website. • Name: Many fraudsters go to great lengths to defraud well- intentioned men and women. Some even establish fake or- ganizations and websites with names that sound very similar to legitimate charities. Such websites may be linked through fraudulent email solicitations, and they are often designed to mimic the websites of legitimate organizations. Never donate via links in emails. Instead, type the name of a charity into a search engine, confi rming it’s the actu- al charity you wish to work with and not a fraudulent entity with a very similar name. Donating in the wake of a natural disaster is a thoughtful gesture. But donors must be on the lookout for scammers look- ing to take advantage of their generosity. We need volunteers for the ReStore ~ a few hours each month! Will you help? Habitat Offi ce and Warehouse 2155 Getty Circle ~ Unit #1 in the Cottage Grove Industrial Park South on Hwy 99 past the High School S N O I T A DON S Y A W L A E! M O C L W E Call 541.767.0358 for more information Email info@habitatcg.org Make sure all the pieces are in place to render you and your family prepared in the event of a natural disaster. • Listen to radio or television newscasts for the latest weather information, and follow all evacuation directions and suggestions. • Keep a stock of non-perishable food items as well as bottled water on hand inside your home. • Keep a 72 Hour Kit on hand inside your home that is easy to get to in the event of a disaster. For more information and tips on disaster response and preparedness, contact your local emergency services center. South Lane Fire & Rescue • 233 Harrison Ave, Cottage Grove 541-942-4493 • 55 South 1st Street, Creswell 541-895-2506 Twitter: @southlanei re Facebook: southlanecountyi reandrescue
