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