Fox News Reports Alert Level May Be Raised

Fox News aired an interview today with Scott Weber, a former senior counsel to the Department of Homeland Security and now a terrorism expert, who says that upcoming high profile events -- the Olympics, the Democratic and Republican conventions, and November presidential election-- have heightened the possibility of terrorist attacks both here and abroad. Fox News host Martha MacCallum referenced an unspecified report that says there may soon be a heightened alert status because of these events. For a complete transcript of the interview, click here.

Threat of Anthrax Terror Attack Increasing, Says DHS Doc

The Chief Medical Officer for the Department of Homeland Security, Dr. Jeffrey W. Runge, testified today that the threat of a biological attack, and more specifically one using anthrax, "has been building since well before the attacks of 9/11." Such an attack could kill hundreds of thousands of people and that - using the example of an attack in downtown Providence, Rhode Island - "it would likely go undetected for days, until large numbers of people begin showing up in emergency departments and doctor's offices two to five days after the attack." The only advice I can glean from this report is to become better friends with your doctor or pharmacist, and get treated with antibiotics as quickly as possible after an attack. For a full anthrax treatment FAQ from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention click here. To read the full text of Dr. Runge's testimony click here.

NY Times Article on Preparing for Disasters

This past weekend The New York Times published an article "Meeting Disaster With More Than a Wing and a Prayer" (7/19/08) that provides an overview of how to prepare for disasters, while also emphasizing that most people are not ready for such a possibility. The reporter confesses that she scored a very poor 2 out of 10 on a readiness quotient test. You can also take this test, developed by the Council for Excellence In Government, by clicking here. For the full article click here.

Bertha Not Threat But Dangerous Mystery

National Geographic News yesterday reported that Hurricane Bertha is so far from the coast that it is not a threat to the U.S. coastline, but a little disconcerting is news that the storm didn't behave as expected. By around 3 a.m. EDT Monday, Bertha had barely reached hurricane status with winds of about 75 miles (120 kilometers) an hour. Forecasters at the National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami, Florida, predicted that the storm would not intensify much beyond that. But 12 hours later Bertha's strongest winds had ramped up to 115 miles (185 kilometers) an hour, making it a Category Three storm and the first major hurricane of the 2008 season. What happened to the storm during those 12 hours is a mystery. "We haven't come up with any explanations," said Richard Pasch, an NHC hurricane specialist. For the full story click here.

Bertha Now A Hurricane!

This just in from the National Hurricane Center:

...BERTHA BECOMES THE FIRST HURRICANE OF THE 2008 ATLANTIC SEASON...

AT 500 AM AST...0900Z...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE BERTHA WAS LOCATED
NEAR LATITUDE 19.3 NORTH...LONGITUDE 50.2 WEST OR ABOUT 845 MILES...
1365 KM...EAST OF THE NORTHERN LEEWARD ISLANDS.

BERTHA IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST-NORTHWEST NEAR 17 MPH...28 KM/HR.
A CONTINUED WEST-NORTHWESTWARD MOTION WITH A GRADUAL DECREASE IN
FORWARD SPEED IS EXPECTED DURING THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS...AS
BERTHA REMAINS OVER THE WATERS OF THE CENTRAL TROPICAL ATLANTIC.
IT IS STILL TOO EARLY TO DETERMINE IF BERTHA WILL EVENTUALLY AFFECT
ANY LAND AREAS.

Bertha Tracking North!

Bertha Not Aimed At NYC...Yet!

Her Name Is Bertha

THE STORM WATCH BEGINS

The National Hurricane Center has just issued an advisory at 5 a.m. this morning for Tropical Depression Two. While it's still far too early to consider this a threat to the Eastern Seaboard (left, see tracking map) it is something this blog will start monitoring. I've also added to the site a JULY 08 STORM UPDATE section featuring a live news feed from the National Hurricane Center. It's just below my home page welcome message. For more hurricane tips and news, click here.

Tax Free Go Bag Legislation Delayed Till '09

Legislation now before the New York State Assembly that would make purchases of specific Go Bag supplies tax free during the first 11 days of September has been delayed, according to 73rd District Assemblymember Jonathan Bing, who introduced the bill in May. "Emergency preparedness awareness is important to me which is why I proposed this legislation," said Bing. "Unfortunately, current budget challenges presented difficulties to passage this session. I look forward to raising emergency preparedness awareness in the mean time and getting this bill passed in the next session." The bill, officially titled A.11206, would also declare September to be "Emergency Preparedness Month" in the state of New York. This September Bing's office will be working with local CERT (Community Emergency Response Teams), the Red Cross, the Office of Emergency Management and the Mayor's office to host events educating city residents on disaster preparedness.

Attack On Iran Could Spark "Nightmare Scenarios"

According to a report today in the New York Sun, an Israeli strike on Iran's nuclear enrichment facilities might lead to retaliation on U.S. soil. One such possibility raised in the story is "Hezbollah or Iranian intelligence terrorist operations on soft targets, such as shopping malls and community centers, in third countries and possibly even America." The article makes it clear that there are many targets more likely to be at risk after an Israeli attack. However, if such a military action does take place, it's a safe bet the DHS will raise the threat level in New York City. To read the full story click here.

Tip of the Week from the Office of Emergency Mgt.

"Stay Cool in the Pool" is this week's tip from the New York City Office of Emergency Management. The email tip sent out today announced that this Friday, June 27, the city's 54 public pools will open. It seems like an odd tip to come from this office but I guess it's a slow week. The OEM announcement continued with the following advice: It is important to stay cool as temperatures rise. Visiting one of the City's pools is a good way to keep your body temperature low on a hot summer day. Remember to re-apply sunscreen after you swim. Personally I'd rather have a cold beer but that's just me.

Time Mag: How To Survive A Disaster

The May 29th issue of Time magazine features an interesting article by Amanda Ripley, culled from her book The Unthinkable, entitled "How To Survive A Disaster." It explores the psychological effects of disasters on people and why some live and others don't. For the complete article click here.

Red Cross Reserve Volunteers Wanted

The American Red Cross of Greater New York is looking for Reserve Volunteers. The following is their description of the program: The Disaster Reserve Program is designed for people willing to help others during major local disasters, like the 2006 Queens blackout, the 2007 Orange County floods and the recent tornado in Brooklyn. It enables people to be pre-qualified and pre-trained so that they can provide immediate humanitarian assistance when a major local disaster strikes. To become a Disaster Reserve Volunteer you will be required to attend and complete a one-day Reserve Institute, or equivalent courses. Once on board, Disaster Reserve Volunteers will be expected to participate in a total of four Red Cross events–any combination of disaster operations, exercises, meetings and additional training–in a 12-month period. If you are interested in volunteering, click here.

More Extreme Weather Says Gov't Report

A new report released yesterday by the US Climate Change Science Program, which is overseen by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, details North American climate changes and the news isn't good. As detailed in their press release: "Among the major findings reported in this assessment are that droughts, heavy downpours, excessive heat, and intense hurricanes are likely to become more commonplace..." To download the brochure summarizing their findings click here (pdf).

Today's Go Bag Purchases

I just placed an order this morning from my new favorite store Cabela's after reading in HSToday about how "...federal catastrophic disaster preparedness is problematic across the board, especially in the area of mass-casualty medical care – which by many informed accounts is terribly ill-prepared..." I decided to upgrade my first aid kit with the following: For the emergency stitching of wounds, a Disposable Body Stapler Kit for $24.99 (it's on back order); and to stop bleeding, two packs of Biolife Sports QR Powder at $9.99 per pack. The third product I purchased is unrelated to first aid, but I'm hearing through the grapevine that there might be concerns in the future about our water supply. I already have an extra supply of water and water tablets, but since this has suddenly got my attention I also purchased this morning two Frontier Water Filter Straws for $9.99 each, though I will be upgrading my water purification capabilities when I get more information.

New York Third Most Vulnerable City In Nation

According to an article in the latest issue of HSToday, if a Category 3 Hurricane struck this region, "such a storm could surpass Hurricane Katrina as the largest natural disaster ever to hit the United States." The story details why our area is the third most vulnerable city in the country for such a disaster, after Miami and New Orleans, and quotes a variety of experts on the scenarios that might unfold. It also explores the preparations area residents should make in the not-so-unlikely event that this might really happen. I highly recommend reading this story, for the full article click here.

Do You Live In a Hurricane Evacuation Zone?

For a quick tool to determine if you live in a hurricane evacuation zone, courtesy of the NYC Office of Emergency Management, click here. You simply type in your address and submit. You can also check out a detailed map of the city, featuring the three levels of evacuation zones and evacuation center locations, by clicking here (pdf).

Current Threat Level

This just in from the Department of Homeland Security:
June 18, 2008 — The United States government's national threat level is Elevated, or Yellow. The U.S. threat level is High, or Orange, for all domestic and international flights. Only small amounts of liquids, aerosols and gels are allowed in carry-on baggage. See the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) website for up-to-date information on items permitted and prohibited on airlines. We are mindful of the recent tapes and propaganda messages allegedly from Al Qaeda regarding increased attacks. At this time there is no credible information warning of an imminent, specific threat to the homeland.

Don't Spread Rumors!

An anonymous reader posted a comment that is worth repeating: "When I lived in California, the yellow pages had an Earthquake Checklist...Number 1 was, as I recall: Don't spread rumors." I remember trying to cross the GWB into the city on the evening of 9/11 and getting the wonderful news (reported by 1010 WINS, I believe) that terrorists were trying to blow up the bridge and a van full of explosives had just been pulled over. Turns out none of it was true. Don't spread rumors is such a simple concept and it makes sense. Just something to keep in mind.

An Earthquake in Manhattan?

People laugh when I talk about the possibility of a serious earthquake in Manhattan because the last big one (5.5 on the Richter magnitude scale) was in 1884. But then I read an article (click here) that notes we get a significant earthquake just about every 100 years, which would mean we are about 24 years overdue. I emailed the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory about this article and Senior Science Writer Kevin Krajick wrote back that "The article you cite is pretty accurate...However, the return time of M4 or M5 quakes is not as well defined as it suggests. It could be 100 years. Or it could be several hundred years; no one knows the answer." As for the effect on the city, the New York City Area Consortium for Earthquake Loss Mitigation states that a moderate earthquake could cause over 1,000 deaths and "would have significant impact on the lives and economy of the Tri-State region." An earthquake in Manhattan? Don't Laugh!

A Great Bag For First Aid Supplies, Etc.

As I organized my Go Bag I had two first aid kits that were in cumbersome metal briefcases. While these looked nice on a store shelf, they weren't an efficient use of space and could not accommodate additional supplies. So I tossed the metal cases and put all my first aid supplies and manuals into a Mountainsmith Basic Cube, which I purchased for $12.95 at Backcountry.com. It is very sturdy and with 1600 cubic inches of space has plenty of room. The handle makes it easy to pull out and carry separately. I also bought one in yellow for all of my emergency cooking supplies.

A Great Multi-Function Radio

I have five radios in my Go Bag (three are battery operated, one is a hand crank flashlight that also has a radio in it) but the Red Cross/Eton FR-300 is my Swiss Army Knife of radios and a great investment at $50 on Amazon.com. What I like most is that it can operate both with batteries and by charging it with a hand crank. It also has a cell phone charger, flashlight, siren, and individual knobs to select various weather frequencies as well as to receive audio from TV stations. Endorsement by the American Red Cross sold me on this model.

Good Work Gloves

I keep three pairs of these DeWalt work gloves in my Go Bag because if you find yourself in a debris-filled environment and you need to either extricate yourself or help others, hand protection is essential. These gloves were cheap (just $6.99 a pair with a discount for buying three) and, like my boot recommendation, you can go with more expensive options but these do the job. I purchased my gloves from the Working Person's Store and was very happy with their service.

Scariest Site On the Internet?

Gawker.com called this blog "The Scariest Site On The Internet?" when I posted my best advice for a blackout here as the city melts under this awful heat, and Con Ed can't guarantee power or subway service.

My Best Blackout Advice

With this heat wave already causing blackouts in Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island, my best advice if you experience one is to fill up your bathtub with water right away! I live on the 12th Floor of our apartment building and in the big blackout of 2003 we soon learned that water gets up to the rooftop water tanks using electric pumps. Once this water supply is gone, you're out of luck and then the only option for draining toilets will be bottled water. As for hygiene, I keep a supply of individually-sealed sanitizing wipes (a variety of brands are available at any drugstore), Purell liquid sanitizer, and also full body wipes (I've purchased these at both EMS and LL Bean but can't find them on their web sites) which are like the hand sanitizing wipes only much larger. For more blackout tips see also: You Need A Phone Like This, Best Lantern Ever, My Favorite Flashlight.

It's Hurricane Season

The latest hurricane forecast was released two days ago by Colorado State University's Dr. William Gray and you can read it here (pdf). Basically it says we can expect eight Atlantic basin hurricanes this season and seven tropical storms, with Florida being the most likely state to get hit. A separate interactive Landfall Probability Table gives our area a 6.9% chance of an intense hurricane making landfall this season. Some think we are overdue and under prepared for this possibility (click here for that story) as few now remember the 1938 hurricane nicknamed The Long Island Express.

A Real Tough Jacket

I love the Filson Tin Cruiser because it is so uniquely tough and you won't find it at any store in the city. You can't wash it or dry clean it, in fact the company says that some customers "just hose 'em down at the end of the day." The jacket was designed nearly 100 years ago for loggers and is made of something they call Tin Cloth, which is the exact opposite of anything they carry at Barney's. If I'm called upon to clean debris in the middle of a storm, I'll be wearing this thing!

A Good Pair of Boots

The gold standard of work boots among city construction workers is the Timberland Men's Waterproof 6 Inch Premium Boot. When I was down at the Javits Center after 9/11 to volunteer, people wearing sneakers were told in no uncertain terms that they'd get hurt. When disaster strikes, the ground can be littered with sharp objects. If you're going to be walking around in that environment you need to protect your feet. Yes there are more exotic, expensive and tougher boots out there but these do the job. You might also want to invest in a few packs of Blist-O-Ban blister bandages. The NY Times ran a story recently about various blister treatment options and this brand came out on top.

Best Lantern Ever

When I first saw the L.L. Bean Freeplay Rechargeable Crank Lantern in their Spring catalog I immediately ordered two. These units now complement several other lantern/lighting options I've purchased in the past. I believe that the Freeplay is the best and what you might call the pinnacle of my search for emergency lighting solutions. I began years ago with the purchase of emergency candles that were the size of small logs and would supposedly burn for weeks. Then I upgraded to a Coleman 8D Pack-Away Lantern which was good, but I didn't like the fact that it needed eight D batteries to operate. Wandering the aisles of Paragon Sports' camping department I came across the Uco Candle Lantern from Peregrine Outfitters. This is an elegant little device that works for nine hours on a single, small candle. But now if I have to take just one device with me in an emergency, it'll be the Freeplay from L.L. Bean.