EZ Does It

It’s more than just a rhetorical question, it’s one that a lot of folks are probably wondering.  Why front three or four thousand bucks, or more, to have some strangers work on your home; work, that may or may not have any beneficial purpose in our lifetime?  Think about it.  You’re going to write a […]

In 2012, impressed by similar emergency preparedness / response programs he had seen in the Seattle area, former Portland mayor, Sam Adams, implemented the BEECN Program in the Portland area, part of PBEM – Portland Bureau of Emergency Management.  What does BEECN stand for?   Basic Earthquake Emergency Communication Node – pronounced, BEACON.  

If there’s anything that I’ve learned living in the PNW for the last forty two years, it’s that no matter how prepared you think you are, it’s never really quite good enough.  Camping in mid summer, only to find evening temps can drop to close to freezing.  Snow falling in the mountains as late as

It has been ten days since the devastating earthquake in Nepal.  The country is still recovering from the initial shock of the massive earthquake and the more than eighty aftershocks.  Like in all earthquakes, the destruction was not far reaching and had no demographic confines or preferences.  Temples, homes, businesses, and infrastructure alike, all suffered

This will be the last in the series of information from the American Red Cross publication, “PREPARE!  A Resource Guide.”  Today’s blog will cover dealing with Biological or Chemical Threat, Terrorism, and Pandemic Flu.  Surprisingly, this section is a little on the short side. Before: At Home: *If available, choose an internal room in your

In this, the fourth installment of this blog, we’ll cover the last four items of the thirteen as provided in the American Red Cross pamphlet, “Prepare!  A Resource Guide.”   9)  Preparing Your Pet For Disaster For most of us, our pets are as much family members as are our kids, and are treated as

In my last post, I covered items four and five; today I will cover items six, seven, and eight.  These are all somewhat difficult subjects as they all touch on our age, physical and / or mental abilities during and after a disaster. 6. Individuals with Access & Functional Needs Individuals who have mobility challenges

In my last blog, I focused on the first three points in the American Red Cross pamphlet, “Prepare!  A Resource Guide”.  This blog will focus on the forth and fifth items of the pamphlet. THE APPS: First Aid App: This app puts free and simple life saving information at your fingertips.  Downloading this app will

We live in an area where there are a number of natural and human sourced disasters that could occur that could dramatically and negatively affect our daily lives.  Everything from earthquakes, floods, tsunamis, landslides, and wild fires on the natural side to chemical spills, fire storms, and terrorist activities on the human side that could

You’ve decided to buy a home and you’ve selected a Realtor to find the right house for you.  You know how much you have to spend, you know where you want to live, and you know what kind of house you’re looking for.  After several days of looking your Realtor calls you with the great