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Lecture: 10-2005
PREPARING FOR
DISASTER
By: Skip Gochenour
NOTE: These comments assume the
user has no duty obligation beyond those to their own family.
I.
History
A. Recent
1. Katrina
has revisited many lessons of the past.
Many of the same behaviors occurred in the San Francisco earthquake of
1906.
2. Failure
of government entities to coordinate for some period of time.
3. Some
police abandoning their duties.
4. Violence
caused by free-roaming groups.
5. Infrastructure
and services interrupted causing a break-down in the coherence of response.
B.
Within a lifetime in south-central Pa.
1. 1968-69
Riots
a. Large
groups attacking people at random.
b. Weapons
included bricks and firearms.
c. Long-guns,
especially rifles were prominent.
d. Law-enforcement
was in defense mode because they were the objects of attack.
2. 1972
Agnes
a. Within
an hour small streams became raging rivers ½ mile across.
b. People
were caught in these “rivers” and had to be rescued in the dead of night.
c. Rain
gear was useless and a hindrance.
Carried equipment failed.
Leather became shapeless buckets.
Weapons, especially revolvers, were filled with dirt from the flood
waters and would not function.
Commercial ammo became water-logged and would not fire. Only military ball was reliable.
d. Emergency
personnel were stranded at the residences or on high ground “islands” and could
not respond to calls.
e. Populace
behaved in stupid fashion requiring heroic rescue efforts.
f. Information
coming from emergency communication services often was not forth-coming or was
incorrect.
3. 1979 TMI
a. A sudden
onset incident that evolved over several days.
b. The
“evacuation plan” was badly constructed and lead to a default decision on
implementation.
C. Major
disaster events can happen anywhere and can cover a large spectrum of
variation.
II.
Preparation is individual.
A. Mental
preparation.
1. YOU ARE
ON YOUR OWN.
2. No
matter what the incident type, or the venue in which it occurs, you must
anticipate the actions of others around you.
3. There
will be ditherers, ninny’s, opportunists and capables.
4. Have a
plan consistent with the type of incident and immediately execute it.
5. The plan
should not be dependant on others or on availability of specific equipment that
is not directly on your person unless there is time and opportunity to reach
that equipment.
B.
The plan should be faceted and layered to consider at
least
·
Individually getting from where you are to where you need
to embark from.
·
Gathering those for whom you are legally and morally
responsible for and moving them from the danger area.
·
Clear the danger area of you and yours
·
If necessary, be prepared to “shelter-in-place”.
·
The plan should consider those circumstances where the
incident is immediate, unexpected and catastrophic.
·
The plan should consider circumstances where there is some
significant amount of advance notice which allows assembly of items needed for
a prolonged period away from the danger area.
·
The plan should consider circumstances where the incident
is sudden and unexpected but allows some limited time to assemble at a point of
demarcation and acquiring of items needed for a prolonged period away from the
danger zone.
C. Getting
to the disembark location.
1. You may
be at work or at a location away from those who are your responsibility. An incident may occur there or in the area
where it places those for whom you are responsible in danger. Except in the very limited circumstance
where the incident is such that it prohibits your leaving the area, you should
leave and go to the rallying point for those who belong to you.
2. You
should know all the points of egress from the location you are located. Paying no regard to the assertions of other,
you should, if possible, leave that location and make your way to the rally
point. Use the least used point of
egress from the building. If there are
those present who will try to preclude your departure, look for an opportunity
created by others distracting their attention and slip away.
3. You
should have on your person such equipment as circumstance allows to aid in your
evacuation. Your car keys should always
be on your person. You should always
have a small, long-lasting light source.
Unless it is forbidden by law, you should have a small, sturdy cutting
tool on your person. If such items are
prohibited by “policy” only, you may elect at your own peril, to disregard the
policy and never do or say anything that would reveal the presence of the
implement.
4. Have a
separate emergency bag with items you may need to effectuate your escape from a
building in an off-body carry system.
This carryable should have items such as a small packable rain cover and
“baby” wipes that will allow you to cover exposed parts of your body and
quickly clean yourself. You should also
have a mask or cloth to cover your nose and mouth.
5. If you
are able to carry a firearm, you should.
If you are carrying a firearm the off-body bag should have spare ammo.
6. If
possible, make your way to your vehicle and leave the area. Remember that most people in a state of
anxiety will use the path of travel they customarily use. Use an alternate and less traveled path to
get away from the immediate area. Have
an alternate route that uses less traveled side streets, alleys and roads. Take that route from time to time so that
you can navigate it easily and know what obstacles may be expected at various
times.
7. Have a
disaster bag in your car that contains such other items as you will need to get
from where you are to your rally point.
The bag should be constructed in such a way as to allow it to be carried
over a prolonged distance, should the car become disabled or not otherwise
available.
D. Gathering
those for whom you are responsible.
1. Rally
points operate at several levels. They
should have several levels but few branches.
2. In
instances such as home invasions, fires, or other residence specific
occurrences, the same response should exist.
All parties, except the designated safety person should leave the
residence by the nearest point of exit.
They should then make there way to a pre-arranged location that puts a
solid natural or manmade barrier between the point of danger and the members of
the family. The safety person should be
certain all members of the family have escaped and join the rally point.
3. In
circumstances of community disaster, whenever conditions permit, every effort
should be made to bring all members of the family together under your
protection.
·
Children of sufficient age and resource should make their
way to a pre-arranged location where they can be picked up by other family
members.
·
Administrators have a “shelter-in–place” policy that is
designed more for administrative accountability than safety.
·
If necessary, go to the school and take your children into
your own custody.
·
Remember to travel along less used routes of travel to
avoid being caught in traffic congestion.
Explore those routes before they are needed.
·
If the disaster is such that evacuation of the general
area is desired, and enough time exists, it is best for all members of the
family to return to the home to acquire long-term disaster kits.
·
Evacuation can then be accomplished as a group.
·
If return to the residence is not advisable or possible,
then each party of parts of the total group should make there way to an agreed
upon alternate rally point.
·
Each person in the group should have the telephone number
of two relatives or friends who live outside the effected area. As soon as possible after departing for the
alternate rally point, each part of the group should call those numbers and
leave specific information concerning their whereabouts and condition. Additional contacts should occur with those
telephone contacts at regular and pre-determined intervals with up-dates.
·
Continue the contacts until all members of the group are
together.
E.
Sheltering-in-place.
1. Sheltering
place is the least desirable choice but may be necessary.
2. If you
are sheltering in your home, have your necessary items in place and make the
needed modifications to your environment.
3. If you
are sheltering in your place of employment, you should determine in advance if
there are sufficient supplies and modification equipment to allow for effective
shelter. If such supplies do not exist,
do what you can to acquire what may be needed.
4. If you
are compelled to use a makeshift shelter, you should do an immediate inventory
of available items that can be used to effectively modify that environment.
III.
Immediate, unexpected and catastrophic.
A. This
will most-likely be some form of release.
It could be an energy release, a chemical or biologic release or a
nuclear release.
1. Such
releases can be accidental or intentional.
2. Regardless
of the mechanism of release, there will be great panic. You must keep your head about you. Do not engage in exchanges with those who
are caught up in the contagion of panic or other emotion. Get away from the crowd and move on your
own.
B.
Energy release.
1. An
energy release will often be seen as an explosive device but could be a natural
incident like a tornado or earthquake.
2. If you
survive the initial explosion, you have a very good chance of survival.
3. Find
those that belong to you and evacuate the effected area.
4. Get some
solid, manmade or natural structure between you and the danger zone.
5. Move
up-wind, up-hill and up-stream.
6. If in
the area of high-rise buildings, remember that glass can fall for up to 10
seconds.
7. Stay
away from liquids, wires, gas clouds, steam releases, especially if there is
some reason to suspect there is super-heated steam.
8. If your
vehicle is available and operable, use it to evacuate the area.
C. Chemical
or biologic release.
1. This can
be intentional or, given the amount of such material in shipment at any time,
it can be accidental.
2. Cover
all exposed skin with anything available, but preferably with something that is
water repellant.
3. Use any
available cover to move away from any clouds about the area.
4. Move
up-wind, up-hill and up-stream.
5. Get as
many manmade and/or natural structures between you and the source as possible.
6. If your
vehicle is available, get in and drive away from the area. Keep the windows closed and the vents
closed.
7. Get to a
source of water and thoroughly wash yourself and remove your clothing.
8. If you
are in your car, use the “baby wipes” in your disaster bag to wash yourself and
use the extra set of clothes in the bag as replacements.
9. As soon
as you are sure you are clear, find medical facilities and seek treatment and
assessment.
D. Nuclear
release.
1. This
release can be intentional or accidental.
2. If the
release involves an explosion and you survive the initial blast you have a very
good chance of survival.
3. In an
explosion incident there will be about 10 minutes until the radiation begins to
rain down.
4. Even if
you are on foot, you will have time to evacuate the contamination area if you
move upwind immediately.
IV.
Incidents with a significant advance warning interval.
A. Such
incidents will most often be natural occurrences such as hurricanes.
1. Family
members should be gathered together and vehicles packed for the evacuation as
soon as it is determined there will be a disaster.
2. Long
term disaster packs should be loaded into the vehicles and the pre-determined
route should be followed to the distant location of safety.
3. Each
travel group should have a clear end trip rally point and phone numbers for
that location, should parts of the group become separated.
V.
Incidents that are sudden and unexpected but allow
sometime for collecting family members and departing.
A. This
type of incident would be like TMI. The
procedure should be much like those in IV, but accomplished in a much shorter
period of time.
VI.
Disaster Kits
A. Disaster
kits will range from those personally carried to those designed for sheltering
in place.
B.
Personal carry kits.
1. Personal
carry kits take two forms. Those that
are always on the person and those that are carried off-body. Like any other emergency tool, the only ones
that can be counted on under all circumstances are those on the body at the
time of the incident.
2. On your
person you should always have a small, long-lasting light source. You should have a Swiss Army knife with a
few tools. You should have a small
sturdy knife that can withstand light prying.
If possible, you should have a personal firearm and spare ammo. You should have a handkerchief.
3. Your
clothing should cover your arms and legs and be made of natural fibers. You should have some form of outer garment
that can be used to cover your exposed head if necessary. Your footwear should be rugged and capable
of being securely in place.
4. Your
off-body kit should have a packable rain cover, antiseptic hand cleaner,
additional spare ammo and more powerful light and spare batteries. You should have a battle dressing and a pack
of handy-wipes as well as a small amount of water.
C. Daily
car carry kit.
1. Your car
should carry a supply of bottled water sufficient for 3 days, food for the same
period, small hand tools, and a change of clothes complete with cold weather covers,
hat and shoes.
2. If you
have been exposed to some contaminate you will need to wash completely and
change clothes.
3. You
should consider additional ammo for your handgun and an abbreviated sturdy
carbine with 200 rounds of ammo.
4. All of
these items should be contained in a carry system that will allow it to be
carried on your person over a prolonged distance.
5. Your kit
should also contain rain gear, more handy-wipes blankets and a large heavy gage
candle with coffee can to be used for creating warmth.
D. Home
based emergency kit.
1. A kit
that can be carried if necessary should be maintained in the home.
2. The kit
should have 3-5 days supply of water and non-perishable food for each person
who will be traveling with you.
3. There
should be at least one change of clothes for each person.
4. There
should be a few cooking utensils and eating utensils. A pack of coffee filters for straining water should be included
as should a container of liquid bleach for water purification.
5. Detail
maps for 100 miles diameter from your home.
6. A
compass and chopping tool.
7. Blankets
for each person on the trip.
8. A
container of large heavy garbage bags and two rolls of duct tape.
9. A tent
or tarp that can be used as cover.
10. 100 ft.
of para-cord.
11. Toilet
paper and paper towels.
12. Extra
eye-glasses for those who need them.
Medication for those who use them.
13. An
assortment of small hand tools.
14. Two
battery operated radios and flashlights with extra batteries.
E.
Sheltering in place at home.
1. Have
sufficient water and food for two weeks for each person housed.
2. Have a
supply of heavy gage plastic and duct tape to secure a safe room in the event
of some contaminate release.
3. Battery
operated radios and lights with extra batteries.
4. A power
generator.
5. Consume
the food in the refrigerator first.
Then use the food in the freezer and the non-perishables last. Food kept in the freezer is generally safe
to eat if the center of the food still has ice crystals in the center of the
food.
VII.
Water sources.
A. Water is
the most important need.
1. You may
ration food, but not water. Drink what
is available and find more.
2. Fill all
available containers with water for use in the septic system
3. If you
are on public water and there is a danger of contamination shut-off the water
intake to your house.
4. Drain the
system of good water, including the water heater. If you are moving through deserted areas, remember that useable
water may exist in water systems of abandoned structures.
5. Rain
water and clear water from free-running streams may be used as a water source. Strain such found water through a coffee
filter of cloth. Put a gallon of water
in a pot and boil it for 1 minute. Add
16 drops of liquid household bleach.
Let stand for 30 minutes. Smell
the water for a slight bleach smell. If
there is no smell, repeat the process and let stand for 15 minutes. If there is still no bleach smell. Discard
the water and search for another source.
VIII.
Remember—You Are On Your Own!!
ATSA STUDY GROUP
Shooting Drills
DOT EXERCISE
Pit 4
Props: (2) IDPA targets with ATSA Dots sprayed on.
Purpose: to allow the
practitioner to use the relationship between the intended impact area and a
visualization of the sighting system as a cue for the degree of trigger finesse
to be accomplished.
Process: A series of impact zones varying in size
from 1 ½” to 6”x6” are engaged at differing distances. The practitioner sees the relationship
between the impact area and the various parts of the rear of the gun and uses
those relationships as a cue for the degree of finesse required for trigger
actuation. In each string (7) to (10)
shots are fired as rapidly as the practitioner can maintain 90% of his hits in
the target area. Impacts should be
throughout the impact zone. One hole
groups means that the practitioner is shooting to slowly and seeing a much more
precise traditional sight picture than is required.
String 1 3 yds.
1 ½” dot.
At this range, the outer edges
of the rear sight should be approximately even with the outer edges of the dot.
String 2 5 yds. lower left 3” dot.
At this range the outside edges
of the slide of an auto-pistol should be approximately even with outside
diameter of the dot.
String 3 7 yds.
middle right 3” dot.
At this range the outer edges of
the rear sight should be approximately even with the outside diameter of the
dot.
String 4 10 yds
middle left 3” dot.
At this range the inside edges
of the rear sight window should be even with the outside diameter of the dot.
String 5 15 yds. upper right 3” dot.
At this range the outer edges of
the front sight should be approximately even with the outside diameter of the
dot.
String 6 20 yds. upper left 3” dot.
At this range the dot should be
on the top dead center of the front sight.
String 7 25 yds. head shot 6”x6”
square.
At this range the outer edges of
the rear sight should be approximately even with the outer diameter of the
head.
Note: each of the described
visualizations of “sight picture” are approximate and will vary slightly
depending on the specific weapon and affixed sight system. The practitioner will learn that the
visualizations described are sufficient to maintain impacts within the
designated impact zone. The purpose of
the drill is to condition the practitioner to use the relationship between the
size of the impact area and the visualization of the sights as an indicator of
the degree of trigger finesse required to make a hit in the impact area. Distance is irrelevant.
DOT DRILL PRACTICAL EXERCISE
Pit 2
Props: (5) IDPA targets and stands.
Purpose: To allow the practitioner to practice the
target to sight visualization exercise across distance.
Process: The practitioner, on the signal “gun” does a
presentation of the weapon from concealed carry and engages each target with a
minimum of two rounds to the designated impact zones. Practitioner is responsible for getting of the line of force as
is practically required and maintaining a 360 check.
The practitioner will get (3)
runs at the exercise.
T-1, 3 yds, Impact zone is the
ocular window of the target.
T-2 7 yds, Impact zone is the center 8” scoring zone of the target.
T-3 15 yds, Impact zone is the 8” center scoring zone of the target.
T-4 25 yds, Impact zone is the center 8” scoring zone on the target.
T-5 40 yds, Impact zone is the entire target.
DOT EXERCISE WHILE MOVING