Monday, May 11, 2015
Oil in North Dakota Derailment Was Treated to Cut Volatility
BISMARCK, N.D. — May 7, 2015, 7:09 PM ET
By MATTHEW BROWN and BLAKE NICHOLSON Associated Press
A shipment of oil involved in an explosive train derailment in North Dakota
had been treated to reduce its volatility — a move that state officials
suggested could have reduced the severity of the accident but won't
prevent others from occurring.
Hess Corporation spokesman John Roper said the oil complied with a state
order requiring propane, butane and other volatile gases to be stripped
out of crude before it's transported. That conditioning process lowers
the vapor pressure of the oil, reducing the chances of an explosive
ignition during a crash.
Despite the treatment of the crude in Wednesday's accident, six cars
carrying a combined 180,000 gallons of oil caught fire in the derailment
2 miles from the town of small Heimdal in central North Dakota. The
town was evacuated but no one was hurt.
Shop PrepareNowStore.com for you preparedness needs.
A report found that close to half of all Americans are threatened by shaking from earthquakes strong enough to cause damage.
Rong-Gong Lin II, Los Angeles Times | May 7, 2015
(TNS) — People living in California and the West Coast still face the
highest earthquake risk. But a new study says they are not alone.
That report found that close to half of all Americans — nearly 150 million people — are threatened by shaking from earthquakes strong enough to cause damage.
That figure is a sharp jump from the figure in 1994, when the Federal Emergency Management Agency estimated that just 75 million Americans were at risk from earthquakes.
One reason for the sharp increase in exposure to quake damage is population increases in areas prone to earthquakes, especially California, said William Leith, a co-author and USGS senior science adviser for earthquake and geologic hazards.
That report found that close to half of all Americans — nearly 150 million people — are threatened by shaking from earthquakes strong enough to cause damage.
That figure is a sharp jump from the figure in 1994, when the Federal Emergency Management Agency estimated that just 75 million Americans were at risk from earthquakes.
One reason for the sharp increase in exposure to quake damage is population increases in areas prone to earthquakes, especially California, said William Leith, a co-author and USGS senior science adviser for earthquake and geologic hazards.
Shop PrepareNowStore.com for Earthquake Survival Kits.
Saturday, April 18, 2015
2015 Hurricane Season Expected to be Less Active than Average
Eric Staats, Naples Daily News | April 10, 2015
Colorado State University researchers are predicting a below average
2015 Atlantic hurricane season, with seven named storms, leaving Henri,
the possible eighth named storm, out of the alphabetical running.
Of the seven storms, three are expected to become hurricanes and one is forecast to reach major hurricane strength with winds of 111 mph or more, researchers reported in their annual forecast released Thursday.
The report comes with a caution: "It just takes that one storm to make it an active season," said Phil Klotzbach, the lead author of the report put out by CSU's Tropical Meteorology Project since 1984.
Take 1992, which also was supposed to be a quiet year for hurricanes. That held true until Aug. 24, when Hurricane Andrew slammed into South Florida with 175 mph winds. The storm killed 23 people in the U.S. and caused $26 billion in damage.
Of the seven storms, three are expected to become hurricanes and one is forecast to reach major hurricane strength with winds of 111 mph or more, researchers reported in their annual forecast released Thursday.
The report comes with a caution: "It just takes that one storm to make it an active season," said Phil Klotzbach, the lead author of the report put out by CSU's Tropical Meteorology Project since 1984.
Take 1992, which also was supposed to be a quiet year for hurricanes. That held true until Aug. 24, when Hurricane Andrew slammed into South Florida with 175 mph winds. The storm killed 23 people in the U.S. and caused $26 billion in damage.
You should always have a Hurricane Survival Kit from PrepareNowStore.com ready to go.
Friday, April 10, 2015
A top Houston expert is spearheading a government-sponsored effort to prepare North Africa and the Middle East so that the region doesn't spawn the next infectious disease epidemic.
Todd Ackerman, Houston Chronicle | April 7, 2015
TNS) — Haunted by the public health community's failure to prevent or
contain Ebola, a top Houston expert is spearheading a
government-sponsored effort to prepare North Africa and the Middle East
so that the region doesn't spawn the next infectious disease epidemic.
Dr. Peter Hotez, named a U.S. science envoy in December, fears the next virulent outbreak of a neglected tropical disease or emerging infection could strike ISIS-occupied territories in Syria, Iraq, Yemen or Libya, all of which fit the historical mold for such a disaster. He is working to identify institutions in the region that could send scientists to train in Houston, then ramp up back at home to produce vaccines in time to prevent an epidemic.
"We can't wait for catastrophic epidemics to happen and only then start making vaccines," said Hotez, an infectious disease specialist at Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital. "We need to start anticipating the next threat."
Dr. Peter Hotez, named a U.S. science envoy in December, fears the next virulent outbreak of a neglected tropical disease or emerging infection could strike ISIS-occupied territories in Syria, Iraq, Yemen or Libya, all of which fit the historical mold for such a disaster. He is working to identify institutions in the region that could send scientists to train in Houston, then ramp up back at home to produce vaccines in time to prevent an epidemic.
"We can't wait for catastrophic epidemics to happen and only then start making vaccines," said Hotez, an infectious disease specialist at Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital. "We need to start anticipating the next threat."
Shop for pandemic supplies at PrepareNowStore.com.
Railways are now carrying highly explosive Bakken crude oil, making emergency managers' jobs even tougher.
Jim McKay | April 10, 2015
Emergency managers have been asked in recent years to do a lot more with fewer resources. That job got even tougher with the advent of oil shipments from the Bakken shale region of North Dakota via rail around the country.
Bakken is obtained by hydraulic fracking and horizontal drilling, which has increased since 2000 and can be highly explosive. And there have been several train derailments recently, including one in Lac-Megantic, Quebec, in July 2013 that killed 47 people.
In the U.S., a train carrying Bakken crude oil derailed in West Virgina on Feb. 16, 2015, sending orange flames skyward for days. There have been other derailments, and there’s concern of a scene like the one in Quebec happening in a major U.S. city, including those in Pennsylvania. A report by public sources said 1.5 million people are potentially at risk if a train carrying crude oil derails and catches fire there.
Shop for emergency supplies at PrepareNowStore.com.
Saturday, April 4, 2015
How Prepared Are You?
A new survey shows the extent to which Americans around the country have taken measures to prepare for natural disasters or other emergencies.
Mike Maciag | April 2, 2015
The Census Bureau and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development released data this week showing the extent to which Americans in different parts of the country have taken measures to prepare for natural disasters or other emergencies. Disaster preparedness questions were a new addition to the 2013 American Housing Survey, intended to assist policymakers and emergency responders with planning.
Nationwide, just over half of households had prepared an emergency evacuation kit. Only a third had communication plans in place, while 37 percent had established emergency meeting locations.
The Census Bureau published results for 25 metro areas participating in the survey, which is conducted biennially. For the most part, residents in coastal areas were more likely to have taken steps to prepare for emergencies, likely stemming from greater awareness and risks in those regions. About 70 percent of surveyed households, for example, reported having prepared emergency kits in the Tampa-St. Petersburg and Miami-Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood metro areas of Florida. By comparison, only 41 percent of households had kits in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area.
Similarly, communication plans — including contingencies for the disruption of cellphone service — were most prevalent in Miami area households (45 percent), followed by Baltimore and northern New Jersey. Only a quarter of households reported communication plans in Austin-Round Rock, Texas, and a few other metros.
Across larger regions, results suggest communities in the Midwest are less prepared. About 46 percent of Midwestern households surveyed reported having an emergency evacuation kit, compared to 52 percent for the Northeast and West and 55 percent for the South. Midwestern households were also slightly less likely to have an emergency water supply and communication plan in place.....
Five Quick Tips for Spring Hiking
PrepareNowStore.com 4/4/2015
Spring is a great time to get out a hike but it's also a time when preparation is especially important. Here are some things I've learned over the years.
1. Dress in Layers
Dress
in layers as you would for a mild winter hike and be prepared for a quick turn
in the weather. A light wool base layer under a light to mid-weight insulating
layer topped off with a water proof hard-shell outer layer works for me. Layering
gives you the flexibility to adjust to quickly changing spring weather. If you are hiking in a milder climate, you might try a soft-shell outer layer instead of
hard-shell, or sticking to a lightweight insulating layer. Always bring an
extra pair of dry socks. This is especially important in the spring when weather
can change so quickly. Check weather forecasts and plan for the worst. Always
go prepared!
2. Wear Waterproof Boots or Shoes
- Stick to waterproof boots or shoes unless you're really sure about the weather through your entire hike. The fastest way to ruin a potentially great spring hike is to spend half the day with wet feet.
- Were gaiters if you expect to hike through spring snow or mud. Gaiters bridge the gap between your boots and your pants legs and do a great job of keeping mud and snow out. Do the best you can to plan your hike around problem snow and mud.
- Carry ice grippers if you think there's any chance you might encounter ice or extremely hard-packed snow. Ice grippers are small, light, and easy to carry. Buying them and carrying them is much better than dealing with a broken bone from a fall. Hiking poles can help you maintain your balance, but they are not a substitute for ice grippers.
3. Use Plastic Bags If You Don’t
Have Waterproof Boots (Some experts say)
If
you don't have waterproof boots or gaiters (but you really should), you can try
plastic grocery bags as a very poor substitute to keep your feet dry. Honestly
it really doesn’t work.
4. Observe Avalanche Hazard
Like
always be aware of avalanche danger. Just because its spring doesn’t mean
avalanches can’t happen.
5. Carry Hiking Poles
If
you like hiking poles they are handy on spring hikes. You can probe the depth
of snow or mud. Get collapsible hiking poles if you can that way when you don't
need them, you can collapse them for hands-free hiking.
Shop
PrepareNowStore.com for Backpacks and other out door gear.
Wednesday, April 1, 2015
Choosing the Best Solar Charger
By Lyra Pierotti and Chris McNamara - Monday January 12, 2015Great article on choosing a solar charger.
... A 4 or 5 watt panel works great for small handheld devices, such as a simpler cell phone or mp3 player. However, many smart phones like the iPhone (especially the latest models) are extremely power hungry--nearly as much as an iPad or tablet. In general, you need at least a 7 watt panel to be sure you can charge most smart phones.
If you want to start charging more energy-hungry items like an iPad, or you want to charge multiple devices at once, things start to get more complicated (and expensive). In general, you will need a panel with at least 15 watts of power. If you want to start charging laptops, you will almost certainly need a battery and an inverter. And if you want to charge AC devices, you are now in a new category. You will now need a pretty heavy duty panel (25+ watts, a battery, and a DC-to-AC inverter). It used to be hard to make those three components work well together. But now Goal Zero has a number of kits like the Goal Zero Escape 150 Adventure Kit that make it pretty easy.
Shop Solar Panels at PrepareNowStore.com.
Wednesday, March 25, 2015
Are Viruses on the Rise or Does It Just Seem That Way?
The world we live in now, with its changing climate, burgeoning population and constant travel, is introducing us to all kinds of viruses, scientists say.
Alan Bavley, The Kansas City Star | March 23, 2015
...... "The CDC delivered a shocker. The patient didn’t have Heartland virus. He had another virus — one nobody had ever seen before.
“It was very much a surprise,” Hawkinson said. “Everyone here at the hospital hopes to help, but we couldn’t. It was very hard. We just didn’t have any answers.”
That new pathogen — named Bourbon virus after the county in southeast Kansas where the patient lived — is just the latest virus grabbing headlines, joining Ebola, SARS and MERS, West Nile virus and strains of flu that can mutate before vaccine manufacturers have time to respond. Now, too, there’s chikungunya virus, which is carried by mosquitoes and appears poised to establish a beachhead in the United States.
Are we really under siege from a growing number of new exotic and lethal viruses? Or does it just seem that way?
The answers are yes — and yes."
“It was very much a surprise,” Hawkinson said. “Everyone here at the hospital hopes to help, but we couldn’t. It was very hard. We just didn’t have any answers.”
That new pathogen — named Bourbon virus after the county in southeast Kansas where the patient lived — is just the latest virus grabbing headlines, joining Ebola, SARS and MERS, West Nile virus and strains of flu that can mutate before vaccine manufacturers have time to respond. Now, too, there’s chikungunya virus, which is carried by mosquitoes and appears poised to establish a beachhead in the United States.
Are we really under siege from a growing number of new exotic and lethal viruses? Or does it just seem that way?
The answers are yes — and yes."
Shop PrepareNowStore.com for food storage and other emergency preparedness supplies.
Can’t Go to Yosemite Visit a Midwest Park
PrepareNowStore.com 3/25/2015
We
in the Midwest have a great selection of national parks with wonderful camping
and hiking opportunities. While Yosemite is one of the most beautiful places I’ve
ever visited, we do have great places closer to home.
1.
Badlands National Park,
Interior, South Dakota
This 244,000 acre park contains one of the richest fossil beds in the world. It also has plenty of live animals roaming the plains, from prairie dogs to buffalo. Personally I think for camping the nearby Black Hills are better. The badlands are an amazing site but it’s not my kind of camping.
This 244,000 acre park contains one of the richest fossil beds in the world. It also has plenty of live animals roaming the plains, from prairie dogs to buffalo. Personally I think for camping the nearby Black Hills are better. The badlands are an amazing site but it’s not my kind of camping.
2.
Ludington State Park, Ludington,
Michigan
This park offers beautiful forests, marshland, and over six miles of Lake Michigan shoreline with great hiking and camping opportunities.
This park offers beautiful forests, marshland, and over six miles of Lake Michigan shoreline with great hiking and camping opportunities.
3.
Devils Lake State Park, Baraboo,
Wisconsin
Devils Lake is filled with natural wonders including a sandstone bridge, gorges, and an incredible lake for boating and fishing.
Devils Lake is filled with natural wonders including a sandstone bridge, gorges, and an incredible lake for boating and fishing.
4.
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore,
Honor, Michigan
The dunes, hills, valleys, and lakes at Sleeping Bear can be traced back to the Ice Age. The shoreline provides great camping spots.
Official Website
The dunes, hills, valleys, and lakes at Sleeping Bear can be traced back to the Ice Age. The shoreline provides great camping spots.
Official Website
5.
Hocking Hills State Park, Laurelville,
Ohio
This park has everything from caves and bridges to waterfalls and gorges with great hiking trails and campgrounds.
This park has everything from caves and bridges to waterfalls and gorges with great hiking trails and campgrounds.
6.
Indiana Dunes State Park,
Chesterton, Indiana
In addition to some of the best beaches in the Midwest on 15 miles of shoreline this park has more than 70 miles of trails through prairies, forests and dunes. I’ve been there several times and loved it.
In addition to some of the best beaches in the Midwest on 15 miles of shoreline this park has more than 70 miles of trails through prairies, forests and dunes. I’ve been there several times and loved it.
7.
Voyageurs National Park, International
Falls, Minnesota
This is the only national park in Minnesota and it’s located on the border of the United States and Canada. Four unique lakes give way to 344 square miles for water sports.
This is the only national park in Minnesota and it’s located on the border of the United States and Canada. Four unique lakes give way to 344 square miles for water sports.
8.
Brown County State Park,
Nashville, Indiana
Indiana’s largest state park has plenty of rolling hills and waterfront for biking, hiking, swimming and fishing. Having grown up in Indianapolis I’ve been to Brown County many times. Brown County is so different from what people expect Indiana to look like. They expect corn fields, not the rolling hills of Brown County.
Official Website
Indiana’s largest state park has plenty of rolling hills and waterfront for biking, hiking, swimming and fishing. Having grown up in Indianapolis I’ve been to Brown County many times. Brown County is so different from what people expect Indiana to look like. They expect corn fields, not the rolling hills of Brown County.
Official Website
9.
Blue Bell Campground in Custer State
Park, Custer, South Dakota
Scenic views are everywhere at this campground inside one of the country’s great parks, which is filled with rock formations, green meadows, brooks, vistas, and lots of buffalo. We spend several years living in South Dakota back in the 1990s and visited Custer State Park. Great history and yes lots of buffalo.
Scenic views are everywhere at this campground inside one of the country’s great parks, which is filled with rock formations, green meadows, brooks, vistas, and lots of buffalo. We spend several years living in South Dakota back in the 1990s and visited Custer State Park. Great history and yes lots of buffalo.
10.
Hayward KOA, Hayward, Wisconsin
Families will especially enjoy this spot with a 300-foot waterslide, a Jumping Pillow bounce house, mini golf and two playgrounds, all next to the Namekagon River. No my thing but for families it can be great.
Families will especially enjoy this spot with a 300-foot waterslide, a Jumping Pillow bounce house, mini golf and two playgrounds, all next to the Namekagon River. No my thing but for families it can be great.
11.
Eugene T. Mahoney State Park,
Ashland, Nebraska
This state park is a modern camping spot which has a family-friendly aquatic center, a lodge and restaurant. The park also has a nature center.
This state park is a modern camping spot which has a family-friendly aquatic center, a lodge and restaurant. The park also has a nature center.
12.
Silver Dollar City’s Wilderness,
Branson, Missouri
Between the Silver Dollar City amusement park and popular Table Rock Lake, you can find scenic campgrounds in the Wilderness. It’s the Las Vegas of the Midwest without all that other stuff. But I still like the real Las Vegas better.
Between the Silver Dollar City amusement park and popular Table Rock Lake, you can find scenic campgrounds in the Wilderness. It’s the Las Vegas of the Midwest without all that other stuff. But I still like the real Las Vegas better.
13.
Shades State Park, Shades,
Indiana
Enjoy the quiet along the sandstone cliffs as you overlook Sugar Creek and hike to the Pine Hills Nature Preserve at this spring and summer camping destination. Again I grew up in Indiana and this is another great Indiana park.
Enjoy the quiet along the sandstone cliffs as you overlook Sugar Creek and hike to the Pine Hills Nature Preserve at this spring and summer camping destination. Again I grew up in Indiana and this is another great Indiana park.
14.
Walnut Point State Park,
Oakland, Illinois
Although bird and animal watchers love this park, the real attraction is the trees You’ll find sassafras, maple, oak, hickory, and walnut around the 59 acre Walnut Point Lake and hiking trails.
Although bird and animal watchers love this park, the real attraction is the trees You’ll find sassafras, maple, oak, hickory, and walnut around the 59 acre Walnut Point Lake and hiking trails.
15.
Peninsula State Park, Wisconsin
Just outside the 468 campsites available at this Door County park is a golf course, beach, lighthouse, bike trails, and high bluffs that are part of the Niagara Escarpment.
Just outside the 468 campsites available at this Door County park is a golf course, beach, lighthouse, bike trails, and high bluffs that are part of the Niagara Escarpment.
Monday, March 23, 2015
Tornado Season Is Here!
Don't become complacent about preparing for severe weather.
PrepareNowStore.com, 3/23/2015
BEFORE A TORNADO:
1. Be
prepared and informed. When weather is
predicted to be severe, listen to the news so you'll know if your area is at
risk and when to take action. Take action before the weather gets severe, don't wait.
2. Buy a Tornado Emergency Kit and hand crank weather radio and make sure everyone knows where they are stored.
3. Talk about tornadoes with your family. Explain the warning signs
since tornadoes can strike before any official warning is issued. Signs include
dark, often greenish clouds, large hail, a cloud of debris; and finally a funnel
cloud or a roaring noise.
4. Know the
disaster plans of your children’s school or
child care center.
5. Practice
tornado drills with your family.
Nothing drives home a preparedness plan better than drills.
DURING A TORNADO
1. Seek
immediate shelter in the safest place
you can find. The safest place in a home is the interior part of a basement. If
you do not have a basement, go to an interior bathroom, closet, or hallway on
the lowest floor.
2. If outside
or in a mobile home, seek cover in a designated
shelter or nearby sturdy building. If there is no building nearby, lie flat in
a low spot, making sure it is not a drainage area that could flash flood.
3. If you
have a helmet (or any hard head protection) this is the time to wear it. Wearing any kind of hard head protection can really help
since tornado related head injuries are common.
AFTER A TORNADO:
1. Stay informed after a tornado strikes by continuing to listen to a radio
or TV for updates. This is where the hand crank weather radio can
be a real life saver.
2. Involve your children in clean-up activities if it is safe to do
so. It is comforting to children to see life begin to return to
normal and to have a job to do.
3. Listen to your children. Encourage them to express feelings of fear, show understanding, and offer reassurance.
Tornado Watch means
that tornadoes are possible in and near the watch area. People in a watch area
should review their tornado plans and be ready to act if a warning is issued or
they suspect a tornado is approaching.
Tornado Warning means that a tornado has been sighted or indicated by
weather radar. People in a warning area should go immediately to their safe
room. If they are in a vehicle, they should get out of the vehicle and go to
shelter in a nearby sturdy building or lie flat in a low spot away from the
vehicle.
Buy a Tornado Emergency Kit at
PrepareNowStore.com.
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