From Chaos to Community Publication

From Chaos to Community is a publication that is intended to help communities ravaged by natural disaster
come together to rebuild and recover.

The contributors to this booklet were inspired and informed by the volunteer efforts of fire survivors from the Altadena, California area who formed under the banner of Eaton Canyon Recovery Alliance and the steady leadership of Ursula Hyman in 1993-96 after massive firestorms wiped out more than 300 local homes. They, in turn, benefited from the community organizing know-how of survivors from the Oakland Hills
(California) wildfires in which wind-fanned flames destroyed some 4,000 homes and structures.

From Chaos to Community represents a small first step in compiling guidance and thoughts for citizens who want to organize and act in ways that make their neighbors and communities whole again.

From Chaos to Community

LDS Emergency Preparedness and Response

Because many of the blog viewers are LDS, I have included a link to lds.org that covers emergency
preparedness and response guidelines from the church.

Members of the Church have been counseled for many years to be prepared for adversity. Preparation, both spiritual and temporal, can dispel fear. With the guidance of Church leaders, individual members and families should prepare to be self-reliant in times of personal or widespread emergency.

LDS Emergency Preparedness and Response

Many Different Uses for Duct Tape

You can do some amazing things with duct tape! Its uses range from house repair, hunting, space travel,
clothing and more! People have used duct tape for every purpose imaginable. That is why duct tape is such a versatile tool to have in your emergency supplies!

Click on the link below and check out 15 of these uses for duct tape that could save your life!  Article posted from TheReadyStore.com.

Duct Tape Could Save Your Life

How to Restore Cast Iron

Check out this useful video on how to restore cast iron...

SLC Fire Department Fireworks Restrictions Map

With the extreme heat wave and the dry conditions, Utah officials are warning residents about the potential fire hazards throughout the state. Each city council has determined the restrictions for fireworks and open fires to meet their safety requirements.

For those who live in Salt Lake City, the SLC Fire Department has included on their website a map showing areas that are off limits for fireworks during the fourth of July and Pioneer Day festivities.  See the link below:

SLC Fire Department

Fireworks Restrictions Map

How to Prepare for Fire Season

Two Thursday night fires in Utah County served as a reminder that fire season is upon the state. Wildfires may not be entirely preventable, but steps can be taken to help prevent fires and to prepare your home and family in case of evacuation...


How can you protect your home?

Creating defensible space around your home can help to save it if a wildfire gets too close. It also provides firefighters with a place from which to fight wildfires.

Doing the following will help create defensible space:

• Remove all flammable vegetation around all structures. Contact your local fire department to find out if there is a minimal amount of clearance required.
• Trim trees so branches are six feet from the ground and 10 feet from your chimney. Remove branches overhanging your roof.
• Call your utility company for help with trees near power lines. Never trim them yourself.
• Remove any dead trees. Cut weeds and dead grasses six inches or shorter.
• Always work early in the morning and make sure your power tools have spark arresters to prevent equipment-caused fires.
• Consider landscaping with fire-resistant plants.
• Clean up plant litter and water properly

Read the full article by Stephanie Grimes on KSL.com by following the link below:

How to Prepare for Fire Season

And another good article:

  

Is Your Family Prepared for a Disaster

"Survival Rules of Three" and "Six Guidelines for Survival"

A member of our emergency communications group,
Rich Finlinson - KG7DEN attended a gathering at the Utah Digital Government Summit, where survival expert, Josh Bernstein gave a presentation.  Here are a couple of Rich's notes.


Survival Rules of Three:

You can survive roughly…

• 30 seconds without taking a breath*
• 3 minutes without a heartbeat
• 3 hours in very hot or cold conditions
• 3 days without water
• 3 weeks without food
• 3 months without companionship

*Now my 2 cents: You can also breathe underwater all you want, as long as you only exhale. If you know you can resurface, you'll be much more comfortable slowly exhaling rather than trying to hold your breath.

Six Guidelines for Survival:

• Establish and respect priorities.
• Eliminate unhelpful concerns.
• Focus on your needs.
• Do more with less.
• If need be, do less with less.
• Never give up.

More about Josh Bernstein here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josh_Bernstein
http://www.boss-inc.com/staff_josh-bernstein_19.html

Josh Bernstein is an American explorer, author, survival expert, anthropologist, and TV host best known as the host of Digging for the Truth. He later appeared for one season as the host of the Discovery Channel's Into the Unknown with Josh Bernstein.