jeepers4559's Blog

This morning there was a report about ready made earthquake supply kits that I wanted to add a few comments on...

If you have everything in one place, all in one kit, it's a fabulous idea.  However, you really need to know what you need first, before you buy one of those things.  How many people are in your family?  One? Two? How many kids?  The reason being is that you need to know how many food bars you need and how much water to store.  The food bars come in several caloric levels, for adults versus children. 

And both of those things have expiration dates.  I can't speak for other companies, but I do know that the bars manufactured by the coast guard last about five years. The water packets will expire as well.  Batteries don't last forever.   Meaning that you can't just toss this bag into a closet and forget about it for ten years, thinking that you're covered.  You have to remember to check your supplies, rotate out things that have expired and replace them with fresh ones.  Which, btw, you can buy individually from many different sites...you don't have to just buy whole new kits; just replace the pieces that expire.  I would tell people at that point to google the things and find the best prices.  Also know to check the dates when you first buy the big kit.  Return anything that has crappy dates. Means that kit has been sitting on a shelf for too long.  And they're not doing you any favours if you buy something that should be able to sit for five years, but those dates say that you've only got a year.  That is a ripoff.

And yes you can make these kits yourself, but you have to educate yourself as to how to do this properly.  Like if youi're going to store large quantities of water, they have to be stored in food grade plastic containers, and be OFF of surfaces like concrete (or you could have chemical leeching or leaking)...Even first aid supplies like antibiotic ointment and plastic tape will degrade over a long time period ...(Rotate those with your normal household first aid supplies.) 

 Easy to buy the kit, just remember to rotate things occasionally.  You know how they say that daylight savings time is a time to change your smoke alarm batteries?  Well, for me, I use the international news to remind me to check my earthquake supplies.   There was just a huge earthquake in China.  Time to check my stuff...Takes a few minutes, might add a couple of items to my grocery list,  or order something, and there you go...

Several thoughts on the earthquake this am.  I'm from CA so to wake me up with an earthquake is in itself, notable.  It's something that I used to sleep through.

What struck me about this one is two-fold:  One, it's even rhythmicity.  It was not erratic in it's intensity, it was very even.  The strength didn't feel like it rose and fe;l, it was pretty consistant.   Secondly, it's duration. It felt quite long.  Usually they last a few seconds, this one kept going for awhile.  Can't guestimate it's true length because it started when I was sleeping but I wouldn't be surprised if they measure it as 10-15 seconds.

I'm in far West County and it's strength felt like something in the mid-fours.  Rattling, no obvious damage at this point.

Been waiting for the New Madrid to show itself to me, and she did finally.  Hello!

On a side note, after hearing from the woman from Wildwood on the air, would like to suggest that people not only examine their homes after daylight (especially their chimneys) for damage, but please note whatever is hanging over beds on the walls in bedrooms.  The viewer from Wildwood said that she and her husband were holding a heavy mirror over their bed, and that set off alarm bells over here for me.  If you live in an 'earthquake area', please PLEASE do not have heavy decorative items above your bed.  If you do, please consider a different decorative choice.  "Next time" you may not have this sort of warning and a chance to hold it.   You might wake to having the thing slam down on your head.

JMO, but I'm not trying to be dramatic.  Just be aware that if it is heavy and it can fall, please do not sleep under it. 

So I surmise that many folks will have an early start to their day here.  Good morning, Saint Louis!

What was the deal with Ameren today?  My power went out at 11:23am and didn't come back on until this evening until 9:02pm.  I wasn't the only one.  I used my cell to call a family member who checked out the outage map around 6pm and they said that over 2700 people were without power.

I called Ameren then and they still couldn't tell me WHY.

I could vent endlessly, but I won't.  But doesn't anyone else have a clue as to what the heck happened here???