Your pet needs an emergency preparedness kit too! Check out the one I have – ready to go #Prepared2014 #NatlPrep #Woof

It’s finally Friday in this third week of 2014 National Preparedness Month

“Be Disaster Aware, Take Action to Prepare”

#FridayFurDay right? Or is that #FridayFunday ?

This week’s theme is consistent with FEMA’s National Preparedness Campaign: Build an Emergency Kit

#19: Your pet needs an emergency preparedness kit too! Check out the one I have – ready to go #Prepared2014 #NatlPrep #Woof

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Dry dog food (3 days worth). I have Kacy’s food parceled out into individual easy servings. This way, we don’t over feed her.

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Two (2) bottles of water – which is enough for her for 3 days.

Pet identification (3×5 notecard in zip lock bag which makes this waterproof) which includes our contact cell phones and twitter handles, pet name, date of birth, current vaccinations, county dog registration, vet address, vet phone, and of course a short description of what she looks like. Also in the zip lock bag is Kacy’s pet medications (heart worm pills and flea and tick meds).

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Small bowl to eat and drink.

Dog identification tags that includes her name tag, county dog identification, rabies vaccination information, our contact information, and home address.

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Pet First Aid kit – I got this from a community fair thanks to the local health department. This is a necessity! It will make minor injuries easier to manage.

Extra static 6ft leash…and yes, it’s labeled w/ duct tape with her name on it.

Packable raincoat because in case it rains, we are prepared for adverse weather! Also the “wet dog smell” isn’t the most fragrant aroma.

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Favorite pet toys for Kacy which includes two Nylabone chew toys and a bright orange rubber tennis ball from Target.

*******All of the above items fit nicely in a dog carry pack. *******

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Incidentally, this pack/harness has a handle on the topin case I need to emergently pick her up and go. I also have a green glow stick (break activation) that attaches via carabiner to the top for easy identification during night travel/evacuation.

The pack has several zippered outside pockets so I can separate the medications/Identification from the food.

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These simple and easy basic supplies make up my pet preparedness kit. Keep in mind that everyone’s pet preparedness kits should be different depending on the size and breed of the animal…but it should have the basics like food, water, and medications.

I was reminiscing about my deployment during Hurricane Katrina/Rita in 2005 – our Task Force saw SO many abandoned pets in Louisiana’s Lower 9th Ward.

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In case of an emergency or disaster, PLEASE take the time to prepare/evacuate with your pets as they are part of your family.

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For more information on how you can put together your pet preparedness kit, check out this free FEMA Ready.Gov link on pet preparedness.

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For those wondering, Kacy is a rescue dog. Best. Dog. Ever.

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Special thanks to my dog Kacy for helping out in today’s preparedness post. #woof

@rusnivek

One gallon of water per day per person – 48 bottles! #NatlPrep #Prepared2014

Midstream in the third week of 2014 National Preparedness Month.

“Be Disaster Aware, Take Action to Prepare”

Are you drowning in these preparedness tips yet?

This week’s theme is consistent with FEMA’s National Preparedness Campaign: Build an Emergency Kit

#16: One Gallon of water per day / per person. Calculated for you = 48 bottles of water per person in your #Prepared2014 kit! #NatlPrep

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So let’s do some simple calculations now.

1 bottled water = 8 oz of water

16 ounces of water = 1 pint of water

8 pints of water = 1 gallon of water

The recommendation is that every person has a gallon of water per day per person.

*****That means you need at least 16 bottles of water per person per day.*****

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If you just whispered ERMAHGERD….then you should buy some water today.

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This one is not negotiable…get it now. A case of bottled water is relatively cheap…like $3 for a case. Cheap. Do it.

Few tips once you get your water

  • Store your cases of bottled water in a cool dark place that is low to the ground.
  • So to keep your items fresh, make sure you rotate your bottled water regularly.
  • Not only for yourself, make sure you have enough water for your family.
  • I am not brand specific. Trust me, during an emergency, you will not be brand specific either.
  • Try to keep them in the shrink-wrapped. It’ll make it easier to move when needed.
  • Try to purchase clear bottles. It will help you see what’s inside.
  • Clear water bottles also can be used to amplify/diffuse a flashlight.

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Keep in mind, during an emergency, this is a very common sight.

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So don’t let this happen to you.

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Get your preparedness kit with water together today!

@rusnivek

Pets have specific needs during a disaster…so plan now #NatlPrep #Prepared2014

It’s a beautiful Sunday as we start the second week of 2014 National Preparedness Month!

“Be Disaster Aware, Take Action to Prepare”

#SundayFunday right?

This week’s theme is consistent with FEMA’s National Preparedness Campaign: Know How To plan for specific needs before a Disaster.

#7: I have 3 days of food/water including meds & toys in my dog’s ready-go kit. #NatlPrep #Prepared2014

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My immediate family includes my dog too…so I want to make sure she is prepared and can carry her own stuff.

Included in her pet preparedness kit includes a 3×5 notecard with

  • her name
  • her basic information (breed, name, phone, medications)
  • owner information (our names, address, phone, emails, twitter handles)
  • her vet name and contact information
  • vaccination records
  • her backup dog tags
  • and a 24-hour emergency vet clinic with emergency surgery capability

You can create your own pet preparedness list by using the information found here.

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Good girl Kacy!

This year, make sure you include all your pets in your preparedness efforts because they have specific needs in a disaster.

@rusnivek

AAR / IP on the Toledo Water Contamination today

I’m facilitating the After-Action-Review / Improvement Plan for Fulton County from the Toledo Water Contamination.

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Lots of discussion from this all-hazards group of pros.

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Good Emergency Management discussions today!

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Most importantly, glad to see lots of engagement from everyone here.

@rusnivek

Correct typing starts early… #Tanker #Tender

No Tonka, according to the FEMA NIMS Typing, this is a Tender.

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Ahem.

**Truth be told, I’ve mistakenly done this over the statewide radio. #oops

@rusnivek

Cold Water Challenge aka IceBucketChallenge

So I was called out on the Cold Water Challenge by
1. Amanda Ball, Outreach Coordinator at MedFlight of Ohio
2. Mark Ramach, Retired Brook Park Fire Chief
3. Firefighter/Paramedic Andy Morales, Cleveland ARFF
4. Ken Ledford, Bedford Heights Fire Chief

Since Amanda was the first one to call me out, I have given her the nod to dump an entire cooler full of ice water on me.

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Special thanks to Truck-2 on the assist.

So I’m calling out:
1. Erica Creech, Communications Manager of Cleveland Water
2. John O’Brien, Communications Specialist of Cuyahoga County Sheriffs
3. Gayle Celebreeze, Flight Nurse from University Hospitals MedEvac
4. Andrew Doyle, Firefighter Paramedic with Baltimore City Fire

You have 24-hours.
Starting now.

Cold water challenge in a restricted area? No joy!

Since this is a restricted area, I just asked the commanding officer of the USCG station if I could do the Firefighter cold water challenge here under the Golden Gate Bridge…they said no.

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Don’t worry, I’ll keep trying.

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@rusnivek