Topic: Fire

III: Are you ready for disaster? Plan to survive!

August 6, 2008 |

Editors Note: This is Chapter 3 in a reprint of this five-part series, published on Daily Kos and origianally published online by AlphaGeek {9.9.05}. From the diaries — Plutonium Page. The series offers a practical way to assess risk and prepare a variety of disaster scenarios. The series will appear chapter by chapter at 3 p.m. through Friday.

“In the first 48 to 72 hours of an emergency, many Americans will have to look after themselves.”

– David Paulison, 2005 FEMA Director Nominee

Preparedness for emergency situations is not a solitary pursuit.

Each of us lives in the context of a larger society. Few among us could survive for long without the support of myriad other people and institutions we depend upon for our daily needs. A realistic disaster plan must balance these dependencies against the stark truth that you are likely to be required to survive outside this system for days or weeks at a time at some point in your life.

Being prepared for disaster does not have to be time-consuming or expensive. In this multi-part series of DailyKos Diaries, I will share with you, dear reader, many of the lessons I’ve learned regarding the most effective ways to prepare for an emergency.

This is the third installment in a multi-part series on personal disaster preparedness. Your humble correspondent is a Silicon Valley technical executive with both professional and personal experience in risk assessment and disaster-readiness planning. Links to reference materials, including planning guides and reference information, will be found at the end of the final Diaries in this series. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Education, Issues, News, Opinion | No Comments

From the ashes, a first hand account…

By Christine Anne Piesyk | September 8, 2006 |

“Do you have a copy of …” the Red Cross worker asked.

“Oh yes, I have that … oh no I don’t; mine’s a bit charred.” I replied.

A second later, I thought to myself: “I can’t believe I am joking about this one small thing in my radically altered life.

Yes, my services handbook was toast — crisp, charred, blackened like a Cajun style catfish fresh off the grill. My family’s entire house was char-broiled, crispy, crunchy and most definitely blackened. We had a fire. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Arts and Leisure | No Comments

The Dog Who Saved Lives

By Debbie Boen | September 1, 2006 |

Christine Piesyk says there isn’t a minute of the day that she doesn’t think on the dog that saved her life. She says that without a doubt, she would have died from smoke inhalation on August 30th if not for her hero.

Here is Keykey, the dog who kept jumping and yipping (something he usually does not do) on Christine while she was sleeping, alerting her to the fact that her house was on fire.

Donations are coming in, we thank you with all our hearts. A bed has been donated, thanks so much! Money is coming in; any amount helps! Please see the previous article for more information on how to donate to help this family get back on their feet.

I’m sure that you’ll be hearing from Christine as soon as she can get on a computer.

Sections: Arts and Leisure | 3 Comments

Clarksville Online author’s home damaged in a fire, donations needed!

By Debbie Boen | August 30, 2006 |

There’s a man living across from Christine Piesyk who, every morning, sits outside on his porch taking in the new day. This morning Wednesday August 30th 2006, he heard frantic screaming from Christine’s house at a little before 7 a.m.. Then Christine’s front  window exploded and smoke started pouring out of the house. He jumped up and ran for the phone.

When I got to Christine’s house at around 1 pm., the front two windows were black gaping holes. A heap of melted and blackened furniture and other debris was stacked up in the front yard. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Issues, News | 4 Comments