A little Rockin and Rollin Earth Quake Style

What are the chances of actual prepper or SHTF situations such as zombies, earthquakes, floods, fires, end of days scenarios, nuclear strike, EMP’s? You name it there’s a theoretical scenario for it. I don’t subscribe to all the theories out there, but the budding prepper in me tells me to get as ready as possible for what could actually happen first, then go to the theories. I live in Utah, along the Wasatch fault. So in my prepper ways I have begun studying the realities.

Today’s blog post is all about the earthquake scenario in Salt Lake City.  As a resource, I’ll be citing the University of Utah SEIS site.

 Do we need to worry only about large earthquakes causing damage?
No. A moderate-sized earthquake that occurs under an urbanized area can cause major damage.

Magnitude 5.5 - 6.5 earthquakes occur somewhere in Utah on the average of once every 7 years.

Estimates of damage from a "direct hit" to one of the Wasatch Front's major metropolitan areas reach $2.3 billion for a magnitude 6.5 earthquake, and more than $830 million for a magnitude 5.5 earthquake.

Since 1850, at least 15 independent earthquakes of magnitude 5.5 and larger have occurred in the Utah region.

Recent magnitude 5.0 and larger earthquakes in the Utah region include:

Local Date         Magnitude        Location   

Jan. 29, 1989         5.4       16 miles SE of Salina

Aug. 14, 1988         5.3       Central Emery County  

Mar. 27, 1975         6.0       Pocatello Valley (North border)

Oct. 14, 1967         5.2       Marysvale     

Aug. 16, 1966         5.6       Utah-Nevada Border    

Sep.  5, 1962         5.2       Salt Lake Valley      

Aug. 30, 1962         5.7       Cache Valley

http://www.seis.utah.edu/qfacts/utfaq.shtml#uq1

Based on this information, we seem to be due an earthquake in Utah. It’s been 25 years since the last big one. So in all likelihood, it could be on its way. Do I think it will happen soon? I honestly don’t know, but I’m doing what I can to get ready. In all likelihood it will happen while we are all sleeping, but if it happens while I’m out and about, I have to get home to my family. Prepper’s believe that there are bug-out situations and bug-in situations. Depending on the severity of an earthquake, bugging-in is likely the right approach to this.  Before I continue on strategies and prep, here are some interesting things I found on Utah Earthquakes:

 How often do earthquakes occur in Utah? 
About 700 earthquakes (including aftershocks) are located in the Utah region each year. Approximately 2% of the earthquakes are felt. An average of about 13 earthquakes of magnitude 3.0 or larger occur in the region every year. Earthquakes can occur anywhere in the state of Utah.

 How many earthquakes occur in the Wasatch Front region? 
About 500 earthquakes are located in the Wasatch Front region each year. About 60% of the earthquakes of magnitude 3.0 and larger in Utah occur in the Wasatch Front region.

 When was the last earthquake? 
Worldwide: In the last minute, somewhere in the world.
Utah: Within the past 24 hours, somewhere in the state.
(The last large earthquake in Utah occurred on the Wasatch fault north of Nephi about 400 years ago.)

http://www.seis.utah.edu/qfacts/utfaq.shtml#uq1

The fault we have here in Utah is a vertical type of fault, it’s more of the standard fault, but when compared to say, San Andreas, it’s going to move up and down, rather than horizontally like those poor guys in California. My years in the O.C. taught me to just hang on and enjoy the ride. Now that I’m here in Utah and may some day get a 6.0 or higher earthquake, I need to get my family ready. The reality is that gas and electric grids will be down. Local services will be deployed to clean up, security, rescue and getting the grid back as quick as possible. In Utah, the local cities have set up a S.A.F.E network that stands for Schools Aid Families in Emergencies. We are told to get our emergency kits and head to the schools. I urge my readers to get familiar with their local area earthquake plans. Check out Utah’s plan at http://www.slcgov.com/em

The number one recommendation is to have 72 hour kits on hand for everyone in your family.  We have standard kits for our family, but I’m making them a little more robust in the coming weeks. That way we can bug-in if need be. I also recommend that with your 72 hour kits, get a portable toilet and/or extra gallons of water for your toilet in case it still flushes.  SLC offers this additional list for emergency and safety prep http://www.slcdocs.com/em/96HourKit.pdf.

Well, until next time, keep planning for the worst and hoping for the best.

Sprint Pack

What on earth is a Sprint Pack? 

You may call it something else, but basically I made it up. I have a 72 hour pack, a generic one for two. My 72 hour kit is about to be expanded to a bug out bag, but that will come in another post. I am also in the process of redoing my wife's 72 hour pack. In fact I went through it tonight and noticed she had emergency water packs that were 8 years old and 3 years past their expiration dates not to mention expired food rations.  Ugh.... Come on babe! We had a good laugh about it.

So basically I'm redoing her pack and over the last week and a half have been establishing my sprint pack. Today I snapped pictures and wrote this blog post.

Sprint Pack Defined: It is a small light pack that goes with you everywhere you go. It's always in the car when I'm driving around town. So if/when the Crap Hits the Fan you can grab and sprint home.

To the right and below are some pictures of my Sprint Pack. It's a glorified fanny-pack with a shoulder strap and room for two side mount water bottles.


Here's the entire layout of what's in this bag. I need to pick up two Nalgene water bottles to add to it for additional water storage, but
here's the minimum list and there's room to spare.

Ingredients:

• Water Proof Medical Kit w/instructions
• Toilet Paper (waterproof)
• Two (2) MRE's (2,000 calories each)
• Two (2) MRE dessert packs (410 calories each)
• Four (4) Emergency Water Packs
• 100 ft. of Para-cord
• Spork Knife combo
• Toenail/Fingernail Clipper
• Buck Knife
• Multiplier tool 
• Work Gloves
• Head Lamp
• Duck Tape
• Emergency Blanket
• Emergency Poncho
• Cash ($50-100 in small bills)
• Survival Kit (waterproof)
• compass
• water proof matches
• area maps
• water purification tablets
• sewing kit
• hand sanitizer
• can opener
• emergency blanket
• fish hooks and line
• wire
• emergency whistle
• duct tape
• safety pins
• 15 ft of rope

This was a fun pack to put together. I'm sure its worth around 80 bucks, but will be priceless when I need it. I also have some all terrain cross trainers to change into as well as a jacket/coat depending on the weather and a change of clothes in the car. I dress semi-dressy for the type of work I do. I hope I never have to use this pack, but it brings a great sense of peace just knowing I have it with me at all times.

How it all started for me

Peppers seemed weird to me, until I became one. Now I'm a low level novice. How'd that happen?

Back in September 2013, I read a series of books by Christopher Stuart called the great and terrible. Awesome series! But just one problem, I got hooked. I grew up learning about the last days as read in the Bible. Revelations is chuck full of warnings and calamity, and the daily news seems to back it all up. So then I hit up season three of Doomsday Preppers and that just fueled the fire even more. I don't own any guns, unless my BB gun counts. I have had rifle training, shotgun training and handgun training but never felt a need, until now, to get one. I also feel an even stronger need to get a years supply of food and essentials going. I've got about 3 months worth, but that isn't even close, so it's time to make a change. This blog will be dedicated to outlining Prepper plans, tricks I come across and links to cool resources. Hopefully this becomes as educational for you as it will be for me.

Thanks for reading and check back soon.