CRITICAL DECISIONS
I don't know about your Country, but Australia has been experiencing over the last couple of years. Drought; Fire; Winds extra ordinairy Rain; Cyclones; Traffic accidents and badly behaving Seas.
In each of these areas, individuals and communities have had to make ,Critical Decisions, promptly. Governments (Polititions) Police; Fire services and Emergency services are having come up with strategies and rules applying to these events. All well and good in general, but on an individual basis, my basis, I have come up with some rules of my own, which I recommend to anyone who will listen. Here we go.
FIRE
Fire is without doubt, the most alarming and certainly the most painful of disasters, natural and man made. It is most likely to take life and property in a most traumatic way.
I have written at length in the past and would now like to reiterate my own rules from experience of living on this fourty acre forest property with a 400 metre river frontage on the Eastern side of a forested hill and relatively flat North and South.
We reduce the fuel load (known as hazard reduction) at the appropiate times, usually when we noted the professionals like forestry are reducing their fuel loads.
Ours rules are as in my blog 'A Day Too Long, Feb 2009.
1. If we are in, we stay in and if we are out we stay out.
2. Vehicles stay in open ground and all sun sails are removed. In fact we don't use them any more.
3. As we are on a river. The fire pump is there, always fully fueled,oiled and regularly, as it is also part of our water supply.
4. The supply pipes are under ground.
5. The fire hose (real) is always ready and is capable of reaching all the house and vehicles.
6. All areas around the house and buildings are mowed plus the all important underground pipe areas.
Our main vehicle a Land Rover Discovery is equiped with a Fire Blanket ( Actualy a Bomb blanket) from my past business.
8. Water tanks on this property are steel, no plastic thank you.
These are my ideas based on the fact that the emergency services, rural fire services ambulances and police could not get to us , through the 12 to 25 kilometres of forest roads. Anyway our first call would be to forestry as they may have lads out who could help. Way back I remember this happening and a couple of chaps turned up and lit containing lines and sat down for a smoke until it was safe to leave. You know the ones , the fellos with dirty boots.
WIND
Late 2010 we experienced terrible winds from the North East (an unusual direction) here - normally North West the fire wind and the Southerly that refreshing one on hot summer days we enjoy around five or six in the evening. - It was a devastating high velocity and purging wind. Trees snapped off at their heads and base. One 12 klm strech had 30 threes down and another twenty, on our 1 klm drive.
First out were the young parents, cutting a way through, to get their children to the highway and school. Second the forests NSW with machinery, followed by farmers and the like, then three days later council, a bit late but they turned up.
Again, when we are in, we stay in. When we are out we stay out.
Our critical decision, like the people I have described were and are as above plus DON'T go outside until the winds have dropped and it is daylight.
FLOOD
Again late 2010, it was rain rain rain - river in flood,major creeks in flood. One way out under these conditions via long detour across a muddy ridge with presipice one side ,gully the other.
Critical decision was to delay any journey until road dries out a little, then full four wheel lockup all the way (about twenty klm's) - We have a Land Rover Discovery, which is excellent under these conditions and makes a steady path for others to follow.
We see so many drivers enter muddy water and have no idea its depth. All I know is that if it is flowing, forget it. Its not worth the risk for yourself particularly and of course you are not being fair on the emergency services who will have to help you if they can.
TUSANAMI
The Japanese experience was covered minute by minute and I will come to that. First I wish someone would explain to the public that the so called 'Wave' running at 800 mph or whatever,is in fact a 'Pressure Wave' which disipates a little over distance like a shock wave from a gun in the air. When this pressure wave is at its most powerful and near land, the effect is to create a wave in the sea having reacted with land. regretfully the result is a wall of water, slow moving and what a wall it was.
I'm certain modern engineers could explain it better,this is my effort.
Warnings are more effective in time terms, the further away from the centre of an under water earthquake and hopefully lesser the final water surge.
We all sent our thoughts to the people affected. Oh dear what a catastrophy. I wonder what happened to that Tanker driver and family,the one that stopped his truck on the river bridge in the first pictures of the tradegi-he stopped then moved forward a little - then stopped again-What critical decision did he make after that.
Whilst we are on the subject of water and heavy seas and here I add RIPS. Open waters and rips are dangerous places to be, particularly if you are not an excellent marathon swimmer and even then you need support. Lets go back to my blog Feb 2009 entitled Transitioin, where I told the story of a man -not a good swimmer at all- taking a youngster into deep water, near a known Rip area, the child came back man did not , he died in spite of all attempts by the surf lifesavers to revive him. A rip as I see it , is a current in a narrow flow of water, that flows out to sea, taking the unwary with it. I have repeatedly said to surf life savers please advise all people going into the sea to take a body board and if caught in a rip, hang on until help arrives. Damn it, all they keep saying is swim between the flags. Thats no good if there arn't any however hopefully there are usually Surf Riders around and they will always paddle out to sea to assist, whilst a colleage will get to shore and alert mobile resque people. The motto is "Body Boards for all in the sea'.
Critical decision, by golly there is, get out and get your body board, your coming summer. Nothing is new of course remember those cork life rings carried on boats and ships with rope around them and always look out for the signs warning of dangerous water and currents,. rips etc .Plus, if there are any, keep within the Surf Life Savers Flags
EARTHQUAKE and TRAFFIC
My project is directed at Country Properties anywhere in the World .
Much has been said by many many people. On earthquakes I know very little personally, they must be quite terrifying experiences. From what I have seen on the media etc the good rule or critical decision is get outside in the open air and not to drive vehicles in the dark.
Regarding road traffic I believe we should all make ourselves aware at all times the different enviroments and and road conditions . My critical decision is to stop or slow down if matters are deemed to be not quite right. I usually let or give way to senseless drivers as we should all know bad incidents in retrospect could have avoided as to the keen eye the situations can be seen to be building up.
Please all try and also use the rule when we want to alter course " Mirror; Signal; Action. Oh I do wish every one follow this rule, its certainly a Critical Decision.
MASON PROJECT- HELI PADS.
When a serious accident or medical problem occurs on a country property, the emergency service number is called (000 in Australia) . First on the scene is normally an ambulance and or an Emergency service (State Emergency Service or SES).
The problem is assessed and if applicable the regional Rescue Helicopter service is called to the property. The ambulance crew then have to go in search of a suitable landing site and SAT-NAV position determined plus should there be no ambulance in attendance, the pilot has to search himself 'All Time Consuming'.
We live on a forest property, not too easy to get at at times of floods,however we do have open space. Our two teenage grandsons Henry and Oscar, marked out on grass, a HELI - PAD. A white circle 15 metre diameter and in the middle a H sign - north - south - 3 metre long ad 1.8 metre wide overall. The arms widths are 500mm . The circle I keep painted with a normal home decorating roller on a pole - monthly.
I suggest the regional hilicopter rescue service be contacted and your location registered with them and possibly when a machine is in your area, they could have a look at your set up and advise on any surrounding obsticles that must by removed.
The Critical Decision , is to register your SAT-NAV details, like 150-12-02E by 35-31-00S for local service plus altitude of site. In our case 20Metre. Register obsticles such as Power lines, rural wind turbines, tall trees- for night time access, very important.
Make certain all medical prescriptions and medicines are handy for the medical assessments..
CRITICAL DECISIONS are part of life . Please keep safe and bye for now.
As always these are my ideas alone, almost.
Malcolm E Mason. Member of 'The Second Nation People (The Nation Builders)
Email masonedgar@gmail.com
X@malcolmemason
NB We have, One King, One Country, One Flag, place the Australian Flag in the middle and
any flags you like, Either side . Usually First Nation one side and Torres Strait Island's, the other.
NB If driving in the Outback (Desert), the vehicle must be fitted with a BEACON and DISTRESS FLARES.
Never travel alone --- Minimum Two People.
FIN.
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