New Member

Maine Preppers Network welcomes our newest member cavscout1991. To post your welcome, please follow this link:
http://americanpreppersnetwork.net/viewtopic.php?f=563&t=4948

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How to Join The Maine Preppers Network

Come learn survival, preparedness and sustainable living with us!

The Preppers networks are all about volunteering our knowledge and skills with each other. We share ideas, tips and basically network with each other to survive any type of disaster whether natural, man made, or economic. Information that you learn and share with others will help everyone learn how to find "Freedom Through Teaching Others Self Reliance."

Joining the Maine Preppers Network is simple, and most of all, it's Free! To join, just follow these few steps.

1) Register to become a member of the American Preppers Network www.AmericanPreppersNetwork.net The registration page is here: http://americanpreppersnetwork.net/ucp.php?mode=register


2) Once you have your account, go to the index page of the forum and do your first post by introducing yourself in the new members area. http://americanpreppersnetwork.net/index.php


3) Once you know how to do posts, visit the Maine forum and introduce yourself. The Maine forum can be found by scrolling to the lower section of the index page where you will find a list of states, or you can go directly by following this URL: www.MainePreppersNetwork.net

4) After you've visited the Maine forum, follow this link to learn how to join the Maine Preppers Network group:
http://americanpreppersnetwork.net/viewtopic.php?f=564&t=2738


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Gold Membership is only $5 per month. For a list of Gold Member benefits go here

Thank you for your support!

Maine Twisters; Downeast Tornadoes

There's been a lot of talk about tornadoes here in the great state of Maine recently, and the rumor is that either it's a new phenomenon, or they're on the rise because of the bogus global warming fairy tale. Neither one is true, of course, we've always had them. I've seen one or two myself back in the day. But the recent news does go along with my own personal mantra that anything can happen, anytime, anyplace. And that usually gets us hurt because we fail to prepare for it.

Here are a few tips from the Maine Emergency Management Agency;

What to Look For… Environmental Clues:

Tornadoes often occur with very little advance warning. The best way to be prepared is to stay tuned to television and radio for emergency messages from the National Weather Service. NWS messages may give as little as 5-10 minutes warning before a tornado forms. Be alert for:

• Dark, often greenish sky
  
• Wall cloud
  
• Large hail
  
• Loud roar, similar to a freight train
  

Some tornadoes appear as a visible funnel extending only partially to the ground. Some are clearly visible while other are obscured by rain or nearby low-hanging clouds

Tornado Safety:

At the earliest warning, go into a below ground areas at the earliest warning with flashlights and a radio and to remain there until informed that tornado danger has passed. Manufactured (mobile) homes are especially vulnerable and mobile home residents are urged to evacuate to the nearest frame home with a basement.

If an underground shelter is not available, move to an interior room or hallway on the lowest floor and get under a sturdy piece of furniture.

• Stay away from windows.
  
• Get out of automobiles. Do not try to outrun a tornado in your car; instead, leave it immediately.
  
• If caught outside or in a vehicle, lie flat in a nearby ditch or depression.
  

We average 2 tornadoes a year up here in the great state of Maine, but they're usually over uninhabited territory and so go unreported for the most part. However, as the population grows and expands into these areas more people naturally see them and so it may seem as though they are increasing. I remember one statistic from doing some research a good many years ago that stated there were something like ten or so reported in one year, but I can't remember where I read it. It wasn't directly related to what I was doing so didn't save the story. And yes, this was from before the days of laptops and home computers and the ability to keep the contents of the New York library in your pocket.

But recent articles do suggest that this year may well be a record breaking year for them, at least for the southern section of the state, so it would be wise to look at the weather with a heightened sense of involvement this time of the year. Usually we pass over a lot of information as it is summer, what could happen beyond a thunderstorm? Don't fall prey to the illusion that all is calm. It isn't, and this past few days shows that there can indeed be some cyclone action where one would least expect it.

Just yesterday there were reports that a funnel cloud touched down near the Brighton Hill road area of Minot. Friday a tornado ripped through the Paris area of Oxford county, according to WMTW: The storm cut a path 16 miles long and as wide as 700 yards through the towns of Norway, Paris, Buckfield, Sumner and Hartford. With winds between 100 and 110 miles per hour, it rates an EF-1 on the enhanced fugita scale. A great slide show can be found here of the damage. A few days ago we had reports of a funnel cloud or clouds touching down up in the area of Shin Pond in Penobscot county. Supposedly we have at least 6 confirmed reports thus far in 2010.

I'd suggest we all pay closer attention to what is happening around us, and keep an eye to the sky as we prepare and plan for tomorrow. But today, it looks like more of the same type of storms coming that make for ideal tornado conditions are on the way.

Preparing for the Browntail’s

An interesting headline caught my eye as I happen to live within the affected area, and I began to wonder; how often do we take into account when planning for the coming times the once in a blue moon problems that can cause serious problems because we failed to address those same problems in our emergency and disaster planning?

Take these Browntailed moth caterpillars in the following story:

AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — The Maine Forest Service is warning residents in five towns to be alert to widespread infestations of Browntail moth caterpillars. Officials say the caterpillars are most prevalent in Topsham, Bath, West Bath, Brunswick and Bowdoinham. Forest service entomologist Charlene Donahue says the caterpillar is toxic and can leave people with poison ivy-like skin rashes or respiratory problems…

A seemingly innocuous insect can do a good job at waylaying our plans when we least expect it, and if we haven't prepared for the occasion, we could be in for a rough time of it. Here's what the State of Maine has to say about the issue:

BROWNTAIL MOTH PRECAUTIONS

The browntail moth caterpillar has tiny (0.15mm) poisonous hairs capable of causing a dermatitis similar to poison ivy on sensitive individuals. People may develop the dermatitis or skin rash directly from contact with the larvae or indirectly from contact with airborne hairs. The hairs become airborne either from being dislodged from living or dead larvae or may be associated with the cast skins which result from larval molting. Most people affected by the hairs develop a localized rash which will last for a few hours up to a few days, but on some sensitive individuals the rash can be severe and persist for weeks. The rash results from both a chemical reaction to a toxin in the setae and a physical irritation as the barbed setae become embedded in the skin. Respiratory distress from inhaling the hairs has been reported (11% of the population in one health survey) and can be very serious.

The following precautions may help people living in or visiting browntail moth infested areas during the period from June through August:

Avoid places heavily infested by caterpillars when possible. Campers should plan their stays on uninfested islands.

Take a cool shower and change clothes after any activity that might involve contact with the browntail moth hairs.

Dry laundry inside during June and July to avoid the hairs becoming impregnated in the clothing.

Wear respirator, goggles and coveralls tightly closed at neck, wrists and ankles when performing activities that stir up caterpillar hairs such as:

mowing
raking
weed whacking
removing pupal webbing from eaves and boats

Contact with the hairs can be minimized doing task such as above by working on damp days or wetting down materials with a hose or damp cloth as moisture helps keep the hairs from becoming airborne.

Use caution cleaning debris left by the caterpillars because the toxin is extremely stable and remains a hazard for a number of years. Summer residents should bear this in mind when opening cottages that have been closed all winter as the hairs frequently settle over the winter and may be contacted during spring cleaning. Wet mopping prior to vacuuming or dusting is recommended.

Consult your physician if you develop a severe reaction to the Browntail moth.

Be aware that chances of contacting the hairs are increased during dry windy conditions.

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When we look at our preparedness plans, make sure you include suitable precautions against the insect world and the harm they may cause to us. Poisonous bugs abound, and many times we are not even aware of their presence. We generally think about spiders, scorpions, centipedes and so on, but a tiny little caterpillar? You can go here for the low down on symptoms and find out whether you've made contact with the little buggers and what to do about it.

The poisonous hairs act as a defense against being a food source, but the end result for we humans is that severe rashes and breathing problems become the result of coming into contact. Benadryl and other anti-histamines can work to alleviate some of the symptoms and there are a few creams that will work on the rash end of the problem. However, when we have to evacuate into uncharted territory, or even just working around our survival homestead, which may be little more than a weekend place for some of us, we really need to be aware that there is always some unseen factor that can screw up our highly tuned plans.

So, realize that it isn't just the big one, the super societal melt down, or whatever catastrophe you feel may happen that we need to prepare for, it's all the hundreds of mundane little thinks that rarely even come to mind that we need to prepare for as well.

Woodstove Replacement Program

"Maine Enacts Wood Stove Replacement Program" is the headliner from a MPBN broadcast today. While this isn't exactly true, as the legislature hasn't passed the bill yet, it gives pause to the idea of using a wood stove as an alternative source of heating and cooking needs in your survival and preparedness homestead. In a nutshell, the program that will be developed will establish a fund at the state level to provide for the replacement of alder wood stove units with more efficient newer units. For those of us Mainers that rely upon the old standby, this may be the moment to seriously undertake replacing that old woodstove you are keeping on standby for when the grid goes down and you lose any other means of heating for your homes.

There are some points to bear in mind however. According to a Pierce-Atwood analysis of the legislation; Only wood stoves that were manufactured prior to 1988 and are used as a primary source of heat in a primary residence are eligible for replacement funding. That means if you desire to participate, you need to have an older woodstove ion use already. The program will be administered by the state EPA, and will supposedly be funded with 1.5 million that will be pulled from the same hat the pink bunny gets pulled from when there isn't any money to go around. That said; think carefully before you leap into the fire.

One of the problems many have with their preparedness planning is the financing of those plans, and some folks may be tempted to go around the barn backwards just to obtain a little help from Big Gov. Remember that the intent of this bill is to clean up the pollution caused by older stoves. The summary says that; This bill establishes a residential wood stove replacement program in the Department of Environmental Protection under which eligible applicants could receive funding toward the purchase of new cleaner-burning residential heating appliances to replace older wood stoves and appropriates funds for that purpose. The plan isn't in place, and standards as to who will be eligible, and exactly what kinds of appliances can be purchased has not been determined as yet.

Therefore, if you hear of this program, especially from a fast talking woodstove salesman, stand back and watch the game for a while before committing to a sale. As we get closer to the time of need we'll see an increase in the sales of woodstoves and firewood, so if you want to be prepared, buy now, or get your older model upgraded if you can. Normally I don't put much stock in these government handout programs, but depending how this scheme works out it could be to your advantage.

But before you do, make sure your research is complete.

Why is it important to have an energy efficient woodstove? According to the eco-warriors they reduce the amount of air pollution, but the practical reason is that you can get more work out of your stove for less fuel. It'll save you money on cordwood as it will take less to heat your home. Burn times can be substantially longer so you have to spend less of your time tending the fire. They are also supposedly safer to operate which lowers the risk of unwanted home fires. Based upon these three points alone, I'd say upgrading would be a wise choice at this time.

Maine being a cold weather state wood stoves are almost a given in your survival homestead, and anything you can do to reduce your costs will allow you to spend more on other supplies and equipment. And as I have said before, the closer we get to the time of need, the more expensive it will be to get fitted out as a survival style home. This is where your ability to analyze your situation and resources to develop your preparedness plans occurs.

Shopping for the long haul

It's been an interesting few weeks watching the value of our currency decline in the world markets, but that can have good consequences here in Maine. The value of the Canadian Dollar has increased to a level that is now on par with the American dollar, so if you want to jump across the border to pick up some supplies, you don't have to mess with the exchange rates to make sure you are getting what you think you are. A buck is a buck is a buck, both here in the US and to our lovely neighbor to the north.

I mention that because there really is no reliable retailer for preparedness supplies here in Maine, but we have a new company (http://www.basiclifeessentials.com ) across the border in New Brunswick you may want to take a look at. I haven't bought anything from them, so I cannot vouch for their reliability, and their online catalog is still under construction, so you'll have to contact them for prices. I'm told they are starting another operation for the northern New England market, so we'll see how that comes out.

One of the problems that seem to be worsening here in Maine is the ready availability of survival and preparedness supplies and equipment without having to go out of state or do your business online. That kind of sucks, but we've little that can be done about it. What few places claim to sell long term products are really little more than army-navy stores, commonly referred to as military surplus dealers. Not much from these sources, I am afraid to say.

That said, I have a comment/question for any Mainer's reading this post.

I'd like to see if we can get a listing of as many places within Maine, or within an easy drive from anywhere in the state, that are potential sources of possible long term supplies and equipment for the Prepper community. There are many shops that deal in things like alternative heating systems and fuels, generators, solar equipment, foods and food preparation, small farm suppliers and so forth that don't advertise in the normal resources the preparedness community would frequent. That is mostly because they don't consider themselves as preparedness suppliers.

I don't want to do this as an advertising stunt, but I believe it would be of tremendous benefit to other Mainers to know where we can go to get some supplies and maybe some advice on different products on a first hand basis, rather than on the internet, where you may not have your questions answered as well as you'd like them to be all the time. If you'd like to take part in developing a stronger preparedness community here in Maine, simply leave your thoughts in the comment box, or drop me an email if you'd rather.

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One of the things happening in Maine now is a reduction in police and firefighting staffing in many communities across the state. This will leave some smaller communities with no ability to quickly respond in the event of a major disaster. Some towns are contracting their police, fire and ambulance services to nearby towns leaving some towns completely without these services. This would be a good time for us to start looking at volunteering or participating in the emergency planning functions of these smaller towns.

For those of us that have been learning the ropes of preparedness for a while, it should be of some benefit to the community. After all, the community we live in is home, and we should look after our own homes, shouldn't we?

As a couple of other notes, I understand that there may be some changes in the works for some inland waterway flood zone changes, although I haven't been able to determine exactly what those changes will be. I believe that most of the change will culminate in a reduction of available assistance to those living in recurring heavy flood areas, so if you live in one of these areas, keep up with the changes to avoid problems down the road.

Also, don't forget that even with the record and near record rains, the dry Canadian air is coming back, and with it the winds will pick up. Be aware of the possibility for wildfires over the next couple of weeks if you live out of town.

MEMA News:

• 04/08/2010: Maine CERT's Recognized in National CERT Newsletter
  
• 04/07/2010: State Dam Inspector Determines "No Breach" of Colcord Pond Dam.
  
• 04/01/2010: Call 2-1-1 to Learn About Flood Recovery Options and Report Flood Damages
  

3.0 Earthquake in Maine

Just as an alert to those in Maine that think it can't happen here, it did. Minor of course, in the grand scheme of things, but we did have an earthquake to day. There have in fact been many quakes in Maine, with the largest recorded being a 4.8 in Bowmanton Township in 1973. Prior to the current magnitude rating scheme in use a level VII earthquake was felt in Eastport back in 1904, which, according to the Maine Geological Survey would have been a 5.9 magnitude today. But even further back in time, and earthquake was felt in the 1600s where the ground was visibly lifted in front of witnesses, who claimed the ground moved as a wave upon the sea. So, remember my three Ps of preparedness, anything is possible.

More news should be coming through the local sources on this evening's news where you'll be able to hear all about it. Until then, flooding remains the real threat from all of this rain we've been having. Initial reports out of Porter had Route 25 flooded over with the breaking of the Colcord Pond dam, however it turns out that while under heavy rain, Route 25 is in fact open, and it was just the side roads affected by the flash flooding cause by that dams breeching. Got your Go Bags ready?

Until the main stream media has news, here are the USGS details on the earthquake:

Preliminary Earthquake Report

Magnitude 3.0 M Date-Time 30 Mar 2010 20:42:18 UTC 30 Mar 2010 16:42:18 near epicenter 30 Mar 2010 15:42:18 standard time in your time zone Location 44.672N 68.752W Depth 4 km Distances 9 km (5 miles) ENE (65 degrees) of Winterport, ME 11 km (7 miles) NNE (18 degrees) of Bucksport, ME 11 km (7 miles) SE (146 degrees) of Hampden, ME 286 km (178 miles) NE (48 degrees) of Manchester, NH 307 km (190 miles) SE (140 degrees) of Québec, Québec, Canada Location Uncertainty Horizontal: 0.7 km; Vertical 1.7 km Parameters Nph = 33; Dmin = 26.7 km; Rmss = 0.23 seconds; Gp = 154° M-type = M; Version = a Event ID NE 00001168 (click onto the event ID link to go to the USGS report on this quake)