Unknown Influenza Kills Seven In Ukraine

Unknown Influenza Kills Seven In Ukraine
October 28, 2009

TERNOPIL, Ukraine -- Seven people in the western Ukrainian city of Ternopil have died from an unknown flu virus, RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service reports.

Bohdan Oniskiv, the chief of the health department in Ternopil Oblast, told journalists on October 27 that none of the flu victims had other health problems.

About 6,000 people were referred to medical centers and clinics with flu symptoms last week. 

Radio Free Europe

Could this be a new strain of H1N1?

Earthquake and Tsunami History of Puerto Rico

Two links with good information on past Earthquakes and Tsunamis.

USGS Earthquake History of Puerto Rico

USC Tsunami Research Group

Tsunami Maps Puerto Rico

Guld Refinery Explosion: If this happen in Yabucoa!

   October 24, 2009 a massive explosion at the Gulf refinery in Bayamon Puerto Rico destroyed 21 of the 40 storage tanks sending a huge plume of smoke to that air and causing a 2.8 temblor in the metro area. The earthquake was felt across San Juan as well as Guaynabo, Bayamon and two other communities. The explosion broke windows and more thank 1,500 people had to be evacuated. The inferno lasted for three days before it was extinguish.

   That got me thinking about the possibility of a similar accident here in my home town. The similarity of the installation is what got my attention. Both are old installations that function as holding facilities of oil related products. Here is a picture of the Shell Refinery in Yabucoa and the usual wind direction, now imagine those tanks exploding.

   An immediate evacuation would be ordered as the black smoke engulfs the town. Now there are two possibilities here either you evacuate to Humacao to the north or to Maunabo to the south. The main road to Yabucoa is the Expresso Jose Celso Barbosa which would be closed immediately due to it’s proximity to the tanks. Now imagine thousand’s of people trying to get out at the same time using the PR 3 road. Either north to Humacao or south to Maunabo it would be a mess. Imagine thousands of cars trying to get out of the town at the same time using one lane roads which by the way are in very bad shape. How much time would you have to get everything that you need in your car and just go? Most people would not be prepared to leave at a moment notice. Make a Bug out Bag now and get prepare because you don’t know when you will need it.

Recommendations for Emergency Communications: Family Radio Service

   A couple of months ago a friend of mine asked me about a certain radio he wanted to buy for his kids. He asked me to recommend a set of radios that could be used for everyday communications and in case of an emergency. He was talking about the Family Radio Service and he wanted to know if they were really as good as Amateur Radio in case of an emergency. So I explain to him the basic differences between radio services and the advantages and disadvantages of both. His questions also got me thinking in case of an emergency what is the first thing to go? Yes communications! Telephone and Cellular communications get overloaded pretty easy during emergencies and some can go down for days.
  
   I have decided to write about all the options you have to keep yourselves inform in time of an emergency. Let’s begin with the Family Radio Service.

FAMILY RADIO SERVICE

Since its introduction in 1996 this service has been able to help families and business stay in touch without the need of licenses and expensive equipment. First proposed by Radio Shack in 1994 and tough as a replacement for the CB Radio Service has proved more reliable and efficient that the CB Band. It operates on 14 channels using only 500 milliwatts.

Channel Frequency (MHz) Notes

1    462.5625 Shared with GMRS.
2    462.5875 Shared with GMRS.
3    462.6125 Shared with GMRS.
4    462.6375 Shared with GMRS.
5    462.6625 Shared with GMRS.
6    462.6875 Shared with GMRS.
7    462.7125 Shared with GMRS.
8    467.5625 FRS use only
9    467.5875 FRS use only
10  467.6125 FRS use only
11  467.6375 FRS use only
12  467.6625 FRS use only
13  467.6875 FRS use only
14  467.7125 FRS use only

Manufacturers exaggerate the range in these radios and some claim ranges of more than 20 miles but in fact a range of 1/2 mile is usually achieved. They offer what is known as CTCSS tones to help cut interference on busy channels. Best of all they are cheap, easy to use and practical for everyday use.


Next post GMRS radios…….

Jamboree on the Air 2009

JOTA 2009 was held October 17, 2009 in Luquillo with the 110 and 622 troops.

What is JOTA?
The Jamboree-on-the-Air, or JOTA, is an annual Scouting and amateur radio event sponsored by the World Scout Bureau of the World Organization of the Scout Movement. Thousands of amateur radio stations around the world participate.

This year the propagation was terrible so we decided to use the 2 Meter band to make the contacts.
This is the antenna in it's Improvised location.

Here are some pictures of the activity.

Special thanks to Felipe Wp4nst and to Javier Np4ja for helping me so much in this special activity.

FEMA Video: Emergency Preparedness

Prepare a kit for you and your family.

National Strike Oct 15, 2009

    Labor Unions from across the island are getting ready for the strike which aims to paralyze the country for one day. I just hope nothing bad happens and that people participating in the strike behave like civilize people not like the apes! In my honest opinion there is no need to paralyze the already weaken economy of the island it will only make things worst. If they wanted to protest they should have done it before anyone was fired not after. I just hope that basic utilities like water and electricity are not affected and that of peace and common sense prevail.
Tommorow I will be monitoring the Police and emergency services frequencies to stay inform on what is happening.

That is all!

50 Million dead! The 1918 Pandemic Flu.

What Is the 1918 Flu?


The 1918 flu, or "Spanish flu," caused the highest number of known influenza deaths. More than 500,000 people died in the United States, and up to 50 million people may have died worldwide. Many people died within the first few days after infection with the 1918 flu, and others died of complications. Nearly half of those who died were young, healthy adults.
 
Med TV 1918 Flu Pandemic
 
Click the Link below for more information on the Great Pandemic of 1918.
 
Pandemicflu.gov

Swine flu still spreading; blamed for 76 child deaths

By Steve Sternberg, USA TODAY

Swine flu is believed to have killed 19 children the week ending Oct. 3, bringing the number of pediatric deaths to 76 since the pandemic began in April, health officials reported Friday.

Sixteen of the children were confirmed to have H1N1 flu; three were believed to have died of the disease. Over the past three flu seasons, total pediatric deaths ranged from 46 to 88, says Anne Schuchat, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases.

BACKPACKER First Aid Center

Found this information very interesting. Enjoy

Backpacker Magazine First Aid Center

Urban Survivalist

I hope I never get this extreme but this is a great video. Enjoy!

Review of the VX-7R by QST Magazine

This is my choice of radio when dealing with emergency communication. This is a review by QST magazine on the Yaesu VX-7R.
VX-7R Review

Cumbre Vieja Tsunami

La Palma is a volcanic ocean island. It is currently the most volcanically active of the Canary Isles.

Cumbre Vieja Volcano

Future threat

  Scienttist hypothesize that during a future unascertained eruption, the western half of the Cumbre Vieja - approximately 500 km3 (5 x 1011 m3) with an estimated mass 1.5 x 1015 kg, will catastrophically fail in a massive gravitational landslide and enter the Atlantic Ocean generating a so called "mega-tsunami." The debris will continue to travel - as a debris flow, along the ocean floor. Computer modelling indicates that the resulting initial wave may attain a local amplitude (height) in excess of 600 metres (1,969 ft) and an initial peak to peak height that approximates to 2 kilometres (1 mi), and travel at about 1,000 kilometres per hour (621 mph) (approximately the speed of a jet aircraft), inundating the African coast in about 1 hour, the southern coast of England in about 3.5 hours, and the eastern seaboard of North America in about 6 hours

Puerto Rico's Food Dependency

   Do you know Less than 10% of the total amount of food locally consumed is produced in the island. There is no doubt - a food dependency over 90% is alarming.

 
  The Asociación de Agricultores de P.R.,said recently that our food supply would be exhausted in as little as ten days (fresh food) to four week(canned food) if imports were to stop. Think about it we will run out of food in four weeks. Then what? But of course this will never happen because this is imposible. Or is it? If in September 10, 2001 I would have told you that the Twin Towers were going to collapse you would have told me I was crazy.

Peak Oil Production

   Food prices depend mostly on gas prices now imgine oil at $200 a barrel. How much would food cost then? Oil production has been in decline since 2005 and every year less oil is discover. This mean we have reach peak oil production and every year oil will be more scarce. Think about it!

Funny Video: The Ultimate Zombie Survival Guide

Amateur Radio

What is Amateur Radio?

   Amateur radio, often called ham radio, is both a hobby and a service in which participants, called "hams," use various types of radio communications equipment to communicate with other radio amateurs for public service, recreation and self-training.
 
Amateur radio operators enjoy personal (and often worldwide) wireless communications with each other and are able to support their communities with emergency and disaster communications if necessary, while increasing their personal knowledge of electronics and radio theory. An estimated six million people throughout the world are regularly involved with amateur radio.

A Hobby
   For me Ham radio is a way of making friends all over the world. In a world where information is power being able to know what is happening in your town or in the island is priceless. Many of the things we are enjoying now were used years in advance by Amateur Radio Operators. I have been active providing emergency communication during the last two major hurricanes for the Red Cross.

Hurricane George 1998

Public Service

  Amateur Radio was the only form of communication after hurricane george struck the island in 1998. I spend two days passing emergency messages. For more information about what is Amateur Radio visit the Arrl.org web page

Geocaching

   Since I started almost a year ago it has become an obsession. Geocaching is a modern game of treasure hunt using GPS technology. All you need is a GPS receiver and the love of adventure. The basic idea is to locate hidden containers, called geocaches, outdoors and then share your experiences online. Geocaching is enjoyed by people from all age groups, with a strong sense of community and support for the environment.

One of the many caches here in Puerto Rico

Geocaching.com is the official webpage of this innovative game and membership is free. I invite you to go to their web page and start exploring but be careful this game is addictive.
 

Micro size cache container