Scanners

Having a scanner is a good way to gain valuable intelligence for any emergency or even non-emergencies.

In Hawaii having a Scanner that you can hear the Police and Fire is currently not available.  The Honolulu system is over 20 years old and is called Enhanced Digital Access Communication System, or EDACS. A scanner is not made that can decode these EDACS systems.

Honolulu is moving to a system called Project 25. This is a system that the Federal Government, Homeland Defense, would like all City and Counties to use so they will be compatible for any other agencies that came in to HELP in times of emergencies. They would be able to use the radio they use everyday, just reprogram the Honolulu Frequencies.  Honolulu believes it will take them about 3 years to transition over to Project 25. The ability to communicate with all first responders and any other agency allowed to patch into the system is called inter-operability.

“If we are inter-operating with other radio systems, it will all be based on the same standard (P25)."

The transition will not come cheap.  The move to upgrade all 18 communication towers and attached buildings will cost an estimated $86 million. Then the mobile radio units will come with a $45 million price tag. The biggest cost of the new system is to make sure all 18 towers can withstand Category Four hurricane winds of up to 156 miles an hour.

I currently have two scanners. One is an old Radio Shack scanner that can scan Air Traffic, Ham and Marine Frequency. It has Fire and Police but can't scan EDACS.  I recently bought a used Uniden Homepatrol Scanner. LINK Here. 

The Scanner receives good reviews as the easiest scanner to use. I must say that I agree. It comes out of the box ready to go. You can plug it into your computer and update software or firmware but all the frequencies are in the system. You can also download any new frequencies as well. So when Hawaii gets set up on Project 25, those freqs will be available for download. A bonus is this scanner is portable. It comes with a cigarette lighter plug adapter so you can put it in your vehicle and monitor on the go.  

Hawaii Scanner Freqs.
Aircraft Freqs.
HAM Freqs.

You can also listen to the Amateur Radio Operators (Hams) who are very active on Oahu, especially when something is going on. 


Most scanners also have weather channels and alerts as well.
The National Weather Service has seven radio channels, frequency modulated (FM) voice and data:
162.400, 162.425, 162.450, 162.475, 162.500, 162.525, and 162.550.

I can currently listen to the Military Police, Federal Fire Fighters, Taxi company, bus companies, Security at hotels or malls and several others. 

Think about getting a scanner for your home. It can be a good piece of intel to have around. Once Hawaii goes to Project 25 then it will be even better.

LINK to news Article.

Be Ready, Be Prepared!

UPDATE: I used the scanner during the recent Hurricane Ana that skirted the Hawaiian Island to the South. I heard the Bus Dispatchers and the Taxi Drivers giving good updates on the conditions of the roads and oceans.

Hawaii State Evacuation Shelters

You can find a list of shelters and if they are pet friendly and Special Needs Shelters at this link.

Not all shelters will be open so listen to the Radio for information.

How to determine if you should shelter-in-place (at home) or evacuate (to a hurricane evacuation shelter):

1,  If you live near the coastline, near rivers and stream beds, or on the mountain ridge line, you should evacuate
2.  If your house was built before 1993 and is constructed of wood, you should evacuate
3.  If you live in a house constructed after 1993 and have an interior room on a lower floor, with no windows (closet, bathroom) you should shelter-in-place

Shelter-in-place:

1.  If you meet the above criteria you should consider sheltering-in-place from the storm
2.  Stay on the lowest floor possible, and look for a closet, bathroom, or other room with no windows on the interior of your house or apartment
3.  Bring your food, pets, family, and preparedness supplies into the room and remain in there
4.  Take your radio with you so you know when conditions have improved enough for you to leave your sheltering room

County                                Local Primary 
Oahu                                     1. KSSK AM 590 khz
                                              2. KRTR-FM 96.3 mhz

Kauai                                    KQNG-FM 93.5 mhz

Maui                                     KMVI-AM 550 khz

Hawaii LP1                          KHLO-AM (Hilo) 850 khz 
                                             KKBG-FM (Hilo) 97.9 mhz
                                             KLEO-FM (Kona) 106.1 mhz

Hawaii LP2                          KPUA-AM (Hilo) 670 khz 
                                             KWXX-FM (Hilo) 94.7 mhz 
                                             KAOY-FM (Kona) 106.1 mhz

  
State Civil Defense Website Link

Be Ready, Be Prepared!

Hurricane preparedness Kit

The following items might be needed at home or for an evacuation. Keeping them in an easy-to-carry backpack or duffel bag near your door would be best in case you need to evacuate quickly, such as in a tsunami, flash flood, or major chemical emergency. Store your kit in a convenient place known to all family members. Kit basics are:

• A portable, battery-powered radio or television and extra batteries.
• Flashlight and extra batteries.
• First aid kit and first aid manual.
• Supply of prescription medications.
• Credit card and cash.
• Personal identification.
• An extra set of car keys.
• Matches in a waterproof container. (A magnifying glass works very well in Hawaii during the daytime) 
• Water, (3 gallons per day per person)
• Map of the area and phone numbers of places you could go.
• Plan (Notify family members that don't live with you what your plans are)
• Special needs, for example, diapers or formula, prescription medicines and copies of prescriptions, hearing aid batteries, spare wheelchair battery, spare eyeglasses, or other physical needs. Don't forget your pets and pet supplies and medication.

• Three gallons of water per person.
• Three-day supply of nonperishable food.
• Kitchen accessories: manual can opener; mess kits or paper cups, plates, and plastic/disposable utensils; utility knife; a can of cooking fuel if food must be cooked; household liquid bleach to treat drinking water; sugar, salt, pepper; aluminum foil; plastic resealable bags.
• One complete change of clothing and footwear for each family member, sturdy shoes or work boots, rain gear, hat and gloves, thermal underwear, sunglasses.
• Blankets or sleeping bag for each family member.
• Tools and other accessories: paper, pencil; needles and thread; pliers, shut-off wrench, shovels, and other useful tools; tape; medicine dropper; whistle; plastic sheeting; small canister, A-B-C-type fire extinguisher; emergency preparedness manual; tube tent; compass.
• Sanitation and hygiene items: toilet paper, towelettes; soap, hand sanitizer, liquid detergent; feminine supplies; personal items such as shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrushes, comb and brush, lip balm; plastic garbage bags (heavy-duty) and ties (for personal sanitation uses); medium-sized plastic bucket with tight lid; disinfectant; household chlorine bleach; small shovel for digging an expedient latrine.
• Entertainment, such as games and books.

Remember to consider the needs of very young and older family members, such as infants and elderly or disabled persons.

• For baby: formula, diapers, bottles, powdered milk, medications.
• For adults: heart and high blood pressure medication, insulin, prescription drugs, denture needs, contact lenses and supplies, extra eyeglasses, and hearing aid batteries.

Don't forget to fuel your vehicles, get extra fuel for your generators, and contact your neighbors to make sure they are prepared and find out if they have any special needs.

Oahu can only provide emergency shelter for 30% of the Islands population. If you go to a shelter then you need to take supplies with you. Make sure the evacuation shelter you go to takes Pets if you have them.

Be Ready, Be Prepared!

Mass Migration from South of US Border for Ebola Treatment

SOUTHCOM (Southern Command) Commander Warns of Potential Ebola-Driven 'Mass Migration' from South of Border

(CNSNews.com) – Marine Corps Gen. John Kelly, commander of the U.S. Southern Command, predicted last week that the Ebola virus will not be contained in West Africa, and if infected people flee those countries and spread the disease to Central and South America, it could cause “mass migration into the United States” of those seeking treatment.

“If it breaks out, it’s literally, ‘Katie bar the door,’ and there will be mass migration into the United States,” Kelly said in remarks to the National Defense University on Tuesday. “They will run away from Ebola, or if they suspect they are infected, they will try to get to the United States for treatment.

U.S. and local health officials want to set up dedicated hospitals in each state for Ebola patients, part of a new emphasis on safety for health-care workers after a nurse caring for an infected patient in Dallas tested positive for the virus.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is also reconsidering its existing infection control protocols and will boost health-worker training with a series of calls and online seminars, officials said yesterday.

“We’d like to have at least one hospital in every state that does feel they could manage a patient from start to finish,” said Abbigail Tumpey, the CDC official in charge of the education outreach. So far, the new system is only in the discussion stage, and one issue is that there are currently only four U.S. hospitals with top-level bio-containment units.
________________________________________________________________

Just think how this would impact Hawaii. Flights would stop arriving and departing leaving tourist stuck in Hotels, the economy would come to a grinding halt, grocery stores would become empty in 72 hours and people would panic.

Be Ready, Be Prepared!

Weather for this weekend could get bad. Rain and wind.  Are your prepared.

Don't wait till Friday to get water and gas. This one has sneaked up on Hawaii so if you are not ready, get ready. It probably will not be anything but it is a good time to practice your preparedness.

Check you generators, top off Gas storage, ensure you have water and food stored, propane for you grill so you can cook if you need to.

A good web page for Hawaii Weather Updates.

Be Ready, Be Prepared!

Making money and having tax write offs for your prepping tools

Are you having a hard time finding money for your prepping tools/equipment?

What are you good at? Try to turn that into a business in Hawaii and use the tax write offs the Government provides to business.

I have been a licensed handyman for the last 4 to 5 years and I have a General Excise Tax (GET) Number from Hawaii and I pay GET to the State every month, or every 6 months depending on how much money you make, and according to my tax adviser, I can write off the tools I need to do my job.

Generator to power tools or air guns when working off site. Those tools and air guns as well can be a business expense. Gas cans for those generators and yard tools as well.

Chain Saws? Ladders for painting or drywall work. Flashlights and batteries for those flashlights.
Files, grinders, Hammers, tools, axe, shovels, garden tools (I also took the UH Master Gardener Class, maybe you can write that off if it helps with your business, think yard maintenance/landscaping). Storage shed to store your tools.

The Federal Government provides about 55 cents a mile reimbursement for gas if you use your own truck/van/car for the business, you just have to keep a log.

I think a lot of these tools may come in handy when or if something happens in Hawaii and you are in need and the State/Feds can't help.

I believe the State/Federal gives you about 3 years before they expect you to turn a profit on your business. Always check with your tax adviser before you start a business or write things off as rules change often. You have to pay up front but you can deduct a lot of stuff that you just wouldn't believe. The business owners keep getting richer because they know what they can do within the law.

Take advantage of what the State and Federal Government offers you and get ready.

Be Ready, Be Prepared!

Books

It would be a good idea to keep paper copies of good books around. If we have a EMP then your Kindle, Smartphone or Computer may not work, likely will not work, and you will need this information.

I have a small list of books that are helpful.

The Encyclopedia of Country Living, 40th Anniversary Edition: The Original Manual of Living Off the Land & Doing It Yourself  (LINK)

The Complete Compost Gardening Guide: Banner batches, grow heaps, comforter compost, and other amazing techniques for saving time and money, and ... most flavorful, nutritous vegetables ever. (LINK)

Teaming with Microbes: The Organic Gardener's Guide to the Soil Food Web, Revised Edition (LINK)

Gardening When It Counts: Growing Food in Hard Times (Mother Earth News Wiser Living Series) (LINK)

The Soapmaker's Companion: A Comprehensive Guide with Recipes, Techniques, and Know-How by Susan Cavitch (LINK)

The Candle Book: How To Make Your Own Candles - Molded to Gel Candles by Tracey Mikos (LINK)

The Resilient Gardener: Food Production and Self-Reliance in Uncertain Times (LINK)

There are books that cover everything you could think of. If you have books that are helpful please email me or post a comment and I'll list them as well.