Miss-Delectable
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KSBY - Disaster Plan: Part One
The Central Coast is no stranger to disasters such as earthquakes and wildfires, and even the possibility of a large tsunami.
The American Red Cross advises you to keep some disaster supplies on hand to help you survive after the disaster.
And, as we learned through Hurricane Katrina, that can be as dangerous as the disaster itself.
They tell us to plan for utilities like water, power and gas to be out from three days to a week; to keep enough clean water on hand for you and your pets; to use flashlights and avoid candles that could light ruptured gas lines on fire; to have a radio and first aid kit and remember the little details, if you can, like having a can opener you can use by hand.
The real question is, how many of us really make these plans? And is the American Red Cross being overly cautious?
Well, we put a family to the test: no water, power or gas for a weekend. How did they do? And more importantly, how would you do?
Chris and Heidi Frago are living the good life in San Luis Obispo, blissfully spending time as a family including their three dogs: Maggie, Mac and Audrey.
Like most families, they're unique. Heidi is a self-proclaimed "neat freak." Chris is deaf. And the dogs are all rescue animals.
But in one crucial way, they're also just like us, and their daily lives are connected to the world through power, water and gas ... but not for long.
"How easy was it to convince your wife to do this?" Action News asks Chris.
"Not very," Chris replies. "But after a couple of hours of talking to her, she said, 'OK, why not?'"
Heidi adds, "It took a couple of emails and phone calls and 'Honey ... PLEASE??' And then I said, 'Yes.' It wasn't my first choice. But I was willing, if he really wanted to do this."
We wanted to see how Chris, Heidi and the dogs would cope through a simulated disaster -- like an earthquake -- that can cut off utilities for days. They volunteered, so we gave them a little notice. But in a real emergency, they'd have none.
"It was a matter of digging out the stuff since we are in the process of fixing up our house. It was a matter of that and pulling out the barbecue that we have -- the Coleman-type barbecue -- and making sure that it's all working," says Heidi.
"We have extra water," says Chris, "a fire extinguisher ... food that is not perishable ..."
All preparations aside, when the utilities are gone, they're gone. That's right: gas, water and electricity.
The experiment begins.
First, the gas is shut off. Then, the water. Finally, the power. In one quick turn each, that means no water, no showers or running water ... all of it shut off.
With the fan blades dying down, the darkness ... and reality ... set in. The Fragos put their disaster plan and expectations into action, addressing their basic and special needs.
"Being deaf and reading lips ... or just being deaf in general ... we have to have continuous light in order to communicate," says Heidi.
But like many plans, they rarely match up to reality.
"So, after a half hour of debating who was going to the creek to get water to fill up the tub, we are just going to use our drinking water," says Heidi.
Using the water from the heater was a good idea, but there was no water in the heater.
Heidi and Chris say the first night was actually fun, with a few setbacks. They cooked tri-tip and baked potatoes in style. And they could manage a few hiccups.
"There are only so many games of cards you can play ... and lose ... and not be upset about it," says Heidi.
But, as you know, a weekend is two days long, and when they woke up to no running water, power or gas, it would take a lot of work just to survive a weekend that they said was longer ...
"We are bored," says Chris. "He have nothing to do."
... dirtier ...
"Just conserve water," Heidi says, "maybe not flush every time -- which is totally disgusting."
... colder ...
"It looks like the dogs are ready for bed," notes Chris. "They are getting pretty cold."
... and testier than they'd expected.
"We are going to have an early night tonight. There is not much to do. Last night was kind of fun; it was a new experience. But the honeymoon is over," Heidi says.
They said the first night was kind of fun, but the next day and night were much tougher than they'd expected. In other words, there is much more to this story.
If you want to find out what will happen, Part Two of our special "Disaster Plan" series will air tonight on Action News at 11:00 p.m.
The Central Coast is no stranger to disasters such as earthquakes and wildfires, and even the possibility of a large tsunami.
The American Red Cross advises you to keep some disaster supplies on hand to help you survive after the disaster.
And, as we learned through Hurricane Katrina, that can be as dangerous as the disaster itself.
They tell us to plan for utilities like water, power and gas to be out from three days to a week; to keep enough clean water on hand for you and your pets; to use flashlights and avoid candles that could light ruptured gas lines on fire; to have a radio and first aid kit and remember the little details, if you can, like having a can opener you can use by hand.
The real question is, how many of us really make these plans? And is the American Red Cross being overly cautious?
Well, we put a family to the test: no water, power or gas for a weekend. How did they do? And more importantly, how would you do?
Chris and Heidi Frago are living the good life in San Luis Obispo, blissfully spending time as a family including their three dogs: Maggie, Mac and Audrey.
Like most families, they're unique. Heidi is a self-proclaimed "neat freak." Chris is deaf. And the dogs are all rescue animals.
But in one crucial way, they're also just like us, and their daily lives are connected to the world through power, water and gas ... but not for long.
"How easy was it to convince your wife to do this?" Action News asks Chris.
"Not very," Chris replies. "But after a couple of hours of talking to her, she said, 'OK, why not?'"
Heidi adds, "It took a couple of emails and phone calls and 'Honey ... PLEASE??' And then I said, 'Yes.' It wasn't my first choice. But I was willing, if he really wanted to do this."
We wanted to see how Chris, Heidi and the dogs would cope through a simulated disaster -- like an earthquake -- that can cut off utilities for days. They volunteered, so we gave them a little notice. But in a real emergency, they'd have none.
"It was a matter of digging out the stuff since we are in the process of fixing up our house. It was a matter of that and pulling out the barbecue that we have -- the Coleman-type barbecue -- and making sure that it's all working," says Heidi.
"We have extra water," says Chris, "a fire extinguisher ... food that is not perishable ..."
All preparations aside, when the utilities are gone, they're gone. That's right: gas, water and electricity.
The experiment begins.
First, the gas is shut off. Then, the water. Finally, the power. In one quick turn each, that means no water, no showers or running water ... all of it shut off.
With the fan blades dying down, the darkness ... and reality ... set in. The Fragos put their disaster plan and expectations into action, addressing their basic and special needs.
"Being deaf and reading lips ... or just being deaf in general ... we have to have continuous light in order to communicate," says Heidi.
But like many plans, they rarely match up to reality.
"So, after a half hour of debating who was going to the creek to get water to fill up the tub, we are just going to use our drinking water," says Heidi.
Using the water from the heater was a good idea, but there was no water in the heater.
Heidi and Chris say the first night was actually fun, with a few setbacks. They cooked tri-tip and baked potatoes in style. And they could manage a few hiccups.
"There are only so many games of cards you can play ... and lose ... and not be upset about it," says Heidi.
But, as you know, a weekend is two days long, and when they woke up to no running water, power or gas, it would take a lot of work just to survive a weekend that they said was longer ...
"We are bored," says Chris. "He have nothing to do."
... dirtier ...
"Just conserve water," Heidi says, "maybe not flush every time -- which is totally disgusting."
... colder ...
"It looks like the dogs are ready for bed," notes Chris. "They are getting pretty cold."
... and testier than they'd expected.
"We are going to have an early night tonight. There is not much to do. Last night was kind of fun; it was a new experience. But the honeymoon is over," Heidi says.
They said the first night was kind of fun, but the next day and night were much tougher than they'd expected. In other words, there is much more to this story.
If you want to find out what will happen, Part Two of our special "Disaster Plan" series will air tonight on Action News at 11:00 p.m.