Training:Know your home

Get Trained at Home
Teach children how to dial 9-1-1 in an emergency. Review emergency action steps with all family members:
• Check the scene and the victim
• Call 9-1-1 or your local emergency number posted by the telephone
• Care for the victim
Practice, practice, practice. If you children are unsure, practice some more, if they are scared let them know it is ok to be scared, but that practicing will help them over come their fear.
Help your children learn more about emergencies. Download this preparedness coloring book or visit www.redcross.org/disaster/masters.

Additional information: In the event of a disaster, emergency medical response may be delayed because of the remoteness of your home or by adverse conditions, such as roads blocked by floodwater or debris. While precious minutes slip by, your emergency training could mean the difference between life and death. Properly administered first aid or CPR can help stabilize an injured or ailing family member until help arrives. Make sure at least one family member is trained in first aid and CPR and how to use an automated external defibrillator. It could save a life. For more information on CPR/AED training, contact your local Red Cross chapter or visit www.redcross.org.

-- Tim Krabec
Kracomp.com

Kit: Car Kit

You should also keep a smaller version of your emergency supply kit in your vehicle, in case you are commuting or traveling when disaster strikes.

Emergency Kit For Your Vehicle
• Bottled water and non-perishable high energy foods, such as granola bars, raisins and peanut butter
• Flashlight and extra batteries
• Blanket
• Booster cables
• Fire extinguisher (5 lb., A-B-C type) with a hose, most fire extinguishers do not work upside down!
• First aid kit and manual (and basic training)
• Maps
• Shovel
• Tire repair kit and pump
• Flares or other emergency marking devices


-- Tim Krabec
Kracomp.com

What’s in YOUR kit? Part 3

Include at least one complete change of clothing and footwear per person in your emergency supply kit. We suggest long pants and long sleeves for additional protection after a disaster. If you are going to be working outside in the water bring several changes of socks, and possibly shoes, to give your feet a chance to dry out.

Clothing and Bedding
(Essential Items are Marked with an Asterisk *)
• Sturdy shoes or work boots*
• Rain gear*
• Blankets or sleeping bags*
• Hat and gloves
• Thermal underwear
• Sunglasses

-- Tim Krabec
Kracomp.com

What’s in YOUR kit? Part 2

Also include items for sanitation in your emergency supply kit. Consider the following:

Sanitation
(Essential Items are Marked with an Asterisk *)
• Toilet paper, towelettes*
• Wet Wipes
• Hand Sanitizer
• A shop soap for cutting through grease and grime with minimal water
• Soap, liquid detergent*
• Feminine supplies*
• Personal hygiene items*
• Plastic garbage bags, ties (for personal sanitation uses)*
• Plastic bucket with tight lid
• Disinfectant
• Household chlorine bleach

-- Tim Krabec
Kracomp.com

What’s in YOUR kit?

One of the easiest ways you can prepare for emergencies is to keep some supplies readily available. When preparing my kit I pretend I will be camping and not able to go out to buy anything. Every kit is unique and can be tailored to meet the specific needs of your family, but below is a general list of supplies you may want to consider:

Tools and Supplies
(Essential Items are Marked with an Asterisk *)
• Mess kits, or paper cups, plates, and plastic utensils
• Emergency preparedness manual and a copy of your disaster plan, including your emergency contacts list
• Battery-operated radio and extra batteries*
• Flashlight and extra batteries*
• Cash or traveler's checks, change*
• Non-electric can opener, utility knife*
• Fire extinguisher: small ABC type stored near where fires are likely to occur such as a kitchen, or near a fireplace. It should not be kept in the disaster supplies kit.
• Tube tent
• Duct Tape*
• Compass
• Matches in a waterproof container
• Aluminum foil
• Plastic storage containers
• Signal flare
• Paper, pencil*
• Needles, thread
• Medicine dropper
• Shut-off wrench or pliers, to turn off household gas and water
• Whistle*
• Plastic sheeting*
• Map of the area (for locating shelters and evacuation routes)

Plan: Get emergency help

Teach your children how and when to call 9-1-1 or your local Emergency Medical Services number for help. Post these and other emergency telephone numbers by telephones. Make sure they know you address, and a description of it. Also if your has an medical conditions or takes medicines make sure you keep Card of your relevant medical records in a handy location so your children can provide that to the Operator or the Rescue staff.

-- Tim Krabec
Kracomp.com

Water, water anywhere?

Keep at least a three-day supply of water per person. Store a minimum of one gallon of water per person per day (two quarts for drinking, two quarts for food preparation and sanitation). Store water in plastic containers such as soft drink bottles. Avoid using containers that will decompose or break, such as milk cartons or glass bottles. If you have an event such as a hurricane, or another disaster that you can plan for, and will be staying put, you can easily increase your available water by filling containers such as mixing a bowl, or coffee pot, or just about any other food safe product, just remember to drink the water from them 1st, and always watch out for contamination. A normally active person needs to drink at least two quarts of water each day. Hot environments and strenuous activity can double that amount. Children, nursing mothers, and people who are sick will also need more.

-- Tim Krabec
Kracomp.com

Kit: First Aid

Take a minute to check your Office’s first aid kit, and note any depleted items — then, add them to your shopping list. Don’t have a first aid kit? Add that to the list or build a kit yourself. For more information about first aid kits, visit www.redcross.org.
Additional information: Just add the following items to your shopping list and assemble a first aid kit and consider creating a kit for each vehicle as well:

First Aid Kit
Assemble a first aid kit for your home and one for each car.
• (20) adhesive bandages, various sizes
• (1) 5" x 9" sterile dressing
• (1) conforming roller gauze bandage
• (2) triangular bandages
• (2) 3 x 3 sterile gauze pads
• (2) 4 x 4 sterile gauze pads
• (1) roll 3" cohesive bandage
• (2) germicidal hand wipes or waterless alcohol-based hand sanitizer
• (6) antiseptic wipes
• (2) pair large medical grade non-latex gloves
• Adhesive tape, 2" width
• Anti-bacterial ointment
• Cold pack
• Scissors (small, personal)
• Tweezers
• CPR breathing barrier, such as a face shield
• First Aid Manual

Non-Prescription and Prescription Drugs
• Aspirin or non-aspirin pain reliever
• Anti-diarrhea medication
• Antacid (for stomach upset)
• Syrup of Ipecac (use to induce vomiting if advised by the Poison Control Center)
• Laxative
• Activated charcoal (use if advised by the Poison Control Center)
• Prescription drugs, as recommended by your physician, and copies of the prescriptions in case they need to be replaced

-- Tim Krabec
Kracomp.com

Plan: Is school in or out when disaster strikes?

Tip Copy: Check your child’s school Web site or call the school office to request a copy of the school’s emergency plan. Keep a copy at home and work or other places where you spend a lot of your time and make sure the school’s plan is incorporated into your family’s emergency plan. Also, learn about the disaster plans at your workplace or other places where you and your family spend time.

--Tim Krabec
Kracomp.com

Plan: What’s the plan, boss?

What if disaster strikes while you’re at work? Do you know the emergency preparedness plan for your workplace? Have you shared your personal disaster plan with your co-workers? While many companies have been more alert and pro-active in preparing for disasters of all types since the September 11, 2001 attacks, a national survey indicates that many employees still don’t know what their workplace plan is for major or minor disasters. If you don’t know yours, make a point to ask. If your office does not have a plan, work on getting one implemented. FYI choosing to close the company is a valid disaster/business continuity plan, if it is decided before the emergency.

Know multiple ways to exit your building, participate in workplace evacuation drills, and consider keeping some emergency supplies at the office. Visit www.ready.gov and click on Ready Business for more information about business preparedness.

-- Tim Krabec
Kracomp.com

South Florida ISSA Hack the FLAG 2008

This year's Event will be one for the books.
Sponsors this year include:
CrossTec
Digitalera Group
Fortinet
Immunity
McAfee
Over $5000 in prizes will be given away!

The Main Event

• Event is FREE, All Skill levels welcomed to participate or just come and watch

• ALL participating South Florida ISSA Acitve(paid) member who attend the July 17th meeting will get a license of CANVAS FREE!!!
  
• Groups of 4 and Individuals we may enter. (we will team up individuals)
• Come and show off your skillz or watch others capture flags to take home some amazing prizes.
• Live hacking demo by one of the top industry experts!

The Chili Cook-Off
Come and try to compete with the top chef's in the South Florida ISSA. Last year we had over 10 entries with Pot of Gold taking the top spot. See if your Chili is up to par and take home part of the prize pot (active SF ISSA members only).

The event will be held at:
Hollywood Jaycee Hall
2930 Hollywood Blvd
Holywood, FL 33020

For more information:
visit sfissa.org
or contact Jeff Dell President SF ISSA
561-327-6001 - jdell crosstecsoftware com (fix it your self )
-- Tim Krabec
Kracomp.com

Plan: Work together

A community working together during an emergency makes sense.
• Talk to your neighbors about how you can work together during an emergency.
• Find out if anyone has specialized equipment like a power generator, or expertise such as medical knowledge, that might help in a crisis.
• Make back-up plans for children in case you can't get home in an emergency or their daycare is closed.
Sharing plans and communicating in advance is a good strategy.
• Decide who will check on elderly or disabled neighbors.
• Work with other businesses near by to pool resources and provide on site child care.

-- Tim Krabec
Kracomp.com

Huge vulnerability in DNS today Multiple Vendors release patches

Get your IT staff the resources they need to fix this vulnerability. Here is a link to an interview with Dan Kaminsky. As Usual Martin McKeay and Rick Mogul have done another great interview.
netsecpodcast.com

-- Tim Krabec
Kracomp.com

Plan: Practice makes perfect!

Practice. Practice. Practice. Conduct fire drills and practice evacuating your office & home at least twice a year. Drive your planned evacuation route and plot alternate routes on a map in case main roads are blocked or gridlocked. Practice earthquake and tornado drills at home, school and work. Commit a weekend to update telephone numbers, emergency supplies and review your plan with everyone. Scheduled and unscheduled drills both have their merits.

Tim Krabec
Kracomp.com

Plan: Make it a habit

Go through your calendar now, and put a reminder on it — every six months, more often if thing change often — to review your plan, update numbers, and check supplies to be sure nothing has expired, spoiled, or changed. Also remember to practice your tornado, fire escape and other disaster plans.

-- Tim Krabec
Kracomp.com

Hurricanes and Tropical storms

The National Weather Service's Hurricane Center provides loads of useful information. Storm track forecasts, strength forecasts, historical information, disaster kit recommendations, etc. But the one "forecast/model" I find they are missing a model I use my self, basically I assume the storm is heading straight for me (for planning purposes). I take the storm's current position, and speed, then I use a latitude/longitude calculator to get the distance to where I am.

Example
The July 6th 11am forecast puts the storm at 17.4N 45.1W Moving West at 21MPH(note sometimes this is releases as knots)
Picking a lat long close to my location 27.0N 80.5W
Using a latitude/longitude calculator I find the storm is about 2349 miles away.
Now I simply divide the distance (2349 mi) by it's current speed (21MPH) to get 111.9 Hours or about 4.5 Days away.

I use my "worst case" number to start evaluating the need to work on the phase(s) of the emergency plan that should be started. I compare my "forecast" with the forecast that the NHC has released. At this time my number is way off of the NHC's number, in about 4.5 days they show the storm still well east of the Bahamas. I use my "forecast" mostly as a buffer against the unpredictibility of these storms.

For planning purposes I assume the "worst", I assume the storm will hit me, and I will assume it will be the stonger of possibilities. I will start preparing (especially for the 1st storm) a bit further out, making sure I pick things up out of my yard, and starting purchasing the supplies I need for the storm. By implementing portions of my plan well in advnavce of a storm, I beat many people who wait till the last minute.

--Tim Krabec
Kracomp.com

Plan: Man’s best friend

Dogs may be man’s best friend, but due to health regulations, most emergency shelters cannot house animals. Find out in advance how to care for your pets and working animals when disaster strikes. Pets should not be left behind, but could be taken to a veterinary office, family member’s home or animal shelter during an emergency. Also be sure to store extra food and water for pets.
For more information, visit the Animal Safety section on www.redcross.org or visit the Humane Society Web site at www.hsus.org.

Tim Krabec
Kracomp.com

Plan: Emergecy Contacts

Complete an emergency contact card and make copies for each member of your office family to carry with them. Be sure to include an out-of-town contact on your contact card. It may be easier to reach someone out of town if local phone lines are out of service or overloaded. You should also have at least one traditionally wired landline phone, as cordless or cellular phones may not work in an emergency.

Visit www.redcross.org or www.ready.gov for sample emergency contact cards. Remember in Large offices department lists may be more efficient than a phone book of emergency contacts. Update the list on a regular basis, at the begining and midway through hurricane season and immediately after new-hires are added.

-- Tim Krabec
Kracomp.com

Happy Fourth of July

Fire works safetips from fireworksafety.com

USE FIREWORKS OUTDOORS ONLY. OBEY LOCAL LAWS. IF FIREWORKS ARE NOT LEGAL WHERE YOU LIVE, DO NOT USE THEM! ALWAYS HAVE WATER HANDY (A HOSE OR BUCKETS OF WATER) ONLY USE FIREWORKS AS INTENDED. DON’T TRY TO ALTER THEM OR COMBINE THEM. NEVER RE-LIGHT A “DUD” FIREWORK (WAIT 20 MINUTES AND THEN SOAK IT IN A BUCKET OF WATER) USE COMMON SENSE WHEN USING FIREWORKS. SPECTATORS SHOULD KEEP A SAFE DISTANCE FROM THE SHOOTER. AND THE SHOOTER SHOULD WEAR SAFETY GLASSES. ALCOHOL AND FIREWORKS DO NOT MIX. HAVE A “DESIGNATED “SHOOTER ONLY PERSON OVER AGE 12 SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO HANDLE SPARKLERS OF ANY TYPE. DO NOT EVER USE HOMEMADE FIREWORKS OR ILLEGAL EXPLOSIVES; THEY CAN KILL YOU! REPORT ILLEGAL EXPLOSIVES TO THE FIRE OR POLICE DEPARTMENT IN YOUR COMMUNITY. THE NATIONAL COUNCIL ON FIREWORKS SAFETY INVITES YOU TO CELEBRATE OUR NATION’S HERITAGE ON THE FOURTH OF JULY, BUT CELEBRATE SAFELY!


-- Tim Krabec
Kracomp.com

Plan: Make a Connection

Choose an emergency contact person outside your area because it may be easier to call long distance than locally after a local/regional disaster. Take a minute now to call or e-mail an out-of-town co-worker, friend or family member to ask him or her to be your family’s designated contact in the event of an emergency. Be sure to share the contact's phone number with everyone in the office and with your family. During an emergency, you can call your contact who can share with others, where you are; how you are doing; and how to get in contact with you.


-- Tim Krabec
Kracomp.com

Plan: Where to meet

Pick a place to meet after a disaster. Designate at least two meeting places. Choose one right outside your home or office, in case of a sudden emergency, such as a fire or bomb threat. The second place you choose needs to be outside your immediate area and possilbly out of state, in the event that it is not safe to stay near or return to your home, in the event of a hurricane or earth quake or large fire.

-- Tim Krabec
Kracomp.com

Plan: Best Way Out

Take a moment to imagine that there is an emergency, like a fire, Chemical spill, etc. in your home or business , and you need to leave quickly. What are the best escape routes? Find at least two ways out. What if I have to walk? Where am I going to meet up with others? Now, write it down you’ve got the beginning of a plan.


-- Tim Krabec
Kracomp.com

Get Prepared

After a quiet 1st month of Hurricane season, we need cannot let our guard down. We need to continue planning and preparing. For those of you who follow the news, you are well aware of flooding in the Midwest. While there were many safeguards in place, levees, pumps, sand bags, and building codes, there were still failures and failures in multiple systems. Don't forget the fires in California and the west. There are a few simple steps you and your family or business can take to become better prepared for an emergency: Get a Kit, Make a Plan, Be Informed and Get Involved.
Here are some Sites to help.
http://floridadisaster.org/
http://www.redcross.org/
http://www.fema.gov/
http://www.ready.gov/

Tim Krabec
Kracomp.com

Stay tuned for more posts based on last years DHS 30 tips for Emergency preparedness.

Process, Policy Procedures

I have recently had a breakthrough, I have always heard about the 3P's, but never put much credence into them, because everything has always worked out ok in the end. Over the past several several months I have seen many offices where things have been getting out of control, support ticket after support ticket, large project after large project. I have begun to feel over whelmed, no matter what was thrown at thickets, they kept coming. Close 1 ticket 3 more open up, assign 2 tickets, group 5 together, 10 more come in. Needless to say, things were weighing heavily on me. Then I managed to get some free time and take in a few sessions from out Local ISSA, Man what a difference! I geaned so much out of the sessions that just filled voids that I knew were there, but just could not put my finger on.

Suddenly everything made sense, of the multitude of tickets most were boiled down to people not following SOP, needing more training, and just plain not stopping to think about the problem before they screamed for help. There were still many tickets to deal with, but the immense pressure of losing tracting every time I turned around, all the questioning I had been doing about my skills, and those of people around me had been lifted.

Even in small environments you need a well defined set of Policies, Procedure, and Processes, they do not need to be as complex as SOX, PCI, ITIL or the like, but expectations need to be concrete of both the staff, and the IT people, as well as those from Top Management. Part of the 3P's should also include training, ownership and pain.

Training is obvious, everyone, including IT needs more training.
Ownership, everyone needs to own their piece of the process, or their machine, something.
Pain, the pain in failure of the 3P's needs to fall in the proper place back to the owner of said resource, ie if the user has been sitting on a problem and now they have a deadline, the pain needs to be the user's not IT's and if IT has been screwing around not fixing a problem, then the converse is true.

Here are some articles that I have found very helpful.
http://andyitguy.blogspot.com/2008/06/why-process-trumps-technology.html
This is more of an example of Faulure of 3P's
http://www.infoworld.com/infoworld/article/07/05/07/19FEuser4_1.html

-- Tim Krabec
Kracomp.com