Safety and Security
A Lesson Learned
Aug 7th
Last week I was the victim of a thief in the night — and my own complacency and foolishness. Here’s what happened:
We returned around midnight after a long evening out with friends. After a hot day (around 95 degrees) and being closed up for hours, the garage was still stuffy and hot while outside temps were a good 20 degrees cooler. When my husband announced he was closing the garage up as we headed to bed, I urged him to leave it open for the night. Otherwise, it would hold that heat all night and the rooms above it would be that much warmer as well. Besides, we live in a very quiet neighborhood with never a peep of break-ins or crime. We’re on the edge of our town’s developed area, with orchards and cattle-filled pastures a block away and plenty of vacant lots on our street. Peaceful and serene, no problem. You can guess where this is heading.
The next morning as we were preparing breakfast, our across-the-street neighbor Amy stopped by to tell us she had just visited with some local police officers who were taking a statement from homeowners a few blocks away. They’d left their garage and vehicles open overnight and found items had been stolen in the morning. Amy herself had noticed someone had rifled through her unlocked truck but taken nothing. She wanted to let us know, as she noticed that our normally closed-up garage had been left open the night before. I thanked her and went to check out the garage. I knew we didn’t keep much of value in the cars, but you never know what someone with mischief in mind might do.
It only took a quick glance in my van’s open window to confirm that someone had been in there. The glove box was open and its contents scattered on the seat, but nothing appeared to be missing. In fact, the small change I kept in the console hadn’t been touched, even though it was in plain sight. With a sudden, sinking feeling, I turned to my husband’s car. Sure enough, they’d taken his Sirius satellite radio (he loves to listen to that thing, especially on long trips!) — but left the radar detector (a fact he embarassedly pointed out to the officer who took our report an hour later). That and a few coins were all that were missing, and a quick check of the garage revealed the thief/thieves had found nothing else they deemed worth taking.
The officer who responded and dusted for a few prints indicated that at least five homes in the neighborhood had been “visited” overnight, the robbers taking advantage of unlocked garages and vehicles. In a few instances, doors connecting garages to homes had also been left unlocked, and a woman’s purse, with all her i.d., credit cards and even passport had been taken. In another, the intruder walked through several rooms before the sleeping occupants had awakened and scared him off (YIKES!).
I felt slightly less stupid, especially after reading that a rash of such thefts have been occuring throughout our valley. It seems a lot of people in the hot weather have been leaving cars unlocked and windows rolled down . . . and purses, wallets and other valuables left sitting there in plain sight, not just at home but on the street and in parking lots. See, I’m not quite that foolish!!
The cops seem to think it’s probably kids, mostly interested in cash and small items. In our neighborhood they passed up golf clubs, expensive tools and other fence-able goods and thankfully weren’t into random vandalism. We’re thankful they didn’t leave our chest freezer open and/or leave it unplugged, for instance, and we know we got off pretty easy. A new radio is on order, the garage is shut up tight every evening now, and everyone in our neighborhood is a little more watchful and aware these days. The most painful fallout for me from this little incident? The feeling that my husband and daughters will be reminding me of it for the rest of my life!
– Patty Vanikiotis, associate editor/copy editor
Keep It Simple
May 7th
In my opinion, traveling became a heck of a lot easier once I found the perfect “travel” outfit. This may seem like a weird travel tip, but I often watch people in line for security and feel a sense of dread. I know just by looking at their outfits that I’m going to be standing in line for awhile.
Last time I was at the airport, I watched as a girl ahead of me struggled to remove her over-the-knee boots. If you know you need to take off your shoes as you go through security, why would you wear the most difficult to remove (and put on) shoes in your closet? I always opt for slip-on flats.
Multiple layers do not make for easy traveling, either. All outerwear must come off, so it’s probably not a good idea to wear three shirts, a sweater, a jacket, etc. Yes, layers are necessary as the temperature on the planes can vary. I have settled on leggings, a cotton three-quarter sleeved dress, a cardigan and a scarf. Sounds like a lot of layers, but it only requires me to remove two items through security, which I can do rather quickly. Should I be too warm, the leggings can be removed. If I’m cold, the scarf can double as a blanket.
Now, to accessories. I opt for an outfit that does not require a belt. I wear stud earrings that I don’t need to take out. My watch pops off and I’m set. I’ve watched travelers with belts, necklaces, rings and myriad other accessories sit and remove everything for 10 minutes before heading through the metal detector.
So, my tip to you:Â Â Think about what you are wearing before heading to the airport. Keeping things to a minimum will make the security process a lot easier for you and other travelers. The dressing/undressing required at security nowadays can be a hassle, and by choosing a simple outfit you can make the experience as hassle-free as possible for yourself.
– Kim Krol, eFlyer editor, circulation and public relations executive
Safe Travel Tips
May 6th
An unavoidable question when engaging in a conversation about global travel is, “Is it safe there?” I would be surprised if I approached any traveler about to board a plane who didn’t know the current weather conditions, terrorist threat or overall safety of the destination he was traveling to. Global Traveler‘s health column, Travel Rx, is the most-read section of the entire magazine. Travelers want to know exactly what the risks are before they step on that plane.
Of course, it is smart to take precautions when traveling. As a traveler, you are your own protector. It is your responsibility to stay informed.
The bomb scare in Times Square, however, was just another reminder that anything can happen anywhere (even on your own home turf), and there really is no way to predict what could possibly happen.
While I agree that safety is number one while traveling, I also believe that a media headline shouldn’t shy you away from an enjoyable experience. Besides, all stories are exaggerated in the media — especially if it’s reporting something overseas. There are ways to be smart about traveling without having to stay locked in your own home.
Here are some tips I gathered on how to travel smart and safe:
1. Update your address book. Before you leave, make sure you note all emergency numbers/contacts and the location of the nearest U.S. embassy.
2. Carry a small map with you. Some tourists think maps are the scarlet letter, immediately targeting you as a dumb tourist. A map can be your best friend if you use it wisely. You don’t need to wave a giant map in the air, proclaiming that you are lost. Keep a small map handy and mark any important locations that may come in handy.
3. Be your own GPS. While touring your new favorite city, every now and then make a mental note of your location in case you have to make an urgent call and state exactly where you are.
4. Pack your Pumas. If you’re not wearing comfortable walking shoes, make sure you have a pair with you. When roads are blocked and public transit is down, heels are your worst enemy!
5. Travel light. Carrying more than one or two small bags is an inconvenience and will slow you down. Only take what you need.
6. Have your ID on you. If you ever need to prove who you are or aren’t, be sure to have some form of identification on you.
7. Have fun! Because isn’t that why you’re here in the first place?!
– Courtney Centeno, account executiveÂ
Dealing with the Unpredictable
Apr 18th
Mother Nature has sure thrown a lot of challenges at global travelers in the last six months. Major winter storms along the U.S. eastern seaboard and in Northern Europe in December wreaked havoc for holiday travelers by air, rail or roadways, and the “fun” continued into January and February. In addition to snow and ice, major wind storms and epic flooding on both sides of the pond throughout the winter and early spring not only made a mess of flight schedules but also caused millions of dollars in damage to infrastructure and personal property. Just when one could hope that the worst might be behind us as the days warm and lengthen into spring (although the annual thunderstorms and tornado warnings can not be discounted), a new challenge has reared its ugly head: volcanic eruptions.
The eruption of an Icelandic volcano this past week has sent clouds of ash drifting toward Northern Europe. Estimates are that nearly half of all scheduled flights in and out of the continent were cancelled over the last few days, and while the hope is that by the end of the weekend the ash will have largely dissipated, there are no guarantees that the volcano will not let loose again nor any way to predict when it could do so or how much ash it may emit. The flight cancellations and closing of major airports caused several finance ministers and officials to miss the start of a European Union finance meeting in Madrid, and there is concern that the arrival of world leaders for the state funeral of Polish president Lech Kaczynski and his wife on Sunday might also be delayed. Daily losses in the millions of dollars are predicted for large carriers such as British Airways and Lufthansa, and stock prices for these and other companies have seen a slight drop in the last few days. Not surprisingly, though, there has a been a marked increase in train travel throughout Europe over the same period; people and business continue to carry on as long as there is a will and a way.
Of course, this isn’t a “new” challenge at all, really. In just over a month, we in the Pacific Northwest will be commemorating the 30th anniversary of the catastrophic eruption of Mount St. Helens on May 18, 1980. That event and several subsequent eruptions accompanied by massive ash clouds disrupted air traffic often. In addition, car engines became clogged with the tiny particles, and citizens throughout the region snapped up face masks to protect their respiratory systems.  The initial eruption also wiped out bridges along the major north-south interstate, I-5, and led to expensive silting-up of important shipping lanes in the Columbia River. Just last year, the Redoubt volcano near Anchorage, Alaska,  spewed ash into the atmosphere and caused nearly a week’s worth of flight cancellations with a ripple effect that spread down the West Coast. A similar eruption in 1989 caused all of a KLM flight’s engines to quit, with the plane descending some 14,000 feet before the pilot was able to restart the engines and make an emergency landing.
The eruption of Mt. Galunggung in Indonesia in 1982 led to similar engine failures in at least three different jumbo jets. In each case, after the passengers and crew suffered through the nightmare of gliding for several minutes while losing altitude, the engines were restarted once the ash cloud had been cleared and enough of the clogging silica in them had  fallen away. Incidents such as those have led air traffic controllers to have a great deal of respect for the danger that volcanic ash clouds, not generally visible on weather radar systems, can present. As bothersome as cancelled flights and closed airspace can be, they are preferable to the disastrous consequences that could be suffered if planes continued to fly in those conditions.
– Patty Vanikiotis, proofreader
