Prepare for the Unexpected

What You Don't Know About Tornadoes

2012-03-05T13:10:00.007-08:00

Unlike hurricanes, tornadoes do not have a "season" per se. However, March to December can be considered a high probability timeframe for tornadoes.

Most of the early spring tornadoes in the U.S. tend to occur in the Southeast and South Central regions also referred to as "Dixie Alley." Gulf States, such as Mississippi and Louisiana are the frequent recipients of tornadoes from February to April. Late spring tornadoes generally spread a bit farther north, often into Kansas, Nebraska and the Tennessee Valley region generally referred to as "Tornado Alley." By mid-summer, most of Tornado Alley is active and tornadoes may occur throughout the U.S. Late summer tends to bring some of the stronger tornadoes into the upper Midwest and Ohio valleys, and the pattern shifts back southward into the late autumn to Dixie Alley.

The actual average number of tornadoes is unknown, recent trends indicate the number is close to 1,300. In 2011 there were 1,894 tornadoes recorded in the U.S resulting in 550 deaths and $28.7B in damages.
On average, about 60 people are killed by tornadoes every year, most from flying or falling debris.
Oklahoma City, OK - is the city hit most by tornadoes. While the exact count is not known, the total is more than 100.
Murphysboro, IL - has had the most tornado related fatalities in a single city with at least 234 deaths during the March 1925 "Tri-state" tornado.
The Dixie Alley tornado outbreak on April 27, 2011 was the deadliest U.S. tornado day with a record 335 deaths.
The biggest outbreak of tornadoes includes: the April 25-28, 2011 event where 359 tornadoes were confirmed by the National Weather Service in 21 states from Texas to New York; and the Super Outbreak of April 3-4, 1974 which spawned 148 confirmed tornadoes in 13 states.
Hallam, NB - had the biggest known tornado on May 22, 2004 with a peak width of nearly 2.5 miles, which is close to the maximum size for tornadoes.
Bridge Creek, OK - is home to the highest recorded winds during a tornado on May 3, 1999

Remember to do the following before a tornado hits:

Determine the best location in your home and place of employment in which to seek shelter when threatened by a tornado. A basement or cellar will usually afford the best protection. If an underground shelter is not available, identify an interior room or hallway on the lowest floor to ride out the winds.
Make sure you understand where your school age children will shelter-in-place and how to meet them after an emergency.
Conduct periodic tornado safety drills with your family.
If you live in tornado prone areas, you should know the locations of designated shelters in places where you and your family spend time, such as public buildings, nursing homes and shopping centers.
Have emergency kits on hand.
Learn how to shut off power, gas and water to your home.
Create a communications plan to document where and when your family will reunite, if separated.
Make an inventory of your possessions. Take photographs or videotape your belongings. Keep records in a safe deposit box or some other location away from the residence.

Candles No Longer on Preparedness Lists

2012-02-10T12:24:00.000-08:00

Based upon a significant rise in home fires due to lit candles and the fact that many states are now legislating against the use of candles in care facilities we service, GetReadyGEAR has eliminitated candles from our Home Survival Kits.

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), candles cause an estimated 15,600 fires in residential structures, 150 deaths, 1,270 injuries, and $539 million in estimated direct property damage each year.

Over half (55%) of home candle fires start because the candle is too close to some combustible material.
More candle fires (38%) begin in the bedroom than in any other room.
Falling asleep is a factor in 12% of home candle fires and 26% of the associated deaths.
Half of all civilian candle fire deaths occur between Midnight and 6am.
December is the peak month for candle fires; Christmas is the peak day.
Young children and older adults have the highest death risk from candle fires.
The risk of a fatal candle fire appears higher when candles are used for light.

As a result, the NFPA now recommends:

Avoid using lighted candles.
If you do use candles, ensure they are in sturdy metal, glass, or ceramic holders and placed where they cannot be easily knocked down.
Keep candles out of the reach of children and pets.
Set a good example by using matches, lighters, and fire carefully.
Children should never be allowed to play with matches, lighters or candles.
Never put candles on a Christmas tree.
Never leave the house with candles burning.
Extinguish candles after use.
Establish a fire-safe home, especially a safe sleeping environment.
And NEVER leave burning candles unattended!

Given these recommendations, GetReadyGEAR now provides 3 -12 hour cyalume sticks capable of providing light for up to 3 nights in our home survival kits. We strongly recommend that you re-evaluate your home preparedness plan and exchange candles for additional cyalume sticks or alternative light sources.

Survival Kits for the End of the World

2012-01-18T08:14:00.000-08:00

I get lots of calls from folks inquiring about which type of survival kit they should be buying for their particular family situation. And of those, several bring up the 2012 End of the World topic as an influencer in their decision to get prepared.

The 2012 prediction (actually December 21, 2012) comes from the Mayan Calender, or specifically the Mayan Long-Count Calender, one of many the Mayan's created. As Brett Johnson wrote, "The Mayan’s studied the skies and time and created temples based on their discoveries and they also made loads of calenders. But what the Mayan’s never did, at any point was predict the world was going to end. They made calenders which ended, like all calenders do and when it ends, you go and get a new one."

Gerardo Aldana, an associate professor in UC-Santa Barbara's Chicana and Chicano Studies department, has studied Mayan astronomy, archaeology and texts. Nothing he's read, including inscriptions on stone tablets, speaks to the end of the world. It begins in 3114 B.C. and marks time in roughly 394-year periods known as Baktuns. The 13th Baktun ends on or around Dec. 21, 2012, ending a 5,126-year cycle. The Maya consistently have said that it's not the end of the world but rather the beginning of a new cycle, a time of transformation or renewal. In effect, the time "clock" resets to zero, and a new count begins.

The 2012 End of World discussion is so intense that NASA had to create a public outreach website "Ask an Astrobiologist" to field questions about whether the Earth will be swallowed and whether people should kill themselves.

But even if nothing happens on the end-of-the-world front, it won't put an end to more of the same in the future. Author Govert Schilling wrote that on Dec. 22, 2012 "there will be a new pseudoscientific cock-and-bull story doing the rounds and the whole circus will start all over again."

So, if you're looking for an End of World survival kit, please look somewhere else! We only sell responsible emergency survival kits to better assist people preparing for local disasters and emergencies, which as we know happen most every day . . . not just December 21, 2012.

FEMA Kicks Off Campaign To Encourage Americans To Get Ready In 2012

2012-01-05T08:29:00.000-08:00

As 2011 – one of the most active years for disasters in recent history – comes to a close and Americans get ready to ring in a new year, the Federal Emergency Management Agency is encouraging all Americans to Get Ready in the new year by making a resolution to be prepared for emergencies.

As a recent report by the National Climatic Data Center highlights, 2011 has seen more billion-dollar natural disasters than any year on record. This year alone, the U.S. experienced its first hurricane landfall since 2008, the most deadly series of tornadoes since the 1950s, significant earthquakes and severe flooding – hazards that impacted every region of the country. All of these events have served as important reminders that disasters can strike anytime, anywhere, and being prepared is one of the most effective things we can do to protect our homes, businesses and loved ones.

Today, FEMA kicked off its annual campaign, Resolve to Get Ready in 2012, which urges Americans to make preparedness a priority by making a new year’s resolution to be ready for disasters and getting survival kits.

“One of the most important lessons we can take away from this year is that disasters can impact all of us, no matter what part of the country we live in,” said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate. “While we can’t control where or when they might hit, we can take steps in advance to prepare for them – efforts that can go a long way toward protecting our families, homes and business. Resolving to be Ready in 2012 could be the most important pledge you make this year.”

By making a resolution to take a few simple steps in advance, Americans can minimize the impact of an emergency on their families, homes or businesses. To take the pledge, visit www.ready.gov/resolve which includes free information, checklists, and guidelines about how to put together survival kits, make a plan, and stay informed.

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

Protect Your Digital Assets in 4 Easy Steps

2011-12-05T11:27:00.000-08:00

What emergency do I want you to prepare for now? How about your death?

Ever consider what happens to your "digital footprint" on the Internet after you die? We all have a significant amount of digital information hidden in corners of the Internet and like plastic grocery bags, it may never decompose and go away! As part of a prudent emergency preparedness plan, everyone should have a plan to distribute or delete their virtual life when real life ends.

Legal professionals are now suggesting that you need to clearly articulate, preferably in your will, how to remove or distribute your digital footprint in case of your death. Consider the following:

Who gets the $204.54 left in your PayPal account?
How can you prevent your loved ones name from popping up on LinkedIn or Facebook messages?
Do you know all of your loved ones email accounts?
What happens to the 10 years of family photos in their flicker account?
How can you remove YouTube videos of your loved one?

Now, you don't usually need to consider how to handle online financial investment sites (e.g. Charles Schwab, Etrade, Fidelity, etc.) as these sites generally represent real assets in your account that would be distributed in accordance with your will. However, you will still want to close these accounts.

Follow these 4 steps to control or remove your virtual life and digital assets from the Internet.

Develop a list of all your online accounts (I currently have 8 pages)
Include your user name, password and answers to security questions for every account listed above
Identify expiration dates or renewal instructions for any domain names you own
Provide detailed instructions for how each account should be managed, transferred or deleted

To help you with this, there are now companies that will assist you in identifying a digital executor in case of your death. Two I'm aware of are Legacy Locker and Entrustet. The digital executor you designate would get access to your list of accounts and passwords upon your death to follow your instructions as to what accounts stay open, get transferred or deleted.

You can also keep your list hidden around the house in a location known to your executor. I actually find this more practical as I am constanlty updating passwords and adding new sites.

Another important legality, which complicates this process even more, is the fact that at least Facebook, Gmail, LinkedIn and YouTube require copies of a death certificate in order to close an account!

You'll be amazed at how many online locations you will have on your list!

Power Outage Tips

2011-11-28T12:32:00.000-08:00

With the 2011 Hurricane season coming to a close on Wednesday, winter ice and snow storms will now be the primary cause for many power outages across the U. S. in the coming months.

With our absolute dependence upon electricity, power outages can be frustrating and troublesome, especially when they last a long time. Perishable food is a prime concern if a power outage is more than 2 hours. For prolonged power outages, the following 10 steps can minimize food loss and keep family members as comfortable as possible.

1. Keep several ice chests on hand in case you need to transfer foods from a refrigerator/freezer to the ice chests.  Most of us have at least one large ice chest for camping or picnics anyway. But consider getting a couple inexpensive Styrofoam chests just for power outages. If you are tight on space, you can also store emergency supplies or your survival kits in these chests until you need them.
2. Get in the habit of keeping as much ice stored in your freezer as possible. If you have room, put extra ice in plastic bags for use during a power outage. A full freezer is more efficient anyway.
3. Get an inexpensive digital quick-response thermometer, to determine if the internal temperature of stored foods is adequate to ensure safety.  Throw away any food that has been exposed to temperatures above 40° F for 2 hours or more or that has an unusual odor, color or texture. When in doubt, throw it out!
4. Use perishable foods first if you can. A closed refrigerator should keep foods cold for up to 4 hours after the power goes out. After 4 hours if the power is still out, transfer refrigerated foods to your emergency ice chests and add ice from the freezer.
5. Use frozen foods next. A closed and full freezer should keep foods frozen for up to 48 hours after the power goes out. If your freezer is only half full, assume only a 24 hour window.
6.  Once you've consumed as much perishable and frozen foods as possible then start using your non-refrigerated emergency provisions such as freeze-dried foods.
7. Remember to keep your survival kits close at hand and stay informed of power repair status with a battery powered radio.
8. Turn off and unplug all non-essential electrical equipment, but leave one light on to alert you that power has been restored.
9. If you are considering a portable generator to supply electricity during an outage, consult an electrician to ensure the capacity is adequate for your needs. NEVER operate a generator indoors and NEVER connect it to your home electrical system without the assistance of a licensed electrician.
10. Keep your car's gas tank at least half full in case you need to evacuate to a location with electricity.

First Nationwide Test of Emergency Alert System (EAS)

2011-11-08T12:17:00.000-08:00

On the morning of November 9th, people across the country will hear those familiar tones, or see that test message across their screens, saying “this is a test.” It will be a first-ever nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) giving federal, state and local officials the opportunity to make sure vital life-safety information can be communicated from the nation’s capital to the public via broadcasters and cable operators.

Nationwide Test Overview:

• Wednesday, November 9, 2011 at 11:00 am (PST)
• You will hear the familiar EAS tone, a voice say “this is a test,” and potentially see a message on your television or radio
• It will last less than 4 minutes
• No action is needed or required on the part of the public

The nationwide EAS test is being coordinated by the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Weather Service (NWS).Officials say the nationwide test, as well as the common weekly and monthly EAS tests should reassure the public that local, state and federal officials are doing what they can to ensure emergency information and instructions are available.

While the public does not need to take any action during the test, citizens are urged to take this opportunity to review and update their emergency plans and replenish their emergency kits. They may also wish to use the test as a chance to test their own emergency plans.

Occupy Survival Kits

2011-11-03T10:14:00.000-07:00

Yesterday the Occupy Oakland crowd pushed the envelope yet again. They marched with the intent on closing the Port of Oakland and with help from the International Longshoreman and Warehouse Union members, cargo loading and unloading and transport operations came to a stop. Later, the crowd started a bonfire in downtown Oakland, drawing yet again a strong police response to ensure safety and preserve property.

Many have said that an intent of the "99 Percent" movement is to disrupt commerce and alter the daily activities of many. This is exactly the type of civil unrest I warned you about in this blog back on February 25th with our "Earthquakes and Civil Unrest" post. It is this exact disruption of commerce and trade that can immediately affect you and your family. And your greatest concern should be the supply of perishable food which normally moves freely around this country daily, from farms and ports to grocery stores. Your personal survival kits are key to weathering such unrest storms.
The Occupy [insert your city's name here] movement is showing little signs of fading. In the past several weeks many of these sit in demonstrations have been broken up with the help of police, but they have come back stronger (e.g. Occupy Oakland). Occupy Wall Street has raised close to a half million dollars and is spending money on computers, cameras and food!

Back in the late 80's I read with interest a book by the renowned economist, Ravi Batra who wrote "The Great Depression of 1990." This book effectively documented how history has demonstrated for centuries that there are definite cycles of wealth accumulation and reapportionment by the "have nots" (or 99%). He wrote an article just last month in Truthout in support of the Occupy movement.

So, while the Occupy movement continues on, we should all be planning for the day when a local or regional movement directly affects our ability to continue our daily lives. Get your survival kits now for home and cars, and consider building up your food storage capabilities. Consider the very cost effective use of freeze dried foods from SurvivalCave to provide adequate food supplies in case normal grocery supply chains are impacted.

Training Can Make a Difference

2011-10-25T07:56:00.000-07:00

I often wonder if the emergency preparedness training I do really makes a difference or not. Well, to one small family it apparently did.

Dear Jim,

Last February my 13 year old daughter was cooking in the kitchen, as she often does. On this occasion she was frying something in a small skillet of oil. It started a fire on the stove.

I had left the house to go to the store but happened to still be in my car in the driveway, talking on my cell phone. My 17 year old son was in his bedroom playing computer games. He heard his sister screaming and ran to see what was wrong. He arrived in the kitchen just in time to watch her start to pour some water on the fire. He knew it would make it worse and it did. He told her to stop and that he would get the fire extinguisher. It worked! After I cleaned up the extinguisher powder I discovered there was no damage to the stove or kitchen. And neither one of my children had been injured. I felt so lucky.

My son is also a Boy Scout, at Life Rank. He has learned many skills in the Scouting Association. But my point for you is that I shared a lot of my CERT information with him while I was attending your classes. At that time he insisted that we buy a fire extinguisher for our house. We did, and it served its purpose last February.

Last week, my son received a Heroism Award from the National Boy Scouts Association for his quick thinking and actions with the fire in our home. Max is very modest and doesn't feel like a hero. After all, he didn't carry a grizzly bear out of a burning house. But I keep explaining to him that he prevented a bigger disaster where people, pets, and belongings could have been lost. He is my hero. I am especially proud of him for staying calm and knowing the solution.

My sincere gratitude and thanks go to you and all of the trainers of the CERT program.

Thank you,

Geraldine F.

Food for Thought

2011-10-05T20:44:00.000-07:00

During a preparedness seminar I participated in last weekend, it became very clear that many folks are starting to think about longer term food storage strategies. Many participants displayed genuine concern for the potential for economic breakdown and the ensuing civil unrest.

Years ago it was earthquakes and nuclear blasts that got people all fired up to prepare for a disaster and buy a survival kit. Today, a potential collapse of the monetary system; the increasing number of natural disasters destroying more crops worldwide; mounting job losses and the government's malaise are now top incentives to prepare for the unexpected.

Most folks understand that a 3 day emergency supply should help them weather their worst day, until additional resources arrive. However, wouldn't a larger food supply provide even additional security? Many now stockpile 6 months to one year's worth of food in case of loss of income or any interruption in the supply of food here in the U.S.

This used to be fanatical thinking, but today it is prudent and cost effective. In the booming 80's, when everyone was buying mutual funds for the future, they employed an investment technique known as "dollar cost averaging." So, while this month's shares may be cheap, next month's may be higher. But over the long run, buying a little every month provided the best average purchase price.

Well the same goes for food products. Most folks are carefully watching for special deals on food, and when the foods you like and eat regularly go on sale, it's time to stock up. By doing so, you can slowly manage to build up your family's food supply and save money too. But don't buy such foods impulsively, you need a solid strategy.

5 simple steps to food storage include:

1. Purchase foods you like to eat
2. Determine how much of what you like to eat is storable
3. Purchase storable foods regularly
4. Eat what you store
5. Take inventory regularly

A real key here is "Eat what you store." Having 1000 pounds of wheat on hand is of little use, if you can't grind it and make bread, or it is all you have stored. Similarly, having 100 cans of Spam won't help if no one in your family will eat Spam!

So, in addition to the basic survival kits and supplies you should have on hand; give a long-term food storage plan some serious consideration today. It will most likely save you money and if you eat it, the insurance it provided was absolutely free.

Disaster Preparedness is Your Job - Government Won't Always Help

2011-09-22T09:02:00.000-07:00

If all the localized disasters of this past summer weren't enough for you to do something (or anything) to get prepared for a disaster, how about the government doesn't want to pay for your losses!

The House rejected a measure yesterday providing $3.7 billion for disaster relief as part of a bill to prevent a government shutdown at the end of next week. While we know our dear representatives in Washington will provide relief to those that need it (sooner or later) it is becoming painfully clear that if you want to be taken care of . . . take care of yourself!

Make sure you have adequate insurance to cover any losses expected in your area whether it's a wildfire, tornado, hurricane, flood, mudslide, HAZMAT incident or an earthquake; you should protect your property and vehicles. It is also your responsibility to prepare you and your family for at least a 3 day event and possibly a 3 week, 3 month or even 1 year disruption to your comfortable life.

Start slow and work on your 3 day emergency supplies first, focus on water, food and first aid supplies. Then expand your food and water slowly to build up a 3 week supply. Once this goal is met, begin working on adding more emergency water and food supplies. Get the whole family involved and create your own self-sufficiency culture at home. Remember too; keep car survival kits in each of your vehicles.

What's the Worse That Can Happen to You?

2011-09-06T11:07:00.000-07:00

It never fails that when I deliver an emergency preparedness and awareness presentation, someone always asks, "Why do we need emergency supplies, what can happen here?"

Well, consider the following:

Lincoln, CA - propane tanker fire evacuates thousands from their homes for a couple of days.
Geiger, AL - tornado destroys 100 homes.
Brattleboro, VT - epic flooding forced evacuations due to rainfall from the tail end of hurricane Irene.
Bastrop, TX - wildfire, fanned by winds from tropical storm Lee, destroys nearly 500 homes.
Mineral, VA - 5.8 magnitude quake centered on this small east coast town.

With 4 months left to go in 2011, there have been 77 FEMA declared disasters compared with 81 in all of 2010! Texas, California, Oklahoma, New York and Florida lead the way with declarations.

The ability of some folks to completely disregard the potential for a disaster to occur "anywhere" is amazing to me. But, they wind up being the same folks we see on the 5 O'clock News saying "I never imagined something like this could happen here." Really hard to feel sorry for folks who ignored all of the warnings and now want sympathy.

The month of September is emergency preparedness month, and it is a good time to think about how you and your family would handle and emergency or natural disaster. What do you need to survive comfortably? Where will you go if evacuated? What about your pets? Do you have enough cash if ATMs are inoperable? Take the time to consider your actions and options and include the whole family in the discussion. Remember the object here is not to alarm your children, but to remind them that contingency planning for the worse is always a smart idea.

So, take stock of your insurance coverages and consider specialty insurance for flooding and earthquake damage depending upon where you live. Stock up on the critical supplies you may need to survive the worse possible scenario in your neighborhood, city, county or state. You don't need to go to extremes here, just do some prudent planning and emergency preparedness, so you and your family can be self-sufficient for up to 3 days should the worse ever happen to you.

America at Fault

2011-08-24T08:43:00.000-07:00

East coasters chuckle at 6" of snow paralyzing western cities. Mid westerners laugh at flooding in California due to 2 inches of rain . . . in a week. Now, Californian's are taking a shot at right coasters, thinking that a 5.8 quake is big!

The reality is 75 million people in 39 states are prone to earthquakes based upon historical data. Even little thought of spots like Utah and Charleston, South Carolina are in danger of quakes. Certainly, some of the strongest quakes recorded (up to 7.5 on the Richter scale) have occurred in the heartland on the New Madrid Fault which is 120 miles long covering 7 states and affecting 15 million people.

New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania are sitting on top of the Ramapo Fault which is 70 miles long and runs under New York City!

If you think it can't happen to you, you're making a big mistake with your safety. Learn about earthquake preparedness and the need for earthquake kits before a big one changes your life.

What 3 Killers Can You Stop?

2011-08-08T16:22:00.000-07:00

In emergency medicine there are 3 basic situations that can kill you in a pre-hospital environment. While the procedures are not complicated, a little medical training could allow you to save the life of a family member or friend in an emergency.

Many will remember the ABCs of how to save a life. Airway, Breathing and Circulation must be managed in this order. Your airway is the most important aspect of emergency medical operations. Without a viable airway, a person cannot survive. Secondly, the person must be able to continue to breathe on their own. And thirdly, they must have adequate blood circulation throughout the body to provide nutrition to all body parts and remove waste products.

In emergency medicine, the 3 “killers” are:

1. airway obstruction

2. bleeding

3. shock

Being able to control these 3 killers until emergency first responders can arrive after a 9-1-1 call, could make the difference between life and death for your family member or friend. The easiest way to learn such skills would be to take basic life support courses from the Red Cross or attend a Community Emergency Response Team training in your area.

Such courses will teach you how to open a “blocked” airway for an unconscious person. Once the unconscious person has a clear airway, you will learn how to keep the airway open until help arrives. You should also learn how to perform an abdominal thrust (which used to be called the “Heimlich Maneuver”) to aid a choking victim. Studies show that 2800 people die each year by choking on food. Of these, most are children 4 years of age and under.

Once a person’s airway is clear and they are breathing, your next concern is bleeding. While bleeding may be visibly more dramatic, airway control must come first. In order to manage bleeding you will learn how direct pressure, elevation and pressure points will stop most injuries that bleed. You’ll also learn that often times, head injuries that are bleeding excessively due to the volume of capillaries in the head and face may not be that critical. Effectively managing bleeding can prevent hypovolemic shock (a loss of circulating blood volume) which leads us to our 3^rd killer.

Ultimately, the human body inevitably dies from some form of shock. Being able to remediate injuries and prevent the onset of shock will also buy you time until emergency first responders arrive. You need to learn how to recognize the signs and symptom of shock, so you can act quickly to counteract the mechanism of shock. Many will remember that raising a victim’s feet above the heart will allow blood to flow back toward the trunk of the body where all of the critical organs are located.

Having even these basic life support skills, could save a loved one or friend in an emergency. And while it only takes a few hours to learn and be trained in these skills, it could provide a lifetime of peace of mind. Additionally, learning CPR is a basic skill we all need. And with the new 2010 American Heart Association Guidelines for CPR, simpler protocols it is much safer and simpler to learn.

So, stop thinking all this would be a good idea to know someday, and improve your emergency preparedness capabilities by getting your family trained in basic life support skills, so you can really make a difference in someone’s life.

Learn about CERT on the Preparedness Radio Network

2011-07-25T08:06:00.000-07:00

This Tuesday, July 26th, tune into the Emergency Preparedness Radio Network at 11:00 am pst for a discussion about Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training. Just follow this link.

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/doctorprepper/2011/07/26/all-you-need-to-know-show

Jim Serre will be talking about why people who go through CERT training have a better understanding of the potential threats to their home, workplace and community and can take the right steps to lessen the effects of these hazards on themselves, their homes or workplace.

Are You Mentally Prepareded for an Emergency?

2011-07-19T08:45:00.000-07:00

I received a bit of a wake-up the weekend before last. My life is full to be sure but I didn’t really know it was too full until I suffered a cardiac event. It turned out that it was stress-induced! Me? . . . A heart attack from stress?

Suffering such an illness has made me rethink my perspective, my priorities and my preparedness. You might ask what does this have to do with my “preparedness?” I had to ask myself, “If I experienced such an event with the "simple" stressors of normal life, how much more would I be likely to have issues in the midst of a major disaster? Can I prepare so that I can deal with stress without going into cardiac arrest?”

The answer is “YES!” Just as I would exercise and train my body to prepare for a physical challenge, so can I exercise and train my mind to prepare for the mental and emotional stressors associated with anything from minor troubles to major disasters. This is what I have failed to do. Granted, one cannot imagine all possible scenarios but I started thinking about things that might help.

First of all, I can do something as simple as taking a CPR course, first aid or Community Emergency Response Training so I know how to take care of myself and my family physically and organizationally in case of an emergency. It’s a great place to start to give myself some peace of mind and be equipped with practical things I can do.

I can also participate in realistic training exercises, mental and physical, that develop a familiarity to sights, sounds, and emotions connected with the stressors I might encounter. I can expose myself to reading material, videos, and informational content that stimulate me to think how I might respond and how I might cope with an emergency or even everyday conflict. Couple that with some techniques for relaxing and I can begin to create some alternate neural pathways for me to go down rather than the reflexive “fight or flight” response.

Material preparedness also goes a long way in solidifying my peace of mind. Having a store of water and food on hand, extra gas in the car, goods to barter with, alternate ways of cooking should power be a problem all help me be somewhat self-sustainable for a time. A comforting feeling when the stuff hits the fan.

Physical preparedness means getting in and staying in good physical shape which will help my mental outlook and stress levels. Exercise itself is a great way to cope with stress and stimulate endorphin production to increase my feelings of well being and control.

Simplification is another way I can prepare myself emotionally and mentally. Simplifying my life can pertain to materially (less stuff to take care of), financially (getting out of debt), and activities (back off on some of the less necessary obligations). I can also figure out what the most meaningful and important things are in my life, put my time money and energy toward those things and “don’t sweat the small stuff.”

Lastly, I can mentally and emotionally prepare myself by solidifying the spiritual part of my being. The part of me that deals with the deepest issues of my life and what I believe about them. Some people never go there until they have an “event” such as I did.

This was a wake-up call for me to prepare myself for coping with the stressors of life more effectively and with forethought. I encourage you to do the same. I believe it will serve you well in the months and years to come. What are you doing to manage stress?

Where to Keep Your Emergency Kits?

2011-07-12T20:14:00.000-07:00

The number one question I am asked on a routine basis is, “Where should I keep my emergency kits?” The simplest answer is . . . in a convenient place! Now, a convenient place can mean a lot of things to lots of folks. So, let’s start with a look at the 4 major types of emergency kits and our recommended storage places.

Home Survival Kits: First there are home survival kits designed to be kept at home and utilized during a shelter-in-place emergency or after an emergency that leaves you without power, water, heating gas or fuel, or waste disposal in the residence. Given the greater potential for shelter-in-place emergencies, your first storage option should be in your “safe” room. This is where you and your family would shelter-in-place within your home. Remember that most emergencies would have you relocating to the ground floor of a multi-story residence. You don’t want to shelter-in-place in a bathroom and have your emergency supplies in the garage collecting dust where you can’t get to them. If your safe room just won’t work or has no storage space, you should look for a spot on the way to your “safe” room, like a closet perhaps. This way any family member could collect the kit(s) on the way to the “safe” room.

If you have a larger family and your “safe” room is larger like a family/dining room, look at storage options close to those rooms. Interior storage spaces that are climate controlled maintain your food supplies better than overheated garages! Other top storage spots may include a coat closet near the front door, a panty, or a laundry room near the garage. If you pack your own kits, it may be possible to pack your supplies in a flat tub to fit under a bed. Again, consider the location carefully to support potential shelter-in-place emergency scenarios.

Car Survival Kits: Car survival kits are designed to provide survival supplies if you are trapped in or become disabled or lost in your vehicle. We’ll discuss trusting your GPS too much in a future article. Most folks don’t understand why a car kit is important; however, the same group of people recall the news reports of the person pinned in their wrecked car for days living off of water dripping from nearby plant leaves. Depending upon the type of car you drive, keeping your emergency supplies in the trunk may prove them to be inaccessible if you are actually trapped in your vehicle. For such a scenario, you’d want supplies within reach of the passenger compartment. This may not be a problem for pickup truck, minivan or SUVs where there is access to the entire vehicle and you or your passengers can reach the supplies.

However, sedans with a separate trunk are trickier. Yes, you could be trapped in the driver’s seat and be unable to access your supplies in the trunk. Although, such scenarios have a very low probability and most victims would be found before they needed life saving supplies. Keeping your car survival kit in the trunk would prove effective for the majority of your extended disabled vehicle or hopelessly lost scenarios. Keep in mind, storage of food supplies in a hot trunk will shorten the shelf-life of most food products, so refresh them annually.

Office Survival Kits: Office survival kits can be either be provided by your employer or personally for individual use. If your company has procured emergency supplies they would most likely store them in various areas around the building or campus. Good emergency planning would dictate that such supplies be located in strategic locations such as every floor, or every fire zone in the building. Stored quantities of supplies should mirror the number of employees/visitors in each area. Often times, companies will provide bulk supplies and locate them in a central cache in or near populated buildings. For additional consideration read the “Emergency Supply Strategies - For Any Business” paper.

If you provide your own office survival kit, it is generally designed for 1 or 2 persons and is fairly compact to fit in the back of a drawer or under your desk. Many consider their car survival kit as an office kit and this is fine if you can get to your car after the emergency. But keep in mind that a shelter-in-place emergency would not allow you access to your car in the parking lot.

If you happen to use public transportation regularly to commute to work, consider keeping a small emergency kit in a backpack when you are travelling, in case such transportation is stopped. On 9-11, I spent 6 hours at an outdoor train station waiting to get back home without any food or water. So, it can happen.

School Survival Kits: School survival kits come in two basic types, those that will support students for up to 3 days and those designed to support 8-12 hour lockdown scenarios. Many times the choice of which type of kit is based upon funding, but having something is better than nothing! The location of the survival kits is often based upon the design of the campus. Small schools with interior connections may keep items in each classroom or in a central larger room such as a gymnasium or cafeteria. This could be done if your emergency plan requires all students to assemble in the larger room.

For larger campuses with outdoor corridors, your geography and hazards assessment will determine if your survival supplies need to be in each classroom or a central location. If your campus is a multi-story structure in earthquake country, your plan may consider the need to relocate students outdoors or into a larger single story structure where supply storage makes sense. Keep in mind single story classrooms in earthquake territory can also be heavily damaged and also require relocation of students. Your hazards assessment will lead you to the optimum storage location(s).

Now, in terms of the lockdown kits, these must be located in each classroom! These are designed to be used for a multitude of shelter-in-place scenarios including HAZMAT events, active shooters and local criminal searches. Most classrooms have room for one or two lockdown containers which can usually be stacked as well.

Summary

While there may not be one right answer for where to keep your emergency kits, any amount of forethought will do you well in locating your kits. Keep in mind that every area of the country has different hazard considerations and your kits and storage location should be based upon your higher probability disaster scenarios.

Tornado Survivors New Problem

2011-06-24T08:10:00.000-07:00

Having your home, neighborhood and most of your town destroyed by a tornado apparently is not enough grief for residents of Joplin, MO. Now it has been reported that some victims have contracted a rare and sometimes fatal fungal infection. This infection is so aggressive that it has turned tissue black and caused mold to grow inside wounds!

Apparently, this unusual infection occurs when dirt or vegetation becomes embedded under the skin. Many victims had received emergency medical care and had wounds stitched closed, only to return days later with the infection, causing the wounds to be re-opened and cleaned thoroughly. The CDC reported that normally, this fungal infection is only reported a couple times a year in the nation's largest hospitals.

So far, this infection was present in 3 victims that died; however, it has not yet been determined if the infection (or other serious injuries) caused the deaths. So, even though you survive the calamity of a disaster there are still several environmental issues that can prolong the misery of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Make sure you maintain sufficient hygiene and sanitizing products in your survival kits.

Top 5 Reasons for Emergency Kit Buyer's Remorse

2011-06-08T07:50:00.000-07:00

One could hardly think that actually preparing yourself and your family for the worst could be a bad decision, but often times emergency kit buyers feel they got it wrong. It’s the same as buying anything else really. People often second guess themselves after they purchase a product. We've all done it at one time or another.

You bought something and then you wonder, did I do the right thing? Should I have gotten the larger one or the smaller one? For most of us, it's the most natural feeling in the world. You leave a restaurant wishing you had ordered the fish instead of the chicken. You hear about someone who got a better deal than you on the same product. However, price has little bearing on how we feel after the purchase. We can feel just as bad if it's a $10 or $100 purchase. Unless you do a good job of pre-purchase research, you may always wonder if what you bought provided the requisite quality, convenience or service for the value.

Here’s a look at the top 5 reasons for emergency kit buyer’s remorse.

1. Paid too much. It is possible to pay from $10 to hundreds of dollars for various emergency kits now days. Most often the pricing is based upon the quantity and quality of items in the kit and the kit packaging. Having more items is not necessarily bad given it is hard to know exactly what supplies you and your family will need in an emergency. So, buying a 4 person kit for a family of 3 shouldn’t cause you concern. Having items of higher quality is also not a bad thing; however, you don’t really need top of the line supplies to store for 30 years waiting for a disaster to use them! But if you have trouble carrying a backpack, then an upgraded roller-bag to carry your kit may make sense. Doing the requisite research should alleviate this post purchase concern.

2. Paid too little. We’d all love to buy the best of everything, but budgets and lifestyle don’t always allow for this option. We are wired to believe that paying more money equals better quantity, quality or service. Sometimes yes, but not in every instance. Some retailers actually use this mindset to justify inflated pricing even if there is no perceived better quality of their product. Again, you’re purchasing an emergency kit which you hope you’ll never need. As long as your kit has the requisite survival items (i.e., food, water, first aid, shelter, lighting, communications) you are better off than with nothing. For example, you can buy headlamps from $5 to $100. Now they have various light bulbs, power requirements and functionality, but in the end they all provide light for you. No need to buy top of the line for emergency supplies, unless you’re planning on visiting a remote island soon.

3. Should have bought more kits. Since the government encourages you to have emergency kits at home, work and your car; having only one at home can leave you feeling under-insured. Sure, if budgets allow, you’d want a kit at home for your family, a small one in your cars and something at work too. But if you have at least one, it’s a start. You can always buy additional kits or supplies later for your cars and office. Again, focus on getting the most critical survival items first (i.e., water, food, first aid). You may have extra water bottles in a cupboard, or food, or extra bandages lying around the house. Throw them in a bag in your car and you’ve added some insurance for a potential disaster while driving!

4. Should last more than 3 days. Once you’ve gotten your 72 hour kit you begin to wonder if that’s enough. Most of the country would serve themselves well with 3 days of emergency supplies. Folks in the southeast generally plan on 7-10 days without outside support due to their exposure to hurricanes. Again, you can build your supply cache up over time. Stay focused on the critical supplies first, and add items as you can afford. Considering that majority of families in the U.S. do not have any emergency supplies, a 3 day supply is a great start and you should congratulate yourself on having a 72 hour emergency kit.

5. Can’t find room for it. With storage facility use at an all-time high in America, space in our homes is at a premium! Having a five gallon container full of emergency supplies may seem cumbersome and difficult to store. The reality is most homes have some room under hanging clothes in a coat closet. You can pile stuff on top of your container as well since you don’t get into it every day. You do however, want to make sure that your kit is either in your “safe room” or very close. A small backpack is usually not too hard to stuff in the trunk of your car. With its flexible size it can be squeezed and stuffed into the smallest spaces. Remember, you don’t need to store a 30 day emergency supply just 3 days would be fine. But if more lets you sleep at night, consider a garage sale to open up some storage!

When all is said and done, if the emergency kit you purchased helps you feel empowered to withstand a local disaster and take care of your family, it was money well spent. The best ways to limit the impact of buyer's remorse on any purchase is to examine your options, make an informed decision and maintain your self-confidence in your decision-making abilities.

Time to Update Hurricane Kits as Hurricane Season Opens

2011-05-31T11:40:00.000-07:00

In the midst of prolific flooding and tornadoes in the U.S., I am reminded that floods, especially flash floods, kill more people each year than hurricanes, tornadoes, wind storms or lightning. And about 60% of all flood deaths are people in vehicles that moving water sweeps away! However, as far back as the first week of March, forecasters at the National Weather Service (NWS) warned that almost half of the U.S. had an above-average risk of flooding. What did folks do to prepare?

Then again, the NWS predicted a record season for tornadoes in 2011. Through May 30th, the preliminary tornado count is 1,396. 54 of these tornadoes accounted for 518 fatalities. 2011 is preliminarily ranked 7th among the deadliest tornado years in U.S. history. The previous yearly record number of tornadoes was set in 2004 with 1,817.

The Eastern Pacific Hurricane Season began on May 15th and now on the eve of the 2011 Atlantic Hurricane Season, the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicts a 70 percent probability of a below normal season in the Pacific and an above-normal Atlantic hurricane season this year. Across the entire Atlantic Basin for the six-month season, which begins June 1, NOAA is predicting the following ranges this year:

12 to 18 named storms (winds of 39 mph or higher), of which:
6 to 10 could become hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or higher), including:
3 to 6 major hurricanes (Category 3, 4 or 5; winds of 111 mph or higher)

Each of these ranges has a 70 percent likelihood, and indicate that activity will exceed the seasonal average of 11 named storms, six hurricanes and two major hurricanes.

So, given still again, a credible warning by our national weather monitoring and reporting agencies related to continued flooding and hurricanes, what are you finally going to do to get prepared?

It just might be time to consider assembling an emergency kit, so you're not one of the thousands showing up at an evacuation shelter with nothing but some clothes on your back! Take a little bit of time to discuss emergency plans with your family members and ensure they all know how to prepare and react to severe weather in your area and get and emergency kit started. As part of your hurricane preparedness, consider assembling a hurricane kit. While these kits may not actually save your life, they can and will provide needed supplies during and immediately after a severe weather event that could save a life or make your existence easier.

Grocery Store Sticker Shock?

2011-05-10T07:38:00.000-07:00

Have you suffered sticker shock at the grocery store yet??? It seems that every time I shop, the prices have gone up - maybe just a penny or two, but it has been adding up. Rather than just sit and moan about it, I finally decided to get off my duff and do something! No, I’m not out there picketing the grocery stores for hiking their prices but I am fighting back. How? By growing some of my own produce!

As I have researched and studied the ins and outs of storing food while our economy, like a bunch of lemmings, runs toward that inevitable cliff, I've felt a little melancholy at that possibility of not having access to fresh fruits and veggies . . . or not being able to afford them. So being the preparedness girl that I am, I decided to make provision for that possibility.

Okay, I have to admit, there has been a little work involved in doing this and some initial investment, but I’m already feeling the satisfaction from my labors! I'm enjoying doing a little “suburban homesteading.” After surveying my smallish suburban backyard, I decided I had enough of a sunny area that I could put in a couple of raised planting boxes. Since I have soil that isn’t suitable for growing anything but rocks, why not cheat nature and use raised beds with rich composted soil that will allow my plants to thrive without the need for fertilizer? (Square Foot Gardening by Mel Bartholomew is my new favorite book.) Then I wondered why not take out those old bushes around my pool and put in some dual use landscaping that’s nice looking and . . . edible? I (the original purple thumb) did it and so can you!

You can reduce your grocery bill by just having a few pots with tomatoes on your patio or a planter box attached to your fence or deck rail with herbs in it. (Have you seen the price of herbs in the store???) You can even plant three or four fruit trees in a compact group in the ground, producing three or four different kinds of fruit but taking up no more room than a single tree. I found out that fruit trees can even be grown in pots! I am now the proud owner of plum, apricot, peach and cherry trees.

What a joy to in the prospect of having veggies and fruit at the ready. I can’t wait! With my shelf stable food storage, I now have a supermarket in my backyard! Next stop . . . Chickens!

Tsunamis and Beach Vacations

2011-05-03T10:57:00.000-07:00

With summer on the way and coastal vacations planned, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is urging Americans who live and vacation at the coast to take the threat of tsunamis seriously. With more coastline than any other country in the world and proximity to several major fault lines, the Pacific, Atlantic, Gulf and Caribbean coasts of the

United States

are vulnerable to tsunamis. NOAA’s National Weather Service, which operates the

U.S.

tsunami detection and warning system, says that the key to surviving a tsunami is staying informed and moving quickly to higher ground when a tsunami threatens.

So, if you’re planning a coastal vacation, do some research into the area and get a good understanding of where “higher ground” is located. It is essential that everyone living near the ocean familiarize themselves with tsunami evacuation routes and procedures. Now, tsunami evacuation routes are a little different from other emergency evacuation routes in that they can be pre-determined since no damage to the infrastructure has yet occurred. Often times after a disaster strikes, evacuation routes must be specified by emergency responders due to blocked roadways, fallen power lines, bridge collapses, major vehicle accidents, etc.

Warning signs of a tsunami include:

A strong earthquake, or one that persists for 20 seconds or longer
The ocean withdrawing or rising rapidly
A loud, roaring sound (like an airplane or a train) coming from the ocean
Tsunami warnings broadcast over television and radio, by beach lifeguards, community sirens, text message alerts, National Weather Service tsunami warning center Web sites and on NOAA Weather Radios

Recommended responses to a tsunami warning should include:

Keeping calm
Taking your survival kit(s) with you
Moving immediately to local tsunami shelters or using defined tsunami evacuation routes
Moving to higher ground if there are no evacuation routes defined. Head toward areas that are at least 100 feet in elevation, a mile inland, or to the highest floor of a sturdy building and STAY there.
Staying where you are if you are already in a safe location.
Moving on foot when possible - do not drive – keep roads clear for emergency vehicles
Tuning in to NOAA Weather Radio or news broadcasts for changes in tsunami warning/alerts
Staying away from the coast and low-lying areas until local officials say it’s safe to return

The recent tsunami generated by the earthquake in Japan provided about 12 hours of notification to Americans before it landed on U.S. shores. Yet a lot of Americans were not paying attention. For example, TV footage of the ocean shore line in Northern Oregon showed some people walking on the beach and one woman jogging! So, take all tsunami warnings seriously.

Will you be heading to a beach resort this summer? Let us know.

Inflation Hits Emergency Preparedness Markets

2011-04-25T10:09:00.000-07:00

The emergency preparedness markets are experiencing unprecedented pricing pressures today. Not only is the price of crude oil affecting world manufacturing and shipping markets, the recent earthquake/tsunami in Japan has drained global preparedness supply inventories.

While we can all feel the price of gas creeping closer and closer to us riding bikes and horses again, many other products are inching up in price too. Mainly the result of crude oil pricing, plastics of all kinds are costing more. This is especially difficult in the emergency preparedness market where items with plastic in them such as thermal blankets, tube tents, whistles, ponchos, flashlights, radios, first aid kits, etc. are costing more to manufacture today.

As an example, over the two year period from from July 2008 to July 2010, 55 gallon plastic water barrels increased 11.8% or about 5.6% annually. However, in the past 6 months alone they've already increased a whopping 10.5%!

And if that isn't bad enough, the additional cost to ship goods either via boat, plane, truck or UPS is also escalating in response to the price of crude oil. So that means it costs more to get raw supplies to warehouses and more to ship finished products to customers, and more for you to drive to stores and shop.

While our examples are specific to the emergency preparedness industry, the concepts are applicable to groceries, clothing, furniture and everything else we consume today. All of which leads us to one conclusion, start learning to buy larger quantities of the items you use regularly to get bulk pricing discounts and really plan your vehicle trips to be as efficient as possible. Make sure you have a usable stockpile of food on hand for emergencies and do what you can to drive less and conserve fuel even more.

How Dependable is Your Water Supply

2011-04-08T14:07:00.000-07:00

Without question, readily available water and electricity are the two utilities most people are not prepared to do without. As Samuel Taylor Coleridge wrote in The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, "Water, water, everywhere, nor any drop to drink."

An emergency water supply is the most critical element of a disaster plan that most folks just forget about. Sure we all know you need 1 gallon per person per day of stored water for an emergency, but what about having more than 3 days worth of water supply? Look around at how fragile our water supplies really are. Flooding, aging water systems and terrorism provide the most incentive to plan your emergency water supply now. Consider the following:

1. Local vandals opened two fire hydrants and drained Hamlet, Indiana's water tower of over 300,000 gallons of water resulting in a boil water order.

2. Local flooding due to a water main break in Miami-Dade County, Florida resulted in a boil water order and the power being shut off to a neighborhood for 2 days.

3. May 2010, a major pipe bringing water to the Boston area sprung a "catastrophic" leak and forced over 2 million people to boil water for 3 days.

4. The Association of State Dam Safety Officials has found that the number of dams in the United States that could fail has grown 134% since 1999 to 3,346.

5. More than a third of all dam failures or near failures since 1874 happened in just the last decade.

6. The amount of rain falling in the heaviest downpours has increased approximately 20 percent on average in the past century.¹

Flooding:

Generally speaking, floods are the result of levee failures, dam failures or excessive rain fall or snow melt. When flooding occurs it can easily inundate local water treatment plants leaving them unable to keep untreated water out of the system or it forces the shutdown of the plant. Let’s take a closer look at each of the main causes of flooding.

Levees – While there is no definitive record of the number of levees in the United States it is estimated that more than 30,000 miles of levees exist. They exist in every state. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) estimates that levees are found in approximately 22% of the nation’s 3,147 counties. Forty-three percent of the U.S. population lives in counties with levees.

Many of these levees were designed decades ago to protect agricultural and rural areas, not the homes and businesses that are now located behind them. While some are multimillion-dollar concrete systems. Many are nothing more than piles of sand and dirt created by farmers as barricades against rising rivers that cyclically destroyed their crops.

In February 2007, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers released the locations of levees determined to have unacceptable maintenance inspection ratings. Levees in more than 80 cities and townships in 27 states were identified as having one or more deficient conditions, including animal burrows, erosion, tree growth, floodwall movement or faulty culverts, any of which could prevent the structure from functioning as designed.²

Dams – The National Inventory of Dams, which is maintained by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers shows that the number of dams in the U.S. has increased to more than 85,000, but the federal government owns or regulates only 11% of those dams.^3,4 Responsibility for ensuring the safety of the rest of the nation’s dams falls to state dam safety programs. Many state dam safety programs do not have sufficient resources, funding, or staff to conduct dam safety inspections, to take appropriate enforcement actions, or to ensure proper construction by reviewing plans and performing construction inspections. For example, Texas has only 7 engineers and an annual budget of $435,000 to regulate more than 7,400 dams.³ That means each inspector is responsible for more than 1,050 dams. Worse still, Alabama does not have a dam safety program despite the fact that there are more than 2,000 dams in the state. And in some states many dams are specifically exempted from inspection by state law. In Missouri there are 740 high hazard potential dams that are exempted because they are less than 35 feet in height.

Many dams are determined to be deficient as a result of aging, deterioration, and a lack of maintenance. Often dams are deemed unsafe or deficient as a result of increased scientific and engineering knowledge about large flood events and earthquakes, and the ability to predict a dam’s structural response to such extreme events, which pose a significant safety threat. Many dams were constructed 30 or 40 years ago using the best science and engineering at the time. But as a result of the additional 40 years of historical records and greater abilities to predict increases in loads on dams and the dams’ responses to those events, more dams are being identified as unsafe or deficient.¹

While the total number of dams is increasing, the number of high hazard potential dams is also increasing at an alarming rate, now totaling 15,237 ³. That represents an increase of more than 3,300 new high hazard potential dams since 2007. This increase is a result of new development below dams, which is dramatically increasing the consequences of failure and resulting in the reclassification of dams. This change in classification requires that significantly greater safety standards be met given the greater consequences of dam failure.

Rainfall/Snowmelt – In just 2010, FEMA issued 90 Emergency and Major Disaster Declarations in the United States. Of these, 60% (or 54 declarations) involved flooding due to severe storms or unseasonably warm weather. Ten years earlier in 2000, there were 50 combined Emergency and Major Disaster Declarations in the United States. Of these, 38% (or 19 declarations) involved flooding.

Floods and droughts are likely to become more common and more intense as regional and seasonal precipitation patterns change, and rainfall becomes more concentrated into heavy events (with longer, hotter dry periods in between). While it sounds counterintuitive, a warmer world produces both wetter and drier conditions. Even though total global precipitation increases, the regional and seasonal distribution of precipitation changes, and more precipitation comes in heavier rains (which can cause flooding) rather than light events. In the past century, averaged over the United States, total precipitation has increased by about 7 percent, while the heaviest 1 percent of rain events increased by nearly 20 percent. This has been especially noteworthy in the Northeast, where the annual number of days with very heavy precipitation has increased most in the past 50 years.¹

Flooding often occurs when heavy precipitation persists for weeks to months in large river basins. Such extended periods of heavy precipitation have also been increasing over the past century, most notably in the past two to three decades in the

United States

. For the future, precipitation intensity is projected to increase everywhere, with the largest increases occurring in areas in which average precipitation increases the most. For example, the Midwest and Northeast, where total precipitation is expected to increase the most, would also experience the largest increases in heavy precipitation events.¹

Weather Channel meteorologist Tom Moore cites urbanization and land-use changes as a cause for what appears to be the increased flooding across the USA. "In the metro areas, flooding just gets worse each decade," he says. "Because we're stripping trees and grasses away, the runoff is quicker and more extreme. These areas are now far more vulnerable to flooding."

Aging Water Systems:

According to the Washington-based Urban Land Institute (ULI). "Most water districts do not charge ratepayers full outlays for constructing and maintaining systems. As a result, businesses and households tend to use water inefficiently and don't conserve, even though per-capita water demand could outstrip future availability in some parts of the country."

ITT Corp. announced the results of its Value of Water Survey, a nationwide poll taken in late 2010 that measured the public’s awareness of the nation’s aging water infrastructure.
Not surprisingly, the survey showed that many of us are concerned about our water system. But Colin Sabol, vice president of marketing and business development in ITT’s Fluid and Motion Control division, says “since we can’t see the underground pipes, they don’t get as much attention as, say, potholes.”

According to the report, every day there are 650 water main breaks in the U.S. And according to the American Society of Civil Engineers, leaking pipes lose an estimated seven billion gallons of clean drinking water a day. This is the amount of water that the top 10 cities consume in a year. If you could take all the leaks and feed it into one faucet it would take care of our top 10 cities. And those areas that were developed over 100 years ago—the Northeast and Midwest—tend to have older infrastructure. The EPA estimates that over 240,000 water main breaks occur per year in the U.S. in some 1.8 million miles of water distribution lines.

Terrorism:

The potential for terrorism is not new. Back in 1941, Federal Bureau of Investigation Director J. Edgar Hoover wrote, “It has long been recognized that among public utilities, water supply facilities offer a particularly vulnerable point of attack to the foreign agent, due to the strategic position they occupy in keeping the wheels of industry turning and in preserving the health and morale of the American populace.” Water infrastructure systems also are highly linked with other infrastructures, especially electric power and transportation, as well as the chemical industry which supplies treatment chemicals, making security of all of them an issue of concern.

The Congressional Research Service reported back in 2003 that “The September 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon have drawn attention to the security of many institutions, facilities, and systems in the United States, including the nation’s water supply and water quality infrastructure. These systems have long been recognized as being potentially vulnerable to terrorist attacks of various types, including bioterrorism/chemical contamination, physical disruption and cyber attack.

Biological/Chemical Contamination – Many feel that a terrorist attack which places chemicals or even biological agents in the water supply is unlikely to be successful. Contamination of a reservoir with a biological agent would not likely produce a large risk to public health because of the dilution effect. These reservoirs contain hundreds of thousands and in some cases millions of gallons of water. A massive amount of contaminant would be required for a successful terrorist attack at this point. If agents were to be introduced at this point they are likely to be detected and unlikely to survive the chlorination process. Even so, filtration and disinfection of the water may occur down stream mitigating the contamination. However, if the point of contamination is after a treatment facility where filters, chlorination and other preventative measures would no longer be effective, the likelihood of success is much greater. Fortunately, this type of act is still subject to the dilution issue which would lessen the severity of such an attack.⁵

Physical Disruption – A more effective means of affecting our water supply would be damaging physical water system components (e.g., piping, pumps, holding tanks, etc.). This could restrict the available drinking water supply from reaching households in the water system area. Local businesses would not be able to conduct operations, manufacturing could be stalled, food service stores would close and everyday life depending on fresh water would be in disarray. In some communities the drinking water is also used to supply fire hydrants. Without this water supply, a fire department's ability to fight fires would be impossible.

Cyber Attacks – Cyber-attacks are another potential threat to disrupt our water service. Computer networks and digital monitoring technology play a key role in the management of our nation's water supplies. These systems are referred to as Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems. United States law enforcement and intelligence agencies have previously received credible indications that al-Qaida members have sought information on SCADA systems available on multiple SCADA-related Web sites.

Additionally, an FBI bulletin stated that al-Qaida terrorists may have been studying American dams and water-supply systems in preparation for new attacks. The bulletin was sent after U.S. authorities found a computer belonging to a person with indirect ties to Osama bin Laden that contained architectural and engineering software related to dams and other water-retaining structures, according to the FBI. The bulletin was first reported by computer security firm SecurityFocus.com. The bulletin was not made public, but instead was sent by the FBI`s National Infrastructure Protection Center to about 3,000 members of the center’s InfraGard program, an information-sharing partnership between the FBI and private industry, according to SecurityFocus.com.

How Do You Prepare?

It is painfully obvious from the information presented herein that the probability of you losing your water supply is getting higher everyday. How will you and your family cope with the loss of water in your home? When the water faucets quits flowing you won’t have water for:

· Drinking

· Mixing baby formulas

· Cooking

· Bathing, tooth brushing and hand hygiene

· First aid wound care

· Pets/animals drinking

· Rinsing/washing dishes

· Washing clothes

· Hot water heating

· Irrigating plants and gardens

· Ice to cool drinks and food

· Flushing toilets

So, how do you prepare for such inconvenience? Well, start by buying a little extra drinking water every week when you go to the store. For longer term water outages you’ll need much more water. Consider a 55 gallon plastic water storage barrel with siphon pump to easily access your water. You can also buy plastic water bags for additional water storage. You can even buy a water bladder that fits in your bathtub and can be filled with up to 100 gallons of water. However, this is really only practical when you have some advance notice of a potential water outage or shortage due to a hurricane or impending flood.

Now if you don’t get a full water outage, but a breach that potentially contaminates your water, you’ll most likely be issued a “boil water” order from your local authorities (either the water company or health agency). This type of an event will still flow water to your home for flushing your toilets but drinking the water could be hazardous. Learn more about “boil water” orders.

When water quality is in question you should also consider having some water purification drops or tablets on hand to purify questionable drinking water. Make sure you get a quality tablet that kills viruses, bacteria and protozoa like Katadyn’s MicroPur tablets. If you are at home you may have cooking containers that you can use to purify water with such tablets, otherwise make sure you have some portable plastic water bags specifically for purifying drinking water.

When your water is off, your toilets can’t flush. How will you handle sanitation for 3 days without a water supply? Most folks have a portable toilet that can be used without water for such an emergency. Many home emergency kits that come in 5 gallon plastic containers can be used as a toilet with the included toilet bags. Or you can just buy a bucket toilet or portable toilet for water outage emergencies.

For those individuals who get their water from a well, an electrical outage will also mean no water to your house. Consider contacting and electrician to determine what type of emergency generator you could use to operate your well pump in an emergency. Without a backup electrical source, you will be without water.

Summary

For some reason we never think that calamity will meet our lives. However, our need for water is indisputable and our lives without it can be very unpleasant. While the United States has the smartest minds working on solutions to flooding, our aging water distribution systems and terrorism, the lack of funding is a major concern. It is this same lack of funding that can also limit local government’s ability to support citizens in an emergency with needed supplies. That leaves humanitarian relief organizations to support those in need. Additionally, getting stuck in a flooded area means it is even more difficult for rescuers or aid supplies to reach you.

Make sure you have ample fresh water supplies for your family for at least 3 days and preferably more if you have the storage area. Also, keep a supply of water purification tablets on hand to assist you in purifying additional water if needed. Keep in mind that these purification tablets have a shelf-life, so monitor their “freshness” and replace as needed.

Sources:

1. United States Global Change Research Program, “Global Climate Change Impacts in the

United States

”,2009.
2. American Society of Civil Engineers, Report Card for

America

’s Infrastructure, Dams 2009.
3. Association of State Dam Safety Officials. Statistics on Dams and State Safety Regulation (2007).
4. Association of State Dam Safety Officials. News Archives. 21 October 2008.
5. Directions Magazine, “Protecting the Water Supply from Terrorism,” Kevin Coleman.

Have You Ever Thought About Storing Food?

2011-03-23T10:07:00.000-07:00

Do you ever let yourself think about “What if . . .?” Do you ever think of the possibility of having limited access to food or to anything else you might care to get? The society we live in is so rich with every kind of convenience or material good, one can hardly imagine what it would be like to have to do without, especially in the area of food. However, with every passing day, watching what’s happening around the country and around the world, there is a growing realization of how fragile our lifestyle is and how quickly all of our “luxuries” could become just a memory. “What if . . .” could happen here.

In an era of rising gas prices, weather extremes, terrorist threats and economic uncertainties, I came to realize I needed to think ahead. It’s not that I’ve become an “extreme prepper” expecting the apocalyptic end of the world. I’m really just a very practical person. I like to plan things out. I don’t like to be caught unaware or unprepared. I like to be ready for the inevitable. One way I knew to be ready was to have some extra food on hand. It is there that my journey began and maybe yours will too.

So how does one start? My recommendation is that you start small, take “baby steps.” Begin with assembling water and food for just 72 hours. Be sure that you have it in a portable container or pack of some type so if you suddenly need to “bug out” or evacuate, you’ll be ready to grab and go. Put in at least 1 gallon of water for each person in your family and enough food to supply each with about 2000 calories per day. You might consider foods like single-serving canned chili, pasta or soup, beef jerky, raisins, fruit roll-ups, granola bars, cocoa mix, and instant oatmeal. (If you would like some of your food heated, you might think about sticking in one of the folding stoves with fuel tablets and some matches.) Of course, you’ll want to include some utensils and don’t forget some “comfort” foods like gum, candy or instant Starbucks!

Once you have accomplished having food and water for 72 hours, as an added benefit, you’ll have a beginning on an emergency 72-hour kit to pick up and stick in your car should you have to evacuate. I keep mine in my car all of the time, so even on those “apocalyptic” shopping days I can grab a granola bar and be ready to go the extra mile!

Earthquake Preparedness Tips on Preparedness Radio Network

2011-03-14T16:58:00.000-07:00

I'll be providing some earthquake preparedness insights in an interview on the Preparedness Radio Network on Tuesday March 15th at 11 AM PST. You are invited to listen in at Preparedness Radio Network. You can also call in with questions if you like to (347) 326-9604. Hope to see you there.

Earthquake in Japan and Tsunami draws crowd in California

2011-03-11T09:01:00.000-08:00

As I woke today at 0600 and heard the news, I was amazed at how much information was available on TV and how the California Tsunami warning system worked. Most people in Northern California who live near the ocean had at least an hour of notice after they woke up this morning to move to higher ground. Some had more time based upon the tsunami warning sirens that went off earlier. Law enforcement was out patrolling coast highways and news reporters were watching waves come in.

Then there are those who decided to go to the beaches with their lawn chairs to "watch the tsunami." I guess this is akin to the "hurricane parties" that Jimmy Buffet sings about. Do people really don't understand how their mere presence in such areas really complicates evacuation and subsequent rescue efforts? Folks in Hawaii migrated to the beach to see the powerful waves come in and waved to TV camera crews. Mark my words before the day is done some American will die because they got too close to the waves. And the news will report how tragic this was. Really? Tragic? How about stupid? I guess Darwin was right.
This is a serious tsunami warning and people need to grab their emergency kits and heed the warnings and evacuation orders. Similarly, folks in the northeast need to heed flood warnings and evacuate as required. It is unfortunate that this event will upset many of our daily routines today, but hundreds are already dead in Japan. At least pretend to show some respect for them and Mother Nature and take care of yourself, family and neighbors first. Whatever doesn't get done today, you will get to tomorrow.

And one last morsel of food for thought. Four nuclear reactors in Japan were shut down following the quake effectively cutting power to millions. What would you do today if your power went out for a week? Are you prepared for the unexpected? Use this opportunity to actually work on your personal emergency plans when you are at work, at home or in your car when disaster suddenly strikes.

Get Trusted Emergency Alerts with Nixle

2011-03-04T10:02:00.000-08:00

In the early 60’s, the United States created an elaborate communication system known as the Emergency Alert System (EAS) to provide important warnings and instructions in emergencies. Today the EAS is a national public warning system that requires broadcasters, cable television systems, wireless cable systems, satellite digital audio radio service (SDARS) providers, and direct broadcast satellite (DBS) providers to provide the communications capability to the President to address the American public during a national emergency. The system also may be used by state and local authorities to deliver important emergency information, such as AMBER alerts and weather information targeted to specific areas. However, this system requires that listeners be watching TV, listening to the radio or connected to the Internet.

It is no secret that thousands of First Responder agencies nationwide now use social networking platforms to alert residents and entire communities about traffic conditions, missing persons, fires, escaped convicts, gas or water main breaks, severe weather, community events and local disasters. You may have even received such a communication from your local police or fire department via FaceBook or Twitter. But have you ever considered the integrity of those messages?

Back in January of 2007, a company called Nixle was organized to design and develop innovative technologies for the public safety sector, the government sector, and the commercial sector. These unique communications solutions were related to public and internal real-time messaging. Since Nixle’s Municipal Wire Service was publically released in March of 2009, over 4,200 public safety and other government agencies have been certified to use the service and are currently communicating with their residents more effectively. Nixle’s Municipal Wire is the nations leading identity-certified and secure mass communication service that allows public safety agencies and municipal governments to connect with residents by text messages, email and web.

So, now it is possible to receive secure and trusted communications from your local and statewide emergency first responders. Key Nixle benefits include:

· A strategic relationship with Nlets, the International Justice and Public Safety Network

· NO fee (except your phone plan’s standard text messaging rates will apply to all text messages)

· NO downloading of software

· NO advertising

· NO spam

· Precise neighborhood-level and geographically-targeted messaging

· Real-time communications

Because of Nixle’ geographic functionality, it is possible to send messages to very specific locations or areas within an agencies jurisdiction. This is significant as it lets public agencies alert “need-to-know” residents only. If there is a missing person reported in the Oak Canyon neighborhood, only residents within the neighborhood can be alerted. Additionally, the alert can be expanded to residents in adjacent neighborhoods as the search progresses.

Similarly, if a flood warning has been issued, your local fire, police, or emergency management agency can send a Nixle alert to an entire city or counties where flooding may occur.

In our “need to have the info now” world, such communications could be critical to our survival. Nixle actually offers several levels of communication. These include alerts, advisories, traffic and community. When you sign up for Nixle you can select from the following messaging options.

Alerts only
Alerts and Advisories
Alerts, Advisories, Traffic
Alerts, Advisories, Traffic, Community

You also have the option to decide which message(s) you want delivered via text on your cell phone. This is easily done by selecting one of the 4 options listed above. For most, having alerts delivered as text messages is the most important feature. The remaining messages could be delivered via email. However, if you have unlimited text and are interested you could accept all messaging types.

For example, Las Cruces, New Mexico recently lost their telephone and Internet service for a short period. As a result, the 911 emergency number was inoperable. The Las Cruces Police Department was able to use Nixle to send text messages to residents on their cell phones that included replacement phone numbers being used while the emergency 911 number was inoperable.

I strongly suggest that you consider registering with Nixle to have access to trusted local emergency information. Just visit Nixle to sign up today. You can also sign up for multiple locations (e.g., home, work, school, parents, children, etc.).

Texas/Florida Wildfires Remind Us of Evacuation Protocols

2011-03-01T09:39:00.000-08:00

Wildfires continue to scorch land and homes in the Texas Panhandle and eastern Florida this week. While residents try to protect homes with garden hoses it usually does little good and ultimately complicates fire fighting efforts. Only those who live in heavily wooded areas really consider wildfires in their emergency plans. The rest always wind up on the 5 O'clock news saying, "I never imagined a wildfire coming through our neighborhood." The key to your safety and the ability of professionals to fight such fires unencumbered by private homeowners is to evacuate when ordered.
Hundreds of residents in Texas did evacuate and stayed overnight with friends, in hotels or at emergency shelters. Remember when an evacuation order is given, law enforcement move in to secure the evacuated area. Residents must show proof of residency to be allowed back into the evacuated area. This is to protect looting and minimize traffic in the disaster area. First Responders may also limit the time you have in the disaster area based upon environmental concerns.

I have worked such a resident re-entry operation for a forest fire. And I can tell first hand how difficult it is for residents to be sitting in a line of cars waiting to be allowed back into their neighborhood to see if they have a home or not. While painful, there is the need to secure your property from those who would seek to take advantage of the situation, and ensure the safety of returning residents. So, evacuate when told, take some emergency supplies with you and understand why it may take a while to re-enter your neighborhood.

Earthquakes and Civil Unrest

2011-02-25T09:03:00.000-08:00

Just when you thought all you had to prepare for were natural disasters like earthquakes, civil unrest is rearing its ugly head. It was just back in early January that we found an article by Claire Wolfe, titled "Preparing for Civil Unrest." Now, not only do we have concern for domestic unrest, we have international unrest affecting us as well. From Wisconsin to North Africa unrest is now a legitimate emergency concern for all of us.

The democratic struggles in North African countries has led to food supplies getting cut off in local neighborhoods for weeks. Similarly, confrontations here in the U.S. could provide similar results. Having a week or two of food and emergency supplies in your house could make life a lot easier and safer for you. Now we also have crude oil prices surging based on instability in the region, which as you guess will also directly affect the United States. Gasoline, plastics and petro-chemicals are already increasing in price. So, how are you updating your emergency plans to include civil unrest considerations?

First Responders Can't Keep up with 10 Second Quake

2011-02-22T09:26:00.000-08:00

New Zealand was rocked by second quake in only 5 months. And while not a "monster" quake at a magnitude of 6.3, it was shallow and only quaked for 10 seconds! Unfortunately, the shallowness of the quake made it much worse than the short duration would indicate.

But in only 10 seconds, emergency first responders are overwhelmed. Local fire and rescue crews weren't enough to handle the number of injured and trapped. Additional resources from the military were deployed to assist with emergency medical operations and securing structures and neighborhoods. Additional search and rescue (SAR) teams from around the country have been called and neighboring

Australia

is also deploying SAR teams.

With almost every city, county and municipality in the United States in some form of a budget crunch, first responder levels are down nationwide. If you don't want to wait for medical assistance in an emergency, what are you doing to collect emergency medical supplies and learn basic first aid? Local Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) learn such skills, so contact your local fire department/district to learn how you can join a CERT team.

Blood Donations

2011-02-17T09:18:00.000-08:00

I went to give blood the other day, which I do regularly, and I started wondering why do I donate? Why have I donated regularly for the past 7 years or so? I know I go about every 8 weeks and I rarely miss an appointment unless I have a cold or don't feel well. For some reason I feel bad missing an appointment. I don't get paid for donating, it takes a couple hours out of my busy day, and its about a 20 mile round trip! So, what keeps me going? Well, I guess its the thought of helping someone who won't live without a blood transfusion. With all my emergency response interaction with first responders (eg., fire, paramedics, police) I know one thing, you usually meet them on one of the worst days of your life! If it weren't for them, you could die.

So, I guess I want to help others on their worst day(s) by donating blood that could save their life. And, the day after I donated I received a nice email from our local blood bank saying "Less than 10% of those eligible donate blood and even fewer donate regularly. You are one of those special few. Fact: Approximately one out of every seven people entering the hospital needs blood. Thanks for being a blood donor. Yes, you do save lives."

I guess that good feeling is another reason to step up and help others survive their worst day.

The Different Types of Survival Kits Explained

2011-02-14T15:03:00.000-08:00

There are hundreds of different types of emergencies and natural disasters that could occur at any time. Depending on your specific lifestyle, there are a wide variety of survival kits available to keep your family protected in the case of such an emergency. To help the readers of blog find the best kit for your specific way of life we have composed the following list of the most popular types of emergency survival kits.

Home Kits
The most popular types of survival kits are those that are designed to stay at your home and keep your family safe during an emergency. Although most people consider their home a safe place, you never know when a natural or unnatural disaster will strike. Home survival kits usually come in weatherproof, durable containers that can be stored almost anywhere. This container can also double as a portable and easy to carry toilet, and many will include an optional snap-on toilet seat. Inside of the container you will find a wide variety of supplies for most emergency situations including food bars, water boxes, thermal blankets, lights, etc.

Automobile Emergencies
No matter if you only use your car for short commutes to the office, or if you spend most of your life behind the wheel, keeping an emergency kit in the trunk of your car is a good idea. There are plenty of situations that an automobile survival kit would come in handy such as a severe snowstorm, accident, loss of gasoline, and many more. The car kits at GetReadyGear.com come in an easy-to-store backpack with food and water rations, first aid kit, AM/FM radio with LED flashlight, and a cell phone charger with 3-way power (solar, hand crank generator, or DC). For more information on our car emergency kits (including descriptions and pictures) checkout GetReadyGear.com.

School Safety
School emergency survival kits are important to keep students safe in case of an emergency. During a lockdown students could spend long periods of time without access to food, water, or bathrooms. Depending on the size of the class, a home survival kit could suffice. However, the classroom lockdown kits available at GetReadyGear.com can support up to 24 students for up to 12 hours. For more serious situations, or larger class sizes, we have premium classroom survival kits that could support up to 23 students for up to 3 days.

Office Emergencies
Since most Americans spend 160 hours or more each month at their place of work, office 72-hour emergency kits have become quite popular. If you want to keep you and your coworkers safe in the event of a disaster or emergency then you could invest in a simple office emergency kit. Since offices come in all shapes in sizes, we offer a wide variety of kits that sustain up to 100 people.

Travel and Camping
Hiking in the woods alone or in a small group can become very dangerous very quickly in the event you find yourself lost or injured. Fortunately, one-person traveling survival kits with first aid supplies, blankets, food, and water can keep you safe until help arrives. These small, one-person survival kits come in fanny packs and contain supplies to sustain a single individual for up to 3 days.

Other Emergency Supplies
In addition to prepackaged survival kits, there are also a handful of tools that could come in handy during an emergency such as a folding shovel, flint striker, life hammer, pepper spray etc. For a full list of survival tools checkout this page on GetReadyGear.com You could also stock up on additional supplies of water or sanitation supplies to make sure that you are fully prepared for any possible emergencies or natural disasters.

5 Essential Items to Include in your 72 Hour Emergency Kit

2011-01-14T12:18:00.000-08:00

Staying prepared for emergencies and natural disasters is very important. At GetReadyGear, we offer hundreds of products and realize it can be difficult to select the best items for your survival kit. To help the readers of our blog, and Internet users looking for tips, we have put together the following list of 5 essential items to include in your 72 hour emergency kit.

1. Food and Water

During an emergency it is important to stay well hydrated. Any 72 hour survival kit should have a sufficient supply of water, as well as sanitary ways to drink it. Fortunately, we offer disposable water boxes that are similar to juice boxes, but with pure water instead of juice. Because of their shape, you can easily pack a dozen or so boxes in your kit. They are easy to open, and easy to dispose of. For additional security, you can purchase water purification tables that will allow you to create pure water, by eliminating viruses and cysts.

Proper food rations are also essential for any 72 hour survival kit. Although many people generally include a few canned goods in their kits, they can be difficult to open and often require water or heat. Instead, try to include a few emergency meal packs, or survival bars in your survival kit.

2. First Aid Supplies

Every 72 hour emergency kit should also contain the essential first aid supplies, including bandages, gauze, gloves, antibiotic ointment, etc… Although this may seem like a “no brainier,” you should take the time to ensure that your first aid kit has all of the supplies you would need in an emergency. Check out our first aid survival supplies page to look through examples of items you might want to include in your kit such as eyewash, burn gel, ice packs, etc.

3. Sanitation

In an emergency situation, or natural disaster, sanitation will become an issue. Since you might be without water for hours or even days, it is important to have items like hand sanitizer, and sanitary wipes in your 72 hour emergency kit. Additionally, since you might be without a working bathroom it is a good idea to include a bucket and emergency toilet seat, or a portable toilet with your emergency kit.

4. Communication

If you are injured in an off-road accident, lost in the woods, or stuck inside during an earthquake, then you may need a way to signal that you need help. It is a good idea to keep some type of communication device in your survival kit. A simple whistle can be effective, but you could also opt for flare guns, flashlights, sirens, two-way radios, etc.

5. Shelter and Light

If you find yourself in an emergency situation that you cannot get out of, then you might have to stay in a safe place until help arrives. You should always have a light source in your survival kit (both a flashlight and candles are best), as well as materials to create an emergency shelter. This could include a tarp and string to build a tent, or an emergency privacy shelter. It is also a good idea to keep a sleeping bag, or thermal blankets with your shelter supplies so that you can stay warm during a cold night. If you live in a very cold climate, then you might also want to invest in an emergency warming pack.

10 Reasons to Invest in a Survival Kit

2010-12-14T15:26:00.000-08:00

Although we all tell ourselves that an emergency will never happen, the honest truth is that disasters happen every single day, and there is no way to predict whether you will be a victim or not. To prepare yourself – and your family – we highly recommend investing in at least one type of emergency survival kit. As you can see from our website, there are a wide variety of different kits available, from ones designed to protect a single person, to those supporting a family, and even a full classroom of children. For anyone who might be leery about purchasing a survival kit, we have gathered the following list of the top 10 reasons to invest in one.

1. Floods
A flood can leave your family without electricity, safe water, and heat for hours or even days. This means everyone in your household will be cold and unable to eat or go to the bathroom. However, by investing in a simple 72 hour survival kit your can keep your family safe during the storm with food rations, solar powered lights, and even a snap-on toilet seat attached to a bucket.

2. Snow-Ins
For some Americans flash flooding might not be that big of a concern, instead you might be worried about snow-ins. Anyone who has every lived in a cold climate knows that snow-ins are a very real possibility in the middle of winter. Large amounts of snow can block the roads, and force you to stay in your home for long periods of time. In bad cases, snow can even lead to the loss of electricity in your home and surrounding neighborhood. If you live in a place with lots of snow, then a survival kit with food and first aid supplies is essential.

3. Pandemic Protection
Over the past few years, the country has been worried about the Swine Flue (or H1N1 virus). This has caused a noticeable increase in the amount of Americans concerned about pandemic protection. If there were a major outbreak, then a flu safety kit could help your family stay safe. In addition to having supplies to avoid leaving your home for at least a week, you should be prepared with medications including fever and pain medicine, multivitamins, hydrating beverages such as Gatorade, garbage bags, soap, and other disinfection supplies.

4. School LockdownsWhen there is a crime on school grounds, or a serious storm, students could be required to stay in their classrooms, or an auditorium for hours without enough food, first aid supplies, and bathroom facilities. Since these lock downs can last anywhere from a few minutes, to hours, or even days, it is a good idea to see if your child’s schools has school survival kits. If not, you might want to speak with a teacher or principal to find out what their protocol is for emergency situations.

5. Car Safety and SurvivalWhile most accidents occur on busy highways, where help is likely to arrive quickly, you should always be prepared for the possibility of an auto emergency in a secluded area. There is no way to predict when your car will break down, and if you find yourself stranded in the middle of a deserted road, you will be thankful to have an emergency kit stashed in your trunk.

6. Office Emergencies
It is an employers job to make sure that their employees are in a safe environment, and aware of first aid kits and emergency exits. However, in an emergency, sometimes aid is not readily available, or an exit is not possible. Therefore, it is a good idea to have emergency kits with enough supplies to care for all employees at the office. Luckily, our office survival kits are designed to support up to 100 people.

7. Earthquake DevastationEarthquakes are common in many places of the world, and tend to come at completely unexpected times, as the recent tragedy in Haiti has proven. While the severity of an earthquake can range anywhere from a harmless rumble to all out devastation, even the smallest earthquake could leave you unprepared in your home, car, or place of work. However, by investing in a 72 hour emergency kit you can rest assured that you and your family will be safe if a large earthquake ever hit your city.

8. Storm Shelter SupplyPeople who live in areas with tornadoes or severe wind and rain may have a storm shelter to go to for protection during a bad storm. These shelters are good to have, but without any electricity spending more than a few minutes in a shelter can become very trying. To make sure you are safe, you should make sure there are at least a few food items, blankets, and first aid supplies in your shelter at all times. To learn more about shelter supplies, checkout this page on our website.

9. WildfiresLately wildfires have become a serious problem, especially for Americans living on the west coast. However, there are ways to stay prepared. During fire season, you can turn your standard 72 hour emergency kit into a wildfire protection kit by adding a few other supplies such as an axe, handsaw, hose, shovel, etc.

10. Medical EmergenciesA medical emergency could happen any time, anywhere. While calling 911 should always be your first step, there are instances where a phone or car is not readily available, or immediate attention is required. By keeping a few emergency kits (stocked with first aid supplies) in your home, office, and automobile you can help make the difference between life and death in a medical emergency.

10 Important Items to Include in an Emergency First Aid Kit

2010-11-14T13:46:00.000-08:00

Most Americans have a small medicine cabinet or first aid kit in case of an emergency. However, most people are not aware of exactly what items should be included in a proper first aid kit. To help the readers of our blog looking to assemble a complete emergency first aid kit, we have put together the following list of the top 10 essential items to include.

1. Various BandagesNo emergency first aid kit can be complete without bandages and gauzes of various shapes and sizes. You can never predict the extent of an injury; therefore it is important to have a wide variety of choices in case you need to bandage a wound.

2. Wound Cleaner
Every emergency first aid kit should also have the supplies needed to properly clean a wound, such as antiseptic wipes, and antibiotic ointment to prevent infection. At GetReadyGear.com we recommend this triple antibiotic ointment, for home, automobile, or camping emergency kits.

3. Disposable Gloves
Having antiseptic wipes and sanitizer are useless if the person cleaning your wounds is doing so with dirty hands. It is always a good idea to keep a package of disposable gloves in your emergency first aid kit so that you will be able to safely disinfect and treat injuries.

4. Ammonia Inhalants
Ammonia inhalants are used to treat or prevent victims who have fainted or are feeling faint. In a serious situation, ammonia inhalants may be necessary to keep a loved one conscious and out of harms way.

5. Pain RelieverEvery good first aid kit should contain an ample supply of pain relievers in case of a painful injury. We recommend non-aspirin pain reliever in individual packages that can be used to treat pains associated with headache, muscle aches, backache, minor arthritis pain, the common cold, toothache and menstrual cramps. It is also a good idea to include water boxes in your kit to take pain pills, or hydrate victims.

6. FacemasksHaving at least a few facemasks in your kit is a great way to stay prepared for dozens of possible emergencies. Some common examples of such emergencies include protection from smoke during a fire, debris during an earthquake, or viruses during a flu outbreak like the recent H1N1 flu pandemic. At GetReadyGear.com we suggest CDC-recommended N95-8210 masks.

7. Instant Cold PackAn instant ice pack is a great addition to any emergency first aid kit. They are perfect for minor injuries, and a must for athletes on the go, since you never know when you are going to need to treat a sprained ankle. We suggest instant cold compresses that you can activate by simply squeezing and shaking to generate up to 30 minutes of icy pain relief.

8. Burn TreatmentBug bites, or minor burns from the sun or a hot object should be treated differently than cuts and scrapes. We recommend including burn gel in your emergency first aid kit to treat such injuries.

9. Emergency BlanketThere may be an emergency where you find yourself, or a member of your family, in need of medical assistance in a cold climate. Having an emergency blanket - also known as a space blanket – in your kit can help the victim stay warm and calm until help arrives. These blankets may also be used to warm someone to prevent shock.

10. Eye WashYou should always have a bottle of eye wash in your emergency first aid kit, to safely remove foreign materials, chemicals, or relieve itching or burning due to smoke or air pollutants. Failing to properly remove objects or chemicals from the eye can lead to a dangerous infection later.

10 Grocery Store Items to Include in your Family’s Survival Package

2010-10-14T12:03:00.000-07:00

We would all like to be prepared for an emergency or natural disaster, but it is understandable that not everyone can locate, or afford all of the supplies needed. Fortunately, with one simple trip to the grocery store you can find plenty of great items to keep your family safe in the event of an emergency. For those of you looking to create a 72-hour survival kit in a hurry, or on a budget, we have put together the following list of items available at most grocery stores to include in your family’s survival package.

1. Peanut Butter

Peanut butter is a great item to include in an emergency kit because it is high in energy, and has an average shelf life of up to two years. As with any items you purchase for your survival kit, you should always check the expiration dates every year or so to ensure nothing needs replacing.

2. Flashlight

Nearly every grocery has a small hardware section that will contain a couple of useful emergency items such as a flashlight or duct tape. Just keep in mind that if you buy a flashlight at the grocery store then you will need to rely on batteries to power it. Alternatively, for a little more money you could invest in a hand crank powered flashlight.

3. Oatmeal

Oatmeal is another great food to include in your emergency kit because it can be eaten both dry and cooked. Oatmeal can also be served hot or cold, comes in a wide variety of flavors, has a long shelf life, and takes up relatively little space.

4. Duct Tape

As we mentioned before, duct tape is another great survival supply that can be found at most grocery stores. In an emergency duct tape can be used for all types of creative tasks such as creating a shelter, or making a bowl for food or water. Duct tape is waterproof and will easily fit into a homemade emergency survival kit.

5. Canned Foods

Canned vegetables and fruits always make great additions to an emergency kit. It is a good idea to get cans with pull-tabs so that you do not have carry around a can opener. Alternatively, if you have time to prepare a kit then you might want to order emergency energy bars that can provide a balanced minimum daily diet, and at only $3.50 for a pack of six they are relatively cheap compared to canned foods.

6. Canned Heat & Matches

To cook or warm up meals, you should consider buying an emergency heat source such as Sterno canned heat. However, you may also need to pickup a set of matches to light the jellied fuel.

7. Water

Water is an essential emergency item, and can be used for everything from cooking food to cleaning wounds. If you have room in your kit, you should include at least a gallon or two of water. If you cannot find anything the right size then checkout the water boxes available at GetReadyGear.com.

8. Cooler

As you are collecting items for your kit, you may begin to wonder where you are going to store them. A small water cooler is a great choice, as they are usually waterproof and feature a handle for easy transportation. Other options would be a waterproofed backpack or bucket, but they may be difficult to find in the grocery store.

9. First Aid

You can find most basic first aid supplies in any grocery store including bandages, antibiotic lotion, sunscreen, and painkillers. Make sure the supplies you have comes in compact cases, or can be easily downsized into a small container to easily fit in your package.

10. Plastic Bags

Plastic grocery store bags are the last item on our list, and can usually be obtained at a grocery store for free. These lightweight bags can be very useful in emergencies and you should try to keep at least a dozen in your emergency kit.

10 Wilderness Emergency Survival Tips

2010-09-03T16:15:00.000-07:00

There is nothing scarier than being caught in the wilderness without cell phone reception or a working vehicle. However, there are steps you can take to prepare for such a situation, and certain things you can do to keep yourself safe. To help all of the readers of our blog stay prepared for a wilderness emergency, we have put together the following list of tips and advice.

1. Staying Warm
In order to stay warm in a cold outdoor climate it is important to avoid the four major heat thieves: 1) evaporation – heat escaping through sweat or breath, 2) conduction – laying or resting on cold objects, 3) elements – exposing your skin to cold elements, and 4) convection – air or moisture stealing heat from your body. To keep warm you should stay active, and consider purchasing a thermal blanket that can be kept in your backpack while traveling outdoors.

2. Poisonous Snakes
There are a couple of snakes that can fatally wound someone with a bite. However, many of these wounds can be treated. If a snake does bite you the first thing you need to do is to remain calm. If you get excited, it will make your heart beat faster which can help the venom spread faster in your system. If the site of the bite begins to swell, take off any restrictive jewelry or clothing in the area, and keep the bite area low, below your heart while you wait for help. To help stay prepared it is a good idea to invest in an emergency first aid kit that you can keep with you at all times.

3. Making Shelter
If you are going to be stuck in the wilderness overnight without a tent, then it is a good idea to put together a shelter to sleep in. Depending on weather conditions, you might be able to find a cave or uprooted tree to use as a shelter. You could also construct a basic shelter using pieces of wood, boughs, leaves, and grass.

4. Finding Food
If you do not have any food rations with you, then you will need to find items to keep your body nourished. Using your eyes, nose, and taste buds, you should be able to find items that can be safely consumed. It is always a good idea to avoid plants, and look for nuts, berries, and roots to eat.

5. Staying Hydrated
Finding water should be one of your first priorities when you are lost in the wilderness. While most humans can survive several days without food, you cannot go a couple of days without water. Try to find a creek nearby to use as a water source, and if you have the ability you should boil the water and allow it to cool to ensure it is safe to drink. However, the best way to prepare for a situation like this is to include some emergency water boxes in your backpack before you head outdoors.

6. Insect Prevention
Although most insect bites are not poisonous, some spider bites are, and others can become easily infected. Check your clothing, sleeping area, and gear every day for spiders, scorpions, or other insects. Avoid ticks by staying out of tall grasses in humid areas, and checking your body for the presence of ticks regularly. Additionally, you should always check your body for leeches after entering water.

7. Major Wounds
If you receive a major wound, once again use all of your strength to stay as calm as possible. If the area is bleeding you need to apply direct pressure using bandages. If you do not have a lot of material to use, your hand can be used instead. Keep the wound elevated, above your heart, lying down if necessary. Once the bleeding has slowed, use gauze or material to bandage around the dressings.

8. Drowning Prevention
If you find yourself stranded in the water, then you should avoid paddling frantically as it will exhaust you very quickly. Instead, use the “drown-proof” technique of laying flat in the water with your face down and arms out. Your body will naturally float just below the surface, and every 15 seconds push your arms down, raise your head and take a short breath. This will help save your energy and ensure survival.

9. Finding Help
For the most part when someone becomes lost in the wilderness, they are usually in close proximity to others. If you do not have a flare gun or radio then try to stay in one place to increase your chances of being found. If you are with another person then you should never separate to find help, and always stay together.

10. Stay Prepared
The best way to stay safe in the event you become stranded in the wilderness is by bringing ample supplies with you when you head outdoors. If you do not want to bring an emergency survival kit, you should at least bring essential supplies such as water, a compass, a radio, etc. Check out GetReadyGear.com to see the many survival supplies you could include in your backpack.

How to Create a Family Emergency Plan

2010-08-10T11:21:00.000-07:00

You never know when an emergency or disaster will strike, and you never know if you will be forced to stay within or evacuate your home at a moments notice. To protect your family, the best defense against an emergency is proper preparation. To assist the readers of our blog, we have put together the following article on how to create a family emergency plan.

Escape Routes - One of the most important factors of a good emergency plan is a well-planned, and efficient escape route. You should have two escape routes for each room in your house. Draw out a map of each floor of the home, marking doorways and windows, and designate an escape route with large arrows. You should also keep in mind that some emergencies, such as a fire, could make one escape route unavailable. If you have a second floor, having an easily accessible escape ladder in each room is also a good idea.

Meeting Place - You should always designate a primary meeting place to meet up outside of the home if you need to evacuate in an emergency. It is also good to decide on a secondary meeting place nearby for situations where being near the house is not a good idea, such as a burglar or a fire. The number one objective should be for each member to escape by the safest means possible, and then meet up with the family at a predetermined location. Make sure each member of the family understands it is never safe to reenter the home after a disaster until it is deemed safe by the proper authorities.

Emergency Contacts - Designate emergency contacts and make sure each family member has these phone numbers and addresses in case of an emergency. You should also have one out-of-town contact, in case of a serious natural disaster where phone service may still be available.

Pet Plans - Unfortunately, many people forget their pets when creating a family emergency plan. Since many disasters will scare animals, causing them to run, make sure you have leashes or carriers in easy to access places to bring your animals out with you. When designating emergency shelters and contacts, make sure to ask whether they can shelter your animals as well. Most community funded disaster shelters for people do not allow animals, so you may need to find a temporary place for them to stay. Keep a carry bag with food, water, and vaccination records for your pet as well.

Survival Supplies - Whether you shelter-in-place or or evacuate for your safety, always bring an emergency survival kit along with you. In this kit you should have enough food, water, first aid, and sanitary supplies for the whole family. If you live in an area that could easily flood or is deemed as hurricane territory, make sure to have ponchos, dry clothes, and emergency blankets as well. If you do not already have an emergency kit, then head over to GetReadyGear.com for tools and survival kits.

First Aid Education - Knowing some basic first aid techniques is a very good idea. You can learn everything you need to know about first aid, CPD, and disaster preparedness by reading books and researching online. You could also take a first aid and CPR class. Some communities even offer these for free.

Storing Important Documents - While getting you and your family out safe is always the first priority, some advance preparation can help make the recovery process after a disaster much easier. Important documents, which are difficult to replace such as birth certificates, financial documents, and legal papers, should be stored together in a fireproof, waterproof container.

Family Meeting - Putting together a good emergency plan is great, but does little if you and your family do not go over it together. When you have outlined a good plan, sit down with the whole family and discuss every aspect of your plan. Since there are so many types of possible emergencies, make sure you discuss as many potential scenarios as possible.

Practice - Once the whole family knows what to do in an emergency, practice your escape routes and survival techniques together as if you were in a real emergency.

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