Emergency Situations may be Closer or Easier than You Think

Now, no major disaster, chemical or biological attack, or big storm hit Springhill, Mansfield, but that didn't stop the food shelves of the local Wal-Mart from being completely emptied.  And all it took was a small glitch in the EBT card system one day.  The EBT (Electronic Benefit Transfer) card system is a welfare system where instead of food stamps, people get a debit card with a certain amount of money on it that they can use on food.
And for a short while, all of those cards stopped having maximum limits in some areas.  People stormed the shelves, taking as much as they could.
Read more about it at:
http://www.ksla.com/story/23679489/walmart-shelves-in-springhill-mansfield-cleared-in-ebt-glitch

The lesson we should take from this, though, is that it's easier than we realize for the resources we know to be taken from us.  We need to be prepared with resources already in house.  Do you have your bug out bag yet?  You should.  You'll be safer and better prepared already.

Here's to hoping for the best for everyone.  It's a crazy world out there.  Best of luck to us all!
Sincerely,
Daniel Wescott

Preparedness More Popular Than Ever

More people than ever before are deciding to be prepared for disaster, and with all the turmoil and other problems these days, it's easy to see why.

The Drudge Report recently posted an article about a unique way that some people these days have started their emergency preparedness: underground bunkers.

Yes, underground bunkers have been done before, but now they're experiencing a resurgence of popularity, and they're better than ever.  They can have comfortable living, television, and more!  It really is quite interesting to see.  The Drudge Report also had a short video about the situation.  To read the article or see the video, go here:
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-18563_162-57607254/this-aint-your-average-survival-shelter/

Most of us cannot afford an underground bunker - but the need to be prepared is just as real for all of us.  One particularly apt quote from the video was "it's better to be 10 years too early than 5 minutes too late."  So don't delay.  Start preparing today!

National Preparedness Month!

Hey everyone,

Did anyone know that there's actually an officially declared month for disaster preparation and awareness?  Well, there is, and it's actually September!  We're halfway through already.

It may interest you to know there is a National Preparedness Community, and they are involved in promoting this event.  Go ahead and visit, they have a variety of resources available, and it's always nice to see or be a part of a community in whatever endeavor you're involved in.

So be sure to have your supplies and your bug out bags at the ready.  There's no better time than now to prepare for emergency!

Cleaning Untreated Water

Remember, you should always keep a supply of water available in case of emergency.  However, what do you do if you find yourself running low?  Water isn't just used for drinking - it is used in a number of activities that are important in survival situations, such as cooking, cleaning, and sanitation.

Since one's supply of good, safe, treated water can often be cut off in a disaster, I'll now go over some of the threats involved in untreated water and what you can do to make sure that you and your family continue to have clean, safe, treated water.  

All sorts of things can be in untreated water, depending on the source.  These things include dirt, acid, algae, sediment, silt, pesticides, herbicides, other pollutants or toxins, and even micro pests - parasites that live in water with little sunlight and lacks aeration.  The biggest threats, though, are microorganisms such as bacteria, protozoa, and viruses.  There are many harmful bacteria like E. coli, salmonella, and many more.  Examples of harmful and dangerous protozoa you may be exposed to include Giardia lamblia and Cryptosporidium paravum.  You may not have heard of them, but they are both parasites that can survive for weeks in cold water.  And finally, don't forget the viruses.  Water with viruses such as Hepatitis A and rotavirus can take up to four hours in chemical treatment before it is safe.

So, what can happen if you are unprepared for emergency and end up drinking untreated water?  Well, if you're lucky, nothing will happen.  However, there is a long list of potential consequences if you're not.  On the mild end, you could get diarrhea or other prolonged intestinal discomfort.  Other possible effects include vomiting, rashes, fevers, chills, muscle aches, and even neurological symptoms and jaundice.  If you have the right microorganisms in your water, worst case scenarios include contracting illnesses such as botulism, cholera, dysentery, and in rare cases, death.  So...the moral of the story is - don't drink untreated water.

So what can you do?  

There are three main options for treating water: filters, chemicals and boiling.  Let me go over the basics here for you.

Filtering water is often considered the easiest and safest way to treat water for drinking.  The filter will keep any microscopic creatures and organisms in the water from passing through.  Filters can have different effectiveness in catching pathogens depending on the size of their pores.  As you look for a filter, you will want one where the pore size (often referred to as "pore-size efficiency") is at least less than 0.4 microns.  That is how small it needs to be to remove bacteria from water.  Protozoa and parasites are much larger than bacteria, and can be removed from water with a filter of almost any size.

Chemicals are most often used by those storing large amounts of water.  They don't filter out any contaminants, but they do kill any bacteria and viruses living in the water.  Chemicals can also affect the taste of the water.  Common chemical choices are iodine and chlorinate.  Whatever you choose, make sure you know how to use it properly and how much chemical to add.

Boiling is a well known old standby, but in reality has its drawbacks.  The biggest is that it requires a significant amount of fuel to heat water to its boiling point, and fuel can be a precious resource in a survival situation.  You should boil it continuously for at least five minutes.  Also, the temperature of boiled water can present a problem if you need it right away, but can't use hot water.  Finally, boiled water can have a flat taste, due to the loss of oxygen in the water while it is boiling.  You can transfer the water back and forth from one container to another to aerate it.

I hope this blog has reassured you that you do have options in an emergency.  A reliable supply of water is something you will definitely want in an emergency.  Be sure to have some water ready, but you should also be prepared to treat water, too.  After all, in case of disaster or emergency, preparedness is the name of the game.

P.S. - Water that comes out of your tap has been treated thoroughly.  Unless you hear otherwise from your local community water system, it is safe to assume your tap water is safe to use for drinking, cooking, or any other activity.  But not drowning.  Water is never safe to drown in.
If you would like more information about tap water, read this booklet called "Water on Tap: What You Need to Know" by the EPA.

Bug Out Bag Supplies

Now in the last post I talked about all sorts of materials you might want to have in house in order to be prepared for a disaster, but I haven't yet talked in detail about one essential component of any disaster kit - the bug out bag.  But out bags are portable emergency kits designed so that you can grab one quickly and be as prepared as you can to survive for 72 hours on the move.
Keep or put the items you need in a backpack or other easy to carry container.  You'll want to have enough supplies for the whole family, so you may have multiple containers.  One technique that works well is to have a separate bug out bag for each family member.  If you choose to do that, you'll probably want to put an I.D. tag on each one.  You also might not be at your home when disaster or emergency strikes, so keep some additional supplies in your car and possibly even at work; be sure to consider what you would need for your immediate safety.
Finally, here is the list of items you will want in your bug out bag:

• Some water and food
• A small water purifier or materials to purify water
• Flashlight
• Battery operated radio
• Batteries
• Whistle
• Pocket knife
• Dust mask
• Emergency cash (in small denominations, including quarters for phone calls)
• Change of clothes
• Sturdy shoes
• Warm hat
• Tooth brush and tooth paste
• First aid supplies
• Local map
• Permanent marker, paper, and tape
• Photos of family members and pets for re-identification purposes
• List of emergency phone numbers, and even at least one point-of-contact number
• List of allergies to any drugs (especially antibiotics) or foods
• Copy of health insurance and identification cards
• Extra prescription eye glasses, hearing aids, or other vital personal items
• Prescription medications
• Extra keys to your house and vehicle(s)
• Any special needs items for children, seniors, or people with disabilities
• Don't forget to get supplies for your pets!

Start making your bug out bag as soon as you can.  You should also check out the supplies and bug out bags available here and other supplies available at Emergency Bug Out Bags to make your packing and preparation as easy and convenient as possible.

How to Prepare your Emergency Supplies

In any emergency, you'll want to be prepared with not only a plan, but a certain amount of supplies at home and at the ready in the moment you need them.  To be clear, this isn't just about having a bug out bag - though you will want to have one ready - this is about having a set of supplies ready at the home base that can keep you prepared for disaster.  Not all of this will be easily portable, but you will want these supplies if you can have them, all the same.  Here is a list of things that you won't want to forget:

• Water - the most essential supply of all, you will want one gallon per person per day.  You want to be ready for at least 72 hours.
• Food - you will want meals that are ready to eat or require minimal water.
• A first aid kit and instructions.
• A manual can opener and other cooking supplies.
• Plates, utensils, and other eating supplies.
• A copy of important documents and phone numbers.
• Disposable camera.
• Warm clothes and rain gear for each family member.
• Unscented liquid bleach and an eyedropper for water purification.
• Heavy work gloves.
• Toilet paper.
• Hand sanitizer.
• Feminine supplies.
• Soap.
• Any other personal hygiene supplies you want to have.
• Supplies to cover broken windows.  For example, plastic sheeting, duct tape.
• Other tools, such as a crowbar, a hammer and nails, a staple gun, an adjustable wrench, and bungee cords.
• Blankets or sleeping bags.
• Large heavy-duty plastic bags and a plastic bucket (for waste and sanitation)
• Any special needs items for children, seniors, or people with disabilities.
• Don't forget water and supplies for your pets!

And that covers the basic supplies you need to be prepared for an emergency.  You can put whatever of these supplies that you want in a large, watertight container (i.e. a large plastic can with a lid and wheels) that you can move easily.  Still in other times, if you need to evacuate quickly, you'll want to have a go-bag or a bug-out-bag at the ready.  Find out more about those in my next post!

Do You Have A Plan?

Did you know that after a major disaster you need to be prepared to be on your own for at least the first 48-72 hours?  It is improbable that emergency response services will be immediately available to help you after a major disaster.  In fact, it might be several days before local vital services are restored, so it’s important to be prepared to take care of yourself and your family.  Most people live their lives without a major natural disaster happening to them, but when it does, it is vitally important to have supplies and a plan for an emergency survival situation.

In the next post, I'll talk about emergency kits and bug out bags.  For now, I will list parts of the emergency plan your family will need in an emergency:

• Designate someone outside of your local area that you can contact in an emergency situation.  You want to select someone far enough away that they won't be affected by the same emergency.  Give this person the names and contact information of anyone you want to keep informed of your situation.  Long distance phone service is often restored sooner than local phone service.
• Make copies of important documents and keep them off site.  Good ideas include in a safety deposit box or perhaps with someone you trust.  Documents may include: drivers license, passport, social security card, insurance information, financial statements, deeds, wills, your marriage license, and prescriptions.
• Inventory your important or valuable possessions.  A good way to do this is to take pictures and video, along with having a written log.  Keep copies of this information off site with your other important documents.
• Plan with your family what you will do in the event of a disaster.
• Put together a bug out bag.  A bug out bag is a portable emergency kit.  Prepare or buy a kit that will provide you and your family with supplies, food, and water for at least three days following a disaster.  Some good examples of bug out bags that you could buy can be found at EmergencyBugOutBags.net
• When making your disaster plan, remember the needs of children, seniors, people with disabilities, family members that don't speak english, and pets.

Some simple preparation can be all it takes to provide safety to you and your loved ones in the event of an emergency.  Take some action today!