Don't Think Disasters Are Common?

In that case, you might be surprised to see this "active disaster" map that I saved a few months ago.
It is published directly from the government, and shows states with an active disaster going on RIGHT NOW.

That's a lot of people who could use some disaster preparedness in their lives.  And this wasn't just a particularly bad month...let's take a look at what it looks like right now.

You can keep up with active disasters at fema.gov.

They also have a listing of all of the declared disasters at fema.gov/disasters.

For me, this is some great awareness.

Anyways, best of luck out there to you all, and I'll see you around!
Daniel Wescott

Zombie Apocalypse Fun Times

Most of us has had fun thinking about this at one point or another - how would we survive in a Zombie Apocalypse?  (Obviously, today's post is just for fun – but there are some ideas that can help you in real life!)

So, what are some fun habits to develop for disaster (or the Zombie Apocalypse)? Well, a few good habits include:

1.) Food storage.

It's easy enough to get food storage in house, and to eat it before it reaches it's expiration date – no money is wasted, and you're prepared for an emergency, should one come.  If you can't eat all of your emergency food when the expiration date is approaching, you can always give to the hungry – they'll appreciate it.  I know some people who have food storage enough to last them for A YEAR.  Hopefully, the zombies will have starved out by then.

2.) Know alternate shelter areas.

Search out areas you could flee to.  Perhaps you know of a church you could take shelter in, or you could go to stay with family.  Either way, if you do need to abandon your house, it's best to have these kinds of plans in place BEFORE the zombies march on your neighborhood.

3.) Walking.

Outside might not be the best place to be during a Zombie Apocalypse, depending on the situation, but there are plenty of situations where it might be best to be able to move great distances, even if there's no way to gas up your car anymore.  I personally love hiking, and find it's a great way to stay in shape and keep up my endurance.

4.) And of course – have a Bug Out Bag!

This is the ultimate type of kit for getting up and going, so make sure you have one!
Wondering where to start?  At EmergencyBugOutBags.com, we have a large gallery of options, depending on your needs.  One great example of a quality kit is the Elite Survival Kit by Guardian Survival Gear.

National Preparedness Month Has Come Again!

That's right, it's that time of year: our nation officially encourages its citizens to be prepared for disasters and emergencies.  Are you more prepared this year than you were last year?  It's the perfect time to take stock of your efforts, and evaluate where you want to go from here.

Do You Know Your Medical Care Options?

Your options aren't simply "Go to your doctor for a checkup" or "Emergency Room."  You have other resources for problems that surface calling for a plan of action between those two extremes.

For example, have you heard of "Urgent Care" facilities?

Let me give you a quote - "Emergency Departments experience high wait times because patients are treated based on the severity of their illness or injury, not who came in first. Great if you are having chest pains, not so much if you have an earache. Another distinguishing comparison is cost.  On average, an Emergency Department visit is approximately 30-50% more costly than a doctor’s office or Urgent Care visit.  In the event of a true emergency, the extensive services offered in an Emergency Department, along with the fact that they are open 24/7, is priceless – cost should never be considered in the case of true medical emergency.

An alternative is going to an Urgent Care clinic.  Urgent Care clinics are walk-in medical facilities that provide medical care on a no-appointment basis and are generally open for extended hours, including nights and weekends.  Urgent Care clinics are a cost-effective alternative for the treatment of non-life-threatening medical conditions.  Some clinics provide basic laboratory and X-ray services and can perform some diagnostic tests."

That comes from an article from myfox8.com, at http://myfox8.com/2014/07/08/expect-the-unexpected-emergency-department-or-urgent-care-sponsored-content/

So remember, if you have a non-life threatening but urgent medical need, you can go to your nearest Urgent Care clinic for a better experience, and cheaper cost.  It helps to know your options.

Amazing Storm

I just thought I'd write today and admire the power of nature a bit.  I saw an awesome photo today, which led me to a video.

This is the photo:

The video is here:



Wow.  It makes me stop and think, at least.  How about you?

SBA (Small Business Administration) Disaster Assistance Program

Hello everyone,

Here's something you probably didn't know - in the wake of a disaster, the Small Business Administration (SBA) provides low-interest disaster loans to homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes, and private, nonprofit organizations.

It's not something that comes into play when you're surviving the disaster in the first place, but it just might be VERY helpful to have in your toolkit afterward.

Check out this short video for more information:


Have a nice day!
Daniel

Bugging In?

Bug Out Bags may be optimized for travel, but when you choose to stay in and weather the storm locally, there are some extra concerns you need to be aware of.

For example - looters.  If your disaster situation goes on for long enough, there is a high likelihood of thieves and looters.  What is your plan for such a situation?

A lot of people don't REALLY want to think about it, but that won't make the problem go away.

And even if you've put effort into preparing for self-defense, the absolute SAFEST way is to deter the threat before violence starts.  So, is that possible?

In fact, there is an easy first step you can take - something that a survey of hundreds of burglars determined is the best deterrent, and would send any of them running.  And the one simple thing you need is - a loud air horn.

You can get this simple solution for as little as $20 (a $10 air horn is likely to not be as loud as you would want).

So there is your emergency preparedness and survival tip of the day - getting yourself a loud air horn is WAY more than worth the investment.

Well, best of luck and fortune to you all.
Until next time,
Daniel Wescott

LifeStraw

Have you heard of LifeStraw?  And if so, have you gotten one?

Because you really, really should.

It is THE simplest and easiest way to purify water that I have ever seen.  And you can get in on Amazon for around $20!

Lifestraw is ten inches long and one inch in diameter.  It is made out of a patented resin that kills bacteria on contact.  It's filters remove bacteria, such as salmonella, out of surface water, such as rivers and lakes.  And it lasts long enough to filter up to $1,000 liters of water for safe drinking.

You may already have backup supplies of water in your home.  You may not.
In either case, LifeStraw will be amazingly helpful in case of an emergency.  If you're a prepper, it's a must-have.  If you're not, LifeStraw is possibly THE first item to get.

Well, good luck out there!

Until next time,
Daniel Wescott

More About Emergency Plans

Emergency Plans allow that if a disaster happens, all household members know what to do, where to meet each other, and how to communicate in an emergency.

• Choose a meeting place for the whole family if a disaster occurs.  Choose two points: one immediately near your home and another outside the neighborhood (preferably a remarkable place: museum, shopping center, public square, etc ...).
• Make sure all household members know the status of valves for water, electricity and gas for your home.
• Identify all possible paths out of your home and neighborhood.
• Choose a family member or friend who lives out of town to use as a reference contact in case of separation or fall / saturation of the local telephone network.
• Identify the different needs that may affect each of the household members, especially the elderly, sick and disabled.
• Make sure all family members are prepared, and keep your emergency backpack (or emergency bug out bag) at a known specific site.
• Make sure your emergency supplies are properly stocked.
• Practice regularly.  Don't forget: you can make the planning fun.

What can happen?

Talk about it in family conversations or make it a game: Who can say what emergencies may occur at home, at school, at work?  Floods, storms, blackouts or power outages, gas explosions, landslides, fires, heat waves, cold waves, being trapped in tunnels, etc...discuss the possibilities and the different needs that may arise.

The goal is not to create alarm, but to be aware of what can happen and having the knowledge and tools necessary to meet an emergency.

Being prepared will make it easier to avoid panic and act safely if necessary.

5 Gallon Bucket

When disaster strikes, the first things you'll need include a supply of non-spoiling foods and drinking water, a disaster-proof or mobile source of heat to warm food and water, and enough clothing suitable to the situation.  Those are the most essential of the essential.

After that, though, there are still a lot of items you don't want to be caught without in the case of an emergency.  I've discussed Bug Out Bags on this blog before (what with that being the eponymous feature), but today I've decided to share another strategy for having a number of useful items ready: a five gallon bucket.

You can fit a lot of survival gear in a 5 gallon bucket.  An example list would be:

General Supplies

§  glow sticks (12 hrs)

§  flashlight

§  liquid candle

§  matchbooks

§  mylar blankets

§  hand warmers

§  AM/FM radio

§  whistle and lanyard

§  sewing kit

§  blank notebook

§  pencils

§  extra batteries (for flashlight and radio)

§  zip ties

§  P-38 can opener

§  trash bags

§  N95 dust masks

§  duct tape

§  small tarp

§  paracord

§  safety goggles

§  split leather gloves

Hygiene Supplies

§  bar soap

§  kleenex

§  floss

§  baby shampoo

§  hand lotion

§  sunscreen

§  toothpaste

§  toothbrushes

§  feminine hygiene pads

§  comb

§  toilet paper

§  wash cloths

First Aid Kit

§  basic first-aid guide

§  moist towelettes

§  antiseptic towelettes

§  latex gloves

§  acetaminophen (Tylenol)

§  ibuprofen (Advil)

§  aspirin

§  diphenhydramine (Benadryl)

§  loperamide (Imodium A-D)

§  burn cream

§  sting relief towelettes

§  hydrocortisone cream

§  triple antibiotic ointment (Neosporin)

§  cough drops

§  earplugs

§  instant ice pack

§  tweezers

§  nail clippers

§  scissors

§  digital thermometer

§  cotton balls

§  waterproof adhesive tape

§  gauze rolls

§  gauze pads

§  moleskin

§  band-aids

§  butterfly bandages

§  ace bandage

§  triangular bandage

§  hand sanitizer

§  Q-tips

§  petroleum jelly

§  RAD sticker (personal radiation dosimeter)

§  potassium iodide (radiation emergency thyroid blocker)

     Now, this is only one potential list of things to include.  You will need to tailor the list to yourself.  For example, if someone in your family has allergies, especially ones that could be life threatening, you will want to include something like and EpiPen.  Remember to keep a record of when you packed your emergency supplies.  A good emergency kit can last 5 years or more, but certain materials might need to be replaced more frequently, like the EpiPen (which is only good for about 20 months).

So, keep this in mind, and decide if this is something you want to add to your family's supplies!