Wild fire! Homes threatened?

Many people feel there is little preparation that they personally can do to prepare for a wildfire threatening their home. Most feel that it is up to the fire fighters to make or break that day for them. Not So!
Ok depending on where you live it may be difficult to clear flammable materials from around the house sufficient to stop a wild blaze, but there are still personal steps you can take to survive the day.
An unnecessary cause of injury or death in house fires is people attempting to remove important items too late. To prepare for this simply keep a to go bag available for each member of the family, and keep a copy of vital records off cite. that way when the blaze hits home you can run to safety rather than worry about what is still inside.

This Video shows the intensity that fire brings and the urgency that there is in responding quickly.

Wind and Water. Hurricane Watch.

Hurricanes are a very real and deadly reality for much of the coastal United states. Knowing how to respond quickly is the key to survival and perhaps the preservation of some possessions.

When hurricane season arrives it is vital to stay well informed as to the threat and location of approaching storms.

Winds can reach extreme speeds and carry s huge destructive force with them.  If you stay in your home be sure to take the proper precautions, including, stay away from glass windows or doors, stay need center of house, turn off utilities, fill large containers with clean water.

FEMA offers additional tips at their website.

 

The First 24 Hours After Economic Collapse

If there ever was a google search that was going to give you strange eccentric conspiracy theorists, Economic collapse is it.

But if you ask me, Guns and sheer power (the most important element to most online tips) are much lower on the list.

In the event of a Large scale end of day economic collapse where mass mayhem has followed, here are my three steps to safety.

1. Wait it out. – There is little true need to leave your home. the first 24 hours promise to be the worst and the most chaotic but soon things will balance out.

2. Secure water – If there is a temporary lag in the governments response there could be water processing issues. fill up any empty water containers to sustain you for the next few days.

3. Avoid Riots – When the bad is real bad, people tend to blame and blame fast. when bad goes to worse and there is violence involved the best way to be safe is to not be there.

Psychological First Aid. It’s the little things.

How are you? – Fine.

How you Doing? – Fine.

Are you alright? -Yeah

These are the answers that anyone can expect to hear as they attempt to help a victim recover from any number of disasters.

Dr. Heaps a psychologist recently did a training on how to effectively

help these victim return to a health mental state.

The best way in is a distraction. Rather than ask the direct question,

start with an open question,

Hot isn’t it?  – yeah it is.

How long you been cleaning up? – days now.

What was the hardest thing to lose? – ?

Suddenly the root of the problem is on the surface and the healing can begin.

 

Lots of Rain? beware of Flood!

My number one pick for what to do in a flood is. . . . . . . . . . . . . . BE INFORMED!!!

If there is flooding expected in the area you live in, rather than hoping for the best or expelling all your energy in all the wrong ways, listen to the local agency managing the crisis. They will be the first to know where flooding will occur and how best to prepare. Sometimes sandbagging is the answer, but other times you might need to just high tail it outta there.

Maybe you’ve missed the last few years of flooding videos. here’s a refresher then on what they are really do.

As with many disaster scenarios, FEMA has a helpful tips page that is worth reviewing.

Shake Rattle and Roll!

The western United States is known for its earthquakes. Although they are far more common and severe in CA, Utah has its share as well and ought to be buckling up for the next big shake. Damage can be anywhere from small house hold damage to large shifts in foundation, collapses, and overall destruction.

This video shows the sheer force that an earthquake can summon.

Being prepared for an earthquake involves a lot more than simply knowing where to stand when it hits. You ought to know how to respond in several different scenarios. When indoors, outdoors, in a vehicle, or if you become trapped. FEMA has an informative website outlining those scenarios.

 

I would add that being aware of your unique situation is key while traveling abroad. while here in the USA it is discouraged to run outdoors during the quake I’d say that if you know the structure you’re in is unstable then Get Out!

Tornado. Do’s and DON’Ts!

2011. The year of the tornado. There have already been over 1,000 confirmed tornadoes as of June 1st and a record number of deaths (537) in a single year since 1936.  Although there is a high concentration of tornadoes in the central region of the country, they can occur anywhere.

Surviving a tornado depends not only on how you respond but how quickly. Knowing these few tips can easily mean the difference between life and death.

Understand the available structures around you. If you are in a mobile home or a poor quality structure, anywhere may be better than inside. Mobile homes are traps of debris better avoided all together, even if it is tied down mobile homes are unsafe.

This video demonstrates well this point.

When a tornado approaches:

1. Don’t try to out run it

2. Seek secure shelter

3. avoid vehicles

4. a ditch or low spot in the ground is safer than an over pass.

5. protect your head.

These tips are not a sure fire way to avoid injury and death but will give those that follow them a superior chance.

Family Evacuation and Emergency Plan

I’m 25 years old and it’s been 7 odd years since i lived at home, but i still can remember all the essentials of the Family Emergency Plan that we had growing up.

There are only really three essential elements to an Emergency Evacuation plan. Listed in order of importance:

1. Know and remember the plan.

2. Have an established exit strategy for each area of the house

3. Have a designated meeting place.

Once you have decided on a plan the work is not over. It is important to review the plan with the entire family and individually with the younger members so that they understand their specific route and function.

for additional info see the Emergency Essentials website.

72 hour Kits. Worth there weight in gold

Whether it be flood, freeze, fire, broken down car, or economic crash, your 72 hour kit is your first line for coping with the disaster. 72 hours kits can be purchased or compiled, if you are stretching pennies as is i recommend that you start with the basics and work your way up.

For Penny stretchers the kit should include:

– 6 water bottles

– 2 MREs

– 1 change of clothes

– Sturdy shoes

– 1 emergency blanket

– 1 first aid kit

– 1 blanket

If you are ready to jump in and have it all, follow this link to find additional ideas.

Now having a 72 hour kit is important, but having access to that kit when the time comes is the key. I have used my kit several times for minor problems and set back, and this is because I always keep one kit in the trunk of my car. Consider, you are almost always within within a short walk from your car, and it is often unaffected by household disasters e.g. earthquakes or fires.

additional home and family emergency preparation tips are available through the Red Cross  

KI. Use it. Don’t abuse it.

Japan recently experienced a large radioactive crisis. One that had much of the world scared. In response to this threat many people far outside the radiation area acted rashly against the supposed threat by taking potassium iodide (KI). This stable potassium salt, is useful in only a very specific type of nuclear reaction, that being when radioactive Iodine has been released, and only protective to a single part of the body, that being the thyroid. Understanding the appropriate use is important for several reasons explained below.

Many people have misunderstood the protective nature of the drug and assumed that they were safe once they had taken it. The truth is that KI cannot help once exposure has occurred, and only protects the thyroid gland. It is imperative the public listen to public health professional and follow the advise given.

Side effects of KI are minor when the dosage correctly used.