Hurricane Survival Kit

by Dr. Rick Knabb

Essential Items

During a hurricane, and possibly for days or even weeks afterward, electricity and other utilities might not be available. Debris and/or water might block the roads, preventing vehicles from getting in our out of your neighborhood. Help might not reach you for days after the hurricane, so you’ll need to be completely self-sufficient during that period.

Here are some of the most critical supplies to have on hand, well before a hurricane threatens:

• At least a 3-day and preferably a 7-day supply of water (one gallon per person per day)
• Non-perishable food
• Formula, diapers, and other baby supplies
• Manual can opener
• First aid kit
• Prescription and non-prescription medicines
• Toiletries
• Cell phones and battery-powered cell phone chargers
• Battery-powered radios and flashlights
• Plenty of batteries
• Extra cash
• Blankets, sleeping bags, books, and games (especially if evacuating)

Be Prepared in Advance

Before a Hurricane Is Out There

• Create a written emergency preparedness and action plan for your family and business.
• Visit your insurance agent now. Review insurance coverage for your home and business, and the contents. Determine your flood insurance eligibility – homeowners insurance typically does not cover flood damage.
• Buy plywood or shutters for protecting windows. Trim trees to lessen flying debris.
• Find out if you live in a hurricane evacuation zone by contacting your local emergency management office. Make an evacuation plan if you live in an area vulnerable to storm surge or fresh water flooding, if you live in a mobile home, or if you live in a high-rise building.
• Identify the evacuation route you will use if told to evacuate. Determine the nearest substantial, low-rise building outside of flood zones to which you can evacuate ”“ an official public shelter, a hotel, or a friend’s or relative’s home. Find out if where you’re going will accept any pets.
• Agree upon two places family members can meet if separated: one outside your home for an emergency while there, and one out of the neighborhood if you cannot return home.
• Test emergency equipment such as generators and flashlights.
• Decide where you will store your boat during a tropical storm or hurricane, and factor into your action plan the time to move it to storage.
• Assemble a hurricane survival kit. Obtain emergency supplies now to be self-sufficient during the storm and its potentially lengthy aftermath. If you wait until a hurricane is on your doorstep to buy these items, they will be in very short supply or even completely unavailable.

How Will You Be Warned?

Hurricanes and Tropical Storms

The National Hurricane Center issues the following coastal watches and warnings for tropical
storms and hurricanes:

Tropical Storm Watch ”“ tropical storm conditions (sustained winds of 39 to 73 mph) are
possible somewhere within the specified coastal area within 48 hours.

Tropical Storm Warning – tropical storm conditions (sustained winds of 39 to 73 mph) are
expected somewhere within the specified coastal area within 36 hours.

Hurricane Watch ”“ hurricane conditions (sustained winds of 74 mph or greater) are possible
somewhere within the specified coastal area. Because hurricane preparedness activities become
difficult once winds reach tropical storm force, the hurricane watch is issued 48 hours in advance
of the anticipated onset of winds of tropical storm force.

Hurricane Warning ”“ hurricane conditions (sustained winds of 74 mph or greater) are expected
somewhere within the specified coastal area. The hurricane warning is issued 36 hours in
advance of the anticipated onset of winds of tropical storm force.

Local National Weather Service forecast offices issue tropical storm and hurricane watches and
warnings for inland areas, using the same wind criteria and lead times described above.

In addition, these local National Weather Service offices will issue an Extreme Wind Warning
when sustained surface winds of 115 mph or stronger are occurring or are expected to occur in
the specified area within one hour, as a result of a hurricane of Category 3, 4, or 5 on the Saffir-
Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. This warning conveys the need to take immediate shelter in an
interior portion of a well-built structure (but not necessarily the lowest floor, if the area is
vulnerable to flooding).

Take Action

When a Hurricane Threatens

Depending on your location, you could be told to evacuate before a warning or even a watch is issued by the National Hurricane Center. Notify someone unaffected by the storm about your whereabouts.

No later than when a watch is issued:

• Fill vehicles with gas.
• Get extra cash.
• Fill prescriptions.
• For mobile homes, secure tie-downs and prepare to evacuate when ordered.
• Bring in loose objects from outside.
• Prepare to secure all windows with shutters or plywood.

No later than when a warning is issued:

• Secure all windows with shutters or plywood.
• Place valuables and important papers in a waterproof container and store on highest floor
• of home.

If you are told to evacuate:

• Follow all instructions from local officials, and leave immediately when told to do so.
• Bring emergency supplies listed above.
• Bring copies of important papers such as insurance policies and list and photos of your home’s contents.
• Bring blankets, sleeping bags, books, and games.
• Unplug appliances, turn off electricity and main water valve.
• Lock windows and doors of your home.
• Go!

If you are not told to evacuate:

• Stay at home! Leave the roads available for those who must evacuate.
• Clean bathtub with bleach, fill with water for washing and flushing (not drinking).
• Set fridge to maximum cold and keep closed.
• Turn off utilities if told to do so by local officials.

During a Hurricane

• Go to an interior room on the lowest level of the structure in which you’re taking shelter.
• Stay away from windows and doors, even though they’re covered with shutters or
• plywood.
• During extremely strong winds, lie under something sturdy such as a stairwell or large piece of furniture.
• Do not go outside, not even during passage of the eye. If the eye passes directly over you, the winds could become very weak, but only for a very short period. It will not be long before hurricane-force wind resume, blowing from the opposite direction as before the eye arrived.

After a Hurricane

• Help might not come for up to a few days, and power could be out for days or even weeks.
• Avoid driving on roads covered by water and/or debris. It is often difficult to determine the depth of water covering a road. Turn around, don’t drown.
• Avoid downed power lines. Stay away from objects that are touching a downed power line, such as a fence or tree.
• Do not touch anything electrical if you are wet. Stay out of water that could be touching anything electrical, such as in a basement with electrical appliances, or in flooded areas outside where there could be downed power lines.
• Only use a generator in an outdoor, well-ventilated area, and closely follow manufacturer’s instructions. Many people have died in the aftermath of a hurricane from inhalation of poorly ventilated carbon monoxide from a generator.
• Use flashlights instead of candles for light. Candles pose a serious fire hazard.

Hurricane Home Prep

Protect Your Home from Hurricane Damage

Hurricanes are like no other storms on earth. From Maine to Texas, and in Hawaii, these ferocious weather systems bring torrential rain, flooding, storm surges and devastating winds that damage homes, destroy treasured keepsakes and disrupt family life. You don’t have to be blown away when a hurricane hits. It’s never too early to prepare and you can take several basic steps right now to protect your family and your home from disaster.

First Things First

Find out if your home meets current building code requirements for high-wind regions (for example, the International Residential Code, which is promulgated by the International Code Council). Experts agree that structures built to meet or exceed current model building codes’ high-wind provisions have a much better chance of surviving violent windstorms.

If you’re handy with a hammer and saw, you can do much of the work yourself. Work involving your home’s structure may require a building contractor, however, or even a registered design professional such as an architect or engineer.

When Working Outside

• Replace gravel/rock landscaping material with shredded bark.
• Keep trees and shrubbery trimmed. Cut weak branches and trees that could fall on your house.

When Building or Remodeling

 

Windows: If you are replacing your existing windows, install impact-resistant window systems, which have a much better chance of surviving a major windstorm. As an alternative to new window systems, install impact-resistant shutters that close over window openings to prevent flying debris from breaking windowpanes.

Entry Doors: Make certain your doors have at least three hinges and a dead bolt security lock with a bolt at least one inch long. Anchor door frames securely to wall framing.

Patio Doors: Sliding glass doors are more vulnerable to wind damage than most other doors. If you are replacing your patio doors or building a new home, consider installing impact-resistant door systems made of laminated glass, plastic glazing or a combination of plastic and glass. When a hurricane threatens, an easy, temporary and effective step is to cover the entire patio door with shutters made of plywood or oriented strand board (OSB).

Garage Doors: Because of their size, garage doors are highly susceptible to wind damage. A qualified inspector can determine if both the door and the track system can resist high winds and, if necessary, help replace them with a stronger system. Garage doors more than eight feet wide are most vulnerable. Install permanent wood or metal stiffeners. Or contact the door manufacturer’s technical staff for recommendations about temporary center supports you can attach and remove easily when severe weather threatens.

Roofs: If you are replacing your roof, take steps to ensure that both the new roof covering and the sheathing it attaches to will resist high winds. Your roofing contractor should:

 

• Remove old coverings down to the bare wood sheathing.
• Remove enough sheathing to confirm that rafters and trusses are securely connected to the walls.
• Replace damaged sheathing.
• Refasten existing sheathing according to the proper fastening schedule outlined in the current model building code for high-wind regions.
• Install a roof covering that is designed to resist high winds.
• Seal all roof sheathing joints with self-stick rubberized asphalt tape to provide a secondary moisture barrier.

If you want to give your roof sheathing added protection, but it’s not time to reroof, glue the sheathing to the rafters and trusses. Use an adhesive that conforms to Performance Specification AFG-01 developed by APA — The Engineered Wood Association, which you can find at any hardware store or home improvement center.

Gables: Make certain the end wall of a gable roof is braced properly to resist high winds. Check the current model building code for high-wind regions for appropriate guidance, or consult a qualified architect or engineer.

Connections: The points where the roof and the foundation meet the walls of your home are extremely important if your house is to resist high winds and the pressures they place on the entire structure.

 

• Anchor the roof to the walls with metal clips and straps (most easily added when you replace your roof).
• Make certain the walls are properly anchored to the foundation. A registered design professional can determine if these joints need retrofitting, and a qualified contractor can perform the work the design professional identifies.
• If your house has more than one story, make certain the upper story wall framing is firmly connected to the lower framing. The best time to do this is when you remodel.

When a Hurricane Threatens

You can improve the odds of your home surviving high winds by taking these precautions, but you won’t make it hurricane-proof. Nor do these measures guarantee your safety. Take these additional steps to protect yourself and your family as fully as possible:

 

• Become familiar with your community’s disaster preparedness plans and create a family plan. Identify escape routes from your home and neighborhood and designate an emergency meeting place for your family to reunite if you become separated. Also establish a contact point to communicate with concerned relatives.
• Put together an emergency kit that includes a three-day supply of drinking water and food you don’t have to refrigerate or cook; first aid supplies; a portable NOAA weather radio; a wrench and other basic tools; a flashlight; work gloves; emergency cooking equipment; portable lanterns; fresh batteries for each piece of equipment; clothing; blankets; baby items; prescription medications; extra car and house keys; extra eyeglasses; credit cards and cash; important documents, including insurance policies.
• Move anything in your yard that can become flying debris inside your house or garage before a storm strikes.
• If a hurricane threatens, follow weather and news reports so you know how much danger you’re facing. Obey evacuation orders from local authorities.

Review your homeowners insurance policy periodically with your insurance agent or company representative to make sure you have sufficient coverage to rebuild your life and home after a hurricane. Report any property damage to your insurance agent or company representative immediately after a natural disaster and make temporary repairs to prevent further damage.

For information about filing an insurance claim after a natural disaster, contact your insurance agent or insurance company.

Source: Institute for Business and Home Safety. IBHS is a national nonprofit initiative of the insurance industry to reduce deaths, injuries, property damage, economic losses and human suffering caused by natural disasters

Hurricane Survival Kit

Zombie survival gear - what would save your life ?

Zombie survival is a subject that makes a lot of people laugh.. but what if it would happen ? Can you be the hero from the movies that will stay alive and get rescued ? or will you be just one of the zombies because you weren’t prepaired to face this kind of disaster ?

There are in fact zombie survival gear packs and survival kits that will make your life easier and could save your life in case this kind of disaster strikes. The cost may vary from $100 going up to $24.000 depending on what items you’ll receive. At the same time you could build your own zombie survival gear pack, but you should document yourself about what you’d need in case of a zombie attack.

Many of the items from the zombie survival gear pack are the ones that are needed in case of any other disaster. So if you have a survival kit inside your home, many of the tools inside it would be useful in case of a zombie break out:

• You will need long shelf life food and water to prevent starving;
• You will of course need a first aid kit, to treat any wound or disease until medical help can reach you;
• Your survival kit should have tools for building a shelter;
• You should have lighting and fire starter items;
• Items to signal your position would also be very helpful.

Of course a zombie survival gear will aditionally have some defensive items. If you have permit and you can afford one, a fire gun will be a nice addition to your zombie survival gear pack. A sword or a machete will also be a great addition to the zombie survival kit. You know from the movies that if you finish your bullets, you need something else to defend yourself with.

A very important thing to remember when stacking weapons inside your home is to keep them well hidden and out of reach for your children. You don’t want one of your kids to find a weapon and play with it. Also, if you have a sword or a machete, learn how to use it. Machetes especially, being heavy, could injure you when you try to hit something.

Your zombie survival checklist should also have a radio that can be used to make contact with other survivors seeing that the phones won’t work for sure.

Another item that shouldn’t be missing from your pack is anything that would distract the zombie herd, when needed, like a device that can be thrown away and make noise from distance.

Some survival pros advice you to get ear plugs so you won’t hear the zombie noise. I personally don’t agree with this advice. You really don’t want to be surprised by a zombie because you can’t hear it coming. It’s up to you to make your zombine survival pack to suit your needs. Don’t forget to add some entertainment items like playing cards and a novel.

If you have all of the above in your survival kit, do some zombie survival training and you’re ready to survive any zombie outbreak.

Zombie survival gear - what would save your life ?

Is it important to have a survival gear list ?

Here is an interesting question: Is it important to have a survival gear list when thinking about emergency survival ? Anything in life, if done methodically can have a bigger success. It’s the same with the survival tools. Having a well done survival gear list will ensure you have everything you need inside your pack during a disaster. Spend as much time as you need to think of the items that will fit best in your survival gear and put them on the list. You shouldn’t get more in your survival pack than what you can actually carry. But at the same time, be prepaired !

So what would a good survival gear list contain ? Your list should be designed to protect you form the disasters that are most likely to strike close to you, or the ones that could damage you and your family in any way. So when near a volcano, prepaire for a volcanic eruption first. Other than that, the survival gear list should contain the following essentials, before anything else:

• Food and water supplies that have a long shelf life and will be enough to keep all of your family members fed for three days or more;
• A first aid kit, containing bandages, pills for all kinds of pain, disinfectant and anything else that could ensure your health during a disaster;
• Tools to make a shelter, defend yourself, hunt if needed and cook your food;
• Lighting and fire starting items, to signal your position in case help is coming, keep warm and so on;
• Clean clothing and shoes;
• personal items (clean is healthy);
• Entertainment items, to make the time pass faster.

When doing your survival gear list, make it in the checklist style and always mark the items that you already got. Also, talk to a specialist when making your gear list. Make a list with his help, compaire the lists and see what items are missing from any of the lists.

Always update your checklist with new items that you think will fit best in your survival gear pack. Browse the internet and any other media for information about the best survival kit. Periodically check your survival pack to see if the food and water is still ok to consume. Don’t forget to taste the food and water that you are planing to keep in your survival gear kit and make sure you and your loved ones like the taste.

Don’t stack a lot of tools that do the same thing, always look for devices that perform a lot of tasks, are light and easy to use. Stack yourself with batteries and any other items that are perishable. Go throught the survival gear checklist at least two times, to check that you’ve bought everything you’ll need and don’t forget to show your loved ones how every tool in the kit works, where is its place in the pack and so on.

And as a final advice, the survival gear list can wait. Even though you need to know that your loved ones will be safe in case of a disaster, don’t neglect the present, to think about the future and try spending time with your family first, and then prepaire for a disaster that could never happen.

Is it important to have a survival gear list ?

This weeks topic - Camping Essentials

So you’re planning a camping trip but you want to keep it safe ? Well here’s an article from which you might learn a thing or tow. We`ll talk about the camping essentials that you must take in the camping trip.

There are some things you need to think of, before going into the nature. You should think of where you want to go camping, for how many days and in what conditions. Check out the weather forecast for the days in which you’ll be on the camping trip, a few days before the trip and a few days after it. Why check the forecast for the days before and after the camping trip ? The weather before the trip will tell you how the nature will look like when you arive at the camping spot. The ground could be wet, after a rain, after a cold weather the frozen ground could give you the flu, and so forth.

Check the weather forecast for the days after the camping trip because you never know what will happen during the trip. Some situations might require you to stay a couple of days more before you can leave, or worse, you could have to wait some days before help arrives to save you. Always think of the worse and plan accordingly, but hope for the best. Your camping essentials should be planned according to the weather you’re going to face. So if cold weather is said to come, get some extra clothes, some blankets, tools to make a warm drink and so on.

When thinking of the camping essentials, always start with food, first aid kits and shelter tools. These are in fact the things that will keep you alive when needed.

When thinking about food, get something that will last for the whole camping period and another two to three. Some long shelf life cans and some raw food that can be cooked with the tools you’ll bring would do just fine. Another important aspect is to bring with you food that doesn`t emanate a lot of smell. You don`t want all the nearby animals to come for diner.  Another important aspect is to bring with you food that you and your loved ones like to eat. Try the food before you go on a camping trip, don’t just trust the label that shows a happy family eating it.

In your camping essentials a first aid kit is a must. Getting wounded when in nature, away from medical assistance, can be fatal. You should have some type of disinfectant, bandages, pills for different types of pains and of course medication for the family members that are on treatment.

The shelter tools should be within your camping essentials also. You learned how to make a fire with sticks, well that’s just fine, but you should get a lighter too. Get a professional knife also. Not only for deffensive purposes but also to help you make shelter and repair tools, prepaire your food and so on.

Make a list and stick to it. Plan each step and get every tool that you think you’ll need from the beginning to the end of the trip. And most importantly, don’t think only of camping essentials. Get some entertainment items, like playing cards. Think of all the other trips you went in and see what you should have taken. At the end of the trip you`ll see that it’s better to have taken too much luggage than have a camping essential missing.

This weeks topic - Camping Essentials

Don't neglect the survival training

When prepairing for disaster survival, while prepairing your survival kits, don’t forget about the survival training. This will help you in day by day activities as well, it’s a nice way to stay in shape and always be prepaired and can someday change your life.

But what does survival training refer to ? It usually consists of three main parts:

• The first part is all about knowing your equipment, knowing how to use each one of your tools, when to use it, what to pack when evacuation is imminent and what to pull out of your backpack when a given obstable stands in your way. You should train at opening cans, starting a fire, bandaging a wound, pulling your pocket weapon for defense, making a shelter and so forth. Doing these actions fast and with ease will save you precious time in a disaster scenario.


• The second part of the survival training is prepairing for a scenario in which you don’t have survival gear at your disposal. Learn to survive in nature, use the terain, find tools to make a fire, hunt, make a shelter and so on. A disaster isn’t always announced, so you can’t be 100% sure you will get to your survival kit in time. It’s vital for you to train for outdoors survival.


• The third part of the training consists of the physical training. Persons with good body muscles can defend better, carry shelter items to the camp, hunt better and so forth. Also the agility is very important. There are scenarios in which running will be the only solution, so train your legs too. When training your body also train your mind. Learn how not to lose focus. Be prepaired to automotivate yourself. There might be no one there to do it for you.

Try to talk your family into training for survival with you. Don’t think that you will always protect your family. Think that there is a possibility for the family to split up. Don`t deny their chance of survival and teach your loved ones everything they need to know to survive.

A good example of what survival training can do for you is Bear Grylls. Everything that he does was practiced on and on, and I bet that you would like to be next to him when a disaster occurs.

Don’t be overconfident and try training on a daily basis if it is possible. Do some periodic drills and if you want a fun way to check your training, take your family in camping trips. Take everything you need with you but try to use as few items as possible from your survival gear.

Also don’t forget to try the long shelter life food from your pack. You really don`t want to find yourself in disaster scenario where the food in disgusting. Don’t forget: You don’t get a bonus for the lack of comfort.

Keep training for your survival, and do it in a fun way. Make nature your friend and you will be one step closer to surviving a disaster.

Don't neglect the survival training

Survival Gear - Buy Or Build Your Own ?

Intro in Survival Gear

We will keep stressing about the importance of a survival kit or any kind of survival gear inside your home, no matter if you know of any disaster happening anywhere soon or not. But don`t forget, it`s vital that you buy survival gear that covers all your needs in case of a disaster.

Don`t forget about your every day needs, don`t forget that uring a disaster you won`t be able to buy anything, you will have to use whatever you`ve got.

Buying or Building Your Own Survival Gear ?

If you know what to do, it really doesn`t matter. Building a survival kit will eventually mean buying some items. So when thinking about a survival gear, think about these factors:

When Building a Survival kit

One of the most important factors is to make a plan. Create a checklist and stick to it. Get the items one by one, and eliminate the bought things from the list. When the survival kit is finished, check it again. You never want to find out too late that you didn`t pack any long term food. When you think you have enough, get more. You never know how long a disaster will last. Even if you are building a survival kit by yourself, you should talk to a professional, ask for his help for building the checklist.Think about building an enforced shelter. Use some experienced workers, don`t just build it on your own if you don`t have some experience in the construction field.

When Buying a Survival Kit

Buy survival gear from a reliable, well known store. For online shops we`ll encourage you to use World End Shop. Use money you don`t need (You remember, spend money on the present and after that think about the future), but don`t be cheap when it comes to the survival gear you`re buying. Get a few items that will really help you, instead of a bunch of boxes full of useless items.

Think about how many loved ones you have to protect and buy items accordingly. You can go online and find shelter builders. Pick one that has some very great reviews. It won’t very cheap, so you`ve got to make sure you pick the right team of builders. They will take care of everything, you just have to pay. You don`t need a real army bunker, just something enforced, to keep you protected from the known disasters. Get all of your bought survival gear inside the shelter.

Buy Survival Gear or build it piece by piece all by yourself because it’s important, regardless of how you acquire it. You will find out how important survival gear is, when you outlive your first disaster. Personally I`ve gone through 2 earthquakes and a flood, but who knows ? Maybe there are some more disasters to come. I`ve used and rebought my survival gear, it worked amazing.

Think about the fact that tomorrow can be the start of a newer Earth, one with less people. Wouldn`t you want to be one of the survivors ?

Survival Gear - Buy Or Build Your Own ?

The Survival Gear – Assistance Next To The Red Cross Services

A Unique Tool Bestows The Competence Over The Disaster

The world consists of the 70 % water and several landscapes below the sea level and hence the risk factor is high in major points. There is also array of earthquake belts across the world and the often storms and Tsunami countered the various regions. Currently, the world populaces have well informed through the emergency awareness programs and top survival gear. Even though they are prepared with the iron, plastic and rubber, but they provide the life saving during the uncertain occurrences. The Government utilizes the aircraft, space crafts and life boats for assist the populace during the emergency periods. It is every citizen duty to merge in the disaster preparedness and knowing to handling the survival gear without any difficulty.

Ensure Your Re-life Through The survival gear:

The survival gear equipped with the ground breaking techniques and it available as a package- survival kit. It provides the basic facilities for the people who need it during the emergency. There are several kinds of sizes that consist of various supplies and equipments to deliver an individual through fundamental shelter against the uncertain. It provide the facility to sustain the warm, carry on health through the first aid requirements, deliver food and water, the indication to rescuers and helping them in identifying their path back to assist. The survival gear generally consists of a knife, match boxes, first aid kit, kerchief, hooks, sewing equipments and a flash light.

The Red Cross makes the emergency preparedness through the various awareness campaigns and the main mission of this survival gear is save the life of the populaces at any cost. Hence, they equipped with quality and easy to portable. The survival kids manufactured for both normal and special type and according to your requirement and size you can purchase the suitable one. This kind of gear bestows the secured and healthier life even in worse scenario.

The Survival Gears- One Of Your Family Member

The array of survival gear such as cotton balls, tube tent, blanket, tarp, cig lighter, gas fuel in bottle, bandages, sterilize pads, syringe, antibiotic lotion, surgical blades, aspirin, canned food,  purified water, powerful LED light, Laser pointer along with the lithium battery built in, multipurpose gears and so forth.  The Swiss Army knife, candles, trash bags, sanitary napkins, life jackets, high calorie substance and fire extinguisher are imperative survival gear package that stored in not only in the commercial points but also in every home since life is precious .

The Unexpected Can Overcome Through The Expected Survival Gear

There is a myth about the survival gear is the purchasing the survival gear is a not good sign and it is believed due to the conventional and orthodox. The word “fire” never deliver the burn while resonate it, likewise owning and knowing the working, handling the life gear never cause the misfortune. In addition, educate our entire family members about the survival gear box location at your home and also the handling method.

The Survival Gear – Assistance Next To The Red Cross Services