Help Your Pets in a Disaster

If you are like many people, your pet is very important to you. The likelihood that you and your animals will survive an emergency such as a fire or flood, tornado or terrorist attack depends on your emergency planning. Some of the things you can do to prepare is assembling an animal emergency supply kit and developing a pet care buddy system with friends or neighbors. Whether you decide to stay during an emergency or evacuate you will need to make plans for your pets in advance. Be prepared with emergency food and water for at least three days, maybe longer. Depending on the type of emergency it is also a good idea to have a pet first aid kit on hand.

Tip:
Have a picture of you and your pet together. If you become separated from your pet during an emergency, a picture of you and your pet together will help you document ownership and allow others to assist you in identifying your pet. Include detailed information about species, breed, age, sex, color and distinguishing characteristics

It’s Official, It’s Hurricane Season

Hurricane wreckage

Well Hurricane Season is here again!! It officially began on June 1st. The season runs from June 1st through November 30th. This in no way means that one can’t happen in May or November. Since the frequency of tropical development in June normally does show a small increase, June 1st is the  official starting point.

There have  actually been some big hurricanes in June, like Hurricane Agnes and Audrey, both of which were very devastating storms. Audrey reached Category 4 intensity making it the strongest June hurricane on record. Then there was Hurricane Agnes, which produced unprecedented flooding from Virginia to upstate New York.

In June, Atlantic Basin tropical storms are most likely to form in the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean and just off the Southeast coast of the United States. Storms are unlikely to occur through the central and eastern Atlantic this early in the season, since sea surface temperatures are below the minimum for a storm to develop.

The names for this year’s storms have been released. They include Bill, Fred, Kate and Mindy, they don’t sound too scary….but as you know, one or more of these names may become synonymous with destruction and death. We have already had our first tropical depression of the year. So we’re off to a quick  start!

No matter if we have 1 or 10 Hurricanes, it is so important that you get prepared early, and be ready. If you live in hurricane country along the gulf coast or eastern seaboard, you should have at least a 72 hour survival kit, hopefully more.  Make sure you have a stock of emergency food, water and emergency supplies to help you survive the storms when they come. (and they will).

We must be prepared before a Hurricane hits, all the supplies in the world won’t help you if they are still at the store!!

Visit http://www.survivalgearsource.com and get yourself prepared today!

What to do, to avoid Swine Flu

What not to do, to avoid Swine Flu

Do not lick pigs!!!!!!!

I couldn’t resist!!!

Survival in Economic Chaos

As mentioned in our last article, ‘2008…Possibly one of the deadliest years in history’, 2008 left behind somber communities with natural disaster after natural disaster devastating countries throughout the world. However, 2008 was an unforgiving year for our nation in other ways, too, as our economy continued to fall apart. Unemployment lines are getting longer, American faith is diminishing, and counting every penny of every dollar is becoming crucial for many families.

Every American has one very earnest thought lingering in their mind, ‘What’s next?’
Feelings of uncertainty and uneasiness can be read on the faces of individuals and families alike without the need for a single spoken word.  The truth is, things will probably get worse before they get better…how much worse is the question that perhaps no one has a definite answer to.

It is certain that the future cannot be foreseen, but it is undeniable that change is ahead of us, and hopefully that change is a positive one brought about by a new President and a new outlook. However, while some of us wait patiently for that change to take place, others may panic in the process. A question one may want to ask themself is, ‘What will I do if riots and chaos ensue? How will I protect my family? How will I fend for myself?’ Chaos is the natural order of the world, not calm, but that should not be a reason to fear, rather a reason to prepare.

Panic may stem as a result of a shortage in food and water with people relentlessly raiding grocery stores, it may occur after a government estimation of how long it will take to turn things around, it may transpire as those left without jobs and income realize how long they will have to wait before their first unemployment check arrives.

Calamity may or may not be approaching us, but while we hope for the best, it is imperative that we prepare for the worst. No one will look out for you or your family other than you. Begin making preparations today by equipping yourself with a survival kit including emergency food which is storable, blankets, a survival guide, and other essential survival  tools.  It is advisable to also invest in a  water purification system lest there become a water shortage or to overcome potential water contamination. Survival equipment will allow  you to be self-reliant and can alleviate the stress that comes with unpreparedness. Allow yourself a good night’s sleep  knowing that you’ve prepared yourself and your family by becoming proactive in your safety. Preparedness puts the control back where it belongs…in your hands.

2008…Possibly one of the deadliest years in history

Only a few months ago we stood in the year 2008, a year that allowed us to witness many events, some good, some bad and others unimaginable. 2008 paved the path for an economic decline yet also a hopeful outlook as America elected its first black President.

A reflection on 2008 also reminds many of the devastation’s caused throughout the world by natural disasters such as Cyclones, Earthquakes, Typhoons and Storms. These curve balls thrown by Mother Nature left over 220,000 people dead, many injured, countless homeless and billions of dollars worth of property damages.

The calamities of the past year were the most costly in terms of financial damage and the count of fatalities although there were less natural disasters than in 2007..

Some of the most notable natural disasters include Cyclone Nargis in May 2008, which pummeled Myanmar leaving millions homeless and killing more than 135,000 people and then a jolting Earthquake that left thousands dead, many people missing and millions homeless in the Sichuan province of China just a few days later. This Earthquake is also noted as the most expensive disaster of 2008, eliciting 85 billion dollars worth of damages. As Nargis was wreaking havoc on Myanmar, Emma and Hilal were leaving behind billions of dollars worth of destruction in Europe and Typhoon Fengshen was the cause of 557 deaths in China and the Philippines that June. .

October brought with it shattering Earthquakes in Pakistan that left 300 dead while six tropical cyclones clobbered the southern United States, one of which includes Hurricane Ike, with insured losses of 10 billion dollars making it the country’s costliest catastrophe of the year.

Astonishingly, the ten warmest years ever recorded have all occurred in the last 12 years With that being said, it should also be noted that a big contributor to the weather extremes we have been facing is changes in climate and the progressive warming of the atmosphere accredited to greenhouse gases being released by human activity..

These phenomenon’s of nature are frightening yet should stand as motivators in preparing ones self for possible future occurrences, some of which are inevitable depending on where you live. While it is important to know how to react to a natural disaster properly, it is probably more crucial to be proactive, formulating a plan of action and having the resources available to execute it.

While it is true that we cannot control the ways of Mother Nature, we can and should take control of our safety. The reigns of our lives are in our hands, it is up to us what we do with them.

 

Preparing for Disaster with Small Children

Everyday we are faced with challenges, some minimal and some larger than life. It is important to know what to do should you face a challenge, such as a natural disaster.Like many American families, you may have small children at home, so it is important to take necessary precautions to prepare yourself for the worst.

Natural disasters include, but are not limited to Tornados, Hurricanes (see Preparing for a Hurricane), Earthquakes, Fires, Floods, Tsunamis, Volcanic Eruptions, Wildfire, Landslides, and even Terrorism.

To prepare yourself, the first thing you should do is create an Emergency Supply Kit. When putting your kit together, it is important to remember that in case of an evacuation, you may be away from home for a short to long while, and so you should have an adequate amount of supplies. Following is a short list of necessities:

-Drinking Water

-Food(if you are packing canned food, be sure to pack a can opener as well)

-First Aid Kit

-Clothing (keep in mind that weather conditions vary and so it is advisable to pack long-sleeve items, jackets, etc.)

-Medications (if you have a family member with a disability, handicap, or illness, be sure to pack medications and supplies accordingly.)

-Blankets

-Money

-Important papers

As part of your preparation, you should devise a Plan of Emergency, complete with details regarding escape routes, meeting places, ways of communication. If your children are in school, inquire as to whether or not the school has an Emergency Plan should an emergency arise and what this plan entails.

However, most importantly, REMAIN CALM. Your children will look to you for strength and support during a frightening situation.

Quick Tip! – Contact your local chapter of the American Red Cross to find out which hazards can possibly strike your community and what risks or effects may result from it.

What Will YOU Do…?

It is true that we are currently witnessing an economic crisis. It is true that with unemployment rates surging and business owners being forced to either raise prices or cut them to keep their doors open, we’re left wondering what our tomorrow holds and what the future will bring.

As foreclose rates rise, so does the number of home owners worried about how they will make their next mortgage payment. Many lenders are shutting their doors to the public, making obtaining credit and loans nearly impossible. Automakers sit looking out at filled car lots and consumers wait anxiously for someone to cut them a break. Some commercials, courtesy of marketing gurus, insist on having us believe that “things aren’t so bad” while the media reiterates that “this is the worst of times”.

We’ve elected a new President and we all sit with great hope that he will turn things around and provide our nation with economic stability, but we’re all also left with the realization that change will take time. But what are we to do as we wait for this great change to take place?

Amidst the economic crisis, it’s natural to ask yourself ‘What if?’ It’s natural to be concerned about the current state of affairs. You have to ask yourself, what will happen if things take a turn for the worst? Once panic and fear have settled in a person’s mind, it is easy to assume that chaos may follow.

We should always think positively, but we must also think smart. We must assume the risks that come with this downturn in the economy, but more importantly, we must prepare ourselves for the worst. Once upon a time, it was Survival of the Fittest, in today’s volatile economy it’s Survival of the Smartest…Survival of the Prepared.

Southern California becomes the target of wildfire…

Malibu California, known for it’s sandy beaches and home to some of Hollywood’s A-List celebrities is devastated this past Monday as Wildfires engulf the alluring land. Due to hills of dry grasses and it’s boundless forests, California is especially vulnerable to these types of catastrophic wildfires.

Thousands upon thousands of acres of woodland were devoured early Monday morning, with firefighters putting forth exemplary efforts to keep the disastrous wildfire from spreading and attempting to douse the flames.

Sadly enough, it has been recorded that some 1.2 million acres of this country’s woodland burns every year, leaving homeless residents behind, both human and animal.

The recent wildfires in California remind us of an all too common battle, one between man and Mother Nature. And although wildfires can be volatile, as is the case with any natural disaster, it is important to do as much as humanly possible to protect our homes, our family, and ourselves.

Safeguard yourself and the ones you love by keeping an Emergency Supply Kit on hand. Create and practice your family emergency plan, and possibly, the most important thing is to remain informed.

With the daily nuisances of life, it is easy to forget about the uncertainties of the future, however, it is our responsibility to our communities to prevent, plan, and prepare.

[Fact #1: Distressing but true, it is a fact that 4 out of 5 wildfires are caused by humans.]

[Fact #2: Wildfires often begin unrecognized. They spread almost instantly, igniting brush, trees, and homes.]

[Fact #3: Wildfires are described using three specific terms- Surface Fires which burn along the forest floor, moving slowly, Ground fires which are commonly started by lighting and Crown Fires which move quickly along tree tops and spread by wind.]

Remembering 9/11…

Remembering 9/11

September 11th… a day many of us, all nationalities combined, will never forget.

September 11th, 2001 marked the day this country lost a sense of security…a day that our patriotism was put to test and some of our family members, friends, colleagues, and fellow Americans were turned into victims. A normal New York day was transformed into a hellish nightmare that  began as nineteen terrorists hijacked four commercial airliners originally headed for California.

That day the mighty Twin Towers came crumbling down after an intentional collision with American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175. This horrific attack on our country ingenerated 2,974 casualties, a multitude of damage and destruction, and an infliction of pain on every American’s mind, heart, and soul. September 11th  was akin to a bad dream…a dream that showed no sign of ending.

Today, seven years later, the agony of September 11th’s terrorist attacks is as eminent as it was in 2001. It’s a day no American will ever forget…it’s the day we lost lives and perhaps peace of mind.

Although our nation’s security has dramatically tightened and irrespective of the fact that our country’s intelligence officials (such as the FBI and CIA) have been working to establish and implement plans that will allow them to predict and prevent terrorism, it is imperative to secure our safety by invoking our very own Plans of Emergency. An Emergency Plan may include the use of a Personal Terror Protection Kits as well as other anti-terror items like protective suits, and Potassium Iodate for radiation. It goes without saying that preparing ourselves for the unseen and unpredictable future is critical, if not life saving. Take the necessary steps today to free your mind of the possible distress of tomorrow.

Don’t let a day go by that you don’t at least for a minute, remember our lost citizens that died that day 7 years ago, as well as all of the men and women who have died fighting for our country ever since.

Things You Can Do Around Your Home to Prepare for Disaster

• Know where the gas, water and power shutoffs are and have the tools near by to be able to shut them off. It is also a good idea to write down where the shutoffs are so that another family member or neighbor can shut them off if you are not home.

• Make an emergency plan and escape route for your home and practice it with your family. It is also a good idea to make sure children know how to contact 911.

• Fasten shelves and heavy pictures or mirrors securely to walls, and don’t place them over beds or couches.

• Keep plenty of aluminum foil on hand, it can serve many purposes in an emergency. Also very useful are zip-seal plastic bags, these have many first aid uses, use for insulation, padding, to stop a sucking chest wound. Even if they are not being re-used to hold things after emptied. Remember, depending on the size of the disaster, your supply line may fall apart, and simple things we take for granted may not be available . After a disaster, think twice before throwing something away you might be able to put it to use if you can think out side the box!

• Make sure you have a few large fire extinguishers in your home type ABC, and that everyone knows how to use them.

• Keep a 5 gal. pail with seat/cover, in it store some garbage bags and several rolls of toilet paper. This can be stored easily in a garage or basement and makes an excellent emergency toilet if your home is damaged or there is no water supply.

• Strap gas appliances to walls or the floor, especially the hot water heater. Your water heater is a very good, large source of drinking water. They are also very heavy, if it were to fall it would break the glass lining of the hot water heater and ruin your water for drinking. If it fell, it would also break the gas lines. Gas appliances are the cause of most fires after an earthquake or hurricane.

• Replace solid gas lines with flexible lines for gas dryers, water heaters, stoves and any other gas appliances. (Check with local building codes)

• Install emergency lighting, as well as making sure that you have plenty of portable light sources available

• Keep bleach and ammonia products in separate areas. If they combine they create a very deadly gas.