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!

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.

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.