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!

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.

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.

Hurricanes, Tornado, Bird Flu.. Are You Ready?

Some of the most common disasters are Natural Disasters, such as Hurricanes, Earthquakes and Tornados. If you’re located in an area that is prone to these specific disasters, it is essential to have the proper emergency survival accessories on hand to safeguard yourself and your family. Our accessory kits are specifically customized to meet the challenges you may face during an emergency. They are designed to be used with our 72 hour survival kits, or they can be used on there own.

Our Hurricane accessories arrive in a waterproof container along with a handy, informative Hurricane Survival Guide. Our Earthquake accessories are designed to not only protect you, but to also protect your most important investment, your home.

Now you may be thinking, “Well, what about other types of emergencies? What about diseases and other illnesses?” Don’t you worry, we have you covered! Our Accessory Kits page includes a kit designated for the Avian Bird Flu and also a kit for Hygiene. We understand that while good hygiene is critical to our daily lives, it is even more important to maintain it following a disaster or pandemic. Allow yourself to attain peace of mind by fully preparing yourself. You may not be able to control nature, but you can control how you deal with it.

Here’s to safe living!