As promised in a previous posting on this blog, here is the beginning of a new series with useful information on preparing for--and keeping safe during and after--a wide range of natural and man-made disasters. I call this series: "Unbound Survival!"
The information for this series was distilled from many of the books, magazines, and media on survival and disaster preparedness offered from Unbound Endeavors linked below and information will be updated as new discoveries and developments arise.
Please read this series, use it well, and feel free to contact me with your thoughts!
Springtime and Summertime are times for recreation and fun. During this time in the United States, government-run schools and many private schools let students out for the Summer. Many folks here at this time celebrate Mother's Day, Father's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, picnics, outings, pool and lake parties, beach trips, and so much more. Spring and Summer are among the consummate times for celebrating "Life, Liberty, Property, and the Pursuit of Happiness!"
But as with every other time in life, Spring and Summer also have some unique and regular risks and frequent natural and man-made disasters. For that reason, a rational mind must acknowledge this fact, foresee the possibilities, and prepare accordingly, so that Spring and Summer can continue to be a time for celebration.
Spring and Summer are seasons for extreme conditions, most notably either storms and floods on one hand and extreme heat and drought on the other hand, with tornadoes and hurricanes scattered throughout this time period as well. Fires are also frequent during this period, either caused naturally by hot, dry climate and lightning and/or exacerbated by careless human accident or intentional human evil. Here below are lists of specific things to do before, during, and after these life-threatening conditions. Because heat and floods are ubiquitous throughout Spring and Summer, these two conditions will receive first treatment, followed by the rest:
HEAT
A good overall strategy of preparing for hot weather is to:
* Stay in cool indoor areas or areas with shade.
* Exert as little as possible, and where exertion is necessary, take frequent breaks.
* Wear sunglasses that block out 100 percent of UVA/UVB radiation.
* Wear a ventilated, broad-rimmed hat to both block out much of the Sun and at the same time allow the movement of excess body heat out of the head. (Straw hats are an excellent choice.)
* Wear loose-fitting short-sleeved shirts, loose-fitting shorts, and wear only one layer of clothing.
* Keep hydrated and if necessary, use electrolyte drinks such as Gatorade for adults and older children or Pedialyte for young children.
* Eat foods that require minimal or no preparation, so you don't generate excess heat in your dwelling.
* Because heat brings out insects, wear mosquito and bug repellent suitable for use on the skin. Use citronella, pennyroyal, and fabric softener sheets to repel bugs around your dwelling, as well as mothballs or cedar blocks in closets, wardrobes, chests of drawers, and other places that store fabric, towels, and clothes. Mosquito netting and/or screening would be best for porches, as well as for tent entrances and canvas patio enclosures. On the outside of your dwelling, an electronic bug-zapper would be a welcome addition, as long as it is kept safe from rain and the elements.
* Listen to Weather reports on television and AM/FM radio as well as on NOAA Weather Radio frequencies. Note not only the temperature and the humidity, but also pollen, smog, and ozone levels as well, as these factors can affect health and comfort in hotter months. Pay attention to heat advisories as they arise.
* Because heat can prompt greater air conditioner usage, this can overload the power grid and cause power interruptions known as "brown-outs" and even complete black-outs. To prepare for this possibility, have ready solar-charged, hand-cranked dynamo-powered, and/or battery-operated appliances with freshly charged batteries. These appliances could and should include things like: LED flashlights, LED lanterns, radios, walkie-talkies, CB radios, cellular phones, automobile battery chargers, DC-powered coolers, DC-powered fans, DC-powered pest repellents, DC-powered digital or video cameras, clocks, and many other items powered by DC power.
* A portable AC generator, engine-powered well pump, engine-powered sump pump, fuel, oil, spare parts, and maintenance tools for these items would be excellent, although they must be used sparingly and strictly outdoors to avoid fire and Carbon Monoxide poisoning.
* Non-electric items to have around the household in blackouts could and should include: outdoor grills, outdoor smokers, charcoal, wood, propane tanks if needed, lighter fluid, aluminum foil for cooking and grill lining, canned heat with canned heat stoves, waterproof matches, lighters, Magnesium fire starters, fire tinder, chaffing dishes, grill plates, cast iron cookware, cast iron tripod with pot-holding chain, manual can openers, disposable plastic eating utensils, disposable paper or styrofoam plates and cups, plastic garbage sacks, cooling gel packets to retain coolness in the refrigerator, a hand pump for water, hand tools for home and garden, signal flags, flare gun and flares, signal mirrors, and any other useful item that doesn't require either AC, DC, or engine power.
* Food to consume during a black-out should be ready-to-eat, non-perishable, and require no preparation or minimal preparation with non-electric means of cooking. Cooking should be reserved for perishable items during an extended blackout, and perishables can usually keep for a couple of days in a closed refrigerator with cooling gel packets as well as bowls of ice and salt water placed inside on the shelves.
* There should be in storage a gallon of pure water per person per day for at least a week or more in the event that long-term black-out of power cuts off water pumps for several days. If there's any forewarning of water pump cut-off, bath tubs and sinks should be filled up if possible as a reservoir. Hot water heater tanks can be tapped for water supply in an emergency. Water purification tablets with Iodine or Halzone, neutralizer tablets, pure unscented bleach, filters and pitchers should be kept on hand to purify suspect water supplies from rain, creeks, rivers, or lakes. Water purification filters can also be improvised from funnels with layers of charcoal, pebbles, play sand, and cloth. To save on water use in a black-out, chemical toilets or buckets of sand or kitty litter can be used for urine and solid waste disposal.
* If someone is suffering from red, wrinkled, or peeling skin, they may be suffering from sunburn. To avoid this in the first place, avoid the Sun as much as possible or use the highest SPF of sunscreen available on all exposed parts of the body. If mild sunburn has set in, get the person out of the Sun, wash the skin in cool but not icy water, use burn spray, or failing that, gel from the aloe vera plant, or wet tea bags to sooth the burn. Keep the person out of the Sun, do not burst any blisters and let peeling occur naturally. For more intense sunburn, seek medical attention immediately. For all past cases of sunburn, especially if you see skin tags, moles, or unusual marks on the skin, see a dermatologist and/or oncologist for a diagnosis of risk for skin cancer as soon as possible.
* If someone is suffering from fatigue, paleness, rapid pulse, shallow breathing, cold sweat, or clammy skin, they may be suffering from heat exhaustion. If this is the case and it is safe to move the person, get them to a cool place. If it is unsafe to move, shade the person from the heat of the Sun, lay the person down, raise their feet, loosen clothing, give them sips of cool salt water or electrolyte drink, fan the person, and give them a wet cloth to cool them. Get medical attention for the person as soon as possible.
* If someone is suffering from extremely high body temperature; hot, reddish, dry skin; absence of sweating; rapid pulse; or convulsions, the person may have sunstroke. If this is the case, raise the person's head, reduce the temperature with cool, wet sheets, do not give any stimulants such as caffeine or amphetamines. Get medical attention as soon as possible.
FLOODS
* Prior to floods, know the lay of the land, know the predominant weather conditions in all seasons, and, if and when possible, avoid living in valleys, avoid living near lakes without some kind of break between the lake and your dwelling, and avoid known floodplains. In flood-prone areas, seal up basements with waterproofing compounds, secure entrances and windows to basements with gaskets. Build flood barriers on your property if possible. Elevate furnace, water heater, electrical panels, and other appliances and property endangered by possible flooding. Tape plastic around the caps of any wells, to prevent seepage of hazardous flood waters into the water supply. Get a water alarm to signal when waters may be starting to overflow the basement or other sensitive areas.
* In any event, always have disaster kits in the home and vehicle ready at all times, have bottled, treated, filtered water ready, be ready to boil and filter water from sinks or tubs if needed, always have documents on health, property, and home secured and ready to take with you, always rehearse your plans with friends and family, and have evacuation routes picked in advance.
* Stay aware of weather conditions via AM or Weather Radio. A Flood Watch means conditions are right for a flood. A Flash Flood Watch means floods could happen especially quickly. A Flood Warning means flooding will happen soon and if advised, evacuate immediately. A Flash Flood Warning means quick flooding will happen and, without prompting or warning, EVACUATE IMMEDIATELY!
* If your area is only under Flood Watch or Flash Flood Watch, and if it is safe to do so, secure yard items, outdoor tools, toys, and lawn furniture, plus anchor and tie any boats so that they don't drift away. Be prepared to switch off the gas main valve, the oil main valve, and electrical main switch and the fuse box. Move valuables up in the house to prevent damage if possible. Close shutters, windows, and doors if water is the only danger, but not if there is a tornado as well. Tape windows to prevent waters from breaking glass. If rain, storms, hurricanes, typhoons, cyclones, funnel clouds, or tsunamis appear to be bringing in flood waters or flash flooding, grab your survival kit, grab secured documents, get leashed pets or pets in travel boxes, protect livestock if possible, get in your vehicle if it works, or run, BUT GET TO HIGHER GROUND!
* Sure signs of flash flooding are: rumbling sounds all around, shaking ground, and birds and animals all going away from your area at once. (The latter was reported to have happened during the 2004 tsunami in the Indian Ocean, so be especially aware of animals and their habits during bad weather.)
* If you are caught in a building during a flood, get to the second floor, or if there is no second floor, go to the attic and the roof, carrying your survival kits with you if you have to stay a while. Hang sheets and make signs on the roof to signal rescue teams by air.
* Whether on foot or in a vehicle, both during or after a flood, AVOID FLOOD WATERS! Flood waters can have harmful chemicals, garbage, raw sewage, animal and human waste from toilets and septic tanks, disease microbes, disease-carrying mosquitoes, disease-carrying animal and human corpses, plus flood waters can hide dangerous foreign objects or undercurrents that can take you under and drown you. As little as 6 inches of moving water can knock down a walking person. Thus, flood waters that are even deeper are even more dangerous. Moreover, flood waters can be electrified by downed power lines and, when combined with salt or other electrolytic chemicals, flood waters can conduct electricity even more and can cause a fatal shock. Flood waters with fuel, oil, or other flammables in it, combined with downed power lines, can even catch on fire.
* Driving in flood waters can be especially hazardous. Floods, or even the thinnest layer of water, can loosen oil on road asphalt, causing vehicles that drive in floods to hydroplane and have deadly crashes. Driving in floods can flood brakes and render them useless to stop a crash, as well as damage the electrical system of the vehicle, block the exhaust, and leak dangerous gasses, fuel, and oil into your surroundings. Hidden objects in floods can damage components underneath the vehicle, and pot-holes or sink-holes hidden in flood waters can strand a vehicle or suck a vehicle under water. AVOID DRIVING IN FLOOD AREAS AT ALL COSTS, AND IF A CAR IS STALLED, DON'T STAY IN IT! AGAIN, GET TO HIGHER GROUND!
* After a flood, check yourself and confirm the health and presence of everyone around you. Administer first-aid if necessary to all casualties and alert emergency personnel. Avoid all damaged areas and areas declared a disaster until rescue crews, electricians, utility workers, building inspectors, and law enforcement decide it is safe. Stay out of structures that are still flooded, as the flood waters can hide damages and hazards inside the home.
* Continue to listen to news to find out when conditions are safe to return. When it is safe to return home, record all damage if possible using a time-and-date-stamped still film camera, digital camera, or video camera, so that insurance adjusters and relief workers can know of the damage done. Dispose of all food or water that has come in contact with flood waters. When working through home damage, be careful of roofs, floors, and walls rendered unstable by flood waters. Do not use open flames to search homes, since gas may still be leaking or held in pockets in the home. Use a flashlight instead. Work through the damage using dust masks, gloves, and protective clothing when removing silt or debris after a flood. Wash yourself, change clothes often, and dispose of contaminated clothing. Rebuild your home and septic tanks, cesspools, pits, and drainage/leaching systems as soon as possible. Secure all persons and property from predation by looters.
DROUGHT
* Prior to long-term drought conditions, keep at least one gallon of pure water per person per day for as long a duration as you can manage, as well as water purification supplies should be kept on hand. See the instructions above for possibilities for obtaining emergency water.
* During conditions of drought, use only as much water as needed for personal hygiene; cleaning of your household; hydration of the body; hydration of pets, livestock, and garden crops, and fighting fires.
* If you suspect leaks, have an expert plumber check the plumbing in your house for leakages and make repairs accordingly. This can save you untold hundreds of dollars on your water bill and assure you have enough water for drought conditions.
* During Spring and Summer months especially, make sure all faucets and spigots are turned all the way off and not dripping. This simple act saves much money on the water bill and on the available water supply.
* Do not run water while shaving or brushing teeth. Use only enough water to wet your skin, wet your razor, wet your toothbrush, and rinse your mouth. If you have a shower head, shower instead of bathing. When in the shower or tub, turn on just enough water to lather up, turn the water off, scrub and clean yourself, turn on just enough water to rinse off the soap and shampoo, then turn the water off for the day.
* Save water in the toilet by placing a brick into the back compartment holding the water used for flushing down waste. This will enable the toilet to fill back up while using less water, although it may affect the pressure of the flush. In this case, try to conserve the use of toilet paper to minimize the number of flushes needed to fully dispose of waste. When spraying toilet basin with scrubing toilet bowl cleaner, leave the cleaner in the basin instead of flushing the toilet to rinse the basin. It will do no harm to flush down waste and toilet bowl cleaner in one flush. Make sure the flap inside the toilet is not loose when down and make sure the toilet has no broken porcelain with leaks. Otherwise, the toilet may be wasting water.
* Do not run dishwater only to not use it. Use what is needed to clean your dishes as they are dirtied and no more. Wherever possible during extreme drought conditions, use disposable plastic eating utensils as well as paper or styrofoam plates and cups and throw away when not in use.
* It is within the memory of many people still living today that they once used small pitchers or cups and #10 galvanized wash tubs to take baths. Even in modern times, our soldiers in the wilderness and deserts of Afghanistan, Iraq, and elsewhere, will stay clean by using non-water-based wet-wipe sheets. In conditions of extreme drought, old and modern ways of water conservation hygiene may become a bitter necessity, so plan for this possibility.
* When gardening, use raised-bed intensive gardening techniques, container gardening techniques, hydroponics with re-filtered, recycled water, grey-water irrigation, timed electronic irrigation controls, and inverted carboys or plastic drink bottles to provide sufficient, nutrient-rich, but controlled and frugal irrigation of fruits and vegetables. Contain your raised beds with non-porus materials such as solid brick, water-treated planking, or even used tires. Surround the base of plants with black plastic not only to block out weeds, but also to help retain water in the soil underneath and encourage water in the soil to seep up with the heat absorbed by the plastic. Use rainwater barrels and rain irrigation ditches to supplement water supplies, but also keep the water supplies from going stagnant and drawing insects. Use aerators on water barrels, and use natural predators such as fish, frogs, ladybugs, and spiders to eat insects. Grow marigolds, pennyroyal, onions, garlic, and peppers to repel insects from water supplies. Expect lower or no yields of water-intensive crops such as melons or forgo such crops entirely for the season.
* Provide pets and livestock with adequate water for drinking, but use automatic watering bowls or troughs that dispense water only when water levels are at a certain lower point. Provide as much bath and cleaning water as is needed for healthy coats and skin, but give no luxury baths for pets. Take them swimming instead of giving them luxury baths. Use powders and medicines to prevent odors and flea or tick infestation.
* After a drought is over, try to replenish emergency reserves of water as best as possible and keep emergency containers cleaned out and replenished every six months. Replenish water purification supplies if necessary. Find new space to store even more water for future droughts.
HURRICANES
* Before a hurricane, broadcasts on weather radios will give either a Hurricane Watch or a Hurricane Warning. A Hurricane Watch means that conditions are right for a hurricane, usually within 36 hours, but that a hurricane is not yet present. A Hurricane Warning means that a hurricane is present on the seas and is heading ashore, usually within 24 hours.
* Before a hurricane develops or strikes--and preferably far more in advance--learn of evacuation routes, review disaster preparation plans with your friends and family, decide on place to go out of the hurricane's reach, secure important papers on property and health, and check survival kits at home and in vehicles.
* To prepare your home and yard, board up windows and doors or have storm shutters closed, make sure trees and shrubs are well-trimmed, plus pick up and secure all loose lawn furniture, lawn and garden tools, toys, and any other dangerous loose objects in the yard.
* Secure and anchor any boats on your property and make sure they have repair and disaster supplies.
* Bring in all pets, shelter all livestock, and make sure all animals have food, water, medicine, and a place to go in the event of evacuation.
* Know the location of gas main valves, water main valves, and electricity main breaker switches and fuse boxes and be ready to turn them off before the hurricane strikes.
* Make all necessary transportation arrangements in advance and make sure all vehicles are fully-fueled, in good working order, and fully-provisioned with disaster and repair supplies.
* During a hurricane, listen to television or AM and Weather radio broadcasts on battery-powered or hand-cranked television or radio. Review plans for evacuation and rendezvous with friends and family, ready your disaster kits to leave if necessary, fill bathtubs and sinks for an added supply of safe water, stay away from windows and doors leading outside until you have to evacuate, and remain calm at all times.
* If a hurricane is approaching and you are in a mobile home, RV, high-rise building, on an island, on the coast, on a river floodplain, on an inland waterway, or if you otherwise feel you are in danger, EVACUATE IMMEDIATELY!
* If weather services announce that you should evacuate, SECURE YOUR HOME AND EVACUATE IMMEDIATELY!
* If evacuation is impossible, keep away from windows and doors going outside, keep curtains and blinds closed, turn off utilities.
* After the storm, account for the presence and health of yourself, your friends, your family, and your pets and livestock. Administer first-aid and/or get professional emergency help. When it is safe to return home, account for any and all damage to your property. Take pictures of all damage, preferably with a time-and-date stamped still film camera, still digital camera, or video camera for insurance adjusters and relief workers. Secure your person and property from predation by looters.
* In all circumstances AVOID FLOOD WATERS! See the information above for dealing with floods.
WILDFIRES
* In a wildfire-prone area, before a wildfire strikes, plan ahead with an escape route by car and foot and inform friends and family, keep your survival kits ready both in your home and vehicles, and learn for yourself and teach children the basics of fire safety (e.g. "Stop! Drop! Roll!" when you are on fire.) Keep your car out of any garage and in the direction of your escape route. Keep important papers for your home and health together in a water-resistant, fire-resistant safe. Go for slate or asphalt shingle roofing rather than a cedar or wood roofing on your home. Put a sign with the address of your home on the roof for easy identification of your home from the air.
* Do regular lawn and home maintenance, cutting grass, raking leaves, clearing out brush, cleaning gutters, and setting firewood and flammables at least 30 feet from your home and wood fences. Landscape with fire-resistant hardwoods such as oak or maple, instead of pine, fir, eucalyptus, or evergreen trees.
* Find escape routes in your home as well as on the road. Make sure there are at least two safe ways to get out of the house for everyone, should fire strike the house while you are inside.
* If you have a pool, use a pool draft symbol on the curbside of your home to tell firefighters that it is alright to use the water to put out fires.
* If wildfire is eminent, keep your car turned off, but keep your car keys, survival kits, and important papers ready. Use hosepipe and sprinkler systems to douse and moisten the grounds around your home to minimize the chances of fire getting to your home. Keep listening to the radio for instructions on where to go and where to avoid. Open your home's windows, remove curtains, open fireplace dampers, close fireplace screens, move flammable furniture to the center of the home, shut off your gas main valve and/or fuel oil main valves, then GET OUT!
* If you are in a building that is on fire, crawl low to keep from suffocating in smoke and fumes, cover your mouth and nose with a wet cloth, towel, or handkerchief, or best yet, a dust mask rated N-95 by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH.) Use fire extinguishers rated for all types of fires to put out small fires. Touch doorknobs to see if they are hot, only open if they are cool, and don't open them if they are hot. Hang a bright towel or sheet outside of windows to alert fire personnel. Once out of the flames, get to a safe area and DO NOT go back into a burning building.
* After a wildfire has struck and you have escaped, check yourself and account for the presence and health of everyone around you. Administer first-aid, especially for burns and breathing difficulty and call for emergency assistance. Account for all important documents and when it is safe to return to your home site, document any and all damage to property using a time-and-date-stamped still film camera, digital camera, or video camera. Save the documentation and the pictures for insurance adjusters, emergency personnel, and relief workers. When picking through debris, use sturdy work boots and work gloves, NEVER enter a collapsed building, and NEVER pick up anything still smoldering. Secure all persons and property from predation by looters.
* An added thought on my part: Because wildfires destroy trees and vegetation, this means that wildfires can be a factor in the erosion of the soil when rain, storms, and flooding occur. For that reason, in the aftermath of a wildfire, until man or nature replants trees and vegetation, this means that flooding after a wildfire can potentially cause mudslides. What's worse, water ran through wood ashes forms Sodium Hydroxide or Potassium Hydroxide, the formula for common household lye. This can imbalance the ph in the soil and keep trees and vegetation from growing for a long time. KEEP AWAY FROM AREAS AT RISK FOR MUDSLIDES, ESPECIALLY AFTER A WILDFIRE!
* Also, the lye that is placed into the environment becuse of wildfires and flooding can cause chemical burns to skin, blind eyes, and mangle and distort human flesh beyond recognition. For this reason, in areas where wildfires have occured, keep in mind the procedures for dealing with floods. AVOID FLOOD WATERS, ESPECIALLY AFTER A WILDFIRE!
TORNADOES
* Before a tornado is even in the forecast, have a designated safe area of your home or place of business, preferably below ground, behind a refrigerator, under a pool table, or under a sturdy work bench to avoid flying debris. A windowless room, hall closet, or a bathroom without windows are also safe places. Whenever in a high-rise building, make plans to get into a windowless area of the building. Make plans to GET OUT of mobile homes, gymnasiums, or cafeterias with wide roofs and get to brick structures with windowless areas. Keep yards free of clutter such as lawn furniture, toys, tools, and other potential flying debris during tornado season.
* Listen to AM or Weather Radio stations for news on tornadoes. A Tornado Watch means the conditions are right for a tornado to form within a certain frame of time. A Tornado Warning means the tornado has formed and is in the area. Keep your survival kit ready both in your home and in your vehicles. Secure important documents for your home, property, and health. If possible, open windows in the event that a Tornado Watch is in effect, but don't bother if a Tornado Warning is in effect. With a Tornado Warning, seek shelter instead.
* The moment a tornado warning is issued by weather authorities, get to the designated shelter area of your home or place of business with your survival kit. If you are driving, pull over, get out of your vehicle with your survival kit, and get to the nearest windowless building. If you are walking outside, get to the nearest windowless building. If there is no windowless building and you are outside, get in a ditch, crouch low without laying down flat, protect your head and neck, and avoid areas that are flooded. DO NOT get under bridges or highway overpasses. Beware also of loose gas lines, fuel lines, and power lines.
* After a tornado strikes, continue avoiding broken glass, flooded areas, collapsed structures, gas lines, fuel lines, and power lines. Check yourself and account for the presence and health of everyone around you. Administer first-aid if necessary and/or call for emergency assistance. If anyone is unconscious, check for signs of breathing and pulse, and if there are no such signs, administer mouth-to-mouth resuscitation or CPR. Do not attempt to move an unconscious person except to avoid greater danger that might result if the person is not moved. If you must move an unconscious person, stabilize the neck and back first, then call for help immediately. Keep the temperature of the unconscious stable with blankets, but avoid overheating.
* Record all damage to property using a still film camera, digital camera, or video camera, with a time-stamp feature if possible. Have all documents for your home, health, and property ready for insurance adjusters and emergency personnel. Do not enter a building that is off of its foundation or with walls and ceilings that could collapse. Wear sturdy work boots and gloves when picking through debris. Secure all persons and property from predation by looters.
* Since tornados and thunderstorms often go together, the possibilty of flooding can occur along with tornado conditions. For that reason, always abide by the information above about dealing with floods. AVOID FLOOD WATERS!
In summary, have fun this Spring and Summer, but do so by anticipating possible seasonal-related disasters and planning accordingly to avert them, survive them, and come out triumphant over them.
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