Various types of natural disasters happen around the world every day. While you can make general preparations for emergencies, there are plenty of specific things you’ll need to do to ensure you and your family weather a crisis safely. Here’s how to properly prep your home for any event.
General Preparations for Sheltering in Place
When a disaster strikes, you’re generally going to do one of two things. You’re either going to shelter in place, or you’re going to evacuate. What do you need to make sure you have on hand if you’re staying in place?
- Food: Have at least a few days’ worth of nonperishable foods available, as well as tools for cooking if electricity is off.
- Water: Store at least three days of water for each person and animal in your household, as well as the means to purify more if necessary.
- First-aid and medicine: Keep a fully stocked first-aid kit and a supply of any necessary prescription and over-the-counter medications.
- Hygiene: Toilet paper, toothpaste and toothbrushes, soap, and other hygiene supplies will be necessary, especially if you can’t make a trip to the store.
- Alternative power sources: If the electricity goes out, you’ll need alternative sources to charge phones and power appliances.
- Fuel: Make sure your car’s tank is full, and have some gasoline stored in case gas stations are inaccessible. If you use a generator, you will also need fuel for that.
- Ammo: If you have firearms in your home, make sure you’re stocked up on ammo, just in case.
- Lighting: If the power is out, you’ll need alternative light sources. Stock up on flashlights and batteries.
- Cash: ATMs will likely be inaccessible, and if stores are open, they may not be able to run debit or credit card transactions. Having cash will make it easier for you to get the things you need.
- Pandemic supplies:Due to recent events, it’s also recommended to add masks, gloves and sanitizer to your emergency kit, especially if you’re going to be leaving the house.
If you’re sheltering in place, having these things on hand will make the situation easier to bear, especially if it takes a while for things to get back to normal.
General Preparations for Evacuations
If you’re in the path of a dangerous natural disaster and it isn’t safe to shelter in place, your only other option is to evacuate to a safer locale. In these events, you’ll want to ensure you have everything listed above stored in your vehicle, as well as:
- A change of clothing: You’ll need at least a few changes of clothing for each person in your family. Ensure they’re appropriate to the season.
- Important documents: Birth certificates, car and house titles, insurance policies, and any other essential documents should be included in your evacuation kit. Keeping electronic copies of these stored in the cloud is also a good idea.
- An evacuation plan: Before evacuating, make sure you know where you’re going and how you’re going to get there. If your family gets separated, make sure everyone knows where you’re supposed to meet up.
- Anything you can’t live without: include pictures, irreplaceable items and items with sentimental value in your evacuation kit, especially if your home might be damaged or destroyed.
These are very general suggestions for what you might need to help you make your way through a natural disaster. Let’s take a closer look at specific threats and what you need to do to prepare for them.
Prepping for Hurricanes
Coastal areas along the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico are prone to hurricanes — massive storms that can deliver rain, storm surge and winds that range anywhere from 74-155 mph. If you’re unprepared, these storms can be devastating.
If you’re sheltering in place:
- Clean up your yard and remove anything that could become flying debris in high winds. This includes lawn furniture, potted plants and any other ornamentation you have in your yard.
- Trim tree branches away from your home, and remove any dead limbs that could fall and cause damage.
- Cover any large windows with plywood or storm shutters.
- Be prepared for extended power outages.
- Pay close attention to local weather reports and the path of the storm so you can determine whether evacuation will be necessary.
If you have to evacuate — either because you live in a mobile home or a flood zone:
- Shut off water and power to your home before leaving.
- Ensure you have everything you need, because it may be some time before you’re allowed to return.
- Follow your outlined evacuation route and keep moving until you’re out of the path of the hurricane.
- Find somewhere to shelter and ride out the storm.
Hurricane season starts on June 1 and lasts until Nov. 30, so it’s a good idea to start preparing before the first storms start popping up on the radar.
Prepping for Tornadoes
Unlike with hurricanes, you don’t generally get a lot of warning before a tornado strikes. According to the NOAA, the average lead time for a tornado warning is only 13 minutes. That means you need to be ready anytime the weather turns foul, and have everything you need to survive this natural disaster.
- Know where you’re going to ride out the storm. In areas that are prone to powerful tornadoes, this will likely be shelter or basement. In areas where these aren’t common, you need to get to the center of your home, as far away from any windows as possible.
- Stock your shelter with emergency supplies. This will be essential if you find yourself trapped after a tornado by debris piled on your exit.
- Stay informed about changes in the weather and be ready to move at a moment’s notice.
- Be ready for extended power outages, especially if the tornado damages essential infrastructure.
Tornadoes can appear anytime there is a bad storm, so make sure you’re aware of what the weather is doing in your area.
Prepping for Extended Power Outages
Sometimes, even if there isn’t a natural disaster to cause a problem, we may find ourselves without power for extended periods. Depending on the location and the time of year, this can vary from mildly inconvenient to downright dangerous.
For power outages in hot climates:
- Open your windows and try to get as much airflow in your home as possible.
- Stay hydrated. Even if you’re not active, if it’s hot outside, you will need to drink more water to stave off dehydration.
- Spend time outside in the shade. Believe it or not, without power and air conditioning, it will usually be cooler outdoors than in.
- If you use generators to power appliances, make sure they’re positioned outdoors or in a well-ventilated area.
For power outages in cold climates:
- Keep doors and windows closed as much as possible. Your home is designed to keep heat in, so let it do its job.
- Look into alternative heating sources that don’t rely on electricity. This could include furnaces that burn natural gas or pellet fuels, depending on what is available in your area.
- Layer your clothing. Multiple thin layers allow you to add or remove items depending on your comfort levels.
- Clean and maintain your chimney before you need it to warm your home. A clogged or dirty one can be dangerous or even present a fire hazard.
In both climates, you’ll want to have a supply of nonperishable foods or a generator to power your refrigerator to ensure you’ve got enough to eat during this disaster.
Prepping for Earthquakes
We live on a tectonically active planet, which means many areas are prone to earthquakes. If you live in one of these places, it’s generally safe to assume that the building you’re in is rated for quakes. Still, there are plenty of things you need to have inside your home to prepare, including:
- Ride out the earthquake under a large table or another heavy piece of furniture.
- Keep a pair of rubber-soled shoes with closed toes handy. These will protect your feet from broken glass and other damage.
- Secure anything that’s hanging from the walls to keep it from shaking loose, especially if it’s over your bed.
- Secure heavy appliances to wall studs to keep them from tipping over.
- Know where all your utility shutoffs are and be prepared to turn them all off in the event of an earthquake.
- Have a bug-out-bag ready if you need to evacuate your home because the quake rendered it unsafe.
You will have little to no warning before an earthquake, so you must be ready for a disaster and know what you need to keep yourself and your family safe.
Prepping for Wildfires
With the global temperature climbing every year, wildfires are becoming a bigger problem. It doesn’t take much to turn a lightning strike or even a carelessly tossed cigarette into a ravenous blaze that devours and destroys everything in its path.
- Stay informed about the fire, where it’s moving and how much of it is contained.
- Create a firebreak around your property by removing any brush that could allow the wildfire to reach your home.
- Have your evacuation supplies ready.
- Listen to emergency services and first responders. If they tell you to evacuate, do so.
Building a firebreak doesn’t mean you can ride out the fire in your home. It’s to protect your property whether you’re there or not. This is not a disaster where sheltering in place is an option. If you’re told to evacuate, get out, or you’re putting yourself and your family at risk.
Prepping for Heat Waves
Climate change means heatwaves have started to approach natural disaster status. There have been instances in the last few years where it’s gotten so hot in some parts of the world that the pavement started to melt, putting both humans and animals at risk. If your area is facing a dangerous heatwave:
- Stay indoors as much as possible. If you don’t live in an area where air conditioning is standard, stay outdoors in the shade.
- Do not work outside during the hottest hours of the day, usually between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
- Stay hydrated. Dehydration can make heat-related illnesses worse.
There isn’t a lot that we can do to prep for heatwaves, but they will likely become more common in the coming years. All we can do is stay out of the sun and ride them out as best we can.
Prepping for Floods
Flooding is the most common type of natural disaster in the United States. Floods have several potential causes, from hurricanes and storm surge to heavy rains and spring thaws.
- Be aware if your home is in a zone that is prone to flooding. Many cities have a map that details areas that are prone to floods.
- Stay informed about changes in the weather and any potential flood watches or warnings in your area.
- Be ready to evacuate at a moment’s notice.
- Leave before the water starts to rise.
- Shut off the power in your home at the main breaker before you leave.
When it comes to flooding, you might only have a day or two of warning before the rain starts to fall and the water starts to rise, so being prepared can help you keep everyone safe.
Prepping for a Pandemic
Viral pandemics don’t happen often, but they are another natural disaster we need to be prepared for. We’re in the midst of one right now, and many people are finding themselves woefully unprepared.
· Stay home as much as possible, especially if you’re ill.
· Stock up on food, water and first-aid supplies, as well as cold and flu medication. You may not be able to leave the house if lockdowns are put into place.
· Use masks and hand sanitizer if you have to leave the house.
· If someone in your household is sick, try your best to keep them away from the rest of the family. This might necessitate the creation of a sick room.
Until there is a viable treatment, cure or vaccine available for a pandemic, staying home as much as possible is the best thing you can do to prevent the spread of the virus. A flu pandemic can be as little as six months, but for things like the novel coronavirus, it could extend for two years or more.
Be Prepared for Anything
Whether you live in an area that is prone to hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, wildfires or any other natural disasters, the best thing you can do is to be prepared for anything. We never know what Mother Nature is going to throw at us, so if we’re ready for everything, we’ll never be surprised by anything.
Prepping for about any disaster should include maintaining an adequate stock of medicines, vitamins, and supplements.
Living in the Philippines currently, I did not anticipate the mail service and international shipping services to be suspended due to CV19.
Starting to run low on vitamins and supplements. No CV19 on my island, but have been taking plenty of Vitamins C, D3, E, and Quercetin to boost immunity.
Good point, Seth Wayne Anderson! Also that we import vitamins, and trade or other conflicts may interfere with international willingness or ability to engage in exchange. It will take some time for non-producer nations to ramp up production of those items they can begin to manufacture directly. Rare earth mineral mines are another example.
“Climate change means heatwaves have started to approach natural disaster status.”
You lost me and probably many more with that statement. Climate change? Heatwaves? This is one website where we can ignore that nonsense.
Yes, climate change is real. If the earth warms up 2 more degrees, the planet will spontaneously combust turning earth into a miniature sun. Because the earth is warmer now than it has been in a gajillion, quadrillion years.
Just kidding. That is total BS just like man made global warming. The people that push the global warming (climate change) agenda need to take a geology class or two. Then they will know that we are in an interglacial (means between glaciations) period. The earth has a glacial period and then it warms up and the glaciers melt. It gets warmer and warmer and then it starts cooling off going into the next glacial period.
Want proof? Of course! Just look at Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois. How were the Great Lakes formed? Glaciers. Look st the topography of those three states and there is evidence of multiple glaciations that went through those states. Glaciers would advance and then retreat (melt) and then advance again doing thus multiple times. What caused the glaciers to retreat (melt) way back then? Man made global warming? Wooly Mammoths farting creating ozone? Coal burning factories?
Ohhh, but the ‘experts’ say it is warming very fast due to human activity. You want fast global warming? What about an extinction level meteor impact that literally burned entire continents? Now that’s global warming.
Climate change purveyors are ‘Season Deniers’.
Good one Jimbo.
According to NASA ( https://climate.nasa.gov/vital-signs/global-temperature/ ) there has been a total average temperature increase of 1.14 degrees Celsius since 1880. It has not been a steady increase, but has rather varied within a range of 1.41 degrees Celsius during that period. Hardly cataclysmic.
Furthermore, this time period represents an insignificant sample to derive any solid conclusions, less than 2% assuming the “Young Earth” age espoused by many Creationists and approximately.000003% utilizing the 4.5 billion year age accepted by most secular scientists.
Bottom line, while there are undeniable periodic climatological changes, including periods of both warming and cooling, there is no evidence that we are in a significant period of global warming. There is evidence pointing to period of cooling based on reduced solar activity, but that cannot be stated definitively at this point (although I personally find it credible), and there is zero evidence that human activity has a significant effect on climate on a planetary scale.
Exactly
Climate change is a hoax
Readiness is more about mindset than any material item(s) you might acquire. The best preparedness is to constantly ask yourself, “what if I don’t have the things I need handy when the time comes, then what do I do?”, because Murphy says that is exactly what is going to happen when the SHTF comes. Follow the Burt Gummer example of “Doing what I can with what I got…”, cuz you are seldom in the ideal situation when it comes to a crisis situation. Relying on things more than wits will only make you stupid at the wrong time.
Does rioting and looting constitute a natural disaster? Here in Philly we have the National Guard deployed. And this just in re that ammo supply issue:
“The owner of a gun store in South Philadelphia shot and killed an alleged looter who broke in early Tuesday morning.
A group of three or four people cut the lock and kicked in the door at Firing Line, Inc. on the 1500 block of South Front Street around 4:20 a.m., police told reporters. The owner, who told police he was spending the night in the shop due to previous break-in attempts, said he heard the individuals walking up the steps to his second floor store and took matters into his own hands.
“He heard them walking up the steps, and one of the individuals who broke into the property pointed a handgun at him,” Philadelphia police inspector Scott Small told Fox 29. “And that’s when the store owner fired his own weapon, striking the one perpetrator at least one time in the head.”
https://www.inquirer.com/news/philadelphia-protests-looting-gun-store-south-philly-shot-dead-20200602.html
Note the head shot — not to “center of mass” like the gun magazines advise.
Either that was a lucky shot…one does to shoot high when under stress, as well as in periods of low light…or the guys is a phenomenal shot. You’re still better off aiming for center mass under normal circumstances. There’s a reason the military, law enforcement, and every instructor I’ve ever heard of teaches to aim for center mass. That’s your best chance of hitting your target, in addition to reducing the chances of collateral damage.
Should read “tend to shoot high”.
Climate change is an act of nature.
Whether we believe the science that indicates mankind MAY contribute to some of the change, climate change has always and will always occur.
The book “This Blessed Earth” written by Ted Genoways includes some very interesting discussion on the challenge our farmers are having with the crop production and forecasting for future crops. This book was mentioned by another poster on the blog. Thank you.
One relevant thing that is happening right now. Natural cooling should occur with the grand solar minimum. I am not a scientist but I wonder what effect if any this might have on global temperatures.
Once again the worldwide effect on crop production is a real concern.
The article includes some nice lists. One comment I would have on keeping cash on hand.
Small bills are more efficient. Stores may not be willing or able to break large bills and you may end up having to overpay for your groceries. I rat hole ones and fives when I have the opportunity. Within 4 or 5 months you can have 100.00 in small bills set aside.
God Bless
Yes predicting future crops would be difficult. Heck, its tough now. I remember one year we had about half the fields planted and the corn and beans were a few inches tall. Then we got a real hard very late frost. Over 90% of that planting was destroyed. Then a couple years later, a long heat wave combined with a drought resulted in corn that was chest high. Some soybean fields were a total loss with matte two beans in the whole field. In a few fields, the combine would go down and back to have a full hopper. That summer, the combine would make three passes or so before the hopper was filled.
So predicting what crops to grow in the future? I leave that area for people much smarter than me.
We are actually just about to enter a solar maximum time. As in since round about the age of the hockey stick chart we have in fact been dealing with a less active sun. However the is supposed to be this year or next year.
justfish, I agree with you right down the line. To take it one step further, whatever causes climate change, what is happening is real. Just the folks in Australia who witnessed unprecedented wildfires (remember them?).
My preps have nothing to do with the cause of the situation and all to do with adapting to WSHTF.
Carry on in grace
Thank you, Martin B! This is a good overview, and helpful to readers considering the kinds of disasters that can occur, and how to prepare for those events.
We have learned a lot over the years about living in a forested area, and among those lessons has been to keep the tools of tree removal in the truck: think saws! If a tree falls across the road, and there isn’t have a way to drag it off, or drive over the top of it, all movement of a vehicle stops. If you’re in a medical emergency, or escaping a forest fire, travel on foot may not be an option. Access to a fire extinguisher is also a good idea, although it’s not going to resolve a forest fire to be sure!
In fact, the Appalachian Redoubt suffered fires just a few years ago. They were dangerous and devastating. People in the area learned a lot, and all too often the hard way. Some of them were part timers or transplants who love the beauty of this part of the country, but do not understand the dangers. Some of them suffered from normalcy bias and simply could not wrap their minds around very real risk. Some of them were otherwise vulnerable (the very young, the very old, the infirmed). Some were caught quickly, and hadn’t understood the speed at which a catastrophe can unfold.
1) The need to be aware and to pay attention. We need not be hyper vigilant (an unhealthy psychological state for prolonged periods of time), but we can monitor, and be ready to take appropriate actions as needed.
2) Consider points of both entry and egress. We tend to consider how we’ll protect and secure ourselves and our property by enclosure. We must also consider how we’ll escape should that also be necessary. Fire emergency is a great example that helps us look seriously at this question. How will you get out of the house? Or if the fire surrounds your home, how will you escape the affected area?
3) Plan for events that necessitate quick action. We often think about long term planning, but we must also have in mind the need (and ability) to move with speed.
Hope this helps add to the conversation, the development of ideas, and solid action plans for all!
Remain steady. Be safe. Stay well everyone!
One thought about ATMs in a time of crisis. I periodically find the one at my bank out of cash, especially around holidays or on the day the over-privileged get their per cap checks. During the eclipse a few years ago I advised visiting friends to bring cash as I expected all the local ATMs to be drained frequently, and the actual wait for credit card transactions to go through was significant.
About hurricanes and evacuation. I think that if a person follows local authority announcements that it is time to evacuate, you might be already too late. Look at the past hurricanes where people waited until the word got out to evacuate only to spend hours in traffic jams trying to get out of the potential danger area. People were running out of fuel for their vehicles forcing them to abandon their vehicles and its contents. So all those keepsakes and things of sentimental value were left alongside the highway in their vehicles. So, if there is a chance a hurricanesmay hit your area, get out while the getting is good. Announcements be damned. Use your brain, it’s why GOD gave us one.
I like this article in the way that it broke down each type of disaster. How some things would apply to a certain disaster but not another. Example: boarding up the windows in the event of a hurricane. But boarding up the windows in the event of a tornado would most likely prove almost fruitless. Even them, an average of 13 minutes notice of a tornado. Good luck boarding up all the windows including those on the second floor in 13 minutes. I am not sure if the standards have changed over the years but when I was young, we were told to open the windows in the event of a tornado. Supposedly it was to equalize the pressure in the house and the outside which would help prevent the roof from getting lifted off. I am not sure if it’s true or if it’s an old fable.
Again, very good bullet points in this article.
In south Mississippi the average temperature is usually about 10 or 15 degrees cooler than 40 years ago. I remember how hot it was in the summer of 1980. Just some highlights. June of 1980 started off in the low 90’s. By the end of June it was in the mid 90’s. July started in the high 90’s, 97-98. By the middle and end of the month it ranged from 100-to a high of 107. August started in the high 90’s and ended with a high 0f 104. September started in the high 90’s went to the low 100’s and ended cooling off to the low 90’s. Now the temperature seldom reaches 95 and is usually in the low 90’s. I got this information from “The Old Farmers Almanac” weather history.
I lived in central Arkansas that summer, and it really was that hot. Even as a kid it was memorable because it was out of the ordinary. That wasn’t my first summer there, but I remember all the adults talking about the weather that year, because on top of the heat there was no rain to the point that people’s wells were running dry! I don’t recall another year like it.
Good article that is short, well organized, and covers the topic well.
Preparedness is a mindset. That means one is not simply preparing for a disaster, but making it a way of life. I’m overwhelmed in the garden, and working on vehicles. We grow food in anticipation of food shortages. The gardening skills being learned this year will go far to improving production. Yesterday I stripped a vehicle of parts that cost myself nothing, but collectively are worth over a thousand at a junk yard if they could be found there. It is well worth it to have this inventory as there may not be money available for parts, or an automotive parts store withing reach because I will in a remote location, or for when there might be no parts to be delivered to stores. Most replacement parts come from Asia, or the junkyard. Even businesses that provide rebuilt items such as alternators and starters, source their components from Asia, or Mexico. That is No Bueno! It is well worth it to store on your ‘back 40’, a spare and complete vehicle that has been damaged, or no longer operable, and purchased for little more than what a salvage yard would pay the owner.
Prepping is disaster preparedness on a larger scale. Being already self sufficient as possible, we’ll come though most disasters easily, especially if we incorporate alternative, contingency, and emergency plans.
1) Global warming is not a matter of faith — It is a matter of science. Of facts.
What to do about it is a matter of politics –but political discussions should be based on the facts.
2) The Pentagon has recon satellite photos of the Arctic ice cover going back decades. Having 2 million sq kilometers of ice disappear (from 7 to 5) is not merely a story someone is telling:
https://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/charctic-interactive-sea-ice-graph/
(click on recent years and 1979 on right)
3) The last time I checked the Pentagon doesn’t publish leftist claptrap:
https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2019/01/18/dod-majority-of-mission-critical-bases-face-climate-change-threats/
https://partner-mco-archive.s3.amazonaws.com/client_files/1547826612.pdf
4) The thing that worries me about global warming — aside from larger hurricanes on the East Coast and heavy flooding — is Volkerwanderung. Uncontrolled, massive migrations of people fleeing crop failures and water shortages. The USA and Canada are among the few countries who could be self-sufficient in food — Uruguay and Argentina are two others but have to import millions of tons of fertilizers whereas we are probably self-sufficient in fertilizer as well.,
I’m not sure our AC-130 gunships have enough ammo. Look at the EU.
I have lived thru five F3 and F4 hurricanes . Even though you have done your due diligence, your neighbors may not have. If you have an outdoor metal shed it will fly in pieces and take any contents with it. To help keep your shed on the ground get some heavy duty tie down straps and pass them over your shed roof and use twist anchors 12″ in the ground to fasten the straps to.
Get plywood cut to your windows before hand along with anchor screws and stowed away for immediate use. Some storms rotate clockwise and counter clockwise so don’t plan on only covering the front or side windows; cover them all. Depending on your location it may be worth the sacrifice to buy customer metal hurricane shutters.
During off season, find a roof tarp at a good price and stow it away with 1x2x8 wood strips to anchor it to what’s left of your roof. Hurricane carpet-baggers will come by and charge you 5 times what the tarp/wood/anchors normally sell for.
If you have a pool drain at least 12 inches out the pool. If you have french drains in a hurricane they will not drain fast enough and will flood over. Consider have a sump pump and generator near by if weather forecast is for high rain and slow moving wind speeds.
When the power is out for days or weeks, open you windows in the morning beginning about 3 am; then close the windows and pull your blackout drapes closed about 10:30 or 11 am to shut the heat out. This practice will depend on your location and whether you get an ocean or gulf breeze.
Tornadoes often accompany thunderstorms so if this is your weather pattern you need a safe room, a basement or an outside storm shelter. Living in tornado alley without one of these is asking for it. Keep hard hats, bike helmets, baseball helmets or some type of protective head gear, plus long sleeve, hoody sweatshirts near where you will go ride out the storm. Adults and children need to wear strong belts or child harnesses to hold on to each other when the roof and/or walls are blown away.
Hard lessons to learn.
Great points, Animal House! If you live in a stucco home, you’ll need tapcons to anchor into the stucco to secure your pre-cut plywood window coverings. Stores tend to run out of tapcons long before they run out of plywood, so plan ahead. You will need a whole box at least, for an average home. Be sure to have 2x4s that you can secure across any doors that might blow IN. (Doors that open inwards no longer meet code in many hurricane prone states.) Have a large diameter hose that you can use as a siphon to move water from a flooding area (like your backyard) to a lower elevation (like the street). Once a storm has passed, wear rubber boots, use a stick, and clear grates over storm sewers. They will quickly become clogged with debris. And – look out for snakes, gators, and all wild animals. They will be highly agitated following a big storm.. Finally, have a hand saw to help clear paths where trees have fallen in the way.
And, my favorite tip for warm climates? A chest freezer is preferable to an upright in warm climates. Place water jugs, (90% full to allow for expansion) in the bottom of the chest freezer. Then put your food on top. If the power goes out for a while, your food will be sitting on blocks of ice. It will stay good for days this way.
Climate change? It’s always changing. Generally speaking in the summer it gets hot, and about then it changes to cold in the winter.
I enjoyed the article. Fortunately I live in an area that isn’t really subject to any of these. Every couple years we might have a tornado warning, but nothing regular. And, I live far enough away from any mobile home parks that I shouldn’t have to worry.
I think the one disaster not mentioned, that is of more concern right now, than any of the others – The Man-Made Disaster! There’s no way to predict exactly where or when it will strike, and how bad it will be. Every day I read the news articles on here, and I tune into the TV news, and I keep wondering when it will hit.
When is the stock market finally going to crash, because people realize that the only thing keeping it going is hope, and the 3 trillion magical dollars that has been injected. When are the banks going to tank, because the mortgage default rate has gotten too high. When is the housing bubble going to burst (Again!) because people aren’t building or buying new homes when the unemployment rate is hovering around 25%. When are the food riots going to start, because people are broke, out of work, and their families are starving.
These are the disasters that I’m worried about right now. And just like hurricane season in Florida, or tornado season in Tornado Alley, about the only I can do is take it day-by-day, and try and keep an eye on the horizon for any indication that the storm is about to break.
Philadelphia USA is a pretty liberal city –but the National Guard is deployed here now because of looting and rioting. And it turns out people’s views on guns can change pretty quickly — there are lines of p*%ssed off people outside gun shops here.
https://6abc.com/philadelphia-protest-philly-today-pa/6225789/
And as I noted in an earlier post above, the owner of one shop killed a looter who tried to break into his store at night.
In the more conservative suburbs, lines were forming 2 months ago.
The liberal news media’s concern about “training” is hilarious — point and shoot is not that complicated. Especially if you aren’t slowed down by trying to remember all that stuff the gun coaches and lawyers speak about:
https://www.forcescience.org/2007/02/new-tests-show-deadly-accuracy-startling-speed-even-inexperienced-shooters-can-achieve-in-shooting-cops/
Having Hurricane Harvey in our backyard taught us a lot. Watch and pray…and then the Lord says “blessed be the man that He finds so doing…”, preparing, watching, praying. It will most likely be one event after another now, as the world awaits the times that Jesus spoke of. I’ve noticed you will feel (in your gut/spirit) when the Lord wants you to ‘be aware’, ‘watch’ and ‘get ready’ some more. No time to waste, and every small endeavor will be blessed.
Wildfires and volcanoes ,,,,,one of my ranches has mt. Saint Helens in the back drop ,our main concern is ash , we keep extra air filters in the SUV and n95 masks and water jugs to clean the windshield ,for the cows put them in the barn , same for cats and dogs ,in 1980 the place had 3 feet of ash on it ,
Wild fires ,,,this is tall timber country , we have 300ft cleared fire break cleared of most trees. In fire season we short cut the grass or discs to bare ground ,and keep the roof and gutters clean ,metal roof and when possible metal siding , as a back up a 2″ irrigation gun ,at the big ranch on the dry side we disc and call it good. Last fire burned 3600 acres in 8 hrs , we moved cattle to the bottom of the canyon and let the fire burn over them,other than the loss of some fence the fire was good for the ground , we had enough unburned to finish the grazing season (3400 ac)
A range fire is wind driven, and makes it’s own wind, can move faster than you can drive on ranch roads ,best to turn around and drive back through it if you have a straight stretch of road, that will get real hot for a short time, done it with horses in a trailer. Hard on them but they lived
Great advice for so many scenarios. A lot of people are exploring the concept of prepping. This is a good start. We can debate so many what if’s, calibers, technique and so on. My advice is to come beside our fellow preppers and help them get their preps in order. And if you also
lead them to Christ, if they aren’t already then you not only help save a life you save a soul. Keep on prepping.
In our region the stockpile standards, promoted by our county Emergency Management, is to have 30 days water, non perishable food, meds, etc., on hand. (For starters, I tell my CERT TEAM)
Three days is a PC suggestion to avoid making people get concerned. Do the 30. It’s a good start.
We have been using our preps: masks, some meats, hygiene supplies. Glad we started years ago to get ready.
Great reminders on the tarps, nails, and 1 by 2 lathes for roof covering. Too often people actually create problems with incorrect installation though.
The best way to tarp a roof is to place the lathe or 1 by 2 parallel to the edge of the tarp, then roll the tarp UNDER itself to the spot where you’ll nail or screw it onto your roof.
The strength of the assembly is from wrapping the tarp all the way around the lathe….then screw it into the roof or over the edge.
The wrong way is to lay the lathe on top of the tarp and then just nail or screw it to the roof. The nailed tarp then just rips wide open in the wind starting at the nailed spots. Seen this after a tornado here. Loose, ripped tarps flapping in the breezes.
The other wrong way to tarp your roof is to lay the lathe on top of the edge then roll it over and over on top of the tarp. This way makes the tarp into a dam-type feature that holds water, and that water gets lots more time to infiltrate into the spots where your nails or screws go into your roofing.
Best option is to pull tarp down over the roof edges , then put tarp screw or nail anchors into the sides, or even all the way over the gutters and under the soffet to attach the edges.
Thanks for the article. Nice reminders!!
Nice article.Twice it is mentioned if you evacuate,turn off the power.I assume the main breaker.You may be gone 1 day or 10.What about all that food in the fridge?Would turning off all the breakers individually,except the kitchen,be acceptible?
Forgot to add,pets are the main reason people won’t evacuate,don’t forget to plan ahead for that.They are family also.
R Thomas, welcome to the club. Nice to see it’s getting bigger. Be sure to buy a thumb drive from s blog when they are available next year.
God is pushing you in the right direction, listen.