How to Be Prepared For a Power Outage

September of 2008 was the time of a very unusual hurricane that started off the coast of Texas but had so much power that it kept its path going all the way up through the Midwest where Hurricanes are just not seen. The destructive path was horrible and many people were without power for 1-5 weeks depending on what state you lived in. This article will discuss what you can do to prepare for a big storm , even a hurricane in Ohio which is something people never thought they would see. It will touch on structures to have such as steel buildings versus wooden ones for storage items and using a roll up door for your businesses rather than a traditional one. It will also give tips on what to have to be ready for losing power for a long time.

Many people, especially the ones in the Midwest last Fall were ill prepared to experience a hurricane in their towns and the devastation that it caused around them. Many of the residents were used to losing power for a day or so due to thunder and lightning storms but not from 50-60 mile per hour winds. Because so many people in Cincinnati lost their power for days to weeks, a lot of them realized they were not ready for such a thing to happen and now have changed their plans for preparing for a storm.

The first thing you need to do to prepare for an extended power outage is to put together a large kit to be organized and stored all together. Many people have flashlights shoved in different places all throughout the house and then when the lights go out, they can't find them all. So having a set place for your emergency kit is a smart idea.

The biggest thing you may want to invest in is a generator. For the people that had them and were out of power for a long time, it made living in their homes quite comfortable. There are different sizes of generators and you can get one that simply helps you to run a refrigerator and a couple of power strips for lights, etc. Gas became a hard thing to get too during the storm so make sure you have plenty of containers of gasoline ready to power the generator.

The next thing to have would be lighting. Store flashlights, headlamps and extra batteries all in a plastic bin or basket.
Another great thing is a battery operated lantern that people use for camping that can light up a whole room. Also, put large candles and matches in the bin as well which can help light up your rooms. Another necessary thing to have in your emergency kit is a crank powered radio so you can stay updated on the news surrounding the storm. If you do not have a car cell phone charger, that would be another good idea so you can have phone access when your home line goes out as well as your electricity.

Connor R. Sullivan has noticed an increase of steel buildings being used as warehouse space. He has decided to use a roll up door in the steel building he is erecting.

MRE Meals Just in Case

Living in the direct path of many powerful storms has taught me a few things about being prepared. Make certain the MRE meals are inspected and approved by the USDA for quality assurance and freshness before you buy. There are military MRE meals that can be stored for twenty years or more!

Store the ration packs under dry, cool conditions in a storage area that receives no direct sunlight. Keep the room temperature above 32 degrees and below 60 degrees F without any moisture and low humidity. The three requirements to look for in MRE meals are shelf life, quality, and nutritional value.

Even in emergencies, children can still be fussy eaters. It is probably a good idea to purchase military rations ready to eat that you kids will actually eat. Take along some freeze dried meals as camping food to determine which the kids prefer.

Several reputable American companies offer military food ready to eat for civilians. MREStar has been in business for more than thirty years. The company's MREs are made in the USA, the plants are FDA, and USDA approved. They are a Department of Defense certified supplier of emergency rations.

It is not necessary to give up good taste during emergency situations! An example of what is included in the purchase of twelve self-heating entrees to a case contains the following:

* Shrimp Jambalaya
* Beef Stew (which is excellent!)
* Cheese Omelets
* Hamburger patties
* Chicken ala King
* Lasagna
* Spaghetti with Meat Sauce

Along with the dinners, you can order desserts such as raisins, nuts, cookies, fig bars, toaster pastries, peanut butter, crackers, and cheesecake! In addition, each meal comes with an orange flavored drink mix, coffee, utensils, condiments, napkin and moist towelette. Flameless heaters are available options to heat the food. There is no need to add water to a meal.

In the event of bad weather such as a tornado or hurricane when the power is shut off for an extended period, stocking up on army rations for a crisis gives you peace of mind that your family will have the requirements to survive.

Take a few moments to check out more information and MRE meals reviews concerning your family's disaster preparedness here: http://www.mremeals.org

Preparing for a Global Disaster

There are at least seven global or widespread disasters that seem likely to occur at sometime in the future. A large asteroid hitting the earth is one of those seven. It is generally accepted by scientists that asteroids have struck the earth in the past causing widespread damage. It is believed that asteroids will continue to collide with the earth every now and then. Maybe every sixty million years a big one comes along that is large enough to have a global effect on survival of earth's living things. The chances of such an event happening in a particular person's lifetime are tiny. But that tiny chance is there.

It is unpleasant to consider such terrible things. But the best attitude, it seems to me, is to ignore, to a very large extent, the unpleasant feelings that the topic causes. That allows a person to consider what might be done to increase the chances of surviving a disaster. No way can a person be fully prepared. And since we cannot know just what is going to take place, it may be an exercise in futility. But you never know, simple basic preparations could bring you through some calamity.

And why not take the attitude that your efforts and interest in such preparation is something to feel good about. Those efforts can be fun and interesting. The topic certainly grabs my attention better than a Hollywood movie. By doing what I can to become prepared, I am doing something that could dramatically make my life much more pleasant should I be involved in a catastrophe. Disaster preparedness is an interesting and enjoyable hobby that could pay off big-time. Knowing that all the benefits of modern life are not necessarily a given, is a reason for enjoying them more.

The seven possible widespread or global disasters:

1). Very large volcanic eruptions. Hugh volumes of gas and dust could spread around the globe. There is some evidence that these have occurred before. Doesn't that mean that it could happen again?

2). An epidemic. There was the flu epidemic of 1918 that killed 30 million people worldwide. There was the plague that killed about one fourth of Europe's population in the Dark Ages. Viruses and germs are known to mutate and change. They may become resistant to vaccines and medications, become more deadly, and become more contagious. Viruses and other pathogens could mutate into virulent forms that could spread rapidly around the world by people using air travel.

3). Crop failures due to plant diseases, climate change, or ozone depletion.

4). Climate changes including global warming and the effects that might come with it such as extreme heat, drought, and severe storms.

5). Nuclear war.

6). Terrorist act which could bring about widespread effects. If, for instance, a nuclear device was detonated in Washington, D.C. and another wiped out Wall Street, the effects could be unpredictable and could include economic depression, anarchy, shortages of consumer goods, and war.

7). Something unexpected. A disaster could be caused by a completely unknown event. It is unreasonable to think we are smart enough to be aware of all threats that could bring catastrophe.

There are many other plausible scenarios for widespread catastrophes. These include such things as a large solar flare that shoots out radiation and charged particles toward the earth; an object such as a black hole passing close to the earth; and a technology accident such as a genetically modified organism being released into the environment.

In recent years vast quantities of methane gas have been discovered on the sea floor where the water is very deep and in places where the water is very cold. It is believed that global warming or earthquakes could cause the methane to be released perhaps suddenly and in massive quantities. Methane is explosive and could displace oxygen causing suffocation.

Below are some things you can do to be better prepared for emergencies.

Store food and water: About a gallon of water a day per person is a reasonable goal. How many days worth is anybody's guess - you have to use your own judgment about what is practical for you. Know where to get water if your standby supply runs out. Water of unknown purity should be boiled at least 3 minutes to kill any pathogens. If boiling is not possible add 16 drops or 1/4 teaspoon of household bleach per gallon and let stand at least 30 minutes. Smell the water. If it does not have a slight bleach odor, repeat the process. Use bleach that contains nothing else other than water and 5.25 percent sodium hypochlorite. Bleach is most effective for killing bacteria but is not effective against parasitic organisms.

Choose long storage food such as canned goods, dry food such as nuts, seeds, beans, and grain products in plastic or glass containers. Most dried beans will need to be soaked and cooked before eating. Examples of dried beans that can be eaten after soaking and without cooking include split peas, mung beans, lentils and black-eyed peas. Wheat and corn can also be soaked and eaten without cooking. Peanut butter and vegetable oil are good choices because they are calorie rich, long keeping and require no preparation. Canned meat provides protein and requires no cooking. A multi vitamin will help with adequate vitamin requirements.

Keeping warm: The colder the climate where you live, the more important this is if the electrical power fails or you are forced to leave your home. Have enough heavy clothing and blankets in your home to keep you warm. Have ready to go to put in your car such as in a garbage bag: at least two changes of clothing that will keep you warm, a sleeping bag or a couple of blankets, gloves, knit hat, and sturdy shoes.

First aid kit: The most important items may be soap for washing a wound, an antiseptic ointment, and bandaging.

Tools and supplies for short-term emergencies: Flashlight and batteries, candles, matches, can opener, soap, battery-powered radio and batteries, face mask for filtering the air you breath,

Tools and supplies for long term emergencies: all of the items above for short-term emergencies plus the food items listed above plus: long lasting led flashlight, wind-up flashlight, wind-up radio, unscented 5.25 percent sodium hypochlorite bleach for purifying water, sturdy knife and sharpener, salt, grain grinder, food storage containers, shovel, blankets, rifle and ammunition.

Tools and supplies for your car: gallon of drinking water, blanket, extra clothes (sweatshirt, long underwear, boots, socks, gloves, hat), compass, rain gear, battery-powered radio and batteries, long storage and light-weight food, maps, siphon (20 feet plastic tubing, 1/2 inch diameter), gas can, wrenches, pliers, screwdrivers, portable light. Long-term and extras: bleach for purifying water, shorts or swimsuit, tube tent (or 10 by 10 tarp, cord), ground moisture barrier, closed cell foam sleeping pad, sleeping bag, insect repellant, sunglasses, sunscreen, soap, knife, backpack, duct tape, cord (i.e., seine twine, parachute cord, masons' twine).

Have a short-term plan: Discuss with your family how everyone will get home if their usual transportation is not available. If the phone systems are operating, one person could remain at home to take and relay messages. Have a place in mind in case you need to relocate to a different geographic area. Plan how to get there and what you will take along. If you believe you are not enough prepared, decide how to become so.

Stay informed: Have at least a battery operated am/fm radio with extra batteries. A wind-up radio not requiring batteries could be used if the power is off for an extended period. Emergency alert radios might receive broadcasts in a long-term power failure where the backup generators for am/fm radio stations have run out of fuel.

If situations develop so that longer-term solutions are needed, you will need other strategies. You may have to hunt for and gather food from the wild. Very long-term collapse of the present supply chain would require that you become self-sufficient in mending and making your own clothing. You might have to construct a shelter using basic tools and basic materials. The scope of this article does not allow for discussions of what you would need to know to survive extended collapse of society into how it was a couple of hundred years ago.

If you would like to learn more about disaster preparedness, use the following url(address) to another copy of this article. At the end of the article are urls to other articles giving more information.

Alan Detwiler

How build an emergency shelter

A Snug House in an Emergency

There are millions of Websites with information of emergency shelter designs ranging from fold-up structures to "concrete canvas" to recyclable cardboard structures. And, of course, FEMA trailers.

But what about a different kind of emergency? An emergency where you are on a hike (or running from danger), and the trail suddenly disappears. It could be because of an unexpected weather change, or because the path was more strenuous than you expected and it is suddenly dark with---not the time to go on ahead or turn back. For whatever reason, you are stranded---lost?---in the woods.

You've planned ahead, having layered clothing, some of which is a bright color, like hunter's orange; you have matches or a lighter; you brought more water than you expected to need. You just didn't plan on being out overnight or worse.

This happens more than you think!

The solution: Build an emergency shelter in the woods, keeping several things you need in mind:

Protection from:

• The cold ground
• The elements: wind, rain, or snow
• Wildlife
• To be able see and hear when a rescuer comes.
• To follow basic construction rules:
• A good foundation
• Solidly built walls and roof
• Good insulation

How do you do this in the woods? Assuming you can't find a ready-made shelter (like a cave or hollow tree), here's a route to go:

1. Find a solid object as your "foundation": e.g., a) a solid tree on which you can lean thick branches, b) a fallen tree trunk, c) spreading tree roots, or d) a natural hollow.
2. Plan to face the opening away from the wind and, if possible, towards some rocks or a rocky cliff to help a fire heat your shelter by reflection.
3. Plan to keep it small so your body heat can warm it up.
4. For scenes b or c, scoop out a hollow on the most protected side; for d, you may want to make it deeper.
5. Find sturdy branches to lean against the tree, teepee style (a and b), or form a slanted roof using the log as the peak (c), or (d) across the hole at one end to make a peak and then slanting other branches for the roof.
6. Take thinner branches with needles or leaves and weave them around and/or over the other branches you placed. Lay more over those to make a thick layer of insulation---one that will be more watertight. If you are able to dig any turf to lay over it all, that can help make a tighter roof. Piling dirt around or on it is good, but the thick layer of leaves must be first.
7. Now for the "floor." If you lie directly on the ground, it will draw out your body heat. Make a floor of dry boughs, grass, or leaves.

This is only a basic, rough description, and there are other options---especially if you have a poncho or large garbage bags with you. You might go out planning to make an "emergency" shelter just for fun. Then if you need it in a true emergency, you will be prepared.

What to Pack in Your Car's Emergency Kit

It is highly recommended that a vehicle should have auto emergency kits in it. Anything is possible during a journey and in case of emergency (which always happens when you are least expecting it) auto emergency kits can save you from standing at an abandoned road, waiting for help. The kit should have all car repairing tools and important items like blanket or solar emergency blanket, first aid kit, food and water.

Energy bars and granolas are perfect food to carry in an auto emergency kit. You should also place basics like bandages, gauzes, adhesive tape, scissors, antibiotic ointment, instant heat compress, instant ice pack, aspirin or any other pain killer in your first aid kit.

Don't forget to place things like flashlight along with its extra batteries, pen and paper, emergency flares and a help sign to ask the passing vehicles to facilitate you (in case you are trapped in the car. The most common roadside emergency is the flattening of tires and lots of accidents happen because of this therefore properly prepare your vehicle with essential tools to replace a car tire and above all make sure that every driver of your house is well trained to change the tire as well. Always be prepared for this kind of emergency by placing vehicle jack, extra tire, lug wrench and tire pressure gauge in your vehicle. You can also use bottled tire inflator, a very useful tool which inflates your tire enough to take it to near service station in case the tire is not completely flat.

Always keep in mind that roadside emergencies are not all about flat tires so place tools like flat head with Philip screw driver, adjustable wrench, pocket knife, pliers or multipurpose tools having several tools in one, in your auto emergency kit for the basic repairs of your vehicle. Never underestimate the significance of small items like paper towels or rags, oil, windshield washer fluid, antifreeze, ice scraper and duct tape and place them in your auto emergency kit.

Traveling is unavoidable while living in this fast-paced world so getting yourself prepared for any possible mishap during your travel whether it is a usual ride toward the workplace or a long family trip, is always a wise move. Auto emergency kit helps people to spend most of their traveling time surfing on the road rather than standing on the side of the road seeking help. Therefore it is suggested to make sure that you have all the recommended items in your auto emergency kit before starting a journey and in case you have many drivers in your family then make sure all of them are well familiar with the items and tools of the auto emergency kit and are ready to utilize the kit as well in case of any emergency.

Being safe is always our first priority whether we are at home or at road so be safe and have a happy journey!

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Usman Ishfaq Qureshi