Tag Archives: water

11 Easy Tips For Family Emergency Supplies

January 1, 2011

Happy 2011!  At the start of this new year, consider these 11 easy ways you can prepare your family for an emergency:

  1. Know Your Risks
    Plan for the disasters that are most common where you live. Maybe it’s a snowstorm over a hurricane or an earthquake instead of a tornado.  Know your area and don’t forget about flood preparation – the most prevalent natural disaster in the U.S.
  2. Plan Ahead
    With focused and strategic shopping, you are more likely to get exactly what you need and save money. Prices can skyrocket before a hurricane, wildfire or other imminent emergency.
  3. Budget For Preparedness
    Consider emergency supplies as a standard expense. Even $20 a month can go a long way to help you be ready. Simply buy one preparedness item each time you go to the store.
  4. Personalize Your Kit
    You may not need everything included in ready-made 72-hour kits and there may be extra items you require based on your family situation. Don’t forget personal medication and pets.
  5. Check and Test Regularly
    Don’t just replace your kit items annually, consider cycling through items that have a shelf life (food, batteries, etc.). As with smoke alarms, test your radio and flashlights at least once a year to make sure they are in good working order.
  6. Store Your Own Water
    Forget about buying expensive bottled water.  They can be handy for short-term needs, but not for long-term survival purposes.  Store your own water in large, safe, disinfected containers.
  7. Get Practical With Gifts
    Give and request emergency kits and supplies as gifts for birthdays, anniversaries or Christmas. What if your friends and family gave you gifts that could save your life? Don’t forget to help them by sending emergency gifts their way, too.
  8. Manage Your Coverage
    Review your insurance policies annually and make any necessary changes. When emergencies strike, you want to be confident your coverage will help you sufficiently recover. Renters should also have policies to cover personal property.
  9. Prepare To Communicate
    Keep your contact records current. Maintain an accurate list of emergency contact numbers, family, friends and neighbors.  Consider buying short wave radios to communicate when cell phone towers go out.
  10. Get Creative With Expenses
    Trade one night out to fund a 72-hour kit. A nice dinner, a movie, and a babysitter will often cost between $70-$100.
  11. Cover Your Bases
    Don’t forget to have kits and supplies in your car and at work.  The average American spends more than two hours per day in the car and many more at work.

Preparedness = Peace
If you’ve made it this far, you’re probably already well on your way to being prepared.  Remember, the more you prepare, the less there is to fear.

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Red Cross Rolls Out Hurricane Testimonial Videos

June 10, 2010

hurricane-storm-preparedness-wind-palm-treesWith hurricane season in full swing as of June 1, the Red Cross has responded with a small series of hurricane preparedness videos aimed at raising awareness on the importance of preparation. They depict real life families that suffered loss during devastating hurricanes like Hugo in ’89, Andrew in ’92, Katrina in ’05, and Hurricane Ike in 2008.

From a family that experienced the adverse affects of a hurricane firsthand, these final words of wisdom ring true: Get a kit. Make a plan. Be informed.

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Flood Preparation: How to Use Flood Maps and Prepare

April 11, 2010

Historic rainfall and flooding in the Northeast this year has reminded us that, despite the danger of earthquakes, hurricanes, and other natural disasters, floods are the most common and widespread threat in the United States.  Flooding can happen anywhere, but of course it’s much more likely to occur near bodies of water like rivers, lakes and streams.

FEMA-flood-map-searchThe most common question for anyone concerned about flooding is usually: Do I live in a flood-prone area?  Fortunately, FEMA has made this research quite simple.  FEMA’s Map Service Center provides detailed flood maps of neighborhoods all over the U.S.

How to find your flood map:

  1. Simply go to http://msc.fema.gov
  2. At the top left of the home page, enter your address (see screenshot to the right)
  3. Although it may be a little slow to load, a detailed map will appear in a new window.  The buttons on the left allow you to zoom in and out and pan across the map down to your specific street address. (see example map below)

flood-map-tool-FEMA

Flood Preparation

Whether or not you live in a designated flood area, understanding how to prepare for a flood is wise and simple.  Consider these three important steps:

  1. Protect Your Possessions
    Create a flood file with information about all of your possessions and place it in a secure place like a safe deposit box or waterproof container.
    The file should include:

    • Copies of insurance policies with your agent’s info.
    • A full inventory of your possessions, including video, photos, and receipts.
    • Copies of all other critical documents.
  2. Prepare Your Dwelling
    • Ensure your sump pump is working and don’t forget a battery-operated backup.
    • Clear debris from drainage spouts and gutters.
    • Raise electrical components (switches, sockets and circuit breakers) at least one foot above your projected flood elevation.
    • Place the washer, dryer, furnace, and water heater on blocks at least one foot above the projected flood elevation.
    • Move all valuables and important documents to high ground.
  3. Create a Family Emergency Plan
    • Buy or create an emergency kit with drinking water, food, first aid, blanket, radio, and flashlight.
    • Plan and practice a flood evacuation route with your family.
    • Designate an out-of-state family member or friend to be your emergency family contact.
    • Don’t forget a plan for your pets.

(Compiled from FloodSmart.gov)

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Simple Food and Water Storage for a Snow Storm, Power Outage or Natural Disaster

February 17, 2010

“It doesn’t take a large catastrophic disaster for anyone of us to find ourselves in a situation where we are stuck in our home, maybe for a period of days, without food or water available to us other than what we have there.”  It’s a wise warning from the American Red Cross.  This video from the CDC is short, sweet and informative:

“Stockpile things you like and normally buy, just buy a little more of them.  Stockpile foods that are non-perishable and don’t require refrigeration or cooking.”  It’s really common sense.  Store a little extra food and water in a pantry, garage or extra closet.

When an emergency strikes and the power goes out and stays out:

  1. Eat the food in your refrigerator first, since this will go bad the soonest.
  2. Then, eat the food in your freezer.  As long as you keep the door closed, it should last a few days (maybe longer depending on the climate).
  3. Finally, eat your stockpiled food of canned goods and non-perishable items.

They are simple suggestions, but so simple to overlook.
Survival Simon Says: Simply Prepare!

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Water in an Emergency: Water Purification and Filtration

December 9, 2009

clean-water-dropWater.  It’s essential for survival of all forms of life.  It covers 71% of the earth and yet it’s not always available – especially in an emergency.  In my last post we reviewed water storage ideas.  Now we’ll address the equally important topic of purifying and filtering water.

Apart from tasting bad, contaminated water can have microorganisms that cause diseases such as dysentery, cholera, hepatitis, and typhoid. Purify all water of questionable condition before drinking it, preparing food or using for personal hygiene.

Pre-Storage Purification

Before you store water for long periods of time, treat it with a preservative like chlorine bleach to prevent the growth of microorganisms. Use household bleach with 5.25 percent sodium hypochlorite, not bleach with perfumes or added cleaners.

  1. Add four drops of bleach per quart of water and stir.
  2. Seal your containers tightly.
  3. Label them “purified with chlorine” and include the date.

Pre-Consumption Purification

You can purify water a few different ways, but none are perfect.  It’s best to use a combination of methods.  Either way, if the water looks murky, filter it first before purifying.

  1. Let the water sit untouched to allow suspended particles to settle.
  2. Filter the water through layers of clean paper, cotton towels, or coffee filters.

The following purification methods will kill microbes but will not remove heavy metals, chemicals or radioactive fallout.

water-boiling-for-purificationPurification by Boiling

Boiling is the safest method of purifying water.

  1. Pour the water in a clean pan or cooking container.
  2. Bring it to a rolling boil and continue boiling for 10 more minutes (some water will evaporate).
  3. Cover the water while it cools before use.

Boiled water can taste flat.  To improve the flavor, shake or pour back and forth between two clean containers.

Purification by Chlorination

Liquid household chlorine bleach can also purify and kill microorganisms.  Add 2 drops of bleach per quart of water (four drops if it’s extra murky), mix well and let it stand for 30 minutes.  The water should have a slight taste and smell of chlorine.  If it doesn’t, add another dose and let it stand another 15 minutes before testing.

Keep in mind, chlorination will not kill parasites like Giardia. Parasites can cause severe health problems, particularly for those with existing medical conditions. Boiling is the best choice of treatment for parasite contamination.

water-purification-tabletsPurification Tablets

If you prepare in advance, tablets of chlorine and iodine are inexpensive and very effective.   Follow the directions on the package and double the dosage for extra murky water.

Comprehensive Purification by Distillation

Distillation will remove contaminants that the prior methods are unable to remove, such as microbes, salts, heavy metals, some chemicals, and radioactive fallout (dust and dirt).  In short, distillation requires boiling water and collecting the vapor. The vapor then condenses into water without the impurities.

  1. Use a clean pot with a lid that will stay in place when placed upside down on the pot.
  2. Fill the pot about halfway with water. Tie a clean cup to the handle on the  lid, so that the cup will be suspended right side up when the lid is placed upside down on the pot. The cup should hang suspended above and not touch the water.
  3. Boil the water for about 20 minutes. The water that drips from the lid and collects in the cup is distilled.
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