The increase of natural disasters and unstable weather are making it increasingly important to be prepared. There could easily be loss of power and telephone, even cell phone service. A power outage emergency can be caused by many — fires, winter storms, brown outs, floods, and wind damage... so many things can interrupt the flow of electricity to your home. This can affect your ability to get water and food (even in your home), to get relevant news and to communicate with others. Whatever the cause, a power outage is easier to get through when you're prepared, and being prepared means having emergency kits on hand, ready to use the moment they're needed. Survival essentials include all of the usual but there are now many technologies available to help. The government has said that when it gets bad there is a big chance they will not be able to help you.
Follow these basic steps to develop your family disaster preparedness plan:
Gather information about hazards in your area. Find out susceptible to severe storms and how you should respond. Learn local warning signals and evacuation plans. Post emergency telephone numbers by phones (also try to memorize them). Teach children how and when to call 911 or your local emergency medical services number. Choose a place outside your home to meet in an emergency, and a place away from your neighborhood in case you can't return home. Choose a friend or relative who lives out-of-state as your "family check-in contact". Practice and maintain your plan. Conduct periodic drills to make sure you are prepared in case of an actual emergency.
Keep important family documents (or copies) in a water and fireproof portable container. Health and insurance information. Extra keys for your house and vehicle. Include money, change for payphones, an extra credit card and checkbook or travelers checks. Keep a disaster preparedness response kit with items you may need in case of evacuation. Make sure it includes emergency food kits for the whole family. Store these supplies in sturdy, easy-to-carry containers, such as backpacks or duffle bags. Keep a smaller disaster preparedness emergency food kit in the trunk of your car, as well as an emergency roadside kit.
Inspect your home for potential hazards such as items that can move, fall break or catch fire, and correct them. Install safety features such as smoke alarms and fire extinguishers and instruct others how to use them properly. Check all of your equipment monthly. Test your smoke detectors and replace batteries as required. Test and recharge your fire extinguisher(s) according to manufacturer's recommendations. Know where your fire extinguishers, water shut off valve, floor drain, electrical panel, and gas valve are,
Discuss the information you've gathered. Ask questions to make sure your family remembers meeting places, phone numbers, and safety rules. Make sure everyone knows where to find your family's emergency food kits. Make sure that everybody knows how to use all of the equipment you have. Write down your emergency plan in detail and a have a laminated or secure copy.
Preparation programs have stated that you should have at least two weeks supply of food that does not require any cooking. Canned, jarred, and preserved food will greatly help you to survive. Food will last if the power is out for less than 24 hours. In a full freezer food will last 48 hours. Use a food thermometer to check the temperature of your food right before you cook or eat it. Throw away any food that has a temperature of more than 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Also make sure you have a portable camping tin cooking set. Some of the MRE (meals ready to eat) or food packets require warm water to activate as they are usually freeze-dried. Not much but be aware of what your food supply requires, don't just buy and store it. In this case a reusable portable heat source is necessary, one that uses quick heat easy to light fuel pellets. A supply of pellets, packaged individually and not in a big bag. As well as waterproof matches.
A terrific place to purchase a supply of food is Efoods Direct. They have from a seven day supply all the way to a one-year supply available. I would recommend their Liberty Unit. There are two kinds available. The best one for your health is the soy free (non.TVP).
http://www.efoodsdirect.com/
liberty-soy-free-1-year-supply
They also recommend having two weeks worth of drinking water. The water supply is often the first thing affected during an emergency. Bare bones survival rations are one half gallon (two liters) per person every day for drinking and minimal food preparation. As well as one half gallon for other uses. If the majority of your storage food is dry or dehydrated you will need more water for preparation. Babies and chronically ill may require more than others. You will also need more if you live in a really hot area. Take into consideration the specific needs of your family.
Having access to clean water is key to your survival in an emergency situation. If or when a disaster happens, we should consider all water contaminated whether it comes from your home pipes, a cistern, a well or otherwise. If the emergency is an earthquake or an landslide, you may have to turn off your water from outside the house to avoid contamination to the water inside your water heater and pipes. In order to have drinkable water in an emergency, we will need to think about water storage barrels, water purification, filtration, and also, where to store it. Once you have your water barrels, learn how to clean, prepare and fill them. Make sure you have a good water filter and water purifying tablets.
If an earthquake or other catastrophe happened before you've had a chance to acquire your emergency water supply, you could find some around your home.
The hot-water heater is the first place to go. There is clean, drinkable water there. Depending on the size of your water heater, there should be 20-50 gallons. The trick is to get it out. Have a bucket handy and put it under the drain faucet. Then open a water faucet in a sink nearby to release the pressure and cause the water to flow. Before using the water from your water heater, it is imperative that you switch off the gas or electricity that heats the water. Leaving the heating part on while the water heater is empty could cause an explosion or burn out the elements, destroying your water heater. Don't turn on the water heater again until water services have been restored and the water heater is refilled.
There is also water in your pipes that can be used. Open a water faucet in the highest part of the house and then drain the pipes from the lowest faucet in the house.
Don't forget the liquids in most canned goods. Canned fruit, vegetables or broth have liquid that can be used to cook with or to drink if absolutely necessary.
Then there is the toilet tank (not the bowl). There is about 3 to 5 gallons of clean water in each tank. You can dip it out with a cup or ladle. If you are a little squeamish about drinking water from the toilet tank, use that water for your pet or for cleanliness.
A swimming pool or hot tub is a good source of emergency water supply, but use only as gray water for washing. Since there are chemicals in the pool and tub, they are not a good source for drinking water.
Water beds also have chemicals in the water to retard germ and algae growth. Use the water for washing only.
Try to get a water filter that removes up to 99.99% of pollutants and contaminants found in drinking water sources using its proprietary Ionic Adsorption Micron Filtration System. It contains Iodinated Resin and other proprietary media which effectively reduces virus and bacteria to six logs (99.9999%). Also make sure that you have a supply of the filters (media), although this will work without it loses efficiently and effectiveness.
A terrific manufacturer of water filters is Berkey.
http://www.bigberkeywaterfilters.com/
If you have pets make sure that you have enough food and water for them as well.
Essentials include blankets, candles, waterproof matches, lighter, flint and striker, pen and paper, duct tape, a tool set, pocket knife, flashlight, extra batteries, whistle, compass, manual can opener, even paper towels.
A first-aid kit contains everything you will need to treat minor medical issues. (Assortment of bandages, gauze, adhesive tape, antiseptic cream, scissors, aspirin, instant ice and heat compresses). dust/pollutant masks.
An all-in-one multipurpose tool (pliers, knife, can opener, screwdriver, wire cutters, files, awl) keeps you ready to tackle unforeseen challenges.
A flashlight/radio that may be charged by solar power or a convenient hand crank. If cellular phone service is available, the built-in phone charger will keep you connected. They also sometimes contain an alarm. Make sure the radio has the weather and shortwave bands.
A really good extra flashlight that you shake which doesn't require batteries.
A collapsible solar panel would be very useful.
A lightweight, weather-resistant backpack. No one knows when a disaster will strike and adequate transportation may be limited. For these reasons, it is important to have portable water and food sources. Just throw it on your back and go.
If you are forced out into the environment you should have complete cold weather camping equipment. A really good sleeping bag, a small tent that has a rain cover, steel pegs. A collapsible fishing rod would be good. A small fuel operated stove and lantern. Change of clothing and footwear for everybody. Your other equipment you already have can be taken.
It would also be good to have survival, first-aid, and self-defense training. Be sure you know how to make shelter, find water and food, find your way around, make fire without matches or lighter. Have copies of important information laminated so you will have a guide.
Being able to stay in your house comfortably knowing you are safe and secure would be the greatest goal. Having a years supply of food and at least a six-week supply of bottled water stored in a dim cool place without sunlight. A garden and rainwater collection/storage system. Going green will also be beneficial for times of disasters, with solar and wind power generation, gray water recycling, reduction of resources required, and power/water storage.
There are some devices that can get water from air. They are over $1000 but would be a good investment if you have not love because you would never run out of water. They are capable of producing more than a couple people would need to survive.
http://ecoloblue.com/home-office.html
You could create your own heat with a wood burning stoves that use pellets. Make sure it is properly vented if you get one.
You could generate your own electricity if you have a backup generator that is solar powered.
Solar powered backup generator
http://www.solarbackupsavings.com/index.html
This is advertised on many radio programs, but you could create something that produces three times more power with over three times the battery capacity for 33% less. A decent starter off the grid system that uses solar. You need a solar power, charge controller, an inverter, some batteries, and some know-how. You could possibly find the following used to further reduce the price.
2 x Solartech Multi-Crystalline RV style Solar Panel 85 watt each. $400 + $60 shipping
ASC 12V 16A 192+ Watts Solar Panel Charge Controller $40 including shipping
VECTOR 2000 WATT POWER INVERTER UP TO 17.4 AMPS $150 + $15 shipping
2 x Trojan T-605 6V 210Ah Flooded Lead Acid GC2 Deep Cycle Battery$280 (buy local or have shipped to a reseller)
$50 for wire and an ammeter would be very cool. There's nothing like seeing how many amps you're getting.
$995 total.
Here are some good websites to further get you started;
http://www.ready.gov/
http://www.fema.gov/areyouready/
http://72hours.org/
http://www.prepare.org/
http://preparedness.com/
http://www.getprepared.gc.ca/
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