disaster preparedness » Survival and Beyond

How to Prepare Your Child to Handle an Emergency

Posted by Ed Corcoran News No Responses »

Mar 262013

The very idea of your child being forced to deal with a scary and strenuous emergency situation is probably downright repellent, but as a parent, one of your most important jobs is making sure that they’re properly equipped to handle anything life throws their way. Even though she may not ever have to put the knowledge to use, simply knowing that your child is prepared to handle an emergency can give you immeasurable peace of mind.

Explain the Difference Between an Emergency and a Problem

For kids, a sense of urgency can accompany a simple problem just as it does a legitimate emergency. Kids need to know how to reach emergency services, how to dial 911 and what to do when she’s speaking to a dispatcher, but also when it’s appropriate to call in the first place. It’s not always easy for little ones to distinguish between problems that require the attention of a parent or trusted adult, and actual emergencies that warrant police, emergency medical or firefighter services. The first step to explaining emergency preparedness to kids is helping them understand what an emergency is and what situations can be handled by a parent or caregiver.

Talk About 911

Your child needs to know how to call 911 in an emergency, and what to tell the dispatcher she reaches. Practicing 911 calls can be done safely with a cell phone that’s been stripped of the battery or a landline that’s not plugged in to the wall. When you’re working on this lesson, it’s a wise move to talk about what your child should do if she ever calls 911 accidentally. Hanging up without explaining that the call was inadvertent wastes the time and resources of dispatchers because they’re required to call back to make absolutely certain that there is no emergency.

In the event of a real emergency, your child will need to give the dispatcher her full name, her address and be able to explain the nature of the emergency to the best of her abilities. She should also know that the dispatcher will want her to remain on the line until emergency service providers arrive so that she doesn’t immediately hang up after sharing that information.

Work Out a Home Evacuation Plan

In the event of a fire or a natural disaster, your entire family will need to have a coordinated evacuation plan to ensure that everyone makes it out of the house safely. Explain to your child that all material possessions, even favorite ones, can be replaced and that it’s far more important for them to exit the house than it is to save their belongings. Make sure that she knows how to get out of the house if you’re not able to reach her, to make her way to a pre-arranged family meeting place and what she should do when she arrives there first.

Discuss Region-Specific Natural Disasters

You probably won’t need to waste much time on teaching a child that lives in the Midwest how to manage a hurricane, but she will need to know what to do in the event of a tornado. Talking about the natural disasters that are most likely to occur in your area and making a specific plan to deal with them is imperative, especially if you live in a region that’s particularly prone to environmental emergencies.

Role Play Specific Scenarios

One of the best ways to determine how much your child knows and what she still needs to learn about emergency preparedness is to role play specific scenarios that she could potentially encounter. There’s a reason why public schools practice routine fire drills: they help kids prepare in a relatively low-stress environment for an emergency so that, in a high-pressure situation, they know how to react. Role playing serious injury situations, weather emergencies, a house fire and even potential intruder situations gives you an idea about what your child knows and helps you teach them more detailed information so that they’re prepared to handle any emergency.

Offer Reassurance

It’s easy to become so wrapped up in teaching your child the basics of emergency preparedness that you forget how easily frightened little ones really are. While you’re teaching her how to handle a natural disaster or emergency, make sure that you also explain to your child that she’s safe and protected. Let your child know that these things probably won’t happen to her, but that it’s your job to make sure that she knows what to do in a worst-case scenario. Also let her know that there will almost certainly be an adult looking after her and making sure that she stays safe while you’re teaching her how to handle an emergency independently.

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Budget Ham Radio – Part 1

Posted by Ed Corcoran News 3 Responses »

Mar 102013

By John B. – Geek Prepper

Everyone who is prepping should be concerned about communications for a post-SHTF scenario. After the SHTF it’s too late to decide that you want to learn about HAM communications.

We know money is tight, so how can you get experience with Ham Radio? Here’s one idea.

I’ve been toying with economic Chinese Radios. I own a handheld TYT UFV1 Dual Band radio which cost me around $115. It does have all the features that you find on other handheld radios that cost many hundreds of dollars and works like a champ, but $115 is still a decent wad of money for someone with a family.

Recently I started tinkering with the BaoFeng UV-5R Plus Dual-Band 136-174/400-480 MHz FM Ham Two-way Radio. This thing has all the features of the TYT for less than 1/2 the cost! That’s right, I got this radio for about $55 from Amazon.com.

I’ve used the heck out of it. I’ve listened to FM radio, I’ve used it for weather, and I’ve now used it for communication on the 2M and 70cm bands. It’s great.

I’ve added a few accessories to make this thing even more awesome and versatile.

Mobile Antenna

I decided to expand the range and allow myself the ability to use this in my car. Sure it would have worked in my car using the rubbery ducky antenna, but a car is essentially a large metal box, not the greatest thing for radio waves.

Another cool thing I can do is use this without my car, by placing it on a large metal surface (cookie sheet) and use it for a “base station” antenna. I was able to hit a repeater (70cm band) about 25 miles away, without line of site. We’re talking hills and trees, and rain in my path.

MAGNETIC Mobile ANTENNA Ham Radio 2 Meter / 70 cm 144 – 148 & 440 – 470 MHz

Cable Adapter for external Antenna

I needed a way to connect the PL-259 connector to your SMA antenna connection on the BaoFeng, so I grabbed the Reverse SMA to “PL-259″ Adapter Cable – Female/Female for Wouxun Baofeng. This is the one that fits perfectly on the BaeFeng.

Note: The TYT UVF1 uses the exact opposite, male SMA fitting (“SMA” to “PL-259″ Adapter Cable).

Mobile Microphone for Auto use:

This is pretty self explanatory. I didn’t want to have to grab the radio every time I wanted to broadcast. This microphone is designed for the BaoFeng and feels just like a CB radio microphone.

Original Handheld BAOFENG UV-5R Speaker-mic for dual band radio

I was unsure of the quality of the BaoFeng UV-5R Plus Dual-Band 136-174/400-480 MHz FM Ham Two-way Radio, but after buying it and using it, I fell in love. I like it so much that I bought 2 more, just in case I dropped mine or it was stolen.

I mentioned this radio last night at a local Ham Club meeting and one of the other members pulled this exact radio out of his coat pocket to show everyone. They are gaining in popularity which means the price might start going up.

$55 to get some Ham experience is priceless in my mind!

If you want to read more or dig deeper into some of the accessories for this radio, we do discuss it and some other gear at a previous post HAM Communications Gear.

If you’re going to be traveling with a Ham Radio, I must recommend the ARRL repeater Directory. It’ll help you find repeaters wherever you are!

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Rules for Extended Company in an Emergency Situation

Posted by Ed Corcoran News No Responses »

Mar 102013

snowed in By Chris Ray

I recently received an email from a new reader asking about what rules one might put in place when extended family comes to stay, either because they were ill prepared, or are forced to leave their home for some reason.

Andrea said “…much would depend on what type of emergency situation we were facing, but that having some guidelines on things such as how much water, food was to be used per person, what the thermostat should be set to, shared tasks would be helpful.”

Having made two six month cruises on the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier, I know a thing or two about living in close proximity to others for long periods of time. The US Navy came up with some of the policies on how we would all get along. We developed others out of necessity along the way.

I think this is a great idea. If you have a wide list of potential guidelines, you can pick and choose the ones that might fit your life and the situation you’re facing.

The scenario I had in mind while writing this was one other family staying at my house with no supplies of their own for more than just a few days. If the visiting party brought their own supplies, you’ll just need to focus on the areas where they are dependent upon you. With that being said, here are some general areas and some guidelines.

Space

Sharing space over an extended period of time with anyone can be stressful. When you add extra people there need to be some boundaries established that respect private space as well as shared, public space.

If you want certain rooms to be private, bedrooms for example, establish a clear boundary that no one is allowed in anyone’s bedroom. Making bedrooms off limits can also help give you a private place away from everyone else. One of the hardest things about being on a ship with 6,000 other people is that alone time is very hard to come by.

Request that everyone please help keep the common areas that are shared by everyone clean. If you make a mess, clean it up.

Shared Chores

We raised the boys with the understanding that each of us had to contribute to get the chores done. I think this is the only way to go in a small group scenario, where people are sharing an address for an extended time.

This area will vary largely, based on the type of scenario, the location where you live and the makeup of your group. Instead of coming up with a chore list, here are some things to keep in mind.

There is a good chance those staying with you will want to help earn their keep. Be willing to share the duty with chores they are capable of doing.

Kids will either be very eager to help, or very eager to avoid helping. I do not recommend letting anyone off. Favoritism can quickly lead to resentment. To avoid it, give small chores that can quickly be done by all kids. If those who are eager to help want more after, they might be allowed a special reward for doing extra.

Children

People differ on how to raise kids, but having multiple sets of rules for different kids is just asking for Billy to be angry because he has to go to bed at 8:00 PM and his cousin Robby who’s the same age can stay up until 10:00 PM.

Not all rules need to be the same, but on things that might show favoritism it might be a good idea.

Utilities

Depending on the scenario, you may or may not have power or heat. If utilities are working, my feeling is that whomever pays the bills sets the thermostat, keeping everyone’s safety in mind of course.

It will need to be understood that shower times need to be limited to a short duration, so that everyone can shower.

If the power is out and you have a generator, you’ll need to agree on what gets powered. If you can keep the fridge and the freezer cold by running the generator a few times a day, setting a rule about who is allowed to go in them might be a good idea.

When I was in the Navy there was only one or two television channels available while at sea. Believe it or not, that was probably a good thing. Trying to get a group to agree on which show to watch is like nailing Jell-O to a tree. If you have a working TV, and/or DVD player, putting all options in a hat and drawing one might be the best way to go.

Food and Water

This is another area that will depend greatly on the kind of scenario you’re faced with. If the event is short in duration or is longer duration and you can still get to the store and purchase goods, it is much different than a long term duration where the support infrastructure has collapsed. If you have a well, this is a much different conversation than someone on municipal water and sewer.

If water is in short supply, you may have to ration it. You will have to stop taking showers to conserve water. The rule of thumb is that a person needs one gallon of drinking water a day, more in warm climates or if highly active.

When it comes to rationing food, there is a big difference between making due for a few days until a trip to the store can be made, versus a life changing event that caused you to make due until harvest time.

If you are forced to ration food, keep health conditions in mind, how many calories are burned doing physical activity and the needs of children.

Disagreements

With many people sharing the same space, tension could be high without facing an emergency situation. Add the extra pressure and you’ve got the potential for everyone being on everyone else’s nerves. Finding a fair way to deal with disagreements is something to think about ahead of time, before everyone is torqued off.

If I were in a situation that saw Trudee and I playing host to more people for an extended time, I would need to make sure we had wine, lots and lots of wine. Just kidding.

I would be tempted to go with “My house, my rules”. Depending on the disagreement, that might not be the best route. I try to be objective and understand both sides of an argument, but I don’t always succeed and, like everyone, I make mistakes. For that reason, every adult should have some say in daily life, and compromise should be well-used.

I think that every group needs a leader, someone who breaks ties and when compromise fails, has the final say. There are also some things that I am just not willing to tolerate in my house. When it comes to the safety, well being and righteousness of my family, my foot is down. Don’t ask again.

I am sure I missed some rules or guidelines. If you think of some, please post them in the comment section.

If you liked this article please think about sharing it on the social media listed below, thanks!

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New Show! It’s all About the Frequencies, The Anxiety of Being “Awake”, Plus Firearm and Emergency Management Expert; David Nash

Posted by Ed Corcoran News, Show Archives No Responses »

Jan 052013

Ed’s back from the holiday break with some thoughts about mass control of the populace through emotional (vibratory) manipulation and explores the “Many Worlds” theory as a model for manifestation and creating your own reality He also addresses various ways to mitigate the anxieties that can come from from being “awake” to the truth as well as other matters regarding consciousness. Ed also interviews survival and preparedness writer and founder of the Shepherd School; David Nash.

Click HERE to download and listen to the show!

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9 Mistakes Typically Made by Preppers

Posted by Ed Corcoran News No Responses »

Dec 282012

By The Survival Woman – BackdoorSurvival.com

Once upon a time I was a novice prepper and there are days that I still feel that way. Having chosen the prepper lifestyle, I always find myself in search of that next greatest thing – whether it is a piece of gear, a new type of freeze dried food, a fabulous new prepping book or a DIY survival skill. No matter what it is, there always seems to be something out there to capture my attention.

While I do believe that is it worthwhile to be looking forward, it is also good to reflect on past prepping mistakes, to learn from them, and to move forward with a new sense of resolve. Today I am going to share some common prepper mistakes. Many of these – especially those at the top of the list – I have made myself. Others – through luck or planning – I have managed to avoid.

Whatever your personal situation, take some time to review this list and if you find an area where you are remiss, consider the past a learning experience and do what I do – make adjustments and move forward.

9 Mistakes Typically Made by Preppers

1. Failing to inventory stored food supplies.

Guilty as charged. It is easy to amass a sizable supply of food in a short period of time. This is especially true if you tend to purchase a little bit extra each time you shop. Before you know it, you have a closet or pantry full of stuff but no clue as to what is inside. In my case, I have some well marked buckets of food but no master list. I know I have 30 pounds of coffee beans – or is it 40? And #10 tins of freeze-dried meats, fruits and veggies? They are packed away in carton boxes and I know I have lots of cartons but just exactly what and how much?

I have been storing food for so long that I can not rely on memory alone to know what I already have and what is still needed. This is my number one mistake and one that I plan to remedy in two ways. First of all, everything new that I purchase will be inventoried right away. This is what I call my going forward plan. Then, as time allows, I will methodically inventory everything else.

The key, of course, is not to co-mingle the old with the new. Sure, I may end up with some duplicates but that is better than being so overwhelmed than to do nothing at all. Your plan may be different given the dynamics of your space and your time. All I can say is that if you are fairly new to prepping, don’t let this one slip by. Keep track of what you have from the get go and save yourself a lot of grief down the road.

2. Identifying the most likely risks and prepping for those first.

When I first started, I went off willy-nilly preparing for all sorts of calamities. Earthquakes, terrorist attacks, pandemics, nuclear melt-downs, civil disobedience – you name it, I tried to prepare for it all. These days, I recommend that one of the very first steps that you take when prepping is to evaluate the most likely risks in your area and within your personal domestic situation.

Most if not all city, county and state governments will have emergency management websites that will help you sort through the most likely disasters to occur in your area. Add to this an assessment of your location. Are you in a city where gangs, mobs or terrorist attacks are likely? Do you live in a remote area where the failure of transportations systems or the lack of fuel will cut off you off from supplies from the rest of the world? Is your employment situation tenuous requiring that you build up some cash reserves to get you by just in case the job goes away?

Clearly, at the beginning, some choices will need to be made regarding the best use of your prepping budget. Just remember that food, water and first aid supplies should be at the top of everyone’s list. After that, assess the most likely risks and plan accordingly. A good place to start is 12 Months of Prepping – The First Year which is a recap of monthly supplies, skills and tasks to get you starting on the road to preparedness.

3. Preparing mostly to bug out rather than bugging in.

We all talk about having a bug-out-bag and without question, having your most basic survival items in a pack that you can grab and go if you need to get out of dodge in a hurry is important. But beyond that, over and over I see people acquire all sorts of gear for surviving on the run - perhaps in the woods or bush in a remote location.

I know that in own case and also with the majority of the readers on Backdoor Survival, hunkering down and bugging in will always be preferred to taking off into the unknown with our stuff. For many, the choice to bug in has to do with family, health concerns or financial considerations. That, plus the availability of stored supplies makes bugging in – or staying at home – the choice when a disaster strikes.

At the end of the day, take care of your bugging in needs first and foremost. Plan for outdoor cooking facilities (perhaps an existing charcoal grill?), supplemental lighting (like this $21 Dorcy Wireless Motion LED Flood Lite), stored water, and a portable generator now. Later, down the road, you can expand your supplies to include the essentials for truly bugging out.

That said, pay attention to mistake number 4.

4. Failure to evacuate at just the right time.

When the storm of the century is heading your way, know that it is time to evacuate. Load up your vehicle and go. As much as you feel that your are better off in your own home, if the authorities tell you to leave – and even if they do not – get out of harms way as a precautionary measure. Do so while you still have the ability to load up your vehicle with supplies and fill the tank with gas.

Sticking around when there is at least a 50% chance of a disaster occurring (hurricane, flood, landslides, tsunami,wildfire) is just plain silly. Remember mistake number 2 – failure to evaluate the risks? Part of your planning should be to determine the trigger point for evacuation as well as identification of an evacuation site and a route to get there. Better yet, plan an alternate route as well.

5. Having the gear but not knowing how to use it.

I am guilty of this one as well. I have a Kaito emergency radioamazon.com/e/ir?t=continmoti-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B003A21DQA" alt=" 9 Mistakes Typically Made by Preppers Backdoor Survival" width="1" height="1" border="0" /> as well as some Midland FRS radios. Sure, I know how basically to use them but what if I needed to use some of the more esoteric features? My bad. I also have a hand held compass – a nice one at that – and yet in these days of GPS navigation, would I know how to use it?

Get out the gear two or three times a year and put it through its paces. Not only do you need to know how to use it, but you need to make sure your gear is in good working order. Blades need to be sharpened, batteries need to be charged and skills need to be refreshed.

6. Underestimating other humans as a threat.

In a perfect world, we would all get along and go about our business in a mild-mannered way, not bothering anyone or causing others harm. Alas, as humans this has never been the case. From biblical times forward, man has opposed man. There have been and still are warriors, and armies, soldiers and dictators, enemies and foes.

As recent mass shootings have revealed, mental illness or drugs can make good people go bad. Add the uncertainly and chaos created by an unstable society and the potential for human threat because a major cause for concern.

Whether you embrace firearms or shun them, you still need a way to defend yourself, your family and your property. Consider pepper sprays, martial arts, and other defensive mechanisms in addition to traditional firearms. It is foolhardy to believe that having some means of defense is not needed because “there is no one out to get you”. Desperate people are dangerous people. And the lack of food, water and supplies will turn ordinary people into desperate people in a heartbeat.

7. Buying stuff while ignoring the need to develop skills.

Buying stuff is easy. Save up your money, select your merchandise and go to your local outdoor emporium or Amazon and make a purchase. On the other hand, learning new skills (or practicing old ones) takes time, patience and bit of study. Do you know how to start a fire without matches or a butane lighter? Do you know how to take advantage of natures bounty by knowing how to fish or hunt? And what about growing your own food? Could you do it?

Developing skills to become self-sufficient are every bit as important as having a closet full of the best gear money can by.

8. Lacking the knowledge to properly store your food supplies.

There are six enemies of food storage: Temperature, Moisture, Oxygen, Light, Pests and Time.

Okay, some might say there is a sixth enemy: namely the two legged type that gets into the tastier items (such a cans of brownie mix) and eats them without telling anyone.

Seriously though, storing food for the long term – meaning five years or longer – does take some care. Brush up on the basics of food storage and set up an active rotation program. You don’t necessarily have to store food for 10 years or longer but what you do store – even for a year or two – should be protected to the best of your ability.

One thing to keep in mind that except for the problem with pests, most food will still be edible even if it is not stored at optimal temperatures in a moisture and oxygen-free environment. But why not learn proper storage methods to insure maximum taste and nutrition. Here on Backdoor Survival, the following articles will help educate and there are plenty of others elsewhere on the internet including YouTube. A few hours of your time is all that it will take to make you a food storage expert.

Food storage and Beans: Using Mylar bags and a Food Saver
Food Storage Part I – A Primer on Oxygen Absorbers
Food Storage Part II: Unraveling the Mystique of Mylar Bags
Food Storage Part III: Food Grade Buckets, Lids and Gamma Seals
Food Storage Mistakes and Goofs

9. Relying only on yourself and ignoring like-minded members of your community.

When I first started prepping, I did not mention my new little “hobby” to anyone. You know, OPSEC and all that. But about a year into it, I realized that I could not do it all on my own. There were things I was having trouble grasping on my own and I needed help. As I tip toed around the edges of my community, I found some like minded people and much to my surprise, I found that I had skills and knowledge that they lacked.

The mutual exchange of skills and knowledge ensued along with some informal agreements to team up if circumstances required us to be on our own for any period of time. This included teaming up for shelter and food as well as defense.

The importance of having a peer group of like minded comrades in my own community was strengthened as I read R. P. Ruggiero’s Brushfire Plague and continues as I explore other truer than life survival stories,. How you decide to expand your community contacts is up to you but be advised that when it comes to survival 1 plus 1 will definitely add up to more than 2.

The Final Word

These days I feel fortunate that I have come so far with my prepping activities. Moving beyond obsession, the prepping way of life is now a part of my core. It is “what I do” as well as being a hobby and a passion.

Indeed, I have made some mistakes along the way and many of them are listed above. There will surely be others down the road but I know that will be okay since they will afford me an opportunity to learn and grow. At the end of the day, life is all about growth, opportunity and the ability to take care of oneself physically, mentally and spiritually. To me, that is what prepping is all about – mistakes and all.

Enjoy your next adventure through common sense and thoughtful preparation!

Gaye

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Gas Storage for when the SHTF

Posted by Ed Corcoran News 6 Responses »

Aug 202012

Everyone knows that having food and water storage is crucial for your SHTF plan, but gas storage is of almost equal importance. I always tell my readers and listeners to keep their gas tanks full and never let it get below half a tank without filling up again. It may be difficult to break the habit of letting your car get down to running on fumes before you fill up again (it was for me), but you’ll be grateful that you have that fuel if you need to bug out and gas is hard (or impossible/expensive) to come by.

Even if you do keep your gas tank full (or near full) at all times, you may need more gas than your tank will hold if you need to get out of Dodge to your designated bug out location or your pre-arranged stay with an out-of-town friend or relative. This is one reason it is so important to have a number of filled gas cans ready to use.

Conversely, if you’re not bugging out but instead find yourself far from home when disaster strikes, you should have enough fuel to make the trip back home to safety. Just as grocery store shelves will empty out in record time after a disaster, there will also be a run on the gas stations when the SHTF. Even if you don’t live in a disaster-prone area, a power loss or grid collapse – due to a solar flare or EMP – will make it impossible to get gas from your nearest filling station (gas pumps kinda need electricity to work).

Plastic gas cans or “Jerry Jugs” are readily available, and cost a lot less than metal cans. DO NOT store gasoline in containers that are not intended for that purpose!

5 gallon plastic gas can

Five-gallon cans are recommended. Gasoline weighs a little over 6 lbs at 72 degrees F (slightly more at colder temperatures) so a 5 gallon container will weigh a little over 30 lbs, which is fairly manageable to carry around with you.

How much gas you should keep on hand is largely dependent on how much space you have to store it. There’s only so many cans that you’ll be able to fit in your vehicle along with your other essential items. Store as much as you can, but not to the detriment of food, water and other vital supplies.

Hey looters! Come and get it!

It’s important to note that gas will become a valuable barter item in a post-collapse scenario, but it will also make you a target for thieves and looters. So make sure you keep your gas reserves stowed away out of sight. If your plan is to strap your gas cans to the roof or outside of your vehicle, you might as well put a sign on your car that says “Free Gas”, because that’s ostensibly what you’re doing. If you’re carrying gas in the back of a pickup truck, keep it covered with a tarp, or better still, put a lockable cap/camper shell on the back of your truck to protect your belongings. This won’t completely stop a determined thief from stealing your gear, but it could deter him or delay him long enough for you to do something about it.

Proper gas storage practices are essential for safety as well as keeping your gas stable and viable for a maximum length of time. A properly sealed can that is designed for storing gasoline should not leak vapor, but it’s still recommended that you store gas in a well ventilated area. Keeping the gas can out of the sun and excessive heat will minimize the expansion and contraction of the can. Add a fuel stabilizing product like STA-BIL or PRI-G (PRI-D for diesel) to the gas for long term storage and it will keep the gas fresh for 12 months. Just as with food and water storage, make sure to mark the cans with the storage date (the date that the fuel stabilizer was added). As your gas storage approaches the 12 month mark, pour it into your gas tank and refill the can with fresh gas.

So don’t neglect storing gas in your preparedness plan. Even if nothing disastrous happens, with the way gas prices have been fluctuating over the last year, buying gas while prices are relatively low means you won’t get pinched as hard when that roller coaster peaks again.

As a final note, make sure to check with your local fire department about any fuel storage regulations in your area.

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NOAA Predictions for 2012 Hurricane Season

Posted by Ed Corcoran News No Responses »

Aug 142012

Well, hurricane season is upon us again and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) has issued their prediction for what could be a severe season for 2012, urging people who live in hurricane-prone locations to make sure they are prepared:

With this year’s Atlantic hurricane season off to a busy start, with six named storms to date, the NOAA is saying that the second half has a 35 percent chance of being an above-normal season, though there is still a 50 percent chance of a near-normal season. CampingSurvival.com is issuing a general reminder for residents of areas affected by these storms to prepare ahead of time, to avoid being a drain on emergency services.
Across the entire Atlantic Basin for the season – June 1 to November 30 – NOAA’s updated seasonal outlook projects a total of 12-17 named storms, 5-8 hurricanes, two or three of which could be major hurricanes (Category 3, 4 or 5, with winds of at least 111 mph). This forecast includes the activity-to-date of tropical storms Alberto, Beryl, Debbie, Florence and hurricanes Chris and Ernesto.

“We are increasing the likelihood of an above-normal season because storm-conducive wind patterns and warmer-than-normal sea surface temperatures are now in place in the Atlantic,” said Gerry Bell, Ph.D., lead seasonal hurricane forecaster at the Climate Prediction Center. “These conditions are linked to the ongoing high activity era for Atlantic hurricanes that began in 1995. Also, strong early-season activity is generally indicative of a more active season.”

Tom Sciacca, President of CampingSurvival.com, implored residents to be prepared.
“During a major storm, and especially during a hurricane, emergency service personnel are stretched to the maximum,” he said. “The better you prepare ahead of time, the less likely you’ll be to find yourself and your family in a life threatening situation.”

CampingSurvival.com is a one stop shop for urban survival gear that enables families to be self-sufficient during critical times, including items such as first aid kits, MRE (Meals Ready to Eat), emergency water storage, paracord and other items.

“Being prepared means having an emergency plan for your family, and obtaining your supplies well in advance – not at the last minute,” Sciacca said. “We strongly recommend that people have a pre-packed ‘go-bag’ to enable them to evacuate quickly, as well as separate emergency supplies for hunkering down if you get stuck.”

A go-bag is a kit of essential supplies, including food (such as MRE), water, First Aid kit, rain poncho, flashlight and other supplies that can be loaded into a vehicle quickly during a storm evacuation. On the other hand, people who decide to “ride out” a storm must have far more supplies in their homes than would fit in a go-bag, due to the fact that they may be without power for days, if not weeks. In such a situation, it is essential to have enough food for all family members and clean water for drinking, washing, food preparation and bathing.

“We have a long way to go until the end of the season, and we shouldn’t let our guard down,” said Laura Furgione, acting director of NOAA’s National Weather Service. “Hurricanes often bring dangerous inland flooding as we saw a year ago in the Northeast with Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee. Even people who live hundreds of miles from the coast need to remain vigilant through the remainder of the season.”
“It is never too early to prepare for a hurricane,” said Tim Manning, FEMA’s deputy administrator for protection and national preparedness. “We are in the middle of hurricane season and now is the time to get ready. There are easy steps you can take to get yourself and your family prepared.”

“Even if you’re not directly in the path of a big storm, you may have friends and loved ones who are,” Sciacca noted. “Remind them of the importance of hurricane preparedness and even think about sending them supplies. Our CampingSurvival.com customer service representatives are fully equipped to offer suggestions and would be happy to help.”

Sciacca, a former Marine and veteran of the 1991 Gulf War, launched CampingSurvival.com in 2002, and quickly earned a reputation as an online authority on camping, wilderness survival and urban survival gear, creating a loyal following of customers.

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Rainwater Harvesting

Posted by Ed Corcoran Survival Guides 1 Response »

Apr 202012

Besides shelter, water is the most important resource for survival and rain is the ultimate source of fresh, pure water. There is a growing water crisis developing both here in the U.S. as well as around the world, as aquifers and reservoirs are being depleted faster than they can be replenished and drought conditions persist in southern, and southwestern regions of the country. Whether you live in an arid climate, or not, a water crisis may come as a result of a disaster, grid collapse or economic breakdown, so procuring and storing clean water through rainwater harvesting is essential for self reliance.

Rain water harvesting is a system by which, the rainwater that collects on the roofs and the area around the buildings is directed into open wells through a filter tank or into a percolation chamber, built specifically for this purpose. Rainwater is collected directly or recharged into the ground to improve ground water storage. Some states have restrictive regulations again harvesting rainwater. While the claim that even the water in the sky belongs to the state may be draconian and oppressive, you should check your state’s mandates regarding water rights and rain collection.

Rain is the ultimate source of fresh water. With the ground area around houses and buildings being cemented, particularly in cities and towns, rainwater, which runs off from terraces and roofs, was draining into low-lying areas and not percolating into the soil. Thereby, precious rainwater is squandered, as it is drained into the sea eventually. Rain water harvesting is a system by which, the rainwater that collects on the roofs and the area around the buildings is directed into open wells through a filter tank or into a percolation chamber , built specifically for this purpose.
Rainwater is collected directly or recharged into the ground to improve ground water storage. Water that is not extracted from ground during rainy days is the water saved.

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U.S. Army First Aid Manual

Posted by Ed Corcoran Survival Guides 4 Responses »

Apr 122012

This manual meets the first aid training needs of individual service members. Because medical personnel will not always be readily available, the nonmedical service members must rely heavily on their own skills and knowledge of life-sustaining methods to survive on the integrated battlefield. This publication outlines both self-aid and aid to other service members (buddy aid). More importantly, it emphasizes prompt and effective action in sustaining life and preventing or minimizing further suffering and disability.

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Should You Even Bother to Have a Bug Out Plan?

Posted by Ed Corcoran News 2 Responses »

Apr 112012

That’s a sentiment I encountered on a an urban survival blog (I won’t mention any names) that I happened upon in my internet travels the other day. An article entitled: “Is Bugging Out Really Worth it?” caught my eye. The article asserts that in a SHTF situation, staying in urban areas will be safer than attempting to get out of Dodge.

“A lot of hardcore preppers insist that you have to have a bug out bag and a bug out location. Many of them say that when the SHTF, the cities will burn to the ground. And even if they don’t burn, the people living in them will starve to death or be murdered by looters.

Personally, I don’t think things will ever get quite that bad. (The only exception would be if there were an EMP blast or a nuclear war, but that is beyond the scope of this site.) The government has contingency plans for natural disasters such as hurricanes or earthquakes. I’m not saying they’ll do a great job (for example, FEMA after hurricane Katrina), but usually order will be restored in a few days, long before people start killing each other for food.”

There has been much written in apocalyptic fiction that paints a vivid (some would say exaggerated) picture of cities burning to the ground as the helpless residents fall victim to starvation, exposure, looters and horrific violence. Will the reality of societal breakdown bring these events to fruition? No one can really say for sure. What can be said for sure is that surviving in an urban environment in a WROL world will be an ordeal at the very least. Not to mention, you will also have to worry about government agencies, police and other “forces” coming in and confiscating your food, firearms and anything else you might have of value, leaving you helpless to defend or even feed yourself. Such as in the aftermath of hurricane Katrina, when the police rounded up residents’ guns and food storage and National Guardsmen joined in on the looting. The next time, they may not just round up your guns and food. The may round up you as well.

Personally, I’d rather not be around for that.

Yet there are those within the survival and preparedness community who still believe that the government will (albeit slowly) come to our rescue and ultimately save the day, assuaging their fears with the reassurance that: “The government has contingency plans for natural disasters” and “…order will be restored in a few days, long before people start killing each other for food.”

I for one, have very little faith in the government’s ability (or inclination) to ensure the safety and well-being of American citizens after a major disaster or collapse. I’m sure that some kind of “order” will eventually be asserted, but that order will not be imposed with the best interests of the people at heart.
FEMA and DHS (which I consider to be two heads of the same beast at this point) seem more concerned with stocking up on ammunition than food and disaster supplies, and history has shown that it takes less than a few days for people to start looting and turning on each other, even in less than disastrous situations.

Take for example the New York City blackout in 1977. It took only 25 hours for power to be completely restored to all the city’s boroughs and yet during that time, hundreds of businesses were looted and burned while emergency rooms were flooded with victims of violence.

On the other hand, the blackout in 2003 – which was the largest in American history, affecting a much larger area of the country – resulted in far fewer crimes and markedly less violence.

Social analysts suggest that the outburst of violence and crime during the 1977 blackout was largely caused by socio-economic factors and exacerbated by the heat. In 1977 the economy was at a near-depression level, unemployment in New York topped 10.5% and the inflation rate was higher than the national standard. As a result, there was a lot of underlying resentment, anger and frustration within the city’s poorest communities. New York was also suffering a brutal heat wave at the time, so when the power went out, all that collectively pent-up aggression was released in an explosive free-for-all that resulted in $33M in damages.

By contrast, the 2003 blackout – while a lot more widespread than the NYC blackout – occurred during comparatively more prosperous times. Also, since it happened a little less than 2 years after 9/11, there was still a strong sense of unity and solidarity against the “terrorist threat” among Americans as a whole and especially among New Yorkers. This has been attributed to the markedly calm reaction in contrast to the 1977 power outage.

“So my point is: It’s not as dangerous to be in the city during a disaster as most people claim. And if things actually get so bad in the cities that you can’t survive there, you won’t be much better off in the country, anyway.”

Nobody can predict what kind of event is going to go down in any given city at any given time, or how the majority of people are going to react. There have also been full-blown economic collapses in other countries such as Argentina, Zimbabwe and now Greece, that did not result in mass exodus of the residents, or the transformation of the cities into a Mad Max landscape, but this should not lull you into a false sense of safety when it comes to urban survival. While it’s true that it’s just not practical to think that everybody living in the city will even be able to escape to rural areas, you should still have a plan to get out of Dodge. Even if your bug out plan is simply to go stay with friends or relatives out of state or in another region outside of the danger zone.

Survivng in the wilderness is tough, to be sure, and very few can manage it alone for extended periods of time – even with the proper training and experience – but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t bother to learn and practice those skills. American cities may not become full-blown war zones in the aftermath of an economic collapse, or some other wide-spread disaster, but they’re not exactly going to be “safe”, either. So keep planning and preparing!

Coleman Palmetto Sleeping Bag

by Coleman (55) Buy new: $27.98 - $206.35