Categories
General Preparedness Hurricane Preparedness Preparedness Planning Preparedness tips

Hurricane Earl – Last Minute Tips

As just about everyone on the East coast knows….Hurricane Earl is here. With all the coverage on the news I hope people have taken some time to prepare themselves for what the storm may bring. Time is one of the greatest weapons we have when it comes to getter better prepared. It is when we procrastinate that the situation becomes worse and we are forced to scramble to get ourselves ready. Having supplies and/or a preparedness kit on hand, having a plan of what you will do and staying informed by watching the news and listening to local authorities will go a long way in keeping you safe.

Below is a list of just some last minute things you may want to consider as the storm approaches.

*Make sure you have enough food and water on hand to cover you for at least 3 days. If you go to the supermarket…try to buy items that don’t require refrigeration as we may lose power.

*Have batteries on hand for flashlights, radios and any other items you many need.

*Top of your gas tanks in your vehicles in case you are told to evacuate

*Bring in any outdoor items like tables and chairs or grills. If you can’t bring them in..secure them as best you can.

*Charge any cells phones, computers, etc. to full capacity now while you have power

*Turn your refrigerator and freezer down to lowest setting. If you lose power it will help keep the items inside fresh for a longer period.

*If you have empty space in your refrigerator or freezer…fill plastic bottles with water and place inside. These will help keep your food safe longer if power is lost.

*Have a talk now with younger family members about what to expect. Tell them there may be lots of wind and rain and noise. If you discuss it now…it will hopefully be less scary if it happens

This list is not complete…it is just some quick ideas you may want to consider.

For the long term….remember these simple things:

1. Get a Kit (or make ones yourself)

2. Make a Plan (and discuss it with your family)

3. Be Informed (pay attention to what is happening and be ready to act)

Be well and stay safe.

Categories
Uncategorized

Preparedness Month has started

As many of you know…September is National Preparedness Month. This is a great time to think about your personal preparedness level. If you happen to be someone who has already taken many of the important steps to better preparedness…this is a great chance to help and encourage others to do the same. While the government and others in the emergency preparedness space continue to preach the message….it is often when we hear it from a family member or friend that we actually listen and take action.

If you are doing something special during National Preparedness Month or if you have helped a family member, friend or member of your community get better prepared…please share you story with us. Anyone who submits a story will receive a 20% off coupon code for anything purchased on our site 1800prepare.com.

This is also a good time to thank someone who serves in our rescue community. Take a moment to let a firefighter, EMT, police officer or other first responder know how much you appreciate what they do. They are all true heroes.

Categories
Uncategorized

Tell us your story of Preparedness or Survival

One great way to get more people to think about preparedness is to read or hear stories from people who have been through emergency situations. Sometimes we find ourselves prepared for the situation and some times we don’t. By hearing others stories we get firsthand accounts that we can learn from.

If you have a story please share it with us. It can be about an emergency or disaster that you went through. It can be about how you used a survival kit or other type of survival item to help you out of a situation. Or it can be about a time where you wish you had been better prepared.

Anyone who shares a story will be given a coupon code good for 20% off a purchase from our site at 1-800-PREPARE.com.

Together we can learn and help spread the message of preparedness.

Categories
Uncategorized

3.6 quake rattles Southern California

A 3.6 magnitude earthquake rattled the Palm Springs, Calif., area early Saturday and experts say it has put pressure on two faults that run through the Inland Empire.

We are hearing more and more news reports that experts are saying that Southern California is due for a major earthquake. While nobody can really predict when or if one will strike…now would be the right time to think about your level of preparedness and how you can increase it.

Some experts recommend having food, water and supplies on hand for 72 hours while others suggest you have enough for one week. Either way…having some basic survival gear on hand is very important. It is also critically important that you take some time to review your possible evacuation routes, safe areas in your home or office that you can go if you feel an earthquake happening as well as communication plans with family members if you are separated.

As you can’t know where you will be if something happens, you should keep supplies in your home, office and car. I personally recommend starting out with a survival kit that matches the amount of people you need supplies for and then adding to it the items you may personally want. These individual items could include things such as: prescription glasses, medicines, cash, copies of important documents and some comfort items.

You should also take some time to sit with your family and discuss your plans, what supplies you have on hand and what people should do in the event of an emergency. If you have relatives nearby you should discuss with them as well. You may also want to meet and discuss with your neighbors as in most cases…neighbors will be able to help each other before emergency rescue personnel can.

Posts like these are not meant to panic anyone. They are simply meant as a reminder of the importance of preparedness. They key is to not procrastinate. Take action now and you will be better off later.

Categories
Uncategorized

Earthquake Preparedness

Being prepared for an earthquake is something everyone who lives in earthquake prone areas should do. Learning what to do, planning escape routes, stocking up on survival gear and emergency kits you may need, making an emergency contact list and copying important documents are just a few of the recommended steps.

If an earthquake does strike….here is an acronym to help you remember some of the important steps you should take.

S.H.A.K.E.

S – Structure: Always know where the solid structure is around you, such as heavy doorways and get to it.

H – Hold On: Hold on to whatever structure you’re sheltered under, even if it’s just a heavy table.

A – Aftershocks: Be ready for an immediate aftershock (which is really a delayed continuation of the main event)

K – Know: Know where your escape routes are and where debris or HazMat dangers might come from.

E – Evacuate: Safely evacuate the area you’re in, especially if it has sustained appreciable damage.

You can find many tips like this is our preparedness resource section on 1-800-prepare.com and in Disaster Prep 101 (A great book by one of our advisers – Paul Purcell)

Categories
Uncategorized

Southern California is overdue for a major earthquake

According to a study released Friday Southern California is overdue for a major earthquake along the San Andreas fault.

The long-awaited study came after scientists spent years studying the geology of the Carrizo Plain area of the San Andreas, which is about 100 miles northwest of Los Angeles. It found that earthquakes along the San Andreas fault have occurred far more often than previously believed.

One researcher commented: “People should not stick their heads in the ground. There are storm clouds gathered on the horizon. Does that mean it’s definitely going to rain? No, but when you have that many clouds, you think, ‘I’m going to take my umbrella with me today.’ That’s what this research does: It gives us a chance to prepare.”

Preparing means a few things:

1. Getting the facts. Understand what can happen in your area and what affect it could have on you.

2. Learn about what resources are available in your area if a disaster should strike

3. Make a plan. Talk to your family and make a plan as to what you will do in the event of an emergency. Will you shelter in place? Will you need to evacuate? If so…where will you go and what route will you take? Have your plan include what you will do if you are apart.

4. Consider buying an earthquake kit or other emergency preparedness kit. Now is the time…don’t wait until something happens to figure out you don’t have the supplies you need.

While many studies are being done….earthquakes don’t give advance warning. They can strike at anytime. Taking some time to prepare now can pay off in dividends later.

Categories
Fundraisers General Preparedness Preparedness Planning

Survival Kits are a Great Item for a Fundraiser

If you are with a religious group, school group, C.E.R.T. Team, volunteer fire dept., ambulance corp. or any other group looking for a great fundraiser idea you should consider selling survival kits, blackout kits and other emergency preparedness items in your community.

Emergencies and disasters can happen anywhere. They can affect every person in every neighborhood. For many years the government has preached the message: Get a Kit, Make a Plan, Be Ready. This is a way to take that message directly to the members of your community while raising money for your group or cause.

Here are just a few reasons why these items make for a great fundraiser:

*Everyone is a potential buyer of the kits. They are needed in every home, office and car

*By selling/promoting these items you will be making the members of your community better prepared

*You will be helping to raise the level of preparedness in your community

*The more people who are better prepared with the right survival gear and information…the easier it will be on our rescue personnel.

*You can raise great money for your cause

*They are very simple to promote and sell

Your group can promote/sell this preparedness kits through a variety of ways: door to door, flyers in your community, email marketing to people you know, organizing a preparedness event in your town.

Most items I purchase from a group doing a fundraiser I don’t really need. I buy the items to support the cause. These items can be bought to help support the cause and be very important to the people who buy them.

1-800-PREPARE.com can help you if you or your organization is interested in this type fundraiser.

Categories
First Aid Personal Preparedness Personal Stories

First Aid Kit’s

When people think of emergency preparedness they often think of earthquake kits or survival gear. In my opinion…one of the most important things to have…and certainly one of the most frequently used is a first aid kit. In the coarse of our normal, everyday lives there are literally dozens of different things that can happen where having a first aid kit would come in handy. Below is just a small list:

*Cuts from sharp objects

*Scrapes or cuts from slips or falls

*Playground accidents

*Minor or even major vehicle accidents

*Sports Injuries

*Bee stings or other Animal Bites

*Headaches or Nausea

*Splinters

*Sprains or broken bones

*Bloody Nose

I personally keep a number of different first aid kits in my home, office and in my car. I also keep one in each of my sports bags. A week doesn’t go by where I don’t have to pull out one of my kits for myself or someone I am with. Again…this isn’t always for something major. However…being able to treat minor injuries is very important.

Here are two quick stories where having a kit came in handy.

*Last night during our softball game one of our players made a hard slide into 3rd base. Both of his knees where cut/scraped up and he was a little sore.  When the inning he was able to clean the cuts and apply an antiseptic to speed healing and prevent infection. He was also able to bandage the area. When the game was over I was also able to give him an ice-pack to help with the pain and swelling. Would it have been life threatening if I didn’t have a first aid kit handy? No. But did it make the situation a bit better with very little effort? Yes.

*Two weeks ago I was away for the weekend and was at a restaurant. An older woman walked into the restaurant and slipped and smashed face first into the floor. She immediately started bleeding and had severe pain in her nose. The restaurant did not have a first aid kit. I ran outside to my car and brought in mine. We were able to stop the bleeding, clean the area and bandage her up until she could get to the hospital. I was also able to give her an ice pack for the ride. Again…not a life threatening event. Just an simple situation that could happen to anyone at anytime.

If it happens to you, a family member, a loved one or friend…you will feel much better if you have what you need to deal with the situation. Preparedness is an everyday thing. Take some time to think about how you can be better prepared.

Categories
Uncategorized

It’s Important to think about better Preparedness

Preparedness is something we all need to take personal responsibility for. By being prepared, we free up important resources, making it much easier for our first responders to assist those who are in the greatest need.

Personal preparedness can extend to helping neighbors and friends. It is  more likely that your friends or neighbors will reach you first, than emergency responders.

It is important to prepare now before something happens. Your family may not be together when an emergency happens and you may not have access to cell phones, gas for your vehicle, supermarkets orother things that you are used to having every day.

Make a plan, Get an emergency supply kit, Stay informed of situations in your area.

Disasters can happen at any time, so it is important for you to be prepared at places where you spend time. This includes your home, your office, and in your car. Get the right survival gear and make sure you have enough for everyone.

You should also have an understanding of local hazards and the appropriate response individuals and families should take during an emergency situation. Think about what may happen in your community.

Categories
Uncategorized

Everyday Preparedness

When people think of “preparedness” they often think of being ready for major events like a hurricane, earthquake or tornado. For most of us..these are situations we will likely never have to face. However, there are things that can happen to all of us during the course of our everyday life that we can and should be better prepared for. I am certainly not talking about running around paranoid all day. I am simply suggesting that is you take a little time and do a little preparing you will face some of these “what if’s” a little better.

Some examples of things we could all face:

*A broken down car (Do you have flares, a flashlight, a flat tire fixer)

*A fire in the home or office (Do you have extinguishers, detectors, escape ladders)

*An injury at or away from home (Do you have a first aid kit or supplies)

*A blackout (So you have candles, flashlights, matches, lanterns)

*Child proofing a home

*A robbery either of our home, office or vehicle

*Someone choking or in need of CPR

*A lost child or elderly person

Preparedness is a broad topic and one we shouldn’t be afraid to think about. Having the right emergency plan, emergency kit, preparedness supplies and taking the time to think about what you might do is a great step and one that will make you feel more at ease.

Please share your story here on how being prepared helped you with a specific situation.