Category: General Preparedness

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Disaster Kits General Preparedness Preparedness Planning Survival Kits

Preparedness Tabling Event

With September being National Preparedness Month I have had the opportunity to spend a few hours at companies in my community talking about preparedness kits and supplies. I think it is great that more and more companies are taking preparedness seriously and holding events where their employees can learn and ask questions. Often it isn’t until we bring the topic right to them….that they consider it. When we remove any barriers it is amazing to see how many people are actually concerned and want to get some more facts.

These simple steps that companies are taking can have a profound impact on our overall readiness level in this country. If even for just a few hours people are talking about the last “event” and how they were or weren’t prepared….we have taken a step in the right direction. At the event I did on Tuesday I was amazed at how many people came by and said they have been planning to buy an emergency kit for years but just never got around to it. Now that it was right in front of them….they took action.

The question becomes…how do we encourage more of this type event if this is what it takes to change the culture in this country. The topic of disaster preparedness isn’t that scary. The more you learn, the more you understand…the better off you will be.

Thank you to the companies that are making this a topic they encourage their employees to learn about.

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General Preparedness Personal Preparedness

Is Preparedness Contagious?

Can you help other people get prepared by being prepared yourself? When you take steps like getting an emergency kit, learning CPR, making a family plan….will your friends and family see what you have done and take notice? If you do take these steps…do you tell people what you have done and try to encourage them to do same?

I personally believe that if those of us who take preparedness seriously encourage others…they will at least take the next steps. We need to help them and show them that it is easy. While the government and other national organizations preach the message….it is often seeing someone else that you relate to that will get you to take action.

What are your thoughts on this? Should you keep your preparedness steps private…or try to motivate others by talking about it?

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Disaster Kits Earthquake Preparedness Fire Preparedness/Safety First Aid Flood Preparedness Food and Water General Preparedness Hurricane Preparedness Personal Preparedness Preparedness Planning Preparedness tips Survival Kits Tornado Preparedness

Preparedness Procrastination

Every year we see different types of disasters happen across the United States and the rest of the world. Earthquake, Hurricanes, Tornadoes, Floods, Fires, Acts of Terror and Blackouts just to name a few. We are also constantly reminded of the message: Get a Kit, Make a Plan, Be Informed. So the question is…If disasters happen and we know the basic things we can do to be better prepared…why do most people wait until the last minute? Why are there massive lines at retail stores for food, water, flashlights, batteries and other types of survival gear?

As the owner of a survival kit and preparedness supply company…I get panicked calls and email asking if people can pick up kits immediately or if I can ship overnight. You would like that at some point people would all stop procrastinating and start to better prepare. If every day or week you take one simple step to being better prepared…in very little time…you would find yourself much better off than where you are  today. Everything doesn’t have to be done now and it certainly isn’t about panic. Just start…take action. I believe that one you do…you will realize that it isn’t much work and you will fell better knowing you have taken steps to make yourself and your family safer. Oh..and by the way….if you do take the first step…while you’re at it…encourage a family member or friend to do the same.

Here are some simple suggestions:

*Learn what sort of emergencies/disasters happen in your area. Learn what they do and how they can affect you. Will they cause blackouts, high winds, etc.

*Check what supplies you have in house and get some simple items every time you are out shopping: flashlights, batteries, emergency food that won’t spoil, water.

*Take to your family about what you would do “if” something happened. Where would you go? What might happen? Where the supplies are. How you would communicate.

*Learn basic first aid and CPR. It can come in happen at anytime and not just during major events

Please let us know if you have other steps you recommend. The more we share and encourage others…the better off we will all be.

Be well and stay safe,

Paul

1800prepare.com

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General Preparedness Hurricane Preparedness Preparedness Planning Survival Kits

Hurricane Irene in the News

Were all the warnings and media coverage about Hurricane Irene too much? Was the “storm” over-hyped?

I have spoken to many people and seen a number of comments suggesting that there was way too much coverage about the hurricane and that all the government warnings, alerts and evacuations were an over reaction and that they really went to far.

In my opinion I think the government and media handled it correctly for a number of reasons.

*Hurricanes are unpredictable and the slightest change in speed and/or direction could have caused much more devastation in many areas that weren’t as affected as they thought they would be.

*If they didn’t take it as seriously and tempered their warnings and the storm turned out to be much worse….there would have been greater loss of life and our rescue personnel would have had a much more difficult job to do.

*Many people in the Northeast don’t believe these type of events can happen up here and aren’t as prepared as they should be. The constant coverage helped to educate people on what they need to do and the different preparedness steps they could take.

*Hundreds of thousands of people are now better prepared overall which will pay dividends down the road. People have purchased preparedness kits, first aid supplies, flashlights and batteries and other important items.

*We will never know how much less destruction there was because people took basic preparedness steps such as: bringing in outdoor furniture, moving potential flood items to higher ground, protecting vehicles, pruning trees, etc.

*With the constant warnings and alerts there were millions less people on the roads. Most people kept inside to ride out the storm. This potentially saved many lives as tree limbs and flooded streets often cause accidents.

*With less vehicles on the road…it made moving around for emergency response personnel much easier.

At the end of the day..what is the down side? People know more, they have survival supplies in their homes now?

Please comment and let us know your thoughts.

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Emergency Responders General Preparedness Personal Preparedness Personal Stories Preparedness tips

Auto Guardian

As the owner of a preparedness kit/supply company and a volunteer firefighter….emergencies seem to find me (or maybe I am just paying more attention and looking for them). As such, I tried to be as prepared as I can be so I can help if I run into a situation. In my personal vehicle…on top of my firefighting turnout gear I also keep an auto survival kit, a regular survival kit, an auto guardian rescue flashlight and assorted other supplies. There have been numerous times where I have used the items that I carry both for my own problems and to assist others.

Last week in our town we had 3 different fire department calls at once. I was responding to one of the calls when I came upon a small car accident. The accident involved 3 cars but luckily no one was injured. One of the vehicles sustained damaged and their was debris in the road. The accident occurred right near an intersection so there was also the risk that someone rounding the corner would hit the vehicles already involved. I knew that there were other first responders on their way to the alarm call and I realized that this accident could prove a hazard to them as well.

The first thing I did was pull my car up ahead of the accident to a safe spot on the shoulder of the road. (If you are going to stop and help  at an accident…make sure you don’t become a victim. Park in a safe place and always be aware as other motorists as they tend to tunnel vision on the accident and may hit you). I then called our dispatch to notify them so they could alert the other responders. I quickly checked on the people involved to make sure they were alright. I then took my auto guardian tool which is a 5 in 1 device and placed it in the road about 20 feet behind the accident. I turned on the flashlight L.E.D. lights so oncoming traffic would see the accident. This item works great as a replacement to a road flare.

After I set down the auto guardian…I quickly swept the debris out of the roadway so it wouldn’t affect other cars, jumped back into my car and headed to assist at the call I was on my way too. Hopefully….when the accident was cleared..someone threw my auto guardian into their car so they could have it for themselves.

It never ceases to amaze me how many times I actually use my own products. Whether its supplies from a first aid kit or just a flashlight….I like knowing that I can both take care of myself a little better…and also assist others who may be in need.

If you have stopped to help someone in trouble…please share your story here.

Thanks and stay safe

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General Preparedness Personal Preparedness Preparedness Planning

More companies selling preparedness items

Contrary to what many of my friends think….I actually like to see more and more companies adding preparedness items like the ones we sell to their sites. As first responders ourselves….my partners and I started this business because we carry about getting people better prepared and we want to help change the culture of preparedness in this country. We recognize that together we can make a difference. The easier we make it for consumers and business owners to get the information and supplies they need…the better off we will all be.

Emergency preparedness is an individual responsibility but it provides many benefits to the masses. Taking some time to make a preparedness plan, get some survival supplies and learn about the types of disasters and emergencies that can happen in your area will not only make you and your loved one safer….it will also benefit your community. Below are just a few of the ways…

1. You become your own first responder which allows rescue personnel to focus on the more critical

2. You can assist your neighbors and others in your community

3. You reduce the run on supplies that occurs when a disaster kits

4. You help reduce panic and disorder

Decide now to at least take some of the basic steps to better overall preparedness. I can virtually guarantee you that you will feel better by no longer procrastinating and it will make the next steps much easier.

Until next time…stay safe and be prepared.

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General Preparedness

Why do we need an “event” to Prepare

I just watched a show on CNBC all about preparing for the end of the earth in 2012. The show featured many people who were building shelters, stocking up on long term food storage and taking other preparedness steps. While I might not agree with the concept of the end of the earth, what I find most amazing is that people often need these “events” or the possibility of these types of “major crisis” to take action.

So, is that right action to start trying to scare people into preparedness? What is the catalyst or tipping point that is missing for people just to say “Hey..things happen…let me think about how I should deal with them.” I don’t ever want to be the guy screaming “the sky is falling,” but for some reason, the people who do get all the attention.

Would love to hear feedback on all sides of the issue. Is it taking it too far? Are we doing enough to get people to prepare? Is preparation a waste of time and money? Please leave your thoughts.

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Emergency Responders General Preparedness Personal Preparedness Personal Stories Preparedness Planning

Saved by my Own Auto Safety Product

As the owner of a preparedness kit/supply company I am always preaching to people the need to be prepared for everyday…what if’s. Preparedness isn’t just about being ready  for major events such as earthquakes, hurricanes, terror attacks, blackouts, etc. There are things that can and do happen everyday that we can be better equipped to deal with. These things can range from the simple need for a band aid or other first aid supply, the supplies needed to deal with a flat tire or an escape ladder to get out of a burning home.

Tonight I responded to an automatic fire alarm as I am a volunteer with the Somers Fire Department. The call turned out to be a false alarm so we all packed up to head home. I just happen to be the last car to leave. For some strange reason…my car battery was dead. Here I was in the middle of the night…stuck with a dead car. Now…I could have knocked on a door and called a garage or asked someone to give me a jump start as I was in a populated area. But…what if I wasn’t. What if it was my wife and the car was in a parking garage late at night or some other secluded area?

Two weeks ago…I decided to get a portable jump starter that I could keep in my car. I thought it would be good to have both for myself and so I could help a stranded motorist if I came across one. I had the product shipped from my warehouse and left the box in my office for a few days. On Monday I thought it was silly to have ordered it and not taken it out of the box…so I unpacked it, read the instructions and plugged it in to charge. On Wednesday I put it in my car (it takes 40 hours to charge the first time).

Well…tonight it came in handy. I pulled it out of the trunk, connected it to my battery and had my car started in less than 60 seconds. Now….I thought this device would come in handy one day. I just didn’t know it would be the day after I put it in my car.

This event simply reinforced to me the concept…that unfortunately…things happen. AND…that by taking some simple steps…we can be better prepared to deal with them. I am not saying that everyone needs to go out and buy every product, gadget, rescue device on the market. Just take a few moments to think about the things that can occur in your everyday life and then see what steps you can take to better deal with all those…what if’s.

Stay Safe,

Paul

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General Preparedness Nuclear Power Preparedness Planning

Threats to Nuclear Power Plants

When I walked into my office this morning the TV was on and tuned to CNN. The first two stories I saw were about potential threats to two different nuclear power plants in the U.S.

One of the threats was due to the wildfires in New Mexico that were getting close to the Los Alamos Nuclear Lab forcing the lab to close.

The other threat was to the Nuclear Power plant in Nebraska that is being threatened by flooding.

Officials are keeping a close eye on both situations. If you live near either of these locations you should stay informed by visiting your local emergency management site, watching the news or listening to the radio.

*If it is recommended that you evacuate the area…do so as soon as possible

*Coordinate some meeting places with your family now in case you aren’t together

*Don’t panic and/or react to misinformation

*While there is NO imminent risk now…you may want to consider getting potassium iodide.

Always remember the key components to better preparedness:  Get a Kit (supplies), Make a Plan, Be Informed.

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General Preparedness Hurricane Preparedness Preparedness Planning Preparedness tips

Some things to consider as we approach hurricane season

hurricane prepareHere is a quick list of just a few of the things you should consider as we start hurricane season.

1. Do you have the right insurance policies in place for your home and business

2. Do you have a family preparedness plan

3. Do you have a weather radio

4. Do you know at least 2 evacuation routes from your home

5. Do you have a disaster kit and/or survival gear

6. Do you have back up copies of all your important documents

7. Do you have at least a basic home inventory of what you own

8. Do you have a communication plan in place

9. Do you know where to go in your home/office if a hurricane is about to strike

If you have other tips…please add them. Also please check out http://www.hurricanecenter.com