We’re in the news. If you didn’t manage to catch the Daily Mail article you can read it online here. With over 600 comments, it’s worth a read.
If the euro zone shuts down, the ripple effects would almost certainly cause a global recession, according to a Washington Post analysis.
Inc.wire has an interesting article on the uncertain future of Europe and the Eurozone. Lets hope it doesn’t happen but if there are problems in 2012 are you prepared for them.
Check out our Emergency Food and Survival food packs and insure yourself against future uncertainties.
Friday Preparedness Pool
Welcome to the Friday Preparedness Pool. Here are our top five favorite preparedness links of the week.
PREPAREDNESS: Nationwide emergency signal test scheduled today
This past week, the US had a nation wide emergency test. Although emergency tests have been conducted in the past, this was the first ever nation-wide test.
Toilet Paper Preparedness vs. True Resilience
Shannon Hayes lives in Schoharie County, New York, which was devastated by flooding in the wake of Hurricane Irene. She wrote this report on what the experience has taught her about community resilience.
Four ideas for getting children to eat food storage
A great article on how to increase a child’s appetite for food storage. While this article covers the basics – dried pasta, grains, lentils, etc. – the tips also extend to other dried food storage, such as Mountain House food products.
What canning season? The time for food preservation is whenever you have the opportunity.
While we’re advocates of buying pre-packaged emergency food, this article is a great reminder that emergency food can also make a great gift!
How to Build Your Emergency Food and Water Storage
Some great tips on how to build your food and water storage.
Freak storm in US causes havoc
After a freak snowstorm across the Eastern United States at the weekend which left 11 people killed and caused worse damage than Tropical Storm Irene, millions of homes are still without power this week (Guardian story).
Trees have fallen and crushed cars, power line are down, travelling passengers are completely stranded and at least three States have declared they are in a state of emergency.
One of the odd observations of this storm is that they had been enjoying an unusually warm autumn and snow is almost unheard of at this time of year.
I really hope that we don’t follow the US in every aspect and find ourselves having a freak snowstorm causing similar chaos, but if the last few years are anything to go by, we should expect some snow at least and as a nation, we don’t fare particularly well with snow, do we?
How did you cope last year with the snow?
Now is the time to prepare your home, car and family for any severe weather which might be lurking around the corner over the next few months.
There are plenty of useful hints and tips in my previous blog posts which will help you to prepare yourself. Here is a quick rundown of the posts you might find useful to read over again:
Δ Preparing your home
Δ Preparing your car
Δ 72 hour survival kits
Δ Home food storage
Δ Home water storage
All of these things will give you peace of mind that if something did go wrong, you would be protected.
It is also worth investing in an additional source of heat for cooking and keeping warm, like a gas heater, in case your power is off for any length of time. I mean imagine being one of the families in the US who have been without any power for a week in record low temperatures.
Preparedness really doesn’t take much apart from some thought and planning and it is well worth the investment now, rather than waiting until it is too late.
Keep warm this winter – don’t delay but prepare today!
It’s Friday again, which means it is time for the fourth edition of the Friday Preparedness Pool.
Seattle church donates nearly 11 tons of food to Port Angeles Salvation Army
In last week’s edition of the Preparedness Pool, we shared an article about thieves who stole a month’s worth of emergency food from a Port Angeles Salvation Army. We were pretty disheartened at the news. However, in a happy twist, Mars Hill Church in Seattle collected 21,500 pounds of food and delivered it to the robbed Salvation Army. The stolen goods have now been replenished, and then some. We like a happy ending!
Photo by Chris Tucker/Peninsula Daily News
Plymouth Company Launches Travel Product
We’re always interested to see what other emergency food companies are up to. Plymouth Company, a designer and manufacturer of hydration and food storage products in the states, has branched out in to the travel market. They are now offering airline carry-on approved liquid travel containers called Go Gear. Lots of preparedness companies provide portable emergency storage products in the form of camping, hiking and outdoor survival tools. It’s exciting to see the evolution of preparedness tools for people on the go.
Food Storage: My Space Solutions
You’ve researched all of the options out there, and have finally made an emergency food purchase. You’re proud and excited, because you can now rest easy at night. A few days later, 12 huge tubs of emergency food show up on your doorstep. But wait – where are you expected to store all of this newly acquired of emergency food? We love this article, because our fellow preparedness blogger, Debbie, at Food Storage and Beyond, has thought ahead and has tons of cool tips and tricks on where to store your emergency food. She even includes pictures. Nice one, Debbie!
Hunger Problem Growing For Local Senior Citizens
This article is a sad one. The elderly are the fastest growing community who face a hunger problem, due to insufficient savings and rising food prices.
A few weeks ago, we shared an article called The Apocalyptic Architecture of Seedbanks. Why do we need seebanks? Because there is an ever-growing 7 billion people in the world, and they all require food to survive! Want to find out where you fit into that 7 billion? This cool tool from BBC helps determine where you belong in population history.
Flood water trapped people in cars and homes
This sort of flooding is particularly dangerous as the rivers, drains and sewers were not able to deal with that quantity of water in such a short space of time. Rising water levels like this can be extremely unexpected and very fast flowing – two people are already reported as missing or dead.
Dublin Flooding by Irish Weather Online
This video by Irish Weather Online shows just how badly it affected people just trying to get home from work. My favourite part is of the shopping centre.
Of course you should already be prepared for flooding by already having a 72hr survival kit in case you have to leave your home or enough emergency food and water storage if you can stay put.
What if you are caught in a flash flood?
If you are walking, cycling or taking public transport:
| Δ | Stay out of areas subject to flooding. Dips, low spots, basements, tunnels or underground car parks etc. can become filled with water; |
| Δ | Move to high ground and stay there, even if it’s a 1st or 2nd floor and move away from dangerous floodwater. Don not get closer just to watch it rise in case you get trapped; |
| Δ | If you come upon a flowing stream where water is above your ankles, stop, turn around and go another way. Never try to walk, swim, or drive through flowing water. |
If you are driving, you should:
| Δ | Avoid already flooded areas and areas subject to sudden flooding. | ||||||||||
| Δ | Do not attempt to cross flowing streams or water covered roads.
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| Δ | Stay away from underpasses as they can rapidly fill with water, while the adjacent roadway remains clear. | ||||||||||
| Δ | Turn around and find another route if you come upon rapidly rising floodwater or road blocks. |
Always think of your safety when dealing with flooding as there are so many hidden dangers lurking under the water, but if you are prepared you should be able to find somewhere safe to stay until the water level returns back to normal.
Remember, don’t delay, prepare today!
Friday Preparedness Pool
Welcome to the third edition of the Friday Preparedness Pool. We’ve been bringing you the Preparedness Pool for three straight weeks, and we want to know what you think! So far, have you been enjoying the links we share? Is there anything you like, love, or hate? If there is something you would like to see more of or any feedback you may have, then let us know! We write the Preparedness Pool for YOU, so we want you to fully enjoy the knowledge we share. On that note, this week in the news . . .
Thieves steal 2,000 pounds of food from Salvation Army
This article actually made national news in the states. Last week, someone cut the lock of a Salvation Army storage container and stole a month’s worth of emergency food storage supplies. It’s quite sad, especially considering that whoever stole these goods simply had to ask, and the Salvation Army would have given them ample food. Unfortunately, it’s also a time of year when food donations are way down, and don’t pick up again until after the holidays. It’s hard to comprehend how someone could commit a crime that will now cause thousands of people to starve.
Are Zombies The Perfect Match?
Zombies keep popping up on our emergency preparedness radar, and according to this article, it’s because they’ve had a popular rising (no pun intended) in mainstream media. Using zombies to get the public’s attention on emergency preparedness is a new trend, and it is quite convenient. According to the article, if you’re prepared for a zombie attack, you’re prepared for anything.
The CDC Zombies Return With A New Comic Book
One of our favorite Zombie-preparedness articles from this week is about the Centers For Disease Control and their new graphic novel about a couple struggling to survive a zombie pandemic. It’s a comic worth following if you enjoy zombie preparedness media.
City Launches Free App To Teach Emergency Preparedness
Recently, we’ve been brainstorming ways to bring you preparedness information across a variety of media channels. If you enjoy preparedness and technology, this article is for you. Emergency officials in San Francisco today launched a free mobile app designed to teach emergency preparedness.
Next week (24th-30th Oct) the British Red Cross, in partnership with the Scottish Government, is launching Ready For Winter, a campaign to encourage people in Scotland to gather a few basic items in a bag to store at home or to carry with them in case they become stranded by severe weather, as happened last year.
I’ve covered emergency survival kits here on the EFS blog before, but it’s always worth thinking about your own and to help you along the Red Cross will visiting Tesco Stores throughout Scotland handing out free “grab bags” to store your kit, as well as providing helpful advice. Full details can be found on their website at www.redcross.org.uk
Unfortunately for the rest of the UK, unless you are willing to travel North of the border, we’re not able to grab these freebies – and I just love free stuff – but the info on the website is definitely still worth reading and taking on board.
Don't get caught out!
I think most people have forgotten the problems the weather caused last winter, especially with the amazing sunshine we’ve been enjoying well into to October, but it looks like we will be facing similar snow and ice over the coming months.
Now clearly, when compared to other nations which experience winter snow, we have a diabolical record in dealing with just a few flakes, but the fact remains that thousands have become stranded either in their homes, in their cars or even at work overnight after just a few inches of snowfall.
Make sure you are not one of them!
Welcome to the second edition of Friday’s Preparedness Pool. There were some interesting emergency food related articles on the web this week,with topics ranging from seedbanks to Sesame Street. One thing is evident - emergency preparedness is going mainstream, and this is one ban wagon you don’t want to miss!
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The Apocalyptic Architecture of Seedbanks
A unique visual journey through The Millennium Seedbank. This article reads like something out of a Steven Spielberg movie. Engineering that can withstand terrorist attacks. Digital x-ray machines. Climate tight vaults. These botanical back-up systems are made with state of the art technology, and demonstrate highly methodical preparedness. An insightful article that introduces a whole new world of botanics. – Link
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Sesame Street Tackles Food Insecurity
Earlier this week, Sesame Street introduced a new character – Lilly – who comes from a low-income, food insecure home. Hats off to Sesame Street for talking about an issue that affects almost 50 million people in the USA alone. – Link
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5 Surprising Things About Basic Food Storage Recipes
An easy read. Speed, flavor and cost are all addressed in Leslie Probert’s article on basic food storage cooking. If you’re a food storage beginner, this is a great article that offers tips and recipes. While we prefer Mountain House Food, it’s good to know your options. – Link
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Hardware Store Takes The Zombie Preparedness Route To Boost Sales
Preparedness laugh of the week – a hardware store in Ohama uses the threat of a zombie apocalypse to boost sales. We get the marketing tactic, but does it actually work?? – Link
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Incase of Emergency, It’s Best to Be Prepared
Most valuable lesson in this article? Many people think that preparedness consists of compiling food, water and a first aid kit, but they forget to consider other essentials, such as a portable toilet, cash, important documents and clothing. We also like the idea of an emergency preparedness fair . . . – Link.
Winter is fast approaching
I have posted before about car emergency kits but I thought it would be a good idea to expand on it for winter.
Firstly, now is a good time to service your vehicle to ensure that everything is working correctly and tyres which may be low on tread are replaced.
Top up all of your fluid levels like oil, break, coolant and power steering but also see that your windscreen wash has extra concentrate to deal with poor weather and to stop it freezing.
Spend some time taking out your spare tyre and tools to make sure that it is serviceable and nothing is missing, so if required you could change a flat in the dark.
Make up a mini 72hr emergency kit, or survival kit, for the car which can be used if you become stranded or stuck somewhere until the weather improves. It should contain the following:
• Warm clothes – inc hat/gloves etc;
• Waterproof jacket (& trousers);
• Golf umbrella;
• Blanket;
• Breakdown kit (see older post on breakdown kit);
• Fuel can;
• 1 litre bottle of drinking water;
• Non-perishable food and snacks;
• Torch;
• Ice scraper (or use credit card in emergency);
• Clean cloth for wiping windscreen whilst driving.
You should also store at home a severe weather car kit which you can take with you when expecting snow or ice:
• Extra warm clothing;
• Shovel;
• Grit;
• Lengths of old carpet (to put under tyres when stuck).
This is not designed to cover every eventuality but should form a solid start for you to build on depending on your own circumstances. For example, I also carry cylumes/glow sticks, a small strobe light to make my car and I more visible at night and a mobile phone charging system.
Have a good think about what you could do with and be prepared.
Until next time, don’t delay, prepare today!
