Monday, May 28, 2012

Importance Of Knowing How To Prepare For A Disaster

By Ken Canyon


Now more than ever, it is vital that every family in America know how to prepare for a disaster. With the increases in deadly earthquakes, the possibility of tsunamis on the West Coast, and the tornadoes in the Midwest, anyone who is not prepared is likely to suffer. It is not always about the people directly hit. It is also about the interruption of basic services that can devastate families.

Probably the most important thing people are lacking in affected zones is fresh water. Those living near coastal areas should always keep as much bottled water on hand as they possibly can, but at minimum, enough to last at least a week. The human body cannot last for longer than three days, and sometimes less in extremely hot climates, without water.

For individuals who have access to rivers and streams, the problem of water is more easily solved. Boiling water from ponds, lakes, or rivers can be an acceptable approach. Alternatively, a gravity-fed filter can provide the household with potable water that does not need boiling.

If the issue of water has been seen to, then the issue of food should be dealt with next. If each family has enough food on hand at any given time to feed themselves for a month, then there is no need for food lines, riots, or starving communities. People can become violent when hungry, and this sort of violence only results in death, destruction, and an undesirable increase in law enforcement or military activity.

Most people have never heard of a bug-out bag, but it is a common term for those who live prepared. Simply put, it is a backpack or suitcase with basic necessities, stored in the trunk of the car. The most common event a family might face is a house fire, and often people are left with nothing but their pajamas, if that. Their bug-out-bag should contain a change of clothes, small toys, a toothbrush, and other toiletry items. Basically, enough supplies to get a family through at least 24 hours after an event.

Keeping a good supply of medical supplies on hand is always a good idea. Sometimes emergency events result in injuries, and the closer medical help is, the more likely people are to survive. In every damaged zone, neighbors have helped each other. Those neighbors who prepare are able to help more people, as there will always be some within the community who were not able to have these necessities set aside.

By knowing how to prepare for a disaster, every household in America could be ready and able to help themselves and their neighbors without government assistance. Hurricane Katrina taught us all a lesson about the importance of being independent in an emergency. With small stockpiles of food and supplies, every citizen can be a hero.




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