Who says grown-ups can’t trick or treat? Not us! Only we want YOU to do the tricking, and we’ll provide the treats. That’s right—you trick. We treat. Every Monday this month, starting on October 8th, we will identify one specific area of emergency preparedness on our Facebook fan page. Comment on that Monday post telling us your best trick, technique or secret based on that topic.
For years, emergency food supply was synonymous with aluminum cans—#10 aluminum cans to be precise—and for good reason. Readily accessible, easy to use and very familiar, aluminum cans were, and still are, a great way to preserve food for a “rainy day.”
But technology advances and as it does, some older techniques make way for new and improved methods. Not that aluminum cans don’t have their place, but in today’s emergency food supply packaging, Mylar pouches are the way to go.
When disaster hits and the power goes out, it’s imperative to have the skills and the know-how to survive. National Preparedness Month isn’t just about accumulating “stuff”; it’s also about accumulating knowledge.
One of the most essential skills in any wilderness survival course is building and sustaining a fire. Today, there are a wide variety of fire-starting options, but it is important to know how to get your fire started “the old fashioned way”.
Emergencies can happen at any time and almost anywhere. Natural disasters, financial collapse or sudden accidents can turn life on its head in a matter of seconds. The only way to keep your family safe and secure in the face of crisis is preparation.
When emergencies strike, injuries or other health issues often accompany them. A good knowledge of first aid is not just a good way to prepare for disaster; it could literally save someone’s life.
The links below offer simple first aid information to help you recognize and treat issues that may arise during an emergency. For more detailed information, please reference the American Institute for Preventative Medicine or check your local area for a comprehensive training program.
Many families have a plan for emergencies that arise when they’re around the house or out and about running errands, but the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) says it’s even more important to prepare plans for when you’re visiting a new place.
“Preparing before severe weather threatens is always the wisest thing to do, but it can be tricky when you’re out in public or in unfamiliar areas,” says Region VII Administrator Beth Freeman. “We want to see people consider their options and know what to do during any emergency like it’s second nature.”
Downsizing. Restructuring. It doesn’t matter the cause, everyone dreads the potential “Pink Slip,” and in today’s economy, it can come in more unexpected ways than ever. Hundreds of thousands of people are still looking for work, and if you could ask them, you can bet almost all of them wished they had put a little more away “for a rainy day.”
When your family is confronted with a disaster, once life and limb are made safe and basic needs like warmth, shelter, nutrition and hydration secured, reality may start setting in and you realize, “What is this going to cost me?” Not all disasters involve weather catastrophes, but even the ones that do often turn into financial emergencies pretty quickly.
When mistakes happen, foolishness is to pretend they never happened; wisdom is to learn from them. Many people were completely unprepared for the 2008 stock market crash where hundreds of thousands of jobs were eventually lost, and many families faced financial emergency.
What if you went to the grocery store and found the shelves empty, or had to evacuate your home in fifteen minutes? Chances are, you would be in a world of hurt.
It is overwhelming to think about emergency preparedness.
“I need to acquire a year’s supply of palletized, freeze-dried food, 10,000 gallons of water and gasoline, cutting-edge emergency gear, paramedic certification and a bazooka to protect it all.”