How can we all prepare for possible natural/human caused environmental disasters?

Answer 1

Oh boy Bella, I could go on and on about this subject, since it's one of my passions. Contact me privately if you want some really good links, and groups, even for those living in the U.K.

First you need to look at the reality of what disasters could happen in your area, both man made (acidental or terrorist).

Second thing...decide what you would DO if one of those things happened? By that I mean, can you shelter in place, or would you HAVE to evacuate?

My personal examples: If Yellowstone National Park (actually a GIANT volcano) decided to become active we are definatly in th blast zone, and would be wiped out. Volcano's usually give a lot of warning. We would evacuate to Washington state, myself, my hubby, and our livestock, to my Mom's farm.

If the nuke facility near me blew up, I'm screwed...no preparing for that (which is one of the reasons we will be moving the farm).

Brutal winter storms of negative 60 degrees F? No problem...we are all set for that. Food, water, generator, emergency sources of heat, tractors to plow us, and the neighbors out, ect. Not only that, but we know how to dress for that kind of weather, AND have multiple changes of clothing. We are able to start vehicles, even if the batteries cannot handle the cold.

So what I'm trying to say it, WHAT, and HOW your prepare, are really depentant on what kind of problems you could face.

We store a years worth of food (or more). This saves us TREMENDOUS amounts of money at the grocery store. It also gives us food to eat, when my horse breaks my husbands hand (he's the main wage earner) and he cannot work for three months. It gave my Mom and I a way to eat without worring about spending money on groceries after 9/11 happened and realestate stopped dead for 9 whole months (my Mom sells realestate). Instead the money was for gas, and to pay the power and phone bills. What a relief not to worry about food.

Once you prepare for things in your local area that are likely to happen (winter storms, drought, hurricanes, tornadoes, ect), then it's time to look at the "big picture."

What happens if WW III breaks out? Bird flu? Massive crop failure (probably in the U.S.) causing famine not only in countries the U.S. feeds, but in the U.S. itself.

Hubby and I explore all sorts of senarios by talking about them, and asking "what if?" We stop short of space aliens, but other than that, we talk about it.

The more flexible your plans are, the more adaptable you and your family are, the better you will come through ANY crissis.

Most people do not realize it, or serriously underestimate it, but a huge part of surviving a crissis in good shape is ones MENTAL attitude.

A serrious howling blizzard winter storm can be a life and death crissis, or it can be an adventure your family had.

72 hour kits in sturdy (very sturdy) rolling garbage cans (new ones of course) can be a real boon, if you ever have to evacuate.

Water
Different ways to purify water (email me if you want tips)
Different ways to start fire (do not depend on just one way)
MREs
Wool blankets (wool and ONLY wool, can put someone out who's on fire, and wool retains 80% of it's insulative value even if soaking wet)
Coppies of paperwork to re-establish your I.D. and insurance on your property.
LED flashlights
Brand new items for the children, they have never seen before (so they are not bored with it already), toys, colloring books.
Items for the adults (books, or cards).
Wind up radio
Wind up cell phone charger
Tent
Two tone plastic whistle
Baby wipes
Any medication your family needs.

The above is a decent 72 hour kit, and will get you through most emergencies for 72 hours.

I can tell you other, even more basic kits that are small enough to fit in something the size of a pack of cigarettes (you can fit amazing lifesaving stuff in a very tiny space).

Build with some common sence. Don't build in flood planes! The hundred year flood WILL come in your lifetime! Live where there are torrnadoes? Build a bermed house, or an underground house.

Before you build, or buy, check the local area. Are dikes holding water at bay? Dikes always fail, eventually. House built below a dam? Any possibility of an earthquake taking out the dam? Building next to a mountain? Is the hillside above your house clear of all trees? Then it's probably a major avalanche area. Live in a dry area? Keep 30-50 feet of well watered lawn, gravel, rock garden, or native plantings around your house, to help keep fire danger down.

Roof your house appropriately for your location. Metal, or tile in high fire danger areas. White and reflective in desert areas. Make sure snow slidding off will not crush you in high snow areas. So on and so forth.

In high wind areas (tornadoes, hurricanes) build the outer doors of your house to open OUTWARD, not inward, into the house. This makes them TREMENDOUSLY stronger, and better able to withstand the winds. Note: This is often illegal to do, per most building codes, but it may well save your life.


Stay physically fit, and develop a wide range of skills. Practice what you read. Try to start a fire in the wind, and/or rain with matches, a fire starter, flint and steel, ect.

Plastic sheeting in case windows blow out, with a way to put the sheeting up. A tent large enough to hold your family.

Practice...turn off the electric in your house some time in the dead of winter, and live that way...for an entire week! You will quickly learn where the holes in your preparedness are, and can correct them while you have the option of flipping on the electric.

Do the same in the summer, when it's the hottest. How will you live, and keep your food preserved if getting ice is not an option?

Do you have a well? How will you draw water without a well?

Are you on city water? Everyone in the U.S. should know that there is NOT A SINGLE WATER SYSTEM THAT TREATS IT'S WATER THAT CAN TREAT THE WATER FOR MORE THAN 7 DAYS IN A NATIONAL EMERGENCY. That means in 1-7 days, your treated city water will need to be purified. Can you do that?

Learn some basic first aid. Prepare for everyone in your family, even the pets. That means leashes, collar, tags, proof of vaccines, a crate or cage, and pet food.

WRITTEN emergency contact numbers. If you drop your cell phone in the toilet and cannot remember the phone numbers, the written numbers will be a God-send.

Prepare a grab and go plastic tote and store it with your 72 hour kit. Put photographes, or negatives in the box, grandma's jewlery, and any other totally ireplaceable item. If there it time, always try to grab a childs favorite item (stuffed toy, blanket, pillow, ect).

Like I said, I could really go on about this topic, so I'm going to stop here. If you have specific questions, Bella, email me.

~Garnet
Homesteading/Farming over 20 years

Answer 2

I went to Costco and bought a months supply of canned food and water. I bought an acre next to one I had so I got two, at least it's a start. Here's some more essay.

The entire US, with the exception of the Mormons, the Amish, the upper echelons of the military and government, and a few other prescient groups and individuals, lives a mere hours away from panic, chaos, anarchy and collapse. One incident that brings down the distribution chain and we are helpless. One rogue high altitude fusion warhead or freak solar flare could bring down the North American grid for months. One crude fission device in a container at LA or Newport News would stop shipping for weeks or months. Invent your own senario, there are many plausable. If you don’t have enough food to last until you can make some meager garden out of your suburban lawn, if you don’t have your own well and a method to power it, you have made yourself into a refugee.

Edit:
Mr. Byderule, does it make more sense to get away or stay put? Away you are safe but have to be completely self-sufficient. Staying in close you are vulerable but you can group with like minded compatriots. This is a most important issue to me. Sell it all now and start over or hunker down?

Answer 3

The Red Cross has been beating the drum as to what you need to be prepared for the next fire/hurricane, tsunami, locust plague. The link is below, and contains logical items such as 3 days of meds, water, food, flashlight, first aid, etc.

Personally, I've added to that. After seeing and going through a few of these events, in addition to the above, I've included:

1) Pet food!!
2) extra gasoline (stored in a flame resistant cabinet outside)
3) generator (enough to run my well for water, and my fridge)
4) 20 watts of solar panels and a spare car battery for misc small power such as light, computer, TV, cable modem, etc
5) emergency tools (gas shutoff, pry bar, hammer, etc)
6) spare cash
7) protective garments (masks, rainsuits, etc)
8) Because I'm within striking distance of 3 Mile Island, I have radiation gear and iodine tablets.
9) Urban survival guide
10) A rendezvous plan for family members
11) A spare bottle of scotch

That's a start - Am I a Boy Scout or what!!

Answer 4

Head for some fertile unpopulated hills ,buy some land and start a self sufficient sustainable Permaculture colony