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The SHTF Stockpile

33 Items You Will Need to Stay Alive When Disaster Strikes

Table of Contents

Introduction

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Chapter 1–When It All Goes South

Chapter 2–Food and Water Preps

Chapter 3–First Aid

Chapter 4–Self-Defense and Securing Your Home

Chapter 5–Communication and Mobility

Chapter 6–Shelter and Clothing

Chapter 7–The Six Must Have Survival Preps

Chapter 8–Bugging Out vs. Sheltering In Place

Conclusion

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Introduction

How would you to if it hit the fan today? I suspect you’d be in trouble. Before I started to prep, I would have been dead if a crisis reined down on me in the middle of the day. Never mind if something struck in the dead of night.

When it all goes south you are either ready or your scrambling. And for me, I would have been a scrambler. But one day a friend and I were driving. It was late one winter evening and we had been out, having a good time. You know what I mean.

He never saw the ice patch going into the turn. We were going sixty miles and the guardrail never had a chance. We hit that thing at a good 60 miles an hour. I was knocked out. My friend was too. When I woke up it was light out and my head was killing me. I was in a hospital bed with an IV line running into my arm. I was in stable condition, but I’d be fine. My friend would, too. We had dodged a bullet.

But what if emergency vehicles weren’t a couple of miles away? What if I hit a patch of ice in the middle of nowhere? What if I couldn’t dodge the bullet and it got me, what would I do then? The quest for those answers led me to disaster preparedness. And that was the start of my new lifestyle. This book will get you started on how to contend with an emergency situation. Not an accident, like the one I got into, but a bigger situation that threatens the safety and security of individuals across a greater area.

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Chapter 1 – When It All Goes South

My little accident was not the end of my world. Thankfully, I was fine and able to make a full recovery. That’s one of the advantages of localized accidents. They don’t imperil anyone outside of the immediately affected. But major disasters are different. They will disrupt life for an extended period of time for thousands or millions of people. The type of crisis will vary. Maybe it’s a hurricane, earthquake or other natural disaster. Perhaps an act of war or terrorism that disturbs normal day to day life. Sometimes medical emergencies provide the back drop for the disaster scenario.

No matter what happens, the emergency is going to impact how you conduct yourself in the immediate. What this book seeks to do is ensure you can overcome the emergency, no matter what it is.

To accomplish this, we need to keep in mind the essential elements of survival. The behavioral psychologist Abraham Maslow postulated that all humans have a hierarchy of needs. Any survival crisis tests those most basic biological, physiological and safety needs that make up the bottom two levels of Maslow’s pyramid of hierarchy. Without successfully providing for these needs on the lower levels, our needs centered around happiness, fulfillment and achievement can never be met.

The following are a sampling of needs that Maslow enumerated in his theory: food, drink, shelter, sleep, security, stability, order and freedom from fear. In a crisis all of these preconditions for happiness are threatened. Of pre-eminent importance, our lives themselves are threatened in crises. This is what makes disaster preparedness so vital not only for our survival, but for all the things that make life worth living.

In the pages to follow we will review those essential needs on which Maslow rests our happiness, sense of fulfillment and ability to achieve our desires and dreams. Surviving a crisis is merely the first step, but it is a critical first step. We will spend time on that most vital of needs our basic sustenance. We’ll build on that by reviewing how we keep our homes safe and secure as well as what kinds of self-defense measures make sense for both close-quarter combat as well as protecting ourselves from intruders at a distance.

Towards the end of the book, we’ll go over how to help prepare ourselves and others for crisis, including why it makes sense to band together with friends and neighbors for protection and safety. We’ll also spend time on how to protect yourself from the pathogens that become more prevalent in disasters and emergencies. Finally, we’ll go over the six most important preps you can have to ensure your safety and survival.

Chapter 2 – Food and Water Preps

The most commonly asked question of kids and adults at the end of the day is also the one we need most address in building up the bulk of our preps. What’s to eat? Food and water are vital for life. After air, there is nothing that we need to sustain us more than water. Without it, we are unlikely to live beyond a few days. In rare circumstances, an individual might make it a week without water. No one lives if they aren’t drinking fluids consistently.

1) Store some water. Water can be stored relatively easily. If you are able to shelter in place, you need to store at least one gallon of water per day per person. That can be as simple as having spring water delivered monthly to give you and your family a constantly renewing 30 day supply. It can be done through basic filtration and storage. You can also set up means of collection and purification around your home.

If you exhaust your stores of water, you have options, but you need to be planning for these contingencies early on. You start by collecting water. This can be rain water or ground water. If you live above an aquifer, you have a head start. A well is a great way to get drinking water without relying on the weather. But if you need to collect, that’s not the only thing you must do to have renewable water supplies.

2) Water purification. You’ll need basic survival skills to purify water you can collect. The first means of water purification is accomplished by heating the water to a high enough temperature that you kill any pathogen that may have taken up residence in the water. Your best bet is to bring the water to the boiling point. The second way to accomplish this is through tablets that can be added to your water and purify them. Stock your pantry with these tablets and you can convert any water you collect into drinkable water. Make sure you have manufacturer’s guidelines for the tablets so you know how much water each tablet will purify. You will want to make sure you filter your water to remove any debris before purifying it.

If your supply of these tablets is exhausted, you still have options to clean your water of bacteria and parasites. But you’re going to need to use a common household cleaner – bleach. As with the tablets, make sure any debris has been removed from the water before starting. The best bleach to use to purify your water will have no scents or perfumes added to it. Likewise, avoid chlorine bleach as chlorine can have toxic side effects if too much is ingested. Use eight drops of bleach in a gallon of water then the gallon should rest for a minimum of a half hour before you or anyone else drinks it.

If you have a bottle of bleach and you don’t happen to have a dropper, you can create your own by pouring a small amount of bleach into the cap of the bottle, tearing off a small piece of paper towel, and soaking most of the paper towel in the bleach. Then you can take it out of the cap and hold the piece of paper towel over your water and let two drops drip off the paper towel and into the water.

Water purification is the most basic and important survival skill you can learn. Second on the list is gathering and preparing food for consumption, when you are dealing with limited supplies. This involves hunting and trapping, knowing which nuts, seeds, berries and leaves are edible and which are poisonous. It also involves certain food preps to preserve foods for an extended period of time.

3) Food storage. Basic food preps begin with shelf stable consumables like dehydrated meats and fruits. Properly dried foods can last several months. In addition the grocery store around the corner has no shortage of options that will sit happily on your shelf without decomposing for months if not years. Many modern foods as shelf stable for long periods of time. Check out a box of breakfast cereal. Often the better if used by date is eighteen months to two years into the future. Likewise canned goods picked up in the grocery store will last for several months if not a couple of years.

Using these pre-prepared, pre-packaged options will not create an ideal clean eating diet. They will however stock your shelves with calories that can easily be consumed in the event of a disaster that disrupts your local grocery store’s supply chain.

4) Advanced food preservation techniques. Advanced preps provide greater variety and longer shelf lives, but require more work and technical knowledge. Curing, pickling and fermenting all involve the alteration of the composition of food to make it inhospitable to bacteria and other microbes. These are not arts, but are in fact science. Ignorance of proper procedures will result in illness at best.

Smoking is an ideal means of preserving meats. Smoking is a little bit curing, a little bit dehydration and a little bit of smoke.

Sugaring fruits that have been dried ensures a consistency of taste and longer shelf life. Additionally, the process of preserving fruit in jellies or jams is based on boiling the fruit with sugar to release pectin that creates a gel. That gel and the sugar suspended in it makes microbial infestation impossible.

Canning requires a high level of commitment to cleanliness. The resulting well preserved tastes last several months or years. Cans acquired at the grocery store have been heat treated to cook the food destroying any pathogens that may have been captured when the can was sealed.

If you have steady access to electricity, you can extend the shelf life of fresh meats, fish, dairy, fruits and vegetables by storing them properly in your refrigerator. This will buy you a week to a month. The best basic means of preserving food for the long term requires power. Freezing will preserve food well for months to a full year.

You can prepare for the loss of electricity for extended periods of time by employing cool/cold food storage outside your home. These would need to be constructed well in advance of a crisis, but outdoor refrigeration can be accomplished through the use of icehouses and root cellars. They won’t require power, which makes them very useful for emergency situations.

5) Grow your own. This is the apex food prep. Growing your own fruits and vegetables gives you steady access to healthful, nutrient dense food options. If you raise squash, beans and corn, you can even grow food that will provide you with a complete complement of protein. Not an easy feat without meat.

Additionally, growing food that will feed livestock whether rabbits or chickens or larger critters like pigs and cattle, will allow you access to more fresh food options. Chickens can provide eggs, cows give milk and while there is no shortage of hard work maintaining a farm, it provides the surest supply of food available.

6) Meal Replacements Options. Of course, this is the 21st Century and while we don’t have flying cars and other technological marvels, we do have an ever growing supply of food replacements. One of the most common is a product called Soylent, which can provide a complete supply of nutrients, vitamins, minerals and calories without the need to cook or prepare food. Sure it’s boring and bland, but Soylent has much to recommend it. First, you can reverse engineer it and obtain the ingredients to custom create a solution suited for your health goals. Second, it is completely shelf stable and takes up a tiny amount of space in comparison to traditional food options. Third, it is inexpensive per meal. The one thing you need to enjoy your Soylent is lots of water, which we already sorted out earlier in the chapter, and a healthful fat like olive oil, which stores rather well.

With food and water covered, we can progress to the next level of basic survival skills. Our ability to stay healthy and to deal with minor cuts, scrapes and bruises is an essential skill to survive.

Chapter 3 – First Aid

First Aid is somewhat nebulous. Most of us own a first aid kit. Maybe it’s in a little plastic box and has a collection of bandages, ointments and pills that will help you deal with any number of aches, pains, bumps, bites, bruises and cuts. But that’s barely a start when a major disaster hits. I’ve compiled a list of five essentials for successful first aid preparedness in any emergency.

1) Sanitization. Among the first and most important considerations for first-aid is sanitization. One cannot sanitize items without a heat source. It’s also how we purify water, which is equally important to first-aid. So to practice good medical survival skills, we begin with how to build and maintain fire. You may have a heat source within your home to boil and purify water. You may also have ample amounts of bleach, hydrogen peroxide and other chemicals to sanitize and sterilize implements. That’s a good start. But if power is cut and you ignored our early advice to get a generator, or if your generator has run out of an energy source, you will need fire.

Fire is more than a source of heat and light, it kills germs, parasites and other microbial pathogens that live on every surface in our homes. You can sanitize medical implements with both boiling water and fire itself. Because sanitization is essential for First Aid, we need to be able to build a fire.

Start by building a ring around your fire pit with large rocks or cinder blocks.  I like masonry stones because they can, in addition to containing the fire, heat food, boil water, or to keep you warm as well. Build a pile of kindling that you will use for your fire next to the ring of stones. Once you get flames to start, you need to have the kindling wood ready to feed the nascent fire. Inside the ring, place some tinder and some small twigs and wood around the tinder. Don’t completely cover the tinder.  The tinder is what will ignite the fire and get it going.

Once the tinder is built, ignite it with the fire starter of choice.  You can use the strike anywhere matches or a lighter.  The tinder will catch fire quickly and spread to the wood you have around it.  Continue to add more wood as you go.   As you add more fuel, your fire will grow larger. Whether you have an indoor source of flame is immaterial. Being able to build fire is necessary for sanitization. Once you have it, you can employ basic sanitization of items you use in staying healthy.

2) Learn basic first aid. You should have a first aid kit packed with latex gloves, bandages, gauze, tape, burn cream, alcohol pads, antibiotic/antibacterial creams, over the counter pain relievers, etc. Having basic first aid knowledge can save your life or a loved one’s, should one of you get injured during the emergency. Knowing how to stabilize an injury before getting to help can make all the difference. Now is the time to learn CPR and first aid, so when disaster strikes you are prepared. As a start, consider signing up for some first aid training classes in your community.

3) Medications. Many doctors will only prescribe a select number of pills for patients. It might be a 30 day supply, but frequently it is less. If you are taking any medication regularly, or know you may need to take medication for whatever, reason, you should try to stockpile that medicine because getting it in an emergency will not be easy. This goes for prescription drugs as well as over the counter remedies. Additionally any supplements that you use should also be stored. If these supplements are not shelf stable or need to be refrigerated, make sure to plan for adequate space to keep them in the temperature range that maximizes their effective life.

A safe rule for sheltering in place is to have at least a 90 day supply of perishable medications at all times. If the shelf life is short, that 90 day window will allow you time to replenish the medication if the disaster is not cataclysmic. If the disaster is cataclysmic, 90 days is not ideal, but it is a start. Keeping longer stocks of life preserving medications make sense as well.  For medications that have longer shelf lives, stock up to the effective date of the medication, supplement or other drug you are taking.

Do the same for first aid creams as well as ointments that you use.

4) Barriers to infection. In emergencies, pathogens become far more present. Standing water will be riddled with bacteria, virus and are breeding grounds for bugs that will transmit them to unsuspecting humans. When others are getting infected, you need ways to keep yourself safe. Those hazmat suits the CDC dresses its personnel in during infectious outbreaks are one option, but they are expensive, impractical and more trouble then they are worth. Alternatives to the full hazmat are more basic protections.

So you should seek to invest in the gear that will keep you as safe as possible in an unsafe environment. The easiest are masks and gloves. You can’t just use a regular cloth mask. The ideal style are N100 or P100-certified masks or full face respirators. The filtering faceplate will keep harmful particulates out of your nose and mouth. If using the full face respirator, you also can protection for your eyes. Gloves should be at least 11 millimeters thick. Yet they must also be pliable enough to offer a full range of motion. Make sure they are liquid resistant. If you have to go out in an outbreak perimeter, you need to have ample supplies of these items.

5) Stockpiling First Aid. Make sure you have provisions for first aid in your go bag, bug out bag and any permanent shelters you might head to. Aside from your first aid kit, you are going to want to have a survival emergency bag stocked and available for use. In addition to items in your first aid kit, you will want to add any prescription medications, contact lenses and glasses. You will want to have your cell phone and charger. If you have a baby or pets, you will want to make sure you gave enough supplies for them, like diapers, formula, pet food, etc. A couple of flashlights and extra batteries should also be in your bag, as well as a battery powered or hand cranked radio. Keep a small fire extinguisher available for use.

First aid and medical survival can come in handy in pandemic situations, in particular. When visiting a hospital can be more harmful than beneficial, your options are truly limited for where you can get quality care. As a result, your best alternative is to have a full supply of medicines that are commonly used by you and your family. If you suffer from headaches, keep a good stock of ibuprofen. If you are susceptible to colds, have plenty of cough syrups and fever reducers. You are your own best health advocate, especially in crises or disasters. It’s up to you to have what you need when an emergency strikes.

And when you have it, the next thing you need to manage is protecting it. So let’s move from here to security.

Chapter 4 – Self-Defense and Securing Your Home

When calamity hits, people will frequently band together to help each other survive. That’s what we see as the best of humanity. It is however, only the immediate response. We perceive the threat as short-lived. And as the period of lack extends and out hunger worsens, we begin to lose touch to the civilizing forces we know as the social contract. At that point, people turn against people of other classes in the thought that the more economically advantageous have been oppressing them. And then, all bets related to the social contract are off.

Because we have prepared for the worst, we’re now targets of opportunity. To a man, desperate for food to feed himself and his family, those who have and are unwilling to share become an enemy. They block access to vital resources. As a result, scenarios such as economic collapse are the worst case scenario for any prepper, because it requires heavy preparation and a willingness to both go it alone and potentially take the lives of others to protect yourself and your family. Self-preservation extends from the family to your home, which in such a crisis will come under assault from those in need.

An extended crisis with no end in sight will produce a climate of anarchy. Laws may still exist, even governments, but once widespread rioting and looting take root, the police and governmental agencies will gradually cede control of dangerous areas until they can reassert their dominance. In that situation, individuals are on their own.

At that point your preparation to keep your home safe will be essential. Do you have adequate provisions? Do you have means of maintaining a perimeter? What kinds of weapons do you have and how willing are you to use them? More importantly, have you considered the use of force and to what degree you are prepared to use it to save yourself.

1) Firearms. The Second Amendment to the US Constitution ensures that American citizens have the right to keep and bear arms. This fundamental human right is the cornerstone of individual freedom and liberty. Our utilization of guns is not because we are violent folk. Quite the contrary, we know that the best way to keep the peace is to show those who would break it the consequences of their actions.

No one wants to use lethal force to defend themselves, their family or their property. This is the most important thing to remember. This is not what we want. It is something we must do because when the choice is this stark, there really is no choice at all is there.

Many people think in that moment, they will know what to do. To an extent, they are correct. Instincts will take over. Our survival instinct is amazingly strong. If an individual possesses the will to live, in a life or death situation, he or she will do anything they can to save themselves. But instinct can only carry us so far.

For the remainder of the journey, we rely on training. We train to use weapons so we are familiar with their actions and how to work them. We train scenarios so we have an idea of what to do when danger strikes. We train in realistic conditions so we know what a surge of adrenaline feels like and so we can calm ourselves and make a reasoned and informed choice in a moment that lacks reason. We train to take force, hoping we never need to, but knowing someday we might just have to, and if so, we better be able to.

2) Non-lethal weapons. After guns, we turn to preps like pepper spray, tasers and mantraps as a means of protecting ourselves and our homes. These items can be bought or in the case of pepper spray and mantraps, they can be constructed. The utility of building your own is that no one knows exactly how to overcome your defenses apart from you.

3) Self-defense. A prepper needs to have multiple options for self-defense. Of greatest importance one must arm oneself with knowledge. In particular, a prepper needs to have practiced martial arts and be well-trained in other means of protection.

Many crossfit gyms are using self-defense skills are part of their training regimes. If crossfit is not for you, you can work out arrangements through local self-defense studios to spend a session or two in observation of what the discipline entails. Many times these studios will have a package deal that gives you the opportunity to try it before you commit to an extended course of study.

Self-defense skills are very important in crisis situations, because they impart a sense of confidence and calmness in an otherwise heated moment. This is due to the effects of the human fight or flight mechanism. Adrenaline release creates a sense of panic to prepare us for conflict or cause us to flee from conflict. Self-defense training provides people with the ability to channel that adrenaline into a productive response, rather than become overwhelmed by it. The potential to be completely overwhelmed has led some behavioral scientists to conclude the mechanism has a third potential outcome – freeze – in addition to fight and flight.

4) Strength Training. When a disaster strikes your skills of self-defense will only be as good as your physical strength. So an essential prep that you need to stockpile is physical strength. Atrophy is your enemy. Use your muscles! They will wither and die if you don’t. Die sounds so dramatic that people disbelieve that reality. Think about the muscles you use at your job, day-to-day. Are they fast-twitch muscles? If they are, you probably feel stronger by doing your job. But if you are like most Americans and driving a desk for six to eight hours a day, your sedentary work schedule discourages muscle growth. Our first obstacle in training is to overcome the body’s misperception that it doesn’t actually need those muscles.

Your training regimen needs to be diversified to avoid allowing your body to adapt to the specific demands you are making on it. This form of adaptation is why endurance exercises won’t build strength and why strength building will not build endurance. Whatever you demand from your body it will give you, so demand everything.

5) Good fences make good neighbors. Creating a barrier on the perimeter of your home will be your first line of defense. Constructing a fence with concrete barriers in front of it, as well as placing barbed wire on both sides of the fence is ideal. Having motion sensor lights set up close to the fence as well as security cameras will allow you to see if any intruders are close to the property.  Having noisemakers rigged if someone cross the perimeter line is also recommended. You should also be prepared to make all entrance roads and paths onto the property as uncomfortable to navigate to marauders as possible, setting booby traps along the way.

6) There is safety in numbers. In these circumstances, our choices are less than ideal. It is best to work in a coordinated fashion with several like-minded individuals. By building a prepper network you can share resources to cover essential provisions as well as security concerns. Knowing someone has your back can make a significant difference in how you assess a situation and the steps you take to ensure your survival. If you alone cannot rig your home to survive disaster, with a team of people, focused on preventing the worst possible outcome, you can succeed.

Chapter 5 – Communication and Mobility

In the last chapter I talked about safety in numbers. And there is no denying that fact. More than just safety in numbers, banding together with a network of like-minded preppers allows for increased specialization, improved security and most importantly sustained human contact.

Disasters and emergencies will isolate individuals. So human contact is more than just something nice to have, it is a necessity on par with security in our hierarchy of needs. So this chapter deals with five ways to maintain close contact with people in your prepper network.

1) The Survival Network. We have social networks, professional networks, interconnected networks of all kinds. And with very few exceptions, all of them are a waste of time. One of the exceptions to that rule is the Survival Network. Let’s take a moment and examine what goes into survival planning. We need to protect ourselves, our homes and our supplies. But as an individual, meeting our basic need of sleep will diminish our time and ability to protect what we need to survive. So let’s establish up front, we need help. All of us. You do. I do. Every single disaster prepper needs help.

Getting that help from those nearest to us is a great first step. Our neighbors are excellent sources of support for preparation efforts. And like they help us, we help them. Take a look at the people who live near you. Don’t they have a variety of skills and knowledge bases that would make it easier for everyone among you to survive a crisis? That’s why when I said last chapter that our natural tendency to band together was a good thing, I meant it. But I also know that as important as it is to band together, because we are people, little things will try to tear us apart. Small arguments become bigger ones. When you build your survival network, keep in mind, arguments are normal. But only with help will you survive.

2) Signals. Signals can be transmitted through an abundance of means. We’ll focus on three in particular. Visual signals require line of sight, but they are a time-honored means of conveying information. In days when infectious diseases prompted quarantines, the use of a sign on a door to signal that there was a person within the house infected with measles or mumps or whooping cough was common. So a banner or flag, or flare can signal different information to people within your group. Likewise, information can be coded so that only group members know what is being conveyed.

The second type of signal is auditory. Again, going back a few centuries, bugle calls were a way to marshal troops on the battlefield. They would know that a certain series of notes signaled one action, such as meeting at a rally point. The use of audio signals is better because they can be heard around corners of in heavily wooded areas where visual signals lose their effectiveness. Also like visual signals, the specific sequence of sounds can encode simple or complex messages.

Finally, electronic signals can convey simple or complex messages over greater distances than visual or audio cues can travel. A simple device is one that picks up on a radio burst and makes an alert of some kind. So pressing a button will send the signal that can be picked up by receivers throughout the neighborhood and that is how an alert is triggered. That’s low-tech compared to walkie talkies, cell phones and other means of instantly transmitting messages. If a Survival Network has a particularly technologically adept member, that person could rig an electronic network that serves to replace the current incarnation fo the Internet, should that ever crash. Such a network would enable transmission of emails or documents across the network and if configured correctly guard against unwanted intruders.

3) Building deeper links. In addition to connecting to each other through a local area network and wifi transmitters and receivers, a Survival Network can also build up a security perimeter that links the different homes and yards of members. One means of doing so is through good old-fashioned concrete and steel. But for those willing to try things a little more subtle, tunnels can be built using storage containers to link homes or yards together out of sight of potential intruders. What’s more, these tunnels can be configured to seal off certain sections allowing you to trap and contain unwanted intruders within your own underground maze.

4) Economies of scale. This idea has long been one that justifies increased trade with our communities. But it also serves as a means of building the best possible community for yourself. If you have a group of a few dozen people and they all have the same basic set of skills, then their association lacks the ability to take advantage of economies of scale. In a diverse group, experts trade their knowledge and skill set for the benefits reaped from an expert with a different skill set. So for example, our Survival Network should include people who can cook, farm, sew, lift heavy things, provide technological expertise, build things, haul things, learn and teach things, plus most manual trades like electrical, plumbing and mechanical work. Having a diverse group of skills ensures the network can be self-sustaining.

5) A little of that human touch. When we realize we are all in this together, we work harder to protect ourselves and those around us. Our network is our family. We rely on them and they on us. That closeness binds us together and helps us look beyond the basic needs that Maslow places on that lowest level of the hierarchy. Instead we now can fulfill the needs of companionship, acceptance and intimacy. When we have successfully secured for ourselves and those we care about the resources to fulfill our security needs, then it is time for us to advance and seek out a higher caliber of needs. In disasters that span a few days, a Survival Network is a nice thing. In those cataclysms that alter our way of life, the connection of ourselves to a close network of like-minded people is what allows us to begin to rebuild a society.

Chapter 6 – Shelter and Clothing

One’s home is meant to be a castle – a realm over which the resident is dominant. But have you considered the benefits of securing your home with simple measures to make life easier. Let’s get started on some basic preps that will make home happier, healthier and safer.

1) The Generator. Men since the dawn of the electric age have bemoaned the loss of power that accompanies severe storms. Away goes the lights, television and conveniences of modern times and we grumble. I recall the horror I felt during my first hurricane when I realized I would not be able to watch my favorite television shows. We were not savages. Why was it that this storm demanded we behave like savages?

And then I heard about the magical marvel known as the personal home generator. The commercials for them were nea constant after the storm passed. I bet the sales of those portable generators tripled for Christmas that year. Husbands decided that they wanted power, no matter what and they would have it. And while the vast majority of those generators idled and did not get used with any consistency in the years that followed, they are the fundamental essential of home based survival preps.

First they keep the refrigerator and freezer going. That keeps food and water safe to eat and drink. Secondly, they keep food prep sanitary. Electric cook tops and microwave and conventional ovens use power. You might have a gas range or even a gas oven, but even they benefit from electricity to regulate temperatures and even spark the pilot. And even then, if your electricity has been disrupted, chances are good your gas lines could soon be compromised as well. Finally, they can contribute to good hygiene by keeping the hot water hot for showers, baths and clothes washing. So getting a generator is a good start to a disaster safe home.

2) Alternate power sources. The generator is the gold standard, but the presence of solar, wind or battery stored power allows the home to have redundant sources of energy. In windy and sunny climates, solar and wind turbine power can be effective accessories for the disaster ready home. Likewise, fuel cells that can be powered off the grid and store juice for when the grid collapses, give you more than just one option when it comes to keeping the lights on.

3) A fuel tank. The best generators run on liquefied petroleum gas (or propane). Some will run on regular gasoline, but like the combustion engines in your car, they need a steady source of fuel and can produce unhealthful emissions, like carbon monoxide. So let’s stick with the generators that run on LPG. And if you are looking to make sure that your gas range will run in an emergency and that your generator will be fully fueled throughout the crisis, you need to spend the money to sink an emergency fuel tank in the ground to provide you with the storage capabilities for a few months worth of fuel.

4) Sew what’s new. Few people think about this, but a major disruption to supply chains could result in clothing shortages. A simple solution is to stockpile patterns and fabric to give you options for clothes when others do not have them. The other essentials you need are a sewing machine and the time to practice your skills. We take clothes for granted because it is so easy to obtain new threads whenever we want them, but emergencies are just that and if we need new attire, we may need to provide our own. As an added bonus, if you are thinking of growing your own food, consider raising sheep for the wool. With some low-tech tools like spinning wheels and looms, you can make your own fabric as well. That’s the ultimate in sustainable attire.

5) The duster. This is the perfect coat for an emergency. First it allows you to carry a lot and distribute the weight all over your body. Second, it provides good concealment of what you are carrying. Remember from chapter one. We are going out armed. Sometimes it’s good to advertise our lethality. But it’s far better to keep things hidden from view so we can move undisturbed through potentially dangerous territory. A duster has the added bonus of providing a basis for shelter. Suspend it tightly above you and you have cover and the ability to capture body heat while still allowing airflow. Under you it can keep you insulated from cold ground. Finally, it can be a blanket. You have all of these in your bug out bag, but it never hurts to have redundancy. That’s what keeps you alive in disaster.

Chapter 7 – The Six Must Have Survival Preps

There are a few items that are really versatile in any survival situation. These items had so many different uses that it only made sense to create an additional chapter to discuss each one.

1) Tarp. There are so many issues for a tarp.  Obviously, a using a tarp on the top part or even on the ground section of shelter structure you make will be useful because it will keep out rain.  Here are some other uses:

Create a mini reservoir by trapping rain or create a rain trap by lining the pit of the trap with the tarp.

Camouflaging vehicles or supplies

Can be used to haul items long distances

Can be used as a hammock, blanket or rain poncho

Build a raft

Can be used to shade anything from crops to shelter

2) Pine Resin. If you are in the wilderness and there are pine trees in the area, you are in luck.  Pine resin is the sticky substance that comes out of the bark of the tree when the trunk or branch has been cut.  It’s basically a defense mechanism the tree has to seal up the bark that has become exposed.  When exposed to air, the resin hardens and crystallizes.  It can easily be melted down.  Here are some uses for pine resin:

Can be used to start fire, especially in wet conditions

Heat the resin and sprinkle in some charcoal to create a super glue.  This glue will be strong and can be used to glue soles to shoes, repair holes in practically anything.  The possibilities here are endless.

Use to treat a wound. Mixing the resin with water creates an antiseptic that can be used to treat wounds or tooth infections.

The resin super glue can also be used to act as stitches, by “gluing” the skin around the wound together to stop the bleeding.

Can be used to make item waterproof.

3) White Birch.  Not only does white birch easily peel off the tree, it can be used for pretty much everything.  Here are some other uses for birch:

Make “shingle” roofing for your shelter.

It can be eaten as is or ground up into four.

You can weave pieces of birch together to make shoes.

You can make cords by twisting the fibers.

The inner bark as oil in it that can be used as an astringent to apply to wounds.

Can be used as tinder for a fire.

4) Aluminum Foil. There are many multipurpose uses for aluminum.  Here are some common uses:

Can be used as a heat reflector with fire to stay warm

Antenna repair

Make fire with a battery

Used to catch rain

Made into a pot to boil water

Made into a pot/plate to use to eat food

Use on the ground if it is damp to create fire

Can be used to signal for help

5) Paracord. A paracord is a lightweight nylon rope.  If you cut open a paracord, you will see all the individual strong cords inside that make this rope incredibly strong.  These individual cords ensure that the rope stays steady, even if some of the other cords inside break.  Here are a few simple uses of this cord:

String a hammock or tarp

Make snares

Hang tools or other items from your bug out bag

Bundling items together

When cut open inner threads can be used as dental floss, thread to sew clothes, fishing line

Make a rope or pulley system

Use as a clothesline

Replace your shoelaces

6) Multi-purpose tool. You can go no further when picking out survival gear that is small, portable and ideal for creating options that the ever popular Swiss Army Knife. This multi-purpose tool is the original, but you can go with the other options. Leatherman tools are great as well. The brand is irrelevant. The function of the tool is paramount. When you make the choice, choose a tool that fits your hand easily, contains all the functions you need and one that fits your own sense of style. The functions of a multi-purpose tool are limitless. Most Swiss Army Knives and Leathermen include at least the following options:

Cutting blades

Saw

Screwdrivers, both flat and Phillips head

Pliers

Corkscrew

Scissors

Can Opener

Bottle Opener

Chapter 8 – Bugging Out vs. Sheltering In Place

I focused this book almost entirely on how to handle a disaster by sheltering in place and ensuring you have the most important, top 33 things you will need to survive. But sheltering in place is not always the best choice. There’s an entirely different book surrounding what you need to best bug out. But here’s a quick overview of what you need to keep in mind when considering bugging out.

Bugging out is on the opposite end of the spectrum from sheltering in place. It places the risk up front and compromises, immediate safety and security. The payoff is long-term safety further away from a disaster area. If dealing with a localized emergency, bugging out can be a preferred means of ensuring survival. But the value of bugging out diminishes the more widespread the disaster is. Keep that in mind as you consider your options.

The primary factors you need to know when selecting a bug out location relate to security. Ideally, you find a location that is remote and easy to secure. Hilly or mountainous terrain where you have good defensive sightlines is the best. Additionally, building a structure that has the hill or mountain face to the rear allows for a greater focus on defensive measures to the front of the structure.

As with sheltering in place, having secure supplies of food and water must be your top priority. Any atypical emergency like infectious outbreaks or localized weather disasters that interrupts power or water service to your main residence will make your bug-out location far more appealing.

To help you determine which strategy is best, I have prepared a checklist of considerations to keep in mind as you decide:

Which location is more secure? – If you are concerned about keeping marauders away from your property and your preps, this needs to be top of mind. A bug out location set away from neighbors and roads, with good sightlines, natural defensive positioning and safe rooms will always be preferable to your primary residence, especially if your home is in an urban or suburban area.

Which has greater access to resupply? – Within a disaster perimeter, people who neglected to prep and choose to shelter in place are going to buy up provisions in a hurry. If the disaster becomes a regional emergency, restocking your preps will be difficult, if not impossible. A remote location with additional provisions and access to new stocks of consumables will be preferable to any location where supply lines might be compromised.

What route will get you to your bug out location? – If you are traveling by yourself in a car, you have more security. If you are using any kind of public transportation (bus, train, subway, airplane, ship) you compromise your personal security. One common work around, to have back up for a primary vehicle that may be trapped or unavailable within the disaster perimeter is to use a bug out vehicle. If you need to cover significant ground to reach your bug out car, that’s going to amplify your risk as well.

One other consideration, escaping ground zero of a disaster needs to be a very quick decision. If local or state government officials declare a state of emergency, citizens may be quarantined within the disaster area. A split second decision to bug-out can be the difference between being trapped and being safe.

Conclusion

When you are preparing for the worst, you need to both let your imagination run wild and keep your wits about you. These challenges that people face dealing with emergencies can cause even the most hardened individual to crack under pressure. A central element of staying alive is to assess the situation and make logical decisions.

The problem is that in an emergency, it is human nature to react emotionally. To combat this tendency, people plan ahead. But they often miss the most important part of planning. So to close this brief look into survival when it hits the fan, I want to share, very briefly, an exercise that you should try to make sure you can manage yourself in a crisis.

In any crisis, the first instinctual reaction is one of fear and panic. This is triggered by two tiny parts of our brain known as the amygdalae. These small nodes are the control center for our emotions as well as behavior and motivation driven by our feelings. They are where we process information and create that instantaneous flight, fight or freeze reaction to unpleasant stimuli. In those first moments, our adrenaline surges, our heart rate spikes and we are flooded with energy. Unless we govern ourselves accordingly that energy will seek an outlet.

We overcome our instincts through discipline. The surest way to contain and control our response is to feel it and calm ourselves naturally. This requires practice. And the only effective way to practice is t experience a disaster situation and become mindful of what you are experiencing.

One way to do this is through simulated combat training, such as organized paintball. You will feel the surge of adrenaline in the moment when the game begins. As you feel your heart race, take stock of your body. Slow your breathing and take the time to feel your limbs. As you do this, you will slow your body down, enabling you to control the aggression and fear you feel. Do this repeatedly with any crisis you encounter. As you do, you will train yourself to contend with any emergency you face.

Preppers Blueprint

33 Amazing Survival Lessons That Will Prepare You For Any Dangerous Situation

Table of Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1 – The Family Emergency Plan – Section I

Chapter 2 – Planning The Safety Of Others

Chapter 3 – Safely Storing Your Important Documents

Chapter 4 – Keep an Inventory of Home Posessions

Chapter 5 – Build Your Food and Water Supply

Chapter 6 –Prepare a Bug Out Bag

Chapter 7 – Sheltering in Place

Chapter 8 – Evacuating Your Home

Chapter 9 – During The Event – Section II

Chapter 10– Blackouts

Chapter 11 – Hazardous Material Incidents

Chapter 12 – Nuclear Accidents

Chapter 13 – Natural Disasters

Chapter 14– Drought

Chapter 15– Earthquakes

Chapter 16– Hurricanes

Chapter 17 – Thunderstorms

Chapter 18– Tornadoes

Chapter 19– Wildfires

Chapter 20 – Extreme Heat

Chapter 21– Floods

Chapter 22 – Space Weather

Chapter 23 – Tsunamis

Chapter 24 – Volcanoes

Chapter 25 – Winter Storms and Extreme Cold

Chapter 26 – Terrorist Hazards

Chapter 27 – Biological Threats

Chapter 28 – Chemical Threats

Chapter 29 – Explosions

Chapter 30 – Nuclear Blasts

Chapter 31 – Radioactive Dispersion Device

Chapter 32 – Recovering From Disaster – Section III

Chapter 33 – Returning Home

Chapter 34 – Helping Others

Chapter 35 – Coping with Disaster

Conclusion

Copyright Notice

© Copyright 2015 by Quantum Leap Solutions - All rights reserved.

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- From a Declaration of Principles which was accepted and approved equally by a Committee of the American Bar Association and a Committee of Publishers and Associations.

In no way is it legal to reproduce, duplicate, or transmit any part of this document in either electronic means or in printed format. Recording of this publication is strictly prohibited and any storage of this document is not allowed unless with written permission from the publisher. All rights reserved.

The information provided herein is stated to be truthful and consistent, in that any liability, in terms of inattention or otherwise, by any usage or abuse of any policies, processes, or directions contained within is the solitary and utter responsibility of the recipient reader. Under no circumstances will any legal responsibility or blame be held against the publisher for any reparation, damages, or monetary loss due to the information herein, either directly or indirectly.

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While all attempts have been made to verify the information provided in this book, the author does not assume any responsibility for errors, omissions, or contrary interpretations of the subject matter contained within. The information provided in this book is for educational and entertainment purposes only. The reader is responsible for his or her own actions and the author does not accept any responsibilities for any liabilities or damages, real or perceived, resulting from the use of this information.

Introduction

Are you prepared to ensure your safety in the event of a natural disaster? You’d be surprised how few Americans are. Unfortunately, it has been proven that civil servants and the government cannot fully be relied on. It’s important that you always have a plan for your family and loved ones in the event of an emergency. Your safety and the safety of those you care for is the most important thing during any catastrophe.

You are the only one who can prepare yourself for a natural disaster. A little preparedness goes a long way. On a scale from 1 to 10, how prepared are you to evacuate your home immediately? If you are were anything like me a few years back, you probably scored yourself under a 7. Luckily for you, Preppers Blueprint: 33 Amazing Survival Lessons That Will Prepare You For Any Dangerous Situation is here to be used as a valuable resource that will guide you to take immediate action no matter what happens in your environment. Unlike millions of other people, you’ll be ready for any emergency you know exactly how to react.

This book gives you 33 great survival tips so that you’ll be prepared for anything. It separated into three sections that will remind you what to do before, during, and after any event.  I recommend that you come back to it at least once a year so that you are reminded of what to do in the event of an emergency, and to take inventory of your belongings.

Here’s a quick breakdown of the book:

Section 1 covers how to prepare before an event. This section explains how to make sure you’re ready for any emergency ahead of time. I’ll discuss having a family emergency plan, managing your food and water without relying on others, and ensuring that you have all of your important information easily accessible event that you need to vacate your home.

Section 2 goes over the types of hazards that you should prepare yourself for. Do you know what to do in the event of a natural disaster? What if an accident occurs in your home, would you know the steps to take to ensure your safety? If there was ever a terrorist attack in your area do you have the supplies on hand that you’ll need to survive? Every potential scenario is addressed throughout these pages so that you’ll know exactly what to do to keep your family safe.

Section 3 explains what to do after an event. After you have ensured the safety of yourself and loved ones and it is safe to return home, chances are the work isn’t over. Many Preppers feel that they are ready for the worst, but the aftermath of the event can be the most emotionally tolling part. Section 3 discusses what to keep in mind once the event is over so that you can maintain your safety, your physical and mental health, and help those in your community.

My goal for this book is to get you prepared for the worst. My life from day to day is similar to yours. I started reading and watching videos on survivalism years, when I first began to learn about canning food, preparing a bug out bag, and taking self-defense classes. Now it’s my turn to share all of the knowledge I’ve learned with you so in the event that anything ever happens, you’re ready to do whatever is necessary to protect yourself and your loved ones. If you’ve found it helpful, please share it with a friend and help protect them too.

Chapter 1 – The Family Emergency Plan – Section I

Before you go out and buy any survival products you should make sure that there is a family emergency plan in place. It’s amazing how simple this is and yet it’s often overlooked. If you don’t already have an emergency plan in place for all of the members and your family now is the time to get together and make one. I promise it’s very simple to do and it will guarantee that each member of your family knows what to do if a disaster occurs. Here are the steps to take to create a family emergency plan:

Step 1: Create An Emergency Communication Plan

1. Make a list of your family information. This should include the name of each family member, their date of birth, and any important medical information. Include cell phone numbers so that each member of your family knows the best way.

2. Write down the work and school information for each member of the family. This should include the name of the location, the address, phone number, and the evacuation location that each member will travel to in the event that their workplace or school is unsafe. You can find out this information by accessing your employers emergency action plan and your schools evacuation procedures.

3. Now list the location that each member of the family will travel to in the event of an emergency. This place should not be located too far from your home and ideally you have one location in your neighborhood and another within your town in the event that your neighborhood is unsafe. If everyone is not together during the emergency you will meet at one of these two places.

4. Have an emergency contact. Ideally this person should not live in your area since it will most likely be easier to contact them instead of anyone in an emergency zone. After any event each family member should check in with this contact. List all of their contact information including their email and social networking accounts to keep every line of communication open. In the event that the two places within your town are unsafe your families’ meeting location will become the residence of your out-of-town contact. It’s a lot easier for one person to relay information to the rest of the family and for one contact to let everyone know that you’re safe.

5. It’s also important to list everyone’s medical contacts. Include your doctor’s name and phone number, your dentist’s name and phone number, any specialized doctors you might be seeing, and medical contacts for any of your pets.

Now that you have listed all of this information you now have a communication plan in place. Make multiple copies to keep in your car, at your office, and in your school binder. You can even make a smaller copy to keep in your purse or wallet. After you have created your emergency communication plan it’s time to complete the rest of your emergency plan.

Chapter 2 – Planning The Safety Of Others

Depending on the size of your family and the people that you’re responsible for the day to day you may have a lot of things to organize in the event for disaster, or just a few things saying need to take care of. Here is how you can ensure the safety of all of your loved ones during an emergency:

Step 2. Create individual emergency supply kits.

Soon I’ll explain creating a bug out bag and making sure that you have enough supplies in your home to live for a few days. The individual emergency supply kits are a bit different since they’re focused on those and your family with special needs such as the elderly and the infantile. Essentially you want to keep about 3 to 5 days worth of emergency products that are custom-made for these individuals. What you put in their kit really depends what their specific needs are.

For example a young child will need enough formula, diapers, and bottles. Those with dietary restrictions will need special food. People with functional needs require an emergency stock of prescription medicines, diabetic supplies, and hearing aids. List the special supplies that your family needs and create a kit of essentials in the event that people cannot get to you for 5 days or longer. Make sure you don’t forget about a kit for your non-human companions as well!

Step  3: Teach Your Family How To Shut Off The Utilities

There are three main utilities that everyone should know how to turn off. In case of a natural disaster you should be able to shut off the water, electricity, and natural gas.

You’ll absolutely want to keep your water supply clean after a disaster, so it’s important that you shut off the water until you know it’s safe to drink. If a water line leading into your house cracks, then the water in your faucet, shower, and sink can be contaminated.

To avoid drinking polluted water you should locate the shutoff value that enters your house, and close the valve completely. Label it and show the rest of your family where it’s located so that anyone in the house can turn off the water if necessary.

The second utility you’ll want to turn off in a disaster is the electricity. Make sure that everyone knows how to switch off the electricity, being sure to turn off the individual electrical circuits before flipping the main switch. If a gas leak occurs, having your electricity turned off will reduce the chance of a natural gas fire.

The third utility everyone needs to know how to turn off is the natural gas. If you aren’t sure how to shut off your gas, contact your gas company and have them teach you the procedure. Make sure you have the necessary tools to turn off your natural gas, and that everyone in your household knows exactly how to shut off the gas meter. Once you have turned off your gas, only a professional should turn it back on when it’s safe to do so.

Chapter 3 – Safely Storing Your Important Documents

I recommend that you start a digital file of all your important documents. You can save these files to a USB drive or upload your records to a secure file over the Internet. If anything happens to the physical copies, you’ll have a copy readily available.

So what should you include in this digital file? Here’s a basic list that you can add to depending on your needs:

Birth Certificate

Social Security Cards, Passports, and other identification

Financial, investing, and insurance documents

Medical records including any lifesaving prescriptions

Warranty and rebate information

If you take an afternoon to scan or even take photos of all your important documents, it will only take a few minutes each month to update your backup file. Not only is this great for in case of an emergency, it’s also a helpful system for locating information that you need right away using your computer.

Chapter 4 – Keep an Inventory of Home Posessions

Another digital file you should create is one that lists all of your home possessions. Write down everything that has value within your home and take a photo of the whole room that it’s located in, or of the individual item. If your possessions get damaged or stolen, you’ll have proof of your belongings for insurance.

Keep this one with your list of important documents and you’ll know exactly where everything is located when it’s time to find these papers. Update this whenever you purchase new items, and it won’t take very long to maintain your home possessions list.

Chapter 5 – Build Your Food and Water Supply

There are a lot of great resources out there for building up an emergency food and water supply. If you haven’t already built up your food and water reserves, it’s very simple to do, and most of the foods you’ll buy for emergency purposes has a very long shelf life-some even staying fresh over 10 years.

How much water will you need? The average active person drinks one-third of a gallon of water each day. For both staying hydrated and for hygiene, the average person needs nearly a gallon of water a day.  

That means you’ll need 1 gallon for every three days and 10 gallons for a month per person. Since going without water for three days results in death, start by buying a few extra gallons the next time you buy groceries. Store the water in a cool, dry place and within weeks you should have enough water stored for a 7-day supply of drinking water. Build up from that point keeping storage and usage in mind.

As far as food goes, purchasing in bulk works well since you’ll be storing your food. You can order a food storage kit that feeds one adult for 30 days, or you can build your own kits using quality storage containers and food safe bags.

There are many different types of food you can add to your food storage so diversify! If you ever have to rely on your food for an extended period of time, you’ll want to make sure you receive the proper nutrients, and eat foods that you enjoy.

Chapter 6 –Prepare a Bug Out Bag

A bug out bag contains all of the necessary essentials needed in the event you have to evacuate your home and head to the mountains or forest to hide from immediate danger. This bag is for short notice emergencies that require wilderness survival, and many Preppers see it as a ‘bag of last resort.’ It should be a backpack instead of a roller bag or duffle bag, so that you can carry it for miles.

How is it different from the emergency bag that you created in step one of the first section? Essentially, an emergency bag is all of the information and things you’ll need to take from an unsafe location to a safe location, like your out-of-town neighbor’s house. A bug out bag is for basic survival and includes everything you need to survive in the wilderness.

What should you include in your bug out bag? It really depends on your environment, the time of year, your personal needs. Here are a few basic items that I would include in my bug out bag:

A first aid kit

A solar radio

Light-weight foods

Eating utensils

Flashlights and fire starting equipment

Water and a water filtration device

A few weapons for hunting and protection

There are great resources online covering how to build a bug out bag. The most important piece of advice I’ll give you is to figure out exactly what you want in your bag before purchasing a backpack itself. That way you’ll pick a bag with enough space for all your belongings.

Chapter 7 – Sheltering in Place

Sometimes the best location to wait out an emergency is in your home. You may not have much time to prepare for an emergency therefore it is critical that you have built your food and water supply, and that you have a stock of your daily necessities.

For extreme emergencies, it’s best that everyone in your household knows how to shut off the utilities. Shutting off your gas, water, and electricity will prevent gas explosions, water contamination, and electrical fires.

If for any reason you need to seal the air coming from outside, seal the gaps in windows, doors, and air vents with whatever you have on hand. For this reason, it’s good to keep duct tape and 2 to 4 millimeter plastic sheeting in your home, but what you have around the home will do.

Chapter 8 – Evacuating Your Home

Unfortunately depending on the nature of the emergency, not everyone is able to stay in their home until things are safe. With natural disasters such as a hurricane, you’ll be notified that you should evacuate through the media. Sometimes you’ll have enough notice to prepare your things for evacuation, but most of the time you’ll be forced to evacuate without having the proper time to prepare.

Luckily you’re aware of this risk ahead of time and have prepared everything before it was required. Unfortunately not everyone will have the proper supplies on hand. This will make immediate travel easier for you, since you’ll already have your emergency supplies ready, and a safe location picked out.

Chapter 9 – During The Event – Section II

In Section I you prepared everything you needed for an emergency. Since you know exactly what you should have available at all times, now I’ll discuss common events, and what you can do to protect yourself and your loved ones.

Chapter 10– Blackouts

Every couple years there is a major blackout in the United States. Although they are mostly caused by natural disasters, some have occurred due to technical malfunctions. The largest blackout in US history occurred in 2003 and affected 55 million people. It left them without power for two days, and many people were unprepared to survive without electricity.

The best thing to do during a power outage is to stay inside. Gas pumps work partially on electricity, so most likely those won’t function. Traffic on the roads is bad since streetlights don’t work without electricity and most of the businesses in your area will be closed.

This is one hazard that you’ll absolutely be glad you prepared for, since it’ll be a guessing game as to when your power will turn on again and it’s difficult to purchase food during the outage. Unplug your electric devices so that there isn’t a damaging power surge when the electricity returns. Also throw away any food that sat at 40 degrees Fahrenheit for 2 hours or more.

Chapter 11 – Hazardous Material Incidents

Hazardous material can be explosive, poisonous, or radioactive. Most of the incidents caused by hazardous materials occur during transport, or as an accident in the manufacturing plant. If there is a hazardous material incident in your area, you’ll be asked to either evacuate the area or stay indoors.

If you’re asked to evacuate immediately, grab your family’s emergency supplies and head to your emergency out-of-town contact’s location. Always use suggested routes, as the roads may be unsafe. If you have any usual symptoms, go to the emergency room immediately.

If you’re asked to stay indoors, seal your windows and doors with plastic, duck tape, or whatever materials you have readily available, as was discussed in the Sheltering In Place tip. Don’t stay indoors and wait it out if you are told to evacuate. Eventually hazardous materials can seep into the air even when you use preventative measures, so evacuating is usually the best alternative.

Chapter 12 – Nuclear Accidents

Nuclear power plants create electric energy using radioactive uranium as fuel that releases nuclear energy to turn water into steam. The steam goes on to power a turbine, which generates a lot of electricity. Normally there are safety features, which contain the uranium to stop the release of radioactive material, but unfortunately mistakes can occur.

One such incident occurred in Japan in March 2011. After a strong earthquake off the coast caused a tsunami, the Fukushima Nuclear Plant’s power supply and cooling system malfunctioned. Although the plant worker’s attempted to keep the nuclear reactor from overheating, they were unable to stop four of the reactors from exploding and releasing radioactive chemicals into the environment.

Exposure to radioactive material causes radiation poisoning, which damages the body and causes extreme sickness and even death with severe exposure, or higher risk for cancer and tumors with low exposure. Chances are that you don’t live too close to a nuclear plant however, three million American’s do, so if you happen to be one of them, it’s important that you know what to do if an accident occurs in your area.

If a major nuclear accident occurs, sirens will sound and you should tune into the Emergency Alert System on your television or radio. Depending on your proximity from the power plant you may be instructed to evacuate or stay where you are. If you have created your family emergency plan and packed a bag for emergencies, then you should be ready to leave immediately. If you live next to a power plant, you should also include clothing and bedding to your bag, in the event you are unable to return home for a prolonged period of time.

Chapter 13 – Natural Disasters

With many of these natural disasters, half of the battle is making sure that you have an emergency plan and the right supplies. Since you have prepared food and water storage and an emergency bag in case you need to evacuate quickly, you are ready for anything. Here’s what you’ll need to do to survive through these natural disasters.

Chapter 14– Drought

The state of California has been in a severe drought for over three years now, and a reduced rainfall has many effects on the community. In order to conserve water, laws have been put in place that prohibits the misuse of water. Not following these limitation results in some hefty fines.

Unless the water shortage is so bad that you’re unable to find water for drinking, a drought is unlike to injure you. Instead it has some economic impacts, but overall it’s easy to make it through a drought compared to many of the other natural disasters.

When there isn’t enough water available for use, land is underutilized, prices for food goes up, and there is a negative effect on wildlife in that area. It’s important that we conserve water since it is vital for life. Here are a few things you can do to ensure that everyone has access to water during record low rainfall:

Replace old appliances with newer energy efficient models

Reuse the water you would normally put down the drain for landscaping projects

Exchange your regular toilet with a low water volume toilet that uses less water

Plant drought-resistant lawns and gardens that don’t require as much water or upkeep

Instead of taking a long bath, take a short shower

If everyone does their part and follows the restricted water guidelines, enough conservation will be done to ensure that water is used only when it is essential.

Chapter 15– Earthquakes

Every state in the United States is at risk for earthquakes. Earthquakes occur suddenly throughout the year, and there’s no way to predict when the ground underneath us will shift. It’s a smart idea to secure mirrors, bookshelves, and tall furniture to the wall to secure them in the event of an earthquake. The less that’s falling around you, the safer you’ll be.

So what should you do to protect yourself during an earthquake? The best thing to do is to drop down and cover your head and neck with your arms. If you have enough time to move without risking any injury, quickly get under a sturdy table. Make sure that you are as far away from windows and unsteady objects as possible, which could break or fall in your direction.

The most important thing you can do is stay exactly where you are during the earthquake until shaking stops and you’re safe to move around. The same goes for when you’re in a car or outside during an earthquake. Be aware of your surroundings and position yourself away from falling debris.

Experiencing an earthquake can be a very scary experience. Stay in control and do not panic. Just because the shaking has stopped doesn’t mean that the event is over. Aftershocks can occur shortly after a strong quake, and continue to do damage to the environment.

After the quake you should move to a safe location, check for personal injuries, and figure out if there is major environmental damage such as a gas leak, electrical damage, or water line damage. If you live near water, you should also walk to higher ground since there is a high tsunami risk. If you are stuck under debris, don’t try and shout for help. Instead, tap on a wall so that people can hear you, or whistle to notify others of your position.

You can absolutely make it through a major earthquake. A little preparedness goes a long way, so do what you can to earthquake-proof your home.

Chapter 16– Hurricanes

Unlike earthquake, hurricanes don’t occur suddenly in the United States so you’ll have some time to prepare yourself and evacuate if you live in a risk area. A hurricane is a tropical storm that can cause heavy rainfall, storm surge, high winds, and even tornadoes.

If you live in an evacuation area you should board up your house with storm shutters or plywood, move anything on your lawn indoors for safety, and prepare for an evacuation. If you don’t have to evacuate but live in a risk area, you should consider what your property is at risk for.

If flooding, high winds, or storm surge is a risk where you live, you determine whether you should leave the area. Just know that if you stay at home it’s possible that your electricity goes out, and that you should turn off your water supply so it doesn’t become contaminated. Have plenty of drinking water stored and you can even fill up your tub to keep some extra water for hygienic purposes.

Chapter 17 – Thunderstorms

Although the chances of getting struck by lightning are 1 in 600,000, lightning does kill and injure people each year. The best thing to do is try to avoid activity outside during a storm. Unfortunately it’s possible to be caught off-guard. If you are outside when a thunderstorm occurs, here are some things you can do to maintain a high level of safety.

The first thing you’ll notice if a thunderstorm is coming your way is the lightning and thunder from a distance. If it is too far away to hear, consider leaving your area if you’re outside and finding shelter. It’s possible that the storm is moving toward you, and it’s much safer to be indoors.

If the thunderstorm is already in your area, you should try and find cover. If you can’t make it home, it’s recommended that you get inside your car. Lightning can still strike your vehicle, but it won’t be as damaging as lightning striking your directly.

If you feel tingly, or your hair stands on end, you should squat down on your knees and put your hands over your ears. Those two signs lead to a strong chance of getting struck by lightning. If you’re around a lot of people, make sure that there is a good amount of space between everyone; otherwise the lightning could jump from person to person.

If you’re in a forest, find a cluster of smaller trees to stand near. Be aware of your surrounding and look out for struck trees that may fall. If you’re in a flat area, try to find an area with lower elevation. Lightning usually strikes places with higher elevation. The risk you’ll have to lookout for in this case is flash flooding. If you are swimming when a lightning strike occurs, immediately return to dry land and find shelter.

The best ways to avoid thunderstorms are to not be around as they’re occurring. That isn’t always possible but as long as you are aware of the signs that one is close by, you’ll have more chances to return to safety.

Chapter 18– Tornadoes

When there are powerful thunderstorms, there is also a risk for tornadoes. A tornado looks like a giant rotating cloud and produces dangerously fast wind. If the conditions of the thunderstorm have rapidly changed to a hailstorm, you see low-lying dark clouds, or hear a loud roaring sound, prepare yourself by taking shelter right away.

Tornadoes can cause damage for miles. You should make sure that you are in a very secure location, ideally in a basement, or away from windows, doors, and outside walls. If your home is damaged from a tornado, once it is safe to clean up, take your time and check for any hazards. Many tornado injuries occur after a tornado has struck during the cleanup phase.

Chapter 19– Wildfires

Each year homes built in the forest or a woodland area are at risk for severe wildfires. Wildfires are usually started by people that don’t follow the correct procedure for putting out a campfire, as a result of incorrectly discarding their cigarette, and even as intentional acts of arson.

It’s often the homes that took precautions during the building process and maintain a fire safety procedure that makes it through the threat of fire. If your home is in a wildfire risk area, make sure that you do everything you can in the event that there is a severe fire.

Make sure that everyone knows how to use a fire extinguisher and have a couple located throughout your house. It’s also good to have a water hose that is long enough to go around the perimeter of your home. Have smoke alarms in your home, and test them monthly to make sure they are functioning properly.

Use fire-resistant materials while building your home and plant fire-resistant plants and shrubs that help contain a fire. Clear anything that could catch on fire from the area surrounding your house, and make sure that your home is a safe distance away from trees that could catch on fire or fall.

Chapter 20 – Extreme Heat

Heat waves can cause many deaths and injuries to adults and children. Most of the time heat related injuries are due to overexposure to heat or while doing a rigorous workout in a high temperature setting. Stay indoors to reduce the risk of a heat related injury and limit the length of time you are exposed to the sun.

The first thing to know is the symptoms of a heat related injury. One of the first things that may occur is heat cramp. This is where your muscles cramp up because you’ve worked them out too much in high heat. Another sign is if you feel lightheaded, dizzy, or sick. Those are symptoms of heat exhaustion.

If you start to notice any of these symptoms, you should immediately get indoors to cooler temperatures, and drink plenty of water. Your body may be dehydrated, and staying out in the sun can turn your mild injuries into heat stroke, which can result in brain damage or death.

Heat stroke occurs when your body stops regulating your temperature, and can no longer cool itself down. If you notice that someone has any of the symptoms of heat stroke such as behavioral changes, seizures, sickness, or unconsciousness, take them to the emergency room right away. The quicker that you respond to the emergency, the more likely the person will survive from this trauma.

Chapter 21– Floods

Floods are common in the United States, and can occur suddenly in the case of a flash flood, or over a longer period of time when waterways have an excess of water and overflow. Anywhere that there can be heavy rainfall is at risk for flooding, even if the location seems safe in dry weather.

So how can you ensure your safety in a flood? Begin by taking the proper precautions ahead of time by installing check valves so that floodwater is blocked from making its way into your water supply, seal your basement walls, and use sandbags to create a barrier to reduce the damage of flooding if you have time.

During a flood if you have to evacuate, you have to be especially careful. A small amount of running water can knock you down easily, and it can be difficult to tell just how deep the flood is. Use a stick to test the depth of the water, and if you have to walk in a flood, try to walk where the water isn’t moving as quickly.

Driving in a flood is an easy way to stall your vehicle. Look for areas where the roads are shallow, and make it to a higher elevation. Don’t drive in over a foot of water, as it can carry your car away. Do your best to avoid floodwaters at all, which can be contaminated with pollutants.

Chapter 22 – Space Weather

Not only do you have to prepare yourself for events that happen on land, but you also have to know about the events that occur in space, and how that can affect you. Bad space weather mostly occurs when the sun releases electromagnetic fields and bursts of radiation. This forms a geomagnetic storm that can cause power outages, damage communication satellites, and stop us from forecasting weather.

Radio blackouts, solar radiation storms, and geomagnetic storms are all caused in space. If there is going to be a severe space weather problem, we’ll be notified by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in an alert explaining exactly what steps to take.

Although radio blackouts, solar radiation storms, and geomagnetic storms don’t affect humans directly, there are many consequences of bad space weather which can stop our electricity, water supply, and even public transportation systems.

Chapter 23 – Tsunamis

Tsunamis are most often the after-effect of an earthquake where large waves as high as 100 feet build up and overflow onto land. Volcanoes, landslides, and meteorites can also cause tsunamis, but those aren’t as common. All coastal areas are at risk for a tsunami, so if you live near the coast it’s important that you pay attention to tsunami warnings especially after a strong earthquake.

In addition to a risk of drowning and property damage, a tsunami can contaminate water, create fires and cause explosions (as seen in the section where we discussed radiation poisoning,) and reduce power in affected areas.

If you’re on the coast, the first thing you’ll notice is a sudden recession of water. It may be spectacular to look at, but you should think of it as a warning sign that a tsunami is going to occur and proceed to higher ground immediately. Try to get at least two miles away to a higher elevation, but if you don’t have enough time to travel that far, then get as far away as you can.

Chapter 24 – Volcanoes

A volcano is a rupture on the Earth’s crust where molten and gas escapes from the Earth’s surface. Pressure builds up in the magma chamber until an eruption is formed, and everything under the surface of the volcano is released. The eruption might be signaled by a loud blast, but it can occur quietly.

If you live within 20 to 100 miles from an active volcano, you should understand what the risks are for your area. The most immediate risks are for those located within 20 miles of the volcano in the form of lava flows, rock blasts, and other natural disasters. People within 20 to 100 miles may face a snow of volcanic ash that is acidic and can damage the lungs of children and the elderly.

The best thing to do if you are close to a volcano during an eruption is to follow the evacuation procedures immediately and try to avoid many of the hazards that occur with volcano eruptions. Mudslides can also occur, so be aware of your surroundings during your evacuation.

Chapter 25 – Winter Storms and Extreme Cold

Winds, rain, sleet, and snow are many of the symptoms of a winter storm. The severity of each storm differs from location to location, but if you are notified that there is a winter storm coming, you should prepare yourself for dangerously low temperatures.

Most of the accidents that occur during a winter storm happen when someone is travelling. With snow and ice on the ground, cars have a difficult time maintaining the proper traction, which causes serious automobile accidents. Homeless who cannot find shelter end up with frostbite or hypothermia. Heat, power, and communication can be shut down in a strong winter storm or blizzard.

What can you do to prepare yourself for extreme cold? Have the proper supplies to face winter weather, maintain your home and vehicle before the storm to avoid common problems, and have enough clothing and emergency supplies in case the electricity goes out or you are stuck inside for long periods of time.

There are a few things you can do that will prepare your home for winter weather. You can install storm windows or cover your windows with plastic. Have your chimney inspected to make sure everything is functioning fine and won’t suffer from heavier use during the cold weather. Have someone check your roof if you are expecting a lot of snow, to make sure that structurally your home can handle pressure of snow and ice.

If harsh winter weather is something you are used to in your area, consider adding these materials to your emergency bag:

Gloves, hats, and socks

Blankets

Towing equipment

Flares

Windshield scraper

Road salt and sand

With these materials on hand, if your car gets stuck in bad weather, you’ll have enough equipment for heat, and to get your vehicle unstuck. It’s best to avoid driving during winter weather, but sometimes it can’t be avoided. In that case winterize your car with snow chains, and have your vehicle tuned up before driving it in the snow.

Taking these precautions won’t stop accidents from occurring, but it will make it more likely that everything is fine once the storm is over. Remember to keep dry, stay inside as much as possible, and keep others aware of the route you’re taking if you’ll be driving somewhere so that they can help tow your car if you get stuck.

Chapter 26 – Terrorist Hazards

By now you should understand what to do to in case of a natural emergency, have an emergency plan for yourself and your family, and know how to survive just about any natural accident. Unfortunately there’s another hazard that occurs in the world that is harder to predict or avoid - terrorist hazards.

Terrorism is a fear tactic that is meant to make people feel like their government is powerless to stop attacks, to gain support for a cause, and to promote fear. Out of all citizens, Preppers are the most prepared for terrorist activities, and understanding what to expect during a terrorist attack is absolutely necessary for your safety.

Terrorists can employ many different tactics to hurt a group of people. Biological threats, and chemical threats are deadly but very difficult to produce, which lowers the risk that it will occur but doesn’t minimize it overall. In this section I’ll explain the different terrorist hazards, and give you tips on how to survive them.

Chapter 27 – Biological Threats

When biological agents are used to kill or make someone sick, that is a biological threat. Releasing bacteria, viruses, and toxins to contaminate food and water creates biological threats. It can also be used to spread disease to people and livestock.

Unlike with natural disasters, it might be unclear that a biological threat is occurring. You may hear about an uncommon disease spreading to people, or that a lot of people are seeking medical attention lately. If you are at risk because you were in an area or associated with a group that authorities believe may have come in contact with the biological threat, seek medical attention immediately.

The first thing you’ll notice after coming in contact with a biological agent is symptoms you develop. Contact your doctor, take a shower and store your clothing in a bag, as that might be contaminated too, and change into clean clothing. Dispose of your items properly, and contact the authorities.

It may take a while for health officials to determine exactly what you have been exposed to, and what to do. You may need to be quarantined, or wear a facemask to reduce the amount of spreading germs. If you develop a fever or flu symptoms, loss of energy, or loss of appetite, go to the doctor immediately. With the right antibiotics you should be able to recover if you become sick. It’s a good idea to be caught up on all of your vaccinations at all times, and to practice good hygiene while ill.

Chapter 28 – Chemical Threats

Chemical threats are very similar to biological threats, but instead of releasing bacteria, poison is used instead. These chemicals can harm people, plants, and animals and cause serious injury and death. Many have an immediate effect, but some have a delayed effect that won’t begin for hours later.

You can tell that a chemical threat occurred by noticing your body’s reactions and looking at the environment around you. If your nose, eyes, and throat are suddenly irritated, you’re having a difficult time breathing, or there are small animals or insects dead in your area, then chances are you’re in a contaminated zone.

If you find yourself in an area that is contaminated you should try to determine what the source of the contamination is and move to a safe area. You’ll need to get into a location with fresh air, and the best way to do that is to move upwind of the contamination zone.

If you have been contaminated, you need to decontaminate within minutes. This involves removing your clothing and storing it in a plastic bag, rinsing your eyes out with water, washing your hair and face with soap, and rinsing your body off with water. Change into clean clothing and then get help from a medical professional.

Chapter 29 – Explosions

Explosions are one of the most common methods that terrorists employ. There have been numerous attacks on political and religious institutions, and bombs are easy to transport and detonate, making them difficult to detect.

During an explosion do your best to react quickly by getting under a table or desk if things are collapsing near you. Once it seems safe for you to move, stay low, and quickly exit the building. Move far away from any entrances or exits that people will use to escape the situation and stay away from windows, and structures that are able to collapse.

Ensure your safety first and check your injuries before assisting others. Your safety is the number one priority, and there may be more explosives nearby. Go to a safe place nearby until the authorities come and let them know what happened.

Chapter 30 – Nuclear Blasts

A nuclear blast occurs when a nuclear bomb is detonated. This releases heat, light, and radioactive chemicals that contaminate the air, water, and ground for miles.

Nuclear attacks are a possibility, even though they are less unlikely to happen than other forms of terrorist attacks. It’s possible that a terrorist could create an improvised nuclear weapon that is smaller and less powerful than a nuclear bomb, but still dangerous, therefore you should know what to expect, and how to survive a nuclear attack.

The main factors in your safety during a nuclear attack is your distance from the blast, the surface that’s shielding you from the attack, and the amount of time that has passed since the attack occurred. You’ll want to be located in an area as far away from the blast as possible, surrounded by thick materials protecting you from the blast. A basement or in the middle of a building with thick walls is the best place to survive a nuclear attack.

After a nuclear attack, you may need to stay in shelter for up to a month before the radioactive fallout decays and there’s no longer a risk for radioactive poison. Within about two weeks the amount of radiation should be about 1 percent of what it was during the first 24 hours after the bomb.

Chapter 31 – Radioactive Dispersion Device

One alternative to a nuclear bomb is a radioactive dispersion device, also known as a dirty bomb. Since nuclear weapons are difficult to make, a dirty bomb is more likely to be used for a terrorist attack. A dirty bomb is a combination of a bomb with radioactive material that’s designed to spread out the radioactive material throughout a general area.

The materials used to make a dirty bomb are used commonly and easier to locate than weapons grade uranium or plutonium. A dirty bomb can also cause more casualties from the radioactive material, especially if the wind scatters it throughout a large area. An affected area could be quarantined for months before activity is allowed to return to normal.

You’ll be aware of on an explosion in your area, but it will take time for officials to know if the bomb was used to disperse radioactive material. It’s best to assume that it did, and to take shelter immediately. Even if you don’t breath any radioactive material in, based on your proximity to the bomb, you may have some levels of radioactive poisoning.

Watch the news or listen to the radio to learn how to proceed to maintain safety during a dirty bomb attack.

Chapter 32 – Recovering From Disaster – Section III

Recovering from a disaster can be difficult, especially if you have experienced any type of loss. It’s important that you take the time to recover, and seek the help you need. If you are fortunate enough to not have suffered any loss, and you instead would like to help people cope with recovering, there are different ways for you to assist others who have gone through a traumatic situation.

Chapter 33 – Returning Home

When your area has been deemed safe, you can return home. Inspect the outside of your home and look out for fallen objects and any safety hazards that have been created because of the event. Let the proper authorities know of the hazards that you noticed such as dead animals or fallen power lines. Once the outside parameter is clear you can make your way inside.

Returning home isn’t always the easiest, especially if there was a lot damage done to your property. Begin by cleaning up the property, and looking out for any potentially dangerous objects such as broken glass. Many of the injuries related to a disaster occur while the cleaning is being done.

Chapter 34 – Helping Others

If you are in a safe place after a natural disaster and you’d like to help others, there are many ways that you can do so. You can donate to organizations that provide relief to victims of disasters and allow the organizations to choose what exactly the money is needed for.

You can volunteer your time and help people recover from tragedy with a non-profit or faith based organization. You can also donate goods to shelters, food banks, and other relief organizations. It’s best if you ask exactly what their needs are.

How you choose to help is totally up to you. Always make sure that you are in a safe and secure place before worrying about helping others. If you’ve gone through your own struggles, it’s best to take your time to recover yourself.

Chapter 35 – Coping with Disaster

Sometimes having someone to talk to is the best option for moving past a trauma. There are plenty of people out there who will provide you the support you need after living through a disaster. Know that there are many options out there for help, and that you can cope with any emotions you’re feeling by finding a strong support system.

If you’ve noticed that a loved one or friend has been acting differently after facing a traumatizing experience suggest that they get proper counseling. This goes for kids and adults alike. Both can have difficulty maintaining a normal routine after a stressful experience, and you can influence them to get the help they need.

Conclusion

Thank you for reading 33 Amazing Survival Lessons That Will Prepare You For Any Dangerous Situation. Now you should know how best to handle any dangerous situation you may find yourself in.

Taking the time to prepare for any situation today will ensure that you can face what comes tomorrow. Emergency situations require quick thinking and a fast response. With all of the information I have laid out for you, you’ll have the time to respond to an emergency when it counts.

The most important thing to do while dealing with a potentially traumatic experience is to use your best judgment. Secure your safety and the safety of your loved ones, and help people as you can. Remember this and you when the time comes to act quickly, you’ll be ready.

Prepper’s Hacks

Outstanding Prepper’s Hacks for Surviving Volcanic Eruptions

Table of Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1 – The Working of a Volcano

Chapter 2 - Preparation for an Eruption

Predicting eruptions

Communication plan

Warning system

Emergency supply kit

Evacuation procedures

Chapter 3– Surviving an Eruption

Listening to advisories

Following emergency instructions

Setting safety precautions

Protection from pyroclastic

Avoiding poisonous gases

Protective gear

Avoid geothermal areas

Remaining indoors

Keep away from heavy ash fall

Cleaning the ash

Chapter 4– Surviving after Volcanic Eruption

Chapter5– Protection after Eruption

Conclusion

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Introduction

A volcanic eruption is a process through which the earths crust releases pressure and heat. During this process, various poisonous gases, ash, tephra, and lapilli expels from the volcanic fissure or vent. Volcanologists categorized the eruptions based on a volcanos activity. There is a chance that few volcanoes’ exhibit only one character of eruption. However, the behavior changes according to the period and other environmental factors.

The eruptions of the volcano have different meta-types. The most observed are magmatic eruptions, which involves decompression of the gas. On the other hand, Phreatomagmatic eruptions are eruptions driven by the compression of the gas within the magma. Within the wide defining eruptive categories lie several subgroups. The stronger eruptions are Pelean eruptions followed by the Plinian eruptions. The weakest are the submarine, Hawaiian, Vulcanian, Strombolian, and Surtseyan. Volcanic Explosivity Index defines the measurement of the eruptive strength. It ranges between zero and eight and co-relates to the eruptive types.

The eruption mechanism is due to three constituents - gas released due to decompression, thermal counteraction from chilling, and ejection of entrained particles during steam eruptions. Outbreaks occur in either explosive activity or effusive activity. Explosive activity is gas driven explosions that push tephra and magma. Effusive activity is the outpouring of lava without a particular explosive eruption.

The measurement index, volcanic the explosivity index, measures the strength of the eruptions. The Smithsonian Institution’s, Global Volcanism Program uses the index in order to study the prehistoric and historic lava flows. It is very much similar to the Richter scale that measures the strength of the earthquakes. Magmatic eruptions produce juvenile clasts due to the explosive the compression created during the gas release. The intensity ranges from small volume to grander volumes. An example of the relatively small intensity is the lava fountains found in Hawaii. An example for the Ultra-Plinian eruption column is the eruption of Mount Vesuvius that buried Pompeii in 79.

Hawaiian volcanoes are calmest types of volcanic events characterized due to the effusive eruption of lava that have small gaseous content. The uniform generation of small amounts of lava forms the shield volcano. Eruptions are not at the centre but occur along the vents and fissures.

Strombolian eruptions are continuous and are active for centuries. The eruption is a mixture of gas bubbles within the magma. The bubbles accumulate within the magma and merge into a large bubble called as the gas slug. They rise through the lava column to reach the surface. Upon reaching the surface, the magma bubble bursts with a loud pop due to the difference in air pressure. The explosion causes the magma to spread in different directions. These blasts occur every few minutes.

The eBook provides information on surviving these catastrophic events. It is impossible to predict a volcanic eruption and, therefore; it is essential to prepare for one that offers food, medical assistance, and security. Taking the time to understand the importance of being prepared with volcanology and its potential events, provides you with the best opportunity to protect your family. The protection draws a line between life and death. More importantly, the information will help you to protect property and health from volcanic ash, shoot of stones, and poisonous gases.

Chapter 1 – The Working of a Volcano

Volcanoes are natural wonders that inspire and provoke fear at the same time. The volcanoes were a direct channel to Hades, as seen by the Greeks. The Romans believed it as the entrance to the hell. They even think that the Roman god of fire, Vulcan, lived deep inside the mountain. The stories go in all directions, and it was impossible for the ancient man to determine the exact reason, why there was an eruption of fire from a mountain. However, they did understand such plenty of activity was ongoing underneath the earths crust.

Earth is a made up of several massive plates consisting of rock, sand, and other sediments. The plates move consistently in all directions and colliding with each other at times. The coalition results in earthquakes and the development of a pressure zone results in volcanic eruptions. The Hot melted rock known as magma resides beneath the plates. The magma collapse in high-pressure regions called as magma chambers. When there is an expansion in the pressure, the magma in the chamber explodes upwards in a cataclysmic event. As soon as the magma reaches the Earth's surface, it becomes lava. Apart from the release of magma from the chamber, poisonous gases also vent through the channel. The primary constituent is water vapor or steam. However, there is a possibility that the gas or the steam also contains carbon dioxide, sulphur, nitrogen, hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and chlorine. There is also a chance for the existence of other gases. Apart from the release of magma and gases, the eruption also results in shooting of red-hot fragments that come in different sizes.

The different types of fragments that a volcano erupts are as follows:

Blocks - large fragments made up of lava or crustal pieces

Volcanic bombs - they form during the flight, which become harder and attain the shape of a spindle as they emerge from the volcano and fly through the air

Bread crust bomb - the pyroclastic resembles the French bread with large cracks in the crust

Lapilli - they are broken and smaller fragments about the size of walnuts

Pumice – Pumice generates due to acidic lava and has a high content of the gas that produces magma bubbles. Additionally, the presence of air spaces in the bubbles formed due to the expanding gases allows it to float in water

Peles Hair - it is a material that resembles spun glass. It is similar to the synthetic material, rock wool, known for installation

The content of silicone dioxide is excessive in lava. The amount varies from one eruption to another. The composition falls into three categories - basic, intermediate, and acidic. The basic category has less than 52% of silicone dioxide. The intermediate category has silicone dioxide between 52% and 66%. When silicone dioxide exceeds 66%, it falls in the acidic category.

As soon as the magma approaches the surface of the earth through cracks, holes, or fissures, it turns into the lava that spreads and shoots the hot melted rock. In a few instances, the lava covers thousands of square miles in the form of sheets. Of the different lava types, the liquid formation is capable of reaching farther distances. After it spreads and when the eruption settles down, the lava eventually cools and turns into a hard substance. The formation is of two types – pahoe and ‘aa’ type. The pahoe has a billowy surface that is smooth and resembles huge coils of rope. The AA type has jagged blocks in different angles with sharp edges and spiny escarpments.

There is a possibility for the exterior of the lava flow to become hard even when the inside layer is still hot and dripping. Under such circumstances, when the middle part flows away, it forms a tubular structure. There is a possibility for the tubular structure to run for miles. The longest volcanic tubular is the Northern California that extends 13.8 miles in length. Another example of the lava tube is the one at Idaho that is capable of holding the entire town’s population of 2,500. Another interesting formation is the lava tree, which forms due to the encasement of liquid lava over a tree trunk. The tree burns, leaving the details of its bark preserved in the cooled lava.

Chapter 2 - Preparation for an Eruption

Predicting eruptions

When a volcano becomes active, it displays a number of warning signs. It is difficult for you to pick up the warning signs. Volcanologists collect the data and verify that a volcano is ready to erupt. They have advanced gear that makes it easy for them to predict a near eruption date. Nonetheless, there are some warning signs that you can keep in mind. If you live near a volcano, you may experience minute earthquakes. They constantly occur as the magma rises slowly towards the Earths crust.

Volcanologists use seismometers, thermal imaging technologies, and gas samples to confirm eruption. For example, they use the thermal imaging technology with the help of a satellite to monitor the temperatures around a volcano. Such actions help them issue an early warning. Additionally, the advancement in the technology is helping volcanologists to predict accurate eruption date. The early warning system gives enough time for people living in the surrounding areas of the volcano. 

Communication plan

Preparing a communication plan is crucial for your family. It will help you get in touch with your family members irrespective of your location. There is a possibility that you might separate from your family due to the possibility of receiving the warning at any time of the day (you can be at work and children at the school). You can request any one of your friends or family members who stay out of the state to act as the family contact. Ensure that you discuss the point with every member. Share the name, address, and contact details. Every person can call the ‘contact’ and let know that they are safe. The contact point passes the information to each member that others are safe.

Warning system

If you live near a volcano, it is likely that your community has a plan in place to warn people about an eruption. In most of the scenarios, these communities install sirens to alert people when the danger is eminent. Additionally, local radio stations broadcast crucial information related to the advisories. Although the majority of the warning system remains the same, learning about the specific warning procedures related to your area is crucial.

Ensure that you have precise understanding of the active volcanoes in your region. It will give you an insight into the damage that the volcano can cause an eruption. If it is likely to cause damage, you will in advance prepare for the situation that will help you minimize the damage and offer protection to your family.

It is preferable to consult the community center related to the warning system. The community center will provide you with useful information and the procedures’ that you need to follow as soon as you listen to the siren. In many cases, once you listen to the siren, it is preferable to turn the radio to listen to the local emergency management provide crucial advice related to the situation. The emergency management sense outs information based on the severity of the eruption. In certain cases, they ask you to evacuate the region to prevent loss of life.

Even if you do not live in an area that has an active volcano, it is still preferable to get familiar with the local warning system so that you will be in a position to follow the evacuation and safety procedures when the time arrives. If you are new to a community, take the time to visit and learn about the dangers. Make sure you acquaint yourself with the warning systems and the procedures to follow in an emergency.

Emergency supply kit

The emergency supply kit is a critical factor in preparing to survive a volcanic eruption. The kit includes essential commodities such as first aid kit, water supplies, food supplies, and protection gear such as masks, can opener, flashlight with additional batteries, medications, goggles for eye protection, and a battery-powered radio. Prepare the kit for every member of the family. Additionally, ensure that all the members know the location of the emergency kits.

It will be useful if you can get a hand-cranking device that generates electricity. You can use it to power flashlight, radio, and mobile phone. If you run out of the batteries, the hand-cranking device comes handy during the natural disaster that will help you power up the crucial communication devices. Stock up supplies necessary for at least three days of survival. If you can prepare for additional days, it will be even better. Keep all the supplies in one place and protect them. For example, you can place the supplies in a large container.

Evacuation procedures

An area with an active volcano has a particular set of evacuation procedures. It is vital for you to get accustomed to the procedures. By any chance, if you live in a well-monitored volcano or a well-researched region, obtaining the hazard zone map from the local emergency management is feasible. These maps display the evacuation routes along with the possible paths of lava flows. These maps also show the minimum time the lava takes to reach a given point. Authorities divide the area around the volcano into several zones. These regions vary between low risk and high risk. You can utilize this information to have an idea about the safe passage from your house or the workplace during an event of a volcanic eruption. Additionally, you can search for alternative routes to escape from the region, apart from the safe zones. It will be helpful because volcanic eruptions are unpredictable and to some extent complex.

Make sure that you review the evacuation procedures with your family. Ensure that every member understands the criticality of the situation and the method one have to follow, in case of an eruption. If you have a member with a disability, prepare for an alternative step or steps that will ensure safe passage during the event.

You can further develop an evacuation plan for your house. The map will point out the exact direction of the entrance from the house to your vehicle. If there is an excessive eruption of ash from the volcano, remember that it will be hard for you to travel by car. The ash prevents proper functioning of the engine, making it hard for you to move smoothly.

Speak to the family members regarding the home evacuation plan. Tell them exactly where they have to reach and how. Furthermore, include your pets in the evacuation plan. To make it simple, hand out the checklist to every member of the family that will help them follow the procedure quickly. The list will contain the crucial components they have to carry at the time of evacuation. The checklist will also help in sealing the house that reduces the damage. Try to speak to the children in a precise manner. Making them understand the situation helps in losing their fear and anxiety. Additionally, making them aware of the situation turns them into a responsible person.

You can further prepare an emergency kit for the vehicle. The kit includes tools, first aid kit, and maps. You can also stock the vehicle depending on the availability of space with a fire extinguisher, additional nonperishable food cans, sleeping bags, flashlight, and emergency blankets.

Chapter 3 – Surviving an Eruption

Listening to advisories

If you listen to the warning system from your local community, switch on the television or the radio to hear the warnings from the emergency department. The information will help you determine whether you are in immediate danger and understand the situation. The advisories become your eyes and help in reviewing a larger picture of the scenario. It will give you the opportunity to take the right decisions.

The sirens are the first warning system that portrays an eruption. However, you may also receive additional indications such as a cloud of debris rising from the volcano or an earthquake. To receive updates and accurate information, tuning the television or the radio is preferable. Ensure that the battery-powered radio is working. It is likely that you might experience power outage during the activity. The battery-powered radio becomes your communication device and helps you receive updates related to the eruption. The information that you hear affects the safety of your family. Furthermore, it will help you take appropriate decisions and plan the next course of action.

Ensure that your transportation has enough fuel to ride out of the town. Additionally, protect the vehicles with the help of covers until you leave. The cloud of ash from the volcano disrupts the optimum functioning of the vehicle. If you do not have a vehicle, make transportation arrangements with your friends and neighbors.

It becomes difficult for your pet animals to escape during a volcanic eruption. They may not find a way to escape. It is your commitment to attend to the livestock and pets and ensure their safety. As you have already implemented safety precautions to your family, ensure that you have included livestock and pets. It will help you prevent last-minute inclusions that can change the entire evacuation procedure.

If you did not include the livestock and pets, ensure that you find an enclosed area that offers protection. In other cases, you can find transportation arrangements to take them away from the site. Remember that most animal shelters do not have the capacity to handle all the pets. Therefore, it is your duty to protect these animals during an eruption. Furthermore, make sure that you have enough food and water supplies for the livestock.

Following emergency instructions

It is in your interest to follow the emergency instructions. In most cases, the local community issues the emergency instructions to help people move away safely in an event of a volcanic eruption. Make sure that you follow the instructions to keep your family safe. Conversely, if the announcement does not instruct you to evacuate the area, stay in your home until further declaration. They were many cases where people thronged the roads, inviting death because they did not follow the evacuation procedure. If you receive the emergency warning, use it wisely to take appropriate decisions to safeguard your family and move to the safe zone. It is equally vital for you to give accurate within the preferred time to avoid the cloud of ash creating trouble.

Evacuate as instructed along with the survival kit that you have prepared. Also, ensure that the vehicle has additional emergency equipment that helps you travel safely to a safe zone. Before evacuation, ensure that you turn off the gas, electric, heating oil and water in your home. If you have time, unplug all the electrical appliances. Follow the evacuation route that you prepared. You can also travel along the suggested route by the authorities of the alternative routes to the safe zone. However, while taking the alternative route, ensure that it is safe to travel.

Setting safety precautions

If you receive the instructions to stay put in your house, it is preferable for you to begin implementing the safety precautions. Run extra water and bar tops, containers, and sinks to meet the demand until the situation recedes to regular. Reduce water usage wherever possible. If water is scarce and limited, prepare a makeshift toilet in the exterior of the house.

Close all the entrances of the house and secure them with wooden planks, if necessary. It will prevent the entry of ash into the house during the event. Make certain that you unplug all the electrical appliances. Keep the fireplace closed at all times. Monitor the situation with the help of updates through the television and radio. Use hand-cranking device to power the radio and mobile phone. The device is helpful in generating electricity when you experience power outage during the volcanic eruption.

If you own livestock and pets, do not forget to bring them under shelter. If you still find the time, protect everything around your house with covers that will prevent the entrance of ash. You can move all the critical objects into your garage. Ensure that you seal the garage properly to prevent the ash from entering the room.

Do not appear out of the house until the authorities issue the clearance. The safest place is your house, which offers exceptional protection during a volcanic eruption. As you would be ceiling the several entrances to the house, you will probably retain standard living conditions within the home. However, ensure that you have sufficient emergency supplies of water and food.

On the contrary, ensure that you live on a high ground. Lava flows, mudflows, and flooding are common in eruption. They are deadly and travel to the low-lying areas. If your house is in the low-lying vicinity, ensure that you prepare all the emergencies and move to the higher ground to the safe zone where you can seek shelter. Do not forget to carry the emergency kits. If possible, disconnect the drainpipes from rain gutters. It will prevent the drain clogging. Disconnecting the water supply to any rainwater tanks helps in securing the available water. Ensure that you cover the tank properly without leaving a gap.

Protection from pyroclastic

Apart from moving to a higher ground, it is also crucial for you to protect from pyroclastic. Pyroclastic consists of debris and rocks, which fly through the air due to the eruption. It is vital for you to move away from their range so that you will prevent damage. In a few cases, pyroclastic rain down that causes severe damage to the surrounding regions. The best example of such an activity is the Mount St Helens that occurred in 1980. Pyroclastic cities of that from the eruption landed miles away from the volcano crater. As you will be listening to the updates delivered by the emergency authorities, you will probably understand the severity of the situation. Keeping this in mind, you can plan the course of evacuation to prevent interference of pyroclastic.

Avoiding poisonous gases

It is common for the volcano to release poisonous gases during an eruption. Most of the gases are dangerous and life threatening. A better way to avoid the poisonous gases is by breathing through a respirator. You can even store mask or moist piece of cloth. The availability of these equipments will protect your lungs from the ash, which is a serious health hazard. The poisonous gases spread in the air and vary according to their density. Heavier gases are near to the ground while gases with low-density mix with the standard air and spread to several miles. Therefore, make is a point not to walk low to the ground. Wear goggles to prevent the entrance of gases and other particles into the eyes. Additionally, wear clothes that cover the entire body. It will help in reducing the exposure to the poisonous gases, and other particles erupted from the volcano.

Protective gear

If you tend to move outside, wear the protective gear. The protective gear consists of safety goggles, respirator, and outer clothing that cover the rest of the body. You can use headscarf and the swimming goggles if you cannot find sufficient protective gear for the entire family. When you enter a building, remove the outer layer of the protective equipment. It will prevent the entrance of ash, which otherwise spoils the home environment. If you utilize contact lenses, it is better to switch to glasses if you want to step outside. The dust particles are capable of settling behind the contact lenses. In such a scenario, the particles cut the eye, causing corneal abrasions.

Avoid geothermal areas

During an eruption, it is common for geysers, hotspots, and mud pots to appear in the region. The ground around these spots is thin. You should avoid such zones as it could result in death. Try to avoid passing through these areas during your evacuation. However, if it is necessary to cross, ensure that a safe path is available, that prevents a fall. Flooding and mudflows travel miles after the eruption. Therefore, do not try to cross a geothermal area, even if you are far away from the volcano. You may also encounter with flows that appear to be cold. Remember that only the outer layer becomes hard. The layer beneath the outer surface remains hot. It is vital for you to walk through the safety path prescribed by the authorities while crossing the lava flow. It will ensure that you will avoid trapping between the flows. 

A better way to proceed is by following the announcement of the emergency department. Being acquainted with the evacuation map comes handy. You can easily follow the directions according to the announcements and make a safe passage out of the town. Furthermore, deliver proper instructions to your family members so that they will follow your lead. You have to decide whether you can travel by vehicle or on foot. If the passage is critical, avoid driving the car, walk to a higher ground, and reach the safe zone.

Remaining indoors

It is equally important for you to survive after an eruption. You will be able to protect your family if you remain indoors. Listen to the updates and remain indoors until you receive the clearance from the local authorities to step out of the house. There is a high possibility that the volcano still vents the ash cloud. Therefore, authorities usually ask you to remain indoors until the ash settles down. If you intend to step out of the house, ensure that you wear respective protective equipment. Additionally, cover completely from the head to the toe. Use respirator or moist and cloth to block ash particles and other sediments from entering your lungs.

Use bottled water until you receive confirmation about the use of the tap water. If you see any traces of dust or ash in a water source, avoid drinking. Authorities’ advice evacuation when the ash continues to fall for several hours. Although the eruption ends, falling off the ash poses a serious threat to structures and human beings. Because ash is heavy, settling offered on the rooftops weakens the structure, resulting in a collapse. It is dangerous for people staying indoors due to the volcanic activity.

Keep away from heavy ash fall

Volcanic ash comprises of glass-like particles that are harmful to lungs. It is advisable for you to remain in the safe zone until things settle down. Do not walk or drive in areas where there is a lot of ash collected. Listen to the radio to keep updated about the notices issued by the emergency department. It will be offhand for you to locate the severely affected areas. You can try to avoid them as much as possible. If you or any person of your family is suffering from respiratory ailments such as bronchitis or asthma, it is advisable for you to keep away from the ash. Secure your vehicle and cover it, so that the ash does not enter the engine. The minute particles contained in the ash spoil the functioning of the engine and ruin it completely.

Cleaning the ash

After the ash settles down, it is time for you to clear the ash from the property. After you listen to the announcements, when it is safe to go out, the priority is to clear the ash from the rooftop. Ash is heavy and causes the roof to collapse, especially when it is wet. Therefore, it is important for you to clear the ash before your property weakens. Additionally, the entrance of the ash into the home environment makes it difficult for you to breath.

As a precautionary, wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts that cover the entire body. Ensure that you go out after wearing a mask or the respirator that prevents you from breathing the ash. Also, look for goggles that will protect your eyes. Use a shovel to clear the ash. Collect them in trash bags and seal them appropriately. Follow the community’s recommendation while you dispose of the ash. When the ash is wet, it becomes slippery. Therefore, be watchful when you climb the rooftop to remove the ash. In addition, do not turn on your air conditioner or open the vents. Wait for the instructions issued by your community center before you can switch on your air conditioner or open the vents. It will prevent the entrance of ash into the home environment.

If you own pets, ensure that they stay indoors and are free from ash. If you notice the presence of ash on the fur, paws, or the hooves, wash it thoroughly to prevent the animal from ingesting. Furthermore, offer plenty of water to drink, as it helps in removing toxins from the body.

If you experience a change in the health pattern, seek medical assistance at the earliest. You can also seek medical treatment for injuries, gas or ash inhalation, and burns. Remember that you can only receive medical care after the situation settles. Therefore, it is crucial for you to store a few common medicines that will be helpful in first aid. Nevertheless, do keep in mind that you have to wait in the queue if there are people with severe injuries. Also, check for property damage and take photographs. It will be helpful for you to claim your insurance.

Keeping away from mudflow

Mudflows are mighty rivers that move with a speed of 40 mph. The eruption of lava from the volcano melts anything that comes in its way while it moves rapidly in the downward direction. It quickly mixes with the flowing ash and the soil on the lower slopes. The turbulent mixture is dangerous and is capable of travelling to over 50 miles from the crater of the volcano. Rainfall further adds to the woes and assists in the erosion of volcanic deposits that together form a large mudflow. If you happen to arrive at such a situation, it is important for you to move quickly to higher ground. If you notice the movement of mudflow during your transportation, keep away from the path and choose a safe direction. Keep a track of the announcements from your local community related to the mudflow. It will give you the opportunity to move in a safe direction avoiding the affected areas.

It is preferable to stay indoors or move to a safe zone. The effects of the volcanic eruption spread to several miles. Even if you do not stay in the vicinity of the volcano, you can still experience flash flooding, mudflows, deadly ash flow, and wildland fires. It is preferable for you to avoid low-lying areas and river valleys. Although you have set up safety precautions, experiencing trouble during the eruption is possible. Therefore, keep a track of the announcements and ensure that you do not fall into the hazardous zone. In any case, if your region falls under the hazardous zone, follow the instructions of your local community and put the evacuation plan into action.

Such a step will ensure that you protect your family members. Remember not to leave behind your livestock or pets. Do not get into the vehicle if you notice ash fall. It will significantly reduce your movement and damages your car. If you have time, cover your car and lock the garage. Make sure to carry your emergency kit and do not forget to cover your entire body. Use respirators or moist clothes to prevent the entrance of ash and other fragments from entering your lungs.

Chapter 4 – Surviving after Volcanic Eruption

After the volcanic eruption ends, you still have to survive from the ash cloud and mudflows. Hence, it is important for you to continue with the safety precautions’ that you implemented. However, you might change a few according to the situation. Follow the announcement and ensure that you have the essential requirements that will help you survive after the eruption. Obey instructions from local authorities. Do not let yourself or any other person of the family to go outside until the health officials declare the situation as safe.

Health officials also release updates about the air quality, condition of the roads, and drinking water. As it is difficult to clear the ash and other sediments, it is preferable to stay indoors. In addition, ensure that you have proper drinking supply. As you have already stored water, it should not be a problem. However, use less water to survive under the situation settles and life returns to normal. Disconnect drainpipes and rain gutters from the storage tank. It will help you with saving the water from the ash, and other sediments released due to the eruption.

Do not turn on air conditioning and heating units. In addition, do not open vents, fireplaces, and windows. It will help you keep away the ash and poisonous gases from entering your house. Wait for the instructions from your local community before you begin to open your windows, fireplaces and events. To gather information about the air quality before switching air conditioning and heating units.

The ash released due to the eruption contains glass pieces, stones and other sediments that are harmful to the health. Inhalation of the ash deteriorates your health and causes respiratory problems. Avoid being a victim by protecting yourself from the outdoors. Wear respiratory masks that prevent you from breathing the ash. You can keep stocks of air purifying respirators when you listen to the siren from your local community. An N-95 respirator is the common type of disposable particulate respirator. It is readily available at all the hardware stores. Before using the respirator, ensure that you follow the directions as prescribed. If it is hard to find this breathing apparatus to stock, another viable option is to stock dust masks commonly used by constructions workers, although not as efficient they can still save your life. When you use the dust masks, ensure that you do not stay for long periods outside.

If you utilize contact lenses, make sure that you switch to glasses. The tiny particles in the ash are capable of entering behind the contact lenses. When this happens, you will experience corneal cut the damages your eye. Although goggles are best for protection, using swimming goggles is also preferable if it is hard for you to buy the goggles.

After the ash settles down, it is your duty to clean the property and dispose of the ash according to the instructions laid out by the health authorities. Ensure that you replace all the furnace filters prominently. Although you can clean and use the filters, replacing them is advisable. Do not let ash settle on the rooftops. Ash is heavy and increases the weight on the structure. The situation worsens and results and structural collapse. It is a dangerous situation for people who are living in the houses. In addition, you also should take additional safety measures while cleaning the ash. You can use the spade to remove the thick layers of the ash. In the end, use a vacuum cleaner to suck even tiny particles of the sediment.

Depend on bottled water for drinking. Do not use the water source in your house, as it may contain traces of the ash. A better way is to carry out the testing to ensure that the water is safe for usage. Nevertheless, you will have to wait till the situation settles down to allow health authorities to visit and test the water. Until then, rely on bottled drinking water. In addition, reduce the usage of water to meet the requirements in a responsible manner.

There is a high possibility that you may experience a catastrophic effect, such as fire due to the result of hot lava. Lava flowing is capable of causing devastation to several miles. It kills anything that comes in its way. The after effect of a volcanic eruption is powerful. The best example of such a situation is the Mount St Helens eruption in the 1980 that killed over 24,000 animals. Another catastrophic event is the explosion of Krakatoa in 1883, which according to the scientists, the power generated is equal to 13,000 nuclear bombs.

The explosion destroyed all the villages in the surrounding area and killed over 36,000 people. It was so powerful that instruments that were thousands of miles away were capable of detecting the shockwave. Therefore, it is difficult for you to understand the after-effects. Complying with the announcements and following the safety procedures issued by the local community helps in preventing a major disaster. You will probably save your family and give them security, which is the most important factor under such a condition.

Surviving after a volcanic activity depends on the intensity of the eruption. You will experience a climate change after the eruption. While greenhouse gases warm the earth, volcanoes are capable of reducing the temperature. During the eruption, volcano releases hydrogen chloride, ash, sulphur dioxide, and other materials into stratosphere. The sulfate aerosols are capable of reflecting sun’s energy, which in turn reduces the temperature. However, chemical reactions also take place that results in the production of chlorine monoxide. Chlorine monoxide destroys the ozone layer, which protects the Earth from the harmful radiation of the sun. You might experience rainfalls, cooler temperatures, and debris rainfall. It is advisable for you to stay indoors until the atmosphere turns normal.

Volcanic eruption results in landslides that move large amounts of dirt and rock. They travel at high speeds of approximately hundred kilometers per hour. The high-speed alters the entire landscape in the region. Additionally, the eruption of acidic gases results in fume clouds. The fume clouds drizzle continuously that cause destruction to vehicles and other objects. The acidic substance corrodes the materials and destroys everything in its way.

If you or any person in your family suffers from breathing ailments, ensure proper protection. Seal the doors, windows, and other inlets. Minimize the entrance of external air to inside. It will reduce the impact and prevent the occurrence of a situation that requires immediate emergency attention. Do not let anyone venture out of the home.

There is a possibility that you can lend your hand to offer those who are in need of help. You can provide help to your neighbors or people with special needs. Children, elderly, and people with disabilities need as much help as they can receive to stay safe. If you have an additional pair of safety or protection gear, distribute to those who are in need. You can carry it in a pack and walk the neighborhood to check if anyone requires assistance.

An eruption does not last forever. After the volcano cools down and stops eruption, erosion eventually wears them over the time where they convert to hills or valleys.

Chapter 5 – Protection after Eruption

Protection after the eruption is crucial to stay free from diseases. The eruption results in climatic change and alters the entire atmosphere around the volcano. In addition, you may experience varying temperatures and rainfalls throughout the day. Learning to protect is an essential act. You have already prepared emergency kits to live through the eruption. However, you now have to continue living until the situation recedes to normal. Receiving assistance from the government or aid agencies takes time, and you have to survive until you get some. Therefore, it is your responsibility to prepare, protect, and secure your family.

Protection comes in different forms. For example, you can protect your car by covering it and locking it in the garage. It will prevent the entrance of ash and other sediments that damage the engine and other components. Likewise, you can cover other vital objects all around your house. Show special attention towards water storage systems. Water is a crucial element, and you require it until the situation turns normal. As you cannot use any other source, ensure that you protect what you have.

The ash emitted by the volcano changed the air quality. It is impossible to breathe the ash-filled air. Use air purifiers in the house. If you cannot get one, use respirators. They filter the particles from the air that cause damage to your health. Do not leave your pets and livestock outside. Prepare a makeover in your house at a corner. Take special care while arranging the air purifiers for the animals.

It is common to feel sick after the eruption. Make sure that you have needful medicines for common ailments such as fever, cough, cold, and body pains. If you sense a serious situation, contact the local community or get in touch with health authorities. They will offer assistance until help arrives. Follow the instructions to contain the situation and prevent further damage.

Make sure that you have the evacuation plan ready. Under the emergency, you can follow the plan to evacuate safely with your family. Keep a tab on the announcements from the local community. Although the eruption stopped, taking chances is not an option. Let your family understand the situation. Make them prepare for the situation. Talk to children and help them understand about the circumstance. It will assist you in evacuating smoothly when the time comes. Prepare the emergency supplies and kits that will come handy during the evacuation.

Additionally, ensure that you have a battery-powered radio to keep a note on the situation. You can expect to run out of batteries and even consume the ones that you stored. Remember to use the hand-rocking device. It is extremely useful in such situations. You can utilize it to power your radio and mobile phone. Ensure that you have the communication devices powered up at all times.

Protect your family, livestock, and pets from hunger by ensuring proper food supplies. It is a good point to stock canned foods under such a situation. They are easy to obtain. Furthermore, you have no other option under everything settles to normal. The government offers assistance. However, it may not be sufficient to protect your entire family. Therefore, plan about food supplies. After the eruption, it will be difficult to get food supplies.

Conclusion

Volcanic eruptions are natural. In addition, sometimes, the eruption is essential to create a balance in the nature. The spurting of hot lava and gases begin chemical reaction in the stratosphere that helps in reflecting suns energy, thereby reducing the temperature. Keeping this aside, people residing in a volcanic region has an obligation be prepared at all times. It is difficult to predict the time and date of the eruption accurately. Therefore, authorities and local communities ask you to be prepared in case of emergency.

Surviving a volcanic eruption is possible if you followed the instructions and prepared the emergency kits. The priority is arranging food and water supplies. Begin by collecting canned food and drinking water for the entire family for at least three or four days. Stack them in a place where you can protect them from the outside atmosphere. The next thing in the preparation is emergency kits. Emergency kits contain medical supplies, flashlight, extra batteries, canned food, bottled water, and the battery-operated radio. You have to prepare the kit for your entire family. Ensure that every person knows the location. It will be easy to carry the bag during the evacuation procedure.

In addition to the emergency kit, you further have to keep a track of the announcements from the local community and health authorities. You will listen to a warning siren in your area. The warning system implies that it is time for you to prepare for the volcanic eruption. The local community further issues instructions to ensure your safety. Make it a point to follow the instructions and remain in the house. Wait for further instructions. While you remain in the house, close all the windows and entrances to prevent the ash. Volcanic ash is dangerous and develops breathing problems when you inhale. Furthermore, they contain minute sediments and glass pieces, which cut the sensitive tissues in the body. If you utilize contact lenses, it is better to switch to glasses. It will avoid the entrance of the ash, which reside back in the contact lens and causes the corneal cut.

Remain indoors and seal the house properly. Disconnect all the electrical appliances. Close the fireplace and other vents to prevent the entrance of ash from entering the house. Listen to the announcements and updates from your local community and government authorities. It will give you an idea of the situation and the danger involved. Move to the high ground if you reside in a low-lying area. Ensure that you cover your house and seal it properly before you leave it. If you have livestock and pets, ensure that you carry them along with you.

Surviving an eruption is one part while surviving after the eruption is another category. Before and after eruption are two different entities. Although you prepare yourself for a volcanic eruption, surviving after the eruption is also crucial. It is because of volcano erupts lava, poisonous gases, and ash cloud. All the three components are dangerous and cause a severe destruction. For example, lava melts anything that comes in its way. Poisonous gases mix with the air and deteriorate the quality. Ash cloud pours down across the vicinity and damages property. After the eruption, you have the clear the ash from the property at the earliest. Ash is heavy and causes damage to the property. When it becomes wet, it becomes more cumbersome and results in structural destruction.

The eBook gives you information on preparing to survive a volcanic activity and sustaining after the eruption. You will know the critical factors that will help you protect your family against the disaster. It is impossible to predict an accurate date and time of the eruption. Being prepared will help you reduce the damage that can incur due to the activity. With complete details about surviving a volcanic eruption, you will probably offer protection to your family members, livestock, and pets. Additionally, you will also be in a position to provide help to neighbors’ and people with disabilities that require the most.

If you reside in a volcanic area or travel to an area that has an active volcanic presence, the eBook is the best solution that you can carry. It gives you all the possible scenarios and solutions that you can implement and carry forward to survive in a volcanic eruption. It also provides crucial information about the warning systems and emergency kit that you require preparing. With everything in its place, you can expect to live through the eruption with minimal damages. You will also learn about the procedures that you have to implement to protect yourself after the eruption. It is yet another crucial factor for you to survive the aftermath.

Moreover, during all this process, remember to keep a tab on the announcements made by the local community or the government authorities. Ensure that you comprehend the instructions carefully to keep away from any unwanted situation. Prepare everything in advance such as emergency kits, food supplies, water supplies, and fuel in the car to evacuate when necessary. Also, ensure that you have body covers and respiratory masks to protect from the ash cloud. Talk in detail about the evacuation plan with your family to make them understand the situation and follow the right path during evacuation.

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