The threat of a nuclear attack has been around since I was small.  I remember discussing the cold war in grade school and while we didn’t practice hiding under our desks like the kids did in previous decades, it was nonetheless a known threat.  While we will most likely not have any warning of a nuclear attack, there are things you can do to prepare and certainly in this situation knowledge can save your life.

If you’re within half a mile of the initial blast, depending on the surrounding architecture your percentages of survival are extremely low.  If you somehow see the flash, or have some warning, take shelter immediately.  The basement or middle floors of a building are best.  Concrete, wood, earth, brick and books all can protect you from the blast.  The farther away from the initial detonation you are, the higher your chances of survival.

Most of us will be mostly worried about radioactive fallout.  The fallout can be carried hundreds of miles and cannot be seen or smelled by humans.  You can purchase radiation monitoring devices, but most of us will rely on local radio broadcasts for drift information.  Have a family plan in place that you will follow in the event of a nuclear blast.  If you’re in a close proximity, you will need to evacuate immediately, but remember your car doesn’t provide much defense against radioactive particles.  If you plan on sheltering at home, make sure your food and water supplies are available and your radio has fresh batteries at all times.  You should keep a supply of thick plastic sheets and duct tape to seal up a safe room - which should be an interior room without windows if possible.  Remember if it’s the bathroom to seal up all the vents and heating ducts. 

If you become contaminated act quickly and find shelter, cut off your clothes so as to avoid pulling the contamination over your mouth, nose and eyes.  Shower or wash gently and avoid rubbing your face, instead blotting with a wet, soapy cloth.  If you wear contacts you’ll need to remove them and throw them away, glasses can be dipped in a bleach solution and rinsed.  Thoroughly rinse your eyes.  Throw your contaminated clothing in a trash bag and place outside of your shelter area.  Regular soap and water is enough to decontaminate yourself and any clothing you have stored in your closets and drawers will most likely be safe. 

Food and water that you have stored in plastic or metal containers should be safe.  Watch for dirt and dust on surfaces and decontaminate with a bleach solution if you feel it’s necessary.  Water from wells will generally be safe to drink and reverse-osmosis water filtration systems will remove the radioactive particles.  Any fresh garden produce or animal products from live animals that may consume fallout should not be eaten.  Stick with the food you have stored until authorities have determined it’s safe.

The danger of radioactive fallout will pass rather quickly, within a few days.  Have a plan ahead of time to determine how long you will shelter and listen closely to any news reports and instructions.  If you think you’re suffering from radiation sickness, seek medical help as soon as possible.  Nausea and weakness are the initial effects, followed by problems with your central nervous system, immune and gastro-intestinal systems.  There is no specific therapy for radiation sickness, other than general care of the victim.  In an emergency situation medical facilities will most likely be understaffed and overcrowded with those seeking help.

More likely than a direct nuclear bomb attack is the possibility of an EMP or electromagnetic pulse.  A nuclear weapon detonated in or above the earth’s atmosphere will create an EMP.  While it’s unlikely to have direct human casualties, it will in essence damage all electronic devices, including our grid systems.  Most electrical equipment within 1000 miles of the detonation would be affected and have some major catastrophic results affecting everything from our water supplies to vehicles.  Make sure you take precautions with your emergency electrical equipment, including battery-powered radios by keeping them grounded.  If you have a pacemaker you may have difficulties and should consult your doctor about how to lower your risk.

Be prepared, have a plan and keep aware of the world around you and you can keep yourself and your family safe in the event of a nuclear disaster.

Unfortunately, we’ve all see the disaster and chaos a category 5 hurricane can cause.  Hurricane Katrina brought devastation and civil unrest in its path, and hopefully we’ve all learned some lessons.

Preparation is key during hurricane season.  With winds up to and exceeding 150 mph, there is no hope for anyone without adequate shelter and supplies.  Fortunately, ample warning is usually provided when a tropical storm becomes a hurricane - the unpredictability of what category will actually hit gives some a false security.  It won’t be as bad as they think…..think again!

When preparing for a hurricane, most experienced people will board up their windows, turn off their gas, secure their boats and get out of town for the duration.  Evacuation is the best method of surviving hurricane strength storms.  Have a family plan ahead of time that includes keeping your vehicles fueled and in good running condition, survival bags with essentials and a complete list of what to do and what to take with you as you evacuate.  Leave nothing to chance, it’s easy to be overwhelmed when the evacuation orders come down and forget the most basic necessities like water, clothing and food. 

Keep in mind thousands of others may be evacuating also.  Plan two different routes, and try to be on the road before everyone else.  Don’t linger in your decision, that’s why a written plan that the whole family understands is crucial - any hesitation is a waste of time and will put you right in the middle of the crowds leaving town.  Often times there are locations designated as shelters that are available for everyone in the community.  You want to consider these locations when developing your plan, some will be well stocked with volunteers to oversee the plans.  However, there have been times when shelters haven’t been the most comfortable or safest places to be.  Consider all your other options before deciding on a local shelter - family or friends living in other areas may be able to provide a safer place for you to ride out the storm.

If you are caught at home, the best place for you is a small interior room without windows.  Stay away from any glass including mirrors and items that could fall on you if the roof or walls were to collapse.  If you live in a motor or mobile home, your only option should be to evacuate to a safer location.

Drinkable water could be very scarce following a hurricane.  If flooding occurs, the standing water will be contaminated and you should purify before using it for drinking or washing.  Make sure you have enough drinkable water stored for your family - you cannot survive without water.  As I mentioned in the other disaster posts, make sure your stock of food and water is in a safe place and won’t be contaminated by flood waters. 

Think ahead and prepare, keep your radio handy and listen for notices from your local government.  Keep safe and evacuate if necessary.  Preparation is the key - make sure you’re ready!

Although I currently live in earthquake country, I grew up in the Midwest and thus have experienced both a tornado watch and warning.  I remember as a small girl, watching out the window for the tell-tale funnel cloud and having a blanket and one special toy to take with me to the basement.  I can remember the frightening excitement you feel when it becomes eerily quiet and you’re scanning the fields for the tornado.  Thankfully my family and I went unscathed, but I also remember driving through towns that were devastated by the tornado’s destructive power.

Every state has some risk for tornadoes.  We’ve even had one touch down here in Southern California, a strange and unexpected surprise.  Often, tornadoes develop suddenly, without much warning.  They are more likely to occur between 3 pm - 9 pm, but can strike at anytime.  The best way to survive a tornado is be aware of the weather around you, listen for warnings which are sightings of a tornado, and be prepared with a plan prior to the actual emergency.

If you see a funnel, hear a loud roar or notice a large, dark rotating cloud you need to seek shelter immediately.  Think about where you can go in your home.  A basement is the best, make sure you stay away from windows, sliding doors and any furniture or mirrors that could cause injuries.  If you don’t have a basement, but have a small interior room or closet without windows, take shelter there - even the bathroom inside the tub is a good option.  If you’re in a mobile home, you’ll need to get out immediately and know where you’re going for shelter.  Now is the time to think about your plan, before the disaster strikes.

If you’re in the car when a tornado touches down, exit your car and take shelter in a sturdy building or storm shelter.  Your last resort would be to find a ditch or low piece of land and lie down flat.  It’s even better if there’s something to hold onto nearby.  You may or may not be able to outrun a storm in a vehicle, so it’s imperative you find a place to shelter outside of your car.  Flying debris is very dangerous, so always protect your head and neck.  Remember tuck and cover?  If you live in a tornado prone area, you’re taught in school to tuck into yourself with your head against your knees and your hands covering your neck - if you practice regularly, you never forget these safety drills.

Practice with your kids and make sure they know the safest place to go.  Practice this regularly and they won’t forget.

I’m sure you already have stores of food, water and first aid items to help you recover from a devastating tornado.  Think about where you keep these stores and if they’d survive a 300 mph tornado wind.  Keep items where they’re protected and accessible after the emergency.  Remain vigilent during tornado season and be aware of the weather around you.  If you prepare now, you’ll know what to do and that could save your life!

Even the most prepared person may face a natural disaster that tests their survival know-how.  You’ve hopefully take steps to have enough food, water and first aid supplies to get you through a period immediately following a disaster, but have you thought about your game plan during the emergency?

I live in earthquake country, although thankfully I’ve been well away from any major earthquakes that have caused serious damage.  Our last major shake was last year and it happened while I was at work.  Thankfully I knew where to go, but was dismayed to see a bunch of co-workers clinging to a corner right next to the soda machine.  Bad move guys.  That thing is on wheels.  The shaking only lasted a few seconds, but it did shake us all up and we ended up evacuating the building.  I’ve since thought about what I would do next time.  I don’t want to rely on my desk since it could collapse easily under the weight of things dropping from the ceiling.  I know better than to try and run down the steps during the shaking, so the best option for me is to use my chair and desk to create a triangle of life.  Sometimes the best option is to be next to a large bulky item that will collapse slightly, but create a void next to it.

This same principal can work at home also.  Let’s say you’re sitting on the couch when an earthquake strikes.  If you lay on the floor next to the sofa, falling debris will create a void that could protect you from larger items, like the roof.  Of course you want to stay away from obviously dangerous items, like glass, mirrors, appliances and tall furniture that could fall and crush you.  You should definitely do a walk through your house and envision where these triangle voids will occur - like if a dresser falls towards your bed, there is a void beside the bed, under the dresser.  This area will protect you and prevent other, items from hitting you.  Don’t get under the bed as it could collapse and crush you under the weight of the roof. 

Also think about what you’ll do if in your car during an earthquake.  Of course pull off the road, but you want to be aware of what’s above and beside you that could fall on your car.  Trees, power lines and buildings could all cause problems.  My biggest fear is I’ll be on a highway overpass during a large quake.  It’s a scary thought, but unfortunately we can’t predict when an earthquake will happen - just use your common sense and be aware of your surroundings.

Schedule an earthquake drill every three months at your house.  Make the kids go through the motions so they’ll know what to do in the middle of the night if you can’t immediately reach them.  Make sure your preparations are accessible and won’t be crushed by falling debris.  You might even want to consider keeping items in several places in your house in case one area is unreachable. 

Learn how to shut off your gas main and your electric main.  Prepare for the aftermath because if the big one does hit, you may need to be self-sufficient for a few weeks.  Think about your water storage and where it will be most protected.  You don’t want to survive to find out all your water is gone, crushed in its plastic bottles.  A “triangle of life” could save your preps as well as your life.

The “triangle of life” is a survival method developed by Doug Copp of the American Rescue Team International.