Before we get to priority #4 here is the summary of your top 5 Priorities of Emergency Preparedness. They are:
1. Make a Plan. Review, Rotate, Replace. Make adjustments for family size, age and local community needs. Consider evacuation, communication and staying put.
2. Gather Grab and Go Supplies. 72 hour kits, MREs, food bars, water pouches, water purification, first-aid, storage.
3. Gather Shelter in Place Supplies. Radios, flashlights, first-aid, sanitation, hygiene, warmth, shelter, storage.
4. Clean Water. Water storage, barrels, filters, storage.
5. Shelf Stable Food. Items in pantry, short term and long term food storage items.

Priority #4 – clean water is something that I have addressed in different ways on this blog. The reason I keep going back to it, is because having access to clean water in an emergency is so critical and almost always overlooked until it is too late. Here are a few obvious points to understand about water, but that I want to make very clear:

• Without water you die very quickly – Depending on your health and age, you will live for 5-7 days without clean water. You can live much longer without food.

• Water is heavy and takes up a lot of space – A gallon of water weighs about 8.3 pounds. Water is not easy to transport because it is so heavy. That means your emergency water plan should account for that.

Keep these items in mind when you are doing your planning. For example, you may want to put a gallon of water per day in your 72 hour kit. But, that will weigh about 25 lbs. Are you strong enough to carry that water around? Are your children strong enough? Will it even fit? So make sure you plan.

The recommended amount of water from a variety of sources like the American Red Cross is 1 gallon of water per person per day. That is water for drinking, cleaning, cooking and sanitation. It is not for just drinking. You and I don’t drink a gallon of water on a normal day. But to be safe and to take of other needs, 1 gallon of water is the recommendation. If you start doing the math on how much storage space that would require for you and your family for 1 year, you will start to understand my recommendations below.

Here is my approach to water and what I recommend. In an emergency, you need to have a 3 ways of getting to clean water:
1. Store water – Every Shelter in Place supply should have water storage. A small word of caution: don’t try to go cheap on your water storage. Buy a food grade water storage container like a 55, 30 or 5 gallon container and use that. Don’t fill up your old juice bottles or worse your old milk jugs. The barrels and water containers are not to terribly expensive and when the time comes that you need the water, you will be glad you stored water you can actually use. Also, have a variety of sizes of storage containers. Don’t just have a 55 gallon barrel that you never move and never clean out or worse fill up. Use smaller, easier to transport containers like a 5 gallon stackable. Remember, water is heavy!

Also, you won’t rotate your water as much as you think you will, so make sure you use some sort of water stabilizer that allows the water to be stored safely for 5 years without rotating. We have a Water Preserver that works well. But, if you do have the water stored but you are not sure if it is safe or you come across water in an emergency and you don’t know if it is safe, that leads me to my 2nd point.

2. Have a portable water filter – These portable water filters are extremely handy and will allow you to clean suspect water that you come into contact with and make it drinkable. These portable micro filters are will remove bacteria and protozoa from the water, but won’t kill viruses. If you have a stream, lake, pond, river or well by your house, you will be able to clean the water from those sources uses these filters. Each filter will clean up to 500 gallons of water. That is nearly ten 55 gallon drums worth of water. An impossible amount of water for most people to store. I really like or MSR MiniWorks water filter and the Katadyn Combi. They are also great for backpacking and camping can have that dual purpose.

3. Have water purification tablets – These are very handy to have around and a small bottle will chemically treat up to 25 quarts of water. They work fairly quickly (typically in less than a half an hour) and will kill bacteria, protozoa and viruses.

Remember that if you don’t have any of these three things, you can still clean water by boiling it. As a matter of fact, boiling is most effective way to clean water except it won’t take out the floaties like a filter will. The problem with boiling water to drink is it uses a lot of fuel that you may not want to use for that purpose. Also, don’t forget to have portable water pouches in your emergency supplies. They have a 5 year shelf life and are very handy to have around.

Storing water is a very tricky thing to do. Shelf life is the biggest challenge. You can store water in large barrels, smaller 5 gallon containers and even with bottled water. Each method has different challenges, advantages and shelf life issues. Water that is stored by you out of the tap should be rotated annually. Bottled water purchased at your local retailer has about a 2 year shelf life. I recommend that you have some bottled water in your home if you are using it on a daily basis. Your price per ounce for bottled water is relatively inexpensive.

But the biggest problem with storing water is that people do not rotate the water as often as they need to. So when it comes time to use it, the water is not safe to drink and needs to be treated or filtered. Therefore, finding stored water that has an extended shelf life becomes very important for your emergency supplies. There are two options that I really like for portable, water storage. They are pouched water and boxed water. Both packaging options have a 5 year shelf life and are an excellent choice for portable, easy to store and carry water. I do not recommend pouched water for bulk water storage as your price per ounce becomes very expensive.

Let me give you a quick comparison of the water pouches and boxed water. Both taste great and don’t have any kind of aftertaste. Like I said both have a 5 year shelf life, which is far better than other water storage methods. So the difference boils down to packaging.

The Datrex water pouches are come in a 4.2 ounce foil pouch. These pouches were originally designed for use on lifeboats. 4.2 ounces is the recommended amount of water to drink with each meal during an emergency according the American Red Cross, so the portion is the right amount. The pouches are extremely durable and can take up to 600 psi before bursting. They can be frozen without bursting which allows them to be used for first-aid purposes. The shelf life is not affected by temperature and so they can withstand a large amount of temperature fluctuation. The pouches are about 6”x4” and are about ½” inch thick. Their biggest drawback is that after they are opened, you need to drink the whole amount. Normally, with 4.2 ounces that is not a big deal, but it might be with smaller children. There is a tare notch at the top of each pouch to make the easy to open.

AquaBlox is the boxed water brand and the small box contains 8.5 ounces of water. Think of juice box full of water instead of juice. Each box comes with its own straw attached. The box is 4” x 2 ½” x 1 ½” inches in size. AquaBlox shares all the same attributes as the Datrex water pouches except that it comes in this small box. The two biggest drawbacks with the boxed water is durability and portion size. Like most juice boxes, boxed water can crush easily. So if it is in a 72 hour emergency survival kit with other supplies it can get crushed and leak. The portion size is a plus and a minus. It is more water than you would need at one meal, but is also more water than what comes in the Datrex water pouch. The advantages are that they come in an easy use box with a straw and are very simple to use for children. AquaBlox work very well in institutional settings like a school where children will be using the product.

With hurricane season right around the corner, I have been thinking lately about generators and the need for portable power. As I did some research, I actually found some great information from an article on Amazon.com that I have included in the body of this post. I have edited
the article for content and brevity.

My recommendation is that each person should have in their Shelter in Place supplies a portable gas generator to give them needed power in case of emergency. A serviceable machine will cost around $500 and you will be happy you have it when you need it. Some people with a larger budget might opt to have an electrician install a standby generator at their home so that it kicks on when power is lost. In the article below
you will find everything you need to know about both portable and standby generators. Enjoy!

What Types of Generators Are There?

Generators come in two basic types: standby and portable. There also are inverters, which are not generators but may meet your needs. The
source of backup power you ultimately choose will be determined by man factors, including your power requirements.

Standby Generators: A standby generator is permanently installed outside your home or commercial building and wired directly
into the electrical system to provide power to some or all of your home’s circuits during a disruption of normal utility power. Standby generators are fueled by liquid propane or natural gas. The number of circuits to which a standby generator can provide power–and the number of appliances you can run on those circuits–is determined by the power capacity of the generator. Standby generators are about the same size as, and look similar to, a standard central air conditioner. A standby model may cost as little as $1,500 or as much as $15,000 or more–the greater the power capacity, the higher the cost.

Portable Generators: Portable generators are versatile. You can use them for

• • emergency power at home,
• • for power in remote locations where utility power is unavailable, or
• • for recreational purposes, like boating or camping.

Portable generators are fueled by gasoline and include 120-volt power outlets like the ones in the walls of your home. When the generator is running, you can plug appliances and tools directly into these outlets. Some generators also include 240-volt outlets (that is, the kind of outlet for an electric dryer or for other large appliances). Portable generators range in cost between a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars depending on the capacity and features.

Inverters: Inverters turn DC power into AC power, the type of current that powers everyday appliances. A common use of an inverter is to connect one into a car’s cigarette lighter and then plug small home appliances into the inverter. Inverters have added features over the years, and today many inverters include emergency radios, lights, or their own internal battery to store power. When you purchase an inverter, you need one that can handle the wattage of the appliances you intend to connect to it. Some inverters are made specifically to power low-wattage appliances, like portable phones or digital music players. Others can handle heavy-duty power tools. If you’re buying an inverter that’s powered by its own battery, you’ll have to consider how many hours the inverter can provide power before needing a recharge.

The rest of this buying guide focuses solely on standby and portable generators.

How Much Power Do I Need?

There are two basic power measurements for generators: peak power (also known as startup power) and continuous power. Both are measured in wattage.

• • Peak power is the wattage required for appliances at startup or when they are running at their highest levels of power consumption.
• • Continuous power is the wattage required for operation of those appliances under normal load.

Standby Generators:Standby generators create from 5,000 to 25,000 watts or more of power. You’ll have to choose a generator that supplies sufficient peak and continuous wattage for the appliances on the circuits you need to power.

You can choose between an air-cooled and a liquid-cooled model standby generator. Generally, liquid-cooled models are bigger and create more power.

Portable Generators: A small 1,000-watt portable generator may be all you need for recreational purposes. And you may use up to 8,000 watts if using a generator to power tools on the jobsite. Because you plug appliances directly into a portable generator, you’ll also want to make sure that your model has the number and type of outlets you need. The size of the fuel tank also is crucial. The bigger the tank, the longer your generator can run without refilling and produce power. If you want to use a portable generator to power specific circuits in your house–or the whole house–follow the guidelines for choosing a standby generator.

What Features and Accessories Do I Need?

Aside from pure power production, there are some useful features and accessories to consider when buying a generator.

Transfer switch:If you want to use your generator to power your home, you’ll need a sufficiently sized generator and a transfer switch. The transfer switch safely closes off the utility power line to your house’s electrical system and opens a direct line to the generator and reverses the process when utility power is restored.

Standby models can work either with a manual or an automatic transfer switch. The benefit of an automatic transfer switch is that it senses when utility power has been lost and automatically switches to generator power.

Wheeled Frames: As the name suggests, portable generators can be transported to different locations. The smallest portable generators are comparatively light–perhaps 50 pounds–and can be carried. Larger models can weigh as much as several hundred pounds, making a wheeled frame essential for transportation.

Other Considerations:

• • Noise: Generators aren’t necessarily quiet. Some offer extra features to reduce the noise created during operation.
• • Weather Protection: Make sure the generator you purchase is suited for the climate in which you’ll use it.

How Do I Install and Operate a Generator
Standby Generators: Installing a standby generator by yourself may void the unit’s warranty or violate local building codes, so research these
issues before you begin. The basic steps are as follows:

• First, mount the unit outside your home on a concrete
  pad or plastic mounting pads that come with the generator. You may need
  a contractor to pour the concrete foundation and mount the generator.

• Next you’ll need to contact your gas or propane company to connect the unit to its fuel source.

• Last, you’ll have to call an electrician to hook the
  generator up to your home’s electrical system. Some generators come
  with pre-wired kits that make it easier for the “do-it-yourselfer” to
  do the wiring. In most cases, it’s probably safest and best to have
  this work done for you.

Once installed, operation depends on whether you’ve used a manual or an automatic transfer switch. With an automatic transfer switch, if the generator senses a disruption in utility power, it turns itself on and takes over power production until utility power resumes. With a manual transfer switch, you have to handle these chores yourself. On a standby model, you’ll have to change the oil and filters on a regular basis.
Many manufacturers provide maintenance kits to make this easier.

Portable Generators: If you’re not planning to hook your portable generator into your home or building’s electrical system, there is not a lot of setup involved other than finding a safe place outside your home for the generator. Because portable generators create carbon monoxide, you should never run them inside a building, beneath   window, or near any opening to your house (doors, vents, etc.). Once situated, fill the generator with the required type of gasoline and oil and start the unit. Startup can be as simple as pressing a switch, but on some you’ll have to yank a manual recoil pull-cord. Of course, you will have to plug the appliances you want to power into the generator, refuel it as necessary, and shut the generator off when you’re finished with it.

If you want to connect your generator to your home’s electrical system, you’ll need a manual transfer switch. Make sure your generator’s manufacturer supports connecting your model to a transfer switch. If supported, comply with your model’s safety and warranty guidelines as well any local building codes during the installation. In general, it’s best to hire an electrician to handle the wiring of your home to the generator and transfer switch.

However you use your generator, over time you’ll have to change filters, oil, and spark plugs. Plus, you should not store raw gasoline in the generator when you’re not using it. Either run the generator empty or add a gasoline stabilizer that will prevent the gasoline from
“gumming” up. Many manufacturers sell tune-up kits for their models.

How Do I Run a Generator Safely?

• • Do not operate generators indoors, in enclosed spaces, or near a
  window. Make sure there is proper ventilation for all exhaust.

  • Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for installation, operation, and maintenance.

  • Do not operate generators near combustible materials.

  • Operate portable generators on a level surface.

  • Do not plug a portable generator directly into your house circuit.

  • Do not attach a generator’s transfer switch to your circuit box
  yourself unless you’re very sure of what you’re doing. Check all
  applicable local, state, and national codes and the warranty
  information before you do this.

This info will be broken into two posts covering short-term power outage (less than 12 hours) and extended power outage (more than 12 hours).

Interesting title and I wish the rest of this post were that exciting. Power outage is a serious problem for many people across the United States. Every day people lose electrical power to their homes and businesses for a variety of reasons. Many times these power outages are short and only last for a few hours. But on occasion, there can be a serious loss of power for extended periods of time due to extreme weather or after a disaster. For those of you that have experienced it, you will never forget it.

It is amazing how much we rely on electricity to maintain our comfortable lifestyle. If you want a challenge, try going without power for 24 hours and see what you notice. Now, try going without power for days, weeks or even months. Any exercise like that will give you tremendous insight into the comforts that electricity gives us.

For short-term power outages (less than 12 hours) you should have what I call “Lights Out” supplies. In my house they are in a cupboard and that is where we keep flashlights, batteries, candles, matches and a radio. Make sure you have a small stash of “Lights Out” supplies in an easy to find location.

Here are some ideas on how to manage short term power outages:

• Know where your flashlights are – I know this seems obvious, but . . . you would be surprised how many people have no idea where to find a working flashlight in their house at a moment’s notice.

• Make sure your flashlights work! – Again, obvious, but you need to have a flashlight that works. I LOVE my Lumin-Flash Rechargeable Flashlight. It plugs into the wall and turns on when the power goes out so I can find it when I need it. Very cool and very easy to use. I use it every time my power goes out.

• Have light sticks and lanterns available – I use our light sticks as night lights for our kids when the power goes out. Bedrooms can be very dark and scary for kids so our light sticks have been an awesome way of keeping them happy and (most importantly) asleep. A good camping lantern can be excellent as well. It will help give light to a larger room where your family will gather. One thing I know about power outages is my kids do not want to leave my side. Having a nice lantern has helped. Check out our GE Steelbeam Krypton Lantern. It has been great.

• Watch out for Carbon Monoxide – Remember that any equipment that burns fuel will produce exhaust. That exhaust is deadly and will contain carbon monoxide. Many times when the power goes out, people will use portable heaters to stay warm. They then go to bed and suffocate overnight from the exhaust produced by these heaters. Any equipment that burns fuel and produces exhaust needs to be used in a well ventilated area, preferably outside.

• Don’t leave candles burning all night – We sell a wonderful 115 hour ReadyCandle which is great, but never go to bed with a candle burning. In my case, I have kids that seem to get up throughout the night and they might play with it and get burned or tip it over.

• Have dynamo radios in your lights out supplies – Keep a wind-up dynamo radio where you keep your flashlights and other lights out supplies. This will help you stay informed with local information.

My next post will address extended power outages and specifically, portable and standby generators.

During periods of emergency or disaster, sanitation levels can deteriorate rapidly and disease can spread and even cause death in a matter of days. Maintaining good hygiene will prevent disease and illness from spreading. You will need a sanitary way to use the restroom, a way to keep your living environment clean, and a way to keep your hands, mouth, and body clean.

Some Hygiene or Sanitation items you should keep in an ‘easy to access’ place in case you find yourself in an emergency situation could include:

1. Waterless Hand Sanitizer
2. Antibiotic ointment
3. Antiseptic cleansing wipes
4. Bar of Soap
5. Tissue Packs
6. Toilet Paper Rolls
7. Latex-Free Gloves
8. Particle Respirator / Dust Mask
9. Toothbrushes
10. CombRazor

Some other less essential, but ideal items could include:

1. Clean Change of Clothes
2. Toothbrushes
3. Comb
4. Razor
5. Port-a-Potty Lid
6. Port-a-Potty Bags
7. Port-a-Potty Chemicals

Also remember to keep a clean, sanitary source of water at all times. You can store it by using any type of water preserver, or you can keep a water filter near by.

One of the most important items that you can have in your emergency supplies is a water filter. There are a variety of ways to clean water and make it safe to drink: boiling, distillation, reverse osmosis, deionization, chemical purification and filtration. In this post, I want to explain the basics of micro porous filtration or more simply said “how a water filter works”. At the end of the post, I have included some excellent reference articles from Wikipedia that include more detailed information on the topic for those that are interested.

Many people use water filters in their homes. They are attached to their faucets or sometimes are used with a water pitcher. Typically, these water filters use some sort of activated carbon filter, micro porous filtration or a combination of the two to purify the water. Portable water filters use the same methods to clean water. Portable water filters are used by hikers, the military, survivalists and other people that are in harsh environments. They allow you to clean suspect water and make it safe to drink.

Here is how a portable water filter works. Most portable water filters use a ceramic cartridge inside to clean the water. At one end of the filter, dirty water is brought in through a pumping action. The pump then forces the water through the ceramic cartridge. The ceramic cartridge is designed to filter contaminants that are 0.2 micrometers or larger. Basically, the filter will allow through water molecules and not much else. Major pathogens and contaminants such as Giardia lamblia, Cryptosporodium and other bacteria will be filtered out of the water. Giardia is commonly found in most back country water sources such as lakes, rivers and streams. Once the water is forced through this ceramic cartridge, it comes out the clean end of the water filter, purified and ready to drink. Pretty simple process. Most portable water filters will pump about a liter of water per minute, depending on the clarity of the water.

The advantages of a portable ceramic water filter:

• Allows for quick access to safe, purified drinking water wherever you find a water source.

• Removes debris from the water is it is filtered.

• Portable and simple to use and maintain.

What a portable ceramic water filter can’t do:

• Remove viruses from water sources such as hepatitis A and rotavirus.

• Remove chemicals all chemicals from the water.

• Remove salt from the water.

Portable water filters like the MSR Miniworks or the Katadyn Combi are great portable water filters and highly recommended. Keep in mind, that ceramic water filters, while designed for outdoor backpacking, hiking and military use, still need to be handled carefully. If dropped or damaged, the filter can get very small hairline cracks in it that will allow larger molecules to get through the filter and make it not safe to use.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_filter

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microfiltration

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purified_water

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ceramic_water_filter

After you have completed priority #2 which is to gather Grab and Go supplies, your next priority is to gather Shelter in Place supplies. Over the years, I have found it very helpful to divide my emergency supplies into two broad categories: Grab and Go supplies and Shelter in Place supplies. My definition of these two categories might be slightly more detailed than the traditional ones. As we reviewed in my previous post, Grab and Go supplies are designed for short term survival, about 72 hours. Shelter in Place supplies are long term emergency supplies that are designed to keep you and your family alive much longer than 72 hours.

Traditionally, the concept of sheltering in place has been limited to a short term “stay put” strategy. In case of biological, chemical or nuclear contamination, local authorities may ask you to shelter in place. That essentially means to stay put inside, get your grab and go supplies, go into a windowless interior room and do what you can to prevent the outside contaminant from getting in and harming you. Here is a link to a great article from the American Red Cross on this traditional approach to sheltering in place: http://www.redcross.org/www-files/Documents/pdf/Preparedness/shelterinplace.pdf.

Because emergency preparedness needs to be much broader than just evacuation or duct taping yourself into a room, I have expanded what it means to “shelter in place” to mean anything that keeps you and your family alive beyond the first 72 hours. The types of supplies you will need to shelter in place will be similar to your grab and go supplies, so expect some crossover. Because you could shelter in place for anywhere from a week to a year or longer, there is a wide variety of items that people will need in their shelter in place supplies. Depending on your personal circumstances, location, budget, and expertise, your supplies may vary greatly. Here are some of the important concepts to consider in gathering your shelter in place supplies:

• If possible, make your “shelter” your home – Your best chance for long term survival for you and your family is in your home. As long as it is safe to inhabit, you will have many resources there that will help you stay alive. For long term survival, staying safe out of the elements is critical. This is especially true for children and the elderly.

• Determine the length of time you are preparing for – It is important to know the approximate length of time that you are prepared for. Knowing this will help you make good decisions as far as rationing food, water and other critical supplies. Start small and gather a two week supply and then gradually build from there as time and finances permit.

• Be able to store and filter large amounts of water – Every shelter in place supply should have water storage. There are many great posts on the blog about water storage. You should also have equipment that allows you to filter and clean water.

• Store shelf stable food – I strongly recommend storing a combination of freeze dried food meals and basic staples. These foods should be stored in #10 cans or heavy duty pails to give you the longest shelf life possible. These foods should be able to store safely for decades.

• Sanitation, Hygiene and First-Aid – Do not scrimp in these areas. Having a port-a-potty and necessary hygiene supplies with keep you safe from illness. Cleanliness is critical to long term survival. Have a substantial first-aid kit and know how to use it.

• Decide how you will cook, heat and get power to your home – Comprehensive shelter in place supplies will have a generator and some way to safely store fuel.

• Light and communication – A really good dynamo radio is a must (or two) and make sure you have more than just flashlights. You should have lanterns, fire starter (flint and steel) and extra batteries.

• Review, Rotate, Replace – Like with your grab and go supplies you should regularly review, rotate (which means to use) and replace items in your shelter in place supplies.

Because of the severe flooding that is happening along the Red River, I am posting an article from NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) about flood safety. This is a very good article and our hearts go out to the folks suffering with the terrible flooding in North Dakota.

NOAA National Weather Service and FEMA Offer Flood Safety Tips for Flood Safety Awareness Week
March 13, 2009

Floodwaters can be swift, powerful and, at times, deadly. However, advanced planning can help protect lives and minimize property losses due to flooding. With the spring thaw approaching, NOAA’s National Weather Service and FEMA are partnering to observe the fifth annual Flood Safety Awareness Week, March 16-20, 2009.

The National Weather Service, along with FEMA’s FloodSmart program, has launched a new Web page that shows the effects and cost of flooding to millions of people in the United States. The site also provides essential information on what to know and do before, during and after a flood, and a variety of safety tips and online tools, including one that lets them see whether their homes and businesses are threatened at various flood stages.

“Floods claim nearly 100 lives and cost billions in property damage in the United States annually,” said Jack Hayes, director of NOAA’s National Weather Service. “Spring is peak flood season in many parts of the country, but floods can happen anywhere, at any time of the year. Many lives could be saved by following some simple and essential flood safety tips.”

“Knowing what you can do to protect against the impact of flooding is critical in keeping your family, home and financial well-being secure,” said Ed Connor, acting federal insurance administrator for FEMA’s Mitigation Directorate. “Purchasing flood insurance is one important step you can take now. Many residents incorrectly believe that homeowners insurance covers the costs of flooding, but in fact, only a flood policy can.”

Understand Your Risk

One way to learn about flood risk is by visiting the National Weather Service’s Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service Web site. Click on your location on the U.S. map in the center of the page to learn about conditions in your area.

National Weather Service hydrologists, in cooperation with the U.S. Geological Survey, FEMA and other water agencies and river commissions, have developed a tool that allows emergency planners as well as business and home owners to visualize flood risks in specific locations. This tool – a series of flood inundation maps – is available for a number of coastal and river areas, with plans to expand coverage across the United States. These interactive maps display the depth and extent of flood waters for specific river stage levels. Flood inundation maps are available online.

Know What to Do

Review flood safety information and preparedness tips so that you will know what to do if you are suddenly faced with a flood. Seek information from credible local and federal emergency planning agencies. Recommended Web resources include:
• National Weather Service Flood Safety
• National Weather Service Turn Around Don’t Drown
• FEMA’s FloodSmart
• FEMA’s Flood page

Take Action

Consider what steps you can take now and what steps you will need to take if your home or business floods. Know what you will need to do if you encounter flooding while driving or outdoors. Some tips:
Now:
• Create an evacuation plan before flooding occurs.
• Discuss flood plans with your family; everyone should know what to do in case family members are not together when a flood occurs.
• Purchase flood insurance: talk to your insurance agent about your coverage options.

When Floods Strike:
• Use a battery-operated NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards to receive up-to-date emergency information.
• Evacuate immediately, if advised to do so.
• Turn around if a road is flooded. It may be more dangerous than it appears.
• Keep emergency supplies on hand, such as non-perishable food, medicine, maps, a flashlight and first-aid kit.

NOAA understands and predicts changes in the Earth’s environment, from the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun, and conserves and manages our coastal and marine resources.

You will see these types of bars in many survival kits. Originally, these types of food bars were designed for use by the U.S Coast Guard for survival on life boats. Because they were designed for this intense survival environment, they are excellent for use in your emergency supplies. Here are the main attributes of food bars that make them great:

• Long Shelf Life –Unlike off the shelf nutrition food bars that only last 12 months, these high calorie survival food bars are designed to last for 5 years!

• High Calorie – Although compact, these food bars are very high in calories. They come in 1200, 2400 and 3600 calorie configurations.

• Non-thirst provoking – Because they were originally designed for use on life boats, these food bars are made to not make you thirsty. That is why they are not particularly sweet or salty. They are little bit bland for that reason.

• Lightweight, compact and durable – You don’t have a lot of room in a survival kit so space is at a premium. These types of food bars weigh less than a pound and a half and are very compact. That means you can get the calories into your 72 hour emergency survival kit without taking up all the space.

• Taste – While they are fairly bland in taste, they at least don’t taste bad. Some have a coconut cookie taste and others a lemony taste. But in a pinch you and your kids will eat them. My kids have eaten them.

At www.TheReadyStore.com we carry two brands of high calorie emergency food bars: Datrex and Mainstay. Here is the run down on each.

Mainstay food bars taste like lemon sugar cookie dough. They come in 1200, 2400 and 3600 calorie packs. The food bar is foil wrapped and the food bar has no other wrapping inside. They are flat and not as compact or easy to break apart as Datrex. They have a 5 year shelf life.

Datrex food bars taste like a coconut shortbread cookie. They come in 2400 and 3600 calorie packs. The entire food bar is foil wrapped and inside the foil the food bar is packed in 200 calorie small bricks for easy portioning. They are slightly more crumbly than the Mainstay bars, but they are more compact and easier to eat.

Finding the right emergency radio for your needs will depend on the type of situations that you might find yourself in. Communication during a disaster is critical for your survival. Getting timely, accurate information from local authorities will more than likely come through either your radio or TV. Here are some items to consider when deciding on what type of emergency radio to purchase:

• Start with a dependable AM/FM radio – It is easy to go overboard with your purchase of an emergency radio. While some of the other options on a radio might be useful, make sure that you have access to a reliable AM/FM radio. Most emergency broadcasts are going to happen on those readily available frequencies. Make sure that the radio has a tuner on it not just a scanner. Don’t get a “scan” FM
  radio. You want to make sure that you can pick up even the weakest signal and to do that you will need to have a tuner on your radio and
  not just a scan radio that stops only on a strong signal.

• Multi-band radios – A multi-band radio includes AM/FM, shortwave frequencies, TV channels and NOAA weather bands. These types
  of radios can help you receive signals from greater distances. Shortwave radios are especially helpful if the disaster is spread out over a large area and local radio towers are knocked out. This will help you get information outside of the disaster zone. If you can afford it, I would recommend having a multi-band radio on hand. Keep in mind that radios that currently receive UHF/VHF TV channels will longer
  work after the switch to digital TV in the summer of 2009.

• Dynamo, Hand crank and solar – Make sure that your emergency radio can be powered in multiple ways. The most important feature is that the radio has a dynamo or hand crank feature. This will allow you to use the radio when you don’t have electricity or battery power. That will be critical in a disaster where power and batteries may not be readily available. Remember that radios use very little power so a little bit of cranking goes a long way.

• A caution about solar radios – Solar radios (and everything else for that matter) sounds great, but just a bit of caution. You will need time to charge the radio if you are only using solar power. Anywhere from 5-10 hours to charge the radio. You may not have that kind of time. Also, you can’t charge them in cloudy weather or in the dark. Solar radios require you to plan ahead and you may not have that luxury in a disaster.

• NOAA radios – If you live in an area that experiences severe weather, then you should have a NOAA radio somewhere in your emergency supplies. Hurricanes, tornados, flash floods and blizzards are some of the weather that you will want to receive regular alerts on through your NOAA radio.

Listed below are some of the radios with their various features that are offered at www.TheReadyStore.com:

DELUXE Dynamo Solar Powered Multiband Radio

Frequency Reception: AM/FM, Shortwave, Weather Radio (NWR)NOAA Weather (NWR)

Power/Fuel Source: Dynamo/Crank, Solar, Battery, AC/DC Adaptor, Cigarette Lighter

Light Source: L.E.D.

Battery Life: 48 hours

ULTIMATE Dynamo Solar Powered Survival Radio

Features & Functions: Light, Reading Lamp, Radio Receiver, Siren, Cell Phone Charger, Blinking Light, Headphone Jack

Power/Fuel Source: Dynamo/Crank, Solar, Battery, AC/DC Adaptor, Computer USB Light Source: L.E.D.

Frequency Reception: AM/FM, Shortwave, Weather Radio (NWR)NOAA Weather (NWR) Battery Life: 12 hours

Now if you just would like to pick up a AM/FM radio and you don’t think you really need a multi band radio then there are a few good options plus most of them do come with additional options (flashlight, Dynamo/Crank, Solar) and to not have to worry about tracking down batteries or worried if they have leaked battery acid can bring a peace at mind.

Digital Pocket Radio – AM/FM

Features & Functions: Radio Receiver

Power/Fuel Source: Battery

Frequency Reception: AM/FM

Solar/Dynamo Radio with Flashlight – AM/FM

Features & Functions: Light, Radio Receiver, Siren, Blinking Light,
Headphone Jack Power/Fuel Source: Dynamo/Crank, Solar, Battery, AC/DC
Adaptor

Light Source: Incandescent

Frequency Reception: AM/FM

Compact Dynamo Radio with LED Flashlight – AM/FM

Features & Functions: Light, Radio Receiver

Power/Fuel Source: Dynamo/Crank, Battery, AC/DC Adaptor

Light Source: L.E.D. Frequency Reception: AM/FM