Natural Disasters: How to Shop for Survival

No one knows when a natural disaster or emergency will strike. We have all seen the television shows that portray people trying to surviving in the wilderness, surviving plane crashes and natural disasters that can occur. Seeing it on television and having it happen to you are two different things. We must be prepared! Supplies for emergency preparedness should include shopping for an additional source of shelter, food, sanitation and hygiene, light, communication, first aid, water and survival kits. Being prepared by shopping for survival items is necessary so that you and your family can survive days or weeks until you can be rescued or return to a normal state of living. So, what should you shop for?

Food

Natural disasters can last a few days, a few weeks, or even months depending on the disaster and circumstances. After seeing some natural disasters such as earthquakes, the tsunami, and hurricanes like Katrina, it’s safe to have one to 12 months worth of food in storage as part of your survival supplies. The type of food to buy would be freeze dried, dehydrated and canned goods that don’t need refrigeration. Try to buy things the family will eat like crackers, beans, protein and fruit bars, dry cereal, vegetables, canned meats, nuts and dried fruit. The Red Cross and FEMA both suggest that everyone has an emergency back packed they can grab and go with and at least a weeks worth of food and water ready to go.

Shelter

If you’re lucky enough to be able to stay in your home, you have shelter. But, if you aren’t so lucky and you are forced out of your home, you will have to have shelter. When you shop for shelter supplies, a large tarp, a blanket and sleeping bag need to be on the list of things to get. Your goal should be to have something that will keep you dry and warm until you can have better shelter. Buy some supplies for starting a fire for heat, light and cooking. Matches or lighters should be a necessity in your supply kit.

First Aid

It’s always good to have a little training with basic first aid so you can assist your family or others in emergency situations. You can purchase a first aid kit in just about any retail store around. Make certain you have enough bandages, some sterile dressing, some rubbing alcohol and other standard first aid supplies.

Water

For sanitation and drinking purposes, one gallon of water per person a day is sufficient. Two weeks worth of water is about all you can store, so have some bleach or treatment pills in your survival kit to purify the water. Water needs to be in plastic containers and should be replaced every 6 months to ensure freshness.

Communication and Light

Some type of light and communication method must be a part of your survival kit. Things to buy when shopping would be candles, matches, lighters, batteries, a radio, two way radios and oil lamps are good to have on hand.

Hygiene

Buying some paper towels, toilet paper, hand sanitizer and plastic bags will come in handy with a survival kit. If you can’t get to a toilet, a portable one with some chemical treatments will be helpful. Plastic bags can be used to go across the toilet for easy cleaning.

It’s never too late to plan for a natural disaster. There are lots of survival kits out there and you will feel much safer by being prepared if anything should happen.

2012-08-10 15:03:36

Source: http://disasterandemergencysurvival.com/archives/natural-disasters-how-to-shop-for-survival