We continue our series on winter emergency preparedness by covering procedures that should be followed if you find yourself trapped in your car during a blizzard. A blizzard is a severe winter storm with heavy snow and high winds, creating very low visibility and lasting several hours to several days.

Before the temperatures drop and the snow starts to fall, make time to properly prepare your vehicles for winter driving. Check the level of antifreeze in each car. The mixture should be about 50/50 antifreeze to water. Install new wiper blades and fill the windshield washer reservoir. Check the oil level and the charge on the battery. You should have good, all-weather tires or studded tires on your car, along with a set of traction chains on hand.

Pack a survival kit for your car that includes high calorie snack food, water and other supplies that will help you endure if trapped. See a complete list here. If you do get stuck in your car during a blizzard, follow these rules:

• Do not panic. Remain calm and remember that you prepared for this.
• Stay in your car unless you see help within 100 yards of your vehicle. It is too easy to become disoriented and lost in the snow.
• Attach a bright flag to your antenna to let others know that you need help.
• Keep your survival kit in the passenger compartment of your car, in case the trunk is inaccessible.
• Occasionally run the engine to keep warm. Turn the heater on, and use the dome light to attract attention. Ensure that the tailpipe stays unobstructed to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. Open a window slightly, down wind, for fresh air.
• Stay dry. Wet clothes will make it more difficult to keep warm.
• If there is more than one person in the car, huddle together for warmth. Take turns sleeping so that one of you can turn on the car and watch for help.
• Stay hydrated and snack on high calorie food to keep boosting your metabolism.
• Move your arms and legs to keep blood circulating.

Watch for signs of frostbite and hypothermia. Frostbite symptoms include a loss of feeling and a white or pale appearance of the skin. Fingers, toes, ears and your nose are the most susceptible. Hypothermia is when the body’s temperature drops below 90 degrees. Uncontrollable shivering, slow speech, and drowsiness are all signs of hypothermia.

If either of these conditions are suspected, warm the person slowly, starting with the trunk of the body. Use your own body heat, blankets, newspapers, floor mats or anything else that is available to cover the person. Do not give them drinks that contain caffeine or alcohol, as these hasten the body’s cooling. Seek medical attention as soon as possible.

If you do have to travel in winter weather, be sure to communicate your trip plan to friends and family. Let them know when you plan to arrive at your destination and which roads you will drive. That way they know when and where to look for you if you don’t show up. Make sure you have a full tank of gas, whether the distance requires it or not, and a fully charged cell phone, along with a car charger.

Foresight and emergency preparedness are key to surviving hostile winter weather, so don’t put it off another day.

-Gary Jenkins-

Gary Jenkins is a father and husband living in Oregon who is a wildlife rehabilitation and outdoor adventure enthusiast.

There are several scenarios in which you might find yourself relying on your emergency preparedness skills during the winter months. Whether you get lost during a hunting expedition, your car dies, you misjudge how long your hike will take, or you get in a bug out situation, keeping warm and protected from the elements is essential to surviving until help arrives.

The three priorities that must be addressed before nightfall are finding a water source, building a fire, and creating a shelter. If there is snow on the ground, your water problem is handled and you should have fire-making materials in your gear. Learning how to construct an emergency shelter using natural resources should certainly be a part of your emergency preparedness planning.

Carry survival basics if venturing into the wilderness in winter. This includes water, emergency food, a 50 gallon drum liner bag, two mylar and foil blankets, paracord, fire-making supplies, a candle and waterproof matches, signaling whistle, metal cup and a brightly colored bandana. Some of these supplies will be helpful in constructing a shelter.

Deciding Where and How to Position Your Shelter

If it is snowing or nightfall is approaching, building a simple design is better than structures like a quinzhee or igloo which require greater physical exertion and more time. Conserve as much energy as possible to help maintain your body heat. Find a spot for your shelter that is somewhat level and is not in the path of a potential avalanche. Look overhead for any deadfall dangers from trees. Some features to consider for the shelter are making it small to hold in body heat but big enough for you to fit in and roll over without touching the sides. Face the entry away from the wind as this will aid in heat retention.

Building the Shelter

1. Prepare the ground. Dig out the snow in a 3 foot by 8 foot rectangle. Clear it all the way to the ground if possible because bare earth will radiate some warmth.
2. Find two poles at least five feet in length. Lay the poles side by side and tie them together about a quarter of the way from one end. Splay them apart to form an “X” and this will form the frame for the opening. The top of the opening should be about waist high.
3. Locate a pole that is at least 8 or 9 feet in length for the ridge pole. Strap one end of the pole into the top of the “X” with the other end resting on the ground, forming a long tripod. Other options include finding a tree with a “Y” to lay the long pole in, using a fallen log or boulder as a base.
4. Gather sticks to form the “ribs” of the shelter and place them 10 to 12 inches apart down each side of the ridge pole, resting one end on the pole and sticking the other end into the ground. These sticks should not protrude too far above the main pole.
5. Place a mylar blanket from your emergency preparedness kit over the framework with the shiny side facing in to reflect heat. Then layer evergreen boughs, leaves or other vegetation over the blanket.
6. Spread a thick layer of vegetation or evergreen boughs over the ground in the shelter for insulation. The more coverage the better.
7. Snow is an excellent insulator, and the next step is to cover the entire outside of the shelter with a thick layer of snow, building it up to a depth of at least 12 inches.
8. Fill the 50 gallon bag with snow and fit it in the opening of the shelter to seal it from the elements. In lieu of a bag, use boughs or your pack to close off the opening.

Keeping Warm

Your well insulated sanctuary will hold in your body heat, but you can add more warmth by lighting the candle, which has some inherent risks. You might opt for placing rocks that have been heated by the fire inside the shelter before sealing yourself in.

Remember that your goal is to be rescued. Your shelter will be camouflaged, especially if the snow continues to fall. The snow will muffle outside noises, making it difficult to hear people calling out. Tie the bright bandana to a stick and place it on top of the structure to alert rescue personnel to your location. Consider hanging other belongings in nearby trees to help mark your whereabouts.

There is no substitution for emergency preparedness. Study and practice building this shelter so that you are ready for survival if you ever find yourself stranded in winter conditions.

– Gary Jenkins is a father and husband living in Oregon who is a wildlife rehabilitation and outdoor adventure enthusiast.

We all know that emergency preparedness means stockpiling long term food storage, water, and other survival supplies, but your planning should also include having a self defense strategy. This may be an uncomfortable topic for some, but that discomfort could prove dangerous for you without preparation.

Tension quickly escalates in the aftermath of a disaster. There is often confusion and disorder that follows, leading to looting and other criminal activities. The point is not to become paralyzed by fear, but to become aware of your surroundings and how you would react if confronted by an aggressor. Multiple choices for self defense exist, and you should pursue several.

Self Defense Options

• Self defense classes: You may not always have access to a weapon, so learning how to protect yourself with just your body is the best place to start. Search the phone book or internet for classes in your area. Check with your local community college or university, as they often hold self defense classes, or the police department will be able to point you toward classes. Practice the techniques once the class has ended to stay ready.
• Pepper Spray/Mace: You may need to protect yourself from other people, dogs, or wild animals. The spray comes in a variety of sizes, from small containers that attach to your key chain to large canisters that spray bigger volume at greater distances. Practice using the spray so that you are able to trigger and aim it if needed.
• Baton: Compact and light, batons can be carried in a purse or in a pocket. Some are expandable with the flick of a wrist, and some contain an electrical charge to stun the attacker. Batons require some technique that should be taught by an expert.
• Knife: Also compact and light, and you already know how to use it.
• Taser/stun gun: Devices that stop the aggressor with an electrical charge, these are potentially lethal and require training and practice. Check local laws that regulate these weapons. Be sure to stock extra batteries, and in the case of a taser, carry extra cartridges.
• Firearm: With the ability to inflict substantial bodily harm, not everyone is willing to carry a firearm. Concealed weapons permits are required, along with training and practice. Schools exist to teach tactical firearms use for protection. Gun safety courses are strongly recommended. Do not advertise the fact that you are carrying a firearm, and remember to stock extra ammunition.

Steps You Can Take

You never know when you may have to protect yourself, so keep some method of self defense in your car, your home, and in your emergency preparedness kit. Try to place them so that they are always within reach.

There are some simple ways you can alert others and call for help if you are attacked. Carry a whistle or an alarm on your key chain so it is always close at hand. Some alarms even have an LED light to help draw attention or use as a flashlight. Of course hitting, kicking and screaming are always effective deterrents as well.

Secure your home. Check the reliability of locks at each entry point. Make sure that you have both dead bolts and handle locks on each door, and that the doors themselves are either sturdy metal or solid wood. Place inexpensive intruder alarms on doors and windows that alert you if motion is detected. Keep a self defense device close at hand in case your home is breached.

Kid proof your self defense devices. Be sure that your children are educated on the safe handling, or not handling, of each device. Curiosity often leads to accidents, so explain the dangers, and then secure the items. It is important that their safety education is part of your emergency preparedness.

Conclusion

There are laws surrounding what you can or cannot do to protect yourself. Learn the restrictions in your city and state and operate within the law. There may be legal ramifications to the methods you choose to employ. Practice your chosen techniques so that you are always ready to protect yourself and your family. Being educated and prepared will give you the confidence to handle aggressive situations effectively.

-Gary Jenkins-

Many of those who have fallen victim to such disasters as tornados, earthquakes, fire and more will tell you that one of the most crucial items to emergency preparedness surviving the aftermath of the disaster is to have a documented list of your belongings. Long after survival gear is necessary, you will need to recoup and inform your insurance companies of lost or destroyed items. Without proper documentation this can be an impossible task.

Using Technology: In the digital age we have a greater ability to store information safely. By storing this information within a safe and secure cloud environment we have the assurance that the documents are not destroyed along with the documented items. This can be a list of items or even a digital camera film of closets and other home areas.

Storing Product ID Numbers: Product ID information can be extremely useful for proving ownership of lost, stolen or destroyed items. But, more often than not, the ID numbers are lost, stolen or destroyed along with the items themselves. If you prefer to keep a copy of this information close to the product in case of maintenance issues, be sure to scan and store another copy on your secure and safe cloud environment.

Three is the Charm: In addition to having a copy of the documented products at your home (perhaps in a safe) and on a secure cloud area, you can also keep a copy with relatives or friends living in a different region. This can be a paper copy or a zip drive. Some disasters may destroy the ability to communicate regularly through the Internet. Having your list of belongings along with product ID numbers in a third area will reduce the risk of the list being lost and useless.

Being prepared for a disaster goes beyond having the right emergency survival gear. Once an emergency situation has passed you must also be prepared for what comes with getting your life back together. Having a document stating your belongings is just one piece of this puzzle.

Hunting is not for everyone, but everyone should know how to hunt to some extent. If you end up in a survival situation without food, knowing how to find and catch prey will mean the difference between life and death. Learning several different hunting techniques using only items that you would find in nature or have in your survival gear will give you one more advantage when it comes to emergency preparedness.

The most important aspect of hunting is knowing what animals are in your survival area and how to find them. Look for signs that would indicate which animals are moving through and where. Search for trails that they have formed, evidence of bedding down, dens or burrows, markings on the vegetation and scat. Once the types of animals have been determined, think about how and when they eat, drink, sleep, and move. Knowing your prey’s behaviors will greatly increase your odds of capturing them.

Several hunting methods will be mentioned here. Some require more skill and technique than others. Pick the ones that seem feasible to you and research them. There are vast resources online that cover these methods extensively, including videos that demonstrate how to construct and use them.

• Gun: You may carry a firearm in your survival kit. If so, you have undoubtedly been trained in the safe operation of the weapon and have practiced its use by shooting at a target. This is clearly the most effective method of hunting in a survival situation.
• Rocks and Sticks: A heavy object that can be thrown at prey is a very simple method of hunting. It does require getting relatively close to the animal, good aim and the ability to throw quick and hard.
• Spear: One of the oldest forms of hunting with weapons, spears are versatile and readily available. Spears can be used for thrusting, stabbing, or throwing and can be used to hunt birds, mammals, and fish. They can be as simple as a sharpened stick, or a spearhead can be attached that was fashioned from stone, bone, wood or steel.
• Throwing stick: Resembling a boomerang, this hard stick has a bend of about 45 degrees in it and is carved on opposite sides of the legs to enable lift. This method requires a great deal of skill and practice and may not be the most practical in a survival situation.
• Bow and Arrow: Also an effective choice for hunting, this weapon can be fashioned from hardwood saplings, such as oak, maple or ash, and paracord that should be in your survival kit. Boot strings would work in a pinch. Again, this method requires some practice before your survival is dependent on it.
• Snare: There are many styles of snares with varying degrees of difficulty. They require some research, but can be well suited to hunting in most situations for a variety of animals. Snares need to be set in natural trails and funnels built on both sides so that the prey is forced to walk into the trap.

Hygiene is often times an afterthought when preparing for a disaster situation. But, lack of hygiene and sanitary conditions can greatly affect your health and chance of survival. Lack of hygiene and lack of sanitary conditions are responsible for millions of deaths per year in regions that have been struck by disaster or that lack clean water and resources.

Water is a necessary item for keeping clean. Many emergency preparation lists contain the amount of water needed to stay hydrated per person for a calculated amount of time. These lists need to also include water for brushing teeth, washing hands before cooking and cleaning wounds (even minor wounds).

In regions where there is not a large amount of water, it is used solely for hydration. But, this can have a strong and detrimental counter effect. Without enough water to maintain clean cooking conditions, one can easily be exposed to diarrhea. This will further deplete a water supply for rehydrating the ill and cleaning their bodies. It is important to note that diarrhea caused by unsanitary food preparation can easily lead to more serious problems in children, elderly and those with weakened immune systems.

Sanitary, antibacterial napkins can be used in emergency survival gear. These should be checked and swapped out regularly because the moistened versions tend to dry up quickly. A seasonal check of items in emergency kits is recommended. This is strongly urged for any cleaning solutions or materials that may leak when stored.

Plastic or latex gloves are also a recommended item for emergency survival gear. These items could be necessary for touching animal carcasses or other unforeseen and unsanitary items. While water and a strong soap are always recommended, an extra layer of protection is always a good idea.

Staying clean and healthy is crucial to survival. This should be stressed for everyone, but especially those with small children, aging parents or those with illnesses that contribute to a susceptibility to disease. In addition to storing water and cleaning items, a strong knowledge of how to sanitize water is essential. Disaster situations can last much longer than you have prepared for.

Having a well thought out, stocked and organized survival kit means that you have done your job for emergency preparedness. But the work doesn’t end once you place your supplies on the shelf. Maintaining your kit in optimum condition over time is essential for disaster readiness.

Certain items may have expiration dates, some need to be updated and rotated, while others may need to be cleaned periodically. Check and refresh your survival kit at the beginning of each new season. Below is a list of such items and how to deal with them.

• Food:  Replace older food with new. Either prepare and eat the older food or donate it to your local food bank, before it expires.
• Water:  Change out old water with new water. Pour the old water on your gardens instead of pouring it down the drain.
• Clothing:  Change out clothing to be appropriate for the coming season.
• Stove:  Check that the fuel is still fine, and light the stove to make sure it is still in good working condition. Remember to empty the fuel out of the stove when done.
• Fire Starting Kit:  Check the working condition of matches and other fire starting methods.
• Sleeping Bags:  Along with blankets, these should be cleaned and aired out at least once a year.
• Electronic Equipment:  Test radios, flashlights, headlamps, etc. to ensure good working order.
• Batteries:  Replace all batteries twice a year. Dispose of batteries properly, and do not throw them in your trash can.
• First Aid Kit:  Check expiration dates on all medications and prescriptions, and replace as necessary.
• Knives/Hatchet:  Be sure that the steel is not corroding and that the blades are sharp. Oil the steel if necessary.
• Pack:  Look for signs of moisture or mildew. Keep your kit in a cool, dry place and airtight if possible. Clean any mildew with a bleach solution. Check for any signs of pests such as mice or ants.
• Organization:  Ensure that your survival kit is still packed in optimum order to ease searching for items while in a hurry.

Disaster readiness is always a work in progress. Schedule regular maintenance just as you would for oil in your car or filters in your home. Write it on your calendar or post reminders where you will see them. All of the effort you have put into emergency preparedness is futile if the supplies are not in top condition.

-Gary Jenkins-

Communication is key in the aftermath of a disaster. Unfortunately, this is when current methods of communication are least reliable. Infrastructure is often destroyed or disabled by the disaster itself, rendering cell phones, land line phones, and internet connections useless. Having a way to coordinate efforts that does not have a single point failure system is vital for emergency preparedness.

Researchers at the Georgia Tech College of Computing are currently working on addressing these concerns with a solution called LifeNet, which is free, open source software designed to run on consumer devices such as laptop computers, Android cell phones and wireless routers. The core development team consists of Hrushikesh Mehendale, Ashwin Paranjpe and Dr. Santosh Vempala, who serves as primary technical advisor. The software is still in development, and they welcome users to contribute to the platform.

When LifeNet is installed on a device, it enables that device to become part of an ad hoc network that allows for communication via text messaging, voice messaging and MIS systems. The network can be instantly deployed by disaster relief organizations in an emergency situation to help coordinate efforts and resources. The network can grow incrementally because the software is able to self-discover other users and maintains a virtual map of them.

The advantage of LifeNet is that it does not rely on switching stations, base station controllers or transceiver towers. No mounting structures or power supplies are required. Because everyone on the network is a peer and there is no hierarchy, there is no single point of failure. Every device on the network functions as both a host and a router, and users are able to converse in unicast or multicast.

This solution is useful for relief agencies that do not have the ability to pay for satellite phones, which can be expensive and not always reliable. If one user on the network has access to the internet or a satellite phone service, then all users are able to access those services. LifeNet communication is robust, easy to use, requires no infrastructure and requires little power. It addresses many of the current concerns surrounding communication for disaster relief and emergency preparedness.

A potential drawback to LifeNet is that users must be in range of one another, which is generally about one kilometer (or .62 miles). However, users can be lined up to form a chain of routers to converse at greater distances. Some advance planning within organizations could create a protocol for setting up these chains.

Advances in emergency preparedness such as LifeNet are increasing our chances for survival in the aftermath of disasters. We can do our part by educating ourselves and spreading the word about these advances.

—Gary Jenkins—

Gary Jenkins is a father and husband living in Oregon who is a wildlife rehabilitation and outdoor adventure enthusiast.

You’ve done a good job on emergency preparedness. You have your survival kit packed, your emergency food storage organized, your clothing set aside, and the rest of your survival supplies arranged. But have you also considered a selection of knives for your survival kit and how you might use them?

If you have to evacuate and rely on your survival supplies and skills or any length of time, you are going to want high quality knives at your disposal that you can count on. Hunting, cooking, self-defense, slicing and carving are a few of the tasks that you may need a good knife for. Will you want a kitchen, bowie, pocket or tactical knife? You don’t need a whole collection, but a few well thought out tools may make a world of difference when you’re in survival mode.

The first consideration when purchasing a knife for emergency preparedness is purpose. A fixed blade bowie that you can carry in a sturdy sheath on your belt, with a cutting length of seven to nine inches and a partial serrated edge, is a useful general purpose knife.  For cooking and eating it’s a good idea to keep a chef’s knife with your emergency food storage. And finally, a  high quality multipurpose tool with a sharp folding knife will prove invaluable during an evacuation.

The next consideration should be the construction of the knife. Thick, high-carbon, stainless steel with a thin cutting edge will provide the strongest, most maintenance free blade that will hold a sharp edge. It will be rust-resistant and bend under pressure without breaking. The knife should feel well balanced when holding it, and the handle should fit comfortably in your hand with a non-slip grip. Consider a handle made of a composite material, as a wood handle is flammable. You may also want a hollow handle where you can store matches and other small supplies, but beware that many hollow handle knives are cheaply made. Also look for a handle with a stainless steel butt cap that can be used as a hammer.

Think about safety when packing, both for the knife AND for you. Protect the cutting edge of the knife with a sheath, and vacuum pack the knife to avoid corrosion.  Keep the knives stored where you might need them and where you can easily see them.

Finally, remember to pack a sharpening stone and a honing steel with your emergency preparedness kit so that you can maintain the cutting edge on your knives.  As with any survival skill, practice sharpening your knives before you are in an emergency situation. Paying extra for high quality knives now will pay off immensely when you need to depend on them for your safety and comfort.

-Gary Jenkins-