How to be prepared for storms and disasters

Tornadoes and hurricanes can cause massive amounts of damage in a short period of time. Tornadoes can strike almost anywhere there is sky and hurricanes have the power to come inland. It's important to be prepared so you can be as safe as possible when one hits. Here are some basics.

1. Go over your plan with your family. They need to be able to follow through if you are not there.
   
2. If your insurance even bothers to offer it, make sure you're covered for tornadoes or hurricanes. Pay attention to water damage and wind damage clauses - they may cancel each other out by claiming the other is responsible!
   
3. Practice occasional tornado and hurricane drills before severe weather hits so everyone knows what to do.
   
4. In a tornado, take cover in the lowest level of your house as far away from outside walls as you can. A basement or underground shelter is best but if those are not an option, pick an interior closet, bathroom or hallway. In a hurricane, put as many walls in between you and the storm as possible. If you can, evacuate before the hurricane hits. Once it's there, don't leave the house if you don't have to.
   
5. Use a mattress or something similar to cover yourself to protect from potential flying debris.
   
6. Stay far away from glass, including windows, mirrors, skylights or even aquariums.
   
7. Keep a wrench handy close to the gas meter and know how to turn it off. If a tornado busts a gas line it can cause a tremendous fire.
   
8. Keep an emergency kit that includes candles, flashlights, a battery operated radio (a weather band radio is good), blankets, water and extra batteries.
   
9. Don't go outside. If you're in a car, get out and lie down in a ditch. A tornado will beat a car any day, and even if it stays away from you, you could get nailed by flying debris. There is more warning for hurricanes, so don't be out on the road at all if it is extremely close.
   
10. If you can afford a small battery operated television, add one of those to your kit.

Other important information:

1. As far as we've come with warning systems and sirens, we're still way behind. Don't wait for a siren to take cover from a tornado. Sometimes they don't go off at all, or go off too late for your area. If the weatherman says a hurricane is coming, make sure you're ready or leave the area.

2. Leave a mobile home during a tornado watch and find a safer place to stay until it's over.

3. Keep windows closed. It is a myth that open windows will decrease the effects of a tornado. It can actually make matters worse.

4. Do not hide in a drain pipe or under an overpass. The suction in those places can actually be much higher as the space is compressed. If there is flooding, you can drown in a pipe.

If you want to look into storm shelters, here are some good links:

Flatsafe.com - Offering FEMA approved, below ground human safes that can go into existing homes and take up no room.

StormSafeRoom.com - Offering above ground hurricane and tornado safe rooms.

TornadoGuard.com - Below ground, vented storm shelters.

USStormShelters.com - offering safe rooms and below ground options.

Building a Safe Room

Earthquakes strike with no warning, with varying degrees of violence. You can't stop one or get out of the way easily, but you can prepare yourself to minimize the risks as much as humanly possible.

Make sure shelves are securely fastened to the wall and that large and heavy objects are on lower shelves. Any breakable items should be kept in low, closed and latched cabinets. Make sure overhead lights are braced and repair any bad electrical wiring or gas connections. If your home has structural defects, consult an expert.

When an earthquake hits, take cover! Get under something sturdy, whether it's a doorway, sturdy furniture, or against an inside wall. Stay away from glass and heavy objects. Stay inside until the shaking stops. If you're outside, get away from buildings, trees, overpasses, power lines or elevated roadways. If you're in a car, stay inside and slowly drive to a clear place. Once the shaking is over, avoid ramps and bridges and continue with extreme caution.

Make sure everyone in your family knows how and when they should turn off electricity, gas and water. Know which station to tune into for emergency information. Check for injuries on yourself and others and wear long sleeves, pants, gloves and boots if you can to protect yourself further.

Keep a disaster kit. You'll need a flashlight and extra batteries, a battery-powered radio, a first aid kit, canned and non perishable food, several gallons of water at least for each person and/or a water filtration system, essential medications, cash and your credit card, anything necessary for infants, the elderly or the disabled in the family, rain gear, protective clothing, sturdy shoes and sleeping bags.

Have an emergency contact plan. If you get separated, you'll need a plan for meeting up again. Pick a friend or family member who is out of state to act as a relay if necessary and make sure everyone has that number.

Be prepared for aftershocks. These can happen hours, days, weeks or months after the initial earthquake.

Stay out of damaged buildings and clean up spilled has, bleach, medicine or flammable liquids as soon as you possibly can. If you smell gas or chemicals, leave the area. Open doors, closets and cupboards carefully, as items probably shifted. Inspect your entire house for structural damage, has leaks, electrical damage and water and sewer line damage.

Floods are very common and destructive. They can be local and impact a small community or they can attack multiple states and rivers at once. Some develop slowly while flash floods can form in just minutes. They can carry debris with them and are often much faster than they look.

You should always be aware of flood hazards no matter where you live, especially if you are in a low lying area, near a dam or near a water source. Even small creeks can be a problem in a flood. There is no state in the US that is immune to this risk.

You should familiarize yourself with the various warnings given for floods so you can be ready:

Flood Watch:
Flooding is possible. Tune in to NOAA Weather Radio, commercial radio, or television for information.

Flash Flood Watch:
Flash flooding is possible. Be prepared to move to higher ground; listen to NOAA Weather Radio, commercial radio, or television for information.

Flood Warning:
Flooding is occurring or will occur soon; if advised to evacuate, do so immediately.

Flash Flood Warning:
A flash flood is occurring; seek higher ground on foot immediately.

The following information comes from FEMA:

Before a Flood
To prepare for a flood, you should:

• Avoid building in a floodplain unless you elevate and reinforce your home.
  
• Elevate the furnace, water heater, and electric panel if susceptible to flooding.
  
• Install "check valves" in sewer traps to prevent flood water from backing up into the drains of your home.
  
• Construct barriers (levees, beams, floodwalls) to stop floodwater from entering the building.
  
• Seal walls in basements with waterproofing compounds to avoid seepage.

During a Flood
If a flood is likely in your area, you should:

• Listen to the radio or television for information.
  
• Be aware that flash flooding can occur. If there is any possibility of a flash flood, move immediately to higher ground. Do not wait for instructions to move.
  
• Be aware of streams, drainage channels, canyons, and other areas known to flood suddenly. Flash floods can occur in these areas with or without such typical warnings as rain clouds or heavy rain.

If you must prepare to evacuate, you should do the following:

• Secure your home. If you have time, bring in outdoor furniture. Move essential items to an upper floor.
  
• Turn off utilities at the main switches or valves if instructed to do so. Disconnect electrical appliances. Do not touch electrical equipment if you are wet or standing in water.

If you have to leave your home, remember these evacuation tips:

• Do not walk through moving water. Six inches of moving water can make you fall. If you have to walk in water, walk where the water is not moving. Use a stick to check the firmness of the ground in front of you.
  
• Do not drive into flooded areas. If floodwaters rise around your car, abandon the car and move to higher ground if you can do so safely. You and the vehicle can be quickly swept away.

Driving Flood Facts
The following are important points to remember when driving in flood conditions:

• Six inches of water will reach the bottom of most passenger cars causing loss of control and possible stalling.
  
• One foot of water will float many vehicles.
  
• Two feet of rushing water can carry away most vehicles including sport utility vehicles (SUV's) and pick-ups.

Natural disasters (and man made ones) don't usually stop in their tracks when they come to the local water supply. There is always a chance that your water will end up polluted with runoff, oil, glass and other debris after a disaster. Water mains may be broken, reservoirs may be flooded. Maintaining a steady supply of water is imperative to survival.

There are several methods you can use to make sure you have clean water. We'll go over some of them below.

Portable gravity water purifying units are versatile, convenient and very popular for use in the home and in emergency and survival situations. They can be used anywhere but are especially helpful when fresh water is scarce. They're easy to use and affordable.

• Pour a gallon of water into the wide top and gravity feeds it through a dual micro-pore ceramic and activated carbon filter that removes 95% of chlorine, pesticides, heavy metals including iron, aluminum, and lead and 100% Cryptosporidium, Giardia, anthrax bacteria and sediment.
  
• Use tap water, well water, stream, river, lake water, or swimming pool water.
  
• The ceramic filters are easily removed and cleaned and can be used again
  
• Has a 1 quart capacity with 1/3 gph flow rate (1 filter)

The Ceramic Filter with Granular Activated Carbon:

• Removes parasites, i.e. cryptosporidium and giardia >99.99%
  
• Absolute filtration efficiency at 0.9 microns - 99.999%
  
• For particles sized 0.5- 0.8 microns the reduction is > 99.9%
  
• Silver baked into ceramic inhibits the growth of bacteria
  
• Reduces turbidity greater than 99.69%
  
• Granular Activated Carbon reduces chlorine, bad taste, and odor
  
• The ceramic filter is cleanable to extend the life of the filter

Model

GS1

GS2

GS4

Filter

7in ceramic w/ GAC

2 (filters)

4 (filters)

Output

8 oz./30 min

16 gal/day

32 gal/day

Top Capacity

28 oz.

2 gal

2 gal

Bottom Capacity

24 oz.

2 gal

2 gal

Height (in)

10

19.25

19.25

Diameter (in)

3.25

8.25

8.25

For more information, visit Promolife's Stainless Steel Gravity Unit page.

Expio® is a portable, integral ozone system specially designed to produce clean drinking water. This "mini treatment plant" comes in a durable carrying case and is the perfect solution for anyone in areas with no source of safe drinking water.

Expio® simplifies the logistics of supplying drinking water:

• Takes only a few minutes to install
  
• Consumes very little energy
  
• Sterilizes the tank or storage bottle
  
• Eliminates microorganisms hazardous to human heath (fecal coliforms, E. coli, Giardia, Cryptosporidium)
  
• Purifies water from lakes, ponds, streams, rivers, and wells
  
• Purifies 18 liters (5 gallons) in 3-15 minutes (depending on quality of water source)
  
• Compatible with all standard 18 liter/5 gallon water bottles
  
• Main components are FDA and NSF-approved
  
• Weighs only 16 kg
  
• Comes in a sturdy, watertight carrying case
  
• Low power consumption
  

Expio's patented recirculation process provides an advantage over existing systems in that the ozonized water that passes trough the filters helps prolong filter life and reduce bacterial growth.
Tested on a range of water types for three years, Expio® demonstrated an exceptional water purification capacity. The water treated meets quality standards for harmful microorganisms in Canada, the U.S., and the European Union. The water produced is crystal clear with no aftertaste.

The Expio system uses a two stage filtration system:

1. In the first stage water is passed through a Polypropylene spun fiber filter, pore size is 5 microns. This filter removes sediments and any suspended matter in the raw water like sand, dirt, insects and debris.
   
2. The second filtration stage consists of an activated carbon filter with a 0.5 micron rating. This filter plays a dual role : It filters out very fine particles and waterborne parasites like Giardia and Cryptosporidium cysts. The activated carbon adsorbs many chemical compounds commonly found in water. It also helps remove unpleasant tastes and odors.

Exclusive to Expio: The problem with almost all filtration systems has been microbiological growth on the filtration media. Expio eliminates this growth with its patented recirculation cycle. More than a simple backwash, it actually disinfects the filters. In fact the filter will last many times longer because it is being disinfected by ozone.

How it works: Ozonized water in the treatment bottle is recirculated towards the filter during the purifying stage. This water contains an ozone residual that disinfects the filters and improves the quality of the treated water. No other portable system offers you active filter disinfection.

SPECIFICATIONS

Treatment times:
Residential or ground water : 3 to 4 minutes
Surface water: 8 minutes
Low quality surface water: 10 to 15 minutes
Average filter life: 400 litres (80 x 5 gallons)
Average oxygen cylinder life: 160 gallons of treated water (M6 cyl.), 400 gal. (D type cyl.)
Dimensions: 20%u2033 x 17%u2033 x 8%u2033
Weight: 35 lbs.
Power consumption: 150 watts (nominal)

Filter types:
5 microns sediment Polypropylene
0.5 micron activated carbon block

Most compact systems create ozone from air, which contains only a small percentage of oxygen. Expio produces ozone from dry medical oxygen, which greatly increases the ozone output of the system. This highly concentrated ozone gas is much more effective in treating high demand waters, like lake or river water. This is why Expio is capable of treating waters that small household systems couldn't touch.

For more information visit Promolife's Expio Water Disinfection System page.

When hurricanes or other disasters contaminate or stop the normal flow of water, always be prepared with a backup water source.

Features:

• 1 Year Limited Warranty
  
• 150 Gallon Bladder only weighs 4 lbs
  
• Flexible - Fits anywhere (even around curves)
  
• FDA Approved Food Quality Materials

Standard bladders have outstanding tensile, tear, impact and abrasion resistance and comply with the U.S. FDA title 2 code of Federal Regulations.

Food grade, rollable and re-usable, these bladders take up little space when rolled or folded. Made from a new copolymer material that will not affect the taste or odor of the water. Comes with a standard drain valve that twists to open.

Specifications:

• 30 GALLON 3' x 3' (#SCWB30)
  
• 60 GALLON 3' x 4' (#SCWB60)
  
• 110 GALLON 3' x 6' (#SCWB110)
  
• 150 GALLON 3' x 8' (#SCWB150)
  
• Approximate height in center when full: 16"

For more information, visit Promolife's Standard Collapsible Water Bladder page.

Disaster water bladders are ideal for residential use, hospitals, nursing homes, extended living facilities and group homes which need to meet Federal requirements establishing procedures to ensure that water is available to essential areas when there is a loss of a normal water supply. Fast becoming the norm for water storage, these bladders are in use in many organizations and hospitals and are also used by FEMA and the military.

Features:

• 1 Year Limited Warranty
  
• 300 Gallon Bladder only weighs 6 lbs
  
• Flexible - Fits anywhere (even around curves)
  
• FDA Approved Food Quality Materials

Folds to the size of a pizza box, yet holds up to 300 Gallons of water.

Heavy Duty bladders have outstanding tensile, tear, impact and abrasion resistance and comply with the U.S. FDA title 2 code of Federal Regulations.

Food grade, rollable, and re-usable, these bladders take up little space when rolled or folded. Made from a new polyurethane coated nylon that will not affect the taste or odor of the water. Comes with a standard drain valve that twists to open.

Specifications:

• 60 GALLON (#HDWB60)
  
• 150 GALLON (#HDWB150)
  
• 300 GALLON (#HDWB300)

For more information, visit Promolife's Heavy Duty Water Bladder page.

Ideal for emergencies, this backpack water purifier uses both AC or DC power or solar.

• 1 gallon per min, 4 liters per min
  
• Three-step processing unit
  
• Power: DC, foot pump or battery (with AC charger). The SOLAR option (S-Series) includes a solar array for recharging the battery.
  
• UV lamp in protective container gets reset after reaching destination.

Specifications

• POWER:
  o 120 VAC at American standard 60 Hz (optional: International 50 Hz)
  o Can operate on a 12 Volt vehicle battery via jumper cable accessory
  o The SP-2 SERIES includes electric pump and back-up foot pump, as well as an in-line flow meter and totalizer
  o The SOLAR option (S-Series) includes a solar array for recharging the battery.
  
• FLOW RATE:
  o Nominally a 1 to 1-1/2 gallons per minute
  
• MECHANICAL FILTRATION:
  o Removes particles below 25 microns. (Replace or rinse and reuse)
  o Screens harmful gelatinous cysts such as Amoeba, Paramecium, Giardia and Cryptosporidium down to 1 micron.
  o For most water supplies, filters can flow 30,000-50,000 gallons.
  
• TREATMENT CAPABILITY:
  o Sufficient electron exchange media, including activated carbon, to treat water with high levels of man made pollutants, such as solvents and insecticides, and naturally occurring contaminants such as arsenic, mercury, lead barium and selenium.
  o Output quality will exceed the "challenge" under U.S. EPA and NSF# 53 standards.
  o For most water supplies 30,000 to 50,000 gallons can be produced before change out of the media is required.
  
• UV EQUIPMENT:
  o 2.0 gpm maximum using UV (short-wave) for disinfection. (Note: UV is effective in destroying 99.9% of bacteria and viruses.)
  
• DIMENSIONS:
  o Frame size is 21"" wide x 22"" high x approximately 8"" depth.
  o Weight: approx. 40 lbs

For more information, visit Promolife's UV Backpack Filtration System page or view the Solar Powered option.

They key to surviving a natural disaster is to be prepared. Never think a disaster can't happen to you - they can occur anywhere. Tornadoes are popping up in places they rarely have before. Hurricanes don't just stick to the immediate coastline. There are faults all over the world just waiting for a reason to cause the earth to shake. If you prepare yourself, you have a much better chance of getting through it with your health.