Lessons Learned: Hurricanes

Door to door Looting began in New Orleans 3 days after Hurricane Katrina hit in August of 2005.  This was followed by door to door gun confiscation by the police, putting a dark blemish on civilization and the freedom of this great country.  People were no longer able to protect themselves against gangs of looters who were taking their food and water by force. But then, without a gun, plenty of ammo, and security, or a Neighborhood Watch you are just saving supplies for someone with a gun.

Many did not have sufficient food and water to begin with, and after the flooding, could not get any.  Trucks could not even get into the city to deliver anything.  In addition to this, they were not prepared for a Power Outage, especially a two week power outage.

Flooding can drive unique problems and needs for things we may not normally think about.

So what did we learn from this?

1. Disaster can be upon us before we realize it.  New Orleans had survived many hurricanes, but this time retaining walls, that protected the city, broke and the entire city was soon under several feet of water.   So there won't be much, if any warning, and even if there is, most won't recognize it, until it is too late.  Our Red Flag Warnings may help you recognize a potential disaster is coming, or already here, but if not prepared ahead, this early warning will only help you a little.
2. We must take responsibility for our own safety and well-being. We can NOT depend our our government to protect us from everything. Yes, the government had plenty of food and water near by, but could not distribute it for days due to the bad weather and flooding.
3. Advance preparations are essential. Disaster can come in many forms, and in this case, organized gangs and our own law enforcement were an unexpected problem for many. We must expect the unexpected, and it is the enemy from within that is often most overlooked.
4. Security is important, and most all gun & ammo stores will be shut down.  Those that are open, are sold out, even at list price.  So IF you are ever going to want a handgun, or AR and plenty of ammo to protect your home and family, you better do it before you really need it & before it is too late.  Even if / when guns are banned someday, there is likely to be a grandfather clause, allowing exiting owners to keep them for a while, as long as they register them.  Many countries (like Australia) have been through this slow, gradual gun ban process that is achieved incrementally over many years.  Don't wait!  Act Now.  With out a gun, you will just be saving supplies for someone who has a gun, or a large gang big enough to take them. 

So what other supplies do we need?

1. First, look at our Beginners List, then add:
2. Food - In addition to foods that you eat on a regular basis, have some that are non-perishable or have long shelf lives.  Things like beef jerky, canned SPAM, canned salmon, sardines, crackers, freeze dried canned fruits & other foods, are good to have.  Also have a manual can opener.
3. Bottled Water - Bottled water is especially important as it can be easily carried with you and rationed.
4. Off-Grid Lighting is important & batteries.
5. Propane, or charcoal for cooking food on a BBQ grille or camp stove.
6. Have plenty of ammo, and some good Prepper weapons, like a hand gun and an AR.  Because the government may try to seize them, have additional weapons, ammo and supplies stored in a hidden cache.

Each of these Blue links above have a wealth of additional resources, and Knowledge is Free, so learn what you can by reading.

Below is a standard hurricane preparedness checklist of things you will need to help you and your family survive hurricane season.

1. Potable water
2. Non-perishable food
3. Alternative means to heat food
4. Clothing, including rain gear and a good pair of boots
5. First Aid Kit
6. Toys, diapers, etc. for infants and children
7. Pet care kit (food, carrier/leash, immunization records, etc.)
8. Travel toiletry kit
9. Flashlights
10. Batteries
11. Battery operated radio with AM/FM and NOAA reception
12. Critical documents in waterproof pouch (banking info, insurance, passports, birth certificates, etc.)
13. Full fuel tanks in all vehicles along with additional spare fuel cans
14. Blankets and pillows
15. Cash, including small bills (ATM's & credit card machines may be out of order)
16. Portable tool set or a Multi-Tool
17. Fully charged cell phone & charger along with hand radios for communications.
18. Essential medications

It is also essential to have a prepared flood bugout bag, or Backpack you can carry supplies in if you are forced to evacuate.

For more information see:

Blog Table of Contents
Lessons Learned series
Emergency Water Supply
Modern Home Security
Survive a 2 week power outage
Sustainable Lighting  

Riot & Looting Preparations
Natural & Man Made Disaster Preparation
Emergency Essentials Disaster Preparations  
Urban Security Plan

Hurricanes 
Hurricane 101 Review 
Flood Bug out Bag

Backup Power Supply 

Backup Electricity under $50 

Maps for Survival 

Backup Power Supply 

Backup Electricity under $50 

Maps for Survival
DIY Solar System


Beginner Prepper List   
Wilderness Survival Pack (Video) 
Wilderness Survival
Delivering Babies
Global Climate Facts

Surviving a Partial Collapse

Lets start by Categorizing Catastrophic Events to put them in perspective:

Level 10 - the entire planet earth is destroyed
Level  9 - 90% of the humans on planet earth are killed (Asteroid Strike)
Level  8 - 50% of the humans on planet earth are killed
Level  7 - 90% of the humans on a continent are killed (Nuclear Winter)
Level  6 - 50% of the humans on a continent are killed
Level  5 - 90% of the humans in a region are killed (EMP)
Level  4 - 50% of the humans in a region are killed
Level  3 - 10% of the humans in a region are killed
Level  2 -  5% of the humans in a region are killed
Level  1 - single digit % of the humans in a region are killed

An Asteroid Strike, Nuclear Winter,  EMP or a Solar Flare would likely cause a total collapse of our country civilization.  Such an event could be classified from Level 3 to Level 9, but a more likely scenario would be a temporary Partial Collapse that would be from an event in the Level 1 to Level 3 range and which might include things like:

1. Large scale natural like a Super Volcano
2. Man-made disaster or Terrorist Attack such as a small Iranian nuke in several US cities
3. A global economic recession and Hyper Inflation
4. Civil, political and religious unrest with Riots and Looting
5. A nation wide Pandemic <- Click on Links for more info

More common events like Winter Storms, Hurricanes, Floods and Power Outages can cause regional breakdowns, but help will soon be on the way.  These are Level 1 events.  Where the really serious problem starts is when the domestic "Help" is also incapacitated and won't be able to come.  This quickly escalates an event classification by one or more Levels.

Realistically, most Preppers can only afford to prepare for things in the Level 1 to Level 4 scale.  The preparations or these events are similar except for how long you need to prepare for, how much water and food you need and how much seed & land for longer term events. 

This is where our Step by Step Prepper Plan comes in handy. The more you follow the plan and repeat the cycle, the better prepared you are for longer and more serious events.  Once you get to the point where you have a 1 - 2 year supply of food, seed, tools for a Prepper Garden, Livestock and extra supplies to Barter then you are ready to start working on an underground shelter with Solar Power. There are a number of sources on this, and some group retreats have them included.  The more catastrophic Level 5 and higher events will likely require a substantial investment to survive underground.  Nuclear preparations are well documented and information is readily available and not expensive.  www.ki4u.com has lots of good nuclear info, products and links to even more.

Below is a picture showing the before (bottom) and after (top) effects of an 18 kilo tonne (kt) nuclear bomb that was dropped on Hiroshima Japan. The nuclear bomb sizes last published were 200,000 kt, or 11,000 times more powerful.  Likely nuclear targets for the US include Washington DC, Houston, New Orleans, New York, Chicago and Los Angles plus other large population centers.

 

The devastation is major but primarily on the surface.  Radioactive fall out is likely to kill just as many as the blast. 

After having your preps in order, getting to your retreat early is a key.  Recognizing the RED FLAG warnings that it is time to bug out is important.  Short term Level 1 events can be dealt with in the city, with a good Urban Plan.  Sustainable City Survival is possible if well prepared, but chances are lower than in the country.  Knowing what to expect in urban areas will help.  Country dwellers should expect to be swarmed with city gangs desperately seeking food and water. 

Once you are well stocked, you need a security plan to protect your supplies and loved ones.  Here are some links to read about security:

Night Vision vs Thermal Vision
Investing for Preppers (Financial Security)
The Best Gun
Best Handgun Selection Criteria

Group Security Drills
Urban Survival Perspective
Urban Survival Plan
The right amount of Ammo

Passive Layered Security
Communications
Actionable Intelligence
PVC Survival Tube

Using your garden for cover
Security Patrol Pack (or Bug Out pack)
Country Home Security Plan
Home Invasion Response Plan

Guns in plain sight
Situational Awareness
Intruder Detection
Riot Preparations

Double Barreled Defense
Modern Home Security
Sustainable City Survival
BB Gun

Top 5 Combat Rifles
Best Prepper Dog

For additional information see the following links:
Blog Table of Contents

See similar topics by clicking on the labels below

Hurricane 101 Review

In 2008, a Category 3 hurricane made landfall on America’s Gulf Coast, displacing hundreds of thousands of people from Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana. After all was said and done, this hurricane categorized as the third deadliest hurricane in United States history.

Though the majority of people evacuated before Hurricane Katrina hit, close to 120,000 residents of New Orleans, Louisiana did not leave.


By the time the storm made landfall, the city of New Orleans was already water-logged from hours of rain. Due to the city’s geographical location—laying mostly undersea level and being surrounded by water—flooding was inevitable. Katrina’s power was too great for the city’s levees and within a very short time, St. Bernard Parish and The Ninth Ward were under water.

In the end, Hurricane Katrina killed 2,000 people, affected 90,000 square miles and cost $100 billion in damages. One of Cheaper Than Dirt’s! own spent time deployed to New Orleans to aid in the aftermath. He says, “Finding bodies became commonplace, and we felt relieved when we entered homes and only smelled mold.”

A hurricane is when a large, circulating tropical storm starting in a warm ocean reaches a surface wind speed of 74 miles per hour. The Atlantic hurricane season starts June 1 and goes through November 30. While the Eastern Pacific hurricane season runs from May 15 to November 30. Hurricanes are generally 2,000 times larger than tornadoes and last an average of 10 days. The states most at risk of hurricanes are the coastal areas of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, North Carolina, West Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Maine and all of Hawaii and Florida.

The safest place to be during a hurricane is away from where it hits. Fortunately, weather experts give us a fair warning of storms. Your best survival plan is to evacuate the area. However, if evacuation is impossible or for preparing to return after evacuation, you will need plenty of food, water and other supplies for your family for at least 10 days. It is most likely city utilities—water, electricity and natural gas—will be unavailable.

Below is a hurricane preparedness checklist of things you will need to help you and your family survive hurricane season.

1. Potable water
2. Non-perishable food
3. Alternative means to heat food
4. Clothing, including rain gear and a good pair of boots
5. First Aid Kit
6. Toys, diapers, etc. for infants and children
7. Pet care kit (food, carrier/leash, immunization records, etc.)
8. Travel toiletry kit
9. Flashlights
10. Batteries
11. Battery operated radio with AM/FM and NOAA reception
12. Critical documents in waterproof pouch (banking info, insurance, passports, birth certificates, etc.)
13. Full fuel tanks in all vehicles along with additional spare fuel cans
14. Blankets and pillows
15. Cash, including small bills
16. Portable tool set
17. Fully charged cell phone, preferably with spare battery
18. Essential medications

To learn more about hurricane preparedness, read the following articles:

Hurricane Preparedness
Be Ready! National Hurricane Preparedness Week is May 25-31
A Part Time Grunt’s Hurricane Katrina Experience
Emergency Water Supply for Hurricane Season: the AquaPodKit
Prepper v. Survivalist? How About Using the Term Smart Instead

To read the Original Post on this click HERE
For additional information see the following links: 
Blog Table of Contents
Complete Sustainable Living Plan 

Power Outage Preps

 

Drinking water for an extended Power Outage is important. Our post on Emergency Water is very complete and informative with a water storage and rotation plan that would work for any home.

But we must have a way to prepare food. The charcoal allows you to cook food as would an inexpensive cook stove like the one below.

  

 
Our post on Food Preparation & Preservation covers more detail on this topic.

Another nice item are these solar powered lights. 

With some inexpensive hardware, or a flower vase, you can spread them around your home to provide light.  

 

The quality ones use rechargeable AA or AAA batteries and can be used as a solar powered charger.  They are also brighter and last longer. Having a set of each (AA and AAA) is ideal so you can charge all your small batteries.

When you are not using these for lighting or to charge your batteries, they make attractive lights for your yard and provide an added measure of Home Security.  

For more information:
Blog Table of Contents
Power Outage Preps
Power Outage Heater
DIY Solar System 
The SHTF Day One
Survive a 2 week Power Outage
Complete Sustainable Living Plan 

Flood Bugout Bag

What should you have packed and ready to go in the event of a flood or hurricane?  

Here is a good list, but put each individual item in a water proof bag or case:

1. Water resistant backpack
2. Medicines, glasses, contacts, important documents, cash, and a First Aid kit
3. Rain poncho, rain boots, umbrella, children's floats or life vests (wear/carry these)
4. Change of clothes, & a blanket in a water proof bag (typical on all items)
5. Drinking water (stainless steel bottle, camel-back, refillable containers)
6. Dry foods, raisins, beef jerky, MRE's, cooked easy open can foods
7. Fully charged cell phone in a water proof case
8. Hand crank radio / flashlight / signal light in a water proof bag
9. Hand held MURS Communications Radios in a water proof bag
10. Chargers, cords and extra batteries in a water proof bag
11. Folding knife, fire starter, Bic lighter & waterproof matches
12. Area Map (waterproof) & compass in a water proof bag
13. Good handgun in a good moisture resistant holster & ammo in water proof bag
14. An inflatable raft, pool, float or wagon to carry some of your items

 For more information see:

Blog Table of Contents
Emergency Water Supply
Modern Home Security
Survive a 2 week power outage
Sustainable Lighting  

Riot & Looting Preparations
Natural & Man Made Disaster Preparation
Emergency Essentials Disaster Preparations  
Urban Security Plan

Hurricanes 

Beginner Prepper List   
Wilderness Survival Pack (Video) 
Wilderness Survival
Delivering Babies
Global Climate Facts

Emergency Essentials Disaster Preparedness

 

The above link provides useful information that is free to learn on the following topics and more.

Flood
Fires
Economic
Earthquake
Winter Storm
Tornado
Drought
Hurricane
Power Failure

For additional information see the following links:  
Blog Table of Contents

The First 5 Things To Do After a Crisis

You’re at work when all of the sudden one of your co-worker’s shouts with a terrible shriek, “Did you hear?” He can see the confused look on your face and explains, “The financial markets just collapsed and everyone’s running to the bank and ATMs.” What should we do?

Preparing for civil unrest in your town is much like prepping for bugging in during any other emergency or weather disaster. You should have plenty of food, water, batteries, medicine and first aid, an alternative cooking method, fuel and lighting for your family for a week.

Our friends at Cheaper Than Dirt have a weekly blog with some really good topics.  I suggest you sign up to receive it each week.  To read more about what you should do immediately upon realizing a crisis has or is happening, click HERE. 

For additional information see the following links:
Blog Table of Contents;
Or click on a label below for similar topics.

Prepper Handbook Table of Contents

Over 500 Pages of a detailed step by step guide, taking you from Beginner to Advanced Prepping.  It includes a Sustainable Living Model and Security Plans along with much more.
Why we are all Preppers	7
US GOVERNMENT Recommended Preparations	8
Prepper Incremental Strategy	11
Prepper Incremental Strategy Table	12
Bug in or Bug Out:	15
Red Flag warnings it’s time to Bug Out to a safe retreat	18
TEOTWAWKI	19
How Much Ammo is needed	22
Sustainable Living	25
Stealth Preparations	26
SECURITY PLAN	33
Passive and Active defense	33
Smaller Group Security	38
How to set up an LP or Listening Post:	39
Team Members	40
Night Vision	41
Charity	43
Personal Supplies	44
Medical Supplies	44
Leadership Council	45
Group members	45
Alert Codes	47
Potential Social Breakdown levels:	48
Rules of Engagement (ROE)	51
Prisoner Policy	54
Hostage Policy	55
Code / Alert / Pass words	55
Leap Frog Retreat	56
International Morse Code	58
GROUP SECURITY DRILLS	59
COMMUNITY ACTION PLAN	60
Historical Lessons:	65
Dark Ages	66
Standing Rules of Rogers’ Rangers:	67
Scout Backpack	69
Post SHTF Scouting Rules	72
Hand Signals	74
Misleading Media (and a grain of salt)	77
Wilderness Survival	80
Trapping for food	81
SUSTAINABLE LIVING MODEL	88
Garden	88
Livestock	91
Chickens for Eggs	93
Chickens for meat	94
Goats for meat & milk	95
Rabbits	96
Cows	96
Fish	97
Pigs	99
Pigeons	101
Grain for Feed	102
Bees	102
Meal Plan Summary	103
Food Preservation	104
Packaging and Storing Dried Foods	109
Cheese	110
Canning	113
Shelf Life	113
Root Cellar	115
INVESTING FOR PREPPERS	116
Economic Trade	117
Value of Silver Coins in 1960's	118
Re-Population Consideration	121
APPENDIX	122
Recommended Resources	123
Vegetable Variety Days to Harvest	129
Constitutional Clarifications	136
Declaration of Orders We Will NOT Obey	136
GOVERNMENT RECOMMENDED DISASTER PREPARATIONS	142
TERRORIST HAZARDS	142
Biological Threats	142
Chemical Threats	143
Cyber Attack	145
Cyber Security	147
Explosions	148
Nuclear Blast	149
Radiological Dispersion Device (RDD)	151
NATURAL DISASTERS	155
Drought	155
Earthquakes	157
Extreme Heat	160
Floods	162
Home Fires	167
Hurricanes	169
Landslides & Debris Flow	173
Severe Weather	175
Space Weather	177
Thunderstorms & Lightning	179
Tornadoes	182
Tsunamis	184
Volcanoes	186
Wildfires	188
TECHNOLOGICAL & ACCIDENTAL HAZARDS	192
Blackouts	192
Hazardous Materials Incidents	193
Household Chemical Emergencies	196
Nuclear Power Plants	199
Community and Other Plans	201
Pandemic	202
Shelter	203
Emergency Alerts	205
Evacuating Yourself and Your Family	206
NRA Guns Safety Rules	209
Appendix A Army Branches and Tactical Echelons	212
Appendix B Tactical Mission Tasks	227
Appendix C Airborne and Air Assault Operations	242
Appendix D Encirclement Operations	253
Chapter 1 PART ONE Tactical Fundamentals	267
Chapter 3 PART TWO Offensive Operations	301
Chapter 8 PART THREE Defensive Operations	394
Chapter 12 PART FOUR Tactical Enabling Operations	468

F

For additional information see the following links:

Introduction

Prepper Handbook Table of Contents

Blog Table of Contents

Beginners:

Beginner Prepper List

The Rule of 3 (set priorities by this)

US Government Recommended Preparations

Why we are ALL Preppers (for skeptics)

Investing for Preppers

Advanced Prepper Resource

Prepper Handbook Table of Contents

Oath Keepers, true protectors of freedom

Group Security Drills

Bees for Prepping

Food and water:

Building your food stores the right way

Getting Started (Water)

Green House for year-round food supply

Prepper Handbook  

Gardening101 – Soil Basics

Best Prepper Chicken Breed

Bees for Prepping

Edible Wild Plants:

Chickweed & Hackberries

Natural Disaster Preparations

Natural & Man Made Disaster Preparations  

Hurricanes

Firearms and security:

NRA Gun Safety Rules

Beginner Prepper List

Survival Pack

Passive Layered Security

Night Vision

Red flag warnings its time to Bug Out

Bug Out Warning

Investing for Preppers (Financial Security)

The Best Gun

Group Security Drills

Urban Survival Perspective

Shelter:

Concrete Bunker Plans

Wilderness Survival:

Survival Pack (Security Patrol or Bug Out pack)

Wilderness Survival Pack (Video) 

Wilderness Survival