Mother Nature's Lessons

[Survival Goddess]

Mother Nature Provides The Lessons For Prepping




As preppers we prepare for EMP's, economic collapse, and some even prepare for zombies but not too many give thoughts to natural disasters. Mother Nature can be just as deadly and unpredictable as the East Coast has been realizing over the last few months and these scenarios are played out over and over but yet many are caught unprepared.




A 5.8 magnitude earth quake rocked Virginia on Aug 23 and evacuated many locations in Washington and put 2 nuclear power plants offline. Hurricane Irene on Aug 29 killed 33 people, power outage to 4 million people, and caused 2 million to evacuate. Last weeks snow storm has claimed 15 lives with 2 million without power last week and as the writing of this post close to 200,000 were going on their 2nd week without power.












Don't say it can't happen where you live




I don't care where you live, it can happen to you. There is not a place in this country that is immuned to a natural disaster. It could be hurricane, flood, wildfire, tornado, snow storm, earthquake, or volcano (remember Mt. Saint Helens?)




I remember the great blizzard of 78 in Michigan. 55 people in Michigan alone died due to that storm. Many were without power for 3 weeks. Thank god my parents heated with wood, we had a huge pantry, and life really wasn't altered too much for us except for no tv etc. We had huge 55 gal drums and a creek running thru our property so we would fill these up to water the livestock and we heated over a fire outdoors to bath in. My father worked for the county and they had a generator so he would fill up containers of drinking water to bring home.




My challenge to you




The east coast has teaching lessons. Be prepared! This is the minimum you need to prepare for NOW!




*1 month food and water for each person in your family

You may think this is overwhelming but just work at it. How over wheming would it be if you are unprepared with nothing and your family is in jeopardy?




* Alternate heat source and 1 month supply for it

If you have a fireplace or wood stove have a 1 month supply cut and seasoned. If its kerosene again 1 month.




* Alternate cooking source

If you have a grill 1 month supply charcoal or gas. I strongly urge you to have a rocket stove. There are plenty of videos on to show you how to build one and I will be posting a DIY to make one.




*Bugout location with supplies

You may want to bug in but be prepared. There may be reasons that arise that you can not stay in your home. What's your plan B?




* 1 vehicle with a full tank of gas that can carry all the family along with bugout bags and some supplies

You may have to leave and you don't want a vehicle that can't carry the whole family or not have enough gas to get you to your bugout location.




Don't let this be overwhelming. Just work at it.




Be prepared, not sorry.

Survival Goddess

[mollypup]

I agree that natural weather and geological events can be bad SHTF situations. Where I live the natural disaster I worry about the most are tornadoes. They've ripped through here before and caused a lot damage to a lot of homes. The power was off for several days while crews worked on getting the lines back up and power restored. Tornado season is luckily for us, during the warmer times of the year. But I do worry what to do about pets like tropical birds and fish that require warmth. Our last tropical fish died a while back and I haven't gotten another one simply because I don't need the extra worry about how to keep the water warm enough for it. But we have a parrot that needs warmth. I have a small oil-heater near her cage now for those cold nights, but I guess if the power goes off during winter someone will have to carry her inside our coats to keep her warm. It would be cruel to not keep her warm. We have a fireplace, but I was planning on doing what they do in South China and that is to wear lots of sweaters. The people in South China aren't allowed to heat their homes in winter though it still gets butt-chappin' cold. They layer lots of clothing and stay in the kitchen where the gas stove is. I haven't gone the 9 yards to buy a wood-burning stove, chop firewood (where will I find in the suburbs anyway?). I figure we'll wear wool, sleep under wool blankets, and use the fireplace if necessary. I have several cases of those fake logs that burn for several hours each just in case it gets real cold.

So, when bad natural events happen like you described above, it's not all about just keeping us, and the dogs and cats alive, but our exotic pets too. I really feel sorry for all the tropical birds people keep (I'll never get another one after this one dies), especially people who live in very cold northern climates. What are they going to do?

[JustAPrepper]

Back in 2004 we had four major hurricanes roll through the state within weeks of each other. I took direct hits from both Frances and Jeanne. During Frances I was without power for three full weeks. One week later Jeanne hit and I was without power for almost two weeks. It was no picnic but I was prepared.

[bacpacker]

We had some small tornados come thru here is April, I think killed 11 or 13 in this side of the state. That is pretty rare for around here, but goes to show me it can happen here.
When I was leading our EmComm group we had to run a disaster exercise at least once each year. A couple of those were based on flooding. One scenario was based on a earthquake causing multiple dam failures. The other scenario was a flood based on heavy snow pack in the mountians melting quickly due to rapidly rising temps and heavy rains. After doing some research with the national weather service, these are possible things that could happen in this area.
Floods, while not a long term issue, depending on the severity could well destroy the infastructure in a large area casuing a very severe short term SHTF event.

[Sniper-T]

Nature's done more to make me a prepper than any of the SHTF scenarios coming out of Zombieland. We do have blizzards and ice storms which shut down roads and knock out power at least a couple/few times a year. and when it is -40 outside, you don't want it to be -40 inside. Therefore I have a fireplace, and enough wood to burn day and night for 3 winters in stock. I'm going out on the weekend and cut another cord or two, so it can start seasoning.

Molly, there is tons of wood to be found in any city. Take a drive around to some industrial parks. Many businesses accept deliveries on pallets or skids, then just put them out to disappear. I regularly take truckloads home. typically I just use them for my outside firepit... but I cut some up to use for indoor kindling too. I know several people who completely heat their houses with scrap pallet wood.

[LUNCHBOX]

Mother Nature will probably cause most of our shtf scenarios but IMO prepping isn't about any one scenario, its about all of them. Its the same with our way of life, we prep not for any one scenario but for all of them.

[TEOTWAWKI13]

We had some small tornados come thru here is April, I think killed 11 or 13 in this side of the state. That is pretty rare for around here, but goes to show me it can happen here.
When I was leading our EmComm group we had to run a disaster exercise at least once each year. A couple of those were based on flooding. One scenario was based on a earthquake causing multiple dam failures. The other scenario was a flood based on heavy snow pack in the mountians melting quickly due to rapidly rising temps and heavy rains. After doing some research with the national weather service, these are possible things that could happen in this area.
Floods, while not a long term issue, depending on the severity could well destroy the infastructure in a large area casuing a very severe short term SHTF event.

Small??? They leveled a towns...
But just this morning, I heard a town in N Georgia experienced some tremors. Now I've lived in Georgia all my life, and now in Chattanooga the last 6 months, and I can count on one hand the number of earthquakes I've "experienced" in this neck of the woods. But they exist and they've been popping off a lot lately.

[Evolver]

It could be a simple as being out of work due layoff or injury that your preps will be a lifesaver for you and your family.

There isn't a much better feeling than being self reliant.

[bacpacker]

Tet you got here just in time.

East Tn has a record of earthquakes. Thing is I think the largest on record right in this area, say a 75-100 mile radius, is about a 4.5.

[Sniper-T]

Manitoba is one of the most geologically stable locations in the world.


Oddly enough, Manitoba experienced an Earthquake yesterday!!



A tiny little 3.3 hit near Esterhazzy Saskatchewan, and was felt into Manitoba. Even though there is an OLD fault line in that area, they're attributing it to a local potash mine.

over 200 miles from me, even a big one wouldn't be an issue. but colour me surprised all the same!