(Stay or go? A fundamental precept of urban and wilderness survival is that during or after an emergency and/or survival situation, you should stay put so rescuers can find you. But what happens if that isn’t a possibility? What if a tornado or hurricane just happened, emergency personnel are overwhelmed or non-existent, and you know there is no possibility of rescue?

Or suppose an accident occurs in a remote wilderness area with no potential for a rescue? What do you do in a situation where you have to rescue yourself? How do you tell the difference? How do you make the decision to stay or go?

In this article, survival expert Peter Kummerfeldt looks at the mental and physical processes of  self-rescue. – Leon).

A survival situation can be caused by weather, or your reaction to it. Be able to tell the difference between real and potential danger!

Definition of “Self-rescue”:  Getting yourself out of trouble without having to put other people at risk to rescue you.

If you work or recreate in the outdoors, sooner or later you may find yourself at the fork-in-the-road,  having to decide if you should attempt to get yourself out of trouble or wait to be rescued. You should always be prepared to self-rescue and not rely on others to come to your aid.  Always remember that when you call for help, you are putting other people’s lives on the line!

Every life-threatening event is different, and the mechanics of extracting yourself from danger will be different in each case. While the techniques used may be different, the actual process of getting yourself out of trouble is the same. The self-rescue process involves three steps:

1. recognizing the threat
2. an awareness of “certain” verses “potential” harm
3. taking action to remove yourself from the life threatening circumstances

Threat recognition: The ability to recognize threats to your life is based on the knowledge and experience acquired over a lifetime. The ability to recognize those situations that place you in harm’s way can also be learned from other, more experienced people and by attending training programs that teach threat recognition.

Nowhere does the need to be able to recognize danger apply more than when you venture into the outdoors. Being able to recognize warning signs enables you to see what’s coming and then step back from the brink before the hazards threaten your life. Threats to your safety might include inclement weather, dangerous terrain, wild animal attack and many other circumstances.

Certain verses Potential harm. Be able to differentiate between those situations that are going to affect you right now, and those that are not as immediate but will still have to be confronted. Certain harm, for example, is finding yourself in a crashed plane that will explode when the ruptured fuel tank ignites. Or perhaps, you find yourself in an avalanche chute with a cornice above that is about to break loose. Potential harm, on the other hand, could be the onset of inclement weather later in the day or the lack of water in an arid area.

Rising water could be a potential danger, and not an immediate, critical concern.

Taking Action: When faced with a sudden, life-threatening situation, any immediate action in the direction of safety is better than deciding on the best action that comes too late!  John Leach, author of Survival Psychology,writes: “In an emergency, 75% of people have to be told what to do. Only 10-15% of the people act appropriately leaving the remaining 10-15% sitting on the sidelines acting inappropriately!”  Those in the top 15% had prepared for the events that they found themselves in.

The Steps to Self-rescue

Immediate life-threat recognition and action: When your life’s on the line, you must act immediately. You won’t have time to think. Whether you live or die depends on what you did to prepare for this moment. If you’ve never thought through what you might do, “when bad things happen”. you are more likely to panic and take what you hope is the best course of action but often isn’t.

Assuming you can extricate yourself from the event that precipitated the crisis situation, your first step is to deal with any life-threatening medical conditions. That includes your medical condition and the medical condition of any others.  Take care of yourself first. Are you bleeding severely? If so, that needs to be taken care of quickly, using first aid. Next, check the accident scene to locate other people who may need immediate help.

Is the site safe?  Do you need to move to a safer area?  Once you have control of the medical issues and area safety, then you can sit back and catch your breath.

Don’t Panic. Easy to say but difficult to do!  Comedian George Carlin once commented, “We should teach people to panic because that what they are going to do in an emergency!”  There may be some truth to Carlin’s observation, but I would suggest people be taught, “The onset of panic is a normal reaction. It’s what happens the moment you realize that you’re in trouble”.

At that moment, adrenaline floods though your system putting you into a fight-or-flight mode.  This is your body’s instinctive way of handling danger: either fight it or run away from it.

Carry survival gear in your wallet. I always have (from left) firestarter, charcloth (in a waterproof, plastic bag) and a signal mirror with me.

Out-of-control panic must be avoided, however.  The steps you take to protect yourself from this moment on can make a huge difference in the final situation outcome. Recognize the threats to your safety, and then either remove yourself from the situation or remove the threat.

As dangerous as things can become, you are seldom in a situation where you can’t take just a second or two to think before you act, but you must act.

Coping with a crisis depends heavily on the preparations you have made before your life is on the line. Put another way, a person will do what they have been trained to do when they are in trouble, and if they haven’t been trained, they have nothing to guide them to take the correct action.

Assess your resources. All of the resources you are going to have to work with are those you arrive with, plus whatever you might obtain from the environment you’re in.  Despite the advice given in most survival manuals and that advice provided by such dubious survival experts as “Survivorman” and Bear Grylls of “Man verses Wild,” you should never believe you’ll be able to gather what you need.

Go through your pockets and inventory your possessions.  Inventory the contents of your vehicle.  What do you have that will enable you to start a fire, erect a shelter and signal for help? Hopefully, you will have emergency equipment (survival kit) available that will enable you to do what you need to do to survive.

Evaluate the environment.  Find and identify the available natural resources that you can build shelter from.  Is there fuel available to build and maintain a fire?  Is water available?  Are there materials present with which to signal for help?

Make a tentative plan. The object is to remove yourself from the survival situation and return to your family and friends as quickly and safely as possible.  At this point, it is very important to be totally honest with yourself and develop a realistic plan with a high likelihood of success.  It is very easy to allow the desire for comfort and companionship to override what may be a better decision: stay where you are.

Ego, especially with men, often gets in the way.  They often grossly overestimate their ability to travel to a distant destination and also grossly underestimate the distance to that destination!  Not a good combination!

Do you know where you are relative to the availability of help?  What time of day is it?  Is it too late to try to walk out today?  Would it be better to hole up for the night and re-evaluate the situation in the morning?  Did you let someone know where you were going and when you would be back?  If so, you can be assured that help will come.  Be patient and allow yourself to be rescued rather than attempting to rescue yourself.  It’s safer.

Step by step, plan your moves:   At least, plan the first few moves because you might not be able to see the entire journey.  Decide what you are going to do and when you are going to do it. Is your physical condition such that you can safely accomplish the overland travel you are planning?  If it is, do you have the clothing you need to protect yourself from the weather conditions that exist?  Do you know where you are going?  Do you have the energy that you will need to get to your destination?  Do you have the navigation equipment you need to reach that destination safely?  If you can answer all of these questions in the affirmative, without letting wishful thinking cloud your decision-making ability, then your next step is to:

Plan contingencies.  Make alternative plans for foreseeable problems.  Anticipate the problems that might arise as you rescue yourself.  These problems may include changes in the weather, rougher terrain than you expected, heavy vegetation, overestimating your ability to negotiate the terrain you encounter and other issues. By thinking ahead, you may already have a solution to the predicaments you may face.

“Do” the plan in your head. Before you start, walk through your plan step-by-step.  Review each stage of the plan objectively, realistically and with an eye for anything you may have forgotten.  Ask yourself, “Can I really do this or is it my impatience and desire to be back with my family that is making me want to “get home?”  If you can’t “do” the plan in your head it won’t work on the mountain!  Revise your plan.  Find alternatives to those parts of the plan you have doubts about and when you are comfortable with it:

Execute the plan. When all is in order, put your plan into action.  Do not let the concerns of others, the promises you made to be home by a certain time, the desire to go for help or any other issue influence your choice of action. Your decision to self-rescue should not be driven by panic or an overwhelming desire just to “get-out-of-here!

Deciding to self-rescue must be based on a thorough, comprehensive, objective review of your situation.  In the final analysis, even if it looks like you can “do-the-plan”, the best choice might still be to sit tight and let the rescuers come to you!

© 2011, thesurvivalmom. All rights reserved.

image by moonstarsilverwolf

Our July Skill of the Month is planning an evacuation, and for some of us, that’s easier said than done.  Survival Mom Renee posted this question over on the Survival Mom forum, and I think we can give her some help.  She says,

I live 12 miles from a nuclear power station. I also have a son with Asperger’s (special needs), and my elderly parents live 2 houses down from me.  I have been able to talk them into getting a (very, very) basic B.O.B.  Just clothes, meds, together in one place, along with some Iosat tablets and a mini-first aid kit I added, but that’s it so far.  My biggest concern right now is how to figure out a plan in case there is some sort of explosion at the nuclear plant. Even if we are able to get in our car and start to leave right away, there aren’t that many ways out of here, back roads, mostly, and by the time we get a little ways down the road, other people will also be evacuating and there will be a traffic jam from hell. I can’t imagine my mother, in her bad health, being able to handle getting out of the car and hoofing it on foot anywhere, so we very likely may get stuck on the side of the road somewhere, which would not be good since my mom can barely walk and has extreme anxiety already.

I’m trying to figure out what the worst case scenario might be in a case like that, like if terrorists bomb it or something.  How big of an explosion would there be, how much radiation, and how far would it travel?  Being 12 miles away is it feasible to plan to stay home and shelter in place, or should we make a mad dash for it?  So I guess I’m asking what process I could use to develop some sort of formula to help me determine what the best plan is for us to have so I can communicate it with my parents and plan our BOB’s accordingly.  All I know is, as long as I’m sitting here not knowing, the lack of plan is the worst part of it all.  Any suggestions would be great.

What advice do you have for Renee?  I’m sure she isn’t the only Survival Mom (and Dad) facing a similar dilemma.  You can post your suggestions here, over on the forum, or both.  Thanks!  (You’ll have to register to reply on the forum, but it’s a simple matter and won’t generate any obnoxious spam email.)

© 2011, thesurvivalmom. All rights reserved.

I’ve been thinking a lot about evacuations and evacuation routes.  After all, it’s one of the most enduring topics found on survival blogs, forums, and websites.  The Bug Out  Bag, Bug Out Vehicle, Bug Out Routes, and Bug Out Retreat have occupied thousands of hours of discussion and debate among preppers and survivalists alike.

image by clicksense

Everyone thinks they’ve got it all figured out.

Oftentimes, the plan comes with a little caveat, as in, “I hope we don’t have to evacuate during the winter.”  Or, “I hope the river isn’t flooding if we ever have to bug out.” Hoping isn’t much of a plan!  Your ideal evacuation route, first of all, should include more than one route.  If the river is flooded, go to Plan B.  If your main exit road is snowed in, you’d better have another route in mind unless you’ll be okay staying put until spring.

My own dilemma is that I live on an island of 4 million people, surrounded by desert, and there are only three main roads leading out of town.  All of them lead into the desert, a desert that kills hundreds of illegal immigrants every year.  Even the most savvy desert survivalist knows better than to begin a trek into the desert in the summer heat.  It’s impossible to carry as much water as you’ll need, and gas stations are few and far between.  Now imagine just a quarter of the city’s population trying to get out of town in the face of some massive catastrophe, a dirty bomb, say.  How many casualties will there be?  How many will make it to a safe destination?  Very few.

image by Mike_fleming

This summer, while the kids are out of school and you may be planning some family travel, why not make some time to check out evacuation routes in your area?  Get a detailed road map and a GPS, if you can.  Small, obscure roads may show up on a GPS but not on a printed map.  As  you travel over these roads, be aware of bridges, canals, and washes that might be overcome with water in a flood. Are there mountain passes that could become impassable in winter weather?  Stop and talk with locals who might be able to give you suggestions or clue you in on the downfalls of traveling over a certain route.

If you’re thinking you’ll 4-wheel it, you’d better be darn certain that both you and your vehicle can handle the rough terrain, especially if you’ll be loaded down with food, water, fuel, and supplies.  Those of you with young kids, think hard before planning a difficult route through wilderness in which you’ll be cut off from towns, other drivers, and possibly cell phone service, if cell phones are even operational.

Take into consideration why you might be bugging out.  Your plans in case of a hurricane may be different than if your city experiences a terrorist attack, a wildfire, or widespread power outage.

image by taberandrew

Also, if you plan on using more than one vehicle to bug out or you plan on pulling a trailer, boat, fifth wheel, or something else, the route(s) you choose need to be able to handle those extra loads.

So much depends on the type of crisis and its longevity, there are worse things than hunkering down in a well-supplied and fortified home.  Dying of dehydration in a 120 degree desert comes to mind.

Your assignment this month is to:

1. Check out routes on a road map and mark them.
2. Travel over one of the routes and critique it for its viability in a disaster or TSHF scenario.  Use a GPS to locate possible other paths.
3. Talk with locals and/or law enforcement along your route to learn about alternative routes and possible dangers to be aware of.
4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 for other routes.

More on evacuations here:

Lessons for Hurricane Evacuations

Bugging out to the wilderness:  Is it a smart option?

Get to know Depiction

Organize your Emergency Evacuation in 5 Easy Steps

Self-Rescue: When staying put isn’t an option

© 2011, thesurvivalmom. All rights reserved.

image by SCA Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget

Recently, I bought an E-Cloth after learning how it could help keep my house more sanitary.  It’s a pretty amazing invention, a microfiber towel that has been proven to remove 99% of bacteria from hard surfaces using only water.  It’s been great using it in the kitchen, but I think it’s also something worth packing in Bug Out Bags (B.O.B.).

First, there is no need to also pack cleaning solutions and chemicals.  As long as you have access to water, the E-Cloth’s impressive bacteria-killing properties go to work.

Second, the E-Cloth saves money on the purchase of cleaning products, and the E-Cloth itself lasts for 300 washings!

Third, you never know where you’ll be when you pull out that Bug Out Bag.  It’s likely that sanitation won’t be the primary concern, and yet you’ll want to protect your family from exposure to invisible bacteria.  You’ll be able to clean surfaces at campgrounds and even FEMA shelters!

There is a surprisingly large array of E-Cloths, including one for the bathroom.  Keep one with your vehicle’s First Aid Kit, Bug Out Bags, and yes, one in the kitchen and bath!

© 2011, thesurvivalmom. All rights reserved.

image by adria.richards

Last year, Kathlyn Smith of Texas shared with me some of her hurricane experiences.  She’s a single mom in her 50′s and has managed to ride out two recent hurricanes, Ike and Rita, on her own.  A portion of this interview is in my upcoming book, but I thought you might be interested in her entire story.  In the comment section, tell us the main thing you learned from this interview!

Survival Mom: How many evacuations have you experienced?

Kathlyn:  Three – Hurricane Alicia (1984 ); Hurricane Rita (2005); Hurricane Ike (2008)

Survival Mom:  In regards to Hurricane Ike, when did you decide you would evacuate?

Kathlyn:   I work on Galveston Island but could not leave work until our office was secured for the hurricane, could not leave until Thursday evening before the storm hit on Friday night/Saturday morning.  I wanted to get on the road Thursday, but could not due to the huge traffic jams on the major thoroughfares.  Police prevented taking back roads to get out of town.  They wanted everyone on the freeways.

By Thursday night the news reporters and weather people had frightened the general public to the point that those who lived north of Houston at elevations of 250-300 ft. got on the roads ahead of the people who were forced to leave under mandatory evacuations so they were stuck in traffic for hours.  Lots of cars ran out of gas so stations were closed because the owners/operators had left to secure their own properties.  Cars out of gas were pushed off the road and the people in them were just left by others, including the elderly and infirmed.

image by CoreBurn

When I evacuated before Hurricane Rita, it took me the better part of a day to drive what should have taken about an hour.  Again, gas stations were quickly out of gas and people were fighting over gas at the pumps.

During Hurricane Alicia (1984), we got stuck on the road in our car with an 18 month-old as the storm passed over.  Again, we left in plenty of time but did not anticipate the problems with traffic.

Survival Mom:  Did you think about staying home and what changed your mind?

Kathlyn:  I ended up staying home for the duration of Hurricane Ike due to the massive traffic jams but left immediately after because of the lack of power and the potential that it would be out for as much as 21 days in 100 degree heat.  I had water from the storm in my home and did not feel that it was safe to stay.  I mopped up what I could and turned the A/C down so it would come on if power was restored.

Survival Mom:  What do you pack for evacuations?

Kathlyn:  If you live on the Gulf Coast for any period of time, you learn to keep prepared for the next storm.  The stores are stripped within a couple of hours and are filled with frantic people looking for something to drink and eat.  The cash registers and electronic pay systems are quickly overwhelmed and eventually shut down.  Take cash with you.  Even if you are able to find something, you will stand in lines for hours.  The same thing goes for gasoline and ice – try to keep you auto as full as possible ahead of a storm in case you can’t get what you need.

I pack the following:

• Food, perishable & non-perishable snacks & “real-food” like sandwiches, fruits & vegetables that can be eaten raw.  Try to stay away from salty foods that will require more to drink and make more frequent bathroom stops.  The most perishable foods are eaten first.  We are campers so I almost always have freeze dried, dehydrated & things that are easily eaten without cooking.   Fresh fruits and raw vegetables should be eaten first.  Items such as granola bars, dried fruits are good & unsalted nuts are filling and can substitute for a meal.  Get the freeze dried meals from places like Mountain House that have the built-in heaters.  You can add water from a bottle, pour it into the bag with the food and 25-30 minutes later you can have a pretty decent meal.  Never underestimate the value of a good tasting, warm meal for morale.
• Water & drinks – I carry two cases of water in the back of my SUV all the time.   Kids get tired of water really quickly so the kool-aid & other flavored products you can buy in packets sized for the amount of water in the bottles really helps.  Cokes will dehydrate you faster than water, tea or fruit drinks so try to stick to those.
• 

  image by adria.richards

  Gasoline in containers that you can strap to the top of the car with bungee cords or strapping materials.  I take enough to re-fill my car and extra in case someone else is in need.  You do not want to place gas in the car along with the passengers.  First it is flammable, and second, it emits fumes that make the passengers sick.

• Money – Cash may be the only thing accepted after power is lost.  Also, the cash machines will be emptied in no time at all.  Keep money in the house to take with you, again, you don’t want to waste time sitting in lines or make yourself a target of someone who needs cash and cannot get it by any other means than taking it from you.
• Clothing – appropriate for the weather and enough for at least 3 to 4 days, depending on room.  This includes protective shoes & socks.  I work at the medical center down here and lots of folks wear flip flops.  There were injuries to their feet due to stepping on storm debris & getting wounds when they returned to the island.
• Don’t forget bedding & towels especially if you have a large family.  Your friends & family may not have enough and we heard reports that some of the hotels could not keep up with the demand after a couple of days.
• First Aid Supplies – Realize that if you are in the hurricane zone others who live there will be in similar situations as you.  While they tried to keep the hospital emergency room open, there was no way to send ambulances, helicopters and other rescue transportation for 12-15 hours.  Learn basic first-aid as you may be on your own for quite some time.
• Pets & their supplies.  In previous evacuations, one of the things many people found out was that they could not take their pets with them on public means of transportation so many stayed with their animals.   This changed a bit for Ike and people were told that they could bring their pets, but they had to be in appropriate transport crates (pet taxis no boxes), must have their vaccination records with them, and bring their leashes and food & water.  Some people turned their animals out to fend for themselves and others left their animals in the house or the garage to starve to death when they were unable to return for longer that they thought.  Many of the animals left with others (shelters or boarding facilities) in Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Ike were not returned to their owners for various reasons. Animals left at shelters were considered abandoned when the people who owned them were not able to get back or contact the shelters when they thought they would.  Contact was impossible for several weeks due to cell towers being out & service overloads, so was internet contact.  People were not allowed back to their homes for over 3 weeks.  Many of these poor animals were shipped to other SPCA’s & shelters when the food ran out and were adopted out in other parts of the country.  My fur babies go with me no matter what.

Survival Mom:  Had you made any preparations prior to this or was it a rushed event?

Kathlyn:  Like I previously stated, many people who have been through this before keep supplies ready so I was, for the most part prepared, and all I had to do was pack my containers the car, get gas in the gas cans and head out.  Getting the patio set and all my potted plants inside the garage was harder and took longer than I thought it would, mainly due to the extreme temperatures and the fact that I was doing this by myself.

The main problem was the getting on the road because of all the traffic.  I decided not to get stuck once the roads were jammed and waited the storm out at my home then got out of here.

image by adria.richards

Survival Mom:  In retrospect, was that sufficient?

Kathlyn:  Yes, the only thing I ran out of was wee-wee pads for my Yorkies, and I was able to get them in New Orleans while I was staying there with my daughter.

Survival Mom:  Did you pack anything that you didn’t need?

Kathlyn:  No, not really. There is limited room for the essentials so start with them and pack the unnecessary stuff last, if there is room.

Survival Mom:  What do you wish you had packed?

• More gasoline.  It took me almost 5 hours to get out of Houston and I had used most of my standby gas by the time I was able to find a station to refill near Baton Rouge.  Most of the stations between here and Baton Rouge were not open and the ones that were had long, long lines – blocks long. You must have enough fuel to get yourself out of the disaster area – that may be more than one tank full, depending on the range of your car.  Consider covering your gas supply with a tarp or something to make it not so obvious to others that you have gas with you.  I heard on the radio reports that people were pulling weapons and taking gas, money and other supplies from those who had it on their cars.  The veneer of civilization is thin, especially in situations like this.

• I also wish I had a Garman or other navigation device for directions. While I had my cell phone with me and this kind of service through Verizon, some of the towers were damaged and I could not get reception in many areas.   Some of the main roads were closed and traffic had to re-route.  I just followed the pack and was able to find my may back.  It would have been less stressful if I had one of those with me, especially after dark.

image by richardmasoner

Survival Mom:  Describe your experience with the evacuation.

Kathlyn:  It was a very stressful situation.  If there is any way to shelter in place and be safe, that would be optimal.  I am planning to purchase a natural gas driven whole house generator to make that more of a possibility.  The heat, lack of comforts of home and being trapped in your car makes everyone cranky.  After I was able to get on I-10 headed east from Houston to New Orleans, I followed the National Guard as they cleared I-10 of debris.  There were abandoned cars, cars containing bodies of people, dead animals of every description and huge amounts of vegetation.  I was able to follow the guard unit until the Texas border with Louisiana then I was on my own along with some other drivers headed the same direction.  The roadway was blocked much of the way so you had to travel slowly and weave in and out to avoid hitting items in the road.

You can’t predict what others will do in similar situations with a lot of stress.  We heard reports of fights at gas stations because someone cut in front of someone already in line, people pulling guns and robbing people of money and supplies.  I kept my automatic loaded and under the front seat in case I needed it.  Thankfully, I did not although none of us in New Orleans left the house without protection.  They were still recovering from Hurricane Gustav from just a week earlier.

Survival Mom:  How did your kids cope with everything?

Kathlyn:  No children at home with Ike.  During Hurricane Alicia I had an 18 month-old.  She did not like being confined in a car seat and diaper changes were hard in a fully loaded automobile.  She slept after crying it out but until then it was stressful for us all.

Survival Mom:  What did you do to try to make the whole experience less traumatic for them?

Kathlyn:  I would bring more to entertain her.  Today’s cars are sometimes equipped with video players and older children should bring their video games and movies.  There is comfort in things familiar so let them bring some old movies and games as well as some newer ones.  When she got older we kept a little plastic box where we stored new color books, colored pencils (crayons melt in the heat down here), stickers and the like.  Each child should have their own so as to avoid arguments.

Survival Mom:  What did you learn from this experience?

Kathlyn:  If you are leaving, plan to leave early, before a mandatory evacuation is called.  Make your plans in advance.  People will call hotels and motels to reserve rooms in advance of the storm, so there may be nothing available, even if you can get there.

Even if there are evacuation plans for targeted times to leave you cannot plan for others leaving outside of their window.  There will be traffic jams and you don’t want to waste precious gas and patience sitting in traffic.

Be ready – spend the days ahead of the storm preparing your home by boarding windows, and getting your bug out supplies ready to go.  Decide what you will take and what must stay.  After you have decided and packed what you are taking you can spend some time to place items that must stay into waterproof containers, place furniture on top of canned goods wrapped in foil or plastic bags and cover with waterproof tarps.

image by Coy!

Hurricane Rita hit the summer before my daughter’s wedding.  We were making her gown and her bridesmaids’ dresses. I had hundreds of dollars of silk and lace that I was not leaving behind as well as my sewing machine and other things critical to make the gowns.  I could not replace them so I had my sister park her small car in my garage and drive my big Expedition filled with supplies, the fabrics and machines.  While everyone else was looking for boards and plylox hurricane clips I was searching for PVC pipes to wrap the silk around to keep it from becoming creased!

Survival Mom:  What advice would you give to moms who may face a future situation?

Kathlyn:  Prepare ahead of time so that you will not be in a panic.  Your children will pick up on your anxiety.  Convey to your children why you must do this and let them know you have a plan.  Allow them to help to the degree that they are able.  Let them pack their own things to take for entertainment.  They will probably ask a lot of questions so be prepared to answer them.

Survival Mom:  Is there anything else important you would like to add?

Kathlyn:  If you are leaving, plan to leave early, before a mandatory evacuation is called.  Make your plans well in advance.  People will call hotels and motels to reserve rooms in advance of the storm, so there may be nothing available for many miles, even if you can get there.   Consider what you will do or where you will go to ride out the storm.  Lots of folks headed in the direction the storm eventually took after leaving the coastal area and spent the storm in parking lots because there was no place for them to stay.

Even if there are evacuation plans for targeted times to leave you cannot plan for others leaving outside of their window.  Don’t wait for mandatory evacuations orders to be called.  There will be traffic jams and you don’t want to waste precious gas and patience sitting in traffic.

Be ready – spend the days ahead of the storm preparing your home by boarding windows, and getting your bug out supplies ready to go.  Do this early as high winds and rain bands can be experienced days before the storm arrives.  You don’t want to be on a ladder trying to install covers on second floor window if there is a stiff breeze.

Decide what you will take and what must stay long before you plan to leave.  After you have decided and packed what you are taking you can spend some time to place items that must stay into waterproof containers, place furniture on top of canned goods wrapped in foil or plastic bags and cover with waterproof tarps.

Remember that nothing is as important as the lives of your family and loved ones so prepare for them first – including the pets.

Survival Mom:  Is there anything you’ve done to make future hurricanes and evacuations less traumatic?

Kathlyn:  Some things I have done to make it safer for me to stay or easier to leave:

image by Big Sean

Note that all of this was not done at one time but over the course of the last several years:

• I hired a handyman to make custom storm windows out of 5/8” polycarbonate (Lexan).  These are permanent and stay up year round.  You can’t even tell they are there because they are so well installed.  I do not have to board up every time there is a storm in the Gulf.  While they may or may not be bulletproof they do not shatter like glass to allow access into the home.   This will help deter looters since they cannot obtain access to my home by simply breaking a window.
• In a few months I will have polycarbonate placed in my storm doors for the same reasons as stated above.
• I had a metal roof placed on my home. It has a Kynar coating on it to make it look like standard shingles so the HOA is happy.  The roof locks into place and is installed with screws – not nails – to make it more secure.  While it is a bit more expensive than a regular roof, I did not have to replace my roof after Hurricane lke like the neighbors did.
• I have a system to brace my double garage door to keep it from being blown down in the event of a storm.  The system is easy to put in place and I can do it after I have everything in the garage.
• I will be installing a whole house natural gas generator later this year in order to have power to the whole house in the event of an electrical outage.  This will make it easier to shelter in place if I have to.
• I have placed power strips with surge protectors on all of my appliances to protect them from a potential power surge when the electricity is restored.
• I keep most of my bug out supplies in Rubbermaid containers so I can pack those items into the car with little or no notice. This includes supplies for the people and pets.
• I keep gas cans filled with gasoline and a stabilizer so that I don’t have to wait in line for gas.  The gas can be used throughout the year for the car or for lawnmowers & other gas powered uses then refilled as used.  The tarps to cover them and bungee cords to secure them are stored near them in a Rubbermaid container.
• I keep cash hidden in the house so as not to have to wait in line at an ATM.
• I keep and rotate food supplies for emergencies.  If I must shop for something, I do it early and a little bit at a time, again storing much of it in a Rubbermaid container.
• NOTE:  Plastic containers should have flat lids (some are rounded) so that they are secure when placed one on top of another and do not fall if the load shifts – lesson learned the hard way   ~:o)

© 2011, thesurvivalmom. All rights reserved.

image by martinluff

Whenever I get panicked about something scary, the end of the world, for example, I wait a few minutes and the feeling goes away.  I’m not panicking about earthquakes, but after I watched this video, I think each of us should have an earthquake emergency kit and a family meeting, just in case.

Will there be a large earthquake in the coming days or weeks right in our own backyard? I don’t know, but I do know that I haven’t given earthquakes much thought since we don’t exactly live near the Ring of Fire. However, just as we’re beginning to see economic repercussions here in America due to the Japanese quake, a large enough jolt here in the U.S. could have similar consequences. Just as 9/11 affected the entire country in one way or another, a massive disaster will do the same.

I’ve written about earthquake safety and making plans for an evacuation here and here.

You might also find helpful Not-Just-For-Alaska Earthquake Survival and Seven Ways to Prepare for an Earthquake.

Leon Pantenburg, who writes at Survival Common Sense, explains how to put together an emergency survival kit here.

And, back in February, Leon interviewed James Roddey, Earth Sciences Information Officer with the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries. You can listen to the interview here.

Above all, it’s important to have a family meeting about your family’s plans in case of an earthquake, or any other type of disaster, really.  If your kids are young, turn the meeting into a game and a challenge, as in, “How fast can you grab your overnight kit and run outside?”  This Masters of Disaster program is an excellent tool for teaching about scary subjects, such as earthquakes or tornadoes.  Whatever emergency you’re preparing for, the whole family must be involved and informed.  You and other adults in the family can have more serious talks later.  Here are some ideas for a kid’s emergency kit.  Be sure to read the comments also for more ideas.

Prepare, stay calm, and stay safe!!

© 2011, thesurvivalmom. All rights reserved.

image by thaddselden

When many urban or suburban people think about Prepping or Survivalism, they think about bugging out to a more rural location.  This has to be one of the most frequently-expressed fantasies in the Prepping world, and reams have been written about where to go and how to get there.

But very little has been written from the perspective of the rural dwellers.  How does your average farmer feel about urban folks bugging out to the country?

We live on a twenty-acre homestead farm in rural north Idaho.  Wow, I can see your eyes sparkling from here.  You’re thinking, “What a perfect bug out location!”  Then believe me when I say the most dreaded words a homesteader can hear on the subject of Prepping is, “Well, if the bleep hits the fan we’ll just come live with you.”

Oh, bleep.

The truth about farms and homesteads

“Farm” does NOT mean remote or isolated or even self-sufficient.  Farmers live pretty much like you do, but with more elbow room.  We go to the grocery store.  We have jobs.  We have neighbors.  And we have towns nearby.

Okay, granted those towns can be pretty small by urban standards, but they’re just as full of unprepared people as anywhere else.  That means if the manure hits the rotating device, we’re going to have our hands full dealing with them.

Bear in mind that most people in the country may not be much more prepared than you are – which is to say, perhaps not at all.  Unless rural folks already have a Preparedness mindset, they’re just as susceptible to societal interruptions as your average city person.

image by Marion Doss

Our only advantage is we’re farther away from the Golden Horde, that mythical group of city folks who will take to the road in times of disorder.  Or are we?  In our case, we live within a very short drive (as in, four minutes) from a town of 1000, many of whom are on welfare and are just as dependent on government checks as anyone in the inner city.  This means they will certainly go “foraging” when they get hungry.

Many people don’t realize that the Greater Depression has already impacted rural areas.  Hard.  Jobs out here are as scarce as hen’s teeth (as the saying goes) and unemployment in our county hovers around 20%.  Most of us are poor to begin with, especially by urban standards.  That means we don’t have a lot of money to pour into elaborate “prepper” projects.

So does this mean you should give up your idealized little dream about bugging out to the country?  Yes and no.  It depends on how realistic you’re being about your bug out plans.

Ten Tips if you decide to bug out to the country

To smooth the way, here are ten tips that may make your welcome a little warmer.

1. Don’t Come Unannounced

If you want to escape from the city, make your own private plans in advance and do not broadcast them to every Tom, Dick, and Harry of your acquaintance.  Nothing will dismay a rural friend or relative – much less a perfect stranger – more than having a brace of new people on their doorstep asking for food, shelter, and protection.  There’s nothing wrong with talking to rural-dwelling friends or relatives about the idea of deploying to their place if things get bad.  But if you do……

image by griffhome

2. Prepare the Way

One of the “panic” aspects we country folk feel is that we don’t have enough supplies to provide for a hungry horde.  And we don’t.  Let’s face it, sometimes we barely have enough supplies to feed ourselves (remember, 20% unemployment in our area).  Do the math to understand our concerns.  If, through hard work, thrift, and diligence we’ve managed to squirrel away a year’s worth of food for our family of four – and then you show up with your family of four – then we’ve automatically halved our supplies to six months.  Now can you understand our fears?

Pretend you’ve bought an isolated cabin in the mountains to use as a bug out.  Would you be pleased to show up, exhausted and scared, to a cabin with no food, water, bedding, lighting, heat, or other necessities?  Of course not.  Presumably you would outfit your cabin to be ready for a bad scenario.

Your plans to bug out to a host family should be no different.  Send supplies in advance.  Send lots of supplies in advance.  Can’t afford it?  Well guess what, neither can we.  That shouldn’t stop you from sending a case of canned goods, a few sacks of rice and beans, perhaps some boxes of ammo.  If the host family has an unused corner of their barn, perhaps they’ll allow you to dedicate that area for your supplies.  Don’t forget clothing, sleeping bags, toiletries, firearms, medical supplies, etc., and make sure you make everything weather, insect, and rodent-proof.

If your finances permit, consider funding an expensive project that may be beyond a host family’s reach, such as a windmill, pond, or other pricey item.

Sending supplies in advance proves your worth.  It demonstrates you don’t plan to be a leech.

3. Clarify your Baggage

Even if you’ve made plans ahead of time and stashed adequate supplies, don’t expect a host family to welcome all your baggage.  For example, we have two large and semi-aggressive dogs.  We have large and aggressive dogs on purpose – they help protect us.  If you show up with a yappy Pomeranian and four cats, don’t expect us to be happy about it.  Our dogs would spend every waking hour trying to eat your pets for lunch.  And no, it’s not our fault that our dogs are “aggressive.”  It’s your fault for bringing animals into a situation that we’re not prepared – or willing – to handle.

image by Falashad

4. You’re Not the Boss

This is our home.  We live and work here.  We pay the mortgage.  No matter how much we may love and welcome you, you’re still coming as a supplicant, not a part-owner of our farm.  You are in no position to make demands or request that we change our way of doing things unless you can demonstrate you’re an expert.  And even then, it’s still our house, property, equipment, and possibly food and other supplies.  Hint: diplomacy will go a long way if you think you know a better way to do something.

5. Prepare to Work

If you bug out to a rural host family, remember they’re not running a bed-and-breakfast.  Don’t expect them to wait on you or cater to your every whim.  A farm – especially post-bleep – will be a place of constant and brutal work.  Nothing will annoy a host family more than some lazy jerk who does whatever he can to weasel out of the day’s chores.  Be ready, willing, and able to help.  It’s possible that lives may depend on the willingness of everyone to pitch in and work together to do what must be done.

6. Don’t Be Wasteful

When you arrive at your host family’s rural location, you must immediately change any wasteful habits you may have and become very parsimonious.   If you spill something, don’t lavishly use paper towels to wipe it up because you can’t buy any more.  Use a rag.  Treat everything as irreplaceable – because believe me, if you’ve bugged out in the first place, it’s probably because the bleep has hit the fan and common everyday things are irreplaceable.

image by andydr

7. Bring Skills

Host families in rural areas will be more likely to welcome those with useful skills. If your most useful skill is shopping or meditation or social activism, don’t expect a whole lot of sympathy.  Your master’s degree in 18th century French literature is not likely to do you a whole lot of good post-bleep.  But if you have practical skills – medicine or defense or mechanics or food preservation or animal husbandry or veterinarian skills or sewing or something similarly needed – you’re far more likely to find an open door.

And this should go without saying, but I’ll say it anyway: Don’t lie about your skills or abilities. If you state with confidence that you’re an expert at hunting and butchering – but have never held a rifle or dispatched a steer – that will be discovered soon enough. Learn those skills first before you claim knowledge. Duh.

So learn stuff.  Don’t show up ignorant.

8. Clarify by Contract

If/when the bleep hits the fan, people (urban and rural) are likely to a lot more hysterical than normal. Having your plans in writing ahead of time clarifies all the obligations, expectations, and limitations between the two parties. This contract can also include what the urban person can and cannot bring. Pets should be included in this list. If the rural refuge is not prepared to handle your yappy Pomeranian because he has three aggressive German Shepherds, you need to know that in advance.

This contract should include one very important part: how many people the host family is expected to take in.  If, in your compassion, you gather up every second-cousin-twice-removed and show up with a swell of fifty people, do you honestly think that’s going to work?

image by Gusttly

9. Shut Your Mouth

Okay, let’s say you’ve done everything right.  You’ve made a contractual plan in advance with a rural host family.  You’ve sent plenty of supplies ahead of you.  The welcome mat is ready to be rolled out.

Now whatever you do, shut up.  Don’t blab your plans to friends and coworkers, because doubtless they’ll want to know more, and before you know it, the host family’s OpSec is blown.  The host family is already going out on a limb by agreeing to take you in – don’t compromise their safety even more.  And if martial law ensues and your gossip spreads about the host family’s supplies, it may mean those supplies may be confiscated.  Congratulations, now you’re screwed – and so are the people who took you in.

10. Practice Forbearance

The dictionary defines forbearance as “patient endurance and self-control.”  Believe me, if the bleep hits the fan, we’re all going to have to practice astronomical amounts of forbearance.

It is not easy to move into someone else’s house.  It’s not easy for the hosts to have permanent guests either.  Imagine a standard-sized ranch house with five women in the kitchen.  Do you honestly think they’ll all get along swimmingly?  If that’s too sexist for you, imagine a building project with five guys or (worse) five engineers who all have their own ideas of how something should be done.  Who’s right?  Hint: whoever owns the house gets the final say unless you can diplomatically demonstrate you’re an expert in something.  And even then, ownership trumps expertise.

Remember what it’s like at your home when friends and family arrive for the holidays?  After three days, you long for everyone to leave.  Well if it’s TEOTWAWKI, it won’t be a three-day vacation.   There will be stress, anxiety, and short tempers.  Everyone will need to walk gently, or the biggest danger for all may be much closer to home than you realize.

Living spaces are likely to be cramped and not private.  There is only so much room in the average country home.  It’s not like farmers live in mansions with multiple extra bedrooms.  Expect to be bunked down on the living room floor or even the barn, shoulder to shoulder.  (And no, the host family should NOT have to give up their bedrooms for you.)

image by jugglerpm

Additionally, septic systems are easily overwhelmed by extra usage.  One of the first projects everyone is likely to be involved in is digging an outhouse.  Please don’t complain about its construction or usage.

If the circumstances with your host family become hostile and unbearable due to stress, high emotions, and general fears – then feel free to make other arrangements and leave.

I apologize if this list makes me sound hostile, but I’ll admit rural folks get tired of being treated like everyone’s personal deep larder if the bleep hits the fan, expected to uncomplainingly provide food and water and medical care and shelter and protection for anyone unprepared enough to show up on their doorstep.  Don’t get me wrong, we’re not without Christian charity and will do what we can to help; but like most of our neighbors, we are low income and our resources are NOT INEXHASTIBLE.   Our primary focus will be our family, neighbors, and beloved friends.

This article is not necessarily to discourage anyone from making plans to bug out to the country.  This is just an attempt to make you look realistically at the people whom you’ll be bugging – and I use that double-meaning intentionally.

© 2011, thesurvivalmom. All rights reserved.

image by mr.zorglob

Home, in most situations, is where it is easiest for you to survive most emergency disaster – that is the place, after all, where your food and water supplies are stockpiled, where you keep your guns, and where you are most familiar with conditions. However, there are some emergencies where the need to survive might compel you to abandon your familiar surroundings. For example, a large forest fire advancing through your area might threaten to reduce your house to ash, and in this case, there is nothing that you can do except heed the evacuation orders.

Those with an interest in survival matters will know that the best time to make arrangements for coping with an emergency is when it hasn’t happened yet. The whole idea of the survival movement is to be prepared, in one way or another, for critical, unexpected situations, to avoid getting blindsided by them and so, hopefully, to survive them.

An examination of even a few evacuation situations in recent history will tell you that the official and private response to an approaching disaster is usually completely inadequate. Warnings are issued immediately before the hurricane rushes ashore or the wildfire sweeps into the city suburbs. As a result, the most obvious escape routes are usually choked solid with cars within a couple of hours, and many people abandon any effort to escape because they know they wouldn’t get far even if they tried.

image by kalleboo

When is the best time to evacuate?

You can increase your chances of getting yourself and your family out of a dangerous situation safely by making your own unofficial evacuation plan long before you need to use it. Hopefully, you will never be forced to flee from your home, but in the event that you are compelled to at some time in the future, you should do so in a way that maximizes your chance of evacuating successfully, with some provisions for your return, as well.

The first thing to do is to identify multiple routes out of your area, preferably in different directions. You don’t know from which direction disaster might approach, so you don’t want to be reliant on a single escape route if you can help it. This route could end up blocked by other fleeing people or the disaster itself.

Get a local road map, figure out at least two or three alternate routes, and then drive them. Don’t just leave your route a theory on paper – practice driving your evacuation routes in advance, until you are completely familiar with each, and can drive them reliably without needing to consult maps. Also practice driving them several times at night, since emergencies can happen without regard to the time, and it is often harder to find your way along a driving route at night than it is during the day.

image by pnoeric

When your life is potentially on the line, you don’t want to take a wrong turn in the dark and end up wandering a maze of back roads while a forest fire advances or a tsunami approaches. Becoming thoroughly familiar with your escape routes will increase your confidence while driving them, which in turn will make it less likely that you’ll panic and make a mistake.

Know what lies ahead

Check your area thoroughly for the location of both emergency resources and potential dangers. Find out where the local evacuee area is likely to be, since that is where rescuers and those bringing food and water to a disaster-stricken area will come first. Learn the locations of police, trauma centers and medical centers, and other places you can potentially go for help.

You also need to check for possible perils on your evacuation routes. These can include spots where you might get cut off – bridges can wash out during flooding, for example, and dams might break during an earthquake, rendering whole roads downstream impassible. Areas where gas and other explosive or poisonous substances are stored should also be avoided when possible, since their containment might be broken by the disaster.

image by swanksalot

You should also be aware of spots where the local inhabitants might give trouble when there is a general breakdown of law and order during an emergency. Don’t plan your evacuation route through a housing development where gang violence is rife even at the best of times.

The final touch to a good evacuation plan is to make a car emergency kit, including some non-perishable food, water or water purification equipment, a first aid kit, and some basic repair tools. Some maps in the glove compartment will help, and a topographic map of the local area – together with a compass – can be a lifesaver if you’re forced to flee on foot at some point. With these preparations in place, you can rest assured that if you are ever obliged to leave your home in a hurry, you will do so in as effective and safe a way as is humanly possible.

Learn more about Emergency Disaster & supplies by visiting us at Emergency Disaster.net

© 2011, thesurvivalmom. All rights reserved.

Can you imagine the level of adrenaline in your body if you suddenly got news of a dangerous chemical spill in your area or that a wildfire had taken an abrupt turn toward your neighborhood?  Officials tell you to evacuate now.  Besides the kids, what do you pack up first?

A Grab-and-Go Binder is a vital part of any family preparedness plan, and is one of the first things you should put together. This binder will contain all of your most critical information in one place for any type emergency, even if it’s just a quick trip to the ER.

For this project you’ll need a 1″ three-ring binder, a set of tabbed dividers, and a copy machine. A box of plastic page protectors will keep your documents clean and unwrinkled. The binder you create will be unique to your family, but here are some suggestions to get you started.

Label a divider for each of the following sections, and then begin inserting copies of your documents.

Financial Documents
1.  copies of the fronts and backs of debit/credit cards
2.  copies of house and car titles
3.  copy of your will or living trust
4.  names, addresses and phone numbers of all banks
5.  other important documents related to employment and/or a family business
6.  copies of your insurance policies (life, health, auto, homeowners, etc.)

Personal Documents
1.  names, addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses of relatives and close friends
2.  copies of:
*  marriage license
*  birth certificates
*  drivers licenses
*  CCW permits
*  pet vaccine records
*  passports
*  Social Security cards
3.  a list of firearm serial numbers
4.  legal documents pertaining to child custody or adoption
5.  recent photos of each family member and each pet
6.  color photos of your house and each room in the house
7.  photos of anything of particular value
8.  military documents
9.  diplomas and transcripts
10. appraisals

Medical Documents
1.  copy of health insurance cards
2.  a list of blood types for each family member
3.  names, addresses and phone numbers of all doctors
4.  medical histories of each family member
5.  immunization records
6.  a list of current prescriptions, dosage, and pharmacy contact information

With your finished Grab-and-Go Binder, you’ll have the peace of mind knowing that your family can focus on a quick evacuation without trying to retrieve scattered family records.

What to do with the originals? It’s probably best to keep them in a fireproof safe or a safety deposit box. If that safety deposit box is a good 50 miles or more from your home, so much the better in the event of a tornado or other natural disaster. Also, be sure at least two other trusted people have access to that box in case you become incapacitated.

Unless you’re extraordinarily organized, chances are these records and documents are scattered around your house. Set aside a block of time to track them down and organize your family’s Grab-n-Go Binder. Emergencies arrive unexpectedly. A Grab-n-Go Binder is one way you can prepare for them ahead of time.

© 2010, thesurvivalmom. All rights reserved.

image by sludgegulper

One very simple item to always have stashed away in your vehicle is a road map of your state and maps for each adjoining state.  GPS systems are all fine and good, but I’ve noticed that when I rely on mine too much, I don’t have a good bearing on where I am or how I got there.

“Prepare to turn left in a quarter mile.”

“Make the next legal u-turn.”

How can the little tiny woman inside my GPS know what the weather conditions are like or whether or not my kids are screaming, and I’m in desperate need of strong drink?  An emergency evacuation is stressful enough without having the GPS lady nagging at me!

(Here’s a quick aside.  The first time I ever bought my daughter a Happy Meal, she was having a complete meltdown.  I handed the meal to her and moments later heard her voice from the back seat, “THIS IS NOT MAKING ME HAPPY!!”)

When I have a map in my hands, I feel more in control of my situation.  I can look for alternate routes, rest areas, and the next town with a McDonald’s.  If a major evacuation should ever force us to travel into the next state, I have maps of California, Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico handy in my Tahoe’s glove compartment.  At about five bucks each, it’s a small price to pay for some peace of mind.

I love technology as much as the next person, but be sure you don’t lose your navigation skills with an actual map because you’ve relied on a GPS for too long!  Also, make sure your kids know how to use a map.  There may come a time when they’re the ones doing the navigating, and you want to make sure you’re in good hands!

© 2010, thesurvivalmom. All rights reserved.