Top 7 Tip You Must Put On How To Prepare For Earthquake

Although residents of Southern California and other fault-riddled regions may be accustomed to riding out temblors, the latest earth-quake swarm, which struck Imperial County, 100 miles east of San Diego, left residents on edge and caused many people outside of the more common quake ready zones to wonder whether they would be prepared if an earthquake struck their area. More than 300 quakes shook Imperial County in August 2012. Though most were minor, two registered magnitudes of 5.5 and 5.3 large enough to shatter windows, knock trailer homes off their foundations, cause sporadic power outages and gas leaks, and prompt hospital evacuations, reported Maria Peinado, a spokeswoman for the Imperial County Emergency Operations Center. And they impacted nerves.
“It felt like there was quake every 15 minutes, one after another,” said Mike Patel, who manages Townhouse Inn & Suites in Brawley. “My kids are small, and they’re scared and didn’t want to come
back inside.” Though earthquake swarms like this aren’t necessarily the harbinger of bigger jolts to come, it’s a good reminder for those living in quakeprone areas and even those who aren’t in  hat
are typically described as “earthquake-heavy” regions to prepare themselves … just in case. Check out these seven simple tips offered by the Federal Emergency Management Association and the United States Geological Survey.

1. HAZARD CHECKS

   To reduce your risk of injury or death, conduct a “hazard hunt” through-out your home, neighborhood, workplace and school before a quake strikes, advises FEMA. Identify and fix hazards like unsecured televisions, computers, bookcases, furniture and unstrapped water heaters. Place breakable or heavier items on lower shelves, put latches on cabinet doors to prevent them from opening during shaking and keep flammable materials in latched cabinets or on lower shelves.

2. SECURE YOUR HOME’S INTEGRITY

   Next, inspect your home’s structural stability. Whether you’re a homeowner or renter, take a look at the building’s foundation, roof, chimney, unreinforced masonry, unbraced cripple walls, soft first stories and vulnerable pipes. Speak with a contractor or engineer (or talk with your landlord) to help you identify your building’s weaknesses and begin to fix them as soon as possible.

3. BECOME SHUT-OFF VALVE SAVVY

   Learn where your electric, gas and water shut-off valves are located, and be sure you and your family members understand how to turn them off in case lines are damaged. Also make certain you have easy access to any tools you’ll need, like a wrench or pry bar, should the valve be stuck or blocked.

4. ASSEMBLE A DISASTER KIT

   Put together disaster supply kits and store them in accessible locations at home, at work and in your vehicle. Having emergency supplies readily available can reduce the impact of an earthquake. Your disaster supply kits should include food, water, flashlights, portable radios, batteries, a first-aid kit (see sidebar for a list of must-have items), cash, extra medications, a whistle, fire extinguisher, tools and a blanket. Also make sure you have a list of emergency contact information in your kit, including

Staying Safe in a Big Crowd

There are many dangers that go along with a crowded event, especially when it is populated to the extreme. Not only does it bring risk of harm to the attendees, but in fact to the entire city hosting the event as well. Every year thousands (or even millions) of people will flock to a destination all at the same time. From sporting events to political gatherings, there are certain activities that cause a massive draw of interest. Do these events help the region economically? Absolutely. Do these events unintentionally put residents in harm’s way? Yes, without a doubt and for these reasons…

Driving Conditions

When a large number of extra people come to a city, it causes the roadways to become flooded with cars. This makes driving conditions even more dangerous than usual. Any time there are that many out-of-town motorists unfamiliar with an area, combined with drivers stressed by the congestion, accidents are bound to happen. Another reason why the roads become a hazard is due to cell phones. There are many vacationers who use their handheld devices to locate restaurants, attractions, or to figure out where they are going, all while driving!

Mix this with the thousands of residents who are also just as distracted, and it is a recipe for disaster. The best way to ensure your safety if a major event came to town would be to avoid the roads altogether. Yet if there was no way of getting around driving in these crowded regions, do so with extra caution and heightened awareness. In addition, consider utilizing public transportation and your knowledge of the back roads. Make sure you know where you are going. I know several people who have had trouble because they got lost and ended up in bad neighborhoods.

Increased Risk of Disaster

Any time there is a major event bringing a substantial number of people into one area, there is a higher risk of threat. It is crucial residents stand prepared for anything and everything that could occur. The major issue for those who already prepare is that a disaster is reliable in case you need to flee. Also, keep your gas tank filled and a proper car kit inside.

• Go through your preparedness items to see if any need to be updated (water rotation, out-of-date food products, children’s clothing in BOBs, etc…).
• Prepare your home in hopes it will be a safe haven if a disaster were to occur. Remember to address the five basics – water, food, shelter, energy and self-defense.

Within a Crowd Safety Tips

If entering a crowded scenario (sporting event, concert, festival, etc…) there are certain precautions to take to help keep you safe.

1. Be careful where you park your car, try and park in a well-lit, busy area. phone) on your body, and not in a separate bag.
2. Wear clothing that does not attract a lot of attention.
3. Don’t flash money around, or wear expensive jewelry.
4. Putting a rubber band on your

Staying safe in an unstable enviroment

Holt wood would lead us to believe that spies and armed personnel have a sixth sense that alerts them when threats lurk around the corner.
The bad guys dressed as janitors always reveal their earpieces at the last second, and the hit man’s pistol suddenly materializes just in time for the protagonist to react and evade. Real life, sadly, is much less predictable, and often more lethal for the protagonist. The average person traveling in an unfamiliar city can easily chance upon a circumstance that turns violent or tragic. Those looking to take advantage of strangers are likely on their own territory, waiting to exploit a vulnerability a victim may not be aware of until ifs too late. David polled a handful of self-defense experts to provide some basic steps to keep you safe when you’re in transit or in an unfamiliar place.

Mindset

“There is no substitute for being switched on,” Larry Vickers, a former Delta Force Operator and tactical fire-arms instructor, maintained. “Staying situationally aware and not acting like a victim will keep you safer than any weapon.

There is a time and a place for the Gray Man, but in general, don’t carry yourself like someone who is weak or afraid.” Barry Eisler, a former CIA operations officer and a bestselling novelist of thrillers, agreed. “Alert and aware people do not make good victims,” he asserted. “A violent confrontation is not where any sensible person wants to be. Being alert and avoiding problems before they start is the key. “For example, start with what you are most concerned about. This clarifies whatever you are trying to protect against. Is it being mugged? Carjacked? Shot? If so, contemplate the conditions that would best serve someone trying to do those things and work from there. In other words, think like the enemy. Consider how you would operate if you were one of the bad guys. The threat can often define the solution.” But does being aware mean being perpetually paranoid and edgy? Not necessarily; it’s more about developing a preparedness routine. The key, according to Travis Haley, a former Force Recon Marine, is to “focus on the simple and high yield.”

“Cultivate habits that are consistent and can, and more importantly are, applied on a regular basis,” the CEO of Haley Strategic Partners stated. “Many people are taught things they can do, methods of self-defense, etcetera, but they don’t practice them. When that moment of sheer terror arrives, they freeze or forget. A prepared individual will be aware of what capabilities he has, and how to apply them to the circumstances.” Robert Young Pelton, author of Come Back Alive and The World’s Most Dangerous Places, sees modern habits putting many people at risk. “The next time you are in Times Square in New York, or a train station, or any location where a variety of people flow in and out, look at the number of people that are walking about listening to their iPods through … Read the rest

Bell + Howell 1176 Taclight High-Powered Tactical Flashlight Review

Hiding in plain sight and how to hide things in plain sight

On an unusually cold autumn day, with the sun barely able to breach a low bank of clouds that seemed to hug the skyscrapers downtown, there was an unexpected strangeness in the air, a detached apprehension. Perhaps it was just part of your mission or maybe the unsettling way things were left between you and your fellow operators at the morning’s briefing, but an uneasy anxiety cluttered your thoughts.
Walking downtown toward the jewelry district to meet your contact, you sensed a disturbance in the general flow of the foot traffic around you. It was as if something was amiss, but you couldn’t quite put your finger one it. Nerves? Tension? Stress? These have all been a familiar part of your routine in the months leading up to today’s operation, and you’ve gone over these plans, over these very sidewalks, countless times in preparation. Why these feelings today? Your gait was steady, smoothly following the patterns of the people around you. Something was very wrong. Stopping at a gold retailer at the edge of the district, you feigned interest in something in the window; instead, your eyes strain left and right to spot something, anything, out of the ordinary. A woman on the corner, checking her phone. A man in a business suit, waiting for the bus. A homeless guy rooting through the trashcan. Nothing sticks out.

Then you see him. Dark glasses, blue light jacket, tan slacks. You saw him three blocks back, crossing the street. He stopped when you stopped. You’re being followed. By whom? Why? Double cross. Abort the mission. Forget the plans. Three months of diplomacies and intricate procedures taught, learned, memorized, down the drain. Yes, abort and extract. Lose the tail, meet at the safe house and find out who the mole is. The first instinct is to keep moving and move quickly. Escape the situation as fast as possible; whoever he is, the bulge under his left arm says he isn’t here to make friends. But instead, slow down, act natural. Initiate the Gray Man. A snap right turn into the parking structure on Olive Street. It’s crowded with morning traffic as the business day has just begun. Through the structure and out onto Mercury Court on the east side. A quick glance tells you he’s still back there, keeping pace and keeping his distance. He stalls at the exit on Mercury Court, as you turn right down the alley between a Thai food place and the LA Diamond Factory. You pick up the stride, darting through merchants and shoppers, barely clipping the shoulder of older man as you bound onto Hill Street. It’s Wednesday. Your destination is Pershing Square on the next block north, a large brick-paved park that plays host to a Farmer’s Market, teeming with people.

It’ll be perfect, a nice crowded place to become the Gray Man.

Gone in plain sight

The Gray Man is invisible in plain sight. He is right in front of you, but nowhere to be … Read the rest

How do you get rid of a dead body after a catastrophe

It’s the fourth month of the epidemic. The news from your shortwave radio announces that the death toll around the world has reached one billion people. You, your family, some neighbors, and close friends have escaped the worst of it by bugging out to a compound of remote cabins deep in the woods. Besides the 28 of you, you haven’t seen a soul since you left the city. Two weeks ago, your neighbor’s teenage son went missing but turned up three days later with symptoms of the epidemic. It spread quickly through his family before they could be isolated. By the next week, they were dead, along with six others. The remaining survivors don’t seem to be infected, but with death comes bacteria, infection, disease. There are 11 bodies slowly decomposing in one of the cabins that need to be dealt with. It’s time to bring out the dead. But how ?

What to expect

Being exposed to human beings who have died of unnatural causes is not a normal part of the human experience. People with access to hospitals and funeral homes have become unaccustomed to the tasks of handling dead bodies. In a survival situation in which death has occurred, you might have to touch the remains of a human, move them, and perhaps hear the brittle sounds of rigor mortis or of built-up gases escaping. These are not normal situations, and it will take some mental fortification on your part to overcome. Death isn’t pleasant. It will never be pleasant, and you’ll have to prepare yourself for it.

In this situation (and many like it), the bodies you will encounter will most likely be damaged in horrific ways. There will be fluids, smells, sounds, and sights that will live with you for a long time. The discovery, removal and burial of these bodies will not be a tidy job, especially if you lack a few of the basic materials, such as gloves, body bags, tarps, etc. Although it might be difficult to restrain your empathy for a once-living person now lying dead before you—especially if he or she was a loved one—there is an important task at hand that must be dealt with quickly and properly. Survival is messy. It is best to get it over with before it gets even messier.

Organization

You are about to undertake an unpleasant activity. For a variety of mental and physical reasons, this will be difficult. Preparation is key. The better prepared you are for this, the quicker it will get done and the easier it will be. Ideally, you will have particulate masks, latex gloves, and body bags (or large garbage bags) to deal with the remains. This is why these things should be packed in your emergency bags.

If available, have a camera to document the situation, a pen and paper to make notes and to record names, and boxes or envelopes to store personal belongings. You’ll need to make a plan with the remaining survivors. Graves … Read the rest

How to survive being homeless

Crawling up the cold, slanted slab of cement has already gotten old, but this is now home. The crawl space just below the underpass is as good as it gets until you get your feet back on the ground. You push the flap to your tent aside, take a quick glimpse back at the dry riverbed some 60 feet away, wonder how you got here, and then crawl in for the night.
It isn’t too far fetched to imagine what life would be like if suddenly—tomorrow or maybe this afternoon—you lost your house, your job, your car, your bank accounts, and almost everything you might have held dear in your life. What then? Where do you go? What do you do? You’re on your own, and you’ve got to do what you can to survive. And it isn’t going to be easy.
Given these possibilities, American Survival Guide decided to pound the pavement in Denver and the urban sprawls of the reater Los Angeles area to learn a bit more about some survival methods, both proactive and preventative, that might benefit those to whom such circumstances should befall. There are proven ways to survive within our respective concrete jungles. 

Shelter

Obviously, the most important of your basic needs will fall under this category. No matter the situation, a safe, warm, dry place to rest and recoup is a given. You have three aspects to look out for, in terms of setting up a place to sleep: protection from the elements/danger, warmth, and concealment. You also have three options, depending on the situation: You can sleep in a vehicle if you have access to one, you can seek out a homeless shelter, or you can resort to an urban campsite of your own.

1. Vehicle: Obviously, your car or some type of motor vehicle is ideal cover. Should you have access to a vehicle, parking in a Wal-Mart, 24 Hour Fitness, major hotel chain, or any other type of all-night business parking lot is advised—if you are able to get to these locations. Due to these business hours, you’re less likely to have anyone questioning the car or paying you a visit. Your car can, of course, provide you with occasional heat if you need it, as well as power for connective devices such as laptops or cell phones, if you have one.
   There are many A/C adaptors within the $20 to $40 range, and you would be well served to keep one in your vehicle or bug-out bag, along with your phone charger (which you already probably keep on hand). Sunshades are also advised, because these are not only great for daytime protection, they are ideal for night-time privacy, as well, especially if your vehicle lacks tinted windows.
2. Homeless Shelters: Shelters are extremely beneficial to those in urban areas, and the homeless communities at large vastly appreciate them. However, staying in one can be trying for a newbie seeking a bed in a city homeless shelter, because this scenario comes with

What is the best survival knife in the world with review

Some of the most contentious debates occur when people start asking questions that begin with, “what one gun … ” or “what one knife … ” and so on. Those kinds of questions get asked, no matter the type of avocation one might pursue, whether it’s about fishing rods or the best all-around lens for photography. For this article, we open things up a bit and discuss not one style—but the top eight styles—of knives for survivalists to have on hand if and when things go sideways in the world. However, a couple of complications arise when we consider that this topic deals with items on which your life may depend, along with the fact that there are a lot of opinions out there that accompany the vast array of available knife styles. But the best answer to the question regarding the best styles of knives to have at the ready will result naturally from looking at our daily lives.

1. Kitchen knives

   You’d be surprised at the number of American kitchens that do not have a good set of kitchen knives—or an effective way to sharpen them. If the world does take a turn for the worse or something catastrophic happens, we’re not going to have easy access to takeout or microwave dinners. There will actually be more meal preparation taking place as we harvest our gardens and procure game.
   I didn’t have a good set of kitchen knives until about two years ago. I never gave them a second thought and just used what I had on hand for what little meal prep I did. Nevertheless, they are a useful addition, whether you’re bugging in or taking the show on the road in a long-term survival scenario. Whether you’re carving meat, chopping and dicing vegetables, or slicing a fresh loaf of bread you’ve just baked, a quality set of kitchen knives will be required when KFC is no longer an option.

2. Machetes

   Yes—I’m going from one extreme to the other. A machete is an extremely versatile tool for easily clearing vegetation, doing light chopping on saplings, and cutting away overhead vines—whether you’re at home clearing out some light brush or bugging out on foot. It can be used to build a shelter or to dispatch a chicken for Sunday dinner. In many countries, the machete is used for just about all cutting and chopping needs and is a definite must-have blade for a survivalist of any kind.

3. Hunting knives

   When you start discussing hunting knives, you can quickly get into “fightin’ words” territory. As far as the definition goes, “hunting knives” probably have a larger variety of styles, blades, and steel types and handle more configurations than just about any other category—except maybe survival knives. In fact, you can use various knives from just about every other category, although the opposite is not true. After I did my research about hunting knives, it was clear that there doesn’t seem to be much consensus as to what constitutes this knife

Light and lean: ultra-lightweight survival kit and gear for your choice

If you’re in shape, you might find it easy to run. A leisurely jog around the block or on the treadmill at the gym is no sweat. It’s not unusual to believe your body is capable of doing anything. After all, it’s simply putting one foot in front of the other. Try it. Start running flat out, but then do it over rough, rocky terrain in the dark … and imagine that you don’t know where you’re going. Now, add that you’re completely terrified. Now, consider your gear. The 20 pounds of equipment on your back that you thought would be essential when you packed it at home will soon feel like 20 tons. In a survival situation during which you are traveling a great distance and you are trying to do it quickly, every ounce of gear you have stuffed in your bugout bag or emergency pack will soon sap more and more of your energy. Consider a weight-loss program … for your gear.

Getting started—ultralight survival training. To stay ahead of the curve, I recently challenged my associates to cut the weight of their gear to a mere 10 pounds for a three-day weekend trip. By industry standards, “ultralight” translates to fewer than 10 pounds—excluding water, food, and fuel. By comparison, “superlight” is fewer than 5 pounds. What started off as a challenge proved to be a learning experience that ultimately impacted perspectives, as well as the gear carried, when weight has less of a bearing on the decision about what to pack.

The obsession with weight set in quickly when my group was presented with this ultralight backpacking challenge. Traditional bushcraft style dictates carrying canvas, wool, and leather kit items on trips—with little to no attention paid to their weight. This trip would challenge those in my group who rely on traditional gear for its rugged construction and durability in the field. Options such as titanium, sil-nylon, and carbon fiber became more viable for this challenge.

The strict maximum of 10 pounds gave me tunnel vision, and all I could think of was how to shave ounces off every individual item I carried. It was a daunting task, but I applied a logical order of thinking and focused on the essentials first. Faced with all the items in my standard load out in front of me, I started from scratch and built my ultralight kit from there. Warning: If you’re looking to go light, it can be costly, as many of my guys found out.

Pack

A quality pack is a must for the ultralight hiker. I usually carry a Kifaru Tailgunner and/or a Zulu pack. These heavy-duty, Cordura nylon packs have survived the worst conditions—thanks to their construction—but the tradeoff is weight. Because the weight carried for this particular weekend was 10 pounds and under, I could cut bulk and ultimately, weight, in the suspension and padding. I could also reduce or eliminate lashing points, MOLLE panels and extra compression straps.

In the end, I settled … Read the rest

Extreme cold weather clothing guide: brace yourself the winter is coming

If you’re not prepared, winter can kill you. Make a mistake in the wilds in June and you may have a long night ahead with a great story to tell your friends, but make the same mistake in January, and you may lose some fingers or toes and possibly your life. The first rule of winter travel is to respect the season. Read along to find out how to battle freezing temperatures and win.

Clothing

When selecting clothing, avoid 100 percent cotton at all costs due to its poor insulating value when wet and its inability to wick moisture away from the body. Many hikers who “die of exposure” in the wilds are often wearing cotton (“cotton kills” was coined for a reason). Instead, select items made of poly/cotton, nylon/cotton, fleece, wool, or silk. Most of my clothing is wool and was found for pennies (and practically brand new) at second- hand or army-surplus stores.

1. Upper body layers

   For the first layer, I wear a long-sleeved shirt of silk, merino wool or polypropylene. For the second layer, I don a turtleneck followed by a wool button-up style shirt. Depending on my activity level and the out-side temps, the remaining layers are a heavyweight wool or fleece sweater, followed by a parka or down jacket. Strive for two to five layers here. One thing I do, regardless of the season, is to stow a spark rod firestarter in each of my jackets along with a vial of cottonballs smeared with Vaseline. Fire is life in the wilds, especially during the brutal months of winter.

2. Lower body layers

   Choose Army surplus or Filson wool pants for one layer. For another, bring lightweight polypropylene or silk long-underwear. Nylon windbreaker pants are also helpful, but the weave of my Army surplus wool pants is so tight they are windproof.

3. Socks

   Make sure you have one or two pairs of heavy socks from fabrics such as Smartwool or Ragwool. Avoid cotton or athletic “tube” socks as they don’t wick moisture away from the skin and can cause severe blisters.

4. Footwear

   Take one pair of insulated boots with removable wool liners. The most common winter pac boots available for wet, slushy conditions are Sorel Pac-boots. These are clunky and cumbersome but perfect for those times when you are not moving around much. On occasion when hunting, I will wear Thinsulate boots if the temps are above freezing and the ground conditions are not wet. For the finest cold-weather footwear available, when the temperature drops below 20 degrees, Steger Mukluks are my first choice. These are based upon the traditional footwear of the Polar regions and their ultralight design makes them ideal for trekking and snowshoeing.

5. Headwear

   For serious winter, you’ll need a heavy wool or mad bomber-style hat. For milder weather, a wool hat will suffice, but when temps dip below zero, an insulated mad bomber hat will keep that survival tool between your ears operational.

6. Handwear

   Heavy wool or surplus mittens