Disaster Prep Scenarios – Part 1 of 3 : Basic Knowledge

A DISASTER is a hazard that leads to rampant chaos, destruction and, in many cases, a loss of life.

A natural disaster is an event of natural origin, occurring suddenly and resulting from the abnormal intensity of a natural agent. The result is major upheavals that can cause great damage on the material and human levels.

If you are unprepared for a disaster, you are likely to suffer way more than those who are well-equipped with essentials to minimize its adverse impacts. Prevention is, after all, better than cure. Prevention involves being prepared.

Being well-prepared for a disaster does not stall that disaster but it does make it  ‘more bearable’and maximize you and your family’s chances of survival.. It is important to be well-prepared for disasters of all kinds. Disasters that require adequate preparation fall into two broad categories, namely natural and man-made disasters.

Climate change or not, it is clear that our planet is suffering more and more natural disasters. Earthquakes, floods, storms… These events regularly make the headlines, causing an avalanche of questions. Are these phenomena increasing? How do they relate to climate change ?

According to analysts, the number of natural disasters has actually increased in recent years. And these would be more and more devastating. According to the United Nations (UN), on average 211 million people are directly affected each year by natural disasters , which is nearly five times the number of victims of war and conflict.

The year 2016 was the most costly year in terms of economic damage due to disasters since 2012. Natural disasters and man-made disasters around the world caused economic damage of more than $ 175 billion in 2016, twice as much as in 2015 ($ 94 billion) according to the annual SIGMA report published by the Swiss re-insurer Group Re :

1.23 million deaths in twenty years

Globally, the number of deaths hardly increased, going from 1.19 million over the period 1980-1999 to 1.23 million over the period 2000-2019, while the number of people affected by these natural disasters jumped ( from 3.25 billion to 4 billion).

The five countries that have recorded the most natural disasters over the past twenty years are China (577), the United States (467), India (321), the Philippines (304) and Indonesia (278) :

[ The graph below represents the number of natural disasters in each country between 2000 and 2019 ]:

The devastation a natural disaster can cause ie exemplified by Hurricane Mathew of October 2016 in which 90% of South Haiti was destroyed …..

• Hurricane Matthew, in October 2016, was the first Category 5 Atlantic storm since Hurricane Felix in 2007.
• With an estimated 546 deaths and $1.9 million in damages, Hurricane Matthew was the worst disaster to hit Haiti since the 2010 earthquake
• In the U.S., more than 40 people died and damage was estimated in excess of $10 billion.
• Flooding and power outages were the most widespread effects of the storm in the U.S.

Preparing for Emergencies

A whopping 86% believe an emergency supply kit, such as a 72-hour kit recommended by FEMA* or the Red Cross would improve their chances of surviving a disaster. Nevertheless, 72% have made no effort to put together such a kit. WHY ?
The number one excuse given by Americans is that they expect first responders to come to their aid. This is an unrealistic belief in the wake of a major disaster.

*FEMA = This is the USA’s Federal Emergency Management Agency whose mission is ” helping people before, during and after disasters. Our core values and goals help us achieve it”.

Examine carefully the following two surveys (2016) carried out by Chapman University (Orange State, California) concerning Americans’ Fears :

FEMA and the Red Cross are clear that Americans may need to survive on their own after an emergency. This means having their own food, water and other supplies in sufficient quantity to last for at least 72 hours. Local officials cannot reach everyone immediately.

While telling you to prepare for disaster is an inherently scary message, it’s important to understand that it can happen to you, and the best way to recover in the future is to prepare now.

Possible Emergencies

1 = Natural Disasters

This is a disruption in the balance of the environment. Human activities play a role in the frequency and severity of this type of disaster. The human factor raises the cost in terms of loss of life and damage to property. Not all natural disasters can be prevented.

Natural Disasters are inevitable and bound to happen unexpectedly. We are now going to present to you a publication that serves as a guide on how you can make your home and shelters disaster-ready in case a disaster happens at any point in time and affects you directly.

Nоbоdу lіkеѕ tо think аbоut dіѕаѕtеrѕ аffесtіng оur communities. Dіѕаѕtеrѕ аrе іnеvіtаblе – аt ѕоmе роіnt іn оur lіvеѕ, almost аll оf uѕ wіll have a bruѕh wіth аn еаrthԛuаkе, flооd, tоrnаdо, blіzzаrd, оr ѕtоrm. But thеrе’ѕ nо use іn wоrrуіng уоurѕеlf ѕісk; the bеѕt wау tо defend уоurѕеlf аgаіnѕt
аnу еmеrgеnсу іѕ tо bе рrераrеd.
Wе саn’t сhаngе thе wеаthеr, but wе саn tаkе steps tо рrоtесt оurѕеlvеѕ and оur рrореrtу whеn a dіѕаѕtеr іѕ оn thе wау.
Sоmеtіmеѕ, уоu wіll have days tо рrераrе fоr аn impending dіѕаѕtеr but оthеr tіmеѕ, уоu might nоt bе ѕо luсkу.

THE DISASTER-READY HOME : A complete, step-by-step manual for safely sheltering-in-place at home

If a disaster forces you to
shelter in place, do you think you have everything you need to safely and comfortably stay put in your home? If the answer is no, "The Disaster-Ready Home.." will help you create a safe, well-stocked place to weather out any emergency.

Survival expert and bestselling author Creek Stewart gives you a step-by-step emergency preparedness plan to meet your food, water, heat, and
sanitation needs during any disaster. Including detailed lists, photographs, and complete instructions to make the plan easy to follow, this book is
the only resource you need for disaster preparation.

You'll learn how to:

-Create an emergency pantry stocked with enough food for the timeframe of your choice--from 2 weeks to 3 months to a full year ;
- Select and store food that fits your taste, diet, and budget
- Easily rotate and use your emergency food supply, so nothing goes to waste
- Set up long-term water storage and renewable water sources
- Cook food and boil water when your kitchen appliances aren't working
- Safely heat and light your home when the power is out
- Effectively manage sanitation issues if running water is unavailable.

And much more! With daily headlines dominated by disease and disasters, the need to be prepared has never been more evident.
This practical, field-tested guide will help you protect and provide for your family when any situation arises.

SELECT YOUR AMAZON COUNTRY

amazon.com

amazon.ca

amazon.co.uk

amazon.it

[ NB: In the ‘Kits & Devices Section’ >>> Self/Family Protection we consider another form of Home Protection relevant to deter/prevent intruder break-ins and mob violence that can result from social unrest. ]

2 = Man Made Disasters

This type of disaster results from human intent, negligence or error. Man-made disasters can both be intentional (e.g.wars, terror attacks) or unintentional such as oil spillages, shipwrecks & wildfires. It results in huge loss of life and wide-scale property damage. In additon, a person’s mental, physical and social well-being is affected.

In PART 2 we will review how you can nullify the potential devastating effects by possessing the appropiate equipments and devices, in particular SURVIVAL KITS.

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