| There are at least seven global or widespread | | | | stand at least 30 minutes. Smell the water. If it |
| disasters that seem likely to occur at sometime in | | | | does not have a slight bleach odor, repeat the |
| the future. A large asteroid hitting the earth is one | | | | process. Use bleach that contains nothing else |
| of those seven. It is generally accepted by | | | | other than water and 5.25 percent sodium |
| scientists that asteroids have struck the earth in | | | | hypochlorite. Bleach is most effective for killing |
| the past causing widespread damage. It is | | | | bacteria but is not effective against parasitic |
| believed that asteroids will continue to collide with | | | | organisms.Choose long storage food such as |
| the earth every now and then. Maybe every | | | | canned goods, dry food such as nuts, seeds, |
| sixty million years a big one comes along that is | | | | beans, and grain products in plastic or glass |
| large enough to have a global effect on survival | | | | containers. Most dried beans will need to be |
| of earth's living things. The chances of such an | | | | soaked and cooked before eating. Examples of |
| event happening in a particular person's lifetime | | | | dried beans that can be eaten after soaking and |
| are tiny. But that tiny chance is there.It is | | | | without cooking include split peas, mung beans, |
| unpleasant to consider such terrible things. But the | | | | lentils and black-eyed peas. Wheat and corn can |
| best attitude, it seems to me, is to ignore, to a | | | | also be soaked and eaten without cooking. Peanut |
| very large extent, the unpleasant feelings that the | | | | butter and vegetable oil are good choices because |
| topic causes. That allows a person to consider | | | | they are calorie rich, long keeping and require no |
| what might be done to increase the chances of | | | | preparation. Canned meat provides protein and |
| surviving a disaster. No way can a person be fully | | | | requires no cooking. A multi vitamin will help with |
| prepared. And since we cannot know just what is | | | | adequate vitamin requirements.Keeping warm: The |
| going to take place, it may be an exercise in | | | | colder the climate where you live, the more |
| futility. But you never know, simple basic | | | | important this is if the electrical power fails or you |
| preparations could bring you through some | | | | are forced to leave your home. Have enough |
| calamity.And why not take the attitude that your | | | | heavy clothing and blankets in your home to keep |
| efforts and interest in such preparation is | | | | you warm. Have ready to go to put in your car |
| something to feel good about. Those efforts can | | | | such as in a garbage bag: at least two changes of |
| be fun and interesting. The topic certainly grabs | | | | clothing that will keep you warm, a sleeping bag |
| my attention better than a Hollywood movie. By | | | | or a couple of blankets, gloves, knit hat, and |
| doing what I can to become prepared, I am doing | | | | sturdy shoes.First aid kit: The most important |
| something that could dramatically make my life | | | | items may be soap for washing a wound, an |
| much more pleasant should I be involved in a | | | | antiseptic ointment, and bandaging.Tools and |
| catastrophe. Disaster preparedness is an | | | | supplies for short-term emergencies: Flashlight and |
| interesting and enjoyable hobby that could pay off | | | | batteries, candles, matches, can opener, soap, |
| big-time. Knowing that all the benefits of modern | | | | battery-powered radio and batteries, face mask |
| life are not necessarily a given, is a reason for | | | | for filtering the air you breath,Tools and supplies |
| enjoying them more.The seven possible | | | | for long term emergencies: all of the items above |
| widespread or global disasters:1). Very large | | | | for short-term emergencies plus the food items |
| volcanic eruptions. Hugh volumes of gas and dust | | | | listed above plus: long lasting led flashlight, wind-up |
| could spread around the globe. There is some | | | | flashlight, wind-up radio, unscented 5.25 percent |
| evidence that these have occurred before. | | | | sodium hypochlorite bleach for purifying water, |
| Doesn't that mean that it could happen again?2). | | | | sturdy knife and sharpener, salt, grain grinder, |
| An epidemic. There was the flu epidemic of 1918 | | | | food storage containers, shovel, blankets, rifle and |
| that killed 30 million people worldwide. There was | | | | ammunition.Tools and supplies for your car: gallon |
| the plague that killed about one fourth of Europe's | | | | of drinking water, blanket, extra clothes |
| population in the Dark Ages. Viruses and germs | | | | (sweatshirt, long underwear, boots, socks, gloves, |
| are known to mutate and change. They may | | | | hat), compass, rain gear, battery-powered radio |
| become resistant to vaccines and medications, | | | | and batteries, long storage and light-weight food, |
| become more deadly, and become more | | | | maps, siphon (20 feet plastic tubing, 1/2 inch |
| contagious. Viruses and other pathogens could | | | | diameter), gas can, wrenches, pliers, screwdrivers, |
| mutate into virulent forms that could spread | | | | portable light. Long-term and extras: bleach for |
| rapidly around the world by people using air | | | | purifying water, shorts or swimsuit, tube tent (or |
| travel.3). Crop failures due to plant diseases, | | | | 10 by 10 tarp, cord), ground moisture barrier, |
| climate change, or ozone depletion.4). Climate | | | | closed cell foam sleeping pad, sleeping bag, insect |
| changes including global warming and the effects | | | | repellant, sunglasses, sunscreen, soap, knife, |
| that might come with it such as extreme heat, | | | | backpack, duct tape, cord (i.e., seine twine, |
| drought, and severe storms.5). Nuclear war.6). | | | | parachute cord, masons' twine).Have a short-term |
| Terrorist act which could bring about widespread | | | | plan: Discuss with your family how everyone will |
| effects. If, for instance, a nuclear device was | | | | get home if their usual transportation is not |
| detonated in Washington, D.C. and another wiped | | | | available. If the phone systems are operating, one |
| out Wall Street, the effects could be unpredictable | | | | person could remain at home to take and relay |
| and could include economic depression, anarchy, | | | | messages. Have a place in mind in case you need |
| shortages of consumer goods, and war.7). | | | | to relocate to a different geographic area. Plan |
| Something unexpected. A disaster could be | | | | how to get there and what you will take along. If |
| caused by a completely unknown event. It is | | | | you believe you are not enough prepared, decide |
| unreasonable to think we are smart enough to be | | | | how to become so.Stay informed: Have at least a |
| aware of all threats that could bring | | | | battery operated am/fm radio with extra |
| catastrophe.There are many other plausible | | | | batteries. A wind-up radio not requiring batteries |
| scenarios for widespread catastrophes. These | | | | could be used if the power is off for an extended |
| include such things as a large solar flare that | | | | period. Emergency alert radios might receive |
| shoots out radiation and charged particles toward | | | | broadcasts in a long-term power failure where the |
| the earth; an object such as a black hole passing | | | | backup generators for am/fm radio stations have |
| close to the earth; and a technology accident such | | | | run out of fuel.If situations develop so that |
| as a genetically modified organism being released | | | | longer-term solutions are needed, you will need |
| into the environment.In recent years vast | | | | other strategies. You may have to hunt for and |
| quantities of methane gas have been discovered | | | | gather food from the wild. Very long-term |
| on the sea floor where the water is very deep | | | | collapse of the present supply chain would require |
| and in places where the water is very cold. It is | | | | that you become self-sufficient in mending and |
| believed that global warming or earthquakes could | | | | making your own clothing. You might have to |
| cause the methane to be released perhaps | | | | construct a shelter using basic tools and basic |
| suddenly and in massive quantities. Methane is | | | | materials. The scope of this article does not allow |
| explosive and could displace oxygen causing | | | | for discussions of what you would need to know |
| suffocation.Below are some things you can do to | | | | to survive extended collapse of society into how |
| be better prepared for emergencies.Store food | | | | it was a couple of hundred years ago.If you would |
| and water: About a gallon of water a day per | | | | like to learn more about disaster preparedness, |
| person is a reasonable goal. How many days | | | | use the following url(address) to another copy of |
| worth is anybody's guess - you have to use your | | | | this article. At the end of the article are urls to |
| own judgment about what is practical for you. | | | | other articles giving more information.Alan Detwiler |
| Know where to get water if your standby supply | | | | has written several books about ways to have |
| runs out. Water of unknown purity should be | | | | fun. Find them by doing a search for Alan Detwiler |
| boiled at least 3 minutes to kill any pathogens. If | | | | at the ebooks section of Amazon.comHis web |
| boiling is not possible add 16 drops or 1/4 | | | | site, has ideas about having fun. |
| teaspoon of household bleach per gallon and let | | | | |