WHAT IS ALL THE NOISE ABOUT FIRE?

Some people wonder what the obsession with fire is about. There are a lot of products on the market devoted to making fire. I think the only thing I see more advertisements for would be products for filtering water. And while I can understand water, fire is kind of an enigma to me. I mean you can’t go more than a few hours without water before feeling the effects, but fire? You could potentially go a few days without (depending on the circumstances of course). But fire seems to have captured the imagination of the Survival community and the public at large.

Don’t get me wrong, I think having the ability and or the skill to make a fire is critical in a time of disaster. It’s just incredible how many different products have come out regarding this topic. I also advocate that you should have more than one way to do anything. The reason for this is because if you only have one way to start a fire and that way fails then what are you going to do? That said, I have at least three different ways to start a fire. The reasons for wanting to start a fire are fundamental. You are outdoors and have a need to boil water, cook food, stay warm, and boost morale. Just think of the movie Castaway and Tom Hanks’ jubilation once he finally started a fire. It can be a game changer. When thinking about starting a fire one should consider under what conditions you might need to do so. For example, what are the weather conditions? Cold, hot, rainy, or windy. Also, what is the availability of combustible materials (wood, starter material) and is it suitable for building a fire? Is it dry or wet and do you have a way to process that material into a workable size? It’s not as straight forward as you might have originally thought. So, what you want in a time of disaster is a “sure fire way” (no pun intended) of starting a fire. Most through hikers who spend a lot of time in the back country rely on small hiking propane tanks and a Bic lighter of some sort for boiling water and cooking their food. This setup is lightweight, quick, easy, and reliable in most weather conditions. Jetboil is a popular system which is very efficient, however it can be costly. There are other less expensive options if all you’re looking for is something to use in an emergency. Like I stated earlier, I like to have at least three different ways of starting a fire. So, some form of butane lighter is one. Another would be a ferrocerium rod, and lastly, I carry a Zippo lighter with Lighter Fuel. Call me old school, but I really like Zippo lighters. And now that I think about it, I usually have some matches on me as well, so that makes it four (I guess I’m kind of obsessed too). In later blogs I’ll go into the pros and cons of these different types of fire starting.

If you find this blog informative and would like to support it, you can go to this website’s Resource page and click on our Amazon Associate link. We get a small commission on anything you buy. Also, we are always looking to add other Associate links as they relate to Disaster Preparedness. Check us out on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.

Here's a short video on one option for fire starting.

(These are my personal observations and opinions, yours may differ. Also, I sell and recommend certain products and services here and might be compensated for such recommendations.)
 

Ready, Set, Go

 How quickly could you evacuate if you had to?

Everyday Carry (EDC)

You may be already familiar with the acronym EDC. If not, it stands for “Everyday Carry”. That is a small container or bag that you take with you wherever go. The idea behind having an EDC with you at all times is it provides you with a level of comfort and confidence knowing that regardless of where you are you have access to at least a bare minimum of items you’ll need should some type of disaster happen. These are highly customizable for your specific needs and can vary in size from fitting inside a woman’s purse or backpack to a larger bag you leave in your trunk.

But are they really necessary? That’s up to you to decide, however I’m here to make the case why you should seriously consider having not just one, but several. The thing about disasters is you never know where you will be when one happens. You could be almost anywhere: work, traveling, vacation, commuting, shopping, or at home. Having access to even a few survival related items provides you with options. And a well thought out EDC can increase your level of comfort or even save a life. Just imagine you’re driving or commuting home from work when a bad storm hits grinding all traffic to a halt. There you are stuck in your car or on a train not knowing how long you will be there. Minutes turn into hours. You’re hot or cold, hungry and to top it off you must go to the bathroom. Now imagine this scenario stretches on for 12, 24, 48 hours before relief comes. What items would you wish you packed before leaving that morning? Now imagine your traveling by air across the country. You have a layover in Dallas. While there your connecting flight gets canceled because of bad weather on the other side. This weather event triggers a mass of cancelations and now you’re facing days of uncertainty. This scenario might sound all too real for some of you. But if you knew this was going to happen ahead of time, what items would you have packed before leaving for the trip? Is there anything in that checked bag that you wished you had now? All I’m saying is that the words found in the Bible at Eccl. 9:11 are true “because time and unexpected events overtake them all.” Unexpected events aka. Disasters. So, doesn’t it make sense to give it a little forethought and pack a few items that might ease ours or someone else’s suffering? For example: I live in Buffalo, NY. And many know that Buffalo is synonymous with snow, sometimes a lot of snow in a short period of time. People here have left work at the end of the day only to arrive home 48 hours later because of getting stuck on the road. Can you imagine being stuck in your car for 48 hours? How would you stay warm, fed, and use the bathroom? With some forethought all these necessary things can be addressed with an EDC box, kit, or bag in your trunk. My personal philosophy on this is to create multiple EDCs of various sizes and shapes and scatter them around in places I might need them. In future posts I will break down the content of some of these EDCs as an example of what you might want to include in yours.

If you find this blog informative and would like to support it, you can go to my website’s Resource page and click on our Amazon Associate link. We get a small commission on anything you buy. Also, we are always looking to add other Associate links as they relate to Disaster Preparedness. Check us out on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest. (These are my personal observations and opinions, yours may differ. Also, I sell and recommend certain products and services here and might be compensated for such recommendations.)

Rothco Canvas Equipment Bag – 24 Inches

Perfect for the gym or your next weekend getaway, Rothco's Canvas Equipment Bag is embellished with a classic military style stamp and is large enough to fit all your essential gear. The canvas duffle features a detachable & adjustable shoulder strap and twin carry handles. Measuring 24" x 12" overall, Rothco's Canvas Equipment Duffle bag is excellent for the gym, weekend trips, and everyday use. Also, the bag features a front and rear pocket perfect for storing small essential gear like your keys and wallet.

My Review: I have owned this bag for many years. And I have used it for many different applications. It is a relatively simple bag with one main compartment and three outside zippered pockets. One on either side and one on the end. The opposite end has a strap which can be used as a handle to grab it and lift it vertically if necessary. The strapping is very durable and wraps all the way around the bag. The stitching is also well done and reinforced in critical areas where it is needed. The zippers are of good quality. The Cotton Canvas construction makes it very durable. You can throw it in the back of the truck, or the trunk of the car and not worry about it. It comes with a shoulder strap which I have never used, however, it’s nice to have if you need your hands free for something else. It is not waterproof, however, so keep that in mind. It’s the perfect size for taking to the gym. It can easily fit sneakers, workout clothing, a personal hygiene travel kit, and towel if you wish. The bag is not large enough to be used as a weekend bag in my opinion, unless you travel light. When on a road trip I usually use it to put all my footwear in.

I really like this bag as it’s durable and the right size for quick day trips. You can purchase this bag from my website by clicking here. You can also purchase this bag on Amazon by clicking here. If you find this Blog informative and would like to support it, you can go to this website’s Resource page and click on our Amazon Associate link. We get a small commission on anything you buy. Also, we are always looking to add other Associate links as they relate to Disaster Preparedness. (These are my personal observations and opinions, yours may differ. Also, I sell and recommend certain products and services here and might be compensated for such recommendations.)

The Importance of Air Quality

Air - the top priority on my Pillars of Disaster Preparedness. That’s because without it we don’t last long. If fact, as I sit writing this post here in Buffalo NY, we are currently under a “Very Unhealthy” air quality warning. This is due to forest fires in northern Ontario and Quebec that are over 500 miles away. This is a classic example that something that has happened far away and is completely out of our control can endanger your life. Watching the news, I see that this event is having a major impact on the entire Northeast including the cities of Boston and New York. Millions of people are being exposed to unhealthy air pollution and those with already compromised respiratory functions will be adversely affected. Here is a screen shot of our current Air Quality Indicator:

So, what can we do? First, we need to stay informed. Watch the news and weather reports and look for any announcement on your local emergency management apps as they relate to the severity of the situation in your area. Next, take appropriate action to protect yourself and your family. In our case here we are being asked to stay indoors if possible and close our windows and doors to limit our exposure to the tiny particulates in the air. If you work outside or must go out for some reason, then just try not to exert yourself as much as you might otherwise. Also, when driving in a car it would be best to have the windows closed and select the air flow to recirculate.

Wearing a KN-95 mask is never a bad idea to limit your exposure to particulates. And if you can move to a different location where the air is clearer that is always a good idea as well. Of course, if you start to feel the effects of exposure it might be a good idea to rest or seek emergency medical care if necessary. 

There is also a large selection of “gas masks” available on the market as well. It really all depends on you. What is your level of comfort? At what point do you feel you have taken reasonable precautions for you and your family. The answer to that question will be different for everyone.

If you find this blog informative and would like to support it, you can go to this website’s Resource page and click on our Amazon Associate link. We get a small commission on anything you buy. Also, we are always looking to add other Associate links as they relate to Disaster Preparedness. Check us out on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.

(These are my personal observations and opinions, yours may differ. Also, I sell and recommend certain products and services here and might be compensated for such recommendations.)

The 4 Pillars of Disaster Preparedness (Part 2)

 3. Shelter

For some people this one might not seem like a big deal. However, if you have ever been in a storm, you know the value of seeking shelter. It can literally save your life. Shelter can also be different things in different circumstances.

For example: Your car might be a good place to seek shelter in a thunderstorm, but a bad place if there is a threat of Tornados.  A tarp might be good in a rainstorm, but not so good in strong winds, or your home is a good place to shelter (in-place) unless it’s threatened by a hurricane.

The problem of course is that we don’t always know which type of disaster we will be facing. That said: You should always have at least a tarp in your Go Bag for shelter, maybe even a small 2- or 3-man tent (remember to consider the weight). These will, in most cases keep you out of the elements.

Out of the elements is the key. What you are trying to prevent is the effects that bad weather can have on you physically. Heat stroke and hypothermia can incapacitate or even kill you.

Part of your Disaster Preparedness Plan will be to identify which type of disasters you will most likely encounter and then plan your shelters accordingly. Even then, you need to know how to use/set up the shelter before needing it. You don’t want to be setting up or building your shelter for the first time when your life depends on it.

4. Food

Of the 4 Pillars of Disaster Preparedness food is probably the one thing you think about the most but can go the longest without. However, food does more for us than provide nourishment. It also provides a sense of normalcy and wellbeing, lifting our morale and mood.

If you are outdoors and engaged in activities that you normally don’t do you will be burning more calories. Replacing those burned calories will help you keep your strength up.

Some Go Bags come with high density high calories food bricks. These are generally light weight, taste okay and will get you by for a few days. They also don’t require any preparation to eat, they are like granola bars. I wouldn’t want to rely on them for more than a few days though. I prefer the freeze-dried dehydrated option. These taste better; however, they take a little more preparation (usually boiling water).

Another advantage of freeze-dried dehydrated food is the variety of food options and their shelf-life. Typically, they are anywhere from 20 to 25 years. That’s a long time! And you can select everything from fruits, vegetables, and meats. They even have Gluten Free options.

I’ve seen where some people put cans of food in their Go-Bag. I wouldn’t recommend that because of the weight and short shelf-life. Freeze-dried dehydrated is more expensive, however, the lightweight feature, variety and extended shelf-life more than make up for the difference.

There you have it. My 4 Pillars of Disaster Preparedness. The foundation on which your Go Bag should be built. I will go into greater detail on all these Pillars in future posts.

If you find this blog informative and would like to support it, you can go to this website’s Resource page and click on our Amazon Associate link. We get a small commission on anything you buy. Also, we are always looking to add other Associate links as they relate to Disaster Preparedness. Check us out on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.

(These are my personal observations and opinions, yours may differ. Also, I sell and recommend certain products and services here and might be compensated for such recommendations.)

The 4 Pillars of Disaster Preparedness (Part 1)

Disaster Preparedness at its basic level is all about preserving the health and life of yourself and those you care about. I believe that it is an expression of love and respect for the gift of life. We can rightly be concerned about the preparedness of our possessions, or businesses, but ultimately none of that matters without the preservation of life.

There are 4 main categories that all our preparations will revolve around. These categories address the 4 essential areas necessary to preserve life in the event of a disaster. They are:

• Air
• Water
• Shelter
• Food

This list will help you prioritize those items you must absolutely pack for any evacuation scenario. Anything other than these or items that support them must similarly go through a rigorous method of prioritization to ensure that you are not adding unnecessary weight to your Go Bag. Your Go Bag must contain the means to provide or obtain these 4 Pillars of Disaster Preparedness.

• Air

H

Have you ever tried to see how long you can hold your breath for? Unless this is something you regularly practice my guess is not very long. This underscores the need for access to breathable air in any disaster. It’s not practicable to carry an oxygen tank in the event of an evacuation (unless it’s medically necessary). So, obtaining clear, clean air may require that you move to a new location (and quickly). This may be the case if you find yourself in a fire or near an industrial accident. A KN-95 mask will offer a measure of protection from particulates in the air, and every Go-Bag should have one. There are other face masks you can purchase that will filter out other lethal gases. Just remember, when adding items to your Go-Bag we must consider their weight.

I’ve mentioned the importance of watching your Go-Bags weight several times already. For more information on that subject see the Blog - “The Bag” subheading “Payload Capacity”.

• Water

You can start to feel the effects of dehydration in as little as a few hours. Go a few days without water and you will be at death’s doorstep. The importance of having access to clean water cannot be overstated. Most recommendations that I have read say you need to have access to about a gallon of water per day. That seems like a lot, but much depends on your activity level and the amount needed for cooking and cleaning (personal hygiene and cooking utensils). 

Water is heavy so you don’t want to carry too much of it. I usually carry about a liter around on hikes and other excursions. Having a way to purify water is vital to supplying your daily needs. Of course, it goes without saying that you have some access to it. i.e., stream, pond, lake.

Boiling water is an excellent way to kill all the bacteria, viruses, and protozoan (the little things that swim around the water). It needs to be a hard rolling boil for a couple minutes to make sure it’s done the job.

There are also a lot of products on the market that will filter out all the bad stuff and some tablets that will do the job as well. I’ll talk about some of these in later posts. Suffice it to say, these products can save you a lot of weight while still giving you access to the water you need.

In my next post I’ll cover the next two Pillars: Shelter and Food.

If you find this Blog informative and would like to support it, you can go to this website’s Resource page and click on our Amazon Associate link. We get a small commission on anything you buy. Also, we are always looking to add other Associate links as they relate to Disaster Preparedness.

(These are my personal observations and opinions, yours may differ. Also, I sell and recommend certain products and services here and might be compensated for such recommendations.)