September is National Preparedness Month

Are you More Prepared?

September is National Preparedness Month making this a great time to review your preparedness plans for the home and workplace, and ensure that your survival kits and other emergency preparedness supplies are complete and up-to-date.

If you are new to emergency preparedness, purchasing a survival kit is a good place to start. More Prepared offers a variety of kits containing food, water, first aid supplies and other essentials designed for emergency use. In addition to kits for the home, we offer kits specifically designed for cars, the workplace and schools (and even for pets). In an emergency, you may have to survive on your own for three days or longer, so maintaining an adequate supply of survival goods is critical.

Equally important, everyone should have well thought out emergencies plans for the home, workplace and school. Plans should include emergency contact information, evacuation routes and strategies for reuniting with family members. FEMA provides easy-to-use tools for creating emergency plans at its website, www.Ready.Gov.

It is also essential to stay informed. You should know what types of emergencies are most likely to occur in your area, and how to prepare for and respond to them. It is also important to be familiar with emergency resources in your neighborhood, at your school, and in your region. The More Prepared website provides a host of information specific to various types of emergencies. You can also stay informed by joining us on Facebook and Twitter.

Even if you are an old hand at preparedness, your job is not done. Emergency food and water items, as well as many other types of emergency supplies, have expiration dates and must be replaced periodically. Aspects of your life, family, home and neighborhood can change and require alterations in your emergency plans. It's wise to review your plans annually to be sure the information is current and complete.

FEMA has recently launched some new web tools that can help you be More Prepared. Individuals and groups, for example, can register to become National Preparedness Month coalition members at http://community.fema.gov/ and gain access to resources that can be used to promote preparedness in their communities.
Taking time now to ensure that you are prepared is the best way to ensure your families comfort and well being when disaster strikes.

Sending Kids Back to School More Prepared

Along with pencils, paper and 3-ring binders, classroom survival kits will be on the back-to-school shopping lists of many parents this year. The destructive hurricanes, earthquakes, tornados and other emergencies that have recently been in the headlines have caused many people to have a greater appreciation for the importance of emergency preparedness in the home, at work and at school.

Every parent should be aware of the emergency preparedness plans and resources at their children's schools. Most school districts require that classrooms have basic first aid supplies. Some also require lockdown kits to better help children cope in the event of an emergency requiring them to remain in the classroom. Some also provide basic survival kits for each student. California schools, for example, are required to have a disaster plan, hold periodic drop, cover and hold drills and train staff on what to do during an emergency.

The rules, however, are hardly uniform, and compliance varies. There are no standards for what goes into a survival kit. Often there are no rules for how often emergency supplies should be replenished or replaced. That is why it is important for parents to work with educators to ensure their children are protected and their classrooms are prepared to respond when emergencies arise.

What types of emergency supplies should a More Prepared classroom have?

At a minimum, every classroom should be maintain a stock of non-perishable food, water, emergency blankets, first aid supplies, flashlights and an emergency radio. It is also advisable for classrooms to be equipped with a lockdown kit including an emergency toilet and toilet supplies, a tarp (for creating a privacy curtain), duct tape and plastic gloves.

It's prudent to provide all students, especially pre-school and elementary school children, with a personal survival kit. Personal survival kits not only ensure that each individual student's needs are met, they can also help children to feel more secure in an emergency situation. Kits should include such things as high-calorie, non-perishable food bars, water pouches, a thermal black, a light stick, first aid supplies and an emergency contact card. It's also a good idea to include crayons and activity sheets to keep small children occupied.

Parents, teachers and school administrators all share the same goal: keeping kids safe. As children get ready to return to the classroom, now is a good time to make sure that emergency plans and supplies are in place to meet that goal.

Fire Escape Smoke Hoods: Protecting Your Family from Smoke Inhalation

Next to installing smoke alarms, the best way to ensure your loved ones do not fall victim to fire may be to acquire a fire escape smoke hood for each member of your family. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, fire is among the leading causes of accidental death in the United States. The vast majority of those deaths occur in homes (smoking and cooking are the leading causes of home fires) and most fatalities are the result of toxic gas or smoke inhalation rather than fire itself.
A smoke hood is similar to a gas mask. It includes a translucent, heat-resistant, air-tight bag that seals around the head and an air filter that allows the wearer to breathe while filtering out smoke and harmful chemicals such as carbon monoxide and hydrogen cyanide. Some also protect against certain biological agents such as anthrax. Smoke hoods designed for home use generally provide the user with 30 minutes or more of breathable air.

While smoke hoods can be life savers at home, they are especially important in large structures such as high-rise office buildings, factories, hospitals and schools where people may have to travel a considerable distance to an exit. People caught in a fire in a tall building may be able to use smoke hoods to make their way through smoke-filled stairwells that might otherwise prove deadly.

Following the September 11th terrorist attacks, the Federal Aviation Administration mandated that smoke hoods (also known as protective breathing equipment) be available for crew members on all commercial flights. Some passengers have followed suit and begun packing smoke hoods in their carry-on bags in order to improve their chance of surviving a fire emergency in the air. Whether that is necessary or prudent is for individuals to decide, but the value of smoke hoods in homes, schools and workplaces is clear. They can be life savers.
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Quake Alarm: A Must for Your Earthquake Survival Kit

Earthquakes are one of the deadliest forms of natural disaster in part because they are impossible to predict. Recently, however, new technologies have been developed, including quake alarms for the home, that can provide a precious few seconds of warning that a significant earthquake has begun to occur.

Japan, which has led the way in earthquake preparedness, implemented the world's most sophisticated earthquake early warning system in 2007. When the country was struck by a devastating 9.0 earthquake earlier this year, the system sent out warnings via radio, television and mobile systems, and triggered trains and elevators to stop. The warnings arrived less than a minute before the full force of the earthquake struck, but authorities say that was enough time to save many lives.

Japan's early warning system works by detecting P waves that emanate from the epicenter of earthquakes. P waves are nondestructive and travel faster than the S waves that cause most earthquake damage. The amount of advance warning provided by a P wave detector depends on how far one is from the epicenter of the quake.

A system similar to the one in Japan is currently being developed in California. Deployment is still several years away, but seismologists say that it could give Southern Californians as much as 60 seconds warning of a major quake along the San Andreas Fault.

Several companies have developed P wave earthquake alarms for the home. Quake Alarm, available from More Prepared, is similar to a smoke alarm. It is battery-operated, mounts to a wall and emits an ear-piercing alarm when it senses an earthquake is imminent. The device, which recently won an ARTI Award from American Rescue Team International, is credited with saving lives during recent earthquakes in Chile and Mexico.

Hopefully one day scientists will have the ability to accurately predict where and when earthquakes will occur. Until then, a device such as Quake Alarm may be a wise addition to a home earthquake kit. It could provide a crucial few seconds of warning in the event of a major disaster.

Disaster Kits: For a Peace of Mind

When thinking of disaster kits, many people are quick to dismiss their need for such a product falling victim to the “it will never happen to me” mindset. The troubling reality is that natural disasters such as tornadoes and hurricanes as well as man-made emergencies like blackouts and terrorist attacks can strike at any time, to anyone, without warning. It seems today that one cannot even turn on the TV without hearing about the devastating tornadoes in the Midwest or new threats of terrorist attacks. That is why we at More Prepared are here to help.

At More Prepared we offer a variety of specialized disaster kits to assist people in times of emergency. Whether you are at home, work, school, or in your car we have a disaster kit fit for each environment. Our home, business, and car kits contain all the essentials including food and water with a 5 year shelf life and are U.S. Coast Guard approved. With a school emergency kit, parents can sleep easy knowing that their children are going to school prepared and protected against disasters. Even pet owners can have the reassurance that their furry friends can be taken care of during an emergency. Our pet disaster kits include dog/cat food, toys, and other items to help your pets in times of need.

Don’t let yourself or your family fall victim to disaster. Order a disaster kit today and give yourself the peace of mind knowing you and your family are more protected and More Prepared.

Why you need an Emergency Earthquake Kit

If you live in an area prone to earthquakes such as California, it is important you take the proper steps to keep you and your family safe. An earthquake may last minutes, but the after effects could last much longer.

After an earthquake hits, your home could be without electricity, water, and gas for days. Roads will be blocked around town, and stores will closed allowing you only access to the necessities you already have in your home. If it was a sudden hit you may not have any emergency food or water. Most likely any food you had in your refrigerator will go bad without electricity to power it. The only way to prevent being left in the dark, and hungry without any working utilities for days at a time, is to take the proper precautions before an earthquake strikes.

Preparing your home is all about safety. You should strap down big appliances such as water heaters. You should also secure all bookcases, filing cabinets, dressers, and hutches. Try to avoid hanging any pictures or heavy decorations over beds to prevent injuries in case of a nighttime quake. Try to anchor all small fragile items that sit on shelves and latch drawers and cabinets so their contents do not get thrown out and create more of an obstacle for you and your family. Other types of furniture and appliances that you should secure include televisions, computers, and stereos.

Another part of preparing for an earthquake is ensuring you have all the necessities for survival. You can ensure you and your family will have all the necessities to last days after an earthquake by purchasing an earthquake kit.

Our earthquake kits at More Prepared contain:

- 2400 Calorie Food Bars
- Water Boxes w/straws
- Thermal Blankets - retains body heat
- Ponchos with hoods
- Tissue Packs
- Dust Masks - Prevents dust and germ inhalation
- First Aid Kit - comprehensive first aid kit in plastic case
- Water Purification Tablets - to purify unsanitary water
- AM/FM Mini Radio
- 12 Hour Light Stick - bright green light at the snap of a finger
- Pump LED Flashlight
- Safety Whistle - Blow loud for immediate rescue attention
- Pair Vinyl Gloves - Protect hands from infection
- Sanitation/Toilet Bags

For more tips for preparing for an earthquake visit the More Prepared website!

Survival Kits Offer Hope during Alabama Shelter Shortage

Imagine hearing the most terrifying wind you’ve ever heard—roaring, whipping winds battering your house. Before you know it, a tornado has ripped through your town. Your home, your car—almost all of your belongings are gone. You and your loved ones survived, though. That’s all that matters. But now comes the hard part: finding shelter, regrouping, and rebuilding.

Unfortunately, though, a number of individuals in Alabama can’t regroup or rebuild because they can’t find shelter.

According to FEMA over 30,000 people, many of whom are struggling to find temporary housing, have registered for help. Even in more populated areas like Tuscaloosa, there aren’t enough existing structures and hotels to house the homeless. This has left a number of people stuck in their tornado-ravaged homes.

In response to the shortage of shelter, FEMA and the Red Cross are taking action. FEMA has reportedly approved about $9.5 million in grants for temporary housing, home repairs, and uninsured losses. The Red Cross has assisted victims of these deadly storms by distributing disaster kits and survival gear to victims. These survival kits contain everything from food and water to sanitation supplies and important family documents.

Over the past couple weeks, the public eye has darted from one staggering headline to the next. First the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, then the destructive tornadoes in the southern states, and now all eyes seem to be on the death of Osama Bin Laden. However, as our attention shifts from one headline to the next, it’s easy to forget the people left behind. With entire cities displaced and nuclear disaster looming over their heads, Japan has hardly begun to pick up the pieces. And while millions of Americans celebrate the death of Osama Bin Laden, thousands of others fight to regain control of their lives after massive tornadoes flipped them upside down. Luckily, though, this isn’t a fight that has to be won alone.