How to Survive Natural Disasters, Hurricanes, Earthquakes, Floods and etc.

1. Well the first thing in our prepared list is emergency provisions. Think of weathering a disaster as a little like camping out in your own home, where electricity and water have been cut off. Store in a closet or other convenient location.

- Food that can be eaten with little or no preparation such as peanut butter, whole grain crackers, baby food, powdered milk and cold cereals.

- Several gallons of water, which you can buy in bottles at a supermarket.
- Food and water for your pets if you have one.

- A first aid kit that contains not just the standard items such as bandages and iodine, but also scissors, needles and thread and several days’ supply of whatever medication you’re currently taking. You can buy kits in any drugs store.

- Flashlights with batteries stored separately so they’ll stay fresh.

- Have extra cash I a safe place if electricity goes out, banks and Automatic Tellers Machines will not be working.

- Have an extra pair of eyeglasses or contact lenses. 

- Have a ladder and basic tools, including a crowbar, screwdriver, saw and hammer. 

- Keep a full or nearly a full tank of gas in your car. The last thing you want see is an empty gas gauge when in an emergency.

How To Protect Yourself from Nuclear Radiation

It’s been reported that Fukushima Daiichi nuclear reactor (福島第一原発) in Fukushima Prefecture has seriously malfunctioned. There are credible Japanese government agency sources saying that there are measurable levels of radioactive particles showing up in Tokyo. Whether that’s within a safe range or not still don’t know. It may simply be a very small increase in the risk of cancer, as one person asserts, like smoking a cigarette.

Japanese television is reporting that at least three residents among 90 tested showed excess exposure to radiation. If you are in Japan, and the situation worsens, there are some things you can do protect yourself from nuclear radiation. The Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has a a useful posting via http://www.bt.cdc.gov/radiation/emergencyfaq.asp

TIPs to Facing Radiation Emergencies

NOTE: The following tips and related information on radiological emergencies are taken from PNRI’s primer entitled Preparedness for Radiation-Related Emergencies Thru RADPLAN. RADPLAN was approved and signed on November 24, 2000 by former Secretary of National Defense Orlando S. Mercado. In addition, PNRI or Philippine Nuclear Research Institute is part of Department of Science and Technology which is the lead agency in developing and preparing an emergency plan for radiation-related accidents that may affect the Philippines. So, this article focusing more in Philippine context, but can be applied anywhere.

What is a radiation-related emergency or radiological emergency?
A radiation-related emergency or radiological emergency is an event that poses an actual, potential, or perceived danger to public health and safety from radioactive materials or radiation equipment.

What are the different types of radiological emergencies?
The different types of radiological emergencies are the following:-

• Emergency from fixed nuclear or radiation facilities
• Emergencies occurring in the transport or loss radioactive materials
• Emergencies from foreign sources having environmental or health impact on Philippines territories, including the possible entry of contaminated food, scrap metals and other materials
• Emergencies from nuclear-powered ships
• Emergencies from re-entry of satellites with nuclear materials as components

TIPs to Avoid Radiation from Nuclear Power Plants

Introduction.

Nuclear power plants use the heat generated from nuclear fission in a contained environment to convert water to steam, which powers generators to produce electricity. Nuclear power plants operate in most states in the country and produce about 20 percent of the nation’s power. Nearly 3 million Americans live within 10 miles of an operating nuclear power plant. 

Although the construction and operation of these facilities are closely monitored and regulated by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), accidents are possible. An accident could result in dangerous levels of radiation that could affect the health and safety of the public living near the nuclear power plant. 

Local and state governments, federal agencies, and the electric utilities have emergency response plans in the event of a nuclear power plant incident. The plans define two “emergency planning zones.” One zone covers an area within a 10-mile radius of the plant, where it is possible that people could be harmed by direct radiation exposure. The second zone covers a broader area, usually up to a 50-mile radius from the plant, where radioactive materials could contaminate water supplies, food crops, and livestock.

TIPS to prevent flooding around the house

Actions to prevent flooding around the house

With global warming and the resulting climate changes, flooding is increasingly becoming a problem. Often the ordinary householder thinks there is nothing they can do to protect their property - but now there is !

This page will help you gain a better understanding on how floods can damage your property and how products can help you in the event of a flood in your area.

Basements

If an Antiflood Barrier has been fitted, the chances are that seepage will not effect your basement, however this cannot be guaranteed. Seepage through the ground is a gradual process and is subject to a lot of variables, such as:

• Has your basement been adequately tanked? If not, what is the porosity of the ground?

• Do you have cracked or damaged drains?

• There are many, many more factors that can also take effect.

Suspended Floors

This is the same as with basements, with the exception that the area beneath the floor is unlikely to have been tanked. A sump situated roughly at the centre of the house could be used in conjunction with a pump to remove any collected water. It would, however, not be advisable to set the sump too deep as penetration through the water table could occur and this would not be good in the long term.

If you do decide to install a sump, as with many building projects, it is recommended that you use a professional to complete the work.

Air Bricks

Over the years, ground levels around external walls tend to rise. Maybe a patio or pathway has been built higher than the recommended 6 inches below damp proof course level? Whatever the reason, you may find yourself with a potential water entry point. If the Antiflood Barrier has been fitted, air bricks will usually be protected.

There are, however, other factors that need to be considered: If rainwater or run-off were to collect inside the barrier, can it be pumped out quickly enough in relationship to the height of the air brick? If in doubt, consider using a device designed specifically for this purpose.

Drains

Drains are a major problem during a flood as they cannot cope and will therefore fail to work. Here follows a brief outline of protection systems that you can install yourself.

If you have installed the Antiflood Barrier, water from the outside will be greatly reduced if not stopped completely. The next step is to tackle the drains in order of priority. The lower the drain in relation to the floor level the greater the need for action. These levels will always be affected in relationship to the flood level and will change inside the barrier only if and when water is discharged via the WC, bath, basin, sink rainwater.

Manholes

It is usually possible to put a plug in the manhole to stop backfeed from mains sewers etc. You can also use the manhole as a collection sump inside the barrier It is advisable to employ a redundancy brace to ensure the plug stays firmly located in the drain. This ensures that if the bung is not located correctly or tightened sufficiently, it will not be forced out by backfeed pressure. A simple piece of 6" x 2" laid in the channel will usually suffice.

Gullies

If your gullies are connected to the main drainage or tank, as the flood advances the water will come out of the gullies in relationship to the flood level. Therefore all gullies need to be sealed, although this may not be necessary if you have plugged the main drain as above. There is a range of automatic backfeed gullies but they can fail & make the whole barrier system pointless. Some products are manufactured to deal with this problem.

Sump

If you cannot use the manhole as a collection sump, a series of sumps will need to be fitted inside of the barrier in order to dispose of seepage and rainwater should the need arise. These sumps can be fitted with automatic pumps to discharge water and a manual pump can be supplied should the electrical supply fail.

Bath

If you have a bath situated on the ground floor then that would be the next affected point of entry. Logically, the lower the discharge point, the lower the seepage. Some products will seal most drains, including showers and washing machines. Once again this will not be necessary if the manhole is plugged.

WC

Next the ground floor WC. The same advice as "Bath" applies. Washing machine stand pipes, basins, sinks and so on.

Airvents

Air vents should not be an issue if the barrier system is fitted, however there are some products which can be installed where it is impractical to erect the barrier.

Ground Seepage

There is always the possibility of ground seepage. The severity of this seepage is not calculable as the volume of water seepage is governed by a great many factors. It is possible to slow down the seepage but first you have to know where it will occur and why. If your premises are of a modern construction, it is most likely that after the foundation brickwork had been built, the builders filled the void around the brickwork with all kinds of rubbish. This is a potential problem as this filled void is very seldom compacted and, as such allows the water access to a greater height in relation to the ground level, than that of compacted ground. The answer is to cover the area around the edge of the property with paving properly sealed to the walls. In some cases you may well want planting areas. These should be excavated down to the foundation slab and filled with compacted earth.

Garden soakaways are usually constructed away from the property and should be well outside the barrier. However, these soakaways are of numerous designs and can give easy access to the inside of the barrier via the drain outlet. If the property is on a soakaway ensure the drain is plugged within the barrier.

Modern drains are back filled with shingle or similar. This is also a potential entry point for water. Regardless of how much seepage you get, there is usually a pump that can cope with it.

Now you can do something to stop your home flooding and inevitably ruining your furniture -and possibly your life!