What Makes A Good Survival Kit
If 2020 has taught us anything, it is to expect the unexpected—and then some. And while we are not able to predict every looming disaster, we have learned that a little preparation can go a long way and provide a lot of peace-of-mind for whatever may come.
So, what makes a good survival kit, you ask? We’ll tell you.
The Ultimate Survival Kit Checklist
It is recommended that in order to be prepared to take care of ourselves in the wake of a significant man-made or natural disaster, we all lay aside enough water, food, and other provisions to see us through 72 hours worth of bad times. This is because three days is the typical period of time that many experts agree it could take organizations like FEMA to arrive on the scene and begin rendering aid in the wake of a serious emergency.
Many of us have enough water, food, and other supplies at home to see us through a three-day calamity, but unfortunately, not all emergencies start or can be ridden out in the relative safety of home. That’s why having a survival kit that is pre-packed and ready to go at a moment’s notice is so important.
A good portable survival kit—also known as a bug-out bag or an emergency-go bag—should carry all of the essentials you’ll need to survive outside of your home for at least 72 hours. You can buy a great pre-packed survival kit like the ones found at Stealth Angel Survival, or you can simply make your own. Whatever you decide, here are the important items that make up a good survival kit:
Emergency Food And Water
Before we dive into discussing any survival gear, you need to make water and food a priority first.
Without proper energy and hydration, a tiny emergency can quickly take a turn for the worst. In fact, even the Red Cross recommends a minimum of:
- Food: Non-perishable, easy-to-prepare food storage. (3-day supply for home evacuation and a 2-week supply to keep at home)
- Water: One gallon of H2O per adult, per day. (3-day supply for home evacuation and a 2-week supply to keep at home)
Water Filters / Tablets
It goes without saying that clean drinking water is critical for survival situations. While the average human can go up to three weeks without food, we can only go for three days without water.
Survival purification tablets and water filters should be one of the first things you put into any survival kit.
Calories
Sustenance is one of the critical pillars of survival. Without it, we starve, shrivel up, and die a slow and miserable death.
Calories are energy, so keeping some form of food storage in your survival kit is essential. It can be as simple as some freeze-dried, dehydrated meals, or a few energy bars.
Emergency Tools And Gear
After you fill your survival kit with emergency food and water filters/tablets, you will then need to add a few essential tools.
Survival Knife
Cutting rope, slicing through duct tape, slicing up food to share—a reliable knife has many uses and is arguably one of the most important tools you can keep in your survival kit.
We love the Chaos Ready Knife Safety 6-IN-1 Multi-Tool from Stealth Angel Survival. Not only does this multi-tool come fully equipped with a durable, serrated blade, but it also packs extra functions such as a detachable LED light, seatbelt cutter, fire starter, and much more.
Matches, Striker, and Lighter
Fire is one of man’s oldest survival tools. So with that in mind, if you don’t have a way of making one—you’re under-prepared.
Matches are great to keep in your survival kit, but sometimes they get wet and won’t work. That’s why it’s a good idea to keep other ways to start a fire in your kit, such as the Stealth Angel Arc Lighter. All it takes is a single push of a button to immediately unleash a fiercely powerful dual-arc beam that ferociously ignites anything it touches. Don’t let unfavorable weather conditions prevent you from being able to stay warm around a fire. Be sure to pack a way to start a fire in your survival kit.
Compass
There is nothing that can turn an emergency from bad to worse than being lost. That’s why every survival or emergency kit should include a compass. It doesn’t have to be a high-end compass or even an expensive one. It just needs to be a compass that you can rely on to point you in the correct direction.
Inexpensive compasses are easy to find; just make sure that the one you chose is reliable. We love the 10-IN-1 Multifunction Military Compass Kit from Stealth Angel Survival because it’s extremely small yet packs in a compass, thermometer, hygrometer, mirror, reflector, level, and whistle. It’s the perfect tool to pack in your survival kit.
First Aid Kit
A basic first aid kit may very well save someone’s life. Common contents are cotton swabs, bandages, thermometer, saline, alcohol swabs, burn cream, antibiotic ointment, sunscreen, aspirin, adhesive tape, tweezers, rubber gloves, gauze, a compact sewing kit, and personal prescriptions, if necessary. A good survival kit will always carry medical supplies.
Fish Hooks And Line
Fishing is one of the most reliable and easiest forms of calorie acquisition when it comes to wilderness survival. Fish make for an excellent source of protein, and you can find them in most bodies of water— and you don’t need a fancy fishing pole and reel setup to catch one.
A strong line, a hook, and some bait is all you need to catch a fish in a pitch. And patience— lots and lots of patience!
Emergency Whistle
Another important item that you should have in your survival kit is an emergency whistle. While you might have a loud shouting voice, a loud whistle is usually always better at alerting people. And no matter how loud you think you can get, your voice will not carry as far as a whistle.
It’s good practice to keep your emergency whistle attached to your belt or in your pocket at all times, just in case you become separated from your survival pack.
Flashlight
Starlit indigo skies may be beautiful, but the stars and moon aren’t going to sufficiently light your path. A flashlight is a simple source of light during dark nights in the wild, and it can also be used to frighten away wild predators lurking nearby. Don’t be caught in an emergency situation without a flashlight, and always be sure to bring extra batteries—just in case.
A Final Word
So, what makes a good survival kit, you ask?
A good survival kit is one that contains all of the essentials needed to survive at least three days without community resources. It will contain non-perishable food items, water filters, and tablets, as well as important survival tools like a knife, compass, and flashlight.
No one knows when an emergency or disaster may strike, but having an emergency kit can make all the difference in whether you survive or not. Don’t be caught in an emergency situation without the tools we listed above.
If you’d rather purchase a pre-made survival kit rather than making your own, check out Stealth Angel Survival. Whether you are looking for a bug-out bag, first aid kit, or an emergency preparedness kit, Stealth Angel Survival can help.
Sources:
https://www.ifrc.org/en/what-we-do/disaster-management/about-disasters/what-is-a-disaster/
What Causes An Earthquake?
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, there is a seventy-two percent chance that an earthquake with a magnitude 6.7 or larger will strike the San Francisco Bay area within the next thirty years. Southern California has a sixty percent probability of experiencing an earthquake just as big in the same timeframe.
Along with volcanic eruptions and tsunamis, earthquakes are among the most destructive types of natural disasters. But what exactly causes them?
Everything You Should Know About Earthquakes
Earthquakes—also known as temblors—occur along areas of weakness in the Earth’s subterranean rocks that make up the crust. Ordinarily, the rock layers on either side of these zones—or faults—are held in place by friction, but when the friction is overcome by stresses, the rocks tend to slip, unleashing incredible amounts of energy that we all experience as an earthquake.
Why Are Earthquakes So Dangerous?
Earthquakes are extremely dangerous because they tend to cause quite a bit of unpredicted damage. The damage that is caused is from ground rupture, ground shaking, tsunamis, landslides, liquefaction, and fires.
Earthquake destruction begins with the violent shaking of the Earth that can rupture the Earth, triggering landslides, and turn the surface of the Earth to liquid. The damaging rumbling of major earthquakes can be felt hundreds and hundreds of miles away.
Ground Shaking And Structural Failure
Ground shaking is the vibration of the ground during one of these natural disasters. The shaking triggers other hazards such as landslides and liquefaction—most earthquake damage results from the seismic waves passing beneath roads, buildings, and other structures.
Surface Rupture and Ground Displacement
The primary earthquake hazard is surface rupture, which can be caused by horizontal or vertical movement on either side of a ruptured fault. Ground displacement—which can affect large land areas—can severely damage roads, railways, pipelines, and structures.
Landslides
Earthquakes can trigger mudslides and landslides, especially in areas with water-soaked soils. Landslides may result in falling debris and rocks that collide with people, animals, vehicles, trees, and buildings. They can also block roads and disrupt utility lines.
Liquefaction
The shaking that comes from an earthquake can turn loose soil into a liquid during one of these natural disasters. Liquefaction can undermine the foundations and supports of bridges, roads, pipelines, and buildings, causing them to sink into the ground, collapse, or even dissolve.
Tsunamis
An earthquake that was generated within the Pacific Ocean floor will generate a tsunami, which is a series of very long waves. Large tsunamis—which travel from the ocean floor to the surface—are dangerous to human health, infrastructure, and property. Long-lasting effects of tsunami destruction can be felt beyond the coastline.
Fires
Fires from earthquakes start when gas and electrical lines are dislodged due to the Earth’s shaking. Gas is set free as lines are broken, and a simple spark is all it takes to start a dangerous firestorm.
How Are Earthquakes Measured?
Earthquakes are measured by using instruments called seismometers that detect the vibrations caused by seismic waves as they travel through the crust. Seismic waves can be both natural—from earthquakes—or caused by human activity—explosions.
The concept of a seismometer is simple: a weight tends to stay still as the Earth moves, and the relative motion can be drawn on a reel of paper as a zig-zag line. The bigger the vibration, the bigger the zig-zag. Modern systems use electronics to give more accurate results, but the principle is the same.
The strength—or ‘magnitude—of an earthquake used to be determined by the Richter Scale which is what was used to compare the relative strength of different earthquakes. The scale is logarithmic—meaning that an earthquake of magnitude 6 is ten times stronger than one of magnitude 5. A magnitude seven earthquake is ten times stronger than a magnitude six and a hundred times stronger than a magnitude 5.
These days, although the term “Richter Scale’ still persists in the media and general use among the public, scientists now use a more accurate physical measure of the size of an earthquake, known as the ‘moment magnitude.’ This measures how strong the ground is, or how much energy is needed to break it, how much actual displacement occurs, and the amount of rock that is displaced.
To give a sense of what different the magnitudes may feel like, anything above a magnitude of 5.5 can cause damage to large buildings, while anything greater than 7.0 will typically cause serious damage. Meanwhile, you’d probably sleep anything less than a 2.5, and it would likely only be picked up by seismographs.
What’s The Best Way To Stay Safe During An Earthquake?
The USGS lists safety recommendations for staying safe, as does the Department of Homeland Security. These include staying indoors—if possible—and seeking shelter under a sturdy table or desk while staying away from heavy furniture, fireplaces, and windows.
Those who are outdoors should stay away from buildings and power lines. Motorists should pull over and stop for the duration of the quake and be on the lookout for fallen rocks and breaks in the surface on the road when they resume driving.
After an earthquake, you may, unfortunately, find yourself in a situation where you and your family need to survive on your own for a couple of days. Depending on the size of the quake, power lines could be down, water could be cut off, and the local market could be closed. Prepare yourself for the unknown and put together an emergency preparedness kit or purchase one from an awesome company like Stealth Angel Survival.
The Stealth Angel Survival Earthquake Preparedness Kits have everything that you may need in the event of an earthquake. From clean drinking water and flashlights to crank-radios and first-aid, these kits are designed to be useful in disaster situations, such as earthquakes.
A Final Word
The truth is that earth is not as rock-solid as it may seem—it is a dynamic planet, with a lot of activity taking place underneath the surface. As scientists and researchers continue to research and study its inner workings, we may be able to better predict the severity of earthquakes before they happen. However, until then, there’s still a lot to learn, and the best thing we can do is be prepared.
Sources:
https://earthquake.usgs.gov/learn/glossary/?term=fault
https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/what-can-i-do-be-prepared-earthquake
https://earthquake.usgs.gov/learn/glossary/?term=Richter%20scale
https://www.earthquakeauthority.com/Prepare-Your-House-Earthquake-Risk/Geologic-Hazards/Liquefaction
Must-Have Gear For Camping
Whether you’re a first-time camper or a seasoned outdoor veteran, choosing the best camping gear for your trip can be the difference between a memorable or miserable time.
From unique camping accessories to hiking gadgets, there are plenty of products that can enhance your next trip into the wilderness. Not sure what to pack? Keep reading for all the must-have gear you should bring with you on your next camping.
Tent
Even if you prefer slumbering under the vast indigo sky, you should always have a tent or some other emergency shelter on hand just in case. Otherwise, a midnight deluge, heavy dew, or freak snowstorm is sure to leave you miserable, drenched, and at risk of hypothermia.
A tent can shield you and your camping gear from high winds as well. Whether you opt for the best solo-person tent or a larger luxurious-style tent, make sure you bring along all of its necessary accessories: stakes, tent poles, rope, and a rain fly.
Camping Light
Unless you’re intending to go to sleep every night soon after the sun has set, having a camping light will be indispensable. Getting up out of your sleeping bag and out of your tent in the middle of the night for a potty break is tough enough without making your way through unknown terrain in the dark. A lantern is a perfect lighting choice as it can stand on its own while casting light in every direction. Headlamps are also a great choice.
Sleeping Bag
Resting on a soft bed of moss and leaves may sound like a lot of fun, but it certainly won’t keep you warm when the sun goes down. Temperatures can drop significantly at nightfall— sometimes 20 degrees or more.
Keep in mind, too, that many creepy-crawlers are most active during the night and may chance upon your unswaddled body. Going camping without a sleeping bag risks an uncomfortable night’s sleep at best, exposure at worst.
Fire Starter
Camping isn’t camping without a crackling campfire, so you’ll want the tools to get one started quickly. Campers can start fires with matches, a flint, and steel, a cigarette lighter, or a magnesium fire starter. If you opt for matches, make sure they are waterproof.
It’s not a bad plan to pack two fire starters in case one fails. We love the Stealth Angel Arc Lighter because all it takes is a single push of a button to unleash a fiercely powerful dual-arc beam that ferociously ignites anything it touches—perfect for camping!
First Aid Kit
It’s unlikely that you will experience a life-threatening injury while camping, but even a long day of hiking can result in painful blisters that require a little bit of TLC. Small scrapes and cuts, too, can quickly become infected if left untreated, so always be sure to keep antiseptic and bandages on hand.
Your first aid kit should include other important necessities as well: gauze, scissors, adhesive, a CPR mouth barrier, an emergency whistle, and tweezers. Be sure to toss in bottles of insect repellent and sunscreen as well. Sunburn and bug bites can end your trip as quickly as any laceration.
If you’d rather purchase a pre-made first aid kit rather than making one, you can—just be sure to purchase from a reputable company like Stealth Angel Survival to make sure you are getting a top-quality kit.
Water Bottle
Did you know that the average healthy adult can live three weeks without food but only three days without water? Water is essential for surviving in the great outdoors, and the further off the beaten path you go, the more quickly it seems to run out.
The last thing any camper or hiker wants is to be stuck without a fresh supply of water, especially since drinking from a lake or pond can cause serious illness due to bacteria. Even if the wilderness you are heading into is just a few yards from your car, carry a day’s supply of the wet stuff in a Camelbak or other large container. Then, keep water purification tablets or a filter on hand just in case you have to refill from a nearby stream.
Pocket Knife
The pocket knife is, without a doubt, the ultimate multipurpose tool of the great outdoors. A knife can be used to trim a rope, slice cheese or sausage, cut fishing line, dice bait, sharpen a stick, open a tightly sealed package, deal with tangled vines, skin a small animal, or tighten a screw. Without a knife, such tasks become nearly to outright impossible. If you leave your camping knife at home, expect to feel frustrated, and often.
Map And Compass
If your camping itinerary calls for hiking in remote areas, you won’t want to head out without a map and compass or GPS. Constant changes in the sun’s position can make forest landmarks seem unfamiliar, causing campers to become disoriented. Unprepared campers have occasionally wandered the woods for days before finding their way back to camp or getting rescued.
Getting stranded or lost in a wooded area—especially with a limited water supply—is no joke. Even if your pals just want to walk down to the nearest creek from your campsite, make sure they have a way to return back to safety.
Warm Rainproof Clothes
You’ve checked the weather forecast for weeks—no rain, only sun. Unfortunately, the weather can change in a blink-of-an-eye, leaving you stuck in the cold rain or huddling around your campfire for warmth. With an extra set of camping clothes, you won’t have to worry about sudden weather changes—you can simply swap out wet clothes for dry ones or layer during a cold front.
Toilet Paper
Hardcore survivalists may view toilet paper as an unnecessary luxury in the outdoors, but many campers swear to its necessity. Leaves and bark make poor substitutes for latrine duty in both hygiene and comfort, and a chapped backside can make sitting pretty painful. Also, campgrounds with bathroom facilities have been known to run out of paper from time to time.
If you are camping in the deep woods and are concerned about the environmental impact of using TP, purchase some that’s biodegradable or take a refuse bag for disposal.
A Final Word
Camping is a timeless way to spend a weekend or vacation communing with nature, family, and friends. It’s good for the mind, body, and spirit to mix up our routines and get outside for some serious fun and relaxation. However, as much fun as camping is, it can turn into a real nightmare if you forget to bring some important must-have gear.
When planning your next camping trip, get organized and put together a checklist of all the essential items that you’ll need to bring along with you, like a tent, food, water, and first aid. This way, you can easily check each item off your list as you pack them into the car to avoid leaving anything behind.
Sources:
https://www.nps.gov/subjects/camping/why-camp.htm
Ultimate Guide To Wilderness Survival
We all live in a world that is driven by innovative technology that automates our households, makes work easier and provides endless streams of entertainment. While these things do, in fact, make life easier in general, when an emergency occurs or a disaster strikes, most of us just aren’t prepared. As a whole, we have grown complacent and aren’t prepared to survive during natural disasters.
Many individuals like to unplug from all of their electronics and escape to the wilderness for a hike or camping adventure. But the truth is that many of us rely on technology even while out in the woods and forget that there are critical tools and survival skills that are necessary in case of an emergency. Surviving in the wilderness is about more than just a couple of handy-dandy camping tools and first aid supplies—although those are important, too.
Let’s dive into our ultimate guide to wilderness survival.
Wilderness Survival Guide
The most prepared individuals are the ones who can survive catastrophes—no matter where they are. It is even more important to have the right tools and knowledge when disconnected from society. You will miss having resources like a fire department and local rescue, clean drinking water, or heat to keep warm.
Always pack an emergency bag with all the survival tools you need for the wilderness, and be sure to keep it somewhere in your house where everyone knows where it is. Or, you can keep those items in a go-bag in your car. The most prepared survivalists stockpile tools and supplies in multiple places because you never know when you will need them.
Essential Skills
In order to survive in the wilderness, you’ll need to have a few skills in your tool kit. These essential skills are the basic requirements of a safe and comfortable night in the wild.
How To Build A Shelter
Learning how to build a temporary shelter is extremely critical to your survival.
A lean-to is arguably the easiest shelter to build. It consists of leaning materials like branches and sticks against a pre-existing natural formation or structure, such as a tree, large boulder, or another edifice. Though it doesn’t protect you on all sides, it is a sufficient shelter to throw up in a hurry.
You can also build a round lodge—otherwise known as a teepee, wikiup, or a wigwam. This structure is built similarly to a lean-to shelter with a large number of branches and sticks leaning together, but this design creates a bigger shelter with a little more protection. Round shelters do tend to take longer to create, but they can protect your gear, food, and you from the elements or other wild predators.
How To Find Food And Water
Food and water are critical concerns when surviving in the wilderness. The average adult can go up to three weeks without food, but the rule of thumb is that we can only live three days without water. As such, finding water should be your first priority after building a shelter. Ideally, you’re looking for two or three cups of water per day to keep your body functioning properly.
Running water like waterfalls, rivers, or streams make for great sources. However, be wary of stagnant bodies of water like lakes or ponds because they are likely to carry diseases that will make you incredibly sick. When in doubt, purify the water. We love Stealth Angel Survival’s Potable Aqua Drinking Water Germicidal Tablets. All it takes is two tablets and 35 minutes, and voila—your questionable water is now clean and safe to drink.
Finding food may be trickier than finding water. It’s a good practice to try to forage or find local food sources before digging into your emergency rations. As a general rule, you’ll be looking for food in the form of plants or wildlife. However, keep in mind that many plants are poisonous, so it’s imperative that you’re confident in your choice of plants before cooking up a leafy green stew. Here are a few guidelines that may save your life:
- Avoid white or red berries.
- Boiling removes some poisons—but not all.
- Keep an eye on what the animals eat. Chances are that you can eat the same things.
- Always avoid mushrooms. Many mushrooms are edible, but your identification needs to be precise to avoid eating poisonous varieties that could possibly kill you.
How To Start A Fire
Learning how to get a fire started is one of the top survival skills you can learn— and you probably think that you can just use matches. But what happens if your only pack of matches gets wet, falls out of your pack, or you just forget to bring them?
A fire starter is an incredibly important tool for surviving in the wilderness. Temperatures don’t have to be below freezing for you to succumb to hypothermia. If you are in a cold wind, rain, or air, hypothermia is a threat, and if you can’t start a fire in these weather conditions, you risk dying.
Having a fire also allows you to purify water, signal for help, cook food, cauterize wounds, and even ward off wild predators.
It’s alright to carry matches in your survival kit – just make sure you have a backup method for starting a fire, like the Stealth Angel Arc Lighter. All it takes is a push of a button for this lighter to unleash a fiercely powerful dual-arc beam that ferociously ignites anything it touches—perfect for surviving in the wilderness.
Gear Checklist
Prior to heading out into the wild, use this checklist to ensure you have everything that you’ll need. Not only will you be much more comfortable, but you can be especially confident in knowing you have all the essentials to ensure your safety should the worst actually happen.
A Tent Or Tarp
Tents come in all sizes and shapes today. Look for a reliable and lightweight tent that will be easy to carry with you. You can even make do with a tarp in a pinch.
A Tactical Knife
Tactical knives come in a wide variety of shapes and styles. There are tactical fixed blade knives and folded blade knives that each tackle different tasks. We love the Chaos Ready Knife Safety 6-In-1 Multi-Tool from Stealth Angel Survival. Not only does this multi-tool come with a durable serrated blade, but it also comes with other essential tools such as a bottle opener, fire starter, and LED light.
Sleeping Bag
Staying warm even in moderate weather is important, so be sure to pack a lightweight, warm sleeping bag. It needs to be warm and comfortable yet easy to carry.
Flashlight
A dependable flashlight is a must, even if you are only planning a day hike. If you happen to take shelter during a storm in a dark cave, you’ll wish you had one— and you certainly need one at night. Get yourself a powerful flashlight or a trusty headlamp. Trust us—you’ll be glad you did!
A Final Word
If you plan to be in the wilderness often, you should definitely learn these survival skills and carry these tools in your emergency survival kit. Even if you don’t plan to hike or camp, often you can still—and should—stockpile emergency supplies and make sure you have the right tools at home. You never know when a natural disaster or storm will cut you off from community resources.
Not sure where to get emergency supplies? Check out Stealth Angel Survival. Whether you need a first aid kit, tactical gear, or survival tools for your emergency preparedness kit, Stealth Angel Survival has you covered.
Sources:
https://www.ifrc.org/en/what-we-do/disaster-management/about-disasters/what-is-a-disaster/
Ultimate Guide To Long Term Food Storage
Having a large stockpile of food is one of the primary goals of every prepper. Unfortunately, many people that are new to the lifestyle think that all they have to do is head to the nearest store and fill a cart with canned foods. However, this is a huge and costly mistake.
The truth is that you need to take a little bit of time to figure out what foods to stockpile and learn how to store them.
Not sure where to start? You’re in luck! By the end of this guide, you’ll know the basics of food storage so you can start stockpiling the foods in the proper places to ensure you and your family have something to eat in the case of an emergency or disaster situation.
Let’s dive in!
Where To Store Your Food
Before you actually start buying food, you need to consider where you are going to put it. This will have a pretty big effect on how much you are able to store. If you happen to live in a small apartment with only a little room for storage, you are going to have to get a bit creative.
Here are some top features to look for in a food storage space:
- No direct sunlight
- Airy, good ventilation
- Dry—that means absolutely no moisture, no standing or dripping water
- Pest free
- Temperature controlled—needs to be below 80-degrees F (70 degrees or lower is better, however, because it will help to make your food last a lot longer)
You probably already have some spots in mind. If not, here is a list of places that could potentially make for suitable food storage areas:
- Pantry
- Closet
- Basement
- Spare bedroom
- Linen closets
- Under beds
Now, you don’t want your stockpile of food just sitting out in the open for everyone to see. If a disaster wipes out the local market and federal aid can’t get to your area, people are going to remember all those tasty boxes of food you had stacked in your kitchen or living room.
If too many individuals know about your food, chances are you’ll either have to share it—which means it won’t last very long—or you’ll have to turn people away (which means they could become a potentially lethal threat to you and your family).
Your stockpile of food should be kept out of sight and only discussed with your immediate family. Your coworker or neighbor doesn’t need to hear about all the food that you have been storing. Remember, if nothing will stop you from providing for your loved ones—nothing will stop them either. Be smart and don’t put the temptation out there.
What To Store
Now it’s time to get a little more specific!
What foods should you be storing exactly? The short answer is: whatever your family likes to eat. There is an old saying: “Store what you eat and eat what you store.” That might seem a little vague, but it’s the one rule you need to keep in mind when you start purchasing extra food.
Never store food that your family absolutely can’t stand, no matter how great of a deal it is. You might be thinking, “If we are hungry, we will eat anything, so who really cares?” While this is sometimes true, you still want to focus on foods that everyone will enjoy. During a long-term disaster, it’s crucial to do everything you possibly can to keep up morale, and disgusting foods that no one enjoys will only make that more difficult—trust us on this one.
Here is a list of foods with a long shelf life of at least a year or longer:
- Dried beans
- White rice
- Steel-cut oats (oatmeal)
- Canned veggies
- Canned fruit
- Canned meat—spam, tuna, chicken, etc.
- Powdered milk
- Baking ingredients—baking soda, sugar, shortening, etc. (note: baking powder and yeast only last a few months.)
- White flour
- Salt and pepper
- Variety of seasonings and spices
- Dried meat—chicken meat bites, beef jerky, etc.
- Pasta—macaroni noodles, spaghetti noodles, etc.
- Tomato sauce
- Peanut butter
- Jams and jellies
- Instant potatoes
- Honey
- Granola
- Bouillon cubes
- Coffee and tea
- Condiments—Ketchup, mustard, BBQ sauce, etc.
There are many other long-lasting food items, but this is a good list to help get the gears in your head-turning. If your family has a particular staple that they just can’t live without, be sure to add plenty of it to your emergency food storage. Better yet, learn to make it from scratch and stock up on the necessary ingredients.
Food Storage Tips
There are a handful of tricks and tips that will help to make your food storage a success. We’ve talked about where and what to store, so not let’s get into all the miscellaneous tips.
- If you are going to store four, put it in the freezer for a couple of days before you seal it up and add it to your stockpile. The ice-cold temps will kill weevil eggs, so you won’t have to worry about them hatching and hanging out in your dry goods while it sits on the shelf.
- Add bay leaves to buckets of rice, beans, and flour. The bay leaves stink far too much for rodents, ants, and other pests, helping to keep them away and out of your food.
- Be sure to label everything with a big black marker. You want to put the date on all food items, so you will know when you added them to your storage. This is extremely helpful and will prevent you from breaking the seal to see what’s inside.
- Keep a running inventory on a piece of paper. An inventory will make your life so much easier—trust us. If you’re storing months’ worth of food, you are going to forget what you have. But with an inventory, you will be able to head to the local market and know exactly what to get.
- Organize your stockpile of food and keep like-foods together. Canned veggies goes in one section and canned fruits in another. This will make it much easier for you to find exactly what you want without having to shuffle things around, which can mess up your rotation.
- When you can, avoid plastic containers and opt for glass. Plastic is semi-permeable, meaning air can seep into the food and speed up the breakdown of ingredients. If you can, either buy items in glass jars or simply remove the item from the original packaging and put it into a clean, glass jar that you can seal.
A Final Word
It goes without saying that food is an important aspect if you want to make it out alive following a disastrous situation. If you are preparing for the worst, be sure to follow our guide to help you in terms of long-term food storage.
If you don’t know where to start, check out Stealth Angel to get everything you need to properly prepare for an emergency. From personal water filters to keep your drinking water safe to survival kits fully equipped with non-perishables and toiletries- Stealth Angel’s got your back.
Sources:
https://www.ifrc.org/en/what-we-do/disaster-management/about-disasters/what-is-a-disaster/
Ultimate Guide On How To Survive A Tsunami
Of all the potential disasters, tsunamis are probably pretty low on your list. And for those living in the U.S., that’s a justified analysis. In fact, the East Coast of the United States is at very low risk of ever seeing a tsunami, and even the West Coast isn’t a significant threat, with the exception of Hawaii and Alaska.
However, more and more Americans are living abroad these days. So, if you happen to be living in Central America or Mexico, you are at a much higher tsunami risk. The same is true for the west coast of South America. There is also the so-called “Pacific Rim of Fire,” including Indonesia, New Zealand, and the Philippines.
We also live in an age when a tsunami doesn’t necessarily have to be an act of nature. Sure, the majority of tsunamis are triggered by volcanoes or earthquakes occurring near coastal areas or underwater, but they can also be generated by man-made explosions.
So, how does one prepare for one of these terrifying disasters, you ask?
We’ll tell you. Keep reading for the ultimate guide on how to survive a tsunami.
How To Survive A Tsunami
Despite what you may have watched in your favorite cartoons or the latest doomsday thriller on Netflix, tsunamis don’t look like giant versions of the type of perfect curling waves that surfers crave. Instead, tsunamis more closely resemble flash floods—powerful and intense flash floods.
When waters from the tsunami hit the beach, they may only be as high as ten feet, but as that water surges inland, it can grow to a height of up to one-hundred feet and travel for many miles. This fast-moving wave wreaks havoc on everything and anything in its path, uprooting trees, breaking windows, and snapping power poles in half. The resulting soup of debris is likely to kill anything and anyone who is pulled in. Surviving these disasters requires a combination of good preparation, quick thinking, and decisive action.
Here are some tsunami terms you should be familiar with:
Tsunami: The term tsunami literally means “harbor wave.” It is a series of massive waves that occur after a significant displacement in the Earth. Earthquakes and volcanoes are the largest culprits— typically the ones that occur in coastal areas and underwater. They can also be caused by large meteors crashing into the ocean, as well as massive rockslides, icebergs, landslides, and even underwater nuclear explosions.
The average height of a tsunami wave is thirty-three feet, but there are records of tsunamis having produced one-hundred-foot waves—so anything is possible.
Tidal Wave: A tidal wave—not to get confused with a tsunami—is a massive wave that is caused by the gravitational interactions between the earth, moon, and sun. The terms ‘tidal wave’ and ‘tsunami’ are oftentimes used interchangeably, but they really shouldn’t be. One is caused by gravitational forces, while the other is caused by a coastal or underwater displacement of the Earth.
Tsunami Watch: A watch is issued by the National Tsunami Warning Center or the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center. These two organizations are run by the National Weather Service, and each of them is responsible for monitoring volcanic activity and earthquakes below the sea in their respective regions. A watch means that there is the probability of a tsunami reaching land, but there is no guarantee.
If you do live in a coastal area and receive an alert for a tsunami watch, you should grab your emergency supply kit and your family, review your evacuation plans and stay tuned to the radio for updates.
Tsunami Advisory: An advisory is issued when a tsunami is inevitable or approaching a specific region. If you receive an advisory alert, you should begin executing your evacuation plans. Tsunami waves can cause strong tidal surges with enough strength to sweep away vehicles, boats, and anything along their path. They cause major flooding near coastal regions and travel quickly.
Don’t attempt to watch the tsunami from the comfort of your home. Leave coastal beaches immediately. Move inland, get to high ground, and wait there until the threat has passed.
Tsunami Warning: A warning is an escalated version of a tsunami advisory. This means that a tsunami is definitely expected in the area, and evacuations must occur immediately. Stay far away from low-lying areas and the beach. A tsunami warning may last for hours after the initial waves have made landfall, so don’t return to your home until you’re told it is safe to do so.
How To Prepare For A Tsunami
Tsunamis are scary and dangerous. Make sure you are prepared by following our tips below:
Know Your Risk
If you happen to live in a coastal area or a low-lying area somewhere near the beach, you are probably in a high-risk zone. Learn the warning systems used in your specific city and what they mean.
Learn The Signs of a Tsunami
Don’t rely solely on warning systems because sometimes the tsunami arrives before a warning can even reach the public. Know what an approaching tsunami looks and feels like.
Retrofit Your Home
If you live close to the beach, have a contractor or inspector check your home for vulnerabilities and ways to strengthen the infrastructure. If you’re able to elevate your home above the projected rush of water, you might be able to save it from flooding. This could be costly but may be well worth the investment.
Have an Evacuation Plan
This step is critical for your survival. If you don’t know where it is safe to go, you will be running around like a chicken with their head cut off the moment the disaster strikes. Find where the tsunami safe areas or shelters are in your community and map them out. Become familiar with getting there using side roads since the highways and main roads could be closed or congested. Don’t rely on your map app to get you to safety during a tsunami. Learn three different escape routes leaving from the places you frequent the most, such as your home, office, and the local market.
Build Your Emergency Kit
If you do, in fact, live in a high-risk area and are at home during a tsunami warning, your best bet is to keep an evacuation supply kit ready to go for every family member in your household.
This should include the minimum tools and supplies needed to survive for three days without assistance, such as water, food, and first aid. Don’t forget to include your furry family members in the preparedness process as well. You can either put together an emergency kit ahead of time or purchase a great pre-made kit like the ones found at Stealth Angel Survival.
A Final Word
A tsunami is a terrifying disaster that can come without any notice, destroying everything and anything in its path. Although tsunamis are not as common as other disasters, the hard truth is that they can happen at any time, and those who are unprepared, are unlikely to survive.
Don’t get caught unprepared for a tsunami. Put together an emergency plan now and start stockpiling supplies. Put together a 72-hour emergency kit for each family member, fully stocked with the essentials such as water, food, and medical aid.
When purchasing supplies, be sure to purchase from a top-notch company like Stealth Angel Survival—the leader in emergency preparedness kits, supplies, and survival products. Stealth Angel Survival has everything you’ll need to keep you and your loved ones safe in the event of an emergency.
Sources:
https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/tsunami.html
https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/ring-fire/
https://chis.nrcan.gc.ca/volcano-volcan/volcano-volcan-en.php
Ultimate Supply Checklist Guide For A Pandemic
We had SARS in 2003, then H1N1 in 2009, then MERS in 2012, and now COVID-19, here in 2020. The truth is that we don’t know when or where, but we know with 100% certainty that another deadly virus will strike.
While the main priority right now must be coping with the growing number of cases and the economic havoc that the current pandemic is wreaking over the nation, it’s also time for the country to begin taking steps to minimize the pain of the next pandemic by preparing for it.
Not sure where to start? Keep reading for our ultimate supply checklist guide for a pandemic.
What Supplies Are Needed To Prepare For A Pandemic?
Before we dive into all the supplies that you should stockpile to prepare for a pandemic, let’s first discuss what a pandemic is.
According to WHO, a pandemic is defined as the “worldwide spread of a new disease.”
When a new disease or virus first emerges, most of us lack the natural immunity to fight it off. This can cause a sudden—and sometimes rapid—spread of the disease between people across communities all around the globe. Without a natural immunity to fight off a virus, many individuals can become ill as it spreads.
The WHO is in charge of announcing the emergence of a new pandemic based on how the spread of the virus fits into the following six phases:
Phase One: Viruses circulating among animal populations haven’t been shown to transmit human beings. They are not considered a threat, and there is very little risk of a pandemic.
Phase Two: A new animal virus circulating among animal populations has been shown to transmit to humans. This new illness is considered a threat and signals the potential risk of a worldwide pandemic.
Phase Three: The animal virus has caused disease in a small cluster of humans through animal-to-human transmission. However, human-to-human transmission is too low to cause community outbreaks. This means that the virus places human beings at risk but is unlikely to cause a pandemic.
Phase Four: There has been human-to-human transmission of the new virus in considerable enough numbers leading to community outbreaks. This kind of transmission among humans signals a high risk of a pandemic developing.
Phase Five: There has been transmission of the new virus in at least two countries within the WHO region. Although only two countries have been affected by the new virus at this point, a global pandemic is inevitable.
Phase Six. There has been transmission of the new disease in at least one additional country within the WHO region. This is known as the ‘pandemic phase’ and signals that a global pandemic is currently occurring.
As you can clearly see listed above, pandemics aren’t necessarily defined by their growth rate but rather by the spread of disease, and the truth is that many of these outbreaks follow a spread pattern described as exponential growth.
With that in mind, you can see why being prepared ahead of time is so important. In a blink of an eye, a virus that was at phase one could easily jump to phase six.
Here is a list of items you should be storing up on now. These items should be purchases in quantities that will last for at least 3 to 6 months, or ideally, up to 12 months. Think of this list as an insurance policy for your family’s future.
Equipment
- Generator
- Water filters purifiers
- Fire extinguishers
- Crank radio
- Flashlights—several good ones—also, a crank flashlight and remember spare bulbs.
- Candles—unscented candles or oil lamps with enough wicks and oil. Unscented tea candles are cheap when you buy them in large quantities and burn for roughly 45 minutes apiece.
- Batteries—every size, especially AA size. You can never have too many batteries!
- Matches
- Portable toilet—this can be the type you get from RV centers or simply a five-gallon bucket with small trash can liners.
- A regular phone with a cord on the handset—not portable/cordless. These phones will work when there is no electricity, but when phone lines are still working. Also, keep in mind that when cell phone lines are down, text messaging may still work!
- Always keep your cars full of gas at all times, and consider getting a siphon pump to be able to get the gas out if you need it.
- Several large buckets (at least 10 gallons) to be used to catch rainwater.
- Water purification tablets
- Two manual can openers
- Duct tape—several rolls
- Firewood, charcoal
- A small wood or charcoal grill
- Several large gallon plastic water barrels with lids.
- A food vacuum, for longer shelf life foods.
- Items for self-protection
Medical Supplies
- Prescription medications—try to store 6 to 12 months’ worth. Call your doctor and explain why you need extra meds on hand.
- Vitamins—very important! Enough multivitamins for one year per person.
- Band airs, wound closure strips, tape, and gauze, ace wraps, Betadine to wash injuries, antibiotic ointment, Tylenol, Ibuprofen, contact lens solution… you get the picture. Load up on everything that you would need.
- Masks—NIOSH N95 Respirator Masks. You should store at least one case per person.
- Latex disposable gloves
- Alcohol-based hand sanitizers
- Buy a detailed first aid book for non-medical personnel.
- First aid kit
Grocery Items
- Clorox Bleach
- Dishwashing detergent, sponges, clothing detergent
- Hand and bath soap
- Tissues, paper towels, and enough toilet paper for a year. Consider buying commercial rolls.
- Garbage bags—all sizes, aluminum foil, and Ziploc bags, all sizes.
- Baby wipes
- Disposable plates and silverware, hot and cold cups
- Scissors and knives.
- Hygiene items—shampoo, toothpaste, shaving items, feminine sanitary products, dental floss, nail clippers, etc.
- Baby supplies (if needed)
- Large plastic containers that are durable and seal well to store things like sugar, flour, etc.
- Rubber gloves that can be easily cleaned with bleach and reused.
- Water containers—very important must be food grade approved.
- Pet supplies
- Coffee filters—these are great to filter out water before purifying it.
- Vegetable seeds—all varieties if you have somewhere to safely grow a garden.
Food Supplies
If a new virus goes around, then we are all going to be on the “new pandemic diet,” whether we like it or not! Look for food items that have a long shelf life, buy in bulk, and remember to purchase a variety of foods, as this is important to your diet.
- Water
- Flour, baking powder, sugar, salt, pepper, and other seasonings
- Canned food
- Dried beans
- Powdered milk
- Dried fruit
- Soup
- Coffee/tea
- Yeast
- Granola bars
- Corn starch
- Honey
- Peanut butter
- Jelly and jams
- Dried cereal, crackers
- Nuts—all types!
- Beef jerky
- Condiments
- Nutritional canned drinks like Ensure
- Ramen noodles
- Trail mix
- Grains and legumes
- Baby food
- Pet food
Recap
A virus is a scary thing. At one moment, it’s in phase one, and in the next, it’s reached phase six and is causing widespread panic all across the globe.
Be smart and plan ahead by stockpiling supplies in the event of an emergency. Not sure where to look? Check out Stealth Angel Survival for everything you’ll need to get through another pandemic. From flashlights, solar lighting, and radios to emergency preparedness kits and bug-out bags, Stealth Angel Survival is the leader in outdoor and urban survival.
Sources:
https://www.cdc.gov/sars/about/fs-sars.html
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/mers/index.html
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
https://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/frequently_asked_questions/pandemic/en/
Must Have Emergency Supplies For Your Car
Did you know that a whopping 60% of people in the U.S. don’t know how to change a tire? And if we can’t change tires, we’re probably not prepared for other common car-related emergencies.
There are generally two types of vehicle-related emergencies: mechanical/recovery and emergency/survival. Emergencies don’t discriminate and can happen to anyone, at any time, anywhere. Make sure you’re prepared for the unknown and keep these must-have emergency supplies in your car.
Mechanical And Recovery Car Kit Items
Most car trouble falls under mechanical or accident-recovery issues. Most of these emergencies can be fixed or even avoided with proper preparation.
But the truth is that emergencies happen, even when you’ve done your due diligence and maintained your car. A broken windshield, engine trouble, flat tire, or even running out of gas could all leave you stranded without warning.
With a little bit of know-how, you can fix most mechanical or recovery emergencies on your own—that is, if you have the right tools.
We’ve highlighted a few specific items with some tips on what to look for to tackle different mechanical or recovery roadside emergencies.
Car Jack And Spare Tire
A flat tire is, without a doubt, one of the most common roadside emergencies. To change your tire, you’ll need the right tools. Check your vehicle and make sure you know how to access the spare tire and the jack—and that there is one. Most spare tires and jacks can be found inside the trunk or your car. If you happen to have a used car that’s missing the jack or if you’ve maybe misplaced it, buy a replacement jack that can support the weight of your vehicle.
We also suggest having an air compressor or a tire inflator and some tire sealant as an alternative way to fix a flat.
Jumper Cables
What if you accidentally leave your car lights on overnight and come out the next day to find your battery drained? Good news: if you have jumper cables—also known as booster cables—in your car, you can awkwardly ask your neighbor to help you resurrect your dead battery.
Your jumper cables should be long enough—at least twenty feet—to connect to any car, truck, or SUV. Also, be sure to double-check and make sure you have the right gauge of cable for your vehicle.
Jumper cables are important to keep on hand, but in order for them to work, you’ll need to ask for help, which can sometimes be challenging if no one is around. That’s why we love the Battery ResQ from Stealth Angel Survival—a portable battery jump starter that is so powerful; it can quickly bring life back to your dead battery in your car, truck, motorcycle, or boat.
Replacement Fuses
Fuses are the culprit in many mysterious car problems. When you think you might have blown a fuse, it’s a simply DIY fix. Just people open the hood of your car and use a pair of pliers to remove and examine each engine fuse. If one of your fuses looks like it’s burned, you can easily replace it.
We suggest keeping replacement fuses on hand. Just make sure that the fuses you are buying work with your specific engine.
Other Common Mechanical Car Emergency Kit Items
Some car emergency kit items are pretty self-explanatory. Here is a list of tools that you should pack in your car at all times:
- Flashlight (and extra batteries)
- Reflective vest
- Duct tape
- Utility gloves
- Tow strap
- Multipurpose utility tool
- Window scraper
- Snow shovel
- Tire pressure gauge
- Mechanic rags
- Small tool kit
If you don’t want to assemble a collection of emergency tools, you can buy a great premade Auto Emergency Kit from Stealth Angel Survival.
Emergency And Survival Car Kit Items
Sometimes you try everything, but you just can’t get back on the road. In that case, you need to prepare yourself for the possibility of being stranded until help arrives.
Be ready for anything from extreme weather to serious accident recovery by keeping these crucial items in your car at all times.
Car Escape Tool Or Pocket Knife
Some safety features inside your car, like airbags, windshields, and seatbelts, can be a hindrance after an accident. Many accidents make it so you can’t unbuckle your best or even open your door when you need to. And in some extreme cases, you may need to get out very quickly.
Keep a car escape tool or pocket knife in a place where you can easily reach them from the driver’s seat. That way, you can break a window or cut through your seatbelt if you need to get out. It might be a good idea to keep an extra tool on the passenger side as well.
Fire Extinguisher
In an auto accident, a fire is definitely a possibility. Vehicle fires generally fall into Class B (flammable liquids like diesel fuel or gasoline) or Class C (electrical) fires, so you will need a fire extinguisher that can handle both.
Two-Way Radio
Play it safe and keep a two-way radio in your car at all times. You may never have to use it in this age of cellphones, but in an emergency situation, if your cellphone happens to die, gets destroyed in an accident, or is simply out of range for cell service—you’ll need a backup plan.
Find a two-way radio with a range of over twenty miles and a long battery life. Also, look for one that includes weather channels, so you can prepare for the weather while you wait for assistance. We love the Stealth Angel Portable Emergency Radio because it can be charged three ways—solar, crank, and D.C.—and comes with weather band stations.
Cat Litter
No, we are not recommending kitty litter for cat bathroom purposes (although it is handy for those situations too). If you drive into some unexpected snow or ice, you can easily use the litter to sop up the moisture and get traction. Simple yet effective!
Other Common Car Emergency Kit Items For Survival
In a vehicle emergency, you are sometimes stuck waiting for help to arrive for a long time. Here are a few more things to pack in your car kit—just in case.
- Emergency blanket
- First aid kit
- Cell Phone charger
- Water
- Non Perishable snacks like granola bars
- Rain poncho
A car is a very useful place to stash your emergency kit. If you’re not home in the event of an emergency, your kit is already in reach. Be sure to put together these items or simply purchase a great emergency kit like the ones found at Stealth Angel Survival. These kits contain everything you’ll need in the event of an emergency.
Recap
With any luck, you won’t ever need to use any of these items, but if you do happen to find yourself in an emergency situation—you’ll be glad you had these supplies easily accessible in your car.
An emergency kit like the one found at Stealth Angel Survival could save your life.
Sources:
https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/top-12-most-common-car-problems-and-issues
Top 5 Survival Tips You Need To Know
We live in a world today that is marked by modern conveniences—which is totally fine, most of the time. But, every once in a blue moon, disaster strikes. Whether there is a horrendous storm that knocks out your electricity or you just get lost by wandering too far, a bad situation can be mitigated exceptionally if you just know a few basic survival tips and tricks.
Here are the top 5 survival tips everyone should know:
1. Stay Calm
The first survival tip on the list is to always remain calm. Finding yourself in a survival scenario can be immensely unsettling. It’s not like you practice getting in such situations every day, right? Most individuals can get very nervous or anxious and panic in situations like these. This outdoor skill can alone save your life in many situations.
Don’t get us wrong; it is entirely understandable to feel anxious! However, if you want to get out of the painstakingly nerve-wracking situation, you must rely on sound judgment. If you are overly anxious, panicking, or agitated, your brain will not think properly.
The first thing you must tell yourself is to take a great big deep breath and try to control panic and anxiety. In all likelihood, you’re in a much less dangerous situation that you may believe at the moment, and if you simply keep a cool head, you will soon start seeing ways to get out of the bind.
Removing yourself out of a tricky situation requires a sound and rational approach. If you’re not thinking right, you will not be able to put any of the following tips to use. The first thing is to always get a grip on your emotions and start devising a plan.
2. Set Your Priorities Right
The key to survival is getting your priorities straight when you’re stranded. You have a lot on your plate, and if you don’t get your priorities in order, you will have huge problems.
Despite what you may believe at that time, food is not your priority at all. Think about it—will you die without food for three days? Probably not. Your main priority is staying warm if it is cold outside and protecting yourself from the natural elements.
Do your very best to try and stay as dry as possible. Skin that is wet loses three times more heat than dry skin, which can lead to hypothermia. If your pants happen to get wet, make sure that you take them off and try to dry them.
If you happen to be stranded in warm, dry weather, your top priority is water. Make sure that you get access to H2O first before you do anything else.
Pro Tip: Always keep an emergency kit on you for survival situations like these. We love the Stealth Angel Emergency Survival Bags because they are fully equipped with water pouches, a crank radio, a blanket, first aid, and much more—everything you may need in the event of an emergency.
3. Starting A Fire
Fire is the one thing that we almost all take for granted. It is always there when we need it; just simply light a match or press a button on your lighter, and poof! The fire is there.
But things are not that easy in the wild. You may not have any of these convenient gadgets, or they simply might not work. You should, however, be able to improvise and start a fire.
Now, there are three things needed to get a fire started: fuel, oxygen, and a spark. You have two of these in abundance in nature. There is the unlimited amount of fuel in the form of trees, branches, dry leaves, and twigs, and there is oxygen all around you. What you’re missing is heat or the spark. So, let’s see what you can do to make heat or that spark happen.
Fire Starter
If you don’t happen to have a fire starter—you should get one. You never know when you might need to make a fire for survival. We love the Stealth Angel Arc Lighter because it doesn’t rely on a flame. Instead, it uses plasma-based dual-arc technology that can’t be beaten by rain, snow, wind, or the cold thanks to its hardy waterproof casing. The powerful electric dual-arc beam will instantly set material on fire without having to cup your hand over a flickering flame. Don’t get stranded without this tool from Stealth Angel Survival.
Improvise Magnifying Glass
What if you don’t happen to carry a fire starter or matches with you? Well, you can simply use the power of the sun to start a fire! All you need to do is put some good old H20 in a clear plastic bag and tie it like a balloon. When you hold this bag against the sun, you’ll see the familiar converging of the sun’s rays on the ground.
If you keep focusing this bright light onto some dry kindle, you will soon start a fire.
4. How To Start A Fire and Sustain It In Wet Weather
If the weather conditions are wet, it can be extremely challenging to start and maintain a fire. However, certain tricks and tips can help you. The most important thing to keep in mind is that if you get the fire raging, it will probably sustain light rain, but don’t expect it to burn through an intense tropical thunderstorm!
Here are some tips to start and maintain a fire in wet weather conditions:
Avoid the Pit
If the weather is dry, digging a hole to keep your firewood is a good idea. However, in wet conditions, the pit can quickly fill up with rainwater, so skip this tip if it’s raining.
Look for Dry Pieces of Wood
Now, before you say ‘duh,’ hear us out! It can be really challenging to find dry wood if it has been raining for a while. However, you can search for pieces of sticks that are under thick trees—there’s a good chance that you may find some dry pieces there.
Use Needle and Pine Bearing Leaves
These types of trees exude a sticky substance called pitch, which is a highly flammable substance that you can use to start and maintain a fire in wet conditions.
Make Small Pieces of Your Firewood
Always keep in mind that if you split the branches into small pieces, they tend to burn better.
5. Never Travel In The Dark
The last tip on our list is simply to never travel in the dark. Sure, it may seem like a good idea just to keep moving if you’re not exhausted completely. However, it’s one of the most dangerous things you can do in the outdoors. Make sure that all your traveling can wait until the next day at break of dawn.
Traveling through the wilderness in the dark is an open invitation to danger because most predatory animals are nocturnal and trust us; they are built for hunting at night and can see much better than you can.
A Final Word
If you find yourself in an unsettling survival situation, you’ll be glad to know these tips. Be prepared, and be sure to always keep an emergency kit on you like the ones found at Stealth Angel Survival. Trust us—you’ll be glad you did!
Sources:
https://severewarningsystems.com/about_meso.html
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/reference/nocturnal-animals-explained/
Hurricane Survival Guide 101
Hurricanes are, without a doubt, some of the most devastating and costly natural disasters known to man. Preparing your family and home before a hurricane strikes and knowing how to react after it has passed are fundamental to protecting your personal property and keeping you and your family members safe and sound.
So, what should one do if a hurricane is forecasted? Don’t panic and keep reading—here is our hurricane survival guide to get you through the storm.
What Is A Hurricane?
A hurricane is a dangerous type of tropical cyclone that can cause high winds, torrential rains, storm surges, and flooding for two weeks or more over open water. They can follow a path across the entire length of the eastern seaboard, its coastal areas, and barrier islands.
A hurricane is defined primarily by its wind speeds, which must be 74 mph or greater—anything less than that, and the cyclone is classified as a tropical storm.
Here are some important terms you should be familiar with:
- Tropical Storm Watch: A tropical storm watch is issued when tropical storm conditions are possible in the immediate area.
- Hurricane Watch: A hurricane watch is when hurricane conditions are possible in the immediate area. Hurricane watches are issued 48 hours in advance of the anticipated onset of tropical force winds.
- Tropical Storm Warning: A tropical storm warning occurs when tropical storm conditions are expected in the immediate area.
- Hurricane Warning: A hurricane warning is issued when hurricane conditions are expected in the immediate area. Warnings are issued 36 hours in advance of tropical-storm-force winds.
- Eye: The eye is clear and is sometimes the well-defined center of the storm with calmer weather conditions.
- Eye Wall: The eye wall surrounds the eye and contains some of the most severe weather conditions of the storm with the highest wind speed and largest precipitation.
- Rain Bands: Rain bands that come off the cyclone produce severe weather conditions such as heavy rain, wind, and even tornadoes.
- Storm Surge: A storm surge is often underestimated and a deadly result of ocean water swelling.
In the event of a hurricane watch, prepare your home and evacuation plan in case a warning is issued. During a hurricane warning, follow the directions of officials—immediately grab your emergency supply kit and leave the area if they advise it. In the event of an extreme wind warning- which means that extreme winds sustaining speeds of 115 mph or higher are expected—immediately take shelter in the interior portion of a well-built structure.
How To Prepare For A Hurricane
Don’t wait last minute until a watch is issued because it may be too late to take certain precautions. Reduce potential property damage and get through any hurricane emergency with less stress by preparing before the season begins.
Plan Your Evacuation Route Ahead of Time
If you happen to live on the coast, in a mobile home, or in a van, you may have to evacuate in the event of a major hurricane. While you will undoubtedly get instructions from the local government, it is wise to create your hurricane evacuation plan well before one of these natural disasters strikes. This way, you can know ahead of time about the shelters closest to you, take your furry friends into account in your plan, and make sure to gather and take important papers.
Keep Non-Perishable Emergency Supplies On Hand
When a hurricane warning is issued, hundreds of people often run to the stores making last-minute emergency supply purchases. Get ahead of the rush and keep these following items on hand:
- Extra batteries
- Candles or lamps with fuel
- Materials and tools for emergency home repairs— such as heavy plastic sheeting, plywood, a hammer, etc.
- Prescription drugs
- A two-week supply of drinking water
- First aid supplies or a first aid kit
- A wrench and other basic tools
- A flashlight
- Food that you don’t have to cook or refrigerate
- A multi-tool
- Matches
If you need to leave your home and evacuate, you will need to bring these supplies with you, so be sure to store them in an easy-to-carry bag. If you’d prefer, you can purchase a great pre-made emergency kit instead of making one. Just be sure to purchase from a great company like Stealth Angel Survival to ensure all of your supplies is top-quality.
Take An Inventory of Your Personal Property
Creating an inventory of your personal property will help ensure that you have purchased enough insurance to replace your personal possessions. It can also speed up the claims process, substantiate losses for income tax purposes, and is helpful should you need to apply for government disaster aid. In the event that you do need to evacuate, be sure your home inventory list is among the important documents you take with you.
Take Steps To Protect Your Home
Hurricane winds can turn landscaping materials into missiles that can break doors and windows. Much of the property damage associated with these powerful storms occurs after the windstorm when rain enters structures through broken doors, windows, and holes in the roof. While retrofitting your home to protect against these potential possibilities is undoubtedly an expense, you can do it in stages.
- Replace rock or gravel landscaping materials with shredded bark, which is lighter and won’t cause as much harm.
- Cut weak trees and branches that could potentially fall on your house and keep all shrubbery trimmed.
- Install strong storm shutters to protect your windows from breaking. Alternately, fit plywood panels to your windows, which can be nailed to the window frames when a storm approaches.
- Make sure exterior doors are hurricane-proof and have at least three hinges and a deadbolt lock that is at least one-inch long.
- Sliding glass doors should always be made of tempered glass, and during a storm, covered with plywood or shutters. Sliding glass doors are much more vulnerable to wind damage than most other doors.
- Seal outside wall openings such as vents, garden hose bibs, outdoor electrical outlets, and locations where pipes or cables go through the wall. Use a high-quality urethane-based caulk to prevent water from seeping in.
- If you have a trailer or boat, know how to properly anchor them to the ground or house.
What To Do During A Hurricane
First, evacuate if you’re directed to do so or if you feel it might be unsafe to stay in your home. However, if you do stay in your home, follow these tips to help you and your loved ones stay safe during the hurricane:
- Use a portable crank radio to listen to important storm updates, information, and instructions.
- Stay indoors and keep away from all windows, glass doors, and skylights. Grab your emergency supply kit and head to a safe area, such as an interior room, closet, or downstairs bathroom.
- If your power is lost, keep the refrigerator closed to keep the cold air trapped and delay spoilage of perishable food.
- Never leave or go outside the protection of your home before there is confirmation that the hurricane has passed the area. The eye of the hurricane could create a temporary and deceptive lull, with strong winds and rain still approaching.
A Final Word
Recovering from a disaster like a hurricane is a gradual process. Safety is a primary issue, as are physical and mental well-being.
These dangerous storms can do quite a bit of damage so being prepared is of the utmost importance. Be sure to have an emergency plan in place and supplies readily available.
When looking to stockpile emergency supplies to prepare for a hurricane, be sure to check out Stealth Angel Survival— the leader in emergency preparedness kits, supplies, and survival products. Whether you are looking to purchase a great pre-made bug-out bag or put together survival tools, Stealth Angel Survival can help.
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