5 Items You Need for Summer Storms

As much as we love sunshine, there’s something to be said for the occasional pitter-patter of raindrops on a summer day.

Those rainfalls often cool off a hot day and add much-needed moisture to ground that tends to harden and grass that yellows in the heat.

But as we’ve seen over and over again, those pleasant, light rainfalls can turn into heavy and sometimes violent storms that do more damage than good.

Hurricanes and tornadoes threaten lives, lightning strikes start fires in dry areas, and strong storms and high winds destroy property.

A vast majority of us will experience some of those severe weather events this summer. So today I want to do what I can to help you deal with them. Below are 5 items you need in order to prepare for inevitable summer storms.

NOAA emergency radio

When extreme weather comes calling, you need something reliable to provide you with details about the storm and where it’s headed. And you need it quickly. That’s where a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration radio comes in.

In addition to early weather warnings, this radio provides evacuation routes and other breaking news. It broadcasts National Weather Service warnings, watches, forecasts, and hazard info 24/7. If you program your county’s 6-digit code into it, a loud alarm will sound when dangerous weather approaches.

You want an emergency radio with a powerful battery inside. But you also want other ways to charge it. Including plugging it into an outlet, exposing the radio’s solar panel to the sun, and cranking it up by hand.

You also want a radio with a bright flashlight and a power bank to charge other devices, including your cellphone. Plus one that’s compact and durable. Choose one that includes a sturdy metal clip, a charging indicator, and an earphone jack so you can listen discreetly. We’d recommend the 4Patriots Liberty Band Emergency Solar Radios – it provides vital info, charges in the sun, has a bright light component & more.

Backup power

There’s a common denominator when it comes to summer storms: power outages. They are pretty much inevitable. And they can cause a wide variety of problems.

That’s why it’s crucial to have backup power. This could be in the form of a solar-powered generator, or on a smaller scale, a handheld power bank to keep smaller devices running.

Tactical flashlight

The power outage we just discussed means you’ll need flashlights to light your way in the dark. The best ones are tactical flashlights. They have multiple light settings, a hammer for breaking a window, and a sharp edge to cut a seatbelt or rope.

Some flashlights also include a small solar panel so you can charge it with the sun. Plus a compass and a magnetic mount so you can secure your flashlight to a metal surface to free up both hands for work.

Survival food

Nobody has to be told that non-perishable food is important to have during a summer storm that is likely to knock out power for a while. Especially a storm that might keep you indoors longer than normal due to outdoor damage and blocked roads.

Choose an emergency food supply with a long shelf life and which is offered in disaster-resistant packaging. It should be easy to prepare, taste good, and provide plenty of variety.

Bug-out bag

Nobody wants to leave their home during or immediately after a storm. But sometimes that becomes necessary due to damage done to a home. It might not be safe to stay if the storm was severe enough.

If each member of a household has a bug-out bag fully stocked and located near the front door, it will save lots of time and reduce the panic level. Fill it – in advance – with all the essentials you might need over the course of several days.

The More You Know…

The more information you have, the better prepared you’ll be. Now you have an idea of some must-haves to get you through summer storm season. Tornadoes are already ripping through cities and hurricanes are brewing in the warm summer water. A disaster won’t wait for you to be ready.

Prep for Summer: How to Stockpile Food on a Budget

Food insecurity is a phrase we’ve heard many times. But usually it’s in connection with other countries.

Unfortunately, we’re now hearing it quite often in the U.S. In fact, the rise of food insecurity is being called “unprecedented” by anti-hunger advocates.

Food insecurity – defined as lacking enough food to live a healthy, active life – is caused by a number of factors. Chief among them are inflation and extreme weather events. Not to mention drought affecting crop yields, plus food stamp cuts,

According to the latest U.S. Census, the number of Americans who say they sometimes don’t have enough to eat has risen from 15.8 million prior to the pandemic to 19.2 million last month.

Summer storms add to challenge

We can’t stop the conditions causing this problem, but we can prepare for food shortages. Do you have a stockpile of survival food ready in case of emergency?

If your answer is no, I’ve got a great, free way to get you started. And if your answer is yes, I’ve got a great, free way to add to your emergency food supply. Either way, you win. More on this in a moment.

There are a number of problems that could occur this summer that would make having a stockpile of survival food even more important than usual.

They include hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires, droughts, and heat waves. Each could result in food supply chain issues no matter where you live.

When you have a survival food stockpile, you don’t have to worry about that stuff. You have peace of mind.

But for some of us, finances are standing in the way of putting together a supply of non-perishable food that can hold us over when the going gets even rougher.

Nearly 2/3 of Americans live paycheck to paycheck

It’s easy for me to say, “Get a stockpile of survival food.” It’s another thing to be able to afford it. Inflation has hit all of us very hard.

According to a recent report from CNBC, 63% of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck. That’s nearly two-thirds of us.

Why? Because rising prices are outpacing income gains. There is less cushion in monthly budgets. Anuj Nayar is the financial health officer for the LendingClub report. Here’s what he says.

“Consumers are not able to keep up with the pace that inflation is increasing. Being employed is no longer enough for the everyday American.”

Things are tough; we need to be tougher

As a result, many people aren’t even thinking about trying to stockpile food. They’re focused on surviving until the next paycheck.

And if they are thinking about it, they say they’ll start or continue stockpiling food when things improve.

Well, that seems like faulty thinking to me. There is no guarantee things are going to get better in the near future. In fact, there’s reason to believe they could get worse.

The way things are going in the world, we need to be prepared. Fortunately, there’s a way to prepare for an uncertain future. Even on a tight budget.

Watch for long shelf lives

It doesn’t cost an arm and a leg to do this. There are some simple and inexpensive things we can do now to get ready for a crisis.

Following an emergency, it’s likely the electrical grid will not be functioning properly. If at all. So you want to make sure a vast majority of your food items are non-perishable.

In addition, we don’t know how long an emergency will last. So it’s best to have as much food stockpiled as possible. And make sure most of it has a long shelf life. In the meantime, for items that don’t, rotate them out periodically so they don’t go bad.

If you’re not already in budget mode, try to get there. That means always thinking about how you can spend less and save more. Among the philosophies that must become part of your daily life regarding food are the following:

Never pay full price for anything. Always look for bargains. Watch for flash sales. These one-day events offer great savings, but you have to act quickly.
Buy items in bulk at places such as Sam’s Club or Costco. Or when they’re on sale in regular stores.
Cut and use coupons.
Find and use in-store-only offers.
Grow your own food and preserve it. There is tremendous savings in growing fruits and vegetables. And storing some of them for the colder months of the year.
Watch for the best deals on websites such as Amazon. They could have exactly what you’re looking for, at a price much less than what you’d spend at a local store.

Tips and tricks

One of the first places you want to look at to save money is your weekly grocery bill. If you’re not paying attention, it can really add up. These days, the average couple spends well over $500 a month on groceries. Let’s look at a few simple ways to save.

Make a list. Grocers know how to position products so shoppers will purchase them. If you have a list, you know just what you need (and what you don’t). And of course, if you avoid shopping when you’re hungry, it’s that much easier to resist tempting displays.

Also, choose foods your family will eat. Variety is important, both physically and psychologically. You could buy some of the healthiest food in the store, but if your family won’t eat it, you’ve thrown your money away.

Shop at Aldi. This no-frills chain offers a smaller variety of products. Usually one store brand of each item. If there is an Aldi in your area, you can easily save money on your grocery bill. Prices are often even better than at Walmart.

Aldi stores now offer imported foods, fancy cheeses and lots of fresh (even organic) produce. And you’ll save a few pennies by taking your own grocery bags.

Buy store brands. Buying store brands alone can take a huge chunk out of your grocery costs. Sometimes there will be a brand name item or two you can’t do without. But more often you won’t notice the difference. Except when it’s time to check out.

Buy in bulk. I’m not talking here about warehouse stores, which have membership fees. And usually a minimum price tag of $10 per item. Even in a regular grocery store, you don’t want to buy large amounts of just anything on sale.

It’s about buying more of things you already use often when there’s a significant sale. If it means you shop less often, this can add up to even more savings.

Another item to purchase in bulk is produce. Onions, potatoes, apples and lemons are almost always cheaper when you buy the bag. Just make sure you actually use them so they don’t go to waste.

Buying beans and grains in bulk can also stretch your dollars while providing hearty, healthy meals.

Use digital coupons. Many stores offer digital coupons not available in the weekly newspaper. To acquire these savings, you’ll likely need to set up an account and check off the coupons you wish to use each time you shop.

Doing this ahead of time as you scan the weekly circular can help you write your shopping list around items with the biggest savings.

Stick to the store perimeter. Center aisles have many expensive, processed foods full of salt, sugar, and other additives. The outside ring of the store is where you’ll find more foods such as produce, meat, and dairy.

You’ll still need to visit the center aisles for a few things. But focusing on the perimeter will give you more bang for your buck. Try leaving your cart at the end of the aisle, and just dash in for the item you need.

Freeze meals. If you’re buying in bulk, you’ll want to make sure things don’t go to waste. You can freeze many items including bread, milk, and chopped vegetables, as well as whole meals. Just remember your power could go out in a crisis.

There are cookbooks with recipes for freezing meals in bulk. When you make a meal, cook enough for two meals so you can serve one and freeze the other. It requires almost no extra work, but will save you time and money.

Use fewer ingredients. Sometimes the simplest food tastes best. But you wouldn’t always know it looking at some of the complicated recipes out there.

Sites such as Allrecipes (AllRecipes.com) are great for finding different options for your favorite recipes. And usually the top reviews will include tips on how to make them even easier.

We’ve all learned that preparedness is crucial. Regardless of how tight our budgets are. By following some of the suggestions above, we can all afford to be prepared for whatever life throws at us.

Free 72-Hour Survival Food Kit

Earlier I promised a free way to get you started on your food stockpiling journey or a free way to add to your stash.

For a very limited time, I’m offering you a free 72-Hour Survival Food Kit from 4Patriots. All I ask is that you pay shipping and handling, which I think is fair.

This emergency food kit features a total of 16 servings, with Grammy’s Sweet Oatmeal for the morning, America’s Finest Mac & Cheese for noontime and Creamy Rice and Vegetable Dinner for the evening.

Simple to prepare, this delicious and nutritious food will carry you through a rough 72-hour stretch. And it’s designed to last 25 years under proper storage conditions.

Here’s how to get your free 72-Hour Survival Food Kit…

^†Today your survival food kit is FREE, simply cover $14.95 S&H. This exact kit regularly sells for $27 plus $14.95 S&H on our website. Click here to see it.
* 25-year shelf life under proper storage conditions. Excess heat and/or damage to packaging may decrease shelf life. For more information, see footnote 8.
+ You may want or need more calories per day, especially if you’re pregnant, a child, elderly, or have other health conditions. For more information, see footnote 2.

Get These 15 Items Now While They’re Available

There are two types of people in the world. One knows it’s only a matter of time before an emergency occurs and so they prepare for it. The other also knows it’s only a matter of time before an emergency occurs, but they figure they’ll deal with it when the time comes.

Because you’re reading this communication from us at 4Patriots, I’ll assume you are among that first group. And I’m very glad to know that.

You’ve seen it over and over again – either firsthand or in the news – so you know some kind of crisis is going to affect you, probably sooner rather than later.

And you know that when it occurs, grocery store shelves will empty of food and water quickly. Long lines will form at gas pumps. People will search for backup power wherever they can find it. I hope you’ve already done what you can to prepare for the inevitable.

Have you thought of everything?

But even if you have thought ahead and prepared for a potential disaster, you might not have considered everything.

To fully protect yourself and your family, you need to prepare for a number of different scenarios with a variety of products.

Below I’ve listed 15 things that could be difficult to get your hands on during a crisis. Because there will be high demand – not to mention jacked up prices – and limited supplies due to disrupted supply chains.

If you take care of these needs in advance, you’ll gain peace of mind. And you’ll have the items you need when others around you are scrambling in panic mode.

Water. I don’t have to tell you how crucial this need is. More often than not, an emergency situation will result in the compromised quality of the local water supply. It could be shut off altogether, or contaminated. You need both a supply of usable water and a way to filter what’s coming out of your taps.

Food. Again, this is pretty basic, and something we’ve preached repeatedly. You need a significant supply of long-lasting survival food to carry you and your family through a crisis. Often first to disappear during an emergency are perishables such as milk, bread, and eggs, as well as non-perishables including soups, stews, grains, and granola and protein bars.

Shelter. Everyone hopes that if a crisis occurs, they’ll be able to hunker down at home rather than having to bug out. That’s usually the case so make sure your home is able to withstand extreme weather events. But in addition, create a plan that involves where you will go and alternate routes to get there if you do need to evacuate. Not everyone can afford a cabin in the woods, so at the very least have a list of hotels/motels outside your immediate area where you could head if necessary.

Medical supplies. Talk to your physician about getting at least a three-month supply of each med you take regularly. Medical supplies will become victims of a supply chain problem, so stay as far ahead of that as possible.

First-aid kit. You should also purchase or assemble a comprehensive first-aid kit and keep one at home and one in each of your vehicles. It’s also a good idea to have back-ups for medical equipment you use regularly, including CPAP machines and blood pressure monitors.

Hygiene items. Toilet paper, soap, shampoo, toothpaste, and a wide variety of other personal hygiene items will get scooped up at stores immediately after a crisis occurs. Having a good supply in advance will be a big help.

Backup power. One common denominator with just about every crisis is our vulnerable electric grid going down. It doesn’t take much for that to happen. Which makes having backup power crucial. Your best defense is a solar-powered generator, but you also want to have pocket-sized power banks to keep your smaller electronic devices charged. Including your cellphone.

Fuel. There is probably a limited amount of fuel you’ll want to keep in your garage for safety reasons, but it’s not a bad idea to have a few gallons available in safe containers. A disaster is likely to limit access to fuel. And try to remember to keep each of your vehicles’ gas tanks as full as possible on a regular basis because you never know when a crisis will occur.

Flashlights. Basic flashlights are better than nothing, but what you really want are tactical flashlights that serve a variety of purposes. Including one that can cut a seatbelt or break a window, and that can flash an SOS signal and even charge other electrical items. Keep a couple at home and at least one in each of your vehicles.

Batteries. Some of your emergency supplies, including basic flashlights, need batteries, so compile a collection of batteries in different sizes. A dead battery is one of the last things you’ll want to have in a crisis.

Emergency radio. Regardless of the disaster that will cause you to hunker down or bug out, you can stay on top of the news with an emergency radio. And if it’s solar-powered, you don’t have to worry about your power going out. You’ll have up-to-the-minute information on the crisis, including weather forecasts and which areas are most affected by the emergency.

Fire-starters. This can take many forms, including Bic lighters, matches, and even flint and steel. Weather-proof fire-starters are reliable and effective.

Solar Cooker. If you’re without electrical power – whether at home or after bugging out – you’ll want a way to heat water. A portable solar cooker will do the trick. It can boil water for coffee, tea or cocoa, as well as hot dogs and more. Not to mention a hot wet cloth for cleaning.

Camp Stove. With very little smoke and no gas whatsoever, you can cook meals without power when you have a portable camp stove. Just add twigs and leaves and you’ll have a small fire that can cook a variety of foods.

One more ‘cool’ necessity

A number of the items listed above can fit in a bug-out bag or other emergency kit. Once you’ve fully stocked that kit, keep it near your front door so you can grab it and go in a hurry if necessary.

Let me add one final item to your emergency supplies: ice. Say what? How in the world can I keep ice in an emergency kit?

Well, you can’t, because obviously it will melt. But if you always keep ice in your freezers and have a convenient place to move it to when the power goes out, you’ll be able to keep food and medicines cold, and also use that ice for first-aid if necessary.

And just in case you’re ever tempted to take ice for granted, did you hear what happened last summer in Spain? Due to a heat wave, high energy bills, and ongoing concern about the pandemic, many stores limited the amount of ice bags consumers could purchase.

The same could happen here someday, so be prepared!

Do You Have Covert Cooking Skills?

Where there’s smoke, there’s fire. Everyone knows that, including looters and those who would rather steal than work.

At some point, you may find yourself needing to cook food covertly. Whether in your yard during a blackout, during a camping trip in an unfamiliar area, or out in the wild after bugging out.

But how can you quietly cook food outdoors without attracting attention from humans with bad intent or animals looking for their next meal?

That’s the purpose of today’s communication. I want to share some ways for you to do exactly that so your outdoor cooking can be “looter-proof.”

Keep your spatula under the radar

If you’ve done a significant amount of camping in the past, cooking outdoors will be nothing new for you. But perhaps you’ve never bothered to try to keep a low profile while doing this.

During a blackout or bug-out situation, however, you’ll want to stay under the radar. You never want to alert a looter to your location.

The very thing that might send you bugging out – such as a natural disaster – is what will make some others desperate enough to want to steal your food and possibly do you bodily harm.

The key is making sure your outdoor cooking is done in a stealthy manner. There is an art to avoiding smoke, fire, and the smell of food you’re cooking. And I want to make sure you’re both able to do it and ready if you need to do it in a hurry.

7 tips for stealthy cooking

If you want to lessen the odds that your outdoor meal will be interrupted by uninvited guests, here’s what I recommend:

Find a hidden spot away from main roads. Even though it will be inconvenient, make sure your cooking site is at least a 10- or 15-minute walk from the road. Because roads are easiest to navigate, most people will stick to them. Cooking your meal far from roads will increase your chances of not running into trouble. If you are worried about animals, try to cook your food away from your campsite and/or downwind of where they are located.

Stick with pre-cooked meals. Emergency food, often featuring long shelf lives, will emit weaker smells than cooking fresh meat and some other foods will. Emergency food bars are a great option because they’re tasty and need no prep. They require no cooking, water, or heat, and they’re easy to throw in your bug-out bag.

Douse your campfire. This is always important, but in this case it will help keep other people from noticing it and either finding you there or following you to your campsite.

Use sealed canisters for transporting food. In a perfect world, you’ll consume all your cooked food at the cooking site. But you don’t want to waste leftovers, so if you transport them from your campsite, use sealed canisters to hide smells rather than plastic baggies, which are less effective.

Clean your utensils. Smells will linger on knives, forks, spoons, and other utensils you use for cooking and eating, so wash them thoroughly before you leave your cooking site.

Cook using a solar kettle to avoid building a fire and being spotted by troublemakers. Cooking food often requires boiling water, so make sure you have a solar-heated water device as part of your preparedness strategy. You’ll have hot water without fuel, flames, or smoke just by using the power of the sun. You can also use a solar kettle to boil water for sterilization, sanitation, and the opportunity to make warm tea or coffee.

Assume the worst. Always assume that unwanted visitors and/or animals will be arriving at your cooking site soon. That will keep you motivated to eat and clean in a timely fashion before returning to your campsite. It will also remind you to keep your head on a swivel and always be prepared.

By taking some of these precautionary steps, you will reduce the odds that your eating will bring unwanted people or animals your way.

Your Camping Survival Guide Checklist

May is considered one of the most pleasant months of the year in terms of weather. It’s no longer cold and the heat of summer has not yet arrived. And generally, there is not as much rain as we had during April.

All this adds up to May being a great time to go camping. June may be National Camping Month, but why not get a head start by camping during a very pleasant time of year?

For many of us, this will probably be a weekend venture with only one or two overnights. For others, we may want to spend five to seven days experiencing the great outdoors.

Today I want to provide you with some reminders about what to make sure to take with you on your next camping trip, regardless of its length.

If you are one of the 40 million Americans who goes camping annually, it may have been a while since you’ve done it, so I don’t want you to forget anything important.

21 camping ‘musts’

Everyone’s list of camping essentials will be different, but here are some basics I think everyone would benefit from having on-hand:

A sturdy, waterproof camping tent
Sleeping bag, pillows; blow-up mattress or sleeping pad
Extra clothes including socks, swimsuit, etc.
Toiletries and toilet paper
Cellphone
Flashlights and extra batteries
Power banks for your phone and other electronic devices
Survival knife
Compass
Compact cooking stove
Fire-starters
Non-perishable food, including granola bars and healthy snacks
Water and water bottles
Cooler for perishable food and drinks
Disposable cups, plates, utensils
Cleaning supplies, dish soap
Towels and washcloths
Extension cord, tarp, bungees
Paper clips
Fully-stocked first-aid kit
Sunscreen, bug spray (or dryer sheets for insect repellent!)

Some folks may want to include a weapon in their camping gear, assuming they have a concealed carry license.

Making memories in the outdoors

People who have never gone camping may not understand its value. Why sleep on the ground outdoors when you could be in a nice comfortable bed?

But what they learn after they try it is how therapeutic it can be to leave the stress of their lifestyle behind for a few days and get back to nature. The change in environment can be a significant mood booster. And basking in nature’s beauty relieves anxiety.

Camping trips are about making memories with family and friends. You’ll enjoy new experiences that would be impossible to duplicate back at home. And you just may learn a few survival skills that will come in handy down the road. Including fire-starting and cooking over a campfire.

Many people come back home from camping trips being bonded to others better than ever before. Your shared experiences, late-night chats, and early-morning walks all combine to bring you together as a cohesive unit.

A bug-out scenario rehearsal

A couple more things about camping. While it’s important to take everything you need on a camping trip – especially one lasting longer than a couple of days – you don’t want to overdo it.

If you end up taking a bunch of “just in case” stuff that you don’t end up requiring, it could bog you down and tire you out.

Even more important, try to look at your camping experience as a dry run for a potential bug-out scenario. Surviving in the wild with a limited amount of food, water, and other items will be much easier to deal with if you’ve already practiced this type of thing while camping.

Oops, looks like I failed to mention the most important thing of all – s’mores. Yeah, you can make and eat them at home too, but it’s just not the same.

Happy camping!

Gifts for Sojourners, by K.R. >> Thur. May 4 >> IS

As I reflected on the results of the SurvivalBlog poll that suggested topics for essays, one suggestion stood out: “Preparing give-away bags for wanderers.” (Good job, whoever made this suggestion.) I bring no special qualifications except for years of fine-tuning my go-bag and bartering inventory–and some time for reflection. After all, a barter list, a […]

Your Hurricane Preparedness Plan – Expect to Lose Power

If you live in an area of the country that occasionally experiences hurricanes or their effects – and Hurricane Sandy proved that could mean far away from coastlines – you know how devastating those storms can be.

These tropical cyclones, which occur in the north Atlantic Ocean and the northeast Pacific Ocean, have sustained winds of 74 miles per hour or stronger. Some have been recorded as high as 195 mph.

At the very center of the air circulation is the eye, inside of which it’s relatively calm. But the strongest thunderstorms and winds circulate in the eye wall immediately surrounding the eye. When you’re in the eye, you know you’re just about to get hit with the ferocious eye wall at any moment.

Today I’m going to give you some before, during, and after tips for dealing with hurricanes and other severe storms. I’m also going to share with you a way to save $500 while protecting yourself and your family.

Drenching, destructive, & deadly

The downsides to a hurricane – and there are plenty of them – are they can be very slow moving and can bring excessive amounts of water with them.

They can cause extensive and deadly flooding and are often accompanied by thunderstorms and tornadoes, plus sustained rains and winds. Hurricanes can knock out power for days or weeks, and cut off usable water supplies.

The largest Atlantic hurricane on record as measured by diameter with winds spanning 1,100 miles, Sandy affected 24 states and caused an estimated $65 billion in damage in the U.S.

Katrina resulted in at least 1,833 deaths, making it one of the five deadliest hurricanes in U.S. history. Plus an estimated $81 billion in property damage.

When it’s heading your way

It’s absolutely crucial that you and your family have an emergency response plan in place in case a hurricane or other severe storm heads your way. Having a 72-hour survival kit and your bug-out bag ready to go and knowing your evacuation routes will save you valuable time.

One thing that is impractical to do in advance – but which you should be ready to start executing at a moment’s notice when you hear a hurricane is heading your way – is preparing your home. This involves:

Boarding up windows with plywood or installing storm shutters.

Securing your roof and siding to your houseframe with straps.

Reinforcing garage doors, trimming long tree branches, and bringing outdoor furniture into your house.

Familiarizing yourself and your family with utility shut-off switches and valves in your house in case you need to evacuate.

Other activities you should engage in prior to a hurricane approaching your area are:

Familiarize yourself with emergency routes and shelters. Print out those routes and keep them in your vehicle’s glove compartment.

Make yourself aware of community shelters in your neighborhood just in case you need to use one.

Make sure your car has a full gas tank and that important items such as a first-aid kit are in your car.

During and after the storm

During a hurricane or other severe storm, assuming there was no evacuation order and you decided to ride it out, monitor emergency radio and mainstream media reports.

Close your blinds and move your most valuable possessions away from windows, and then stay away from those windows. Close interior doors and remain in your home’s interior rooms.

Once the storm has passed, continue to monitor weather reports. Try to use flashlights instead of candles if your power is out.

If you’re returning after evacuating, keep an eye out for flooding, ruptured gas lines, and damaged structures. Be aware that water may have become contaminated. Report any damage sustained by your home to your insurance agent as soon as possible.

Before I get into the dangerous flooding aspect of hurricanes and other severe storms, take a look at this short video that will tell you how to build a 72-hour emergency preparedness kit.

Before flooding starts

As previously mentioned, hurricanes and other severe storms can result in life-threatening flooding. Following are four action steps you can take before flooding occurs in order to be better prepared:

Visit the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s flood map site to discover whether you are in a flood plain and where the nearest high ground is located.

If you are a property owner, especially in an area prone to flooding, make sure you have sufficient flood insurance.

Acquire an emergency radio that tunes into reports from the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration.

Practice your escape plan with your family. Going through the motions now will help when the time comes for the real thing.

During flooding

If flooding has already started or seems to be on the way, here are four steps you can take to protect yourself and your family:

Because you may need to move to higher ground on short notice, tune into emergency radio and be ready to move quickly.

If you’re driving and you see standing water ahead, stop. Six inches of water is enough to stall out most cars, and it may be deeper than it appears. Same thing if you’re on foot. Fast moving water can carry vehicles and people off.

Know the difference between a flood warning and a flood watch. If the situation appears to be worsening, stop what you’re doing and get to higher ground right away.

If there is time to evacuate your home, turn off all of your valves, unplug appliances, and move your most expensive items to the highest possible point of your home.

After flooding

Following flooding, take the following four actions, keeping in mind the threat may only seem to be over:

Don’t walk into any standing water. There could be objects in the water that you can’t see, including electrical wires.

Continue to listen to emergency radio. You may be informed of a secondary threat of which you were not aware.

Keep your eyes focused on potential hazards, including broken glass, downed power lines, ruptured gas lines, and damaged structures. And keep in mind that standing floodwater could be contaminated by gas, oil, sewage, or chemicals.

Remain away from the area until city authorities declare that it is safe to return.

$500 off a solar generator

Earlier I promised to reveal a way to save $500 while protecting yourself and your family. For a very limited time, we’re offering our bestselling solar generator – the Patriot Power Generator 1800 – at a $500 discount. You heard me right.

A storm featuring power outages is not going to wait for you to get ready for it, so now is the time to prepare.

This generator with solar panel – which you can charge for free with the sun or with an electrical outlet – can power your fridge, freezer, and much more. Fume-free and silent, it’s safe to use indoors.

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America Is a Bull’s-eye for Extreme Weather

If extreme weather were personified as fictional boxer Rocky Balboa, the United States would be represented by Apollo Creed and Ivan Drago – a couple of fighters he defeated.

America is the punching bag for severe weather events. No other country in the world gets slugged with as many – and as extreme – storms as we do.

That’s according to weather experts Rick Spinrad, head of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and Kathie Dello, a climatologist in North Carolina.

The U.S. has been blessed with a wide variety of beautiful scenery. Including majestic mountains, luscious valleys, fertile farmland, and gorgeous lakes and rivers. But it has also been cursed with repeated knockout punches from catastrophic weather events.

Geography Is to Blame

Why do we get hit with so many more violent storms than other countries? Blame geography. We sustain an endless series of jarring left jabs and roundhouse rights due to having lengthy coastlines along two oceans and the Gulf of Mexico. Plus jet streams affected by mountain ranges and flatlands.

The resulting vicious weather events are not confined to a particular time of year. For 12 months every year, one part of the country or another gets beaten into submission by Mother Nature.

Including with hurricanes, tornadoes, and floods. Plus severe thunderstorms, lightning, and atmospheric rivers. As well as nor’easters, blizzards, and ice storms. Not to mention derechos, monsoons, dust storms, and the periodic polar vortex.

Dello told the Associated Press that it’s all about “where we are on the globe. It’s truly a little bit… unlucky.”

The National Centers for Environmental Information defines a weather disaster as one that causes damages and/or costs of over $1 billion. By that definition, there have been 348 weather and climate disasters in the U.S. since 1980. Which comes out to about eight per year.

A ‘Clash of Air Masses’

Susan Cutter is director of the Hazards Vulnerability and Resilience Institute at the University of South Carolina.

She said that while China has more people and a large land mass like the U.S., “they don’t have the same kind of clash of air masses… that is producing a lot of the severe weather.”

Victor Gensini, a meteorology professor at Northern Illinois University, believes the top two culprits are the Gulf of Mexico and elevated terrain in the West.

Dry air from the West travels over the Rocky Mountains and meets up with warm, moist air from the Gulf. When combined with a jet stream, storms develop.

Spinrad explained that we can’t get away from it without moving to another country. “It is a reality that regardless of where you are in the country, where you call home, you’ve likely experienced a high-impact weather event firsthand.”

Location, Location, Location

America just happens to be located right between the Arctic and the tropics. The cold air from the former and warm air from the latter meet and clash regularly. That’s what drives the jet stream.

The mountain ranges – Appalachians and Rockies – both run north and south, which affect prevailing winds from the West.

The Gulf of Mexico sends its hot and moist air underneath the cooler air lifted by the mountains, a phenomenon unseen in most of the rest of the world.

While every part of the country is prone to some kind of weather disaster, the South may have it the worst of all. That’s because folks there experience everything from hurricanes and tornadoes to flooding, wildfires, and the occasional blizzard.

And, of course, states such as Florida, North Carolina, and Louisiana jut out into large bodies of water, so they are vulnerable to hurricanes.

Our Choices, Our Infrastructure

But we can’t blame everything on geography. Yes, those weather events will occur regardless of where we live. But millions of people choose to live near large bodies of water. We keep moving to areas that are at high risk for storms and flooding.

And we spend billions of dollars annually on a wide variety of projects, but not enough on repairing and fortifying an aging infrastructure. Also, building standards have gone down in a number of areas.

Marshall Shepherd is a former president of the American Meteorological Society. He said, “Our infrastructure is crumbling and nowhere near being climate-resilient at all.”

Brown University professor of environment and society, Kim Cobb, said, “It’s sad that we have to live these crushing losses.”

Feeling Powerless? Protect with Preparedness

But maybe extreme weather events in the U.S. have run their course and we can expect calm and peaceful conditions ahead? Nope.

The experts all agree that even “more extreme” weather is headed our way. In other words, it will just keep getting worse.

We’re powerless to stop it, and that is frustrating. But we’re not powerless to protect ourselves from the inevitable.

Make an emergency preparedness plan and stock up on what survival gear you can afford. Don’t leave your survival to chance like so many others are doing. You might have to take a couple of punches, but you’ll stay on your feet until the final bell.

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Women Preppers: Learn To Hunt – Part 2, by D.K.R.

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