FAQ

When a disaster strikes, emergency supplies and disaster survival equipment vanish from stores. Remember, when the time comes that you DO NEED to be prepared, the time for preparation is over..If people are asked why they procrastinate when it comes to purchasing disaster survival equipment, the usual answer is...they didn't know what they needed or where to obtain preparedness supplies.

  What Equipment Do I Need?
  The answer to what equipment or supplies you may need can vary, depending on where you live and the types of emergencies that you may face. In general, the product categories below cover most of what you will need, they are ideal for emergency situations.You may not need every product in all categories, so when planning be practical and sensible for your specific situation and lifestyle.

Disaster Survival Equipment List - 10 Basic Categories :

1. Power Generators and Fuel

• Portable Fuel Generators
• Portable Solar Generators
• Wind Generators
• Fuel Containers - Keep Full. Rotate and keep fuel containers full, fuel is always one of the first items to disappear in an emergency or disaster situation. 

2. Warmth and Shelter Equipment  

• Emergency Heaters/Stoves 
• Survival Blankets 
• Sleeping-bag/Blankets
• ·         Fire-starters, Firewood, etc

3. Water Supplies 

• Purifiers 
• Filters 
• Containers 
• Hand Well-Water Pump (Hard to find item for self-sufficient well-water supply)

4. First-Aid Supplies and Emergency Kits 

• 72 Hr Kits, Grab-n-Go Kits, Survival Kits 
• First Aid Kits - Keep one in your Emergency Survival Kits, House & Car 
• Auto Emergency Kits
• Pet First Aid & Emergency Kits

5. Cooking Supplies 

• Emergency Stove
• Fuel Canisters

6. Lighting Products  

• Candles 
• Matchbox 
• Lighter
• Flashlights 
• Batteries 
• Lanterns 

7. Sanitation & Hygiene  

• Portable Toilets
• Cleaning and Disinfectants 

8. Emergency Weather Radios 
An emergency weather radio is a radio receiver designed to broadcast a service which airs special weather-related emergency broadcasts and announcements. Weather radio services may also broadcast non-weather related emergency information, such as in the event of a natural disaster, an AMBER alert or a terrorist attack. 

9. Preparedness Guides 
A Disaster can strike quickly and without warning. It can force you to evacuate your neighborhood or confine you to your home. What would you do if your basic services: water, gas, electricity or telephones were cut off? After a disaster it is NOT always possible for officials and relief workers to reach everyone right away. Planning is the key to setting up structure, so that people will do something sensible when things go wrong. People can-and-do-cope with disaster by preparing in advance, and by working together as a team. Sit down together and begin your emergency planning by deciding how you will get in contact with each other, where you will go, and what you will do.

10. Self Defense Items 
Many people are not comfortable with this topic, but the fact is, the threat of violent activity escalates during emergency and disaster situations.

Earthquakes usually give no warnings at all. It does not cause death or injury by itself, but people are hurt by falling plaster and collapsing walls or falling of heavy objects. Collapsing buildings and vibrations can cause short circuits and electric fires. Lighted gas or stoves may also cause fires. All this leads to panic and confusion. With some precautions it is possible to avoid such confusion. 

Before the Earthquake 
Now is the time to formulate a safety plan for you and your family. If you wait until the earth starts to shake, it may be too late. Consider the following safety measures:

• Always keep the following in a designated place: bottled drinking water, non-perishable food (chura, gur, etc), first-aid kit, torchlight and battery-operated radio with extra batteries.
• Teach family members how to turn off electricity, gas, etc. 
• Identify places in the house that can provide cover during an earthquake. 
• It may not be easier to make long distance calls during an earthquake. Identify an out-of-town relative or friend as your family's emergency contact. If the family members get separated after the earthquake and are not able to contact each other, they should contact the designated relative/friend. The address and phone number of the contact person/relative should be with all the family members. 

Safeguard your house 

• Consider retrofitting your house with earthquake-safety measures. Reinforcing the foundation and frame could make your house quake resistant. You may consult a reputable contractor and follow building codes.
• Kutchha buildings can also be retrofitted and strengthened. 

During the Earthquake 
Earthquakes give no warning at all. Sometimes, a loud rumbling sound might signal its arrival a few seconds ahead of time. Those few seconds could give you a chance to move to a safer location. Here are some tips for keeping safe during a quake. 

If Indoors 

• Take cover. Go under a table or other sturdy furniture; kneel, sit, or stay close to the floor. Hold on to furniture legs for balance. Be prepared to move if your cover moves.
• If no sturdy cover is nearby, kneel or sit close to the floor next to a structurally sound interior wall or corner. Place your hands on the floor for balance. 
• Do not stand in doorways. Violent motion could cause doors to slam and cause serious injuries. You may also be hit be flying objects. 
• Move away from windows, mirrors, bookcases and other unsecured heavy objects.
• If you are in bed, stay there and cover yourself with pillows and blankets. 
• Do not run outside if you are inside. Never use the lift.
• If you are living in a kutcha house, the best thing to do is to move to an open area where there are no trees, electric or telephone wires. 
• Avoid places where there are loose electrical wires and do not touch metal objects that are in touch with the loose wires. 

If Outdoors 

• Stay there. 
• Move away from buildings, streetlights, and utility wires. 
• Once in the open, stay there until the shaking stops. The greatest danger exists directly outside buildings, at exits and alongside exterior walls due to falling debris from collapsing walls. Ground movement during an earthquake is seldom the direct cause of death or injury. Most earthquake-related casualties result from collapsing walls, flying glass, and falling objects. 

If in a moving vehicle 

• Stop as quickly as safety permits and stay in the vehicle. Avoid stopping near or under buildings, trees, overpasses, and utility wires.
• Proceed cautiously once the earthquake has stopped. Avoid roads, bridges, or ramps that might have been damaged by the earthquake. 

If trapped under debris 

• Do not light a match. 
• Do not move about or kick up dust. 
• Cover your mouth with a handkerchief or clothing. 
•  Tap on a pipe or wall so rescuers can locate you. Use a whistle if one is available. Shout only as a last resort. Shouting can cause you to inhale dangerous amounts of dust. 

After the Earthquake 
Here are a few things to keep in mind after an earthquake. The caution you display in the aftermath can be essential for your personal safety. 

• Wear shoes/chappals to protect your feet from debris. 
•  After the first tremor, be prepared for aftershocks. Though less intense, aftershocks cause additional damages and may bring down weakened structures. Aftershocks can occur in the first hours, days, weeks, or even months after the quake. 
• Check for fire hazards and use torch lights instead of candles or lanterns. 
•  If the building you live in is in a good shape after the earthquake, stay inside and listen for radio advises. If you are not certain about the damage to your building, evacuate carefully. Do not touch downed power line. 
• Help injured or trapped persons. Give first aid where appropriate. Do not move seriously injured persons unless they are in immediate danger of further injury. In such cases, call for help. 
• Remember to help your neighbours who may require special assistance-infants, the elderly, and people with disabilities. 
• Listen to a battery-operated radio for the latest emergency information. 
• Stay out of damaged buildings. 
• Return home only when authorities say it is safe. Clean up spilled medicines, bleaches or gasoline or other flammable liquids immediately. Leave the area if you smell gas or fumes from other chemicals. Open closet and cupboard doors cautiously. 
• If you smell gas or hear hissing noise, open windows and quickly leave the building. Turn off the switch on the top of the gas cylinder. 
• Look for electrical system damages - if you see sparks, broken wires, or if you smell burning of amber, turn off electricity at the main fuse box. If you have to step in water to get to the fuse box, call an electrician first for advice.
• Check for sewage and water lines damage. If you suspect sewage lines are damaged, avoid using the toilets. If water pipes are damaged, avoid using water from the tap. 
• Use the telephone only for emergency calls.
• In case family members are separated from one another during an earthquake (a real possibility during the day when adults are at work and children are at school), develop a plan for reuniting after the disaster. Ask an out of state / district relative or friend to serve as the "family contact". Make sure everyone in the family knows the name, address, and phone number(s) of the contact person (s).