Tsunami Preparedness: What You Need to Know
Tsunamis are powerful, terrifying and very unexpected. While they are sometimes triggered by landslides or earthquakes, they can also occur when seismic activity happens deep in the ocean.
Ready.Gov describes the tsunami as follows:
Tsunamis, also known as seismic sea waves (mistakenly called “tidal waves”), are a series of enormous waves created by an underwater disturbance such as an earthquake, landslide, volcanic eruption, or meteorite. Earthquake-induced movement of the ocean floor most often generates tsunamis. If a major earthquake or landslide occurs close to shore, the first wave in a series could reach the beach in a few minutes, even before a warning is issued.
Planets Rotation
In 2017, a report by Forbes explored a link between the slowing of the earth’s rotation and increased seismic activity. These findings mention that in the near future, we could see seismic activity. i.e. earthquakes, in several previously unaffected locations.
Think you’re safe because you live in a notorious 'No Earthquake Zone'? Think again. You may need to brush up on your earthquake and tsunami preparedness, even if you live in an area that seldom experiences either.
Preparing for a Tsunami
A Tsunami Disaster Communication plan is critical and should include a quick evacuation plan for every member of your family. Copies of this plan should be kept inside your survival kits alongside important documents like deeds, ID, passports etc., and a list of important phone numbers.
Upon leaving your home and heading to higher ground, you must prepare to be away from your home for at least 72 hours. Our 4 person survival kit offers critical survival supplies and leaves room for you to include customized items to fit your family’s unique emergency needs.
Potential Threat: Poisoned Water
A tsunami will inevitably fill streets with water and may even damage water pipes as the rushing water makes landfall. As a result, this can significantly compromise the condition of local tap water. Survivors may then find themselves in the awful situation of being dehydrated and surrounded by water they can’t drink due to parasite and bacterial contamination.
Having a tool like a LifeStraw water filter on hand can be lifesaving in the aftermath of a tsunami. The LifeStraw is one of the most advanced compact water filters on the market, with technology that filters out pathogens to .02 macrons. Be sure to add one to your prep kit today!
Test Run
Don’t wait for a tsunami warning to give your Tsunami Disaster Communication plan a test run -- after all, practice makes perfect! During an emergency situation, acting quickly can mean life or death.
Making a plan and executing it perfectly can save lives and make the rescue process that much easier for first responders, be sure to practice your disaster communication plan at least twice a year.
Get Prepared, Stay Prepared.
As average people, we shouldn’t need an end-of-the-world scenario to show us the importance of disaster preparedness. This past year reminded us how much devastation natural disasters can cause and just how frail we are as human beings. Unfortunately, for many, preparedness is of utmost importance during or after an emergency situation, not before. But for the thousands of people who have been affected by life threatening emergency situations like hurricanes, fires and earthquakes, proper disaster preparedness proved to be a lesson they’d likely never forget.
“I really think that we have a long way to go to create a true culture of preparedness within our citizenry in America. No American, no citizen, no visitor to this country is immune to disaster.” - Brock Long, Chief of FEMA
If you think the natural disasters that occurred in 2017 are unlikely to repeat in 2018, you are alarmingly mistaken. Natural disasters are unpredictable, and those who take the time to prepare before a disaster occurs will have a significant survival advantage over those who do not.
Preparing for Threats
We are thrilled to announce that our 4-Person Premium Survival Kit with 72-Hours of Emergency Preparedness and First Aid Supplies was ranked #4 in Wiki.ezvid.com's 2018 list of the 10 Best Survival Backpacks.
A representative from Ezvid Wiki explained the scope of what they do, and its impressive.
“Compiled with twenty-eight hours of research, this newly published Wiki in the outdoors category is a broad-ranging, impartial assessment of survival backpack options available to consumers in the United States.”
This is a true honor and further assurance that our mission to provide customers with the very best in the emergency preparedness industry is being achieved.
“Founded in 2011, Ezvid Wiki was the world's first video wiki, and is now among the top 3,000 websites in the United States. Our YouTube channel has 265,000 subscribers, 156 million views since founding, and we have informed over $200 million in purchasing decisions to date."
The 4 Person Premium Survival Kit Breakdown
For those who may not be aware, lets take a deeper look into our 4-Person Premium Survival Kit. Our kit is broken down into two bags and designed to address 5 unique categories in emergency preparation.
- FIRST AID: When disaster strikes, minor injuries can quickly become major problems. Our disaster preparedness kit comes equipped with a 85-piece first aid kit, glowsticks, 5-1 emergency whistle (compass, flint, signal mirror, whistle and carrying case), leather palm work gloves and medical face masks
- WATER: In an emergency, one of the most important things to have on hand is clean drinking water. First My Family emergency kits are equipped with a 72-hour supply of emergency water, per person.
- FOOD: Time is of the essence during an emergency, and food is often forgotten. Our disaster survival kit comes with four 2400-calorie food rations packaged in easy grab-and-go bags for added convenience. Food is nut-free and produced from non-GMO ingredients for allergy sensitivities.
- SHELTER: When displaced by an emergency, you need the right tools to keep your family safe and sheltered. Our disaster preparedness kit includes emergency ponchos, mylar blankets, a Lifeline LED flashlight and a multi-function pocket knife.
- WARMTH: Disasters can leave you exposed to the elements, which is why survival preparation is vital. Our emergency kit for natural disasters contains body warmers and waterproof matches to keep your family warm.
Come fire, flood, storm or quake you will have a great base of preps to assure you are ready to face these threats. We all need to pay emergency preparedness the attention it deserves. This is particularly true of those with families.
The Importance of Personalized Emergency Preparedness
Of course, your survival kit doesn’t have to stop with the items our seasoned emergency and disaster professionals packed into it. Our team set out to create something that would carry a family of 4 through a common disaster, and the kits' contents include a broad range of base items that people from all walks of life can benefit from.
Of course, there is no way we could have personalized our kits for each one of our customers - that is where you come in. It takes personalization and an understanding of your unique personal qualities to truly create a survival kit that meets all your needs.
To do this effectively you must look at each living creature in your home and compile a list of their needs. What does it take to keep your dog Fido healthy? Do you have a child with eczema? You must store all the items you need in quantities that will standup to a disaster. How about medicines for special conditions and vision care?
You need to also consider entertainment. In this electronic age, must have options for when the lights go out and even when the batteries we packed drain away. Pack up your favorite books and your children’s favorite toys to keep the whole family busy until help arrives.
Use our survival kit to create a solid base for your emergency preparedness then add your personal touches to assure you have piece of mind in a disaster. Get prepared, stay prepared!
3 Predictions For The Season Finale Of The Walking Dead
And so, just like that, we’re once again at the finale of another Walking Dead season. After the skull-crushing cliffhanger from this time last year, what exactly can we expect from this Sunday’s send-off?
With as many loose ends as Negan has enemies, the extended episode should at least tie up a few of those and so, too, a lot of burning questions will be answered: Will Dwight and Daryl ever see eye-to-eye? Who exactly can Rick, and indeed Negan, trust? And, most importantly, will Rick ever snare a darn deer?!
Whilst the comic will inevitably throw up a number of theories as to how the season will close, here are some of the best bets for the storylines that will keep fans on tenterhooks until its return in October:
Friend or Foe? No longer will Dwight kneel. Not for Negan anyway. After uncomfortably kowtowing to the Savior leader for the whole of the season, it seems a tad unfair on the guy that the first request of his new savior, Rick, is for him to ‘get on his knees’. At gunpoint, no less. Having said that, he did launch an arrow through Denise’s eye – albeit accidentally – so fair’s fair. Not that that’s any consolation for Daryl, his intended target. It remains to be seen whether Dwight really has switched allegiances or whether he is some kind of dastardly double-agent, but the finale should go some way to clearing that up.
All Hell breaks loose: It’s safe to say that this finale – as with every preceding edition – will be action-packed, blood-soaked and yet, hopefully, cliffhanger-free. Ever since the mid-season finale, Rick has been on a relentless crusade to recruit numbers for Alexandria’s cause: to dispatch of Negan and his cronies. While that is - let’s be honest - unlikely, we’re still likely to see a fight unlike any that has gone before. With Alexandria, Hilltop, The Kingdom, Oceanside and the Scavengers all heeding the call to ‘rise up’, the Saviors could be about to get a taste of their own medicine. Negan, however, may be more prepared for the impending chaos than any of those groups would like to believe…
Divided loyalties and ‘little birdies’: In the penultimate episode of the season, Negan divulged to Sasha that a ‘little birdie’ had told him that Rick and his gaggle of cohorts were ‘up to no good’. With so many divided loyalties right now – Eugene and Dwight being the prime examples – it is unclear as to who Negan’s snitch is. Or indeed if he is simply bluffing. Could it be one of Alexandria’s allies? A Kingdom know-it-all, perhaps? Possibly a gossiping Gregory? Or maybe, just maybe, a Judas in the form of Jadis, the Scavengers’ leader? One thing’s for sure, as the old adage goes: snitches get stitches
With a six month break between the upcoming finale and Season 8, now is the perfect time to kill two birds with one stone and fill that zombie-shaped hole in your summer.
Fun, but functional, The Walking Dead Survival Kit and ZPAK combo is perfect for Walking Dead fans. Contained within a high quality military style messenger bag, the survival kit could prove to be invaluable in a Zombie apocalypse or, indeed, more generic emergencies, providing 72 hours worth of supplies.
Supplementing the survival kit in this value-for-money combo is the ZPAK or, to give it it’s full name, the Zombie Preparedness Apocalypse Kit. Contained within a ZPAK branded water bottle are the perfect additions to the survival kit. Contents include a custom carabineer, emergency whistle and other essential survival items, while there’s even Walking Dead-inspired ZPAK artwork included to tide you over until Rick and his pals return in the Fall.
3 Predictions for Season 7B of The Walking Dead
So, after what seems like an absolute eternity, AMC's The Walking Dead will be returning Sunday February 12, 2017 at 9/8c.
But just what can we expect from the second half of a season that has already claimed both Glenn and Abraham, bashed to death by Lucille at the behest of Negan?
As will always be the case, the comics offer up a plethora of solid theories as to the way the remainder of the season will pan out, whilst a number of clues have already subtly cropped up on the show:
All out War: After beating Rick into submission by beating in the heads of Glenn and Abraham, it seemed that all was lost for our protagonist. Negan’s brutal killing off Spencer, however – within the walls of Rick’s home – may just cause our heroes to ‘Rise Up’, as the promotional poster and tweets have so duly promised. What this all could account to, if the comics are to be followed, is a rising up of the group as a whole, united together against the ever-present – and worsening – threat of Negan and his cronies. War is coming.
Allies from far and wide: To fight a war though, you need allies. Especially when you’re lacking in any kind of ammunition… This is where Oceanside comes in. You know, the community Tara promised never to return to? Let’s be honest, she’ll probably return there. With Rick. And the rest. Now whether they’ll enlist Oceanside as allies or simply steal their guns is anyone’s guess but safe to say, I think we’ll be seeing a lot more of the women warriors. Another ally should come in the form of King Ezekiel and his tiger. Obviously, Carol and Morgan are both under his rule – kind of – so a reunion of the ménage à trois of Carol, Morgan and Rick seems likely. They’ll just be bringing a pet tiger with them this time…
Stranger Danger? Whilst Rick and Aaron are trying to navigate a not-so-quiet row through a lake of bobbing zombies in the mid-season finale, a mysterious figure is seen to be scoping them out from the shore. Is he – or she – a friend or a foe? Will they stand together with Rick and his allies or against them? For now, at least, we don’t know who this person is or what their intentions are. All we know for sure is that they are certain to prove pivotal, one way or the other.
If ‘The Walking Dead’ has taught us anything over the years, it is that the age old mantra of ‘Fail to prepare; prepare to fail’ holds true. It’s a pretty recurrent theme and has been the downfall of many a villain that has come up against our motley crew. The Governor, Gareth and Jugular-less Joe to name but a few, all failed to properly prepare for the preparedness of our band of zombie slayers.
When you take all that into account, why would you not prepare your family in the same way? Sure, ‘it’s just a TV show’, you may cry, but can you afford to take that risk?
Are you a Gareth or a Rick?
Ideal for couples or as a gift for a loved one, The Walking Dead Survival Kit contains an abundance of supplies to last you a full 72 hours in an emergency. Contained within a high quality military style messenger bag, this kit is essential preparation for a Zombie apocalypse or, indeed, more generic emergencies.
For the lone survivor, you needn’t look no further than the Zombie Preparedness Apocalypse Kit (ZPAK). Confined within a ZPAK branded water bottle is the perfect starter kit of a custom carabineer, emergency whistle and other essential survival items, whilst a Walking Dead ZPAK artwork is included to, no doubt, remind you of the artistic beauty of the pre-apocalyptic world.
New Year's Resolutions for Families
Have you established new year’s resolutions for 2017? Creating new year’s resolutions is a great method to hold yourself and your family accountable for the things you’d like to accomplish throughout the year ahead. Is improving your family’s safety among those resolutions? Have you developed a strong safety plan should an emergency or disaster situation occur? Even if you’re not a fan of setting new year’s resolutions, any step to help improve the safety of you and your loved ones should be implemented.
To strengthen your road towards family safety this year, you will want to:
- Get Informed
- Get Prepared
- Stay Motivated
Getting informed and staying informed on the many potential dangers within your area of residence is a key component to protecting yourself and loved ones this new year. According to a study by FEMA, “[only] one in three (32 percent) of the respondents reported being familiar with their local hazards.” These statistics indicate that a large percentage of families across the U.S. are simply unaware of the dangers their surroundings present. It remains that families of all sizes should be conscious of local hazards to able to prepare accordingly.
Since winter weather can change in an instant, it is also important to stay up-to-date with local weather changes as well. Not sure where to get the information you need? You are not alone. Structure your family’s safety and preparedness plan by utilizing information from trusted resources like FEMA and the American Red Cross.
As we know, natural disasters can strike at any moment. Right as we welcomed 2017, California experienced an “earthquake swarm” in Brawley, California where more than 100 earthquakes were felt across the region. The importance of being prepared for emergency situations like earthquakes is ever-increasing, yet still many Americans fail to take proper precautions. In the same FEMA study, they share, “52 percent of individuals reported having supplies set aside in their home for use during a disaster.” While we’re glad to be slightly above the halfway mark, as safety seekers, we should continue to work towards reaching the goal of 100 percent. Securing your home and vehicle with essential supplies not only increases family safety, but also increases the likelihood of survival should a disaster occur.
- Check out our First My Family’s 4 Person Premium Disaster Preparedness Survival Kit with 72-Hours of Survival and First Aid Supplies.
Strengthen your motivation to stay prepared throughout the year by setting a few safety-related new year’s resolutions. Keep in mind that emergency preparedness and family safety go hand in hand and do your part to stay prepared. Start the year off on a safe note, and continue that mentality all year-long!
We wish you a year full of safety for you and your entire family, we're here to help.
Labor Day Safety & Preparedness
Labor Day weekend is the last weekend of summer and we’re sure you’ll want to celebrate with the entire family! Everyone is relaxed and happy to be off of work on a Monday, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be prepared for the many emergency situations that could occur at any moment. With outdoor activities like grilling, swimming, and more, it’s important that you remember a few key things for your holiday.
Grilling Safety
Barbequing is a tasty and memorable way to spend the holiday; after all, it’s not summer without some of our favorite summer foods. But, we must still keep in mind that the grill can be very dangerous. When cooking, make sure you to keep family members a safe distance away from the fire and keep a fire extinguisher near your side. Also, do not grill underneath an awning or covering, as it may be easy to catch on fire. Lastly, if you’re using propane, ensure that both the tank and grill are working properly before using. Keep in mind that barbeques are a major cause of house fires, especially in the summer months. Don’t let this fact stop you from grilling, but for the well-being of the entire family, practice safe grilling and enjoy your labor day feast.
See more burn first aid tips here.
Burn Supplies
Even the safest of families have accidents from time to time. Consider this scenario: You’re flipping burgers on the barbeque during holiday relaxation mode, then suddenly burn your hand on the grill...whoops! Time to bring out your first aid kit. First, identify how severe the burn is; If you believe it’s severe seek medical treatment immediately. If the burn is minor, run room temperature water (not cold water or ice) over the burn and dab dry with a towel or cloth. Follow-up with burn cream or aloe vera serum on the minor burn and keep the wound open while it breathes and cools down.
Sunscreen
When you’re out in the sun all day it’s really easy to get a sunburned or even severe skin damage. To prevent this you’ll want to use a high SPF sunscreen and reapply throughout the day. If swimming in the pool or at the beach you’ll want to get a water resistant version so it won’t wash away once you step in the water. Without sunscreen, you can pave the way for major skin issues like heat rashes and burns, so come prepared and reapply. After you come indoors at the end of the day, we suggest rubbing lotion or aloe on your skin to help rehydrate any sun exposeded areas.
Water
Get out your TWDZPAK and keep it filled with water throughout the entire weekend. The TWDZPAK is the perfect water bottle to carry your favorite thirst-quenchers in; safe by the pool or near the grill, and even has an easy-to-carry carabiner. Are you drinking enough water? Don’t forget keep several water bottles full throughout the day to stay hydrated and avoid over-heating. It is very easy to forget how important hydration is on a hot day, but the TWDZPAK can serve as a friendly reminder to keep drinking water.
From our family to yours, Happy Labor Day!
Back-To-School Preparedness
Back-to-school season is here! You’ve enjoyed a long summer of relaxation, camping, and quality time with the family- now it’s time to put on those thinking caps and get back to studying. We’re prepared at home and on the road, but have you thought about emergency preparedness at school? Schools are usually equipped with supplies, but making sure you’re prepared with your own supplies is very important. Stay prepared by assembling a mini locker, desk, or backpack prep kit. Check out our suggestions on what to pack!
The Walking Dead TWDZPAK
Don’t know where to start? Our TWDZPAK has the perfect combination of items for emergency prep and everyday use; the custom water bottle comes with a light stick, emergency whistle, space blanket, poncho, and bandages. You can use these products as a great starting point in building your school emergency kit and use the water bottle for everyday use! The custom water bottle is perfect for all day hydration and It even comes with a custom carabiner to attach the bottle to any backpacks or bags your kids might use for school.
Emergency Drinking Water
Just in case an emergency situation results in a water shortage, and the water in your TWDZPAK has been consumed, it’s important to also have extra emergency drinking water in preparedness kits. Although schools usually have a water reserve, when it comes to preparedness, one must never rely on others. Adding drinking water to mini prep kits is a must.
Emergency Food
You never know how long an emergency situation will take to get resolved. It’s important to include food items like energy bars and rations in school prep kits in order to promote alertness and energy until help can arrive. Also, be make sure to keep an eye on product expiration dates to ensure freshness of the food items.
Emergency Contact Info
Including a card or sheet with all up to date emergency contact info is extremely important. While schools have family contact information on file, in the event of an emergency, they might not have the time to access that critical information. Having that information ready in their prep packs could help speed up the rescue process.
Build you prep kit and stay prepared this back-to-school season!
Stay Prepared While Traveling
The summer months are a perfect time to travel - the kids are out of school, the weather is great, and it’s a great way to spend some quality time with your family. We know you’re prepared at home for a disaster or emergency, but are you prepared while traveling? Whether you’re flying, road tripping, or going somewhere close to home, it’s important to always stay prepared for the unexpected, check out some tips below.
Always Carry a First Aid Kit
Wherever you’re traveling, be sure to carry a small first aid kit with you with items like band aids, over-the-counter remedies, and any other common items you feel you might need. Sure you may get the help you need if a problem arises, but take as much action as you can by being prepared. Afterall, at the very least it can help you feel much more comfortable and at-ease when traveling. Did you know our TWDZPAK includes several emergency and first aid supplies and doubles as a water bottle? Check it out here.
Keep Emergency Cash and Back Up Cards
When you’re traveling it’s important to have back up cash and credit cards in case your belongings get lost or stolen. Remember the unexpected happens at the worst times, prepare yourself from as many situations as you can. Stay prepared and make sure you have the means to get your family home.
Have Travel Insurance
A great preparedness step you can take is to get yourself and your family travel insurance. Travel insurance will cover you in case you or a family member gets injured, your belongings get stolen, in many cases of emergencies, if you have to head home early, or if there are any unforeseen cancellations in your itinerary. If you can, try to get a high coverage limit on your policy that also covers emergency evacuations or care if you happen to be hiking in the woods.
Mosquito Protection and ZIKA Awareness
Mosquitos are everywhere in the Summer, but areas near water are their favorite place to hang out. If you’re traveling to an area you believe might have some sort of mosquito population, it’s important to wear bug spray repellent and to wear long pants and shirts in order to protect your skin from bites. Usually, you’ll just get an uncomfortable lump that can itch, but will go away in a few days. Right now however, there is an outbreak of Zika Virus that you have to be very careful about if you’re traveling anywhere in the Caribbean, Central and South America, and The Pacific Islands. There also have been cases in the Wynwood neighborhood of Miami, Florida. It is often advised that pregnant women should NOT travel to those places - the most common effect of the Zika Virus is severe birth defects of unborn children. If you are traveling to these places use powerful bug spray, and again, wear long pants and shirts, sleep with the air conditioning on and make sure there are screens on every window. Zika is extremely dangerous and should be avoided as much as possible.
Have fun and stay safe for the remaining of the summer!
Are You Financially Prepared For An Emergency Situation?
Natural disasters can happen at any given moment. While having necessary supplies in case of an emergency situation is critical for survival, financial preparedness continues to be on the back burner for many people.
We must remember that even though a natural disaster’s focus is safety and survival, the recovery process can be extremely costly. Hurricane Sandy in 2012 and Hurricane Katrina in 2005 serve as examples of just how costly natural disasters can be.
See the Top 5 Most Expensive Natural Disasters in History: http://ow.ly/Mo6u300ORtJ
Putting an extra debit card away in your preparedness kit may not be enough. Check out 3 tips to get you financially prepared for a disaster:
- Start a Separate Savings Account in your Bank
Already have a savings account? Avoid being tempted to spend money from your emergency fund. Make sure to keep your spending, savings, and emergency savings separate so you don’t end up borrowing money from the funds that could help you during a natural disaster.
- Put Cash Away in your Preparedness Kit
Power lines may be down during a natural disaster, or you may not have access to an ATM machine near your home. Put cash cash away in a discreet container, and be careful not to add too many smaller bills for the sake of space.
- Add a Pre-paid Debit Card to your Preparedness Kit
A great way to add diversity into your emergency fund is by adding a pre-paid debit card to your preparedness kit. This can be helpful in the event that a natural disaster results in banks to take security measures that may freeze accounts.
Get financially prepared and stay safe! We can help: FirstMyFamily.com
Survival Lessons from Season 6 of The Walking Dead
Season 6 of the Walking Dead was a rollercoaster of emotions for all zombie-loving fans from across the nation. During these long months we witnessed some of our favorite characters face and overcome unimaginable survival odds leaving us to ask: “What would we do in this situation?”
It’s likely that you’ve uttered the same sentence with a friend, family member or loved one while watching the show, after all, the show’s characters are ordinary citizens of the world prior to the zombie outbreak.
As emergency and disaster preparedness pro’s and TWD fanatics, we took some survival notes on Season 6 of The Walking Dead to help you strengthen your skills in emergency prep, and increase your odds of survival. Take a look and stay safe:
Learn Key Skills
Learning skills in carpentry, masonry, gardening, and farming can prove to be extremely useful when building a survival shelter and living in remote areas for extended periods.
Learning CPR & First Aid can mean the difference between life and death; these skills can be used to help yourself and others during and after a disaster.
Learning to make your own ammunition may be put on the back-burner for some, but you may want to consider learning the skill now. After all, ammunition during a survival situation is key for protection.
- Helpful resources on CPR & First Aid from The American Red Cross: http://www.redcross.org/take-a-class/cpr
- Helpful resources on ammunition from Off The Grid News: http://www.offthegridnews.com/self-defense/what-will-i-need-to-make-my-own-ammo/
Food & Water
Drinkable water is often hard to find and can be quite heavy to carry. Consider investing in a Lifestraw water filter so you’re able to filter filthy water into clean, safe drinking water (Lifestraw water filters take out more that 99% of bacteria).
Stockpile high-calorie, long-lasting foods and seeds for planting, we can think of more than a few moments during Season 6 where they were concerned about the food they stockpiled.
- Stockpiling tips from Skilled Survival: http://www.skilledsurvival.com/stockpiling-food-might-be-your-best-investment/
Customize Your Prep Kits
Every Emergency Prep kit should be customized to accommodate every member of your household. Special medications and supplies should be included in your kits (don’t forget: all of our FMF kits have enough room for extra survival supplies). Make sure to always include more than enough emergency medication that you know is critical to you and your entire family.
Emergency situations and natural disasters happen without warning, prepare accordingly to increase survival for you and your loved ones. From our family to yours, stay safe!