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- Written by: Gianna Esquivel
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War is a very scary and shitty word that doesn’t match at all with having great holidays. Unfortunately, political, economic, religious, and more conflicts don’t stop between countries and within them. Injustice, hate, revenge, invasions, and unsolved historical problems suddenly can wake up and erupt even between nations that have shared borders for years in apparent peace.
We are the type of travelers that never have enough of this beautiful planet. It’s not our plan to go and die in a war zone. But if shit happens and we get trapped in such a conflict, we would like to be at least, basically prepared. Wars show they can take crazy and unpredictable paths sometimes. To calculate, as a tourist, every possible scenario doesn’t seem viable, but there should be something we can do to try to survive.
That's why we have prepared for you these war tips for tourists who get trapped in a conflict.
Contact your embassy or closest consulate.
Diplomatic representations are communication breaches to connect authorities with citizens in foreign countries. Recent wars showed that diplomats are some of the first that evacuate risky zones. They usually contact and get contacted by citizens who need help to leave the country in conflict. They are your safest bet, be sure you let them know you need help.
In some countries, there is a chance to inform your authorities that you are leaving the country and your destination. That way they can be aware of your location. In any case, give them a sign. It’s your life that is at risk.
Here, just a note. There’s an important difference between traveling on purpose to a war zone and being surprised by a war. If you think, “who the hell will travel to a war zone for holidays?”. Believe it or not, there is a type of tourism interested in such places. People visit the borders of countries in tension or war zones to have an extreme experience. In this case, diplomatic missions may not consider your case as their responsibility. Only if you are a victim of the circumstance you may expect some help. The situation has to be “big” for an embassy to do something for you.
Avoid airports. They can become a dangerous way to escape.
One of the first ideas you can have is to run to the closest airport to grab a ticket and leave. But be careful, not only you will have this idea. During an earthquake, panicked people run directly to the elevators. It seems like the fastest way to escape but it’s the most dangerous. The same happens with airports. First of all, they can get saturated fast. And besides that, airports are strategic targets during wars. Don’t go there without being sure that they keep operating safely. This will be defined by how dangerous the situation is.
Check available and safer alternatives to leave the danger, in case there are.
Look for reliable sources of information.
Having information is key for you to decide your moves or to look for groceries or medical assistance. Language can be an issue but looking for reliable and understandable information is a must. Contact your embassy or consulate to close this language gap. Even without the risk of a war, nobody should get into a foreign country without those contacts. NGOs can be another source.
Remember that disinformation is a common strategy used in wars to panic or destabilize the enemy.
Understand the nature of the conflict.
Who is fighting and why? Conflicts can have different reasons like religion, ethnicity, economics, etc. Be sure you understand this to behave properly and not provoke any violent reaction. Without expecting it you could be a target just because of the country you come from, your religion, your outfit, or your physical appearance.
Get to know the conflict’s scope.
Is it international, national, or regional? Don’t overestimate the danger! There have been many guerrillas in different countries that have lasted a long time. However, sometimes the conflicts have been effectively limited to certain regions so travel to those specific regions is not allowed but a tourist can be safe in the rest of the country.
Withdraw cash and buy food and water.
Wars don’t keep static. They change through time. Attacks can intensify or reduce. You have to follow their development and it is vital to get the basics to survive. Withdraw as much cash as you can. Buy smartly! Don’t buy perishable food. Electricity can fail soon due to the attacks. So you won’t have a fridge to store. Get as many cans, chocolates, nuts, and bottled water as you can. Rationing is common during these events but still get as much as you can. And once you have decent storage, consume smartly too. The situation can last weeks, months, or even years. So try to make provisions to last as long as possible. As a tourist for sure, you want to escape and get back home safe, sound, and as soon as possible. But don’t forget that the worse or stronger the war goes the hardest it is to be rescued.
If you are in a medical treatment also try to get more medicine than usually you buy. Get a lamp that can be recharged by solar or at least, a flashlight.
Keep some cash with you. It can buy you a safe pass to another country, water, food, or protection. Yes, let’s talk straight. War is shitty and corruption doesn’t have limits or breaks.
Look for a shelter.
Not every human has knowledge or training for surviving a missile attack or evading personal mines or grenade explosions. Many regular tourists do not even have a clue about the existence of shelters, different types of them, and how to reach them. With or without the guidance of the government or the army, citizens will look for shelters or the safest spots (basements, underground metro stations, rural areas, etc.). The objective is to be as far as possible from the main fight scenario and strategic targets. Join locals and be as careful as possible.
Know that based on the threat (missiles, biological or chemical weapons, etc.), the shelter you need.
Try to keep in touch with your family and friends. Update them about your location and general status. They can get valuable information for you about chances for you to escape, to be accepted as a refugee in a neighboring country, etc.
Prepare to be offline.
It’s a common war measure of governments to cut off the Internet service to keep control of the situation. Besides, being strategic, the enemy can also attack these systems (servers) and bring them down.
Download as soon as possible offline maps of the city not to be lost and to be able to plan or follow a route to escape. To locate routes of humanitarian corridors to evacuate in case they exist. Get also an offline translator. Physical maps and dictionaries are very useful in this situation.
Respect the law and the instructions.
If the environment becomes hostile or war takes place and you can’t be rescued by your diplomats immediately, follow carefully safety instructions. It’s not a game and many civilians get killed on purpose or as a side effect of attacks. Don’t get close to windows, respect the curfews, keep your passport handy or another ID, avoid being alone, and don’t be a hero. Tourists are soft targets, meaning most of us don’t have weapon training or skills to defend ourselves as professional soldiers do.
During some conflicts, tourists are prime targets. They can be taken as spies. They can get tortured or terrified to make an example for the rest of the population. Or sometimes, they get kidnapped to ask for a ransom. There is a policy some countries have about not negotiating or paying ransoms. Obviously, bigger things are at stake during a war. Your life may not be a national or international concern. Better don’t risk.
Try not to panic.
Of course, war is terrifying but panic blocks your mind. You need to think clearly and take fast decisions to survive. Be patient! Aid will arrive and still, there are chances for you to get back home alive.
Survival skills.
In war times, any survival skill and previous knowledge you have will be useful. Here we have talked about tips for tourists in case a war suddenly catch them. Spontaneously we barely will learn a new skill. But talking in general, to know foreign languages, first aids, how to fix cars, electricity, computers, treat wounds, filter water, build a shelter, make fire, cook, climb, use knives and other weapons, fish, haunt, physically fight, drive a train, helicopter, etc. can be helpful and can save your life. Learning different stuff, even random things is always good. Do it and hopefully, you never experience a war scenario.
Conclusion.
The best war tip we have for you is prevention! Don't travel to war zones.
We have already given you some tips in case you get trapped by war while visiting a foreign country. But the best is not to be in such a situation. So, before traveling always check for possible warnings or restrictions.
Choosing a destination for holidays means researching a bit about the situation there. Embassies and consulates, as well as different offices or websites related to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in your country, can have official information for you to plan your trip. Sometimes, when environments are hostile, even the airlines could warn passengers about restrictions to go to those dangerous destinations. Avoid them and be safe!
You can also be interested in this article:
What to do before leaving home for a long holiday?
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- Written by: Martin Pramatarov
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Hi guys, when I was living in Mexico City, I experienced two very strong earthquakes. I was totally unprepared, and I was really scared. The earthquakes I have felt in the past have been as a maximum of 6 on the Richter scale, so not really strong. But those two were, 8.1 and 7.1!
The first one hit us during the late night, around 11:40 pm. As usual, me and my girlfriend, we were watching TV, so it was easy to go out on the street and wait until it passes away.
The second was a different case. It hit us during the day, around 1 pm. I didn’t prepare after the first one. I didn’t check a thing, and again I got scared as hell. Trapped in the office environment and with the communication cut down due to overload. What should you do when an earthquake starts?
Finally, after this nightmare, I did my research, and I want to share with you the earthquake protocol “What to do during the earthquake”?
If you hear the earthquake alarm, don’t ignore it, follow these pieces of advice depending on your location.
What is an earthquake?
An earthquake is the shaking and vibration of the Earth’s surface. It is a natural disaster, that is related with releasing of a lot of energy that creates waves. The waves can cause a lot of damage.
What to do during an earthquake If you are inside a building?
Try to run out only if you can escape in 5 seconds or less.
If you are on a higher floor, just forget about this option and wait until the earthquake stops. Many of the injuries happen when people try to go out in a panic. Try to stay calm, as much as you can. It is scary, but you should not panic.
Get down, crawl and cover!
1. Get DOWN
Get down on the floor. Lower your body and you will be more stable. A standing person will suffer a lot more from the vibrations that the earthquake will produce.
2. Start CRAWLING
The best way to move during an earthquake is crawling. Moving close to the ground and use both your hands and legs. It is a lot easier to crawl during this natural disaster.
3. Search for COVER and HOLD ON
Search for something to cover yourself from falling objects. It should be something hard enough to protect you. A sturdy table or desktop is perfect. If there is nothing around, cover your face and get to any of the inside corners of the building.
Don’t stay close to windows, glasses, outside walls and doors, and anything that can fall on you.
Don’t go downstairs and don’t use the elevator! The stairs can easily break, you can get hurt, and the power can go down for a while. You won’t like, to be stuck in a small, dark box without knowing when the help will come. So, don’t use elevators during an earthquake.
4. Leave the building and take the most necessary stuff with you
Follow the instructions that are located on the wall of every building. Use the emergency exit route. There should be a picture on the wall, with clear signs on which doors should be used in case of disaster.
Take the most important items with you. If you have prepared an earthquake bag, with everything you could need, take it, if not go out with your most important items like documents, water, and some money.
Keep evading the elevators. There could be an aftershock, so better go down using the stairs, if they don’t have structural damages, or wait until professional firefighters come to help you.
5. Stay outside until the danger is gone
Stay outside for at least an hour. Be sure that no aftershocks are coming before you move to another place. During this time the communication might be problematic, so try to remain calm and send a message to your family or close friends when you can.
Inform yourself from the news, about the consequences of the earthquake and the current situation in the area where you are. You can get very important information.
What to do during an earthquake If you are outside?
1. Keep staying outside during an earthquake, obviously!
Don’t try to be a hero and rush to a nearby building, in an attempt to help people. You will help them by not blocking their exit route. The time to help will come after the ground stop moving and everything seems calm again.
2. Stay away from buildings, high structures, and electric poles
There is a big risk that they were damaged during the quake. You don’t want something to fall on you. The same goes if you are on foot, in a car, or in another vehicle.
Try to find an open field, like a park, where there can safely wait.
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What to do after an earthquake?
1. Check yourself about injuries
Help yourself, or find somebody that can give you first aid. Bleeding could be a very big problem, so you need to stop the blood as fast as possible.
2. Stay away from the damaged buildings
If you were in one, now is the time to leave it. Stay outside, because there could always be secondary earthquakes. They can be lighter, but they can finish an already broken building.
3. Notify all your family and friend about your status
The first minutes are full of fear and chaos. Everybody will try to call his/her dear ones. The mobile network will probably go down, and it can take hours to get them back on. Use the data on your phone or any Wi-Fi Internet around. My latest experience showed me that Wi-Fi was the most reliable option.
Write in your social networks that you are ok and check on your people. Facebook offers a good option; you can mark yourself as “Safe” and check on certain people.
As I told you, a good connection could be hard to find, so write a short public message “I am safe.” If you use Mobile Data for the Internet, it will eventually post it when it gets a signal again.
*Optional
Help the rest of the people. Maybe you manage to get out of the natural disaster without being harmed, but others were not so lucky. Try to help them the way you can. If you know CPR and how to give first aid, you can really save lives during an earthquake.
If not, but you are strong, you can help with moving debris and cleaning the route for other people to escape from the building.
You can also help those that were left homeless. Bring them tents, and blankets and help them with information about the help they can get from the government.
You can even host some people at your place until they get a place to live.
You decide where and how you are willing to help. Me and my girlfriend, we went to help families in the next neighborhood, Roma (in Mexico City), and we brought food, boxes, and clothes.
We didn’t try to enter the broken building or move heavy stones, because we didn’t feel like we can help a lot in this, and it was risky.
What to do before an earthquake?
Prepare an earthquake emergency backpack. Keep there some ID that you usually don’t use, for example, your international passport. Put some cans of dried food and a bottle of water. A good addition could be a blanket. Don’t overfill it. The idea is that it is light enough that you can grab this emergency earthquake backpack and go in a hurry when you hear the early warning earthquake siren.
Pay attention to the earthquake drills. Take the earthquake drills seriously. If you are living in an earthquake zone, you will have an obligatory earthquake drill that will prepare you for such an event. Check where the emergency exits are, and how to move in case of a disaster.
Keep your home clutter-free. The quake can start when you are at home. Keep your home tidy. Fewer objects around mean fewer potential hits and obstacles to avoid during your exit. Also, you will need a clear escape room, so don’t be messy.
*Optional
Use an earthquake app. Many mobile applications can warn you about the upcoming earthquake. But, you need always to be connected to the internet, to use them. And also they might use your private data for their purposes. Better just pay attention to the earthquake warning siren in your area. If you hear it, start acting.
What country has the most earthquakes?
The single country, that has suffered the most earthquakes is China (according to Statista). The countries that suffer earthquakes often are:
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China
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Indonesia
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Iran
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Turkey
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Japan
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Peru
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USA
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Italy
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Afghanistan
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India
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Greece
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Mexico
How is an earthquake caused?
The main cause of earthquakes is the sudden release of stress (energy) along faults in the earth’s crust. The earth has many tectonic plates and they are in movement. Their constant actions and interaction with each other cause build-ups of pressure. The pressure gets so high, that in one moment the energy needs to be released. That tectonic pressure, created from the move of the tectonic plates causes earthquakes.
There are 3 main types of tectonic movements:
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Trust fault (convergent). The Tectonic plates come together.
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Normal Fault (divergent). The tectonic plates move apart.
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Strike-Slip Fault (transform). The tectonic plates move past each other.
Can an earthquake cause a tsunami?
Yes, an earthquake can cause a tsunami (tidal wave). A large, strong, and shallow earthquake, with an epicenter on the ocean floor, can start a tsunami wave. There are regions where tectonic plates meet, and the movements they do doing the years cause such a disaster. A tsunami wave can travel as much as 1000 kilometers (the Great 1960 Chilean tsunami)! That temblor was 9.5 magnitude (Richter), and usually, it must be at least 7.5 magnitudes to cause serious damage.
Can an earthquake cause a volcanic eruption?
Yes, an earthquake can cause a volcanic eruption. A strong temblor, with a magnitude higher than 6 (Richter) can cause a volcano to erupt if the epicenter is close enough. This happens, if the volcano was already close to erupting anyway. If it had enough magma and sufficient pressure.
Can a volcanic eruption cause an earthquake?
Yes, a volcanic eruption can cause an earthquake. The pressure that volcanoes generate, together with the vibrations from the moving magma can affect the surrounding rocks and trigger a small earthquake. Such earthquakes are called volcanic earthquakes or volcanic tremors.
Can an earthquake be predicted?
No, people cannot predict earthquakes, no matter what technology they use. No device or equipment can predict a tremor. The only type of devices that scientists use currently is to measure it and warn. The earthquake waves move slower than the communication, so you can get an early warning. But it is based just on the distance, from the epicenter to the place where you are.
Conclusion
Earthquakes are unpredictable, even having applications for early warning, still, most probably you will get scared. Just try to remember those tips and stay couscous before, during, and after an earthquake. Like this, you will have better chances of survival.
Other articles that can help you with survival tips:
"Volcano, when the Hell breaks loose"
"Tsunami, the wave that you don’t want to see"
"Hurricane, what to do when it approaches?"
"Tornado, where and how to hide?"
"Avalanche, Surviving natural disasters"
Official sources used for this article:
https://www.ses.vic.gov.au/get-ready/quakesafe/what-to-do-in-an-earthquake
https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/earthquakes/en/
https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/can-earthquakes-trigger-volcanic-eruptions
https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/can-you-predict-earthquakes
https://www.statista.com/statistics/269648/number-of-earthquakes-by-country/
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- Written by: Angela Angelova
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Avalanche, also known like snow slide, is a massive snow accumulation of the high mountain parts, rapidly flowing down on a sloping surface. Its speed can vary from 10 meters per second to 70 meters per second, but in very rare cases it can reach 125 meters. In the mountain areas, the avalanches are one of the most dangerous hazards for the property and the life of alpinists and mountaineers, because of its high ability to carry a huge mass of snow quickly over long distances. There are 5 categories of destruction which can be easily calculated on a logarithmic scale by the mass and destructive potential.
We all love snow and winter sports, but the fact that every season, hundreds of people get caught in avalanches is a “little bit” worrying, so here you will read about few tips how to overcome an avalanche.
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If you are a person who enjoys being in the mountains and practice snow sports, you should always be prepared for an avalanche.
Rescue beacon.
Wear rescue beacon that signals your location, because people can find you easily with it (some people die from freezing after the avalanche because the rescue squats can’t find them in time). There is some rescue equipment too and taking a course about how to learn and practice using them is a significant advantage for the mountain people.
Get off the slab.
If you get caught in a slide, try to getting off of the slab first, but if you can’t do that try grabbing a tree and hold on tight to it, so the flow won’t take you down.
Swim away.
If you get swept away from it, the best thing you can do is to try swimming to the surface. In case that the avalanche is very strong and it has taken parts and objects from the appeared on its way buildings, try to grab and hold on to them, because they won’t drown in (same as with the water).
Carry a small shovel.
Always carry a small shovel and a long probe if you are with a company, because when the flow stops some of your friends can get buried inside. In this risky situation helping someone may save their life because breathing under the snow is hard and some people can be hit hard by a tree or other object.
Educate yourself.
Last but not least is the always working tip for protecting yourself from avalanches - awareness. Educate yourself about them, learn how to recognize the dangerous areas and if it’s possible, try to avoid them because the risk is big and it may cost your life.
Share more survival tips with us, PackandGo.info @packandgoinfo @packandgo.info @packandgo.info
Other articles that can help you with survival tips:
"Volcano, when the Hell breaks loose"
"Tsunami, the wave that you don’t want to see"
"Hurricane, what to do when it approaches?"
"Tornado, where and how to hide?"
"What to do before, during, and after an earthquake?"
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- Written by: Angela Angelova
- Hits: 774
The tornado is an air cataclysm. It’s a strong atmospheric vortex that forms a rotating pillar of air which connects the surface of the earth with a cumulus-rain, in rare cases with a clumsy cloud, mostly seen in the USA. It has twelve categories of destruction, but we have seen only the first five of them (thank God). Now you will read about some of the basic spots where you can hide in case of a tornado emergency.
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Protect yourself in a shelter.
First that you need to do when the weather radar indicates a tornado is to find shelter. If you are lucky to be at home when a tornado comes, the underground storm shelter is the best place to hide, but if you don’t have one – the basement is another excellent opportunity.
Hide from the tornado in a lower floor.
If there is not enough time to go inside the shelter, going to the lowest level of your house is a great advantage for keeping you safe. For sure you don’t want to be near the windows during the storm, so go in a windowless room like bathroom or closet. If you are in a closet or other room – find a heavy object and hide under it while you are holding it tight with your legs and your hands are on your head. If you are in a bathroom, you must hide in the bathtub, because it will keep your body safe and ALWAYS remember to use your arms to protect your head and neck.
If the tornado reaches you at school - hallway.
If the tornado catches you at school or work and there is no available basement, the hallway at the lowest floors is a good place to hide. Also, some of the teaching/ conference rooms have no windows and a big table in the middle so that you can hide under it. Take tornado safe position with bent knees and hands on your head and neck for better protection.
Tornado while you are driving on the road.
If you are on the road in a vehicle NEVER try to run away from the tornado, because they change directions really quick, sometimes they sweep with more than a hundred kilometers per hour, and you can get lifted in the air for seconds. The best thing to do is to get out of the vehicle and take shelter in a nearby houses or buildings.
If you are that lucky for not having time to hide anywhere when you get out from the vehicle, or you are just outdoors – find a ditch or low-lying area and lie in with tornado position to protect your body. A prayer at this moment can be needed too (hope never dies).
Hope this article was useful for you. If you want to know how to survive other disasters, follow us. Next one will be the hurricane! PackandGo.info @packandgoinfo @packandgo.info @packandgo.info
Other articles that can help you with survival tips:
"Volcano, when the Hell breaks loose"
"Tsunami, the wave that you don’t want to see"
"Hurricane, what to do when it approaches?"
"Avalanche, Surviving natural disasters"
"What to do before, during, and after an earthquake?"
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- Written by: Gianna Esquivel
- Hits: 991
In recent years, many natural events have taken the lives of many, while destroying complete towns and cities. The power of nature is huge and unstoppable, but human prevention can make a big difference. Your chances of surviving the hit of a hurricane significantly increase if you get prepared. Some events can surprise you, but not all.
Hurricanes are not earthquakes. In the last, the alert gives you just seconds to react and get safe. Hurricane alerts give you days and in the worst case, hours to do the best possible for your safety. Let's crack down what to do when a hurricane approaches?
To know what to do in case of an earthquake, you can read: What to do before, during, and after an earthquake?
What is a hurricane?
A hurricane is a storm system that is rotating rapidly in a spiral. It has other names like a tropical cyclone, typhoon, tropical depression, etc. In the center of the storm, it’s peaceful, there are no clouds and wind, but around it, there are huge clouds, torrential rain, and raging winds.
They make huge waves in the oceans that can cause catastrophic damage along the coasts. The horizontal size of the hurricane is 2000-3000 km, and the movement speed is 35-50, rarely up to 100 km / h. Many coastal regions will get particularly vulnerable to the impact of a tropical cyclone, compared to the inland areas. Evacuate quickly and on time.
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Do you have time to prepare for a hurricane?
Yes, you have time to prepare a plan to be safe. Hurricanes happen every year. Science and weather services have identified long ago its periodicity and ways to warn the population.
In the north Pacific, hurricane season begins on May 15th, and in the Caribbean and the Atlantic, on June 1st. It ends on November 30th. Global warming is producing a lot of climate changes and that affects the accuracy of predictions and exact dates. But still, these dates give you a useful reference and time to be ready before hurricanes hit your location.
If you plan to travel for business or vacations to these areas during the hurricane season consider a plan too!
Always make a plan to be safe if a hurricane approaches.
Hurricanes directly affect the coast and the people living there. But they have the power to harm the inland too, hundreds of miles from the coast. You truly need a plan. A good one will work in most scenarios. Consider the following:
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Prepare emergency supplies.
During and after a hurricane you will need groceries, water, tools, and medicines for you and your family. Think about all these needs and write them down. When the season approaches, you can make the necessary purchases to cover the list. Or you can have some stuff in advance, just check the expiry date of the products and medicines.
About food, get sufficient water for drinking and cans, of food that do not require to be cooked. The reason is simple, during such a storm, it’s not rare that power and even water supplies get cut off. Besides, it’s not recommended to have electronics plugged in when the storm is hitting. And being in a bunker, a gas oven is not a good idea. It can be a life hazard.
Prepare tools you could use to cover a hole at home if you lose a window or a door during the storm. Also the basic tool kit for the car. It’s not a good idea to drive in these conditions but you can need it in case of emergency. And cars sometimes fail exactly when you need them.
Medicines, besides the basic stuff for pain and wounds, consider if someone in your family needs medicine for a specific treatment or illness. Consider being covered at least for a couple of weeks. And very importantly, don’t forget the COVID-19 pandemic is still on. Be sure you take hand sanitizer, soap, disinfecting wipes, and a bunch of masks for all of you. If you have to go to a shelter, it can be crowded, so social distancing will be hard to keep. You are already stressed enough with the natural emergency. You certainly don’t need extra worries (illness). Prevention is better!
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Prepare emergency power sources.
Include flashlights, a portable radio, batteries, and power banks. A radio can sound outdated but in these emergencies, the simplest technology has proven to be more reliable than a modern device whose power demand is higher. Have it as a backup. Have choices for charging your mobile to communicate in case of emergency or to keep updated on the information about the event.
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Keep safe and handy important documents.
Personal identifications from all members of the family, medical documents (prescriptions, insurance, blood types, etc.), passports, house deeds, wills, and whatever else you can need for legal or medical processes.
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Get a fire extinguisher.
The storm can cause fire. If it threats your home or the surroundings, an extinguisher will be useful.
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Get handy emergency numbers.
Register them on the mobile of every member of the family.
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Locate the closest shelter.
Do it in advance and check alternative routes to reach it from your home. If time allows, check that is working and in good condition when the hurricane season approaches. Even if you stay at home, having a B plan (shelter) is a life-saving choice. Your house can get badly damaged and you will need where to stay.
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Make a plan for pets.
Based on the type of pet you have, the plan you need. But talking about the most common, cats, birds, and dogs, check if they are allowed in the shelter, get choices of animal-friendly hotels, or think about friends and relatives living in a different city that could host you and them if you all get evacuated. Consider having food, water, and medicines for them, if needed.
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Download the Hurricane app.
You can download the Hurricane app made by The Red Cross on your smartphone (you can find them on App Store and Google Play). With this app, you can keep informed and in case of an emergency, you can show where you are and if you need some kind of help or if you are safe.
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Strengthen your home.
Cover your windows and doors with shutters and bring in lightweight objects and outside furniture that can fly easily and hurt somebody, like garden imps, propane tanks, benches, and tables.
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Cut off all the services.
Turn off the water, electricity, and propane gas tank, so you can be sure if something damages your home, there won’t be flowing pipes in the middle of the room, flames made by a short circuit, or blown-up gas tanks.
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Prepare your vehicle.
Be sure that your vehicle works. Fix any issue to count with it if needed it. Check you have a full gas tank, so you won’t run out of it while leaving the hazardous area. During the storm, gas stations get closed due to the risks. Taking preserved foods is another great piece of advice because they won’t turn bad in the next few days and you can be sure that you have what to eat.
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Notify your close people.
Notify your relatives and friends where are you going and when you are going to arrive.
Try reserving a hotel in a safe area a week before, because the rooms will get hired very quickly, or just to go on vacation during this time. Remember that dream place that you never had the time to visit? – Well, now you have! No one said that the only thing you should do during this time is to panic?! Take advantage of this free time and travel to the places you always wanted to visit. Share your tips and experiences with us PackandGo.info @packandgoinfo @packandgo.info @packandgo.info
What to do when a hurricane arrives?
If a hurricane arrives, take it seriously! And execute the good plan you already have.
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Check the weather reports.
Keep informed about weather conditions. Information, from official sources, will be your compass to know how dangerous the emergency is, and the steps you have to follow. Don’t underestimate the warnings!
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Understand the meaning of a hurricane “watch” and “warning”.
Understanding accurately the terms involved in a hurricane event is vital to avoid unnecessary panic and to follow the best steps to be safe. Most weather services use two alerts.
A hurricane watch points out hurricane conditions, meaning sustained winds of 74 mph, miles per hour, or higher are possible in a specific area. The alert of a hurricane watch is announced 48 hours before the tropical-storm-force winds (sustained winds of 39 to 73 mph) are expected to begin.
A hurricane warning is announced 36 hours before tropical storm-force winds are expected in a specific area. This alert is more serious and not to be ignored. It’s assuring you the storm will truly hit an area.
If your country uses different alerts, be sure you understand accurately their meaning. Panic or spreading misunderstandings only make worse an already serious emergency.
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Solve quickly the dilemma: To leave or to stay home in a hurricane emergency.
It certainly is a hard dilemma. To stay represents risks, your life could be threatened. To leave is hard because nobody wants to consider the scenario of losing everything they own. But your life is what matters the most. Don't take it as a hackneyed phrase, it's true!
You have three choices.
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Follow the authorities' instructions.
They always give an official announcement about what’s better for people to do. They monitor the hurricane all the time to know its trajectory and power. If roads get damaged, authorities can consider it risky for people to drive and their instruction can be for you to stay home.
In this case, be sure you have a safe place (home or shelter) to stay. Follow tightly the security measures. And execute the plan you already have (we explained it at the beginning). As a part of it, you should have already your emergency supplies, lights, extinguisher, important information, etc. So stay inside and keep informed and calm. Don’t go outside, remember that curiosity killed the cat! Wait for the official sign to go outside.
Stay away from windows. The best is to cover them to avoid pieces of broken glass flying around if the storm breaks them. But prefer to stay in a room without windows or with small ones.
Use phone calls smartly. Reserve them for emergency use. You can overwhelm the network and others may need help.
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Don´t hesitate and leave if a hurricane approaches.
Especially if you live in an area that yearly experiences hurricanes, you don't have to suffer this non-stop. Prepare a plan to leave. Nature is not hundred percent predictable. There will be hurricanes, that’s for sure. But even if last year's hurricane was lighter, there’s no guarantee the upcoming one won’t be harmful. Your house withstood the hurricane last year, well this year can be different. You can plan from the beginning to leave when it’s appropriate and this will reduce the stress of taking a nervous decision at the last moment. Perhaps you have friends or family in another city who can host you for a while or you can rent a place for a week or two.
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Evacuate without wasting time!
If there’s a clear evacuation order, don´t ignore it. Such orders are not given just because.
Every second counts to take yourself, your family, and your pets away from danger. Think that the earlier you evacuate, the faster you will make it out of the hazardous area. Usually, people leaving at the last minute get stuck in the evacuation routes or they don’t find such routes if the storm already caused floods or blocked them with debris.
Again, execute the plan you made. It works also in this scenario. Especially, the part about unplugging all appliances, and turning off the water, electricity, and gas. If you have time, of course.
Take some of your emergency supplies and important documents. The number of things to take will depend on the way you will leave. Having a car you can fit most things. If you go on foot, take the basics. Choose a road recommended by authorities. Others can be gone.
Conclusion.
Having a plan if a hurricane approaches is life-saving. The better designed the better your chances of surviving. Keep safe! And never underestimate the power of a hurricane.
PackandGo.info @packandgoinfo @packandgo.info @packandgo.info
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"Avalanche, Surviving natural disasters"
"What to do before, during, and after an earthquake?"