This is our special Natural Disasters edition of Prepper Survival Guide magazine. The idea here is to focus on the types of emergencies that many of us may likely see in our lifetimes, such as tornadoes, floods and heat waves. For each type of disaster, we discuss the causes, seasonality and other factors that can clue you in that things could get sketchy. Then, we dig deep to provide you with tips and tricks to help keep you and your family safe. Finally, we drill down on a real-life example and see how it played out, hoping to learn from history.
FROM THE EDITOR
HURRICANES THE POWER OF NATURE’S MIGHTY FURY • WATER, ESSENTIAL FOR BOTH THE ECOSYSTEM AND INDIVIDUAL SURVIVAL, TRANSFORMS FROM A LIFE-GIVING FORCE TO A PERILOUS THREAT IN EXCESS. RECENT HISTORY ATTESTS TO THE DEVASTATING CONSEQUENCES OF WATER’S ABUNDANCE, VIVIDLY ILLUSTRATED IN THE AFTERMATH OF HURRICANE KATRINA IN NEW ORLEANS AND SUPERSTORM SANDY IN THE NORTHEAST.
WEATHERING THE STORM A COMPREHENSIVE HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS GUIDE • THE ANTICIPATION OF AN APPROACHING HURRICANE BRINGS WITH IT A SENSE OF URGENCY AND THE NEED FOR METICULOUS PREPARATION. IN THE FACE OF NATURE’S FURY, TAKING PROACTIVE MEASURES IS PARAMOUNT TO ENSURING THE SAFETY OF INDIVIDUALS, SAFEGUARDING PROPERTY AND FACILITATING A SWIFT RECOVERY.
HURRICANE KATRINA WHAT HAPPENED AND WHY • HURRICANE KATRINA WAS THE COSTLIEST NATURAL DISASTER IN U.S. HISTORY, CAUSING AN ESTIMATED $108 BILLION IN DAMAGES. IT WAS THE LARGEST (UP TO 400 MILES ACROSS)—AND THE THIRD STRONGEST—HURRICANE EVER RECORDED TO MAKE LANDFALL IN THE UNITED STATES.
TORNADOES COMING SOON TO A LOCATION NEAR YOU • FOR MANY, THEIR FIRST INTRODUCTION TO TORNADOES IS THROUGH THE FILM THE WIZARD OF OZ, IN WHICH A GIRL, HER DOG AND HER HOUSE ARE TRANSPORTED FROM KANSAS TO THE LAND OF OZ. THE MOVIE TAKES US INSIDE THE FUNNEL CLOUD, WHERE WE SEE PEOPLE, ANIMALS AND DEBRIS FLYING PAST THE WINDOWS OF THE HOUSE AS IT IS LIFTED HIGHER AND HIGHER INTO THE WINDSTORM.
SURVIVE THE STORM THE DO’S AND DON’TS OF TORNADO SAFETY • ON FRIDAY, NOV. 29, 2019, AT 3:53 A.M., HOWLING WINDS WOKE ME UP. I WATCHED DEBRIS, INCLUDING A LAWN CHAIR, FLYING SIDEWAYS PAST MY BEDROOM WINDOW FOR SEVERAL MINUTES, WONDERING IF IT COULD GET WORSE AND WHEN THE RAIN WOULD START. I NUDGED MY HUSBAND AWAKE.
THE JOPLIN, MISSOURI, TORNADO UNHEEDED WARNINGS
FLOODS WHEN THE WATER KEEPS RISING • I WAS READING JEFF GOODELL’S BOOK THE WATER WILL COME AS MY GARDEN—AND THE REST OF MY YARD—DISAPPEARED UNDER INCHES OF WATER. IT SEEMS THAT 2023 WAS ABNORMALLY BAD IN MANY REGIONS OF THE COUNTRY REGARDING THE MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF WATER WE GOT HIT WITH, BOTH RAIN AND OCEAN SURGE.
THE WATER IS HERE! WHAT DO WE DO? • PART OF LIVING THE WAY WE DO AND IN THE WORLD THAT WE LIVE IN REQUIRES US TO BE PREPARED FOR ANYTHING THAT PRESENTS ITSELF. WILL YOU BE TOTALLY READY FOR EVERY SITUATION? OF COURSE NOT—THAT’S IMPOSSIBLE. BUT YOU CAN PREPARE THE BEST YOU CAN AND THAT IS WHAT THIS PIECE IS ALL ABOUT.
THE GREAT FLOOD OF 1993 WHAT WENT WRONG? • THE GREAT FLOOD OF 1993 OCCURRED FROM MAY THROUGH SEPTEMBER ALONG THE MISSISSIPPI AND MISSOURI RIVERS AND THE SURROUNDING AREAS. IT AFFECTED NINE DIFFERENT STATES.
HEAT WAVES WHEN THE MERCURY SKYROCKETS • THE WORST HEAT WAVE IN UNITED STATES HISTORY OCCURRED IN JULY 1913. FURNACE CREEK IN DEATH VALLEY, CALIFORNIA, RECORDED A SCORCHING TEMPERATURE OF 134 F, WHICH TO THIS DAY REMAINS THE GLOBAL RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE. ACCORDING TO SCIENTISTS AT NASA’S GODDARD INSTITUTE FOR SPACE STUDIES, 2023 WAS GLOBALLY THE HOTTEST SUMMER ON RECORD SINCE 1880.
KEEP YOUR COOL BE READY FOR SOARING TEMPERATURESBE • IN THE SUMMER OF 2023 AT THE UNITED NATIONS HEADQUARTERS IN NEW YORK CITY, UN SECRETARYGENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES SAID THAT THE ERA OF GLOBAL...