What to Do When the Shit Hits the Fan: 2014-2015 Edition

by David Black

Overview

Recent events have taught us all that anyone, anywhere can face an emergency situation. Do you have the tools, equipment, and knowledge to ensure the safety of your family? With the expert advice in this handbook, you can be better prepared for any emergency:

• Terrorist attack
• Fire
• Flood
• Tornado
• Winter storm
• Hurricane
• Landslide
• Earthquake
• Drought
• Nuclear emergency
• Civil unrest
• And more

In this updated edition, Dave Black addresses the full range of disaster that can turn an ordinary day into a fight for survival. He offers advice on alarms, insurance, preparing a “disaster kit,” planning for evacuation, communication, emergency food handling, first aid, and more. With real-world considerations, he lays out the step-by-step responses that could save you and your family in a time of crisis.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781626361096
Publisher:	Skyhorse
Publication date:	01/02/2014
Pages:	336
Product dimensions:	9.00(w) x 6.10(h) x 1.30(d)

About the Author

David Black is an internationally recognized consultant in emergency planning and disaster response. With nearly twenty years of experience in search and rescue and as a wilderness and urban first responder, he has served as a consultant and architect of community disaster response and management systems both here and abroad.

Table of Contents

Introduction 1

Chapter 1 Managing a Disaster 11

1 The Phases of Emergency Management 11

2 Emergency and Disaster Professionals and Volunteers 12

3 Incident Command and Control 15

4 Some Notes on National Emergency Management in English-Speaking Countries 16

5 International Organizations 21

6 Personal and Family Emergency Management 24

7 Business Emergency Management 26

8 Sorting through the Bullshit 26

Chapter 2 Basic Personal Preparedness 28

1 Knowing about Local Hazards 30

2 Family Communications Plan 30

3 Shutting Off the Utilities 33

4 Shutting Off Electricity 33

5 Shutting Off the Gas 34

6 Shutting Off Water Lines 37

7 Developing an Emergency Plan 38

8 Disaster Supply Kits 38

9 Warning Systems and Evacuation 45

10 Sheltering 49

11 Community, School, and Workplace Plans 49

12 Records and Property Inventory 50

13 Insurance 51

14 Progress Check 55

Chapter 3 Communications Technology 58

1 Accessing Public Information 58

2 Communications Systems 59

3 Data Transmission 67

4 Being Proactive with a Community Backup Communication System 70

Chapter 4 Conserving What You Have When It Isn't Enough 72

1 Landscaping 72

2 Energy Efficient Appliances 72

3 Home Improvements 73

4 Lighting 73

5 Ambient Heating and Cooling 74

6 Refrigeration 74

7 Laundry 75

8 Water Heaters 75

9 Dishwashing 76

10 Cooking 77

11 Transportation 77

Chapter 5 Power and Light 78

1 Figuring Out Your Emergency Power Needs 81

2 Generators: "The Gen" 82

3 Inverters 84

4 Hasty Backup Wiring for Your Home or Shelter 85

5 Other Power Systems 86

6 In the Event of Blackout 86

7 The Basics about Small Batteries 87

8 Alternative Light Sources 87

Chapter 6 Alternative Energy & Emergency Power 89

1 Electricity 90

2 Wiring 94

3 Photovoltaic Cells 96

4 Wind Systems 101

5 Water Systems 104

6 Sizing Your System 106

7 Batteries 110

8 Charge Controllers 112

9 Inverters 113

10 Power Centers 114

11 Connections 114

12 Electrical Safety Devices 115

13 Wiring the System 115

Chapter 7 Emergency Healing & Cooling 118

1 Heat 118

2 Emergency Heating 119

3 Conserving Heat 122

4 Safety 124

5 Storing Emergency Fuel 127

6 Dealing with Frozen Pipes 129

7 Emergency Cooling 129

Chapter 8 Water 134

1 Water Harvesting 139

2 Contamination 141

3 Purification and Treatment 142

4 Steps in Water Purification 143

5 Distillation 147

Chapter 9 Food & Nutrition 149

1 Emergency Refrigeration 150

2 Emergency Cooking 153

3 Food for Disaster Kits and Food Storage 156

4 Storing Dried Foods 163

5 Food Dates 163

Chapter 10 Shelter 164

1 Mass Care Shelters 165

2 Sheltering in Place 165

3 Emergency Shelters 172

4 Survival Retreats 181

Chapter 11 Evacuation and "Bugging Out" 83

1 In-Advance Preparation for Evacuation 183

2 Imminent Evacuation 184

3 Evacuation Has Been Ordered 184

4 Returning Home 184

5 "Bugging Out" 185

Chapter 12 First Aid 187

1 The Patient Assessment System 187

2 Injuries 190

3 Medical 196

4 First Aid Kits 203

Chapter 13 Light Rescue 206

1 Special Rescue Situations 209

Chapter 14 Specific Hazards 212

1 Drought 212

2 Data Loss 213

3 Fire 218

4 Flood 225

5 Hurricanes and Other Cyclonic Storms 229

6 Tornadoes 233

7 Winter Storms 236

8 Thunderstorms and Lightning 240

9 Cold and Heat Emergencies 242

10 Earthquake 244

11 Landslides and Mass Wasting 248

12 Tsunami 251

13 Volcano 253

14 Emerging Infectious Diseases & Bioterrorism 256

15 Chemical Events 260

16 Nuclear and Radiological Emergencies 267

17 Terrorism 275

18 Civil Unrest and Armed Conflict 278

19 Explosives and Bombs 286

20 Threats from Space 291

Appendix 1 295

Appendix 2 297

Appendix 3 300

Appendix 4 316

Appendix 5 320

Appendix 6 323