News

April 20, 2018

Contributed by Rob Hanus   Whether you’re just beginning to write your preparedness plan, or if you’ve had one for a while, one of the best planning tools you can have is a threat analysis, also called a risk or threat assessment. Properly done, an analysis highlights the hazards and situations most likely to occur, and which are the most dangerous. Once complete, your threat assessment tells you which disasters or events you should prepare for first. For example, you may be highly concerned with nuclear detonations and pandemics and may be thinking you need to focus a large part...

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March 15, 2018

Preparedness - Getting Started Series How to Write A Plan  Contributed by Rob Hanus Once you’ve decided it’s time to become better prepared, the next step is to take action. This can be a daunting task, as there are many things to do in order to be well prepared. Unfortunately, many people stop at this point, as they become overwhelmed with all that needs to be done. An important point to keep in mind is it’s not necessary to prepare for every possible contingency. Starting with a small plan is a great way to start and is much better than...

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January 19, 2018

Contributed by Rob Hanus When asked that question, there are, generally, three basic responses: "Yes," "I think so," or, "Prepared for what?" Even among those who responded affirmatively, believing they are sufficiently prepared for disasters, many do not realize they are, most likely, not prepared enough. Recent studies by FEMA found a rather wide margin between survey respondents stating they were prepared and the actual number of people prepared when stuck by a local tornado. Starting at the beginning, let's address the simple question, "Be prepared for what?" It's an honest question, though one that isn't always easy to answer....

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November 22, 2017

Contributed by Rob Hanus The antics of North Korea and its leader have grasped the attention of the American people in a way we have not experienced since the Cold War. Though it remains unclear as to what their real capability is, the potential of a nuclear strike is a very real threat. When planning for a nuclear event, it is prudent to have supplies available for sheltering in place, as well as for evacuating to a safer location. Sometimes, the solutions might be the same, other times a lighter, expedient option is necessary during travel. For both, it’s always...

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August 18, 2017

Contributed by Rob Hanus Regardless of what your preparedness plan looks like, it undoubtedly includes some form of food storage. Whether you’re planning for a week-long power outage or the worst case scenario, food and water will be at the top of your list of items to store. When it comes time to buying storage food, do you know what you’re getting? Will the food on your shelf see you through to the end of the disaster? The time to make sure you have the right storage food is before you buy it, not when the horde is pounding on...

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