Things To Do Before & After A Storm Or Emergency!

in How To

Repost of Original on posted Date: Jun 6, 2008 – 1:35 AM

What should I do to prepare for a storm?

Since many of my Predictions involve storms or Emergencies, I feel a need to provide some helpful information on how to prepare for an Emergency:



*****PLEASE NOTE THAT SOME OF DOUG COPP’S RECOMMENDATIONS ARE CONTROVERSIAL IN THE RESCUE COMMUNITY!!  BUT THAT DOESN’T MEAN THAT THEY’RE NOT VALID……

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Please read this and pass the info along to your family members; it could save their lives someday!
EXTRACT FROM DOUG COPP’S ARTICLE ON THE: “TRIANGLE OF LIFE”.

My name is Doug Copp. I am the Rescue Chief and Disaster Manager of the American Rescue Team International (ARTI) the world’s most experienced rescue team. The information in this article will save lives in an earthquake.

I have crawled inside 875 collapsed buildings, worked with rescue teams from 60 countries, founded rescue teams in several countries, and I am a member of many rescue teams from many countries.
I was the United Nations expert in Disaster Mitigation for two years. I have worked at every major disaster in the world since 1985, except for simultaneous disasters.

The first building I ever crawled inside of was a school in Mexico City during the 1985 earthquake. Every child was under its desk. Every child was crushed to the thickness of their bones.
They could have survived by lying down next to their desks in the aisles. It was obscene, unnecessary and I wondered why the children were not in the aisles. I didn’t at the time know that the children were told to hide under something.

Simply stated, when buildings collapse, the weight of the ceilings falling upon the objects or furniture inside crushes these objects, leaving a space or void next to them. This space is what I call the ‘triangle of life’. The larger the object, the stronger, the less it will compact. The less the object compacts, the larger the void, the greater the probability that the person who is using this void for safety will not be injured. The next time you watch collapsed buildings, on television, count the ‘triangles’  you see formed. They are everywhere. It is the most common shape, you will see, in a collapsed building.

TIPS FOR EARTHQUAKE SAFETY:

1) Most everyone who simply ‘ducks and covers’ WHEN BUILDINGS COLLAPSE are crushed to death. People who get under objects, like desks or cars, are crushed.

2) Cats, dogs and babies often naturally curl up in the fetal position. You should too in an earthquake. It is a natural safety/survival instinct. You can survive in a smaller void. Get next to an object, next to a sofa, next to a large bulky object that will compress slightly but leave avoid next to it.

3) Wooden buildings are the safest type of construction to be in during an earthquake. Wood is flexible and moves with the force of the earthquake. If the wooden building does collapse, large survival voids are created. Also, the wooden building has less concentrated, crushing weight. Brick buildings will break into individual bricks. Bricks will cause many injuries but less squashed bodies than concrete slabs.

4) If you are in bed during the night and an earthquake occurs, simply roll off the bed. A safe void will exist around the bed. Hotels can achieve a much greater survival rate in earthquakes simply by posting a sign on the back of the door of every room telling occupants to lie down on the floor next to the bottom of the bed during an earthquake.

5) If an earthquake happens and you cannot easily escape by getting out the door or window, then lie down and curl up in the fetal position next to a sofa or large chair.

6) Most everyone who gets under a doorway when buildings collapse is killed. How? If you stand under a doorway and the door jamb falls forward or backward you will be crushed by the ceiling above. If the door jamb falls sideways you will be cut in half by the doorway. In either case, you will be killed!

7) Never go to the stairs.  The stairs have a different ‘moment of frequency’ (they swing separately from the main part of the building). The stairs and remainder of the building continuously bump into each other until structural failure of the stairs takes place. 

The people who get on stairs before they fail are chopped up by the stair treads – horribly mutilated. Even if the building doesn’t collapse, stay away from the stairs. The stairs are a likely part of the building to be damaged. Even if the stairs are not collapsed by the earthquake, they may collapse later when overloaded by fleeing people. They should always be checked for safety, even when the rest of the building is not damaged.

 

 

8) Get Near the Outer Walls Of Buildings Or Outside Of Them If Possible – It is much better to be near the outside of the building rather than the interior. The farther inside you are from the outside perimeter of the building the greater the probability that your escape route will be blocked.

9) People inside of their vehicles are crushed when the road above falls in an earthquake and crushes their vehicles; which is exactly what happened with the slabs between the decks of the Nimitz Freeway. 

The victims of the San Francisco earthquake all stayed inside of their vehicles. They were all killed. They could have easily survived by getting out and sitting or lying next to their vehicles. Everyone killed would have survived if they had been able to get out of their cars and sit or lie next to them. All the crushed cars had voids 3 feet high next to them, except for the cars that had columns fall directly across them

 


10) I discovered, while crawling inside of collapsed newspaper offices and other offices with a lot of paper, that paper does not compact. Large voids are found surrounding stacks of paper.

Spread the word and save someone’s life… The Entire world is experiencing natural calamities so be prepared!

‘We are but angels with one wing, it takes two to fly.’

In 1996 we made a film which proved my survival methodology to be correct. The Turkish Federal Government, City of Istanbul, University of Istanbul Case Productions and ARTI cooperated to film this practical scientific test. We collapsed a school and a home with 20 mannequins inside. Ten mannequins did ‘duck and cover,’ and ten mannequins used my ‘triangle of life’ survival method. After the simulated earthquake collapse we crawled through the rubble and entered the building to film and document the results. The film, in which I practiced my survival techniques under directly observable scientific conditions, relevant to building collapse, showed there would have been zero percent survival for those doing duck and cover.

There would likely have been 100 percent survivability for people using my method of the ‘triangle of life.’ This film has been seen by millions of viewers on television in Turkey and the rest of Europe, and it was seen in the USA, Canada and Latin America on the TV program Real TV.
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HERE ARE MY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR EVERYONE!

 

Be prepared by making a list of the following:

Make sure that you go to an ATM when you first hear of an Emergency, because an ATM only contains a minimum amount of money (usually 1-2 days supply) before it has to be re-supplied by the Bank……If the power is off it won’t work or be supplied by the Bank either….so beat the rush and get there first!!

If you own a Laptop computer take it with you. You can get a “Magic Jack” adapter (MagicJack.com) that allows you to use your Laptop to make phone calls over the Internet for only about $39.95 (about $95.00 if you sign up for 5 yrs of service) with NO monthly bill for the adapter and first yrs phone service anywhere in the world…..

It will be very very hard to make a cell phone call during an Emergency since the lines will be jammed….with the Laptop you can use the wireless feature to connect to the Internet at most Libraries, Starbucks, Krystal, etc along the highway as you travel  to send/receive emails…..AND, to make phone calls to your family and friends..

Emergency kits contents often include prescription medication, emergency phone numbers for evacuating, flashlights, batteries, bottled water, portable bedding and special needs items for children or senior citizens.

I recommend that your financial emergency preparations include the following:


Consumers:

* Gather important legal documents, which should include:

o Mortgage/property deeds

o Car titles/Registration records.

o Photocopy of driver’s license

o Passport(s)

o Social security card(s)

o Military records

o Insurance policies

o Health Insurance information

o Will(s), Power of Attorney/Trust documents

o Birth, Death, and Marriage certificates; Adoption or divorce papers

o Tax records

o Written instructions for family members

o List of Emergency Contacts


* Make sure you are insured and consider special coverage such as flood insurance.


* Place important documents (listed above) in a waterproof plastic bag or container like those used by boaters, fisherman or divers. A good food storage bag that seals tightly will work also. Take these items with you if you evacuate your home or city.


* Videotape or photograph your home and its contents to ensure that you can recoup replacement costs, especially for valuable items. Place the tape or film with your important documents.


* Place other items like jewels or other valuables in a plastic storage bag and take them to your bank to put in your safe deposit box.


* Visit your bank or ATM and withdraw enough cash to cover meals and accommodations for your family for up to 7 days.


* Sign up for Online Banking to keep track of your accounts, transfer funds, and pay bills from anywhere you have Internet access.


What should you do following a storm


Post-Storm Helpful Tips

Getting to the Internet


  • Don’t forget you may be able to use Internet Banking services

* Internet access: If you need to get information off of the internet, remember that your local library has computers that can be used. If you have a laptop with wireless connectivity, many coffee houses and restaurants have WiFi connections.


Important numbers

Here is a list of important numbers you may need:


* Bank Numbers – Write down important numbers

* FEMA 1-800-621-FEMA (3362)

* Dept of Homeland Security 202-282-8000

* American Red Cross 202-303-4498


Common Sense Info:


* Don’t go back in to your residence until officials say it is safe to do so.

* Take pictures of the damage for insurance claims before you begin cleaning or repairing.

* Be wary of scams:

* Remember, don’t let fraudsters use severe weather as an excuse. Banks will not contact you to ask your confidential account or personal information.

* If contractors offer to do work for you (trees removed, roof repairs, etc) DO NOT pre-pay for services. Ask to see their contractor license.


Financial Help

* Let your bank know your needs.

* Insurance or FEMA checks may come quickly;

* Talk to a banker about the many types of loans and services they have to fit your current situation.

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BELOW ARE FEMA RECOMMENDATIONS!

 

What to Do During an Earthquake

Stay as safe as possible during an earthquake. Be aware that some earthquakes are actually before-shocks and a larger earthquake might occur. Minimize your movements to a few steps to a nearby safe place and stay indoors until the shaking has stopped and you are sure exiting is safe.

If indoors:

  • DROP to the ground; take COVER by getting under a sturdy table or other piece of furniture; and HOLD ON on until the shaking stops. If there isn’t a table or desk near you, cover your face and head with your arms and crouch in an inside corner of the building.
  • Stay away from glass, windows, outside doors and walls, and anything that could fall, such as lighting fixtures or furniture.
  • Stay in bed if you are there when the earthquake strikes. Hold on and protect your head with a pillow, unless you are under a heavy light fixture that could fall. In that case, move to the nearest safe place.
  • Use a doorway for shelter only if it is in close proximity to you and if you know it is a strongly supported, load bearing doorway.
  • Stay inside until shaking stops and it is safe to go outside. Research has shown that most injuries occur when people inside buildings attempt to move to a different location inside the building or try to leave.
  • Be aware that the electricity may go out or the sprinkler systems or fire alarms may turn on.
  • DO NOT use the elevators.

If outdoors:

  • Stay there.
  • Move away from buildings, streetlights, and utility wires.
  • Once in the open, stay there until the shaking stops. The greatest danger exists directly outside buildings, at exits, and alongside exterior walls. Many of the 120 fatalities from the 1933 Long Beach earthquake occurred when people ran outside of buildings only to be killed by falling debris from collapsing walls. Ground movement during an earthquake is seldom the direct cause of death or injury. Most earthquake-related casualties result from collapsing walls, flying glass, and falling objects.

If in a moving vehicle

  • Stop as quickly as safety permits and stay in the vehicle. Avoid stopping near or under buildings, trees, overpasses, and utility wires.
  • Proceed cautiously once the earthquake has stopped. Avoid roads, bridges, or ramps that might have been damaged by the earthquake.

If trapped under debris:

  • Do not light a match.
  • Do not move about or kick up dust.
  • Cover your mouth with a handkerchief or clothing.
  • Tap on a pipe or wall so rescuers can locate you. Use a whistle if one is available. Shout only as a last resort. Shouting can cause you to inhale dangerous amounts of dust.


Before a Hurricane

To prepare for a hurricane, you should take the following measures:

  • Make plans to secure your property. Permanent storm shutters offer the best protection for windows. A second option is to board up windows with 5/8″ marine plywood, cut to fit and ready to install. Tape does not prevent windows from breaking.  
  • Install straps or additional clips to securely fasten your roof to the frame structure. This will reduce roof damage.  
  • Be sure trees and shrubs around your home are well-trimmed.  
  • Clear loose and clogged rain gutters and downspout.  
  • Determine how and where to secure your boat.  
  • Consider building a safe room.

During a Hurricane

If a hurricane is likely in your area, you should:

  • Listen to the radio or TV for information.  
  • Secure your home, close storm shutters, and secure outdoor objects or bring them indoors.  
  • Turn off utilities if instructed to do so. Otherwise, turn the refrigerator thermostat to its coldest setting and keep its doors closed.  
  • Turn off propane tanks.· Avoid using the phone, except for serious emergencies.  
  • Moor your boat if time permits.  
  • Ensure a supply of water for sanitary purposes such as cleaning and flushing toilets. Fill the bathtub and other large containers with water.

You should evacuate under the following conditions:

  • If you are directed by local authorities to do so. Be sure to follow their instructions.  
  • If you live in a mobile home or temporary structure—such shelters are particularly hazardous during hurricanes no matter how well fastened to the ground.  
  • If you live in a high-rise building—hurricane winds are stronger at higher elevations.  
  • If you live on the coast, on a floodplain, near a river, or on an inland waterway.  
  • If you feel you are in danger.

If you are unable to evacuate, go to your safe room. If you do not have one, follow these guidelines:

  • Stay indoors during the hurricane and away from windows and glass doors.  
  • Close all interior doors—secure and brace external doors.  
  • Keep curtains and blinds closed. Do not be fooled if there is a lull; it could be the eye of the storm – winds will pick up again.  
  • Take refuge in a small interior room, closet, or hallway on the lowest level.  
  • Lie on the floor under a table or another sturdy object.

How Should I Store Water?

To prepare safest and most reliable emergency supply of water, it is recommended you purchase commercially bottled water. Keep bottled water in its original container and do not open it until you need to use it.

Observe the expiration or “use by” date.


If You are Preparing Your Own Containers of Water

It is recommended you purchase food-grade water storage containers from surplus or camping supplies stores to use for water storage. Before filling with water, thoroughly clean the containers with dish washing soap and water, and rinse completely so there is no residual soap. Follow directions below on filling the container with water.

If you choose to use your own storage containers, choose two-liter plastic soft drink bottles – not plastic jugs or cardboard containers that have had milk or fruit juice in them. Milk protein and fruit sugars cannot be adequately removed from these containers and provide an environment for bacterial growth when water is stored in them. Cardboard containers also leak easily and are not designed for long-term storage of liquids. Also, do not use glass containers, because they can break and are heavy.

If storing water in plastic soda bottles, follow these steps:


Thoroughly clean the bottles with dish washing soap and water, and rinse completely so there is no residual soap.Sanitize the bottles by adding a solution of 1 teaspoon of non-scented liquid household chlorine bleach to a quart of water. Swish the sanitizing solution in the bottle so that it touches all surfaces. After sanitizing the bottle, thoroughly rinse out the sanitizing solution with clean water.


Filling Water Containers

Fill the bottle to the top with regular tap water. If the tap water has been commercially treated from a water utility with chlorine, you do not need to add anything else to the water to keep it clean. If the water you are using comes from a well or water source that is not treated with chlorine, add two drops of non-scented liquid household chlorine bleach to the water. Tightly close the container using the original cap. Be careful not to contaminate the cap by touching the inside of it with your finger. Place a date on the outside of the container so that you know when you filled it. Store in a cool, dark place. Replace the water every six months if not using commercially bottled water.

{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }

Stephanie March 28, 2011 at 6:00 am

This is not a reply. I would like to know if there are any predictions concerning where Obama was born? Is anything going to come out about this? Are there any earthquakes predicted for North America?
Recently we have started putting away food, water, and emergency supplies so your tips were helpful. Except for the FEMA guidelines for earthquake precautions in light of your information given before theirs. Yours makes more sense to me. Also can you recommend a site for buying things like water purification tablets, gas masks, emergency radios, etc.
Thank you and God bless each and everyone of us.
Stephanie

worldpsychic March 28, 2011 at 6:37 am

Hi Stephanie,

Thank you for your comments..

I have numerous predictions on my web site “WorldPsychic.org” about the coming changes and an up to date prediction series in the VIP Prediction on this site that mentions more details and locations. I wouldn’t advise anyone to run off or expect you to hide in a cave, but you should be educated more about how things will unfold and when to look for them..

To be honest, I buy my stuff on Ebay since it’s a lot cheaper than individual web sites and you can compare the prices and quality of the items. You may have to look at a few ads but you’ll learn a lot more about what you’re buying..

Sincerely,
Monte

vanessa February 13, 2010 at 9:50 am

During hurricane scares, we always turn the water off to the toilets. and fill all the bathtubs and sinks with water. now a days most people don’t drink tap water, but if you can’t get bottled water,which is usually the case because store shelves are emptied. it’s a good idea to utilize. Also, always keep lots of candles and batteries on hand, as well as an emergency supply of non perishable food. Also, cast iron cookware is an essential, because there are always trees uprooted everywhere, and outdoor cooking does sometimes become necessary. another precaution we take at the beginning of hurricane season is to fill 50 gallon drums with fuel, the gas stations are usually dry after evacuation efforts.

Mike February 12, 2010 at 10:27 pm

Re Doug Copp’s recommendations. I was born and raised in S.F. with my fair share of earthquakes. I learned from grammar school on to “duck & tuck”, “get in the doorway” and all the other stuff that was mentioned. This was instilled in me completely.

After reading what Doug had to say, I have to agree that everything makes absolute sense. In fact, while reading each and every thing he said, I felt VERY comfortable with all of what he had to say. Thank you so much for providing such a detailed and USEFUL piece of information.

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