Tsunami Preparedness: What You Need to Know
Tsunamis are powerful, terrifying and very unexpected. While they are sometimes triggered by landslides or earthquakes, they can also occur when seismic activity happens deep in the ocean.
Ready.Gov describes the tsunami as follows:
Tsunamis, also known as seismic sea waves (mistakenly called “tidal waves”), are a series of enormous waves created by an underwater disturbance such as an earthquake, landslide, volcanic eruption, or meteorite. Earthquake-induced movement of the ocean floor most often generates tsunamis. If a major earthquake or landslide occurs close to shore, the first wave in a series could reach the beach in a few minutes, even before a warning is issued.
Planets Rotation
In 2017, a report by Forbes explored a link between the slowing of the earth’s rotation and increased seismic activity. These findings mention that in the near future, we could see seismic activity. i.e. earthquakes, in several previously unaffected locations.
Think you’re safe because you live in a notorious 'No Earthquake Zone'? Think again. You may need to brush up on your earthquake and tsunami preparedness, even if you live in an area that seldom experiences either.
Preparing for a Tsunami
A Tsunami Disaster Communication plan is critical and should include a quick evacuation plan for every member of your family. Copies of this plan should be kept inside your survival kits alongside important documents like deeds, ID, passports etc., and a list of important phone numbers.
Upon leaving your home and heading to higher ground, you must prepare to be away from your home for at least 72 hours. Our 4 person survival kit offers critical survival supplies and leaves room for you to include customized items to fit your family’s unique emergency needs.
Potential Threat: Poisoned Water
A tsunami will inevitably fill streets with water and may even damage water pipes as the rushing water makes landfall. As a result, this can significantly compromise the condition of local tap water. Survivors may then find themselves in the awful situation of being dehydrated and surrounded by water they can’t drink due to parasite and bacterial contamination.
Having a tool like a LifeStraw water filter on hand can be lifesaving in the aftermath of a tsunami. The LifeStraw is one of the most advanced compact water filters on the market, with technology that filters out pathogens to .02 macrons. Be sure to add one to your prep kit today!
Test Run
Don’t wait for a tsunami warning to give your Tsunami Disaster Communication plan a test run -- after all, practice makes perfect! During an emergency situation, acting quickly can mean life or death.
Making a plan and executing it perfectly can save lives and make the rescue process that much easier for first responders, be sure to practice your disaster communication plan at least twice a year.
Get Prepared, Stay Prepared.
As average people, we shouldn’t need an end-of-the-world scenario to show us the importance of disaster preparedness. This past year reminded us how much devastation natural disasters can cause and just how frail we are as human beings. Unfortunately, for many, preparedness is of utmost importance during or after an emergency situation, not before. But for the thousands of people who have been affected by life threatening emergency situations like hurricanes, fires and earthquakes, proper disaster preparedness proved to be a lesson they’d likely never forget.
“I really think that we have a long way to go to create a true culture of preparedness within our citizenry in America. No American, no citizen, no visitor to this country is immune to disaster.” - Brock Long, Chief of FEMA
If you think the natural disasters that occurred in 2017 are unlikely to repeat in 2018, you are alarmingly mistaken. Natural disasters are unpredictable, and those who take the time to prepare before a disaster occurs will have a significant survival advantage over those who do not.
Preparing for Threats
We are thrilled to announce that our 4-Person Premium Survival Kit with 72-Hours of Emergency Preparedness and First Aid Supplies was ranked #4 in Wiki.ezvid.com's 2018 list of the 10 Best Survival Backpacks.
A representative from Ezvid Wiki explained the scope of what they do, and its impressive.
“Compiled with twenty-eight hours of research, this newly published Wiki in the outdoors category is a broad-ranging, impartial assessment of survival backpack options available to consumers in the United States.”
This is a true honor and further assurance that our mission to provide customers with the very best in the emergency preparedness industry is being achieved.
“Founded in 2011, Ezvid Wiki was the world's first video wiki, and is now among the top 3,000 websites in the United States. Our YouTube channel has 265,000 subscribers, 156 million views since founding, and we have informed over $200 million in purchasing decisions to date."
The 4 Person Premium Survival Kit Breakdown
For those who may not be aware, lets take a deeper look into our 4-Person Premium Survival Kit. Our kit is broken down into two bags and designed to address 5 unique categories in emergency preparation.
- FIRST AID: When disaster strikes, minor injuries can quickly become major problems. Our disaster preparedness kit comes equipped with a 85-piece first aid kit, glowsticks, 5-1 emergency whistle (compass, flint, signal mirror, whistle and carrying case), leather palm work gloves and medical face masks
- WATER: In an emergency, one of the most important things to have on hand is clean drinking water. First My Family emergency kits are equipped with a 72-hour supply of emergency water, per person.
- FOOD: Time is of the essence during an emergency, and food is often forgotten. Our disaster survival kit comes with four 2400-calorie food rations packaged in easy grab-and-go bags for added convenience. Food is nut-free and produced from non-GMO ingredients for allergy sensitivities.
- SHELTER: When displaced by an emergency, you need the right tools to keep your family safe and sheltered. Our disaster preparedness kit includes emergency ponchos, mylar blankets, a Lifeline LED flashlight and a multi-function pocket knife.
- WARMTH: Disasters can leave you exposed to the elements, which is why survival preparation is vital. Our emergency kit for natural disasters contains body warmers and waterproof matches to keep your family warm.
Come fire, flood, storm or quake you will have a great base of preps to assure you are ready to face these threats. We all need to pay emergency preparedness the attention it deserves. This is particularly true of those with families.
The Importance of Personalized Emergency Preparedness
Of course, your survival kit doesn’t have to stop with the items our seasoned emergency and disaster professionals packed into it. Our team set out to create something that would carry a family of 4 through a common disaster, and the kits' contents include a broad range of base items that people from all walks of life can benefit from.
Of course, there is no way we could have personalized our kits for each one of our customers - that is where you come in. It takes personalization and an understanding of your unique personal qualities to truly create a survival kit that meets all your needs.
To do this effectively you must look at each living creature in your home and compile a list of their needs. What does it take to keep your dog Fido healthy? Do you have a child with eczema? You must store all the items you need in quantities that will standup to a disaster. How about medicines for special conditions and vision care?
You need to also consider entertainment. In this electronic age, must have options for when the lights go out and even when the batteries we packed drain away. Pack up your favorite books and your children’s favorite toys to keep the whole family busy until help arrives.
Use our survival kit to create a solid base for your emergency preparedness then add your personal touches to assure you have piece of mind in a disaster. Get prepared, stay prepared!
3 Predictions For The Season Finale Of The Walking Dead
And so, just like that, we’re once again at the finale of another Walking Dead season. After the skull-crushing cliffhanger from this time last year, what exactly can we expect from this Sunday’s send-off?
With as many loose ends as Negan has enemies, the extended episode should at least tie up a few of those and so, too, a lot of burning questions will be answered: Will Dwight and Daryl ever see eye-to-eye? Who exactly can Rick, and indeed Negan, trust? And, most importantly, will Rick ever snare a darn deer?!
Whilst the comic will inevitably throw up a number of theories as to how the season will close, here are some of the best bets for the storylines that will keep fans on tenterhooks until its return in October:
Friend or Foe? No longer will Dwight kneel. Not for Negan anyway. After uncomfortably kowtowing to the Savior leader for the whole of the season, it seems a tad unfair on the guy that the first request of his new savior, Rick, is for him to ‘get on his knees’. At gunpoint, no less. Having said that, he did launch an arrow through Denise’s eye – albeit accidentally – so fair’s fair. Not that that’s any consolation for Daryl, his intended target. It remains to be seen whether Dwight really has switched allegiances or whether he is some kind of dastardly double-agent, but the finale should go some way to clearing that up.
All Hell breaks loose: It’s safe to say that this finale – as with every preceding edition – will be action-packed, blood-soaked and yet, hopefully, cliffhanger-free. Ever since the mid-season finale, Rick has been on a relentless crusade to recruit numbers for Alexandria’s cause: to dispatch of Negan and his cronies. While that is - let’s be honest - unlikely, we’re still likely to see a fight unlike any that has gone before. With Alexandria, Hilltop, The Kingdom, Oceanside and the Scavengers all heeding the call to ‘rise up’, the Saviors could be about to get a taste of their own medicine. Negan, however, may be more prepared for the impending chaos than any of those groups would like to believe…
Divided loyalties and ‘little birdies’: In the penultimate episode of the season, Negan divulged to Sasha that a ‘little birdie’ had told him that Rick and his gaggle of cohorts were ‘up to no good’. With so many divided loyalties right now – Eugene and Dwight being the prime examples – it is unclear as to who Negan’s snitch is. Or indeed if he is simply bluffing. Could it be one of Alexandria’s allies? A Kingdom know-it-all, perhaps? Possibly a gossiping Gregory? Or maybe, just maybe, a Judas in the form of Jadis, the Scavengers’ leader? One thing’s for sure, as the old adage goes: snitches get stitches
With a six month break between the upcoming finale and Season 8, now is the perfect time to kill two birds with one stone and fill that zombie-shaped hole in your summer.
Fun, but functional, The Walking Dead Survival Kit and ZPAK combo is perfect for Walking Dead fans. Contained within a high quality military style messenger bag, the survival kit could prove to be invaluable in a Zombie apocalypse or, indeed, more generic emergencies, providing 72 hours worth of supplies.
Supplementing the survival kit in this value-for-money combo is the ZPAK or, to give it it’s full name, the Zombie Preparedness Apocalypse Kit. Contained within a ZPAK branded water bottle are the perfect additions to the survival kit. Contents include a custom carabineer, emergency whistle and other essential survival items, while there’s even Walking Dead-inspired ZPAK artwork included to tide you over until Rick and his pals return in the Fall.
Lessons from the 2017 San Jose Flooding
If the San Jose floods have taught us anything, it is that Mother Nature can, and will, strike without any warning. Quite often, she won’t show any signs of her impending danger and this really is where the problem lies for many families.
As the old saying goes: ‘Fail to prepare; prepare to fail.’ Even with planning, the unexpected can happen. Just ask San Jose’s city officials. An oversight on their part about the capacity of Coyote Creek led to the ‘sudden’ overflow in the first place.
For many, therefore, the flooding came with no warning. No sirens. No emergency warning systems. Indeed, the first they were aware of the danger was when firefighters arrived at their doors by boats to evacuate them. With such little warning, many of the estimated 50,000 evacuees were left with little to no time to gather even the most basic necessities, let alone any irreplaceable or priceless possessions.
Evacuations are much more common than most people would believe, with fires and floods being the main cause. It is up to you and your family then, to be prepared for any and every eventuality.
An Emergency Preparedness Kit and a corresponding Emergency Plan is something every family should have and everyone should be familiar with. You hope you will never have to use it, of course, but, should you have to, you will be eternally grateful that you had the foresight to prepare in advance.
There are a number of items that an emergency kit should contain, from the obvious to the not-so-obvious, though these are no less important. Each kit should be tailor-made to each family’s needs but the essentials stay the same for everyone: emergency food and water are arguably the most important contents; first aid supplies come a close second, whilst emergency contact information and important documents (passports, insurance details, prescriptions, and the like) could also prove to be invaluable in a crisis.
In addition to these well-known essentials, there are a number of items that often go overlooked. Cash or even traveler’s checks should be pre-arranged to provide funds for several days of living expenses. A credit card is an option too but should be exactly that: another option. In the case of a flood, a water-damaged credit card is going to be of no use to you.
Clothes, too, are an important omission from many emergency kits. Whilst, the kit should be as compact and easy to carry as possible, the addition of a few extra items of clothing far outweighs the need to save on weight.
Perhaps the most important item is your memories, in the form of photo negatives. Even if your prints are damaged or destroyed, the option to reprint them from negatives is sure to put a smile on your family’s faces even in a time of such despair and desperation.
The composition of a comprehensive, ready-to-go preparedness kit can be somewhat time consuming and, unfortunately, this will often lead to families putting it off over and over again until it is simply too late. Thankfully, the team at FirstMyFamily.com have handily combatted this potentially deadly problem by assembling a range of Emergency Preparedness Kits, each compiled by emergency and disaster preparedness professionals.
Along with one-person and two-person Deluxe Disaster Preparedness Survival Kits, a four-person Premium Disaster Preparedness Survival Kit is also available, providing 72 hours worth of survival and first aid supplies.
When combined with your own personal documents; emergency contact details; and clothes, the First My Family survival kit is the perfect all-in-one, ‘Grab-N-Go’ solution for your family's emergency preparedness needs.
Stay safe, we're here to help.
New Year's Resolutions for Families
Have you established new year’s resolutions for 2017? Creating new year’s resolutions is a great method to hold yourself and your family accountable for the things you’d like to accomplish throughout the year ahead. Is improving your family’s safety among those resolutions? Have you developed a strong safety plan should an emergency or disaster situation occur? Even if you’re not a fan of setting new year’s resolutions, any step to help improve the safety of you and your loved ones should be implemented.
To strengthen your road towards family safety this year, you will want to:
- Get Informed
- Get Prepared
- Stay Motivated
Getting informed and staying informed on the many potential dangers within your area of residence is a key component to protecting yourself and loved ones this new year. According to a study by FEMA, “[only] one in three (32 percent) of the respondents reported being familiar with their local hazards.” These statistics indicate that a large percentage of families across the U.S. are simply unaware of the dangers their surroundings present. It remains that families of all sizes should be conscious of local hazards to able to prepare accordingly.
Since winter weather can change in an instant, it is also important to stay up-to-date with local weather changes as well. Not sure where to get the information you need? You are not alone. Structure your family’s safety and preparedness plan by utilizing information from trusted resources like FEMA and the American Red Cross.
As we know, natural disasters can strike at any moment. Right as we welcomed 2017, California experienced an “earthquake swarm” in Brawley, California where more than 100 earthquakes were felt across the region. The importance of being prepared for emergency situations like earthquakes is ever-increasing, yet still many Americans fail to take proper precautions. In the same FEMA study, they share, “52 percent of individuals reported having supplies set aside in their home for use during a disaster.” While we’re glad to be slightly above the halfway mark, as safety seekers, we should continue to work towards reaching the goal of 100 percent. Securing your home and vehicle with essential supplies not only increases family safety, but also increases the likelihood of survival should a disaster occur.
- Check out our First My Family’s 4 Person Premium Disaster Preparedness Survival Kit with 72-Hours of Survival and First Aid Supplies.
Strengthen your motivation to stay prepared throughout the year by setting a few safety-related new year’s resolutions. Keep in mind that emergency preparedness and family safety go hand in hand and do your part to stay prepared. Start the year off on a safe note, and continue that mentality all year-long!
We wish you a year full of safety for you and your entire family, we're here to help.
Holiday Safety Tips
The holiday season is upon us and that means many of us are headed home to spend quality time with family, friends, and loved ones.
No matter your location, it cannot be denied that this is a beautiful time of year. However, just because it’s the holiday season doesn’t mean emergencies can’t occur without warning. So, it’s again tremendously important to take precautionary measures should the unexpected happen.
Keep Everyone Warm
Everyone likes to be warm, pets included!
As the months get colder and the days get shorter, be sure to have a strong supply of winter essentials like blankets, water-proof candles, coats, and sweaters. Be sure to add them to your home and car prep kits to help you conserve heat during the harsh winter months.
Stay Safe on the Road
Do you have an emergency preparation kit for your car? We sure hope so! For the many unexpected things that can happen while on the road, it's critical to have an up-to-date emergency prep kit at all times.
The 4 Person Premium Disaster Preparedness Survival Kit from First My Family is a perfect option for families looking to stay safe on the road. Should an emergency situation arise while out-and-about, this survival kit comes fully-equipped with 72 hours of survival and first aid supplies.
Running out of gas? Stuck in the snow? Plan ahead and stay prepared.
Great supplies may not be enough to stay fully prepared. Keep a list of emergency contact numbers in your vehicle should you need to call a tow truck, friend, or other emergency contacts.
Check Holiday Lighting
One of the things that can be easily overlooked is safety when it comes to our beloved holiday decorations. Make sure each connection is secure and kept at a safe distance away from small children and pets.
Additionally, keep an eye on the number of plugs you have from each outlet; overloading your outlets has the potential to cause a major fire emergency.
Lastly, if you are burning candles, keep them away from flammable objects like trees, decorations and gifts. Be sure to also use items like hot-pad holders and never leave your home without out putting your candles out completely.
Play Safe: Holiday Toy Safety
It is important to be safe when playing with toys this holiday season since there are many small, detachable parts that can be swallowed. Make sure to keep all toys away from small children and infants and/or monitor children when the toys are in use.
Also, we all know opening packages during the holidays can be a difficult task. Toys are often packaged tightly, prompting us to use sharp objects to open them. Take extra precaution when attempting to open all packages. Keep sharp objects away from children and do not allow them to open toys without adult supervision.
Be Prepared in Any Moment
Emergencies can occur at any time and in any moment, including the holiday season. Gather your family for a few moments to address your evacuation and safety plan for your home. Take the time now to prepare your family, and remember: there's no such thing and being too prepared!
Wishing you and your family a safe and happy holday season!
Thanksgiving 2016: Family Communication Equals Family Safety
Thanksgiving 2016 is finally here! Thanksgiving is a wonderful time for friends, family, and loved ones to spend quality moments together and make new memories to last a lifetime.
Unfortunately, natural disasters and emergency situations don’t take days off. Although Thanksgiving is for enjoying one another and spreading the love and cheer that encapsulates the holiday season, it is important that everyone takes advantage of the togetherness and uses this time to discuss important family safety topics.
Here are three major topics you should find time to discuss with your family this Thanksgiving.
Family Communication Plan
Do you have a family communication plan established should a natural disaster or emergency situation occur? Who will contact whom? Do you have everyone’s contact information and is the contact information you have updated, correct, and accurate?
Your family communication plan should include what to do and where to go should an emergency occur. Determine a collective meeting place in case of an emergency, and ensure everyone is on the same page as far as next steps.
Family Contact Information
Do you have the current contact information of family, friends, and loved ones? Do you have updated addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, and so on?
It’s important to regularly update this information since such items tend to change frequently. Take a few moments now that the family is together to share everyone’s contact information so everyone has the most current information possible.
Emergency Preparation Kits
Do you have an emergency preparation kit to utilize in a potential emergency situation? Preparedness kits are of course one of the most important items for survival during an emergency situation because they have everything you need in one place and ready to go.
Don’t have a prep kit? Take a look at the First My Family 4 Person Survival Kit - Disaster Preparedness Kit today.
You and your family will benefit endlessly from having a comprehensive preparedness kit in your homes and cars throughout the holiday season and over the course of the entire year. You never know when disasters may occur or when a potential emergency situation might arise, so you’ll need to be prepared in all instances.
This Thanksgiving and holiday season, let safety be one of the things you are most thankful for. Ensure that you and your loved ones have all the resources they needed in the case of an emergency.
Wishing you a Happy and Safe Thanksgiving from our family to yours!
Back-To-School Preparedness
Back-to-school season is here! You’ve enjoyed a long summer of relaxation, camping, and quality time with the family- now it’s time to put on those thinking caps and get back to studying. We’re prepared at home and on the road, but have you thought about emergency preparedness at school? Schools are usually equipped with supplies, but making sure you’re prepared with your own supplies is very important. Stay prepared by assembling a mini locker, desk, or backpack prep kit. Check out our suggestions on what to pack!
The Walking Dead TWDZPAK
Don’t know where to start? Our TWDZPAK has the perfect combination of items for emergency prep and everyday use; the custom water bottle comes with a light stick, emergency whistle, space blanket, poncho, and bandages. You can use these products as a great starting point in building your school emergency kit and use the water bottle for everyday use! The custom water bottle is perfect for all day hydration and It even comes with a custom carabiner to attach the bottle to any backpacks or bags your kids might use for school.
Emergency Drinking Water
Just in case an emergency situation results in a water shortage, and the water in your TWDZPAK has been consumed, it’s important to also have extra emergency drinking water in preparedness kits. Although schools usually have a water reserve, when it comes to preparedness, one must never rely on others. Adding drinking water to mini prep kits is a must.
Emergency Food
You never know how long an emergency situation will take to get resolved. It’s important to include food items like energy bars and rations in school prep kits in order to promote alertness and energy until help can arrive. Also, be make sure to keep an eye on product expiration dates to ensure freshness of the food items.
Emergency Contact Info
Including a card or sheet with all up to date emergency contact info is extremely important. While schools have family contact information on file, in the event of an emergency, they might not have the time to access that critical information. Having that information ready in their prep packs could help speed up the rescue process.
Build you prep kit and stay prepared this back-to-school season!
Stay Prepared While Traveling
The summer months are a perfect time to travel - the kids are out of school, the weather is great, and it’s a great way to spend some quality time with your family. We know you’re prepared at home for a disaster or emergency, but are you prepared while traveling? Whether you’re flying, road tripping, or going somewhere close to home, it’s important to always stay prepared for the unexpected, check out some tips below.
Always Carry a First Aid Kit
Wherever you’re traveling, be sure to carry a small first aid kit with you with items like band aids, over-the-counter remedies, and any other common items you feel you might need. Sure you may get the help you need if a problem arises, but take as much action as you can by being prepared. Afterall, at the very least it can help you feel much more comfortable and at-ease when traveling. Did you know our TWDZPAK includes several emergency and first aid supplies and doubles as a water bottle? Check it out here.
Keep Emergency Cash and Back Up Cards
When you’re traveling it’s important to have back up cash and credit cards in case your belongings get lost or stolen. Remember the unexpected happens at the worst times, prepare yourself from as many situations as you can. Stay prepared and make sure you have the means to get your family home.
Have Travel Insurance
A great preparedness step you can take is to get yourself and your family travel insurance. Travel insurance will cover you in case you or a family member gets injured, your belongings get stolen, in many cases of emergencies, if you have to head home early, or if there are any unforeseen cancellations in your itinerary. If you can, try to get a high coverage limit on your policy that also covers emergency evacuations or care if you happen to be hiking in the woods.
Mosquito Protection and ZIKA Awareness
Mosquitos are everywhere in the Summer, but areas near water are their favorite place to hang out. If you’re traveling to an area you believe might have some sort of mosquito population, it’s important to wear bug spray repellent and to wear long pants and shirts in order to protect your skin from bites. Usually, you’ll just get an uncomfortable lump that can itch, but will go away in a few days. Right now however, there is an outbreak of Zika Virus that you have to be very careful about if you’re traveling anywhere in the Caribbean, Central and South America, and The Pacific Islands. There also have been cases in the Wynwood neighborhood of Miami, Florida. It is often advised that pregnant women should NOT travel to those places - the most common effect of the Zika Virus is severe birth defects of unborn children. If you are traveling to these places use powerful bug spray, and again, wear long pants and shirts, sleep with the air conditioning on and make sure there are screens on every window. Zika is extremely dangerous and should be avoided as much as possible.
Have fun and stay safe for the remaining of the summer!
5 Emergency Preparedness Tips from Dad
Just in time for Father’s Day, we wanted to honor all those amazing dads out there who prepare their families for emergency situations through sharing the skills and knowledge needed to stay safe. Over the years, our Dad knew when something was on our mind, what to do to make us feel happy when we were sad, but also shared the importance of being prepared. Our dad continuously shared what steps to take in order to prepare for a disaster, so here are a few preparedness tips we’ve learned from the head of our household.
Make a plan with your family before disaster strikes
Always have a plan for your family before an emergency occurs so when one does you know exactly what steps to begin taking. Have a location and connection plan so you’ll know how to reconnect with your loved ones. Dad always said having a point person who lives out of the area to check in with is a good idea because making long distance calls are usually easier to do in a location-based emergency.
Have a Kit and Know What’s In It
It’s not enough to just have a disaster preparedness kit on hand if you have to know its contents or how to use them. The last thing you’re going to want to have to do in an emergency is figure out how to use your equipment properly. Familiarize yourself now and you won’t be sorry later. Take a look at our survival kits here.
Prepare For Pets
Pets are part of the family too and our dad always made sure to prepare for them ahead of time as well. You’ll want to customize a prep kit for them that includes food, leashes, bedding, and anything else you think they will need to evacuate the home.
Prepare an Emergency Contact Card for Each Family Member
Having an emergency contact card that you put in your wallet or purse can be very helpful and potentially lifesaving in any sort of emergency. For small children, a contact bracelet may be a good idea. Make sure the contact card includes all past medical history, allergies, as well as a local and out of town contact. This will make sure rescue workers have all the information they need during or after an emergency situation.
Practice Makes Perfect
Another important tip that our Dad gave us is that practice always helps make a plan go as smoothly as possible. He would suggest to practice any fire, evacuation, or emergency drill at least twice a year. If you know exactly what to do in an emergency you will be able to stay focused and clear, and feel more confident in quick decision making. Remember, less stress always leads to better results.
Stay safe and happy this Father’s Day and check back for more tips soon!