preparedness

11 Ways People Die During Disasters (And How To Avoid Them)

In the aftermath of a major disaster, danger comes in many forms. In fact, the many threats that one must contend with after a disaster can be even more deadly than the disaster itself. For example, imagine surviving an earthquake or hurricane, only to be taken out by murderous looters the next day.

Below, we’ll cover some of the many ways people will die during and after a major disaster, as well as what you can do to avoid falling victim to these threats. This post may be a little morbid, but if we want to be as prepared as possible, we have to consider every scenario.

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1. Disease and Infections

In the 21st century, we often take the advances of modern medicine for granted. When conveniences such as antibiotics and hospital visits are no longer an option, though, many people will succumb to deadly diseases and infections that otherwise would have been treatable.

Avoiding disease and infection is the best safeguard after a disaster, and to do that, you’ll need to keep yourself and your home as clean as you can. However, it’s also essential to stockpile what medicines and first aid supplies that you can in case disease is unavoidable. To learn more about first aid supplies, here’s how to make a first aid kit.

2. Starvation

The vast majority of people are not self-sufficient, meaning they rely on stores and markets to get their food. If a major disaster prevents the stores in the area from restocking, a frightening number of people are going to die from starvation.

Having a food stockpile is the best way to ensure you don’t go hungry after a disaster. Having the supplies and skills to plant a survival garden is highly recommended as well.

For more information on avoiding starvation after a disaster, check out our beginner’s guide to emergency food storage.

3. Dehydration

Water may seem much more plentiful than food, but there’s a big difference between having water available and having water that is safe to drink. When the tap isn’t running anymore (or it’s putting out water that is contaminated), many people won’t be able to find another source of safe drinking water.

By far the most effective way to ensure that you have drinkable water available is to learn how to store drinking water, along with how to purify water. To learn more, check out our list of ways to purify water.

Dehydrated Man

4. Hypothermia

Electricity is often one of the first things to go in a major disaster. Without electricity, many people will be left unable to heat their homes. In colder parts of the country, the inability to heat a home can be deadly.

If this happens to you, you’ll have to find some creative ways to keep warm. In case you get stranded in your car without a heater, here’s how to stay warm in your car.

5. Hyperthermia

The opposite of hypothermia, hyperthermia occurs when your body temperature climbs too high. For all the same reasons that hypothermia can be deadly in cold climates, hyperthermia can be deadly in hot climates.

For tips on how to avoid and treat hyperthermia, check out this guide to staying cool without AC. Also be sure to store lots of water so you can stay hydrated.

6. Murder

Desperate situations can make people do desperate things, and there are plenty of people who will kill to get what you have, especially if they’re starving. There will also be people who see the breakdown of law and order as a free pass to commit crimes, including murder.

Going outside of your home after a major disaster should be avoided if at all possible. If you must go out, it’s a good idea to go armed. It’s also worth noting that good situational awareness can often be the most effective self-defense weapon. Keep your head on a swivel and be careful who you trust. When the fabric of society breaks down, the consequences are often messy.

For more information on protecting yourself after a disaster, check out this list of guns for home defense and this list of home security tips.

7. Radiation Poisoning

In many ways, the aftermath of a nuclear bomb can be just as devastating as the explosion itself. Even those well outside the blast radius can succumb to radiation poisoning from the fallout.

The nuclear weapons in the arsenals of major superpowers such as Russia and the United States are much “cleaner” than they used to be, meaning they produce less nuclear fallout. However, these weapons still present a radiation threat, and more rudimentary nuclear weapons launched from a country in the early stages of becoming a nuclear power (such as Iran or North Korea) could be especially dangerous in terms of radiation.

What’s worse is that radiation can linger in an area for years after a nuclear bomb goes off, putting anyone who travels through that area at risk.

Avoiding going anywhere near a nuclear blast site is the safest bet. If you must travel through a radiation zone, though, it is essential to take precautions such as wearing protective gear and using a Geiger counter to measure the radiation levels. For more information on protecting yourself after a nuclear detonation, here’s how to avoid radiation poisoning.

8. Drowning

Disasters such as hurricanes and floods can bring an enormous amount of water down on an area. And where there is water, there is risk of drowning.

Even strong swimmers are often unable to avoid drowning when they are caught in rushing floodwaters. Between the strength of the current, the debris that it is tossing around, and the fact that there might not be any dry land nearby, the risks of drowning are high.

Getting to high ground, or at least the roof of your home, will often be the only recourse you have while waiting for the waters to recede. Remember, no matter how well you can swim, you should never try to swim through floodwaters. For more information on surviving a flood, check out this article.

Drowning Man

9. Electrocution

Electrocution isn’t typically a threat that most people have to worry about. In the wake of a major disaster, though, it becomes much more of a risk.

Downed power lines are one reason for concern. If the ground is wet, stepping anywhere near a downed line could lead to electrocution.

Another electrocution risk factor after a disaster is DIY electrical repairs. If you are going to try and repair anything electrical in your home, it’s essential to know what you are doing, as one mistake could prove deadly.

To avoid electrocution after a disaster, keep a careful lookout for any downed power lines and take precautions when performing electrical repairs. Here is how to treat electrocution.

10. Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

If the power goes down after a disaster, many people will turn to generators to keep the lights on. While a portable generator is certainly a great piece of equipment to have, it can prove deadly if used incorrectly.

Moving your generator inside may seem like the only way to keep it from being stolen. Without a proper ventilation system, though, the lethal carbon monoxide from the generator’s exhaust can fill your home. In some situations, exhaust from the generator can get inside your home even if the generator is outdoors. Since carbon monoxide is invisible and odorless, it is an especially dangerous threat.

Keeping your generator outside of your home is by far the safest option. If you are committed to keeping your generator from being stolen, though, it is essential that you create a fully effective ventilation system that directs all of the generator’s fumes outside. You will also want to have carbon monoxide detectors installed in your home.

Another way that people will succumb to carbon monoxide poisoning is during bug out situations where they are living out of their car. It’s never a good idea to spend long periods of time in your vehicle while it is stopped and running. While doing so may be relatively safe in most situations, you can never be too careful.

11. Accidental Injury

During and after a disaster, the risk of injury is high. Many disasters can weaken or destroy infrastructure, from the home you live in to the bridges you drive on. This creates a number of risks such as falling or being crushed.

The chaos that ensues after a disaster amplifies the risk of accidents as well. Driving is dangerous enough under normal circumstances, but in a scenario where everyone is panicked, distracted, and desperate, deaths due to automobile accidents are guaranteed to skyrocket.

Of course, simply trying to survive opens you up to the risk of injury. Surviving the aftermath of a disaster often forces you to take risks that you wouldn’t normally take – from scaling a building in search of an entrance to digging through rubble in search of survivors and everything in-between. All of these activities mean that the risk of having an accident will be high. Since even minor injuries can prove lethal in a world without medical care, it is especially important to take precautions.

A first aid kit is an essential part of any survival stockpile. In addition to keeping a first aid kit around to treat minor injuries, you’ll also want to learn and practice first aid skills.

For more information here’s how to build an emergency first aid kit from scratch.

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This article first appeared on urbansurvivalsite.com See it here

preparedness

4 No Cook Meals For Surviving The Pandemic And Food Supply Shortages

When it comes to your food supply, you just can’t risk not having enough. These no cook meals will be a great addition to your food supply planning. Check out the recipes below!

No Cook Meals to Help You Through the Pandemic

As of the writing of this article, there are 20 meat processing plants that have been shut down due to COVID-19 infections. We have been worrying about these types of effects on our food supply for months now, and this is the first real sign of how infections can affect the food supply.

When you walk into a supermarket, you might not see all the choices you had in the past. An empty meat case is a humbling thing for your eyes to fall upon. It’s the shocking realization that the seemingly infinite supply of chickens, pigs, and cows that are butchered for us has begun to run dry!

To deal with this issue, we are going to present four no cook meals that will help you create dinners at home that will feed your family without worrying so much about what’s available, or unavailable, in the meat case.

1. Smashed White Bean, Avocado and Salted Pork Sandwiches

Smashed White Bean, Avocado and Salted Pork Sandwiches | No Cook Meals for Surviving the Pandemic and Food Supply Shortages

As preppers we get beans. There are a bunch of ways to use beans and this a great example of how you can pack a sandwich with great nutrition and protein.

Serving: Makes 4 sandwiches

Ingredients:

Can of White Beans
Olive Oil
1 Avocado
8 Slices of Whole Grain Bread
8 Slices of Salted Pork (Prosciutto, Ham, Virginia Ham)

Instructions:

Begin by draining your beans in a colander then smashing them up in a bowl add a few glugs of olive oil, salt, pepper. This little mix is delicious. If you add some minced rosemary, you can even turn this into a delicious dip.
Pit your avocado and cut it in half and then quarters lengthwise. Leave the skin on.
Lay the bread out on a clean work surface for assembling the sandwiches.
Spread your mashed bean mix onto one side of the bread.
Peel your avocados and slice 1 quarter for each sandwich. Spread slices over the bean spread.
Add a few slices of your pork to over the top of the avocado.
You can finish this sandwich with some lettuces, fresh sprouts, or just eat it as is.

2. Delicious Crab Salad

Canned crab is a protein option that will likely be around through much of this meat crisis. It does have to be kept in refrigeration, but it’s delicious and this chipotle mayo salad is great in the spring and summer.

Ingredients:

1 Can of Crab Meat
1 Bunch of Asparagus
Chipotle Mayo
1 Bunch of Green Onions
1 Bunch of Cilantro

Instructions:

Drain your crab in a colander and set it in the sink.
Slice your asparagus into 1-inch pieces. Throw them into a bowl.
Thinly slice your onions and your cilantro and throw that into the bowl, as well.
Gently toss in the crab meat.
Squirt on enough Chipotle mayo to coat everything and toss gently not to break up the crab meat.
Chill in the fridge and serve.

3. Simple Greek Salad

Simple Greek Salad | No Cook Meals for Surviving the Pandemic and Food Supply Shortages

The combination of simple summer ingredients makes for an incredible quick salad that you could add other proteins, too, if you wanted. These could be canned meats.

Ingredients:

2 Large Tomatoes
1 Cucumber
1 Red Onion
¼ Cup of Feta Cheese
A Few Sprigs of Fresh Mint
½ Cup of Kalamata Olives
Balsamic Dressing

Instructions:

I like to cut the tomatoes in large chunks and have them kind of be the main course in this salad. Peel and slice your cucumber in half. Remove the seeds and either dice or slice in half-moons.
Peel and slice your red onion in half. Julienne your, or thinly slice, your half onion.
Add all these ingredients to a bowl. Finely slice your mint.
Add your olives, crumbled feta, and mint to the bowl and add enough dressing to coat everything.
Stir it up and allow this to chill for at least an hour for the flavors to really blend.

4. Mediterranean Tuna Lettuce Wraps

Mediterranean Tuna Lettuce Wraps | No Cook Meals for Surviving the Pandemic and Food Supply Shortages

Using some similar ingredients and adding a protein like tuna, you can create some delicious lettuce wraps. The key to a good lettuce wrap is to have most of the items around the same size. So, consider that when you are preparing this dish.

Ingredients:

Iceberg or Butter Lettuce
Canned Artichokes
Canned roasted Red peppers
Fresh Cucumber
Feta Cheese
Minced Olives ¼ Cup
2 Cans of Tuna
Green Onions
Basil

Instructions:

Start by peeling all the full leaves from your lettuce. Set them on a plate either cover them with a wet paper towel or put them back into the fridge.
Dice the peppers, artichokes, and cucumbers into cubes. Go no larger than ½ an inch.
Thinly slice your green onions and basil and add them to a bowl with your diced vegetables. Add your loves to this bowl and mix them thoroughly.
Crumble your feta cheese over the mixture.
Drain your tuna thoroughly and then add that to the bowl, as well.
Gently toss this mixture. Try not to break up the tuna and the cheese too much but incorporate it thoroughly.
If you want, you can add some olive oil to the mix or a few glugs of balsamic vinegar. It’s also delicious just how it is.
Scoop a few tablespoons into a lettuce leaf, wrap it up and eat up!

These no cook meals should help lessen the stress you feel when thinking of what to feed your family. If you don’t have the specific ingredients, use your creativity, and use what you have. You might discover a new recipe while you’re at it!

What’s your favorite no cook meal recipe? Please share it with us in the comments section!

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This Article Was First Found at survivallife.com Read The Original Article Here

preparedness

Billionaire Whistle Blower: Wuhan Coronavirus Death Toll Is Over 50,000

Exiled Chinese businessman Guo Wengui recently revealed leaks from Wuhan crematoriums. He claims based on the number of bodies their furnaces are burning, the death toll could be as high as 50,000.

A Chinese billionaire and whistleblower who lives in U.S. exile says Wuhan crematoriums have burned 50,000 coronavirus victims. | Credit: Chinatopix via AP

The official coronavirus death toll in China is a little over 800. But an exiled Chinese businessman says crematoriums are leaking the real figure.
A billionaire whistleblower alleges Wuhan has crematoriums working 24/7. He claims they’ve cremated some 50,000 coronavirus victims.
Guo Wengui is a Chinese billionaire living in exile in the United States.

The official coronavirus death toll is some 800 people in China. The current official death toll worldwide, outside of China, is 774. But a Chinese billionaire with a history of blowing the whistle on his former government says the real figure is much higher.

Exiled Chinese businessman Guo Wengui recently revealed leaks from Wuhan crematoriums. He claims based on the number of bodies their furnaces are burning, the death toll could be as high as 50,000. Wengui made the bombshell allegations in an interview with former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon.

Whistleblower: 1.5 Million Coronavirus Cases In China, 50,000 Coronavirus Deaths In Wuhan

He also claims to have inside information that there are 1.5 million confirmed coronavirus cases in China. Wengui is emphatic that these are not merely quarantined or “under observation” but confirmed cases of coronavirus infection:

China has struggled to contain the coronavirus. But it has also struggled to contain public outcry against censorship and tight control of information. Dr. Li Wenliang, who sounded the alarm about the disease, succumbed to an infection and died this week. The Chinese government arrested him for blowing the whistle.

Then officials tried to suppress news of his death. Afterwards, millions of Chinese citizens saw the hashtag #IWantFreedomOfSpeech on Mandarin language social media. But the Chinese government censored that too.

Are Wengui’s Crematorium Claims Credible?

Watch VICE’s 2017 profile on Guo Wengui. At the time, he published bombshell documents alleging corruption in the Chinese government. He got the attention of the media and reportedly the U.S. State Department.

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