Temperature is an expedient killer. Our bodies are not made to tolerate extreme temperatures, which is one reason why shelter is a core requirement for survival. Modern conveniences have made survival in places with cold weather patterns possible, and even comfortable. Heating and shelter can be easily compromised during disasters and SHTF, which makes for a delicate house of cards of protection in these areas. Backup heating sources and shelter solutions are almost a necessity for...

Hurricanes are large, swirling storm systems with powerful winds and heavy rain. A few other names for them include tropical cyclone, typhoon, tropical storm, and tropical depression- depending on the strength and location. Hurricanes are formed over warm water and naturally come cascading towards the coastline through “hurricane season”, which spans June 1 to November 30. The probability of hurricane occurrences noticeably spikes in late August and into September.  They are...

Heat waves are pretty simple and straightforward, but can be very deadly. Any extreme temperature for a prolonged period poses a risk, especially if you do not have shelter and climate control amenities. While heat waves are the polar opposite of extreme cold weather, they both share the idea that they can increase the risk for other disasters. In addition to making disasters such as droughts and wildfires more common, heat waves themselves are more dangerous in the aftermath...

Floods are usually slow and predictable, but for some reason, they are one of the most deadly disasters. Victims tend to be young, elderly, or operating a vehicle- but floods still pose a dire threat to anyone near one. The risen water level itself is not the only danger since the aftermath of a flood leaves damaged structures, mold, sewage, and displaced disease vectors such as rats. Besides flash floods and natural disaster-related flooding, there is the possibility of long-term water level...

Prepping for an earthquake is pretty straightforward and simple. An earthquake is literally the earth shaking from seismic activity, usually caused by the constantly moving tectonic plates beneath the earth’s crust. They can also be caused by volcanoes, landslides, or even nuclear detonations. Earthquakes themselves can, in turn, cause volcanic eruptions, landslides, and tsunamis. There are areas of the world where fault activity is more active which can make those areas more prone...

A drought is a long period where there is no rainfall or a low amount of rainfall. This often creates a water shortage for people, crops, and/or livestock. A drought can also be caused if a river or well dries up. They can last years and can decimate agriculture and ecosystems. The recent California drought lasted a long time and many scientists and farmers attempted to find ways to curb the effects of the drought. Methods to prevent freshwater evaporation and to tap into water resources...

Tsunamis, storm surges, and rip currents can cause mass devastation and/or death. They all originate through combinations of the ocean and weather, but they are very different threats. All of these threats apply to those who are near the coast, on the coast, or in the ocean. This makes these threats very regional, and important to understand if you live in a possibly affected area. Tsunamis: These giant waves cause the most destruction of the three that we examined. Though they are...