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`...... survival tools that could make a big difference in the aftermath of disaster.`
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~ A worst case scenario has unfolded in America ~

`Four major natural disasters have struck in different parts of the U.S. in a period of just a few days.

Three of these disasters occurred on the West Coast, and scientists are scratching their heads trying to figure out how these are connected.
`Theories pour forth across the airwaves. First.... a 9.1 quake hit Los Angeles (the "Big One") as Southern Californians have long feared, followed by the eruption of Mount Ranier in Washington State that same day and just a day later a "Big One" then struck Seattle, another long-feared earthquake, this one a 9.1. as well.

`People across the world are glued to their television sets. Many along the West Coast, especially those in the vicinity of LA and Seattle, can't watch TV, they're missing this. There's simply no electricity......But they're listening on their radios.. many in severe shock -- with three disasters hitting so close together, and on major population centers, the psychological impact is terrifying.

It's been so quiet for the last few months -- and suddenly three major disasters, each long feared, have struck within just days of one another. It's too much for some....

`The next day the earth shakes again -- and disaster number four takes place. This time it's San Francisco.
San Francisco is hit harder than Los Angeles and Seattle combined.

....The city is destroyed. And then, for the next few days, San Francisco simply burns, a thousand fires that can be seen from miles away, smoke billowing to the sky......

Now we get to the point of this article ... what tools do you have around your home and your neighborhood that can help you survive a natural disaster?

`If you're like many modern day Americans, you may live in a distant suburb and potentially escape the brunt of a significant disaster laying waste to a major city in your area.

`What items are laying right under your nose that can help you not just survive but even thrive when the area you live in has been laid waste by something as destructive as a catastrophic earthquake?

*First, let's discuss electricity:

Within a day or two of calls on your cell phone to the outside world, the thing is going to die on you. It's going to run out of battery power. It's going to need a recharge.

**This is where a cigarette-lighter DC to AC adaptor comes in handy.

You can plug it right into any car lighter, and then plug any traditional electronic device right into it (as long as it's not something that pulls too much power -- such as a space heater -- or you'll blow a fuse in the car fuse-box).

As a rule of thumb.....you should have one in the dashboard of each vehicle you own (in case you're far from home in a disaster or other emergency). Consider also keeping one in your back pack -- if you have a "bug out" bag pre-stocked with emergency supplies.....

With your car adaptor you can re-charge any cell phone (that you have a wall outlet plug-in for), as well as plug in small lights, and even a small radio.

*Don't run these things for too long though, or you'll risk draining your car battery.

`In fact, if you have a good supply of gas, turn your car on and let it idle so as to recharge your battery.... or... better yet..only plug in the adaptor when the car is actually turned on and idling. This way you won't risk the repeated draining of your car battery ending it's life.....

`In an evacuation, or when traveling cross country through a disaster zone, you can also use your adaptor to draw power from abandoned vehicles you come across (be sure to choose vehicles that are clearly not going to be driven by anyone anytime soon). ...

`Some of you will say: I already have a car adaptor for my cell phone. A lot of people don't though. You can also run your laptop off this adaptor, other mobile devices, or even a drop-light on an extension chord, so you have electric light outside your vehicle (if you're camping out of your car or truck).


*Mini Torch



.....If you do any camping, then you're well familiar with the propane camp stoves and also the small propane fuel bottles that come with many brands, such as Coleman camping gear. One very useful survival tool is a Blazer Self-Igniting Butane Micro-Torch, which connects to the top of a small butane canister.

This micro-torch is going to make starting a fire a piece of cake, even in relatively wet conditions. Plus you can also "improvise" and cook with it.

Tip: Set the propane canister down and hang a pot of water over the flame -- far enough away that the metal doesn't melt, but still gets hot enough to bring the water in the pot to a boil. With a flame that produces heat approximately 2500 degrees Fahrenheit, you can have water boiling within a short amount of time.

A micro-torch is a great way to quickly dry out damp kindling and then get a fire going with small pieces of wood. Never use in an enclosed area. A micro-torch of any kind produces carbon monoxide. Be in an area that has adequate ventilation.


**Shot Gun and Ammunition to Protect Life....


`Whether it's bears, cougars, or loose, dangerous dogs, consider having a shot gun and plenty of ammunition to protect yourself against wild animals that may have come down from the hills, or simply were freed from fenced enclosures because it just so happens that there's an exotic animal keeper that lives within your community who's pens are now destroyed, and animals let loose on the land...... Sound far fetched? This is exactly what happened in Ohio in October, 2011, when -- instead of a disaster striking -- the owner became suicidal and decided to take his own life, but first let his collection of about 50 wild animals loose on the community (these animals included full size lions, bears, panthers, and wolves.) See: U.S. News: Dozens of Exotic Animals Set Loose in Ohio as well.
A shot gun is nice because when shooting simply "shot", you don't have to have perfect aiming skills; just point the gun in the direction of the animal (or thug) that's attempting to take your life, and pull the trigger.```



**Siphon Hose / Pump



`Though the roads are mangled and for the most part un-driveable, you've still found a use for your vehicle.

`You've been able to turn the car on and let it idle, and send battery power to your DC to AC adaptor mentioned earlier in this article.

But then after a few days of idling for a few minutes at a time, you're running low on gas, and now it's time to think about re-fueling.
....Sure you can siphon gas from abandoned cars the old fashioned way using just your mouth and part of a hose, but I don't recommend that.
...Siphoning gas by mouth is dangerous. Ameriburn.org warns that acidentally swallowing gas while siphoning can be fatal. A better, safer method of siphoning gas is to use a siphon hose with pump if, like many, you don't like the idea of accidentally swallowing fuel, or simply getting it in your mouth....

**Survival tip: There are likely a handful of people in your community who are going to recognize early on that gas is now going to be hard to come by.

If you want to grab gas from abandoned or destroyed vehicles, you may want to have a plan in place early on to do just that.

......Or someone else is going to beat you to it. First, you're going to need fuel containers. If you do a good job preparing for disaster, and managed to fill a number of empty tanks of gasoline, you are now sitting on a hot commodity and a target for thieves, even thieves willing to resort to violence. ...Stealth will be called for:
`In this situation that means the ability to keep your tanks concealed, as well as the ability to retrieve fuel from abandoned or destroyed cars. Figure out ways to do this without calling attention to yourself. You may need to work with other people, set up look-outs, etc.`



***Work Gloves


`In a disaster situation, there's a great chance you'll be picking through debris as you clean up your home, and help with the clean ups of your neighbors.

This means you'll be dealing with sharp pieces of wood, glass, even plastic, and then of course nails and maybe even chemicals (might want to have some rubber gloves around as well, especially around gas).

`Then there's the possible rescue attempts of people that may be trapped under the rubble of buildings in town, or even homes that have simply been shook apart by this violent earthquake. A good pear of work gloves will help protect your hands.

Work gloves are a handy item to consider having multiples pairs of, because there are going to be people thankful when you start passing them out.

Choose colors that are dark, not a flashy yellow or red, because those kind of colors just call out to crooks who may simply want to take them.

As the days and weeks progress, and resources become slim, and it's obvious no recovery is taking place -- and of course crooks are out and on the prowl -- consider this a time for stealth. Throw on some old, weathered, torn gloves over the top of your good work gloves. Throw some duct tape on the fingers of the old gloves.

`Just maybe no one will want the gloves your wearing, which means you get keep the good ones underneath.

If you live in an area that is hit by cold winters, then cold weather work gloves are called for as well.
.....Your fingers will begin to freeze within just a few minutes of working in cold, wet snow -- you will hate the fact that you don't have cold weather work gloves on. Plus, your hands won't be any use in just a few short minutes of working in the cold.

*More to come later...feel free to add your own ideas for tools...