Flooding poses a significant threat each year, causing more fatalities than any other thunderstorm-related hazard, as noted by the CDC. A common cause of these deaths is when vehicles are driven into dangerous floodwaters. However, by taking proactive measures, you can safeguard your family and home from the risks associated with flooding.

The first step in flood preparedness is determining whether your home is located in a flood plain. Utilizing the FEMA Flood Map can help you identify your risk level. Additionally, your city’s Emergency Preparedness department may offer flood maps, though be cautious, as these may not always accurately predict actual flood conditions.

If your home is situated in a flood plain, it’s crucial to be aware of potential flooding hazards. Heavy rain, particularly when combined with a dam or levee breach, can lead to significant flooding. Familiarize yourself with areas where water tends to accumulate after heavy rain and identify evacuation routes that are less likely to be submerged.

To mitigate damage from minor flooding, ensure that appliances like water heaters and furnaces are installed off the ground. Moreover, sealing basement walls with waterproofing compounds can prevent seepage, reducing the risk of a localized flood in your basement during heavy rains.

Understanding flood alerts is vital. A Flood Watch indicates that flooding is possible, while a Flood Warning means that flooding is occurring or imminent. Recognizing these alerts can help you take timely actions to protect your loved ones and home.

Preparedness also involves having 72-hour emergency bags ready for your family and pets. These should include essentials and a copy of immunization records for everyone, including your pets. Important documents such as legal papers, birth certificates, marriage licenses, and insurance policies should be stored in a safety deposit box or a fireproof and waterproof box on an upper floor of your home.

For those new to preparedness or seasoned preppers, continuous learning and updating of strategies are crucial. By subscribing for free to our content, you gain access to premium resources and updates on new content, helping you stay informed and ready for any disaster.

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Experiencing a freezer malfunction can be a daunting situation, especially when you consider the potential loss of a significant investment in food, time, and money. Being prepared for such an emergency is crucial, and the best time to plan is before it happens.

Freezers can stop working due to various reasons, including mechanical issues, power outages, or simple human errors. When this occurs, the most important step is to keep the freezer door closed. In a fully stocked freezer, keeping the door shut can prevent food from thawing for approximately 15 to 20 hours.

The first step in addressing a freezer failure is identifying the cause. It could be something as simple as a blown fuse, a tripped circuit, or an unplugged power cord. If the issue is straightforward, restoring normal operation quickly is key, and you should check the food for any signs of thawing.

In the event of a power outage, contact your utility company to find out how long the power will be out. If the problem is mechanical, consult the freezer’s instruction manual to see if there’s a quick fix you can perform. If not, contact a repair service to determine how soon a technician can address the issue.

If it’s unlikely that your freezer will be operational within a day, you have several options to prevent your food from thawing. First, consider moving your frozen goods to another working freezer. Friends or neighbors may have extra space, or you could utilize a local freezing facility.

To transport your food, pack it in insulated boxes or wrap it in thick layers of newspaper and blankets. Once removed from your freezer, transfer the food to an operational freezer as quickly as possible. After emptying your freezer, unplug it and follow the owner’s manual to defrost it. Clean the freezer thoroughly and leave the door slightly open to allow air circulation, ensuring it’s propped open to prevent accidental closure.

If no alternative freezer space is available, dry ice can be an effective solution. Check local listings under “Dry Ice” or “Carbonic Gas” to find a supplier. Remember, dry ice is extremely cold, so handle it with heavy gloves to avoid burns. Have the supplier cut the dry ice into manageable pieces, and use heavy cardboard to place it on top of your frozen food inside the freezer. Close the freezer without locking it, and refrain from opening it until you need to replace the dry ice or the freezer is repaired.

For added insulation, cover your freezer with blankets or quilts, and place insulating materials or crumpled newspaper between the cabinet and the coverings. Ensure that the coverings do not obstruct the air vents, as unexpected power restoration will require ventilation.

Dry ice is solid carbon dioxide and will sublimate, leaving no liquid residue. If you notice an off-odor upon reopening the freezer, it is likely carbonic acid formed by the dry ice and moisture. This is harmless to food, and leaving the freezer door open for a few minutes will allow the odor to dissipate.

In colder climates, snow and ice can serve as temporary storage. Line a clean garbage can with a plastic garbage bag, place the frozen food inside, seal the bag, and secure the lid. Bury the can in snow to keep the food frozen for up to four or five days.

Managing thawed food is another consideration, and knowing how to handle it can further minimize losses.

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In the event of a major crisis, gasoline is likely to be one of the first resources to become scarce. This raises the critical question: how much emergency gasoline should you have on hand? Understanding your gasoline needs is crucial, especially since Americans consume an astounding amount of fuel—over 374 million gallons annually. This breaks down to approximately 1.5 gallons per adult each day.

When the power grid fails, gas pumps become useless, leading to inevitable shortages and long queues. To avoid such predicaments, it’s essential to plan your gasoline requirements and store it safely for future use. However, storing large quantities of gasoline presents its own challenges. Thus, it’s wise to diversify your fuel options, incorporating alternatives like propane, solar energy, and even firewood into your preparedness strategy.

Gasoline’s flammable nature necessitates careful storage. Always use approved containers and follow safety guidelines, such as avoiding storage in your home, direct sunlight, or near heat sources. This reduces fire risks significantly. Additionally, be aware of local regulations, as they may limit the amount of gasoline you can legally store.

Once safety precautions are covered, you can begin calculating your gasoline needs in a crisis. For instance, if your vehicle averages 15 miles per gallon and has a 15-gallon tank, you can travel approximately 225 miles on a full tank. Ideally, your bug-out location should be within a single tank’s range to avoid refueling challenges in a crisis.

Consider a scenario where your destination is 200 miles away. A round trip would require 400 miles of travel, necessitating 30 gallons of gasoline. If you maintain a partially full tank, you won’t need to store the entire 30 gallons externally. Departing with a full tank means you’ll only need an additional 15 gallons in reserve.

In many emergency situations, people rely on inverter generators due to their mobility and quiet operation. These generators typically hold about one gallon of fuel and can run between three to eight hours, depending on the load. Assuming you operate your generator for four to six hours daily, you’d consume about 1.25 gallons each day, totaling 37.5 gallons over a month.

Adding vehicle and generator needs, your total gasoline requirement could reach 67.5 gallons. While this figure may seem daunting, it’s crucial to assess your specific activities and adjust accordingly. If you don’t need to drive to a bug-out location or if weather conditions reduce your need for heating or cooling, your fuel needs could decrease significantly.

This information serves not as a rigid guideline but as an invitation to reevaluate your gasoline requirements and explore alternative fuel sources.

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