Essential Disaster Preparedness: Equip, Plan, and Protect with Keith Thomas

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Can you afford to be unprepared when disaster strikes? Equip yourself with the critical knowledge and tools to protect your loved ones with our first episode of Survival Sense. Hosted by Keith Thomas, this episode covers everything from natural disasters like hurricanes and earthquakes to man-made crises such as industrial accidents and cyber-attacks. You’ll discover why having a disaster plan is not just a recommendation but a necessity, and learn the essential steps for risk assessment, creating communication strategies, and establishing evacuation plans and meeting points. 

We also guide you through building a personalized emergency kit that caters to your family's specific needs, including provisions for pets, infants, and medical conditions. Don't miss Keith's pro tips on staying informed during a disaster and ensuring that you remain connected and updated. With a comprehensive list of must-have items and expert strategies, this episode will leave you feeling confident and prepared for any unexpected event. Tune in, and transform your disaster preparedness from a mere thought into a well-executed plan.

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Episode resources: SAS Survival Handbook

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Episode Transcript

Keith Thomas (00:30):
Thank you so much for joining us.
Hello everyone and welcome tothe very first episode of
Survival Sense, your go-topodcast for everything disaster
preparedness.
I'm your host, keith Thomas,and today we're diving into the
basics of disaster preparedness.
Whether you're a seasonedprepper or just getting started,

(00:51):
this episode will give you acomprehensive overview of what
you need to know to be preparedfor any disaster that may come
your way.
Before we get started, I wantto take a moment to recommend a
fantastic resource for anyoneinterested in survival skills

(01:12):
the SAS Survival Handbook byJohn Lofty Wiseman.
This comprehensive guide ispacked with essential techniques
for surviving in any situation,from natural disasters to
unexpected emergencies.
Whether you're a seasonedprepper or just getting started,

(01:34):
this handbook is a must-havefor your survival library.
I'll leave a link in the shownotes so you can check it out
and equip yourself with theknowledge to stay safe and
prepared.
All right, let's dive in.
Disaster preparedness is allabout being ready for the
unexpected.
It's about having the rightknowledge, supplies, and plans

(01:57):
in place to survive and recoverfrom natural or man-made
disasters.
his can include everythingfrom earthquakes, floods, and
hurricanes to power outages,pandemics, and even civil unrest
.
So why is disaster preparednessimportant?
Well, disasters can strike atany time, often without warning.

(02:21):
Having a plan and the necessaryresources can mean the
difference between life anddeath, safety and chaos.
It's about protecting yourself,your loved ones, and your
community.
Let's talk about the differenttypes of disasters you might
need to prepare for.
They generally fall into threecategories.

(02:44):
Category one is naturaldisasters.
These include hurricanes,earthquakes, floods, tornadoes,
wildfires and more.
Each type of natural disasterrequires specific preparations.
For example, inearthquake-prone areas, securing

(03:05):
heavy furniture and having anearthquake kit is crucial.
In contrast, preparing for ahurricane might involve boarding
up windows and having anevacuation plan.
The second category areman-made disasters.
These can include industrialaccidents, nuclear incidents,

(03:25):
terrorism and more.
Preparedness for these eventsoften involves understanding the
specific risks in your area andhaving a plan to respond
quickly and effectively.
The third category istechnological and infrastructure
failures.
Think power outages, watersupply contamination or cyber

(03:48):
attacks.
These disasters can disrupt ourdaily lives significantly, so
having backup plans and suppliesis essential.
Now that we've covered the typesof disasters, let's talk about
creating a disaster plan.
This is a step-by-step processthat will help ensure you and

(04:10):
your family know what to do whendisaster strikes.
The first step is riskassessment.
Start by identifying the typesof disasters that are most
likely to occur in your area.
This will help you tailor yourpreparedness efforts.
Step two is a communicationplan.

(04:31):
Establish a plan for how youwill communicate with family
members during a disaster.
Choose a primary contact personwho lives out of town and can
relay information betweenseparated family members.
Step three is an evacuationplan.
Know your evacuation routes andhave a plan for where you will

(04:56):
go if you need to leave home.
Practice these routes regularly.
Step four is emergency contacts.
Keep a list of emergencycontacts handy, including local
emergency services, utilitycompanies, and family members.
And step five is meeting points.

(05:22):
Designate two meeting points,one near your home and one
outside your neighborhood, incase you're separated during a
disaster.
One of the most critical aspectsof disaster preparedness is

(05:42):
having a well-stocked emergencykit.
Here's a list of essentialitems.
You should include Water atleast one gallon per person per
day for at least three days.
This is for drinking andsanitation.
Food, non-perishable food itemsenough for at least three days.

(06:04):
A flashlight and extrabatteries these are essential
for power outages.
A first aid kit includingnecessary medications, bandages
and antiseptics.
A whistle to signal for help.
A dusk mask to help filtercontaminated air, plastic

(06:28):
sheeting and duct tape toshelter in place, moist
towelettes, garbage bags andplastic ties for personal
sanitation.
A manual can opener Local mapsin case you need to navigate
without GPS, and a cell phonewith chargers and backup

(06:51):
batteries to stay connected.
And don't forget to customizeyour kit based on your family's
needs, including supplies forpets, infants and any medical
conditions.
Staying informed is crucialduring a disaster.
Make sure you have multipleways to receive emergency alerts

(07:13):
and information.
A NOAA weather radio with atone alert Local news stations.
You can keep a battery-poweredor hand-cranked radio and have
mobile apps on your phone.
Many government and emergencymanagement agencies have apps

(07:34):
that provide real-time alerts.
Also, consider joining localcommunity groups or networks
focused on disaster preparedness.
These can be great resourcesfor sharing information and
resources.
Having a plan is just the firststep.
Regular practice andmaintenance are key to effective

(07:54):
disaster preparedness.
Conduct regular drills fordifferent scenarios, including
fire, earthquake evacuations,etc.
Review and update youremergency plan and kit every six
months especially when thereare changes in your family or
personal situation.
Stay educated.

(08:16):
Continuously educate yourselfon new preparedness strategies
and tools, attend workshops,webinars and training sessions
if possible.
Well, that's a wrap for ourfirst episode of Survival Sense.
I hope you found thisintroduction to disaster
preparedness informative andactionable, and remember the key

(08:39):
to surviving any disaster ispreparation.
Start today by creating yourplan, building your emergency
kit, and staying informed Beforewe go.
If you're looking for anin-depth guide to help you

(09:00):
master the art of staying alivein any environment, I highly
recommend the SAS SurvivalHandbook by John Lofty Wiseman.
This book covers everythingfrom building a shelter and
finding water to navigation andfirst aid.
It's an invaluable resourcethat can help you be ready for
any challenge you might face.
Make sure to click the link inthe show notes to grab a copy

(09:22):
and start building your survivalknowledge today.
Thank you so much for joiningme today.
If you enjoyed this episode,please subscribe to Survival
Sense and leave a review.
Your support helps us reachmore people and make a bigger
impact.
Stay safe, stay prepared anduntil next time.

(09:42):
This is Keith Thomas signingoff.