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Here on Guam, natural disasters are a way of life.
They
occur so often that we just deal with them and don't complain about them. We
islanders are, out of necessity, resilient and innovative when it comes to
surviving earthquakes and typhoons. Here we will prepare you for any
emergency, and provide every list you will need. As the name implies, this site
is dedicated to disaster survival, with emphasis on typhoons and earthquakes.
New items will be added weekly - just check the What's New page for new updates.
When a large disaster strikes, many of the necessities of life are suddenly
gone.
Electricity is usually the first to go. Phone lines are down. If you are
in an area with natural gas, that will go next for safety reasons. Water lines
may be broken and, even if they're not, the water is unsafe to drink. Your home
quickly turns into a concrete oven. Streets are impassable and unsafe. If you
have a garage, your car will be stuck inside (if you don't have a garage, your
car may be in the ocean). If you do try to drive, the traffic lights are not
working. When you finally arrive at the store, the cash registers aren't
working and you have to pay cash (in the exact amount). And the ATM's are down.
The stores will quickly run out of food and water, if it hasn't spoiled
already. And, the worst thing is that you'll have to wait for the next
container ship to replenish the supplies!
Sound horrible? It truly is. We lived
through this entire scenario after Super Typhoon Pongsona. With a little
preparation, though, you can survive all of this, as we islanders have over and
over again. Disasters are common in paradise.
There are few things you'll have to worry about after any disaster:
-
That you and your family are safe
- That your home is secure
- That you have water and food
Once these questions are determined, you can get on with surviving. If your home is
not secure (as after a typhoon, flood or severe earthquake), you will have to
make other arrangements. A tent is handy to have if you cannot leave your
area...and it's a good idea to keep it away from the actual structure of your
home.
Next you need to address water and food. If you are inside your home,
prepare foods in the following order:
- Perishables from the refrigerator (your
freezer will maintain the food for 24-48 hours if unopened)
- Perishables from
freezer (vegetables and other small items will be the first to defrost)
-
Items from your pantry with the shortest shelf life
You should have stored enough water to last you at least a few days. If you think you may not have enough,
start now to collect water from any available source. The easiest method, if you
expect rain, is to line a clean garbage can with a large garbage bag, cover with
a weighted window screen, and set it under your roof where the water will drain.
It won't be clean, but should be clean enough for disinfecting. A 40-gallon
trash can will hold 40-gallons of water!
---- Remember, in many emergencies, your computer will be inaccessible, so a hard copy of any Paradise Organized chapters you find especially helpful is
a good thing to have on hand! ----
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Paradise Survived> Survive a Disaster
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