1) Water shortages. Water is the number 1 most important necessity to survival. The average human can only survive 3 days without water, and even less in a heat wave. I hope you've stored some. If the water system shuts down or does not have enough, you could turn on the tap only to have a few drips. If you run into a situation where there is not enough municipal water supply to your home, start looking for other sources of stored water.
- Your hot water tank may have 30 - 50 gallons of water stored.
- The top supply tank to your toilette is typically clean water that you can use.
- Your plumbing in your house could have a few gallons. Open a higher faucet in your house as in a shower, sink, or upstairs source to relieve pressure, then open a lower outside faucet to retrieve water from your plumbing system.
Got Water?
2) Heat. Heat poses many risks, including but not limited to:
- Heat Stroke. Watch family members closely, especially the elderly, watch for slurred speech and disorientation. When in doubt, call for help. Time lost is brain lost. Never leave pets or children in a vehicle, and keep them out of the direct sun. Drink lots of water.
- Fire. Fires are much more common in the heat. Things dry out and become more flammable. Keep dry brush and trash picked up. Do not store fuel in or around your house, and keep well ventilated in a cool area out of the sun. Keep grass cut short, especially if your city is rationing water and not allowing watering of lawns. Do not store any flammables in the direct sun or in your attic.
- Vehicle breakdowns. Avoid driving unless it's absolutely necessary, or drive at nite. Check your fluid levels and make sure your oil and coolant are topped off. Bring extra oil and coolant with you in case you need it. DO NOT top off your fuel tank! Make sure your tires are property inflated and not over or under inflated. Bring extra water with you in case you do break down. Drive with the A/C off when going uphill. Watch your vehicles tempature when climbing grades. If your car starts to overheat when going uphill, pull over at a safe location to let it cool. Check to make sure your thermostat is working before you make your trip.
4) Food Prices Expect food prices to increase. Especially meat. Many ranchers are butchering all of there livestock as there is not enough food and water to care for them, this means shortages in the future. Produce crops are drying up. Prices of corn, wheat and other grains will increase. Even produce grown in unaffected areas may increase in price as well due to demand. If the blackouts are too severe, stores, gas stations and truck stops may close down temporarily disrupting the supply chain and preventing food from making it to the stores.
Stay safe during this heat wave and dought. This is a serious and potentially devastating national disaster.
If you have tips, ideas, news, videos or pictures that you wish to share regarding this heat wave you can submit your article to americanprepper@yahoo.com. If your article is chosen we will post it on your states preppers network blog. Top articles will get posted on APN. The top article of the week will win a free flashlantern valued at $49.95 (made in the USA). Articles must be submitted before 7/29.
Feel free to copy and repost this article in it's entirety. Credit source as AmericanPreppersNetwork.com
Here are some free helpful pdf files to download
Fire and Heat Waves
- ARC - Are You Ready - Fire
- ARC - Are You Ready - Heat Wave
- ARC - Are You Ready - Wildfires
- Fact Sheet: Fires
- Fact Sheet: Fire Safe
- WildFires
Water
- ARC - Food and Water in Emergency
- Emergency Disinfection of Drinking Water
- How To Make A Solar Still (Plastic Cover)
- Purification Of Water On A Small Scale
- Simple Solar Still For The Production Of Distilled Water
- Slow Sand Filters
- Water Purification
- Water Treatment
Fire Safety
- Fighting Fire
- Fire Safety
Get More Free Downloads here:
http://preppers.info/Free_Downloads.html
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