If Black Friday Is Deadly, Imagine a Disaster

Picture this: You are getting ready to do your Black Friday shopping at your local Walmart with a plan all mapped out for getting the best deals. You arrive early and get a great parking spot. It must be your lucky day; little do you know a man is about to fly into a deadly rage and open fire over that parking space. On November 25th, 2016 this actually happened at a Walmart in Reno, Nevada, where a Black Friday shopper was shot and killed over a parking space.

 

Now imagine that either a wildfire, blizzard, hurricane, or earthquake tore through your town. Your family is starving and on the brink of hypothermia as there is no power. Since 2006, 12 people have died and 117 people have been injured on Black Friday; if people are ready to kill each other for a sale what will they be capable of when the lives of their families and children are at stake?

3 Tips on How to Better Prepare Yourself for the Chaos

Have your emergency kit in an unmarked bag:

An emergency kit is a life saver, having others know about your supplies... that can be deadly. If people are willing to shoot another for a parking spot, imagine what they would do if you are advertising survival gear. An ordinary looking backpack allows you to better blend in with the crowd and increases your safety in an emergency.

Have a plan ahead of time:

A disaster can happen any day at any time. If you work an 8 hour job, then 1/3 of your time is spent at your work. If your child attends school, then they are there between 6-7 hours a day. If they are in extracurricular activities then they are there even longer. Statistically, there is about a 33% chance you won’t be with your family when a disaster strikes.
Planning ahead can help you know what to do when an emergency occurs. Schools and workplaces should have an emergency plan already laid out, being aware of what that plan is ahead of time can help you better structure your own. Knowing what your child's school will do can help you know when and where you can pick them up and head to an emergency shelter, or if possible a remote bug-out location.

Have extra food and medication stored: 

The hope is that when a disaster strikes help arrives rather quickly, however this is not always the case. After Hurricane Michael, homes were broken into and ransacked for supplies. Some areas even spray painted signs saying "Looters will be shot" and "You steal, we kill". FEMA recommends that every person have food and water supply for two weeks.
If anyone in your family is on medication, having extra medication on hand can help when pharmacies run out, and supply trucks can't get to you. The CDC recommends to have at least 7-10 days of medication and medical supplies.

These are the items that will most likely be in the shortest supply and the highest demand, so people will be the most desperate to find them.

Wildfire Facts and Prevention

Did you know that there are actually benefits to wildfires?  They help clean the forest floor, kill diseases, provide habitats for many wildlife, and even helps certain trees and plants reproduce. However, the destruction they leave can be devastating as seen in recent disasters. Learn more about what people think can be done to help reduce the damage, while still seeing the benefits that they produce.

Recent Wildfires

Camp Fire: 

On 11/8/18 a fire broke out in Butte Country leading to the state of emergency later being declared. 
As of 7:00 am "Camp Fire" has burned 151,000 acres, and is 66% contained. This fire has already lead to 15,573 structures being destroyed by the flames.
77 civilians have lost their lives, and 3 firefighters have been injured. 
Camp Fire is expected to be fully contained on 11/30/18.

Updates on California Wildfires 11/19/18

Camp Fire: 

On 11/8/18 a fire broke out in Butte Country leading to the state of emergency later being declared. 
As of 7:00 am "Camp Fire" has burned 151,000 acres, and is 66% contained. This fire has already lead to 15,573 structures being destroyed by the flames.
77 civilians have lost their lives, and 3 firefighters have been injured. 
Camp Fire is expected to be fully contained on 11/30/18.

Hill Fire:
On 11/8/18 a fire broke out in Ventura Country. 
November 16th Hill Fire was reported to be 100% contained. This fire has burned 4,531 acres, and lead to 4 structures destroyed.
There have been no reported injuries or fatalities.

Woolsey Fire:
On 11/8/18 a fire broke out in Los Angeles and Ventura Country.
As of 7:00 am "Woolsey Fire" has burned 96,949 acres, and is 94% contained. This fire has already lead to 1500 structures being destroyed by the flames.
3 civilians have lost their lives, and 3 firefighters have been injured. 

Woolsey Fire is expected to be fully contained on 11/22/18.