How to Build a Storm Shelter - Survive the Storm

This is a picture of a dust storm in Oregon.

Though we don't recommend sticking it out in any storm if you're told to leave (as in the case of recent residents in Texas during IKE), sometimes you live in an area where it's almost impossible to leave, or you get a ton of smaller storms. You'll need the basics to stick it out and also to construct something in or around you home where you can concentrate your survival. The other thing a storm shelter provides is the ability to react quickly should a lesser storm become a greater one. In the Northeast a Nor'easter as their called can quickly get of hand, and having the supplies, location, and know how to survive with your family brings piece of mind.

Most of us live in areas where storms can become dangerous quickly, whether the great hurricanes on the oceans or the destructive tornadoes that skip across the interior of the country in spring and summer. Most locations in the northern plains can expect a blizzard-type snow storm once a winter and folks in New England fear the howling Nor'easter. Everyone watches when the weather gets bad for severe thunderstorms and high winds. Short of building a complete safe room, an alternative that many Gulf coast residents are choosing after the last few disastrous hurricane seasons, there are plans and sources for temporary to long term storm shelters available from several sources. No matter where you live and what your budget, you can create shelter from the storm to give you and your family a better chance of survival when these powerful weather events come your way.

Read How to Build a Storm Shelter

How to: Avoid Doomsday and Prepare for Earth Changes, Power Outages, Wars & Other Threats

That's right - there doesn't have to be a doomsday on the horizon if you know how to prepare. This book is the definitive text on preparing for any disaster, be it man made of natural. No Such Thing as Doomsday covers water, food, heating, lighting, communications, power generation, fuel storage, emergency medical, underground shelters, nuclear threats, biological threats, disaster psychology, successfully working with groups, air filtration, radiological monitoring, E.M.P. protection, resource directory and much, much more. This is a big book; 8 1/2" X 11" and has 356 pictures, charts and illustrations. This is not a research book but a how to book based on experience. Our motto is some people worry others prepare.

At No Such Thing As Doomsday : How to Prepare for Earth Changes, Power Outages, Wars & Other Threats

National Hurricane Center - Get Your Hurricane Updates

It's that time of the year again, and we want to remind all of our Weather Snob readers about the National Hurricane Center. Founded in 1870 (okay the National Weather Center), it provides you with more data on hurricanes like "Fay" and others to come this Fall. We find going right to the source of the best weather often provides the best insights, and you can't go wrong with the National Hurricane Center.

At National Hurricane Center

U.S. Severe Weather Map - Hurricanes, Floods, and Severe Weather

The Weather Underground has a pretty amazing feature where you can see all the severe weather across the US. You can even drill down by region to get better details.

At U.S. Severe Weather Map

Grundig Eton FR1000 Voicelink Survival Radio Hands On

Gizmodo has a hands on sneak peak at the Grundig Eton FR1000 Voicelink Survival Radio. We love the way it looks an the amount of stuff it can do for you in an emergency is staggering. It has AM/FM/NOAA Weather/2-Way GMRS Radio, a Flashlight, siren, and Cellphone charger. It runs off of 4AAs, but has a hand crank as well to power it.

Awesome: The Eton FR1000 Voicelink is maybe one of the most pornograpic survival radios I've ever seen, but functionally so. It has AM/FM/NOAA Weather/2-Way GMRS Radio. And a Flashlight, siren, and Cellphone charger. It runs off of 4AAs, but has a hand crank. The design seems superfluous, but those cutouts actually protect the knobs. There's a large handle on the back. If I were to die stranded in the wilderness, I might be slightly less upset clutching one of these beautiful machines. $150.
The Catch: No word on water resistance, and the recessed knobs seem hard to turn with gloves on.

Via Gizmodo

TORNADO SHELTER Emergency Weather Safety Sign

We love a sign you can purchase and then put it through a tornado yourself! Made of thick aluminum and tough vinyl lettering and graphics, this sign is 12in. wide and 18in. tall - the same size as official signs. Comes with two holes pre-punched for easy mounting, corners are rounded so when it flies through the air it may be a bit easier on things it connects with. :-)

At TORNADO SHELTER Emergency Weather Safety Sign

All Weather Emergency Poncho

Having just spent the the early part of the summer fishing with my dad in Canada, we got hit on the St. John river with more than just fishing - a giant thunderstorm with really high winds. Boating and wind and rain just don't mix that well, and thankfully we had a set of ponchos to make it through the roughest heavy rain. You'll need to have a good poncho you can sit on and wrap around you so the wind won't take it, but if you are able to sit or just wait it out with the poncho wrapped around you, you should be fine.

All Weather Emergency Poncho

Midland WR-100C Weather All Hazards and Civil Emergency Alert Monitor

This is currently the top selling weather radio just about anywhere online and offline. Why? It really has the features you need for weather and alerts specific to your area.The Midland WR-100C Weather All Hazards and Civil Emergency Alert Monitor has S.A.M.E. area technology that allows for alerts specific to your area so you won't be listening to something that doesn't affect you or you miss something that does. The single-speaker radio offers 25 programmable county codes, access to 7 NOAA weather channels, time/date and alarm functions, and a choice of voice, siren, or tone alert.

In the event of special warning broadcasts, the monitor is automatically activated along with a loud tone, an LED light and an alert message on its 8-character LCD. Emergency weather bulletins include alerts about tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, ice/snow storms, and other severe weather. Other emergencies might include Amber alerts, explosions, fires, or hazardous chemical spills.

The radio uses the supplied AC power adapter or 3 AA backup batteries (not included). Batteries should give you approximately 24 hours of continuous operation; the clock will run for at least 10 days on batteries when the monitor is turned off (using the monitor on/off control).

At Midland WR-100C Weather All Hazards and Civil Emergency Alert Monitor

How to Be Prepared for a Hurricane

"Preventing the loss of life and minimizing the damage to property
from hurricanes are responsibilities that are shared by all."

We just found this rather comprehensive guide on how to get prepared for hurricane season and other bad weather situations. The crux of any plan is actually having one and getting the supplies to fuel it. We really like the detailed tips on evacuation and other areas like pets. You can read the full article at Be Prepared or keep reading for our highlights. We have just about everything below prepared in our house, sans a place to go. I'm going to be checking into what options are available for shelters in the Boston area.

Disaster Prevention should include:

1. Developing a Family Plan
2. Creating a Disaster Supply Kit
3. Having a Place to Go
4. Securing your Home
5. Having a Pet Plan

Continue reading: "How to Be Prepared for a Hurricane"

Eton FR100 Blackout Buddy Radio for Emergencies

If you aren't going to shell out the big bucks on an emergency weather radio, then you might as well shell out some bucks so you aren't caught in a bad situation. When a blackout or bad weather strikes, will you be ready? Thanks to the Etón FR100 Blackout Buddy, the answer is a resounding yes. The unit will automatically come on when the power is out by simply plugging the unit into an AC outlet.

• Provides emergency light and AM/FM radio when the power goes out
• Integrated AC plug charges built-in battery
• Unit automatically engages when power is cut
• Blue backlit digital display shows radio frequency, time of day, alarm wake-up time
• Includes earphone jack

At Eton FR100 Blackout Buddy Radio