06 Oct
Food

Bolstering Your Emergency Food Supply

As we talked about in our most recent post, we can’t always count on our regular food suppliers to sustain us through emergency situations. The Vancouver storm in August was a perfect, small-scale example of what can happen: power outages sweep a city, freezer food goes bad, and everyone starts running to the grocery stores. Many people are thinking, “What if this were an even bigger emergency—like an earthquake—and this were all I had in my cupboards?” CBC published a helpful article to this effect. You can read it here.

A couple cans of old beans that you keep in case you don’t have time to cook one night—that’s not emergency food.

At Total Prepare, we have all the emergency food you need. Most of it has a 25 year shelf life, is GMO free and tastes great! It takes up less room and is stored in a healthier, longer-lasting way than canned food or regular dried food that you get from your grocery store. Buying a few buckets of breakfast, lunch and dinner entrees is the best way to rest easy.  You may not break into the buckets at the first sign of a power outage, but you’ll be beyond relieved and grateful to have them on hand, in the case of anything worse.

Besides buying our freeze-dried foods created specifically for emergency occasions, you can also take action yourself and bolster your home and your community’s food supply through daily actions. Here are a few ideas:

  • Plant a garden! Or keep on gardening. Yes, even in the winter season, it’s possible to grow edibles in many parts of Canada. Ask around for tips on growing during this trickier time of year and enjoy the challenge! You may also want to try saving the seeds of the produce you’ve grown. Consider using them yourself, or passing them along to your neighbours, family and friends. You are literally creating food for people. Helpful tip: Properly saved seeds should last up to 3 years before planting!
  • Another way to increase the amount of locally grown food is by encouraging our farmers. This means, of course, buying their produce. 
  • Lastly, it’s so important to educate ourselves: about how to grow our own food, about legislation concerning food and farming in our region and country and what needs changing, about how much food we should have stored up in the case of an emergency… and more!

Actually, we can tell you how much food we think you should store, right now. Gardens aside, at minimum, it’s best if you have stocked 2 weeks worth of non-perishable food for each person in your family. Fresh food will be a wonderful bonus on top of that! Do the math now, and you’ll be thankful later.

 

Article contributed by Sophie Wooding – Avid gardener and cyclist in Victoria, BC and Content Writer for Frontier.io

22 Sep
Food

Food Shortages in the Event of Emergencies

Instabilities often lead to empty shelves and shortages, but this in turn pushes people to consider their level of preparedness Food Shortages and Emergency Preparedness

There are several different factors that can cause food shortages and instability. These factors include crop destroying floods and droughts, and political and economic instabilities. Although it may seem dismal, there can be positives which come from these situations- if responded to appropriately.

What happened this year? (2015)

Over August and September, a number of events resulted in a flood of orders that resulted in a shortage here at Total Prepare. In fact, the entire preparedness industry was facing depleted shelves.

If you’ve spent any time on our website or blog, or have previously purchased from us you know us as retailers of long-term foods and emergency solutions. Our best-selling food brand is Legacy Foods. Legacy Foods was overwhelmed by orders that wiped out their stock. In fact, their sales unexpectedly increased an incredible 420%. Even some of the ingredients they regularly buy to make their food were out of stock as well! The system was undeniably overwhelmed.

And here’s why.

There’s been a general unrest about this fall- ruminations of an economic collapse, a meteor en-route to earth, and general instability have people concerned. Some would go so far as to suggest that end of the world is at hand. It’s not just earthquakes that concern people!

In BC, the storm that hit Vancouver and Vancouver Island mid-August also motivated people to get prepared.

This is actually a good thing. If people act now and build emergency kits for their homes and families, then when push comes to shove in an actual emergency, they will have a higher chance at surviving and a lot less reason to fear. There are many reasons for early preparedness, but with our modern expected conveniences it’s frequently a low-priority. Even a few short generations back, our ancestors were more actively conscious of the future and expected instability.

Vancouver’s Summer Storm

Vancouver’s summer storm was a big disruption to its infrastructure. People were without power for days. Can you imagine what kind of havoc an earthquake would wreak on our system, if a simple storm is any kind of indication? Check out what BC Hydro itself had to say about the fallout from the storm. A Times Colonist editorial also highlighted the importance of getting prepared, in light of the disruption the storm caused – read it here.

What August and September have made us realize, as suppliers, is that times and weather patterns are changing and more people are becoming aware of the importance of preparing. More citizens are stocking up on more food and supplies, to prepare for other possible shortages. Legacy Foods is taking the rise in demand seriously, and is increasing their rate of production considerably.

Stay tuned for our next post, Bolstering Your Emergency Food Supply, to read more about what it means to be prepared, how to take action yourself, and how to bolster your home and your community’s food supply!

 

Article contributed by Sophie Wooding – Avid gardener and cyclist in Victoria, BC and Content Writer for Frontier.io

22 Sep
News

Make September Your Time to Prepare!

squirrel-preparing The beginning of September can feel like the start of a new year. It’s a time to rekindle the love of learning; the smell of brand new pencils, erasers, note-books and new classrooms is definitely an indication that school has started. Many people also use September to start other routines, like exercising, healthy eating, and house organizing.

What better time than now to also make it a routine to stock up on emergency supplies for home?

If you already have a kit, it’s the perfect time to go through the kit and make a list of what you have, what’s broken, what has expired, and take a look at what is new on the market. If you don’t have a kit, it’s also a great time to get one and finally check it off your to-do list.

Other than just good practice, the difference between an up-to-date emergency kit and one that’s full of expired items could be the difference between life and death. That’s why it’s so important to comb through each item on your kit, checking the expiry dates and reassessing everything that you’ve chosen to include. Or, maybe your family or household has grown since you last checked in, or perhaps new products are on the market that will take your emergency preparedness to a whole new level. At Total Prepare, along with a variety of emergency kits, we also sell items individually which are great for building your own kits, or replacing out of date products. Have a look through our list and see if you’re missing anything!

Here are some more ideas for improving your kit:

  • If your kit is only good for 72-hours, turn it into a 1-week kit by adding more food and water and maybe a water filtration system.
  • If you already have an emergency kit that will last a week, it is easy to extend it to 2 weeks. You’ll definitely need more calories and food variety. Adding a bucket of freeze dried food such as any of our Legacy Foods is a convenient way to do this. The food also has a 25 year shelf life which means you’re set for a long time.
  • Update your emergency contact list. In times of emergency, it’s often easier to reach someone outside of your province. Include this contact on your lists and make sure everyone knows the number. Make it part of your plan to contact this person should you and your loved ones become separated.
  • Schedule a family or household meeting, where you reaffirm all your emergency plans.
  • Remind yourselves of the hazards relevant to your region, and plan accordingly.

For more information on the more likely emergencies you should be preparing for in your region, please refer back to our previous articles on Total Prepare, or check out the Government of Canada website on getting prepared.

11 Aug
Fire

How to Protect your Home against a Forest Fire

If you’re experiencing a long, hot and dry summer in your area and keep hearing of forest fires close enough to cause concern, it’s a good idea to fortify your house as much as you can. We recently talked about preparing to evacuate, and this is an extension of that.

In the big picture, many ways to protect your home involve prevention methods such as maintaining any vehicles or equipment that may cause sparks, burning debris properly and extinguishing any fires or burns completely.

 

Here are 14 steps you can take to increase the chance of your home surviving a wildfire:

  1. Remove all dead plants, grass and weeds.
  2. Remove dead or dry leaves and pine needles from your yard, roof, and rain gutters.
  3. Trim trees regularly to keep branches a minimum of 10 feet from other trees.
  4. Remove dead branches that hang over your roof. And keep branches at least 10 feet away from your chimney.
  5. Relocate exposed woodpiles further away from the house unless they are completely covered in a fire resistant material.
  6. Remove or prune flammable plants and shrubs near windows.
  7. Remove vegetation and items that could catch fire from around and under decks.
  8. Create a separation between trees, shrubs and items that could catch fire, such as patio furniture, swing sets, etc.
  9. Cut or mow annual grass down to maximum height of 4 inches.
  10. Create horizontal spacing between trees and shrubs.
  11. Create vertical spacing between grass, shrubs and trees.
  12. Remove fallen leaves, needles, twigs, bark, cones and small branches. However, they may be permitted to a depth of 4 inches if erosion control is an issue.
  13. Mow before 10am, but never when it’s windy or excessively dry.
  14. Protect water quality. Do not clear vegetation near waterways down to bare soil. Vegetation removal can cause soil erosion— especially on steep slopes. In the case that the quality of your drinking water decreases dangerously, it’s a good idea to have a household water purifier on hand, such as our LifeStraw Family 1.0.

As you can see, these home protection steps add up to an entire landscape method. It’s just one part of doing all you can to fight the spread of forest fires across the country. See here for more information on forest fire prevention and a diagram to accompany the steps!

Article contributed by Sophie Wooding – Avid gardener and cyclist in Victoria, BC and Content Writer for Frontier.io

06 Aug
News

Preparing to Evacuate

As wildfires continue to race through forests in too many of our Canadian provinces, there’s no better time to talk about what to do in the event of an evacuation notice. Earlier this week, we talked about some of the ways we can prevent fire danger and disaster. However, with the heat and dryness we’re experiencing in so many regions this summer, the fires in our forests are proving hard to beat.

While we all try to conserve water and our community fire fighters continue to battle the flames, some of us are left wondering what our role should be. Well, the first step — once you have an emergency kit ready to go — is to educate yourself!

Did you know that 13,000 people were forced out of their homes in Saskatchewan? Apparently, ten times the amount of hectares are burning, compared to our annual average. And it’s a similar story in too many communities in Western Canada.

One of the best things to remember is that you are only able to help others if you are safe yourself. Here are a few ways to do just that:

  1. One of the best ways to keep yourself safe, when threatened by a forest fire, is to keep your radio and/or television tuned into a station where the authorities are continually broadcasting and updating reports. It’s best to stay put unless you are otherwise notified to evacuate.
  2. If you have an emergency plan already in place then you shouldn’t have to worry about much other than following it.
  3. One of the top items in your emergency plan should be an emergency kit, as we’ve already mentioned. Consider
  4. The second item in your emergency plan should be communication. If you have time before you evacuate, let your family or closest friends — at least one person — know that you’re leaving. And tell them where you’re going.
  5. Along with your emergency kit, make sure you have a cellphone and extra batteries with you, before you go. Keep a list of emergency contacts and other personal documents with you. And check off items on a pre-made checklist, if you’re able.
  6. If instructed, shut off water and electricity before you go. And when you do evacuate, follow the routes advised by the authorities.
  7. If you go to an evacuation center, make sure to register yourself. And don’t return home until it’s advised as safe.

Once again, communication is key. So don’t be afraid to talk to people and get to the bottom of what is going on. If you’d like to read more about how to protect your home against a forest fire, please tune in to our blog again soon!

Article contributed by Sophie Wooding – Avid gardener and cyclist in Victoria, BC and Content Writer for Frontier.io

04 Aug
Camping

Preventing and Escaping Wildfires

When it comes to wildfires, there’s more to think about than simply preparing for the possibility of evacuation. Getting prepared— especially if you live in British Columbia, or the Boreal forest zones of Ontario or Quebec— can make a huge difference to your well-being. Even simply purchasing a 72 Hour Emergency Kit will help you rest a little easier during wildfire season. However, before we launch into that, we want to share a few tips on preventative measures we can take.

A lot about wildfires is beyond our immediate, human control. As the weather gets drier— particularly throughout the months of May through September— wildfires become more and more common, burning an average 2.5 million hectares of Canadian land each year. Approximately 8,000 wildfires occur each summer in Canada. They’ve become a part of the norm: inevitable. This year has been especially bad, as the drought we’re experiencing in parts of BC reaches Level 4 and breaks records.

Did you know that 55% of all fires are human-caused? Here are a few ways that you can help prevent the spread of forest fires:

  • Before building a campfire or bonfire, ALWAYS check the local regulations regarding permits and fire bans.
  • If you are burning, clear the area of any flammable products. And keep your fire at least 500 feet from forest slash as well as 50 feet from buildings.
  • Keep firefighting equipment handy.
  • Burn only natural vegetation or untreated wood products. If you’re having trouble getting a fire started because of damp wood, try our Fire Paste! It will help you get a fire going quickly, without any dangerous flare-ups or splashing.
  • Keep fire fighting equipment handy, such as a connected hose, or at least 5 gallons of water and a hose. It’s also extremely important to watch your fire until it is completely burned out.
  • Don’t burn if it’s windy.
  • Don’t move around while you smoke a cigarette. And once you’re done, make sure your butt is completely dead before discarding it!
  • Operating power saws, cars, trucks and other machinery can all cause sparks. So make sure you have the proper preventative equipment such as mufflers and exhaust spark arresters.
  • Know the number to call, if you witness a fire becoming uncontrollable. And don’t hesitate to make the call!

For more information on wildfire prevention, read about Canada’s beautiful Boreal Forestland, here.

In our upcoming posts, we’ll continue to talk about wildfires, so stay tuned for the topics below!

Article contributed by Sophie Wooding – Avid gardener and cyclist in Victoria, BC and Content Writer for Frontier.io

30 Jul
News

Emergency Preparedness in Nunavut

Over the last few weeks, we’ve done a cross-Canada tour, highlighting one natural disaster that is typical of each province. We’ve covered avalanches, blizzards, earthquakes, floods, landslides, severe storms and more. In the northern regions of Canada especially, residents need to be prepared for the severe cold. Not only are harsh winters typical, they are inevitable. Today we end our trek with Nunavut!

If you grew up in Northern Canada, you may know what cold really means. If you have experienced it, you probably have a good idea about how to get prepared. For those who are visiting Nunavut, though, it’s absolutely crucial to plan ahead. Also, whether or not the “mini ice age” warnings that have been circling the media ring true or not, it’s never a bad thing to know what to do, just in case. And who knows? Every time you take a plane ride, you’re putting yourself at risk of landing in a place you didn’t prepare for. Doesn’t that thought make you want to bring some survival gear with you, wherever you go?

Virtually the entire landscape of Nunavut is arctic tundra, where there is danger beyond the obvious. Not only are you sure to freeze unless you are prepared, you could go blind from the reflection of the sun off the ice. You can also starve at a much quicker rate, because your body burns through 3x more calories than in any other climate.

Because of this, it is especially important to consider all eight survival steps:

  1. water and food
  2. heat and shelter
  3. light and communication
  4. first aid and sanitation

Food is even more important to consider than usual because of the exorbitant number of calories your body will burn, if exposed to the frigid temperatures of Nunavut. You need animal fat. It’s best to forget trying to find any kind of vegetation, and if your trip into the arctic tundra is a planned one, you’ll have brought plenty of fatty foods— think lard! —perhaps supplemented by some of our Soldier Fuel Energy Bars for a little extra flavor.

Since you are surrounded by snow and ice, you should have no problem digging yourself a simple cave or dugout (check out a few handy diagrams here). And of course, snow and ice can also be melted down into drinking water. It is critical that you heat up your water, otherwise you risk bringing your body temperature down further than what is survivable. It’s also important to filter the water, once it’s warm enough. It’s easy enough to keep one of our LifeStraw Water Filters on hand!

Staying warm is one of the biggest challenges of the arctic tundra. Isn’t it best that we learn from people who have been doing it for many years?

Living in Nunavut is not for the faint of heart, but if you’re still interested, check out some of these pieces on further modes of survival:

Article contributed by Sophie Wooding – Avid gardener and cyclist in Victoria, BC and Content Writer for Frontier.io

28 Jul
News

Emergency Preparedness in the Northwest Territories

EmergencyPreparednessintheNorthwestTerritories Thunderstorms, hailstorms, blizzards and ice storms are all common occurrences in the Northwest Territories. Storms can develop quickly and with little warning, threatening your property and sometimes even your life. When a storm is relentless enough, it can result in power outages.

A power outage may only last a moment, or it may last up to a few weeks! During these times, one wonderful tool to have on hand is a radio that does not depend on electricity, such as our Kaito Voyager Classic II. 

You may want to consider what may be inaccessible during a power outage, and plan to have alternatives ready.

  • You may be left without heating
  • You may be left without air conditioning
  • You may not have lighting
  • You may not have hot water
  • You may even be left without a phone, once your cell’s battery dies

Any combination of these could pose serious challenges for you.

In case of being left without heat mid-winter, it’s wise to have a non-electric heater or fireplace installed in your home. It’s also a good idea to have an alternate source for heat and/or cooking on hand. This way, you can cook yourself hot food, and heat up water, and warm yourself up from the inside out!

It’s a good idea to stock your supply closet with emergency light sources as well. Consider our Hybrid Solar Charger Lantern! You may benefit from a non-electric charger for your phone, as well! Check out our options for solar-power multi-function chargers under Light & Communication on our website.

As always, when planning for an emergency, you will save yourself some anxiety, fear and maybe even pain, by planning ahead, making a list, and gathering all of your supplies together in one place. This way, a power outage might even be less like an inconvenience and more like an adventure!

For more information on power outages and other emergency preparedness guidelines for the Northwest Territories, have a look at Canada’s Get Prepared Website.

Article contributed by Sophie Wooding – Avid gardener and cyclist in Victoria, BC and Content Writer for Frontier.io

14 Jul
News

Emergency Preparedness in Yukon Territory

EmergencyPreparednessinYukon In the mountainous regions of the Yukon, as well as Alberta and British Columbia, avalanches occur each year by the thousand. They can be brought on by wind, rain, temperature shifts (warming), snowfall and earthquakes. They can also be caused by unnatural occurrences, such as skiers, snowmobilers, hikers, or the vibrations from machinery or construction. Some of the most common causes of death— for those caught in an avalanche—are wounds and hypothermia. For these reasons, it’s always a good idea to bring some supplies, such as a good First Aid Kit and an  Emergency Blanket.

An avalanche needs four factors in order to occur:

  • a steep slope
  • snow cover
  • a weak layer in the snow cover
  • one of the triggers mentioned above

If you’re heading into the mountains where you think these four factors may come together, it’s best to think ahead and know what to do in case an avalanche does occur. After all, avalanches travel at speeds of up to 90km/hour, so it seems wise to avoid them, if possible.

Keep yourself safe by doing the following:

  • Take an avalanche safety course.
  • Travel in a group.
  • Drive carefully and take heed of signs, warnings, and closures.
  • Do NOT drive through an avalanche. Remember that it’s always easier to find a car than a single person. You are safer in your car!
  • Try to stay calm if you become caught in an avalanche. Try to push away any kind of machinery that’s near you, and instead grab onto a tree or a rock, if you can. With your mouth tightly closed, try to “swim” along the surface of the avalanche, always trying to move yourself out to the side of it.
  • When you sense the avalanche slowing down, see if you can keep an air pocket in front of your face, with one arm.
  • One the avalanche stops completely, try to relax your breathing and dig yourself out. Try not to use up any excess energy or air, unless a Search and Rescue member is nearby, or someone on the surface who can help dig you out.
  • Don’t forget, it’s always wise to be prepared for self sufficiency. That’s why, in addition to the emergency supplies mentioned earlier, it’s also a great idea to bring along some extra nutrition to keep up your strength. For light packing, try our Soldier Fuel Energy Bars.

If, above all, you’re able to stay calm and remember the swimming motion, maintaining an air pocket, and staying close to the surface, you may very well be able to dig yourself out of an avalanche without fatality.

For an extended look at what emergency supplies, such as the various, long-lasting water packages, are available, take a look at our website, which will get you totally prepared!

Article contributed by Sophie Wooding – Avid gardener and cyclist in Victoria, BC and Content Writer for Frontier.io

09 Jul
News

Emergency Preparedness on Prince Edward Island

EmergencyPreparednessinPEI In Victoria, BC–the home of Total Prepare–and other southern regions of BC, Alberta and Saskatchewan, we are in the midst of witnessing a heat wave. It is super important for everyone to stay hydrated and be conscious of how much time you spend in the sunshine. But that isn’t what we’re here to talk about, today.

Instead, to cool off, we’ll be talking a little about blizzards on PEI. Did you know that a record was set, earlier this year, when one blizzard deposited 86.8cm of snow and the Confederation Bridge was closed for over one-and-a-half days? Hopefully folks were prepared for inconveniences and safety hazards such as power outages, during this storm.

Blizzards come in on a wave of cold arctic air, bringing with them snow, freezing temperatures, racing winds and very poor visibility through the blowing snow. For a snow storm to be designated a blizzard, the conditions must last for at least four hours. Of course, they could last up to several days. This is where emergency preparedness comes in so handy!

If you live on PEI through the winters, it’s common sense to have a lifeline strung between your house and any outbuildings you may need to access on your property, such as the woodshed, filled with extra fuel to keep you warm! It’s also sensible to have extra food in the house, food that will last for a long time. Legacy Premium is a trustworthy brand, offering combo buckets such as our Premium 240 Serving Package. Providing 80 days worth of food, based on 3 meals per day, it includes a variety of breakfast meals and entrees. With your food stocks ready, and your home set up with extra fuel and a system to cook, and the general ability to function without electricity for a few days, you won’t have nearly as much to fear from a blizzard.

Even if you feel extra prepared and confident during a blizzard, it’s best to stay indoors! For more information on how to stay safe during a blizzard, and some travel tips for those who MUST venture outside the house, have a read through the Canadian Government’s Get Prepared Page on Severe Storms!

Article contributed by Sophie Wooding – Avid gardener and cyclist in Victoria, BC and Content Writer for Frontier.io

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