Global Disaster Alert Coordination System. GDACSGDACS is worth taking a look at.

GDACS

GDACS is a cooperation framework between the United Nations, the European Commission and disaster managers worldwide to improve alerts, information exchange and coordination in the first phase after major sudden-onset disasters.

GDACS 

RSOE EDIS - Emergency and Disaster Information Service

The Hungarian National Association of Radio Distress-Signalling and Infocommunications (RSOE) operates Emergency and Disaster Information Service (EDIS) within the frame of its own website which has the objective to monitor and document all the events on the Earth which may cause disaster or emergency. Our service is using the speed and the data spectrum of the internet to gather information. We are monitoring and processing several foreign organisation's data to get quick and certified information. The EDIS website operated together by the General-Directorate of National Disaster Management (OKF) and RSOE, in co-operation with the Crisis Management Centre of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, provides useful information regarding emergency situations and their prevention.

Disaster Map

Is Ebola Airborne?

Scientists have demonstrated in lab testing that the virus can pass from one animal to another through the air but only over short distances. So if you are in the same room as someone with Ebola you are in danger. If you are on the same plane or bus you are in danger. However if the guy living a few houses down your street has Ebola you are safe.

The current Ebola outbreak has spread quickly, with almost 9,000 confirmed and suspected cases across West Africa and almost 4,500 deaths. Experts say there could be as many as 10,000 new cases per week in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone by the end of this year according to the World Health Organization. This outbreak has the potential to kill millions in Africa in the next year if things continue to go the way they are.

Asteroids Are A Real Threat

The USA got hit 50,000 years ago.

Asteroids are a real threat that Preppers should take seriously. The Earth was struck by 26 asteroids ranging in explosive power from 1 to 600 kilotons of TNT between 2000 and 2013, says a private US foundation. In addition to the 600-kiloton impact in Chelyabinsk, Russia, in 2013, there have been asteroid impacts greater than 20 kilotons in Indonesia, the Southern Ocean and Mediterranean Sea since the turn of the millennium. Most of the asteroids explode high above the ground over the ocean and do little damage but its only a matter of time before a city takes a major hit.

Guinea Ebola Outbreak. Over 50 Dead.

Ebola Has A Death Rate Of 90%

There have been 29 confirmed deaths from hemorrhagic fever among 59 people killed by a mysterious illness in southeastern Guinea since early February. At least five of the dead in Guinea have been medical officials.

Health officials are trying to fight the outbreak of Ebola in Guinea and have dispatched specialized medical equipment, imposed restrictions on funerals and are seeking to contain the panic in order to prevent the fever from spreading.

Ebola has a fatality rate of 90% and U.N. health officials have expressed great concern that the disease may spread to Sierra Leone after cases showing similar symptoms, including diarrhea, vomiting and bleeding, were reported there.

Fortunately Ebola in its present form spreads only from direct contact with the bodily fluids of an infected individual. However some experts fear the virus could mutate and become airborne. This would represent a hazard on a global scale. 

NASA Predicts The Beginning Of The End

Time To Start Prepping

A study funded by NASA has attempted to understand why past societies have fallen apart has given us a bleak picture of the not so distant future. The study uses a mathematical model that incorporates both environmental pressures, social and political dynamics to explore how societies such as ours may be disrupted in the future.

In simple terms the study found that things fall apart when we use up our resources faster than we can replace them and when a small number of well off people control too much of the wealth and power. In other words if the rich eat all the food the poor will starve and the rich cant survive without the poor. Now this is not new information. Many of us have known this for years. But with NASA in the title it gets more attention in the press.

Will this happen? Who knows. What the study cant predict is what effect technology will have on the future of our civilization. All the past civilizations that were used in the study were primitive by our standards. The folks who did this study could not look at an advanced civilization like ours that collapsed as this is the first one that has ever existed. We are in uncharted waters here. We are in a race with ourselves. Can our brains and incredible ingenuity save us from our own stupidity?

Right now a lot of really smart people are working on new energy sources. Things like fusion power and advanced solar power. Other people are learning how to grow more food with less resources. And of course we have the power to regulate our population already we just don't have the will to do it yet.

Will civilization survive? Who knows. I however will keep prepping for the worst. But I hope for the best. It would be a shame if we let it all fall apart.

If you live in California you need to be ready. The Big One is coming.

The Big One Is Coming....Are You Ready?

The magnitude was 4.4 earthquake that rolled across the Los Angeles basin on Monday morning is a reminder to Preppers in California that you are all living on borrowed time. Its only a matter of time until you get hit with the Big One. Store Water. Store Food. Make sure you have an earthquake plan.

It could save your life.

Heat your house for free.

Free Heat. Tossing a hunk of pallet on the fire.

 Ok so nothing in life is free. But some things are so low cost its almost like free. So how do I heat my house for free? Well I simply went back to the tech our ancestors used for thousands of years. Wood. Think wood is not free. Well it can be if you are willing to work for it. And if you live in the right area.

I burn shipping pallets or skids as we call them around here. Yep shipping pallets are free for the taking at most factories and stores. One skid will heat my house for 6hrs so that would be 4 a day. However I let the fire go out when I am sleeping ( That's what blankets are for ) so its only about 2 skids to keep me nice and toasty for the day.

Now to be honest I do burn a little bit of wood that is grown right here on my farm but not much. Skids are thin cut wood and that burns fast. So when a break is needed from filling the stove I will toss a log on. I don't like to get up from the table when eating just to keep the fire going.

Getting ready to cut up my skids for today.

Now I realize this only works for some people. You must have a wood stove or fire place. You must have a truck, van or trailer to haul the skids home. And you must live close to the factories or stores that have the skids. Now gas is expensive so you don't want to make special trips to get your skids. I know each place in my town that has them so on a trip to the coffee shop I can grab the skids from the places that are along the way. When I go to the bank I know the hardware store around the corner will have some. I burn almost no extra gas to get them. You get the idea.

This will not work for everyone but it works for me and it reminds us that to survive we need to use what we can find around us. WASTE NOTHING.

Virus Resurrected From 30,000-Year-Old Permafrost

Its back after lying dormant for around 30,000 years

 French scientists are celebrating after successfully revitalizing an ancient virus that had been lying dormant for around 30,000 years in Siberian permafrost. “This is the first time we’ve seen a virus that’s still infectious after this length of time,” said Professor Jean-Michel Claverie, from the National Centre of Scientific Research (CNRS) at the University of Aix-Marseille in France. However we dont need to worry just yet as this virus has no intrest in humans. However this should be a warning. There are few humans living in areas with permafrost right now, but many more are expected to arrive there as the thawing Arctic makes exploitation of natural resources there much easier. The new find suggests that some of the new arrivals may potentially come in contact with infectious agents that have been out of circulation for tens of thousands of years. This doesn't mean the permafrost will necessarily be a hotbed of emerging diseases, but we should take the possibility seriously.

It's not a threat to humans, but does show that ancient viruses can persist for millennia and remain a potential health threat


Read more: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/worlds-largest-virus-was-just-resurrected-34000-year-old-permafrost-180949932/#qdXKUz7lsRxZzUlS.99
Give the gift of Smithsonian magazine for only $12! http://bit.ly/1cGUiGv
Follow us: @SmithsonianMag on Twitter

It's not a threat to humans, but does show that ancient viruses can persist for millennia and remain a potential health threat


Read more: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/worlds-largest-virus-was-just-resurrected-34000-year-old-permafrost-180949932/#qdXKUz7lsRxZzUlS.99
Give the gift of Smithsonian magazine for only $12! http://bit.ly/1cGUiGv
Follow us: @SmithsonianMag on Twitter

It's not a threat to humans, but does show that ancient viruses can persist for millennia and remain a potential health threat


Read more: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/worlds-largest-virus-was-just-resurrected-34000-year-old-permafrost-180949932/#qdXKUz7lsRxZzUlS.99
Give the gift of Smithsonian magazine for only $12! http://bit.ly/1cGUiGv
Follow us: @SmithsonianMag on Twitter

Dominion Arms Grizzly. A handy Zombie gun or just a novelty. Pt 2

The Grizzly

So in Part 1 we established that while the Grizzly is perhaps not the best hunting shotgun, it can be used effectively for small game animals. But what else is this little gun good for? Self Defence? Wilderness Survival ? Well it is in this area that the Dominion Arms Grizzly really comes into its own.

Lets take a look at the Grizzly as a survival gun. A survival gun can mean different things to different people but in the context of this Blog post a survival gun is a firearm that you might take camping or hiking in the wilderness or perhaps carry in your truck, boat or plane in case you are stranded. First lets ask what qualities you would want in a firearm for this purpose.

(1) Reliability. Its no good if it wont work. The Remington 870 action is one of the best shotgun actions available so we know the design is good. Now as to the quality and reliability of the Grizzly only time will tell. So far the limited shooting I have done with the Grizzly has been without incident but more use is needed.

(2) Light weight and handy. You will not carry a firearm with you if its too big and awkward. The Grizzly gets good marks on this one. Its short and handy so it wont get all caught up in tree branches and brush. With a sling you can still work, climb and generally do what you need to without resorting to leaning it up against a tree someplace. I can tell you from experience how tempting it is to put your gun aside when you are struggling to work in the bush.

(3) Versatility. In a survival situation you may need a firearm to do many jobs. Well a 12ga is probably the most versatile gun ever invented. All you need is a few different kinds of shells in your pocket. Small shot like #4 #5 or #6 for small game. A buckshot load will defend you against large predators or get you a deer at close range. It is also a good signal gin as a 12ga is nice and loud and you can get flares for it. Now you can also shoot slugs out of the Grizzly but I have not had good luck with that so far. I believe its an issue with the front bead sight being so low. I am going to change the front sight at some point and will let you know how that works out.

(4) Ammunition Capacity. This sounds important and it is true that the more shots you have the better. However in real life practical terms it really is not as important as it sounds. I have over 30 years hunting experience and can tell you that its the first shot that counts. Most game that I have taken in my life went down on the first shot. I have on occasion got something with the second shot but I cant think of a single time when a third shot was needed. Animals move fast and disappear quickly. With the exception of waterfowl hunting most people who take a 3rd shot are doing it out of desperation and frustration. As to defending your self against predators. 3 shots with a 12ga should do the job. If you cant drop a charging bear with 3 shots from this gun you probably cant do it with any gun.

Self Defence against human predators is another use that people often suggest for the Grizzly in fact its the most often suggested use. I think that we can all agree that it has some value in this area. It really comes down to the 3 shots issue. Are you comfortable with just 3 shots? I can tell you when looking at the statistics on gun fights that most bad situations are over quickly with just a few shots fired. 3 shots from a skilled person with a 12ga will resolve most situations one way or another. In fact just looking at a Grizzly is intimidating and I would bet a lot of attackers would take one look at this nasty little gun and head for safer pastures.  I myself would feel comfortable using it in this role but I know others would not agree with me. Its a matter of taste.

The myth of the Sawed Off Shotgun. One little issue that I should touch on is the myth in popular culture that a sawed off shotgun can literally spray the room with shot. This is of course silly as the photo below illustrates quite clearly. Even at 25 yards you can only expect about a two foot spread of shot. That's is hardly going to clear the room.

At 25 yards the shot spread is just a tad over two ft.

So get yourself a Dominion Arms Grizzly. Its a handy little gun.