Disasters can happen at any moment. You might not be able to avoid them, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t prepare for them. Having a proper survival plan in place can definitely help you get through even the most difficult situations. Improve your chances of survival by following these essential disaster preparedness tips when SHTF. (h/t to Survivopedia.com)

Learn what potential disasters your area could face

Different geographical locations face different kinds of natural disasters. Read up on your local area’s history to find out what kind of disasters your area is prone to. Does your area frequently experience hurricanes, earthquakes, or other natural calamities? Once you know the past, you can be better prepared for the future. Finding out what you are likely to face can go a long way in helping you formulate your survival plan. (Related: You need to know these 8 essential survival tips to prepare you for the next catastrophe.)

Sign up for emergency alerts

It is important to stay informed and up-to-date on your local news and weather reports. Nowadays, you can easily sign up to receive emergency alerts on your cell phone. That way, you can always know ahead of time when severe weather is on its way.  There are also plenty of emergency apps you can download on your phone that can serve as useful tools when SHTF.

Prepare your family’s emergency kits and bug-out bags

You and your family members should each have a 72-hour emergency kit containing all the essential items that you need to survive for at least that amount of time. If you need to make a sudden evacuation, you should also have bug-out bags ready in easily accessible areas in your home. Some preppers may combine both their emergency kit and bug-out bag in one convenient pack. Depending on your needs and priorities, you can choose to do the same. Some of the important items you should pack include water, food, first aid supplies, flashlights, blankets, a cell phone charger, a multipurpose tool, spare cash, and personal hygiene items. Make sure that you and your family members know how to properly use the items in your emergency kits and bug-out bags.

Learn your local area’s evacuation routes and shelter locations

In dire emergency situations, you might need to bug out somewhere else until it is safe for you and your loved ones to return home. In this case, knowing your local area’s evacuation routes and shelter locations can certainly come in handy, especially if you and your family are separated when the disaster hits. Planning a designated meeting point can let you and your family know where to go, even if the cell phone towers are down and no one has any access to other forms of communication.

Do an indoor and outdoor home assessment

On the other hand, there might also be times when it is simply safer to stay put and bug in. In this case, you will need to do a thorough assessment of the interior and exterior of you home to make sure that it can provide ample protection when SHTF. Get rid of any dead trees or overhanging branches that may pose as hazards during a hurricane. You may also need to upgrade your home’s security and defense systems. Additionally, you should make an inventory of the supplies you will need to wait out a potential disaster and stock up on these items.

Learn more disaster preparedness tips by going to Preparedness.news.

Sources include:

Survivopedia.com

WorkingMother.com

There is little doubt that cell phones are invaluable in our modern world. We rely on them to stay connected to our loved ones. However, if something were to happen, such as an earthquake, an EMP attack, or some other large-scale disaster, then you might have to consider other means of reliable communication. In case SHTF, you and your family should have a backup emergency communications plan that you can use even if none of you can contact each other. (h/t to AYearWithoutTheGroceryStore.com.)

Cell phones

In the event that society collapses or a natural disaster occurs, the first thing everyone will want to do will be to take out their cell phones and call their loved ones to ask about their whereabouts and ensure that both parties are safe. If this is still possible, go for it. It is the easiest and simplest way to get in contact with other people. However, you might not be able to make any calls if the cell phone towers are down or overloaded. Your phone might also not work during extended power outages. To avoid overloading the network, you can try sending a text message or email instead. Several short messages are more likely to go through than one long text message. Try to limit your calls for emergency situations to keep the networks as free as possible. If you are unable to place a call, wait for at least 10 seconds before redialing again. This will allow the network time to clear data.

Your cell phones should also have all your emergency contacts programmed into them. This should include the numbers of all your family members, your utility phone numbers, the number of your personal doctor, and any other emergency numbers. As an added measure, you can even print out a small list of all these numbers and laminate. That way, you can always keep a copy in your pocket wherever you go. If your phone is either lost or stolen, you can refer to this list and call or send text messages using someone else’s cell phone. If you have any children, teach them how to call 911 in case of emergencies.

Landlines

If the cell phone towers are down, another option you can use is your home landline. You can also use it to help save the battery life of your cell phone. However, if your landline phone is cordless, you probably won’t be able to use it during a power outage. If your local phone lines are overloaded, you probably won’t be able to make any local calls. However, there is a chance that most long distance calls will still go through. For this reason, it is important to establish an out of area contact. This should be someone you personally know and trust who lives a significant enough distance away to be unaffected by the congested phone lines. If you can’t directly talk to someone within your area, you can make a long distance call to this person and they can forward your message to your other family members by making another long distance call back to them.

Useful apps

If you have a smartphone, you can download some useful applications that can be of great use during emergencies. Some social media apps can let you mark yourself as safe if a disaster occurs in your area. Recommended apps you should download include FEMA, Red Cross, Emergency Alert, and other similar emergency apps. (Related: Be prepared: 3 Tips to better communicate with your family during an emergency.)

Meeting points

In the worst case scenario, you might not be able to access any forms of technology to contact your family members. Before you even find yourself in this situation, make sure to coordinate at least two predetermined locations you can all meet up at if any of you are unable to go back home. You should have two just in case one of them is inaccessible. They should be in publicly accessible areas such as a park, a library, or a school parking lot. You can also use these locations as evacuation points if anything happens to your home.

Learn more about other ways to be prepared for disasters by going to Preparedness.news.

Sources include:

AYearWithoutTheGroceryStore.com

FamilySurvivalPlanning.com

It is important to be always prepared in times of emergency. This includes always having a plan and keeping a ready supply of survival essentials. But more importantly, you need to know how to communicate well with others during these situations. Here are three tips that will help.

Tip 1: Make use of technology

Almost everyone is on social media. You can take advantage of this to reassure your family immediately and easily. Social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter have become great tools for disseminating information before, during, and after emergency situations, such as earthquakes, floods, and hurricanes. This was proven useful when, in 2011, Virginia was about to be hit by an earthquake. People were warned beforehand through Twitter, allowing them enough time to prepare. Many lives were saved because of this.  Facebook, on the other hand, is the social media platform that most people use to keep tabs on their loved ones.

Make use of your phone to download mobile apps for emergencies, like the apps offered by the Red Cross. The organization has a series of mobile apps that were designed to teach you before an emergency and guide you after one. It offers disaster tutorials for tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, and floods. Download which are applicable to your area and go to the toolkit section. The toolkit section contains everything you need to make a plan, get immediate first aid information, and notify your family and friends that you are safe. Moreover, each app has a flashlight, strobe light, and alarm that are useful in case you get trapped and need to let people know your location. The “I’m Safe” tab of the toolkit allows you to send a customized message about your situation and whereabouts on your social media accounts, text messaging, and email all at once.

Tips 2 and 3: Be smart

1. Set up a phone tree – Setting up a “phone tree” is a vital part of a family communications plan. It is the old fashioned form of social media, in which one out-of-state contact ensures that everyone is contacted. Every member of the family contacts the out-of-state designated caller (now the central source of information), who then provides updates to everyone. Plan how often everyone reports back to the contact until everyone is reunited, then check-in daily for any updates. The phone tree will help you keep updated on how every member of the family is faring.
2. Utilize radios during an emergency – There are several types of communication radios that you and your family can choose from. This includes cellphones, citizen band, family radio service, general mobile radio service, multiple user radio service, and amateur radio service. Select the best option that is within your family’s needs and budget. (Related: You need to know these 8 essential survival tips to prepare you for the next catastrophe.)

Planning beforehand will help ensure that all members of the family know how to contact and where to meet up in an emergency. There are three simple steps to start planning, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The first step is to list down the contact details of your family and other important people and offices. Next, distribute a copy of the list to every family member. Lastly, practice. Conduct household meetings regularly to review and practice your plan.

Read more news similar to this on Survival.news.

Sources include:

PreparednessMama.com

FEMA.gov

It’s time to get to the business of readying the house for winter. Be aware that Hurricane Season is here and Fire Season has not ended. This article is a reminder of the things you need to get done and squared away before the cold weather arrives.

1. Wood Supply

In years past, I’ve emphasized this continually. Now is the time (if fire season precludes use of chainsaws) to cut your wood and to assure your wood supply is ready and accessible. This is both for winter and as a prep: if everything goes down the tubes tomorrow, you will find that the nice fire becomes a necessary fire to heat the home and to cook food. Make sure you have a supply that you can put the majority of the wood, and an area that is readily accessible. Make certain your wood is off of the ground and that it is protected: either under a roof (as in a woodshed) or under a tarp. Cut it all now, and do a sound estimate on your rate of consumption under adverse conditions (loss of power, or SHTF scenario). Don’t forget fire starting materials and a good supply of newspaper: since the latter contains no “news” it’s perfect for burning and can be stored in your woodshed. Ensure chainsaws, axes, splitters, and other tools are in good working order and ready to use. And don’t forget about new box of matches!

2. Chimney, Roof, and House “Integrity”

Don’t procrastinate, and have that chimney swept out now, or do it yourself. It’s easier if you have a stovepipe rather than a chimney: then you need the appropriate-diameter brush and the detachable rods. Creosote fires can burn down the whole house. You can pick up the rods and brush at a hardware store or order them online and have them sent to you. Read more about how to properly clean your chimney here. Make sure your roof is cleared of debris and your rain gutters are cleared and in working order. House “integrity” refers to closing up any kinds of gaps, cracks, or holes in the foundation or body that leave room for heat loss and entry of cold air. This is best accomplished with spray-in foam, silicone caulk, and weatherization with heavy plastic and foam molding.

3. “Twice on the Pipes”

[To paraphrase Tony Orlando and Dawn] check to make sure all of your pipes are well insulated, especially those exposed to the freezing temperatures. The foam-type with the slit/slotted aperture is good; make sure to close the aperture with duct tape, as the glue on the edges is usually lacking. Once again, blow-in foam in an aerosol can works really well in those tight spaces where there isn’t much room to cram in insulation. It’s only about $8 per can and goes a long way. Protect your outlets for hoses with foam outlet covers. Make sure your drain the water out of all your garden and utility hoses before the freezing weather sets in.

4. Shift the Food Supply

For your perishables, now will be a good time to fill up that freezer with frozen food, as you will soon have freezing temperatures to sustain them if you should lose power. Hunting wild game is a great way to fill the freezer with tasty protein sources. I once wrote that anything needing cooking you should do prior to freezing. Then you freeze it after it is cooked. Your item is then ready to go…just warm it up.

5. Personal Gear and Clothing

Get those winter clothes out of storage and ready to use. This includes changing out the light sleeping bag of the summer with the extreme cold weather bag and Gore-Tex cover. Pull that Gore-Tex “Gumby” suit out of the storage! Ensure all of your thermal underwear is serviceable and ready to go. Remember: dress in layers, and plan on dressing in layers. It is easier to “peel” off a layer if need be than remove the whole “space suit” and then be cold underneath. Boots and footgear need to be cleaned and serviceable. Almost time to switch off from summer hikers to winter boots with Thinsulate.

6. Stored Goods and Prepper Supplies

Ensure that all of your perishables and canned goods and supplies are protected from the cold and from alternate freezing-thawing cycles. Long ago I recommended “wide-mouth” Mason jars, as they can usually stand up to the rigors of a freeze. Ensure that medications that cannot be frozen will not be frozen. This is a good time to conduct an inventory and make sure your FIFO (First-in, First-out) lists are up to date. Also be sure that there are adequate measures to control vermin, such as rats and mice that will enter the house as the temperatures drop. The cat (as you know) is my preferred measure of choice, but if you do not have one, you’ll have to plan accordingly with traps and other deterrents. Regularly checking your supplies (yes, even once every day!) will help in this department. Also, if you have a cat? Make sure he can go in where the supplies are kept.

7. Emergency Equipment

This means all of your alarms, night vision devices, family communication devices (such as CBs and Motorolas), scanners, radios, emergency signaling devices, and first aid gear are accounted for and in working order. Some time back I wrote a piece on the importance of taking an inventory for accountability and serviceability on your equipment. This piece needs to be applied here. Check all of your battery compartments for any signs of rust or leakage, and actually test the device. A thermal sight does no good if the batteries are either dead or leaking into the chamber. Ensure all of your family members know where this equipment is and how to use it.

8. Snow Removal

This may seem minor until you’re in a snowstorm and have to get out of the house because of some emergency. Have the high-tech (the snow blower) as well as the low-tech (the shovel) ready and in good working order. Have plenty of ice melt, salt, and sand prior to an Arctic Ragnarok moving into your neighborhood. On a side note, if you have an ample supply of snow, you can harvest the clean snow for an emergency water supply.

9. “I’m your vehicle, Ba-by!”

As Tom Jones once crooned, only the reverse is true here. It won’t take you anywhere you want to go…unless it is serviced and in good mechanical working order. Load up the trunk or back bed with supplies for emergencies, such as food, blankets, emergency gear, and what is needed. Don’t let yourself down by allowing your vehicles to be in disrepair. Take care of this stuff now, before the winter sets in.

These are the basics to get the “creative juices” flowing in your mind. Of course there are many more items that could be listed; however, these are basics and not intended to be comprehensive. The best time to start on them is now. Don’t put off doing these tasks, as they are important to accomplish before the cold, wet weather sets in. An ounce of prevention over a pound of cure any day.  JJ out!

About the Author

Jeremiah Johnson is the Nom de plume of a retired Green Beret of the United States Army Special Forces (Airborne). Mr. Johnson was a Special Forces Medic, EMT and ACLS-certified, with comprehensive training in wilderness survival, rescue, and patient-extraction. He is a Certified Master Herbalist and a graduate of the Global College of Natural Medicine of Santa Ana, CA. A graduate of the U.S. Army’s survival course of SERE school (Survival Evasion Resistance Escape), Mr. Johnson also successfully completed the Montana Master Food Preserver Course for home-canning, smoking, and dehydrating foods.

Mr. Johnson dries and tinctures a wide variety of medicinal herbs taken by wild crafting and cultivation, in addition to preserving and canning his own food. An expert in land navigation, survival, mountaineering, and parachuting as trained by the United States Army, Mr. Johnson is an ardent advocate for preparedness, self-sufficiency, and long-term disaster sustainability for families. He and his wife survived Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath. Cross-trained as a Special Forces Engineer, he is an expert in supply, logistics, transport, and long-term storage of perishable materials, having incorporated many of these techniques plus some unique innovations in his own homestead.

Mr. Johnson brings practical, tested experience firmly rooted in formal education to his writings and to our team. He and his wife live in a cabin in the mountains of Western Montana with their three cats.

Following pretty much every natural disaster that takes place, one side of the political aisle or the other, depending on who’s in power, has been known to take a jab at the sitting president, criticizing his disaster response with respect to FEMA, also known as the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The idea is that, unless the federal government makes a bombastic appearance in the wake of, say, a major hurricane, then “not enough was done” to help suffering people in need. But are federal government disaster responses, which include the infamous FEMA shelters and “camps,” really all they’re cracked up to be?

According to Sara Tipton from Ready Nutrition, not exactly. In an article she wrote that was republished by SHTFplan.com, government-run disaster shelters oftentimes aren’t much better than fending on one’s own.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, for example, many people who flocked to non-profit disaster shelters reported conditions “that were not healthy or safe for human beings, especially children,” writes Tipton. While food, water, and a dry place to sleep were readily available, the conditions at many of these shelters were less than sanitary.

“… the danger of an infection -both viral and bacterial – and subsequent horrible illness was high,” writes Tipton. “And in close quarters, these infections could easily spread, sickening many in a short amount of time.”

Speaking to the media after this horrible disaster in Texas, Chris Van Deusen, a spokesman for the Texas Department of State Health Services, explained how emergency scenarios tend to result in people being packed into close quarters with one another, increasing their risk of spreading and catching illness.

“The primary concern is communicable disease,” Van Deusen reportedly told Newsweek after Harvey ran its course. “When people get in that close proximity that’s sort of the right conditions for illness,” he added, suggesting that respiratory illnesses like cold and flu are common in government disaster shelters.

Rape, sexual assault common in government disaster shelters

Vulnerable populations like women, children, and the elderly also face newfound risks when staying at a government or non-profit disaster shelter. Young women especially face the possibility of being sexually assaulted or raped while staying at these disaster shelters, officials admit.

While law enforcement personnel, including the sheriff in Polk County, Florida, during Hurricane Irma, have tried to quell such fears by publicly stating that “[w]e cannot and we will not have innocent children in a shelter with sexual offenders and predators,” there’s no guaranteeing this during a major disaster scenario when the dregs of society see an opportunity to pounce on their “prey.”

This is where learning self-defense and being prepared to defend yourself is critical. You never know how things are truly going to go down when stuff hits the fan, which is why you need to prepare yourself now, regardless of whether you ride it all out at home or at your local FEMA camp.

In the book, The Prepper’s Blueprint by Ready Nutrition‘s Tess Pennington, you’ll find step-by-step instructions for how to do all of this and more.

Even FEMA Director, Brock Long, agrees that more Americans need to adopt a “prepper” mindset, or what he calls a “culture of preparedness.” Too many people falsely believe that they can survive anything while doing nothing, a level of ignorance that bodes grave consequences once disaster strikes.

“I really think that we have a long way to go to create a true culture of preparedness within our citizenry in America,” Long has stated.

“No American, no citizen, no visitor to this country is immune to disaster. And we have a long way to go to get people to understand the hazards based on where they dwell, where they work, and how to be prepared financially, how to be prepared through insurance, how to have continuity of operations plans for their businesses, so that we can avoid the suffering, the strife, and the loss of life. It’s truly disappointing that people won’t heed the warnings.”

For more survivalist news, check out Survival.news.

Sources for this article include:

NaturalNews.com

SHTFplan.com

If recent months have taught us anything, it’s that a disaster can leave people in an emergency and fragile state for weeks, and even months. As Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria proved, when basic necessities are knocked out or taken away, things can get ugly in a hurry. Keep in mind that natural disasters are just one scenario, and with relatively accurate forecasting models, they provide much more lead time than other potential scenarios where a power grid is knocked down or civil unrest breaks out.

Unfortunately, the government probably won’t be efficient enough to offer assistance to you and your family in a situation where every minute matters. Your neighbors might offer some more timely help, but the reality is, it’s every man for himself when it comes to any survival situation.

In the end, you have to have plans in place that you can execute in minutes, instead of the hours, weeks, and even months it can take to get reasonable assistance from your government or your equally desperate neighbor.

So, where do you start when prepping for the worst, to ensure you survive an unexpected natural or man-made disaster? You can start by securing these four things in your emergency preparedness arsenal.

Purified water

The number one thing you’ll need access to when in a survival situation is clean water, since it only takes three to five days without water until you can become severely dehydrated and even die. Of course, clean water is ideal to not only properly hydrate you, but also to avoid pathogenic organisms and toxic chemicals that can increase your likelihood of becoming sick and incapacitated. This clean water will also come in handy for cooking certain types of foods as well.

So when a disaster is looming or unexpectedly strikes, you need to make sure you have a system in place in your own home that can supply you with purified water immediately and on an ongoing basis, without the need for electricity or water pressure. This means having several jugs of purified water on hand immediately for consumption, and then being able to filter water going forward without access to municipal water supplies. This can mean streams, rivers, ponds, and lakes are the next access point, which will need to be purified (and potentially without electricity) in order to be safe for drinking.

Fortunately, there are systems like the Big Berkey water filter that removes all kinds of pathogenic bacteria, harmful chemicals, parasites, and more, while requiring no electricity and having a storage capacity of about 2.25 gallons (8.5 liters). This ensures you can have immediate access to clean water, and an ongoing supply as long as you can source some type of water to put through it.

Your own food supply

How bad of a feeling would it be when the food distribution system gets disrupted, and you have no ability to get what you want (or anything) at the store? How much worse would that be if you had no food supply of your own to rely on, and it was going to be mere days before you run out of nourishment?

Never take for granted that this can happen at some point in your lifetime (for many it already has). This is why having highly storable, nourishing, and filling food on hand is paramount, as well as portable growing systems that don’t require electricity. This way, if food distribution is disrupted you know you have immediate access to fulfilling and nutritious food, and have the ability to grow fresh food as well on an ongoing basis without the need for land or dirt.

Now, you can survive without food for much longer than water, but, the longer you go without it the weaker you get. In a survival situation the strongest will survive, and that means you’ll need to have sustenance on a daily basis. Both storable organic food and portable growing systems will make sure you are in a position to ride out any disaster.

Multi-functional tools

When confronted with an emergency situation, there are a number of different tools you may require to  make sure you stay safe and functionally self-reliant. In many cases, you won’t have the luxury of carrying around a full set of tools, but rather, whatever you can fit in a backpack or on your body. This makes highly portable, multi-functional tools a must for any serious prepper to survive an emergency situation.

Items such as a hammer, knife, flashlight, saw, cordage, whistles, magnesium rod ignition, flint, screwdriver, tourniquet, wire cutters, wrenches, watch, compass, and can openers are just a few of the things you could find yourself needing in order to “set up camp” properly and ensure you have adequate shelter.

The good news is you can get all of these tools in a few simple, yet highly practical inventions like this Ranger Gear Extreme Multifunction Shovel that also contains numerous tools inside the shovel handle.

Fire (for warmth and cooking)

Fire is undoubtedly an important element of survival, and that importance will be magnified in certain seasons and climates. Fire can be used for warmth, cooking, and to light up the immediate area when in darkness.

To be able to create a fire, you will need to be able to dig a hole and chop wood, for starters. Then you will likely need matches or a lighter of some sort to get it started. Once it is going, this light, warmth, and cooking medium will help provide the necessities for survival, especially when darkness hits.

Alternatively, access to a mini camp stove with built-in ignition that uses portable fuel sources (propane) is a great way to quickly boil some water and cook meals as well. Consider it another necessary part of your overall survival plan.

So when you are able to secure your own clean water, food, shelter, and heat, you are light years ahead of the population, and will have a much higher success rate of making it out of the situation relatively unscathed. Don’t think it can’t happen to you, as these disasters are not just limited to hurricanes. There are other natural disasters to consider in other areas of the world, as well as the real possibility of threats to the electrical grid and social structure.

Don’t be the one left out in the cold, starving, and dehydrated. For a relatively small investment, and high reward potential, you can make sure you are a serious survivor.

Sources include:

Naturalnews.com

Naturalnews.com

Now that Summer is winding to a close and the kids are all getting ready to go back to school, we’re about to enter the “Post-Vacation” Zone…and get to the business at hand of readying the house for the fall and winter. Be aware that Hurricane Season is here and Fire Season has not ended. This article is a reminder of the things you need to get done and squared away before the cold weather arrives.

9 Things To Get Your Home Prepped for Disasters In Fall and Winter

1. Wood Supply

2. Chimney, Roof, and House “Integrity”

3. “Twice on the Pipes”

4. Shift the Food Supply

5. Personal Gear and Clothing

6. Stored Goods and Prepper Supplies

7. Emergency Equipment

8. Snow Removal

9. “I’m your vehicle, Ba-by!”

These are the basics to get the “creative juices” flowing in your mind. Of course there are many more items that could be listed; however, these are basics and not intended to be comprehensive. The best time to start on them is now. Don’t put off doing these tasks, as they are important to accomplish before the cold, wet weather sets in. An ounce of prevention over a pound of cure any day.  JJ out!

About the Author

Jeremiah Johnson is the Nom de plume of a retired Green Beret of the United States Army Special Forces (Airborne). Mr. Johnson was a Special Forces Medic, EMT and ACLS-certified, with comprehensive training in wilderness survival, rescue, and patient-extraction. He is a Certified Master Herbalist and a graduate of the Global College of Natural Medicine of Santa Ana, CA. A graduate of the U.S. Army’s survival course of SERE school (Survival Evasion Resistance Escape), Mr. Johnson also successfully completed the Montana Master Food Preserver Course for home-canning, smoking, and dehydrating foods.

Mr. Johnson dries and tinctures a wide variety of medicinal herbs taken by wild crafting and cultivation, in addition to preserving and canning his own food. An expert in land navigation, survival, mountaineering, and parachuting as trained by the United States Army, Mr. Johnson is an ardent advocate for preparedness, self-sufficiency, and long-term disaster sustainability for families. He and his wife survived Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath. Cross-trained as a Special Forces Engineer, he is an expert in supply, logistics, transport, and long-term storage of perishable materials, having incorporated many of these techniques plus some unique innovations in his own homestead.

Mr. Johnson brings practical, tested experience firmly rooted in formal education to his writings and to our team. He and his wife live in a cabin in the mountains of Western Montana with their three cats.

Why is the number of earthquakes happening around the world increasing so dramatically?  In recent days, we have seen very large earthquakes in Venezuela, Fiji, Italy and elsewhere.  Here in North America, significant quakes have rattled Oregon, Alaska and the west coast of Mexico.  As I reported on all of these important seismic events, it sure seemed like the number of earthquakes was rising, but I wanted to be sure.  I once worked as an attorney, and I was trained to only come to conclusions that were warranted by the facts.  So I decided to pull up the numbers, and what I discovered was extremely alarming.  I turns out that the number of earthquakes that we have witnessed over the last 30 days is more than 50 percent above normal.  Of course the Earth is constantly being pummeled by quakes, but this is a huge deviation from the norm.  Could it be possible that we have entered a time when major Earth changes are going to start happening on a regular basis?  If so, what does that mean for the future of our society?

If you go to Earthquake Track, you will find the latest data on all earthquakes that have happened all over the planet.

According to their numbers, there have been 82,845 earthquakes of magnitude 1.5 or greater over the last 365 days.  That is an enormous number of earthquakes, but most of them are so small that they can’t really be felt.

When you divide 82,845 earthquakes by 365 days, you get an average of about 227 earthquakes per day over the past year.

And when you multiply 227 earthquakes by 30 days, you get an average of 6,810 earthquakes per 30 days over the last 12 months.

But there have been a whole lot more than 6,810 earthquakes over the last 30 days.  In fact, Earthquake Track tells us that there have been 10,901 earthquakes over the last 30 days.

That means that the number of earthquakes over the last 30 days is more than 50 percent above normal, and that is big news.  Unfortunately, the mainstream media in the United States is almost entirely ignoring this story because they are preoccupied with other things at the moment.

Most of the earthquakes over the last 30 days have happened along the Ring of Fire, and a British news source tells us that over 90 percent of all quakes tend to happen along this seismic zone which roughly encircles the Pacific Ocean…

The Pacific Ring of Fire is the most geologically active region in the world.

More than 90 percent of earthquakes occur here, as well as 22 or the 25 biggest volcanic eruptions in history.

The entire west coast of the continental United States and the entire southern coast of Alaska fall directly along the Ring of Fire.  Over the past several days Alaska has been hit by dozens of earthquakes, including a huge magnitude 6.3 shaker…

The eruption, which occurred in the remote Andrean of Islands region of Alaska, happened at around 4.30am BST and had a depth of 27 miles.

There has been a total of 35 earthquakes in Alaska in the last two days, ranging from 2.5 in magnitude to 6.3 according to the USGS.

There have also been some quakes off the west coast of the U.S., but so far California itself has been largely unaffected.

However, the experts assure us that California is “overdue” for a major earthquake…

Richard Aster, Professor of Geophysics at Colorado State University, warned recently California is in an “earthquake drought” and overdue a 7.0 quake.

He said: “Although many Californians can recount experiencing an earthquake, most have never personally experienced a strong one.

“For major events, with magnitudes of seven or greater, California is actually in an earthquake drought.”

The fact that there hasn’t been a very large quake in the region for a very long time may be a really bad sign, because tectonic stress along the Juan de Fuca plate is constantly building up.

At some point that stress must be released, and that is when we will see “the Big One”…

Geologist Erik Klemetti said: “The Big One will be generated by the stress built up as the Juan de Fuca plate off the coast of Oregon, Washington, California and British Columbia slides underneath North America.

“The plates can stick, creating stress that is sometimes released as giant earthquakes – and many smaller ones.

“The ‘snapping’ back of the plate can create tsunamis, just as we saw in 2004 off Indonesia and 2011 off Japan.”

The west coast of the United States is the center of the global tech industry.  If the “Big One” were to hit, it would be absolutely crippling for the entire global economy.

And I don’t know if this is related to seismic activity, but ocean temperatures off of the California coast have been hitting unprecedented record highs in recent weeks.  Experts are warning that millions of sea creatures are “in real peril” as temperatures rise to levels that may cause sea creatures to start dying off in massive numbers.

This is yet another story that the mainstream news is “too busy” to talk about.

Our planet is undergoing dramatic changes, and this is something that I have been writing about for a long time, but now those changes appear to be greatly accelerating.  Earthquake swarms come and go, but for the total number of global earthquakes in a 30 day period to be more than 50 percent above normal is definitely unusual.

Hopefully all of this seismic activity will settle down in September, but what if it doesn’t?

What if our planet continues to become even more unstable and unprecedented seismic events begin devastating major cities all over the globe?

As I have previously warned, a dramatic rise in planetary instability could have very serious implications for the future of our society.  We are already teetering on the precipice of global systemic collapse, and it definitely wouldn’t take too much to push us over the edge.

North America has been hit by three major earthquakes within the last 24 hours.  A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck just off the coast of Oregon early on Wednesday, and that was followed by a magnitude 5.3 earthquake in Ometepec, Mexico that was so powerful that it was felt all the way in Mexico City.  And just a few hours ago, an enormous magnitude 6.3 earthquake hit Alaska.  The “Ring of Fire” has awakened, but up until the last 24 hours North America had largely been spared.  Something truly unusual appears to be happening to our planet, and many are deeply concerned that this rise in seismic activity could be building up to a major event.  Yesterday I reported that 144 major earthquakes had occurred over the last 7 days, but now that number has risen even higher.  I just checked, and the USGS says that the number of major earthquakes over the past 7 days has now risen to 157.  In case you were wondering, that is not normal.

Now that the west coast has been hit, the mainstream media is finally starting to take notice of all the shaking that has been going on, and some outlets are even breathlessly proclaiming that “the Big One” could soon hit California.

For example, the following comes from the Sun…

A HUGE 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Oregon on America’s West Coast today.

The quake, which registered 188 miles from the coastal city of Bandon, has sparked fears the so-called “Big One” could hit near California.

Just a few weeks ago, two earthquake swarms hit the Cascadia Subduction Zone in less than a week.  So the fact that this latest earthquake hit the exact same area is definitely raising concerns about what may happen next.

One of these days the “Big One” will hit the Cascadia Subduction Zone, and the devastation will be off the charts.  Here is more from the Sun…

It last struck in 1700, when it sunk the stretch by as much as 20 metres, tjhough there are no written records of the natural disaster.

The death toll from that magnitude-9 quake is unclear but it is understood to have unleashed a tsunami which travelled 5,000 miles across the Pacific to Japan.

It has been estimated that the Cascadia Subduction Zone has the potential to create a seismic event 30 times more powerful than anything that the San Andreas Fault can produce.  In fact, the head of the FEMA division that oversees Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Alaska once publicly stated that in the event of a magnitude 9.0 earthquake “everything west of Interstate 5 will be toast”…

…By the time the shaking has ceased and the tsunami has receded, the region will be unrecognizable. Kenneth Murphy, who directs FEMA’s Region X, the division responsible for Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Alaska, says, “Our operating assumption is that everything west of Interstate 5 will be toast.”

In the Pacific Northwest, everything west of Interstate 5 covers some hundred and forty thousand square miles, including Seattle, Tacoma, Portland, Eugene, Salem (the capital city of Oregon), Olympia (the capital of Washington), and some seven million people.

Are you starting to understand the gravity of the situation?

We are talking about the potential for a natural disaster that is unlike anything that we have ever seen in American history by a very wide margin.

According to the Express, scientists believe that “the Big One” could produce a tsunami that is 85 feet high…

Scientists have predicted the ‘Big One’ could trigger a tsunami of 85ft high waves and could potentially drown as many as 33,000 people on the West Coast.

More than 160 experts have since 2013 gathered to develop the Oregon Resilience Plan.

If the Big One is to happen soon it can devastate and affect the regional and national economy.

Do you remember the giant tsunami in the movie San Andreas?  Well, the truth is that what we are potentially facing is even worse than that.

Right now the big question is whether all of the earthquakes that we have been witnessing along the Ring of Fire are somehow related.  Some experts are downplaying that idea, but a professor of earthquake engineering at the University of Bristol is reminding us that ultimately “all earthquakes are connected”…

Colin Taylor, professor of earthquake engineering at the University of Bristol, told Standard.co.uk: “The majority of earthquakes around the world are driven by plate tectonics over the earth’s crust. They occur when quakes move past, or under, each other. Every now and again, they reach the limit of their strength and break, emitting energy.

“So technically, that means all earthquakes are connected. But it’s too difficult to say whether they are connected directly.”

According to the NOAA, 39 percent of all Americans live in counties that are directly on the shoreline.

Let that sink in for a moment.

To say that we are extremely vulnerable to tsunamis is a major understatement.  The experts tell us that a “mega-tsunami” can reach speeds in the open ocean of up to 500 miles an hour, and when they reach shore they can produce waves that are several hundred feet high.

If a mega-tsunami hit anywhere along the west coast of the United States, it would instantly crash our economy and it would be the deadliest and costliest natural disaster that we have ever seen.

So let us hope that “the Big One” does not hit us any time soon, because when it does strike life in America will immediately and irrevocably change forever.