Earthquakes strike violently and without warning. And as you can see from the information on this site, they are occurring almost constantly. Identifying potential hazards ahead of time and advance planning can reduce the dangers of serious injury or loss of life from an earthquake. Even though here in Tennessee we don't concern ourselves with earthquakes but we should remember we are still in a prime area and no one really knows when an earthquake will shake our world again or where.

Check for Hazards in the Home
Identify Safe Places Indoors and Outdoors

Educate Yourself and Family Members
Have Disaster Supplies on Hand
Flashlight and extra batteries
Portable battery-operated radio and extra batteries
First aid kit and manual
Emergency food and water
Nonelectric can opener
Essential medicines
Cash and credit cards
Sturdy shoes
Develop an Emergency Communication Plan
Help Your Community Get Ready


Work together in your community to apply your knowledge to building codes, retrofitting programs, hazard hunts, and neighborhood and family emergency plans.

Survival in any situation is absolutely dependent on mastering some basic principles. You will have personal internal issues, physical issues, environmental issues, know how to compensate for them. Not just now but in the future.

There is a basic list of some things you should consider. We are going to go over a quick six for you to consider.

1. Control your fear.
2. Overcoming adversity, both physically and mentally.
3. Acquire information & knowledge.
4. Fully assessing the situation/environment that you are in.
5. Adapting, planning and strategizing
6. Integrate into your situation/environment of the present and possible future.



The survivor knows fear is the number one enemy followed closely by negativity towards adversity. Fear and panic inhibit the ability to assess situations, opportunities, and formulate plans as well as all but extinguishing the ability and will to execute any rational action. Negativity towards adversity is equally destructive as fear, and can be just as paralyzing, for the will to survive can be quickly lost.

The survivor also knows that knowledge is the most powerful tool and weapon that he has. Therefore, the survivor will acquire as much knowledge as possible about their environment and be constantly aware of their surroundings. For long term survival, group survival is essential. In society our knowledge and skills afford us the means for survival. Survivors must be constantly vigilant in acquiring new skills and assessing the trends and directions of society.

The survivor is aware that they can be a profound influence to their environment by being an active participant in all groups - be it social organizations, faith organizations, or charitable and community organizations. When we intelligently and positively influence our environment we not only survive, we thrive.

Knife throwing is a fascinating pastime.  Your arm swings back, steel flashes through the air and Bam!  The blade sticks the target.  Properly thrown, the knife hits hard and bites deep.  Making the point stick nearly every time from various distances takes a lot of practice.  But practicing on the trail, in camp, or at home can be fun.  There's a practical side to this knowledge also.  Porcupines and other small game have been impaled by a thrown hunting knife of hungry and lost campers.

When practiced in your own backyard, knife throwing can be easily learned by anyone. Any light handled knife like a kitchen knife can be used and a cardboard box makes a great target.

Stand about three feet from the target with your right foot forward. Hold the knife by the blade with the point between your thumb and forefinger, fist naturally closed and flip it overhand from near the ear straight at the target. If the knife does not land point first, move a step back and throw again. You are wanting the distance at which the knife will make a half turn in the air and strike point on. When you have found that distance, practice a uniform delivery until you can make your knife stick every time.

For a distance of about ten feet hold the knife flat in your palm with the blade pointed toward your elbow and your finger against the handle. Throw it overhand and let it slide out handle first with your extended hand pointed directly at the target. Practice these two throws until you have developed a smooth and rhythmic technique for each. It is useless to attempt long throws until the proper form has been mastered and you can make the knife land point first at distances up to fifteen feet. Form is the secret of success with knife throwing and various throws can be used for different distances. But the technique of any throw must never vary.

Whether for fun or by necessity, when hiking or camping you may think you can put your tent just anywhere. Others will spend as much time choosing a campsite as a couple trying to name their new baby. Comfort should not be the only issue to consider when choosing a campsite: You also need to follow certain guidelines that will help protect the area for future campers and yourself.  Surprisingly the most comfortable sleeping spot isn't always a soft meadow. Instead, look for pine needles, mineral soil, sand, or gravel.

Spend some time searching for your camp area. Sometimes it's hard to find a flat spot. The ground might be too rocky or densely vegetated. When you have chosen a possible home for the night, lie down to check out the area and see whether there are any sticks,  rocks or other dangers that will keep you from getting any rest during the night.

Also do not forget to look for overhead dangers. These include the possibility of a rock-fall and widow-makers (dead trees that have started to fall but are held in place by other trees).

Always choose a site that will drain well, even in a downpour. In dry country, avoid flash-flood zones, like the sandy creek bed of a canyon.

Mosquitoes are worst on a warm, humid night, especially if there is no breeze. If possible, try to find an area with at least some breeze that's blowing.

On very windy nights, you'll want the wind to come from the back of your tent. If possible, hide in a clump of bushes. When storms threaten, give up comfort for protection. A calm evening can become a stormy or windy night very quickly. Set up your tent right the first time, with firmly planted stakes.
Be sure that your campsite is at or near water to prevent inadvertently contaminating the water or scaring wildlife away from their nightly drink. Close to water is good but be sure to keep your camp at least 20 yards from the edge of a stream's erosion line. Flash floods can rush down a stream and push past it's sides. Even in the desert where there is hardly any water, flash flooding has drowned many a camper and hiker too close to a stream. Also, avoid game trails: animals might not be willing to approach a campsite, and that could mean they'll go thirsty if you are camped between them and the water they depend on.

Practice the leave-no-trace rule. When camping in pristine areas, try to remove all traces of your camp so that the next party that comes through sees no evidence of your site.

Whenever possible (if not an emergency), a few days before you go you need to work out how much food you need based on the number of people going. Make sure to try and have a suitable place to store all food until the time you leave.  It is also not a bad idea to always have some food, water, matches, blankets, etc. packed in an emergency in case you need to go quickly.
Always make a checklist so that when you arrive for the fun, you won't have to say, "Man, I could have sworn I packed that."

Everyone who travels by air goes through airport security checkpoints.  These checkpoints are operated by Transportation Security Officers from the Transportation Security Administration.

The checkpoints are there to make sure that terrorists can’t bring anything aboard the plane that would enable them to take it over or destroy it. These are called “prohibited items” and cannot be brought to a checkpoint, into the secure area of an airport, or aboard an aircraft.
Not only do all passengers go through checkpoints ...
-continued:

... their checked baggage is also screened. This may happen out of passengers' view depending on the physical configuration at each airport.

It's a good idea to prepare before you arrive at the airport so that you move more quickly and efficiently through the security process. Here are some suggestions to help make the process as smooth as possible.
Dress the Part

There’s no particular style or type of clothing that you should wear from a security point of view. You are permitted to wear head coverings and religious garments during the screening process. You may be directed to additional screening if your clothing (religious or otherwise) is loose fitting or large enough to hide prohibited items.

In addition, certain clothing and accessories can set off an alarm on the metal detector and slow you down. Avoid wearing clothing, jewelry or other accessories that contain metal when traveling through the security checkpoints:

* Heavy jewelry (including pins, necklaces, bracelets, rings, watches, earrings, body piercings, cuff links, lanyards or bolo ties)
* Clothing with metal buttons, snaps or studs
* Metal hair barrettes or other hair decoration
* Belt buckles
* Under-wire bras
* Hidden items such as body piercings may result in your being directed to additional screening for a pat-down inspection.  If selected for additional screening, you may ask to remove your body piercing in private as an alternative to the pat-down search.
* Take metal items such as keys, loose change, mobile phones, pagers, and personal data assistants (PDAs) out of your pockets.
* Place heavy jewelry and other metal items in your carry-on baggage or in plastic bags if they are offered, until you clear security.
* Pack all your coats and jackets in your baggage when possible. All coats and jackets must go through the X-ray machine for inspection. These include, but are not limited to, trench coats, heavy winter coats, suit jackets, sport coats and blazers.  If you choose to wear an outer coat or jacket to the checkpoint, you will need to either place it in your carry-on or put it in the bin that is provided for you.

Disposable booties or slippers may be worn through the checkpoint to help protect your feet, but they must be disposed of prior to leaving the screening area.

Gel-filled bras are permitted through security screening and aboard aircraft.

TSA Security Officers have to identify any metal that is detected at the checkpoint.  If you set off the alarm, you will undergo additional screening.  This includes a hand-wand and pat-down inspection.

You can remove metal items at the security checkpoint and place them in the plastic bags offered at several airports or in the bins provided.  The bins will be sent through the X-ray machine.  You can save time by not wearing metal items or by placing them in your carry-on baggage before getting in line.
What you need

http://www.tsa.gov/graphics/images/screening_boarding.jpgWe encourage each adult traveler to keep his/her airline boarding pass and government-issued photo ID available until exiting the security checkpoint (children are not required to show identification). The absence of proper identification will result in additional screening.



There are four ways to obtain a boarding pass:

* Go to your airline's ticket counter at the airport
* Use curbside check-in
* Use your airline's self-service ticket kiosk in the airport lobby
* Print the boarding pass from your airline's website

If you aren't traveling and need to go through the security checkpoint to accompany someone such as a child or other traveler with medical conditions who is traveling, check with the airline for required documentation.
Do I Have to Remove My Shoes?

Photo of a boarding passYes, you are required to remove your shoes before you enter the walk-through metal detector. This includes all types of footwear.

Due to the Homeland Security threat level being raised for the U.S. aviation sector worldwide this is critical to protect the world's travelers who transit by air to and from the United States.

Our Security Officers will ask that you remove your shoes before entering the metal detector based on the fact that many types of footwear can be used to carry prohibited items. When a Security Officer asks you to remove your shoes, please do. If you refuse, you will not be able to board your flight.

You are required to remove your shoes before you enter the walk-through metal detector. All types of footwear must be placed on the X-ray machine to be screened. If you do not comply with Security Officers, you will not be allowed to board your flight

Want to know why TSA screens all passengers' shoes? Learn more about how screening every air traveler's shoes increase security by reading about Why TSA Screens Shoes.
Keep Your Experience Simple

Take metal items such as keys, loose change, mobile phones, pagers and personal digital assistants (PDAs) out of your pockets. Put these in your carry-on, or in a plastic bag. This keeps lines moving and your experience more pleasant. Try to avoid wearing anything with metal, clothing, jewelry or other accessories that contain metal such as, heavy jewelry, clothing with metal buttons or snaps, belt buckles or under-wire bras.

Pack your coats and jackets in your baggage when possible.  All coats and jackets that you are carrying must go through the X-ray machine for inspection.  If you choose to wear an outer coat or jacket to the checkpoint, you will need to either pack it in your carry-on baggage or put it in one of the bins we provide.

You may be additionally screened because of hidden items such as body piercings, which alarmed the metal detector.  If you are selected for additional screening, you may ask to remove your body piercing in private as an alternative to a pat-down search.
Travel Tips To Make Your Screening Experience Hassle-free

* The secret to getting through security smoothly is to de-clutter your carry-on bag. This lets our Transportation Security Officers get a clear, uncomplicated X-ray image of your carry-on.
* When possible, keep packing liquids in checked baggage. You will get through security faster.
* Limit quantities to what is needed for the duration of the flight.

Items purchased in the secure boarding area are for use on the immediate flight. If you must leave the secure boarding area and re-enter through the screening checkpoint, items exceeding 3 ounces that are not in the zip-top bag will again be prohibited.

The ban on liquids, aerosols and gels was implemented on August 10 after a terrorist plot was foiled. Since then, experts from around the government, including the FBI and our national labs have analyzed the information we now have and have conducted extensive explosives testing to get a better understanding of this specific threat. These changes are intended to enhance security and balance human needs because we have a better understanding of the threat and security risks associated with liquids, aerosols and gels.

In addition, TSA will be enhancing security measures throughout the airport environment – more random screening of employees, additional canine patrols, stronger air cargo security measures, more rigorous identity verification, deploying more trained security officers in bomb appraisal, and screening by observation techniques.

Make your screening experience as smooth as possible. Select a video to help you understand the screening process.
Know What To Expect

The video is hosted by Tom Waring and features half a dozen professionals representing their respective fields: Tom Jordan, Director of the Earthquake Center of the University of Southern California; Rocky Lopes with the American Red Cross; Stacy Gurlich of the Los Angeles Fire Department; Scott Kiser with the National Weather Center; Dr. Elizabeth Whalen of the American Council of Science and Health; and Stephan Kuhl, NOAA’s National Warning Coordination / Meteorologist Program Monitor.

 

Everyone who travels by air goes through airport security checkpoints.  These checkpoints are operated by Transportation Security Officers from the Transportation Security Administration.

The checkpoints are there to make sure that terrorists can’t bring anything aboard the plane that would enable them to take it over or destroy it. These are called “prohibited items” and cannot be brought to a checkpoint, into the secure area of an airport, or aboard an aircraft.

Not only do all passengers go through checkpoints ...