Be Prepared with Your Dog

 Click here to go to the Bug-out page and list 

What is Evacuate, Shelter-in-Place, Bug-out ?

Do you ever wonder? 

What are we actually suppose to know or do when the media or police tell us to stay home and shelter-in-place, evacuate or bug-out?

All Rights Reserved Photo by Amber Higgins
Ready to Go!

What does evacuate mean?

"Bug-out" means what?

It has nothing to do with bugs !

What does Shelter-in-Place mean? Really what do you do?

Where is this shelter you're supposed to put where? :)

We are hearing more often of large cities residents told to "shelter-in-place" during power blackouts and I wonder how many people ask someone- "Do you know how to do this or what do they meant?"

Every city and town in America, and most of the world, no matter how large or small, has plans for handling emergencies and many offer classes for the public to learn more about evacuation and sheltering-in-place but that does not mean everyone attends the class or knows what to do.

So let's go over what these and other words or phrases mean during emergencies.

Evacuate

Sometimes you are given time or notice ahead of time...other times you have no choice but to evacuate now!! 

Especial in wildfires and tsunami...Now means to evacuate right then and there without time to grab much at all in the way of personal belongings or survival gear. Every year people lose everything due to unexpected disasters.

Evacuate means to run! Run or drive fast away from impending death or threat.

Get the hell out of the way!

Go to safety! ASAP

Here is a picture of Daisy with her evacuation saddlebag...she is ready to "Bug-out" !

"Wrinkledpups Daisy Mayham" founder of Family Disaster Dogs

"Bug-out" means to Evacuate

Bug-out is a military phrase used for the same meaning.

Learn what to pack in a carry bag to survival evacuation and how to be ready to evacuate with and without a dog on the Bug-out page. The long list on the Bug-out page is also what is needed to store at home for sheltering in place too, along with stocking up on extra food and water.

Having a bag packed for each family member and ready to grab when you are ordered to evacuate saves critical time. Keep in mind, if you wait and try to pack at that moment, the danger might reach you as you scrabble to find everything and put your family's life in danger.




You do not need a dog to be ready but if you have a dog then preparing with your dog makes sense.

Read my Evacuate with Your Dog's Help book (Free to Read here) to learn how a dog can help.

Preparing in advance will save time which is critical in emergency evacuation.

Shelter-in-Place

Means the opposite of Evacuation or Bugging-out

When you are told to shelter-in-place this means to stay put for your safety. Or get to the safest nearby location and stay put.

Do not go outside because danger awaits. 

Do not move but do sit-stay!

Hopefully, you are at home when told to shelter-in-place where you have everything you need for a few days or until the emergency is over. Food and water are critical for survival and in a major emergency the shelter-in-place order may last days or longer. It's best to stock up on food, bottled water and medicine, just in case.

If you are not at home, maybe you are at work or school, you will have to stay there until the emergency is over.

Again the evacuation bag comes in handy because if you grabbed the "bug-out bag" on the way out the door to work, school or you keep one in your vehicle for traveling (recommended to do so) you will have food, water, medicine and supplies no matter where you are when emergency strikes. You would be more comfortable and sustainable while you are more or less locked up shelter-in-place not allowed to go anywhere for food or supplies.

Be prepared to shelter-in-place at work, home or in public places.

In an active shooter event, yes, sadly this emergency event is becoming more common in the USA so I should mention;

In the event of an active shooter, everyone is told to Shelter-in-Place. In other words find a safe spot, a room if at all possible or hit the floor. Do not move and make yourself a target.

Hide (shelter) or Run (bug-out)

Another good idea is to look around when you first arrive at events or public places and mentally take note of a safe place to shelter-in-place or run to.

It's always best to be safe than sorry.

Go the Free Lesson Links Page 

photo credit FEMA

Visit READY.gov  for more info on how to shelter in place 

Prepare-Snake Free Camp or House

Proven Snake Prevention

by Amber Higgins 

If your situation is snake free....(mine is these days) check out the updates located at the bottom of this post...workshops coming and other good news !

Summer time evacuation and bug-out locations, dog training and camping outdoors could put your family in danger of running into a snake or waking up in the morning to a snake in the tent. 

I used this remedy while living off-the-grid in the Ozark mountains where poisonous snakes are very common. I've had rattlesnakes in kitchen walls, dog kennels, the house ceiling and outhouse plus we had copperheads crawling across the living room floor towards my child ! 

Keep in mind, the ingredients can be harmful to humans, pets and other animals. 

I found that my livestock,dogs and chickens never noticed or were inclined to eat this remedy at all but to be on the safe side use common sense when applying this remedy outdoors and place it hidden or out of sight where snakes like to lurk and sleep but others living beings can't reach it. 

Good spots are under the building and decks, behind the firewood stack, outside of and out of reach around fences and livestock pens, most of all around or in the outhouse hole ! The children knew to leave this remedy alone or we would have snakes.

If I did not do this simple trick each spring we had snakes everywhere ! It worked every time.

Rattlesnakes often run in pairs

​​One of the most frightening things can be finding a snake in the bug-out camp, home or yard.

Snakes are Dangerous if surprised !!

This simple snake remedy can help to make your home or camp and yard safe and free from snakes.

Depending on how large of home and yard you have...

Buy enough boxes of Old Fashion Moth Balls ( not cedar scented) to surround the area and an extra box or two for snake hiding places.

How to use the Snake Remedy.

Buy Old Fashion Moth Balls.

Do Not get the Cedar scented ones.

Using a handful of Moth Balls toss them so they fall about 6 inches to a foot apart.. this takes a little practice.

Walk and toss them as an invisible fence around your yard and living area.

Toss extra Moth Balls under the house and buildings, behind and into firewood piles

Under equipment that is outdoors and in your area.

Around old cars or other hiding places on your property.

Any place you can think of where there may be a snake, toss a few moth balls.

Don't forget to put moth balls out before you do the yard work in the spring.

Wash your hands when finished.

The Moth Balls last for months depending on how much rain the area gets.

If you find a snake or it rains for many days then its a good idea to replace them.

You can also place the moth balls in cans,bottles or bags and set the container around your camp or bug-out shelter.

The odor and fumes close to the moth balls deters the snakes and other animals too so it does not kill them but because the snake uses its tongue to collect scent and navigate along the ground where the fumes are, the snake senses the moth balls long before it is close enough to be harmed. They turn and go another way which is what we want them to do, go elsewhere. This is why I always throw the moth balls all around the perimeter of  the area to make an invisible fence which keeps the whole area safe.

This has worked for rattlesnakes, copperheads and black snakes. 

Be Safe !

Amber

Coming Soon "My Puppy Can Find Me " children's picture book ! 

My soon to be released book teaches your children and your dogs how to work with you so nobody is ever separated, lost or missing plus what to do if the child is lost. 



Get the Family Disaster Dog Book or Ebook by clicking here --only $8.99 or $9.99 

The book fits perfect in a Bug-out bag and in the Family Disaster Dog Saddlebags so you can read it or use it when you need it the most ! 

That cute little guy is named Dumpster, he came with his owner John to the Family Disaster Dog book signing at the library. He enjoyed trying on and showing off his new bug-out bag ! we still had adjusting to do when this pic was taken.

I was thinking of offering The Family Disaster Dog Go-Bags here on the site and hand packing them with you,your dog and your families survival needs but I think it would be easier for both of us if I give you the opportunity to shop for yourself and choose what you will need in your area or situation along with the items recommended in a  my Bug-Out Bag or 72 Hour Survival Kit list for you and your dog.

Shop for your preparedness needs at the new Family Disaster Dogs home site and amazon store by clicking here   

Thank You for supporting and sharing these sites for me so I can continue to provide search and rescue knowledge and lessons to help you keep yourself and family safe  !

A Family Disaster Dog Bug-Out Bag

Last but not least...

Join me to talk dogs at Lovejoys Teahouse in Florence Oregon on August 27th 2016 for a book signing, meet and greet cup of tea ! Hope to see you there between 1 pm and 3 pm.

Coming Soon... Family Disaster Dog Workshops..sign up for the newsletter at familydisasterdogs.net

Your Invited -Let's talk dogs !

Tate Publishing and Enterprises

The Lord gave the Word; great was the company of those that published it.”

-Psalm 68:11

Family Disaster Dogs Book Signing Event

You are invited to attend a book signing for author

 Amber Higgins:
click here to read books

August 27 2016 at 1pm-3pm

Lovejoy's Tea Room 

195 Nopal St, Florence, OR 97439

Please join Amber Higgins for this special event.

Be sure to invite a friend! 

Family Disaster Dogs makes a great gift!

We hope to see you there!

Copies available in Florence at Lovejoys Tea Room, Reining Cats & Dogs, Twin Lakes Store. 

Coming Soon "My Puppy Can Find Me " children's picture book ! 

Amber Higgins soon to be released book teaches your children and your dogs how to work with you so nobody is ever separated, lost or missing plus what to do if the child is lost. 

The book fits perfect in a Bug-out bag and in the Family Disaster Dog Bug-Out Bag so you can read it or use it when you need it the most ! 

I was thinking of offering The Family Disaster Dog Go-Bags here on the site and hand packing them with you,your dog and your families survival needs but I think it would be easier for both of us if I give you the opportunity to shop for yourself and choose what you will need in your area or situation along with the items recommended in a  my Bug-Out Bag or 72 Hour Survival Kit list for you and your dog.

Thank You for supporting and sharing these sites so I can continue to provide search and rescue knowledge and lessons to help you keep yourself and family safe  !  

Amber

Family Disaster Dog Bug-Out Bag