by S. Easton

April 29, 2021

Although we’re about half way through spring, Hurricane Season is fast approaching and there’s no time like the present to start your emergency preparations. A group of AccuWeather meteorologists have noted – based on current weather data, as well as long-range climate clues, the forecasters are urging residents in traditional hurricane-prone areas of the United States to make their preparations NOW!

Hurricane Numbers are on the Rise

The 2020 Atlantic hurricane season was like no other. Not only did it produce 20 named storms, the most on record, the United States suffered 12 direct strikes, smashing the previous record of nine from 1916. That’s 104 years ago! Forecasters had to turn to the rarely used Greek alphabet for only the second time in history to name the tropical systems.

So, what does the 2021 season have in store? According to the University of Colorado, a report recently released, another busy year is in the cards. They are predicting 17 named storms, 8 of which will become hurricanes. 4 of those 8, they predict, will be Category 3 or higher. (Category 3 storms have maximum sustained winds of 111 MPH or higher) We certainly hope they’re not right, but, no matter, it is best to be prepared, just in case.

The official start date to the Atlantic season is June 1, but in recent years, named storms have become common in May and even as early as April. Researchers said that based on current trends and the warm waters in the primary tropical breeding grounds of the Atlantic, they expect a “higher-than-normal” chance of a preseason storm to develop this year.

Preparing for Hurricane Season is Doable 

Unlike tornadoes, earthquakes and flash floods which give little or no warning, hurricane season does give ample time to prepare for the impending wind, rain and flooding. Be the smart cookie who gets all their ducks in a row before the hurricane season begins and you won’t have to stand in long lines waiting to buy water, only to have the person in front of you get the last case. Start making your list of necessary items for your emergency kit and filling that list today. Be prepared when you see the eye of the hurricane churning in your direction.

During a hurricane there are four things you may have to go without: Power, communication, plumbing and water. Water is your most important resource. You can survive 3 weeks without food, but rarely more than 3 days without water. Of course, hurricanes can limit your access to clean water, while at the same time, swamp you in flood water.

What Should be in a Hurricane Survival Kit?

Putting together a “Bug Out” Bag or 72 hour Kit, whatever you prefer to call it, can be a daunting task. Even if you’re only thinking about one or two type of emergency scenarios, the list of items you’d like to have in an emergency is always longer than what you can realistically take. Even the most experienced and skilled people have to make tough choices about what to pack.

There’s Good News and Bad News. There’s no such thing as the “Ultimate” Bug Out Bag. There are too many variables to allow for a universal answer that is perfect for all people in all circumstances. So the good news is you don’t have to stress over being perfect.

Here are a couple of tips you might find handy and practical.

• Don’t carry too much weight.
• Don’t pack a bunch of extra stuff. The point is to survive. That essentially boils down to staying hydrated, fed, warm, dry and uninjured. Everything else is bonus equipment.
• Part of the purpose of a bug out bag is knowing that it’s ready at all times.
• Don’t mix your gear.
• Don’t rely on part of your camping gear to add to your bug out bag at the last minute. You need to be able to grab and go… without thinking.

Water, Water, Water

Here’s where Sagan Life® becomes your life line to survival. Water! It’s our business and we take our business seriously. Sagan Life® has several options available to supply your bug out bag with lifesaving clean water.

Water is heavy. A gallon of water weighs 8.3 lbs. So, when trying to minimize weight, you certainly don’t want to be lugging gallons of water around and it’s not necessary with the myriad of Sagan Life® water purification options. Our products can purify the water already present, no need to bring it with you. You’ll need a fresh water supply, but you’re moving away from the salty, violent ocean and seeking quiet space inland, so any fresh water river or lake, even a neighborhood swimming pool will work as your unlimited water source.

For family use, we recommend the AquaBrick™ Water Purification System. It’s the best portable water filtration system available on the market today. The high performance DuraFlo™ Filter removes 99.9999% of all bacteria, such as salmonella, cholera and E.coli. It removes 99.99% of parasites and protozoa, such as giardia and cryptosporidium and 99.99% of viruses. The AquaBrick™ container holds 3 gallons of water and the DuraFlo™ filter will filter up to 700 gallons of contaminated water. Conservatively, figure you’ll need about 1 gallon of water per person, per day. But, never ration water unless ordered to do so by authorities. If you have access to a fresh water lake, river or creek, you’ll have plenty of fresh, clean drinking water running through your AquaBrick™. The DuraFlo™ filter effectively removes chlorine and other swimming pool chemicals from water, so you can use someone’s pool as a source of purified emergency drinking water, if need be. Believe it or not, non-salt flood water, as bad as it looks, will run safely through the DuraFlo™ water filter. So, do NOT be without the AquaBrick™ Water Filtration system as you approach the coming Hurricane season. It could save your life.

You’ll even be able to enjoy a cup of coffee or tea, if you have tucked a Kelly Kettle® and Hobo camping stove in your ‘bug out’ bag. We highly recommend you do so, as with a Kelly Kettle® Complete Kit you’ll be able to cook and boil water within 3-5 minutes, thus taking care of your cooking needs, again without adding excessive weight to your supplies. The kettle can be fired up using scraps of wood or bark gathered from your surroundings.

A Personal Survival Kit for Every Person is Recommended

It is important that each person over 10 years old have their own essentials in case your family gets separated. The Sagan Life® XStream™ Filter Straw is the perfect solution for each family member. It, too, is the most effective and convenient drinking straw on the market and only weighs 5 ounces (9 ounces with the handy pump, which serves as a spray pump to wash hands, food or share clean water) It will purify any non-salt water source and was tested and certified by independent water laboratories to safely purify 250 gallons of water, which exceeds EPA water filter standards. The XStream™ Straw Filter is easy for the kids to use and adults, too, as it comes as a 2-foot length with a 2-foot extension – total 4 feet long, so no need to lay on your tummy to drink.

The XStream™ Straw removes 99.9999% bacteria, such as E.coli; 99.99% of protozoan, such as cryptosporidium and giardia; 99.99% of viruses. So any non-salt flood water, swimming pool or rain barrel source will provide clean, safe drinking water for you and your family.

For Sheltering in Place

If you have a 55-gallon water drum system, Sagan Life® provides 3 fast, easy ways to get clean, purified water out of your drum (any size); no matter how long its’ been in there. The AquaDrum™ Water Purification system removes 99.9999% bacteria; 99.99% virus and 99.99% protozoa. The AquaDrum™ system easily pumps water from any size water barrel with a 2’ opening or bigger using the improved Hand Pump or Rechargeable Power Pump. The handpump also siphons water from the barrel – offering a 3rd option to pump clean, pure water from your 55 gallon drum. (Barrel not included)

So, as the days pass and Hurricane season approaches, we’re hoping it’s not even close to the disasters the United States suffered in 2020. Given the pandemic and the violent storms we endured, enough is enough. But, we do believe in being prepared for the worst and hoping for the best. So don’t take chances and start making a list today of the things that you must have. Remember, only take those things important to survive. Pure, clean drinking WATER is absolutely the first and foremost need for you and your families’ well-being. Let Sagan Life® protect your life with the best and most effective water filtration products on the market today.

For more on Emergency Preparedness and Survival read this: Top Survival Tips – Start With Water