Gallery: How to Survive the Worst Weather, From Mudslides to Nuclear Winter
The Extreme Weather Survival Manual, Weldon Owen publishing, 201501extreme-weather-gallery1
HOW TO DRIVE ON BLACK ICE. Be ready for black ice—never use cruise control on wet or icy roads. When you feel your car losing traction, do as little as possible. Keep the steering wheel straight, keep your foot off the brakes, and hope that your car glides forward over the ice without incident. If you feel your back end starting to slide, turn the steering wheel as gently as you can into the direction of the skid. Trying to turn it the opposite direction will likely lead to a spinout. You never want to brake, but you can slow down by taking your foot off of the accelerator. If you can, shift into low gear.
The Extreme Weather Survival Manual, Weldon Owen publishing, 201502extreme-weather-gallery
HOW TO TREAT FROSTBITE. Never rub frostbitten skin, as you can destroy cells and make it worse. Get out of the cold. If you'll be continuing to expose your frozen flesh to freezing temperatures, don't treat the frostbite until you've gotten to safety. Remove any jewelry in case you develop any swelling. Put the affected area into a bath of body-temperature water. Refresh the water frequently as it cools to keep the water at a steady temperature. If water isn't available, use body heat to treat mild cases of frostbite. But don't position the victim near a heater or an open fire: If there's nerve damage, he or she may not feel tissue begin to burn. Dress the injury in sterile bandages, wrapping each affected digit individually.
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HOW TO LIVE THROUGH A FLASH FLOOD. To escape a flash flood, leave everything behind and then run for high ground as fast as you can. If the water starts to rise around you, climb a tree or scramble onto a large rock—anything that will get you higher. If you end up in the flow, keep your head and upper body safe at all costs. Point your feet downstream and try to deflect—or better yet, steer clear of—obstructions like rocks and trees. You won't be able to fight the current, but you may be able to gradually work your way toward the edge of the flood so you can catch hold of a tree or bush and pull yourself out of the water. If a flash flood hits your home, arm yourself with the essentials, including food, water, a battery-operated radio, matches, and candles, and then head to the upper floors. Unless your home's foundation is threatened and on the verge of collapse, stay put until the waters recede.
The Extreme Weather Survival Manual, Weldon Owen publishing, 201504extreme-weather-gallery3
HOW TO SAFELY CROSS A RIVER. Remember geometry from grade school? Good, because basic knowledge of triangles can keep you from getting sucked into a fast-moving river. If the one who's braving the current is backed up by two friends on shore—with a sturdy rope loop connecting all three—the two on land will be able to help the one in the water, even if he or she loses footing. Once the first person has reached the far bank, the second can cross, using the rope stretched between the banks as a safety line. When the last person is ready to cross, he or she enters the water, and the others pull him or her across.
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HOW TO HELP SOMEONE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. Contrary to popular belief (and millions of cartoons), lightning victims usually aren't badly burned. The primary cause of death for lightning-strike victims is cardiac arrest. It's also common for the strike to damage the lungs, so a victim may stop breathing. If you know CPR, then chest compressions are the way to go (A). The victim may not be able to move or speak, due to an acute form of paralysis that's unique to lightning strikes—and thankfully temporary. Do your best to keep him or her reassured and warm until medical assistance arrives (B). A strike can blow off your clothes. A blanket will help with warmth—and modesty (C).
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DON'T GET CAUGHT IN A SLIDE. Mudslides are recurring events that happen where they've happened before. Contact local authorities to learn the geographical history of your area. Steep slopes that are close to the edge of a mountain range or valley are bad news. Pay attention to changes in the patterns of storm-water drainage on slopes. If there's a river or stream nearby, sudden changes in water level—or a change in color from clear to brown— could indicate an impending slide. Watch for cracks in pavement, or walls pulling away from buildings. This is also true if cracks appear in your house's foundation, or if doors and windows start to stick in their frames. Any trees or telephone poles that are starting to lean are not charming quirks. They mean the soil is eroding, and you should watch out.
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HOW TO FIRESCAPE YOUR HOME. Clearing the area around your home can make the difference between simply surviving a wildfire, and surviving it with a home to return to. On your house itself, keep 1/8" mesh over all vent coverings to prevent embers from entering the attic or other spaces. ZONE 1: Mark out an area 30 feet around your home. This is the critical zone. Don't allow any tall plants or trees in this area. ZONE 2: Within that 30-foot buffer, but away from the house, go with drought-tolerant plants and install a drip irrigation system. ZONE 3: Pick species that are a little lower, underneath that 30-foot height, so if they fall, they won't fall on any structures. ZONE 4 This is the safe zone farthest away from your house. Keep the ground cover knocked down, and clear out any dead vegetation.
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HOW TO SURVIVE A SANDSTORM. These events are responsible for countless traffic fatalities around the world, not to mention thousands of medical emergencies from dust and sand aggravating respiratory conditions. Always have goggles and a mask, or at least a bandanna, handy if you're going to be traveling in areas where sandstorms are likely. If you're in a vehicle, and the storm is at a reasonable distance, you may be able to outrun it. Otherwise, stop and ride it out in your car. If you are not in a vehicle and no shelter is near, all you can do is lie down and ride out the storm. Get to higher ground, if possible. The blowing sand is most concentrated close to the ground. Cover your head with your arms or a backpack to protect against any objects being hurled by the wind.
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HOW TO SURVIVE A NUCLEAR WINTER. The driving force behind the so-called nuclear winter is the same as what would cause global temperatures to dip after a strike by a space rock or a major volcanic eruption—essentially, air pollution. Really, really bad air pollution as the cities and forests burn. Smoke and ash particles would prevent sunlight from warming the Earth as it did before, causing temperatures to dip and affecting just about everything from farming to tourism. Aside from that, a destructive nuclear war wouldn't have too much of an effect on the weather. In fact, the weather would play a major role in determining where radioactive materials would disperse after the explosions—prevailing winds would sweep radiation away from the many grounds zero, resulting in the deaths of thousands (if not millions) of people from radiation poisoning or cancer. On the upside—OK, there really isn't an upside. Aside from the fact that we survived the Cold War, when there were times that this scenario seemed almost likely, and hopefully most governments are smarter these days about not wanting to destroy the entire planet.
