Frontlines

F l o o d If a river jumps its banks, the protocol is mercifully simple: run. Get out of Dodge, Vota warns. I wouldnt stand around trying to pile up sandbags. The sewer system will back up, so have some sanitation suppliesa portable sink and toilet, urine and feces bags, and solid-waste-eliminating gels (sorry, hope you werent reading this over lunch).

Blizzard Caught in your car during a winter storm? Youre in luck! Or, well, you would be if you had prepared. Vota sells automotive emergency kits that include jumper cables, towropes, and weatherproof matches. For warmth, there are heaters that plug into your cigarette lighter, sleeping bags, and space blankets. Combine these products and itll feel like the Fourth of July.

to r n a d o/ h u r r i ca n e If a series of tornadoes (its happened before) or a hurricane (maybe in 2012) hit the city, the nightmare wont end with the wind and rain. The aftermath of these storms can be far worse than the storms themselves, Vota says. To get through it, stockpile water, food, a weather radio, a flashlight, and a multi-tool or two.

so c i e ta l co l l a ps e To fend off looters and rioters, Vota recommends a stun gun or some pepper spray. Interestingly, Mace has been one of our biggest sellers, he says. Your cash will be about as valuable as toilet paper, so have some things to barter with. Vota suggests rations, a scarce commodity in the post-apocalyptic world.

sign oF the times

When the going gets tough, the tough get ready.

When hurricane andreW hit MiaMi in 1992, John Vota was appalled at how difficult it was to find supplies. His
outrage grew with the failed response to Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Unfortunately it has been proven time and time again that the people we rely on in times of trouble are incapable, uninterested, or ineffective at helping us, he says. So in January, he opened Safe & Ready Life, an emergency supply store in Milford (5902 Montclair Blvd., 513-831-7233), to teach customers the principles of preparedness. Above, Votas advice for four disaster scenarios. w i l l i a m p o we l l
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Disasters R Us