Matt Lawrence: Preparedness Expert
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Matt Lawrence is the former Director of Special Projects for Freedom Flight International and current president of Paratus International, LLC - a consulting firm providing disaster preparedness services and education to government interests and first responders.
A South Florida native, Lawrence literally grew up in the eye of the storm with his initiation to preparedness coming early in life; baptized by the fierce hurricanes of the 1960s, Donna and Cleo.
He reminisces about living under the threat of nuclear attack during the Cuban missile crisis, “I learned about preparedness at an early age. “We played in bomb shelters in the backyards of our homes. There was no FEMA or free recovery aid available. It was us and our neighbors hoping for space in the Civil Defense shelters at the public schools. We grew up with a certain sense of community that has all but since disappeared from our culture.”
Since publishing his preparedness guide, What To Do til the Cavalry Comes: A Family Guide to Preparedness in 21st Century America, Matt Lawrence has conducted numerous television and radio interviews; and as well, has been an invited speaker at Congressman Steve Israel’s Long Island Hurricane Summit, the Texas Homeland Security Conference and the Technologies for Critical Incident Preparedness Conference which was sponsored in part by the Department of Justice.
He can be reached via his website.
A South Florida native, Lawrence literally grew up in the eye of the storm with his initiation to preparedness coming early in life; baptized by the fierce hurricanes of the 1960s, Donna and Cleo.
He reminisces about living under the threat of nuclear attack during the Cuban missile crisis, “I learned about preparedness at an early age. “We played in bomb shelters in the backyards of our homes. There was no FEMA or free recovery aid available. It was us and our neighbors hoping for space in the Civil Defense shelters at the public schools. We grew up with a certain sense of community that has all but since disappeared from our culture.”
Since publishing his preparedness guide, What To Do til the Cavalry Comes: A Family Guide to Preparedness in 21st Century America, Matt Lawrence has conducted numerous television and radio interviews; and as well, has been an invited speaker at Congressman Steve Israel’s Long Island Hurricane Summit, the Texas Homeland Security Conference and the Technologies for Critical Incident Preparedness Conference which was sponsored in part by the Department of Justice.
He can be reached via his website.
REVIEWS
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Electricity, since man discovered how to harness it, we've become more and more dependent on it with every new technological revelation that requires it to run. Now for more than just heat and light, electricity powers virtually everything we use in our daily lives; from the alarm clock that wakes us up in the morning, to the coffee makers, elevators, traffic signals, computers, exercise equipment, and appliances that we take for granted everyday.Read More »
So much in fact, we expect it to be there even when we know it's not. Don't think so? Go back to the last power outage you remember and think of how many times you walked into a room and flipped the light switch… even though you knew the power was out!
We're hooked on electricity.
As dependable as the electrical grid our nation is, there are times when it fails and the need for emergency power arises. There are many units on the market from the smallest designed to power computers, video cameras, and equipment on remote location to units permanently mounted outside homes and businesses.
This review is on the portable units, the type most of us can either carry or wheel out of our garages and power up our homes with the basic necessities until our electric company gets us back on line.
It's important to remember when choosing a portable generator that you figure out exactly what you plan on operating and buy the appropriate sized unit. Most big box stores and websites specializing in generators have a calculator that gives you general amperage requirements for things like refrigerators, televisions, air conditioners, and light bulbs.
With a little planning and some smart load usage, most of us can live comfortably with a medium sized portable generator until the situation is corrected. So, let there be light… even if it's to the drone of a fuel engine. -
“Got a flashlight?”Read More »
That question is probably one of the most asked in life when situations dictate shedding a little more light on any subject. They come in all shapes, sizes, and materials. I've got a few, so when asked by Tibesti to do this review, I jumped at the opportunity.
From keychain sized minis to LED, xenon, and halogen lamped tactical models capable of producing blinding light, these tools of many trades have evolved from what they once were, yet their reason for service has remained quite the same - to keep us out of the dark!
As dependable as the electrical grid our nation is, when it unexpectedly fails, we depend on flashlights for quick emergency light. While there are many types in the marketplace, this review is meant to give an overview of the different styles and usages so you can make educated choices in purchasing the right light for the job.
As in many instances with my reviews, not only do I recommend the product after a thorough review, I own them! -
Go green! That's the call heard around the world as carbon emissions, oil prices, and global waste production continue to increase. Self-generating or wind-up gadgets have been on the market for years but now more than ever their uses are growing beyond the emergencies for which they were designed. Many of these multi-powered units can be charged with AC adapters, car adapters, or solar as well as being supported by hand-cranked power. One things for sure, with these units you'll never be out of the loop.Read More »
One product still available in some markets, although I've chosen not to feature them, is the crank-powered televisions popular with outdoor enthusiasts and folks in the thirteen states that make up the hurricane belt. That's because they will all be obsolete when the U.S. makes the switch to digital broadcasting in February 2009! That being said I did include one review of a radio that receives television signals for those of you that just can't miss your favorite “soap.” -
When I was first asked to research and write these reviews of fire safety products the request was for fire extinguishers alone. After hitting the streets, searching the web and speaking with a former executive at First Alert, I realized the fire safety in the home requires a couple of easy-to-access, simple-to-use products as well as an evacuation plan.Read More »
All fire professionals I spoke with said the best thing anyone can do in the event of a house fire is to GET OUT as quickly as possible. In order to do that, you have to have smoke detectors! It was also recommended that I not overlook carbon monoxide detectors either, as this odorless, colorless silent killer attacks without warning.
That being said, it was suggested everyone have at least one smoke detector and if possible, one in every bedroom with a CO detector of some kind in the home as well.
Also suggested are multi-rated ABC fire extinguishers in the kitchen (of which I keep two, one near the stove, another under the sink) and one in your garage.
After reading these reviews, I urge you all to sit down with your families, establish a fire escape/fire preparedness plan and review it twice a year, when you change the batteries in your smoke detectors. A good rule of thumb is to review your plan when you adjust your clocks in spring and fall.
Since the most basic rule is to have a smoke detector let's begin with those. There are two major players manufacturing products for homeowners and two general types of smoke alarms available today: photoelectric and ionization. Let's begin there.
While photoelectric smoke alarms generally respond faster to smoldering smoke conditions and ionization smoke alarms generally respond faster to flaming fire conditions, both types provide adequate protection against fire. Combination units are available, hence my choice for the top two smoke detectors in my review. -
Thanks to major advances in solar technology, tiny solar panels now generate more efficient power for many things used in our daily lives.Read More »
Solar gadgets reduce our impact on the environment by reducing our dependence on electricity produced by fossil fuels, dry cell and chemical batteries. The following solar gadgets can even lessen the impact of a natural disaster simply by using the sun to power up the many modern devices we've become some so dependant on. Did you know that the small square plugs on our televisions, radios, portable phones are really DC converters? That is they convert the AC voltage to DC current that actually powers your device!
By harnessing the sun's power, these solar items can keep your lights on, your food cold, your television, satellite dish, computer, cell phone, and iPod powered when the power goes out for any length of time due to electrical equipment failures or after any natural disaster.
