AlwaysReadyHQLocation: Atlanta, GA, USA
The AlwaysReadyHQ Team is made up of writers and editors with experience ranging from emergency paramedics to former FEMA policy writers to natural disaster reporters.
Our goal is to provide clear, concise, organized, realistic, and actionable information to help you and your family feel comfortable and ready for anything. Less scared and more prepared.
We only source from authoritative sources such as government agencies and industry associations to bring reliable information to directly to you.
Andrew Riley - Contributing Editor
Andrew grew up in a country known for earthquakes, volcanoes, and typhoons. But despite the chaos and destruction of natural disasters, he remembers the resilience and readiness of neighbors, despite a lack of official government aid. He hopes that his team of experienced writers bring a bit of that to all of AlwaysReadyHQ's readers.
There is a 50/50 chance that you’re reading this and are already annoyed because your toilet pipes are frozen. But don’t fear. We are here to break down what to do when you’ve woken up to this particular nightmare and how to try and head it off before it happens.
In the US, fire departments respond to around 350,000 house fires annually. And the estimated rate is an average of one every 23 seconds.
Hurricanes are vicious storms that bring dangerous storm surges and high-forced winds. Extreme weather occurrences are becoming more frequent and robust, making understanding how they work necessary. We will take a closer look at what part of a hurricane is the most dangerous and how it fits into the entire system.
When your hands get cold, misery is sure to follow. But it isn’t just about comfort. You lose a considerable amount of body heat through your hands. That could mean the difference between surviving and not-so-much surviving in a winter-related emergency. Let’s look at exactly why are mittens warmer than gloves, and how they differ and […]
When the electricity flickers, we hold our breath. And, we curse when it goes out and stays out. We will look at why do storms cause power outages and how best to handle the next one.
Okay, well, it does snow in Florida; it’s just rare. There’s a scientific reason behind the whole thing. We will explain why it snows in Texas but not so often in Florida. And what that means for its residents and visitors.
No doubt, basements are helpful, especially as a storm shelter. But Florida is quite literally in the middle of the swamp, which means that underground anything is pretty sketchy. Let’s take a quick look at why you won’t find many basements in Florida and why above-ground shelter options may work for you.
If you’re picturing an actual tent in your attic, don’t worry, we did, too. Alas, an attic tent is not some ready-made fort on your top floor. Let’s learn the ins and outs of attic tents and check whether it’s worth it or not.
It feels like there are only two candle options – 99¢ or $100,000. Okay, so not quite that bad, but let’s be serious; paying $100 for something that supposedly smells like bark and will burn out relatively quickly feels sorta insane. Let’s look at why candles are so expensive and what you can do about […]
All weather events are unpredictable and come with dangers. Hurricanes top the list of the most savage storm systems.
You’re enjoying a lovely sunny day; out of nowhere, a stinging insect decides you’re its target. It’s not like the bee zeros in; it’s just that we get in its way or it feels threatened.
Batteries will be one of the only power sources left when the world ends. Plus, most of the modern world uses them to do everyday tasks.
Most of us hear battery acid, and we know to take caution. But why? Let’s look at why battery acid is dangerous and how you can avoid exposure.
Sure, self-reliance is about putting your independence and confidence first. But, the better your self-reliance is, the better of an asset you are to other people. We will explain what self-reliance is and highlight the reasons to answer why is self-reliance important.
You’ll buy a bunch of guns over your lifetime, but you’ll likely only invest in one or two gun safes. With that sort of investment, you want the best bang for your buck.
You might want to store emergency food long-term for a ton of reasons that haven’t anything to do with a possible impending doomsday. Healthy foods, in particular, not only last longer when preserving them, but they actually retain more nutrients when stored correctly.
Most disaster-preparedness kit checklists has an emergency radio listed. But what does that even mean? You type it into Google and are instantly hit with a million different options. We will break down why an emergency radio is important and what options are out there that suit your survival needs.
Life is too unpredictable not to have at least some emergency food on hand at all times. It’s not an overreaction; it is preparedness. We will take a closer look at the best emergency foods to stock up on and how to safely maintain it.
The sun powers the solar cells, but you have to have a way to turn that into usable energy. Let’s look at what an inverter is and why you need one to power your solar panels.
Grid failures and catastrophic weather events are further proof that emergency preparedness is vital to survival and certainly not an overreaction. But you don’t have to panic, either. Let’s look at why emergency preparedness is important and how you make sure you’re ready for anything.
Does ramen expire or can it be used as a survival food?
I’m always looking for new ways to store food for the long-term. Having a reserve of food on hand is a great way to stay prepared when the power goes out for a couple of days or more serious natural disaster strikes. One thing I have been thinking about a lot lately is using an […]
I hear from plenty of gun owners that guns are just like tattoos, once you get the first one, you’re going to get more! Firearms are great for self-defense, sports, and collecting. Keeping your collection safe becomes a bigger and bigger challenge with the more firearms you purchase. A gun safe room can help you […]
Sliding glass doors are a modern convenience that many homeowners enjoy. They provide easy access to the outdoors and can make a home feel more spacious. However, they can also be vulnerable to theft or burglary, which is why it’s important to secure them with a good lock. There are many different types of sliding […]
Right, so there is a 50/50 chance you’ve never heard of bulletproof drywall. It isn’t quite as cool as ‘bulletproof glass’ or bulletproof armor and has no production quality.
The first thing you need to know is that foolproof bulletproof glass doesn’t exist. It is a movie thing that we’ve convinced ourselves is real. With that pesky fact out of the way, you can get a glass that can withstand quite a beating, including small-caliber weapons. But, if you’re planning to OK Corral a […]
We get vivid images when we think about body armor – law enforcement, military, Batman. (Please don’t wear the last with any expectation other than Cosplay)
For thousands of years, vinegar has been used as an antiseptic and preservative. If you’re looking at being in a situation where you have to provide for yourself and your family for an extended period of time, having a large supply of vinegar on hand will be essential. Because vinegar has such an acidic smell, […]
Just because you take the time to learn something doesn’t mean you will ever have to use it. But, it’s better to know that not to know.
Self-defense is one of the most important things you can learn. Not only will basic self-defense skills keep you safe in dangerous situations, they will also build your personal confidence. There are plenty of martial arts and weapons that can keep you safe, but wasp spray isn’t one of them. Using wasp spray self defense […]
Home safety is important, and no matter how low crime drops, that concern is still omnipresent. Even homeowners or renters in a small town feel these concerns, logical or not. However, just because you want to be secure, does not mean you need to be paranoid about it. There are steps that you not only […]
Hurricane screens are translucent, and made from lightweight polypropylene fabric. They can be permanently mounted and rolled out of the way and quickly deployed in case of a hurricane. However, they exist as part of a spectrum of hurricane home protection. If you live along the Gulf or Atlantic coasts, you’re no stranger to hurricane […]
Are you and the adult drivers in your family prepared for a roadside breakdown? According to the AAA, of the millions of motorist roadside assistance calls they receive, dead car batteries and flat tires lead the pack.
What started as a test drink on the football field of the University of Florida, hence the “Gator” in the name, is now a global drink used by athletes and non-athletes for energy and electrolytes.
Hurricanes. Tornadoes. Cyclones. Typhoons. There are so many words associated with dangerous storms that spin around, it can be confusing to keep them all straight.
One might argue there is nothing calm and quiet about a hurricane. As you’re about to find out, that’s wrong. There is a calm, sunny, peaceful part of a hurricane — and it’s dead in the center of it.
Hurricane Season in Florida starts June 1 and runs through November 30, but there’s also a mini-hurricane season within that time span. It’s when the tropics are most ripe and active and it runs eight weeks from mid-August to mid-October.
Few things can strike fear into a person more than the blast of a tornado siren. An average of 1,200 tornadoes strike in the United States each year. With proper tornado safety training and learning the signs of a tornado, we can all be better prepared to protect our families and homes when a funnel […]
You live in Tornado Alley. While spring brings warmer weather, March through June brings the threat of storm systems that can spawn deadly tornadoes. The 2021 tornado season was one of the worst ever, with the season extending through December for an unusual late-autumn outbreak across the south and Midwest.
Ask any Alabamian where they were on April 27, 2011, and a pang of sadness will come over their faces as they tell you about the day they lived through hell. Alabama was part of the 2011 Super Outbreak of tornadoes that swept through a large portion of the country, but no doubt Alabama took the […]
Tornadoes are just as intense as they are fascinating. If you’ve ever gotten to see one from a safe distance, you can’t help but feel a sense of awe at the power of mother nature.
A Civil Emergency message is a warning issued by your local, state, or national government agency. The message warns the general public of threats that are either imminent or in progress.
Hurricane season is always right around the corner for people who live on the east coast of the United States. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration state that the 2022 hurricane season will officially begin June 1st. It is essential to find ways to keep your home intact. Roll Down or Rolling shutters for a […]
The bulletproof glass you see in the movies and television is not reality. In reality, bullet-resistant glass will protect you from all sorts of projectiles, but genuinely bulletproof glass is a myth. It might catch a bullet or two, and certainly, it slows them down, but if you’re planning on a shootout, don’t let bullet proof windows […]
We see famous people behind high security windows every day. But, they aren’t just for them. You have a right to be as safe as any celebrity or politician. We think high security windows, and we picture shootouts, police stations, and maybe bulletproof glass or windows. That is not the reality of it. Bullet-resistant glass […]
Before we jump straight to a makeshift panic room scenario, there are a gazillion other reasons you would want to secure your bedroom door. And we will get into them shortly. We all know that simple locks for bedroom door sometimes just aren’t enough to keep the things we want out – out.
Sometimes on a random Tuesday, catastrophe strikes. You don’t have a way to predict it, but there are ways you can prepare for it. And, if saving the life of your family means knowing how to break down a door.
A Storm shelter is a pretty broad term for a safe structure that protects people from bad weather, such as: Tornadoes Hurricanes Wind Storms Flying Debris Earthquakes But, for any safe room or tornado shelter to be an actual storm shelter, it must meet FEMA’s criteria. Let’s explore the types and considerations that go into buying a storm […]
Disasters come in all shapes and sizes. Weather, unrest, and even war are things that can happen in an instant. One look at the newspaper, and we all know it. Most of us force ourselves to deny it because brains are funny things, but should we?
Before you throw down your cash for a below-ground refuge, let’s dig into everything you need to know about below ground tornado shelters. The weather is unpredictable, and catastrophic storms sometimes hit out of nowhere. The weather doesn’t care where you live, either. Tornadoes seem to be getting stronger and more frequent. And, the only […]