Lab 6: Disaster Prep 101: The Houston Survival Guide

Lab 6: Disaster Prep 101: The Houston Survival Guide

Department: The School of Personal Safety

Target Audience: Ages 12–18 (All Ages Welcome)

TEFA Category: Safety / Life Skills

“When the grid goes down, do you have a plan?” Living on the Gulf Coast means accepting that “weather events” aren’t a matter of “if,” but “when.” From rapidly forming hurricanes to sudden, widespread “Boil Water Notices,” Houstonians must be ready for the power to fail and the water to stop running. This isn’t a lab about fear; it’s a lab about radical self-reliance. If the cell towers go dark, do you know how to survive the next 72 hours?

The Experience

This is a tactical preparedness and resource management lab. Students will actively engage in the logic and mechanics of survival, focusing on the specific challenges of a subtropical urban environment. We don’t just tell you what to pack; we analyze the “why” and the “how.”

We focus on critical failures of technology and infrastructure. You’ll learn how to prioritize items for a tactical “Go Bag,” understanding the weights and necessities for a rapid evacuation. We practice “Analog Navigation,” teaching you how to use compass bearings and read physical paper maps when GPS fails. Participants will also master essential “Water Safety” skills, including the physics of purification and navigating stagnant urban floodwaters safely.

Core Skills Developed

• Resource Prioritization: Mastering the “Rule of 3s” (air, water, shelter) to rapidly build and manage emergency supply lists (Go Bags vs. Stay Kits).

• Analog Navigation: Learning to read topological and street maps using grid coordinates, bearings, and simple landmarking when digital devices fail.

• Basic Water Sanitation: Understanding the chemistry and physical methods of making environmental water sources (floodwater, rainwater) potable (safe to drink).

• Situational Weather Awareness: Learning to interpret meteorology reports and radar data to predict and prepare for local flood risks, power outages, and evacuation timelines.