Stop The Threat Host, Security and Safety Expert James B. Towle, Offers 5 Tips to Protect Your Home, Business and Self
THE WOODLANDS, TX: The floods that recently ravaged the Houston area – resulting in multiple deaths and millions of dollars of damage – actually started even before hurricane season officially did. Security and protection expert James B. Towle points out that this is a strong example of how it’s never too early to be prepared.
Towle founded American Trigger Sports Network and is host and executive producer of the ATSN television show Stop The Threat. He has been in the Security and Law Enforcement community for 25 years and presently maintains his license as a Private Investigator. He augmented the Secret Service on President Reagan’s Ranch in California before becoming President of the Sheriff’s Council prior to entering radio and TV. He describes how being unprepared for an emergency can have long-reaching – and potentially life-threatening – implications.
“It is an unfortunate fact that predators and criminals use natural disasters as a precursor to conduct additional damage in the form of looting, robbery, vandalism and assault,” Towle said. “Boarding up your windows might help protect your property from strong winds, but will do nothing to keep out a determined burglar or home invader.”
Just in time for hurricane season – but with the coverage of other emergency situations – Towle has put together a simple checklist of resources and procedures for potential victims of a natural disaster to prevent additional catastrophe in the crime-ridden aftermath:
Lock up behind you… or in front of you. “If you opt to leave your residence or small business – or are required to evacuate by emergency services – during a natural emergency, be certain to secure all doors and windows,” said Towle. Battery-powered door and window sensor alarms are available at most home improvement stores. Should you opt to stay and ride out the storm, be sure to keep the same protocols in place and keep your windows and doors locked and alarmed, wherever possible.
Let them know you’re home, even when you’re not. Statistically, criminals during and after a natural emergency will choose an empty home or business over one that might be occupied. If you opt to remain in place, try to indicate “signs of life” to the outside world, such as keeping lights or radios on. Purchase battery-powered radios, lanterns, and televisions, and be sure to have an ample supply of batteries. Should you evacuate, if at all possible keep battery-powered radios and lanterns (preferably LED to extend battery life) on throughout your home or business. “While this is a temporary stopgap measure, it could mean the difference between a burglar entering your premises or moving on to the next darkened house,” said Towle.
A picture is worth a thousand documents. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) strongly encourages paper documents be electronically stored, and Towle echoes the stance. “Take photos or scans of all important documents, particularly all documentation involved with any handguns or other weapons you keep at your home or business,” said Towle. “Store the scanned and photographed documents on at least three flash drives: one to keep in a secure location such as a safe at your residence or business, one to keep on you if you bring weapons with you during an evacuation, and one for your attorney to keep. Be sure to encrypt the drive so that no unauthorized access can occur.”
Protect your weapons… If flooding is possible or imminent, all bullet-firing weapons should be secured in a watertight safe. If you evacuate and have multiple weapons, it is better to keep them stored in the safe rather than take them all with you in a vehicle. If you remain behind and feel the need to keep any such weapons ready for immediate use, keep them in a high location such as a top closet shelf. It is equally vital to keep all ammunition dry, as well. Pretreating the exterior of handguns and rifles with microcrystalline wax will help make the weapons more resistant to water; however the internal workings of these guns must be well lubricated with standard gun oil. Smaller weapons can be stored in zip-sealed plastic bags.
…and your rights. In 2006 after law enforcement in New Orleans attempted to confiscate legal handguns of citizens in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, President George W Bush signed the Disaster Recovery Personal Protection Act, which prohibited such actions by law enforcement and allowed citizens to keep their legally-owned weapons. “At your home or personal business, even in a state of natural disaster or federal emergency, you are allowed to keep your legal weapons,” said Towle. “However, be aware of local laws and regulations of areas that you might travel to or through in the case of evacuation. Once you enter another jurisdiction by crossing city, county or state lines, you are subject to those areas’ gun laws.”
Beginning its seventh season, Stop The Threat presents reenactments of crimes then discusses scenarios and outcomes with a panel of experts. Since the show’s initial inception in 2008, an estimated 5 million viewers have tuned in to learn “best response” skills and techniques from professionals, and how to defend themselves, their families and their property if targeted by assailants.
Stop The Threat airs Wednesday night on The Hunt Channel at 8:00PM central time (Dish Network 266) and Friday night on Pursuit Channel at 8:00 p.m., central time (DirecTV Channel 604/Dish network 393).For more information on Stop The Threat or James B. Towle, please visit www.StoptheThreat.tv.