How To Survive a Sandstorm by Yourself

Hello, my name is Dalil Abassi. My family knows me by Dadi, though.  I am a Chalistani Nomad. I live with my wife, two daughters (one named Shabanu, and the other Phulan), my father (who is a Jindwadda Ali Abassi troop), my sister in law, and her two sons. It is a full house and I haven’t even mentioned the camels yet. We earn our money by breeding and selling our fine camels. We had to sell even our best recently to pay for my daughter’s dowry’s and weddings. Phulan is getting wed this summer, and Shabanu, the summer after that. We have recently experienced an extremely bad sandstorm and my father got lost in it. We eventually found him very ill, and barely alive.

Part 1: How to know when a sandstorm is coming.

If there isa sandstorm, you will see a big cloud of fog that looks like it’s been covered with dust. The atmosphere will be hazy and it will be hard to see.

Part 2: What to do if there is a sandstorm.

Step 1: Get everything to safety.

If you see a sandstorm coming and you are alone, you need to get everything that can’t get dirty inside your mud hut. If you don’t, valued stuff might get buried under mounds of dirt and sand. They will be hard to find, and if you need them, you will be in big trouble. That’s why I suggest doing it fast.

Step 2: Close everything off.

Get a big tarp that can cover your entrance and secure it so the sand and dust will not get in.

Step 3: Wait it out.

Even if you have a family member out in the storm, it would be best if you didn’t chase after them. If you do, your face and skin will be very dehydrated and will start cracking and you will have to heal it. Also, dust will fill your lungs and throat and you will not be able to breathe which will cause you to suffocate. Stay calm and the storm will be over soon enough.

Step 4: When the storm’s over.

When the storms over, don’t start to unpack right away. Put a piece of cloth over your head and one over your nose and mouth, and peek your head outside your hut. If the storm is clear within 15 miles, it is safe to go outside. Once it is approximately 30 miles away, you can unpack, but you have to be careful still.