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 I want to share something that I have become lacks on in the last year or so, its about preparing, Oh I put out a garden , store water , fill buckets of food , rotate new foods, raise our chickens for eggs and meat, buy local and support farmers market. But it seems I need to do more. I need to share what I know and I need to learn so much more from others as well. I'm talking about being prepared for the "what ifs".
It all started when y2k happen. Oh I bought beans and rice, and lots of red wheat. I still have that stash, vacuum sealed for hard times. Now I have always canned way before y2k and I always will. I like homegrown foods and their pretty darn tasty in the winter time , so that's always goin be.
Now sense y2k we have had much go on. Oh you say nothing happen on y2k, will not in the open and according to news media, but theres many that minds and ways have changed. A change that you can never go back to the way things use to be. 911 made that change for many too. A time and an awareness that we have to do things for ourselves because there could be a time when we can't depend on others to help us. Being prepared for the "what ifs", well it could be a little or a lot you can do, but even a start will give you satisfaction that brings power to you and theres strength in power.
In our neck of the woods we had a 2 week power outage here in the country from and ice storm 5 1/2 years ago. We also was snow bound in the sticks when we moved in the country in the early seventies. So being prepared has always been an issues with me. I just get a little side track sometimes and I need to get back on track again.
I use to get buckets free at the bakery. I got a good 200 of them already but why did I stop getting them? They could be filled with water or food. I have neighbors that don't store at all . they will be knocking on my door and If I have enough for my family I will be able to share.
That's where a problem could arise in the cities when things could happen. You know we only have a three day supply in groceries stores. Maybe less if a disaster happens, Think of the hurricanes and the rush to get supplies. No generators to be found when the ice storm came. We were fortunate to have a fireplace and a good supply of candles and stock up on food and water. I was glad I prepared, even laughed at during the time of y2k, well y2k mind set helped us through a two week ice storm. While those that laughed at me had to hang out at a church facilities. Thank heavens for those place to go, thats for sure. but the more one does for theirself the more room will be for those that are not able to provide and don't care to prepare.
So heres what I want to share, my BOB, Bug Out Bag. I carry this with me in the van, its got a lot of things incase I'm stranded in ice or snow and can't get home. I packed it with lots of goodies. My favorite is Cranky, its a crank up radio that lets me keep in touch of what might be going on in the event of a disaster. Theres a whistle in there. Think titanic, she blew a whistle to get saved out of the icy water. Theres a saw, what if I'm traveling down a road and a tree falls across the road or street and I can't go anywhere except forward to get home. I can saw a tree.
Theres bandages and hooded ponchos, gloves and a couple of space blankets incase I got to hunker down in the van or even in the woods for a night or so. One should bring water all the time in their autos, along with some high energy snack food. Learn to make your own granola bars and take with you even on short trips. Breakdowns and other things happen when away from home and having some supplies with you will make it a heck of a lot easier. Learn how to change your tire, waiting for a service you paid for may never come. Bring blankets with you in the winter time. Oh bring a sledge hammer with you, sis and I tried to get a tire off and we didn't have a big hammer, a man walked over with one and we got that tire off with a couple of wacks!!!!!!
My dd was broke down in the city and had a 2 hour wait in the cold snow and ice last winter. She just took the blanket I put in there for just in case the day before, lot a good it did here at home. Lessons learned the hard way.
Ok this is me, I want to be prepared. The saying I go by is, Prepare for the worst and Pray for the best.
Theres this site that I had the honor of meeting this lady that was giving a class on preparedness, she has been in the New York paper I do believe and has her own radio show. Heres her link,
http://www.preparednessnow.com/
I copied her preparedness list and its kind of cool to see where one is standing in there preparedness. I took the test and I need to do soooo much more on all areas. Hope you fared better.
Now heres what I would like to do, each week maybe have something about being and getting prepared. If you would like to do this with me , great. I'm going to put a poll on here and see if theres any interest, if not that's ok to, I'm still going full speed where I use to be. But come along and we can get some ideas from one another. My thoughts if everyone just did a bit, whether big or little thats one less strain incase ofs.
Preparedness Quiz
Taken from Institute for Self-Reliant Living and Pam Stegner's Preparedness 101 classes. This version of the Quiz is the more extensive one, and has not been done in it's entirety on the radio yet. This quiz will help you determine how prepared you are. The thinking behind this Quiz is to become self-sufficient without being dependent on care from the government or others. But that you can care for yourself and those who depend on you. If you don't know the answer to the question, check "No." Scores are provided at the end of the quiz. Don't peek and be honest, the quiz is only for you to rate yourself against yourself. There are no right or wrong answers, regardless of where you are on the scale of preparedness, the thing is to begin. And the fact that you are taking this quiz means that you are interested in preparedness!
Answer YES or NO
COMMUNICATIONS
1. I own a battery or solar-powered AM/FM/Shortwave radio that has side band capabilities.
2. I own a 2-way radio system, either a CB, Family Radio Service, or General Mobile Radio Service.
3. Everyone in my family has a cell phone.
FOOD
4. I have stockpiled 30 days worth of canned foods for everyone in my family.
5. I have 90 days worth of meals ready to eat, dehydrated food or a combination of both.
6. I have 90 days worth of staples and condiments.
7. I have a one-year, long-term food storage plan stockpiled for every one in my family. And this food
is properly stored. (If not properly stored this one does not count.
8. I rotate food, so that I am using and replenishing my long term storage food.
9. I practice once-a-month buying or buy from a food coop.
10. I have a backup cooking system, i.e., a Coleman cook stove or outdoor grill.
WATER
11. I have products stored to treat unclean water, i.e., bleach, iodine, aerobic oxygen, etc.
12. I have a non-electric water purification system capable of 24 gallons a day.
13. I have a small hand held non-electric water purification system.
14. I have a 72 hr. supply of drinking water stored in my home.
15. I have a 2 week supply of water stored on my property.
16. I have 60 day supply of water stored on my property.
LOCATION
17. I have a relocation plan in the event of a disaster.
18. I know my neighbors and know I could count on them in an emergency.
EMERGENCY SAFETY & FIRE STARTERS
19. I have down comforter or extra blankets for every bed in my home.
20. I own fire extinguishers and know how to use them.
21. I have the appropriate fuel safely store.
22. I have carbon monoxide detectors for use in an emergency.
23. I have waterproof matches.
24. I have other fire starters.
25. I know first aid (CPR, Bleeding Control, Fracture splinting, vital signs)
26. Everyone in my family has a pair of shoes that can easily be slipped on, in case of quick evacuation.
(I bet you are wondering about this one! If there is a fire the first thing that happens is glass breaks,
and it makes it a lot easier to get the heck out of dodge if you have shoes on when running over glass!)
HEAT
27. I have a 2 sleeping bags, cold weather and summer, for every member of my family.
28. I have smoke detectors installed in my home.
29. I have backup fuel, such as wood, propane, gasoline, etc.
30. I have a backup heating system, fire place, propane (etc.) space heater, wood burning stove, etc.
ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
31. I have flash lights in every bedroom.
32. I have backup lighting, kerosene lamp, Coleman lamp, etc., in the event of a multi-day emergency.
33. I have emergency long burning candles.
34. I have extra batteries, enough to light all my flash lights for 60 days. And to play my
shortwave/AM/FM radio for 60 days.
35. I own a generator and know how to use it in an emergency.
36. My home is completely off the grid. (You just made an A on this Quiz!)
PERSONAL FINANCES
37. I have $1,000 in emergency cash. It is tucked away where I have 24 hr. access to it, even if the
electricity is off.
38. I have an Emergency Fund with at least 3 months worth of living expenses in it.
39. I have no consumer debt, including car loans.
40. I have at least 20 % of my portfolio in precious metals.
41. I am self-employed.
HEALTH
42. I have a chemical or organic toilet. (and I know how to use it!)
43. I have a 30 day stockpile of prescription medications.
44. I have a 60 day stockpile of prescription medications.
45. I have a 60 day stockpile of over-the-counter medications.
46. I take vitamin, mineral and herbal supplements daily.
47. I exercise routinely in order to maintain my physical health.
48. I eat an organic health food diet, only organic meat, no hormones.
HOME SECURITY
49. I own a dog (the bigger and meaner looking the better).
50. My yard is fenced.
51. I have deadbolts on my doors and all my windows have locks.
52. I have a burglar alarm system and activate it before going to bed each night.
53. I own a gun and I know how to use it.
54. I own at least a 1000 rounds of ammunition for every gun in my home.
55. I have a written medical emergency response plan.
56. I have a written home invasion plan (don't want to shot the kids and wife!) And this includes an
outside perimeter with booby traps.
57. I have communicated these plans to my family and drilled them on the execution.
58. I have established a safe room in my house.
Count YES answers as one.
How Prepared Are You? Score Yourself.
Scoring Yourself
The scoring below will give you an indication of your level of preparedness so you are not reliant
on the government. If your scores are low, don't worry. If you listen to Preparedness Now and study
my web site in depth you can raise your score dramatically in a few months.
47-58
Prepared and Self-Reliant. You may have some areas you still need to address, but you have achieved
what hardly anyone every does! Count yourself among the likes of Noah! You are independent with will
minimal dependence on external infrastructures.
38-46
Almost Prepared and Self-Reliant. You are well on your way1 You have taken major steps to obtain
independence and just need to address those areas where you are still to dependent on outside
infrastructures and systems.
29-37
Moving toward Preparedness. You are at least aware of self-reliance and emergency preparedness issues.
You have taken some steps to free of yourself of external dependencies. What you need now is a plan and the
know-how to go all the way.
20-28
Too Dependent. You are still more dependent on the system than you need to be. You are no different
than millions of others who are dependent on others in a crisis.
11-19
Dangerously Dependent. You are not totally dependent, but you are close. If you experience a crisis,
your lifestyle will be seriously disrupted.
0-10
Totally Dependent. You are totally dependent on things outside your control for your own physical
well-being. You are just an emergency away from personal disaster.
ADDITION: Give yourself 5 points if you have a gas mask and give yourself another
5 points if you have MOP gear.
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All take good care
Blessings
linda
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