Ok. Now that we have a plan to respectfully see to the departed, it is time to have a look at what we can do today to survive in case of a terrible disaster.
I realize there are hundred or maybe thousands of "kits" you can buy. But are they REALLY effective or are you wasting your time and money.
Obviously, a first aid "kit" is a good idea, but a disaster plan needs to fit in with what you can most easily obtain, either something you have or can purchase.
1. Lodging
Most folks who live in cities don't have a clue as to what would be useful to LIVE in for a week or even a month in case of a diaster. Except for water, most of us could live off the fat of the land.. 'er in our case, fat of the butt, for MANY, MANY days. But keeping warm and dry is essential to survival, so contrary to what would seem logical like food first, some place to sleep and keep dry is first on the list.
You can get by with the pop up style nylon tent that has a floor and can be set up in less than 20 minutes in a pinch. But if you are planning on living in it for more than a couple of days, and more than just yourself, you'll need to look a little farther for a better solution.
I recommend obtaining and learning to set up a canvas TeePee. Panther tents make some of the best, but you can get canvas from Walmart and a book from the library and make your own. In researching this part of the project, you can get drawn in to Rendezvous.
Rendezvous is 18th Century living history re-enactors, meeting all over the country all year round at various camps. Just Google RENDEZVOUS and your state for the next local events. A visit to a rendezvous will tell you all you need to know about tent living and surviving without many modern conveniences.
Other styles of lodges are available and are easier to set up than teepees. They include wall tents, diamond flys and hunter lodges.
2. Lightweight clothes and bedding.
You need to set aside some special layable clothing and bedding that can be left packed for emergencies. Use good common sense. Just a couple of sets of clothes, per person. Wear one, wash one. Forget the style, you are trying to survive! Cotton underclothes, one set short, one set long and don't forget a face towel and bath towel for each. You can "review" your packed clothes every 6 months (mostly for fit).. wash.. dry COMPLETELY and repack.
3. Nesting cookware, water containers and fire irons.
While cast iron is always the best cookware for survival, it is not always easy to store or get to when there is an emergency. A lightweight skillet, nesting sauce pan with plates and cups that fit inside are a better choice for emergency use.
While Coleman makes great camping stuff, it is not really designed for long term use. Plan on cooking over an open fire. A more practical setup would include tripod trivets and versatile flip up grills that use firewood.
4. Water
You can live a long time without much food, but you can't do much of anything without water. You need containers that hold at least 6 gallons of fresh water, per person that can be transported to the water source and refilled daily.
If you are in a situation where you have to boil the water, you need extra metal containers to cool the water before putting it back in the storage container.
5. Write down your plan.
Get all of your items together and plan a disaster. Suddenly, in the middle of Friday night, set your alarm clock to 2 am. When the clock goes off, pretend you are in an emergency. WHERE IS YOUR STUFF? Where is your plan? Where are all your people? What are you doing about your pets? Do you have any money in the house? Are your bills paid up enough in advance to weather a week or so without your laptop? Get everybody up and out of the house.
Get your gear and go to your predetermined diaster location ( could be the front yard) Account for everybody.
Set up camp.
Get your bedding out and make up a place to sleep. Should be able to do all of this within 3 hours, so now it is 5 am. GO BACK TO BED in your camp.
Sleep, if you can, for the next couple of hours or until sun up.
Obviously, if you live in a city, you'll need to get your neighbors in on this deal or you will be on the morning news when they call the police, thinking you've lost your mind.
BUT! If you plan to survive and practice that plan, you WILL survive. Part 1B-FOOD!
Monday, January 18, 2010
Been talking to Jesus, repented.
Good Morning. It is 6:40 Central Standard Time in the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas.
Early on Monday morning, after a wonderful church service yesterday, seemed like a good time to start working on problems.
As indicated in my last entry, I repented. While I have a lot of stuff on my "to do" list, the most valuable thing I can contribute immediately is some insight into just what I should have done already.
Be Prepared!
The Scout motto is as true today as when it was first intoned at the first meeting.
Consider for a moment, just what you would do in a disaster, if you only had 12 seconds to decide. As I understand the media reports, that is all the time the folks in Haiti had to ascertain the problem and RUN.
Fortunately for most of us here in the United States, we usually get a little more time than that. As in the case of Katrina, they had DAYS to do something.
But in the final day, they were just as unprepared for the disaster as the Haitians were this past week.
So, let's take a look at how prepared WE are for sudden loss of home, water, food, clothes, and personal effects, not to mention what to do with the bodies.
Not being of morbid leanings, it really never occurred to me what to do if I was faced with the disposal of dead bodies. Like most Americans, we have "people" who deal with that. But as we saw this past week, the "people" who were usually in charge of dealing with "that", were the dead people.
Now that some time as been given to thought, it occurs to me that I should have some sort of plan that could be implemented anywhere by anybody who finds themselves in that position. The one who is left to clean up the mess.
So here are the first thoughts that come to mind.
Since I am just now working this out, you might call it a "BETA" version of a final plan.
Bearing in mind that every circumstance would be a little different, we'll look at this from where I would be standing, here in the Ozarks.
Fortunately for me, there are plenty of hard wood forests to hand that shed a good deal of "deadfall". For those unfamiliar with woods, deadfall are the limbs of trees that die from natural causes and fall to the ground. They fall every year, but most urban people would only recognize it at campgrounds early in the spring. By the time camping season comes around, most of it has been picked up and used for someone else's supper.
Now that we have a means of disposal, I'd recommend laying the deadfall 2 feet wide and about 5 feet long and at least 36 inches high. Probably need to fill any open areas with dry leaves and bracken as you'll need a pretty hot fire to cremate remains.
Compose the person as best you can with reverence. If you have a zip lock sandwich baggy to hand, remove any jewelry, cut a piece of the clothing (if any is still identifiable) cut a lock of the person's hair, (again if available) and write down any thing you know for SURE about the person; ie how tall, ethnic background, name if you know it, date and time you found the body, your name and address. Try to think of what you would want a stranger to save for you if this was your loved one. If you found the person still alive but close to death, what were their last words.
Place the body on the funeral pyre and pray for the ones who are left behind so you can tell them you did your best to see their loved one respectfully cremated.
Sing if you can. . . . Sing if you can't, after all, you are probably alone.
After the fire has burnt to ash, gather as many of the bones as have not been consumed. Usually the skull, teeth and long bones don't burn completely unless the body has been in a crematorium which has really hot fire.
Wrap these in any waterproof material you might be able to find or at least in a sheet or other material. The family will be grateful for the ability to bury their loved one at a later time. You see that all the time when soldiers are found YEARS after the war and the remains are returned to them. Repeat as necessary for each departed person.
Early on Monday morning, after a wonderful church service yesterday, seemed like a good time to start working on problems.
As indicated in my last entry, I repented. While I have a lot of stuff on my "to do" list, the most valuable thing I can contribute immediately is some insight into just what I should have done already.
Be Prepared!
The Scout motto is as true today as when it was first intoned at the first meeting.
Consider for a moment, just what you would do in a disaster, if you only had 12 seconds to decide. As I understand the media reports, that is all the time the folks in Haiti had to ascertain the problem and RUN.
Fortunately for most of us here in the United States, we usually get a little more time than that. As in the case of Katrina, they had DAYS to do something.
But in the final day, they were just as unprepared for the disaster as the Haitians were this past week.
So, let's take a look at how prepared WE are for sudden loss of home, water, food, clothes, and personal effects, not to mention what to do with the bodies.
Not being of morbid leanings, it really never occurred to me what to do if I was faced with the disposal of dead bodies. Like most Americans, we have "people" who deal with that. But as we saw this past week, the "people" who were usually in charge of dealing with "that", were the dead people.
Now that some time as been given to thought, it occurs to me that I should have some sort of plan that could be implemented anywhere by anybody who finds themselves in that position. The one who is left to clean up the mess.
So here are the first thoughts that come to mind.
Since I am just now working this out, you might call it a "BETA" version of a final plan.
Bearing in mind that every circumstance would be a little different, we'll look at this from where I would be standing, here in the Ozarks.
Fortunately for me, there are plenty of hard wood forests to hand that shed a good deal of "deadfall". For those unfamiliar with woods, deadfall are the limbs of trees that die from natural causes and fall to the ground. They fall every year, but most urban people would only recognize it at campgrounds early in the spring. By the time camping season comes around, most of it has been picked up and used for someone else's supper.
Now that we have a means of disposal, I'd recommend laying the deadfall 2 feet wide and about 5 feet long and at least 36 inches high. Probably need to fill any open areas with dry leaves and bracken as you'll need a pretty hot fire to cremate remains.
Compose the person as best you can with reverence. If you have a zip lock sandwich baggy to hand, remove any jewelry, cut a piece of the clothing (if any is still identifiable) cut a lock of the person's hair, (again if available) and write down any thing you know for SURE about the person; ie how tall, ethnic background, name if you know it, date and time you found the body, your name and address. Try to think of what you would want a stranger to save for you if this was your loved one. If you found the person still alive but close to death, what were their last words.
Place the body on the funeral pyre and pray for the ones who are left behind so you can tell them you did your best to see their loved one respectfully cremated.
Sing if you can. . . . Sing if you can't, after all, you are probably alone.
After the fire has burnt to ash, gather as many of the bones as have not been consumed. Usually the skull, teeth and long bones don't burn completely unless the body has been in a crematorium which has really hot fire.
Wrap these in any waterproof material you might be able to find or at least in a sheet or other material. The family will be grateful for the ability to bury their loved one at a later time. You see that all the time when soldiers are found YEARS after the war and the remains are returned to them. Repeat as necessary for each departed person.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Why are we surprised?
Here I was, Saturday morning, sound asleep. The phone rings. I know it must be important, since I am on the Do Not Call list as my husband is a day sleeper.
Some fool wants to know if I will listen to Newt Gringich. NO, I don't want to listent to good ol' Newt.
Can I hang UP???? NO. The recorded message just keeps the line open and the phone keeps ringing, EVERYTIME you hang up.
SO... now that I am totally awake and really steamed, I lay the phone down on my pillow and ignore Newt.
Finally a real person comes on the line and asked did I like what Newt had to say.
I lost it. I blasted the wench.
She was all kinds of sorry, and tried valiently to explain how there are HOLES in the the Do Not Call list and they are not in violation.
I've been ill for the past two weeks. I suffer from chronic bronchital asthma, had it all my life (contrary to the idiots on ads on TV for advaire. You either have it or you don't. You can't "catch it". So the only guy telling the truth there is the one that says, " I've had asthma all my life".)
So as I am gasping for air to tell this fool that I am VERY political and that blasting that idiot Obama for the lousy way he is running the country is not only a waste of my time, but my valuable breath.
No president, either this man or the previous ones, can run the country.
Congress does. Always has. So before we start pointing fingers and lamenting the depolorable condition that we find the country, let us step back and see who is really at fault.
WE ARE.
What I don't really get is why we are so surprised. I chose to be less involved.
For years I was politically active; working the phones, mailouts and attending rallys. I worked hard to get the people I believed would be the best representative of the values of the people of the United States of America elected to city, parrish (county), state and federal positions.
I organized a neighborhood watch, developed a forum for the people to connect in a solid way with the local city government and did my best to convince the people of the city that their best hope for good government was to be personally involved. I still think that.
But they refused. They elected a man who had been sent to prison for a bribe instead of reelecting the man who was doing a great job.
So, I quit. I moved to the mountains and vowed to mind my own business. I live a mile off the pavement up a steep dirt road in a tar paper shed that I converted into living space. My sole goal now is to pay off my land and all my debt. I intend to build solar and wind devices for power. I have enough land to plant 60% of my food needs and the lake is only 15 miles away for fresh fish.
I realized that day, 10 years ago, that the prophesy of the New Testament in God's Word is coming to pass.
In the last days, there will be fire, floods, famines, disease and death on a massive scale. Ok. It is here today.
I am praying for the souls of those poor people of Haiti and others around the world, lying helpless on the ground, waiting for help, that may not come in time to save their lives.
We, the people of the United States, blessed by God for the last 2 centuries, have turned their back to Godliness and right living in the last 50 years. We spend millions...no TRILLIONS of dollars in lust filled lives that serve only ourselves and bring no health or happiness.
Then a sudden event like this earthquake happens and it appears that NOW we have a God and HE is good.
In EVERY news report, the ONLY people actually helping the people of Haiti were Christian based organizations that were ALREADY THERE, and had been since the 1950's.
I can't help but wonder, how much MONEY the news people spent getting to the story and how much more use those dollars WOULD have been, had they been spent over the last 50 years to improve the lot of the lives of these people before the earthquake.
But I digress.
WE are responsible for the mess that we find ourselves in today. We gave up on democracy and governing OURSELVES in a Godly manner. We threw God, His ten commandments, prayer and thanksgiving out of our schools, marketplaces, businesses, and personal lives.
NOW ... what do we do?
Repent.
Turn around. God allows U-Turns on His Highway.
We need to pray for the redemption of our leaders. That they would fall on their faces before God and ask forgivness and guidance. Not in the privacy of their homes or offices, but on National TV!
If Obama would REALLY like to lead the country, that is what he would do.
He would go the One Being in the universe who REALLY has the power to change everything.
If every elected person in every office of government would weigh their daily actions against the scales of honesty, integrity and right thinking as set down in the Word of God, it would take less than a year to correct the problems we face today.
I'll go further than that. IF EVERY PERSON in America would do the same, it would take less than 6 months.
The people of the United States really do know what is right and wrong. It is in the Book. All of the answers are already written down in every language of the planet. It is still the number 1 best seller of all time.
Just do it.
I will.
Some fool wants to know if I will listen to Newt Gringich. NO, I don't want to listent to good ol' Newt.
Can I hang UP???? NO. The recorded message just keeps the line open and the phone keeps ringing, EVERYTIME you hang up.
SO... now that I am totally awake and really steamed, I lay the phone down on my pillow and ignore Newt.
Finally a real person comes on the line and asked did I like what Newt had to say.
I lost it. I blasted the wench.
She was all kinds of sorry, and tried valiently to explain how there are HOLES in the the Do Not Call list and they are not in violation.
I've been ill for the past two weeks. I suffer from chronic bronchital asthma, had it all my life (contrary to the idiots on ads on TV for advaire. You either have it or you don't. You can't "catch it". So the only guy telling the truth there is the one that says, " I've had asthma all my life".)
So as I am gasping for air to tell this fool that I am VERY political and that blasting that idiot Obama for the lousy way he is running the country is not only a waste of my time, but my valuable breath.
No president, either this man or the previous ones, can run the country.
Congress does. Always has. So before we start pointing fingers and lamenting the depolorable condition that we find the country, let us step back and see who is really at fault.
WE ARE.
What I don't really get is why we are so surprised. I chose to be less involved.
For years I was politically active; working the phones, mailouts and attending rallys. I worked hard to get the people I believed would be the best representative of the values of the people of the United States of America elected to city, parrish (county), state and federal positions.
I organized a neighborhood watch, developed a forum for the people to connect in a solid way with the local city government and did my best to convince the people of the city that their best hope for good government was to be personally involved. I still think that.
But they refused. They elected a man who had been sent to prison for a bribe instead of reelecting the man who was doing a great job.
So, I quit. I moved to the mountains and vowed to mind my own business. I live a mile off the pavement up a steep dirt road in a tar paper shed that I converted into living space. My sole goal now is to pay off my land and all my debt. I intend to build solar and wind devices for power. I have enough land to plant 60% of my food needs and the lake is only 15 miles away for fresh fish.
I realized that day, 10 years ago, that the prophesy of the New Testament in God's Word is coming to pass.
In the last days, there will be fire, floods, famines, disease and death on a massive scale. Ok. It is here today.
I am praying for the souls of those poor people of Haiti and others around the world, lying helpless on the ground, waiting for help, that may not come in time to save their lives.
We, the people of the United States, blessed by God for the last 2 centuries, have turned their back to Godliness and right living in the last 50 years. We spend millions...no TRILLIONS of dollars in lust filled lives that serve only ourselves and bring no health or happiness.
Then a sudden event like this earthquake happens and it appears that NOW we have a God and HE is good.
In EVERY news report, the ONLY people actually helping the people of Haiti were Christian based organizations that were ALREADY THERE, and had been since the 1950's.
I can't help but wonder, how much MONEY the news people spent getting to the story and how much more use those dollars WOULD have been, had they been spent over the last 50 years to improve the lot of the lives of these people before the earthquake.
But I digress.
WE are responsible for the mess that we find ourselves in today. We gave up on democracy and governing OURSELVES in a Godly manner. We threw God, His ten commandments, prayer and thanksgiving out of our schools, marketplaces, businesses, and personal lives.
NOW ... what do we do?
Repent.
Turn around. God allows U-Turns on His Highway.
We need to pray for the redemption of our leaders. That they would fall on their faces before God and ask forgivness and guidance. Not in the privacy of their homes or offices, but on National TV!
If Obama would REALLY like to lead the country, that is what he would do.
He would go the One Being in the universe who REALLY has the power to change everything.
If every elected person in every office of government would weigh their daily actions against the scales of honesty, integrity and right thinking as set down in the Word of God, it would take less than a year to correct the problems we face today.
I'll go further than that. IF EVERY PERSON in America would do the same, it would take less than 6 months.
The people of the United States really do know what is right and wrong. It is in the Book. All of the answers are already written down in every language of the planet. It is still the number 1 best seller of all time.
Just do it.
I will.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
OK. You talked me into it!
Hello. After MANY requests, here's my blog. I don't know how much time I can put into this, but I'll think abou it.
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