Are We Prepared?

2009-05-01T19:34:00.000-07:00

This last year has been a bit stressful for us as a nation. The first thing is the economy. As everyone knows the stock market took a big tumble because of the sub-prime loan fiasco. Then we have the current swine flu scare. As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, we've been told to live within our means, be self-sufficient, and prepare for the future. "If you are prepared, ye shall not fear."

As a family, we are pretty survival oriented. My older brother was in a civil defense group for many years. My dad built a bomb shelter in his basement when my family lived in Washington D.C. during the Cuban Missile Crisis. (I love the movie Blast From the Past.) I’ve tried to be preparedness savvy, to educate myself, and to plan for the future.

I have thought of worst-case scenarios of what if's over the years.

What if we had nuclear fallout . . . how do I purify water? (Because of my brother's civil defense classes, I actually know how to do this.)

What if my husband lost his job . . . that has happened and could again at anytime. What do we do? Do I have marketable skills? What if he died, do I have enough insurance?

What if we couldn't get healthcare . . . do I know alternative, low cost ways to care for my family? Do I have things that I could trade for their care? Do I know first-aid, CPR, signs of a stroke, when to call 911, when things can run their course?

Do I know how to garden? What if there was a seed shortage, could I harvest seeds from my garden for the next season?

Do I have a 3 month’s supply of food, a 72 hour kit, medications on hand, a fire escape plan?

What if I needed to keep my kids home from school for a long duration, do I know enough to education them? Have I taught them to work hard and be self-sufficient, too?

What if there was a flu pandemic, do I have the supplies I need? Do I have enough to share, or trade? Do my neighbors?

So you have the idea.

My kids think I’m a little paranoid. Last year after listening to the “Earthquake Lady” of Utah, I made kits for my kids’ backpacks, all our cars, and revamped our 72 hour kits. I moved our kits to where they were more accessible and changed out our water storage (which should be done every 6 months).

On this blog I’m going to address these and many other preparedness things, link to informative articles, and research and write my own. I hope you’ll find them helpful in preparing yourselves and your families.

Prepare to Rough It

Are We Prepared?