We're all Gonna DIE!
Let me just start by saying, WE'RE ALL GONNA DIE!Okay, okay, so maybe not all of us. But today after reading a particularly gloomy article from USA Today about the unstoppable Bird Flu epidemic, I've been a little shakey.
Spike and I have 20 gallons of water stored and about 20 boxes of yummy cereal but that's about it. I've been doing research all morning to find out what exactly I need to have stored to sustain my little family through the seemingly inevitable quarantine that we'll be stuck in. The list I've compiled just in the past hour seems immense and financially impossible. This is all striking me with more force now that I'm a mom and actually in charge of making sure that my one year old doesn't suffer from our lack of preparedness. I'm not talking about just food here - there are hundereds of other items that seem to be essential that are way out of our budget: wheat grinders, generators, dehydrators, fuel, lanterns, stoves. And where are you supposed to put all this stuff? A family of three needs at least 60 gallons of water stored up - but that will probably last less than a month. That's a massive amount of storage space.
What to do, what to do. I called Spike this morning and told him I'd be making a panicky Costco run today to at least get the basic wheat, beans, oil, dry milk, salt and sugar. I really hope I'm laughing about all this in 10 years. But no matter what happens, I've finally realized that I need to get this prepared for my own peace of mind. Everyone, send money and legumes!
Comments
Start with your 72 Hour Kits and Go Bags.
Having a meeting plan in place is a really easy first step: http://www.ready.gov/america/family_plan.html
Lastly preparing to Shelter-in-Place is a good idea. This involves the famous duct tape and plastic sheeting everyone laughed about. Here's more info- http://www.ready.gov/america/stay_or_go.html
It's very easy to become overwhelmed once you start to prepare. Fight the urge to tackle it all at once. Start with the low hanging fruit (72-hour kit, Go-bags, Family Plan) and then start a list of other things you would like to have on hand. Throughout the year keep an eye out for deals (thrift shops are a great place to shop for this stuff), and come up with a plan to rotate food. My brother and I are currently taking a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) class and it's really helped to make me feel more empowered. You can find a local CERT class here- http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/CERT/
Or are you more concerned that the Bird Flu is yet another form of revenge from Spanky? I'd be more worried about that if I were you.
:Elizabeth (friend of Foxy)
Cat
I was a moron not to see the Spanky connection. And yes, he really is so ruthless as to release the epidemic on the entire global population just to make his point.
An SKS is a handy little rifle that almost anyone can use to shoot food or people trying to steal your food. I mean you're going to be thinking how great your preparedness is when your depraved neighbors are running out the door with it.
SKS baby. $100 and you're set. We'll talk.
Anyhow, it is the 10 virgins and the oil in their lamps. How are YOU doing with your oil..... Hmmmm. wow. I am deep ;) Bethany ps-- all i want for christmas is my food storage..... (sung to the tune of all i want for christmas is my two front teeth)