If You Can’t Buy, Then Rent

If you can’t afford to purchase a getaway cabin, consider renting. This narrows your choices, but better to have a safe haven than wishful thinking.

Pool Resources

If you have friends or family members who are likewise interested in a getaway cabin, consider joining forces with them to begin searching for a rental or the outright purchase of a cabin. As long as there is enough floor space to sleep everyone, it will be a slice of Heaven if ever conditions arise where a getaway cabin is needed. There is another built-in advantage to pooling space and resources with others. During a calamity of long duration, it may be necessary to keep round-the-clock watch over your property to protect it against looters and worse. Wood gathering, drawing water, gardening, grinding wheat and alternative cooking is labor intensive and extra hands will be a blessing. Experts in the field of preparedness will tell you there is strength in numbers. Whenever possible, never go it alone.

Must-Haves in a Self-Sufficient Getaway Cabin

There are basic universal must-haves for a self-sufficient getaway cabin, no matter what climate zone you live in. It must be reachable from your primary residence; it should have a well for a reliable water source and a manual hand pump for a work-around during an electrical outage; it must have enough land for a sizeable garden; and it should be set up for basic, everyday living--a root cellar or cold room to store the overflow from the garden, basic toilet facilities (think outhouse), and it should be well away from a main road to avoid opportunists. Make no mistake; within a few days without food and water, many will take to the streets in search of survival. Your job is to be as far removed as possible from being an easy target!

If possible, it is preferable to be one tank worth of gas from a heavy population. This is problematic, as few of us live in regions where this rule of thumb is even remotely possible. Another optimal location to consider is an agricultural or farming community. Typically, farmers are familiar with living off the land, and they are much more likely to be prepared to defend their property when necessary. That is not to say that you should not be prepared yourself--you should be--but, if ever there comes a time when looters and free-loaders converge on your area, it is likely the bad guys will be driven off when your neighbors are no-nonsense farmers.

Keeping It Simple

When searching for a get away cabin, seek a low profile. For instance, a cabin with an outhouse is actually preferable over one that is dependent upon electric to run a wells water pump to flush a toilet. Besides, you are preparing for tough times, right? Tough times don’t necessarily arrive with widespread calamity. Instead they might begin with an unexpected lay-off, which leads to the inability to pay the electrical bill. Setting up a cabin for off-grid living makes both financial and logistical sense.

In order to accomplish a self-sufficient lifestyle, think manual appliances, a good tree-felling axe should you have a plentiful wood source nearby, and alternative lighting, heating and cooking methods that do not depend upon a non-renewable fuel source such as gasoline or propane or which is reliant upon running a generator. In northern climates, cooking can be accomplished by using the firebox and the top surface of a wood heat stove by using cast iron Dutch ovens and cookware. For those living in warm climates, consider a solar cooker to prepare meals.

When adhering to a keep-it-simple plan, the trail always leads to renewable resources such as wood in northern regions and solar in more southerly regions.

Make a Plan To Safely Get to Your Getaway Cabin

Keep in mind that with calamity, it’s likely that roads will become gridlocked. Cars will run out of gas; especially when electrical is interrupted. Gas stations rarely have back-up generators and this fact was evidenced during the devastating tsunami in Japan, the Haiti earthquake, and during Katrina. Even when gasoline is available, roads will quickly become clogged with drivers who experience car problems.

If you have the means, it is wise to plan ahead for alternative transportation such as a mountain bike or an ATV. Either mode of transportation are more likely to get your family or group to a get-away cabin should the roadways become impassable.  If this is an option for your financial circumstances, always put aside a compos, topographical maps, and enough gas to get you to your destination—always store gasoline in an outbuilding, away from pilot lights for safety.

If you must depend upon a vehicle to get you to a getaway cabin, make sure to address any deferred maintenance and keep a dependable spare tire in your vehicle. The donut tires that come with newer vehicles are not meant for long drives and they certainly aren’t meant for off-road driving, which you will likely have to perform to circumvent abandoned cars.

Safety First

A getaway cabin must also provide for the safety of its inhabitants. If your plan revolves around a generator for self-sufficiency, better think again. If ever there comes a time when roving groups come to your neck of the woods, running a generator is really no different than making hand painted signs inviting them straight to your door. Think of times when you have spent time in the wilderness; the peace and quiet that is so alien to city life was all around you. Now add a generator to that equation, and you will quickly understand why the convenience of a generator will pale in comparison to personal safety. The same goes for lighting an oil or kerosene lamp or an emergency candle with the curtains open. In a location where looting has become a reality, even for a short time, it will be necessary to cover windows with black-out fabric or black trash bags that have been applied with duct tape to avoid advertising your preparedness.

A well thought out preparedness list should include fire extinguishers. When cooking with alternative sources, lighting spaces with oil or kerosene lamps, and heating with wood stoves comes with increased fire hazards. Plan ahead. If you will be using emergency candles for lighting, place them in hurricane candleholders whose glass shade will protect from accidental fire.

That “Perfect” Cabin

The first rule to keep in mind before searching for a getaway cabin is there is no such thing as the  “perfect” cabin. The closest you will come to perfection is a workable plan, tenacity, and the will to survive whatever comes your way.

Barbara Fix, the author of this article, has written a new book entitled "Survival: Prepare Before Disaster Strikes!" (ID: UFKKCVLD2AFV6) Edited December 12, 2011

The cost of the book is $11.66 plus $3.95 shipping. If you are interested in learning how to prepare for the hard times that are ahead, I would encourage you to get this book.

Besides a cell phone with a charged battery, you will need a small amount of steel wool and some tinder. Steel wool is available in most hardware or discount stores in the paint department. It is also available as pre-soaped scouring pads from nearly all grocery stores. To start a fire, you will need a piece of steel wool equal to about a quarter of a pre-soaped scouring pad. Tinder is virtually anything that lights easily and burns quickly without producing toxic fumes. Dead plants or grass that have dried, lint, including dryer lint, paper, wax, moss, pine pitch, fir needles and wood shavings all make good tinder.

Starting a fire with a cell phone is an uncertain undertaking. It can sometimes happen quickly, but your fire can go back out just as quickly, so make sure your tinder is ready before you begin. Tinder can burn up quickly or fail to catch, as well, so it's not a bad idea to lay your fire, including kindling and fuel, before you even pick up your cell phone.

Once you have your fire ready and your tinder nearby, remove the battery from your cell phone. Look for the battery contacts. Usually, these are near the bottom of the battery, and they often look like rectangular gaps in the casing. Gently pull your piece of steel wool until it is about an inch long. Gently roll the steel wool into a loose twist. Keeping it loose will allow plenty of oxygen to reach the burning area to feed the combustion once it begins to smolder.

Bend the twist of steel wool into a hairpin shape and touch one end of the steel wool to each battery contact. This should cause a short and the steel wool should begin to smolder. Avoid breathing the fumes from the burning steel wool, since they are toxic. Once the steel wool begins to smolder heavily, gently place the smoldering steel wool onto your tinder. If the tinder catches, you are all set. As long as you have a properly lain fire with appropriate kindling, you should soon have a crackling fire to warm yourself by, dry your clothes and gear with and to use to cook your dinner.

If things don't work perfectly the first time, keep trying. Patience is the most important thing when it comes to making a fire without matches or a lighter, and perseverance is a close second. This is a tricky process and there are a number of points where it can fail. When this happens, simply make adjustments as necessary and make another attempt. If you don't have a cell phone, you can follow the same steps to make a fire with a 9-volt battery.

I quickly understood why the generator salesman was acting so concerned. He explained to me that a few days ago they had received an updated warranty from the generator manufacturer, and in it, for the first time, was a disclaimer stating that their generators were not covered under warranty, in the event of an EMP attack.

An EMP is a high-intensity burst of electromagnetic energy caused by the rapid acceleration of charged particles; similar to lightening, but shorter, much stronger and faster. An EMP can be caused by nuclear weapons, radio-frequency weapons, or geomagnetic storms (often called space weather).  An EMP terrorist attack, which has been called a weapon of “mass disruption”, can be triggered by the detonation of a nuclear weapon at a high altitude over the United States.

Most terrorism experts agree that an EMP is the biggest and greatest threat to America. It would likely render useless, not just all computers and small electronics, but all critical infrastructures, such as communications, transportation, banking, and food and water distribution chains.

A successful EMP attack could result in airplanes literally falling from the sky, streets and highways instantly becoming graveyards for inoperable automobiles and non-functioning traffic signals, and water, sewer, and electrical networks failing...all at once.

Without electricity, food would rot, health care would be reduced to its most basic level and, pretty much, your only means of transportation would be a bicycle. Rule of law would become impossible to sustain. Police departments would be overwhelmed and most civil service employees would not even show up to help, because they'd be at home taking care of their own families. Effectively, the U.S. would be thrown back to the pre-industrial age and life as we know it would be forever changed in a matter of seconds.

In 2004 and 2008, The Commission to Assess the Threat to the United States from an EMP, released a report, stating that an EMP attack could inflict severe damage on the U.S. and that an “EMP is one of a small number of threats that can hold our society at risk of catastrophic consequences”. The commission was very clear as to what an EMP could do to America. “Should significant parts of the electrical power infrastructure be lost for any substantial period of time, the Commission believes that the consequences are likely to be catastrophic, and many people may ultimately die of lack of the basic elements necessary to sustain life in dense urban and suburban communities.”

Today, more than ever, the likelihood of an EMP attack is very real.
Since an EMP attack can be executed with simple ballistics, this currently leaves about 30 countries the ability to launch an EMP attack.

North Korea currently owns a large arsenal of missiles and has been publicly testing its ballistic weapons. It has also been reported that Russian scientists have worked with North Korea and tested an EMP this year.

The most disconcerting of all the countries is the latest one to have joined the nuclear weapons fraternity; Iran. Iranians have already practiced in the Caspian Sea. Although we may look at their tests as failures, because their missiles blow up mid flight, to the Iranian regime, the tests are a success. The spiritual leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, once said “If the world's industrial countries fail to devise effective ways to defend themselves against dangerous electronic assaults, then they will disintegrate within a few years. American soldiers would not be able to find food to eat, nor would they be able to fire a single shot.” EMPs’ are so effective; it is believed that the USA has contemplated using one against the Iranians as well.

Although a few select sites in America have been safeguarded, including Air Force One and the U.S. nuclear weapons systems, most of our country remains highly vulnerable. Not only would most Americans not know what to do if an EMP occurred tomorrow, most have never even heard of an EMP and would not even know what it was that altered their lives, instantaneously.

Preparations for an EMP attack are very similar to those made for Y2K; essentially, learning how to live off the electrical grid.  While the U.S. Department of Homeland Security recommends a disaster kit able to sustain a family for two weeks, if expert predictions are correct, recovery from an EMP attack could take months or even years.
Especially considering the transformers on our electrical grids are made in Korea and take two to three years to make.

A basic disaster kit should include:

·    Water – store one gallon per day per person. A non-electrical water filter capable of safely filtering other sources of water would be beneficial.

·    Food – canned foods, freeze dried and other staples that do not require refrigeration, cooking or water – and include a hand can opener.

·    Portable, battery-powered or solar radio and extra batteries – which would not be affected by an EMP attack.

·    Local maps and compass

·    Flashlight and extra batteries.

·    First aid kit and manual.

·    Sanitation and hygiene items

·    Matches and waterproof container.

·    Extra clothing- especially if you live in an area that has cold climate

·    Kitchen accessories and cooking utensils.

·    Cash and coins.

·    Special needs items, such as prescription medications, eye glasses, contact lens solutions and hearing aid batteries.

·    Potassium Iodide tablets, to protect against a nuclear meltdown.

·    Items for infants, such as formula, diapers, bottles, and pacifiers.

·    Other items to meet your unique family needs.

·    Since power could be down for an extended period of time, a generator could prove useful.

Small electronics can be protected from an EMP by storing them in either a faraday bags or cages. Although it is not full-proof, many believe this is the best known safeguard.

As the discourse surrounding Iran and their nuclear threat to the United States heats up, one thing is guaranteed. If left to their own devices, Iran and many other countries in the region remain a clear and present danger.

About the author:

Alisha Venetis is co-founder of www.thePrepRoom.net; an online store specializing in emergency preparedness supplies.  She writes for Smart Girl Nation, as well as other conservative blogs, where she reports on world politics, domestic and global economics and the potentially negative ramifications they may have on America.

In an emergency that requires evacuation, you can expect to have little time to gather the things you will need, including crucial papers and family photo albums. Even if packing spare clothing is at the top of your priority list, gathering several days’ worth of clothing for an entire family can be a time-consuming undertaking. What happens if you accidentally grab the baby's outgrown sleepers or forget to put your wife's clean underwear in the bag?

In an emergency you can't count on the stores to be open, and even if they are open, there will be lots of people in need of clothing and shoes. There's no guarantee that any store you can reach will have what you need. The time to pack spare clothing and shoes for your family is before an emergency.

Different sources recommend different amounts of clothing. Some experts say that one or two changes of clothing are plenty, but there is no way to predict how long it will be before you can use a washer and dryer. You may not even have the opportunity to wash clothes by hand. If you are worried about the expense, remember that you don't have to pack your best clothes. Each family member should have one unstained, unworn outfit as well as a pair of shoes, but the rest of the clothing can be old or stained, as long as it is clean and suitable for the weather in your area.

If you decide to be a minimalist and only pack one or two outfits, be sure to include an extra pair of comfortable shoes and a week's worth of clean socks and underwear for everyone. Rain coats or ponchos, hats, gloves and jackets or hooded sweatshirts can be lifesavers if you are caught outside in the rain or cold. Even warm climates are subject to cold spells, and if you get wet, you may also get chilled. Warm clothing can help you to get warm again.

When you choose shoes to pack, fight the urge to save money by buying flip-flops or rubber sandals. During an emergency you may have to walk through streets that are covered with sharp debris or spilled chemicals. You might even have to wade through flooded streets filled with hidden dangers. Shoes should have sturdy uppers that cover the entire foot and thick, skid-resistant soles.

Compost can be au-natural, left to sit in a pile, but be sure to cover it with plastic or a tarp so it doesn’t get soggy with rainfall and turn into a stinking, heaping mess. If you’re fastidious (someone who mows their lawn in a diamond pattern, perhaps?), then you might want to keep compost in a closed bin with a lid. If you happen to have one made of wood slats that have gaps, protect the sides with a little straw. Once the materials have sat for a sufficient amount of time for everything to “meld”, it’s time to add it in with the garden soil. There are no specific time lines I can give for how long it will take your compost to be ready for the garden, for it all depends upon the materials you use.

A worm farm can be great entertainment, especially for us country folk who are easily entertained. And they benefit the garden by tunneling into the earth, opening up the soil, and exposing it to the air. This tunneling enriches the soil with nutrients for the lush garden plants we desire, and it helps with irrigation as we water our plants. Their travel through the soil leaves room for the delicate root system of plants to branch out, offering them better absorption for nutrients and moisture. Not only that, but the worm’s waste product contributes phosphorus, potassium, and nitrogen to the soil that greatly benefits the health of fruits, vegetables and other garden plants.

It may be hard to view the common earthworm as the pit-bull of the garden, but in many ways they are! An earthworm’s waste product acts as a natural repellant for garden pests and it helps to protect garden soil from disease. To make a worm farm, all you need is a container, shredded newspaper, soil and worms.

How to Make a Worm Farm

Scrounge or purchase a bin around 2 feet X 3 feet that’s at least 12 inches tall. Make a “nest” of shredded paper to approximately 8 to 10 inches high. Next, mix in 1 to 1 ½ pounds of rich garden soil. The final step to make their house a “home” is to add water to moisten, not soak, the contents, and mix the shredded paper and the soil together. Before introducing your worms to their new home, let the moistened soil and shredded paper sit for 48 hours to meld. Worms thrive in temperatures of between 60 to 90 degrees. Any hotter or colder may have you tossing out their poor little corpses, so heed the temperature of where you place them! If you are someone who enjoys digging, you can collect your own earthworms, or you can go online and order them.

Even if you’re the consummate procrastinator and plan to start a garden about the time you must take a loan out to pay the grocer’s, you’ll want to get the garden area ready as soon as possible. And don’t get cranky about having one more thing on your plate. Gardening experts recommend that soil preparation should be done 6 months before planting.

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The preceding was a guest post for Survival by author Barbara Fix.

Visit Survival Diva Blog http://www.survivaldiva.com/ for more information on rural living, gardening, home canning, food storage, and tips on combating skyrocketing food prices.

Survival Diva, Barbara’s preparedness book is available at http://www.survivaldiva.com/ Download for just $7.75

The following is a list of what you will need to get through those “grid-down” emergencies and live to tell about it.

Priority #1

A heat source is a must-have in any preparedness plan where temperatures can plummet to unforgivable lows. If you already have a wood heat stove or a fireplace insert, have the chimney flu checked for creosote buildup if you haven’t already done so.

If you are presently dependant upon electric heat or if your home is heated with natural gas that requires electricity to keep the furnace running, look into an airtight wood burning heat stove. They are extremely efficient and will throw off enough heat to keep you toasty warm. If you prefer something that can serve double-duty, why not look in to a wood cook stove? They will heat at least a portion of your home and they offer an alternate cooking method.

When power is down for days instead of hours, it’s time to cordon off a sleeping space nearby a wood-burning device with floor to ceiling blankets. The cordoned off area can be counted on to keep your family comfy, no matter what’s going on outdoors. Make sure to get several cords of seasoned wood (it takes up to one year for wood to season). Add an axe, hatchet and splitting maul to your winter preparedness plan and you’ll be prepared to stay warm, no matter what blows your way.

Priority #2

On average, a person can survive without water for two days in temperatures of 120 degrees and ten days in 50-degree weather. Water should always be a top priority. Winter cold can be nearly as challenging as extreme summer heat, as it dehydrates the body as you breath. If you’re fortunate enough to have a well, consider installing a frost-free manual hand pump for a grid-down situation that will render a well pump inoperable. But I should warn you they aren’t cheap. If your budget can’t stand the strain, store water for each member of your family. The bare minimum is 28 gallons per month per person, but this amount does not provide for bathing. If you can’t stand the thought of bathless days, you will want to store more.

Those who are on municipal water will fare better during a winter storm that takes the grid down. Water districts routinely have battery and generator back up for emergencies. But before you breathe a sigh of relief over this “out clause”, know that most water plants are emergency-ready for up to three days. After that, you’re on your own.  Be sure to store the recommended water noted above.

In a situation where the toilet won’t flush, you can dump water in the toilet bowl to manually flush it as a temporary solution. From there, it doesn’t hurt to provide for an inexpensive camp toilet, especially for those who do not have an abundant water source.

It is possible for those on municipal water to experience sewage back up when the water plants emergency back-up batteries and generators fail. This scenario is dependant upon gravity feed. The only way to know for sure if this might pose a problem for your area would be to call your municipality.

For those with a septic system, there’s good news! Back up will not be a problem and you can expect normal drainage. The exception is for those who depend upon sump-pumps to gravity feed belowground levels of the home.

Priority #3

When the power goes down, so does your ability to cook. There are several ways to address this issue. MRE’S are available with heating jackets that will provide no-fuss meals. They are more expensive than simple canned food, however. If your budget has little wriggle room, consider putting aside caned meals like chili and stew. Build from there with canned fruit, powdered milk, cereals and comfort foods that your family enjoys.

Don’t expect to fill up an empty pantry after a storm blows through. Grocery stores no longer carry back stock and are dependant upon routine deliveries to restock their shelves. In any emergency situation, staples on the grocer’s shelves will disappear within 72-hours or less.  Now, before the harsh realities of winter sets in, is a good time to tuck away what you’ll need when Mother Nature decides to get temperamental.

If your sensibilities gravitate more towards a long-term preparedness plan, bulk food storage and an alternate cooking method such as a camp stove are must-haves.

Priority #4

Lighting should be provided for. Kerosene or oil lamps will allow for task lighting. Make sure to store a replacement chimney, wicks and plenty of lamp fuel, so no mater how long the power is out you will still be able to light the interior of your home. Store fuel away from the home and water heaters or furnaces to avoid fire risk. Long-burning emergency candles are an inexpensive lighting solution. Placed in chimney-style candleholders, they will safely light your home.

When planning for alternate lighting include extra matches to your list and an ABC-style fire extinguisher. With alternate lighting and cooking comes increased fire hazard.

No matter what style of alternate lighting you choose, include a few flashlights and extra batteries for tasks when a lamp wouldn’t be practical.

Priority #5

If you have children, now is a good time to stock up on color books, craft supplies and possibly a few games. Children delight in snow days, and their enthusiasm can be heartwarming at first. But after being cocooned in close quarters for days on end, their natural energy can grow a bit overwhelming. Keep them busy with a few of their favorite things and you wont find yourself wanting to run to your happy place during a full-blown storm.

Priority #6

Okay, I’ll admit that this last item on the priority list isn’t an absolute necessity, but few northerners can resist the call of an ATV (AKA a 4-wheeler). Add a snowplow, and you’ve just solved the problem of transportation and snow removal during a bitter winter storm when your car is hopelessly buried in a snowdrift. If your bank balance refuses to budge for such a luxury, a sturdy snow shovel will get you by.

Preparedness Connect-the-Dots

Preparedness is not unlike a puzzle. Lose a piece, and you’re not going to like the outcome. The best approach is to prepare now, so when those snow days come around, you’ll have the chance to enjoy the down time over a relaxing cup of hot chocolate and a heated game of scrabble.

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The preceding was a guest post for Survival by author Barbara Fix.

Visit Survival Diva Blog http://www.survivaldiva.com/ for more information on rural living, gardening, home canning, food storage, and tips on combating skyrocketing food prices.

Survival Diva, Barbara’s preparedness book is available at http://www.survivaldiva.com/ Download for just $7.75

Even more alarming is the recent CNN poll that revealed 48 percent of Americans believe it is likely that another great Depression will begin within the next 12 months. I believe these polls show there is a gut feeling across the country that all is not well here in the USA.

There are some truly eerie things happening across our country, right now, which in year's past, most Americans could not even fathom happening on our soil. We are coming apart at the seams as despair sets in, and as Gerald Celente has said, “when people lose everything and have nothing else to lose, they lose it.”

Some media outlets would like you to believe that things are getting better, but those also happen to be the same people who told us that America's credit rating would never be downgraded. Consider the following:

44 million Americans are on food stamps and nearly half are children

It now takes the average unemployed American 40 weeks to find a new job.

Food and gas prices are soaring as paychecks and the housing market is crashing.

Approximately 28 percent of all home loans in the United States are “underwater”.

The number of Americans that are put in prison has nearly tripled since 1987.

Today many felons are being released or never tried due to overcrowding and decreased man-power in states that are broke.

A recent report on crime named Detroit the third most dangerous city on the entire planet. New Orleans ranked ninth. On that same list are infamously crime ridden cities like Karachi, Pakistan; Mogadishu, Somalia, and Ciudad Juárez, Mexico.

Prior to 2011 many had not heard of “flash mob robberies”. This is where a large group of people comes together, often organized via social media or texting, and rob or mug a specific store or target. It is often difficult to identify the thugs due to the numbers, the swiftness and their covered faces. Today these types of flash mobs are in news headlines across the country- Chicago’s shopping mecca was dubbed “the Mugnificent Mile”, Philadelphia instituted a curfew, Los Angeles, Ohio, Milwaukee State Fair, Iowa and Maryland have all been targets of “flash mobs”

Will You Be Ready When The Excrement Hits The Flabellum?

Although the outlook of our current economic reality is stark, we can never let our fears paralyze us from getting prepared. Being prepared for an economic crisis is no longer considered being paranoid; it's prudent.

The degree to which a person can be prepared, whether it is for an economic collapse or any other disaster, can span greatly. Many people are so well-prepared they are able to live “off the grid” and not rely on any public utilities. As a mother in a suburban neighborhood, that is not the case for me. Although, truth be told, my idea of “living off the grid” is a spa vacation in Fiji.

Here are a few basic starting suggestions for those interested in “prepping”. This list is far from inclusive; however it is a great starting point for an economic, natural or man-made disaster.

Financially:

Get out of debt and reduce expenses by learning to live on less. In times of economic calamity the stress of debt can be debilitating.

Have extra money on hand (in small denominations) in case you can not access money from a bank or ATM.

Food, Water and Supplies:

FEMA recommends you have at least three days of food and water on hand, (a great goal for those just starting out), however most “preppers” say you ideally want one year’s worth of stored-up food and water. You can do this cost effectively by using coupons, going to discount grocery stores or even shopping for food at estate sales. You may not get your favorite food brands, but in times of crisis you probably won't care. You should, however, make sure what you buy is something you are willing to eat or you can barter with.

Another great option is to own freeze-dried food. Although you can cook with it in your everyday meals, the main reason you'll want to have some on hand is because freeze-dried food has a 25-30 year shelf life and takes up little room. (Canning is also making its way back into many household and is very easy to learn the basics.)

FEMA also recommends three days of stored water on hand in case the water source becomes contaminated. You can do this by buying extra bottled water or filling up specific water storage containers. There are also water purification tablets and filters you can purchase. The purification methods will disinfect almost any water and make it safe for drinking.

An emergency “grab and go kit” is important if you have to evacuate your home quickly. You can purchase these kits already assembled or tailor one to your specific needs. The important contents food, water, materials for shelter, first-aid kit, etc. Adding copies of your important documents like your passport, driver’s license, birth certificates and important numbers is another important way to be prepared. Extra clothing, a blanket, can opener, cutting tool and a fire starter are useful tools to add to your kit.

Make sure you have extra prescription medicines (if needed) and non prescription medicine like pain relievers and cold medicines.

Valuable Items:

Aside from the basics (food, water, shelter) there are items that you can be certain stores will quickly run out in times of economic distress. Many of these items have dual purposes for survival and for bartering.  For example, one of the reasons gold is so valuable is its intrinsic value- there is a limited quantity, it does not easily get ruined and it is dividable. These items you may not be of use personally to you, however in tough economic times, these items become valuable and can be used for bartering.

Toiletries feminine hygiene, paper products, coffee beans, alcohol, cigarettes, chocolate, ammunition, rice, beans, vegetable oil, baby supplies, laundry products and sewing supplies.

Some useful miscellaneous items would be a generator, cook stove, first aid kit and a survival reference book.

It is important to be prepared both spiritually and physically. According to a great book entitled “The Survivors Club”, by Ben Sherwood, there is strong statistical evidence that shows those with a belief in God have a much better chance of surviving in the most strenuous of circumstances, compared to those without faith. The next predictor of surviving, once the basic needs are met, is community.

Hopefully, we can be so prepared, both physically and spiritually, so that when disaster does strike, not only will be able to survive and thrive, but we'll be in a position to help those friends and neighbors who didn't see it coming.

***The preceding was a guest post for Survival by Alisha Venetis, co-founder of The Prep Room - an online store specializing in emergency preparedness supplies.***

And rightfully so! If the past few decades has taught us anything, its that if we want to stay healthy, eating foods that we won’t have to sneak up on, we need to get re-acquainted with our back yards and turn them into something useful like a vegetable garden. Even better is planting those gardens with heirloom seed and organically enriched soil. These savvy gardeners’ do not use fungicides that have the dubious distinction that 90% of them contain carcinogens, followed by herbicides at 60% and insecticides at 30%.

Many of the new generation of green gardener’s have traded the corporate life for one that involves hands-on communion with the earth as they teach older generations what it means to live an unfettered life. Demographics speak for themselves. A large portion of young adults are growing their own fruits and vegetables and some have gone a step further: choosing to live off-grid, unplugged from dependency on the power line. Although they may not be the consumers their parents were (most live a simpler lifestyle), they do possess the cash flow for discretionary spending that has caught the attention of corporations.

In many ways, the new generation of green gardener’s is a recycled version of the pioneers our forefathers were, living a sustainable lifestyle that demands the resurgence of root cellars, home canning, and heirloom and heritage garden seed. Holistic medicine and raising small farm animals has also experienced a resurgence of interest while composting and recycling are being breathed back to life. But it doesn’t stop there. New demands are also for water containment systems, solar panels, and wind-driven energy. And just as organic gardening interests are opening up new business opportunities for both large and small businesses smart enough to listen, the use of building materials such as straw bale, cordwood, cob, and rammed earth for alternative forms of shelter has brought the most inventive entrepreneurs great rewards.

Visit Survival Diva Blog http://www.survivaldiva.com/ for more information on rural living, gardening, home canning, food storage, and tips on combating skyrocketing food prices.

Survival Diva, Barbara’s preparedness book is available August 1, 2011 http://www.survivaldiva.com/ Download for just $3.95

I believe we are headed for a financial disaster when the dollar ceases to exist as a currency. The basis for my belief is that they have already been printing massive amounts of new money to pay for the stimulus package and the massive bail-outs. The money being printed is counterfeit in the sense that every new federal reserve note dilutes the value of every note that is already in circulation. It's a criminal shifting of wealth from everyone else into the hands of those receiving the handouts. There will be consequences: Hyperinflation for one thing. If you walk through a Walmart superstore today and look at all the merchandise it's hard to imagine shortages, but this will happen. Without sound money, the wheels of production will grind to a halt. It happens lightning-fast according to some folks who wrote about post WW1 Germany. What can I do about it? Not enough, I fear. Time, money, resources, we all have a finite supply. But the principle I'm following will help me whether there's crisis or not.

Spend Less

They are urging us to go out and spend some money to get the economy going. For my sake, I'm learning new ways to spend less money. The less you spend, the less of a tax burden you have. If you curb your spending, you curb your sales tax too. One way to spend less is to explore yard sales or Craigslist. Cut the sales tax completely along with cutting your cost.

When you look at the family budget, imagine a pie chart of your expenditures. Perhaps your mortgage or rent payment is number one. Should you downsize your housing cost. somehow? Is there an elderly parent you can move in with? How about a cheap mobile home? Get some land, start small. Build your own natural home from cordwood or cob.

Examine each expense on the pie chart in descending order. Discover what others have done to reduce those categories and consider making drastic changes for yourself. For instance, using waste motor oil for heat. There's a way to do it. There's a way to do other things too. You have to learn how. Even the idea of producing your own electricity is not so far fetched really. There are people who do it. Some are driving around in vegetable oil powered cars.

Be More Self-Sufficient

In addition to saving money, these steps lead to becoming more self-sufficient. They help accomplish the goal of readiness for whatever emergency situation comes along. Katrina taught us there's not much hope in waiting for someone to come and bail YOU out in your time of need. But the money-saving principle and being self-sufficient go hand in hand. Perhaps the most important preparation to make right now is to get more self-sufficient in the area of food. No kidding. Years ago, before all the processed food and fast food, people knew how to cook. They knew how to grow their own stuff. They had chickens in the yard. They knew how to take care of themselves.

You may not become self-sufficient in producing 100% of your food so get to know the farmers in your area! And learn to produce something they need so you can to trade with them.

*******

You can find more of Fred's work on his Stumbleupon page.

*****

We’ve all seen him on the news. The guy buying plywood, beer, chips and other survival essentials as the approaching hurricane can be seen over his shoulder in the distance.

Unfortunately, the majority of Americans aren’t much better when it comes to being prepared for emergencies. However, recent disasters have proven that the sheer magnitude of an event can overwhelm relief efforts, coupled with cutbacks in personnel, budgets and equipment, place the onus squarely on our shoulders.

Many citizens don’t see the need for preparedness, and that’s their prerogative, however a relatively small investment now for someone who is concerned about the possibility of a disruption due to a natural disaster, pandemic, terrorism, civil unrest or countless other possible scenarios, might mean the difference between a week or so of hungry terror or a week of edgy survival. Most people think of some wild eyed mountain man when the word “survival” is mentioned, but that’s no longer the case. When the Government strongly suggests preparing, there’s a reason behind it.

The ever increasing list of disasters and emergencies that can put you on your own is a long and often dangerous one. The violence and mayhem associated with black Friday will look like a minor scuffle when food shortages or any one of a hundred scenarios spark riots. Food flew off the shelf and stores were emptied in hours before the big snow hit the East coast this winter. With municipalities cutting essential services like law enforcement, the chances of having to “hunker down” increases exponentially.

Now the caveat. Being prepared doesn’t guarantee survivability, but it does greatly enhance your chances if the event is survivable. The following list is by no means inclusive as there are hundreds of variables, i.e., suburban vs. rural, gated community vs. projects, the type of disaster, number of persons being prepared for and on and on.

Given the countless variables, there are some basic necessities that are essential regardless of location or emergency. The following items are simply a starting point that will assist you in thinking about establishing some sort of basic preparedness. They will greatly improve not only your survivability, but your level of comfort in terribly uncertain times.

While FEMA recommends three days of emergency provisions, and it is a start, given the current climate, a week’s supply should be a good starting point, a one month stash would be better. Keep in mind that these items cannot be placed in order because of the countless variables.

You’ve made your decision, so now you need to get down to the business of survival.

1. Water. Absolutely essential for drinking, hygiene and cooking. Remember all of the people (who had ample warning) sitting on their roofs during Katrina? Imagine how much comfort a measly couple of buck worth of bottled water would have done to reduce the misery factory. While one gallon per person per day is recommended, enough to drink would certainly be better than nothing at all. Even a few hours of thirst can cost you your edge. Several cases of bottled water would go a long way during an emergency and you can replace it as you use it.

2. Food. Another essential. You can go days or even weeks without food, but who wants to? Something you wouldn’t even consider eating under normal circumstances could look mighty good if you’re starved. Granola bars, canned food and crackers could mean the difference between a clear head or one thinking about a cheeseburger. Every time you go shopping, put in an extra few items that you normally eat. Check the expiration dates and get items with a long shelf life if possible. If something happens, you have food you’re used to and you can use it up as part of your regular food supply. Make sure you rotate it in and out to maintain freshness.

3. Shelter. You have to stay alive to ride out an event. For most of us, staying at home would be the ideal situation. However, any number of situations can require “bugging out” to a shelter or other safe location. Most of us have relatives within driving distance or know someone who might put up with us for awhile. If not, as a last resort the government or the Red Cross will usually provide emergency shelter. Have a plan nonetheless. If you have to stay and shelter in place at your home, business or apartment, or hit the road to get away from civil unrest, a chemical spill, fire or hurricane, you need to have a plan and be prepared to implement it.

4. Emergency Equipment. In addition to food, water and shelter, there are several essential items that will be required in the event you are on your own. Extra medicines are top of the list, particularly if they are required daily. A good first aid kit is another must have. An LED flashlight and lantern with extra batteries are essential. Warm clothes, sleeping gear, a camp stove and emergency sanitation gear are also essential. Last but certainly not least is some sort of self defense. You can easily find out what you need with a little online surfing of various websites, starting with ready.gov..

5. Time Killers. Even if the emergency is only a 48 or 72 hour event, you will want to have some playing cards, books, a Bible and board games on hand to help kill the time. You might even include some candies or other treats as well as coloring books and crayons for the younger ones.

Factors preventing many people from preparing are the “it can’t happen here” mentality, and plain old fear or a sense of being overwhelmed. People with the former attitude won’t see a need to prepare, and that’s their choice. (Until something happens and they expect the government to take care of all of their needs.) As for the latter, there is nothing wrong with fear, particularly the “where does one start” quandary, if it is turned into positive action. Instead of worrying about the future, prepare for it and get on with life. We’re talking about simple and subtle changes in your lifestyle, mostly relating to shopping and food storage habits. No one is advocating that you become a mountain man and live off roots and bark. Simply realize the need for a minimal amount of preparation, formulate a plan and get started working toward your goal, and pray that you never need to use it.

Dennis Evers is a former police chief and best selling author. His newest book, "How to Handle a Crisis" will be available shortly.

Because of the exploding U.S. trade deficit, every single month far more wealth goes out of the United States than comes into it.  Every single month more good jobs and more factories leave our shores never to return.  America was once the greatest industrial power on the globe, but today the U.S. is being deindustrialized at a staggering pace.  Every single month state and local governments go even deeper into debt.  Every single month the U.S. government goes even deeper into debt.  Today, the total of all consumer, business and government debt in the United States is equivalent to approximately 360 percent of GDP.  At no point during the Great Depression did we ever even come close to such a level.  It would be hard to understate exactly how much danger the U.S. economy is in. 

Yes, things really are that serious.

The following are 44 statistics about the U.S. economy that will send a deep, deep chill down your spine.... 

#1 The Census Bureau says that 43.6 million Americans are now living in poverty and according to them that is the highest number of poor Americans that they have ever recorded in 51 years of record-keeping.

#2 The number of Americans enrolled in the food stamp program passed the 41 million mark for the first time ever in June.

#3 As of this past June, the number of Americans on food stamps had set a new all-time record for 19 months in a row.

#4 The number of Americans in the food stamp program increased a staggering 55 percent from December 2007 to June 2010.

#5 One out of every six Americans is now enrolled in at least one anti-poverty program run by the federal government.

#6 The U.S. poverty rate is now the third worst among the developed nations tracked by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

#7 According to an analysis by Isabel Sawhill and Emily Monea of the Brookings Institution, 10 million more Americans (including 6 million more children) will slip into poverty over the next decade.

#8 More than 50 million Americans are now on Medicaid, the U.S. government health care program originally designed principally to help the poor.

#9 In 2009 alone, approximately 4 million more Americans joined the ranks of the poor.

#10 According to one recent survey, 28% of all U.S. households have at least one person that is looking for a full-time job.

#11 Nearly 10 million Americans now receive unemployment insurance, which is almost four times as many that were receiving it back in 2007.

#12 Today the United States has approximately 4 million fewer wage earners than it did in 2007.

#13 The number of Americans receiving long-term unemployment benefits has risen over 60 percent in just the past year alone.

#14 As of the end of 2009, less than 12 million Americans worked in manufacturing.  The last time that less than 12 million Americans were employed in manufacturing was in 1941.

#15 The United States has lost approximately 42,400 factories since 2001.  Approximately 75 percent of those factories employed over 500 workers while they were still in operation.

#16 The United States has lost a whopping 32 percent of its manufacturing jobs since the year 2000.

#17 According to Tax Notes, the truth is that between 1999 and 2008 employment at the foreign affiliates of U.S. parent companies skyrocketed 30 percent to 10.1 million. During that same time period, U.S. employment at American multinational corporations declined 8 percent to 21.1 million.

#18 In 1959, manufacturing represented 28 percent of all U.S. economic output.  In 2008, it represented only 11.5 percent.

#19 The U.S. trade deficit normally comes in at around 40 or 50 billion dollars each month these days, and that means that by the end of the year a half trillion dollars (or more) will have left the United States.

#20 In 2008, 1.2 billion cellphones were sold worldwide.  So how many of them were manufactured inside the United States?  Zero.

#21 According to a new study conducted by the Economic Policy Institute, if the U.S. trade deficit with China continues to increase at its current rate, the U.S. economy will lose over half a million jobs this year alone.

#22 As of the end of July, the U.S. trade deficit with China had risen 18 percent compared to the same time period a year ago.

#23 The United States spends approximately $3.90 on Chinese goods for every $1 that the Chinese spend on goods from the United States.

#24 One prominent economist is projecting that the Chinese economy will be three times larger than the U.S. economy by the year 2040.

#25 Bankruptcy filings in the United States increased 20 percent during the twelve month period ending June 30th.

#26 One out of every seven mortgages was either delinquent or in foreclosure during the first quarter of 2010.

#27 As of June 30th, 23 percent of all residential mortgages in the United States were "underwater".  In other words, as of the end of June 23 percent of American households with a home mortgage owed more on their mortgages than their homes were worth.

#28 U.S. Banks repossessed 269,962 U.S. homes during the second quarter of 2010, which was a new all-time record.

#29 U.S. banks repossessed 25 percent more homes in August 2010 than they did in August 2009.

#30 As of this March, U.S. banks had an inventory of 1.1 million foreclosed homes, which was a new all-time record and which was up 20 percent from one year ago.

#31 According to Mark Zandi, the chief economist at Moody’s Analytics, approximately 2 million more homes will be repossessed by mortgage lenders by the end of 2011.

#32 New home sales in the United States were unchanged in August, coming in at a 288,000 annual pace, matching July as the second lowest figure ever recorded going all the way back to 1963.

#33 The Mortgage Bankers Association recently announced that demand for loans to purchase U.S. homes has sunk to a 13-year low.

#34 One shocking new study indicates that Americans are $6.6 trillion short of what they need to retire comfortably.

#35 Unfunded pension benefit liabilities at the state government level - the amount state governments owe in promised retirement benefits beyond what they have collected - exceed $3 trillion.

#36 According to the Congressional Budget Office, the Social Security system will pay out more in benefits than it receives in payroll taxes in 2010.  That was not supposed to happen until at least 2016.

#37 In 1950, each retiree's Social Security benefit was paid for by 16 U.S. workers.  In 2010, each retiree's Social Security benefit is paid for by approximately 3.3 U.S. workers.  By 2025, it is projected that there will be approximately two U.S. workers for each retiree.

#38 During the first quarter of 2010, the number of loans that were at least three months past due in the United States increased for the 16th quarter in a row.

#39 As we approach the end of September 2010, there are now 872 banks (well over 10 percent of all U.S. banks) on the FDIC list of "problem" banks.

#40 Americans now owe more than $849 billion on student loans.

#41 A staggering 25 percent of all American adults now have a credit score below 599.

#42 According to a poll taken in 2009, 61 percent of Americans "always or usually" live paycheck to paycheck.  That was up significantly from 49 percent in 2008 and 43 percent in 2007.

#43 The U.S. government has accumulated a national debt that is rapidly approaching 14 trillion dollars.  It is increasing by over 4 billion dollars every single day.

#44 A trillion $10 bills, if they were taped end to end, would wrap around the globe more than 380 times.  That amount of money would still not be enough to pay off the U.S. national debt.

So what can we learn from all of this?  In particular, are there emergency preparedness lessons that we can take from this tragedy?

Yes, we believe that there are.  The following are 8 emergency survival lessons that we have learned from the Gulf of Mexico oil spill....

#1) Disaster Can Strike Anywhere

Who would have thought that the next great disaster was going to be in the middle of the Gulf of Mexico?  The truth is that disaster can strike anywhere.  Earthquakes, volcanoes, hurricanes, floods and terrorism are just a few of the things that we all need to be prepared to deal with at any time.  None of us knows where or when the next major emergency is going to strike.

#2) Corporations Are Not Going To Be Much Assistance In An Emergency

As the Gulf of Mexico oil spill has clearly demonstrated, corporations are only interested in helping themselves during an emergency.  Do not count on them for an ounce of assistance if a disaster happens.

#3) The Government Is Not Going To Be Much Assistance In An Emergency

Just like with Hurricane Katrina, the government has shown how unprepared and inept they really are during this oil spill.  During a true disaster, do not count on the government to swoop in and rescue you.

#4) Disasters Are Often Much Worse Than Anticipated

Both the government and BP believed that they were fully prepared for any eventuality in the Gulf of Mexico.  But they were not.  The lesson here is that disasters are often much worse than we can anticipate.  It is important to have a lot of flexibility built in to your emergency preparedness plans.

#5) The Response By Authorities To A Disaster Can Often Make It Even Worse

Even with all of our "advanced" technology, the truth is that we often make disasters even worse when we intervene.  Some scientists are now claiming that the primary dispersant that BP has been using, Corexit 9527, ruptures red blood cells and causes fish to bleed.  So now BP has made the environmental disaster in the Gulf far worse than it otherwise would have been.

#6) What You Can't See Can Still Make You Sick Or Even Kill You

There are reports that fishermen all over the Gulf of Mexico are becoming seriously ill from breathing the toxic brew being created by this oil spill and BP's response to it.  The lesson here is that you don't have to just plan for food, water and shelter during an emergency situation.  You may also find yourself in a situation where the air is not fit to breathe.

#7) Include Your Pets In Your Emergency Plans

Professor Prosanta Chakrabarty of Louisiana State University says that she believes that "every fish and invertebrate contacting the oil is probably dying".  The truth is that a major disaster is going to affect your pets.  Be mindful of that when drawing up your emergency preparedness plans. 

#8) A Disaster Can Change Your Entire Way Of Life Instantly

Local shrimpers in Louisiana are already predicting that it will be seven years before they can set to sea again.  The reality is that the Gulf of Mexico oil spill is going to change the lives of millions of people forever.  Do you know what you would do if your job or business was destroyed during a major disaster?

As a result, according to Molly Sandvig, the executive director of Physician Hospitals of America, more than 60 doctor-owned hospitals across the country that were in the development stage will now be canceled.

Isn't that wonderful?

"That’s a lot of access to communities that will be denied," Sandvig told CNSNews.com, the news source the originally broke the story. "The existing hospitals are greatly affected. They can’t grow. They can’t add beds. They can’t add rooms. Basically, it stifles their ability to change and meet market needs. This is really an unfortunate thing as well, because we are talking about some of the best hospitals in the country."

Is it any wonder that the American people are so upset about this health care bill?

It is one of the worst pieces of legislation in the history of the American republic.

A bill that was supposed to give all of us better health care is now going to force the cancellation of 60 doctor-owned hospitals.

What will they think of next?

Here are the comments from our readers.....

***From Those Backing The Theory Of Man-Made Global Warming***

EatMe:

Global Warming does not mean just hot hot hot everywhere. It is not a zero sum game. When something heats up somewhere, it is bound to have an effect someplace else. For example, if the Jet Stream goes out of whack because of rising warm air somewhere, some place is going to get buried under a ton of snow. That is the simple explanation. But I bet your simplistic right wingnut mind cannot possibly fathom such logic. Moron!

Joanna:

Don’t do that! Climate Change is about changing weather patterns not about making places balmy. It is about catatrophic weather events that will occur more frequently including snow in areas that do not necessarily get it to droughts and floods.

Get educated!

Kathleen:

Global imbalance. Warming increases evaporation causing more H2O to drop from the sky and historically triggers ice ages. Simple physics.

Why so angry everybody? We are in this story together.

R:

One snowstorm is supposed to balance the massive loss of Arctic Ice? Face facts.

***From Opposed To The Theory Of Man-Made Global Warming***

Gary:

In 1974 scientists were convinced that we were on the verge of massive global cooling. Check out the Time magazine article. The very idea that what we do is powerful enough to cause a global meltdown is narcissism gone awry. Do you wish to ignore that the scientists who started all this global warming panic have been proven to have falsified their evidence? FYI, the ice packs have actually grown the last three years and those cute little polar bears would like to eat you. They can swim 60 miles and the one’s in Mr. Gore’s movie were photoshopped. Do your homework.

Realist:

“Climate change scientists”‘ have been playing the “I’ll make up data, apply for big government grants and then publish my bogus data in semi-respected journals game” for years. You believers need to wake up! Everyone is sensationalizing about the natural melting of glaciers. Its proven that it would take several hundred years to melt the glaciers. Like everything, a certain amount of melting occurs as a natural life cycle of the glaciers. Not caused by anything we’re doing on this earth.

Fenton:

The “fact” is that more and more scientists are distancing themselves from the doomsday sky is falling argument of global “whatever you want to call it depending on the weather.” I heard Mars is warming too. I know SUV sales on Mars is are at an all time high! And Joanna, does getting educated mean we should just swallow the kool-aid that liberals dish out on a daily basis? So please, if you want to save the planet from global “warming,” yank Mr. Gore, Pelosi, and Reid out of their private jets, throw them in your $30,000 crackerjack box Prius and pray your brakes work.

Sart:

EATME where is your scientific proof of global warming or climate change? you seem very angry, you probably can’t show proof of this global warming. You can call people names and believe that guy that invented the internet but show the proof. Gore is sure not a good role model of Green or a scientist on global warming, he does have a huge bank account from the Global warming film!!

Blah:

The debate isn’t whether the globe has been heating in the last 70 or so years, it’s whether man is the cause (anthropomorphic global warming) or nature. The current heating trend is identical to historical ones (i.e. the temperature increases proceeded CO2 increases). Furthermore, if you look at a graph that’s bigger the Al Gore’s 150 year “Hockey Stick” graph say a 2000 year timeline you actually see that we are in a general cooling trend.

Lastly, the idea of man-made global warming as a threat was hatched by the political think tank the Club of Rome in 1993 (Which Al Gore and Maurice Strong are/were both members of). They released a paper, “The First Global Revolution,” in the early 90s, where in chapter 5 entitled “The Vacuum” they discussed using perceived climactic catastrophes as a way to unite the globe for the creation of global government taxing bodies and banks (think Kyoto Protocol and Copenhagen Climate summit). Here’s a quote from that chapter…

“The common enemy of humanity is man.
In searching for a new enemy to unite us, we came up
with the idea that pollution, the threat of global warming,
water shortages, famine and the like would fit the bill. All these
dangers are caused by human intervention, and it is only through
changed attitudes and behavior that they can be overcome.
The real enemy then, is humanity itself.”

Notice the last line, because this is really what its all about for many of these ideologues. They believe that mankind and nature needs to be save from man, and the only answer is to create a global governance model to control man. The new totalitarian regime won’t use death camps and gas chambers to control man, but slick lies and taxes that create harsh economic conditions. If you doubt this think about climate-gate … where all those climactic scientists got caught fudging data and threatening colleagues.

Others, like Al Gore and these environmental banking trusts seem to be more concerned with the money to be made … i.e. carbon trading credits the next billion dollar financial derivatives scheme. Take about making money out of air!

So I guess my point is … GLOBAL WARMING IS A SHAM!

****

So what do you all think about this?  Feel free to leave a comment with your opinion....

But people got crazy anyway.

This just underscores the need to get really prepared in case a major natural disaster, a war, a deadly pandemic, an economic collapse or a major terror event does happen in your area.

Just think about Hurricane Katrina.

Would you want to be stuck with no food and water in the middle of something like that?

The reality is that most people live month to month and they could only last a couple of weeks (at most) on what is currently in their cupboards.

Do not let that be you. People get crazy when "normal life" gets suddenly altered. Let the pictures in this article be a lesson for all of us.

It is best to be prepared.

But the reality is that this is a monster storm that is going to dump a massive amount of precipitation somewhere.  The team over at Foot's Forecast believes that the Washington/Baltimore region is going to get slammed hard.   So could they be wrong?  Of course.  Computer projections can always be wrong.

But you better get prepared just in case.

When it comes to disasters, winter storms are nothing compared to earthquakes and hurricanes, but they can still be dangerous if you are not prepared.

In particular, there is always the danger of the power going out or of being stranded somewhere in your car during a massive winter storm.  So there are a few things you need to do to get ready.

First, make sure that you have enough food and water to last a week or longer if necessary.  In addition, the most important thing is to make certain that you are able to heat your home and/or stay warm if the power goes out for an extended period of time.  The truth is that you can freeze to death in your own home - especially if you live in colder climates.  Now, this is not likely to happen if you live in the mid-Atlantic region, but although you may not die, being without heat for an extended period can greatly increase your chance of getting sick.

Secondly, the smart thing to do is to stay home and not drive anywhere during a major winter storm.  However, if you must go somewhere, there are certain things you should be sure to take with you.  You definitely will want to take your cell phone with you so that you can call for help if needed, and you will also want to take a very warm coat with you in case you are stranded for an extended period.  It also does not hurt to have some food and water with you.  You will also want to have a shovel in your vehicle in case you need to dig yourself out.

Making certain preparations will make weathering a a major winter storm that much easier.  The weather on the east coast this upcoming weekend is not going to be pleasant, but hopefully we can all be smart, prepared and ready to enjoy the snow.

But you would like to think that the people of Haiti would choose this moment to pull together as a nation.  After all, nearly 170,000 dead bodies have been recovered in so far.  If there was any moment for neighbors to reach out and help each other in Haiti, you think that this would be it.

Instead, we are seeing very much the opposite.  Looting and violence are absolutely rampant.  Criminals are taking advantage of the blackout in Haiti's capital to harass and rape women and young girls.  In fact, yesterday Haiti's national police chief Mario Andresol said this about all the raping that is going on.... 

"With the blackout that's befallen the Haitian capital, bandits are taking advantage to harass and rape women and young girls under the tents."

How sick is that?

But not only that, Haitian officials also fear that human trafficking and the sale of human organs will become rampant in the aftermath of the Haitian earthquake.  You see, the breakdown of Haitian society is not only bringing out the evil in the people who live there.  It is also attracting the wickedness of outsiders who are eager to exploit them.

Speaking on CNN on Wednesday night, Haiti's Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive said that he has received reports of Haitian children being sold and that he is also convinced that human organs are being taken from victims of the earthquake and are being sold for profit.

How low do you have to be to go to Haiti and harvest the organs of dead earthquake victims and sell them for profit?

How low do you have to be to go to Haiti and buy children that have been orphaned by the earthquake?

But it is happening.

According to one report, orphans in Haiti are being offered for sale to foreigners for as little as 50 dollars.

This is the true face of humanity.

Just like after Hurricane Katrina.

Just like we have seen countless other times around the globe when society breaks down.

When the thin veneer of civilization gets removed, the true nature of humanity is revealed.

And it is really ugly.

Do not overestimate the character of the people where you live either.

When society breaks down in your neck of the woods, do you believe that some of them won't act like animals just to survive?

Don't bet on it.

You better get ready while there is still time to prepare.

So can what is happening in Haiti happen in the United States?

Of course it can.

Or did you forget about Hurricane Katrina?

The truth is that most areas in the United States are only about 9 meals away from anarchy.

When people get desperate they will do just about anything for survival.  We like to think of ourselves as so "advanced" and so "civilized", but the truth is that an emergency situation can turn most people into wild animals very quickly.

So what are the odds of a massive earthquake like the one that devastated Haiti hitting the U.S. any time soon?

Unfortunately the odds are not in our favor.

We live at a time when earthquakes are increasing in frequency and in intensity all over the globe.

In fact, a 6.3 magnitude earthquake shook the ocean floor between South America and Antarctica on Sunday.

Fortunately it was not close enough to any populated areas to do significant damage, but the next time we might not be so lucky.

The truth is that there are several areas of the United States where scientists are expecting massive earthquakes to strike.

For instance, U.S. scientists are predicting a Haiti-magnitude earthquake along the New Madrid fault in the U.S. some time during the next 50 years.

If you do not know where the New Madrid fault line is, just Google it. 

Wikipedia describes the New Madrid fault as being "a major seismic zone and a prolific source of intraplate earthquakes (earthquakes within a tectonic plate) in the Southern and Midwestern United States stretching to the southwest from New Madrid, Missouri."

In other words, a massive earthquake along the New Madrid fault line could devastate an area stretching from Chicago to St. Louis to Memphis all the way down to the mouth of the Mississippi.

In fact, a large number of people have had "dreams" and "visions" that just such an earthquake will actually create a huge new body of water in that area.  Some of them have predicted that the earthquake will be so massive that it will actually cause the Mississippi River to run backwards.

In 1811, an earthquake along the New Madrid fault was so powerful that it "shook windows and furniture in Washington, D.C., rang bells in Richmond, Virginia, sloshed well water and shook houses in Charleston, South Carolina, and knocked plaster off of houses in Columbia, South Carolina."

Another giant earthquake along the fault system in 1812 was so intense that it was felt all the way in New York City and Boston.

So yes, it can happen in the United States.  In fact, scientists are expecting it to happen at some point in the next 50 years.

But of course when one thinks of earthquakes in the United States, one usually thinks of California first.

In fact, a flurry of recent earthquake activity all over the state of California is raising concerns that California could be the next spot to be hit by the "Big One". 

A very large number of small earthquakes have been reported all over the state of California in the last 7 days.

Is this an indication that we could see something happen there soon?

Let's hope not.

The truth is that when the "Big One" does hit California, it may do a whole lot more than knock a few buildings down.

While a 7.0 earthquake would not do as much damage in most areas of California as it did in Haiti, the truth is that California is likely to see a much more powerful earthquake someday.

For decades there have been those who say that they have had "dreams" and "visions" about an earthquake that is so bad that it will actually cause a portion of California to slide into the ocean.

Seriously.

There are even people who have drawn up maps showing what California will look like after this happens.

But there are more than just a few dreamers who are convinced that this will happen to California someday.  The belief that "The Big One" will one day hit California is so prevalent that even Time Magazine has done a major story about it.

In fact, there seems to be a general consensus in the scientific community that the Big One is coming to California and that everybody needs to start preparing for it.

The Los Angeles Times recently reported on the "Uniform California Earthquake Rupture Forecast" which was released in 2007.  This report stated that California has a 99.7% chance of a 6.7 magnitude earthquake within 30 years.

A 99.7 percent chance?

How much more of a sure thing do you want?

If the scientists and the "visionaries" are right, massive earthquakes and significant geological changes are coming to the United States during our lifetimes.

In fact, what is coming to the United States might just make what is going on in Haiti look like a Sunday afternoon stroll in the park.

Are you ready?

Watch the video below and post a comment with your thoughts on this debate. Do you think that gold will be of value in the future that is ahead for us?  We certainly do not agree with a lot of things in this video, but it is thought provoking so we thought that we would post it....

Dude - where's my car?....

Hopefully nobody has to go to work tomorrow....

Let's all hope that poor sucker does not have to get out for a few weeks....

Honey I think we got some snow....

A fine day for a barbecue....

During the course of their investigation, the Associated Press reviewed a number of Monsanto licensing agreements and they conducted dozens of interviews with seed industry insiders, agriculture experts and legal authorities.

What they found was nothing short of astounding. 

It turns out that the Associated Press discovered that Monsanto uses ruthless contractual agreements to spread its technology.  In fact, they have given approximately 200 smaller companies the right to insert Monsanto's genes into their separate strains of corn and soybeans.

However, the Associated Press discovered that those agreements come with plenty of strings attached.  The following is how the AP described just one of Monsanto's unfair contract provisions....

"One contract provision bans independent companies from breeding plants that contain both Monsanto's genes and the genes of any of its competitors, unless Monsanto gives prior written permission — giving Monsanto the ability to effectively lock out competitors from inserting their patented traits into the vast share of U.S. crops that already contain Monsanto's genes."

So how much power do these one-sided agreements give Monsanto?

The AP report quotes one expert as describing this level of power to be "almost unbelievable"....

"We now believe that Monsanto has control over as much as 90 percent of (seed genetics). This level of control is almost unbelievable," said Neil Harl, agricultural economist at Iowa State University who has studied the seed industry for decades. "The upshot of that is that it's tightening Monsanto's control, and makes it possible for them to increase their prices long term. And we've seen this happening the last five years, and the end is not in sight."

So what does it mean if Monsanto raises prices?

It means that those price hikes filter down to virtually every dinner table in America.

Without any meaningful competition, Monsanto can raise prices without fear.  As they raise prices, American consumers will soon find they are paying much more for cereal, soda, soup and many of the other products that they regularly purchase at the supermarket.

The reality is that as Monsanto has captured a rapidly increasing market share in the seed market over the past decade, prices for Monsanto genetically modified seeds have also rapidly increased.  In fact, the prices for Monsanto seeds have approxmiately doubled over the past decade.

But it is not just consumers and Monsanto's competitors who are upset.

Many farmers throughout the United States are absolutely fed up with Monsanto's ruthless use of litigation.  Monsanto is involved in so much litigation that it is not even funny.

You see,  all over America the wind is carrying Monsanto's genetically altered seeds over to neighboring farms that are not using their seeds.  So Monsanto regularly sends out "investigators" to visit farms that are not using their seeds yet to test whether or not any Monsanto crop strains have shown up on those farms.  If they have, then Monsanto proceeds to sue the living daylights out of those farmers.

Does that sound like a "good" corporation to you?

There are others who are highly concerned about the negative impact that Monsanto is having on the environment.

Why?

Because Monsanto is creating an environmental nightmare that is unprecedented.

The truth is that once genetically modified crops created by Monsanto are released into the environment, it is virtually impossible to ever contain or recall them.  Seeds are easily carried by insects, birds, and the wind into neighboring fields.  Pollen from genetically modified crops ends up cross-pollinating with natural crops and wild relatives.  In fact, once a strain of genetically modified crops becomes widespread enough, the natural strains can actually be bred into extinction.

It is just not possible to put the genie back into the bottle.

Once Monsanto's strains have become dominant everywhere, then they will own a patent over virtually all seeds and all crops.

They will have unprecedented power.

Meanwhile they may just be wrecking our health.

The reality is that many natural health experts are claiming that there is a growing body of evidence that genetically modified foods are linked to a vast array of diseases and illnesses.  Just some of the diseases and illnesses that genetically modified food has been linked to by natural health experts include food allergies, intestinal damage, autoimmune disorders, anemia, diabetes, infertility and even cancer.  In fact, independent scientific studies that have been done on the effects of genetically modified have produced some very troubling results.

So why have we not heard more about this?

The truth is that it has been documented that independent scientists and government officials who have dared to question the safety of genetically modified food have been harrassed, threatened and in some cases even fired. 

It is clear that there is someone out there who wants to make darn sure that only one side of the genetically modified food debate is presented to the public.

But this lack of debate could have serious consequences.

For example, what if it is conclusively proven that genetically modified seeds cause cancer?

Well, if 95 percent of a particular kind of seed has to all of a sudden be taken off the market that would instantly cause a massive food shortage.

The truth is that for one company to have such extraordinary power over our seeds is a direct threat to our survival as a nation.

What if their seeds fail?

What if their seeds have unintended health consequences?

What if their seeds end up being particularly susceptible to crop diseases?

What if they decide that they want to start doubling prices every single year?

The "what ifs" are endless.  But what we do know is that Monsanto's behavior is driving hordes of small farmers out of business, it is strangling competitors, and it is permanently altering the environment.

When are the snoozing politicians in Washington going to wake up and do something about this?

For example, the World Health Organization has confirmed that the same H1N1 mutation found in Ukraine has also been discovered in Norway.  Norway's Institute of Public Health released an official statement in which they announced that this H1N1 mutation "could possibly...cause more severe disease" as it apparently infects tissue deeper in the human airway than usual.

In addition, Hong Kong's Department of Health has confirmed that it has found a mutation in a H1N1 flu virus sample and that it looks to be the same one found in Ukraine and Norway.

Not only that, but a Chinese health official has now come out and has announced that China has detected 8 people infected with mutated forms of the H1N1 swine flu virus.  Swine flu panic has gotten so bad in China that wholesale garlic prices have risen by as much as 15-fold since March in large cities such as Beijing due to a combination of reduced acreage being planted by local farmers because of the recession – and a belief that garlic can keep away swine flu.

Now there are fears that the H1N1 mutation found elsewhere has already spread into the heartland of the United States.

Commenting on a substantial spike in H1N1 swine flu deaths in Iowa, Dr. Gregory Schmunk told KCCI news that what doctors there are seeing in H1N1 patients "is very heavy, wet hemorrhagic lungs, lungs with a lot of blood in them."

That sounds exactly like what has been happening in Ukraine for the past few weeks.

Meanwhile, WHO officials say that they are "not sure" if reported H1N1 swine flu mutations suggest a "fundamental change" in the virus.

They are not sure?

Perhaps they should find out and tell us.

There certainly are troubling signs coming in from all over the world.....

*The European Center for Disease Control and Prevention has announced that H1N1 swine flu deaths in Europe are doubling every two weeks.

*Iran's Minister of Health Marzieh Vahid-Dastjerdi has announced that more than one million people have tested positive for the H1N1 swine flu virus in that nation.

*New figures have shown that deaths from the H1N1 swine flu in England rose to their highest peak yet last week.

*Over 400 schools have been closed in France as H1N1 swine flu fears spread rapidly across that nation.

*Schools across Romania will be closing for seven days due to a severe outbreak of the H1N1 swine flu virus.

*It is being reported that there are nearly a quarter of a million people seriously ill with the H1N1 swine flu in Belarus, and there are unconfirmed reports that patients in that nation are experiencing similar deaths from the H1N1 swine flu as have been reported in Ukraine.

So what in the world is going on?

Well, the truth is that even the WHO says that they are not sure.

Some mainstream media reports even herald that the worst of the swine flu is over now, but the reality is that if these reports from across the globe are accurate we could be just experiencing the very beginning of a flu emergency.

It will be very important for all of us to track flu developments around the world this winter.  Your survival and the survival of your family may depend on it.  Now is the time to get prepared and to decide what you are going to do if thousands of people do start dying where you live.

If you have any additional information about what is going on with this H1N1 mutation please leave a comment below.....

The most recent video of mass graves is out of Houston, Texas. The scope of this project appears to be absolutely massive. What could be the purpose of such a large number of mass graves?.....

The National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona is a 225 acre cemetery facility located in Phoenix. In the past few months this usually quiet cemetery facility has been buzzing with activity. A massive expansion has been underway, with construction reportedly going on from the early morning all of the way until sunset most days......

There are also reports of mass graves being reported in Inglewood, California, although this video is not nearly as good as the two above.....

Near Atlanta, the U.S. government is storing a half million plastic coffins. Why in the world would the government need so many coffins? Is the U.S. government expecting a half million people to die relatively soon?

The reality is that the Atlanta airport is a major airline traffic hub, and Atlanta is also the home of the CDC.  Could these air tight plastic coffins be ideal for burying the victims of a flu pandemic?.....

There have also been rumors of mass graves being prepared near Chicago and elsewhere.  If you know of additional videos that relate to this phenomenon please let us know. 

The truth is that whenever anyone starts preparing mass graves it should make all of us nervous. 

Does someone expect a whole lot of people to start dying in the near future?

Or is someone just being really paranoid and taking "pandemic preparedness" to absurd levels?

Feel free to let us know what you think by leaving a comment below.....

Each month hundreds of thousands more Americans are losing their jobs. Without work, they are scrambling for survival. Millions of others have had to take jobs that are lower paying than what they had previously. Jobs that one used to be able to support a family with are being shipped overseas or are being taken by illegal aliens.

There are those among our own family and friends who are unemployed or underemployed. These include professional people with college degrees. As hard as they try, some of them cannot get anything.

Why can't they find a job? Are they just lazy?

No.

The reality is that the government figures VASTLY understate the real level of unemployment. Just check out the following YouTube video which does a great job of explaining why the REAL unemployment number if more like twice what the government is telling us.....

As you can see from the map below the areas hit by unemployment the worst are the west coast, Nevada (the gambling industry is in freefall), the upper midwest (the auto industry problems are not going away) and the southeast (especially Florida).  The truth is that if you live in any of these areas and you don't have a job it might be a really good idea for you to think about relocating.....

If you do still have a job, the lesson from all of this is that you cannot count on having it indefinitely. Come up with a back up plan. Have enough money in the bank so that you can last for at least a year if you do lose your job. Think about how you can make some money on the side.

The truth is that the economy of the United States is dying, and you need to think about how you and your family are going to make it in the hard times ahead.  Now is the time to come up with a plan for financial survival.  If you think that you will always have a great job to rely on you could be very sorely mistaken.  Please prepare while you still have time.

Recently, the World Health Organization said that up to 2 billion people could become infected by the swine flu if the current outbreak turns into a pandemic.

WHO flu chief Keiji Fukuda startled the world media when he told them this: "If we do move into a pandemic.....it would be a reasonable estimate to say perhaps a third of the world’s population would get infected with this virus."

That is a whole lot of people.

But is there any evidence that this current outbreak could become a pandemic?

Up to this point, there has been a mortality rate of almost 4 percent in Mexico from the swine flu.

If you start projecting that type of mortality rate worldwide in a pandemic scenario, things start getting really frightening.

While the mainstream media and most of the American public has gotten very bored with the swine flu story, the reality is that things could still get really bad.

One individual on a forum that we like to visit has even made charts that show that swine flu cases are growing at an exponential rate, and that if this rate continues then things will get really, really bad. You can see his latest post on this and his charts right here:

http://www.godlikeproductions.com/forum1/message789735/pg1

So before we jump to conclusions too soon about the swine flu, perhaps we should admit that maybe we just don't have a complete picture of this outbreak just yet.

A confidential internal document out of Texas that reveals that authorities believe that there are 10 to 25 times as many actual swine flu cases as is being officially reported has gone absolutely viral on the Internet.

Dr. Marcus Gitterle, a doctor from New Braunfels, Texas, sent out an internal alert that was not meant to be seen by the public. The words that he penned in that internal alert should chill us all.

Gitterle explained in his internal memo that "what we are hearing privately from the CDC and Health Department is different from what you are hearing in the media."

It is hard to actually describe how dire Dr. Gitterle makes the situation sound in his memo. The following are some of the most shocking quotes from Dr. Gitterle in the document.....