Preparing for the next Pandemic

With the new Coronavirus in the news, its a good time to make sure you have basic supplies on hand that may run low and have inflated prices if things become critical.  I thought of this post when I went on Amazon.com and started searching for face masks.  I always try to do my purchases on a budget, getting the best items at the lowest cost.  I try to buy in good numbers, not overbuy, but decide what amount of product will suffice for three situations: Immediate Need, Fleeing Need, and Long Term Projected Need. Amazon was sold out of the most economical masks, without any posting of when more would be available. I had to go to other vendors, and then one of them tried to cancel my order so I had to call and get them to honor my purchase.  I got notice it was shipped today. So be careful who you order from.  I have enough on hand for the family now but called or contacted extended family via social media to get their masks NOW.

   


What is Coronavirus?  It appears to be a virus that causes respiratory distress, a virus that started in a market where many different species of animals were offered for sale in close proximity.  Worse, those animals were butchered on-site without proper sanitation, and the transmission from animal to human was facilitated easily.  In other words, by killing them, they gained the ability to kill us back.  These markets are very common in much of the Asian peninsula.  The next virus is already fomenting, because people want what they want, and have been eating from these markets for generations, they see nothing wrong with their eating habits, they are not circumspect when it comes to eating ANY type of animal.

The CDC Website states, "Coronaviruses are common in many different species of animals, including camels and bats. Rarely, these coronaviruses can evolve and infect humans and then spread between humans. Recent examples of this include SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV. Normally, most coronaviruses infect animals, but not people. In the future, one or more of these other coronaviruses could potentially evolve and spread to humans, as has happened in the past. We still don’t understand why only certain coronaviruses are able to infect people." (CDC Website)

When faced with a pending Pandemic, the first thing to do is count the cost if you do NOTHING. I look to preserve my life and that of my family.  I think, "Whose life will be impacted if I do NOTHING?" We must realize, that the primary aim of this new administration is their own preservation, PERIOD.  Look at Puerto Rico and its current situation, and realize, YOU will be the person primarily responsible for your well being.

6 cases in the United States so far

How bad could it get, if this Coronavirus or the next major Pandemic actually becomes a worldwide problem?  After all, this newest virus looks as though it is only striking the elderly or those compromised by existing respiratory issues.  Maybe you don't fall into that category.  But, there isn't very much information about the Coronavirus at the present time, and there is no projected cure in mind.  There are more things that compromise our health than we tend to think about.  65 percent of the current population of the United States is morbidly obese, with an additional 15 percent obese.  Pre-existing conditions with many of them from Diabetes to Heart conditions put them in a vulnerable state.  Many are caregivers of elderly or young children, and some can barely walk a flight of stairs without wheezing.

As I have Lupus, I know a major illness can kick my immune system into overdrive, so I am always guarded against people who are coming down with something, in the midst of illness or just getting over an illness. In other words, I avoid sick people, and always trust my instincts.

In this case, prepare for your immediate need by purchasing N95 or N99 masks that have replaceable carbon filter, or that come in bulk so you can change out your masks.  For extra protection, you can put a regular medical mask underneath it. Don't believe the press that 'A mask won't help', ANY protection you don will be a help, versus a naked face.

Don't feel silly or embarrassed by wearing them now. Because by the time you notice someone with a fever, coughing or sneezing, it's too late to put the mask on with an airborne illness.  If you commute and are around a lot of people on a daily basis, put on your mask when on public transportation.  If you are in any doubt, mask up.

Guess What Time It Is?

It's time to start your Disaster Prepping!  This is the month that the book starts from, September!  You're past the gearing up for the kids to go back to school, and the end of all your summertime fun, now its time to get down to business! So, let's dig in and get started.

Head on over to Amazon and get the Book Series, "Disaster Prepping for Procrastinators".  You have a choice of getting the Color or the Black and White version.  Then, get your Forms Book which will help you put away paper that you need and get rid of papers that you don't need.

Last but not least, is your Shopping List Book.  It comes in two forms, with and without Scripture references.


I always have some component of Christianity in my works, and this one is no exception.  Anyone thinking, "God is going to take care of me, I don't have to go through all of this." is kidding themselves. 
I wanted to make sure that everyone could be covered when it came to Disaster Preparation.  In the Scripture Shopping List Book, there is supporting Scriptures that show having a vision and a plan is something that honors God.  It's expected, not just for yourself, but for your family, and your neighbors.  Our system lets you take care of not only your family but have a little extra you can put aside for extended family and neighbors.

This is the first month that you will begin to build your long term supplies and start cleaning your house.  So, plans are made to be added to, so first, you need to look through the quiz portions of the book to find out why you procrastinate.  All the planning, purchasing and storing items in the world won't work, if you don't figure out why you keep putting off doing anything to help yourself and your family survive and thrive in an Emergency or Disaster.

I will be giving some shopping tips for things that I find along the way that will make your life easier.  Just know, even if you only get your backpacks ready, you need to do SOME level of preparation.  One thing I have seen from having lost power before is once the electronics run out of juice, things can get REALLY dicey around the house.  Teenagers without their phones can be worse than being caged in a guest bathroom with a hungry lion!

In addition to this month's purchases, I came across these Shelving Units from Sam's Club. They are reasonable, have great reviews, and would be perfect for a basement or closet area.  Always read the reviews before you purchase something that you really need to work.

Make sure you read some of the lower reviews also, but you may come to find that they are many times left by people who can't put anything together or you just can't please them no matter what you do. If the product you buy doesn't meet your expectations, take it back to the store or send it back.  I tend to order from Amazon, because they don't hassle me about returns.


Another choice for those on a budget is this shelving unit from Ikea.  It doesn't hold heavy loads, but will keep your things off the floor.

If you live in a NEW flood plain...you know, the areas that used to get hit with 100 year floods every year, but they come every year now...you need to think of not just shelving to keep your important stuff off the floor, but also plastic tubs that you can seal with duct tape to keep your important papers and things important to your family from being ruined.

So, go get your books, and let's get this show on the road! Get your front closet cleaned out, and your foyer in order.  Get your Backpacks and this month's water supplies.  Nothing grates on you more than paying $15.00 with a 2 pack maximum for water that cost $3.00 last week. You can go without food for some time, but you need water every day.

Links:

Disaster Prepping for Procrastinators Series

Sam's Club Shelving Unit

IKEA Shelving Unit

You can't take ALL of that WITH you!

You know, I was looking through my Disaster prep stuff, which I keep in a loft area right by the front door, and rethinking my trunk space.  I've taken to leaving my trunk as empty as possible because I have a lot to put in there! 

I've redoubled my efforts to make sure we are able to evacuate with everything we need, but not be so bogged down we can't take the important things and light out for a safe zone.

Its easier to think that you'll just buy one of those First Aid Backpacks, a tent and those Survival Food Buckets with pre-done entrees and 2 containers of water and that's okay. 

But you can't take ALL that WITH you if you have to evacuate by car or on foot.  Have you ever read what is actually in those buckets?  I have.  They include a bunch of things that my family isn't going to eat! Some of those items can be re-heated, but others have to be re-hydrated, which will cut into your water supply.

There is a finite amount of space in the trunk of your car.  If you're like most people, you always have a bunch of stuff in your trunk.  You may want to think of cleaning it out, before you end up having to toss stuff out without sorting it in case of an emergency.  Everything you haul increases the weight of your car and will affect your gas mileage.  We have recommendations in the book series that will help you break down your needs and what you should carry regularly in the car, to your job, that your family should take to work and school so that you are all prepared in case of an emergency. 

We tell you how to work with the interior of your car, once you load in your family. You can continue the way you are, but make sure whatever you plan, it will fit a shelter-in-place scenario, evacuate by car scenario AND an evacuate on foot scenario.  My system helps prepare you for all of those occurrences and at the same time, declutter and clean your home so you can become more organized.

Get your copies of Disaster Prepping for Procrastinators on Amazon now.  Make sure you get the Forms Book and your choice of the Shopping List Books, they come with Scriptural references and without.  Click the link below to start ordering!

Disaster Prepping for Procrastinators Series

More questions about dehydrating food?

If you have further questions about dehydrating food using a Dehydrating Machine, this is a very good website that will give you more in-depth information on the process, temperature settings, types of food to dehydrate, etc. You don’t know until you try!

Tips on Dehydrating food with a Dehydration Machine, link below:

https://www.rei.com/blog/hike/how-to-dehydrate-food

Freeze Dry at home now!

Well, it seems everyday that more signs are being given to us to prepare for a disaster. You need food, water, clothing, shelter and a way to make money to take care of your bills.

Lets tackle the food thing today. This is the month you need to stock up on canned goods. JUST canned goods that you actually EAT. 

Better than that, how about Freeze Drying some CHEAP frozen vegetables and fruit NOW,, so you KNOW you’ll have enough on hand to feed yourself and your family in case of an emergency?

Freeze dried food can last on your shelf for decades, if done correctly. So get a dehydrator, buy frozen food, and put it in there! Keep notes about how long it takes to do each vegetable, meat or fruit. Get the Mylar bags and oxygen absorbers from Amazon and find a cool place to store your food. Preferably the basement where temperature swings are uncommon. Store the bags in sealed mason jars to keep out pests.

Prepare for pennies now, so you don’t have to pay through the nose in an emergency.

How the recent Furlough imitated a Natural Disaster

There were some warnings that a Furlough was on the way, even though many people denied things would go that far for so long.  Most Natural Disasters hit without much warning.  Do you think that the 30 Day plus Furlough wasn't as devastating as a Natural Disaster to the workers, Agencies and supporting businesses as a Natural Disaster may have been?  They have many parallels.

Natural Disasters cause major disruptions in the lives of those who live wherever they strike.  Workplaces are often highly affected by Natural Disasters.  When Businesses are damaged or shuttered, then workers aren't paid, which affects how they eat, pay their bills and their shelter. 

It's January, and if you began to work your way through Disaster Prepping for Procrastinators this past Fall, you would have accomplished several things that may have helped slightly with the Furlough.  For one, you'd have 4 to 5 months of Food, water, and other survival items stored by now.  They would be things that were nearing their rotation date!  They would be items that your family normally ate.  And they would keep you from having to spend a great deal of your very limited income on food purchases.  Having to only buy fresh fruit, vegetables and bread would certainly help in the short term.

You would have your Important Papers gathered by now, which really help when it comes to seeing where your money is going each month if there is something you can cut back on or something that could be sold that you've hesitated about selling. With the threat of another shutdown, what can you do to help yourself and your family with the back pay that you will receive?  First, put the bulk of every dime you can into savings.  Of course secondly, you should catch up your bills.  I say do the bills second because if not, almost all of your back pay will go towards catching up your bills and there won't be anything left over for savings, or to use as a hedge in case the next shutdown comes on the 15th of February as expected.

 Contact creditors and see if they will look at your circumstances and not put late payments on your credit.  If it isn't possible to sway them, then include a statement in your credit file.  It will help when you apply for credit, and also jog your own memory as to why things were late.  See if there is a way to skip a payment, or put another payment at the end of a term, like with your Mortgage or Auto notes.  Put that money into savings.

You would also be wise to stockpile some food, water and anything you ran short on during the shutdown.  You should look at this situation as a warning, and see what you can learn from it that may help you if it happens again. 

While you have a viable job now, think about taking out a Home Equity Line of Credit to help you over the hump if this happens again.  You would only take out what you needed to tide you over if no money is coming in, then when you receive back pay, pay that money back immediately. Also, it may help to start working that 'Side Gig' you have always dreamed about.  It may not bring in your full salary, but might keep you afloat and not totally behind. 

If the chance of this happening again is too much to take, if you are near retirement age, you should consider all of your options. 

Sometimes it is best to get the money while you can and save it, purchasing things and planning for shortfalls before they occur.  It is estimated that many programs that are relied upon for retirement might well be insolvent in coming years, so plan wisely. 

Treat the Furlough as a Natural Disaster and look down the road to anything that might make your ability to earn money and pay your bills stutter or stop and start.  Don't wait for that rainy day to come suddenly, it is starting to rain more frequently, and without warning.  Don't procrastinate, look ahead and make a plan.

You can find our entire series of books on Disaster Prepping for Procrastinators on its own Amazon.com page at the following link:  Disaster Prepping for Procrastinators Page

Recent California Fires and Mudslides to come

In the Face of Disaster, Architects Are Redesigning Their Role

The recent Camp Fire Disaster in California has been simply devastating to watch unfold.  Reports of people able to flee with only the clothes on their backs have really hammered home the need for a better warning system in Fire Emergencies.  Please donate to local charities to help those affected and grieving over lost and missing loved ones.  If you are looking for family members, please be patient with local services, they were not prepared for devastation on this scale and have never faced a situation such as this.  They are learning on the job how to best help those in their care.

After writing "Disaster Prepping for Procrastinators", it makes me very sad to see people now living in campsites without adequate supplies to see them through until new housing arrangements are made.  Many of them have lost everything, not able to take as much as a family picture with them.

The time to prepare for an Emergency is before it happens.  These fires are now almost a weekly occurrence in California, which is suffering from a prolonged drought of over 7 years.

I would encourage those in California not to take it for granted that in case of a fire you will have enough time to gather ANYTHING to evacuate.  Please keep your vehicle stocked with the items we have set out in months 1-3, so you have food, water, clothing, medical supplies, important papers and family keepsakes already in your car.  That way, you only have to gather your family and flee.

Please also make a list of people you need to contact to say you are safe.  If you have to wonder if loved ones who are Seniors or Differently Abled will be safe if fires were to reach them, err on the side of caution and pick them up for a few days until you can see if containment measures are working.

Keep an eye on the television, have your local radio station on and every half an hour, go take a look outside.  You don't have to wait to feel the heat and see the flames within a mile, to evacuate.  Fire moves unbelievably fast through dry brush and the fuel of homes and their belongings makes it move even faster.

We have the main book available in Black and White, after Seniors asked for a lower cost version.  Please get motivated to put your house in order, gather your important papers, and prepare for Disaster while your home and life are intact.

I've already have had a customer ask me, "Why don't you just sell me what I need?"  Sigh.  I can do that, but the whole premise of 'Disaster Prepping for Procrastinators' is to stop ourselves from procrastinating when preparing for disaster.  There are a ton of different options available online for anything from a 1-day Survival Backpack or 72 Hour Bucket, to full-scale Armageddon preparation available.

However, NONE of those prepping ideas will help you clean and prepare your house to store your Emergency Supplies.  None of them will change your tendency to put important tasks off until tomorrow, rather than tackle things today.

Its important for ALL of us to prepare for disaster.  You will make your life go smoother if you have copies of important papers in one spot so you can contact the bank, insurance companies, and loved ones if your phone is lost or damaged.

Family pictures, heirlooms, and children's keepsakes may not seem a necessity for saving in case of an evacuation order, but having grown up in the military, to children, they are important.  They help you feel grounded, safe and important. 

Each time we rotated to a new base, our keepsakes gained from the new place we lived were by and large tossed out.  We grew into adults without any underpinning of the past.  We didn't have past treasures we could hold and look upon to remember good times, accomplishments and hopes we had penned for our future.  Don't let your procrastination and apathy rob your children of the underpinning hopes of memories and treasured keepsakes.

What happened to my Amazon Prime?

I need Duvet Covers for the beds.  It's much easier to dry clean the comforters, and just change their outsides between seasons.  Cheaper too.  Anyway, I digress.  As I was shopping for Duvet covers from some of my favorite sources this morning, (Wayfair, Target and Amazon.com) I noticed all the shipping/delivery dates were off...after all, 2 Day Delivery means JUST that in my mind!  Then I realized, they can't guarantee delivery on the East Coast or other places in 2 Days, because of Hurricane Florence!

Its September 13th, and normally my 2 Day Prime would have my items here by Saturday the 15th, they would even deliver on Sunday!  But with the storm, the best they can guarantee delivery on Prime is Wednesday, September 19th, or Thursday, September 20th.  That is six to seven days from now, and I think I would have to be flexible with that delivery date.

Early video and news reports aren't very good, its 100 miles away and the swells are downright growing.  This video from Myrtle Beach was posted on YouTube, and it will be updated over time.  The title '100 year Storm' has been added to many hurricanes over the past few years, that have been disastrous.

I wonder who will coin the phrase 'What used to be 100 year Storms are now commonplace each year'.  Warm oceans mean more monster storms and our oceans are very warm, with no cooling mechanism in place.  At this same time, there are tropical Storms in the Gulf of Mexico headed towards Texas, Tropical storms off of the Mexico/California Coast and monster Typhoons in the Pacific Ocean wreaking havoc in Asia.

During weather cycles like this, shipping is impacted.  Travel overland by our Trucking system is impacted, flights that are used for shipping are impacted and that impacts things such as mail and food delivery.  It is why store shelves are cleaned out by people who decide to Shelter in Place and those who decide to evacuate.

Given hours or mere days to evacuate, if you have followed our plan, you will be ready!  Your Ready Packs, Backpacks, and bins that hold family heirlooms and important papers can easily be loaded into your trunk.  You'll have the important things taken care of, in case you have to go back and turn your new house into a home.  Many people may lose their homes, but save their lives by following the call to evacuate.  If you have been told to evacuate, just go.  You can replace everything but a life.  Our prayers are with all of those impacted by Hurricane Florence and other storms during this week.

On that note, I am off to do some Duvet shopping the old-fashioned way, on driving from store to store until I find what I need. Amazon Prime is great, when there's no storm on the horizon, unlike today.

What if, something as innocuous as a jet arriving with people exhibiting symptoms of influenza, was something else?

Fox 5 News broke a story this morning of an Emirates flight arriving with passengers onboard, including crew members, exhibiting symptoms that resembled influenza.
http://www.fox5dc.com/news/emergency-crews-respond-to-reports-of-sick-plane-passengers

 I couldn't help but notice, the people who directed the passengers did not have on hazmat clothing, neither the Emergency personnel nor the Airport help.  They went back to work, in the airport terminal, where people were checking in, getting on flights to take national and international flights.  They are going to walk through the terminals, filled with even more people, and then they are going to get on a shuttle bus, interacting with even more employees, going home.  They are going to get off of work tonight and go home.  In New York, that usually means using mass transit.  So, if its something truly contagious and deadly, New York is now ground zero, and everywhere anyone flies after interacting with them is a new Ground Zero.

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.  The first Month of Disaster Prepping calls for you to have an N95 Filter Mask in your Backpack.  After this morning's wake up call, you may want to have one in your Ready Pack also.

I have the following Masks for my family.  It is an Anti Pollution Mask with Exhaust Valve + 6 FILTERS - Military Grade N95 N99 Carbon Activated.  You can buy one on Amazon.

There are many to choose from, some say they will guard against the flu, but don’t trust that disclaimer.  Masks at Urgent Care centers will help for a little while, but are not long term solutions.  I have included information for several types. For plague type situations, you need a full mask (think gas mask) with an acid gas filter (plus an N100 pre-filter if you want to get technical about it), which you should not use without proper training and supervision.  Ask a Medical Professional for the best one to use.  You can find some examples at the following links:
https://amzn.to/2wgDrxZ
https://amzn.to/2LrKB7x
For Little Kids:  https://amzn.to/2MyLh0h
For Little Girls:  https://amzn.to/2o8OUeG
For Lower Budget:  https://amzn.to/2wfcniN

All products are suggestions ONLY.  Branch out and purchase other products than those advocated here.  We are not offered any incentive for these choices, we searched for the lowest cost, best-reviewed products we could find.

Be safe out there!

Welcome to our Inaugural Post!

Welcome to the Inaugural Post for Disaster Prepping for Procrastinators!  I want to commend you for taking a step in the right direction to learn how to not only prepare your family for Disaster but to also organize your home during the process.

My posts won't help you to prepare by using fear as a motivator.  Yes, we live in a tumultuous world, but fear saps your strength, muddles your decision making and doesn't help those who are depending on you for safety.  We will approach this venture with boldness, patience and the understanding that as Procrastinators we have to step up when people depend on us to provide for them and keep them safe.


As you read through the book, make sure you keep your Shopping List book handy.  Remember not to overbuy items just because they are on sale.  Concentrate on getting the items for your Ready Packs and Backpacks so you will be ready to evacuate at a moment's notice.

You can check our Social Media for hints and tips, I would encourage you to check my Pinterest Board for items I have pinned that have caught my eye.  Once you do your initial Prepping, you can use the boards for information to help you branch out into further areas of preparation.

We just provide the basic steps so that you can make the right decisions for yourself and your family, having learned you can prepare without having to wear Camo, arm yourself to the teeth and start digging that moat, like, YESTERDAY.  Let's dial that WAY back, and do what we can, working with what we have to work with.

As you work through the book, try to figure out why you put off doing the things that have to do with Prepping and Cleaning, then toss that behind you and set out to get it done!  What may have been true yesterday, doesn't have to be your truth today.  Follow the techniques after you find out why you procrastinate, and one square at a time, make a change!

If you follow the Monthly tasks and Flash Fixes, at the end of the year you should be golden.  Many books want you ready in a couple of months, but you didn't get where you were in a month, and you won't get out of it in a couple of months.  You need a good month to completely clean each space so you don't get overwhelmed and quit.  I have done the SAME thing, and I will be taking this journey with you, posting my nightmares and my triumphs.  I too have struggled with trying to prepare with those long lists and simplistic recommendations that just didn't work with the way that I think.  I have had too many days I could not invite someone over because the house was just a wreck.  Well, time is passing and your life means more than staying in that state of disarray due to procrastination.

I can do this, YOU can do this, and we are going to work on it together to get things done.  If you're a Mom or Dad, Single or Married, young or old, you can use our steps to prepare yourself and get your house in order. This is what I am working towards, and I KNOW I can do it!  I know you can too.  I look at all of those Houzz, HGTV and DIY shows, and I am DETERMINED to get this together!  I want to order something from Wayfair and have a place to put it that makes sense.


I want to clean out my closets and drawers, THIS is the year I let those size 6 Jeans go for GOOD, there's somebody out there who can wear them a lot better than my sausage legs can!  This is the year to make a change, getting all of my Disaster supplies in order, in one spot and getting my house in order at the same time.  I know I can clean a room if I have a month to do it, and so can you!

Do what you can with what you have.  Remember, in an Emergency, you want options.  Put in the work up front, to give yourself options.  It's much easier to buy a 24 pack of water now at $3.00 than to be forced to buy it at $15.00 with a 2 pack limit in a disaster.  Take care of buying your necessities while prices are low and supply is plentiful.

You may have to cut back on Fast Food, Entertainment or Starbucks for a few months, but its worth it.  You can purchase canned goods and water with SNAP-Food Stamps benefits, its well worth the cost now, for the security you will give your family in an emergency.  Explain what you are doing to your family, and get them onboard.  After all, you are planning for your safety, and for a comfortable and clean living environment.  If you can't get them to pitch in on the prepping, you can get them to pitch in on the cleaning.

Many of the things you need for your basic Ready Pack and Backpack, you can get at the Dollar Store.  Just check expiration dates, and get travel sizes in case you have to evacuate by air.

Our books are available in Print on Amazon.com at the following links:

https://amzn.to/2QsRWY6  Link for the Paperback Book.

This is the link for the Paperback Forms Book.  The Forms Book and Shopping List Book are only available in Paperback.

https://amzn.to/2x8Zkj6 

The Disaster Prepping for Procrastinators book, (not the Lists or Forms Books) is also available as an EBook at the following link also.


I hope you enjoy this Blog and please feel free to post pictures and comments to show how you are coming along.  If you fall behind, let me know so I can encourage you to keep on going!  Please encourage each other to keep at it also, this is a Marathon, not a Sprint.  All my best,
be encouraged,