Forever Changed

Following up on my last post.

In the last few days, the world experienced a catastrophic earthquake in Morocco, and we in the United States were reminded of the 9/11 attacks. 

The world is an ever-changing place from one day to the next. One minute, our daily routines are all set in motion, and the next minute, the world, as you know, is changed forever.  

We should all think that our lives could drastically change forever any day. We should thank God every morning that we made it to another day. Just as the people in Morocco and those in New York City on 9/11 all started their day thinking it would be the usual daily routine. Their lives were changed forever. Prepare your soul now.

Lord, we pray for all those in Morocco who lost loved ones and for healing those who lost loved ones in New York.

Photo - pixabay - ELG21 

An Unstable World

Over the last year, more and more reports have come out about war among the world's superpowers.

This is of great concern because it is not only because of the loss of life for those fighting in it but also affects those not involved. These superpower countries all have one thing in common. In multiple ways, they depend on one another, especially in manufacturing. No country is entirely independent. Although the United States should be completely independent from other countries. But those decisions have already been made, and nothing can be done now. 

The effects of a global war will severely affect underdeveloped countries, the poor, those with medical issues, and the elderly. The only thing we can do is to prepare for the worst-case scenario. First, get right with God. Second, prepare as much as possible with food, medical supplies, or anything you need if the supply chain is shut down. 

Also, follow current news as much as possible. We cannot know when it will actually happen, but it will be soon.

Photo - pixabay - Zaimful

The Time is Now

In the social media world, there is a lot of talk about preparing for the months ahead. Most of this is about the supply chain breakdown and, from there, the collapse of our basic infrastructure. And most of these opinions are based on facts.

The public media, broadcast news, and newspaper opinions have to some extent, mentioned this breakdown.  But as we all know, it will go unnoticed if it's not the day's top story.

Here are my thoughts, taking all factors and personal observations into consideration.

1. The supply chain is breaking down. The car lots in my area are almost empty. The cars in the lot are parked close to the road to make it appear full, but it's not.

2. I have noticed empty sections in the grocery store, which is different from the shortages during the pandemic. These are all food items.

3. The public response to shortages that affect them directly will cause panic buying.  We saw this during the pandemic, and people will react the same way now. 

2020 

4. The mid-term elections are in a few months, and politics will be a significant component in this breakdown.

  

I will typically observe any situation and evaluate all the information to come to a reasonable conclusion. With all that said, I predict we will be in a supply chain collapse by mid-October.  We are close to the tipping point as events are slowly becoming a reality, and this time will be worse than the supply issues of 2020.

Start preparing now! 

  

Are You Ready?

 2019 was the last year we knew of a "somewhat normal" way of life.

Since then, we have had the following:

• Pandemic
• Election Fraud
• Civil Unrest and Protest
• Business Closures
• School Curriculum Controversy
• Supply Chain Breakdown
• Interest Rate Increase
• Stock Market Down
• War in Ukraine
• Threats of Nuclear War 
• Cyber Attacks
• Rising Gas Prices
• Progressive vs. Conservative

Is there more to add?

All of this has affected us in some way or another. It is important at this time to be thinking about preparedness. Actually, if you are just now thinking about it you are already behind. So, without going into some major details about preparedness, which will be a later post, think about how the above list of events affected you.

Did you feel at any time you were un-prepared?

What could you have done differently?

Thinking about current events, could our country be affected?

Has the supply chain and the increase cost affected you?

If you could not get supplies, do you have enough now to last at least month?

What if all utilities (water, electricity, gas) were cut-off?

What would you do if all communications collapsed?

And the last question, Are you Ready?

  

photo - ArtTower - pixabay

Dependent

 

How dependent are we?

I went to the grocery store a few days ago in preparing for another snow storm that was approaching Nashville.  And as expected I experienced the usual bare shelves and full parking lot as the panic rush began.  The dependence on goods and being unprepared has made me realize how we go about our daily life and this was just a snow event, not the the apocalypse.

This is something we all need to think about - being prepared for any event.  Do you have enough food and supplies to last a few weeks?       

Different Times

I went to the grocery store the other day and I was prepared to be a good citizen during this pandemic and wear my mask.  This was the first time for me going to the store after the official announcement was made for everyone to wear mask when in proximity of people around you.  Well, the surprise hit me when almost everyone in the store was wearing a mask there was just a few people without one and they look out of place.  

We are living in different times. After the 9/11 attacks it changed the way we lived our everyday lives. I believe this pandemic will do the same. After the virus has released us and we start to gather again. People will have that underling thought about the germs on people as well as on the surfaces they touch. And then there will be those as I stated in my last post will go back to their old ways. But it will be a different world.   

An Awakening

We have come accustomed to our normal lives until last month and then the entire world changed. 

If you are following the news even just a little you are completely aware of how this pandemic is affecting our everyday life.

Now the pandemic has shut down non-essential businesses and people are being told to stay at home to prevent the spread of the virus.
Some of the issues that have evolved from all of this is the shortage of common household goods like toilet paper, canned products, and anything anti-germ. This is leaving the shelves in the stores empty.

This has been an awakening for me, I had come accustomed to going to the store to get supplies whenever I needed them, but now I have to plan and go early or hopefully right after the shelves have been restocked.  This problem is not due to a shortage of manufacturing but of people in a panic. I have continued with my normal shopping and hoping to find the products I need, but after this pandemic settles down, I will not be unprepared again.   

Amateur Radio

Weather

The last couple of weeks the storms that have swept through the Mid-West has been incredible. What are the odds of two powerful storms going through the same region? I prayer that they will get some relief from the storms.

These events are always hard, but it gives everyone who was not affected by the weather time to think about preparedness for the next storm. So often the thought of "it will not happen to me" always delays the preparing. I know that no one is going to 100% ready for anything that would cause a major disruption of life. But at least with a little bit of prepping it could make easier in the recovery process.

Follow the link to find more info on how to prepare.

American Red Cross
http://www.redcross.org/prepare/location/home-family

Mail

I have been following the news lately on the status of the US Postal Service. The last update was that within the next 10 years the US Postal Service would be delivering only 3 days a week.

How did this happen? Historically, it started with the telegraph and overtime faxes and e-mails.

I'm the first to acknowledge that e-mail is very convenient. But, if I receive a hand-written letter in the mail I'm more apt to open it immediately, where as the flood of e-mails I'm more selective in what I open.

I can't image what it would be like not to have regular mail delivery or even worst no postal system as we know it today.

Think about it. We rely heavily on our infrastructure and if there is a total collapse meaning no electricity and no phones. Our only means of distant communication would be the mail system.

The next time you go to your mailbox think about how it would be if this was your only means of communication.

Skywarn

Skywarn volunteers for the National Weather Service are activated then large storms move across the United States. This service provides the reports that initiate the watch and warning system that is critical in saving lives.

A Day of Infamy - December 7, 1941

On this day in 1941, America was changed forever. The attack on Pearl Harbor by the Japanese caught the United States by surprise. The element of surprise is a war tactic that has been used for thousands of years and still used today.

We as a nation go about our daily routines never thinking that we might be attacked by another country, which is understandable because of our strong military defenses. But, no matter how strong our defenses, we will always be a target.

A thought for this day - we must always keep in mind what happen on December 7, 1941 and just as September 11, 2001 the unexpected happen and it could happen again.

Remember Our Veterans

And Thank Them for Defending Our Nation and Freedoms.

Preparedness Tip - The Power is Out

During storm season one thing that frequently happens is the electricity goes out.

When the electricity goes out, a main concern is what about the stuff in the refrigerator.

Here are two tips to remember:

* Perishable foods should not be held above 40 degrees for more than 2 hours.
* If a power outage is 2 hours or less, you need not be concerned.

Next – What to do

Do not open the refrigerator or freezer.

An unopened refrigerator will keep foods cold enough for a couple of hours at least.

A full freezer will hold up to 48 hours.

If it looks like the outage will be more than 2 to 4 hours, pack food into a cooler surrounded by ice.

As soon as the power returns, check temperatures. Remember - above 40 degrees for more that two hours. Check internal temperatures of the food. If it is above 40 degrees, it is best to throw it out.