Saturday, August 16, 2008


Are you ready?

Seriously people. I know it's easier not to think about it. It's easier to think about your plans for the next weekend, or what shoes to wear out to dinner tonight.
But the writing is on the wall. It's out there for all of us to see..yet no one cares.
There is a very real possibility that America is heading for economic collapse, if not WWIII. What do I mean? Have you ever seen gas prices reach $4.00+ a gallon? Did you ever think we would have a terrorist attack (9/11) on American soil? Are you naive enough to think it couldn't happen again? Not to mention the housing market, gulp. Have you noticed that food prices are rising? And, that retailers are putting limit's on bulk food purchases?
What if, just what if, there was another attack, say nuclear, here in America? What if the dollar crashes like it is being predicted to do? That means that your paper money (Federal Reserve Notes) will be worth nothing. Zip. Zero. Do you know that the Royal Bank of Scotland issued a global stock and credit crash alert? Did you read the news article about the IndyMac bank in California closing it's doors, and not letting it's customers have their money?
What if grocery store shelves were empty in a week? I don't mean "picked over". I mean empty. How could this happen? (stock market crash/terrorist attack..gas prices go up to $10 a gallon..trucks stop delivering goods= shelves empty)
Are you ready?
How long would the food you have in your house right now last your family? A week? A month? What happens to you and your family after that?
So, how do you prepare? After it finally sank in that this is a very real possibility..I began researching, and stocking up. Here is some information that I hope helps those of you still reading (the ones who don't think I'm nuts).
This page has a link "food storage calculator" that you can punch in your family size (adults/children) and it will calculate the amount of food you need to have for a ONE year supply. It will humble you.
This page has many useful and informative links on food storage, rotating, etc..
I have also done MUCH price comparing, so if you would like that info, please ask..
Even if you don't think that anything major is going to happen here in America, isn't it wise to store food anyway? My parents always did..
And no. I'm not ready either.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Staci, Thanks soo much for sharing what you have learned. I would love to hear your price comparisons and storage ideas. I would much rather have extra food, at todays prices, "just in case", than look into my childrens hungry eyes tomorrow because I chose to bury my head and go to the mall.

Kelly

Staci said...

Kelly,

I have been comparing prices on bulk food items such as rice, beans, wheat, flour, sugar, oatmeal, peanut butter, etc.. between our local food co-ops, COSTCO, Super Walmart and local discount grocers such as ALDI.
I am still researching food storage, but I am ordering some 5 gallon buckets (food grade).
I am thinking Amish LOL...so I am preparing as if we won't have electricity.
Would love to hear your suggestions and ideas.
This all new to me!

Anonymous said...

Staci,
Wow, I'm trying to price shop too. I'm putting things into 5 gallon buckets as well. I'm looking into water storage and purification. So far I can only safely store 20 gallons, which isn't much for a whole family.

You crack me up-- I keep saying Amish too. I like browsing the Lehmans catalogue just for fun.

I've tried to stock up on batteries, candles, lamp oil...

Oh yeah-- first aid supplies, diapers, soap...

I'm looking into what can be canned or dried. I just don't know if we'll be able to rely on the freezer in any type of emergency, act of God, act of war, etc...

We do have a generator but DH says it takes almost a gallon of gas an hour to run, not exactly economical.

I feel so behind....

Kelly

Anonymous said...

P.S. Happy Anniversary!!

Staci said...

Thank you for the anniversary wishes.
I wish I could tell you that we did something exciting for our anniversary, but we didn't. He worked, and I canned peaches. :)

I plan to can LOTS of tomato sauce, spaghetti sauce, pickles, peppers, and LOTS of apple sauce and apple butter..

Want to come down when apples are ready? I would love the help and company, and we can split everything..

Anonymous said...

Oh yes!! That sounds like great fun...an apple canning bee!!

Kelly

Alison Kerr said...

No, I'm not ready. I need to add emergency preparedness to our list of homeschool topics so that we actually think this through and get it done! Thanks for the reminder.