Hurricane Irene: 10 Lessons Learned

Now that the East Coast is mopping up after Hurricane Irene, we can quickly parse the lessons learned:

1. Stay informed.  With some disasters, there is no warning, but hurricanes, wild fires, flooding, and other disasters usually provide for ample warning.  Pay attention to the news and plan accordingly.
2. Always keep your home stocked with food, water and other necessary items.  It never fails, right as a disaster is scheduled to arrive, the news crews are out videotaping people trying to stock up at the grocery store, fill their cars up with gas, and buy plywood to board up their windows. Don't be one of these people.
3. Use social media to get the latest info on what's happening.  FaceBook, Twitter, Reddit, text messaging, and emails were the most common way to get immediate information on what was happening.  The hurricane even got it's own Twitter handle here.
4. Expect that parts (sometime many parts) of the infrastructure will break down. In this case, people were left without electricity, roads were closed, and emergency response was not as quick as usual.  Plan accordingly.
5. Consider evacuation and have a plan to do so.  Mandatory evacuations are generally...well...mandatory, however there were plenty of people in mandatory evacuation areas who researched the risks and calculated worst case scenarios and decided to stay.  Which ever you decide to do, you of course should take full responsibility for your actions.  And again, plan accordingly.
6. Be ready to evacuate, just in case.  This includes everything from having a full tank of gas, to having your BOB ready to go, to being able to grab critical items (cash, ID, prescriptions, food, water) and being ready to head out the door at a moment's notice. 
7. Make a pre-event checklist for disasters that are likely to happen in your area.  Add to the checklist any items that are unique to your situation.  In the case of a hurricane, items on the list may include: tie down or bring in things that could fly away outside (garbage cans, outdoor furniture) and keep your yard free from items that could cause a problem (ie: cut down dying trees, route potential flood waters away from your home, etc).  Additionally if you are responsible for a sick or elderly relative, their needs should be on your list as well.
8. Realize that disasters can strike anywhere.  An earthquake in Washington DC?  That's pretty rare but it just happened.  A hurricane in Connecticut? Again, rare but it happened last night.  A tornado in Maryland? Ditto.
9. Work within the limits of technology.  Just a few decades ago, there would be a disaster and people would sit in their cold, unelectrified homes and read a book to pass the time.  These days, if people aren't online 24/7 they go into withdrawals.  Some hints: send text messages instead of making calls on your cell phone right before, during, and right after a disaster since text messages will go through but phone calls won't when the cell towers are overloaded, use the internet on your phone instead of internet at home (with no power your modem probably won't work anyway), and have a way to charge your electrical items in your car should your house be without power for a long time.
10. Check your insurance coverages.  According to this article, many homeowners impacted by Hurricane Irene won't have the proper insurance coverages to pay for damage done during the disaster. Yikes.

I hope all of our readers who were impacted by the hurricane are safe now.  Clean up will no doubt take a bit of time, but if you were prepared ahead of time, the after effects should be much less than for those who were totally unprepared.

FYI--It's Time to Stock Your Pantry from Nature's Abundance

Late summer/early fall is an excellent time to add to your food stores with food that is naturally available in many locales.  I'm up in the Pacific Northwest for another week or so and was pleased to be able to drive down a country road and find all sorts of food just waiting to be harvested.  Blackberries are ready now, apples will be ready in another month, pears are almost ready, wild huckleberries should be ready soon, and a variety of nuts will be available in the fall.  Add to that the fact that u-pick and/or your own garden should be in full production mode right now and you have the opportunity to put up a wide variety of food that will come in very useful during the winter and early spring.

10 Disasters You Need to Plan for NOW

Everywhere you look there is a disaster happening these days.  Just because nothing has specifically hit your area doesn't mean that it will be smooth sailing all the way.  Are you prepared for these most-likely-to-happen disasters?

1. Hurricane.  Especially if you are on the East Coast this week.
2. Earthquake.  As yesterday's quake in the DC area showed, earthquakes can happen anytime and any where.
3. Job loss.  Jobs are still being lost at an astounding rate.
4. The loss of your home.  Homes are also still being lost (repo'ed) at an astounding rate.
5. Major illness.  Just this week I have spoken to three families impacted by an unexpected illness of the family breadwinner.
6. Wildfires.  We still have a month or so of wildfire season left.
7. Public rioting/looting.  These are the major riots that have happened just this year.
8. Random shootings.  Are both random and seemingly growing more common.
9. Obesity.  This is a disaster that will sneak up on you (and also cause diabetis, heart disease, and an early death).
10. Winter storms.  Although we are a couple of months off, this is one of the most common types of disasters to impact people in the US.

A Media Request for Preppers

I received this email from a lady who had previously contacted me about a show she was producing.  While any other time I would be happy to oblige and be more than willing to share my survival/preparedness views with people who really could use the knowledge, alas my work precludes me from doing so at this time.  However, if you are a knowledgeable prepper and willing to share your lifestyle with the public, this may be something you want to consider.  I, for one, will be interested to watch the show and have requested that the producer send me the air dates when available so I can post them here on the blog.

"I'm currently casting for a pilot television show about preppers/survivalists. I think you may be a great resource for finding well prepared people, who would be open to appearing on camera. I'm wondering if you would be willing to post this info on your blog, or just pass this info along to anyone you think would be interested.

The gist:
It’s a 30 minute show, and we will feature two stories. We are mostly interested in seeing what the person has prepared or prepped, and right now we’re specifically looking for someone with a stocked bunker or extensive prep. The idea is to meet the person and see what they've prepared, then bring in a survivalist expert to evaluate how long you could actually live for if a catastrophe were to happen.

The purpose of the show is not to exploit beliefs, we actually want to cast people who the viewers will be able to relate to. We also want to feature someone who has prepped extensively, either in the home, or in a bunker. We really want something visually stunning.

This has been extremely hard to cast because of the secretive nature of the people who are preparing--which is completely understandable. I am contacting you because I think it's important to get the word out about survivalists/preppers--that they aren't all crazy people, that most of them are smart, well-informed people who we could take a lesson from. And I am hoping you will be able to pass this info along if you know someone who may be interested in participating.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Thank you for your time!

Michelle Reindal | producer | screaming flea productions | mreindal@sfpseattle.com"

Conspiracy?

This landed in my email box this morning.  I'll let you determine what to think about it.  From my point of view, absolutely nothing that the "powers that be" does would surprise me.

"Consider this: Seal Team 6 allegedly kills OBL but buries the body at sea. OBL, allegedly the most wanted man on the planet, but they dump the body. How very convenient. Then, all the members of Seal Team 6 who participated on the OBL assassination are all put on one helicopter-the largest helicopter in the U.S. military,and thus the easiest to shoot down, it get's shot down and are all killed.  One commentator said he believed the Seals that allegedly killed OBL would have good military careers but die mysterious deaths after they left the military. Hell, they didn't even let them finish their military careers before they killed them. This stinks to High Heaven and it was done in such a brazen way-they have no fear of being found out.  A recent study determined Afghanistan has one trillion dollars in mineral wealth. Also, one of the big wall street firms just discovered gold there. Since we've been there the amount of raw opium exiting the country has increased. The powers that be must truly think we are all f[explicit} idiots. For their sake they had better hope the Seal community at large does not get wind of this, If they do, they could unleash hell against the those responsible for this set up."

10 Things We Can Learn from CNN Today

Kind of a "state of the Union" in ten bullet points:

• Our infrastructure is crumbling. (FYI...this is just the beginning)
• People have short memories (didn't Palin quit midway through her term as governor for no apparent reason and now she has her toes in the presidential race?)
• The pyramid scheme that is the USPS has finally ran out of downlinks (ie: there are not enough people to support the bloated overhead at the middle and top of the pyramid).
• 911 will now accept texts (it's about time)
• Key parts of the healthcare reform bill are unconstitutional (you mean forcing people to purchase a consumer product each year for the rest of their lives is illegal? Duh).
• Sales of safes and vaults are soaring (completely logical).
• SF Subway system cuts cell phone service to avert protest (terrifying in it's implications).
• Demand climbs at US food banks (thus the need for a year's stockpile of food).
• The SEALS we lost (the human cost, the economic cost, a major tragedy all the way around)
• 'Development expert' abducted in Pakistan (um..yeah...)

100 Ways to Live Below Your Means

Right after the debt crisis was averted, the talking heads on the news pointed out that we still weren't out of the woods (they probably continued with this train of thought right after the US lost it's AAA status).  When asked by a reporter what the average American could do to avert financial disaster, one of the talking heads said his main piece of advice was to 'live within your means'.  I believe he intended that comment for average Americans as well as the American government.  This was my grandfather's advice many decades ago too and it is unfortunate that it is taking near financial collapse to reinforce the idea that people cannot live on credit forever. So here are 100 ways to live below your means (and save some money in the process):

1. Stop acquiring debt.
2. Pay off debt.
3. Tithe 10% each month.
4. Save 10% each month.
5. Live on 80% of your income.
6. Reduce your housing costs.
7. Stop eating out on a regular basis.
8. Cook most of your meals at home (it's cheaper and healthier).
9. Cook from scratch.
10. Simplify your diet.
11. Eat fresh food, in season.
12. Hunt and fish for your meat.
13. Grow a garden.
14. Preserve your own food.
15. Cut cable (a digital converter box is a much cheaper option).
16. Look for the cheapest options when buying a product (CraigsList, garage sales, pawn shops, etc).
17. Skip going out to the movies and rent a $1 video (or get videos free from the library).
18. Take public transportation if possible.
19. Walk or bike to do your errands.
20. Use the library--it's free!
21. Volunteer (you can develop job skills this way and give back at the same time).
22. Buy local.
23. Look for free activities in the community to keep yourself entertained.
24. Do it yourself--home repairs, car repairs, yard maintenance, etc.
25. Make a monthly budget and stick to it.
26. Get a side job or side business and save the income for large purchases (vacation, car, Christmas, etc).
27. Reduce.
28. Reuse.
29. Recycle.
30. Don't buy the latest gadgets (let them work out the bugs and drop the price first).
31. Reduce the number of pets you have.
32. Make your kids work for what they want (ie: you pay half and let them earn half for items they want).
33. Reduce temptation (cruising the mall, Costco, or the shopping channel will do nothing but make you want to buy).
34. Develop useful hobbies (fishing is a good one, for example).
35. Plan your purchases (use a shopping list).
36. Sleep on large purchases.
37. Always carry cash (in case you stumble upon a great deal on something you absolutely need).
38. Borrow instead of buying.
39. Develop a neighborhood sharing network (for tools, yard maintenance items, etc).
40. Go line by line through your monthly budget and figure out how to lower or even get rid of each line.
41. Have insurance but shop around for the best prices.
42. Look for/ask for discounts (senior discounts, military discounts, coupons, etc).
43. Live in an area with a lower cost of living.
44. Learn how to reload ammo.
45. Consider being a one-car family.
46. Develop a social network (everything from dinner potlucks to sharing babysitting chores to an emergency response team can be developed this way).
47. Barter skills, services, and materials.
48. Ask for a raise (be sure you can show how you deserve it).
49. Stay out of trouble (fines and bail are expensive).
50. Don't overindulge your kids.
51. Stop addictions immediately (alcohol, smoking, drugs--all are a waste of money and brain cells).
52. Practice preventive maintenance (on your home, car, and your health).
53. Live a healthy lifestyle (exercise, eat right, floss your teeth, etc).
54. Invest in items that hold their value (guns, tools, gold, etc).
55. Drop the gym and exercise at home (walk, garden, etc).
56. Skip your daily run to Starbucks or your local bar.
57. Always have an emergency fund (a credit card doesn't count).
58. Beware of fees (credit car annual fees, bank fees, etc).
59. Minimize your possessions (it will cost less to maintain, insure, protect, etc).
60. Increase your income by selling things at garage sales, CraigsList, eBay, etc.
61. Look into carpooling if you and your coworkers regularly travel to meetings or to and from the same places.
62. Never buy a new car (they depreciate like a rock as soon as you drive them off the lot).
63. Make sure your mortgage/rent payment is no more than 25% of your income.
64. Conserve (water, gas, electricity, etc).
65. Don't use your cash to boost your ego (this is an extremely temporary--and expensive--fix).
66. Vacation on the cheap--stay with relatives and friends, go camping, be a caretaker, etc.
67. Use the sun--to dry your clothes, preserve your food, and heat your home.
68. Consider using a wood stove and getting a permit to chop your own wood.
69. Consider cutting internet if possible (there's lots of free sources such as the library, the mall, coffee shops, and even the random unsecured wifi network).
70. Drop the land line and get a cheap, pre-paid cell phone (mine is $30 a month for 1500 minutes of talk and text plus 2 gb of internet).
71. Take safety seriously (smoke detectors, bicycle helmets, seat belts all save money in the long run).
72. Speak up (ie: challenge a higher than necessary tax bill, if a product doesn't meet your expectations ask for a refund or replacement, ask for discounts for poor service, etc).
73. Hold a clothes swap with other families before school starts (cuts down on the amount of school clothes you will need to buy).
74. Make your own treats (recipes for everything from frapuccinos to Girl Scout cookies to Cinnabon cinnamon rolls can be found online).
75. When in doubt, google (everything from obscure replacement parts to advice on appliance repair to free college classes to alternative medical treatments can be found simply by googling your problem).
76. Ask for help when needed (stop by the parent's house for a free meal, ask your sister to babysit, ask a neighbor for a hand with a repair, etc).
77. Make use of public aid if you are in dire straits (welfare, food stamps, medical coupons, food banks, etc).
78. Don't go into debt for a college education (it can be done!).
79. See what benefits you are entitled to (as a military vet, as a tribal member, as a AAA member, as a senior, etc).
80. Entertain yourself at home instead of paying for entertainment in the community.
81. Pick a good spouse/SO (one with a similar attitude towards money as yours).
82. Dumpster dive (or "go pickin" as they say) for goods you can use or resell.
83. Give experiences instead of gifts (take your friend fishing instead of springing for an expensive gift).
84. Develop useful skills instead of wasting time in front of the TV.
85. Get a second opinion (on everything from medical issues to car repairs).
86. Drink water or tea with each meal instead of soda pop.
87. Reduce the number of teams/organizations/fundraisers/etc you are on.
88. Take drastic action if necessary (one guy got rid of everything and lived in his truck in order to get out of debt and save money).
89. Instill good values (including good financial values) in your children and grandchildren.
90. Don't be a burden to anyone or to the government.
91. Reduce stress (this causes all types of medical and social problems).
92. Be proactive--if you see a problem, fix it, if you see an opportunity, take it.
93. When your income increases, don't increase your lifestyle; bank the increase for your future.
94. Don't try to time the market, day trade, get in on shady deals, etc.  If it seems too good to be true it usually is.
95. No matter where you go, always take food and water/coffee with you (saves the cost of restaurants and vending machines).
96. Make your home safe and secure (increases peace of mind and decreases insurance claims).
97. Work from home and home school your kids (this saves all kinds of money from transportation and clothing costs to the financial impact of peer pressure and interpersonal issues).
98. Try new things (if you have never shopped at an ethnic store you may be surprised at the savings, for example).
99. Ask your oldest living relative or friend about their frugal tricks--some ideas might surprise you (and save you a lot of money!).
100. Look for peace and fulfillment within yourself instead of of the bottom of a bottle or at the end of a shopping spree.

This Weekend...

Why don't you...

• Have a garage sale (large signs on busy streets and an ad on CraigsList will bring many people to your sale) and put the proceeds into your emergency fund.
• Go camping (cheap entertainment for the family and a great opportunity to practice some survival skills).
• Get out and exercise (whether you choose to do some lap swimming, test out your parkour skills at a local park or walk a few miles around your city, all exercise is good exercise).
• Make sure your vehicle is in tip top shape (check the air in the tires, have the oil changed, have the air filters changed, have the windshield wipers changed, give it a tune up if needed, a nice wash and wax always makes it drive better, etc).
• See what classes are going on in your area and join in (many communities offer free first aid classes, you can occasionally find a first aid class to take, local HAM operators sometimes sponsor licensure classes or HAM fests, community events such as fairs and parades offer a range of free entertainment and often learning opportunities, etc).
• See what's growing in your area (blackberries aren't quite ready in our area yet but there are plenty of u-pick farms to choose from).
• Go fishing (a very relaxing way to spend the day).
• Clean your firearms (how long has it been since you've done this?).
• Get some shooting practice in.
• Grab the circulars for your local grocery stores and stock up on non-perishable loss leaders.
• Hold a fire drill and a lock down drill at your home.
• Go to the library and get some good (preferably survival-related) books to read.
• Camp in the backyard if you can't get out to the mountains (the kids tend to love this).
• Go the entire weekend with NO electronics (no TV, cell phone, internet, computer, video games, et al).
• Restock your BOB.
• Start a blog (everyone has some sort of information to share).

You get the idea...  Many people will spend their entire weekend walking around the mall in a daze or vegetating on the couch in front of the TV.  Make this a weekend where you take solid steps to prepare yourself for whatever might happen in the future.