Preparing for Troubled Times

Frederic Leighton [Public domain], via Wikimedia CommonsIt is clear to us that many of those who read our web pages and write to us have an idea that the days we are experiencing now will not last forever, and that life will become harder quite soon. However, we also find that many people have not begun to make any preparations. Because of this, we have decided to provide some suggestions on how to begin.

We suggest you purchase a knapsack, sleeping bag and tent. Plan to be ready to travel quickly in the event of hurricanes, tornadoes, volcanoes, flooding, fire, enemy invasion or other unexpected events. Leave as many emergency items packed in your knapsack as possible, and prepare a list of other items you will need if you cannot leave them pre-packed in the knapsack. Keep your list inside the knapsack. Even if you own a vehicle and it is operational, the roads may not be passable, so be frugal with what you plan to carry in your knapsack. Knapsacks can be heavy and uncomfortable, and you may need to walk long distances carrying the knapsack, your sleeping bag, and your tent. Be sure you have seam-sealed your tent against rain. Purchase a good pair of hiking boots and try them out beforehand to be sure they are comfortable. You should also have some type of waterproof raingear.

If you are fortunate enough to own or lease a home in a mountainous, rural area where you have your own well, septic tank, creek or pond, garden and a place to store food, you have an opportunity to prepare for the future. To ensure you have water, consider having a hand water pump installed on your property. You might also search out a water source within walking distance and purchase a high quality water purifier to purify drinking water from that source. We recommend the Big Berkey water purifier, which is used by the Red Cross. These water purifiers are available from various sources on the Internet, including www.doultonfilters.com. If you have no water source available other than a public water supply, store as many large containers of drinking water as possible. If you have a septic tank, you will still be able to use your toilet indoors by pouring water down it after using it. If you do not have a septic tank, consider where you would dig an area for a latrine if your city septic no longer worked. It would have to be an area located away from any available drinking water supply.

You should also begin to stock up on canned and packaged food. Freeze-dried food often tastes better and keeps longer than canned or store-bought packaged food, but it can be quite pricey. If you can afford it, there are a number of sources for freeze-dried food on the Internet. Write purchase dates on your cans and packages, so you can tell how long ago you purchased the food. You may want to use the older food first and replace it with fresher food for as long as you are able to. Try to prepare for at least a year of hardship, since it may take a long time for food shipments to be reestablished in the event of widespread disasters. Remember if you have pets, they will need to eat, too. Now is the time to learn how to garden, as gardens will be the food source of the future. Store up vegetable and medicinal herb seeds for the next year. If you plant in the spring, buy extra seeds to keep in reserve in case you are unable to purchase seeds the following year. If you do not wish to purchase extra seeds, then plant only half of each package of seeds. At the end of the summer, you can often purchase leftover seeds at half-price.

Gather together extra medical supplies and medicines you use on a regular basis, and others for emergencies. Store up toilet paper, paper towels, Kleenexes, aluminum foil, and products for women’s monthly needs. You can use phone books, catalogs and newspapers for toilet paper if you must. You can cook on a woodstove, but you might consider making or purchasing a solar cooker, and building an outdoor grill where you could use wood to cook with, especially in the summer when you would want your house to stay cool.

Be sure you have the hand tools necessary to dig a garden and make repairs to your home and roof. Such tools should not require the use of electricity or gasoline. Practice using them now, so it won’t be so hard to use them later. Obtain a stone to sharpen your tools with. You will also need a source of light, whether this be solar, oil lamps, or candles. If you live in a climate with winter weather, you will need a source of heat, such as a woodstove. Propane gas, oil heat, heat pumps, electric furnaces, public gas, and corn stoves all depend on society staying the same as it is now. Solar heat may be of use, but it is likely that for a time the sky will be dark with smoke, and solar heat will not work when the sun is covered over. Wind and water energy may prove workable, but you’d better get it set up now, as it is unlikely you will be able to get the necessary supplies to do so after the troubles begin. If you have a woodstove, stock up on wood, and be sure your chimney is clean. You will also need a good saw, axe and other tools for chopping and splitting wood. Don’t assume you will be able to use a chainsaw, since gasoline and oil may not be available.

Acquire a radio that runs on batteries–a shortwave radio is preferable. Keep a good supply of batteries on hand, as you will want to be able to find out what is happening in the world around you, particularly if you are located in an isolated area. Buy a bicycle for everyone in your family, preferably mountain bikes that can travel over rough terrain. You can often find these bikes at yard sales, so you don’t have to pay top dollar unless you want to. If you are someone who feels comfortable using a pistol or rifle, you might consider having one on hand to protect yourself and your family. At the very least, buy yourself a good, strong baseball bat or a long, menacing garden tool, in case you need to frighten away someone who does not have your best interests at heart. On the other hand, think of those you care about, and try to store up extra supplies to help them in the event they come to you when times are hard.

The days to come will be difficult ones. Though your strength and compassion will be tried to the utmost during the dark times, the love of the Mother and Father Creator and our brother, Jesus, will be with you always to sustain you and give you hope. Remember there is light at the end of the tunnel, for, after seven years of tribulation, Jesus will return to the physical Mother Earth, and a new Golden Age will begin. You can read more about that wonderful time here.

Some Useful Preparedness Links