Are you prepared for a major catastrophe?

[NW Admin]

I have experienced some sad things in my life. Life altering experiences. I heard stories from my grandparents about war and depression. I knew of things going bad, but I never really thought of those things happening again. I always felt like, this is the new America. We are a healthy community and things like that couldn't happen now. Let me say... my feelings are completely different now.

When 9/11 happened, it really changed how I perceived the world and the US. I realized just how vulnerable we really are. It left me feeling insecure and unsafe. Like you just never know when or where something terrible might happen that would destroy the world we rely on.

Then there was hurricane Katrina which destroyed New Orleans. I have heard storied throughout my life of horrible storms destroying communities, but in all honesty, they never really "touched" my life... so to speak. Meaning, I felt horrible those things happened, but they didn't directly effect my life at that moment. Katrina was the first natural disaster that I truly felt "touched" me and effected my life (that I can remember anyway... not sure what all may have happened when I was really little). It amazed me how a storm all the way New Orleans could so greatly effect my life in Ohio. It had sort of a shock wave effect. It hurt our economy and so it hurt Ohioans.

I remember seeing on the news that people couldn't get gas there and in nearby states because the oil supply was cut off. Everywhere else, the gas prices shot up. That really stood out in my mind. Seeing on the news where masses of people were lined up at gas stations trying to buy fuel and then being turned away because there wasn't any. Fuel prices across the US went from $2.50 per gallon, all the way up to $6 per gallon just the following day. Of course, this also effected the cost of other items such as bottled water.

People were left without homes. New Orleans was uninhabitable. There were websites where you could volunteer to offer housing and assistance to the victims. It was a scary thought to invite a stranger and their family into your home, just because there are so many criminals out there. But I did sign up anyway. Others I know signed up and some people were just too scared to take the chance. I did get one potential phone call, but nothing came of it.

Now we are dealing with War and fuel problems. Fuel costs continue to increase while the supply continues to decrease. People are starting to steal fuel from gas stations and unsuspecting motorists. Th costs of food and supplies are increasing as well, provoking even more theft by those who either cannot afford it, or are just lazy worthless criminals.

All of these events have made me realize just how fragile our "system" is. How easilly things can rapidly fall apart. Some people say that if we were hit with more natural disasters like Katrina right now, we may not be able to recover from them. If another act of terrorism slipped through, could we recover from it?

When things get bad, the criminals come out. Survival instincts kick in and people will do whatever it takes to survive. Many people will come together and help each other, but other's will only take advantage. The sad truth of the human race is that we can be very evil and selfish.

I can promise you, that if the economy crashed and times became desparate, you better be ready to protect yourself, your family, and your property from other people. You better be prepared for the worst. People will attack you, steal from you, and try to take whatever you have that they need. The strong will survive. Those who can protect themselves will make it. Be prepared to not have access to grocery stores, gas stations, medical help, police, telephone, electricity, water, etc. Because those things can be taken away in the blink of an eye and possibly all of them at the same time depending on the situation. If you don't believe it, you better start. Hopefully that will never happen, but you just can't be sure.

I hate to say it, but I know I am not prepared. Everyone should have emergency supplies stored in a safe, accessable place. I don't have all that because I can't afford to save it all up. I am ready to protect my family if it comes down to it, but I am not armed with guns. I keep thinking that maybe we should be?

I am starting to feel like the Amish farmers have their way of living right. If the economy crashed and we lost access to fuel, groceries, electricity, etc. Not much will change for them. They will have their farm land and farm animals for food and supplies. They will have thier wells for water. They will have their horse & buggies for transportation. Those people will have what they need. Will we?

[CarolineWH]

Originally Posted by NW Admin

I have experienced some sad things in my life. Life altering experiences. I heard stories from my grandparents about war and depression. I knew of things going bad, but I never really thought of those things happening again. I always felt like, this is the new America. We are a healthy community and things like that couldn't happen now. Let me say... my feelings are completely different now.

When 9/11 happened, it really changed how I perceived the world and the US. I realized just how vulnerable we really are. It left me feeling insecure and unsafe. Like you just never know when or where something terrible might happen that would destroy the world we rely on.

Then there was hurricane Katrina which destroyed New Orleans. I have heard storied throughout my life of horrible storms destroying communities, but in all honesty, they never really "touched" my life... so to speak. Meaning, I felt horrible those things happened, but they didn't directly effect my life at that moment. Katrina was the first natural disaster that I truly felt "touched" me and effected my life (that I can remember anyway... not sure what all may have happened when I was really little). It amazed me how a storm all the way New Orleans could so greatly effect my life in Ohio. It had sort of a shock wave effect. It hurt our economy and so it hurt Ohioans.

I remember seeing on the news that people couldn't get gas there and in nearby states because the oil supply was cut off. Everywhere else, the gas prices shot up. That really stood out in my mind. Seeing on the news where masses of people were lined up at gas stations trying to buy fuel and then being turned away because there wasn't any. Fuel prices across the US went from $2.50 per gallon, all the way up to $6 per gallon just the following day. Of course, this also effected the cost of other items such as bottled water.

People were left without homes. New Orleans was uninhabitable. There were websites where you could volunteer to offer housing and assistance to the victims. It was a scary thought to invite a stranger and their family into your home, just because there are so many criminals out there. But I did sign up anyway. Others I know signed up and some people were just too scared to take the chance. I did get one potential phone call, but nothing came of it.

Now we are dealing with War and fuel problems. Fuel costs continue to increase while the supply continues to decrease. People are starting to steal fuel from gas stations and unsuspecting motorists. Th costs of food and supplies are increasing as well, provoking even more theft by those who either cannot afford it, or are just lazy worthless criminals.

All of these events have made me realize just how fragile our "system" is. How easilly things can rapidly fall apart. Some people say that if we were hit with more natural disasters like Katrina right now, we may not be able to recover from them. If another act of terrorism slipped through, could we recover from it?

When things get bad, the criminals come out. Survival instincts kick in and people will do whatever it takes to survive. Many people will come together and help each other, but other's will only take advantage. The sad truth of the human race is that we can be very evil and selfish.

I can promise you, that if the economy crashed and times became desparate, you better be ready to protect yourself, your family, and your property from other people. You better be prepared for the worst. People will attack you, steal from you, and try to take whatever you have that they need. The strong will survive. Those who can protect themselves will make it. Be prepared to not have access to grocery stores, gas stations, medical help, police, telephone, electricity, water, etc. Because those things can be taken away in the blink of an eye and possibly all of them at the same time depending on the situation. If you don't believe it, you better start. Hopefully that will never happen, but you just can't be sure.

I hate to say it, but I know I am not prepared. Everyone should have emergency supplies stored in a safe, accessable place. I don't have all that because I can't afford to save it all up. I am ready to protect my family if it comes down to it, but I am not armed with guns. I keep thinking that maybe we should be?

I am starting to feel like the Amish farmers have their way of living right. If the economy crashed and we lost access to fuel, groceries, electricity, etc. Not much will change for them. They will have their farm land and farm animals for food and supplies. They will have thier wells for water. They will have their horse & buggies for transportation. Those people will have what they need. Will we?

Now you are talking my talk....You are talking to a woman that lived with the Cuban Missle Crisis...Young babies....What to do....BUT....I am up to my ears with things to do today and will be back with this.....Honey been there and done that....What did I learn???........BBL but I have to blog first and darn now this will be a double post....Please forgive...TC, C

[NW Admin]

Caroline,

I am anxious to hear about it!

[CarolineWH]

During the Cuban Missile Crisis, we had two young children...A girl 4 and a boy 2...Like all parents we adored them...We had just built our first home and my husband had begun in a career that he stayed with all our married life...It was a good job with wonderful benefits that we enjoy to this day....But with this came the fact that I had to give up part of him to the company that employed him...He had to be there around the clock...That did not mean that his hours did not change as they did....But they rotated...This was hard on our marriage and rough as far as raising children.....But we survived and loved as the two fools that started this game long ago...Maybe it made us closer as we had our special hours alone as the children aged and those glorious moments of togetherness....

At the time this happened I got panicky....What would I do...My family did not live close and what if we were bombed...I knew that he was in a protected place where nothing could get at him but what about me...How would I be able to carry two babies to safety....What about food and what about water...Many people were building bomb shelters so I started storing water and food under the steps downstairs...I asked my husband if the bombs started would he come home to me with the children and he said NO....At the time I could have killed him and thinking about it now I could KILL him all over again but he had this big job that the area we lived in depended upon him...He was such a big part of what could happen that I had to accept this and as I am thinking about it again I am still getting mad, so I will forget this or else I will go and punch him and he won't know why......But that is how it was....

When you are young living with war and terrorism is horrible...Especially if you have young children...As you age you learn to accept...I don't know why but at this age in life, I doubt I would want to live through the disaster and results of watching people suffer and die.....

You talk of the Amish Farmer....That is a wonderful thought and they are wonderful people but how long would it take for the thugs from the City to invade their little world and steal what they have....Kind of a dog eat dog world out there.....

Before we built our house we looked at a home that was for sale...They had the bomb shelter...We looked at it and smiled...They had it secure OK but what about the ventilation and so many things that they had forgotten...It was like they thought that we will go down here and wait until the storm is over and then come out to this bright new world and continue.....

On 9/11, I learned many things I did not know...Maybe this is the day I really woke up.....I will have to write that one up too....

Despite all that I say on this life goes on...When I was young we were told to practice sitting under our desks in case of a bomb attack by Japan...We could not use our car because there was no gas...Food was not plentiful, we walked....So maybe this is just another part of life that is rough and 55 years from now someone will be writing the same things that I am saying about when they were 6 years old......I sure hope so....

Peace to all....Caroline

[CarolineWH]

Originally Posted by CarolineWH

During the Cuban Missile Crisis, we had two young children...A girl 4 and a boy 2...Like all parents we adored them...We had just built our first home and my husband had begun in a career that he stayed with all our married life...It was a good job with wonderful benefits that we enjoy to this day....But with this came the fact that I had to give up part of him to the company that employed him...He had to be there around the clock...That did not mean that his hours did not change as they did....But they rotated...This was hard on our marriage and rough as far as raising children.....But we survived and loved as the two fools that started this game long ago...Maybe it made us closer as we had our special hours alone as the children aged and those glorious moments of togetherness....

At the time this happened I got panicky....What would I do...My family did not live close and what if we were bombed...I knew that he was in a protected place where nothing could get at him but what about me...How would I be able to carry two babies to safety....What about food and what about water...Many people were building bomb shelters so I started storing water and food under the steps downstairs...I asked my husband if the bombs started would he come home to me with the children and he said NO....At the time I could have killed him and thinking about it now I could KILL him all over again but he had this big job that the area we lived in depended upon him...He was such a big part of what could happen that I had to accept this and as I am thinking about it again I am still getting mad, so I will forget this or else I will go and punch him and he won't know why......But that is how it was....

When you are young living with war and terrorism is horrible...Especially if you have young children...As you age you learn to accept...I don't know why but at this age in life, I doubt I would want to live through the disaster and results of watching people suffer and die.....

You talk of the Amish Farmer....That is a wonderful thought and they are wonderful people but how long would it take for the thugs from the City to invade their little world and steal what they have....Kind of a dog eat dog world out there.....

Before we built our house we looked at a home that was for sale...They had the bomb shelter...We looked at it and smiled...They had it secure OK but what about the ventilation and so many things that they had forgotten...It was like they thought that we will go down here and wait until the storm is over and then come out to this bright new world and continue.....

On 9/11, I learned many things I did not know...Maybe this is the day I really woke up.....I will have to write that one up too....

Despite all that I say on this life goes on...When I was young we were told to practice sitting under our desks in case of a bomb attack by Japan...We could not use our car because there was no gas...Food was not plentiful, we walked....So maybe this is just another part of life that is rough and 55 years from now someone will be writing the same things that I am saying about when they were 6 years old......I sure hope so....

Peace to all....Caroline

Let's make that 55 a 65....

[NW Admin]

It really is interesting to hear different perspectives from all ages. It's really enlightening.

You are right, the Amish might not stand a chance. But my thought is that in terms of living, they have it right. Just add self defense to that and they would be all set.

[Just A Girl]

I have to admit that I am NOT prepared if something bad happened. Part of my problem is that my family is always broke. We never have enough money to store any supplies. Every time we try, we end up needing them and using them up because we have little money. I can't imagine how many other families are dealing with the same thing.

[ringo]

I'm not either. If there was some sort of disaster... I would be screwed! I don't have any supplies saved up or anything. I can't afford it either. It's hard to store and save food when you can't buy groceries to feed your family one week.