September is the National Preparedness Month

Although some of us may not "trust" a government agency to be the best source for preparedness information (as FEMA and the National Citizens Corp have fallen under Homeland Security since the Patriot Act), and despite the participation of The Advertising Council, it is still the perfect opportunity for us to stop by any of the events presented in our home towns to see if we can learn something new.

We have to agree with Craig Fugate of FEMA when he says "Disasters can hit any place, any time, so it's essential that we take concrete steps together, now, to ensure a better response later."

So check the current events section in your local paper and plan to take a look at what is offered.



FEMA'S READY CAMPAIGN & CITIZEN CORPS ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION IN NATIONAL

July 28, 2010

No.: HQ-10-146

FEMA News Desk: 202-646-3272



News Release



FEMA'S READY CAMPAIGN AND CITIZEN CORPS ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION IN THE NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS MONTH COALITION



Seventh annual National Preparedness Month, in September, encourages Americans to take steps to prepare



WASHINGTON - The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) today announced that to date more than 1,900 national, regional, tribal, state and local organizations and businesses have pledged their support and joined the 2010 National Preparedness Month (NPM) Coalition. This is approximately 200 more than last year at this time. The registration for the Coalition continues through September.



This September marks the seventh annual NPM. Led by FEMA's Ready Campaign in partnership with Citizen Corps and The Advertising Council, NPM is a nationwide effort encouraging individuals, families, businesses and communities to work together and take action to prepare for emergencies.



NPM Coalition members will sponsor events and activities throughout the month highlighting the steps that individuals, families and communities can take to prepare. Ready and The Advertising Council will also introduce new Spanish-language public service advertisements in conjunction with NPM activities. Additionally, the Ready Campaign released a new NPM Widget to help promote the month.



"National Preparedness Month is a great way to get Americans and our communities and businesses to come together in planning and preparing for a disaster," said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate. "Disasters can hit any place, any time, so it's essential that we take concrete steps together, now, to ensure a better response later."



This year, NPM focuses on encouraging all Americans to take active steps toward getting involved and becoming prepared. Preparedness is everyone's responsibility. Americans have to work together as a team to ensure that individuals, families and communities are ready. Individuals are encouraged to: make a family emergency plan; put together an emergency supply kit; be prepared to help your neighbor; and work as a team to keep everyone safe.



National Preparedness Month Coalition membership is open to all public and private sector organizations. Click here to register for membership.



Follow FEMA online at www.twitter.com/fema, www.facebook.com/fema, and www.youtube.com/fema. Also, follow Administrator Craig Fugate's activities at www.twitter.com/craigatfema. The social media links provided are for reference only. FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications.



FEMA's mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

“Learning is not compulsory... neither is survival.” W. Edwards Deming

From a 50 Something, soon to be rural homesteading, Prepper ;-}

Week 4 - 24 Weeks of Crisis Procurement

Hardware/Home Improvement/Sports, Misc Store

• Plumber’s Tape
• Crowbar
• Smoke detector with battery (rechargeable preferred)
• “Comando Saw” & GI can opener
• 1 box ammo for your shotgun
• If needed, add extra medications (RX) or see your physician for a prescription to mark “emergency use”. If no RX’s, get extra vitamins and OTC medications.

To Do:

• Install or test your smoke detector
• Tie the water heater to wall studs using the plumbers tape
• Complete another form to your Documentation Book/Binder.
• Record the items you have purchased for crisis use in the Documentation Book/Binder.
• Add any appropriate monies to your money jar.

** When quantities are listed that is per person in your household.

“If you are prepared, you will be confident, and will do the job.” Tom Landry

From a 50 Something, soon to be rural homesteading, Prepper ;-}

A Neighborhood Experiment - Making Our Own Charcoal

Aah – charcoal that mainstay to summer cook-outs. Charcoal is a formless mass of carbon and can be made from most carbonaceous materials. It is one of the oldest of man-made fuels and has been prepared by nature under the ground for a thousand years. Charcoal is still a major source of energy throughout the world. There are however, as always, some advantages and disadvantages to lump charcoal.

Advantages

• Lump charcoal is an all-natural, 100 percent hardwood product with no additives.
• Natural charcoal heats faster than briquettes, so food can be cooked over natural charcoal within 5 to 7 minutes after lighting.
• Lump charcoal can be lit sans lighter fluid and with just a match and some newspaper which means no off-flavors.
• One pound of hardwood charcoal produces the equivalent heat of two pounds of briquette charcoal.

Disadvantages

• Lump charcoal is bulkier, has odd shapes, and crushes more easily.
• It tends to become dusty and flakes-off.
• Consumer demand is limited. (Applies only from a business aspect.)
• Current price is nearly twice that of briquettes. (Applies only from a business aspect.)

Anyway, a while back a neighbor and I decided we wanted to try and make our own lump charcoal. So we dug up some instructions and went about collecting some hardwood (hickory, oak, maple, and fruitwoods are favored) and scrounging up a couple metal barrels. We used some of our spare bricks (from my neighbor’s rebuild of his fireplace) and set to work.

About the time we were burning the wood the smoke and smell was all over the block so a couple of neighbors came by and asked if they should call the fire department. We explained what we were trying to do and as time passed more neighbors joined in.

By the time we were done we had our first batch and decided to test it out against good ol’Kingsford. So out came two grills and some burgers and brauts as well as the rest of the neighbors. By a decision of 5 to 2 (one didn’t notice any difference) the homemade lump charcoal beat Kingsford for our taste and heating criteria.


Since my neighbor and I didn’t know what we were doing this time around and didn’t want any “blackmail” shots of us floating about – we did not take any photos of our “experiment”. We have tried this a few more times since then and haven’t blown anything or anyone up yet; so once we get the contraption looking like it isn’t a pile of junk we will be taking some instructional photos. Until then go to http://www.scribd.com/doc/34280234/A-Neighborhood-Experiment-Making-Our-Own-Charcoal for the sites we used for our experiments – then have at it and enjoy!

"A person that has never made a mistake has never tried anything new."
Albert Einstein

From a 50 Something, soon to be rural homesteading, Prepper ;-}

Week 3 - 24 Weeks of Crisis Procurement

Grocery Store

• 1 gallon water
• 1 can fruit
• 1 can meat
• Women’s sanitary napkins/tampons
• Condoms
• Video tape or digital camera memory stick/DVD
• Pet food for any pet Note: If your pet eats dry food, it will need more water.
• Infant Items (if needed): Diapers, baby food or formula – Think ahead if you are going to be potty training and or your infant will be weaning to toddler food - do not purchase for more than two weeks worth of these items.

To Do:

• Use a video/digital camera to record the contents of your home for insurance purposes. Place in the appropriate section of your Documentation Book/Binder.
• Make a digital copy and print out a second copy of the “Inventory” form to store with a friend or family member.
• Record the items you have purchased for crisis use in the Documentation Book/Binder.
• Add any appropriate monies to your money jar.

** When quantities are listed that is per person in your household.

“Chance favors the prepared mind.” Louis Pasteur

From a 50 Something, soon to be rural homesteading, Prepper ;-}

Sons of Liberty Riders, Constitutional Pit Bulls

Say Hello to the folks of Sons of Liberty Riders, Constitutional Pit Bulls!!!

This is a group of non-violent folks who love our country and love to ride to spread the word (not a MC & need not be a motorcycle owner/rider) ... take at peak to read more of what they are about and sign up to pass the knowledge on ;-}

Visit them at (or check "Sites of Interest" in the right panel):

National: http://americanlibertyriders.ning.com/

New Mexico: http://americanlibertyriders.ning.com/events/new-mexico-sons-of-liberty

“The highest manifestation of life consists in this: that a being governs its own actions. A thing which is always subject to the direction of another is somewhat of a dead thing.”
St. Thomas Aquinas 1225-1274, Italian Scholastic Philosopher and Theologian

From a 50 Something, soon to be rural homesteading, Prepper ;-}

A.N.T.S. – Americans Networking To Survive

This is a fantastic site for “Preppers Helping Preppers” along with valuable information and links to other informative sites.

A.N.T.S is a survival network comprised of individuals working together to provide other members basic supplies during disasters.

The goal of the A.N.T.S project is to create a supply distribution system that will be used to provide basic supplies to its members during a disaster. This will allow members, when possible, to stay on their property instead of a shelter, helping to speed up the recovery process.

To join see http://americansnetworkingtosurvive.org/ and click on “Membership”.

This is a new and growing group of Preppers who wish to help other Preppers, so your state may not have an official group as yet. If that is the case check out American Prepper Network (http://www.americanpreppersnetwork.com/), select “Forum” (http://americanpreppersnetwork.net/portal.php), join your state and either join in the A.N.T.S. discussion or start one for your state.

"Emergency preparedness is a team sport.“ Eric Whitaker

From a 50 Something, soon to be rural homesteading, Prepper ;-}

Week 2 - Ready, Set, Go! 24 Weeks of Crisis Supply Procurement

Hardware/Home Improvement/Sports, Misc Store

• Crescent wrench
• Heavy tape (Duct tape)
• 2 flashlights with batteries. Think rechargeable batteries and save for a solar recharger.
• Bungee cords
• Pet: Leash and or carrier for your pet
• One box ammo for your handgun
• Leatherman Tool and or Swiss Army Knife

To Do

• Check your house for hazards. Secure loose objects that may fly around.
• Locate your gas meter and water shutoffs and attach a wrench near them or in an easy to reach place in your garage for instant access in a crisis.
• Complete the emergency Contact forms for your Documentation Book/Binder.
• Record the items you have purchased for crisis use in the Documentation Book/Binder.
• Add any appropriate monies to your money jar.

** When quantities are listed that is per person in your household.

“Chance favors the prepared mind.” Louis Pasteur

From a 50 Something, soon to be rural homesteading, Prepper ;-}

Let Us Pray this Independence Day

Most Gracious and Loving GOD,

We thank you for the beauty that is all around us. Your Holiness lays hold of our hearts and minds by what we see and we give you thanks and praise. We thank you, Lord GOD, for the joys of life and the ties of Love that exist among your church family. On this day that we call Independence Day - A day when we remember the Declaration of Independence - defend, O Lord, this graciously given land from misuse of power, distrust of neighbor and stranger, corruption in commerce and goods, and the illusions of wealth. Lord, GOD, give unto our Government a due respect for your sovereign rule over all nations. Enter their hearts that they may govern by compassion for peoples everywhere.

May we never forget that our first allegiance is to you and your Holy word. As we come before your table of grace and mercy this morning, let us rejoice as we are in a country where we are free to worship you in spirit and truth.

There is no greater feeling of liberation than to experience this freedom from sin and death that you have provided for me. Today my heart and my soul are free to praise you. For this I am very thankful.

On this Independence Day I am reminded of all those who have sacrificed for my freedom, following the example of your Son, Jesus Christ. Let me not take my freedom, both physical and spiritual, for granted. May I always remember that my freedom was purchases with a very high price. My freedom cost others their very lives.

Lord, today, bless those who have served and continue to give their lives for my freedom. With favor and bounty meet their needs and watch over their families.

Help me to live my life in a way that glorifies you, Lord. Give me the strength to be a blessing in someone else's life today, and grant me the opportunity to lead others into the freedom that can be found in knowing You.

AMEN

http://nethugs.com/independence-day/our-independence-day/