It is Time to Develope Your Own Infrastructure and Security

Developing Your Personal Infrastructure and Security

Barbara Henderson

Most of the time the government provides security and infrastructure for the public.  However the government is not able to guarantee either security or stability in the power grid.  You can count on power for your home most of the time.  You can count on gasoline for your vehicle and home heating most of the time.  You can count on local law enforcement most of the time.  (Law enforcement officers may be willing all the time – but simply unable.  This isn’t criticizing their work ethic.)  But what about that tiny ‘rest of the time’ when you suddenly find yourself on your own? 

The most likely event would be a temporary shutdown of government services where you are able to stay in your home or go to the home of nearby family, a friend, or possibly even your church.  Assuming you will be at home what you will need is a way to heat part of your home, cook food, flush toilets, and stay safe.  Heating your home can be accomplished with a wood stove that you use during cold weather even when you have electricity.  You can cook on your wood stove so that would solve the cooking dilemma as well.  If you happen to have a gas cook stove it should work without electricity.  A camp stove using propane is a very affordable alternative.  Remember propane stoves are not safe for indoor use.  You would have to go outside to use it. If you cook on a gas grill consider upgrading to a grill with a gas burner on the side. You need to have water stored well in advance.  I suggest a minimum of 20 gallons.  If you have city water it may still work during a power outage.  If flooding is not involved in the power outage then the water supply will probably remain safe.

An alternative way of charging your cell phone and other devises important to you is necessary. It may be as simple as a car charger if you have access to your car and fuel to burn while you are charging everything.  A solar charger is another option.  A gas powered generator is a more expensive option.  Kerosene lighting is not excellent lighting, but it is affordable.  Kerosene can also be used for cooking and heating.

Usually your personal infrastructure will only have to sustain you a few days to a few weeks.  It shouldn’t break the family bank.  It should simply help you get through a tough time as efficiently and safely as possible.  Or course no matter how well prepared you are a bad attitude will ruin everything for everyone.  (Don’t forget to prep mentally – self-definition – self-discipline – self-reliance)  Cheerfulness and patience are actions far more than they are feelings.

If you are interested in a home situation that would allow you to have your own personal infrastructure all the time you will need a lot of money!  However there are solar and other options available.  Before you start thinking that big make an effort to set up a full week of supplies and equipment that would allow you and your family to be self-reliant.  That is your personal infrastructure.  Infrastructure plan B is an alternative residence if your home is unavailable or uninhabitable. 

Personal and family security is another matter.  Protection begins by avoiding trouble to the extent that avoiding trouble is possible.  Then security is self-defense!  Self-defense is an entire topic in itself, but you do need to have some ideas regarding personal security.  If you are spending a week without public infrastructure services your home door locks will still work.  A barking dog will still be a barking dog.  A well lite yard may be an impossibility unless you have solar powered outdoor lighting and enough sunshine to charge up the lights.  Do what you can to make it obvious that someone is home.  Determine in advance if you want to have a gun.  If you decide you want a gun, but are unfamiliar with fire arms, you need to talk to experts to determine the gun that is right for you.  Then you need to take a gun safety course and practice shooting until you are comfortable with how your gun works.  I suggest a handgun that is common so ammo will be more readily available and affordable.  By the way, I have an air-weight 38 pistol.  The problem is that the recoil is so violent that it is not fun to shoot.  I can’t hit anything anyway.  My next goal is a laser sight.  That way I only have to get the red or green dot on the target and pull the trigger.  Did I mention gun safety?  Oh yes – I already mentioned it but it is worth repeating. 

Other options are, knives (you need training for knife fighting), a policeman’s baton ( again – you need training to use one effectively), pepper spray where legal,  and even household items like a fire extinguisher can be used as a weapon.  (spray the intruder with the fire extinguisher.)  Unfortunately there isn’t anything that works as well as a gun if you know how to use it.  A personal favorite is a double barreled shotgun.  I wouldn’t have to think about how to load it or shoot it.  It can be reloaded quickly, and I don’t have to be a good shot.  On the negative side it kicks like I suppose a mule would kick.

If you state allows concealed carry then it would be a good idea to get your permit now.  I admit that while I have a permit I seldom carry a gun. I plan to scare an attacker or robber by showing him/her my permit.

When you begin to make plans for personal/family infrastructure and safety during a disaster you are beginning to take charge.  This does not leave you dependent on FEMA and the speed and efficiency of their operations.  You definitely want to do more than think about it, but thinking about it is the place to begin.  You don’t want to spend a lot of money or time on things that won’t actually be helpful. 

Stay within your budget.  Putting yourself in debt is not the way to set up a sound personal infrastructure.

Buying things no one will eat is not going to help.

Buying a million meals of pinto beans is not going to help if you don’t happen to love pinto beans.

Remember that people won’t suddenly be able to eat things they cannot eat before a disaster.

A diabetic will still be a diabetic.  People with food allergies will still have food allergies.  You don’t want to compound a disaster by having a trip to the emergency room – providing you can even get to an emergency room!

Buying a gun and being afraid or unwilling to use it isn’t going to help.

If it is doubtful don’t buy it or at least take some time to consider the purchase. 

Basically – know yourself. 

Barbara Henderson

http://prepperscentral.blogspot.com

http://chirpyscats.com   We have kittens!

Sunday Sermon and Song

Remember that it doesn't matter how well you are prepared physically and materially if you aren't prepared spiritually and mentally.  Everyone needs a good sermon everyday - but especially on Sunday to help you through the coming week.  In addition to the sermon you need a hymn that enforces Bible truth and uplifts your spirit.

Take the time to read or listen to the sermon and song.

You Can Trust the Bible (John MacArthur)
http://www.gty.org/resources/sermons/80-51/you-can-trust-the-bible

On Christ the Solid Rock I Stand
also called
My Hope is Built
http://nethymnal.com/htm/m/y/myhopeis.htm  is just the music at nethymnal
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkMapZB8qMk  is a youtube version - which isn't very good - but it gives you an idea of how the song goes if you aren't familiar with it. 
The song is supposed to be sung like a victory song - not at a slow sad tempo.  The Net-hymnal timing is correct.

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly trust in Jesus’ Name.

Refrain

On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

When darkness seems to hide His face,
I rest on His unchanging grace.
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.

Refrain

His oath, His covenant, His blood,
Support me in the whelming flood.
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my Hope and Stay.

Refrain

When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh may I then in Him be found.
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.

Refrain

Which Disaster Concerns YOU PERSONALLY the Most?

Which Potential Disaster Causes You the Most Concern?

Barbara Henderson

‘Prepping for disaster’ is a very broad topic.  It can be overwhelming.  Fortunately, like any other big job the best way to get it done is to break it down into smaller tasks and just get started.  Answer the following question and begin there.

In the realm of future problems and disasters what worries you the most?

If you aren’t worried about the future I would like to give you a few things to worry about.  After all, it just isn’t normal not to have something to worry about.  Ask yourself if you should be worried about any or all of the following:

Economic down-turns or even total collapse?

Pandemics with no known treatment?

Fire?

Flood?

Tornado?

Hurricane?

Food shortages?

Lengthy power outage?

Earthquake?

Tidal wave/tsunami?

Something else?

Pick a disaster and start to work on prepping for that particular problem.  Keep in mind that prepping for one disaster will likely be somewhat useful in other disasters. 

If I were picking a ‘first disaster’ I would start with food storage.  Food would be good in any situation that allowed you to stay in your home.  Having extra food would also be good for personal problems that tightened the budget or simple scheduling problems that made getting to the store difficult.  Remember that stored food is really only useful when it is food you and your family will actually eat.

In addition to stock-piling food you would also want to stock up on basic first aid items and gallons of water.

Don’t rush out and purchase a lot of things to begin with.  Start with storing more of what you use already.

Topics ‘Prepper Central’ will address in the future are:

Safety

Shelter(s)

Tools

Power sources

Have a good day – and remember  ‘GET READY NOW’.

(You can get my book ‘Everyday Prepping for Beginners’ on Amazon Kindle  http://www.amazon.com/Everyday-Prepping-for-Beginners-ebook/dp/B00A4LJMK4/ref=la_B007YWIYFU_1_2_title_0_main?ie=UTF8&qid=1353176943&sr=1-2

Prepping for the Present and Future

Prepping Can Be Divided into Everyday Prepping and Future Prepping

Barbara Henderson

 Are you a little on the concerned side regarding the future?  Maybe you are so concerned about today and tomorrow that you can’t really pay a lot of attention to much beyond that.  Why not take a few minutes to consider what you can do to make sure you are as well prepared as possible for today and the unknown future.

First, when facing anxiety or stressful situations you always need to remind yourself of who you are.  Remember your self-definition, self-discipline, and self-reliance. (If you haven’t already sat down and settled these things they are covered in the first three chapters of my book – Everyday Prepping for Beginners) Of course your self-reliance is really between you and God.  You want to do everything you can while relying on God to help you get it done and direct your path.  You don’t want to rely on the government. You are an individualist – not a collectivist! You definitely want to avoid the false help offered by the government.  After Hurricane Sandy there were reports of people going to FEMA shelters and not being allowed to leave.  That wouldn’t have been so bad except they didn’t even have a way to charge their cell phones while they were there.  Of course that is an extreme example.  The only reason for mentioning it is to remind us all that a little practice in self-reliance and planning today may be all it takes to keep you from sitting in a cold FEMA tent wishing you had been a little better prepared. 

Now, let’s divide ‘prepping’ into the categories of ‘present’ and ‘future’.

Prepping for the present is simply doing things a few days, hours, or even minutes in advance that will make things go smoother during the day.  That’s it.  If you are a person who lays out clothes the night before, or buys groceries in bulk, or cooks extra meals to go in the freezer, then you are already a prepper!  Maybe you are the one who plans in advance how to juggle the schedules of the family to make sure no one is waiting on a ride or missing an important appointment.  What you want to do is spend a little time considering the rough spots in your day or week.  Then brain-storm with yourself or others involved regarding ways to improve the stress factor in that particular situation or repeating task.  Part of the task is always going to be mental prepping.  At some point you may have to give yourself an attitude adjustment. If it is something you simply have to deal with try to find a little humor in there somewhere.

Prepping for the future is similar.  You consider possible events that might happen in your life or in your geographical or political area and try to prepare for them in a sensible and safe manner.  In both instances you are trying to make it possible to safely and cheerfully live your life.

Something people often fail to consider is that when you are living through a difficult situation, whether it is something in your normal life or a natural disaster, is that every day is part of your life.  Every time period, whether good or bad, will be part of your history.  You want to make it a history you can be proud of.

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Visit my author page
http://www.amazon.com/Barbara-Henderson/e/B007YWIYFU

Thank you

Barbara

Everyday Prepping for Beginners

Everyday Prepping for Beginners

Have you been thinking about getting yourself and your family better prepared for the future but you aren't sure how to begin? Then this book is for you. It has practical suggestions that can be personalized to fit your specific needs. The first three chapters deal with self-definition, self-discipline, and self-reliance. The rest of the book is simple practical solutions for being better prepared for everyday including days without natural disasters. Readers are encouraged to simplify their lives today while preparing for unknown future events that would place them outside their comfort zones. This book is written from a Christian World View. The book is approximately 45,000 words in length.
Everyday Prepping for Beginners