This book is meant to be uplifting and helpful throughout disastrous times, now and ahead. It serves as a guide to store necessities and replenish them, to create your own earth medicines, to grow a garden and use the produce. Within are ideas about how to cook nutritionally for a family while spending a very small amount of money. Additionally there are ideas for stretching your dollars or even doing without cash and still receiving goods or services. Other topics are mentioned, such as sun and wind as energy sources with excellent references for further study.

Recession, Depression, Catastrophe

Ways to SurviveBy Yvonne Daily

AuthorHouse

Copyright © 2009 Yvonne Daily
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4490-1130-7

Chapter One

Taking a Step Forward

We can help each other as we prepare for the worst. Start by getting to know your neighbors. I know, I know, some people aren't too friendly, but sometimes you have to be the one to break the ice. The best way to do that is by wanting to make a difference and saying so. You might think about sharing your home for neighborhood meetings, adding a potluck now and then for your enjoyment. In the comfort of your domain, you can discuss how to handle different situations.

In spring of 2008, I met Fred and Cathy who live down the highway from me. I had stopped to ask them about king snakes. They have a traveling snake show and answered my questions. I also learned their house had been broken into six times with everything imaginable stolen. One time an item was returned. Hmmm, I'm thinking a little guilty conscience maybe? But they didn't know what else to do to stop the breaking in and thievery. They had nailed up the place, put shutters on the windows, and locks on the doors to no avail. I mentioned the neighborhood watch signs in Fayetteville and said, "Now why can't we put those up in front of our homes?" Cathy said, "Well, I guess we could call the law and find out who we can talk to." I replied, why not right now?

So the project started. I spoke with an officer from the Washington County Sheriffs office. He instructed me to speak to as many neighbors as possible and plan a meeting at a church, school, or someone's house. My daughter Tiffiny and I went door to door inviting neighbors. Arrangements were made to meet at the community building in Brentwood. Sergeant John Woods came out, and gave us suggestions on how to be better neighbors. We all have to be a little nosey about each other. It's necessary to know who lives where, what they drive, and the usual routines that occur, coming and going. You know, really keeping an eye on each other. He added that we should take turns watching each others' houses when on vacation. The training was beneficial; to say the least, we learned a lot. I for one appreciate law officers. We should be eyes and ears for them also. They stick their necks out for us everyday, often facing true monsters in the dark.

The cash was collected, the signs and poles ordered, which were shipped to my house. I then called everyone to pick them up. At a meeting I stood up said, "I am blessed to finally get to know all of you."

There were no break-ins at Fred and Cathy's house this last summer. Bottom line is, we can't sit still and expect to get through this. It takes a little effort and when we band together, we move with more strength.

Chapter Two

Water

Aside from clean air the most essential substance for life is potable water. It's very important to figure how much is needed per person for drinking, cleanliness, cooking, and don't forget flushing the toilet. We use more than we realize. The human body is about 90% water. It cannot continue without a minimum daily intake of approximately 1/2 gallon (most state and federal agencies recommend 1 gallon).

Our first concern is drinking water. I use mobile, water filtering systems that are made of stainless steel or lexan, the material that is used to make bullet proof glass. Inside the top half, 2 to 4 ceramic filters purify your water from rain, pond, stream, or damaged water mains. It gravity flows to the bottom half giving you safe water.

I want to stress that even spring water may not be safe. Deep-water springs usually are, but there is the possibility of contamination from distant septic systems, agricultural fertilizers, or large commercial producers of animals (to name a few). When you are not sure of the source of your water, it is always safest to boil, treat with chemicals, or filter through a certified water filter (I might do one or all three treatments, if water is really questionable). Bottom line is, be prepared several ways, for different situations.

Chemical treatments (chlorine and iodine), should be used very carefully ensuring the correct concentration and contact time for the temperature of application. Most (with the possible exception of AQUAMIRA products), do not protect you from CRYPTOSPORIDIUM cysts, which have survived a 24 hour soak in un-diluted chlorine bleach.

Portable filters can turn surface water into potable drinking water, but some may not do as well as the labels have you believe. I'm inclined to believe the companies listed below, have stayed in business for a long time, by selling quality products. Use your own personal judgment.

Boil It

Heat sterilization seems to be the safest answer over any chemical method. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend boiling water vigorously for at least 1 minute at sea level. At altitudes above 6,000 feet they recommend 3 minutes (it takes water longer to boil as the altitude increases). Disease-causing microorganisms cannot survive the heat of a sterilizing boil (boiling won't take care of chemical or radioactive pollutants and would have to be dealt with differently).

In addition to my house-hold I like to keep extra filters and spigots in storage for unexpected damage. The following companies also have backpack units that will filter up to 100 gallons of water. I keep one of these in my vehicle in case I get stranded. It is a strong possibility that our economic collapse may last not only months but could extend into years. Preparation is vital.

Sources for Units:

Lehmans, One Lehman Circle, PO Box 270, Kidron, OH 44636

Toll free number: 1-877-438-5346 to place orders, (there's a fee for a catalog, but worth it). Or: www. lehmans.com (to shop online)

The Berkey Light; made of Lexan, 2 3/4 gallon capacity, and filters up to 4 gallons an hour. Price: $209 (filter prices vary, depending on your choice)

Big Berkey Tabletop Water Filter is packaged with 4 ceramic elements, but may be operated with 2 elements if desired; 8 quart capacity and filters up to 31/2 gallons an hour. $269 (filter prices vary, depending on your choice)

H2O Distributors Inc., 1061 Triad Court, Marietta, GA 30062 Toll free number: 1-800-955-8561 (for a free pamphlet) and to place orders. Or: www.h2odistributors.com (to shop online)

Prices in the $200 range. (The ceramic filters are very reasonably priced)

Emergency Essentials, 362 S. Commerce Loop, Suite B, Orem, UT 84058-5119 Toll free number: 1-800-999-1863 (for a free catalog) and to place orders or: www.BePrepared.com (to shop online)

Alternatives

The above may not be affordable at this time. Save washed out Clorox jugs, large plastic juice bottles, or 2 liter soda pop bottles for storing water. Do not save a "scented" Clorox jug. It will retain the smell and taste in your water.

Clorox jugs are very durable, basically sterile to start with, making them easy to wash and rinse out. They have kept water up to a year in my car without any problems. When living in Phoenix Arizona, I always carried water with me in the desert! It came in handy one time when out on a dry dusty road. The water in my trusty Clorox bottle was hot to drink, but at that time the temperature didn't concern me. The fact that it was just wet, relieving...