If Ye Are Prepared...
In the summer of 2002 my family moved to south Texas. My husband was working across the border in Mexico everyday. Our daughter was about to turn 3, and I was very pregnant with our first son. The news was full of reports of potential dirty bomb attacks and I was anxious and unsettled (and looking back, probably very hormonal), and I felt constant uneasiness. I remembered the scripture in Doctrine & Covenants 38:30 that reads, “but if ye are prepared, ye shall not fear.” I took it to heart and realized that in order to quell my fear I needed to do something, to actively engage in a project. That’s when I built my first 72 hr kit. It was bulky and did require a Little Tikes wagon to transport, but hey, it was a start.
Since then my preparedness efforts have waxed and waned depending on our situation. Small living spaces and a student budget weren’t particularly conducive to food storage when we were living in Boston for graduate school. But then the time came when we decided to move back to California – the state where we had been living on Sept 11, 2001.
At that time we had been in process of moving out of California to Pennsylvania. My husband was already working in Pennsylvania and was scheduled to fly home the evening of Sept 11th. Of course he didn’t make it back to California that night. The movers were coming the very next day to pack up our house and ship out our cars. Our daughter was 2 years old and had no comprehension of the events of the day, but wanted to watch the footage over and over again – she found it exciting, like it was a fireworks display. I, however, was almost in a panic, trying to reconcile just how much our world had changed that morning and how my sense of peace and security were completely wiped out, all while trying to figure out how I was going to accomplish my husband’s extensive honey-do list before the movers came. Thankfully there was a young couple in our ward (church congregation) - the husband had been sent home from his job in one of the downtown L.A. towers, and the wife was my daughter’s nursery leader. Thanks to them, we didn’t have to spend that awful day alone, AND we were fully ready when the movers came the next morning.
The idea of moving back to California unleashed many of the feelings I had tried to bury after that experience - feelings of helplessness and isolation - and so once settled back in the Golden State I jumped into emergency preparedness and food storage as a way to reduce the possibility of having to feel that way again.
We’ve been back here almost 6 years now. We’ve got a couple more kids, a year+ supply of food, 2+ months of water, and paper goods and personal supplies galore. Our yard is full of fruit trees and I’ve got a healthy little garden. We’re also focusing on preparing our bodies to withstand the physical and psychological struggles a disaster would bring. While I’m still nervous that there’s so much to do, and so little time in which to do it all, I’m confident that my efforts to prepare myself and my family will never go to waste.
Comments
Can you can marshmallows? Because I really like smores.
Thanks for preparing us.
Does a hot tub count for water storage?
Yeah, for about 1 day. :-)
vote #5
It doesn't get better than this
Seriously, this gal knows her stuff
If this article doesn't win something, something's wrong!
Grateful for the info
Time to fill my water storage
great
one of the best I have read
vote for this one!
this is awesome
prepare yourself people
vote!
talk about preparedness pro
can i drink the water in my pool?
That depends on whether or not you've got a nuclear, biochemical, or quarantine issue going on outside or if it's still there after an earthquake, hurricane or tornado. :-)
this has to win!
vote 5
vote 1
vote 2
your article makes me think
i'm grateful for this knowledge
win it
It all seems so practical and "do"able!
The earthquake today really made me check our readiness
If anyone knows preparedness - it's YOU! Thanks for the info
It's great to be in the golden state where fruit trees actually produce year round!
Thanks for your article!
Great stuff
Prepare yourself
Now is the time
Vote 5
Awesome
Love the article
You are an inspiration
Love it
Thanks for the article.
Thanks for sharing Cec!
I'm hoping you get the votes needed!!
That really was a scary day. Glad you had someone there with you.
Going to see your fam in a few days!
looks like I need to spend more time on the internet and see all this wonderful preparedness information!
#1
#2
#3
#4
#5
Motivating
article
Thanks
Cecily
Last one!
First one
Second vote!
and another
almost done
one more and done!
Love the comment on also preparing your bodies. So many focus on just having the materials that they are not personally ready.
Vote #2
Great information
Hope you win
Thanks for the reminder to start preparing now.
Amazing! Vote 1!
This is definately my favorite article it is brilliant
ItThis article has changed my life
Wow. If only my mind worked like this. Fortunately the author of this article graces the rest of us with insight and real assistance!
I will tell my friends about this article. We were just in an earthquake!
Wonderful and touching article.
Food for thought.
Wished we lived in an area with sun to grow things.
Don't forget your pets. We have a 24 hr. kit for each of them.
We had a mock earthquake in our ward last Saturday, and we did super. I love your comments on being physically prepared. May I add, we should be spiritually prepared as well.
Interesting.
Life catches you by surprise. It is good to be prepared for emergencies.
Due to a recent layoff, I am starting to store food when it comes for the future mos. Never did that before. Could have used an emergency "layoff" kit. : )
I can see how God is providing for us. But I think having some provisions for emergencies is just plain smart.
My wife has a bird flu kit for our family! Nice to know it's there. Good Article.
Great article!
second vote!!
Third vote
fourth vote
fifth vote
great article! love it! Very iinspiring :)
I thought it was very sweet. Haha, your daughter watching the footage over and over again :D
3rd Comment :D
I seriously love the article, Hope you win! :D :D :D
4th. :)
Hope you never have to experiance that unease ever again. I really hope you win!!!!!
Love love love love love it! It was wonderful and very touching. <3
Thank you for the great prep classes you put on. I was so happy to be prepared - especially mentally last week when the 3.9 earthquake hit. i love all that you have put together in preparedness. I will be working on this over the weekend. Hope i get ready in time for the big one!
Love it! Our food storage could really use a Little Tikes wagon,
#2 Food storage for life.
#3 Yay! This is the best!
#4 Woot!
#5 Food storage is my bff.
Finally
again
Here you go!
Last One!
Hope this helps too...
Again
and again
loved the article
Last one
Hey Cecily
So much easier on a computer than on the phone...
Heard about your new purchase
thanks
last one
Nicely put!
I picture what you are saying and it hits home!
Word!
Outta the park!
hey
love the article
great job on it
very inspiring
bye-bye!
Its great to have a teacher like you, and its great to share all of our wisdom. I want your brain, and am glad you have peace in your preparedness!
I too am planting a garden. Now to learn how to organically keep it pest free! Keep up the good work.............
We should all be catching our rain water today to water our plants. This conserves the earths supply. Loving you!
Thanks for sharing such a nice story with us readers! Blessings to you and your family!
We came to your prep class and learned how to sprout beans. I am making my first batch today. Thanks for the knowledge. They sure do taste good. Ed
My daughter told us all about you for so long. Man, do you know disaster prep! We have a ton of things to do now that we have your newsletters. Thank you for your wisdom! Its truly a blessing.
By the way, we really liked your info on the first three minutes and three hours. Heres to learning more from our prep gal YOU!
I had to add one more thing, that you make your classes so fun. Some I have been to were very boring. Your big smile makes all the difference in the world to me and mine. Heres smiling back at cha!
My sister shared this with us. Great article!
great job!
Good to share!
and again!
good job!
great read!
good luck!
Great article!
Doesn't it feel good to finally have enough room for food storage?
I like that you used your helpless feeling positively in getting your food storage in order!
I agree with what you said about your ability to have food storage. There are many situations that may prevent you from having a year's supply. But you can always have something tucked away for an emergency.
Good job! You are a great writer.
Always good to be prepared
Good ideas
interesting
You are rad
I love this.
Hey Cecily, really enjoyed the article. Quite the motivational piece.
I've got 86 gallons of stored water, plus bottled water and a pool. But I need a filter because it is a salt water pool.
I've got some wheat, sugar and other canned goods, but the bulk of my food is dehydrated. Super easy to prepare and lasts for 25+ years. Just need water... I believe I have 6 month supply of that.
In my yard I have rain barrels to collect rain water. They are 75 gallons each and fill up within 30 minutes of rain. I use that water to water my garden. I have black berries, blueberries, avacado tree, orange tree, mango tree, peppers, and need to plant some more stuff.
What good is a prophet if you don't follow his council?
Great Story.
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