It will never happen to you… or will it?

It will never happen to you… or will it?

Though I can appreciate positive thinking, can we be so foolish as to think a disaster will never happen to us? Tell that to Noah and Joseph, both of whom were very much prepared, incidentally. This morning's headlines and articles were filled with disasters. 

Tropical Storm Isaac continued to pound Louisiana and Mississippi Thursday as an official said a dam near the Louisiana-Mississippi border threatened to break, prompting officials to order a mandatory evacuation for as many as 60,000 people. 

A tsunami warning has been issued for the western Pacific after a magnitude 7.9 earthquake struck off eastern Philippines coast, the US Geological Survey reports. 

HALF OF LOUISIANA LOSES POWER: In Louisiana alone, the storm cut power to 901,000 homes and businesses, or about 47 percent of the state…, the Public Service Commission said. (AP)

I have a big family and many friends throughout the nation. From the WTC bombing to Denver fires to tornadoes, I seem to know someone who lives near every disaster that takes place. In Texas, there was the Bastrop fire near Austin and a tornado that destroyed the apartment complex where my son lived with his wife and baby (their unit and car went unharmed, but what a shock to come home to!). I know better than to dare say, "it could never happen to me."

So, over two years ago, my wife and I began "prepping." We didn't go overboard. A li'l here. A li'l there. Five extra cans of whatever each time you shop starts adding up. You can get lots of things at the Dollar Store and Walmart's camping section, too. CHEAP! 

In all honesty, the main in thing I ever hear from people who reject the concept of "Prepping" is "I can't afford it!" Really? One lady who said that to me stopped herself cold and said, "I just spent over $100 on my toes and nails!" Others will spend over $400 a month on cigarettes. What if they cut that by 1/2 for the sake of their family's survival and comfort? You'd be surprised the response I get to that suggestion.  

If you truly believe FEMA, the local churches, or your neighbors, will bail you out in a disaster, you haven't read nor heard the accounts I've been privy to. While FEMA recommends at least 3 days worth of food and water for everyone, Homeland Security advises 1 month. I say, in this day and age, make it a lifestyle rather than a thing that you do.

It isn't just the weather we should be prepared for. Not hardly! According to MoneyMorning.com, and article by By Terry Weiss, "In a riveting interview on CNBC, legendary investor Jim Rogers warned Americans to prepare for "Financial Armageddon," saying he fully expects the economy to implode after the U.S. election." Weiss went on to write, "In a newly released documentary that went viral last month, a team of influential economic experts say they have discovered a "frightening pattern" they believe points to a massive economic catastrophe unlike anything ever seen in the history of the world. And according to these experts - who have presented their findings to the United Nations, the UK Parliament and a long list of world governments - the catastrophe may happen well before Americans hit the polls in November."

I came up with an acronym I've been using quite a lot lately; "FEPS." It stands for Financial, Emotional, Practical and Spiritual Preparedness. FEPS is a good way to gauge the total preparedness level for you, your family and your business. Keep this in mind: We are NOT referring to the end of the world when we discuss disaster preparedness, but we ARE talking about the end of the world we've grown accustomed to. My wife's last surviving uncle passed away early Sunday morning. The loss of him leaves a void for our family, thus changing the world as we knew it. Imagine losing a home to a tornado? How much worse for several children and their mother to drown in a flood? Personally, I know what it's like to nearly freeze to death one Thanksgiving eve when my heater stopped working in sub-zero temperatures. My death would have ended the world as my family had known it and were comfortable with knowing. 

Stuff happens. From ice storms to water main breaks, a tornado, an earthquake, a wildfire or an exploding furnace. Many fear an Coronal Mass Ejection or a rogue nation's suitcase bomb could cause an EMP, thrusting our nation back into the 1800's way of life. Who's ready for THAT?

It does my heart good to know others who read my articles or view my BLOG are actually getting prepared. I just learned about a family gathered in West Texas where the patriarch assigned various aspects of preparation to different family members. That blessed me! Others are exchanging their vanishing US Dollars for Gold and Silver. Wonderful news! Some are buying freeze-dried foods and military MRE's. Now you're thinkin'! Last night, I received a phone call invitation to address a monthly Ministerial Alliance on the subject of Disaster Readiness and can expect 20 to 30 church leaders to attend. Good on ya! 

Today, let's pray for all the people who lost everything because of Isaac and, on top of all the other stresses of life, are having to start over. Let's pray for those for whom tsunamis and hurricanes have, literally, rocked their world. Let's pray for peace and providence, opposing fear and chaos. Let's ask God for Wisdom to start preparing, applying FEPS to our own lives as we do.

Every blessing,

Michael Tummillo

Workplace Chaplain and Founder of

The Church @ Work (TCAW)

Stories from Survival Center

Stories from Survival Center

Burglar Prep Plan

Gun control advocates probably don't like stories like this.

It's 3.30 a.m. when the family dog barks because a burglar has entered the ground floor of a house in Portland. The owner wakes, grabs a shotgun and fires a shot towards the downstairs hallway.

The burglar leaves. In a heckuva a hurry.

"There is no evidence to indicate that the burglar was struck by the shotgun blast."

A car was heard to speed away...probably heading for the laundromat.

(Ideally, you'd dial 911 and have the dispatcher on the phone as you yell at the burglar that you have a gun and all that, but in this case, action - and "gun control" - spoke somewhat louder than words). The cops might arrive AFTER you and your family were killed and would spend time trying to find who did it. Sorry, too late.

Sun Burn of the worst kind

 CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) -- "Twin satellites rocketed into orbit Thursday on a quest to explore Earth's treacherous radiation belts and protect the planet from solar outbursts."

Actually, there is absolutely no way on earth to protect Earth from solar flares that NASA knows will knock out the power grid if they're big enough - and they've been warning us for years that the current solar cycle has yet to reach a peak...sometime in the next few months.

I

t would be wise, although difficult, to imagine how you'd cope with a world without electricity, and then make a genuine effort to be prepared in advance. We may only have a short time left.

Super Storms - Drought and Famine

The fact that US government departments are buying over a billion (yes, that's right, over a billion) rounds of hollow point handgun ammunition has caught some people's attention recently. So has this push for US military intervention in Syria, and the likelihood that Israel will attack Iran sometime in October, before the US presidential election. That's their logical time to do so because it would force President Obama to back Israel.

But let's accept that these events and all the associated media hoopla are a distraction from more serious matters, such as the fact, and it is a fact, that 60 per cent of the US is in drought conditions - while at the same time, there has been amassive increase in super-storms.

The combined effect of these natural events will be severe crop damage, massive food shortages, associated price hikes, including gasoline, and potentially, famine on an unprecedented scale.

Think about that. Be prepared.

And in case you're tempted to dismiss this as 'scaremongering,' take a look back at what super-storms have done in just the past two years [Article here] and ask yourself whether you'd be prepared when/if disaster were to strike your area.

FEMA's Family Prep Plan

FEMA's Family Prep Plan

Say what you like about FEMA, they do have some very helpful information available. In this case, it's a downloadable and printable form you can fill in as a Family Preparedness Plan. Good to have for any emergency. Everyone needs to be prepared for the unexpected. Your friends and family may not be together when disaster strikes. How will you find each other? Will you know if your children or parents are safe? You may have to evacuate or be confined to your home. What will you do if water, gas, electricity or phone services are unavailable?

Get The Family Prep Form Here.

September is National Preparedness Month!

HOW TO PREPARE FOR AN ECONOMIC COLLAPSE, PART 6

HOW TO PREPARE FOR AN ECONOMIC COLLAPSE, PART 6

Should I Rent Or Buy?

This really depends on your situation.

Renting gives you a lot more flexibility. You can easily move for a new job, a new opportunity, or a sudden relocation without all the trouble of selling a house.  And you get to avoid a lot of the expenses and hassles that come with being a homeowner.

If you buy, you get to "lock in" your housing expenses for many years.  In a highly inflationary environment, this could be very beneficial.  And interest rates are very low right now.

In addition, it's going to be really hard to rent a really good "prepper" property.  If you are looking for a property that is away from the big cities where you can grow your own food and become more independent of the system, then in most cases you are going to have to BUY such a property.

If you DO buy, it's going to be much harder to move if something does happen and you need to go somewhere else.

Best advice? Pray about it. Do not move unless you are in agreement and/or have sought wise counsel. Go with that which brings about the peace that passes all understanding.

The Wisdom of Food Storage

America is the land of plenty... could we ever really need to use Food Storage here?

Research has shown the average American household has less than a week’s supply of food on hand. This is also the case with the average American supermarket.

THREE DAYS in most cases!

Without being paranoid or panicked, there are many valid reasons to store extra food. We are all somewhat vulnerable to events beyond our control. But most situations are probably closer to home: loss of power, unexpected or unplanned interruptions of life such as unemployment, loss of income due to illness, injury, death, or high medical bills due to an accident.

Think of Food Storage as a form of insurance protecting your family from the unexpected. Like Auto Insurance or a spare tire in your trunk, you hope to never need it but, boy, are you ever glad you had it when you need it!

Food Storage becomes a wise investment in future stability and an even wiser investment if you practice storing what you use and using what you store. Making Food Storage a life-style rather than a make-do will help you maintain your investment. Food Storage that matches your family’s lifestyle is food more likely to be used. Using and rotating your Food Storage on a regular basis maintains the original investment and prevents it from being wasted.

The Basics

It is recommended to always start your food storage program by storing the basics; grains, legumes, dehydrated milk, sugar, salt, oil and heirloom seeds. Do not underestimate the power these foods have, as they have been shown throughout history to sustain life. It is important to know how to prepare and use these basics, especially ways that your family will enjoy. If you are familiar with the food you've stored, you will be better prepared to use it during times of emergency.

If you don't trust yourself to do anything more than add hot water, I recommend GoFoods. We eat it and it is DELICIOUS! A friend involved in the nutrition business became involved with GoFoods after vetting it thoroughly. He said it's healthy and his family loves it, too!

Confidence and Security

Food Storage can help increase your confidence and security. It is important to do your best to prepare your family to be able to eat no matter what happens to the national economy or your job in particular. This confidence in times of crisis can be a most precious commodity. An adequate food supply for your family is a major part of economic security, and possibly the key to survival.

Self-Reliance and Interdependence

Food Storage helps you become self-reliant as in the case of the first three days of an emergency or providing for your family when you lose your employment. It also helps you to be interdependent with others as you share, or barter, during a crisis. Communities weather storms best when they share and work together. With Food Storage you are better prepared to endure times of adversity without becoming dependent upon the government. Your family’s way of life may be preserved with proper preparation. Self-reliance is often contingent upon a willingness to work. Work can become a source of happiness, and self-esteem, as well as prosperity. Storing, using and knowing how to produce and prepare food and other items that are essential for life create security and stability for you and your family. If a disaster occurs, and you were forced to temporarily change your normal life style, you could do so with minimum discomfort.

Relief Organizations

Some people are apathetic about preparedness, often because they aren’t sure what to do or where to begin. They may become overwhelmed at the prospect of a crisis and the responsibility of self-reliance and become discouraged before they begin.

Others are frustrated by contradictory advice, not sure whose ideas to follow.

Still others do nothing, figuring that if trouble comes, an emergency disaster organization will rush to their rescue. A common misconception that can be refuted is that the government will immediately come to the rescue. Federal and state organizations perform marvelous service, but when a large population is relying solely upon them, it is virtually impossible to provide for specific or individual needs of everyone.

FEMA advises, "If a disaster threatens your community, local government and disaster-relief organizations will try to help you. But you need to be prepared as well. Local officials may be overwhelmed after a major disaster, and emergency response personnel may not be able to reach you right away. What you do to prepare can make a difference."

Most local relief organizations will take approximately three days (72 hours) to get back on their feet to be able to help you. An Emergency Kit is a big step in the right direction. Doing your part by having food, water and supplies for three days will help alleviate the pressure on relief agencies as well as minimize your own discomfort.

Preparedness is everyone's job. Not just government agencies, but all sectors of society--service providers, businesses, civic and volunteer groups, industry associations and neighborhood associations, as well as every individual citizen--should plan ahead for disasters.

Being prepared for the unexpected is simply an act of Wisdom. It provides confidence knowing your family is better prepared to be safe and secure. Families who are prepared can reduce fear, inconvenience, and losses that surround a family crisis or a natural disaster.

As I often say, God, Gold, Guns, Groceries and GOOD water are the Big Five in perilous times. Where groceries are concerned, I recommend GoFoods rather than Army surplus or canned goods.

But don't take my word for it. Educate yourself. CLICK HERE and learn more!

If you'd like to “kick the tires” - try GoFoods before you buy it – CLICK HERE and order FREE SAMPLES!

HOW TO PREPARE FOR AN ECONOMIC COLLAPSE, PART 5

HOW TO PREPARE FOR AN ECONOMIC COLLAPSE, PART 5

What If I Don't Have Any Money To Prepare?

In today's economic environment, it's no surprise that many feel this way.

Though many families claim to be "just getting by," truth is, we ALWAYS find money to do what we want to do. Example: Some people will spend $300 monthly on cigarettes. Others are buying alcohol, renting videos, paying for cable, eating out every day... there are many things we can do to cut back and, where personal readiness is concerned, we would be wise to make it happen! 

There are very few families out there that do not have anything that can be cut out of the budget.

Truth is, American families are experts at blowing money on really stupid stuff.

In general, I recommend that all families do what they can to reduce their expenses while shopping wisely. You can do a great deal of prepping at Dollar Stores and Walmart's camping center. Also, Yard Sales are another place to pick up cheap supplies.

The smaller of a financial footprint you have, the better off you will be and the more resources you will have to help you get prepared.

Also, now is the time to be looking for ways that you can increase your income and developing additional income streams, money  makers that produce while you sleep.

For many Americans, starting a side business is a way to bring in some extra cash.  Yes, this will cut into your television watching time, but now is NOT the time to be lazy.

The time you spend working hard now while the sun is still shining will pay off later.

Don't be afraid to work harder than you ever have before. As one who was once crippled by a spinal disease, appreciate your ability to work hard and bend and stretch. 

Do you REALLY want to know?

11 SIGNS THAT TIME IS QUICKLY RUNNING OUT FOR THE GLOBAL FINANCIAL SYSTEM

11 SIGNS THAT TIME IS QUICKLY RUNNING OUT FOR THE GLOBAL FINANCIAL SYSTEM

Are we rapidly approaching a moment of reckoning for the global financial system? August is likely to be a relatively slow month as most of Europe is on vacation, but after that we will be moving into a "danger zone" where just about anything could happen. Historically, a financial crisis has been more likely to happen in the fall than during any other time, and this fall is shaping up to be a doozy. CLICK HERE FOR ARTICLE

HOW DO I PREPARE FOR ECONOMIC COLLAPSE? PART 4

HOW DO I PREPARE FOR ECONOMIC COLLAPSE? PART 4

Should I Get Out Of Debt?

Many who write about the coming economic collapse say that you shouldn't even bother to pay off your debts because the financial system is going to collapse anyway.

I don't see it that way.

I don't believe our banks are going to totally collapse and suddenly go out of existence.

Not in the short-term anyway.

So, I believe that it is actually a good idea to get out of debt.  When financial troubles hit ,you don't want a horde of bill collectors coming after you among everything else you might be dealing with.

A lot of freedom that comes with getting out of debt, and in this environment, it's wise to become as independent of the system as possible.

"As it was in the Days of Noah..."

"As it was in the Days of Noah..."

When we talk about SURVIVAL and PREPARATION, we are NOT talking about the end of the world.

Well, not necessarily. 

But we MIGHT be referring to the end of life as we know it. Even if only for a li'l while.

Being prepared includes surviving a layoff, a death, severe weather, a global pandemic, a broken water main or a terrorist attack. 

It's just common sense.

You do NOT want to find yourself at the mercy of the Government, do you? If you're counting on your Church, what if they're blown down, burned up or washed away and THEY are counting on YOU for help?

Though most folks do NOT want to think about it, it's wise to consider YOUR OWN personal disaster readiness. Hebrews 11:7 describes true faith this way: ‘By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear and prepared an ark to the saving of his house.’

Here we see God telling Noah the planet was about to be destroyed by a Great Flood; He warned him. Gave Noah a head's up. Then, He gave Noah instructions on how to be prepared so he and his family could survive. 

Noah didn’t know when the flood would come, only that it was prophesied, and he got busy.  When the Flood arrived, he was already prepared. His faith in and obedience to God’s Word, his survival instincts, and ultimately his preparedness actions saved his family and preserved the human race.

The parallel between Noah and you and me today is worth noting. "As it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be before the coming of the Son of man," Luke 17:26-27 declares concerning the last days. Noah's actions define the modern Believer's responsibility, including the need for spiritual and physical preparedness.

So, are YOU ready? Physically? Emotionally? Financially? Spiritually? When the tests come - and they WILL - will you pass?

Got ants? NUMBER 1 ANT KILLER, A MUST READ.  *THIS SHOULD CHANGE YOUR MIND ABOUT USING ARTIFICIAL SWEETENERS . . . IF YOU USE THEM. We live in the woods and carpenter ants are a huge problem. We have spent thousands of dollars with Orkin and on ant poisons trying to keep them under control but nothing has helped. So when I read somewhere that aspartame *(NutraSweet)* was actually developed as an ant poison and changed to being considered non-poisonous after it was realized that a lot more money could be made on it as a sweetener than as an ant poison, I decided to give it a try. I opened two packets of aspartame sweetener, and dumped one in a corner of each of our bathrooms. That was about 2 years ago and I Have not seen any carpenter ants for about 9 to 12 months. It works better than the most deadly poisons I have tried. Any time they show up again, I simply dump another package of NutraSweet in a corner, and they will be gone for a year or so again. Since posting this information I have had many people tell me of their success solving ant problems with this substance, when nothing else worked. I found later that small black ants would not eat the aspartame. It was determined that if you mixed it with apple juice, they would quickly take it back to the nest, and all would be dead within 24 hours, usually. I have found that sometimes it will kill them, and sometimes it does not. Not sure why, may be slightly different species of ants or something. Fire Ants: We got our first fire ant hill about 2 weeks ago. Poison did not work. We tried aspartame and the ants ignored it until we got a light rain. It was just a sprinkle, enough to moisten the NutraSweet and ground, but not enough to wash it away. They went crazy, hundreds of them grabbing it and taking it back into the mound. When I checked the mound 2 days later, there was no sign of the fire ants. I even dug the mound up, and still saw none of them. How does it work: *Aspartame is a neuropoison.* It most likely kills the ants by interfering with their nervous system. It could be direct, like stopping their heart, or something more subtle like killing their sense of taste so they can't figure out what is edible, or smell, so they can't follow their trails, or miss-identify their colonies' members, so they start fighting each other. Not sure what causes them to end up dying, just know that for many species of ants it will kill them quickly and effectively. As with any poison I recommend wearing gloves and washing any skin areas that come in contact with this poison, and avoid getting it in your mouth, despite anything the labeling may indicate. More information on this poison can be found at:    www.dorway.com             *The Truth About Aspartame... *Aspartame is NOT a natural substance!* * Aspartame is NOT a Diet Enhancement product!* *Aspartame is NOT safe - for ANYONE!* *Aspartame is NOT a food "additive" * *Aspartame is an UNREGULATED and UNSAFE DRUG!* *Aspartame in liquids turns to FORMALDEHYDE above freezing!* *Aspartame is even worse for DIABETICS!* *Aspartame poisoning is cumulative (it adds up!)* * Aspartame byproducts get stored in your FAT!* *Aspartame has 92 "Official" Side Effects (the worst is death!)* * Aspartame MIMICS a wide range of problems* *Aspartame side effects are USUALLY MISDIAGNOSED!* *People with MS are warned to stay away from Aspartame! ***Google Aspertame side effects and see what comes up.

This is gonna be HUGE!

Meeting of the Non-Aligned Nations

This is HUGE!

In seven days, 120 nations will be gathering in Tehran, Iran (Aug 29-30) for what is being called the Non-Aligned Movement. These includeArab, African, Asian and Latin American countries as well as Russia, Iran, Syria and China. Uninvited nations include the United States, Great Britain, Israel and Egypt. Incidentally, 18 UN observers left Syria yesterday, the remainder due to leave on Friday. 

Hmmm. Something is afoot here! Is the game board about to be kicked over?

If so, have you considered the ripple effect ramifications of the outbreak of what looks an awful lot like WWIII?  Financially, are YOU prepared? Physically, are you ready? Spiritually? How 'bout Emotionally? 

Such actions would have a domino effect on the average American's life. Gas prices impact the cost of transporting goods and much of our petroleum products originate with oils we import from there.

One 42-gallon barrel of oil creates 19.4 gallons of gasoline. The rest (over half) is used to make things like:

Solvents	Diesel fuel	Motor Oil	Bearing Grease
Ink	Floor Wax	Ballpoint Pens	Football Cleats
Upholstery	Sweaters	Boats	Insecticides
Bicycle Tires	Sports Car Bodies	Nail Polish	Fishing lures
Dresses	Tires	Golf Bags	Perfumes
Cassettes	Dishwasher parts	Tool Boxes	Shoe Polish
Motorcycle Helmet	Caulking	Petroleum Jelly	Transparent Tape
CD Player	Faucet Washers	Antiseptics	Clothesline
Curtains	Food Preservatives	Basketballs	Soap
Vitamin Capsules	Antihistamines	Purses	Shoes
Dashboards	Cortisone	Deodorant	Footballs
Putty	Dyes	Panty Hose	Refrigerant
Percolators	Life Jackets	Rubbing Alcohol	Linings
Skis	TV Cabinets	Shag Rugs	Electrician's Tape
Tool Racks	Car Battery Cases	Epoxy	Paint
Mops	Slacks	Insect Repellent	Oil Filters
Umbrellas	Yarn	Fertilizers	Hair Coloring
Roofing	Toilet Seats	Fishing Rods	Lipstick
Denture Adhesive	Linoleum	Ice Cube Trays	Synthetic Rubber
Speakers	Plastic Wood	Electric Blankets	Glycerin
Tennis Rackets	Rubber Cement	Fishing Boots	Dice
Nylon Rope	Candles	Trash Bags	House Paint
Water Pipes	Hand Lotion	Roller Skates	Surf Boards
Shampoo	Wheels	Paint Rollers	Shower Curtains
Guitar Strings	Luggage	Aspirin	Safety Glasses
Antifreeze	Football Helmets	Awnings	Eyeglasses
Clothes	Toothbrushes	Ice Chests	Footballs
Combs	CD's & DVD's	Paint Brushes	Detergents
Vaporizers	Balloons	Sun Glasses	Tents
Heart Valves	Crayons	Parachutes	Telephones
Enamel	Pillows	Dishes	Cameras
Anesthetics	Artificial Turf	Artificial limbs	Bandages
Dentures	Model Cars	Folding Doors	Hair Curlers
Cold cream	Movie film	Soft Contact lenses	Drinking Cups
Fan Belts	Car Enamel	Shaving Cream	Ammonia
Refrigerators	Golf Balls	Toothpaste	Gasoline

Americans consume petroleum products at a rate of three-and-a-half gallons of oil and more than
250 cubic feet of natural gas per day each! As shown in this PARTIAL list, petroleum is not just used for gasoline...