I've been silently pondering a possible situation or scenario lately. Actually, I have been pondering this for about 6 months. I really don't want to be an alarmist and actually have this really weird ability to be calm in the face of a dire situation ~ ask Katie! (long story!)
But, nevertheless, I think many people would absolutely be panic stricken if this came to pass. What if we woke up tomorrow and our money wasn't worth the paper it was printed on? What would everyone do? Could your family survive more than a couple of days on the food in your house? What if the stores were wiped out and you couldn't buy more food? I've read on preparedness sites that the stores would run out of food in about 7 days. Actually, I think 7 days is generous. If everyone in my neighborhood hit Kroger and Piggly Wiggly, the shelves would be bare!
This scenario happens somewhere in the world every single year ~ usually more than once a year. Tornadoes, floods, hurricanes, tsunamis, ice or snow storms ~ the stores are cleaned out. Here in the South you mention the word Snow and more people are buying bread, milk and other stuff that never set foot in the grocery any other time.
I was talking to my Mom today and she was telling me about folks she saw on the news that were walking to the grocery store because they ran out of food. It snowed there on Sunday night and this is only Wed. They made it 2 1/2 days. What is unusual about this storm is that its still on the ground and causing terrible problems. The temps are getting in the teens at night and only 32 degrees during the day, so nothing is melting.
So, maybe everyone should turn their minds to planning "a little at a time" for the future ~ just in case. We could make it for a while ~ the variety may dwindle but we wouldn't starve. Even buying a couple of extra cans of vegies every week, or a box of powdered milk, or bags of rice would go a long way toward feeding your family.
Other suggestions...
You need to have some cash on hand ~ what if the teller machines don't work?
Can you cook with no power ~ fireplace or gas/charcoal grill?
Do you have some easy food to prepare ~ thats not totally junk food?
Do you have a way to stay warm with no power?
Can your family entertain itself with no Wii, Nintendo, TV, etc?
If you can't go to the grocery store this week ~ can your family eat till the end of next week?
Plant a garden!
Can or freeze your extra produce!
Buy a couple of extra cans or packages of food your family likes and put aside for emergencies. (buying a little at a time is more budget friendly)
How about having batteries of different sizes in a central location for flashlights!
Got any candles you can use?
Proverbs 31: 14
She is like the merchant ships and brings her food from afar.
Proverbs 31: 16
She considers a field and buys it; from her profits she plants a vineyard.
Proverbs 31: 27
She watches over the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Oh my. I don't like to think on this stuff, but you are preaching it now, sister. And you are right.
ReplyDeleteNow I'll ponder all night and we'll prepare together. Still doing that garden, right?
Good thoughts, thanks my friend.
Yes, we are doing the garden. I bought 2 big barrels today at the co-op ~ Greg is making us strawberry planters out of them (found it in a magazine) and we are ordering little plants. also getting some more fruit trees and blueberries and stuff. We are going to buy a small tiller.
ReplyDeleteIt has been a rough week here. The only food that gotten low is meat. We could live without that if we had to. I can make bread and even have old fashioned powdered milk. I think we just got a little stir crazy because we could not get out but we still had plenty to do - crafting, sewing, cooking. We can up the preparations a bit but having a snow jam has been a good lesson.
ReplyDeleteI am so behind on your posts. It has been busy busy around here. So here I am getting caught up.
ReplyDeleteWe, like you, have pondered on this topic quite a bit. As far is food is concerned, we are good for a little while but I haven't thought about needing to keep some cash on hand instead of in the bank. Even though, I feel like our currency will be worthless, I still think this is something we might need to do.
Trixi, Greg decided after H. Katrina that he needed to have some cash on hand. Even though we haven't had another hurricane, it has come in handy several times.
ReplyDeleteAhhh, as I'm working my way back, this post must be what is behind your work in the pantry! I think you are right on track, Donna. It is really smart to think and plan ahead for trouble. Most people just think somehow that trouble will pass them by, and some people do seem to lead a charmed life. But I'm not one of those and we've always thought it prudent to be prepared.
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