Circling the Wagons … in uncertain times and emergency situations!
By patsi @ a working pantry
Wagon clipart link … https://clipart-library.com/clipart/713877.htm
Welcome to 'Circling the Wagons' pre-class post!
Hello everyone, for those who are new and don't know, my name is patsi and I write here on A Working Pantry blog. I grew up in a home where preparedness
was normal ... we lived prepared! We grew a huge garden and
preserved enough food for the year ahead.
We milked cows and grew our own pigs.
If we couldn’t raise or grow it, except for coffee, flour and sugar, we
didn’t have it. Until I was a teenager
to get anything from the store, other than the basics, was a treat, I mean a
really BIG treat!
When I married, I carried that same preparedness into our
marriage with some variations … no milking cows and raising pigs but definitely
with the mindset to prepare for the year ahead.
That mindset served us well for many years until we moved to
where we are now … right smack in the middle of hurricane country. I had never experienced a hurricane, but that
was soon to change and as a result my whole preparedness mindset had to change
as well.
For a few years after moving to our area, the hurricanes were
mild as far as hurricanes go and while they disrupted things for a little while, it was nothing as to
what was in our future!
In the fall of 2016, our area was hit
hard by Hurricane Matthew which brought much devastation. After Hurricane Matthew,
we made it a priority to get better prepared as we felt pretty sure it wouldn’t
be our last one.
While we did learn a lot from Hurricane Matthew, Hurricane Florence and Hurricane Michael in 2018 took our education to a new level. Hurricane Florence sat on our area for 4 days and left unbelievable devastation. We thought we were prepared, and we were, but these two hurricanes in the same season took our learning even further.
I could tell you about the crazed man who went on a rant at a gas station because he didn’t have any drinkable water and couldn’t find any anywhere to purchase. I could tell you about him running up to me and demanding I tell him where he could find water.
I could tell you about the mile long line of people in their cars waiting for emergency supplies being handed out.
I could tell you about the emotional toil being unprepared took on so many.
I could tell you about the people who didn’t have food, hygiene products, water, diapers, baby formula, etc and couldn’t get them.
I could tell you about the empty store shelves of milk, meat and perishables because trucks couldn’t get into the area.
I could tell you about the people who were completely cut off from any type of access and about how food and supplies had to be air-dropped in to them.
I could tell you about the many people who simply had no idea what to do or where to even begin just meeting their basic needs.
I could tell you about the days and days people went without power.
I could tell you about people standing in line at portable food wagons to get hot meals.
I could tell you about the people who thought this kind of thing would never happen to them.
Each and every one of these things could have been less traumatic, if only there had been some level of personal preparedness in place.
I will be the first to acknowledge that while there are some things you just cannot prepare for, I will also tell you that there are many others that you can. Having said that, let me also say this, I do not believe that we are to live in fear; spreading fear is not the intention of this class. This is also NOT a dooms day, zombie apocalypse kind of preparedness class. It is a class designed to test your preparedness, identifying areas you need to improve in so that you won’t be caught off guard when uncertain times or the next disaster occurs.
Before we go any further though, let me address something that I encounter over and over. It’s the mentality that says, “I don’t need to prepare, I’m a Christian and God is going to take care of me.” I want to be as gentle as I can in my response, but this mentality needs to be addressed. I am a Christian and I prepare and here’s why. First there are all kinds of examples in Scriptures of preparedness. Some examples are Joseph in Genesis 41 and the Proverbs 31 woman, who was a first-class preparer. I challenge you to read Proverbs 31 and mark the different ways this woman prepared. If that’s not enough then look at what Proverbs 6:6-11 says about the ant and don’t forget about Noah in Genesis 5 - 9. Under God’s tutelage, he prepared a long time before his preparations were needed.
Lastly, I’d like to pose this thought … if no one prepared using the mentality that “God would take care of them” as their reasoning, then who would God use to be His hands and feet, to help others through difficult times? God’s not going to just ‘poof’ what we want or need into existence when a need arises. I do believe with all my heart that God will make a way for His people, but I also believe that He expects us to do our part. In my humble opinion, that’s where preparedness comes in, that could be our part, preparing the best we can with what we have.
If you have health insurance, homeowners’ insurance, life insurance or any other type of insurance, you are already a preparer. You’re already looking ahead to the ‘what ifs!’ Everyone understands the need for this, being as prepared as you can for any situation is just common sense, why not extend that preparedness to non-financial areas as well?
Am I qualified to teach a class on preparedness … I’m sure going try! I’m going to do my best to use what God has allowed in my life to bring honor and glory to Him by trying to help others. During the above-mentioned hurricanes, our personal preparedness saw us through and while there were hardships, it was nothing compared to what we saw others enduring. That's one of the goals of this class, to teach you what that level of preparedness looks like.
Let's look at our supply list for this class ... (optional)
Suggested supplies: a notebook or paper for taking notes and of course a pen or pencil to write those notes! Why do I say a notebook or paper, because if you keep your notes on an electronic device and if you lose power, you lose your notes at a time when you just might need them most.
The goal is that by the time this class is over you will have
a clear plan and direction for handling disasters and or uncertain things that life throws at you and that you will have it in writing!
Why have it in writing?
Because in times of crisis, disastrous events, or uncertain times, it
can be hard to focus on what needs to be done.
If you have a written plan, you have your ‘to-do’ list at hand!
To sum it up …
Everyone needs some level of preparedness
Your preparedness should not consume your every waking moment
There is a middle ground … it’s called ‘living prepared!’
I’ll meet you back here on Monday, with the first class!
patsi @ A Working Pantry
She looketh well to the ways of her household … Proverbs 31:27
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I'll be here! You can always learn something new even if you stay prepared! Thanks Patsy!
ReplyDeleteAnonymous, I completely agree!
DeletePatsi, I want to follow and learn, too. Hopefully, we will all get as prepared as possible. Thank you for doing this for all of us.
DeleteAnonymous, you are quite welcome!
DeleteHi Patsy! Count me in. Whenever you have a class I always learn something new.
ReplyDeleteColeen
Coleen, thank you!
DeleteI am an eager student! Teach on!
ReplyDeleteGigi, thank you! I have so much to share!
DeleteThank you for doing this.
ReplyDeleteDeloris, you're welcome, thank you for encouragement.
DeleteMy husband and I both grew up in Florida and the worst we ever had was tornado threats and rain. Never ever did I was expecting to go through the devistation of Helene so far inland. Last year we switched homeowners insurance companies and there was a higher deductible for hurricane damage. We both thought that was kind of amusing since once we are so far inland. Well guess what? We were happy to pay that higher deductible in light of all the damage here. I am so thankful that we were well prepared. We saw all that you are describing except the water incident.Thete were many trying to find a place to charge electric vehicles and no way to do so.
ReplyDeleteLana, in the face of much destruction, those high deductibles seem insignificant, don't they?
DeleteElectric vehicles would be useless in a power outage.
We just never know, do we, what the weather is going to throw at us! It pays to have a minimum of preparations in place.
I’m looking forward to Monday!
DeleteLana, thank you! You will have much insight to share and I look forward to gleaning from you as well.
DeleteWell written!..Nancy
ReplyDeleteNancy, thank you!
DeleteBless you Patsy and Annabel. We calling it preparing, when I grew up it was just part of housekeeping. Within three months of being married we were flooded in for weeks. It would have been dreadful if we hadn't started our married life with a very full pantry and freezer, courtesy of my mother and Wayne's aunty. I grew up in a home with a pantry packed with ingredients; it was normal to me to make or bake something rather than buy it. In the last 11 years we have extended our pantry to last us from the one month it was to a longer period of time, and in the last 10 months or so we have consciously added to it to extend it further. I think of it as taking care of my family, it's a love language to me. Looking forward to participating and learning from everyone. Cath
ReplyDeleteCath, we think so much alike in this ... yes, I think of it as taking care of my family as well and while I've never thought about it, it's my love language too. I'm looking forward to learning from your wisdom and knowledge.
DeletePatsi, I live in the state that you do, just more in the middle so I remember all those hurricanes as well. I am looking forward to this class. Shellia
ReplyDeleteShellia, they were some doozies, weren't they?
DeleteLooking forward to learning more and sharpening my skills. Thanks for doing this again, Patsy!
ReplyDeleteLori, thank you!
DeleteThis was very timely. I live in SW Florida on the Gulf of Mexico---need I say more? We are prepared, we think. Every year we add new preparedness, as the weather seems to be getting more violent. I am sure I will learn even more from your lessons and others' ideas. I might even have an idea as well to help others. We are 77 and 81, so things take us longer to do...but we are doing our best! We have lived here 40 years of our 57 year marriage.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous, I'm so glad you are joining us, your wealth of knowledge and experience will be invaluable!
DeleteLooking forward to Monday as there is always something new I can learn. Suz
ReplyDeleteSuz, I feel the same way! Glad you are joining us!
DeleteI learned that you were going to do this project on the Bluebirds site and determined then to check in. I remember you talking about all the damage from the 2028 hurricanes and how you were able to assist others because you were prepared.
ReplyDeleteI live a different lifestyle from most of your readers - single, apt. dweller in the middle of a very large city but I have always seen the benefits of preparing - whether for our Winter weather - for illness (I have RA) or for financial reasons - it just makes sense. Friends used to laugh - but not so much anymore - seeing empty shelves during pandemic lockdown certainly caused a lot of people to reconsider their planning options. I look forward to following along.
Margie, It is my goal, that no matter where one lives, that this class will be of benefit. So glad you are joining us.
DeleteWe live in a city fairly sheltered from climate emergencies but there are SO many types of emergencies beyond those to be adequately prepared for! And , especially to be prepared sufficiently to be able to help others. Looking forward to gleaning more from all of you!
ReplyDeleteGardenpat, you are spot on! I'm glad you're joining in on the class!
DeleteI love your insights and gracious ways ! I had taken your class a few years ago and it helped our family to be better prepared for life's challenges! I can't wait to see more ideas that we all can use to help our families and communities. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge 🙏 😊
ReplyDeleteGaila in the NW
Gaila, thank you for your sweet words of encouragement. I hope this class is beneficial to you as well.
DeleteThank you for generously giving your time and knowledge, Patsy. it is a gift that you are sharing, thank you. I will be here with my book and pen. Love, Bridget
ReplyDelete