Sustainable Living and Emergency Preparedness Guide

SUSTAINABLE LIVING AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS GUIDE

© 2005 The Golden Rule Organization First Printing

SUSTAINABLE LIVING AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS GUIDE

Table of Contents Section 1: Overview Introduction/Description of the Guide What Are We Preparing For? Making Plans Sharing

Section 2: Emergency Prep Water Storage Food & Seed Storage Sprouting Clean Air Nose & Mouth Protection Other Barriers First Aid Kit Medical Supply List Supply Checklist Things That Would Be Good to Have Portable Kit List

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Section 3: Personal Preparations – Body & Mind Meditation/Discipline Fasting Sleep Self-Defense/Defense of Others

Section 4: Long Term Preparations - Sustainability Sustainable Housing Soil less Agriculture “Off The Grid” Energy

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Section 1 Introduction As you can imagine, writing this guide elicits a mix of emotions. It is deeply saddening that the world has come to the point where we find it necessary to compile and share this information. It is unpleasant, to say the least, to spend time thinking about and preparing for terrorist attacks, chemical warfare or cataclysmic natural disasters. We all want to feel safe in our country, our communities, and our homes. But, let’s face it. It wasn't raining when Noah built the ark. While it is difficult to think about events like these, our U.S. Federal Government through the Homeland Security office has advised that we prepare ourselves for many such “national emergencies”. Ironically, taking time to think through and prepare for the possibility of these events actually helps alleviate our fears by empowering us with both the knowledge and supplies to protect our loved ones and ourselves. Now seems like a good time for a quick paraphrase of a great, very old fable. It’s very old (lasted so long) for a very good reason: The Ant and the Grasshopper: The ant works hard all summer long in the sweltering heat, building his house and laying up supplies for the winter. The grasshopper thinks the ant is a fool and laughs and dances and plays the summer away. Come winter, the ant is warm and well fed. The grasshopper has no food or shelter so dies in the cold. Fairly blunt, but it’s true. And given that you are reading this guide right now, we suspect your instincts compel you to follow the ant’s lead. Better safe than sorry, right? We agree. Along those lines, we are pleased to share this guide with you. Our guide is divided into four main sections. Section 1 (where you are now) provides an overview of why we’ve prepared this guide, what you can expect to find inside, as well as overall planning information. Section 2 covers emergency planning in detail. This section, along with the information on the Homeland Security site www.ready.gov, offers volumes of practical information i.e. supplies lists, emergency plans, etc., to help with your preparations. This section reiterates much of the logistical information contained in the ready.gov website, with the addition of our comments on

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those topics, as well as some stand-alone contributions of ours, which are noted in green. Section 3 deals with a different type of preparedness, mental and emotional. In addition to lists, supplies, plans, etc., we cannot stress enough the effect preparation of the mind will have in a crisis. Since the tragedy of September 11th, there have been volumes written about the different emotional reactions and coping strategies people exhibit in a crisis. We now know more than ever how much the state of our minds affects not only our physical survival, but also our emotional state, and our ability to help others around us. Section 3 covers these unique, yet timeless ways to prepare your mind and body for uncertain times. We think this is a “bonus” section for sure, since these practices will pay off big in your day to day life, whether there is a national emergency or not. Good stuff all around. Section 4 discusses long term planning and preparedness. It covers sustainability and earth-friendly ways to live, which provide survival methods in the event a national emergency runs longer than the government preparedness standard of three days. (Hmmm, what are the odds of that?) In the event your three days of supplies run out, what then? How prepared are you to live “off the grid” and get by with no electricity, running water or phones? There are volumes to cover on this topic alone, and our guide only skims the surface of this subject. But we think even an introduction is helpful and consider it time well spent to think about living under those conditions. Like we said, this is just the tip of the iceberg, and you’ll probably want to spend some time researching more in depth on your own. top What are we preparing for? This is the hard part. Having to think about the variety of emergencies we face as a nation and as a planet due to the choices we, the “human family”, have made. There are some natural forces already set in motion which are irreversible. And make no mistake about it; we have irreparably damaged the earth, our environment and our atmosphere. At the risk of sounding like the voice of doom and gloom, for these threats, it’s not a matter of if, but when. As far as man-made threats like wars and terrorist activity, we can’t be as certain. But let’s face it; things don’t look good there either. Obviously, some preparations such as determining your family communications plan, collecting supplies and preparing emergency kits are the same for any type of emergency, whether natural or man-made. Regardless of the crisis, your priorities are always the same - shelter, clean air, water and food. However, as you can imagine, there are differences among potential threats which affect the choices you will make, and the actions you will take. We understand this is very hard to think about. But take 5

heart; with a little planning and common sense, you can be fairly prepared even for the unexpected. Man-Made Threats The ready.gov site discusses the differences in planning for nuclear, chemical, biological, radiation or explosion threats. Of course, much of your emergency plans will be the same, but there are a few differences which are worth reviewing. There will be critical choices to make, such as whether to stay put or evacuate, which may differ by the specific crisis. A biological or chemical threat, for example, is harder to detect and respond to than an explosion. There might also be times to seek fresh air vs. sealing off external air sources. Since the government site covers these emergency plans in detail, we won’t repeat it all here, but strongly recommend a read of the site for more specifics. Natural Disasters As far as preparing for natural disasters, the first step is finding out what the greatest threats in your area are. If you’ve lived in your area any length of time, you probably already know. But if you’re new to town, some of the risks in your community might surprise you. Flooding for example is actually considered the nation's single most common natural disaster and occurs in every U.S. state. Related to flooding and many times the cause of severe floods, are hurricanes. A hurricane is a severe tropical storm that forms at sea then rolls onto land with incredible winds and rain, wreaking havoc and destruction on cities and towns in its path. Fortunately, thanks to advancements in science, hurricanes are rarely a complete surprise anymore. Scientists can now predict their movement with reasonable accuracy - enough to at least give people living in coastal communities time to evacuate. But when the evacuation order comes, do you really want to be in line at home depot with everyone else in town getting duct tape for your windows? Always better to plan ahead and beat the crowd to the highway. Earthquakes are another of Mother Nature’s dramatic performances. Most people think of earthquakes as a predominately West Coast threat, but it might surprise you to learn that 45 states and territories in the United States are actually considered at moderate to high risk for quakes. Is your state among them? And like earthquakes, tornados are another type of sudden, violent event. While there are specific states at highest risk considered part of “Tornado Alley,” tornados can occur anywhere. The list of threats goes on and preparations and responses vary among potential disasters. Regarding natural disasters, the best defense is awareness and preparation. In addition to asking local authorities and community service centers for the most likely disasters in your area, we recommend the 6

following link to information provided by FEMA, (Federal Emergency Management Agency) for information on earthquakes, extreme heat, fires, floods, hurricanes, landslide and debris flow (mudslide), thunderstorms, tornados, tsunamis, volcanoes, wildfires and winter storms, extreme cold, etc. http://www.fema.gov/hazards. top Making Plans An important first step in preparedness in putting together and communicating a comprehensive family plan. It is critical that all members of your family understand exactly how to communicate with each other, and where to meet in the event of an emergency. There are many factors which contribute to your plans. You need to consider the variety of different threats we face, as well as the fact that your family may not all be in the same location when a crisis occurs. In general, the following are key factors to consider in developing your plans. 1) Deciding Whether to Evacuate or "Shelter in Place" The nature of the attack affects this critical decision, and of course, you should be prepared for either. You will have to use whatever information is available, as well as your common sense and intuition to make this critical decision. Be sure to check any radio and TV stations if available to get an idea of what is happening “out there” and whether or not there are specific instructions from officials to stay put or evacuate. On the off chance you unable to even communicate with loved ones who are away from home at the time of an emergency, be sure everyone in your family is familiar with the factors to consider regarding evacuation vs. staying put. (Note: See Other Barriers in Section 2 for more specifics on “sheltering in place”.) 2) Arranging Meeting Places For an evacuation, have a pre-arranged meeting place in case you are in different locations when trouble breaks out. Be sure you have several destinations selected (both inside and outside of your immediate area), since it is possible there will be barriers or roadblocks to one or more of them. Again, communication is critical in the event you can’t reach each other by phone. Make sure your family thoroughly reviews these plans in advance. 3) Selecting a Contact Person

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Select an out-of-town contact and be sure you contact this person as to your whereabouts if you are evacuating. This contact could be critical in case long distance calls are easier to get out than local calls and you need to confirm the safety of other family members. Be sure everyone in your family keeps this contact information on them at all times and has a cell phone and pre-paid phone card in case it is needed to place the call. 4) Knowing Plans of Schools, Daycares, Work Places, etc. Check into the emergency plans at these places. Be sure you have a way to communicate with your loved ones at all times, especially your children. Make sure you understand what the school’s or daycare’s policies are, and how you will be able to reach your children in an emergency. What are their emergency communication plans? Do they store extra food or supplies? Are they prepared to “shelter-in-place”? Do they have vehicles for an evacuation? Having these questions answered is important, but at the same time, don’t rely on these institutions and their staff to protect your family. Take responsibility to make sure your children understand what they should do if they are at school, or anywhere away from home. Be very specific regarding whom they should call, where they should go (if anywhere) or whether they are to wait for you there. Preparing your children can be done without frightening them. Just imagine how much LESS frightened they’ll be in an emergency if they have talked extensively about these scenarios with you in advance. 5) Planning if You’re in a Car If you are in a moving vehicle when trouble breaks out, be sure you can stay in control of the vehicle, and if not, stop and pull over. Listen to the radio for instructions on routes, crisis details, evacuation orders, etc. Also, stay away from power lines, as well as questionably stable bridges, overpasses, etc. You’ll need to decide which action is safest, to continue driving, or get out of the car and “shelter” somehow. We also strongly recommend you keep your gas tanks nearly full and a portable supply kit in your car at all times, so you will always be ready. To consider the importance of something like this, imagine being on your way home for work, turning on the radio, and an emergency breaks out. You’ve got a plan to head for the hills. It’s a 200-mile drive, but you’ve only got a quarter tank of gas. The lines at the gas stations are backed up into the street. And, by the time you get to the front of that line, there’s no more gas. Wouldn’t you rather be the one skipping town while all the other cars are trying to get gas? Again, every minute counts. 6) Planning if You’re in a High Rise Building If you work in a high rise, be sure you have familiarized yourself with multiple exit options. Even if you are only in one periodically, it is still wise to take a minute to learn exit routes. Depending on the nature of the 8

threat, you will need to decide whether to stay put or evacuate. Be sure you stay away from glass that could break, and objects that could fall on top of you, like bookshelves, file cabinets, etc. And always stay away from elevators since the electricity that powers them is likely to go, and you could easily find yourself trapped inside. There are more considerations in developing your family plan like handling pets, accommodating illness, religious preferences, etc., which vary with individual families. We can’t begin to address them all here (or we will never finish this resource, which is long enough in the making already ☺). Our hope is simply to provide an overview of the factors for discussion within your family, and get you on your way to achieving the sense of security in these insecure times which only good planning can provide. top Sharing We decided many years ago that we wanted to be able to help our rural neighbors, in the eventuality of them losing their homes, farms or businesses from natural disasters like tornadoes, ice storms, drought, etc., or man-made problems like energy blackouts, etc., or whatever reason. We wanted to be able to have emergency supplies on hand for ourselves, as well as other good people who deserve help. That became impossible at the time, but it’s still something we’re hoping for and working on. Of course, that doesn’t apply to scum like looters, and those who were aware they should have some things saved for hard times, but chose to ignore it over spending money on “good times”. We recommend that you decide ahead of time if you want to share your supplies with good friends, family or neighbors, or deliberately insufficiently prepared people (like those who laughed and made fun of Noah when he was building his ark), looters, raiders, thugs, etc., or if you want to hide and defend your family’s supplies – which may be the only things that will keep them alive. Don’t wait to make such a decision until you are panicking. Living in isolated, wide-open areas, lessens the amount of extra supplies and food for neighbors. In addition to sharing with your neighbors, make time to plan together in your community for potential threats. Working together with your neighbors in advance of an emergency can have great advantages when crisis hits. For example, find out what specialized equipment your neighbors might have that could benefit everyone. Also, it is a good idea to consider elderly or disabled friends nearby. Who will be able to look in on them or help them evacuate? Consider if your kids or your neighbor’s aren’t home at the time of a breakout. For example, if they were on their way home from school, it might be easier for them to get to a neighbor’s house until you can come for them. Talking with neighbors and planning together as a group is a positive, productive idea

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that will benefit everyone in the long run and encourage good will in your daily lives now. top

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Section 2: Emergency Preparedness This section is all about details. The logistics, supply lists and suggestions here are very specific. Beginning with the header, “Water Storage”, this section is primarily a compilation of government advice from www.ready.gov (in black) with our comments and additional advice in green (unless otherwise noted). The info from the ready.gov site is actually very good news in several ways. For one, it’s advice that includes the recommendations of minimums regarding emergency and food ideas. The "at least" minimums appear to contradict rumors of previous laws that make it illegal to store things for more than a certain number of days (calling it "hording"). We’ve heard (not from a totally reliable source) that during the Carter administration, an antihording law (what allegedly amounted to an anti-emergency preparations law) was passed, limiting the legal amount of food to have on hand for emergencies, to either 3 or 5 days (can’t remember the exact number). This law was supposedly passed along with the presidential emergency powers. You will need to do a lot of your own research work here, to determine the truth. We don’t have the links, but if you search Google or such, you might be able to find them easily. One thing this alleged presidential emergency powers act did (which allegedly is similar to what going from code orange to code red would do – but it’s hard to get specifics), was not only give the government through FEMA or whatever, the right to take anything you have and “redistribute”, but even “redistribute” people, even family. It’s not reading for the weak of heart. The government recommendation for quantities of on-hand supplies is generally based on having at least a 3-day supply of items. We stress the at least part, and feel strongly that it is wise to prepare for far longer than that. While there are plenty of items that would be “nice” to have on hand, your top priorities are always shelter, clean, breathable air, fresh water and food. Water Storage One gallon of water per person per day, for drinking and sanitation. We believe that a person needs more than that just for drinking per day, let alone for sanitation, and growing food or sprouting. So we believe it’s wiser to store more, or have a source of purifyable or pure water that is not reliant on anything other than independent resources. For instance, your own wells. While sanitation can also be supplemented by Betadine, a special iodine that also kills HIV (if it has nonoxynol 9 in it – some don’t), Betadine cannot be used for water purification; it may kill you if you ingest it. There are special types of iodine tablets (that can even be kept in your car) for purifying water and helping prevent radiation from getting to

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your thyroid glands – I believe that it’s called potassium iodide. We use a brand called IOSAT. It is available from www.nukepills.com, and other places if you search Google or Yahoo!. Some of our sources have indicated that there will literally be “water wars” in the future. Everything on this list is serious, but think about how vital water is to your life, and think about what you can do to cleanly store it. If you are storing water in jugs (see below), make sure you rotate it out every 30 days or so. Reason being, it can get mold or other contamination from sitting there for long times. Children, nursing mothers, and sick people may need more water. If you live in a warm weather climate more water may be necessary. Store water tightly in clean plastic containers such as soft drink bottles. We use the clear 5-gallon polycarbonate jugs that are typical “Water delivery company” bottles, rather than the “cloudy” type of plastic often found in stores. Keep at least a three-day supply of water per person. Yeah, just in case there is only a 3-day disruption, rather than a week, month or years. top Food & Seed Storage Make sure you have proper nutrition. Store at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food. Again, note the “at least” part. Select foods that require no refrigeration, preparation or cooking and little or no water. Pack a manual can opener and eating utensils. Choose foods your family will eat. Nice to think about, but we think they will get over being “picky” pretty fast. Ready-to-eat canned meats, fruits and vegetables Protein or fruit bars Dry cereal or granola Peanut butter Dried fruit Nuts Crackers Canned juices Non-perishable pasteurized milk. If you avoid dairy in your diet, you could try stocking up on non-perishable boxed milks such as soy, rice, almond or oat. Although this can get a little pricey and bulky, these are readily available at any grocery store and are a good alternative to inorganic powdered milk or other foods that may contain “mad cow”. High energy foods Vitamins 12

Food for infants. This doesn’t mean you should have stockpiles of jars of pre-fab baby food. Many household foods can provide infants over 3-4 months old healthful and easily digestible meals (especially since infants less than a year old still derive much of their nutrition from breast milk or formula anyway.) Simply by mashing with a fork and properly straining for the age of the baby, most canned fruits, veggies and cooked grains will provide all the solid foods an infant needs. There is no question that breast milk is nutritionally ideal for infants. But in this scenario, breast-feeding is even more optimal. In addition to knowing your baby is receiving a perfect nutritional balance, offering the breast at mealtime is quicker and easier. There is no mixing with water, finding the right temperature or washing/sterilizing of bottles to worry about. And most important, nursing offers the priceless bonus of much needed comfort to both mother and baby during trying times. Comfort/stress foods Supplements - We use Oregacyn, garlic, Sambucol, Mivita mineral creams and liquids and high quality multi-vitamins like Essentially All “A to Z” from Alacer. We also use some products from the company “Pure”. With all supplements, we also make sure we use veggie caps, (not gelatin that are animal derived capsules) or no capsules at all. Selecting and Storing Seeds (Although in black, this entire section from us, not the ready.gov site.)

There are basically two kinds of seeds, hybrid, and non-hybrid. Many hybrid seeds are ones you can’t grow a plant with, to make future plants or seeds from it. Non-hybrids you can. Breaking it down further, there are genetically modified and irradiated foods, seeds and seasonings (that you’ll need to research for yourself). Then, there are organic, inorganic and “heritage seeds” (from very old strains that have been hearty enough to be around for a long time, and are rapidly disappearing). Other considerations include seeds that grow well in the area you live in, as well as seeds that are able to handle more extreme climates and altitudes. Another factor is hydroponics vs. soil growing seeds. There is too much with the variety of seeds out there to explain here, so we’ll send you to some books we’ve enjoyed like “The Secret Life of Plants” and “Secrets of the Soil” for more reading. Be sure you store your seeds or food in bug and rodent proof containers away from extreme heat and cold. The cooler it is, the longer they will last. Also, consider having seeds that can handle being packed in a nitrogen environment, canned with nitrogen rather than air. But some need to be stored in air. Many “Mormons” (LDS – Church of Latter Day Saints) have their own canning and nitrogen devices, and can often tell you about good deals on bulk food. Thus far, they have been helpful to us, even though we are not part of their religion. But as hard times appear to get closer, they may 13

restrict this. If you have friends, neighbors or family who feel as you, you may be able to share costs of canning machines, buying bulk, nitrogen etc. But remember to stay within the legal limits of what you are allowed to have. One last piece of advice on this is that even large Tupperware® tubs can be invaded by rats. Yep, it’s true. Those creatures can, and have, and will gnaw right through thick, plastic tubs. So, canning and glass jars are a better alternative. Other alternatives for food you need to access regularly are five gallon plastic buckets that are available through many suppliers. top Sprouting (Although in black, this entire section from us, not the ready.gov site.)

Sprouting is a very interesting natural process. For the amount you can store, you can make much more food, and live food that still has much nutrition and enzymes. If you don’t want to eat sprouts, or you want to eat some but not all, you can grow the plants to make more, or other types of food. For instance, you can plant peas and grow them, or sprout them. Almost all seeds can be sprouted. And many are delicious – like sunflower seeds, almonds, radish seeds, etc. If you don’t do it properly (or store properly), sprouts (and seeds/nuts) can be contaminated with bacteria or mold, so make sure you know what you’re doing. Sprouting seeds does require water, but still provides much more living, raw food than eating cooked grains. It’s like “baby produce” and if you think of it that way, it is easier to enjoy it, since much of what we eat, and pay more for at the grocery store because they are “baby” or “young” vegetables, more tasty and tender, etc. So, one can “multiply” one can of dried seeds or beans, into a bountiful mini-farm of live, nutritious, enzyme-rich “baby produce” that can last far longer than many cans of food. Sprouting information and free sprout making device plans are plentiful on the internet, and some health food stores. For example, check out http://www.sproutpeople.com http://www.sprouting.com, and also http://chetday.com/sprouts.html Very small scale “supplemental” sprouting accessories are also usually available at health food stores. While most people are familiar with alfalfa sprouts and mung beans, you can make great salads from most anything that has a seed, beans, lentils, etc. If there is ever anything that causes the Sun to be blocked out for a period of time because of dust in the air (like Volcanic eruptions or nuke war), plants 14

will die and you won’t be able to grow anything. Some mushrooms and sprouts can be grown in the dark. And when things “clear up”, you’ll need seeds to start the life cycle of food and crops again. While “easy” or auto-sprouting kits and supplies are nice to use, the wonderful thing about sprouting is that almost any container will do in a pinch. All that is really needed to sprout is seeds, a container, water and a place to drain. We’ve often used just a Pyrex® bowl for lentils and mung beans with great success. Of course, certain seeds are heartier and easier than others. Mungs, lentils and almonds for example are among the easiest to sprout. They also make great “stir-fried” oriental meals (although you lose some of the nutritional value by cooking them. We believe that enzymes are destroyed at about 110 degrees F). Here’s a brief primer on sprouting properly: Read “How to sprout” books or info. Measure seeds and remove sticks, broken seeds, etc. Rinse seeds in clean water. Soak seeds for appropriate time (usually 8-24 hours depending on seed type – see recommended websites for additional information) Rinse seeds thoroughly using a colander if available or just by filling the bowl/container with water, swishing your hand around gently so every thing moves freely and drain by pouring the water through your hand at the side of the bowl. Be sure you drain all the water out so the seeds are not sitting in a puddle. Repeat rinsing thoroughly every 8-12 hours until ready. Allow sprouts to dry thoroughly before putting into a refrigerator or cooler. As we mentioned, you can sprout in something as simple as a glass dish, but there are 2 recommended traditional methods: jars and cloth. For jars, we recommend wide mouth canning jars that can be found at Wal-Mart®, hardware and other stores (or the web). You will also need mesh screens to allow water to drain through while keeping your seeds intact. Jar sprouting is simple. Put seeds in the jar, add water for soaking, and put the lid on. After the soak and during draining every 8 hours or so, simply invert the jar allowing all the water to drain out. After draining, prop the jar up at a 45-degree angle (to keep leftover water draining) and leave on a counter until the next rinsing. For cloth sprouting first soak the seeds in a flat-bottom container. When the soak is complete, rinse thoroughly using a strainer. Next, line the flat-bottom container with a wet 100% cotton cloth. We recommend unbleached, natural organic cotton cloth available at 15

health food stores. Spread the seeds over the cloth evenly and cover with a second wet cloth. In place of underwater rinsing, simply sprinkle water over the cloth to wet seeds. If very dry, you can remove the seeds and thoroughly re-wet the cloths. As you can see, sprouting is an easy, low-tech way to make volumes of nutrition-packed living, fresh food during times when a trip to the local grocery store simply might not be an option. Whether for emergency preparedness or just vital living, we suggest you give sprouting a try. As with anything, it is best to be knowledgeable before a crisis strikes anyway. top Clean Air Many potential terrorist attacks could send tiny microscopic "junk" into the air. For example, an explosion may release very fine debris that can cause lung damage. A biological attack may release germs that can kill or make you very ill, especially if inhaled or absorbed through open cuts. Many of these agents can only hurt you if they get into your body, so think about creating a barrier between yourself and any contamination. We use industrial strength ozone machines, that kill molds and germs on contact (model pro-3600-5 by crystal air Canada, Inc.). I wouldn’t breathe the air from it though, because it is so strong. Some units have remote controls so you can turn them on and off without being in the room. We believe it can kill all viruses, but obviously check with your doctor or experts. Industrial strength ozone machines can also be used for anything that is “dirty” or possibly contaminated with germs/mold. Ozone destroys rubber though, so make sure you don’t use it around anything that has rubber parts. We’ve used it in closed closets for things we buy out, or take out in airports etc., like luggage, clothes, packages, etc. It can also be rotated or taken from uninhabited rooms, to another room, etc., to ozone sterilize entire rooms at a time. There is much disagreement about ozone’s effectiveness and safety, so check with your physician before using them. We also use Sharper Image’s Ionic Breeze (in particular, their model with germicidal protection), 24/7. It puts out negative ions, safe levels of ozone (in our opinion) to run on a constant basis, plus it runs the air through germicidal UV light tubes. Using multiple units appears to be great for helping keep colds/flu from traveling from person to person in a household. Its only downside in our opinion is also one of its strengths – it barely uses any electricity and is silent, because it draws air through it without fans. You also never need to replace filters, just pop them out and clean them periodically. They offer a satisfaction guarantee, a free mini-unit for bathrooms, and if you buy two, you get the second at half-price.

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We also use the Oreck air cleaner (www.oreck.com), because it moves such a high volume of air through it, uses negative ions, and a filter to trap tiny particles. For those who take their preparedness real seriously, a whole-house air purification for CBR (chemical, biological, radiation) system can stop the most insidious bio-terror attack when used properly, and your house is sealed with plastic sheeting or whatever, to keep other outside sources of air from getting in. Here are a couple companies who do this: www.casadavida.com, www.americansaferoom.com. top Nose and Mouth Protection Facemasks are great, or in a pinch, dense-weave cotton material that snugly covers your nose and mouth and is specifically fit for each member of the family, is another way to go. This is also great for preventing spreading airborne diseases to members of your family or others. Do whatever you can to make the best fit possible for children. Snugly covering – in other words, no air leaks, is very important. Also, check out special germ masks available at most pharmacies, although, fit is often a problem. Some companies make surgical-like masks especially for such problems. But the most effective, most difficult to use, and one that requires replacement filters (other than militarytype masks) are called “HEPA filters”. We have found them online for as little as $20 bucks each. Having extras in cars is smart too, if you have to be out shopping or working. Be prepared to improvise with what you have on hand to protect your nose, mouth, eyes and cuts in your skin. Anything that fits snugly over your nose and mouth, including any dense-weave cotton material, can help filter contaminants in an emergency. It is very important that most of the air you breathe comes through the mask or cloth, not around it. Do whatever you can to make the best fit possible for children. There are also a variety of facemasks readily available in hardware stores that are rated based on how small a particle they can filter in an industrial setting. Military gas masks and suits like those used by US and foreign troops (if they are made for bio-agents, not just tear gas) are the ultimate protection. But the filters have limited life before becoming inactive or clogged. According to a military reserve MD, NOT rubbing your eyes or touching your face is very important also. So is maintaining a strong immune system. One MD we know said that in medical school they were shown that spraying germs right in their nostrils, did not cause them to get the cold/flu germs, but getting it in your eye, either directly or via touching something with the germs and then later rubbing your eyes, did cause them to “catch” it.

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Another good daily sanitation practice is following the lead of the Japanese. Taking off your shoes indoors, taking a shower when getting home, wearing masks in public, and switching to indoor masks at home, can prevent passing on many viruses. Remembering how bad colds and other diseases can make you feel, the risks involved, the lost work time, etc., will help you take these simple precautions seriously. They can just become as natural a part of your daily routine as wearing clothes when you go out, or washing your hands after using the bathroom, is. Visualizing good health is a good practice also. Given the different types of attacks that could occur, there is not one solution for masking. For instance, simple cloth facemasks can filter some of the airborne "junk" or germs you might breathe into your body, but will probably not protect you from chemical gases. Still, something over your nose and mouth in an emergency is better than nothing. Limiting how much "junk" gets into your body may impact whether or not you get sick or develop diseases. We agree, something is better than nothing, and everyone can afford old clothes form Goodwill or the Salvation Army. It’s incredible what great buys you can find at your local thrift stores. That goes for regular times too – you can get great looking clothes, linens, etc., for pennies on the dollar. You’ll save a fortune, too, which is important right now, especially if you’re trying to put together a whole package of emergency preparedness in all areas of your life. Some people have stocked up on extra blankets, sleeping bags, sweaters, hats, gloves, boots (be sure to put some anti-fungal powder or cream in them before you use them) and coats, and spent maybe 5% of what we would have. You will also find odds and ends that may come in handy. It’s great. Most towns have one, and major cities have several, some being as large as a regular department store. You’ll find them under “thrift” in the yellow pages, or sometimes under “clothing-used”. There are of course, the well-known chains like Salvation Army, Good Will and Savers, which we’ve seen in multiple states. I have noticed that Savers runs quite a bit higher in general price-wise than Salvation Army. Take one of your days off and go “thrifting”. This is another way that you can affordably have extra items on hand for other people you encounter who are in need. top Other Barriers Heavyweight plastic garbage bags or plastic sheeting Duct tape Scissors There are circumstances when staying put and creating a barrier between yourself and potentially contaminated air outside, a process known as 18

"shelter-in-place," is a matter of survival. You can use these things to tape up windows, doors and air vents if you need to seal off a room from outside contamination. Consider precutting and labeling these materials. Anything you can do in advance will save time when it counts. Use available information to assess the situation. If you see large amounts of debris in the air, or if local authorities say the air is badly contaminated, you can use these things to tape up windows, doors and air vents if you need to seal off a room. Read more on the ready.gov preparedness site: Deciding to Stay or Go. HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air Filtration) Filter Fans Once you have sealed a room with plastic sheeting and duct tape you may have created a better barrier between you and any contaminants that may be outside. However, no seal is perfect and some leakage is likely. In addition to which, you may find yourself in a space that is already contaminated to some degree. Hardware stores like Home depot carry some stuff for blocking certain fumes and sanding, etc. Consider a portable air purifier, with a HEPA filter, to help remove contaminants from the room where you are sheltering. These highly efficient filters have small sieves that can capture very tiny particles, including some biological agents. Once trapped within a HEPA filter contaminants cannot get into your body and make you sick. While these filters are excellent at filtering dander, dust, molds, smoke, biological agents and other contaminants, they will not stop chemical gases. They also won’t work unless your electric power is working. Some people, particularly those with severe allergies and asthma, use HEPA filters in masks, portable air purifiers as well as in larger home or industrial models to continuously filter the air. Remember, portable HEPA filters are a great idea, so are ozone machines which kill many things on contact, but both require electricity. Secondly, you will need fresh air. In the 1950’s, Bio/Radiological/Chem Vent Filters were plentiful. If you know of any now, please pass on the info to us, so we can pass it on. top First Aid Kit In any emergency a family member or you yourself may be cut, burned or suffer other injuries. If you have these basic supplies you are better prepared to help your loved ones when they are hurt. Remember, many injuries are not life threatening and do not require immediate medical attention. Knowing how to treat minor injuries can make a difference in an emergency. Consider

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taking a first aid class, but simply having the following things can help you stop bleeding, prevent infection and assist in decontamination. Having a copy of “Where there is no doctor” by David Werner with your first aid kit is also a great idea. It covers basic care that can be done by people without any medical training. Also, here are some tips from an MD that everyone should be aware of: Blood loss from an injury can be far more dangerous than the injury itself. Firm steady pressure on a bleeding wound, using sterile pads, can control the bleeding enough to save a life. If the pads get soaked through, add more on top and keep pressing (don’t remove the soaked ones or you can disturb the forming clot). Infection of wounds can be reduced by using only sterile dressings, and cleaning your hands thoroughly with a sanitizer or soap and water before touching the wound. Of course, take into account how much time you have to do this. Stopping major bleeding immediately is the first priority. Shock is what happens when the circulation isn’t delivering enough nutrients and oxygen to the body. Knowing the signs of shock and what to do when you see it can be a lifesaver. A person in shock looks pale or gray, with cool, moist skin, rapid, weak pulse, and fast, shallow breathing. If a person seems to be in shock, lay them down comfortably, and stop any external bleeding. Elevate their feet slightly, and turn their head to one side in case they vomit. Cover them lightly to keep them warm. Get help as soon as possible. If someone is unconscious, think "ABC". A = airway. Check the mouth and throat for anything blocking the breathing passages. B = breathing. Is the person breathing on her own? C = circulation. Is the heart beating? If an object is blocking the breathing passages, you can use the Heimlich maneuver to pop it out. If you know CPR you can support their breathing and circulation using that. Even if you don’t know these techniques, checking airway, breathing and circulation will help you understand the situation better and give that information to emergency workers. There are often free or low cost classes put on by townships, fire departments or Red Cross, which teach CPR and resuscitation. It’s definitely a good idea to have these skills, and they’re so easy to learn. Even children can learn certain things and should be taught. This will empower them and insure that they can help someone to the best of their ability if the need arises and there’s no adult around to help in an emergency. top

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Medical Supply List Basic Supplies Two pairs of Latex, or other sterile gloves (if you are allergic to Latex). Sterile dressings to stop bleeding as well as dress wounds. Cleansing agent/soap and antibiotic towelettes to disinfect. There are also new antibacterial and antiviral sanitizing lotions in some hospitals that have replaced part of the hand scrubbing routine that surgeons do. Isopropyl alcohol and hydrogen peroxide are also useful for cleaning and sanitizing. Antibiotic ointment to prevent infection. Burn ointment to prevent infection. Aloe Vera plants are the best we’ve found for external burns externally, and many internal problems (don’t internally consume the part close to the inner skin though, unless you want to vomit.) Adhesive bandages in a variety of sizes. Eye wash solution to flush the eyes or as general decontaminant. Be sure to have an eyecup or syringe along with the solution. The eye wash solution can be used to wash wounds also. Thermometer (Read more: Biological Threat) Prescription medications you take every day such as insulin, heart medicine and asthma inhalers. You should periodically rotate medicines to account for expiration dates. Prescribed medical supplies such as glucose and blood pressure monitoring equipment and supplies. Scissors Tweezers Tube of petroleum jelly or other lubricant Numbing agents, like Eugenol, Clove, “Hurricane” (a benzocaine dental numbing gel), etc., often included in another important product – emergency temporary dental kits available at most pharmacies. Castor oil, also known as Palma Christi from ancient times. That translates to ‘Palm of Christ”. The reason for this is that it was revered for its amazing healing properties. Other than the well-known laxative effect it has, it’s been used for ages on bruises and sore muscles. It was also used in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s for ringworm and other annoying skin eruptions. You can read more about it online also, and it’s a useful and inexpensive addition to your first aid kit. Thieves Oil. This aromatic oil blend is a centuries old formulation, containing clove, rosemary, citrus and other extracts, is said to kill many organisms on contact. As the story goes, it was concocted during the great Plague of the 1500’s and used to help prevent thieves from becoming ill. It’s touted as a great sterilizer, and some say, it can help protect you from airborne organisms too. You’ll find many links online for it. 21

Betadine for preventing infection. See Water Storage section for more information, and remember, you CANNOT ingest Betadine. Also for preventing infection, there is a company that makes silver impregnated bandages that says it prevents infection, (we just saw some at Wal-Mart too) even without any other treatment. It is an old folklore, and likely to be true in our opinion that silver coins can be placed directly on a wound, and taped on to prevent infection. In the old days, some people would throw silver coins into their well to keep it pure from bacteria. For radioactive decontamination there is also a product just approved by the FDA called radiogardase. You take it orally, and it binds to certain radioactive chemicals found in “dirty bombs” and helps your body clear them out faster. You will need a prescription for this, though. Non-prescription Drugs Potassium Iodide (Read more: Nuclear Blast) To help prevent your thyroid from absorbing radioactive iodine, there are a few online companies selling “potassium iodide” tablets, some individual packets so you can keep some in a car or backpack. We also use a Cayce formula called Atomodine (one company we know of that sells this is it 919-844-9402), for that and thyroid problems. But it is much more perishable. It may be used for water purification also. Aspirin or non-aspirin pain reliever. Ibuprofen (brand named Motrin and Advil) or available in bulk by generic name also. Aspirin can help for heart attacks and strokes, because it thins the blood, but blood thinning could also make bleeding from a wound worse. Anti-diarrhea medication. It’s important to note that diarrhea is very dehydrating, so if you or someone in your party has it, you must be sure to re-hydrate by drinking pure water. Antacid (for upset stomach) Syrup of Ipecac (use to induce vomiting if advised by the Poison Control Center) Laxative Activated charcoal (use if advised by the Poison Control Center) top

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Supply Checklist Basic Supplies Flashlight and extra batteries. Check online for LED flashlights, including the ones that use no batteries (have internal kinetic energy power sources.) Battery powered radio and extra batteries. Also a crank powered radio, so it works if you run out of batteries. One that includes short wave is great too. Plastic garbage bags, ties and toilet paper for personal sanitation First aid kit. There are books made for sailors like “When there is no doctor”, and “when there is no dentist” that give more first aid advice than most other resources. A whistle to signal for help Dust mask or cotton t-shirt, to help filter the air Moist towelettes. Map of the area for evacuation or for locating shelters In addition to a traditional road map, a great idea is to get a hold of forest service maps in your area showing forest service dirt trails. Think about what you’d do if you had to drop everything and run at a moment’s notice. Where would you go? A forest service map can give you a great resource to plan for such an event, as opposed to just “winging it”. Consider this analogy. People who use firearms, like the police, need to practice all the time so that when they are in a life-and-death situation, using the firearm is like second nature to them. It’s the same in an emergency. You’ve got to be realistic and consider the level of panic that will be going on inside you, and everyone around you, in a crisis. If you’re unprepared, that will only add to your panic, and potentially cause you and others more harm. But if you know where you’re going, have maps, and have spent time walking the trails in advance, you’ll be calm and confident like the police officer who practices with his/her firearm daily or weekly. Also, it is important to have contingency plans. I.e., what if the dirt trails you are familiar with have been blockaded? Time for plan B. Here are a couple of websites that can direct you to the forest service maps you would need for your area ($8-12 apiece): http://www.omnimap.com/catalog/usfs.htm, http://rockyweb.cr.usgs.gov/forestservice/regional_listing.html Auto supplies like a backup can of gas, fix a flats, chains if you're in snow country, as well as keeping a full-size spare in the car (as opposed to the “donut” spare) are good ideas. You can get an extra full spare tire and wheel pretty cheap at your local tire shop.

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Clothing and Bedding If you live in a cold weather climate, you must think about warmth. It is possible that the power will be out and you will not have heat. Rethink your clothing and bedding supplies once a year to account for growing children and other family changes. Check for a book called the “$50 and Up Underground House Book”. It tells you how to use the earth to at least buffer severe temperatures. Have at least one complete change of warm clothing and shoes per person including: A jacket or coat Long pants A long sleeve shirt Sturdy shoes A hat and gloves A sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person. Backpack top Things That Would Be Good to Have Cell Phone Ham radio and GMRS radios for close range inter-family communication Tools A Leatherman or similar multi-tool is great. Although it may be a bit more expensive, make sure it is high quality and won’t break easily. Emergency reference material such as a first aid book or a print out of this information Mess kits, or paper cups, plates and plastic utensils Cash or traveler's checks, change Non-electric can opener, utility knife Paper towels Fire extinguisher: small canister, ABC type Tube tent Pliers Compass Matches in a waterproof container Aluminum foil Plastic storage containers Signal flare Paper, pencil Medicine dropper Shut-off wrench, to turn off household gas and water 24

Tradable items like cigarettes, chocolate, salt, batteries, old silver and gold jewelry, gum, socks, gloves, or extra canned foods could come in handy. Eye protection - To protect your eyes we recommend swimming goggles, or nice ski masks. Make sure you test them on the kids to see that they actually fit and seal. Good quality ones have closed cell foam around the contact points to seal tight. Kid Stuff - If you have kids, you should have a backup of quiet activities they can do to pass the time more constructively and remember to do encourage physical activity daily. Physical activity has an overall good affect on your mental/emotional well being also. Hardhats - If you’re in an earthquake zone, this may be really pathetic, but keeping hardhats handy wouldn’t be a bad idea Real silver and gold coins for trading - see our comments below (The following is only our opinion, and not any sort of “professional” financial advice, so please do your own research and make your own conclusions.) In our opinion, it is important to distinguish between “numismatic” coins and bullion coins. Essentially, numismatic coins are considered “collectible”, and like antiques, therefore have an additional value over and above the raw value of the metal. So, an ounce of gold bullion may go for $400, while a “numismatic” gold 1-ounce coin (like a 1904 rare St. Gaudens coin) could go for $525. While collectables are nice, in a nationwide emergency, most likely, an ounce of gold is an ounce of gold. Anyway, you’ll notice when dealing with coin dealers (you can find them in the yellow pages where you live under “Coins and Collectibles” or “Coin Dealers”). They will try to push the numismatics onto you because there is more profit in it for them, so watch out for that. Also, while it seems that gold gets most, of the press these days, we feel that silver will most likely be a far more valuable commodity to have in the coming times. Gold is currently priced right around the $400/oz., while silver is in the $6/oz. range. Some think that the current market dynamics for silver could easily take it to $50/oz, or 8 times its present value. Gold on the other hand, could possibly triple to $1200 per ounce, but looking at sheer profit potential, if you invested $10,000 in gold vs. $10,000 in silver, the silver investment would more likely grow faster and higher, giving you more bang for your buck. Again, that’s only an opinion; please use your own judgment if you’re considering investing any of your funds. Another very important factor to consider here. Suppose gold does in fact grow in value to $1000 per ounce. What are you going to do with that 1 oz. coin? Trade it in for…15 billion slices of bread? You get the picture. With silver, if it explodes to $50 per ounce, you have a lot more flexibility

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with 1-ounce coins that are worth $50, as opposed to $1000, especially if you need to barter/trade something of value. Another option is melting down the coins to smaller denominations. There are places where you can bring them 1 oz. coins and they can melt it down and turn it into 10 1/10th oz. pieces. Speaking of this, one item that may pay off big would be what’s called “silver bags”. This is basically a bag full of old quarters, dimes, halfdollars, etc, and the coins are all 90% silver. The point here is that the coins are obviously recognizable, which would give them credibility, but they are also made out of silver. Again, the smaller denominations would be real valuable in a time of crisis where you need something to barter or trade. There are many who think that all paper money (like the dollar) has nothing of real value behind it and will soon become worthless – this has happened repeatedly throughout history. In those times, people turned to metals like gold and silver, knowing that these are accepted almost everywhere as something with inherent value. For more on this topic, try http://www.gold-eagle.com, (click on “top analyst research archives” on bottom right for some great articles), and also http://www.kitco.com. Sanitation Toilet paper, towelettes Feminine supplies Personal hygiene items Plastic garbage bags, ties (for personal sanitation uses) Plastic bucket with tight lid Disinfectant Household chlorine bleach. You can use bleach as a disinfectant (diluted nine parts water to one part bleach), or in an emergency you can also use it to purify water. Use 16 drops of regular household liquid bleach per gallon of water. Do not use scented, color safe or bleaches with added cleaners. Port-a-potties or toilet seats used over those large plastic seal able buckets. Important Family Documents Keep copies of important family records such as insurance policies, personal identification and bank account records in a waterproof, portable container. Fireproof isn’t a bad idea either and include birth records among your papers.

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Special Need Items for Baby Formula Diapers Bottles Powdered milk Medications Moist towelettes Diaper rash ointment Adults Ask your doctor about storing prescription medications such as heart and high blood pressure medication, insulin and other prescription drugs. Denture needs Contact lenses and supplies Extra eye glasses For Seniors Plan how you will evacuate or signal for help. Plan emergency procedures with home health care agencies or workers. Tell others where you keep your emergency supplies. Teach others how to operate necessary equipment. Label equipment like wheelchairs, canes or walkers. Additional Supplies for Seniors List of prescription medications including dosage in your supply kits. Include any allergies. Extra eyeglasses and hearing-aid batteries. Extra wheelchair batteries or other special equipment in your supply kit. A list of the style and serial numbers of medical devices such as pacemakers in your emergency supply kits. Copies of medical insurance and Medicare cards. List of doctors and emergency contacts People with Disabilities Create a support network to help in an emergency. Tell these people where you keep your emergency supplies. Give one member of your support network a key to your house or apartment. 27

Contact your city or county government's emergency information management office. Many local offices keep lists of people with disabilities so they can be located quickly in a sudden emergency. Wear medical alert tags or bracelets to help identify your disability. If you are dependent on dialysis or other life sustaining treatment, know the location and availability of more than one facility. Show others how to operate your wheelchair. Know the size and weight of your wheelchair, in addition to whether or not it is collapsible, in case it has to be transported. Additional Supplies for People with Disabilities Insulin for diabetics, angina medications, etc. Prescription medicines, list of medications including dosage, list of any allergies. Extra eyeglasses and hearing-aid batteries. Extra wheelchair batteries, oxygen. Keep a list of the style and serial number of medical devices. Medical insurance and Medicare cards. List of doctors, relatives or friends who should be notified if you are hurt top Recommended Supplies to Include in a Portable Kit In putting together supplies, it is important to think in terms of 2 separate supply “kits”. In one, collect everything you might need to “shelter” at home, stay where you are and make it on your own. The other should be a lightweight, smaller version you can take with you if you have to get away quickly, a portable or “car kit”. Regarding the portable kit, you may want to create a supplemental one and keep in a closet near the front door to grab quickly on your way out. For example, you wouldn’t want to keep originals of important documents like birth certificates, social security cards, etc. in your car at all times (though copies are a good idea.) These would be best kept safely at home, but easy to find as you are running out the door. You wouldn’t have to bother with the rest of your supplies, though because they are already in the car. The “car kit” is also great in case you are in transit when an emergency breaks out - you are fully stocked. The “car kit” is a good idea to implement immediately if you don’t already have something like it. Especially for people who live in colder regions where getting stuck in a snowstorm isn’t all that unlikely. Who wants to be on the side of a highway with no water, food or blankets until help can reach you?

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Water, amounts for portable kits will vary. Individuals should determine what amount they are able to both store comfortably outside the home and be able to transport to other locations Food, at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food Power bars are good because they are both high-carb and high-protein, as well have as an exceptionally long shelf life Battery-powered radio and extra batteries Actually, crank-powered radios are becoming more readily available and may be a better choice. Flashlight and extra batteries. Same here, have both battery operated and shake or crank-style if you can find it. First Aid kit Whistle to signal for help Dust mask or cotton t-shirt, to help filter the air Moist towelettes for sanitation Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities Leatherman multi-tool would suffice here, again don’t go bargain hunting with these. They are useless if broken. Can opener for food (if kit contains canned food) May even be part of your multi-tool. Plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place Unique family needs, such as daily prescription medications, infant formula or diapers, and important family documents We recommend you keep only a copy of these documents in your Garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation Additional winter supplies – boots, disposable hand/feet warmers, kitty litter or sand for icy roads, emergency blankets (these can be found pre-packaged as tiny foil blankets that fit in your pocket), extra sleeping bag/blanket, gloves, hat, ski mask, etc. Of course, quantities will vary based on how many people you usually travel with at one time. Well, that’s it for the ready.gov stuff folks. It may sound ridiculous to prepare so much, but if you do, you’re out a little money (not really because it is an investment, not a waste), and prepared like an ant or squirrel. But if you don’t, what are you and your family, friends or neighbors out?? Remember the story of the grasshopper and the ant. Share the story please (not necessarily this guide, but you can give others the ready.gov link.) top

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Section 3: Personal Preparations – Body & Mind Meditation/Discipline Meditation is an ancient, time-proven way to calm the mind, experience inner peace, and enhance awareness. It also develops greater concentration, allowing deeper, more creative thinking and problem solving. Sounds good, but what does it have to do with surviving a crisis? Actually, quite a lot. Since September 11th, there has been much said about the connection between someone’s mental state during an emergency and the degree of emotional trauma and long term recovery time. An individual’s ability to think clearly, evaluate a situation and devise a survival plan rationally and calmly amidst complete chaos is critical. This ability not only provides a deeper sense of internal peace and comfort, but also directly results in a person’s physical survival as well as that of the people around him or her. Meditation directly affects your ability to control your mind and thoughts, enabling a deeper sense of internal calmness and clarity despite external influences. There are many different ways to meditate, and different methods including breathing, chanting, concentration, contemplation, sub-conscious integration, energy, transcendental, Zen meditation, etc. Meditations are from different cultures and spiritual paths, including Zen, Buddhism, yoga, etc. Some traditions/religions insist that they have a certain meditation technique that is "it", the one and only, or the greatest. In our opinion, that isn't true. Some techniques work better for some people, and not for others. Everyone is different. People find their own "best meditation technique" that works best for them. It's best to stick to a variety of techniques to start with, even ones that don't seem to work well for you. Sometimes what will eventually be the most effective meditation technique for you, will be one that doesn't seem to work that well, or is difficult for you, at first. During beginning meditation practice, you will find that your mind will wander and thoughts will "pop in" to your head. Those thoughts will try to distract you. Your mind "chattering" with thoughts is a common occurrence when learning mediation. At first, your mind is like an undisciplined child and the "monkey mind" (as we sometimes call it) will hamper your training IF you let it bother you. So what can you do about it? Don't get frustrated! That is vital. As soon as you notice a lapse in attention or concentration, simply re-focus. Immediately redirect your mind back, and continue or begin again. Be patient with your self rather than falling into the trap of blaming or getting angry with yourself, or getting frustrated - which can lead to giving up. 30

Unlike drugs, devices, or possessions of any kind, once learned, the wonderful peace and mind control meditation techniques give you, can never be taken away. Also, the ability to meditate can never be lost, never break, and never let you down. How long it takes to notice that it is really working or "doing something” varies with every individual. It can be partially effective relatively soon but it takes time and practice to reap the full benefits and become a master of meditation techniques. Once learned, however, the rewards are far more than worth the effort. top Fasting We’re including fasting among our preparedness topics because training your body for survival times is critical. Fasting reassures the body on deep, primal, cellular levels that its typical intake of food is not necessary for survival. It is one thing to read an article or book about someone who was lost in the wilderness for 2 weeks without food, and another to experience it first hand. Reading about going without food during hard times is not the same as the body, in addition to the mind, really knowing it can survive. Even in “times of plenty”, there are countless benefits to fasting. Interestingly enough, according to many health practitioners, the cause of disease and aging is simply the biochemical suffocation of cells, which is a slowdown of the natural process of cell regeneration. During fasting, the body burns up and eliminates waste and toxins, including dead and diseased cells. Elimination of these old, dead cells leads to accelerated new cell production, and an overall healthier body. This happens because during a prolonged fast, the body begins to burn and digest its own tissues (a process called autolysis) – and in all its wisdom, turns to the diseased, damaged and aged cells first! And during fasting, the cleansing capacity of the eliminative organs – liver, lungs, kidneys and the skin - is greatly speeded up since these organs aren’t preoccupied digesting food. Contrary to the classic form of fasting, which is water fasting, the safest and most beneficial method of fasting is juice fasting. By helping to normalize the body’s processes, fasting on fresh, RAW organic fruit and vegetable juices, plus vegetable broths and herb teas, leads to faster recovery from illnesses and more efficient elimination, cleansing and cell rejuvenation than water fasting alone. (Before beginning any fasting program, we recommend first consulting your health care provider.) We’ll provide some general tips and fasting guidelines here, but for a thorough understanding, we recommend reading Paavo Airola’s How to Keep Slim, Healthy and Young With Juice Fasting. When undertaking a juice fast, 31

be sure to keep in mind that your body is eliminating and needs help to efficiently remove the waste. Here are some guidelines/tips: 1) Purchase/juice only organic fruits and veggies – the last thing your body needs right now is additional pesticides 2) Consume 6-8 servings of juice, broth or herbal tea throughout the day. 3) Make juices fresh, immediately before drinking 4) Drink lots of water 5) Perform 1-2 enemas each day (morning and night are best) 6) Stay away from drugs, vitamins, smoking, drinking or coffee (Of course, if you have a serious medical condition that requires medication, by all means check with your health care provider first!) 7) Stay busy – feel free to work, don’t lie around in bed, and get lots of exercise to help elimination 8) Herbal teas – Good ones for fasting are peppermint, rose hips, and chamomile 9) Take daily baths – skin is a major elimination organ 10) Keep a positive attitude – the first 3 days are the toughest until your body switches gears into autolysis. You’ll be amazed at the change after that point – lack of hunger, renewed energy, mental clarity, etc. 11) Break the fast slowly and carefully – Start back with a slice of apple or veggie soup instead of broth. Avoid shocking your system with loads of proteins and fats. 12) Remember to check with your doctor before fasting, as it can be contraindicated for certain people, such as diabetics and others. 13) Probiotics are a good item to add to your diet in general, and are also helpful while cleansing your body during a fast. They’re friendly bacteria which reside in your bowels, and they are responsible for assisting in digestion and assimilation, and some say that they help your body deal with toxins of certain kinds. You can get them at the health food store, with different strains of organisms. 14) Garlic is an age-old folk health booster and remedy for a variety of afflictions. It has long been used to enhance cleansing and immune function. It is thought to have antimicrobial properties also, and many people take it when they’re fighting a cold or flu. It’s possible that eating garlic can help you keep certain infections at bay, not to mention vampires. When on a fast, it may facilitate the removal of toxins from your system (If you can handle garlic. We know of some people who get an upset stomach from it.) It’s important not to cook it if you want to get the full medicinal value of it. top Sleep Sleep is a necessary and important thing. It is vital for physical and emotional/mental health and healing. In fact, people can’t live without it –

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after a certain number of days of not getting sleep (sleep deprivation), a person will die. Sleep deprivation has also been used as a method of torture, “breaking” someone’s will for interrogation or other reasons. Sometimes sleep is used to “escape” from unpleasant things going on in a person’s life, or a miserable life in general. Sleep-time also brings about dreams, which can be helpful in many ways, such as giving us important information in the form of dream symbology. There are many books about what various symbols mean in dreams, but I believe it is to individualized to generalize too much about. So it’s best if you eventually learn your own personal “symbology”. A good way to accomplish that is by keeping a dream diary/log, and reviewing it once in a while. Lucid dreaming is also a great “tool” of sorts – once developed, you can be “conscious” that you’re dreaming while in the dream state, and thus use it to work out problems, contemplate things, make important decisions, etc. It can allow you to consider many factors at one time, and to go through mental simulations. For instance, you can think through all the details of making various decisions at different “forks in the road”, and see the various outcomes. More details about that, and integrating the conscious and subconscious mind can be founds in a book called “The Children of the Law of One and the Lost Teachings of Atlantis”. Sometimes sleep is a luxury we can’t afford. From time to time, life requires more of us than we would like. Thus learning to be in control of your sleep and waking state of mind, is not only very helpful, but sometimes a necessity that can make the difference between how well we function in life, and even life and death. Reducing the need for sleep, and keeping someone awake and alert, has long been vital for soldiers, or those needing to do an important task that requires being alert, such as pilots, overloaded doctors (especially military), etc. Thus, stimulants like coffee and tea have long been used, both for waking up or getting more alert in daily life (morning, afternoon, pulling a late shift, etc.). And in the last century stronger stimulant drugs were invented – initially to help keep military personnel awake and alert. Side effects were discovered that were both good and bad. They have been used for “diet pills”, and on the down side, many things like “Ice”, meth, cocaine that can be smoked or injected, can be extremely addictive and destroy lives via that, and other effects like brain damage. One particularly harmful effect is damaging the reasoning centers and the anger control areas of the brain. A criminal on Ice thus is angrier, and is less likely to respond to reason – from within or without. Safer stimulants are caffeine-based things like coffee, teas, and other herbs. We like Mate tea, which seems to have a unique type of caffeine called “maffeine”.

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Certain types of mental training can be done, that is even more important than stimulants. For instance, I’ve had someone wake me up in the middle of sleeping, both during dream states, and in other states, and start a conversation with me. It helped to train myself to become instantly alert and aware, regardless of how tired I was. I also know of people who lived in high earthquake risk areas, who did “earthquake drills” with their children, and others who did late night “fire drills” to help them instantly be rational and alert when they come out of their sleep state. That vastly improves their ability to survive, help themselves and others, and make good decisions when very tired. It also helps with the common “irritability” and “disorientation” issues that surround waking up in the morning, having to wake up in the middle of sleep, or being very tired when awake. You can also use hypnotism and “power napping” to help. You can buy selfhypnosis tapes and CDs or better yet, “vibrational sounds” CDs, that use time-proven and new scientific principles to help with insomnia, and do power napping. Taking short, yet deep sleep or meditation type naps have shown to vastly enhance the ability to be more alert with less sleep. Power naps are used by many people, from students, doctors and the military, to make the most of “breaks”, and reduce sleep needs. top Self-Defense/Defense of Others This is a very sensitive topic, and not a pleasant one for most people, hence, they just avoid thinking of it, hoping it will never happen. However, it could be vitally important for you to think about what your stance is on this issue, and be clear on it in advance of an emergency. No one wants to picture a situation where they’re being attacked, someone they love is, or they are watching a helpless victim be assaulted. And most people find the idea of harming another human being objectionable. So, what would you do? If it does happen, you wont have time to start deciding what to do. Unfortunately, there is a possibility that in the event of a chaotic disaster, there may be widespread or localized unrest and violence occurring, at least temporarily. It’s best to be prepared for that mentally, emotionally and if you choose it, physically. There could be anything from belligerent jerks to well armed and trained killers running around on the loose. Heck, that’s true right now, in our so-called peaceful times. Some people are pacifists, which is a very beautiful and peaceful philosophy, if it’s real, and not simply grandiose posturing which completely collapses if you are ever attacked. If you truly are a pacifist, then you’ll be ok if you, or others around you are being attacked and you simply “go with the flow” and let it happen. That’s one way to deal with things. Just let go and give it to God. (I promise you, that’s going to take some training.) Or you may lean the other

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way, toward taking action to stop the attacker, which can be a part of God’s plan too. It’s good to actually close your eyes and picture an attack of some kind to see how you’re cut out. You’re walking down the street and someone grabs you and starts attempting to beat you up, sexually assault you (that includes you men, too) and strangle you to death, (or someone you love). What do you do? If you feel the urge to take action to stop that attack, it’s wise to decide what extent you’ll go to in order to protect yourself, and by what means you’ll do that – within legal means, of course. The solutions range from non-toxic red pepper spray (doesn’t always work), to fighting back with your body or weapons. Windsor Hill will soon be selling a very simple hand-to-hand selfdefense video that is made for all of us regular folks – including those of us who are non-athletes and don’t have the time or desire to become athletes. You don’t have to be Bruce Lee to know a few easy to master basics that may save your life or someone else’s. And, if you feel that you should have a gun, then you should check with law enforcement and get the necessary training and permits to do that properly. Whatever you do, practice, be ready and have a plan, with the hope that you’ll never have to employ it. Hopefully you’ll be, as Ben Franklin put it, “Pleasantly surprised when you’re prepared for the worst and it doesn’t happen.” top

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Section 4: Sustainability Sustainable Housing As we mentioned before, when thinking about preparedness and planning, there is immediate emergency planning, and there’s long term planning. Homeland Security’s ready.gov site, and FEMA’s site both deal with immediate action plans for a variety of situations - step by step. While we cover much of that in this guide as well, we have expanded our scope to include more information on how to prepare yourself and your family for longer-term preparation. In general, the choice to utilize alternative building methods for sustainable, earth-friendly construction is a personal one. Often, people using these types of construction hold a deep desire to live as a “harmless” resident of planet earth, in harmony with nature. Some are motivated by the maintenance free and natural disaster-resistant aspect. Others are simply thrilled at the notion of a year-round comfortable temperature environment in their home for less than $100 per year. (In particular, Earth-Sheltered housing, barns, root cellars, and greenhouses require almost no energy to heat or cool!) Regardless of the motivation, however, in the world of alternative building and sustainable housing, there is a wide and growing variety of options. The region in which you live will affect your choices for energy efficient, environmentally friendly, practical, inexpensive housing. In some areas for example, there is plenty of straw, and if not used, it will just be burned and pollute the environment on top of it. In other areas, there is no straw. Some areas have low cost concrete available. Almost everywhere there is dirt. Suffice it to say, there are a variety of alternative habitats and methods of building, including (but not limited to), Straw Bale, Earth-Sheltered, Ferrocement, Pumice-cement, Dirt/Clay Filled Bag, Domes, etc. As you may have already realized, there is far too much information on sustainable housing for just one section of an overall preparedness manual. But, we’ll do our best to provide a brief overview and links to additional sources to get you started. Ferro-cement Ferro-cement is labor intensive, but materials can be inexpensive, and very, very, strong. It is well known that cement gains tremendous strength if it is within onefourth to a half inch of some form of metal wire, mesh, even chicken wire (one or several layers). It is far stronger (while lighter) even than standard steel rebar reinforced concrete. It is great for water tanks, walls, roofing, making free-form buildings, tables, chairs - you name it - everything INCLUDING the kitchen sink. 36

People used to call houses made with this type of construction "Chicken wire & cement houses", which is pretty accurate. The primary difference between "ferro-cement" and the old "Chicken wire" walls is the amount of chicken wire used. With the old style, only one layer of chicken wire was used and its purpose was simply to hold the cement to the side of the wall. With ferrocement, the number of layers varies based on where they are being used and what strength is needed, but it usually ranges from 2 to 5 layers of 1 inch mesh chicken wire. It works well because cement is the strongest when it is less than one-forth of an inch away from steel reinforcing, and the many layers of chicken wire IS the reinforcing. With the cement being forced to fill in all the spaces of the several layers of chicken wire, the result is a very strong cement structure. It sounds simple because it is - but it works. For More Ferro-cement info www.ferro-cement.net (Paul Sarnstrom's site - also sells his custom inexpensive light duty sprayers for cement or straw bale coating.) and www.ferro-cement.com construction, construction info, parts, etc. Earth Sheltered Earth sheltering is probably the safest and most energy efficient. It uses the Earth's under-layer temperature to moderate heat/cold, instead of insulation, so it’s naturally cooler in summer, and warmer in winter. It will never freeze if done properly. If you are on a very low budget, search and read the "$50 & Up Underground House" book. It also gives more upscale plans and ideas, and the author lives in a simple house himself, near the Canadian border, grows tomatoes till December, uses very little heat, etc. Earth sheltered homes are similar to ferro-cement, but take a different approach, using arches and hubs connected with rebar for the main structural integrity. Costs to build are comparable to a standard wood-frame home, and they don't require any specialized skills or quirky techniques to construct. Here are some features: No major maintenance for more than 100 years Little or no heating/cooling needed - never worry about power/energy outages 50 foot "free span" allows spacious Interior Thin shell construction (four inches) 90% fewer pollutants & allergens than standard housing Virtually impervious to moisture and insects Tornado-proof, hurricane-proof, earthquake-proof Estimated life span 200 to 1,000 years Creates MORE green space (nature) instead of lessening it. 37

Lower power/heating/cooling needs reduce greenhouse emissions and global warming Never been denied a building permit in any state Straw Bale Straw Bale housing was even used by pioneers in Nebraska, and is still standing today. They must be done right though, to prevent mold, cracks, etc. There are various ways to go. Here is a link to a site with 50 already done plans (many unique) you can look at and use, or pay a few hundred for full detailed plans. http://www.balewatch.com/ Dirt Bags/Ceramic If you're interested in truly "dirt cheap" sustainable environmentally friendly clay, earth bag/adobe, super adobe and ceramic house construction methods etc. http://www.calearth.org top Soil Less Agriculture Soil Less Agriculture may seem a bit outside what would normally be considered a topic to cover in a preparedness manual, but we include it here for several reasons. First, we think the concept is wonderful. It is extremely useful in climates that don’t lend themselves well to the production of certain veggies. For example, arid, desert or rocky climates aren’t ideal for certain crops, but with hydroponics, you can grow, fresh, nutrient-rich crops for yourself, anywhere, year-round. Plus, if there were a chemical, nuclear or radiation attack of some kind, how would that affect soil? Great to have some knowledge on alternative food production so you’re not left completely at the mercy of radiated soil, right? Hydroponics Hydroponics is not a new scientific breakthrough. The concept and practice have been around since the 1600s. Hydroponics (from the Greek “hydro” for water, and “ponos” for labor or work) is literally the growing of plants in a nutrient-rich water and fertilizer solution. Certain crops are particularly successful with hydroponics such as lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers. Also, herbs, foliage plants, and flowers seem to do very well in this environment. A great site for information and materials for Soil less Agriculture is http://www.cropking.com. They tout the main advantages of this type of food production as:

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Superior taste, quality, appearance, uniformity, and extended shelf life of hydroponic vegetables. No sterilization of growing media required and plant nutrition is easily and completely controlled within the nutrient tanks. No weeds, no cultivation, no soil borne diseases or insects. Allows for uniform water availability to plants. Closer plant spacing is possible and moveable plant channels allow greater production from equal areas for some crops. Less water is required and less fertilizer needed. Root zone heating, known to benefit tomatoes and cucumbers, is feasible and practical. Use of biological controls including beneficial insects and safe methods of insect control are possible in a controlled environment system. Aquaponics Aquaponics is a terrific way to break into the world of aquaculture and hydroponics; and extends the advantages of hydroponics even further. Aquaponics duplicates the natural symbiotic relationship between fish and plants. For instance, the water from a pond that contains fish waste is a great fertilizer for the plants around the pond, and the plants filter the water for the fish. Aquaponic systems mimic this natural environment and are simple to construct and easy to maintain. The end result is both a hydroponic growing bed full of nutrient-rich fresh veggies and herbs, as well as the addition of fresh fish and a healthy environment for the grower, regardless of the change of seasons outside or the climate you live in! Tilapia is a fish species that grows well in an Aquaponic system. A standard set-up includes around a 4’ x 8’ hydroponic growing bed and the ability to grow around 100lbs of fish. The 4' x 8' hydroponic growing bed is ideal for dozens of heads of lettuce and greens, as well as fresh herbs and a cutting garden. A search of the web will turn up many other sites in addition to the cropking site we mentioned. Even if you don’t launch into hydroponics in your kitchen right now, it is worth acquiring a better understanding that could prove invaluable in days to come. top “Off the Grid” Energy “Off the grid” energy refers to maintaining a source of power for things like electricity, heat, etc. without being dependent on public utility companies. Independence from utilities which could be destroyed, damaged or tightly regulated in a crisis is one motivation for turning to “off the grid” power. Remember the California blackouts? Other people are excited about the idea of using a cleaner, renewable, more earth-friendly source that improves (or at 39

least doesn’t worsen) the environment like fossil fuels like coal, petroleum and natural gas. Regardless of the motive, “off the grid” energy options are important to understand if you’re thinking about long-term sustainability. We’ll give you a brief overview of the key renewable sources here including: Solar thermal: Allowing sunlight into a house (passive) or collecting and pumping its heat into a house (active) Photovoltaics: The sun collects upon and energizes photovoltaic cells mounted on panels, whose size determines electricity collected. Wind: Wind spins a propeller, which turns a turbine, generating energy. Hydroelectric: Water carried through a pipe turns a turbine, which generates energy. Biomass: Rotting vegetable matter produces gases that can be burned as fuel, as can wood waste and vegetable oils. Wind Wind energy is currently one of the world's fastest growing energy sources. Utilizing wind to generate power is by no means a new concept having been used in Europe since around the 12th century and elsewhere in the world long before that. Wind energy is enjoying a new surge in popularity today as a clean and renewable source. Wind turbines now come in a range of sizes, large and small, and produce electricity for utilities for rural homeowners and even remote villages. Small mills can even be used to provide something as simple as electricity for boats. Wind Energy is energy harnessed from the wind. Windmills work by slowing down the speed of the wind. The wind flows over the blades causing them to turn. The blades are connected to a drive shaft that turns an electric generator to produce electricity. A generator is a machine that produces electrical energy from mechanical energy. Wind turbines need a constant, average wind speed of about 14 miles per hour before the wind turbines can generate electricity. For producing large amounts of electricity, many machines can be installed together to form a wind farm. Hydroelectric Hydroelectric power is generated by converting the energy contained in flowing water, like rivers and streams, into electricity. There are 2 categories of hydro plants, low impact which produce less than 30 Megawatts, and high impact. High Impact hydropower usage on a large scale may cause more harm to the environment than the benefit it provides because dams can change natural river flows, degrade water quality and block fish migration. But, depending on your location and access to natural springs or rivers, small-scale usage may be something to consider.

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Most machines that make electricity need some form of mechanical energy to get things started. Mechanical energy spins the generator to make the electricity. In the case of hydroelectricity, the mechanical energy comes from large volumes of falling water. For more than 100 years, the simplest way to produce the volumes of falling water needed to make electricity has been to build a dam, which disrupts the environment. For making small amounts of electricity without building a dam, the small-scale hydroelectric generator is often the best solution, but you need some for of fast-flowing streams. A small-scale hydro system usually consists of an enclosed water wheel or turbine moved by spurts of high-velocity water. The water is taken from the stream and moved down slope to the turbine through a long pipe called a penstock. Water flowing through the penstock picks up speed, and is directed at the blades of the turbine by nozzles. The turbine spins continuously, as long as there is water to drive it. The turbine is connected to an electrical generator, and the electricity is then available for running appliances or charging batteries. The spent water is then returned to the stream. This kind of system is called a "low-impact hydro", and is a fairly simple “off the grid” energy option if an appropriate water source is readily available. Solar Solar energy provided by the sun is constantly replenished and does not produce harmful pollution. Solar power is a very clean, renewable energy source generated by harnessing the sun's emissions of heat or light. Solar energy may be used passively, such as to heat and light buildings, or technology may be used to collect the sun's energy and transform it to generate electricity. There are a variety of types of technologies associated with solar power which can be divided into two basic groups. The first group is solar thermal technologies and includes methods that use the sun to generate heat like solar concentrator power systems, flat plate solar collectors, and passive solar heating. Secondly, are systems that directly convert solar radiation into electricity through the photoelectric effect by using photovoltaics (also known as PV). Group 1: Solar thermal technologies Concentrating solar power systems generate electricity with heat. Concentrating solar collectors use mirrors and lenses to concentrate and focus sunlight onto a receiver mounted at the system's focal point. The receiver absorbs and converts the sunlight into heat. This heat is then transported by means of a heated fluid (either water or molten salt) through pipes to a steam generator or engine where it is converted into electricity.

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Flat plate solar collectors are usually large flat boxes with one or more glass covers. Inside the boxes are dark colored metal plates that absorb heat. Air or liquid, such as water, flows through the tubes and is warmed by heat stored in the plates. These systems are particularly useful for providing hot water to households. Passive solar heating is basically a process of designing structures using such features as large south-facing windows and building materials that absorb the sun's thermal energy to make the most of a sunny day. These methods can greatly lower heating bills and using natural ventilation can drastically help cool a building. Group 2: Photovoltaics The second main method for capturing the sun's energy is through the use of photovoltaics. Photovoltaics (PV) utilize the sun's photons or light to create electricity. Simply put, the reaction between the photons contained in the rays from the sun and the panels create an electrical current, which can be used for generating power. Obviously, there need to be back-up systems in place for days when there is no sun. The effect a period of little or no sunlight will have on a home using solar power varies greatly depending on the physical location of a particular home, and the nature of the system in place. Homes that are not connected to grid power must either be able to rely on other energy producers, such as a fuel cell, a wind turbine, a diesel generator, or on a supply of electricity stored in batteries. Biodiesel Biodiesel doesn't release sulfur oxides into the air, and it cuts down on the particulate matter released by diesel engines. Not to mention the fact that it can decrease our dependence on oil. Think about it--farmers can produce food for local restaurants, then use waste oil from those same restaurants (used cooking oil) to power their farm machinery. In this loop, the farmer produces the liquid fuels required for operation, increases local air quality, and saves money in the process. Biodiesel is made by means of a chemical process called transesterification, which involves separating glycerin from vegetable oil. The process leaves behind two products--methyl esters (the chemical name for biodiesel) and glycerin (a byproduct). This is a crude, simplified description of the process, but here goes. Basically, the used oil is strained to remove food particles, and then heated. Meanwhile, a mixture of methanol and lye is places in a processing tank and mixed for approximately 15 minutes. Once the oil heats to 135 degrees, it's pumped into the processing tank that in turn catalyzes the chemical reaction that converts the oil into biodiesel. It really is that simple.

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At the end of the process, you have usable fuel which can be put into any diesel engine – as is – without any conversion or harm to the car. This is by no means a comprehensive overview of sustainable “off the grid” power options, but enough to whet your appetite. There are volumes of data on this topic on the internet and encourage you to learn more. We find it a fascinating topic and a good choice to consider both for personal security in rough times, as well as a lifestyle change now if your personal habits and resources allow. http://www.energyconservationinfo.org/altenergy.htm http://www.re-energy.ca top

FDA disclaimer: Please remember, this is not medical advice, the products and comments are just from our own personal observations and are not meant to diagnose, treat, or cure any medical conditions. Always consult your doctor before taking any supplement or herbs (including our products), using them, or doing anything that may affect your health.

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