• Desire Little
• Expect Less  
• Reuse it
• Recycle it
• Replace it
• Repair it
• Use it up
• Wear it out
• Make it last
• Do with out

• Rising Gas Costs
• Hurricanes
• Tornadoes
• Flooding
• Blizzard Conditions
• Power Outages
• Increasing homelessness
• Increasing Urban and Global Violence
• Food and Water Shortage
• Job Loss/Unemployment
• Economic Downturn
• Quarantines/Pandemics
• Erratic Weather - Droughts
• Earthquakes, Hurricanes and Floods
• Contamination of Food Supplies
• To Avoid Dependency on Grocery Stores
• Transportation Disruptions
  
• Terrorist Attacks - Explosions, Biological, Chemical, Nuclear
• Devalued Currency / Economic Downturn / Collapse
• Gas Rationing
• Gas Theft (Gas drained from your vehicles tank)
• Martial Law (See info movie below on US Martial Law Exercise in June 2008)

Disaster preparedness and safety should include:

• Developing a Family Plan - Your family's plan should be based on your vulnerability to the current disaster hazards in your area. You should keep a written plan and share your plan with family and close friends.
• You can print an Family Emergency Plan > H E R E  
• You can get more information on Making A Plan > H E R E 
• Creating a Disaster Kit - There are certain items you will need to have regardless of where you ride out a disaster. The disaster supply kit is a useful tool when you evacuate as well as making you as safe and secure as possible in your home.  You can get more information on recommended items to include in a Basic Emergency Supply Kit > H E R E
• Basic Medical Care - What medications will you need?  What alternatives can you use if you can't get to a pharmacy or if you run out of your medications?  What will you need in case of an injury?  You're going to  need more than just band-aids.  You can buy ready to use first aid kits for Walgreen's, Walmart or Sams Club.
• Physical Conditioning and Health Improvement - By improving your health you can probable reduce your need for medications.  Start from where you are.  If you can stand, start moving, walk, exercise, look at your diet, make the changes that you can.  What if you can't afford gas and public transportation stops, you may have to walk.  If you can't stand, move what you can.  Plan some form of exercise schedule that you are willing to stick with.  Walking more and further, taking the stairs instead of the elevator, lift small water jugs if you don't have weights etc.
• Don't stop or change the way you take your medications with out consulting your health care provider.  Focus on improving your health and developing more stamina, you will feel much better when you do.  Look at your diet.  Start making healthier food choices and drink more water. 
• Have a place to go - Make sure your car is half filled with gas all the time and fill it up before you leave.  If there is a power outage, gas pumps will not work.  Map out your route a head of time.  Remember high ways/expressways will get crowded first, be prepared to wait if you choose that as your route.  Back roads and side streets may be a better alternative. 
•  
• Securing your Home - If you have to leave your home, there are things you can do to make your home more secure and able to withstand storms and vandalism.  Security lights, a security system, know which neighbors you can trust and look out for each other.  If you have to leave your home, you may have to depend on your "TRUSTED" neighbors to check on your property.
• Store "extra" life necessity goods to use for Bartering - Someone may have items that you need.  You can offer to exchange basic necessities for items that you don't have.  You know, things like toilet tissue (ESSENTIAL! Just think how life would be without it), hand soap, deodorant, shampoo, shaving razors, tooth paste, feminine hygiene items, diapers (children and adult), etc.  These items can be purchased in bulk while availabe and affordable.  You can rotate and replace them throughout the year.  It's a great inflation hedge.  
• Pet Plan - Preparing for your pets is also important.  You can prepare a Pet Plan. > H E R E     

Other suggestions

• Hope, optimisim, gratitude, faith and prayer must be at the top of our survival planning list.  After you have done your best to plan for your future after things begin to settle down.  When you have done all that you can do, let go and let GOD do the rest.  The MOST HIGH is in control, we are not.  Never under estimate the power of prayer and your personal relationship with GOD. 
• Our CREATOR has gaven each of us our own special way to stay in touch with HIM.  It is up to us to take the first step in building our own personal connection to the MOST HIGH.  Remember, "Without GOD we can't, and without us HE won't." 
•  
• And SMILE ;o).  A joyful spirit brings peace to the mind, body and soul.  Inner peace starts from with in "YOU."  And remember, SMILING is infectious; you catch it like the flu.  When someone SMILED at me today, I started SMILING too.  I went around the corner and someone saw my "GRIN."  When he SMILED, I realized that I'd passed it on to him.  I thought about that SMILE, then realized it's worth.  A SMILE just like mine could travel round the earth.  So if you feel a SMILE begin, don't leave it undetected. 

  HEY, LET'S START AN EPIDEMIC QUICK AND GET THE WORLD INFECTED!! ;o)).

• Preparing for a PANDEMIC.  In November 2007, the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) launched its “Take the Lead” campaign, asking local leaders to help their communities prepare for pandemic flu.  This may be your first time hearing about this. 
• So what is a PANDEMIC?  A pandemic is an epidemic of infectious disease that spreads through populations across a large region; can be a continent or even worldwide.  Visit this excellent site > Get Pandemic Ready.  It will provide you with everything you need to know to get prepared.
• Family Communication - Have a plan on how to stay connected if and when a crisis occurs.  Cellphones, each member should have one even if it is only for emergency use.  Each member should have a list of everyones cell phone numbers.  Cellphones are now cheap and you can get a pay as you go plan or only pay for what you use, no monthly bills.  Learn how to send and receive text messages.  Text messaging is cheaper and you can usually get through when cellphone lines are backed up.
• Your Network - Groups, families, close friends, Churches, Synagogues, Mosques etc., whom ever will support each other during a disaster.  Know who is in your group, know what the role of each group member is and stay in touch.  Each group member should have a copy of an agreed upon plan of action.  You should have a designated check in time, every few hours/days, once a week or when ever is agreed upon, but keep in touch regularly. 
• Safe House - If possible, groups, families and close friends whom you trust, should form a safe house location for those who may have to leave their homes for short or extended periods of time.  A Church, Synagogue, Mosque or if someone owns private land away from an urban area, all are good options for a safe house or a safe location.  If you have land, you will need a trailor or camping equipment.
• Know who you can count on -  Pair people based upon their skills to the job that you need done.  Offer jobs/roles to individuals who would be willing to do the job or assignment.  Periodically review your plan of action and modify it as needed. 
•  
• Technology - Again, wireless laptop computers, cellphones, text messaging, some form of technology is important to have and to be familiar with.  This may be your only way to communicate.  For many during hurricane Katrina text messaging worked when cellphone calls did not go through.
• Personal Documents and Personal Items - What documents and items will be very difficult to replace? 
• Passports
• Birth certificates,
• Military records, 
• Retirement documents,
• Family social security numbers,
• Copies of drivers licenses,
• Divorce / child custody papers,
• A Will, your power of attorney,
• Adoption papers,
• List of insurance policies,
• Car titles and insurance information,
• Health insurance information,
• Home owners or renters insurance policy, 
• Trust (land / property) agreement documents,
• Business - All documents related your business and the running of your business.
• Banking and financial information - Have a list of your checking, savings, IRA, direct deposits, money market accounts, CD's, safety deposit box keys.  Banks may be closed to stop a run on deposits.  Have some cash on hand, because there may be a so called banking holiday pending.   
• Mortgage, property deed and tax information,
• Important (family, friends) home and cellphone numbers,
• Your favorite photos, jewelry, an inventory of your home's possessions etc.
• Keep a current list of your credit card numbers. 
• Storing information - You can store documents and information on CD's, a memory card, your palm pilot or in a designated important document folder or box.  Whatever your choice, just be able to grab it and carry it with you if you have to leave your home.  This will make life a little easier when things begin to get back to normal.  This will be one less thing to be concerned about. 
• And also remember, when people loose everything and there is nothing left to loose, they loose it. . . Gerald Celente.
• Current events form future trends.  Founder of The Trends Research Institute in 1980, Gerald Celente is a pioneer trends strategist.  Follow the most accurate and current global trends today of Gerald Celente.  

• Crime and violance is going to rise ! ! !
• Be aware of your surroundings - Know the warning signs of urban danger.  America is slowly becoming a 3rd world nation as unemployment and crime increases.  The American middle class is rapidly being eroded. 
• Beware of civil disorder / disobedience in certain areas.  
• Beware of neighborhoods with lots of small convenience stores, the food shortage will probable show there first. 
• Beware of neighborhoods with a growing number of vacant houses due to home forclosures, you may begin to see squaters and strangers.
• Beware of the growing numbers of mentally ill who can't get or afford their medicines who will be on the streets.
• Beware of areas with increased violence at gas stations and mini marts.  These are sometimes gathering places for people who have no where to go and little to do.  A combination for trouble waiting to happen.
• News - Because the news can be censored at any time to reduce civil unrest, and to have people believe that things may be calmer than they really are, stay in touch with family and friends in other areas (locally and out of town) to hear first hand what's really happening.

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