Why Be Prepared?

I have been reading an excellent book called "Emergency Food Storage and Survival Skills" by Peggy Layton. When I first got it, I thought it was all about what to do when you have no power or gas. It does talk about those things, but that isn't the focus. The "Emergencies" she talks about can be for a brief or extended period of time, they can be caused by recession, natural and man-made disasters, accident, illness, death, etc. She brings up the point...

Why Be Prepared?
"As a consultant on home storage, I encounter many parents who are motivated to store food and other necessities for emergencies by the thought of hearing their children crying from fear, darkness, cold, and hunger. Parents have the enormous responsibility of providing for and taking care of their children's needs. Those who store food find that having adequate food and emergency supplies on hand brings them peace of mind and enables them to rest easy, knowing their children will be taken care of even if disaster were to strike...Being prepared will give us many advantages, including the following:

• Self-Sufficiency. In times of recession, large companies often announce job layoffs, which may leave thousands of people without paychecks (as a side note, she wrote this book in 2002, long before our current recession issues). If you were to be among those laid off-but you have a reserve of food, cash, clothing, and fuel-you would be able to get through the lean times and not have to ask for help.
• Ability to Help Others. If you are prepared, then rather than being dependent on others to help you, you can be the one to help others who are in need.
• Peace of Mind. If you are prepared, then you will not fear."

We have been told to not go to extremes in our preparation...that we should just do what we can, step by step. But that we should begin...how about today.