This forecasting station, modeled after our current weather forecasting system, has been designed to flag potential infectious diseases that could overwhelm the country and possibly collapse the fragile medical infrastructure the population is so dependent on.

This bio-surveillance project is operated by Praecipio International, a non-profit international intercept team who is presently working in conjunction with The Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System to anticipate infectious disease outbreaks that arise from natural disasters on a global spectrum. Praecipio International is responsible for using the Haiti Epidemic Advisory System (HEAS) to track the cholera epidemic in Haiti where the epidemic is still a daily battle.

The scientists at Praecipio International are “more akin to disaster sociology than public health, and monitor social indicators of infectious disease crises and disasters.”  Shortly after the earthquake hit Haiti on January 12, 2011:

Praecipio was able to rapidly conduct a “radar sweep” using the Internet and by monitoring Twitter feeds across 6 languages for the island of Hispaniola, which includes the countries of Haiti and Dominican Republic. We knew instantly from media, blogs, and SMS traffic what was being documented in terms of infectious disease. Consultation with peer-reviewed academic literature enabled us to construct a baseline for several diseases of concern and issue the first infectious disease forecast report in the world, for Haiti, on January 17, 2010.

Source

As previously noted, cholera and other disaster related diseases are still a daily issue in Haiti even one year after the devastating earthquake leveled most of  the small island. With Haiti being the first country in the world to monitor epidemic activity, they have an upper hand to proactively intervene in order to control the outbreaks and epidemics from exacerbating. This forecasting model is serving as a guideline for the rest of the world.  Hospitals and treatment facilities are already beginning to adopt this forecasting system in order to assist with patients who are more susceptible to outbreaks. The Delta County Memorial Hospital “Kids Wellcast”, is one of the first to understand the importance of this biosurveillance system.

HEAS has quickly become the first of it’s kind to empower patients with information to help them stay better prepared. Further, having a forecasting system that monitors infectious disease outbreaks will propel us out of ”dark ages” in terms of epidemics and pandemics. Rather than reacting to the outbreak and potentially subjecting ourselves to others who may be infected, we will be able to anticipate the infectious disease ahead of time in order to better prepare for it.

Rebuilding is an inevitable part of putting our lives back together after a disaster. When an emergency occurs, we need tools to build, repair and maintain our homes to make them livable once more. Those who survived the Haitian earthquake know this all too well. We are all familiar with the devastation that occurred with the Haitian earthquake, the lives lost and the reconstruction still taking place.

According to an article in Popular Mechanics, relief workers who responded to the disaster were asked to bring their own tools in order to rebuild parts of Haiti and they did so using 50 tools. It is ironic that these tools played such a large role in the reconstruction of this broken island. The tools used for reconstruction not only created shelters for families, and areas for sanitation, but they gave the Haitians hope that one day their island would be restored.

In the backbreaking early stages of rubble removal, simple hand tools played a vital role in transporting and removing debris. Acquiring basic hand tools—shovels, axes and hammers—meet immediate demolition needs and then take on a long-term role once construction resumes. The tools used in the first phase of reconstruction were:

1. Round point and square nose shovels, preferably heavy-duty variety with extra long blade socket.
2. Pick axe
3. Pulaski axe
4. Rig builder’s hatchet
5. Axe
6. Bow saw
7. 24-oz. framing hammer
8. Sledge hammer
9. Digging bars, preferably both pointed and chisel tip varieties; crow bars.
10. Leather or synthetic work gloves
11. Protective eye wear
12. Hard hats
13. Dust masks
14. Contractor-grade wheel barrows
15. Bolt cutters
16. Large-diameter heavy-duty weatherproof rope; small-diameter light-duty line
17. Rope hoist/pulley, minimum 250-lb. capacity
18. Folding knife

Shelter construction was the next step in rebuilding Haiti. Simple sheds made of little more than lumber and nails can provide families secure shelter, a measure of sanitation and the stability to endure harsh weather. In the absence of fuel or electricity, fairly sophistication construction can begin with such basic hand tools as saws, braces and squares. The tools and materials used in the second phase of reconstruction were:

Tools
1. 8-point crosscut saw
2. Carpenter’s pencil
3. Carpenter’s square
4. Framing hammers and carpenter’s hammers—smaller sizes for various family members, in addition to the 24-ounce tool above.
5. 25-foot Metric/English tape rule
6. Bit Brace and a set of solid-center auger bits, ¼ inch through 1 inch
7. Utility knife, spare blades
8. High-tension hacksaw and selection of spare blades

Materials
1. 1/2 inch exterior-grade plywood, which has the structural stability to help frame out a building’s wall.
2. 2 x 4 x 8 lumber by the pallet
3. 8-d common nails
4. 12-d and 16-d common nails
5. blue tarps in various sizes (5 x 7, 10 x 10, 12 x 20)
6. 6-mil plastic sheet, roll
7. 5-gallon plastic buckets
8. Self-stick roll roofing

Once the grid comes back up and power and fuel become more widely available, electric or fuel powered tools will take the place of the simple, traditional tools. The power tools tools will resupply Haiti’s population of tradesmen or can equip volunteers aiding in relief efforts. These power tools are:

1. Rotary hammer and bits
2. Hammer drill and bits
3. Reciprocating saw and bi-metal blades
4. Chainsaw (with necessary tools and spare parts: gas cans, funnel, spare spark plug, bar and chain oil, gasoline, chain with carbide-tipped teeth, chainsaw chaps, chainsaw gloves).
5. Gas-engine driven welder/generator and selection of stick electrodes and accessories (welding mask, gloves, welding hammer, C clamps).
6. Right angle grinders and spare grinding wheels.
7. Portable concrete mixer, bags of ready-to-mix concrete.
8. Basic set of concrete and brick/block mason’s tools, rock-working tools: float, trowel, brick/block trowels, plumb bob, brick set, mason’s level, jointer, stone tracer, stone chisel.
9. Simple optical level, such as a builder’s level or transit.
10. Basic electrician’s tool kit (Haiti uses 110-volt power, the same as North America): side-cutting pliers, diagonal pliers, needle-nose pliers, electrician’s multi-tool wire stripper/screw cutter, solenoid voltage tester, fork meter and spare AA batteries.
11. Metric/SAE tap and die set
12. Kerosene and kerosene lanterns, waterproof matches
13. Charcoal and charcoal grills
14. Chlorine bleach for water disinfection, Lifestraws or similar filtration tools, and refillable water bottles
15. Anti-bacterial soap, shop towels, and toilet paper.

Quite simply, having these tools and equipment on hand will help you operate in a non-technological environment. Investing in quality tools could assist in rebuilding your home and lives more quickly and efficiently. 

A special thanks to all the relief workers who participated in rebuilding this island and giving hope back to the Haitians. Your volunteerism is a true act of kindness and a great example of the human spirit.

We are quickly running out of time to prepare for what may be the biggest collapse we have seen in our lifetime. History has always repeated itself, and if we sit idly by and ignore these historical repetitions, then we have wasted the precious time we have left. Take notice of these significant signs and be ready for their impact:

1. Wars over resources
2. Exorbitant debt for country and countries around the world
3. Hyper inflation
4. Government corruption
5. Currency manipulation
6. Stock market manipulation
7. Bank corruption
8. High unemployment rates
9. Civil unrest
10. Bank runs
11. Barriers around country’s borders
12. Militarizing the police force
13. Food shortages

I am terrified for our future, and frankly, fear that many of our dear friends and family members will fall victim to the dismemberment of our economic system and be caught in the crossfires of economic unrest, poverty and third-world country conditions. Like it or not, we are in an economic depression and a large percentage of the population is completely ill-equipped to survive it. Not only do many members of our community lack the resources and the knowledge to survive, but, as a whole, our nation is complacent, lazy, and lacks the values that those individuals had to get them through the first economic depression. Only the prepared will have a fighting chance at surviving what is to come.

Despite my current state, I believe that a true optimist is the one who recognizes the current reality for what it is, imagines a better future, and then has the strength, courage and willingness to dig in, make choices and do the work necessary to bring about that desired outcome. In order to recognize our reality, we must have our eyes opened to it in order to see the signs of change.

One day enough signs will occur and there will be a complete and utter collapse. And only then will people wake up to their new reality and wonder how this could have happened. How many signs do people need to witness before they begin to see the chain reaction of a collapse? The signs are here folks, what are you going to do?

In 2010, an article was written that examined the risk of water shortages across the country. The writers of the article looked at an October, 2010 report on water risk by environmental research and sustainability group, Ceres. They also considered a comprehensive July, 2010 report from the National Resources Defense Council which mapped areas at high risk of water shortage conflict. The analysis allowed officials to choose ten cities which are likely to face severe shortages in the relatively near-term future. The cities are:

10. Orlando, Florida

9. Atlanta, Georgia

8. Tuscon, Arizona

7. Las Vegas, Nevada

6. Fort Worth, Texas

5. San Francisco Bay Area, California

4. San Antonio, Texas

3. Phoenix, Arizona

2. Houston, Texas

1. Los Angeles, California

However, according to Natural News, these cities should not be the only ones concerned about future water shortages. According to U.S. government estimates, at least 36 states are expected to face water shortages within the next five years.

The Ripple Effect

In many parts of the country where severe droughts are present, the dry, hot ground is causing major water mains to break and essentially draining the city’s water. In the very near future, cities and towns could place more stringent water restrictions on its inhabitants, but how would these restrictions affect the city as a whole? Recently, in Houston, TX three firefighters were injured in a 4 alarm fire. The article indicates that the  fire was difficult to put out partly due to issues with the water supply. This begs the question of how can a city not warn its inhabitants of a water shortage? If there is a water shortage in many areas of the states, are we all vulnerable to the water be turned off like in this North Texas town?

If we experience water shortages in much of the nation, then cities will have to look for alternate water sources. Water is already a scarce commodity, so there will be competition both locally and statewide for remaining water sources which could make life in these cities nearly unbearable for residents. With emotions running high, a ripple effect could sweep the nation and possibly fuel more aggressive behavior amongst those living in major cities.

Self Reliance is Key

With the exponential population growth, cities simply cannot meet the demand for water, and as a result, water sources are overwhelmed and being depleted. Those counting on local water supplies to always be available run the risk of one day waking up to find their water has run out. Understanding ways to be less dependent on the local water supply will ease this burden and, in the process, make you more self reliant. Learning alternative ways to harvest water is a proactive approach to dealing with this pressing issue. These low cost suggestions are a great place to begin this path towards self reliance:

• Collapsible water containers
• 5-gallon buckets
• Rain harvesting containers or barrels
• Rainwater downspouts routed to water tanks by pvc pipes

When looking for a homestead property or land:

• Try to find a property that either has its own water source, well water, or is capable of supplying water via a well.
• Before you purchase any land, do some research and find where local streams, ponds and rivers are located near by to ensure your family has a back up water supply during times of shortages.
• Those of you living in regions that lie directly below mountain ranges will have clean water that will be readily available for consumption before pollution is introduced.

Having knowledge before hand on how to appropriately treat water and store it will ensure that your family has the most basic, and most important survival item ready in case a water shortage ensues.

As a collective whole, we must actively begin taking the steps to physically detach ourselves from depending on the system. Knowledge and understanding on how to effectively treat and store water will ensure that your family has the most important preparedness item ready for use.

After 13 years of inactivity, a Southern brood of cicadas (specifically known as the XIX Magicicada) are about to emerge after laying dormant underground.  Although the cicadas are harmless to humans, they are however, a nuisance where gardens and trees are concerned.  Cicadas, not to be confused with locusts, feed by attaching a nodule onto a branch and suck the nutrients from the tree.

In an article by the British newspaper, Daily Mail, scientists indicate that “at this very moment, billions of the winged insect are crawling from their exoskeleton cages, ready to suck the sap out of every plant, tree and bush that gets in their way.”

Cicadas spend most of their life cycle underground feeding on root juice.  During their final underground stage, they dig a tunnel to climb out and shed their skin on a plant.  Cicadas then set about to mate.  After mating, females cut slits in the bark of trees where they leave their eggs.  When the eggs hatch the newborn nymphs fall to the ground and then burrow underground where the life cycle begins again.

Which Plants Are Most At Risk?

Because of the large brood that are ready to take flight, younger plants and trees (4 years of younger) can buckle under the strain of housing too many larvae.  Cicadas will suck juices from baby fruit trees, garden vegetables, berry bushes and flowers.  Specifically, more than 270 species of plants could be hosts for egg laying. 

Some of the more vulnerable trees include: Maple, oak, hickory, beech, ash, dogwood, hawthorn, magnolia, willow, apple, peach, cherry and pear. 

Flowers, vines and shrubs include: Rose of Sharon, rose, raspberry, grape, black-eyed Susan, hollies, spirea, rhododendron, viburnum, junipers, and arborvitae.

Source

Protect Your Plants From Cicadas

The most efficient way to protect your plants is to encourage the cicadas natural predators.  Predators such as birds, cicada killer wasps and the preying mantis are the cicadas natural born enemies.  If the preying mantis is not already in your yard, ordering the larvae online and releasing them into the garden area can help control the cicadas around your home.  Also providing bird houses and bird feeders to encourage birds to stay around could also assist in controlling any cicada populations around your home.

Another method being developed is spraying pheromones into the air to stress the insects.  Director of International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, Christian Borgemeister, has developed this method for controlling locust populations in Africa.  In theory, this method could also work at controlling cicada populations.

 He states that spraying the pheromone phenylacetonitrile (PAN), destroys the bands of insects.  “The insects are highly stressed.  They suffer high natural mortality and fall victim to the many natural enemies like birds.”  

Using this method is also environmentally friendly and will not kill any of the beneficial insects in the area compared to spraying insecticides.

Get Ready For a Long Summer

Cicadas are relentless and will destroy vulnerable plants, trees and shrubs if given a chance.  Keep an eye out for any infestations and try to control the cicadas in your area before they get out of hand.  Educating yourself on natural ways to deter this nuisance can create a better living environment for the beneficial insects you want around.

Some of these unproven claims on the products are:

• Kills over 99.9% of MRSA
• Helps prevent skin infections causes by MRSA and other germs
• Is effective against a broad spectrum of pathogens, including MRSA.

FDA Warns Companies

The FDA states that they have contacted the companies in question and have requested that they remove these falsehoods. Specifically, four companies that have been sent letters are:

Staphaseptic First Aid Antiseptic/Pain Relieving Gel, by Tec Laboratories

Safe4Hours Hand Sanitizing Lotion and Safe4Hours First Aid Antiseptic Skin Protectant, by JD Nelson and Associates

Dr. Tichenor’s Anticeptic Gel, by Dr. G.H. Tichenor Anticeptic Co.

Clean Well All-Natural Hand Sanitizer, Clean Well All-Natural Hand Sanitizing Wipes, and Clean Well All- Natural Antibacterial Foaming Hand Soap, by Oh So Clean Inc., also known as Clean Well Comany.

The FDA advises consumers

• Don’t buy over-the-counter hand sanitizers or other products that claim to prevent infection from MRSA, E. coli, Salmonella, flu or other bacteria or viruses.
• Ask your pharmacist or other health care professional for help in distinguishing between reliable and questionable information on product labels and company websites.
• In general, wash hands often, especially before handling food, to help avoid getting sick.  Wash hands with warm water and soap for 20 seconds.  For children, this means the time it takes to sing the “Happy Birthday” song twice.
• If you find products on the Internet that you belive make false, or unproven claims, tell FDA by following the instructions at Reporting Unlawful Sales on Internet.  Report side effects that you tink may be related to using hand sanitizers or other medical products to FDA’s MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting Program either online, by regular mail, by fax, or by phone.

In the meantime, there are many natural remedies and recipes for making your own homemade hand sanitizers using essential oils and natural indredients.

Reports from the FDA indicate that BPA has been present in hard plastic bottles, canned foods and canned sodas since the 1960′s.  Some organic labels of canned foods are also guilty of containing traces of BPA.  The FDA is aware of this concern, and are currently debating whether or not this is safe for our food supply.  An organization dedicated to BPA suggest that there is no known risk from human consumption.  Simply put, any harmful effects that may occur from BPA are seen later in life, so it is hard to say if this chemical poses harmful effects.  However, with the vast increase in cancers, many wonder if it is something in our food supply that’s the culprit.  There is also some debate regarding whether BPA leaches out of plastics (especially from heat exposure) and how much BPA is considered too much.

So What is a Safe Level of BPA?

An FDA report suggest that a safe exposure of BPA is 50 micrograms per kilogram of body weight.  However, any testing that has been done for BPA has been done on rodents, not humans.  Tests have concluded that when BPA is in the bloodstream, it tends to mimic estrogen.  For girls, this means earlier puberty, and for boys this can lead to infertility problems.  According to a test conducted by the Environmental Working Group (EWG)  who targeted and tested the BPA lining in canned goods and drink cans, the tests found:

• Of all foods tested, chicken soup, infant formula, and ravioli had BPA levels of the highest concern. Just one to three servings of foods with these concentrations could expose a woman or child to BPA at levels that causes serious adverse effects in animal tests.
• For 1 in 10 cans of all food tested, and 1 in 3 cans of infant formula, a single serving contained enough BPA to expose a woman or infant to BPA levels more than 200 times the government’s traditional safe level of exposure for industrial chemicals.  The government typically mandates a 1,000-3,000-fold margin of safety between human exposures and levels found to harm lab animals, but these servings contained levels of BPA less than 5 times lower than doses that harmed lab animals.

Common sense tells us that the best way to prevent exposure to BPA is to limit or stear clear from canned goods, foods in hard plastics and canned sodas.  Eating fresh foods, or frozen foods would be a healthier approach.  This is easier said than done considering most of our food comes pre-packaged in cans or plastic containers.  Perhaps now would be a good time to consider growing a vegetable garden.

It must be stated that the FDA is supporting reasonable steps to reduce human exposure to BPA, including actions by industry and recommendations to consumers on food preparation.  At this time, the FDA is not recommending that families change the use of infant formula or foods as the benefit of a stable source of good nutrition outweighs the potential risk of BPA exposure.  it’s nice to see the FDA looking out for our best interests.

It does not matter what nation you live in, no one likes the idea of not having basic human rights to serve their basic needs.  The Egyptian riots begain over bread lines.  If you think this will not happen in America, you are sorely mistaken.  Food prices are rising exponentially.  It is only a matter of time before Americans reach the boiling point.  A person will do whatever is necessary to protect their children and their loved ones.  In every country around the world there has been riots concerning this very issue.

What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun. — Ecclesiastes 1:9

Perhaps I should agree with that woman at the grocery store.  Because, we are different in the respect of culture, traditions, and even spiritual beliefs, but our similarities are what binds us together as a race.  Many of you have already heard of Maslow’s heirarchy of needs.  Ingrained in each human is a desire to care for ourselves, our family and those we love.  When one’s personal rights are taken away, a person’s anger rules their actions and their thoughts.  They defy government, because the government is the one that took those freedoms and rights away. 

Staying Safe During a Riot

Fortunately, riots for the most part are peaceful, but when human rights are a centerpiece for the protesting, it can and typically does turn violent.  No matter how much a person wants to stand up for a cause, a riot is not the place to do so.  Just typing in the world “riots” into google images shows you what you would be up against if you were caught in a riot.  It is no place that I would want to be.

Stay inside.  Your voice will not be heard in an angry mob.  Stay inside until the riot subsides. 

Keep away from windows.  Because riots can turn violent quickly, it is best to stay away from windows. Bricks, trashcans and other heavy surfaces can be hurled into the windows, thus creating medical problems.

Stay calm.  Remaining calm will keep you as clear headed as possible.  Maintaining rational thoughts will keep you from panicking and helping you find the safest escape route.

Find an exit.  Looking for the nearest exit that is safe to take is what your thoughts should be focusing on.

If a person is caught outside when a riot breaks out, your main priority is finding safety.  Staying away from the angry mob is the goal. 

Be prepared.  Though riots are often difficult to predict, if you are traveling in an area that is a known place of civil unrest, there are certain things that you can do to keep yourself safe. Wear clothes that cover all of your exposed skin, and that fit in with the local dress. When a person blends in with locals, it is easier to escape.  Rioters can be unpredictable, and you may be the target for violence if you stand out as an outsider.

Have an escape.  During a riot, it’s important that you get as far away from the rioting crowd as possible. If you are in an area that you know well, this may be easy for you. However, if you are in an unfamiliar area, you may have a bit more difficulty. Before traveling to an unfamiliar area, it’s best if you have a general idea of how to make your way around the area without attracting too much attention.

Many may not be aware of a food revolution slowly growing in popularity around the nation.  This revolution is advocating people to take back control over their food sources.  They suggest we even go as far as growing it ourselves to understand not only the process and learning as essential skill, but feel the pride of growing your own food.  Those who are trying to become more sustainable in their lives have created micro farms to begin growing their own food.  

Similar to the micro farm movement,  the food revolution, stresses teaching individuals self reliant practices.  In addition, they suggest getting the children involved in the process so they can understand that food is in fact, not from a can or from the grocery store itself.  Growing produce is a complex system that requires lots of time and effort to develop a product.  Getting children involved in this process, gets them away from the television, gets their hands dirty and gets their minds working.

According to those at the Food Freedom Revolution, they believe, “our children AND our food system determine our future.  This statement is very serious and is KEY to the survival of our freedoms.  Let’s give our children real purpose in life and teach them things that will provide them with the skills of self reliance.  Our current school system is training the children (workforce) to be dependent on a system that wants to control them.  Let’s demand and develop more educational programs for children, which teach respect for nature but that also teaches self reliance.  We are all too compartmentalized and dependent on the system.  We need a broader range of skills…

Over the years, this author has heard multiple teachers express concern over the fact that many parents expect the teachers to parent the child.  What a scary concept allowing a stranger whose entire motivation is to get the child to think as a group and not as an individual.  We, as parents share a similar dream of our children growing up to think for themselves, to stand up for those who are being oppressed, to be able to take care of themselves and their future families.  The schools are not going to teach this – that rests in the parents hands.  Knowing that there are people out there willing to spend the extra time to get the word out to make a difference is refreshing.