Tag Archives: prepper

Prepare-athon 2020

Today, ironically enough, is National Prepareathon Day. Based on the state of the world recently, I would say that some further preparation is in order. Of course, that’s like closing the barn door after the horse gets out, or in this case COVID-19, but perhaps there’s still time to buckle down and get’er done. 

The US government even has a calendar to help you focus on one disaster at a time in your prepping efforts. April’s event is National Financial Capability Month. Now there’s another irony. Unemployment around the world caused by the COVID-19 quarantine is at never been seen high. 

I’m not a scientist or economist so I won’t get into the debate on what our lives will look like after COVID-19, but I’m betting that quite a number of people will be making drastic changes. Caution, self-reliance, and a revival in basic survival skills like gardening will most likely surge.

Of course, there are always those guys that are protesting the inability to get a haircut right now, because that’s a priority. Shagginess is always a precursor to civilization collapse, you know. I expect their lives won’t change much in the after-world.  

Here in Mexico, the government has said that social distancing will be in effect until the end of May. States vary on enforcement and quarantine activities. Some states have closed their borders, like Michoacan. While neighboring Guanajuato is doing business as usual. Experts predict the peak contagion here from May 2 to 8, but that date seems to change regularly.

atozcover

So since we’ll be hunkering down for a spell yet, I thought I’d offer A to Z Reasons Why La Yacata is the Place to Be in Any Disaster: A Prepper’s Guide to Mexico FREE for the next few days. Although the book covers serious topics like pandemics and economic collapse, it also discusses things like zombies, because what’s an end-of-the-world scenario without zombies? (Again, I am SO thankful COVID-19 isn’t a zombie producing virus). 

disaster cover

Anyway, it’s a lighter read than my newest contribution to the prepper non-fiction genre, A Woman’s Survival Guide to Disasters in Rural Mexico: A Framework for Empowered Living Through Crisis which was written with the challenges women face in Mexico in mind. 

Meanwhile, we’ll be keeping up social distancing on the ol’ Flores ranchito. Who knows? Maybe I’ll have a new book to release shortly. At the very least, I’m determined to get that 1500 piece puzzle done. 

 

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Filed under Health, Homesteading, Safety and Security

A to Z Challenge Reflections

 

Whew!  We made it!  Now you know that the best bug out location is found in central Mexico.  Let me know when you are ready to make the move.

Posting every day was an exhausting experience.  I have to be honest here.  I worked on these posts for about 6 months prior to the challenge.  Yep.  Sure enough. Even after having a draft ready to post for each of the 26-day challenge, it was a lot of work.  Some of the links I included no longer existed.  There were some typographical errors to fix.  Sometimes new information had come to light since I had written the draft (like that volcano crater forming just minutes from my home).   And then sometimes I just wasn’t happy with the draft and redid the post completely.  Facebook decided it would rather share my disclaimer image than any of the photos and graphics in my posts, so that was annoying.  Then I had some additional obligations and blog posts I had to SQUEEEEZE in during the month.  Well, I made it!

I expect reading daily posts was a bit overwhelming for you as well.  Did you miss any? I’ll post links at the end for you.

bingo board

Part of the A to Z Blogging ChallengeA to Z Blogging Challenge was to read and comment on other participants’ blogs.  This year there was a Bingo board to help with the motivation.  Although I worked diligently at finding the Bingo squares (and sharing them on Twitter) I wasn’t able to get a Bingo.  Darnit!  I hate to lose!  I did read a number of good blog posts though in the process, so I guess it wasn’t a total waste.

Right now, I’m not sure that I will participate next year in the challenge.  I haven’t come up with a fabulous and relevant topic yet.  If you have any ideas, let me know, please!  I have determined to do a 31-day challenge sponsored by Writers Bra,  but don’t worry,  I plan on spacing the posts out over the course of several months.

Meanwhile…….

Here are the links to all 26 posts in the series A to Z Reasons Why La Yacata is the Place to be WTSHTF (when the sh*t hits the fan).

A-Apocalypse

B-blizzard

C-climate change

D-drought

E-EMP Attack

F-fire

G-global economic collapse

H-hail

I-impact of an asteroid

J-jawhole

K-kakistocracy

L-lightning strike

M-martial law

N-nuclear disaster

O-oil shortage

P-pandemic

Q-quake

R-revolution

S-solar storm

T-terrorism

U-UFO invasion

V-volcanic eruption

W-wind storm

X-toxic cloud

Y-years

Z-zombies

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Filed under Carnival posts

Surviving a Blizzard in La Yacata

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Snow in Los Amoles, Moroleon, Guanajuato March 2016

Yes, La Yacata is in central Guanajuato and the average daily temperature in the state of Guanajuato is 65 degrees F (18.1 degrees C), but a blizzard is possible, especially in light of global climate change. In fact, in March 2016, Los Amoles, which is another municipality of Moroleon at a higher elevation than La Yacata, did in fact, experience a blizzard.

So, looking at what the experts suggest in the event of a blizzard, how does La Yacata (or rather the Flores family in La Yacata) rate for preparedness?

In the event of a blizzard, make sure you have:

1. Working flashlight (check) We always have at least one flashlight that is fully charged. Overall, we’ve found the cranky handle type to be the best value for the money.

2. A charged cell phone (check) We charge our phones with the car battery inverter or power banks.  Although I don’t rightly know who we’d call.  I suppose it would be good to keep our emergency status updated on Facebook!

3. Battery-powered radio or television (check) We have a rechargeable radio, but no TV.  I expect this is to be informed about changes in the weather conditions, although both serve as a nice distraction when cooped up indoors. Instead of the TV, we do have portable DVD players.

4. Extra food, water, and medicine (check) My thyroid medicine is issued in 6 months supply quantities. I doubt a blizzard would last that long. We have an aljibe (dry well) and 2-3 tinacos (water storage containers) for water storage. We also keep a good supply of beans and rice for when there just isn’t anything else. We have milk when the goats are lactating and eggs when the chickens are laying.

5. First Aid Supplies (check)We keep a small first aid kit on hand. We also have aloe growing out back for burns and wound treatment although, in the event of a blizzard, we might have to dig it out.

6. Heating fuel (check) We not only have a small supply of mesquite wood but a chimney in which to burn it as well. And remember, cow patties and horse poop burn pretty darn good and we have a good source for both of those!

7. Emergency heating source (check) Our lovely chimney, of course.

8. Fire extinguishers (NOPE) But, I must say that only in one place in the 10 odd residences I have lived has there been a fire extinguisher available. And in that case, it did come in handy when my refrigerator caught on fire.

9. Carbon monoxide and smoke detectors (NOPE) We ought to maybe look into these for La Yacata.

Not on the official list but I would also recommend:

–a Kindle or other reading material (check)  We have a kindle and a nice large library to keep the cabin fever at bay.

non-electric cooking device (check) Our stove uses gas and our entire kitchen is fully functional without electricity.

On a Farm:

1. Move all animals to an enclosed shelter (check) Although our chickens roost outside and the goat area is outside, both areas have a roof and 2 walls. We also have enough room to move all the animals into a 3 walled area with our horses in necessary.

2. Bring extra feed to nearby feeding areas (check) With our recent remodel of Joey‘s stall, we have a nice area to store food.

3. Have an extra water supply easily available (check) Our aljibe (dry well) is right in our back yard and our tinacos (water storage containers) are up on the roof of the first floor.

So as you can see, we are fully prepared in the event of a blizzard or two here in La Yacata!

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Filed under Battling Nature, Carnival posts, Electricity issues, Homesteading, Safety and Security, Water issues