In my latest dream this month, I dreamed that there was a national disaster. Over 50 people came to my house for shelter. When they got there, they sat around and laughed at me while my sister Rebecca and I were busily getting together food and water and blankets for ourselves.
"It's going to get worse," I kept saying. But they laughed and just sat and talked to each other.
"Why don't they listen?" I kept asking myself. "Don't they know this is just the beginning?" Then it occurred to us that when it did get worse, yes, they would be sorry... but still, they would be hungry and thirsty and cold. So Rebecca and I ran around even faster, getting supplies ready not only for ourselves but for everyone in the house.
I woke up at 2:00 a.m. from this dream and remembered every detail. I then heard a very distinct voice say, "Get prepared. This is real." Too drowsy to comprehend, I fell back asleep.
About an hour later, I woke up again and heard the same voice, and the images of the dream were real and vivid. "Get prepared, Emily. You're not completely prepared yet. This dream is real." Again, I fell back asleep.
And then one more time. I was awakened, and saw the images of the dream. I saw myself getting food and water and all sorts of emergency preparedness tools in order. Again I heard, "Get prepared. This is real." This time I finally answered.
"Ok, I'm listening." I said, wide awake.
"Are you?"
"Yes."
"So then, what's your plan?"
For the next half hour, I laid in bed staring at my dark room, re-scheduling my week's evenings. I saw myself go to the store and buy huge 5 gallon containers of water. I saw a storage closet packed with beans, rice, oatmeal, etc. My family has had food storage for years, but it was time to re-evaluate what was there.
Last week Rebecca and I ran around the house getting my second 72 hour kit ready to be put near the front door. (My first one is in my car.) At one point, an overwhelming warmth filled my body and made me stop in my tracks.
"You listened. Good job."
"Thank you for the dream," I whispered.
And then you came into my mind. All the people in my life. This evening I bought a couple more supplies. On my way out, I felt an incredibly strong feeling that I needed to talk to the woman I saw with two children in the parking lot. I know I sounded crazy.
"Excuse me," I started, and then said something like..."I feel that I need to encourage you to get prepared with food and water storage, for your family's emergency preparedness."
"Oh, ok." She looked at me and nodded her head. I felt (very) dumb.
"I'm sorry, I know I sound crazy... I promise I'm not." She laughed. I wanted to back peddle outta there. "You probably already are prepared with that stuff, and I didn't need to say anything..."
"No, actually, we aren't prepared at all," she said, nodding. "Thank you for the reminder."
Phew. Wow.
So it's your turn. Here's the list I used that I'm passing along to you with all my heart. I collected these items and put them in a suitcase by the front door. I know I know, in certain circles we've heard this information SO many times it just gets old. Yay! You're prepared! So now tell a friend. (or a stranger? ha ha!)
And hey, I know you're busy. If you live in Utah, I'm wholeheartedly volunteering to clear my calendar and come hang out with you for an evening. We can go shopping together for stuff and make it fun! (I'm completely serious... I don't want anymore dreams like that one!)
Tools and Supplies
(Essential Items are Marked with an Asterisk*)
- Mess kits, or paper cups, plates, and plastic utensils
- Emergency preparedness manual and a copy of your disaster plan, including your emergency contacts list
- Battery-operated radio and extra batteries* ($7.50 at an emergency supply store)
- Flashlight and extra batteries*
- Cash or traveler's checks, change*
- Non-electric can opener, utility knife*
- Fire extinguisher: small ABC type stored near where fires are likely to occur such as a kitchen, or near a fireplace. It should not be kept in the disaster supplies kit.
- Duct Tape*
- Matches in a waterproof container
- Aluminum foil
- Plastic storage containers
- Signal flare
- Paper, pencil*
- Needles, thread
- Shut-off wrench or pliers, to turn off household gas and water
- Whistle *
- Plastic sheeting* or tarp
- Map of the area (for locating shelters and evacuation routes)
- fire and water proof safe (for all important documents. $26 at Target)
- 5 gallon water jug ($10 at Target...get as many as you can)
- Dry foods of your choice in sealed containers
Also include items for sanitation in your emergency supply kit. Consider the following:
Sanitation
(Essential Items are Marked with an Asterisk *)
- Toilet paper, towelettes*
- Soap, liquid detergent*
- Feminine supplies*
- Personal hygiene items*
- Plastic garbage bags, ties (for personal sanitation uses)*
- Plastic bucket with tight lid
- Household chlorine bleach (1 tsp of bleach can "purify" 1 gallon of water)
Include at least one complete change of clothing and footwear per person in your emergency supply kit. Long pants and long sleeves are recommended for additional protection after a disaster.
Clothing and Bedding
(Essential Items are Marked with an Asterisk *)
- Sturdy shoes or work boots*
- Rain gear*
- Blankets or sleeping bags*
- Hat and gloves
- Thermal underwear
I AM CURRENTLY LOVING YOU, in these words, in this way.
-Emily
17 comments:
How does one do this when one has no extra money? I'm serious;y worried about this. We have 3 little ones and nothing in the way of emergency preparedness. I would appreciate any suggestions. Thank you for sharing our experince.
Thanks a ton for posting this! My friend D'arcy referred me to your blog because myself and other friends have been having the same feelings pierce our very souls.
It's sooo important that we follow what our hearts guide us to do. God is preparing his children that he knows will listen.
Dottie
wanttobeartist.blogspot.com
Thanks for listening to revelation and sharing it with the rest of us. It is as in the days of Noah. Thanks for reminding us to GET ON THE ARK!!
Wow. Two friends of mine told me that they have had an impression that something will happen in the next month or so.
And I've had one friend take me up on my offer to go shopping together tonight. Thank you!
So let's go do this! Go team!
For Julie: let's make it so you don't have to spend more than $30.
1. Do you have five backpacks or suitcases? If not, go to a thrift store. One backpack for each of your kids, one for you, one for your husband. Or people always seem to have an extra bag around that you can borrow.
2. Go around the house and just put in what you have already. The most important thing is just knowing where the bag is, and that it's easy to run out the door with. Include even just one pair of clothes, one blanket, one bottle of water, a couple of diapers, formula, etc. (There's a section on www.ready.gov especially for children). I'm sure you have that stuff already.
3. Water will be like gold. A five gallon container at Target costs $10. If it's too much, fill up clear plastic juice bottles or coke bottles from now on. One thing you don't want to do is reuse old milk containers. The plastic isn't safe for storing water for long durations of time.
4. This part is free: it's very important to get your contact list on a card and put it in the backpack. Put even four quarters in there for payphone use. (Cell phone towers might not be standing.)
5. This is also free: Find out where your local emergency shelters will be, and know how to get there. (I don't know how to do this yet either... anyone have suggestions?)
6. Julie, most importantly is you. You and your family are going to be ok. You have to believe it and go into any disaster knowing it to be true. Otherwise you will have the energy and mind frame of a victim, and you are not a victim of anything. In the moment, you will be lead to people you can help, and people who will help you. Let go of that worry vibe right now. This is a great time to start! And you're listening! Good job!
Let us know how the preparation goes.
Just got back from emergency shopping with my friend. She told me she's heard of four people who have also received impressions that something will happen within the next month. I don't know much about it. Perhaps it's just enough for us to wake up and get ready? She said that my dream was the last she needed to hear... and now in just one evening she got completely prepared! She even bought house/goods insurance on her stuff in her home.
Here's the report: our shopping trip took about 1 1/2 hours, and she spent about $220. Just know that she is VERY prepared now, complete with fire extinguisher, food, first aid kit, 15 gallons of water, everything. If you're strapped for cash right now, just let me know and I want to lend you some for this. (Money is an illusion... and your life is real.)
I am keeping this dialogue open until everyone is prepared.
Go get 'em!
I am the friend.
I am prepared.
I am not afraid.
In fact I felt light and sang all the way home at the top of my lungs and I thanked God for helping me get this done today!
One thing you didn't mention was a tent or alternate form of shelter. I just purchased my tent, sleeping bag, and hiking pack (for my 72 hour kit)last night and I'm just waiting for it all to come in the mail.
I'm doing much of my emergency purchasing on craiglist (a few of people are getting rid of their used camping gear), ksl, amazon.com, and overstock (the previous two you can get excellent discounts on new items and if you hit overstock at the right time you can get super cheap to free shipping and even more discounts).
For your friend, and anyone you might know who is need of a family sized tent, here's a link to a website that is selling really great tents for an amazing price.
http://clearoutgear.com/
The price of these tents don't compare to what you'd have to pay if you went to REI or Black Diamond for a tent of that size.
I got chills when I read this post. Especially because I felt the same exact way a couple of weeks ago and went out and bought more 5 gallon containers of water and enough non-perishable food to last a while. But after reading this I am going to go out today and buy MORE water and the other things on your list.
In June, we had severe floods here in Iowa. It really opened my eyes to the need to be prepared for these things. Cedar Rapids (the city twenty minutes to the north of us) was flooded so badly that they lost power and their water was turned off for two weeks. Here in Iowa City, we were counseled to prepare...that we would potentially have our water turned off too. I went to the store to buy more water (we only had about twenty gallons total and we had nine people in the house), but the stores were already cleaned out of water by the time I got there. It was creepy. So we loaded up on paper products and foods that needed no preparation (like bread and peanut butter and frozen lasagnas) so that we at least would not have to use water to wash dishes or prepare meals, and therefore our scant supply could be stretched out for strictly drinking purposes. It was really scary, I tell you!
Another thing I have heard might be wise to keep an updated supply of (especially those with children) of ibuprofin. I heard this in reference to the whole bird flu thing. Apparently, when it does make its way over here, people will have to be quarrentined (sp?) for up to a month in their homes and for those who have contracted the illness, but are stuck in their homes, they would want an ample supply of pain reducer to help ease the agony. (But that's not a very fun subject, is it?)
Emily, you're freakin' me out. Do you think we can work on this Friday when we get together? Please!
I appreciated the advice for Julie with no money to spare. We are in the same boat. I've mentioned getting prepared to my husband before but each time he says "we will just have to wait until after residency".
Hmmm maybe not...
I'm a friend of a friend of a friend who started reading your blog a while back but this compelled me to post. I was JUST thinking about doing this yesterday because of similar feelings about potential emergency events, but kind of brushed it off and thought I would do it later, until I saw this post. Thanks for that. I'm going out tomorrow to set my family and I up with some supplies.
One thing for anyone with pets: don't forget food and water for your pets, or any medication they take! Also, leashes for dogs or carriers for small animals.
thanks for the reminder...even here in Korea in my beehive, I have felt this call. kamsahapnida.
A great resource for emergency preparedness items is www.shelfreliance.com
I spent last night with two more friends, helping them get their 72 hour kit ready. It feels great!
Hey, just wanted to follow up. Because I was so proud of myself. :)
Four hundred dollars later...
And our emergency prepardness bags and 3-day-supply of food, etc., is ready to go, just in case.
I am feeling great! Thanks, Emily!
I linked here from your comment in Exponent, I find it fascinating/chilling that other people have been getting these impressions too. My revealations don't come in quite that manner, but they've been coming all the same.
I'm in Ohio and a few weeks ago we had millions of people in the state without electricity when the remains of Hurricane Ike blew through. That was not a real disaster for me, it was a revealation, or as I've come to think of it, a training exercise. My husband and I stayed in our apartment, we had non=perishable food for breakfast and since we had the resources we bought lunch at work and had fast food for dinners. People talked about this week like it was the end of the world, and for some it may have been much worse than for us, but there were shelters and food banks and places offering showers. Our hot water heater runs on gas so we had hot showers in the dark. The temperature that week the power was out was 72 degrees during the day and 55 at night, ALL WEEK, there was therefore no *need* for heat or air conditioning.
God pulled my brain aside and said, "Ok, now you've seen what can happen to normal life in the space of a few hours. Now play this out again with no grocery stores or restaurants open in a hundred mile radius. Now play it out in the middle of February. Now play it out with a house that is unsafe to live in, and three million other people in the city panicking."
The first thing I did when I had my phone back was call my mom and tell her my impressions. And I've been trying to share them with everyone at work i can get to listen!
Oh, also - after an earthquake, the only reliable safe source of light is the glowstick.
They sell cheap glowsticks at all the Halloween stores this time of year, I recommend picking some up in case of emergency.
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