December 21 or 23, 2012 is claimed to be the end-date of the Mayan calendar which some people claim will be the end of time. Since time is nature's way of keeping everything from happening at once the end of time would be the end of the world. No exceptions. No mulligans. No time outs. We'd all be dead.
But what if it's just TEOTWAWKI (The End Of The World As We Know It)? Then the world would continue to exist, but the changes would make it hard to recognize as the world you knew. TEOTWAWKI (The End Of The World As We Know It) would mean Governmental collapse: there would be no governmental help coming.
You and your family might still be alive but living without the everyday governmental services you've come to rely on. No tax bills, but no trash collection. No utility bills, but no utilities. No water. No electricity. No gas. No phones.
Worse yet, no fresh supplies of food will be available until you find or grow your own.
If you're planning on going to the grocery store when the disaster is announced keep in mind that most supermarkets carry only enough food on hand to last for from 48 to 72 hours of normal sales volume. Everyone else will probably hear the disaster announcement at the same time you do. How long do you think the supermarkets will have food on the shelves after the disaster announcement?
If there is no government will money have value? For how long? If the world falls into chaos and governments collapse how long before legal tender becomes just tinder?
The end of the world as we know it (TEOTWAWKI) means the end of government and the end of all the services governments provide. Your first task will be to survive and feed your family. Here are a few tips on surviving the first few weeks after the disaster.
If you're NOT planning to head for the hills it makes sense to stock up on the canned foods you normally eat. Look at the "best if used by" dates on canned food and buy the freshest you can find. When it's on sale, instead of buying an extra can or two buy an extra case. If you ARE planning to head for the hills make sure you can carry the food you plan to take with you.
If your water supply is gravity fed (water tanks on hills or towers) and there are no breaks in the water mains you'll have water for a few hours after the disaster. Use that time to fill everything you own that'll hold water.
Unless there is some real danger, staying in your home may be your best move. All those people heading for the hills will clog the roads and get stuck in the middle of nowhere when they run out of gas. The first few thousand cars will buy up all the fuel at roadside gas stations. Everyone coming after that will be stuck.
Tips: Buy foods you normally eat. You don't want to be "stuck" eating a ton of stored food you don't like.
Warnings: Preparing for disaster is like salt. A little is good. Too much can ruin everything.
If you devote all your time and energies to preparing for the end of the world will you be disappointed if it doesn't happen?
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