Since this is a long weekend we decided to do a few extra activities to improve our emergency preparations.
The news is not looking any better, with the mainstream msnbc.com proclaiming “Experts see trouble ahead for developed world” http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38994476/ns/business-eye_on_the_economy/ and Yahoo outlines “5 Doomsday Scenarios for the U.S. Economy” http://finance.yahoo.com/family-home/article/110581/5-doomsday-scenarios-for-the-us-economy. Any one or a combination of these scenarios can instigate the dreaded double dip recession. Then there was the 7.0 earthquake in New Zealand at 4:35 a.m. on Saturday in which many residents ran out of their homes in their pajamas to escape the surrounding chaos. See a first hand account: “We were all screaming – we got the animals and ran” http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38996925/ns/world_news-asia-pacific?ns=world_news-asia-pacific. This article just reinforces the need for a bug out bag, because an emergency can happen at any time.
This weekend we are doing the following:
- De-cluttered one closet and donated unused sheets and comforters that were occupying a lot of space to make room for emergency supplies. Just a fact of life for an apartment dweller: while living in a small space, we have to continually de-clutter and move things around
- Gathered all the non food emergency supplies such as flashlights, battery and crank radios, First Aid supplies and manuals etc. and stored them in the now empty closet
- Clip coupons and head to Target to stock up on over the counter pain relievers, allergy medicines, cold and flu remedies, toilet paper and other personal care items. Flu season will be here soon!
- Checked expiration dates on water stored, noted the dates with a sharpie and rotated those jugs that are soon to expire.
- Cleaned out the balcony garden. Everything has withered in the extreme heat. Today we cleared out all the dead foliage. I may plant herbs for the fall.
- Decided on the next project: to learn how to can, and borrowed books from the library on canning. Next, I will have start gathering up the materials such as canning jars and utensils as the budget allows.
Have a safe and fun Labor Day!
The Apartment Prepper's Blog 
Sounds like you had a productive weekend! If you have ACE Hardware stores there, they have a good selection of canning supplies at pretty reasonable prices. I am thinking about an herb garden too, probably at my parents house in a nice bay window in their kitchen. Can’t grow one here ’cause the cats will eat anything green. I really need to gather all my non-food supplies to one area to. Reading your post I realized I’d be hard pressed to find one particular item right this minute.
We do have Ace Hardware here, I will check their canning supplies. Thanks! Good idea, planning the herb garden, they were an easy start for me.
It is great to see that you spent your weekend prepping and being proactive in it!
I spent my weekend canning beans, chili sauce, and spaghetti sauce. A lot of work, but will be worth it later.
Great stuff. It’s already mid-afternoon here but I’m going to spend much of the rest of the day doing what you did… to maximize the use of all space I have here. My apartment has plenty of space, more than I give it credit for.