TAX FREE PREPAREDNESS IN VIRGINIA

Virginia will be having a Disaster Preparedness Tax Free holiday!  This is the perfect time to get started with essentials or stock up on key items.  The tax holiday runs from May 25 to May 31, throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Here's the comprehensive list of items exempt for the Preparedness Tax Holiday...

The following hurricane preparedness items may be purchased exempt of the Retail Sales and Use Tax during the “Hurricane Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday,” provided that such items have a selling price of $60 or less per item.
• Artificial ice, blue ice, ice packs and reusable ice
• Batteries (excluding automobile or boat batteries), including
o AAA cell
o AA cell
o C cell
o D cell
o 6 volt
o 9 volt
o Cell phone batteries
• Any portable self-powered light sources including
o Flashlights
o Lanterns
o Glow sticks
• Tarpaulins, plastic sheeting, plastic drop cloths, and other flexible waterproof sheeting
• Bungee cords, rope
• Ground anchor systems or tie down kits
• Ratchet straps
• Duct tape
• Carbon monoxide detectors
• Smoke detectors
• Fire extinguishers
• Gas or diesel fuel tanks or containers
• Water storage containers
• Nonelectric food storage coolers
• Bottled water
• Manual can openers
• Portable self-powered radios (including self-powered radios with electrical power capability)
• Two-way radios
• Weather band radios and NOAA weather radios
• Storm shutter devices
• Cell phone chargers
• First Aid Kits

The following hurricane preparedness items may be purchased exempt of the Retail Sales and Use Tax during the “Hurricane Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday,” provided that such items have a selling price of $1000 or less per item.
• Portable generators and generator power cords
• Inverters and inverter power cables

Please note:  The tax holiday for these items is in effect only from May 25-31, 2012.

PREPPERS: BEYOND THE STEREOTYPE

Prepping is the modern day ensign of those who are engaged with disaster preparedness.  Some also refer to survivalists or homesteaders.  Either through public scrutiny or branding by the media, prepping is more grounded than what most assume.  

Modern day prepping, or disaster preparedness, originated during World War II while Britains conserved provisions to last through German bombing campaigns.  This culture was actually nurtured earlier in the United States during the Depression with citizens canning food and working to provide when the government could not.  As the Cold War era progressed, the move by the government and individuals to prepare fallout shelters increased across America.  This culture was adopted by individuals to be self-sustaining for their family and neighbors in the event of a catastrophe.  For some families, the act of prepping has continued for generations.  As time has moved forward, government and citizen initiatives have embraced preparedness for disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, blizzards, earthquakes, etc.  The ire of the public on prepping has been on the preppers who believe a disaster is imminent provoked by an economic, celestial or even supernatural occurrence.  

After a fair amount of research, I have identified a couple of different levels of those who are considered preppers.  Level I is the basic prepper.  These folks keep a couple of days worth of food, water and provisions on hand most all of the time.  Enough food for their immediate family.  They may have a electric generator for a power back up.  Level II preppers are very involved family units.  Most are families that actively work to build up enough food, water, medical, and other provisions to last from one month to a year.  Most will dedicate a portion of their home to house all provisions.  Level II preppers will actively rotate their food supply to keep it fresh.  They generally all have generators, reserve fuel, and some small arms.  They have fairly detailed plans for family communications and responsibilities should a disaster take place.  Most preppers are Level I or II.  The Level III preppers enter the realm of what most consider more extreme preparedness.  These individuals are very serious about being completely self-sustaining for a long period of time.  They have built their homes or a remote location to literally 'live off the grid.'  They have built machines to generate energy to produce power, pump & purify water, and more.  They have food supplies or resources to last for years.  In fact, some have full farms with vegetable crops, chickens, cattle, sheep and more.  Many have rigged older auto engines to survive without gasoline and to run despite a electro-magnetic pulse  (EMP) catastrophe. These preppers often have well secured caches of weapons to protect their property and family. Level III individuals have networked throughout their neighborhood and region with others who will share skills such as doctors, military, farmers and more.  I would reserve one other level of preppers, Level four, to be true survivalists.  In the prepper community, they are ready for 'the end of the world as we know it' (acronym is TEOTWAWKI).  They encompass all of the Level III prepper's capabilities.  Plus, they are trained and capable to live off of the Earth.  Literally, hunting and living in the wild.

Although the Level III and Level IV preppers may bring scrutiny by the public as they are often thought they are alarmists, they are the most prepared and self-sufficient individuals in the world.  If a disaster would occur, these folks would sustain their lives with confidence.  

Disaster preparedness is encouraged by FEMA and other government agencies.  Federal and state agencies have advised citizens for years to be able to have enough provisions to last three days to one week.  Agencies have provided disaster awareness to alert citizens of the need to plan ahead for the unknown.  For example, the impact of Hurricane Katrina on the populous could have been dramatically reduced if more citizens had provisions for just three days.

As we know, there are limits to what a government can or should provide following a catastrophe. Disaster preparedness comes down to an individual's decision to take care of their family.  

After digesting the information above, a citizen should reflect on their state of preparedness.  Ponder the question, if a disaster were to occur, how prepared is your family to have provisions for three to seven days?    Perhaps the Boy Scout motto: "Be prepared," has new relevance.  Being prepared is an obligation to our family's safety.  Yet, the level or degree of preparedness is based on your comfort, risk and even faith.  

For more information, contact the American Red Cross or FEMA.  Both have information readily available on their website.  For a taste of the prepper community, visit the American Prepper Network at  http://www.americanpreppersnetwork.com/.

VITAMINS: AN OFTEN OVERLOOKED ESSENTIAL

Many involved with preparedness will assess their needs and make plans to address many avenues.  Yet, one often overlooked item is key to you and your preparedness group's health-Vitamins.

While many are devoting so much time and effort to bolstering there food and water supply, preppers should also include vitamins in their plan.  Assuring that for every day of food and water you are storing for each person, that you also provide at least one daily dose of vitamins.  Look for a good multi-vitamin that will provide a broad range of vitamins and minerals that will meet daily nutritional guidelines.  Just read the label.

As a part of a thorough food storage plan most plans do focus on nutrition.  Although some novice preppers just bulk up on food items, nutrition is key to a well thought out plan.  Having a variety of foods can provide sufficient vitamins to nourish the human body.  Yet, the addition of a regular vitamin regimen is highly recommended.

Why are vitamins important to preparedness?  Bottom line is you and your group's health and longevity.  During a disaster situation, a daily vitamin regimen can assure each one of your group has what their body needs to remain healthy.  This will help to deter illness and disease.  And, to assure members of your group remain strong to assist with their daily tasks necessary to survive a disaster.  Even more so, if it is a catastrophic or long term recovery scenario, battling fatigue and maintaining good health will be a growing priority.  

Overall, vitamins can give your group the edge to sustain life and to assure a balanced food management plan.

THE NECESSITY OF WATER

Water.  The liquid of life.  A combination of basic elements, hydrogen and oxygen.  When many focus on the priority of food.  The true necessity is water.

Water sustains life.  The body requires water for formation of tissue, mental awareness, proper function of vital organs and more.  One key symptom the body is deficient of H20 is dehydration.  Yes, a human may begin to feel the onset of food starvation after a few days, but thirst will become evident much quicker.  Depending on the time and quantity one has consumed water or water based beverage, a human can develop the early onset of thirst and dehydration within 12-24 hours.  

Water is essential for hygiene.  Many think of water as for consumption.  However, water is needed by humans for controlling the hygiene in perhaps a very disparaging environment.  In an active disaster environment followed by a lengthy survival period, water is needed to keep individuals clean to maintain a hygienic environment.  This is even more crucial in the situation of several humans living in close quarters over time.  Basically, it may come to the need to control disease and contagion as a result of declining hygiene.

Water is a basic of food preparation and more.  Food preparation will require water for two reasons.  One, food may require water to be edible or boil water for consumption.  Secondly, water is necessary to keep cooking equipment clean.  Keeping pots, pans, glasses, utensils, etc., clean is important to maintain a healthy living environment.  

Now that we've made the case for importance.  How much should one conserve to be ready when disaster strikes?  Many preparedness gurus recommend at a minimum, one gallon of water per person in your preparedness plan.  However, this is based upon a relatively short term disaster scenario.  Should a major event carry you without access to clean water beyond three weeks, many other experts now agree that two gallons of water per person is the real minimum.  The two gallon threshold builds in many of the needed components mentioned above, including hygiene.  Based on our research, we recommend two gallons per person.

Water storage and management.  Many preparedness experts recommend having a dedicated water plan.  A plan separate, in some regards, from your food storage plan. (That is how important water is to your survival.)  Many preparedness studies agree that using a variety of water containers is the best approach.  It's a matter of practicality.  Large water barrels with a spigot may be good for food preparation, general hygiene, and cleaning food equipment.  Bottled water is easy to grab, consume and transport.  Assure you dedicate adequate storage space and consider the weight of transporting large water containers.  Some build water purification equipment into their plan.  You may consider designating a member of your preparedness team to monitor daily consumption and usage to assure water levels are on track with your preparedness plan.

All in all, water is the primary need of humans.  Your ability to assure sufficient water resources will bolster your plan and the quality of life of your preparedness team.

MEDIA EFFECT ON THE PREPAREDNESS COMMUNITY

There's a growing movement of individuals entering the prepper community.  With heightened media attention focusing on disaster preparedness, the ranks of preppers will continue to grow.

The media portrayal of certain preppers and the prepper community is askew.  What networks, such as National Geographic or Discovery, are producing is certainly creating buzz and with it raising interest.  However, most of the individuals featured on shows like "Doomsday Preppers"  are not your typical, level headed prepper.  In reflection, the networks actually smear the image of some individuals who, (at least on the surface), appear fairly sound and skilled at preparedness.  Some preppers commenting on the NatGeo series have stated the show is tearing down the image of the prepper community.

Although, preppers at home may not be able to immediately curb the media's slight, we can work to guide those new to preparedness to sound practices.  The formation of local groups to provide good direction and instruction is essential to preparing our communities for the unknown.  The American Prepper Network is actively working to launch groups to provide a forum for preppers to gain the proper skills and knowledge to be ready when disaster strikes.  Preppers new and veteran can join up with groups to share best practices via groups found on Meetup.

As the nature of prepping, our impact is local.  We work to protect our families and foster the tenets of disaster preparedness in our community.