Florence Destructive Strike Is Imminent

According to the updated reports, Florence has been upgraded to a Category 4 Hurricane so it is time to implement your hurricane preparedness plan and be ready to implement it if necessary.

​You are either leaving town, going to a local shelter or your home is a "safe" place to hunker down for the storm. Florence has rapidly intensified and is likely to hit the East Coast Thursday. Life-threatening storm surge and destructive winds are expected. Massive inland rainfall flooding is expected and tropical storm force winds may arrive as son as Wednesday night.

Your main goal is to try to keep your stress levels under control with prayer and meditation, eat high energy foods, keep your cool and try and make some happy storm memories so the children are not fearful! 

The availability of safe water and sanitation facilities, the degree of crowding, the underlying health status of the population, and the availability of healthcare services all interact within the context of the local disease ecology to influence the risk for communicable diseases and death in the affected population.

Beside the damage of roofs, flooding and power lines, when a hurricane finally passes, it can spread deadly disease in its wake. We need to be concerned about Cholera. Cholera is an infectious disease, which can cause severe diarrhea which can lead to dehydration and if untreated, death. Dysentery, an intestinal illness caused by Shigella bacteria, is also known to worsen after hurricanes. Mosquito borne ailments are a concern and pools of water are perfect breeding ground for the insects that transmit diseases. Generally speaking, mosquitoes mean more disease. The concern is people are generally not in the best of shape and any of these factors are a cause for concern. 

Flu season is also right around the corner with cases already reported and increased viral activity set to begin early October via the CDC. 

Symptoms can begin about 2 days (but can range from 1 to 4 days)  after the virus enters the body. 

​That means that you may be able to pass on the flu to someone else before you know you are sick, as well as while you are sick. 

​Some people can be infected with the flu virus but have no symptoms. During this time, those people may still spread the virus to others.

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.
​Psalm 57:1-2 

1. Never waste money on “hurricane food” that you would not eat on a normal day. 
2. Many foods with a long shelf life have high sodium content, so use in moderation. 
3.  Eat up perishables such as meat, eggs and dairy quickly.
4. Make a plan for nonperishable like water, trail mix, beans, tuna, pasta, cereal and canned fruit. Dried apples, cranberries, prunes, nuts, seeds, protein powders, bone broth powder, raisins, brazil nuts, pecans, and powder coffee creamers, tea, honey, instant coffee and powder soups. You can probably heat water easily! Pudding for the kids, fresh fruit and veggies, bananas carrots, broccoli and cauliflower will keep for a week. Citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, limes and grapefruit, keep for a few weeks, as do melons, apples and hard-skinned gourds, like butternut and spaghetti squash. 
5. Gather disposable plates, plastic ware, & cups. A dirty sink will stress out the cook! 
6. Olives, sunflower seeds, sprouts, and chickpeas can be tossed with olive oil and spices. 
7. When power goes out make oat meal or chia pudding for the morning. Combine 1 part oats and 1 part water, and let the mixture sit overnight.  In the morning you can add fruit or banana, raisins, or apples or hormone building flax seeds. 
8. Canned veggies, tomatoes, legumes, can all be eaten with olive oil and spices. (Make sure you have a hand-held can opener.) 
9. Mash chickpeas, and lemon juice, garlic, and salt for a hummus dip.  For a bean dip mash up beans, such as black, kidney, and cannellini.
10. Carrots, cucumbers, and beets can all be spiralized into noodles  with a veggie peeler, and then tossed with seasonings olive oil.
11. Canned tuna with onion, diced tomato, and herbs is delicious.
12. A high protein avocado, tuna, celery, onion, herbs, apple, walnuts, mustard, cumin, or seeds. 
13. Veggie wraps are super easy 
14. Peanut butter and jelly on bread. Add sliced banana, apple, or strawberries. Or use whole-wheat tortillas.
15. Boil eggs. 
16. While your stove still works, (if you eat bacon) fry some up ahead of time. 
17. Roast a few heads of garlic.
18. Purchase some superfood powders such as Greens, Acai,  Baobab, Camu camu, hemp, maca, matcha green tea powder, moringa, spirulina, or tumeric, powder just to name a few which will increase the antioxidants, hormones, protein, calcium, vitamin A, fiber, vitamins, omega 3's and a host of other nutrients in your blood.  
19. Do not forget to keep up with your supplement program during the storm. 
20. Great time to catch up with your Bible reading program and early nights of sleep! 

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