The EssentiaList

by Catherine Haug with Sally Janover

The May 26 edition of the Daily Inter Lake featured a cover story by Gillian Flaccus of the Associated Press, “Crisis spurs spike in ‘suburban survivalists’.”

The article notes that typically-suburban people are now stocking up on food and necessities in the wake of our current economic crisis. Flaccus states:

“Emergency supply retailers and military surplus stores nationwide have seen business boom in the past few months as an increasing number of Americans spooked by the economy rush to stock up on gear that was once the domain of hard-core survivalists. …

For … a fire protection contractor, that’s meant spending roughly $20,000 since September on survival gear — and trying to persuade others to do the same.”

Yes, you read that right. In a time when people are losing their jobs and tightening their spending belts, this man spent in 6 months, about what most Bigfork residents earn in a year, on survival gear. (more…)

by Catherine Haug

During the fall of 2007, I was visiting my former home in Portland Oregon, when I found an inspiring piece in the local newspaper.  In fact, it was this article that started me thinking about a way to rejuvenate the community of Bigfork, and eventually led to my involvement with ESP.

We may never face the kind of emergency that happened in Vernonia Oregon, a small town between Portland and Astoria, but the idea of being prepared, on a community level, for ANY emergency appeals to me.  Wouldn’t it be nice to know which community members have certain expertise, should your need for that expertise arise? (more…)