Our opt-in monthly e-newsletter shares ideas and stories, program and product announcements, and other resources we hope you find of interest. We’re always looking for input from agencies, volunteer groups, schools and others so if you have any news, suggested books or feedback you’d like to share, please email info@itsadisaster.net

This month's topics: 

  IN THE SPOTLIGHT: GCIS
  PREPPING WITH CELIAC DISEASE (our story)
  GLUTEN FREE EMERGENCY KITS
  AS THE EARTH HURLS
  ON THE FRONT LINES
  DID YOU KNOW...
  COOL LINKS


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IN THE SPOTLIGHT: GCIS

Griffith Colson Intelligence Service is a leading provider of security and intelligence communications services in the United States and around the world.

GCIS’s network support of the FBI, CIA, DoD and other intelligence and law enforcement agencies has created an infrastructure of vital information and online access to data the public must have in order to remain vigilant and aware of global threats and security issues.

Some examples of GCIS units and services include…

IntelCenter Briefing Room - the Communications Command Center monitors, gathers and deciphers vital intelligence, national security, military and emergency briefings and makes data available for security professionals and citizens. CCC’s ICON and CINDI systems gather, sort, and translate information from any language and prepare it for dissemination. And the new VAST software application adds a layer of protection against cyber attack or security breach attempts.

Intelligence Portal – provides feeds from DNI, FBI, CIA, InterPol, Investigative Project on Terrorism (IPT), DoD and DHS.

Counter-Terrorism Center – monitors and covers counter-terrorist strategies and efforts (as well as emergencies and disasters) worldwide. It also offers direct links and information on today's most wanted terrorists. 

Cyber Security Task Force – comprised of a dedicated network of individuals to gather information and report suspicious Internet activities to the appropriate law enforcement and intelligence agencies.

Online media - GCIS owns and operates six online television channels (including Homeland TV Network) and four online magazines that could, within a moments notice, be activated to replace daily news with real-time emergency instructions and intelligence briefings.

Some other units and features include the Welsh Security Branch, Human Trafficking Unit, GCIS Air Security Unit, Art Protection Unit and the Space Security Center.

GCIS is a member of the National Association of Investigative Specialists and the International Executive Security Association. Learn more about this premier security firm specializing in intelligence communications and network support at http://griffithcolsonintelligenceservice.us and visit the GCIS IntelCenter Briefing Room 
 
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PREPPING WITH CELIAC DISEASE (our story)

We wanted to share some personal stuff in this post since it might benefit others. Bill and I have been in the preparedness industry since 1996 (shortly before we got married) but prior to that we both always had full pantries and supplies on-hand in case of emergency. For the past 10 years Bill has been battling many serious health issues (too many to cover here ~ will be another book someday), but a few things we learned have really impacted our prepping habits.

Back in 2000, when Bill was 47, his doctor said Bill had leukemia and he needed to have his spleen, gall bladder and half his liver removed. Needless to say we did NOT go that route! Good thing too since it turned out he had a massive infestation of liver flukes (worms) and severe heavy metals. After 7 years of major cleansing and detoxing (including some very scary moments when I wasn’t sure if he’d survive), he started getting a tiny bit better but something was still wrong. The healthier he ate (e.g. oatmeal, pastas, veggies, etc) the sicker he got. He was constantly nauseous, belly would bloat up, joints were severely aching, extreme fatigue, itchy little red sores would pop up, etc. Plus his heart rate and blood pressure started climbing and he was getting the beginning stages of diabetes.

In mid-2007 we visited a naturopath who said Bill had classic symptoms of celiac disease. Basically his body cannot handle gluten (i.e. wheat, oats, barley and rye). Bill had a food allergy test run and reacted to almost every food listed on the chart (except wheat but that’s typical. Celiac Disease is not a food allergy - it is an autoimmune disease and there are other ways to diagnose it.) 

The test also indicated Bill was allergic to all nightshade plants (i.e. tomatoes, potatoes, all kinds of peppers, eggplant and tobacco. As fyi, nightshades can cause inflammation and achy joints, similar to fibromyalgia.) Doctor Smith explained once we got Bill’s gluten issue under control, he would probably be able to slowly add back in many foods ... but for a few years we had a very short list of "okay" things to eat.

For those of you not familiar with celiac disease (we had no clue what it was), it’s a genetic issue people are born with and it’s not contagious. When Bill ingests gluten, his immune system creates antibodies that attack and damage or destroy the tiny hairs (villi) lining the small intestine so his body cannot properly absorb nutrients. Even tiny amounts of gluten in foods can affect those with CD and cause health problems. And damage can occur to the small bowel even when there are no symptoms present.

According to the Celiac Disease Foundation, 1 out of 133 people in the U.S. are affected with celiac disease. And CD occurs in 5%-15% of the offspring and siblings of a person with the disease.

In hindsight, Bill’s father, uncle and 2 sisters all died between the ages of 47 and 54 and we feel sure that they all had CD. Also looking back Bill was addicted to sugar his entire life – candy, fruit, sodas, you name it. His body couldn’t absorb proper nutrients but sugars are easily digested so he lived mostly on sugar and adrenaline. And when that type of person gets into their late 40s or early 50s, the body and immune system just wears out leaving it vulnerable.

There’s much more to this story we can expand on someday but … to the main reason we’re sharing all this. When you discover a family member has celiac disease you start reading ingredients. Almost every canned, bottled, processed, packaged, frozen, dried and ready-made food or sauce has gluten in it!!! In other words about 95% of our stored supplies were like rat poison to Bill! Compound that with Bill’s allergies to tomatoes, potatoes and all peppers (from jalapenos to bell or black pepper to cayenne to paprika) … we realized we were screwed.

There are many gluten-free vendors on the market including some long-term-storage food and emergency kit vendors who make an effort to carry specialty products (including one we are highlighting below). But people need to very careful about the "gluten free" label since many companies package both regular foods and gluten-free foods in the same warehouse so it can get cross contaminated very easily.

Even though Bill is still battling health problems, he is starting to get a little bit stronger now. We have to be extremely careful with foods since his immune and digestive systems are not 100% yet. We cook everything from scratch and have decided to can and store our own foods, but that can be tough living in the city since you don’t know how meats and produce are handled. So … we recently put our Tucson home up for sale and are now searching for a personal farm with a personal orchard back in the midwest (zone 7).

We’ll be sharing our journey online through our Billy Box Adventures page and welcome and appreciate any leads from our readers on helping us find our new paradise! We’re focusing our search in SE / E OK or NE / E TX but also snooping in NW / W AR and southern MO.

One final note regarding celiac disease or other food allergies, please make sure you store "special" foods in grab & go kits and pantries to accommodate loved ones with dietary issues. Learn more about CD from the CD Fdn, CSA, Mayo Clinic or NIH.

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GLUTEN FREE EMERGENCY KITS 

Gluten Free Emergency Kits stands as the industry leading provider offering gluten-free emergency kits.

Gluten Free Emergency Kits are produced by their sister company, Mixes From The Heartland Inc. The Celiac Sprue Association approved factory is 100% free of wheat, rye, barley, oats and their byproducts. In addition to being tested in-house, all products are Eliza tested at the University of Nebraska’s lab at less than 5 ppm for wheat. MFTH Inc. ensures suppliers of raw materials also avoid cross contamination in order to uphold the integrity of the finished product. 

Gluten Free Emergency Kits supply the necessary ingredients to provide meals for any type of emergency. Meats are USDA approved, commercially canned and require no refrigeration. A wide variety of kits are available including 24 hour, 72 hour, 30 day and 1 year kits. Just add water to have savory, gluten-free meals that can be consumed by the whole family. 

Learn more about Gluten Free Emergency Kits at www.glutenfreeemergencykits.com ... and sign up for their Newsletter to stay current on their latest deals and free giveaways!!

Gluten Free Emergency Kits is a Celiac Sprue Association (CSA) Benefactor Member
 
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AS THE EARTH HURLS

Check out "As the Earth Hurls" (our 3-part series about volcanoes) on the Arizona Preppers Network blog.

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ON THE FRONT LINES

(A new segment with interesting articles and blog posts by First Responders for First Responders)

Volunteer Does Not Equal Free by Mark Chubb April 21, 2010 … Monday night, I fronted up to a meeting of my community’s Neighborhood Emergency Team (NET) volunteer leaders. (NET is our local implementation of the CERT concept promoted by FEMA through Citizen Corps). The session was a stark reminder just how far the local emergency management agenda has strayed from the community’s priorities because of federal grant requirements… Read full post on Homeland Security Watch 

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DID YOU KNOW…

...a leading Italian vulcanologist warned that Europe’s largest undersea volcano could crumble at any time, unleashing a tsunami that would engulf southern Italy with little warning?! Source: Earthweek

...because FEMA has been federalizing "routine" natural disasters historically dealt with entirely by state and local governments, two consequences have emerged .. 1) state and local governments cut funding for EMs, and 2) FEMA spends too much time responding to routine disasters and not enough time preparing for catastrophic natural disasters. Source: The Heritage Foundation

...officials in parts of ID, MT, NE, ND, SD and WY are worried about a costly grasshopper infestation this summer unless some well-timed cool and wet weather stifles the pests when they hatch around May and June?! Source: Yahoo! News 

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COOL LINKS / IDEAS

U.S. First Responders Association is a non-profit, network of firefighters, EMS, rescue, police officers, military and civilian support teams. The purpose of USFRA is to advance the profession of fire, emergency, police and military services, as well as form a closer bond of fellowship between its members with the focus primarily on: Training, Tactics, Safety, Education and Community Outreach. www.usfra.org

The Dox Box 9-1-1 is a flame-retardant and water-resistant kit with compartments for anything that could hold sentimental value like photographs, jewelry, passports, CDs and more. It has a glow-in-the-dark strip that goes on the exterior of the kit so a person can easily locate it with or without a flashlight — especially handy when an emergency results in a power outage. www.doxbox911.com 

Some cool Prepper sites … Pioneer Living/Back to Basics shares information and articles on disaster preparedness, growing and preserving your own nutritious food, foraging for food in the wilderness, water survival, and basic every day living. And check out Prepper.TV with videos from survival expert and media personality Brian Brawdy and others. www.pioneerliving.net and www.prepper.tv

Got a cool link or idea? Email it to Janet at info@itsadisaster.net

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And if you have any news or ideas you’d like to share, please email info@itsadisaster.net

p.s. If you know an agency, nonprofit, school, church, volunteer group (like a CERT, MRC, Radio Club, etc) who could benefit from our preparedness book and/or funding ideas, please have them call 1-888-999-4325 or email us for a FREE information kit!

Stay safe out there, j & B

Bill & Janet Liebsch
Fedhealth
7739 E Broadway Blvd # 416
Tucson, AZ 85710-3947 USA
1-888-999-4325 7a-4p Pacific M-F
http://www.itsadisaster.net



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