National Preparedness Month

August 31, 2026August 2, 2026Jensperspectiveblog 4 Comments

Disasters don’t plan ahead, but you can. The entire month of September observes National Preparedness Month.

No matter where you live, you are subject to disasters. Natural disaster and man-made disasters affect everyone and will cause severe damage and endanger lives. Hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, landslides, wildfires, hot spells or cold spells are all natural disasters that can be deadly to people and property.

Man-made disasters such as terrorism, crime, power outages, famines, or war are just as terrifying as any natural disasters. Preparation is essential for the safety of you and your family. It can also ensure valuable personal possessions are taken care of properly before you lose them.

Family First

Deciding how long a disaster will last and the after-effects are the first step in preparation. Depending on the type of emergency, you may need food and water for a few days. Food that is easily stored and prepared is critical during a disaster. When disaster strikes, you want to make sure your family has water to last for a specified duration of time. It is recommended each family member have 1 gallon of water per day to remain hydrated. Having proper eating utensils, small stoves that run off propane or a grill for cooking, matches, candles, blankets and extra clothes are a few items to pack away in a safe, accessible place. Try not to forget about family activities! Pack away some board games, cards or books to help the time pass by. Having things for children to do will also keep their mind at ease.

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More than half of all parents lack a designated meeting place to fall back to in an emergency. Family fire drills may seem silly, but they do serve a purpose. Unfortunately, many Americans don’t have a list of emergency contact numbers either. Make sure the entire family has memorized any numbers that are of significance in the case of disaster.

Personal Property

Finally, personal property is always a concern when natural disaster hits. Though it’s not always possible, you can do a few things to make sure you save the valuable documents that mean the most to you. Make an Emergency Binder.

If you have a computer, you can scan any documents and put them on an external drive. Store the drive someplace safe and dry. With today’s technology, we can save our photo memories more easily. If saving photographs of family is important, consider scanning them on an external so you can reprint them if the originals are lost or destroyed.

Most importantly, make sure your insurance policies are up-to-date. You can visit your insurance agent any time to review what you have, what is covered and what options you have in the event a disaster destroys your home or vehicles.

HISTORY

The Department of Homeland Security designated September as National Preparedness Month to educate the public on the importance of disaster preparation.

HOW TO OBSERVE

Preparing for a disaster might seem like an impossible task and we hope you never have to experience one. But if you do, government agencies like FEMA and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as organizations like the American Red Cross, provide excellent websites with enough information to get you started. These websites also offer suggestions on how to plan in specific instances, like being without power for weeks.

Your insurance companies will also have information you can use as you prepare. Insurance companies encourage families to prepare for disasters. It makes their jobs easier once the emergency is over and it also gives you peace of mind that you were covered correctly. Make sure to connect to your county’s Emergency Management system. They will be able to provide warnings, information and help if disaster strikes near you.

Use #NationalPreparednessMonth in social media postings.

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Hurricane Readiness

May 31, 2026May 18, 2026Jensperspectiveblog 4 Comments

With the month of June comes sunny skies, fireflies, barbeques and yes, hurricane season. Before the first named hurricane of the season, the time to prepare is now! We live on the Gulf Coast of Florida, with some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. While beachfront and outdoor living are must haves in the sunshine state, so to is being ready for when Mother Nature sends a curve ball our way.

Florida, Alabama, Texas, Georgia, The Carolina’s, are among those on the east coast who need to have a plan if something named comes your way. Along the Gulf Coast we often see powerful thunderstorms roll through. While these can be scary they are not the same as a serious hurricane.

Ivan, Sally, Katrina, Opal, Dennis, Andrew, Micheal, Helene and more. Chances are if you’ve seen any of these or many others I can’t remember the name of, the devastating effects are felt by communities big and small. With that in mind I remember talking to people especially after Micheal hit my hometown. Some of these need to knows have been somehow lost in teanslation.

So without further ado here is an emergency preparedness list for hurricanes. Most items can be used for lots of other emergencies as well. Fire, flood, tornado, tropical weather, and more. What ever threatens your home and family, basic preparation saves lives.

One of the worst things I’ve both seen and heard is; Why it takes so long to get help? Being raised in Florida especially before the technological advances, we were taught that if disaster strikes, you have to be prepared to live on your own for at least 3 days. That means no power, enough food, water, medication, essentials, to survive by yourself for 3 days.

Keep this in mind when preparing your readiness supplies. Account for all family members and pets. Our pets are a part of our family that means they go where we go. That will be vitally important if evacuating.

Help will come from outside sources but trust me when I tell you experiences have taught they mean it when they say 3 -5 days on your own. Depending on the size, severity, and extent of damages, this is only the minimum. First priority will have resources staged. They cannot do so to close to proposed landfall or it becomes a victim of the storm as well.

Then there is the unpredictably of exactly where landfall will be. As storms prepare to make actual landfall they can wobble as much as 100 miles. So while things have come a long way in meteorology, mother nature can still surprise us. Please know what to expect and get your news from a reliable source.

Every year for just about every storm in the last 10 years I would love to kick some reporters and weather people. Some report from live places where there will be impact and have no clue where they are or in what direction other places are. I’ll never forget watching from a hotel in Georgia while the news media reporting didn’t know what was west or east. It is supremely annoying if you are watching from afar trying to determine if and how bad your home might have sustained damage! This was not a small or local station either.

So get a plan, prepare now and stay safe!

Spring Cleaning

March 31, 2026March 3, 2026Jensperspectiveblog 1 Comment

Spring cleaning: it’s a tradition that feels as old as time itself, yet remains as relevant today as ever. As the days lengthen and the temperature warms, there’s something about the onset of spring that instinctively prompts us to open the windows, let in the fresh air, and undertake a thorough cleaning of our homes. This annual ritual, steeped in history and varying cultures, is not just about maintaining a clean environment; it’s a symbolic gesture towards renewal, rejuvenation, and starting anew.

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The concept of spring cleaning can be traced back to several origins, from the Iranian Norouz, the Persian New Year, which falls on the first day of spring, to the Jewish tradition of cleaning the house in preparation for Passover. No matter its origins, the core idea remains the same: clearing out the old to make way for the new. In a modern context, this means decluttering, deep-cleaning, and organizing our living spaces to usher in the season of growth and renewal.

Why is spring cleaning so important? Firstly, it’s a practical necessity. After months of being shut indoors with windows sealed against the cold, our homes are likely to have accumulated dust, grime, and clutter. A thorough cleaning helps remove allergens, improve air quality, and simply make our living spaces more pleasant and hygienic. But beyond the practicalities, spring cleaning holds psychological benefits. It can be incredibly satisfying and mentally refreshing to clear out clutter, organize our belongings, and make our spaces feel fresh and new. It’s an act that can signal a fresh start, not just for our homes, but for ourselves as well.

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So, how can we tackle spring cleaning in an effective and manageable way? Here are a few tips:

1. **Make a Plan:** Start with a checklist of all the tasks you want to accomplish. Breaking the process down into smaller, more manageable tasks can make the project feel less daunting.

2. **Declutter First:** Before you start cleaning, declutter. It’s easier to clean spaces that aren’t filled with unused or unnecessary items. Plus, decluttering can have its own therapeutic effects.

3. **Room by Room:** Tackle your cleaning room by room. This strategy ensures that you’re thorough and allows you to see progress, which can be motivating.

4. **Natural Cleaners:** Consider using eco-friendly cleaning products. They’re better for the environment and often just as effective as chemical-based cleaners.

5. **Don’t Forget the Outdoors:** Spring cleaning isn’t just for the interior of your home. Take some time to clean up your outdoor spaces as well.

As you embark on your spring cleaning journey, remember that it’s not just about the physical act of cleaning. It’s about creating a space that reflects and supports your wellbeing, a home that serves as a sanctuary as the world blooms anew. Happy cleaning!

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NATIONAL LAUNDRY DAY

April 14, 2023April 17, 2023Jensperspectiveblog 1 Comment

Benjamin Franklin may have overlooked one certainty in life: laundry. National Laundry Day on April 15th creates an opportunity to assess our laundry habits and teach our children to develop good ones.

Humans have been doing laundry in numerous ways for as long as it has existed. One of the earliest ways was beating the dust and dirt out of our clothes and bedding with a stick or pounding the grime out against a rock in the river.

Early forms of soap were developed from a mixture of animal fat and ashes. Washboards and tubs replaced washing by a river. Scrubbing the fabric over the ribs of the washboard and soap helped release the grime and stains. Humans also washed their clothes in manually cranked tubs. These tubs eventually led to the first automatic washing machine. The first U.S. patent for an electric washing machine was granted to Alva J. Fisher in 1910.

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Dry cleaning is another process we’ve used to clean our clothes. These days, so many clothes are wash-and-wear, dry cleaning has moved lower and lower on the household budget.

When we do laundry has also changed, too. Before commercial washing machines and dryers, clothes were hung on a line to dry. Though many people still line dry their wash, few people have clotheslines. Also, the poorer a person was, the more frequently they washed their clothes and linens. Once a week was fairly average and wash day was traditionally on a Monday as noted in several books and nursery rhymes. For example, this is a nursery rhyme from before the Victorian era shows weekly laundry washed on a Monday:

They That Wash on Monday

They that wash on Monday
Have all week to dry;

They that wash on Tuesday
Are not much awry;

They that wash on Wednesday
Are not so much to blame;

They that wash on Thursday
Wash for shame;

They that wash on Friday
Wash in need;

And they that wash on Saturday?
They are dirty indeed!

NATIONAL LAUNDRY DAY HISTORY

Though laundry has a long dirty and clean history, we were unable to sort out who the founder of the day is. However, in the early 1990s, September 15th used to be celebrated as National Laundry Worker Day.

HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalLaundryDay

Do your laundry.
Teach others how to do laundry.
Volunteer to help someone in need with doing their laundry.
Organize your linen closet.
Explore different ways to keep your laundry fresher longer.
Share your stain removing tips and tricks.
Join the conversation by using #NationalLaundryDay on social media.

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Laundry FAQ

Q. What does “Don’t air your dirty laundry in public” mean?
A. This laundry saying refers to having arguments in public or discussing things in public that should remain private.

Q. What does “laundry list” mean?
A. A laundry list is usually a long, detailed list of items. The lists can be related to upcoming events, to-do lists, or demands as part of an agreement.

Q. Are there other laundry days on the calendar?
A. Yes! Check out these fun days:

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