ReadyCorps Daily Brief

Building Vital Connections in American Contingency: A Guide for New Members

Ep #34: Entering into American Contingency membership is all about getting connected with your regional, state, county, and interest groups right away. We are not an organization where sitting on the sidelines will help you. If you want the total value of AmCon to manifest, it is imperative that you actively join your regional, state, and county groups. From there, you can find and participate in the category and interest groups that align with your expertise or areas where you want to grow and share with other members.

Regardless of your political, religious, or cultural background or affiliation, you are welcome here as long as you stand with us in our values and mission. We believe in being there for one another, preparing to be our own first responders, valuing honesty and trustworthiness, and being open to hearing diverse opinions.

American Contingency brings value to every member, but you have to take action. By actively participating and connecting with your community, you can fully experience the support, knowledge, and preparedness that AmCon offers. Remember, we are a community built on active involvement and mutual support.

When you’re ready to build the skills, network, and confidence to be prepared for whatever comes next, join us at AmericanContingency.com. We’re here when you’re ready. We’ll keep the fire going for you so you can find your way.

How a side hustle and creative debt solutions can get you out of credit card debt

Ep #33: Credit card debt can feel like King Kong on your chest, and if you live on a fixed income, then figuring out a strategy to get yourself out from under the debt beast can feel like a never-ending carousel of balances going up and down. Let's discuss some strategies for elevating this burden so you can walk freely again, taking deep breaths, without the anxiety of a potentially missed paycheck or due date looming over you. In this episode, you'll learn how to boost your income with flexible side gigs and use credit card balance transfers with 0% interest to pay down debt effectively. Whether juggling multiple credit cards or having limited credit options, we've got actionable tips and my real-life success story to guide you on your journey to financial stability. A side hustle might seem like a lot to take on right now. However, the freedom you will feel when you aren't beholden to the faceless multi-nationals counting their bouillon like Scrooge McDuck will be a relief that I promise will bring you an internal joy of accomplishment that will fuel so many other areas and endeavors in your life.

When you’re ready to build the skills, network, and confidence to be ready for whatever comes next, join us at AmericanContingency.com. We’re here when you’re ready. We’ll keep the fire going for you so you can find your way.

Enjoying your Summer on a budget

Ep #32: Discover how to make the most of summer with strategies for fun activities, winter preparation, saving money, and enhancing family time. Explore various outdoor activities like hiking, biking, swimming, and camping that boost physical and mental health. Learn practical gardening and home maintenance tips to prepare for the colder months, including planting vegetable gardens and performing essential home repairs. Find out how to save money by reducing energy costs, participating in budget-friendly community events, and undertaking DIY projects. Strengthen family bonds through regular activities, educational trips, and teaching life skills. This episode offers insights to ensure a productive, enjoyable, and economically savvy summer.

When you’re ready to build the skills, network, and confidence to be prepared for whatever comes next, join us at AmericanContingency.com. We’re here when you’re ready. We’ll keep the fire going for you so you can find your way.

Weather apps, tornados, and feeling safe (sort of)

Ep #31: Tornado sirens going off in my community. Alerts blasting over cell phones. Lightening lighting up the sky as if Zeus is furious with everything below Mt. Olympus. Thunderstorms and tornado cells roaming your community can bring with them massive levels of uncertainty; I know it did for me recently. For me, when weather systems rock my home, being a part of American Contingency affords me connections within our network that can relay information to me so I know what is happening out there and can calm my family down and alert my neighbors to the info I know so they too can make a wise decision for the safety of their family.

I have Thom and the American Contingency community. Who do you have? You can never have enough information when vicious weather systems are raging in your community. I text Thom when the alerts go off, and he relays information to me using the apps I discuss in this episode, which I will list below. 

When Mother Nature turns her eye toward you, how are you obtaining the information that will help you make decisions that can directly affect the emotions happening in your home and those of your friends and neighbors who could be in a panic state? You probably don't have Thom's phone number, but you won't need it with these apps. Now you will know what we know, which, time and time again, has helped my family traverse the booms of thunder and the feelings of electricity rushing through our bodies as lightning hits the ground in our neighborhood.

 

Radar Apps:

1. American Contingency: Weather tracking team: AmericanContingency.com
2. Youtube Weather Tracker: Ryan Hayy Y'all
   1. https://www.youtube.com/@RyanHallYall
3. Weather Underground (has phone app): https://www.wunderground.com/
4. Radar Scope (has phone app): 
   1. https://shop.radarscope.app/tag/radarscope-pro/
5. Radar Omega (has phone app)
   1. https://www.radaromega.com/
6. IEM-bot
   1. https://weather.im/iembot/
7. Tornado (Red Cross app)
   1. https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/mobile-apps.html
8. Local weather apps
   1. Search for your local news stations app 
9. Storm Radar Weather Tracker
   1. https://www.accuweather.com/en/us/huntsville/35801/weather-radar/326704

 

When you’re ready to build the skills, network, and confidence to be ready for whatever comes next, join us at AmericanContingency.com. We’re here when you’re ready. We’ll keep the fire going for you so you can find your way.

Mobility Preparedness: Personal & Community

Ep #30: Explore the critical aspects of mobility across personal readiness, community engagement, and practical strategies in our latest podcast episode. We delve into how physical fitness and psychological preparedness enhance personal safety, the benefits of community-led safety initiatives, and the essentials of navigating outdoor environments. Learn about the importance of rapid departure readiness, including tips on 'Go Bags,' vehicle preparation, and home security. Additionally, we discuss how to maintain economic and home stability when traveling, ensuring you're always ready to move. This episode provides comprehensive insights into making informed decisions for your safety and preparedness, offering valuable tips and strategies to empower you and your community.

 

When you’re ready to build the skills, network, and confidence to be ready for whatever comes next, join us at AmericanContingency.com. We’re here when you’re ready. We’ll keep the fire going for you so you can find your way.

How to talk about preparedness so people listen, care, and take action

Ep #29: Today, we're talking about something super important: being ready for anything, whether a natural/man-made disaster or something unexpected. It's all about having those critical conversations with your family, friends, co-workers, loved ones, church, and community to ensure everyone's on the same page. I'll share some key tips on why certain ways of discussing this pertinent topic will motivate them to engage with you, what to talk about, how to approach the conversation, and what to do to keep everyone involved and prepared. It's about making sure our circle is safe and sound; believe me, it will make a huge difference when we all sleep at night and know one another is ready for when we have to be ready. So, let's dive in and get everyone prepared together.

When you're ready to build the skills, network, and confidence to be ready for whatever comes next - join us at AmericanContingency.com. 

Mental Health Preparedness: How you experience anxiety, judgement, and anger

Ep #28: Have you ever considered how the emotions of anxiety, judgment, and anger shape our lives and our decisions, for better or for worse? Preparing for emergencies or disasters transcends the realm of tangible supplies and bug-out bags; it fundamentally entails cultivating mental resilience and maintaining mental health and wellness to navigate crises effectively.

Today, I delve into the dual nature of these influential emotions, anxiety, judgment, and anger, exploring how they can both propel us forward and hold us back. From the motivational drive that anxiety can provide to the critical thinking fueled by judgment and the change spurred by anger, we uncover the positive aspects that these emotions can bring to our lives and preparedness. Yet, we also navigate through their darker sides, including the paralysis brought on by excessive anxiety, the conflict stemming from harsh judgment, and the potential for relationship strain due to unmanaged anger.

Join us as we unpack the complexities of these emotions, offering insights into how we can harness their power for personal growth while also recognizing the importance of managing them to avoid the negative impacts on our health and relationships.

When you’re ready to build the skills, network, and confidence to be ready for whatever comes next, join us at AmericanContingency.com. We’re here when you’re ready. We’ll keep the fire going for you so you can find your way.

 

HAM Radio: Communication When the Digital Age Fails Us

Ep #27 - HAM radio offers a versatile and powerful means of communication for enthusiasts and emergency responders alike - as they operate across a wide range of frequencies, allowing users to transmit voice, data, and even images to other operators anywhere in the world, depending on the frequency band and atmospheric conditions. 

In this episode, I talk to member Max Williams about HAM radio, how to maintain communication and information exchange during a crisis, the scope of the legalities and licensing with amateur radio and how you can get started in this mode of communication that has been critical to disaster response and recovery for so many when they need it most.

Get ready to build the skills, the network and confidence to be prepared for whatever comes next - join us at AmericanContingency.com.

https://americancontingency.com/

The website mentioned in the show: https://hamstudy.org/