With the worldwide spread of COVID-19, life as we knew it will change forever. This is the first time in our history that a health crisis has affected the entire world and taken on a global awareness.

Where will we be in the next few months; the end of this year 2020; or even next year and beyond? No one knows for sure. But what we do know is that societies, governments, countries, cities, individuals, and our complete way of life will have to make a change. Our lives depend on it.

Understanding what we currently know, if we don't change, we'll have learned nothing from this global health crisis. And the next health crisis to affect out planet may be even more devastating. I feel as though it's not a matter of IF; it's a matter of WHEN. This COVID-19 caught us off guard. I hope the next one doesn't.

But first we must survive this health crisis. And to do this, governments around the world and individual states have mandated from stay-at-home orders to outright mandatory lockdowns.

Did we see this shutdown of our economy and social engagement coming when we first heard about the virus? I know I didn't. I don't believe the world stood up, took notice, and considered this virus serious until a full blown worldwide health crisis was upon us.

Because of this, today we are facing:

Worldwide COVID-19 Cases	1,002,159
U.S. COVID-19 Cases	236,339
Worldwide COVID-19 Deaths	51,485
U.S. COVID -19 Deaths	5,648
Source: Johns Hopkins

In the U.S. we have varying degrees of shelter in place directives. Our State has numerous local stay-at-home orders. However, our State doesn't have a statewide Stay-At-Home Order. We're not in full lockdown yet. No matter which directive you're issued, individuals are advised to stay home and shelter in place.

If I were under a full lockdown, below are the three essential items I'd need to keep myself and my family safe and moving forward until the mandate is lifted. This is my entry for this month's topic.

My Nominations are:

Nomination Number One

Top Essential Need is FOOD/Water

My Reasons for the Nomination

It is known that humans can survive 3 weeks without food if absolutely necessary with no alternative means of survival in sight. Combined with the fact that humans can live without water only 3 days.

During the lockdown or stay-at-home directives, we all have to take into consideration that it's not only ourselves we have to worry about, but also our children. They are now at home with us. The most important item I feel is needed is food and water. We need at least a month's supply of food and water. We have to treat current situation as though we're in the aftermath of a natural disaster, i.e. hurricane, tornado, flood, or earthquake. In order to survive any of these natural disasters while sheltering in place, we need food and water.

When children are involved, it's a totally different situation. We are accustomed to our children being at school all day. There, they are housed and fed. In a lockdown, they are at home. Eating and snacking are two pleasures in life they live for. In order to have ample supply of food, you have to have already stocked up on grocery items.

In the COVID-19 health crisis we're facing, I don't feel individuals were given enough accurate information up front and time to plan. No one in the U.S. could have predicted a stay-at-home or lockdown in their immediate future. Thus, many were unprepared.

Short supply of certain food items at grocery chains, coupled with inadequate funds to purchase food, have produced extremely long lines in food pantries around the country. Individuals are looking for food to feed their families. Our charity organizations can't keep up with the demand.

Currently, with the stay-at-home and lockdown orders in place, food will have to be stretched as long as possible to help families through this health crisis.

When it comes to water, of course, there exists tap water. However, the state of our sanitation water systems is such that Americans take advantage of bottled water. In my area, the water is considered "hard". The build up of mineral deposits causes hard particles in he water. I strictly utilize bottled water for my family.

Nomination Number Two

Second Essential Need is CLEANING SUPPLIES

My Reasons for the Nomination

During a stay-at-home or lockdown with this health crisis, health professionals have suggested cleaning all frequently used surfaces to minimum the spread of the virus. This is extremely important when numerous family members will be in close contact with each other during this period. Included in this group of cleaning supplies is bleach, disinfectant spray, cleaner, and wipes, antibacterial hand soap, and hand sanitizer.

The reason I close cleaning supplies as a necessity rather than just disinfectant is due to the fact that health professional recommend cleaning surfaces thoroughly first. We are all used to cleaning our homes with commercial cleaners. You need to wash surfaces first before applying the disinfectant. I have made a routine practice of this process.

To date, I can't locate locally or online any disinfectant or hand sanitizer. However, I've been able to find a few cleaning supplies to assist my family.

Nomination Number Three

Third Essential Need is THERMOMETER

My Reasons for the Nomination

One of the symptoms of the COVID-19 virus is a fever. This virus has been known to produce a high fever in the majority of individuals. There are numerous individuals who don't exhibit this symptom. Therefore, to be safe, I feel it's imperative that you have available a thermometer. It can be the old-fashioned one or the new digital kind. As long as you have one in your home.

This item, I feel, is tool that is useful in any situation. Families should already own this important health item. Children's temperatures are frequently being monitored for other childhood illnesses. However, the health crisis we're currently facing makes it imperative that everyone's temperature in your household be taken twice daily.

Closely monitoring temperatures may alert you to any changes sooner rather than later. I can't stress enough the important of monitoring yourself and your family's temperatures.

My practice is to stock up. I've been practicing this for years, so I'm prepared for any long term situation. The reason I practice this stocking is to assist my family, extended family and friends who are in need.

The longer citizens are asked to shelter in place, the shorter the supply of essential needs will become. I hope relief comes soon to families affected by this health crisis in the form of assistance from the stimulus package approved by the federal government.

I pray for all families affected by this health crisis who either have contracted this virus; or, are out of work and resources due to the stay-at-home orders or lockdowns.