Quad Cities, USA: The ninth Annual Project Bundle Up Campaign helps meet the cold weather clothes needs of Quad Cities school children. This Collection Campaign is winding down for 2012, and The Salvation Army is asking for your donations.

On Saturday, November 3rd, both QC Iowa Wal-Marts will be hosting the Project Bundle Up Campaign from 10am - 5pm. Wal-Mart customers will be asked to purchase the items in the store and return them to the volunteers. This campaign has already taken place at the QC Illinois Wal-Marts.

In addition, items can be dropped off in NorthPark Mall at Guest Services in Younkers Court, or in SouthPark Mall at Guest Services located in the mall office until November 10th. The Salvation Army will deliver thousands of cold weather clothing items to Quad Cities' elementary & middle schools to fill the needs of students who arrive at school without these essential items. School teachers are on the frontlines watching for children who come to school without mittens & gloves, hats, socks, underwear, and scarves, and Project Bundle Up fills this need.

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I live in Jackson, N.J., about 10 miles inland, and did not get the devastating storm surge from Hurricane Sandy. And yet, I have never experienced such a catastrophic weather event.

High winds brought down thousands of trees, taking out power lines and crashing into homes. The destruction here is something I never imagined I would see.

The Mantoloking Bridge, where the sea came into the bay, is where I crab all summer. It's now crumpled in the water, surrounded by flooded homes. It's heartbreaking to see images of the place you love destroyed.

Since most homes did not have power or internet immediately after the storm, we did not get to see the images of ravaged iconic Jersey Shore towns like Seaside Heights, Point Pleasant, Manasquan, Mantoloking, Atlantic City and Asbury Park. Local residents are shocked at the extent of the devastation revealed in newspaper photos. Entire shore towns are gone; there is nothing left.

People are starting to lose it by the day; they've never gone so long without power. People in New York are eating from Dumpsters. The lines for gas, if you can find it, are miles long. A few more days like this and I worry civilization will start to break down.

Thankfully, my family is OK. I'm nutty about preparation, so we have everything we need. It is so important to be prepared for disaster.

Since I had a generator and plenty of fuel, the loss of power was tolerable. I was able to run my refrigerator and freezer, charge my cell phone and iPad, light my house and watch DVDs on the flat screen. The biggest complaint from those without generators has been boredom.

My 4G iPad was a lifesaver. I was able to tune into local radio stations and keep up with the news; view pictures and videos of the devastation; and play games to pass the time.

Water is worth its weight in gold during a crisis, you can never have too much. Canned food, candles, flashlights and batteries are other must-have prep items.

It is very difficult to get gasoline as many stations have no power or have not had any gas delivered. There are mile-long lines at the stations that do have power and gas. The traffic around them is incredible -- it's a wild scene!

Why did so many people have so little gas that they would line up for hours to fill their tank? Because they did not prepare for the major disaster that had been forecast for the greater part of a week. My three cars are all full because I filled up BEFORE the storm.

The Jersey Shore will come back, but it will take a very long time. I feel a profound sadness seeing the beautiful shore destroyed and witnessing the suffering of those who have lost everything.

Please use this tragedy to prepare your family for disaster natural or man made. The best investment you can make is a generator. Buy one BEFORE a crisis hits.

About Louis Scatigna

Louis Scatigna is a Certified Financial Planner, national radio talk show host and author of The Financial Physician: How To Cure Your Money Problems and Boost Your Financial Health (www.thefinancialphysician.com). Lou is a regular guest on both national and local television programs and has been quoted in hundreds of publications and Web sites. He also provides additional comments and advice on his daily blog.

New statewide online resource for start ups and small businesses

(DES MOINES) - Entrepreneurs in Iowa now have a new online business resource to help them develop their products and ideas.  Governor Branstad, Lt. Governor Reynolds and the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) announced today that they have contracted with U.S. SourceLink to help small business owners and entrepreneurs find resources via an online "one-stop shop" accessible around the clock and statewide. The IASourceLink.com website goes live effective today, November 5, 2012.

As part of the Authority's continuing work with existing small businesses in the state and efforts to support the creation of more small businesses, the IEDA has been working with an ad hoc advisory committee to determine ways to further improve the environment for entrepreneurship.  One of the committee's recommendations was to improve access to the many resources that are available to small business owners but are sometimes difficult to locate.

IASourceLink.com is a web-based platform which will enable entrepreneurs and small businesses to be connected efficiently and effectively to technical and financial resources meeting their specific business needs. Through IASourceLink, Iowans seeking to start or expand a business will have a simple, streamlined entry to the outstanding small business and entrepreneurial organizations and assets that best meet their needs.

"Small businesses are the backbone of the state's economy, accounting for 51 percent of private sector jobs," said Governor Terry Branstad.  "We must create an environment where small businesses can flourish and connect the dots for those who want to start or expand their small business with the vast amount of resources that are already available in our state.  IASourceLink will do just that."

In addition, the IEDA is collaborating with the University of Northern Iowa's MyEntre.Net to provide timely, expert webinars, blogs and resource pages dedicated to Iowa small businesses via the website.   A customer desiring additional support may request assistance through the web or a toll free number.

"IASourceLink.com will enable Iowa's small businesses to access assistance information online or be directed to community partners and programs that help entrepreneurs start, sustain and grow their businesses," said Lt Governor Kim Reynolds.

U.S.SourceLink is America's largest resource network for entrepreneurs. Its mission is to match

aspiring and existing entrepreneurs to the resources they need to grow by uniting existing business development programs into collaborative networks, and providing a highly reliable and visible source of business startup and growth information. There are currently 20 networks in place across the country.  U.S.SourceLink founders include the Kauffman Foundation, University of Missouri-Kansas City and the U.S. Small Business Administration.

We had a great summer session!

Don'f forget that we are here all winter too!