Weekly Assignment and Food Storage Ideas (Week of July 17th)

Hi Carson Ward, Family and Friends,

Quote:

“For me, being prepared means … I don’t need to worry,” she said. “I know that if I’ve done my part by preparing myself spiritually, having food storage, and being willing to share with neighbors and others, I have a sense that I’m going to be okay—that the Lord will bless me whatever happens.” (Marcy Peterson, 2nd Counselor in the Joplin Stake Relief Society Presidency)

How well are we prepared, both temporally and spiritually?

Our daughter Tamatha email us an article in "Church News and Events" about the Joplin tornado. This article and video says it all about emergency preparedness, both temporal and spiritual. Please read this carefully and watch the video. It says it all!

http://lds.org/church/news/preparation-of-all-kinds-blesses-saints-in-joplin-missouri?lang=eng

Temporal Assignments:

This week I have two--

A) Add the following to your Family Emergency Preparedness Medical Supplies:

1) thermometer (if you have children also add an infant/child thermometer)
2) sterile gauze pads (various sizes) (I found some at the 99 Cent Store and Dollar Tree,
and found the rest at CVS, Rite-aid).
3) adhesive bandage tape, hypoallergenic, 1 inch

B) 72 Hour Emergency Personal 3 Day Food Kits:

If you started putting together your 72 Hours Personal Emergency Food Kits last August (2010) when we first did them, please take them out and rotate the food. Many of the items may be expiring very soon. If you buy any of the food items from the 99 Cent Store or the Dollar Tree, be careful, check the expiration dates, many times the items there will expire in a few weeks or months. Also, replace the water. You should check the food and water items about 4 times a year to make sure none of the food has expired, or the food or water is not leaking.

Spiritual Assignment:

Read about the "Plan of Salvation" (pages 47-54) in "Preach My Gospel", and in the scriptures. Discuss it as a family or with a friend, especially to reassure your children and grandchildren you will be together as a family for eternity.

Food Storage Ideas and Tips:

Suggestions for Food Storage (only store what your family will eat):

1. Home storage should consist of at least a 3 months supply (a year's supply if possible) of basic food, clothing and, where possible, fuel. After you have completed your 3 months supply, then concentrate on a year's supply. Basic food supplies consist of wheat, rice, corn, or other cereal grains, nonfat dried milk, legumes (beans & peas), sugar, salt (iodized for some areas), fat and water. After you have acquired these items, then add with other items, like canned and dehydrated foods (vegetables, meats, etc). Also, store multi-vitamins (dark bottles in a cool dry place, will keep for about 2 years), enough for your family, to supplement your diet.

Note about storing fuel/gas for your car or generator: If possible, you should have at least 4 5 gallon gas containers of fuel. You can purchase these at Walmart for about $10 each. You need to store the gas containers as far away from your home as possible, in a cool dry place, not in the direct sun light. If you store them in your attached garage, keep them as far from the interior wall of your house as possible. Why store gas? You never know when you might forget to fill our gas tank and there is no way to purchase gas due to a major disaster and the gas pumps are not working. You may have to evacuate. You will also need it to run your generator.

2. If you have a vegetable garden, store a years supply of seeds that you plant, also fertilizers. When you grow your garden, let a few vegetables go to seed. Remove, wash and let the seeds dry. Store in a dry place. You can use them to plant next years vegetable garden.

3. If you live in a small place with limited storage, store items in closets, space under the beds, purchase end/lamp tables with enclosed storage underneath them. Be creative. Get rid of clutter to allow more room for food storage.

4. Store a variety of foods. Not all foods have the same essential nutrients in the correct proportions.

5. Store the highest quality of grade of food obtainable. Wheat should be cereal grade, double cleaned, at least 11 percent protein, and no more than 10 percent moisture.

6. Foods should be stored in sturdy metal, plastic, or glass containers with tightly fitting lids. Do not buy or store food in dented cans.

7. Foods should be stored in areas that permit easy access and allow control of temperature and humidity. (In general, cool temperatures prolong storage life and quality). Not all storage items should be located in one area of the house; not all should be stored in one type of container.

8. To destroy insects that may infest grains, beans, pasta, nuts, dried fruit, place the food in a home freezer for 4 days. Or, the food may be sterilized by being heated in an oven at a low temperature (setting of warm or 200 degrees) for about one hour, depending on the nature of the food. Spread the food on shallow pans so that the heat can penetrate easily. Stir the food occasionally to keep it from scorching.

9. You can treat your infested wheat with dry ice. It kills most adult insects and larvae, but it probably will not destroy the eggs or pupae. Pour 2 inches of wheat into the bottom of the container. Add dry ice then fill with wheat grains. Eight ounces of dry ice is recommended for 100 pounds of wheat grain, or, one pound for each 30 gallons of stored wheat grains. Seal the containers loosely for 5 or 6 hours, then seal them tightly. If you wheat is over 20 years old, check it for infestion. If infested follow the directions above.

10. Set up a food inventory record to keep track of your food storage and when to rotate items that will expire shortly. Inventory your food storage about every 3 months. The key to good food storage is--rotate, rotate, rotate.

11. Food costs can be minimized by budgeting and shopping wisely, watch for sales (but watch the expiration dates).

12. Do not go into debit for food storage.

Remember: Post your name and comment for our July Monthly FREE Giveway Drawing. It is something every should have as a part of your emergency supplies and you would not want to be without during an emergency situation.