Weekly Assignment, Food Storage and Emergency Preparedness Ideas (Week of September 8th)

Hi Carson Ward Family, Family and Friends,

It only takes a second... 

It only takes a second for your life and your loved ones lives to be changed. If you are involved in a disaster, emergency situation, loss of a job, or even a serious car, airplane or train accident your life will change. It can happen to anybody, anytime, anywhere. Look what happened to the people of Alabama with the major oil spill, with Louisiana, US with Katrina, the East Coast (US) and other cities with hurricanes, with the Midwestern States (US) with tornadoes and droughts, and all over the world with major earthquakes. Many of these places and people are still suffering. It only takes a second!

Why am I so over the top about telling others about emergency preparedness, food and water storage, spiritual preparedness and being prepared? Because I would feel horrible if I did not warn people to be prepared for what may come their way and then something happened to them and their loved ones. They might come back and say, "Why didn't you tell me?". I know and have experienced the blessings of being prepared with emergency supplies, water and food storage and spiritual preparedness.

This emergency preparedness blog was created to help the members of my church, Carson Ward, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons).  Then I realized as it started to go around the world, it is helping many of you and your loved to be prepared, better prepared than you already are. It is to help you, and make it as easy as possible to follow a plan and set goals. Use it, share it with others and let it help you become prepared. The information comes from my 35+ years of experience and the experience of others they have shared with me.

So, take a few seconds with your family, make a plan, set small goals to accomplish your main goal and start working towards it a little at a time. No one can do this all at once. Use this blog to help you reach your goals. You can do it, just set some goals and start!

New Report shows future Tsunami Warning for Southern California!




Most of us remember when the major earthquake hit Japan causing a large Tsunami.

Up and down the coast of California, US were damages. The damages were not as severe as they could have been, but there was some major damage to boats and harbors in Northern and Central California, US. 




This week I heard on several radio and television news programs a report with a warning from the United States Geological Survey, that if a major earthquake was to hit Alaska (9.1), which caused a large Tsunami, seven hundred fifty thousand to one million people would be effected along the Southern coast of California, from Marina Del Rey to New Port Beach, possibly San Diego, US. Northern and Central California could be effected too. Those of you in California, US need to be aware of your surroundings.

Look for the Tsunami warning signs if you live near the coast and which way to evacuate. It is amazing how many people along the Los Angeles Harbor area say they have not noticed them. They are there, watch for them and be aware where you need to evacuate. Most of the signs in the Los Angeles Harbor point to getting on the Harbor 110 Freeway. This gives me some concerns. If everyone does that it will quickly become a parking lot of cars and the Tsunami waves could go over it, causing major damages and even death. I would also have several surface street routes to take, not major roads, but side streets. Map out several routes you could take for your safety and keep them in the glove compartment of each of your cars.

The U.S. Geological Survey said that if you are at the beach and feel strong shaking, leave immediately for higher ground. I have heard many reports where the people of islands that have experienced Tsunamis teach their children and grandchildren that when they see the ocean waters recede to get to high land as soon as possible, the huge waves are coming very soon.

They also reported that Los Angeles downtown is 600 feet above sea level and would probably not be effected by the Tsunami waters. When the Japan Tsunami hit it went in six miles. We drove from the Los Angeles Harbor down Avalon Boulevard and Main Street towards the San Diego 405 Freeway to see how far inland that would be. It was a little past the 405 Freeway. The report is also saying the Tsunami could effect the many Los Angeles rivers and water by-ways to the ocean. The Tsunami water could reach further inland than we think. 

Click on this link to read more about the story posted in the Los Angeles Times.

Remember: The best thing we can do in any disaster or emergency situation is be aware of our surroundings, following local government instructions and warnings, look for Tsunami warning signs in your area, have an escape plan and evacuate as soon as possible in a calm and orderly manner.


Weekly Assignment: 72 Hour Individual Emergency Preparedness Stressor Kit

This week add the following:

1) $3-$5 in change, preferably coins, per family member's Stressor Kit. Why coins? Because during an emergency or disaster situation when you need to purchase something like water people might tell you they cannot make change and you might be forced to give them a $5, $10 or $20 bill because it is all you have and you need water. It has happened many times during a disaster.


So far you should have the following in each family member's Stressor Kit--paper pad and pen or pencil with sharpener, 5-in-1 survival whistle, copies of insurance (adults only), family photo, activity book (age appropriate), list of family contact names and phone numbers, small travel size board game or card game (age appropriate), a small soft cover Book of Mormon or Bible, and a favorite reading book (soft cover, age appropriate, or small child's favorite book. 

Congratulations! Once you add this last item you have completed each family member's 72 Hour Individual Emergency Preparedness Stressor Kit. Place all the above items in a large plastic zip lock bag and write Stressor Kit and the family member's name on the front with a permanent marker. Place the kit in each family members 72 Hour Emergency Preparedness Backpack. 

Next week we will discuss some other items you should have in each family member's 72 Hour Emergency Preparedness Backpack besides the Food Kit, Personal Hygiene Kit and Stressor Kit. 

Emergency Preparedness Ideas:

Why do you need vegetable seeds in your food storage? 

Vegetable seeds should be an important of your food storage because there may come a time when you can no longer purchase them. If there is a disaster where for many months there is no access to food in the grocery stores you will have seeds to plant and grow your own vegetables. Many emergency preparedness companies like Emergency Essentials,  Thrive Life and others offer buckets or #10 cans of a variety of vegetable seeds that keep for up to 5 years. They are great, but a problem I have with them is that there may be vegetable seeds you would not grow because your family would not eat some of the vegetables. But, they would be a great source of bartering if you needed something. You could purchase individual packages of vegetable seeds your family would eat, but there shelf life may not be for 5 years. If you have a yearly vegetable garden then you can rotate your seeds, which is the secret to any food storage.

Comments: All your comments, ideas, suggestions and experiences are welcome! We all learn from each other. Thank you for your comments.