Food Storage, Emergency Preparedness and Weekly Assignment (Week of February 9th)

Hi Carson Ward Family, Family and Friends,

Scripture...

"...: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them." (Book of Mormon, 1 Nephi 3:7)

I truly believe this scripture. I know that if I strive to keep the Lord commandments he will bless me and provide a way for me to keep them. One of the commandments we have been given in the scriptures and  by our prophets and apostles is to "be prepared". I promise you, if you strive to be prepared with food, water, emergency and medical supplies for what ever emergency situation may come your way, the Lord will bless you. They may all be washed away in a flood, burned in a fire, or blown away in a tornado, but the Lord will bless you and provide you with the things you need, not your wants, but your needs. It is all about being obedient to the commandments of God.

We also may feel we do not have the finances, or the know how, or the ability to be prepared, but according to this scripture, if we are trying, He will provide a way that we can accomplish our goals. This blog is here to help you. It may take some sacrifices on our part, but we can do it. Example: When you go to a fast food place or to a  restaurant, do not order drinks, just drink water. Take the money you would have spent on drinks and put it into an emergency preparedness saving jar or account. This money can be used to purchase needed food storage and emergency supplies. Continue to follow this plan until you have 3 months to 1 year of food storage, water and needed emergency equipment.

Weekly Assignment: Emergency Family Bag

This week add the following:







1) Small Travel Size Board Game(s) or Card Games--Some travel size board games come with several different ones (checkers, chess, etc.) or purchase a couple of different card games (Fish, Old Maid, Uno, etc.). Make sure you consider all the ages in your family. These are great to have in your Emergency Family Bag to entertain children and the whole family.

So far you should have the following in your Family Emergency Bag: Portable regular or solar radio with extra batteries, street maps of local areas/cities, emergency flares and candles, water proof matches, 2 heat cells, flat fuel folding stove, a first-aid kit with a first-aid book, sun block, insect repellent, small tool kit (regular and Philips screw drivers, wrench, pliers, small hammer), Venture 6 Tool, an extra large water proof tarp, roll of duct tape, hand can opener, crowbar, a small wet stone and a travel size board games or card games. See previous blog postings for information regarding these items and where to purchase them.

In the next few weeks we will add the following: 2 mess kits, basic chow set (fork, spoon, knife), small sewing kit, small hand mirror, compass, good set of Walkie Talkies. Note: You may already have the small hand mirror and compass if you ordered the 5 in 1 Whistle when we did this in Carson Ward, on emergencyessentials.com.)

Monthly Assignment for February: Emergency Lighting/Electricity

This month add some type of emergency lighting:
 

                                                                                                                                                                                 

It could be a Coleman or propane lantern, a LED lantern that requires batteries (store extra batteries). 

Store extra of what ever you need to run these types of lanterns. You may even want to consider purchasing a gas or solar generator, a more expensive item.  

You should have a flashlight with extra batteries in ever room, especially your bedrooms. A good idea is to put the flashlight in a plastic zip lock bag with batteries and tie it to your bed post under your bed. This way if there is an earthquake you will be able to find it quickly. 

If you already have emergency lighting equipment then check to make sure it is working properly, purchase extra batteries. Store all emergency lighting equipment together.

Check out the postings on the right or click on the on the link, "Cooking, Heating and Lighting", for different types of lighting equipment and ideas. 

Electrical: Know where your main circuit breaker or fuse box is and how to check it and replace any needed fuses (if you have that type). Keep a flashlight by it so you can see it if the electricity goes out. 

Warning: Remember, if you have a gas generator follow the instruction on the generator and in the instruction manual. Never, Never, Never use it inside your home, an enclosed area or next to an open window. This also includes a gas BBQ. The fumes will kill you. If you have a gas generator you will need to store extra gas in only regulated gas cans away from your house in a cool place. Solar generators are great because they require no gas, use the sun to charge them and can be used in the house. 

Emergency Preparedness Ideas:

This week two things have been on my mind-- 

What if there was a pandemic, and what if the grid went down? 
Would I be able to take care of myself and my family?
Am I prepared for these things? 
What would I need to be better prepared for these events?

Pandemic:  

In a pandemic you might be advised to not leave your home for anything due to a major health issue out break! Also, if there is a pandemic and you are not advised to leave your home I still would not leave. Governments, businesses, schools and transportation could be shut down immediately. There may be no warning! You would have no way to collect items and food you might need. Latter will be too late! The 1918 influenza pandemic killed 20-30 million people worldwide. They discovered that because people did not stay home the number were higher than they might have been. 

Here are some of the thing you would need if this happened...

1) Food and drinking water
2) Enough prescription drugs to get you through the crisis        
3) Emergency medical supplies, including surgical gloves   
4) Hygiene items
5) Paper products
6) Heavy plastic and duct tape, enough to cover and seal all outside entry doors and windows to help block any air or germs getting into your home
7) Respirator mask (emergencyessentials.com, box of 20 for $15) if you absolutely had to go out
7) Anything you would need to survive if you could not leave your home for a long period of time

Power Grid goes down for days/weeks:

Would you be able to survive without any electricity, computers and communication? How many things would become unavailable if this did happen? Would you be able to have a way to light a room, cook, heat a room, take care of sanitation issues, emergency medical issues, etc? So many of our things today, everything, is controlled by electricity and computers; our water supply, our stores, gas stations, land lines and cell phones, electric appliances (stoves, refrigerators, microwaves, etc.), street signals, banks, ATMs, everything.
 


Could you take care of your family? You will be on your own, no help! Think about the things you might be without.





Would you have light, a way to cook, heat, sanitation, emergency medical help, emergency response teams? Would you be able to survive on your own? Could you live off the grid for an extended amount of time?



  
When my mother and I lived with her parents in the early 1950's in the Ozark Mountains of Missouri USA, my grandparents basically lived off the grid, no in door plumbing, only a hand water pump at the kitchen sink, no indoor toilet, only an outhouse, no electric or gas stove, only a wood burning cast iron stove, no gas, propane or electric heat, only a coal burning pot belly stove. Yes, there was electricity, but that was it. Life was very different than what I live now in California USA in 2014. My goal is to some day live off the grid as much as we can. To be as independent as we can. 

Here is a great story about a man who retired as a US Congressman and decided live off the grid. Now most of us would not do this, this is pretty extreme, but we can learn valuable things from him. Click on the link below to read his story...

"The Congressman Man Who Went Off the Grid"

Things to think about and prepare for ahead of time! 

Love this idea...

For a campfire, cut a log like a pizza. don't cut all the way down. leave 6 inches from the bottom. pour a cap of fuel into the middle and light. Lasts for 5-6 hours! A great out door heat source and cooking source in an emergency situation.

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