Food Storage, Emergency Preparedness and Weekly/Monthly Assignments (Week of October 19th)

Hi Carson Ward Family, Torrance Stake Family, Family and Friends,

This emergency preparedness blog is 

changing . . .

On July 13, 2010 I started this emergency preparedness blog posting each week ideas on food storage and emergency preparedness. Starting in November I will only post on this blog once a month instead of weekly. This will be my last weekly posting until November 1st. There will no longer be a "Weekly Assignment". I will post a "Monthly Assignment" each month and it will be up to you to work on that assignment throughout the month. Everything else will remain the same. I will also be adding some new postings under "Postings" on the right to help each of you become better prepared. This may take a few weeks. I will also be updating the current ones listed. 

The Prophet Joseph Smith when once asked by a member of Legislature, "...how it was that he was enabled to govern so many people, and to preserve such perfect order,..." Joseph Smith answered, "I teach them correct principles, and they govern themselves." (Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith (2011), Chapter 24: "Leading in the Lord's Way", p. 281)

"I teach them correct principles, and they govern themselves." (Joseph Smith)

This is what I am trying to do with this blog, to "teach" you how to set goals for your food storage and emergency preparedness supplies, so you can "govern" yourselves. Just as parents we try to teach our children to stand on their own and  make wise choices, the last few years I have tried to teach you in simple steps how to be better prepared.

"Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do." (John Wooden) 

Many times we think small efforts will not make a difference, so we do not exert any effort. When we think about food storage or emergency preparedness we think we cannot do it and do not try. We do not have to start with long term dehydrated/freeze-dried foods which are more expensive, start with small steps like purchasing extra canned and packaged foods each time you go grocery shopping. This is the time of year when many grocery stores have sales on canned and packaged foods, some have case lot sales. Example: Albertson's has buy 5 of certain items and save a $1 on each item. Cake mix and brownie mix, normally $1.79, right now if you buy 5 you get each one for 79 cents. A great time to stock up on canned and packaged items.

Be like "The Little Engine That Could", keep trying and before you know it you will have meet your goal regarding food storage and emergency supplies. But instead of saying "I think I can", say I can do it! I can be better prepared! 

Last week for the Weekly Assignment: Family Emergency Medical Kit

Weekly Assignment: Family Emergency Medical Kit

The past few weeks we have been working on our Emergency Family Medical Kit. We are almost done with it. To go back to the beginning go to the week of  June 1st. Follow through each week to see what items we have added and why it is important to have this kit as part of your emergency preparedness supplies.

This week add the following (Please work on this assignment until the end of October): 

 


1) Potassium Iodine Tablets: If there is a radiation fallout and you are advised to take this will help prevent the absorption of  radiation iodine. Do not take this unless advised. Follow the instruction on the package. You can find these on amazon.com, good prices. 




 
2) ASAP Silver Solution: Helps with so many things, like infection, burns, etc.. Stores for up to10 years if stored in a cool dry dark place. Check out emergencyessentials.com, 2 different bottle sized and gel tube. On sale in October. foodforhealthinternational.com also sells it in various sizes and amounts. Amazon.com also has good prices.The book "A Fight Chance" will show you its many uses, about $15 online.

October Monthly Assignment: 

          Food Storage . . . Fruits

This month we are adding fruits to our food storage. 

1) Purchase canned fruits each week or as you go grocery shopping. 

2) You can also purchase freeze-dried or dehydrated fruits  for long term storage from companies like

emergencyessentials.com, honeyville.com, store.lds.org, foodforhealthinternational.com. etc..

3)  They can be commercially canned, home canned, freeze-dried or dehydrated or even frozen. 

4) Only add the types of fruits  your family will eat. It has been proven, even in an emergency situation and

people are hungry, especially children, they will not eat things they do not like. Do not waste your hard earned money by storing fruits your family will not eat.

5) Store all commercially or home canned fruits in a cool, dry, dark place. Store them in your cupboards, under beds, enclosed lamp and bedside tables, and in closets. The garage is too hot! 

6) Most commercially canned and home canned fruits will last for about 2-3 years if stored properly. Dehydrated and freeze-dried fruits will store for 20-30 years if stored properly. Frozen fruits usually only last about a year or less.

7) Replace any canned fruits in your food storage as you use them. 

8) As always, the key to any food storage is rotation!

Monthly Assignment: 

Figure out how much fruit (canned, frozen, fresh) your family eats in a month. You should have done this when we kept track for a month of how much our family eats and what they eat in a month. Determine how much you need to store for the number of months you have set you food storage goal, 1-month, 2-months, 3-months, etc. 
 

1) Each week when you go grocery shopping add canned and/or jarred fruits to your food storage. Watch for sales. You can also add frozen fruit, needs to be used within a year.

2) During the month add dehydrated or freeze-dried long term food storage fruits to your food storage. Watch for sales.

4) If you have fruit trees, during their harvest season, can the fruit. This is usually done by the water bath canning method. 

Emergency Preparedness Ideas 

Important Documents for Emergency Situations . . .




I found a great article on the Survival Based website regarding important documents you should have together as part of your emergency preparedness. Click here to review the article and get your important documents in order, how to store them properly  and easy to access in an emergency. Our daughter keeps all her important documents in a binder, in a safe place in her home and easy to access if an emergency arises.

A special thank you to all of you who have viewed this emergency preparedness blog since 2010 or are new to it. I hope it has helped you, and will continue to help you, become better prepared and have more peace of mind knowing you are prepared or are striving to be in the case of a disaster or emergency situation. Emergency preparedness is a personal thing. Either you feel the need and strive to be prepared or you find out when it is to late.

Comments: Please feel free to leave your comments below. We all learn from each others experiences, talents and knowledge. We appreciate all your comments.