Friday, December 18, 2015

Emergency Preparedness, Food Storage and Monthly Assignments (Week of December 20th)

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


We hope your Christmas, and other holidays, is a memorable one spent with family and loved ones. May we each take time from our busy schedules, Christmas shopping and parties to reflect on the birth of our dear Savior, Jesus Christ. May you find an enter peace the coming year through our Savior, Jesus Christ. Please listen to this beautiful Christmas hymn, it will touch your mind, heart and spirit. Merry Christmas!




 
 
December Monthly Assignments
 
Food Storage . . . Baking Items 
December (and November) is a great month to stock up with baking supplies like flour, sugar, brown sugar, powdered sugar, honey, baking powder, baking soda, salt, yeast, cornstarch and extracts. While you are picking up your holiday baking supplies buy some extras for your food storage. You can also purchase packaged cake mixes, brownie mixes, etc. Since we already worked on dairy and eggs in July and spices in August, we will concentrate on the items listed above. You can also add canned fruits if you desire.  Remember to store all food items in a cool, dry, dark place. You can store the products in their original commercial package or purchase dehydrated 2.5 or #10 cans from long term food storage from companies like emergencyessentials.com, etc. 
Shelf life of commercially packaged baking supplies in their original packaging and long term in 2.5 or #10 dehydrated/freeze dried cans--
Flour: 1 year. 10 years in #10 dehydrated cans for longer storage.
Granulated Sugar: Indefinitely in original commercial package. It will become hard, but you can break it up.
Brown Sugar: Indefinitely in original commercial package. Same as granulated sugar. It will become hard but you can break it up. 
Powdered Sugar: Indefinitely in original commercial package.  
Honey: Indefinitely. Only store in glass or plastic bottles. Goes bad in metal/tin cans. 
Pumpkin and Canned Fruits: 2-5 years in their commercial cans if stored in a cool, dry dark place. In 2.5 or #10 freeze dried cans 20-30 years. (emergencyessentials.com)
Baking Soda and Baking Powder:  They tend to have a short shelf life 9-12 months. I have kept mine longer. You can also purchase them for a longer shelf life in 2.5 or #10 cans from long term food storage companies like emergencyessentials.com. Click here to learn how to test your baking soda and baking powder if it is still good to use. 
Salt: Indefinitely in original commercial package. We only use sea salt. It can get clumpy, just shake to loosen up. 
Cornstarch: 18 months in original container. Some say indefinitely if kept dry and free from contaminants. 2.5 and #10 cans indefinitely (20-30 years) 
Yeast: It depends on how it is stored. Red Star or Fleischmann's yeast in the packages or jars will store for 2 years. If you purchase the yeast from a long term food storage company like emergencyessentials.com it will last for 5 years in your freezer.
Extracts: Store in original bottles. Pure vanilla extract will store indefinitely. Imitation vanilla extract will only store for 2-4 years. Flavored extracts (almond, peppermint, etc.) will only store for 6-12 months. A good test for the flavored extracts is to smell them. If they have lost their smell they are no longer good. Keep your extracts away from heat and cold, do not store near a stove or window or draft.
Note about flour and sugars:  I store mine in their originally package in large or extra large (found these at Target and WalMart) plastic zip lock bags. You can also store them in large plastic bins with their lids. The plastic bags and binds keep the away the ants and them dry if water becomes an issues. Do not purchase sugar in 2.5 or #10 cans, to expensive and not necessary. 
How much to store: I would store 3-6 months of baking products. If storing for long term storage of course it will be for 1-2 years (only dehydrated/freeze=dried foods. Remember, Rotation, Rotation, Rotation is the key to any food storage, short or long storage. 
The average for 1 adult for 1 month is . . .
White Flour: 15 pounds (3 5# bags or 3 #10 cans [LDS Cannery #10 cans])
Granulated Sugar: 10 pounds (2 5# bags or 2 #10 cans [LDS Cannery #10 cans])
Brown Sugar: 2 pounds
Powdered Sugar: 1 pound
Honey: 2 pounds
Baking Powder: 5 ounces
Baking Soda: 4 ounces
Salt: 6.5 ounces
Yeast: 4 ounces
Cornstarch: 4 ounces
Vanilla Extract: 4 ounces
Fruits: Varies, depends on how much fruit you use in your baking.
Note: There are other baking items you can add like oils and fats, dairy, etc. We will be working on adding these items throughout next year.  
 
Emergency Preparedness . . .
       Setting your 2016 
              Emergency Preparedness Goals 
 
 
This is the time of year most of us starting thinking about and writing down our New Year's Resolutions or Goals; loosing weight, eating healthier, spend more time with family, family vacations, house remodeling/decorating, budgeting better, start a saving account, doing more service, etc.. Why not make emergency preparedness a part of those resolutions and goals?

As you sit down as an individual or family, assess your and your family's needs when it comes to emergency preparedness and food storage. Inventory what you already have and make a list of the things you still need. Set some weekly and monthly goals to accomplish those needs. Your goals may be add needed items to your food storage, work on meeting your 3 months food storage goal, store drinking water, purchasing a tent for the family, emergency lighting, cooking, setting up a family emergency savings fund, gather all important documents together in a notebook, etc. What ever the needs and goals set up a checklist. Put that checklist in a visible place for all to see, like the refrigerator. Review the checklist every month at Family Home Evening or your Family Council Meeting to assess your progress. Emergency preparedness should be just as important as your other New Year's Resolutions and Goals. This blog can help you with your goals. 

Emergency Preparedness Ideas

Christmas Stocking Stuffers . . .


Why not put in things for each family member 72 Hour Individual Emergency Preparedness Backpack?

5-1 Whistle, compass, mirror reflector, match holder, flint and steal
Hand warmers
LED small flashlight
Small first-aid kit
Utility chow set (knife, fork, spoon)
Seyechelle Water Filtration bottle  (found at store.lds.org, $16-$20)
Space blanket
Plastic rain poncho
Items for the Hygiene Kit and/or Stressor Kit

These items and others can be found on the list under Postings on the right, click on the 72 Hour Individual Emergency Preparedness Backpack. 

Emergencyessentials.com has many small emergency preparedness items that are great for stocking stuffers.

Comments and Questions: Please share your comments and questions. Remember, we all learn from each others knowledge and experiences. Thank you for your comments.

Note: Next posting will be January 3rd with our new 2016 Food Storage and Emergency Preparedness Monthly Assignments and goals.

Thursday, December 3, 2015

Emergency Preparedness, Food Storage and Monthly Assignments (Week of December 6th)

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

It is that time of year again when we are busy with the "hustle and bustle" of Christmas shopping. Christmas baking, Christmas parties at church, work, community, at home and time spent with family and loved ones.

Please take a few minutes out of your busy day each day to reflect on the true meaning of Christmas, the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. Please watch this beautiful video . . .






New December Monthly Assignments

Food Storage . . . Baking Items 


December (and November) is a great month to stock up with baking supplies like flour, sugar, brown sugar, powdered sugar, honey, baking powder, baking soda, salt, yeast, cornstarch and extracts. While you are picking up your holiday baking supplies buy some extras for your food storage. You can also purchase packaged cake mixes, brownie mixes, etc. Since we already worked on dairy and eggs in July and spices in August, we will concentrate on the items listed above. You can also add canned fruits if you desire.  Remember to store all food items in a cool, dry, dark place. You can store the products in their original commercial package or purchase dehydrated 2.5 or #10 cans from long term food storage from companies like emergencyessentials.com, etc. 

Shelf life of commercially packaged baking supplies in their original packaging and long term in 2.5 or #10 dehydrated/freeze dried cans--

Flour: 1 year. 10 years in #10 dehydrated cans for longer storage.
Granulated Sugar: Indefinitely in original commercial package. It will become hard, but you can break it up.
Brown Sugar: Indefinitely in original commercial package. Same as granulated sugar. It will become hard but you can break it up. 
Powdered Sugar: Indefinitely in original commercial package.  
Honey: Indefinitely. Only store in glass or plastic bottles. Goes bad in metal/tin cans. 
Pumpkin and Canned Fruits: 2-5 years in their commercial cans if stored in a cool, dry dark place. In 2.5 or #10 freeze dried cans 20-30 years. (emergencyessentials.com)
Baking Soda and Baking Powder:  They tend to have a short shelf life 9-12 months. I have kept mine longer. You can also purchase them for a longer shelf life in 2.5 or #10 cans from long term food storage companies like emergencyessentials.com. Click here to learn how to test your baking soda and baking powder if it is still good to use. 
Salt: Indefinitely in original commercial package. We only use sea salt. It can get clumpy, just shake to loosen up. 
Cornstarch: 18 months in original container. Some say indefinitely if kept dry and free from contaminants. 2.5 and #10 cans indefinitely (20-30 years) 
Yeast: It depends on how it is stored. Red Star or Fleischmann's yeast in the packages or jars will store for 2 years. If you purchase the yeast from a long term food storage company like emergencyessentials.com it will last for 5 years in your freezer.
Extracts: Store in original bottles. Pure vanilla extract will store indefinitely. Imitation vanilla extract will only store for 2-4 years. Flavored extracts (almond, peppermint, etc.) will only store for 6-12 months. A good test for the flavored extracts is to smell them. If they have lost their smell they are no longer good. Keep your extracts away from heat and cold, do not store near a stove or window or draft.

Note about flour and sugars:  I store mine in their originally package in large or extra large (found these at Target and WalMart) plastic zip lock bags. You can also store them in large plastic bins with their lids. The plastic bags and binds keep the away the ants and them dry if water becomes an issues. Do not purchase sugar in 2.5 or #10 cans, to expensive and not necessary. 

How much to store: I would store 3-6 months of baking products. If storing for long term storage of course it will be for 1-2 years (only dehydrated/freeze=dried foods. Remember, Rotation, Rotation, Rotation is the key to any food storage, short or long storage. 

The average for 1 adult for 1 month is . . .

White Flour: 15 pounds (3 5# bags or 3 #10 cans [LDS Cannery #10 cans])
Granulated Sugar: 10 pounds (2 5# bags or 2 #10 cans [LDS Cannery #10 cans])
Brown Sugar: 2 pounds
Powdered Sugar: 1 pound
Honey: 2 pounds
Baking Powder: 5 ounces
Baking Soda: 4 ounces
Salt: 6.5 ounces
Yeast: 4 ounces
Cornstarch: 4 ounces
Vanilla Extract: 4 ounces
Fruits: Varies, depends on how much fruit you use in your baking.

Note: There are other baking items you can add like oils and fats, dairy, etc. We will be working on adding these items throughout next year. 

Emergency Preparedness . . .
       Setting your 2016 
              Emergency Preparedness Goals 


This is the time of year most of us starting thinking about and writing down our New Year's Resolutions or Goals; loosing weight, eating healthier, spend more time with family, family vacations, house remodeling/decorating, budgeting better, start a saving account, doing more service, etc.. Why not make emergency preparedness a part of those resolutions and goals?

As you sit down as an individual or family, assess your and your family's needs when it comes to emergency preparedness and food storage. Inventory what you already have and make a list of the things you still need. Set some weekly and monthly goals to accomplish those needs. Your goals may be add needed items to your food storage, work on meeting your 3 months food storage goal, store drinking water, purchasing a tent for the family, emergency lighting, cooking, setting up a family emergency savings fund, gather all important documents together in a notebook, etc. What ever the needs and goals set up a checklist. Put that checklist in a visible place for all to see, like the refrigerator. Review the checklist every month at Family Home Evening or your Family Council Meeting to assess your progress. Emergency preparedness should be just as important as your other New Year's Resolutions and Goals. This blog can help you with your goals. 

Emergency Preparedness Ideas



Well, it is that time of year again when you are trying to decide what to buy a family member or friend for Christmas. What do you buy the person that is hard to buy for or has everything? Why not give them emergency preparedness supplies? At first they make think it is a cheesy present but when they need it they will thank you. Here are some suggestions . . .

72 Hour Individual Emergency Preparedness Backpack with food, hygiene and stresser kits. See the postings on the right, click on the 72 Hour EP Backpack for what goes in each kit.

Butane One Burner Stove with several cans of Butane fuel. (I find these at some discount stores, sporting good stores, etc. for about $15-$20. The fuel is less than $2 a can.)

A tent, emergency lighting (lantern, solar flashlight, etc.), cooking (Dutch oven, Butane Stove, etc.) or other emergency equipment. 

A Kaito Voyager Solar and Crank Weather Alert Multiband Radio. (I found one at emergencyessentials.com on sale this month for $49.95.)

A Basic Food Storage Starter Kit (You can purchase these, an adult one month supply of Hard Red Wheat, Hard White Wheat,White Flour, White  Rice, Pinto Beans, Rolled Oats at store.lds.org for about $30 or you can go to any LDS Cannery and pick it up for about $22.)

Seychelle Water Filtration Bottle (You can purchase these at store.lds.org for $16.50 with one filter and $22 with 2 filters. They filter out 99.9999% of all bacteria and contamination. 

Be creative. You will be amazed at some of the great things you can give as Christmas presents this year. emergencyessenitals.com and other emergency supply companies can help with some great ideas.

Comments and Questions: Please share your comments and questions below. If you have a question you can email me at theark.carsonward@gmail.com. Remember, we all learn from each others experiences and knowledge. Thank you for your comments and questions. If you are unable to leave a comment try a different browser like Mozilla FireFox or Google Chrome. Sometimes you might need to put in your comment, save it, try to post it, then put it in again and post it again.  

Sunday, November 22, 2015

Emergency Preparedness, Food Storage and Monthly Assignments (Week of November 15th)

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

Thanksgiving


This is the time of year Americans celebrate Thanksgiving. We mediate and express our gratefulness for all our blessings, family, freedom, health and so much more. It is time we gather to together as family and friends and loved ones to celebrate and give thanks. It is a time to reflect on this great nation and all you have sacrificed their lives to protect the freedoms we enjoy today. It is a time to be grateful and reflect on our forefathers who listened to the Spirit and created our Bill of Rights and Constitution which protect the right of each individual and this great nation. It is a time to always be grateful, not just on Thanksgiving Day, but every day!  May each of of give thanks each day to our Heavenly Father and Savior Jesus Christ for he blesses us with!

November Monthly Assignments 

Food Storage: Vegetables



It is important to have vegetables in your food storage to give us the vitamins and mineral our bodies need. You can store them commercially canned, home canned, frozen and dehydrated/freeze dried (long term storage, 20+ years). I would store vegetables in a variety of ways.

First start by keeping track of how many varieties of vegetable you and your family eats in a 2-week to one month period. Keep a list on the refrigerator. Each time you cook vegetables or use them in soups, stews and casseroles add the amount and type to the list. Then you can multiply by the number of months you have set your food storage goal.

 Commercially canned: Come in a variety of types. Only store the vegetables your family will eat. Try to purchase them on sale.They usually store for 2-3 years. You can still use them after their expiration date as long as they are not dented, the lid is not bulging or they are leaking. The nutritional value will diminish over time. Keep in a cool, dry, dark place.


Home canned: If you have a vegetable garden or purchase vegetables while in season you can home can them. It is not hard to do but does take time. Most vegetables are canned in a canning pressure
cooker. High acidic vegetables like tomatoes are done in a water bath canning. They will store for 2-3 years. If the lid pushes down when pushed on they are no longer good for consumption. Keep in a cool, dry, dark place.

 

Frozen: Frozen vegetables will keep in your freezer for about one year. You can also freeze the vegetables from your vegetable garden or fresh from your grocery store by blanching them first, draining off the water and placing in a plastic freezer zip lock bag. Mark the date on the bag.




Dehydrated/Freeze Dried: For long term storage consider purchase dehydrated/freeze dried vegetables. The can come in a variety of sizes, #10 cans, 2.5 cans (emergencyessentials.com has them), and pails (sometimes in individual Mylar bags. They can last for 20+ years depending on the temperature you store them. Store them in a cool, dry, dark place. 



Companies I like to purchase my dehydrated/freeze-dried vegetables from are store.lds.org (limited), emergencyessentials.com and WalMart online Augason Farms. Other companies are Honeyville, Thrive/Shelf Reliance, and foodforhealthinternational.com. There are many other companies out there too. To make sure you are getting the best price, divide the price by the number of servings per can.

Emergency Preparedness: 
       Family Records, Documents and Photos

 


Each family should have a "Family Emergency Preparedness Notebook". This notebook should contain your family's important documents. Each family member's documents (a separate folder within the notebook for each family member) should include their birthday certificate, adoption certificate, baptismal certificate, Social Security card, copy of their Medical insurance card, immunization records, any special needs or prescription drugs they take,  doctors information (name, phone number, address), emergency fingerprinting and ID cards (you can purchase these online, mostly for children but good to have for everyone in the family), life insurance policies (insurance agents name and phone number), passport and VISA and any other important documents. 

There should also be a folder for important documents like originals or copies of your Homeowners, car and other insurances, marriage and divorce certificates, Power of Attorney, Advance Directive for each family member, Will and Trust, guardianship for children, an up to date of each family member's photo, out of state contact information. Anything that you will need to take with you if you have to evacuate immediately. 

It is a good idea to keep all heirloom jewelry, artifacts and other items together in a fire proof, water proof safe. Keep all family photos albums and photos together for quick assess if you need to evacuate. 

Keep all computer information on a hard drive or flash drive, easy to grab and take with you if you need to evacuate immediately. 

Click here to see how to set up the "Family Emergency Preparedness Notebook under "Postings" on the right of this blog.  

Set a goal this month to gather all important family documents, heirlooms and photos, organize them and put them in a safe fire proof, water proof container. Make sure all family members know where it is in case you need to evacuate. 

Emergency Preparedness Ideas

Wonder Oven . . .

Many of you may have already heard about the Wonder Oven, I just discovered it this week. This is am amazing oven you can do slow cooking in just like in your slow cooker pot. It can also keep food frozen and cold. You can purchase one for less than $100. Click here to learn more about the Wonder Oven and how it works.  

You can also make your own . . .






Comments and Question: Please share your comments and questions below. Remember, we all learn from each others experiences and knowledge. If you have a question you can email it to me at theark.carsonward@gmail.com. Thank you for sharing your comments and questions. Have a great week and Happy Thanksgiving! 

Friday, November 6, 2015

Emergency Preparedness, Food Storage and Monthly Assignments (Week of November 8th)

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

Concerns . . . 



I have grave concerns most of us in our Stake, Ward, Church, world and families are not prepared with extra food, water and emergency supplies. We continually procrastinate and say it will not happen to me or where I live. If you say this, you are foolish like 5 of the 10 Virgins. Natural disasters, civil unrest, health issues, loss of employment can happen in an instant! We always need to be prepared!
 
Those of you reading this blog I feel are striving and possibly prepared. Emergency preparedness does not happen overnight. It takes time.

Some say my local or federal government will take care of me and my family. Do you really believe that? It is our responsibility, not our local or federal government, but ours. From past experience and news stories it can take days, even weeks, for your local and federal government to arrive with help. Roads may be blocked where they cannot get in for days, weeks, months with supplies.

We need to be prepared ourselves, to take care of ourselves and rely only on us. Emergency preparedness brings peace of mind.

Warn your family, extended families, your Home Teaching and Visiting Teaching families, your friends, your neighbors and your co-workers. Each family member should have a 72 Hour Individual Emergency Preparedness Backpack and each family should have a 72 Hour Emergency Preparedness Family Bag and extra food and water on hand. I have attached the link below for the lists of the items you should have in your backpacks and bag. Print them out, email them and share them with others. The more others are prepared the less likely they will come to you for help and you  they will be able to help others.

72 Hour Individual Emergency Preparedness Backpack
72 Hour Emergency Preparedness Family Bag

New November Monthly Assignments 

Food Storage: Vegetables



It is important to have vegetables in your food storage to give us the vitamins and mineral our bodies need. You can store them commercially canned, home canned, frozen and dehydrated/freeze dried (long term storage, 20+ years). I would store vegetables in a variety of ways.

First start by keeping track of how many varieties of vegetable you and your family eats in a 2-week to one month period. Keep a list on the refrigerator. Each time you cook vegetables or use them in soups, stews and casseroles add the amount and type to the list. Then you can multiply by the number of months you have set your food storage goal.

 Commercially canned: Come in a variety of types. Only store the vegetables your family will eat. Try to purchase them on sale.They usually store for 2-3 years. You can still use them after their expiration date as long as they are not dented, the lid is not bulging or they are leaking. The nutritional value will diminish over time. Keep in a cool, dry, dark place.


Home canned: If you have a vegetable garden or purchase vegetables while in season you can home can them. It is not hard to do but does take time. Most vegetables are canned in a canning pressure
cooker. High acidic vegetables like tomatoes are done in a water bath canning. They will store for 2-3 years. If the lid pushes down when pushed on they are no longer good for consumption. Keep in a cool, dry, dark place.

 

Frozen: Frozen vegetables will keep in your freezer for about one year. You can also freeze the vegetables from your vegetable garden or fresh from your grocery store by blanching them first, draining off the water and placing in a plastic freezer zip lock bag. Mark the date on the bag.




Dehydrated/Freeze Dried: For long term storage consider purchase dehydrated/freeze dried vegetables. The can come in a variety of sizes, #10 cans, 2.5 cans (emergencyessentials.com has them), and pails (sometimes in individual Mylar bags. They can last for 20+ years depending on the temperature you store them. Store them in a cool, dry, dark place. 



Companies I like to purchase my dehydrated/freeze-dried vegetables from are store.lds.org (limited), emergencyessentials.com and WalMart online Augason Farms. Other companies are Honeyville, Thrive/Shelf Reliance, and foodforhealthinternational.com. There are many other companies out there too. To make sure you are getting the best price, divide the price by the number of servings per can.

Emergency Preparedness: 
       Family Records, Documents and Photos


Each family should have a "Family Emergency Preparedness Notebook". This notebook should contain your family's important documents. Each family member's documents (a separate folder within the notebook for each family member) should include their birthday certificate, adoption certificate, baptismal certificate, Social Security card, copy of their Medical insurance card, immunization records, any special needs or prescription drugs they take,  doctors information (name, phone number, address), emergency fingerprinting and ID cards (you can purchase these online, mostly for children but good to have for everyone in the family), life insurance policies (insurance agents name and phone number), passport and VISA and any other important documents. 

There should also be a folder for important documents like originals or copies of your Homeowners, car and other insurances, marriage and divorce certificates, Power of Attorney, Advance Directive for each family member, Will and Trust, guardianship for children, an up to date of each family member's photo, out of state contact information. Anything that you will need to take with you if you have to evacuate immediately. 

It is a good idea to keep all heirloom jewelry, artifacts and other items together in a fire proof, water proof safe. Keep all family photos albums and photos together for quick assess if you need to evacuate. 

Keep all computer information on a hard drive or flash drive, easy to grab and take with you if you need to evacuate immediately. 

Click here to see how to set up the "Family Emergency Preparedness Notebook under "Postings" on the right of this blog.  

Set a goal this month to gather all important family documents, heirlooms and photos, organize them and put them in a safe fire proof, water proof container. Make sure all family members know where it is in case you need to evacuate. 

Emergency Preparedness Ideas 
Southern California USA El Nino Updates . . .

  
I want to add some things to my list from last week's blog posting regarding things we need to do to prepare for the upcoming 2015 Southern California USA El Nino. As I learn knew things I will share them on the week's blog posting. 

 
1) Everyone should have tools readily available: Shovels, ax, chainsaw, saw, hammers with large nails, crowbar, heavy rope and other tools you think you might need to remove mudslides and make repairs from the damages caused by the heavy rain, winds, flooding and mudslides.

 
2) Sand Bags: If you live in a flood area or mudslide area have on hand now sand bags filled with sand. Contact your local fire department to see if they have them and start filing them up and stacking them for future use. If you know the rain is coming, and possible mudslides, put them in place to protect your home, garage and property.

 
3) Generators: During the 1982-1983 El Nino we, along with many others, lost our electricity once for a week and a few other times for a couple days at a time. If you have a gas or solar generator make sure you check them over now and do any maintenance that needs done before the storms hit. Store gas for your gas generator in approved gas containers away from your house. If you wait until the storm is upon you you may not be able to get the gas due to pumps down or non-availability. If you have a solar generator make sure it is working properly and the batteries do not need replacing. WARNING: DO NOT USE YOUR GAS GENERATOR IN THE HOUSE OR OUTSIDE YOUR HOUSE WINDOWS. IT WILL CAUSE DEATH! Keep them a safe distance from the house and use heavy extension cords to reach inside the house. The great thing about solar generators, they can be used in the house and are silent while running. If there are clouds and no sun you can plug the solar generator into any house AC plug to keep the solar generator charged.


4) Heavy tarps and heavy plastic: If you have trees around you they could be uprooted or heavy branch could break and come crashing down on your house or break windows. Have heavy tarps (with a hammer and nails to secure it) ready to cover up damaged roofs and heavy plastic and duck tape to cover up broken windows. 

Please share: If you have experienced an El Nino in past years please share what you have learned and how to be prepared for the coming storms. Please leave your comments below in the comment box or email me. Thank you.

Comments and Questions: Please share your comments below. We all learn from each other knowledge and experiences. If you have a question please post it below in the comment box and I will answer if on next week's blog posting. Or, you can email me at theark.carsonward@gmail.com. Thank you for sharing.

Friday, October 30, 2015

Emergency Preparedness, Food Storage and Monthly Assignments (Week of November 1st)

Hi Torrance Stake, Carson Ward, Family and Friends,

I am back! 

We have been super busy the last two weeks helping our daughter and her family prepare and move out of state and finalizing the preparations and having the Bi-Stake Emergency Preparedness Fair, which was a great success.

Fair update: If you would like to see the photos from the Fair go to the Torrance North Stake Facebook or click here. Scroll down until you see the two sets of photos from the Fair. Thank you to all who participated and made the Fair a great success.

Comment from one Fair attendant: One attendant told me she has attended the Fair in years past but only felt it was information to help us be better prepared. This time she said there was a special spirit at the Fair and she felt a strong urgency we need to be prepared now!

Are you prepared for El Nino to hit Southern California USA this Winter ? 
        Be Aware, Be Prepared, Take Action 


Meteorologist are predicting the largest El Nino since the last two El Ninos in1982-1983 and 1997-1998 to hit Southern California USA this year. They are expecting 35 inches of rain, flooding and catastrophic damages in some areas. Are you prepared? Those living in Southern California USA, what do you need to do to be prepared? 

1) Assess your property, even those who rent. Possibility of flooding and water getting into your house, mud slides if you live at the foot mountains lacking foliage due to our server drought, old or damaged roof that could causing leaking and water damage inside your home, business, old trees that could uproot if saturated with too much water and fall on your home, clogged rain gutters, clogged and full street curb drains, etc. If you rent, contact your landlord regarding your concerns.

2) FEMA and NASA are warning residents and businesses to purchase Federal Flood Insurance. Did you know that your Homeowners, Homeowner-Condo, Renters and Business Insurance does not cover flooding nor mud slides? If you live in an area that has flooding and mud slides you should purchase Flood Insurance. It is not effective right away, there is a 30 day waiting period. And if there is  a flood there is a 30 day moratorium on purchasing it after a flood in your area. Yes, it can be pricey, but well worth it if it saves your home from disaster and major damages.  If you know you do not live in a flood or mudslide area from the last El Nino then you will probably be alright, but make sure you assess your area and possible damages. Contact your Homeowners Insurance Agent for a flood insurance quote.

3)  Your roof--Is your roof in good shape or is it old and deteriorating? If your roof leaks due to age and deterioration, your Homeowners Insurance will not cover to replace or repair it. But it will cover any water damage it causes inside your home. If your roof is in good condition and receives damages from the high winds and rain you may want to find out from your insurance company if it would be covered and if the claim would cause your insurance to increase. If you have a roof you think might leak and you do not have the money right now to replace or repair it purchase a large roof tarp from Home Depot or Lowel's so you will be ready when the rain comes. Keep the receipt and do not open the box, if you do not need it, Home Depot and Lowel's may refund you your money.

4) Check your roof rain gutters and street curb drains. Make sure you clean out your roof rain gutter to avoid flooding around the house and other damages. If your street curb drains are blocked or full call your local water and power company or street maintenance to have them come out as soon as possible to clean them out to avoid flooding. 

5) Electricity could be lost and for a long period of time. In the 1982-1983 El Nino we lost our electricity for a week, and surrounding areas. Power lines were done in the street and we were advised to not go out. There was some flooding in some areas. It rained for two weeks, with high winds and very heavy rains. There was no school for the children and retail stores and grocery stores were closed due to no electricity. We quickly learned how little we were prepared in some areas. We had some flash lights with batteries and a lantern. We could have used more. Since we had an electric stove at the time, we could not cook and had to resort to other means. REMEMBER, DO NOT USE YOUR CHARCOAL BBQ IN YOUR HOUSE, IT WILL KILL YOU! Food in the freezer and refrigerator was spoiling. 

7) Be ready with flashlights, extra batteries, lanterns, a battery operated radio on hand to hear the news and for any evacuations, extra blankets for warmth in case it gets cold and you have no heat, be ready to "shelter in place". Important: You should keep a battery operated radio on at all times during a storm to hear of any evacuation warnings.

6)  Food storage: Have some canned foods on hand if you do not already have them. You may not be able to go out to grocery stores and some may be closed due to lack of electricity. If you do loose your electricity, use the refrigerator food first, then the freezer food, then canned and packaged foods.

7) Water: Water may become contaminated due to run off and you may be advised to boil your water first or drink bottled water. Have some on hand if do not already have water stored. Listen to radio for water contamination warnings.

8) Evacuation: If you are told to evacuate, do it IMMEDIATELY! Do not hesitate! Have your 72 Hour Individual Emergency Preparedness Backpacks and Family Bag ready to go. Check your food kit and replace any foods that have expired. Keep your car gas tanks at least half way full at all times. Gas pumps may not be working.

9) Important papers, documents, photos, heirlooms and cherished family history items ready and all together. If you have not already, gather all important papers, documents and genealogy together in a safe water proof containers. Have all precious family photos gathered together in one place (photos albums, etc.) Keep a flash drive of all important papers, documents, genealogy and family photos in a safe place, easy to access if needed. Keep family heirlooms in a safe place, easy to gather if you need to evacuate. Be prepared the best you can. 

10) Have a Family Emergency Plan. Be prepared if you are separated with out of state contact names and phone numbers. Each family member should carry these numbers on them in a wallet, purse, backpack and at work. Have a Family Evacuation Plan in place and practice it often.

11) Have a Neighborhood Emergency Plan.  Get your neighbors together. Know your neighbors, their special needs, who lives in each household, know their skills and make a Neighborhood Emergency Plan to help each other. 

12) Pre-program your cell phones. In an emergency situation we do not always think clearly. Help family members who have texting, especially children and the elderly, to pre-program their cell phones with a text message of, "we are alright". "we have evacuated to _______", " we need help". 

13)  DO NOT DRIVE INTO OR ACROSS A FLOODED STREET, BRIDGE OR AREA! You do not know how deep the water it, if here is a sink hole, and how quickly the rising water will rise or if there will be a flash flood. Water is powerful and can move a car quickly. How many times have we seen news reports of cars and people caught in flooded streets, and on bridges. 

14) Be Aware, Be Prepared, Take Action! 

Share this information with family and friends. It may save their life!

For more detailed information on these subjects check out the postings on this blog under "Postings" on the right. 


New November Monthly Assignments 

Food Storage: Vegetables



It is important to have vegetables in your food storage to give us the vitamins and mineral our bodies need. You can store them commercially canned, home canned, frozen and dehydrated/freeze dried (long term storage, 20+ years). I would store vegetables in a variety of ways.

First start by keeping track of how many varieties of vegetable you and your family eats in a 2-week to one month period. Keep a list on the refrigerator. Each time you cook vegetables or use them in soups, stews and casseroles add the amount and type to the list. Then you can multiply by the number of months you have set your food storage goal.

 Commercially canned: Come in a variety of types. Only store the vegetables your family will eat. Try to purchase them on sale.They usually store for 2-3 years. You can still use them after their expiration date as long as they are not dented, the lid is not bulging or they are leaking. The nutritional value will diminish over time. Keep in a cool, dry, dark place.


Home canned: If you have a vegetable garden or purchase vegetables while in season you can home can them. It is not hard to do but does take time. Most vegetables are canned in a canning pressure
cooker. High acidic vegetables like tomatoes are done in a water bath canning. They will store for 2-3 years. If the lid pushes down when pushed on they are no longer good for consumption. Keep in a cool, dry, dark place.

 

Frozen: Frozen vegetables will keep in your freezer for about one year. You can also freeze the vegetables from your vegetable garden or fresh from your grocery store by blanching them first, draining off the water and placing in a plastic freezer zip lock bag. Mark the date on the bag.




Dehydrated/Freeze Dried: For long term storage consider purchase dehydrated/freeze dried vegetables. The can come in a variety of sizes, #10 cans, 2.5 cans (emergencyessentials.com has them), and pails (sometimes in individual Mylar bags. They can last for 20+ years depending on the temperature you store them. Store them in a cool, dry, dark place. 



Companies I like to purchase my dehydrated/freeze-dried vegetables from are store.lds.org (limited), emergencyessentials.com and Walmart online Augason Farms. Other companies are Honeyville, Thrive/Shelf Reliance, and foodforhealthinternational.com. There are many other companies out there too. To make sure you are getting the best price, divide the price by the number of servings per can.

Emergency Preparedness: 
       Family Records, Documents and Photos


Each family should have a "Family Emergency Preparedness Notebook". This notebook should contain your family's important documents. Each family member's documents (a separate folder within the notebook for each family member) should include their birthday certificate, adoption certificate, baptismal certificate, Social Security card, copy of their Medical insurance card, immunization records, any special needs or prescription drugs they take,  doctors information (name, phone number, address), emergency fingerprinting and ID cards (you can purchase these online, mostly for children but good to have for everyone in the family), life insurance policies (insurance agents name and phone number), passport and VISA and any other important documents. 

There should also be a folder for important documents like originals or copies of your Homeowners, car and other insurances, marriage and divorce certificates, Power of Attorney, Advance Directive for each family member, Will and Trust, guardianship for children, an up to date of each family member's photo, out of state contact information. Anything that you will need to take with you if you have to evacuate immediately. 

It is a good idea to keep all heirloom jewelry, artifacts and other items together in a fire proof, water proof safe. Keep all family photos albums and photos together for quick assess if you need to evacuate. 

Keep all computer information on a hard drive or flash drive, easy to grab and take with you if you need to evacuate immediately. 

Click here to see how to set up the "Family Emergency Preparedness Notebook under "Postings" on the right of this blog.  

Set a goal this month to gather all important family documents, heirlooms and photos, organize them and put them in a safe fire proof, water proof container. Make sure all family members know where it is in case you need to evacuate.
 
Emergency Preparedness Ideas


Rules of Food Storage . . .  

1) Only store what your family will eat! It is a know fact that people, especially children will not eat what they do not like, even in a disaster or emergency situation.

2)  First, store commercially canned and packaged foods. 3-Monthis is a good goal. If 3-Months seems overwhelming then set with a goal of 2 weeks, then keep adding until you reach the 3-Month goal. 

3) Store in a cool (below 70 degrees if possible), dry, dark place. Your garage and attic are to hot. If you need to store in your garage and the garage is attached to your house, store your food on the wall attached to the house. Remember, the high the temperature the food will diminish in nutritional value quicker.  Be creative where to store your food, in closets, under beds, in enclosed end tables and coffee tables, create a table with a cloth over it to hide the food, in the pantry, in spaces in your kitchen cabinets that are hard to reach into, like in an "L" shaped lower cabinet in the back corner.

4) Rotate, Rotate, Rotate! Rotate your food storage regularly. If you use a can, package or long term storage replace immediately. Watch discount stores. Their food products are usually about to expire or have expired. Only purchase them if you plan on using them immediately. Most canned foods will last longer than the expiration date as long as the lid is not bubbled or the can dented. The food will diminish in nutritional value over time. Keep inventory of your food storage and re-inventory about 3 times a year, rotating items that will expire soon. 

5) DO NOT GO INTO DEBT FOR YOUR FOOD STORAGE! We have been admonished by our church leaders to not go into debt for our food storage. Add it gradually when you can and watch for sales. Food Storage does not happen overnight, it takes years and is an ongoing process. 

Comments and Questions: We love hearing your comments and questions. Please post them below under "Comments" or email me your questions at "theark,carsonward@gmail.com". Remember, we all learn from each others experiences and knowledge. Thank you for your comments. 

Having a problem leaving a comment--Sometimes I have to put in my comment (save it by hitting control "c"), try to post it, and after trying to post it, put it back in by hitting control "v". Sometimes you need to use a different server like Mozilla FireFox or Google Chrome. 

Thursday, October 29, 2015

How to prepare for your baby and young children . . .

  
Our babies and young children are a very important part of our emergency preparedness and very vulnerable during and after a disaster. If you have a baby and/or young children in your home you need to prepare for them differently than older children, teenagers and adults. Evaluate each of your children's needs and prepare for them.



1) New babies need formula, even if you are breast feeding your baby, what if you became ill or die and can no longer breast feed your baby, the baby will need milk. You will need baby bottles too. Remember to rotate as needed, do not let it expire. Give to a mother who can use it before it expires. 

2) You will need to store baby cereals and food (vegetables, fruits, meats) for different stages of life and ages. Possibly a baby food grinder if you prefer to make your own baby food.

3)You will need to store diapers in different, and wipes. I would also store cloth diapers, if you run out at least you will have them and can wash them. 

4)You will need to consider their clothes, store them in different sizes. If you have children of all ages, store their old clothes, the younger ones will eventually grow into them. Check babies and children clothes often to make sure they still fit. You will need to consider seasons too if you live where it gets cold, snows or is hot.

5) You will need to store any medications they might need, children's Tylenol, Motrin,  Orajel for teething, diaper creams, peroxide for cuts and wounds, neosporin, Vick's, vitamins for different ages and any other medications they may be taking.

6) You will need to store hygiene products for them, baby shampoo, baby bath soap, baby lotion, wipes, children's tooth paste, fluoride mouth wash, tooth brushes and other hygiene products as needed.  

7) Stress relievers--babies and young children feel great stress during and after a disaster. Put together a Stressor Kit or them, which should include activities for the ages of children you have in your family, activity books, card games, their favorite reading books, small toys, writing tablet with pencils, pencil sharpener and crayons, coloring books, a small toy, a picture of the family in case you are separated, what ever your child enjoys doing that will bring them comfort.

8) And of course the right size car seat and stroller if you need to evacuate.

Friday, October 9, 2015

Emergency Preparedness, Food Storage and Monthly Assingments (Week of Ocotober 11th)

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

How do you prepare for the unexpected?


Unforeseen circumstance can happen, that is why we need to be prepared for them the best we can. The better we are prepared the better our chances are of surviving. We never know when a disaster will hit and how intense the damages may be, but we can prepared the best we can for the types of disasters in our area.


Just a few weeks ago South and North Carolina USA were hit by the Joaquin Hurricane casing major damages, flooding and loss of life. They had no idea the hurricane would cause so much damage from the heavy rain fall and ocean surges. How can you prepare for something like this? We all need to be prepared all the time for the types of disaster that can hit us in our areas.


I found a great article on the Maryland USA government website, Emergency Management Agency, "Disaster Prepared: 10 Things You Can Do" that has some great ideas on how to prepare. Here are 8 of them that may apply to you. Click here to read the article, the details of each subject and be better prepared.

1) Identify Your Risk
2) Create a Family Disaster Plan
3) Practice You Disaster Plan
4) Build a Disaster Supply Kit for Home and Car
5) Prepare Your Children
6) Don't Forget Those With Special Needs
7) Learn CPR and First-aid
8) Eliminate Hazards in Your Home and Work Place


October Monthly Assignments

Food Storage: Potatoes


Who doesn't love potatoes? I guess there are some who do not, but they are a little crazy in my estimation. There are so many different types and ways to cook and enjoy them even in  a disaster situation.

This is another inexpensive item to add to your food storage, be it commercially canned, packaged, frozen, home canning and freeze-dried/dehydrated for long term storage. There are all types of potatoes and many ways to purchase and store them.

 


Commercially canned: There are a variety of  commercially canned potatoes to satisfy every one's taste; new potatoes, white potatoes, sweet potatoes, yams, etc. This type can be kept for 2-3 years. Rotate and use before the expiration date. Keep in a cool, dry, dark place.

   


Home canned potatoes: You can can them whole, diced, sliced or shredded. If kept in a cool dry dark place they should last for about 2-3 years. Every 6 months check the lid to make sure the seal in good.


                                         
Packaged potatoes:  They come  in a variety of ways. Check the boxes for their expiration date and rotate and use accordingly.



Frozen potatoes: They come in a variety of ways, french fries, shredded, sliced, and hash browns. They come in a variety of types. Check the expiration dates and rotate and use accordingly. Remember, in a disaster situation without electricity, use these first. Your refrigerator will keep cold for a couple of days if you do not open the door too much. 

 
Long Term Freeze-dried/Dehydrated Potatoes: For long term storage, 20-30 years depending on how you store them. They should be keep at 70 degrees or lower, in a cool, dry, dark place. They come in a variety of ways and types, whole, sliced, diced, shredded, flakes and powdered. I find emergencyessenitals.com and WalMart's Augason Farms has the best prices, especially when on sale. (Scroll down their pages to see a what they both offer,)


How to determine how much to store for your family: Keep track of how many potatoes and varieties your family uses in a month. Multiply that by the number of months for your food storage goal, 1-Month, 2-Months, 3-Months, 6-Months, a years. Only store the types of potatoes your family will eat. Remember, as with all commercially canned, home canned, and long term cans, keep in a cool, dry, dark place and rotate and use before the expiration date.

Emergency Preparedness: 
    Emergency Medical Supplies 
                              and First-Aid/CPR



How many of us have emergency medical supplies on hand? I know we all have first-aid kits, but they will not get you through a major disaster.  First-aid kits are meant for minor injuries and do not have a lot of supplies in them or the other items you might need after a disaster. Each family should have a Family Emergency Medical Kit in their home. You should also have a good first-aid kit in your car with a First-aid book. There should also be a good one in your 72 Hour Emergency Family Bag we discussed last month.

Click here to see the items you should have in your Family Emergency Medical Kit. You may need to adjust according to your family's needs. You may find you have many of these items already. Purchase a large plastic container with a lid or a large backpack and put them together. Add those items needed. Keep it in a cool, dry, dark place. 

Practice first-aid skills with your family and CPR often. Take a First-aid and CPR class when possible.

Remember to rotate the medications, sprays, creams and ointments  as needed. 

Emergency Preparedness Ideas

How to prepare for your baby and young children . . .

  
Our babies and young children are a very important part of our emergency preparedness and very vulnerable during and after a disaster. If you have a baby and/or young children in your home you need to prepare for them differently than older children, teenagers and adults. Evaluate each of your children's needs and prepare for them.



1) New babies need formula, even if you are breast feeding your baby, what if you became ill or die and can no longer breast feed your baby, the baby will need milk. You will need baby bottles too. Remember to rotate as needed, do not let it expire. Give to a mother who can use it before it expires. 

2) You will need to store baby cereals and food (vegetables, fruits, meats) for different stages of life and ages. Possibly a baby food grinder if you prefer to make your own baby food.

3)You will need to store diapers in different, and wipes. I would also store cloth diapers, if you run out at least you will have them and can wash them. 

4)You will need to consider their clothes, store them in different sizes. If you have children of all ages, store their old clothes, the younger ones will eventually grow into them. Check babies and children clothes often to make sure they still fit. You will need to consider seasons too if you live where it gets cold, snows or is hot.

5) You will need to store any medications they might need, children's Tylenol, Motrin,  Orajel for teething, diaper creams, peroxide for cuts and wounds, neosporin, Vick's, vitamins for different ages and any other medications they may be taking.

6) You will need to store hygiene products for them, baby shampoo, baby bath soap, baby lotion, wipes, children's tooth paste, fluoride mouth wash, tooth brushes and other hygiene products as needed.  

7) Stress relievers--babies and young children feel great stress during and after a disaster. Put together a Stressor Kit or them, which should include activities for the ages of children you have in your family, activity books, card games, their favorite reading books, small toys, writing tablet with pencils, pencil sharpener and crayons, coloring books, a small toy, a picture of the family in case you are separated, what ever your child enjoys doing that will bring them comfort.

8) And of course the right size car seat and stroller if you need to evacuate. 

Comments and Questions: Please share your thoughts, comments and questions below. If you having a difficult time leaving a comment try a different server like Mozilla FireFox, Google Chrome, etc. Remember, we all learn from each others experiences and knowledge. Thank you for your thoughts and comments. If you have a question you can leave it below or email me at theark.carsonward@gmail.com. I will do the research and answer it on my next blog posting.