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.
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