Emergency Preparedness, Food Storage and Monthly Assignments (July 2018)

Why do I need food storage 

and emergency supplies? 

Why not???

 

With all the natural disasters, man made disasters, civil unrest, wars and other things going on around us it would be a good idea to be prepared. When the storm is upon you it is too late! Prepare now so you will not fear. Why live in fear when you do not need to? Why not prepare now when you can? It is not hard! Take baby steps. You do not have to do it all at once. We have been working on our food storage and emergency supplies for 47 years. It is a life time of work that you are continually updating and adding too. As our lives change our needs change. 

I felt inspired by the Holy Ghost about 9 years ago that we needed to be better prepared and to warn my family, friends, neighbors and the world they needed to better prepared. So, with the help of my daughter I created this emergency preparedness blog to help you, to make it easier to prepare and not feel so overwhelming. I promise you if you will use this blog and the monthly assignments you will be prepared faster than you can realize. It works! Why not try it? Why live in fear? Do not procrastinate and think it cannot happen to you. It may at some point. It may be the lost of income, health or a disaster. Why live in fear of not being prepared for what may come your way? Just try it! In safety there is peace!

July Monthly Assignments 

3-Month Food Storage 

 

       Now are you doing on your 3-Month Food Storage? 

Since January of this year we have been working towards a 3-Month Food Storage supply. Each families is be unique in that not one family eats the same things. You will tailor your food storage according to what your family will eat. Do not purchase items just because they are sale, your family will not eat foods they do not like, and you have just wasted valuable money that could be put towards foods they will eat.

A 3-Month Food Storage supply consists of commercially canned and packaged food and home canning foods. You can also include frozen foods.

• January we worked on keeping track of what your family eats in a month. Go back to January 2018 posting to see the details and a printable chart to keep track. Now that you have figured out what your family eats in a month you can set up an inventory notebook.

• February I showed you how to set up your Food Storage and Emergency Supply Inventory Notebook. Go back to the February 2018 positing to see how to do this.

• March through June we continued to add commercially canned and packaged foods, frozen foods, and home canned foods to your 3-Month Food Storage. Watch sales, allowing to purchase more. Keep track in your inventory notebook. Rotate as needed.

This month, July, continue to add to your 3-Month Food Storage. 

Big box stores vs regular grocery stores: Recently I purchased a case of Kirkland brand, 12 cans of green beans (14.5 oz each) at Costco for $5.99. That works out to 50 cents a can, a great price. At the regular grocery store like Safeway, Ralph's or Albertsons in Southern California, USA they run, on sale, about $.70-$1.00. And of course, at the discounts stores they are $1 each, but watch the expiration dates. So clearly in this case the big box store is less expensive, but it depends on the item. Do the math and watch your local grocery stores for the best price. Watch for case lot sales too.

  

Emergency Preparedness Supplies

Shelter-In-Place 

What would you do if you were told immediately to 

"shelter-in-place"? 

What does that mean? 

Are you prepared for it?

"Shelter-In-Place" means to take immediate shelter where you are, at home, work, school or in between. It may be used in instances of violent weather, civil unrest or accidental or intentional releases of hazardous materials that may affect he outside environment. When the warning is issued do not hesitate! Take immediate shelter! 

Each family should have a 'Shelter-In-Place" plan in affect. Practice it often, especially if you have children in your home and the elderly.  

Here are ideas and rules to follow:

  

What supplies will you need to keep on hand if this happens:

  

1) Extra large heavy black plastic (like the 55 gallon trash bags or a roll of plastic). You need the heavy black plastic to block out light from those outside so they do not think you are home to possible protect  your family. You will also need to seal the door, do not forget the bottom.
2) Duck tape to tape the plastic to all the windows in the room you are shelter in.
3) If it is cold and for some reason you have no heat or advised to not use your gas you can line the room with your bed mattresses. It is amazing how this will keep the room warm.
4) You should have a "shelter-in-place" kit that can easily be accessed quickly. It should contain bottled water, medications, snacks, food (granola bars, peanut butter, Ritz crackers, trail mix, etc.) just in case you need to stay there for awhile. It should also contain some card and board games to entertain the family, scriptures and favorite reading books.
5) Flashlight with extra batteries, and maybe an LED lantern, in case you loose electricity.
6) A radio to get updated news. If you are in a room with the TV then you can watch the news.
7) Do not forget your pets and their needs. Have small kit put together for them. 

What to do:

 

1) Plan ahead of time which room you will shelter-in-place in, one with the least amount of windows and doors. The master bedroom with an adjacent bathroom would be idea.
2) Gather the family together quickly. 
3) Cover all window and doors with the heavy black plastic and seal with the duck tape.
4) Listen to the radio or TV for further instructions. If you do not have a phone in the room you are sheltering in, take your cell phone with you and the charger.
5) Pull out your "Shelter-in-Place" kit and keep everyone calm and ingaged in activities, especially the children, to keep their minds off what is happening.
6) Bring your pets in from outside. 
7) Listen for the all clear sound or announcements on the radio or TV.
8) DO NOT leave the room until you know it is safe.

At work:

1) Check to make sure your company and/or employer has a "Shelter-In-Plan" in place. IF not, suggest they put one into place.

2) Follow the company or employee guidelines.  

3) Have your own "Shelter-In-Place" kit which you keep under your desk, with your 72 Hour Individual Emergency Preparedness Backpack, or near by.  

4) Know here in the building you can "shelter-in-place" safely and leave a note on your desk where you went. 

4) Do not leave until the warning has been lifted and you know for sure it is alright to leave. 

Gun Shootings:

1) With more gun shootings at schools, places of employment and malls and other businesses we each need to be award of our surroundings. Next to see if your schools and places of employment have "Shelter-In-Place" plans. 

2) Know your surroundings when you enter malls or s places of businesses. 

3) Know where you can take shelter if a gun shooting happens.  

4() We safe and be wise.  

Resources:

Click here for more information on "Shelter-In-Place". 

The CDC, Center for Disease Control and Prevention has some other great advise. Click here to read more about this subject to help you plan. Everyone should have this plan in place in their home, at work, at their children's schools and elsewhere. If you have family members in a nursing home or assisted living facility make sure they have a plan in place for this type of event.

There are other websites and local governments that may have more information on this subject. 

August Posting:

I will be taking a vacation in August. Continue to add to your 3-Month Food Storage and Emergency Supplies. Continue to use this blog to help you become better prepared. Next posting September 2018.