Food Storage, Emergency Preparedness and Weekly Assignment (Week of January 19th)

Hi Carson Ward Family, Family and Friends,

It makes my heart sing...when people come up to me and say they are working on completing a 72 Hour Emergency Preparedness Kit/Backpack for each family member, when they say they are working on their Emergency Family Bag, when they say they purchased items for their food storage, when they say they had a way to have light when their electricity went out for 5 hours, when they say they purchased some water barrels at the address on the blog under "Water Storage", when they say they read this blog and are applying the information, when they say they are trying to be prepared. Great job everyone! Keep on trying to become prepared for what may come your way and using the information in this blog. Things can change in a just a second!

What would you do if you lost your municipal water source for 3 and half days?

We can all learn a lesson from the West Virginia area, 300,000 residence in nine counties were unable to drink, cook, bathe, and wash clothes due to a chemical spill were about 7,500 gallons of chemicals leaked into the Elk River in Charleston. Stores sold out of bottled water within hours.

How many times have we been warned to store drinking water and fail to do so? How many of us have enough drinking and bathing water on had to last for 3 days to 2 weeks? It only takes a second for something like this to happen to our lives. When will we realize it can happen to us and do something about it before it is too late? We cannot rely on our family, neighbors, community or others. We need to be prepared to take care of our own family immediately. Many were up set that the local government could not provide enough water for them. It is not their responsibility, it is ours. Many stood in long line for hours to fill up small containers with water.

Water is the most important emergency preparedness item to store. You can live without food for many days, but you cannot live without water for more 2-3 days.

Check under Postings on the right, "Water Storage and Water Barrels" for information on different types of water storage containers, their benefits and how to store and preserve water for long periods of time. I was so happy to hear on Sunday a family who went to the fellow on Santa Fe Springs in Long Beach, listed in the "Water Storage" posting, and purchased some of his large water barrels. But remember, find a place to store them and fill them as soon as you get home. They will not do you any good if they sit empty.

Note: Another thing important to store is paper supplies. You may not be able to use your tap water for washing dishes as was the case in West Virginia. 

Weekly Assignment: Emergency Family Bag

This week add the following:

1) Extra large waterproof tarp--I have seen these on sale at Harbor Freight for about $5-$6. Watch for coupons online, in the newspaper or in the local mail ads. This is good to have so you can construct another type of shelter or use in other ways.





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, and the extra large water proof tarp above. See previous blog postings for information regarding these items and where to purchase them.

In the next few weeks we will add the following: Hand can opener (if you have cans that will need opening), 2 mess kits, wet stone (for sharpening blades), basic chow set (fork. spoon, knife), crow bar, 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: Emergency Cooking Equipment with Required Fuel

This month purchase some source of a way to cook if you could not use your stove, oven or microwave. It could be a Butane 1-2 burner stove with several cans of Butane fuel, a Coleman stove with several containers of propane, a charcoal BBQ with several bags of charcoal (including matches, kindling and charcoal lighting fluid if not the self-lighting type), a gas BBQ with extra cans of propane, a fire pit with wood, or a solar oven. For ideas regarding cooking equipment check out the posting under "Postings", or click on the link,"Cooking, Heating and Lighting".







If you already have one of these sources of cooking then check them to make sure they are working properly, purchase any additional fuel you might need so you can cook for 2-4 weeks, gather everything together and put in a safe place in your back yard storage shed or garage It is a good idea to use these items before a disaster or emergency situation happens. 

Remember:  Propane, by California law and for safety purposes, has to be stored away from your house, not in your storage shed or garage.

If you already have one of these sources of cooking equipment, possibly consider purchasing another type of cooking equipment with the needed fuel. It is a good idea to have more than one source of emergency cooking.

Cool Idea:

Great easy fun way to separate eggs--Love this!



Emergency Preparedness Ideas:

Another Dry Pack Canning Method...FoodSaver machine using bags or Mason jar attachment--

Note: In the video he says you do not have to put the rings on the lid but I would do it to preserve longer and in case water gets in the area where you are storing them. A good place to store these jars in the box is under beds, needs to be in a cool, dry, dark place. The garage is gets to hot! I purchased my FoodSaver and sealing caps on EBay, FoodSaver for about $20 and the sealing caps for about $10. If you use the bags the food will keep about 1-2 years, or possibly more. Remember: You cannot store brown rice this way, too much moisture. Warning: I would also not do any powdery foods like sugar, pancake mix, cake mix, etc, will get sucked up into the FoodSaver as it takes out the air and ruin your machine. You can do these by oven canning, not the sugars because they will melt. I will explain this method next week.



Last week I talked about quinoa as a great grain to store. You can Google for some great ways to cook with quinoa. Here is a simple recipe that is like oatmeal.

Breakfast Quinoa

1 cup uncooked quinoa
2 cups water
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 green apple, chopped, optional
1 cup fresh or dried unsweetened blueberries or cranberries, option
1/2 cup chopped walnuts, option

Place the quinoa, water, cinnamon, salt, apples and/or berries, if desired, in a 1 1/2 quart sauce pan over medium heat and bring to boil. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for 12 minutes or until most of the water has been absorbed.

Add Stevia to sweeten if desired.  Serves 4-6.

My husband eats this with green apples and walnuts almost every day for breakfast. Great source of protein and no carbs.

Note: I store the remainder in the refrigerator and warm up in a sauce pan with a little added water as needed. If not using pre-washed quinoa, rinse several times before cooking. You can find quinoa at Whole Foods, Sprouts and Costco.

I just discovered Thrive.com carries quinoa in the #10 dehydrated cans, which keeps for 20-25 years. It is on sale this month for $31.19 for 4.56 pounds. Costco carries it in a 4 pound bag for about $15.00 but only keeps for about 1 year and needs to be refrigerated once opened. Whole Foods and Sprouts carry it in 1 pound bags for about $8-$10. See how to use quinoa below...



Even I make mistake after doing Emergency Preparedness for 35+ years and stressing "rotate, rotate, rotate" your food... 

The other day I got out our 72 Hour Individual Emergency Preparedness Backpacks to replace the food in the food kits. As I was checking the expiration dates I notice the Trail Mix had expired in September 2012, over a year go. Not good! Not sure how I missed this. It is important to check your Food Kits every 6 months to make sure the food  has not expired or will be expiring shortly. Replace as needed and eat the not expired food. Important: If you keep the backpack in your car, you may need to rotate the food every 3-6 months depending on how hot your trunk or car gets. Do not forget the ones you have at work.

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

Food Storage, Emergency Preparedness and Weekly Assignment (Week of January 5th)

Hi Carson Ward Family, Family and Friends,

Congratulations! The Owen Family, The So'o Manai Family, and the Sherri Fa'alafua Family all won the December Free Monthly Giveaway Drawing. The each won a  Venture 6 Tools which includes a shovel that converts to a  saw, hammer,and hatchet, and pulls nails and opens bottles.

2014 New Year's Resolution vs 2014 New Year's Goals...

We all do it, at least most of us! Each year we make New Year's Resolutions, only to break them in just a few day, a few weeks or a few months: lose weight, stay on a budget, spent more time with the family, get the house/garage in order, clean up the yard, plant a garden, personal daily scripture reading, Family Home Evening, daily family scripture reading and prayer, attend the temple more often, magnify our church calling more, be better prepared for an emergency situation, be kinder to each other, etc.

Why not set New Year's Goals instead of New Year's Resolutions? To me goals are more permanent, more long lasting. I know for myself, when I set "GOALS" I am more likely to keep them and accomplish them. Resolutions, in the back of our mind, we know we will probably break them.

Each of us are so busy with family, work, our homes and yards, church callings, community and church activities, being involved in our children's schools, and so on. We feel overwhelmed to add one more thing to the "pot".

But we all need to make food storage and emergency preparedness apart of our lives, a part of our New Year's Goals. I am going to try and break it down for you to make it easier. This year we will have "weekly" and "monthly" assignments/goals.

Concerns...

Last Sunday in Relief Society a sister leaned over to me and asked how do I do it, how do I set up my food storage and prepare for an emergency, it is so overwhelming and cost money. She is a single mother trying her best to take care of her children and provide for their needs. I explained we do not have to do it all at once, one step at a time. It has taken us 42 years and 6 children later to get where we are today, a little at a time. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints admonishes its members to not go into debt for our food storage and emergency supplies. We should set goals and work forwards them a little at a time.

Sometimes I wonder, where are our priorities? As I watched many of our Ward members in Sunday School pull out electronic devises (iPads, Tablets, Kindles, etc.), which they did not appear to have before Christmas, I wondered if these devises were really a necessity or just a want. I would have rather taken that money and put into food storage and emergency preparedness supplies for the future to make sure my family was protected. It is just my opinion! In fact, this year my husband and I decided not to give each other Christmas gifts, but thought of something that would help us in an emergency situation. For a long time I have been wanting a cooking devise that cooks by the sun. We decided after some consideration to purchase the item for our emergency supplies. We are so excited to add this item to our emergency cooking equipment so we will be able to cook during an emergency situation. Next week I will try it out and let you know how well it works.We found the best price at emergencyessentials.com.

Ideas for your 2014 New Year's Food Storage and Emergency Preparedness Goals... 

A) Food Storage--1 to 3 months supply of food and water

1. First, figure out how much your family eats in a month. Keep track of everything you make (each meal), even when you go out to eat, what you drink, including snacks, everything. Keep a chart on the refrigerator divided into categories; Protein (meats, chicken, fish, peanut butter, eggs, etc.), Dairy (cheese, butter, milk, yogurt, cottage cheese, sour scream, etc.), Vegetables (all fresh, canned and frozen), Breads, Grains and Cereals (flour, oatmeal, rice, breakfast cereals, etc.), Beans and Legumes, Sugars and Honey, Snacks, Fruit, Condiments, Oil and Fats, Seasonings, and deserts/treats. I know this sounds like a lot, but if you do it each time you make a meal or go out, you will have an idea of what your family eats in a month. If your goal is to store 3 months supply of food multiply by 3 and then you know what to work towards. If to much, do a month at a time until you have 3 months. Do not forget to store drinking water, enough for a month or more. Note: See the postings on the right under "Postings" for "3 Month Food Supply", "A Years Supply of Food" and "Water Storage" for ideas and help.

2. First rule of Food Storage--ONLY STORE WHAT YOU AND YOUR FAMILY WILL EAT! Do not purchase something thinking they will eat it, they will not! Note: Watch the expiration dates. Places like discount stores (99 Cent Store, Dollar Tree, etc.) many times sell items that will expire in a few days, weeks or months. Most canned foods will last 1-3 years if purchased at a regular grocery or box store.

3. Next, after you have the amount your family eats in a month, each time you go grocery shopping purchase a few extra cans, packages or items you will need. For fresh meats consider canned chicken, beef, tuna, etc. Of course, while you are figuring out how much you eat in a month, you can go ahead and start purchasing canned foods you know you use.What for items on sale!

4. Store all canned and packaged foods in a cool, dry, dark place. In your pantry, under beds, in closets and cupboards.Your garage is usually too hot and the food will not last as long as the expiration date.

5. Second rule of Food Storage--ROTATE, ROTATE, ROTATE! Do an inventory monthly of your food storage to see what will expire soon. Use if expiring soon and then replace it immediately.

B) 72 Hour Individual Emergency Preparedness Backpacks and 72 Hour Emergency Family Bag

Every household member should have their own 72 Hour Individual Emergency Preparedness Backpacks (some call them Bug Out Bags) and each family should have a 72 Emergency Family Bag. We worked on the 72 Hour Individual Emergency Preparedness Backpacks all last year and are completing our 72 Hour Emergency Family Bag. See the posting on the right under "Postings", "72 Hour Kits" or go back to December 30, 2012 to follow along until you have complete all 3 kits.

C) Emergency Preparedness Supplies--below are some ideas. We would like each family to set a goal in each category to purchase at least one item in each category, or check the items you have to make sure they are working properly. Add any fuel needs to run the equipment. Also, arrange them in your garage, back yard storage shed so they are all together. For information and ideas see the postings on the right under "Postings" for each category below or click on the links below.

1. Lighting









 
2. Cooking

3. Heating







 

4. Sanitation








 

5. Shelter







  

6. Family Emergency Medical Supplies Kit (working on a "Posting" for this). We worked on this about two years ago. We will work on this again once we complete the 72 Hour Emergency Family Bag.






D) Evacuation Plans--These are good to work on in Family Home Evening or a Family Council.

1. Have an evacuation plan in place for your family. Practice your plan 3-4 times a year and discuss often with the family. See the postings on the right "Postings", "Disaster Situation and What to Do" and "Earthquakes".

2. Have a fire escape plan for your home and know what to do at work. Have family quarterly fire drills in your home.


Carson Ward 2014 Emergency Preparedness Goals

1) Complete the Emergency Family Bag, only a few more items to add. 
2) Complete the Family Emergency Medical Supplies Kit. 
3) Have a Ward Emergency Preparedness Activity in the Spring of 2014.
4) Have a "weekly" and 'monthly" assignment. 
5) Make sure each family member in the Ward has a 72 Hour Individual Emergency Preparedness Backpack and a 72 Hour Emergency Family Bag by the end of 2014.
6) Make sure each family household has at least one source of emergency supplies in each category above by the end of 2014. 
7) Make sure each family has an evacuation plan and has fire drills in their home often, especially those with children, seniors and the handicapped. 

Weekly Assignment: Emergency Family Bag

This week add the following:

Note: Since we are all recovering from the cost of Christmas gifts I will make this one inexpensive, about $5.

1) Small tool set (flat head and Philips screw drivers, pliers, wrench, small hammer)--Keep them all together either wrapped in a small towel or a large plastic zip lock bag. Place them in your 72 Hour Emergency Family Bag. You can purchase these at discount stores like the 99 Cent Store, the Dollar Tree, etc. Many of you will have these in your house or garage. Gather them together and place them in your bag.

Remember: Your 72 Hour Emergency Family Bag is kept with your family 72 Hour Individual Emergency Preparedness Backpacks or in your cars. 

Monthly Assignment: Emergency Cooking Equipment with Required Fuel


This month purchase some source of a way to cook if you could not use your stove, oven or microwave. It could be a Butane 1-2 burner stove with several cans of Butane fuel, a Coleman stove with several containers of propane, a charcoal BBQ with several bags of charcoal (including matches, kindling and charcoal lighting fluid if not the self-lighting type, a gas BBQ with extra cans of propane, a fire pit, or a solar oven. For ideas regarding cooking equipment check out the posting under "Postings", or click on the link,"Cooking, Heating and Lighting".

Note: I have found a one burner Butane stove for about $15-$20 at some discount stores. The cans of fuel are about $1.50. 

If you already have one of these sources of cooking then check them to make sure they are working properly, purchase any additional fuel you might need so you can cook for 2-4 weeks, gather everything together and put in a safe place in your back yard storage shed or garage. Remember, propane, by California law and for safety purposes, has to be stored away from your house, not in your storage shed or garage.

If you already have one of these sources of cooking equipment, possibly purchase another type of cooking equipment with the needed fuel.

Emergency Preparedness Ideas: 

1) Always be aware of your surroundings, a way to exit or a place to go to be safe.
2) Know what kind of natural disasters you have in your area and we prepared for them.

Helpful Food Storage Articles by Leslie Probert, Food Storage Essentials writer for the Deseret News...click on the link for great ideas and information. Provided by "Prepared LDS Family".

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

Food Storage, Emergency Preparedness and Weekly Assignment (Week of December 8th)

Hi Carson Ward Family, Family and Friends,
  
Scripture...

"Be thou prepared, and prepare for thyself, thou, and all thy company that are assembled unto thee, and be thou a guard unto them."          Ezekiel 38:7

This scripture is a commandment from God. We are admonished to liken the scriptures unto. As I read this scripture I thought about how it is our responsibility to take care of ourselves and our family. In this scripture I  interpret "company" to mean our family and anyone we are responsible for. We are also responsible for their protection and the protection of our food storage and emergency supplies. Since this is a blog about emergency preparedness I also liken it to our food storage and emergency supplies. It is our responsibility to be prepared for what ever may come our way, to provide food, water and protection for our family, not our Ward family, neighbors, our community, nor the government. We should not boast or tell others how much we have but warn them to be prepared.

I genuinely  care about each of you and your families. I want you to be prepared, be aware of your surrounds, what is going on in your community and country, have the things you will need to take care of your family if there is no food or water or emergency supplies, and to protect your family.

 

Please use this blog to help you in your emergency preparedness goals. This year, 2013, has been a year with great devastation around the world, but at the same time it has been a great year. I pray this emergency preparedness blog has help you and your family and loved ones become better prepared, and will continue to help you. Remember, it only takes a second for things to change! Strive to be as prepared as you can. Preparedness brings peace of mind. Thank you for your support and comments throughout the year. Have a wonderful Christmas and New Year with your family!

Weekly Assignment: Emergency Family Bag

Because we are all busy with our holiday and Christmas activities I am taking a break from the weekly assignments. This will give you an opportunity to catch up on the previous things we have added to our Emergency Family Bags. Go back to the week of October 20th  and follow through until December 1st to see the information on the items we have added so far.


 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 and insect repellent. See previous blog postings for information regarding these items and where to purchase them. 




 Suggestions for Stocking Stuffers: 

Any small items that would go into your 72 Hour Individual Emergency Preparedness Backpack.  Go back to December 30, 2012 through to September 22, 2013 to see what items you could add as stocking stuffers.

Christmas Gift Idea:

Why not give canned foods as a present? Give each family member $5-$10 and have them purchase canned foods for your food storage. It may be their favorites. Have them wrap them up, put them under the Christmas and family members will unwrap them on Christmas morning (or the evening, which ever you do) to see what items they have chosen to add to the family's food storage. Great way to add to your food storage and have fun doing it.

Emergency Preparedness Ideas:

Did you know if you do not open bottles of pain relievers, and keep them in a cool dry dark place, like Advil, Tylenol, aspirin, they will keep for 15 years?

Note: Sorry this blog posting is short this time. Need to get back to my Christmas decorating, wrapping gifts and Christmas baking.

A Christmas Wish...

I hope all of you have a wonderful Christmas with your family and loved ones. Spending time together and making wonderful memories. May you enjoy the magic of Christmas and celebrating the birth of our Savior,
Jesus Christ. May your families be safe, well and prepared!




Taking a Break...We will be back December 29th. Keep preparing!

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

Food Storage, Emergency Preparedness and Weekly Assignment (Week of December 1st)

Hi Carson Ward Family, Family and Friends,

 

Obedience, a Part of Emergency Preparedness...

What do you do when everything is blown away? What is the point of having it (food storage) anyway? I would like to address some more things about this question again this week.

Many times people say to me, "Why have food storage and emergency supplies when they can be lost or destroyed? Why? Because you are being obedient to our prophet and church leaders. In Doctrine and Covenants 21:1,4-7 the Lord promises great blessings to those who follow the prophet. In the LDS Primary song chorus "Follow the Prophet" we read,

"Follow the prophet, follow the prophet,
Follow the prophet; don't go astray.
Follow the prophet, follow the prophet,
Follow the prophet; he knows the way."

At our recent The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints183rd Semiannual General Conference Elder Robert D. Hales, Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, shared a quote from President Harold B. Lee, "The only safety we have as members of this church (and I believe all people) is to...give heed to the words and commandments that the Lord shall give through His prophets." Elder Hales went on to say, "I testify that those who put their trust in the Lord and heed this council in faith will gain great strength to bless themselves and their families for generations to come."

A sister in my Ward shared this experience about how being obedient will bless you in times of trails...  "A friend of mine has a brother living in Sugar City, Idaho.  When the Teton dam broke his garage (an unattached garage, separate from his house) was washed downstream along with his year supply of food. When he was asked how he felt about loosing his food storage, he said that he believed the Lord had spared his house and his family because he had been obedient.  So, his efforts were not wasted after all."

So the bottom line, strive to be as obedient as you can by keep God's commandments, and teach your family and others. If you are obedient the Lord will watch over you and bless you. Not always in the way you think he should, but in the way He knows is best for you and your family.

Weekly Assignment: Family Emergency Bag:

A few weeks ago we started working on our Family Emergency Bag. This bag, either a sports bag or backpack, is kept in your car(s).  If  you need to evacuate it needs to be taken along with your family's 72
Hour Individual Emergency Preparedness Backpacks we worked on this year. If you have not completed one for each family member go back to the December 30, 2012 posting and follow through until you have complete a backpack for each family member in your household. You only need one Family Emergency Bag, possibly one for each family car in case you are not together when an emergency situation arises.


This week add the following: 


1) Sun block



2) Insect repellent

Note: You can purchase these items at discount stores like the 99 Cent Store, the Dollar General, Dollar Tree. If a small family you will probably only need 1-2 tubes/cans of each. If a larger family you may need more. Remember: these items may have expiration dates and need to be replaced from time to time. 

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 and insect repellent. See previous blog postings for information regarding these items and where to purchase them.  
  
Emergency Preparedness Ideas...Christmas and other celebration/holiday gift ideas

 

Why not give emergency preparedness items as gifts for Christmas, other celebrations/holidays and birthdays. Personally, I would rather have something that may protect my life and my family's someday than something that I will either not use, return for something else (we do it sometimes), or give away later on. Here are some great ideas...

1) Family Emergency Bag (We are currently working on this. Here is the list--sports bag or backpack to keep items in, first-aid kit and first-aid book, portable radio (with batteries or solar), hand can opener, extra large waterproof tarp, 50 feet of nylon rope or paracord or paracord bracelet, roll of duct tape, heat cell fuel (emergencyessentials.com), flat fuel folding stove (emergencyessentials.com), water proof matches, 2 Mess kits (emergencyessentials.com or any camping department store section), street maps of local areas (make copies from Thomas Guide or other resources), utility knife (12 function Army/Survival with scissors), hatchet (with crowbar, hammer and hatches--emergencyessentials.com), fold up shovel (emergencyessentials.com), small tool set (flat head and Philips screw drivers, pliers, wrench), wet stone, basic chow set (spoon, fork, knife, one for each family member, or keep in 72 Hour Individual Emergency Preparedness Backpacks), emergency flares and candles, small sewing kit, small hand mirror (for signalling), compass, sun block, inspect repellent, good set of Walkie Talkies with extra batteries. Note: Click on the link to see the items on the emergencyessentials.com website.

2) Chain Saw--to cut down tress on cars, houses, etc.  

3) Butane Stove with extra Butane fuel

4) Lantern--Coleman Lantern, LED lantern with extra batteries, solar lantern
5) Solar Oven for cooking (emergencyessentials.com, $200)

6) 72 Hour Individual Emergency Kits (Food, Hygiene and Stressor Kits, see all the posts starting on December 30, 2012 and follow until completed.)
7. Disaster Cleanup Kit--See posting week of October 20th or UMCOR
8. Seychelle Filtration System--water bottles (store.lds.org for $16-$22 or Seychelle website), water pump for water barrels, pitcher.
9) Solar phone charger
10) Wheat grinder (hand one in case no electricity, emergencyessentials.com)
11) #10 Cans of dehydrated or freeze-dried foods (emergencyessentials.com, Thrive.com, LDS ProvidentLiving.org, Self-Reliance.com)

10 Survival Tips and Tricks While in the Outdoors (click on the link, great ideas. 
 

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

Weekly Assignment, Food Storage and Emergency Preparedness Ideas (Week of November 24th)

Hi Carson Ward Family, Family and Friends,

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good: his LOVE endures FOREVER. (Psalm 107:1) 

My Hat is off to You!

I am so happy when I hear people say they are striving and preparing by completing a 72 Hour Individual Emergency Preparedness Backpack for each family member in their household and increasing their food storage, water storage, medical supplies and other emergency supplies. I also love hearing when you comment to me about the week's blog posting, it tells me you are reading it. I salute you! Because you are striving to be better prepared you will have peace of mind and you will save lives! Great job!

Much to say this week, so much happening! Read all the information below.

Where do you go and what do you do when everything is blown away? 

On Sunday I had a sister in our Ward ask me, "Where do you go and what do you do when everything is blown away?".

There has been so much devastation and loss of life the last few days, the Philippians Typhoon Haiyan,  Illinois and other North Mid Western States USA tornadoes and flooding in France. I thought about her concerns and here are some of the answers to her questions...It is all about survival until help can arrive!

1) First, if you know danger is on the way, grab your 72 Hour Individual Emergency Preparedness Backpack (or as some call it, your Bug Out Bag)  and Emergency Preparedness Family Bag and evacuate if told to do so or you feel you are in danger. Even if you feel the slightest concern, evacuate. It is better to be safe than sorry later on. If you are close to the Spirit, the Holy Ghost will guide you and protect you.

2) Next, once it is over, kneel down and pray to your Heavenly Father for gratitude you are alive and for those of your family are alive. Pray for peace, comfort, understand, protection and guidance. Just like the 10 LDS Sister Missionaries in the Philippians did in the story below. If you are in the middle of it, pray for safety and guidance.

3) Assess the injured and attend to the worst injures first, down until you have checked everyone. Infection is your worst enemy! Keep the wound as clean and dry as possible. We need to learn and know basic first-aid skills.

4) If someone is buried or trapped, DO NOT attempt to remove them unless you can do it safely without further injuring them, yourself or others.

5) Next, find shelter or a way to construct some type of shelter from the debris lying around to protect you from the elements. If  it is not impossible to stay where you are, evacuate to some place where you can get or build shelter.

6) Next, find a source of safe clean drinking water. You can live without food for 30+ days, but you can only live without water for a couple of days.

7) Next, if possible, find a source for food. Either you can fish, if possible, or seek help from others and the local government, which could take days as we have witnessed. Learn how to make a fish line and pole from scrapes.

8) Help others that may need assistance.

9) Stay as calm as possible and wait for help.

10) Try to keep spirits high by praying, singing, and playing games, especially for the children.

As now we praise thy name with song, The blessings of this day
Will linger in our thankful hearts, And silently we pray
For courage to accept they will, To listen and obey.

We love thee, Lord; our hearts are full. We'll walk they chosen way."

(LDS Hymn Book, "As Now We Take the Sacrament", #169) 

Why prepare when it could all be blown away?

Because you are being obedient to God's commandments and he will bless you! He just saved your life!
 

Many of us have parents and grandparents that were a part of the worldwide economic depression called "The Great Depression" during the 1930's to the mid 1940's. They learned to be very frugal and self-reliant. There was no work, very little food and other items. I often heard my parents and grandparents speak of The Great Depression and what it was like. Due my parents and grandparents experiences they were very frugal with everything, they never went into debt unless it was an absolute emergency, paid cash for everything, and did not waste anything.

My grandparents lived in a small country town in Missouri USA, just outside of town. My grandfather would find odd jobs to help support them with what they could not do for themselves. They had chickens for eggs and to eat, they had a goat for goat's milk, my grandfather fished in the creek just down the road, they made things work to provide for their family. If they could not afford it, they did without until they could afford it. 

You know the little bits of bar soap that are left over we today usually through away? My mother would shave or grate them and save the shavings in a jar. She would use them to do laundry and for other purposes. She always had a vegetable garden and made all our food from scratch, no prepackaged foods. She used her talent of sewing and cooking to earn extra money for the family by sewing for others and selling her homemade brake bread and other goodies. She made all our clothes and used her old clothes to make us play clothes and quilts. If something needed fixed on the car or around the house, my Dad would do it. They wasted nothing! There is an old phrase from "The Great Depression", "Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without." (Click on the link for 12 great ideas) We can learn much from them!

Many say they do not have enough money to purchase extra food and water for their food storage. What if you went without drinks (sodas, etc.), drank water instead, when you went to a fast food place or out to dinner? Take that money and put into a food storage saving jar. You will be surprised how fast it will build up. Once you have enough money, purchase some times for your food storage. Find other ways you can save to purchase food storage and emergency preparedness items. If we follow "The Greatest Generation" (from the Depression Era) we will have enough, and peace of mind! We need to prioritize our needs and wants!

Weekly Assignment: Family Emergency Bag:

A few weeks ago we started working on our Family Emergency Bag. This bag, either a sports bag or backpack, is kept in your car(s).  If  you need to evacuate it needs to be taken along with your family's 72
Hour Individual Emergency Preparedness Backpacks we worked on this year. If you have not completed one for each family member go back to the December 30, 2012 posting and follow through until you have complete a backpack for each family member in your household. You only need one Family Emergency Bag, possibly one for each family car in case you are not together when an emergency situation arises.


This week add the following: 

1) 50 foot nylon rope/cord or para-cord. You can purchase a para-cord bracelet for about $5-$6. Great stocking stuffer for each family member. Then they can put them in their 72 Hour Individual Emergency Preparedness Backpacks. I found it interesting in the story about the 10 LDS Sister Missionaries that their mission president felt inspired and advised them to have some rope with them and their 72 Hour Kits. The rope helped save their lives. 

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, and a first-aid kit with a first-aid book. See previous blog postings for information regarding these items and where to purchase them.  

Deseret News: 10 LDS sister missionaries survived along with hundreds of other LDS missionaries. Click on the links below to read and hear about their experience and what a television interview.

Surviving the typhoon: Fear, faith and miracles for 10 LDS sister missionaries trapped in the Philippines

Another video regarding the Philippines LDS Missionaries

Emergency Preparedness Ideas:

Non-food Survival Supermarket Items...

"There are more than enough other survival items in a supermarket that will help you survive, especially if you’re not near your prep or if something happened to it. Check out the most important supermarket survival items that aren’t food below. Most people will pass these over, giving you a chance to get a few extra supplies and GOOD while the geting’s good!" (SurvivalBase.com)

Click on this link to see what they are: Important Supermarket Survival Items That Aren't Food

 
Basic Baking Items: This is a great time of the year to add basic baking items like flour, baking soda, baking powder, sugar, brown sugar, salt, etc. to your food storage. Remember a great way to preserve them
for long storage (20+ years), except sugars, is to "Oven Bake" them in Mason canning jar. See last week's blog posting for information on how to do this. Easy and less expensive than the #10 dehydrated or freeze-dried you can purchase from food storage companies.


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