Weekly Assignment and Food Storage Ideas (Week of August 27th)

Hi Carson Ward Family, Family and Friends,

Quote:

"We encourage you to follow this counsel with the assurance that a people prepared through obedience to the commandments of God need not fear." (First Presidency letter, June 24, 1988)

There may come a time in the future when food prices will be so high, you will not be able to purchase food for your family. Why not store some food for those hard times? Food continually rises and will continue to rise due to extreme weather conditions over the past year or so. Some items may become unavailable. Frank Davis, owner of Food for Health International in Utah, said he cannot get potatoes right now, there are none available for the dehydrated foods he makes, and prices have increase significantly over the past year and continue to rise. We need to be prepared for whatever might come our way!

Follow ups:

1) Water Filtration Pumps and Filters--I am doing one more order this Sunday, last day to order. The Water Pumps are $18.40 with tax and shipping. The Filters are $8.00 with tax and shipping. The water pump comes with one filter. The filters filter out 99.9999% of bacteria, viruses and contamination. Each filter filters 100 gallons of water. Please see the sign-up sheet this Sunday or email me by Sunday night how many water pumps and filters you want. Or you can call me at 310-835-0902. If all goes well, I should have them by next Sunday.

Note: If you use muddy or dirty water, it is best to pour the water through a t-shirt first to filter out as much mud or debris you can, that way the filter will last longer.

2) Water Barrels--When was the last time you replaced the water in your barrels or rotated any stored water. If you have bleach (1/4 cup per 55 gallons) in the water, you need to replace the water every year, if the water barrel is sitting in the sun, probably more often. If you do not have bleach in the water, then you need to replace the water every 6 months, more often if in the sun. If you have the Activated Stabilized Oxygen, 10% Strength in the water, it will last for 5 years, less if the barrels are in the sun a lot, maybe 3-4 years. I purchased it from Majors Survival Warehouse Store in Garden for $12.95. One small bottle will take care of 2 55 gallon barrels, half (1/8 cup) in each barrel. Never store your water in the garage, much to hot. Best place is where the barrel gets the least amount of sun during the day. If you want to purchase the barrels, see the Water Storage posting on the right side of the blog under Postings where you can buy them. 55 gallon barrel--$20-$25 each. Tell him Miss Nancy from the church in Carson on 228th and Main referred you, he may give them to you for $20 if you ask him. One will fit in the back seat of a Honda Civic.

Note: Electric Water Pump--we just purchased a 12 volt electric water pump at Harbor Freight for about $30-$40. First we purchased a more expensive one, $80, thinking it would work better, it did not pump out the water, must have been a bad design, we tried 2 of them. Then we purchased the 12 volt one and it worked great! Pumps out the 55 gallon water barrel in about 15-20 minutes. Requires a battery charger to hook it up to. The regular syphon worked as good, but we had to put the water a bucket and carry the water to another place and dump it out, to much work for me. The pump allows you to hook up the hose and direct the water to your lawn or flower beds. Great if you have several water barrels to empty.

3) Vegetable garden--For those who planted a vegetable garden or in containers, how is it doing? So far we have harvested lots of zucchini, yellow squash, lettuce, carrots, green onions, brown onions, bell peppers, tomatoes, green beans, beans, and cucumbers. We are excited to see pumpkins growing this year. It is not a huge garden, 6 feet by 10 feet. In September we will plant the cool vegetables, broccoli, celery, lettuce and peas. A great thing about living in California is that you can plant and grow vegetables almost all year long. It is such a great feeling to be able to go out to our garden and get fresh vegetables as we need them. I have made green salads and vegetable soup entirely from our garden. Our freezer is getting full from all the vegetables I have blanched and frozen, they will keep for a year. I am just about done using up the vegetables I froze last year. I will also can some this year.

4) 72 Hour Emergency Food Kits--If you completed your 72 hour food kits last August when we did them, please check them and replace any items that are about ready to expire and replace the water too. You can put the almost expired items in your children's school lunches.

Temporal Assignment--Family Emergency Medical Supplies:

This week we are finishing up the supplies. If you have not started or completed these supplies go back to the blog posting starting May 29th until you get to this posting August 27th, it took us 3 months to complete the list by adding a few items each week. Please add the following this week:

1) sunscreen
2) Potassium Iodine Tablets--only take if instructed to due to radiation fallout, do not take unless advised. I found them on EmergencyEssentials.com, 14 tables for $9.99. You may also be able to find them a Majors Survival Warehouse Store in garden or other survival stores or on line.
3) Burn Kit--I found this at EmergencyEssentials.com for about $15, or you may be able to purchase it at Walgreen, CVS, WalMart, or Target.
Optional: You may want to add the following if you wear contact lens--Extra pair of lens and solution.

Important: Once a year check expiration dates. Rotate all medications, prescriptions, ointments, liquids, pain relievers, solutions, etc.

Spiritual Assignment:

Read the article "Valiant in the Testimony of Jesus Christ" in this month's Ensign, September 2011, page 35, and share the importance of being prepared with a friend, a neighbor, and/or a co-worker. Discuss this article as a family or with a friend.

Food Storage Ideas:

Canned Foods: Due to various temperatures where canned food may be stored, it is difficult to determine the definite period of time at which all canned foods will hold. The short shelf life products are highly acid and pigmented foods such as grapefruit and orange juice, black and red cherries, all colored berries, prunes, and plums usually have an average shelf life of 1-2 years. Other fruits such as peaches, pears, apricots and applesauce average from 2-3 years. Vegetables such as beets, carrots, green beans, spinach, greens, tomatoes and tomato juice average 3-4 years. Vegetables and meats such as peas, corn, Lima beans and roast beef should average 4-5 years. Canned milk should be agitated every 30 days. This prevents the fats from separating, and should be used within one year. Most canned foods now have expiration dates. Keep track of them by setting up a chart and check if often to avoid having to through away expired food.

Canned foods should be stored in a cool, dry place, the cooler and dryer the longer they will last. Place the oldest canned foods on the shelves in the front so they will be used first. Rotation is the key to good food storage. Fruits, vegetables and meats properly processed in glass jars and stored in the home will keep in a cool, dry, dark place should last as long as those in cans.

Do not use canned foods when the can is bulged or leaking, bacteria has sat in. Same thing goes for bulged lids on glass jars. DO NOT USE THEM!

This information was issued by The General Church Welfare Committee.

Remember: Post your name and comment by this Sunday, August 27th, by 10am for the Monthly FREE Giveaway Drawing to be help this Sunday, August 27th.

Weekly Assignment and Food Storage Ideas (Week of August 21st)

Hi Carson Ward Family, Family and Friends,

Quote:

"Prepare ye, prepare ye for that which is to come,...." (Doctrine and Covenants 1:12)

A couple of years I woke up early in the morning and sat up in bed, with a very strong feeling from the Spirit of the Holy Ghost, telling me I needed to prepare for the things to come and get my food storage in order as soon as possible, and that I needed to warn others. I knew the spirit was talking about spiritual and temporal (Food Storage and Emergency Supplies) preparation. This warning continued to stay on my mind and I told others of the warning and my concern. A year later I was called as the Ward Emergency Preparedness Leader and given a charge and responsibility to help the Carson Ward Family, my family, my neighbors and friends to become prepared for whatever might come our way.

Heavenly Father inspired me to set up this Blog to help and reach others. "The Ark", the Carson Ward Emergency Preparedness Blog, is to help you become better prepared and get you started if you have not done so. I have tried to fill this blog with as much knowledge and information I can about Emergency Preparedness and give you assignments and challenges weekly to help you become more prepared and closer to your goal of a years supply of food and emergency supplies. Please use this information to help you and your family and your friends!

There is a saying, "Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day, teach a man how to fish and he will eat for a life time." I am trying to teach you how to fish so you can take care of yourself and your family when needed.

The Bishopric and my goal is the make sure everyone family has a 72 Hour Emergency Kit and Family Bag, to make sure every family has water stored, to make sure every family has food storage (preferably a year's supply), to make sure every family has emergency supplies and is trained in first-aid and CPR, to make sure every family has an "Out of State Contact Person" and card in their wallet, purse or backpack, to make sure every family has shelter and a way to cook if they could not use their home, to make sure every family has been assigned an Emergency Response Team person that will go out in the case of a disaster and assess each family assigned and report their needs and, if any, they injures to the Priesthood leaders, and to make sure our Ward as an Emergency Plan in place.

What have we done so far. We have showed you how to set up a 72 Hour Emergency Kit and Family Bag, we have provided a way to get the 55 gallon water barrels and explained the importance of storing and how to store water, we have showed you how to store, how much to store, what and where to store food, we have explained why you need an "Emergency Out of State Contact" person and given you cards for your family to keep in their wallet, purse and backpack, and we are currently working on completing our Family Emergency Medical Supplies. We are also in the process of setting up our Emergency Response Teams and setting up classes in first-aid and CPR. I hope to have an Emergency Preparedness Fair in our building before this year is over, possibly with the other Wards in our building. We want our Ward members to be prepared, to be self-reliant! Step by step, we will become prepared and not fear!

Temporal Assignment:

Family Emergency Medical Supplies (please add the following):

1) antacids
2) Epi Pen (for family members with sever allergic reactions, requires a prescription)
3) presciption medications family members take (high blood pressure, insulin and extra needles, etc.) If you explain to your doctor why you want to keep extra some doctors will give you it you, some prescriptions you are only allowed that dosage at a time, talk with your doctor, you should keep a 3 months supply on hand.

Next week we will finish up the Family Emergency Medical Supplies and I will repeat the 72 Hour Emergency Individual Food Kits.

Spiritual Assignment:

Bear your testimony to others. The more you do, the more you strengthen your own testimony and faith in our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Food Storage Ideas:

Dry pack storage: You should not store the following items in mylar bags in 5 gallon buckets or the cans from the LDS dry pack cannery, these items have to much moisture in them:

Brown rice, cooking oil, roasted nuts, honey, baked goods, flour mixes containing leavening, dried meats, egg noodles, peanut butter, or coconut.

You can purchase the 5 gallon food grade buckets at WalMart or Home Depot, make sure they are the food grade ones, usually white. Do not use the Home Depot orange buckets, they are chemicals in them. The link below will show you how to prepare the food in the mylar bags for the buckets.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mR_vQcd3sb0&feature=relmfu

Remember: Post your name and comment to have your name entered into our Monthly FREE Giveway Drawing to be help next week, Sunday, August 28th.

Weekly Assignment and Food Storage Ideas (Week of August 14th)

Hi Carson Ward Family, Family, and Friends,

Quote:

"The Lord has warned us of famines, but the righteous will have listened to the Prophet and stored at least a year's supply of survival food." President Ezra Taft Benson

"Let us be in a position so we are able to not only feed ourselves through home production and storage, but others as well." President Ezra Taft Benson

Wise counsel from a Prophet of the Lord!

Seychelle Water Filtration Pump--Last Sunday (August 14th) to order! It filters out 99.9999% of bacteria and contamination. These fit into your 55 gallon water barrels, but also breaks down for small container. You can even use the nastiest water from a stream, lake or even your pool and it will filter out the bacteria and contamination. They are usually $40 each but I was able to get a special deal for $25 (includes taxes and shipping). Please give your money (cash or check made out to Nancy Cuppett) to Sister Nancy Cuppett this Sunday.

Temporal Assignment:

Family Emergency Medical Supplies (please add the following this week):

a) Pepto-Bismol (check with your doctor for children's dosage and write on the bottle)
b) Diphendyramine (Benadryl) (This is an antihistamine used for hives, allergic rhinitis, etc. Check with your doctor for children' dosage and write on the bottle)
c) Lighter or matches (to sterilize items like needles if you have no gas burner)

Spiritual Assignment:

When our children were young Robert took the family to the cemetery for Family Home Evening and we sat by my parents gravesides. The children could not figure out why we were there for Family Home Evening, even I was puzzled. He gave the most awesome lesson on The Plan of Salvation and Eternal Life. Even though we may become separated in this life, we will be together for eternity and see our family again. Afterwards we got ice cream.

My challenge this week, take a trip to the cemetery with your family or a friend, visit a loved one's graveside and have your Family Home Evening there just as we did. If you do not have a loved one there, then just sit under a tree by a graveside. Talk about no matter what happens in this life you will always be together for eternity. Read some scriptures about eternal life and eternal families. This is also a good time to explain the Out of State Contact Person emergency cards and how they work. Even when you are separated in a disaster situation, you have a contact person to call to let them know you are ok, where you are and find out where other family members are. Each family member will carry one in their wallet, purse or backpack.

Food Storage Ideas:

Sugar and Honey:

Sugars are high in calories and low in nutrients. Sugar will keep forever. It will become hard but can me broken up to its original consistency. I store several bags in a large plastic container with a lid.

Honey kept for many months may darken slowly and become stronger in flavor, but will still be usable. Honey keep indefinitely. Honey and corn syrup may crystallize as they get order, but may be melted over hot water for use. Try to only heat up what you need, it is not good to heat up honey to often. It is best to turn your honey over every 6 months. The Honey Association recommends that infants under one year old should not be given honey because it is a raw product and may contain naturally occurring bacteria their systems cannot handle.

Honey is sweeter, weighs more and is moisture than sugar. It takes less.

Equivalents of honey for sugar:

Use 3/4 cup of honey for every cup of sugar.
Use 1/2 cup less of liquid for every cup of honey you use, more moisture and will make moist receipts more runner and not cook as well.

I would also store good organic maple syrup, jams and preserves for sweetening.

How much to store per person for a year: 60 pounds of honey. I have a conbination of regular sugar and honey.

Please read Sister Holt's comment on last week's blog posting regarding why you need an "out of state contact person" and how the cell phones and the internet worked after the Japan disaster. Some very good advise from personal experience!

Remember: Post your name and comment for our August FREE Monthly Giveaway Drawing to be held Sunday, August 28th.

Weekly Assignment and Food Storage Ideas (Wee of August 7th)

Hi Carson Ward, Family and Friends,

Quote:

"While we consider when to begin, it becomes to late." Latin Proverb

Do not procrastinate anymore starting your emergency food storage and water! It will bring you peace of mind. Start with just a few extra cans of soup or something and then add to it gradually each week. Before you know it, you will have a weeks supply, then a months, then 3 months, then 6 months, then a year.

Temporal Assignment:

1) Family Emergency Medical Supplies (This week add the following):

a) scalpel with extra blades
b) cough and cold medicine for whatever age groups you have in your household

2) If you took the Emergency Out of State Phone Cards, one for each household family member, please make sure you have filled them out and put one in each family members wallet, purse or backpack so they will have them when there is an emergency. Teach your children how to use them and practice from time to time with the whole family by setting up a scenario and calling your emergency person and reporting to them. The more you do this the more comfortable everyone will be with it and will know what to do when it is needed. It's just like having a practice fire drill. If you did not get the cards last Sunday please see Sister Cuppett this Sunday.

Important reminder: Check for expiration dates on food items in your 72 Hour Emergency Individual Food Kits and replace any item that will expire shortly. Use up the almost expired items.

Spiritual Assignment:

Read the story of Noah and how he listened to Heavenly Father, how he was obedient and how he and his family were blessed. Discuss as a family or with a friend how being prepared both temporally and spiritually can help you. Emphasize listening to the Spirit for guidance. Heavenly Father will protect us if we stay close to and follow the spirit.

Food Storage Idea:

Water: You can live without food for 30+ days (unless you are diabetic), but you cannot live without water for more than a few days. If you have dehydrated and/or freeze-dried food stored, you will need extra water to cook them. If you have room, store 50/55 gallon water barrels. If you do not have room for the 50/55 gallon barrels, then store the largest size you can (cases of bottled water or the larger sizes). You need as least one 50/55 gallon water barrel per person in your family per month for cooking and drinking only. Hopefully, the city water will be running again and able to drink.

Go to the Water Storage information on the right side under Postings. Read all about how to store, where to store, and where to buy the water barrels, Activated Stabilized Oxygen (keeps stored water for 5 years), siphon pumps and water filtration pumps, and all you need to know about storing water.

Seychelle Water Filtration Pumps: They fit into your 50/55 gallon water barrels or you can reduce it down to fit other sizes. I will have a sign up sheet this Sunday for anyone that is interested. Right now they are $40 each ($34.98 with taxes and shipping), I am trying to get them for about $25-$30 each. They filer out 99.9999% of bacteria and contamination. You could scoop up the most horrible water, pump the water through it and then drink it.

Remember: Post your name and comment at the end of this blog to have your name entered into our FREE Monthly Giveaway Drawing to be held Sunday, August 28th.

Weekly Assignment and Food Storage Ideas (Week of July 31st)

Hi Carson Ward, Family and Friends,

Congratulations to the Hannemann family! They won a Portable Toilet with a bag of cat liter, box of heavy black large plastic trash bags, Enzymes (break down human waste).

How to use: Line the portable toilet with one plastic trash bag and cover the bottom with a layer of cat liter. After each use sprinkle with a little of the Enzymes to break down the human waste. When the toilet is full, about half way, remove the black trash bag and put in a trash container with a lid.

Where to purchase: EmergencyEssentials.com or possibly Majors Survival Supply Store in Gardena.

One Year Anniversary!

This week marks one year since I started the Carson Ward Emergency Preparedness Blog. I hope this has helped you become prepared, or more prepared and given you insight to the things you need to do to become more prepared. I promise you, if we follow and are obedient to the counsel of our General Authorities and Stake and Ward Leaders we will be blessed. I saw this in the Joplin tornado disaster. Many lost their 72 Emergency Backpacks and Food Storage and many lost their homes, but Heavenly Father has blessed them greatly because they were obedient and heeded the counsel of our Leaders. I have learn much from the Joplin disaster, we need to be both prepared temporally as well as spiritually!

Ward Emergency Teams:

Within the next few weeks we will be setting up another part of our Ward Emergency Preparedness Plan. We will be organizing teams that will be responsible for families in our Ward. If there is a disaster, they will go out to each family assigned them and account for those in the house hold, assess the injured, their needs and damages, and then report promptly back to the Priesthood leaders in our Ward. Each team will be assigned 3-5 families close to their own location. They will only do this after the needs and care of their own families have been meet first.

Temporal Assignments:

1) Family Emergency Medical Supplies (This week as the following):

a) Pain relievers (non-aspirin type, acetaminophen, ibuprofen for both adults and children in your home)
b) Instant ice packs (3-4)
c) Instant heat packs (3-4)

I found both #3 & #4 on EmergencyEssentials. com for 95 cents each. Or, you can find them at CVS, Rite-aid or Walgreens.

2) 72 Hour Emergency Preparedness Food Kits and Water:
If you set your up last years in August/September, please check all items for expiration dates and replace as needed. You should check the expiration dates at least twice a year and the water to make sure it is not leaking.

Spiritual Assignment:

This week evaluate your testimony and faith. Have a Family Home Evening on the importance of our testimony and faith and how it can help us through trails. Both of these helped the Joplin members get through a horrific experience. Because of their testimonies and faith they, even though very difficult, were able to push forward do what they needed to do. Please read below what Sister Higginson (Joplin Relief Society President) and Elder Jonathan C. Roberts, Area Seventy said about how this helped the members of Joplin:

“We’ve had hard experiences before, and the gospel is what sustains you through everything,” Sister Higginson said. “So although this is a shock and a trauma … it didn’t change anything. You revert to your gospel roots, your spiritual roots, immediately.”

Elder Jonathan C. Roberts, Area Seventy stated:

“People who had lost everything—their homes, their workshops, everything—stood up and said, ‘We’re some of the most blessed people.’ How does that happen?” How could anybody in those circumstances have the courage and the backbone to square their shoulders, lift their chins, and say, ‘We’re fine’? Well, it only happens one way. They have a perspective of the gospel of Jesus Christ."

"In this case, the 72-hour packs, as important as they were, the food storage, as important as it was, went away because of the calamity. And yet the things that were deep-rooted, the foundational things of priesthood keys, of testimony, stood strong. And as the Saints gathered together, it was spectacular to watch the preparation that came from spiritual roots that had been set deep; that windstorm, tornado, or hurricane weren’t going to take away; and that extend beyond mortality and to eternity.”

“That’s not to say there haven’t been lots of emotional ups and downs and tears shed, but you see that members really understand the plan of why we’re here. This is just a moment.’ ‘It’s just stuff.’ ‘We’ll rebuild.’ I’ve heard that many times. It’s a testimony and a testament to their preparation and their understanding of the gospel and how they live their lives.”

How prepared are you and your family spiritual?

Food Storage Ideas:

Store what you eat and eat what you store! Rotation is the key to successful Food Storage!

Remember: Post your name and comments for the FREE Monthly Giveaway Drawing to be held August 28th.

Weekly Assignment and Food Storage Ideas (Week of July 24th)

Hi Carson Ward, Family and Friends,

Quote:

"Build a small supply of food that is part of your normal, daily diet. One way to do this to purchase a few extra items each week to build a one-week supply of food. Then you can gradually increase your supply until it is sufficient for three months....For longer-term needs, and where permitted, gradually build a supply of food that will last a lot longer and that you can use to stay alive, such as wheat, white rice and beans." ("All is Safely Gathered In", February 2007)

The secret to Food Storage--store only what you and your family will eat, rotate, rotate, rotate, and purchase a little at a time. Do not go into debt for your Food Storage!

Weekly Assignments:

Temporal--add the following to your Family Emergency Medical Supplies:

1) Ace bandages--2", 3" & 4" (2 each size) (I found some sizes at the 99 Cent Store)
2) surgical needle with suture string (I purchased my at EmergnecyEssentials.com)
3) regular aspirin (if you get bit by an insect it will take the sting out, crush the aspirin, dissolve with a little bit of water and apply to the insect bite)

Spiritual--This week study about the importance of Faith in our lives. Read scriptures and church magazine articles. Discuss as a family or with a friend.

Food Storage Ideas:

Someone recently asked me how much would they need to store per person for a year.

For many years the church has asked us to store the Basic Foods that would sustain life.

Basic Food Storage for a year:

Grains (wheat, rice and/or cereals)--- 300 pounds
Powdered milk (nonfat)--- 75 pounds
Sugar and/or honey--- 60 pounds
Beans and legumes--- 60 ---
Cooking oil and/or Shortening--20 pounds
Salt--- 5 pounds

I would also include a multi-vitamin for each day (appropriate for the age) and, of course, water.

In any emergency situation you want you and your family to be as comfortable as possible to lessen the stressful situation. The Basic Foods would not help me feel comfortable, especially children, even though I know it will sustain my life.

A few years ago the church came out with a new program, to store at least 3 Months Supply of Food (what your family will eat). They still emphasize storing the basics above. After you have obtained your 3 months supply, then work towards a years supply, adding as you did before, gradually.

How to determine how much you need for 3 months:

Most of us eat everything we buy or make within a month. Keep track, put the list on your refrigerator or pantry, of everything you use in a dish you make for your family for a month, including all ingredients in the recipe, including spices, etc. Once you have done this, then multiply by 3 and you have what you need to store for you or your family for 3 months. This also includes packaged pre-made items you purchased. Everything your family eats in a month.

Another way is to pick your 14 (2 weeks) of your favorite dishes you make for 14 breakfasts (you many only want to use 7 for breakfast), 14 lunches and 14 dinners. Figure out all the ingredients to make that dish and then multiply by 6 (weeks), now you have a 3 Month Supply. For the 7 breakfast recipes you will need to multiply by 12 (weeks).

Hint about using wheat:

If you do not know, using whole wheat without having used it before in your diet will really upset your digestive system. You have to add it in gradually into your and your family's diet. Here is a tip found in the August 1990 Ensign:

"Use wheat in recipes your family already likes. Then it is not totally unfamiliar and you know the recipe is good. Try wheat in desserts first--who can turn down a cookie? Do not feel you must use 100% whole wheat. Half white (all-purpose) flour and half whole-wheat flour gives excellent results." (Rosalie Farnbach, "Whole Wheat--in Disguise," Ensign, Aug. 1990, pg 71)

Purchasing wheat from the church Dry Pack Cannery and packaging yourself:

Our son just purchased 500 pounds of hard winter wheat for $220 in 25 pound sacks from the church Dry Pack Cannery (we have one in Los Angeles). You have to call them to order it ahead of time, they do not keep a large amount in storage. You should have a variety of the red and white hard winter wheat. The white hard winter wheat is best for baking. He said the people at the cannery said that the price of wheat has increase quite significantly in the past year. I think it may go up even higher due to the farmers losses in the mid-west this year because of severe weather conditions and flooding.

After you purchase your wheat in the 25 pound bags, you can either put them in the #10 cans at the Dry Pack Cannery, or you can purchase the large 5 gallon buckets, which holds 35 pounds of wheat, from Home Depot for about $3.50 each (the white food grade buckets, which are the best to use, or you can use the Home Depot orange ones, but not as good for food storage). You can also purchase them from EmergencyEssentials.com with lids for $7.50 each.

If you choose to use the 5 gallon buckets, you will need Mylar Metallized Storage Bags. At EmergencyEssentials they are 20.5" x 30", holds 5 gallons ($2.50 each), or 50 for $10 at some emergency supply stores. You will also need the Oxygen Absorbers ($3.50 for a package of 10, 500 cubic centimeter, or $7.99 for a package of 10 of 2,000 cubic centimeters at EmergencyEssentials.com. Also check local emergency supply centers.

First fill the Mylar Metallized Storage Bag, leaving enough room at the top to seal the bag. You can seal the bag with a hot iron or curling iron. Place the Oxygen Absorbers in side the 5 gallon bucket (see chart below for how many). Seal the lid tightly, should store for 30 years if the Mylar Metallized Storage Bag is not opened). EmergencyEssentials.com has a video you can watch on how to fill and seal the Metallized Storage Bag.

http://beprepared.com/default.asp?SID=GOOGLE&EID=GLB200804015&gclid=CP31gb-VmKoCFccbQgodYBmEwQ

Oxygen Absorbers Chart:

#10 Cans:

0-2.5 pounds-- 2 (500 cc)
2.5+ pounds-- 1 (500 cc)

5 gallon bucket:

0-15 pounds-- 3 (2000 cc)
16-35 pounds-- 2 (2000 cc)
35+ pounds-- 1 (2000 cc)

Remember: If you store wheat kernels (not whole wheat flour), you will need a wheat grinder. I purchased a non-electrically, hand grind type at EmergencyEssentials.com for $60. I also have the electrically type. But what if you have no electricity?

Remember: Post your name and comment at the end of this blog positing our July Monthly FREE Giveaway Drawing to be held next Sunday, July 31st.

Weekly Assignment and Food Storage Ideas (Week of July 17th)

Hi Carson Ward, Family and Friends,

Quote:

“For me, being prepared means … I don’t need to worry,” she said. “I know that if I’ve done my part by preparing myself spiritually, having food storage, and being willing to share with neighbors and others, I have a sense that I’m going to be okay—that the Lord will bless me whatever happens.” (Marcy Peterson, 2nd Counselor in the Joplin Stake Relief Society Presidency)

How well are we prepared, both temporally and spiritually?

Our daughter Tamatha email us an article in "Church News and Events" about the Joplin tornado. This article and video says it all about emergency preparedness, both temporal and spiritual. Please read this carefully and watch the video. It says it all!

http://lds.org/church/news/preparation-of-all-kinds-blesses-saints-in-joplin-missouri?lang=eng

Temporal Assignments:

This week I have two--

A) Add the following to your Family Emergency Preparedness Medical Supplies:

1) thermometer (if you have children also add an infant/child thermometer)
2) sterile gauze pads (various sizes) (I found some at the 99 Cent Store and Dollar Tree,
and found the rest at CVS, Rite-aid).
3) adhesive bandage tape, hypoallergenic, 1 inch

B) 72 Hour Emergency Personal 3 Day Food Kits:

If you started putting together your 72 Hours Personal Emergency Food Kits last August (2010) when we first did them, please take them out and rotate the food. Many of the items may be expiring very soon. If you buy any of the food items from the 99 Cent Store or the Dollar Tree, be careful, check the expiration dates, many times the items there will expire in a few weeks or months. Also, replace the water. You should check the food and water items about 4 times a year to make sure none of the food has expired, or the food or water is not leaking.

Spiritual Assignment:

Read about the "Plan of Salvation" (pages 47-54) in "Preach My Gospel", and in the scriptures. Discuss it as a family or with a friend, especially to reassure your children and grandchildren you will be together as a family for eternity.

Food Storage Ideas and Tips:

Suggestions for Food Storage (only store what your family will eat):

1. Home storage should consist of at least a 3 months supply (a year's supply if possible) of basic food, clothing and, where possible, fuel. After you have completed your 3 months supply, then concentrate on a year's supply. Basic food supplies consist of wheat, rice, corn, or other cereal grains, nonfat dried milk, legumes (beans & peas), sugar, salt (iodized for some areas), fat and water. After you have acquired these items, then add with other items, like canned and dehydrated foods (vegetables, meats, etc). Also, store multi-vitamins (dark bottles in a cool dry place, will keep for about 2 years), enough for your family, to supplement your diet.

Note about storing fuel/gas for your car or generator: If possible, you should have at least 4 5 gallon gas containers of fuel. You can purchase these at Walmart for about $10 each. You need to store the gas containers as far away from your home as possible, in a cool dry place, not in the direct sun light. If you store them in your attached garage, keep them as far from the interior wall of your house as possible. Why store gas? You never know when you might forget to fill our gas tank and there is no way to purchase gas due to a major disaster and the gas pumps are not working. You may have to evacuate. You will also need it to run your generator.

2. If you have a vegetable garden, store a years supply of seeds that you plant, also fertilizers. When you grow your garden, let a few vegetables go to seed. Remove, wash and let the seeds dry. Store in a dry place. You can use them to plant next years vegetable garden.

3. If you live in a small place with limited storage, store items in closets, space under the beds, purchase end/lamp tables with enclosed storage underneath them. Be creative. Get rid of clutter to allow more room for food storage.

4. Store a variety of foods. Not all foods have the same essential nutrients in the correct proportions.

5. Store the highest quality of grade of food obtainable. Wheat should be cereal grade, double cleaned, at least 11 percent protein, and no more than 10 percent moisture.

6. Foods should be stored in sturdy metal, plastic, or glass containers with tightly fitting lids. Do not buy or store food in dented cans.

7. Foods should be stored in areas that permit easy access and allow control of temperature and humidity. (In general, cool temperatures prolong storage life and quality). Not all storage items should be located in one area of the house; not all should be stored in one type of container.

8. To destroy insects that may infest grains, beans, pasta, nuts, dried fruit, place the food in a home freezer for 4 days. Or, the food may be sterilized by being heated in an oven at a low temperature (setting of warm or 200 degrees) for about one hour, depending on the nature of the food. Spread the food on shallow pans so that the heat can penetrate easily. Stir the food occasionally to keep it from scorching.

9. You can treat your infested wheat with dry ice. It kills most adult insects and larvae, but it probably will not destroy the eggs or pupae. Pour 2 inches of wheat into the bottom of the container. Add dry ice then fill with wheat grains. Eight ounces of dry ice is recommended for 100 pounds of wheat grain, or, one pound for each 30 gallons of stored wheat grains. Seal the containers loosely for 5 or 6 hours, then seal them tightly. If you wheat is over 20 years old, check it for infestion. If infested follow the directions above.

10. Set up a food inventory record to keep track of your food storage and when to rotate items that will expire shortly. Inventory your food storage about every 3 months. The key to good food storage is--rotate, rotate, rotate.

11. Food costs can be minimized by budgeting and shopping wisely, watch for sales (but watch the expiration dates).

12. Do not go into debit for food storage.

Remember: Post your name and comment for our July Monthly FREE Giveway Drawing. It is something every should have as a part of your emergency supplies and you would not want to be without during an emergency situation.