Weekly Assignment, Food Storage and Emergency Preparedness Ideas (Week of September 22nd)

Hi Carson Ward Family, Family and Friends,

Quote:

"You will come to know that what appears today to be a sacrifice will prove instead to be the greatest investment that you will ever make."     (President Gordon B. Hinckley)

Food storage and emergency preparedness is a sacrifice, it takes money and our time, but it will prove to be a great investment when needed.

Once again we hear and see in the news about a natural disaster that has effected many people. Boulder and other outlining communities in Colorado, US have been devastated by pouring rain and massive flooding.

Experts say in some areas this is the 100 year flood, in other areas the 1,000 year flood. Lives have been lost, property has been lost, personal items have been lost and many were trapped for days without any help. It took days for helicopters to get into the areas where people were trapped due to flooding, lost roads and bridges. Emergency personnel, medical help, and rescue teams could not get into those trapped. They had to wait for the rain and winds to stop so they could fly in helicopters to rescue the people.

What would you do if you and your family were trapped for days. Could you survive on your own? Would you have food to eat and fresh water to drink? Would you have medical supplies on hand to treat the injured? Would you have a way to keep  warm, a way to cook, have light and shelter? What would you do? Do you know how to use the emergency equipment (like tents, generators, cooking stoves) you have stored?




This is way I stress so much about being prepared with food and water storage, emergency supplies and medical supplies. This is why we need 72 Hour Individual Emergency Preparedness Backpacks for each family member. You say it will not happen to me, but do you really know that? Why not be prepared for what could come your way? Why take a chance?




Weekly Assignment: 72 Hour Individual Emergency Preparedness Backpacks and Food Storage

This week we are continuing to put together each family member's 72 Hour Individual Emergency Preparedness Backpacks. Last week I gave you some other items to add to the Backpacks. Please review last weeks posting.

While you are gathering those items and adding them to the backpacks please make sure you have put in the Food Kit and Water, the Personal Hygiene Kit and Stressor Kit for each family member's backpack.

Note: Some people do not feel it is necessary to have an extra set of clothes and it takes up to much room. If you do not want this then that is alright. Personally I want to be dry and comfortable in an emergency situation, especially children. If you do not want to add clothing, maybe at least have an extra set of under garments and socks. Having your feet dry is very important if you are walking. 

Once you have completed them, keep the backpacks in an easy access place in your home (like a closet near an exit door), your garage or your car. It is a good idea to have one at work also. You may be at work when a disaster or emergency situation happens. Make sure your children have some type of emergency preparedness kit at school too. Check out the posting dated "Week of August 4th" (2013) for ideas.

The key to any food storage or emergency preparedness supplies is Rotation, Rotation, Rotation! Do not forget to rotate the food, water and medications in your 72 Hour Individual Emergency Preparedness Backpacks. If kept in the house you should be able to rotate these items once a year. If kept in the car, or garage and if hot, then you should rotate the food, water and medications about every 6 months. Do not throw the food and water away, use if up before the expiration dates and replace as soon as possible. Do not remove the food and water from the backpack until you have purchased the replacement food and water. Some food and water is better than nothing.

Once you have completed each family member's backpack (the whole family) please email me at thearkcarsonward@gmail.com. Why? You will receive a special gift, an items to add to your 72 Hour Emergency Preparedness Family Bag we will start working on the second week of October, after The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints General Conference (October 5th and 6th).

Food Storage Assignment:

Each week, or when you go grocery shopping,  try to add some canned or packaged foods your family will eat. Only store what your family will eat! Watch for sales so you can purchase even more. Before you know it you will have a week's supply, two week's supply, a month's supply, 3 months supply.




 
Emergency Preparedness Ideas:

What will happen when the trucks and freight trains stop moving?

Living near the Los Angeles Harbor where large freight ships come in from China and other countries everyday we see the big semi-trucks loading up and hauling the large containers to different areas locally and around the country. As we travel across the United States on road trips we see the semi-trucks and freight trains loaded with the large containers full of food, water, live stock, medical supplies and other merchandise. Living in California we also see trucks from local farmers hauling their fresh vegetables and fruits to local stores and farmers markets. We see trucks carrying gas for our cars driving down the highways and filling up the underground gas storage tanks at gas stations. Each week the local city sanitation company comes by and picks up our trash. What will happen when they come to a stop?

"Most Americans, and maybe in other countries, take for granted the intricate systems that make it possible for us to engage in seemingly mundane day to day tasks like filling up our gas tanks, loading up our shopping carts at the local grocery store, obtaining necessary medications, and even pouring ourselves a clean glass of water. When we wake up each morning we just expect that all of these things will work today the same way they worked yesterday. Very few have considered the complexity involved in the underlying infrastructure that keeps goods, services and commerce in America flowing. Fewer still have ever spent the time to contemplate the fragility of these systems or the consequences on food, water, health care, the financial system, and the economy if there are interrupted.

A shut down of truck operations as a result of elevated threat levels, terrorist attacks, or pandemics, (or natural disasters) according to the report, have 'a swift and devastating impact on the food, health care, transportation, waste removal, retail, manufacturing, and financial sectors.' (American Trucking Associations)"   (SHTFplan)

If this happened, there would be significant food shortages in as little as 3 days; there would be fear, and panic and looting; water supplies of clean drinking water will run dry in 2-4 weeks; medical care and hospitals will be jeopardized by medical supply shortages and pharmacy stocks of prescriptions will be depleted quickly; service station fuel supplies will start to run out in just 1-2 days; air, rail and maritime transportation will be disrupted; within days of a truck stoppage, Americans will be literally buried in garbage with serious health environmental consequences which cause rich breeding grounds for microorganisms, insects and other vermin; replenishment of goods will be disrupted; just-in-time manufactures will shut down assembly lines within hours; ATM and branch bank cash resources will be exhausted quickly and regular bank functions will cease.   (American Truckers Association Report)

While an event that could disrupt truck transportation may be unlikely, look what happened when Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans. "Panicked government officials stopped all transportation flow into the region, forcing hundreds of trucks loaded with emergency supplies like food and water to wait for permission before they could enter the area. As a result, thousands of residents of the city were left without items essential for survival. As you know, it took days before truck routes were re-opened and supplies were allowed to flow." (SHTFplan) A natural disaster like a major earthquake, flooding, Tusnami, hurricane, toranado, etc., or a pandemic, could quickly shut down the trucking infrastructure.

What would happened if it was national, not just in your community? What will happen to our truck infrastructure if a major earthquake hit the southern California area, or your area? Will you be prepared to take care of yourself and your family? I sure hope so!!!

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 September 15th)

Hi Carson Ward Family, Family and Friends,

National Preparedness Month

September is National Preparedness Month. "We cannot change the past but we can learn from it and prepared for the future. We never know how, when or where a disaster or emergency situation will occur. And there are varying degrees of emergencies from a major natural disaster or terrorist attack to losing a job." (SurvivalBased.com)

We need to be prepared both temporally, mentally and spiritually. Emergency Preparedness and Self-Reliance are a part of living the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Temporally we need to have water and food stored (preferable a 3-months supply), shelter, a way to cook, some source of light and heat, medical supplies and other emergency supplies. Mentally we need to learn basic first-aid skills and survival skills, how to set up a tent or some type of shelter and how to cook in an emergency situation. Spiritually we need to learn how to listen to and follow the promptings of the Holy Ghost for guidance and protection. When we feel we should do something, we need to act on it right away, it may save our life or some else. 

This is a great month to get together as a family and reassess how well we are prepared and what we need to do to be prepared and better prepared. We should do the following...

1) Inventory our food and water storage quarterly. Use those items that will expire soon and replace them as soon as possible. Check to see what we need to add. Change the water in our water barrels if needed.

2) Check over our emergency supplies, like our tent, cooking equipment, lighting, heating, medical supplies, shovel, ax, crowbar, saw, chain saw, paper supplies, extra prescription medications, etc. If they
need repaired, repair them now. If they need replaced, replace them as soon as possible. Know how to use them.

 
3) Have a family evacuation plan. Practice family fire, earthquake, tornado drills and evacuation plans. Do you have a second story fire ladder and fire extinguishers in your home and car?

 

4) Have an out of state emergency contact person that each family member knows and carries with them in a wallet, purse or backpack.
In an emergency situation, call that person, report where you are, how you are and if you are going some place else. 

 
 5) Never let your gas tank get below half a tank. If you have to evacuation you will have enough to get you to a safe place. Most gas station pumps will not work, they use electricity. ATM and credit cards will not work either.

Remember: "If ye are prepared, ye shall not fear."

Weekly Assignment: 72 Hour Individual Emergency Preparedness Backpacks

Once again, congratulations if you have completed the 3 kits in your 72 Hour Individual Emergency Preparedness Backpacks, the Food Kit with Water, the Personal Hygiene Kit, and the Stressor Kit. If you have not completed the 3 kits, go back to the December 30, 2012 posting and follow the weekly assignments until you have completed all 3 kits for each family member. I know it is a lot and can be expensive if you have a large family. Add the items as you can, when you see them on sales. Many of the items can be purchased at discount stores like the 99 Cent Store and the Dollar Tree, and department store dollar bins, but be careful with the food and their expiration dates.

There a couple of more things to add to your backpack to make them complete...

This week add the following (you should have most of these items around the house, or you can go to a thrift store):

1) Change of comfortable clothing including socks and under clothing. Long pants and long selves shirts are best to protect you from the elements. Remember to check these items twice a year. Children grow and we also change in weight.

2) Strap a baseball cap to the shoulder straps of the backpack.

3) Sunglasses. They do not have to be expensive, just something to keep the sun out of your eyes. Keep in a side pocket of your backpack.

4) A good pair of sturdy shoes. Especially if you keep your 72 Hour Emergency Backpack in your car or at work, and ladies, if you were high heels or sandals to work, they will not be comfortable for walking. I tie mine to my backpack straps so I will be able to grab them quickly and I know where they are.

5) An old sweater, sweater shirt or light jacket like a windbreaker. Kept with my backpack. I can quickly tie it around my waist and be off with my backpack.

6) Small LED flashlight with batteries and your 5-1 Emergency Whistles we added a few weeks ago. I keep these items in a side pocket for easy access.  I have found the small LED flashlights at discount stores like the 99 Cent Store, the Dollar Tree, etc. 

A great Family Home Evening activity would be to get all the kits together with the items above and place them in your backpacks. Check out thrift stores or use last years school backpack to save money on them. With a permanent marker write each family member's name on their backpack.




Note: If you need help with these things click on the appropriated listing under "Postings" on the right of this blog.

Los Angeles LDS Dry Pack Cannery...

Important: The Los Angeles LDS Dry Pack Cannery and others in  California will only be open for your personal canning until November. This is a great opportunity to take your family, or go with another family or group, and can for your long term food storage. Children need to be at least 12-14 years old to help and 16 year old to run the equipment. Most items you will can will last for 25-30 years. See the attached link here for the list of items you can can and a printable order form. You need to call them ahead of time to make an appointment and make sure they have what you want can in sock. 

After November you will only be able to purchase pre-canned items. Not all items will we available. If you want to purchase them, call the LDS Dry Pack Cannery ahead of time so they will have what you want to purchase in sock.

Click here to find a list of LDS Dry Pack Canneries in your area.

 

Next week we will start on the 72 Hour Family Emergency Preparedness Bag. This bag is kept with the family's 72 Hour Individual Emergency Preparedness Backpacks, either in a nearby closet by the front or back door or in your car(s). 

Emergency Preparedness Warning...

A little over 4 years ago I woke up one morning startled with an overwhelming feeling that I needed to make sure our family was prepared. That things were going to get really ruff and we needed to be prepared. I did not know when or how, I just knew it was going to happen.  I also knew I needed to warn others. I prayed for a way to following the strong prompting from the Holy Ghost and how I could accomplish this task. A few weeks later I was called to be the Emergency Preparedness Specialist in our Ward. My prayers were answered. I also felt a strong feeling that one way I could get the word out to many was to set up an emergency preparedness blog. With the help of my daughter this blog as been accomplished. I feel so passionate about this and helping others to be prepared.  Please use this blog, and share it with others, so you can become better prepared.

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 September 8th)

Hi Carson Ward Family, Family and Friends,

It only takes a second... 

It only takes a second for your life and your loved ones lives to be changed. If you are involved in a disaster, emergency situation, loss of a job, or even a serious car, airplane or train accident your life will change. It can happen to anybody, anytime, anywhere. Look what happened to the people of Alabama with the major oil spill, with Louisiana, US with Katrina, the East Coast (US) and other cities with hurricanes, with the Midwestern States (US) with tornadoes and droughts, and all over the world with major earthquakes. Many of these places and people are still suffering. It only takes a second!

Why am I so over the top about telling others about emergency preparedness, food and water storage, spiritual preparedness and being prepared? Because I would feel horrible if I did not warn people to be prepared for what may come their way and then something happened to them and their loved ones. They might come back and say, "Why didn't you tell me?". I know and have experienced the blessings of being prepared with emergency supplies, water and food storage and spiritual preparedness.

This emergency preparedness blog was created to help the members of my church, Carson Ward, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons).  Then I realized as it started to go around the world, it is helping many of you and your loved to be prepared, better prepared than you already are. It is to help you, and make it as easy as possible to follow a plan and set goals. Use it, share it with others and let it help you become prepared. The information comes from my 35+ years of experience and the experience of others they have shared with me.

So, take a few seconds with your family, make a plan, set small goals to accomplish your main goal and start working towards it a little at a time. No one can do this all at once. Use this blog to help you reach your goals. You can do it, just set some goals and start!

New Report shows future Tsunami Warning for Southern California!




Most of us remember when the major earthquake hit Japan causing a large Tsunami.

Up and down the coast of California, US were damages. The damages were not as severe as they could have been, but there was some major damage to boats and harbors in Northern and Central California, US. 




This week I heard on several radio and television news programs a report with a warning from the United States Geological Survey, that if a major earthquake was to hit Alaska (9.1), which caused a large Tsunami, seven hundred fifty thousand to one million people would be effected along the Southern coast of California, from Marina Del Rey to New Port Beach, possibly San Diego, US. Northern and Central California could be effected too. Those of you in California, US need to be aware of your surroundings.

Look for the Tsunami warning signs if you live near the coast and which way to evacuate. It is amazing how many people along the Los Angeles Harbor area say they have not noticed them. They are there, watch for them and be aware where you need to evacuate. Most of the signs in the Los Angeles Harbor point to getting on the Harbor 110 Freeway. This gives me some concerns. If everyone does that it will quickly become a parking lot of cars and the Tsunami waves could go over it, causing major damages and even death. I would also have several surface street routes to take, not major roads, but side streets. Map out several routes you could take for your safety and keep them in the glove compartment of each of your cars.

The U.S. Geological Survey said that if you are at the beach and feel strong shaking, leave immediately for higher ground. I have heard many reports where the people of islands that have experienced Tsunamis teach their children and grandchildren that when they see the ocean waters recede to get to high land as soon as possible, the huge waves are coming very soon.

They also reported that Los Angeles downtown is 600 feet above sea level and would probably not be effected by the Tsunami waters. When the Japan Tsunami hit it went in six miles. We drove from the Los Angeles Harbor down Avalon Boulevard and Main Street towards the San Diego 405 Freeway to see how far inland that would be. It was a little past the 405 Freeway. The report is also saying the Tsunami could effect the many Los Angeles rivers and water by-ways to the ocean. The Tsunami water could reach further inland than we think. 

Click on this link to read more about the story posted in the Los Angeles Times.

Remember: The best thing we can do in any disaster or emergency situation is be aware of our surroundings, following local government instructions and warnings, look for Tsunami warning signs in your area, have an escape plan and evacuate as soon as possible in a calm and orderly manner.


Weekly Assignment: 72 Hour Individual Emergency Preparedness Stressor Kit

This week add the following:

1) $3-$5 in change, preferably coins, per family member's Stressor Kit. Why coins? Because during an emergency or disaster situation when you need to purchase something like water people might tell you they cannot make change and you might be forced to give them a $5, $10 or $20 bill because it is all you have and you need water. It has happened many times during a disaster.


So far you should have the following in each family member's Stressor Kit--paper pad and pen or pencil with sharpener, 5-in-1 survival whistle, copies of insurance (adults only), family photo, activity book (age appropriate), list of family contact names and phone numbers, small travel size board game or card game (age appropriate), a small soft cover Book of Mormon or Bible, and a favorite reading book (soft cover, age appropriate, or small child's favorite book. 

Congratulations! Once you add this last item you have completed each family member's 72 Hour Individual Emergency Preparedness Stressor Kit. Place all the above items in a large plastic zip lock bag and write Stressor Kit and the family member's name on the front with a permanent marker. Place the kit in each family members 72 Hour Emergency Preparedness Backpack. 

Next week we will discuss some other items you should have in each family member's 72 Hour Emergency Preparedness Backpack besides the Food Kit, Personal Hygiene Kit and Stressor Kit. 

Emergency Preparedness Ideas:

Why do you need vegetable seeds in your food storage? 

Vegetable seeds should be an important of your food storage because there may come a time when you can no longer purchase them. If there is a disaster where for many months there is no access to food in the grocery stores you will have seeds to plant and grow your own vegetables. Many emergency preparedness companies like Emergency Essentials,  Thrive Life and others offer buckets or #10 cans of a variety of vegetable seeds that keep for up to 5 years. They are great, but a problem I have with them is that there may be vegetable seeds you would not grow because your family would not eat some of the vegetables. But, they would be a great source of bartering if you needed something. You could purchase individual packages of vegetable seeds your family would eat, but there shelf life may not be for 5 years. If you have a yearly vegetable garden then you can rotate your seeds, which is the secret to any food storage.

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 September 1st)

Hi Carson Ward Family, Family and Friends,

What can we learn...

What can we learn from the Katrina Hurricane in Louisiana, USA?
What can we learn from the earthquake and tsunami in Japan?
What can we learn from the tornado in Joplin, Missouri, USA?
What can we learn from the neighbor down the street who lost his job and has no savings?
What can we learn from civil unrest and Marshall Law being implemented?
What can we learn from devastating wildfires?
What can we learn from a pandemic?
What can we learn from when our children are crying because there is no food to eat or water to drink?

What can we learn? We can learn how well prepared we are as an individual and family or how unprepared we are if any one of these types of situations happened to us. Do we need to wait until we experience one of these situations ourselves to know how well or not we are prepared? Where do you want to be? How much do we love our family?

In the past we have seen and heard how it has taken days, weeks, months before someone can come to help. In some cases it has been years!When there is a disaster situation the food and water trucks, medical teams and search and rescue teams can usually not get in to help for days, even weeks. You will be alone! You need to be prepared at all times!

Just recently in the news in Northern California, USA, we have been hearing and watching how the northern California wildfire near Yosemite could effect the main water source for the San Francisco area. Heavy ash from the wildfire is falling into their main water reservoir and dam. What can you lean from this? Would you have emergency water on hand to take care of your family's needs? Do you have a water filtration system like the Seychelle Water Pump to filter the contaminated water 99.9999% of all bacteria and contaminants? Would the stores empty quickly from fear of no water? What would you do? Or, are you prepared and your family will have food to eat and clean water to drink?

Weekly Assignment: 72 Hour Individual Emergency Personal Stressor Kit

This week add the following:  

1) Favorite Reading Book (soft cover, age appropriate, or small child's favorite book) for each family member's Stressor Kit. 



So far you should have the following in each family member's Stressor Kit--paper pad and pen or pencil with sharpener, 5-in-1 survival whistle, copies of insurance (adults only), family photo, activity book (age appropriate), list of family contact names and phone numbers, small travel size board game or card game (age appropriate) and a small soft cover Book of Mormon or Bible. We only have one more item to add next week. 

Note: If you have missed any of the 72 Hour Individual Emergency Kits and items in each Kit you can go back to the week of December 30th to complete the 72 Hour Individual Emergency Preparedness Personal Food Kit, Personal Hygiene Kit and the Stressor Kit. Each week an assignment was give to add one to two items to the kit we were working on. All these kits are placed in a 72 Hour Individual Emergency Preparedness Backpack for each family member in your household. 

Emergency Preparedness Ideas

What is Paracord and why is it important to have it in your 72 Hour Individual Emergency Preparedness Kit or Family Bag?

Paracord (Parachute cord) is a lightweight nylon rope originally used in the suspension lines of US parachutes during World War II. Once in the field, paratroopers found this cord useful for many other tasks. This versatile cord in now used as a general purpose utility cord by both military personnel and civilians.The paracord is made of 7 inner strands covered by a braided sheath which can hold up to 550 pounds of weight. Paracord has become very popular as bracelets. You can purchase the paracord separate or in a bracelet form (a little more expensive). The bracelet is usually about 7 feet of paracord. There are many uses of paracord or paracord bracelets in an emergency situation, see the link below.

Click on the link and see how to make your own paracord bracelet. Or, you can purchase them from sporting good stores, survival stores, and some department stores in the camping section.

See 39 emergency uses for paracord by clicking on this link--Emergency Uses of Paracord.
  
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 August 25th)

Hi Carson Ward Family, Family and Friends,

Congratulations to the Jack and Pat Lawson Family and the Salvador Garcia Family! They both won a One Burner Butane Stove with two cans of Butane fuel. This stove is a great item to add to your Emergency Preparedness Supplies. You can cook on a Butane Stove in your house. They allow you to have a way to cook if you cannot use your conventional stove. They are also great for camping. Keep several cans of the Butane fuel on hand for emergencies.

Ephesians 5:17..."Therefore, do not be unwise, ...."

In other words, do not be foolish, especially when it comes to food storage and emergency preparedness! Last week I mentioned about how many of us feel overwhelmed when it comes to food storage and emergency preparedness. We do not know where to start or we give up to easily and do not try again. The important thing to remember is never give up and simplify the processes.  

Let me simplify things for you...

1) Keep a list for one month of all the things your family eats in a month. Include breakfast, lunch, and dinner meals, snacks, going out to eat. Everything your family eats in a month. Include all the ingredients in the recipes you use. Most families eat the same thing each month. Then multiply that number by how many months you want for your food storage, 3 months, 6 months, etc. 

  2) Start out slow. Maybe first just do a one supply, then continue to add to it until you have reached your goal of 3 months, 6 months, a year. See "Postings" on the right under "3 Months Food Supply" and "Year's Supply of Food" (or click on the links) for information. 

3) Keep a list in your purse or wallet of the items you need. Each time you go grocery shopping and see an item on your list on sales purchase extra cans or packages and put them in your food storage. Use newspaper or store coupons to save even more.

4) Store a variety of different types of ways...

Store short food storage items like canned, jarred or packaged items. Watch the expiration dates on the cans, jars and packages. Only purchase items that have at least a years expiration date. Watch items at discount stores like The 99 Cent Store, etc., they usually have a very short shelf life.  Note: You can use items a few months past their expiration date, the longer you keep something past the expiration date the less the nutritional value. Do not use items where the lid is bulging or leaking.

Store long term food items like dehydrated or freeze-dried #10 cans or 5 gallon buckets. These are great to have on hand since you do not have to replace them as often. Most dehydrated or freeze-dried foods store for 20-30 years. Beware of how long they store. Mark the expiration date in a visible place on the can in permanent marker. Remember, you will need to store water to rehydrate the food. 

  5) Water. Water is very important to your food storage. You can live without food for a month, but you can only live without water for a couple of days. Store in 30-50 gallon barrels or plastic bottled water. Remember, to store in a cool place. Do not store plastic bottled water directly on the concrete, they will absorb the chemicals from the cement. Store on raised two by fours or bricks. See the "Posting" on the right side under "Water Storage" (or click the link) to learn how and where to store water. 

  6) Where do you store your food storage? Keep all food storage in a cool, dry, dark place. The cooler the temperature, the longer it will last, especially dehydrated and freeze-dried foods. Clean out closets and cupboards of unwanted items allowing some room for your food storage. Store in cupboards, closets, under the bed, and in side or coffee tables with enclosed storage areas underneath them. Be creative. Try to not store food  in your garage, it is too hot, unless insulated and is less than 70 degrees at all times.  

7) Rotation, Rotation, Rotation. Rotation is the key to food storage. Keep a chart  and rotate as needed by moving stored items to your regular pantry and replacing them as soon as you use them. You should do an inventory of your food storage, especially the canned, jarred and packaged items every three months. Food is to expensive to loose because you forgot to rotate it and use it before the expiration date. See under "Postings" on the right under "Food Storage Rotation" (or click on the link) for more ideas.

 8) Paper Supplies. Remember, in an emergency situation you will not want to use your valuable water, or you may not have water, to wash dishes. Keep paper plates, bowls, cups, plastic silverware, napkins, paper towels and toilet paper and baby wipes on hand.  

9) Emergency Preparedness Supplies. Make a check list of the items you will need and what you already have. Set goals and start an emergency preparedness savings jar like I mentioned last week. These are more expensive items to add, but if you save and you watch for sales, you can do it. This time of year is a great time for sales on camping equipment like tents, sleeping bags, etc. 

If you need help, please ask me. I would love to sit down with you and your family and help you make a plan towards Food Storage and Emergency Preparedness Supplies. 

Remember, keep it simple and make small goals under you reach your ultimate goal!

Weekly Assignment: 72 Hour Individual Emergency Stressor Kit 

This week add the following... 1) Book of Mormon for each family member's Stressor Kit. It should be the soft cover type, $2.50 on church catalog website at www.store.lds.org. For non-Mormon's you can add a small paper back copy of the Bible.  So far you should have the following in each family member's Stressor Kit..paper pad and pen or pencil with sharpener, 5-in-1 survival whistle, copies of insurance (adults only), family photo, activity book (age appropriate), list of family contact names and phone numbers, small travel size board game or card game( age appropriate). We only have two more items to add. 

 Emergency Preparedness Ideas Aluminum Foil (love these ideas)

"A few rolls of aluminum foil will serve you well in an emergency situation.  You can use foil to fashion cooking utensils or to line your pots and pans before cooking so that you do not have to waste precious water cleaning up. If you do cook on you pans directly, a crumpled up piece of foil can be used as a handy scrubber to remove the crusties. 

There are a lot more uses for this handy stuff such as wrapping stones in foil, heating them by the campfire, then using them to heat up your blanket or sleeping bag before going to bed.  Once you put a mind to it, you will wonder why you had not thought of including aluminum foil in your survival kit before now." ("5 Things You May Not Have Thought of When Planning for an Emergency", Gaye Levy)

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

Weely Assignment, Food Storage and Emergency Preparedness Ideas (Week of August 18th)

Hi Carson Ward Family, Family and Friends,

So much to share this week, great finds! See below...

It's not how you fall down, but how you get up!

What does that statement mean to you? To me it means many things. But, since this blog is all about food storage and emergency preparedness I will  address it in that way.

When I speak to people about food storage and emergency preparedness they become overwhelmed with the whole process. They have tried and tried but for some reason never feel they are successful.

The important thing is that you keep trying. No matter how many times you feel like you are falling behind and cannot keep up with your emergency preparedness goals and plan get up and try again. Never, never, never give up. Hang on and keep trying. Something good will come of it, I promise you!

If you just add a few cans or packages of items you buy each time you go grocery shopping, before you know it, you will have 1, 2, 3 months of food storage. If you put your change from your pocket for the day in an emergency preparedness savings jar, before you know it you will have enough money to purchase a tent for the family, or some other type of equipment.


If you read and follow this blog you will be successful. Success does not come instantly, it takes time. Food storage and emergency preparedness is a life time process. Food needs rotated before it spoils or expires. You will be continually adding to your food storage and emergency supplies. We have been doing food storage for forty years and we are still working at it, rotating and replacing what we use. Emergency supplies are continually being added to. I still am looking forward to the day we can purchase a solar oven. We have purchased small items to help us cook, but our ultimate goal is to have a solar oven too.

Do you remember an old song called "High Hopes" sung by Frank Sinatra? Here are some of the words...

"Next time your found, with your chin on the ground
There a lot to be learned, so look around

Just what makes that little ole ant
Think he'll move that rubber tree plant?
Anyone knows an ant can't
Move a rubber tree plant

But he's got hi-i-igh hopes, he's got hi-i-igh hopes
He's got high apple So, any time you're gettin' low, 'stead of lettin' go, just remember that ant
Oops, there goes another rubber tree plant"


You can do it! If you fall down, get back up and try again. Never, never, never give up!

Good Advice...Below is a video from the 1950's that has some great advice. It is old and may seem a little "cheesy" to some of you, but we can learn a great deal from it regarding how to shop for food and how to save money. The money that you save will give you extra money to purchase extra cans or packages of food for your food storage or emergency supplies.


 


Weekly Assignment: 72 Hour Individual Emergency Stressor Kit

This week add the following: 


 





1) Small travel size board game (with multiple games) or playing cards (age appropriate, different one for each family member's kit so you have different ones to play). You can purchase the playing card games, like "Old Maid", "Fish", etc., from discount stores like The 99 Cent Store, The Dollar General. Uno is a good one too which you can purchase at department stores. You can purchase the multi-travel size board games at Target and other stores. 

Note: Only three more items to add to our Stressor Kits.








Mason Canning Jar Boxes



If you do vegetable, fruit or other canning I have discovered a great product that protects your canned food jars from breaking while storing them. They are called Jar Boxes. Check out the link and learn more about this great product. They have boxes that will store pint and quarter Mason jars.





Emergency Preparedness Ideas

I have discovered two awesome ideas on how to use two everyday items in an emergency situation. It might be a good idea to print these out and keep in your 72 Hour Emergency Preparedness Backpacks. Check them out below...

10 Emergency Preparedness Uses Of a Tampon

Check out this great link on 10 ways to use a tampon for emergency uses. You need to add a few of these to your 72 Hour Individual Emergency Preparedness Personal Hygiene Kits. Every family member should have these in their kit. These ideas are fabulous!

Emergency Uses of a Cell Phone

"Whether in a boat, on a plane, traveling through Africa, taking a road trip, or backpacking the Rockies, our cell phone has become a regular piece of Every Day Carry (EDC).  I think it’s pretty safe to say that we will probably have our cell phone with us if ever faced with a tragic survival situation. It’s also not hard to imagine that it might not be working.  Regardless of the reason, a broken or busted cell phone is STILL an amazing collection of pieces and parts that, with a little insight and creativity, can be used to help meet a surprising number of basic survival needs.  How do I know this?  I busted open a handful of cell phones to find out." (The Art of Manliness) 

Click on this link to learn interesting ways to use your cell phone in an emergency situation.

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 August 11th)

Hi Carson Ward Family, Family and Friends,

Food Storage and Emergency Preparedness...It is not just about disasters! 

Many times I think when we think about food storage and emergency preparedness supplies we only think about being prepared for a disaster. But is it much more than that!

"Please don't get hyper-focused on natural disasters. The most common disaster you will ever face is when you or your spouse loses a job and you don't have food in the cupboard to get you through those transitional months." (Valerie Albrechtsen, "Prepared LDS Family")



Throughout our married life and while raising a large family we relied on our food storage and emergency supplies for various reasons: 1. unexpected expensive car repairs; 2. being on disability for several months due to a work injury; 3. extra medical bills; 4. loss of income.




Our food storage was a great blessing during these "transitional" times. Life can be overwhelming at times and come with challenges. Preparedness brings peace!

Each of us needs to pray for guidance from our Heavenly Father as we care for our families. He is always there to help us.

Wow! Four years and counting...

I can hardly believe it has been four years since I started this emergency preparedness blog. It has been exciting to see it spread all over the world and to receive comments from so many of you how it has helped you become better prepared. I am also grateful for your ideas and experiences. I am grateful for the inspiration I have received from my Heavenly Father. Each week he inspires me with an idea he gives me
through the Holy Ghost, by something someone says, by reading something or by seeing something. I hope you take the contents of each week's blog posting and weekly assignments and use them to bless you and your family. Peace really does come from being prepared both spiritually and temporally. May you continue to enjoy each week's blog posting, weekly assignment and emergency preparedness ideas. It is a pleasure to serve you and share my forty years of experiences regarding food storage and emergency preparedness.

Weekly Assignment: 72 Hour Individual Emergency Stressor Kit

What is a Stressor Kit? A Stressor Kit is a kit that will help you and your family members during a disaster or stressful situation. If provides things to do. There are 10 items in this kit. We will add one or two items each week.
 
This week add the following: 

1) 5-in-1 Survival Whistle (or any whistle):  Why do you need a whistle? If you are buried or lost you can blow the whistle, or flash the signal mirror (if you have light to reflect from), longer than you can shout for help. It is also heard further. These are on sale now at emergencyessentials.com or beprepared.com for $1.50 each. Regular price $2.95. Buy 10 for $1.30 each or 50 for $1.20 each. I love this 5-in-1 whistle because it gives you five different emergency helpers. Each survival whistle features:

• waterproof match box (matches not included)
• liquid-filled luminous dial compass
• shrill signal whistle
• signal mirror
• and flint fire-starter

Note: Go in with a friend or two to purchase these for each family member's Stressor Kit and share the shipping fee. Shipping fees are $6, $9, or $12 depending on how many you order. 

2) List of family contact names and phone numbers, especially someone out of state. Put a copy in each family member's Stressor Kit. 

Important Note: Last week I blogged about our children's school emergency preparedness plan. I mentioned how each classroom has a large emergency trash can with each student's own 72 Hour Individual Emergency Preparedness Kit put together by their parents. I forgot to mention it is a good idea to also have a change of underwear, socks and pants (which need to be changed each year due to the child's growth). Many times in an emergency or stressful situation, younger children wet themselves. If for some reason they get their feet wet, wade in water, it is also a good idea to have a dry pair of sock to protect them from illness. 

Emergency Preparedness Ideas: 

How many of us keep a small fire extinguisher in our kitchen and one in each of our cars?  Why is it important?

Many times I hear of fires in the kitchen, especially grease fires. Click here to learn about how to put out a grease fire in your kitchen and the type of fire extinguisher you should have.

Most of us have seen or heard about a car on fire along the road side. If they had kept a fire extinguisher in their trunk they may have been able to avoid extensive damage. They cost a little less than $20 at WalMart and other stores.

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