Flu preparation #3

Today's Assignment

Check your supply of over the counter flu medications for outdates. Discard and replace those that have expired. Among your personal preferences please remember to include:

1. ibuprofen or acetominophen ( Advil or Tylenol)
2. antidiarrheal ( Kaopectate or Immodium)

Ensure that you have at least a 2 week supply of these medications.

Pandemic Flu Planning #2

Today's Assignment

Check your regular prescription drugs to ensure a continuous supply in your home

Emergency Communications

Emergency Communications

In the event of emergency, information is broadcast on local television stations, KTAR 92.3 FM or KEC94, Phoenix VHF Frequency 162.550 for Emergency Alert System announcements

After a large scale disaster in our area, the existing communications systems may not be available either due to physical damage or system overload. Wires to telephones may be damaged and cellular phone towers and antennas may fail or lose power.

If your family is not together when disaster strikes, you need to have a plan in place to reunite your family. Consider preparing a contact card for each family member. Have family members keep these cards handy in a wallet, purse, backpack, etc. You may want to send one to school with each child to keep on file. Pick a friend or relative who lives out-of-state for household members to notify they are safe.

Consider including the following items in your diaster kit or have them readily available:
1. whistle: if you are trapped, blowing the whistle can alert rescuers to your location.
2. radio: not just any radio - one designed for emergency situations and preferably, one manufactured to operate independently from electricity or batteries.
3. Hand-held walkie talkies with additional batteries These usually have a 2-5 mile communication area but, can be useful between family members if you must separate temporarily during the disaster.
4. cell phone: sometimes cell phone service remains intact during a disaster or emergency situation. Remember to keep your cell phones charged completely. Many emergency hand-crank radios available also have cell-phone charging abilities.
5. short-wave ham radios- this option requires purchasing special equipment and obtaining a license. For more information, visit www.hfradio.org.

For more information on communicating during emergencies, please call the FCC's Consumer Center toll-free at 1-888-225-5322 (TTY: 1-888-835-5322).

Pandemic Flu Planning

Next month officially begins flu season. Although we have not had a pandemic flu incident for nearly a century, most officials agree that it is not a matter of IF it will happen it is a matter of WHEN it will happen. Take steps NOW to prepare your family . If the pandemic flu does not happen this year, you will be at very least prepared if your family is victim to a nasty flu virus that confines you to your home for a few weeks.

Today's Assignment:

Assess your water supply storage. Ensure that you have AT LEAST a 2 week supply of water for your family. Purchase whatever storage containers will work best for your family and housing situation and fill them.

New Blog Feature

Check out our new feature on the side bar. Each week we will post a grocery item offered at one of our local grocery stores at a GREAT PRICE so that you can start building your 3 month supply.

Please be aware that the time for preparing is closing in on us. The financial crisis our country is entering is being compared to the great depression. YOU CAN NOT BE TOO PREPARED!!!

Today's Assignment

Stock up on this week's featured item ( see side bar)

Darn Mosquitos!

Did you know mosquitos are responsible for some pretty nasty diseases- the most prevelant in our area are:

St. Louis encephalitis (SLE)
Associated with mostly Culex species.
Incubation time in humans 5 – 15 days
Symptoms: Mild infections occur without apparent symptoms other than fever with headache. More severe infection is marked by headache, high fever, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, occasional convulsions (especially in infants) and spastic (but rarely flaccid) paralysis.Case fatality 3% to 30 % (especially in the aged).

West Nile virus (WNV)
Associated with: Culex species
Incubation time in humans 3-15 days
Symptoms: fever, headache, body aches, skin rash (occasionally), swollen lymph nodes (occasionally) More severe: stiff neck, disorientation, stupor, tremors/convulsions, muscle weakness or paralysis.

It is everyone's responsibility to help control the mosquito population in our neighborhoods and cities!

Today's Assignment

1. Change water in animal watering troughs, bird baths, pet watering dishes, etc.

2. Repair water leaks, sprinkler systems or coolers that cause water to pond.

3. Remove vegetation and floating debris in and around ponds and stagnant swimming pools to limit breeding potential.

4. Fill in low spots, control the irrigation in your yard or pastures, and drain standing water from buckets and other containers that can collect water on your property.

Bee Prepared

Bee stings can result in serious injury to human or domestic animals. Arizona Department of Agriculture officials offer the following tips to prevent a bee attack.

These suggestions are true for both Africanized and European bees, although Africanized bees are more easily provoked and will attack more aggressively when provoked. It is impossible to differentiate between Africanized and European bees with the naked eye, although their behaviors are noticeably different.
· Stop, Look, and Listen; before opening any container at all, listen to it. If there is any buzzing, hum, or vibration in it, back away slowly. This includes storage sheds, boxes and bins in your yard.
· Check any area each and every time before you let your dogs or kids out to play, or before performing any landscape work in that area, especially mowing.
· If you are in an area that you suspect may be infested with bees, never get more than a 30 second sprint from an enclosed vehicle, unless you have protective gear.
· Like many of us, bees love peace and quiet, and will often attack vibration sources such as generators, lawnmowers, weed eaters, ATV's, and those operating them.
· Bees are especially attracted to attack objects with a chemical smell, it could be anything as small as the permanent marker in your pocket.
· When attacking bees will target dark colors, such as a shirt or your dog.
Bees will not attack unless given a reason, such as the ones given above.

If you are attacked by bees:
Cover your face with your hands and run as quickly as possible away from the hive or swarm.
If you can, get indoors or to an enclosed vehicle do so as soon as possible.
If you are in the open, try to run through bushes or shrubbery, the moving leaves will distract many of the bees from following you.
Do NOT jump in a lake, pool, or other body of water. Bees will wait for you to resurface, then will resume their attack.

Today's Assignment

Read the above information and educate your family! Check your property CAREFULLY for possible hives or infestations. Alert a bee removal specialist immediately if necessary.

Home Remedies

Today's Assignment:

Check out THIS great website for home remedies used for generations!

Plan Now to Attend

National Emergency Preparedness 2008 in Mesa
Are you ready? Are you prepared for a disaster? What about your family, pets and employees?
Saturday, September 279 a.m. to 2 p.m.Mesa Riverview Bass ProShops1133 N. Dobson (Loop 202 and Dobson)

More than 25 agencies, including Mesa Fire, Mesa Police and Mesa Utilities, are participating in National Emergency Preparedness 2008 with displays outside and inside Mesa Riverview Bass ProShops. The displays include the type of disaster equipment and emergency response units citizens may encounter during a local disaster. They will also include information useful in “Family Disaster Planning.”

The displays will include a variety of emergency disaster vehicles and apparatus, including helicopters, an emergency command van, fire trucks, mass decontamination equipment semi-trailer, bomb squad, SWAT Team truck, and Army humvees.

Surviving Extreme Temperatures during a power outage

Surviving the Cold in a power outage

To avoid hypothermia during a power failure

• wear multiple layers of clothing
• keep moving as long as you have plenty of food and water

Burning wood or charcoal for heat or cooking produces a major source of carbon monoxide. Diesel or gasoline generators also produce carbon monoxide. Neither of these should be done in a closed shelter. Only burn wood in a proper fireplace or wood stove. Charcoal should never be burned inside the house or garage.

Never use stoves or ovens to heat a home. Carbon monoxide is formed when gas is burned in this manner and could lead to fatal carbon monoxide poisoning.

Surviving the heat in a power outage

Summer storms and high heat can cause a loss of power during the summer months. Without air conditioning, heat illness becomes a real threat. Water consumption will be higher in hot, humid conditions. Expect to drink a gallon of water per day per person during the summer.

The CDC recommends these steps for avoiding heat illness:

• Drink a non-alcoholic glass of fluid every 15-20 minutes, at least one gallon each day.
• Wear light-colored, loose-fitting clothing.
• When indoors w/out air conditioning, open windows-if outdoor air quality permits-and use fans.
• Take cool baths or showers.
• If you feel dizzy, weak, or overheated, go to a cool place. sit or lie down, drink water, and wash your face with cool water. If you don't feel better soon, call 9-1-1
• Work during cooler hours of the day when possible, or distribute the workload evenly throughout the day.
  

Know how to treat contaminated water

Always use bottled water for drinking and cooking if it is available. Unsanitary water can be very dangerous to your health. If you don't know the level of purity of the water, it should always be treated. Use one or a combination of these treatments:

Boil
Boiling is the safest method of treating water. Bring water to a rolling boil for 3-5 minutes, keeping in mind that some water will evaporate. Let the water cool before drinking.


Chlorinate
You can use household liquid bleach to kill microorganisms. Use only regular household liquid bleach that contains 5.25 percent sodium hypochlorite. Do not use scented bleaches, color-safe bleaches or bleaches with added cleaners. Add 16 drops of bleach per gallon of water stir and let stand for 30 minutes. If the water does not have a slight bleach odor, repeat the dosage and let stand another 15 minutes.

Flood water can also be contaminated by toxic chemicals. Do NOT try to treat flood water

Today's Assignment

Purchase 3 gallons of chlorine bleach ( non-scented) to add to your disaster supply.

Stress—it seems like an inescapable part of modern life. There is almost always too much to do, in too little time, with insufficient resources. Even the most functional individuals and families struggle to find a balance between work and play, relaxation and family time, household chores and progress toward long-term goals. Trying to juggle all of these parts of life is stressful alone. Add to these ongoing stressors a life-changing event, such as the loss of a family member, a job change, or an economic downturn, and the stress can begin to feel overwhelming.

The challenges you face, the growth experiences you encounter, are intended to be temporary scenes played out on the stage of a life of continuing peace and happiness. Sadness, heartache, and disappointment are events in life. It is not intended that they be the substance of life. I do not minimize how hard some of these events can be. When the lesson you are to learn is very important, trials can extend over a long period of time, but they should not be allowed to become the confining focus of everything you do. Your life can and should be wondrously rewarding. It is your understanding and application of the laws of God that will give your life glorious purpose as you ascend and conquer the difficulties of life. That perspective keeps challenges confined to their proper place—stepping-stones to further growth and attainment

The Redeemer will safely lead you over the most difficult obstacles of life. His laws are absolutely secure anchors of protection that dispel fear and assure success in an otherwise dangerous world. Such a life will certainly provide you peace and happiness. (Richard G. Scott, “The Atonement Can Secure Your Peace and Happiness,” Liahona, Nov 2006, 40–42)

Today's Assignment

Ponder the lessons you are learning from the stressors, trials or hardships you are experiencing. Decide TODAY how you can use these experiences to bless your life and the lives of those around you.

Car Kit

Today's Assignment

Prepare a smaller version of your emergency supply kit (72 hr kit) to keep in you vehicle, in case you are en route when disaster strikes.

The emergency kit for your vehicle should include:
Bottled water and non-perishable high-energy foods, such as granola bars, raisins and peanut butter
Flashlight and extra batteries
Blanket
Booster cables
Fire extinguisher (5 lb., A-B-C type)
First-aid kit and manual
Local maps
Shovel
Tire repair kit and pump
Flares or other emergency marking devices

Pet Readiness

Today's Assignment

Gather copies of pet licenses, pet vaccination records and list of pet medications and add them to your 72 hour kit.

Plan how to take care of your pets in the event of evacuation. Keep in mind that animals may not be allowed inside emergency shelters.

Back to the Basics

Today's Assignment:

If you have a Telephone system that relies on electricity to work, plan for an alternate communication ( i.c. standard telephone handset or cell phone). Remember to charge your cell phone nightly so it can have maximum power in times of emergency.

Alternative Cooking Methods

Alternative Cooking Methods

In times of disaster or emergency, having a way to prepare hot meals for your family that does not require electricity is important. Plan a method you can use if you are not displaced from your home as well as a method you can use if you have to be evacuated from your home. Take the opportunity to review the following alternate cooking methods, visit the websites and include more detailed information in your family’s preparedness binder.

Fireplace – Fireplace cooking is one of the most primitive ways to cook food aside from cooking on a campfire. Although it was once THE way to prepare meals in the home, this method is unfamiliar to most of us today. If you have a fireplace and plan to use it in times of emergency be prepared with the proper utensils, cookware and ability to build the right kind of fire to cook on. You can read more about fireplace cooking here:
· http://www.thefarm.org/charities/i4at/surv/cookingf.htm

Dutch Oven- the dutch oven is a thick walled cast iron cooking pot with a tight fitting lid. They are well suited for long, slow cooking. Food is cooked inside the dutch oven pot by arranging hot charcoal briquettes on top and underneath the pot. For additional information, see here:
· http://papadutch.home.comcast.net

Haybox Oven-also known as retained-heat cooking, is an age-old slow cooking method used to conserve energy, both in fuel and labor. Food is brought to a boil on a stove, simmered a few minutes then put into a well insulated box where it continues to cook slowly for hours. For more information, see here:
· http://www.ssrsi.org/Onsite/PDFbin/Haybox_flyer.pdf

Buddy burners- small fuel sources made from cardboard, tin cans and wax used for cooking and warming. For more information, see here:

· http://www.justpeace.org/buddyburner.htm

Apple Box oven- oven box made from heavy duty cardboard box. Utilizes hot charcoal briquettes for long, slow cooking. Cook anything in the apple box oven that you would in a conventional oven. For more information on apple box ovens, visit:

· http://www.preparingtoday.com/Literature/Apple%20Box%20Oven.pdf

Flower Pot Grill- this grill is created using a 10 inch terra cotta flower pot, sand and hot charcoal briquettes. Ideal for cooking kabobs. Stays hot for hours. To learn more about flower pot grills, visit:

· http://www.preparingtoday.com/Literature/Apple%20Box%20Oven.pdf

Solar Oven- oven box that utilizes the sun as fuel source for long, slow cooking. Any meal cooked in a conventional oven can also be cooked in a solar oven. Simple, convenient and environmentally responsible way of cooking for your family.

· http://www.sunoven.com/usa.asp

Super Saturday #3

Types of fireplace cooking:

Hearth Cooking String-Turned Roasts - This is one of the most simple forms of fireplace cooking that doesn't require special equipment. Screw a hook into your fireplace mantle and you are ready to spin roasts in front of your fire, resulting in evenly cooked, succulent meats. While string-turned leg of lamb is a French classic, if you get creative you can get creative and cook other roasts in this way, such as string-turned roast chicken.

Fireplace Rotisserie - A rotisserie, requiring a rotisserie spit in front of your fire, allows you to slowly roast food. The general principle is the same as string-turned hearth cooking but it is on a motorized or hand-turned rotisserie instead and it is a little more versatile.
Fireplace Grill - You need special equipment but a fireplace grill allows you to cook grilled foods just like you would on your outdoor fire pit or barbecue. You use the hot embers of your fire instead of gas or charcoal to cook up your delicious meal.


Chestnut Roasting - Its a holiday classic. Yet most people don't really attempt this because they think the chestnuts will explode! If you have the right equipment and a few important tips, its not that hard!

Dutch Oven - A Dutch oven is a cast iron pot with a lid that has a metal handle that you can hang it from. If you install a fireplace hinged arm to hold pots or improvise another type of holder, you can hang your Dutch over over your fire in your fireplace. This allows slow stewing of hundreds of delicious recipes. This form of fireplace cooking is ideal for soup or stews.

Fireplace Skillet - Other cooking pans can be placed directly on your blazing fire for cooking. However, there are several cast iron utensils made specifically for cooking over a wood fire. Many include long legs so that you can easily sit your skillet over hot wood embers. Again, this is great for stews, soups and even sauteed dishes. The smokey aromas of the wood fire even permeate your food for a unique flavor that can only come from fireplace cooking.

Skewer Cooking - Anything you can stick on a long skewer can be roasted by hand in the fire. While this is classic for roasted marshmallows, hot dogs and sausages, you can do a lot more if you get creative. Try some little game birds hand roasted by your fire. Yum!

Long-Handle Roasters - There are several long-handled fire-roasting utensils available that allow you to hand cook different foods over an open fire. These include chestnut roasters, popcorn poppers and even a grilled cheese sandwich press.

Super Saturday #2

Apple Box Oven

An Apple Box Oven is a great way to bake when an emergency situation exists. All you need is your oven, charcoal and matches and you will be able to bake anything that you could bake in a conventional oven. It is also economical as you are not using electricity and it actually uses almost half the charcoal as Dutch oven baking. You can bake bread, pies, casseroles, cookies....anything that you normally would bake in a conventional home oven, you can bake in an Apple Box Oven.

Constructing the Apple Box Oven:

You will need:

1 sturdy cardboard apple box (20 inch x 13 inch and 12½ inch high). Try to find one that does not have handle holes on the sides. If it does have handle holes, you will need extra cardboard to fill any handle holes.

(1) 80-inch length heavy duty aluminum foil

(1) 90-inch length heavy duty aluminum foil

Masking Tape & Metal Repair Tape (this tape was found in the duct- work department of our local hardware store. It looks like duct tape but is shiny - like metal.)

Optional for a window: (1) plastic oven bag & Metal Tape

If there are any holes, in your apple box cut extra cardboard to fill holes and cover patch with metal tape on both sides.

If an oven window is desired, cut a horizontal oven window (approx. 9x4 inches) in one of the long sides, centered and 2½ inches from the closed bottom of the box. Make sure that you measure and cut the hole in the correct spot so that it will view right over the rack level.

To Cover the Box:

You will need to completely cover the box inside and out with foil. Secure the foil to the cardboard box with masking tape curls. (Tape Curls are small lengths of masking tape, curled around to attach ends so that the sticky side of the tape is on the outside of curl. These are used to hold the foil into place until you can tape outsides seams and corners with metal tape.) Any exposed cardboard or tape will burn so overlap the foil.

The 80-inch length of foil will cover the box inside and outside ends and the outside only of the bottom.
Lay this foil shiny-side down. Position the box lengthwise and bottom down, centered on the foil strip. Fold one length of the foil up the end and inside of the box. This end of the foil should fold onto the inside bottom about 4 inches. Making sure the foil on the end just covered is snug, repeat the same procedure for the other end of the box. Fold the excess foil on the outside edges of the box onto the box sides and secure foil with hidden masking tape curls-both inside and outside the box.


The 90-inch length of foil will cover the inner and box outer sides and bottom.
Lay foil, shiny-side down. Position and center the box across the foil, so the foil will cover the bare sides. Begin on the side of the box without a window. Fold the very end of the foil strip over 1 in. Fold this end over the side of the box and position it into the inside crease where the bottom and side meet. Making sure the foil on the side just covered is snug, pull the foil around the bottom and up the side (covering the window), down the inside (covering the window) and across the bottom. Tuck the extra foil underneath the first edge with the 1-inch fold so it goes up the side. With hidden masking tape curls, secure the foil inside and outside the box. Using Metal Repair Tape, tape-up all seams. Do not leave any edges un-taped.


If you are making a window:
Using scissors, cut a horizontal slit in the middle of the window hole, stopping 2 inches from each side. Fold the outside flaps through the window to the inside of the box. Cut a plastic roasting oven bag ½ inch larger than the window in a rectangle shape. Using a double layer, secure the roasting bag edges with metal tape.

To Bake with Your Apple Box Oven:

You will need:

4 empty soda pop cans, filled part way with rocks & opening covered with metal tape. (The rocks make it so the cans will not tip over)

10 x 14 inch cookie cooling rack (We found ours at Walmart)

Ground Heavy Duty Foil (Make it longer than the apple box)

Charcoal briquettes

Long-handled tongs

Matches

1-inch rock

To Bake:

Place ground foil, shiny side up, on level ground.

Space pop cans on foil so as to support the cookie baking rack.

Position rack so that only the very corners are resting on the pop cans. Check to make sure the cans are not spaced too far apart to prevent the apple box from fitting over them.

You will regulate the temperature of your oven by the number of charcoals you put in it. One charcoal = approx. 35 deg. F. (Example...for 350 degrees use 10 charcoals.)

Using tongs, place hot charcoals on foil, spreading them out evenly between the cans and across the middle. Place baking rack on top of cans.

To pre-heat oven, place the apple box over coals and empty rack, resting one corner on a 1-inch rock. (This allows enough air in the box for the charcoal to stay lit.) Let stand for 5 min. Charcoal will become whiter as heat spreads.

Carefully lift apple box off coals taking care not to tilt and place it beside the ground foil. (This holds trapped heat in the box.)

Quickly place food on the rack that is on the pop cans and replace box over coals, resting one corner on the rock. (Make sure that the pan you are using fits on the center of the rack since the heat will not bake any food that is directly over the pop cans.)

The charcoal will burn for about 35-40 min. When longer cooking times are required, you can add more hot charcoals by slightly lifting the box and slipping them in with long tongs. We found that if a recipe calls for 45 min baking time and it is warm outside, no additional charcoals would be needed.

REMEMBER:
One charcoal = approx. 35 degrees F.
(Example...for 350 degrees use 10 charcoals.)

GOOD ADVICE:
You will not want to use lighter fluid to start your charcoal since it may affect the taste of your food. We have found that if you use a charcoal starter, (we found it at a Cal-Ranch store...farming/camping/hunting supplies) your charcoals light faster and they are ready to use within 5 minutes time. They are ready to use when there are white spots on them the size of a dime. As the cooking time goes on, they will become whiter.

Super Saturday #1

Flower Pot Grill

Picking a pot
A good ceramic (terra cotta) flower pot makes the perfect vessel for a quick grill. The ceramic material holds in and focuses heat while insulating the outside. The shape and size of a 10 inch pot is perfect for a few kebabs and the charcoal will stay hot for hours of cooking fun. And, of course, a ceramic flower pot is very inexpensive.
What you want to buy is a good quality 10 or 12 inch ceramic flower pot with two saucer. We'll get to why you need two saucers for each pot later. You will also need some sand, enough to nearly half fill the pot. This is all you need for the grill. Of course you will also need charcoal and some skewers, as well as something to cook, but the grill is done.

Preparing the pot
Place your flower pot onto the saucer. Flower pots have a hole in the bottom and you don't want your sand to pour out through that hole so from this point onward the pot and saucer have to be kept together. Fortunately the saucer will remain cool no matter how hot the pot gets so you can handle the pot by the saucer, but please, be very careful.
The pot needs to be nearly half full of sand. The sand insulated the bottom of the pot from the heat so you can set your flower pot grill on surfaces that won't take the heat. Of course you need to keep flammable materials far away from your flower pot grills.

Building your fire
For a single 10 inch flower pot grill you will want about 12 to 14 standard charcoal briquettes. You will want them burning when they go into the pot. So you need something to light the charcoal in and a way to move the hot coals into the pot.
To light the charcoal a charcoal chimney works great. This will let you quickly and easily light plenty of charcoal. Light the charcoal and with a pair of tongs transfer the burning hot coals into the flowerpot on top of the sand. The coals do not have to be completely ready (white and ashy) yet, but they need to be hot and burning.

{B}Transportation Problem: Moving a hot flower pot grill, heavy with sand and burning coals can be difficult and dangerous. However, filling a flower pot with burning hot coals sitting on a table can also be dangerous. You can choose to do either. I tend to fill the pots on the table and not try to move them too much. I fill the pots with the table clears and everyone a safe distance away. Use a pair of good tongs to pick up the coals one by one to place inside the pot.

You need a single layer of coals in your pot. Do not over fill them because the excess heat can cause your pot to crack or break.

Cooking on your pot
You can spend days trying to find the perfect cooking grate for your flower pot so you can set a single burger patty on it, one at a time. Or you can choose the smart path and go with kebabs for your flower pot cookout. A 10 inch flower pot can hold three good sized kebabs and cook them in about 10 minutes. Since you have the pot handy your guests can take turns grilling up a wide range of foods over the course of the two hours that your flower pot grill will stay hot.
Most of all have a good time.
I said that you needed two saucers for each pot but I haven't told you what to do with that second saucer yet. When you are done cooking on your flower pot grill, place the second saucer on top of the pot to extinguish the fire. Warning: Do not pour water into your flower pot grill. The sudden shock of cold can break you pot, making a very big m

Half Empty or Half Full?

Today's Assignment

Make a goal to keep your gas tanks in your vehicles no less than half full at all times.

This is alot to ask with gas prices being what they are and everything! However, if we were asked to evacuate our homes and/or our city, would we have enough fuel to do so at a moment's notice? Trying to fuel vehicles in times of emergency would at best be Extremely difficult!!!

Build a Reserve

President Gordon B. Hinckley has taught: “Set your houses in order. If you have paid your debts, if you have a reserve, even though it be small, then should storms howl about your head, you will have shelter for your wives and children and peace in your hearts” ("To the Boys and to the Men," Ensign, Nov. 1998, 54).

Today's Assignment

Visit your bank. Arrange to have a set amount of money ( even if it is only a few dollars) automatically transferred to a savings account each time you are paid. The work is done for you and you won't even miss the money!

Do you Wonder?

Do you wonder why we sometimes think that food storage should consist solely of wheat, beans, rice and oats? These are all great items to have for long term storage. But, we need to think just a little differently. Here is what our church leaders are instructing us to do FIRST and FOREMOST

Three-Month Supply
Build a small supply of food that is part of your normal, daily diet. One way to do this is 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. These items should be rotated regularly to avoid spoilage.

Today's Assignment:

Choose one food item that your family eats as a part of their normal, daily diet. Purchase 3 extras on your next trip to the grocery store.

Keep current

Today's Assignment:

Check all food items in your 72 hour emergency pack for expiration. Replace expired items as needed.

How to prepare for a power outage

Handout for Sunday, September 8, 2008

How to prepare for a power outage

As the old saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. If you follow the tips on this page, it's less likely you will need to go out for supplies during an outage, especially if the outage is during a storm.


The following basic supplies and preventative measures will help you prepare for an unexpected loss of electricity:

Basic supplies

1. Maintain a first aid kit that includes your family's prescription medications. Make sure items in the first aid kit are in usable condition.

2. Keep a supply of special needs items for infants, elderly and/ or disabled family members.

3. Keep a battery-operated radio or TV handy to access news reports.

4. Ensure you have a supply of fresh batteries for all necessary equipment.

5. Keep a supply of bottled water -- at least one gallon per person.

6. Maintain a supply of food that won't spoil, and that doesn't need cooking to prepare. Make sure you have a manual can opener.

7. Ensure you have several coolers or ice chests -- to store ice if the outage is lengthy.

Preventative measures

1. Keep important telephone numbers (local fire department, paramedics, police, hospital, doctor, relatives, friends, SRP, etc.) by the phone.

2. Place flashlights in handy locations, such as near telephones.

3. Install surge protectors to safeguard valuable electronic equipment such as computers and home entertainment systems.

4. Know where to find each utility shut off -- electricity, water and gas. Know how to turn each off. Have the proper tools to do so, and know where they are located.

5. Always back-up important computer-generated work and files.

6. If you have an automatic garage door, check the instructions or with the manufacturer to learn how to open the door manually (without power).

7. Consider keeping at least one car no less than half full with fuel; gas pumps are electrically operated and gas stations will be shut down during an outage. (However, stockpiling gasoline is NOT recommended, as gasoline is a hazardous, combustible substance.) Also, remember that portable gasoline generators should never be operated inside homes, garages, office buildings or other enclosed spaces.

8. Consider making a safety preparedness plan for your family. Such a plan would include a list and location of the above items. Be sure that you are prepared to meet the special needs of infants, and elderly or disabled family members. Also plan how you will care for any pets.

Turn it Off!!

In the event of a disaster, you may be instructed to shut off the utility service at your home.

Today's Assignment

Locate main fuse box, water and gas mains; learn how and when to turn off each, then teach family members; keep necessary tools near shut off valves.

Click here. for details on how to shut off utilities

If you call 9-1-1

If you have to call 9-1-1 for an emergency, remember that giving good information to the operator is essential in saving lives.

Today's Assignment:

By each phone post:

1. Your family's names

2. Your complete address- inlude apt. # or gate access code

3. Your major crossroads

4. your home phone number

When speaking to a 9-1-1 Operator, remain calm and provide as much detail as possible about the nature of the emergency.

If you have small children in your home ( your own, nieces/nephews, or grandchildren) teach them how and when to dial 9-1-1 for help and what information they will need to provide.

Having accurate and complete information could mean the difference between life and death

Who are you?

Today's assignment:

Make a copy of your drivers license, social security card and birth certificate and place it in your 72 hour kit

This information is needed to obtain employment, open bank accounts, retrieve money from existing accounts, cash checks, establish citizenship, verify identity, verify family relationships, and many many other important tasks. Being without this information, even in times of disaster or crisis can be crippling.

REMEMBER: IDENTITY THEFT IS A HUGE PROBLEM IN OUR SOCIETY. PLEASE PROTECT ALL YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION.

Where do you live?

Today's Assignment

Make a copy of a document that can serve as proof of residency ( e.g. electic bill, property tax bill) and place in your 72 hour kit.

Proof of residency is important should you have to be evacuated and need to return to your home to retrieve anything.

Enough is Enough!

Reading through these first few entries has made me realize that I am giving way too much information at one time. The aim of this blog was to give us each one small task to do each day that would get us all closer to our long-term goal of being more prepared. So, from this point on... I will attempt to keep it pretty basic. I will try to include links so that you overachievers can feel well taken care of as well.


Today's assignment:

Establish an evacuation route from your home in case of fire or other emergency.

Click here for step by step instructions.

It's all about the money

Financial Readiness

* Inventory valuables in your home, recording model numbers of major items

* Photograph and document all valuables in your home

* Put original insurance policies in a safe place

* Have copies of Policies available to take with you

* REview policies to assure coverage is adequate

* Make a list of bank account and credit card numbers- put in a secure place

* Make copies of social security cards and keep in a secure place