Preparedness

After reading other bloggs and different web sites I have put together my own plan of prepardness in the case of disasters or crises.
We were without electricity for seventeen days after hurricane Katrina blew through Covington County. We did not have local gas stations open for the first three days and then we could only buy five gallons of gasoline at a time for the first few days. Our local grocery stores were closed for over ten to twelve days and we were unprepared. I dedcided then I would be prepared for the next disaster or crises. (Now I know even with all our preparation there are still many things that can catch us off guard, but we must still prepare.)

Whether it is a hurricane, flood, tornado, earthquake, or brush fire, or some other type natural disaster or crises we are all encouraged to keep ourselves and our family’s prepared. There is no better way to ensure our family’s wellbeing than to have enough emergency supplies that we will need always on hand? When a person has the feeling they are prepared, they seem to cope with disasters and emergencies in a better way. So I challenge all of you to make it a family project to assemble the essentials that you will need in precarious times, before disaster strikes.

I do understand that we cannot always know in advance when a particular disaster will strike our life or our family. But we are all aware there are seasonal and even regional patterns that can often tell us what we might expect in the near future. We must be sure to have on hand the supplies we and our family will need during these down turns of life.

1) Water – We should store at least one gallon of water per person per day, for a minimum of twenty days. A normal active person needs at least one-half gallon of water daily just for drinking. Other needs include washing, cooking and sanitation. Children, nursing mothers, and those who are ill need more water. Also household pets must be considered, also. High temperatures can double the amount of water we each need.

To be prepared with the safest emergency supply, it is recommended you purchase commercially bottled water. Keep bottled water in its original container and do not open it until you need it. Store the containers in a cool, dark place, and rotate them out within a six month period of time, so they stay fresh.

2) Perishable food – Include a three to five day supply of refrigerated perishable supplies. Milk, butter, eggs, cheese, mayonnaise, catsup, mustard and such things as our family would normally use in the daily diet. If we lose the electrical power to our homes, our refrigerators will keep these supplies cool for a couple days and because of the insulation of these modern refrigerators these products will last somewhat longer. (Be very careful using these products after a prolonged outage.)

Many of us have freezers in our home. The food that is frozen is perishable and should be prepared and used before we use our canned or vacuumed packed foods. As the freezers begin to thaw, the food must be used or canned. Usually during disasters or natural emergencies, it is very difficult to prepare large quantities of food for home canning, but we must be prepared to use it quickly, can it for future use or lose it and it perish.

3) Non-perishable food – I suggest that we keep in stock and on hand in our kitchens, cupboards enough non-perishable food to last our family two to four weeks. I suggest that we avoid food items that will make us thirsty. Choose salt-free crackers, whole grain cereals, and canned foods with high liquid content. Stock canned foods, dry mixes, and all the staple non-perishable ingredients that do not require refrigeration, cooking, water, or special preparation.

Then I suggest that we have on hand in vacuum packed and dry storage enough non-perishable foods and food ingredients that will sustain our family for up to one to two years. We must know our food items and ingredients and know the length of time they will last in vacuum pack and dry storage.

4) Special need foods – Individuals with special diets and allergies will need particular attention, as will babies, toddlers and elderly people. Nursing mothers may need liquid formula, in case they are unable to nurse. Canned dietetic foods, juices and soups may be helpful for ill or elderly people. Always have enough of these type items for to last for a lengthy disaster of emergency. Each of these items must be stored according to the labels from the processors or manufacturers.

5) Other Emergency Supplies – These items can be made into packs so they can quickly be accessed.
•Emergency Radio
•Emergency Sanitation Supplies
•Kitchen accessories and cooking utensils, including a can opener
•Shovel and other useful tools                        

•Emergency Lighting
•Household liquid bleach to treat drinking water
•Money and matches in a waterproof container
•Fire extinguisher
•Gas and Water Shut off Tools
•First aid kit and manual
•Photocopies of credit and identification cards
•Special needs items, such as eye glasses, contact lens solutions, and hearing aid batteries
•Items for infants, such as formula, diapers, bottles, and pacifiers
•Other items to meet our unique family needs

5) Clothing – If you live in a cold climate, you must think about warmth since you may be without heat for a time. Be sure to include one complete change of clothing and shoes per person, including:
•Jacket or coat
•Long pants
•Long sleeve shirt
•Sturdy shoes
•Hat, mittens, and scarf
•Sleeping bag or warm blanket

6) Storage – Just as important as putting our supplies together is maintaining them so they are safe to use when we need them. Here are some tips to keep our supplies ready and in good condition:
•Keep canned foods in a cool dry place.
•Store boxed food in tightly closed plastic or metal containers to protect from pests and to extend shelf life.
•Throw out any canned good that becomes swollen, dented, or corroded.
•Change stored food and water supplies every six months. Be sure to write the storage date on all containers.
•Re-think our needs every year and update our supplies as our family needs change.
•Keep items in airtight plastic bags or vacuum sealed bags. We must put our entire disaster supplies kit in one or two easy-to-carry containers, such as an unused trashcan, camping backpack, or duffel bag.
We must constantly ensure we are ready for future events by rotating and restocking our emergency supplies often. Then, when things do go wrong, we will be prepared.

Before we begin planning our stock of supplies, we must decide how big of a catastrophe, disaster or emergency we want to prepare for. Some people find it adequate to have enough supplies for a few weeks. Others prefer several months. I know many people that have over a year's supply of food and other necessities on hand.

While a year's supply of provisions may seem to be extreme, I have to say that I know families where their source of income was lost, and the family was able to survive for a long period of unemployment because of their food storage and savings. It is up to each one of us as to how prepared we want to be.

Sometimes a family is forced to hurriedly evacuate their home, either for an act of nature or a toxic spill on a road nearby, for instance. Many families keep a few days of supplies in a container that they can hurriedly grab should the necessity arise.

Anyone can store food for a few weeks without much thought. It is when we are storing food for longer periods of time that we have to give more attention to what we are storing, and the nutritional value over the long periods of time. I have concentrated so much of my storage and canning on long term storage.

Here are some long term storage ideas (take from other sites)

Wheat – Bread is the "staff of life". Unfortunately, white flour does not store well. For that reason, most people who are storing food for long periods of time store wheat. For more information on how to use wheat in your diet, see my link on storage tips.

Nonfat Dried/Powdered Milk – Obviously you cannot store whole milk. Yet you need the nutrients that milk provides. For this reason powdered milk is stored.

Sugar or Honey – Sugar is a necessary dietary ingredient, and a necessity for baking.

Salt – Salt is also necessary in the diet and in baking and cooking.

Some people think that the above 4 ingredients will combine to give you emergency food for one year. The wheat can be sprouted for vitamin C.

While this may be true, a much more palatable diet will be had by storing more of the items you eat every day. Here are some of the basics:

Vitamin Supplements

Vegetable Shortening and Oil

Grains, Rice, Oats, etc.

Dried Beans, peas, etc.

Peanut Butter

Canned Vegetables

Dried Potatoes, dried vegetables, dried fruit

Fruit Juices

Gelatin, Puddings

Cakes and other dessert mixes

Powdered Eggs

Canned Meats, canned foods of all kinds

If you store dehydrated foods, you will need more water to prepare and cook food.

Non-food Necessities

Water Purifier and tablets

Something to cook with if we lose power: camping stove, wood-burning stove, emergency stove, grills, etc.

Flashlights, candles and lanterns…

Batteries of all sizes…Battery powered radio…hand cranked emergency radio.

Axe, hatchet, shovel, pick, hammer and wedges

Assorted nails and screws

Assorted screw drivers and hand tools

Sleeping Bags, Blankets,

A supply of wood, charcoal, kerosene, propane bottles, and small heat warmers for heat,

Ice Chest, thermos, and other type’s storage

Prescriptions especially those that are a daily must,

Over the counter medications,

Sanitary supplies, toilet paper, etc.

Personal Hygiene, shampoo, toothpaste, deodorant,

Kitchen supplies, Manuel can opener, Aluminum foil, storage bags, wax paper, etc.

Laundry and household essentials,

Items that myself and my family would feel “Lost” without.

Pet supplies

Pet food to last for the duration of the disaster or emergency, this includes pet meds, and treats. Do not forget to have a good supply of water for your pets.

Do not forget FIREARMS and ammunition…in crisis times this is a must for our protection. 

Storage Plan

This is the first rule of my food storage plan. I believe that I must store the foods that my wife and I will eat!

We have set up a rotation system in order to keep our food fresher and so we will not waste any food. We store what we eat; eat from our stock on a daily bases and we are continually buy more.