The following is a list of items that get cleared out of the stores when people go into panic mode. I just thought I'd pass it along for your consideration, as you think about the things you might want to keep in your storage.
Top 77 Items That Will Be Gone Before You Get There
1. water 2. batteries 3. flashlights 4. ice 5. candles 6. matches 7. toilet paper 8. paper plates & paper towels
9. heavy duty aluminum foil 10. water filters 11. flour 12. sugar 13. milk 14. powdered milk 15. coffee 16. canned soup 17. soup mixes
18. bouillon cubes 19. hand-held can openers 20. dry cereal 21. diapers 22. wet wipes 23. baby food 24. baby formula
25. sanitary napkins & tampons 26. bath soap 27. laundry detergent 28. waterless hand sanitizer 29. disindectant 30. bleach
31. trash bags 32. re-sealable plastic bags 33. toothpaste 34. toothbrushes 35. shampoo & conditioner 36. shaving equipment
37. lanterns 38. lantern fuel 39. lantern wicks or mantles 40. butane igniter 41. charcoal grills 42. charcoal 43. camp stoves
44. propane for camp stoves 45. pocket knife 46. army knife 47. vitamin supplements 48. antacids 49. antibiotics
50. rubbing alcohol51. hydrogen peroxide 52. laxative and diarrhea remedies 53. antihisamine 54. epsom salts 55. bandages
56. sterile gauze pads 57. first-aid tape 58. portable toilets 59. 5-gallon plastic buckets 60. gas-driven generators
61. gasoline storage containers 62. duct tape 63. chain-saws 64. cast iron dutch oven 65. cast iron frying pan 66. bug spray
67. mouse traps 68. mouse bait (d-con) 69. thermal underwear 70. insulated coveralls 71. heavy work gloves 72. boots / rain gear
73. band saws 74. axes 75. solar panels 76. hand-crank radios 77. canvas and nylon tarps
These next lists are suggestions of other things to store.
Food Supplies:
1. rice, beans, wheat 2. sugar, honey, syrups 3. vegetable oil (for cooking) 4. powdered milk 5. condensed milk (shake every 2 months)
6. tuna fish, canned fish/meats 7. pasta 8. cheese 9. garlic 10. vinegar 11. canned or dry veggies 12. flour 13. salt 14. yeast
15. oatmeal 16. popcorn 17. peanut butter 18. nuts 19. canned or dry fruits 20. crackers - soda, snack and graham crackers
21. canned soups 22. dried herbs 23. tea, coffee, cocoa, Tang, punch mix 24. soy sauce 25. gravy, bouillon 26. pretzels, trail mix snks
27. cereal 28. candies, gum 29. potatoes 30. spices, seasonings 31. jerky, meat sticks that don't need refrigeration
32. ration of "instant" foods, prepackaged for longer term storage
Food Preparation & Household:
1. hand can openers 2. cook stove 3. vitamins, supplements 4. whisks, egg beater 5. baking supplies 6. hand sanitizer
7. bleach (unscented) 8. aluminum foil (regular and heavy duty) 9. garbage bags 10. toilet paper, paper towels, tissues
11. matches ("strike anywhere" preferred) - boxed wooden ones, kept dry! 12. cast iron cookware, properly seasoned
13. water containers, food grade for drinking water. (store in hard clear plastic) 14. survival guide book 15. laundry detergent
16. paper plates/cups/disposable flatware 17. pocket knives 18. long reach lighters (pilot lighters, etc.) 19. mixing bowls
20. cooking utensils - spatulas, turners, etc.
Supplies:
1. generators 2. water filters / purifiers 3. portable toilets 4. seasoned firewood. Wood takes 6-12 months to season
5. lamp oil, wicks, lamps (1st Choice: CLEAR oil. If scarce, stockpile ANY!) 6. coleman fuel, propane cylinders 7. charcoal, lighter fluid
8. propane cylinder handle holder 9. washboards, mop bucket with wringer 10. bow saw 11. ax, wedges 12. clothes line and pins
13. fire extinguishers (charged) 14. batteries (all sizes) 15. 1st Aid Kits 16. gas containers (metal and plastic)
17. guns, ammo, knives, slingshots, bats 18. coleman's pump repair kit 19. insulated ice chests 20. flashlights, lanterns
21. garbage cans 22. mosquito coils/repellants 23. bug sprays 24. duct tape 25. candles 26. tarps, stakes, twine, rope 27. nails, spikes
28. d-con, mouse prufe II 29. mousetraps, ant & cockroach killer 30. big dogs (plenty of dog food) 31. backpacks, duffle bags
32. sleeping bags & blankets/pillows/mats 33. cots & inflatable mattresses 34. hats & cotton neckerchiefs 35. tents, waterproof tarp
36. safety pins 37. disposable camera and/or digital camera (documentation) 38. small bag of dryer lint (fire starter!)
39. plastic storage tubs (storage & rainwater collectors)
Personal:
1. Baby Supplies: diapers, formula, ointments 2. feminine hygiene 3. shampoo, soaps 4. skin products 5.
tops and bottoms thermal underwear 6. work boots 7. baby wipes 8. men's hygiene 9. toothbrushes/toothpaste, floss, mouthwash
10. nail clippers 11. shaving supplies (razors, creams, aftershave) 12. reading glasses 13. socks, underwear, t-shirts 14. work shirts
15. rain gear, boots
Longer Term:
1. garden seeds 2. fishing supplies - plenty of various sized hooks, weights, lines and lure 3. bikes - includin tires, tubes, pumps, chains
4. knife sharpening tools - files, stone, steel 5. canning supplies 6. woolen clothing/scarf/mittens 7. gloves - work, garden & warm ones
8. goats/chickens/poultry/rabbits 9. lumber 10. nails, nuts, bolts, screws, glue 11. wagons, carts 12. roll-on window insulation
13. board games, cards, dice 14. scissors, sewing supplies 15. writing paper, pencils, solar calculator 16. journals, diary, scrapbook
17. garden tools & supplies 18. carbon monoxide alarm (battery powered) 19. lantern hanger 20. boy scout manual 21. cigarettes
22. wine/liquors 23. paraffin wax 24. hand pumps (water & fuel - separte marked pumps)
Friday, July 30, 2010
What Will You Do When the TP is Gone?
Yikes! This is certainly a subject that we probably don't want to bring up at the next church pot luck event. It is one that is worth thinking about, though, and the following article gives some good ideas on dealing with it. (I'll apologize in advance for their punny humor. I guess some subjects just lend themselves more to it than others.) :P
- Off The Grid News - http://offthegridnews.com -
What Will You Do When the TP Is Gone?
Posted By Mike On July 18, 2010 @ 9:01 am In Featured Articles,Health |
We have all been in the same situation. Sitting, restfully on the toilet, we reach for a square of toilet paper only to find a cardboard roll. Reflexively, we reach for the cupboard to get another roll only to find it bare. Panic sets in and we frantically search for an alternative.
Now imagine the same scenario when the you-know-what really hits the fan, during a long term emergency. Will you be prepared?
While this may be a light-hearted issue for many, especially those who deem themselves fully prepared for an emergency, the best laid plans can literally be flushed down the toilet if this simple, yet essential detail is not addressed.
There are two issues here: 1) Is there a sufficient stockpile of TP and, 2) should the stockpile run out, what’s the alternative TP solution? Whether you find yourself haplessly short of a square or you are preparing for the worst, you’re better off thinking about it today.
Stockpiling TP
We all try to buy enough TP, and, while we know that, to be fully prepared, we should have extra packages stored, it’s a problem for some preppers just finding enough space for multiple 36 roll packages.
Space bag solution. By simply removing the cardboard from the TP roll, you can flatten the rolls. After organizing them inside a space bag and sucking the air out, you can squish as many as 50 rolls into the width of a phone book. Ten of these can be stacked in the same space of a large box.
Alternative TP
If you follow the stockpile tip, this may not ever be an issue for you. Still, it’s best to be prepared – at any time.
Reading material. Who among us will admit that, at one time or another, the bottom half of the sports page came in handy. You may not want to get rid of your old Yellow Page books. The paper is thinner and they’re great for portion control if you use one page at a time. Most of the paper substitutes that are available are full of ink which makes it a bit messy, but they can work.
Reusable cloth. Cloth wipes or cloth TP alternatives are growing in popularity, especially for the environmentally conscious. Of course, if you’re stranded on your toilet, the closest cloth material might be the only option. For a long term emergency, cloth wipes could only be used if there were sufficient water and cleanser supplies in order to maintain sanitary conditions. However, since cloth does last and has worked for diapering children for many years, this is my personal long-term plan.
Plant leaves. Just like hard-core camping. The urban folks may find plants to be a bit sparse, but the suburban or rural survivalist may have access to good, wide leaves that can be turned right into the ground for excellent mulch.
Plain water. It has worked well in Europe (think bidets), so water would be a natural alternative anywhere. For the temporarily stranded, it works, especially when applied through a squeeze bottle or a water bottle. Of course, the same technique is available for the long term survivor, however, the issue comes back to the availability of a water source.
Thankfully, this piece is at an end. It can’t be any more enjoyable to read about toilet paper alternatives than it is to write about it, but the issue is valid and important. Actually, there are many other viable TP alternatives, however, you will only need to adopt one or two as a back up to your stock pile. This should get you through any emergency.
Now imagine the same scenario when the you-know-what really hits the fan, during a long term emergency. Will you be prepared?
While this may be a light-hearted issue for many, especially those who deem themselves fully prepared for an emergency, the best laid plans can literally be flushed down the toilet if this simple, yet essential detail is not addressed.
There are two issues here: 1) Is there a sufficient stockpile of TP and, 2) should the stockpile run out, what’s the alternative TP solution? Whether you find yourself haplessly short of a square or you are preparing for the worst, you’re better off thinking about it today.
Stockpiling TP
We all try to buy enough TP, and, while we know that, to be fully prepared, we should have extra packages stored, it’s a problem for some preppers just finding enough space for multiple 36 roll packages.
Space bag solution. By simply removing the cardboard from the TP roll, you can flatten the rolls. After organizing them inside a space bag and sucking the air out, you can squish as many as 50 rolls into the width of a phone book. Ten of these can be stacked in the same space of a large box.
Alternative TP
If you follow the stockpile tip, this may not ever be an issue for you. Still, it’s best to be prepared – at any time.
Reading material. Who among us will admit that, at one time or another, the bottom half of the sports page came in handy. You may not want to get rid of your old Yellow Page books. The paper is thinner and they’re great for portion control if you use one page at a time. Most of the paper substitutes that are available are full of ink which makes it a bit messy, but they can work.
Reusable cloth. Cloth wipes or cloth TP alternatives are growing in popularity, especially for the environmentally conscious. Of course, if you’re stranded on your toilet, the closest cloth material might be the only option. For a long term emergency, cloth wipes could only be used if there were sufficient water and cleanser supplies in order to maintain sanitary conditions. However, since cloth does last and has worked for diapering children for many years, this is my personal long-term plan.
Plant leaves. Just like hard-core camping. The urban folks may find plants to be a bit sparse, but the suburban or rural survivalist may have access to good, wide leaves that can be turned right into the ground for excellent mulch.
Plain water. It has worked well in Europe (think bidets), so water would be a natural alternative anywhere. For the temporarily stranded, it works, especially when applied through a squeeze bottle or a water bottle. Of course, the same technique is available for the long term survivor, however, the issue comes back to the availability of a water source.
Thankfully, this piece is at an end. It can’t be any more enjoyable to read about toilet paper alternatives than it is to write about it, but the issue is valid and important. Actually, there are many other viable TP alternatives, however, you will only need to adopt one or two as a back up to your stock pile. This should get you through any emergency.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Handbook to Practical Disaster Preparedness for the Family
Here's another resource that looks really good, though I haven't read it yet. Brenda mentioned this in the comments section and I'm pulling it forward so everyone sees it. Here's the description from Amazon:
Handbook to Practical Disaster Preparedness for the Family
Editorial Reviews
Product Description
Ninety-nine percent of the time the world spins like a top, the skies are clear, and your refrigerator is full of milk and cheese. But know with certainty that the world is a dangerous place. Storms rage, fires burn, and diseases spread. No one is ever completely safe. Not you. Not your children. We all live as part of a very complex ecosystem that is unpredictable and willing to kill us without remorse or pause. This book will help you to establish a practical disaster preparedness plan for your entire family, covering all 14 basic human needs. Additional information is also presented for those with special needs, including the elderly, children, people with disabilities, pregnant women, and pets. Every topic is well researched, with over 240 references cited, and is presented in a clear, easy to read format.
From the Author
Right out of the gate let me tell you what the book is NOT. It is not a book about fighting off hordes of flesh-eating zombies, should they ever rise from the grave. Nor will it describe how to survive a shipwreck by feasting on coconuts and roasted iguana. Finally, it is not intended to help you survive our planet being sucked into the cosmic fireball affectionately known as our Sun. If you wish to prepare for those types of events, I respectfully suggest that you continue your search for a more suitable text.
This book is designed to help your family prepare for more commonplace, yet still potentially deadly disasters. The list is long and varied, and includes hurricanes, tornados, terrorist attacks, earthquakes, pandemics, financial collapse, widespread blackouts, and much more. My hope is that this handbook will accomplish three things: (1) motivate you to become better prepared, (2) illustrate how to prepare effectively, and (3) help you to realize your place in a larger movement.
The 540-page handbook is clear and easy to read with dozens of photos, illustrations, and worksheets. What makes this book different is that it focuses on practical steps that you and your family can take to become better prepared. At the beginning of each chapter, is an example scenario designed to help you consider your current level of readiness. At the end, are brief lists of recommended supplies.
This handbook will help you to lay out a plan that includes assessing your family's needs, stocking supplies, shoring up your shelter, leveraging existing resources, mitigating potential hazards, and preparing for likely threats. At the end of your efforts, you will be rewarded with knowing that your family is far better prepared to handle real world challenges.
--From the Author (added by author)
Here's the link: http://www.amazon.com/Handbook-Practical-Disaster-Preparedness-Family/dp/1453678875/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1280251887&sr=8-1
Handbook to Practical Disaster Preparedness for the Family
Editorial Reviews
Product Description
Ninety-nine percent of the time the world spins like a top, the skies are clear, and your refrigerator is full of milk and cheese. But know with certainty that the world is a dangerous place. Storms rage, fires burn, and diseases spread. No one is ever completely safe. Not you. Not your children. We all live as part of a very complex ecosystem that is unpredictable and willing to kill us without remorse or pause. This book will help you to establish a practical disaster preparedness plan for your entire family, covering all 14 basic human needs. Additional information is also presented for those with special needs, including the elderly, children, people with disabilities, pregnant women, and pets. Every topic is well researched, with over 240 references cited, and is presented in a clear, easy to read format.
From the Author
Right out of the gate let me tell you what the book is NOT. It is not a book about fighting off hordes of flesh-eating zombies, should they ever rise from the grave. Nor will it describe how to survive a shipwreck by feasting on coconuts and roasted iguana. Finally, it is not intended to help you survive our planet being sucked into the cosmic fireball affectionately known as our Sun. If you wish to prepare for those types of events, I respectfully suggest that you continue your search for a more suitable text.
This book is designed to help your family prepare for more commonplace, yet still potentially deadly disasters. The list is long and varied, and includes hurricanes, tornados, terrorist attacks, earthquakes, pandemics, financial collapse, widespread blackouts, and much more. My hope is that this handbook will accomplish three things: (1) motivate you to become better prepared, (2) illustrate how to prepare effectively, and (3) help you to realize your place in a larger movement.
The 540-page handbook is clear and easy to read with dozens of photos, illustrations, and worksheets. What makes this book different is that it focuses on practical steps that you and your family can take to become better prepared. At the beginning of each chapter, is an example scenario designed to help you consider your current level of readiness. At the end, are brief lists of recommended supplies.
This handbook will help you to lay out a plan that includes assessing your family's needs, stocking supplies, shoring up your shelter, leveraging existing resources, mitigating potential hazards, and preparing for likely threats. At the end of your efforts, you will be rewarded with knowing that your family is far better prepared to handle real world challenges.
--From the Author (added by author)
Here's the link: http://www.amazon.com/Handbook-Practical-Disaster-Preparedness-Family/dp/1453678875/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1280251887&sr=8-1
Monday, July 26, 2010
2 Fabulous Resources
1)I just wanted to make everyone aware of a fabulous resource for preparedness information that is absolutely free, and worth much more than what you pay for it. It is a 222 page book entitled the LDS Preparedness Manual. It was made by LDS people primarily for LDS people, but is not endorsed by the church. (It isn't condemned by it, either; the church just didn't produce it.)
If you go here http://www.ldsavow.com/resources.html and scroll down to the bottom, you'll see the link to download it. If after going through it, you think you'd like to own a hard copy, you can order one for $8 + s/h here: http://www.abysmal.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=RAVOW&Product_Code=LDSPREP
"When ye are prepared, ye shall not fear." Fear not; be prepared!
2. I was just reminded about a website that I hadn't checked out lately, and I wanted to share it with you. It was put together by Debbie Kent, and preparedness guru down in California who has been giving classes in her area for a number of years. She also teaches at Education Week. I've shared with you some of her wonderful handouts over the years. You can find her website here: www.peaceofpreparedness.com, and you have seriously got to check this out. She has her video presentations on there, as well as the power points that go with them, so you can open up both windows and reduce them to be able to see them side by side as she goes along. (Don't you love Windows?) :)
With these two resources you will be well armed with the information you need to study to be well prepared, and to then go out and help those around you. Time is short. Let's get busy!
Make it a great day! :)
If you go here http://www.ldsavow.com/resources.html and scroll down to the bottom, you'll see the link to download it. If after going through it, you think you'd like to own a hard copy, you can order one for $8 + s/h here: http://www.abysmal.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=RAVOW&Product_Code=LDSPREP
"When ye are prepared, ye shall not fear." Fear not; be prepared!
2. I was just reminded about a website that I hadn't checked out lately, and I wanted to share it with you. It was put together by Debbie Kent, and preparedness guru down in California who has been giving classes in her area for a number of years. She also teaches at Education Week. I've shared with you some of her wonderful handouts over the years. You can find her website here: www.peaceofpreparedness.com, and you have seriously got to check this out. She has her video presentations on there, as well as the power points that go with them, so you can open up both windows and reduce them to be able to see them side by side as she goes along. (Don't you love Windows?) :)
With these two resources you will be well armed with the information you need to study to be well prepared, and to then go out and help those around you. Time is short. Let's get busy!
Make it a great day! :)
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
12 Ways to Sabotage Your Family's Preparedness Plan
by Carolyn Nicolayson
In a real emergency, no one is going to ride in and rescue us if the calamity involves the whole community. Government, church leaders, prophets, and emergency response organizations all tell us to prepare – and to expect that in the aftermath of a disaster we will be on our own for 72 hours at least, and possibly for days or weeks after that.
Coping with natural disasters is one thing – coping with a slow drain on our back-up reserves is another. Food storage and emergency preparations require planning, continuing education, and awareness of our changing needs. In this time of downsizing and economic disappointment, it is more urgent than ever before in our lifetime that we commit to self-reliance and stay on top of our family emergency plan. Don't be left wondering when that crisis comes, "what have I done?" Here are twelve ways we could sabotage our own best efforts.
1. Move too fast – that’s right, just go right ahead and jump into emergency preparedness – blow a thousand bucks on off-the-shelf solutions before you’ve educated yourself. Or… Slow down. Take the time to understand your needs. We are all planning for the same things: food, water, shelter, hygiene, sanitation, and medical needs. The challenges we are preparing for may differ. Some live in earthquake country, some in the path of hurricanes, some in tornado alley, some for ice storms or power outages. It really doesn't matter. The items we store will be the same, but with slightly different priorities and proportions. The knowledge we need to deal with such emergencies is a matter of awareness, study, and organization. Analyze what your family needs before you begin purchasing. Create a list, plan and budget for priorities before buying anything.
2. Look for the easy fix. They say in real estate it is location, location, location. In food storage it is variety, variety, variety. As you create a list of foods and supplies to store, remember that variety is key to maintaining a lifestyle as normal as possible. You can find many lists that will tell you to store X amount of oats for example, but what if your family hates oatmeal? Remember when you told your mom you loved barbecued potato chips and she put them in your lunch every day? Remember how, after a month, you traded them for a new taste?
Do not make the mistake of storing large amounts of specialty foods. You may enjoy these, but if you have others evacuating to your home they may not. Children may also rebel and refuse to eat. Instead of ending up with foods that are unfamiliar, plan to include a variety of foods.
3. Ignore nutritional needs. Or, think about Food Groups. When creating your shopping list be sure to incorporate all of the food groups into your plan. Each group provides a different nutritional need. You should design your list to include grains, proteins, fruits and vegetables, dairy, and fats. Again - remember variety - but this time think color. Fruits are not created equal. Orange fruits provide different nutrients than blue and purple fruits.
4. Fail to include non-food essentials. Cleaning supplies, toiletries, personal hygiene products, medications, pet needs, and sanitation needs are all essential for a successful storage plan, one that is truly self-reliant.
5. Ignore a sensible storage strategy. All foods, even grains in cans and dehydrated foods, should be stored in a cool, dark, and dry area of your home. Temperatures should remain at under 80 degrees on the worst days, and hopefully below 70 degrees for optimal storage. Create new names for the areas of your home to break the mindset that you have become used to. The coat closet can be renamed the grain pantry. The linen closet can be thought of as the toiletries and medications cupboard. There is no law that declares a home must have a coat closet by the front door, though it is nice to have one, It is also nice to protect your preparedness investment. In a few minutes, you can add a few shelves and make storage spaces much more valuable areas of your home. It may take a few more minutes to grab a coat from your bedroom closet, but it might just be worth the effort.
6. Overlook comfort items. Yes - chocolate, candy, and popcorn all have their place in a good, well constructed food storage plan. Did you know popcorn is also the corn you will want on hand to grind for corn meal? Real popcorn, not the microwave variety.
During a time of stress, comfort foods can provide the catalyst that transforms kids from whiners to helpers. This is a chance to continue family food traditions in a crisis. Birthdays come even during difficult times, and a birthday cake can really lift the spirits.
7. Overdo it! Whether you purchase all at once or create a weekly budget and purchase over time, never purchase too much of just one food group. Always spread your money between all the groups and if you are on a limited budget get a one day supply of everything, then a one week, them a one month and so on. Three hundred pounds of wheat it not going to be satisfactory if that emergency arrives before you add the peanut butter and jelly to make the sandwiches.
8. Underestimate the value of water. Water is often the overlooked or under planned element in a preparedness plan. When designing your plan be aware that dehydrated and freeze dries foods need extra water to reconstitute and prepare. Remember, you need water for drinking, flushing, cleaning, laundry and cooking. Don't forget pets are family members too and need to be counted when calculating how much water to store.
Often overlooked sources of liquids are the canned fruits and vegetables you should be storing and this is precisely the reason for storing them instead of the dried varieties. Additionally, you already know how to use them and the kids are used to their taste and texture.
9. Put your storage in the basement and forget it! Or, you might consider the importance of rotating your food and other supplies on a regular basis. This is by far the biggest mistake most people make. They run out and purchase food storage and it is not what they are accustomed to eating, therefore, they do not cook with it and they do not rotate it. What they do after a few years, is throw it away. You must rotate your food storage, medical supplies and even cleaning supplies. All have a shelf life.
10. Who needs dates and labels, anyway? When you purchase foods, label them with the month and year purchased on top of the can. This will insure you are always using the oldest first. Canned goods do not lose nutritional value for at least two years after the expiration date so you will have at least two years from date of purchase to rotate through your three month supply.
11. Lose track of what you have. Create an inventory system so you can keep track of what you are storing. Design a spread sheet or get out the good old paper and pencil and record what you have so you know what you still need. Once you have completed your three month supply of the foods you eat this can be as simple as a paper on the fridge where you record items each time you use them up so you know how many you need to purchase to maintain your supply at the three month level.
12. Put it all under the bed. If you have a natural disaster strike your home some rooms may be destroyed while others are untouched. If you have spread out your storage you may be able to salvage at least part of your supplies. Thinking a little more negatively, should someone enter your home with the intent to steal, they may find some of your stash and be satisfied and leave. Or, if you take a needy stranger to one area of your storage with the intent of sharing, they can take what they need while the rest will remain safely unnoticed, just in case they discuss your generosity with others who are not so trustworthy.
Once aware of these twelve preparedness hazards, we can avoid these common stumbling blocks and keep our family storage plan on track, in balance, and ready for whatever may come our way. It’s all in the way we plan, budget, organize, and keep track of our best efforts and intentions to prepare and be self-reliant.
Follow Carolyn's preparedness and food storage tips at: http://blog.TotallyReady.com
Source: http://ldsmag.com/emergency/100720plan.html
In a real emergency, no one is going to ride in and rescue us if the calamity involves the whole community. Government, church leaders, prophets, and emergency response organizations all tell us to prepare – and to expect that in the aftermath of a disaster we will be on our own for 72 hours at least, and possibly for days or weeks after that.
Coping with natural disasters is one thing – coping with a slow drain on our back-up reserves is another. Food storage and emergency preparations require planning, continuing education, and awareness of our changing needs. In this time of downsizing and economic disappointment, it is more urgent than ever before in our lifetime that we commit to self-reliance and stay on top of our family emergency plan. Don't be left wondering when that crisis comes, "what have I done?" Here are twelve ways we could sabotage our own best efforts.
1. Move too fast – that’s right, just go right ahead and jump into emergency preparedness – blow a thousand bucks on off-the-shelf solutions before you’ve educated yourself. Or… Slow down. Take the time to understand your needs. We are all planning for the same things: food, water, shelter, hygiene, sanitation, and medical needs. The challenges we are preparing for may differ. Some live in earthquake country, some in the path of hurricanes, some in tornado alley, some for ice storms or power outages. It really doesn't matter. The items we store will be the same, but with slightly different priorities and proportions. The knowledge we need to deal with such emergencies is a matter of awareness, study, and organization. Analyze what your family needs before you begin purchasing. Create a list, plan and budget for priorities before buying anything.
2. Look for the easy fix. They say in real estate it is location, location, location. In food storage it is variety, variety, variety. As you create a list of foods and supplies to store, remember that variety is key to maintaining a lifestyle as normal as possible. You can find many lists that will tell you to store X amount of oats for example, but what if your family hates oatmeal? Remember when you told your mom you loved barbecued potato chips and she put them in your lunch every day? Remember how, after a month, you traded them for a new taste?
Do not make the mistake of storing large amounts of specialty foods. You may enjoy these, but if you have others evacuating to your home they may not. Children may also rebel and refuse to eat. Instead of ending up with foods that are unfamiliar, plan to include a variety of foods.
3. Ignore nutritional needs. Or, think about Food Groups. When creating your shopping list be sure to incorporate all of the food groups into your plan. Each group provides a different nutritional need. You should design your list to include grains, proteins, fruits and vegetables, dairy, and fats. Again - remember variety - but this time think color. Fruits are not created equal. Orange fruits provide different nutrients than blue and purple fruits.
4. Fail to include non-food essentials. Cleaning supplies, toiletries, personal hygiene products, medications, pet needs, and sanitation needs are all essential for a successful storage plan, one that is truly self-reliant.
5. Ignore a sensible storage strategy. All foods, even grains in cans and dehydrated foods, should be stored in a cool, dark, and dry area of your home. Temperatures should remain at under 80 degrees on the worst days, and hopefully below 70 degrees for optimal storage. Create new names for the areas of your home to break the mindset that you have become used to. The coat closet can be renamed the grain pantry. The linen closet can be thought of as the toiletries and medications cupboard. There is no law that declares a home must have a coat closet by the front door, though it is nice to have one, It is also nice to protect your preparedness investment. In a few minutes, you can add a few shelves and make storage spaces much more valuable areas of your home. It may take a few more minutes to grab a coat from your bedroom closet, but it might just be worth the effort.
6. Overlook comfort items. Yes - chocolate, candy, and popcorn all have their place in a good, well constructed food storage plan. Did you know popcorn is also the corn you will want on hand to grind for corn meal? Real popcorn, not the microwave variety.
During a time of stress, comfort foods can provide the catalyst that transforms kids from whiners to helpers. This is a chance to continue family food traditions in a crisis. Birthdays come even during difficult times, and a birthday cake can really lift the spirits.
7. Overdo it! Whether you purchase all at once or create a weekly budget and purchase over time, never purchase too much of just one food group. Always spread your money between all the groups and if you are on a limited budget get a one day supply of everything, then a one week, them a one month and so on. Three hundred pounds of wheat it not going to be satisfactory if that emergency arrives before you add the peanut butter and jelly to make the sandwiches.
8. Underestimate the value of water. Water is often the overlooked or under planned element in a preparedness plan. When designing your plan be aware that dehydrated and freeze dries foods need extra water to reconstitute and prepare. Remember, you need water for drinking, flushing, cleaning, laundry and cooking. Don't forget pets are family members too and need to be counted when calculating how much water to store.
Often overlooked sources of liquids are the canned fruits and vegetables you should be storing and this is precisely the reason for storing them instead of the dried varieties. Additionally, you already know how to use them and the kids are used to their taste and texture.
9. Put your storage in the basement and forget it! Or, you might consider the importance of rotating your food and other supplies on a regular basis. This is by far the biggest mistake most people make. They run out and purchase food storage and it is not what they are accustomed to eating, therefore, they do not cook with it and they do not rotate it. What they do after a few years, is throw it away. You must rotate your food storage, medical supplies and even cleaning supplies. All have a shelf life.
10. Who needs dates and labels, anyway? When you purchase foods, label them with the month and year purchased on top of the can. This will insure you are always using the oldest first. Canned goods do not lose nutritional value for at least two years after the expiration date so you will have at least two years from date of purchase to rotate through your three month supply.
11. Lose track of what you have. Create an inventory system so you can keep track of what you are storing. Design a spread sheet or get out the good old paper and pencil and record what you have so you know what you still need. Once you have completed your three month supply of the foods you eat this can be as simple as a paper on the fridge where you record items each time you use them up so you know how many you need to purchase to maintain your supply at the three month level.
12. Put it all under the bed. If you have a natural disaster strike your home some rooms may be destroyed while others are untouched. If you have spread out your storage you may be able to salvage at least part of your supplies. Thinking a little more negatively, should someone enter your home with the intent to steal, they may find some of your stash and be satisfied and leave. Or, if you take a needy stranger to one area of your storage with the intent of sharing, they can take what they need while the rest will remain safely unnoticed, just in case they discuss your generosity with others who are not so trustworthy.
Once aware of these twelve preparedness hazards, we can avoid these common stumbling blocks and keep our family storage plan on track, in balance, and ready for whatever may come our way. It’s all in the way we plan, budget, organize, and keep track of our best efforts and intentions to prepare and be self-reliant.
Follow Carolyn's preparedness and food storage tips at: http://blog.TotallyReady.com
Source: http://ldsmag.com/emergency/100720plan.html
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Video Series #1: Water Storage
This is our first video in our preparedness series. We hope to do many more, improving as we go along. In this one, I wanted to showcase the boxed water kit, my absolute, all time favorite method for storing water.
Link to see the boxed water storage kit, now on sale at Emergency Essentials:
http://beprepared.com/product.asp_Q_pn_E_KW%20S100_A_name_E_Basic%2025%20Gallon%20Boxed%20Water%20Kit
Link to see the boxed water storage kit, now on sale at Emergency Essentials:
http://beprepared.com/product.asp_Q_pn_E_KW%20S100_A_name_E_Basic%2025%20Gallon%20Boxed%20Water%20Kit
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Water Purification
For awhile, I tried storing bottles of chlorine bleach to have on hand for water purification. Then, when IT kept not happening, and the years kept going by, and the bottles started to leak, I looked around to see if there were other alternatives. Thankfully, there is one that seems to make really good sense. Today I came across an article which talks about it. Read the article, then stay tuned for a few follow up comments at the end.
Hold the Chlorine
by Aaron Mackley
Anyone who has been working on emergency preparedness for very long knows he has to acquire an adequate amount of water. We publish a lot of information in this Water Purification series. You are probably already familiar that you should have a minimum of 1 gallon of water per person per day for two weeks. Or 14-gallons per person in your household. But that’s a minimum.
And you have probably learned how to use two drops of household bleach per quart or liter of water. You know to stir it in and then let it sit for 30 minutes. And of course, you are probably quite aware that you should filter your water BEFORE you try to purify it. See our water filter here and our other videos in the series.
But wait. The household bleach is only good if it is fresh. Clorox or other unscented household bleach will begin to lose its potency after only 6 months. It will degrade 20% each year until is is totally degraded to salt and water. That won’t purify your water.
How long has your bleach been waiting?
There is a better solution.
Use Calcium Hypochlorite to Disinfect Water.
Calcium hypochlorite is a very effective disinfectant for water. It will destroy a variety of disease causing organisms including bacteria, yeast, fungus, spores, and viruses. It is better than household bleach by a long shot because it retains its potency. A 1 lb bag of calcium hypochlorite will treat up to 10,000 gallons of drinking water.
What is Calcium Hypochlorite?
Calcium Hypochlorite is commonly known as “pool shock.” You can get it at any swimming pool supply store.
How to Disinfect Water Using Calcium Hyprochlorite
Before disinfecting any water, regardless of the method, you should always clarify the water through a filter. We recommend that you build a water purification kit and include one (plus a backup) 1-micron industrial filter bag. Pazumpa.com buys these filters from industrial suppliers and makes them available to buy one or more at a time.
After you clarify (filter) your water, disinfecting the water is a two step process:
1. 1) Making the chlorine solution.
2. 2) Using the correct amount of chlorine solution to disinfect the water.
Step 1: Making the chlorine solution.
* Remember. This step makes the solution. This is not to drink. To make your supply of chlorine solution, dissolve 1 teaspoon of high-test (78%) granular calcium hypochlorite for EACH two gallons of water.
* This solution is comparable to bleach. This is the solution you will use to add to water.
Step 2: Disinfect the water.
* This solution requires one part chlorine solution to 100 parts water to be treated.
* Stir in the solution.
* Let the solution stand for an hour.
* 1 part solution to 100 parts water
A 55 gallon drum of water would require 1/2 gallon of chlorine solution. [Also, for other uses, you would put about 2 1/2 T. of chlorine solution per gallon.]
Some other things to know.
1) It is best to make only as much chlorine solution as you will need. Remember, the crystals will retain their potency. The liquid solution will not.
2) The industrial filter bag will filter thousands of gallons of water. Likewise, the calcium hypochlorite solution will also disinfect thousands of gallons of water. Together, they can remain a viable water purification solution.
3) Once you have purified your water, you may want to pour the water back and forth between clean buckets or containers. This will allow the chlorine to evaporate and the chlorine taste will disappear. It will also aerate the water which helps the taste.
4) It is best to make only as much chlorine solution as you will need.
Source: http://www.pazumpa.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=782&utm_source=getresponse&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Hold%20the%20Bleach!%20plus%202%20Gun%20Rights%20Articles.&utm_campaign=pazumpa
[End of article]
One thing I have read, is that the container of hypochlorite granules emits something out into the air that can affect certain things within close proximity. You might want to put it in a bag, and then put the bag in a box for storage. I'll look for the specifics of that, and post them here when I find them. This is so much more convenient that trying to store bottles of bleach. Just go the pool & spa store and pick up a container. I actually typed up the instructions and put them on a paper that I taped to the outside of the container, so I'll have them when I need them. As long as I can remember where I put the container, whenever it is I need it, I'll be in good shape.
[Later. . .]
Okay, I found the information on storing the stuff. Here it is:
Liquid chlorine bleach, however, is inconvenient to store. Only about 5.25% - 7.5% of each eight pound gallon is active sodium (or calcium) hypochlorite; the rest is just water. Yet because of the potency of its active ingredient, and the flimsiness of typical plastic bleach bottles, it poses a constant risk to everything stored near it.
One potential solution is to store concentrated dry chlorine granules; commonly available as swimming pool shock treatment. Available in a wide variety of sizes, swimming pool shock treatment typically contains from 50% - 60% active calcium hypochlorite, making it much lighter in weight and 10 times as concentrated as liquid bleach, but not susceptible to spilling and leaking risks. Theoretically, it should be possible to make your own chlorine bleach by simply combining the proper amount of water and dry granules.
I quickly discovered, however, that storing dry chlorine poses hazards of its own. Initially, I purchased two 1 pound plastic bags of swimming pool shock treatment and stored them in a small closet along with a variety of other preparedness items. The granules generated a strong chlorine smell in the closet, but when access was needed, opening the door for a minute or two would reduce the small to a tolerable level.
About a year later, however, I went to reorganize the closet, and was startled to find many things badly corroded by fumes from the granules. Several storage tins were badly rusted, some 200-hour emergency candles in tins were nearly rusted clear through, and the steel ends of some batteries were also corroded.
Surprisingly, even some lightweight cardboard boxes were so badly degraded that they virtually disintegrated when handled, and a 10-page document (about emergency water) which had been printed on our computer's inkjet printer was virtually erased!
To combat these problems, I bought a fresh supply of (HTH brand $3.35/lb. at Wal-Mart) chlorine granules and stored them in an all-glass canister with a glass top, rubber ring, and spring wire snap latch ($4.44 at Wal-Mart) . That has solved my storage problem.
Source: This came from an article on survivalblog.com several years ago.
Hold the Chlorine
by Aaron Mackley
Anyone who has been working on emergency preparedness for very long knows he has to acquire an adequate amount of water. We publish a lot of information in this Water Purification series. You are probably already familiar that you should have a minimum of 1 gallon of water per person per day for two weeks. Or 14-gallons per person in your household. But that’s a minimum.
And you have probably learned how to use two drops of household bleach per quart or liter of water. You know to stir it in and then let it sit for 30 minutes. And of course, you are probably quite aware that you should filter your water BEFORE you try to purify it. See our water filter here and our other videos in the series.
But wait. The household bleach is only good if it is fresh. Clorox or other unscented household bleach will begin to lose its potency after only 6 months. It will degrade 20% each year until is is totally degraded to salt and water. That won’t purify your water.
How long has your bleach been waiting?
There is a better solution.
Use Calcium Hypochlorite to Disinfect Water.
Calcium hypochlorite is a very effective disinfectant for water. It will destroy a variety of disease causing organisms including bacteria, yeast, fungus, spores, and viruses. It is better than household bleach by a long shot because it retains its potency. A 1 lb bag of calcium hypochlorite will treat up to 10,000 gallons of drinking water.
What is Calcium Hypochlorite?
Calcium Hypochlorite is commonly known as “pool shock.” You can get it at any swimming pool supply store.
How to Disinfect Water Using Calcium Hyprochlorite
Before disinfecting any water, regardless of the method, you should always clarify the water through a filter. We recommend that you build a water purification kit and include one (plus a backup) 1-micron industrial filter bag. Pazumpa.com buys these filters from industrial suppliers and makes them available to buy one or more at a time.
After you clarify (filter) your water, disinfecting the water is a two step process:
1. 1) Making the chlorine solution.
2. 2) Using the correct amount of chlorine solution to disinfect the water.
Step 1: Making the chlorine solution.
* Remember. This step makes the solution. This is not to drink. To make your supply of chlorine solution, dissolve 1 teaspoon of high-test (78%) granular calcium hypochlorite for EACH two gallons of water.
* This solution is comparable to bleach. This is the solution you will use to add to water.
Step 2: Disinfect the water.
* This solution requires one part chlorine solution to 100 parts water to be treated.
* Stir in the solution.
* Let the solution stand for an hour.
* 1 part solution to 100 parts water
A 55 gallon drum of water would require 1/2 gallon of chlorine solution. [Also, for other uses, you would put about 2 1/2 T. of chlorine solution per gallon.]
Some other things to know.
1) It is best to make only as much chlorine solution as you will need. Remember, the crystals will retain their potency. The liquid solution will not.
2) The industrial filter bag will filter thousands of gallons of water. Likewise, the calcium hypochlorite solution will also disinfect thousands of gallons of water. Together, they can remain a viable water purification solution.
3) Once you have purified your water, you may want to pour the water back and forth between clean buckets or containers. This will allow the chlorine to evaporate and the chlorine taste will disappear. It will also aerate the water which helps the taste.
4) It is best to make only as much chlorine solution as you will need.
Source: http://www.pazumpa.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=782&utm_source=getresponse&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Hold%20the%20Bleach!%20plus%202%20Gun%20Rights%20Articles.&utm_campaign=pazumpa
[End of article]
One thing I have read, is that the container of hypochlorite granules emits something out into the air that can affect certain things within close proximity. You might want to put it in a bag, and then put the bag in a box for storage. I'll look for the specifics of that, and post them here when I find them. This is so much more convenient that trying to store bottles of bleach. Just go the pool & spa store and pick up a container. I actually typed up the instructions and put them on a paper that I taped to the outside of the container, so I'll have them when I need them. As long as I can remember where I put the container, whenever it is I need it, I'll be in good shape.
[Later. . .]
Okay, I found the information on storing the stuff. Here it is:
Liquid chlorine bleach, however, is inconvenient to store. Only about 5.25% - 7.5% of each eight pound gallon is active sodium (or calcium) hypochlorite; the rest is just water. Yet because of the potency of its active ingredient, and the flimsiness of typical plastic bleach bottles, it poses a constant risk to everything stored near it.
One potential solution is to store concentrated dry chlorine granules; commonly available as swimming pool shock treatment. Available in a wide variety of sizes, swimming pool shock treatment typically contains from 50% - 60% active calcium hypochlorite, making it much lighter in weight and 10 times as concentrated as liquid bleach, but not susceptible to spilling and leaking risks. Theoretically, it should be possible to make your own chlorine bleach by simply combining the proper amount of water and dry granules.
I quickly discovered, however, that storing dry chlorine poses hazards of its own. Initially, I purchased two 1 pound plastic bags of swimming pool shock treatment and stored them in a small closet along with a variety of other preparedness items. The granules generated a strong chlorine smell in the closet, but when access was needed, opening the door for a minute or two would reduce the small to a tolerable level.
About a year later, however, I went to reorganize the closet, and was startled to find many things badly corroded by fumes from the granules. Several storage tins were badly rusted, some 200-hour emergency candles in tins were nearly rusted clear through, and the steel ends of some batteries were also corroded.
Surprisingly, even some lightweight cardboard boxes were so badly degraded that they virtually disintegrated when handled, and a 10-page document (about emergency water) which had been printed on our computer's inkjet printer was virtually erased!
To combat these problems, I bought a fresh supply of (HTH brand $3.35/lb. at Wal-Mart) chlorine granules and stored them in an all-glass canister with a glass top, rubber ring, and spring wire snap latch ($4.44 at Wal-Mart) . That has solved my storage problem.
Source: This came from an article on survivalblog.com several years ago.
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