Emergency Kits & Plans for Kids

Are You Prepared for an Emergency?

This is a fabulous, well-worth-your-time read on Parents.com.  The post was written by Wendy Sue Swanson, a pediatrician mother who describes her emergency kits and plans for her kids.  She has a lot of great ideas.

I thought her idea of writing a letter to her son (to keep on file at his school in case of an emergency), was particularly smart.  She included it on page three of the article.

Here is the direct link:  http://www.parents.com/parenting/better-parenting/advice/emergency-preparedness/


More on kids & preparedness:
School Preparedness - http://iprepared.blogspot.com/2009/01/school-preparedness.html
Family Home Evening on Emergency Preparedness - http://iprepared.blogspot.com/2009/09/family-home-evening-earthquake-scenario.html

72-Hour Kit Risk Assessment

For some reason when talking about 72-hour kits, most people seem to imagine themselves running with their family and kits into the mountains or surrounding areas. However, when I tried to think through our own actual risks, I couldn't imagine a single situation where running with a kit would be necessary.

During an earthquake, I wouldn't want anyone running anywhere. Afterwards, we would proceed carefully to retrieve our kits. During an approaching wildfire or hurricane, you would just need quick access to your kits in order to move them into the car for evacuation. Short of a war-type situation, I just can't see any reason that you would be running long-term with your kits. In a raging fire, tsunami, mud slide or tornado, you wouldn't even want to delay an extra second to grab a kit. In those cases, you just get out of the way as fast as possible.

I recommend that you do a risk assessment to help you plan what to put into your 72-hour kits?  When you know your most likely emergency situations, you can include items customized for those moments.  For example, here is an assessment of risks for our family (you can use the same list to evaluate needs for your family which will likely be different):

Tsunami - No risk

Hurricane - No risk where we live.

Volcano - No risk.

Mud slide - No risk.

Riots - Low risk.

War - Low risk. Evacuate to extended family outside of state/country.

Terrorism - Low risk.

Tornado - Little risk where we live (shelter in basement if needed).

Flood - No risk where we live. Possible risk for interior flooding. Would stay with extended family.

Nuclear - Evacuation unlikely as there are few escape routes available and they are likely to be jammed. Safer to shelter in home.

Fire - High risk. Speedy evacuation required. If required, we would evacuate to stay with family. Biggest needs: Change of clothes, underwear, credit cards, cash, etc.

Earthquake - High risk. Speedy evacuation may be required if there are gas leaks and/or fires. Three possible evacuation locations. Stay with extended family if they are not affected. Even in large earthquake, we would likely be able to access our supplies in our home (though it may have significant damage). Husband and sons would likely be involved in clean up and rescue. Biggest needs: Shelter, food, clothing, tools.


My family's biggest risks are fire and earthquake. I try to make my 72 hour kit reflect those most-likely situations.

In a fire situation, we will still have easy access to food and shelter. I know I'd want something to wear that I felt comfortable in (not cut-off sweats) as we would likely be assessing damage and cleaning up in the next few days.

Customized 72 hour kit: includes comfortable clothing and underwear. Cash and/or credit card.

In an earthquake scenario, I realize that most earthquakes have damage limited to a specific area. It is likely that our extended family would be able to come and get us if needed, but that might take some time. Our home is earthquake-prepared as it has been fastened to the foundation and is wood construction with limited masonry. Even in a worst-case earthquake, we would likely be able to use our home as a shelter. However, there are accompanying risks of gas leaks and fire. Those would require full evacuation. In that situation, we would likely end up in a shelter if available (which might take a day or so to locate) or in a field below our home. More likely, though, we would shelter in our home or yard.

Customized 72 hour kit: Food that is calorie rich so that we have the energy to help with rescues and evacuations, food that is familiar to the kids, clothing that is comfortable for work, gloves, tools including a crow bar, flashlights, whistles, cash, tarps, communication, radio, etc. We also need cold-weather gear located in an easily accessible space.  These kits don't have to be light as I don't anticipate that we would be walking far enough that we couldn't return and get more.

Customized Extra kit: For my husband which he keeps at work. My main thoughts are that he would likely be walking home. His kit ideally reflects that specific need and would include 1 days worth of food, spare shoes, flashlight, cold-weather supplies and minimal shelter. His kit needs to be light-weight.  We keep similar kits in each of our cars.


What are your family's biggest risks?  How can you customize your 72-hour kits to be ready for those situations?

Hurricane Preparedness

Photo Source: Wikipedia

15 years ago, our family moved into a small 540-square-foot summer cottage on Long Island, NY.  We lived just two blocks from the ocean for several years.  Both my husband and I had grown up in western states with snow storms, heat waves and earthquakes, but neither of us knew anything about hurricane preparation. 

I remember hearing warnings about an incoming hurricane that first weekend after we arrived.  We inquired at church about how we should prepare.  The response was to tie down the garbage cans and bring in any lawn furniture.  That was good advice, but there was so much more we should have done.  The hurricane, though it was a direct hit, had lost strength and was luckily a tropical storm as it passed overhead. 

We had several other hurricanes come close that year.  In 1999, we were still in the same place on the east coast when Hurricane Floyd hit and caused widespread flooding in our area.  By then, though, we had learned a little more about hurricane preparation and were less nervous and more prepared than that first year.

As we watch Irene approach the east coast again this year, I thought I would review several principles of hurricane preparedness:


1. Develop a Family Plan.
Discuss your home's vulnerability to flooding, wind and storm surge.  Designate a safe room within the home.  Decide on an evacuation plan.  Determine an out of state contact.  Check up on your home insurance to determine if you have flood coverage.

2. Create an Disaster Supply Kit.
Keep a supply of food, batteries, flashlights, water, medications, cash and other necessities on hand.  Make sure you have a radio that you can use to get up-to-date information if the power is out.  Keep your cars fueled. 

3. Have a Place to Go.
Evacuate quickly if you are asked to do so.  The longer you wait to leave, the more difficult it will be to get out.  Choose an evacuation destination with friends/family or at a hotel.  Your first choice should be as close as possible.  If you have to evacuate farther away, be prepared for long waits on roadways.  Fill your car up with gas prior to leaving.  If you go to a hotel, call ahead for reservations.  Choose a shelter only if you don't have other options available because they will be full, uncomfortable and may not accept pets.

4. Secure Your Home.
Get flood insurance if needed.  Protect and reinforce your home as described on the NOAA site.  Turn off utilities if instructed.  Turn off propane tanks. 

5. Have a Pet Plan.
Make sure your pets are current on their vaccinations.  Use identification collars and appropriate carrying containers.  Prepare a pet disaster kit including vaccination records, medications, food and water.  Locate possible pet sheltering locations beforehand.


I found this information on the NOAA site (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration).  This is a fabulous site if you want more information.

More sources:
FEMA
Red Cross

Toilet Troubles (second of two parts)

Portaloos line the streets after the earthquake last September in Kaiapoi, New Zealand. (source unknown)

For sanitation in temporary emergency situations, a chemical (portable) toilet is the easiest to store and set up. Portable toilets are easy to store, but require disposal. If there won't be any entity helping with waste disposal, a longer-term solution of digging a latrine might be a better option.


Chemical Toilet
A chemical toilet is one that utilizes different chemicals to deal with the smells and disinfect your waste. Portaloos (portapotties), RV toilets, airplane toilets, and portable toilets work this way. You can turn an existing toilet into a chemical toilet by emptying the water and inserting a plastic bag inside the bowl. In it's simplest form, a bucket with a trash liner can also be used to create a chemical toilet. Two boards placed parallel to each other can create a more-comfortable, make-shift seat. 

After using the facilities, commercially-available chemical packets, or home-stored chemicals such as baking soda, lime, or bleach are added to the toilet bag to maintain sanitation. The American Red Cross recommends that you "pour or sprinkle a small amount of regular household disinfectant, such as creosol or chlorine bleach, into the container to reduce odors and germs."4

You can buy portable toilet kits which just include a bag and chemical packets. Other kits include the seat and/or stand. Some even "flush" into a lower chamber to reduce smell. The downside of a chemical toilet is that waste still needs to be disposed.

Many sites recommend disposing waste in an outdoor container until your local governments collect it. If you feel that a quick response is reasonable, then store an extra trash container with a tight fitting lid to be used for this short-term disposal. In a situation where collections might not be soon available, official emergency sources recommend that you "bury garbage and human waste to avoid the spread of disease by rats and insects. Dig a pit 2 to 3 feet deep and at least 50 feet downhill or away from any well, spring or water supply."5

Store: Bucket, lid/seat (or other configuration), garbage-can bags, chemicals.
Pros: Easy and readily available.
Cons: Waste still has to be disposed.


Latrine
If you find yourself without toilet facilities for a longer period of time, you might consider digging a latrine (privy or outhouse). In reality, people have lived without sewer systems much longer than they have lived with them. It's not been so long since digging a hole for an outhouse was the norm.

The big concern in latrine construction is fresh water contamination. It is essential that toilet facilities be placed where they will not contaminate ground water, fresh water wells, or streams. 50 feet from homes or water sources is a widely cited distance for location of toilet waste. Some areas have high ground water and require that outhouse facilities be located elsewhere in order to protect drinking water.

An adequate hole for a privy would be about five feet deep (which gives you about five years worth of sanitation disposal depending upon use).6 Sources vary in their suggestions of depth from as little as four feet to as much as 15 feet (larger depths require reinforcing the walls to eliminate the risk of cave-in). After digging a hole, a board with a hole cut in the middle can be placed on top to cover the pit. Your privy would be usable at this point, but probably not comfortable. You can add an elevated box or a chair with a hole cut into the seat to make sitting more comfortable. A hollowed bucket with two boards on top would be better than nothing.

At this point, you would also need to address the smell. Whatever construction method you use, it is important to have a lid of some kind to close off the pit which would help to contain the smell. An outhouse can utilize a built-in vent pipe to reduce the build-up of methane gas and disperse the smell into the air. Flies are attracted to the smell and can cause the spread of disease. If you use a venting pipe, make sure to add a screen on top to reduce access to flies and other insects. Fly paper placed inside the facility would also reduce the flies somewhat.

Privacy is a huge issue with outdoor toilet use. There are pop-up tents available for this purpose. A regular tent or even a tarp could also be modified to give privacy. Because a latrine is located outside, weather considerations are important as you build your new facility. Tents and tarps will have to be anchored to ensure resistant to winds, rain and/or snow. If you have the resources to build a permanent wooden facility, weather would be less of a concern.

Store: Shovels, pick-ax, large piece of wood to cover the pit, bucket (or other seat), tent/tarp/wood for privacy.
Pros: Waste is disposed as part of the design. No need for additional chemicals.
Cons: Requires time to set up/dig, usually smelly, cold/hot and uncomfortable.


Important!
Make sure that you also store sanitizer, sanitary pads (dispose separately), and septic-safe toilet paper in addition to any other supplies for your toilet.


Click here to go to Toilet Troubles (part one).


Sources:
1 - Christchurch earthquake: Survival in the suburbs
2 - Strangers brought together by quake stories
3 - Christchurch earthquake: Many face weeks of temporary toilets
4 - American Red Cross - Emergency Sanitation
5 - University of Florida - Emergency Sanitation
6 - How to build a latrine

Toilet Troubles (first of two parts)

A portaloo decorated by residents in the suburb of Sumner in Christchurch.
Photo / Getty Images

Yesterday I read an article by David Fisher in the New Zealand Herald describing declining conditions in Christchurch, New  Zealand suburbs after the 6.3 earthquake that hit that area almost two weeks ago.  The surprise?  The decline doesn't seem to result from a lack of food or shelter or even from untreated injuries or damage from the earthquake.  The cause?  A lack of toilets.

From the article:

Tears flowing down his cheeks, burly Canterbury mechanic Keith Mackie was trying to explain that life's basic necessities have been forgotten. . .  "We didn't complain. We just suck it in. After nine days we got a chemical toilet. I had to empty the chemical toilet this morning . . ."  The nearest Port-a-Loo - a decent walk away - was filled to overflowing.  Mr Mackie, retching, drove around trying to find another one into which he could empty his chemical toilet. Again and again, he found the same problem. "I've seen a lot in my life, but this takes the cake."

. . . St Heliers Cres resident Kevin Guy said the lack of toilets and housing threatened to send the disaster out of control. "People will die of this."  He said elderly residents in his street tried to go to the toilet outside in yesterday morning's rain.  "I live near a woman in her 70s who broke down crying, too embarrassed to go to the toilet in a bucket."

Another woman who would not be named said the focus on the central city had ignored thousands of people who were living in squalid conditions.  "The dead people are important but they don't need to go to the toilet. I do."1

Reports reference the planned distribution of 7,000 chemical toilets and more than 1200 portaloos.6  Prime Minister John Keys was quoted as saying, "I think pretty much every portaloo in Australasia is on its way."2   In the meantime, individuals have resorted to stealing portaloos and moving them from areas that they perceived as having plenty.  Kerre Woodham from the Daily Herald quipped that it was "The Battle of Portaloo."5

In the end, even with significant distribution of toilet facilities, there isn't enough (or enough upkeep) to meet the sanitation needs of the 300,000 people impacted by this earthquake.  Sewer lines have been severed and/or overwhelmed by liquefaction.  There is no short-term fix.  Lines are "still some way from repair".6  This is all made even worse by the lack of running water in more than 20% of the city.  Unfortunately in the meantime, overflowing toilets and the resulting lack of sanitation can ultimately lead to sickness and potentially death. 

Knowing how to address your own sanitation needs could be an essential skill for many different emergency situations.  Unfortunately, it isn't as simple as just digging a hole.  Stay tuned for the second part of this article where we'll address ways to plan to take care of your own waste and sanitation needs.


Click here to go to Toilet Troubles (part two).


Sources:
1 - Christchurch earthquake:  A new living hell
2 - Key visits hard-hit eastern suburbs
3 - Quake to cost insurers up to $16b
4 - Christchurch earthquake: Latest updates
5 - The best of human nature
6 - Christchurch earthquake: Many face weeks of temporary toilets

Grab-N-Go List (partial repost)

There have been a lot of fires here in the Western United States lately, including one not too many miles from my home this past week. Thousands of homes have been evacuated with little notice. I've read story after story about families not knowing what to save as they rush to leave their homes in order to be safe.

Today, I'm reposting a portion of a previous post on prioritized evacuation lists because it might be on your mind right now. It's worth a few minutes to make your own list now. It's tough to remember where things are and what you want to take when you're in a panic.

Please make sure to personalize your list. You'll want to locate copies of your list in multiple locations. Hang a list on your fridge and near each door for easy access.


Sample Grab-N-Go List:

Two Minutes:
Kids
Keys
Purse (check for cell phone)
Tennis shoes
Jacket/coat
Car

Five Minutes:
72-Hour Kits (hooks in garage)
Extra food kit (under coats in mud-room)
Bottled water (car trunks)
Both cars (pull out into driveway)
Vital Info Folder (includes birth certificates, insurance policies, etc.)
Cell phone chargers
Dad's medication
Additional cash

Ten Minutes:
[From this point on my list, I've included two columns under each time amount. The first column are survival items, the second column includes possessions that I want to save.]
Additional clothing (fill suitcases/bags with clothing as if packing for a trip)
Blankets (linen closet & beds)
Additional food (pantry)
******
Scrapbooks (office shelves)
Scrapbook bins (office closet)
Journals (office shelves)
Boys' journals (bedrooms)
Camera/video camera (M/D closet)
Family videos (M/D closet & entertainment center)

Twenty Minutes:
Flashlights/lanterns (basement)
Batteries
Tent (under stairs)
Radio (basement)
Camp stove (basement)
Larger water Bottles (basement)
Sleeping bags (under stairs)
********
Mom's portrait (over the piano)
Computer hard drive (pictures are already backed-up online)
Family pictures (on walls - already have digital backups)

One hour or more:
Portable Potty
Food storage
Air mattress
Shovels
Saw
*********
Dad's published books (office shelves)
Musical instruments
Contents of cedar-chest
Quilts


Some things that aren't on my personal list, but that you'll want to consider:
First-aid supplies (I've already included them in both my cars and our 72-hour kits)
Scriptures (also already in our 72-hour kits)
Pets and pet supplies
Medications
Fuel & generators
Eye glasses/contacts
Jewelry

For more information on creating your personal list, see a more complete post here: Prioritized Evacuation List.

Fall Reminders

My kids have already headed back to school. My home is much more quiet and clean. You might find yourself with more time to address preparedness. Here are several suggestions for renewed efforts:

1) Keep working on your three-month supply.

You can use the iPrepared worksheet for a one-week supply or some other source. Resolve to at least make a menu this fall. It's so easy to drop a one-week supply menu into your purse or pocket to keep on hand for grocery trips.

2) Look for fall sales.

Here in Utah, the case lot sales are starting. Fellow preparedness blogger, Prepared LDS Family, has a fantastic comparison price sheet to help find the good buys. (I don't think that the Maceys sales have been added to her link yet.) Shopping sales is a great way to save a little money that you can then put towards your three-month supply.

3) Review backpack emergency kits.

My kids all have new bags, which means that their old pocket-sized emergency kits are either still in their old bags or have been thrown away. Back to school is a great time to refresh those supplies and make sure that your kids have a few necessities on hand.

4) Learn a new food preservation skill.

A lot of local produce is cheap right now as it is being harvested. It's also time to start picking fruit and vegetables from your own trees and gardens. A great self-reliance skill is to be able to provide and preserve your own fruits and vegetables year round. Local extension services often offer classes on food preservation techniques. Don't be overwhelmed by pressure cookers and canners. You can start by learning dehydrating and cold-storage techniques that can extend your harvest and don't even require special equipment, just a little knowledge.

Solar Lights

Recently the Eastern United States had quite a winter storm. I read a personal account of someone who was experiencing that storm along with an extended electricity outage. They brought their solar landscape lights inside each evening to add light to their home without using up their flashlight batteries or candles. What a fantastic idea!

I recently purchased some new landscape solar lights for our home. I love that I could easily twist the top off of the stakes and have an instant source of light. I would have to make sure that the solar panels were cleared of snow during the day to make this work during the winter. Some landscape lights are fully attached to their stakes and would have to be fully removed - but it would still work.

Note:

I wish I could remember the blog where I originally read this idea. If this personal account came from you, please send the link and I'll give credit where credit is due.

Photo Source: Brinkmann

Earthquake Preparedness Week

It's Earthquake Preparedness Week here in Utah. And it's a great time to evaluate your earthquake preparedness even if you don't live in Utah. Experts have stated that California, Arizona and/or Mexico might experience a 6.0 magnitude aftershock1 (following yesterday's 7.2 earthquake) in the next few days. So, if you live in these areas, it might pay off to review any emergency plans with your family. You might also feel motivated to update any emergency kits that you have stored.

The State of Utah has prepared a website with many preparedness tidbits. Here are a few highlights from that site that I wanted to share:

*Be Ready Utah (the main website)
*Kids Activity Book (This could be a great workbook for Family Home Evenings or teaching preparedness. The activities are geared primarily for ages 8 to about 13.)
*Tips for Preparing Children (has a section about infants and another about younger children)
*Organizing Your Neighborhood (has some great ideas for wards and/or neighborhoods helping one another)

Source:

1 - NECN

Preparedness at Work

As I evaluate our family's preparedness, I feel like we're doing pretty well. Like I said in my last post, we are able to roughly maintain a certain preparedness status-quo. I feel so much confidence and peace because I know we could weather many storms because of our storage. However, I have been feeling strongly lately that we have a big hole in one part of my family's emergency preparedness. We each spend so much of every day away from our home. Yet, there are limited preparedness resources when we are at school, work or on the road.

My children's schools are quite close to home. I've made little preparedness packs for my kids' backpacks in the past. And I'm aware that their teachers have kits available for the kids in an emergency. So, I don't feel the need to do more there.

My husband, on the other hand, spends most of the day far away from home. When we did our earthquake scenario for Family Home Evening, I realized that he would be the one most compromised in an emergency. This is the hole in our preparedness plans that I feel strongly about addressing. So, I've been working hard on preparedness packs for him. He works at a local university and I'm aware that they have emergency supplies for the university population for as much as three days. But if roads were closed for any reason, it would be a long walk home. Weather would just make things more difficult.

I'm actually working on two packs, one for my husband's car and one to keep in his office. Thus far I've purchased a rain poncho, flashlight, glowsticks and some granola bars. He already keeps water on hand. I think an umbrella, a change of socks, soap and a small first aid kit need to be included. I also plan on adding some clothes and underwear as well as a blanket to be kept in his office. Extra clothing would give him some options if he was hung up helping at the university. Extra clothing is also not a bad idea generally -- even if not for an emergency that you expect.

Funny Story: My husband called me once from work wanting to know how to resew a seam in his pants. The pants were brand new and must not have had a good knot to hold an essential seam closed. He had discreetly walked to the bookstore, with bag or book in front of the missing seam, purchased a sewing kit, returned to his office and promptly called me. Funnier yet, while he was sitting in his office, on the phone with me, pantless and resewing the seam, the fire alarm went off. As part of the evacuation plans, someone comes through each building opening each office to make sure everyone has left. To say that he sewed those pants up quickly is an understatement. And luckily he was able to get out of the building before someone burst into an unfortunate situation in his office. The new seam on those pants is still holding - if you were wondering.

I'll include a sewing kit in his office preparedness pack as well.

But I digress. What preparations have you made for those who work at locations away from home?

earthquake safety: how to turn off your gas

Part of being prepared is being educated. It's a good idea to know how to turn off your gas in case of a gas-leak, which can happen at any time, but may be more likely in an earthquake. You should store a wrench next to the gas meter or in an easily accessible location so that you can turn the gas off if needed.

From FEMA:
"Check for gas leaks. If you smell gas or hear blowing or hissing noise, open a window and quickly leave the building. Turn off the gas at the outside main valve if you can and call the gas company from a neighbor's home. If you turn off the gas for any reason, it must be turned back on by a professional."1

From The San Fransisco Chronicle:
"It's estimated that 90 percent of the damage caused by the 1906 San Francisco earthquake was due to fires caused by ruptured gas lines - over 30 fires leveled 490 city blocks. In light of this, it would seem prudent to shut off the gas main in the event of a major earthquake, right? Not so fast says Pacific Gas and Electric Co. spokesman David Eisenhauer. "If you do not smell or hear gas do not shut off," says Eisenhauer. "If you shut it off and there's no damage it could take days to turn it back on." Once shut off, PG&E also does not recommend residents turn it back on themselves. This is because either someone from PG&E or another trained professional should inspect the house first for any damage to gas lines."2

If you determine that you need to shut off your gas, simply turn the valve one quarter-turn with a wrench (as shown in the diagram above). You can significantly reduce the likelihood of a gas leak in an earthquake by securing your water heater. Water heaters often rock loose during and earthquake and sever the gas connection.



Sources:
1- FEMA
2- How To Prepare For An Earthquake (Paul Kilduff, special to The San Franscisco Chronicle)

Diagram Source: http://www.doh.wa.gov/phepr/handbook/utility.htm

make your own sanitizer

Sanitizer can be expensive and hard to find. But you can make your own. It is recommended that you have at least 60% total alcohol content. Studies show that alcohol concentrations below 60% are actually ineffective in eliminating bacteria and in fact actually "mobilize the bacteria, spreading them around the hand instead of killing them."1 Some sanitizers available for purchase do not meet the minimum standard or alcohol content. Read labels carefully to determine their effectiveness.

Sanitizer does not replace the need for a good hand washing with soap and water. Soil, blood and fecal contamination are not eliminated by sanitizer. Sanitizer should be used to supplement, not replace soap and water.

Sanitizer A

• 4 cups 70% rubbing alcohol
• 4 teaspoons of glycerin or other moisturizer like aloe vera (available at health food stores). 3

Sanitizer B

• 98% alcohol
• 2% glycerin 4
  

Sanitizer C (Recipe from Utah Preppers - 63% alcohol. They include pictures.)

• 5 cups 91% Isopropyl Alcohol
• 2 cups 100% pure Aloe Gel
• Essential oil drops can be added for scent. 5
  

Sources:

1 - New York Times

2 - CDC

3 - Bird Flu

4 - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

5 - Utah Preppers

pandemic preparedness

The time to prepare for a pandemic is NOT when you hear about it on the news. As we've seen the past few weeks, anything considered as an essential supply in a pandemic situation quickly disappears off of the shelves. Masks, gloves and sanitizer were sold-out almost overnight once the news about swine flu hit. Many expressed surprise about not finding these things on the store shelves. I confess that I was not surprised. I had attempted to buy masks and gloves several years ago. Even then stock was very low, not because people were buying them up, but, I think, because stores don't typically sell much and consequently don't stock much. Wal-Mart only had one choice of masks (and only two or three boxes). I'm sure low supplies sold out in a manner of minutes this past month.

Now that the fervor and fear about the flu has lessened a bit, it may be a good time to stock up for your own preparedness supplies. Many retailers have stated that they requested additional stock. Though it might take a while to arrive, keep your eyes opened for opportunities and maybe even some *sale* prices as retailers clear this inventory if demand wanes.


ITEMS FOR PANDEMIC PREPAREDNESS:
*Three Month Supply (basic foods that you normally eat) - Having food on hand can allow you to avoid the grocery store and reduce any potential exposure.
*Water Supply - Potentially allows you to stay home and avoid exposure.
*First Aid Kit - Always a good idea to have this around.
*Sanitizer
*Disinfectants (spray or wipes) - Use these to clean doorknobs, switches, faucet handles, appliance handles, toilet handles, phones and any other commonly used or potentially infected surfaces.
*Bleach - Can be used to disinfect laundry and dishes. Use of a dishwasher and a hot washer AND dryer can also disinfect.
*Soap/Shampoo
*Thermometer
*Masks (N-95) - A mask is most helpful if the SICK person is wearing it. This reduces possible droplet transmission to anyone else in the room/home/location.
*Gloves - For use in treating an infected family member or cleaning infected surfaces. Remove carefully to reduce cross contamination.
*Garbage Bags - for disposal of infected items.
*Prescription Medications - Again, these help you avoid having to go to the store.
*Health Supplies (pain relievers, cold/cough medicines, stomach/diarrhea medications) - Aid the comfort of anyone who is sick.
*"Sick" Foods (fluids with electrolytes, Jello, crackers, applesauce, etc.) - These are good foods for someone who is vomiting or has diarrhea.
*Other (surgical gown, waterproof apron, disposable shoe covers, safety goggles or face shield) - These items would be extremely helpful if you are caring for someone who is sick. If you don't have a room that could be used to isolate someone who is sick, some plastic sheeting would also be useful to help you create an isolation area.

Source

the peace of preparedness

I've been carefully watching the flu outbreak in Mexico that is the main headline for every news source I checked this morning.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30398682/
http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/04/25/swine.flu/index.html
http://www.ksl.com/?nid=235&sid=6259913

My husband and I had a brief conversation as we discussed the possible implications of this outbreak for our family. I asked if there was anything that he wished we had in our storage for a situation like this. We both paused for about 20 seconds and considered our storage. We both listed a few things: a few more general medications, some dishwasher soap (which we thought we had run out of last night), and some diced chilies/tomatoes (also running low). There was a lot of peace as we both realized that we were already prepared. Of course, I'm sure we haven't anticipated every need, but we've already covered most of them.

I'm not sure that preparedness is about one single event. I think it is mostly about being prepared for many challenges that may face us like quarantines, natural disasters, or more simple things like job loss, disability or decrease of income. With a water supply, financial reserve, three-month supply and longer-term supply, we really are prepared for a myriad of problems - including a flu outbreak.

There are a few things that you might want to consider adding to your storage right now that would help with a pandemic situation. You might already have most of these things as part of a complete first aid kit.

*A current supply of your own prescription drugs
*Cough and cold medications
*Vitamins
*Fluid electrolyte solutions
*Thermometer
*Gloves and masks
*Sanitizer
*Disinfectants

There is a scripture in D&C 38:30 that states, "If ye are prepared, ye shall not fear." I'm not experiencing fear right now because we are prepared. What a wonderful blessing that comes along with preparedness! If you aren't feeling that peace, you can reevaluate your own preparedness and set some firm goals so that your family can have that peace.

school preparedness

Last Wednesday, I wrote about a stop-and-think experience that I had in some extreme winter weather. You can read the post here. Because of terrible winter storm conditions, parents were not able to pick up their children from a local elementary school. Even families that lived adjacent to the school were unable to get their children because the blowing snow had reduced the visibility to nothing. A lot of children and teachers ended up spending the night at the school. The children were mostly comfortable because the school had food, electricity and communication. Everyone was fine and I'm sure it was the adventure of a lifetime.

There are several situations that could strand my kids at school. Our schools won't release the students in any situation unless an authorized individual picks them up and signs them out. I realize that this policy ultimately protects my children. But it also means that my kids could be stuck at school until I can get to them. In some possible emergencies, they could be waiting outside the school in bad weather until I can sign them out.

So, what would I want my kids to have if they were ever in a situation like this? Obviously, I can't expect my kids to carry a huge preparedness kit around with them everywhere. But each child already has a backpack that they usually have with them. Sometimes those backpacks are already pretty full. So in the past, I have filled a small plastic ziplock bag with a few items. Usually there are a few empty side pockets available to stash a little bag.

Here are some things that you could fit into a small ziplock bag:

Reflective blanket

Handwarmers

Water pouches

Granola bars

Family picture (with emergency contact numbers on the back)

Bandaids

Sunscreen

Rain poncho

Tissues

Wet wipes

If more space is available:

Emergency cell phone

Umbrella

Spare socks/hat

Gloves

A lot of the schools in our area already have small emergency kits for each student stored in each classroom. It's worth it to become familiar with the safety precautions and preparedness preparations at your children's schools.

winter preparedness for your car

Not long ago, we had blizzard conditions here in our area. I drove our winter-appropriate vehicle to pick up my children from school because the conditions were so bad. As I navigated the mile to the nearest school, I couldn't see more than about five feet in front of me. Luckily, I was very familiar with the route and was able to find my way. I parked along the curb watching for my son. I was very focused on finding him because I was worried that he wouldn't be able to see me. Sure enough, I had to stop him before he almost walked right past our vehicle.

The next pick up was almost as bad. Conditions worsened as I traveled. We made the pick-up only to hear that the school was gearing up for a potential overnight stay since parents and buses were not being able to get to the school to pick up their kids. We made it home without any other problems. Later, however, we heard that one of the nearby schools had kept all of the school kids overnight. And many of the parents traveling to the school actually ended up off the sides of the roads, either by sliding or because of visibility. Many hiked to find nearby businesses and houses. Others hunkered down in their cars for the night, thinking that they were going to die from exposure once their gas and cell batteries were out. Thankfully, plows were able to dig out most of the cars the next morning. But some spent miserable nights in their cars.

This experience has definitely become a stop and think moment for me. If I had been in those circumstances, what would I have wished I had?

Here is my car preparedness wish list:
Gas (I can't really store this in my trunk, but we do keep all of our vehicle tanks at least half full)
Blankets (wool, reflective and/or a sleeping bag)
Water (I always keep a case of water bottles in the back of each of my cars)
Food (Even a box or two of granola bars would be tasty in this situation)
Chains
Hand warmers (these are small and would fit nicely into a first-aid kit)
Shovel
Cell phone charger
Jump cables
Rope
Gloves
Window scraper and/or broom
First Aid Kit
Flares/flag (some of the plows couldn't see where the cars - with people still in them - were stranded because the snow was so deep)
Extra socks/hat
Flashlight

And like my mother always said, "Don't go anywhere without your coat in the winter because you might get in an accident."


FEMA - Winter Preparedness

winter warmth

Our family currently lives in a cold winter area. We typically have four to five months of quite cold temperatures. If there is ever a loss of power, keeping our family warm is a huge concern. Here are a few ideas that you can use to be prepared for winter temperatures:

Have everyone sleep/stay in one room - Choose a small (but big enough) room with the fewest exterior walls and/or a southern/western exposure. Bring mattresses in on the floor. If you have a fireplace or stove, you'll probably want to choose this room for your gathering spot. It's also helpful to have an adjacent bathroom. Drape blankets at the doorways and/or close any doors to contain the heat to one room as much as possible.
Pitch a tent - Yes, inside of your house! A tent can help contain radiating warmth to a smaller area. You don't have to have an actual tent to do this. Use blankets and sheets and improvise. Your kids will love this!
Store blankets - I have many beautiful quilts, hand-made by my mother. Because of this, I've always assumed that all homes had an abundance of quilts and blankets. I was so surprised to hear my neighbor describe the need to buy a blanket for a bed -- explaining that every blanket that they owned was already on a bed. Sleeping bags can be unzipped and used for blankets.
Be safe! - Never burn charcoal, use a camp stove or run a generator in any interior spaces (including your garage). You also shouldn't run a gas powered stove for long amounts of time trying to heat your house. Carbon monoxide is a huge problem in situations like this. Be smart.
Use a fireplace or wood burning stove - Often these work even when the power doesn't. Learn how to light your fireplace manually if it runs on gas.
Use a propane heater - There are several products that are approved for use in enclosed areas. Make sure to vent them appropriately.
Burn a candle - It will give off some heat -- but watch carefully and do not leave any candles burning while you are sleeping.
Bundle up - Wear socks, shoes, coats, snow pants and caps. Layer your clothes. Sleep with caps on.
Use the sun - Open your blinds to allow sun to warm the interior of your room. Close blinds or curtains when the sun is not shining.
Insulate - Use shower curtains or other plastic to insulate your windows with tape. Remember to maintain a source of fresh air and oxygen.
Invite your neighbors over - The more bodies the more heat!





[Sources: Myself, Prepare Today Newsletter]

alarms

I enjoyed reading Gary's post this morning over at Perpetual Preparedness titled "Do you know the sound of your alarms?" Unfortunately, we've learned the importance of recognizing our alarm sounds first hand.

After enjoying an evening out, we returned home to our children (our oldest was babysitting) and a high-pitched, ear-piercing sound. The boys immediately explained that something must be wrong with our television. As I moved through the room, however, I quickly discerned that the sound was actually coming from somewhere else. Using my ears as a guide I turned down our main hallway towards the bedrooms. I realized what the alarm was as I stepped in several inches of water. It was our basement water-heater alarm!

After one of our boys had used that toilet, the valve had not shut off, the toilet overflowed, and we figure it had been overflowing for as much as an hour. We had two to three inches of water in two bedrooms, three closets, the hallway, the bathroom, and it had seeped through an air vent into the basement and into our main heater/air conditioning unit. Needless to say, it was a long night and several days of extracting water from our home. Now we all know exactly what that water-heater alarm sounds like! And we won't miss it again.

By the way, a water alarm is just a small box that you set on the floor. I purchased it for about $10 at Home Depot after our parent's water heater failed and flooded their basement. I place the water alarm on the floor next to our water heater. If there is ever water on the floor, the water makes the connection between the two terminals and sounds an alarm. These alarms also work great in bathrooms where kids regularly overflow toilets. :o)

Thanks for the important reminder, Gary. Some alarms that you might want to sample for your family: fire, carbon monoxide, water, security system, and/or window & door alarms.