We are now on our 10th  jump in at any time we will have catch up weeks

Disasters come in all seasons. Katrina occurred in August, Southern California fires in October, tornadoes in the south in February, blizzards and power outages in December and January. We are not just preparing for natural disasters. Job loss is also something we need to prepare for. If you are tempted to give up please don’t. If you can’t get to all the steps each week? Just do a few. With the prices of food skyrocketing now may be the time to concentrate on that but don’t forget the others.

1. This is the week to add food to your 72 hour kit. Use high calorie energy bars rated for extended shelf life, 3-5 years. These will remain good long past these dates. If you want “real food” get MRE’s. These are light weight, come in lots of varieties, and last far longer than the 5 years they are dated. Do not add salty foods such as jerky, chips, and salted nuts to your kits. Water will be limited and you do not want to increase your thirst. Don’t store instant foods for the same reason, no water to rehydrate them . NEVER add foods in glass to your kits, one fall could spell disaster. Canned foods Can weigh too much. 

 2. Inventory bathrooms, office and family room. Be sure if you have books, CDs or DVDs that you take photos that enable you to read the titles. If you have any collector books open them to the copyright page and take a picture of that also. Be sure you open all doors and drawers and “shoot” the contents.

Item	Purchase date	Model/serial #	Cost at purchase	Value/replacement	Notes/description
Couch
Love seat
Recliner/ Chairs
End Tables
Coffee Table
Entertainment Center
Toys/games
Pool/Game Table
Stereo
TV
Blankets
Item
Bookcase
Books
Dvd/ Cd
Fireplace Equiptment
Art/Wall Décor
Knick knacks/clocks
Piano/musical instruments
Ceiling fan
Light Fixtures
Plasticware/storage containers
Clocks
Step Stool
Window Treatment
Light Fixtures
Telephone
Other
Other
Bath Towels
Hand towels & wash clothes
Extra linens
Extra Blankets
Blow Dryer
Electric Shavers
Electric Toothbrush
Curling or Flat Iron
Bathroom Supplies
Personal Toiletries
Scales
Shower Curtain
Rugs/Bathmats
Décor
Window Treatments
Mirrors
Towel Racks
Hamper
Special Light Fixtures
Vanity/Dressing Table
Cleaning Supplies
Other
Other

3.  Take group photos of your family, including your pets. Also take individual pictures of each family member. You will need these if you are ever separated during an emergency. The individual photos may be given to rescue workers and the family group shots will establish your relationship when you are reunited. Add these photos to all 72 hour kits and place a copy in the envelope to be mailed to your out of state contact. See Attachments click here.....

 4. Copy health and life insurance policies. Place a copy in adult 72 hour kits and place one in the envelope to mail off.

 5. Make a list of friends and family who may be able to help with some of your preparedness needs. Think about those who garden, can teach you to sew, can, or repair a lawn mover. Is their a contractor who may have scrap lumber to build a food storage shelf or to use as firewood? Empty nesters may have canning jars they no longer use. Think Creatively! When you have completed that list begin a list of things you can offer in trade to someone else. Such as take inventory pictures for an elderly couple, teach someone to can, fix a computer problem…..

6. Purchase 1 can of protein per family member. These may include canned tuna, chicken, beef, salmon, chili, hash or peanut butter.

 7. Add small toys, books, crayons, or other items to your children’s 72 hour kits. It is also important for adults to have items in their kits to help pass the time or calm nerves after a long stressful day. Add books, cross word puzzles, travel size games and scriptures.

 Please don’t get discouraged. Do what steps you can.  If you have not already done so, run off a copy of each week’s steps and place them in your binder. Assign each area of preparedness a color( red-72 hour kits, blue-food storage, yellow-important documents, green-family training….and so on) now take a highlighter or colored pencil and mark each step you have completed with that color. You will be amazed just how much you have done!