Week 18

1.    Purchase vitamins. stock up on what you normally use. If you have someone on other supplements make sure you include those also. During a time of stress our bodies need more nutrients and they may not be available in the form of foods so don’t ignore vitamins. There are tiny zip lock bags in the section of the pharmacy that sells pill cases. They are perfect for a weeks supply of vitamins, pain meds and the like. label each one and add them to your 72 hour kits. Saves space and weight.

Just a little suggestion about vitamins  always add what you as a family need:

Vitamin C is required for many essential metabolic reactions in all plants and animals. Vitamin C is an antioxidant (prevents oxidations of the cells caused by free radicals). It is a primary ingredient in the building of collagen (binds cells together to form tissues), and it is one of the best immune system enhancers. Vitamin C helps the nervous system by converting some of the amino acids into neurotransmitters. A deficiency of Vitamin C causes scurvy.

Vitamin D has sometimes been referred to as “sunshine in a bottle.” Vitamin D assists calcium absorption, enabling normal mineralization of bone. Vitamin D can help in insulin secretion in times of increased stress. It also benefits the heart, and may decrease the risk of hypertension. A deficiency of Vitamin D can cause Rickets in children and Osteomalacia in adults.

Vitamin B6 is needed for the breakdown of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates, and in the metabolism of amino acids. B12 is also necessary for the processing of carbs, fats, and proteins as well as for the production of red blood cells.

B vitamins are important for the proper formation of every cell in the body, especially nerve cells. The B vitamins break down carbs into glucose, which provides the energy for the body. B-complex vitamins are actually a group of eight vitamins, and are often included as a smorgasbord in multivitamins. The B vitamins are known for their ability to help with stress and anxiety (especially B6 and B12) because of the part they play in producing neurotransmitters and in their interaction with the nervous system. Having these two vitamins is a great asset for emergency and survival situations.

Beyond vitamins,. Probiotics aid in digestion by helping your body absorb the nutrients in your food. Food storage foods might possibly be somewhat of a shock to the system, and any help you can give to the digestive process will be appreciated by your body. Shelf life for probiotics is about two years when kept refrigerated. Enzymes are another critical addition to a food storage program. Enzymes help to break down complex proteins, carbohydrates, and fats into smaller, more usable forms.

2. Purchase sun screen for your 72 hour kits. Sunscreen wipes are also available and will not leak in your kits.

3. Begin a 72 hour kit for your pets. Use an old backpack or even a box. This week purchase food and water dishes.

4. Copy all your pet’s immunization and other medical records. Add these to your 72 hour kit and also place a copy in the envelope to mail to your out of state contact.

5. Copy your will and any wills for family members such as parents. You know what to do with them, same as always. Place a copy in the envelope to mail to your out of state contact.

6. Purchase  one bottle of 100% juice for each family member. These will not only count as a fruit in your 3 month storage plan but also as water storage when you calculate the amount of water you need to store for each person. Any juice will count as water but only 100% juice will count as fruit so be ahead and buy the good stuff. Soda will dehydrate you so they never count as anything!

7. Place all those copies you have been collecting and any other discs with copies of photos or other important info, into your envelope and mail it to your out of state contact.

Week 17

1. Add eye wash to your 72 hour, car and office kits. Also add some to your medical supplies in your home.

2. Add insect repellent to your kits and home.

3. Purchase the ingredients for 5 of your favorite meals.

4. Copy all the death certificates and military record in your possession and add them to your adult 72 hour kits and add a set to the envelope to mail off to your contact person.

5. Move all your photos, journals and scrap books to one area in your home making them easier to grab if you should have to evacuate.

6. You have spoken with your family about evacuating and have a plan. Now is the time to check the plans. You will need to enlist the help of a friend to accomplish this goal. Ask a friend to call your home and inform your family that they need to evacuate (use any excuse that sounds viable earthquake, flood, wild fire). You have 15 minutes to get out. Set a timer and go… When the timer goes off everyone can take whatever is in their hands and anything they have already put in the car, but nothing else. Pile in the car and drive to a park, your friend’s home, or even to grandma’s and evaluate how you have done. Did you all fit in the car or did you have to throw some items out so you would all fit? Did you remember the fish and bird? Do you have your 72 hour kits? Does everyone have both shoes? How about photos, favorite toy, important documents, backup computer files? Ask everyone if they could never return home do they have everything they need or would want. What do they wish they had taken? Now evaluate what you need to plan for when the “real” emergency happens.

Week 16

  If you are falling behind don’t get discouraged. Try choosing an area you would like to finish and concentrate on the assignments each week in that area. If you want to finish up your food storage do that. When that is done go back and catch up on the items you missed in other areas.

1. Purchase a month’s supply of toothpaste and shampoo. when we started 15 weeks ago We marked the date on items we did not replace after just one use. you should have a good idea just how long it really does take your family to go through these items. If you didn’t date these items guess. Purchase what you think you use in a month and date items today.  Include such items as: toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, shaving cream, aftershave, hand soap, laundry and dish detergent, cooking oil, ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, salad dress, even bags of pet food, etc.

2. Call or check your local grocery stores with bakeries and ask if they have 5 gallon buckets that they are discarding. They will often just give them to you. Be sure to sterilize buckets before using and never use a bucket that has had non-food items stored in them. Buckets that have contained foods with a strong smell may retain that smell even after you have sterilized them. Do not use these for food. Your food will end up tasting like the product that was originally stored in the bucket. Use these for emergency kits or for port-a-potties.

3. Post the list you made last week of items you want to take with you in case if there is a need to evacuate. Your list should include the location of every item. For example: important documents (bottom right drawer of filing cabinet), Grandma’s quilt (Emma’s bed), Dad’s radio (Hunter’s shelf) etc.

4. This week review the evacuation article you copied and placed in your binder last week. Discuss what you would do and who would be responsible for the items on your list (#3 above) if you were called upon to leave home quickly. We will follow up on this next week so please make sure this is one step you accomplish this week.

5. Using an old sheet or fabric left from a project make slings to include in your 72 hour kits, car kits and office kits. Slings should be triangular with the longest side being 60-65 inches long. The width, the distance from this side to the point on the other side, should be 45-50 inches. There are dozens of applications for using a sling and having one in your home and all your kits, ready to go, will be invaluable later. For a child’s sling just fold over the larger size. don’t worry about having more than one size.

6. Copy marriage licenses of yourself and your ancestors. Make copies of your credit card information including the emergency phone numbers just in case you need to cancel or replace them. Place copies in all the usual places and begin a new envelope to mail items to your out of area contact.

7. Consult the list you made when you cleaned out the medicine cabinet and replace any pain relievers and anti-diarrhea medications you may need. Also place a supply of these items in your 72 hour, car and office kits. A suggestion it is better to  purchase your diarrhea medications for your kits in tablet form. They won’t accidentally make a mess and they will last much longer.

Don’t forget as you add items to your storage to update your inventory lists. Your inventory should also include the location of those items, as most of us don’t have an entire room we can devote to storage.

Week 15

1. Purchase one roll of toilet paper per person in your family. That should give you a one week supply!

2. Purchase ten cans of sauces or soups. Anything you use as a sauce or to make a sauce. Cream of chicken soup, spaghetti sauce, enchilada sauce, steak sauce, Worcestershire, or any combination.

3. Check your stored water. Water is such an important element in your preparedness plan. Check the article on water storage From Week 2.  a water A water emergency can happen to anyone.  You may also lose your water if there is an earthquake. Everyone needs to be concerned about drinking water.

4. With your family create an evacuation list. Brainstorm which items; important papers, photos, heirlooms, and even favorite blankets you would want to take if you needed to evacuate.

5. Begin gathering as many of those items as possible into the same location making them easy to grab during an emergency.

6. Read the article and highlight the evacuation article  from week 13.  Place article in your binder.

7. Add a toothbrush and toothpaste to all 72 hour kits.

One more week Done.

Week 14

Week 14

It’s time to review our progress again. For any of you who may be new don’t be discouraged if you are just starting and feel overwhelmed. Just begin at the beginning and in 13 weeks you will be where we are now. If you are really motivated and want to jump in here and catch up on a few steps every week until you are all caught up, by all means, take the plunge.

Between week 7 and now we have done the following:

1. First Aid Supplies: We have gathered what we have on hand and added a first aid guide to all our adult 72 hour kits, our cars and our homes.

2. 72 Hour Kits: We are almost done with these! We have added mylar blankets, hats, safety pins, sun glasses, food, keys, toys, family photos, a multi-function tool, emergency information cards, $10 in cash, water and our prescriptions…whew…that was a lot.

3. Important Documents: We have copied and mailed; the pink slip(s) or titles to our vehicles, passport, social security card, health insurance and life insurance papers.

4. We have done a household inventory for our entire home and garage.

5. We have added Mylar blankets for use in our homes during a power outage.

6. We have a list and contacted friends and family who we can share and trade talents and items with to add to our preparedness stash.

7. We have established a safe place to leave a message if we should have to evacuate our home.

8. We have replaced batteries in our smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

9. We have established our pet’s needs.

10. We have discussed “what if” scenarios with our family.

11. We have held a fire drill with our family.

12. We have taken family and individual photos, added them to our 72 hour kits and mailed them to our contacts.

13. We have completed a food storage inventory.

14. We have added the following items to our food and home supplies storage: insect spray, mouse traps, rice, pasta, flour, fruit, vegetables, canned meat or fish, soup, mustard, mayonnaise, vinegar, oil, water, spices and ingredients for three favorite family meals.

If you are discouraged just look at all you have done! If you are not caught up don’t worry about it. Study the lists you have run off and added to your binder each week. Go back through them and cross out, in bright red marker, all that you have completed. Now just concentrate on this week’s tasks and when you have an extra hour during the week go back and catch up on one or two you missed. Our goal is to complete preparing so keep that in mind.

Things to add This week:

1. Add water to your 72 hour kits. The mylar pouches are good  because they are small and light weight. They are also portion controlled. If you store larger bottles you will be tempted to drink them all at once and then your ration for the day will be gone.

2. Copy all prescriptions, including eye glasses, and add to your 72 hour kits. In an emergency if you need to fill a prescription or replace glasses you will be further along if the pharmacy just has to make a call to your doctor and the doctor doesn’t have to consult his/her records.

3. Check your home owners insurance and make sure you are adequately covered. Be sure to add any large purchases such as a boat or heirlooms.

4. Fill all your empty canning jars with water. These are taking up space anyway so make them useful. The jars do not have to be processed, just place a clean lid and ring on each one.

5. Replace the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

6. In February we purchased the ingredients to make five of our family’s favorite meals. This week add the ingredients for another three meals.

7. Purchase $5 worth of spices or seasoning mixes such as; taco seasoning or gravy mix.

We are Another week closer to being ready. Run off a list of the things we have accomplished and add it to the section of your binder where you added our last accomplishments list.

April Food Storage Specials

Please Make checks payable to Emergency Essential

Payment is due at time of Ordering

Freeze-Dried Broccoli
Group Price: $10.00
Freeze-Dried Mango. Chunks $16.00

Large Backpack   Group Price: $7.00 Size: 17" x 12.5" x 6.5".

 Dehydrated Carrot Dices $7.00

High Uinta Gear™ Endurance™ Headlamp
 $4.00 10 LEDs for light in power outages, emergencies, and outdoors activities.

Chicken A La King And Noodles
$26. 62  chicken, mushrooms, pimentos, green peppers, and noodles in a white sauce. Each can makes approximately 11 1-cup serving

Rice and Chicken$17.99 chicken with rice and pimentos. Each can makes approximately 8 1-cup servings

 Spaghetti with Meat and Sauce$18.48
 Italian-style tomato sauce accompanied by tender pasta and chunks of beef. Each can makes approximately 10 1-cup servings

Pasta Primavera$23.40 zucchini, Spiral Macaroni, Cauliflower, Broccoli, Red & Yellow Peppers, and Green Peas in a Parmesan Cheese Sauce

 Noodles and Chicken$24 .71 Each can makes approximately 12 1-cup servings

Chili Mac$18.59 Beef, macaroni noodles, kidney beans, garlic and onions Each can makes approximately 10 1-cup servings

Beef Stroganoff with Noodles$19.65  beef, mushrooms, and noodles smothered in a rich sour cream sauce. Each can makes approximately 10 1-cup servings.

Blueberry Cheesecake $17.24  Blueberry  Cheesecake. . Each can makes approximately 12 ½-cup servings

 Garden Seed  $39.99
This contains 16 varieties of non-hybrid seeds that can grow a garden up to two-thirds of an acre! Non-Hybrid allows you to let them go to "seed" and then collect the seeds for a future garden. Storage life is approximately 4 years in 65-70 degree climate, each 6 degree drop in temperature may double the storage life. Excellent for any home storage plan

 SAF Instant Premium Yeast $2.99  premium yeast. It offers 15-30% faster fermentation than other yeast options and has a 5 year shelf life if stored in the freezer. Each yeast package is 16 ounces

Premier Bottled Emergency Kit $16.99 Includes water purification tablets, a multi-function tool with pliers, a Pathfinder™ LED Flashlight, and much more. A well-rounded bottle kit    

 Yellow Popcorn $7.99 Make corn bread, muffin, fritters, cakes, grits and more with yellow popcorn that you can grind into cornmeal besides popcorn

 Beef Stew $26.31 combination of beef, potatoes, peas, carrots and. in a # 10 can with a 25 year shelf life.

Poultry Entree and Vegetable Combo $199.99 contains a variety of six cans of gourmet poultry

Potato Slices$4. 99
.

Premier Bottled Emergency Kit $16.99 Includes water  purification tablets, a multi-function tool with pliers, a Pathfinder™ LED Flashlight, and much more. High Uinta

Gear™ 13-Function Knife $2.49 includes a 2.25" blade, phillips and standard screwdriver, scissors, lid lifter, auger, scaler, key ring, and more

week 13

1. The garage will be the last on our inventory just think of all you have in your garage and how much it would cost to replace it. Be sure to open every cupboard and move every box. Don’t forget to get several views of the cars and the contents of the trunk in your pictures. Now that you are finished make a copy of the disc and mail it to your contact person. You will also want a copy for yourself

Garage	Purchase date	Model/serial #	Cost at purchase	Value/replacement	Notes/description
Auto Equipment
Garden Tools
Lawn Furniture
Lawn Games
Other tools
Storage
Other

2. Choose a secret message place. In the event you must evacuate before the family can gather it is important to have a prearranged place where you will leave a note with the information as to when you left and where you went. Since this is an invitation to looters make this a fairly secure place and not under a mat or in a door frame.  Your out of state contact should also have this information in case they need authorities to try to locate you or if they should come to find you. Put this in the Manila Envelope to with the other items to mail.

3. It time to start working on that first aid for your home. If you don’t already have one, add a basic first aid guide to your home kit as well as to your 72 hour and auto kits. They are inexpensive and easy to store. Use the list form week 12

4. Think evacuation. Read this article about evacuation. (At the bottom of Page.) Study it and add it to your binder. 5. Purchase one large jar of mustard and one can of soup per person in your household. These soups can be to eat as is or to use as an ingredient in a casserole or another soup

6. Purchase insect spray and mouse traps. After any natural disaster or a fire rodents and bugs will appear. Be prepared. I would purchase spray for both crawling and flying insects.

7. Add $10.00 in one dollar bills to all adult 72 hour kits. It’s not much but we are on a budget and will add more later.

             I.      The time has come to Evacuate… They have just announced “Prepare to evacuate!” Are you ready?

No matter what the reason for an evacuation, it is going to be a stressful, chaotic time and you need to be prepared so that you and your family will remain safe and sane until the earthquake, landslide, wildfire, hurricane, tornado, flood, storm surge, tsunami, avalanche, hazardous spill, or terror threat is over. 

Start today by preparing the following items to take with you as you evacuate:  

1. Assemble a 72-hour kit for every family member.   Place maps (see # 3), family photos, emergency phone numbers and family ID cards in a plastic sleeve that can be removed easily.
2. Assemble a kit of essentials for every pet. Don’t forget a leash for the dog or cat.
3. Maps: Gather maps of your town, county, state and your out-of-area destination. Take some time and using a highlighter, mark several routes, in different colors, from your home to you destination. Remember the freeways may be very crowded if you wait until an evacuation order is given to leave your home. Longer routes may be the faster in the long run, so think creatively. As you mark your map, note where the rest areas are located. You will need these from time to time, especially if you are traveling with pets and children.
4. Assemble an emergency car kit and place it in your car now. The kit may include: flashlight, small and large 10” glow sticks (preferred to flares because they do not create sparks which are potentially dangerous at an accident scene), folding shovel, tire repair kit and pump, booster cables, work gloves, and a fire extinguisher. Store extra batteries for your flashlight in your 72-hour kit, not in your car, and never in your flashlight (they are less likely to leak or explode if stored separately). To use your flashlight at times other than emergencies, keep batteries in the glove box.
5. Assemble fun things to do in the car - books on tape, travel games, toys, familiar music that you can sing at the top of your lungs, anything that will keep family members distracted. Remember during a mass evacuation the average time spent in the car is 15-20 hours! You will want to make this time as low stress as possible. 
6. Assemble a sanitation kit. You should have sanitation supplies in your 72-hour kits but you will want to save those in case you need them at a shelter or at your evacuation destination. If you are evacuating to the home of a friend or family member, others may be doing the same. Don’t assume they will be prepared to care for all your needs. Also, remember there will be many others evacuating. Local residents as well as evacuees will all be at the store trying to purchase supplies when you reach your destination. When you stop at a rest stop along the way there will be no one to re-supply the restrooms and you may be very happy that you have your own stash.  Your sanitation kit should include: Facial tissues, bathroom tissue, wet wipes, hand sanitizer, paper towels, feminine supplies, diapers (always a size or two larger than the baby is wearing at the time you assemble your kit) and biohazard bags (to contain waste until you reach a place where they can be properly disposed of). Place your sanitation supplies with your 72 hour kit so it can be grabbed in a hurry.
7. Food and drinks for the road. Again, save the food in your 72-hour kit for use later. Gather snacks, crackers, peanut butter, and drinks and place them in a cupboard with each other. This will make it easy and fast to grab items when you are in a hurry to evacuate. It also makes it easy to pack school lunches every day. You will not be thinking clearly, so make a list of food items to add to this supply and post it on the cupboard door. This could include: bread, cheese, deli meats, mayo, fruit, and carrots, anything you may have on hand but is kept in another location. As with 72-hour kits, do not include salty foods such as salted nuts, chips, and jerky. These will just increase your thirst and thus restroom stops, which may not be readily available. Plan to eat in your car. There have been incidents of people being hurt when others demanded their food. If you need to stretch, do so, but keep the food and water out of site and a close eye on the kids. Sad but true.
8. Compile a list of family heirlooms to grab if there is time. Post this list in a cupboard or closet for quick access in an emergency. If you file it, you know you won’t be able to find it in a hurry. We have all had that experience, “but I know I put it in a place where it would be safe”.
9. Stash cash. Accumulate cash to be used during an evacuation. Cash should be in small denominations, nothing over $20.00, and should also include coins. You should have several hundred dollars. Many banks will be destroyed or without power after a disaster, natural or man-made. If you bank at a local or regional bank it may be days or weeks before you can access your account and withdraw cash. ATMs will be cleaned out in a matter of minutes, so don’t plan to stop at an ATM on your way out of town. Power outages will occur even miles from a disaster site making your credit cards useless.
10. Take a household inventory. Take pictures or a video of everything in your home, including the items inside closets and cupboards. Place a copy in your 72-hour kit and send a copy to your out-of-state contact. There was a person  whose home recently burned down and the insurance company will not release any rebuilding money until they have turned in a list of everything they lost in the fire. Can you imagine trying to create such a list when you are dealing with such a horrible disaster!
11. Back up computer files often and send them to your out-of-state contact. Consider backing them up on a server off site so you can keep them current, especially if you have your own business or do much of your work from home.

12.  Compile a list of items to place in the car when you evacuate and post it with your other lists. Include the following and any other personal necessities:

72-hour kit

Pet kit

Maps

Fun things to do kit

Sanitation kit

Food and drinks

Family Heirlooms

Cash

Blankets or sleeping bags

Pillows

Cell phone

Auto cell phone charger

Lap top or computer back up files

Other---such as a walker, baby bottles, or pet cages

Assign each family member the responsibility of packing or retrieving each item on your list.

"

Batten-Down-the-Hatches List":

Shut off water, gas and electricity.

Board up outside windows.

Move outdoor furniture inside.

Close all interior doors.

Close and lock all windows.

If you are leaving a fire, do not shut off water or electricity and leave lights on. This will help firefighters see your home through the smoke.

Lock all outside doors.

If you are headed to a shelter deliver pets to a pre-arrange care giver.

Leave a note to let neighbors, friends and family know you have evacuated, when you left, and where you are going.

Notify contact person of your plans and have them notify the rest of the extended family and friends.

13.  Practice packing your car. Avoid packing heavy items in the passenger area, which can become dangerous if you need to stop quickly. It is better to discover now that you need to pack some items in smaller containers so they will all fit.

 14.  Always keep your gas tank at least half full. If you have any suspicions that an evacuation may occur go fill your tank immediately, before others have the same idea. When you return home, park the car in the garage facing out and disconnect the garage door opener in case of a power outage.

When the time has come to evacuate. 

1. Listen to the radio or television for instructions from local officials. They will be able to inform you where shelters are located and which evacuation routes may be open and which closed. Follow their instructions, especially in case of a fire or earthquake. They will help you avoid potential hazards.
2. Phone or visit house-bound neighbors and/or neighbors whose children may be home alone. Make sure they have heard the warnings and have a way to safely evacuate. This is especially important in case of a fire, every moment counts and parents and caregivers may not have time to get home and rescue children and the handicapped or elderly.
3. Dress for the occasion. Put on comfortable but protective clothing - no sandals, no shorts, no tank tops. Long pants and long sleeves are the best. Grab an extra change of clothing, but only one. Remember you have another set of clothing in your 72-hour kit, so this will get you through the emergency period.
4. Remove the radio and plastic sleeve with your maps and phone list from your 72-hour kit and place them inside the car.
5. Take time now to check with local official to determine what will and will not be allowed in your area shelters. The following may not be allowed: Alcoholic beverages. Pets (in some areas, this rule is changing), but guide dogs are always allowed. Illegal drugs, even if you are using them for medical purposes. Weapons, including some knives. Extra food other than special dietary needs. The food in your 72-hour kit is fine. valuables. There will be no place to store jewelry, valuable papers or large amounts of money. Again anything in your 72-hour kit will be fine - just be careful and definitely don’t “advertise” that you have anything of value. Don’t access money in front of anyone! Never give children valuables. Prepare your children for shelter living by warning them that other children may want to “share” their toys and books. Discuss how they should handle this. 

When faced with evacuation, try to remain calm. Remember, the only really important thing is to get your whole family safely away from the danger around you. Then, when it’s all over, sit down and make a list of everything you would do differently next time, and make an action list. Take time as well to record your experience in your journal. The next generation may find it amazing and inspiring, and your preparation may motivate them to be better prepared by walking in your footsteps.