Week 11

1. Inventory the living room, dining room and laundry room. Remember we are doing this in case of any disaster the insurance will not reimburse you for things you can’t prove

Living Room	Purchase date	Model/serial #	Cost at purchase	Value/replacement	Notes/description
Couch
Loveseat
Recliner
Chairs
End Tables
Coffee Table
Art/work Decor
Entertainment Center
Lamps
Storage Chest
Stereo
TV
Carpet
Area Rug
Ottoman
Bookcase
Books
Cd/DVD
Fireplace Equip.
Telephone
Piano
Clock
Mirror
Telephone
Light fixtures
Other
Dinning room	Purchase date	Model/serial #	Cost at purchase	Value/replacement	Notes/description
Table
Chairs
Linens
China Cabinet
Hutch or buffet
China
Silver ware
Curtains
Art
Décor
Wall Shelves
Serving table
Area rug
other
other
Laundry Room	Purchase date	Model/serial #	Cost at purchase	Value/replacement	Notes/description
Washing machine
Dryer
Ironing board
Iron
Extra towels
Extra linens
Cleaning Equipment
Carpet Cleaning machine
Baskets
Cabinets shelving
Cabinets contents
Light fixtures
Cleaning supplies
Pet food supplies
Vacuum
Other

2. Contact at least 2 of the people who are on the list you made last week. The friends and family who may have an item or talent who can help you prepare. Let them know of your goal to prepare and become self reliant and ask them if they would be willing to share with your family. Offer to trade…if you have neighbors who have fruit trees and you know they don’t have the time or skills to can ask them for fruit and offer to can a case for them.

3. Add an extra set of keys to the top of your adult 72 hour kits. You will want keys to everything you own and to your office, safe deposit box, mail box and anything else you may need to access. It is very important you keep these where they are easily found just in case you need to evacuate in a hurry.

4. Add 1 can of fruit and 1 can of vegetables per family member to your food storage. Don’t forget canned potatoes. They are great in casseroles and soups.

5. Inventory your food storage. Place the inventory in your binder.

6. Make foil dinners with your family. It’s fun and great practice in case of a power outage. Don’t know what they are?

Foil Dinners

It is best to use heavy duty foil for a foil dinner, since it will be less likely to be punctured. If you use thinner foil, use two pieces. Heavier foil also helps prevent the food from burning. The sauce you use and the steam created will cook your meal.

To prepare a foil dinner place a variety of the following in the middle of the shiny side of a large piece of aluminum foil:

Meat-such as hamburger, steak, chicken. Chicken should be removed from the bone and sliced to ensure it cooks completely.

Potatoes-sliced or cubed for faster cooking.

Vegetables-carrots, onions, beans, peas, corn, tomatoes, peppers, zucchini or any other vegetable that you like. Carrots, peppers and onions should be cut into smaller pieces to reduce cooking time.

Sauce- foil dinners can dry out if you don’t add some type of sauce. This could be canned soup, (don’t add water), ketchup, barbecue sauce, teriyaki sauce or even Italian dressing, which is great on chicken.

Seasonings- if you still want more flavor you could add taco seasoning or barbecue seasoning or any favorite spice from the cupboard.

When you are finish creating bring the long ends of the foil together above your food and fold over two or more times. Keep folding down almost to the level of the food. Then roll or fold the open ends of the foil towards the middle. Cook the dinner by placing a few coals under it and a few coals on top. Use barbecue tongs or a shovel to place the coals. It only takes a few coals, more and your dinner could burn. Your dinner should only take 15 minutes to cook. Check it carefully by unrolling and testing with a fork. BE CAREFUL when opening as the steam will be hot!!

7. Make a list of items you will need to gather in order to care for your pets for 72 hours.

1.      Pet First Aid Kit -  Information card with your Veterinary Hospitals phone number and address, along with the number for poison control and your local animal control. In case you happen to come across a stray animal that needs your help.

2.      Information card with pets first aid health chart. This card should indicate all of your pets current health information.

3.      Muzzle or length of fabric to make a muzzle. Pantyhose or an old necktie work great for making muzzles.

4.      Latex gloves.

5.      Bandaging materials- gauze squares, rolls of gauze, non-stick Telpha pads, bandage tape, elastic bandage, and blunt tip scissors for clipping hair and cutting bandage material.

6.      Electric clippers for shaving hair from wounds.

7.      Lubricant KY Jelly works well for lubing the thermometer and if you apply it to any open wounds it will prevent hair from sticking to the wound while the hair is clipped away (the KY will rinse easily from the wound and take any hair that may have been trapped in the KY during shaving, with it).

8.      Rectal thermometer.

9.      Antiseptic wash like Betadine solution for soaking and flushing wounds.

10.  Tweezers for removing splinters ect.

11.  Clean towels and wash cloths for use as restraint or to keep your pet warm.

12.  Ready made cold and hot packs.

13.  Sterile eye flush.

14.  Karo syrup for shock.

15.  Triple antibiotic ointment, for example Neosporin, works well on wounds.

16.  Hydrogen Peroxide to induce vomiting. Check with your veterinarian before inducing vomiting, some poison substances should not be vomited.

17.  Antihistamine- Benedryl Generic Benadryl capsules -- 25mg, for allergies for itching or allergic reactions. Check with your veterinarian before using and for the correct dose.

18.  Syringes for giving liquid medications orally, remove the needle first.

19.  Styptic powder for minor bleeding, like trimming a toe nail to short.

20.  Blankets to help keep pets warm and can be used as a stretcher for large dogs.

21.  Box or pet carrier to use as a stretcher for small dogs or cats. A trash can lid also makes a good stretcher.

22.  Rubbing Alcohol  

23.  Ear Syringe

24.  White Petroleum Jelly(Vaseline or Similar

25.  Pepto Bismol Tablets

26.  Hydrocortisone acetate one percent cream

27.  Buffered Aspirin

28.  Kaopectate tablets maximum strength

29.  Bandage Scissor

30.  Custom splints

31.  Antibacterial soap

32.  Cotton balls/gauze

Emergency clinic hours and telephone number. Pet First Aid Manual

1. Keep a properly fitted collar, current license, and rabies and identification tags on each pet, even cats that never go outside. Birds should be leg-banded. (even with a pet ID chip) If your pet has an ID chip, make sure you keep those records up to date with the registry center (or your veterinarian)Keep your pet’s vaccinations current
2. Current photo of pet A picture of you and your pet together: If you become separated from your pet during an emergency, a picture of you and your pet together will help you document ownership and allow others to assist you in identifying your pet. Include detailed information about species, breed, age, sex, color and distinguishing characteristics. Store the photos along with medical records in resealable plastic bags along with other important papers.
3. Extra blankets - Have a blanket available for each pet or a towel for cats and small breed dogs.
4. Medications Include an extra stock of any medications your pet may take in your 72 hour kit.
5. Food and water bowls for feeding
6. Food - Make sure you pack plenty of your pets regular diet. Can food is good because it has moisture already in it Note: If you store dry pet food in a container other than its original bag, be sure to wash the empty container with soap and water before adding food from a new bag. The residual fat that settles on the bottom of the container can become rancid beyond its shelf life (the date stamped on the bag). This spoiled fat may contaminate the fresh food added to the container, causing vomiting or diarrhea when fed to your pet. Pet Food Shelf Life for  Dry Bagged Pet Food -- About 1 to 1-1/2 years Canned Pet Food -- 2 years Vacuum-Sealed Pet Food -- 5 years
7. Water -Have available enough drinking water for pets. One gallon per pet per day is usually enough.
8. Toys Familiar items: Put favorite toys, treats or bedding in your kit.  Familiar items can help reduce stress for your pet.
9. Manual can opener for canned food
10. Grooming supplies Brush and shampoo also toothbrush and pet toothpaste
11. Paper towels/wet wipes
12. Water spray bottle in warmer climates to keep you and your pet cool (especially for pet birds and reptiles)
13. Pet Carrier -This is very important, some shelters will not take pets without a carrier. Have a carrier available for even large breed dog

14. Plastic bags to dispose of pet droppings and other waste Sanitation: Include pet litter and litter box if appropriate, newspapers, paper towels, plastic trash bags and household chlorine bleach to provide for your pet’s sanitation needs. You can use bleach as a disinfectant (dilute nine parts water to one part bleach), or in an emergency you can also use it to purify water. Use 8 drops of regular household liquid bleach per gallon of water, stir well and let it stand for 30 minutes before use. Do not use scented or color safe bleaches or those with added cleaners
    A first aid kit for your pet should contain the following items:
15. Three-day supply of any medications or vitamins your pet normally takes
16. Names, addresses, telephone numbers of local vet offices, including 24-hour clinics

Pet Disaster Preparedness Resources

Ready America (www.Ready.gov)

ASPCA (www.ASPCA.org)

American Veterinary Medical Association (www.AVMA.org)

Emergency Animal Rescue Service  (www.UAN.org

This will take care of your pet for the first 72 hours, but you can see, just as with your own family preparations, how much more comfortable your pet will be with the extras that they are used to. In a 72 hour kit, two week, or one year supply, store the dry and canned foods your pet is accustomed to eating. Just as with your own human family, familiar foods are less likely to cause digestive problems and can give your pets a feeling of security in time of stress.

Becoming Provident Providers

Becoming Provident Providers

This is a great article by By Elder F. Enzio Busche
Of the First Quorum of the Seventy

 How beautiful to live in these Times and Prepare

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!