Lessons from Others

I have been keeping an eye on the disaster in Japan and reading about the things that have worked for them and the things that they are struggling with. 

            Some things that I noted were in instances where people worked together and shared resources, they were managing quite well. In other instances, not so well.

            Some items I read about that people were struggling with were: fresh drinking water, clothing and adequate shelter for the season, keeping warm, transportation, medications such as regular prescription medications.

            The following is a link that is very useful for general preparation. We all have similar basic needs such as water, shelter, clothing, food and we all different individual needs as in the case of young children, aged people, teenage appetites, prescription medications or pets.

            Please take you personal circumstance into account when making your preparations.

                       

                        http://bereadyutah.gov/

The Suns Out Its Time to Garden!

Dust off the rake and shovel and pull out your overalls, spring is right around the corner and its time to start planning your garden!
We are in Zone 5-7 for hardiness
Now is the time to:
       Soak peas and plant them in two weeks
       Spray Fruit trees with dormant spray and think about pruning in the next couple weeks
       Start Soil preparation by mulching in garden areas you plan to sow
       Start seeds indoors if you are planning to grow your own and transplant them outside
       Look for early spring plants at garden centers like raspberries, strawberries and rhubarb
       Repair tools, sand handles of wooden tools, make a garden plan
      
 Here are some helpful and fun links about gardening:

        http://garden.lovetoknow.com/wiki/Gardening_Zone_5

       http://www.veggieharvest.com/Vegetable-Planting-Calendar/zone-5/

        http://www.weekendgardener.net/do-list.htm

Some Helpful Links

Here are some links I found helpful in compiling my 72 hour kit.

They have some good ideas of items to include, how to put things together, how to store and rotate your kits.

http://www.utahpreppers.com/2009/06/evacuation-kits-72-hour-kitsbobsg-o-o-d-bag-management/

http://72hours.org/build_kit.html

http://www.mormonshare.com/lds-activity/72-hour-kit-list-very-good-list

An Itemized List

You should have:

Immediately available Battery powered radio Flashlight and extra batteries Emergency Needs Instruction Manuals on Emergency Preparedness Water storage Sleeping bags and blankets Sanitation Kit Plastic bucket with tight fitted lid Plastic bags and ties toilet paper disinfectant improvised toilet seat (for bucket) feminine hygiene needs paper towels soap paper cups paper plates plastic utensils can opener utility knife Stress Factors Children - coloring book, crayons Adults - books, needle work In the Car Standard First Aid Kit Blanket Flashlight and batteries Reflectors and flares Individual Medical Needs Suggested Additions Family Photographs Medical Information Sheet Insurance Information Identification for each Family Member Will or Trust Information (copies of each)

Food - Ready-to-eat Meats: canned Fruit Cocktail Peanut Butter Powdered Milk Infant Care: Canned milk and bottles Dried Fruit: (caution - drink plenty of water.) Raisins, prunes, fruit leather Crackers Stress Foods Sugar Cookies Sweetened Cereals Hard Candy Standard First Aid Kit First Aid manual Spirits of ammonia Scissors Table salt Baking soda Eye drops Safety pins Matches Adhesive or paper tape Bandages Telfa pads (4"x4") Triangle Bandage (37"x37"x37") Roll of Gauze Elastic Bandage Splints Popsicle sticks shingles or thin board 40 page newspaper or magazines Heavy String At least one change of clothing for everyone including shoes

72 Hour Kit Basics

Food and Water
(A three day supply of food and water, per person, when no refrigeration or cooking is available)

• Protein/Granola Bars
• Trail Mix/Dried Fruit
• 2,400-calorie food bar
• Crackers/Cereals (for munching)
• Canned Tuna, Beans, Turkey, Beef, Vienna Sausages, etc ("pop-top" cans that open without a can-opener might not be a good idea)
• Canned Juice
• Candy/Gum (warning: Jolly Ranchers can melt and using mint gum might make everything taste like mint.)
• Water (1 Gallon/4 Liters Per Person)

•   2-gallon water bag for carrying, purifying and storing water
• Water purification tablets

Bedding and Clothing

• Change of Clothing (short and long sleeved shirts, pants, jackets, socks, etc.)
• Undergarments
• Rain Coat/Poncho
• Blankets and Emergency Heat Blanks (that keep in warmth/wool army or camp blankets)
• Cloth Sheet
• Plastic Sheet

For communication, fuel and light:

•  Metal whistles with lanyard
•  AM/FM radio with two sets of AAA batteries
•  Flashlight with two sets of D batteries
• (4) 12-Hour light sticks
• (1) LED Safety Signal
• (1) Notepad
• (1) Pen
• (1) Waterproof document pouch
• Candles

• Lighter
• Water-Proof Matches
• N-95 respirators (face masks)

Equipment

• Can Opener
• Dishes/Utensils
• Shovel – folding camp shovel

• Radio (with batteries!)
• Pen and Paper
• Axe
• Pocket Knife
• Rope
• Duct Tape
• (1) Roll plastic sheeting
•  

Personal Supplies and Medication

• First Aid Kit and Supplies
• Toiletries (roll of toilet paper- remove the center tube to easily flatten into a zip-lock bag, feminine hygiene, folding brush, etc.)
• Cleaning Supplies (mini hand sanitizer, soap, shampoo, dish soap, etc. Warning: Scented soap might "flavor" food items.)
• Immunizations Up-to Date
• Medication (Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen, children's medication etc.)

For medical, hygiene and sanitation needs:

•  Personal First Aid packet
•  Family First Aid kit
•  First Aid Guide
•  Toilet paper roll
• Moist towelettes
• Prescription Medication (for 3 days)

Personal Documents and Money
(Place these items in a water-proof container!)

• Scriptures
• Genealogy Records
• Patriarchal Blessing
• Legal Documents (Birth/Marriage Certificates, Wills, Passports, Contracts, etc)
• Vaccination Papers
• Insurance Policies
• Cash
• Credit Card
• Pre-Paid Phone Cards

For turning off utilities and other tasks:

•  Multifunction tool [needle nose pliers, regular pliers, wire cutter, file/cutter, flat file, pointed screwdriver, mini-screwdriver, small screwdriver, screwdriver, Phillips screwdriver, can opener, bottle opener, punch, knife blade]
•  Pair leather-palmed work gloves

Tips for 72 Hour Kits

For storage and easy transport:

• Emergency preparedness supplies are packed in a durable duffel with adjustable shoulder strap and double hand straps.
• Supplies meant for individual personal use are packed inside the duffel in two separate compact hard-sided carrying cases.

• Bag(s) to put 72 Hour Kit items in (such as duffel bags or back packs, rolling packs) Make sure you can lift/carry it!
• Each person in the family can have their own personal 72hour bag which contains items that are specific to them. Older family members can be in charge of task specific items that will help others in the family, such as cooking tools, maintenance tools, first aid items, etc.

Tips:

1. Update your 72 Hour Kit every six months (put a note in your calendar/planner) to make sure that: all food, water, and medication is fresh and has not expired; clothing fits; personal documents and credit cards are up to date; and batteries are charged.
2. Small toys/games are important too as they will provide some comfort and entertainment during a stressful time.
3. Older children can be responsible for their own pack of items/clothes too.
4. You can include any other items in your 72 Hour Kit that you feel are necessary for your family's survival.
5. Some items and/or flavors might leak, melt, "flavor" other items, or break open. Dividing groups of items into individual Ziploc bags might help prevent this.
6. Keep things small.
7. Store water where it won't freeze, food where it won't get too hot, and everything else wherever you have room -- just be sure you can get to it easily.
8. Pack the entire kit in plastic storage boxes to make them easier to load into the car on short notice. Keep the food in a different container than everything else. Bottled water can be loaded separately.
9. Load everything into the car ahead of time to see how it fits and if you need to make changes.
10. Write down the earliest expiration date for both food and medication. Put it in your calendar and check all food and medication on that date. Replace anything that will expire within six months and start over with the new earliest date.
11. Replace water every year to maintain fresh taste.

Lets Get Started

Whether you are just getting started or upgrading we can make great 72 hour kits, home food storage, gardening and other provident living preparation.