Be Prepared: Part 5

Here we are during the final week of preparing your Emergency Kit. Here are a few other essential items to include in your kit:

- manual can opener and other cooking supplies (utensils, camp stove, propane, etc.)
- plates, utensils and other feeding supplies
- warm clothes and rain gear for each family member
- a copy of important phone numbers and documents
- heavy work gloves
- disposable camera
- unscented household liquid bleach and an eye dropper for water purification
- personal hygiene products including toilet paper, feminine products, hand sanitizer and soap
- plastic sheeting, duct tape and a utility knife for covering broken windows
- tools such as a crowbar, hammer & nails, staple gun, adjustable wrench and bungee cords
- blankets or sleeping bags
- large heavy duty plastic bags and a plastic bucket for waste and sanitation
- Any special needs items for children, seniors or people with disabilities
- matches

Now your emergency kit is ready to go! As noted before, this is a basic kit that will get you through 72 hours. If you've been watching shows like Doomsday Preppers, they are planning for months of survival. If that is what you are also looking into planning for, I encourage you to look into purchasing MREs or freeze dried food made specifically for emergency storage. I have seen buckets available for purchase through Costco and various sites online.

Most of the information I've included can be found on www.72hours.org. FEMA has also supplied a similar list of items that can be found on www.ready.gov

I hope you have found this series of posts informative and if you haven't started preparing your kit, please do so. You can never be too prepared!

Be Prepared: Part 4

Yes, I completely spaced on doing this week's blog. Oops! We're going to cover "Go-Bags" and that will include a lot of different items, so I'll give the rest of this week and next to complete this part of your emergency kit :)

What is a Go-Bag? It's a backpack or other easy to carry container filled with essential items in the case that you'll need to evacuate quickly. Prepare a Go-Bag for each family member and ID tag. You may not be at home when emergency strikes, so it's also a good idea to keep additional supplies at work or in your car. Consider what you might need for your immediate safety. Here is a list of items to put in each person's bag:

- Flashlight
- Radio (battery operated)
- Batteries
- Whistle
- Dust Mask
- Pocket Knife
- Emergency cash in small denominations and quarters to make phone calls
- Sturdy shoes, a change of clothes and a warm hat (make sure to change out sizes if you have little ones)
- Local map
- Some water and food
- Permanent marker, paper and tape
- Photos of family members and pets for re-identification purposes
- List of emergency point-of-contact phone numbers
- Copy of health insurance and ID cards
- Extra prescription glasses, hearing aid or other vital personal items
- Prescription medication and first aid supplies (we have a mini kit in each of ours)
- Toothbrush and toothpaste
- Extra keys to your house and vehicle
- Any special-needs items for children, seniors or people with disabilities (for our son, we have hard candy and a coloring book. Just to add a little comfort.)

Make sure to keep your Go-Bag in a place that's easily accessible. (Not stuffed up in the rafters or shoved behind junk in the closet.) Ours are stacked inside our master closet, ready to go.

Be Prepared: Part 3

Week 3 and your emergency kit is taking form. If you've clicked on this link and haven't read the previous posts, please do. It's a weekly guide to putting together your 72 hour Emergency Kit and being prepared.

In Week 1, we covered water supply and a container. Week 2 was all about food and a plan. This week, we'll go over a first aid kit and providing for your pets.

Step 1: First Aid- You can pick up a ready made kit at Walmart/Target/Costco, or you can put one together yourself. If you are putting it together yourself, here are some items that should go in it:

- 2 pairs of disposable gloves

- sterile dressings to stop bleeding

- cleansing agent/soap and antibiotic towelettes to disenfect

- antibiotic ointment to prevent infection

- burn ointment

- adhesive bandages in a variety of sizes

- eye wash solution to wash eyes out or as general decontaminant

- scissors

- over-the-counter medications such as aspirin, ibuprofen, antacids, laxative, anti-diarrhea medicine

- prescription medicines you take every day, such as insulin, heart medicine or asthma inhaler

- prescribed medical supplies such as glucose monitoring equipment or blood pressure cuffs

I also reccommend adding in the following

- sanitary napkins ( they act as a gauze/pad for wounds)

- super glue (to seal cuts that aren't deep)

- ace bandage

- medical tape

- q-tips

- tongue depressors (can be used as finger splints)

Step 2: Pets- Don't forget about your furry family members when it comes to emergencies. Make sure to always keep a collar with ID tag on it at all times. If they get loose or you aren't able to take them with you, there will be a way to possibly get them back home to you. Also, consider getting your pets microchipped.

Each pet should have a "go-bag" and a plan in case of evacuation. This should include:

- a sturdy leashes and pet carriers. A pillowcase is a good option for transporting cats and other small animals who cannot be leashed.

- Food, water and any medications for at least one week

-non-spill bowls, can opener and plastic lids if they will be eating canned food

- plastic bags, litter box and litter

- recent photo of each pet

- names and phone numbers of emergency veterinarian hospitals and local animal shelters

If you must leave your pet behind:

- On your front door or in a highly visable window, use chalk, paint or marker to write the number and types of pets in your residence. Include their location in your home and the date you evacuated.

- Leave plenty of water in a large, open container that cannot be tipped over.

- Leave plenty of food. If possible, leave it in timed feeders so they don't overeat.

- Do not tie up your pet in your home.

Be Prepared: Part 2

If you started to read this post and wonder what it's all about, you can read the first post in this series HERE .
 

So, last week you picked up the container to hold your emergency kit and your water supply. This week we will start filling that emergency kit!
 

Step 1: Food- Remember that you are stocking up on supplies that will last a MINIMUM of 72 hours. This is the recommended time from Red Cross, etc. I suggest stocking up for longer "just in case".

- Store food items that are familiar to your family rather than special emergency foods. Don't forget to take into account special dietary restrictions. Your body is already going through a stressful time and you dont' want to further upset it with foods that you haven't tried.

- Ideal foods are shelf-stable, low in salt and do not require cooking (ex: peanut butter, canned fruit & vegetables, canned soup or meat, jam, low salt crackers, dry cereal, etc.)

- If containers do not have an expiration date, make sure to mark them for rotation. Canned food usually has a shelf life of 18 months to 2 years. Dry products like cereal, crackers, cookies will last 6 months.

- Another great option is purchasing cases of MRE's. The same kind that are used by our troops. They have a shelf life of years. We have them and have tried one. It's not that bad.

Step 2: Make A Plan

- Designate an out of area contact person. Long Distance service is often restored before local service. Provide this person with the names and numbers of people you want to keep informed of your situation. Instruct family members to phone this person and tell them where they are if you become separated.

- Documents binder. Make copies of important documents that you might not have time to grab. These can include birth certificates, social security cards, driver's licenses, wills, deeds, insurance information (health, car and home), prescriptions, etc. Make sure to include photos of all family members and pets, as well.

- Make sure every family member knows where the emergency kit is and where each go-bag is (We'll discuss go-bags next week).

- Designate a meeting place outside of the home in case it becomes unsafe. Designate two areas. One just outside of the house, and one outside of the neighborhood in case of an evacuation.

- Teach each family member how to use a fire extinguisher. If you don't have one in your home, purchase one.

- Locate the gas main and other utilities and make sure each family member knows how and when to turn it off.

Be Prepared: Part 1

There's been a lot of talk recently on "Being Prepared"... for the big one, for the downfall of society, for 12-21-12 or for any other catastrophe.

Wes and I are prepared. Not crazy "Doomsday Prepper" style, but I'd like to think that if all power and communications were cut for a few weeks, we'd be comfortable.

Now, we've talked to a lot of family and friends who would like to be prepared, but are a little bit overwhelmed with where to start. So, I've decided to come up with a plan for all of you. (And in the process, I'll be able to double check my supplies.) Each week, I'll post a few steps in getting your kit together. That way, there will be time to get it done and time to ask questions or post your own ideas. So, here we go.

After a major disaster, the services we take for granted may not be available. (Running water, electricity, phone, etc.) These are basics to get your emergency kit started for 72 hours of survival. Please feel free to add to it.

Step 1: Get a container for your emergency kit. It should be kept in an easily accessible location and would ideally be watertight. A great example is a large plastic trashcan with lid and wheels.

Step 2: Water- a minimum of 3 gallons per person, per day ( If you have 2 people in your household, you will need 18 gallons). This is enough to allow for drinking, hygiene and cooking.

Tap water can be stored in clean 2-liter bottles. Label and store in a cool, dark place. Tap water should be replaced every 6 months. Commercially bottled water should be replaced by date on bottle or every 12 months.

There you have it. The first 2 steps. Don't procrastinate on this one. Get started on your supplies and be prepared.