Emergency Preparedness Seminar Part 1

We had our food storage group monthly meeting last night, here at my house and I was tasked with teaching 72 hour kits and water storage. I kind of expanded the subject to include "sheltering at home" in case you are able to stay in your home, but you may not have power, water or gas for several days-weeks.

It's A LOT of information to try and pile into a couple hours (so we ran over, as always), but I had fun and learned from all of the sisters.

We had several sisters that couldn't make it, but they wanted information. And the sisters that were there, had other questions and wanted information that I didn't have on hand. So, with this post, I'm going to try and sum up the night, post all my information, and answer the questions that I couldn't last night. So it's going to be a long post, but read it in bits and you'll get through it.

Download Teacher Notes Emergency Preparedness Seminar

Download Water Storage Information

We first took a preparedness quiz, then discussed what disasters can happen, what's most likely to happen in our area, and the most likely scenario (sheltering at home without power). Then I covered what you need to survive for three days-it really isn't much!

I figured I better cover the 72 hour kits and water storage first, since that's what the night was all about.

Here are my notes for the night (lengthy-but have great information).

In addition to these notes, I did attach this document in case you really wanted a list to start from, for your kits:

Download 72 Hour Kit List

Download 72 Hour Kit List Pg. 2

If you need more ideas and directions, the lady that does this blog has some great information on putting together 72 hours kits, etc.

http://preparedldsfamily.blogspot.com/2010/03/food-storage-shelf-labels-how-to-make.html

I love that she has pictures and is very down-to-earth about it all. On the right hand side of her blog, she has links to her specific blog posts.

If you want to take the quiz, here it is...

Download Emergency Preparedness Quiz (the answers are at the end of the quiz)

72 Hour Kit-

So if you read my notes, you'll see that you can die within 3 hours, if you don't have shelter (depending on the weather-too hot or too cold). The other three essentials are water, first aid, and sanitation. (No, food is not on here because you can last 3 weeks and we're discussing 3 days survival).

Here is a picture of my BARE NECESSITIES kit:

It consists of:

A bag to hold it all in

Water and water purification tablets (as 3 gallons of water is heavy!)

Emergency Blanket

Poncho

Toilet paper, hand sanitizer and garbage bag (sanitation needs)

First aid kit

Now, I don't know about you, but that's just not going to cut it for me and my family! ROFL  Here are some pictures of what's in our kits, along with a list of the items and where I got them.

 

These are our supplies for communication, light, tools, shelter, water. 

Starting at the top:

compass and map (probably Walmart)

Work gloves (Dollar Tree)

Multi-function tool (knives, screwdrivers, pliers, cutters, etc)-Emergency Essentials $4.95?

Tarp (I got a 2 mil one so it's a decent thickness)-Walmart around $2-3

50 foot rope (Dollar Tree)

Sewing kit (had for years-probably got free from a nicer hotel)

Emergency Blanket (Emergency Essentials) $1.25

Poncho (Dollar Tree-pack of 2)

Crank LED flash light (got online last year from a "Deal of the Day" store) Probably $1 on clearance but they sell for around $9+ I believe, elsewhere

Water Purifier (www.providentliving.org) I bought the one with the extra filter so it will do 100 gallons per filter-$16.50 for the bottle and one filter, or I believe $21.50 for the bottle, and two filters

Liquid Emergency 100 hour candle (I got mine free when a friend moved and the movers wouldn't take it)-Emergency Essentials $4.50

Whistle/Compass/Flint starter/waterproof match holder-Emergency Essentials $1.95

Duct tape (Dollar Tree)

Eton Hand Crank/Solar Weather Radio/flashlight/cell phone charger-American Red Cross $30 (other places sell these but I don't know the price off the top of my head so check outwww.amazon.com or visit your local Red Cross)

 

Clothing: 1 sweatshirt, long sleeve shirt, sweat pants, underwear, socks, shoes (I only put shoes in for adults since my kids' feet grow too fast)-I plan on cutting of legs and sleeves if it's warm weather-place in ziplocs to keep dry

Kids' clothing is one size too big (in case they grow, but because of elastic, will still fit them) and I pick one color for all of them so I can pass down the clothes, no matter if boy or girl.

Personal Hygiene-

Wet Ones-Grocery Store

Comb-had in my drawer

Toothpaste and toothbrush-Free from the dentist at my cleaning (or Dollar Tree)

Bar of Soap-(double bag it so it doesn't make your food and clothes smell and taste like Irish Spring

Hand sanitizer (Dollar Tree-2 larger bottles for $1)

Toilet paper-can remove the carboard if you're running out of space

Garbage bags-(just grabbed a couple from my kitchen bag stash)

Kleenex packet (Dollar Tree-I think they are in a packet of 5 for $1)

I put all my personal hygiene products in one ziploc (one ziploc for each person)-My husband's bag does have a small kit with razor, shaving cream, deodorant and shampoo)

First Aid-

The kit is pictured in my picture of ESSENTIAL items. I keep the kit in my car, which is in a garage most of the time. We use it all the time for vacations, park visits, etc. It's constantly stocked with meds, etc. I purchased a premade kit and then added the meds and stuff to it. Think we got ours at Sam's Club years ago.

Food is probably the most individualized. I showed them different options-everything from your standard jerky, instant soup, granola bar, hot chocolate kit (very popular but not my choice because I have to rotate it every 6 months), to MREs (what we have-along with other stuff), Freeze Dried (have a couple of these), Energy Bars (we have a 3600 calorie one but it's not in the picture for some reason).

We used to have those small containers that have spaghetti, mac/cheese, lasagne-you know, those Chef BoyR Dee things-have a pop top, don't need to add water, etc. Well, when it came time to rotate them, my kids either didn't like the look if it and refused to eat it, or they took one bite and spit it out.

So, after talking to the hubby, we decided on MREs (he said he lived on them over in Qatar and said they aren't bad). So we hit the local commissary and picked up a variety-spaghetti, penne and veggies, beef stew, beef enchiladas, etc. The ones they sell (for $4.34) are the deluxe ones. They have something like this: Main Entree, peanut butter packet, crackers packet, fruit packet, snack (M&Ms!), tea, spork and napkin, salt and pepper, and the heating unit.

I wasn't going to make the same mistake twice so we're trying these MREs. Last night I actually opened the spaghetti one and warmed it up for the ladies, using the heating unit. I then rehydrated some Freeze dried scrambled eggs and bacon, and opened one of the Main Stay Energy bars, so they could sample it all. I thought it was all edible, and my son just finished off the spaghetti for his after-school snack!

Our Freeze-dried food I got from Emergency Essentials since I was already ordering from there. They have it in single servings, 2 person, and 4 person. Walmart also sells some in 1 person servings. Just remember, you do need to add a little hot water to reconstitute it-I just poured a cup of hot water in the bag, zipped it up for 5 minutes, and then drained the extra water and served!

So in our bags, we have several MREs (because of all the food that's in them, we plan on spliting one MRE between one adult and one child). Then we have a couple Freeze dried pouches for variety, and then some carnation instant breakfasts and granola bars.

The great thing about MREs and Freeze Dried is they are good for a long time. MREs say 5-10 years (I error on the 5 year side), freeze dried says "best if used in 5 years" but they say it will last 30 years. They do cost a little more than the smaller stuff, but if I have to rotate other foods every 6 months, I'll definitely pay a little more so I don't have to rotate them.

Misc. Items:

Hat, Gloves (clearance at K-mart) $2

Hard Candy and Gum (if your gum is spearmint or something, double bag or everything will smell like it)

N95 Mask (Walmart) Box of 2-less than $5

Glow light sticks (I got the ones on strings to wear around neck)-Dollar Tree

Hotties Hand Warmers (www.amazon.com) I bought a box of 40 to cut cost and use for a variety of things

Pen and post its-(pen from my junk drawer-post its-bought the cheap brand from Walmart) So I can leave notes on my front door, or whereever else to pass on information

Sudoku book, Playing cards, kids matching game- (Dollar Tree)

Binder-copies of all our important documents and information. You can put the papers in a ziploc bag instead of a binder with sheet protectors. I'm converting my binder right now to a thumb drive so that it's a lot smaller to store and I can carry it around my neck if I'm in a shelter where someone might try to steal my stuff.

The vacuum bag with pink things-this is my money stash. I have small bills ($1, $5s, $10s and some quarters) in an envelope, along with a credit card. I thought that by disguising it with feminine panty liners on both sides of the envelope, and vacuum sealing it, it's less likely to be stolen, and less likely that I will try to raid the cash!

You may ask, why cash and credit cards? Well, during our storm here, there was no power so the stores only took cash. During Hurricane Katrina, stores didn't want large stashes of cash in fear of being robbed, so they only took credit cards. So our bank doesn't cancel our credit card, I have the number stored so I can order something online, once a year, and use the card. That way, I don't have to open the package.

The last thing in the back are our emergency information tags (laminated). I have these for two reasons-first, most people now days don't memorize phone numbers because we store them in our phones. Well, in your emergency plan, you want an outside contact that you could call, to tell them that you're ok, along with any family you might be separated from. Second, I have our home address, drug allergies, dx, and prescription drug information on the other side. I made these when my kids couldn't communicate, or in case I was unconsious and couldn't give out the information. My family thinks I'm crazy, but when the tornado sirens sound, I make them wear their tags because if a tornado picks up my body and throws me in the next county, I want someone to be able to identify me-I know, gross, but things happen.

So that's what is in our backpacks. Now, each backpack doesn't have 1 of each of these! Each person has clothing, personal hygiene, poncho, emergency blanket, crank flashlight, N95 mask, light stick, hand warmers, whistle and water.  I have two of the filtration bottles (one in my pack and one in my husband's). Then I divide all the other supplies up between the packs.

Because I'm the one at home with the kids, I put the essential items in my pack, in case my husband isn't around and I couldn't carry both his and mine. The lighter stuff I put in my kids' packs. Then any duplicates and the extra food and such are in my husband's bag. I'm hoping that if I had to evacuate, I could take my husband's pack, in our car, so that when we met up with him, he would have it. If I can't take my car, I'm going to put his pack in a garbage can or wagon and pull it, along with some other items.

Here are our bags, with some extra water. I store them in a closet just around from a door. Then, on the wall, I have my list of "To Grab" in case I have an extra 5 or 10 minutes before I'm forced out. If I had to evacuate, my brain would freeze so the list includes:

First aid kit (in car)

cell phone and charger

wallet/purse

car keys

computer and backup harddrive

prescription meds (so I have more than 3 days worth)

air mattresses

outside gear

5-gallon water containers

extra clothes

glasses

lock box

kids' stuffed animals or blankets

I also listed the location of the items in case anyone was helping me to pack.  So if I had a little extra time, and could take my car, I have my additional supplies organized in the garage.

EXTRA Emergency Supplies:

In the event that I could take my car, I have tubs and a closet in my garage specifically for my extra supplies.

These tubs contain most of our camping gear. So I have everything from sleeping bags, tarps, lanterns, camping stove, fuel, soap, pans, 5 gallon bucket (for toilet), hammer, hatchet, large knife, cooking utencils and pots and pans, etc, etc. Each has a tag and I have marked what's in it so I know where to put the items when we use them for campouts.

The cabinet right next to the bins has additional items like fishing gear, dutch oven, camping chairs, etc. Above the cabinet we have ice chests, tents, and pump for 55 gallon barrels. I have my portable 5-gallon water containers filled and stored out in the garage too.

Whew! That's quite a list, now that I see it written out. But we felt like it was worth the investment because we don't just let the items sit on the shelf and never be touched. We use them for camping (and make sure to put them back), and for when we're sheltering at home (loss of power, water, etc). When the tornado sirens sound, we grab our 72 hour backpacks and take them into our bathroom with us. I have the flashlights, radio, etc in an outside pouch so we can get to them easily. I also have a water container, hard candy, and the games in an outside zippered pouch because the kids get bored while we're huddled on the floor. It's a great "practice run" and to double check that everything still works.

Before I forget, it's recommended to have car kits and work kits. I just finished updating our car kits.

This one is in our truck. It really doesn't take up much space. It has:

fold up shovel (Emergency Essentials) $8.95

light sticks (Dollar store)

Small first aid kit

Whistle/compass/match holder/mirror (see above)

Liquid Emergency Candle (see above)-it's wrapped in the green plastic bag in the picture

Fix-A-Flat (Walmart) Think it was 2 bottles for $7

Flash light (Dollar Tree)

Batteries (Stored in a ziploc)

Multifunction tool (see above)

Energy bar (See above)

Water (Dollar Tree)-I liked that it had a little handle to make it easy to carry

Rope (Dollar Tree)

Plastic Sheeting (Walmart) Bought the cheap stuff because I figured I would double it up and use to fix broken window, etc) Pack of 3 for something cleap

Duct Tape (Dollar Tree)

Post-its and pen (Walmart)

Hotties Hand Warmers (See above)

Emergency Blanket (See above)

Poncho (see above)

Fleece blanket (make when fleece comes on clearance)

Jumper cables (not pictured as they are under a seat in the truck)

Small Bag from American Red Cross-they gave it to me for free and I figured I'd put it in here in case I had to backpack away from the car-it was easier to haul things in than the plastic tub