5 Oft Forgotten Items for Emergency Supplies

1. Water
So many people forget about water. The Homeland Protection Agency recommends:

A normally active person needs to drink at least two quarts of water each day. Hot environments can double that amount. Children, nursing mothers and ill people will need even more. You will also need water for food preparation and hygiene. Store a total of at least one gallon per person, per day. You should store at least a two-week supply of water for each member of your family. (Read the HPA’s page.)

While you might be able to survive a while without food, you won’t survive long without water. It’s important to be able to stock up on water. There are a wide variety of containers – including a 250 gallon tank. One of our favorite products is the water brick. These containers stack on each other and can be easily formed to different shapes or taken off of the pile if you need to move them.

If you don’t have a supply of water, you could always use water purifiers and filters. These clean up existing pond, river, stream and lake water. (Click here for our previous post on water storage.)

2. Other grains and baking goods
A lot of people stock up on wheat but a lot of people forget things like barley, millet, buckwheat, and grits.

Speaking of grains, a lot of people also forget other staples needed to make breads like yeast, baking powder, baking soda, salts and spices. We also offer these products in a cooking bundle.

3. Sanitation & Hygiene Items
There are a wide variety of resources for sanitation items. Many people have seen the portable toilet seat. However, many people overlook soaps, toilet paper, toothpaste, nail clippers, etc.

Illness and unclean conditions are very common in a disaster situation. It’s important to make sure that when you’re preparing your food or working with other people that you are clean.

4. Extension Cords
If you’ve ever moved into a new house or office, the first thing you end up buying is an extension cord. While other electronics might not be as high of a priority during an emergency, keeping a cooler and generator attached will be very important.

Be sure to check what electrical requirements your different items require. You don’t want to overload or have something not work correctly.

5. Personal Items
Don’t forget about things like personal medications, identification papers, diapers, eye contact solution, extra eye glasses, hearing aid batteries, etc.

While you might be able to survive without them, it might make things pretty hard if you can’t see or hear very well.

Along with personal items, Backwoods Home Magazine recommends that you pack a few “psychological foods.”

Quick and easy foods help you through times when you are psychologically or physically unable to prepare your basic storage items. “No cook” foods such as freeze-dried are wonderful since they require little preparation, MREs (Meal Ready to Eat), such as many preparedness outlets carry, canned goods, etc. are also very good. “Psychological foods” are the goodies—Jello, pudding, candy, etc.—you should add to your storage. These may sound frivolous, but through the years I’ve talked with many people who have lived entirely on their storage for extended periods of time. Nearly all of them say these were the most helpful items in their storage to “normalize” their situations and make it more bearable. These are especially important if you have children. (Read the BHM article.)

 

Continue reading » · Written on: 01-27-12 · No Comments »

How to get alerts of an emergency

A disaster could strike at any time, so it’s important to be alerted to the problems in your neck of the woods. Google launched a public alerts program for their Google Maps.

A new feature for Google Maps, which launched Wednesday, allows you to quickly find emergency alerts in your town or around the world.

Called Google Public Alerts, the new feature draws on weather, public safety, and earthquake alerts from federal agencies to supplement Google Map searches. (Read the article at PCWorld.)

The new Google service is available at google.org/publicalerts. The program is still growing and perfecting but it’s an awesome addition to preppers repertoire.

You can see more information about the alert by clicking the “more information” link below it. In this case, the link takes you to a Google Alerts page that displays the text of the alert and a local map of the affected area.

Whether or not an alert will appear in the results column depends on activity at a location, severity of the alert, and the wording of the search query.

If you’re curious about emergencies outside your local area, you can go to the landing page for Public Alerts. There you can see where alerts have been sounded around the world by allowing your cursor to hover over any orange circle on the map.

When you do that, a summary of the alert appears in a pop-up box. Clicking the circle displays a fixed box with a link to the source of the alert. (Read the article at PCWorld.)

The system also provides information on where emergency responders should go. (Read the Google announcement here.)

There are also a number of other resources that preppers can use to be notified of alerts, disasters or coming storms.

Here are a few:

  • National Weather Service: The NWS has forecasts, current conditions and maps on their website. They also send out national weather reports through their Twitter account.
  • FEMA: FEMA has a number of Twitter feeds for different regions of the United States. They send out weather and other disaster alerts straight to your phone.
  • Weather Channel: The Weather Channel has a map which displays tornado, thunderstorm, flood, heat and other weather alerts on their front page. They also announce major activity through their Twitter account.
  • Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System: This is a great resource for international weather happenings. They notify you about earthquakes, tropical cyclones, and man-made emergencies that could spread internationally. They also have a Twitter account.
  • The Ready Store’s Twitter Account: The Ready Store has a Twitter account that follows all of these accounts. We try and post the vital news from each of these outlets. Follow us on Twitter and we can deliver this information straight to your computer or phone.

 

Continue reading » · Written on: 01-26-12 · No Comments »

Weekly Jobless Claims Rise

FOX news reported today that Americans seeking unemployment benefits jumped last week even though long-term projections show overall improvement.

The number of people seeking unemployment benefits rose last week to a seasonally adjusted 377,000, up from a nearly four-year low the previous week. But the longer-term trend is pointing to a healthier job market.

Applications have trended down over the past few months. The four week average has declined to 377,500. When applications fall consistently below 375,000, it tends to signal that hiring is strong enough to lower the unemployment rate.

Some economists say the figures suggest further job gains ahead. (Read the full article on Fox News.)

The Federal Reserve acknowledged that the rates are still too high and mulling what to do moving forward.

The U.S. central bank vowed to keep overnight lending rates near zero until at least late 2014 and Chairman Ben Bernanke said the Fed was still mulling further asset purchases to help foster stronger economic growth. (Read the full article on Fox Business.)

Recently, author of “A Nation of Moochers,” Charles Sykes, sat down with Fox News to talk about the recent surge in American families using food stamps. Check out his interview below:

What better way to prepare for economic hard times than to be self-sufficient and prepared to feed your family.

Continue reading » · Written on: 01-26-12 · No Comments »

“Location is key” to your food storage

Imagine an emergency occurs and you have to open your food storage only to discover that it’s not good anymore. That would be horrible.
How and where you store your food can have a huge impact on the life of your food storage. 

Cool temperatures
Make sure that your food is in a consistently cool place. Many times your garage is cool during the winter but without air conditioning in the summer it can get pretty hot in there. Make sure that the location of your food storage is consistently cooler. According to Country Survival, “canned goods store 2 to 3 times longer at 70 F than they do at 90 F. Most dry goods store indefinitely below 70 F but for less time at higher temperatures.” (Read the Country Survival article.) Remember that being in the shade doesn’t necessarily mean it’s cool.

Also be sure to not place your food next to a heat source. Pipes and walls can be cool during certain times of the year and hot at others. Be sure to think about the effects of changing seasons. Make sure that other utilities like freezers, refrigerators, furnaces and water heaters are not in the same room.

Dark places
Speaking of shade – it’s important to make sure that your food isn’t stored in clear or see-through containers. Now, if you buy food at The Ready Store, you don’t need to worry about that because all of our stuff comes in #10 cans, boxes, pouches or barrels. However, if you can your own foods and have them in glass jars, make sure that you store them in a dark place. Consistent light can fade colors, zap your food of vitamins and make fat go rancid.

Make sure it’s dry
One of the reasons that freeze-dried and dehydrated foods last so long is because water is taken out of them. Water and moisture leads to deterioration and corruption. Freeze-dried foods typically have a shelf life of 20-30 years. Dehydrated foods typically can stay on the shelf for 10-20 years.

Airtight canning
While you can’t have an airtight room, you can have airtight cans of food. This will prevent odors and smells getting out of the container. In fact, many people use Mylar bags inside of their plastic barrels and containers. This keeps rats and other vermin away because they can’t smell the food. They also place oxygen absorbers inside the Mylar bags to ensure that insects don’t grow a colony inside the bag.

Are You Prepared mentions that “Oxygen will rob food of its nutritive value. All living food contains enzymes that, when exposed to oxygen, start to break down the food by a process known as oxidation. Nutritive value is lost little by little as food breaks down. That is why it is important to remove the oxygen from the containers before you seal them. It’s also good to store grains a whole rather than cracked grain. Once the kernel is ground, it starts to lose it nutritive value and the rancidity process begins.”

Signs of oxidation include discoloration, mold growth, and swelling in the package. If you want to know more about oxygen absorbers visit FreshUs.

 

 

Continue reading » · Written on: 01-25-12 · 5 Comments »

Under Obama price of gas and meat jump

There has been a lot of talk about how certain legislation has effected the economy. The CNS News reported this week:

So far, during the presidency of Barack Obama, the price of a gallon of gasoline has jumped 83 percent, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

During the same period, the price of ground beef has gone up 24 percent and price of bacon has gone up 22 percent. ….

The price of unleaded gasoline never reached the 10-year high of $4.09 back in July 2008 under George W. Bush’s administration, but it did get close.

By May 2011, gas prices hit a high under the Obama administration at $3.93, about four percentage points away from the July 2008 high. (Read the entire article at CNS News.)

Thankfully, during this time the price of a few staple foods hasn’t shifted much.

Whole milk prices averaged above three dollars [for] 33 out of the 36 months since Obama took office. In January 2009, the price for one gallon of whole milk was $3.58; but by December 2011, milk prices had slightly declined less than one percent (0.28 percent) to $3.57 per gallon.

The average retail price of Grade A eggs per dozen from January 2009 to December 2011 increased by less than two percent (1.30 percent) from $1.85 to $1.87. (Read the entire article at CNS News.)

Interestingly, many freezer items like ice cream and bacon jumped substantially during this time. It seems as if the average American is trying to buy foods that will last them a long time.

However, if given the option, a can of food from The Ready Store would last a whole lot longer than something in your freezer. Food at The Ready Store can last between 10-30 years.


On a side note, The Bureau of Labor Statistics has a collection of cool databases, tables and calculators.

Inflation Calculator. One interesting calculator figures out the “changes in prices of all goods and services purchased for consumption by urban households. This index value has been calculated every year since 1913. (Click here to see the BLS Inflation Calculator.)

Pricing Index. The BLS also provides price data for a number of products including fruits, vegetables, gas, electricity, coffee and other goods from across the years. (Click here to see the BLS Consumer Price Index.)

 

Continue reading » · Written on: 01-25-12 · 2 Comments »

Basics of Emergency Lighting (Part 2)

Previously, we discussed emergency lighting using candles, flashlights and lanterns. In this section we’ll discuss how car light strips can be used along with generators.

Car lights
A really creative idea that we came across was using car’s under-carriage strips. These lights are flexible and shouldn’t take up a ton of energy. If you needed to tack them on to a wall or ceiling they would be really easy.

Generators
If you have the means to get a generator, you’ll need to decide on purchasing a permanent or portable generator. The Learning Center at StateFarm, mentions that a permanent generator “remain permanently outside the home and on standby. They run on an existing fuel source – either liquid propane or natural gas – and are capable of generating enough wattage to re-energize your home only seconds after it loses power.”

Make sure that you have a qualified electrician look at how you set up your permanent generator. If they are hooked up incorrectly, they can lead to “back feed” of a home’s wiring. These generators can also be fairly expensive.

[Portable generators ]offer a more affordable option, when only a few vital electrical items are needed during a power outage. These generators are smaller and can be wheeled out of the garage. Their primary fuel is gasoline, so they should never be run inside the home or any enclosed area, where deadly carbon monoxide gas can accumulate.

In order to select the best backup generator for yourself and your family, determine just how much power you would need in the event of a blackout. What could you do without for a few days? Hot water? Cold food? Check the manufacturer information for each appliance to find out the wattage of your necessary appliances, and then tally their numbers. A portable generator may be your best option if you stay aware of your energy consumption, and hold to using the wattage limit of the generator. Depending on the model, portables can generate between 2,500 and 4,500 watts. By using energy wisely, you’ll still be able to comfortably endure a blackout. (Read full article at StateFarm’s Learning Center.)

If you are wanting more information about generators, please read a post that we sent out a while back.

There are a lot of options for emergency lighting needs. While some might just be getting started with their lighting needs, others might be well prepared. Just be sure to be prepared to give yourself peace of mind in an emergency situation.

Continue reading » · Written on: 01-24-12 · 1 Comment »

Basics of Emergency Lighting (Part 1)

You don’t realize how much lighting and electricity you use until you don’t have it anymore.

While most of us probably don’t have the means (or time) to make our own solar/wind turbine power station like this guy in the video below.


There are still a number of things that you can do to have light and electricity during an emergency.

Candles
The good thing is that candles are inexpensive. However, they only last for a certain amount of time. If you need a quick solution, candles are a great alternative.

LED Flashlights
When purchasing flashlights, LED is probably the best route. LED flashlights are typically a little more expensive than other flashlights but they kick incandescent and fluorescent flashlight’s trash. Check out the comparison of for the different bulbs:

LEDs Incandescent Fluorescent
Avg Life Span 50,000 hrs 1,200 hrs 8,000 hrs
Watts used 6-8 watts 60 watts 13-15 watts
Turns on instantly Yes Yes No
Heat emitted 3.4 BTU/hr 85 BTU/hr 30 BTU/hr

(Statistics courtesy of The Light Authority. Click to see more statistical data about lightbulbs.)

Some people wonder about keeping batteries in case their is an electromagnetic pulse (EMP). If you feel the need, you can place your batteries in a container wrapped with tin foil and other EMP protective elements.

Lanterns
Lanterns are a little easier to handle than flashlights. The best part is that you can just set them down. Make sure that you get a lantern that has a car battery extension or solar panels.

This is just part 1 of 2. Tune in later today for part 2, where we’ll discuss some innovative lighting techniques and generators.

Continue reading » · Written on: 01-24-12 · 2 Comments »

Teaching children emergency plans

Natural disasters don’t always happen at the most convenient times. It’s likely that your family may not be together during a natural disaster, instead they will be at school, work or on the road. It’s important to establish and practice a family emergency plan in case you are separated.

Establish an emergency spot

Determine where your family will meet in case of an emergency. Schools will probably ask the children to stay at that location, however, determine what your children’s school’s emergency plan is. You should establish a meeting location in case your children are playing with friends or somewhere else.

If the emergency happens while you’re at home, practice gathering to a spot outside your home.  Have a night where you practice meeting at your family’s emergency spot.

Communication

During an emergency, communication might be a hard task. Phone lines might be busy or packed with other calls. Interestingly, text messages are more likely to send. Have your children practice sending a text message explaining if they are OK, where they are located and where they will meet you.

Kits

Beyond your family’s food storage, you should plan on making some smaller kits located in your car, at work or other locations that you frequent. Make sure these kits have some water, food, a radio, a flashlight and other light-weight emergency items. Be sure to have identification and prescription drug information with your children.

Video

Here is a video that we found from FEMA. It addresses some ways that families can begin a family emergency plan.

Continue reading » · Written on: 01-23-12 · No Comments »

Tornado Preparation

Our hearts go out to those who were effected by the thunderstorms and tornadoes in parts of Alabama, the South and Midwest. Fox News reported today:
At least three people have died in Alabama after severe thunderstorms pounded the South and Midwest early Monday, leaving thousands without power and prompting tornado warnings in a handful of states, Reuters reported.
Jefferson County sheriff’s spokesman Randy Christian said a 16-year-old girl was killed in Clay and an 82-year-old man died in the community of Oak Grove.
A storm system produced a possible tornado that moved across northern Jefferson County around 3:30 a.m., causing damage in Oak Grove, Graysville, Fultondale, Centerpoint, Clay and Trussville, Christian said. He said several homes were destroyed and numerous injuries were reported.
Power outages were also reported for tens of thousands of people, Fox affiliate WBRC-TV reported. (Read the Fox News article here.)

We wanted to highlight a few things that people can do in order to prepare for a tornado.

1. Create a safe room

A safe room is an area where you and your family can go to seek shelter in case their is a storm. This room should offer a very high-level of protection. Considering building a safe room in your basement, beneath a concrete slab foundation, or in the garage.
Family Survival Planning recommends that the following criteria for a safe room:

  • The shelter must be adequately anchored to resist overturning and uplift.

  • The walls, ceiling, and door of the shelter must withstand wind pressure and resist penetration by wind-borne objects and falling debris.

  • The connections between all parts of the shelter must be strong enough to resist the wind.

  • If sections of either interior or exterior residence walls are used as walls of the shelter, they must be separated from the structure of the residence, so that damage to the residence will not cause damage to the shelter. (Visit Family Survival Planning’s page.)

2. Water supply
One of the major things that tornadoes can effect is the city’s water supply. While it might take a few days for repairs to bring clean water supplies back to your home, you’ll need to supply your own water. Be sure to at least 30 gallons of water for each member of your household.
Another good option is water purification tablets.
3. Food supply
Plan to have at least 3 days worth of food. It’s a smart idea to place freeze-dried foods that won’t take up a lot of space and won’t go bad for 20+ years. That way you can stock the room and forget about it.

4. Temporary light & communication
Since the safe room doesn’t have any windows or holes, it’s important to have a light. Consider purchasing a radio/flashlight combo. There are a number of flashlights that are also self generating.

5. Miscellaneous items
There are a number of other things that you might not think about stocking in your safe room. For example, you might consider having an extra set of clothes for each member of your family in the room. You should also have some work gloves in case you need to clean up when you get out.
You can also stock the room with blankets, reading material and some card games.

 

Continue reading » · Written on: 01-23-12 · 1 Comment »

Record year of disasters brings changes to US disaster plans

According to a recent FEMA report, some changes might be in store for U.S. emergency plans. These plans would rely less on the government and more on volunteer services.

Smaller government budgets and more natural disasters, as a result of climate change, will deplete the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s resources in the future, so the agency will rely more on volunteers, local know-how and technology to cope, it says in a Jan. 13 report that imagines emergency management in the year 2030 ….

 

One of FEMA’s suggestions is for schools to include emergency management skills tailored to the local environment in their curricula, similar to efforts in the second half of the 20th century to educate people about safe driving and fire safety.

 

The agency says it will rely on volunteers in operational and support roles and envisions databases of pre-approved lists of volunteers who have particular skills and qualifications. It also says it intends to leverage the surge in retired baby boomers as a source of volunteers. (Read the full article on Fierce Homeland Security.)
This comes on the heels of news that 2011 was a record year for natural disasters. With earthquakes in Japan, New Zealand; Tsunamis in the Pacific; and record temperatures, the toll of natural disasters took a hit on many financial books.
Devastating earthquakes in densely populated areas and a large number of weather-related disasters made 2011 the costliest year ever for natural catastrophe losses in the insurance industry, according to executives at Munich Re, one of the world’s largest reinsurance companies.

 

At about US$380 billion, global economic losses were nearly two-thirds higher than in 2005, the previous record year, when losses amounted to US$220 billion. Asia and North America racked up the most insured losses.

 

Earthquakes in Japan in March and New Zealand in February alone caused almost two-thirds of these losses. Insured losses of US$105 billion exceeded the 2005 record of US$101 billion.

 

Of the US$105 billion in insured losses, 47 percent were due to earthquakes, compared to a 30-year average of 10 percent. (Read the article on ENS Newswire.)
Now, more than ever, is an important time to be self-sufficient and collect your own food storage for you and your family.

Courtesy of Munich Re

 

Continue reading » · Written on: 01-20-12 · 1 Comment »