Communication is one of the most important things during an emergency. If can provide you peace of mind and help you to know what to expect moving forward.

Before an emergency
If you know that a natural disaster is coming, make sure that your phone is all charged up. TechnoBuffalo – a technology outlet, recommends that you leave phones plugged in during an emergency unless it’s a thunderstorm. If there is some type of surge, you don’t want your phone to get zapped too. (Read the TechnoBuffalo article.)

It’s also very helpful to prepare other members of your family before an emergency on how to communicate. Collect a list of emergency contacts and make sure that you and your children have the list in your phones.

Talk to your children, and designate, an emergency contact person. It’s preferred that it be someone outside of your regional area. If you have family that live in another state, they would make great emergency contacts.

During an emergency
If your family has a plan, they should only have to communicate to tell you that they are OK and they will meet you in the emergency spot. The Federal Communication Commission recommends the following points:

• Limit non-emergency phone calls. This will minimize network congestion, free up “space” on the network for emergency communications and conserve battery power if you are using a wireless phone;
• Keep all phone calls brief. If you need to use a phone, try to use it only to convey vital information to emergency personnel and/or family;
• For non-emergency calls, try text messaging, also known as short messaging service (SMS) when using your wireless phone. In many cases text messages will go through when your call may not. It will also help free up more “space” for emergency communications on the telephone network;
• If possible try a variety of communications services if you are unsuccessful in getting through with one. For example, if you are unsuccessful in getting through on your wireless phone, try a messaging capability like text messaging or email. Alternatively, try a landline phone if one is available. This will help spread the communications demand over multiple networks and should reduce overall congestion;



• Wait 10 seconds before redialing a call. On many wireless handsets, to re-dial a number, you simply push “send” after you’ve ended a call to redial the previous number. If you do this too quickly, the data from the handset to the cell sites do not have enough time to clear before you’ve resent the same data. This contributes to a clogged network;
• If in your vehicle, try to place calls while your vehicle is stationary; (Read the original article.)

Charging
Imagine you are lost in the forest and your cellphone battery just died. There are a number of items that could help you out in this situation. There are a number of flashlights/radios in the industry that have charging inputs. You can purchase a handcrank flashlight/radio or purchase solar panels. The handcrank is the cheaper solution (but the solarpanels will make you feel like a Jedi!).

Winter storms have been dropping tons of snow quickly across the northern United States this last week. Cities in Indiana, Ohio and Pennsylvania received blankets of snow in short amount of time.

With inclement weather being a real danger at this time of year, we want you to be prepared in case of an emergency at home or while you’re on the road. Car kits can be very helpful in case you get stuck in bad weather or are stuck away from your home for a time.

Here are a few things that you should use when creating an emergency kit for your car:

The first thing that you’ll want to take care of is your basic needs – water, food and warmth.

Water. Water is going to be important in the winter and in the summer heat. It’s important that you pack enough water for each family member. Obviously, you’re not going to be packing a 50 gallon water tank in the back of your car. You’ll want to pack your water supply in pouches or small water bottles. We recommend a narrow water container that can take up limited room in your car.

Food. You probably can’t pack enough food in your car to live off of for a long time. You’ll want to pack foods that are small and compact. Consider purchasing some MRE meals if you live in cooler parts of the United States. Temperatures above 100 F (38 C) can shorten the shelf life of your MRE. If you live in a hotter part of the United States, consider purchasing Calorie Food Bars.

Warmth. If your car breaks down, you won’t be able to use the car’s system for warmth. You can use an emergency blanket – they usually fold up to a pocket-size pouch. It’s also smart to include a few ponchos in case you need to walk in the rain or snow.

Lights. Include flashlights and flares in the kit. There are a number of cool flashlights and emergency lights that you can put in the kit. There are some that prop-up and can sit on top of your car to indicate an emergency. Consumer Report recommends that you “choose one that is bright and weatherproof. In addition, a flashlight with a magnet, flexible mounting system, or a stand will free up your hands for other tasks. Also, have extra batteries and a bulb available.” (Read the Consumer Report article.)

Flares can be used to signal a passing car that you need help or to indicate your location. Don’t ever use them as lights inside your car.

First Aid Kit. A first aid kit is always a good idea and you’ll never regret having one inside your car.

Tools. Be sure to include some basic tools that you can tighten or loosen items on your car. It’s also important to include tow ropes, jumper cables, a shovel and some sand in case you get stuck. Also consider including a pocket knife and a compass.

Gloves. This always comes in handy. Imagine if you’re headed to a fancy event and you have to get under the hood on your way there. Gloves are a great way to keep yourself clean or to be able to grab onto hot things if you need.

Radio and Batteries. Be prepared with backup batteries in case you find your batteries have run out. If you have the means, a radio is a great purchase. There are a few two-way radios that would really come in handy – including radios that have solar panel inlets and phone charging outlets.

Currently, there are 50 countries in the world that require some type of labeling when it comes to GMOs, however, the U.S. is not included on that list.

Farmers, foodies, and others interested, have recently filed a court case against biotechnology company Monsanto. The farmers purport that Monsanto’s GMO seed is created to take over competitors crops and seeds.

If you are interested in signing a petition against biotechnology companies creating aggressive GMO seeds, visit Food Democracy Now. They have news and information, including areas to sign petitions, on their website.

1. Water

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 ranging in all types of sizes and shapes. One of our favorite products is the WaterBrick. 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.)

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.

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.

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.

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.)