So, how often should you rotate your water? You should really be rotating your water every year. It can be a big task, so I use the water preserver that you can add to water in a container such as the barrels or the stackables and it will keep the water good for 5 years. It can be a pain to drain those big 55 gallon drums and then refill them, so by using the preserver, I only have to do this task once every 5 years.

I encourage people to have access to water in at least 3 different ways. The first way is that water should be portable (think the 5 gallon stackable water containers), the second way is that you should have access to a lot of water (think the big barrels), and the third way is that you should have a way to purify water (think potable aqua tablets and/or a water filter).

I recommend the potable aqua and the water filter because during a disaster you may have access to water, but it may be dirty and full of bacteria. By having potable aqua and a water filter, you can turn that contaminated water into safe drinking water. The potable aqua tablets and the water filter are small enough that you can stash the tablets in your glove compartment and the filter in your 72-hour kit and know that wherever you may be when a disaster strikes, you will be able to have safe drinking water.

Water is an often overlooked resource, but it is essential and life-sustaining. Take the time to make water an important part of your food storage and emergency preparedness plan.

I am sometimes reminded of the line from the poem (I think it’s Rime of the Ancient Mariner), “Water, water, everywhere and not a drop to drink.”  Water is so basic, but I think it is often overlooked.  We assume that when we turn on our faucets that clean water will come out.  But in an emergency or disaster, water is one of the first things contaminated.  The first thing that clears off store shelves when a hurricane is approaching or a big winter storm is on the horizon is water.

Storing water is essential to be prepared.  You need one gallon of water per person per day.  Storing a two week supply of water is the minimum that we should all be doing.  That’s 14 gallons for each person in your household.  There are 6 people in my family, so we need 84 gallons.  That is a lot of water.  But it is too important to ignore or put off.

So, how do you store all that water?  I like the 5 gallon stackable water containers because they have grooved rims so that they can stack without falling over.  The 5 gallon stackable water container comes with a handle and is portable.  A gallon of water weighs about 8 pounds, so a 5 gallon container would weigh about 40 lbs.  You wouldn’t want to carry that too far, but it’s great for grabbing and throwing in your car in the case of an emergency.

I also like the big barrels.  You can fill it up and know that you have a lot of water.  But the barrels are obviously not portable…a fully loaded one can weigh over 400 lbs!  If you would need to shelter in your home, barrels are great for giving you access to a huge amount of clean water.

Tomorrow we will focus on water rotation and why you should have 3 different ways to get water.

Preparing for an emergency can be overwhelming at times.  We think about how much it will cost, how much space we will need, and how much time it will take.  I have a sister who lives in Hoboken, New Jersey, across the river from Manhattan.  I am aware that for people living in big cities, space is at a premium.  But people in big cities can also face increased risks from terrorists and they may have fewer options in the case of an attack than people who are living in the suburbs.  So, how do you prepare when you don’t have anywhere to put things?

You would be amazed at where you can find space if you just get a little creative.  My sister renovated her kitchen last year and she decided to do double cabinets all the way to the ceiling.  She was unsure of her decision at first, but she has enjoyed a bonus of additional storage space that would have otherwise been wasted.

Don’t assume that you have to have one spot for all of your emergency preparedness items.  Look for little spots all around the house.  Maybe you can declutter your kitchen and find an empty shelf to store a first aid kit, some lightsticks, a few dust masks, and a few Ready candles.

Keep a Shake Ready light on your nightstand and a Lumin plugged into the bathroom outlet.  Stack the 5 gallon stackable water containers on one side of your closet.  Stash a Ready bottle in your desk at work and throw another one in the trunk of your car or even in your purse.  Keep a 72-hour kit on a hook in your hallway closet.  Stash some boxes of MREs and freeze-dried food under your bed.  Little changes can make a huge difference, so figure out how some small changes can give you a big feeling of security and peace.

It is important to have a family emergency plan in place so that everyone knows where to go if there is a home emergency (like a house fire) or an emergency in the area.  There also needs to be a contact person, preferably someone who lives out of state since it is often easier to call out of state than to make a local call after a disaster.  Keep this person’s name and contact information in your wallet, purse, or backpack even if you have the phone numbers memorized.  In stressful situations, we can often forget things that are normally easy to recall.  A family emergency plan is of no use if your family members don’t know it.  Practice the emergency plan and talk to family members about what natural disasters are common in your area and what the likely consequences will be.  I believe that when we give people information, we give them the ability to make good choices.

So, to recap.

1.      Make a family emergency plan.

2.      Make sure that everyone knows the plan.

3.      Decide on a contact person and make sure everyone has the contact’s information.

For our family, we meet at the park across the street from our home if we need to evacuate our home due to something like a house fire.  If we would need to evacuate our city, we meet at my husband’s office a few miles from our home.  All of our children are small, so I am in charge of getting them from their various schools during an emergency.

It’s also essential to know about your child’s school emergency plan.  Would they shelter-in-place?  Where would they go if the school was unsafe?  Ask these questions of your school administrators and share your findings with other parents.  Develop a plan with other parents to look out for each other’s children in case of a disaster.  I gave the school an additional sheet of people who were allowed to pick up my children besides the 4 slots they gave me so that if I was unable to reach my children, that I know several neighbors and friends would be able to keep them safe.

I also believe that practice makes perfect.  Do a drill one afternoon or on a Saturday while everyone is out running errands.  Do you know where all your family members are?  Would they be able to get home?  Would you need to meet at your specified meeting place?  By talking about your family communication plan and practicing it, you give yourselves the chance to know who to contact and how to respond when an emergency affects you.  By developing a family emergency plan, you can rest assured that your family members will know what to do and how you can all be reunited if a disaster strikes.

It was just a couple of days after Christmas and we were all feeling a touch of cabin fever.  It had been bitterly cold and it seemed that it had snowed nonstop for days.  I love the snow, but at times it was just too cold to be outside.  My husband was at work and I was determined to take all 4 of our kids sledding.  We searched for all the gloves, hats, snow pants, jackets, and boots which took what seemed like forever to dress everyone in.  Then it was one last potty stop before heading to the local elementary school.  A large hill slopes towards the back of the school and we thought it would be the perfect place to sled.

We took turns with the kids going 2 at a time.  They loved the snow and the cold and the reckless feeling of speeding down a hill with no sense of control.  The baby started to fuss and I knew that we were at the end of our adventure.  I told the boys they could go down the hill one more time before we headed home.  I straightened the blanket covering the baby and picked up the camera to take a couple more shots of our fun.

And then it happened.  It was so fast, but I saw it coming.  The boys were going too fast and they flew past me before I could reach them.  I screamed at them, “Roll off the sled!  Roll off the sled!”  But they were going too fast.  Zach was sitting in the front of the sled and I heard his head hit the metal side of a portable classroom before I think I even saw it.  Tyler jumped up immediately, but Zach was still down, but I heard him crying.  A thousand things flew through my head, “Does he have a skull fracture?  That was so stupid to let them go sledding that close to the school.  Should I call 911?  What was I thinking?”

I ran down to them in huge strides and scooped up Zach.  There was no blood, but his face was swollen and he cried as I ran with him to the car.  “Do we have to go to the hospital?” he sobbed as tears ran down his swollen cheeks.  I told me that we just needed to go see the doctor to make sure everything was OK.  “I don’t want to,” he cried.

I was breathless from panic and yelled at my other children to hurry and get to the car.  My oldest daughter maneuvered the stroller through the snow while I strapped Zach in his car seat and threw everything in the back of my van.  I made sure all the kids were buckled before I took off.

I drove fast.  I was aware that I needed to be careful, but I also sensed the urgency in getting Zach to a hospital fast.  As soon as we hit the interstate, I gunned it and weaved in and out of lanes to get there.  We were ushered into a pediatric room in the ER and luckily, Zach had suffered no head trauma and no broken bones.  His cheek swelled and a black eye and purple bruise that extended from his eye to his jaw covered his face.  We were so lucky, I know that.  Almost a month later, I can still see the yellow bruise outlining his cheek.

I am grateful that we have a first aid kit in our car and that we were able to apply an ice pack to Zach’s face within minutes of his accident.  I am also grateful that our kids responded the way they did.  We have talked with them about possible emergency situations from a house fire to an earthquake.  Although the situation was scary for them as well as for me, they acted quickly and followed directions, just like they were supposed to.

Tragedy and emergencies are a part of life.  They come when you have a house full of guests for a holiday party or when you are doing the mundane every day things of life like folding laundry and putting gas in your car.  Part of being prepared is having on hand the things you need, but another part is having the knowledge and peace of mind to make good decisions in difficult situations.  By taking steps to prepare ourselves and our loved ones, we can enjoy a sense of security, knowing we have done what we can to prepare.

When disaster strikes, whether you are given 24 hours notice or 2 minutes notice, a very important thing you can do to keep your family protected is to have easy access to your 72 hour kits. It’s natural to get flustered and anxious when an unexpected event occurs, so if your 72 hour kits are kept in a place that you can access easily on your way out the door, you will be more likely to take them with you. It’s amazing that all the time an effort spent to put together emergency supplies can be completely wasted if you are unable to get to your kits in time or you don’t remember where you’ve put them. Some of the best places to keep your kits are in a hall closet nearest to the door that you exit from the most, in your garage, or even in your car if you have room.

If you choose to put them in a closet, make sure they are accessible and not shoved in the back or left under a pile of old kids toys, shoes, and spare diapers, which occasionally happens to mine. If you always leave the house through your front door, it would be wise to not leave your kits in a closet at the back of the house and vise versa. The key is to choose a location that is easy to get to and is on route to your most likely exit point.

If you choose to leave them in the garage, a good idea would be to install hooks on the wall near the door so you can just grab them and go. Or designate a shelf that you can get to quickly. If you have room to store them in your car then that is great. Just make sure to take them out if you ever take your car in for service so that they are still available to you. The last thing you need is to go to all the trouble of having 72 hour kits then not being able to use them when you need them because your car is getting new tires.

It is also a good idea to take your kits with you if you plan on driving for a vacation. We’ve been having record snowfall in the mountains of Colorado this year. Just last month, hundreds of drivers were stuck on I-70, just west of Denver, Colorado, when the road was shut down during a big blizzard. There was no where to turn around and no way of getting off the interstate. People were stuck in their vehicles all night, during the middle of a blizzard no less, until crews were able to make sure no avalanches were going to cover the interstate from all the new snow. I would be surprised if any of those drivers had access to 72 hour kits. Just imagine how much better their nights would have been with a space blanket and some high calorie food bars.

Four years ago, Colorado had one of the biggest storms it has had in over a decade. The snow was falling in feet, not inches and that was in town, not just up in the mountains. The Hospitals were all on the plan D, Disaster Mode. Stores were shut down because people couldn’t get out of their driveways, let alone get to work. Fortunately for us, we have a year’s supply of food for just this type of situation.

When people are asked about emergency preparedness, they tend to think of “end of the world” scenarios. But it can be as simple as a snow storm or outrageous gas prices that prevent you from going to the store for the things you need. Ideally, it would be best to be prepared for short term needs as well as long term needs.

For short term needs, the best route to go is to get 72 hour kits for each member of your family. 72 hour kits are backpacks that contain enough supplies to last a person 3 days. They typically contain high calorie food bars,(with a minimum of 1200 calories per person per day) water or purification tablets, waterproof matches, a flashlight, a whistle, a space blanket, and a first aid kit. Some even have tents and hygene kits and there are a number of other items you can add. There are also adult and child specific kits. The children’s kits usually contain the same general items as the adult kits but they also have some sort of entertainment, such as coloring books or small toys.

Once you purchase your kits it is a good idea to make copies of important records, such as driver’s license, birth certificates, and copies of prescriptions that you take, to include in the kit. It is also a good idea to have spare keys for your home and vehicles and to have at least $100.00 cash. You also need to make sure that you keep handy a supply of diapers, wipes, formula, etc. that you would need for young children. Since emergencies can cause panic and anxiety, it is also helpful to make a list of items you should take with you, if you have time to grab them, so that you don’t have to try and remember everything when time is limited.

For long term needs, it is ideal to have a year’s supply of foods and essentials. MRE’s (meals ready to eat), freeze-dried food (that all you need to do is add water), and high calorie food bars are all good options. The MRE’s typically need to be rotated every 5-7 years depending on the temperature at which they are stored. The freeze-dried food comes in a 2 person serving pouch that can be stored for up to 7 years or in a 10# can that has up to a 30 year shelf life. The high calorie bars need to be changed every five years. It is also essential to have a good supply of water. You can buy water storage containers or you can even fill up empty 2 liter soda or juice bottles. Anything that is used to hold liquids. you should change the water once a year, or you can buy purification drops that will keep the water usuable for up to 20 years. It is also a good idea to have a year’s supply of items such as toilet paper, candles, matches, disposible dishes, etc.

If you are just starting to prepare your family and home, don’t be overwhelmed with the amount of things you need to buy. Start with the 72 hour kits and then buy a little bit each paycheck or each month. A disaster can happen any time, any place, so it’s best to be prepared.

Generally, the two most important things on people’s minds after a disaster are getting away from the danger and finding their loved ones. I am constantly amazed at what people can forget during an emergency. Last summer a part of the city I live in was evacuated due to wildfires. Many residents went to stay with extended family in other cities until the wildfires had been put out. A local church served as an emergency shelter and over 100 people went to this facility. Most of these people had 72-hour kits, but not one person brought theirs. People were so concerned and panicked that they didn’t even do the most basic thing: grab the 72-hour kit they had set aside for a situation just like this.

I watched news coverage of the California wildfires and one person talked about leaving their home so quickly that they forgot to close the front door, they left it wide open! Another man described how in the chaos of evacuating, he and his wife failed to take her multiple medications that she needed for a heart condition. By taking a few steps ahead of time, we can be reassured that we will know what we need when an emergency strikes. When we make a plan, we are much less likely to panic.

So, if you had to evacuate your home, what would you need? What is most important? What is most precious? Would you know where to find everything? There are 4 steps you can take to be prepared to get out quickly in an emergency.

1. Save yourselves. The first priority should be your own life and the lives of your family members. Nothing is more important…no photo album, no momento. If danger is immediate, get out and don’t worry about anything else. If you have time, grab essentials like water and your 72-hour kits. Don’t forget about medications. Think about the basics: shelter, water, and sanitation. Take provisions for your pets. Most shelters will not accept pets unless they are service animals. For our family, we have made a list and posted it on the door going from our kitchen to the garage. It lists essentials like an Epi-pen for my daughter who has a life-threatening food allergy and a sippy cup for my baby who hasn’t yet learned to drink from a straw. Make sure you include not only the item, but its location since you may forget or your spouse may not know where you keep the extra first aid kit.

2. Save your home. If you have time, you need to try to save your home. Lock all doors and windows, and shut off any utilities that you are directed to. If you have to leave a vehicle, put it in the garage and shut the garage when you leave.

3. Save your precious things. Maybe you have a quilt your grandmother made or a painting. You may have antiques, baby books, or photo albums. Store your negatives in a binder so that if you need to evacuate, you’ll have all the photos without loading your car with 20 years of photo albums. Keep digital photos in the same binder on CDs. It’s a good idea to keep copies of important documents like birth certificates, social security cards, as well as home and auto insurance policy numbers and contact numbers in your 72-hour kits.

4. What can make my life easier? Think about travel games for your kids or a word search for you. Grab an extra blanket for your baby or a pillow for your toddler. These are things that are non-essential and only to be taken if you have the time and space.

Tomorrow we will talk about how to develop a family emergency plan so that you can make sure you and your loved ones are together and safe from harm.