How Do I Keep My Family Warm?

Last winter we had quite a few major wind/snow storms. The winds reached 85 miles per hour one night! It was a bit frightening to sit in a quite home in the middle of the night, hoping a tree wouldn’t crash into our window. In the morning that followed, that major storm was over in our town, but across the state, it was still raging. People were losing power where the wind storms had caused massive rolling blackouts. It got me wondering, how in the world are those people staying warm in the middle of winter with no heat? So I decided to do a little research on my own to protect my family from any such disasters. 

First of all, dress warmly to conserve as much body heat as possible. If it is extremely cold, your bed is a good place to stay. Cover up with as many blankets as possible. Sleep with your family huddled together this way. You can also purchase space blankets that are very inexpensive and lightweight. They are made to keep heat trapped under them, and will help to keep your body temperature at a more normal level. 

There are ways, other than electrical heating units, that can be used to warm your home. Safety is extremely important when trying to use alternative heating methods. You should not burn anything in your home larger than an average candle, unless you have good ventilation to the outside. Possibilities include fireplaces, camp stoves, a wood, gas or oil heater, or a gas run hot water heater. 

The best way to stay warm in your home is to confine the heat source to one room. Make sure it is ventilated properly for the heat source you are using. Choose a room on the side of your house that won’t have a majority of the winds blowing on it, and a room with smaller windows. If you have a basement, the earth may act as insulation in the winter.  Keep the doors to your heated room closed at all possible times. Cover the windows with heavy bedding to prevent drafts. 

If you can’t stay warm in your house by following these suggestions, pack up and go! Find a shelter with a generator that can keep you safe. Don’t forget to take your 72-hour kits with you.

Are You Prepared?   
 

If your city’s alarm system went off right now, warning you of immediate danger and requiring the evacuation of your family, would you be ready? If you haven’t thought about that, maybe it’s time that you do. In today’s world there are so many disasters that could strike in a moment’s notice. From natural disasters to a terrorist attack, we should be ready to protect our families by being prepared for these emergencies. 

In an immediate emergency, what do you need to survive? Experts tell us that we should have a “Go-bag” or “72-Hour Kit” ready for each member of our family in case of emergency. Something we can take with us right at the moment, that’s packed with essentials and ready to go. It’s a great idea to set aside a backpack for each member of your family for this purpose. 

There are many different options with regards to what to put in your go-bags. These are some of the basics. First of all, make sure each family member has an I.D. tag in their bag. You would also want to have a card listing their allergies (medication, food, stings) and copies of your insurance cards. If you have members of your family who wear glasses, try to have a back up pair in the bag. Emergency cash, in fairly small quantities is good; especially quarters for phone calls. 

Also in each bag you should include: A flashlight, extra batteries, a whistle, a pocket knife, a local map, a permanent marker and paper, a bit of twine, list of emergency phone numbers, toothbrush and toothpaste, an extra key to your home and vehicle, and some basic food and water. You can purchase food bars that have 2400-3600 calories per bar. They have a shelf-life of 5 years, and are specifically formulated to not cause thirst when eating them. A smart way to pack water easily is to purchase water pouches. They also have a 5 year shelf life, and you can pack one per meal. They are 4.227 ounces of water each, which is exactly the amount the Red Cross recommends you should drink per meal in an emergency. 

Don’t forget to put your go-bags in an easily accessible location. Do not hide them away under all the other junk in your garage. Make sure each family member knows where they are stored, and knows what is inside of them. Go over a family emergency plan. Pick a location to meet at in case you are not all together when the emergency first occurs. There are many other things you can do to prepare your family for an emergency, but this is a great start to help give you peace of mind in these turbulent times.  

The 4 Step Paper Process

One of the questions I hear a lot is “Where do I start?”  Think about starting your emergency preparedness and food storage on paper before you start buying things you don’t need or already have.  There is a 4 step way to get prepared.

1. Know where you are.  What do you have and what do you need?  Maybe you set up your emergency preparedness supplies when you were single and now you are married with 2 kids.  Your needs change as your circumstances change.
2. Decide what your priorities are.  Do you want to be done and prepared as quickly as possible or do you want to prepare as you can afford it?  Do you have a pet, an infant, or special medical needs?  Your individual needs and priorities will shape your preparedness program.
3. Establish a budget.  Work food storage and emergency preparedness into your monthly budget.  Set aside a specific amount of money each month for freeze-dried food, sanitation supplies, battery-operated lantern, or water containers.  By establishing a budget, you create a path to making your preparedness a reality.
4. Keep a record.  Some of us may think emergency preparedness is important, but when our products arrive, we put the boxes in the basement and forget about it.  You need to keep track of what you have and what you receive so that you can know where you are still lacking.

By taking a few minutes to do this 4 step paper system, you can rest assured that you are getting what you need to prepare yourself and your family members and making every dollar count for what you truly need.

Infant Kits

One of the questions I am often asked is, “What should I put in an infant 72-hour kit?”  Babies have very specific nutritional needs and their kits should be custom-designed for them.  So, here are the basics of what should be in every baby 72 hour kit:

            Water                                      Formula

            Bottles                                     Jarred baby food and snacks

Disposable diapers                  Wipes

            Change of clothing                 Blanket

            Infant medication                   Sling for carrying baby

            Diaper rash ointment               Soap for bathing and laundry

            Thermometer                           Pacifier

            Contact Info                           Favorite things:  book, toy, blanket 

I know that there are lots of moms out there who nurse their babies who are thinking, “I don’t need to have formula if I am breastfeeding.”  That may be true, but I am a big believer in preparing for the worst and hoping for the best.  What if you didn’t have enough to drink and were unable to produce enough milk?  What if you were separated from your baby?  By having water, formula, and bottles on hand, you can know that the nutritional needs of your baby will be met. 

I know that there are also people out there who use cloth diapers.  So, why do I recommend disposables?  In emergency situations, you are dealing with limited time and resources.  While I think it is a good idea to keep some cloth diapers in your kit, there is no guarantee that you will have a place to store, wash, and dry cloth diapers.  Plan to keep a minimum of 3 days worth of disposables in your infant kit. 

I also like to keep an infant fever reducer in my infant kit in case my child is teething or fighting a fever.  A sling can be helpful if you are required to carry your baby and nare unable to use a stroller.  A sling can be a lifesaver for your back and arms.  It is also important to consider the emotional needs of your baby.  Does she sleep with a stuffed animal or read a certain book before naptime?  By providing your baby with comfort items, you can make a difficult experience much easier to deal with.

We don’t want to think that bad things will happen and the thought of our children being scared or hurt is a painful thought to parents.  But you can prepare your children by discussing possible scenarios and how they should respond.  Our children mirror our own emotions.  If we are upset and panicked, our children will be too.  If we are calm and thoughtful, our children will act the same way.

Do regular drills.  We try to do fire drills at least twice a year as well as earthquake drills since we live in earthquake country.  We remind our children never to return to a building that is on fire as well as our family emergency plan.

Play the “what if” game.  Ask your kids, “What if there was an emergency and you were stuck at school?  What would you do?”  Or, “What if you came home from school and mom wasn’t there and the house was locked?  What would you do?”  Talk about family rules and who they can go to if they are in trouble. 

By talking to our children and giving them information, we give them the power to make smart choices in whatever situation they may face.

I often ask parents what their child’s school emergency plan is and I am shocked that most parents don’t know if the school has one, never mind what the safety plan actually is.  The same goes for the workplace.  Do you have a safety plan at your place of employment?  If your school or work doesn’t have a plan, volunteer to help set one up.

Does your city have an emergency plan based in scenarios most likely to occur in your area?  If not, go to a city council meeting and bring it to the attention of the mayor and city council.  Coordinate with the police and fire chiefs to help your city develop a realistic plan to help all its citizens.  You will need to take into account the various businesses such as nursing homes and preschools to make sure that everyone is accounted for and assisted to the level they need.

Talk to your neighbors about their plans and what assistance they may need.  Partner with a friend so that if you aren’t home when a situation occurs that she will care for your children and commit to do the same for her children.  You can lessen the impact the disasters will have on you by taking the tine to get involved in planning for the inevitable.

Doing inventory can help you use your resources more effectively when you are preparing for emergencies through emergency preparedness and food storage.  Do you buy the same things over and over while other sections of your preparation are lacking?  Do you have a dozen emergency blankets, but not a first aid kit?  Do you have a way to heat your home, but no plans for sanitation?

The best way to do an inventory is to sit down and pull everything out.  I know this may seem like a daunting task, but if you don’t know what you have, you don’t know what you need.  I did this recently with my sister and brother-in-law.  While they were pleasantly surprised by the amount of things they had in their 72-hour kits, they found they were lacking in some areas.  They had a portable potty lid and bags, but needed toilet chemicals.  They had several tools, but no matches and no 115 hour Ready candles.

Once you know what you need, you can break it down into categories such as light and communication, food storage, first aid, etc.  Then you can figure out what you need in each area and make a plan to acquire those items.  With a little time and effort, you can make sure you are ready for whatever circumstances you may encounter in an emergency situation.

Many of us work on our emergency preparedness and food storage a little at a time. A first aid kit here, some freeze-dried fruit there. But often we fail to properly inventory and track what we have and we often fail to think about how much food we really need and set a goal with a due date. So, I guess my challenge to everyone is to first, truly assess what you have and what you still need. Do you have a dozen flashlights, but are missing essential sanitation supplies like a portable potty lid with chemicals and bags? Do you have a 72 hour kit, but need to put one in your car? Do you have MREs for your 72-hour kit, but are lacking in longer term food storage? So now that you know what you have, you can better determine what you need.

My second challenge is to set a goal. If you are just now starting, set a date to have your 72-hour kits completed. Then when you have that done, turn your attention to having a 2 week supply of water. Finished with that? Look at the needs of your family. Do you need to stock up on freeze-dried fruit or do you have a bunch of dinner choices, but no breakfast options stored? Set a goal and stick to it. We often think that food storage is a good idea, but how often do we make it a priority and say, “I will have a year supply of food by June 30^th?” We have to make it a goal, make it a priority, and then take steps to make it a reality.

We don’t know when a disaster like a flood or earthquake will hit or when a personal disaster such as a disability or job loss can strike, but we can take steps to prepare ourselves and our loved ones so that we can be ready for whatever may come our way.

I sometimes have people ask me why they should store food. “Why should I store a year’s supply of food? Isn’t that a bit much?” The truth is a number of situations could occur that could cripple the food system in our country. By taking precautionary steps, you can feel secure that your family will survive in times of need.

A drought like the one that occurred during the Dust Bowl could lead to a famine. It’s hard to imagine since for many of us we have always seen fully stocked grocery store shelves and never a lack of food to buy. But various situations from trucking strikes to a pandemic to crop failure could lead to a lack of food. How long could you survive with the food you have in your home right now? A few days? A couple of weeks? A month or two? We have become so far removed from our food since it is shipped to grocery stores in brightly colored packages that we may not realize that crop failures can directly impact us.

I see food storage as a type of insurance plan. I don’t know if we will be hit by a massive earthquake, a flood, or a worldwide pandemic, but I do know that I have taken steps to care for my family if any of those situations occur. I am a mother and am driven by a mother’s need to care for her family. The thought of my children calling out, “What’s for dinner?” or pleading with me that they are hungry, and knowing that I have nothing to feed them, that we have no food, is a horrifying thought to me.

By eating out one less time a month, I can put an extra can of food in our food storage. By making small changes, I know that I can take steps to prepare my family and ensure their safety in times of distress.

The number 3 is a magic number when it comes to emergency preparedness. You can survive for about 3 hours without shelter, about 3 days without water, and about 3 weeks without food. So, to keep with the magic number, we should try to find 3 ways to deal with each of those situations.

For shelter, there may be circumstances where we can shelter in place and use our home as a shelter. Other times we may be stuck in our cars. Keeping some basic items in our car in case we need to use it as a shelter can be life-saving. Some water pouches, survival food bars, hand warmers, emergency blankets, a Ready candle, and waterproof matches can help us keep warm in a winter storm situation. And what if a major earthquake made sleeping in your home impossible? Consider a backpacker dome tent or even a tube tent plus emergency sleeping bags.

Next is water. You can store a lot of water in your home by using the 30 gallon barrels and then adding the water preserver so you only have to change the water every 5 years instead of every year. You can also think about portable water in case evacuation becomes necessary. The 5 gallon stackable water containers are great for this purpose. And what if you had access to water, but it was contaminated? Think about potable aqua and an MSR miniworks water filter. The miniworks can filter up to 500 gallons of water, so it is a great tool to invest in.

Last is food. Survival food bars are compact enough to store in your car or even in your desk at work. You can store MREs and freeze-dried pouches in your 72-hour kits. And the #10 cans of freeze-dried food are terrific to store in your home for longer term food storage.

Emergencies and disasters don’t always happen how we plan, so by taking steps to resolve these 3 essential issues in at least 3 ways, you can feel secure in your emergency preparations.

After a bone chilling winter, I am definitely ready for a bit of warmth to hit my face! Spring brings out the flowers and green grass, but it’s really summertime that I crave. Even so, the beauty of warm summer days can still bring danger if we are not prepared. Extreme temperatures, over-exercising, or prolonged sun exposure are just a few of the risks involved in those gorgeous summer days.

In high heat and high humidity, evaporation is slower and your body has to work harder to keep a normal temperature. In a heat wave, you are exposed to prolonged periods of heat. These situations can bring on the possibility of heat-induced illness. Here are a few of those illnesses, their symptoms, and how to treat them.

Sunburn: Skin redness and tenderness, possible headache, fever, swelling and blisters. Treat a sunburn by showering in cool water to get rid of oils that might be blocking your pores. This will help your body to cool off better on its own. Apply aloe vera to the burn, if it’s available. Apply sterile bandages to any blisters, and seek medical help if necessary.

Heat Exhaustion: Heavy sweating, even if the skin might be pale or cool, weak pulse, faint or dizzy, nauseous, exhaustion, and headaches are possible. Treat heat exhaustion by getting the victim to a cool place immediately. Loosen clothing, or remove if possible. Put cold, preferably wet, cloths on the victim, but make sure the cloths stay cool. Have victim sip cool water if they aren’t unconscious, but make sure it is sipped slowly. If they are vomiting, do not give more water. Get immediate medical help if they are vomiting.

Heat Stroke: Extreme body temperature (usually over 104 degrees Fahrenheit); dry, red skin; fast, weak pulse; shallow breathing, possible unconsciousness. Heat stroke is a severe medical emergency. If you suspect that the victim has heat stroke, call 9-1-1 immediately. Move the victim to a cool area until help arrives. Remove their clothing and try sponging them with cool cloths. Make sure they continue to breathe, and use extreme caution.

Hopefully none of us will ever be in these situations, but in the possibility that we are, make sure you are prepared with information that can help save your life. Also make sure you keep a kit handy in your car, such as a basic 72-hour kit. Or at least keep a few water pouches or bottles of water in your trunk in case you get stranded on those hot summer days.

Why are kits called 72 hour kits?  Generally, the recommendation has been for people to store 72 hours or 3 days worth of food and water because that is generally how long it will take relief agencies like the Red Cross to access disaster areas.  But after Hurricane Katrina, we realized that 3 days is no guarantee.

People were stranded for days on roofs trying to escape from flood waters and others were stranded in the Superdome which was supposed to be a shelter, but had next to no supplies for all those who sought refuge.  After Hurricane Katrina, some organizations encouraged people to focus on keeping supplies for a full week instead of only 3 days.  The amount of time it takes first responders like firefighters and police officers is effected by several factors.  I live in a relatively small city with only 15 officers on our city police force.  Most of them do not live in the city limits and an average of 2 officers are on duty at any time.  Statistics are not in our favor that during an emergency, all of our police officers would be in the city and  immediately available to assist citizens.

Geography and the severity of the disaster play a part in the time it takes for first responders to reach you.  I live in a city where we are surrounded by a lake as well as a river, so in the event of a major earthquake, if bridges went down, our city would essentially be cut off from the rest of the county with boats the only way to access us.  A minor disaster that leads to roads still being able to be used has a much faster response time for police and firefighters to reach people while a major disaster that disrupts roads can lead to extreme delays in response time.  Talk to your city and local officials about what emergency plans are in place for your area and what you can do to assist them in helping those people who need assistance after a disaster.

I remember as a child, sitting in a circle on the living room floor with my parents and siblings.  A big pile of supplies was in the middle of the circle and each of us were holding backpacks with our names on them.  We were preparing our 72 hour kits in case of an emergency.  Each person took turns picking out the items we would carry as our parents explained how to use them.  The things I remember most were the Twinkies, which everyone knows last forever, and my little film canister filled with quarters.  With AT&T leading the way in giving up the pay phone business, that little roll of quarters wouldn’t do much good these days.

Now as an adult with a family of my own, it is my responsibility to make sure that each member of my family has a 72 hour kit and knows how to use them.  Some of the items, such as water, toothbrushes, and toilet paper are self explanatory, but other items need to be explained, especially to younger children.  A great way to explain the different items is to turn it into a game.  For example, with the emergency whistles you can have each family member take turns at finding a hiding place in the house and then blowing the whistle so the rest of the family can find them.  Then explain that this is what they should do if they get separated from the family.

Emergency blankets can be demonstrated by laying a blanket flat on the ground.  Then have a family member lay on the blanket leaving about a foot of material below their feet.  Fold the blanket up over the feet and then fold the sides in across the body.  Explain that this blanket is not like traditional blankets in that it is not meant to warm you up, but rather to keep you from losing body heat until help can arrive.

With older children you could write down the name of all the items in your kit on separate pieces of paper.  Have each family member take turns drawing slips of paper.  Allow time for each member to research their items.  Then everyone takes turns demonstrating or explaining the use of the items.  All of the items included in 72 hour kits are easy to use, but if you take the time to explain and demonstrate them to your children, when the time comes to use them your children will be familiar with the items and feel less anxious with the situation.

While watching the news back in October 2007, a woman was being interviewed after being evacuated from her home due to the wild fires that were burning up Southern California.  Although she was obviously concerned about what damage might be happening to her home, her concern at the moment was that she had left all of her medication in her home and did not know where to get more.  With over 500,000 people displaced by these fires, imagine the time and money you would need to spend just to obtain what you already had.

With the possibility of a fire, tornado, earthquake, or any other disaster happening at any time, it is important to add a few extra items to your 72 hour kits.  In the case of the woman from California, she would have greatly benefited from having copies of the prescriptions that she needs.  Every prescription that is filled comes with the information that is needed for a refill printed on a sheet of paper.  Once you fill your prescription just take that paper and put it in your kit.  This way you will have the name of the medication, the prescription number, the dose, the pharmacy phone number, and your doctor’s name.

Along with prescriptions you should also include copies of your driver’s license or state ID, your birth certificate, and copies of your house and car keys.  A change of clothes is ideal, especially if you have to leave your home in the middle of the night.  A pair of sweat pants and a sweat shirt works great for every member of the family.  If you have a sweet tooth, you may want to include rice crispy treats, granola bars, or any other comfort foods you might want. It is also a very good idea to include at least $100.00 in cash to purchase anything else you might come in need of.

If you have infants or toddlers you should also keep handy a bag that contains diapers, wipes, formula, and bottles if needed.  For any age children you should include some form of entertainment to distract them from the situation.  For toddlers and young children a color book works well and a deck of cards can help for the older children.

Last but not least, if you have pets you need to make sure to include enough food and water for them.  you should also include vaccination records, medications, and a list of hotels in your area that will allow pets.  If you plan on taking your pet to a shelter, make sure a pet carrier is easily accessible since some shelters will not accept pets without them.

When my husband and I were first married, we took my father’s advice to purchase a 2-person 72-hour kit for our new home as well as our car.  This ensured us we’d have the essentials we needed to survive the first 72 hours of an emergency situation, if one were to arise.  We felt safe and secure knowing we had the kits to rely on.

Two and a half years later, my husband and I were both at work when a flash flood hit our city.  The flood was so severe we lost all power and couldn’t evacuate the building.  Immediately I tried calling my husband on his cell phone, but no cell service was available.  Trying to evacuate the building, one of my coworkers had been injured to the point where he needed first aid.  And of course, I kept thinking in my head…where is my 72-hour kit when I need it?  I knew my kit included essential items we desperately needed; like flashlights and candles, emergency blankets, an AM/FM radio with batteries, a first aid kit, water and food.  All things we didn’t have access to in our part of the building.

Needless to say, we were stuck in the building for almost 9 hours until we were rescued.  Yes, my coworker was fine after he finally got the medical attention he needed, however I can’t help but to think what would have happened if it had taken longer.

Less than a week later, my husband purchased 2 more 72-hour kits for both of us to bring to work.  After going through this experience, I can’t imagine not having a kit on hand in a place where I spend 8 hours of my day.  Now my husband and I promote our 72 hour kits and advise everyone we know and care about to purchase one for each member of their family, not only for at home and in the car, but for their place of work too!

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.

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.