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.

Family Communications Plan

When I was a junior in high school, a natural disaster hit.  Late one spring afternoon, I was at my school at the softball field.  My softball team was having sliding practice since the field was so muddy and the weather was so overcast.  All of a sudden the wind started whipping around so fiercely that large drums that we used as garbage cans tipped over and started blowing away.  Debris stirred up everywhere and the air seemed to fill with dirt and dust.  The sky turned dark and it started to rain.  We all started running for our cars.  My mom was supposed to pick me up about an hour later, but we all just ran to cars and left as quickly as we could.  I jumped in the car with a teammate and we took off.  As we passed the school, the air pressure that had built up resulted in the windows of the school exploding.  Large tree limbs scattered the road and a horrific roaring seemed to be right on top of us.  We had no idea what was happening, we just knew we needed to get as far away as fast as we could. 

We later learned that a tornado had hit our city.  We didn’t live in an area where tornadoes occurred very frequently and we were caught by surprise.  I ended up going home with a friend, and didn’t know if my mom and sister were OK.  A few hours later, we were all reunited since the phones were only out for a short time.  Trees fell on houses and there was substantial property damage to some homes.  We were lucky.  It could have been much worse.  We didn’t have an emergency plan in place and we could have been separated for days, not knowing where our loved ones were or if they were safe. 

I have worked on an emergency plan with my family so that my kids know what to do in an emergency.  If we need to evacuate our house (think house fire or gas leak) we meet at the park across the street from our home.  If we have to evacuate our city, I am in charge of picking up our children from school and then meeting my husband at a local fast food place just off an interstate exit.  We know that whatever may occur, we have a plan in place so that our family can be together.

Emergency Water

Water is an essential part to your emergency preparedness. Water can also be pretty heavy. One gallon of water weighs 8 pounds, so a 5 gallon water container is going to weigh 40 lbs. That is probably the most weight I feel comfortable carrying and I probably wouldn’t get very far with that.

But don’t just think about how you would carry all that weight. You might be forced to evacuate, but be able to take your car. In that case, you can load up a bunch of water if you already have it stored. I love the 5 gallon stackable water containers for this purpose. You might be forced to evacuate on foot, but think in terms of a modern-day handcart and use strollers, wagons, garden carts, or even wheelbarrows to transport your water.

Don’t just think about carrying water, think about carrying a weigh to purify water like an MSR miniworks water filter or aqua purification tablets. They are both lightweight and take up little room, but allow you access to clean, drinking water whenever you need it. Water is one of the most important parts of emergency preparedness and can be done without breaking your back if you take the time to think things through and formulate a plan.

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.

Water is the most essential thing you can store in times of emergency.  Let me say that again, water is the most essential thing you can store.  You can live for weeks without food, but only about 3 days without water.  Think of the ways you use water every day:  to brush your teeth, to wash your hands, to flush a toilet, to wash dishes, to run your washing machine, to fill a pot for dinner.  We use water and we use a lot of it.

It takes about 35-40 gallons of water to fill a bathtub and we use about 5 gallons a minute when we shower.  Because water is so accessible and so cheap, it is often hard for us to imagine a time when water might not be available.  In areas that have had to enact a boil water order due to an emergency situation, it takes about an hour and a half for bottled water to sell out.  Make water storage a priority.  30 gallon drums, 5 gallon stackable water containers and filters such as the MSR miniworks are great ways to get your water storage going.

We need to store a minimum of 14 gallons per person in our household which equals out to a 14 day supply.  Half of that is set aside for drinking water and the other half is for things like bathing, laundry, and food prep.  Take steps to make water storage a priority and make this essential resource a necessity for your personal preparedness program.

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.

Emergency water storage is very important in our home.  We live in Las Vegas and plan to for the rest of our lives, however, knowing our city is constantly battling water shortages doesn’t help matters.  We always have plenty of clean water stored in our home in case of dire water shortages and emergencies.

We keep several 15-gallon water barrels in our basement ready and waiting whenever an emergency situation may come up.  We also keep the Aqua Blox Water Boxes on hand too!  Both of these are important for emergency water storage and give us different options depending on when and what we need them for.

The most important thing to think about when storing your water for emergencies is the shelf life.  Our 15-gallon water barrels and our Aqua Blox Water Boxes have a 5-year shelf life if used with the Water Preserver.  While normally you may need to rotate your water storage every 6 months to a year, the Water Preserver is a small bottle of liquid preservative, which will treat up to 55 gallons of water and extend the shelf life to 5 years!

The storage life of water can be affected by many different things like intrinsic parameters, ph and moisture content and environmental factors, so it’s important to purchase water storage that is packaged in accordance with FDA processing, like the options mentioned before.  Also remember to store water at room temperature (or cooler), away from things like solvents and gasoline or other chemicals, and out of direct-sun light.  All these tips will help you to extend the life of your water storage and be prepared in case of an emergency!

Whether you’re an avid outdoorsman or you just like to be prepared in case of emergencies, thinking about purifying water is extremely important.  Recently a neighbor of ours went on a family camping trip and one of his boys became extremely sick from drinking unpurified water from a lake nearby their campsite.  This type of situation can be easily avoided if you are prepared!  For an easy and affordable way to purify water, anytime and anywhere there are several solutions.

The Potable Aqua Water Purification Tablets can easily be added to water to make it bacteriologically okay for drinking…and it’s fast and easy!  There’s also a 2-step water purifier called the Potable Aqua with PA Plus, which include the disinfecting tablets and the PA Plus tablets to remove the iodine taste and color.  Both work great and are perfect to put in small places like a purse, backpack or glove box.

If water purification is something you do often, you can invest in a couple other options, which will add viral protection.  The MR Sweetwater Purifier System has a filtration system that dependably inactivates viruses, and removes other parasites and waterborne bacteria.  A fourth option is the MSR Miox Water Purifier, which is similar to the MR Sweetwater, but with no pumping required!  Both options are fast, compact, lightweight, easy to use and most importantly…reliable!

Whichever water purification system you go with, take the time to find one right for you!  Don’t let yourself or your family, get caught drinking unpurified water and risk the chance of getting really sick!

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.

In the 1940s, researchers at Harvard University, in conjunction with the US Army, formulated a water disinfection tablet at the request of the United States military. They wanted an easier way to be able to disinfect the water that their service men and women sometimes needed to drink. Thus, Potable Aqua was born!

Potable Aqua is an iodine water disinfection tablet that makes water bacteriologically suitable to drink. Although it was previously used only for our military, it is now also available to consumers. Many people keep it with them whenever they go camping or backpacking, in case of emergency. So what exactly is Potable Aqua, and how does it work?

Potable Aqua tablets are made to be dissolved in water that may be of questionable quality. When dissolved, diatomic iodine and hypoiodous acid are released into the water. These chemicals work at breaking down the cell walls of the bacteria that might be in the water you are trying to disinfect, making the water safe for you to drink. You should wait 30 minutes after using the tablets before drinking the water, to allow time for the tablets to break down the cells. You should add two tablets to one quart or liter of water.

Potable Aqua may be used in conjunction with a water filter. It is very effective against bacteria, such as Streptococcus faecalis and Escherichia coli; viruses, such as Infectious hepatitis and Poliomyelitis; and also treats water for flatworms and many cysts, such as Giardia lamblia. While Potable Aqua has proven very usefull in making questionable water drinkable again, you should remember that it is to be used as a short-term treatment. You should limit your use of it to less than 6 weeks.

Potable Aqua is a proven method for obtaining drinking water in an emergency situation. It is very simple to use and is time efficient. Put it in your 72 hour kits to prepare for times when clean drinking water for your family may not be available!

Ok, to be honest, when I first heard someone mention a “bung wrench” I thought…a WHAT??? It is obviously not a word that comes up in everyday conversation! I am here to explain what a bung wrench is, and why it can simplify your emergency preparedness.

When I was small, my parents had rows and rows of round, white, plastic climbing structures stacked up nicely in our basement. How fun for me as a child to climb upon tall white castles (yes, I have always had an active imagination), and jump off into a pile of soft blankets down below! Well, for years, I thought these climbing structures were strictly for my recreational enjoyment. Until, one day, I saw my mom take a screwdriver to the top of one of the plastic containers. What was she doing, I wondered? She explained to me that inside of these plastic barrels was a grand supply of wheat that my parents stored in case of emergency.  She was trying hard to get into the top of this plastic drum by using a screw driver to pry the lid off. Oh, if only she had a bung wrench!

Openin g a bucket, barrel, or drum without usinga bung wrench can turn a simple job into a nightmare! A bung wrench is a tool that is used to pry open these items, and more, with ease! Some bung wrenches can even be used as a gas shutoff wrench, or sometimes even to turn on a fire hydrant. A “bunghole” is the hole on the top of a bucket or barrel that is used for emptying or filling the container. A bung wrench fits into those holes and, with applied pressure, will pop the top off in no time! I’m sure my mom wishes she would’ve read this article years ago! No more screwdriver, ok mom?

Storing water is so important in case of a disaster, but it also helps in other situations. I have always stored 72 hours worth of water in 2 liter soda bottles in case of emergency. Once, while living in an apartment, I was notified that my water would need to be shut off for an unknown amount of time. It ended up being shut off for 2 days! Have you ever tried to flush a toilet without water in it? Let me just say that I was so grateful for the water that I had stored in advance. True, I could’ve run to the store to purchase water, but with a brand new baby at home, it was so nice not to have to. And if it was a disaster situation I was involved in, water on the shelves at the local stores would surely be the first thing to go!

We all know that water is an essential need to our survival, but how much water do we need to have in case of emergency? Emergency officials have said that we all should be able to be self sufficient for 72 hours following a disaster. When we plan out our 72 hour kits, how much water should we be storing for ourselves and our families?

Everyone’s needs may be different, depending upon their age, physical condition, diet, and the climate you are in, but a good rule of thumb for water storage in a 72 hour kit is one gallon per day per person. Hot environments can double the amount needed, and children, nursing women, and ill people will need more as well. Keep in mind, one gallon per day is strictly what is needed for drinking water. If you would like to plan for cooking and basic hygiene needs, 2-3 gallons per day per person would be more adequate. Don’t forget water for your pets. Allow 1 quart per day for each dog or cat.

It is very easy to take our household water supply for granted, but when safe drinking water isn’t available, it can become an emergency very quickly. Every household should have an emergency supply of water to meet its member’s needs during a disaster or other emergency. So, how and where should you store your water supply?

It is very important to always store your water supply in food grade plastic or glass containers with tight fitting caps. A great example of these containers would be: 2 liter soda bottles and other juice or punch containers. Do not use plastic milk jugs, as the protein and fat in milk is extremely hard to remove, which might allow bacteria to grow in the container during storage. When planning for long-term water storage, remember to rotate your supply, as the chemicals in the plastic containers may start to break down over time.  Containers that are not labeled as being food or beverage containers could release harmful chemicals into your water supply. NEVER use a container that has previously been used to store toxic substances! You may also purchase new plastic storage containers from retailers. There are many different sizes and types available, including “water pouches“, which are easier to put into kits that you might have to carry for awhile in an emergency.

You should always store your water supply in a cool, dry place. Try to avoid storing plastic containers of water on your garage or basement floor. The chemicals that are in the cement could seep up through the plastic and contaminate the water. Water weighs over 8 pounds per gallon, so make sure that the shelving you are storing it on is sturdy enough to hold the weight. Don’t forget, the average amount of water needed in an emergency is one gallon per person per day. More is needed for cooking and basic hygiene.

Did you know that humans can survive up to 3 weeks without food, but only up to 3 days without water? With droughts occurring all over the country, how long will it be before not only outdoor watering is restricted, but the amount of water you are allowed to use in your home is restricted as well? Or what would you do if your local water supply became contaminated? The storage of water is a simple process and can be started with items that you already own.

One of the easiest ways to store water is to wash out your used 2 liter soda bottles and fill them up. you can also use old juice bottles as long as they have a tight fitting screw on top. Milk jugs are not recommended because the lids do not fasten tight enough. The filled bottles can then be stored in your home and you only need to empty and refill them at least every six months. There is no need to add bleach to the water since it does not extend the storage time and most communities use water that has already been treated locally. If by chance you get your water from an untreated well, then you should add a small amount of bleach to the water to get rid of any parasites. If you do not buy soda or juice in large bottles, you can purchase water storage containers or drums from emergency supply stores. Just make sure that whatever you use to store your water you put a date on it so that you will know when it is time to replace it.

If you would rather not have to replace the water every 6 months, you can buy water purification drops. The drops will keep your water usable for up to 5 years. It is also a good idea to keep on hand, water purification tablets. If your water supply is contaminated, the tablets can purify the water. You can also purchase water test kits that will let you know if your water contains lead, bacteria, nitrates, pesticides, or chlorine. It will also test the pH level and hardness levels of the water. Finally, if you are able, a water filter can be purchased to clean large amounts of water. The water filters are hand held devices that can filter up to 1 liter of water per minute.

By storing just a little bit of water each week, you will soon have enough to provide for your family in times of emergency. Being prepared is the best way to ensure that your family will be protected.

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.