Evacuation Kits? Beware of rumors!
Filed under: 72-Hour Kits, Disaster Preparedness, Emergency Evacuation
A lot of people are interested in either obtaining or creating a kit to “grab and go” in case they must be evacuate.
A key point that I make is that “all kits are not created equal.” With headlines blaring about the natural disasters taking place world wide more and more newspapers and TV ads are touting their solutions for the best evacuation kits on the earth. For that reason I thought today’s blog should contain some words of caution to help you make your decisions – or even re-make – your evacuation kit decisions.
Emergency preparations can easily be driven by rumor, fad or panic. Before you let yourself get all stirred up, use your head and think!
For example, not too long ago I heard a very opinionated person in a store declare: “Never use a bucket as a kit container if you have small children because you can’t carry a bucket and carry your child – you’ll have to leave one or the other behind.” Talk about absurd! It was all I could do to keep quiet.
First, if your kits are ready and waiting to be grabbed in an emergency, you’ll have plenty of time to put both your kit and your kid in the car, stroller or wagon, or whatever mode of transportation you’ve already decided on.
Second, it is one of my recommendations that buckets make much better kit containers than many other options.
In “personal preparedness,” the operative word is personal (unless of course you are making a different point, and then the operative word is preparedness). You choose which container – of all the good choices – will best fit your needs and find the ways to make it work. (It sounded to me like someone had something to sell – and it wasn’t a bucket!)
Before you jump on any faddish bandwagon, think it through first and then sensibly make up your own mind.
To illustrate this point I just had to share the following story with you. It is a true one. For a long time “they” (and you know who they are) have continued to recommend that garbage cans should be used as a container to hold the contents for an evacuation kit. Read on:
During a mock disaster and evacuation drill in the summer of 1985 the following “garbage can incident” was reported by a Red Cross director in Provo, Utah. The mock evacuation center was established. As the drill progressed, it was brought to the attention of the authorities that an elderly, disabled lady who lived across the street from the command center, required help to evacuate. Three male volunteers were sent to “rescue” her. It took several more volunteers to bring out her evacuation kit. Their response was, “It weighed a ton!” “It” was a thirty-gallon garbage can, filled to the brim.” (Excerpt from Preparedness Principles, Salsbury, Horizon Publishers, 2006, p. 240)
We have been counseled many times to do what is necessary to be prepared. In the August 2007 Ensign, President Gordon B.Hinckley was quoted as saying, “Let us do all in our power to ‘walk in obedience’ and be prepared.”
And again I would add, in your preparations, “use your head and think.”
Real People do Get Scared
Filed under: Disaster Preparedness, Personal Preparedness, Preparedness Basics, Preparedness Perspective, Spiritual Preparedness
Okay, it finally happens! When in a crisis or extremely difficult time, it is natural that you will feel anxious and scared. The important thing to do is to try to keep calm. You can reassure your family members with phrases such as, “We are all still together, I won’t leave you alone,” or “You don’t have to worry I will look after you. We will get through this.” Tell them what has happened and let them know what you are doing about it, what you can do about it and also what you can’t do about it. This is the time when practice sessions for your emergency preparedness really pay off.
It is okay to admit that there are some things you cannot control, resolve or bring to an end. You just have to cope as best you can.
I still vividly recall, the conversation I was having with myself, as the floor pitched and rolled under me during the Loma Prieta earthquake, “Calm down Barbara. You have to find your shoes, Barbara. Try to calm down, Barbara. Think! What is it you have to do? CALM DOWN, BARBARA! Don’t scream – yet,” and so on. At that point I was beyond being scared silly, me the one who was supposed to be prepared. Yes, I was a total basket case. My bones had turned to Jell-O.
And so I repeat, you just have to cope as best you can.
Communication is the key in such situations. Let your family members talk about what they are feeling. Listen to their worries and dispel as many as you can, while still allowing them to deal with reality. And it’s OK to tell them “it’s Ok,” to be afraid when you don’t know what is going on. Sometimes the most important thing is to just be able to talk. One of the best things to do is to try to stick to what is “normal” as much as possible. Fixing “meals,” washing hands, saying prayers or reading stories: simple habits emphasized during difficulties create calmness. Decide before the need arises to make normalcy a priority.
Let’s consider the well known quote from the Doctrine and Covenants 38:30 “ … If Ye are Prepared, Ye Shall Not Fear …” Following is a bit of personal insight, Barbara doctrine, you might say. Many times this scripture is quoted with emphatic pronouncement (inferred) that if you have your 10,000 pounds of wheat under the bed (literary license taken here!), that you will (or should be) be as calm as the wind in the eye of a tornado when your disaster descends.
There is a great deal of difference between peace, confidence and the ability to move forward, doing the required tasks to get through a chaotic situation and the perceived state of euphoria while singing “Don’t Worry, Be Happy,” as the other side of that tornado comes at you full force.
At midnight, the night of that Big One, I sat on the floor in the middle of the rubble in our living room. As the floor and I continued to shudder, I wrote in my journal by camping-lantern light, while tears streamed down my face. Prayers are answered and calmness comes … eventually.
Just remember, try to be practical in your preparedness, coping as best you can.
Is Your Emergency Cupboard Bare?
Filed under: Disaster Preparedness, Personal Preparedness, Preparedness Basics, Preparedness Perspective
Do you remember, somewhere in the far, far past, hearing the nursery rhyme about Old Mother Hubbard and her dietary deficient dog? I bet it wasn’t the dog’s fault that he had to go hungry. Have you ever wondered why Old Mother Hubbard had not taken advantage of the case lot sales on dog food? Can you believe that history has recorded this sad tale of cupboard neglect?
What? Are you saying that your cupboard might resemble this scenario, even a little bit? I’ve heard rumors that there are many people who have to go to the store on the way home from work in order to have something to eat for dinner. But of course, that is just a rumor.
Today’s blog is going to discuss another kind of cupboard, one that needs more than dog food on the shelves. Of course, that will be your emergency cupboard.
At this point I think I will offer a little encouragement. Well maybe it will be a BIG encouragement. Sometimes, for many of us, the idea of attempting to obtain and maintain a preparedness program is so overwhelming that nothing gets accomplished. To comprehend the amount of food needed to sustain a family with growing children can be daunting – if we let it. Or with today’s rapidly escalating prices the thought of being able to find additional money to stock a cupboard seems nearly impossible. But may I share a thought with you that hopefully will influence your actions and response? It is possible to create an emergency cupboard that holds the things you need to sustain you and/or your family. It requires faith and the consistency of moving forward a little bit at a time.
A scripture that is applicable to this situation is found in the Doctrine and Covenants 64:33, “Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great.” Apply these principles to you and your preparedness cupboard. Go forward with faith setting aside a small amount of budget each payday, buying a small amount of foods to fill the niche and you will accomplish a great thing. Don’t weary of the time, effort and sometimes sacrifice required. Don’t be discouraged that your cupboard might not resemble your neighbor’s or Barbara’s. You will be blessed for your small efforts as they begin to add up. When the need arises you will have the supplies and things required to get you through. And you will consider it a great accomplishment.
I need to set the parameters as to what we really will be talking about – or not. This discussion is about a disaster preparedness cupboard, NOT, home storage, or long-term storage items or a having a ton of wheat under the stairs. In a serious disaster situation you will most likely be without all normal utilities, but still able to be in the shelter of your home.
Usually in a disaster, such as an earthquake, you will be living in a powerless situation. (Pun intended). The old stand-bys of dry, uncooked beans and grains could leave you mighty hungry for a long time. Even then, the drastic thoughts of chewing on grain leave a lot to be desired.
Balanced meals, planned menus and counting calories are not necessarily the main concerns as you prepare to deal with this kind of emergency.
Besides providing nourishment, the “eating of meals” during a crisis has a positive psychological effect. It helps us feel as if we have some control in an otherwise out-of-control situation. Being prepared assures existing as close to the security of normalcy as possible.
Just like the other sections of personal preparedness, the food you choose to keep on hand will be based on individual factors. These factors make your selections appropriate for your own situation, and different from what your neighbors would select. There is no one type of food or food program that is “best” or better than all of the others for everyone! The best food choices for you are the ones that suit your needs.
Foods that require no refrigeration, little or no cooking and little preparation are a must. It is extremely important to assess the individual needs of your household members. Will you be providing for an infant, invalid, elderly person or someone with a severe allergy? (I’m not talking about simple hay-fever. These are life threatening food triggers.) These considerations will make a huge difference as to what kind of food products you keep in your emergency cupboard.
Don’t be misled into complacency because you happen to have several candles and one container of canned-heat. Remember to choose food and food preparation methods that will get you through tough situations where you have to do without those essential services that we take for granted, such as power, running water, light and a supermarket on the corner to run to for supplies. In an emergency situation you may be limited to cooking on a Sterno-type stove by the light of a flashlight. Your fuel usage may be restricted, your water cautiously rationed, and you maybe dealing with these in the middle of chaos. Your food choices should be a comforting relief not an added catastrophe. Note: disaster relief should not be interpreted to mean the store on the corner has food.
And be sure to remember the goodies. During crises,especially on going ones, treats are not a luxury! The morale boosting power of something that tastes good and cheers you up is not to be underestimated. I guarantee chocolate covered wheat will not work. I would even suggest that you begin with your next shopping trip, as you fill the emergency cupboard, consistently fill boxes on the treat shelf. They should be kept up high, out of sight and difficult to access. Label those boxes in bold letters, such as – Pepto Bismol or Tums or Metamucil. That will insure that there is something in the boxes when the need arises. If you buy chocolate, buy double, just in case you can’t resist the temptation. After all you are the only one who knows what is really in those boxes.
Oh yes, don’t forget the dog. I’ll know you and your cupboards are doing okay when I see you in the store with a large bag of M&M’s and an empty Alka Seltzer box in your cart.
Preparedness or Panic
Filed under: 72-Hour Kits, Disaster Preparedness, Educational Preparedness, Personal Preparedness, Preparedness Basics, Preparedness Perspective, Spiritual Preparedness
In the last few weeks it only took having news releases become news reports with the mention of one word for consumers to go bananas as they headed for the grocery store.(pun intended). The word? Ration!
There had been rumors and reports for weeks, even months, about food shortages in war torn countries. We read reports of greedy warlords keeping food supplies from reaching starving citizens.
And of course there were all of the political pundits and rhetoric about “the other” candidate’s party being the cause of escalating prices and out-of-site, soaring oil prices causing more shortages, including foods.
Within an extremely short time panic had hit the checkout and suddenly many, many people were intensely interested. Not necessarily in a preparedness program, but above all they wanted to get their share of the rice and flour that was no longer going to be available – because of the threat of rationing. And the rationing was immediately accomplished in the stores by cardboard signs proclaiming “LIMIT” 2 – 20# BAGS PER CUSTOMER.” Bags of rice and flour, stacked on carts, were being brought into the store. My husband and I witnessed 20-pound bags of rice, which the week before had cost $3.69, whisked off the cart as people jostled to make sure they got their two bags at $11.99 each! That weekend, just such a short time ago, the same scene played out in every supermarket that we went into, the shelves were depleted of flour and rice.
Of course my warped sense of humor came into play and I thought about all of these many, many customers who had been convinced to load up on lots of rice and flour at highly inflated prices. I wondered what they were going to be able to do with excessive amounts of just rice and flour, especially if the foods they previously purchased had been mostly prepared or partially prepared convenience foods.
Which brings me to the point! Is it Preparedness or Panic? I would suggest that many of those who bought as much rice and flour as they could, bought with a sincerity of heart, but not too much common sense. I would also suggest that fear, driven by marketing strategies is what caused many of those substantial purchases.
Some of you could be thinking, “Well, Barbara, at least something is better than nothing! After all they were trying!” Yes – sort of.
Let me offer a few insights to help if any of you are caught in the position of wanting to buy; knowing that you need to buy, and in many instances feeling pressured because of the headlines and the resulting, rampant tidal wave of panic.
First, be knowledgeable about what you or your family can or can’t eat. Just because a food is being promoted or someone says it is good for you does not mean you should buy it. There is a rule of thumb that must be followed – don’t buy just to be buying, especially when it comes to food! Always consider allergies, food triggers or other dietary problems such as diabetes before
stocking–up.
Next, if you are counting on having a small amount of money or a set amount of money to purchase preparedness items, such as a tax return do not spend it all on one or two items. Stretch it as far as it will go. Stretch it until screams. Remember, according to Barbara, the thrill of the hunt and finding the best way to stock your cupboard is sometimes one of the “best parts” of preparedness.
Variety is a key word. You will hear this emphasized over and over in my blogs. Plan on paper how to stretch your buying power. Rather than buying two 20-pound bags of rice, buy one 10-pound bag rice, some flour, some seasonings, some canned tomato sauce, a small bag of lentils and a few cans of cream soups, as well as some oil and sugar. Or after thinking about it, make your own list. A sufficient amount of a variety of foods could be put back so that you could do more than exist on boiled grain should an emergency arise.
Remember, it is not meant to be food–storage! Make sure that you and your family will consider whatever foods you buy now as edible when you need to eat it. If not it is a total waste of money – and food.
Yes, you must store them, as in take care of them properly. But don’t store them – or just keep them – with the attitude that they can be an inheritance for your great grandchildren. You can be in big trouble if you buy foods to store but not to eat.
If you purchase foods to store, of course, you can always stash them under the bed where the dust bunnies roam. Soon the nests of bunnies can be joined by the colonies of weevil and there will be a regular zoo under there. But … you will have stored your supply.
Another most important point is that you want a preparedness program, not just food! What kind of equipment do you need? What other areas will leave you in the dark if you have not prepared adequately.
We have been taught that even in Book of Mormon days that provisions were required, not just food. . In 1 Nephi 18:6 we read, “ … After we had prepared all things, much fruit and meat from the wilderness and honey in abundance, and provisions according to that which the Lord had commanded us, we did go down into the ship …”
Listen to the news, but more importantly listen to the prophet and plan your preparedness.
And almost as important, remember the chocolate!
Bending the Rules – A Little
Filed under: 72-Hour Kits, Disaster Preparedness, Preparedness Perspective
It seems that with suggestions of panic, rationing, food shortages, intermingling with war, politics, etc. resounding through news, the interest in being prepared is once again on the rise.
Having taught preparedness and written many books about it, I have a firm belief that your faith is one of the prime factors allowing you to succeed … or not.
Since many of you may not know me very well yet, it is important for you to understand where I am coming from as I voice opinions and teach preparedness principles and concepts through my blogs.
As you read these blogs and evaluate some of the suggestions you must keep in mind that being able to care for my family at all times and in all situations may have warped my perspective somewhat.
For many years we didn’t always have the funds or facilities to have the ideal products or pantry. Through the years faith and desperation have combined to persuade me that I could find pantry space, and I could make it work, no matter what the proper storage rules said should or shouldn’t work. I learned that if I had enough faith I could bend the rules to make what I had to work with function – even thought they said it shouldn’t have.
Should you mistakenly think it was all coincidence or luck, I need to share an underlying belief. We prayed over our meager home storage a lot. We gave thanks that we had it and then prayed it would be protected and we wouldn’t lose it. And then we prayed to be able to find the ways to stretch our meager funds to be able to obtain more. You see most of the time (for a long time) our preparedness was sort of seasonal. The season being that there was a paycheck coming.
Always trying to better our situation, we moved a lot. Many times due to less than ideal pantry conditions our supplies fried in the summer and froze in the winter. Once after a hurricane (in Utah!), we tracked down our storage and the shed it had been stored in. We found it down the street in a neighbors yard. And then we prayed some more. In fact, we prayed for our “survival” year round.
One year, we moved back to California, after having moved to Utah. Our preparedness supplies, always a priority, were moved as well. It had been several years of preparedness supplies being stashed in those less than perfect pantry conditions. It was now time to unpack our supplies and put them away on shelves Larry had just finished constructing in the garage. It was my intent to sort and discard much of it, because, “after all it wouldn’t be good. How could it have survived through such instability and extreme temperature fluctuations?” I sat on our garage floor and cried. Not tears of frustration, but tears of gratitude! Very little had to be discarded, including hundreds of quart bottles filled with home canned fruit that were not broken.
Therefore, one of my personal guidelines, that I’m willing to share, is that not only do you do the best you can with what you have, you allow the Lord to help!
With that foundation you will discover in future blogs more details and attention given to those pantry ideas and areas that might not be considered “traditional pantry space.”
I share these thoughts and experiences to encourage you as the news continues to drone on in negativity. You can continue in a positive way – even if you think that your “funds or facilities” are not ideal.
President Gordon B. Hinckley counseled, “Begin in a small way …and gradually build toward a reasonable objective.” (To the Men of the Priesthood, the Liahona and Ensign, Nov. 2002, 58)
As you assess what to do and how, remember to include Heavenly Father in your plans and projections!