Preparedness

We are taught in the Doctrine and Covenants 88:119, “Organize yourselves, prepare every needful thing…”

In today’s blog I want to present a practical part of preparedness and discuss a very needful thing. Having been through many different kinds of disasters, including being without employment or a paycheck for over eighteen months, I have a different perspective than many on what is needed to really be prepared. But prepared for what?

For hard times and down times it is extremely important that you are able to have comforting things, and that includes comforting things to eat.

With that in mind will you ask yourself a question? What will be your stash? Before any emergency arrives at your door, consider having a “stash” of goodies. (Not to be confused with supplies on the pantry shelf. “Stash” meaning kept in reserve, or as in kept from view or common knowledge.) Know what your comfort foods are whether they are chocolate covered raisins, hard peppermint candies or granola bars. Then when the worst of the panic calms down, the crisis is finally handled and the dust begins to settle you can sit for a moment and take stock of the situation with a comforting treat to help get you through. A rule while you munch is to be sure to count your blessings!

While going through the above mentioned financial disaster of “no work, no money”, one of the things we did as a family was to often have a fire in the fire place, spread a blanket on the floor in front of that fireplace, and then pop popcorn with an old fashioned, long handled popcorn popper. We would talk or tell stories or play “pretend,” play board games or anything else that came to mind. The only light in the room came from the fireplace while we munched. It was a together time. The important part was that it was a time to concentrate on something positive, be happy and be grateful for popcorn. ‘Tomorrow” we could return to dealing with the “no work, no money” situation. Today when our family gets together and we reminisce, our children mention the popcorn and fireplace evenings far more often than the “no money.”

A storage tip is to remember that chocolate or anything with chocolate as a main ingredient will melt, mush and warp if exposed to heat. Even an especially warm cupboard will be considered “being exposed to heat.” A stash in a box, large gallon bottle or large plastic bucket, labeled and kept in the coolest closet corner will keep your “comfort foods” much longer. Another keeping quality key is to make sure the items you are relying on are edible. For longer storageablitiy stash only items that are without nuts. Nuts have a high rancidity factor as well as a high “bug factor”. If you are counting on a treat to help lift your spirits, bugs and bad taste are not what you want to find.

Of course the hard part of this is keeping your family members and yourself out of the stash until it is needed. Perhaps you will need to specifically qualify need.

I think that even in the examples given to us in the scriptures such as found in 1 Nephi 17:6, where Nephi and his family ‘go down into the ship” with their “provisions,” surely they were blessed to have things that would allow them to have something that was a treat for them.

That’s what you need to do, as you try to be practical in preparation. Have something “stashed” or prepared to lighten your tough times, something that is a comfort food for you. Believe me, it will be needed.

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.

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.

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!