Howdy All,

For the fun of it. I will try to copy in the info from traveller's article linked in the above post.

This about a 52 week prepping plan. Doing a little each week for a year.

Here are the first 2 parts.

Cheers,

Mountainman.

52 Weeks to Preparedness: An Introduction to Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Planning
Tess Pennington
Ready Nutrition
July 2011
Because preparedness is something very dear to me, I have made it a personal goal of mine to get as many people prepared as I can. The most important tool I can provide through this website is empowerment through knowledge and preparedness tips, for myself and others. Education, family-based preparedness, and survival kits may make all the difference when life presents you with a disaster. I have challenged Ready Nutrition readers to beef up their preparedness efforts in order to get ready for life’s unexpected events.

The 52 Weeks to Preparedness™* series is an extension of that challenge. This series will help each of you begin creating a preparedness foundation that you and your family can rely on when unexpected situations present themselves. On this 52 week long journey, each week we will build upon our existing preparedness items as well as focus on a different preparedness layer.

You can visit our 52 Weeks to Preparedness section to catch up on any previous weeks you may have missed. To stay up to date sign up for our Get Prepped weekly newsletter and have each week of preparedness recommendations, tips and information delivered directly to your inbox.

Author: Tess Pennington
Web Site: http://www.ReadyNutrition.com/
Date: July 19th, 2011

Week 1 of 52: Short Term Emergency Food Supply (List 1)
Tess Pennington
Ready Nutrition
April 2011
FEMA suggests that each family have a 2 week supply of food and water for their home. Starting a food supply does not have to be a budget breaker. By slowly accumulating emergency supplies, you will not feel the financial “burn” compared to having to pay for everything up front. Therefore, keeping in mind what type of emergencies that you are planning for, if there are any family members with medical needs, how long you want your food supply to last, and so on, will help you make the best choice for your family.

Taking time to read the nutritional information on the back of the food source and knowing other considerations, will help a person make the best choices for their needs. If a person needs to use their stashed food supply, having foods high in vitamins, nutrients, and proteins will provide their body with what it needs for needed energy and mental clarity.

Preps to buy:
•1 gallon of water per day for each family member (But enough for 2 weeks and remember that having more water stored up is better than being short on your supply)
•2 jars of peanut butter
•2 cans of juice per family member
•2 cans of meat per family member
•2 cans of soup or stew for each family member
•3 non perishable items such as saltine crackers, graham crackers, etc.
•1 hand operated can opener
•Permanent marker
•Additional supplies for infants or elderly – 2 weeks worth (diapers, wipes, children’s medication, formula, protein/calorie drinks, prescription medications, extra pair of glasses)
For those who have pets:

1 large container of dry food – This amount should last 2 weeks or longer

Action Items:
•Date perishable goods with a marker
•If possible, set aside $20 to use for emergencies
•Make a disaster plan and decide what types of disasters you are planning for (weather related, natural disasters, economic or personal disasters)
•Decide upon an out-of-area contact who can coordinate information with friends and family members.
•Once the out-of-area contact has been decided, email or call the newly designated emergency contact and provide phone numbers and names of family members for them to call.
Author: Tess Pennington
Web Site: http://www.ReadyNutrition.com/
Date: April 6th, 2011

I will continue in short bits until the info is here for all to read.

MM

Week 2 of 52: Hardware List
Tess Pennington
Ready Nutrition
July 2011
Welcome to week 2 of our 52 Weeks to Preparedness series, which focuses on finding cost-effective ways to get you prepared for disasters.

This week we are going to focus on investing in basic hardware items. In later weeks, we will add additional hardware items to the list, but this week we are going to focus on laying a foundation.

A good rule of thumb when planning for emergencies is that a person is only as good as their tools. Good, quality tools are a sound investment and can last a lifetime if they are properly cared for. When purchasing hardware items such as the ones provided in the list below, take take to read online product and customer reviews before you make an investment. Also, avoid these 8 Rookie mistakes often made by preppers.

Preps to buy for Week 2:
•32-gallon garbage can or- a sturdy storage box to hold disaster supplies
•Flashlight with alkaline-batteries or a hand-crank flashlight for each member of household that is over the age of 6. (Don’t forget extra batteries for the flashlights). Flashlights should also be purchased for each car, as well.
•Batteries in multiple-sizes.
•Heavy rope
•Duct tape
•Bic lighter and matches- to be stored in a waterproof container
•Multi-tool
•For furry friends, purchase a leash, or pet carrier and an extra set of I.D. tags.
Action Items:
1. Involve your children in your family preparedness efforts. Educate them on the different types of disasters and on your family’s disaster plans. Check out websites like Ready Kids for methods to teach your children about what to do in an emergency.

2. You should ask your child’s school and/or day care about what their disaster plans are. Here are a few questions that I asked our school:

•How will you communicate with a child’s family during a crisis?
•Do you store adequate food, water, and supplies for a disaster?
•Are you prepared for a shelter-in-place situation?
•If you have to evacuate, where do you go?
3. Find up-to-date pictures of each family member in case one of them gets separated from you during a disaster event, put the pictures in a waterproof or Ziploc bag, and place it in your emergency kit.

4. Prepare a personal information card for each family member.

5. As a family, discuss your emergency meeting places, contacts, and plans. Give your children the opportunity to express their feelings and to ask questions so they fully understand the disaster plan.

6. For family members who have special needs, ensure that those needs are accounted for in your emergency plan.

Author: Tess Pennington
Web Site: http://www.ReadyNutrition.com/
Date: July 19th, 2011

Week 3 of 52: Emergency Medical Supply (List 1)
Tess Pennington
Ready Nutrition
May 2011
Experts suggest that each home have a basic medical supply that is unique to your family’s needs. Many of us have our fair share of band-aids and antibiotic ointment, but do you have medical supplies that can stop dehydration or bleeding, or diarreah? In the event of a major disaster, such as a hurricane or earthquake, if someone in the home is injured, emergency responders cannot always get to the injured victims in time. Therefore, having necessary medical supplies in the home could save some one’s life if they need immediate medical assistance.

Keep in mind that medicines can break down and spoil if they are subject to natural elements such as moisture, temperature fluctuations and exposure to light. Did you know that aspirin has a tendency to begin breaking down when it is exposed to a slight amount of moisture? Find an area in the home that has easy access and preferably located in a cool, dark area that is out of children’s reach. Also, check expiration dates periodically to ensure the medicines are still good to use. The below list of items will serve as a foundation for future medical supply lists.

Preps to buy:
•Antacid
•Aspirin or non-Aspirin pain reliever
•Stool softeners
•Kleenex
•Feminine hygiene supplies
•Disposable hand wipes
•Band-aids
•Antibiotic ointment
•Extra baby needs (diapers, wipes, pacifiers, bottles, medicine, etc)
•1 week of prescription medications
•Extra pair of reading glasses (optional)
Action Items:
Buy a local and state map to put in your vehicle.

Create an evacuation route in case you have to evacuate your town due to a disaster. Map out mulitple escape routes to fall back on. Click here to know the signs of when to evacuate/bug out your home or community.

Sign up for a CPR/First aid class with your local area Red Cross or through your local Emergency Management Service department. For those of you who are short on time, you can find online disaster skills training courses that can be done in the convenience of your own home. Click here for a list of organizations that provide online emergency education courses.

Author: Tess Pennington
Web Site: http://www.ReadyNutrition.com/
Date: May 13th, 2011

Yes, there is more.

MM.

Week 4 of 52: Communications
Tess Pennington
Ready Nutrition
May 2011
We have all witnessed a “communications down” scenario when going through natural disasters. One thing that all of these natural disasters have in common, besides the disruption of our daily lives, is that they are immediately followed by an almost total loss of the ability to communicate with the outside world. Power is lost, telephone services are discontinued, and cell phone service is either non-existent or is so congested that no one can get through. When experiencing these “communication down” situations we realize how vulnerable and dependent we are on the system that failed.

Having alternate communication devices on hand during a disaster can help maintain some sort of communication, as well as help maintain a sense of self reliance during difficult times. Have at least one of the following alternative communication systems:

•Wind up radios
•Emails (if there is a power source)
•Amateur radios
•Family radio services offered by the FCC
•CB radios
When making your choice, you should examine your own needs and match them with the appropriate communication system.

Here are some criteria for setting up an emergency communication system:

•It should be easy to operate.
•Have effective range.
•Have a modest amount of protection against interference.
•Be inexpensive (low initial cost, low maintenance cost and no monthly fees).
•Be readily available.
•Be able to operate “off the grid”.
Preps to buy:
•Signal flares, flashing beacon or flashing emergency light. (I bought mine at a camping store.)
•Compass for all members of the family over the age of 6.
•Two-way radio.
•Battery operated or wind-up hand radio, preferably an NOAA weather radio.
Action Items:
When a hurricane threatens an area, the city suggests families back up important documents e.g., personal ID, security card, I.D. cards for the kids, proof of residence, insurance information, medical records, bank and account information, and place the documentation in a waterproof container or reasonable plastic bag.

Don’t forget to include documentation records for your pets, e.g., IDs, immunization records, and medications. Having this information prepared and set aside will help save precious time when preparing a home for a disaster.

Author: Tess Pennington
Web Site: http://www.ReadyNutrition.com/
Date: May 20th, 2011

Week 5 of 52: Pet Care
Tess Pennington
Ready Nutrition
May 2011
Our furry friends are more to us than just pets, and for many of you, they are a precious family member. Caring for them during a disaster is extremely important. You need to know that when an unexpected storm occurs, many of our animals face anxiety just as we do. Knowing how your pet will react before, during and after a storm is the first step in ensuring their safety. Making sure that you anticipate your pet’s needs during an emergency because it will help them cope with this disruption into their daily routines. Also, have a pet survival kit and a pet first aid kit set aside for your pet, as this too ensures their safety.

Preps to buy:
•Extra harness, leash, and/or carrier
•ID tags with your contact information
•1-2 week supply of food for all pets (if not already bought in week 1)
•2-5 gallons of water for each pet
•Pet first aid kit
•Current vaccination and medical records for each animal (contact your veterinarian).
•2 weeks worth of medication for each animal (if applicable). Note: Pay attention to the expiration date and routinely rotate medicines to ensure they are not wasted.
Action Items:
1. Decide if your pet(s) will be going to an animal hotel, sheltering in-place with the family, or staying at another home. Make arrangments before the disaster is imminent.

2. If you haven’t purchases a pet survival kit, make your own. In addition to the items listed above, you will need the following:

a. Cat litter/pan or doggie pads

b. Can opener

c. Food dishes

d. First aid kit

e. Additional supplies required for where the pet will stay.

3. Ensure that your pet’s vaccinations are up to date.

Note: If pets do not have their shots up to date, then pet hotels will not accept them.

4. Get a rescue alert sticker. It will alert rescue workers that a pet is inside the home. When displaying this sticker, ensure that it is placed in an area that is visible to rescue workers.

5. Verify that ID tags are up to date and securely fastened to your pet’s collar. Attach the address and/or phone number of your evacuation site (if possible).

Note: If your pet gets lost, his tag is his ticket home.

•Make sure you have a current photo of your pet for identification purposes to include in with your family emergency photos.
•Ensure you have a secure pet carrier, leash or harness for your pet so that if he panics, he can’t escape.
6. Have a current photo of your pet to include with your family emergency photos.

7. Be sure to have a pet carrier, leash, or harness, if you pet is prone to panicking.

Author: Tess Pennington
Web Site: http://www.ReadyNutrition.com/
Date: May 27th, 2011

Are you still reading?? Good stuff.

MM

Week 6 of 52: Evacuation Preparedness
Tess Pennington
Ready Nutrition
June 2011
This week, we will concentrate on the evacuation aspect of preparedness. Many who have first hand accounts of mass evacuations from Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita will tell you that it is not fun. When we think of evacuations, we typically think of the mass exodus we witnessed on television with the aforementioned storms. Depending on the area you live in, there are times when evacuations are more localized and require you to leave your community or town. Being that I live in Houston, I not only have to worry about hurricane season, but I also have to worry about chemical leaks from the refineries in this area. If a refinery emergency were to occur, I would have to leave immediately, thus giving my family only a few minutes to evacuate our home.

Having a pre-assembled bag with basic survival needs in place will expedite the evacuation process, as well as keep things running smoothly. The main goal of having a 72-hour bag is to be equipped to survive for three days. Therefore, keep your basic survival needs in mind: food, water, shelter, clothing, sanitation, medications/prescriptions. In addition, I would also pack some extra emergency money or a credit card with enough money for gas and lodging in case you run into a monetary issue. Click here to get more details on preparing a 72 hour bag.

Preparing a bag for evacuations takes more time than one would think. Taking survival needs into account is one thing, but trying to collect prescriptions, children’s special items, and personal documents can be frustrating if you were under time constraints. Preparing ahead of time for evacuations will cut down on the headaches, and keep you one step ahead.

Preps to buy:
•Backpacks for each member of the family (make sure the backpack has multiple compartments and pockets)
•Water containers for each family member
•Water purification tablets
•Food for three days (remember foods that are lightweight and high in calories)
•Mylar blankets or bivvy for each member of the family
•Tent or some sort of alternative shelter
•Season appropriate clothing (3 days worth)
•Fire starters
•Waterproof matches and/or Bic lighters
•Charged cell phone or alternate communication
•Maps of the city and state (if you have not already purchased)
•Flash lights for each bag with extra batteries
•Mess kit and utensils for each family member
Don’t forget to pack items for pet needs. In additions, some other items to include in your evacuation packs are a first aid kit, hygiene items (toilet paper, deodorant, feminine products, shampoo/soap), and personal documents.

Action Items:
1. Create an evacuation plan including an emergency meeting area for family members, multiple evacuation routes, a list of emergency phone numbers. Having this checklist on hand will keep an evacuation as organized as possible.

2. Assemble evacuation packs.

3. Place packs near an emergency exit or in an easy to access area.

4. As a family, discuss the evacuation plan, and include a discussion on the protocol and emergency exits.

StumbleReddit Author: Tess Pennington
Web Site: http://www.ReadyNutrition.com/
Date: June 3rd, 2011

Week 7 of 52: Basic Home Security
Tess Pennington
Ready Nutrition
June 2011
Everyone wants to believe that they are safe and sound when they latch the windows and lock the doors. We even experience an added security boost when we live in an expensive neighborhood, a home with a security system, and an active neighborhood watch program. Today, we would all love to have Gladys Kravitz (Bewitched) as our next door neighbor. In reality, security gadgets can protect the outside of your home, but it’s meaningless if you cannot protect what’s inside. People can still be mugged, burglarized, and attacked simply by opening the door to a stranger or by leaving vulnerable areas of their home exposed. I’m going to ask you a question. Have you ever placed a key under a mat? I ask this because we all have placed the spare key under the mat at one time, and the burglars know that trick. It is not my intention to promote fear, but to awaken you to potential hazards. You want to make breaking into your home difficult.

Designing a home defense system that includes multiple security layers is a proactive way to protect your home, family, and belongings. Security layers are preventative measures that will advertise to intruders that they should avoid your home altogether. The more layers you have in and around your home, the less likely a criminal is going to choose your home as his/her next “job.”

Layer 1: The Outside Layer. This layer comprises the outer perimeter of your home, the landscaping, and security features (e.g., flood lights, motion detectors, gates, doors, locks). Installing preventative measures around your home will advertise to anyone staking out your neighborhood that you mean business. Walk around your home and distinguish where the vulnerable areas are. Making some minor adjustments to the outside of the home can help secure it from the outside-in. By planting thorn-bearing plants, bushes and trees around the vulnerable and exposed areas of the home can help secure the property. One of the most vulnerable areas of your outside perimeter are the windows. One heavy lawn chair can easily be tossed into a window, thus shattering it and creating an easy entry. Investing in shatter proof window film may be a solution to this potential problem.

Layer 2: The Inside Layer. This layer comprises the inside of your home. Taking some small preventative measures (e.g., home alarm system, web cams, emergency protocols, and emergency phone numbers) can help secure the inner sanctity of your home. A person who is prepared for a burglar or home invader is well-equipped with knowledge of their home’s security features, how to get additional family members to safety, and, as a last resort, how to use a weapon. Teaching family members what a home invasion is and the emergency protocols associated with this will help each family member understand what to do if this situation occurs.

Layer 3: The Personal Layer. This layer is the most critical because it is based around all of the protocols, defense training, and emergency plans you have already established. The personal layer is the only layer that you can take into the outside world. When you are walking and someone tries to mug you, you will use your defense training and emergency protocols to deal with the attacker(s). Recently, there have been news reports about mob attacks at stores and on some personal property. Perhaps if the store owners had utilized all of the protective layers the outcomes would have ended differently.

Consider installing a safe room. A safe room is a great starting point for preparing a personal layer. In addition, it may be the last effort to defend yourself and your family. Although it is a personal preference to have a gun in the home, having multiple techniques of defending yourself would be prudent. Learning self‑defense to incapacitate your attacker or attackers through rapid response techniques would a great course for the entire family to take. There are many different forms of self‑defense courses available: Krav Maga and Wing Chun are two popular courses. In addition to using your body as a weapon, there are other weapons that can be used to defend yourself, such as the following:

•Pepper spray
•Fire extinguisher
•Hot coffee
•Lamps
•Metal baseball bat
•Salt in the eyes
•Butcher knife
Preps to buy:
Your security items should fit your personal choices and budget. Therefore, I will not make any suggested preps. I do hope that you will make some suggested improvements to your already existing home security. With the increase in crime, jobless rates, and increased food prices, home break-ins are likely to be on the rise. At the very minimum, you could buy these low cost items:

•Window alarm systems.
•Combination or key locks for the backyard fences.
•Infrared (IR) floodlights to illuminate the property (These can be motion-sensor activated).
•Ensure that your doors and locks are reinforced.
To read more information on different types of security features and locks, here is some suggested material:

Home Security: Securing the Doors

Home Security: Securing the Windows

Action Items:
1. Create an emergency protocol and discuss it with your family members. Be sure to include a list of emergency phone numbers and escape routes.

2. Create a safe room where family members can retreat to if there is a break in. Ensure that the safe room has a phone line, and if you have a gun in the home, ensure the gun is in the room. Please make sure that the gun is locked and put away so small children do not have access to it.

3. Install some outer preventive layers such as the following:

•Ensure your doors are strong. (A hollow-core metal or solid wood door is best.)
•If your doors are comprised of glass, install a double cylinder lock to reinforce the strength.
•Install 1-inch deadbolt locks on all exterior doors.
•Install locks on the back fences.
•Infrared (IR) floodlights to illuminate the property (These can be motion-sensor activated).
•Put a peep hole in the door.
4. Install some inner preventative layers such as the following:

•Burglar-proof your glass patio doors by setting a pipe or metal bar in the middle bottom track of the door slide. The pipe should be the same length as the track.
•Put an anti-lift device in your windows.
•Add an intrusion detection system.
•Position hidden web cams strategically throughout your home. Place the computer that is monitoring the locations in a hidden spot so the criminals cannot walk off with it.
•Sign family members up for a self-defense course.
•If you have a gun, go to gun range. The only way you will be an accurate shot is if you practice on a regular basis.
StumbleReddit Author: Tess Pennington
Web Site: http://www.ReadyNutrition.com/
Date: June 17th, 2011

Shall we continue.......

MM.

Week 8 of 52: Emergency Sanitation
Tess Pennington
Ready Nutrition
June 2011
Have you ever wondered what it would be like if your trash wasn’t picked up each week? Have you thought of how you dispose of it? What would happen to your town if trash was left to sit out in the sun to bake for weeks on end without anyone showing up to take it away?

The odor alone would be enough of a nightmare to face, but what about what is inside the trash itself (i.e., dirty diapers, contaminated medical supplies, rotting meat and food)? This type of situation would cause E. coli and bacteria to invade most everything that you touch. If a situation like this was allowed to fester, the potential for diseases and epidemics would create an entire new disaster to be dealt with.

No one really wants to discuss sanitation because it’s an unpleasant and dirty subject; however, it is one of the most important areas to focus on when preparing for a disaster. In a disaster where water resources are compromised, people within a 50 mile radius could be adversely impacted by illness and disease just if one person handled the trash improperly. When trash cannot be picked up, it must be burned or buried by you; however, municipalities cannot risk contamination to the water source or soil from people who incorrectly bury their debris, so it is important to know how to properly dispose of your waste products.
If you find yourself in a situation where toilet paper is not available, you may have to resort to a more natural method of being hygienically clean. Below is a list of toilet paper alternatives for an emergency situation.

Toilet Paper Alternatives

•Leaves
•Phone books
•Unused coffee filters
•Corn cobs (That’s right- Corn Cobs)
•Dilapidated kitchen towels (no longer used for cleaning).
•Bed linen strips
•Mail order catalog
Don’t forget that women need to have sanitation items stored for emergencies. Prevention is the key to spreading communicable diseases, so prepare appropriately. If water services are interrupted during a short term emergency, consider these alternatives:

•Clean and empty the water of the toilet bowl out.
•Line the bowl with a heavy-duty plastic bag.
•Once the bag has waste, add a small amount of disinfectant and deodorant (e.g. cat litter) and securely tie the bag and dispose of it.
•A large plastic trash can (lined with a heavy duty bag) can be used to store the bags of waste. Once waste services begin, the city will come and collect these.
•If waste services do not begin, then you may need to consider burning or burying your waste. If you decide to do so, there are factors you need to consider. Click here to learn more.
Long Term Disasters

Sanitation during a long term disaster requires the same sanitation supplies used in a short term disaster; however, a more permanent structure, (e.g., a latrine) must be put into place for long term use.
Having a sanitation kit ready for a disaster is essential to keeping your family and neighbors healthy. These kits fit easily into a bucket, and they are affordable. Also, having a natural alternative to cleaning yourself is a proactive way to prepare for better sanitation practices. This article shows you ways of making your own hand sanitizer by using natural ingredients.

Your suggested preps to buy this week will specifically target creating a sanitation kit.

Preps to buy:
•Disposable bucket or luggable-loo
•Toilet paper (1 roll per family member for each week)
•1-2 rolls of paper towels
•Diapers for infants
•Additional infant supplies (baby wipes, diaper rash cream, etc)
•Rubber gloves
•Sanitation items for women (at least one- month supply)
•Garbage bags with twist ties ( i.e., to line toilets or luggable-loo)
•Bleach
•Cat Litter or absorbent material (i.e., saw dust or dirt)
•Baking soda (for eliminate odors)
•Vinegar
•Shovel
•Soap or antibacterial cleanser (one per family member)
Action Items:
1. Create a sanitation kit for your family.

2. If you are preparing a sanitation kit with infants in mind, ensure that you have accounted for their short- and long-term needs (see list above).

3. Familiarize yourself with different methods of handling the sanitation problems that arise during short- and long-term emergencies.

StumbleReddit Author: Tess Pennington
Web Site: http://www.ReadyNutrition.com/
Date: June 24th, 2011

Week 9 of 52: Emergency Medical Supply (List 2)
Tess Pennington
Ready Nutrition
July 2011
A lot goes into being medically prepared, so this will be a reoccurring theme throughout this series. We will start with gathering the basic first aid supplies and then slowly begin accumulating more advanced medical preps and learning alternative medical therapies towards the end.

This week I would like to urge all of you to purchase a few medical reference books. Buying multiple reference materials gives you a broader spectrum in how to provide different types of medical treatment – not all medical emergencies should be approached the same way. I recommend starting with When There is No Doctor and When There is No Dentist, but here are some other great references:

•Wilderness Medicine
•Medicine for the Outdoors
•A Barefoot Doctor’s Manual
•Field Guide of Wilderness & Rescue Medicine
•Wilderness Medicine, Beyond First Aid
Don’t forget that there are some good eBook references out there. I found First Aid Full Manual on Scribd which would be a great place to start looking for more material. If you are out there and come across some other eBook references, please feel free to share it with me and our readers.

During short-term disasters, medical situations are inevitable and they can be complicated. It is imperative that you prepare for them if you want to keep your loved ones and yourself healthy. Considering your family members needs prior to a disaster event will help you be not only prepared but level headed too. When buying medical supplies, keep in mind family members who have preexisting conditions, allergies, or are accident prone. It is within your best interest to ensure that you have any and all necessary medications that require prescriptions before an emergency happens.

For short-term emergencies, you must have a well-stocked medical supply kits for your home and your vehicle. Pre-fabricated medical kits are available in stores; however, these kits tend to be overloaded with unneeded items (i.e., 500 band aids). Buying your own medical supplies allows you to customize your kit to fit your family’s unique needs.

Please note that medicines can break down and spoil if they are subject to moisture, temperature fluctuations, or are exposed to a light source. (For example, aspirin has a tendency to break down when it is exposed to a small amount of moisture.) Unless the medicine indicates otherwise, store medical supplies in a cool, dark place that is out of children’s reach.

Preps to buy:
•Medical bag or back pack, tackle kit or container
•Medical reference books or eBooks on handling medical crises
•Sunscreen
•Aloe vera
•Insect repellent
•Gauze pads in assorted sizes (3×3 and 4×4)
•Sterile roller bandages
•Antibiotic ointment
•Expectorant/Decongestant
•Syrup of Ipecac and activated charcoal
•2-3 bottles of disinfectant (Betadine, isopropyl alcohol or hydrogen peroxide)
•Sterile adhesive bandages in assorted sizes
•Adhesive tape or duct tape
•Latex gloves
•Scissors
•Tongue blades
•Medicine dropper
•Tweezers
•Thermometer
•Liquid antibacterial hand soap
•Disposable hand wipes
•Eye care (e.g., contact lens case, cleansing solution, eye moisture drops)
Action Items:
1. Create a first aid kit for the family. Ensure the kit is situated in an accessible location.

2. Take a basic first aid class, if you have not done so already.

3. Purchase a first aid manual

StumbleReddit Author: Tess Pennington
Web Site: http://www.ReadyNutrition.com/
Date: July 1st, 2011

A little more????

MM.

Week 10 of 52: Dental Preparedness (List 1)
Tess Pennington
Ready Nutrition
July 2011
How many of us have dental supplies on hand? I’m guessing not very many of us. Dental emergencies can hit out the blue. Without a warning, pain and soreness can occur in the gums or teeth and cause an extreme amount of discomfort. Ensuring that you have some dental supplies on hand can help maintain healthy teeth and gums and assist in not further aggravating any existing dental problems.

Be proactive and take the time to schedule regular dental visits and develop good dental hygiene habits, and in doing this, it will ensure that your teeth and gums stay healthy. When your family dentist suggests elective procedures, take the opportunity to the extra mile for your teeth because the last thing you would want to face during a disaster scenario is a dental emergency. Two proactive solutions to maintain good oral health is to floss regularly and to invest in a water pick.

Anticipating a dental emergency is difficult to say the least, but, there are seven likely dental emergencies that could affect your health in a long-term emergency. To learn more about them, click here. I cannot stress how important it is to take your oral health seriously, and failure to treat a dental emergencies could result in one of the following:

•Loss of the tooth
•Mediastinitis
•Sepsis
•Spread of infection to soft tissue (e.g., facial cellulitis, Ludwig’s angina)
•Spread of infection to the jaw bone (osteomyelitis of the jaw)
•Spread of infection to other areas of the body resulting in brain abscess, endocarditis, pneumonia, or other complications
Dental experts have suggested there is a correlation between overall health and oral health. As a result, those that have a healthy diet tend to have healthier teeth and gums. Consequently, vitamins play a vital roll in oral health too. These 7 vitamins would be essential to have in a long-term emergency. In addition to a regimen of vitamins, having natural alternatives to turn to when dealing with oral pain would also be beneficial. Some natural alternatives to look into would be:

•Valerian Root – pain reliever
•Kava Kava – muscle relaxants and mild sedative
•Passionflower – pain reliever
•Clove oil – relieves teeth pain
•Charcoal – can make a compress that relieves swelling and pain.
If a long-term disaster situation were to occur, many people would face malnutrition, be vitamin deficient, and have poor dental hygiene, as a result, they could face some painful dental repercussions that may become life threatening. Here are some dental preps to purchase this week:

Preps to buy:
•Dental emergency resource
•Dental exam gloves
• Toothpaste (for 3 months)
•Toothbrushes (for 3 months)
•Floss (3)
•Baking soda
•Toothpicks
•Fluoride rinse (3 bottles)
•Hydrogen peroxide
•Oral-gel
•cotton balls
•cotton gauze pads
•Pain reliever such as Tylenol or Aspirin
•Temporary cap filler
•Instant ice packs
•Dental mirror
•Salt (for rinsing)
•Clove oil (for tooth aches)
•penlight or headlamp
Action Items:
1. Go to the dentist and get an annual check-up and cleaning.

2. Start taking a vitamin regimen that will assist in oral health.

3. Begin brushing your teeth for at least 1-2 minutes, and teach your children to do the same.

4. Floss at least once daily.

5. Read your dental emergency resource to be familiar with treatment plans.

6. Read a dental emergency resource to be familiar with treatment plans.

Note: If you plan to have older adults staying with you during a short or long-term disaster, do not forget to anticipate their dental needs.

Author: Tess Pennington
Web Site: http://www.ReadyNutrition.com/
Date: July 8th, 2011

Week 11 of 52: Short Term Food Supply (List 2)
Tess Pennington
Ready Nutrition
July 2011
When an impending disaster threatens our area, the first instinct is to run to the store and stock up on emergency food and supplies. However, everyone else has the same brilliant idea, which means emergency food and supplies will be in high demand and depleted if you didn’t time your trip to the store well. There is nothing worse than leaving a crowded store with no storm supplies and a disaster bearing down upon you.

Storing food for storms is not the only reason you should have an emergency food supply. In fact, due to current state of the economy, you are more likely to run into an emergency with a disappearing budget. Food prices have been soaring during the past few years, and there doesn’t seem to be any relief in sight. Have you considered looking at your emergency supply as an investment? Many of the food items you will be purchasing over the next year are considered commodities (e.g., sugar, wheat, corn, rice, etc). Why not make the investment and purchase food at today’s prices and consume at tomorrow’s higher prices?

Those of you who have water stored know that it takes up a lot of space. When storing a short term water supply, purchase the 5- or 10-gallon water containers. Note: The 5-gallon water containers are easier to organize if you place them on their sides and stack them.

Another suggestion is to reuse your juice and soda bottles. As long as the container is comprised of food grade plastic, it is safe to reuse; however, make sure that the plastic container is washed well before reusing. I recommend investing in a water filtration system. While water filters, such as Katadyn or even Berkey, are a little pricey, they can be used multiple times and would be a good preparedness item to have on hand in case of a longer-term emergency.

The following items will create a broad selection of foods that can be consumed in an emergency situation. You can create foods like biscuits and jelly, cereal and milk, oatmeal, sandwiches, soups, pastas, casseroles, etc. Constructing an emergency menu now before a disaster happens will enable you to see what foods you have and what foods you may need.

Preps to buy:
•1 gallon of water per day for each member of the family (i.e., 1-2 weeks worth).
•2 bottles of juice per family member
•2 canned goods (e.g., meat, veggies, soup, and fruit) per family member.
•1 each of the following food condiments: Peanut butter, jelly, honey, mustard, ketchup, BBQ sauce
•2 drink mixes/tea/coffee per family member
•Spices (e.g., salt, pepper, taco seasoning, apple pie seasoning, etc.)
•1 gallon of cooking oil
•2 each of the following pre-packaged foods: beans, dried peas, rice, noodles, oats, grains, cereals and pasta
•2 bags of flour (Note: Those of you who have wheat allergies, click here for alternatives.)
•Ramen noodles
•Powdered milk
•Powdered potatoes
• Infant Formula – Note: Call me crazy, but this has a huge amount of vitamins and nutrients and could be utilized for immune boosts.
Action Items:
1. Date perishable goods with a permanent marker.

2. Find a storage area in the home where emergency food supplies can be placed. Those who are living in small living spaces have rented air conditioned storage facilities to store their supplies.

3. Organize the food and begin creating a list of the items you have according to categories (e.g., condiments, baking supplies, canned goods, medical supplies, etc.).

Author: Tess Pennington
Web Site: http://www.ReadyNutrition.com/
Date: July 18th, 2011

This work thing interupts progress, LOL. I am back at it now.

MM.

Week 12 of 52: Financial Preparedness
Tess Pennington
Ready Nutrition
July 2011
There was a time in the not too distant past where I was enslaved to debt. I supplemented my income with credit cards in order to maintain an overindulgent lifestyle, and when my daughter needed emergency medical care, my financial situation worsened because I didn’t have medical insurance. The medical bills were a nightmare, and paying them off seemed like a never ending uphill battle. For years we had to live below our means in order to sort out our financial mess. During this time frame, I repeatedly asked myself, “Why didn’t I set some money aside for harder times? Why didn’t I prepare for this?” It was these questions that led me on a journey of financial discovery. Instead of wallowing in self pity, I educated myself in finding practical ways to fight back and to simplify my lifestyle, which became a huge lesson in self control.

Emergency agencies suggest a person have at a minimum 3 months pay saved up to fall back on. Although, this can be a difficult amount to save in our economy, it is possible if you simplify your lifestyle. Here are 7 Ways To Save a Buck :

1. Counteract financial emergencies by preparing for them in advance. Even when times are financially prosperous, it is a good idea to have a financial contingency plan in place and some emergency funds set aside to fall back on; this money can act as a buffer when things do go financially awry.
2. Focus on meeting your practical needs, i.e., food, water, shelter. As long as you have shelter and food to provide for your family, you are ok. The rest of the financial mess will eventually sort itself out.
3. Stop spending frivolously. Cut the following from your budget: restaurants, manicures, and Starbucks (my sister just fainted). Set a goal to save as much money as you can.
4. Take advantage of grocery store advertisements and coupons. You can save a substantial amount of money when you search for discounted goods; throw away brand loyalty.
5. Buy products in bulk. Purchase a few extra short term food supply items (e.g., canned goods, formula, flour, sugar, etc.) each time you visit the store. Accumulating a few extra items will not break the budget, and when the money gets tight, you have the items on hand.
6. Trim the budget and shift your focus to the bare necessities. If you have children and one of the parents isn’t working, don’t spend money on daycare. If you are concerned about a lay off, start conserving your money by cutting back on energy bills, cable bills, etc. Speak with family members and let them know that you may be losing your job. Sometimes friends and family have good advice and possibly some contacts.
7. Have a garage sale to get rid of items that are no longer used. “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” You may be surprised at how much money you could get for your gently used items that are collecting dust in your garage.

Finding ways to cut corners can be a proactive way to learn new skills. Rather than paying a company to landscape your yard or paint your home, do it yourself. The more skills you allow yourself to learn, the more self-sufficient you will become, which is the reason we are trying to become prepared. As an example, one of the ways I cut back and became more self-sufficient was to start baking my own bread and making my own condiments. If I hadn’t made the choice to be more frugal, then I never would have learned how to make fresh bread and can vegetables.

Preps to buy:
Rather than purchasing emergency supplies this week, concentrate your attention on your family’s short-term and long-term financial goals and discover ways to trim your budget.

Action Items:
1. Create a financial contingency plan.
2. Look at your budget and begin eliminating unnecessary debt.
3. Try and save 5-10% of your paycheck to use as a back-up plan.

Finding ways to cut corners can be a proactive way to learn new skills. Rather than paying a company to landscape your yard or paint your home, do it yourself. The more skills you allow yourself to learn, the more self-sufficient you will become, which is the reason we are trying to become prepared. As an example, one of the ways I cut back and became more self-sufficient was to start baking my own bread and making my own condiments. If I hadn’t made the choice to be more frugal, then I never would have learned how to make fresh bread and can vegetables.

StumbleReddit Author: Tess Pennington
Web Site: http://www.ReadyNutrition.com/
Date: July 22nd, 2011

Week 13 of 52: Spiritual Preparedness
Tess Pennington
Ready Nutrition
July 2011
We tend to play stories in our head. Whether they are truth or fiction, we live through these stories and feel them as if they are really happening. When I began Ready Nutrition two years ago, I plunged myself head first into every preparedness book and article, studied every possible disaster I may run into, and every grim scenario. Needless to say, I was playing a 24-hour TEOTWAWKI scenario in my head and became weary as a result. In my mind, I was not studying it, I was living through it. Even though, I prayed regularly and had accepted God into my heart and lived a Christian life, I found it hard to cope because there was something missing. I realized I had not put any thought into my spiritual preparedness before I began this arduous preparedness journey.

I am sharing my doomer fatigue experience with you because I want each of you to know that the end result of not preparing your spirit for hard decisions and troubling times will effect your overall well being and make it all the more difficult for you to shake the affects of the disaster away. The longer you stay in the shock and awe of the disaster moment, the longer it takes for you move into surviving.

Choosing to prepare now is a choice you made with your spirit to survive. You are putting plans in place, purchasing basic living items, tools, and presently you are working on your spirit to be prepared. When you are spiritually prepared, the groundwork is then laid for mental preparedness (something we will dive into next week).

As James Allen once said, “Every man thinks, lives and acts in exact accordance with the belief which is rooted in his inner most being.” Essentially, spiritual preparedness is your moral compass that guides you through the good and bad times. It is your core beliefs that make up who you are and serve you throughout your walk of life. These beliefs are what guide you, motivate you, sustain you or they will do the complete opposite. They will either become a negative or positive influence depending on what they hold as truths about the nature of yourself and your reality.

Exercising these core beliefs will help you further develop and be more aware of where your spiritual growth is at and what you need to improve on. You can develop this further by being aware of it and by utilizing these mental exercises:

1. Sit and reflect by asking yourself moral questions such as:

• Am I what I want to be?
•Do I have the courage to make the hard changes to be a better person?
•Do I have the courage to turn away from bad habits?
And going even further, asking the tough preparedness questions and really investigating why you chose to answer the way you did can help you in developing your spiritual preparedness. Here are some examples of these types of questions:

•What would I do if a neighbor needed my help? How far would I go to help my neighbor?
•If a relative needed food, would I help them? Why is it important to help others?
•Would using a gun on a home intruder be something I could do? Why would I feel bad about it?
•Would I feel responsible if I could not help someone medically and they died? Why am I taking that burden on?
Working on your spirit and further developing your moral compass will help you in finding the answers to tough situations during disasters. And, most importantly you will find peace in the midst of adversity. Possessing this spiritual preparedness will lay the groundwork for being mentally prepared for disasters.

2. Knowledge is power. Reading inspirational books and printing out inspirational passages that call to you is a tool that many use to stay spiritually awakened. In addition, reading survival books and survival fiction can help the reader look at preparedness from different perspectives and learn more about their spiritual foundation through the characters of the books. Devotional studies have helped many in developing their spiritual preparedness.

3. Acknowledgement and gratitude are other ways that you can begin laying a spiritual foundation. I have often started my prayers with how thankful I am for the family, friends and events that shaped who I am. Even the bad events played a part in who I am. I then follow the gratitude with further prayers. After I am done, I feel at peace.

4. Find passages in a book or religious reference and writing it down for you to turn to later also helps. In my preparedness manual, I have an entire section of my book that has inspirational quotes and bible passages that I have printed out or found that has touched me. In addition, I have all of the church handouts that I have received over the years to turn to.

Preps to buy:
The best way to begin training your mind for mental preparedness is through knowledge, faith and practice. Go online and purchase some books to add to your survival library. Some books that I have read and have found helpful in this area are:

•The Holy Bible or an equivalent book on religion
•Devotional books
•A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose by Eckhart Tolle
•The Unthinkable by Amanda Ripley
•Are You Ready for Change? Preparing for Tribulation in America by Philip Lewis
•Survive!: Essential Skills and Tactics to Get You Out of Anywhere – Alive by Les Stroud
•One Second After by William R. Forstchen
•Last of the Breed by Louis L’Amour
Action Items:
1. Find some time and think about your core beliefs. What do you believe in? What drives you to be a better person?

2. If you feel open in discussing your belief system, talk with family members and find out what they believe.

3. Set up a time daily where you can sit and meditate on your spirit.

4. Begin exploring ways to advance your core beliefs to spiritually prepare yourself.

5. Practice your spiritual beliefs daily.

6. Talk with a spiritual advisor, pastor, or priest if you reach a place where you need guidance.

StumbleReddit Author: Tess Pennington
Web Site: http://www.ReadyNutrition.com/
Date: July 29th, 2011

Carrying right along........

MM.

Week 14 of 52: Mental Preparedness
Tess Pennington
Ready Nutrition
August 2011
So many get caught up in compiling survival tangibles we forget about the most important asset – our mental preparedness. Mental preparedness implies possessing the right frame of mind to handle stress before, during and after a disaster. This aspect of preparedness is directly connected to spiritual preparedness. Spiritual preparedness strengthens based on the established core belief system that guides and serves you throughout your walk of life. Once your spirit is prepared, you will become more mentally prepared for dealing with a disaster situation.

Mental preparedness sounds great, you may say, but stress has a physical toll on the body, how can we prepare for that? Understanding chemical and biological reactions to stress will shed some light on how stress affects us all. Biologically speaking, stress or anxiety (especially after an unexpected event) leads to a short-term imbalance of neurotransmitters such as serotonin and norepinephrine. This leads to physical and emotional reactions to stress. For tips on how to curb these natural reactions and reduce stress, click here.

One principle you must keep in mind when dealing with emergencies is that change is inevitable. Change is the one true constant in this universe, yet it is something we tend to stress about and avoid all together. Many do not handle stress well because they are unprepared to deal with what has been thrown at them. They are resistant to change. This rigidity will only hinder them from finding solutions. Disasters bring change and a lot of it. An aspect of mental preparedness, therefore, is learning to be more fluid and respectful of change in your day-to-day life. This ease in movement and acceptance of change will help you adapt more quickly to all situations. The more flexible you learn to be, the more adaptable you will be in an emergency.

We have all heard that practice makes perfect. One way to be mentally prepared for situations of extreme stress, therefore, is to practice rehearsal drills. Consistent practice will turn your life-saving plans into muscle memory. This rehearse-to-be-ready concept is how many emergency personnel and even athletes train to condition their mind and body. This could make all the difference when stress is sending your neurotransmitters out of whack. Even implementing stress relief techniques when responding to daily stress helps. The daily “minor disasters” give valuable insight into your mental and physical reaction to stressors, allowing you to know how you best perform under pressure.

Preps To buy:
The best way to begin increasing mental preparedness is through knowledge and practice. Read, watch, and walk through any information on disaster preparedness you can get your hands on. Enhance your mental and literal survival library. Increasing your knowledge of disasters will increase your perspective of your preparedness options. The Survival Blog has some excellent suggestions for survival literature and movies that you could watch. Here are some learning suggestions that I have found helpful:

•Start learning about disasters, how people are affected by them and the dangers they may encounter.
•Research first-hand accounts of survivor stories and recent disasters to learn what the victims came up against and how they survived.
•Invest in some survivor literature such as: Patriots by James Wesley Rawles, One Second After by William R. Forstchen, Lights Out by David Crawford, the Left Behind series by William Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins.
•Watch some survival/apocalyptic movies such as, The Day After Tomorrow, The Road, Jericho, Survivors, The Book of Eli, or Outbreak.
•Watch disaster documentaries.
•Discuss disaster scenarios and plans with other like-minded individuals. This is a great way for you to be aware of your community, your plans, and your current state of being.
•To be even more thorough, find out what disaster plans your community has in place so that you can plan more accordingly.
Action Items:
1. Decide which emergencies and disasters you need to be mentally prepared for.

2. Take some time and brainstorm potential disaster scenarios from this list. What stands in your way of preparedness? Think about how your family could be affected, what types of dangers you may face as a result of being in these disasters, etc., and find ways to be prepared respecting your mental reaction to stressors.

Author: Tess Pennington
Web Site: http://www.ReadyNutrition.com/
Date: August 5th, 2011

Week 15 of 52: Emergency Medical Supply (List 3)
Tess Pennington
Ready Nutrition
August 2011
Last week, my 5-year old slammed her finger in the door so hard that we thought it was broken for sure. Immediately, her finger began swelling and my husband and I were about to bolt out to the door to take her for an X-ray. She was terrified and crying, and all we wanted was to take her pain away. I grabbed an instant ice pack out of our medical supplies for her finger and decided to wait 30 minutes to see if the swelling changed. I laid her on my bed and cuddled with her while ensuring her fingers were in between the ice pack. When I checked her finger, the swelling had begun to subside and I breathed a sigh of relief. You never know when a medical emergency will arise, but you are always hoping that when it does, you will be ready for it.

As I previously mentioned, to be fully prepared for a medical disaster, you need to have a well-rounded medical supply. Since there are so many different types of medical supplies to store, I have broken them up to make the list more affordable. Click to see List 1 and List 2.

Because medical emergencies can occur suddenly and without warning, your medical supplies should be diverse and unique to your family’s needs. Situations may arise and getting to the store or the emergency room may not be a viable option. Therefore, having a wide array of medical supplies at your home can help diffuse an alarming situation.

When creating a medical supply, think about which medical issues will most likely occur and prepare accordingly for them. Also, have some supplies on hand for any family members who have pre-existing conditions would make a prolonged disaster more comfortable.

In 2006, The National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS) released a 2006 Emergency Department Summary that gathered statistics of emergency department use, including the most common reasons adults and children sought medical care and treatment. Having medical supplies that could assist in these common medical emergencies would be proactive on your part.

• Children Fever
•Childhood Earaches
•Various injuries such as sprains, strains, broken bones
•Chest Pain
•Abdominal Pain
•Back Pain
•Shortness of Breath
It is very important to have vitamins in your medical supplies. Vitamins are essential in regulating body functions and also help in the healing process. Storing the right types of food that have the highest amounts of vitamins would be one way of ensuring that your diet is vitamin packed. Therefore, prepare by having first hand knowledge on what vitamins the body needs on a daily basis. Storing multivitamins such as, Centrum multivitamins or Centrum Silver multivitamins are great options.

Ensure that your vitamins and medical supplies are stored appropriately and organized in a way that is easy to access. When an emergency arises, the person administering medical assistance will be appreciative that everything is in place and be ready for use.

Preps To Buy:
•Sunscreen
•Anti-fungal cream or powder
•Hydrocortisone cream
•Nasal spray (saline)
•Saline solution
•Lip balm
•Flashlight (Small)
•Allergy relief medication
•Vitamin Supplements
•UTI meds
•Medical reference books or e-books on handling medical crises
•Sterile adhesive bandages in assorted sizes
•Adhesive tape or duct tape
•Gauze pads (assorted sizes)
•2-4 instant ice packs
•Sterile roller bandages
•Sterile surgical gloves
•Latex gloves
Action Items:
1. Create some first response medical packs to make emergency situations easier to care for.

2. Take another first aid course, or purchase a first-aid book.

3. Practice basic first-aid techniques regularly.

Author: Tess Pennington
Web Site: http://www.ReadyNutrition.com/
Date: August 12th, 2011

Maybe this will be it for a day or two. Hopefully, some of you will come have a look at these.

MM.

Week 16 of 52: Survival Tools
Tess Pennington
Ready Nutrition
August 2011
This week we will be expanding on the topic discussed in week-2: tools for home emergencies, and focus on acquiring the right tools to help you survive.

Preparedness requires the ability to fall back on a foundation of tools and supplies you can count on for survival. Our ancient ancestors depended on tools for survival, and we are no different. Having the right survival tools on hand for when unexpected emergencies occur can help assist you in getting your basic needs met, catch food, communicate with emergency officials, and find your way in the dark.

Good, quality tools are a sound investment that can last a lifetime if properly cared for. The ten tools listed below are the most important survival tools that should be in your 72-hour bags or survival bags. Practice using these tools regularly so that you know their capability and their strength.

The Top 10 Survival Tools For Your Survival Bags

1.Water Treatment: We simply cannot live without water. The more energy you consume, the more water your body will need. Having a means to purify water in a survival situation will help keep you hydrated, your brain functioning properly and your focus on survival. In addition, if you sustain an injury, water can be poured over the wound for cleaning.
2.Compass and Map: Knowing which direction you are headed and where you need to be are essential. Keep maps of your surrounding area at home (in case you have to evacuate by foot), in your car and in your survival bags.
3.Fire Starter, flint bars, matches or lighter: Having a way to produce fire can help you cook food and keep warm and prevent hypothermia.
4.First Aid Kit: You do not want to be caught in a survival situation without a first aid kit. This kit assists in injury treatment and helps prevent infections from perpetuating.
5.Mirror: Used for signaling, checking face for wounds, looking at your back for wounds/ticks, and can be used to start fire.
6.Rope: This can be used for making snares or assisting in making other traps lashing branches together to build a shelter, assisting in first aid (splints, tourniquets, slings), or to make survival tools such as spears.
7.Survival Blanket or Bivvy: A bivvy or survival blanket can be used as an emergency shelter, sleeping bag or can be an extra layer added to your existing sleeping bag if you are expecting a cold night.
8.Multi-tool: Used for notching or more complex wood working skills, opening cans, altering equipment, medical uses, if snare wire is around wire cutters can cut it.
9.Lighting: Lanterns, light sticks, flashlights, and head lamps can help you find your way if in the dark. LEDs, solar and hand crank will get you the most for your money.
10.Survival Knife: Survival knives should be made of good quality steel. Invest in one you can rely on. Make sure it is well made, is strong enough for rough field use, and is the best you can afford.
The bottom line is, your preparedness tools are your life line. The tools you choose should ones that you can depend on to assist in meeting your basic survival needs. Without them, you could be ill-equipped in a survival situation.

Preps To Buy:
•Candles or hurricane lamps
•Matches (regular and water-proof)
•Batteries (an assortment of sizes)
•Collapsible Shovel or trowel
•Water Treatment (purification tablets, chlorine granuals, water filtration system)
•Compass and Map
•Fire Starter
•First Aid Kit
•Mirror
•Duct Tape
•Rope
•Signal Flare or flashing beacon
•Survival Blanket or Bivvy
•Multi-tool
•Lighting (lantern, light sticks, flashlights, head lamps)
•Survival Knife (If you have not already purchased one)
Action Items:
1. Prepare a survival kit or 72-hour bag with your survival tools included. Have this ready in case you have to make a quick evacuation.

2. Create a personal support network of neighbors and friends who can help you and your family if you are separated or unable to get home.

3. Give copies of the following lists to your network: emergency information list, contact information for various times of day.

4. Learn about sheltering-in-place and what items you may need to do so. Make a plan with your family and choose the area of your home where you will go.

Author: Tess Pennington
Web Site: http://www.ReadyNutrition.com/
Date: August 19th, 2011

Week 17 of 52: Water Preparedness
Tess Pennington
Ready Nutrition
August 2011
Water is the foundation of life, and as such, water preparedness is one of the most important aspects of being prepared. Disaster officials suggest the importance of having a 3-day water supply, equating to one gallon of water per person, per day. However, in the event of a natural emergency such as a hurricane or tornado, water can be interrupted for days or even weeks. Without water to drink, dehydration sets in, the body starts shutting down and then … well it isn’t good. Let’s just say that a human can die in 3 days without any water or if the water is not treated properly.

Water is essential to life, so why not be prepared. Keep some alternative water treatment sources on hand in case of a water shortage. If you want to learn about alternative water treatment options, scroll down to the “Preps to Buy” section of this newsletter.

Along with learning about various treatment options, store bottled drinking water for short-term emergencies, and consider having multiple alternatives on hand to treat water and to filter it if a short-term emergency is extended. Most preppers believe in the rule of 3, have three alternatives. I recommend having three different types of water treatment options in case one breaks or is lost. Another way to do this would be having separate filtration systems for the home, for the 72-hour bag, and in emergency vehicle kits. In addition, keeping extra filtration parts on supply would be very proactive in the instance that a short-term emergency extends into a longer-term emergency.

Treating the water will eliminate any microorganisms and the possibility of contaminants in the water. Microorganisms such as protozoan parasites, bacteria and viruses can make a person very ill. Drinking contaminated water can even cause death in extreme cases.

Once the water has been treated, ensure that all microorganisms are removed by boiling the water for 3-5 minutes. If someone suspects they have ingested contaminated drinking water, some of the symptoms include:

•Severe gas
•Diarrhea
•Vomiting
•Severe abdominal cramps
•Headache
•Weakness due to the above symptoms
In a disaster where water sources are compromised, people within a 50-mile radius could be adversely impacted by illness and disease if just one person incorrectly handles water or incorrectly disposes of waste. Learning how to handle and treat water before an emergency occurs will ensure that your family does not become ill from poor water conditions.

Water is only as safe as it’s source. When their is any doubt about the quality of water you are drinking, treat it chemically, through distillation or through the boiling method. To learn how to treat water using these methods, click here.

Follow these recommendations by the CDC for safely storing water:

•Store emergency water in a cool, dark place in your home, each vehicle, and your workplace.
•Water can be stored indefinitely, but if it has a cloudy appearance, treat it accordingly.
•It’s possible to keep water in food-grade containers intended for water storage. Containers must be thoroughly washed, sanitized, and rinsed. Only store clean, ready-to-drink water. Tap water will probably need to be purified. Ask public health authorities or your water provider whether tap water should be used and how to treat it.
•Plastic soft drink or food grade plastic containers can be used in a pinch. Ensure that the containers and cleaned and sanitized thoroughly before re-use.
Note: Do not use milk or juice containers for storing water. Even if you try to thoroughly clean these plastic containers, left over sugars and proteins provide perfect places for bacteria to grow.

Water is a finite resource, and in the case of emergency preparedness, it is one of the most important items to have stored. We use water for everything: hydrating our bodies, cleaning our bodies, brushing our teeth, for cooking, cleaning the dishes, and cleaning wounds. Ensure that you have enough for these purposes.

Preps To Buy:
•1-gallon of bottled water for each family member (i.e., 1-2 weeks worth)
•Secondary water filtration system
•Water purification tablets
•Bleach (Bleach only stores for 12 months, so do not buy large quantities of this item unless you plan to use it for other reasons.)
•Chlorine granules (available at most super stores or pool stores)
•Iodine
•Tarp or plastic sheeting (for solar stills)
•Electrolyte or rehydration powders
•Anti-diarrhea medicines
•Vitamins (to help the body absorb needed nutrients after being ill from untreated water)
Action Items:
1. Research different types of water filtration systems to see which type is best suited for your family. Some great websites to begin searching is Berkey water filtration systems, Katadyn water filters, Micropur tablets and Steripen. These are all products that I have in my own preparedness supplies and use regularly.

2. Learn about natural ways to filter water. You Tube is an abundant source of information on how to filter water for survival situations. Devote some to learning methods such as: how to build a solar still, how to live on sea water, how to make your own water filter, making a sand filter and/or gravity filters.

3. Practice filtering and treating your water. This is a crucial skill to learn!

StumbleReddit Author: Tess Pennington
Web Site: http://www.ReadyNutrition.com/
Date: August 26th, 2011

Week 18 of 52: Emergency Food Preservation
Tess Pennington
Ready Nutrition
September 2011
There are times when disasters will persist longer than intended, and time is of the essence to preserve as much of your food source as you can. Essentially, your short-term disaster is turning into a longer-term situation and you need to be able to fall back on a certain set of skills. These skills are something we will be talking more about in future issues. But it is important to emphasize that preparedness isn’t about how many items you have stored away, it’s really about learning the skills necessary for survival. And the best part of learning this particular skill of food preservation is that it takes you one step closer to being self reliant during a disaster.

Acquiring items to preserve food is a good investment for your short and long-term disaster supplies. However, to start this new skill set out, it is best to begin with collecting various types of food preservation resources. Some of the books that I have in my library are:

•Family Preparedness Handbook
•Little House on the Prairie Cook Book
•The Dehydrating Bible
•Canning and Preserving Your Own Harvest
A great advantage about learning how to preserve food is that you can use just about any type of food. You can even preserve your own fruit juice. All you need is the right tools and your imagination. Further, having knowledge on how long foods last will help you preserve foods when they are at their best. This convenient food storage chart is a great tool to have in your kitchen to ensure your foods are within expiration.

Food preservation can be done in multiple ways:

•Canning - This process destroys microorganisms and inactivates enzymes that are naturally in food. The heating and later cooling forms a vacuum seal to prevent other microorganisms from decontaminating the food within the jar or can. Acidic foods such as fruits and tomatoes can be processed or “canned” in boiling water (also called the “water bath method”), while low acidic vegetables and meats must be processed in a pressure canner at 240°F (10 pounds pressure at sea level). Because the food is canned at the time of the fruits/vegetables prime nutrient content, they will retain most of their nutritional content if not gain more nutrients from the canning process. Canned food will keep 12 months, if not lot longer, in some cases.
•Freeze – This is by far, the easiest way to preserve your food. Many simply, boil their fruits or vegetables for a minute or two and then throw them in the freezer. I have a vacuum sealer and seal up ready-to-cook dinners have them sitting in my freezer to use for nights when I’m really busy. It’s best to eat frozen food within 6-12 months. This is a very time efficient way of preserving food, however, if the electricity goes out for an extended time, the food will spoil. So my advice is to not put all your “eggs in one basket”, if you know what I mean.
•Drying or Dehydrating - This method is a very low cost approach to use for long term storage is a great way of including needed nutrition into diets with minimal investment. You can purchase a food dehydrator for as low as $40, or you can dehydrate foods in the oven at a very low setting. Some people have even used their cars as a dehydrator during the hot, summer months. This type of preservation method keeps foods for 6 months-12 months. Dehydrating foods is the only long-term storage method for meat (jerky) which is a great food source to add to your 72-hour bag. Here are a few more recipes you may want to try out. To learn more about dehydrating and storing tips, click here.
•Cure & Smoke - This time honored preservation method is very popular due to the intense flavor it adds to meats. Many foods are cured before smoking, especially cold-smoking, to draw out the moisture, which would otherwise promote spoilage. Ensure that you use cure mixtures that contain nitrate. Caution: Nitrites are considered carcinogens and are toxic if used in quantities higher than recommended; therefore caution should be used in their storage and use. Curing is when a mixture of salt, sodium nitrate, nitrites, sometimes sugar, spices, and other seasonings are combined to kill off any bacterial growth and to flavor the meat at the same time. To learn more about curing and smoking meats, click here.
•Fermenting and pickling - This method of food preservation is one of the most common ways to prolong food sources because the acidity level makes it difficult for bacteria to grow. Ensure that you select fresh, firm fruits or vegetables free of spoilage. Distilled vinegar or cider vinegars of 5 percent acidity (50 grain) are recommended. To learn more about this type of preservation, click here.
Like with all foods in our food storage pantry, ensure that food is stored away properly in a cool, dark place away from natural elements (sunlight, moisture and insects). Natural elements and insects are your food’s worst enemies and should be avoided at all costs.

Food preservation is one of the oldest technologies known to man. Civilizations and even armies depended on preserved foods. And for centuries, this skill has been seen as a survival necessity. It is time that we took a second look at the skills from our ancestors and re-learn them to use for our future suvival situations.

Preps To Buy:
•Kosher Salt (10 lbs.)
•Sugar (20 lbs.)
•Morton’s Sure Curing Salt (10 lbs.)
•Pickling Salt (5-10 lbs.)
•White Vinegar and Apple Cider Vinegar (5-10 gallons)
•Molasses (5-10 lbs)
•Powdered Fruit Pectin
•Canning Jars (in an assortment of sizes), lids and rings
•Food Drying Racks
•Pressure Canner
•Food strainer
•Canning rack
Action Items:
1. Begin researching and finding resources to have on hand for the different food preservation methods discussed. There are some great resources for preserving food on different homesteading websites and even homesteading magazines.

2. Practice makes perfect! So, start practicing using these methods in order for it to become a skill.

3. Start a garden to that you can grow food to preserve for later use.

StumbleReddit Author: Tess Pennington
Web Site: http://www.ReadyNutrition.com/
Date: September 2nd, 2011

Week 18 of 52: Emergency Food Preservation
Tess Pennington
Ready Nutrition
September 2011
There are times when disasters will persist longer than intended, and time is of the essence to preserve as much of your food source as you can. Essentially, your short-term disaster is turning into a longer-term situation and you need to be able to fall back on a certain set of skills. These skills are something we will be talking more about in future issues. But it is important to emphasize that preparedness isn’t about how many items you have stored away, it’s really about learning the skills necessary for survival. And the best part of learning this particular skill of food preservation is that it takes you one step closer to being self reliant during a disaster.

Acquiring items to preserve food is a good investment for your short and long-term disaster supplies. However, to start this new skill set out, it is best to begin with collecting various types of food preservation resources. Some of the books that I have in my library are:

•Family Preparedness Handbook
•Little House on the Prairie Cook Book
•The Dehydrating Bible
•Canning and Preserving Your Own Harvest
A great advantage about learning how to preserve food is that you can use just about any type of food. You can even preserve your own fruit juice. All you need is the right tools and your imagination. Further, having knowledge on how long foods last will help you preserve foods when they are at their best. This convenient food storage chart is a great tool to have in your kitchen to ensure your foods are within expiration.

Food preservation can be done in multiple ways:

•Canning - This process destroys microorganisms and inactivates enzymes that are naturally in food. The heating and later cooling forms a vacuum seal to prevent other microorganisms from decontaminating the food within the jar or can. Acidic foods such as fruits and tomatoes can be processed or “canned” in boiling water (also called the “water bath method”), while low acidic vegetables and meats must be processed in a pressure canner at 240°F (10 pounds pressure at sea level). Because the food is canned at the time of the fruits/vegetables prime nutrient content, they will retain most of their nutritional content if not gain more nutrients from the canning process. Canned food will keep 12 months, if not lot longer, in some cases.
•Freeze – This is by far, the easiest way to preserve your food. Many simply, boil their fruits or vegetables for a minute or two and then throw them in the freezer. I have a vacuum sealer and seal up ready-to-cook dinners have them sitting in my freezer to use for nights when I’m really busy. It’s best to eat frozen food within 6-12 months. This is a very time efficient way of preserving food, however, if the electricity goes out for an extended time, the food will spoil. So my advice is to not put all your “eggs in one basket”, if you know what I mean.
•Drying or Dehydrating - This method is a very low cost approach to use for long term storage is a great way of including needed nutrition into diets with minimal investment. You can purchase a food dehydrator for as low as $40, or you can dehydrate foods in the oven at a very low setting. Some people have even used their cars as a dehydrator during the hot, summer months. This type of preservation method keeps foods for 6 months-12 months. Dehydrating foods is the only long-term storage method for meat (jerky) which is a great food source to add to your 72-hour bag. Here are a few more recipes you may want to try out. To learn more about dehydrating and storing tips, click here.
•Cure & Smoke - This time honored preservation method is very popular due to the intense flavor it adds to meats. Many foods are cured before smoking, especially cold-smoking, to draw out the moisture, which would otherwise promote spoilage. Ensure that you use cure mixtures that contain nitrate. Caution: Nitrites are considered carcinogens and are toxic if used in quantities higher than recommended; therefore caution should be used in their storage and use. Curing is when a mixture of salt, sodium nitrate, nitrites, sometimes sugar, spices, and other seasonings are combined to kill off any bacterial growth and to flavor the meat at the same time. To learn more about curing and smoking meats, click here.
•Fermenting and pickling - This method of food preservation is one of the most common ways to prolong food sources because the acidity level makes it difficult for bacteria to grow. Ensure that you select fresh, firm fruits or vegetables free of spoilage. Distilled vinegar or cider vinegars of 5 percent acidity (50 grain) are recommended. To learn more about this type of preservation, click here.
Like with all foods in our food storage pantry, ensure that food is stored away properly in a cool, dark place away from natural elements (sunlight, moisture and insects). Natural elements and insects are your food’s worst enemies and should be avoided at all costs.

Food preservation is one of the oldest technologies known to man. Civilizations and even armies depended on preserved foods. And for centuries, this skill has been seen as a survival necessity. It is time that we took a second look at the skills from our ancestors and re-learn them to use for our future suvival situations.

Preps To Buy:
•Kosher Salt (10 lbs.)
•Sugar (20 lbs.)
•Morton’s Sure Curing Salt (10 lbs.)
•Pickling Salt (5-10 lbs.)
•White Vinegar and Apple Cider Vinegar (5-10 gallons)
•Molasses (5-10 lbs)
•Powdered Fruit Pectin
•Canning Jars (in an assortment of sizes), lids and rings
•Food Drying Racks
•Pressure Canner
•Food strainer
•Canning rack
Action Items:
1. Begin researching and finding resources to have on hand for the different food preservation methods discussed. There are some great resources for preserving food on different homesteading websites and even homesteading magazines.

2. Practice makes perfect! So, start practicing using these methods in order for it to become a skill.

3. Start a garden to that you can grow food to preserve for later use.

StumbleReddit Author: Tess Pennington
Web Site: http://www.ReadyNutrition.com/
Date: September 2nd, 2011

Really. No comments. None at all???????

I thought many of you would have found this information very helpful. I will let this rest for a few days before I try to bring in more of the information.

Really, no interest. I am surprised.

I will bump this back to the top. Maybe it was missed or folks meant to post a comment but forgot to get back to this thread.

All the best,

Mountainman.

I'm enjoying the reading, MM.
I hope I'm not infringing on copyright, but I've made text copies of each of those week lists so I can read the majority later on my Tablet, to see if maybe I may have missed something in my own preps.
p.s. I wonder if others on the network are aware of this newest thread?
p.p.s. you doubled up on the "Week 18" entry .... 🙄

First thing is to get a partner that believes in prepping, all else is secondary. 👿

All,

Thanks for the feedback. I will update more a little later this morning.

As for copyright, if you are using it on another device for your personal reading and you are not planning to sell the material and you retain the author's information with the weekly suggestion, I cannot see that being any different than moving an e-book from your computer onto your MP-3 player or e-reader. You are moving the information where you can read it.

The original author has some great ideas. I am sure they would enjoy as wide an audience as possible.

Cheers,

Mountainman.

Well let's continue. It is good to hear folks are dropping by to read this material.

I am glad it is helping give you some ideas.

MM.

Week 19 of 52: Food Storage Tools

Tess Pennington
Ready Nutrition
September 2011

Print

When emergencies last longer than originally intended, your basic needs such as food and water become the highest priority. Food and water security is one of the greatest advantages for being prepared for longer-term emergencies. In order to understand the importance of having a long-term food supply, you need to begin seeing food as a necessary investment to your family’s well being. When I first began storing a long-term food supply 3 years ago, the price of food was still relatively cheap for most of the foods I bought. Because of that investment that I made, I am still living off the food that I bought 3 years ago and have saved a lot of money as a result of the increased food prices.

It is best to store dry goods for long-term storage. Dry foods that we typically see in our pantry such as grains, rice, beans, oats, wheat, corn kernels, powdered milk, sugar, salt, baking powder, etc. are the best types of foods to store. Also, having an understanding of how long certain foods last can help you in your food supply endeavors. This guideline can help you determine how long your stored foods will last.

Usually, foods that are purchased at a grocery store are packaged for short-term use. Therefore, if these foods will become part of your long-term food supply, they will need to be re-packaged. Since there are many techniques used for re-packaging food, I will discuss the techniques that I use in my own preparedness supplies. Feel free to do some research on your own to learn different ways to storing food.

Multi-barrier system – Many preppers like to choose a multi-barrier approach to store their food. This barrier system will keep natural elements such as sunlight, moisture and air out of the container when sealed. The multi-barrier method uses Mylar bags (also called food liners) to initially seal the dry food and then the Mylar bags are placed in a food grade plastic container. There are different sizes of Mylar bags that can be used. I have small Mylar bags to use for my short-term food sources and large Mylar bags that fit into 5-gallon plastic containers to use for my longer-term food sources.
Vacuum sealing method – I use this method for short-term food storage by vacuum sealing dry food in food sealer plastic packaging and then I add the sealed plastic packages to Mylar bags. Then, I seal the Mylar bag. This is a little more work, but when I go to grab the food, I know that I have taken every precaution at ensuring it’s quality.
Mylar bags technique – Some people only use Mylar bags to store their foodstuffs. I use this approach in my short-term food supply because the food is usually in smaller quantities and will be used more frequently. However, there is some risk to using this method because it can leave the food supply vulnerable to natural elements and also to insects.

To learn more about sealing food appropriately, click here.

In order to have these foods stored properly, you need to right tools. The tools that I have suggested below are used for short and long-term food storage preparation. These necessary investments will ensure that your food sources are protected from your food’s worst enemies.

Food Storage Containers – Any large quantities of food that you plan to store indefinitely should be stored in food grade containers. These containers will not transfer any non-food chemicals into the food, nor are there any chemicals within the container that are hazardous to humans. Typically a food grade container has a #2 by the recycle symbol or the acronym ”HDPE” stamp on the bottom (HPDE stands for “high density polyethylene”). Before any food is to be stored, clean the containers with soapy water, rinse and dry thoroughly. 5-gallon plastic containers are the most popular amongst those who store bulk quantities of food. Also, ensure that you have an air tight lid.

Mylar Food Liners – Research has shown that over time, slow amounts of oxygen seep through the walls of plastic containers. Consequently, over time natural elements, and even insects can find a way inside the container. To add additional protection, adding a food liner, such as Mylar bags will ensure that there are multiple barriers for the food to be protected in. These food liners come in an assortment of sizes.

Food Sealers – Food vacuum sealers remove and lock out air and moisture using specially-designed bags and canisters. This ensures that the longevity of the foods are preserved for as long as possible. Using food sealers are a great way to ensure that all oxygen is removed from food sources before it is placed in a long-term environment.

Oxygen Absorbers – Using oxygen absorbers greatly prolongs the shelf life of stored food. Because it absorbs the oxygen from the container, it inhibits the growth of aerobic pathogens and molds. Oxygen absorbers begin working the moment they are exposed to oxygen. Therefore, it is best to work as efficiently as possible. Oxygen absorbers come in different sizes, so pay attention to the size needed for the container. Typically, 2,000 cc’s of oxygen absorbers should be added to one 5-gallon bucket. Oxygen absorbers are not edible, not toxic and does not effect the smell and taste of the product.

Desiccant Packets – Desiccant packets moderate the moisture level when placed in a food container. They do not absorb the moisture. Please note that desiccant is not edible. If the packet somehow breaks open and spills onto the stored food, the entire contents of the container must be thrown away. There are certain food items that desiccant should not be added to, specifically: flour, sugar and salt. These items need a certain amount of moisture to stay activated, and if desiccant is added to it, they will turn into a hard brick.

Heat Clamp – A person can use a heat clamp to seal the Mylar bags, or they can seal their Mylar bags with a simple at home iron put on the highest setting. The heat clamp is usually around $85 and is specially made for sealing Mylar bags. If the home iron method is used, ensure that you use a hard surface such as a cutting board or book to iron on and slowly go over the Mylar bag. Note: if using an at home iron to seal Mylar, this method must be done gently and slowly or the Mylar will be damaged.

Where To Purchase These Products?

The Ready Store– For smaller scale purchases
Amazon- For smaller scale purchases
Ropak– For large quantity purchases
Sorbent Systems– For large quantity purchases
Latter Day Saint Food Storage Warehouses
Call around to different restaurants around your area and see if they have any food grade containers with lids that you can have. Typically, restaurants are happy to give these away as they have no need for these containers after they are used. This could save you a lot of money investing in food grade containers.

Storing food is a continual process of using, rotating and resupplying. If a person invests in a food supply, the food should be used and more food purchased to resupply the storage shelf. Think of your food supply as a small store where the foods in the front has the shortest expiration date and the ones in the back have the longest.

A little preventative maintenance can go along way in terms of food storage. Understanding the different methods for storing your food supply for short or long term storage will help you get the most out of your food investment.
Preps To Buy:

Mylar Bags (in different sizes)
Oxygen Absorbers
Desiccants
Plastic Food Storage Containers
Food Vacuum Sealer with plastic liners
Heat Clamp or Iron

Action Items:

1. Find a safe, dry area in the home to store your longer-term food supplies. Those who are tight on space can use creative methods such as shelving units high in their closets, extra bedrooms or closets. As long as the space is dry, is free from temperature fluctuations, and is large enough to store the foods, it can be used. It is best not to use a garage or attic as a food storage area due to the drastic temperature fluctuations that occur in these areas of the home.

2. Make a list of what types of long-term foods you plan on storing for your long-term food supply. Those that have family members with special dietary needs should do further research on which types of foods they will need.

3. Practice using your food storage tools on short-term foods to ensure that you understand how to tools work.
StumbleReddit

Author: Tess Pennington
Web Site: http://www.ReadyNutrition.com/
Date: September 9th, 2011

Week 20 of 52: 1 Month Supply of Food

Tess Pennington
Ready Nutrition
September 2011

Print

We are all preparing for different reasons and to different degrees, however, most of you can agree that we are all preparing for a scenario where we will need to have emergency supplies to fall back on when the time comes. We have discussed in previous newsletters how storing food is both economical as well as promotes personal responsibility. Knowing that you can sustain your family in a disaster also provides peace of mind, which is priceless.

When storing food for long-term emergencies, it is hard to calculate how much food a person or family will need. One of the golden rules of prepping is “it’s better to be over prepared rather than under prepared.” Ensure that your family has enough food for long-term emergencies by researching to find out how many calories a person needs per day in order to survive, and knowing how much food to store. Remember to turn to the long-term food supply guideline to ensure that your food stays within it’s expiration date.

Certain foods can stand the test of time and are lifelines to families. The following is a detailed list of the suggested prep items for you to purchase this week. Most of these items are lifetime survival foods, meaning their shelf life is 20 years+ and would be a good investment to make towards your food security.

White Rice – White rice is a major staple item that preppers like to put away because it’s a great source for calories, is rich in starches and carbohydrates, is cheap and has a long shelf life. Although some prefer brown rice, white rice is the better storage choice. Even though brown rice has more nutrition, it is considered a “living” food and tends to not last as long as white rice does. If properly stored, white rice can last 30 years or more. Rice can be used for breakfast meals, added to soups, made into a variety of side dishes and is also an alternative to wheat flour.
Beans – These low cost preps are not only packed with nutrition, but are extremely versatile. Beans are packed with protein, iron, fiber, folate, antioxidants and vitamins. When beans are accompanied with rice, it makes a complete protein which provides all the amino acids needed to survive. One serving of beans and rice provides 19.9 g, or 40 percent of your daily vitamins.
Wheat – Wheat is one of your long-term emergency must haves! Besides being a high carbohydrate food, wheat contains valuable protein, minerals, and vita­mins. Wheat protein, when balanced by other foods that supply certain amino acids such as lysine, is an efficient source of protein. Wheat berries are best to store as they will last longer than flour. The berries can also be used as a breakfast cereal, added to soups for additional nutrition, popped like popcorn, ground into flour for baking, used to make alcohol, livestock feed, used as a leavening agent, for sprouting.
Oats – Steel cut, rolled or quick cooking oats are the most common types of oats you can buy in bulk. Oats are considered a whole grain and can be a valuable protein source during a long-term situation. In addition, oats can be used in a variety of cooking recipes, ground into flour, sprouted for needed vitamin nutrition, and used as livestock feed. Oats also have proven to be very effective in soothing the skin, and can be used medicinally. The alternative medicine community boasts that infusions of oat straw has also been used to assist in nicotine withdraws, and used to treat flu symptoms and coughs.
Salt – Salt is a multipurpose, low cost prep that will be highly desirable if a long term disaster were to come around. Prepping calculators suggest having 25 pounds of salt stored for one year. Salt can be used for curing, as a preservative, cooking, cleaning, medicinal, and tanning hides. Salt that is stored in it’s paper packaging can be subject to caking due to exposure to moisture. Packing salt in long-term packaging is suggested.
Sugar – Sugar will be highly desirable in a long-term emergency mainly because it will add a bit of normalcy to the situation. With a little sugar stored away you can use it as a sweetener for beverages, in breads, cakes, as a preservative, use it to make alcohol, for curing, gardening, and as an insecticide (equal parts of sugar and baking powder will kill cockroaches). Much like salt, sugar is also prone to absorbing moisture, but this problem can be eradicated by adding some rice granules into the storage container. It is suggested not to add any dessicant packets to sugar as it will cause the sugar to brick.
Bouillon Granules – Bouillon granules are a great way to add flavor to dishes during a long-term situation. This could be a great way to beat food fatigue (eating the same types of food repeatedly that causes one to lose their appetite). Because bouillon products contain large amounts of salt, the product is preserved. However, over time, the taste of the bouillon could be altered. If storing bouillon cubes, it would be best to repackage them using a food sealer or sealed in mylar bags. Bulk quantities of bouillon granules can be found at most super stores.
Powdered Milk – Because dry milk will probably be the most sensitive food item you are storing, the drier powdered milk can be kept the better. In fact, adding a dessican’t packet when storing for long-term would be helpful in preserving this necessary food item. Powdered milk is not just for drinking. It can be used in a variety of recipes, added to soups, used to make breads, and also has many beauty uses as well.
Cooking Oil – Many overlook this critical prep item. Having oil is not only essential to use for cooking purposes, but it can play a large role in our diet as well. The fats contained in oil have nine calories per gram compared to the four calories contained by either carbohydrates or protein. This makes fat a valuable source of concentrated calories that could be of real importance if faced with a diet consisting largely of unrefined grains and legumes. Having cooking oil on hand could also be helpful to aiding the diet intakes of children and elderly since they consume less food and may be risk for malnutrition in a long-term disaster situation. Storing cooking oil could pose a problem. Due to the instability of most cooking oils, unopened bottles of oil have a shelf life of 1 year. This is one example of why it is so important to use the foods that we store. Ironically, coconut oil has a longer shelf life of 5 years when properly stored in cool, dark place. Although darker colored oils have more flavor than paler colored, the agents that contribute to that flavor and color also contribute to faster rancidity. For maximum shelf life buy paler colored oils.

Preps To Buy:

White rice in bulk quantities
Beans in bulk quantities
Wheat in bulk quantities
Oats in bulk quantities
Sugar in bulk quantities
Salt in bulk quantities
Bouillon granules in bulk quantities
Powdered milk in bulk quantities
2-gallons of cooking oil

Action Items:

Calculate the amount of food your family will need for a month long disaster.
With the food storage items purchased last week, begin assembling Mylar bags and storage containers and pour food contents in and seal for long-term storage. Have a print out on hand on the directions for packing food long term to ensure that you are storing food correctly.
Ensure that food lids are sealed correctly.
Store sealed food containers in a cool, dark, and dry area of the home.
As a reminder, remember not to forget your pets in your long-term food storage plans and ensure that you have packed enough food away for your pets. Dog and cat food can also be stored in food grade plastic containers for long-term use.

StumbleReddit

Author: Tess Pennington
Web Site: http://www.ReadyNutrition.com/
Date: September 16th, 2011