Joel Skousen

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http://joelskousen.com/

Disasters

Are you prepared for a major disaster such as an earthquake, blizzard, or fire? What would you or your family do if such a disaster occurred tomorrow? You could be without help for up to 72 hours. By taking certain preparedness measures, the impact of such disasters can definitely be lessened.

Before the Disaster
-Assemble important paperwork such as personal records, home inventory, and insurance information. Keep copies of this information in a known safe place outside of the home.
-Check your home for potential hazards. Bolt down water heaters, securely fasten bookshelves and other heavy objects to the wall. Place large and heavy objects on lower shelves. Bottled goods, glass, china, and other breakables should be stored in low or closed cabinets.
-Know where and how to shut off electricity, gas, and water at main switches and valves, and teach other responsible family members how to do so. Check with local utilities for instructions.
-Have an emergency plan in place in the event of a disaster. What would each member of your family do if they have to evacuate? How would your family reunite if away from home? Do you have an emergency contact for your family? Hold occasional drills so each member of your family knows what to do in a disaster.
-Be prepared to be without water and power. How would you stay warm? How would you cook your food? How would you get water?
-Be trained in first aid and CPR.
-Have on hand:
1. Flashlights and a battery powered radio in case power is cut off.
2. Have a supply of drinking water and some nonperishable foods which can be prepared without cooking (72 hour kit). Have these available to be quickly taken in an emergency.
3. Have a well-supplied first aid kit tailored to the individual needs of your family.
4. Have extra medication (prescriptions) available in the event you could not get to the doctor or pharmacy.
5. Fire extinguishers and basic tools and supplies (pliers, crescent wrench, hammer, screwdrivers, rope, wire, electrical tape, duct tape, saw, knife).

During a Disaster
-First and foremost, stay calm. Think through the consequences of any action you take. Implement your emergency plan.
-If you are experiencing an earthquake, stay inside; if you are outdoors, stay there. If indoors, take cover under a heavy desk, table, bench, in a supported doorway, or along an inside wall. Stay away from glass. Don't use candles, matches or other open flame either during or after an earthquake.
-If you are outdoors in an earthquake, move away from buildings and utility wires. The greatest danger from falling debris is just outside doorways and close to outer walls. Once in the open, stay there until the shaking stops.
-If you are in a moving car during an earthquake, stop as quickly as safety permits, but stay in the vehicle. A car may jiggle violently on its springs, but it is a good place to stay until the shaking stops.

After a Disaster
-Be prepared for additional earthquake shocks. Although most of these are smaller than the main shock, some may be large enough to cause additional damage or bring weakened structures down.
-Check for injuries. Do nor attempt to move seriously injured persons unless they are in immediate danger of further injury.
-Turn on your radio or television to get the latest emergency information from local authorities.
-Check your utilities. An earthquake may have broken gas, electrical, and water lines. If you smell gas, open windows and shut off the main gas valve. Then leave the building and report the leak to authorities. Do not reenter the building until a utility official says it is safe. If electrical wiring is shorting out, shut off the supply at the main switch. Emergency water can be obtained from hot water heater tanks, toilet tanks (not bowls) and melted ice cubes.
-Check to see that sewage lines are intact before using sanitary facilities.
-Contact the emergency contact person if possible so they can make other aware of your situation.
-If possible, contact those in the community you have stewardship over to access their needs.

A Few Extra Good Ideas About Containers For 72 Hour Kits

It is important to remember that your 72 hour kit has an extreme limitation of space. Everything that you need to survive for three days must be organized and squeezed into a portable container small enough for you to carry. Try to use a container that has handles, is small enough to carry, preferably water-proof, and durable. Don't wait to start assembling your kit until you have the perfect container. Begin now with whatever you have. No single container will meet all of the needs of everyone. Try to use containers that are best suited to each individual. Don't try to cram supplies for your entire family into one large container. If you do, you won't be able to move it when a critical situation arises. The contents of a 72 hour kit should be limited to the needs of just one person.

Container Options:
-Polyethylene Buckets: Recommended
--They are large enough to contain all the essential items for one adult. Can be used to carry water, used as a seat, wash bin, or even as a toilet. It is recommended that each family have at least one bucket, even if you have chosen to go with other containers.

-Plastic Storage Tubs: Recommended
--The ten- or twenty-gallon plastic, rectangular storage tubs with carrying handles molded into the sides work well. They stack well and can be used for carrying water. Some have built in wheels.

-Backpacks: Recommended to good, depending on the quality
--Easy to carry. Can be expanded to carry sleeping bags or bedrolls, along with additional lightweight equipment like backpacking tents, stoves, lanterns, and so on. The full back pack should not weigh more than 25% of the weight the person carrying it. Not the best choice for children or elderly people.

-Duffel Bags: Good
--Some have handles and wheels, as well as quality zippers and multiple compartments.

-Luggage: Good to Recommended
--Remember that lightweight and portable are the key! Wheeled carry-on sizes are recommended. Some have handles and wheels. Most suitcases are not waterproof. Use heavy untreated garbage bags inside the suitcase to keep the items protected from the water.

-Tote Bags: So-so
--Can be difficult to carry and usually not large enough.

-Not Recommended:
--cardboard boxes, trunks, footlockers, ammunition boxes, or garbage cans

Additional thought on containers:
-Make individual kits for each separate family member, including the personal items and supplies every person should have. Then create food kits for the whole family in one or two buckets including whatever fuel options and utensils you'll need to prepare and eat those food choices. This will allow for a greater quantity of food.
-In a parent's kit or additional container, include other essentials such as the battery-powered radio for the group, a small tent, family first aid supplies, spare batteries, and the other necessary communal items.
-Label your kits with your names and phone numbers.
-Make a "don't forget" list and put it with your kit. This will include items that you must remember to take with you but are using each day so that they can't be put into your kit now, such as eye glasses, prescription medicines, shoes, special needs, wallets, keys, etc.

KEEP YOUR KITS ACCESSIBLE

Creating an Emergency Car Kit

Weather and seasonal changes will affect the kind of food as well as emergency clothing that you include. For example, in areas with extremely cold winter where you might actually be trapped in your car, consider including a heat source, such as chemical hand/foot warmers, and/or canned fuel and a backpacking stove along with envelopes of instant soup or hot cocoa. The fluctuating temperatures in a car's trunk will cause anything perishable to deteriorate faster than in a kit kept in a home. You'll need to change them out on a regular basis. Foods containing chocolate or other ingredients that melt easily are obviously not good choices. Consider one of these packs for a mini-desk pack at your work, also.
A few items to consider are:
-water
-sturdy walking shoes and socks or boots
-poncho
-small first aid kit, including aspirin or pain relievers
-facial tissues, moist towelettes
-flashlight with extra batteries
-energy foods or bars, trail mix, ready to eat canned food (be sure to include a can opener and utensils to eat with)
-small battery-powered radio with extra batteries
-space blanket/fleece throw
-small pad of paper and pencil
-charger for your cell phone
-small folding umbrella

72 Hour Emergency Kit by: Rachel Woods

Food and Water
A three day supply of food and water, per person, when no refrigeration or cooking is available:

-Protein/Granola Bars

-Trail Mix/Dried Fruit

-Crackers/Cereals (for munching)

-Canned Tuna, Beans, Meat, Vienna Sausages, etc. (pop-top cans that open without a can opener)

-Canned Juice

-Candy/Gum

-Water (1 gallon/4 liters per person)

Bedding and Clothing

-Change of Clothing (short and long sleeve shirts, pants, socks, jackets, etc.)

-Undergarments

-Rain Coat/Poncho

-Blankets and Emergency Heat Blankets

-Cloth Sheet

-Plastic Sheet

-Knit Gloves

Fuel and Light

-Battery Lighting (flashlights, lamps)

-Extra Batteries

-Flares

-Candles

-Lighter

-Water Proof Matches

Equipment

-Can Opener

-Dishes/Utensils

-Shovel

-Radio (with batteries)

-Pen and Paper

-Axe

-Pocket Knife

-Rope

Personal Supplies

-First Aid Supplies

-Toiletries (roll of toilet paper, feminine hygiene, folding brush, etc.)

-Cleaning Supplies (mini hand sanitizer, soap, shampoo, dish soap, etc.)

-Immunizations Up-to Date

-Medication (acetaminophen, Ibuprofen, children's medication, etc.)

-Prescription Medication (for 3 days)

Personal Documents and Money

-Scriptures/Bible, and other church documents

-Genealogy and Family Info

-Legal Documents (Birth/Marriage Certificates, Wills, Passports, Contracts)

-Vaccination Papers

-Insurance Policies

-Cash

-Credit Card

-Prepaid Phone Card

Miscellaneous

-Bag or Bags to put 72 hour kit items in

-Infant Needs (if applicable)

Notes:

-Update your kit every six months (put a note on your calendar) to make sure that: all food, water, and medications are fresh, clothing fits, personal documents and credit cards are up to date, and batteries are charged.

-Small toys and games are important too as they will provide some comfort and entertainment during a stressful time.

-Older children can be responsible for their own pack of items/clothing too.

-You can include any other items you feel are necessary for your family's survival.

-There are a lot of good basic 72 hour kits you can find online already packed and ready to go. However, they do not include some of the extra nice things to have, like real food, blankets, clothes, and personal care products you like, so you may want to add these items into your pack.

Emergency Lighting

1. Cyalume Sticks

-Safest indoor lighting. The resulting green light glows for eight hours and is safe to use after an earthquake.

-One time use and gives a "glow in the dark" light. They burn for 8-12 hours only and dim over time. Don't plan on reading with one.

2. Flashlights

-Don't turn on flashlight if a gas line has broken. Go outside the building to turn on the flashlight; then you can enter the building.

-Alkaline batteries store the best. Lithium batteries store twice as long. If batteries are kept in their original packages in a cold, dry place at normal room temperature, they can last between 3-5 years. Do not put in freezer.

-Use krypton or halogen light bulbs, they last longer and give more light. Store extra light bulbs.

-Hand cranked version is good to have, in case of not having batteries.

-A standard-sized flashlight that uses 2 D-cell batteries will only run for approximately 7 hours straight. Great for emergency times only. Place strategically around your home.

3. Candles

-A good rule of thumb is to store one per day (365).

-The larger base of the candle the better. White or light-colored candles burn brighter. Tallow candles burn brighter, longer and are almost smoke-free.

-Make sure you have a safe candle holder.

-Store a lot of waterproof matches and butane lighters (about 2,000 wooden matches).

-Store candles in a cool place. If you are storing more than one in the same container, lay them flat with wax paper in between them.

4. Kerosene Lamps

-Very efficient fuel. One quart can burn up to 45 hours. Ultra pure lamp oil burns cleaner and will produce less odor and smoke.

-Trim wick in a "V" or "A" shape, or straight across the top for best light and less smoke. Wicks should be trimmed after about 12 hours of use.

-Aladdin-type lamps have more light (circular wicks need no trimming).

-Don't put by combustible objects because it heats up to 750 degrees F.

-Store extra wicks, chimneys, and mantles.

5. Lanterns

-Excellent source of light.

-White gas and propane lanterns are very volatile. Be cautious and always fill outdoors. They put off a great deal of heat and can be used as a heating source when outside.

-A double mantle lantern gives off as much light as a 100-watt light bulb.

-Store extra mantles and matches.

-Never go to sleep with any unvented burning devices in the home.

-Battery operated lanterns are one of the best choices for safety and light combined. Lanterns with fluorescent light bulbs will burn much longer on the same set of batteries than will lanterns with incandescent bulbs.

-Candle lanterns or candeliers can be bought at sporting good stores and hold small emergency or tea light candles.

On an interesting note:

-Take a second look at your garden or yard solar garden lights. They are not as bright as a 100-watt light bulb but do give some light. They can be a renewable light source.

-A simple idea that can double the lighting capacity of a temporary light source is an ordinary mirror. It will reflect the light from your emergency light source, giving you twice the illumination. If no mirror is available, you could tape aluminum foil to the wall of backdrop behind a lamp or lantern. This even works with a flashlight.

Emergency Heating

1. Wood and Coal

-Fireplaces, wood burning stoves give off a lot of heat. But, most of the heat goes up the chimney if you do not have a very efficient one.

-Wood can be messy and take a lot of space to store. Attracts bugs. Usually a cheap source of fuel.

-Coal can be messy; can be buried underground. Cheap and safe way to store fuel but hard to start and difficult to work with.

2. Kerosene

-Burns 45 hours on 1 quart. A 55 gallon drum stored in the back yard will provide enough fuel for a full winter, if used conservatively.

-The cheapest of all storage fuels and stores for long periods of time.

-Purchase only 1-K rated kerosene, as other lower grades produce a strong odor.

-Not explosive.

-Leave one or two windows open when burning to circulate fresh air.

-Kerosene heaters will heat a good-sized area extremely well, but are large and do get hot. Some can be used to cook on at the same time.

-Find more information on kerosene at this address: http://www.milesstair.com/kero_fuel_primer.html.

3. Propane

-Burns 2 hours on 1 quart. A great fuel for storage outdoors, but not indoors.

-Burns clean enough to be used indoors, however open a window just a crack when burning propane.

-A small 10,000 BTU propane heater connected to a 5-gallon bottle will last about 4-5 days if used sparingly; a 100 lb. cylinder (23 gallons) will last about 2 weeks.

4. White Gas

-Burns 12 hours on 1 quart.

-Coleman stoves are very popular.

-Easy to use and gives a lot of heat, but must be used outdoors.

-Extremely flammable-use with caution.

5. Newspaper

-Roll a 10-inch bundle of paper and it will contain as much heat as 18 lbs. of coal.

-Newspaper logs can be stacked and stored the same way you stack wood logs.

-Burns the best if used with firewood also.

-Colored paper ink gives off heavy metals that can be toxic, so avoid using.

6. Catalytic Heaters

-Converts fuels to flameless infrared heat.

-Safe to operate and attain nearly 100% combustion during usage with no measurable carbon monoxide to worry about.

7. Butane Space Heaters

-About the size of a shoe box and will heat the space around you, but not a whole room.

-On high, 8 oz. fuel container will only run about 3 1/2 hours.

Other things to consider:

-Another valuable addition is sheets or rolls of plastic, or plastic tarps that can be used to divide off rooms into smaller sections to maintain heat.

-Make sure you have adequate cold-weather clothing during the colder months. Dress in layers so you can quickly adapt your attire to the different temperatures.

-A critical item in keeping warm is an adequate supply of blankets. A variety of compact and lightweight emergency blankets are available. They can be used alone, but are even better when used in conjunction with a "real" blanket.

-Look for a virgin acrylic blanket. They have many of the advantages of wool, yet are light weight and "squishable" if needed in 72 hour kits.

-Learn how to make a blanket robe.

Emergency Cooking

Different types of cooking devices and fuels with facts:

1. Sterno
- A 6 oz can will burn for 2 hours steady. It can be used to cook up to 6 meals. -A great source of fuel for the 72 hour kit because it is lightweight and easy to start fire, but not explosive.
-Safe to be used indoors.
-Is shelf stable and stores for a long time, if kept tightly closed.
-Expensive, but convenient.

2. White Gas or Kerosene
-Not good for long term storage because it evaporates eventually.
-Explosive and cannot be stored in the home.
-Used in some Coleman stoves and is effective in giving off a large amount of heat.
-Not as clean as propane.

3. Newspaper
-Roll a 10-inch bundle of paper and it will contain as much heat as 18 lbs. of coal.
-Burns the best if used with firewood also.
-Avoid color paper because the ink gives off heavy metals that can be toxic.

4. Charcoal
-1 lb of charcoal will burn for 2 hours.
-Must be used outdoors because it is lethal in closed areas (it creates carbon monoxide).
-Store in airtight metal or plastic containers.
-$50-$60 will supply cooking fuel for one year.
-Great source of fuel for dutch oven cooking.
-Can be reused by putting in water for a few seconds.

5. Wood and Coal
-Must be used outdoors for cooking unless you have a stove. Many wood and coal stoves have a cooking surface and are more efficient than fireplaces.

6. Propane
-The most convenient, indoors or out; be sure to crack a window if using indoors.
-Cook with a pressure cooker to conserve fuel.
-Can light propane stove tops in home even without power to cook on.
-Propane ovens are available for between $100-$200.

7. Butane
-Comes pressurized in canisters; safe, burns 100% clean with no odors, residue, or smoke build-up.
-An 8 oz. canister will burn from 2 1/2 to 7 hours in a cook stove, three hours in a heater, and 5 hours in a lantern.
-Does not work well in cold weather.

Different methods of cooking include:
-reflector ovens
-apple box ovens
-bread on a stick
-aluminum foil cooking (make sure you store lots of heavy duty foil)
-hot rocks
-pit cooking
-buddy burners and vagabond stoves
-home made crock pots or magic ovens
-thermos
-patio BBQ grills
-Camp Chefs with dutch ovens and griddles

Before you decide what type of cooking device you'll provide for your family, you have to take into account these factors:
-How many people will you be cooking for? Is the ability to cook more than one food item important? If so, consider a larger unit, or more than one unit in order to cook family-style meals.
-Do you want your option to be strictly for emergencies, or should you choose something more versatile that can also be used for camping or outdoor entertainment?
-How much space can you allocate for the cooking option and its fuel requirements?
-How much are you willing to spend?

Money Storage

There are several different ways to save money for an emergency or rainy day. I am going to list a couple different ways to start saving money. It is always good to have extra money on hand. You never know when you might need it for those unexpected expenses. Make it a goal to start saving a little money each paycheck. Start with saving enough money to last you a month, then a couple months, then a year, and work up from there. It is basically the same principal as any other type of preparedness...you work up to a goal. Don't get overwhelmed with trying to save all the money you need at once. It takes time, and there will be those expenses that will take some of your savings, but it always feels good to have some extra stashed away.

-Open a savings account. Make it an account that you take a certain percentage of each paycheck and automatically put it into the account. The percentage can vary. Some months you can save more when you make more money, and other months you can save less if you have more expenses. As a basic starting point, ten percent of each paycheck could be taken out and put into your savings account. Think of it as paying yourself first before you pay your bills. Many people like to have several different savings accounts they put their money into to save for things such as: college, retirement, house, car, emergencies, etc.

-Cash your money. As you take your check to the bank, cash some of it that you would like to save, and then store it in a safe or unnoticeable place in your home. Some people like to store their money in some pretty bizarre places. You can look up online places to store your cash, coins, etc. that would be hard for others to find.

- Save your change. I know that change can be annoying, and it is not a large amount of money to save, but as you save these little annoyances, you can save up quite a bit of money over a long period of time. Plus, coins will always be worth something, so they are good to hold onto. Put your extra change in a jar or container that you walk by everyday and just empty your pockets as you walk by. It is simple and easy, and you will be surprised by how quickly the jar will be filled!

Check out this website, and see where you can start with Suze Orman's savings plan. She is a world renowned money expert who knows what she is talking about.
www.suzeorman.com/

Also, check out some of these websites for finding good tips of where to hide money in your home.
http://www.growingmoneyblog.com/archives/753

http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/03/01/twenty-places-to-hide-money-at-home-besides-under-your-mattress/

Emergency Water Storage

Facts:

-A normal active person needs to drink at least two quarts of water each day.

-Water is also used for food preparation and hygiene.

-The safest and most reliable emergency supply of water is commercially bottled water.

-Consider storing at least a two-week supply of water for each member of your family. Store at least one gallon per person, per day.

Choosing your own containers for Water:

-Use food-grade water storage containers.

-Chlorine bleach: When treating water you need to use fresh bleach from a newly opened or unopened bottle because its strength deteriorates with age and exposure to light. Use non-scented bleach.

-If you reuse storage containers, choose two-liter plastic pop bottles or any plastic containers with the PETE symbol on the bottom of the container.

-Plastic milk bottles will deteriorate in 3-6 months. Also, fruit and milk containers cannot be adequately cleaned, and there will be bacterial growth if you store water in them.

Cleaning:

-Use dish washing soap and water and then rinse completely so there is no soap.

-Additionally, for plastic soft drink bottles, sanitize the bottles by adding a solution of 1 teaspoon of liquid household chlorine bleach to a quart of water. After sanitizing the bottle, rinse thoroughly with clean water.

Filling:

-Fill the bottles to the top with regular tap water. (If your water utility company treats your tap water with chlorine, you do not need to add anything else to the water to keep it clean.) Water from private wells need to be treated with chlorine. Use the following amount of bleach to purify water...

2 drops per pint

8 drops per half gallon

16 drops (1/4 tsp) per gallon

1 teaspoon per 5 gallons

4 Tablespoons per 55 gallons

-If there is a slight chlorine odor, it means the water is probably safe. To get rid of the smell, pour the water back and forth between two clean containers or let sit in open container for a little while and stir it periodically.

-Tightly close container using original cap. Be careful not to contaminate the cap by touching the inside of it with your fingers. Write the date on the outside of the container so that you know when you filled it. Store in a cool, dark place.

-Replace the water every six months.

-Mixing the water with kool-aid or other powdered drink sources can help mask the chlorine taste.

Some hidden water sources in your home:

-Hot water tanks, pipes, ice cubes

-Toilet flush bowls and tanks, radiators, water beds, swimming pools or spas should NOT be used due to chemicals that may be found in them