Disaster Preparedness: Advice for Evacuees

What if a natural disaster, pandemic, or terrorist attack occurs in your city and you are the one evacuating? Here is some advice that may help you if you find yourself in this situation.

1. Get good footwear now. Many people say they were not prepared to walk out or back over the debris that followed their disaster. There may not be stores left to purchase shoes or the stores will sell out quickly.

2. Money, money, money. After a natural disaster, there will be no way to confirm there is money in your account. If you bank at a local bank, it may not be able to provide services for days, weeks or months as corporations dig out and rebuild. ATM machines will be emptied of cash rapidly and there will be no employees to restock machines. When, or if, you can can find food, clothing or gas for sale, you will have to pay in cash or be out of luck. Keep several hundred dollars in cash for the big event. This should be in small denomination bills and coins. NEVER carry all your cash in one place and NEVER let anyone see you have more than a few dollars. Many people are honest, helpful and trustworthy, but it only takes one dishonest person to hold you up and steal your cash.

3. When you evacuate, bring your own toiletries. You may not think it's necessary when you head to a hotel, but their resources are limited. During an emergency, families may have to share a room with friends or large families or may be limited to one room. You should have a good 72-hour kit so you won't have to think too much about including them as you pack to evacuate. Remember toilet paper, feminine hygiene products and diapers.

4. Medications. If you are taking any prescription medications, they may not be available to you for several days or more. Local pharmacies will not be prepared for new customers in the great numbers that will need to be serviced. A national chain may not have access to computer records to fill orders. If there are no refills left on your prescription and/or if you normally purchase your medications from a small pharmacy, you will need to have your prescription rewritten. Good luck trying to find your doctor! If there is any way to stock up on a month's supply of your prescriptions, do it now and then never leave home without them. If you wear glasses, you may ask your optometrist for a copy of your prescription to include in your 72-hour kit.

5. Purchase a car top carrier. Many people gather family and pets to evacuate and there was no room in the car for everything. Do a trial run and determine how much you could take in your vehicle and how much more space you will need to accommodate everyone and everything.

6. Plan for those who are ill. Never stay at home during an evacuation warning if anyone has medical problems. If you have someone on oxygen, you need a constant supply of electricity. Even a generator will run out of gas and you could be stuck. If you have a family member with a weakened immune system, even the smallest cut that comes in contact with contaminated water could prove life-threatening.

7. Families have been separated. If you are told to evacuate, please do it. No matter how desperate you are, never allow yourself to be separated from family members. Always have an out of state contact--someone every family member knows to call just in case the worst happens. Everyone should have that phone number memorized. It may take a few days before phone services is available, but everyone should check in with that person frequently and as soon as possible. It would be advisable for every teen and adult to have a phone card for just such an emergency.

Source: Adapted from "Preparing to Provide Refuge" by Carolyn Nicolaysen, Meridian Magazine

Disaster Preparedness: Preparing to Provide Refuge

So you think because you don't live in a flood plain, near a river, or in a probable path of a wildfire, tsunami, hurricane, earthquake or tornado, that you are exempt from being prepared? Think again!

Every natural disaster has a crisis zone where victims experience the horror of life threatening danger. All around a crisis zone, others are affected by less dramatic traumas and challenges--power outages, flooding, a breakdown of infrastructure, a run on banks and stores, and a lack of services. Evacuees and refugees fill the roads, the Home Depot, the hotels, supermarkets and line up at ATM Machines.

Those escaping storms and fires evacuate to safe havens. Even if you live in an area far from a disaster zone, that disaster can affect you. Consider a few ways your home might be affected in a disaster. There are things you can do to provide a safe haven for your family and others:

1. Electrical outages occur far from the initial disaster site. After Katrina, evacuees thought they would be safe 50 miles away; the power went out there too.

• Think Water. If there's no power many do not have a way to access water.
• After a hurricane, tropical storm or flood, mosquitoes seem to multiply at 10 times the usual rate. If your power is out and it is summer, you won't want to sleep with the windows closed. Be prepared for good screens for all windows and doors or with mosquito netting or other loose weave fabric that can be taped or stapled around windows and doorways.
• Consider investing in a generator. They come in handy during power outages and brownouts throughout the year.
• Purchase glow sticks. Place them in every room in the home. White glow sticks work the best and provide light bright enough to cook or walk around without danger of tripping in the dark.
• Outdoor solar lighting can be brought indoors to help during an outage. In the morning you can take them outside and recharge them for the next night. They work great and are safe around pets and children.

2. Store foods that are easier to prepare. Foods that can be prepared without a lot of work are worth their weight in gold when you are trying to feed a crowd of evacuees.

• Have an inventory of things that store well. In addition, keep on hand foods that disappear first at the grocery store: Milk, bread, water, ice, fresh fruits & vegetables, hygiene items such as soap and toothpaste, feminine hygiene products, toilet paper, diapers, baby formula, headache and muscle ache medicine, anti-diarrhea medicine, insect repellent.

3. Buy Gasoline. If you live within 100 miles of a disaster, begin preparing as soon as warnings are issued or immediately after an earthquake. Fill your gas tank and keep extra gas for your generator or vehicle. The time to store fuel is ahead of disasters--now.

4. Think prescriptions. As people come to your hometown, they will be in need of prescription medications. If you are down to the last few days and an evacuation is ordered nearby, renew your prescription immediately.

5. Prepare to entertain. As conditions improve around you, children and adults will become impatient with the disaster routine. Almost certainly, you will be without electricity for a few days to a few weeks. Keep some good age-appropriate books, travel editions of favorite games, coloring books and crayons for the kids, balls and other toys for outdoor use. If you are the designated evacuation site for family and friends, you will need to have these items on hand. Everyone should have small games and other small items in a 72-hour kit.

6. Sanitation can be a huge problem. Have extra soap and toothpaste on hand for evacuees. Also consider acquiring a port-a-potty (bucket type) especially if you are dependent on well water. Wet wipes, hand sanitizers and extra water storage provide excellent water supplies for clean-up and essential laundry.

7. Garbage becomes a concern. Have plenty of large plastic trash bags or bio-hazard bags on hand. Because no one will have the energy or desire to clean up after meals, stock a supply of paper plates, cups, bowls and plastic utensils. Have a strategy for managing the waste they create.

Source: Adapted from "Preparing to Provide Refuge" by Carolyn Nicolaysen, Meridian Magazine

Cooking with Basic Food Storage: Lori Dunford's Whole Wheat Recipes

Lori Dunford is famous in our ward for her delicious and nutritious whole wheat recipes. I've included some she demonstrated for our Relief Society. I have sampled them and they are wonderful!

14 GRAIN BREAD
6 C Warm Water
2 T Salt
2/3 C Oil
2/3 C Honey
3 T Dough Enhancer
3 C High Gluten Bread Flour
3 T SAF Yeast or Other instant yeast
6-8 C Freshly Ground Flour (10-11 C Unground Grain)
1 pkg of 9 grain cracked wheat cereal
1 C Sunflower Seeds
1/3 C Millet
1/3 C Flax Seed
1/3 C Sesame Seed
1/3 C Amaranth

Put all ingredients together and add additional flour 1 C at a time until dough starts to pull away from sides, continue kneading for an additional 10 minutes. (Lori's Note: I used the same recipe, only proofed the yeast by putting in 2/3 C of tepid water with 1 T of sugar, set aside and let get bubbly. I also added 6 T of lecithin. I omitted the dough enhancer and high gluten bread flour and used 100% whole wheat flour)

WHOLE WHEAT DINNER ROLLS
3 C Milk
1 C Butter
1 C Sugar or Honey
3 T Salt
4 T Instant Yeast
5 eggs
5-6 C Whole Wheat Flour
5-6 C White Flour

Melt Butter and add milk. Add 4 C of flour. Add beaten eggs, sugar, salt and add additional flour until dough barely starts to pull away from sides. Take out. Let rise 10 minutes, shape and let rise until double in bulk. Bake in 350 degree oven until done 12-15 minutes. (Lori's Note: I made 100% whole wheat dinner rolls by proofing the yeast in 1/2 c tepid water, 2 t. of sugar and the Yeast. If you desire to freeze, let rise 10 minutes, shape and place on well-greased cookie sheet. Cover. Take out 3 hours before you desire to serve them and let rise on greased cookie sheet until you bake them.)

LORI'S 100% WHOLE WHEAT BREAD
In a 1 Quart Glass Measuring Cup, place 1 C Tepid water with 1 T of sugar and 4 T of yeast. Stir and set aside.

In Bosch or other mixer, Add:
8 C Tepid Water
1 C Honey
4 T Salt
1/4 C Molasses
1/2 C Lecithin

Add 10 C Whole Wheat Flour, mix until smooth. Add 1 C Oil, 1 more cup of flour and continue mixing until smooth. Add yeast, then gradually add additional flour until dough starts to pull away form sides. Continue to knead for 10 minutes. Take out of bowl and place in greased bowl and let rise 10 minutes. Form loaves by dividing dough into equal parts and put in greased bread pans. Poke with fork. Let rise until 2 fingers above the pan. Place in preheated oven at 350 degrees. Leave oven door open for first three minutes and then close for remaining 27 minutes. Bake, take out of pan and put on cooling racks or paper towels. After cooled, you can slice bread and put into bags. Freezes very well.

Financial Preparedness: Learn to Curb Impulse to Buy

Is impulse shopping taking a heavy toll on your budget? Here are six ways to get a handle on your spending:

Identify your triggers
Many people use shopping as an emotional outlet. But letting your emotions dictate your spending is nearly always a bad idea. To break yourself of the habit, try to determine what prompts you to spend unwisely and take steps to change your behavior.

Avoid temptation
If you're inclined to overspend, consider a self-imposed ban on window shopping, casual browsing and unnecessary trips to the mall. Hint: If you know you're going to be in a situation where you're likely to be tempted, leave your credit card at home and only bring as much cash as you absolutely need.

Be a cautious consumer
You may think you're immune to advertising, but even the savviest shoppers fall prey to marketing tactics now and again. Next time you see yourself eyeing a "new and improved" product, ask yourself why you feel compelled to buy it. Will that new golf club/razor/skin cream substantially improve your life or just deplete your bank account?

Take a time-out
If you stumble on a "must have" item, don't get caught up in the excitement advises MSN Money columnist Liz Pulliam Weston. Take a deep breath and walk away. Give yourself anywhere from a few days to a few weeks to figure out if this is something that you can afford and really need. After the cool-down period, if you can truthfully answer yes to both questions, go ahead and splurge.

Focus on long-term goals
Before you buy, ask yourself if you'll get more long-term satisfaction out of owning this item, paying down your debt or putting money toward that dream vacation. You may get a temporary boost from buying that scarf, but that doesn't mean it's the best use of your money.

Check your balance
If you find yourself standing in the checkout line, ready to buy something you're not sure you can afford, hold off, suggests Weston. Go to your local bank or log on to your bank account online. Once you've viewed your balance, the purchase may appear far less enticing.

Source: "Learn to curb impulse to buy" by Marshall Loeb, McClatchy Newspapers, 10/26/07

New Findings for Longer-Term Food Storage

Findings of recent scientific studies conducted by a team of researchers at Brigham Young University show that properly packaged, low-moisture foods stored at room temperature or cooler (75°F/24°C or lower) remain nutritious and edible much longer than previously thought. The studies, which are the first of their kind, increase the estimated shelf life for many products to 30 years or more (see chart for new estimates of shelf life). Previous estimates of longevity were based on "best-if-used-by" recommendations and experience.

Though not studied, sugar, salt, baking soda (essential for soaking beans), and vitamin C in tablet form also store well long-term. Some basic foods do need more frequent rotation, such as vegetable oil every 1 to 2 years.

While there is a decline in nutritional quality and taste over time, depending on the original quality of food and how it was processed, packaged, and stored, the studies show that even after being stored long-term, the food will help sustain life in an emergency.

For tips on how to best preserve longer-term food storage products, see Longer-Term Supply.

New "Life Sustaining" Shelf-Life Estimates
Wheat: 30+ years
White rice: 30+ years
Pinto beans: 30 years
Apple slices: 30 years
Macaroni: 30 years
Rolled oats: 30 years
Potato flakes: 30 years
Powdered milk: 20 years

Source: http://providentliving.org/

Prepare your Car for Winter

Winter storms can hit suddenly and severely. Keeping safe in the car is a necessity. Preparing your car for the winter can be as easy as adding a few supplies and taking a few necessary steps which will keep your family safe and warm on the road.

WINTER ITEMS FOR THE CAR TRUNK:

1) Tool kit: Equipped to handle basic repairs on the road. It should contain jumper cables, fix-a-flat, duct or electrical tape, adjustable crescent wrench, Philips and flat head screwdrivers and pliers.

2) Shovel (preferably collapsible)

3) Extra gas container

4) Tow rope

5) Flashlight with extra batteries

6) Windshield Scraper

7) Tire jack

8) Compass

9) Road maps

10) Box of kitty litter or sand for traction in the snow

11) Extra set of clothing for every member of your family: Socks, sweaters, pants and hats are most essential. Wool is the best insulator as it keeps you warm even when wet. Synthetic fibers such as polypropylene are also good especially if your skin is sensitive to wool. Cotton is a a poor choice as it is non-insulating and absorbs water. Make sure your jackets or coats are waterproof.

12) Bright red cloth: Recognized as a distress call when tied to your antenna.

13) Enough food and water for two or three days: Light weight and shelf stable items such as food bars pack a lot of energy without taking up much space. Water is available in foil packs or water boxes.

14) A few light sticks or candles: Dusk comes early and it's comforting to have a little light if batteries run low in the flashlights.

15) First Aid Kit

16) Knife

17) Large empty can with cover and toilet paper (for sanitation needs)

18) Portable radio

Source: Emergency Essentials, http://beprepared.com/Articles/Winterizecar.html

Frugal Food Storage

When you want to begin a food storage program but have little money to do so, try these simple tips to begin a "Frugal Food Storage Plan."

1. Each week when you bring home the groceries, go through each bag and ask "Can we do without this item this week?" If you can, set it aside as a food storage item.

2. Store any storable food that comes from unexpected sources. For example, if friends or family invite you to dinner or bring in a meal to you, store the canned or packaged food items you would have used for that meal.

3. Set aside a small amount of money each week to buy staples such as pasta, baking ingredients and paper products. You may be surprised at how quickly you can build up a supply of these staples for only a few dollars a week.

4. Learn how to bottle, freeze and dry fresh foods. Even if you don't have a garden, you can preserve small amounts of fresh fruits or vegetables when they are one sale at the grocery store.

5. Set goals for your food storage supply. Work toward a one-month supply, then a three-month supply, and so on. Be realistic.

Try new ideas until you find the ones that work for you. The important thing is to start now; don't wait until you have more money or you may never start. Next family home evening, go through your cupboards and set some of your food aside for your food storage You can have a food storage program, even on a modest income.

Source: Adapted from "Frugal Food Storage" by Colleen Hansen, Ensign, January 1993.