Functional Friday: 10 Things You Should Never Stop Doing

1) Never stop "gettin' a move on".

Here are a few ideas and minimum exercise recommendations:
30 minutes of moderate cardio exercise five days a week or
20 minutes of vigorous cardio three days a week,
add weight bearing exercise twice a week, 
Yoga or Pilates for strength and flexibility,
dancing for fun (we won't tell you it's healthy if you don't want us to), and
taking long walks.

2) Never stop wearing sunscreen.

There's no doubt about it, ladies, using a moisturizer with sunscreen daily on sun exposed skin helps you look younger and stay healthier.  (And, men, there's nothing appealing about skin cancer, slather it on.)  Concerned about "chemicals" in sunscreen? Do your research, there are natural versions out there.

3) Never stop reading and learning.

Study results are beginning to pour in citing many lifestyle components in an individuals healthful longevity. I recently read The Secret Life of the Grown-Up Brain by Barbara Strauch, and I have literally changed several of my personal habits based on what I learned.  Good to know that just reading the book and mulling it over may be good for my brain. (She covers many of the topics listed in these 10 things as well.)

4) Never stop taking pictures.

Make sure there are people in most of your photos.  (If you are not an adept photographer, make sure there are people's heads in most of your photos.)  Sure, an occasional landscape or a particular point of view is apropos, but in ten years (or ten days) it will likely be the people in the photos you treasure the most.

5) Never stop trying new foods.

Try a foreign restaurant (Thai, Indian, African, etc.)  The staff should be accommodating of questions and requests (eg. - no hot spices.)  Take a cooking class. (Make a week-end of it with your spouse, your child, or a friend and go to the bity if you need to.) Find the weirdest thing at your grocery store and make it.  (Department managers ought to be delighted to help you get started.) If you're reading this blog, google a recipe (type the food name or ingredient and the word recipe) or try foodily.com.  If your daughter printed it out for you cause the printer never does what you tell it to (or even if that's not the case), go to the library and have someone help you find the cookbook Easy Exotic by Padma Lakshmi. Buy the ingredients and go!

6) Never stop enjoying nature.

A squeaky porch swing and a glass of iced tea, a checked picnic blanket in the city park, a breezy tent at a state park, or a well stocked day-pack at a national forest preserve... get out there and enjoy the birds and bugs, the trees and terrain, the boundaries and breadth, the turbulence and tranquility of your world.

7) Never stop helping others.

There are people all around us with needs we can meet every day.  People like you and me with needs for food, medical care, school supplies, babysitting, home repair, yard work, reading help, hugging, caring, talking, and smiling.  How can you meet a need today?

8) Never stop telling people you love them.

We all have different parameters concerning who gets this message.  Some of you only tell your family that you love them.  Personally, I have a circle of friends that get this message all the time.  Whoever it is for you, keep telling them and showing them how you feel (even when you don't feel like it.).  A favorite song of mine says, "Love isn't love till you give it away."

9) Never stop preparing.

A task like preparedness is never done.  Don't look at it as a chore, but take it on like an adventure.  Once you've got the basics down, you can enhance what you want at your own pace.  Purchase a cool gadget.  Take a class.  Try a recipe (by candlelight.) Have a barbecue. Update your plan. Join a group. Include your family. Talk to your boss.

10) What are you never going to stop doing?  Click here and email to me know!

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Functional Friday: 10 things you can do to help in an emergency

Like almost everything else on this blog, you'll find that many (but not all) of these suggestions require advanced planning and preparation. Without advanced training (possibly certification) and adequate supplies, none of us are in a good position to do meaningful hands-on work after a disaster. Don't get me wrong, every little bit helps. People affected by and responding to disasters appreciate every thought, prayer, gift and moment that you can give. But there's nothing like having the right resource and a qualified volunteer when and where they are needed most. Whether you're thinking of your own local emergencies or those receiving international recognition, a bit of preparation can do others much good and leave you feeling satisfied in providing comfort to those in need.

Here's my list of 10 things you can do to help after (or maybe before) a disaster.

Give Money - Assisting disaster victims and promoting recovery in devastated areas costs a lot of money.    Cash gifts are immediately available for workers to buy exactly what they need where it's needed.  Cash doesn't require transportation, and it can be transferred electronically and put to use instantly.  Cash also allows responders to immediately support the locally devastated economy (hiring local workers, buying local products, using local services). Although giving cash sounds like an as needed opportunity, I would also encourage you to create a planned giving budget.  At my house we use the Dave Ramsey financial system; each month we plan exactly how much we will give to charities and those in need.  Helping people every month allows us to become part of a greater community.

Give supplies. - When specific needs are known and transportation is not a hindrance, collecting and providing requested items can be a relevant opportunity to help.  Food, water, and requested items delivered locally can make a huge difference.  In Japan after the earthquake/tsunami/nuclear disaster many people did not have clothing or bedding to use in shelters.  They were cold!  Locally, many coats and blankets were donated immediately to provide relief. (However, the expense needed to purchase and ship coats and blankets from the US to Japan would generally be better offered as a cash gift, so that responders can consolidate orders and ship items directly.)

Volunteer - Here is the first opportunity that we have to provide direct hands-on help to those affected by disasters.  There are many organizations that provide a chance to train and respond to those in need.  Most importantly, only respond if you are part of a team, specifically requested, highly qualified, and very capable.  Disaster zones are ever changing and dangerous areas.  Sadly, many extra volunteers are unnecessarily injured while helping and become part of the crisis.

Give services. - If you have a unique and applicable skill, or career, here's your chance to meet needs with a little advanced planning.  Attorneys, contractors, counselors, medical professionals, pilots, business owners and many others can use their abilities to help in the recovery process.  An important key to success is to establish relationships before disaster strikes.  Establishing affiliations with national professional and disaster response organizations will allow you go to work as soon as you are needed.  If this interests you, try contacting organizations you may already belong to or contacts a national relief organization like: Red Cross, SBC Disaster Response, Salvation Army, or NVOADs.

Help later. Much later. - Encouraged by media coverage, victims are in our thoughts immediately after disaster.  However as pages turn on the calendar, we are all distracted by our daily lives and more recent disasters.  Yet the recovery period after even small disasters is at least a year or more before communities are functioning independent of outside assistance.  Assisting disaster victims weeks or months after a disaster strikes can meet real needs in affected communities.  Contact local relief organizations or government agencies to see what you can do to help.

Stay away! - Unless you are trained and requested, individuals and groups should steer clear of disaster impacted areas until their presence and assistance is officially requested.  Emergencies are full of confusion and chaos.  To keep everyone safe, disaster response must be orderly and coordinated.  People offering assistance must report to an Incident Command Center or Volunteer Recruitment Center before going out to help. You may also be using up sparse resources (like food, water, and shelter) that are needed for responders and victims.

Prepare to NOT be a victim. - When resources are scarce and shelters are full, each person who does not require assistance is helping someone that has unmet needs.  Preparing your home with food, water, alternative power and cooking solutions, and supplies may allow you to safely stay where you are and even share with others. Plan to check on your neighbors (going door to door if the power and phones are out).  Neighbors with young children, elderly persons, medical needs, and disaster workers in the family (police, fire, medical) may need extra help during this time.


Take food and snacks to the police station and fire house. - Our first responders work tirelessly! (Although I think they actually get quite tired.) And during an emergency food and water are often prioritized after saving lives and reporting in.  Packaged (perhaps shelf stable) food can be a blessing you'll never know.  Individually packaged products like beef jerky, cookies, juice boxes, and pudding cups are items they could take with them on the way out the door.  A bowl of whole fruit (apples, oranges, bananas) would be welcome.  If you want to take fresh food (hot food or things that must be kept cool), it's advisable to call ahead if you can. 

Teach others. - Community education concerning disasters helps everyone stay on the same page.  Children and adults need to learn (or be reminded) what to do before, during and after emergencies.  Most American households don't have any emergency provisions set aside. Many communities have CERT programs that teach everyday citizens how to save local victims immediately after disaster strikes.  Host a speaker in your community, church, workplace, or organization.

Host a barbecue (or other fun party) this summer. - Invite your immediate neighbors (even if you live in an apartment) over to get to know them.  You don't even have to tell them why you are doing this, but you might look like a hero if you talk about it.  Use everyday conversation to discover details that you'll need to know in an emergency.  Find out their names, how many people live there, any special needs they might have (infants, medical needs, elderly, etc.), if they have pets, where they work, special skills (medical) or their cell number and emergency contact. Get to know them, so that in a emergency you'll know their needs and they'll know yours. Map Your Neighborhood is a qualified program you can use to establish this plan with your neighbors. (I don't like the name. It's not about mapping, it's about connecting. Take a look at it.) If you get very specific, I'd advise telling them why you want to know.  Otherwise you might be pegged as a creepy neighbor.

Functional Friday: 10 Things To Know About Flooding

Flash flooding can happen anywhere. Any location that might collect water and drain after a strong shower can flood.

Never walk or drive through moving water.Submerged debris, strong currents and compromised bridges and roadways claim the lives of flood victims every year.  Stay away! Evacuate before you are stranded or seek the highest ground you can find without crossing water.

Avoid standing water, as well. Flood waters contain chemicals and bacteria picked up from sewers and storage tanks. Even in still water, submerged items and compromised ground can present unseen hazards.

If you evacuate, don't count on going back soon. Take everything you plan to need for weeks.  Take your pets, medications, and other important items. Even if they advise a short time frame, there are no guarantees with flooding.

Flood insurance is available even if you don't live in a flood plain.Call your agent for details. Also, flood insurance doesn't include sewer backup.

Never enter standing water in your home, and plan to leave your home if it fails to drain immediately. Once the water rises to sufficient levels, it could contact electric wiring, hazardous chemicals, sewer backup, or even extinguish gas/propane pilots.

When the water recedes, you have about three days to get fabrics and absorbent materials clean and dry, or they must be disposed of.  Contaminants, mold and mildew cause a great health risk.  Get furniture and carpet professionally cleaned or pull it out immediately.  Launder clothes and fabrics.  Consult with local authorities and experts for your local situation before beginning.  Drywall and voids (like under the floor) often need powerful fans to dry these areas quickly.

Flood plains and building zones and codes are often reset immediately after a local flood.  Check with your city hall or flood recovery office before beginning expensive rehab.  Three weeks after the Nashville area floods of 2010, the rehab construction project that I worked on was halted and canceled.  After the first inspection, the location was no longer approved for new construction. All our work and expense was for naught.

Don't expect businesses to reopen soon.  Local flooding often affects business owners' homes as well, and they must care for their family first.  Many times receipt of inventory is slowed, too.  And many businesses never recover from the financial strains caused by lost revenue and weighty recovery costs.

Talk to your insurance agent before, during, and after a flood (or other disaster) to confirm exactly what is covered, what is out of pocket, what is reimbursable. Be creative with you questions.  Imagine and list every item and expense you need covered.  (Temporary hotel? Business supplies in garage? Jewelry? Work you do yourself? Recommended mitigation steps?)

Functional Friday: 10 Things You Can Do To Save the Earth

If you are anything like me, you're approaching this 'environmentally friendly' article with a small degree of cynicism. So let me start with my point of view, which may help you ease up a bit. I believe humans have a God-given obligation to practice good stewardship of our planet and resources. We are responsible for taking care of this beautiful planet. I believe many "green" initiatives are trendy but hardly helpful. I believe that we can live in harmony with nature, and that we possess much of the knowledge and technology that we need to do so.  Keeping our world clean and productive is protecting our future and planning for the best.  Here are a few ways that I believe we can preserve the rich and beautiful planet we live on.

#1 Remember the mantra: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle? There is a reason that reduce is first. We are a society of mega-consumers. Production and transportation of all the products and packaging we "need" uses massive amounts of energy and creates a lot of waste and pollution. Try to simplify your life, use products as long as possible and bring home less from the store.

#2 Buy local products whenever possible. Reducing the distance a product is shipped will greatly reduce the energy consumed and pollution created for each item. Whether you need dinner or furniture, find local artisans that source local materials.

#3 Get thee to thy local farmers market. Organic or conventional, locally grown produce tastes better and is often more nutritious. And many small growers use heritage varieties and use fewer pesticides and fertilizers. (And you reduce fuels used and pollution created from shipping, storing, processing, and packaging.)

#4 Drink out of glass and ceramic. Using disposable paper and plastic cups increases the amount of trash going to a landfill. Many coffee shops let you bring your own cup, too.

#5 If you use them every time you shop, those reusable shopping bags really do help. Fewer plastic bags are manufactured, shipped and sent to the landfill. Many reusable bags are also made of recycled plastic or natural fibers.

#6 Use fewer harsh chemicals. Cleaners and household chemicals end up going down the drain or in the trash at some point. Use the safest and mildest ones you can to get the job done. You'll be amazed what baking soda or vinegar can do.

#7 Dress for the season and match your activity to the weather.  Dressing warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer lets you use less energy to heat and cool your home.  Saving money on fuel costs is a great perk as well.  And don't forget to change your air filters every month, it keeps the air in your home cleaner and reduces your energy usage even more.  Turning your water heater down can help too.

#8 Eat less fast food.  Saving the environment can help you be more nutritious conscious and cost effective.  The production, packaging, storage, preparation and wrappers of much fast food creates an enormous amount of trash.  A nicer meal in a restaurant that uses fresh ingredients (and maybe even local ones) will produce significantly less trash and pollution.

#9 Dispose of dangerous items safely!  Don't ever throw batteries in the trash.  Consider buying rechargables.  At least, drop off used batteries at your local battery store or check with your local government office for alternatives.  And keep chemicals out of the storm drain.  If you wouldn't dump it in your pool, don't put it down the drain.  Take advantage of hazardous waste collection dates and locations to keep our wildlife and water sources clean and healthy.

#10 Consider the impact your small contribution could make.  Start small, then if you like it, you can build on that.  Routinely purchasing one recycled or refurbished product, planting a tree, using one package of fluorescent light bulbs, taking shorter showers, or growing your own vegetables will make a difference, even if you can't see it.

Functional Friday: 10 Things You Should Know

School House Rock taught me at an early age that, "Knowledge is Power!"  (Apparently the phrase was coined in latin (Scientia potentia est.), and is attributed to Sir Francis Bacon.)  Anyway... I believe that planning for the best often involves more knowledge than elaborate stockpiles.  Here are a few things that I think everyone old enough to be home alone should know.

1) Know how to administer first aid.
2) Know the signs of a heart attack, how to do CPR and how to use a defibrillator (AED).
3) Know how to build a fire (without a bottle of lighter fluid and maybe without matches) and cook on it.
4) Know how to make a cell phone call, send a text, and send an email.
5) Know how to use a car jack and change your car tire.
6) Know how to make/use a siphon (for water, gasoline, etc.)
7) Know how to turn off your utilities (natural gas, propane, water, electric, etc.)
8) Where and how to transport your pets in an evacuation.
9) Where your family plans to meet in, out of, and away from your house during and after an emergency.
10) Know your out of state contact name, address, phone numbers, and email 'by heart'.

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Functional Friday: 10 Things - Where Was Moses When the Lights Went Out?

Everyone knows he was down in the cellar eating sauerkraut. But he could have been enjoying something a bit tastier if he had planned a little.

Did the earthquake and tsunami in Japan make you take a second look at your emergency supplies? Does the thought of storing a full 90 days of food, water and household supplies seem to be too much? Start Small! Here are my top 10 picks of food to keep in your pantry. (And when the "lights go out", you won’t be forced to eat sauerkraut.)

Water. Adequate water is so important. Everyone in your household needs 1 gallon/day. Store, at a minimum, 3 days worth. When you have that, strive for 7 days, then 21, and so on. You can go a long time without food. Not so much on the water. You can buy a gallon of drinking water for about $1. So for a family of four people, for way less than $20, you can store over 3 days of water.

Nutrition Bars. Individual snack pouches of crackers are nice, but many aren’t very nutritious. Have a look at the nutritional information. Nutrition bars are portable, and yummy. My favorites are the all-natural Zone Perfect Bars.

Fortified Breakfast Cereals. These require no preparation and have a significant shelf-life. Many have protein, and are fortified with vitamins and minerals. They’re mostly portable, lightweight if nothing else, most people are accustomed to the taste. My favorite is Kashi Go Lean. Cereals are often found on sale any given week at the grocery store. Sometimes you can get a box of something substantial for less than $2. If you eat cereal regularly, then this is just planning ahead for normal use.

Peanut Butter. Unless you have an allergy in the family, peanut butter is a great shelf-stable item full of protein, fat, and flavor. It goes well with lots of other snacks you might have, or just from a spoon. My favorite is Smuckers Natural in the glass jar.

Crackers. Crackers can serve as a great substitute for bread. If you happen to have cheese and ham, make a tiny sandwich, same for peanut butter or nutella. I’m a fan of good old Ritz, and if you find them on sale, you can store a few boxes of them.

“Canned” soup. It requires minimal preparation, and feels like a homecooked meal. (crumble some crackers on top!) My pick is a carton of Trader Joe’s Red Pepper Bisque or TJ’s Latin Black Bean (spicy!).

Pouched tuna. It’s a great source of protein, the pouches require no can opener, so it’s very portable. Make yourself a little tuna sandwich out of the crackers or add tuna to your soup.

Dried Fruit. An easy, portable snack full of energy, kid friendly, and it stores well. My pick is prunes and apricots.

A treat. Whatever that means to you and your family: a 2 liter bottle of soda, big bag of M&M’s, Little Debbie Snack Cakes, Chocolate bars, Starbuck’s via instant coffee, pudding cups, chips, gummi worms. It’s going to raise your spirits to have a little indulgence when the lights go out.

Multivitamins. This should probably be part of your normal routine anyway. There are numerous studies showing that people who regularly take a multivitamin have a lower incidence of cancer and other diseases. But if you don’t eat an adequate variety of foods, a multivitamin will fill in the gaps.

Functional Friday: Evacuation and Shelters

Every local government is tasked with providing the necessary support for the residents in the midst of an emergency or disaster.  Most areas have a coordinated emergency plan that includes receiving assistance from other jurisdictions and agencies.  (If you want to know your city, county, or state's disaster plan, you need to ask them.)  One of the services that a local government may need to provide is evacuation and emergency sheltering.  When residents are in immediate or eminent danger, without some critical service or utility, or unable to occupy their own homes, the local government should be able to provide a means of transportation to a reasonable location for these residents to stay temporarily.  I am certainly not giving any legal advice, if you want to know the government's obligation to serve or someone's right to receive services (or not receive), consult an attorney.  I am however hoping to offer some tips that might help you, someone you care about, or your community, if you find that evacuation and sheltering is necessary.

Your go-bag needs to be ready for this scenario.  Have the supplies that you need to grab and go out the door in an emergency.  You'll often return home within 24 hours; pack what you'll need (at a minimum) for three days.  Pack seven days or more of critical medications and medical supplies, special dietary requirements, or other critical items.

Shelters are inconvenient - Have another plan!  Serving as a place to stay that's better than nowhere, shelters are simply not ideal.  There are lines for the bathroom.  The food can be sub-par.  The cots are often uncomfortable.  The noise can be disturbing.  Kids are restless, yours or otherwise.  Make sure you have written into your emergency plan at least one place that you and your family (including pets) can go and stay if you are forced to leave your house.


Shelters generally do not allow pets.  Make solid alternate plans for your pets in an emergency.  Local governments should be able accommodate the transportation and transfer or your pet if it's in a pet carrier and has the proper food and equipment required for it's care.  Emergency resident shelters, however, will generally not allow your pet to stay with you.  Have a plan that keeps you together or be prepared to be separated.

Don't plan on a hotel being your shelter.  Many hotels are affected by the disaster, too.  Operational hotels for miles around will often book up immediately after a disaster.  Public, private, government, media and utility workers will flood the area to assist, inspect, appraise, advise, and report.  If you get a room, great!  (Confirm that you can reserve your room for an unlimited amount of time.)  The hotel  should charge the standard rate, but several nights can add up fast and may not be covered by insurance or government assistance.  Better to know a nearby, but out-of-town, contact to stay with.

I strongly discourage you from sheltering the public yourself.  Agencies and organizations spend many hours and dollars preparing to shelter others in an emergency.  Many important details and weighty expenses are invisible to the untrained individual.  There are liabilities involved, as well.  If your company or organization is sincerely interested in sheltering those in need, contact an experienced organization and get some training.  Or invite them to include your facility as a possible shelter location.


In many states, you not required to evacuate.  Inevitably, the media interviews someone on television that's going to "ride it out."  Weather and other disasters are unpredictable and inconsistent.  You would not be asked to evacuate if the situation were not deemed to be highly unstable and potentially disastrous.  If you do stay, be prepared to go without any assistance for days.

If you have functional needs, let the shelter know immediately.  In many areas the police and/or fire and rescue will also keep an advanced registry of residents that have needs that require special accommodations.  Get your name on that list, if they have one.  Many times, necessary requests can be met with adequate notification.  (Dietary needs, medical requirements, prescription refills.)  Also, take a moment right now to consider your neighbors.  Do you know anyone you that might require special assistance during a disaster or evacuation?  An elderly lady, a single mom with latch key kids, a man in a wheel chair, an immigrant family that speaks little English, a family member on oxygen or IV medication, a couple with no car, someone with reduced mental faculties, a neighbor's daughter with diabetes, someone with religious requirements.  Is there something that you could do now or during an emergency to assist them?  (Have you considered asking?)

Support and assist the organizations that provide emergency shelters.  Sheltering can be dirty, tiring, thankless work.  But thanks to many generous organizations, we do not leave victims sleeping and living in the streets.  If helping those in desperate need and emotional upheaval is your "cup of tea", train and volunteer with an organization the feeds and shelters thousands of citizens every year.  Chances are you'll benefit from the opportunity.  The rest of us need to provide the financial support that these agencies require to continue their work.

Functional Friday: Family Emergency Plan

We're going to write your first Family Emergency Preparedness Plan.  Get a pad of paper and a pen (or pencil or computer, whatever...).  Let's go!  (You can construct a basic plan online here.)

Household Information

• Write down the address, phone, photo of residence, landlord's name and number
• Write down the names of household members at your residence, list each birthdate, identifying characteristics, medical needs, social security number, and contact information (cell number, email, work location and info, etc.)
• Now write the names, location/addresses, and above information of other family members or important people included in your plan.

Meeting Places

• Initially you should plan to meet up at home, if possible.  That is where your resources and safety will lie.  From there you can make decisions and plans.
• Establish three meeting places at your home.  1) The first is where to meet inside the house during a storm, a tornado, or other unsafe situation outside our home (Riots?).  Our "hide-out" is the red sofa in our basement rec room. 2) Next is a shelter-in-place room.  We'll talk about this room later, in detail.  But for now pick a room on the highest level of your house, few windows, and space for everyone to hang out for a few hours.   3) The last is one next to your home to meet if your own residence is not accessible, such as in a fire.  Ours is my neighbor's front porch. Make sure everyone understands to stay there until everyone is safely accounted for.
• Finally, decide another location near your home where your family could meet if your home were not accessible.  Maybe a friend's house a few blocks away, a business, a park, a landmark.

Emergency Contact

• Determine an out-of-region/out-of-state telephone contact for the whole family.  In an emergency, phone systems may allow calls out of the region when lines within the region are jammed.
• Make certain that everyone in the family knows the name, address, phone number, and possibly email for that out of town contact.  Determine if that contact's residence will also be a meeting place, as well.  (Out-of-town meeting place should be, perhaps, 50-120 miles away.  Close enough to drive easily and quickly, far enough to escape regional disaster.)  Everyone should practice calling the contact person, especially if your household contains younger children.  
• If the out-of-town contact cannot be your long distance meeting place, designate another and include it in your emergency and communication plans as well.

Other Contacts

• Make a list (name, address, phone and email) of friends, family, agencies and professionals you might need to contact in an emergency situation.
• Family, friends and neighbors
• Doctors and pediatrician, hospital and ambulance, police and fire, 
• Car dealership and/or garage, veterinarian, attorney, accountant, bank, day care and/or babysitter
• Clergy, therapist, 
  
• Local assistance organizations website, phone number, and address (Red Cross, Salvation Army, churches)
  

Records and Data (Originals or Copies)

• Driver's License, Identification cards, Social Security cards, 
• Car and house keys
• Marriage License, Divorce Decree, Adoption Certificate, other relevant court documents
• Car titles, land deeds, tax records, financial records, wills and trusts
• Prescriptions, medical information and requirements,
• Photos of family members, homes, other property, jewelry and valuables
• Copies of insurance cards, policies, and credit cards
• Pets medical and vaccination records
• Flash drive or other digital storage of photos, documents, and other data
• City and regional maps

 Emergency Resources

• Cash (Cash is critical in a disaster where power is out.  Banks, stores, and ATM will be closed.)  An actual credit card may be of use as well.
• Home disaster kit, Shelter-in-place kit, Go-bag or evacuation kit, Car kits, Work/School kit, Purse or personal kit
• Long term stock of food storage, medications, supplies
• Commodities - What will a neighborhood or community run out of and be unable to restock in an emergency?  What will people want or need but not have?  These useful (or luxury) items can be given to others in Good Samaritan fashion, as a thank you for assistance, as a bargaining tool for items you might need, or simply as additional stores for later use.
• Emergency utilities (generator, fuel powered heating and cooking, water purification, battery powered radio or tv)

 Written Plan

• Write a few paragraphs describing what your family will do in each of several disasters.  Where will you go.  Will you stay together?  Who will pick up the kids? Where will you meet?
• Power outage, family separated, kids at home but unreachable, kids at school but unreachable, kids or parent "gone out", parent/spouse out of town, phone communication down, evacuation requested/ordered, house/neighborhood inaccessible, house is damaged while occupied, house fire, flash flooding, local eminent disasters, earthquake, etc.
• Don't get too bogged down in the details, at first.  Concentrate on the basics: will we stay or go?, where?, what resources and training do we have?

Functional Friday: What disaster should I plan for? (or how disasters work in the real world)

Most emergencies last less than an hour in total: a car accident, power outage, thunderstorm, flat tire, a trip to the ER.  (The trip to the ER will inevitably take longer, but things are usually under control in an hour.)  Often many household dilemmas are short lived:  what to make for dinner, a button comes off, the light bulb blew out, we're out of tissues.  Even your local police and fire, who manage life and death incidents within a highly structured framework, deal will many issues in this short time frame. Begin planning for the disasters in your life that will last an hour or less but at an inconvenient time, you can expand the plan to cover bigger and more dramatic situations later. 

Emergency preparedness always starts at home.  Most of us don't have the knowledge, time, or resources to plan for every possible threatening scenario.  Start small and build on what you've got.  Let's take a look at several considerations that may help you focus on your needs and concerns.  (If you haven't read the post, Disaster Cycle, you might want to hit that first.) The key to your personal preparedness is to find your comfortable balance in each of these.  Each side of the equation must be considered in your emergency planning and preparation, but you must determine what resources will be devoted.

Potential Loss vs. Likelihood of Occurrence
Potential Loss asks what can I lose if this event happens.  Will I lose the contents of my fridge, my house, my life?  Likelihood of Occurrence is how probable is this to actually happen.  Is is more likely that you'll struggle to recover from a storm or a job loss?  Like investing your finances or buying insurance, you must determine what goals and what risk you are comfortable with in preparing for an emergency.  I do not specifically prepare for a plane crash near my home, even though I live near a busy airport and the crash could be devastating, it's doubtful that will happen in my lifetime.  I do prepare for power outages, although though they pose a much smaller physical risk.  In the past five years, we've had nearly ten outages that lasted more than a few seconds and three lasting more than 24 hours.  Chances are it's going to happen again.  And I can plan and prepare for it.

Mitigation vs. Preparedness
These two concepts go hand in hand, and often appear to overlap.  Mitigation is making more permanent or ongoing changes that reduce possible losses, avoiding an incident altogether.  Flood mitigation for your family might include moving.  Preparedness is making more flexible but temporary changes that increase your ability to respond to an incident.  Flood preparedness might include insurance, an evacuation plan and supplies.  Consider your resources and tolerance to change when considering these changes.  Weigh both options in light of your situation.  Don't forget to consider ongoing costs when comparing plans: generators need regular maintenance, food supplies need rotated or replaced, new team members require training.

Survival vs. Convenience
Let's be honest, the incidence of life and death situations in the US is relatively low.  We live safe comfortable lives with very few uncontrolled risks.  There are people out there who will tell you that TEOTWAWKI (The End Of The World As We Know It) is coming, and we need to be ready.  I am not one of those people.  I believe that in modern survival situations, decisions are generally made based on training, experience, and what they used to call common sense.  I'm all for it (survival), but I believe you and I can't plan for it exclusively. There are exceptions like a blanket and portable heater in your stranded car in freezing weather, or an extra supply of medication after an earthquake, or bottled water stored at home during a power outage with no running water (been there, done that).  If you can plan and implement a solution for a likely survival situation, do it.

However, I believe that most of the preparations we need to make are convenience plans and that they are important.  I would like a change of clothes and a snack if I'm stranded in my car.  Or maybe I hope to make a good impression on my son's girlfriend that he brought home unexpectedly for dinner.  How nice it is to know that Fluffy, our cat, is safe with us after the gas leak was discovered at home.  (You're right, of course, it sounds like Fluffy may have been in a life and death survival situation for a moment.)  My own disaster plan doesn't include building my own shelter, eating bugs, and using improvised tools like an episode of Survivor.  I suppose I could, but that wouldn't be very convenient would it?  I plan for beef jerky, chocolate, and ramen noodles.

Supplies vs. Training
I've emphasized the importance of keeping emergency supplies with you in your daily routine: kits at home, go-bags in the closet, a flashlight and water bottle in your purse, a change of clothes in your desk drawer, snacks on your car.  But what if you cannot get to your supplies? A flash flood, a chemical spill, or a flight delay could keep you from your well stocked emergency kit.  Knowledge is power, and there are situations where your training will take you further than any super tool or snack bar.

Hopefully you'll not have take out terrorists to save humanity, but think about your favorite action hero (MacGyver) as he improvises with a ball point pen, a stick of chewing gum, and three banana leaves to rescue the prisoner.  In the real world, that's all training, and there are people out there who can do that.  Knowledge is power.  For you, a training class in first aid with CPR is probably the place to start, but the sky's the limit for how far you take your disaster education.  (The Red Cross offers great courses.  A local CERT class may be the next step.  FEMA offers online courses for citizens.  Over 200 colleges and universities in the US offer a degree in emergency management.) 

Disasters vs. Symptoms
In personal preparedness, citizens are asked to look at an overwhelming range of possible disasters and formulate some sort of plan for themselves.  Although you must determine which disasters to prepare for.  For planning purposes, it can be helpful to list the potential symptoms of each disaster.  The disaster itself can be described, in my mind, as the initial newspaper headline. (Anyone out there still read newspapers?) What happened?

Tornado Flattens 15 Local Homes
Flooding Threatens Downtown Businesses Residents
Unemployment Levels at All Time High
Explosion Impact Leaves Residents Cut-Off for 48 Hours
Transportation Strike Expected to Continue Through Next Week
New Baby and Career Leaves Mother No Time to Juggle Her Life

Because disasters are so variable, it's a chore to create a personal plan for each event.  Symptoms of a disaster, in contrast, are what that disaster means to me or to you.  Some symptoms of disasters include the loss of basic necessities: clean air, clean water, nutritious food, safe transportation, effective communication, safe shelter, heat or cooling, cooking resources, personal safety, and the potential to restock supplies.  These symptoms overlap from disaster to disaster.  I choose to address each of these symptoms and formulate a overarching and effective plan.

In the next few weeks, we'll walk you through compiling the information, a plan and a kit that you can use to keep preparing for the best in a variety of difficult situations.

Related Posts
Family Emergency Plan

Functional Friday: Go-Bag Part V - What's Next?

Where should I keep it?
Somewhere clean, dry and convenient to get to in an emergency (Not buried in a closet.) I don't recommend a garage because of the temperature fluctuations.  The basement is fine if it's clean, dry, and easy to get to.  A hall or coat closet might work.  Some families and households have each member store their bag in their own room.  (With kids you'll probably want to oversee this concept.)

But you said I need more than one bag!
That I did.  Keep something at work.  It can certainly be smaller, if you like.  But an emergency is as likely to happen while you're at work, and you want to be ready to stay or go.  A friend of mine tells a funny story about kissing his wife good-bye and going to work knowing that impending flooding would strand him at work for the next two to three days.  When he gets to the part about wading through flood waters to get from his office to the convenience store across the street because he was hungry, I stopped laughing.  He needed a go-bag at work.

My sister called me soon after starting her son at daycare.  In the first weeks after compiling these kits, she had unexpectedly used several items from his daycare and car emergency go-bags.  She needed an extra bottle (when one broke), a jar of strained prunes (You know what that was for.), and the hoodie from the car (during an unexpected cold snap).   She replaced them all immediately, of course, but she was thrilled to be able to solve problems so conveniently.

I have frequently used the extra clothes in my office.  I try to balance the outfit I keep at work.  It needs to be dressy enough that I can get away with wearing it when I spill coffee (or mustard) down my front.  But it needs to be comfortable enough that it's worth changing into in an emergency (like bad weather).

Keep something in the car.  I highlighted a news story last December where hundreds of people were stranded in their cars on icy highways.  Your four wheel drive won't do you any good in a traffic jam.  Once you're stuck in traffic you're there, no matter what you're driving.


When is my go-bag good enough?
Remember the list of risks and likely events you made a few days ago.  If your bags (and their location) suits each one of the risks you identified, then be done,  Go-bags (like any project) can be overwhelming and grow into a monster that you want to get away from.  I constantly tweak my supplies and ideas.  That may make you crazy.  When you're done and you're happy, put it away.  Know it's there when you need it.  (But don't forget to get it out next year to check over.)

This Series' Links
Functional Friday: Go Bag Part I - The Need
Functional Friday: Go Bag Part I - The Purpose
Functional Friday: Go Bag Part I - The Bag
Functional Friday: Go Bag Part I - The Basic Stuff

Functional Friday: Go Bag Part I - What's Next?

Functional Friday: Go-Bag Part IIII - The Basic Stuff

Making a list
Hopefully by now you have a list of emergencies and scenarios that may require you to head out quickly.  Take a minute and make a list of personal items that you absolutely MUST have to stay healthy and sane in any 24 to 72 hour period.  You should consider your go-bag a comfort kit.  What items will help you physically, mentally, and emotionally if you have to act fast and get out, whatever the emergency.

Assembling your kit

Clothes
Pick a basic change of clothes.  Start with one outfit -- something comfortable and warm, maybe something you could sleep in.  Toss a pair of socks and underwear with it.  Put it in the bag.  See how easy that was?  You now have a go-bag.  Now, let's make it better.  You can pack more clothes if they'll fit, but more than three simple outfits will get bulky.  Pack layers for flexibility and warmth.  Pack familiar and comfortable clothes.  Consider a hoodie.  Hat and gloves - A summer ballcap and work gloves or a stocking cap and fleece gloves? You pick.  Flip flops for showering, maybe?

Water
Add a 1 liter bottle of water.  (I prefer this to be a new unopened bottle, not a refill.  It's going to sit there for a year.)

Food
Think of the food you might want to eat if nothing else were immediately available.  Keep in mind special dietary requirements, but don't try to get healthier than you eat everyday.  Watch the fat and sodium content.  Check the "best by" and expiration dates on food.  I try to stay within the listed date for most things, so look for food that lists a year or more before it expires.  Unless you further research food packaging, leave food closed in original wrappers.  (If you are going to store this in the garage or in the car, your choices are limited due to extreme heat and cold variations.)

Here are a few starter suggestions:

Tuna, chicken, or salmon in a pouch - easy open, no draining, low in fat and high in protein, long dated
Slim Jim-type snacks or beef jerky - saltier than pouches, but less messy and more sharable
Nuts and nut butter - I have an 8 oz. jar of peanut butter and packs of almonds in my pack

Crackers, cereal and chips - Often short dated for best taste, these foods take a little research if you want to drop them in the bag and replace them a year later.  Prepackaged flour tortillas often work.
Granola Bars and Oatmeal bars - These often contain whole grains.

Dried fruit or fruit leather - Make sure it's made of fruit, not added corn syrup.
Pudding and fruit cups - These are delicious, but they can rupture and leak. Pack carefully.
Chocolate - I include cocoa almonds and a chocolate Clif bar to get my chocolate fix.
Drink mixes - My pack has Gatorade mix (the kind WITH sugar) and artificially sweetened mixes.
Snacks - Mints, gum, and your favorite candy can be a big perk in an emergency.

You can also easily find ready-to-eat entrees (Pahd Thai by candlelight, anyone?)  And there are many just add hot water items (ramen noodles and instant potatoes), but these require the obvious - hot water! MRE's are a great option for nutrition and dating, but they can be bulky, expensive, and caloric.  I've eaten quite a few, and I've not had anything I wouldn't eat again.  I'll add lots of ideas and suggestions later.  To protect against spills and odors, seal your food in a ziplock-type plastic bag.

Personal Care and Hygiene Items
Medication - I recommend you keep at least two weeks of medication in this bag.  Most pharmacy meds have a year or more dating.  I exchange mine in September each year.

Also consider any special health care needs.  My son uses a special soap - I'd hate to deal with an outbreak of his sensitive skin issues in a disaster situation.  Put hygiene items in ziplock-type bags, as well. 

Soap
Antibacterial gel or wipes
Shampoo
Razor and shaving cream
Comb
Mirror
Tooth brush, paste, floss
Nail trimmers
First aid kit
Bug repellant, sunscreen
Kleenex, toilet paper
Cotton swabs
Deodorant
Feminine hygiene
Contact solution and case

Tools
Here's where things get a little weird for some people.  Up until now, we have included the items you might need for a trip to grandma's or the Holiday Inn.  But we're about to add a few items that may seem a bit dramatic.  Remember that you are trying to stay healthy and comfortable in an unpredictable situation.  Add what you like and leave the rest out.

Extra glasses - Put last year's prescription in your bag.
Hair ties - These are useful for more than just putting your hair up.
Pen, pencil, marker and a notebook - You may need to make notes, signs, or just doodle.
Hand towel and washcloth
Light sticks - I buy 15 bracelets for $1 and keep a pack of them in every bag. 
Air mattress - The cheap plastic swimming pool kind on clearance in August for $2.
Emergency blanket - The silvery plastic one they wrap around the hero at the end of the movie.
Extra ziplock-type bags - I always pack a few extra gallon sized bags.
Rain poncho - I buy them for under $1 at Wal-mart.  (Disney sells them for $7 every time it rains.)
Pocket knife or scissors
Chapstick with sunscreen
Small flashlight or penlight and extra batteries (stored out of the flashlight)
Extra cell phone charger
Extra set of keys
Radio with extra batteries (stored out of the radio)

Preparedness and Personal Items
A copy of your plan - with phone numbers and addresses
Cash, credit cards
Family Photos
Copies of insurance cards, bank cards, and birth certificates
Vaccination records and other important documents
Map and/or directions to safe places

Remember that this is a work in progress.  It took me literally three years to assemble an basic go-bag for all six members of my family.  Hopefully these tips and suggestions will encourage you to get started and help you know which direction to proceed.

This Series' Links
Functional Friday: Go Bag Part I - The Need
Functional Friday: Go Bag Part I - The Purpose
Functional Friday: Go Bag Part I - The Bag
Functional Friday: Go Bag Part I - The Basic Stuff

Functional Friday: Go Bag Part I - What's Next?

Functional Friday: Go-Bag Part III - The Bag

Like any project you see on Everyday Providence, a go-bag will never get done unless you start it.  Preparedness is a process.  Start something.  You can improve it later!

Now, go get a bag.  (One per person, please.)  A plastic or paper bag will not work.  It needs to close completely with a tie or zipper and should be at least big enough to hold a change of clothes, some snacks, and personal items.  I use backpacks.  Duffel bags work fine.  A piece of luggage will suffice.  That tote bag that you got from the National Association of Something at last year's conference and trade show will work too.  Don't pick something that's too big or cumbersome to carry for a short walk.  When I start a new preparedness project I prefer to use things I have around the house - less investment, less commitment, more room to tweak later.  You may prefer, however, to run to the store and buy a shiny new go-bag.  Go for it!

When you've got a bag, you're ready for next week's Functional Friday post. We'll fill it with the things you need.

This Series' Links
Functional Friday: Go Bag Part I - The Need
Functional Friday: Go Bag Part I - The Purpose
Functional Friday: Go Bag Part I - The Bag
Functional Friday: Go Bag Part I - The Basic Stuff

Functional Friday: Go Bag Part I - What's Next?

Functional Friday Go Bag Part II - The Purpose

Scenario One: The teen-ager that live a few doors down pulls out of the drive and heads by your house to go to school.  Her cell phone rings, and as she pries it out of her pocket it falls on the floor.  She reaches down to grab it, but in her distraction she rams the corner of the lawn chemical truck servicing your neighbor's house.  Thankfully, she is wearing her seat belt and her airbag goes off.   She is safe, but the truck is in the middle of the neighbor's lawn and the the tank of lawn chemicals has split open like a dropped watermelon. In a scene reminiscent of Batman, green goo is flowing down the neighbor's sloping yard across the drive and into your landscaping.  As the police arrive, they ask you to leave your house until they can assess the risk and confirm the contents of the tank.  The officer asks you to safely exit your home in the next five minutes.  They have a hazardous materials crew and containment unit on the way, and they aren't sure when you'll be able to return.  What do you grab on your way out the door?

Let's mix it up now.

Scenario Two: You plan to stay at work till 5:30 since the train was late getting you there this morning.  Your 18 month old is at the company run daycare in your building, and your 12 year old just called to say his homework is done.  Your husband is at a job site today and will try to be home in time for dinner at 6:30.  A thunderstorm rolls through about 4:30 as predicted.  Strong winds cut power to many homes and businesses, including some in your neighborhood.  Your building is fine, but the sister office across town is without power, and all calls and transactions are forwarding to your site, leaving everyone a bit flustered.  No one is answering the phone at home.  When you try your husband's cell a message plays saying all circuits are busy.  You take a ten minute break to run down and check on your daughter in daycare.  She's fine, but two workers left due to storm related emergencies and you'll need to pick her up promptly at 5:00 pm.  To make matters worse, they forgot to tell you yesterday that they are out of her baby food and are running low on diapers.  And you just found out that flash flooding has closed one of the bridges you cross to get home.

I hope I'm not frightening you.  I cannot predict these or any other scenario will happen to you, but they are events that will occur in some form, somewhere soon.  Admittedly, they are both pretty dramatic, but I hope you can see that they are plausible.  Knowing you have a plan will help you navigate both of these situations with some degree of confidence.  Preparedness planning is a support that may sustain you through a difficult situation.  Both of these situations emphasize the need for a pre-planned supply kit at home, at work, at daycare, and in the car (or your commuter bag.)  Next Friday, we'll pick a bag that suits your needs.

This Series' Links
Functional Friday: Go Bag Part I - The Need
Functional Friday: Go Bag Part I - The Purpose
Functional Friday: Go Bag Part I - The Bag
Functional Friday: Go Bag Part I - The Basic Stuff

Functional Friday: Go Bag Part I - What's Next?

Functional Friday: Go Bag Part I - The Need

Some of my best emergency and disaster training comes from watching movies.  Action movies are especially ripe with examples, suggestions, and references for anyone wanting to increase their preparedness in an emergency.  Example: This week my husband and I watched SALT (starring Angelina Jolie) after the kids went to bed.  As the action builds, she grabs a bag that contains EXACTLY what she needs and executes a plan that she has been contemplating for years.  The moment came and she was ready... with the perfect go bag.  (I'm sorry that it's difficult to see in this photo.)  Although, it's doubtful that your go bag will contain magnetic explosives like a CIA agent, I hope to help you start planning what you need to include in yours.

First, a glimpse into emergency planning.

1) Consider your likely and possible emergencies.
Your Home (fire, sewer back-up, gas leak)
Weather (tornado, thunderstorm, blizzard, drought,winds)
Natural Location (flood, tsunami, volcano, wildfire, earthquake)
Man-made (hazardous material spill, nuclear plant malfunction, crime)

2) Consider your special needs, situations, and/or circumstances.
Household members include young children, elderly, mental/emotional/physical disabled.
Very urban and very rural settings can present special challenges.
Work requires you come in during an emergency. (medical personnel, emergency service, small business owner, company management or engineers)
Resources available to you will determine your capability.  (ie Those with a Hummer will fare better during a storm.  Those with a motorcycle will fare better when there's no power to pump gas.)

3) Make a plan.  (...even a little plan.  We'll make it better later.)
Write it down and hand it out.
Your plan may dictate what you need with you.  Keys, money, tent, 50 gallons of gas?
Make sure your friends, family and emergency contacts know your plan.

4) Consider your friends, family, and neighbors in your plan.
Do you have an elderly neighbor or single parent neighbor you'll want to help?  Plan for it.
Does your grandmother live across town?  Plan for her.

Now make a basic last of the things you think you would need if you had to go right now, and you weren't sure when you'd be back (hours? days?).  Next Friday, we'll look at why and when you might need and use a go-bag.

This Series' Links
Functional Friday: Go Bag Part I - The Need
Functional Friday: Go Bag Part I - The Purpose
Functional Friday: Go Bag Part I - The Bag
Functional Friday: Go Bag Part I - The Basic Stuff
Functional Friday: Go Bag Part I - What's Next?