First Day of Spring as a Springboard for Preparedness

I love lists, calendars, and routines.  My crazy, busy, hectic schedule, as I'm sure many of you experience, creates the need for reminders to keep me on track.  I like to use the first day of spring as a "springboard" for my own emergency preparedness. (It falls six months before and after September, which is National Emergency Preparedness month.) It also serves as a great pivot point between cold weather and warm weather preparedness. (Not forgetting, of course, that we still have the potential

"Exotic" Preparedness Ideas

Many ideas and activities just might come in handy in extreme disaster situations.  However, these undertakings may require a substantial amount of effort, financial input, or maintenance to keep them going.  However, they may also provide some ongoing fringe benefits.  Some of you would call these hobbies.  (Some of you would call them a waste of time.)  I call them "exotic" preparedness ideas.  Let me know what you think and if you have any experience with these.

• Keeping chickens (goats, sheep, cows, horses, and other livestock, etc.)
• Keeping bees (which seems to me a whole different animal. Pun intended.)
• Making maple syrup (and sorghum molasses, etc.)
• Working on old cars (engines, tractors, and generators, etc.)
• Sewing (weaving, spinning, knitting, and leather work, etc.)
• Growing a garden (herbs, stevia, mushrooms, and fruit trees, etc.)
• Making your own bread (cheese and beer, etc.)
• Making your own bacon (ham, sausages, beef jerky, and a few canned vegetables, etc.)
• Composting (for your garden, for the environment, and for your health, etc.)
• Generating electricity (to save money, to save the earth, and to save your skin, etc.)
• Blacksmithing (silversmithing, goldsmithing, and you get the idea, etc.)
• Making your own soap (baby food, dairy products, and toys, etc.)
• Catching your own dinner (fish, squirrel, deer and pheasant, etc.)

I think of my life like a Bingo card and I'm playing "blackout."  I'd love to try every one of these at least once, and I plan to try many of them again.  (I have to count my childhood experiences to mark many of these off my Bingo card.)  Which ones interest you?

Functional Friday: Preparedness Project - Phone List

What if the pizza guy can't find your house?  What if you need to call your neighbor to make sure everything is OK at 3:00 am?  What if your out-of-town guests call and need directions to your house from the interstate, and your teen-ager takes the call?  What if a 9-1-1 call to the fire department puts you at a loss to describe which house is yours?

This week's Preparedness Project will help you plan for these situations and more with a list of helpful information posted by the house phone, or in another conspicuous location.  My aunt has had this posted by her phone for as long as I can remember.  Honestly, as a kid I thought it was a little strange.  Now that my kids are old enough to make a phone call, but not old enough to have much to say :) I see the value in the phone list.  We have one posted by our kitchen phone. 

The phone numbers we included are:
Our home phone number
Mom and Dad's cell numbers and work numbers
The neighbor's name and number (with an arrow pointing to her house)
In town and out of town family names and numbers
Two local family friends' names and numbers
(Consider indicating which numbers are text-able.)

Along with you, I'll be adding those detailed directions this week-end.  Try to include all major routes into your neighborhood from major local routes.  Google Maps or Mapquest could help with that.

If your home includes children, pets, or household members with medical conditions or functional needs, include helpful information and contacts for these as well.  (Veterinarian number, food allergies, required medical equipment, service animals, etc.)

First responders (police officers, fire/EMS rescue and EMT's) are trained to look for this type of information in an emergency.  They also will search your cell phone for ICE (In Case of Emergency) information as an App (iPhone, Blackberry, Android) or as a listing in your contacts, so make sure you include some information there as well.

Week-end Preparedness Project   Time: Cost: Difficulty:  ☐  Type and print, or grab a paper and marker for clear readability.  ☐  Write detailed directions from major local routes to your house. (Include at least two routes.)  ☐  List the names, relationships, and phone numbers for important contacts.  ☐  Go ahead and include doctors and other medical numbers as well.  ☐  Post in one of more locations in your home.  Near phones?  In your wallet?  ☐  For extra credit: make sure you have at least two ICE contacts (ICE1, ICE 2) in your cell phone.

Functional Friday: Preparedness Project - 90 day Storage

A four day blizzard, a food safety recall, a loss of income... Any of these items might leave you unable (at least temporarily) unable to purchase food and day to day items.  Planning for the best counts on those inevitably dark times coming round.  Financial guru Dave Ramsey says that when Murphy comes knocking at the door and sees that you are prepared, he goes on to the next house.  Not worried about that deadly pandemic?  That’s ok, there are other advantages – no last minute runs to the grocery store, buying items on sale saves money in the long run, and meal planning becomes a little easier.   (Monday's and Wednesday's related posts.)

But before you run to Costco and max out your credit card, start by thinking and making a list. This week's projects is free, easy, and meant to get you started.

Week-end Preparedness Project Pick one (or pick them all) <><>  Time: Cost: None! Difficulty:  ☐  Grab a pen and paper  ☐  Make a short list of a few places you could consider storing some canned good and household supplies.  ☐  Now make a list of your family's seven (or more) favorite "from a box or can" meals.  (It doesn't have to be what you eat every day, just often enough that you'll be able to rotate through it.  ☐  Divide that menu into a list of ingredients to buy for one week.  ☐  Add some snacks (cookies/crackers) and drinks for a regular week to the list.  ☐  Your final list is household items that you buy and use regularly. (Toilet paper, dishwasher detergent, toothpaste.)  ☐  Keep these lists close at hand and add items as you think of them over the next few weeks.  ☐  Feel free to purchase and store some of these items, but we'll be sharing more about how to do this soon.  For now... you've got your brain thinking about this project.

Functional Friday: Preparedness Project - Smoke Detectors & Fire Safety

September is Emergency Preparedness Month! Want an easy and simple step toward preparing for an emergency? Make sure your home is outfitted with proper smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. The upcoming months may include turning on the heat, using the fireplace, decorating with candles and Christmas tree lights, holiday cooking – all potential fire hazards.

Week-end Preparedness Project Pick one (or pick them all)   Time: Cost: (depending on what you have already) Difficulty:  ☐  Inventory your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide (CO) detectors in your house.  ☐  Make sure that you have enough and they’re in the correct locations.  ☐  Identify if any need replaced.  ☐  Write down the type and number of batteries each one takes.  ☐  This weekend, visit your hardware store and purchase replacement or new detectors.  ☐  Purchase enough replacement batteries for each device.  ☐  Visit the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) website for guidance

Want to do more?

Plan and practice using various escape routes, even out the window. This is a great way to identify if you need an emergency ladder.

Buy a fire extinguisher. Rogue candles, cooking gone wrong, or an electrical fire could be contained long enough to escape with the help of proper fire extinguishers.

Think of how you can store some emergency supplies away from your home in the event of fire: extra bag in the detached garage, a drawer at work, something at a neighbor’s house.

Functional Friday: Preparedness Project - Make a List

I love camping!  I know many of you have less enthusiasm about it.  I always encourage my non-camping friends to come out camping with me because, of course, I think I do it well.  But I believe there are a few keys to my camping success.

1) Great weather - I certainly can't control this, but when the weather goes wrong, I know when to pack it in and go home (or at least to go shopping).
2) Great Accommodations- A good tent and sleeping bag will go a long way toward a comfortable stay and a good night's sleep.  A warm fire doesn't hurt either.
3) Great Location - Picking the right spot in personal and requires some experience.  When will the sun hit your tent? Where will the rain water run through?  Is there a level spot for the tent?
4) Great Gear - If your matches, hot dog fork, or flashlight don't work when you need them, I assure you that frustration will set in.
5) THE LIST - This is the clincher.  I have this organized and formatted camping list that I edit and print every time we go out.

Each trip I edit THE LIST, which includes anything that I might routinely include on a typical trip.  After I print a copy, in preparation for a trip, I mark through any items I don't plan to take.  I make notes for extra items I might add.  And I assemble our camping supplies.  Using my tried and true list, I know that I won't forget critical fun saving, headache saving, or life saving items.  Mark them off the list and put them in the car.  When I return home, I make any permanent changes and save THE LIST for the next trip.

At Everyday Providence, we want to help you get prepared.  If you are reading these posts, you already have some degree of interest in "preparing for the best" in your life.  Get a notebook and get started.  (THE LIST that I take camping started as a page in a notebook with checks and scratches and notes in the margin.) I have learned that much of preparedness takes place in the thinking and planning stage anyway.  Once you start thinking about what you want to do you won't be able to help getting started.  If it is all you do this year, start your lists.  Think things through.  Make a plan.  We'll help you know how to complete those plans as we go along.

Week-end Preparedness Project   Time: Cost: Difficulty:  ☐  Grab a notebook and a pen/pencil.  (You can scratch this onto the back of used envelopes or       type it into a spreadsheet, if you like.)  ☐  Make a list of supplies, projects, or ideas you would like to complete for you own        preparedness.  ☐  Add to your list as you go.  ☐  Organize your lists as they grow.  ☐  Divide your lists by location or topic.  ☐  Mark items that you have, items that you want, items that you need.  ☐  Put the list where you can find it when you think of an idea to write down or when you have a        moment to implement an idea.

Functional Friday: Preparedness Project - Daylight Savings Time Checks

Have you started some emergency preparations? A stash of extra food and water? An emergency evacuation bag? An extra $20 in your glove compartment? First, give yourself a pat on the back. Then, mark your calendar for November 7th. That's the day, this year, when Daylight Savings Time ends.

It’s a great time to review the preparations that you’ve already made and make any seasonal updates.

- Inspect First Aid Kits for expiration dates, ensure that nothing has spilled and compromised that box of bandaids.
- Review your Emergency Food for expiration dates. (Plan to eat or consider donating any items that are approaching their expiration.)
- Review your Evacuation Bag emergency food. While you’re unpacking everything, inventory it. Write down the item description, expiration, calories, protein and fat. (Next time, you can just pull out the list and buy appropriate replacement items before you unpack anything.)
- Review your emergency water supply and replace expired water.
- Replace your home’s smoke and Carbon Monoxide (CO) detector batteries. Test them while you’re at it. This time of year is when most people start turning on their heat, electric blankets, fireplaces, etc.
- Have your furnace and fireplace inspected for any hazards.
- Switch out clothing in your emergency bags to ensure you have cold weather clothes and accessories (hats, gloves, scarves, chemical hand warmers).
- Perform garden winterizing.
- Switch out any storm windows from screens to glass. You’ll be glad your house is retaining as much heat as possible in the event of a winter storm power outage.
- Make sure you have rock salt, a good shovel, and ice scrapers.
- Make sure your snow blower (or snow shovel) is in good condition and gassed up.
- Get ready to enjoy the season knowing that you’re prepared.
- And don’t forget to reset your clocks!

Week-end Preparedness Project   Time: Cost:   Difficulty:  ☐  First Aid Kit check.  ☐  Check dates and rotate emergency food (home, work, evacuation bag).  ☐  Check stored water supply.  ☐  Replace smoke and CO detector batteries.  ☐  Clean, check, inspect furnace and vents.  ☐  Check cold weather gear in car.  ☐  Home and garden winterizing.  ☐  Check snow and ice removal equipment.  ☐  Set your clock back an hour on November 7.

Functional Friday: Preparedness Project - Evacuation Bag

If you followed the news this past month, you know that there have been evacuations in central Wisconsin due to flooding (and failure of a 100+ year old levee), in Utah due to wildfires, and along the Atlantic Coast due to hurricanes and tropical storms. Other recent events that caused evacuations have been train derailments, chemical spills, and industrial plant fires. Many of these incidents had no loss of life and evacuation plans contributed to that. Years of studying emergency management, learning from past disasters and planning ahead has given us some insight into good emergency preparedness, and being prepared for an evacuation event is part of that.

A few weeks ago, we talked about a power outage in your home and “sheltering in place”. But what if you need to leave? What would you take with you? Of course, people and safety come first. In any house fire, for example, you and your family need to evacuate immediately, leaving everything behind if necessary. But what if you had 5 to 15 minutes to get out? Having a bag packed with the basics would give you more time to gather up the sentimental and valuable items. (Remember that your personal safety is paramount. If the situation is life threatening, DO NOT stop for pictures, antiques, or anything.) Here are some ideas for a “go bag”.

- Sturdy bag, preferably a back pack that will give you both hands free
- Complete change of clothes with shoes and a hooded sweatshirt
- Full set of keys to your house and vehicles as well as emergency keys to a family or friend’s house
- Cash – for a meal, a hotel stay, gasoline, phone call. Small bills and change are best.
- Ready-to-eat Food (3 days recommended) & Water (as much as you can reasonably carry)
- Prepaid phone card
- Cell phone charger
- First Aid Kit
- Flashlight with 2 full sets of batteries
- Pocket knife
- Hand-crank radio
- Firestarter (matches, lighter, other)
- Emergency Mylar Blanket
- Copies of important documents (ID, credit cards, insurance policies, birth certificates, etc.)
- Hygiene/toiletry essentials
- Special needs – infant diapers, formula, bottles, medications

Everyone's bag may contain a different assortment of items.  Think of what you'd like to take with you to a hotel stay, plus what you need in a power outage, and consider a few survival rules (shelter, fire, water).  Start your list now.  Tweak your list and your bag as you go.  We'll continue to add information and ideas for your evacuation bag (or "go-bag"), so start one this week-end and let it build.

Week-end Preparedness Project   Time: Cost:  (depending on what you have already) Difficulty:  ☐  Get a bag (duffle, tote, or backpack - one for each family member)  ☐  Collect one set of clothes and hoodie for each bag (pack for the coldest)  ☐  Buy some shelf stable food and snacks to put in bag (tuna, soup, crackers)  ☐  Include 2 liter/quart bottles of water (minimum)  ☐  Make your own list and add other items as you collect them  ☐  Be certain to include first aid and 2+ weeks of medications  ☐  Copy documents (licenses, insurance, credit cards, prescriptions, etc.)  ☐ The most important part of this project is starting it!  You can finish later!

Functional Friday: Preparedness Project - Power Outage

Each Friday, Everyday Providence authors will be providing quick and easy ideas to get you ready to face a potential emergency.  From a sudden thunderstorm to that last-minute dinner guest, we strive to handle each situation with confidence and finesse.  We hope to challenge you each week to take a small step in preparing for the best outcome in these unexpected situations.

This week, I've been thinking about the weather.  One of our primary concerns anywhere in the nation is a storm-related power outage.  Although generally no more than a few minutes, an outage occasionally lasts hours or days.  Rest assured that with some planning and preparedness you may be able to coast through this emergency, and maybe have a little fun.  First decide where you can keep some emergency supplies; the location needs to be convenient but out of the way and secure, like a closet.

Here's a starter list of items you might need right away during a power outage:

• Flashlights and batteries- Candles and matches are an inexpensive and long lasting solution, but they are also a potential fire hazard.  You should have some, but save those for more desperate situations.  Store your batteries with, but not in, your emergency flashlights.

• Radio and batteries - A NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) radio will give you information about the storm itself; the regular stations will give you news and other information, as well as, keep you occupied.  Many are crank or solar powered, and some can charge a cell phone.

• Shelter - If it's very cold, rainy, or windy, stay inside.  Close doors and windows, and keep them closed, especially to preserve heat.  Stay warm with a blanket or sweatshirt. 

• Ready to Eat/Shelf-stable food - These are items that don't require cooking and do not need refrigerated.  Don't open your fridge or freezer!  Have some items in your pantry that you can open and eat.  Plan some items that you enjoy.  In our house we stock wheat crackers and cheese in a can, cheese flavored crackers, beef jerky, tuna pouches, and fruit and pudding cups.

• Bottled water - You need a minimum of one case of bottled water (3 gallons) on hand for each person in the house.  If your area water supply is affect by a power outage, flooding, or other damage, you'll need water to drink and for cleaning and hygiene.

• First Aid Kit - You don't want to be bumbling around in the dark looking for a bandage.  Make sure you know where your kit is, or buy one just for emergencies.

• Special Items - medications, extra glasses, baby needs, extra car keys, toys and games

We will have lots of additional information about preparing for this and other emergencies, so keep reading.  Remember!  It's never too late or too early to start preparing for the best.

Week-end Preparedness Project Pick one (or pick them all)   Time: Cost: (depending on what you have already) Difficulty:  ☐  Check your emergency flashlight and radio with batteries  ☐  Throw a blanket or sweatshirt in a designated emergency spot  ☐  Collect some ready-to-eat/shelf-stable food  ☐  Check for one case of bottled water for every member in your home  ☐  Make (or buy) an emergency first aid kit  ☐  Collect special items you will need at hand in a power outage  ☐  Store items in a convenient but out of the way location