Being prepared helps us feel safe and confident in difficult times. This not only includes natural or man-made disasters, but also hard economic times, loss of a job, or illness not covered by insurance. Not only that, but by being prepared yourself, you are then in a position to be able to help others. Helping others is a big key when it comes to being prepared. Being prepared mentally, emotionally, and physically for emergency situations is very empowering. But acquiring skills and supplies doesn't happen over night. It takes preparation and planning. The areas of emergency prep that I focus on are: Food Storage, 72-Hour Kits & general Emergency Preparedness. Make sure you check out the link at the bottom that talks about a financial binder - a binder to keep all your important docs in one place!
In case you were wondering: food storage is different than hoarding. Food storage is stocking up on food that will be rotated and used and is there to fall back on during emergencies or difficult times. (My family has been through tight times and used our food storage!) This is usually only for a set period of time as well - like food enough for 3 months to 1 year and it involves a plan that fits your family's needs.
Some may disagree with me, but I usually associate hoarding food and supplies with panic, fear and selfishness in the face of impending disaster. Usually a gun is involved or other protective measure is taken. (Not that guns or protection is bad - just go back to the selfishness and panic/fear thing.)
Below are links to some useful websites and blogs that can help you get your household on track for building food storage, emergency supplies, and an emergency plan that is right for your family.
(Please, keep in mind that a few of these websites have great, useful information, but might express views that I may or may not agree with.)
Useful Websites/Blogs
Food Storage
Year Supply of Food Storage for $5 a week (for 2 people)
Pantry Pests (and how to prevent them)
Using Your Food Storage
Food Storage Cooking School
BYU Living Essentials - Food Storage Planning
Everything Made Simple - by Wendy DeWitt
Everything Under the Sun - Wendy DeWitt's blog
Food Storage Made Easy
Still Tasty: Your Ultimate Shelf Life Guide
Using Your Food Storage
Food Storage Cooking School
BYU Living Essentials - Food Storage Planning
Everything Made Simple - by Wendy DeWitt
Everything Under the Sun - Wendy DeWitt's blog
Food Storage Made Easy
Still Tasty: Your Ultimate Shelf Life Guide
72-Hour Kits/Emergency Preparedness
Preparedness Pro
Your Safe Child - Child ID Kits
The Survival Mom
Almost Anything Can Be Used to Carry a Baby
72-Hour/Disaster Kits for Babies & Toddlers
(be sure to check in the comments for other useful ideas)
Stanford University 72-hour Kits
How to Survive a Hurricane
Resources
Your Safe Child - Child ID Kits
The Survival Mom
Almost Anything Can Be Used to Carry a Baby
72-Hour/Disaster Kits for Babies & Toddlers
(be sure to check in the comments for other useful ideas)
Stanford University 72-hour Kits
How to Survive a Hurricane
Resources
Emergency Essentials
Honeyville Grain Company
Home Storage Store
Shelf Reliance
PDF DOCS
I taught a workshop on preparing for emergencies at my church.
These are some of the things I shared.
"Embrace the Storm" Class Outline
Helpful Sources Handout
Preparedness Questionnaire
(with some questions used from the Just In Case book by Kathy Harrison.)
Lee Family 72-Hour Checklist (this is our personal checklist)
Emergency Candle Tutorial
72-Hour Checklist
Basic 72-Hour Checklist
Car Emergency Kit (from the USU Extension Office)
Simple Car Emergency Kit (from the USU Extension Office)
Gravity-Fed Water Filter
Emergency Response Agencies & Programs (compiled by Cari Larkin)
Make An Emergency Plan (from the USU Extension Office)
Simple Emergency Supplies List
A financial binder is an excellent way to keep all your important documents in one place so that 1) they are easy to find for every day use and 2) they are easy to grab in an emergency situation.
If you would like more information about a financial binder to keep your financial documents organized, please e-mail me or leave a comment. You can also check out this link for the financial binder page dividers and tab labels put together by the Utah State University Extension Office.
Honeyville Grain Company
Home Storage Store
Shelf Reliance
PDF DOCS
I taught a workshop on preparing for emergencies at my church.
These are some of the things I shared.
"Embrace the Storm" Class Outline
Helpful Sources Handout
Preparedness Questionnaire
(with some questions used from the Just In Case book by Kathy Harrison.)
Lee Family 72-Hour Checklist (this is our personal checklist)
Emergency Candle Tutorial
72-Hour Checklist
Basic 72-Hour Checklist
Car Emergency Kit (from the USU Extension Office)
Simple Car Emergency Kit (from the USU Extension Office)
Gravity-Fed Water Filter
Emergency Response Agencies & Programs (compiled by Cari Larkin)
Make An Emergency Plan (from the USU Extension Office)
Simple Emergency Supplies List
A financial binder is an excellent way to keep all your important documents in one place so that 1) they are easy to find for every day use and 2) they are easy to grab in an emergency situation.
If you would like more information about a financial binder to keep your financial documents organized, please e-mail me or leave a comment. You can also check out this link for the financial binder page dividers and tab labels put together by the Utah State University Extension Office.