"They Gave Up Their Christmas"

I hope that you all have a very Merry Christmas and that we all remember, as the people in this story do, what Christmas is really all about.

 

 

Emergency Prep lessons from Hurricane Sandy

A couple of weeks ago, my mom forwarded me an email with a list of things that one man learned from Hurricane Sandy. It was clear that he was one affected by the hurricane and was without power for over a week. The forward was entitled: "Things that I learned from Hurricane Sandy, by Frantz Ostmann, 11-17-12."

As I read through the email, I made note of a few items that I thought were most helpful. So here's my little list:

1. "If you do not have water stored up you are in trouble. A couple of cases of bottled water is NOT water storage." Remember, you should have stored AT LEAST 1 gallon of water per person, per day for at least two weeks. If you want to store bottled water, a 24 pack of .5 liter bottle is a little over 3 gallons so you need 4 cases of water per person. Click HERE to read my post on water.

2. "Should have as much fuel as water. Propane, gas, kerosene, firewood, fire starter (kindling, pater, etc)." This is definitely got me thinking. One of my goals for the new year is to get an extra tank of propane for our grill so that we always have a full one. I need to learn more about storing gas because that just sounds scary to me. And I don't have a wood burning stove so I am not going to hoard firewood, but I do need to look into some information on fire safety and fire starters in case we lost power in the winter.

3. "Cash is king (all the money in your savings means nothing." In September, I wrote a post called Financial Emergency Fund which gives more information, but it's pretty basic. If everyone is power is out you can't get money out of the ATM or the bank. Cash will be crucial if you need something like gas, food or medicine.

4. "All the food storage in the world means nothing if your kids won't eat it." This is a really great point that I should talk about more. It is super important to have healthy foods with long shelf-lives (like rice and wheat) in your food storage, but you really need to store what you eat. If your kids REALLY like raviolis, buy 12 and stash them somewhere. Then if you end up home for a week without power, you can have happy kids for at least one meal out of the day.

5. "You can never have enough matches." This is a good point that we may not think about. I probably only have a pack or two.

6. "Small solar charging gadgets will keep you in touch. Most work pretty well it seems." This is another thing I have wanted for a while. They are priced from $20 to over $100. This is another thing that I need to do some research on, because if the power is out but the cell towers are still working, I want to be able to use my cell phone.

Hope these ideas give you something to think about. Maybe you can add one to your New Year's Resolutions. Just remember, don't give up because you feel overwhelmed. Just try to do one thing at a time.

3-month supply: Snacks

OK, so this one might sound a little bit silly at first but bear with me.

 

Several years ago, food storage was thought of as buckets of wheat and home-canned foods. While these are still necessary parts of food storage, in the last few years the ideas about food storage have changed.

 

One of the changes is that it is recommended that we store 3-months worth of food that our family eats on a daily basis. This often means items with a shorter shelf-life, but that's OK because we are going to rotate our food.

 

Having food storage is about being prepared for hard times. This might be a tight month financially or even just unexpected company. Having an extra bag of tortilla chips and a bottle of salsa in your storage could make those hard or unexpected times more enjoyable, right?

 

Another big part of storing food is shopping for deals. This is a big deal in the snack department...especially for a tight budget. I don't generally love buying snacks. They cost A LOT of food per ounce and they go SO fast. But, I have also realized that with kids in school needed snacks or even just being able to grab something quick, snacks can be handy.

 

So, first of all, you will want to make a little list of what snack items you use a lot. For our family it would look something like this:

 

Chips (mostly tortilla)

Butter crackers (like Ritz)

Saltines (good to have on hand for tummy aches)

Popcorn

Jerky or meat sticks

Peanuts

Raisins

Graham crackers

 

Once you have a list, you can decide how many of each thing you want to store. I would start with having one EXTRA of each. Once I open my extra, that item goes on my grocery list so that within a few days (theoretically) I again have an extra one.

 

Back to shopping... Around the holidays there are a lot of deals on snack items, so it might be a good time to stock up. Also, big warehouse stores have a serious amount of snacks that are usually priced better than regular grocery stores (although not always) so you may want to stock up that way.

 

Even though I think that it is good to "be prepared" and to have things on hand that you use, I do NOT recommend spending a lot of money stocking up on snacks if you basics like water, grains and meats are low. But, storing things like snack items which you know you kids (or spouse) will eat in the case of a minor set-back or emergency can be just as important as your long-term storage.

 

6 month rule?

So have you ever heard people say that if you haven't used something in 6 months or longer, you should get rid of it? I have. Many times. I think that maybe it is referring to clothing, but it might be a good rule of thumb.

I am a fairly organized person...but I have several "junk drawer" type areas in my house.

Today I went through several piles of STUFF and ended up throwing half of it out and filing the rest. I found some really great stuff that my kids had done at school that I want to keep, but I also had a bunch of random papers that I knew I didn't need.

Sometimes it takes me a week or more to realize that I don't need to save my kids' art (at least not EVERY piece) and so I think that TIME is an important factor in saving or chucking things.

That's what made me think of the 6 month thing.

BUT there are many things that the 6 month rule does not work on...at least not for me.

Favorite books, old journals and letters are things we may not look at every 6 months but it doesn't mean we should get rid of them. Also, I save a majority of my kids' clothing to hand down to the next kiddo. I try to keep it organized, but I personally would rather store a few boxes than buy new clothes every year.

Speaking of clothes, I keep a lot of clothes that are not my *current* size. Being the the middle of my "child-baring years" my body changes from year to year. Some day I hope I can get back to where I want to be and will stay there, but until then I will store a variety of sizes for myself so that, again, I don't have to go shopping for new jeans every time I'm working on losing my baby fat.

Old craft and sewing projects can take up a lot of space. Right now, I have a guest room where these things are stored, but I keep thinking that I need to clean that stuff out. I honestly do not have the time or energy for them and I haven't for a while.

Well, now I'm just ranting.

The point is, whether you need a time table on how long to keep something or not, try to declutter something soon. Heck, you may find more room for your FOOD STORAGE!

Miracles

I have so much to be thankful for this year! My family has been so blessed, especially in the last few months. I'd like to share with you our recent little miracle.

For a while now, my husband has looked around for a new job. There were several reason for this including higher pay and more opportunity for advancement.

In September, he applied for a job with the State of Utah as an IT Technical Support Specialist. The problem was that the job was in Moab, UT. Moab is in southeast Utah, about 4 hours from where we live (Cedar City, in southwest Utah). I did NOT want to move, but thought he should apply and that maybe it would help him to get a raise at his job.

A week after sending in the application, we were on our way to Draper, UT (near Salt Lake) for his interview. He felt good about it and they seemed to like him, so on the way home we started to talk a little bit more seriously about what we would do if he got the job.

The interview was on a Friday afternoon. He was one of the last to be interviewed. We also found out later that about 100 people applied for this job. Monday morning at 10am, he got a call. He got the job! He came home soon after to tell me and I was shocked, but that wasn't the best part.

The lady that offered him the job asked him how he really felt about moving. He told her that he would move wherever they needed him (which was true for him). She then explained that they didn't have someone in that particular position in Cedar City and that she was wanting to open that position up here. She asked him if he'd like to work in Cedar if she could get approval to create the new position.

When he told me this, I bawled! Thinking of moving was making me literally feel sick and I didn't really know if I could have handled it. I feel that prayer is very powerful, but I honestly hadn't even really prayed for him to get the job or anything. I just tried to ignore it.

Well, I have prayed about it a lot since then. Even without literally expressing my wants and needs, I was being given exactly what I wanted, and so was my husband.  And he is very happy to be staying in Cedar too.

He's been on the job for two weeks now and he is overwhelmed! He has a large workload and hardly has time to eat lunch, let alone answer my calls or texts. At his previous work I could basically talk to him any time, but now I have to wait for him to call me when he's not busy. I know, I was spoiled before. But thinking of how busy he is and how tired he is when he gets home makes me even more thankful that we aren't in a strange town trying to unpack a thousand boxes.

This is one of the biggest miracles that has happened to us. We know we need to be in Cedar. My husband will get more opportunities to move up and is making a bit more money. We have good benefits. Even though it's hard work, it will definitely pay off and we will be able to meet our goals of being debt free and having a good emergency savings as well as planning for retirement.

We've had two other miracles this fall. One is a direct result of the new job. We finally got my husband a working vehicle! Out of the last 9 years of married, he has only had his own car for ONE! Now he has his car and I have mine and I have NO idea how I hauled 4 kids around along with shuttling him to and from work.

The other miracle is that we are expecting baby #5. We have known for a while that we had another one waiting to come and will be blessed with a new little crazy in the middle of May.

With the holiday season right in front of us, I cannot help but feel humbled for the blessings we have received. I don't want anyone to think I am bragging. I debated even writing this post, but I wanted to express my gratitude for a hard working husband, and for my Heavenly Father who knows who I am and what I need. Everything I have in my life is because of His love.

I hope you all have a Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Water

Water is ESSENTIAL no matter what your level of preparedness.

It is recommended to have one gallon of water, per person, per day, for drinking and sanitation purposes.

Don't stress. Start small.

It is recommended to store a 2 weeks supply of water. That's 14 gallons per person.

I have two weeks worth in food-grade, 5 gallon jugs like the one below. This is our drinking supply. For my washing water, I refill soft drink and juice bottles with water. I also refill old laundry soap and hand soap containers. Making a habit of refilling these bottles will make it easy to increase your water supply without a lot of extra thought and expense.

With my water storage, I separate what is stored for home use and what I would need if we had to leave home. I have a pack of water bottles in the car. I also have a small, rolling suitcase filled with water bottles in my hall closet. It's heavy but I could fit it in the car or roll it behind me, depending on which mode of transportation I would be using in an emergency.

A light addition for your 72-hour kits could be a water purifier bottle. It may not be realistic to have 3 gallons of water in each person's kit if you have to leave your car and go somewhere on foot.


Important: Keep water containers away from heat sources and direct sunlight. Do not store plastic on cement.

Here's a great link to FEMA for more information: Water

Recent post from PreparedLDSFamily: How to Store Emergency Drinking Water

And LDS.org: Drinking Water Guidelines


This is step 1 on the PLAN 9 pamphlet put together by the Southwest Utah Public Health Department.

3-month supply: Condiments

Let's talk about CONDIMENTS!!!

 

I know, it sort of sounds silly, but bear with me. Most of us use condiments every day, making them as important to store as wheat and sugar. (OK, maybe not AS important...)

 

So, first of all, what is a condiment anyway?

 

A condiment is a food (usually a sauce) that you use to enhance or compliment a food or meal.

 

Next, you decide what condiments you use in your home. Here are some examples:

 

Ketchup

Mustard

Hot sauce

Mayonnaise

Salad Dressing

Steak sauce

BBQ sauce

Worcestshire sauce

Soy sauce

Chocolate syrup

Salsa

 

 

Once you've decided what you use, you can start tracking what you use, by writing the date you opened something and making a note of the day you used it up.

 

At this point, you will have a personalized amount for storage. OR, you can just grab one or two extra ketchup bottles the next time you are shopping or if they're on sale. I try to have one bottle of the above in my storage if I can. Many condiments have long enough shelf lives that they will not spoil if used regularly.

 

 

Here are some stock-up prices for condiments:

 

 

Ketchup: $.04/oz

BBQ sauce: $.05/oz

Mustard: $.05/oz

Chocolate syrup: $.07/oz

Mayo/Salad dressing: $.09/oz

Worcestershire: $.09/oz

Soy sauce: $.10/oz

Salsa: $.10/oz

Ranch dressing: $.10/oz

Steak sauce: $.21/oz

 

 

 

 

Meal Planning

Here's some tips for MEAL PLANNING!!

-Have a list of meals your family likes. (Don't feel bad if ramen noodles or Hamburger Helper is on your list)

-Space out similar meals. For example, you may not want to have spaghetti and lasagna in the same week. This is on reason I prefer planning for the whole month. I would make breakfast food every other day if I could but my husband doesn't love that, so I plan on one breakfast food meal a week.

-Plan for a leftover night. We usually have one day a week when we need to clean out the fridge. It doesn't always fall on the same day every week, so I have to be flexible, but I LOVE leftover night.

-Plan for new recipes! To shake things up a little, plan a new recipe once a week or once every other week. This can help you find new favorites for your meal list. (Remember to use recipes that include your food storage, so you can learn HOW to use ingredients you may not be used to and so that your food gets rotated.)

-Use a blank calendar and/or make a list of all the meals. A few months ago I was writing meals done on a blank calendar that I printed from Word. I liked this way. Lately, I have just been writing a big list of what I have ingredients for so I can cook whatever I feel like that night.

I also like to keep track of what I actually ended up making (or if we ate out) so that when I am meal planning I can remember what we've had most recently and try to plan so different meals. I have a binder with my calendars and lists so I can look through it quickly. My favorite recipes are also in this binder and print outs or notes about recipes I want to try.

Meal planning helps me to feel a little more in control of my day, helps with my general sanity, and saves me money because I'm not going to the store every other day for things I need.

HAPPY PLANNING!

*This is an update post from earlier this year, I know. But I think it's good to review. :)

72-hour kit REVIEW

Over the last 9 months we have been talking about building a 3-month supply as well as 72-hour kit. If you've been following the PLAN 9 steps created by the Southwest Utah Health Department, you've gone through ALL 9 steps in the last 9 months. Hooray!

Here's a review of the 9 steps!!!

Step 1: Water! It is recommended that we store a 2 week supply of water, which is 14 gallons per person.

Step 2: Food! There are lots of choices when it comes to food, but it's smart to store what your family will actually eat. In case of emergency, you don't want to make it more miserable by eating cardboard.

Step 3: Clothing! Having at least a set of clothing for each family member in your kit is great. You may also want to have a sweater and extra shoes.

Step 4: Medication! It's handy to have extra over the counter medications in case of evacualtion or just to have in case you run out at home. You also may have prescription meds that will are necessary to have on hand in case of an emergency.

Step 5: Flashlights! Having a couple flashlights with extra batteries will be necessary in more emergencies.

Step 6: Can Opener! I don't have a can opener in my 72-hour kit, because I don't have cans in my 72-hour kit, but because so much of my food storage is canned, I need spare can openers for my food storage.

Step 7: Radio! Having a battery operated radio may be necessary in case of an emergency. If something happened to the satelites and all the cell phones and the internet went down (AAHHH!!) radios may be the only way for communication.

Step 8: Toiletries! Items like soap, toothpaste, feminine products, diapers, etc. are an important addition to your 72-hour kit.

Step 9: First Aid Kit! You can put together your own first aid kit or buy one at the store. Either way, having the basic frist aid items is important.

So we've made it all the way through...but don't worry. We're just going to start over! If you have the items we talk about, you can rotate them or just pat yourself on the back!

3-month supply: Veggies

From WikiCommons, by: Elina Mark

Let's talk about your 3-month supply of Vegetables!!!

How much? According to THIS spreadsheet, you need to store about 30 lbs per person. Since the fruit amount is 15 lbs, I am personally going with 15 lbs per person.

What? There are dozens of different vegetable products you can store. Here's a short list: Canned vegetables (peas, corn, green beans, carrots, potatoes, etc.), frozen vegetables, dried vegetables, potatoe flakes, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, spaghetti sauce, pumpkin, pickles, and more.

The best thing to do is to think of what you use in your family. You may not want to store something that you never eat, although remember that VARIETY is so important.

Here are some prices. Keep in mind that these are low, stock-up prices and you may not see these often.

Canned corn, green beans, carrots and peas: $.03/oz which is $.49 per can.

Tomato sauce: $.03/oz.

Diced and stewed tomatoes: $.03/oz.

Spaghetti sauce: $.03/oz.

Canned potatoes, beets, and mixed vegetables: $.05/oz.

Frozen veggies like corn, peas, mixed: $.05/oz.

Tomato paste: $.07/oz.

Salsa: $.10/oz.

Potato flakes: $.11/oz.

Green chilies: $.12/oz.

Canned pumpkin: $.12/oz.

Canned mushrooms: $.13/oz.

Dried onion: $.17/oz.

Dried carrots: $.19/oz.

Financial Emergency Fund

 

Image courtesy of U.S. Department of the Treasury

Having some cash on hand is an important part of any Emergency Plan. In case of an emergency that causes ATMs or credit card machines to go down, you will need cash to get yourself gas, food, transportation, etc.

Remember to have a variety of money, mostly smaller amounts because you never know if someone will be able to make change.

You may want to have a few hundred dollars in your Emergency Binder as well as some in your car.

In addition to having emergency cash, saving at least $1000 in a checking or savings account can help you have peace of mind in the event that you need new tires or another unexpected event. 

We recently were able to travel to Washington state to be with family after my husband's uncle passed away. This is the first trip in which we have not had to go into credit card debt. Of course, now we have to build up our savings. That is frustrating sometimes. But our kids were able to see their grandparents, 3 great-grandparents and lots of aunts, uncles and cousins who they may not have ever met otherwise.

It is recommended that we have 3-months of our family income in savings. But remember, just do one thing at a time.

So...let's review:

1. Have $100-200 CASH in your home and/or car. (Remember to have small increments: $1, $5, $10 and $20.)

2. Build up $1000 in checking or savings. (Or in cash, if you prefer.)

3. Save 3 months worth of your family income. (Make a goal, keep your budget and don't get discouraged!)

Canning Tips

Last week I canned peaches and pears. And of course, forgot to take pictures. The picture above was from 2008 when I canned 4 boxes of pears...and I was 8 months pregnant. What can I say? I love to can!

Since this month's 3-month supply is FRUIT, I decided to post some canning tips.

First of all...SAVE YOUR JARS. For the first few years I canned, I had to buy jars. Now, I just reuse jars and so canning only costs me the price of the fruit and new LIDS.



That brings us to the next tip. You CANNOT reuse the lids when canning. There is a rubber ring on each lid that helps to seal the bottle. You can reuse RINGS and JARS but not lids.

There are 4 different things you can can with.

1. Water bath canner
2. Steam canner
3 Pressure canner
4. Vacuum sealer

CLICK HERE to read what each canner does.

This is my take on them.

Water canners take a lot of water and a long time to get up to temperature. I'm a klutz so I would scald myself, I'm sure. But, it's an easy way to can fruits.

Steam canning is my favorite. With a steam canner you only need a few cups of water, although you do have streams of steam to worry about for about 30 minutes. (That's why I can after my kids are asleep.)

Pressure canning is a little more complicated, but not impossible. You HAVE to use a pressure canning when canning potatoes, meats, and other low acid foods to prevent botulism. (I canned some pears with a pressure canner last year and it makes them too soft.)

Vacuuming canning is something I have only a little experience with. Last year a friend and I canned some dried fruits and veggies using a FoodSaver with a special attachment for jars. This is a great way to split up a large can of dried fruit or portion out a large bag of dried beans.

We could talk about canning all day, but if you get a good book on canning or find a good website (my favorite is PaulNoll.com) and follow the instructions, you'll be fine.

My last tip is this: Go with the flow. Sometimes things don't go as you expect. Here's a photo of me in Sept. 2008 (largely pregnant) lifting the top of a cracked jar from my steam canner. I had a jar crack on me this year too. Sigh.


Remember, canning can be an inexpensive way to add to your food storage and it's a great skill to have!

72-hour kit: First aid kit

Each 72-hour kit should include a basic first aid kit. There are small pre-made kits at the store or you can make your own.

Here are some basic items you could include:

Bandages, varying sizes
Alcohol wipes
Triple antibiotic cream
Non-prescription drugs
Gloves

Obivously there is about a hundred more things you could add. Just remember that SOMETHING is better than NOTHING, so get something small put together and add to it as needed.


Besides in your 72-hour kits, your car is an important place to have a first aid kit.


This is step 9 on the PLAN 9 pamphlet put together by the Southwest Utah Public Health Department.

3-month supply: Fruit

Photo taken by: Abhijit Tembhekar

Let's talk about a 3-month supply of FRUIT!!!

How much? About 16 lbs per person

What? Apple slices, raisins, and other dried fruits, apple sauce, canned fruit (our favorites are pineapple, mandarin oranges and fruit cocktail), etc.

You can use THIS template from Prepared LDS Family to help you decide how much of each items to have in your supply.


PRICE LIST for some fruits:

Peaches and Pears, canned: $.03/oz.
Applesauce, canned: $.04/oz.
Mandarin oranges, canned: $.04/oz.
Fruit cocktail: $.05/oz.
Pineapple, canned: $.05/oz.
Fruit cups: $.39 per cup.
Raisins: $1.94/lb.
Apricots, dried: $3.50/ lb.
Banana slices: $3.76/lb.
Apple Slices: $4.84/lb is a GREAT deal!


Obviously dried fruit is quite expensive in comparison, but remember that having a VARIETY in your food storage is important.

One thing that I don't have priced out is FROZEN FRUIT. For a short term supply (like 1, 2 or 3 months) you could (and probably SHOULD) include some frozen fruit. Whether you buy a bag from the store or freeze your own, it can be a useful way to add more fruit to your diet and to your storage.

FREEZING food is one of my favorite things, whether it be fruit, veggies, meats, or even things like shredded cheese and bread.

CANNING is also a great way to store fruit. Depending on what grows where you live, you can often get bulk fruits during harvest time. Canning is more time consuming and a little complicated at first, but is a great way to add to your food supply.

Valerie at Prepared LDS Family wrote a great blog entry back in February called: "Are Canned Fruits and Vegetables Healthy For You?" It talks about how canned fruit is processed at its peak and can sometimes be even better for you nutritionally than fresh fruit that has sat on trucks or in the store for weeks. Obviously fresh fruit is normally best, it is important to have some stored and to use it regularly.

Great Resources for Emergency Prep

Over the last few years, I have been impressed with the Emergency Preparedness information located on the St. George, Utah website. My mom is from there and told me about it.

Click HERE to go to the Emergency section of the website.

They have a list on the right of PDF files that have been put together.


Some of my favorites are:

Emergency Preparedness Guide which gives a great overview of what to do in an emergency from evacuation plans to turning off your natural gas.

Emergency Preparedness Calendar breaks down emergency prep goals into a few things to accomplish every month.

Utilities which gives you more in depth information on electricity, natural gas and water.

Smoke Detectors and Fire Extinguishers

First Aid- when to call 911, how to treat shock, etc.


With all the storms and fires we've had around the country this summer, these principles are becoming more and more important. But remember, don't get overwhelmed! Just pick one thing to work on.

You can do it!

Teaching Children About Money

Money can be a touchy subject. Too little makes life hard. Too much can be a trial as well. Relationships can be pushed to the limit when finances are mismanaged.

It is so important to teach our children the importance of managing their money. I recently read an article, Teaching Gap: 83% of Teens Don't Know How to Manage Money and it made me wonder.

Whether the numbers in the article are accurate, I believe that finance is another subject that parents are expecting their children to pick up elsewhere. A Personal Finance class in high school is good enough, right?

Ha. I don't know about you, but learning the correct way to write a check was helpful but did not teach me anything about MANAGING money. Maybe we talked about budgeting, I don't remember. My point is this: Parents need to take responsibility for their own children and teach them. Period.

If principles of money management such as budgeting and saving money, are taught from a young age how much better off would that high schooler be? And what an advantage it would be to them as they become adults!

I want my kids to grow up knowing that money doesn't just magically appear but is earned through hard work. For this reason, I personally do not give my kids an allowance. Maybe that will change when they actually need money (my kids are all under 7). Right now, they earn money by doing extra chores around the house.

Even when your kids are learning the "hard work" principle, the saving idea may be lost to them. I recently heard a mom tell about her daughter who just graduated from high school and is moving out of the state to go to college. She said that although she had been working for 3 years at varies jobs, her daughter didn't have a penny saved for college.

I am not here to judge her. I had very little money saved for college. One big regret about my teenage years is that I didn't learn how to save and I helped my boyfriend (now husband) spend just about every penny he earned as well. We had a grand time going out to eat, buying clothing and books, you name it.

Sorry. Ranting.

We just can't assume that by having a job and working hard, our kids will know how to take care of their wages.

If we as parents could take seriously the responsibility of teaching our own children principles of managing money, they will...someday...thank us for our work. Remember, teaching in the home is often by example and with comments, not big lectures.

Here are some of the principles that are crucial to good money management:

Earning through work
Budgeting
Discerning need vs. wants
Saving
Giving to charity
Positive communication about money


OK, now I'll get off my soapbox. (One of them, anyway.)

72-hour kit: Toiletries

Having the basic hygiene items in an emergency can help to reduce the stress and possible illness due to an emergency.

Each family member should have:

1 bar of soap
1 toothbrush
1 tube toothpaste

If you have a baby, you will want to have diapers and wipes. Some members of your family will need feminine hygiene products as well.

Other items you may consider are:

Hand sanitizer and/or moist towelettes
Rolls of toilet paper
Shampoo
Lotion
Whatever you can't live without!


This is step 8 on the PLAN 9 pamphlet put together by the Southwest Utah Public Health Department.

3-month supply: Legumes

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons, User: Justinc.

How much? About 15 lbs.

What? Dried beans, canned beans, lentils, split peas, and black-eye peas are all legumes.

Legumes are the best plant source of protein. Besides protein, they contain calcium, iron, folate, dietary fiber and phytochemicals.


Beans are the most common legume, so we are going to talk about beans.

Canned beans, or wet-packed beans, are convenient and not too pricey. There are many varieties of canned beans available. Cans are labeled with expiration dates and usually have about a 1 year shelf life.

Dry beans, if packaged properly, have a shelf life of about 10 years. They are also inexpensive. For long-term storage purposes, dry beans are a great addition to your 3-month supply.

Dry beans take a little more attention and planning. For each cup of dry beans you can (there are 2 cups in each pound), soak OVERNIGHT with 3 cups of water and 1 teaspoon of salt. I use my crockpot (turned off). In the morning, drain the liquid and rinse beans. Not too hard, huh?

Other common varieties of beans are: refried beans (mashed beans with added oils and spices), pork and beans (beans stewed with pork and sometimes tomato sauce), and chili with beans.

Not matter what beans you prefer, adding beans to your diet is very healthy and adding beans to your 3-month supply is a necessity, especially if you don't store enough meat.


Prices:

Canned beans: About $.49 a can is good for canned beans. That's $.03/oz. (Note: this price may not reflect all varities of beans.)

Pork and Beans: $.03/oz is a great price for pork and beans.

Dry beans: The cheapest I found dry beans in about $.04/oz. At first I was suprised that it was a little more than canned beans, but with the expanding that happens during soaking (beans can double or triple when soaked and cooked) the dry beans are most likely a better deal.

Refried beans: A good price for refried beans is $.04/oz.

Chili with beans: $.06/oz.

Legumes, dry: $.08/oz.

Canning Chicken

This is me, a few years ago with some of my canned chicken.

A few years ago my friend and I decided to can chicken when there was an awesome sale on frozen chicken. We got some instructions from her mom and spent the next several days thawing chicken and then canning.

It can be a long process, but it is wonderful to be able to grab a jar of cooked chicken to quickly add to almost any meal.

I wanted to can some myself this month so I could take some good pictures, but that's not happening, but I found a website that has great instructions: How to Start Canning Chicken on CanningBasics.com.

You have to have a pressure cooker to can meat. I bought one a few years ago for about $80. It isn't a small purchase so you need to know you are going to use it. If you're not ready for that you may want to ask around and try to borrow one from a friend or relative.

You also need a pressure cooker when canning potatoes, green beans, and other low acid vegetables which require higher temperatures in order to kill bacterias such as botulism.

For more information on canning meats, click HERE.

Review

Wow! We're more than halfway through the year, summer's almost over, and we're moving right along with our food storage and emergency preparedness goals.

I just updated the POST from February where I outlined what we were going to talk about every month. In my excitement, I originally plans to combine some categories so that we could talk about everything by the end of the year.

As the year has progress, I have been trying to build my food storage and 72-hour kits along with my posts. Some months aren't too hard. Some are very hard. (Like MEAT! I don't have enough MEAT in my house! haha)

So I have updated the outline and we will be going into 2013 before we get through all our 3-month supply items. I think this is a good thing. It gives us (me) more time to really focus on specific items. For example, I originally was going to combine fruits and veggies into one month. Now we will talk about them in September and October, giving more time to inventory, organize and purchase needed items.

That leads me to the next item of business. I am hoping that others are doing the same thing as I am, but sometimes I assume that others understand me and I haven't actually explained myself. SO...here's a little bit about what I do every month to build my food storage.

#1- Inventory. I know. The word alone is scary. But you HAVE to know what you have in order to know what you NEED. So get a notebook, a piece of paper, etc. and count what you have.

If you have 5 pounds of meat in your house, don't be discouraged. At least you know what you have so you can stock up on that item.

#2 Organize! I am weird. I am really organized with some things and a total wreck with others. As far as food storage is concerned, I have a notebook with my inventory, which I write in every time I use one of my food storage items. Then I write on my shopping list what I need to replace.

For example, today I grabbed my last can of cranberry sauce. We have one recipe that we use cranberry sauce so I try to keep 3 on hand. For some reason, I haven't been keeping up but now I have written on my grocery list to pick up 3 cans of cranberry sauce. I can do that.

You may need to be creative in where you store your items, but do what works for you (even if it means putting canned food under your bed!).

As far as 72-hour kit stuff, I have MOST of my emergency items in one closet, except for a large suitcase that is in my garage. I also have notes in my food storage notebook about what I have and what I need.

#3 Purchase. Every 3-month supply post has information on good prices for food items. This is a good way to start getting to know what prices are good for specific items. It helps you know when something is low enough to really stock up!

Most of us can't go out and buy everything we need every month, but if you can spend $5-10 on that item in a month, you're that much closer to your goal.

Don't forget to purchase your 72-hour kit items as well!

#4 Restock! To keep your food storage supply up, replace items as you use them. I didn't do this with my cranberry sauce, that items isn't as crucial either. Items that are more necessary need to be replaced right away, if possible.

For me, I always want one extra container of olive oil on hand. I don't use it a TON so I don't store more than that. Today when I was making my cranberry recipe, I opened up my olive oil. Time to restock!

Depending on the item though, I want and restock when it's on sale.

For example, I have seem canned pineapple for 88 cents a can in the past, but lately anything less than $1 is good. But I don't really want to spend a dollar on each can. We go through pineapple so FAST at our house, so I don't restock it as fast as I should. I usually just wait until the next big sale.

Restocking implies ROTATION. Remember that it is important to rotate food so you won't have old, outdated items. This includes your 72-hour kit food and clothing items. Especially with kids, your emergency clothing needs to be rotated regularly.


Most of all, don't get stressed! Do what works for you and your budget. Do what makes you feel better and more prepared, but don't go crazy.

Tracking What You Use

There are lots of different lists and calculators that are helpful when you're trying to figure out what you need for your food storage. In fact, I use the 3-month Food Storage Template, created by Prepared LDS Family and this Food Storage Calculator.

But everyone uses different things at different rates. The last year or so I have been marking food items and cleaning supplies to see how long they last and then I can have a better idea of how much our family really needs for 3 months.

This has helped me a lot. For example, I started tracking how long my dishwasher soap lasted. I found that I used one bottle in two months. Now, I keep one extra in my storage room so that I have my 3 months worth all the time.

Another thing I have learned is that I don't have enough peanut butter. We can go through a jar a week sometimes. Holy cow! So now I know that I need to really watch for a good sale on peanut butter.

Items like oils might be a good idea to "track" due to their relatively short shelf-life.

Although it sometimes looks silly to have permanent marker on half of the items in my fridge, I have found some comfort (in my own nerdy way) in knowing how long certain things last at our house so that I can plan accordingly.

In addition to writing on the items themselves, I have a notebook that I use for keeping track of my food storage inventory. In this notebook, I also make notes about how long things last or what I need to stock up on. It isn't fancy...in fact, it's kind of a mess. But it helps me to easily figure what I have and what I need in my food storage.

Not matter what method works for you, having some way to track what you use and knowing what you have and need will help you reach your food storage goals much faster and easier.

Note: I didn't say fast and easy. Accumulating a 3-month supply of food and other items is neither of those things.

Happy tracking!

72-hour kit: Radio

In case of a natural disaster or other emergency in your area, the only way to get information may be through a radio.

There are many different types of radios, from battery-powered to hand-crack radios. Whichever you prefer, make sure you know how to use it and have extra batteries if necessary.

This is step 7 on the PLAN 9 pamphlet put together by the Southwest Utah Public Health Department.

3-month supply: Meats

No Picture? Sorry. I love meat, but pictures of meat...yuck!

How much? About 24 lbs.

What? Canned meat (chicken, beef, tuna etc.), frozen meat, TVP, jerky, etc.

At first, when you think of having 24 lbs. of meat in your storage, it sounds hard. It really isn't hard...except for the expense. There are so many ways to store meat. Canned meat can last up to 5 years. Jerky is good for a while too, although it may get hard.

Plus, meat is a great source of protein and that will be crucial in an emergency.

I don't have experience with TVP but I have heard that the stuff that is coming out now is MUCH better than in years past.

As far as freezing meat, there are many ways you can package meat so it will taste fresh, even after a few months in the freezer. For example, I buy 10-20 lbs. of ground beef when there is a good sale (which hasn't happened much lately). I separate the meat into a little less than 1 lb. portions, wrap them tightly in freezer paper and put 4-5 of these packages in one gallon-sized freezer bag. My husband has a very sensitive palette and doesn't mine the taste of beef frozen this way.

There are also several products, like a FoodSaver that are awesome, but can be expensive. I have a little Handi-Vac from Reynolds that I picked up at Wal-Mart a few years ago for $15. It really like it but you have to buy the bags through the Home Shopping Network now. I haven't had to yet so I'll have to see.

Chicken, especially that has been frozen separately, stays good simply being placed in small freezer bags.

Good prices for meats:

Fresh or frozen chicken (boneless): Less than $1.50/lb is great lately. That's about $.09/oz.

Vienna Sausages: $.10/oz

Beef: Obviously, there are many varieties but $1.00/lb is great for beef, but I haven't seen it at this price since before the whole economy downturn. Anything less than $2.00/lb is good right now. That's about $.12/oz.

Pork: This seems to go on sale more than beef, but basically for boneless pork, less than $2.00/lb is good. ($.12/oz)

Canned Tuna: $.12/oz

Canned Chicken: $.15/oz

SPAM: $.17/oz

Canned Albacore Tuna: $.20/oz

TVP: $3.31/lb or $.21/oz.

Canned beef: Online I found some that are about $.36/oz. I think Costco carries them and it is probably cheaper.


At these prices it will cost from $40-55 for one person's 3-month supply. That sounds like a lot, but if you just take it slow, you'll be ok. Grab some extra cans of tuna or an extra bag of frozen chicken next time you're at the store. If you can get a little extra every time, within a few months you can had a good stockpile of meat.

If you are interested in canning meat, it is definitely a cheaper way to go, especially if you save your jars for the next batch. I have a post very soon on canning meat, so stay tuned!

Home organization: Getting family involved!

I don't know about you, but housework is NOT my favorite thing. I do it, because I don't like to have a messy house, but there are many other things I'd rather be doing than cleaning toilets and folding laundry.

The bigger our family gets, the more necessary it is for the rest of the family to chip in and do their part. It's good for my sanity and for my kids to learn responsiblilty.

Even if you don't have kids at home, share the responsibilities at home with those who live with you.

This takes some effort, especially at first, but don't get discourage. Give your kids (and your spouse) something to do. There are many different ways to do this.

There are about a million different job charts to choose from, even online job charts. We've tried several but what works best for us is a simple list.

Each of my kids has a list with their name and their daily jobs on the fridge. They each have 5-10 things based on their age and ability. My biggest boys can usually get through the jobs without even looking at the list.

We have some arguments about this still, but I just tell them that they are part of this family and they need to help. I think that it is SO important to teach our children about responsibility. This is a simple way to start while they are young. Older children need responsibilities too! They need to be expected to work.

Just last week, one of my favorite blogs, Prepared LDS Family, had a post on Summer Chore Lists. I was so glad to read it! I feel like so many parents are not taking charge and teaching their children hard work. When I was a teenager, I heard adults talking about this and was sometimes a little offended. Now I realize that they were mostly right. So many kids, and adults for that matter, think that others should do the hard work and they should benefit from it. Ranting. Sorry.

Bottom line: I want my kids to not only help out with keep our home looking decent, but I want them to learn the satisfaction of a "job well done."

72-hour kit: Can Opener

As far as 72-hour kits go, I try not to pack any food that requires a can opener, so I personally do not need a can opener in my kit.

However, I think that it is VERY important to have an extra can opener available. So much of what we store is canned food, so it seems only practical to have an extra opener around...maybe even two.

A few weeks ago, our can opener died. The gear thing bent and it was toast...and it was Sunday...and I was in the middle of making dinner...and I needed a can of pineapple.

So off to the neighbors I went. It only took 4 doors til I found one. It was totally embarrassing.

The next day we went out and bought TWO can openers.



This is step 6 on the PLAN 9 pamphlet put together by the Southwest Utah Public Health Department.

See right side of blog for additional steps.

3-month supply: Fats & Oils

Let's talk about a 3-month supply of Fats and Oils!!!

How much? 6 lbs. per person

Check out this 3-month supply worksheet to see more information.

This food storage calculator says 13 pounds for one person, for one year. That would be a little over 3 lbs per person for a 3-month supply.

What?

Some common items are:Any of various edible oils made from a plant source, such as vegetables, nuts or seeds.

Vegetable oil is inexpensive and easy to use. The term "vegetable oil" actually includes any edible oil made from a plant including vegetables, nuts and seeds. It does not have a strong flavor on its own so it can be used in baked goods, sauces and other foods. Canola oil has the lowest saturated fat content of the common oils. Shelf life for an unopened bottle can be 18-24 months.

Olive oil comes from crushed olives and is a great source of monounsaturated fat, vitamin E and other antioxidants. Olive oil has a strong flavor and is best when used for savory breads, dressings, meats and vegetables. Shelf life for an unopened bottle can last up to 24 months if stored properly.

Shortening is a fat, because it is solid at room temperature. It is commonly used to make crumby pastries and other baked goods. Shelf life, 6-8 months.

Mayonnaise or salad dressing. Mayonnaise is a condiment which consists of oil, egg yolk and either vinegar or lemon juice. Salad dressing is also a condiment and is similar to mayo, but has more sugar, vinegar and water and less egg yolk that mayo. Both products can be used in sandwiches, pasta salads, and more. Shelf life, 3-4 months.

Peanut butter is a food paste made of mostly ground dry roasted peanuts. Peanute butter contains monounsatruated fats, vitamins B3 and E, magnesium, floate, dietary fiber and is a good source of protein. Shelf life, from 6-24 months.

Butter is made by churning milk and is generally used as a condiment and spread but is also used in cooking and baking. There are several varieties of butter including fresh, powdered and canned. Fresh butter last several weeks in the fridge and can be frozen for several months at least. Powdered and canned milk can last several years.

Margarine is the term used for vegetable fat spreads. While butter comes from milk milk fat, margarine comes from plant oils and skimmed milk. Margarine can be used for the same purposed as butter. Margarine can be stored in the fridge for several weeks or frozen for several months.

Here's some pricing info:

Vegetable oil - $.05/oz.
Margarine- .05/oz.
Shortening-.08/oz.
Mayonnaise or salad dressing- About $.09/oz.
Peanut butter- $.09/oz is good but $.11/oz is normal right now.
Butter- $.11/oz for fresh and $.34/oz for powdered.
Olive oil- $.14/oz.

Because these products have short shelf lives, compared with other food storage items like grain, it's something that needs to be constantly rotated. For me, right now it works best for me to have one or two unopened items as storage which I rotate and replace as I go.

We use primarily margarine at our house so when it's cheap I'll have 5 or 6 boxes in the freezer. I also have several jars of peanut butter because we currently go through that food item quite quickly.

Basically, my theory is to have an extra one on hand so I am not having to run to the store every time I run out of oil or shortening. It makes life more manageable for me.

Be Smart

When you think of the word education what comes to mind?

Do you think of your kids, politics, or taxes?

Do you get butterflies in your stomach thinking of how you wish you would have finished your degree?

I think sometimes the word education has a negative connotation, but being educated doesn't always mean going to school and getting a diploma.

Having knowledge is a great step to being more self-reliant. The more you know the easier it is for you to take care of yourself! You always will be able to discern truth from error and being a contributing member of society.

Gordon B. Hinckley said: “We live in a world where knowledge is developing at an ever-accelerating rate. Drink deeply from this ever-springing well of wisdom and human experience.”

It's true. We have so many resources available to us. Years ago you would have had to go to a library or taken a formal class to learn a new skill. Or perhaps you'd be able to find someone to teach you. Now, with the Internet, you can search one subject and find thousands of sources. You can watch a video on how to cook fried chicken or how to install a toilet. There is basically nothing that you can't find online.

There are lots of ways we can obtain knowledge. Here are some examples:

*Read and study books, articles, and textbooks
*Learning to communicate with others
*Learning to public speak
*Learn a practical skill such as sewing, canning, gardening, home repair, etc.

And of course, we can't dismiss formal education. In this competitive work world, there is definitely an advantage to having a college degree.

So instead of feeling guilty or thinking of taxes, think of what you want to KNOW and go from there. Make a goal to gain more understanding in some area that will help you and your family become more self-reliant.

Home organization: Routine

This is important. When I had my first child, I didn't believe in routines. Probably because so many people were telling me that I needed one. I rebelled against it, but it wasn't too bad because I only had one child at home and we lived in a small apartment. It didn't get too messy or unorganized. Plus, we ate a lot of quick meals back then, so meal planning along with food storage were not something I was focused on. BUT, the more kids I've had, the more space we live in and the more important meal planning and storing food has become to me, the more important and ESSENTIAL a routine has become. Kids do better with routines and so does my sanity.

My routine right down is based on necessity. They are the simple and basic things I need to keep myself and my family healthy and my home a general clean place to be. I have daily, weekly and monthly routines.

For example, I do laundry on Mondays and Fridays. I clean my bathrooms on Tuesday. Wednesday is my budgeting day. Thursday I meal plan. I also have certain times that I vacuum, wash bedding, and all the other wonderful things I need to do.

As for daily routines, the big kids' school schedules are the pattern. After we get my first grader to school, I start whatever housework needs to be done that day and I get the breakfast dishes in the dishwasher. We try usually have a snack at 10am and maybe watch a show. We eat lunch about noon and get my Kindergartener to school about 12:30pm. Baby goes down for a nap and my 3 year old either lies down too, or watches a show while I get some computer time in. Before you know it, it's 3:30pm and the boys are home. We do eat a snack, do homework and read. Then the kids do their chores. The kids have some play time before dinner, eat and then we start getting ready for bed.

That's a whole different routine which includes baths, brushing teeth, pajamas, reading together, prayers, and letting the boys read for a while before we turn off the lights. One thing that I have learned about bedtime is to start early and not stress.

Using a planner helps me keep track of my life. I have so much going on in my head sometimes that if I don't write things down (or put them in my phone) I may not remember them. I right some of my routine items in my planner and my TO DO lists. This way I have ONE place that I look (two if you count my phone, I guess) to see what in the world I need to get done that day or any extra activities the family has going on.

An important thing to remember is to be FLEXIBLE. If I have to go to store during naptime, then I will. I also try to let the kids play outside when friends are out, even though I might have a list of things for them to do.

Remember, scheduling DOES NOT mean being busy. Don't overbook yourself or your kids! Protect your free time and theirs!

72-hour kit: Flashlights

Every 72-hour kit should include a flashlight AND batteries.

Do not keep the batteries in the flashlight while it is being stored.

Having head-lamp type flashlights are a great idea considering you may have your hands full in an emergency.

This is step 5 on the PLAN 9 pamphlet put together by the Southwest Utah Public Health Department.

See right side of blog for additional steps.

3-month supply: Other beverages

Obviously, water is the most important beverage to store, so if you haven't gotten your 2-week supply yet, read THIS post and make it a priority.

Once your water storage is complete, you can think about store some other beverages.

So, let's talk about your 3-month supply of beverages!!!

How much?? About 20 quarts which is 10 bottles of 64 ounces per person.

Using this 3-month supply worksheet created by Prepared LDS Family, you can calculate how much fruit drink mix (or Tang), hot chocolate and apple juice you may want to store.

Fruit drink mix or Tang- This powder can be stored for at least 2 years, unopened. For one person, store about 1.5 lbs. You will need to plan on using about 5 quarts of water for each pound of powder. You may want to store extra if you have room.

Hot cocoa- Store about 1.5 lbs per person. Canned hot cocoa can also last at least 2 years. Again, you will need to store about 5 quarts of water for each pound of powder.

Apple juice (or other fruit juice)- Store 3-64oz. bottles per person.

There are lots of other beverages that you can store like: Sports drinks, tomato and other vegetable juices or individually packaged drinks such as Capri Sun. These beverages are good to have on hand to help you and your kids stay hydrated when you're sick.

You may want to store some frozen concentrated juices as well.

Here's some information on pricing:

Tomato juice- $.02/oz.

Apple juice- Less than $2.00 per 64oz bottle is good (that's about $.03.oz). A couple of years ago, there was a case lot where the bottles were $.99 per bottle (or $.02/oz).

Sports drink- $.54 for a 20 oz bottle ($.03/oz).

Fruit drink mix- Tang at Costco has been about $1.29 per lb ($.08/oz) and the cannery mix is $1.39 per lb.

Hot cocoa- The LDS cannery price, $1.71 per lb, is definitely the cheapest around. At regular stores, the lowest price is about $2.00 per lb ($.13/oz).

Capri Sun- $.17 per drink.

Emergency Prep Tips

Let's talk about some simple things that we can realistically do to make our homes more ready in case of an emergency.

-Have a PLAN!! There are lots of different situations to think about, but if you have a basic idea of what you will do, life will be that much easier. We have a plan on where to meet if there's a fire at your home. Our kids know that they need to run to one specific neighbor's house. That's part of our plan. If my husband is at work and can't be home, we have a meeting place planned. You might also want to talk to your child's school and ask them their emergency procedures. If there is a need to evacuate town, we will drive to my grandma's an hour south.

Your plan can be as simple as that.

-Have a portable 72-hour kit. Click on the links on the RIGHT of the page for more information.

-Know how to shut off your utilities. You need to know how to shut off your water, even in non-emergency situations.

I believe in most cases that the gas company will shut that off if their is a natural disaster, but you may want to call and find out for sure.

We live near an Interstate and if their was a chemical spill from a wrecked semi-truck, there may be a need to shut off items in your home that may caught fire like your water heater or furnace.

-Protect important documents. This could be as simple as using a fire-proof safe, or having an easy to grab Emergency Binder. You may want to make copies and give them to a relative in the event the originals are destroyed.

-Have a "Car kit." I don't have an actually kit in my car, but there are several items throughout my car that will be of use in an emergency. These items may include the following: Blankets, flashlights and batteries, high-energy foods like protein bars, extra clothing, jumper cables, first aid kit, water, small shovel, extra diapers and wipes, etc.

I have used all of these items, except the shovel, in my every day situations as well, so it's good to be prepared for whatever...not only disasters.

-30-day supply of medications. We've talked about 72-hour supply of medication, but depending on the severity of your medical situation, you may want to have a month's worth in your home. You most likely will have to get permission from your doctor and/or insurance company to do this.

-Know how to provide your own lighting, heating and cooking if the power goes out. In most natural disasters, the power is the first thing that goes. I also believe that it is one of the first things to get back into operation, but you may have a few days (or more) at home when you will need to do without. Flashlights are best for light. If you use candles or lanterns, remember to have adequate ventilation. If you have a grill, you can have extra propane or charcoal on hand.

-In conjunction with that, you might want to have a fire extinguisher on hand. I finally went to the store to look at one last summer, and the small ones they make for cars are about $12. Not bad.

-Lastly...my favorite...ALWAYS have at least HALF of a tank of gas in your vehicle!!! With gas prices, if feels better to get a little bit at a time...at least I think so. Also, if I have more than half a tank, I can get to my grandma's house or possibly my parents' house without stopping for gas. You may also want to always have gas in a gas can as well.

Home organization

There are probably a million websites about tips for becoming organized and nearly as many products you could buy to "help" you in your search for organization. Personally, I have found that I need to do what works for me. This means that in some things I am pretty organized and other things I have to let go. It can be hard for some of us who are a little too controling...but let's help each other.

Here are some things that work for me:

1. Declutter. Get rid of the unnecessary.

You don't have to keep every drawing your child draws or every outfit they outgrow. On the other hand, I do not believe in being wasteful. If you have some good quality items that you haven't used for 6 months or longer, give it to your local charity or women's shelter.

I like to organize one room or closet at a time, usually every other week so I don't get overwhelmed.

Another item that can cause clutter is magazines! Tear out what you want and get rid of the rest.

2. Establish a routine. Daily, weekly, monthly, etc.

3. Use a filing system. Even if it's a box somewhere, you need so place to file important papers. Check out my post on the Emergency Binder.

4. Get your family involved. This may include job charts, or just asking for help when you need it.

5. Use technology- for budgeting, paying bills, communicating, etc.

6. Meal plan. Weekly, bi-weekly or monthly. Whatever you can do will help your sanity. I promise!



Remember, one thing at a time. You can do it!

72-hour kit: Medication

Medicine is an important part of any emergency kit. Storing over-the-counter medications like Acetaminophen and Ibuprofen may be useful if you are away from home or if you are unable to go to a store for a period of time. If you have children at home, you should store appropiate medicine for them as well.

I store a bottle of each medicine in my kit. When I run out of one in my medicine cupboard, I get the bottle out of my kit. Then I buy a new one for the 72-hour kit. It has been helpful to have these extra medicines handy when I am unexpectedly run out and one of my kids is sick.

If you or a family member has a specific medical need that makes it necessary to take medication regularly, this medication is extremely important to have an emergency. My husband takes medicine weekly, along with daily vitamins. I store at least 3 days worth of the needed medication, one week's worth for the weekly meds. You may need to have a plan for medications that need to be refrigerated, if needed.

I use an old medicine bottle with a child-proof lid for the pills we need to keep my kids safe. I also have a card with each medicine and vitamin labeled.

I place the medicine in a small plastic bag, wrap it with packing tape, and label it with the date so I know when I need to rotate it.

This medication has also come in handy when we have had miscommunication between the doctor's office and the pharmacy.


This is step 4 on the PLAN 9 pamphlet put together by the Southwest Utah Public Health Department.

Previous Steps...
Step 3: Clothing
Step 2: Food
Step 1: Water