Biggest Food Storage Challenges

I love the blog "FoodStorageMadeEasy.net".  They asked their readers for their biggest challenges in doing food storage.  Here are the answers.


http://foodstoragemadeeasy.net/2013/04/25/how-to-overcome-food-storage-challenges/

Northeast States are in a rerun disaster again

Here is an article about the problems people in the Northeast are having, trying to stock up on food and water and supplies just before this big blizzard is supposed to hit.

The title is "What did the northeast learn from Sandy?  Apparently not much."

http://www.shtfplan.com/emergency-preparedness/what-did-the-northeast-learn-from-sandy-apparently-not-much_02082013

I guess the message we can all learn from this is to realize that you should be prepared all the time, not just when a big disaster is predicted by the weather man.  The author says it is as if these people didn't learn anything the first time around.

Four Things You Need When Disaster Strikes

This is a great article by Creek Stewart, I really think the pictures are useful, so if it takes awhile to load, have patience.  I like the picture of the firestarters the best.

These four categories are what you need to include in your "bug-out bag", also known as a "B.O.B." or a 72-hour-kit.

http://www.wnd.com/2013/02/4-things-youll-need-when-disaster-strikes/

Morrisville's emergency notification system

I got this information off of the Town of Morrisville's newsletter.

"Morrisville recently changed its emergency notification system to ReadyWake!  Make sure you register your number at https://wakecounty.onthealert.com/ to be notified in the event of an emergency.  The system will only be used for emergency purposes such as:  drinking water contamination, utility outage, evacuation notice and route, missing person, fires or floods, bomb threat, hostage situation, chemical spill or gas leak or other emergency incidents where rapid and accurate notification is essential for life safety."

You may wonder if any of these scenarios could ever happen here, and if you would need to be notified.  I was interested to see that a train derailment caused 300 people to be evacuated because of possible hazardous chemicals in eastern North Carolina just a couple of days ago:

http://www2.wnct.com/news/2013/feb/04/clean-continues-after-eastern-nc-train-derailment-ar-2995710/

Write down phone numbers

I had a dream the other night, I was lost and I did not have my cell phone and couldn't call anyone because I didn't know anyone's phone number.

I woke up and realized this is really a problem in real life, not just in dreams. My brother lost his cell phone and he was in real trouble, he didn't know any of the phone numbers he needed.

I want to encourage you all to write down all your most important numbers and put a hard copy of them into your glove compartment in your car, in your purse, in your wallet, at your workplace, etc.

There may come a time when your cell phone is lost or stolen or out of power, and you will be very thankful you have phone numbers so you can make a phone call on someone else's phone.

Where to begin

January challenge:

One of the hardest things is "where to begin". I have found a great checklist of "Baby Steps" from FoodStorageMadeEasy.net http://foodstoragemadeeasy.net/ which will help you as you start out your food storage/emergency preparedness journey.

Go to this web page http://foodstoragemadeeasy.net/babystep-checklists/ and register, and they will email one checklist to you every other week for one year.

The checklists cover 72 hour kits, water storage, 3 month supply of normal foods, and your entire one year supply of long-term foods as well as some critical non-food items. Each list includes to-do tasks, items to purchase, recipes and more!

I think this is a great way to learn how to do food storage, with very little effort on your part.

High Wind warning

The weather bureau has issued high wind warnings for our area tonight, so my husband and I spent all evening bringing in all the items which could become projectiles in the wind.  Patio furniture, kids riding toys, firewood, garden tools, etc.   We are hoping the few things we left out are heavy enough that they won't fly around.

I had purchased some big spiral screws at Lowe's which can be screwed into the dirt.  We finally got around to screwing them into the ground under our trampoline, and tying the trampoline down to them with ropes.  Now my husband says we can sleep while the wind blows.

I am thankful that my house has no overhanging trees nearby, because there have been plenty of reports I have heard over the years of trees falling on houses and killing people.  

Our master bedroom is on the ground floor, but if your bedrooms are upstairs and you have trees around your house, you may want to sleep downstairs tonight, just in case.

Showering with just one gallon of water

Here are some great ideas from a person who lived in a trailer with no running water.

http://www.survivalblog.com/2010/04/showering_with_just_one_gallon.html

The Covert Preppers list of Christmas Gifts

I read a blog called "The Covert Prepper", and although it may be a little too doomsday for some of you, he has a really good list today of presents he wishes he would receive for Christmas.  I read the list, and thought I should share it with you all.

These items seem to be really top quality items.  I know the last one on the list (The Sawyer water filter) is the one we have, and we highly recommend it.

http://www.thecovertprepper.com/?p=659&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+thecovertprepper%2FgfCM+%28The+Covert+Prepper%29

Homemade 100-Hour Candles

My friend Keri sent me the link for these instructions.  It looks like a pretty easy preparedness gift you could make for all your friends and relatives.  The candles are made inside cute little 1/2 pint jelly jars.

http://saltnprepper.com/diy-100-hour-candles/

Dec. Challenge: Buy Preparedness Gifts

December Challenge: Buy emergency preparedness items as CHRISTMAS GIFTS for many of your friends and family members.
Gifts for lighting or making a fire during a power outage. Flashlights, lanterns, oil lamps, glowsticks, solar powered yard lights, candles, Bic lighters.


Gifts for keeping warm in a power outage. Winter clothing, down coats, down blankets, ski pants, knit caps, mittens, snow boots, wool socks, tents, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, wool or down blankets, indoor emergency heaters.


Buy gifts for auto emergencies: Battery charger, fix-a-flat, wool blanket, emergency kit, star wrench, jumper cables, car phone charger, flares, fire extinguisher, maps.


Buy gifts for coping with disasters: medical emergencies, cooking without power, camping, etc.


I am sure you can think of a lot more!

Another comment on No Grocery Store for 6 Days

It wasn't too hard not to go to the store since I keep a lot of stuff on my shelves, in the cupboards, freezer, etc. I like to coupon and look for bargains but I think I saved myself some money but holding off till Friday. I think we could go several months without the grocery, although some things would be greatly missed--eggs, butter, fresh milk and fruit.

Thanks for doing this......  K.B.