Laundry Anyone?

I use liquid detergent for laundry.  I get the big thingy at Costco.  It works for me.  But then, when the container is empty and needs to be thrown away, I think of all the "air" it's using in the trash. And so I thought of a useful idea to use up that "air" and do some good in the world.  Just kidding.  I read on a preparedness blog how to use the empty container for storage.  Use the last bit for your load.  Then fill the container with water.  Put the lid on it.

Write "do not drink" on the container.  That way there won't be any confusion.  When hit with a tornado or earthquake or other such natural disaster, you have detergent water handy for dishes, dirty hands or feet, or just about anything that needs a quick wash.  You really wouldn't use it for laundry.  It's not enough detergent to do anything justice.  Unless you are desperate. 

So there you go.  A useful storage/cleaning tip for emergencies



Evacuation Plan In Place.

I'm sure you've noticed all the fires in Utah lately.  We sure have.  In the last week one fire was close to my brother's house, and then more recently, a fire was about a mile from my sister's house.  We already have 72 hour kits in place, food storage, stuff to use in an emergency.  But many of the evacuees had only 5 minutes to get the heck out of dodge.  And so I knew it was time to get an evacuation list put together.  I don't assume a fire will come close, but it could.  And we live fairly close to railroad tracks.  A train car carrying dangerous chemicals derailing can be cause for an evacuation.  So many different things could be the cause.  But it's the action required when there is a cause that gets me moving.  What would you and your family grab if you had to leave immediately?  What would you grab if you had 15 minutes?  What about 30 minutes?  What if you were just waiting to see what happened, unsure if you would be evacuated?  What is most important?  What could you actually get into your vehicle, assuming you could take your vehicle, when you evacuate?  Here is my list. 

Obviously the most important things of all are the people.  Then we take only what is on the list depending on what kind of time we have.  The safe covers much- important documents, adoption papers, money, passports and the computer's back up hard drive.  It's heavy and so that's what either Daniel or I will get.  We will have one kid on the washer and dryer getting 72 hour packs down and the other 2 loading them in the truck.  You will need ID, make sure you grab your wallet!  We will do a practice run to see how we fit 5 minutes of stuff into the actual 5 minutes.  Listen to where the evacuation site is.  Follow directions!  Take phone numbers of loved ones so you can tell them you are safe.  We have our evacuation list posted on the front door, the garage door and next to each phone.  A knock on the door or a reverse 911 call will be the way to find out you need to evacuate.

We still need to tattoo our goats for ID.  We don't have the goats on our list because we don't have any way to transport them.  Even if we did, we would not have the time needed to hook up a trailer and get all 4 goats into it and then get all of our necessary items for human survival.  It's the human survival that trumps everything.  Even if you were to get out with only the clothes on your back, that is the best evacuation ever!!  

All Shook Up.

Did you shake at 10:15 this morning? Today was the Great Shake Out Drill in Utah. Daniel and I were in the temple and didn't feel a thing!! So I mostly forgot about it. But tonight I had one of my kids tell me about it. He said they got under their desks and held on. Then they listened to someone talk about earthquakes in Utah and watched a video. hmmmm. He had some anxiety. So we talked. And talked. And went over what situations we would be facing if we lived on the Eastern Seaboard, in the Midwest, in California. Heck! Utah seems like the safest place to me. We talked about the earth quakes I experienced while living in California. Scary stuff. But nothing bad happened to me. He asked about aftershocks. I said they are always smaller than the original quake. Like an echo. I told him that if there is an emergency, the safest place to be is here at home with me. The second safest place is school. They will help him. And if they are in school, at church, at a friend's or anywhere else, they will each be my first and only priority. And I will come as soon as it's safe to get to them. I told him I'd put together a school emergency kit for their backpacks. I told him what I'd put in it. Some snacks, a rain poncho, a light stick and a space blanket. I will also put in a letter from me and dad and a list of emergency numbers and other info. I told him that if he is okay after the initial emergency, he will need to look around and see if anyone around him needs help. Then he needs to help them. It will help pass the time until I get there. We talked about the reason for all these disasters-- Jesus is coming soon. We also talked about the reason for being prepared-- we want to be ready and safe. We prayed and I sent him to bed with his MP3 player. He was just listening to Choose the Right. Perfect. Peace after the shake out. And my heart, though shook up with the anxiety of my son, was at peace and filled with Joy.

If Ye Are Prepared...

Guess what was in our 72 hour kits? C'mon. Go ahead....

Did you say diapers?

Well. No, there weren't diapers.

But close enough.

So my job these past couple of weeks has been to update the 72 hour kits.

Japan had a little to do with that.

It's also almost Conference weekend. And General Conference is a great marker to update 72 hour kits. Every 6 months.

So here is one backpack.

$15.88 at Walm*rt and great to get all you need in.

In the very front pocket I put a notebook, a book, a card game in each of the kids', 2 pens and 2 pencils, a house key, a family picture, a card with my full name, date of birth and then medical/allergy info. A list of everything in the pack, another family pic, a map of the area, a list of phone numbers and names of important people (family and doctors) and in my pack and Isaac's pack, medical needs (I am a diabetic, Isaac has allergies and asthma). In one side small pocket, a bag of tissue, hand sanitizer wipes, chap stick, sunscreen, a mirror, a comb and in the kids' packs, a stack of band aids.

In the other side pocket, a pocket size Book of Mormon ($5.25 at Deseret book!! Perfect 72 hour kit size), hard candy and gum. I call this the "relief pack".

In the main part of the bag we put cash (small bills and coins) in a hidden pocket, we also have our 3 days food supply, a change of clothes, underwear and socks, a bag of toiletries and large trash bags. The red box is a first aid kit and Daniel and I each have one in our packs.

I forgot to take a picture of it, but that small pocket at the top of the front has the following...

Flashlight, extra batteries, rain poncho, 3-N96 mask (2 in Isaac's due to asthma), a light stick on a lanyard, a whistle on a lanyard (blow if you are lost or need immediate help!) a reflective space blanket, and waterproof matches. Those are the things needed almost immediately in a crisis. Keep those items easily accessible and make sure every family member knows what they are for.

This is my Day 1 food. 72 hours=3 days. Food is essential. This is somewhat high calorie and not what you would normally eat food. But it will help you survive.

Have you thought about water?? I did. It's up there with the packs.

Right there on the end. You need a gallon of water per person per day. Uhhhhh. I can't carry that just for me, plus my pack, much less my family. We keep the water separate for now.

This is my plan. Every General Conference weekend we will revisit the packs. We will update clothes, replace food, and go through all the items as a review.

I also plan to have all my family right here in my house with me in the case of emergency, evacuation or disaster.

Because that is highly unlikely, I am putting together packs for each vehicle and remind my kids that when they are at school in an emergency THEY ARE SAFE!

And I will get to them immediately.

The most important thing to remember in a disaster is to REMAIN CALM.

When you get all funky and screamy and hysterical, you waste needed energy and cause problems for everyone else.

Remember:

WHEN YE ARE PREPARED, YOU NEED NOT FEAR!!!

Words to live by.

**I got my information for my packs from this blog **