New drug-resistant bacteria

A new reason to take a look at natural medicines – especially the ones that seem to boost our immune systems and provide the essential ingredients our body needs to thrive and ward off illnesses. There is a super-bug CRE that is at this moment incurable and spreading at an alarming rate in health care facilities.  We are confident the Word of God is true and that Father sees to it His Word comes to pass. Healing and health is part of our New Covenant that comes with salvation. The stripes of Jesus procured our healing. We must remember that NOTHING is impossible for God so CRE is defeatable by the Name of Jesus – it must bow. You might want to take a look at the link below. There are some elements in the article I find disturbing. Health care officials are saying they need a national data bank on everyone to track the spread of dangerous diseases. A pandemic would create an environment that is conducive to this taking place.

So these things need to be a matter of prayer. We need to build our faith with the Word and begin putting our whole spirit, soul and body into agreement with what it says is ours by right of New Birth and Father’s covenant with His children. God is the same yesterday, today and forever. He changes not! Take a look at Deuteronomy 28. The first 14 verses are what we are guaranteed by being in right standing with God. The last part of the chapter is what happens when we break covenant. Praise God, Jesus ratified and guaranteed the covenant for us.

As I meditate on the Word, I am asking Father to guide me in making wise decisions regarding my health and general well-being. I am just at the research stage. If anyone has experience with herbal medicines they can grow, please share. We may one day decide we prefer to by-pass the medical institutions in favor of staying home and treating the problem with some of the old remedies. Antibiotics may not be the wonder-drug we’ve all come to rely upon.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2012/11/29/bacteria-deadly-hospital-infection/1727667/?sf7541481=1

Linda Hayes

www.prudentways.blogspot.com

The weather outside is getting chilly

                                             Preparing for Winter

Winter is approaching. We are having morning temperatures below freezing. In the South, we tend to just ignore it because by two o’clock we’ll be turning on the air-conditioning when we get in the car. Unfortunately tank-tops and flip-flops make a bad combination if you have car problems after the sun goes down.

It is time to get serious about having a container with winter gear. Most of us don’t pull down the box with gloves, hats and scarves until after Christmas. This year let’s be smart and prepare.

Clean out your glove box and make sure you have a pair of driving gloves and ear muffs (they don’t mess up your hair). You can scrape the windshield without freezing. Most of us rather shiver than go inside for a coat. After all, the car will warm up quickly.

Get in the practice of filling the car when the gas gauge reaches half full. This preparedness practice doesn’t add to the fuel budget. It is just a bit inconvenient because we’ve gotten used to waiting until the last minute to take the time to fill-up. It might prevent a dangerous situation if you get stuck on the expressway in a traffic jam running on fumes. Besides you never know when you might get a phone call about an emergency in the middle of the night. There is peace of mind to know you can hop in the car without fretting about a low fuel light.

Make sure you have your Winter Kit well-supplied:

·         Hat, gloves, scarf for those who typically ride with you

·         Reflective blankets (enough for all passengers) Look in Sporting Goods section

·         Rain gear (Cheap folding ponchos will work in a pinch)

·         Extra jackets

·         Flashlights and extra batteries

·         Candle in a container and matches (Just a small candle generates a good bit of heat)

·         Water bottles (pour about an inch out to prevent it from bursting if it should freeze)

·         Snacks (peanut butter crackers, granola bars, etc.)

·         Plastic drop cloth

·         Duct tape

·         Small towel so you can wipe down the windows if the defroster doesn’t work well

·         Wet wipes and paper towels to clean up the spill if you have to stop suddenly because someone skids on black ice.

·         Small first aid kit

·         Maps

This isn’t your car emergency kit or 72-Hour Go Kit.  It is just what you need to have for winter traveling. The extra clothes are also handy to have if temperatures suddenly drop when you set out on a beautiful mild morning. The water and snacks help out when your shopping trip takes longer than expected and the kids get cranky.

If you have children, be sure you include ENTERTAINMENT stuff. I ALWAYS have a book or an extra Bible in the car. That way I don’t get antsy if dear hubby takes extra time at one of HIS stores. He always has audio books on his MP3 player so is content while I browse Hobby Lobby or grocery shop.

If you don’t keep a cell phone charger in your car, consider investing in one. Ours tends to stay in DH’s truck. This is simple prudence. I just haven’t remembered to pick up an extra one. I also need to buy an extra can of de-icer for the car. Because the sun so quickly melts our ice, I just give the windows a quick spray before I leave the house in the mornings. Even in Georgia, ice storms can blow in at any time.

If you drive a van or a station wagon, it can take a while to heat up the vehicle. I have a gazillion throws in the attic. I’m putting one in the car for those in the back seat who are a bit chilly. Frankly they are a good idea to have any time. Lately I’ve been to meetings where I froze. I even have a nice winter poncho that would look stylish if I needed to wrap up. It goes in the car tomorrow! I just got up from the computer and pulled it out so I would not forget it when I packed for a weekend meeting tomorrow.

Have you noticed that you are thinking of more and more ways to be prepared for the NORMAL emergencies now that you are preparing for THE BIGGIES. We can trust God to enlarge our thinking and bring what we need to remembrance.

I am sure there are other items you have thought of that need to be in your Winter Kit. Please share them. Together we are better!

Hope everyone enjoyed Thanksgiving and had enough energy to brave Black Friday. We were able to get our solar radio - an American Red Cross Eton, from Radio Shack for half price. That was our major preparedness buy for the week.

I picked up some things at Walmart that you might want to consider. I bought 2 metal whistles and a couple of compasses. In the garden department I found N95 face masks on sale.

In our local sporting goods store, I found a Sawyer bite and sting kit. The extractor is the only product I've found that people recommend for snake bites. It has a good instruction book that explains all the different size cups -- wasps, bees, mosquitoes, spiders, scorpions and snakes all seem to have requirements. Unfortunately the kit doesn't tell you which one goes with which bite. There is even a razor for shaving the bite area to insure a good suction.

I also bought a chemical cold pack for a dollar. I am looking for more of the bargain packs.  I've heard straight Chlorox is good for red ant bites so I'm pouring a bit into a small bottle. Since we keep bees, I have Benedryl on hand and really want an epi-pen at the house.

I am learning about healing herbs so expect to be able to brew up something that will work for stings and the itch we can get from poison ivy around here. If we are involved in cleaning up after a bad storm, we  need to be prepared to deal with spider bites. I read about a poultice that would help with a serious bite -- unfortunately, forgot to mark the site. So if anyone knows what will draw the poison, please let us know. Most of the time, we aren't even aware of the bite until the venom has been absorbed into our bodies. The Sawyer might help some, but it might take a poultice to draw it out. Obviously I have some more studying to do on the subject. The mundane assaults on our body are not covered in an EMT class.

I found another item at Sam's that is going in my Go-Kits. Proforce makes commercial products and has a package of 24 microfiber towels that are ultra absorbent. They are only 16 inches square and take up little room.  I am using some for the Kits, some for hubby's shop and some for the kitchen to deal with messy spills. They were only 11.95 - a bargain for 50 cents each. They are washable and should last forever. They don't scratch and will make good dust clothes too. I found them in the section with all the industrial cleaners.

If you found great preparedness deals this Black Frida or Cyper Monday, please let us know.

JELLO FIASCO

  

Guess what? Jello won't gel unless it has an encounter with boiling water and then cold temperatures. I used sugar free Jello with regular tap water. It looked like the mixture was suspended in water. It tasted like Jello. But it continued in it's liquid state and never congealed at room temperature. It never congealed after being in the refrigerator over night.

I took it out and held it up before a window. It appeared as if there were really tiny little balls all through the solution. Declaring the experiment a failure I nuked it until it came to a boil and stirred. The solution became evenly transparent and the little balls disappeared. It gelled very quickly once I put it in the frig. So lesson learned. You can't make Jello without HEAT and COLD. But you could drink it because it tasted fine even in its rebellious state.

I do have a success story about packaged dehyrated soup. I knew I liked the Bear Creek brands of soups in a packet, but was not familiar with the Cugino's. I made Lemon Chicken and Rice yesterday. The recipe calls for 6 cups of water and 2 cups milk. I decided to use evaporated milk. One can was not quite 2 cups so just used water to make up the difference. It was delicious with nothing else added. However, I wanted to make it a true stand-alone supper meal. I added a can of Swanson's chicken and shredded it very fine. I think I created my first ever 100% pantry meal!

The directions call for the soup to simmer for 20 minutes and I found I had to stir more than the "occasionally" they suggested because the chicken stuck to the bottom of the pan. It never burned, but did have to be attended to. I had a lemon I needed to use so put extra lemon in my soup. Dear hubby liked his just the way it was.

The "best by" date is June 2014 so this is a great item to put on the shelf as you build your 30, 60, 90+ day storage of products you use everyday. The Bear Creek packages had dates ranging from a year to 18 months. I have used them YEARS after the "best by" dates and they had no discernible decrease in quality and flavor. The Nueva Cocina brands do not have dates on the packaging. They use only 3 to 4 cups of water so if you like Mexican foods and have a small family, they might work for you. The Bear Creek soups all seem to make up 8 servings of about 1 1/2 cups.

In the last post I mentioned the awful reality of bland mash potatoes and rice. A fellow prudent preparer suggested having cans of gravy available. I definitely am picking up some cans when they go on sale. However I have used the brown, chicken, turkey gravy mixes that come in a large container at Sam's. It makes up in less than 3 minutes, has no fat or oil, and tastes as good as my homemade which tends to lack something. These gravy mixes are a powder and dissolve with no lumps. I think this is a really important addition to your pantry stores. It is inexpensive and seems to last forever -- well maybe not forever. I been using the same jar for so long, I can't begin to calculate its age. The gravy is good. Maybe not as good as you make yourself, but better than what I turn out most of the time. It is 10 times better than what dear hubby makes. So you might want to consider picking up a jar or two

REHYDRATION EXPERIMENT

Good news and Bad. Instant potatoes – white and sweet hydrated immediately. The Betty Crocker Sweet potatoes were so good, I just cleaned out the little bowl with my finger. They tasted great even cold. The plain white instant potatoes tasted awful! I discovered you definitely want to include some condiments in your Go-Kits and pick up one of those picnic sets of salt and pepper. I also know why some preppers advise having cans of gravy in their storage supplies. Try the Idahoan mash potato packets with flavorings added. I personally like them all and use them for regular meals for the two of us. I don’t add anything but the called-for water. They are well seasoned and not too heavy on the salt.

You will be happy to know that the packets of instant oatmeal and grits (with flavorings added) also do fine.  I tried the oatmeal with peaches and it was good. It takes two packets to make up a normal breakfast serving though. The Red-eyed, Country Ham Grits are rather salty, but they tasted OK. Both were better after they warmed to room temperature. Unfortunately the quick grits remained gritty without being boiled.

I also tried some quick barley with dismal results – they didn’t puff up. However, I spread them out to dry and seasoned them. They could be eaten like peanuts. I also liked orange lentils. They didn’t turn to mush and were quite tasty dried with a little salt. So we can add a strainer to our kits! These are two good additions because of their nutritional value and they seem like snacks.

Instant rice also softens and swells slightly. It would be fine with gravy or squeeze margarine which does fine without refrigeration for a short period (week or so at least.) Stove Top dressing also hydrated quickly and could be mixed with canned chicken and gravy.  

Ramon noodles hydrated well in a short while. I didn’t add the seasoning packet because I just pinched off a bit to try. My grandson often eats the chicken flavored ones as an after-school snack so I just short-changed him a bit. One major disaster is the 3-minute noodles. I let them sit overnight like the rest. Ugg! They were mushy and pretty awful. So, they would have done well with a much shorter hydration period. I imagine you could dump a can of Hunts spaghetti sauce over them and wait about 20 minutes and they would make a good family meal.

That leads to yet another item needed for the Go-Kit. We need a pot or bowl large enough to mix things together for an entrée. I would want a metal spoon and fork to mix with. Plastic utensils and paper products will do fine for individual use, but something sturdier is needed for the actual “cooking” process. I think anti-bacterial wipes would clean them well enough and a quick rinse with water would remove the ick taste.

I am going to attempt to make instant pudding with dry non-fat milk and water tomorrow.  It should work because they make the school pack kind that just sits on the shelf. You would just have to eat it right away.  I’ve also seen jello in those packs. I wonder how they get it to gel. I once took a pack of jello with me to a Girl Scout week-end camp. Everyone laughed because I didn’t think about the lack of refrigeration. But I fooled them. I stuck it in the leaders’ ice chest for a little while and flaunted my cherry jello dessert. I didn’t let on it was pretty runny. It probably would have set-up if I had left it in longer. Anyway I am going to mix some up and just leave it out on the counter to see what it will do tonight.

I hope you will share some of your experiments with us prudent preparers.

More Grocery Store Food Items for Emergencies

In two different stores this week, I found items on the shelf that had already expired best by dates. One by a full year! I don’t know what is going on because I’ve never seen that. One item was 2% evaporated milk which is something you don’t want to fool around with. Had it been a package of jello, I wouldn’t have thought too much about it. I do believe those would last forever because all that is in it is flavoring and sugar which doesn’t ever go bad unless you are invaded by ants.

We will have to remember to diligently rotate food in our 3-month store. I am gradually shifting  pantry items that are close to “expiration” dates to my within-reach kitchen shelves. In addition I am planning meals around the items that should be used next.

Sometimes when there are good sales, I buy items we haven’t tried. I found a bargain on the Indian product, Awadhi aloo mutter. The box says it is mouth-watering with a fine blend of traditional Indian spices, exotic herbs and other ingredients which are not listed. I’m going to try it and hope the other ingredients are not monkey brains or something equally awful. Dick will probably pick up a Kyrstal bag. All I have to do is immerse the sealed pouch in boiling water for 3 – 5 minutes. It is fully cooked and ready to eat. I checked the list of ingredients and they all look familiar except for ONE. I’ll let you know if it is monkey brains. Although I don’t know how I’d recognize it as I have not as yet dined on that exotic delicacy.

I JUST found a new Ronzoni pasta item. It is Quick Cook. The box has several stove-top recipes that are basically the dump and eat variety. This product isn’t recommended for baked pasta dishes. You cook it only 3 minutes and there is a warning about overcooking so I wonder if it, too, is a product that would reconstitute if it just sat in water. I’m going to soak a couple of elbows in water and find out.

Tonight I’m going to also try the “soak” test on instant grits and oatmeal and Minute Rice. I’ll let you know how they turned out.

Another good potato product is Betty Crocker Mashed Sweet Potatoes. This requires ¾ cup of milk, 2/3 cup of hot water, 2 tablespoons of margarine or butter. Using powdered milk, you just make up the ¾ cup when you need it. The best I can figure, you REALLY DON’T have to heat the water. We just like to eat our foods warm. It only takes a minute for the potatoes to absorb the water if it is hot. Margarine in a squeeze bottle like Fleishmann’s does not HAVE to be refrigerated. So if there is a power outage, this product would be one you’d want to have on hand.

Hungry Jack makes a hasbrown potato product that only requires you to pour water heated to 120 degrees into a little carton. After it stands for 12 minutes, you pour out the excess and pan fry the potatoes on one side for 3-4 minutes. If you like them crispy just flip and fry 3-4 minutes more. These would work well cooked over an open fire.

Stove Top Stuffing Mixes are yet another emergency store goody. You heat 1 ½ cups of water and ¼ cup oil, butter, spread, or margarine (not whipped) to a boil. Just add the package contents and you are ready to eat in 5 minutes. I’ve made up stuffing mixes just using all chicken broth when I needed it for a main dish recipe and it worked great. This isn’t the time to skimp on fat. Our bodies need the calories that fat provides.

I’ll let you know if the experiments are successful. I might be eating cold instant oatmeal tomorrow morning.

Food Items Good for Disaster Preparedness

I have been searching the shelves at the grocery store looking for quick-fix items that would do well if we had an emergency situation. I am amazed at what is there. I think the workplace and school lunches have encouraged the development of these microwavable or pop-a-can entrees.

I just finished eating Annie Chun’s Kung Pao Noodle Bowl. It was ready in 2 minutes and has all 100% natural ingredients no preservatives and no MSG. One bowl serves 1 person 500 calories. The carb count is 17g with 5g fiber. The down side is 980 mg sodium and 14 grams of sugar. However you also get 17 g of protein. AND….it tastes good! You can also fix this by just adding 1 cup boiling water. In a no-fuel situation you would just add the water and let it sit until the dehydrated vegetables rehydrated.

A very vital discovery is the realization that scissors made the job of opening all the little packets easier. So, I am putting a pair of blunt-nosed scissors in my Go-Kits.  These are available in School Supplies.

Check out Hormel’s Compleats. I picked up a 2-serving container of Seasoned Pork with BBQ sauce to make sandwiches for lunch. I figure it will make skimpy serving so most will probably eat the entire container which has 280 calories. Another option is Homestyle Beef Pot Pie with 230 calories. Both are ready to eat so they’d be  great Go-Kit items. Of course they are better heated a little.  The best by dates are two years out. This doesn’t mean the product will be ruined and needs to be discarded, it is just the manufacturers guarantee for vitamin and quality issues.

I am a fan of Idahoan instant mashed potatoes. There are other brands out there, but these are the only ones I have found that taste good with only the addition of water. Two cups of boiling water will reconstitute in 1 minute. All that is really necessary is to let them sit for additional time after you add the water. Each pouch makes 4 servings at 110 calories each. In an emergency you would probably want to serve each person 1 cup so you would need extra packets for your meal counts.

Another great source for quick, easy, no-prep food is your soup aisle. I have been a fan of Bear Creek for years. I love their potato soup. While they don’t have the big cans for at Sam’s any more, they now have many varieties in packets in grocery stores.  I picked up Creamy Wild Rice and “Darn Good” Chili. They both make 8 cups of soup which would serve 4 very well. Unfortunately or fortunately depending on whether you are enjoying chili on a blustery night at home or in an emergency situation. Each serving only has 180 calories for 2 cups of soup.  The rice soup has 130 calories per cup.

Calorie counts are very important in emergency situations. Each age group needs a specific amount to function at top form. Those calories can’t be empty – the just fill you up or satisfy a sweet-tooth craving kind.  Now I am not discounting the beneficial aspects of good chocolate. I think any prudent preparer would want them in their stash. One good thing about winter weather in most climates is the wonderful fact that chocolate won’t melt. Alas, we in the south can NEVER leave chocolate in the car.

I am thoroughly enjoying the food searches and taste tests. I am pretty adventurous about food. I don't particularily like squid -- but that is about it. While I ususally pass up kim chee, I've been reading about the benefits of fermented foods. I am trying to get my nerve up to experiment. I'd welcome reader input on the subject.

 

FINDING FOOD FOR YOUR GO-KITS.

Because my kitchen stores are sufficient for a shelter-in-place scenario, I wrongly assumed I could just use what was on the shelves for the Go-Kits. Recently, I discovered that food for a well-stocked Go-Kit isn’t as easy to find as I thought.

I am on a quest to discover protein and meal replacement bars that are high in calorie count, nutritious and actually taste good.  I’ve been doing some taste tests. Dick tried a small portion of one and declared, “I could eat it.” Tri-O-Plex has several flavors containing about 430 calories per bar. Other energy bars have fewer calories. It would take two to come up to an adequate meal count. A lot of breakfast granola type bars are around 200 calories. Adults need at least 2500 calories a day to deal with the stress and challenges of an emergency.

It makes sense to conduct some taste tests with your family. Buy a few different brands and conduct a formal blind test.  Just cut the bar into as many portions as you have family members. Label the bars A, B, C, etc. and let everyone rate them. This will help determine the winners that will be part of your Go-Bag kits. You can eliminate the ones everyone gags on. This is really all about personal taste. I bought a bar at a Sporting Goods store hoping it was the one I had tried some time back and LOVED. The clerk suggested I try something else because the one I picked was just plain “nasty.” She said NO ONE liked it. Because it looked like the one I had eaten, I decided to spend the $1.29 and take a chance. Well, I am going to have to hide those bars. I love the very lemony taste enough to gobble them down at any excuse.

You need to conduct similar tests on canned goods that provide protein. I really can’t stand Spaghetti-O’s, but they are a grandchild’s first choice. I prefer another brand. You want to pack what people will eat. Since your goal is to have enough food to sustain everyone for 3 to 5 days you can have a wide range of options. You might let the children plan their own stash. They can write their name on the items with a marker if you are bundling everything in one tote. In a stressful situation, unfamiliar food just won’t cut it!

To give you an idea of the numbers, Spaghetti-O’s have 2 servings per can at 170 calories each. One can of Vienna Sausage has 8 pieces and is considered to be 2.5 servings at 110 each. Well, my hubby eats a whole can for lunch. I can tell you 3 little sausages won’t cut it. Potted meat is 1 serving and contains 160 calories. Underwood chicken spread has 2 servings at 140 each. A small can of water packed tuna is considered to be 2.5 servings at 70 calories each.

A good preparedness exercise would be to go to your pantry and lay out a day’s worth of food for each person. Could you do it on a moment’s notice using only the items you currently have on hand? Afterwards calculate that amount times 3 to 5 days. I can tell you, that I come up short. I don’t have any fruit or pudding cups. All my dried fruit is in bulky economy sized bags. I was under the delusion I was prepared!

The Go-kits need to contain food that can be eaten without cooking or heating. Almost all the foods that come in packets require the addition of boiling or very hot water for rehydration. If you are stuck in a large emergency shelter in a school, you can’t start a fire on the gym floor. I’m not saying don’t include them, but they might not be a viable dinner solution. I am going to experiment with some items to see if they will hydrate sufficiently using cold water and a much longer time frame. I’ll let you know if the grits are edible.

We really CAN’T just grab stuff out of the cabinets, throw it in a plastic bag and rush to the car. I am digging out my vacuum sealer and making up individual portions of dried fruit. I figure it will be cheaper than the little boxes and bags you buy to put in lunch boxes. I’ll bag up almonds and peanuts using snack bags then pop a bunch in a bag to seal. Hopefully the double bagging system will prevent sharp edges will prevent puncture.

I’ve been prowling the grocery store aisles looking for possibilities. I found a few that might fit the no-flame requirements. Will get back to you with the taste-test results.

Let me know if you have found winners.

STORING WATER

Several readers have asked questions about water storage. Every person who writes or speaks about preparing for an emergency puts this at the top of their DO NOW list.  The television continually broadcast critical issues of preparedness before Hurricane Sandy approached our shores. Water was ALWAYS at the top of their list of precautions and warnings. Officials told people water and electric service would be affected and might not be available for a much longer time than the 72 hour you are on your own before help can arrive period that is on ALL the emergency web sites. Huge numbers of people ignored advice figuring life would go on as usual. Some may still be thirsty, hungry, cold and sitting in the dark if they aren’t at the FEMA shelters.

Disasters are unpredictable so people in all parts of America must be prepared to weather the storms.  I looked up the interesting word weather. One dictionary definition reads: stormy or disagreeable atmospheric conditions. Conversely it means: to survive successfully. God has planned a way for us to overcome the adversities that come our way. We are more than conquerors through our Lord, Christ Jesus. So we go before Him and get His plan of action for our families. It is prudent to heed the wisdom of those who are the experts in emergency preparedness.

Water must be our top priority. We drink our tap water now. It is perfectly safe to store as is. If you are storing it in gallon plastic jugs the time limitation generally refers to the degradable element of the jug. Those are designed to disintegrate in landfills. That is why people recommend limiting them to 6 months - 1 year. As I have had a failed jug, I don’t want the clean-up chore of a gallon of water EVERYWHERE ever again.  If you are storing it in 2-liter hard plastic bottles, the time frame is much longer although no one is speculating about HOW much time you have. This may be because people are not having bottle failure and no one knows how long they will last. Poor landfills!!!

It is not necessary to treat tap water before you store it. If you are storing well water, it would be a good precaution. However many experienced preppers recommend treating stored water with Clorox as a precaution before you use it. I think that is a good idea, just to be on the safe side if you used recycled containers because there is a possibility that bacteria could have remained after you cleaned and sanitized.

If you have purchased barrels or other long-term storage containers you might want to treat as you fill them up – especially if you used rain water from your gutter system. The containers do not biodegrade and will be safe for much longer times. Who wants to empty 55 gallons every six month?

Where in the world do you store all that water? I have been shoving it in a corner of my basement. Well, I need that space for food storage. I just read that a seasoned prudent preparer stores his water in the garage and has never had a freezing problem. So, as much trouble as it is to transfer, I plan to shift it. I will keep a three-day supply handy though.

Right now, I’m storing in recycled containers. I plan to use my 55 gallon barrels to catch rain water.  When we lived in Haiti we had a cistern that collected the city water that ran 2 hours a day. Every house had one. I am thinking that might be a really great idea for us in America. Has anyone buried a stock tank? I’ll do some research and get back with you.
Below is a treatment chart that might help. Just remember the amounts are for treated water. If you find you must get water from sources other than your city’s treatment plant or a certified well, double the amounts of PLAIN Clorox after you have let all sediment settle. Boiling for 1 minute is still the recommended way to go. I’ll talk more about treatment alternatives another post.

Get a couple of new non-clear medicine bottles with a dropper from your pharmacist and fill with Clorox having 5-6% sodium hypochlorite . Keep one bottle with your Go-Kit. Clorox has a short shelf-life of about 6 months. You will have to put a note on your Preparedness Calendar to replace after that time period. Just empty and refill.

1 Quart = 4 drops
2 Quarts / 0.5 Gallon = 8 drops = 1/8 teaspoon
1 Gallon = 16 drops = 1/4 teaspoon
2 Gallons = 32 drops = ½ teaspoon
4 Gallons = 64 drops = 1 teaspoon
12 Gallons = 192 drops = 1 Tablespoon
24 Gallons = 384 drops = 1/8 cup which is 2 Tablespoons
55 Gallons = 880 drops = 5 Tablespoons which is 1/4 cup + 1 Tablespoon (approximately!)

Stir the water and allow it to stand for 30 minutes. Chlorine should be detectable by odor after the waiting period. If the water does not smell like chlorine at that point, repeat the dose and let it stand another 15 minutes and check the smell again. There should also be a slight chlorine taste.

Before you use your stored water, you can pour it from one container to another a couple of times to put oxygen back into it to remove the “flat” taste. This is also why it is a great idea to have packets of add-ins on hand. The water will be safe to drink, but the taste is somewhat altered.

The guidelines are 1 gallon, per day, per person. Remember, the water you buy at the store in gallon jugs has the same limitations as those you fill yourself from the tap. The jugs are safe because they are food-grade plastic, but they are designed to break apart.

My daughter fills lots of containers with tap water and lets them to sit on the counter uncapped about 24 hours. She uses this water to tend to her plants.   They thrive and do not have the brown ends mine do. Great use for using up “expired” water.

I found a couple more web sites you might want to check out for preparedness bargains. The Volcano Stove was mentioned as a good possibility for times when fuel was scarce. It also compacts to a size that is easy to toss in the car if you must evacuate. The Berkey Guy is running a special for $134.99 with free delivery. This is the lowest price I've seen. You can get more information at theberkeyguy@directive21.com. There is also a sale on black Berkey 2-pack filters for $89.99. Use the code BB89 to get the price. He is connected to LPC Survival.

For those who might want something in their backpack, the Solo Stove is a good choice. It is light weight and uses twigs as fuel. All the reviews are good. This is a small unit that quickly heats water to boiling and can cook a simple meal for one. Check it out at www.solostove.com.

There is a good sale on dehydrated and freeze dried foods at Emergency Essentials. Their site is www.beprepared.com. The savings are significant. This company also gives a good price break for group buyers.

I have been checking out preparedness books and manuals. I haven't narrowed down my top 3 yet, but Barnes & Noble has a 15% coupon this week. I think I'll make a trip to the bigger town and check out what is available. If you have a recommendation, please share it.

One good tip came in today that I will pass along. It was highly suggested that families purchase the Hoyle Rule Book for hundreds of card games that would pass the time away if the electronics and TV were unavailable.

I bought a couple of cases of Sterno at Sam's. You can create a stove from a #10 can, slip a can into a small table top grill, set it between some bricks or rocks or even use a chafing dish. The nice thing about Sterno is it stores forever and you can cap it when you are finished cooking to conserve fuel.

Let me know if you have found some bargains.

This information just came in from a reader. Black Friday often has incredible deals -- many of which we need for prudent preparing.

There is a website that provides information for all sales and you can get emails. The emails are being sent out daily as the stores black Friday ads are being released. Website is www.bfads.net. It is very thorough.

Radio Shack has the American Red Cross Solar Link Emergency Radio for $35 (regular price is $70). Store opens at 6am. Check with local stores regarding online sales times and availability etc. This is an item that was very important. This item has all the recommended features and will be 50% off! This might make a great Christmas gift for loved ones that haven’t started on any preparedness kit. Here is the information on the product:

American Red Cross Solar Link Emergency Radio

Model #ARCFR370WXR

Catalog # 20-579

Have the information you need on-hand when you need it most with the FR370 from Eton. This Solarlink radio features all seven channels of NOAA weather alerts, AM/FM radio, LED flashlight and a red flashing beacon. Plus, it can be powered from four different sources, including "AAA" batteries and solar power.

• AM/FM/NOAA radio stations keep you alerted during emergencies
• Self-powered hand-crank generator means there is no need to worry about losing power
• LED flashlight and red flashing beacon
• Power source: solar, hand crank, DC input via mini-USB drive or 3 "AAA" batteries
•  USB wireless phone charger

This is the type radio I am recommending we buy for family use. A simple battery operated radio would be a good addition for individucal backpacks. You can also buy rechargable batteries and get a solar operated recharger. I will post about a few models you might be interested in later. There is a good possibility this item will be available the following Monday when on-line sales are available. We need to check both.

 

Jot down the possibilities in your Preparedness Notebook and note the ones your family prefers in the planner so you won't forget. It is definitely list making time.

Greetings this post election day. Regardless of the outcome of votes, God remains our supreme Ruler and King. As we look to Him, we'll receive instructions on OUR next steps. It may appear as if our lives will continue as always. Unfortunately, I believe we have set in place the ingredients that have the potential of changing our lives in dramatic and heartbreaking ways. So what do we do -- we stay alert to the voice of the Lord and be quick to do His bidding and follow precisely His instructions. We maintain our places on the wall of intercession and be ready with His Words to those who will listen. All across America the saints prayed, repented for our nation's past and present sins, interceded for those with hardened hearts and stopped ears, and believed for revival to come to our land. Well, we just CONTINUE! Our job isn't over, it has but begun.

It is time to get serious about preparing for disasters and emergencies that will surely come. I'll be posting many articles about preparedness. I hope you will add your comments and contribute articles about your preparedness experiences. Together we can walk this new way in excellence.

Yesterday I bought a lock-tight Sterlite 15 gallon container for my winter emergency supplies. Yes, even in the deep South, we get storms that can bring travel to a standstill. This container is small enough that I still have plenty of cargo space, but will hold the essentials. This isn't an emergency Go-Kit, it just contains what I might need if I am stranded on the highway.

ITEMS:

Contact list
5 16 ounce bottles of water with about an inch removed in case of freezing
5 protein bars about 400 calories each
5 snack bars about 200 calories each
5 bags of peanuts
1 package of hard candy
Chap Stick
Lidded 1 pound coffee can with toilet paper (instant potty)
2 gallon baggies
Wet Wipes
State and county map
Knit hat
Ear muffs
Long scarf
Warm gloves
Wool socks
Slip-on boots
Rain Poncho
A can of De-icer

Reflective emergency blankets (5) one for each seat belt
Flash light
Extra batteries
Ice scraper
Hand towel
Red bandana to use to signal help (hang on the outside of the car)
Whistle
Utility knife (Swiss Army Knife)
3 packages of hand warmers
Candle stubs or 2-4 in. pillars  (you don't want tall tapers)
Lidded container filled with rice to secure candle
3 Glow Sticks
Matches or lighter
Plastic drop cloth
Duct tape
5 black trash bags

In the South we rarely wear heavy coats to run errands. I keep my winter coat in the car. Last year it got rumpled and a bit dirty. This year I'm going to slip it into a kitchen trash bag and lay it on top of the supply container.  I am also putting a wool army blanket in a plastic bag and tucking it under everything.

When I get a folding shovel, I'm putting it my tire well along with a small bag of kitty litter. These items could get me out of a ditch or an icy patch where I have no traction. I already have jumper cables and jacks, a can of Tire Fix, emergency signal and flares, etc.

If you have a station wagon like me, or a van, the plastic drop cloth can create a nook for warmth. Just use the duct tape to adhere it to the ceiling and doors of your vehicle. The plastic can also cover a window if it gets broken by a flying limb or debris. If you don't have duct tape in your tire well, you can wind some on a small plastic cylinder (even a straw) to make it compact enough to fit in your container. Just slip it in a sandwich bag to keep the sticky from getting on other things.

I hope you won't put off getting this in your cars. We in the South tend not to think about frigid weather until late December, but this year we might be wise to prepare a little earlier.

Have a blessed day. Let me know what Father has laid on your hearts about those first steps of Prudent Preparedness.

Greetings,

I had a wonderful time on the west coast with all the great folks from the Seattle area. Seattle has challenges, but everyone at the meeting was ready to step up to the plate and get their families preparedfor crisis. One never knows just how a disaster will compound. In fact that was not a term I have ever heard in disaster preparedness classes, but it was one Father dropped into my spirit so I went ahead and used it in the presentation. Wow, does it say it all.

The New Jersey and New York areas are expecting heavy rain and strong winds along the coast and snow inland. This will set back cleanup and recovery because the predicted flooding will undo everything that has been accomplished. In addition there was a 2.0 earthquake Monday.

People are very upset that response teams were not right in place immediately. I watched the news as FEMA and local officials painted very realistic pictures of what to expect and projected reasonable timetables for utility restoration. BUT.... the warnings just were not strong enough.

We need to learn from Sandy's intrusion onto our land. PEOPLE WILL BE ON THEIR OWN FOR A MINIMUM OF 3 DAYS AND UPWARDS TO 5 - 7. If people elect to stay in the area that has been declared ground zero for destruction, they better be expert Preppers. It isn't that agencies don't care or are preferring others, the set-up logistics just take time. No group is sent in until the area is absolutely secure and equipment and stores arrive. People come from far distances to minister aid.

That said, may I urge you to go ahead and get started on that Go-Kit. We may just have to drop forever the 72-hour moniker. From this time forward, it may not ever be appropriate again.

Please get the battery radio and at least 5 gallons of water this week. That is a start!  Hubby bought a few gallons of distilled water for his breathing machine and another 24-pack case. Tomorrow I will be writing the "best by" dates on a dozen bags of canned fruit and veggies. Hope I can get them shelved too, but will probably have to rearrange to accommodate everything.

I will be creating an inventory system thanks to a friend's spread sheet. Just as soon as I get it organized I'll post it on the blog. This is a wonderful time saver! As we are building our store, we need to keep good records from the start.

Remember to dig around your house for a 2 or 3 inch three-ring binder. You probably have one stuffed on a closet shelf. We need to start organizing our preparedness materials.

I'll post more information on water tomorrow. Add a comment about how you are preparing this week.

Linda

The list below contains some suggestions that will help you gather the food necessary for your family to survive at least three days if you must leave your home to escape a disaster situation. Please remember that 3 days is a bare minimum that the government suggest you prepare for. In a serious, unexpected and widespread situation, it will take at least that long for response agencies to get in place to begin providing relief. If time permits and you don't have to grab and run, expand the amount of food you take to a week. This could take the form of quickly gathering from your pantry shelves enough supplies to keep your family safe. The food for the initial first 3 days should be already in your Go-Kit or backpacks.

FOOD FOR 72-HOUR EMERGENCY KITS

If your family is sheltering in a building or evacuating out of a danger zone, you won’t be able to cook anything. Food must be ready to eat. If you are sheltering outside in tents or under tarps, cooking possibilities increase. Camp stoves or camp fires will allow you to prepare hot family-style meals. Consider food preferences or allergies and pick items that are familiar and will provide adequate calorie counts. If you are able, increase food to cover 5 – 7 days.

SUGGESTIONS:

Meal replacement bars, protein bars, breakfast bars, powdered protein mixes & jar with lid
Meat: Vienna sausage, potted meat, tuna fish, canned sandwich spreads, dried beef in a jar, cheese in a jar, chili, canned stews or barbeque meat, Spam, canned ham and chicken, Beanie Weenies, Spaghetti-O’s, jerky. Look for pop-top lids.

Soups: ready-to-eat and condensed, dried soup packets, cup of soup varieties, Ramen Noodles (There are many products designed for lunch box meals – pasta, rice, etc.)

Fruit and Vegetables:  dried fruit, trail mixes, nuts, lunchbox packs of fruit or pudding, instant potato packs, canned or dehydrated fruit and vegetables

Drinks: juice boxes, 2-liter bottles of 100% fruit juice, boxes of shelf-life milk, dried milk, canned milk,  jar or packet of stir-in milk flavoring, hot chocolate or apple cider packets, water bottle add-ins, tea, coffee (powdered cream and sweeteners if you use them), bouillon cubes

Peanut butter or Nutella, jelly, crackers (at least a sleeve per person)

Snacks: hard candy, gum, graham or animal crackers, etc.

Infant and toddler: ready-to-use formula, food, juice, biscuits (Because of fast-changing requirements, add this before departing along with their diapers and clothes.)

MRE’s and dehydrated meals: These are good add-ins. They are more costly than items off the grocery store shelf, but are worth considering.

 
Remember you are planning for 3 meals per day per person plus snacks and comfort food. Prowl the grocery store shelves looking for items you can try. Depending on what you include, a can opener may also be necessary per backpack.  Save plastic bottles, you may need to refill them with water. A funnel and coffee filter will collect any debris. Then treat using a filtration system, Clorox, purification tablets. If you have a source of fire, boil rapidly for one minute

Hopefully, you have read the first post and decided maybe getting prepared for the unexpected would be a good idea. Every family needs to put together a 72-hour Go-Kit. This kit will provide the basic necessities if you must evacuate your home.

72-hour Emergency Kits

Store your kit close to the front door if possible. You can use sturdy backpacks (mark with each person’s name) or a lock-tight plastic bin (one with wheels would be great) or both. Lay all supplies out, divide among backpacks if those are your containers, type up inventories, print out, put in plastic clear baggies, and tape to the lid or put in backpack pockets. On the outside with a marker, write the date you packed the kit. On your calendar write a check and recycle date 6 months in the future that coincides with a season change.

Clothing: 1 change of clothes, shoes, extra socks, appropriate outerwear, sturdy rain poncho

Hygiene: hand towel, wet-wipes, hand sanitizer, tooth brush and paste, comb or brush, insect repellant, sun screen, feminine supplies, diapers for toddlers and infants, extra underwear for pre-schoolers, 1 roll of toilet paper

Water: 3 gallons each (more is better), some should be individual bottles, water purification tablets, Clorox, or filtration equipment.

Food: 3 to 5 days ready-to-eat food with pop-tops. Mess kit or disposable bowls, cups, utensils

Light: flashlight (2 sets of batteries kept separate), 2 light sticks, water-proof matches or lighter

Warmth and Shelter: a silver foil emergency blanket, 2 hand warmers, a heavy plastic drop cloth, several black trash bags, a few gallon and quart Zip-lock bags

First Aid: small kits for each backpack, well-stocked family kit, medicines, assorted safety pins

Contact list: Identification and contact lists for each person (put in baggie, pin inside a pocket)

Documents and cash: $100 in small bills per person, copies of important documents like birth certificates, SS cards, wills, insurance cards, vehicle information (color, make, license), flash drive with important business, personal, medical information, household inventories or photos

Communication: solar, hand-crank, or battery radio (extra batteries), phone charger

Tools: Swiss army knife or multi-tool, hatchet or ax, mattock, folding shovel,  2 pairs leather-palmed work gloves, good duct tape, utility knife. In winter add a bag of sand, de-Icer

Cooking: camp stove and fuel, nesting pots, metal cooking utensils, good folding knife, can opener, heavy-duty aluminum foil, bucket, lantern, dish soap, steel wool soap pads, fire starter

Shelter: Tarp, ground cover, rope, tent if you have it, bedrolls or blankets

Pet supplies: food and water, bowls, harnesses and leashes, vet records

Greetings,

This is my first official post on The Way of Prudence. It will be a bare bones attempt to get the Preparedness Lists up for those who have listened to World for Jesus live stream November 2 from Seattle Washington.

The first step of the preparedness journey is to start working on your Family Disaster Plan.

Every family should have a Disaster Plan

1.      Register with your Emergency Management Agency to receive weather and emergency alerts on your various phones. Know your community’s warning signals: what they sound like and what they mean. Some communities have a registry for people with illnesses, disabilities or who have equipment for life support. Make sure every family member knows how to contact emergency services. Keep a list of numbers by the phone or on the refrigerator door. Post a list of family member’s phone numbers.

2.      Make sure you have a battery-operated radio so you can receive official information and instruction.

3.      Home Safety: Your EMA should have a brochure that will provide a checklist of activities. You want to clear your home of known hazards. Learn how and where to shut off water, gas, electricity, and sewage - (keep needed tools attached to the valves.)

4.      Fire Safety: Diagram your house and mark escape routes. Determine two avenues of escape on every floor. Have smoke alarms and fire extinguishers on each floor and in garage and shop areas. Have a rope ladder installed or available for upper floors. Practice evacuations.

5.      Establish out-of-state and local contacts to call in a disaster. List all contact information for each family member: daytime location (work, school, gym, most frequented businesses) include friends or classmates and all phone numbers and addresses. List health issues and medicines currently taking. Include the pertinent information of at least two of your neighbors and the local and out-of-state contacts.

Print and distribute to everyone. Be sure a copy is in the children’s book bag. 

6.      Put together a 72-hour Emergency Go-Bag. Make sure every vehicle has a Car Kit.

7.      Discuss what to do in an emergency situation. Perform drills so everyone knows what to do, what their responsibilities are, and how to adapt if things suddenly change.

8.      Designate meet-up places outside your house and another away from your neighborhood. Talk about what to do if everyone isn’t at home at the time of the emergency. Develop at least two possible responses.

9.      Make provision for your pets.

10.  Create a Disaster Preparedness Notebook and update every 6 months