EMERGENCY  PREPAREDNESS  INFORMATION: WATER Other than air, water is the most important substance that your body requires for survival.  The average person can only live 3 days without drinking water.  If your power is taken off line, or the municipal water source is contaminated, you will not be able to turn on your faucet and use clean water.  There may not be any water at all. Here are six different suggestions to help prepare for this: 1) Using the rule of thumb of 1 gallon of water per person per day (for drinking, washing, cooking), store enough bottled water for three weeks.  Keep in mind that you may need more in the middle of summer and if air conditioners are inoperable. 2) If you have enough forewarning about an emergency, clean out your bathtub with Clorox, make sure the stopper doesn’t leak and fill your tub with water.  This water can be used for cooking, flushing toilets, bathing, or drinking water for your pets.  3) Purchase new 30 or 55 gallon “food grade” plastic barrels and fill them with tap water and a “water preserver” that will keep water fresh for 5 years (can find on-line at several places).  Remember to purchase a hand pump to pump water out into smaller containers.  (You can buy new barrels for around $30 and hand pumps on-line for about $15). 4) Buy a pump filter. There are several great types that hikers use that allow you to filter some nasty germs and make the water pure. Check your local outdoors shops or on-line camping sites (e.g., “REI.com,” “Campmor.com,” etc.)  There is one good one called  “MSR MIOX.”  This is a very small (pen size) unit that requires a small cap full of water with a pinch of salt and then you push the button and it sends an electric charge through the mixture causing it to kill all of the bad germs in unclean water.  The cost of this is around $95 and can be found at most outdoor shops or on-line. 5) You can boil water. This is ok for washing or food preparation, but it may not help the taste of the water.  It is time consuming and requires a lot of energy which may not be available. 6) Chlorine Bleach. Adding 16 drops (1/8 of a teaspoon) of unscented, color safe bleach per gallon of water can disinfect water, but may not kill all germs and bacteria like the MIOX does.   Suggestion: use a variety of the above ideas to be ready for your family. POWER and HEAT If your power is taken off line, you may need to have a backup plan in order to cope with no lights at night, and with no power to cook with or store refrigerated food.   Having no power means no hot water, no cooking (unless you have a gas cook top),  no tv,  washer, dryer, refrigerator, freezer, etc.   People tend to panic fairly quickly when there is no power, which is one thing we are trying to avoid.   Here are some suggestions to help with power and heat: 1) You may want to consider purchasing a generator, although this can be expensive.  You can purchase a smaller generator to operate your refrigerator, stove and some lights for around $500.  Or, you could purchase a generator that runs your entire home automatically in the event of loss of power.  These larger generators may cost up to $6,000 to have installed (depending on the size of your home).  If you have a generator, be sure to keep the exhaust from entering your home.  Generators must be placed OUTSIDE with good ventilation.  Also keep in mind that natural gas availability could be disrupted, so you may want to consider getting a generator that operates on propane and purchase/rent a large propane tank outside of your home. 2) If you do not purchase a generator, you may want to consider buying a propane camping stove for cooking and warming water. This is not expensive, but you will need to have several canisters of propane on hand (most of these stoves have to be used OUTSIDE, but some can be used indoors as well – do not use indoors, unless product specifically says you can).   3) You may also want to consider cooking with a Dutch oven and charcoal.  There are several books on recipes using this oven.   4) If you have an outdoor grill, you can cook using this, although keep in mind you have to be OUTSIDE to use this.   5) You may want to consider having a wood burning stove or fireplace insert installed in your home.  This can provide an alternate source of heat if power is out and also a cooking surface for your home. Keep in mind to have a lot of wood available. LIGHT If your power is taken off line, you may need to have a backup plan in order to cope with no lights at night.  1) A generator would provide you with lights. 2) Have enough flashlights for your family.  One per person is suggested.  Also have back up batteries.  Make sure you get good heavy-duty quality lights.        a. You may want a battery operated spot-light also.       b. For under $20 you can purchase “wind-up” flashlights that do not require batteries or flashlights that recharge by shaking or winding.        c. L.E.D. flashlights are good options as their bulbs last a long time.       Note:  Do not buy cheap rechargeable flashlights from dollar stores. 3) Candles. 4) Kerosene, oil, or propane lamps. SANITATION This is one area that a lot of people tend to forget.  If you have no electric power, your bathrooms will probably not work for long, particularly if coupled with loss of clean water.   If you don’t want to be forced outside with a shovel, you may want to consider purchasing a portable commode.  Wal-Mart or Sears carries these and they work well.  It has a double tank – one for clean water to flush and another for the waste.  You can use chemicals to help with odor.  You will also need to have some special, inexpensive toilet paper that dissolves.  The top of the line commodes are about $99 and can be found for much less. COMMUNICATION  During many types of emergencies, internet, home and cell phones may not be operational.  We are working on a communication plan for our fellowship where we can communicate with one another during these types of emergencies.  However, you may want to consider these as well: 1) Purchasing walkie-talkies that you can buy from many different places.  Some require FCC licenses, while others do not.  I would try to find the kind that has the longest range without purchasing a license. 2) CB Radios, Trunk Radios or Short Wave radios are also a good option for two-way communication. 3) Emergency Radio:  Along with having two-way communication, it will probably be vital to be able to stay informed with current weather, safety concerns or government warnings through the local authorities.  Purchasing a radio is a good idea.  You can purchase a good “wind-up” or “solar” powered radio that carries a variety of NOAA, FM and AM stations for around $50.  Some models even have a cigarette adapter that will run other electronic equipment.   4) Family Emergency Plan:  From “Ready.gov.” FOOD SUPPLIES To plan for 6 to 8 weeks of food for your family (plus two others), you will want to purchase food that does not require refrigeration and must be storable for the longest time possible. There are numerous ways in which you can plan for food storage, to include MRE’s (Military rations which are very good and don’t require water), dry-food (that requires water or oil, or both) and canned food (which may not have as long of a shelf life).   There are many on-line sites that sell dried food and packages for families that are very cost effective.  “Mountain House” is a good brand of dried-food and there are many others such as “Pleasant Hill Grain” which ship in bulk (even up to a 1 year supply). Here are some examples of the type of food you may want to have stored: Powdered milk Dried Fruit Potatoes Dry Crackers Peanut Butter Soups Jelly Vitamins Salt & Pepper (spices) Instant Coffee and Tea White Rice Bouillon cubes Bottled drinks Canned hams (no refrigeration) Spam (helped get our forefathers through the depression and WWII) FIRST AID KIT Home First Aid Kits are fairly simple; however, you will need to customize them to your families needs.  Keep in mind that you may have special medicine that is required (e.g., if allergic to aspirin, etc.). Suggestions for First Aid Kit: First Aid Book (a good book that give a lot of information) Assorted Band Aids with different sizes Triple Antibiotics ointment Alcohol (for cleaning, sterilizing) Cotton balls or Q-tips Hydrogen Peroxide Gauge Pads – assorted sizes Medical tape Bactine – will not burn Iodine, etc. Tums or Rolaids Personal Doctor’s prescriptions Eye Drops Benadryl Cough medicine Soap Latex gloves Option:  Dental first aid kit Scissors Extra Blankets or Emergency blankets Hand sanitizer Tweezers Thermometer Magnifying glassHand Cream (lotion) Aspirin or Tylenol or Ibuprofen GAMES If you are home without power, the kids will get bored quickly.  If you go by the Boy or Girl Scouts, they have some great books that are free with great ideas.  These books include games that you can make with house-hold items.   Another way to help the time pass is with some cards, battery operated radios and televisions, and CD players with stories for children.  Magazines are also great to cut up with scissors, or you can make puppets, have a puppet show, etc. MISC Depending on the emergency, I would also suggest the following items be included in your emergency kit:  Water proof matches or lighter N-95 rated respirators (adult and child sizes in case of bird flu) Tent and sleeping bags (if flooded out or have to leave home) Emergency kits for each of your automobiles with basic   necessities Extra batteries in various sizes Pens, pencil and paper Hygiene items for men and women Toilet paper (several rolls) Dish soap & dish towels Basic tools, knife Cash (Just in case ATM’s or Banks are unavailable) Moist towelettes Local Map Can opener Garbage bags SITES & RESOURCES Some of the resources that I have personally used to purchase water filters, respirators, food, water pumps, etc., and have had good success, are: Nitro-pak.com REI.com Campmor.com Pleasanthillgrain.com Book:  “The Official Urban and Wilderness Survival Manual”      by Robert Pelton  LINKS to EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS INFORMATION As you prepare your home emergency kit, please look at the following sites.  Some of these sites have step-by-step plans and information that you can add to what we have provided above: READY.gov (Very helpful site from Dept. of Homeland Security.  Click on “Ready America,” to view various information on making a plan, preparing a kit, etc.) FEMA.gov (Click on “Plan Ahead” button, then scroll down to information under “protect your family”) AvianFlu.gov (Gives all kinds of information regarding bird flu) SECURITY Keep in mind that during disasters or pandemics, things are not normal and good people do not react normally.  The bad people get even worse and the Law Enforcement people are either not available or very thin on coverage (as we saw with Katrina).  Normally these emergency personnel are dealing with the same problems that you are with their families.  It may be up to you (and the Lord) for your security either for a short or a long period of time.  There are answers and ways that you can help protect your family. First, it does help to have an alarm system in your home.  A monitored system will bring help in most cases.  If there is no power, the alarm system has battery backup, and if there is no phone service, your system may be equipped with a cell connection.  If no cell connection, at least the Siren will alert others.   You can control your doors where no one can obtain entry.  Keep in mind that 85% of burglaries are through the doors.  You can also pin your windows open and still get air but the crook will have more difficulty gaining entry.  There are also several inexpensive ways to alert you if someone tries to enter.  If entry is gained there are several options other than deadly force. A dark home has a way of inviting the wrong people.  One way to keep them outside is to pin your windows.  Using tomato sticks, not dowels, that are round but the square ones can help.  Cut the stick approximately one eighth of an inch longer than the window top part and wedge it into the side.  This is an inexpensive way to keep your windows from being forced open.  There is also a door jam that you can buy from your hardware store for $20 and it prevents your door from being opened until you wish to exit.  Written by Donald W. Parnell and Matt Peterson.  Feel free to make copies.   Donald W Parnell CLI CFE Director of Security Sentry Watch, Inc. 1-800-632-4961 Rev. 12-07 Here is stuff on the bird flu. check it out. http://www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza/en/index.html http://www.pandemicflu.gov/plan/individual/index.html  http://www.latah.id.us/disasterservices/Disaster_Pandemic_Stockpili ngFood.pdf  EMERGENCY FOOD SUPPLIES - including MEAT: NITRO PAK: http://www.nitro- pak.com/index.php/cPath/147?OVRAW=mre%20meals&OVKEY=drie d%20food%20freeze&OVMTC=advanced&OVADID=4088485511&OV KWID=10302678011  WENTZ FARM MARKET - CANNED BEEF, PORK, & CHICKEN: http://stores.ebay.com/wertzfarmmarket29_W0QQ_trksidZp284.m1 84QQ_trkparmsZalgo%3DDR%26its%3DS%252BI%252BSS%26itu%3D ISS%252BUCI%252BSI%26otn%3D4  CASES OF CANNED, WHOLE CHICKENS: http://cgi.ebay.com/Case-Canned-Whole-Chicken-Emergency- Survival-Food-6- Can_W0QQitemZ110286596251QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_Default Domain_0?hash=item110286596251&_trksid=p4634.c0.m14.l1262# ShippingPayment  GWEN'S STORE - CANNED EGGS, BEANS, BUTTER, CHEESE, GRAINS, FRUITS, VEGETABLES: http://stores.shop.ebay.com/Gwens- Store__W0QQ_armrsZ1QQ_fsubZ20427926  PLEASANT HILL GRAIN: http://www.pleasanthillgrain.com/foodpak1.aspx  FULL YEAR SURVIVAL PACKS: http://www.pleasanthillgrain.com/foodpak4_2_month_survival_foo ds_one_year_food_supply.aspx  DISASTER & SURVIVAL SUPPLIES: http://www.first-aid- product.com/pgSurvival.htm?OVRAW=mre%20meals&OVKEY=mres &OVMTC=advanced&OVADID=34656497512&OVKWID=2189449965 12&ysmwa=Tm81gw5CB92jPTfGIY9XvIWBMcMwaMJOVBN6XdK6mi AXgjILS0rMuN45OFNIM1hS  EMERGENCY STORABLE FOOD - DEHYDRATED: http://www.efoodsdirect.com/products.html EMERGENCY ESSENTIALS: http://beprepared.com/Default.asp?bhcd2=12378 EBAY STORES: http://stores.ebay.com/SAVE-30-TO-70-PERCENT-OFF- RETAIL/_i.html?_fsub=15  HONEYVILLE: http://honeyvillegrain.com/b2b.html  SHELF RELIANCE: http://www.shelfreliance.com MRE DEPOT: http://stores.ebay.com/MREdepot/_i.html?_fsub=20