Week Thirteen Preparedness Assignment: (March 25, 2012)

FOOD PURCHASE:  Continue buying from your 3-month supply shopping list.  If your first month is complete, move on to securing the second or third month’s food. Don’t touch any of this “storehouse” until you have a complete 3-month supply sitting there. Then you may start to “use and replace” as you take something out.

ASSIGNMENT: Start a Preparedness Binder for all your paperwork and emergency information if you haven’t already. Insert your 3-month meal plan (Week 11), your Emergency Contact list (Week 3), your important phone numbers list, and your inventory sheets from your food storage. Also, include your Family’s Preparedness Scripture that you decided upon during weeks 1 and 2. We will continue to add to this and you will find it invaluable.  Remember the ward blog:  alpine12gettingprepared.blogspot.com

Week Twelve Preparedness Assignment: (March 18, 2012)

FOOD PURCHASE: Continue buying from your 3-month supply shopping list. Isn’t it exciting watching your “storehouse” fill up! Be sure and have a system to be able to rotate your food as you buy it, putting the newest purchased in the back. Remember, our goal is to have our 1-month’s supply purchased by the end of March.

ASSIGNMENT: Cook one dinner meal outside this week. Use a powerless cooking option such as a Sun Oven, Volcano Grill, Camp Stove, Dutch Oven or Barbeque Grill. Whatever you have in mind to use, learn to use it well. If you haven’t purchased any of the above, decide to make your choice this week! Your kids will love it!

Ward Preparedness blog:   alpine12gettingprepared.blogspot.com

Week Eleven Preparedness Assignment: (March 11, 2012)

With our 72-Hour Emergency  Kits prepared and ready, we are moving on to our 3-month supply of food. This is in addition to our longer-term food storage. Our 3-month food plan will mostly be from our “pantry foods” and once completed, will rotate into our everyday groceries. To begin:

1. Organize an area to store your 3-month food supply. (Basement, garage, pantry, office, under the stairs, etc. Be creative if necessary.)

2. Make out a 3-month menu and create your grocery list. (There are a couple approaches we can do. One is to make a 1-week menu plan and multiply those supplies by 12. (3 months) The other idea is to make a 1-month menu and multiply it by 3. Do whichever you prefer.)  You may want to stay clear of depending on your freezer for food storage. If we have to go to our 3-month food storage because of a disaster, chances are you may not have power and that food will be lost. Do not be overwhelmed by the amount of food supplies you will need. Remember, we will do what we can in this area and move on. Make a copy of your menu plan and shopping list, and keep it in your storage area. Mark off this shopping list as you add the food to your shelves. Watch it grow and get excited!

3. Begin buying from your list each time you go to the store. Separate your “extra” food in your storage area decided upon in step 1 when putting your groceries away. Our goal is to have a one-month supply purchased by the end of March. You may already have extra canned goods on hand that will go into your 3-month supply. Just do what you can. Don’t forget to incorporate the cannery foods if applicable. (Potato Pearls! Yummy!)

Week Ten Preparedness Assignment: (March 4, 2012) Getting back on track!

Before moving ahead in building up our food storage, it is important that we have our

72-hour Emergency Supply Kits gathered.

There are many ideas and suggestions on the internet that you can use as a guide, personalizing it for your family. Write down your menu for 3 days, clothing needs, and such, and create your list of supplies. Make sure you include an alternate means for cooking as you may need to be outdoors for your meals, or make it simpler and include food that doesn’t need warming or preparation. (A small stove is inexpensive; just be sure and include fuel.) It has been reported that many times what people had for their 72-Hour Supply of food was exhausted in the first day. Comfort!

I suggest that everyone old enough, have their own supplies to carry or pull. Look around your house for unused backpacks, extra-large purses or bags, or perhaps duffle bags storing dust in the basement. Even having a 2 year old carry his clothing on his back will be a huge help. Keep these emergency kits in a convenient location that will be easy to grab and go in an instant.

Include 1 gallon of water, per person, per day. The 15 gallon water barrels may be an idea. Remember, water is most important.

So, in addition to your water, food supply, and a change of clothing, here is a short list of the most common items:

Important documents, credit cards and cash (in small bills), first aid kit, medication, sturdy shoes, battery-powered radio and flashlight (extra batteries), N95 masks, personal hygiene needs, extra pair of glasses, blankets and sleeping bags, poncho or large plastic trash bag, important documents, emergency list of phone numbers, car shovel, rope, utility knife, sturdy gloves, matches and waterproof matches, games, books, and hard candy, duct tape, and anything else that your family decides.

Involve the children or teenagers in your decisions of what to pack. They can help assemble and will appreciate their pack more, if there is ever a time of need!