Done with Food Storage

I'm not done with my food storage yet, just about done talking about it on the blog.  So this is the last post about short term food storage and the first about long term.

I hope you have a plan that is in action for stocking up short term food storage (things you eat on a regular basis).  Whether it is the 5/5 plan, the raid the caselot plan (Macey's has a good one this week, don't miss it!) or you own customized plan, please have a plan and work on it!  

As far as long term storage, there are a few options to explore.  You can store wheat, beans, flour, etc. in large quantities for each family member.  You can store dehydrated and powdered items.  You can store MRE's.  You can store pre-made entrees that store long term such as the products made by Wise Foods. 

You goal for this week is to decide which long term solution works for you.  Remember whatever you choose, you must know how to prepare it in a time of need.  The purpose of long term storage is to have plenty of food should a long term disaster strike.  Whether it is a large scale disaster affecting entire cities (such as an earthquake), or a small one, affecting just your family (such as unemployment or hospitalization). 

Just because I may not post about short term storage, don't forget to keep working on it.  Having a pantry or storage room full of foods you eat regularly should be your first defense in any kind of a disaster.  Long term storage will keep you covered after you exhaust the short term. 

Good luck, Go Team!

PS Please share thoughts, solutions, and any good info you may find by commenting on the blog.  Thanks.

Were you Ready?

The Utah Shake out was this morning at 10:15.  Chances are 100% that you survived with no complications.  However, whether you participated or not, let's consider what would have happened if this earthquake was real and not hypothetical.  Starting this morning...

• You would be without power for weeks
• You would have no water for weeks to months
• Cell lines would be jammed
• Travel would be extremely difficult
• Natural gas would be unavailable

Just pretend the earthquake happened this morning.  Now that you are without basic utilities, cell phones, and unable to travel, how will you survive the next few days and weeks?  Do you have a solution for each of the following questions?

• It is cold, how will you stay warm?
• Do you have enough food for the next few weeks/months on hand?
• Do you have a means to cook food?
• Do you have drinking water?
• Do you have water for hygiene?
• Do you have basic hygienic necessities on hand?
• If you have an infant, do you have food and supplies for him/her?
• How will you communicate with family/friends?
• Do you have a First-Aid kit and the knowledge to treat injuries with it?
• Does each family member have a 72-hour kit to assist with the above needs?
• Do your children have emergency kits at school?
• Do you have an emergency kit and equipment in your vehicle?  At your office?

Please consider these questions.  Choose just one question that you are unprepared for and make a plan of how to become prepared.  Please share your idea/experience on the blog.  Then choose another and so on until you can sufficiently answer each question with ease.

For more information on the hypothetical situation of a Wasatch Fault quake, please see the video on this page: http://www.shakeout.org/utah/whyparticipate/

Utah Shake Out!

On April 17th at 10:00 am Utah is holding a state wide earthquake drill.  There are over 830,000 Utahns already registered to participate.  Go to this link http://www.shakeout.org/utah/ to register for yourself and/or your family.

While there browse through the website.  It is full of great information on how to prepare for a major earthquake and even includes a video that shares a realistic scenario of what will happen when the wasatch fault slips.  See the video here: http://www.shakeout.org/utah/whyparticipate/

Spread the word!