Emergency preparedness month

September is emergency preparedness month. I am NOT prepared. But I'm working on it. Here's a few easy ways to help yourself and family be more prepared.
Backyard Farming has a 'Mother of all first aid kit' Here is a link to a google document. Print it out and add the items to your weekly grocery list. Over the course of 8 weeks more or less depending on your budget, you can put this together. You could even do more - 2 for the house, one for each car, etc.

Also Deals to Meals ℠ is having a giveaway for their own EXTREMELY prepared first aid kit. These are not your run of the mill first aid kits with bandaids and wipes.

Another way to be prepared - LDS or not, disasters DO NOT discriminate by religion, color, income, etc. Each family member should have a 72 hour kit. Here's some ideas of what and how to create these and another link from the same page about personal supplies to have on hand.

Don't forget to include: medicines specific to your family, baby needs: diapers, wipes, formula?, tylenol....etc.

And I can't stress enough about WATER, WATER, WATER. We live in the desert! Water is a must!!! And no matter where you live, if there is a disaster, you don't want to be drinking the water from the tap. Bottled water (which we are not stocked up on), but we do have 7 - 55 gallon drums filled with water. If we had to evacuate our house, we couldn't take those with us - this is where the bottled water comes in.

Not only do we need to be prepared for our physical needs, but also our spiritual needs - are you going to church, prayers, scriptures? Temple recommend is current? Are you fulfilling your calling with JOY? Do you reach out to others even though you feel you have nothing to give?? Only when you lose yourself can you truly find yourself. Also are we financially prepared - you'll need cash on hand (small bills). Most likely power will be out or down in some areas - no credit card machines.

Okay I'm off my soap box and will slowly but surely be putting together the first aid kits and replenishing our 72 hour kits. I thought the freeze dried baby food would be good for the kids - they love to eat it anyway, now they get to!