Would you know what to do?

It is second nature to go to the sink and get a glass of water.  It is just as easy to turn on the faucet to brush your teeth or get water to prepare a meal.  We do it without even thinking about it.  But, what if your water supply had been compromised?  Would you know what to do?  How would you keep your family from habitually going to the tap to get water? Here is what my brilliant Niece shared with her neighbors recently. She is exactly in this situation....right now. Out of her concern for her neighbors and friends, she shared the following information to help them.  

For those in the Greenville/Edwardsville area, a little more info on the water situation, and some tips on how to deal with it. Some routine samples were taken on Monday, and results on those samples came back Wednesday as positive for E Coli. They are taking more samples and waiting for the results on those. They are also looking for a source of the contamination. Officials are anticipating 6 days of being on boil order.
All water for drinking, cooking, and washing dishes with should be brought to a rolling boil for 1 full minute. You're dishwasher will sanitize dishes on it's own (it heats the water hot enough to sanitize), but all hand washed dishes should be washed with boiled water. It's safe to bathe in (don't get it in your mouth) and wash your clothes in. Make sure to use clean/boiled water to brush your teeth with.
In our house, we are putting signs on all the faucets saying not to use them. I'm having the kids bring their toothbrushes down to the kitchen so that it's different enough that they won't accidentally use the sink out of habit (lesson learned from last time). If a toothbrush does make it under the tap, just put it in boiling water for one minute to sanitize it again. Hand washing should be done with boiled water as well. It also doesn't hurt to have some hand sanitizer hanging around for use before eating and drinking, because sometimes contamination can make it through you're precautions;)
After the ban is lifted:
1. Flush your hot water tank twice
2. Run treated water through all your faucets for 15 minutes
3. Throw out the ice from your ice maker and sanitize the bin
4. Run a couple gallons of treated water through your refrigerator after you replace the water filter
5. Bleach the aerators in all your faucets
6. Scrub down all your sinks and bathtubs with a germ killing bath cleaner

She also shared this additional comment with me:

 I've got to go check on my elderly neighbor. She didn't have much water last night and we thought this was going to be short term.. I learned from you and mom to help myself, and then help those around me:)

Take Home Message:

• Would you know what to do in this situation?  Would you know how to find out if the water in your area was compromised. For that matter, do you know how to find out about any possible emergency in your town or neighborhood?   Many cities have a website with wonderful information. Check out the resources in your area today so that you are not wasting valuable time if and when a compromised situation arises.  
• Do you have the necessary supplies on hand? Not only do you need to boil water in this situation, but you need other things as well.  You should have water filters, bleach, containers to boil in, stored water, and fuel just in case you are without power as well.  
• Knowing that your water is compromised, if you had to dispose of waste.....what would you plan be?  What are the requirements/codes in your are to deal with waste?  Are you allowed to bury it?  Do you know which of your plants you can safely put liquid waste on?  As a general rule, you should never put human waste on plants/trees that provide food for consumption. It is often fine for ornamental plants.
• How would you keep your family members from habitually going to the faucet and getting a drink or brushing your teeth?  How would you alert little ones that cannot read?
• What about your neighbors?  Do you have any neighbors or extended family members who may need your assistance during times like these? Do you have a plan in place for them?

Food for thought, don't you think?  

Baby It's Cold Out There...

It seems that Winter has struck everywhere. This was my Backyard not to long ago.

Image courtesy of J Carroll

A family member's home in the South East with the Power line down.

Courtesy of Josh Lott

And a Midwest bitterly cold photo.  I remember shoveling sidewalks when I was growing up in Michigan.  My face froze and the snow would sting my face as well as I shoveled the powdery white precipitation.  The sad part was that in a short time, the snow often blew back across the driveway or sidewalk requiring you to go out and do it all again.  

No doubt you have heard the news about all the strange winter weather going on all round the country.  However, it is severe in many parts of our nation.  I have checked in on several family and friends in various parts of this frigid country and wanted to share what they have learned or found that they need to work on..

1. It's cold...it's cold...it's cold.  Having alternate fuel sources available when needed is a must. Propane prices have jumped nearly $2.00 per gallon. Wood is useful if it has been kept dry and away from the elements.  Do you have access to Natural Gas?  I am sitting here writing this post by the fire....powered by Natural Gas.  In an emergency, our Natural Gas rarely goes out, so I can be warm and safe in my home.  
2. Sheltering in place.  Many school districts have cancelled school a lot! This means that the parents must have a plan to care for their children if they work outside of the home.  It also means that there needs to be some form of 'entertainment' that is not dependent on power.  How is your stash of cards and board games?
3. Feeding the family:  I have seen news stories that showed shelving in stores that were nearly bare.  Are you in a position to feed your family with the food reserves that you have in place?  Do you have fuel and a means to cook it without power? Do you have experience cooking with a Dutch Oven, Wonder Oven, Reflector Oven, etc?  
4. Power:  I messaged with one family member in the South East. She said they were watching TV by Generator.  I messaged her and asked what type of generator they had. She reported that it was a portable one. She also stated that after the storm dies down that they were going to get an additional one.  What plans do you have in place for a power outage that may be prolonged? 
5. Light:  Check your current supplies.  Flashlights are often the first thing that one thinks of when the power goes out.  But they require batteries....and a lot of them at that.  Candles are also often thought of.  Do you have enough candles, matches, and batteries etc to serve you over several days?  I have a solar powered light that I can also use.  Think outside of the box, what do you have access to and what should you store. Consider using the solar lights that you have in your garden or along your walkway.  They can charge during the day and be brought in to provide light during the evening.  
6. Communication:  Without power, how are you going to communicate with the rest of the world?  How will folks contact you?  I recently purchased a powerbank for a conference that I attended to charge my phone, tablet, and laptop.  It lasted for days.  I plan to keep it in my car for emergencies.   Consider looking into various types of equipment to keep you in contact during emergencies.  
7. Water:  Are you pipes in danger of being frozen?  Do you let a little water drip from your faucets to protect your plumbing?  Do you have enough water on hand to drink and use for hygiene if you traditional supply were to be interrupted?

The time to prepare for anything is now.  Here are some important questions that you need to answer for yourself and your family:  

• What have you thought of doing?  
• Have you made a list? 
• What is your time-line?  
• How much money can you set aside for preparedness items.  
• Who do you share your plans with and who do you keep your plans from? 
• How do you plan to respond if others come to you for shelter etc because they have not taken the necessary precautions.
• Do you know how to use the equipment or food that you have stored?
• Is your family used to the types of foods you may have to eat during an emergency?  Just for your information, there is research that shows that children will decline to eat if they are not familiar with the foods being offered...even if they are hungry.  The old adage that "they will eat when they get hungry" just isn't true.  I don't want to be the helpless parent/grandparent trying to offer substance to a child who just doesn't want it because they have never had it.
• Do you have pets?  Have you made emergency plans for their care?
• How is your transportation?  Do you have a vehicle that can travel in snowy weather?
• What medical supplies do you have on hand?  Can you handle a bout with a cold or flu without running to the store.  What about ailments like Diarrhea or constipation.  What do you have on hand to deal with these common discomforts.  Do you have the knowledge and supplies to deal with broken bones, wounds and the like?

Hopefully you will be in a position to start a conversation with your spouse or significant other using these questions.  Make a plan today...especially if you are really stuck at home due to the winter weather.

Post comments about your thoughts and plans.  Lets learn from each other!  

Another One of My Favorite Things......

Image Courtesy of Bling Berry

Continuing in the series of my "Favorite Things", here is yet another one.  This is a collapsible bottle that can easily fit in a purse, 72 hour kit, or any bag.  I like the fact that it has a clip that can be placed on a backpack, or a belt loop if you desire.

This bottle holds 16 oz. and comes in different colors.  It also has a strip to write a person's name or to label the contents.  You can order them from Bling Berry directly.

This is is a great gift or stocking stuffer.

Consider it.

Water Storage......in the big box store!

I also saw this sight at Wally World the other day.  Look at all the water storage options....and look at the pricing.  Get stocked up.....maybe this big box store knows something we dont' know!

I particularly like the variety being offered.  I have large containers of water.  I also have smaller, more manageable containers as well.  This is so that I can easily transport water in my home, or transport it in my vehicle if for some reason we have to evacuate.

My sister lives outside of Austin Texas.  This week, she had to evacuate because of the fires burning in the area.   In asking her what she decided to take, she said she took her 72 hour kits, photos, legal papers, certain keepsakes..........and her Seminary files!  We all place value on things differently.  Fortunately for my Sister and her family, they were able to return home within hours.  However, it made her think about what was important.  She had a few hours to decide.  Not everyone does. If the fires had taken out the power, she would be really dependent on her stored water.  This is particularly true as the air was very smoky in her area.

Think about it.  What would you do?  What do you have on hand?  Would you be in a position to leave on short notice?  Could you haul water if you needed to? Answer your own questions.....and make a plan!

Water Storage.....

(Image courtesy of utahpreppers.com)

This subject alone is both simple and complex.  So, I am going to share some of my favorite Water Storage containers....and one that I am coveting....(Santa...are you listening?).

(Image courtesy of Preparednesspro.com)

The good ole standby are 55 gallon drums.  However, this is a great twist on how to store them.  A benefit to these is that they are not opaque and discourage the growth of bacteria and algae.  The Downside is that they are not transportable  If you needed to leave in a hurry...these would have to stay behind. 

(Image courtesy of thereadystore.com)

This is another option for your.  These 'cubes' stack, are opaque and are transportable.  I have several that hold 5 gallons each.  If you ever go on a Pioneer Trek...this is the water container to take!  You can freeze one or more ahead of time so that you can have cool water...for a while.

(image courtesy of h2osystem.com)

These are nice for your refrigerator, but they are transparent and could encourage the growth of slimy things you would not want to drink in an emergency if you stored water in them for extended periods of time.  They must be kept in a dark cool environment.

(image courtesy of cityofyukonok.gov)

There is a place for bottled-water.  It is portable, is great for 72 hour kits, and for quick access in a short-term emergency.  The water in commercially prepared bottles is reportedly 'good' for 2 years.  However, the container is clear, so they will need to be stored in a cool, dark place.

(image courtesy of thereadystore.com)

This is what the LRH is coveting...(oh Santa....where are you?).  Why, because it has all the features that are great for storing water.  It is not opaque, it has 2 'spigots'.  One high enough to put a bucket under and one at ground level to allow you to get all the water out of it.  It holds 275 gallons of water and takes the same floor space as an upright 55 gallon drum.  It can fit through a doorway (Santa....we have a perfect spot in the basement...right next to a floor drain). The 'challenge' areas from my standpoint are that it is not transportable in an emergency..but for staying in place it is great!  Also, depending on your point of view, the cost may be a bit challenging....(Santa..save up will ya?). The cost, depending upon where you live and shop is between $375.00 and $429.00.

(Image courgesy of howstufworks.com)

You certainly can store water in 'PETE" bottles that are made specifically for foods.  Think of all those empty 2-liter bottles you may be discarding.  Clean them out, treat the water, and store for up to 6 months.

So, these are some of my favorite 'Water Storage' things.  Hopefully a little elf will clue in Santa sometime.....what do you think the chances are?

Water.....is a critical......life-giving.....NEED!

(Image courtesty of http://www.mynewsletterbuilder.com/)

Late Tuesday evening the Country of Haiti suffered a severe blow.  The situation there is grave.  One of the most needed and inaccessible items is....water.  They need everything, but it seems such a shame that many who survived this natural disaster may not survive as they do not have access to this simple liquid.

Please consider making a donation to the Red Cross (http://www.redcross.org/) and click on the "DONATE" button.  Also, you can automatically donate $10.00 by texting 90999 on your cell phone.

Now, after doing the above......GO LOOK AT YOUR WATER STORAGE!!!  See what you have, determine what you need.  Do you have water in your 72 hour kits?  Do you have 72 hour kits?  Do you have water in your vehicles?

Consider obtaining a water purifier. Imagine what parents could do for their children in a disaster with a water purifier.  If you have a purifier....do you have extra cartridges?  Do you know how to use it?

Finally, learn how to store water.    See the information from www.providentliving.org/  Click on "Family Home Storage" and then click on "Drinking Water".:

Take that quick inventory.  Be prepared for all sorts of emergencies by having your water storage.  Show your family that you care about them by having the life-sustaining of water on hand.

Finally, once you have water in a big drum, have you ever thought of how you were going to get it out? This instructional video is very helpful.

It's a matter of ......Water Storage

Well, I mentioned some time ago that I was wanting.....if not coveting something and I needed to ask the Rooster of the house if we could get it.

Well, needless to say, it is still on the list, but I still really, really want to get one. Do you want to know what it is? Watch the video below. Yes, it is an advertisement, but it also has a lot of good information as well.




Now, if anyone in my ward is interested in trying to get a group order together, let me know. I have talked with these folks and they will do a group order.

Let me know!