I got a big thank you today from the guys I told you about who are trying to win an app design contest. The contest ends this Friday but the app will be good forever. It seems they have had lots and lots of hits from the blog and really appreciate your support. If you have not already done so please click through and download the iphone/android app today for your free Red Box movies and discount codes for pizza. If you have downloaded the app open it today so they get to count your traffic. These are two students trying to pay bills and they are also preppers like us, so lets support them if we can. It’s all free too!  http://redboxpromocode.com/

I am trying to track how many of you have been to can organizer by clicking on the link on our home page and how many have purchased after using the link. I’m trying to track down a problem so if you placed an order with can organizer will you please send me a note at carolyn@TotallyReady.com and let me know what you purchased.  Thanks a bunch.

Next, I have had a few people comment on the post I did a few weeks ago about purchasing books to download.

“Today I want to talk abut ways to get books inexpensively or for free. I discovered some new apps which are, unfortunately, only on the Palm Pre and Palm Pixi right now. You can purchase these books for 99 cents. Check them out at: http://appible.com/a/our-apps/palm-webos/ They currently have 56 titles available. Many of these are collections so you actually receive more than one book and some of the books in the collections are not published individually. Prices for collection range from $1.50-$3.50.

One example of a collection is called the Romance Classics Collection and includes: Little Women, Anna Karenina, Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, Emma, Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights, Great Expectations, A Room With A View, Wives and Daughters, & The Scarlet Letter . This collection sells for only $3.00 or 27 cents a book!
Included in their selections are many of the books our children are required to read in junior high and high school. I always tried to read what my kids were reading so I would know what was being required of them.”

I had some ask why you would pay if you can download them for free. A great questions, so here is the answer.

Please join me and James tonight on blog talk radio, 5:00pm Pacific time. We will be addressing any questions you have and we will also be talking about this cold, cold, cold weather and what we can do to prepare for power outages and also cold weather travel. I’ll answer any and all questions…

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/james-talmage-stevens

Now lets think about self reliance gifts that are not food related. How about…

1. Gardening gloves and tools with a plant or vegetable seeds seeds.

2. Purchase several small herb plants and place them together in a basket with a favorite recipe card for using each.

3. Handwritten copies of your favorite food storage recipes along with a ingredients for one recipe.

4. Prepaid long distance phone cards to be kept in 72 hour kits or for emergency use.

5. Address book with family addresses and phone numbers, and contact information for poison control, fire and police departments, and the local hospital. Include a note stating that this is to be kept in the car or 72 hour kit.

6. Puzzles or travel games for 72 hour kits

7. Last year we made rice packs for use when you have a stiff neck or headache. Expanding that idea, make draft stoppers. Measure the doorway, cut a six inch wide piece of heavy fabric the length of the door and fill with sand or rice. This is really a great gift for anyone living in an area with frequent power outages during the winter.

8. Hat, mittens, and/or scarves so the old ones can be added to car kits.

9. A great cookbook, especially if it is a food storage cookbook.

10. Set of maps for the area in which the recipient lives in addition to maps to their “out of area contact”, with several “escape routes” highlighted.

11. Candles are pretty but are also good for a power outage. Remember scented candles during an outage can become really awful when they are not the same scent or several are lit to provide light in several rooms. Keep the scents the same or purchase unscented. For emergencies candles in glass containers are the best.

12. Give an item for an auto kit. If they have none consider a back pack of fanny pack with a few items such as a mylar blanket, glow stick or two, or one of the items on sale at closeout right now at Totally Ready are great to begin a car kit for everyone on your list, first aid kits and energy bars are a must for anyone who travels and all those who will be making the trek to grandma’s house for the holiday or to the ski resort. Keep a list of what you have given and add a new item or two every gift giving occasion.

13. Same idea as #12 only for the office. If you or your gift recipient live in an earthquake, tornado or wild fire area they should absolutely be prepared to evacuate from work and have the resources to survive for a day or two until help arrives.

Remember our General Store? The purpose of our store is to have on hand the things we need and use so when times are tough we don’t need to go to the store and we can care for the needs and safety of our family. In that spirit purchase items to help stock the shelves of a loved one’s General Store, non food items.

14. Purchase gift wrapping supplies at the dollar store. A few gift bags or different sizes, tape and tissue paper.

15. For a friend with children purchase a few craft supplies at the dollar store. You will be so appreciated when the “I’m bored” hits during Christmas break, summer or that snow day turns into two or three. Purchase colored paper, crayons, paints, stickers, glitter, wood cut outs, poster board,…etc.

Make this a fun and self reliant Christmas for all.

AND DON’T FORGET: I have a limited number of autographed copies of the best selling book Making the Best of Basics available. Purchase one now and you also receive the free ebooks Mother Hubbard: What She’s Doing Now and That won’t Happen to Me All for $50.00 and all the proceeds go to a family in need of help this Christmas. They make great gifts and I only have a few available so purchase today.

Just a few items first. I still have a few book combos available. It includes an autographed copies of James Talmage Steven’s book Making the Best of Basics, and my ebooks Mother Hubbard: What She’s Doing Now and That Won’t Happen To Me. The package sells for $50.00 and all the proceeds will be given to a struggling family to help pay off $100,000 in medical expenses. The total value of the book combo is $60.00. These can be split up for gifts or they make a great addition to any self reliance library. Purchase one today.

I will be appearing on James’ blog talk radio show Wednesday night, December 9th, and I am looking for someone who would like to go on air with me and discuss what needs to be done to prepare for the emergency which may happen to them. In other words, if you live in earthquake country and still have questions about how to prepare, I would love to answer your questions on air with you. The concern can be any emergency, hurricane, flood, wild fire, house fire, burglary…anything. Please email me if you are interested: Carolyn@TotallyReady.com. The show is broadcast at 5:00 PM Pacific time. If you just want to listen we can be found at: http://blogtalkradio.com/family then just click on James Talmage Stevens: Family Preparedness Guide or on air.

Now, this week please add 5 cans of fruit per family member to your store shelves. I know it’s the holiday season and money is getting tight but now is not the time to give up. Do what you can. Now may be the time to cut back on your other food expenses. You will never be sorry you have stocked your store shelves, I promise.

If you need suggestions for cutting your food budget read the post Money Saving Wednesdays…Think Food

Don’t forget to order your Totally Ready gift subscriptions to our Newsletter … buy one get one free

January Newsletter will included:

General Store Update

Survival Basics: Signaling For Help

Winter Power Outages

Answering Questions: Food Storage

Recap of Money Saving Ideas from 2009

Recipes

Yes, we have a winner of the heart wall hanging. It is John H. of California. Thank you to all who helped by purchasing tickets. I have received  some autographed copies of the book: Making the Best of Basics from James Talmage Stevens, which I will be selling to benefit this same family. You may have noticed the banner ad for his book on the blog. It is packed with great information and a great addition to the library of anyone interested in a self reliant life style. I have packaged the book with a copy of my books:  Mother Hubbard: What She’s Doing Now and That Won’t Happen to Me. You can receive all three for $50.00. This amount includes shipping. Purchase this great library now for yourself or as a gift. The number of books is limited so order today.

I am also very serious about helping others prepare and have made every effort to make that possible for a minimal amount of cash while still becoming Totally Ready. I am offering a Buy One Get One Free on my Newsletter and also Mother Hubbard: What She’s Doing Now. To take advantage of this offer simply click on the links above and send me the email addresses of those you wish to receive your gift. For those of you who already subscribe to the newsletter the offer there still stands, buy one get two free.

I have a great post written with recipes but I decided it was far more important at this time to share the latest information on the H1N1. I will post the recipes on our yahoo group today and and here later this week.

First: Yes, a pig in Minnesota was found to have the swine flu. This is not as significant as you may imagine as you cannot get the flu by eating pork. You cannot. The people this is important to are those in direct contact with pigs such as farmers, 4H groups and meat processors who handle the live animals. This flu is respiratory and therefore cannot get into the cells of the meat we eat.

Second: Do Not purchase vaccines or antivirals such as Tamiflu over the Internet. They are a scam. They may or may not be dangerous but they will give you a false sense of security and you will let down your guard, and that is dangerous. Do Not Do It!

Third: There is a current shortage of the vaccine. If you have small children, are pregnant, or have a preexisting condition such as asthma or diabetes, you should know that vaccines are being given on a first come first served basis. Call you doctor to find out if he/she has the vaccine or knows where you can get it.

Fourth: If you get the flu or even suspect you have it, and especially if you are under 64, or have a preexisting medical condition, insist on an antiviral immediately. Do not wait for the H1N1 test results. The earlier you get the antiviral the better. Also, do not rely on the rapid test. It is very inaccurate.

Finally: These numbers were released by the Center for Disease Control a few minutes ago…very frightening.

Hospitalization for the H1N1 is: 53% are under 25 years old, 39% are 26-64 years old and 7% are over 64 years old.  During a normal seasonal flu season 60% of hospitalizations are of those over 64 years old.

Death from the H1N1: 25% of deaths are in those under 25 years old, 65% are 25-64 years old and 12% over 64 years old. During a normal seasonal flu 90% of fatalities are in those over 65 years old. With the H1N1 88% of fatalities are in those under 65!

Those numbers are very frightening, especially the death rate, since most 2o something adults still believe they are healthy and invincible and they are not being watched over by parents any longer.

This flu is going to get worse, much worse, so please help others understand how dangerous this flu really can be.

Our Yahoo Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TotallyReady/

To subscribe to our newsletter: http://blog.totallyready.com/?page_id=736

To purchase Prep Not Panic: Keys to Surviving the Next Pandemic : http://www.totallyready.com/

To purchase Mother Hubbard What She’s Doing Now: Food Storage For the 21st Century: http://www.totallyready.com/ Mother Hubbard also includes an interactive food storage calculator and inventory system for your General Store.

Blog Talk Radio Show with Kathy Hamilton..listen to our conversation at:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/simikathy/2009/10/14/Carolyn–how-to-prepare-your-family-for-an-emergency-so-you-can-be-gone-with-confidence

Blog Talk Radio Shows with James Talmage Stevens:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/James-Talmage-Steven/2009/10/17/Family-Preparedness-Guide

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/James-Talmage-Steven/2009/06/20/Family-Preparedness-Guide

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/James-Talmage-Steven/2009/05/23/Family-Preparedness-Guide

Prep Not Panic: Keys to Surviving the Next Pandemic is finally finished and ready for release. I have researched extensively over the past two years to bring you the information you will need to navigate your family through the next pandemic. When I began we were preparing for the Bird Flu. It has killed hundreds to date and is very deadly with a 40% to 80% mortality rate. that threat has yet to reach pandemic levels, but it may in the future. As usual, nature has the upper hand and it was a swine flu that took the world by surprise this past spring, becoming the first pandemic in over 40 years. We know of two individuals who have now tested positive for a mutated form of the H1N1 flu. It is not going  away and will return this fall in even greater numbers than we are currently experiencing. Whether or not it mutates and becomes more deadly is yet to be seen.

Prep Not Panic: Keys to Surviving the Next Pandemic is not a long, wordy expose about pandemics. It is an easy to read and understand study of what a pandemic is, how it acts, what we have learned from past pandemics and what we can do now to protect our family from the next. If not the H1N1 this year maybe it will be the H5N1 (bird flu) next year which will kill millions.

If you or your loved ones are not sure where to start or what is really needed to prepare purchase Prep Not Panic: Keys to Surviving the Next Pandemic today. As I research more and have new information to share I will email you additional chapters to add to your books at no additional cost. Purchase several copies today to share with those you love.

To purchase your ebook today:

http://www.payloadz.com/go/sip?id=927850

Table of Contents and a brief definition of each chapter:

Introduction…a brief overview and review of just why this is an important book for your family to own and follow.

History of Pandemics…exactly what has happened during past pandemics and the recently H1N1 outbreak and what can we learn from them

What is a Pandemic? …explanation of exactly how a pandemic is different from other flu illness and why we should take the threat seriously.

Prepare Today…what you can do today to protect your family and prepare for their care.

Face Masks 101…just what is an N95 mask and why they are important.

Quarantine…what is a quarantine and how you can implement one in your home to keep your family safe.

Catholes: Proper Disposal of Human Waste…yes, infrastructure may be disrupted and we may need to care for all out own needs, including human waste.

Frequently Asked Questions

Included are charts which should be completed now for future use. Also included are information sheets to copy and place in medicine cabinets or in kitchen cupboards for quick reference should a self quarantine become necessary:

Helpful Websites and Phone Numbers

What to Expect …as the illness progresses

Creating a Master Mix…a formula for making favorite foods into master mixes for quick meals and treats that any family member can make, just in case the adults become ill.

Rehydration Solutions

Medications to Relieve Symptoms

Weekly Schedule…create a schedule to help maintain order during a quarantine

Stay In Touch…Important contact information to collect now

Family Medical History…an absolute must to complete now, before it is needed.

Pandemic Patient Record…vital information to record each day, for each patient, to determine the severity of their illness.

I’m finalizing my Pandemic ebook, I’ll let you know as soon as it is available. It would make a great Father’s Day gift or Wedding or Bridal Shower gift. Help everyone you know get prepared!

I’m prepping for an Emergency Preparedness Fair in Manteca California this weekend. If you live nearby please come say hello. It is being held at the LDS Church 6060 Northland Road, Manteca CA from 4:00pm till 8:00pm. I will be teaching..Beginning Food Storage (What, Where, and How to store)  at 4:30, A Three Month Supply of Food (Designing a plan for your family, not the masses) at 5:30 and Pandemic: Don’t Panic…Prepare at 6:30. There will be lots of displays and booths for information on everything from fingerprinting to gardening, from HAM Radio to water storage, from document storage to preparing for pets, and much more. Spread the word and join me if you can.

I’m also preparing for another web cast on June 20th. I’m not sure what you would like to hear about so please give me your ideas. I know there are still more questions on a pandemic but is that what you really need help with the most? Please let me know. Even if you are unavailable to listen on Saturday the archive is available on line after the web cast so please send me your ideas and questions and you can listen when it is convenient for you.

Think Treats! During an emergency it is likely there will be no grocery stores open for at least several days. Should you be lucky enough for stores to remain open they will probably have very empty shelves. Together we are preparing for a quarantine lasting several weeks but many other disasters may leave us to fend for ourselves for weeks at a time. Should this happen we have already discussed the importance of comfort foods. To ensure we can make those foods there are a few basics we need to have in our General Store.

This week add: vanilla, baking powder, baking soda and cornstarch. These should have been among the items you dated when we first began and you should now have a good idea just how much you use in a month, and thus, in three months. Purchase three months worth this week. Remember to consider the fact that during a crisis you will not be able to run to the store for cookies or brownies and you will be baking from scratch more than you do now. Plan accordingly.

If you have no idea what I mean by dating items check out the post: Our General Store or check in your ebook: Mother Hubbard: What She’s Doing now. There is a longer list in the book but the post will give you the general idea. If you have not yet dated items purchase one container of vanilla, baking powder, baking soda and cornstarch now. Date your items as directed in the post and ebook and then if you discover you need more than one add more later, but don’t fall behind this week.

I haven’t done an H1N1 update in several days and we need to continue to monitor the situation. If this flu should turn out to fizzle in the fall there are still many things we can learn from it to prepare for the time when a deadly flu surfaces.

World Health Organization has reported 25,288 laboratory confirmed cases of influenza A/H1N1 infection from 73 countries as on 8^th June 2009. There have been 139 deaths. Country-wise details annexed.

Health screening of passengers coming from affected countries is continuing in 21 International airports. 46963 passengers have been screened on 8.6.2009. Around 19856 passengers were from affected countries. 221 doctors and 90 paramedics have been deployed to man 76 counters at the above airports. Four suspect cases, one each at Bangalore, Mumbai and two at Delhi have been isolated at the identified health facility.

This is exactly what was expected, more cases with a slow down during the summer. Only time will tell what happens next.

To read the entire story and to see where the flu is right now visit the link below.

http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=49096

Right now the mayor of New Orleans and his wife are quarantined in a hotel in China because a passenger on a plane on which they traveled tested positive for the H1N1 flu. China is taking this threat very seriously. They remember the lessons learned from the past. Why is it in more educated, prosperous countries like the Untied States we refuse to learn those lessons? I remember just before Ike hit Texas that some people refused to evacuate because Katrina hadn’t hit them and forecasters warned it might. Why wouldn’t you evacuate just in case? Some didn’t and Galveston and the surrounding area was devastated, has still not been rebuilt, and some of those who remained behind lost their lives. This is exactly why I named my first book That Won’t Happen to Me… The more prosperous we are and the more resources we have to become prepared, the more we feel we are entitled to protection from disaster, how sad.

New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin, his wife, Seletha, and a member of the mayor’s entourage were being held in quarantine at a hotel in Shanghai after a passenger on Nagin’s flight to China came down with suspected swine flu symptoms, a city spokeswoman said Sunday.

http://www.nola.com/news/index.ssf/2009/06/nagin_wife_staffer_quarantined.html

I haven’t received many recommendations for home businesses but I do have a few. I am reviewing those and will highlight businesses beginning next Thursday. Please keep them coming.

So, for today I thought it was a good time to get you all ready to tackle food storage. We will begin the process on January 26th and every Monday thereafter. I would love to get a feeling for what you need help with. Please send me your questions or suggestions. I know there is plenty of bad information out there. I know there are lots of calculators that still have you storing lots of oil and tons of wheat. I promise you I will not ask you to do that. We are going to store exactly what you eat and use every day.

A little bit about me since so many of you are new and just discovering us. I have been passionate about food all my life. I was raised with a grandfather who gardened and canned. He made the best…pickles! He was raised by a father who owned a bakery and so my poppop also loved to bake. I loved doing all these things with him. When it came time for me to go away to college I took that passion with me and majored in Home Economics education with an emphasis in foods and nutrition and a minor in science. Since that time I have taught children and adults in schools, community groups and at churches. When my husband and I became engaged the first thing I did was to put all our pocket change, each night, into a jar. At the end of the week I would purchase food I placed in a trunk so when we got married we would have food storage.

A natural progression was to become involved in the study of other ways in which our family could practice self reliance. I soon became obsessed with other aspects of preparedness, and, as they say, the rest is history.

I have been asked for years if I had a plan or a book that could be followed so this last year I did just that. I compiled a series of articles I have written into an ebook That Won’t Happen to Me. I also finished  a food storage ebook Mother Hubbard: What She’s Doing Now…a simple approach to food storage in the 21st century.

Although you don’t need to own Mother Hubbard:What She’s Doing Now to follow our food storage plan it will help as it includes an interactive calculator designed to help you plan food storage from one week to one year. You choose your goal and it will calculate what you need.  It also includes an interactive inventory system which contains food as well as cleaning and medical supplies. To be prepared to follow our food storage adventure please gather a binder with dividers and note paper. You will also need a permanent marker and a jar with a lid. Finally what I consider the most important thing you need is a food storage buddy. Find someone you can share this journey with. There will be days when you need someone to help you organize, stay motivated, learn a new skill, check sale prices, split bulk food purchases and just give you a high five when that food begins to fill your shelves.

Please pass the word. I have so many people who found our Seven Steps after we were weeks or months into the plan and it is hard to catch up.

This has now been declared the second driest winter in California history. Since we have been experiencing draught conditions for two years already this is not good news. Many farmers are saying they will not plant this year. There could not be a more critical time to get your food storage.

So..get ready and please send me questions and suggestions!

I have been asked many times about putting my books on CD so they can be used by those not commuter savy and given as gifts. I have just finished that project and the new CD is now available for only $11.95. It includes the book Mother Hubbard: What She’s Doing Now plus the book That Won’t Happen to Me .. Volume 1. In addition I have included a few appetizer and drink recipes which are from my new cook book Can Can Cooking which will be available in February. When ordering be sure to include a message in the comments box and we will gift wrap and enclose a personalized note from you with your gift, at no additional charge.

If you have family and friends you have been trying to encourage to become self reliant please consider a gift of education.

You can copy the Seven Steps program and place that in a binder. We will complete our year of Seven Steps in just a few weeks. I have an idea I am very excited about to replace that series, but more on that later.

You can copy the Where to Begin Food Storage series and place that in a binder to give as a gift. All the information in those posts is also included in Mother Hubbard : What She’s Doing Now. Naturally, the book includes much more information as well as an interactive food calculator and interactive inventory sheet, which the posts do not.

We will be continuing our Pandemic Series but since we have just begun and there is limited info here, for now, you could copy some information from the Center For Disease Control http://www.cdc.gov/or World Health Organization http://www.who.int/en/ to give along with some Pandemic preparedness gifts.

We had three families with us for the Thanksgiving holiday and I learned so much about my Pandemic preparations and what is working and what I have to rethink. I’ll share that tomorrow. It was such a great feeling to have 19 people in our home for several days and never once did we have to go to the store. We were able to handle all the food and treat needs as well as medical, some of the kids and one of the adults became ill, it is winter after all…it felt great to be Totally Ready.

For those of you working with preparedness groups I will be happy to quote you a discounted rate on the purchase of CDs for your group. Please contact me and I will be happy to give you a quote based on the size of the group.

The important thing to remember is to share what you know with those you love. There is no greater gift.

Yesterday I told you to stack ginger ale in the shape of a Christmas tree. I realized it would also be fun to do the same thing with cans of soup, after all at least two brands come in red cans. Naturally, chicken noodle soup but also tomato, cream of chicken and even cheese are all great to use as an ingredient in soups, stews and casseroles when your family is not ill. Stack them is the shape of a Christmas tree and purchase or make a simple star or angel to attach to the top can.

Then there is toast. Why not make a couple of loaves of bread, different types and include an invitation to a night of bread baking instruction. This would be a great way to get together several friends or family members, bake some bread and watch a great movie while it raises and then bakes. Your friends all learn to make bread,(toast) and you have time together to create memories, also a wonderful gift.

Want to give a great food storage book? I have had several requests for hard copies of
Mother Hubbard:What She’s Doing Now…A Simple Approach to Food Storage in the 21st Century. I am working on a version on CD which will be available soon. Thanks for asking, I guess that means the book has been helping!

Let’s hear your ideas!

This sounds self serving, but I assure you I have not made money on my ebook yet, buy Mother Hubbard: What She’s Doing Now and follow the plan there. It will walk you through every step and of course if you have questions please just email them to me or post a comment. I answer every question I get. If you have a spouse, children or friends who are not yet convinced send them the post Money Saving Wednesday…yes, food again. Then send them the post I will post tomorrow. You have got to see that one!

For those who have their three month supply complete keep moving forward with our Seven Steps.

1. Let’s work a little more on our Car Kits. Add a small bag of kitty litter to the trunk if you live or travel in an area where you encounter ice or snow. This is a great help when trying to dig out of a snow drift or right your car after a skid.

2. Add laundry detergent to your food storage. I like to store liquid detergent as I can use it much more easily if I need to wash without electricity. Maybe we need to create a new name for food storage since laundry detergent is definitely not a food but is an important part of any complete self reliance plan.

3. Add a wrench to your Grab and Go kit that can be used to turn off utilities.

4. Try a new recipe which includes food storage items. There are some great recipes on the website: SafelyGatheredIn.blogspot.com. Check them out. Incorporating your new recipes into your menu planning now will make the transition to using your food storage simple and seamless for your family when the time comes that you need to rely on it. Let us know which recipes are your favorites.

5. Review the items you dated at the beginning of our Seven Weeks program. Check your storage to be sure you have a three month supply of the following: mayonnaise, oil, vinegar, ketchup, mustard, and salad dressing. this may seem like a lot but if you have kept up you shouldn’t need to add much.

6. Purchase coffee filters. I know some of you don’t drink coffee but these are to filter water before using water purification tablets or boiling. More on that later…

7. Add glow sticks to your Car Kit. If you can find the 12 inch variety they are great to direct traffic after an accident or to use in place of a flare. You should have several in your car. They are weather proof, safe around a gasoline leak and safe for children to handle.

Don’t panic. We have been working on this long before any crisis with the economy began. If you are new here, welcome! Don’t panic, it is never too late to begin. The key is to begin now. Start with food storage. Need guidance, buy the book or check out our Where to Begin Food Storage category. Be sure to ask questions. We all love to help.

This past week my son had the opportunity to help a family in Texas as they began recovery from hurricane Ike. He traveled with a group of men from Church and they cut down and cut up trees which had fallen on a home. They cut it into small pieces so FEMA would pick it up. They had a challenge getting home as the gas stations were still without power, as was the whole town. Do you think those people would be laughing at our stash of glow sticks? How do you think they feel about a home inventory? What about food storage? They still have a home, at least part of a home that is habitable, but the stores are empty or closed. I’ll be food storage would not seem foolish to them. Yes, this can happen to any of us, and we will be ready! This week:

1. Add anti bacterial ointment to your first aid kits. These do expire so check the ones you already have to make sure they are still current. During the cleanup process after a disaster you will want to make sure you have this available as there will be plenty of rusty nails and other dangers which may cause injury.

2. Purchase or set aside a container for your Grab and Go Kit. A large duffel bag or a 5 gallon bucket both work well. The bucket can be used as the bottom of a port-a-potty. These buckets do not have to be new.

3. Copy your mortgage and homeowners insurance policies and add them to your 72 hour kits. Be sure to add a copy of each to the envelope you are preparing to mail to your out of state contact. I can not stress enough how important these papers are. Please be sure you copy your important documents. You will never be sorry you took the time.

4. Prepare now to wash clothes without electricity. I have a friend who loves to hang her wash on a wash line in the backyard. She loves the way they smell. I remember hanging clothes, and then I got spoiled. I am prepared to wash clothing and dry it just in case there is a prolonged power outage. There are still over a million people without electricity in Ohio and Texas today, as well as other areas, a week after hurricane Ike passed through. You will need a method for washing. I purchased a good old wash board. You will also need liquid laundry detergent or a bar of laundry soap. Once your clothes are washed they will need to be dried. I remember when we were young my sister and I would each grab an end of a piece of laundry and we would both turn it to the right and ring it out before hanging. You will need a rope and clothes pins and the hardware to secure the rope to your home, a pole or a tree.

5. Add work gloves to all your kits, 72 hour, car and Grab and Go. When cleaning after a disaster they will wear out so don’t skimp and decide you don’t need them in a 72 hour kit as long as you have a pair in the car. If you are ever stranded in your car during the winter they will keep your hands warm as well as being a great asset when changing a tire or digging out from a snow bank. Check out the Blog Readers Special this week.

6. Meet with your family and discuss what you will do if you are separated from each other, both during a disaster or just on a visit to Disneyland.. Where will you meet? Who should a child go to for help? Do they know their full name and address and mom and dad’s names? Are all the family phone numbers memorized?

7. Add one can of protein per family member to your food storage. If you want some suggestions for protein sources check your inventory list in your Mother Hubbard:What She’s Doing Now ebook.

Good Luck!

• Board up outside windows.

• Move outdoor furniture, plants and decorations inside. If you have a pool throw any water proof furniture in the pool. It will sink to the bottom and can be retrieved after the storm passes. In a strong wind from a hurricane, even a category 1 or 2 every flying object can become deadly.
• Trim the trees. If you have branches that are touching the house, especially near a window, trim them now. If you have fruit on your trees pick it. Both of these can fly through a window and injure your family inside.
• Close all interior doors. If an object should penetrate a wall or window slow down it’s progress by placing one more obstacle between you and that object.
• Get food. Now is a good time to stock up on food that does not have to be cooked. This will be great for meals during and after the storm but also in the car should you decide to evacuate. Peanut butter and jelly, bread, crackers, cheese sticks, fruit, canned juices, granola bars, all are great choices. If you are buying canned fruits and veggies try to get the ones with the pop tops. Remember, no jerky or other salty foods. They only make you more thirsty. Don’t forget food for your pets. Remember the paper plates and cups, etc. since you don’t want to waste water washing dishes if it is in short supply. Now, if you had that 3 month supply we have been encouraging, you would have all this! How’s that for a plug? If you aren’t in danger this time get out your inventory list from your Mother Hubbard e book and start planning!
• Don’t forget to renew any prescriptions that you may be low on and also any over the counter medications which you use frequently.
• Gather flashlights, battery or emergency radios, batteries and glow sticks. You know how much I love glow sticks. If you have them have every family member wear one around their neck during the storm. Then, if the electricity goes out you can just snap them and you will be able to keep track of each other.
• Fill the gas tank. Even if you are planning to ride out the storm at home fill up now. There are over 1 million people without power in Baton Rouge, LA right now. They are a long way from the beach. However, the electricity is still out and gas pumps do not work without electricity.
• Get cash. ATM machines and credit cards also do not function without electricity. Cash should always be in small denominations, never anything larger than a 20 dollar bill and I would stick to 10s and smaller. Once stores open again they may not have much cash on hand and they may not be able to change a large bill. Why pay $20.00 for a case of water if you don’t have to, just because they can’t make change.
• Get water now. You don’t need to run to the store but fill every picnic drink cooler, pitcher, stock pot,and anything else you have that will hold water. Water may not be safe to drink for several days after a hurricane. If your freezer is not full fill zippered plastic bags with water and freeze them . This will not only provide you with fresh water later but also preserve the foods in your freezer for a longer period of time if the power should fail.
• Catch up on your wash. No kidding…the electricity may be out after the storm so start with an ample supply of clean clothing to get you through.
• Notify your out of state contact person of your plans and have them notify the rest of the extended family and friends. If you should decide to evacuate let them know and ask them to spread the word.

If you are past this point and ready to evacuate check the posts from last week under Evacuation and Refuge.

Please, all you Totally Ready readers, please pass this on to everyone you know who might need it or knows someone who does.

I recently read an article in which the author encourage people to get food storage. Some of it sounded a lot like what we are doing, store what you eat, store a well balanced variety of foods, and store non food items. That is where the similarity ends, however.

When I was writing Mother Hubbard:What She’s Doing Now I tried to take a systematic approach to storing food. I hope you will seriously look at the plan I have outlined and follow it.

I have asked you to create a space to store foods before you begin shopping. This does not have to take months but can be a matter of just an hour or two of re-arranging a few things in your home and garage. The ebook has many suggestions so if you have not read through that section please go back and review it. You can also find some of the information in the “Where to Begin Food Storage” section on this blog. Remember your food needs to be easily accessible or you won’t rotate it. Preparing a space in advance also serves another purpose. It is a great boost to your commitment and such an awesome feeling to watch those cans and boxes begin to accumulate on those shelves. I love going in and looking at what I have accomplished!

The article also stressed the importance of storing non food items. We have spent lots of time talking about that not only in Mother Hubbard but also in the posts here and our Seven Steps. My problem with the advice in the article was to guestimate the amount you need. Please, please don’t do that. Isn’t that exactly what has been the reason for all the food and supplies that have ended up in a landfill? Medications expire and so does food. Know what you need. I have encouraged you to date items and then determine how much you actually use and then to purchase what you really need. Again there is a comprehensive list in Mother Hubbard and a shorter list in the Where to begin Food Storage section. The shorter list will help you to begin brainstorming the items you need to date.

Yes, time is of the essence, but taking the time to do things right will save you not only time, in the long run, but also money. That saved money can then be used to buy more of what you need to care for your family. Please commit to begin today.