Informational Topics

We focus on a new topic each month. Here you can read some of the information from past months.

Emergency Essentials website has a lot of great 'Insight Articles' as you learn more about food storage and emergency preparedness. Click here to see their articles, then click on the category that you are interested in.
Preserving and Proving Your Identity and Worth in an Emergency
Taken from Emergency Essentials Website - Insight Articles - The First Three Days of an Emergency - Preserving and Proving Your Identity and Worth in an Emergency

There are four areas of documents that you should consider when planning your 72 hour supplies. Those are a record of material possessions in the home, identification, cash and irreplaceable family mementos. Following a brief explanation of each of these subjects is a complete list of documents you should consider storing in your 72 hour kit.


Taking an Inventory of Your Home
In the event of a natural disaster or fire, you may find your home and everything in it badly damaged or destroyed. This is traumatic enough for any family, but if they don't have a photographic record of their possessions, they may find a battle for reimbursement with the insurance company even more horrific.

Barry and Lynette Crockett, co-authors of 72-Hour Family Emergency Preparedness Checklist, Family Emergency Plan, and A Year's Supply urge families use one of the following methods to keep track of items in the home:
• Make a list of every item in your home and try to include serial or identification numbers, when and where purchased, the receipt and its estimated value.
•Use a tape recorder and make an audio list
• Supplement a written list with photographs of furnishings and other valuables in their normal setting in the home
• After a natural disaster such as an earthquake, hurricane or flood, many of the convenient ways we spend and get money no longer exist. Automatic teller machines, credit card networks, even the banks themselves are often inoperable. It is then that towns become "cash only" societies for goods your family
• Videotape a tour of your home and garage
After you have taken inventory, store one copy with your 72 hour supplies and then give a back-up copy with a relative or family friend (preferably in another town). Or, you could store the back-up copy in a safe deposit box; just make sure you keep a copy of the key in your 72 hour kit.

It's important that you make your inventory list as complete and well documented as possible. This will ensure a fast and fair settlement with the insurance company.

Identification
In an emergency situation, being able to prove who you are is critical for receiving help, both from government agencies and insurance companies. Some of the documents you should have copies of in your 72 hour kit include:
• Social Security cards and/or numbers for each of your family members
• Drivers license
• Passport
• Birth certificates
Again, it would be wise to have these in water-tight bags or containers and to also have another copy in a safe deposit box or in another town.

Cash
After a natural disaster such as an earthquake, hurricane or flood, many of the convenient ways we spend and get money no longer exist. Automatic teller machines, credit card networks, even the banks themselves are often inoperable. It is then that towns become "cash only" societies for goods your family desperately need.
Having enough cash on hand to get you through the first 72 hours following a disaster will bring peace of mind to you and your family. Here are a few suggestions of storing money:
• $100 - $200 in cash, small bills
• Rolls of quarters, dimes, nickels and pennies
• Checking, savings and credit card numbers

Irreplaceable Family Mementos
Some of the worst things a family can lose in a disaster are those that can't be replaced: photo albums, family histories, journals, the list could go on. Chances are not everything that your family cherishes will fit into your 72 hour kit to be taken with you at a moments notice. There are some alternatives, however, that will bring you peace of mind in an emergency.
• Make copies of photographs, pedigrees and personal histories and store them with a trusted relative or friend in another town
• Store them in single location--in a closet or on a bookshelf near an exit, so if needed, they could be taken out with your 72 hour supplies
• Store family mementos in a safe deposit box

A Complete List of Vital Documents
-as advised by Barry and Lynette Crockett in their book, Family Emergency Plan

• Household and place of business inventory (recorded using photographs, videotape, or stored on a database manager computer program).
• Important information and records stored on computer back-up software
• Duplicates of insurance policies (life, health, auto, home, hazard, etc.)
• Mortgage documents
• Real estate deeds, investments
• Property settlement agreements
• Title papers
• Motor vehicle titles and bill of sale, serial or VIN numbers, driver's license numbers, registration, and plate numbers (including boats, RVs, etc.)
• Wills and trusts
• Safe deposit box: location, number, inventory of contents, location of key, authorized persons to access box
• Investment portfolio
• Record of hard assets (precious metals, gems, collectibles, etc.) jewelry appraisals
• Net worth statement
• Stocks, bonds and other securities
• Accounts receivable information
• Purchase contracts
• Other contracts
• Bank loan agreements, other obligations
• Bank, checking, savings account numbers or certificates
• Credit card accounts (company and account numbers
• Permanent tax records
• Important guarantees, warranties and sales receipts
• Voter registration
• Family health and medical records
• Employee benefits information
• Letter of instruction in case of death
• Funeral and burial plans (pre-arranged)
• Name, address, phone number of attorney, accountant, executor, trustees, stockbroker and insurance agents
• Photocopy of documents carried in wallet or purse
• Location of spare house and car keys
• Birth, marriage, and death certificates
• Divorce and separation decrees
• Adoption and custody decrees
• Citizenship papers
• Military papers
• Passports, visas
• Social security card (or card numbers)
• School transcripts, diplomas
• Patents, copyrights
• Original manuscripts
• Employment records
• Membership cards or records
• Important church records
• Cherished family recipes
• Cherished family Photos, slides, videotapes, etc.
• Important books
• Journals, diaries, scrapbooks, etc.
• Person and family histories,
• Genealogies


Food Storage Shelf Life
Taken from Emergency Essentials Website - Insight Articles - Food Storage - Food Storage Shelf Life

The question is regularly asked, “What is the shelf life of my food storage?”

It is important to first identify what is meant by “food storage” and “shelf life.”

“Food storage” that is intended to be held long-term is generally considered to be low moisture food packed in either #10 cans or in metalized bags placed within large buckets.

“Shelf life” can be defined in the following two ways:
“Best if used by” shelf life - Length of time food retains most of its original taste and nutrition.
“Life sustaining” shelf life - Length of time food preserves life, without becoming inedible.
There can be a wide time gap between these two definitions. For example, most foods available in the grocery store that are dated have a “Best if used by” date that ranges from a few weeks to a few years. On the other hand, scientific studies have determined that when properly stored, powdered milk has a “Life sustaining” shelf life of 20 years. That is, the stored powdered milk may not taste as good as fresh powdered milk, but it is still edible.

Understand food constituents. Food is composed of the following:
•Calories: A unit of measurement of energy derived from fats, carbohydrates and protein.
•Fats: A wide group of compounds that are generally soluble in organic solvents and largely insoluble in water.
•Carbohydrates: Simple sugars as well as larger molecules including starch and dietary fiber.
•Proteins: Large organic compounds that are essential to living organisms.
•Vitamins: A nutrient required for essential metabolic reactions in a living organism.
•Minerals: The chemical elements required by living organisms, other than carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, and oxygen.

Minerals and carbohydrates do not change much during storage. But proteins can denature and deteriorate in quality. Fats can acquire off odors and off flavors known as rancidity. Vitamins are susceptible to destruction by heat, light, and oxidation. Importantly, even if some components deteriorate, the fat, carbohydrates and proteins still contribute calories. To prevent starvation, the most important component is calories.

Recognize that the shelf life is extremely dependent on the following storage conditions:
•Temperature: Excessive temperature is damaging to food storage. With increased temperature, proteins breakdown and some vitamins will be destroyed. The color, flavor and odor of some products may also be affected. To enhance shelf life, store food at room temperature or below; never store food in an attic or garage.
•Moisture: Excessive moisture can result in product deterioration and spoilage by creating an environment in which microorganisms may grow and chemical reactions can take place.
•Oxygen: The oxygen in air can have deteriorative effects on fats, food colors, vitamins, flavors, and other food constituents. It can cause conditions that will enhance the growth of microorganisms.
•Light: The exposure of foods to light can result in the deterioration of specific food constituents, such as fats, proteins, and vitamins, resulting in discoloration, off-flavors, and vitamin loss.

Conclusion
Emergency Essentials has taken every effort to pack quality Provident Pantry® dehydrated and freeze-dried foods in #10 cans and Super-pail buckets, all with most of the oxygen removed. It is important for you to keep food stored at as cool and steady a temperature as possible (below 75 degrees but not freezing). This is the best and most important thing individuals can do to keep their long term food viable. If done, your storage could last 20-30+ years, depending on the product, storage conditions, and definition of “shelf life.”

72-Hour Kits
Click here for a 72-Hour Checklist (pdf)

72-Hour Food Planning
Taken from Emergency Essentials Website - Insight Articles - The First Three Days of an Emergency - 72-Hour Food Planning
A crisis or emergency is a high stress time for everyone. It is especially important to have high energy foods available during these times. Food that is high in calories (even empty calories) is recommended for these times. If you plan ahead, you can have meals that are not only high in energy, but also nutritious.

You can live several days without food if you have water to drink, but you won’t be very comfortable when you are used to eating three meals a day plus snacks. Besides the nutritional benefit you gain from the food, there is also a positive psychological benefit of doing things the way you did before a disaster. Eating three meals a day will help make the stressful time seem more like normal.

Food will probably be provided at an emergency shelter for you and your family, but government officials and relief agencies usually take 72 hours to get set up. You have the responsibility to be self reliant and plan your own meals for those three days. Foods that are lightweight, compact, and require little preparation are the most suitable for your 72 hour kit. Since an emergency situation is not the time to try out new and unusual foods that your family is unaccustomed to, you should try out your emergency foods before you need them. Whenever possible, stick to simple tastes that you are used to.

Consider these possibilities:
Stress Foods
Foods that provide sugar energy and are comfort foods are good ones to pack in your 72 hour kits. These types of food include chocolate, hard candy, dry sugar cereal, fruit bars, etc. In high stress situations your body requires a higher caloric intake, not just nutrition. For those who can’t eat sugar, pack alternative high caloric food such as peanut butter, dried fruit, and sugar-free candy.

Compressed Food Bars
Compressed food bars include granola bars, trail bars, and high calorie food bars that are sealed for long term storage. These are lightweight, nutritious, and high in calories, making them a good choice for your 72 hour kit.

Survival Drink Mixes
These types of drink mixes are high in protein, vitamin and mineral content, such as protein drinks, diet drinks, and survival drink mixes. These should be just-add-water-mixes, so you must remember to store extra water just for mixing these drinks. Remember that any diet drink mixes you include should be high in protein and not just for weight loss.

Trail Mixes
Trail mixes can be made of ingredients such as granola, raisins, nuts, seeds, dried fruit, or chocolate chips. They are very tasty and full of energy and nutrition. You can make your own trail mix to accommodate your family’s taste, but be aware that it could become rancid if you try to store it for a long period of time. Storing trail mix in your refrigerator or freezer is a good way to preserve its shelf life.

Dried Foods
Dried foods, such as fruit and meat (jerky) are excellent additions to your 72 hour kit. They are tasty, nutritious and satisfying, and they can make up a part of a meal.

Freeze-Dried Foods
Freeze dried foods are probably the best tasting, most “normal” things you can pack in your 72 hour kit to supply you and your family with a “real” meal. They are lightweight and easy to prepare, but require extra water and some cooking. Plan ahead by storing the water that you need and a way to heat it.

Instant Soups, Meals, & Milk
Instant soups and meals, (such as cup of noodles, cup of soup, and instant mashed potatoes) are a great way to supplement meals for three days. They are lightweight and easy to pack in your 72 hour kit. Instant milk is a good way to make sure you get the calcium you need. These items also require additional water to use.

MRE’s (Meals ready to eat)
MRE’s, designed for the military, are the easiest meals you can put in your 72 hour kit. They have an incredibly long shelf life (up to 10 years when stored at temperatures below 70 deg. F) which makes them an easy solution for a 72 hour kit. MRE’s also do not require cooking, water, or any preparation. For more information on MRE’s see the Insight article entitled MRE- Meals Ready to Eat.

Snack Foods
Snack foods are an essential part of a 72 hour kit. If you eat snacks during normal times, you will want snacks during emergencies too. Plus snacks are a good way to help relieve the stress of emergency situations. You can store snack-packs of cheese and crackers, packages of crackers or nuts, or peanut butter snacks. MRE snacks are a good way to store snacks because they can be stored for 5 or more years and they taste good.

For Babies or Toddlers
If you have a nursing baby, you should pack formula in case you aren’t able to nurse because of shock or stress. Include both powdered formula and liquid formula in case water is not available to mix the powdered formula. Include baby food for an older baby or toddler. Instant cereal, fruits, and vegetables are a good choice. Remember to store extra water to reconstitute these items, and to update your 72 hour kit as your baby grows.

Equipment and Utensils
Sometimes when you are planning your food menu, you forget that you need certain utensils to cook and eat with. Essential cooking items include:
• small cooking pots
• spoons, forks, knives, (plastic or metal)
• Sierra cups (metal camping/backpacking cups that you can heat food in or drink from)
• mess kits or camp plates
• napkins or paper towels
• small, trial size of dish soap
• hot pad or wash cloth
• can opener
• waterproof matches or matches in waterproof container
• canned solid fuel and folding stove
• zip lock bags

As you plan your 72 hour kit, you must also remember the little extras that make life more comfortable, such as: toilet paper, diapers, wipes, first aid kit, toothpaste, soap, razors, reading material, stress relieving games, and so forth. If you put a little planning into your 72 hour kit, you and your family won’t need to panic when an emergency occurs.

Special Considerations for Emergency Kits
Taken from Emergency Essentials Website - Insight Articles - The First Three Days of an Emergency - Special Considerations For Emergency Kits
When building your 72 hour kit, it is important to include the necessary food, water, shelter, first aid, light, warmth, etc. In addition to these essentials, some special considerations should be made. Such As:
• Caring for babies and small children
• The Elderly
• Those with special medical needs may require additional items.
• Extra Money
• important documents
• phone cards or emergency pay as you go cell phones
These items can be very helpful during an emergency and should be considered when preparing a 72 hour kit.

Money or Phone Cards. You may have an unusual situation where you might be forced to evacuate your home in the middle of the night or leave with just a few minutes notice. You may not have time to gather everything you may need, including money. The amount of money you include in your 72 hour kit is up to you. As little as 35 cents for a phone call could be enough, or you might need as much as $100. When deciding how much money you should add, take into consideration your surroundings, your family members and what type of disasters are possible in your area. We recommend at least $20.
If you include a phone card, remember to check the expiration date. Some phone cards do not have expiration dates to worry about.

Important Documents and Irreplaceable Items.
After a disaster such as a flood, an earthquake, a fire, or a hurricane there are certain documents or valuables you will want. Insurance papers, wills, birth certificates, wedding certificates, phone numbers and credit card cancellation information could be very valuable afterwards. Other items such as family history papers, photographs, family heirlooms, etc. are also important and you might consider putting copies in your 72 hour kit.

Babies and Small Children. Babies and small children require different preparation than adults. If you have a baby, you might consider adding a bottle, diapers, formula, an extra blanket or warm clothes, a pacifier, small toys, or other items to your 72 hour kit. These items may not seem important now, but if you are forced to leave your home with a baby for more than a few hours, you will soon be grateful they are included in your 72 hour kit.

Elderly. Just as babies and small children have special needs, so might elderly men and women. Items such as special medication, extra warm clothes, special dietary foods, dentures, an extra pair of glasses, extra batteries for hearing aids etc. should be considered when building your kit.

Special Medical Needs. Special medical needs are very important to remember when building your 72 hour kit. If you or one of your family members is diabetic, you may want to include the insulin and other accessories needed. Other items such as extra asthma inhalers or prescribed medication should be included if you or one of your family members requires it. Also consider your family members who are physically handicapped. They might need extra assistance or special accessories.

Stress Relievers. Emergencies can be very stressful situations. Games, books and toys will help relieve some of this stress. Consider your family, their ages, and the kinds of things they like to do. Ideas to include: card games, jacks, small puzzles, harmonicas, yo-yos, hard candy, small toys, picture books and easy to read books, travel size games, paper and pencils or coloring book and crayons. Be creative; your family will appreciate it during that stressful time when they want something to do. Stress relievers benefit everyone in an emergency.

Everyone is unique and has different needs. Having insulin for a diabetic in your 72 hour kit can be as lifesaving as having the basic food and water. When you assemble your 72 hour kit, think about who you are making it for and be resourceful and creative.

First Aid First
Taken from Emergency Essentials Website - Insight Articles - First Aid - First Aid First
Imagine for a moment that a major earthquake has just occurred in a nearby town. Because you live in a neighboring city or town you feel the earthquake quite strong. You are taken by surprise and the first thing that comes to mind is the safety of your family. You dash underneath a large table and hope the table will not collapse from the falling debris. After the trembling stops, you call out for your kids and are thankful everyone is responding. However, as you walk through to check up on everyone, you notice your home is absolutely ruined. What do you do next? You're trapped in your home and have no communication between you and the outside world. The earthquake is so destructive that authorities and relief agencies will take approximately 72 hours to reach you and provide your family with any necessary aid. Now you discover your smallest child is dizzy from a nearby gas fire, loses consciousness, and has experienced some severe cuts and bruises. What do you do now?

Although this scenario is unpleasant to think about, we need to realize emergencies are real. Whether an injury occurs during a major emergency or on a camping trip, the urgency is the same. Infection or loss of blood can be serious and perhaps even fatal. That is why it is important to have emergency supplies on hand, particularly first aid items, and gain the knowledge to use them so you can provide relief for your own family.
Over the years, we have received calls from hundreds of people asking questions regarding emergency first aid. Here are some commonly asked questions that can help you eliminate unneeded stress or injury--before an emergency actually occurs.

Where do I start? What first aid items will I need?
You can get a good head start by purchasing a preassembled first aid kit. You will find most preassembled kits have been put together through much feedback by those who have experience treating injuries during a crisis.
Some basic first aid essentials include gauze, tape, adhesive strips, scissors, antibiotic ointment, bandages, burn treatment dressings or lotions, rash or itch creams, thermometers, arm splints, tweezers, safety pins, pain reliever, antiseptic towelettes, ammonia inhalants, instant ice packs, sponges, eye washes, rubbing alcohol, etc. Although preassembled kits contain the most common items needed during emergencies, it is important to gather items that fit your particular needs. Prescription medications needed for asthma, diabetes, high blood pressure, depression, etc., are crucial for your first aid kit. Also, be sure to include special items needed by small children or the elderly.

First aid kits come in all sizes and include from basic items to supplies used by emergency medical technicians. With the right training a surgical kit would be wise preparation. First, determine what items you will need the most and how much you will need of each item. For example, families with small children will probably need extra adhesive bandages and items for scrapes and cuts such as antiseptic towelettes. Or, you can specialize a first aid kit to meet a particular need or situation (i.e. auto first aid kit, camping first aid kit, home first aid kit, business first aid kit, etc.) Second, you should purchase a kit containing items that best suit your needs. It is useless to have a professional kit containing items you do not know how to use, or to have a kit too basic to treat emergency needs.

Where is the best place to store my first aid kit?
You should keep a portable first aid kit in your emergency kit. You will find that if all items are kept in a convenient location in your home or automobile, you can grab what you need without having to scramble to find your emergency essentials. A common mistake is to overload your first aid or emergency kit. Remember, your kits should be lightweight and easy to carry. In order to survive most natural disasters, you are required to act quickly. First aid items, along with other emergency items should be kept in a compact, lightweight storage container such as a duffel bag, backpack, or carrying case. Do not keep your kits in a hard to reach place such as an attic or storage closet.

What if I can't afford to buy a comprehensive first aid kit?
Keep in mind that a first aid kit is an investment like an insurance policy. Some people may prefer to purchase a portable stereo or a new outfit over a first aid or emergency kit. However, those who have lived through an emergency either regret not having had the needed supplies or are relieved they planned ahead and invested wisely. If budget is a concern, start small. Obtain the most important items first, such as adhesive bandages and pain relievers. Then, as your budget permits, add to the items you already have.

REMEMBER:
Finally, remember that first aid items can help save lives during a crisis. It is easier to invest the time and money in first aid supplies once you understand the difference this kind of preparation can make during an emergency. Once you have purchased your supplies, begin learning more about first aid relief and how to properly use your supplies, especially first aid kits containing surgical supplies or other items that may be difficult to use without prior knowledge and practice. By combining knowledge with the appropriate supplies, you can make a difference and help save lives during an emergency. This can only happen if you put first aid first.

Water Storage Options
Taken from Emergency Essentials Website - Insight Articles - Water Storage - Water Storage Options

In most emergency situations, fresh drinking water is the most important item you can store. It is recommended to have both portable and stationary emergency water storage. Portable water containers should be light enough to carry during an emergency. Be sure to take into consideration that water weighs 8 lbs per gallon. Preparedness authorities recommend storing at least 14 gallons of water per person. This would mean a family of 4 would want to store approximately 56 gallons of water (remember to store both stationary and portable). There are many types of containers and options available for storing water for long term.

Water Storage Containers
Heavy-duty, thick, polyethylene barrels, made of food grade materials, are great for water storage. These barrels are normally blue (color is important, blue means water is being stored, red would mean fuel or flammable liquid is being stored, and colors other than blue may not be food grade plastic) and normally come in sizes that range from 15 to 55 gallons. It is recommended to store these barrels in a dark and cool area, such as a basement or food storage room. Storing your barrel outside could have an effect on the life of the barrel. It is not recommended to store any water container in direct or indirect sunlight. Also, it is best to store water barrels with a non-pourous insulation barrier (such as wood) between the cement and the barrel.

It is not recommended to store a barrel outside, but if you have to, it is recommended to take certain necessary precautions. Cover it as much as possible to prevent exposure to light, ensure cleanliness and for insulation purposes. During the winter you have to take into account the freezing factor. When water freezes it expands. If there is not enough room at the top of your barrel, it can cause your barrel to become disfigured or may even crack. It is recommended to only fill the barrel 9/10 the way full if you plan on storing it in a place where there is a potential of freezing.

One of the best water storage options is the metalized plastic bag in a boxed water kit. The metalized bag is filled with water and then placed in a cardboard box. The water is kept from light, limiting any bacteria or algae growth. These kits are great because they offer an easy to use and versatile portable water system. The boxes can double as a sanitation kit (emergency toilet) and a carrying case for transporting water.

A smaller version of the metalized water bag system is the water pouch or box of purified drinking water. Each pouch contains approximately four ounces of water that can be stored for more than five years. This would be an alternative to heavier containers as a minimum ration for small children. These small pouches may not be as convenient for large amounts of water.

Two-liter pop or juice bottles are also a good option for inexpensive water storage. Be sure to clean them well and store in a cool and dark area. Light and warmth will promote algae and bacteria growth. Over time these water containers can breakdown and leak. It is recommended to not store them next to food or other items that can be damaged by water. Heavy containers should always be stored close to ground level and secured to prevent breakage or possible injury in the event of any earthquake or natural disaster. Be sure to store these water containers away from any harmful chemicals. Rotate the water once a year. It is not recommended to use milk jugs. These jugs are biodegradable and can break down within a short period of time.