Blogging ahead: ABY #12 for November 19

My 12th ABY: Toilet paper

If I could add anything else to this, it would be: Water for flushing if the power is out, wet wipes/hand sanitizer, and an emergency toilet (bucket with seat and some of those stored garbage bags from ABY #8) if there is no access to regular facilities.

There are other options (I've heard of using cloth, spray bottles, phone book pages, etc.) but hopefully in at least the immediate time following an emergency, you will not have to give up toilet paper if you have stored enough.

Yeah, unpleasant to think/talk/blog about, but a necessary item nonetheless--and if you have enough, you may be able to share with those who run out before help comes or your situation improves...

ABY #9: Continuation of a theme...

My 9th ABY: Gloves--for cleaning up messes and protecting your hands from germs, contamination, etc.

If I could add anything else to this, it would be: Work gloves. The thin kind of gloves that you use for cleaning probably wouldn't last very long if you were trying to move debris and the like from your property. Even if your property isn't affected directly by a natural disaster, you might need such gloves to help others in need.

This ABY came to mind because of a post over at Prepared LDS Family, where there was the following video of an effort coordinated by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to help people affected by Hurricane Sandy:

Video

Also quoting the linked article at Prepared LDS Family, the efforts are for everyone:

'According to the creator, Joshua Brown, "thousands of members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints continue to volunteer to assist in the recovery efforts within these communities. On Sunday, November 11th, thousands of Mormons cancelled their church services and arrived by air, bus and train from all across the country to help.

"Please share this video with any friends and family that might be able to help the areas affected by Hurricane Sandy. Not only at the Rockaways, but Staten Island, Long Island, and New Jersey. The church is coordinating the efforts, but anyone (both Mormon and non Mormon) is welcome to come and help." '

I really suggest that you go to the linked article, because under the video there are links to learn more about how to help. Really excellent post. Thanks, Prepared LDS Family!

ABY #8: Cleaning up...

My 8th ABY: Garbage bags

If I could add anything else to this, it would be: Return of sanitation department pick-up as soon as possible? That would be extremely advantageous after an emergency situation. Since that is not really something that I can add, I will say for the record that I would add gloves.

Even if sanitation pick up is not disrupted after an emergency,you may find that you need any stored garbage bags you have for the protection/transportation/clean up of belongings before, during, or after an emergency.

Yeah, extra garbage bags could be helpful for a variety of reasons, and since they are useful in a non-emergency situation as well, it's a win-win... 

ABY #6: Gotta love being clean...

My 6th ABY: Wet wipes and hand sanitizer

If I could add anything else to this, it would be: Bar soap. I remember reading in a book about World War II that regular soap was scarce and appreciated. Hopefully not going to have to deal with a situation like that, but for a longer term emergency when trucking was halted or the like after a disaster, a little soap would be nice to have.

 If there were enough clean water, I would use bar soap. If clean water were scarce to non-existent, wet wipes and hand sanitizer would at least improve the situation. You don't want to have stored nice clean food and/or water, and then have to eat it with dirty hands. Nice to have a few packs/bottles/bars on hand for an emergency...

Hope everyone is doing well with their ABYs!

On the question of sanitation

I have read various ways of dealing with the sanitation issue, something that is of concern when dealing with situations where there is little to no water, or even in the case of running out of (hopefully massively stockpiles of) toilet paper. I recently received a link in an e-mail from a preparedness expert that I know in Utah that deals with this issue, and thought I would share. There's a video and everything!

Seems like an appropriate time to thank everyone who continues to read even though I don't have exciting things like videos on this blog...thanks!

Anyway, also on the linked site are info for storing a 3-month supply, and info for turning off your water at the street. Thanks to the creator(s) of the site for sharing such useful information!