J.S. from Nampa: Prepping Starting Small

Preparing can be a little overwhelming to a lot of folks, but, you can start small.
For example:

3 day supply of all your needs. All you need is container to store the following items, and can be easily transported

Food: 3 meals a day for 3 days for each person. Something easy to prepare, cup o’soup, instant oatmeal, granola bars ect.

Water: 1 gallon per day per person. Now is great time to get water jugs because all that camping and hunting sales. If you drink soda buy it in the 2 or 3 litter bottles. Wash the bottles and fill with water, 4 liters equal just over a gallon. Don’t use plastic milk jugs, the plastic in them breaks down rather quickly. Remember this for food and sanitation.

Sanitation and health: all purpose Bleach can be used purify water, kills viruses, germs and bacteria on surfaces. Hand sanitizer, wet wipes, toilet paper, Comb, brush, toothbrush, bar of soap, toothpaste, feminine hygiene and/or diapers, garbage bags.

First aid Kit Disposable gloves and masks

Entertainment: Books, games, cards, dice, Radio with extra batteries.

Heat and light: Flashlight with extra batteries, Sterno has a little emergency kit for around $8.00 that includes a little stove, fuel for the stove and 7 candles. You will need small pan or mess kit for cooking.

Keep fuel tanks half full or more at all times.

Medications: Allergy, prescriptions, Pain killers, cough drops, indigestion, diarrhea…

Copies of insurance papers, driver’s license, Pictures of pets and family member in case of separation. Have an out of state contact number if possible. They will be a check in spot to let folks know you are ok.

Don’t forget your pet’s needs, leash, collars, food and water, dishes. Sanitation doggie training pads, a cat box and litter, most shelters will not allow pets, only service animals.

Warm clothing, emergency blankets, Extra undies and socks. T-shirts and sweats.

At least $20.00 in bills and change. Assume your ATM card and checks will be no good.

Remember the best survival kit is no use to you if it’s at home and you are in your car. You will have to duplicate your effort somewhat. But if you have the same things in your car as you do at home you have just doubled everything if caught at home.

Now you probably have a lot of these items already on hand. Once you have everything together in backpacks or a carry all, you will be ready for 3-6 days at home or you can put it in your vehicle in case you have to evacuate.

The thing is don’t get overwhelmed, start with 3 days, then a week, then a month, then 3 months.

This is just a basic setup to start with. Okay say to yourself I have 3 days worth. You may have a large initial investment if you have no camping type gear. But these are multi-taskers, they don’t spoil. You can always use them for other things such as camping, tailgate parties, and travel that sort of thing.

From Marie: Many thanks to J.S. for another great post on emergency preparedness!

Soup's on--sale!

Went to Wal-Mart last night to purchase, among other things, some soup. The shelves were about bare of any type of soup that we would usually eat, and the reason is:

Progresso soups are on sale for 2/$3
Campbell's Chunky soups are on sale 2/$3

I figured I would just have to ask when they were going to stock up again, but managed to get a couple of cans of chicken noodle soup (Chunky) because they were on display in the front of the store by the checkout. Then this morning, having forgotten something needed for this afternoon, I found myself in the vicinity of a different checkout line, and found 4 packs of Campbell's chicken noodle soup, at 2 packs/$4. I got several, because if I find that I can get soup for $.50/can I try to take advantage of it.

It may go beyond the price of the soup when it comes down to actually using it, as was recently pointed out in this post over at iPrepared. Also, canned soup is a lot less effort and requires a lot less energy in terms of heat to prepare, so it's good to have on hand if you have a shortage of either fuel or personal energy due to illness or other circumstances. But hey, if you can get it at a better price, you win in more ways than one....

In other food advertising news, thought I'd mention that at Albertson's this week they have Rice-A-Roni for 10/$10. I mention this one because of the Spam Fried Rice recipe over at Preparedness Pro that makes an oh-so-handy meal in terms of a 3 month supply option. I've already mentioned it on my other blog, but if you're looking for another easy meal for your rotation, you might want to check this one out.

Let's hope that everyone is preparing enough so that they'll always be able to say soup's on when we'd like to---emergency or not.

Yet another way that we're all in this together...

Found this article on Idaho government a little while ago--it shows how dependent the financial system of the state is on personal income tax. People who have no jobs don't pay income tax, and the state, in turn, receives less money. Programs still have to be paid for, or cut. So for everyone that loses their job, everyone feels the effect somehow.

If we end up paying more-- for example, for school activities or the like--then that money has to come from somewhere. The more supplies we already have on hand in terms of food and/or other supplies could help by allowing us to put the money at our disposal towards these new expenses while eating our food storage, instead of our having to choose between the two.

That's just one example, and while I am certain other people could give better explanations/examples, I do know that anything we put aside today in terms of emergency preparedness supplies will help us later. Those fortunate enough to remain employed may be able to put available cash towards other expenses and even be able to help out others, while those who find themselves unemployed will be in a much better to position to feed themselves and/or their loved ones.

We're all in this together--please do what you can to increase your emergency preparedness supplies. One can at a time, one bottle of water at a time, one piece of knowledge at a time, it all matters. The key is to start. Or to keep going. And above all, to never give up. If you are in a hard situation right now, I hope your circumstances improve quickly. What affects one of us truly does affect us all.

J.S. from Nampa: Prepping is a Mindset, Not About What You Have or Don't Have

Prepping is kind of like eating an elephant.
How do you eat an elephant? 1 bite at a time.

Everything needs a start point. I am not sure what drives you. Now maybe it’s I want to prep for whatever comes. Or it might be I’m not sure what I can afford power or food this winter. It maybe you live in Earthquake, tornado, hurricane, flood country. FEMA has been less than stellar in response. Winter is coming up, are you ready? Trust me guys all you have to depend on is yourselves, friends, family and neighbors.
FEMA and DHS have stated they will not be around to help, anywhere for 3 days to 2 weeks. Go to the FEMA or DHS websites, and check out what they are saying about their own “emergency response”.
So if you are depending on the US Government to help you. You will get mighty thirsty and hungry.

Go to the Google or ask how much help folks got in the Dakotas during flooding, or during the ice storm that cut across mid-Appalachia last winter. Power was not out for a day, but for weeks. Do you have water/food for 2 weeks? Trust me all stores will run out of everything in 3 days.

Now this is about preparing. Take care of yourself 1st then you can help others. You can’t get into a “Bunker Mentality” you have to be ready to help and be help by folks. Get to know them before any emergency.

You will save on your food budget. You will have peace of mind. You are ready.

Get ready boys and girls it will be a bumpy ride. But it can be fun as well.
Rethink your lifestyle:
1. I love nothing better than sending back those credit card offers I get in the mail and stuffing as much paper and weight as I can back in their pre-paid envelopes. Funny I don’t seem to receive very many offers from them anymore.
2. Do you know what is going on in the world? Its global economy, what happens in Russia or China or Saudi Arabia, Australia, Brazil or the US or any country will have an effect on the whole world. This isn’t about politics, it’s about the power of information.
3. Prioritize: Remember the rule of 3’s. 3 minutes without air, 3 days without water and 3 weeks without food.

I believe Food is a great investment. You will need it no matter what. Once you have your basics covered you may want to look at other options.

And courtesy of Kellene Bishop at Preparedness Pro:

HINT: Do you have meat that is freezer burned? Use a pressure cooker to cook it, will re-hydrate the meat and you won’t waste it.

From Marie: Thanks, J.S., for another great post!

Guest Post: J.S. from Nampa

From Marie: Reason I don't know how many that I really, really, really should check my e-mail more often--thanks to J.S. from Nampa, who wrote me an e-mail and graciously agreed to let me use it as this post:

I am not an LDS member but I also believe in being prepared. I am on a fixed income and make just enough not to qualify for any “assistance” from the government. I have 1 years worth of food already and did it in less than 6 months on a $100.00 a month budget for food. Now I’m working on not only surviving but thriving. Some things that worked for me:

Use the internet prior to shopping. Most stores have their sales flyers up on their websites every week. Fred Meyers on Sundays, Paul’s and Albertsons on Wed. Cash & Carry’s ads are once a month for dry good goods/freezer items.

Rethink priorities

100 pounds of rice will feed 1 adult for a year. You can get that at Cash and carry in Sep 09 for $35.00. Same for Beans but pintos are running about $25.00 for 50 pounds at Cash and carry. A person needs less than a pound a week of meat to be healthy. Get your basics 1st then add too them. Shop the ethnic food Isles in stores. In Paul’s I have found beans and rice up to 25% cheaper in the “Hispanic” Isles compared to the regular ones, because you buy in bulk.

Spices and more spices, Rice is so flexible you can make Indian Curries, Thai, Mexican, South American, Creole or Cajun meals just by using different spices.

Flour is critical for me since I bake all my own breads. It will store for 2 years in proper containers. I bought flour 1st and now working towards whole grains. I like Masa, better than corn meal. My body handles in better, it’s cheap and all you add is water.

My Basic List for Prep Start

50# bag of rice $17.00
50# bag of Pinto’s $25.00
50 # White Flour $15.00
10# bag Sugar $5.00 More if you have a sweet tooth/baking coffee,teas or make your own candies
Powder milk Lg Box $18.00
Honey, Real 5# $12-17.00 Great multi-tasker
Yeast 1# $2-5.00 Starter for sourdoughs and gets you going for baking breads, donuts and more.
Salt 4# $5.00 Kosher,iodized, and Pickling Salt

Now for about $100.00 you have a good start. No, it’s not perfect but it will give you a basis to build on without breaking the bank.

Thanks again to J.S. for the great info!

It's a National Day to Remember

No matter where you were in America on September 11, 2001, your hearts were with the people who died that day.
With those who were injured that day.
With those who were risking their lives that day.
With those who were trapped that day.
With those who were awaiting news about their loved ones that day.
With those who gave and heeded the cry, "let's roll", and in so doing spared the lives of others as their plane went down.
With our leaders, who had to deal with an attack on our country.
With every American who hung a flag and prayed for our country.

To those mentioned above, as well as those who are fighting and have fought for our country, and their families, our hearts are still with you, no matter where we are.

We will never forget.

Good only today....but it's really good

The part that is only good today are the deals I mentioned in the previous post that end today at Albertson's. You may want to head over to the The Grocery Girls to see a good example of what you can walk away with if you have coupons on top of the good deals. Also, thanks to Brenda from that site, who left detailed comments on my last post about info that will be particularly helpful if you live in the Meridian area, and other areas that these deals are probably in effect. That's right....

The part that is good every day is that The Grocery Girls is an Idaho blog, and is now under the Idaho blogs section on the sidebar.

I know, I just gave a lot of free advertising to Albertson's this week, but hey, if they're going to have good deals on ready-to-eat with far-in-the-future expiration date foods, among other necessities, I think they deserve it. But if you want to take advantage of these particular deals, they end tonight, so time is of the essence.....