It has been almost a year since we started this insert. It seems time to update our lists of things to have on hand if an emergency should come. It may seem like there are just about as many lists as there are imaginations of what could happen. Each of you will have peculiar needs as well, so it is very important to look at all of the lists and adapt them to your family. As soon as you think of something that has not shown up on any list but that is important to you, add it to your pack and update your list.
It is time also to rotate the food and clothing items and any other perishables in your packs. Make sure you check batteries and if they are installed in radios or flashlights, take them out and make sure they are not leaking. Be sure to have an extra set outside of the radio or flashlight and test them to make sure they are fully charged. If the batteries have leaked, take them out and toss them. You may not need to discard the flashlight or radio or other appliance. Try carefully wiping out any white powdery oxide stuff with a cloth soaked in bicarbonate of soda (baking soda) and water. Careful not to get water into the electronic compartments. After cleaning, you can clean the contacts with a typing eraser to remove anything that would interfere with a good connection to the battery.
Cell phones are going to be a great resource to have when a large scale emergency happens. Remember however, that there may not be power to charge your batteries. How frustrating that would be to have this device but have a dead battery and a need to contact family inside or outside of a disaster area. You might consider watching for solar chargers for your important devices. Solar cell phone chargers are available for prices ranging from $20 to more than $100 and are just beginning to come on the market. Not all phones are supported yet but keep watching the market.
Records are the other thing you need to think about as you prepare your emergency response. In the lists on the back, I have a section on what you need to have with you if you have to leave the home. There is another side to records that I will spend another week on and that has to do with photos, family history records both digital and hard copy and other family treasures.
‘Thumbdrive’ (computer/photos/genealogy) scanned documents (important papers from above)
Personal Hygiene (teeth/hair/body/feminine)
Extra keys (work/cars/house)
Wallet ($50+cash / CC/
Lightsticks(3)/Flashlight/batteries
Emergency blanket/poncho/Kleenex
Evacuation Plan (places/maps/addresses)
Entertainment (cards/games/book/drawing)
Favorite Toy/blanket (child)
Emergency Food (3+ days)
Water Bottles (4) + bottle filter
Pocket Knife/matches (adult)
First Aid Kit/Moleskin/work gloves/N95 masks
Id’s/photos (/family photo)
Consecrated oil
Gum, 12 piece pack
lotion/sunblock/chapstick/brush/large trash bags and ties
*Important papers: Documents: Put your important papers, records and documents in grab and go bag. (Keep extra set in freezer will protect in case of fire)
Bank Account Numbers Passports, Birth, Death, Marriage Certificates Social Security Numbers, Charge Card Accounts and Contact Numbers, Stocks and Bonds, Deeds, Contracts, and Loan Wills, House and Life Insurance Policies, Baptism & Priesthood Cert., Family History-memory stick, Car Titles, Phone numbers/address of family/friends, Photos (on CD/mem.stick), Computer files, mem. stick Medical Info (shots, doctors, Prescription numbers and other relevant information for refils)
OK, There are some terms like mem. Stick, thumb drive and CD that you may not recognize. These are ways to store computer documents and can store large amounts of documents & pictures in a very small unit, but you need a computer to get access to them again. Get your favorite computer genius to explain all this.
gv3grant@gmail.com 435 628-2739 http://rupreparedgv3.blogspot.com
If you have to evacuate your home in a hurry, know what order you will take the things you have time to retrieve and a plan the evacuation. Many of you are all to familiar with that scenario both from personal experience or just helping someone else. Have you ever stood at the door and just knew you were forgetting something? These lists will help.
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