Evacuation: The 10 Minute Challenge

Fire, flood, hurricane, tornado etc are all reasons why we may be asked to leave our home.  Here's a scenario for you.  If you were told that you had 10 minutes to evacuate your home, would you know what you want to take with you? Would you know where those things are?  Would those things be in an easily accessible location?  Something you should think about.  In the video below two families were given just such a situation.  They each had 10 minutes to evacuate their home.  Watch to see how they did.

If you are not able to view this video click here - Evacuation: The 10 Minute Challenge

Did you see yourself in either of these families?  How can you be better prepared in an evacuation scenario?  Follow these 4 steps as laid out in the video and get a greater peace of mind from being better prepared.

1. Plan your evacuation ahead of time.
2. Pre-pack emergency supplies and financial records.
3. Create a home inventory that is stored elsewhere.
4. Establish an out of town contact.

Starting tomorrow God willing, the weekly tasks for this month will focus around evacuation preparedness.  I'll be breaking it down into bite-sized pieces but go ahead and get a head start and do what you can out of the list above.

THE JOSEPH PRINCIPLE

Who is Joseph and what does he have to do with emergency preparedness and food storage? Well, I'm glad you asked.  Joseph was a man in the Bible whom God used to save an entire nation and surrounding nations using food storage.  The Joseph Principle as I call it is named after him because his example shows us the importance and benefit of being prepared and having storage.  The account is found in Genesis 41:29-57 with emphasis on the following scriptures: Genesis 41:29-31, 34 - 36, 47-49, 53-57.

You can read it below or skip to the bottom to read the rest of the article.

Genesis 41:29-57 (KJV)

²⁹ Behold, there come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt:

³⁰ And there shall arise after them seven years of famine; and all the plenty shall be forgotten in the land of Egypt; and the famine shall consume the land;

³¹ And the plenty shall not be known in the land by reason of that famine following; for it shall be very grievous.

³² And for that the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh twice; it is because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass.

³³ Now therefore let Pharaoh look out a man discreet and wise, and set him over the land of Egypt.

³⁴ Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint officers over the land, and take up the fifth part of the land of Egypt in the seven plenteous years.

³⁵ And let them gather all the food of those good years that come, and lay up corn under the hand of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the cities.

³⁶ And that food shall be for store to the land against the seven years of famine, which shall be in the land of Egypt; that the land perish not through the famine.
³⁷ And the thing was good in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of all his servants.

³⁸ And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is?

³⁹ And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art:

⁴⁰ Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou.

⁴¹ And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt.

⁴² And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph's hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck;

⁴³ And he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried before him, Bow the knee: and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt.

⁴⁴ And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I am Pharaoh, and without thee shall no man lift up his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.

⁴⁵ And Pharaoh called Joseph's name Zaphnathpaaneah; and he gave him to wife Asenath the daughter of Potipherah priest of On. And Joseph went out over all the land of Egypt.

⁴⁶ And Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Egypt.

⁴⁷ And in the seven plenteous years the earth brought forth by handfuls.

⁴⁸ And he gathered up all the food of the seven years, which were in the land of Egypt, and laid up the food in the cities: the food of the field, which was round about every city, laid he up in the same.

⁴⁹ And Joseph gathered corn as the sand of the sea, very much, until he left numbering; for it was without number.
⁵⁰ And unto Joseph were born two sons before the years of famine came, which Asenath the daughter of Potipherah priest of On bare unto him.

⁵¹ And Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: For God, said he, hath made me forget all my toil, and all my father's house.

⁵² And the name of the second called he Ephraim: For God hath caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction.

⁵³ And the seven years of plenteousness, that was in the land of Egypt, were ended.

⁵⁴ And the seven years of dearth began to come, according as Joseph had said: and the dearth was in all lands; but in all the land of Egypt there was bread.

⁵⁵ And when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread: and Pharaoh said unto all the Egyptians, Go unto Joseph; what he saith to you, do.

⁵⁶ And the famine was over all the face of the earth: And Joseph opened all the storehouses, and sold unto the Egyptians; and the famine waxed sore in the land of Egypt.

⁵⁷ And all countries came into Egypt to Joseph for to buy corn; because that the famine was so sore in all lands.

So we see from all this that laying up from times of plenty is a good principle. It resulted in entire nations being helped and saved from starvation. We are not called to save our entire nation but we are called to provide for our families and be a blessing to those around us.

Joseph put aside what came in from 1/5 of all the land - that's 20%.  It doesn't matter how small the amount discipline yourself to put aside that 20%. If you are unable to put aside 20% then decide what you are realistically able to put aside and discipline yourself to stick to it.  Small amounts add up.  I've been know to put aside cents on the dollar because it is that important to me. My prayer is that it would be that important to you too because there's nothing better than peace of mind in times of hardship or emergency.  Peace of mind from knowing that though it may be small, you have something stored up and won't need to wonder what you're going to eat or do in an emergency or hard times.

May our mindset be changed. May we seek the face of God and allow Him to show us how to go about putting The Joseph principle into effect in our lives. May we be a blessing to our families and to those around us in difficult times.

Do you know how good it is to be able to bless a family going through difficult times with food from the cupboard? I do. We have done it more than once and it feels good to be able to bless others. You may not be able to give money but if you've been putting aside you will be able to give food and then they can use the little money that they may receive from others to pay for bills.

In summary, The Joseph Principle means putting aside 20%(or the amount you are realistically able to) for emergencies.  Of that 20% put aside 20% for cash on hand and spend the remaining 80% on food storage and emergency supplies.  For example, if you receive a gift of $100 - $20 would be the amount you put aside for emergencies.  Of that $20 - put aside $4 as cash on hand for emergencies and spend the remaining $16 on emergency supplies and food storage. Hope the example helped.  If you have any questions or need more clarity send me an email to emergencypreparednessmadeeasy@gmail.com.  I'd be happy to help.

May God bless you as you do practice The Joseph Principle.

Photo credit

February Emergency Preparedness Focus: Water

How are your emergency preparedness efforts coming along?  We cannot wait until something happens for us to begin to scramble to get things together.  When everything is going well is the best time to prepare so you won't be caught in a panic when disaster happens.

This month we are focusing on water.  Do you know how you'll get water when disaster hits and your water supply is either contaminated or cut off?  Water is one of the basic necessities of life.  Without it we're dead or extremely ill till we die.  In an emergency there may be no time to get to a store to purchase water or there may be no access with roadblocks and such.  Begin to plan now to get some sort of water storage in your home.

The first thing you need to do is ensure that you have a 3 day supply of drinking water and a 3 day supply of water for other uses in your home.  For drinking, you can choose to either buy water already packaged or you can store water in food safe containers for use in drinking. Water for use around the home in cleaning and such you can use any container that was not used for poisonous items or better yet purchase a Water Storage Barrel.

Every month Do1thing.com focuses on one aspect of preparation.  You can find more info on water on the Do1thing website.  Whatever the option, choose to do something.  You'll be glad you did.

Container Vegetable Gardening

As I talked about in a previous post you don't need a plot of land to grow fresh vegetables. If you have it wonderful. If you don't it's okay. Many vegetables lend themselves well to container gardening. With some thought almost any vegetable can be adapted to growing in a pot. Vegetables that take up little space, such as carrots, radishes and lettuce, or crops that bear fruits over a long period of time, such as tomatoes and peppers, are perfect for container vegetable gardens.

What you can grow in a container vegetable garden is limited only by the size of the container and your imagination. How about a Summer Salad container? Plant a tomato, a cucumber and some parsley or chives all in a large (24-30") container. They grow well together and have the same water and sun requirements.


Containers and Pots for Vegetable Gardens
Selecting Containers: Containers for your vegetable gardens can be almost anything: flower pots, pails, buckets, wire baskets, bushel baskets, wooden boxes, nursery flats, window planters, washtubs, strawberry pots, plastic bags, large food cans, or any number of other things.

Drainage: No matter what kind of container you choose for your vegetable garden, it should have holes at the base or in the bottom to permit drainage of excess water.

Color Considerations: You should be careful when using dark colored containers because they absorb heat which could possibly damage the plant roots. If you do use dark colored pots, try painting them a lighter color or shading just the container.

Size: The size of the container is important. For larger vegetables like tomatoes and eggplants, you should use a five gallon container for each plant. You can grow these plants in two gallon containers, however you need to give the plants considerably more attention.


Watering
Pots and containers always require more frequent watering than plants in the ground. As the season progresses and your plants mature, their root system will expand and require even more water. Don't wait until you see the plants wilting. Check your containers daily to judge the need for water.

Adapted from www.gardening.about.com

Grow and Store Your Own Food

One of the first steps that you can take to become self-sufficient is to start a vegetable garden. In doing so, you will not only practice self-sufficiency, but you will also eat healthier. The key is to start small. Don't overwhelm yourself by planting a huge garden. There's a learning curve here, so don't try to do everything in one year. Take your time with it and get a good understanding of what it takes to grow a vegetable garden. Here's a few ideas to get you started:

1. Start by using a very small area to grow your garden.

2. Choose some vegetables that are easy to grow and that you like to eat. Lettuce, cabbage, tomatoes and carrots for example.

3. Plant seasonings that you regularly use. Have you seen the price of those herbs in the Roseau market?

A BIT ON THE PERSONAL SIDE - Right now I have thyme and chives that I've already been harvesting and using planted in flower pots. I have seasoning pepper and parsley that has sprouted, also in pots. The area where I live does not afford me the luxury of having a plot even a small one so my husband and I are being creative and have put up a box over the edge of the porch to hold some more chive. We plan to put up more boxes to hold plants that need more space like lettuce and cabbage and maybe carrots. J.E. Nassief has these tall enough flower pots for $4.10 that can hold at least two tomato plants and the seasoning pepper that needs to be transplanted. I hope to share pics soon.

Don't just read about it. Do something, start small,whatever. Just do it!

Complacency

Modern conveniences and luxuries may be the reason for the complacency of many of our attitudes towards emergency preparedness. We flip a switch, turn a dial, insert a key, or pull a lever to obtain virtually any necessity of life we desire. Food, water, heat and light are all available with almost no effort. For the most part, many of us live a life of luxury, yet continually search for bigger, better and more convenient items.

As you make preparedness a priority, you will be surprised at how quickly you become prepared and how much comfort the peace of preparedness can bring.

Appreciate modern conveniences but still learn to be prepared for anything.

www.beprepared.com

Why Store Food?

Many people may wonder why anyone would want to store a year's supply of food. It might seem a little extreme or odd to people. But the reasons for having food storage on hand are numerous and most are not extreme. I have known several families who have lost their jobs and have turned to their food storage as a way to continue to care for their families.

Food storage is just another form of security. Many people have several months of income set aside for a rainy day. Having food storage is just another way to stretch the money that you have saved. You can store basics for emergencies or you can set aside several months of food for your family.

In times of bad weather everyone runs to the store to pick up bread, milk and eggs. In a hurricane area they often pick up water as well. Grocery stores run their stocking system on a as needed basis. Almost everything they have is already out on the shelves. If you are a little late getting to the store then you may be out of luck. I have seen it happen with both possible hurricanes and ice storms. It is a comforting feeling to know that I don't have to go out in the rush. Even when it is my usual grocery day, I know that I can last another week if I need to, and my family will be okay.

It is also reassuring to know that you have the staples on hand in case the grocery stores are unable to restock the stores after a disaster. Roads may be impassable. Other circumstances may slow down the trucks that bring the food in to the stores. If you have a few weeks of food on hand, you will not have to worry at this stressful time.

Another reason to have food storage is that it can save you money. You can purchase items when they are on sale. As you stockpile the items that are on sale, you will save money over time. This can be difficult to do if you are living paycheck to paycheck, but if you can manage you will begin to spend less money and eat better. What are some of the reasons that you store food?

Excerpt taken from www.preparedness.families.com.

Three Reasons to Use Food Storage

People often wonder what you will do with all the food you have stored. People can't imagine what events will bring about the need to use food storage. Here are three common events where people could use food storage.

1) The most common use for food storage among people I know is job loss. Many people will rely on their food storage when they lose all or some of their income. If you have food set aside for a long period of time, this can help to ease the burden of stress that you will feel with no money coming in.

2) People often rely on food storage during and shortly after a natural disaster. People who have stored food and water to cover at least two weeks are usually pretty comfortable immediately following a natural disaster. They do not have the added stress and worry of what is going to happen if supermarkets are are not able to open for business in a timely manner.

3) People rely on their food storage for every meal every day. This is especially true if you have been planning with the Pantry Principle in mind. It is like having your own personal grocery store right in your own home. You can restock when the items are on sale and save a lot of money.

Excerpt taken from www.preparedness.families.com

Making Food Storage Not So Scary

I found this article while reading one of my favorite preparedness sites. I've only quoted some of it and my response to it is below. Read on...

When I was first introduced to the idea of storing food, I heard a lot mentioned about the benefits of storing a one year supply of food for difficult times. It was explained that one year food supplies are meant to help families get through personal emergencies such as unemployment, layoff, or a death in the family. I was also told that stored food supplies are especially helpful during national or local crises such as hurricanes, flooding, droughts, war, etc.

Although the one year food supply idea seemed both sensible and wise, I struggled with the "big purchase." I started feeling guilty every time I would turn on the television and watch the news in the evenings. Even at the movies, it seemed like every movie that came out had something to do with a volcano, tornado, or some other kind of natural disaster. It wasn't that people were trying to instill fear, as much as it was my own mind knowing that emergencies both large and small happen every day--and I started to wonder could my family be next? So why did I continue to put off something I felt was so important?

As I reflected upon the reasons for my deliberate procrastination, I found 5 reasons why purchasing a year supply seemed so scary to me. See if you've struggled with any of these fears:

1. I didn't want to store a bunch of food in my basement and end up throwing it all away in 10 years like my neighbor did down the street. That seemed like such a waste of money.

2. I wasn't sure how to make stuff out of wheat. I realized that certain year supplies were designed to be easier to use than others, but I just wasn't big on preparing foods from scratch.

3. I had no idea how to plan out what I want to eat for a year--Golly, I couldn't even do that for a week--let alone a whole year!

4. I didn't know whether my family would like everything offered in a year supply--especially my picky youngest daughter.

5. When I did have the money to invest in a year supply, something always came up. The car would break down, I would have to pay for my son's tuition, or I would receive an unexpected medical bill. I knew it was a big gamble not to have food stored, but I guess I still wasn't convinced that I needed a year's supply of food?

Taken from an article on www.beprepared.com.

Jennifer's response:

Many people have these same reasons above for procrastinating when it comes to building up a supply of food. Maybe you aren’t convinced that you need to have a whole year’s supply of food on hand and that’s okay. How about 6 months or 3 months? How about 1 month. Whatever it is the answer should never be doing nothing. Building a supply of food is easy once you start doing it. You have the option of buying a few food items per pay check and slowly building up a good-sized supply of food storage.

I started out with simple foods; ones my family already ate on a regular basis such as rice, sugar, vienna sausage, evaporated milk so I've not wasted any money. And, I can eat my food storage normally and not feel like I have to save it for some huge crisis. I believe that's why certain people allow their supplies to go to waste.

As I think about the five things mentioned above that scare people about storing food, I realize that an everyday type of food storage makes more sense, in my case, than buying a huge year supply of food all at once. And, it doesn't put a financial strain on my pocket book.

Best of all, I feel good knowing that I'm preparing my family and I don't experience episodes of guilt for not following the Lord’s leading and advice to prepare for difficult times.

I’ve had to restart since moving back home to Dominica, so I am still in the beginning stages but with what we have we can eat for at least 1 ½ - 2 months. Praise God for peace of mind!

Growing Your Own Food

When land is available, one of the best ways of keeping fresh fruits and vegetables in your diet is by growing them in your own garden. A garden is a great way to add nutrition and variety to your food storage. Storing a year’s supply of garden seeds in addition to keeping and maintaining a garden is a great way to ensure that, even in an emergency situation, growing a garden is a viable option.

Planning Your Garden

When planning a garden plot, remember:

• Draw a garden plan. This is helpful in deciding what to plant where and can serve as a reminder to rotate the next year.
• Every yard has some space available. You can even use part of your lawn, play area, or flower garden, or if a yard is not available, window boxes and planters are a great option.
• The area where you want to plant your garden should have at least four to six hours of direct sunshine every day.
• The soil should be able to drain well. (Holes in the bottom of planters or window boxes are useful). Fertilize the soil by adding fertilizer before tilling the soil. Continue to fertilize your garden throughout the growing season. Fertilizer can be made from any available organic materials or a commercial concentrate may be used.
• Plant a variety of fruits and vegetables. Dark green and orange vegetables are rich in vitamin A while tomatoes, green peppers, and citrus fruits are rich in vitamin C.

Gardening in Small Spaces

If you don’t have a lot of space available, or the soil in your area is poor, you may want to consider growing your garden in containers as an alternative form of gardening. Any room in the house can be used to grow plants. Some alternative spaces are:

• Hanging baskets (indoors or out)
• Pots, baskets, buckets
• Boxes, egg cartons
• Barrels, wheelbarrows, oil drums
• Window boxes
• Greenhouses
• Shared neighborhood lot

In an emergency situation, seeds can be grown in even more unusual areas:

• Open sections between bricks and concrete
• Along fences or river banks
• Around storage sheds or boulders

Be creative. The same places that weeds and other unwanted plants grow can be used to grow vegetables, fruits, or even herbs.

Saving Seeds

Saving your own seeds can be time consuming. However, when you replant from seeds that you save, it usually yields plants that are better suited to your particular soil and climate.

Seeds that you have collected can be stored in coin envelopes, small pill bottles, empty film canisters, or other small envelopes and containers. Label each container or packet with seed type and any other relevant information. Then store in a dry, cool place. If you use envelopes to store the seeds you may also want to place them in a jar with an airtight seal to keep out moisture.

Fresh vegetables, greens, and fruits are an important part of your family’s diet. With a little planning, storage, and hard work, you can grow part of your own food storage.

The Wisdom of Food Storage

Dominica is the land of plenty; a place of security and shelter for its citizens. Would we ever really need to use food storage here? This is a thought-provoking question. Research has shown that the average household has less than a week’s supply of food on hand. Without being paranoid or panicked, there are many valid reasons to put extra food away. We are all somewhat vulnerable to events beyond our control. But most situations are probably closer to home: loss of power, unexpected or unplanned interruptions of life such as unemployment, loss of income due to illness or injury, or high medical bills due to an accident. Food storage is a form of insurance protecting your family from the unexpected.

A Wise Investment

Food storage becomes a wise investment in future stability and an even wiser investment if you practice storing what you use and using what you store. Making food storage a life-style rather than a make-do will help you maintain your investment. Food storage that matches your family’s lifestyle is food that more likely will be used.

The Basics

It is recommended to always start your food storage program by storing the basics. Grains(which includes rice), legumes, powdered or evaporated milk, sugar, salt, oil, and garden seeds have come to be known as the "basics." Do not underestimate the power these foods have, as they have been shown throughout history to sustain life. It is important to know how to prepare and use the basics, especially ways that your family will enjoy. If you are familiar with the food you have stored, you will be better prepared to use it during times of emergency.

Confidence and Security

Having your food storage can help you have a greater degree of confidence and security. It is important to do your best to prepare your family to be able to eat no matter what happens to the national economy or your job in particular. This confidence in times of crisis can be a most precious commodity. An adequate food supply for your family is a major part of economic security, and possibly the key to survival.

Self-Reliance and Interdependence

Food storage helps you become self-reliant as in the case of the first three days of an emergency or providing for your family when you lose your employment. It also helps you to be interdependent with others as you share during a crisis. Communities weather storms best when they share and work together. With food storage you are better prepared to endure times of adversity without becoming dependent upon the government. Your family’s way of life may be preserved with proper preparation. Self-reliance is often contingent upon a willingness to work. Work can become a source of happiness, and self-esteem, as well as prosperity. Storing, using and knowing how to produce and prepare food and other items that are essential for life create security and stability for you and your family. If a disaster does occur, and you were forced to temporarily change your normal life style, you could do so with minimum discomfort.

Relief Organizations

Some people are apathetic about preparedness, often because they aren’t sure what to do or where to begin. They may become overwhelmed at the prospect of a crisis and the responsibility of self-reliance and become discouraged before they begin. Others are frustrated by contradictory advice, not sure whose ideas to follow. Still others do nothing, figuring that if trouble comes, an emergency disaster organization will rush to their rescue. A common misconception that can be refuted is that the government will immediately come to the rescue. Governmental and other relief organizations perform marvelous service, but when a large population is relying solely upon them, it is virtually impossible to provide for specific or individual needs of everyone. If a disaster threatens your community, local government and disaster-relief organizations will try to help you. But you need to be prepared as well. Local officials may be overwhelmed after a major disaster, and emergency response personnel may not be able to reach you right away. What you do to prepare can make a difference."

An emergency kit is a big step in the right direction. Doing your part by having food, water, and supplies for three days will help alleviate the pressure on relief agencies as well as minimize your own discomfort.

Preparedness is everyone's job. Not just government agencies, but all sectors of society--service providers, businesses, civic and volunteer groups, industry associations and neighborhood associations, as well as every individual citizen--should plan ahead for disasters.

Being prepared for the unexpected is wise. It provides confidence knowing your family is better prepared to be safe and secure. Families who are prepared can reduce fear, inconvenience, and losses that surround a family crisis or a natural disaster.

Adapted from www.beprepared.com