Disclaimer: Don't ever, EVER feel like you can't join in on the fun, catch-up, or get overwhelmed. Just jump right in and start! One step this week, 2 the next....
1. Collect items from around the house to include in your 72 hour kit. Some things will be easy, others not so easy. Make this a family activity. Go on a scavenger hunt together. Assign each person or each team items to collect and have them report back. Be sure you make it clear that items such as a toothbrush need to be new and not the ones currently being used by family members. This will not only make it easier on you to gather items but will also help children feel empowered. If they should ever have to use their kits, the effort they have made to create them will help them to feel safer and more confident. Don’t forget that not all backpacks are created equal. You may have several around the house that are not being used and now would be a good time to really evaluate whether they will meet all the needs of a 72 hour kit. If you already have 72 hour kits, get them out and check the contents against our checklist. Check any food you have for expiration dates and discard them if they are expired.
(This is a GREAT FHE activity!!) Our stuff was all over the place, different closets, drawers, etc. Now, it's all in one pile, ready to be sorted and refreshed.
2. Make a list of the items you still need to find or purchase to complete your kits. Place this list in your binder. We will work on checking off those items in the weeks to come.
3. Place a pair of sturdy shoes, not slippers or sandals, under each bed. If there is ever an emergency during the night - power outage, earthquake, flood, or house fire - having shoes handy will be very important. If you should be involved in an earthquake, tornado or other disaster that has left rubble around, never get out of bed without protecting your feet. As flood waters rise you may find you have unwelcome visitors in the form of snakes and rodents under foot. You will be so grateful for those shoes. Be sure children understand that these shoes are for emergencies. It always helps to place shoes under a child’s bed that they don’t like - they will stay there.
4. Make a list of emergency phone numbers and place it by each phone and also a copy in your binder. We will be expanding on this list for your 72 hour kit later. For now, create a list with the following phone numbers: Police, Fire, Doctors, Dentist, Optometrist, Hospital, Veterinary, Schools, Mom and Dad’s cell phone and work numbers, Family member who is close by, Neighbor, Clergy, and Poison Control. Having these posted will make life much simpler during an emergency when you cannot remember a number. This is also important for a babysitter. Be sure to put your address at the bottom of the list. If a non-family member should have to call for help they will need your address.
Fire: 911 or 480-503-6300 - non emergency
Poison: 1-800-222-1222
Highland HS: 480-813-0051
Gilbert Hospital: 480-984-2000 5656 S. Power Rd., Gilbert
Banner Gateway: 480-543-2000 1900 N Higley Rd., Gilbert
5. We have been advised by government officials to have a 3 month supply of food on hand in case of an emergency. With an unstable economy, natural disasters and the threat of a pandemic we need to make this a real priority. Designate a shelf or cupboard for food storage. You may need to think very creatively now… Can your extra towels be rolled up and placed in a basket in your bathroom, can they be placed in a storage box under a bed, can appliances and kitchen items you rarely use such as a roasting pan, canner, picnic supplies, or punch bowl be stored in the attic or garage? Try to create room in your home for food items and store non-food items in the garage or attic. The quality of food will be preserved longer if the food is kept at a cooler temperature. There is nothing wrong with having canned peaches stored in a bedroom closet.
6. This week, purchase 1 can of fruit and 1 can of vegetables for each member of the family. They can all be the same or they can all be different. Consider what your family favorites are and you may want to stock more of them. When you get them home write the date on the top of each can with a permanent marker. Last week we marked the cans in our cupboards with an X. You are now ready to use your stored goods in the order in which they were purchased. Use the X cans first and date all incoming cans from now on.
7. Think water. Review the entry on this site Water Storage…What if the Tap Goes Dry. This will give you lots of ideas. Now do it. Store some water this week. Remember you will need 1 gallon of water per day , per person and per pet. If your freezer is not full, add a block of ice (or a frozen jug of water), or bags of ice cubes. These will not only be good water sources when the need arises but also will make your freezer much more efficient. Don’t forget the water for your 72 hour kits. You will not be able to store all the water you will need this week but aim for a 2 day supply. Add this article to your binder.
