Your pandemic plan might include the following:
THE LOW BUDGET, LITTLE SPACE, EMERGENCY PLAN
If you're the breadwinner of a family and are involved in an accident or serious illness or disaster, you may not have an income for a month or longer. A one-month supply of food and savings at home can help you care for yourself and family in an emergency situation.
During an emergency disaster situation, we may be living for an extended period of time, (two-three weeks or more), without electricity. Normal communications may be disrupted and difficulties obtaining our wages may occur. Medicare, Medical, Welfare operations may fail. If health and human services are not operational we may have civil unrest. Businesses could have disruptions from electrical outages. The most important thing you can do for yourself and your family is to read the Word of God, pray for preparation guidance and increase your knowledge about any emergency disaster potential's in your area. Then, prepare accordingly. Life will probably be quite a bit different without power.
Having an adequate support network and your own home emergency supplies will increase your ability to cope during a crisis. Find others who have emergency storages and share ideas. Consider emergencies and the ways you can extend yourself to others who may be less prepared if the uncertainties become a reality, (handicapped, elderly, ill). Planning and problem solving without panic are necessary skills we can begin to cultivate to improve coping.
Suggested ONE ADULT, ONE-MONTH emergency supply list, more people/days, multiply accordingly.
Pretend there is no power; no water and you can't go to the store for anything!
_____WATER, store a plastic two liter soda bottle a day per person, plastic two liter soda bottles, fill with tap water and add four to six drops of household chlorine bleach. Store upright behind a couch or against a wall. Quart: use four drops; Five gallons: use half a teaspoon, Ten gallons: use two scant teaspoons, Fifty-five gallons: use two ounces. Remember, tap water may become contaminated if purification plants loose power, Use tap water to fill up a thoroughly cleaned bathtub, use two ounces of bleach, this will provide enough water for two weeks.
_____BLEACH, unscented with 5.25 sodium hypoclorite, 1 gallon Clorox bottle, at 8-16 drops per gallon of water, will disinfect over 7000 gallons of clear water (half that much cloudy water), store with laundry supplies,
_____RADIO, AM/FM store in pillow case + _____Batteries, 3 spare store in freezer
_____FLASHLIGHT 1 store in pillow case + _____Batteries, 1 spare set store in freezer
_____OIL LAMP, cheaper to buy kerosene by the gallon at many gasoline stations, odor, display in home
_____CANDLE, religious candles last 100-120 hours, buy clear glass for better lighting
_____MATCHES, 1 (250) boxes, keep in separate zip lock bags, store in pillow case
_____FUEL, keep your vehicle tank at least half full of fuel, fill your barbeque propane tank, keep spare fuel cans full, out of sun and ventilated. Do NOT store in your vehicle or inside your living quarters.
_____PRESCRIPTION MEDICINES, talk to your physician or pharmacist about storing extra prescription medications. Keep out of children's reach.
_____CASH, [No electricity, No ATM], have enough cash, at home, to support your family for thirty days in used $20.00 or smaller bills. Rolls of quarters may come in handy, cell phones may be down, pay phones may still work. Don't count on your paycheck, social security, child support, welfare, etc. You may need medical care and they may want cash. [Checks may or may not be accepted, nor credit or debit cards in a power outage]. Even with enough money, items just may not be available to buy. Prepare now. Store in an old pillowcase.
_____BILLS Pay your mortgage and bills in advance; avoid late charges due to postal interruptions, etc. You will still be held liable for late penalties. Keep hardcopies of receipts during. Don't count on your Automatic Payments/Deposits, verify before spending.
_____CLOCK, manual wind up, 1, in pillow case
_____CAN OPENER, manual wind up, 1, in pillow case
_____SANITATION, 31 grocery store plastic bags to line the toilet if the power is out for long, the plumbing may fail, store sacks in an old tube sock and dispense from the hole, store in pillow case
_____LARGE TRASH BAG, 1 box, store next to pillow case
_____TOILET PAPER, 9 rolls, store behind toilet, under tank in plastic bag.
_____FOOD, the following is a list for ONE ADULT for ONE MONTH, more people/days, multiplies accordingly. Store inside your living quarters. Store behind a TV, in a box under the ironing board, in small boxes under the bed, be creative...I've read you need about 1858 calories per day.
_____Powdered Milk, 9 boxes of 8 quarts, shelf life: 2-5 years, each when reconstituted, use four 8 oz glasses a day
_____Wheat Germ or shredded wheat or whole wheat, 6 lbs, shelf life: 5 years, use 3 oz a day
_____Peanut Butter, 1, 1 lb 2 oz jar, shelf life: 2 years, use one tablespoon a day
_____Tomato Juice, 8, 30oz cans, shelf life: 3-5 years, drink 8 oz a day
_____Vitamin C, 31 tablets
_____Iodized Salt, 1 container
_____Corn, 31 cans, 15.25 oz cans, one a day
_____SLEEPING BAG or several blankets, no power, no electric heat.
_____FIRST AID KIT Adjust for you and your families needs. Keep in your medicine cabinet, away from kids.
_____First Aid Book, try a used bookstore
_____Poison Control Center emergency number
_____Syrup of Ipecac, (Use to induce vomiting if advised by Poison Control Center)
_____Activated charcoal (use if advised by the Poison Control Center)
_____Women's Menstrual Pads, and Good for bleeding injuries too.
_____Baking Soda, I've heard it used for upset stomach, cleaning bathtubs, brushing teeth and?
_____Band-Aids, assorted sizes
_____Antibiotic: Triple Ointment or?
_____Antihistamine
_____Antiseptic: Hydrogen Peroxide or Beta dine or?
_____Anti-diarrhea medication
_____Aspirin or Non-Aspirin Pain Reliever
_____Laxative
_____Scissors
_____Tweezers
_____Tape: ___ Hypo allergenic adhesive tape or ___cloth tape or ___ paper tape___
_____Thermometer, oral [old fashioned mercury style, no batteries]
_____Tube of petroleum jelly or other lubricant
_____Lip balm
_____Cleansing agent/soap bar
_____Sunscreen
_____Caladryl Anti-Itch Lotion
_____Safety pins, assorted sizes
_____Latex gloves
_____Masks, N-95, surgical, a handkerchief will help!
_____HARD COPIES OF IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS put in a gallon Ziploc bag:
_____a copy of your electric bill-you will need proof of residence in evacuations to return home
_____a copy of your marriage license, a copy birth certificates
_____a cope of insurance papers, car vin numbers, license plate number
_____a list of bank account numbers, credit card numbers, and their contact numbers
Pillow-cases, small suitcases, anything that allows you to easily fill, store, and carry.
These preparations will help in an emergency. This list is not complete but will get you started. Annie |
