Alternative Lighting

What will you do when the lights go out?
Have you thought about that yet?
Some thoughts to get you thinking towards making your plan

Candle burning   chgetready.com

Will you use candles?  They are ok, however, not a lot of light emanates from them, so if you are wanting to read, prepare food or clean up dinner, you will need a lot of them to do the job.











                                                                                                            What about oil lamps?

Oil lamps                chgetready.com

They give off more light than candles, and.......you can use kerosene in them or a fuel called Clean Heat.  You can get many different sizes, colors and styles at Lehman's                       
Don't forget to get extra wicks & mantles








Maybe oil lanterns will work for you?

Oil Lanterns           chgetready

Great for outdoor chores and they put out a fair amount of light.  Take a look at Lehmans for more information about oil lanterns.  You will need to have extra wicks with them as well.









                                        What about  LED lanterns?

LED Lantern                              chgetready.com

They are amazing.  We have a dear friend who tested this particular lantern from Cabelas.  He left it on for a month and it was still going strong.  It takes 4- D cell batteries.  You would want to store the batteries separate from the lantern unless you are using it a lot.  Also, be sure to have extra batteries on hand.







Solar is another option
One of my favorites is the Goal Zero
You will be set up with lots of light.

Goal Zero

Alternative Heat Options

Do you have a plan of how to heat your home in cold weather?

If you plan on using wood to heat your home, you will need a lot if that is your only source of heat.  Plan on purchasing cut wood during the year so it is ready for use when you need it.  If you are cutting down a tree in your yard, you will want to give the cut pieces plenty of time to dry out before using.

Be sure to stack wood with support so that it doesn't tip over and cover it with a good quality tarp for  winter to protect it from snow or rain. 

You may need a large basket to transport the logs inside.  Be sure to have a good supply of newspaper, kindling, matches or lighters too.  If you are using your fireplace often, you will need to have the chimney swept by a local trained chimney sweep to clean off the creosote that sticks to the inside walls of your chimney stack through the burning process.

A good quality log grate that fits the inside floor of the fireplace is necessary.  You will want a screen to protect people and home from crackling and popping sparks of hot wood while burning and also a good set of fireplace tools to help you keep the area clean and to move the logs as they burn.

If you choose to use coal to heat your home, you will need to have a dark place to store it, and will break down by a process called weathering.  It can oxidize with heat and light, so store it in bags, trash cans with lids or a coal bunker.

You could also heat your home with your furnace if you have a portable generator or back up generator outside your home that is wired with the appropriate specifications,* see your electrician to  make the appropriate adjustments and to teach you what you need to do when you switch to that system so it does not interfere with the regular electricity flow to your home.

A portable generator needs fuel to run it and many of them are noisy, except solar.  Do your homework and consult with your family to find the best fit.

You may consider purchasing a Dura Heat Kerosene Heater from Home Depot
It is a great option for alternative heat for your home.
Make sure you light and extinguish outside for much less odor in your home.  We experimented with it in our own home, and that made a huge difference.

chgetready.com

You will need to purchase extra filters, pictured above from Home Depot

Purchase kerosene fuel in 5 gallon containers and store them in a shed, a safe distance away from your home.  Be sure to  rotate your kerosene to keep it fresh.   Check with your local municipal fire dept for regulations as to how much you can store safely.    Sources for Kerosene

Grab 'n Go Kit Details

IMPORTANT PAPERS AND MONEY
Consider having a packet of copies,  CD or flash drive of all your important papers and documents, such as wills, birth certificates, marriage certificates, bank account numbers, mortgages, car registrations, church documents, genealogy,  family pictures,  life insurance and health insurance policy info along with the account 3'sw, social security card, house deed, important phone #'s,  vehicle titles, graduation certificates, and any other important documents you may have, (consider a reduced size that can fit in your wallet.  Keep it with you for safe keeping in case your pack turns up missing).    Or put them in a lock box at your home or at a secure location to retrieve later.

Keys   chgetready

Make a contact list of family and include current photos. If someone becomes separated, it is helpful to be able to show authorities a recent picture of who you are looking for.  In stressful situations it is easy to forget or mix up addresses or phone numbers that you normally know.

Include a Family Photo     chgetready

Be sure to include some $$$ in your kit!

 coins, small bills and larger bills

Small bills and change             chgetready

FOOD
Many food choices, dehydrated, freeze dried, MRE’s, pouched and canned (heavy). A variety of foods and packaging is best. Nothing perishable in the kit. (rotate  food and water every year for freshness). Dehydrated and freeze dried foods are compact and light, although water is needed to reconstitute it, so pack extra water for preparing these foods. Canned foods are convenient, though bulky and heavy.   Foods needing minimal or no cooking from a can or add water to a pouche of freeze dried chili or stew etc.  Or packaged tuna, salmon, nut butters, dried fruits, veggies, nuts and jerky. (flip top cans or pack a can opener). Add protein drink powders, Emergen-C, candy or mints for comfort. 

WATER
Adults need at least 1 gallon of water a day to drink when under stress to keep dehydration at bay. Three gallons would be too much to carry, so include a means for purifying, collecting and storing water. One and two liter sizes for carrying could be used. Collapsible containers are handy for collecting and may be stored in your pack.  Gallon size clear plastic bags are very useful in collecting water from dew or rain. Options: water can be boiled in a small pan after it is filtered, use purification tablets, a purification kit, a dependable filter, then put in a jar to sanitize it in the sun (scout kits have a small pot for heating water). 
DO NOT SKIMP ON YOUR WATER FILTERING CAPABILITY, DRINKING DIRTY WATER DOES NOT HAVE A GOOD OUTCOME.

SHELTER
There are many products available in this area.  Consider investing in a tent.  A ground cover with tie ropes and clips will make a shelter in a pinch.  Two ground covers, one for a tent, and one for the ground.  Or wrap yourself in a ground cover. Plan appropriately for your family size shelter.

A small travel size blanket and pillow allows you to “stake out your space “ in a shelter.

HYGIENE AND SANITATION
There is nothing better to boost morale than a few simple items such as a comb, toothbrush and toothpaste or powder, hand cleaner, razor, shampoo, toilet paper and personal hygiene essentials. Small versions fit nicely in a pack. Bathroom needs and laundry needs are essential to keep the spread of germs and disease at a minimum. 
Know how to set up, use and empty a sanitation kit if you are sheltering at home, or camping.

COOKING
There are several sizes of Sterno or instant heat available. A rack to sit over a can of Sterno takes up very little space and can heat water, soup, or cook simple meals. Remember cooking and eating utensils. Plan to cook, drink, and eat from the same container making clean up simple, if possible.

Waterproof matches, fire starters, disposable lighters, and compressed fuel tablets are great additions.

LIGHT
A flashlight is an essential item (store batteries separately). Hand powered, wind up flashlights need no batteries, or solar flashlights. Light sticks are excellent for short term light and signaling help.

COMMUNICATION 

A whistle  can be blown with less energy and heard further than your voice. A mirror is excellent for signaling help. A radio with multiple source possibilities for power is critical to learn what is happening, where authorities are asking people to go or what to do, in Utah, channel AM1160 KSL. Emergency flashlight radios can run off multiple sources of power including solar and hand cranking. Consider hand held walkie talkies, or HAM Radio (take a HAM Radio Course) Make sure everyone in your group knows what channel they are to be on and know how to operate the radio. ( store batteries separate, and rotate them out when you rotate your food). 

FIRST AID
First Aid Kit is a must for any emergency situation. Basic items and a simple first aid instruction sheet needs to be included in every kit.

So what are you waiting for?                   

You make it happen........... Get Ready!

Copyright CHGetReady.com



 

Grab 'n Go Kit List - Child

A small backpack, duffle or tote bag stored for quick access containing:

______Jacket (hat, gloves

______Sweater, sweatshirt, pants

______3 pr socks, shoes or boots

______Small blanket

______Coloring books, pad of paper

______Crayons, color pencils

______Reading books

______Small stuffed animal

______Flashlight and extra batteries

______ID

______Family picture, laminated

______Contact information

(Include name and phone # of out of state contact)

______Health concerns info

______Freeze dried food pouches

______Water

______Snacks

Zip top bag items for backpack:

______Emergency poncho

______Hand warmer

______Washcloth, hand towel

______Sterile pads to clean cuts

______Nail clippers

______Safety pins

______Whistle w/lanyard

______Variety size bandages

Trial sizes of the following:

______Toothpaste, toothpaste

______Lotion

______Kleenex

______Wet Wipes

______Shampoo, conditioner
______Soap

______Brush, comb

Additional items for baby:

______Binky

______Formula

______Diapers, wipes

______Small toys

Copyright CHGetReady

Secure Your Water Heater

Be sure to make time in your preparations to secure your water heater.  It is a simple project and one that will give you peace once it is done.
Shaking of the ground may cause a water heater to tip over if it is not secure to the wall or ceiling joist, which may cause a fire, adding to the already stressful event.
We prefer chains as they are sturdy and can be counted on as long as they don't stay wet and or have rust on them.

Secure your water       chgetready.com

Long & Short Term Food Storage Basics

Minimum basic amounts for one person for one year

These amounts all depend on how you cook, adjust them as you experiment over time to your needs
Store what you eat and eat what you store

300 LBS. Grains

Wheat (hard white & red, soft white (baking) harder varieties store longer, rye, barley, kamut and apelt for more diversity kamut and spelt are ancient grains, also consider einkhorn

Additional Grains

Millet, quinoa, teff, amaranth, buckwheat, rice,  (brown,white), basmati,  popcorn, rolled oats, groats or steel cut in the bucket, can or bag      *Roll your own oats (groats) with an oat roller, the advantage is that it has not been steamed like regular oats and will store longer

*A good quality popcorn can be stored for a long time and ground to make cornbread

*If your brown rice smells stale, rinse it real well, the oils wash off and is still great for use. 
*Grains stored will stay fresh longer & will sprout if you tumble them in diatomaceous earth and store in 5-6 buckets.  Also, every two years, pour your grains from one bucket to an empty one and then back again to oxygenate the grain 

60 LBS. Dry Beans and Legumes

Pinto beans, black, white, kidney , great western, garbanzo, lentils, brown & yellow, split peas, yellow & green etc.

3-1 GAL. Containers of Honey
Raw honey is full of enzymes and is full of great nutrition

Sugar (60 LBS)and/ or Pure Maple Syrup

Pure Maple Syrup has many minerals

75 LBS. Dry Milk

Country Cream is 100% dehydrated milk       *Available at Macey’s, Grandma’s Country Foods

20 LBS. Cold Pressed Oils

Olive oil, grape seed, sunflower, coconut
*Store Olive, Grape seed, Sunflower oils in the freezer to extend shelf life
*Extend the life of oils by refrigerating after opening
*Cold pressed oils have essential fatty acids and anti-oxidants in them,  necessary for hair, skin, nails and brain and heart health.  Cold pressed oils have not been heated.  Heat destroys vital nutrients.

5 LBS. Salt

Sea Salt, Redmond Salt         *Good to have variety

5-10 LBS. Sprouts

 Pro-Vita, sunflower seeds, golden flax seeds sesame seeds, fenugreek, broccoli seeds, alfalfa seeds, etc
Add power packed nutrition to your food storage, learn to sprout (www.lifesprouts.com, ( 1-800-241-1516)) 

Raw Nuts and Seeds
Soak and sprout for added nutrition
Can be stored in the freezer  
nut butters, nut milks

*Nut butters without added shortening and sugars is better for your health and your pocketbook

Dehydrated, Freeze Dried Fruits And Veggies and Whole Meals

Tomatoes, onions, carrots, green beans, peas, corn Celery, peppers, potatoes, tomato chunks and/or powder, banana chips, blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, apples, pineapple etc. 
*Great shelf life
*Add water and blend and you have baby food

1-2 Jars Bouillon, Whole Egg Powder, Bottled, Dehydrated, Canned Meats, Baking Soda, Baking Powder

1-2 LB. Yeast

*Saf Yeast is vacuum packed and has a long shelf life    *or dehydrate and bag your sourdough start for later use

Spices & Herbs

Some health food stores sell them in bulk, save your spice jars and fill them with fresh ones or buy online spices.  Anytime you can get the whole herb or spice you will have fresher flavor           Penzey's Spices

Dates

*May be stored in the freezer
 www.datepeople.net

Apple Cider Vinegar/White Distilled Vinegar
*Bragg’s is a great product for internal usage, white distilled is great for cleaning fruits, veggies and your home

Shorter Term Foods

Ketchup, Mustard,Mayo, Miracle Whip 

* These have limited shelf life, learn to make your own

Canned Fruits, Veggies, Soups, Stews Chili, Meat

*These have a short shelf life, check dates
Additional Supplies & Information

Paper Products

Plates, cups, bowls, utensils, napkins, paper towels

Women and Baby Needs

Sanitary supplies (washable ones available online, as well as patterns for making your own)

 http://www.newmoonpads.com           Diva cup.(online) 

Cloth Diapers

cloth diapers and pins and plastic pants or other washable.  Less space and can be used over and over again  

Walmart   Comfy Bummy
Sweet Cheeks Diapers   Green Mountain Diapers
Dearest Diapers

Alternative Fuel For Home, Cooking and Light, Matches

Wood, kerosene, fuel to run a generator, coal, Sterno, butane, solar power, wind power, lamp oil etc.
Cleaning Supplies

White distilled vinegar, baking soda and essential oils are simple and can be used to clean everything.

“CLEAN HOUSE CLEAN PLANET” BY KAREN LOGAN IS A GREAT RESOURCE

Vitamins & Extra Medication

This takes time, so start now by re-filling your prescription when it is down ¾.  Make sure you rotate it regularly

Personal Products

Soap, lotion, toothpaste, extra toothbrushes, floss, shampoo, deodorant (baking soda is good for this and so are essential oils), Simplify by using oil for lotion, coconut,  jojoba, apricot seed, olive oil is a little heavier and stays on the skin longer. Find products for multiple uses saving you storage space.  Multi-purpose soaps are available online such as Miracle II, Dr Bonners, Kirk’s Original Coco Hardwater Castile Soap is also a great soap. These soaps can be used for skin care, tooth brushing, shampoo, cleaning the house, car & laundry

Laundry Soap

Find a powder, biodegradable and hypoallergenic concentrate. Fels Naptha is a great bar soap for stain removal or make your own

*Remember baby’s needs:  Millet is a very alkaline grain and dates are a whole food.  Also, avocados and bananas are baby’s first foods. Use dehydrated fruits and veggies re-hydrated and blended

**Become skilled in gardening, sprouting, making your own soaps, lotions, shampoos.  Learn to sew, can, dehydrate foods and anything else that will assist you becoming more self reliant

Take a look and print it off for your convenience

Emergency Food Storage

Do you have adequate food storage in case of a family emergency?  A family emergency may include things like job loss, family health crisis,  an accident, the economy, drought, social unrest, weather related catastrophes etc.

Having a 3 month supply of the foods you eat everyday will give you more security and peace so if for any reason you cannot get to the store, you know you can feed your family, pets included.

Long and Short Term Food Storage             chgetready.com    

Consider your family's needs, allergies, requirements and tailor it to you.
(We will talk about gluten free later)

Begin with a 1 month supply and move toward a one year supply of the dry store able staples like, beans & legumes, (several kinds), rice (Basmatti white and brown, long grain, short grain, white rice) wheat (soft, white, hard red), cereal grains like oats, and/or groats or steel cut, millet, buckwheat, quinoa (red, black or white), teff, amaranth, popcorn (ground is great for cornmeal) salt, (Redmond, sea salt, Himalayan), baking soda, (for cooking and cleaning), baking powder.

Honey, maple syrup, stevia, white or brown sugar, sprout seeds for later sprouting, raw nuts and seeds (stored in glass jars with a food saver) for extended shelf life, apple cider and white vinegar.

Freeze dried or dehydrated fruits and veggies, canned foods (be sure to rotate, watch the dates)
Paper products, women and baby supplies, alternative fuel for cooking, light and heat
Food Storage Plan