Week 6

Before we begin with new steps for this week I think we should review what we have accomplished. By the end of this week we will have assembled:

72 Hour Kits: whistles, clothing, TP, diapers, light sources,1 backpack, paper products and important documents(birth certificates and drivers licenses).

Around the House: shoes under the beds, light source next to the bed, designated a food storage area, stored some water and have bleach for purifying water and cleaning after a disaster.

Emergency Food Supply: 1 days worth of fruits and vegetables, ingredients for 5 favorite meals, ingredients for 3 desserts, oatmeal and pancake mix. In other words a 3 day supply for the whole family. May not sound like much but it is. It’s the amount emergency agencies say is the minimum to have on hand……72 hours!

Out of State contact: We have established a contact person, developed a phone tree, and have items ready to mail to our contact.

Important Documents: Drivers license and birth certificates

Schools: We have researched our school’s plans and discussed them with our children. Researched the television and radio stations that will broadcast emergency information for our area.

Electricity: We have one the thing left to do and we will have checked off all the items we need to be prepared for a power outage! We have light, water, fuel for cooking, liquid laundry detergent and a way to dry our clothes (rope and clothes pins), battery operated clock, paper plates and other items for serving food, and a battery operated clock.

$$$$$- You have saved money in your change jar. (how much do you have so far?)

Can you believe it! Impressed? You should be. Just think of all you have done and how long you have thought about how important this is and now you are doing it! Wait till six weeks from now…..you will be amazed.

This week there is quite a bit to purchase. If cash is a little tight consider having breakfast for dinner a night or two. Much cheaper, than the meat and potatoes kind of meal.

1. Add the appropriate paper plates, bowls and utensils to your 72 hour kits. If you are planning to add energy bars and/or MREs to your kit you will only need the utensils as the MREs can be eaten directly from the pouch. The remaining products are for your home storage to use during that power outage, a natural disaster or a medical emergency..

2. Purchase a large box of oatmeal or other hot cereal. This goes on the storage shelf remember….not for use now. Or buy the rolled groats for your grinder!

3. Purchase a large bag of pancake mix. Add to the storage shelf!

4. Add a roll of TP to your 72 hour kits.

5. Purchase ingredients to make 5 of your favorite meals using the list of favorite meals you created with your family. Date them and place on your food storage shelf.

6. Teach your family how to turn off the gas, water and electricity coming in to your home.

7. Purchase 1 gallon of unscented bleach. Label: Emergency Cleaning and place with your storage.
That’s it. You can take care of 4 of them with one trip to the store leaving you more time to catch up on any previous steps you may have missed. Good luck and remember to check in and let us know your questions or progress.

Week 5

Have a great week? I hope so. Ready for the next challenge? Here goes!
1. Purchase plastic sleeves for your binder.

2. Place a flashlight, batteries and glow sticks in your 72 hour kits. If you do not have backpacks for your kits purchase at least one this week.

3. As we did for electricity, make a list of every thing you do that uses water. Create a chart of what you will need to replace. Refer to the water article in your binder for ideas.

4. Purchase the items you need to replace your washer and dryer if the electricity goes out. Liquid detergent, a rope and clothes pins should do it.

5. Create a phone tree(s) for friends, neighbors and family. Assign everyone two or three people to call in case of an emergency. You will probably want a separate tree for family unless you all live in the same area. Be sure your out of the area contact person has phone numbers for every member of your family and extended family. Place a copy of your phone tree in the envelope to be mailed to your contact out of area contact, remember that envelope from week 3?

6. Purchase ingredients for 3 desserts*. These can be brownie mixes, puddings, or the ingredients for cookies from scratch. Whatever your family decided on when you made your list of favorites.

7. Make 3 copies of all your family’s birth certificates and drivers licenses. Place one copy in each adult 72 hour kit and one copy in the envelope to be mailed to your contact.
There you go! Another week and another 7 steps to reach our goal to be ready for whatever comes!!

* Won’t have a fresh egg? You can either order powdered eggs…or you can use unflavored gelatin or flax seed (ground).

• Using Flax Seed:For each egg needed, place in blender:1 heaping tablespoon of whole organic flax seed, blend until it becomes a fine meal. Add 1/4 cup cold water blend 2-3 minutes until thickened and has the consistency of eggs. Each 1/4 cup of Flax seed mixture will replace one egg in baking
  
  
  
• Using Gelatin:Before starting recipe for cookies, cake etc… Combine 1 tsp unflavored gelatin with 3 tblsp cold water and 2 tblsp plus 1 tsp boiling water. This mixture will substitute for 1 egg in a recipe.

Week 4

It’s time to start a new week!! Sit back, take a deep breathe and relax. This is “Catch Up Week”! That’s right. We are going to make this simple. I know things come up, people get sick, and some days you are just plain worn out so this week is a time to go back and do a few of the things that just fell through the cracks the last three weeks. Your assignment for the week:

1. Go back and review the list of seven steps for the last three weeks. Work on any or all you have missed.

2. Read the comments of others and see what you can learn or share.That’s it!! Enjoy your week and use this as a time to catch up and spread the word. A support group really does help.

Week 3

1. Call your child’s school(s) and ask for a copy of the school emergency plan. If they don’t have one ask some specific questions. If your school has no plan to notify parents in case of an emergency or to provide for a student’s needs during a lock down, now is the time to get involved in the parent club or to get a group of friends together to go and ask some questions of your school administration and school board. This is very important. Every day in the United States there are at least a few schools locked down. If there is an earthquake or fire or tornado, what is the plan? Be sure to set aside some time to discuss this plan with your children.

2. With your family, make a list of your 10 favorite meals. These should be the ones you could eat over and over again. They should include meals that would be appropriate for breakfast as well as lunch and dinner. Next compile a list of their 5 favorite desserts. This is a fun topic for around the dinner table. We will use these in coming weeks and months to accumulate your food storage. Place the list in your binder.

3. This week is a great time to purchase all things red and with hearts as they are marked down for and after Valentines Day. Red socks with hearts are great stocking stuffers. Think creatively about future gifts.

4. Add whistles and clothing to your 72 hour kits. (refer to the checklist you printed off and placed in your binder) For infants and young children make sure the clothing and diapers you add are at least a size too big. You can make too big work but too small is a huge headache during a crisis. And, yes diapers are clothing for an infant or toddler. Check them off the checklist in your binder when you are finished and note anything you may need to purchase on this weeks shopping list. If you don’t have backpacks place items for each person in their own large trash bag for now. Make sure you label the bag so it is not accidentally thrown away.

5. Get out your list of items that use electricity. Purchase the items you will need to replace the use of your stove, (matches,charcoal, camp stove…) and dish washer (liquid detergent, paper plates, cups and bowls, plastic utensils…).

6. Find out which radio and TV stations are part of the emergency broadcast system for your local area. Be sure to find out which stations will handle emergency broadcasts for school emergencies. Place this list in your binder where you can find it quickly when the need arises.

7. Contact a friend or family member living at least 100 miles away and ask them if they would be willing to be your family “Out of Area Contact”. They are agreeing to let you come to their home if you need to evacuate, make phone calls on your behalf to your extended family and to store copies of important paper and photos. Get a large manila envelope and write their name and address on the front. We will use this next week.

Emergency Info

CodeRED Emergency Notification System
The City of Claremont, through a grant provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the State Office of Emergency Services, has purchased an Emergency Notification System called "CodeRED."


CodeRED is a high-speed telephone communications system capable of dialing 60,000 phone numbers per hour and delivering pre-recorded messages directly to live individuals, answering machines, cell phones, or computer based devices. Messages will update residents and businesses on pending emergencies, and critical incidents that require immediate communications and/or action by residents and business.

CodeRED WILL BE USED FOR EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS

CodeRED is intended to supplement our local law enforcement and public safety first responders with making timely emergency notifications. Examples of its use include:

• Evacuation Notice



• Fires or Floods



• Missing Persons



• Hazardous Material Spills



• Water Contamination



• Identifying Evacuation Centers



• Emergency and Critical incidents where rapid notification is essential.
  

The Police Department will be utilizing contact information (phone numbers) supplied by Verizon. Residents and businesses will be able to access, via the Internet, a community portal that will allow you to input your contact information to ensure we have your information and it is correct (link provided below).

In addition to CodeRED, residents and Claremont based businesses are encouraged to sign up for the "E-Watch" program via the Police Department's website. This additional communication tool provides time sensitive information about crime and crime activity in your neighborhood, as well as information on personal safety, disaster preparation, and can be used in conjunction with CodeRED to distribute information quickly to email addresses.

CodeRED notification phone calls will appear on caller ID as 999-911-9999.
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There is no cost to participate in CodeRED - it is completely FREE.
Provide contact information for CodeRED emergency notifications
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