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Commonsense Preparedness Just Makes Sense... by Jackie Clay PDF
Commonsense Preparedness Just Makes Sense... by Jackie Clay PDF
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November/December 1997 Backwoods Home Magazine
produce, even if it seems extravagant, with tight-fitting lids. A few bay photovoltaic system to keep your
for who knows if next years crop will leaves thrown in on top further pro- freezer going during the entire power
be hailed out and the year after that tects the grain from weevils. outage, your stored food will thaw. I
killed by drought or insects. And who Most foods, such as spices (bought know; I lost a third of my very large
knows if someone will lose a job or economically at local health food freezer full of meat, poultry, and veg-
health, or have a relative or friend in stores by the pound) and baking pow- etables during a week-long power out-
need move in with them, creating a der keep very well and long-term in ageand I would have lost more if I
real need for extra food. jars that have tight-fitting lids. If the hadnt been able to can the rest. I
We keep wheat, stored as whole food comes from the grocery store in havent relied on a freezer, other than
grain because it keeps longer, and we sealed containers, we leave them in Mother Natures on a temporary basis,
grind it with our hand mill. We also since then.
keep whole corn, dry milk, margarine Another reason not to depend on a
powder, powdered eggs, flours, corn freezer is that there are instances
meal, honey, and yeast. Also a huge where your family may have to quick-
variety of home-canned foods which, ly evacuate your home, and its very
if processed right and kept reasonably nice to be able to load up the truck
cool and dry, last nearly forever. Sure, with a good load of your pantry food,
you may lose some nutrients over even if you are only going to spend
time, but by using fresh vegetables two weeks at your mothers until the
and fruits to start out, you can coun- emergency passes.
terbalance any loss easily and have a We always keep some emergency
full stomach. These home-canned food in our truck, behind the seat. We
foods are more than just tomatoes, cant afford MREs, but theres jerky,
beans, and peaches. I can year-round candy bars, dried fruit, crackers, a few
making my own chili, taco filling, tins of Spam, and dried soup. We also
beef stew, smoked fish, turkey noodle keep a box in the shell that contain a
soup, etc.all of which are easy-to- small propane stove, frying pan, pot,
heat taste treats. sleeping bags, etc. Recently, our fuel
We also dry a lot of our produce and pump went out on our truck while we
fruit, sealing them in canning jars to were on the freeway, leaving us
preserve freshness. I dry berries, cher- stranded for seven hours, and we got
ries, peaches, apples, pumpkin, hungry. Not a big emergency, but life
squash, onions, peas, carrot chips, Every home should have an is full of little emergencies.
banana chips, fresh and cooked corn, outhouse for emergency use.
peppers, mushrooms, and more, all of First aid/medication
which are easily and quickly rehydrat- those containers as they will keep
ed and ready to use. much longer than the freshness date A complete first aid kit containing
I always make sure we have plenty stamped on the box or bag. any prescription medicine needed by
of flour, baking powder, sugar, salt, While all this food does keep very family members is a must in any
spices, and shortening as wellall well in a dry, cool pantry, away from home. I laugh at many first aid kits
bought when sales are on. the light, it is important to keep track that consist of just a few bandaids and
Some preparedness foods are bought of the dates you put it up or purchased a tube of ointment. Ours is a field kit
by mail and shipped to us sealed in it, and to keep rotating your stock contained in a heavy duty shooters
#10 cans (about 1 gallon) or white through everyday use so that the old- boxsimilar to a fishing tackle box,
plastic buckets. But these can be est food is eaten and replaced with but heavier, and with a deep lower
pricey. fresh food. This way you will never section. Both my husband Bob, a cer-
Many items, such as our dry beans, lose any of your stored food. tified nurses assistant, and I, a veteri-
flours, sugar, baking powder, etc. we But what about a freezer full of great nary field technician, have extensive
store in popcorn tins, glass gallon-jars, food? A freezer may be handy, but it medical experience so our kit is
etc., all tightly sealed against damp- is not an option for emergency food beefed up. But every kit should
ness and insects. Our wheat and whole storage. First of all, frozen food is include at least the following: a Red
corn is freezer treated for three days in only good frozen. If the power goes Cross first aid manual, heavy and
sealed containers, then dumped into off, and you dont have a backup elec- small scissors; tweezers, several 20-
30-gallon food-grade garbage cans trical system such as a generator or a gauge hypodermic needles (nothing
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November/December 1997 Backwoods Home Magazine
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November/December 1997 Backwoods Home Magazine
In many climates, a heater below Always keep a downwind window ing to read by kerosene unless it is a
your homes water lines is necessary cracked open, to prevent asphyxiation. pricey Aladdin lamp.
to prevent frozen and bursting pipes. In addition, we keep heavy sleeping As with the heating fuel, be sure you
And if your water comes from a well, bags in a plastic box under the trucks have adequate fuel stored outside,
be sure there is a heater safely burning shell along with a change of winter where it is safe.
in your well house or, when the elec- clothes which includes old, but warm, Emergency lighting in a vehicle is
tricity comes back on, your water may winter boots. Generally, staying with also necessary. As I said, we have a
be frozen and presenting you with a the vehicle is the best course of action Coleman lamp in the truck at all
real problem. We have a small, vent- during an emergency as a person is times, but we also have a box of 12-
less, propane heater in our well house protected from the weather and easier inch candles and a good flashlight as
which we light during severe and to find than if stumbling about in a well. Having light in the vehicle can
windy winter weather. It keeps things blizzard. But, if you have to walk, it is provide cheer but more important, it
unfrozen until the weather moderates best to do so in warm winter clothes, may prevent your rig from being hit
and does so without electricity and at with a sleeping bag wrapped around by a passing motorist as well as great-
very little cost. you, than in mall clothes and tennis ly improving your chances of having
Never use an unvented heater of shoes. someone see your problem and stop to
any kind, unless it is approved for Back home again, cooking and light- help.
home use, unvented, as your family ing should also be considered. If your
may end up dead due to asphyxia- backup heat is wood, you can cook Sanitation
tion. meals on most wood heaters. But
Also, in your truck or auto, never many propane heaters do not facilitate About everyone takes flushing the
depend on the motor and heater to cooking. A simple solution is a small, toilet for granteduntil it wont flush.
keep you warm. We keep a Coleman countertop propane stove. A two- For this reason, be sure you have at
lantern and fuel in a box in the back of burner stove with flexible hose, con- least 50 gallons of water available for
the truck which can be used for heat nected to a 30-pound propane pup sanitation reasons, alone. You dont
as well as light during an emergency. or portable tank, works great. We also need super-clean water to flush a toi-
carry a mini backpacking propane let. After all, you know what youre
stove in our emergency box in the flushing. You can melt snow or go to
back of the truck. It takes up only 24 a nearby ditch, pond or creek and haul
square inches, weighs a few ounces, water to dump into the toilet, but even
and quickly connects to a disposable this water should be used frugally.
propane cartridge, giving instant heat. Only flush the solid stuff, putting toi-
We once cooked supper on it, just out let paper in a bag to dispose of later.
of Yellowstone park, in the middle of Dont be so frugal that you plug the
the highway, while waiting for the toilet. Flush when you must, not just
park service to clear a mud slide off out of habit. For this reason, keep a
the road. Another option is a Coleman bucket of water next to the toilet, but
camp stove which fits right on the dont dump it in the back, as most
counter and provides two burners of folks will automatically flush when
cooking power instantly. theyre done, without thinking. This
Of course, when the power is gone, way you will save much water.
so are the lights in most folks homes. Keep in mind that there are usually
Candles and flashlights are always a 30 to 50 gallons of clean water in the
part of a well prepared home. But can- water heater after the pressure is gone.
dles burn out in a short time and are a You can draw this water off through
bit unsafe, while flashlight batteries the faucet on the bottom using a short
soon weaken and die. We have four length of garden hose. But be sure the
filled kerosene lamps on top of the electricity or gas is turned off first,
cupboards at all times, along with two because without water the dry tank
Coleman lamps (including replace- may burn out when the power comes
ment globes, in case of breakage, and on. A water bed is also a source of
Bobs broken leg from a snowmobile extra mantles). The kerosene lamps sanitation water, but it should never be
wreckhandled well at home because are nice, but we like to read on stormy used for drinking water because of the
there was no doctor available nights, and you can about go blind try-
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November/December 1997 Backwoods Home Magazine
chemicals and contact with nonfood- Having reliable transportation is nearly full at all times. You never
grade plastic. essential in any emergency situation. know when you may have to take an
If possible, have an outhouse in your Keeping a vehicle in the best shape injured or ill person to a hospital in
yard. Yes, an outhouse. Even a large you can afford is necessary. Having a the night or evacuate your home
lot in the city can house an outhouse, thousand dollar stereo system means because of a storm, civic disturbance,
carefully built to resemble a garden nothing if the gas tank is kept empty or even a toxic spill from a passing
shed, and only used for emergencies. I and the fan belt needs replacing. Good truck. And at such times you dont
know its against code, but so is a tires, belts, hoses, windshield wipers, want to have to search for a gas sta-
bucket full of poop in the bathroom. a good spare tire, jack, a tire iron that tion. As with food, rotate your gaso-
Personally, Id rather use the out- fits the lugs, jumper cables, and a tool line, as stale gasoline will not be a
house, being discrete, i.e., sneaky, if box with good, commonly used auto dependable fuel.
necessary. tools including a battery terminal In addition, we always carry an extra
Sanitation also includes things such cleaner are needed in any well-pre- upper radiator hose, fan belt, box of
as sanitary napkins, toilet paper, dia- pared vehicle. In snow country we fuses, and a roll of duct tape behind
pers, etc. There should be a good sup- always carry a set of heavy tire chains the seat of our pickup. The radiator
ply of all of these plus soap, deodor- for at least the front end of our 4x4 hose and fan belt are easy and quick to
ant, and bleach in the pantry. (Weve pickup, and if we expect severe
spent so long in the woods, that we weather we
never leave home without a good sup- carry a full set.
ply of toilet paper. The heck with Every auto or
American Express.) other vehicle
Even when a baby is kept in cloth should carry
diapers, it is a great idea to keep a tire chains to
couple of bags of the right size dispos- increase trac-
able diapers in a closet and one in the tion on snow
vehicle. Washing dirty diapers is and ice. Have
never fun, but in an emergency it is the means to
not what you need to be doing. keep those
A few sanitary napkins crammed in chains tight,
the glove box of the vehicle can save too, as loose
the dayor days. We also keep a chains break
small container of baby wipes and a or are thrown.
bar of soap there too. In your house, Preparing a
sanitary products should be available vehicle should Two stages of emergency travelsnowmobile and horse.
to supply the family for two years. also include Survival kits and tools are stowed safely onboard.
The same goes for laundry detergent. keeping neces-
One note here: You can wash sary fluids in the trunk. These are oil, change, and duct tape will temporarily
clothes in a sink, tub, or bucket, but brake fluid, starter fluid, gas line repair a host of breaks.
having an old wringer washing antifreeze, windshield wash, transmis- A Chiltons repair manual for your
machine around, powered by a sion fluid (automatic transmission), vehicle is also a good idea as it pro-
portable, inexpensive generator which and radiator coolant/antifreeze. In an vides the specs for your particular
can also provide electricity for short emergency, you may not have access vehicle, and it explains in detail how
periods, will make laundry day a snap. to them when you desperately need to repair hundreds of common, and
In the mountains, we ran the generator them. uncommon, problems. Likewise, a
once a week while I washed clothes A bag of sand for added traction, a road atlas and compass are invaluable
and Bob and David watched a movie shovel, a length of hardware cloth (for in the vehicle.
on our VCRa real treat for all of us. traction when stuck), a fire extinguish-
Even in the winter, clothes can be er, a tow chain, and a pair of old Family readiness
dried on a line outdoors, although it gloves for dirty work are also great
takes a week during very cold weather additions to the trunk. There are a few things that the fami-
to get them thoroughly dry. It is an excellent idea to have a pair ly should sit down and discuss.
of five-gallon gas cans full of fresh Everyone in the family should know
how to shut off the gas at the meter or
Transportation gas at home, stored safely outdoors,
propane tank when huricanes or torna-
but handy. And to keep the gas tank
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November/December 1997 Backwoods Home Magazine
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