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Are YOU Prepared?
by Alice Osborne
 January is a great time to get organized for the rest of the year, and dealing with the idea of the unexpected is always a smart component of any organization plan. After a major disaster the usual services we take for granted, such as running water, refrigeration, and telephones, may be unavailable.
Experts recommend that you should be prepared to be self-sufficient for at least 3 days. Store your household disaster kit in an easily accessible location. Put contents in a large, watertight container (e.g. a large plastic garbage can with a lid and wheels) that you can move easily.
Your basic emergency kit should include:
 Water – one gallon per person per day
Food – ready to eat or requiring minimal water
Manual can opener and other cooking supplies
Plates, utensils and other feeding supplies
First Aid kit & instructions
A copy of important documents & phone numbers
Warm clothes and rain gear for each family member
Heavy work gloves
Disposable camera
Unscented liquid household bleach and an eyedropper for water purification
Personal hygiene items including toilet paper, feminine supplies, hand sanitizer and soap
Plastic sheeting, duct tape and utility knife for covering broken windows
Tools such as a crowbar, hammer & nails, staple gun, adjustable wrench and bungee cords
Blanket or sleeping bag
Large heavy duty plastic bags and a plastic bucket for waste and sanitation
Any special-needs items for children, seniors or people with disabilities. Don’t forget water and supplies for your pets.
 A component of your disaster kit is your “GO-Bag.” Put the following items together in a backpack or another easy to carry container in case you must evacuate quickly. Prepare one GO-Bag for each family member and make sure each has an I.D. tag. You may not be at home when an emergency strikes so keep some additional supplies in your car and at work, considering what you would need for your immediate safety.
Flashlight
Radio – battery operated
Batteries
Whistle
Dust mask
Pocket knife
Emergency cash in small denominations and quarters for phone calls
Sturdy shoes, a change of clothes, and a warm hat
Local map
Water and food for at least 6 meals (canned sausages, granola bars, trail mix, etc.)
Permanent marker, paper and tape
Photos of family members and pets for re-identification purposes
List of emergency point-of -contact phone numbers
List of allergies to any drug (especially antibiotics) or food
Copy of health insurance and identification cards
Extra prescription eye glasses, hearing aid or other vital personal items
Prescription medications and first aid supplies
Toothbrush and toothpaste
Toilet paper and feminine hygiene products (if applicable)
Small package sanitary wipes
Extra keys to your house and vehicle
Travel games, deck of cards; book to read
Lightweight sleeping bag attached to bottom of backpack
One or two mylar solar blankets
Hand and toe warmers
Any special-needs items for children, seniors or people with disabilities. Don’t forget to make a GO-Bag for your pets.
A good thing to have in the freezer are some extra granola bars that you can grab and go. Here’s a recipe for a good, yet inexpensive one that we found in Mother Earth News:
Granola Bars
 3 cups rolled oats (old-fashioned or instant)
1 cup shredded coconut (optional)
1/2 cup raw sunflower seeds
1/4 cup sesame seeds
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
4 tablespoons butter or margarine
1/4 cup dark brown sugar
1/2 cup honey
1 cup raisins
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
While your oven is preheating to 300°F, spread the oats, coconut, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, and walnuts evenly on a 9" x 12" baking sheet. Bake these dry ingredients for 20 minutes, stirring them occasionally.
Meanwhile, heat the butter (or margarine), brown sugar and honey in a small saucepan, allowing the brew to simmer until the oat mixture is ready to come out of the oven. As soon as the oat mixture is out, add the raisins, stirring them into the other ingredients.
Now remove the honey from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract, then pour the hot liquid over the oat mixture and stir until all the dry ingredients are coated.
Next, press the granola firmly into the bottom of a greased 8" x 8" pan and place it in the still-warm oven to bake (at the same 300°F as before) for 20 minutes. (An 8" x 8" pan makes bars about an inch thick; if you want thinner bars, use a slightly larger pan.)
When you remove the granola from the oven, allow it to cool only slightly before cutting it into squares, but wait until it's completely cool before removing the bars from the pan.
 Download this recipe.
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