Pantries and Preparedness with Glenda. Preparing to evacuate.

Todays subject today is evacuations. This is my least favourite subject ever!  It would take being forced to evacuate for me I think but that can happen. So it is something we don't want to think about but should.  I am going to turn this over to Glenda who knows much more than I do.
I am sprinkling this post with lovely photos that have been sent in recently.
Over to Glenda...

   I wanted to share another prepping aspect with you other than food, water, etc. The cyclone made me think of it.

   Fires, cyclones, tornados, hurricanes, and earthquakes present a different aspect to preparedness. The stores one has at home may or may not be used, depending on whether 'staying put' or 'evacuating.' If staying put, those stores can be a life saver; literally. If evacuating, then there is another entire aspect to consider.

Chloe has been picking figs over the last month or so. 

   For evacuation, having a bag ready for each individual and animals is essential. Here in the States, unplanned evacuations mean going to a pre-determined shelter. Most often, that is a cot surrounded by a large number of other people one does not know. Food and water are doled out slowly and at a minimum. Most of us, in the States, that are familiar with some of the natural disasters can attest to the necessity of people who were unaffected helping; not necessarily relying on the Government.

Rachel found pink peppercorns. I think they are glorious and useful!

   Extra medications, supplemental foods, such as granola bars, bags of nuts, etc., small waters, travel toothbrush and toothpaste, extra underwear, and whatever else someone needs to be comfortable should be in the bag. Don't forget cash to have to purchase items needed, in case they are available.  Many people keep these 'ready to go' bags, in a spot by the backdoor or in a heated garage (kept at 40 to 45 degrees). That way they can 'grab and go,' should they need to evacuate immediately or with limited time.

Another loaf of Jane's sky high sour dough bread!

   Another thing, we have done, is to have a hard bound Record book ready. All the numbers of all accounts including utilities;  Doctors, Dentists, and others phone numbers; e-mail addresses; phones numbers of all family and friends; in short; every contact a person would need to make if they weren't able to go back to their home. Birth certificates (originals, if you keep them at home or copies if you don't); marriage licenses; photos of rooms and listing of all possessions for insurance purposes; death certificates if pertinent for estates; and any other document that is important and would be wanted or needed in the future, should be ready and kept up to date to be grabbed at a moment's notice.

Kelsey's Banana Nut Bread. This looks so good!

   The benefit of having such a notebook or Record book is that a person, on short notice to evacuate, has everything in one location and can grab it, put it in their 'ready to go,' bag and not have to worry about losing all account numbers and other important documents. 

   Don't forget the pets. Shot records, extra leashes, tags, food, water, snacks, should be packed in a bag for the pets that are to go with you.

Rachel's olives! 

   When people live in neighborhoods, in the city or even small towns, fire is a big issue. It's always best to be prepared for a neighbors mistake or negligence. We live on the plains with mountains in the West and grass prairie fires and mountain fires are common. Of course, if a fire starts in a person's home, it is hard and, sometimes, impossible to ever be prepared or get out with anything; that is the only exception I can think of in preparedness, unless we go really out there and say a nuclear attack or something similar.

   An evacuation, due to a natural disaster, usually has a fair amount of warning. Anyone who values their privacy and wants to be away from unknown crowds might want to book a motel room in a city/town away from the designated warning area. Even evacuating and not needing to do so might be smarter, if the conditions are extremely unknown, than staying put and having no way other than a shelter in which to relocate. Afterwards, if no damage has been done to one's property, then returning home would be a true blessing.

Teri uses Cookie's bread recipe to make scrolls. (Yum!)

   Full coverage of insurance is very wise. Replacement insurance replaces a home for the value it would be assessed at, so one can rebuild. Replacement insurance on the contents allows for full coverage replacement of inside items, which is why a full accounting with pictures is necessary to grab and go with.

   I pray none of the Bluebirds or their families ever go through a hurricane, cyclone, tornado, earthquake, or fire. Being prepared just makes life a lot easier and less stressful in every aspect of life.   A lot of people never think about this aspect of preparedness and panic if a situation arises. A situation where a person is not in control of their residence or life is scary and extremely stressful to the body. We have powder packets of vitamins, minerals, and dehydration nutrients that are very small in tubes that go in the bags. The powder only needs added to a water bottle. Keeping one's health up is very important when under stress.

Thank you Glenda.  I am working on a list and an action plan as it would be almost impossible to think clearly in a crisis if you were given minutes to leave.

Also on the subject of preparedness...

Vicky was featured for a handy preparedness post she wrote for Strangers and Pilgrims on Earth called Egg substitutions- Free Printable List.  This post becomes another page in the Preparedness Binder Jes has us putting together. I love this series!

Then I have to show you this.... Harper taking out the rubbish (Scarlett's nappies I am pretty sure) and being Mummy's helper... she is looking so grown up now...

Today is the first of May!  I can hardly believe it!  I need to do some thinking and planning and set some goals for the month.
How have you been improving your preparedness or building up your pantry?

Have a good new week! xxx