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Emergency Preparedness - Are You Ready For A Pandemic or Other Disaster?
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I am writing this article while we are waiting to see if a few cases of swine flu will develop into a full-blown pandemic, but the topic certainly applies to any type of other emergency (whether it’s some sort of natural disaster like a hurricane, another medical / epidemic outbreak or anything else that might confine you to your home for a certain period).
I’ve been following the news closely and my first reaction was one of helplessness… after all, what can we do to protect ourselves and our loved ones from a potential flu pandemic. We can’t close the borders, suspend school or quarantine the sick. The more I got to thinking, the more I realized there was quite a bit I could do and taking action made me less fearful. In this article I want to share some of the steps my family and I are taking to make sure we are prepared.
Some of the information I’m going to share with yo came from the CDC (Center of Disease Control). They have an entire section of their website dedicated to swine flu which is worth checking out.
Back to being prepared…
The first part is something your mom has been saying all along (and you probably heard it on the news the past few days as well): Wash your hands frequently. Cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze and stay home when you’re sick.
In addition to washing our hands, I also picked up a couple of travel size hand sanitizers (as well as a large container to refill the small bottles). We are using those whenever washing our hands isn’t an option. I am using the sanitizer while grocery shopping for example if we are at the park.
I looked into making homemade hand sanitizer to see if it would be a less expensive option. While I found a few recipes online, I also came across some information that apparently these homemade sanitizers aren’t as effective since they do not have as much alcohol in them as their store-bought counterparts. The cost of the ingredients for the homemade kind also wasn’t all that far off from what I was able to get at the store. My decision was to buy the hand sanitizer at the store just to be safe.
Let’s talk about what else you should keep in your pantry. I am starting with what the CDC recommends and then add a few items to it.
Foods and Non-Perishables:
CDC recommendation:
- Ready-to-eat canned meats, fish, fruits, vegetables, beans, and soups
- Protein or fruit bars
- Dry cereal or granola
- Peanut butter or nuts
- Dried fruit
- Crackers
- Canned juices
- Bottled water
- Canned or jarred baby food and formula
- Pet food
My Add-ons to this list
- Flour, yeast and whatever else you may need for your favorite homemade bread recipe
- Quick Cooking Oats for oatmeal
- Beans
- Bullion to season soups and beans
- Canned Meat and Fish
- Homemade Freezer meals *
- Lemons, Oranges, apples and other fruit that will keep for a while.
- Lemon Juice and frozen orange juice concentrate for (both fruit and juices are for extra boosts of vitamin c)
- Tea and Coffee
- Plenty of powdered milk (to drink, and cook with … you can make yogurt with it)
* You don’t want to rely stricktly on freezer meals since there is also the potential for losing power with many emergencies, but with a health related one like this potential pandemic outbreak they will come in very handy.
Medical, Health and Emergency Supplies (recommended by the CDC)
- Prescribed medical supplies such as glucose and blood-pressure monitoring equipment
- Soap and water, or alcohol-based (60-95%) hand wash
- Medicines for fever, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen
- Thermometer
- Anti-diarrheal medication
- Vitamins
- Fluids with electrolytes
- Cleansing agent/soap
- Flashlight
- Batteries
I don’t really have anything to add to this other than speak to your health care professional about anything else you should keep on hand. If you have kids, give your prediatrician a call. He can advise you on what over the counter medications you should keep on hand for your child.
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34 Responses to “Emergency Preparedness - Are You Ready For A Pandemic or Other Disaster?”
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April 28th, 2009 at 11:29 am
I have to say normally I don’t watch a lot of news as I find it to depressing. But this swine flu has caught my attention and worries me greatly. I wish they would close the borders and quarantine the ill.
April 28th, 2009 at 11:33 am
Awesome article about emergency prepareness. I am worried about the swine flu. I feel that we have no control over this. Thanks for all of your articles.
April 28th, 2009 at 11:55 am
We have been using Grapefruitseed extract as hand sanitizer. We buy it from Vitacost online and reconstitute it (I add some essential oils so there is a scent) It kills germs and it’s safe for kids and you! Our bodies absorb over 80% of what we put on our skin. Kids probably more since they always put hands in their mouths. Please look into this. It’s very economical…we have been using the same jar of concentrate since last year and have not made a dent in it!!
April 28th, 2009 at 12:01 pm
I am concerned about the Swine Flu and think that we all should be prepared with food for ourselves and our pets so we make fewer trips to crowded markets. At Walmart the greeter has wipes or hand sanitizer that you can wipe the handles of the carts with. You sometimes have to ask for it. I hope more markets pick up on this. But we all have to remember that God is in control and we need to pray for the people that are sick and for protection for our families.
April 28th, 2009 at 1:11 pm
I know these are not pantry items, but you should also have a supply to hygience items. TP, feminine products, a supply of your prescription drugs you must have on a daily basis.
April 28th, 2009 at 1:45 pm
I think if we did close the borders, closed the schools and quarantined the sick RIGHT NOW- we would put a stop to the spread of this flu. The above mentioned articles to have for an emergency are just common sense items- everyone should have these ready for any type of emergency.
Sanitation and common sense these days seem to be two things we are not following through on- it’s all basic knowledge- wash your hands after you use the rest room, or handle anything- your pet, the kids, insecticide, grocery cart, wipe your nose… all things we should have learned in kindergarten, but obviously, we haven’t or we wouldn’t have all the problems we have with food contamination! People these days are very unsanitary!!
April 28th, 2009 at 2:05 pm
Doorknobs are a terrible germ source. When illnesses are prevalent wipe them down with rubbing alcohol (70% or 91%.) Work with younger kids on how to use public restrooms without putting their hands on surfaces others might have put unwashed hands on. I made a game of it when ours were little. Set up a “pretend” public bathroom and have little ones collect points for guessing where germs might be.
April 28th, 2009 at 2:33 pm
All of this is very scary. We also keep on hand propane bottles for the camping stove since we are campers we own one. The propane also last longer and we use it for the lanterns and the carry grill. We also keep a supply of paper products such as towels, TP, plates and plastic utensils. Which I buy at the dollar store.
April 28th, 2009 at 3:43 pm
Where in the Bible does God tell us to fear anything but Him? Yes, having a pantry well stocked is smart on any day. Yes there are germs out there. There always has been and every year people have died from the flu and other illnesses. I love this website and I recommend it often. The comments left so far are pretty good advice. But don’t react in fear. Don’t hide from the people in need. Trust in a sovereign God whose mercy endures forever. Use this time and the fear the media has instilled in the hearts of unbelievers to witness for Jesus Christ.
April 28th, 2009 at 5:02 pm
I say “AMEN” to Joanne’s word. I just don’t think that it could be stated better other than straight from scripture.
Bless you, and remember prayer….with belief.
April 28th, 2009 at 6:20 pm
Thank you so much Joanne! You are completely right God has not given us a spirit of fer but of love and a sound mind!
Blessings my friends!
April 28th, 2009 at 6:36 pm
hello everyone i must say i am very worried i am 23 years old and have a little daughter and me and my husband never seen something this big happen. I agree with robbie and joanne a lot of people dont wash there hands and are not clean which is sad and you know what we all need to pray for our health and others and hope this goes away. You guys have great advice and i love this website. Thanks to everyone and god bless
April 28th, 2009 at 11:13 pm
You need to also build your immune system. Lots and lots of green vegies, fruit, seeds and nuts. Make green smoothies. Cut out the white flour, sugar and junk food. No more heart attacks on a plate! You know the kind, the yummy comfort food full of cheese and fat! Anything that God grew for us, that is what will build you into mighty warriors! The Daniel diet. Try to eat as much of it raw so it contains all the nutrients God wanted us to get. Thanks for the great newsletter you are doing a wonderful job!
April 28th, 2009 at 11:31 pm
I agree with Joanne and the op about not being afraid. Like was mentioned, people die each year of flu and other diseases. We had SARS, Bird Flu, MERSA, etc that the media led the way with their “sky is falling” tactics. If we remember to practice good hygiene and keep our bodies healthy, we will do a lot to avoid these diseases or lessen the effects.
April 29th, 2009 at 8:56 am
I know these are scary times, but we were warned in the Bible it would be like this. The very best thing you can do is boost your immune system. My husband and I are both RNs and get exposed to everything! Yet we are not sick very often. Start taking vitamins and mineral supplements if you haven’t started already. Vitamin C and Zinc are huge boosters. Eat as many anti-oxidents as you can. Buy the cranberry concentrate and mix it with your water bottles, also lemon water is a great cleaning tool. Those dried prunes are great for keeping you regular and kids love them they think it’s a treat. God gave us a great immune system we must trust and show it repect. Praying for all of us, Love in Christ Katie
April 29th, 2009 at 10:10 am
I agree with all of the above! In the last 2 years, we have been through 2 ice storms and a tornado in southwest MO.(although a different kind of emergency, if we are forced to stay near our homes, this may be handy) I began a quest for alternate heating/cooking and have found kerosene cookers (which are very common today in 3rd world countries and many others) to be very efficient and VERY easy to use. The Alpaca cook stove is a round, 1 burner that uses a round wick and is virtually maitenance free and one can find both cookstove & wicks online, especially on eBay. I also have many antique cookers and old ovens acqired from eBay and yard sales. They work wonderfully. In most states, kerosene is bought at a gas station. We store is so it is always handy. Never heat or cook with the colored or pink kerosene–it is diesel fuel and will clog up all your wicks & smoke. Only purchase clear kerosene.
April 29th, 2009 at 1:01 pm
A friend of ours who is a Wellness instructor suggest that you get a spritzer and use 100% vodka if you must use a hand sanatizer. There are lots of other uses that you can find on the internet, and their not for drink’en. She also stated make sure that if you must use the store bought kind make sure it has denatured alchohol not isopropyl achohol. Plus do some continue to do some reading on the other chemicals you see in these mixes and you will probably decide that it is not worth throwing your money down the drain.
It is partly the overuse of the hand sanitizers and antibacterial soaps that got us in this boat in the first place.
I can speak first hand I had all kinds of store bought hand sanitizers in my houe and I was sicker than a dog.
April 29th, 2009 at 1:48 pm
Claim Psalms 91 over your town, your household and your families and friends. “there shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nye thy dwelling”
April 29th, 2009 at 4:59 pm
Thank you everyone for all your comments, I feel comforted and better informed. God Bless, michelle
April 29th, 2009 at 5:03 pm
What is moderation?
April 29th, 2009 at 6:04 pm
Michelle,
comments are held in moderation … which means I get a chance to read through them and then usually approve them. Just a way to make sure we don’t end up with a bunch of spammy messages on here. - Susanne
April 29th, 2009 at 11:02 pm
Please remember that every year dozens of people die from the flu and the media hardly even notices. So far this swine flu is more media-hype than true disaster. Not that it cannot become a true disaster. Just take the recommended precautions and remember that God is still in control.
April 30th, 2009 at 12:34 am
Its just smart in general to always have a stockpile for emergencies. But it should be added that people should have on hand a way to cook food if the gas/electric goes out. Like a camping stove. I know that as soon as I can afford it I will get a generator(for when i own a home) and a camping stove. I already have 1 year supply stockpile of food,cleaning supplies,etc.Having a water supply too is a good idea. Remember Y2k lol.
April 30th, 2009 at 8:50 pm
When you do stockpile food, whether for a disaster, illness or whatever … make sure you are stocking food that your family really eats. Don’t bother buying tuna if everyone hates it. On the other hand, there were a few years when I kept a box of Pop-Tarts (rotating as needed) in our disaster kit thinking we’d like to have some fun food while waiting out a tornado warning.
May 2nd, 2009 at 6:20 pm
In addition to the hand sanitizer, I always keep a travel size spray bottle filled with rubbing alcohol in my purse/bag. It’s handy for spraying down shopping carts, etc. When my brother, who works for the health department, found out I did this, he said it was a great idea and that more people should do it to prevent the spread of lots of illnesses.
May 2nd, 2009 at 10:30 pm
I am a 26 year old mother of two&1/2 year old twin girls. I am striving for simple living. I feel it is good to be prepared supply wise as well as spiritually. I think this is to get us ready for much bigger things to come. We all just need our faith and our wits about us,and the Lord will keep us strong. We are being awakened to the truth in things. I never would of thought I would be wanting to live simple and old fashion. Things change on your quest for a better life for your kids. Thank you for your site I have learned alot from it as well as many others.
P.s : many of my relatives are striving for a simple life now as well
May 7th, 2009 at 8:04 am
Re. stockpiling foods and non-perishables for emergecies. What are the best ways to keep them in a damp basement or garage and prevent mold growth etc.?
May 7th, 2009 at 2:23 pm
Re: Kathy
In my experience, canned goods and any airtight containers should be fine in a damp storing location. As long as they aren’t sitting in water of course.
Cardboard boxes will absorb the moisture and start to rot after a while- so will wood, just takes longer- so for long term storage I’d suggest repackaging them into airtight plastic containers.
If its an option for you, you might want to consider getting a dehumidifier as well to help with the dampness- a new one is pricy but you can occasionally find one on freecycle or craigslist- so check out your local area’s listings.
The basement in our new house is quite damp in the summer months- mold started growing on the walls before we realized how bad it was ><- since getting the dehumidifier we haven’t had any problems! You need to get one that’s rated for the size area you want to place it in- so watch out for that as well.
May 11th, 2009 at 9:34 pm
We live in Florida and hurricane season is right around the corner. We have to prepare each year with a good supply of foods easy to prepare on the grill, enough water, etc. My suggestions are to purchase (or make your own)canned and package foods that are “salt free” and “no salt added” and also have a battery operated fan for each person with extra batteries.
These are scary times, but we must trust in God, pray for wisdom and protection. We take the necessary precautions, and trust in our Almighty Father, who is greater than our fears, earthly diseases, disasters, etc.
God bless you all!
May 19th, 2009 at 5:18 pm
Re: damp basement/garage storage areas.
Foods in paper or cardboard containers should be removed and placed into glass canning jars and labeled or tight plastic storage containers. (These must be food-grade plastic and if recycled they should have contained a food item previously. Don’t use containers which have been original containers for a non-food item. Glass jars should be sealed tightly and the lids can even be parafin waxed over to create a “seal” for the lids that will prevent moisture penetration.
Anything in boxes (such as a canning jar box filled with jars) should be placed on 1×2 strips of wood or larger, that are placed on the floor to prevent condensation and damp ruining the box.
Tinned items, soups, tuna, etc. can be sprayed with a light oil such as cooking oil to prevent rust and some items could be sprayed with vinegar to prevent mold. Bleach sprays shouldn’t ever be used near food stuff that is stored.
Another alternative: Place cases of stored items under beds, eliminating box springs and place mattress directly on top of boxes making sure you have a level surface. Hide canned goods underneath end tables that have open space between the legs and cover with a decorative cloth.You might consider adding extra 1/2 shelves in your cupboards or pantry to give you extra, reachable, storage. Over the door shelving units for smaller, lightweight items have worked well for my large spice containers and other lightwieght small storage items in my pantry.
I like the idea of using a de-hymidifier if it’s affordable. I store extra water in the 2 liter soda-type bottles or any juice bottle once its’ empty. You can survive quite a while without food but clean water is critical to survival. (14 gal per person for 14 days.) If possible purchase a small, portable water purifier (see camping gear websites) for about $80. You can drink ditch water through one of these and be safe in doing so. Water purification tablets are another helpful storage item.
I’ve been storing and preparing for 33 years now and whenever it comes to making choices about food/water storage over other less life-saving purchases I try very hard to consider the “long term” of any choice made.
Extra clothing, shoes, fabric and sewing supplies, yarns, whatever would make your life comfortable is what your focus can become. Second hand stores are my favorite places to poke around with yard sales right near the top of the list.
Where I live, in my immediate neighborhood, are very few who are prepared due to expense or inexperience. We’re trying to stock up to feed them as well, and one of my most recent brainstorms includes storing charcoal briquettes for cooking as well as our camp stove supplies. These briquettes are placed into clean, DRY, plastic buckets for my local bakery. I shake them down and reseal with the tight lid. An large 18# sack of charcoal will store in about 1 & 1/2 of these buckets. I’ve found I don’t need lighter fluid to start a cooking fire but can make a chimney starter from a large fruit juice can with both ends removed and using a hand can opener punch several holes near the bottom edge or drill about 3 rows of alternating holes with my husband’s drill. Place 2 sheets of crumpled newspaper down into the bottom, add 5 or 6 briquettes, light thru a hole at bottom and let the confined space cause a hot close chamber for briquettes to ignite. This will be VERY hot, handle carefully with channel locks or pliers once your briquettes have turned the gray ashy color indicating they are ignited and hot. Lift can slowly and your pile will fall thru the bottom and you can add more briquettes for a larger heat source. THIS MUST BE DONE OUTDOORS! Never in a confined space! Can cause death!
Think of it this way, light your fire and add to it so everyone can take some hot coals home, adding more from their own supply and everyone will have a cooking fire. Better yet, have a community supper. I could go on and on, but then it’s not my website!
May 28th, 2009 at 3:05 pm
My husband and I are just now starting to prepare. We felt a year and a half ago that we were to start, but you know, we live in america what could happen. Well plenty! I am still very unsure about all of this. Money plays a part and my in-laws. So many people tell us that we will not be here when hard times hit. Well, my husband and I feel that God is calling us to prepare. So I want to thank all of you for sharing. Because it was a confirmation that there are other Christians feeling the same way. We have a good start on food and sanitary supplies, but are now considering a wood burning stove for our home. If anyone has any suggestions and encouragement about stoves or just preparing that would be wonderful. May God continue to Bless all of you! I Love This Website!
June 1st, 2009 at 9:13 am
Consider natural remedies such as Elderberry syrup or tea. It is scientifically proven to prevent the flu as well as shorten the duration should you catch it. You can buy the dried berries on line I like Mountainroseherbs.com because they are organic. There are many recpies online and its is much cheaper to make your own. 1 cup of dried berries will make 16oz of cough and flu syrup. When it has cooled I use raw honey instead of sugar . 1 cup of honey to 16 ounces of syrup
I also keep N100 masks around the house for any emergency not just a pandemic. N100 and P100 are more effective than N95 masks however the N100
is a bit cheaper. a pack of 10 will cost about $30 and each mask will last
between 80-150 hours depending on the quality
Do not wait until there is an emergency to prepare you will raise your chances of exposure as well as find what you are looking for is too expensive or unavailable. Always have a 30 day supply of water and food
Save tap water in cola or used wtaer bottles just pour from the tap. The water is already chlorinated so it will stay safe for drinking about 1-2 years. You will need 2 gallons per person per day for drinking, cooking and sanitation.
Have a camp stove handy at home duel fue is the best since you can use regular gasoline if need be.
Keep emergency fuel at home at least a 5 gallon container. When a crisis hits people will rush to stock up on everything including fuel having it at home will ensure you have enough and you can avoid exposing yourself to
any kind of danger.
Keep a shortwave radio on hand for all emergencies and plenty of batteries.
Have several bottles of rubbing alchohol on hand it is the most effective hand sanitizer. You can put it in a small spray mister .
Please do not wait till an emergency is at your doorstep to prepare do it this month !
August 18th, 2009 at 8:32 pm
The only thing that I would add is this: if you are on any prescribed medication, have at least a 2 week supply of that. With a lot of insurances that is almost impossible, but if you are really concerned possibly paying for it out of pocket is an option.
January 21st, 2010 at 3:09 am
My husband and I did put in a wood stove but the chimney was already here. I got a dutch oven for Christmas. We are on a budget so I just started with small items. I can foods all of the time and also dehydrate them. I bought a vacuum sealer on ebay for 20.00. That was the best investment I ever made. I bought buckets at the local home improvement store and keep dehydrated sealed foods in them. You can home can some dry goods by adding an oxygen packet in the jar just check it to make sure it is still working by hearing the pop when you open it.
We try to have frozen, dried, jarred, canned, some purchased and some homemade. This way which ever foods may get ruined, it doesn’t effect your whole supply. I sometimes feel a bit silly. Do I really need to vacuum pack soap and a washcloth and towel? Do I need those spacebags to store dry blankets? I would rather be made fun of now than be without later.
I vacuum pack what ever comes into the house. If it is a small bit of cereal left in the box. Guess what, it gets packed. Sometimes I do it the opposite. When I bring it into the house from the store I bag up a couple of servings. I purchased dried milk, eggs, and cheese online. I plan on doubling my garden this spring.
You can go to the FEMA site and they suggest a list of things to go into a tub and a plan in case you must leave your house. If you left it today, and came back and it was burned down what would you need. Banking and insurance docs etc.
I treat it like a fun new project, not out of fear. My sister-in-law and I laugh and share many foods. We drive ourselves crazy. such as hmm how do you make catsup homemade and can we bottle it? We buy in bulk and split it up. Our husbands think we are crazy but they will love us to death in the event of an emergency. Thanks for sharing. May God bless each of you.