Do You Have a 72 Hour Kit?

Our Goal for 2008 (for our Relief Society) has been to put together a 72 hour kit.

72 HOUR KIT "IN A NUTSHELL"
The kit should include items that would meet your needs for at least three days, whether you are asked to evacuate your home or stay there. Store your supplies in sturdy, waterproof, easy-to-carry containers, such as backpacks or duffle bags, so you are ready to "grab and go" if necessary. You might even consider keeping a smaller version of the kit in your car.

What should I put in a disaster supplies kit?
Inexpensive items to include in your disaster supplies kit:

* Water for at least three days (one gallon per person per day)
* Food that won’t spoil or need much cooking (replace this food every six months)
* A change of clothes, comfortable shoes, and blankets or sleeping bags
* Battery-powered radio or television, flashlight, extra batteries, lighter or matches, sanitation supplies, basic tools, and a few dishes and kitchen utensils
* An extra set of car and house keys
* A basic first-aid kit
* A manual can opener
* Personal hygiene items to last at least three days
* A reminder to grab your prescriptions (or include copies of prescriptions)

Note: Do not include candle — and do not light candles — after a disaster due to the fire risk.

There are many wonderful sites on the Internet about how to assemble 72 Hour Kits.

Got Onions?

If you do not have fresh ones, this is the next best thing! You can get these at Walmart for under a dollar. I reconstituted a few tablespoons in warm water today and then fried it with a little olive oil and some leftover rice. Delicious!

Don't Forget To Store Your Favorite Condiments

The other night, when we were having supper and my husband went and got the ketchup bottle for his fried rice...I noticed it was almost empty. Good thing WinCo has Delmonte Ketchup for 99 cents. I went and got a few more. We have 6 bottles of Tapatio, also. Without your favorite condiments, your rice can become pretty boring.

Price Watch

I told you in a previous blog that Franco American Gravy at Winco was 55 cents a can. I sure wish I would have bought more of their delicious turkey gravy during Thanksgiving week and the week that followed. Now, turkey gravy and chicken gravy at Winco are $1.17 a can..they more than doubled in price overnight! The beef gravy is still 55 cents. But for how long?

Also, I remember when Swanson Chicken Broth (both regular and reduced sodium) were usually a dollar a can. That was in the months before this past November. Then they went down in price at Thanksgiving time and stayed down. They are 50 cents a can! They still have huge displays of Swanson's chicken broth at Winco. The cans tower above your head. But, I say...for how long? I use broth to make my own soups and gravies, or to cook my rice in.

So...if you see a fabulous price on something, take advantage...the price may be different tomorrow.

Loving Lentils

There is one food that I could literally live on: Lentils!
I love lentil stew or soup and I love the taste of sprouted lentils (which taste so good and fresh and are very high in folates). I also love the price. Usually they are 98 cents for a 1 lb. bag, but I have seen it for 39 cents a bag at King Ranch during special sales. There are many kinds of lentils, too. Red ones, black ones, to name a few.

How to fix lentils? Just empty the bag onto a plate and check for little stones, just in case (usually I find that the bag is free of any foreign objects). Then put them in a strainer and rinse them under running water. Then put them in a pot, add water to cover. The water level can be 2 inches above the lentils. Turn the heat on and bring to a boil, then simmer on low for 45 minutes. You do not need to soak lentils. When they cook, they have a natural mild peppery
delicious smell. You can add tomato sauce and finely chopped onion, some diced carrot and potato...and it will look a little like this picture..and taste divine.

If you have never served lentil soup to your family, I encourage you to try it. When introducing a new soup to your family, it is important to have something really good with it, that the kids already love...or that is really appealing..like hot buttered toast, hot rolls or fresh cornmeal muffins from the oven. It takes a while for some kids to get used to a new food, so serve it several times a month.

Lentils, because they are so high in nutritional value, and so versatile, are a vital food to have in your storage.

Why I Always Have Lots of Tomato Sauce

#1. An 8 oz. can is usually 25 cents!
#2. It is red! A vibrant, energizing color...the color of life! I like to look at red on my plate.
#3. It has lycopene, a member of the carotene family of vitamins, and high in antioxidants. A cancer preventative.
#4. An 8 oz. can of tomato sauce plus 1/4 cup water can replace a 10 oz. can of tomato soup. Add some leftover rice and some black pepper and Mrs. Dash (and sometimes a tablespoon of finely chopped onion) and you have one of my favorite comfort foods: tomato rice soup.
#4. You can substitute an 8 oz. can of tomato sauce for 1 lb. fresh cooked tomato, or 1 cup of tomato puree.

Here is an Enchilada Sauce recipe
from the book "The Can Opener Gourmet" by Laura Karr
(from p. 191)

2 8 oz. cans tomato sauce
(or 1 15 oz. can)
1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon dried cilantro
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1/8-1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
Mix together. Heat and serve.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I say....
You can put this over or mix with ...rice, beans, canned
meat, ...even canned corn.

The Food in Your Fridge

This post has been inspired by the recent power outages in the Northeast.
With the power out, the food stored in your refrigerator will start to spoil.
If you have a power outage in the winter, at least you have a cold pace to put some of your food so it won't spoil: outside! But put it on some kind of tamper proof container so the local racoon, deer, dogs, cats won't get into it. Temperatures will vary because of the sun...so be cautious. Monitor the temperature of the container.

If you have a power outage in the summer, you won't be able to put some of your food outside to keep cold. There is a protocol for dealing with the food in your fridge, but first:

Do you know what temperature your refrigerator should be?


from http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/NR_051905_01/index.asp we read:

The refrigerator temperature should be at 40 degrees F. or below.

Most people assume that the internal refrigerator temperature control dial is good enough. Only 30 percent of consumers have heard that they should use a separate tool -- a refrigerator thermometer -- to check the temperature and only 20 percent of consumers say they actually use one, according to a recent national study.

Relying on the "built-in" refrigerator temperature control dial is not effective. Instead, use a separate refrigerator thermometer to check the internal refrigerator temperature and help keep food safer. If the refrigerator thermometer shows a temperature that's too high - above 40 degrees F. then adjust the refrigerator's control dial. You can buy a refrigerator thermometer at many grocery, hardware or kitchen specialty stores.


from this site, I learned more...
http://blog.usa.gov/roller/govgab/entry/keep_food_safe_during_a

It’s pretty easy to take care of your food for a short power outage, and there are steps you can take to save your food for a longer outage too. Keep your refrigerator and freezer doors closed. An unopened refrigerator will keep foods cold enough for a couple of hours at least. A freezer that is half full will hold for up to 24 hours and a full freezer for 48 hours. When the power comes back on, use a thermometer to check the temperature of your refrigerator and freezer. If the refrigerator is 40° F or colder, and the freezer is still colder than 40° F, the food is safe.


That said, here is the protocol for when the power goes out. If it is a short power outage, just keep the refrigerator closed.
If it is a longer power outage, you want to preserve your refrigerated food as long as possible and use the food in it wisely:

1. First use anything that is highly perishable (leftovers, homecooked foods, open containers that say "refrigerate after opening", refrigerated tofu or soy milk, and any animal product (milk, eggs, meat,etc.)

2. Next use moderately perishable items such as leafy greens.

3. Then use items that last longer, such as hard, firm or uncut vegetables.

It's OK to keep some of the condiments in the fridge that don't spoil easily: soy sauce, ketchup, mustard.

Fireplace Cookery

I believe every home should have a fireplace! Many folks in the states affected by the big ice storm, have gone to shelters for warmth and hot meals. Nice, but not as cozy as your own home. I believe if you had a fireplace and a good pile of wood, you could stay quite warm if you stayed close to the fire. It would be even better if you had something rigged up to hold a pot of stew, like in pioneer times.

I did a little research and found out that there are some good books out there about fireplace cookery. I have one of them pictured here...and here is a little blurb about it...

The Magic of Fire

The open hearth is where American colonials baked their beans, English families took their tea, French country families prepared their pot au feu, and Italian mothers stirred their polenta. THE MAGIC OF FIRE explores both the techniques of hearth cooking and the poetry of hearth and flame through the ages. The recipe collection offers a fascinating glimpse into the past with authentic renditions of Brisket Baked under Ashes, Pot Roast, String-Roasted Turkey, Stockfish Stew, Chocolat Ancienne, and Tarte Tatin. With its evocative and erudite narrative and extraordinary paintings by master realist Ian Everard, THE MAGIC OF FIRE is the definitive work on open-hearth cooking.

• The first book to cover the complete range of open-hearth cooking techniques, including ash baking, ember roasting, hearthside grilling, string- and spit-roasting, and hearthside Dutch oven baking.

• Features 100 extraordinary illustrations of food and fire by master realist Ian Everard.

• Many of the recipes require no special equipment. Simply open the book, light a fire, and cook.
"Definitive book on cooking." —Paula Wolfert, author of Mediterranean Grains and Greens, The Cooking of Southwest France

"THE MAGIC OF FIRE is the most thoughtful and thorough study of hearth cooking I know of. His book is full of practical information (the section All about the Fireplace is a masterpiece), unconventional recipes, and fascinating historical references that link his modern perspective to this primitive art. It will inspire professionals as well as serious home cooks to recover the taste that only hearth cooking can deliver. " —Paul Bertolli, chef and owner, Oliveto Cafe & Restaurant, author of Chez Panisse Cooking

"There is something fundamental about cooking over an open fire. I love the flames, I love the smells, and of course, I love the taste. William Rubel's THE MAGIC OF FIRE, is an indispensable guide to this lost art." —Alice Waters, chef and owner, Chez Panisse

"THE MAGIC OF FIRE is a fabulous book! It’s about flames and ashes; tripods and spider pots; campfires, hearths, and fireplaces. It’s about ember-roasted vegetables, flat breads, stews, steamed puddings, salt cod—deeply fundamental foods that will make you see the possibilities of your fireplace in a new light. Passion, experience, and good writing have met in a book that’s good reading, with instructions that are clear as a bell."
—Deborah Madison

"It’s a fun read, particularly for those who have always been fascinated by early American history." —The Baltimore Sun

"The bible of hearth cooking." —House & Garden
http://www.spitjack.com/page/SJ/PROD/BOOKS/MOF

Brrrrrr....

Still without power....

Here is a complete article published today on the Internet regarding the state of emergency in several NE states. Note the last sentence...they are cautioned to not use candle because of fire hazard.

I would love to know statistically how many folks have prepared for this, remembering past ice storms in the area. How many had battery operated lanterns, and some source of heat? How many have a camping stove?

This article uses the term "cold snap", a term I heard all the time in the winter growing up in Wisconsin.

Ice storm in US leaves one million without power
13 Dec. 2008 8:00 am
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/usweatherstorm/print

NEW YORK (AFP) – The northeastern United States was recovering Saturday from a major ice storm that left as many as one million people without power, officials said.
A state of emergency was declared in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and parts of Maine after the cold snap, which authorities described as the worst in a decade.
With temperatures clinging below freezing, officials warned that it could take days to restore electricity as utility companies struggled to repair power lines downed by ice-coated tree branches across the region.

"Customers currently without power should plan on the possibility of being without power for several more days," the Public Service of New Hampshire said on its website.

In New Hampshire, 313,000 customers remained without power at 1300 GMT, it said.
"The damage is extensive and assessment is a challenge due to many impassable roads," the utility company said.

"The magnitude of the damage is similar to that experienced in the January, 1998 ice storm, but covers a much more widespread area -- the entire southern tier of the state has been impacted."

New Hampshire Governor John Lynch declared a state of emergency on Friday, committing all resources to fighting storm damage.

In the far northeastern state of Maine, nearly 172,000 people were without power Saturday at 1500 GMT, a spokesman told AFP, as utility trucks worked to restore power.

"It's going to be a few days, that's their best guess," a Central Maine Power Company spokesman said.

Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick also declared a state of emergency to mobilize the National Guard "and conduct other emergency business to assist local communities is their response to and recovery from ... this winter storm," his office said.
As many as 350,000 households were left without power in Massachusetts late Friday after the storm, which combined rain and freezing spells.

"The whole northeast of the United States is suffering," said Jeff Tilghman at Northeast Utilities, a power company serving the region.

"The rain and the ice caused the problem. Ice is problematic because it stays on the branches and they come down breaking the power lines."

More rain or snow was forecast for isolated areas of central New York state and northeast Maine Saturday while the rest of the region was expected to remain dry but bitter cold, the National Weather Service said.

New York state, which extends far north and west of the city of New York, also saw 300,000 households and businesses left without power, the state emergency management office said.

"Mother Nature dealt New York State a crippling blow yesterday and overnight," said Governor David Paterson.
In Connecticut, 16,700 customers were left without power but that was reduced to 4,400 early Saturday, Connecticut Light and Power reported on its website.
Emergency officials warned residents to keep away from potentially lethal fallen power lines and advised against using candles at home because of the added fire hazard.

Do You Have a Camp Stove?

This is a picture from the Walmart site online. This stove is $46.88 but out of stock online. I saw a few at the store on Bear Valley Road this week.

If you have never operated one and you do have one, I recommend you get it out, put it on your kitchen counter and try it out. Warm up a can of soup, cook some oatmeal in it...it will give you confidence, knowing you can prepare some hot meals during a time of power outages.

If you do not have one, you may want to consider buying one as a family Christmas gift to your family.

Could It Happen Here?

When I heard about what is going on in the Northeast today and this weekend..I wondered..were the people prepared? Are families warm and able to have some hot meals, hot soup or hot cocoa? Do they have enough extra blankets at night, and enough batteries to have some light? How many learned from previous years' ice storms to have a generator on hand?



Ice storm leaves thousands without power
Published: Dec. 12, 2008 at 6:44 PM

BOSTON, Dec. 12 (UPI) -- The worst ice storm in several years left more than 1 million people without power Friday throughout New England from Connecticut to Maine.
A combination of rain, sleet and snow that began falling Thursday, and a sharp drop in temperature, left much of the region covered with an inch of ice, The Boston Globe reported.
Central Massachusetts, around the city of Worcester, was hit hard, with power still out late Friday for thousands of homes and businesses. In New Hampshire, about 400,000 people lost electricity.
Governors in both states declared states of emergency.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

There was an ice storm in this same region last January and I found some comments about it on the Internet...Here's one of them...

We were not ready for the Ice Storm. Our electricity was out for 7 days. We finally bought a generator on the 5th day. We had to eat out all the time because we had no way to cook. We lost all of our food in our fridge and freezer. We spend most days helping others with their broken limbs. The town looked like it was hit by a tornado when we are accustomed to in the spring time. It is something that I definitely don't want to ever experience this again.
01-21-2008
http://community.scholastic.com/scholastic/board/message?board.id=topstory&message.id=2698

Check Out A Newly Discovered Blog

Hello everyone...I have discovered another really great blog on food storage by some LDS women...

safelygatheredin.blogspot.com

It is very well done and fun to read (has an ongoing slideshow - as you page down that shows meals made from "shelf items"), whereas my little blog here is pretty basic and plain.

I like how she is doing the 72 Hour Kit project. I encourage you to explore the whole blog. This blog is definitely "praiseworthy and of good report." Thanks to daughter Amy Jo for telling me about it.

Who Doesn't Like Mashed Potatoes?

There is a new (to me, anyway) product at our local Costco.
For $7.99 you get a box as shown in my photo called All Natural Creamy Mash made with 100% Real Potatoes. While some instant potato products have a long list of additives (for example, Potato Pearls has trans fats and other unhealthful ingredients.) The only ingredients listed on the side of this box here are potatoes, and butter.

The box has 14 8 oz. pouches. Each pouch has 8 2/3cups servings of mashed potatoes when prepared.

Stove top directions:

1. Boil 2 2/3 cups of water, 1 teasp. salt (I used 1/2 teaspoon) and 4 Tablespoons butter (I used 1 Tablespoon butter)

2. Remove from heat and add 1 cup cold molk. (I opened a can of evaporated 2% milk, measure out 1/2 cup and added it to 1/2 cup water..voila..i cup of milk!)

3. Stir liquid while adding one pouch ofpotatoes. Wet all potatoes.

4. Let stand 10 seconds. (I put a lid on.)

5. Stir and serve. (I added Mrs. Dash and black pepper and a bit more milk to get it ot the consistency I like.)


Then I opened a can of Beef Franco American Gravy(which I paid 55 cents for at WinCo today.) I put the contents of the can into a saucepan on my stove top and it was quite thick so I added 1/2 cup or so of water.

My picture shows one serving. I prepared enough for 8 servings. I figured this one serving (2/3 cup mashed potatoes and 1/4 cup gravy) , factoring in also the price of the milk and the butter I used,was 10.4 cents !

It was delicious, and my husband thought so, too.

The date on the box says: Best before by 12/23/09.
This is definitely a keeper.

I highly recommend this for your food storage.

Note: You may be wondering about how are we going to have butter? If the stores are empty and you do not have a cow, how will you have butter? Well, I met a lady on the plane to Salt LakeCity this month who bottles butter.
She preserves butter in 1 pint jars. Basically, she said she heats up the jars and lids in the oven to sterilize them. Then she pours melted butter into them and puts the lid and rings on. As they cool, they seal...like when you bottle jam.

I have her phone number and I am going to call her to get the details. I will then try it and share the results with you. Being born and raised in the dairy state (Wisconsin), I consider butter a culinary necessity!

About Mixes

When you are stocking up, you may want to buy some mixes such as PastaRoni or others similar to it. Most of these mixes are way too high in sodium, so if I do get a mix, I always add an extra cup of noodles to it (I try to match the shape of the noodle) or an extra cup of rice to it (like in Rice-a-roni)and then 2 extra cups of water and cook as directed. You get more servings and a more palatable meal. Hamburger Helper is also very high in sodium so if you have some, do the same as above...
you can also cut the salt by adding some complementary cooked vegetable to the dish.

Macaroni and Cheese mixes are a good comfort food, especially for kids.
I do not add any extra salt and I reduce the amount of butter it calls for. In emergency situation, you can use the boxed soy milk, or canned milk. I like to put
a small can of diced green chilis into our macaroni and cheese. Or you can add a half cup of salsa from a jar...yummy.

Imagine

Imagine that you go to your regular grocery store and most of the shelves are empty.
This could happen. It has happened. Will you, when it happens to you, be able to just smile and turn around and go back home, knowing that you have plenty of food in your home storage system to last you at least a few months? I hope so!

We have been advised by church leaders and government leaders to "be prepared" ! The advice concerning food is this: Have at least a 3 months' supply of foods you like and normally eat. After that, have at least a one year (or more) supply of foods to sustain life.

I say...let's work on one month's worth of food and accompanying menus. Then you would just triple it for 3 months worth. How to pay for it?
Cut expenses in other areas. What can keep you motivated to follow through? Imagining empty grocery store shelves. That is what motivates me.

Keep working on your 30 evening meals for your family..because when you are done with that, we will work on 30 breakfasts, and then 30 lunches...and, of course, 30 snacks.

30 Evening Meals Project

In an earlier post, I challenged you to make a list of 30 evening meals you could fix with your food storage items (foods that you have not stored in your fridge). If the electricity goes out in an emergency, and you have an electric stove, you better have a camp stove to back you up or somebody is going to get grumpy from not having access to warm comfort foods, expecially in winter. They say food can be cooked on your gas stove if the electricity is out, you just have to light it with a match because the electric ticking thing that ignites the stove by itself will not work.

So...how is your project coming? Let me tell you, it will take a while. It is not something I could just sit down and write out. At first, I had 4 meals and thought that was it...but as each day passes, I get more ideas...or I see a recipe somewhere that uses all canned/packaged foods and herbs and spices...and that inspires me. I now have 30 different meals! The next step is to make a little cook book -just print it off on the computer- to put in with my stored food (I am keeping this new project's items in a separate containers so they do not get lost in my cupboards and so I can point to these containers and say: There are 30 meals in there!

My list of meals, when I publish it on this blog, is NOT labor intensive. You do not have to make tortillas from scratch or grind wheat to make your own bread. Yet, these meals will be satisfying and nutritious and will keep everyone in my household happy and healthy during an emergency situation. Your list of meals will be quite different form mine, because your people will probably prefer different foods than us. Stay tuned...I am tweaking my list and my recipes and will publish it soon.

Deal on Apples! (and popcorn)

Calling all apple lovers!

The labels on these apples say that they are Braeburn apples, grown in the USA. Also printed on it is the producer's website www.superfreshgrowers.com

Even Winco can't beat this price now! The store? KING RANCH on 7th Street. 25 cents a pound, people! This is historic!!!


I ate one of those apples this morning. What a delicious and healthful 10 cent treat.
An interesting aside for you all: Long long ago, I read an intriguing book I found at the Brigham Young University library. The title was: "How Not To Kill Your Husband". It said that if you make sure your husband eats 2 apples a day, he will NEVER have clogged arteries! It is the pectin in the skin that works its magic thus.

I like to put chopped apples in plain or vanilla yogurt, with raisins, nuts and celery. Sometimes I put chopped apples in our tossed salad. Yum!

```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
Now for the popcorn deal. We have popcorn a lot at our house. Sometimes I pop some for dessert (because we may still feel like munching on something after supper..and we do not usually eat sweets...only at Christmas parties.) This is at Grocery Outlet. They are on shelves against the far opposite wall when you walk in. This big bag (it measures almost 16 inches long..you can't tell that by looking at the picture.) is $3.49. And it is Orville Redenbacher popcorn! I heartily recommend learing how to pop corn on top of your stove, instead of the microwave. That way you can control the amount of salt, if any. Hot air poppers are good, but then that is another appliance to find space for in your kitchen. I do our popcorn in an iron skillet with a lid.

So if you are a popcorn lover, stop by at grocery outlet soon!

WINCO

Winco is great!

I have been comparison shopping and most grocery items are cheaper at Winco.

There are exceptions, though. You have to know your prices. Del Monte canned pineapple is $1.29 there right now, so if you buy it at Longs, you save 50 cents a can. Since I bought 12 cans at Longs, I saved $6.00! Yet, most things at Winco are cheaper.
My husband loves V8 Juice. The large bottle is $2.00 less than at Stater Brothers. Right now their Green Giant label of green beans and corn go for 48 cents a can! Did I stock up? You bet. Mostly on the corn. Their yams are 48 cents a pound. Swansons low sodium chicken broth, which has been a dollar (or more) a can all year everywhere before Thanksgiving season is 50 cents a can . They still have tons of it left. I did a taste test recently of all available chicken broths including my own homemade, and the kind you make from boullion cubes. Swanson was the closest to mine! I could site many more examples, but you can go yourself and check on your favorite items. When you go, take note of how nice, clean, buffed and shiny their floors are!

Winco also gives you 6 cents credit for each cloth bag you use at check out. Their magazines are all 10% off. I love the bins...found bulgar there, and polenta(Italian corn meal)and bought some.

Mark my words, though..the very best time to go is early in the morning before 8. I like to go around 6:15. You practically have the store to yourself. Some folks say it is just too big. I say if you go often enough, you will become very familiar with where everything is and you can get a good work out as you walk quickly up and down the aisles finding the items you want! Check it out!

Buy Canned Pineapple Now at Long's Drug

The price for the Del Monte 20 oz. Pineapple Slices in its own juices,
20 oz. Crushed Pineapple in itsown juices
20 oz. Pineapple Chunks in its own juice

is 79 cents each.
This is at Long's Drugs. I was there today at 2:00pm and they have stacks of boxes of canned pineapple!!!


I use pineapple in my chicken curry dish or just for eating from a bowl for dessert. You can mix it with other canned fruits.
You can mix crushed pineapple into jello. You can blend pineapple into your shakes
(If you have electricity to run your blender.)

The "Best by" date for these cans is 02 23 11

(I have found out that you can safely eat canned food that is past the "Best by" dates. BYU is doing a lot of research in this area. One lady doing the research ate food from a can that had expired 13 years earlier and it was fine: totally edible although the taste and nutrtious value had faded a little. Just make sure the can is not bulging.)

This pineapple is a great buy. You will never see this product cheaper. I love Del Monte, having worked at a Del Monte string bean processing plant several summers (this was in the late 60's). It was a wonderful place to work at!

These pineapples were grown and processed in the Phillipines. I heartily recommend getting some for your storage. I plan to go back there and get some more. I am going to buy 12 cans of sliced pineapple shrink wrapped onto a cardboard tray (That is how they are stacked in the aisle.) and put a bright red Christmas ribbon around it to give to our son Tommy's family for Christmas. Giving food storage items as gifts is a great idea if I do say so myself. Maybe I will see you at Long's this weekend! Happy shopping! Long's is at the Von's Center on the corner of Hesperia Rd. and Bear Valley Rd.

While you are there, they have some other great deals;

Reduced Sodium Chicken Broth 44 cents/can (Walnut Grove brand)

Libby's canned corn, string beans, peas 50 cents/can

Planter's peanuts $3.00/ 16 oz. can (they have unsalted ones too!)
("Best by" date is 31 Oct 09)
Peanuts are a great source of protein and fat (hence...calories). A handful of peanuts with a big drink of water will satisfy hunger. (This is a popular trick among dieters.)

Their dark chocolate bars are all on sale also. Duncan Hines Cake Mix 79 cents/box
If you use cake mix, this is the best!

Stater Brother's Best Deal This Week

For those of us living here in Victorville, or anywhere in California near a Stater Brothers Grocery store, the best deal this week is the Ragu Spaghetti Sauce. I always keep an eye out for Ragu because I love it and because it is bottled in glass which is healthier.(Recent research shows some canned goods may have certain resins in the liner that leach out into the food.)To get a jar of Ragu for a dollar is the best deal you can ever get. This week at Stater Brothers Ragu is $1.00 a jar but you need to get a flyer and rip or cut out the coupon for it...and you have to buy 10 items of either Ragu or some boxed mixes or mix and match. I bought 10 glass jars full of beautiful red Ragu
sauce.
One of my favorite things to do with Ragu beside using it in spaghetti, is to make Tomato Rice Soup. MMMmmm.

Store Vitamins !

It has been advised that you should have vitamins in your storage also. Do check the expiration dates on them and rotate. As you use up one bottle in your everyday life, take a bottle od multi-vitamins from storage and buy a replacement. A good multi-vitamin is the foundation of good health and nutrition. Speaking of nutrition, do you know your body's daily needs? Your children's?

How is your list of the 30 evening meals coming along? I am still working on mine~! It is tougher than I thought it would be. Feel free to comment on anything I post ( or beyond )!

Store Foods You Usually Eat

Hi everyone...This post is not an originally written piece by me...it is from...
http://www.ehow.com/how_4522326_food-storage-foods-already-eat.html

It is a great "how to" on starting to accumulate food storage. In our food storage, we have a lot of canned beans and our favorite spaghetti sauces. My husband makes sure we always have Beano on hand also.

I could not have said this better...

How to Build a Food Storage with Foods You Already Eat
By SimplySmart

Having a food storage is an important part of any emergency plan. However, storing food for a long period of time can be daunting. The best thing to do is make small goals and build up your food storage one small step at a time. The first thing to do is to make a 72 hour kit. The second thing to do is build up a two to three month supply of food that your family is already eating. The third thing to do is continue building up your food storage using basic foods that last for a very long time such as grains and legumes. This article will give you ideas on how you can accomplish the second step and build a supply of everyday foods that you already eat.

1 Building up a storage of food that your family already eats is a smart idea. In an emergency, you will have many different things to worry about, and you don't need the added stress of becoming accustomed to new foods. Having familiar food to eat will help your family feel more comfortable, and they will be better able to cope with difficult situations. This type of food storage will see you through short term emergencies such as power outages or gas and food shortages. It will also be available in times of unemployment or other financial stress. These foods can be used to spice up and ease the transition to the longer term, basic food storage items.

2 Before you start buying extra food, you need to make a plan. Stocking up on food before you have thought about what you need will certainly fill up your pantry, but the results will be unbalanced and much less usefully. Having 15 boxes of spaghetti noodles but only 2 cans of spaghetti sauce means you will have a lot of plain noodles to eat!

3 Start by making a list of 30 dinners that your family likes to eat. These meals should be simple, easy to prepare and the ingredients should be able to last at least three months in the pantry, fridge or freezer. Remember that SIMPLE is the key, you're not trying to serve gourmet five course meals, you're just trying to survive. Some ideas are: grilled tuna sandwiches, tuna noodle casserole, spaghetti, green bean casserole, hamburgers, hotdogs, bean burrito, baked potatoes, various soups, chili, risotto, spanish rice, and parmesan chicken.

4 Next, make a list of 30 breakfasts and lunches. These meals should fit the same requirements as the dinners. If you can't come up with 30 different meals, then repeat some of them. The point is to come up with enough meals to fill 30 days. Some ideas are: pancakes, a bowl of cereal, peanut butter and honey sandwiches, tuna sandwiches, frozen or canned fruit and oatmeal.

5 Make sure you include several dishes that can be prepared without electricity and contain ingredients that don't require refrigeration. This way you will have food to eat if your power goes out. If you have a gas stove, grill or fire place, you will have more options. Make sure that your gas stove will still work when the electricity is out and that you also store fuel for your grill or fire place.

6 Write down all of the ingredients and quantities needed to make each of your meals. If you repeated any meals, make sure you list the ingredients needed each time you repeated it. Use this list of ingredients to make your shopping list. For Example, if you listed pancakes for breakfast 3 times and you use 1 cup of pancake mix and 1/2 cup of syrup each time you prepare pancakes, you would add 3 cups of pancake mix and 1 1/2 cups of syrup to your shopping list.

7 As funds allow, start picking up items from this shopping list when you do your regular shopping. Once you have purchased everything on your list, you will have a one month supply of food. Use the same shopping list again to build up a two month supply and then a three month supply.

8 Now that you have built up a food storage, you need to rotate and maintain it. You can use this food when you prepare your regular meals, just make sure you replace what you use. Whenever you open a can or package of food, add that item to your weekly shopping list so that you can replace it as soon as possible. Place fresh food in the back so that older food gets used first.


OK....Tomorrow I will make my list of 30 dinners. There will definitley be some re-peats. The point is, it is a menu for 30 days of evening meals. The ingredients for these meals should not need refrigeration. I assume you and I will have a source of heat for cooking, even if the electricity is out. If you have matches, and a gas stove, I believe you can light it. You can use a camping stove, or even your fireplace. More on that later.

Food Glorious Food

Dear readers...During the month of December, I will focus on FOOD STORAGE.

I gave out a flyer at church today about "stocking".

In December, we think of what we will put in our loved one's Christmas stocking. But I am talking about "stocking" your pantry so your loved ones will feel secure and well fed in an emergency.

Consider this quote:

“There’s no escaping the Depression. I’ve been saying throughout my long life that money and love take on their various significances when they’re totally absent. Same is true of food. Food becomes most important when there isn’t any.”

- Stetson Kennedy, WPA writers project

California Prepares

Arnold Schwarzenegger, our governor, authorized the Golden Guardian program to coordinate efforts to prepare California's citizens for earthquakes. See Link on the side.

We had the statewide ShakeOut November 13th. Wherever you were that day, did you "Duck, Cover and Hold On" at 10:30 am? We at the Family History Center did that. We had good sturdy tables to duck under. Every household in the ward, I believe,(or they should have) got a phone call from someone to see if they were OK.

In our son's ward in Santa Ana, they pretended that all phone lines (including cell towers) were down and there was no electricity. Members walked to each others homes to check on them.

There are so many resources to help us get prepared. I implore you to seek them out and evaluate what your weaknesses are in this area and resolve to strengthen them.

SHAKE OUT

The Great Southern California ShakeOut


At 10 a.m. on November 13, join millions of Southern Californians in the ShakeOut Drill, the largest earthquake preparedness activity in U.S. history! Please register today.

The Great Southern California ShakeOut includes the ShakeOut Drill and other events to help us get ready for big earthquakes, and to prevent disasters from becoming catastrophes.

Go to....

www.shakeout.org It has great links! You can learn a lot!

Bishop's Sorehouse- Temporarily Not Offering Canning, But...

Hi everyone..I have been asked lately about how to get some canning done at the Bishop's Storehouse in Colton. I called today and found out that from now until early December, their canning operation is down. But you may go in on Thursdays from 9am until 1pm and purchase in bulk: the 25 pound sacks. See side bar here regarding prices. If you go to providentliving.org, you can also see the prices. But I did create a link for you on the side.

Bishop's Storehouse
791 N Pepper Ave
Colton, CA 92324
(909) 824-0486


I will notify you when the canning operation is resumed, as well as inform you of their new hours.

Regarding Sanitation: Details!

If we all had outhouses in the back yard, we'd be ready for an emergency that involved no running water in our houses.


I have been thinking about toilets that don't flush. During an emergency, we want our homes and bathrooms to be as clean and pleasant as possible. We will need to instruct our family members on how to use the toilet. We need to have a plan for human waste disposal.


I recently called the city of Victorville's emergency preparedness director. I asked him if the city had a policy in place that was similar to what some other cities have regarding sanitation during emergencies.
Some cities have instructed their residents, during times when there is no running water, to bury a trash bin in the yard and use this bin to put bagged solid human waste in. Then, the city will arrange to pick up this waste later.

I was told Victorville currently has no such plan. He did say this:
Pick a spot in your back yard where you will dump all the liquid waste (urine).
men and boys can stand and urinate at this spot. The gals will feel more comfortable urinating into the toilet with a plastic bowl in the toilet to catch the urine. Then they can carry it outside and dump it in the designated spot.

The preparedness director said yes,it would be a good idea to sink a trash can into the ground and use it for solid waste since human feces can carry disease causing micro-organisms. In contrast, urine (unless there is a kidney or bladder infection going on)is quite sterile.

When a family member needs to have a bowel movement, they can use the 13 gallon trash bags and "bag the toilet". Then they can tie it closed with a knot and carry the bag out to the designated trash bin. I imagine that if you cannot dig a hole to sink the bin into the ground, you can put some heavy bricks in the bottom so the trash bin won't tip over easily and have a good secure lid. I will do more research on this subject.

Back to Basics-October Challenge

Today I stood before our lovely Relief Society sisters in the capacity of "Preparedness Specialist" and gave them the October Challenge. Every month (except the last 3 months because I was out of town, and then recovering from surgery)I have been choosing a monthly theme to help us all in our preparedness efforts.

I challeneged the sisters today to acquire 4 kinds of items:
1. Water ( 1 gallon per person per day)

2. 13 gallon kitchen trash bags (for bagging toilets if there is no water to flush with)

3. Lanterns (for light...solar LED lanterns are great. You could have rechargable flourescent lanterns, battery powered lanterns or flashlights, those round touch lights, glow sticks, etc.)

4. Transistor Radio (battery or solar operated or crank operated) for keeping up with news.

If your have these 4 items in the right quantities, you are on your way to being prepared.

I deemed these the top 4 things to have:
Why?
Water...You need water to survive (you can live three weeks without food, but only 3 days (or less, depending on your age, and the weather conditions) without water.

Bags for sanitation...to bag your toilets. What if the city water system shuts down? How are you going to flush? Lift the toilet lid and put the bag in, and position the edges of the bag around the toilet, then put the lid down. It is better than sitting on a bucket.

Light! ...What if the electrictiy goes out in the middle of the night? Have a working lantern or 2 or 3 or 4 handy. We put ours next to the regular lamps, so we don't have to scurry around and try to find a lantern that has been stashed away in a closet or something.

Radio..with electricity out, you have no access to your TV or computer, so that little radio wil save the day by keeping you informed.

OCTOBER 2008 Challenge

Preparedness: THE VERY BASICS

Dear Sisters and Brothers,


The very basics items you need are food and water for 3 days AT LEAST ( the governement recommends 2 weeks worth), water being the most important. Have one gallon per person per day. Here is a saying to remember... You can live
3 minutes without air
3 days without water
and 3 weeks without food.
(Of course, if it is in the middle of a hot summer, you will need more water.)

The easiest thing to do is to buy bottled gallons of water. Buy canned food -it will not need to be cooked. You can eat it out of the can. You can cook or warm things up with your camp stove. Crackers have a 6 month shelf life, so if you have those, rotate them.

You should have sources of light such as battery or solar operated lanterns and flashlights and camping lights.
Candles are not recommended.
You should have a radio that is battery operated or solar operated.

Plan for things to do to pass the time...games, books, drawing, writing, etc.

We are advised by all government agencies and preparedness experts....to have water and food and other supplies for 2 WEEKS. BUT 3 DAYS' worth is a good start. If you get paid at the first of the month, which is coming in 6 days;
that would be a good time to purchase your 3 days' supplies. Instead of going to a movie and out to eat, buy your 3 days supply of water and any more canned goods you may need. It is worth the sacrifce

Find out the favorite canned foods of each family member...or go shopping together as a family for the food and water.

If the water coming out of your faucets is dirty, you can flush with it, but do not take showers. If no water is coming out of your faucet, you will need to "bag" your toilets with 13 gallon white trash bags. Lift the toilet lid, put the bag in and drap sides over the toilet bowl and put the seat back down.

A very good site is www.ready.gov

WATER !

The U.S. government advises each household to have a 2 week supply of water. That is one gallon per day per person in the family.

Here is a very simple directive regarding water during an emergency from
www.ready.gov The follwing post (Water Purification) is more detailed.

"Always use bottled water for drinking and cooking if it is available. Unsanitary water can be very dangerous to your health. If you don't know the level of purity of the water, it should always be treated.
Use one or a combination of these treatments:
Boil
Boiling is the safest method of treating water. Bring water to a rolling boil for 3-5 minutes, keeping in mind that some water will evaporate. Let the water cool before drinking.
Chlorinate
You can use household liquid bleach to kill microorganisms. Use only regular household liquid bleach that contains 5.25 percent sodium hypochlorite. Do not use scented bleaches, color-safe bleaches or bleaches with added cleaners. Add 16 drops of bleach per gallon of water stir and let stand for 30 minutes. If the water does not have a slight bleach odor, repeat the dosage and let stand another 15 minutes.
Flood water can also be contaminated by toxic chemicals. Do NOT try to treat flood water.
http://www.ready.gov/america/npm08/tips/091908.html

Water Purification Information

WATER PURIFICATION
1) Clear water is a sign of pure water. Always drain long-standing pipes for 30 seconds to one minute before drinking! (Cheap remote motels?)

2) 1 Gallon water is disinfected by 8-16 drops of regular household bleach (visually about 1/4 of a teaspoon) - double that for cloudy water. Shake and let stand 30 minutes. One teaspoon will disinfect 5 gallons. Immediately after treating, water must initially have a slight smell of chlorine. If it does not - repeat the process.

3) Household bleach is relatively harmless. The smell or “waft” of chlorine is not bad: it indicates that water is treated and germ free. Once treated and disinfected, the chlorine smell will go away in a few days.

4) Regularly used water from large tanks may be treated once or twice a month with 1 Oz. bleach per 200 gallons or 5 Oz. bleach per 1000 gallons.

5) Long-standing water in tanks will be disinfected w/ 1 pint household bleach per 1000 gallons. (2500 gal tanks are fine with 3 pints.)

6) Bleach effectively kills bacteria and viruses, stops smells and then breaks down. It's effective germ killing alkaline property is completely neutralized very quickly. It does not stay chemically active in tanks for more than a few days. Most germs require sunlight to grow. Store water in the dark.

7) If water is relatively clear: but has a noticeable smell of chlorine: it is drinkable, disinfected, and harmless. Humans need 2 quarts per day.

Comments
The above text is designed to be printed, cut-out, and taped inside a cabinet door, or saved as a reminder.

6 % sodium hypochlorite solution, referred to as " common household chlorine bleach", is not a seriously poisonous substance to humans. It is an alkaline salt. It is not an "acid". However It very, very effectively kills bacteria and viruses upon contact. It is the world-wide chemical of choice for treating drinking water, or for effectively sterilizing everything from shower stalls to surgical instruments.

Truthfully, very heavily chlorinated water may be more irritating to the lungs - if it is used for showers, than it is harmful to the intestinal tract if used for drinking purposes.

Even drinking straight household bleach rarely results in death. The alkaline properties of undiluted bleach may cause painful chemical burns to the esophagus and stomach - but it is not deadly poisonous. Bleach must always be kept out of the reach of children - because not only might they drink it - they may get it in their eyes.

All long-standing water that is exposed to air and sunlight grows bacteria and other organisms which may include the very troublesome protozoa, Giardia. These organisms may cause people to become very sick. Iodine has long been carried by back-packers for cases of emergency because very small long-lasting tablets effectively disinfect germ infected water.

Iodine is at least 1000 times more toxic than is sodium hypochlorite (bleach). Unlike sodium hypochlorite, iodine does not break down. It does, however, cause an unpleasant taste in treated water. This is why back packers are given the option to carry a taste neutralizing tablet for use if water has been treated with iodine. Iodine does remain in the body. Iodine poisoning is of greater concern for longer term situations than is the slight smell of bleach. In any regular situation, bleach is the by far the preferred method for purifying drinking water because it effectively kills harmful organisms, and then it breaks down and is quickly chemically neutralized.

It should be noted that fish, mosquitoes, algae, etc. can not - and do not live - in poisonous water. Given the choice between two still ponds in the wild: one with mosquitos, or algae growing in it -- and another near-by it, which may be seemingly clear - I would prefer to drink the water that has the organic life growing in it. The other standing water, even though it appears clear - is obviously unusable or undesirable to other living organisms and therefore it may be poisonous.

New well-water should ALWAYS be tested by the drilling company to determine if the water coming from the ground is truly safe for drinking. Ground water can be unsuitable for a number of reasons, but in general it is very good water.
Without any doubt, the easiest way to insure clean, safe, pure drinking water, is to instal a water purification system that acts both as a filter, and a purifier. These are the common water purification systems available everywhere. They filter particles and purify the water from bacteria, viruses and other harmful chemicals. An EXCELLENT portable water purification device can be purchased for emergency use for under $70.00.

Home water purification systems, even purifiers that attach directly to the water tap - are absolutely excellent! This is the best way to actually insure that the water you are drinking is clean and pure. These systems, which act both as filters, and purifiers - are the systems of choice for any rational person. It is nice to know the ratio's of bleach necessary for disinfecting water if one fears that water may be contaminated - but this is intended for people who use large water tanks, or to be guide-lines for serious emergency situations. For normal living, modern water purification systems are definitely the methods of choice for eliminating bacteria, viruses, smells, and other undesirable substances.

http://www.newjerusalem.com/PureWater.htm

Unsafe Water in Downey, CA

This morning, as I did my physical therapy exercises, I was watching the news on TV. An important report came on telling the residents of Downey, California to boil any tap water they plan on drinking. I was wondering how many people got this message and how many didn't. Now I feel like the best thing to do is keep some boiled water in the fridge, just to be safe! The people in Downey are being told to discard all their ice cubes, brush their teeth with bottles water and ...well...Here is the full report. Good to know this stuff!!!!

CITY OF DOWNEY BOIL WATER NOTICE
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
September 25, 2008

Q. Why is the City issuing a Boil Water Notice to Downey residents and businesses?
A. As a result of weekly routine testing of our potable water distribution system, water quality tests results indicated the presence of Total Coliform bacteria at three of our twenty-five sampling locations.

Q. What does a positive Total Coliform test result mean?
A. Total coliform bacteria are generally not harmful themselves. Coliforms are bacteria which are naturally present in the environment and are used as an indicator that other, potentially-harmful bacteria may be present. Coliform bacteria were found in more samples than allowed and this was a warning of a potential problem.


Q. Were any harmful bacteria found as the result of the water quality testing?
A. E. coli and fecal coliform bacteria, which have the potential to pose a serious health problem, have NOT been detected.


Q. What steps are being taken to address the problem?
A. The City of Downey has been working closely with the California Department of Public Health since the first positive Coliform test was reported. City crews are flushing water from the fire hydrants in the impacted areas, and chlorine is being added to disinfect the pipelines.
Additional water quality tests will be taken on a daily basis until the results indicate that the water is again safe to drink.

Q. Why aren’t you chlorinating the entire City?
A. System wide test results only found the Coliform bacteria in the three areas that we are currently flushing and chlorinating.

Q. What steps do I take to boil the water?
A. Bring all water to a boil, let it boil for one (1) minute, and let it cool before using. Boiling kills bacteria and other organisms in the water and is the preferred method to ensure that the water is safe to drink.

Q. Is it safe to take a bath or shower?
A. Yes, as long as the water does not enter your mouth. Babies and children should be closely supervised to ensure that they do not fill their mouth with, or swallow, the water.

Q. Is it safe to brush my teeth with tap water?
A. No, use either boiled water or bottled water for this and other oral hygiene activities including the cleaning of dentures.

Q. What about infant formulas?
A. Formulas should be prepared using boiled tap water or bottled water.

Q. Is the water safe for washing dishes?
A. The water is safe for washing dishes, but you should use hot, soapy water (you may add one tablespoon of bleach per gallon as a precaution) and rinse dishes in boiled water. The dishes should then be left to air dry prior to being used. Attempting to wash and sanitize dishes in the same sink at the same time is not recommended because soap, grease and food particles interfere with the sanitizing process.

Q. Can I use my dishwasher?
A. Yes, but to optimize the disinfection of your dishwasher you should use the highest temperature setting and use the heated dry cycle.

Q. Is the ice in my ice maker safe?
A. It is important to note that freezing does not destroy all bacteria. Discard any ice in your ice trays or ice maker. Once the Notice has been rescinded, make three or four batches of ice and discard in order to flush the supply line.

Q. What if I have a filter system on my faucet or refrigerator?
A. Most point-of-use (POU) filters are designed to improve the aesthetics of water (improve taste and odor), not remove bacteria. You can review your user’s manual or contact the manufacturer for further information. We recommend that you use boiled or bottled water if you are not sure.

Q. What about my pets?
A. Drinking water for pets including dogs, cats, birds and reptiles should be boiled tap water or bottled water.

Q. How long will the Boil Water Notice be in affect?
A. We expect the Notice to be in affect through Saturday or Sunday afternoon. Once the Notice is rescinded, we will contact the local radio and television stations, and will post the information on the City’s web site. Until the Notice is rescinded, we are asking all residents and businesses to continue boiling their water.

http://www.downeyca.org/boilwater.php

Report on Surviving "Ike"

Hi everyone....This letter was forwarded to me by a friend...it emphasizes how being prepared is so important.

Dear Friends:

Just to let you know that the Rittman's are doing well. We have a 6'x6' hole in our roof, no electricity or running water, Trees down everywhere. However, because we listened to the counsel of our Prophet we are prepared. In fact it seems to me that it's only the members of the church who seem to be calm, prepared, and helping one another with trees in roofs, flooding, etc.

There is a POD or Point of Distrubution in Tomball where we live.There you get water and ice IF you have enough fuel to wait in the 3 hour lines. We don't have to do that because we have 3 full water barrels, 75 juice bottles filled with water, and our pool which is dirty but we use it to flush.

It is very difficult to get gas. Police guard the stations when fuel is delivered and you might wait half a day to get up to the pump just to have them say, 'Too bad, we are out'.

I am grateful that we have a generator. We run it 4 hours a day to keep our fridge and light. I am grateful that we have had fuel for it. You can't even by gas containers as they are rationed. We can only by bread once a week and limited to 2 loaves at a time. Water is rationed by the case at the grocery store. 3 cases per family.

The Atm machines do not have power. For the past 6 months I have stashed small bills away because I have had such a feeling of foreboding. We have cash because of that. LISTEN TO THE SPIRIT. Get cash in small bills because the stores can't make change and credit and debit cards often don't work. I had to pay 5 dollars more for an item because they couldn't make change for me.

PHONES ONLY WORK OCCASIONALY.

Believe it or not...I have not had a bath in 4 days, Today was the first day I got to wash my hair with pool water. I haven't fixed my hair in a week!!! It just doesn't matter anymore. We can not do laundry because we don't have water. So, we wear our clothes until they are literally disgusting.When we do finally get water we will have to boil it since it is contaminated.

I am grateful for my parents. When we got low on generator fuel they drove 45 minutes to help us. They filled up thier cans and brought us 10 gallons of fuel which kept us going until this morning at 6:oo am when we finally found some gas.

A prepared Family and a loving extened family is the key to survival and making it through right now. I kno w that my parents would drive to the end of the earth to help me and it's nice knowing they are there. I know that I would do the same for my children.

I want all of you to know that I have such a testimony of following the counsel of our living prophet. There really is safety and peace in your heart if you are prepared. Please get your generators, 5 gas cans full of gas, canned goods, baby items, baby wipes to bathe, and all the water you can store...even if you have to trip on it in your home. Have your lanterns, crank flashlights, tarps, rope, etc.. ready to go because you never know when it will be your turn to endure the test. It's overwhelming, but it's going to be ok eventually. I have a home, I have food, I have water, because i listened to the counsel of the prophet. PLease make sure you do the same. It's time to have your life in order. Tomorrow may be too late.

I love you all so much. I wish you were here. Take care!
Jyl

My Annual Lightning Warning

It is summertime! The time when there is more lightning:June, July and August have the most lightning of the whole year. We are currently visiting in Missouri where we have had thunder and lightning every day we have been here so far!
If you are aware of an impending storm, remember:The safest place to be is INDOORS!

Recently, some people in Colorado and Iowa have been struck by lightning. Here are the news stories...

3 injured by lightning strike in Rocky Mountain National Park
written by: Jeffrey Wolf reported by: Chris Vanderveen and Anastasiya Bolton Date last updated: 7/9/2008 12:14:19 AM
http://www.9news.com/news/local/article.aspx?storyid=95369

ESTES PARK ? Park rangers say three people were thrown to the ground when lightning hit them on Tuesday in Rocky Mountain National Park.

The National Park Service says they received a cell phone call around 12:20 p.m. that three people had been hit by lightning near Mills Lake in the Glacier Gorge area.

Park rangers responded and as they were headed up the trail, they encountered a 46-year-old man, a 52-year-old man and a woman who is married to one of the men. They had been hit by lightning but all three were conscious and walking around, according to park rangers.

Rangers learned the three did not take a direct hit and all checked out just fine. The three people were part of a group of eight that was hiking together.

"There were about eight people standing in the same vicinity. Three people were apparently struck in some way by lightning," said Kyle Patterson, spokesperson for Rocky Mountain National Park.

They were near Mills Lake when the group was hit and suffered minor injuries when they were knocked to the ground. The two men had minor burns on their feet and the woman had minor burns on her arm, according to rangers.

They were treated at the scene and declined any further medical attention.

Rangers say the eight people were a family of seven and a friend, all from Houston.

They were just below 10,000 feet when they were hit by the lightning.

"We've had overcast skies now for two days, with the possibility of some severe thunderstorms and certainly when you're talking about the different elevations that you have here in the park, it's really a concern people need to be paying attention to," said Patterson.

Initial reports said there was a fourth victim who was hit by lightning and went missing, but park rangers determined that to be untrue.

On Sunday, lightning hit a family from Iowa as they hiked on the American Lake Trail south of Aspen. Three teenagers were injured in that strike.

Lightning also started a small half-acre fire in the Hell Canyon area southeast of Estes Park.

According to the Lightning Data Center of St. Anthony Hospital that researches and tracks lightning, Colorado is one of the top states in the country for lightning strikes. It's right up there with Florida, which is number one for lightning strikes.

It's also second or third when it comes to injuries.

Michael Foley, chairman of the LDC, says most mountain thunderstorms occur in June and July.

"If you see lightning within 30 seconds if you hear that sound, then it's time for you to take action and not think about taking action but actually take action," he said.

Foley also suggests:

- Check the forecast before you leave.

- If you see lightning when golfing, hide in a building, not a gazebo or a shed.

- If you're in a group, spread out.

- If you're near trees, hide in a bunch of them, not under just one.

- If you're in a prairie, present a low profile. Crouch, but don't lie down.

According to the LDC, lightning strikes earth about a hundred times every second. Each one can heat the air around it to five thousand times hotter than the surface of the sun.

The average American has about a 1 in 5,000 chance of being struck during a lifetime. Additionally, nine out of every 10 people survive lightning strikes, according to data from the LDC.

Two people were killed by lightning in Colorado last year.

The most common day for a lightning casualty is Saturday and the most likely time of day is between noon and 5 p.m., peaking at 2 p.m.

For more information, visit http://www.stanthonyhosp.org/index.php?s=clinical_specialties_7.
(Copyright KUSA*TV. All rights reserved.)



Posted on Sun, Jul. 06, 2008
Macon teen killed by lightning in Colorado
By Ashley Tusan Joyner
http://www.macon.com/532/story/397352.html
A 16-year-old Macon boy was struck and killed by lightning Thursday at a youth camp in the mountains of southern Colorado.

Landon Tate Dillard was riding bicycles with the camp director and other campers near Westcliffe when a storm hit the region and he was struck by lightning, authorities in Custer County said.

There were no other injuries.

The cyclists had been out for less than 10 minutes, members of Dillard's family said.

A memorial service will take place today at 6 p.m. at the First Evangelical Church in Macon, 3601 Fulton Mill Road.

Dillard's aunt, Anne Lyles, said her nephew had been at the Christian camp, Operation Uplift, for a month, serving as one of a few youth staff members at the seven-week camp.

The bike ride was part of training for a later, tougher ride to an area in the camp called "High Country," she said.

"Pushing yourself, that's the point of Uplift Mountain. It's all outdoors and you have to make it. You can't make it unless you help each other," Lyles said.

Dillard was an avid musician who played the guitar and sang with two Christian bands, Offering and the New City Church Band.

He was home-schooled and also attended the Veritas Classical School.

"Music was Landon's passion, but it was also his way of ministering to people. He touched the lives of so many people across the city. He was bright and clever and just full of love," Lyles said.

Saturday evening, Lyles said several of those people, including campers who had returned from Colorado, visited at Dillard's home with his parents, Marvin and Sharon Dillard; and his three brothers, Blake, 19, Hampton, 10, and Hayden, 7.

Lyles said earlier Saturday, the family found a copy of a song Dillard had started to write.

"It was beside his bed and it was folded up. In it, he was speaking about the grace of God," she said. "That's how we feel. We're hoping that what happened to him is not looked at as a tragedy, but that it will stir the hearts of others."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

To contact writer Ashley Tusan Joyner, call 744-4347.


KCCI.com
3 Iowa Teens Struck By Lightning In Colorado
http://www.kcci.com/news/16829296/detail.html
POSTED: 8:09 am CDT July 9, 2008
UPDATED: 12:09 pm CDT July 9, 2008

ASPEN, Colo. -- Two Iowa teens injured by a lightning strike near Aspen, Colo., while they were hiking with their family are out of the hospital.

Pitkin County Sheriff's officials said the family is from Jefferson, Iowa.

They said Elizabeth Jacobs, 15, lost consciousness after she was struck by lightning while walking through the Castle Creek Valley early Sunday afternoon on the American Lake trail, which is south of Aspen. Her parents, Allen and Peggy, performed CPR and she was able to walk with help to the trailhead.

Sheriff's officials said Nathaniel Jacobs, 17, suffered burns to the bottom of his feet, and Paul Jacobs, 17, was knocked out.

Elizabeth and Nathaniel were flown by helicopters to Denver hospitals.

Children's Hospital officials said Elizabeth and Nathaniel are out of the hospital. Authorities said Paul did not have to go to the hospital.

O
KCCI.com
Exploding Concrete From Lightning Strike Hits Man
Jordanne Blair, KCCI.com

http://www.kcci.com/weather/16769393/detail.html
POSTED: 10:30 am CDT July 2, 2008
UPDATED: 12:38 pm CDT July 3, 2008

CARROLL, Iowa -- A Carroll man nearly hit by lightning is warning others about the dangers it poses.

Chuck Hovey, 50, experienced the close call when lightning stuck the ground right between his feet on May 29.

Hovey said he went outside because he was concerned about a friend who was stopping. The rest of Hovey's family was already in the basement.

"I have never been concerned about lightning; it was the tornado that I was worried about," Hovey said.

Hovey said he was outside not more than 10 seconds when lightning struck the driveway where he was standing. The lightning bolted in between two trees and hit the ground at an angle, he said.

At the hospital, doctors found Hovey's blood pressure was high and his heart rate irregular after being so close to the strike.

The real pain for Hovey was from the wounds that he had on his backside after he was hit by chunks of exploding concrete broken free when the lightning hit the ground.

Hovey has a different perspective on life now and is telling everyone he can about the dangers of lightning.

"I cringe a little every time I see lightning and I have started to pay a little more attention to what is going on," said Hovey.

Thunderstorms are extremely common in Iowa and there's lightning in each one.

Weather experts said many people are unaware of just how dangerous lightning can be, killing an average of 73 U.S. citizens each year, which is more than tornadoes and hurricanes combined, according to the National Weather Service Web site.

"So many people think that is won’t happen to them, but people need to realize that lightning really is a killer,” said Hovey.

Important Tasks/ Important Papers

All advice about 72 Hour Kits include having copies your important documents (either hard copy or on some digital device)in them.

For the month of July, we will learn about Living Trusts, Wills and Advanced Directives.

Since, at this point in time, my husband and I do not have a living trust or a will, etc., I will be learning along with you. Some of you may have financial advisors and have set these things up already. Some of you may be just taking your first "baby steps" into this field, like we are.

This first post is a really great article from Boomer Advisor magazine
February 2008. I found it online and have cut and paste it here.




5 Key Steps to Creating a Living Trust



Money.Advisor.com
Considering a living trust? What about a will? Do you need both?
By Kristine C. Kyllander

There are many benefits to having a living trust but, as with any legal document, it requires careful planning. In this article, you'll learn exactly what a living trust is, and explore five basic steps you should consider when establishing your own living trust.

The basics

A living trust is a legal entity that can own property and direct distribution of that property after a person's death, or if they become incapacitated. One of the primary benefits of a living trust is that it isn't subject to probate, or its associated costs and delays.

If you establish a trust, you (known as the grantor) appoint yourself as the initial trustee and primary beneficiary of the trust. You retain full and complete control over the property during your lifetime. In the living trust document, you appoint the individual(s) and/or entities that will take on the role as successor trustee when you can no longer act as the initial trustee.

The trustee manages and distributes the trust assets according to the terms of the trust.

TERM: Probate
When a person dies, the property from his estate can be transferred to the intended beneficiaries via a will. Probate is the process of properly transferring the estate to the rightful beneficiaries. This process is also used to collect any taxes due on the transfer of the property.

Does a living trust take the place of a will?

A living trust is sometimes referred to as a "will substitute." Although, in some respects, it does take the place of a will, a will is still usually necessary to distribute assets outside the trust, and to nominate guardians for minor children.

So why should you consider a living trust if you probably need a will, anyway? Because it only becomes effective at your death, a will does not avoid probate and does not protect you or the management of your assets in the event of your incapacity.
STEP 1: Identify your overall estate planning goals

Before you can determine if you need a living trust, you must first consider your overall estate planning goals. Your goals are unique and any trust you create should accurately reflect them.

I find there are four reasons to consider a living trust: finances, probate avoidance, incapacity planning, and the ability to control assets after death.

Finances

As I mentioned earlier, a living trust lets your loved ones avoid the legal costs associated with probate. It can also reduce, or even eliminate, any estate tax liability by properly using your estate tax exemption amount to the fullest extent. The current federal estate tax rate in 2007/2008 is 45 percent and is assessed against the estate (as opposed to your designated beneficiaries) based upon the net value of the property transferred at your death, less the applicable estate tax exemption amount (currently US$2 million).

Because we have an estate tax system (not an inheritance tax system) at the federal and state levels, the beneficiary doesn't pay taxes on the assets. Taxes may ultimately reduce the total amount the beneficiary receives, but the taxes don't come out of the beneficiary's pocket directly -- they are paid out of the estate before the beneficiary receives the property.

Probate avoidance

Avoiding probate is in many ways linked with the financial motivations I just discussed. However, aside from wanting to avoid the hefty legal fees that can come with probate administration, many people prefer to avoid probate so they can keep the distribution of their assets private. All information regarding your assets transferred through probate will become a matter of public record. Almost anyone, for almost any purpose, will be able to access this information.
Furthermore, the average length of probate in California is a year or more. So, if you want your beneficiaries to have access to your assets sooner, and without the need for court involvement or approval, a living trust might be a good option. Again, this is a good time to remind you that a will does not avoid probate.

Incapacity planning

As the average life expectancy continues to rise, so does the likelihood that at some point you'll become incapacitated. A will only comes into effect after your death. In contrast, the trustee of your living trust can take control of your assets during your lifetime. A well-drafted living trust will include disability/incapacity planning provisions and is designed to work in conjunction with a Durable Power of Attorney. (For more information on Durable Power of Attorney, you can read Lois Kelly's article online at www.advisor.com/node/12505.)

Retained control after death
This benefit tends to be the most specific to the individual or family. A living trust lets you include further planning for minor children and for special assets and situations. You can also provide creditor and predator protection for surviving beneficiaries, which is difficult to accomplish through a standard will. Some examples include:

* Provisions establishing an inheritance protection trust, which can last for the lifetime of the beneficiary and prevent those assets intended for the beneficiary from being included in lawsuits against the beneficiary. An inheritance protection trust can also protect the assets from the beneficiary's spouse in the event of a divorce.
* Provisions to protect the beneficiary from himself. As an example, these provisions might allow trustee discretion when the beneficiary has a drug or alcohol problem.
* Provisions to create a special needs trust for any beneficiary who becomes disabled after the living trust has been executed, but before the trust assets are distributed. This would make certain that distributions to the special needs beneficiary would not make them ineligible for government assistance such as Social Security Death Index (SSDI) payments.
* Provisions providing for your loved ones with fur, fins, or feathers (the appropriately termed pet trust or companion animal trust).
* Provisions that protect the trust assets should the surviving spouse remarry.

STEP 2: Identify the parties involved

Perhaps the most important decisions to make when it comes to creating a living trust is the choice of your successor trustee(s) and beneficiaries. Usually, when someone is looking to establish a living trust, they have a general idea who they want to leave their assets to. However, when it comes to selecting the person (or entity) who will be responsible for distributing the assets, there isn't always an obvious choice.

Before executing a living trust, you should have a clear understanding of the powers and responsibilities you'll be granting the trustee. Administering a trust can be complicated and time-consuming for the trustee. You'll do yourself and your beneficiaries a disservice by selecting someone who isn't up to the challenge. A successor trustee doesn't have to be a relative, but they must be someone you can trust completely.

Family dynamics play an important role in the selection process, and you are the expert when it comes to your own family. Blended families (e.g., second marriages, children from a previous relationship — think the Brady Bunch scenario), same-sex couples, or families with no children often have more difficulty in this stage of planning and are encouraged to seek legal counsel for guidance.

In many cases, a corporate trustee such as a trust company or a private fiduciary is the appropriate choice. Many financial firms and banks offer trust companies (for a fee, of course). Your attorney can discuss the options with you, depending on what your personal situation is -- who you have available to act and if you have enough assets to warrant using a trust company.
STEP 3: Determine how to draft the document

There is a plethora of "do-it-yourself" trust-drafting software and online fill-in-the-blank solutions available for a fraction of the cost you'd pay for professional assistance. The drawback to these tools is that you're creating a binding legal document without obtaining any legal advice specific to your situation. In some instances, where there is a small estate and only one or two beneficiaries (who are not minor children), the do-it-yourself option may be worth considering.

TIP: I find many clients create do-it-yourself trusts only to visit an attorney later with the expectation that the attorney will correct any deficiencies in the document with a simple amendment. This usually doesn't work because most attorneys won't take on the liability of having their name attached to the original trust. Instead, the attorney will most likely require a complete restatement of the trust, which often costs the same as if you'd had the attorney draft the trust in the first place.

A Good Start for Estate Planning

Your estate plan shouldn't end with the living trust, but rather begin there. At a minimum, your plan should include the following documents:

Pour-Over Will: This will directs that any assets you did not transfer to your living trust during your lifetime should be transferred to the trust and distributed according to the terms of your trust at your death. In addition, it should contain your nominations for guardians of any minor children in your care.

Durable Power of Attorney for financial purposes: This document authorizes your agent to transfer property to your trust and manage your financial affairs should you become unable to manage them yourself.

Power of Attorney for health care: Also referred to as a "Health Care Directive," this document authorizes your designated agent to make medical decisions on your behalf when you are not able to. This document should contain your directions regarding prolonging life by artificial means in the event you become diagnosed with a terminal condition.

HIPAA waiver: Under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), hospitals, physicians, and other health care providers must take certain measures to protect patient information. A HIPAA waiver gives them permission to release your health information and medical records to those individuals you designate.

Assignment to Trust of your personal property: This document funds your trust with your personal belongings such as your household furnishings, artwork, jewelry, etc. It establishes your clear intention that you want to have your personal belongings distributed according to the terms of your trust at death.

Certificate of Trust: This is a document you can give to financial institutions and others when they request a copy of your trust. It keeps the personal and financial information in your trust private.

TIP: Your living trust should include a provision authorizing the Certificate of Trust on the first page of the trust document. This way, when a financial institution requests the "authorizing language" of the trust, you only need to produce the first and last pages of the trust.

Although it is beyond the scope of this article to go through these items in detail, it is important to know that these documents complement a living trust.

Kristine Kyllander is a California licensed attorney who devotes her practice to estate planning, probate, and trust administration. www.kyllanderlaw.com


An alternative to the do-it-yourself method is to pay a few hundred dollars and use what is commonly called a "trust mill." Sometimes these trusts are prepared by paralegals, and sometimes they're prepared by what's referred to as certified document specialists. In any event, these individuals have not been qualified to interpret the laws relevant to property rights, taxes, wills, probate, and trusts in their state unless they've obtained a license from the State Bar. Using this type of service typically results in a do-it-yourself-quality document you paid someone else to do.

Many estate planning attorneys offer a low-cost or free initial consultation, and it makes sense to take advantage of this consultation to determine your next steps. If you're looking to hire an attorney to draft your living trust, you should select someone who devotes a significant portion (ideally all) of their practice to estate planning (wills, trusts, probate, trust administration, elder law). Although your up-front costs may be significantly higher by retaining a qualified attorney, the overall value they can bring will almost always save your estate money in the long run.

STEP 4: Funding the trust
A living trust only avoids probate to the extent that it is properly funded, i.e., that your trust includes as many of your assets as possible. If one of your motivations for creating a living trust is probate avoidance, you should make sure that the trust is funded with all your assets that would otherwise pass through probate. Typically, the critical asset to transfer into the living trust is any real estate you own. But you should also transfer your personal property, bank accounts, brokerage accounts, business interests, etc.
TIP: Transferring your primary residence into a living trust doesn't create a Proposition 13 tax reassessment, but you must file a preliminary change of ownership and the appropriate deed registering the transfer with the applicable county recorder. If you aren't sure about which type of deed you need to have recorded, consult legal counsel because the county recorder cannot offer you legal advice on this issue.
You can do most of the additional trust funding without professional help, but it often makes sense to have an attorney advise you regarding which assets should or should not be transferred and why. It is also a good idea to attach a Schedule A to your trust to identify all the property you intend to have transferred to the living trust.

STEP 5: Maintenance of the trust
Over time, there are going to be items you'll want to update or change with respect to your trust. Common events that should prompt you to review and revise your trust document include (but are not limited to): marriage, divorce, birth in the family, death in the family, purchase of new real estate, refinance of existing real estate, change in the tax laws relevant to your trust, and significant increases in your assets. In addition to these events, you should routinely review your document every three to five years.

TIP: If you already have a trust and you haven't reviewed it since before 2001, its time for a review!
A gift to your family

Discussing death is never a pleasant aspect of financial planning, but it's certainly one of the most important. While no one likes to discuss their mortality, acknowledging its inevitability and properly planning for it will make a big difference for your family after you're gone. A living trust is just one of many important tools you should consider.

RESOURCES
The California Bar Association publishes an excellent consumer pamphlet on living trusts. Information is available for free at www.calbar.org. For the specific laws governing trusts in California, see Division 9 of the California Probate Code §15000-19403. For further information on gift and estate Federal taxes, visit www.irs.gov.