12 Preparedness Days of Christmas

If you are looking for a great "12 Days of Christmas" type gift for someone..or for a family...here it is, with a Preparedness theme. In this time of crazy weather, power outages, and general uncertainty, you can feel secure if you have planned ahead and stored the things you will need. Check out this link!

http://classic.cedarfort.com/booksnthings/free%20downloads/2012/Christmas2012/12PreparednessDaysofChristmas.pdf

Hurricane Sandy Results

If you go to fullscreen, the Tide Ad disappears. I posted this video to simply show the reality of a hurricane's force. Scientists believe that hurricanes are getting more powerful each year.

Earthquake Preparedness Basics

This is a short but very helpful video....pay attention to how to avoid the most common injuries associated with earthquakes:

Food Storage Makes Life Easier!

I like how she says she rarely plans her meals ahead each day...maybe a few hours ahead...Why? She has her own store!!!!! Her pantry! Check it out!

CHIA

 Chia-The Ultimate Food !



 This is from wikipedia:

Etymology

The word chia is derived from the Nahuatl word chian, meaning oily.^[1] The present Mexican state of Chiapas received its name from the Nahuatl "chia water" or "chia river."

It is one of the two plants known as chia, the other being Salvia columbariae which is more commonly known as the golden chia.

[edit]Description

Chia is an annual herb growing to 1 m (3.3 ft) tall, with opposite leaves 4–8 cm (1.6–3.1 in) long and 3–5 cm (1.2–2.0 in) broad. Its flowers are purple or white and are produced in numerous clusters in a spike at the end of each stem.^[4] Chia is hardy from USDA Zones 9-12. Many plants cultivated as S. hispanica are actually S. lavandulifolia.^[5]

[edit]Seeds

Seeds

Chia is grown commercially for its seed, a food that is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, since the seeds yield 25–30% extractable oil, including α-linolenic acid (ALA). Chia seeds are typically small ovals with a diameter of about 1 mm (0.039 in). They are mottle-colored with brown, gray, black and white.

Chia seed is traditionally consumed in Mexico, and the southwestern United States, but is not widely known in Europe. Chia (or chian or chien) has mostly been identified as Salvia hispanica L. Today, chia is grown commercially in its native Mexico, and in Bolivia, Argentina, Ecuador, Australia, andGuatemala. In 2008, Australia was the world's largest producer of chia.^[6] A similar species, Salvia columbariae or golden chia, is used in the same way but is not grown commercially for food. Salvia hispanica seed is marketed most often under its common name "chia", but also under several trademarks.

[edit]Food preparation

In 2009, the European Union approved chia seeds as a novel food, allowing up to 5% of a bread product's total matter.^[7]

Chia seed may be eaten raw as a whole seed, providing protein, fats, and fiber.^[8] Ground chia seed is sometimes added to pinole, a coarse flourmade from toasted maize kernels. Chia seeds placed in water or fruit juice are consumed in Mexico and known as chia fresca. The soaked seeds are gelatinous in texture and are used in gruels, porridges, and puddings. Ground chia seed is used in baked goods including breads, cakes, and biscuits.

Chia sprouts are used in a similar manner as alfalfa sprouts in salads, sandwiches and other dishes. Chia sprouts are sometimes grown on porous clay figurines which has led to the popular U.S. novelty item of the Chia Pet.

The seeds can also be placed in water, juices or tea producing a mucilage which can be consumed as a beverage.

[edit]Nutrient content and potential health benefits

Drawing from the Florentine Codexshowing a Salvia hispanica plant^[2]

In a one-ounce (28 g) sample, dried chia seeds contain 9% of the Daily Value for protein (4g), 13% fat (9g) (57% of which is ALA) and 42% dietary fiber (11g), based on a daily intake of 2000 calories.^[8] The seeds also contain the essential minerals phosphorus, manganese, calcium, potassiumand sodium^[8] in amounts comparable to other edible seeds, such as flax^[9] or sesame.^[10]

Although some research indicates potential for dietary health benefits in certain disease conditions, this work remains sparse and inconclusive.^[11]

^{Check out this VIDEO:}

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_5EprOmOS0&feature=related

After I saw this video, I  became convinced that I need to have some every day! So many nutrients!
Lasts so long in your pantry, too!


My favorite way to use Chi seeds is to soak a tablespoon in a cup of water for 20 minutes at least, then use it in my smoothies.

Best Protein Foods

 So much can be said about these top nutritious foods!

                                                This is a Quinoa Salad


For vegetarians...

5 Best Plant Foods for Protein

For omnivores (those who eat both plants and meat):

Top Ten Protein Foods  This site is very educational....so I will make this a very short post hoping you will
                                     enjoy this link!

Rice and beans

So....if you combine rice and beans in one meal,you have a complete protein. In fact, you do not even have to have them at the same meal. Scientist say you can eat the rice and beans up to 2 days apart to still get the complete protein. Thre are so many good recipes for rice and bean dishes out there!

Here is Spanish Rice and Beans.....

And, over course, who doesn't like refried beans and Mexican rice ..

This is from wikipedia...

 Rice and beans is a very popular dish in Latin America, the Caribbean, and in communities of Latino, Caribbean or Sephardic people elsewhere. Given the basic nature of its ingredients and wide availability, rice and bean dishes are a staple food in many regions of the world.

The dish is very nutritious. Rice is rich in starch, an excellent source of energy. Rice also has iron, vitamin B and protein. Beans also contain a good amount of iron and an even greater amount of protein than rice. Most significantly, the consumption of the two in tandem provides all the essential amino acids. One authority writes:

"Rice and beans are an inseparable pair of staple foods for millions of Latin Americans, parts of Central America, the Caribbean, and the Andean Mountain zone. Whether consumed separately or together, these crops figure importantly in the human diet and in national economies across the entire region, and trends in their production are a matter of immediate relevance to practically all of its inhabitants."^[4]

In addition, rice and beans are common and affordable ingredients, often available even when times are hard. A Nicaraguan explained life after Hurricane Mitch by saying:

"For breakfast, we have beans and rice. For lunch, we have rice and beans. For supper, we have rice and beans mixed together."^[5]

In Brazil, rice and beans are commonly eaten as everyday lunch, along with a different variety of meats and vegetables. It is also common to prepare dinner using the lunch leftovers. Brazil is the world leader in dry beans production and Latin American leader in rice consumption.

One Pound of White Rice

Well...almost one pound. One pound was 28 cents and I paid 27 cents for this...

I measured it...2  and  1/4 cups of rice grains, uncooked.

I cooked it up....The formula is 2 parts water to one part rice but I always put in a little more water. Bring to boil. Stir. Turn heat to very low. Put lid on. Wait about 15 minutes. I heat off after 15 minutes and let it sit another 5 minutes. Never ever stir the rice while it is in the cooking stage....that is after your initial stirring and then turning heat down and putting a lid on it. Why? If you stir it, you destroy the steam pockets that are created in the mass of rice grains and then it won't cook properly. See the little "holes" in the mass of cooked rice?

I measured the rice into a 1 cup measure...got 6 full cups plus a half cup... 6  and  1/2 cups...so that is thirteen 1/2 cup servings of rice for 27 cents. 1/2 cup rice has quite a bit of calories:121 and 26.8 g carbs.

Here is one half cup cooked rice....not much protein..just 2.19 grams.
This costs 2 cents!
1/2 cup cooked rice is 2 cents!

So add something yummy on top. Here I have added some of my own sauce...a chicken curry. You can add canned soup if you lack time to make your own sauce. RICE SHOULD BE PART OF YOUR FOOD STORAGE!

The Price of Rice

Here is the current price of rice, if you buy it in bulk, at Winco! Right now in Japan, rice is 180 yen for 10 kilos of rice. That is about $27.99 for 22 pounds of rice...or $1.27 /lb.
We are so blessed to have such prices here!

I Love Canned Beans

I love canned beans! I have lots in my cupboard and some in my car survival bag. And in my 72 hour kit!

Here is one of the most acceptable canned foods you can store. Kids seem to love beans and you can do a lot with them.They are even great eaten plain, out of the can, at room temperature.

I like to use canned beans because they are already cooked. It takes several hours to cook dry beans, and if you have a minimum of cooking fuel, you do not want to waste it on cooking dry beans!

Beans are wonderful! Why?

 1. They have a lot of fiber!
 2. They have protein!
 3. There are many different kinds to choose from.
 4. You can do so much with them!!! (Use your creativity or use proven recipes to add other ingredients to make different dishes!)
5. They are inexpensive...especialy at Winco

This beans (15 oz. can purchased today at our local Winco store) was 59 cents!
They were on an end cap, if you go looking for them this week.

Above is the nutritional value list. If you prefer less sodium, you can drain and rinse the beans.
Below is proof of the price of these beans. I already have rows and rows of canned beans in my pantry so I did not buy a lot...that means saving more beans for other customers! Like you!

1/2 cup of beans would give you 6 grams of protein, the same as an egg! And 7 grams of fiber!

By the way..the "Best By" date printed on the bottom of the can is 30 June 2015.
That's 3 years from now! And they will last longer than that, of course! I have eaten canned beans that were 2 years or more after the "Best By" date and they were fine.

I read a lot of health articles. Most professionals say to eat 1/2 cup of beans a day...or at least 3 times a week. So BEANS should be an important part of your preparedness pantry!

Remember: Never eat food from a bulging can. Make sure that the top of the can is sucked in and doesn't make a clicking sound when you press on it.

Parable of Gomer

BOOK OF GOMER PARABLE

These are the generations of Gomer, son of Homer, son of Omer. And in the days of Gomer, Noah,

the Prophet, went unto the people saying, “Prepare ye for the flood which is to come, yea, build your-selves a boat, that ye may not perish.”

Now, Gomer was a member of the Church, and taught Sunday School and played, yea, even on the

ward softball team. And Gomer’s wife said unto him, “Come, let us build unto ourselves a boat as the

Prophet commandeth, that we may not perish in the flood.” But behold, Gomer saith unto his wife,

“Worry not, dear wife, for if the flood comes the government will provide boats for us.”

And Gomer did not build a boat. And Gomer’s wife went unto Noah and she returned saying, “Behold,

Honey, the Prophet saith unto us, “Build a boat, that we may preserve ourselves, for the government

pays men not to grow trees, wherefore the government hath not the lumber to build for you a boat.”

And Gomer answered saying, “Fear not, oh wife, for am I not the star pitcher on the ward softball

team? Wherefore, the Church will provide for us a boat, that we will perish not.”

And Gomer’s wife went again unto Noah, and she returned unto Gomer, saying, “Behold, mine hus-band, the Prophet saith that the Church hath not enough lumber to build a boat for everyone, where-fore, mine husband, build for us a boat that we might not perish in the flood.” And Gomer answered

her saying, “Behold, if we build a boat, when the flood cometh, will not our neighbors overpower us

and take from us our boat; wherefore, what doth it profit a man to build a boat?”

And Gomer’s wife went again unto Noah and she returned, saying, “Behold, the Prophet saith, build

unto yourselves a boat, and have faith, for if ye do the Lord’s bidding, He will preserve your boat for

you.” But Gomer answered his wife, saying, “Behold, with this inflation, the price of wood has gone sky

high, and if we wait awhile, perhaps the price will go down again. And then I will build for us a boat.”

And Gomer’s wife went again unto Noah, and she returned saying, “Thus saith the Prophet, build for

yourselves a boat RIGHT NOW, for the price of wood will not go down, but will continue to go up.

Wherefore, oh husband, build for ourselves a boat, that we may perish not.”

 But Gomer answered his

wife, saying, “Behold, for 120 years Noah hath told us to build a boat, to preserve us from the flood,

but hath the flood come? Yea, I say, nay. Wherefore, perhaps the flood will not come for another

hundred and twenty years.

And Gomer’s wife went again unto Noah and returned saying, “The Prophet saith, he knows it has

been 120 years, but nevertheless, the flood will come, wherefore, build unto yourselves a boat.”

And Gomer answered her saying, “Wherewith shall we get the money to build ourselves a boat, for

are we not now making monthly payments on our snazzy new four horsepower chariot? Wherefore,

when our payments end, perhaps we shall build ourselves a boat.”

And Gomer’s wife went again unto Noah and returned saying, “Behold, the Prophet saith that we

should cut down on our recreation, and our vacations, and even give each other lumber for Christmas,

that we might thereby get enough lumber to build a boat.”

But Gomer saith unto her, “What a drag! Are we to cease enjoying life, just because we must build

a boat?”

Wherefore, Gomer built not a boat. But behold, one afternoon Gomer heard thunder in the sky, and

he feared exceedingly and he ran, yea, even to the lumber yard to buy lumber. But behold, the lumber

store was crowded with great multitudes, all seeking to buy lumber, and there was not enough lumber

to be found for the multitudes.

And on the same day were all the fountains of the deep opened, and the windows of heaven were

broken up, and the floods came -- and behold, Gomer had no boat. And as the water rose above

Gomer’s waist, his wife saith unto him, “Behold, Honey, I told thee so!”

--- Author Unknown

Storm Safety

Today...(well, actually as I write it is the next day...just a few minutes past midnight)September 8, as I was driving to the Stater Brother's parking lot to cash in some plastic water bottles, I heard on the radio that there were flash floods in the Phoenix , AZ area, where  our daughter and her family lives. There was a report on the radio that one woman was killed and several people were rescued from their cars on flooded roads. They had ventured out in the rain, or were caught in it by surprise at some point and were in places where flash flood waters quickly overtook them. They were taking a risk by going out in bad weather. Storm warnings were issued earlier in the day there.

I was reflecting on how I myself was taking a risk by venturing forth the 4 blocks to the store in my car because at the time (about 4:30 pm or so) , the whole eastern sky above our Victor Valley was filled with a dark ominous cloud. I As I stood there waiting to put my bottles in the blue bins, a saw a huge long straight bolt of lightning similar to the one in this picture. Then the thunder came. It shook me up because there I was: exposed!

 I got my little receipt and decided to cash it in at the store so I drove over and parked closer to the store. As I walked toward the store doors, more lightning flashed in the eastern sky...and there was a partial rainbow in the sky.

There was very little rain from all this drama...a few drops fell, that's it...

but let me put here a sentence from the official warning message posted online for Arizona's people today:

  
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...  
  
IF YOU ARE IN THE WARNING AREA...GO INSIDE A STURDY BUILDING.  
REMEMBER...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WILL PRODUCE DAMAGING WINDS AND  
DEADLY LIGHTNING.  
  
IN ADDITION TO DAMAGING WINDS...FREQUENT DEADLY LIGHTNING IS  
OCCURRING. GET TO SHELTER INSIDE OF A STURDY BUILDING. REMEMBER...IF  
YOU CAN HEAR THUNDER...YOU ARE CLOSE ENOUGH TO BE STRUCK BY  
LIGHTNING.  

2 Government Sites Worth Reading

Hoping you are feeling patriotic these days as we watch the conventions and ponder who will we vote for in November! Our tax payer money is paying for so much so we need to take advantage! Here are 2 sites

that I like...please check them out.

http://www.ready.gov/

http://www.bt.cdc.gov/az/s.asp

Electrocution Happens

A few days ago, a young woman was electrocuted by going into an irrigation ditch to save her dog (who was also electrocuted, but she did not know it). 2 would be rescuers also died by getting in the water to try to rescue her. What atragedy and who would have guessed that the water was electrified. The Search and Rescue team that came out hours later figured it out There was short in the electrical pump) and contacted the electric company to turn off the power so they could safely retrieve the bodies. You can read more about it at http://www.kpvi.com/mostpopular/story/KPVI/-JqhqWHhLkCx1Oy3TTkhdA.cspx

Also, a few days ago, I heard the story about the daughter of a friend of mine who was probably miraculously saved from being electrocuted in her own bedroom. Piecing together the clues, the story goes something like this: the little girl, age 5, was reading by her night light. At some point, she  tried to remove the night light from the wall socket. Since it seemed difficult, she used her little shrinky dink bracelet, that had some cheap metal components, to wrap around the night light to pull it out of the socket. the bracelet came in contact with the prongs of the night light and the bracelet melted and parts of the night light became deformed.
Her parents believe she was spared from receiving any major injuries, or even minor ones. It was a good scare and an object lesson for the little girl.

After doing a little bit of research on electrocution dangers, i found out swimming pools can be quite hazardous, too.
We all need to learn more about electrocution hazards: and how to avoid them. This is part of preparedness!

A Preparedness Manual

If you need some good literature on preparedness, here is a free downloadable book., edited by a member of the LDS church.

This publication has not been endorsed or produced by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and its contents and the opinions it expresses are those of the Editor and the separate authors. While it should not be construed as an official church publication, effort has been made to ensure that all materials are in accordance with general church guidelines on food storage and family preparedness

http://ldsavow.com/PrepManualGeneral.html  is the site where this book can be downloaded free.

4 in 5 Residents Unprepared?

Only 20 % of those in LA County are prepared for a disaster.

That's what this article says about Angelenos.

http://www.latimes.com/features/home/la-lh-disaster-preparedness-los-angeles-20120830,0,7376831.story

It is a great article by Susan Carpenter and was in August 31, 2012 LA Times and in the September 1, 2012
Victorville Daily Press, D1.

Here is  a few paragraphs from that article. But please use the link above for the whole great article that includes other links/

What's happening now with Hurricane Isaac and the temblors we've been having are reminders that we live in an area that's prone," Ipsen said. "With the economic downturn, a lot of people say, 'I can't afford to do that.' If you've ever been to a 99-cent store, it's an excellent location to put together a very good kit for little money. It's taking action that matters."

Individuals shouldn't have just one emergency kit, Ipsen said. They should have three -- at home, at work and in their cars. Kits should be assembled to last a minimum of three days, and, optimally, two weeks.

Water is the most important item, followed by food and important documents such as insurance policies, bank account information, ID cards and photographs to help identify the missing. Cash in small denominations is recommended in case electricity is out and businesses are unable to process electronic payments; cash for payphones could be helpful if cellphone service is interrupted.

Ipsen also recommends a flashlight and sturdy shoes as must-haves to help navigate around debris because "the biggest causes of injuries in a home or workplace is bookshelves, china cabinets and large mirrors that aren't properly secured."

Avoiding Toppled Trees

If you have or want trees in your yard, Preparedness involves knowing HOW to plant and TAKE CARE of them

I also think Preparedness means being aware of trees near your house while a wind storm is going on.
What IF that big tree out there is starting to groan and give signs that it will topple? You do not want to be in its path as it goes down.

This post is for folks who have big trees in their yard or who are planning to plant some.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In our cul de sac, over the years, two trees have completely fallen over in heavy wind storms. I dearly miss the one across the street; it was a box elder that turned the most brilliant yellow every fall. The other tree was a huge pine tree.  I noticed in both of these incidents, that there didn't seem to be very deep roots to these tree. After reading this article, I am convinced of the importance, now, of doing it right when you plant a tree and care for it during those first few years.

So for your information and mine, please read this article: I have given the source as well as the whole article by Emily Green.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/home_blog/2010/05/dry-garden-emily-green-winds-trees.html

Nobody wants to live in the house with the fallen tree, squashed sedan and news truck out front. Nobody wants to learn the definition of what arborists call the “wind sail effect” after “tree failure.”

When winds whip through Southern California, it's time to ask ourselves just how well-equipped the biggest plants on our properties are and what we should do, particularly this time of year. Winter storms may be past, but the best season for pruning is months away.

“The thing I would want to avoid is someone running out in a panic and severely pruning all their trees now,” arborist Jan Scow said.

When considering why trees fall over in high winds, experts such as Scow start their conversation with roots. “The single most important thing to keep trees from coming over in wind storms is to cultivate and protect a healthy root mass,” said city of Santa Monica urban forester Walter Warriner.

When trees do blow over, often it's because of circularized roots, the chopping of roots and, most often, the over-watering of roots.

Root health starts in infancy. So, when choosing a tree from a nursery, make sure that the specimen is not root-bound with circularized roots that will grow inward, not down and out.

This still might happen after we plant the tree. In its hurricane-battered state, a University of Floridaextension sheet warns,  “The usual advice has been to dig a large hole, put the tree in the hole, and fill around the ball of roots with enriched soil.… This may be exactly the wrong thing to do! … The hole full of rich soil may allow the tree roots to get off to a good start, but the roots may take a long time to grow from the good soil into the poor soil surrounding it. Roots may coil around in the hole just as they would in a pot."

Most horticulturists recommend that homeowners to use soil on site rather than potting mix when planting a tree. Amendments should not exceed one-third of the total mix.

Keeping the trees well anchored then involves respecting the roots, which are not where many of us would expect to find them. “Sometimes you see drawings where the root system is a reflection of the canopy, except [that it's] underground,” said Carl Mellinger. Trees don’t grow like that, warned this Los Angeles arborist and former president of the Western chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture. Instead, most of a tree’s roots will be found in the top two feet of soil.

“A lot of trees fall because someone has cut the roots to install irrigation or utilities, or do some kind of trenching,” Mellinger said.

Santa Monica's Warriner agrees.

“In general, the thinking over the past has been sidewalk work and street repair work has been done by general contractors,” he said. “What they failed to recognize is once you pull up a sidewalk and start working on roots, it becomes tree work.”

Now that his department requires arborists be called in for root pruning, he said, “We have had fewer failures this year than previous years and far fewer failures than we would have otherwise.”

Cutting roots to install irrigation adds insult to injury.

“I would like to see lawns pulled away from the trunks of trees,” Mellinger said. “Everyone should redirect sprinklers away from trees. A lot of trees we have should only be watered four to six times a year and they’re getting watered several times a week.”

University of California plant sciences professor Alison M. Berry recommends that those worried about how to water trees contact their local UC Extension office. Berry is involved in the California Tree Failure Report Program, an ongoing census among arborists. Berry, who has seen thousands of tree-toppling reports, added a surprising cause of tree failure: overuse of tree stakes on saplings.

“There is no need for stakes unless the tree cannot stand and support itself,” she said. “If you stake a tree, it’s immobilizing the trunk. It doesn’t sway, so it doesn’t build a strong trunk.”

Berry and the other arborists warned against radical pruning as wind-proofing.

“What happens is the tree responds to new growth at cut ends rather than naturally distributed throughout the tree,” she said. “If you can imagine, two to three branches all crowded at cut ends; over 10 years' time those branches will be huge and very poorly attached and much more prone to break.”

She also warns against pruning from the bottom of the branch up toward the top. “Lions-tailing also destabilizes the branch and leaves all the weight on the end,” she said. “Then it makes it much more prone to have a higher wind sail value.”

The biggest no-no is topping, when someone cuts the main stem and removes the crown. This not only forces panicked growth and increases the wind-sail effect, but it also invites disease. Paraphrasing a favorite arborist of his, Mellinger said, “We don’t call it butchery, we call it mutilation, because butchery’s an art.”

So what are the take-home rules for homeowners who want long-lived, aerodynamic trees? Select right. Plant right. Respect the roots. Don’t over-water. Don’t water trees with sprinklers. Prune saplings judiciously (and see this University of Florida sheet for good tips). As trees mature, only use a certified arborist. To find one, go to the International Society of Arboriculture or the Tree Care Industry Assn.

When interviewing candidates, Mellinger advised, “Be sure he looks you right in the face and says, ‘No, I won’t do top chops.’ ”

-- Emily Green

Here is another GREAT SITE about tree care and prevention of topple prone trees. It answers these questions:

• What can I do to keep my new tree from toppling over in a storm?
• How do I know if I am planting a new tree near utility lines?
• How do I choose the right tree for my space?
• Which wind resistant tree species should I plant?
• Which trees should I avoid planting?
• How do I know if I’m buying a good quality tree?
• How do I plant my tree to give it the best start?
• How and when do I prune my tree?
• Does my contractor need a license to trim my trees?
• Should I keep my storm damaged tree?
• Do I need a permit to remove my storm damaged trees?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It's National Preparedness Month

Happy September 1st!

It is NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS MONTH !

LET'S GET "IN THE GROOVE"!


I liked this short video and hope you will, too!

What Is Emergency Preparedness?








This video you just saw was produced for the citizens of the state of Arizona. They have daily and very timely and appropriate tips
...it is a great site you may want to save/bookmark! Enjoy!

To recap what the folks in the video said:

Preparedness is...PEACE OF MIND.
Preparedness is...BEING READY TO EVACUATE OR SHELTER IN PLACE.
Preparedness is...HAVING A PLAN.
Preparedness is ...LEARNING FROM THE PAST.
Preparedness is...PLANNING FOR THOSE WHO RELY ON YOU.
Preparedness is...BEING READY FOR EVERY SITUATION AND CIRCUMSTANCE.
Preparedness is...BEING INFORMED.

I have discovered that California has a Preparedness Site also. Do check it out!

My plan is to post INFORMATION on this blog every day in the month of September to help motivate you to take the actions you need to become truly PREPARED!

Taking Shelter

Everyone Needs to Know How to Take Shelter From Some Extreme Weather Conditions!

(The following is from a FEMA site)

Taking shelter is critical in times of disaster.  You need to identify safe locations during severe
weather, whether at home, work, or some other location.  Listed below are the best places to
shelter in place for selected weather emergencies.

Heat Wave
• Stay indoors as much as possible and limit exposure to the sun.
• Stay on the lowest floor out of the sunshine if air conditioning is not available.

Thunderstorm and Lightning
• Stand or sit away from doors and windows that lead outside.
• Stand away from concrete walls, and avoid lying on concrete floors.
• Close doors and windows to the outside to prevent wind damage and injuries inside the
home.

Hurricane
• Listen to local watches and warnings about evacuating.
• If you live in a high-rise building, hurricane winds are stronger at higher elevations or floors.
• If you are unable to evacuate, go to your wind-safe room.
• If you don’t have a wind-safe room, take refuge in a small interior room, closet, or hallway on
the lowest level.
• Lie on the floor under a table or another sturdy object.

Tornado
• Go to a pre-designated shelter area such as a safe room, basement, storm cellar, or the
lowest building level.
• If there is no basement, go to the center of an interior room on the lowest level (closet,
interior hallway) away from corners, windows, doors, and outside walls.
• Put as many walls as possible between you and the outside.  Get under a sturdy table and
use pillows, blankets, or other “cushions” to protect your head and neck.  As a last resort,
use your arms to protect your head and neck.

Winter Storm
• Select a location where heat can best be conserved, such as the side of the house that
receives the most sunlight and is away from cold winds.
• Interior rooms are probably the best option.
• A basement may be a good location.
• If necessary, seal off rooms that are not being used by shutting doors, closing window
coverings, etc.

Now...you may wonder...
WHAT ABOUT A NUCLEAR BLAST?

This LINK will connect you to our government's site (ready.gov) on just that topic!