Preparing for Christmas

Christmas is almost upon us. What have you gotten for loved ones this year?  Have you ordered your freeze-dried supply of strawberries and other goodies?  My family loves to eat freeze-dried yogurt and fruits all year long.  It's an easily portable and tasty snack.  We have only tried Shelf Reliance Thrive freeze dried foods so we are partial to that brand.  In light of Hurricane Sandy and all of the natural disasters that have happened in 2012 the greatest gift you can give your family is a 72-hour kit, back pack, bug-out bag......whatever you want to call it.
The idea behind a 72-hr kit is a back pack that each member of the family has that can sustain that person for 72 hours.  You can buy these kits already fully stocked from an emergency preparedness store or you can stock one yourself.  Back packs are relatively inexpensive and you can find the items that you need on sale.
Here is what we I recommend that you have in your back-pack as the minimum basics:
*Granola/protein bars
*Trail Mix/Dried Fruit
*Crackers(I like the peanut butter and cheese cracker combos)
*Canned or pouches of tuna, beans, turkey, vienna sausages, etc(1 lightweight can opener)
*Juice
*Water Bottles(1 gallon per person)
*Hard Candy or Gum

BEDDING AND CLOTHING
*Change of clothes and undergarments(short and long-sleeved shirts, pants, socks, etc) We have broken in hiking boots in all of our back packs
*Rain Coat/Poncho
*Emergency sleeping back
*Emergency Tent
*Hand Warmers

FUEL AND LIGHT
*Battery Lighting(lamps, flashlights)
*Extra Batteries
*Candles
*Flares
*Lighter
*Waterproof Matches

EQUIPMENT
*Dishes/Utensils
*Shovel
*Axe
*Radio with batteries
*Pen and Paper
*Pocket Knife
*Rope
*Duct Tape

PERSONAL SUPPLIES
*First Aid Kit
*Toilet paper and Feminine Items
*Cleaning Supplies (mini hand sanitizer, dish soap, shampoo, bar soap, toothpaste, toothbrush, etc)
*Medication (ibuprofen, acetaminophen)
*Prescribed Medication(3-day supply)

DOCUMENTS
*zip drive with copies of important documents or waterproof bag containing important documents
*Cash (small bills such as 1's)
*Credit Card
*Pre-paid phone card

1. Update your 72 Hour Kit every six months (put a note in your calendar/planner) to make sure that: all food, water, and medication is fresh and has not expired; clothing fits; personal documents and credit cards are up to date; and batteries are charged.
2. Small toys/games/deck of cards are important too as they will provide some comfort and entertainment during a stressful time.
3. Older children can be responsible for their own pack of items/clothes too.
4. You can include any other items in your 72 Hour Kit that you feel are necessary for your family's survival.
5. Some items and/or flavors might leak, melt, "flavor" other items, or break open. Dividing groups of items into individual Ziploc bags might help prevent this.

Our Bug Out Bags are tailored to each individual based on skill or needs. Since all of our children are older with a specific skill set each bag contains items specific to them. 

Bug Out bags are for you and your family to "Grab and Go" in any emergency. This can be a fire, earthquake, flood, hurricane, tornado, etc.
Conduct practice drills with the members of your family. Turn it into a game.  See how fast your family can get their bags and meet at the front door. Practice this drill once per month to keep your family well-practiced and responsive to an emergency.