Lissa Estes taught our 72 hour portion of the meeting. Below are her notes that she put together for us!
72 Hour Kits
Why: to provide for our very basic needs for 3- 7 days, so that we can be calm and provide help and a sense of peace to those around us. It is important to practice your plan with your children ahead of time. Maybe practice putting 72 hr kits in the car when going to Scouts, a movie, or a sports event.
Basic: the top 3: water, shelter food. Other areas of need: Light, communication, identification, money. It’s better to have a small efficient pak, than no pack at all!
Things to do before you leave your home: turn off the gas, electricity, water! Lock you home. Unplug all appliances that you possibly can, maybe leave frig on, put on the “warmest” setting. It is a good idea to keep a few gallon jugs in the freezer (do not fill too full or they may crack). If power goes out, the water will keep the fridge cold a long time. Turn off lights. If you are expecting a high water level put paperwork, pictures, documents, computers, upstairs or in the top cabinets of your kitchen. If you have a freezer, put any documents in plastic in the freezer – it is likely to withstand exposure to elements if your home is damaged.
Contact your family/friend out of the area, let them know you are evacuating and that you are asking them to be the relay station for family members. Give them your phone numbers, and tell them what direction you are headed, your route and expected time of arrival. Let them know when you will contact them again with an update. OK to use a code that has been arranged in advance. “1st”, (meaning an agreed upon plan #1). HAM operators don’t want to give an actual location but say: “trying to get to…”
72 Hour Kit Content:
Basic: water, shelter and clothing , food, light, communication (cell phone and solar charger or crank type charger), first aid, (includes sanitation) identification (includes insurance papers, passport), money in small bills, coins. Have paper copies of important phone numbers, addresses, do not rely on electronics.
Water: Use pint bottles of food grade plastic, have purification tablets. Carry additional water, juice, Gatorade, etc. If you have portable water purifiers, make sure everyone knows how to use them. If you have purification tablets, try them out at a FHE, as most leave a funny taste in the water. You need to recognize that taste and know that it is correct. If your tablets are for pint bottles, carry at least two, and have one being treated while you are able to drink the other. Keep your fingers away from the lids and put the tablets directly into the container, not into your had first. Keep instructions of equipment in a plastic bag, you may forget how to use your equipment while under stress. . Do NOT limit your water consumption at any time, drink what you need and look for more later!
Shelter: this includes protection from heat, cold, wet, and the ground (rocks, sand, trees, briars, animals). This is more important than food. We may be uncomfortable without food, but we can die in a short time without protection from the elements! Tip: keep an old bathing suit in your pack and flip flops, so you can dry out or wash your clothing when you have the opportunity. Pack a change of socks. Think in terms of layers, and remember gloves, hats, scarves. Go to thrift stores and buy wool sweaters, extra large is good, for family. Maybe a large sweater to use as a blanket for a small child. Wool will keep you warm even if it is wet. Do not plan to wear jeans – they will make you cold if it is cold, and hot when it is hot. Plan on loose comfortable clothing. Have work boots or hiking boots if possible. Tennis shoes are OK for paved ground, but not good for rough terrain. Wear your shoes from time to time to make sure they are comfortable, have moleskin pre-cut into several shapes to be ready when you feel a hotspot. A lightweight poncho is a great groundcloth, and can cover a backpack easily. Put things in plastic bags in your pack, you will need plastic bags anyway! Children may need a small toy or blanket for comfort. Update kids clothes and shoes every 6 months due to growing! Have tiny LED flashlights that attach to your clothing with a carabiner or chain. Maybe have a small compass in the same chain. Hope that you can remain in your car, but know that walking is very likely. Keep yourself physically fit.
Food: pack no-cook food, do not use pop top cans (they leak). Think in terms of high calorie, small space. Use MRE’s, peanut butter (if no allergies) and foods that do not require water added. Hard candy is good for a treat and if there is no water at the moment. Canned fruit, tuna, and also dried foods such as a trail mix are good, but remember that dried food will require you to have water. Small seeds that will sprout in a day or two will give you fresh food. This includes: wheat berries, mung beans, lentils. They require some water, but will satisfy your need for fresh food to supply vitamins and enzymes that are lacking in cooked food. Have tiny can opener. Consider fire starters in case you need a fire to sterilize a knife or needle , and for light and comfort. Remind yourself and your children that fasting is OK. If you have limited food and need to ration food, pray and use this time as a fast time, not just a no-eat time!
Sanitation and First aid: Plan for simple cuts and scrapes and sore muscles (band-aids, Neosporin, Advil, muscle rub, sun screen, bug repellant, Lomotil, tums, Desitin,, and any Rx meds. My most important first aid item is moleskin! Have a safe method for taking care of human waste. You may have to pack it with you until you can dispose of it safely. Be considerate of others, and do not attract animals with your waste. If you are in an open area, you can use a small trowel and bury it, use only biodegradable paper, do not bury diapers or other plastic. If you have plastic items, pack them out until you can find a suitable place for disposal. Take a small washcloth for each person. Water and mechanical action are sufficient!
Identification: have original documents if possible, I.e. passport, drivers license, social security cards, birth certificates, marriage or divorce paperwork, custody paperwork, mortgage or deeds, bank records, insurance policies, wills, health records and doctor information, allergy, especially drug allergies, any medical condition needs to be noted on paper, in case of injury and inability to communicate verbally.
Money: have small bills and coins, divide up money into several places in your pack and on your person, and among family members, including children if they are old enough not to talk about the money or take it out to look at it, or play with it. Be able to take out just enough to pay for your items, without extra being seen.
Communication: Always put gas in the car at half a tank Know where you are going and have a paper map. Know 3 ways to get there. Have a friend/relative out of your area who will serve as a communication center. Make sure everyone has his/her own ID and map and knows the plan. Take your cell phones and charges, have a solar or crank type charger if possible. Turn off your phones except when you plan to make a call. Arrange ahead of time with family that you will only be available on your phones at certain times: ½ hour in morning, ½ hour in afternoon and ½ hour in evening. Make sure all family knows this rule, and not to use data to run down batteries. Use texts instead of calling. Take turns with phones so all batteries last as long as possible. Have your out of area family or friend attend your FHE (Family Home Evening, if you are unfamiliar FHE is a night you set aside as a family to spend time together) via Skype or facetime so that everyone knows ahead of time what your emergency plans are.
Moderate pack: always include more water first, or more ways to purify found water, increase food supply, better shelter, redundant systems for communication, more advanced first aid, additional money, have additional gasoline stored that you can take with you. Think about having a tent. Have non-electronic games, note pad and pencils, sleeping bags, and more comfort items.
Super pack: think about adding HAM radios for better communication, better and more lightweight gear, better ways to catch and store water. Go back to the basics and see how you can improve your pack, or better ways to stay safe. Think of different types of emergencies and plan for them. Add to your first aid kit. Take tools if possible. Think about how much you can carry comfortably, divide up redundant items among members of your party. Make sure each person has the basics. . Do not try to carry more than you are able.
Resources:
Of course our favorites: lds.org, provident living, and do1thing.com
Download the LDS preparedness manual, just Google, look for the 2012 version, I think
I love FEMA, they have a lot of information and new ideas all the time.
Try ready.gov
Watch youtube
Google your questions or keywords
Search the web and exchange favorite sites for preparedness. Get in email lists and watch webinars. You will learn a lot and be able to meet your challenges.
Show paks or Ask for paks!
Other tips:
- Prepare spiritually, pray for calmness, and the inspiration of the Holy Ghost. Do not move in panic, wait a few minutes for calmness and guidance. Paper scriptures: maybe take a Book of Mormon, cut or tear it into sections, each person gets a section.
- Get a water bottle that has a filter in it. It is best if the straw can flip down and not come in contact with your hands!
- Macabi hiking skirts were mentioned as a good versatile clothing to have for a 72 kit for women.
- Pack a toy or game for children. It will help to keep them calm in a stressful situation.
- Put a family photo in every family members pack so if you get separated you will have a way of showing what the person looks like!
- Always keep in mind your own personal circumstances and plan according! For example, if you have children have diapers, baby carrier, baby food, wipes, etc. You are the one who knows your family best and what will work for YOU!
If you have other tips you would like to share please email us @ selfreliance2014@gmail.com and we will add your tips! Thank you!
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