Preparedness Idea from the 1st Ward

Sisters - we just LOVE it when you share what has been going on in your wards.  With the Stake Theme - we were so happy to receive this idea.  Thank you to Melanie Jones of the 1st Ward for sending it in.  Here is what they did - in their own words.

We did a fun Emergency Preparedness night activity in February and I took some pictures.  Since the solar oven we featured is the stake item for the month, I thought it appropriate to send in something. 

 

 

River 1st Relief Society Emergency Preparedness Night- February 2011

 

After the fires in Herriman last fall, we wanted to share a few tips on emergency preparedness that we have learned from our friends and relatives who had to evacuate and also talk about fuel preparedness.

 

Did you know if you only use cell phones, the city can't give you a reverse 911 call to let you know of an evacuation unless you register your cell phone with them?

Do you have an emergency grab and go list?  How about a list divided into 5 minutes, 15 minutes or 60 minutes of evacuation time? 

Have you divided responsibilities for younger children or pets with older children or other adults in the home?

Does anyone outside of your home have an emergency contact list containing all your cell phone, work phone and school phone numbers and know where you would go in an emergency?

Does your 72 hour kit contain items appropriate for work or school?  In Herriman, school continued as usually and most adults still had to go to work while evacuated.

 

Fuel Storage Basics

Most of us store food, but do we have any fuel to cook it?

Consider diversifying fuels and make sure you have all the equipment necessary to use them.

Matches- waterproof or keep in waterproof container

Sterno- safe for indoor use and you can cook about 6 meals per 7 oz. can or 2 hours total burn time

White Gasoline or Coleman Fuel- burns hotter and cleaner 1 qt. burns 4 to 10 hours, use outdoors!

Kerosene- cheap and can be burned indoors, stores for a long time, kerosene heaters

Propane- use and store outdoors!

Charcoal-  cheap, store airtight to last longer (plastic bag in garbage can).  Each briquette will produce about 40 degrees of heat

Solar Ovens- homemade or store bought, just need to get food to 180 or higher to start cooking process

 

Remember that anything that produces carbon monoxide gas is not safe to use indoors (like propane).  Also remember most fuels should be stored outside.  Consider fuel stabilizers or treatments to prevent sludginess.

 

Preparedness Opportunities

In Stake Welfare Meeting this morning - we were made aware of preparedness opportunities for those of the River Stake.  You will want to put these on your calendars.

Friday, Oct 15:
Dry Pack Event - 7th Ward coordinating

Saturday, Oct 16:
Self-Canning @ Stake Bowery
Stake members will be able to use the dry pack canning supplies to seal items they have purchased from all sources (they don't need to purchase church commodities this time - anything you choose)

September 30:
Preparedness Exercise
(beginning with a communications exercise at 6:30, then neighborhood group meetings beginning at 7:00)

Oct 24th:
5:00 to 6:00 (don't be late!)
Marilin Hoff - "the Earthquake Lady" will speak concerning earthquake preparedness.
Here is a short synopsis of an event that Marilin spoke at recently...

Marilin Hoff, a community presenter for the Utah Division of Homeland Security.
Hoff's nickname-inspiring earthquake preparedness presentation, which she gave to North Salt Lake residents at a Uniting Neighbors meeting last April. More than 200 people attended, inspiring the group to bring Hoff back for a second presentation.  "Everyone loves Marilin," said Kirkham. "She's extremely informative but also extremely entertaining. We had several requests for her to come back."

Read more:Davis County Clipper - Earthquake Lady tells how to survive NSL power outage

From the 8th Ward - "Grandmother's Apron"

I felt like I literally had "Christmas" today when I found a folder from Myrl Breinholt (8th Ward) on my porch. In it is a CD entitled "Cooking From My Pantry" that has a wealth of information to answer literally any question you may have about living on what we store (or SHOULD be storing!)

There were also two copies of their "Cooking From Your Pantry" newsletter - what great information!

I have seen their fun displays as I've been at my meetings in the red building for the past several months - but now I know what their theme really entails. Here is just a snippet of what they are doing:

Back to Basics is our goal this year using Grandmother's Apron as the vehicle. We will be teaching cooking things from scratch, repairing, and reusing.

Each month we will be having all of our enrichment activities on the same night in the same place - the second Tuesday at the Church. We hope this will give sisters consistency and greater fellowship.

Our kickoff was on Jan 13 with a reader's theater including memories about our grandmothers, poems and a song written by Julie Dibble. Suzanne Roberts demonstrated her delicious dinner rolls.

Each month we will be having a short game of "Are you smarter than your grandmother?" including fun facts from days gone by that introduce our activity for the evening. February will be another cooking class featuring frosting recipes and cookie and cake decorating.

March is our service auction. Each sister has received a list of ways to earn currency for the auction. Some of them include things like arriving at Sacrament Meeting on time and getting Visiting Teaching done by the 15th of the month. Each sister will tally up her score and use the points as currency to "buy" service from another sister.

There is a dress form on the RS table with an apron containing weekly challenges and Grandmother sayings. All of these things are to focus on the wisdom and skills of the past that we need to use to be more self sufficient.

There will continue to be a Cooking From Your Pantry newsletter every month available on the RS table featuring suggestions and information for emergency preparedness.

If you would like a copy of Myrl's CD - I am happy to make one for you. Please email me at appetersen@comcast.net and I'll get that to you.

Coming next from the 8th Ward - their monthly humanitarian project at Enrichment Meeting for the sisters to participate in or to take home. (I'll be contacting her to get information, or she is welcome to post it here also)