Emergency Preparedness - It's for You (And Me)

Truthfully, I hate to hear negative prophecies. But the practical aspects of this one (Cathie Sheldon, Aglow Emergency Preparedness Coordinator) outweigh my discomfort.

The first time I heard Aglow people talk about emergency preparedness, it was in the wake of hurricanes. The bottom line is that those who were prepared could help their neighbors.

Back in the ‘Y2k’ days, our family prepared and urged others to do the same, not because of fear but so that we could help ourselves and others if there was a need (no matter how unlikely). As a result, we have a generator. We've never needed it for an emergency, but it has been used to power inflatables in the park, sound equipment for a wedding, and ran a neighborhood's freezers after a wind disaster. We also shared our leftover Y2k groceries and toiletries with people in need. We still store a few items but need to build up to the 30-day supply they suggest below.

We will be working on this and hope each one will begin also. Start however you can, but start somewhere.

DeAnn Hilmoe, Pierre Aglow
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From: csheld@msn.comSubject: Please read and then ACT
Date: Tue, 10 Mar 2009 21:46:29 -0600

Part of my mission statement in this Emergency Preparedness is to evaluate all I see and weed out those that seem exploitive and inflammatory. I see of lot of those. The enemy would like to "wear out" our minds with ineffective busyness. Wear out is the literal meaning of the word persecute of Daniel 7:25. With that in mind, I've decided to finally send this out to you.

I received this from three different sources since Sunday. This person added some vital information at the bottom that I thought was most beneficial, especially concerning personal hygiene and toiletries.

You have indicated you are already aware of the impending situations, now in addition to your own household, please sound the call to your constituency. It takes much time and expense to gather these type of resources. Finalize your family action plan. Make copies of important documents and account information and send to a trusted person out of state. Start NOW.

Cathie Sheldon, Aglow Emergency Preparedness Coordinator

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David Wilkerson Today
Daily Devotions
Saturday, March 7, 2009
AN URGENT MESSAGE

I am compelled by the Holy Spirit to send out an urgent message to all on our mailing list, and to friends and to bishops we have met all over the world.AN EARTH-SHATTERING CALAMITY IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN. IT IS GOING TO BE SO FRIGHTENING, WE ARE ALL GOING TO TREMBLE - EVEN THE GODLIEST AMONG US.For ten years I have been warning about a thousand fires coming to New York City. It will engulf the whole megaplex, including areas of New Jersey and Connecticut. Major cities all across America will experience riots and blazing fires-such as we saw in Watts, Los Angeles, years ago.There will be riots and fires in cities worldwide. There will be looting-including Times Square, New York City.

What we are experiencing now is not a recession, not even a depression. We are under God's wrath. In Psalm 11 it is written,"If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?" (v. 3).God is judging the raging sins of America and the nations. He is destroying the secular foundations.The prophet Jeremiah pleaded with wicked Israel, "God is fashioning a calamity against you and devising a plan against you. Oh, turn back each of you from your evil way, and reform your ways and deeds. But they will say, It's hopeless! For we are going to follow our own plans, and each of us will act according to the stubbornness of his evil heart" (Jeremiah 18:11-12).In Psalm 11:6, David warns, "Upon the wicked he will rain snares (coals of fire).fire.burning wind.will be the portion of their cup." Why? David answered, "Because the Lord is righteous" (v. 7). This is a righteous judgment-just as in the judgments of Sodom and in Noah's generation.

WHAT SHALL THE RIGHTEOUS DO? WHAT ABOUT GOD'S PEOPLE?First, I give you a practical word I received for my own direction. If possible lay in store a thirty-day supply of non-perishable food, toiletries and other essentials. In major cities, grocery stores are emptied in an hour at the sign of an impending disaster.

As for our spiritual reaction, we have but two options. This is outlined in Psalm 11. We "flee like a bird to a mountain." Or, as David says, "He fixed his eyes on the Lord on his throne in heaven-his eyes beholding, his eyelids testing the sons of men" (v. 4). "In the Lord I take refuge" (v. 1).I will say to my soul: No need to run...no need to hide. This is God's righteous work. I will behold our Lord on his throne, with his eye of tender, loving kindness watching over every step I take-trusting that he will deliver his people even through floods, fires, calamities, tests, trials of all kinds.Note: I do not know when these things will come to pass, but I know it is not far off. I have unburdened my soul to you. Do with the message as you choose.God bless and keep you,

In Christ,DAVID WILKERSON
Posted by David Wilkerson on 3/07/2009

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[Included in Cathie Sheldon's email]

5 MISTAKES PEOPLE MAKE WITH EMERGENCY SUPPLIES
For most people, emergency preparedness is a brand new concept. As you get prepared, you will hear a lot of different opinions (including my own) regarding the best way to do that. I have helped thousands of people across the country get prepared for life's unexpected emergencies. As I have done so, I have noticed some common mistakes that people seem to make in getting prepared. Let me share with you what I have seen.

Mistake #1 - Not enough water or no plan for water at allAs has been discussed in this blog before, water is the most often overlooked item in your emergency supplies. People either under prepare for their emergency water supply or simply don't plan at all. A healthy adult can live for weeks without food but you will die in less than a week without access to clean drinking water. You will need about a gallon of water per person per day. That covers both sanitation and hygiene as well as hydration needs. There are articles in this blog that discuss water storage and water purification. Please take the time to read and make sure you have water stored for your emergency supplies.

Mistake #2 - No hygiene supplies
After a disaster, disease and illness related to conditions of poor hygiene are very common. In most disasters, more people die after the disaster than during the disaster because they cannot maintain proper hygiene. The simple answer is to have personal and family hygiene kits available. These items can be purchased as a kit or put together at home. Here are some items to consider in your hygiene kits:. Waterless soap or hand sanitizer - You may not always have water available, but you this type of soap will kill the bugs.. Port-a-Potty - This simple device fits on a 5 gallon bucket and will help keep the waste in a safe place. Make sure you buy bags and deodorizer.. Toilet Paper/Tissue. Toothbrush. Toothpaste. Razor. Small hand towel. Bar Soap. If you have babies: diapers and wipes (handy for other uses as well)

Mistake #3 - Out of sight, out of mind
It is critical to do three things with your emergency supplies: Review, Rotate and Replace. In order to do that you will need to have your emergency supplies in a place where you can get to them at least once a year. Many times, people make the mistake of buying their emergency supplies, typically a significant and important investment, and then never looking at them again until they need them.

Review: Make sure that at least yearly you review the items in your emergency supplies. Get familiar with what you have in your emergency kits and food storage. Try them out, use the products that you can.

Rotate: Then rotate out items that need to be used. Pull out the batteries and use them. Rotate at least some of your food supplies. That is why I recommend freeze-dried food. This is food that you will want to eat. Your kids will like it. Rotate out first-aid supplies or maybe medications.

Replace: After you have rotated out your old supplies to be used (don't waste them, use them!), then you will need to replace your supplies. Make your list of supplies that need to be replaced and do so right away.

Mistake #4 - Store shelf stable food and water
I see this mistake a lot. What I mean is, many people buy off the shelf items from their local retailer for their food storage. Now, that can work. The food from you grocer will work for food storage. The problem comes from the reality that people typically make mistake #3 with their emergency supplies, so the food never gets rotated. Items purchased from your local grocery store have about a 1 to 2 year shelf life. So you go out and spend a lot of money on food that will expire long before they will ever be able to use it or worse yet before they even look at it again.The reality is, most people don't review, rotate and replace.

So to compensate for that, buy long term, shelf stable food storage. Typically, that means food that will last for at least 10 years and water that will last for 5 years. It will mean your food and water will be usable when you need it.

Mistake #5 - Forgetting personal and comfort items
Many times when people are putting together their emergency supplies they look only at the basics like food, water, light, warmth, shelter, etc. That is all very important and needs to be done. But, it is important to not forget to put some of your daily personal and comfort items into your 72 hour emergency survival kits and shelter in place supplies.For example if you have kids, what are you going to do to keep their mind off the current situation? I recommend including in your emergency supplies simple games, coloring books or books to read. Throw in a pack of playing cards into your 72 hour emergency survival kit or some travel checkers or chess. Make sure in your shelter in place supplies you include comfort items like snacks that they like (rotate annually), maybe a stuffed animal, games, books, comfortable clothes, blankets, etc. Keeping you and your families stress level down and spirits up during a disaster is critical for survival.

Also, don't forget personal medications that you may need. For example, I wear contact lenses. My supplies should include contact solution and a replacement pair of contacts. I should also throw in an old pair of glasses, just in case. You may need a particular medication or personal hygiene item. If it is critical to your survival, then include it. If I didn't have my glasses or contacts, I would not survive for very long. It is as simple as that.