Emergency Preparedness: Jackie Palsson

This post was written by Jackie Palsson.

 "As recently married couples and small families it may be hard to build up a huge amount of food storage at this time because of lack of space or lack of budget, but there are a few necessities that we should all take the time to acquire. The first is having a supply of water. For a 72-hour kit each person should have at least a gallon of water, but having an extra supply of water never hurt anyone. If you do not have the ability to get food for your supply, please, please get water because in an emergency situation, we cannot survive very long without water. The second thing to add to your supply is a 72 hour kit. Below are some suggestions for what to put into a 72 hour kit. Also, I would suggest getting together in groups to put together 72 hour kits because the supplies are usually cheapest when purchased in bulk and then all of you in the group can split the cost. While 72 hour kits usually have other emergency supplies besides food, food and water are an important first step and if you are able to add other supplies to your kit then do so.

Breakfast – Day 1	Breakfast – Day 2	Breakfast – Day 3
Cereal	Instant Oatmeal	Granola Bar
Powdered Milk	Fruit Roll	Granola Bar
Fruit Cup	Box of Apple Juice	Box of Grapefruit Juice
Box of OJ	Hot Cocoa	Hot Cocoa
Lunch – Day 1	Lunch – Day 2	Lunch – Day 3
Cup of Soup	Beef Jerky	Box of OJ
Saltine Crackers	Peanuts	Cheese & Crackers
Box of Apple Juice	Applesauce Cup	Fruit Cup
Pudding Cup	Box of Grape Juice	Granola Bar
Dinner – Day 1	Dinner – Day 2	Dinner – Day 3
Corned Beef Hash	Chili w/Beans	Beef Stew
Applesauce Cup	Saltine Crackers	Bread Sticks
Box of Grape Juice	Box of OJ	Box of OJ
Granola Bar	Tapioca Pudding Cup	Fruit Cup

Pasted from <http://www-suares.stanford.edu/72hour-kit.html>

Also, in this months Ensign there was an article entitled Everyday Home Storage which talks about one families approach to food storage and how they were greatly blessed for adding to their food storage each month. This article also talks about the importance of buying and using things that you will actually eat. So, if spaghetti sauce is on sell when you go to the store, pick up an extra one and little by little your cupboards will start to be full of extra food that your family will actually eat. It may take a little more time to plan out your shopping for the week, but you will see many blessings as your cupboards fill up with food you can use in an emergency. 

I love the story of Joseph in Egypt found in Genesis 41: 25-32 where he interprets Pharaoh's dream about the 7 years of plenty and the 7 years of famine. Right now the Lord is giving us those 7 years of plenty. We may not have a lot of money or space, but we have sufficient to start to build our food storage so that we will be prepared when the famine comes and it will come, but we do not have to fear it. Joseph was able to save his family because of his obedience to the Lord, let us do the same. "

You guys I am inspired. Inspired enough that my husband and I actually determined a place to meet in an emergency if we can't get a hold of each other. Our apartment of course! And if we can't get there we are headed to our church building! So maybe we will see you there? Well hopefully not in an emergency. Anyways I am going to work on our 72 hour kits over conference weekend. Let me know what your preparedness goals are!