Sharon October 13th, 2009
As the transition to winter begins, and I spend more time talking about _Independence Days_, I thought it would be a good time to encourage my readers to do a self-evaluation of their food security and basic preparedness for an emergency.
The truth is that even if you think you are perfectly secure, you probably aren’t. All you have to do is think about recent occasions when regions had power outages or crises for weeks on end, and when a buffer of food and medical supplies, and evacuation plan and lots of warm blankets would have been welcome. Think Kentucky ice storms, Northeast ice storms, Houston and New Orleans Hurricanes…honestly, we all know it could happen.
So I would advise everyone to take a little while and see what your situation is, and maybe set some new goals for the fall and winter to improve - we all have things we can improve on. So here’s a little quiz. All questions are true/false.
True or false:
Water:
1. I have two weeks of stored water, including my water heater and rainbarrels (if rainbarrels, you need a filter as well). Stored water should be a minimum 1 gallon per person per day (2 is much better), plus 1 quart for each pet.
2. I have a plan for getting water (if you have a well) if the power is out for an extended period. This could be a well bucket, a manual pump, or another water reliable water source. I have tested and used this source, and know that it works and is reliable.
3. I have a way of filtering or treating contaminated water, should my city or well water become unsafe to drink.
4. I have some familiarity with my local water infrastructure - I know where it comes from, and my community has a plan to handle water emergencies, including extended power outages.
5. If I don’t have a reliable water source and am relying on stored water, I have a supply of alcohol-based hand-sanitizer for cleaning and hygeine.
6. I know how to set up a composting toilet and handle hygeine issues. If I live in a densely populated area, I’m prepared to talk to my neighbors about this stuff to prevent the spread of disease
Food Storage:
1. I have several familiar recipes that my family likes for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks that I can make several times each from my food storage without any other ingredients.
2. I have food storage to last *at least* 3 weeks? 3 months? Six months or more? My family could eat wholly from our pantry for this period, and, even if they didn’t love it, would enjoy the foods generally.
3. I have special foods for those who have special dietary needs in my family and among the people most likely to come to us in an emergency. If these foods are different than our normal ones, I have used them, and know that everyone will and can eat them.
4. I have fresh foods in cool/cold storage or in the garden year ’round that allow for a diet including fresh vegetables and fruits to supplement dry, canned or other preserved foods.
5. My food storage includes a variety of staple grains and legumes, not just wheat. I know how to cook and use these grains, and my family likes them and eats them regularly.
6. If I rely on a freezer, I either use it only for supplementation, or have a backup plan for how to prevent food waste (throwing a big party, canning or preserving it) if the power is out.
7. I have the tools to preserve and store foods that I grow, forage or purchase in bulk.
8. I have stored food for my pets and livestock.
9. If my family regularly consumes meat, dairy or eggs, I have the animals to reproduce this, stored equivalents or a family that is comfortable with doing without and a store of recipes to make sure they don’t miss it.
10. I have a store of vitamins and understand the basics of nutrition so that we can eat well from our pantry.
11. I take advantage of bulk purchasing, seasonal abundance and sales to expand my storage as much as I can. I also take advantage (or direct those more in need to it) of free food, through foraging, gleaning, dumpster diving, etc…
12. I have a budget for food storage and preparedness, and I add a little to my storage every week (or whatever period you use) by preserving, purchasing or foraging.
Evacuation Plans:
1. My family has “grab and go” bags that include basic necessities to allow us to manage up to a few days in transit or a shelter if we must leave our home rapidly. These include copies of important documents and photos, portable, easy to cook foods, medication, matches, water, hygeine items, a change of clothes, children’s needs.
2. My family has an evacuation plan including a meet up spot, a plan for picking up children or elders from various sites, a family member who can take messages and coordinate communications if people are out of touch, and transportation security - ie, bicycles, or stabilized gas for the car, directions to likely locales, etc….
3. Everyone in the family knows what to do if we get separated. Friends/family that we might evacuate to know we might arrive and are willing to help.
4. We have plans for pets and livestock should we need to evacuate.
Health:
1. We have multiple first-aid kits (Independence Days includes a comprehensive discussion of this) and know how to use them. All adults and older children are competent to provide first aid, evaluate whether something needs more medical attention, and handle an emergency if medical attention isn’t immediately available. Not only do I own the books, but I’ve actually read them 
.
2. I have a three week supply of any needed medication or a viable substitute that I have tried and that works. I also have copies of all my prescriptions, including glasses.
3. If we are quarantined, I have basic nursing skills and know how to care for a sick person, and to reduce risk of infection.
4. I have the capacity to boil water and heat food, to prevent fires while using new tools, to keep warm or cool and handle basic hygeine issues even during an extended power outage.
Tribal issues:
1. I know which of my family/friends might come to us in a crisis. I have made basic preparations to meet their needs in an emergency, at least for a short time. I have enough food and clothing, and at least a sleeping bag or two to offer.
2. If I am anticipating children, parents or extended family to rely on me in the long term, I have made preparations for this in my food storage, medical storage and supply of other basic needs. This includes covering special needs like diapers for infants, medications for elderly parents, etc…
3. I have sent people I love a letter saying “if you ever need to come here I would welcome you.” The letter includes back-road directions and is designed to get them thinking about such an eventuality.
Community:
1. I am familiar with my local foodshed and watershed, and am working with others to expand it.
2. I am encouraging others to build up a reserve of food and medicine, and to find ways to meet other needs, at either the individual or communal level.
3. I can teach others the skills I’ve gained, and am willing to do so.
Ok, scoring: If you see a “false” that’s an indication that that’s a place to begin working. How did you score? Remember, if you have work to do (me too, trust me!), don’t panic - just do a little at a time. It doesn’t take a lot of time to fill a bottle with water or pick up an extra package of bandaids and one of dried beans. It all adds up over time.
-Sharon