Tuesday, April 30, 2013

72 Hour Kit Menu

Maryann Blanchard shared this with me while we were preparing food for our 72 hour kits.  I believe it is something Miranda Egan shared a few years back. 

It's a 72 hour kit menu guideline and could come in handy for somebody who isn't sure what to pack.  You can follow the link to print it off.  Please comment if you are having issues opening these files.

Preparedness Store Classes

The Preparedness Store & Bosch Kitchen Center
120 Northgate Mile
Idaho Falls, ID 83401
208-524-8300
COOKING CLASSES
May, 2013
Forgotten & Often "Overlooked Items"
Thursday, May 2nd 11:00am
Bread Making
Saturday, May 4th 11:00am
8 Steps to Preparedness
Thursday, May 9th 11:00am
Food Storage Desserts
Saturday, May 11th 11:00am
Bread Making
Thursday, May 16th 11:00am
You Can Have Your Food Storage and Eat It Too!
Saturday, May 18th 11:00am
Sprouting Class
Thursday, May 30th 11:00am

Monday, April 29, 2013

Week 7 Food Equipment

I wanted to say THANK YOU to all of you who have talked to me recently about putting together your 72 hour kits.  It's thrilling to hear how many of you are working on them and thinking about them and will start them when you finish your current project.

I hope you all have your food nicely organized and ready to put in your pack.

Week #7  We are going to work on Food Equipment.
This includes anything you may need to eat out of and with, cook with, and clean with so it depends on what you packed.  Do you need a can opener?  Do you prefer paper or plastic products or a mess kit?  If you are boiling water you need to have some of way to heat it as well as something to heat it in. 

I will need some way to boil water for my dinners and 1 lunch so here are some options:

Mountain Oven Flameless Heating Kit - warms pouch meals to 100 degrees without the need for boiling water.  Simply add water to activate.  Comes with 5 heating pouches for $10.99 (May Sale)

Folding Stove with Fuel Tablets - clean fuel that is easy to ignite and smokeless.  Contains 8 tablets for $5.95 each.  $2.75 for an additional 24 tablets.  The tablets burn about 10 minutes.

Canned Heat - You can buy 2 sterno cans for $4.95 at Walmart or 1 can of Heat Cell on Emergency Essentials website for $3.95.  I have been told sternos are toxic so you shouldn't burn them unless you are very well ventilated.  These last about 4 hours for cooking and can be relit.  You need some sort of wire rack to put over them to heat your water.  You can find one at most of these places for around $5-10.

Single Burner Propane Stove - We have something similar to this that Dustin takes backpacking and it works great other than the big propane bottles he has to carry with him.  The butane bottles are much smaller so I would recommend a butane stove over the propane.  Just make sure you have an extra bottle of fuel.

I think any are a good option.  If you have a large family you may want to consider getting multiple heating units so it doesn't take all day to warm the water.  You have to make the decision of what is best for you. 

GOOD LUCK!

Thursday, April 25, 2013

Food Sealing Adventures!

I am so happy with the knowledge that 9 families from our ward and multiple other families are now 1 step ahead on their emergency preparedness!
 
 
We sealed our food today in mylar bags with an oxygen absorber with high hopes that it will stay good for 5 years vs. changing it out in 1 year.  We learned that cereal has high oil content and cannot be stored for that long and some granola bars (specifically Sunbelt) have no preservatives and should not be eaten past expiration.

 
Also got reminded how good it feels to have this part of 72 hour kits DONE.  It's a lot of effort but will be worth it should we ever need to use them.
 
Some of the items people included are:
granola bars, oatmeal packets, formula, rice cereal, easy mac, ramen noodles, hard candies, fruit roll ups, hot chocolate, drink flavoring packets, jerkey, dried fruit

 
Great work everybody!

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

A few coupons...

As you are preparing your 72 hour kits, I came accross a few coupon that might be helpful. 

Click this link to print $.75 off 1 any size Clorox.  Small purse packs are usually $1.00 and great to throw in your packs.  Makes them $.25.

Follow the instructions on this blog for buy 1 get 1 free Oberto jerkey!  Makes it $1.96 per bag.

$1.10 off Motts 4 pack applesauce squeeze containers.  I think these are usually about $2.50.  I didn't see any at Walmart today, but I have found them at Fred Meyer and Smiths in the past.

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Dollar Store & 72 Hour Kits

While at the Dollar Store a few weeks ago I noticed a few things that would be good to grab for 72 hour kits.  This pack had 6 toothbrushes in it.
 
Or this one with 3 and 3 cases.

 
They had small bottles of medicines - perfect for car kit, 72 hour kit or even your purse.

 
They also have can openers which would be essential if you have canned food in your kit.
 
We haven't got to it yet, but we will be adding "fun" items to our kids bags and Dollar Store has lots of options.  Coloring books, crayons, markers, dice, card games (3pks for $1) all sorts of stuff. 

72 Hour Kit - Preparedness Store

I just wanted to share with you a list of the Basic 72 Hour Kit shared by the Preparedness Store.  I also put a few of the prices next to the items in case you are interested.

1 cocoon survival bag  ($7.95)
2 body warmers
1 emergency poncho   ($1.49)
1 storm matches ($2.25)
1 waterproof matches  ($.50)

1 nylon rope  ($1.95)
1 whistle  ($1.95)


1 lightstick ($1.75)
1 tissue pack
15 water packets
1 food bar 3600 calorie
1 carrying bag
1 Wallace Guidebook (first aid)

That is it!  This just went to show me that if you have some basics, it is much better than nothing.

The Deluxe Kit is all of the above, plus:

1 Firestick Pack
1 water bottle
1 water tablets ($6.49)
1 tube tent  ($6.95)
5 pink lady candles  ($2.00)
1 trowel  ($1.95)
2 lightsticks
1 folding stove  ($8.45)  - took a picture of it inside and outside the box so you can see how small it is.



2 (2pk) fuel  ($10.90)
1 solo II cook pot