EF Newsletter Sept 2005 for website

Nevada Families Eagle Forum

186 Ryndon Unit 12, Elko, Nevada 89801

775-356-9055, info@nevadafamilies.org

Are you PREPARED?

Editor: Janine Hansen

August 2005

“In the Year of Our Lord”

Vol. 32, No. 9

Dear Friends,

With the recent events surrounding Katrina I thought it was timely to send to you some emergency preparedness information. Enclosed you will find an “Emergency Water Quiz” I put together. This will provide the information you need on purifying and storing water for emergency situations. I addition, I have enclosed “Emergency Preparedness Suggestions” to help you with other preparations. As you read it over you will be able to quickly assess those things you already have and some you don’t.

How much suffering in the aftermath of Katrina could have been avoided if people had just had a 3-day emergency kit and water stored? I not only have a 3-day emergency kit at home, but I have one in my car. I have actually used the one in my car more times than I can count. The other day I needed a pocketknife when I was at our storage unit. Guess what! I had one in my emergency kit in my car. There are many resources available to you if you need more information.

Why is emergency preparedness important? Nevada is the third most active seismological state (earthquake prone) in the nation, just behind Alaska and California. Because, as we saw in Katrina, we must depend on ourselves first. Under the best of circumstances government may be days in helping you. (See article by Congressman Ron Paul enclosed.) In addition, now that I’m here living in Elko, wild fires are a real threat. My son and daughter-in-law faced voluntary evacuations because of a fire just weeks ago. We just never know what kind of disasters we may face.

I am finally in Elko and have established a temporary office. Wow! It’s so much work to move two households and an office. The final move took us one week and three 600 mile round trips to finally get here. That was after 4 previous trips, which included moving my mother. I’m waiting for a phone here so our old number 775-356-9055 is picking up via voice mail. If you need to get in touch quickly you can call me at my son's number 775-738-7947. I will be staying at my son's until our house is ready.

In other news we have 13 new Golden Banty chicks from 2 hens. I took my grandchildren Alaric Daniel age 2 1/2 and Natalya Isabelle age 1 to see the new foal just down the street last night. I am taking a 2-mile round trip walk to the mailbox almost daily. I'm getting in shape for deer hunting in November. I went horseback riding on my son’s Arabian gelding named Star Fire and had a great time. We are enjoying the beautiful sunsets, clear skies, and fresh air.

My 89-year-old mom Ruth, who is here with us, is reading books and singing songs with her great-grandchildren.

I hope if any of you are traveling to or thru Elko you will stop by to see us! We are in Ryndon 10-miles east of Elko, just exactly 1 mile north of the highway on the corner of Coal Mine Canyon and Kayenta.

Your continued support of Nevada Eagle Forum is needed and appreciated as we establish our new office.

Thank you, Janine Hansen

EMERGENCY WATER QUIZ

1) You should store enough water for how many weeks? ___________

2) How many gallons of water should you store per person per day? ___________

3) What kind of containers are good for storing water?

A) Juice bottles

B) Plastic Milk Containers

C) Clorox bottles

D) Soda Pop Bottles

E) All of the above

F) A,C,D

4) To purify clear water you should add how many drops of unscented clorox per quart?

A) 1 drops

B) 2 drops

C) 4 drops

5) To purify cloudy water you should add how many drops of unscented clorox per quart?

A) 2 drops

B) 3 drops

C) 4 drops

6) How long do you boil water to purify it?

A) 5 minutes

B) 10 minutes

C) 20 minutes

7) Are commercial purification tablets a good way to purify water? __________

8) If you are short on water should you ration it? _________

9) Should you mark the container with the date you filled it with water? __________

10) There are commercial portable water purifiers available. Would this be a good item to have in your emergency supplies? _____________

11) Do you have any water stored? ____________

12) Do you have enough for your family? ___________

Answers

1) 2 weeks

2) 1 to 2 gallons per person per day

3) F, Juice, Clorox, Soda Pop bottles. Do not use plastic milk cartons.

4) 2 drops per quart

5) 4 drops per quart

6) 10 minutes

7) Yes

8) No, use what is necessary and try to find more.

9) Yes

10) Yes

Nevada Families Eagle Forum Newsletter is published 12 times a year. The Subscription price is $25.00.

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS SUGGESTIONS

· EMERGENCY KIT: The Red Cross has an excellent pamphlet entitled “Your Family Disaster Supplies Kit” for a 3-day emergency kit for home and car. See www.redcross.org or call the local office.

· WATER: The most important consideration in preparedness is water. You should have a minimum emergency supply of 1-2 gallons per person per day for two weeks for drinking and other purposes. Use food grade containers like soda pop & juice bottles to store water. Store unscented Clorox or other water purifiers. Label all containers by content and date.

· SANITATION: If the water is not running what sanitation arrangements have you made? You should have disinfectant, a port-a-potty, baby wipes to clean your hands, extra underwear and socks, water for washing dishes, plastic garbage bags for disposing of wastes, and plenty of disposable/or regular diapers and plastic pants. Toilet paper is always at a premium during disaster situations. Store plenty of water for short and long term. Consider keeping old phone books for sanitation use. They’re free and better than nothing.

· FOOD: You should have food in the initial stages of an emergency that does not have to be cooked. Store things you will eat. 5-6 gallon food grade buckets are a good way to store food. Long-term storage should include bulk grains, beans, powdered milk, cooking oil, salt, sugar or honey and dehydrated foods. Learn how to use them. If you store wheat you need a non-electric grinder. Date all storage.

· HEALTH: You should have extra prescription medicines on hand, an emergency first aid kit, extra supplies and some knowledge of first aid. Extra vitamin c and multi-vitamins, herbs and natural remedies may prove useful. Does your family have special needs, like an infant or an elderly?

· ELECTRICITY: Consider what you would do if you had no electricity. You need flashlights with extra batteries. Consider a solar battery re-charger. You should have alternative sources of heat, light, and cooking. Fireplaces, wood stoves, kerosene heaters and lanterns, candles, camp stoves are possibilities. Have fuel and matches on hand. Kerosene stores well for several years. A kerosene lamp will work for 5 hours a day, for one year on 12 gallons of kerosene.

· COMMUNICATIONS: You need a radio preferably that has battery, solar, and hand crank power possibilities. You need a plan to get in touch with your family. See Red Cross pamphlet “Your Family Disaster Plan.”

· CLOTHING & SHOES: In a disaster you may need special clothing like, ponchos, boots, extra socks, underwear, and warm coats. If you are considering long-term preparedness ask yourself, “Could I get along for a year on the clothing I have? Most adults could get by with just a few extras, but what about growing children. Consider getting bigger sizes they can grow into at garage and rummage sales. If you have a baby you’ll need cloth diapers and plastic pants.

· SHELTER: In case of an earthquake or other disaster you may need a tent sufficient for a temporary shelter. The Japanese spent literally months in makeshift tents after the Kobe earthquake. You should have at least 3 extra blankets per person or a good sleeping bag and pad.

· MONEY: During the Northridge quake in Los Angeles the banks, ATM’s, and stores were closed for at least 3 days. You need to have cash on hand in small denominations and lots of change. Consider what you would do if the disaster lasts longer than a few days or a bank holiday is declared.

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