food storage and emergency preparedness

My Aunt Susan, knowing I was interested in food storage, told me about the website Food Storage Made Easy. It’s pretty great and you should check it out. They recently hosted a 7-day challenge as a way to test your level of preparedness with the food storage and emergency kits that you have, which is a really great idea! I have to admit, I was too intimidated by the challenge and didn’t actually do it. But, in an effort to learn more (and get a coupon for one of their products just by making this post), I read up on responses from people who DID actually participate in the challenge. So, here's what I could have learned: (By the way, this is great timing - General Conference time is the time of year I want to designate to reviewing and improving our emergency preparedness)

Day 1: Natural Disaster -”It’s a Flood”

• We totally don't have a family meeting place - and I think that's the scariest of all. We need to decide on one. I don't know if we should have a few options...? Like at BYU all the wards have emergency plans. Our ward was supposed to meet on this one field, but if that was gone, there was another place to meet.
• We would have done fine with eating food from our Emergency kits for the day and we have a first-aid kit in their too. (we each have our own in each car so it's accessible when we're at home or when we're on the road).
• We don't have a "grab" list for if we have to leave the house quickly. It's hard to think of what I have that I couldn't live without, to be quite honest.
• Cooking without power and all the food in the fridge is spoiled!? Cereal w/ powdered milk for everyone!
  

Day 2: Pandemic -”Time for Quarantine”

• I was feeling pretty good about this one, we have extra toilet paper (I finally have Rob convinced on the importance of having a storage of items like this - even if that means huge Costco pack of tp). Then the last rule of this challenge, which is that we have to wear face masks. We don't have those yet, we've been meaning to ask Rob's mom if she can get some from her work but we should just buy them.
  
• A lot of people on the website and facebook have good ideas for sanitizing, we are lacking in that area too, I guess

Day 3: Every Day Emergency -”Dinner Guests?!?!”

• I love two things about this challenge - I love that it's for an every day emergency. It can be hard for people (me too until recently) to imagine a natural or financial disaster, but those everyday emergencies can be alleviated by having food storage or cash reserve, or car kit, etc. One time when Rob and I were dating I took him on a drive to one of my favorite places. It was Sunday and he was starving. Rob is not his pleasant self when starving. No worries - I had a car kit in the trunk and he had his choice of a granola bar or applesauce cup! The other thing I love is that people actually did it - they reported on the dinner they made that night!
  
• I think I'm pretty set on this one. We eat from our food storage a couple times a week and, because I'm my father's daughter, there's always a side dish or two!
• Someone made the comment about the real challenge being not getting in a fight with the husband during this - she probably means because he invited the guests unexpectedly in the first place. However, I think just the stress of an everyday situation (not to mention natural disaster or financial disaster!) is something that can be avoided by, not only being prepared, but by "practicing." Eating food storage, reviewing emergency kits together, talking about these things. ordering food from the cannery together, etc. Doing challenges like this one.
  

Day 4: Economic Crisis -”Money is TIGHT!”

• It just occurred to me that by this day, I would not have been able to spend any money for 4 days - and there's 3 more days!
  
• I don't know the first thing about how to deal w/ having the water turned off. There are good ideas in the comments for how to substitute for toilet water, etc, but I would just be stressed out.
• Also, I sure hope these emergencies occur before we have children, and not after, ever.
  

Day 5: Natural Disaster -”Earthquake!”

• Total flunk. No car shovel, no computer back-up. We have food in the freezer - but no way to cook it or heat it (or make a smoothie with it).
• This brings to mind what we should be asking for for Christmas
  

Day 6: Diet Disaster -”Healthy lifestyle”

• Thank you, Weight Watchers. And, I missed my workout to write this blog.
  
• PS. I don't actually know what "from scratch" means. Maybe I do this most of the time already?
  

Day 7: Every Day Emergency -”Why Didn’t you Ask for this Sooner?”

• I have powdered milk, but not the other items (shelf-stable butter or eggs). No bake cookies? I actually feel confident that I could come up with a few things that don't require butter or eggs. I won't think of them now because I'm tired, and also because I might be wrong and I don't want to be (but Stephanie, in a real emergency, you don't have the luxury of being wrong).
  
• I guess I could have completed this challenge by asking a neighbor. But, ahh, we have been ultra lame about getting to know our neighbors, which is an important lesson. I'll want to be on good terms with them if I'm needing their help, if I'm needing to survive something with them, etc.