Ol' Buffalo Preparedness Page

If you can read this, thank a teacher. If you're reading this in English, thank a veteran.

Preparedness Index

Preparedness Quotes

A cultist is one who has a strong belief in the Bible and the Second Coming of Christ; who frequently attends Bible's studies; who has a high level of financial giving to a Christian cause; who home schools for their children; who has accumulated survival foods and has a strong belief in the Second Amendment; and who distrust big government. Any of these may qualify [a person as a cultist] but certainly more than one [of these] would cause us to look at this person as a threat, and his family as being in a risk situation that qualified for government interference. -- Falsely attributed to Janet Reno, Interview on 60 Minutes, 26 Jun 1994

Be prepared. -- Boy Scout Motto

Be prepared, self-reliant, and independent. Times of plenty are times to live providently and lay up in store. Times of scarcity are times to live frugally and draw on those stores. -- Bishop Keith B. McMullin, (Ensign, Nov. 2002, p 96)

But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel. -- 1 Timothy 5:8

Do not rely on the government for anything, especially your survival. -- Fr. Frog

Food is power. We use it to change behavior. Some may call that bribery. We do not apologize. -- Catherine Bertini, Executive Director of the UN World Food program, Sep 1995

If ye are prepared ye shall not fear. -- Doctrine & Covenants 38:30

Instead of thinking of reasons why it can't be done, find ways to do it. -- Neil Bergt, Chairman & CEO, MarkAir

It wasn't raining when Noah built the ark. -- Howard Ruff

Learn to sustain yourselves; lay up grain and flour, and save it against a day of scarcity. -- Brigham Young (Discourses of Brigham Young, p 293)

Preparation through education is less costly than learning through tragedy. -- Max Mayfield, Director National Hurricane Center

Preparedness, when properly pursued, is a way of life, not a sudden, spectacular program. -- Spencer W. Kimball, 1976

Remember; when disaster strikes, the time to prepare has passed. -- Steven Cyros

Self-Reliance is a prerequisite to the complete freedom to act. -- Marion G. Romney, 1984

Some people are making such thorough preparation for rainy days that they aren't enjoying today's sunshine. -- William Feather

The only thing more terrifying than an emergency is actually living off the food you have stored! Your food storage should be food you would rotate into your daily diet. -- Author Unknown

We live in a most exciting and challenging period in human history. As technology sweeps through every facet of our lives, changes are occurring so rapidly that it can be difficult for us to keep our lives in balance. To maintain some semblance of stability in our lives, it is essential that we plan for our future. I believe it is time, and perhaps with some urgency, to review the counsel we have received in dealing with our personal and family preparedness. We want to be found with oil in our lamps sufficient to endure to the end. -- L. Tom Perry (Ensign, Nov 1995, p 35)

You are responsible for what happens to you. -- Fr. Frog

You won't have trouble if you are prepared for it. -- Fr. Frog

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Family Preparedness Checklist

For most individuals and families, preparation is limited to assuming government will help when times get hard. However, people should learn to take responsibility for their own welfare rather than always depend on others for support. There may even be occasion when government is unable or unavailable, even unwilling to help when the need comes. At the very lease, one must expect delays and restrictions in government assistance during times of stress.

This list helps guide individuals and families in preparing for crisis. Many people have experiences in their lives at one time or another where this preparation can be at least reassuring and even lifesaving. Perhaps the most common crises requiring this preparation are job loss and disability. Many families find they also need to take advantage of this preparation during and after disasters such as fire, flood, hurricane, tornado, or earthquake. Other remote, but possible situations include civil disruption, interruption of the transportation system, hyperinflation, breakdown of the market economy, even war.

It is not expected that every family or individual have all these items. The cost of obtaining and maintaining everything on this list would be prohibitive for most people. Therefore, do what you can, when you can, to obtain what you feel is most important for your situation. Buying a few extra items of food and other supplies each time you go to the store can help to steadily prepare for disaster. One should also consider other resources that would available during a crisis such as neighbors and relatives. For example, several families can share a single garden tiller. Many of these items deteriorate with age -- even canned foods and gasoline. Such items should be rotated (replace stored items with new items, then consume the replaced items).

First Aid Web Sites

Emergency Preparedness and Food Storage Links

Assembling an Emergency Kit for Your Car

When preparing your car it is wise to remember to make preparations also for your family. An emergency car kit is crucial for breakdowns and unusual weather conditions. It is always good to keep essential supplies in your car in case you get stranded for a few hours or even a few days.

What should I keep in my auto emergency kit? First, you want to make sure you have the basic essentials such as water, food, and warmth. After these basics are included, then you can add other necessities such as an emergency light, first aid items, tools and other accessories.

Water: Drinkable water is of utmost importance. Most people can actually survive days without food, but your body will dehydrate without water, leading to organ failure and death. We take the abundance of water for granted when things are normal, but in an emergency it becomes critical. Water is also useful for washing wounds and for sanitation. Water can also be helpful if your car overheats. Because of the limited space in automobiles, storing water must be in small packages. Water is available in small drink boxes (8.45 oz.), in pouches (4.2 oz.) or a Deluxe Sanitation & Water Kit.

Food: If your car breaks down and you are many miles from any town or store, you will want to have food stored in your kit to make sure your body has enough energy. It is very difficult to keep food in your car because it is exposed to extreme temperatures, both hot and cold, and the food is likely to spoil. The best thing to store in your car is high Calorie Food Bars. These bars come in packages of 2400 calories and 3600 calories. They can be exposed to extreme temperatures. They have a tasty flavor that won’t leave you thirsty. The bar helps activate the salivary gland and reduce your demand on emergency water supplies. They also expand in your stomach so you feel full. Be careful that you don’t over-consume them because they are so high in calories.

Warmth: You may have plenty of food and water, but if you’re cold you’ll feel miserable. Especially in the winter, warmth is a must for an emergency car kit. If you get stranded on a desolate road or stuck in a snowstorm, you will be glad you have a source of warmth in your car. There are several options: 6 to 20 hour warm packs, wool blankets, emergency bags, and emergency blankets. Also, for shelter from the rain, include a poncho or other rain gear. Warm packs are nice for quick, concentrated heat. You can put them in your pockets, shoes and gloves to stay warm. Wool is one of nature’s warmest fibers. It provides warmth even when it’s wet. It is best to get a wool blend blanket because when synthetic fibers are added to it they provide softness, washability and durability. Emergency blankets and bags are lightweight and fold to pocket size. They’re made of a reflective material which reflects up to 80% of your radiant body heat to help keep you warm. A poncho is nice if you are in rain or other bad weather and need to go outside to change a tire or do other work on the car.

Light: It’s important to always keep a flashlight in your emergency car kit. It comes in handy for all types of circumstances. Be sure to keep charged batteries in the flashlight so you aren’t left in the dark. The Innovative LED Light has a much higher battery life than conventional flashlights and are essential for emergency car kits. Other lights that could be useful in your auto emergency kit are lightsticks, emergency candles with a wide base and waterproof matches. Lightsticks last for 12 hours and are safe for children. They are visible up to one mile away, and they are non-toxic and non-flammable. Emergency candles or liquid paraffin candles are long-lasting, reusable, odorless and smokeless. A wide base adds stability which helps prevent accidental spills which is especially nice for the car. Also, be sure to keep waterproof matches in your emergency car kit so you can light it.

First Aid Items: If injury occurs, every second counts because help may be hours or days away. A first aid kit allows you to assist with injuries until help arrives. Keep items such as pain relievers, sterile pads, alcohol prep pads, bandages, soap, gauze pads, and micropore tape. You may also want to include tissues, toilet paper, safety pins and ace bandages. All of these items will come in handy when you are in need of first aid on the road.

Tools: Consider tools such as a multi-purpose knife or a collapsible shovel for your car. A shovel may come in handy if you are to get stuck in the snow or mud. A multi-purpose knife provides many different tools for you to work with in a time of need. A Samurai survival tool provides an axe, hammer, and pry tool all-in-one. A basic tool kit and a roll of duct tape are also good items to keep in your car.

Other Accessories: Roadflares may also be useful in your auto emergency kit, but they should only be used for a warning signal, and should NEVER be used for light. Once a roadflare has been lit, make sure you set it on a non-flammable surface. The by-product from its fire drips to the ground and may cause a fire if it lands on flammable material such as grass or if there is a gas leak. Be careful because the fumes are extremely nauseous and must be used only in a well-ventilated area.

There are several kinds of pre-packaged emergency car kits available, or you can customize your own. If you are purchasing a prepacked kit remember that you may need to customize your kit according to your needs (medications, glasses, etc.) Keep your kit in a compact case so it fits easily in your trunk or under a seat.

As you are preparing for the unknown, don’t forget to prepare your car with an emergency car kit. When that snowstorm causes you to be stranded from home, or if you get a flat tire, or your auto overheats far from any town, you will be grateful you took the time to think ahead. The more conveniences you include, the better your situation will be.

For a detailed checklist of items to keep in your emergency kit for your car, see the checklist above.

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Outdoor Survival & Winter Camping

Selected Outdoor Cooking Readings