Preparedness Tips - Lessons learned

This letter has been circulating around LDS social media since Hurricane Sandy, it seems to have been written by a Frank Ostmann.  It was shared by Gail W. from the Pheasant Meadow ward.  

It really has some great information about REALLY being prepared.

Thanks Gail

Are you prepared for an Emergency? Please read! It really makes you think.
Things that I learned from Hurricane Sandy from someone who lived through it, Nov 2012

1. The excitement and "coolness" wears off around day three.

2. You are never really prepared to go weeks without power, heat, water etc. Never! ... ...

3. Yes, it can happen to you.

4. Just because your generator runs like a top, does not mean it's producing electricity.

5. If you do not have water stored up, you are in trouble.

a. A couple of cases of bottled water is NOT water storage

6. Should have as much fuel as water
a. Propane
b. Gas
c. Kerosene
d. Firewood
e. Firestarter, (kindling, paper, etc)

7. Even the smallest little thing that you get from the store should be stocked up.. (spark plug for the generator,BBQ lighter, etc).

8. If you are not working, chances are nobody else is either.

9. I was surprised how quickly normal social behavior goes out the window. I am not talking about someone cutting in line at the grocery store.
a. 3 people were killed at gas stations within 50 miles of my home.
b. I did not say 3 fights broke out, 3 people were killed.

10. Cash is king (all the money in your savings means nothing).

11. Stored water can taste nasty.

12. You eat a lot more food when you are cold.

13. You need more food than you think if your kids are out of school for 2 weeks

14. Kids do not like washing their face in cold water.

15. Your 1972 Honda civic gets to the grocery store as well as your 2012 Escalade, but the Honda allows
money left over for heat, food, water, a generator, fire wood, a backup water pump, you get the idea..

16. The electrical grid is way more fragile than I thought.

17. Think of the things that are your comfort, your escape: a cup of hot chocolate, a glass of milk and a ding
dong before bed, chips, candies, protein bars, various nuts, etc. Stock up on those too. You will need that
comfort after day three.

18. You quickly become the guy in the neighborhood who knows how to wire a generator to the electrical panel,directly wire the furnace to a small generator, or get the well pump up and running on inverter power or you're the guy whose Master's degree in Accounting suddenly means nothing.

19. A woman who can cook a fine meal by candle light over the BBQ or open fire is worth her weight in gold.  And women, whose weight is in gold, often don't add up to much, and usually die off first. Sorry skinny women.

20. It takes a lot of firewood to keep a fire going all day and into the evening for heat.

21. All the food storage in the world means nothing if your kids won't eat it.

22. You might be prepared to take care of your children
and their needs, but what about when the neighborhood children start to show up at your door?

23. Some people shut down in an emergency. There is nothing that you can do about that.

24. Your town, no matter how small, is entirely dependent on outside sources for everything. If supply trucks
stop rolling in due to road damage, you will have gas shortages and run out of everything else you are now
unconsciously using without storing any extra. And you could be without these items for a very long time.

25. In an emergency, men stock up on food. Women stock up on toilet paper. Both of you take equal
responsibility in preparing your home, safety, transportation and property. Work together.

26. Take inventory - you'll be surprised how many things run on electricity!

27. You can never have enough matches.

28. Although neighbors can be a great resource, they can also be a huge drain on your emergency storage.
You need to plan how you are going to handle that. It's really easy to be "Bob, the guy who shares" on Day 3,not so easy on Day 11. Just reality.

29. Give a man a fish, he eats for that day, teach a man to fish and he will never be hungry again... Now I get it.

30. All of the expensive clothes in the closet mean nothing if they don't keep you warm.

31. Same goes for shoes.

32. You cannot believe the utility companies. They are run by politicians!! Or so it seems.

33. Anything that you now depend on someone else for, will no longer be available. Period.

34. Quote "A man with a chainsaw who knows how to use it" is a thing of beauty. Hahaha!

35. Most folks don't have any emergency storage. They run to Wal-Mart and get water and batteries and then fill their tubs with water. That's it. A lucky few will get a case of ramen and a box of pop tarts. That will be your neighbor's supply.

36. Fathers, all the money you have ever made means nothing if you can't keep your kids warm.

37. Mothers, everything you have ever done for your kids is forgotten if your kids are hungry.

38. You really do not want to be the 'Unprepared Parents'. The kids turn on you pretty quick.

39. Small solar-charged gadgets will keep you in touch. Most work pretty well it seems.

40. Some things don't take much power to operate.
a. Computers
b. Phones
c. Radios
d. TV
e. lights

41. Some things take a ton of power to operate.
a. Fridge
b. Toaster
c. Freezer
d. Hot plate
e. Microwave
f. Electric stove and oven

42. When it gets dark at 4:30pm the nights are really long without power.

43. Getting out of the house is very important. Even if it's cold. Make your home the semi-warm place to come home to..not the cold prison that you are stuck in.

44. Someone in your family must play or learn to play guitar (or some other musical instrument - even a
harmonica can be a life saver.) Collect and then use song books, hymnals, scriptures. Instead of the old TV/
Movies time, gather your family, wrapped in quilts and blankets. Talk, pray, plan, praise and encourage each
other, discuss, snuggle,reassure, love, pray still more, and above all else, openly share your assessments of
what's going on. Kids need to understand what's going on.

45. Things that disappeared never to be seen again for a very long time...
a. Fuel, of all kinds
b. Matches, lighters of any kind etc.
c. Toilet paper, baby diapers, feminine needs
d. Paper plates, plastic forks and knives
e. Batteries: Inventory everything that runs on batteries. It'll blow your mind! Buy batteries now!
f. Milk (Learn to store/drink dry powd. milk. Mix 3 cups with 1 cn. whole evaporated milk - soon it tastes like the 2% store milk from before.)
g. Charcoal
h. Spark plugs (generators)
i. 2 stroke motor oil, (chainsaws)
j. Anything that could be used to wire a generator to the house.
k. Extension cords
l. Medicines (Tylenol, Advil, cold medicines prescriptions,etc.)
m. Dressings, ointments, first aid supplies. There will be many injuries, some serious, & no way to run to the
doctor or count on an ambulance, etc.

46. There was a strange peace to knowing all I had to do each day was keep my family safe, warm, and fed,
but my peace was someone else's panic. There were also many things that were not learned from Hurricane
Sandy, but reinforced. Those things were the importance of my family and their love and support, especially
my lovely wife; that my Heavenly Father is really in charge, period; and finally that I am very thankful for the
upbringing and experiences which have taught me and brought me to where I am today... Wherever that is!

God Bless you, God bless America! Let's not wait until it is
too late !!!