Hello everyone!! Guess who … it's your pesky class instructor pushing you to do something that's going to help you immensely in times of stress. You know the kind of stress I'm talking about, the kind that comes from being thrown into a disaster situation or even that comes from just trying to cope with uncertain times.
The brain doesn’t work as quickly nor as well, in fact it can down right freeze when it’s been shocked or is carrying a heavy burden of stress, so I’m going to STRESS to you how important it is that you create your own personal disaster guide as we go through this class. More can be done when we have a written plan that we can grab and get to work on than not, especially if time is of the essence!
I started my disaster guide last night and added to it today as I read your comments. I've already thought of another option for getting hair clean that's not on my list. You see how that works? There is no way that I would be able to think of all my options, if I were in a stressful situation ... this guide is going to be a life saver when it's needed! Please be aware though, that everyone’s disaster guide is going to look different as it should, depending on where you are in your preparedness journey.
Mine is a simple spiral notebook and I will continue to add to it all throughout the class ...
My title page ...
My 'short-term & immediate' title page ...
My first section under the short-term & immediate category has to do with hygiene. I've broken it down to brushing teeth/oral care and bathing on this page. Under each section, I've written notes on ways to accomplish said task while leaving plenty of room to add to the list.
On the back of the first page, I've added another category ... hair care and ways to deal with getting your hair clean or cleaner when water is limited.
Notice the sticky notes ... one is a 'to-do' list to work towards as finances allow if money is involved and the other is a list of things to put in my planner to do at a future date or as a daily reminder until the task becomes habit.
Okay, it's your turn, tell me about your disaster guide notebook!
She looketh well to the ways of her household … Proverbs 31:27
You might be interested in my other blogs ...
Grandma's Got a Sewing Machine
From This Heart of Mine
You can view my privacy policy HERE.
Thank you for using my Amazon affiliate link when placing your Amazon orders. I earn a small percentage that doesn't increase what you pay, and it helps keep in sewing supplies.
Disclaimer: Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links. This means that if you click on the link and place an order, etc I earn a small fee at no increased cost to you. Thank you for your support through these means.
It is in Hubby's phone. This man has every aspect of our lives organized in lists. It is how he functions best with his brain injury. He will add anything that I suggest at any time.
ReplyDeleteLana, sounds like you have a system that works for you and that is the best kind of system to have ... one that works for you!
DeleteLana, while that may be beneficial (especially for him), keep in mind that his cell phone operates on a battery and every time a list is accessed, it's draining battery life. Also, should he pass before you, you may not be able to access his cell phone or the documents he has stored in it. Speaking from experience ...
DeleteVery true. Also if it gets lost or stolen. Happened to a coworker of mine.
DeleteHer whole life was on the phone. She was at a loss. Learned to have every thing backed up on paper.
I just added a comment. Tina up in 🇨🇦
DeleteI hadn't thought of being this detailed but the more details, the smoother things will go.
ReplyDeleteSomething I learned recently through hurricane Helene is to use the water in your hot water heater. If power & water is out, your hot water heater should be filled with water from before the disaster. Be sure you turn off the water so it doesn't pull in contaminated water if it does get turned back on. Then, you just use the drain at the bottom to access the clean water. Our hot water heater holds 40 gallons so that's a lot of water for drinking & cooking in an emergency.
Anonymous, that is a very good idea about the hot water heater and even though I know that, would I think of it in a time of crisis? Maybe, maybe not, so I'm going to add it to the notes in my notebook.
DeleteOn a side note. Hot water heaters should be drained and refilled occasionally as they collect sediment at the bottom. That puts strain on the heating elements in an electric hot water heater. If yours has never been drained the first several gallons will not be very nice.
DeleteI think my comment went through as anonymous again.
ReplyDeleteYour class is already very helpful. Thank you for putting this together. I’ve already got a set of post it notes :). Mel in Co.
ReplyDeleteMel, thank you and me too and then I'm transferring them to my notebook!
DeleteI actually hadn't thought about something as basic as this but I do have hard copies of most things and I'm working on adding more - like all the contact info stored on my phone (I have a new address/password book and I would use this for other useful info so that it's all in one place).
ReplyDeleteI do need to make up a binder with other info and copies of important paperwork.
Since I'm on my own it's not as though I have to take others into account and ensure that they know all this stuff and I do make a habit of putting things back in the same place all the time (ie glasses, keys etc) and I have my emergency supplies in one location (flashlights, candles, matches, hand cranked radio etc) so that helps to make things easier.
Margie, for me, sometimes it's the obvious and basic things that I overlook in stressful situations!
DeleteThank you so much for doing these lessons. It is just what I need to get started.
ReplyDeleteCheryl, you're welcome.
DeletePatsy what time on a Monday is this on please? If you can’t make the set time, is the group recorded, and are you able to watch it at a later time? Regards Robyn
ReplyDeleteRobyn, there is no video for this class, this class is only a written one and you can access it anytime you want after it's posted. I hope I've answered your question, if not ask again.
DeleteI'm also going to have a page with my utilities phone no and acct no. Once when a hurricane came through the cell towers were down for a few days. So with no power the land line was down and until they remembered to have the backup power on at the cell towers no phones. A friend had an old phone that worked (wasn't hands free) so we were able to call power co and find out how long for power.
ReplyDeleteAm
Am, that's another noteworthy point!
DeleteI started out just writing things in my small spiral notebook I use for making notes and my daily "to do" list. But I think I'm going to pull a half-size 3-ring binder from the office (one I'm no longer using for work) and make it my Preparedness Journal, so it will be easy to grab and go.
ReplyDeleteLori, there's something to be said for the 'grab and go' aspect!
DeleteWhen the power goes down getting access to cash can be an issue. We keep a ~$1,000 in small bills ($5s, $10s, $20s) tucked away with our important paperwork. I read an article that said to keep the money in $100s for easy toting (less bulky). Someone else added a note about the difficulty of making change from large bills. If all you have is a $100 bill, guess what the price is for the item you want...$100! I also keep a checkbook on hand ( old school I know).
ReplyDeleteSuzinWa, cash is king in a 'powerless' situation! We've seen this in action during the disaster's we've endured.
DeleteWe keep a paper address book containing names, addresses, phone numbers and account numbers for anything related to the house and property close at hand. I always pick up a business card when available for any new to us business and add it to our book as well. We have binders with all the info for all our appliances and equipment. Troubleshooting is difficult at the best of times and even harder when disaster strikes.
ReplyDeleteSuzinWA, that's a very good tip and you're right trying to locate info you need during a disaster is not good at all!
DeleteMrs Patsy, I thank you for the time and energy you are putting into the class. For the camp shower, ie, the black hanging bag with a hose that you can get at Walmart etc, to heat the water you can lay the bag on flat paver stones in the sun, even in winter a sunroom will draw in heat through the windows. You may move them throughout the day as the sun moves. Also you can lay them on the dashboard of the car and let the heat come through the windshield. It's good to have several of these and they make a great gift idea. You can also put these with heated water under the blankets if the power were out.
ReplyDeleteLet the sun do as much for you as possible. If you have a walk in greenhouse, you can hang the shower bags in there on the south or west side, to heat up. Weather permitting you can shower inside the greenhouse,and stand in a large plastic bin ...such as a new kitty litter type container.,which allows you catch that soapy water to use to water the garden or plants, or flush toilets.
Elaine
Elaine, 'your statement, let the sun do as much for you as possible' is brilliant! You've shared some really good and noteworthy information. Thank you!
DeleteYou can freeze brewed coffee, tea, chicken broth etc. in Gatorade bottles. They serve double duty to keep the freezer or camping cooler cold if the power goes out, plus you have ready made drinks or soup to just thaw out and reheat over a sterno burner , or your camp stove if there is no electricity.
ReplyDeleteI've also read of ladies who store water in their unused canning jars.
Elaine
Elaine, that's another good tip about freezing in Gatorade bottles. I have stored water in unused canning jars, I need to get back to that!
DeleteI think Iam going to start an emergency binder my self. One thing i”ve been wanting to do is get an emergency supply of medicines that I am on. Our benefits only allow youn to refill 7 days before you need them. It has always been on my mind what would happen if an earthquake hits just as this happen”s?. I wouldn’t have certain medications. I live in southern B.C So this supply would be full price . So worth it tho. Thanks for the push. Tina in Canada 🇨🇦
ReplyDeleteTina, having an emergency supply of medications are a concern here too, we have the same restrictions on refills. I'm really trying to find alternatives that while not as good might be able to tide us over until things got better.
DeleteI know we have to keep water in our well tanks to keep the pump primed but surely we could use some of that water as well? It would be clean and fresh. The idea of using the hot water heater water is also a good one.
ReplyDeleteWhile in physical rehab hospital, I was unable to take a full shower and just longed for a 'real bath' so I learned to bath, including washing hair and shaving underarms and legs in less than a half gallon of water. I had two of those bedside pitchers and the basin. The nurse would put a bit of cold water in the basin, fill the two pitchers with warm water and pull the bed curtains and leave me to it. I'd wash my hair first, starting with cool water and rinsing with a bit of warm water. Then I'd use the water in the basin to wash my face, body, and shave. I used the rest of the water to rinse my washcloth and rinsed my body using that. When we've had long power outages here due to weather things, I've employed the same method to get clean and it was NICE to feel so fresh and clean and know I hadn't used up too much water. My husband tried it and was sold on that means of getting refreshed too. I wouldn't do it daily, if I didn't know how long the power would be out but it's nice to know we could do it and use minimal water. I keep some of those basins on hand just for that necessity! Old fashioned wash bowl and pitcher would work just as well.
Terri, thank you for sharing how you are able to bathe well with a small amount of water. This is definitely going in my notes!
Delete