Take a PREPPER's Pop Quiz

Yesterday we discussed that prepping takes work. Some folks have been prepping for a while, some are just starting out.  Even if you THINK you are just starting out you may be surprised by the things you already have on hand.  So lets take a Preppers test.  You downloaded one yesterday its on page 16 of the LDS Preparedness Manual ~ let's take a look here:

Preparedness Pop Quiz

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1. Has your family rehearsed fire escape routes from your home? YES - NO
2. Does your family know what to do before, during,
     and after an earthquake or other emergeny YES - NO
3. Do you have heavy objects hanging over beds that can fall
     during an earthquake? YES - NO
4. Do you have access to an operational fl ashlight in every
     occupied bedroom? YES - NO   (use of candles is not recommended
     unless you are sure there is no leaking gas) YES - NO
5. Do you keep shoes near your bed to protect your feet
     against broken glass? YES - NO
6. If a water line was ruptured during an earthquake, do you know
    how to shut off the  main water line to your house? YES - NO
7. Can this water valve be turned off by hand without the use of a tool?
     Do you have a tool if one is needed? YES - NO
8. Do you know where the main gas shut-off valve to your house is
     located? YES - NO
9. If you smell gas, would you be able to shut off this valve? YES - NO
10. Gas valves usually cannot be turned off by hand.
      Is there a tool near your valve? YES - NO
11. Would you be able to safely restart your furnace when
      gas is safely available? YES - NO
12. Do you have working smoke alarms in the proper places? YES - NO
13. In case of a minor fire, do you have a fire extinguisher? YES - NO
      Do you know how to use it ? YES - NO
14. Do you have duplicate keys and copies of important insurance
      and other papers stored outside your home? YES - NO
15. Do you have a functional emergency radio to receive
      emergency information? YES - NO
16. If your family had to evacuate your home,
      have you identified a meeting place? YES - NO

IF AN EMERGENCY LASTED FOR THREE DAYS ( 72 HOURS)

BEFORE HELP WAS AVAILABLE TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY...

17. Would you have sufficient food? YES - NO
18. Would you have the means to cook without gas/electricity? YES - NO
19. Would you have sufficient water drinking, cooking,
      & sanitary needs? YES - NO
20. Do you have access to a 72 hour evacuation kit? YES - NO
21. Would you be able to carry or transport these kits? YES - NO
22. Have you established an out-of-state contact? YES - NO
23. Do you have a fi rst aid kit in your home and in each car? YES - NO
24. Do you have work gloves and tools for minor rescue/clean up? YES - NO
25. Do you have emergency cash on hand? YES - NO
      (During emergencies banks and ATMs are closed)
26. Without electricity and gas do you have a way to heat
      at least part of your house? YES - NO
27. If you need medications, do you have a 30 day supply on hand? YES-NO
28. Do you have a plan for toilet facilities if there is
       an extended water shortage? YES - NO
29. Do you have a supply of food, clothing, and fuel where appropriate:
       6 months?  YES - NO     For a year? YES - NO

Many of the above items can be addressed with little to no money.

Start there. We've already discussed water, we'll revisit food tomorrow.

~ You are not alone in your journey ~

Being Prepared takes work

It really does take work to be prepared.  Alot of work.  Well here's the good news... you obviously are willing to do the work because you're here.

There is a ton of great info out here on the web.  There are awesome reference books, websites, blogs.  You can make yourself nauseous trying to learn it all.  I have heard from people all over the world about wanting more information especially in our current state of economic distress.  First you need to know your personal WHY.

Why do you feel the need to be prepared? Why is this important to you to your family?  How does this match with your personal statement of faith?  The easy answer ~ the one no one ever questions is that it just makes since to have things on hand.  To be prepared in case something unexpected happens..  Maybe its illness, job loss, weather related, or maybe its economic, or even terrorists.  Not so long ago if you had said terrorists folks would look at you funny but after September 11th 2001 even that is an acceptable mainstream answer.  Add in Pandemic... and few other things,  suddenly people are having "WHAT IF..."  panic attacks. That's not going to help you or your family if you go spiraling off the deep-end in a panic.  SO lets take a deep breath and do the work.  Lets discover our "why" so we can move on to our  "HOW" together.

First, The Prepper and myself agree there are FIVE types of books everyone needs to read. 
1. The Holy Bible ( I study from NIV)
2. A solid gardening book  (Depending on your gardening comfort level)
3. A tactical manual (How to safe guard your family and inventory)
4. Medical Field Guide (You need a medical HOW TO)
5. The LDS Prep Manual (see below)

Here is a very complete reference guide: LDS Preparedness 2011 Manual  While our personal doctrine of faith differs from LDS (and perhaps yours as well) that does NOT discount this manual as a VERY solid reference material

 ~ You are NOT alone in your journey ~

Today:
Gather the suggested reading material.
Also print just the first 5 pages of the LDS manual. ~ keep in mind there are parts of this manual that contain statements made for the Mormans, supporting the belief structure of the LDS. We will not discuss these as they differ from our personal statement of faith


Statement of Faith:  As Associated Reformed Presbyterians We are Christians.~ We believe in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as being verbally inspired by God and completely inerrant in the original writings and of supreme and final authority in faith and life.We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, as a representative and substitutionary sacrifice; and that all who believe in Him are justified on the ground of His shed blood. We believe in the resurrection of the crucified body of our Lord, in His ascension into Heaven.

Water Water Everywhere...

When potable (drinkable) water is properly stored, it should have an indefinite shelf life

• It’s still a good idea to use and replace the stored water every 6 – 12 months. 
• Rotating water this way provides you with an opportunity to experiment and check the amount of stored water against what you require.
• It also serves as an additional precaution against bacteria or viruses growing in containers which may not have been thoroughly or properly cleaned and sanitized.
• If you have freezer space, storing some water in the freezer is a good idea.
• If you lose electricity, the frozen water will help keep foods in your freezer frozen until the power is restored.
• Make sure you leave 2 to 3 inches of space in containers because water expands as it freezes.

How much water should be stored?
The rule of thumb is to store at least one gallon per person per day for at least 3 days. You will see government sites bouncing between this and 2 gallon recommendation.  Start with a 3 day supply, Then build to a 14 day supply, Next goal 30 days. How much more you stock is a personal choice. The Prepper and I, well we have 10 folks we’re prepping for and frankly bare minimum we would reccomend you to store is 2 gals per day per person. Factor in pets and livestock, its easier for us to round up to 3 gals per person per day this insures my pets are covered too, and if need be we have some water to barter.

Water for barter is good.

You can't barter what you don't have!

Containers 

• Use only food-grade containers. Smaller containers made of PETE plastic or heavier plastic buckets or drums work well.
• Food-grade plastic or glass containers are suitable for storing water.
• Canning Jars that you are storing to use later, put to good use fill them with water!
• One-, three- and five-gallon water containers can be purchased from most outdoor or hardware stores.
• Do not use plastic milk jugs, because they do not seal well and tend to become brittle over time.
• Do not use containers previously used to store non-food products.
• 55 gal drums, designed specifically for water storage can be difficult to transport, if the need arises, but are of a tremendous value in an emergency .
• When looking for additional food grade containers, the bottom will be stamped with HDPE (High Density Polyethylene) and coded with the recycle symbol and a “2″ inside. HDPE containers are FDA-approved for food. Containers without these designations ARE NOT OK because of possible chemical interactions between the water and the plastic.
• Clearly mark all water bottles ~ “Drinkable Water”
• Never use containers that previously held chemicals.

Water Storage -  Store water only where potential leakage would not damage your home or apartment.

• Protect stored water from light and heat.
• The taste of stored water can be improved by pouring it back and forth between two containers before use. This increases the oxygen level in the water which improves the taste considerably
• Clean, sanitize, and thoroughly rinse all containers prior to use.
• Only household bleach without thickeners, scents, or additives should be used.
• Clearly label all water containers “drinking water” with the current date.
• Do not store it near gasoline, kerosene, pesticides or similar substances

When and How to Treat Water for Storage

Do I Need to Treat Water?

Water from a chlorinated municipal water supply does not need further treatment when stored in clean, food-grade containers. Non-chlorinated water should be treated with bleach. Add 1/8 of a teaspoon (8 drops) of liquid household chlorine bleach (5 to 6% sodium hypochlorite) for every gallon (4 liters) of water. Only household bleach without thickeners, scents, or additives should be used.

Once you properly clean containers, fill them with potable, or safe, drinking water.

In an emergency, if you do not have water that you know is safe, it’s possible to purify water for drinking. Start with the cleanest water you can find and treat with one of the following methods:

  

Boiling and chlorinating: Water can be purified by boiling. Boiling times may vary from state to state, depending on altitude. In Colorado, the water is safe to use once after it has been boiled for three to five minutes and has cooled. If you plan to store boiled water, pour it into clean, sanitized containers and let it cool to room temperature. Then add 5-7 drops, or 1/8 teaspoon, of chlorine bleach* per gallon of water (1/2 teaspoon per 5 gallons). Stir or shake the solution to mix it. Cap the containers and store them in a cool, dry place.

Filtering and chlorinating: You can filter water if you have a commercial or backpack filter that filters to 1 micron. These are available in sporting good stores and are recommended for use when back-packing. They are not recommended to clean large volumes of water. Filtering eliminates parasites such as Guardia and cryptosporidium, but it may not eliminate all bacteria and viruses. Therefore, it’s recommended that 5-7 drops (1/8 teaspoon) of chlorine bleach* be added per gallon of filtered water (1/2 teaspoon for 5 gallons). Stir or shake the solution to mix it. Wait 30 minutes before using the water, or cap the containers and store them in a cool, dry place.

*Use liquid household bleach that contains 5.25 percent hypochlorite. Do not use bleaches with fresheners or scents as they may not be safe to consume. The above treatment methods use a two-step approach so less bleach is needed, yet Guardia and cryptosporidium are destroyed through boiling or eliminated by filtering. Chlorine may not be effective against these parasites. Since adding too much chlorine to water can be harmful, it’s important to be as accurate as possible when measuring.

· Distillation: Distillation involves boiling water and then collecting the vapor that condenses back to water. The condensed vapor will not include salt and other impurities. To distill, fill a pot halfway with water. Tie a cup to the handle on the pot’s lid so that the cup will hang right-side-up when the lid is upside-down (make sure the cup is not dangling into the water) and boil the water for 20 minutes. The water that drips from the lid into the cup is distilled.

  

Most water filtration devices are designed for use on micro-biologically safe water. Don’t assume they are safe to use on contaminated water. Check with the manufacturer to be sure.

  

Emergency Sources of Water

Hidden Water Sources in Your Home:
If a disaster catches you without a stored supply of clean water check these sources:
ICE Makers & trays: Check your freezer ~ melted ice is safe to drink
Canned fruits and veggies have water in the cans they are packed in, use this too!
Plumbing pipes: Do you know the location of your incoming water valve?  You’ll need to shut it off to stop contaminated water from entering your home if you hear reports of broken water or sewage lines
To use the water in your pipes, let air into the plumbing by turning on the faucet in your house at the highest level.
A small amount of water will trickle out.
Then obtain water from the lowest faucet in the house

Hot water Heaters: A typical water heater holds 30-60 gallons of water

• To use the water in your hot-water tank, be sure the electricity or gas is off, and open the drain at the bottom of the tank.
• Start the water flowing by turning off the water intake valve and turning on a hot-water faucet.
• Do not turn on the gas or electricity when the tank is empty.
• Discard the first few gallons if they contain rust or sediment.
• Let the water heater cool before draining it from the heater so it does not scald you.
• Turn off the electricity or gas to the water heater to prevent the heater from operating without water.  
• Once water has been drained into clean, sanitized containers, add 5-7 drops of chlorine bleach* per gallon of water, and stir or shake the solution to mix it.
• Let it set 30 minutes before use.

Last resort, you can use water in the reservoir tank of your toilet (not the bowl). 

Emergency Outdoor Water Sources  If you need to find water outside your home, you can use these sources: remember to treat the water first!

1. Rainwater
2. Streams
3. Rivers
4. Ponds & lakes
5. Natural springs
6. Avoid water with floating material, an odor or dark color.
7. Use saltwater only if you distill it first.

BTW: You should not ever drink flood water ~ why? there is too much risk with disease, chemicals, and Lord knows what else.

Using Swimming Pool Water: You should always view your pool as “backup” water

• Keep the water treated; you never know when it will be needed!  
• The maintenance of the free chlorine residual will prevent establishment of any microorganisms. 
• The maintenance level should be kept about 3-5ppm free chlorine.
• If other stored water stocks are not available, remove the necessary pool water and boil it or just treat with chlorine to the normal 5ppm.
• Covering the pool at all times when not in use is a very good idea.
• Try to keep the cover clean and wash the area you put it on when removing it from the pool.

Additional Information:

FEMA's Water Website 

EPA's Water Website 

National Terror Alert's Safewater site

Funny? Not laughing!

Midland Base Camp Radio : Friday's Review

The Prepper is an excellent shopper. He hates retail and finds the most AMAZING stuff on sale.  Earlier this week he was at DICKS Sporting Goods (Hey Prepper why were you there originally?) Hmmm I don't believe he ever mentioned the real reason he went to DICK'S but none the less it was an awesome happenstance because the manager was on a markdown madness tour walking through the store marking items he only had 1 or 2 of down to PENNIES on the dollar... one of the awesome "finds" as THE Preppers followed the manager was a Midland Base Camp Radio that retails in DICKS for $79.99

The Prepper got a brand new, in the box, factory sealed Base camp radio (are you sitting down?) $5.00 Amazing!  The best price we've found online was $59.74 at Amazon. Needless to say, he snapped it up! It's a shame there was only one left! This is another example of shopping smarter.  Watch the sales, pretty soon outside gear will go on sale and have markdowns. You'll be amazed at what you too can pick up for less.

We put the radio through the paces.  After reviewing the different features we find it quite satisfactory with the features as described.  I was quite pleased with the usb port to charge ipods and cell phones.  More importantly we can get great coverage in an urban setting and we can reach my parents house which is roughly 1 mile away.

Specifically:

• The display is easy to read
• The hand mic is small and great for ladies hands, men might find it too small
• All the controls are easy to use, and very intuitive (for the preppers who won't read instructions)
• Multiple Power sources ~ will accept pwr cord and has a cigarette charger adapter, off the shelf batteries, comes with rechargeable battery, has a hand crank too! Now that's what I call covering all your bases!
• Powerful Light
• Radio ~ 10 Channel NOAA Weather Radio ~ AND 22 Channel FRS/GMRS
• Clock and Alarm feature both are easy to use
• Buttons are sealed to keep out dirt
• Even with all this, it isn't too heavy and its NOT over designed.
• Tested it with DIFFERENT MODELS of FRS radios that we already own. It worked great.  Even the little preppers tried it out and found it easy to use.

An "official" description of the Base Camp Radio from Midland:

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Midland's XT511 is a durable GMRS emergency crank radio with a wealth of features to keep you informed, charged up, and in contact no matter the situation around you.

Stay in touch no matter your environment.

Dynamo crank allows recharging of batteries without access to electricity.

Built-in flashlight and USB port for charging your cell phone or other devices.

22-Channel GMRS/FRS Radio

The Midland XT511 radio provides you with seven GMRS/FRS, seven FRS (Family Radio Service), and seven GMRS (General Mobile Radio Service) channels, for a total of 22 UHF channels. Additionally, the XT511 comes with 121 privacy codes to lessen interference or eavesdropping, which in effect gives you 3144 channel options.
Five separate call alerts identify incoming calls from your group, and an e-VOX function with three selectable sensitivity levels offers voice-activated, hands-free operation. This radio also features a channel scan, for locating active channels, along with a keypad lock so you don't accidentally change your settings.
While communicating, you can rest assured you'll be heard with features like auto squelch, which removes annoying background noise. You can also make sure you're hitting keys with keystroke tones, and use the keypad lock feature to "lock in" your preferred settings.

NOAA Weather Alert Radio

The XT511 offers NOAA Weather Alert Radio to automatically alert you to any severe weather/hazard information near your area, 24/7. Additionally, a Dual Watch feature lets you monitor two channels at once, so you can keep abreast of any developments in an emergency situation while maintaining communication.

Perfect for Power Outages/Mobile Use

The XT511 offers several powering options. You can power with four standard AA batteries, or use the rechargeable battery pack. An AC adapter for wall-charging and a DC adapter for charging in your vehicle's "cigarette lighter" outlet are both provided.
Better yet, a Dynamo crank is provided, for recharging its batteries without access to electricity. A USB port lets you charge your cell phone directly from the radio using crank power (or of course, outlet power when available).

Alarm Clock

Last but not least, an alarm clock is provided, so you can get a jump on the day even if you're out in the middle of nowhere.

We give it a thumbs up ~ this is worth having!

4 days & 3 nights Prep Plan tested

We were hit by an awful storm on Monday night (April 4th 2011) We were off the grid for 4 days. Power was restored by Duke Energy at roughly 11:30am Thursday April 7th  Well it was a great way to shake out our preps and dust the cobwebs out of the corners of our plans..How did we fare? Take a look:

Monday
It was storming really bad. The power went out at midnight.
The first night we kept thinking the power would come back "any minute"
flashlights are always by the ready in our house.
We have gas hot water so we had hot water the whole time.

Tuesday:
We are blessed with natural light, so during the day no generator .Prepped emergency heaters - these are Mr. Heater indoor propane heaters Spent day getting what we need if no power came back tonight... this does not mean I had to buy anything! I gathered stuff around the house...

Extension cords
Coleman 2 lb propane tanks
Camp stove (outdoor cooking only)
gas for Generator (already stored just needed to stage for easy filling)
Move generator to deck
check inventory of fridge & freezers (by my list not opening doors!)
paper plates/bowels/plastic spoons forks
pulled out extra blankets and footie pj's for kids...

Basically our day went the same as always...
Just no microwave and we stayed out of the freezer/fridge
Stocked cooler with Ice should last 3 days.

Started generator at 7pm ran it until 8am next day
powered:
Fridge/Freezers
TV
Cable box
2 floor lamps

We did a "sound check" The Prepper drove around neighborhood to see if he could hear our generator. He said it wasn't near as loud as he thought... can't hear in the front yard at all....I don't care. In a ZOMBIE Apocalypse, it would still be a dinner bell....

With the Generator, we're able to open fridges/freezers.
Cooled everything back down although it hadn't warmed up that much.
Able to snack and cook from them...Added external temperature monitor (electric probe usually used for cooking has magnet stuck to fridge put the wire into fridge...)
Charged all cell phones, batteries, laptops, radios ipods etc.

Needed emergency Heat at 10pm:
Used one Mr. Buddy Portable Indoor Propane Heater
Can be seen here: Mr. Heater - America's Most Popular Portable Heaters

We watched TV in style, relaxed and talked and played games it was fun. Kids went to bed early...
Tomorrow is trash pickup
All recycles to the curb, cans to the curb
too much disposable waste... started making lists of stuff that could be reused if the whole world went sideways and there never was trash pickup again.

Wednesday
Generator off at 8am
Emergency heat off at 7am
day as usual, didn't leave house Hubby went to work

Kids did ok, twins missed the afternoon show its been 2 days and they realize somethings different but not sure what... (they are only 2)  Older kids grumpy no electronics Made sure all chores were caught up during the daylight hours.
Generator on at 6pm tonight because Hubby had a split shift and had to be back at work at 6:30pm

Added to the generator load:
wireless router
cable modem
Now we can surf the web, watch TV, and hang out...
This being out of power isn't too bad.

Needed emergency heat at 8pm-4am
able to get into fridge/freezer while generator is on. The warmest the fridge got was 43 when power was off.... keeping the doors closed really makes a difference.

Want more solar.Also want a battery bank, the generator makes power whether you use it or not... I cringe at the though of the wasted energy we didn't capture via a battery bank. We were using a small generator - not a whole house one. Now I want a whole house one too. The Prepper has designed a way to muffle the generator sound.... don't want to be a target.... or a zombie snack.

THURSDAY
Kept generator running until 11:30 am when power came back
Needed emergency heat again for 3 hours
We planned to take generator offline at noon and bring it
back on line at 7pm, fortunately the good folks at Duke Energy
got us back up on the grid.


What did I learn?

Glad we had a generator
Glad we had stocked Emergency Heaters
Glad we have fuel stocked for heaters and Coleman stove and generator
Need a new grill
need charcoal stocked

I learned I'm addicted to power but I like the sound of quiet
Need a battery bank
Need more solar lights
Need solar panels
Need a list of quick no cook meals / low cook (Have food - but lost my train of thought)

I learned I was right about being able to survive a short term without power
I learned folks don't care what the situation is the worlds keeps on trudging around you when its a localized issue...wonder if the whole world goes sideways when will folks notice?

I also learned we need a big tote labeled "Generator Kit" it will have all the extension cords in it wrapped neatly and labeled for where in the house they go to along with a diagram showing cord map.

So that's how we fared...it was a good basic shake out of the prep plan.
How would you fare?

Keeping Food Safe

Did you know that a flood, fire, national disaster, or the loss of power from high winds, snow, or ice could jeopardize the safety of your food? Knowing how to determine if food is safe and how to keep food safe will help minimize the potential loss of food and reduce the risk of foodborne illness. This fact sheet will help you make the right decisions for keeping your family safe during an emergency.

ABCD’s of Keeping Food Safe in an Emergency

Always keep meat, poultry, fish, and eggs refrigerated at or below 40 °F and frozen food at or below 0 °F. This may be difficult when the power is out.

Keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible to maintain the cold temperature. The refrigerator will keep food safely cold for about 4 hours if it is unopened. A full freezer will hold the temperature for approximately 48 hours (24 hours if it is half full) if the door remains closed. Obtain dry or block ice to keep your refrigerator as cold as possible if the power is going to be out for a prolonged period of time. Fifty pounds of dry ice should hold an 18-cubic foot full freezer for 2 days. Plan ahead and know where dry ice and block ice can be purchased.

Be prepared for an emergency...

... by having items on hand that don’t require refrigeration and can be eaten cold or heated on the outdoor grill. Shelf-stable food, boxed or canned milk, water, and canned goods should be part of a planned emergency food supply. Make sure you have ready-to-use baby formula for infants and pet food. Remember to use these items and replace them from time to time. Be sure to keep a hand-held can opener for an emergency.

Consider what you can do ahead of time to store your food safely in an emergency. If you live in a location that could be affected by a flood, plan your food storage on shelves that will be safely out of the way of contaminated water. Coolers are a great help for keeping food cold if the power will be out for more than 4 hours—have a couple on hand along with frozen gel packs. When your freezer is not full, keep items close together—this helps the food stay cold longer.

Digital, dial, or instant-read food thermometers and appliance thermometers will help you know if the food is at safe temperatures. Keep appliance thermometers in the refrigerator and freezer at all times. When the power is out, an appliance thermometer will always indicate the temperature in the refrigerator and freezer no matter how long the power has been out. The refrigerator temperature should be 40 °F or below; the freezer, 0 °F or lower. If you’re not sure a particular food is cold enough, take its temperature with a food thermometer.

Frequently Asked Questions:


Q.Flood waters covered our food stored on shelves and in cabinets. What can I keep and what should I throw out?
A.Do not eat any food that may have come into contact with flood water.

• Discard any food that is not in a waterproof container if there is any chance that it has come into contact with flood water. Food containers that are not waterproof include those with screw-caps, snap lids, pull tops, and crimped caps. Also, discard cardboard juice/milk/baby formula boxes and home canned foods if they have come in contact with flood water, because they cannot be effectively cleaned and sanitized.
• Inspect canned foods and discard any food in damaged cans. Can damage is shown by swelling, leakage, punctures, holes, fractures, extensive deep rusting, or crushing/denting severe enough to prevent normal stacking or opening with a manual, wheel-type can opener.

Steps to Salvage All-Metal Cans and Retort Pouches

Undamaged, commercially prepared foods in all-metal cans and retort pouches (for example, flexible, shelf-stable juice or seafood pouches) can be saved if you do the following:

• Remove the labels, if they are the removable kind, since they can harbor dirt and bacteria.
• Thoroughly wash the cans or retort pouches with soap and water, using hot water if it is available.
• Brush or wipe away any dirt or silt.
• Rinse the cans or retort pouches with water that is safe for drinking, if available, since dirt or residual soap will reduce the effectiveness of chlorine sanitation.
• Then, sanitize them by immersion in one of the two following ways:
  • Place in water and allow the water to come to a boil and continue boiling for 2 minutes, or
  • Place in a freshly made solution consisting of 1 tablespoon of unscented, liquid chlorine bleach per gallon of drinking water (or the cleanest, clearest water available) for 15 minutes.
• Air-dry cans or retort pouches for a minimum of 1 hour before opening or storing.
• If the labels were removable, then re-label your cans or retort pouches, including the expiration date (if available), with a marker.
• Food in reconditioned cans or retort pouches should be used as soon as possible, thereafter.
• Any concentrated baby formula in reconditioned, all-metal containers must be diluted with clean, drinking water.

Q.How should I clean my pots, pans, dishes, and utensils?
A.Thoroughly wash metal pans, ceramic dishes, and utensils (including can openers) with soap and water, using hot water if available. Rinse and then sanitize them by boiling in clean water or immersing them for 15 minutes in a solution of 1 tablespoon of unscented, liquid chlorine bleach per gallon of drinking water (or the cleanest, clearest water available).

Q.How should I clean my countertops?
A.Thoroughly wash countertops with soap and water, using hot water if available. Rinse and then sanitize them by applying a solution of 1 tablespoon of unscented, liquid chlorine bleach per gallon of drinking water (or the cleanest, clearest water available). Allow to air-dry.

Q.My home was flooded and I am worried about the safety of the drinking water. What should I do?
A.Use bottled water that has not been exposed to flood waters if it is available.

• If you don't have bottled water, you should boil water to make sure it is safe. Boiling water will kill most types of disease-causing organisms that may be present. If the water is cloudy, filter it through clean cloths or allow it to settle, and draw off the clear water for boiling. Boil the water for one minute, let it cool, and store it in clean containers with covers.
• If you can't boil water, you can disinfect it using household bleach. Bleach will kill some, but not all, types of disease-causing organisms that may be in the water. If the water is cloudy, filter it through clean cloths or allow it to settle, and draw off the clear water for disinfection. Add 1/8 teaspoon (or 8 drops) of regular, unscented, liquid household bleach for each gallon of water, stir it well and let it stand for 30 minutes before you use it. Store disinfected water in clean containers with covers.
• If you have a well that had been flooded, the water should be tested and disinfected after flood waters recede. If you suspect that your well may be contaminated, contact your local or state health department or agriculture extension agent for specific advice.

Q.We had a fire in our home and I am worried about what food I can keep and what to throw away. A.Discard food that has been near a fire. Food exposed to fire can be damaged by the heat of the fire, smoke fumes, and chemicals used to fight the fire. Food in cans or jars may appear to be okay, but the heat from a fire can activate food spoilage bacteria. If the heat is extreme, the cans or jars themselves can split or rupture, rendering the food unsafe.

One of the most dangerous elements of a fire is sometimes not the fire itself, but toxic fumes released from burning materials. Discard any raw food or food in permeable packaging—cardboard, plastic wrap, screw-topped jars, bottles, etc.—stored outside the refrigerator. Food stored in refrigerators or freezers can also become contaminated by fumes. The refrigerator seal isn't airtight and fumes can get inside. Chemicals used to fight the fire contain toxic materials and can contaminate food and cookware. Food that is exposed to chemicals should be thrown away—the chemicals cannot be washed off the food. This includes food stored at room temperature, such as fruits and vegetables, as well as food stored in permeable containers like cardboard and screw-topped jars and bottles. Cookware exposed to fire-fighting chemicals can be decontaminated by washing in soap and hot water. Then submerge for 15 minutes in a solution of 1 tablespoon unscented, liquid chlorine bleach per gallon of water.

Q.A snowstorm knocked down the power lines, can I put the food from the refrigerator and freezer out in the snow?
A.No, frozen food can thaw if it is exposed to the sun's rays even when the temperature is very cold. Refrigerated food may become too warm and foodborne bacteria could grow. The outside temperature could vary hour by hour and the temperature outside will not protect refrigerated and frozen food. Additionally, perishable items could be exposed to unsanitary conditions or to animals. Animals may harbor bacteria or disease; never consume food that has come in contact with an animal. Rather than putting the food outside, consider taking advantage of the cold temperatures by making ice. Fill buckets, empty milk cartons or cans with water and leave them outside to freeze. Then put the homemade ice in your refrigerator, freezer, or coolers.

Q.Some of my food in the freezer started to thaw or had thawed when the power came back on. Is the food safe? How long will the food in the refrigerator be safe with the power off?
A.Never taste food to determine its safety! You will have to evaluate each item separately. If an appliance thermometer was kept in the freezer, read the temperature when the power comes back on. If the appliance thermometer stored in the freezer reads 40 °F or below, the food is safe and may be refrozen. If a thermometer has not been kept in the freezer, check each package of food to determine the safety. Remember you can’t rely on appearance or odor. If the food still contains ice crystals or is 40 °F or below, it is safe to refreeze. Refrigerated food should be safe as long as power is out no more than 4 hours. Keep the door closed as much as possible. Discard any perishable food (such as meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and leftovers) that have been above 40 °F for 2 hours.

Q.May I refreeze the food in the freezer if it thawed or partially thawed?
A.Yes, the food may be safely refrozen if the food still contains ice crystals or is at 40 °F or below. You will have to evaluate each item separately. Be sure to discard any items in either the freezer or the refrigerator that have come into contact with raw meat juices. Partial thawing and refreezing may reduce the quality of some food, but the food will remain safe to eat. See the attached charts for specific recommendations.

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This information adapted from FEMA