Part 1 - Gain Peace of Mind by Simply Storing Water . . .

The most important thing you will need to have on hand if the bottom were to drop out of everything is drinking water.  While one quart of drinking water a day will sustain life, one gallon of drinking water per day is recommended. 

Estimates vary on how long a person can go without water but the general answer is three days  before there are very serious and cruel side effects.  Much depends on the temperature, the age and health of the individual, and the circumstances.


Begin Today:  Look around for at least one container you can use to store water and do it! 

Heavy plastic bottles like soda pop or juice bottles are great  Just make sure that what the container held originally was safe to eat or drink and they have been washed before reusing.  Empty bleach bottles are the only exception.  You can use well-washed plastic milk jugs if necessary but they will crack in time.

It is recommended that you store a minimum three-day supply of water, per person, but it would be best to have a two-week supply for each family member. 

Number in my family _____ X 3 gallons per person = _______gallons minimum.

Number in my family _____ X 14 gallons per person = _____ gallons preferred.

Continue:  Refilling and storing acceptable containers as you acquire them.

When drinkable water is properly stored it should have an indefinite shelf life. If desired, to maintain the optimum drinking quality of the water, you may choose to refill the containers every six months.

Watch your Progress:  It's that simple to provide water insurance for
your family . .   just in case!

If you want to dive deeper into water storage information, click on the link below to go to my previous post What if you turned on the tap and nothing came out?

http://thecreativecheapskate.blogspot.com/search?q=storing+water

P.S. I love to hear from you, and I respond to all appropriate comments. We are having so many spam problems  we have had all "anonymous" responses blocked.   If you want to contact me please do it personally through our e-mail address, listed in the bar on the right side of the blog.  Thanks for understanding.

Simply Preparing for "Just in Case" Brings Peace of Mind

Being the realist that I am, my last post visually reminds us that calamities lurk just around the corner.  Do we want, or tend, to think that it will never be our corner?

Do we feel sincere sorrow for those affected and dismiss the possibility we could be next?

One thing we know for certain is that we never know for certain.

That post also points out the various types of insurance we carry "just in case" a disaster does strike our home, neighborhood, state or country. Having insurance, that we hope and pray we will never need,  brings peace of mind.

This post is an introduction to a series of simple, little or no cost, and quick things we can start doing that will provide peace-of-mind-insurance........ just in case!

Generally, following any widespread disaster it takes emergency resources 72 hours to respond. That could be a very long three days!

Amazingly, we have a relative who has decided  not to prepare because he doesn't know, specifically, what to prepare for. It is that sound thinking?.

While the following is going to sound redundant --- some words just keep repeating over and over and over,        I hope you will keep reading.

If we knew what the trial would be, or what season it might occur, preparing would be a no-brain-er. It's also a no-brain-er to realize that regardless of the what or when----basic needs must be addressed.

Preparing in advance  is the HOW we can meet the basics. Being prepared  (even if not making the difference between life and death) will certainly make our circumstances more bearable.

In case you are wondering, Dave and I are not survivalists or off-the-grid folks. What we are, are just-in-case-ers (practical realists prepared to sustain ourselves if we must live off-the-grid for a few days.)

• What we all need are basic things to meet our most basic needs to help us carry on.
• What we all need are basic things we can carry with us if we have to leave our home immediately --- and depend fully on ourselves for a few days.
• What we we need are basic things to carry us through if we have (the luxury) to shelter in place for a period of time.

And, what we need is to have these basics gathered in one easy-to-grab place . . . JUST IN CASE.

Dave and I (being of advancing age, stamina and mobility) have divided our basics into at-the-ready-grab- and-go "units."

We each have a fully-filled multi-pocket vest, a pair of cargo pants, suspenders, and a utility belt with a variety of hooks/loops, containing the most basic basics.  If we have to flee in a hurry we have what we need to exist for a short period of time. 
                                                                               

   While Dave may not be stylin' no one will be laughing
if the time comes he needs to wear his grab-n-go outfit. 

 We choose to prepare for the worst while hoping  for the best?

If circumstances allow us to take more we each have

• a backpack 
• a bucket (that can also be used as a seat or a toilet) with extended supplies 

  increasing the amount of  basics and adding a few extra items.

We also have a sturdy in-use garden wagon that will carry the extras if taking more is a possibility.

In the car we have a grab-and-go-suitcase.

Along with our advancing age (and accompanying memory loss) we know we will be under stress in the best of situations so we have lists that list what is in each.

Getting started ---- just in case!

(Getting started begins simply by doing just that, basically putting one foot in front of the other — taking one step, then another, then another --- towards the peace of mind that preparedness brings.)

Start by thinking about YOUR personal situation (number and ages in family,  medical or other special needs, etc.) and begin to consider and compile a list of your basics.

Future posts will include water, food, hard-copy contact information, loss of utilities (including phones) and all that means in our "computerized" age,  first-aid, and much more.

All simple, quick and at very little or no cost ----
because I am Simply, Gail . . . and I am concerned with your well-being.