Weekly Announcements - 11/20

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Weekly Newsletter - 11/13

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Weekly Newsletter - 11/6

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Ward Newsletter - November

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Weekly Newsletter - 10/30

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Weekly Newsletter - 10/23

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Weekly Newsletter - 10/16

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Weekly Newsletter - 10/9

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TERRORISM PACKETS

The terrorism packets will be posted later this weekend. You can also contact Shannon Moake for a copy.

PANDEMIC PACKETS

The pandemic packet is posted on the pandemic packet page. You can find the tab at the top of this page or visit http://highlandswardprep.blogspot.com/p/pandemic-packet.html.

Ward Newsletter - October

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Weekly Newsletter 9/25

Below is the preparedness newsletter for 9/25. To enlarge the photo, click on the image and then click again and it should magnify. If you would like to receive a paper copy of this newsletter, please contact Shannon Moake.

Weekly Newsletter - 9/18

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Weekly Newsletter - 9/11

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Ward Newsletter - September

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Cloth Mask

The following link is to an article on the CDC's website. It explains how to make a cloth mask if surgical masks or respirators are not available. The CDC recommends using a respirator (N95, N99 or N100) but during a pandemic, access to respirators most likely will be limited.
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/EID/vol12no06/05-1468.htm

Weekly Newsletter - 8/28

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Weekly Newsletter - 8/21

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Weekly Newsletter - 8/14

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Weekly Newsletter - 8/7

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Ward Newsletter - August

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Weekly Newsletter - 7/31

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Weekly Announcments - 7/24

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PRACTICE FIRE SAFETY AT HOME

PRACTIC FIRE SAFETY AT HOME

Visit the following websites for more information of home fire safety:

http://www.redcross.org/www-files/Documents/pdf/Preparedness/checklists/FireSafety.pdf

http://www.redcross.org/portal/site/en/menuitem.d8aaecf214c576bf971e4cfe43181aa0/?vgnextoid=97ab66608fce3210VgnVCM10000089f0870aRCRD&vgnextfmt=default

Smoke Alarms

·         Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, inside bedrooms and outside sleeping areas.

·         Teach children what smoke alarms sound like and what to do when they hear one.

·         Check smoke alarms monthly.

·         Replace batteries in smoke alarms at least once a year or sooner if battery is low.

·         Smoke alarms should be replaced every 10 years. Never disable smoke or carbon monoxide alarms.

·         Carbon monoxide alarms are not substitutes for smoke alarms.

Fire Escape Planning

·         Ensure that all household members know two ways to escape from every room of your home.

·         Make sure everyone knows where to meet outside in case of fire.

·         Practice escaping from your home at least twice a year and at different times of the day. Practice waking up to smoke alarms, low crawling and meeting outside. Make sure everyone knows how to call 9-1-1.

·         Teach household members to STOP, DROP and ROLL if their clothes should catch on fire.

3 MONTH SUPPLY - Sweet Rice Recipe

Week 15:  Try this yummy sweet rice recipe. It makes a great side dish and can be made with dehydrated onions and chicken bouillon if needed. Add this recipe or another of your liking to your folder. Store the ingredients needed to make the recipe.

Sweet Rice

½ - 1 Tbsp oil                          ½ cup onion

½ bunch cilantro                     1 1/3 cup white rice

3 cups chicken broth               ¼ - ½ cup sugar

Saute onions in oil until translucent. Add the cilantro and sauté a minute longer. Add the rice, cooking until lightly browned. Combine the broth and sugar, letting sugar dissolve. Then stir into rice until combined. Bring to a boil. Cover & let cook on low or med until rice is done, about 25-30 minutes. Fluff with a fork before serving.

Weekly Newsletter - 7/17

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WILD FIRE SAFETY

Visit the following websites for more information on wild fire safety:

http://www.ready.gov/america/beinformed/wildfires.html

http://www.redcross.org/www-files/Documents/pdf/Preparedness/checklists/Wildfire.pdf

http://www.ready.gov/america/beinformed/fires.html

Plan ahead and stay as safe as possible during a wild fire.

Plan & practice two ways out of your neighborhood.

Select a place for family members to meet outside your neighborhood in case you cannot get home or need to evacuate.

Identify someone who is out of the area to contact if local phone lines are not working.

What should I do if there are reports of wild fires in my area?

Be ready to leave at a moment’s notice.

Listen to local radio & television stations for updated emergency information.

Always back your car into the garage or park it in an open space facing the direction of escape.

Confine pets to 1room so that you can find them if you need to evacuate quickly.

Arrange for temporary housing at a friend/relative’s home outside the area.

Limit exposure to smoke and dust.

Listen and watch for air quality reports & health warnings about smoke.

Keep indoor air clean by closing windows and doors.

Use the recycle or re-circulate mode on the air conditioner in your home or car. If you do not have air conditioning and it is too hot to stay inside with closed windows, seek shelter elsewhere.

When smoke levels are high, do not use anything that burns and adds to indoor air pollution, such as candles, fireplaces & gas stoves. Do not vacuum because it stirs up particles that are already inside your home.

 If you have asthma or another lung disease, follow your health care provider's advice and seek medical care if your symptoms worsen.

Weekly Newsletter - 7/10

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Weekly Announcements - 7/3

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WILD FIRE SAFETY

 

You can also visit the following websites for more information on how to prepare for wildfires.

http://www.ready.gov/america/beinformed/wildfires.html

http://www.redcross.org/www-files/Documents/pdf/Preparedness/checklists/Wildfire.pdf

http://www.ready.gov/america/beinformed/fires.html

What should I do to prepare ahead of time?

Learn about wild fire risks in your area.

Talk with members of your household about wild fires—how to prevent them and what to do if one occurs.

Post emergency phone numbers by every phone in your home.

Make sure driveway entrances & your house # or address are clearly marked.

Identify and maintain an adequate water source outside your home, such as a small pond, cistern, well or swimming pool.

Keep handy items that can be used as fire tools: a rake, axe, handsaw or chainsaw, bucket and shovel.

Select building materials and plants that resist fire.

Regularly clean roofs and gutters.

Keep a ladder that will reach your roof.

Have a garden hose that is long enough to reach any area of the home and other structures on the property.

Create a 30- to 100-Foot Safety Zone Around Your Home:

o   Within this area, you can take steps to reduce potential exposure to flames and radiant heat. Homes built in pine forests should have a minimum safety zone of 100 feet. If your home sits on a steep slope, standard protective measures may not suffice. Contact your local fire department or forestry of fire for additional information.

o   Rake leaves, dead limbs and twigs. Clear all flammable vegetation.

o   Remove leaves from under structures and dispose of them properly.

o   Thin a 15-foot space between tree crowns, and remove limbs within 15 feet of the ground.

o   Remove dead branches that extend over the roof.

o   Prune tree branches and shrubs within 15 feet of a stovepipe or chimney outlet.

o   Ask the power company to clear branches from power lines.

o   Remove vines from the walls of the home.

o   Mow grass regularly.

o   Clear a 10-foot area around propane tanks & BBQ. Place a screen over the grill—use non-flammable material with mesh no coarser than one-quarter inch.

o   Regularly dispose of newspapers and rubbish at an approved site.

o   Follow local burning regulations.

o   Place stove, fireplace and grill ashes in a metal bucket, soak in water for two days, then bury the cold ashes in mineral soil.

o   Store gasoline, oily rags & other flammable materials in approved safety cans. Place cans in a safe location away from the base of buildings.

o    Stack firewood at least 100 feet away and uphill from your home. Clear combustible material within 20 feet.

Information taken from American Red Cross.

3 Month Supply - Using Dehydrated Eggs

This month’s goal: Learn how to use dehydrated eggs in your everyday cooking.

There are 2 types of dehydrated eggs available: whole egg powder and scrambled egg powder. I recommend using whole egg powder for your baked goods and scrambled egg powder for scrambled eggs. I have been told that whole egg powder can be used to make scrambled eggs but scrambled egg powder should not be used for baking as it will affect the end result.

Baking with whole egg powder is very easy. Simply mix in the water when the recipe calls for the eggs and then mix the egg powder in with the other dry ingredients.

The following formula should work for most dehydrated whole egg powder but double check the instructions on your egg powder container before using.

1 ½ Tbsp egg powder + 3 Tbsp water = 1 large egg

1 Tbsp egg powder                  + 2 Tbsp water            = 1 medium egg

 Week 12: Try using egg powder in one recipe. One of the easiest things to use whole egg powder in is chocolate chip cookies...or cookies of any kind. Then add the recipe or another of your liking to your recipe folder. Continue to gather the ingredients needed to make your recipes.

Ward Newsletter - July

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How to store and use POWDERED MILK

Storage: All milk products should be stored in a cool, dry place. If stored in an area with temperature changes, such as in a garage, the milk will have a shorter shelf life. Powdered milk can be sealed in #10 cans with an oxy pack or in a food grade buckets.

 Powdered milk from the cannery has a shelf life of 30 years. However, after several years, it can start to develop a different taste. Some people may notice this taste, while others may not. If your milk has developed a different taste, you can use it for baking & you won’t notice the taste. If your powdered milk has spoiled or been stored longer than recommended, you can use it as a garden fertilizer.

Canned milk has a 6 - 15 month shelf life. The higher the fat content, the shorter the shelf life as the cream in it separates. [I used to store canned milk but every time I needed it, it was expired. You can use powdered milk to make evaporated milk and sweetened condensed milk. I no longer store canned milk but rather mix my own when I need it. I have included recipes for both below.]

How to Use: Powdered milk can be reconstituted and used for drinking or in place of milk in recipes. When baking, there is no need to reconstitute the milk first. Simply add the water when you would normally add the milk and add the powdered milk with the other dry ingredients.

Evaporated milk can be substituted in any recipe calling for milk.  It will give it a smoother creamier taste.

Getting your family to like powdered milk: When trying powdered milk for the first time, try mixing ¼ reconstituted milk and ¾ cow’s milk (or whatever milk your family normally drinks). Once your family is used to that, try ½ reconstituted milk and ½ regular milk. Then try ¾ cup reconstituted milk and ¼ cup regular milk. Finally, your family will be ready for 100% reconstituted powdered milk.

Another idea is to try powdered milk with cold cereal. Many people who do not like the taste of powdered milk when drinking it by itself can tolerate it when eating it with cold cereal.

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BAKING POWDER BISCUITS

2 cups flour                            ¼ cup powdered milk

1 tsp salt                                  1/3 cup shortening

1 Tbsp baking powder           1 cup water

Mix the flour, salt, baking powder & dry milk. Add the shortening in small spoonfuls; cut in with a fork or pastry blender. Add the water all at once and stir to moisten all the flour and shortening. Place the dough onto a floured surface & knead 10 times. Pat or roll until the dough is about 1/2” thick. Cut with 2” biscuit cutter. Place very close together on a greased baking sheet. Bake at 450 for 15-18 minutes, or until the tops are lightly browned.

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SWEETENED CONDENSED MILK

1/2 cup hot water

1 cup powdered milk

1 cup sugar

1 Tbsp butter

Blend all ingredients in a blender. Can be stored in refrigerator or frozen.

TIP: To easily clean your blender, immediately, fill your blender with hot soapy water & blend until clean.

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EVAPORATED MILK

1 ½ cups water

½ cup + 1 Tbsp powdered milk

Mix well before adding to any recipe.

Yield: 1 ½ cup or 12 oz can

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ORANGE JULIUS

2 cups orange juice                 2 Tbsp sugar

½ cup powdered milk            ½ tsp vanilla

½ cup crushed ice

Put all ingredients in blender and blend until ice is totally crushed and drink is smooth.

EARTHQUAKE SAFETY - STEP 7

The following information was taken from Putting Down Roots in Earthquake Country, which can be found at http://ussc.utah.gov/publications/roots_earthquake.pdf.

When Safe, Continue to Follow Your Disaster-Preparedness Plan

Once you have met your and your family’s immediate needs after the next strong Utah earthquake, continue to follow your disaster-preparedness plan (see Step 2, page 24).

The first days after the quake

In the days following a damaging quake, pay special attention to the following:

Safety first

·         Do not re-enter your home until you know it is safe.

·         Be sure there are no gas leaks at your home before using open flames (lighters, matches, candles, or grills) or operating any electrical or mechanical device that could create a spark (light switches, generators, chain saws, or motor vehicles).

·         Check for chemical spills, faulty elec­trical wiring, and broken water lines. Water in contact with faulty wiring is a shock hazard.

·         Unplug broken or toppled light fixtures or appliances. These could start fires when electricity is restored.

·         Never use the following indoors: camp stoves, kerosene or gas lanterns or heaters, gas or charcoal grills, or gas generators, as these can release deadly carbon monoxide gas or be a fire hazard in aftershocks.

Be in communication

·         Turn on your portable or car radio and listen for information and safety advi­sories.

·         Place all phones back on their cradles

·         Call your out-of-area contact, tell them your status, and then stay off the phone—emergency responders need the phone lines for life-saving commu­nications.

·         Check on your neighbors.

Check your food and water supplies

·         If power is off, plan meals so as to use up refrigerated and frozen foods first. If you keep the door closed, food in your freezer may be good for a couple of days.

·         If your water is off, you can drink from water heaters, melted ice cubes, or canned vegetables. Avoid drinking the water from swimming pools or hot tubs; use it to fight fires.

The first weeks after the quake

·         This is a time of transition. Although aftershocks may continue, you will now work toward getting your life, your home and family, and your rou­tines back in order. Emotional care and recovery are just as important as healing physical injuries and rebuilding a home. Make sure your home is safe to occupy and not in danger of collapse in aftershocks. If you were able to remain in your home or return to it after a few days, you will have a variety of tasks to accomplish while re-establishing routines:

Tasks

·         If your gas was turned off, you will need to arrange for the gas company to turn it back on.

·         If the electricity went off and then came back on, check your appliances and electronic equipment for damage.

·         If water lines broke, look for water damage.

·         Locate or replace critical documents that may have been misplaced, dam­aged, or destroyed.

·         Contact your insurance agent or com­• pany to begin your claims process.

·         Contact the Federal Emergency Man­agement Agency (FEMA) to find out about financial assistance. For FEMA teleregistration, call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362).

·         If you cannot live at your home, set up an alternative mailing address with the post office.

If you can’t stay in your home

The American Red Cross offers immediate emergency assistance with housing needs. The Red Cross also supports shelter opera­tions prior to a presidential declaration of a federal disaster.

Once a presidential declaration has been issued, FEMA may activate the Assistance for Individuals and Households Program. This program includes:

·         Home-repair cash grants; the maximum federal grant available is $28,800 for all individual and family assistance.

·         Housing assistance in the form of reimbursement for short-term lodging expenses at a hotel or motel.

·         Rental assistance for as long as 18 months in the form of cash payment for a temporary rental unit or a manu­factured home.

·         If no other housing is available, FEMA may provide mobile homes or other temporary housing.

Weekly Newsletter - 6/26

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HOW TO USE WONDER BOXES

How to cook using a Wonder Box

Bring your food to a boil.

Simmer for the time recommended in the following chart.

Quickly place the hot pot in the Wonder Box. Place the Wonder Box lid on top.

Allow to cook for the recommended time.

Helpful Tips

• Cooking containers should have tight-fitting lids, to prevent the escape of heat and moisture. Place the lid on the pot before you remove the pot from the stove so the lid can also get hot.
• Use any cooking pot, provided it does not have a long handle.  
• The larger the amount of food cooked, the more effective Wonder Box cooking is, since a full pot has more mass and therefore more heat storage capacity than a half-full pot.
• The Wonder box does not work well if there is empty space or air pockets. Use an appropriate sized pot and fill the pot as full as possible. (Don’t use a big pot for a small amount of food.) If cooking a small amount of food in a small pot, wrap the pot in pillows, blankets, towels, etc to fill up any empty space in the wonder box.  
• When cooking meats make sure the meat is covered with water.
• Cooking containers should have tight-fitting lids, to prevent the escape of heat and moisture.
• Do not leave the Wonder Box on a metal surface while it is being used. Metal is a good conductor of heat and may draw off some heat through the bottom.
• Do not peek inside the wonder box or pot while it is cooking. If this happens, heat will escape, and the food will not cook properly.
• The Wonder Box was designed for cooking meals, but it can also be used for keeping food hot, cold or frozen for 3-6 hours depending on what it is For example, frozen meat will stay frozen longer than a tub of ice cream.
• Retained-heat cooking (Wonder Boxes) has many other advantages in addition to energy and water conservation. As mentioned, it makes “timing” less critical, since it keeps meals hot until serving time. Once the initial boil-and-short-simmer stage is past, it also eliminates the danger of burning the food on the bottom of the pot.
  

Recommended Water Amounts

Since water is not lost during Wonder Box cooking the way it is during extended stovetop simmering, the amount of water used to cook grains and beans is normally reduced by one-quarter. Instead of adding 2 cups of water per cup of dry rice, try adding 1 1/2.

Retained Heat Cooking Times – Approximate

Food                                       Simmering Time          Wonder Box Time

White Rice                              5 min                           1-2 hours

Brown Rice                            10-15 min                    2 hours

Potatoes, Whole White           5-10 min                      1-2 hours

Creamed Soups                      2 min                           1 hour

Dried Beans, etc..(soaked)     10-15 min                    3-4 hours

Meat Roast                            20-30 min                    3-5 hours

Cooking times from: http://solarcooking.wikia.com/wiki/Heat-retention_cooking

All other information from http://www.ourldsfamily.com/wonderbox/ or http://solarcooking.wikia.com/wiki/Heat-retention_cooking