Today Jeb Bush, governor of Florida, in a sense blamed the Floridians for being short on food and ice. This sounds harsh but remember, these are the same people that probably have no spare tires or tools in their vehicles, haven't taken Red Cross safety courses, or checked their smoke alarms regularly. I myself have always been fascinated by emergency preparedness and disasters- not like I was in grammar school when "Jaws" and "The Towering Inferno" came out, though. Preparedness can mean the difference between life and death in many cases.

The governor advises three days of food and ice and other provisions. In the time leading up to a disaster this isn't the best last-minute purchase. I advise expanding on FEMA's guidelines and putting two additional days' supplies aside.

My ideas of preparedness are:

-Be sure the gas tank is full and fluids as well as tires checked in your vehicle.

-Store five days worth of food to supply 3000-4500 calories per adult.
MRE's, one per person per day at least. A family of three should get two cases of 12. The MRE is the same food soldiers eat in the field. Their advantage over canned food and freeze-dried food is not needing preparation or water. These can be stored in 70 degree temperature for five years. If you freeze them do NOT refreeze them or handle them roughly. You can get these from various internet resources. You can get various entrees and side items from MRE's separately.

Canned food lasts six months in most instances. Survivalist versions of canned food last well over a year in some cases. Just be sure to have a nonelectric can opener. You will need some paper plates, tin foil, bowls or mess kits, and drinking cups if you do this. Get a canteen cup or other cookware for heating your food.

Freezers can store all but bread effectively (mushy when thawed). When power goes out remove the items you need. A freezer can keep food good for two days without power. Store dry foods here. Good items requiring at the most just warm water are instant cream potatoes, crackers, powdered milk, cereals and trail mixes, dehydrated fruit, oatmeal, and granola bars. Expect to change these out every year. You will need instant tea, coffee, cocoa, or fruit drink in powdered form. Canned juice should last six months or a year.

You need a heat source such as propane stoves, trioxane bars, or MRE water-activated heaters. Just DON'T use them indoors unless there is adequate ventilation. Flammable gels are a viable option (Purel, for example). An old can with holes punched in it makes a good stove. Just be fire-safe.

-Store at least one gallon of water per person per day. Except for bottled water you should drain the water and replace it every six months. Put a few drops of chlorine bleach in the containers.

-Get copies of extremely vital documents and financial account information. Have extra medications and provisions for special health needs on hand. Have contact numbers for family members.

-Non-food supplies to have on hand are a shovel, hatchet, knife, rope, first aid kit and medicines for minor illness, small hand tools, trash bags, plastic Ziploc bags, two tarps, a tent, rescue or space blankets, flashlight, radio, extra batteries, matches, a compass, maps of the state and US, three changes of clothing, extreme weather clothing, paper and pencil, books and games, toiletry items, towels, a sleeping bag, and other items your emergency management agency specifies.

-You will need buckets with lids, duffel bags, and most certainly a backpack for these. Government surplus houses have good prices on backpacks.

-Learn survival skills for a disaster. Check "Are You Ready" at www.fema.gov. Various military documents provide information on how to deal with the cold and other "camping" information. Your military is the largest group of professional campers. Learn CPR and first aid by enrolling in courses hospitals, the Red Cross, and fire departments hold in your town.

This is not meant to be a total list but this should make Jeb happy.

KAT

NOTE; THIS WAS CUT AND PASTED FROM ANOTHER BLOG OF MINE; PLEASE ACCEPT MY APOLOGIES FOR THE PUNCTUATION

I took my regular off day and two additional days off. I didn't know if I wanted to go hiking on Pine Mountain, go to Lake Sinclair National Campground, or to Charleston to see the Yorktown. The first two alternatives presented themselves as most feasible so I went to Lake Sinclair National Campground.First I had schoolwork to take care of. I had to check to see if my online course in Windows 2003 was under way and the password issues with email and the Expert online curriculum were working. They were. I saw the syllabus list Oct 12 (that Wednesday) as the day of a test. This was only suggested, I found out later. I did want to get the software for the class.

I hate that bookstore at CGTC. They make you stand there and present your HOPE credentials (for the grant). I told them I'd just pay via credit card and let the state cough up a book reimbursement check. I waited impatiently and went to the counter. I feel bad I changed my mind and asked if they could look up my HOPE information at the counter. I finally said to heck with it and paid using my credit card.I went home and packed. I packed in too many bags when two or three should have done nicely (not counting the one-man tent). I had the fishing gear in the truck anyway. I drove off around 5:00 and got to the campsite after stopping at Wal-Mart on Gray Highway and Ingle's in Gray (Wal-Mart was redoing their hot dog cooler).The campground is off Twin Bridges Road off GA 212 near Eatonton. I put a 20$ bill in the envelope though the fee for a campsite was 9.00 per day.

I made it in time before darkness set in. I put up a tent and tried to get a fire started. The worst part was kindling. I could not for the life of me get the fire going despite a trioxane bar (bar for soldiers to heat up MRE's before the flameless heaters came out in '92), Purel, and an initial burst of bug repellent (don't try this at home). I got in a long burst with the bug juice and attained a good fire.Next I cooked hot dogs. These were franks so as to not waste any food. I had soda and chips. It was almost 10:00 by this time so I went to beddy bye. I gave rescue breathing to my air mattress because I told myself I didn't need the pump I bought when David got married and I thought we'd need to crash on the floor at Ruth's.

The next morning around 10 am a lady woke me up and asked how long I'd be staying. She said she usually has my campsite but would camp next door. I hated to be mean but I didn't want to undo my tent, etc and move the numerous bags I had (I had four plus the radio, lantern, cooler, and what I removed upon settling).
I scouted out a fishing place and heard a guy go spash and grunt. I heard the lady that came to the tent earlier ask if he were okay. I walked fast then sprinted to the dock near my campsite. He was okay other than needing to dry out! He had dunked himself into two feed of water. Oh so that's how deep it is.


I had coffee heated with a triox bar. This took a while. Since my hiker's lantern lost its fuel I went to Eatonton to buy more. I thought I'd go to a small store where they charge an arm and a leg. Instead I found a Wal-Mart. I do have a soft spot for Wal-Mart though they do several bad things to associates and the community.I bought a tank of propane, ice, inflator kit for my compressor to blow up the bed, and some more alcohol hand sterilizer. It took 10 minutes either way from the lake to the Wal-Mart. I went up 129, then turned around at an abandoned house thinking I went the wrong way. I went up 441 and found I was right the first time!

I got to the campsite and had an MRE. That's a pouch with retort-packaged food designed for military personnel. I took the flameless heater out and put the meatloaf and creme potatoes in it and heated them. There were crackers in the meal too as well as a yellow vanilla cream sandwich. It was reasonably good.Then came the moment of truth. I went to this spot next to the campsite next to mine (D-31 was my site) and set up my gear. Overhead were the lines and bobbers from unfortunate fishermen. I used pink wigglers going two or three feet deep. I caught nothing but overhanging limbs three or four times. Something was nibbling at my bait but I caught nothing. The fish were splashing around though they weren't hungry.I got a fire going after blistering my hand from chopping a fallen tree trunk. I am becoming a believer in a saw. The kindling was rather moist as it had rained a little over the weekend. I had hot dogs. The tea I made was fair-to-middling. I hoped that some Kool-Aid mix could be found easily- or even that lemon tea that mixes in a heartbeat. I returned to fish and was becoming intemperate at the snagging that went on. I also sat there as I waited for my quarry and felt unhappy. I felt unhappy about the career choices I had before me. I felt unhappy that over 20 years of high school were out the window and I didn't feel but a little more like an adult than I did back then. I'm working on a prescription to get myself out of the doldrums.

As I went to bed that night I looked at the people in the campsite on the other side of the gully (the ones usually camping at D-31). They had a fire going and were still fishing. They seemed to enjoy themselves. I don't know if they caught anything. I should have asked and been a little more neighborly. Maybe I was embarassed about getting their favorite campsite.I showered at the bathhouse on the D loop before going to bed. I felt better about myself for doing so. Sleep was difficult on a half-inflated mattress and a bad urinary tract. The sleeping bag doesn't allow room for error, that is for sure.The next morning I left. I took a shower and went to bed when I got home. I didn't like the fact that I wimped out and didn't take another day of vacation time. I just didn't feel like stepping on anyone's toes at work. I would have enjoyed the trip much more. But I need to solve problems in my life at home instead of using a vacation to solve them. Who thinks a vacation lasts too long anyway?