2009 Preparedness Plan
June Summary
(taken from Syracuse 6th Ward Plan)
Spiritual Goal:
Set aside time for family and personal scripture study.
Have 100% Visiting and Home Teaching this month.
Emergency Preparedness Goal:
Add $20.00 in coin and small bills in your “cash stash”. You should have now
have $120.00.
3 day food kit – 1 per person
Food Storage Goal:
Sugar and Honey
Cornstarch
Sugar: You should store about 60 lbs of sugar per person. Many people feel they do not eat that much sugar, but when divided into other sub-categories, you may find that you really do need much. Plus, if you are eating more “basic” food storage, you may use more sugar than you do now. Keep in mind the canning season. Included in your sugar storage are: Shelve Life
Granulated sugar - indefinite
Brown sugar - indefinite
Molasses - 18-24 months
Honey - indefinite
Corn syrup - indefinite
Jams and jellies - 12-18 months
Powdered fruit drink 36-48months
Jell-O - 36-48 months
As with anything, you must tailor items stored to fit your personal tastes and use. If your family goes through a jar of jam a week, store 52 jars. You must take inventory to customize your storage for your family.
Honey: When you buy honey from a store, get honey that is labeled US Grade A or US Fancy. Only honey labeled “pure” is entirely honey and not a blend. Some people buy honey in large 5 gal buckets and then pour it into smaller containers to store. This way, it will be easier to liquefy the honey after it crystallizes if it is in the smaller containers. Metal cans can give the honey a black discolorization as the acid in the honey can interact with the metal. Infants less than a year old should not be fed raw honey according to the CDC. Their immune system cannot handle the clostridium in the honey as older ones can which can produce “infant botulism”. Honey has 64 calories per tablespoon – 18 more calories per that tablespoon than table sugar. However, depending on the source, honey may also have as much as 25-40% more sweetening power. This usually means smaller amounts of honey are required to achieve the same level of sweetness as sugar.
Cornstarch:
Cornstarch has a shelf life of about 18 months. The amount, again, depends on your needs and uses of cornstarch. Uses include: thickening sauces, soup and gravies, cake flour, stain removal, dusting powder for babies, itchy skin and playdough. Check for recipes on the box.
3 Day Food Kit:
If you have already made your 72 hour food kits, this would be a good time to rotate them. You should use food that has a shelf life of at least 1-3 years and rotate it every year. Things will usually store better in air and moisture-proof containers. Please contact me for suggested ideas or lists for 72 hour kits.
Challenge and Family Home Evening Activities: Buy some sugar! If you have a lot in storage, use some of it. Can some fruit or make some jam. Try a new honey recipe. Keep your garden growing well – weed and water wisely.
