Cedar Rock Family Farm

Do take into consideration the age of your children when packing a box for your child.

1. Crayons and coloring books.

2. Puzzles

3. Playing cards, Uno, Old Maids, Go Fish

4. Board games, Bingo set, Scrabble, Yahtzee, Dominos

5. Crossword puzzles

6. Reading books, Magazines for kids

7. Puzzle books, Word find, Picture find

8. Hand held electronic gadget. Just remember to stock up on extra batteries for it.

9. Favorite Toy, Pacifier, Storybook and Blankee a must !!!!!!!!!

10. Building Blocks, logs, Leggos

11. A journal for older children/teens.

Suggestion:  Let your child help create a box for themselves. This opens an opportunity to explain why you are doing it and teaching about being prepared.  This way when it does happen and it will happen its just a matter of when your child won't be quite as upset as they would be if nothing had been planned for the event.  This also teaches responsibility.

If you have several children create a box with each one and put their name on it.   

Even if you live on the farm or in the city if power goes out you will not be able to get water so it is important to either buy bottled water or refill plastic containers with water from your well and store it. Rain barrels near gutters is ideal for gathering a large amount of water that can be used also.  Dean and I made our own rain barrels.  We bought 55 gallon drums from people on the side of the road selling them for $5.00- $8.00 get the ones with a screw on top.  We then cut a piece of fine screen laid it on top screwed the lid on and put it under the gutters.  The screen keeps the mosquitoes from laying the babies.  Use the water in a reasonable time especially in the summer months.   At Wal-Mart they have a blue one I believe 5 gallon water container we use these for drinking water as well as for flushing the toilet they don't take up a lot of room either. 

This water can be used for:

Flushing toilet                      Drinking water

Washing dishes                    Watering Animals

Washing your body               Washing clothing (under garments) 

Cooking with                        Watering plants

After washing clothes use the same water to bath in or flush the toilet.

When water is limited undergarments take little water to wash frequently to keep clean 

Purchase Baby wipes these come in handy just for wiping hands and private areas when bathing is limited. The folks in New Orleans could have really used these.

Ask yourself not if, but when will the power go out whether  it be from a thunderstorm or hurricane that takes down a tree limb that hits a power line or ice build up from sleet from a winter storm or even a car accident that involves a power pole, this will leave you without a heat source unless you have Gas logs, wood fireplace, generator or a kerosene heater.  The kerosene heater is the least of my choices I would advise because they have been known to be the cause of many house fires

 Always have extra blankets around just for this reason

 Layering of clothing is also another way of keeping body heat in 

 Extra pairs of thick warm socks and gloves 

 Pick up some heater packs in the hunting area of Wal-Mart these are small and fit right into your gloves or boots but they will keep those areas nice and  warm for awhile 

 Having a generator is important but not everyone can afford one

 Gas logs are affordable and dependable

 Wood is always available for fire places its important to have some dry wood already to go.  You will need to have some kindling and matches (kept in a dry place), long lighter and plenty of rolled up newspaper logs

Here is a brief list of over the counter meds I would keep on hand.

1. Tylenol (Acetaminophen) tablets and liquid for children (know your childs recent weight)

2. Motrin ( Ibuprofen) tablets and liquid for children

3. Antibiotic cream or ointment ( Triple antibiotic)

4. Baby Aspirin 81mg chewable tablets for heart patients (possible heart attack) take at first sign of chest pain,  only if you don't have a history of bleeding ulcers.

5. Bandaids and non-stick bandages

6. Several sizes of Ace bandages for sprains.  Available at the Dollar Store. 

7. Waterless hand cleaner. 

Do you take any medications: These are a number one priority

Keep them all together in one location for getting too them quickly.

Keep in a dry, dark container until the emergency is over.

Keep atleast a 30 day if not 90 day supply on hand.  Most Dr.s will give you a 90 day supply, now your insurance isn't going to let you get it that far ahead but sometimes it maybe worth getting them anyhow out of pocket.

If you are diabetic and rely on Insulin you know you will need a way to keep your insulin cool but not frozen.  Have plenty of syringes, alcohol wipes, band aids available and a heavy plastic container to dispose of your needles. Usually a laundry detergent bottle works well because of the heavy plastic used to make the container. A good container for holding diabetic supplies  are a plastic  pencil boxes that kids are using for school these days.  These also make great first aid kits.

Don't forget birth control pills.  If you use condoms check for expiration dates

I suggest having a plastic tote that you can label to put everything in. It's easy to grab quickly if the need were to arise.

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You must have a manual CAN OPENER to open can items. 

Canned or dried fruit

Canned soup or dehydrated soup mixes

Instant Mashed Potatoes

Peanuts

Spam

Tuna

Vienna Sausage

Rice

Noodles

Peanut Butter & Jelly

Crackers

Mayonnaise in individual packets (need no refridgeration) pick up from fast food restaurants

Ketchup

Mustard

Soy Sauce

Fortune Cookies

Salt and Pepper

Vinegar

Storing these items in old Tupperware containers that can be picked up cheap at yard sales is a great way to keep items fresher and also keeps mice out of them. 

Toilet Paper figure a roll per day per household of 4 people.

Kotex, tampons    both can also be used in medical kit to control bleeding of any wound.