This awesome information found at: PreparednessNibblesAndBits.blogspot.com

During a disaster “just plan on losing your utilities.” It is important to have a Sanitation Kit because we don’t know when our disaster will be. The lack of proper sanitation can cause the spread of disease and even death.

Here’s some ideas for assembling your own Sanitation Kit:

SANITATION KIT:
“Luggable Loo*” - snap-on lid (fits 5 or 6 gallon buckets)
1 (5 or 6-gallon) bucket
Store the following inside your bucket until needed:

• Heavy Duty disposable garbage bags (you won’t want to deal with leaky bags
• 1 (12 oz.) “Super Sorb” (takes care of odors - available at janitorial supply stores)
• 1 container “Hi-Genic” (non-acid bowl and bathroom cleaner - available at janitorial supply stores)
• 1 bottle of hydrogen peroxide (natural disinfectant)
• 1 small bottle of vinegar
• 1 container baking soda
• 1 empty spray bottle
• 2 to 3 rolls toilet paper (with cardboard removed)
• 1 pkg. baby wipes
• Feminine hygiene supplies
• Disposable gloves
• Hand sanitizer
• Lotion (hand sanitizer will tend to dry out hands)
• Bonus: 2 emergency blankets (for your privacy screen if needed)

Directions: Empty contents of the bucket. Line the bucket with a heavy duty disposable garbage bag. Put 1 tablespoon “Super Sorb” into the garbage bag. Securely attach “Luggable Loo” lid. Keep lid closed when not in use. When bucket is 1/3 full, empty it by tying the bag up and disposing of it properly.

To dispose of waste:

Emergency Sewage Storage. “Keep on the premises at least one extra 10-gallon garbage can or other waterproof container with a tight fitting cover. This should be lined with paper and/or a plastic bag. And the lid should be fastened to the can to prevent its loss. Such a can may be used for the emergency storage of body wastes until the public sewage system can be put back into action, or until other arrangements can be made. Empty your emergency toilet into this storage can as often as necessary. A small amount of household disinfectant should be added after each use. If you live in an apartment, you may not have a large garbage can or room to keep one. In that case, two smaller covered pails or other containers will do just as well.” –http://www.pep-c.org/emergencysewagedisposal

Another option for disposing waste:

“When the plastic bag is filled to a point where you can carefully dispose of it, you will want a tight-fitting leak-proof container you can put the filled bags where insects and vermin cannot get at, or you may want to have a fairly deep hole (at least three to four feet deep) in your back yard where you can safely dispose of the bag, cover with a few inches of soil at each disposal and have a cover to keep vermin out and people from falling in….” –Sanitation, Part 1

For more detailed information regarding Sanitation check out:
http://www.pep-c.org/sanitation
Sanitation, Parts 1 & 2

*LUGGABLE LOOS are available at:

* Recreation Outlet, 3160 S. State Street, Salt Lake City, UT 84115 (Sells the lid separately for $7.99 ea. or the bucket and lid for $12.99.)
* Cabela’s ($9.99 - lid only/$14.99 lid and bucket)
* Target (available on-line only) has a bucket and lid for $14.99
* Rei ($18.00 - lid and bucket)
* Google “luggable loo” to find the best prices and locations for you.

NOTE: “Be Ready Utah” has an idea for an Emergency “Porta Potty” Kit which includes Kitty Litter: http://bereadyutah.gov/family/potty.html

Supplies Needed:

• 5-gallon bucket with lid (cut hole in middle of lid for plunger handle to fit through)
• Toilet plunger (brand-new, clean)
• Store in bucket:
• Liquid laundry detergent
• Stain remover/stain stick
• Vinegar (add 1/2 cup to rinse water) helps remove soap
• Rope (for clothes line)
• Clothes pins

To Use:

1. Empty contents of bucket.
2. Place water, small amount of detergent, and clothes in bucket.
3. Move plunger up and down for a few minutes or until clothes are clean.
4. Remove soapy clothes and ring them out.
5. Dump out soapy water (on your garden or lawn.)
6. Place soapy clothes in bucket and fill with clear, clean water.
7. Add 1/2 cup vinegar to rinse water.
8. Move plunger up and down to rinse clothing.
9. Wring out clothes and hang to dry.

Conserve water - use rinse water for next load of laundry.

NOTE: You could store two 5-gallon buckets, stack one inside of the other. Use one bucket for the soapy water and the other for the rinse water. You may be able to wash and rinse a couple of batches of clothes without changing the soapy water depending on how dirty the clothes are.

As found on: http://preparednessnibblesandbits.blogspot.com

The Putting Down Roots in Earthquake Country handbook is a new detailed resource that provides information about the threat posed by earthquakes in Utah, particularly along the Wasatch Front, and explains how you can prepare for, survive, and recover from these inevitable events.
This PDF pamphlet includes:

1. What you can expect during an earthquake
2. What you can expect after an earthquake
3. What you need to do beforehand to be safe and protect your property.

Download a PDF of the pamphlet by clicking on either of the following links:
High Resolution (16MB)
Low Resolution (5MB)

For more info go to the Utah Seismic Safety Commission’s website.

In order to make things simple and easy to get yourselves and families prepared we’ve created “Preparedness Baby Steps” and included it into this month’s newsletter. We sure hope you’ll find it easier to follow these basic steps instead of trying to tackle all goals all at one time. We want you to feel excited about becoming prepared, not overwhelmed and then to finally give up after trying for 2 weeks.

Click on the image below to view the Preparedness Baby Steps. Just pick an area to work on and do it one step at a time.

Click here to view all of the newsletters.

Here are some helpful links from LDS.org which will help guide you while making your New Year’s Resolutions.

Remember this scripture: “It is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength. … All things must be done in order.” (Mosiah 4:27.)

Keeping New Year’s Resolutions (make smaller goals)
Resolutions (4 top things)
New Years Resolutions (cute and funny)
Gerald’s Secret New Year’s Resolutions
Friend: January Calendar: New Year’s Resolutions
Happy New Year!!!

We’ve got the December newsletter ready. We’re excited about this one. It’s the end of the year and we’ve made another list. An Emergency Car Kit list in the form of a Crossword Puzzle with pictures. That’s right a game! It’s our gift to you. We hope you have fun while filling it out and putting your car kit together with your families.

We had fun doing it and we know we’ll be prepared when we’re traveling to our parents’ houses for the holidays in Centerville and Eagle Mountain. We hope you all have a Happy Thanksgiving & a very Merry Christmas!

Click here to view all of the newsletters for 2008.

This idea comes from a friend…

For a Family Home Evening lesson the parents handed to the kids - in Monopoly money - an amount equal to the dad’s paycheck before taxes and deductions. They then had the kids give them back the amounts for taxes, health insurance and all other deductions, then mortgage, utilities, car payments, insurance, etc., etc. They went through everything. After all that the kids still had a little bit then they were told, “We still need to buy groceries”. It was really eye-opening for the kids when they watched all the money disappear and how much things cost.

Their children are almost all grown now and they still talk about that lesson.

If you need to borrow Monopoly, we have it, so just let us know.