Scrap-n-Craft

If there were to be an emergency of any kind, are you adequately prepared? It may be a tornado, flood or even a hurricane. It could even be a catastrophic event such as a pandemic illness that sweeps through the world. How prepared are you in case of just such an event? The answer for most people is that they are not prepared at all. Emergency preparation takes forethought and careful planning. It is not about paranoia or that the world is coming to an end soon. You will definitely find crackpot websites that are dedicated to fueling paranoia and government conspiracies but for the most part people do still need to make some emergency preparations just in case. This article is designed to help you understand what you can do to be prepared.

How do people prepare for emergencies?

Emergency preparation all starts with a list. You need to really stop and think about the possible emergencies that could happen in your region of the world. If you live near a river, lake or the ocean then you have to worry about flooding. If you live in a tornado prone area, you need to prepare for that. Winter storms can do a terrible amount of damage. Step one is thinking about what you use on a daily basis. Water is the number one resource that must be conserved and kept in case of an emergency. People can survive weeks without food but only a few days without water. And in the case of an emergency you cannot trust the water coming out of your faucet. The second step is examining your shelter. Should your home be damaged you need to have an alternate place for shelter set up. It may be at a friend, family member or coworker’s home. The third most important step is making an emergency plan. This plan should detail where all members of the family will meet in case they are separated at the time of the emergency. There are many books that you can purchase to help you learn basic survival skills in case of a disaster. You should consider picking one up and reviewing it just to see how well you would fare.

How long will canned goods and bottled water last while I’m making my emergency preparation kit?

A jug of bottled water that is unopened will last indefinitely provided that you keep it in a safe place. Though there is an expiration mark on bottled or jugs of water these days that date reflects more of a regulation on how it will taste. Though you may have a bottle that is expired by the date stamped on the plastic, the only real difference is that the water may taste a bit stale but it is still perfectly fine to use for drinking and cooking purposes. Canned goods can last for several years but you have to be careful. Dented or rusted cans may have exposed the food to air. In that case you will definitely not want to consume the food inside.

Where can I buy an emergency preparation kit?

You would be amazed at how many places sell emergency preparation kits. One website www.quakekare.com sells kits in all sizes. The kits start out for a four person on upwards to a 100 person survival kit. This is not the only website either. VKRsupplies.com is another website to take a look at if you want to buy a ready-made kit. The one thing to keep in mind when deciding to buy a pre-assembled kit is finding out exactly what the kit contains and what you will still have to add to it. You might find that it is less expensive to simply gather all of the items yourself and save money in the long run.

Is there a way I can help others prepare for an emergency?

Yes, there are ways you can help others prepare for an emergency. You should consider volunteering at your local Red Cross. By learning CPR and donating blood you can be setting a good example for others. In an emergency oftentimes the stronger individuals will be called upon to help the weaker. By having the right education and having your own emergency preparation kit ready, you can set a good example for other people. You can volunteer to lead emergency disaster classes and help others make their own preparations. You can also volunteer to speak at local schools about the importance of disaster readiness.

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Instead of writing out copious “thank-you” cards until your hand falls off, why not thank everyone for their efforts at the family reunion this year by purchasing a few inexpensive family reunion gift favors? There are a number of family reunion web site offerings that aim to make your event more memorable and sentimental than previous years. Here are a few creative ideas for family reunion favors your relatives will cherish.

One of the best websites with family reunion gifts is simply www.gifts.com. This site acts as a compendium of other sale sites and brings you the best of the Internet. Here you’ll find a $10 family scrap-booking kit, personalized wall decals for $24.95, $20 custom tees, personalized luggage tags for $29, personalized photo calendars for $16.95, $45 family tree picture frames, $5 family fridge magnets, $150 family heirloom photo quilts, custom photo M&Ms (3 bags for $38.97) and $345 custom “Memory Lane” artwork of all your family’s favorite locations. Many of the gifts on this site are intended to be given to individuals or won as a prize in family reunion games, rather than purchased in bulk for everyone.

Another one of the best ideas for family reunion favors are personalized, edible goodies from www.wrappedhersheys.com, www.mymms.com, www.personalizedsweets.com or www.candywrapperstore.com. Imagine your family members’ surprise to find their own names on these delectable treats! You could have 100 mini wrapped Hersheys chocolate bars customized with your text and artwork for just 60 cents a piece! Or you may opt to buy a bag of customized M&Ms priced around $40. You can get mini truffles custom wrapped for 55 cents each, coffee tins for $2.95 and (not edible, but good-smelling) custom lip balm for $1.95. These neat family reunion gifts will really get your relatives talking and drum up the family pride — even in those sometimes-hard-to-reach teenagers!

Do you have a family that loves games? Well, another one of the coolest ideas for family reunion events is ordering a custom Monopoly board! You can personalize your board at www.mymonopoly.com, writing your name in the center of the board, choosing the names of all street names and special spaces and selecting your own customized theme. This tailored game sells for $79.99 and takes about a month to make and ship. Fun family reunions combine thoughtful gifts, engaging activities, good food and even better company for the perfect event.

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One of the first planning steps for a family reunion is pinpointing the date, time and place, and then choosing the right idea for family reunion invitations. In the past, formal invitations were fancy and frilly, using items like organza, lace, beads, inked calligraphy and expensive card stock. During the eighties and nineties, easy store-bought invites became the standard. After the dawn of the computer era, most people started making their own invites using a program and their own printer. Today there are a number of companies specializing in all types of invitations, which can take the stress off you and deliver the batch right to your front door, address-ready. To help you get started, here are some great family reunion tips and ideas.

Creating “save the date” magnets is one spectacular idea for creating family reunion invitations. At www.freshimpressions.us, you can order magnets for just $1.59 each! These magnets can be customized with artwork of your choosing or a family photo. You can also choose the colors, fonts and wording of the invites or include a calendar with the date circled to help everyone remember when the shindig is going down. If you’re not really sure what you want, you can also look at templates and choose one that you feel is appropriate for your gathering. The best part about this type of fun family reunions’ invitation is that your relatives will have a keepsake memento for years to come.

Another creative idea for family reunion announcements is to create a special family reunion web site. Granted, you will likely have to deliver some invites by mail or by phone, since not all older adults are comfortable with using the Internet, but the vast majority of the family will love what you’ve made. Family websites are the best way to keep in touch — sharing recipes, photos, videos and writings; announcing exciting news like births, promotions or weddings; arranging more informal events throughout the year; and exchanging amusing stories. A good site to check out is www.myfamily.com, which offers free hosting and private user login access, so the family files are only visible to the people you want. Here you can announce family reunions, post files, email and do pretty much everything any other social networking site allows. This type of family reunion invitation will save on paper and ensure your family bonds stay thick the whole year through!

Another innovative idea for family reunion invites is to send each family member a special promotional item as a reminder. For instance, you could send out a pen that has an imprint, something like “The Smith Family Reunion, 8/29/09 12pm, Walt Disney World, FL.” Some families like to make up special family reunion t-shirts, with the family reunion invitation details on the front and a list of family members or photos on the back. Other promotional items may include drink koozies, coffee mugs, tote bags, frisbees, plastic beer mugs, family tree photo frame magnets, coasters, note pads, pens, hats, backpacks, keychains, jar openers, bottle openers, mouse pads, candles, fly swatters, packets of drink mixes, piggy banks, magnetic chip clips, stress relievers and more! These items can usually be personalized with your custom text for under $1 a piece. For more info, check out www.gimmees.com or www.marcopromotionalproducts.com.

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