| For centuries Christians have spoken of wars, famines, | | | | use the food at the front of the shelf and replace it |
| pestilences and earthquakes occurring in much greater | | | | with the foods at the back. This will insure a constant |
| extremes than ever before until it gets so bad that, | | | | replacement. This won't work if you stock it with foods |
| without divine intervention, no one would live through it. | | | | you don't normally use. |
| And many believe that it is almost upon us now. If you | | | | Other Items to Stock: |
| search the Internet, you will discover that Christians are | | | | A. Necessities: |
| not the only ones that believe this. | | | | 1. First Aid Kit |
| Even statistics show that the world is less safe these | | | | 2. A good stock of batteries of various sizes, check |
| days. Between 2000--2005 the world has averaged | | | | them periodically to make sure they still work. |
| nine significant disasters every week: especially | | | | 3. A prepaid cell phone with minutes and a battery |
| hurricanes, floods and earthquakes greater than 7 on | | | | operated charger, with extra batteries. |
| the Richter Scale. | | | | 4. Lights, flashlights, and radios: Battery operated or |
| In March 2007, the head of the Russian Federal | | | | crank style. |
| Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental | | | | 5. Entertainment: For the children favorite toys, games, |
| Monitoring, stated that in Russia the number of | | | | and books. For the adults favorite games, and books. |
| damaging weather incidents now average more than | | | | 6. The obvious: blankets or sleeping bags for each |
| one a day and are increasing about 6% each year. | | | | person, sanitation supplies (toilet paper, hand sanitizer, |
| With this many disasters, regularly increasing in number, | | | | detergent, bleach, shampoo, feminine supplies, etc.), |
| don't you think it's about time to stock up? | | | | mending supplies, changes of clothing and shoes for |
| Stocking water and food: | | | | everyone. |
| 1) Stock a minimum of three days' supply, two weeks | | | | 7. Matches in a waterproof container. |
| or more is preferable. | | | | 8. A compass. |
| 2) Be sure to stock one (1) gallon of clean water per | | | | 9. Extra sets/copies of IDs (driver's license, Social |
| day, per person, and also stock extra water for pets. | | | | Security card, passport, work ID badges) |
| 3) Stock foods that don't require refrigeration or | | | | 10. Money |
| cooking. Foods for special needs family members: | | | | 11. Credit Cards: Don't bother with stocking a credit |
| infants, elderly, special diets, the ill. | | | | card because more likely in an emergency situation, |
| Replace food as needed: | | | | banks will be closed and ATMs will NOT work! |
| 1. Every six months: Powdered milk, dried fruit, boxed | | | | B. Desirable items to stock: |
| potatoes, crisp crackers | | | | 1. A whistle for each person. |
| 2. Every twelve months: Canned foods, cereals (both | | | | 2. A generator. You can make solar powered |
| ready-to-eat and uncooked) | | | | generators---small ones for your electronics, and even |
| 3. Almost forever: Whole dried beans, grains, rice, corn; | | | | one on your roof to power your whole house. |
| dry pasta; bouillon (except canned); coffee, tea, cocoa, | | | | 3. A tent. |
| soft drinks; salt, sugar. Be sure, however, that these | | | | Making these preparations is not a guarantee that you |
| are kept in air-tight containers such as screw-top jars. | | | | will be completely prepared for any disaster, but not |
| 4. It is best to have the food all in one place: a pantry, | | | | making them is a guarantee that you will be totally |
| a spare room, or a root cellar---any cool place. Then | | | | vulnerable in these disastrous situations. |