September is National Preparedness Month!

"It wasn’t raining when Noah built the ark.” — Howard Ruff During the month of September we are offering the following offer on select Wise Food products: Buy a 1080 Serving Package, get (2) 72 Hour Food Kits FREE (retail value of $69) Buy a 1440 Serving Package, get (4) 72 Hour Food Kits FREE (retail value of $138) Buy a 2160 Serving Package, get (6) 72 Hour Food Kits FREE (retail value of $207) Buy a 2880 Serving Package, get (8) 72 Hour Food Kits FREE (retail value of $276) Buy a 4320 Serving Package, get (10) 72 Hour Food Kits FREE (retail value of $345) We are now also carrying Chef's banquet long term storage food in addition to Wise long term storage food.  The largest difference between the two brands is packet size.  Wise foods come packaged in 4 serving packets.  Chef's Banquet comes in 5-10 serving packets.  The Chef's Banquet line is less expensive primarily due to the economy afforded thru reduced packaging. FREE Shipping on all long term storage food at SunflowerAmmo.com ·Cookies are disabled. In order to shop on this Web store, you must have cookies enabled. For instructions on how to enable cookies, please see the help section of your browser. Once cookies are enabled please refresh the current page.

Basic Emergency Supply List

When preparing for a possible emergency situation, it's best to think first about the basics of survival: fresh water, food, clean air and warmth. Recommended Items to Include in a Basic Emergency Supply Kit: Water, one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation Food, at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both Flashlight and extra batteries First aid kit Whistle to signal for help Dust mask, to help filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities Can opener for food (if kit contains canned food) Local maps Cell phone with chargers Additional Items to Consider Adding to an Emergency Supply Kit: Prescription medications and glasses Infant formula and diapers Pet food and extra water for your pet Important family documents such as copies of insurance policies, identification and bank account records in a waterproof, portable container Cash or traveler's checks and change Emergency reference material such as a first aid book Sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person. Consider additional bedding if you live in a cold-weather climate. Complete change of clothing including a long sleeved shirt, long pants and sturdy shoes. Consider additional clothing if you live in a cold-weather climate. Household chlorine bleach and medicine dropper – When diluted nine parts water to one part bleach, bleach can be used as a disinfectant. Or in an emergency, you can use it to treat water by using 16 drops of regular household liquid bleach per gallon of water. Do not use scented, color safe or bleaches with added cleaners. Fire Extinguisher Matches in a waterproof container Feminine supplies and personal hygiene items Mess kits, paper cups, plates and plastic utensils, paper towels Paper and pencil Books, games, puzzles or other activities for children

Power Outage

A thunderstorm popped up last night causing a power outage at my home. I waited a few hours to see if power was going to be restored quickly. After seeing that only 10 homes were affected I determined that power was going to be off for a while so I got out my emergency generator.

I do not have my electrical distribution panel wired to accept a feed from my emergency generator so I utilize 10ga extension cords to distribute generator power to items I want to power in my home. I ran power to my freezer, refrigerator, sump pump and a light. I left my generator running overnight in case my sump pump was needed. Power was restored the next morning. I came away with the following concerns following my short power outage:

Positive
1) I had plenty of 10ga cords, of sufficient length, to distribute power. I have a 10ga 3 outlet cord end to run multiple small items like a fan and light in the same area.
2) I have a cable lock for my generator. I placed my generator outside my garage and backed my truck up to the garage. I locked my generator to the class III hitch on my truck. This set up worked well.
3) My generator started on the first pull. I test it every fall and use Sea Foam additive in the gas.
4) I have a large zero turn lawn mover so I keep multiple 5 gallon gas cans which also provide fuel for my generator.

Negative
1) While my generator is set up to power my gas fired furnace during cold weather it is not big enough to power my heat pump during the summer. It is less common to have power outages due to summer storms but I will have to consider upgrading to a large generator that will power my heat pump.
2) I do not have battery back up on my basement sump pump. It has been on my to do list but I have delayed purchase. I did replace my sump pump this winter under preventive maintenance. I had to run my generator continuously to power my sump pump. If I had battery back up, I would only have to run my generator every few hours to keep my freezer and refrigator cold and potentionally charge a sump pump battery. I am shopping for battery back up to add to my sump pump.

Nothing like a minor emergency to let you test your gear in a real life situation.

Feb 2010 Issue of Field and Stream Magazine

I was at my father in laws house this weekend and he had the newest issue of Field and Stream magazine.  The cover story was about an Alaskan trapper and surviving in the Alaskan bush.  It had been years since I had read Field and Stream at the hometown barber shop.  I forgot that they did an article on a true survival in the wilderness story every issue.

This prompted me to go to the Field and Stream website with the intention of posting the link to the article. I could not find the article online so you will have to go to the newsstand and purchase a copy of the magazine.  I did find a ton of great survival info on their site.  It is definitely worth checking out.

Situation in Haiti is a reminder to keep extra ammo and supplies.

The situation in Haiti has deteriorated into gangs fighting each other with machetes for food.  You should be prepared to take care of yourself and family in a similar situation.  Here in the Midwest we sit on the New Madras Fault line that produced a 8.3 earthquake in 1812.  The Southwest is plagued by hurricanes.  The West coast has its own earthquakes and wild fires. We all should remember Katrina if you think the government can guarantee emergency aide during a disaster.

SunflowerAmmo.com has emergency lighting, water filtration, survival tools, emergency medical kits and more for you emergency supplies.

The following is a emergency supply primer supplied by FEMA to get you started.

Are You Ready?

Assemble a Disaster Supplies Kit

You may need to survive on your own after a disaster. This means having your own food, water, and other supplies in sufficient quantity to last for at least three days. Local officials and relief workers will be on the scene after a disaster, but they cannot reach everyone immediately. You could get help in hours, or it might take days.
Basic services such as electricity, gas, water, sewage treatment, and telephones may be cut off for days, or even a week or longer. Or, you may have to evacuate at a moment’s notice and take essentials with you. You probably will not have the opportunity to shop or search for the supplies you need.
A disaster supplies kit is a collection of basic items that members of a household may need in the event of a disaster.

Kit Locations

Since you do not know where you will be when an emergency occurs, prepare supplies for home, work, and vehicles.

Home	Work	Car
Your disaster supplies kit should contain essential food, water, and supplies for at least three days. Keep this kit in a desig­nated place and have it ready in case you have to leave your home quickly. Make sure all family members know where the kit is kept. Additionally, you may want to consider having supplies for sheltering for up to two weeks.	This kit should be in one container, and ready to "grab and go" in case you are evacuated from your workplace. Make sure you have food and water in the kit. Also, be sure to have com­fortable walking shoes at your workplace in case an evacuation requires walking long distances.	In case you are strand­ed, keep a kit of emer­gency supplies in your car. This kit should contain food, water, first aid supplies, flares, jumper cables, and seasonal supplies.

Water

How Much Water do I Need?
You should store at least one gallon of water per person per day. A normally active person needs at least one-half gallon of water daily just for drinking.
Additionally, in determining adequate quantities, take the following into account:

• Individual needs vary, depending on age, physical condition, activity, diet, and climate.
• Children, nursing mothers, and ill people need more water.
• Very hot temperatures can double the amount of water needed.
• A medical emergency might require additional water.

How Should I Store Water?
To prepare safest and most reliable emergency supply of water, it is recommended you purchase commercially bottled water. Keep bottled water in its original container and do not open it until you need to use it.
Observe the expiration or “use by” date.
If you are preparing your own containers of water
It is recommended you purchase food-grade water storage containers from surplus or camping supplies stores to use for water storage. Before filling with water, thoroughly clean the containers with dishwashing soap and water, and rinse completely so there is no residual soap. Follow directions below on filling the container with water.
If you choose to use your own storage containers, choose two-liter plastic soft drink bottles – not plastic jugs or cardboard containers that have had milk or fruit juice in them. Milk protein and fruit sugars cannot be adequately removed from these containers and provide an environment for bacterial growth when water is stored in them. Cardboard containers also leak easily and are not designed for long-term storage of liquids. Also, do not use glass containers, because they can break and are heavy.
If storing water in plastic soda bottles, follow these steps
Thoroughly clean the bottles with dishwashing soap and water, and rinse completely so there is no residual soap.Sanitize the bottles by adding a solution of 1 teaspoon of non-scented liquid household chlorine bleach to a quart of water. Swish the sanitizing solution in the bottle so that it touches all surfaces. After sanitizing the bottle, thoroughly rinse out the sanitizing solution with clean water.
Filling water containers
Fill the bottle to the top with regular tap water. If the tap water has been commercially treated from a water utility with chlorine, you do not need to add anything else to the water to keep it clean. If the water you are using comes from a well or water source that is not treated with chlorine, add two drops of non-scented liquid household chlorine bleach to the water.Tightly close the container using the original cap. Be careful not to contaminate the cap by touching the inside of it with your finger. Place a date on the outside of the container so that you know when you filled it. Store in a cool, dark place.Replace the water every six months if not using commercially bottled water.

Food

The following are things to consider when putting together your food supplies:

• Avoid foods that will make you thirsty. Choose salt-free crackers, whole grain cereals, and canned foods with high liquid content.
• Stock canned foods, dry mixes, and other staples that do not require refrigeration, cooking, water, or special preparation. You may already have many of these on hand. (Note: Be sure to include a manual can opener.)
• Include special dietary needs.

Basic Disaster Supplies Kit

The following items are recommended for inclusion in your basic disaster supplies kit:

• Three-day supply of non-perishable food.
• Three-day supply of water - one gallon of water per person, per day.
• Portable, battery-powered radio or television and extra batteries.
• Flashlight and extra batteries.
• First aid kit and manual.
• Sanitation and hygiene items (moist towelettes and toilet paper).
• Matches and waterproof container.
• Whistle.
• Extra clothing.
• Kitchen accessories and cooking utensils, including a can opener.
• Photocopies of credit and identification cards.
• Cash and coins.
• Special needs items, such as prescription medications, eye glasses, contact lens solutions, and hearing aid batteries.
• Items for infants, such as formula, diapers, bottles, and pacifiers.
• Other items to meet your unique family needs.

If you live in a cold climate, you must think about warmth. It is possible that you will not have heat. Think about your clothing and bedding supplies. Be sure to include one complete change of clothing and shoes per person, including:

• Jacket or coat.
• Long pants.
• Long sleeve shirt.
• Sturdy shoes.
• Hat, mittens, and scarf.
• Sleeping bag or warm blanket (per person).

Be sure to account for growing children and other family changes. See Appendix B for a detailed checklist of disaster supplies. You may want to add some of the items listed to your basic disaster supplies kit depending on the specific needs of your family.

Maintaining Your Disaster Supplies Kit

Just as important as putting your supplies together is maintaining them so they are safe to use when needed. Here are some tips to keep your supplies ready and in good condition:

• Keep canned foods in a dry place where the temperature is cool.
• Store boxed food in tightly closed plastic or metal containers to protect from pests and to extend its shelf life.
• Throw out any canned good that becomes swollen, dented, or corroded.
• Use foods before they go bad, and replace them with fresh supplies.
• Place new items at the back of the storage area and older ones in the front.
• Change stored food and water supplies every six months. Be sure to write the date you store it on all containers.
• Re-think your needs every year and update your kit as your family needs change.
• Keep items in airtight plastic bags and put your entire disaster supplies kit in one or two easy-to-carry containers, such as an unused trashcan, camping backpack, or duffel bag.