December 9th
Monday
Think uniform. Purchase or make something that identifies members as part of a family unit. This is an important way to improve your chances of being reunited quickly during and after a disaster. Purchase a solid color t-shirt for each member of the family. Shirt sizes for children should be at least one size larger than they are now wearing. If giving as a gift, include a set of fabric crayons and instructions to create a family shirt. All shirts should have the same design. These shirts will then be placed in a Five-Day kit and worn when the family needs to evacuate. Each shirt should have the same picture on it, but not a name. Have each member contribute something to the picture, iron it onto a shirt, and then recolor each design and reuse it for each additional shirt. Shirts should be a bright color to make them easier to spot in a crowd and more memorable. Shirts may also be tie-dyed or splatter-painted.
I remember the frustration during Katrina when family members were looking for their children. Everyone had seen a pretty little girl with curly hair, but there were hundreds of pretty little girls with curly hair. If your family is all wearing the same distinctive shirt, it is much more likely that someone will remember seeing your child. Even better, you might get a member of the media to say, "The child we are looking for is wearing a shirt just like this one." You can also use the same tactic with bandannas and baseball caps. Just remember to make them all the same and distinctive from those you can purchase. Bandannas are easy to make and very inexpensive if you check out the sale table at the fabric store. Again, be sure the fabric is unique so people will notice.
Which family on your list could use a uniform?
Tuesday
Going out of town for the holidays? Prepare now to safeguard your home.If you plan to leave on vacation:• Contact your neighbors and ask them to remove any advertisements that may be placed on your driveway or front door and to keep an eye on your home.• Call the post office to stop your mail and newspaper.• Purchase several timers and begin using them now. The timers will set a pattern, and if anyone is watching your home, they will not be able to determine if you have left, since the same lights go on and off every day whether you are there or not. Be sure the blinds are open enough for the light to be seen, but not enough for the thief to see inside.
Wednesday
Speaking of gifts... Let there be light. Preparing for a power outage, there are some inexpensive items that also make great gifts. Check that list for people you can prepare gifts for this year. Consider: high-intensity flashlights, plug-in flashlights that charge and automatically come on when the power fails, batteries, battery storage cases, battery-operated lamps, and solar items. There are so many solar options that can be used during the day and recharged at night. Solar landscape lighting, inflatable lanterns that take up little room in a kit and can be recharged during the day and used at night, and even solar string lights that are normally used to decorate at Christmas or to string in the yard. Do you have all of these? If not, add them to your wish list.
Thursday
Nothing is more important when preparing to become self-reliant than family unity. Celebrate the 12 Days of Christmas beginning today. Keep a journal and have a family member write in it before bed each night. Record Christmas-related events, the Christmas newsletter you received, the cookies you baked and the recipe, the decorations you hung, and your favorite Christmas carol or Christmas movie you watched.
Friday
Do you remember the things that were hard to get during the pandemic? Most are not very “romantic,” but cold and flu season is here, and anyone on a budget may appreciate a supply of vitamins, cold meds, pain medications, medications for stomach upset, and so much more. Most of these can be purchased in small sizes, which makes them perfect to add to an office, auto, or Five-Day kit. This may be a good time to check your supply of these items. Now is the time to build strong bonds so that when the inevitable crisis comes, you have the strong bonds established to handle the challenges together.
Saturday
Clean your pantry, freezer, and refrigerator. Get rid of all those old jars of jelly that have turned to sugar, and wrinkled fruits and veggies. Now you have room for holiday foods, and you know where everything is and what you need to purchase to be prepared for the holiday.
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