Newsarticle entitled "Hurricane Irene and being prepared"

The Deseret News published an article by Seth Saunders today on how preparedness helped him and his family through hurricane Irene. He said, "We were all calm. The reason we felt so calm was that we felt prepared." He also stated, "I was less worried about what we needed to do because we had already done it it."

You can read the full article here.

A Great Life and a Bright Future

Here's a portion of an uplifting article by Elder Paul V. Johnson in the Ensign, January 2011 issue. He talks about how we live in challenging times, yet there have always been challenging times. Sharing examples from his own family and the scriptures, he says, "None of these people allowed the challenges they faced or the conditions of their world to determine the trajectory of their lives."

"There are no better days than these days, because “these are [your] days” (Helaman 7:9). You are here on earth at this time for a reason. You have what it takes. You have skills, knowledge, and natural talents given to you from God. If you live righteously, you will have access to the inspiration and strength you will need to triumph over any challenge you face. You will have the protection of a worthy life; guidance from the Lord through the Holy Ghost and prophets, seers, and revelators; and the power of sacred promises that are yours because you keep your covenants.

Take these things that are yours and have a great life!

The reason I am so confident about your ability to find a bright future in the midst of a challenging world isn’t because I know each of you individually, but because I know that the Lord lives and loves us. He is the real reason each of us has a bright future. We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us (see Philippians 4:13). Because we are children of our Heavenly Father and because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, I know our futures are bright."

So take heart--make yours a great life and have a bright future!

Merry Christmas 2010

Holiday Safety

Some good ideas from the SLCPD for cutting down on holiday crime can be found at:

http://www.slcpd.com/assetts/images/getinformed/brochures/holiday-safety.pdf

Their ideas include tips for safety At Home, Traveling, Out and About, Decorating, and Donating.

Caramel Corn

This is my favorite recipe for crunchy caramel corn. It's easy to make and it's a delicious way to use popcorn from your food storage.

CARAMEL CORN

Combine in pan:

1 stick butter or margarine

1 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup white corn syrup

1 teaspoon salt

Bring to boil; boil 5 minutes.

Remove from heat and add:

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 teaspoon baking soda

Pour over 12 cups popped corn.

Spread on cookie sheet. Put in 250 degree F. oven for 25 to 30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes.

Disaster-Proof Your Important Papers

In case you have to evacuate your home in an emergency, keep copies of your most vital papers in a portable container you can easily take with you.
There would include:

• Birth certificates and adoption records
• Marriage certificates and divorce decrees
• Drivers' licenses
• Passports/Visas/Green cards
• Social Security cards
• Titles, deeds and registrations for property owned
• Wills and trust documents
• Mortgage and loan information
• Insurance policies
• Bank account records
• Investment account records
• Credit card numbers

Keep original copies of difficult-to-replace documents, such as birth certificates and titles, in a safe deposit box. Make sure the box is held in more than one person's name. While information regarding bank accounts, insurance policies, and investments can be reproduced from account numbers, having immediate access to hard copy may be helpful.

Keep a list of all the documents you have and where they are located.
Make sure that those who need access to them know where to find this master list. Kiplinger's Your Family Records Organizer (www.kiplinger.com/organizer; 800-280-7165, Operator 89) is a CD-ROM product created to help you keep track of all these documents.

Key contact numbers to carry in your wallet: Doctor...employer/spouse's employer...children's schools...banks...insurance agents...minister, rabbi or priest...close relatives, friends and neighbors...utility companies...alarm-system company.

(Source: Barbara Hemphill, "Kiplinger's Personal Finance -Taming the Paper Tiger at Home," pg. 90)

How Would One Prepare Financially for Hard Times?

Let's face it -- times are tough -- and they will most likely get tougher before they get better. (Not what you wanted to hear, but something you probably knew already.)

We can feel peace even when there is trouble around us. There are things we can do to help us make it through these turbulent times. The following is a re-post from an article printed in the June 1980 Ensign and suggests some timeless ideas on how to prepare financially:

1. The breadwinner in the family should make every effort to stay employed and keep earning wages or salaries, profits, and benefits.

2. Try to build tenure or seniority with your employer, and demonstrate both creative and productive skills.

3. Keep knowledge and skills current through continuous upgrading; thus, you can compete with the best and offer the best service or product available in your field. Even family members not employed should do the same. Where possible, everyone should have or work toward a potentially marketable skill or product.

4. Protect yourself during a recession—or times of inflation—by keeping monthly expenditures well under control. It is no time to have any excessive debt or large installment payments. Also, you may not be able to borrow money for major things like houses, farms, or businesses. Wait until money is more available and the interest levels are moderate.

5. Have an emergency cash reserve. The longer or deeper the economic downturn, the greater the need for ready money in such cases as unemployment, reduced income, illness, or injury.

6. As much as possible, get ownership and clear title (or deed) to cars, major appliances, homes, farms, businesses, etc. During a recession or depression, repossession, foreclosure, and garnishment—and the resulting risk of bankruptcy—are more likely since cash demands continue and income may stop. Ownership of your major possessions would provide you with great security.

7. Have an adequate one year’s supply of food and clothing. It takes most families months and even years to build a good supply and learn how to store and rotate it properly. Get started now.

8. Be willing to make significant life-style changes. Economic hardship could force you to sacrifice many comforts and luxuries such as recreation, travel, nonessential clothing, eating out, entertainment, and gifts; can you make some of these changes voluntarily now? Expenditures might have to focus on essentials such as food, housing, utilities, health care, and transportation.

9. Organize your extended families to give help to each generation as needed.

10. Self-reliance is important. Knowing how to make bread, sew clothes, make gifts, toys, and home decorations, paint the house, fix the plumbing, etc., will become increasingly valuable. As much as possible, be able to sustain life. Grow a garden, cultivate fruit trees, keep animals, etc., wherever practical, or have access to these resources.

One of the best defenses against a recession or a depression is owning things like food surpluses (such as grain, sugar, corn, rice, beans, and dried fruits), precious metals and gems, coal and wood, land, etc. They have intrinsic value, demand for them stays high, and they can be used in many ways.

11. Be good friends and neighbors. During hard times, you’ll be exchanging products and services much more.

(Source: “Questions about Coping Financially: Welfare Services Suggests Some Answers,” Ensign, Jun 1980, 12)

*Previous posts on FINANCES

Preparing Your Family for an Earthquake

When preparing for an earthquake, plan on having enough supplies to get you and your family through at least the first 72 hours. After a major earthquake, there's a good chance that traditional emergency response teams will be too busy to take care of you and your family. You need to prepare your home and neighborhood.

The Plan
*Stock up on at least a three-day supply of food, water, clothes, medical supplies and other necessary equipment for everyone in your family. Make sure everyone knows where to find them.

*Decide where and when to reunite your family should you be apart when an earthquake happens.

*Choose a person outside the immediate area to contact if family members are separated. Long distance phone service will probably be restored sooner than local service. Do not use the phone immediately after the earthquake.

*Know the policies of the school or daycare center your children attend. Make plans to have someone pick them up if you are unable to get them.

*If you have a family member that does not speak English, prepare an emergency card written in English indicating that persons identification, address and any special needs such as medication or allergies. Tell that person to keep the card with him/her at all times.

*Conduct Earthquake: Duck, Cover & Hold drills every six months with your family.

*Know the safest place in each room because it will be difficult to move from one room to another during an earthquake.

*Locate the shutoff valves for water, gas and electricity. Learn how to shut off the valves before a quake. If you have any questions, call your utility company.

*Make copies of vital records and keep them in a safe deposit box in another city or state. Make sure originals are stored safely.

*Before a quake occurs, call your local Red Cross chapter and Office of Emergency Services to find out about their plans for emergency shelters and temporary medical centers in case of such a disaster.

*Establish all the possible ways to exit your house. Keep those areas clear.

*Know the locations of the nearest fire and police stations.

*Take photos and/or videos of your valuables. Make copies and keep them in another city or state.

*Include your babysitter and other household help in your plans.

*Keep an extra pair of eyeglasses and house and car keys on hand.

*Keep extra cash and change. If electricity is out, you will not be able to use an ATM.

General Tips
*Stay away from heavy furniture, appliances, large glass panes, shelves holding objects, and other large decorative masonry, brick or plaster such as fireplaces.

*Keep your hallway clear. It is usually one of the safest places to be during an earthquake.

*Stay away from kitchens and garages, which tend to be the most dangerous places because of the many items kept there.

(Source: http://ussc.utah.gov/pdf/prepare/eq_family.pdf)