The Pizazz of Preparedness Gifts

By Darla Isackson

Autumn leaves fall. Frost nips the air. Holiday plans are being discussed. Recently, as dusk dimmed the colors around me, I drove toward my son's house. As I turned onto his street, I gasped. Halloween lights and decorations still adorned a neighbor's porch—but on the same neighbor’s rooftop Santa and his sleigh lit up the sky! While blending Santa with pumpkins, cornstalks, and scarecrows would not be my choice,  I can’t ignore the inevitable: Christmas shopping looms. 

This year as I'm making my list and checking it twice, I'm considering the many possible gifts that could raise the level of emergency preparedness for those I love. Also, when asked what I would like most for Christmas, I’m giving out ideas of preparedness supplies I still need.

When compiling my emergency preparedness wish list, I considered first what one adult would need to survive for one year. The most basic survival food storage list I could find suggests we have: 

• Grains: 400 lbs. (including wheat, flour, rice, corn, oats, pasta, millet, rye, etc.)

• Legumes: 60 lbs. (including dry beans, split peas, lentils, etc.)

• Powdered Milk: 16 lbs.

• Cooking Oil: 10 qts.

• Sugar or Honey: 60 lbs.

• Salt: 8 lbs.

• Water: 14 gallons (two week emergency reserve)

Remember, the above amounts must be multiplied by the number of people in your family. Very little children would eat much less, of course, but some of my grandsons eat more than the adults in the family!

Any of these staples, tied up with a big red bow, would make a significant contribution to a family's emergency preparedness. Food storage gifts might not elicit the same oohs and aahs as clothes or gadgets given in their place, but in a time of need, they would be appreciated a thousand times more. 

If your loved ones have their food storage, consider first aid kits, 72-hour-kits or emergency kits for their cars.

Although grandkids are not likely to understand the value of such gifts, you can plan more fun preparedness gifts for children, such as flashlights, walkie talkies, wind-up radios, etc. You might even give young children special games or snacks to add to their 72-Hour Kits. 

Whatever preparedness gift you choose might be compared to giving children vegetables instead of Twinkies--or like putting money in an emergency savings account for them rather than taking them to an expensive restaurant  right now. Considering world and economic conditions, gifts that increase preparedness not only make sense, but have timely pizzaz! 

For more information on storage and emergency preparedness suggestions, visit the following websites: www.provident living.org, www.fema.gov/areyouready, www.ready.gov, and www.redcross.org.