Emergency Preparedness Youth Activities

(Yep, I copied and pasted this from this wonderful little website......here)
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS YOUTH ACTIVITIES

Talking about emergencies with children can be difficult because no one wants to create unnecessary fear and no
one wants to think that an emergency could happen to them. However, the reality is that emergencies can strike
anyone at any time, and the best defense is preparation. The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services
created a list of activities for children to help them learn about emergency preparedness. These could be used at
youth retreats, youth group meetings, or religious classes. Activities are listed below, separated by age group.

Elementary Age
• Conduct scavenger hunts for items that would be included in an emergency kit, such as a flashlight,
batteries, battery-operated radio, canned or dried food, water, first aid kit, medicines (for the scavenger
hunt, empty medicine bottles will do), toilet paper, and rain gear.
• Discuss different places that emergencies could happen, such as at school, at home, or at church and
what you should do to prepare for those different types of situations. Have children write and illustrate
a storybook to tell how to prepare for one of those emergency situations.
• Brainstorm words that relate to emergency preparedness, such as tornado, flashlight, plan, first aid, and
create and illustrate flash cards to quiz others about the definitions of those words, and discuss how
they relate to emergency preparedness.
• Design artwork to decorate the outside of an emergency kit.
• Play a role-playing game where the adult acts as the child and the child acts as the adult. Children
should be able to answer your questions about how to prepare for an emergency. You can ask questions
such as: What do we do when a tornado comes? What is an emergency plan? Where is our emergency
kit? What do we put into an emergency kit?
• Make a kit. Arrange a large number of items on a table along with several larger containers. Items
should include things needed to make an emergency kit − a blanket, flashlight, batteries, water, and
toilet paper. Also have items that you would include in a car emergency kit. Ask children to pick
between items they would put into a home emergency kit and items they would include in a car
emergency kit. Discuss why they chose each item for each kit.

Middle School Age
• Have children conduct a scavenger hunt for relevant passages in spiritual texts that discuss emergency
preparedness and/or safety. There are several stories in many different texts that tell stories of how
people have been faced with emergencies and disasters and show how they’ve prepared for them.
• Adopt a needy family and put together an emergency kit for them to use. Make sure to have enough
food and water for each member of the family and pets, if they have them.
Ready in 3 is an emergency-preparedness program for Missouri. The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services sponsors the
program. Ready in 3 aims to help residents and communities prepare for many types of emergencies from tornadoes to terrorism. For more
information, visit www.dhss.mo.gov. Youth Activities - 07-05
• Conduct scavenger hunts for items that would be included in an emergency kit such as a flashlight,
batteries, battery-operated radio, canned or dried food, water, first aid kit, medicines (for the
scavenger hunt, empty medicine bottles will do), toilet paper, and rain gear.
• Write and perform a skit for the congregation on emergency preparedness during worship services.
The skit should have a problem (for example, someone isn’t sure how to prepare for an emergency)
and a solution (a friend tells them about the Ready in 3 program and where they can go for
information).
• Hold a poster contest with the theme − “Helping others prepare for emergencies”. Have parents or
group leaders judge the contest.
• Hold a video contest where children create a commercial or television show telling the audience
how to prepare for an emergency. Have a viewing party to watch the videos.
• Tour a fire department, or other emergency service providers.

High School Age
• Adopt a needy family and put together an emergency kit for them to use, including all appropriate
items. Make sure to have enough food and water for each member of the family and pets, if they
have them.
• Create an emergency kit for their car.
• Volunteer to spend time with an older member of the congregation/community and help them
prepare an emergency plan and emergency kit that takes their needs into account. They may have
trouble moving quickly or have special medical needs, so be sure to take these into account when
discussing how to prepare.
• Volunteer with local shelters to help put emergency kits together. In order to assemble kits for a
larger group of people, it may also be feasible for the congregation to sponsor a drive for
emergency kit items, supplying a list of needed items to members of the congregation.
• Students could write stories for their high school newspapers on emergency preparedness. One
particular item to highlight would be the necessity of an emergency kit for the car as most students
are beginning to drive. Stories could also include interviews with other teens about their stories
with emergencies and the importance of being prepared.
• Brainstorm a community service project that involves working with a local disaster relief
organization to help others become prepared for an emergency and put it into action.
• Create content for the church’s web site telling members of the congregation how to prepare for an
emergency and provide them with other resources. This could direct others to www.dhss.mo.gov.
Resources
There are several resources available for children to learn about emergencies. For example,
http://ready.mo.gov/ has several links for kids that give information and provide workbook activities for them
to measure what they’ve learned. Additionally, the Family Safety Guide, created by the Missouri Department
of Health and Senior Services can help children learn how to establish a family plan, create an emergency kit,
and teach them what information to listen for during an actual emergency. Additional information can be
found by visiting www.dhss.mo.gov, click on the Ready in 3 logo.

PREPARING YOUR FAMILY EMERGENCY KIT

Here is a great web site to help you while preparing your family emergency kit!

Click Here

Ten Suggestions when preparing for an Emergency

Ten (10) Suggestions when preparing for an emergency:
1. At least a 3 day supply of water (1 gallon per person per day)
2. A 3-5 day supply of non-perishable packaged or canned food and non electric can opener and plastic utensils.
3. Rain gear, sturdy shoes and a change of clothes, underwear and hygiene products.
4. Blankets, bedding or sleeping bags.
5. A first aid kit and prescription medications.
6. A list of family physicians and important medical information.
7. Special items for infants, pets, the elderly, the infirmed and family members with disabilities.
8. A battery –powered radio, flashlight and plenty of batteries; tools duct tape pen and paper and household bleach.
9. Identification, credit cards, cash and photocopies of important family documents including insurance information.

10. And an extra set of car and house keys.

100 Things that Disappear in an Emergency....

100 Items to Disappear First

1. Generators (Good ones cost dearly. Gas storage, risky. Noisy...target of thieves; maintenance etc.)

2. Water Filters/Purifiers

3. Portable Toilets

4. Seasoned Firewood. Wood takes about 6 - 12 months to become dried, for home uses.

5. Lamp Oil, Wicks, Lamps (First Choice: Buy CLEAR oil. If scarce, stockpile ANY!)

6. Coleman Fuel. Impossible to stockpile too much.

7. Guns, Ammunition, Pepper Spray, Knives, Clubs, Bats & Slingshots.

8. Hand-can openers, & hand egg beaters, whisks.

9. Honey/Syrups/white, brown sugar

10. Rice - Beans - Wheat

11. Vegetable Oil (for cooking) Without it food burns/must be boiled etc.,)

12. Charcoal, Lighter Fluid (Will become scarce suddenly)

13. Water Containers (Urgent Item to obtain.) Any size. Small: HARD CLEAR PLASTIC ONLY - note - food grade if for drinking.

14. and 15. I don't know what happened to them.....

16. Propane Cylinders (Urgent: Definite shortages will occur.

17. Survival Guide Book.

18. Mantles: Aladdin, Coleman, etc. (Without this item, longer-term lighting is difficult.)

19. Baby Supplies: Diapers/formula. ointments/aspirin, etc.

20. Washboards, Mop Bucket w/wringer (for Laundry)

21. Cookstoves (Propane, Coleman & Kerosene)

22. Vitamins

23. Propane Cylinder Handle-Holder (Urgent: Small canister use is dangerous without this item) 24. Feminine Hygiene/Haircare/Skin products.

25. Thermal underwear (Tops & Bottoms)

26. Bow saws, axes and hatchets, Wedges (also, honing oil)

27. Aluminum Foil Reg. & Heavy Duty (Great Cooking and Barter Item)

28. Gasoline Containers (Plastic & Metal)

29. Garbage Bags (Impossible To Have Too Many).

30. Toilet Paper, Kleenex, Paper Towels

31. Milk - Powdered & Condensed (Shake Liquid every 3 to 4 months)

32. Garden Seeds (Non-Hybrid) (A MUST)

33. Clothes pins/line/hangers (A MUST)

34. Coleman's Pump Repair Kit

35. Tuna Fish (in oil)

36. Fire Extinguishers (or..large box of Baking Soda in every room)

37. First aid kits

38. Batteries (all sizes...buy furthest-out for Expiration Dates)

39. Garlic, spices & vinegar, baking supplies

40. Big Dogs (and plenty of dog food)

41. Flour, yeast & salt

42. Matches. {"Strike Anywhere" preferred.) Boxed, wooden matches will go first

43. Writing paper/pads/pencils, solar calculators

44. Insulated ice chests (good for keeping items from freezing in Wintertime.)

45. Workboots, belts, Levis & durable shirts

46. Flashlights/LIGHTSTICKS & torches, "No. 76 Dietz" Lanterns

47. Journals, Diaries & Scrapbooks (jot down ideas, feelings, experience; Historic Times)

48. Garbage cans Plastic (great for storage, water, transporting - if with wheels)

49. Men's Hygiene: Shampoo, Toothbrush/paste, Mouthwash/floss, nail clippers, etc

50. Cast iron cookware (sturdy, efficient)

51. Fishing supplies/tools

52. Mosquito coils/repellent, sprays/creams

53. Duct Tape

54. Tarps/stakes/twine/nails/rope/spikes

55. Candles

56. Laundry Detergent (liquid)

57. Backpacks, Duffel Bags

58. Garden tools & supplies

59. Scissors, fabrics & sewing supplies

60. Canned Fruits, Veggies, Soups, stews, etc.

61. Bleach (plain, NOT scented: 4 to 6% sodium hypochlorite)

62. Canning supplies, (Jars/lids/wax) 6

3. Knives & Sharpening tools: files, stones, steel

64. Bicycles...Tires/tubes/pumps/chains, etc

65. Sleeping Bags & blankets/pillows/mats

66. Carbon Monoxide Alarm (battery powered)

67. Board Games, Cards, Dice

68. d-con Rat poison, MOUSE PRUFE II, Roach Killer

69. Mousetraps, Ant traps & cockroach magnets

70. Paper plates/cups/utensils (stock up, folks)

71. Baby wipes, oils, waterless & Antibacterial soap (saves a lot of water)

72. Rain gear, rubberized boots, etc.

73. Shaving supplies (razors & creams, talc, after shave)

74. Hand pumps & siphons (for water and for fuels)

75. Soysauce, vinegar, bullions/gravy/soupbase

76. Reading glasses

77. Chocolate/Cocoa/Tang/Punch (water enhancers)

78. "Survival-in-a-Can"

79. Woolen clothing, scarves/ear-muffs/mittens

80. Boy Scout Handbook, / also Leaders Catalog

81. Roll-on Window Insulation Kit (MANCO)

82. Graham crackers, saltines, pretzels, Trail mix/Jerky

83. Popcorn, Peanut Butter, Nuts

84. Socks, Underwear, T-shirts, etc. (extras)

85. Lumber (all types)

86. Wagons & carts (for transport to and from)

87. Cots & Inflatable mattress's 88. Gloves: Work/warming/gardening, etc.

89. Lantern Hangers

90. Screen Patches, glue, nails, screws,, nuts & bolts

91. Teas

92. Coffee

93. Cigarettes

94. Wine/Liquors (for bribes, medicinal, etc,)

95. Paraffin wax

96. Glue, nails, nuts, bolts, screws, etc.

97. Chewing gum/candies

98. Atomizers (for cooling/bathing)

99. Hats & cotton neckerchiefs

100. Goats/chickens

This list is from the internet, I just thought it was interesting.

Preparing for the Future, ???

Yesterday as I was talking to some friends about the Bible and being prepared for the future and what ever comes our way. One lady said, well, I am not stocking up..we buy what we need that week and we go on. She said the Bible teaches us that God will provide for us. Then she said, and if my family is starving, I would just come and take it from people like you. People that are stocking up. Even though I didn't say anything, I thought....Well, you will find a gun or one angry momma that won't let you......(Besides that, I would share, you don't have to take anything from me, I will share if I have it)....I got home and I continued thinking about what she said...And, she is right...People would do that. I would do that, if my 4 babies were starving. I would ask, beg, and if have to steal to keep my children alive and going and not suffering. But, and this is a BIG BUT, I don't have too. Because God has given me the resources and the know how on how to prepare for my family. And, how to prepare for what ever comes our way. I am not hoarding, I only keep what I think will get us through a hard time. I would love to have enough to get us through a year. I don't have it, but I am working towards it. But, at the same time, if someone came to me and was hungry, I am going to feed them and take care of them. If a friend has fallen on hard times and has no food, or clothes, or even seeds for a garden, I will be here sharing what God has let me collect just for that purpose. The purpose of taking care of others, whether that be a stranger of my children. I have wanted to write a blog about this for so long, I didn't know what to say or rather how to say it. Because I do know how I feel and I do know that what I am doing is not wrong. I prayed really hard last night, asked God to let me know what to say or how to say it. And, believe me I still have a lot to say. But, this has helped me start telling you and has helped me get it off my chest a bit.
Okay, I am preparing for our future, we never know what is going to happen. Heck, my husband could loose his job tomorrow. But, I AM PREPARED! My family will have food and will be able to make it. There should be a balance between hoarding and living in the moment while preparing the future, and I do believe I have it.

I have to go and plant some stuff in my garden...but, I wanted to leave you with this (and, yes I am cutting and pasting this from a website my friend sent me. I have so much more to say and I will say it.) This came from this web page....PAGE

V. Is Any of This Really Necessary? What Are The Chances….?

1. Bible history tells us to prepare

2. Church history tells us to prepare

3. Recent history tells us to prepare- Frontier churches, Revolutionary War, Civil War, WW1 and WW2

4. Current history tells us to prepare- Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Gustav, etc.; California earthquakes and wild fires; Los Angeles riots; oppression of the church in various other countries.

5. World political and economic situation tells us to prepare.

6. Common sense tells us to prepare

He has lots to say, maybe check it out.

Now, I am going....I will continue to pray about this. Off to plants some beets, radishes, dandelions and turnip greens.