April 17th was the 2014 Great Utah ShakeOut day, and Harrisville held classes throughout the day to help residents prepare in the event of a real earthquake or other natural disasters. Classes were held at the Harrisville Cabin throughout the day. They included emergency preparedness, freezer bag meals, self-reliance, preparing pets for a disaster, and preparing children for a disaster. Brochures were available to take, and there was a drawing held at the end of each class with residents having the chance to win all sorts of prizes like gift cards, Dutch ovens, flashlights, and tools, among other things. All items were donated from different stores like Smith & Edwards, Walmart, Allstate, J & J Autobody, Wangsgard, Camping World, Cal Ranch, Home Depot, Lowe’s, and Petco.
Different items discussed during the emergency preparedness class included having more than just a 72 hour kit filled with water and a water purifier, food, medicine, and clothing. It was also recommended to have a kit at your work, in your car, and at home since you never know where you’ll be when disaster strikes. Storing and purifying water was another component covered. It is recommended to store water in dark colored containers and to cover them with a blanket or other items to prevent sunlight from coming in.
Another topic was making sure to have the right clothing available for the weather. For example, if a disaster hits during the colder months, a good first layer of clothing is anything made out of poly propylene rather than cotton because “cotton keeps moisture against the skin.” Many different clothing options are available at Smith & Edwards at 3936 N. Highway 126 in Farr West.
Many different food items are available to eat during a disaster, whether it’s buying food storage items from places like Daily Bread or buying a few extra items each week from stores you normally go to or even making your own food to store, which is what the class on freezer bag meals was on. These meals can last up to six months if stored correctly in dark, cool, dry conditions. All one needs to do is mix together different foods like rice, beans, dehydrated meats, etc. into Ziploc bags. Once you’re ready to eat, heat up water to almost boiling point, pour water into the bag, close the bag, then let the bag sit in a cozy or other items such as a pillow case or sweater for about 10-15 minutes. Then you’re ready to go. With any food storage items, it’s important to rotate them before their expiration date.
The most important thing Harrisville wanted everyone to take away from the classes is to start preparing today. No one can know when disaster will hit, so it’s a good idea to start gathering different items, from clothing to food, now. More information can be found at different websites such as fema.gov or shakeout.org/utah.
