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Are You Prepared?

Yesterday, a woman at church asked me if I would set up a display about emergency lighting for our Relief Society meeting on Thursday night.  I responded with an articulate, "Um, OK" while frantically thinking through how I could arrange flashlights on a table in an oh-so-attractive manner. 

I spent some time last night researching lighting, and remembering alternate sources of light we have.  Today, I decided I should start to gather up some of those items.  In not too much time, I found plenty of flashlights, plus some lanterns of various fuel types:


That's not too bad, except none of the flashlights to the left of the tall oil lamp actually work, even with good batteries.  Perhaps new light bulbs will resurrect some of them.  I hope so.  I rather like the sturdiness of the metal one. 

As for the rest of the supplies, I have no oil for my lamp, and no extra wicks.  I suspect I need extra fuel and mantles for the little camping lanterns, and I'm woefully short on D batteries for the flashlights. 

To be fair, I do some other items I still need to round up--candles (battery-operated and traditional), a wind-up flashlight, and another camping lantern--but this little exercise reminds me of how important it is to take inventory periodically. 

I think this afternoon I will invest in some D batteries and flashlight bulbs.  Also oil and wicks.  I don't want to find myself on the wrong side of a parable.  And I think I will pick up some light sticks, as they are safe to use even near gas leaks, which might occur in an earthquake.  I'm also drooling a bit over a solar lantern I found on amazon, and might order it.

Then, when I am done with my display on Thursday, I think I will not just return everything to the box of camping supplies, but rather, will spread things out a bit.  I shouldn't have to stumble through the house to the closet, just to dig out a light source.  When the kids were little, flashlights always disappeared, because what could be more fun than shining a light in a dark room?  However, we're at least ten years past that stage, so flashlights should stay put now.

Update:  I think I'm going to use this as a handout Thursday night.  (Right-click on photo to open in a new window to view larger.)




Thankful thought:  Thanks to Vicky, who by asking me to help at Relief Society, has made me take stock of my family's preparedness.  And thanks also for the ease of electricity! 


Comments

  1. I have been watching Jericho on Netflix lately and I am wondering if we need more light sources and water. Maybe a wind turbine? Garden seeds? I told our family that it is time to rotate out food from our 72 hour kits and restock. Poor Bart has to put up with my phases.

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