MLK Day

It's MLK Day. Think about service to others. What do you have in your emergency plans, gear, or supplies to help friends and neighbors?

When planning to help others always remember balance. Here are a few notions:

1. Take care of you and your immediate family first. You're no good to others if you yourself are not able.

2. When helping others prepare, don't tell them everything about what you have stored. Some people just won't prepare as they should and in a severe crisis, they may remember how much you have and try to take it.

3. Set aside the little things that will make a huge difference with others. Things we take for granted like toilet paper, chocolate, coffee, and so on will be worth their weight in gold in an emergency that might drag on for a bit.

4. Learn first aid and CPR and urge your neighbors to attend class with you.

5. Overlap some skills with your friends and neighbors. Learn something they don't know. For example, if everyone you know is a good cook, you'll probably have a good handle on food. But, how many of you know how to turn off your utilities and then turn them back on? Look for necessary skills that aren't common among those you're close to.