Announcements:
For anyone interested in testing for an amateur license, or upgrading to an advanced license class, the Bridgerland Amateur Radio Club has posted the testing dates for the remainder of the year, with sessions as soon as next Saturday, August 23rd at 3:00 p.m. at the Cache County Sheriff's Office. The post of tonight's training topic will include the link to the club’s licensing page, here: BARC Licensing Info.
September is National Preparedness Month. I encourage the Specialists in each of our wards to use this as an opportunity to add a brief message to weekly Sacrament Meeting bulletins, or as Newton 3rd Ward has been doing, prepare a submission for the monthly newsletter, encouraging member preparedness.
The Church published preparedness information on the Provident Living website is a great resource, as are ready.gov and beready.utah.gov.
Ward Specialists who are not amateur radio licensed, please consider applying for a GMRS license. This is a no-test option that will help us coordinate the needs of the Stake should an emergency occur and normal modes of communication fail. Please contact me and I can help you with the process.
Training:
A 72-hour kit, also known as a "go bag" or "bug-out bag," is considered a basic level of preparedness for emergencies. It's recommended to have one for each member of your household, including children and pets.
A 72-hour kit is essential for surviving the initial days following a disaster when access to essential resources like food, water, and shelter may be limited. It's designed to help you be self-sufficient for the first 72 hours (3 days) of an emergency.
Here's why you need one:
It can take time for emergency services to reach everyone after a major disaster. A 72-hour kit provides a buffer of essential supplies while waiting for help or until you can safely assess the situation.
A well-stocked kit allows you to meet your basic needs (water, food, shelter, warmth, first aid) without relying on external resources for the first few days.
Knowing you have a plan and the necessary supplies can significantly reduce stress and anxiety during an emergency.
72-hour kits are useful for various emergencies, including natural disasters (earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes), power outages, and even unexpected situations where you might need to evacuate your home.
Although specific contents may vary, the basic components of a 72-hour kit include ready-to-eat food, water, first-aid kit, medicine, personal hygiene products, sanitizers, radio, extra batteries, whistle, flashlight, thermal blanket, raincoat, and certified true copies of pertinent documents like birth certificates, and passports.
While 72 hours is the starting point, many recommend extending your preparedness to a week or more, especially if you live in a disaster-prone area.
There are many resources online with more specific lists of what to include in a 72-hour kit, such as the resources mentioned in the announcements tonight, which are linked on the blog post for tonight's radio net.