72-Hour Kit Class Report

By Karen Bateman



This past Tuesday, June 15th we had a fabulous meeting at Kim Adair's home on 72 hour Kits. When we came, Kim served Mango Smoothies and popcorn - then the "role play" began. Joel Adair, came running in and said there had been some kind of disaster in Dallas, and they had to evacuate their home. The whole family went into action; with Kim directing, everyone grabbed their 72-HR kits and extra bags and loaded their car. They did it in approximately 10 minutes. Kim said that was the first time they had ever done a drill, and that she learned several things from the experience.



Kim then sat in the middle of the floor, and unloaded their backpack kits. It was fascinating how many different things they had assembled. One thing that really struck me, was that she had laminated pictures of each child, and the family picture to which they belonged. On the back was critical information in an emergency: name, birthday, parents, food allergies, blood type, etc. She also had their birth certificates, credit cards, and social security cards all laminated on one sheet. She also showed us a number of water filtering systems large and small for filtering all types of water to make it drinkable. It was reinforced that WATER is your most important asset in most emergencies. She had a bag of small bills - dollars - five dollars - and some coins. If computers are not working - neither will credit cards.


Several sisters told of times when they were forced into an emergency; certainly most poignant was Sister Angelina Athian. When rebels invaded her village in Sudan, when she was just 15, she had to flee with five siblings from 13 to 2 years old without her parents at home. They just grabbed quickly what they thought they could take and fled on foot. They really had no water supply. Sister Athian quietly told us,"I lost my 9 year old brother on that trip". Sister Yvonne Gausman spoke of a time when her husband was in the Navy, based in San Francisco. There was a rather credible rumor which circulated that the Cubans were about to attack the West Coast. The Navy men were instructed to flee to some mountains for three days of a survival camp. The Marines acted as the enemy. She said that after only three days of the survival camp many of the men were breaking down mentally and it was effecting them physically. These were men in their prime and well trained.

Sister Adair talked about her in-laws in Salt Lake City. Several neighborhoods in Salt Lake last week--because of leakage from some old oil drums into one of the Creeks--had their water contaminated for several days.

It was a night of great information, some dramatic role playing and much reflection on how prepared we each were. We have been warned and warned by many prophets to be prepared. Prepared, so that we will suffer less, when these emergencies come into our lives. We each received a little flashlight for our own 72-HR kits. Sister Adair puts so much work and great information into her presentations. Start working on a backpack or a rolling bag for everyone for whom you are responsible. Don't waste your time worrying - just start to do something. WHEN WE ARE PREPARED, WE SHALL NOT FEAR!

Thank you Sister Adair. And thanks to all the women who attended this activity. We hope more sisters can join us next time.