SHANE TOPONC
There are several stores in Utah Valley that carry items such as 72- hour kits and emergency supplies for people interested in emergency preparedness, and they can also provide information on what to do in times of emergency.
'I ask you earnestly, have you provided for your family a year's supply of food, clothing, and where possible, fuel? The revelation to produce and store food may be as essential to our temporal welfare today as boarding the ark was to the people in the days of Noah,' said President Ezra Taft Benson in 'Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson.'
'92 percent of Utahn's don't have a years supply of food storage due to constrictions on space, the high cost of purchasing a year's supply of food, and the poor taste of the food,' said Bill Critchfield, National Sales director of Future Foods, a company that distributes bulk food to the public.
Future Foods specializes in bulk food products. They help fill the needs of the public in putting together year supply food storage.
'Future Foods has 130 menu items to choose from including fruits, vegetables, soups, soy products used by many restaurants and grains,' said Blyden Loutensock, an area manager at Future Foods.
'A year supply of food for one adult can fit in the area of a standard refrigerator,' Loutensock said.
Emergency Essentials, Inc. located in Orem, is a store dedicated to helping people prepare for natural disasters and other emergencies.
Emergency Essentials specializes in kits and packs full of equipment to aid in survival of disasters.
Some of the equipment that they offer are 72-hour kits designed especially for students and a classroom kit, perfect for schools and church groups. This kit can take care of emergency needs for up to 35 people, according to the Emergency Essentials catalog.
Emergency Essentials also offers literature informing people of important facts to know in times of emergency.
In literature sent with 72-hour kit information, buyers are informed how to best use their kits. Kits should be located near an exit of your house. Each family member should have their own kit. A light source should be kept on top of the kit, so that it can be found quickly. These are only a few of the suggestions offered by Emergency Essentials.
Out-n-Back is another store offering emergency preparedness products such as 72-hour kits and year supplies.
'Out-n-back got their start in emergency preparedness before changing their focus to back packing equipment,' said Jason Leonard of Out-n-back. 'We carry quite a bit of emergency supplies such as water supplies, first-aid kits and a ton of good literature on how to prepare for emergency.'
'Out-n-back has a national mailer that deals with all of our emergency preparedness products,' Leonard said.
There are other ways of preparing for emergencies. Quake Safe corporation of Provo offers a water heater support system designed to withstand both vertical and horizontal motions of an earthquake. 'In such catastrophes, the water heater may become a family's sole source of fresh, clean, safe drinking water,' according to a letter issued by Quake Safe Co.
Robyn Dalzen/Daily Universe
STOCK UP! Emergency Essentials in Orem displays a variety of resources for people to use in the event of an emergency. Stores like this one have found success in Utah County due in part to the LDS Church's counsel to prepare for emergencies