<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>>

Submitted by: The Celiac Sprue Support Group, Ohio's Miami Valley
Area     Sandra J Leonard, Chairman


                        CELIACS AND DISASTERS

Please take a few minutes to compile a list that would be helpful
to you and your gluten-free diet if a natural disaster should take
place in your area.  Those of us that live in the Miami Valley area
of Ohio are at risk for damaging tornadoes.  Could you manage on a
gluten-free diet if the only food available was at a Red Cross Shelter
for a period of time?  Ask anyone that has been through the Xenia
tornado what foods were available.  Our celiac friends in Florida
that were in Hurricane Andrew's path and California's earthquakes are
examples.

Are you prepared to leave your home and depend on the Red Cross for
your meals?  Recent natural disasters point up the necessity of consider-
ing YOUR needs as a celiac in special situations.  Think of yourself
and be prepared....just in case!

IT IS SUGGESTED THAT YOU PREPARE YOUR DISASTER KIT WITH A SUPPLY
TO LAST TWO FULL WEEKS.

Keep the items that you would most likely need in an easy to carry
container/s. Possible containers could include a large, covered
trash container, camping backpack or duffel bag.

The following are just a few suggestion to help in making up your
celiac disaster kit:

- Medication: Make sure that you have an adequate supply of required
medication.  Place in proper containers that are labeled.

- Vitamins:  Enough for several weeks.

- Water:  Water should be stored in plastic containers.  Avoid containers
that will break. Store one gallon of water per person per day.  Two
quarts for drinking, two quarts for food preparation/sanitation.
Purifying agents.

- Pain reliever: A brand that works for you. To help you get through a
very stressful time.

- Dried foods:  Items such as powdered milk, coffee, tea, cocoa, eggs,
cornmeal, rice flour, instant potatoes, nuts and fruit. Consider packag-
ing up dry ingredients for a recipe that would just need to have water
added to the dry ingredients. Pack dry ingredients in a heavy duty zip
type bag and ingredients can be mixed right in the bag. Pancakes, bread
and muffins.

- Canned fruits and vegetables:  Small cans are best.  These are always
available and ready to use.

- Juices:  These are available in single serving boxes or cans.

- Milk:  Powdered or canned are available.

- Canned meat/fish:  Salmon and tuna fish are excellent choices as
they are very nutritious foods.

- Canned beans: Beans are excellent survival food.

- Canned broths: chicken and turkey broths areexcellent.  Use to
flavor rice and as a soup base.

- Stress and comfort foods:  Cookies, hard candy and snacks that
are gluten-free.

- Staples:  Sugar, salt, pepper.

- High energy foods: Jelly, peanut butter, nuts, rice crackers.

- Rice cakes....these will no doubt last forever.

Remember to rotate the foods in your Celiac Disaster Kit every three
to six months to ensure freshness.

The Red Cross has publications available that would be very helpful
in planning for a disaster.  The publications will offer suggestions
for many special items, tools, first aid kits, sanitation, bedding
and clothing.  Contact your local Red Cross Office nearest your home
for a copy of these publications.

A few more suggestions when planning a disaster kit.

- First aid kit.

- Tools and supplies:  Several saucepans, one for cooking only gluten-
free foods, one for boiling water.

- Mess kits or disposable plates, cuts and utensils.

- Clothing and bedding:  Include one complete change of clothing,
footwear for each person.

NOTE:
If you are fortunate enough to own a dehydrator be sure to take
advantage of it and package up some foods for your kit.

For those that have a vacuum sealer put it to use by packaging
foods.  It would be a great time to put it to good use.


Happy Baking!

Sandra

The Gluten-Free Baker Newsletter
Fairborn, OH  USA