72 Hour Lutheran
Proverbs 24:27 Prepare your work outside, get everything 
ready for you in the field; and after that build your house.
What is a 72 hour Lutheran? It is a person who happens to be Lutheran and has enough supplies in their home to meet their household’s basic needs for 72 hours. Being prepared to take care of your own family allows you to then reach out and help others.
Why this amount of time? If the Gulf Coast is hit by a hurricane it takes, on average, a majority of most governmental, state and private entities 72 hours to respond. The goal in our synod is to have a majority of our people prepared at the basic level by creating 72 hour Lutherans which, in turn, lead to the natural creation of 72 hour congregations… able to take care of their own needs and available to respond to the needs of others. Let’s be ready for mission this season!
Check out a complete list off the NOAA.GOV website or, if you want just the bare minimums required to become a 72 hour Lutheran, use the list on our own website gulfcoastsynod.org. There is a full list at the following address http://tinyurl.com/fullhlist but if you just want bare minimum
to become a 72 hour Lutheran use the following:
Basic 72 Hour Lutheran List
- Discuss the type of hazards that could affect your family. Know your home's
vulnerability to storm surge, flooding, and wind. Locate a safe room or the
safest areas in your home for each hurricane hazard. In certain circumstances,
the safest areas may not be your home but within your community. - If necessary, determine an escape route from your home and designate places
to meet. (Note: these should be measured in tens of miles, rather than hundreds
of miles.) Have an out-of-state friend as a family contact so all your family
members have a single point of contact. - Make a plan now for what to do with your pets if you need to evacuate.
- Call the church and make sure that they have all your information.
- Stock up on non-perishable emergency supplies and create a disaster supply
kit.
- Water - at least 1 gallon daily per person for 3 to 7 days.
- Food - at least enough for 3 to 7 days
— non-perishable packaged or canned food / juices
— foods for infants or the elderly
— snack foods
— non-electric can opener
— cooking tools / fuel
— paper plates / plastic utensils - First Aid Kit / Medicines / Prescription Drugs
- Special Items - for babies and the elderly
- Toiletries / Hygiene items / Moisture wipes
Flashlight / Batteries - Radio - Battery operated and NOAA weather radio
- *Telephones - Fully charged cell phone with extra battery and
a traditional (not cordless) telephone set * - Cash (with some small bills) because Credit Cards - Banks and ATMs may not be
available for extended periods - Extra Keys
- Tools - keep a set with you during the storm
- Vehicle fuel tanks filled
- Pet care items
— proper identification / immunization records / medications
— ample supply of food and water