lets discuss preps for disasters

[MossRoad]

Well, it looks like we'll be closing on our new place further out in the sticks on the 15th. As soon as we get settled, I'll dig and pour a few concrete piers and have a 40' container delivered. Welded to straps in the piers, it should do pretty well in the event of a tornado. It will be set next to the barn and the exterior finished to match. All of the emergency stuff will be stored in there. Weather is my first concern, but WROL...especially with the state of our nation right now ranks second. Our new place is at the top of a hill with a 360* view. One of the many reasons I chose it.

Lots of good info so far guys. Keep 'em coming.

If you're up on a hill, I'd bury dig a dug-out into the side and put the container in there. Better chance if a tornado going over it, than through it. You getting a basement?

 

[MossRoad]

Lots of good information on here, especially some of the things I had never thought about like bleach and vinegar.

I heard somewhere that the Mormons are really big on keeping food and supplies stored to last at least three months. They sell to the public and you can buy in bulk from them. I have never compared their prices, but think they have a lot of research into this for what works.

https://www.lds.org/topics/food-storage?lang=eng

One of the worse things that I think happened to the idea of being prepared was that show on TV about preppers. Every one of them was an end of the world nut job wanting to be rambo during a zombie movie fighting off hordes of invaders. The stupid factor made it impossible to watch for very long, and very disappointing. I was looking for real world ideas to get through natural disasters or at least something reasonable that might happen. Now when you talk about prepping, it's almost like admitting you are afraid of being kidnapped by aliens instead of being responsible in planning ahead to take care of your family and livestock in case something happens.

Its not so much the kidnapping as it is the probing.... Why do all alien abductions involve probing rather than dissection? Maybe the galaxy police have rules for catch and release?

 

[MossRoad]

Surprised nobody has mention good plain old cheap bleach for water treatment. It takes very little bleach to purify a bunch of water. Just get the unscented bleach.

Charcoal is easy to make if one can make a fire. I saw a documentary about a USMC winter survival class where they made charcoal to EAT. :shocked: Charcoal will help settle a stomach if one gets sick and the charcoal can absorb some poisons that have been eaten. Basically, when in survival mode, you might have to east a plant you are unsure about so have some charcoal handy, eat a small amount of the plant, and see what happens. If you start to feel ill, eat charcoal. :licking::licking::licking::laughing::laughing::laughing: <Yuck>

Charcoal can also be used to filter water.

If one has to make a camp and then move on make sure to take charcoal with you. Not only for the previously mentioned reasons, but a few bits of charcoal make it easier to start a fire.

Later,
Dan

Bleach and water purification has been mentioned several times. A couple drops per liter is all it takes. But it won't kill some things, like that gargoillella or whatever that water parasite thing is called. :laughing:

 

[MossRoad]

Whereas I can remember weathering 4-7 days without power as a kid without any special "preparation" at all. Everyone's dad in the neighborhood was a WWII vet and a snow storm was a pretty minor inconvenience compared to crossing Germany, Italy, or the Pacific.

Yeah, that's a good point. I remember my dad getting us kids all new snow shovels one year.... and we were happy about it! :laughing: That tells you something. When it snowed, we'd run out, shovel the drive ASAP and come back in for a hot breakfast that mom made while we were working. Big disasters were nothing for those dudes! :thumbsup:

 

[blueriver]

Awesome thread ... thanks for starting it!!! My wife and i are old school, we know alot about alot and have been for years storing things ... we often laugh about it ... when we are gone the kids are gonna find things and say "WTF was mom and dad expecting the world to end?"

Alot of good things have been brought up ... I personally have alot of weapons and ammo ... I will only trust close family. If the shlt hits the fan the big city folks will take out 50% of themselves before they realize a problem ... then 50% of them will flea to the hills only to have 50% of them not survive the remaining 50% will be cut in half trying to steal ... the numbers will come down ... maybe a good thing? I know I'm weird.

 

[/pine]

Its not so much the kidnapping as it is the probing.... Why do all alien abductions involve probing rather than dissection? Maybe the galaxy police have rules for catch and release?

 

[TomSeller]

Another thing to consider: some have mentioned having water to flush the toilet...that's well and good if you're on a septic system, .

Some septic systems also have a pump to pump up to a higher drain field so they could back up as well with no electricity. Make sure it and the well are on your generator. I have always have had a good old outhouse on my properties just in case. Only takes a backhoe, a couple of 55 gallon drums and a little wood. I still have one from the 1800s standing. People were shorter in those days, you have to crouch down if you wanted to go in.

 

[RSKY]

Both of my sons-in-law say that if there is a disaster they will go stay with my 90-year old mother. She WILL survive! There are skills and attitudes that the old folks have that we younger ones do not possess.

During the ice storm of 2009 when all were without power for seven to twenty days I learned a lot. First if the outage/disaster/revolution happens in cold weather the best thing you can have to keep the youngsters alive and warm is a bunch of quilts. Blankets are fine but nothing beats a quilt. House can be dark with no generator running and the people inside will be warm in their beds. Second, we keep several cases of bottled water stored in the garage. Third, gasoline and kerosene are precious. Keep your cans full. Fourth, keep your pantry stocked with canned goods and staples.

You will survive.

 

[/pine]

Blankets are fine but nothing beats a quilt.

I like 100% wool blankets (WW I,II style, I like the itch)...but IMO nothing beats a couple of real wool afghans for retaining body warmth...

 

[TomSeller]

I like 100% wool blankets (WW I,II style, I like the itch)...but IMO nothing beats a couple of real wool afghans for retaining body warmth...

I like wool, but the dang moths drive me nuts. I have thrown out more wool than I care to admit.