lets discuss preps for disasters

MossRoad · Jan 30, 2016

I think a lot of you are over-worrying about storing gasoline and water. While it is a real problem, it can be virtually eliminated by rotating your stock and using a filter/water separator.
Anyone remember these?

Garandman · Jan 30, 2016

Industrial Toys said:
I wonder if EMP considerations are worthwhile. Many Military Surplus Gensets on E-Bay are EMP shielded. But then, after an EMP event, you may not have anything left working anyway.

I was the Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Warfare officer for my unit. Nuclear EMP can effect equipment a long way away - but if one goes off, more will probably go off. If that happens EMP is likely to be of small concern.

Keep in mind that our smallest modern warheads are 10-1,000 times more powerful than the WWII bombs, and many missiles have multiple warheads.

k0ua · Jan 30, 2016

Also keep in mind, you do not need a nuclear explosion to deploy an EMP weapon.

/pine · Jan 30, 2016

MossRoad said:
I think a lot of you are over-worrying about storing gasoline and water. While it is a real problem, it can be virtually eliminated by rotating your stock and using a filter/water separator.
Anyone remember these?
View attachment 455367

I understand your point and agree but I also think there is a big difference between water and fuel...

Just using Katrina as an example...for those in despair...other than working (sanitary) facilities...drinking water was the most coveted thing...populations that rely solely on public water systems could have a hard time with nothing more than a sustained power outage...water is much more important than fuel...but they're connected if water has to be boiled before consumed and for whatever reason there is no electricity for a long period...it could get very bad very quickly....IMO.

MossRoad · Jan 31, 2016

/pine said:
I understand your point and agree but I also think there is a big difference between water and fuel...

Just using Katrina as an example...for those in despair...other than working (sanitary) facilities...drinking water was the most coveted thing...populations that rely solely on public water systems could have a hard time with nothing more than a sustained power outage...water is much more important than fuel...but they're connected if water has to be boiled before consumed and for whatever reason there is no electricity for a long period...it could get very bad very quickly....IMO.

What I meant was water IN the gasoline. Not drinking water. Should have been clearer.

CurlyDave · Jan 31, 2016

A few thoughts on disaster prep:

We have a propane/gasoline generator for the house, and a 500 gal propane tank. Tank rental cost is $75.00 per year as opposed to $50.00 for a 250 gallon tank. The larger tank pays for itself by allowing me to time our purchases of propane for late summer when prices are lowest. Essentially we always have 250 gallons of propane in reserve for emergencies, more in the winter.

The well is on a separate transformer too far from the house to run from the house generator, but I do have a second generator that will power it. I have the pump controls wired so there is a cord and plug in the normal circuit, just unplug and plug into the generator to run from it. Keep two or 3 5 gallon gas cans around with stabilized fuel, good for years. The well will produce drinking water at 5 rpm, so running it for a 15-20 minutes a week is all that is really necessary. Keep in mind, that your bathtub is fine for storing water for toilet flushing, which will keep the ladies happy. Men use the comfort tree in the woods. All you need is a bucket to fill the toilet tank.

But, in a real emergency, I have a small electric fuel pump from a car which I can use to take gas out of a car and into a can to feed the generator. Always keep the car at least 1/2 full. No excuses, no exceptions. Use the gas from the cars first because it is not stabilized, then from the cans. Before you say: "just siphon the gas out" try doing that. You do not want a snootful of gas in an emergency.

Canned food, some freeze dried, and then dried beans and rice will last for quite a while. Don't forget your vitamin pills. They will make up for a lot of bad eating in a tough situation. Rice, beans and sugar can be stored in their original containers placed in a new galvanized garbage can. I have yet to see a mouse that can get into a tight new one.

Garycw · Jan 31, 2016

You can survive several months without food, only several days without clean water. Drinking water that'll make you sick is even worse. Gallon jugs are good , but tend to leak, especially if sat on concrete. Also you don't want to eat if you don't have clean water to drink. Water heaters and water bobs for bathtub can be a good emergency water source. 55 gal food grade barrels and 275 gal cage totes are better. Lexingtoncontainer.com is a good place to see what's available.
As far as fuel we have 1000 gal propane, 300 gal non ethanol gas & 100 gal diesel on hand. These are used constantly and replenished at about 50%. Gas/ propane generators, Agm battery banks & solar panels are always at the ready JIC.

Garandman · Jan 31, 2016

We use 7 gallon Reliance Aqua-Tainers. FEMA guideline is a gallon a person a day so two or three of them can be stacked for emergency use. We have five of them.

EddieWalker · Jan 31, 2016

I already have an AC/DC arc welder that I'm comfortable with, so I don't really want or need a generator with a welder. I've looked at some advertised on Craigslist and it seems that the engines on them are either Kohler or B&S. I'm not a fan of either. I have seen a few nice Onan diesel generators that I like with the Kubota engine. My parents had one in their RV and my dad just went to the Kubota dealer for parts. That was quick and easy. I'm also seeing quite a few of those trailer, giant light generators for sale. I'm guessing they where from the rental yards. Prices are pretty good, but I'm sure they are at the point where they are going to start requiring repairs.

My needs are for powering my house when the power is out for extended periods, but also to run my welder when building fence on my land. I want to weld up my corners in place.

Egon · Jan 31, 2016

If'n clean water is a need one of these will work quite well.

The Best Backpacking Water Filter and Treatment Systems | OutdoorGearLab

Egon · Jan 31, 2016

If'n clean water is a need one of these will work quite well.

The Best Backpacking Water Filter and Treatment Systems | OutdoorGearLab

TnAndy · Jan 31, 2016

MossRoad said:
I think a lot of you are over-worrying about storing gasoline and water. While it is a real problem, it can be virtually eliminated by rotating your stock and using a filter/water separator.
Anyone remember these?
View attachment 455367

Yeah, my gas (300gal) and diesel tanks (250gal) used to be on stands like that, then I built a shed to store them in. In another location, I store 15-55gal drums of gas/diesel + dozen 100lb propane tanks. The tanks run into a filter with a water drain, and then into hose/nozzle.

TnAndy · Jan 31, 2016

Garycw said:
You can survive several months without food, only several days without clean water. Drinking water that'll make you sick is even worse. Gallon jugs are good , but tend to leak, especially if sat on concrete. Also you don't want to eat if you don't have clean water to drink. Water heaters and water bobs for bathtub can be a good emergency water source. 55 gal food grade barrels and 275 gal cage totes are better. Lexingtoncontainer.com is a good place to see what's available.
As far as fuel we have 1000 gal propane, 300 gal non ethanol gas & 100 gal diesel on hand. These are used constantly and replenished at about 50%. Gas/ propane generators, Agm battery banks & solar panels are always at the ready JIC.

I like propane. We keep 3 five hundred gallon tanks, two always kept in reserve, plus dozen 100lb bottles (23gal ea). Plenty of fuel, as above. Grid electric is backed up by 11kw solar with AGM battery bank.

Water, we have two sources. A gravity fed spring that we've used for 30+ years, with 3,000 gallons of storage. A drilled well with submersible pump as a backup to the spring.

Both feed into a utility room in the basement. By switching valves, we can run off either. Recently put a booster pump on the spring line as the gravity feed only gives 25psi (which we lived with for 30 years). Now the house pressure is 55-75psi....a vast improvement. Ran the lines so we can still bypass the pump and use the gravity spring directly as well.

Everything runs thru a screen filter, then a 5 micron whole house filter, then a UV sterilizer light.

TnAndy · Jan 31, 2016

While I was down in the basement, took a shot of our 'in house' firewood storage. Got about 4 cords inside right now, which will more than do the winter, and likely leave a cord or so to start next winter.

Outside, got 3 of these 4 cord sheds filled for the next year or two.

Industrial Toys · Jan 31, 2016

The BIGGEST issue is always, not knowing when services might be restored. You may have all manner of supplies, but to what extent do you use or ration them?

Even people that are off grid, need medication and other such necessities. Things you can only get when the world is running properly. I think first and foremost of the Elderly and their meds, but it seems more and more children nowadays require medication. Inhalers come immediately to mind.

k0ua · Jan 31, 2016

TnAndy said:
I like propane. We keep 3 five hundred gallon tanks, two always kept in reserve, plus dozen 100lb bottles (23gal ea). Plenty of fuel, as above. Grid electric is backed up by 11kw solar with AGM battery bank.

Water, we have two sources. A gravity fed spring that we've used for 30+ years, with 3,000 gallons of storage. A drilled well with submersible pump as a backup to the spring.

Both feed into a utility room in the basement. By switching valves, we can run off either. Recently put a booster pump on the spring line as the gravity feed only gives 25psi (which we lived with for 30 years). Now the house pressure is 55-75psi....a vast improvement. Ran the lines so we can still bypass the pump and use the gravity spring directly as well.

Everything runs thru a screen filter, then a 5 micron whole house filter, then a UV sterilizer light.

Man, that is a nice setup.

Industrial Toys · Jan 31, 2016

I have a similar spring fed well, that would feed the house by gravity, but always wrestled with the time and cost associated with burying a line a few hundred feet to connect to it.

TnAndy · Jan 31, 2016

k0ua said:
Man, that is a nice setup.

Thanks....took me several days of head scratching to come up with something Rube Goldberg would be proud of....I hate plumbing with a passion....ahahahaaaaaa

TnAndy · Jan 31, 2016

Industrial Toys said:
I have a similar spring fed well, that would feed the house by gravity, but always wrestled with the time and cost associated with burying a line a few hundred feet to connect to it.

My spring is 1300' from the house. The storage tanks are about 100' below the spring. Ran two lines down from the storage, one for supply off the tank bottoms, and one off the tank top to take the overflow....spring feeds the tanks constantly. The overflow runs to a fish pond, and the overflow from it drops into another fish pond, which supply us with catfish.

We've run literally miles of pipe around the place, supplying buildings, greenhouses, animal feeding areas, and so on......so much that I made a map of buried water/electrical lines on large sketch paper with photos of critical points that now runs 5 pages. Told my wife if I die and she sells the place, the map is $5,000 extra if they buy it now, and $10,000 if they want it later !

Industrial Toys · Jan 31, 2016

I haven't eaten catfish in ages. I used to buy it almost weekly. I was thinking of installing a solar panel and a small pump to fill a pressure tank, inside the concrete tiles, below the frost line. The discharge from the well, fills a pond as well. Too bad digging around here is such a problem given the abundant rocks.

I guess I just convinced myself that at least I have access to drinking water in a worst case scenereo, even though hardly convenient, as it sits now.