Emergency Supplies

[moda0306]

I'm sure plenty of PP'ers are keeping certain supplies in case of some kind of temporary power, societal, etc problems that may occur.  Such items would be non-perishable food, a generator, first aid kit(s), some guns and ammo, etc.  We've discussed this before, but does anybody have an "inventory" they suggest in this regard?  I'm not about to turn all "Tremors" on my wife and start a bunker, but it's both smart and kind of a fun side-project to get some shelving and get your emergency stash started.  I tend to think of these items as the unspoken "fifth asset" of the PP, not having a specific allocation or part of the rebalance process, but is simply a low-cost high-impact inventory of items that will be worth their weight in gold if certain societal problems ever arise, even temporary.

I would include with this a certain amount of cash (in low-interest rate environments, why not a decent amount?) and your "keep at home" portion of your gold, so you are well prepared to use either on short notice.

I'm not suggesting society will break down, but the cost of having these things on hand is almost nil, since you use most of it anyway, and it surely would be nice if we had power grid issues, which I could see as a possibility.  Any suggestions outside of the "canned" answers?  (sorry for that awful pun)

PS, Let's assume we are NOT in a world where leather chaps are necessary, shall we?  Though who would want to live in such a world?

[MediumTex]

Here are a few items that are good to have around whether or not the world ends:

1. Good supply of lithium AA batteries.  They have a shelf life of 20 years+, are lighter than alkaline batteries, and last much longer (they also normally don't leak).

2. Mountain House makes some very good tasting freeze dried food.  They come in #10 cans that have a 30 year+ shelf life. 

3. The Honda EU2000i generator is very hard to beat for a good all around generator with many different potential applications.  Get some fuel stabilizer while you're at it.

4. An LED headlamp will make life easier if the world is suddenly dark.  A few good LED flashlights are also important to have.

5. A hand siphon pump is very handy for transferring fuel and other liquids from one place to another.

6. A good water filter is always nice to have around.

7. A box of N95 respirators is handy for many things.

8. A good first aid kit.  Also, a good supply of any medications you take.

9. A multi-purpose fire extinguisher.

10. A Leatherman/Gerber multi-tool.

11. An outdoor gas grill is good for cooking if there is no power.

12. A small refrigerator in addition to your main refrigerator is handy.  If the power goes out you can move your critical items to the small refrigerator and power it with your generator.

13. Several portable radios are good to have around.  A scanner is also not a bad idea, though the newer ones are a bit more difficult to master than the ones your uncle or grandfather may have listened to while smoking his pipe.  A set of family two-way radios are very useful, especially if the cell phone stopped working.

14. Get some good leather gloves and a box of latex gloves.  The world can be hard on bare hands when things go wrong.

15. Several rolls of duct tape can come in handy.  It comes in different colors now--I sort of like black myself.

16. If you install a deep cycle AGM battery in your car (which is also designed for auto applications) it gives you another power supply should you ever need it.  Get a 400 watt inverter and multi-stage battery charger while you're at it.

17. A firearm isn't a bad idea, though you normally run into a lot of other problems before you run into a problem for which a firearm is needed.

18. Relationships with neighbors and other people in your community are very important.  When something bad happens, it's normally too late to start introducing yourself.

19. Plastic five gallon buckets have many applications.  Keep a few around.

20. A sturdy hatchet and folding saw are good to have.

21. A hand cart of some kind always seems to be helpful.  This allows you to carry more than your shoulders alone would allow.

22. Get some safety glasses. 

23. You can never have too much/many of the following: zip ties, twine, thread, nylon line, and sturdy rope.

24. Your water heater can serve as a source of 50-75 gallons of water in an emergency.  If concerned about water shortages, fill up all the tubs in your house while the water is still working.

***

Those are just a few things off the top of my head.

[craigr]

Tex hit on many things I would say as well. One neat idea I saw for water storage was the WaterBOB (www.waterbob.com). It is a plastic reservoir you put in your bathtub that is made of potable water safe plastic. I've only had to do the bathtub water reservoir once when we were at the beach during a pretty nasty hurricane and the water did in fact go out in the town.

Food is personal taste. I like Mountain House because I use it for backpacking often. But I also will "double up" when I go to the store. Meaning if I know I like some kind of soup I always buy one or two extra than I immediately need. They are kept for emergencies and rotated out as I eat them. Same for other kinds of food stuffs. I recently moved so my storage supplies are in disarray, but I think having a minimum of one month of food on hand is mandatory. Six months wouldn't be a bad idea just in case of an extended emergency you will have more options and can use some for charity purposes, etc. because you have a buffer.

I have a Honda Generator EU2000i and it is quite awesome. I did own a diesel generator for a whole house system in the past and it was great. Diesel stores forever without explosive fumes. Gasoline kind of goes wonky after a year or so. Fuel stabilizers help somewhat, but it's a much tougher call keeping around 200 gallons of gas vs. 200 gallons of diesel in a heating oil fuel tank. The gas is way more dangerous and harder to store in that case.

I really like Aladdin oil lamps (they use a mantle). They have the light of about a 60w bulb and are much safer than candles. They have such a nice light that sometimes I would use them just to read by. They burn lamp oil which is safe to keep indoors and also stores for years. The old school railroad "hurricane" lamps also are OK, but the light isn't as good as the Aladdin. However they are much cheaper. Standard Coleman fuel lanterns are OK, but they use very explosive fuel and really shouldn't be used indoors. I think the Aladdin lamps are a better idea.

LED headlamps are completely indispensable. I would keep several around. I always keep one in each vehicle. They are more useful to me than flashlights as they keep your hands free. Of course, spare batteries for all of these.

A way to boil water is a good idea. So an outdoor grill and pots would be a good idea. A wood stove for backup heat is also a good idea. A camping stove would also work fine.

I would also keep around good sleeping bags and other cold weather clothes for everyone in your family in case you don't have heat in the house for extended periods.

A firearm and knowledge on how to use it is a good idea. I like the idea of owning a reliable pistol for concealable protection like a Glock 19. I would also have a rifle for home defense purposes. They have a good range and can deliver powerful protection from a distance. An AR-15 is probably ideal in this situation as parts are readily available, they are reliable, and ammo is in great abundance and they are fast to reload with a good capacity magazine.

A short wave radio to listen to international broadcasts may allow you to get information on national emergencies not being covered in your domestic news.

I would keep extra fuel as well and a way to carry it for your vehicle. If you need to leave you don't want to be one of the people waiting for fuel at a gas station. I think being able to carry up to a tank's worth of fuel in cans is not a bad idea. That would give you a big edge on many people looking to vacate and less chance of getting stuck out of fuel in a long traffic jam.

I'm trying to think of the other things I've done. But the main thing is that I kind of keep around what I use every day plus some extras to deal with power outages, water outages, heat outages and perhaps needing to exit stage left.

My "Bug Out Bag" is really just the same gear I use hiking/camping minus a few things. The idea is that you want to have equipment you are familiar with already and know works. You also don't want a bag that is 50+lbs. It needs to be light with just the essentials that you can quickly toss in your car for you and your family members. It should provide shelter, water, warmth, and some food.

[moda0306]

I always try to fill my gas tanks at 1/2-1/4 tank.  Since gas "goes bad" and I don't use much for mowing, having lots of tanks of gas around seems excessive.  I totally agree though, you DON'T want to be one of the sheeple in line at the gas station.

You guys really have some good input here.  I might draw up a list straight from this thread.

[Coffee]

Another closet survivalist, checking in. 

We should start a mutual assistance group?

I think the PP inherently attracts people who are aware of the uncertain times we live in. And this includes having a back-up plan for taking care of yourself and your family, should things get strange for awhile. 

Great suggestions, so far.  I'll add a couple:

1.  At least twice (once in the summer, once in the winter) turn off all of the electricity, gas and water to your house and hide the car keys.  Spend a three day weekend without modern conveniences.  Keep a pencil and a piece of paper nearby and make a list of everything "you wish you'd though of."  The experience will be educational, to say the least.

2.  Join your local Community Emergency Response Team.  It's free, and it's only 6 weeks, one evening a week.  There's no obligation to do anything else.  You'll learn a lot of cool skills.  You should also investigate taking some inexpensive courses (at least CPR and First Aid) from your local Red Cross.  Good stuff!

I'm learning about vegetable container gardening, now.  Growing some of your own food just seems like a prudent thing to know.

[moda0306]

You guys are like "The Websters Dictionary of 'In-Case Sh!t'"  - Financial or otherwise.  Coffee that little "test run" is an excellent idea.  Could prove pretty fun too.

[MediumTex]

Here is a really important one:  buy a battery tester.  In an emergency situation you don't want to guess about how much juice a battery has left.  They're about $15 at Radio Shack.  I use mine all the time.

Another good one is to pick up one of these power packs that you can use to jump start your car, air up your tires, etc.  I have had one of these for several years and it has been incredibly useful.  Xantrex makes several, a couple of which are also sold under the Duracell brand.  They are about $100 on Amazon. 

Having a chest freezer is a good idea.  One thing you can do is take those large plastic coffee containers when you are done with them, fill them with water and freeze them in your chest freezer.  In the event of a power outage, if you take a large ice chest, pack it with these coffee container ice blocks, put your food and other perishables in the chest, and then close the chest and duct tape around the edge of the lid, it will stay cold for a LONG time.  Putting a blanket on top of the cooler also helps keep it cool longer.

Staying physically fit is also one of the best investments in emergency preparedness.  It doesn't have to be anything high impact--just walk or ride your bike, and do some situps and pushups regularly.  A little activity will go a long way.

It doesn't surprise me that a group of PP enthusiasts would also be a bunch of closet survivalists.  The PP is, in many ways, very much a survivalist's approach to investing.

I look forward to PkgMan's comments.  He will probably have some good stuff to offer.

[Storm]

The idea of having a quick-go backpack or bag is great.  A lot of times people will stock up 6-12 months of canned food, dried grains, and freeze-dried foods, but not have what I call a 72-hour kit.

The 72-hour kit is designed for a natural disaster or some unplanned emergency like a flood, earthquake, or even a large gas leak where you need to evacuate your house quickly.  Every family member can fit 72 hours worth of food, water, emergency blanket, LED flashlight, first aid, etc, in a small backpack - even a school backpack like the kids use to carry books in can be used.  For the 72-hour kit, having tasty food is not as important as having portable food.  MREs are great for this.  They might not taste very good but they last a long time, are packaged very small, and can keep you fed for 3 days, no problem.

In most natural disasters, it is the first 72 hours before help arrives that are the most difficult.  Within 72 hours, the national guard can be mobilized to most areas and provide real assistance like hot meals and purified water.

So, I would say the suggestions above are great, and just be sure to also keep the 72-hour kit packed separately in case you need to "get out of dodge" real fast.  It might be a good idea in fitting with the PP to keep some cash and some junk silver coins in your 72-hour kit, in case you need to do some emergency barter.

[craigr]

I also think having an amateur radio operator's license is a good idea. The basic license will give you access to local repeaters which can likely be used for comm. needs if cellphone service is out. The upgraded licenses give you access to HF frequencies which allows world wide communications with very minimal equipment.

BTW. MREs aren't that bad for short stints. I use them for camping sometimes. They are a little too heavy for serious hiking though because they are hydrated already. But in an emergency kit you toss into a car they are great. Just keep them cool and they will last for many years. You can order them factory fresh which is what I recommend. Buying surplus is sketchy. You don't know how they were stored or how many years of life they may have left.

For portable water purification you can use a filter (my favorite is the Katadyn ceramic versions [large and mini]). Or for very light weight chemical purification it is very hard to beat Aqua Mira. It's the preferred method for multi-month thru hikes. Weighs only an ounce or so in your kit.

For camping stoves I like the Trangia alcohol stove because it is light, simple and safe to use. For a gas stove I like the Svea 123R. It is just about indestructible and works in every weather condition I've tried it in.

[craigr]

BTW. On my YouTube Channel I review a lot of outdoor/survival type gear I like:

http://www.youtube.com/CrawlingRoad

[Lone Wolf]

Great lists!  There are several ideas that I'd not thought of.

I think that the Permanent Portfolio philosophy applies well here.  The world's not likely to end, so never sacrifice the present for a future that you've got no hope of predicting.  The very best tips will help you even when everything's coming up roses.  For example:

• Staying in shape - Keeping yourself lean and strong pays dividends no matter how good or bad life gets.  Whether your future is a life of chilaxing on the beach or a life of never-ending combat against the zombie hordes, it's all a lot more fun when you're in shape.
• Getting to know your neighbors and staying close to a strong support system - Family and friends will enrich your life... or guard your six against raiders in the post-apocalyptic wastelands.
• Keeping some basic supplies handy - Sometimes the lights go out.  Usually they come back on.  Unfortunately, this sometimes takes a while.  Whether they're off for a few hours (transformer out) or for weeks (EMP or coronal mass ejection), why not stay comfortable?

We spent 8 days without power in the aftermath of a hurricane.  Now that's a very, very tiny "SHTF" scenario.  Really no more than a "fart hits the fan" situation.  But just a little preparedness made it all so much more pleasant and worry-free.  What I realized is that normality does get restored... but you should expect to be on your own for a few days.  During those few days, you'll want to have the necessities on hand.

The important bit is having the things you need before others go looking for them.  It's not "hoarding" until everybody else is desperately trying to stock up at the last minute.

Here are a few items that I would add to the above excellent lists:

• Potassium iodide tablets - while I don't anticipate being irradiated, this is fairly inexpensive thyroid protection.  (You may want to wait to buy these as the tense situation in Japan has got the prices up much higher than normal.)
• Pocket knife
• A supply of alcohol-based sanitizer - feeling sanitary puts my mind at ease.

[moda0306]

I thought I would feel smarter after reading these posts.  I feel like a completely unprepared imbecile... and I'm not talking armageddon but just simple "one week without utilities in the winter" type stuff.

The thing is, most of this stuff you'll use anyway or is extremely inexpensive and/or easy to obtain or store.  I don't know about taking radio classes or learning how to field dress an open wound, but it's interesting stuff.  Plus name me one movie where the coolest character isn't the guy who's prepared for anything.

[Coffee]

Add: Black contractor trash bags and lots and lots of baby wipes.  You'd be surprised how handy the baby wipes are, when you don't have running water.

[moda0306]

Add: Black contractor trash bags and lots and lots of baby wipes.  You'd be surprised how handy the baby wipes are, when you don't have running water.

There are times in my car after eating where I'd give a kidney for a baby wipe.  Much less for a week with no running water in my home.

[Coffee]

Add: Black contractor trash bags and lots and lots of baby wipes.  You'd be surprised how handy the baby wipes are, when you don't have running water.

There are times in my car after eating where I'd give a kidney for a baby wipe.  Much less for a week with no running water in my home.

LOL.  KFC ?

[Pkg Man]

Edit: I see Craigr previously mentioned the wood stove. 

Now this is a topic I can really get into!  I've had a bit of a survivalist streak since I was ten (no joke).  I think that mentality, along with my stock-market wary father, was a big part of me finding the PP.

A lot of great advice has already been given here.  Supplemental heat could be as simple as a kerosene heater and ten gallons of fuel, or better, a wood burning stove with a good supply of seasoned wood.  I purchased a stove in December of last year (and got a tax-credit to boot) and it's great.  A couple of years ago my furnace went out and I spent a week, during which we had record low temps for my area, with nothing but a kerosene and small electric bathroom heater.  It got very cold (40s) inside the house.  Not something I want to repeat.

Kerosene lanterns are also a good cheap source of light.  Although flashlights can work too, I would prefer lanterns for longer power outages.

MREs are great for mid-term storage, and you don't need water to hydrate them.  For longer term storage I too like the Mountain House #10 cans. The best place I have found to purchase them is from http://www.ldpcampingfoods.com/.  Four times a year they have a sale (the next one begins 1 Apr).  

An old peculator type coffee pot, or one of those cloth filters made for filtering coffee.  You boil the coffee in a pot and then strain it into your cup.  I can't imagine going through any disaster scenario without coffee.

This was already mentioned but I think it can't be stressed enough -- a pocket knife.  You really should have more than one, perhaps a large fixed blade and one or two folders.  My father ALWAYS carries a pocket knife with him -- whether he's just around the house, working in the yard, or at a wedding or a funeral.  I didn't always follow that example until an experience I had at Home Depot several years ago.  I was attempting to get some string to tie-off a load of wood.  They had the string but nothing to cut it with.  There was a hatchet lying there next to the string and I attempted to saw the string in two with it.  A guy walking out of the HD saw this and gave me a shocked and disgusted look.  Without saying a word he flicked open his pocket knife for me to cut the string.  After that embarrassing moment I've always carried a knife of some sort.

The following ideas may be bordering on leather-chaps situations, but can make for a good hobby too.  As mentioned, a small food garden would be very useful in a SHTF scenario.  Take a page from your grandparents and learn how to can your food in Mason jars.  A few fruit trees, such as peach, pear, and apple can be planted in almost any yard.   Four or five bantam chickens will supply more fresh eggs than you need.  They're also entertaining to watch, IMHO.

[MediumTex]

This was already mentioned but I think it can't be stressed enough -- a pocket knife.  You really should have more than one, perhaps a large fixed blade and one or two folders.  My father ALWAYS carries a pocket knife with him -- whether he's just around the house, working in the yard, or at a wedding or a funeral.  I didn't always follow that example until an experience I had at Home Depot several years ago.  I was attempting to get some string to tie-off a load of wood.  They had the string but nothing to cut it with.  There was a hatchet lying there next to the string and I attempted to saw the string in two with it.  A guy walking out of the HD saw this and gave me a shocked and disgusted look.  Without saying a word he flicked open his pocket knife for me to cut the string.  After that embarrassing moment I've always carried a knife of some sort.

After many years of experimentation, here is my knife situation:

1. one Spyderco
2. one Gerber multi-tool
3. two Swiss Army Deluxe Tinker models

These knives handle 99% of my knife needs.  The Deluxe Tinkers in particular are awesome (that's why I have two).  They have small pliers, scissors and the rest of the basic Swiss Army tools.  The small pliers are far more useful than you might imagine.

[craigr]

I've had a Swiss Army Knife (SAK) in my pocket since grade school. I feel naked without one. I like the tinker and carried one for years. As I've spent more time outdoors I've come to appreciate how awesome the saw is on the SAK. I carry a SAK Hercules or the SAK Farmer (with aluminum sides) when wanting less bulk in my pocket but a usable saw. On my SAK I have a Fenix LD01 pocket light and Swedish Firesteel Mini on a loop of string. The flash light is very handy and if caught in a blackout it could be a lifesaver if you needed to find an exit for instance. The firesteel is just because I like having one. I'm pretty capable of starting fires with improvised tinders.

My favorite fixed blade outdoor knife is the Fallkniven F1. It's a very strong and versatile blade where the smaller SAK blade just won't do. I usually carry the F1 and a SAK as a backup when out hiking/camping.

[craigr]

Also, is this the part where I plug my Amazon store that has the finest in personally tested outdoor gear and equipment?

https://web.archive.org/web/20160324133 ... .com/store

[MediumTex]

When I was a kid, instead of comic books and music magazines, I read this:



I thought it was the coolest thing I had ever seen.  The articles, the ads, and the personals section--e.g., "Anti-NWO Christian SWM seeks SWF for serious relationship; off-grid experience a plus."

[Coffee]

Check out this bad-boy. Tri-fuel.  I haven't had the opportunity to play around with one, yet... but it's on my list:

http://www.volcanogrills.com/virtuemart ... opane.html

[Coffee]

Ninja star ads in the back, Tex?

[craigr]

Check out this bad-boy. Tri-fuel.  I haven't had the opportunity to play around with one, yet... but it's on my list:

http://www.volcanogrills.com/virtuemart ... opane.html

I'd look into a Dutch Oven (only buy the Lodge Brand). They are really fun to use and there are lot of good recipe out there. You can use them in a real oven, but best is to get some charcoal to do old school baking. Sloppy Joes taste great when made in one for some reason.

[MediumTex]

Ninja star ads in the back, Tex?

Ah, I see I wasn't the only one.

How about that Chinese diesel generator ad?

I actually read a book by a homesteader who used one of those Chinese generators as his power supply.  Apparently, when set up properly they can last for decades.  He had a huge gravity fed fuel tank, passive cooling system and had the generator in a vented soundproof shed; it was a neat setup.

[Pkg Man]

When I was a kid, instead of comic books and music magazines, I read this:

Ha!  When I was a kid I read Soldier of Fortune!