Packerjohn
Packerjohn
- Location
- Canada
Nope! I live in a very safe part of the world! No floods, no hurricanes, no tornadoes, no wars, no bombing, no nothing. Well, actually, the most dangerous thing around here is brain-dead speeding drivers.
Would You Be Prepared?
- Thread starter OneEyedDiva
- Start date
Like what survival group did you say you belonged to dog? Bet you got the below ground shelter stocked, too! You go, guy.Years with no problems.
fresh water source (deep water spring)... generator... wood stove and ability to cook on top of it... LP gas heat with 250 gal tank
Always at least 15 gal. of gas and 20 gal of diesel on hand... bow saws for wood cutting... 2 chainsaws
abundant deer and wild turkey ... the ability to skin and butcher our own meat... lot's of sharp knives and axes
Cases and cases of dehydrated food, enough for 10 years at least... 2 motorhomes with generators and full tanks of fuel
560 watts of solar with 6 golf cart batteries and a 3000 watt inverter
bullet proof vests complete with ballistic plates... Multiple things that go bang
solar and crank and batt powered radio... lot's of candles and small LED flashlights... multiple solar lights
Plenty of cut and stacked wood... extra logs seasoning for next year
My hub was a kid that got his "eagle" badge from the survival skill test...he just rolled off the truck and spent the time in the provision shed. He had a spoon and a can opener. To this day I browbeat him to change the gas every year for the generator and make sure we've got batteries up to date in case of a "cane" or storm. He finally has come around...suspect its just to "shut me up".
I also remind everyone stuff in the freezer is history in 48 hours, so fire up the grill. Unless you live in a northern "tundra" state of course, and the inclement weather happens during the freeze zone times. Hub, he's also a fire commissioner and the last time we decided we would need the generator - years ago - he had to call his captain to bring us gas. Geesh...!
I also remind everyone stuff in the freezer is history in 48 hours, so fire up the grill. Unless you live in a northern "tundra" state of course, and the inclement weather happens during the freeze zone times. Hub, he's also a fire commissioner and the last time we decided we would need the generator - years ago - he had to call his captain to bring us gas. Geesh...!
Haven't seen 'Peppers' mentioned, Direct TV had a few programs, lots of diversity on why their peppers, some make sense, some peculiar.
I found it interesting that Peppers instill their children with the knowledge that :Hard times are coming, war, natural catastrophes, race wars,
civil wars... I think their really screwing up their kids.
Expensive too, all the MOW's, supplies that will last for years...
I had no idea such folks existed until I watched these programs.
I found it interesting that Peppers instill their children with the knowledge that :Hard times are coming, war, natural catastrophes, race wars,
civil wars... I think their really screwing up their kids.
Expensive too, all the MOW's, supplies that will last for years...
I had no idea such folks existed until I watched these programs.
Think they will always be around, probably under different names, but with the same "hobby".
What's 'peppers?' Besides the vegetable. Googled "Peppers Direct TV" and got nothing.
squatting dog
Remember when... thirty seemed so old.
- Location
- Arkansas, and also Florida
We have always lived with the boy scout idea of being prepared. I'm not one of those (end of the world and I'll re-populate it guys)
Just someone who has been through ice storms and tornado's (here in the Ozarks), hurricanes (when living in Florida), dust storms, earthquakes and mega brush fires (living in the west), blizzards and sub zero cold (while living in New England). So, I've seen enough to know that what we take for granted can disappear in an instant.
Catlady
Well-known Member
- Location
- Southern AZ
I would never make it in a survival situation. My batteries are probably all expired, none of my flashlights work, I do keep some candles and matches handy. I hate using canned food, so don't have any canned meals or beans etc. My freezer is usually stocked with recipe portions, but if the electricity goes out for long, that won't help me much. So, if Armageddon comes, I'll be one of the first victims. Who wants to live in such a depressing world, anyway? So, depending whether I have electric or not, I might make it for one to three weeks.
Repondering
Well-known Member
- Location
- Nebraska, USA
For 2 people.....food for about 18 months, water for about 1 month. After that it would be well water which is drinkable but needs softening and reverse osmosis treatment to be good. The generator really drinks up the gasoline so I'd probably only use it to run the well. I've got off grid lighting and heat systems all set up. Security systems? Classified info.
Ladybj
Live, Laugh and Love
- Location
- Somewhere in the USA
YESSSSS!!!!! I agree.I'd be fine, providing Amazon was still in business.
Ladybj
Live, Laugh and Love
- Location
- Somewhere in the USA
I think we all take things for granted...especially the younger generation. I learned how to be grateful for ALL that I have. There are so many people that are living where they can find shelter.. living on the street in the cold of winter or the heat of summer. I am sooo blessed.Crikey! I've never given it any thought and maybe I should. I think I take thinks too much for granted and groove along thinking that things will never alter and as for an emergency, allI have is a lot of wax candles in the event of a power cut.
Yeah, don't think they make batteries for an electric coffee grinder, huh. That's why I wasn't into camping!
Lvstotrvl
Rhode Island
Having camped all my life, went thru a few hurricanes in Florida and the Blizzard of “78” in Massachusetts I’m well prepared, being alone is a little scary but since I’m the only one in the family with a generator I don’t think I’ll be alone for long. I also have 3 months of food for Clancy ( dog )
old medic
Senior Member
- Location
- Western NC
We could almost give Squatting Dog a run for the title...LOL
We went 17 days without any power or generator in 93 without issues... and better prepped now.
Currently building our homestead to be self sufficient and off grid ready.
My 2 favorite stories from the Blizzard of the Century....
Working on cutting trees out of the roads with the Fire Dept..( We didnt see any outside help for the 1st 5 days) Another dept member and I had been driving and clearing for several hours, I kept talking about how nice a steak and baked potato would be... to the point he could smell it....
Wished I had a pic of his face when I opened the hood and pulled out our lunch.... Steak and tater foil pack on the engine...
2nd was looking for a tragic end.... Day 4, someone mentioned about an elderly lady (84) that lived alone off the end of a dead end road... We head out, and at the end of the road we took off on foot due to the amount of trees in her drive, 1/2mile back in the woods we find her quiet house, snow untouched out front...Knock and no answer.... As we walk around back.... we find her... Outside....pulling a bucket of water up out of her well.
Not sure who was more startled... LOL... We explained we were with the Fire dept and out checking on people making sure they had food and such.
She invited us inside... and proceeded to give us 2 boxes of home canned food to help the unfortunate people out....
We went 17 days without any power or generator in 93 without issues... and better prepped now.
Currently building our homestead to be self sufficient and off grid ready.
My 2 favorite stories from the Blizzard of the Century....
Working on cutting trees out of the roads with the Fire Dept..( We didnt see any outside help for the 1st 5 days) Another dept member and I had been driving and clearing for several hours, I kept talking about how nice a steak and baked potato would be... to the point he could smell it....
Wished I had a pic of his face when I opened the hood and pulled out our lunch.... Steak and tater foil pack on the engine...
2nd was looking for a tragic end.... Day 4, someone mentioned about an elderly lady (84) that lived alone off the end of a dead end road... We head out, and at the end of the road we took off on foot due to the amount of trees in her drive, 1/2mile back in the woods we find her quiet house, snow untouched out front...Knock and no answer.... As we walk around back.... we find her... Outside....pulling a bucket of water up out of her well.
Not sure who was more startled... LOL... We explained we were with the Fire dept and out checking on people making sure they had food and such.
She invited us inside... and proceeded to give us 2 boxes of home canned food to help the unfortunate people out....
Catlady
Well-known Member
- Location
- Southern AZ
That kind of people are the ones I admire! So independent and resourceful, and kind hearted, too. Do you know what happened to her later on, how long did she live and how she died? What a story! Thanks, and also about the surprise hot dinner. LOL
StarSong
Awkward is my Superpower
- Location
- Los Angeles Suburbs
Living in EQ country means lots of public service reminders that every household should stock at least enough fresh water to last 3 days and food for a week. We've got about a month's worth of stored water and more than that in food. After a while we'd be down to the dregs of rice, beans and canned food, but we certainly wouldn't starve.
In a major quake the power would almost certainly be interrupted.
Our RV is outfitted with propane tanks as is our home BBQ. So Cal's climate is mild enough that even the coldest weather would be survivable with our supply of blankets, sweatshirts, etc.
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old medic
Senior Member
- Location
- Western NC
If I remember correctly, she died in her sleep at the same house in her mid 90s.
Great story...thanks so much for sharing!
AnnieA
Well-known Member
- Location
- Down South
So many people have food for several weeks but don't think of storing enough potable water or the means to purify questionable sources. A body can last weeks with hardly any food, but three days without water gets serious.
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squatting dog
Remember when... thirty seemed so old.
- Location
- Arkansas, and also Florida
Exactly.
The eternal deep water spring (that I can drink straight out of the ground) was the primary reason for buying and building where I am. Even with the spring, I also keep fresh filtered water (cheap insurance to dump and re-fill every so often) in multiple containers. 55 gal barrels, and smaller containers that also double as water source whenever we are boondocking. 
StarSong
Awkward is my Superpower
- Location
- Los Angeles Suburbs
We fill 2 liter soda bottles, gallon milk jugs and gallon water jugs. Some are kept in our RV, some in our garage, some in our house. We used to also keep some in our vehicles, but the cars/pickups got broken into and the emergency supplies backpacks stolen. Guess it looked like we had serious valuables in there rather than just a few bottles of water, baby wipes, plastic bags, granola bars, etc.
Over summertime the emergency water in our house and garage get dumped into the pool or used to water plants and refilled. We use the ones in the RV as drinking water while camping so those get fresh water several times a year.
It always strikes me as quite bizarre when the news shows grocery bottled water shelves completely emptied every time a hurricane is forecast. I wonder to myself, what did they do with the last bottles of water? And if they needed to use them, why didn't the refill them so that they'd have water for the next emergency? I mean, is it just me???
Catlady
Well-known Member
- Location
- Southern AZ
Great point! So, if I fill gallon plastic jugs with tap water for non-drinking purposes, how long will the water be good before it needs to be dumped? I buy drinking water in gallon jugs and the expire date is usually close to one year. So, I suppose I should have enough drinking water on hand to last me a month. Good idea.
AnnieA
Well-known Member
- Location
- Down South
Here is a good link re water storage. There are some types of containers such as milk jugs that aren't suitable for long-term storage because of the type plastic they're made of.
https://www.beprepared.com/blog/9182/5-myths-about-water-storage/
StarSong
Awkward is my Superpower
- Location
- Los Angeles Suburbs
Use the miracle of stock rotation: You could simply figure out how many total you want to keep on hand, divide it by 12 months, and mark them accordingly. Use that month's supply to water your plants, add to the washing machine, wash dishes, whatever. Refill the jug with fresh water, and voila, your stock is rotated.
In an emergency, I can assure you that you'd be glad to drink tap water even if you're accustomed to bottled water.
Annie - thanks for the link, but let me say this about that.
Perfection can be the enemy of "good enough." Storing water in water or milk jugs, or soda bottles may not be "perfect" for long term preppers, but for the rest of us it is good enough. And sometimes good enough is good enough.