Home Survival

Grandpa · 03-12-2011, 01:06 PM

Unfortunately, we had another wake-up call this week. Because of strict building codes and all out emergency preparedness planning, the Japanese did not suffer as many fatalitites as they could have, but are we as prepared?
How long will you last if the local grocery store cannot be resupplied? If your local water system becomes poluted? If you have no electricity or natural gas? How much water can you boil without utilities? How much food can you prepare with no outside utilities? Where will you even go to the bathroom when the sewers are clogged and backing up into your home?

I am a firm believer that 2012 is NOT the end date, but we will continue on for at least another 1000 years. But I also realize that our current standard of living may regress drastically. One big solar flare, aimed directly at the earth, and the electromagnetic charge would take out all digital electronics at all levels. It would take years to re-establish the grid. Your car, your computer, your cell phone, and all those other electronic gadgets will be worthless.

San Andreas Fault, New Madrid Fault, Wasatch Fault, the whole west coast, South Carolina. Any of these major fault areas could produce an earthquake as large as the one Japan just suffered. This would totally disrupt transportation lines of all types. Transportation lines that bring you food, fuel, and all necessary supplies, as well as letting you escape a ravaged area.

Are you ready? Do you have a plan? I only bring this up because I don't want to have to kill innocent people just because they are tired of watching their children starving to death or dying from diseases so are trying to kill me and take what I have for their own.

Michael · 03-12-2011, 03:22 PM

I was actually reading a survival article on this topic the other day. The basic idea was to always be able to survive for 30 days in your home with zero outside assistance. This means no grid, no running water, no nothing.

The person suggested boiling and then treating and bottling 30 gallons of water per person in the household. Boiling kills everything, and a small amount of bleach keeps anything from getting a foothold. The stuff stays safe to drink for over a year, so you change it out roughly every year; toward this end, you label each with the date you sealed it.

Then you build up food that will last, and you secure it in metal containers that seal. This way rodents and insects can't get into it and ruin your food. Rice and dry beans are great for this, because they last a really long time. Canned goods as well. Anything in your fridge or freezer is not counted against your month of food, because you have to figure it'll spoil quickly.

Then of course you get the stuff that isn't essential for life but you will probably want. Ammunition, candles, matches, blankets, etc. It's always good to have a crap-load of this stuff in your home. It's not like your candles are going to go bad and not burn when you need them.

The idea of the article is that you always have enough stuff to survive relatively comfortably for some period of time. That way, you can immediately start to adapt to survival situations. No need to start filling things with water; you can get to boarding up windows so debris from a hurricane won't smash them.

I wish I had this level of preparedness. After my next move, I'm planning to at least try to get close.

Refrigerator · 03-12-2011, 05:57 PM

I can do that and more

SweetSassyLady · 03-12-2011, 08:14 PM

Honestly, we have it covered. We live up a hollow and there are a lot of animals that we could kill if need be. There are everything from wild turkeys to rabbits and deer so we would be fine for food. We also have a lot of food stored and water stored also. We actually had a flood last year that necessitated our using the water because the waste water treatment plant was flooded and the water hereabouts was undrinkable for a while. We have wood available for fires and have a small garden every year. We also have bullfrogs in our pond for frog legs during the spring and summer (YUM). We have a gas grill which has a full tank and is ready to cook if necessary. I've even made quick breads on the grill. The only thing we are not stocked up on are prescription medication because our insurance won't give us more than a month's worth at one time.

Grandpa · 03-12-2011, 10:29 PM

My project for this summer is build an ice house then fill it next winter. We have my grandparents old oak icebox. I loaded it up with ice last 4th of July when all the kids were here. Put all the soda pop etc in it. Even in the 90-95 degree heat and the kids constantly opening and closing, it stayed around 48 degrees for 4 days on one load of ice.

HikingGuy · 03-13-2011, 06:43 AM

I read an article that this disaster in Japan was predicted, but it is the same old crap. With what we have stored we could last a few weeks easily, we live in the woods, that helps and we burn wood for heat.

IndianaHiker · 03-14-2011, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grandpa

Unfortunately, we had another wake-up call this week. Because of strict building codes and all out emergency preparedness planning, the Japanese did not suffer as many fatalitites as they could have, but are we as prepared?
How long will you last if the local grocery store cannot be resupplied? If your local water system becomes poluted? If you have no electricity or natural gas? How much water can you boil without utilities? How much food can you prepare with no outside utilities? Where will you even go to the bathroom when the sewers are clogged and backing up into your home?

I am a firm believer that 2012 is NOT the end date, but we will continue on for at least another 1000 years. But I also realize that our current standard of living may regress drastically. One big solar flare, aimed directly at the earth, and the electromagnetic charge would take out all digital electronics at all levels. It would take years to re-establish the grid. Your car, your computer, your cell phone, and all those other electronic gadgets will be worthless.

San Andreas Fault, New Madrid Fault, Wasatch Fault, the whole west coast, South Carolina. Any of these major fault areas could produce an earthquake as large as the one Japan just suffered. This would totally disrupt transportation lines of all types. Transportation lines that bring you food, fuel, and all necessary supplies, as well as letting you escape a ravaged area.

Are you ready? Do you have a plan? I only bring this up because I don't want to have to kill innocent people just because they are tired of watching their children starving to death or dying from diseases so are trying to kill me and take what I have for their own.

Honestly I don't really have a plan. Main reason is that I am like many Americans and I simply cant afford to stockpile anything. I ma simply living pay check to pay check and really cant afford the extra cost of paying extra food and water to pack away.

That being said However I don't feel the need. I have a friend that talked about this and he had a different idea than I do but would work for him. He has a farm and as lots of food and other thing put away. He feels that he would stay at his farm and fight off whoever might come to take away what he has. I would rather grab my pack and head into the woods. I would have to change my diet as I am a vegetarian and start eating meat again but believe that by trapping and taking game I could survive. I would prefer this as being out where I would be hard to find for me is what I prefer rather then being near town. In my backpack I have shelter, means to stay warm, and believe I could stay relatively comfy in the woods. I wouldn't be as comfy in the woods as my friend how I also wouldn't have to worry as much about others wanting to take what I have since I would be mobile.

oldsarge · 03-14-2011, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IndianaHiker

Honestly I don't really have a plan. Main reason is that I am like many Americans and I simply cant afford to stockpile anything. I ma simply living pay check to pay check and really cant afford the extra cost of paying extra food and water to pack away.

I feel your pain Brother! It isn't easy now a days. I kick myself in the ass for ever moving back to the suburbs after getting out of the military. I would much rather be out in the country somewhere. With the housing crunch the way it is, I can't afford to sell my house and take a hit.

hikinboot · 03-14-2011, 07:08 PM

I buy a few extras each time, it helps, doesn't add that much to the grocery store. I have enough stuff for about 72 hours. I have 2 18L of water too.

Refrigerator · 03-14-2011, 07:23 PM

I have at least 4 months supply of full food rations on hand with 2 freezers, 3 fridges 4 cases of MREs....many many packages of freeze dried foods and a generator with 60 gallons of gas. Yea I would eat quite a bit of my frozen refrigerated foods first unless it were winter.
Yes I also have 6 50lb bags of dog food always in the back room for my Lab and Retriever. They eat a plenty. I do have a phobia about being ready to survive and have always been like that even when I was young growing up poor I would always cache food for later rewards.

I have a 180 foot well at 25 gallons a minute and iffin the elec would go off line I have a crank pump that will attach to the inlet well line to draw water.
Eh....the only thing I am in need of is BEER and Wine. Oh yes..I also have plenty of toilet paper too I am not kidding.....we have at least 100 rolls stashed into a closet we rotate continually. I gots it really bad ...