Do you have stored away ?

[ROYC75]

A survival kit, something for a catastrophic event that could last for a week or two, maybe into a month.

Let's list the things one would need to have on hand, things maybe not listed on the basic survivor's list.

[trndobrd]

Originally Posted by Easy 6

IIRC you're a retired KC detective, so we know you're armed and well trained... don't worry about me!

More a comment on the people who go on TV and advertise what they have to the world. Seems like a poor choice.

You may be thinking of someone else. Not a LEO and, sadly, not retired yet.

[Chief Pagan]

I don't see the point of having six months supply (unless you expect to share with your community/extended family). And I don't think a couple of guns would save you from an the organized gangs and warlords that would exists after a collapse. Although owning a bunch of guns/ammo might help you join/be part of said gangs/warlords.


But if you have the means/space, I think it is worth being self-sufficient for a little while. That deep freeze that knocked Texas out is a good example.

I have enough food/water on hand that I would be absolutely fine not leaving my house for two to three weeks minimum. I have one liter bottles for drinking water inside the house where it stays climate controlled and I replace this every few years when I think about it. I have another 20 gallons out in the garage that could be used for washing.

I also have a portable propane generator and I keep enough propane on hand to run it for 40~50 hours. It uses the same 20 lb tanks as my grill, so the amount of propane I have varies a bit.

I have a mini split just for my bedroom (in addition to a whole house AC). The generator can run the mini split, the fridge in my kitchen, and a couple of lights, my computer, and a few other odds and ends.

The generator is mostly if I get hit by a rolling black out on a 100+ degree day I can keep my bedroom air conditioned. But if I lost all utilities, I could run the AC and fridge a few hours at a time, and maybe make the propane last a week or so.

I try not to let the fuel tank on vehicle get below 1/3 empty before refilling it, but this one is hard to stick to.

Middle class people with a garage/basement ought to be a little more prepared to survive a few days, in my opinion.

No, you don't need to spend thousands of dollars and be prepared to go six months. The generator is a luxury mostly because my heat tolerance is poor.

If you live somewhere where evacuations are reasonably plausible (fires/hurricanes/flood/etc.) have a plan for that.

But good grief, at least keep a weeks worth of water and food (if you have the space). Stash some led flashlights/lanterns around.


If you live in a tiny apartment, or are struggling to put food on the table... Yea, I get it.

[R8RFAN]

Here's my thoughts.
After about 3 days of no food or electricity gangs will be forming going house to house to take anything you have. But you say, I have guns, well they will have guns too and you have to sleep sometime so when you do they will just burn your barn down like in the Westerns. You best chance will be to head to the forest and live off the land.

[KsBubba]

A few thoughts.

#1 Keep at least a half tank of gas in your car. There is a good chance 150 miles in one direction will be a better place if it's going to be more than a week. Make friends with a few Bubbas who live in the rural areas. A few of us will not miss a lick.

#2 Don't wait around if it looks bad.

#3 Considering buying a 50lb bag of beans every 3 months. Donate the old bag to a food bank.

#4 I do keep a couple hundred dollars in old silver coins for peace of mind but...

#5 I have stockpiled a lot of salt in a few different places. The Romans paid soldiers in salt for a reason. Trading stock

[MTG#10]

So because of this damn thread I've spent over $500 on freeze dried meal buckets that are good up to 25 years. I have enough to feed my house plus all of my closest family for well over a year. My next step is buying some stackable drinking water storage tanks.

Any tips on water prep for long term storage? I have an RO filter but it'd take forever to fill 100 gallons and would waste a ton of water in the process. I was thinking straight from the tap would be the best bet, as the water quality in my town is pretty good. But not sure if I should add a little extra chlorine or anything to it?

Also on a semi-related note, I have fairly large a tornado shelter in my basement where I want to keep all of this but its full of beer-making supplies. If anyone is into, or is thinking about getting into homebrewing let me know, I'll make you a great deal to get rid of all this stuff.

[trndobrd]

Originally Posted by MTG#10

So because of this damn thread I've spent over $500 on freeze dried meal buckets that are good up to 25 years. I have enough to feed my house plus all of my closest family for well over a year. My next step is buying some stackable drinking water storage tanks.

Any tips on water prep for long term storage? I have an RO filter but it'd take forever to fill 100 gallons and would waste a ton of water in the process. I was thinking straight from the tap would be the best bet, as the water quality in my town is pretty good. But not sure if I should add a little extra chlorine or anything to it?

Also on a semi-related note, I have fairly large a tornado shelter in my basement where I want to keep all of this but its full of beer-making supplies. If anyone is into, or is thinking about getting into homebrewing let me know, I'll make you a great deal to get rid of all this stuff.

Why not get a ceramic filter kit w/ 5 gallon buckets? After sitting unused in the basement for years, it took about 20 minutes to assemble and filtered plenty of water during a recent boil warning.

[Bearcat]

A live look inside the room full of people who believe a word of that.

[trndobrd]

Originally Posted by Bearcat

A live look inside the room full of people who believe a word of that.

[George Liquor]

I've got like 3 cases of MREs and some water.

But those things give me gas that will peel paint off the walls so I don't want to "survive" on em for that long

[MTG#10]

Originally Posted by trndobrd

Why not get a ceramic filter kit w/ 5 gallon buckets? After sitting unused in the basement for years, it took about 20 minutes to assemble and filtered plenty of water during a recent boil warning.

Unfamiliar with that but will look into it. Only thing that worries me about relying solely on filtration is viruses/pathogens that may slip through.

Originally Posted by Bearcat

A live look inside the room full of people who believe a word of that.

Assuming this is directed at me, what's so hard to believe? Walmart.com has had great deals on Ready Wise food kits lately and I stocked the hell up with multiple orders. Would you like to see a picture of my storm shelter/homebrew storage area?

[trndobrd]

Not the brand I have, but similar concept. https://www.amazon.com/Gravity-Purif.../dp/B00XTJJIF2

[Chief Pagan]

Plastic one gallon bottles from the grocery store cost around a dollar or so and will last for years if you keep them out of the light and out of the heat.

So if you have a basement that works great or even stashed around the house if you usually air condition.

If you leave them in a hot garage, I'm not sure. Probably not ideal because the plastic might leech into the water. But if one time in 30 years you drank a few liters, it probably won't be the thing that gives you cancer.

They don't cost that much to replace every 5 or 10 years.

[Chief Pagan]

Originally Posted by MTG#10

Any tips on water prep for long term storage? I have an RO filter but it'd take forever to fill 100 gallons and would waste a ton of water in the process. I was thinking straight from the tap would be the best bet, as the water quality in my town is pretty good. But not sure if I should add a little extra chlorine or anything to it?

From what I read online, the best strategy for tap water storage was frequent replacement. It wasn't as reliable long term as the sealed plastic bottles.

But I think it would be hard to stick to a schedule of replacing frequently.

I suppose extra chlorine would help but don't go overboard and make it undrinkable. Or just filtering it if/when you ever needed it.

100 gallons sounds like a lot. Maybe keep 15 gallons of plastic bottles on hand and then switch to the tap water if that ran out.

[Reroka]

I have 10k rounds of 9mm ammo, 10k rounds of 40 cal ammo and 10k rounds for my 223.
2 months of food, enough water to fill a large swimming pool.

[neech]

Originally Posted by Reroka

I have 10k rounds of 9mm ammo, 10k rounds of 40 cal ammo and 10k rounds for my 223.
2 months of food, enough water to fill a large swimming pool.

What do you do after your 2 months worth of food runs out?