Some of my readers are going to cough up a hair-ball over this, but FEMA's recommendation to have at least three-weeks worth of non-perishable foods, water and other necessities on-hand is a good start.
Three weeks will get the roads plowed, the fallen trees removed from the road, power-lines up, most first-contacts in remote areas, martial-law and curfews installed, trucks bringing food and ice to most areas and so on and so-forth.
There will be outlying areas but most of the people living there live there for a reason. They KNOW they won't get much attention. Likely, they will have at least three months supplies just-because.
The most painless way to get that three weeks of food is to double-up on your non-perishable food purchases until you hit that number. If you normally buy and eat a pound of Jasmine Rice a week, buy two pounds. If you buy and eat two cans of Minestrone soup, buy four. Don't buy foods you aren't eating now. The last thing you need is your guts twisting because you had a huge change in your diet.
"...other necessities..." Tylenol, Benedryl, Imodium, antacids (generics are fine), birth control, feminine hygiene products, blood pressure meds and anticoagulants, bar soap, sunscreen, insect repellent, bandages, batteries... Window screens to repair broken windows (a big deal if the power is out and you can't run AC) and clear poly-film. A 20lb tank of LP and a camp-stove. Trash bags.
Enough clothing and bedding to keep you warm if your power is out. Sleeping bags, when unzipped, make outstanding comforters.
For the record, these are not really my thoughts. This is my assessment of the center-of-gravity of what the preparedness community believes. We all started once upon a time and most of us didn't start with a lot.
I would suggest also getting oil lamps and lanterns and lots of kerosene. NOT paraffin as it goes solid when cold. ---ken
ReplyDeleteAs mentioned before in this extended thread.
ReplyDeleteTEST your stuff.
If you're thinking a few cans of Wise (Insert any survival food name here) survival food is your plan.
OPEN that can and eat it for a weekend.
I did. Nasty stuff and the dozens of servings must have been measured by the tablespoon.
Joe suggests storing what you eat and that's great advice.
Instant mashed potatoes and a can of spam is darn fine eating. Many other options from any Walmart dry goods food section.
If you think the sawyer camping filter is your safe water, then spend a weekend actually using it with real "wild" water. Learn the back flushing techniques and how you need clean water containers to hold it for use.
I strongly suggest you pre-filter your wild water with coffee filters and the sawyer and its clones were "RATED" at 10K gallons of water in a lab with clean TAP WATER.
Micro filters work well but they clog easily and require CLEAN SAFFE Water to backflush. Even then they don't last long without starting with the cleanest wild water available.
Not going to last more than a month in real world use from my friends who actually went backcountry camping for the summer.
Also, the micro-filter CANNOT BE FROZEN WET. Ruined. Once used you're not going to get it completely dry so don't allow it to freeze.
That’s a very sensible. List.
ReplyDeleteBe sure to include plenty of fats and oils for cooking and basic calories.