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.
Weight lifting notes: DL 135 x 6 raw, (205 x 6) x 4 straps
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.
Settle your water in a bucket for 12 hours before using it in the filter, or make a sand filter for prefiltering. 8-12 inches of 6 inch pipe and some pool sand works very well
DeleteThat’s a very sensible. List.
ReplyDeleteBe sure to include plenty of fats and oils for cooking and basic calories.
There may be help on the horizon.
DeleteSteak & Shake just announced that they've had it with seed oil French Fries (thank you RFK), and they will be using beef tallow for fries in 100% of their stores by the end of February 2025.
Lard is shelf stable and won't leak.
DeleteUnless you are using rice and beans and flour and such, storing enough calories for 4 people for 3 months is a LOT of space, weight, and bulk. Assume 3000+ calories per day for a realistic number (you aren't gonna do all that physical work for long at 200 Calories per day) Canned food is even heavier and bulkier.
ReplyDeleteSealed oils are good for 20 years (I have done the experiment) so you can have long term storage of fats, at a loss in taste quality) if you keep them in the dark.
Stock large amounts of salt.
One thing most people forget is spices. Have some spices to make things taste better.
Air and/or light are the enemies of fats' and oils' longevity - anything with those ingredients or in raw form will turn rancid when exposed to air and/or light. There are ways to mitigate this, but research what resources one has to do so in SHTF situation.
DeleteWater is always a critical item and B is right. The sheer amount of space/weight needed to store that much supplies is a non-starter for a lot of folks due to lack of room.
ReplyDeleteOddly from an earlier Joe posting we find out how small Bible era homes are.
ReplyDeleteOddly they managed to keep well stocked in food and water. Or at least the wise did.
Proverbs 21:20 (and others)
New International Version
The wise store up choice food and olive oil, but fools gulp theirs down.
American Standard Version
There is precious treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise; But a foolish man swalloweth it up.
Berean Study Bible
Precious treasures and oil are in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish man consumes them.
You can make time and space for what is important.
An issue that I see in a lot of these food prepping discussions is completely ignoring any ability to grow/ forage/ catch additional food. A basic garden can provide a LOT of food, chickens are simple providers of eggs and meat. A friend of mine lives on a lake and his preps include a hill net and a circular fish trap.
ReplyDeleteYou’re limited by your location, skills, motivation and imagination.
Not all food has to be stored.
While I agree about production friend.
DeleteThere is that little problem that I've seen in recent history that less prepared folks steal and or destroy trying to steal farmers crops during social revolution-collapse.
The Farmers of Rhodesia would like a word with you about post collapse farming. South Africa is also in the cue.
That and the reality of crop failures. Food storage for at least a year without outside input is prudent so you don't eat up your seed corn (all the chickens etc.) for a reasonable chance next year.
Also, a thought, nasty as it is. Septic tanks are DESIGNED for a certain number of adults using it over a long term. There is SOME extra for weekends with extra friends.
DeleteLong tern OVERLOADING of it WILL Create real issues of unprocessed sewage seeping up from the overloaded drain field, clogging and overflow of the tank itself.
You might be smart enough to avoid it using outside processing of urine (and NOT using gallons of water for a few ounces of pee) BUT are your neighbors that clever?
THAT LAKE with fish might rapidly become a open air septic tank as overcrowded lake houses septic systems fail.