Do you have disaster preparations on hand?

[AggieDave 6]

Through some discussions with a few good friends of mine we began discussing measures taken to prepare our homes for a disaster or the even that civil unrest may disrupt normal society and supply.

Basically we discussed our belief that the majority of the population has nothing on hand to help them through a disaster beyond a couple of cans of chili and a couple of hotdogs in the freezer!

We agreed that there should be provisions (food/water) for each member of the household for a minimum of a week. We're talking about non-perishables, canned food, MREs, etc.

We discussed about how much fuel should be stored, what kind of fuel and for what purposes. Personally I'm more worried about white-gas then gasoline, so I can power my "quality of life" items like the Colelman gear I own (lantern, stove, etc). I'll ride my bicycle and not worry about it. Then the discussion of how much fuel (gasoline, etc) could be safely stored in your typical American's garage/shed.

The topic of spare ammunition also came up. The general consensus was that 500rds per major caliber (useful caliber) would be ideal. So you would figure that would mean about 1000-1500rds on hand for a prepared household. This is understanding that after 5-7 days of a disaster that society as a whole may start turning in on its self. Its also assuming that the government may not be able to help. So it is up to you to not only defend what you have but hunt for food. Then again, you could walk up to the deer in my neighborhood and slit their throats with a butter knife, but the wild hogs in the woods are pretty mean.

In the modern world, would that seem unreasonable or does that seem like the mindset of a prepared family? Some people consider the prepared either paranoid or crazy, personally I worry about the unprepared with a major event occurs. The friends I was talking with were not advocating moving into a secluded cabin in Montana or digging up the back yard to put in a nu-cler shelter, just being prepared.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[Gawain 0]

I do, but it's not enough in my opinion...I could do more.

So I try and I scream and I beg and I sigh
Just to prove I'm alive, and it's alright
'Cause tonight there's a way I'll make light of my treacherous life
Make light!

[akarunway 1]

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Through some discussions with a few good friends of mine we began discussing measures taken to prepare our homes for a disaster or the even that civil unrest may disrupt normal society and supply.

Basically we discussed our belief that the majority of the population has nothing on hand to help them through a disaster beyond a couple of cans of chili and a couple of hotdogs in the freezer!

We agreed that there should be provisions (food/water) for each member of the household for a minimum of a week. We're talking about non-perishables, canned food, MREs, etc.

We discussed about how much fuel should be stored, what kind of fuel and for what purposes. Personally I'm more worried about white-gas then gasoline, so I can power my "quality of life" items like the Colelman gear I own (lantern, stove, etc). I'll ride my bicycle and not worry about it. Then the discussion of how much fuel (gasoline, etc) could be safely stored in your typical American's garage/shed.

The topic of spare ammunition also came up. The general consensus was that 500rds per major caliber (useful caliber) would be ideal. So you would figure that would mean about 1000-1500rds on hand for a prepared household. This is understanding that after 5-7 days of a disaster that society as a whole may start turning in on its self. Its also assuming that the government may not be able to help. So it is up to you to not only defend what you have but hunt for food. Then again, you could walk up to the deer in my neighborhood and slit their throats with a butter knife, but the wild hogs in the woods are pretty mean.

In the modern world, would that seem unreasonable or does that seem like the mindset of a prepared family? Some people consider the prepared either paranoid or crazy, personally I worry about the unprepared with a major event occurs. The friends I was talking with were not advocating moving into a secluded cabin in Montana or digging up the back yard to put in a nu-cler shelter, just being prepared.

I think I could survive. Unless a earthquake swallows me.

I hold it true, whate'er befall;
I feel it, when I sorrow most;
'Tis better to have loved and lost
Than never to have loved at all.

[quade 4]

Ultimately it depends on what you mean by disaster and if you believe that civilization as we know it will completely collapse or . . . return to normal after a month or so.

In some of the items you've listed, I see them being adequate for a couple of weeks maybe, but let's look at the worst case scenario of civilization completely breaking down . . .

Do you really think 500 rounds of each type would be adequate?

On the flip side, let's say it's a disaster similar to Katrina. Were 500 rounds in total even fired by all parties involved?

I guess my point is that below a certain threshold, the provisions you have on hand are probably enough to last a few weeks. Hell if my house fell over in an earthquake, my guess is that I'm not going to starve to death in even 4 weeks. As long as I had access to water, I'd probably live through it. However, if civilization where to completely collapse there simply isn't any amount of supplies that would be "enough."

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[JerryBaumchen 1,466]

Hi Dave,

Well for one thing, I don't live in Tornado Alley.

Last year a 76-yr old woman spent 14-15 days lost in the woods here in Oregon. She was found alive but not in the best of shape. Today she is doing very well.

There were a lot of newspaper articles about survival that ran after she was found alive. One article ( by someone who knows 'I think' ) said that a human can survive for 30 days without food. But only about 5 days without water.

I really don't want to find out about the 30-day thing,

JerryBaumchen

[Amazon 7]

yup


Bring it on.

[jdthomas 0]

with out a doubt we can survive, keep clean, well fed and safe.
Medical kits are well stocked adn we both know how to use the contents safely, the gun safe is well armed and we have a food alotment that is great.
I went a week w/o power and running water in the dead of winter a few years ago due to an icestorm, I had less supplies at that time then I do now, it was not easy but I bet it could be this time.

stock up, you never know!

Joe

www.greenboxphotography.com

[airdvr 210]

Civil unrest? I'm heading for South Carolina

Please don't dent the planet.

Destinations by Roxanne

[Andy9o8 2]

Interesting OP & thread.
I'd guess many people's attitudes about stocking up would be influenced by whether or not they live or grew up in a more disaster-prone area. People in Florida and the Gulf Coast are used to being prepared for hurricanes, and those in the Great Middle Nothingness deal with the tornados. So those people would tend to be better prepared. Blizzard country, probably not too much, since even big blizzards rarely shut everything down for more than several days at a time, because the infrastructure is so good. People in other regions, probably less so. As far as owning guns and stocking ammo, I'd guess that would probably roughly track the regional/subcultural differences on private gun ownership that we're all familiar with.

[kallend 2,146]

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Interesting OP & thread.
I'd guess many people's attitudes about stocking up would be influenced by whether or not they live or grew up in a more disaster-prone area. People in Florida and the Gulf Coast are used to being prepared for hurricanes, and those in the Great Middle Nothingness deal with the tornados. So those people would tend to be better prepared. Blizzard country, probably not too much, since even big blizzards rarely shut everything down for more than several days at a time, because the infrastructure is so good. People in other regions, probably less so. As far as owning guns and stocking ammo, I'd guess that would probably roughly track the regional/subcultural differences on private gun ownership that we're all familiar with.

Tornados are very localized (so don't shut down whole towns for days) and would not necessitate the kind of preparations described, nor would a tornado likely lead to any civil unrest.

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[AWL71 0]

I am a firm believer in being prepared. I may or may not need it but I have food and water storage, first aid supplies, and plenty of ammo!

The most terrifying words in the English language are: I'm from the government and I'm here to help.

[Andy9o8 2]

Fine, then you can give me a C-minus.

[kallend 2,146]

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Fine, then you can give me a C-minus.

Well, there's the possibility of a big earthquake on the New Madrid fault, which would damage a huge area of the midwest and Mississippi valley on account of the rigidity of the underlying rock.

Trouble with much of this preparedness is the high probability of NOT being at home when disaster strikes. Do folks carry all this food, water, fuel and ammo around in the trunks of their cars?

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[warpedskydiver 0]

I do, however we also have medical supplies sufficient to do much more than just first aid, survival gear, firearms, proper clothing to equip us for outdoors, tents, cooking gear etc.

You should also consider having at least 2000 rounds of 22lr for hunting small game.

I have enough gear to equip my entire family, and many of my friends.

We have enough between all of us to hold several square miles of land to survive on.

[warpedskydiver 0]

How much survival gear do you have, and does it fit in the boot of an MG?



What will you take first a chafing dish, or a duvee?

[kallend 2,146]

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How much survival gear do you have, and does it fit in the boot of an MG?



What will you take first a chafing dish, or a duvee?

A picture of my 16-way team.

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[StreetScooby 5]

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In the modern world, would that seem unreasonable or does that seem like the mindset of a prepared family?

I agree with what you're saying, and am looking into how to better prepare myself. My friends and family in Baton Rouge are still without power.

We are all engines of karma

[quade 4]

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My friends and family in Baton Rouge are still without power.

I wish them well in the next week and let's all hope Ike stays misses them.

http://www.stormpulse.com/

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[cloudseeker2001 0]

I think most people are without enough or the right provisions for even a minor disaster. What happened in New Orleans after Katrina proves this, and it also proves how the federal, state and local governments will work to manage whatever happens. The longer people will go without the comforts of life as we know it, the more barbaric people will become. If I am faced with a “shelter in place” and if I had a water source that I could purify with one of at least 3 methods I am prepared for, I can last two months with supplies I have now. I think the best thing to do during a chaotic disruption of life for more than a week, would be to get out of the city as soon as possible. Dirty bomb, bolide, earthquake, volcano suddenly erupts (people have laughed at me on this one, but people do not realize Yellowstone could kill almost everyone in North America), mass rioting, pandemic (a flu pandemic is coming, it is only a matter or time and it will kill millions in a very short period of time) or whatever, I have enough supplies and gear on hand and ready to go to get about 200 miles on foot. I do not have enough ammo to hunt for very long, only enough to ensure my personal safety along the way…..or maybe I should say to ensure my personal well being after my supplies run out…….

If I had a family, my plans would be much different. I think your numbers might be a little low for an enitre family. The world we live in, people are not used to suppling provisions for months at a time. But, I have read supply list from farmers and ranchers that had to prep for the winter only 100 years ago and it was tons of food!

"Some call it heavenly in it's brilliance,
others mean and rueful of the western dream"

[masterblaster72 0]

I used to carry a gas mask in my bag to work every day a while back...people thought I was a bit loopy for doing so. I eventually stopped carrying one, but not for that reason...I just figured, why prolong the suffering because it likely won't last long enough to get out of town.

Be humble, ask questions, listen, learn, follow the golden rule, talk when necessary, and know when to shut the fuck up.

[Ron 10]

Food: Could be better. Had a bunch of MRE's but I have no idea where they went.

Survival gear: Pretty good. I need to buy a generator.

Ammo: Plenty about 1500 rounds 9mm, 660 rounds 5.56, 250+ rounds .40, 100 rounds .357 and several thousand rounds of 22LR to include subsonic for hunting.

But the big plus is I have friends as stocked or better than I am and we have a plan to ban together if needed.

I don't consider prepared to equal paranoid. I must admit that I am kinda lazy when it comes to planning however.

It would be interesting/cool if the survival professional Amazon gave a list of the basics.

"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

[AggieDave 6]

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Tornados are very localized (so don't shut down whole towns for days) and would not necessitate the kind of preparations described, nor would a tornado likely lead to any civil unrest.

Tornadoes have wiped out entire towns before. Looting has occurred after more than one tornado. Civil unrest has also occurred. History has taught us some taught lessons and its up to the individual to believe history and try to prevent its repeat.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[kallend 2,146]

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Tornados are very localized (so don't shut down whole towns for days) and would not necessitate the kind of preparations described, nor would a tornado likely lead to any civil unrest.

Tornadoes have wiped out entire towns before. Looting has occurred after more than one tornado. Civil unrest has also occurred. History has taught us some taught lessons and its up to the individual to believe history and try to prevent its repeat.

The issue is whether one needs a week's supply of anything for a tornado. I submit that one does not, since the damage is localized and would not take out all emergency services over a wide area.

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[Misternatural 0]

-all that plus Bees & stored Yeast for bread, beer, and fuel making...

and antibiotics in case the yeast mutates into some horrible monstrosity.

Beware of the collateralizing and monetization of your desires.
D S #3.1415

[FlyingJ 0]

For work I keep a bag packed that's good for 3 days food/water with no power or shelter in just about any weather (prepared to sleep in the cold, but would need to collect a few extra items to be in the cold day and night).

As for sheltering at home, I'm good to go for about two weeks in regard to food/water/batteries, etc. I don't store fuel at home though have access to unleaded and diesel 5 miles away at work, along with a generator.

I've yet to really wrap my mind around my firearms (12g, 30-06, 22LR) being used for self defense, etc. as I only started hunting (and bought my first gun) less than a year ago. I have some ammo for each but I certainly won't be the guy outfitting the neighborhood militia.

From a standpoint of financial loss, etc. probably the most important thing I do is keep my chest freezer filled about 1/3 with bags of ice. That way when we lose power my freezer (that is obviously already cold) turns into a cooler and keeps all of my meat from spoiling. I keep a bunch of frozen water bottles in there too that can be pulled and thawed to get some cold water. One major thing I learned while doing hurricane relief in Mississippi and New Orleans is the importance of unplugging major appliances, etc. when the power will be off for a long time. Often as the power gets back up and running there are surges, etc. and lots of stuff gets fried.

I used to have to deal with this stuff all the time living in Florida and working in a job responsible for responding to the various disasters and often see a few days here and there for work in my current job, but it's been a couple years since I had to deal with a week or more without power.

Ike seems to have homed in on my butthole and is just waiting for me to bend over, so we'll see what happens this time around!

Killing threads since 2004.