Survival Preparation Notes

February -2011

Think of yourself as Noah did when he received his message. There was no water and no rain. He diligently began preparation. We should do the same. If nothing happens, we have some extra to use, so there is no loss in your investment. Maybe even do a practice run!!!!

Have a family meeting and discuss the world events taking place. There are a number of things that could create a disaster. It could be terrorist, hurricane, tornado, riots, earthquake, etc.

There is also a warning from FEMA on the New Madrid Fault that would indirectly impact Texas through extreme changes in infrastructure and a huge lack of available supplies, food, gasoline, electricity, etc. that would be diverted to the Eastern U.S. which could lose all power for an extended period of time (months). Ability to travel would be highly restricted and martial law could be imposed if the quake were at a high level.

This last week Donald Rumsfeld said that there was a 100% chance of a foreign country attacking the US with an EMP, chemical warfare, or other means.

All this information is given in the immediate interest of planning, without procrastination or excuse. To plan for events like this is like playing a roulette wheel. Who knows what will happen. Suggestions to prepare are below:

  1. Put back lots of cash in small bills. Hide it safely.
  2. Have a Bug Out or Boogey bag in your car / some food, water, first aid supplies, blanket(s), extra clothes, toilet paper, and any medicine that would be needed. This should all fit in a backpack and you can take it in and out of your car at night if desired. It should be put together to last you for a minimum of three days. If you have kids, have a Boogey Bag for them as well. Also called a 72 hour kit.
  3. ALWAYS keep your car over half full of gasoline and keep one or two five gallon containers of gasoline at home.
  4. Have at least three days to one week of food on store at your house (in addition to the Bug Out Bag). Put the contents in plastic containers so you can carry it in your car if you have to leave. Use 2 liter bottles for water storage or get larger containers at Wal-Mart.
  5. Have alternate routes to get out of town if you are in a metro area. Going through town will probably not be an option.
  6. Have a handgun, particularly in your car. Take a Concealed Weapon class THIS MONTH to learn how to use it. If you do not have one for the class, borrow one or rent one from the sponsor teaching the class. Then buy something you can use: I would suggest a 22 or 38 Special revolver because they are very easy to learn to use and ammo is available, particularly 22 bullets. Have a minimum of 250-500 bullets on hand. You can use a revolver in the concealed hand gun class but if so, you will not be able to legally carry a semiautomatic with a clip. For more information on selection, see:
  7. Educate yourself on survival. Go through mental scenarios. Think of camping out at your house for a month without water or electricity. Buy a Boy Scout Handbook at a used book store. Explore the Internet. Get up to speed and buy vital resources.
  8. Remember, it takes quite a bit of water for a commode. Also have an abundance of toilet paper, it is cheap. Think about what happens when you run out and then you will buy twice as much as you need. Even when the water is off, the commode will usually work for quite a while unless the drainage system backs up.
  9. When you get the slightest hint that water may not be available, fill up your bathtubs and use that water for the commodes. Have the guys (boys) go outside and do not flush every time unless necessary.
  10. If your BBQ grill does not have a burner on it, buy a Coleman or equivalent camp stove burner (see next item) that you can use inside with small propane bottles. You can buy a device to refill them from a regular BBQ Grill Propane bottle at Wal-Mart or Tractor Supply.
  11. Camp Stoves: Go to Amazon.com and search for Camp Chef. For $182.50 you can get a small oven with two burners.
  12. Take a shower? While at the above site, scroll down and you will see all kinds of links for taking a hot shower.
  13. Buy a small electrical generator to use for your refrigerator. Make sure you have extra gasoline. DO NOT leave the generator outside when not in use; it will get stolen. Also guard it when in use. Buy one that will supply 2000 watts, but smaller ones will work, with limited power output. Harbor Freight has a sale on now for an 800 watt generator that would run a refrigerator, a box fan, and asmall light bulb or two for $129.00. / Next step up is a 2200 watt for $300 Remember to get extra gas if you use a generator. Turn it off when not needed.
  14. For batteries for flashlights and lanterns, buy rechargeable batteries and a battery charger. Buy at Radio Shack or Wal-Mart. Get AAA, AA, C, and D batteries (several of each) and the charger. Also get a lantern (fluorescent) that runs on batteries. You use the battery charger when the generator is running.
  15. Buy some extension cords for connecting all the above. Harbor Freight again has excellent buys for long cords. Your plan will dictate the number and length needed.
  16. Toilet? Look at: Some use D batteries for heating, so you need several to always have some charged up. Maybe have a couple of chargers. They are not expensive.
  17. Go to a camping store and just look around for things. You will learn a lot. Gander Mountain is an excellent place to start. Bass Pro Shop is another. Also Wal-Mart.
  18. Go to Emergency Essentials: All kinds of things from food to toilets to showers, etc. Get a handle of costs. Order the catalog and take it with you to Gander Mountain or Bass Pro for comparison pricing. Check out the 100 hour candle
  19. Check out Dutch Ovens / You can use them with charcoal briquettes or a campfire. An excellent source to cook with is the Volcano 2 . It can be used with propane, wood or charcoal.
  20. Buy a tent. We may get run out of our houses. Get one big enough for 6 (four comfortably).
  21. A solar setup to charge a 12 volt car battery is also a good idea. Harbor Freight and Tractor Supply have these. A 60 watt version will work. The battery is best to be a marine deep cycle battery. You charge the battery, then with an Inverter, you have a small amount of power available to run a radio, light, computer or small battery charger. You will need at least a 300 watt inverter as well.
  22. Buy extra propane bottles. They make different sizes. Get a number of 20 pound and several larger as well. Also some one pound for cooking (several) and a device to refill the one pounds from the 20 pound bottles. Also an adaptor to connect the 20 pound (regular BBQ size) to the camp stove will save from having to refill the one pound bottles.
  23. Remember, you are planning for the long haul if you shelter in place. If you go to someone else's house, bring your supplies with you. That includes blankets, pillows, towels, etc. Remember the word “camping”. And remember it may be several months to a year. Hopefully the dollar will hold and the supply lines will reestablish themselves.
  24. Learn about sprouts. You can grow them in 2-3 days and if necessary, you can live on them.
  25. DO NOT PROCRASTINATE!!!! Plan out the above.
  26. DO IT NOW.
  27. Feedback is welcome.

Not trying to scare anyone, just thinking about preparation. Do NOT tell your co-workers or neighbors what you are doing or when something happens, they will be at your door begging. Either that, or get them together and have a neighborhood preparation briefing and get all of them involved. Then you could block off the street if necessary and at least isolate yourself a little bit. If you have a generator, they will definitely hear it, and if you cook outside, they will definitely smell it, so you cannot totally do this in a vacuum.

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