Originally posted by meewee:

Here's a link for a list of things to stock up on to Survive the next disaster http://lacetoleather.com/hom.html - http://lacetoleather.com/hom.html

Originally posted by muskrat concerning BOBs (Bug Out Bags):

http://www.aussurvivalist.com/bugout.htm - http://www.aussurvivalist.com/bugout.htm

FIRST AID

Panadeine Forte
Antibiotics (Tetracycline)
Antioxidants
Trauma Dressing x 2
Crepe Bandages x 3
Triangle Bandages x 2
BurnAid Dressings
Betadine Spray
Savlon Cream
Antiseptic Soap
Non-Stick Dressings
Blister Band-Aids
Elastoplast
Butterfly Stitches
Clothing Shears
Tweezers
Immodium Plus
Insect Repellent
Sun Screen
Oil of Cloves
Sam Splint(s)

SELF DEFENCE

Capsicum Spray 17% or better
CO Wipes
Plastic Handcuffs
Expandable Baton

USEFUL ITEMS

Multitool
Knife
Sharpener
Pocket/Wire Saw
LED Torch
Spare Batteries
AM FM Radio
Knife Resistant Gloves
NBC Escape Mask
Camouflage Paint
Sleeping Bag
Emergency Blanket
Fire Starter
Fire Tinder
Poncho/Rain Coat
Gaff/Duct Tape
Titanium Crow Bar
Toilet Paper
Metal Cup
Towel
Tooth Brush
Tooth Paste
Cyalume Chemlight x 3 (red)
Microlight
Parachute Cord
Cold Coins/Cash
Prepaid Phone Card
Compact Binoculars
375ml Bundaberg Rum
Personal Radiation Dosimeter
Large Plastic Bags
Stuff Sacks
Resealable Bags

WATER / FOOD

CamelBak 3L
Water Purifying Tablets
Water Filter
Emergency Rations
Energy Bars
Comfort Food
Tea/Coffee/Hot Chocolate
Sugar
Hexamine Stove

CLOTHING

Spare Underwear x 3
Spare Socks x 3 pairs

Originally posted by bruss01 regarding "Bugging Out":

One possible pandemic bug-out scenario:

Half of the fire department is out sick, the other half afraid to leave their homes for fear of infection.  A fire starts in the house four doors down from you.  High winds cause the flame to leap to the next house, then the next... you know you have only minutes to take what you can and GO before your house is engulfed in flame. 

Another:  The power has been out for a week.  It has rained incessantly for the past 3 days, and the storm water system is already full.  A river levy near you starts to overflow, and in the space of a couple hours, it has become a torrent.  The water is rising and you have to get out before you are trapped.

Do you have somewhere to go TO? Or will you simply be running FROM?  Sleeping in the local gymnasium on a cot with other refugees is not where you want to be during a pandemic.   Do you have essentials ready to go on a moment's notice - gas in your vehicle - travel cash - a destination?

Originally posted by marjo:

Apart from all the other things mentioned, I also have copies of my passport, drivers licence, an extra bank card and cash money (small bills and change)  in my BOB.

Also my vaccin card, the passports of my dogs (important: they are vacc'd for rabiës!! In a crisis rabiës might pop up and the army might kill your dog if you can't proof they're vacc'd!)

Also copies of the official papers that proof I'm the owner of my houses and my cars, pictures of my dogs (in case we get seperated ) and a list of addresses and important telephone numbers.

All of this is in a watertight bag.

Thanks I never thought of the papers  deeds  I D  safe in a dry container.

Forgive me if I missed it somewhere but I have seen a lot of shopping lists that mention soap and shampoo and even waterless shampoo, but I dont recall seeing anywhere where someone mentions deoderant.

Antiperspirant will be very valuable, especially if you are prevented from showering every day.  Dont forget to get some! Your family members will thank you!

I've purchased waterless shampoo, and Attends bath washcloths. The washcloths are larger and come 48 in a package. They are already wet. I have young children and it will be much easier to use these to bath them with. And, will not tap into our water supply. The waterless shampoo is a liquid, but works like a powder. You put in on then towel dry your hair. It's supposed to remove oil,dirt,etc.

I've also purchased a lot of Toothetts. They are to take the place of toothpaste and toothbrushing, which would also require water.

These items can be purchased online at home health medical supply websites.

I will also have the following items stocked: contact solutions, extra contacts, shampoo, conditioner, deoderant, leave-in conditioner ( for use with waterless shampoo), after-bath powder(will help keep you clean/fresh smelling when you can't take regular baths/showers), baby bath, toothpaste, and extra toothbrushes. After being ill with any viral infection I would recommend changing toothbrushes.

Here's my supply list. Please feel free to add to it because I know I am forgetting things. It is a never ending list.

Food

dried fruit and veggies, canned fruit and veggies, white rice, tortillas, beans (pinto, kidney, black), pasta (all types), pasta sauce (tomato, alfredo etc), saltine crackers, bagged cookies, canned meats (chicken, turkey, beef, spam, ham), nutrition bars, candy, snack crackers, peanut butter, beef jerky, gatorade, canned chili, canned pasta meals, canned soups, tea bags, coffee, canned tomatoes, salt/pepper, nutrition shakes, potatoe chips, breakfast bars, rice crispy treats, pet food & treats, bottled water (1 gal./day/person)

*I plan to buy some perishable foods but those won't last very long.

Paper products

toliet paper, paper towels, baby wipes, paper plates, paper napkins, plasticware, garbadge bags, paper cups, latex gloves, femine products, cotton balls, q-tips, kleenex anti-viral, goggles, hair covers, N95 masks, wax ear plugs, foil, plastic wrap, paper bags, plastic sacks, wax paper, plastic containers, plastic ziplock bags (all sizes), old newspapers

Cleaning agents

bleach, amonia, alcohol gel, liquid dish detergent, clorox wipes, lysol spray, antibacterial spray, toliet cleaner, liquid hand soap, laundry detergent, swifter wet floor wipes, windex

Medical items:

visine eye drops, nasal spray, childrens & adult ibuprofen and acetaminiphen, aspirin, benedryl, pediatlyte, milk of mag, pepto bismol, sinus decongestant, cough suppresant and decongestant, nyquil, thermometer, blood pressure cuff, stethescope, vasoline, triple antibiotic cream, anti itch cream, tums, splints, bandaids, gauze, medical tape, betadine, rubbing alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, latex gloves, alcohol wipes, butterfly tape, q-tips, prescription meds, tamiflu

Personal care items:

toothpaste, toothbrushes, waterless shampoo, baby shampoo, liquid antibacterial soap, deoderant, mouthwash, body spray, lotion, shave soap, disposable razors, cotton balls, cotton wipes, baby wipes

Survival items:

Candles, batteries, battery operated radio & TV, flashlights, solar lights, propane tanks, kerosene oil, kerosene lamp, shoval, 2x4 wood planks (windows), plywood (windows), camp cook stove with propane tanks, 5 gal. gasoline, sheets, blankets, pillows, cell phone batteries, walkie talkies, pressure cooker, water purification system, plastic sheets, duck tape, household tools, nails, contamination sign, shoval, plastic tarp, pots & pans, metal barrel, pocket knives, hand held can opener, spoons, ladles & spatulas, potable water (in bathtubs, old milk jugs and plastic containers), firewood, outdoor fire pit, charcoal, charcoal lighter, matches, lighters, buckets (to wash clothes, dishes), broom, water hose, plastic garbage containers, ice chests, spray bottles

Survival systems:

Heat, cold, water, waste disposal, decontamination area, isolation room for anyone who gets sick, cooking systems, cleaning systems for laundry & dishes, light, communication (TV/radio), protection from intruders, outside protection (wild fires & birds), pet waste, fire protection inside, power systems (generator, solar, battery etc.), transportation (car, motorcycle, bicycle), fishing poles & equipment, needle & thread

Sanity items:

chocolate, comfort foods, hobby items, paper, pens/pencils, crayons, markers, crossword puzzles, word search books, board games, books, pencil sharpener, stapler, tape, glue, scrapebook items, knitting, bead work, sewing supplies, paint, paintbrush etc....

I think that is it but I know I will think of other stuff later.......

I forgot nuts, pancake mix and lots of fast food packets of ketchup, mustard & mayonaise!

I think I would like the Urgent QR for head wounds.  They bleed like the dickens and are hard to staunch.  Great tip Storm!

i now beleive its important to increase the amount of  rice as this item can strecth  your food budget  I figure that I will have one years worth of rice and beans first then go back and add the extras.  canned fruit, tuna canned meat dried fruit and nuts  canned soup lot of garden seeds flour ,sugar cake mixes . I figure if your on a budget if you have enough rice for a year and beans .  Then add your extra as you go so t that if it hits next week you will at least  survive if it hits next month youwill be better til if it hits next year you wont miss a thing

I also realize there are friends and family I could help more if  had more rice and beans.   The first months  will be the most important later you can add from a garden.     

I want to discuss a specific item that belongs in everyone's kit.  A knife sharpener.  Among the things you don't want to forget.  A sharp knife has many more uses than a dull one, and if you use your knife it is bound to get knicked and dulled even if you are careful.

When I grew up they had sharpening stones - two stones in one.  A coarse grit and a fine grit.  These are still available.  But there is a modern equivalent that works far better and faster. 

These days you can get sharpening "stones" that are really a soft metal matrix impregnated with hundreds of tiny diamond fragments. They work really well - and you can sharpen knives, scissors, needles, fishhooks - anything that needs an edge quickly and efficiently. 

Buck makes several sizes - but there are cheaper knock-offs as well.  I saw a portable combination one with coarse and fine faces available at the local hardware store for under $20.  With a diamond sharpening system you can have your knifes shaving sharp in a matter of minutes!

-R

Posted this on the 100 things topic but it's worth repeating:

CONDOMS!

Be careful out there :>}

the clear plastic and hose to make a solar still. You townies i guess already know about it. 1 quart a day of pure fresh water. if you have a lawn area you could put 2 in.

Emergency Survival Tool

Fortunately, there is an emergency survival technique for gathering water from our driest deserts during their most brutal seasons. It is commonly known as the Solar Still. One of the most significant survival tools created in the last 40 years. the Solar Still was developed by two physicians working for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Results of extensive testing in the Arizona deserts by the U.S. Air Force proved that when properly assembled, the still can save your life.

The Solar Still functions under the general principle of the "greenhouse effect". Solar energy heats the ground by passing through a clear plastic barrier. Moisture from the soil then evaporates, rises and condenses on the underside of the plastic barrier above.

The still also has the ability to purify tainted water. In fact, it condenses pure water from just about anything. Even urine will produce clean, drinkable water. (CAUTION: One fluid never to be used is radiator fluid, as its toxins will vaporize and poison the water.)

Materials

There are only 2 essential components to constructing the Solar Still -- a container to catch the water and a 6 x 6-footsheet of clear plastic. A shovel or trowel, a length of plastic tube and tape are all optional.

The container can be a collapsible cup, an empty plastic bottle, a small cooking pot or just about anything with a large enough opening to catch falling drops of water. In a pinch, even tin foil or a sandwich bag can be fashioned into a workable receptacle.

The sheet of clear plastic can be a ground cloth used under tents when backpacking or a thin painting drop cloth. Both work well as long as there are no tears or holes. This is the one item that should be carried at all times, since there is no natural substitute out in the boonies. I keep a 6 x 12-foot plastic drop cloth taped inside my daypack, large enough to make 2 stills if necessary. Some desert rats like to keep their plastic sheets folded inside a hip sack or as part of their first-aid kits.

A 6-foot length of flexible plastic tubing, similar to the kind used in fish tanks is a non-essential but desirable addition to the still components. This will allow you to drink accumulated water without needing to break down the solar still, inevitably affecting its efficiency.

Construction

The best part of this life-saving device is that for something that collects water from seemingly nothing, the solar still is amazingly simple to build. Here's how:

1. Dig a pit approximately 4 feet wide and 3 feet deep. Use a shovel, hand trowel, a digging stick or even your hands in soft soil or sand. Look for a sandy wash or a depression where rainwater might collect.

2. . In the center of the pit, dig another small hole deep enough for the water container.

3. Place the container inside, then run the tubing from the container to the outside of the pit. If there is tape available, tape the tubing to the inside of the container.

4. Blanket the pit with the plastic sheet, evenly on all sides, but not touching the bottom of the pit. Anchor the corners with rocks.

5. Find a small rounded rock to place in the center of the sheet, over the water container. This will keep the plastic centered and control any flapping from the wind. Gently push down on the center weight until the sides slope to a 45º angle. If the pit is dug deep enough, this should leave the center weight just a few inches above the water container.

6. Next, secure the edges of the plastic sheet with rocks and dirt. Make sure there are no places where moisture can escape.

7. Close the tubing end with a knot, or double it and tie it closed.

 

Within 2 hours, the air inside the still will become saturated with moisture and begin to condense onto the underside of the plastic sheeting. Because of the angle of the plastic, water will run down towards the center. Finally, drops will gather and fall from the apex down into the water container. As the container fills, simply sip fresh, sterile water from the plastic tubing. In especially dry conditions, water output can be increased by placing succulent plant material inside the still.

The Solar Still only takes about an hour to build. If constructed correctly, it can yield about a quart of water a day. And although the palm trees may be noticeably absent, you will have made your very own oasis in the desert, quicker than Hollywood could.

Wow, thanks for the information!

Steve101

The solar still does work, but only extends the time you can survive without water.  They really don't make enough water to keep you going full speed - especially in the desert.  We made them in desert warfare school up around the Flagstaff, AZ area.  We were also taught to put things under the plastic that would yield moisture and condense on the plastic, like plants, as they heat up the moisture leaves and condenses on your plastic.  It has been 20 years since I was involved with hands on survival but I remember being told that urinating in the sand (not in the bucket) was appropriate if you are healthy.  The urine evaporates as water and collects to bucket.  Survival is all about extending, never give up, always find a way to extend, get to the next day then do it again.

I liked your post - it brought back memories of eating sand.

I have the ingredients for a solar still in my kit. 

On a similar note, I have read, but not actually tried, that you can take a plastic garbage bag and envelop a cactus or other tree/plant with it so that it sucks the water directly out of the plant (and it collects in the garbage bag).  I imagine some duct tape would be required and a tube to sip the water as well.

Anyone ever heard about or tired this technique?  It works on the same principle as the solar still dug into the ground but the moisture comes from a plant and you don't have to dig a hole.  Also, you probably need to be careful to remove the bag before you kill the plant (if you care about that)

-R

Katrina taught us about the importance of having copies of all your important documents. Insurance dec. sheets, driver's license, bank statements, will, medical power of attorney. If you don't have the last two, you can get an inexpensive (but legal) will at office depo, medical power of attorney from your medical provider. Have them in your Bug-out bag, can save lots of headaches and will provide some peace of mind now.

I liked muskrat advise, seeds, seeds and more seeds,  have purchased quite a few to try and implement some vegetables once the BF strikes.  Assorted lettuces are easy to grow, not requiring a lot of space --you can grow lettuce in an apartment corner---lettuces contain quite a bit of water as well so it helps with the body hydration process.

One thing I won't have to worry about is toilet paper!

OK.  If you have $30 to $50 - get yourself a USB memory stick.  You shove it into the USB port on your computer and it acts like another small disk drive.  But writes faster, is smaller, and is more durable than a CD.

I just got a 1 GB one from Fry's for $40.  It is always in my machine and I keep my most current files on it.  If I really have to leave in a hurry  (without the computer), I can snap out the USB memory and at least get access to my files from any other computer.

Other than the cost, another drawback is that it has only about 2 CDs worth of storage space.  But it sure is easy to use.

Here's a recipe for making baby-type wipes for cleaning dirty faces, bottoms, bodies or whatever to save on water and expense:

Bottle of Baby Magic Bath

Roll good quality paper towels

1 1/2 cup water

Half gallon plastic container with lid

Use electric knife and cut paper towel roll in half (best to do several rolls in advance if power outage is anticipated) and remove the inner, hard paper roller.  Place towel roll inside plastic container. 

Mix 2 tablespoons Baby Magic Bath and 1 1/2 cup water and pour into container with towels.  Place lid on container and allow towels to absorb water. 

Keep lid on container to keep towels fresh and damp.  Pull towel from inside roll out first to start roll unraveling from inside out. 

Cheap, effective and uses little water and stores more than small pre-packaged commercial brands.

Mississipp Mama,

I got my food sealer at Costco long before I ever heard about the Bird Flu.  I love it.  It keeps meat frozen w/o freezer burn for months. 

The vac. sealer I have is  a FoodSaver by Tilla. These are the best, in my opinion. The bags are little pricey but worth it. Wal-Mart is where I purchased mine. You will find all sorts of things to seal. They are great for freezing meats,cheese,etc. I also put dry milk into 1 gallon ziplocs, close almost all the way, put ziploc inside a foodsaver bag and seal it. Powered milk free of oxygen stores longer.

Alos, freeze rice and  dried beans in the bag they come in for 3 days, place bag into a foodsaver bag, vac. seal it and they will last years.

http://www.tldm.org/News3/prepare.htm - http://www.tldm.org/News3/prepare.htm

Was surfing the net and found this - thought it was interesting.

cisco

I don't think that is silly at all. I think it's pretty smart thinking on your part. If you have kids, you may want to buy larger sizes than what they are wearing right now.

Decided today that I am going to have one of my old fireplaces redone ( relined and so forth) so that I can burn wood in it for heat. Hey, if this thing goes down in the winter, I can at least have a fire to keep warm.

Will get 2 cords of wood soon so that it can have a chance to dry out - before the heating season here in the NE starts up again.

If we still have time there is so much we can do to prep.

Just takes a little thought and alot of $ !

Putting some of that away too in small bills.

How about you?

We heat with wood in a woodstove every winter. We go through approximatley 1 cord every month so it really depends on how mild the winter is. We usually start burning wood in late Oct or so and don't stop until sometime in April. Of course we don't use a whole cord during the warmer months. It never lasts as long as you think it will. Always have extra.

I spent the other day making homemade firestarters for next year or whenever we need them. They make starting fires so much easier.

Wow! Thank you for the heads up on the wood consumption! I have never heated with wood really but do realize that my old fireplaces will probably gobble up the wood but really had no idea how much I should have on hand. We use heat here almost 6 months of the year. I will get 6 cords and hope that the stuff dries out. I know it is no darn good if it is wet. Sounds like I will be building muscle this summer!

Just got done putting away my latest grocery stock. Marked all with the date and updated my list as to what I have now and what I still need.  Need more storage space that is for sure. Have a metal cabinet in the attic that I will pull down this week, it should hold plenty. Decided I want the food stashed in different areas of the house anyway.

Never put all your eggs in one basket

or all your chickens in the same coop.

You are quite welcome. I sure didn't want you thinking you could get by with one or two cord when you'd really need more. Better to have too much than not enough.

Good idea about storing your preps in different areas.  I do that as well. That way, if we get raided, they won't get it all (hopefully)

What about a pellet stove?

Does anyone have any information or recommendations for me on a this idea. My brother has one and uses it for only occasional heat, but said it is very easy to use and does put out quite a bit of heat. May be easier to manage and to prep fuel for?????

honeybee ...

LOL, I agree with that last statement entirely ... we had a 4WD (DHs manly truck) and didn't need to use the 4WD until last winter ... when we had to stop, take out the info book and read up on how to put the dang thing in 4WD !!  We just got a new 4WD since I'll be going to see my folks alot this winter, and I laughed at DH and said we'd better look in the book RIGHT NOW and see how to put this thing in 4WD !!  LOL, now that was a good laugh!!