quote Originally posted by uhlanstan: Have you ever thought about what you would do if they did not come and pick up the garbage??

I have what I call a redneck incinerator, just a 55gal steel drum with an access cut in the bottom to shovel out the ash. Some metals seems to survive the process but everything else I've fed it seems to get vaporized! also makes for a great conversation piece on cold evenings. Seems to stimulate most folks to imbibe in alcoholic beverages for some strange reason. LOL

quote Originally posted by DRA: I have what I call a redneck incinerator, just a 55gal steel drum with an access cut in the bottom to shovel out the ash. Some metals seems to survive the process but everything else I've fed it seems to get vaporized! also makes for a great conversation piece on cold evenings. Seems to stimulate most folks to imbibe in alcoholic beverages for some strange reason. LOL

Access, thats an idea. We aways just shoot it with the .22 and 12Ga and let nature do the rest.

Brad

quote Originally posted by twofatguys: Access, thats an idea. We aways just shoot it with the .22 and 12Ga and let nature do the rest. Brad

Just a 12in X12in hole at the bottom, big enough to fit a flat point shovel in. We like to aerate it a little with .38 or .357 but I can see where buck shot would be much more efficient or at least quicker! LOL

Well, as an Eagle Scout, here comes my 'Man vs Wild' list, mostly things you might not think of...

- First, make sure those fresh matches are 'Strike Anywhere' matches... Trust me, it comes in very handy, and a huge box of them is like $2.
- In addition to matches, buy a Magnesium fire striker. $10 @ Wal-Mart, and it stays on your keychain. You can take it through airport security (think plane crash), it is waterproof, and never 'goes bad'. It looks like this:



You pare off a few Mg shavings, surround those with some tender, then strike it on the little round bar, and that can all be done with just about anything... doesn't even have to be a knife, but most come with a small blade attached, and the sparks are hot enough to ignite the Mg, which in turn burns hot enough to catch even damp tender (think '84 Fiero vents... ) And while we're on keychains, get a small carabiner for yours, and always clip them to you (on your person, not luggage) when you fly. Mine stay clipped to me 24/7, except when I'm driving or sleeping, and they're right beside me.

- For your home, get a Coleman (or other brand) camp stove, and keep a few cans of Propane/Butane around (Colemans use Propane). Bottles can double as munitions if absolutely necessary. Propane bottles are ~$4 a pair at WalMart. Stove looks thusly:



- Keep at least two stick candles in a drawer in every room in your house, along with a few of those matches. Yes, the striker will light those too if necessary.
- If you've got a fireplace, find an area to stash some duraflame logs. Yes, they're expensive, but they do burn for longer than the same volume of wood, and they're much more easily started.
- If you can buy fireworks now, buy several packs of sparklers.. They burn slow & hot enough to ignite any makeshift munitions... If you can't buy them now, then be sure you grab some on the next fireworks holiday, then stash them IN ZIPLOCK BAGS to keep them dry.
- As mentioned before, Duct Tape. It can save your life. You can make anything with it, so get several rolls
- Get your hands on the ARMY 'black book', aka Improvised Munitions. Learn it. Love it. Live it.
- Find or build yourself a Crystal Radio. These are the ones you might have built or seen/heard/experimented with when you were younger. They are powered from radio waves, so no need to wind anything or charge anything. Instructable here.

And lastly (for now), you can buy all the supplies in the world, but the best defense is a good offense. Make a plan for everything. Plan escape routes with your families, and review/quiz/drill them bi-weekly. These can be for fire, invasion, inclement weather, anything, just make sure everyone has a part and a plan.
Remember, some of us have been in the military, and let me be the first to tell you that they are some of the best planners in the World, so unless you follow suit and play chess (plan your moves), you won't make it.
-Paul

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Journal of a concept: http://southeastfieros.com >>> Build Thread >>> Parts thread (for project funding)

quote Originally posted by uhlanstan: Survival rations are in a can,,MREs are for travel animals easily can get into MRE,s A good supply of bleach is basic survival stuff,, this is what many country people use to keep the water in the well tank and cistern from going bad

IMHO, MRE's are for those that can't take care of themselves, but that's just me. Kind of like TV dinners for an emergency. If you do go that route, as Stan noted, they're not packaged to keep animals (including rodents) out. Pay attention to rodents and keep them out if at all possibile. The Hantavirus is very real and rodents carry many diseases so keep them out of your foodstuffs.

Food could very well be a problem. We have 300,000,000 people in this country and less than 10% know how to hunt, clean, prepare, and preserve their food. That means 9/10 will be looking to take yours when they're hungry and the easy pickings run out. Remember that.

I think someone else mentioned it, but don't get Clorox bleach. Get the cheap bleach at Dollar General that is JUST bleach. A little goes a long way.

quote Originally posted by uhlanstan: Buy soups as the staple,, the basic because you can pour it over noodles to extent your rations

Staples. Flour. Sugar. Salt. Pepper. Wars have been fought over salt and pepper. All of these can be kept indefinitely if you vacuum pack it. Without vacuum packing or freezing, Flour and most spices won't last 8 months. To elimate the insect eggs hatching (which are in ALL of the staples) you have to keep it very dry, less than 10% moisture, and/or below freezing, and/or in a vacuum. The more of these conditions you can meet the longer the stuff will last. Glass canning jars, quart or more, can be vacuum sealed for low volume things like black pepper and spices. You can vacuum pack flour, salt, and other things to keep out moisture and other contaminants in bags and then store them in things like ammunition cases that are animal resistant and have gaskets to further keep out moisture.

quote Originally posted by uhlanstan: You rotate what you buy you build up your stock you need 6 months.. I add into one end of the cabinet and take out from the other end,,I have a 5 gallon jug with a lid full of ramen noodles.Many religions require thier members to have a food supply for hard times

Rotating is always good, especially for canned goods. They are vacuum packed, but the cans have imperfect seals.

quote Originally posted by uhlanstan: BUY soup with out noodles after you have a good soup supply ,,mixed vegetables,then beans I buy when i see close outs,,really low prices tea keeps a long time Vitamins are really not much good but in a survival situation one a week could be of real value

I disagree about the vitamins, especially if you consider the possiblity that you might not be eating anywhere near a balanced diet. Doesn't matter what brand, just something with 100% of the RDA and take one every day religiously. Generally, you're not going to starve to death, you're going to become malnourished and catch a disease. Keeping up with your vitamin requirements can keep that at bay even with a poor diet as long as you can maintain your protein levels and to be honest, if you know what you're eating, you can nearly do that on certain grasses.

quote Originally posted by uhlanstan: I have lived in 4th world countries and water is the real need,, try to live close to a supply.. in a real situation the people whose homes surround the water will not want you to come in ,,My neighbors have fenced off the last access I had to the lake if you own a few acres,, if you have not dug a well be prepared to do this.

Absolutely. I have two water wells and close access to a creek. Think about what people in the cities are going to do if the water doesn't come out of the tap any longer. Not a pleasant thought.

Don't forget that in some scenarios, the surface water can be contaminated and become unfit to drink. You can either distill it or find other water. The other option is to have a deep well. Mine aren't as deep as I'd like, but will due for a fairly long time before they become contaminated.

quote Originally posted by uhlanstan: One of the most valuable tools in rough situations is a machete,, or a sturdy big knife that works and can be used as a machete ..you may never use it but have a machete !!

Machete, sword. I have several machetes and the wife has a sword. An axe is good as well along with a splitting maul. A maul also makes an effective bludgeon. (no, I'm not kidding)

quote Originally posted by uhlanstan: In many parts of the country a .22 for dropping deer any american made pump shotgun shells must be kept dry have some water proof shells dont find out to late why you need them

Army surplus gasketed ammunition cases. Great for a lot of things and completely watertight. Stan's right, US ammunition except for rare cases is NOT waterproof and will rarely fire if it's gotten wet.

quote Originally posted by uhlanstan: Older guys should have some apple cider vinegar & a large supply of aspirin(aspirin is trade material) in case heart medication is not available Have you ever thought about what you would do if they did not come and pick up the garbage??

Don't forget alcohol. Drinking and isopropyl. You can burn it, disinfect things, drink it, use it as a general anethestic, and even use it as a fuel for a generator if you have to. I'd also suggest with the aspirin acetaminophen. (Tylenol) It's easier on the stomach for pain relief but doesn't give the same effects for treating heart maladies. Scissors are a must. Good idea to pick up some cheap, white, clean sheets and pillowcases. Bandages, clothing repairs, even bags to put sausage in and can. Just make sure it clean and before you use it for something other than sleeping, wash it and rinse it well.

John Stricker

The problem with "deep wells", and that term means diffent things depending on your region, is that you have to have either electricty, a compressed air source, or a very very long rope to get water--depending how high in the casing the water rises. I have 2 wells--neither terribly deep. The newest is 150', with submersible pump, which has excellent water. Just filled my new 3000 gal sewage treatment tank with it last Saturday, and never ran out of water. The other well, at the old farmhouse up in the front of my property, is very old, 50' deep and has water to within 9' of surface, but has a lot of iron ore in the water--you can see it and taste it. It is also very easy to pump dry (slow recharge rate), but it would be the easiest to get water out of if there were no electricity for the jet pump. I do need to find one of the old long "buckets" you drop down into 4" casing tho I could just spend $45 and mount a pitcher pump on the shallow well. (pitcher pump is the old fashioned hand operated pump you see in western movies)

It is possible, to drive your own well, using a well point--generally less than 50' deep, and not a whole lot of water can be drawn from them at one time.
http://sugarmountainhome.co...eading/waterwell.htm

Those of you who have no angling skills (fishing) need to learn some. Same regarding gardening skills.

[This message has been edited by maryjane (edited 02-20-2009).]

So, does canned food ever expire?
Metal cans you buy at the grocery store that is.
I would think heat would not be great for it...

A good jon boat, canoe, or kayak (easily transportable, no gas needed) can get you out to that fishing hole for food.

If you had a thousand dollars to prepare for the worst what would you get in order of importance assuming you had nothing to start with except your home you already live in.

quote Originally posted by pokeyfiero: If you had a thousand dollars to prepare for the worst what would you get in order of importance assuming you had nothing to start with except your home you already live in.

Good question pokey.
First off, to prepare for the worst, do not count on your home. You might have to get mobile. Think like a military unit on the move. Think camping.
1) Food and shelter and items which can facilitate the same.
...a) Tent. Slicker and other outdoor clothes. Tarps.
...b) Fishing hunting supplies. Items to prepare food. Don't forget your skinning knife.
...c) Fire making ability
...d) Soap
...e) information ... radio
...f) transportation ... bicycle, horse, boat
2) Protection
3) Comfort
...a) light and heat (batteries/generator)
...b) Rock and Roll, , just kidding
I do not have the best list. actually, no list. I probably have what I need. My failure is in readiness. You did have a good question. There should be some preparedness web source.

One of the best stories written on survival!

http://www.frugalsquirrels....pic;f=1;t=044387;p=1

Makes for a good read also

Generators for power outages, what do you have and does it work well for you? Have you had a chance to use it?
Is it just dedicated to certain breakers?
Do they make diesel generators?

I just have a 1000 watt 4 stroke portable. It has outlets for 12v and 120v. I just plug in a battery backup with surge protection and plug whatever I want to use into that. Only big draw stuff I have is a fridge and all I keep in it is pop and beer so I dont worry about it. It will run tvs, vcrs, comptr, lights and whatever I need. I dont need it to run the air compressor. I have used it during outages. Yes they do have diesel generators. I run it in the garage with door partially open and exhaust fan. I also keep a carbon monoxide detector handy. It works good, sometimes goes off if Im just working a few minutes on a running car in the garage.

quote Originally posted by 2.5: Do they make diesel generators?

yep,

Yes, they make diesels. You can get 6KW chinese knockoffs for under $1,000 now in diesel You get what you pay for. Don't forget that if you get a diesel and have a fuel storage tank, you really need to use all the fuel up and replace it at least once a year. If you don't, you run a real risk of growing biological slime in the tanks and plugging fuel filters. Gasoline isn't the only thing that goes bad. You also should fill the tank with winter blend fuel if you live in a cold area. Winter blend fuel will run an engine in the summer, with a slight power reduction, but you can't run a diesel in the winter on summer fuel due to gelling.

I have serveral. My main one is a 13KW automatic standby. Power goes off for more than 30 seconds, it starts and warms up for 30 seconds, transfers power automatically, won't shut off until the power has come back on and stays on for a minute. Keeps it from shutting on and off when it flickers. It's fueled by natural gas. Even if the NG in the line goes down, I know where there's an oil well making more than enough NG on it's own to supply the people on my private gas line and my generator, and I won't be shy about comandeering it.

I also have a PTO driven generator we hook behind the tractor. It's expensive to run, though, as it will use about 50 gallons of diesel per day. It's 18KW

My welder is a Miller that is also a 5KW generator and it's gasoline powered. It will run a house, if you're careful.

John Stricker

quote Originally posted by 2.5: Generators for power outages, what do you have and does it work well for you? Have you had a chance to use it? Is it just dedicated to certain breakers? Do they make diesel generators?

I thought maybe if I do get a generator I would mount it in the garage and have an exit that I could put the exhaust pipe out thru the wall. It would be shielded from heat and all, maybe B vent pipe. They I wondered if I'd have to have an air inlet for it too, maybe since the garage is fairly new and kind of air tight.

Thats all I do. I have an exhaust pipe that plugs into a high heat rubber hose and run it under the door thru the opening. Make sure you also get a good CM detector and put in the house just for safety. I also plug my garage exhaust fan in and leave it on too.