The Canned Food Alliance recommends the
minimum amount of food is
two cans of food per person, per day
and one gallon of water per person, per day

Prepare for a minimum of one week. When you complete one week's preparation - consider preparing for two weeks.

What should your emergency food supply include? A variety of canned meats, canned fruits and vegetables, grains, canned milk products, ready-to-eat canned foods, and soup.

So, the next time you are at the grocery store, pick up two extra cans of food for your Emergency Food Supply.

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It is always good to be prepared. If you have advice I'd be happy to hear it, even if it is not just about food and water.How about emergency power for heat and cooking?

Does anyone have advice to add? Also how about how long food and water stored is good for? Do you just buy clean 5 gallon buckets for water? Are jugs that used to hold other liquids safe / how to clean them properly?

quote Originally posted by 2.5: ...Are jugs that used to hold other liquids safe / how to clean them properly?

Depends what the other liquid is. Vinegar, wine, beer, juice? Sure. Diesel? Nah. You'll never get all the fuel out of the container no matter how much you clean it.

I suggest getting purpose-made jerry cans.

A good idea is to have a portable power generator or if you have the funds a diesal generator that your house will switch over to when the main line stops feeding the house. For your portable generator you can call an electrician and he will come out and look at your generators wattage and amp rating and he can attach a line to the breakers that you need that won't overload your generator and will plug right into it. I am not sure of the cost as a friend of mine (certified electrician) ran my line as a favor. So in my opinion get the biggest generator you can afford to buy so you can run more items. Also don't forget if do use this methode the power is dirty so I wouldn't run my computer off of it. I bought an extra Honda EU2000 generator to run my electronics off of in case I had to. Just one preparedness thing I thought of.

Shelby

[This message has been edited by ARFiero (edited 02-17-2009).]

You might want to have a manual can opener around someplace.
And a fresh roll of duct tape.
Blue tarps may come in handy. You could stash your booze under them.

[This message has been edited by NEPTUNE (edited 02-17-2009).]

quote Originally posted by NEPTUNE: You might want to have a manual can opener around someplace. And a fresh roll of duct tape. Blue tarps may come in handy. You could stash your booze under them.

The can opener I will take seriously, as for the other stuff I am not joking.

quote Originally posted by 2.5: The can opener I will take seriously, as for the other stuff I am not joking.

Neither was I.
I have lived through several hurricanes and was speaking from years of experience.

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Mean People Suck

Oh sorry, I didn't know where yuou are going with it!

fresh matches...FRESH...change them yearly.
radio with a hand crank generator (no batteries)
Flashlight with hand crank generator and make sure it has a phone jack adaptor for charging cell phones.
water purification tablets
swiss army knife

If you have a large family and are going to be storing water in 55 gallon barrels don't forget to put a cap full of bleach, not clorox 2 just regular bleach in each barrel. It keeps algae and such from growing in the water while it's stored and does not make it unsafe to drink in such a small amount.

[This message has been edited by Khw (edited 02-17-2009).]

quote Originally posted by Khw: If you have a large family and are going to be storing water in 55 gallon barrels don't forget to put a cap full of bleach, not clorox 2 just regular bleach in each barrel. It keeps algae and such from growing in the water while it's stored and does not make it unsafe to drink in such a small amount.

I agree, a good rule of thumb in an emergency situation: Put in enough bleach so that you can barely smell it, over time bleach will go away as it is "used" so a refresh will be needed.

Make sure you have Chlorine and Alcohol (Vodka etc.) available for an emergencies.

What happened to the bug out thread?

Brad

Prepare for natural disaster or when the Chit hits the fan? Not much difference, but one does require firearms. Sleeping bags are handy...they'll keep you warm even if your surroundings aren't. I have a set of walls blizzard-prufs as well to keep the cold out.

quote Originally posted by hklvette: Prepare for natural disaster or when the Chit hits the fan? Not much difference, but one does require firearms.

i'm surprised this hadn't come up earlier. my guns and ammunition would be one of the 1st things i grab depending on the emergency. people get crazy when faced with an emergency and god forbid but you may have to defend yourself. also, depending on the length of the emergency they will come in handy for hunting.

I have found that alot of the Y2K survival guides that still lie around the internet seem to be some of the most well thought out and prepared plans. So if your interested in such things then these may help you prepare. Just a heads up. Protip: Duct tape and clear sheeting won't save you in a biological attack FTW.

quote Originally posted by twofatguys: What happened to the bug out thread?

https://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum6/HTML/054969.html

quote Originally posted by fastblack: I'm surprised this hadn't come up earlier. my guns and ammunition would be one of the 1st things i grab depending on the emergency. people get crazy when faced with an emergency and god forbid but you may have to defend yourself. also, depending on the length of the emergency they will come in handy for hunting.

Having been through a few disasters myself (hurricanes, wildfires) I can tell you that you couldn't be more wrong.
The spirit of cooperation, even with neighbors I didn't particularly like before, was amazing.
Nobody wants your TV when there's no electricity.
Water, ice, charcoal, or propane would be much more useful than guns, unless you know of a way to cook on a pistol.
A good chain saw and a first aid kit will come in handy, too.

"Been there, done that."

[This message has been edited by NEPTUNE (edited 02-18-2009).]

quote Originally posted by NEPTUNE: Having been through a few disasters myself (hurricanes) I can tell you that you couldn't be more wrong. The spirit of cooperation, even with neighbors I didn't particularly like before, was amazing. Nobody wants your TV when there's no electricity. Water, ice, charcoal, or propane would be much more useful than guns, unless you know of a way to cook on a pistol. A good chain saw and a first aid kit will come in handy, too. "Been there, done that."

The numerous looters in NOLA seemed to have no problems taking TVs even without electricity...
I do get what you're saying and It sounds like you have great neighbors which is something to be both proud of and thankful for. 'Round here during the 10 days without power following the Ice Storm Dec '07 people's generators were being stolen in the middle of the night...

[This message has been edited by OKflyboy (edited 02-18-2009).]

I too have BTDT.

Coleman camp stove and coleman lanterns--with LOTS of fuel is high on my list of things to alwayshave. Eating cold crap out of a can gets old real quick, and you will be the toast of the neighborhood if you can make a pot of hot coffee out in your front yard 'the morning after' the lights have gone out. Propane and coleman fuel are the 1st things to disappear from store shelves.

HELP YOUR NEIGHBORS!!

Food--DON'T wait until the disaster is a day away--you will find the store shelves empty except for crap no one else wants. Jane & I waited too late last year when Hurricane Ike abruptly took a northerly course and we ended up with canned stuff I still don't know what is. (When you walk into a Walmart Supercenter, and find the canned meat aisle almost completely empty, you know the crap is about to hit the fan)

Bottled water--you just can't have too much. When you have stockpiled what you think you will need for 1-2 weeks--double it.

Prescription meds--make sure you have plenty. Talk to your Dr about how to make sure you don't run out should a disaster of some kind happen.

CASH-don't be caught without plenty. ATM/Debit/Credit cards are useless without electricity. Cash is king in a natural disaster.

Candles and oil lamps. Bic lighters and if you are a tobacco user--plenty of cigs.

quote Originally posted by 2.5: It is always good to be prepared.

You can never be too prepared. Many good suggestions here but, as someone mentioned, it makes a difference if it is a natural disaster where you can stay where you are or if you need to get mobile.
Either way, a good tent can be a godsend. Someone mentioned a chain saw. That and any other tool you have or can carry will be valuable. Cash was mentioned as king but, it is plausible to be in a barter economy. Beer, alcohol, cigarettes, coffee, ..... many things can be worth more than cash.

Natural or ww3--it doesn't matter---IF it appears reasonably sure that normal life will return in a few weeks, then cash is good---if it's long term, then I agree--barter is the way to go. BUT, if the objects de barter are neccessities of life, such as food or water, prepare to defend your life for them. In dire times, people will revert to their base instincts and will kill to feed their families.

regarding tools:
If you aren't in a position to keep or use a chainsaw--buy a single bit axe and a good bow saw--no gasoline required. (Axe on one side-sledge hammer on the other)

I have several 1100 AH batteries left on battery tenders and power inverters. Nearly everything in the house can run on 12v power. I keep kerosene lanterns in 2 rooms, extra big kerosene heater, 10 gallons of kerosene, 10 gallons of gasoline +3 cars usually full, always keep my cell phone charged, and a generator. I keep some food but theres dozens of places within a few blocks if needed.

On the little more prepared, I have several guns, and lots of ammo.

THought of something for emergency water, put a hose on the valve on the bottom of your water heater (after letting it cool if it is still hot) and open the valve filling containers with the water. 40 plus gallons will come out, also many of us may have the water heater in the basement, if you open a hot water faucet upstairs to let air in then alot more water will come out from the pipes. Good idea if you didn't save water and now you need it.

quote Originally posted by 2.5: Thought of something for emergency water, .......

Dogs drink out of mud puddles and never get sick, , j/k.
Good idea.

and - most important - be able to defend against those who didnt prepare. because they will decscent like locusts.
which goes to a line above:
Help your neighbors

remember that power outtage in the NE US many years ago? that started to get a little scary pretty darn quick.

Any recommendations on a good simple reliable shotgun that can do slugs or shot?

Don't forget your pets. They have to eat too.

Id toss in powdered milk into my kit. it will store for a long time.

quote Originally posted by 2.5: Any recommendations on a good simple reliable shotgun that can do slugs or shot?

A Remington 870 12 gauge pump shot gun is a long time respected shot gun. Simple and reliable, slugs or shot.
A long gun is just about as good as just a phillips screwdriver. You need a slotted also. A good pistol is just as valuable.

quote Originally posted by User00013170: Water treatment tools will take you further.

On a similar note. We are in the process of building our shop/apartment. Since there is room I am putting two forty gallon storage tanks in the back room with a hand pump built in in case of emergency. I am using on demand water heaters, but there will be a small electric water heater hooked up in line for emergency situations, it will only be connected to the generator, but will also be holding an extra 20 gallons of water. As for treatment I am using three filters built in-line. first and second stage are just particulate filters, third stage is charcoal. I am leaving room for additional filters including UV filters for future growth. All of my water lines are easily accessible, so this is a simple setup for us.

The water system only covers a natural disaster, for civil emergencies I will have to go a different route.

Brad

quote Originally posted by 2.5: Any recommendations on a good simple reliable shotgun that can do slugs or shot?

remington good. i would stay away from New England Firearms. they were bought by H&R who were bought by remington so you would think that they are made with the same quality as remington...nope. i believe they are made in asia somewhere, very problematic, at least in my experience.

So how about bottled water frmo a store will it keep for years?

Im not paying $2 @ pint for water. Just fill up plastic jugs and sealing them is just as good and save a bunch of money. Soda is cheaper than bottled water. I get a 24 pack for $6, and its got sugar in it for extra energy.

quote Originally posted by 2.5: So how about bottled water frmo a store will it keep for years?

It will keep, but bacteria will still grow in it, and render it useless over time, soda is a better choice for long term stability IMHO, as with anything you keep for emergencies rotate stock.

Brad

Edited to add: We are talking about storing for years, and water going bad after years of storage here, not months.

[This message has been edited by twofatguys (edited 02-19-2009).]

quote Originally posted by User00013170: My mossburg 500 seems pretty reliable and is inexpensive.

I have a Maverick 88 security, basic 12ga pump, $150 new. Mossbergs poor boy line, a lot of 500 stuff is interchangeable with it. I use it for buck and slug. No complaints.

------------------
Dealing with failure is easy: work hard to improve. Success is also easy to handle: you've solved the wrong problem, work hard to improve.

Anyone have a cheap source for 5 gallon water storage containers? I saw online for $17 each, there must be sometrhing cheaper.

Also It was online, so may not be totally correct, but I dug and found this about bottled water:

Dear Yahoo!:
Does bottled drinking water go bad?
Waterlogged

Dear Waterlogged:
We did a little searching and found an answer of sorts on the web site of Crystal Geyser. In the FAQ section, someone asked why the company's bottle water has an expiration date. The answer explains that some states require all food and beverages, including bottled water, to state an expiration date on the label. The company says, "we feel that an average storage of two years will help ensure optimal quality." They go on to recommend that you store bottled water in a cool and dry environment, away from non-food products.

We turned to the MadSci Network for more information. Answering the question of why bottled water has an expiration date, the site states that over time, the water picks up flavors from its packaging. These flavors, combined with warm storage temperatures, contribute to the "generation of musty tastes."

According to the International Bottled Water Association, the FDA has not established a shelf life for water, so you can store those bottles indefinitely. As long as the packaging is intact and unopened, you shouldn't need to worry about any type of bacteria or microorganisms growing in the water. If the bottle has been opened, however, it can grow bacteria and algae if it is not consumed within 2 weeks.

So while it doesn't appear that unopened bottles of water actually go "bad" in the sense that they would make you sick, they might not taste the greatest after several years of sitting on the shelf collecting dust.

http://www.fierosearch.com/...ared&Action=DoSearch

Remington 870 wingmaster. Whatever barrels you want/need. Mossburg is a good choice too.

John Stricker

quote Originally posted by User00013170: My mossburg 500 seems pretty reliable and is inexpensive.

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
Buy soups as the staple,, the basic because you can pour it over noodles to extent your rations
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
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 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.
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 !! 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
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??