Okay, I thought we could discuss this. Now, this is NOT a thread of pessamissim. Not at all! In fact, I'm asking us all to talk about what we think we should do, for each other and for our own families/friends. Maybe things won't be rough and this thread will just be a discssion, that's it... but hey, planning is a good idea.
And it kind of feels important to do.
I had some ideas.
Firstly, stockpile food and goods. And do it quietly, keep it hidden. This isn't to be selfish and to keep it all to yourself, but looters, paniked neighbours, ect will target people after the stores are empty. If they KNOW you have it, they'll attack you. Even the nicest people can turn dangerous if they feel they must.
Here's a list of 100 things that go first in a disaster-
1. Generators
(Good ones cost dearly. Gas storage, risky. Noisy...target of thieves; maintenance, etc.)
2. Water Filters/Purifiers
3. Portable Toilets (Increasing in price every two months.)
4. Seasoned Firewood
(About $100 per cord; wood takes 6 - 12 mos. to become dried, for home uses.)
5. Lamp Oil, Wicks, Lamps
(First choice: Buy CLEAR oil. If scarce, stockpile ANY!)
6. Coleman Fuel
(URGENT $2.69-$3.99/gal. Impossible to stockpile too much.)
7. Guns, Ammunition, Pepper Spray, Knives, Clubs, Bats and Slingshots
8. Hand-Can openers and hand egg beaters, whisks (Life savers!)
9. Honey/Syrups/white, brown sugars
10. Rice - Beans - Wheat
(White rice is now $12.95 - 50# bag. Sam's Club, stock depleted often.)
11. Vegetable oil (for cooking)
(Without it food burns/must be boiled, etc.)
12. Charcoal and Lighter fluid (Will become scarce suddenly.)
13. Water containers
(Urgent Item to obtain. Any size. Small: HARD CLEAR PLASTIC ONLY)
14. Mini Heater head (Propane) (Without this item, propane won't heat a room.)
15. Grain Grinder (Non-electric)
16. Propane Cylinders
17. Michael Hyatt's Y2K Survival Guide
(BEST single y2k handbook for sound advice/tips.)
18. Mantles: Aladdin, Coleman, etc.
(Without this item, longer-term lighting is difficult.)
19. Baby Supplies: Diapers/formula/ointments/aspirin, etc
20. Washboards, Mop Bucket w/wringer (for Laundry)
21. Cook stoves
(Propane, Coleman and Kerosene)
22. Vitamins
(Critical, due 10 Y2K-forced daily canned food diets.)
23. Propane Cylinder Handle-Holder
(Urgent: Small canister use is dangerous without this item.)
24. Feminine Hygiene/Haircare/Skin products
25. Thermal underwear
(Tops and bottoms)
26. Bow saws, axes and hatchets and Wedges (also, honing oil)
27. Aluminum foil Reg. and Heavy. Duty
(Great Cooking and Barter item)
28. Gasoline containers
(Plastic or Metal)
29. Garbage bags
(Impossible to have too many.)
30. Toilet Paper, Kleenex, paper towel
31. Milk - Powdered and Condensed
(Shake liquid every 3 to 4 months.)
32. Garden seeds (Non-hybrid) (A MUST)
33. Clothes pins/line/hangers (A MUST)
34. Coleman's Pump Repair Kit: 1(800) 835-3278
35. Tuna Fish (in oil)
36. Fire extinguishers
(or.. large box of Baking soda in every room...)
37. First aid kits
38. Batteries (all sizes...buy furthest-out for Expiration Dates)
39. Garlic, spices and vinegar, baking supplies
40. BIG DOGS (and plenty of dog food)
41. Flour, yeast and salt
42. Matches
("Strike Anywhere" preferred. Boxed, wooden matches will go first.)
43. Writing paper/pads/pencils/solar calculators
44. Insulated ice chests
(good for keeping items from freezing in Wintertime)
45. Work boots, belts, Levis and durable shirts
46. Flashlights/Light Sticks and torches, "No.76 Dietz" Lanterns
47. Journals, Diaries and Scrapbooks
(Jot down ideas, feelings, experiences: Historic times!)
48. Garbage cans Plastic
(great for storage, water, transporting - if with wheels)
49. Men's Hygiene: Shampoo, Toothbrush/paste, Mouthwash/floss, nail clippers, etc
50. Cast iron cookware (sturdy, efficient)
51. Fishing supplies/tools
52. Mosquito coils/repellent sprays/creams
53. Duct tape
54. Tarps/stakes/twine/nails/rope/spikes
55. Candles
56. Laundry detergent (Liquid)
57. Backpacks and Duffle bags
58. Garden tools and supplies
59. Scissors, fabrics and sewing supplies
60. Canned Fruits, Veggies, Soups, stews, etc.
61. Bleach
(plain, NOT scented: 4 to 6% sodium hypochlorite)
62. Canning supplies (Jars/lids/wax)
63. Knives and Sharpening tools: files, stones, steel
64. Bicycles...Tires/tubes/pumps/chains, etc.
65. Sleeping bags and blankets/pillows/mats
66. Carbon Monoxide Alarm (battery powered)
67. Board Games Cards, Dice
68. d-Con Rat poison, MOUSE PRUFE II, Roach Killer
69. Mousetraps, Ant traps and cockroach magnets
70. Paper plates/cups/utensils (stock up, folks...)
71. Baby Wipes, oils, waterless and Anti-bacterial soap
(saves a lot of water)
72. Rain gear, rubberized boots, etc.
73. Shaving supplies
(razors and creams, talc, after shave)
74. Hand pumps and siphons
(for water and for fuels)
75. Soy sauce, vinegar, bouillons/gravy/soup base
76. Reading glasses
77. Chocolate/Cocoa/Tang/Punch (water enhancers)
78. "Survival-in-a-Can"
79. Woolen clothing, scarves/ear-muffs/mittens
80. BSA - New 1998 - Boy Scout Handbook
(also, Leader's Catalog)
81. Roll-on Window Insulation Kit (MANCO)
82. Graham crackers, saltines, pretzels, Trail mix/Jerky
83. Popcorn, Peanut Butter, Nuts
84. Socks, Underwear, T-shirts, etc. (extras)
85. Lumber (all types)
86. Wagons and carts
(for transport to and from open Flea markets)
87. Cots and Inflatable Mattresses (for extra guests)
88. Gloves: Work/warming/gardening, etc.
89. Lantern Hangers
90. Screen Patches, glue, nails, screws, nuts and bolts
91. Teas
92. Coffee
93. Cigarettes
94. Wine/Liquors (for bribes, medicinal, etc.)
95. Paraffin wax
96. Glue, nails, nuts, bolts, screws, etc.
97. Chewing gum/candies
98. Atomizers (for cooling/bathing)
99. Hats and cotton neckerchiefs
100. Goats/chickens
(From http://standeyo.com/News_Files/INFO_Files/100.items.html )
But you may have to move. You may have to run, or travel by foot for long distances, you might need to escape quickly, or you might not want to stay in the one spot for months on end. So on top of the above (which is open to you to decide what you can and can't afford)...
Firstly, pack a comfortable backpack (one per person) with the sort of thing you might take hiking... medical suppies, food rations, ect. Size is up to the person! You don't need to spend a fortune on ultimate camping gear!
Everyone, start to walk. Now. Walk as much as you're able to. Strengthen your legs. Get used to exercise on less food. (Me too!)
I strongly recommend that people study their local surroundings and, if they have somewhere they'd want to go, the areas they're interested in. Find out what's edible and what isn't. Find out about dangerous animals, insects, fish, sharks, ect. If people lived there before white settlement, which is the case EVERYWHERE, how did they survive? What did they eat, trap, what were their shelters? Where did they get water?
Also, survival locations! From the 2012 forum, I got this-
"
Submission Criteria
===============
Totally open to debate, and has changed many times already:
No Nukes (no nuclear power plants or missiles or dumps) within 200 miles
No Volcanoes or Calderas (active or dormant) within 200 miles
No Earthquakes (none in modern history, not on a fault line)
No War Nearby (use own judgement)
Not Near a Large Population >250,000 people (too many survivors after what you have)
Clear Land Available (forests and woods can catch fire)
600 Metres above Sea-Level (or 2/5 of a mile)
400 Kilometres Inland (or 250 miles)
Fertile Soil
Drinkable Water
Accessible (road/rail/airport)
Near a Town/City >20,000 people (supplies now, scavenge later perhaps)
That's 12 factors, and I'll guess you'd want to have all the red ones, at least one of the blue ones, and three or four of the green ones.
If it isn't a 12/12, let us know which factors it fails at.
Keep the description of the location as broad as possible, while still meeting the criteria.
Other Desirable Factors
==================
Be on a continent - so that if your location turns out to be no good (especially climate-wise), you are able to travel by foot to somewhere better
Close to your current home - that way you might actually do it, rather than just plan and dream
Not near a sand desert - sand storms can be nasty
Modern, Western Civilization - it's just easier if that is what you are used to, and, big generalization, probably safer for you before and after
Nice Weather! - hard to build a bunker if you are snowed under, in a monsoon, or scorching heat "
(From http://2012forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=7053&start=0 )
Another thing, anyone feel good about 'just in case' communities? The forum I just mentioned has groups banding together for that sort of thing. ...well, everywhere but Australia, but I am starting a thread for us too.
