Are we ready for an attack on the power grid?

Hotair ^ | 03/25/2015 | Jazz Shaw

[CSM]

I am still struggling with preparing for a long term electrical outage or a long term natural gas outage.

Does anyone have any recommendations for a city dweller, in a small house, to prep for such events? I don’t have much of a land footprint, so storage is an issue.

[Axeslinger]

Food, water and a means to defend them. For water, I would recommend one of the gravity type filters like a big berkey...and a couple of extra elements. With that you could take just about any water and make it potable. I made my own out of an old coffee urn and a stainless steel salad bar bucket and lid and some true berkey elements for about $100.

Food, get some long term storage stuff, like mountain house. I'd bet you could store several cases under the beds in your home.

Also, remember that in a sudden SHTF, like a grid down, you should fill your tub as soon as possible while theres still some water pressure. Eat all your fridge foods first then your frozens.

[laplata]

Good summary.

[laplata]

Many people would go crazy from cell phone and computer withdrawal.

[nascarnation]

You are absolutely right. Fun to ponder but it could actually be devastating to many folks.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

At least I let Mom know what the plane would be if the water and sewer went down. Think double or triple black trash bags in the commode.

[LadyBuck]

WaterBob for your bathtub, if you have one & LifeStraws for your bugout bag.

[laplata]

People should have books and games on hand.

[LibWhacker]

Don't feel too bad about that. I've been preparing in a rather half-hearted way for years by stockpiling things I hear a person will need when the SHTF, putting only as much time, money and effort into it as I can comfortably afford, with a vague notion that we will have to "bug out" somewhere when it all goes downhill -- even though we really have nowhere else to go. Nor can we afford to buy a place out in the country now for that arguably unlikely eventuality, and probably wouldn't survive the roadblocks trying to get there anyway.

Then, I happened across this article last week. It really is quite hopeless for all but the most fit, trained, young, committed, Ranger-ready guerrillas among us. There was a time I could've given it a shot. It seems like not so long ago. But not anymore; it's not for an old guy like me with one foot in the grave and the other on a banana peel.

[meowmeow]

you should fill your tub as soon as possible

Go to Amazon and get a "WaterBOB" for ~$20. Then you can quickly store clean water in your tub. They don't take up much space when folded up in storage.

If you have some space, get some Water Bricks. With the additive, you can store clean drinking water for 5 years.

[MHGinTN]

‘They’ pull their false flag ops during their scheduled ‘exercises’ ...

[CSM]

Thanks. I am set for food and water for 3 months minimum. I’m good for toilet paper for a couple of years! ;-)

I have alternatives in place for a loo and I have plenty of other “items” taken care of. I even have items for “trade and barter” stocked up...

My issues are with heat and electricity replacement. I could get a generator, however I can’t store much gasoline to run it. I was considering a supplemental wood pellet stove, but am finding that a bit of a challenge and I don’t know how well the bags of wood pellets can be stored. Do they become unsuable, like when bags of road (driveway) salt solidifies...I would think not, but don’t know for certain.

I am just not finding many good options for heat or electric replacement in a SHTF scenario...

[CSM]

I have both a waterbob and a couple of lifestraws. Plus I have a couple of hundred gallons of purified water stored in my basement.

[CSM]

Thanks. I agree with you and I do have a couple of waterbob’s, a couple of lifestraws and a couple hundred gallons of purified water in storage.

The problem that I can’t resolve is heat or electric replacement (maybe propane, or kerosene.) I am afraid to store a few hundred gallons of gasoline to run a generator!

[Marcella]

“Any high powered rifle can punch a hole in those transformers. When the coolant (oil) leaks out, they’re fried.”

You’re correct. That substation is just feet away from a well traveled road. It wouldn’t even take a high powered rifle, any old rifle with any shell will do. Have a buddy driving the car, already know where you’re target is, slow down and shoot - end of substation. That’s what really bothers me, the short feet from the road.

[bgill]

Much better to have a chainlink fence than build a brick wall around them where no one can see inside like they did in many places in response to 9/11. Talk about a ridiculous waste of money for less security.

[outofsalt]

$18 Trillion dollars in debt with little to show for it.

[bgill]

A milk carton type crate holds 32 regular 15 oz cans. Turn the crate upside down, cover it with fabric and you have a stool.

Open your bedroom door to a 90 degree angle. Peek behind it. That is storage space. Line the wall behind the door with 6” shelves.

There is storage space under the bed, under the couch and living room chairs. There is space behind the couch and wall. There is space under the bottom dresser drawer. Look at the bottom and backs of your end tables, night stands, chests, etc. Buy coffee tables or such that have storage rather than just four legs and a top.

Add a shelf above head height in a hallway.

If your fridge is smaller than the opening, fit that space with a tall narrow roll out framed shelving unit. Sometimes a shelf or two can be placed above the stove top - I put one in a 1940s style kitchen, wide enough for 2-3 rows of veggies, the store brand labels happened to match the kitchen color so actually looked cute. When you’re doing a bathroom or kitchen remodel, dump the soffits and extend the upper cabinets to the ceiling. Is there a bar in the kitchen that’s never used? Fashion a curtain or something under it where the stools would go to give you tons of storage.

On that Preppers tv show, one woman stored small items (soup, gravy, ranch dressing mix and maybe jello or pudding) in hollow doors - fix the top of the door to have access.

That big cooler and suitcase you use once a year has valuable space inside.

Declutter your stuff.

[bgill]

If you have a few hours heads up, start cooking and filling every container with water. Bake up cakes and cookies because they don’t need refrigeration and the kids will appreciate it. Cook up whatever perishable foods in the fridge so they’ll be ready to eat when you’ve lost your stove. Those containers of water, put in the freezer asap to fill in any space so it’ll stay cooler longer.

Also, quickly sanitize the bathroom and kitchen while you still have hot water. Also, do the laundry. Vacuum and mop to give your family a few extra days of less germs. Sure, it’s a lot but of mad housework but better while the lights are still on than not at all.

[Squantos]

Yes “they” do .....I’ve seen me do it when I was active duty.......:o)

SOP still is my SWAG on the matter.....Stay Safe !!