There's still some time, not much but just barely enough if you DON'T want to be caught totally short, but don't have the time or funds for a Full-Up Prep job.
So, I advise you to stop, think logically, asses your situation, and do the following simple and very short list of easy things before sundown.
1) Put some bottled water under your bed. As much as will fit right in the six-pack carriers from the store.
2) Get some food that doesn't need cooking or refrigeration. There is a myriad of choices at every supermarket. Just THINK before you buy.
3) Get a simple AM-FM portable radio and plenty of extra batteries. When SHTF your iPhone will not serve you well. Don't count on TeeVee or the internet to be accessable when SHTF. Have independent information sources.
4) Get some LED flashlights and plenty of batteries. LEDs are far more battery-efficient. You don't need big high-power ones: rather get a larger number of smaller ones - pocket or neck-lanyard types.
If you do these simple and cheap four things, you'll be in MUCH better shape than the majority of your neighbors, and can get through a week or even two with "all the plugs out."
Prepping is a deep and complex and expensive business at the high end, and it isn't practical for some people. But at the minimalist end, these four simple things, it can make a HUGE difference in your ability to get through whatever inconvenience the fates may deliver.
Several days too soon is MUCH better than five minutes too late, so GET THIS DONE! NOW! While the sun is still out and your credit cards still work!
MOVE!
And stock up on alcoholic beverages so you have something to trade with all of the folks who have been prepping for years ;)
Invest in a dozen or so mini bottles of booze, I got Jack Daniels... these can be used as barter
If, like most people, you own a propane outdoor BBQ, get a spare tank and keep it in a cool area indoors (or outdoors away from direct sunshine or other heat.)
This allows you not to be limited to cold drinks and meals.
My purpose is to motivate a few people who have done nothing at all to do Something, no matter how modest, to help themselves before-the-fact. Now you can ridicule, dismiss, and disparage all you like, and point out by inference how minimalist these four points are, but have some consideration for those who have postponed and procrastinated because the job as the experts define it, it too big and expensive. You would serve these people better by contributing something positive as opposed to sniping.
First steps are followed by second steps — but only if first steps are taken at all.
And ALWAYS have shoes with you that you can walk a hundred miles in, if you have to.
You stand a good chance of NOT being home when the SHTF.
All good, common-sense things. Which means the potatoes out there won’t do it...
For later.
Don’t forget ammo!
6) Fuel for heater.
Care to weigh in on William’s short list?
Although it's past normal barbeque season, make sure you have propane for your grill. You can cook food on it if everything is out. Neighbors who want to cook can be told to bring food to share.
I am so screwed.
Go to Amazon and pick up a fire piston or two. they will reliably start a fire after all your fire starting equipment is used up.
They have been in use for many years and work well.
Preppers’ PING!!
Hat tip to Old Sarge for the heads up!
An excellent post, thank you. I’ll bet you set a bunch of people in motion to be better able to survive whats coming.
Good, sensible, timely post.
I keep this in mind regarding essential survival considerations:
3 min without air
3 hours exposure below 50F
3 days without water
3 weeks without food
Related suggestions:
Food - be sure to include purchase of high energy density balanced nutrition, that’s low in volume, and has a two year shelf life, ie: >100 calories per 28gram ounce, 20+% protein, 70% carb, 10% fat.
Namely, Trail bars.
Probars are The Best meal bar I’ve had yet to date.
Very popular with backpackers long distance backpackers.
Hardly any diet fatigue. $2 - 3 for each 3 Oz 340 cal bar.
Note, you may need to carry days worth of food in case of relocation. Therefore, count on provisioning at least 2000 calories per day of food that doesn’t take up much room, weigh much, and provides good nutrition.
Also, if you need to carry a corresponding amount of water, understand that 2 liters (per day weighs 4 lbs (1 liter / quart = 2 lbs). 3 days of water weighs 12 lbs! Not fun.
Be sure to get a Sawyer mini filter water filter. They’re very small, weigh 2oz, and can filter thousands of gallons of water. $22.
Get a very small Grundig shortwave radio to be able to get broader access to news. Print off small chart of useful alt-news frequencies and their broadcast times. <$100
Don’t plan on viably carrying more than 30 lbs or more than 1/5th your weight.
Get a lightweight nylon camo poncho that approximates your anticipated terrain in case you or your stash of gear needs to be concealed.
And most of all:
Stay out of the FEMA camps, ‘specially if you’re red-listed as a un-reeducatable conservative crank who frequents FR! ;n)
We will be moving after we sell the house. Most likely we will have our things in storage in a POD until we find a long term rental.
How should I dispose of my white gas or Coleman gas, that I was storing as part of my preps for my Coleman stove. The gas is years old. (Ordinarily, I would use for camping but that won’t be happening until after our move.)Should I pour them in my car? Don’t have a lawn mover or any other thing that uses gas.
And I also stored those little chafing dish fuel cells. Can they be safely transported?
I also have butane fuel for portable stoves. Should I move those, too.
As you can see, I was preparing to cook after a disaster and did not want to use a charcoal fire.
Thanks in advance everyone.
Canned food on sale is a great micro-prep.
I got canned pineapple (Dole) on sale four years ago, at ten for a dollar, and canned peaches (Del Monte) almost as cheap a few months later. The pineapple “expired” 30 months ago. I just had another can this week, and it was good. The kids didn’t notice any difference. I noticed a very faint hint of a metallic taste. Canned food is good long after its expiration date - and I’ve been experimenting with that over the past few years, especially for fruit. No one seems to notice when canned pears/peaches/pineapple is a couple years past the date. I’ve taken to keeping enough in the house to always have 200 small cans, and eating two cans a week. We’ll have two year’s worth of a little fruit a couple times each week if anything goes wrong.
Whenever there’s a great sale, I get more.
Bullets, Beans and Gasoline, Baby! :)
Great advice for the novices amongst us. The list you posted is pretty much what we lay in before the first snow - which is TONIGHT! :)