I've just been on an online shopping spree. Ain't nuttin like it when you want specific stuff!
Like I said somewhere upthread, my outlook has changed since viewing this disaster. Not only do I have a renewed respect for mother nature but since I live in a large city...I have gained an urgent desire to become more self-reliant due to potential anarchy/insurrection. This has been a wake up call for me.
I urge you to think hard about your location and it's particular problems and what you can do for you should all heck break loose.
Just announced on Direct Tv that they are designating channel 100 for Hurricane Katrina info for relatives and family trying to locate one another. I think that is wonderful.
I've been doing that for about 30 years now. My family (adult children and grandchildren) are not being cooperative. It's my problem and not right to try to control them, but I've borne the brunt of it. They like the good life, the city life, and are totally unprepared, psychologically to do without things which disturbs me immensely, assuming one could even survive on one's own property over a prolonged period because you have to keep up the property taxes. How can you pay property taxes with no money?
Regarding buying up, I have to pay some things off first. I do have a good sw radio that uses D batteries. When it comes around to Christmas time, that will be a good time to perhaps give the adults some survival items that they can also put to use in their regular life. I think it would be kind of cool to have a radio you can wind up.
Thank you for your input. Becoming totally independent of the amenities of modern life would be almost impossible for me unless I became like the Amish. I don't know if newbies could even start a life like that if they had the will to do it.
I once remember a discussion group where one educated lady described the humble, homemade clothes the Amish wear in a rather haughty (to me - you can't always be sure when it's in writing - it was clear as a bell she didn't want to live like them though). The day could come when many people will rue the day they ever disdained self-sufficiency.
I would rather live in a tent on a farm with a shepherd's stove for heat rather than be packed like an animal in a dangerous shelter. The same thing could eventually happen no matter how you plan.
One thing I can guarandangtee you. The wealthy and politicians will have guarded compounds 24/7 or jet out of here, with foodstocks, generators and the fuel to run them, leaving the rest of us to fend for ourselves, except for the humane helpers who give their all (like some have already done in NO in those hospitals). I think they got blindsided and weren't prepared for the thugs. You would think someone would have figured that out with the drug problem. They will go and do what they need to do to get a fix. The mayor of NO said that himself in an interview I heard.