Emergency Preparedness (year's supply of food, 72 hour kit)

9-15-2001 | Utah Girl

[NordP]

Thank you so much for posting these tips!

I have created a document in Word now, to use as our checklist.

Hubby and I create sales support videos for some of the products sold on QVC, and always thought it would have been a great idea to create a video showing people WHAT TO DO. The government (and I can understand why--libility issues, which was our concern, too) never told anyone WHAT to do beyond the duck tape suggestion and putting some lengthy instructions on a website--too much work for the spoiled, I'm busy America we now live in. The duck tape suggestion made a mockery of a very serious situation. It was sad how it was handled and Americans really need something instructional such a checklist, that's easy and well laid out, to follow. This looks very promising at first glance.

THANKS AGAIN FOR POSTING THIS!!!

[OpusatFR]

“Don’t forget to also have a tinfoil hat handy.”

Tinfoil doesn’t work too well during a major hurricane, earthquake or area wide forest fire.

[NoControllingLegalAuthority]

All kidding aside, the best single source I have ever read on how to be self-sufficient is a really thick, big paperback called, The Encyclopedia of Country Living written by Carla Emery.

It's in its umpteenth edition. This woman kept expanding this masterpiece of self-sufficiency through her own research and the input of our elders who had taken care of themselves.

It's a gold mine of practical information our grandparents and great-grandparents could share with us personally if they were all still around.

It covers everything from raising chickens, cattle, vegetable gardens and a million other things.

[thecabal]

I second this recommendation. I stumbled upon this book at Costco for $18 and picked it up on a whim. I’ve barely scratched the surface of reading it, but it’s worth 5x what I paid with the amount of practical knowledge, easily. Every house should have a copy of this book (if you give a crap about taking care of yourself, instead of expecting the gooberment to do it).

[mountn man]

There are those who get it, those who are beginning to get it, and those who will never get it. No point in wasting your time on the last group.

The problem is, those who will never get it, whan the bad times come, they'll be at your door whinning.

If you don't provide for them equally as you do yourself in the manner in which they're accustommed, they'll run to the Obamunists secret police to tell them your not sharing.

Here's something to keep in mind.

Executive Order 10998: All food resources, farms and farm equipment will be seized by the government. You will not be allowed to hoard food since this is regulated.

Executive Order 11490: Establishes presidential control over all US citizens, businesses, and churches in time of "emergency."

Executive Order 12656: "ASSIGNMENT OF EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS RESPONSIBILITIES", "A national emergency is any occurrence, including natural disaster, military attack, technological emergency, or other emergency that seriously degrades or seriously threatens the national security of the United States. Policy for national security emergency preparedness shall be established by the President." This order includes federal takeover of all local law enforcement agencies, wage and price controls, prohibits you from moving assets in or out of the United States, creates a draft, controls all travel in and out of the United States, and much more. Martial law can be declared due to natural disasters, Y2k Crisis, Stock Market crash, no electricity, riots, biological attack, .... anything leading to the breakdown of law and order.

[djf]

“not being able to wash is really disheartening”

Yup.
Most supmkts carry these “bricks” of bars of soap, usually 8 to twelve bars, and they run 3 to 5 dollars. I have about 4 of them.

Good thing to have if you can’t get to a store shelf or they are out.

[panaxanax]

So you’ll be one of the hungry ones knocking at our doors looking for a free handout, huh?

Please wear your tinfoil hat so we can send you to the back of the line.

[CindyDawg]

We should stock for our families and for a neighbor that didn’t.

[OpusatFR]

“Most supmkts carry these “bricks” of bars of soap...”

I learned one of the big mistakes in a water shortage:

Don’t use the liquid soaps! It takes too much water to wash off. Same thing with detergent.

You are spot on about the bar soaps. Ivory is best. Not too much foam and slick to get off.

[djf]

One item that is very, very handy is these stainless steel scrubbers. Kind of like stainless steel brillo pads without the soap. They come two to a pack and are pretty much indestructible.

[GOP_Lady]

Kind of reminds me of this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Shelter_(The_Twilight_Zone)

[loungitude]

Please check out this thread. It if full of great preparedness ideas!

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2133221/posts

We keep propane tanks. Very versitile energy source.

[y6162]

Never enough water.

I’m asking Santa for 50 gallon water container, MREs amd freeze dried food. Aiming for three months self sufficiency.

I think we’re going to need it.

[djf]

You can’t stock for families that don’t.

I would bet(and win the bet) that 95 percent of families around you would be lucky to make it a week if the trucks stopped.

Heck, three days after the milk disappeared from store shelves, all hell would break lose.

People tend to get a little excitable if they watch their children starve.

[NoControllingLegalAuthority]

I live on top of a hill. I capture rain water from a roof valley that falls into a 150-gallon galvanized stock tank on the deck below it. From there, it runs through pvc pipe into a 1,500-gallon tank below the deck. A few spring storms fills that 1,500 gallon tank to overflowing. In the dryness of summer, I can use all that rain water to water a vegetable garden, via gravity, down the slope from the tank.

We could even use buckets of that rain water to flush our toilets.

I give this as one example of how you can use your common sense and a little thought to take care of yourself.

Up until ten years ago, I was a vulnerable as most Americans. I decided to change that.

Water is first on the list of our requirements to sustain life. We also have a hand-pumped well as a back-up should community water be suddenly cut off.

Most of the people in this country would die within a short time if all supplies they receive daily were cut off.

Sadly, those who are prepared may be placed into a position they will have to fight to defend their self-sufficiency against the hordes who are not prepared and become desperate.

[seoul62]

What about the Parmalat Milk, is that good to stock up on? I have cans of: Soup, Tuna, Beans and the shelf staples: Flour, Sugar-*(when it is on sale at $1.99 - it is considered a good deal in New York)*, butter-*(I freeze)*, Jars of Instant Coffee, Oatmeal and Pretzels for my Toddler. If I left anything out food or medical, please advise as I will note it down. We are a family of three, so is really worth it to invest in a club card: Costco or B.J.’s?/Just Asking - seoul62........

[Betty Jane]

Thanks for reposting. Another tip: don’t store flour on a cement floor. It will absorb moisture and make it unusable. Put it on a shelf or on a wood pallet.

[CindyDawg]

How to store water is a concern. We always have the threat of hurricanes so I store baby wipes for “bathes” and cleaning up.

[wita]

and those who will never get it.

They will be the first ones on your doorstep, when faced with a disaster. Then you are faced with a very important decision.

[Betty Jane]

Thanks. Tinfoil always comes in handy for cooking without pots and pans and saving leftovers.

Food may well become a problem. My local supermarket has not been fully stocked for about three weeks. Everything is still available, just not as much of each on the shelves. Credit crunch maybe? I don't know but it makes me a wee bit concerned.