Oklahomans from all walks of life prepare for emergencies

The Oklahoman ^ | 3/31/12 | MATT DINGER

[Kartographer]

As a New Orleans police officer in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, Kevin Diel learned how quickly a disastrous event can bring a city to its knees and bring out the worst part of human nature.

“Within about a week of it hitting, it completely changed my mind. This was a whole new world, and there was nobody to help,” Diel said.

He used his wits, the few supplies he had on hand and what he could scavenge to survive the ordeal until order was restored.

Diel, now a private corporate security officer, considers himself a member of a community that focuses on emergency preparedness, or “preppers” as they call themselves.

[goodwithagun]

Our Walmart is clearancing out Better Homes and Gardens canning lids. I've always used Ball, but I figure canning lids are canning lids and $1.00 for 12 lids is a pretty good deal! If anyone has used them and found them to be defective let me know so that I can return them. Aside from that, I've finally convinced hubby that a larger garden = less mowing. I'm thinking about selling my hot pepper butter (mustard) at our farmers’ market this year, so I need much more room for more hot peps. Something other preppers should consider is garlic. Once you start growing it you never have to purchase garlic again. Plus garlic has many uses medicinally. I'm also trying to conquer sourdough bread. If anybody has suggestions or good recipes let me know. I really want to keep this up as sourdough is a great prepping staple. Oh one more thing! I'm going to make mead this week. I found a recipe that uses baking yeast, so other than the raw honey I have everything at home already. I think that this would be a good treat for us this summer, plus in a SHTF situation it is easy to make and therefore makes a great barter item.

[IMR 4350]

What I'm expecting is something similar to people fleeing a hurricane.

They will have the thought in their head they can just leave their home for awhile and go to a motel in another city for a few days or couple of weeks, then come back when everything settles down.

Their first reality will hit when they find out other cities aren't any better than what they just left, so they will leave and look for another place.

Then the second reality is going to hit them. They can't stay in the best motel and eat in the best restaurants anymore because they are running out of money.

After this is repeated several times, desperation will start to set in because they realize without their money they don't have the skills to take care of themselves.

Desperate people will do anything to survive.

[hotshu]

Thanks for the tip on the Smith’s case lot sale! I must have missed the circular.

[Lurker]

I know some here will disagree with me, but we don’t worry about what kind of emergency or disaster may happen. Rather we prepare according to the duration of it, or how long things may be “down”.

Bear with me for a minute.

For instance we don’t say “we are preparing for the zombie apacolypse” or “an 8.0 New Madrid quake”. Rather we put supplies together for lengths of time. We even have a snappy color code to go with it:

Green event: 24-72 hours
Yellow event: 72 hours to 30 days
Red event: more than 30 days

Then we take our geographic location, skill sets, financial resources, etc into account as we procure supplies for each event level. Now IMO every Freeper family should be able to do a Green event standing on their heads whether the circumstance dictates shelter in place or bug out.

We have found, and this is just us of course, that each event level builds on the previous thus making the planning and procurement decisions a bit more logical and less intimidating. At least to us anyway. Does that make sense?

I think of you do your needs assessment and planning in this manner you’ll find it works pretty well. I haven’t mentioned this before but I’m a trained and experienced Emergency Manager type and this the recommended process for those who work in that industry.

Each step builds on the previous one in a logical, orderly manner.

Strictly my opinion, YMMV, and all the usual caveats. Best to all.

L

[null and void]

Cooked in coffee?

Do you make coffeecake out of coffee as well?

[JRandomFreeper]

Nope, but I do use coffee in a lot of marinades and as a cooking liquid for some meats and beans. Little trick I picked up in culinary school.

/johnny

[null and void]

I’ll have to try that.

NOT with Darksheare’s coffee.

I wouldn’t want anything to reanimate...

[JRandomFreeper]

You can't taste the coffee. It just adds a depth and richness to the flavor.

I use Tres Rios Costa Rican coffee that I buy bulk as green beans, and roast myself. Good coffee.

/johnny

[bgill]

Had to do a search to find out what hot pepper butter is. Ok, just a mustard. Like for hotdogs or what? Good luck with your canning. That’s a good deal on lids but can’t help with the brand. Yes, once you get garlic going it’ll keep growing without any effort.

On his way out a little while ago, the service guy stopped to admire my garden. Asked about this and that plant.

[califamily4W]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2866230/posts

From another FR thread. Is anyone looking for a good looking German Sheppard? These people need help and this dog looks like a great German Prepper to have.

[Stegall Tx]

Eventually, the battery inside the light wears out, so it's a good idea to stock up on replacements. The ones I had at the farm years ago were just AAA NiCd batteries and I just wedged a new one in place when the originals wore out.

Sacrifice one of the lights to figure out what battery you need, and get a few spares. You absolutely know that the day you need to use the light will be one week after the battery dies.

[exhaustedmomma]

Note on that note: put them up and hide them! My dogs have destroyed most of mine chasing critters by day and things that go bump in the night. My grandkids think they are for playing... the statue of liberty, frankenstein torches, etc.

[Stegall Tx]

I've used a few of their lids and not had a problem. However, if you've got some $$, you should consider purchasing reusable canning lids. One family made them back in the 1970s and has resurrected the product lately. They are EXCELLENT, and my Mother currently has a test batch on their third reuse. She's only had one failure so far, but I can't tell you out of how many jars total.

http://www.reusablecanninglids.com/

I don't get any commission or any such thing. I'm just a happy customer.

[appalachian_dweller]

The powers that be are expecting MASSIVE riots if Zero loses the election. The gov’t doesn’t have nearly enough resouces to control what’s coming.

Folks, have your preps complete by October if at all possible.

[Sergio]

Great information and planning strategy. Thanks for posting this...it makes the process seem much less daunting.

[Lurker]

I hope you find the advice useful. I also hope that you never need to dip into those resources you put away.

Best,

L