Preparedness Tips

100 items to disappear first in a panic

Being prepared means having enough pure water, food and medical supplies to 
get you through an extended grid blackout,  extreme weather condition; snowstorm,
extended freeze, flooding, hurricane, simple windstorm, etc.

ThriveLife 25 year freeze dried foods                   Berkey gravity water filter systems

          

If you missed the recent National Geographic documentary "American Blackout"
you can watch the full length version at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uObV-AJDb98  
This is a must watch. Although this was a fictional movie it is probably very accurate in portraying 
what will happen when the power grid goes down and people run out of food, water, electricity,
and gasoline. Those who didn't prepare will become your enemies and attempt take from you so
they can survive. The grid will go down; when is the only question and whether will be due do an EMP
weapon burst, cyber attack or  an enormous solar flare(s). The key thing to note in this movie is the
irrational behavior people exhibit when under stress and they have no water, food, or electricity.
  
Keep in mind less than 5% of the population has food for 7 days or more.
Less than  2% of our population have both food and water for more than 7 days.
Less than .5% have food, water, and medical supplies for more than 7 days. Scary. 
Supermarkets turn over their entire inventory every 4 days, or in as little as 4 hours if 
a major event or emergency such as
a blackout occurs. That's why they ask for your 
phone number and track your
purchases so they can anticipate what's needed and 
continually restock. There is no one to three week stock of food kept in a grocery store backroom.

 We can live without oxygen for about three minutes before we pass out.
 We can live without water for about three days before we start getting delirious.
 We can live without food for about three weeks before becoming too weak to function.
 Store enough pure water. Change stored water at least annually.
 1 gal/person/day for the first three days
 3 gal/person/day for 3 to 10 days
 10 gal/person/day for emergencies more than ten days
 You should have both stored water as well as mechanisms to properly filter  or distill water.

How To Get a Family of Four Prepped for The Coming Collapse – In The Quickest and Easiest Way Possible…
http://www.shtfplan.com/emergency-preparedness/how-to-get-a-family-of-four-prepped-for-the-coming-collapse-in-the-quickest-and-ea
siest-way-possible_09162014?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+SHTFplan+%28SHTF+Pla
n+-+When+It+Hits+The+Fan%2C+Don%27t+Say+We+Didn%27t+Warn+You%29

More links near the bottom

I prepared for y2k, then when 9-1-1 happened, I started preparing again and researched bioterrorism preparedness and will share what I know.  

First of all, the survival industry is booming.  First it was y2k, then it was 9-1-1.  There are plenty of survival items for sale, some reputable, some not, so you have to choose carefully.

Now, imagine a world where there is no Wal-Mart, no grocery store, no doctor, no hospital.  The only way you will survive is if you plan for it, now.  The government will not be there for you on the other side of PX (or terrorism).  If fact, it may decide to target you and take what you have.  Governments are funny that way.

A lot of the suggested items below have to be ordered from different parts of the country.  As the saying goes, if you wait until there is an emergency, it is too late to prepare.  Still, some people will procrastinate.  However, please remember if we should have another terrorist act in the U.S., survival goods will be snapped up instantly and may not be available prior to a PX-type event, so there is the potential of even less time to prepare than you think. 

First, reading SURVIVAL BOOKS can help you organize your survival plan.  There's a book called "Surviving Terrorism" by Duncan Long.  It was extremely overpriced.  I found an earlier used version at a fraction of the price on Amazon.com.  Of course, I didn't get the most "up-to-date" information, but I think that sales pitch preys on people's fears.  I don't think two years makes a lot of difference in how one will prepare or the goods that are available.  It had recommendations for a safe room for those who live in a city, so if that is your concern, it might be worth getting a copy of it.  I am sharing some of the information in it below.

Worldnetdaily.com is offering a book called "There's No Such Thing As Doomsday," by Philip Hoag for $29.95.  Amazon.com doesn't have it but you may be able to get it at Barnes and Noble (www.bn.com) for $24.95.  Currently it is temporarily out of stock, but should be available in a few weeks.  I am ordering it, so I can't say if it is good or not, but it had good reviews.

"Nuclear War Survival Skills" by Cresson McKearney is free on the internet (published by Oak Ridge National Lab), though they say it's better to buy the book because the diagrams are clearer.  This provides info on underground shelters and other relevant topics.  It's at http://www.oism.org/nwss/. 

A freebie "Disaster Preparedness Handbook" at http://www.disastermagazine.com/preparedness.htm.

WATER.  Store as much as you can in containers that can withstand a lot of stress from earthquakes. 

First choice is a Berkey water filter--check into stabilized oxygen.  Vendors claim that it purifies water without the chlorine taste (though a lot more expensive though).  Allegedly, it is given to NASA astronauts to prevent microbes from returning to earth in their blood.  Spray on fish (or any uncooked meat) to kill salmonella.  Ingest to protect yourself or cure yourself of infections.  I would approach this with caution and have your water tested to make sure (a) it works at all, and (b) you are dealing with a reputable vendor.  Otherwise, use chlorine bleach or camping tablets.

MEDICAL.  Another alleged natural antibiotic is colloidal silver, which was heavily promoted in the "Surviving Terrorism" book.  I did some searching on the internet and found there are more than one vendor for this item (as is true with just about any item except Thieves Oil), but they urged you to contact a particular one with their code (so they could get the sales commission, no doubt). 

There are many makers of pre-made Colloidal Silver and no standardization in the industry.  Anything that is considered a "food supplement" IS NOT REGULATED BY ANY GOVERNMENTAL AGENCY.  It is quite expensive for small amounts.  Silver particles can be suspended by being bound with protein, food color can be added to make it look like the right color (indicating high quality when it is not).  It is cheaper and easier to monitor the quality if you do it yourself with a colloidal silver generator.  Again, warning:  there are many types of generators, and competitors find ways to pick at each other's products to the point you don't know what's good or not.  For example, one report said silver bars are preferable to silver wires.  Numerous say distilled water is good, a few say not (but the idea is the cleaner the water, the better).  However, according to one commentator who claimed to be impartial, the medical literature supports colloidal silver as medically beneficial and CS is
known to kill over 650 types of bacteria, virus, mold, fungi, etc.  It even regenerates bone and skin (per Dr. Robert Becker's book "The Body Electric.")  However, Dr. Robert Becker has allegedly disclaimed any promotion of colloidal silver on a website that has an opposing view of colloidal silver at http://together.net/~rjstan/becker.html.  Read Rosemary Jacob's story when you research it for yourself.  I have read that there hasn't been a case of "argyria" in over 40 years, but it is making a comeback with the resurgence of colloidal silver as a cure-all.  I have personally chosen to not use colloidal silver, but there are people who have and feel that they benefitted, so I am presenting this information for your consideration. 

Post-PX doctors and hospitals will most likely be in short supply if still around at all, and for sure, supplies won't be.  So stock up on routine supplies.  Some books to get:  Ditch Medicine, by Hugh L. Coffee; Merck Manual General Medicine, 16th Ed., Robert Berkow; Where There is No Doctor:  A Village Health Care Handbook, David Werner.

First Aid kit and manual.  Build from there.  A first aid kit doesn't have everything in it.  Include essential oils in it. Lavinder and tea tree oil are have antibiotic properties (you could probably make a deodorant from it).  Clove helps numb tooth pain.  Etc. Remember to check expiration dates.  Most traditional antibiotics will expire in a year or two.  That's why I checked into alternative antibiotics.  Also consider a snake bite kit or two, and anything else you can think of.  Essential oils and homeopathy are also an important part of a first aid kit.

ESSENTIAL OILS.  For those who worry bioterrorism may get us before PX does, certain essential oils are known to be anti-microbial, specially, lavinder and tea tree oil.  Get some spray bottles, fill with distilled water and add drops of lavinder and/or tea tree oil and spray your house in the event of bioterrorism attack (40-60 drops per spray bottle).  Also good for keeping things clean around the house (15-20 drops per spray bottle).  Lavander also has a calming effect and may be a natural way to calm jangled nerves.  I find putting 3-5 drops in an electric diffuser at night helps us sleep through the night.  If your spouse snores, add equal amount of eucalyptus oil.  It works amazingly well.  Get therapeutic quality essential oils.  A good place is www.audreyleigh.com .  They carry what's called "therapeutic grade" which is the same as medicinal grade.  You don't want perfume grade.  There is an oil called "Thieves Oil" that is promoted by the "Surviving Terrorism" book (whi
ch, as I indicated above, a very expensive sales manual).  I have found only one place that sells Thieves Oil and it is something like $37 for 15 ml (plus shipping).  For most of us, it's not practical.  All it is is a blend of 4 common oils, the trick being the recipe is not common knowledge.  Get some aromatherapy books and read up on this subject.  There are useful home remedies.

HOMEOPATHY offers remedies for practically everything.  It is standardized by the U.S. Homeopathic Pharmacoepia.  Very inexpensive.  I have used a cold remedy called "Zicam" (the only thing at the pharmacy which works with high blood pressure) and it worked very well.  There is a 2002 influenza remedy available, as well as "nosodes" for small pox and other germ warfare items.  I don't think any medicine, whether antibiotic or homeopathic, is guaranteed against "weaponized" biologicals.  Check out www.elixirs.com . Plenty of other remedies for various ailments. 

FOOD.  It may not be possible to grow food for quite a long time after a PX event, so food storage is important.  Put in a good supply of 25 year shelf life ThriveLife food products.The cheapest route I've found is buying large sacks (50# or 100#) of grains (wheat, corn, barley, oatmeal) and legumes.  This in itself is a research project.  You'll also need a grain mill to grind grains into flour.  It's a lot of work and may not be comfort foods, but it's better than starving.  Search the internet to find suppliers.  Survival + Food or Food + storage will turn up quite a few hits.  The LDS folks are probably the best source for food storage programs--what to put in them, how to manage them, since food storage programs is part of their lifestyle.

You can usually get 50# or 100# sacks of beans and rice at ethnic food stores or ask your local grocer to order for you, or order them on the internet.  Remember, if they are not organic, they are probably GMO (genetically modified).  Of course, the price is higher for organic, so you have to weigh starvation against the quality of the food.

Spices store for a long time because they are dehydrated.  Also, gravy mixes (like Tones you can get at Sam's Club) can help stretch meat in the meals.  If you like to bake, better stock up on baker's salt (big sacks at Sam's Club, probably at Price Club and Costco too), baking powder, baking soda, vanilla, etc.

Get recipes for simple foods:  how to bake bread if you don't have yeast, how to cook a meal in one pot.  A good book is "Making the Best of Basics," by James Talmage Stevens.  Gives information on how to improvise if you are lacking ingredients.  Another good book for basics is the "Encylopedia of Country Living."  If you can't find these at Amazon, many preparedness websites have them.  Also, look on the internet for recipes.  They are generally free.  For instance, search {+bread +"no yeast" or unleavened} (don't type the brackets) will bring up thousands of hits.  Other words for yeast-free breads:  chapatis, cracker bread, matzah, etc.

If the earth is scorched by firestorms it may be quite awhile before you can grow anything.  The best idea for green vegetables I have come up with (besides dehydrating them) is to buy sprout seeds and grow your own sprouts:  mung, wheat, etc.  Here's a website to check out:  http://www.sprouting.com/homesprouting.htm.  Also, psyllium husks are cheap in bulk.  This is the component of Metamucil.  Sorry to get clinical, but with everything else going on, you don't need to get constipated from lack of fresh fruits and vegetables.

It is probably wise to have a least one month's worth of very quick to make meals (military MRE's or meals in cans or whatever else you can think of) because if the earth is shaking, etc. it may be impossible to cook or even light a fire.  

FRESH MEAT.  Have fishing equipment if you are near a river or lake.  Rabbits are small, breed fast and are edible.  Get a book on how to raise and slaughter them.  Try to find somewhere (a local agricultural college or county agi-extension? to give a demonstration.  Take into consideration any animal may die of fright from PX and plan accordingly.  Many preparedness sites offer TVP flavored with chicken, beef, etc., which are meat substitutes.

SEEDS.  Have non-hybrid seeds in airtight containers, enough for as many years as you think you will need.  Also have gardening tools. 

COOKWARE.  Things will be rough. See cookware.htm for a good explanation of what's what in cookware.

HEAT.  Have sleeping bags rated for the kind of cold you think you will have.  Also warm clothing as well as rainwear.  Use whatever fuel you can get locally (wood most likely).  Propane and oil, if they don't explode, won't last long and there will be no trucks to bring it in.  Have a fire starter kit.  Buy LOTS of matches and wrap them in fireproof material. 

COOLING.  Earth temperature is normally constantly in the 50's.  Until things settle down, I don't know.  Keep foods cool by putting them underground.  Check out books on root cellaring.  You can cool things in a stream or lake.  If you have an undeground shelter, you will have a constant temperature year round.  There will not be any air conditioning.

PEST CONTROL.  No more Raid or other products to kill unwelcome pests.  Research other ways to control them or else health problems will result.  Intruder, Inc. has built the better mousetrap.  It works like a charm.  Put some peanut butter on it (mice love it) and the cat is out of business.  Intruder, Inc. makes it http://65.223.255.13/mousetrap/mousetrap.html.  I'd put these around where you store your food just to discourage the critters.  Your food should be in heavy plastic buckets or #10 cans.  DO NOT LEAVE GRAINS OR OTHER FOODS IN BAGS.  THE RODENTS WILL GET IN AND RUIN IT FOR YOU.  THEY POOP ALL OVER EVERYTHING.  (Can you tell I live in the country and *HATE* the little varmints?)  Of course, hungry cats will also provide pest control if any survive.  Anyway, Intruder, Inc. also has knives and knife sharpeners you can check out.  Mice also do not like the smell of peppermint oil.  Citronella repels mosquitoes.  You can make a natural flea collar for the pet with essent
ial oils.  Buy some books on essential oils (aromatherapy) for recipes. 

Proof up your IMMUNE SYSTEM.  Try to be in the best shape you can be.  Thymus gland, beta glucan are touted to help do this.  Also, good nutrition, exercise, clean water and adequate rest.  This goes for PX as well as bioterrorism.  In a post-PX world, an ounce of prevention is priceless.  Stock up on any medications you will need, extra glasses, hearing aid, whatever.

LIGHT.  The atmosphere may be very dark with residuals from volcanic eruptions.  There is a flashlight on the market called "Starlight" that works by shaking it, needs no batteries.  Search Starlight + flashlight.  I have one.  It is not very bright and my hand gets tired shaking it, but better than darkness or dead batteries.  LED flashlights use very little battery power and are bright, thus batteries will last longer, but not forever.  Oil lamps may help get you through the dark period.  Lamplight Farms has a wide selection.  You can get them at Wal-Mart for $5-$10 each.  The oil is $3-$4 per bottle, depending if you get smokeless (preferred) or not.  Light will help alleviate depression.  Get extra wicks, mantles and chimneys.

NEWS.  There are handcrank and/or solar powered radios.  Baygen Freeplay is one.  You will want to know what's going on, if anyone is still able to broadcast.  Search radio + "hand crank" or dynamo or solar.  Besides am/fm, get one with shortwave capability.  Infomate World Band Radio has am/fm and shortwave, plus sound portion of TV programs, EMS, airlines, cabs, weather, etc.  Uses Toshiba components.  Best price I've found is at http://www.gearking.com/html/eng/159-AA.shtml. 

MUSIC.  Music will help alleviate depression.  (And after PX who won't be?)  I have not been able to find a handcrank tape player.  There was one pre-y2k at jademountain.com, but it is no longer there.  A missionary outfit has one but only sells to missionaries.  I did locate a shortwave radio with a tape player that uses a solar panel.  I inquired and was told that the tape player plays at only half volume with full sunlight.  The brand is "Sangean" and the model is "ATS 818ACS." The vendor I checked out is at http://www.selfrelianceresources.com/shortwave_radios.htm.  Of course, you may not be able to use it (solar powered) at first because of atmospheric conditions, but it will play with batteries.

NOISE.  I went through the Northridge (Los Angeles) Earthquake in 1994.  It was said there were two earthquakes, the first precipitating the second, something like 6.9 and 6.7.  (Early reports said the first was something like a 7.2, but it quickly changed.  Some said that was because the government had to give money rather than loan money if the earthquake was over 7.0.  Our government at work.).  Anyway, I remember two things about that quake.  First, a thruster quake is much more violent than a slip quake.  I rode the 1971 Sylmar quake too. It was a slip fault and things swayed side to side and wasn't terribly noisy.  In a thruster quake, things jump up and down.  It is impossible to walk in a thruster quake, so find a soft spot and sit down or you will break bones.  The second thing was the noise.  It sounded like a fleet of jets screaming overhead.  Electric transformers were exploding, etc.  It lasted less than a minute, but it was terrifying.  Many people literally thoug
ht L.A. was being bombed.  I suggest some ear muffs, the kind that navy personnel wear on flight decks.  You can do a search for navy + earmuffs, or try www.cheaperthandirt.com, they have a wide variety, mostly used by hunters to dampen the sound of their guns.  Get the highest dB rating you can.  This can really help your nerves and help calm the kids when things really get shaking.

HYGIENE.  Maintaining good hygiene will be very important.  Try going a week in the same clothes and see how you feel, and what fungi and other fun things will start growing on or in your body.  Then you have a medical problem.  Stock up on soap--body soap, dish soap, laundry soap.  How will you wash your clothes?  Rock and stream?  There is a little hand-crank pressure washer called "Wonderwash."  Search for it on the internet or try http://www.enn.com/marketplace/display-affiliate.asp?a=756.  It's small, but affordable.  So maybe one per person and wash each day's clothing on a daily basis.  Get clothes line to string between trees and hang outside, or get the folding racks for hanging wet clothes inside.  Dental supplies are a must.  Deodorant, too.  Women, you will no longer be able to get feminine hygiene products, so check out this website:  www.thekeeperinc.com. 

NUCLEAR REACTORS.  With the earth shaking, there will likely be reactor incidents with resulting fallout.  The only FDA-approved "radiation pill" is manufactured by Anbex (www.anbex.com).  It is a potassium iodide tablet that blocks radioactive iodine from entering your thyroid which can cause cancer.  It doesn't prevent any other kind of problem from radiation, such as being too close to a reactor when it melts down or radiation other than radioactive iodine.  It's important though because a large percentage (95%, I think) of the problems from radiation come from damaged thyroid glands.  Watch out for other brands and imitations.  Some use a different form of potassium (iodate) and others may not have enough strength per pill.  Anbex is the only one FDA-approved "radiation pill." 

HOUSING.  Given the prediction of earthquakes, firestorms and high winds, traditional housing won't survive.  Probably the safest thing is something underground.  I have heard concrete dome homes are the safest (but somehow I don't think they have ever been test driven through something like PX).  The quickest and most economical is a trench, which I think you will find in the Nuclear War Survival Skills book.  A cave would do nicely if you happen to have one around.  A land/sea container on a concrete slab with cables anchoring has been suggested (anyone interested, I'll see if I can find the website again).  A basement might work, except if your house gets blown away, then what?

Check out www.waltonfeed.com .  They have a large metal tube that can be put underground and lived in. 

CLOTHING.  You can buy durable clothing (jeans, t-shirts, etc.) at Goodwill or Salvation Army very cheap.  If you like to sew, stock up on sewing supplies and fabrics.  Non-electric sewing machines are still around.  I have two Singers circa 1932 I picked up in a rural community.  It operates with a foot pedal.  If anyone is interested, I'll look around and see if I can locate more. 

PROTECTION.  There will be no more police or 911.  You should invest in several guns and ammunition.  Animals that survive will be hungry and you will look like a tasty meal.  Bows and arrows, hunting knives, etc. 

ENTERTAINMENT.  Especially if you have kids, stock up on board games and athletic equipment (balls, bats, etc.)  For adults, have things you like to do:  hobbies, books, sewing, etc.

JOY JUICE.  Okay, so you can't run down to the local 7-11 and pick up some Coors or Genessee's.  What will you do?  Buy a book on home brewing and check it out.  You may want to add equipment/supplies to your survival storage plan to be able to make your own.  Not a bad idea.  It will help calm nerves.  Also, stock up on medicinal alcohol:  brandy, whiskey, whatever.  Good for numbing pain.

EVERYTHING ELSE.  And if all that isn't enough, think about what you would not want to be without in the coming dark ages:  fingernail scissors, toenail clippers, perfume, mouth wash, pain rememdies, can openers, knives, garden tools, household tools, hair clips, chocolate, etc.  Walk through your house, go through your drawers and imagine life without that item.  If you can't imagine it, then stock up. 

COMMUNITY.  Yes, it's absolutely necessary.  Join a church group or move to a small town and make friends quick or get your family to move to one location.  You won't survive long by yourself.  You can also get more supplies if things like garden tools, medicines, radio, etc. can be shared by the group.

Now, you've gone to a lot of time, trouble and expense to prepare.  What's next?  Protecting it.  In the U.S., there is a law within the 1994 (or '96?) Crime Prevention Act which makes it illegal to "hoard" more than six months worth of food.  (Hoarding used to be buying up everything in site AFTER an emergency, but it has been redefined now.  You have to wonder why the government doesn't want its citizens to be prepared.) 

After PX (or bioterrorism), those who have not prepared will be scared out of their wits and starving.  They will try to survive at any cost.  You have to watch out especially for the "$5,000 survivalist."  These guys invest in guns and ammo and just take what they need.  If they think you have food or other necessities, you will be killed for it.  (Another reason to have guns, to protect yourself, and another reason for being in rural community.)  Research "caching."  This is where you put your food and other valuables in metal or plastic tubes and bury them in different locations.  (Be sure to have a shovel or two so you can do this.)  During the first six months after PX (or bioterrorism) diet...do not look well fed.  Look shell shocked and lost like everyone else, otherwise you will tip your hand and you will be robbed or killed for your stuff.  A good movie treating this topic is an old 1960-something movie called "Panic in the Year Zero" starring Ray Milland.  It's dated
but will give you a good idea what happens when law and order breaks down.

Lastly, what happens if you get a lot of survival stuff but conditions force you to "bug out."  Each member of your family should have a "bug out bag" filled with 2-3 days worth of food, water, first aid kit, space blanket, etc., essential to stay alive for 2-3 days until you can return to your home.  (If food and other valuables cached, they are not readily available to be stolen and there will be something to return to.)

I hope this information helps.  I know it is overwhelming but take it one step at a time.  Read first and get ideas.  Research what you read if you can.  Check out the vendors and see if they are reputable.  If they haven't been in business very long, don't take a chance with them.  If they don't say they belong to a Chamber of Commerce or similar type group, you might want to think twice.  Waltonfeed, for example, has been around for 54 years, belongs to a chamber of commerce, and has a good, solid reputation.  They have grains, seeds, equipment, etc.  You can start by browsing that website and getting a feel for what the preparedness industry has to offer. 

Create your individual plan given your needs and your resources.  Then stock up for a week, then two, and keep building until time runs out.  Generally speaking, buy things that will have to be shipped to you first so it has time to arrive and leave items you can get locally until later. 

Good luck to everyone in the coming uncertain days.

Even the most hardy among us would prefer a several hour drive to a
several day (or more) walk to "get out of Dodge". I've been at this a
long time so here are some hints:

1.) Commo;
a.) Citizens Band (C.B.) radio monitor channel 19, it's the most
used frequency for the truckers. I've missed several multi-mile
back-ups by getting off the highway in time.

2.) Scanner, The new trunking scanners Radio Shack sells have all the
emergency frequencies "pre-programmed" into the unit. All you do is
press one button for police, or one button for fire/paramedics. You do
better by programming it with your local frequencies, but not so bad
with the pre-programmed freqs. As with the C.B. monitoring, the
emergency frequencies can give you a "heads-up" as to what lies ahead
(and behind).

3. Tires: Michelin sells "zero-pressure" tires that can literally be
driven for 50+miles with no air. If you have a truck, consider
getting 6 ply sidewall truck tires. Oh yes, carry two spare tires , a hydraulic
frame jack and a "four-way" lug wrench. You can change tires in half
the time with the proper equipment.

4.) Bolt-Cutters. Mention has been made of concrete walls along the
interstate. I've never seen these away from an urban area. However,
fencing along interstate highways is quite common most anywhere. This
is where a good pair of bolt-cutters could literally save your life.
Good ones are expensive. Large ones are easier to use (more leverage).

Snip, snip, shazam.. you're no longer trapped on the interstate
highway right-of-way.

5.) A "Come-Along" 1/4" cable hoist. This is the "poor-man's wench".
They cost about $50 and can really give you some serious pulling
power. One of these, along with a couple of chains and you just might get
yourself or someone else out of a ditch, or move a tree off the road.

A box with the following items:
one gallon anti-freeze, one quart transmission fluid, one gallon motor
oil, one gallon windshield wash, spare radiator & heater hoses, one
can "Stop-Leak", Spare fan/drive belts, fire extinguisher, duct tape,
leather gloves. the appropriate tools to use in hose & belt
replacement. A good quality flashlight (in a zip-lock bag with the batteries out of
the unit).

Maps: the best are the DeLORME Atlas & Gazetteer. Twenty bucks for a
state atlas? Yeah, could be the best 20 bucks you'll ever spend.

Compass : one for the dash (the regular car dash/windshield kind) and
at least one more for your backpack. GPS? sure but only after you have
your maps and compasses. Do you really want to trust your life to anything
that takes batteries?

More links

General info about survival:
 
http://survivalcenter.com (excellent)
 
http://www.millennium-ark.net/index.html (excellent)
 
http://www.sierratimes.com
 
http://www.survivalring.org  (downloads available)
 
http://members.tripod.com/~docrob/get.html
 
http://www.globaldisaster.org  (downloads available)
 
http://www.trackerschool.com/emergency.html
 
http://www.nepanewsletter.com/survival.html
 
http://www.nodoom.com
 
Water:
(more important even than food)
http://www.detailshere.com/berkey.htm   
 
http://www.joelskousen.com/ja/index.html
 
Food:

http://www.detailshere.com/thrivelife.htm 

http://www.foodstorage.net

 
http://www.survivaly2k.com!
 
http://www.aa-foods.com
 
http://waltonfeed.com
 
Shelter:
 
http://www.shelter-systems.com/emergency.html
 
http://www.monolithicdome.com
 
http://www.disastershelters.net/index.html
 
http://www.earthmountainview.com/shelters.html
 
http://www.radius-defe! nse.com
 
Seeds:
(you must have non-hybrid seeds, not the stuff you buy at Walmart)
http://www.arkinstitute.com/non_hybrid_seed.htm
 
http://www.nepanewsletter.com/seeds.html
 
http://www.thechileman.com/orgdisease.html
 
http://www.seedsaver.org
 
Survival supplies:
 
http://www.yellowstonetrading.com

http://theepicenter.com
 
http://www.stayin-alive.com
 
http://www.joelskousen.com/ja/index.html
 
http://www.perrets.com
 
http://survivalcenter.com

Information about pioneer skills - Great!

http://waltonfeed.com/old/index.html

Medical and health supplies and information:
 
http://bioterrorism101.com (download available)
 http://www.zyz.com/survivalcenter/Medical.html
 
http://www.silversolution.us/products/

http://www.tetrahedron.org/articles/apocalypse/essential_oils.html

100 Items to Disappear First in a Panic

This list of 100 items to disappear first has been passed around the Internet for a while and it’s a great guide. I recommend printing it so you can fold it up and put it in your wallet. Then when you’re out and about at flea markets, dollar stores or wherever you end up, look it over and keep an eye out for good deals.

1. Generators (Good ones cost a lot. Noisy, target of thieves; maintenance, etc.)
2. Water Filters/Purifiers
3. Portable Toilets
4. Seasoned Firewood. Wood takes about 6 – 12 months to become dried.
5. Lamp Oil, Lamps, Wicks (Buy CLEAR oil. If scarce, stockpile ANY!)
6. Coleman Fuel. Impossible to stockpile too much.
7. Guns, Ammunition, Pepper Spray, Knives, Clubs, Bats & Slingshots.
8. Hand-can openers, & hand egg beaters, whisks.
9. Honey/Syrups/white, brown sugar
10. Rice – Beans – Wheat
11. Vegetable Oil (for cooking) Without it food burns/must be boiled etc.,)
12. Charcoal, Lighter Fluid (Will become scarce suddenly)
13. Water Containers Any size. Small: HARD CLEAR PLASTIC ONLY.
14. Mini Heater head (Propane) (Without this item, propane won’t heat a room.)
15. Grain Grinder (Non-electric)
16. Propane Cylinders (Urgent: Definite shortages will occur.)
17. Survival Guide Book
18. Mantles: Aladdin, Coleman, etc. (Without it, long-term lighting is difficult.)
19. Baby Supplies: Diapers/formula. ointments/aspirin, etc.
20. Washboards, Mop Bucket w/wringer (for Laundry)
21. Cookstoves (Propane, Coleman & Kerosene
22. Vitamins
23. Propane Cylinder Handle-Holder
24. Feminine Hygiene/Haircare/Skin products
25. Thermal Underwear (Tops & Bottoms)
26. Bow saws, axes and hatchets, Wedges (also, honing oil)
27. Aluminum Foil Reg. & Heavy Duty (Great Cooking and Barter Item)
28. Gasoline Containers (Plastic & Metal)
29. Garbage Bags (Impossible To Have Too Many)
30. Toilet Paper, Kleenex, Paper Towels
31. Milk – Powdered & Condensed (Shake Liquid every 3 to 4 months)
32. Garden Seeds (Non-Hybrid) (A MUST)
33. Clothes pins/line/hangers (A MUST)
34. Coleman’s Pump Repair Kit
35. Tuna Fish (in oil)
36. Fire Extinguishers (or..large box of Baking Soda in every room)
37. First Aid Kits
38. Batteries (all sizes…buy furthest-out for Expiration Dates)
39. Garlic, spices & vinegar, baking supplies
40. Big Dogs (and plenty of dog food)
41. Flour, yeast & salt
42. Matches (“Strike Anywhere” preferred.) Boxed, wooden matches will go first
43. Writing paper/pads/pencils, solar calculators
44. Insulated ice chests (good for keeping items from freezing in Wintertime.)
45. Workboots, belts, Levis & durable shirts
46. Flashlights/LIGHTSTICKS & torches, “No. 76 Dietz” Lanterns
47. Journals, Diaries & Scrapbooks (jot down ideas, feelings, experiences)
48. Garbage cans – Plastic (great for storage, water, transporting – if with wheels)
49. Men’s Hygiene: Shampoo, Toothbrush/paste, Mouthwash/floss, etc.
50. Cast Iron Cookware (sturdy, efficient)
51. Fishing supplies/tools
52. Mosquito coils/repellent, sprays/creams
53. Duct Tape
54. Tarps/stakes/twine/nails/rope/spikes
55. Candles
56. Laundry Detergent (liquid)
57. Backpacks, Duffel Bags
58. Garden tools & supplies
59. Scissors, fabrics & sewing supplies
60. Canned Fruits, Veggies, Soups, stews, etc.
61. Bleach (plain, NOT scented: 4 to 6% sodium hypochlorite)
62. Canning Supplies (Jars/lids/wax)
63. Knives & Sharpening tools: files, stones, steel
64. Bicycles – Tires/tubes/pumps/chains, etc.
65. Sleeping Bags & blankets/pillows/mats
66. Carbon Monoxide Alarm (battery powered)
67. Board Games, Cards, Dice
68. d-con Rat poison, MOUSE PRUFE II, Roach Killer
69. Mousetraps, Ant traps & cockroach magnets
70. Paper plates/cups/utensils (stock up, folks)
71. Baby wipes, oils, waterless & Antibacterial soap (saves a lot of water)
72. Rain gear, rubberized boots, etc.
73. Shaving supplies (razors & creams, talc, after shave)
74. Hand Pumps & siphons (for water and for fuels)
75. Soysauce, vinegar, bullions/gravy/soupbase
76. Reading glasses
77. Chocolate/Cocoa/Tang/Punch (water enhancers)
78. “Survival-in-a-Can”
79. Woolen clothing, scarves/ear-muffs/mittens
80. Boy Scout Handbook
81. Roll-on Window Insulation Kit
82. Graham crackers, saltines, pretzels, Trail mix/Jerky
83. Popcorn, Peanut Butter, Nuts
84. Socks, Underwear, T-shirts, etc. (extras)
85. Lumber (all types)
86. Wagons & carts (for transport to and from)
87. Cots & Inflatable Mattresses
88. Gloves: Work/warming/gardening, etc.
89. Lantern Hangers
90. Screen Patches, glue, nails, screws,, nuts & bolts
91. Teas
92. Coffee
93. Cigarettes
94. Wine/Liquors (for bribes, medicinal, etc,)
95. Paraffin Wax
96. Glue, nails, nuts, bolts, screws, etc.
97. Chewing gum/candies
98. Atomizers (for cooling/bathing)
99. Hats & cotton neckerchiefs
100. Goats/chickens

 

SOURCE 

http://www.prepperfortress.com/100-items-disappear-first-panic/

----------------------------------------------------------------

A very extensive site listing everything from soup to nuts regarding disaster preparedness http://www.endtimesreport.com/Site_Index.htm 

www.preparedsociety.com  - International Survival and Homesteading Forum Community. Everything related to Preparedness from Survival to Homesteading plus Gallery, Groups and Links.

How to purify water can be found here 

Raising chickens   www.backyardchickens.com  great site!

The 100 items of barter list - those things first to disappear in hard times

Be sure and join  http://groups.yahoo.com/group/prep2003prep   which has all kinds of survival information and tips in their files.

Survival Tactics  -  a lot of information here

A complete "Survival Book" is available to download for free at http://www.zetatalk.com/nonproft/home.htm 

Great site with lots of information including burying school buses for shelter
http://www.radmeters4u.com/arktwo/index.htm

Great site that uses shipping containers; fully or partially buried as the shelter:
http://www.containerunderground.com/  

Using cordwood and masonry for construction
http://www.cordwoodmasonry.com/Cordwood.html 

Resource for a stainless steel water distiller setup that can be used with several different heat sources including just a campfire  www.waterwise.com 
Specifically http://www.waterwise.com/water/distillers/1600/1600.html  for the model 1600 which uses any fuel source (you have to heat the pot somehow using a woodstove, LP source, electric heat, etc. )

Go to here for my page on water purification taken from :
http://standeyo.com/News_Files/Hollys.html 

For food storage info check out this link:
http://standeyo.com/News_Files/Hollys.html 

For first aid supply list and first aid information go to :
http://standeyo.com/News_Files/Hollys.html 
Homepage for their website is  http://standeyo.com/index.html 

For flashlights you shake for 30 seconds and then get 5 minutes of light from that never need batteries go to http://www.foreverflashlight.com/ 

For more on emergency lighting  go to   here 
read more about lighting    here    
and more on emergency lighting    here   

Here's a good website  on food storage.  It has a several good articles about how to store food, what ammounts and what things to store, an a good article on the most common mistakes in food storage.  It also has a catalog where you can order food in bulk (but  Costco works fine too).   It's mormon based, and they're some people with some good expereince in food storage!
http://www.foodstorage.net

How to build your own any size concrete dome -- Sun Life Construction
How to build your own any size concrete dome without going thru the expense of using the balloon form to do it.  This is hard information to come by and is one of the very few sources that i have been able to find on this type of building project.  In this method it is cheap, anyone male or female can do it, and do it in their own time frame. The actual proper concretemixes are given and how to
techniques as well. The structure initially is made to be built to as an earth sheltered home [either partially or completely underground] however the author Mr. Impson has told me that it can very easily be built above ground as well without any problems.     http://paisite.com/sunlife/index.htm 

Dome homes are considered the strongest home design available. For the best domes see: http://www.monolithicdome.com/     They can give you a price on a very modest 20 ft shelter home, although I would get the 24 ft model for myself if I was going for something of that size, which I may. You can order any shaped dome you wish. They sew a cloth form and it is then blown up and finished from the inside with insulation, rebar, and cement. Mark H.

MANY underground and earth bermed homes and designs shown here
http://www.liquefaction.com/berm/  

Check out these Pre-Made survival Shelters:
http://www.radius-defense.com

Monolithic Domes, Dome Construction, Off grid
systems, wind & solar power, survival equipment & supplies.
www.ThunderRidgeDomes.com  

Great prices on quality kitchen machines designed to save time and labor and reduce food costs, and we place great emphasis on responsive, personal service. From Bosch mixers to grain flour mills to Kuhn Rikon, stainless steel pressure cookers, we offer a variety of serious kitchen tools at great prices.
http://pleasanthillgrain.com/ 

Here are   more great websites for  survival products  and information
http://www.survivalcenter.com/

http://waltonfeed.com   for seeds

http://www.beprepared.com/index.html  
good source for #10 tin foods and pails and freeze dried foods.

www.arkinstitute.com  for more seeds

http://www.sproutpeople.com They've got loads of information and
lots of different types of sprouts and sprouters.

Also, Mumms has sprouts, but not so much info.
http://www.sprouting.com/

Gas Masks, food, protective clothing, lots of stuff here
http://www.josephprep.com/index.html 

How to build a bicycle powered alternator

Clothes Washer... Washing Your Clothes With A Little More Tradition ... for those who are interested in manual washing machines.

For us traditional or old-fashioned folks who are interested in non-electric clothes washer appliances you might find some befitting solutions here...

Wonder Wash is a small clothes washer that will wash delicate clothes or clothes in small portions. You turn the handle to wash your clothes.

Plunger Washer is a clothes washer that can be used to wash your clothes in combination with your bath tub, large bucket, etc.

James Washer is clothes washer for serious laundry duties and not just if you have a small portion of clothes or delicate clothes. It's suitable for those who want a major washing machine but a manuel one.

http://www.prep2003.com/cfl.htm 

http://millennium-ark.net/News_Files/Hollys.html 

http://www.wilderness-survival.net/chp1.php

http://www.survival-center.com/guide/

http://www.equipped.com/

http://www.wilderness-survival.net/topsites/index.php?a_m=1

http://survivalx.searchking.com/

www.emergencyessentials.com

http://www.survivalring.org/hazmaps.htm

http://www.oism.org/nwss/
 

Government websites on disaster preparedness and a check list

Lots of informtion here  http://www.webpal.org/ 

Build your own Faraday Box to protect your electronics equipment from electromagnetic pulses - EMP's. http://www.aussurvivalist.com/text_files/emppro.txt

Campin, hiking and backpacking gear - lots of stuff:
http://theepicenter.com/camping_hiking_and_backpacking_accessories.html 

Find ready made devices here  http://www.windstreampower.com/index.html 

http://www.whentechfails.com/  : A good source of survival information with a book that you'll probably want to get

 The Alpine Survival Group Survival foods and products necessary for your future. Now receive a discount if you simply mention TMG - CLICK HERE for details.

No Doomsday Is a document that I believe provides the best source on the net for survival in a number of different kinds of disasters. As the title says, "NO Doomsday" is necessary if you're prepared! Philip Hoag's page is not currently coming up, but his great book is still available at Amazon.com.  

The Survival Bible Provides many tactics that could come in handy, in the event...   

Frugal Squirrel's Homepage for Survivalists Not just for the politically incorrect! 
Frugal Squirrel www.logicsouth.com/~lcoble/ 

The best way to make fire. Inexpensive, good for hundreds of fire starts,
works even when wet !!!  Magnesium fire starter tool with built in
flint on the side: (scroll about 3/4 the way down this page)
http://www.theepicenter.com 

How to make a bicycle powered battery charger -  here
  
When talking about emergency lighting, few people can overlook the efficiency and durability of LED lights. They make your batteries last at least three times longer than regular bulbs for the same amount of light, and unlike regular bulbs they are very tough and durable. But which one to choose, where to get, how much to pay, which is the best???  Well there is this guy who has made it his hobby to independently purchase, evaluate and test, EVERY LED light on the market. AND he has an excellent website where he has compiled all of that information. If your considering a purchase, at least check the item against his database and see how it did against the others. Quite interesting, see this link:
http://ledmuseum.home.att.net/menutop.htm

And speaking of no sunlight [for up to six months after the shift], you can buy the original russian pumper, a flashlight that produces its own power from a built in dynamo generator.  just  squeeze the finger grip repeatedly for light.  cost is 9.95 each and if you buy two pumpers you get 6 free lightbulbs that go with them.  item number is 5-1248 for one pumper.  go to website www.MajorSurplusNSurvival.com  phone is 8004418855......these pumpers work great... but buy several as the squeeze mechanisms do fail after time. 

More hand crank gadgets brought to us from Cheryl OBrien
I have finally found a source for hand-crank tape players.  It is an outfit in South Africa at http://www.bmedia.co.za/gnm/accessories/accessories.htm.

Other handcrank (non-electric) products I have found include:
 http://www.yetigear.com/item.php?item=YG-330340&PHPSESSID=ad3d5bd6c2576d60961cf6b70c4c52dc

Dough Mixer at http://www.kodiakhealth.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/2543

Pasta Maker at http://www.cooking.com/products/shprodde.asp?SKU=103914

Food Mill at http://www.kitchenkapers.com/4603.html (excellent for grinding up food for small children and elderly folks, as well as the other kitchen applications).

Wheat Grass Juicer at http://www.redcarpetshopping.com/catalog/buy/Juicer/wheat_grass_juicer/

How to make an 8' culvert pipe into an underground shelter
http://waltonfeed.com/old/cellar3.html 

Intermodal Shipping Containers - the near perfect steel box used to ship goods all over the world. They are single layer steel walls welded to a square-tube steel frame. The floor is a tongue-in-groove hardwood construction. If placed on a proper foundation these should resist large quake forces and high storm activity, especially if a four foot earth berm is built around the structure to deflect wind up and over it. These go for about $3000 reconditioned and $5000 new for a 40ft high cube(9'6" high) x 8' wide. The link below specializes in modifications such as doors etc., and will deliver anywhere in the US for free as long as the request is reasonable. Very friendly, cool pics on site. Use your imagination: http://www.cargocontainers.com/ 

Papercrete - cement has excellent compression strength but bad tensile strength(tearing force). That's why it always has to be reinforced with steel rebar. Papercrete uses portland cement and newspaers(or magazines) to add paper fibers to the mix.The fibers are bound and won't burn. Papercrete is extremely lightweight and has a high insulating value because a large component is trapped air bubbles. Adding sand increases thermal density. Though the link below mentions forming into blocks or panels, papercrete can also be applied directly as a slurry over chickenwire. Inexpensive albeit a bit messy. Great link with general info and contacts to continue your search if interested: http://www.oikos.com/library/papercrete/ 

Storm and Tornado Shelters http://www.shelters-of-texas.com/welcome.html 

Here's a whole disaster preparedness book you can read online:
http://www.disastermagazine.com/preparedness.htm 

Safe Places to live - many maps found here
http://www.survivalring.org/hazmaps.htm

http://www.fema.gov/areyouready/
Topics covered include evacuation, shelter, natural hazards ( such as
floods, hurricanes, tsunamis, thunder and winter storms, heat waves,
earthquakes, volcanoes, land slides, and fires), and also concerns
itself with Hazardous Materials Incidents, Nuclear Power Plants, and
National Security Emergencies.  Two articles of note deal with
"Emergency Planning / Disaster Supplies" and "Recovering from
Disaster", both of which detail which items one should have in a
survival kit for an extended use of at least 3 days.

Here's another  favorite link concerning shelters and disaster
survival.  You can buy ready made shelters here. Although this site is focused primarily on surviving nuclear, biological and chemical disasters, the information is still pertinent and useful for surviving any kind of natural disaster as well!  Enjoy! Steve in PA.  http://www.disastershelters.net/ 

Welcome! to the practical preparedness side of Noah's Ark! If you are just
beginning preparations, undoubtedly your head is spinning with the amount
of work ahead! Let us help you organize.
http://millennium-ark.net/News_Files/Hollys.html

  
http://www.baproducts.com/ 

http://www.otherpower.com/otherpowerfront.shtml 

All of us should have at least one medical kit at home or with us when we go
bush. Check out the options at   http://www.windupradio.com/earthquakekits/


A very extensive set of topics here. The site is about survival... 
using "junk" to accomplish what those of us without big dollars can't
afford to do.
     http://www.realjunkscience.com/survival/ 

Making the Best of Basics:
Family Preparedness Handbook
by James Stevens

Survival communities: http://www.webpal.org/list.htm
 
If you want the security of being able to live from your own personal resources for up to a year, regardless of external conditions, this book will show you how.  It has 100 pages of charts, tables and recipes, plus a new 80 page `yellow pages' section listing suppliers of preparedness supplies.  Over 350,00 copies sold. 

Home Power: The Hands on Journal of Home Made Power www.homepower.com 

Outdoor and survival gear and resources
http://www.equipped.com/ 

View our collection of products primarily to serve the purpose of self-preservation. Consider these products as tools to put you in a state of full readiness.    http://www.survivalinstinct.com/

Government Bulletin on Fallout Shelters

http://www.baproducts.com/emerprep.htm

http://www.eqc.govt.nz/quake/prep_qak.htm

http://www.disastermagazine.com 

For those interested in an indepth study and look at tsunami's and flood's. Want to know what would happen if an asteroid struck the ocean? This is the place for the answer. http://www1.tpgi.com.au/users/tps-seti/spacegd7.html 

Unbreakable Bulbless Flashlight
A truly unique application for magnetic levitation technology, this flashlight employs a recoil system to produce light, eliminating a need for batteries or light bulbs. Practically indestructible and promising over 100,000 hours of use, it is ideal for camping trips, roadside emergency auto repair or home fuse replacement. A luminescent on/off switch glows for hours so the light is easy to locate and operate. Produces 10 lumens of light at peak brightness. Has magnetic on/off switch. Batteryless flashlight is lightweight, waterproof and shockproof. Durable polycarbonate housing. 12” L x 4” D x 6” diam. (14oz)
Item 63165   Price $69.95 http://www.cybercatalogs.com/gifts/OnlineStore/Hammacher/  

Handi-stitch ; a handheld mini sewing machine that runs on AA batteries:
http://store.yahoo.com/youcansave/handystitch.html  (exit the link without buying first and a pop up menu surfaces giving it to you at $14.95 instead of $19.95)

Announcing "The ABC's of NBC Warfare Survival, A Public Guide to Surviving Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Terrorist Threats" at     www.survive-nbc.org

Also go to these links:
Troubled Times Survivalist Hub
Wisconsin Survival Course
Survivalist Information Library
Joseph's Storehouse
Military Surplus Center
Survival Instinct: It dwell's within you

Book - When Technology Fails  http://www.whentechfails.com/ , Matthew Stein : A great starting place / also contains an excellent bibliography.

Also go to a search engine such as www.dogpile.com , googlesearch, or altavista.com   and type in the word "disaster" - many resources will appear. 

back to niburu homepage


20 Things to hoard

1. Rice – Dried rice has an incredibly long shelf life, making it ideal for storage. In nutritional terms, rice is rich in starch and carbohydrates. It’s also a good source of Vitamin B, iron, and protein.

2. Beans, Lentils, Black-eyed peas – Legumes are a great source of protein, iron, and dietary fiber. Like rice, which they’re traditionally served with, dried beans have an exceptionally long shelf life.

3. Candles – You’ll probably never read a disaster preparedness list that doesn’t include candles, and for good reason. A good stock of slow-burning emergency candles is a survival essential, as well as something to light them with.

4. Cigarette Lighters – I recommend stashing a combo pack of at least 6 lighters in your stockpile. In a power outage, these guys can become very, very important. The can also be very easy to misplace.

5. Pasta – Pasta stores well, has a long shelf life, and it’s loaded with carbohydrates. It’s also easy to prepare. Not to mention, pasta pairs well with lots of other items on this list.

6. Peanut Butter – Hoarded by everyone from college students to doomsday survivalists, and for many of the same reasons, peanut butter is a tasty, shelf stable source of protein that pairs with lots of other items.

7. Can Opener/Multi-Tool – It’s a good idea to carry a survival knife, but it’s a great idea to carry a quality multi-tool, like a Leatherman. A Leatherman comes in handy almost every day under normal circumstances and could be used as a weapon in a pinch.

8. Dried fruits, such as raisins, apricots, and papaya – Dried fruits are a great source of nutrients, calories, potassium, and fiber. They can also be added to nuts to make delicious trail mixes.

9. Energy bars – Since these bars are typically loaded with carbs and protein by design, they’re actually a good choice for your survival storage (maximum nutrition with minimal effort and prep).

10. Canned soups and chili – Canned soups are easy to prepare and offer a nice variety of ingredients for the effort. Look for low-sodium options. Premium brands may be healthier, but value brands will make your money go further.

11. Gauze/Bandages – For more serious injuries, you’ll want to keep a supply of dedicated gauze and bandages.

12. Rubbing Alcohol – Rubbing alcohol burns on an open wound, but it is a great way to sterilize instruments, surfaces, and the skin surrounding a wound.

13. Batteries – Obviously, you’ll need to coordinate your battery storage plan with any of the flashlights, radios, or other devices you may keep in your emergency stockpile. Batteries will last longest in cool dry conditions, but should be rotated out of your emergency supply on a yearly basis.

14. Toilet Paper – Running out of toilet paper is annoying in any situation. But you certainly don’t want to run out in a shelter-in-place crisis scenario. My advice is to get more than enough. Life can get messy.

15. Trash Bags – Trash will still need to be properly disposed of, even in a crisis. In fact, trash bags are even more important in a crisis. If running water is unavailable, trash bags may have to double as a toilet. Don’t skimp here.

16. Firearms – Last but certainly not least, you’re going to need some type of weapon, just in case. It doesn’t have to be a gun, but then again what else are you willing to risk your family’s safety on, a sword? Pepper spray?

17. Drinking Water – Most experts recommend a 2-week supply of water in your emergency storage. A 72-hour supply is the bare minimum.  A water filter can help you extend you supply by allowing you to reuse cooking water.

18. Hand-Crank Radio – Hand crank radios offer the ability to listen to important communications when power and cell networks are down. Some hand crank radios even offer a USB charging functionality.

19. Camp Stove  There are a million options available for this purpose – everything from handy backpacking stoves to heavy-duty outdoor ranges – but it’s hard to beat the old self-contained Coleman camp stove.

20. Flashlights – When it comes to flashlights, I have two recommendations, and neither one is expensive. First, find a comfortable LED headlamp. Second, rather than finding the brightest, most high-tech available, invest in a Maglite that runs on simple AA batteries.

Back to Heavens Fountain homepage