How to Survive a Natural Disaster
How to Bug-In: What You Need to Know to Survive a Grid-Down Disaster
by A Manly Guest Contributor on November 1, 2012 · 98 comments
Editor’s note: This is a guest post from Creek Stewart of Willow Haven Outdoor.
As the East Coast of the United States recovers from Hurricane Sandy, aka “Frankenstorm," the rest of us watch the unfolding aftermath from a distance – thankful Mother Nature hasn’t unleashed her fury on our doorstep today. Hurricane Sandy is yet another sober reminder that none of us are exempt from disaster. Mother Nature doesn’t discriminate. She doesn’t care where we live, what we drive, how much we make, or what we do for a living. Her antics are diverse and far-reaching. She has a recipe of devastation for all parts of the world: hurricanes, tornados, floods, wildfires, winter storms, earthquakes, tsunamis, droughts, heat waves, volcanoes, land-slides, and sometimes even a combo pack.
It is human nature to avoid potentially bad news. It is also human nature to procrastinate. Consequently, many of us avoid going to the dentist, taking our car in for routine maintenance, implementing a home security plan, getting our yearly physicals, and many other important preventative and preparative tasks. Unfortunately, avoiding the thought of potential bad news has absolutely no bearing at all on whether or not it will happen. In fact, this attitude is completely self-destructive. Avoiding preparing for or prevent a very dangerous and probable threat is irresponsible and incredibly foolish. Yet, people do it all the time when it comes to potential natural disasters. The mentality of “it’s not going to happen to me" is no longer an acceptable excuse. In the 15 years I’ve taught Survival and Preparedness courses I’ve come to the conclusion that there are no acceptable excuses and I have run thin on patience to those that offer them. Burying your head in the sand is not a strategy and depending on the government to save you is not a plan.
Many of you remember the article I wrote a while back titled How to Make a Bug Out Bag. “Bugging Out" is the decision to abandon your home in search of a safer destination in the event of a large-scale disaster. Sometimes, Bugging Out is not necessary nor is it the best decision. A disaster may, in fact, make it impossible to Bug Out. The alternative is called “Bugging In." Bugging In or hunkering down during a large-scale disaster can present many challenges to a survivor. Oftentimes, the utilities we depend on are ripped off-line – known as “Grid-Down."
Disasters can devastate our most critical services including water supplies, medical facilities and first responders, waste and trash processing and removal, transportation options, fuel and grocery supplies, natural gas lines, electricity, phone service, and even public safety. A Grid-Down scenario can last for several days or even weeks. During this time, you must be able to provide basic survival needs for you and your family. These Bug In preps and plans need to be made in advance. They cannot be made in the heat of a disaster.
How Long Should I Prepare to Bug In?
That’s the question of the century! The government says 3 days. I have preps to get me through 1 year. My answer is a minimum of 2 weeks and then keep prepping for longer as time and money allow. Start with 3 days then work up from there. Don’t let this question prevent you from making progress.
What Are the Categories I Should Consider When Prepping?
Our basic human survival needs remain the exact same no matter where we are in the world or what circumstances we face. They will always be: shelter, water, fire, food, first aid, and self-defense. The order of priority may change, but the basic categories will not. Below is a brief breakdown of each category including several solutions to consider for a short-term Bug In scenario.
Shelter
During a Bug In scenario, shelter may seem fairly obvious. It is your primary place of residence. However, there is more to shelter than just a roof over your head. Shelter must protect us from the elements – even if access to modern utilities is limited or nonexistent. Shelter becomes your #1 priority in cold conditions. You must have alternative heating solutions in place just in case a disaster strikes during cold weather. Some excellent and affordable options are wood burning fireplaces, kerosene heaters, and portable propane heaters.
The back-up kerosene heater I keep at Willow Haven that will heat 1000 square feet for 11 hours on one tank of fuel.
Kerosene heaters can be purchased for just over $100 at virtually any home improvement store. My grandparents heated with a kerosene heater in their living room most of my life. They don’t require electricity and are very easy and safe to operate. Some countries use kerosene heaters as a primary heat source, in fact. The fuel (kerosene) also has an extremely long shelf life – I’ve heard of 20-year-old fuel burning just fine, and I’ve personally used kerosene that’s been sitting for 5 years with no issues. Above is a photo of a back-up kerosene heater I keep at Willow Haven that will heat 1000 square feet for 11 hours on one tank of fuel.
A small propane heater can last 4-6 hours on one tank.
For smaller spaces or supplemental heat, portable emergency propane heaters are excellent little solutions. Mine photographed above takes a one-pound propane canister that is available at most camping and home improvement stores. It really puts out the heat and lasts a surprising length of time (4-6 hours) on one tank. Extra propane canisters are easy to store as well.
I had the wood burning fireplace pictured above installed in my home for about $1500. Even a small stove like this one will heat 1000 square feet of space to a comfortable temperature in freezing conditions for as long as you have wood to burn. If you opt for a fireplace, choose one that can also cook and boil water. Multifunctional uses are always a survival plus. The brand I have is Jotul though there are many excellent brands on the market.
Below are some other home (and car) heating tips I’ve collected from personal experiences testing my preps:
- Close off certain rooms of your house and ‘move in’ to the room with the heat source. Close doors or hang blankets to zone out other areas.
- Hang blankets in front of large windows to reduce heat loss.
- Have good blankets and sleeping bags on hand to help keep you and your family warm.
- Just one candle can warm the inside of a freezing car as much as 8 degrees.
Action Steps:
- Decide on an alternative heat source
- Buy it / install it
- Test it to calculate how much fuel you need for your chosen prep period
- Stock up on fuel
Water
This summer we had the worst drought in over 100 years here in Indiana. It sucked my well dry for over 2 months, and I had to live on my water storage. It wasn’t fun, but really put my back-up plans to a test. Whether you use a well or depend on municipal water service, a disaster can put a stop to your flow of fresh drinking water. Without water you can die in as little as 3 days. The best short-term Bug In water solution is to simply store extra water in your place of residence. You can buy commercially bottled water by the case/gallon or you can bottle and store your own water in food-grade containers.
A very popular do-it-yourself water storage solution is repurposed 2-liter pop bottles. Below is the process I use (I don’t drink soda but friends and family members are happy to give me their empty bottles):
- Step 1: Wash each bottle using water and dish soap.
- Step 2: Sanitize each bottle and cap inside and out with a bleach solution (1 teaspoon bleach mixed in 1 quart water). You can use this same solution to sanitize other types bottles. Rinse the sanitized bottle with clean water.
- Step 3: Fill each bottle with tap water. Add 2 drops of standard unscented household bleach (4-6% sodium hypochlorite)
- Step 4: Empty and refresh your water storage once each year.
There are countless water storage solutions available ranging from fancy interlocking containers to 55-gallon drums. You’ll have to choose a solution that is right for your environment, budget, and consumption needs. Always store your water in a cool place away from full sun exposure.
A few additional emergency water storage tips:
- Keep a few gallons of unscented household bleach on hand at all times. This can be used to purify water and for other sanitation needs.
- A 55-gallon rain barrel used to collect water from your gutters is really easy to install and only costs about $100. You can make your own for even cheaper.
- Your hot water heater contains many gallons of emergency water storage. All hot water heaters have a drain valve at the bottom. This water does not need to be purified.
- In the event of a large-scale disaster, fill your bathtub(s) with water as an extra precaution. This is bonus water if your supply is threatened.
- Pets? They need water too – don’t forget to store water for them.
- If it’s yellow let it mellow, if it’s brownflush it down.
- One gallon of water per day per person is a good rule of thumb for water storage.
Action Steps:
- Decide whether you are filling your own containers or if you are buying commercially bottled water
- Calculate how much water you need (one gallon x people in household x days in your chosen prep period)
- Stock up
Fire
During a Bug In scenario, fire represents two categories: warmth (which we’ve covered) and cooking. You’ll see in the next section that I recommend your emergency meals be very simple to prepare, requiring no cooking at all, if possible. However, it’s important that you have an alternative cooking solution in place to cook meals and boil water if necessary. Several affordable and turn-key off-grid options exist. I’ve listed a few below in no particular order.
Solution # 1: Fireplace or Wood Burning Stove
Not all wood burning stoves can be used to cook meals or boil water. If you are installing one, be sure it can do both. Even an open concept fireplace can be used to cook and boil water. I installed a metal swing arm in the fireplace at Willow Haven that can hold pots and kettles over the open flame. This is an excellent cooking solution.
Even an outdoor fire pit can be an efficient means of cooking or boiling water. A tripod and swing-away cooking grill make these tasks much easier.
Solution # 2: Good ‘Ol BBQ Grill
Now this isn’t even roughing it! However, you can’t cook on the grill if you don’t have a propane tank or charcoal. Always keep an extra full propane tank (or two) or several bags of charcoal on hand if you choose a BBQ grill as your back up cooking solution. Both store long-term very well.
Solution # 3: Natural Fuel Rocket Stoves
Solo Stove works really well for one-pot meals for one or two people.
Rocket stoves have come a long way in recent years. They are incredibly efficient and can operate on a variety of natural fuels such as sticks, twigs, pinecones, charcoal, and other biomass. Above is a photo of a small version from Solo Stove that works really well for one-pot meals feeding one or two people. You can literally cook an entire meal with a little pile of twigs and sticks.
The EcoZoom stove is also a great off-grid alternative that can burn small sticks and split wood for fast efficient cooking.
The EcoZoom stove is also a great off-grid alternative that can burn small sticks and split wood for fast efficient cooking. The cooktop can accommodate big pots when cooking or boiling for larger groups of people.
Solution # 4: Camping Stoves
The MSR Pocket Rocket Stove is what Creek keeps in his Bug Out Bag
Your options are endless when it comes to lightweight camping stoves. They are all fuel dependent so you will need to stock applicable fuel canisters if you intend to use this option for more than a few meals. They are also designed to cook for one or two people at a time versus a large group.
Regardless of which cooking stove you choose, make sure you have the necessary metal cookware, pots, and utensils to both cook meals and boil water in an emergency.
Action Steps:
- Choose an off-grid cooking solution that best fits your needs and budget
- Stock up on fuel
- Make sure you have metal cooking pots and pans that fit your stove choice
Food
Our food supply is dependent on a myriad of factors. When disaster strikes, it screws with pretty much all of these factors. 99% of the food you see in a grocery store is on the shelf. Their back rooms are filled with empty cardboard boxes. The food arrives on a truck and is immediately stocked on the shelves. If it’s not delivery day, guess what? No milk and bread today – that’s what. But you won’t have to worry about that because you’re stocking your own shelves in advance.
Think “open and eat meals." Ideally, your emergency food rations will consist of meals that require little to no preparation. Boiling water for reconstitution should be the most complicated step of any emergency food ration. Your food preps should also have a long shelf life and not require refrigeration. There’s no sense in stocking your shelves with fresh vegetables that are going to rot in a few days or with frozen dinners that will go bad without electricity. It’s very easy to overcomplicate food storage. Keep it simple! Below are a variety of emergency food storage options.
Food Storage Option # 1: Freeze Dried/Dehydrated Meals
Many dehydrated meals have a 10+ year shelf life.
These meals are easily reconstituted with hot water. You can eat most of them in the pouch they come in. And, many of them have a 10+-year shelf life. This is a really easy and nutritious food storage option. Some reputable brands are Mountain House, Wise Foods, and Backpacker’s Pantry.
Food Storage Option # 2: Military Meals Ready to Eat (MREs)
MRE Star. Editor’s Note: In the McKay household, we’re partial to MREs from Emergency Essentials.
MREs are packed with calories – they are designed to fuel soldiers in the field. They are also easy to prepare, often coming with their own little chemical “just-add-water" heating element. And, they have a long shelf life.
Food Storage Option # 3: Store-Bought Canned Goods/Packaged Foods
Add a few cans to your grocery list each week and you’ll be surprised at how fast a small stockpile will develop.
Canned goods make great survival meals. Most of them can be eaten cold right out of the can. Just keep tabs of the expiration date and use them up before they go bad. From soups to vegetables to tuna and chicken, the options are endless. Add a few cans to your grocery list each week and you’ll be surprised at how fast a small stockpile will develop.
Food Storage Option # 4: Can Your Own Food
You can also can your own fresh fruits, vegetables, and meats. This is more labor intensive but is a great way to preserve items from a garden or extra meat from a large-game hunt. Growing up we had canned vegetables from the garden all winter long and they were delicious.
Food Storage Option # 5: Hunting, Farming, Gardening, and Gathering
For extreme long-term survival scenarios some basic hunting and gathering skills can go a long way. Depending on the season and time of year, wild animals and plants can be very viable meal options. You’ll need to know how to clean and dress wild game as well as how to identify wild edible plants, so further training is advised. Small game animals such as squirrel, rabbit, and fowl make excellent survival meals. Learn how to field dress a squirrel here. I have a pond at Willow Haven that I like to call my long-term food storage solution. Fresh caught fish make easy survival meals and require zero maintenance.
Growing your own fruits and vegetables can also supplement other food storage you might have. Even apartment dwellers can grow impressive container gardens with limited space. Fresh herbs can easily be grown in windowsills or on balconies. You can store root vegetables and apples all winter long in a cool basement or cellar.
Other more self-sufficient options include raising animals such as goats, rabbits and chickens. I’ve found raising backyard chickens to be a very fun and productive hobby. They are low maintenance and keep me in fresh eggs year-round. And, they could care less if the natural gas or electricity is flowing.
Raising backyard chickens to be a very fun and productive hobby. They are low maintenance and keep you in fresh eggs year-round.
Food Storage Option # 6: Mix & Match
One of Creek’s storage shelves.
Mix and match the above options for a very well rounded food storage solution. Other great food storage options include rice, dry cereal and granola, powdered milk, energy bars, and beef jerky. Your food storage doesn’t have to look like a well-organized grocery store shelf like you see on those prepper TV shows. It can be crazy-looking like this picture of one of my storage shelves above.
What About My Refrigerator and Freezer?
Well, unless you have solar, hydro or wind power (which most people don’t), you’d better start eating the stuff in your refrigerator and freezer first. If it’s below 40 degrees outside you can just put the contents on your back porch. Or, you can pick up a generator for a few hundred bucks. If you choose to buy a generator you will also need to consider fuel storage. I do have a back-up generator to run my refrigerator and power a few miscellaneous electronics. I’ve found that running a generator in a “2 hours on – 4 hours off" cycle makes best use of fuel. Keep a thermometer in your fridge. If it rises above 40 degrees for more than 2 hours then throw any perishable food away.
Other Emergency Food Storage Tips:
- Do you have a manual can opener? Get one!
- Don’t forget your special dietary needs.
- Infants? Stock up on powdered formula.
- Pets? They need food too.
Action Steps:
- Choose a food storage solution (or combination)
- Start building your stockpile
- Routinely check expiration dates and rotate in new stock when necessary
First Aid
You may not be able to leave your house. Hospitals and pharmacies may not be open. Heck, medical supplies may not even be delivered to your area for a few days.
The most important facet of this category is prescription medicines. If you or a loved one is dependent on some kind of medicine then you need to have enough on hand to get you through a short-term Bug In disaster. Explain to your doctor that you are preparing an emergency kit and you would like to have an extra refill for that kit. If he/she denies you, I’d say get a new doctor who is like-minded in these matters. These medicines need to be monitored and rotated just like food.
In addition to prescription meds, you need to beef up your first aid preps as well, and even consider taking a local first aid course through the Red Cross. I own an emergency first aid kit from Alaska-based MedCall Assist and it’s the best I’ve seen. If you build your own I’d suggest using their kit as a guide. It is a very thorough and well-thought-out disaster preparedness medical kit.
Other tips for first aid issues:
- Does anyone have severe allergies? Do you have an EpiPen?
- Pets? Do they have medications?
- Don’t forget extra contacts/eye-glasses/solution.
Action Steps:
- Get some back-stock on important medications – have a conversation with your doctor
- Beef up your first aid supplies
- Consider taking a basic first aid course from the Red Cross
Self-Defense
Disasters create abnormal circumstances. First responders (and public safety) are always overwhelmed. Response times are always delayed. 911 is always inundated with calls. Phone and internet services (land and cell) are often interrupted. Disasters can drive good people to do things they would not normally do. Disasters also have a tendency to embolden and empower existing criminals as well.
The importance of self-defense is often overlooked in disaster preparation. Unfortunately, it is an aspect that must be considered. Violent crimes increase during large-scale disasters. Some people further exploit disaster victims under the cloak of chaos and disorder. Whether driven by desperation or greed, it is the darkest side to every disaster.
Self-defense comes down to two basic categories: Home Security & Self-Defense Tools and Training
Home Security
Simple and inexpensive upgrades to your home’s security can be very effective in preventing successful break-ins during disaster scenarios. A few basic upgrades can include:
- Solid metal or wood doors – no decorative glass.
- Dead-bolt on every outside door.
- Consider an inside mounted door bar for added security.
- “Beware of Dog" sign even if you just have a cat or goldfish. Criminals are looking for easy targets.
- Upgraded door hardware with deep-set 3" screws.
- Exterior motion lights (solar-powered) – front and back.
- ‘Defensive’ rose bushes below each ground-level window.
- Upgraded window locks / cut wood-block stoppers for inside.
- Well-advertised video alarm system – whether you have one or not.
Self-Defense Tools & Training
Guns are the obvious home defense weapon. The type is a personal choice. I prefer shotguns. Regardless of what type of gun you choose to own, it can be more of a liability than an asset if you don’t know how to use it. Firearms training and practice are crucial elements to gun ownership and effective self-defense. Other inferior self-defense tools include pepper spray and stun guns.
Action Steps:
- Make necessary upgrades to home security
- Decide on a home self-defense weapon
- Train and practice with your weapon of choice
- You can’t shoot without ammunition
Two Things Many People Forget
1. Know how to turn off your utilities. Disasters have a way of damaging electrical lines/circuits, gas lines, and water lines. If yours are affected you may need to turn them off. The crawl space in my house once filled with water during a large-scale flood. I had to shut off the electricity to my house to prevent a very dangerous situation. Make sure you have the proper tools (and knowledge) to quickly and safely disconnect all of your utilities.
2. Disasters can also affect sewage systems and trash removal. When that flood I mentioned happened, I could not flush my toilet. The flood water had completely filled my septic tank. Store extra heavy-duty trash bags to contain human waste and trash just in case. It’s important to maintain a very sanitary bug-in environment. A 5-gallon bucket lined with a trash bag makes a suitable makeshift toilet.
Conclusion
There are many facets to consider when preparing for a potential Bug In. While this is not an exhaustive list, it is a great place to start. There are countless people on the East Coast right now wishing they had prepared just the basic necessities for the uncertain days or even weeks ahead. This is the unfortunate truth after every disaster – regardless of type, size, or location. As of this writing over 4 million people are still without power from Hurricane/Storm Sandy, and some may not have it restored for another ten days. It’s easy to let life get in the way of preparing for the future. Ironically, though, our future is shaped by the things we do (or don’t do) today.
Remember, it’s not IF but WHEN.
Creek Stewart
____________________
Creek Stewart is a Senior Instructor at the Willow Haven Outdoor School for Survival, Preparedness & Bushcraft. Creek’s passion is teaching, sharing, and preserving outdoor living and survival skills. Creek is also the author of the book Build the Perfect Bug Out Bag: Your 72-Hour Disaster Survival Kit. For more information, visit Willowhaven Outdoor.
{ 98 comments… read them below or add one }
- 1HalNovember 1, 2012 at 10:32 pm
Yes but you need to be careful with fuel heaters and generators. The exhaust / burnt fuel will produce Carbon Monoxide that can kill just as bad as a storm could. Ventilate your generator and have a fresh air system / vent for your burners.
Camping stoves should be fine if you use them only once and a while.
- 2MikeNovember 1, 2012 at 10:51 pm
Zombie Squad (http://zombiehunters.org/index.php) is a good resource for this kind of info, and the forums have a lot of friendly folks offering advice on disaster preparation.
Don’t be fooled by the zombie schtick, either – as they say, if you’re ready for the zombie apocalypse, you’ll be ready for a pesky tornado, hurricane, or other natural disaster.
- 3CaseyNovember 2, 2012 at 12:07 am
I enjoyed the action steps. Having that clear concise “do this now" was really helpful.
- 4G.M. SchooleyNovember 2, 2012 at 2:01 am
Great article! I have learned much from the folks over at http://www.survivalistboards.com
similar info here!- 5SplashmanNovember 2, 2012 at 4:49 am
Great article, thank you.
I live in the Seattle area, where the only real threat of natural disaster is an earthquake — an unpredictable but no less real threat. I am slowly (as finances allow) working on an emergency stockpile, and this article gave me several good ideas, especially re: fire & cooking.
I’ll second the author’s exhortation to get first-aid training (and I don’t mean only CPR). I took a course through a local community college; it was the best and most useful class I’ve ever taken on any subject. One fringe benefit is that the notion of dealing with a life-threatening injury doesn’t completely freak me out now.
- 6Ming BucibeiNovember 2, 2012 at 5:28 am
Beware unverted heaters carry hight risk of CO poisonig as do unvented generators!!
Bulk dried beans, rice and corn, etc…long storage like store in vermin proof containers.
Ming Bucibei
- 7MattNovember 2, 2012 at 6:15 am
As a resident of NJ who just recently got power back after Sandy, I only wish this article had been distributed to the rest of the state a few weeks ago. I had/have most of the items on this list handy, and was able to fare a few days power-free with my wife and son without any issue. Neighbors helping anyone who was less prepared is how the rest got through it safely. So many people here believed that a true disaster could never affect them, and now that it has, they are unprepared and confused as to why they aren’t on the top of the list to have their power / water restored. It never ceases to amaze how reliant we are on our utilities and how quickly we crumble without them. Here’s hoping everyone can be this prepared in the future, and makes it safely through this disaster.
- 8MattNovember 2, 2012 at 6:22 am
The other consideration may be tools you will need in a long term survival situation. A chainsaw, axe, hatchet, handsaw, etc. can be essential tools to collect firewood or clear fallen trees that present a danger to your shelter. A small toolbox to keep all those heaters, stoves, and generators running is always a good idea as well.
- 9NoelNovember 2, 2012 at 6:58 am
Important thing to remember: Make sure you have at least one battery-powered CO (Carbon Monoxide) detector handy before you use ANY of the emergency heat options suggested above. AND MAKE SURE IT WORKS!!
I live in Maine, and every time the power’s out for more than a couple days it seems like there’s an article in the news about somebody who died because their heater pumped their house full of CO, or their house burned down around them, and their detector had no batteries.- 10MNovember 2, 2012 at 7:14 am
Take care with using portable heaters indoors – if not properly vented, they could kill you. Carbon monoxide and other gases can be deadly. Elderly, children, and sick people should be especially careful. Never use camping stoves without fresh air ventilation. Also portable heaters and stoves greatly increase risks of burns and fires. Keep fire extinguishers and first aid kits handy. Be prepared.
- 11W. Scott Hannon, Esq.November 2, 2012 at 8:42 am
Your website continues to impress me. At first I thought it might be a bit boy-scout-esque and not very useful, but after following its articles for awhile now, I recommend it to my brothers at my Masons lodge, and continue to peruse it for new ideas I might have missed myself. As a former Marine officer and combat veteran, I can tell you that I know much thought is put into every recommendation you make in all your articles. Young men in this day and age would be well served to read your site and at least think about your recommendations. There is no more stark example of “manliness" than a man being able to survive and thrive under all circumstances – be it dressing appropriately for any situation to being ready for natural and man-made disasters. Keep up the good work!
- 12Ben ThompsonNovember 2, 2012 at 9:20 am
Thanks for posting. I thought I was somewhat ready to “bug in" but now I see I am now where near actually being ready. This will be remedied soon.
- 13Bruce WilliamsonNovember 2, 2012 at 9:30 am
We don’t have long power outages but we have frequent outages. Usually during strong storms and at night. We use light sticks for lighting areas like the bathroom. Your eyes adjust to the darkness and become sensitive enough that the light from one stick will enable you to see well enough to move around a room.
- 14JTNovember 2, 2012 at 9:35 am
Very good article.
- 15ChrisNovember 2, 2012 at 9:54 am
Good information. I started “Prepping" about 4 years ago. In both of my “Bug out bags" is a copy of the FM 21-76 ARMY SURVIVAL MANUAL. Here is the link to the free manual:
http://www.ar15.com/content/manuals/FM21-76_SurvivalManual.pdf
Still looking for it on waterproof paper… I’m not saying you should just print this out and relax – you need to have prepared – just as this article describes – but this manual shows you everything from what plants you can and cannot eat to traping techniques to weapons making, first aid, psychological survival (which most people overlook!) and everything else you can imagine. It also contains a ton of information on things you probably did not think of as well. I also thought of my wife and kids when I printed it out, because, although I believe I am prepared, there is a chance something could happen to me and they may have to survive on their own.Anyway – great article!
- 16Iron GhostNovember 2, 2012 at 10:44 am
Good article! Also I have modified regular 220 and 228 model coleman lanterns to run on e10 87 octane gasoline without clogging, instead of coleman fuel (white gas, naptha). They will still run on Coleman as well, and do it allot better. I’ve run 3-4 tanks through each lantern without a hitch so far, where as 1/2 a tank of gasoline would clog the generator in the original design. It’s easy, anyone that wants to know how, give me a shout. Also in freezing conditions, if you loose power, you must turn off the water to your building/house, and open a faucet outside and let the pipes drain, otherwise when it warms up the next day or a few days later, you’ll be flooded by broken pipes.
- 17CherylNovember 2, 2012 at 11:04 am
As always, EXCELLENT info, Creek. Good refresher ‘course’, plus reminds me of things I need to update in my preps. Shared with my loved ones.
- 18Ryan GrimmNovember 2, 2012 at 11:05 am
Some Caveats:
Kerosene heaters are illegal in Massachusetts. Just sayin’…that ‘Kleen-Heat’ is the best if not cheapest fuel…odorless, and also great for oil lamps….see more below on lamp fuels.That little propane heater can be adapted to run on 20 or 100 pound bulk tanks. Not to mention, a hell of a lot cheaper to operate…
Oil lamps are a safe and bright alternative for both light AND heat. Use the aforementioned Kleen-Heat for fuel…and the best lamp, albeit priciy initially, is an ALADDIN oil lamp…get spare mantles, one spare wick, and a spare chimney or two.
TWO GREAT sites for oil lamp info and parts are:
http://www.milesstair.com/
They have the most info on wicks, and the best selection.
Also see what they have related to Tubular Wick lamps and fuels….you’d be surprised.http://www.oillampparts.com/
Another great source of parts and advice.I restore and sell oil lamps…sorry, no web page up yet.
- 19GaryNovember 2, 2012 at 11:17 am
We keep an emergency cash fund on site-all small bills. Cash is still king when disasters hit.
- 20RichardNovember 2, 2012 at 11:22 am
To your supplies I recommend add some tarps of plastic sheeting. Many of the natural disaster that would require you to bug-in could involve high winds or ground movement both could affect your structure. For a broken window or damage to your roof a sheet of plastic or tarp comes in very handy. I keep 3 8×10 traps and a larger 20×40. A positive mind set .. think of it as camping and enjoy.
- 21ShanonNovember 2, 2012 at 11:34 am
I’m mostly prepared and am grateful for your posts. I wanted to bring up a few things I didn’t see mentioned. Stock up on dry beans and peas. These are cheap and easy and store for years. Don’t count on being able to hunt for food. Game animals get scarce. After the mine closed in Leadville CO, hungry miners ate all the available game in just a few months and deer, elk, etc. took years to return. The last thing I want to mention is to build a simple solar water purifier to purify saltwater or silty, river or creek water. I’ve seen them in action and a 1 1/2 ft by 8ft purifier can produce gallons of clean water on a sunny day. I did a quick search for a link, there are few methods, but none that I like as much as the one I have in mind. I’ll see what I can find later to share.
Thanks again for your dedicated work. Hope this helps.- 22Mike KeyNovember 2, 2012 at 12:36 pm
Great article and timely advice considering all the horribly unprepared people who are now starving and without power or fuel in NY.
- 23DavidNovember 2, 2012 at 12:44 pm
Would there be carbon monoxide concerns with those kerosene heaters when used indoors?
- 24MikeNovember 2, 2012 at 1:01 pm
Do not forget, if you are using any type of open flame to heat indoors you need to consider ventilation to prevent a potentially lethal situation. Kerosene and propane heaters are great- but they need a cracked window or some type of air exchange or you will eventually smother yourself. Properly installed fireplaces and wood stoves are vented by design.
- 25bigWOWONovember 2, 2012 at 1:32 pm
Creek,
I enjoyed your blog post.
One thing I would say though–not for me, but for other people–is that some of the solutions above, especially those for cooking food, should be explicitly and conspicuously marked with a big warning: “OUTDOOR USE ONLY" I unfortunately have read of too many people barbecuing indoors, only to succumb to carbon monoxide poisoning.
- 26John WaldronNovember 2, 2012 at 2:07 pm
GREAT article! As an Eagle Scout and US military vet, I would like to add one thing. The BEST survival tool in the world is your MIND and the ATTITUDE that you MUST have to survive.
- 27Bill GNovember 2, 2012 at 3:21 pm
Excellent article. My two cents: You evacuate when you are told to evacuate. You prepare when you are told to prepare. Hurricane Sandy (and last year’s Irene) has taught me (I live in NJ) one important lesson – even though you’ve “prepped", don’t wait till you are down to your last bottle of water, can of beans, or gallon of gas to work on getting more. All of these things are available – but everyone waits till they’re desperate then PANIC.
- 28Mike Y.November 2, 2012 at 3:30 pm
Great article! I follow most of these advice already. My skills were put to the test here in North East. We had no power for 3 days.
I will second the other Mike. Zombie Squad forum is very much in line with this blog. You can get a ton of additional information on the topic there.
http://zombiehunters.org/forum/- 29RobNovember 2, 2012 at 3:40 pm
One thing I think should be included in disaster/ apocalypse/ bug out prep is Liquor! Some cheap scotch or whiskey has many uses that people don’t really think about. In dire situations it can disinfect wounds, you can use it to cook, use it for trade(in cases of the apocalypse), use it to help yourself sleep, help keep you warm, etc…
I am open to critique! Let me know what you guys think!
- 30PracticeNovember 2, 2012 at 3:46 pm
Just noticed that “Build the Perfect Bug Out Bag: Your 72-Hour Disaster Survival Kit" by Creek Stewart is part of this month’s Amazon’s collection of 100 Kindle books for $3.99 or less.
- 31Keegan Elliot FonteNovember 2, 2012 at 4:09 pm
I would really like to see a link to an article written about canning if that is the way that we decide to go for food storage. I live in NYC and belong to a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) which delivers organic vegetables weekly. I never seem to be able to eat all of them before the next delivery(although my girlfriend and I try REALLY hard to do so) and I would love to can the leftovers in the meantime. Any suggestions Brett?
- 32GratefulPrepperNovember 2, 2012 at 5:27 pm
Regarding your deep FREEZERS… I have stored gallon jugs of drinking water in the freezer so that in the event of a power outage, I can move these jugs around in there to keep things cool at least for a little while, or even use them in a cooler to temporarily keep meats and such. When the jugs thaw, they will provide us with gallons of pure drinking water. I agree we need to begin consuming what is in the freezer and only use it for short term storage. I have taken to thawing out the vegetables, draining them, then dehydrating them. Since they are already blanched before they were frozen, it is an easy task which is helping to reduce the inventory in our freezer.
- 33Patrick BuechnerNovember 2, 2012 at 5:35 pm
Because we live in the San Francisco Bay area, we’re concerned with the water and SEWAGE system being offline in a big quake. So I would add an emergency toilet to the list. You can find toilet seat attachments for 5 gallon drums online. Add strong plastic bags and sawdust or kitty litter.
- 34Chris ThompsonNovember 2, 2012 at 7:32 pm
Good article. I would like to add Cyalume brand glowsticks to the list. They have no flame, and are non-toxic. We snapped two each night this past week after Sandy knocked out our power. One went to bed with our five year old son. The other was placed in the hallway of our house. They provided more than enough light to navigate by.
- 35DebbieNovember 2, 2012 at 10:05 pm
Great Article. In light of the country’s recent natural disaster hopefully people are realizing that we all need some type of emergency or survival kits. Every house hold in America should have on a minimum one 72 hour kit per person in their household. When this task is done each family should store enough water for a week and at least 2 weeks to 3 months worth of food to survive on.
- 36Erin GraceNovember 3, 2012 at 12:53 am
Great article as always, Creek! Although it’s slow going, I’ve been working on both Bug-Out and Bug-In solutions since your BoB article last year, and I’m proud to say that I’ve amassed reasonable kits for both! Although it’s slow going if you want to do it cheap, it’s worth it for the peace of mind.
- 37BradleyNovember 3, 2012 at 7:19 am
@ Rob, re: Liquor.
Rob, my uncle is a retired Army Col., and a serious prepper. I trust his advice. He says that liquor will be a top currency in any serious disaster since it’ll pull double duty as a moral booster and an antiseptic. You’re spot on!- 38KateNovember 3, 2012 at 7:20 am
@Keegan Elliot Fonte: One great canning site I recommend is http://www.foodinjars.com/ From there you’ll find lots of great ideas as wellas links to other sites. Happy canning!
- 39BradleyNovember 3, 2012 at 7:20 am
Oops! I meant morale booster. I don’t know if alcohol has ever been a moral booster. My bad.
- 40J SNovember 3, 2012 at 8:14 am
Standard water jugs, like the one gallon ‘milk’ jug and the rectangular countertop 2.5 gallon containers often don’t last a year before they spring a leak and empty themselves. So keep watch of them to ensure you have the water you think you do .. and don’t store them over top of your dried goods.
- 41Native SonNovember 3, 2012 at 10:00 am
A couple of cationary notes on the kerosene & propane heaters and the gasoline fueled generators.
Virtually every kerosene and propane heater I’ve seen is clearly labelled “not for indoor use" because of the carbon monoxide threat.
Gasoline generators have two issues. First you have to keep the exhaust out of the living space. A recent news article reported some folks had been killed by the carbon monoxide from their generator. They’d put the thing out in their garage and run it there. Unfortunately, the garage had some vent connection with the house (per the article, they were separated by a breezeway) and the CO got into the house, apparently via the attic.
Second, modern gasoline is quite iffy concerning “shelf life" in the mall quantities one would have on hand for a week or two’sworth of running the generator. Also, the stuff is ntorious (at least in California) for gumming up small engine carburettors to the point of the engine not running. Not the best thing to discover when you need the generator. Although fuel stablizer helps, the local small engine repair shop advises not storing gasoline longer than two weeks. Their advice is after that, put it in the car, and refill the gas can with fresh fuel. quantitiesbeyond- 42SteveNovember 3, 2012 at 1:05 pm
Just a reminder that almost everyone has a ready-made generator–your car.
You can buy an inverter cable kit for about $50-60 that plugs into your cigaret lighter and gives AC output. That, along with an extension cord can provide power for some basic items.- 43Ray SalomoneNovember 3, 2012 at 5:09 pm
I’m a former special ops soldier who just made it through the hurricane. We live on the Hudson River. I made the decision to stay where we were based on my experience and all available info. But I monitored the situation closely and had a Plan B and C and D ready to roll.
- 44MartinNovember 3, 2012 at 6:41 pm
Thank you for the great article!
May I suggest a German made Fissler pressure cooker? This is not for canning, but for cooking. Stainless Steel!
Gets to steam fast; after that, tiny heat under it is all you need. Great for meats, grains, and veggies. Highly efficient use of fuel, and perfect for rocket stove.- 45CraigNovember 3, 2012 at 9:44 pm
Good article but incomplete. As I prepare I focus on these 12 items (not necessarily in this order):
1. Cash or bartering assets
2. Security
3. Housing
4. Heat/cooling
5. Water
6. Food
7. Garbage
8. Sewage
9. Health Care
10. Transportation
11. Communication
12. PowerMost of these were covered well. It would be nice to see a write up on the others.
- 46NicoleKNovember 4, 2012 at 2:39 am
Why don’t American homes, as a rule, not have functional shutters? I live in Switzerland and almost all the homes have them, either the ones that close over your window like a door and hook shut, or the ones that roll down like blinds. They keep in heat, and keep out burglars. Many families close all the shutters every night. We shutter rooms like the guest room when we don’t have guests to save heat.
Forget blanketing your windows. Consider getting shutters. Real ones.
- 47Rob KNovember 4, 2012 at 8:11 pm
Great article. A couple of notes. Many of us live south of the Mason-Dixon line. Heat, not cold is the problem. Tarps for roof repair can also be shade outside a badly damaged house. A family sized tent allows you to bug out as far as your own yard if the house is unsafe (or just too hot)
Besides water, sports drinks are not that costly, take up the same amount of space, and provide much needed nutrients when working in the heat.
Our gas grille (bought after Katrina) has a side burner that makes it much more useful, think coffee, scrambled eggs, boiling water, soups, etc
- 48NancyNovember 4, 2012 at 8:53 pm
You can also bring your solar pathway lights indoors to light up the house at night and recharge during the day (if the sun shines, that is)
- 49J. DelancyNovember 4, 2012 at 9:27 pm
Good article but it missed a really important item. Radio.
Here in The Bahamas we still depend on a National Radio Station to give us updates on the movement of storms, how powerful they are and the ‘all clear’. Even though the government can’t get to us during times of emergency they can keep us informed. I’m sure that is the case in most parts of the world.Get a AM/FM radio.
- 50JonnyNovember 4, 2012 at 10:49 pm
http://www.emergencyfoodstorage.co.uk if you’re in the UK or Europe.
- 51Jonny GibaudNovember 4, 2012 at 10:55 pm
http://www.emergencyfoodstorage.co.uk if you are in the UK or Europe.
- 52CDSNovember 5, 2012 at 8:53 am
One step my family also takes is to fill the bathtubs with water so that we can still have a modicum of toilet functionality if the water lines leading to the house stop flowing.
We also use GratefulPrepper’s freezing ice technique on a smaller scale and use ice in sandwich bags or frozen water bottles to help keep the freezer and refrigerator as cool as we can. Having small bags of ice means that we can remove it in small amounts if necessary after going to the store. (Our main threat is hurricanes, so we usually have time to prepare both generally for the season and for a specific storm.)
- 53Kevin T.November 5, 2012 at 10:16 am
I’d also add to the list a section on communications. Having a solar or hand cranked Am/FM/Weather radio is a must. I would also consider adding a CB / Ham radio to the mix as well.
- 54DennisNovember 5, 2012 at 11:20 am
I have a propane indoor heater. It has 2 safety features. One is if the heater falls over, it will shut off automatically and the other if it detects too little oxygen. I used it during Sandy when our power was out and it heated my living room and dining room area 4 degrees in 2 hours. I also purchased a unit which fills your small canisters of propane from your 20lb tank. It cost about 20.00 but I could not get the small canisters at any of the usual home hardware stores or sporting good stores.
- 55LexingtonNCNovember 6, 2012 at 12:28 am
Drying food is one way to stockpile shelf-stable food.
My wife was pretty excited tonight when she nibbled some 7 year old apple sections we had in the cupboard. Amazed, actually. Fruits, vegetables, meats, soups and snacks can all be dried years in advance of need and are unaffected by heat (if you can take it, they can take it), cold, loss of power.
Dried food is also 1) nutritious, 2) calorie dense (important when under stress) and lightweight — in case your plans to bug-in don’t work out.
Drying is not some sort of magic wand, but it is a very worthwhile arrow in your preparedness quiver.
- 56Jude MontarsiNovember 6, 2012 at 3:22 am
Very well written and illustrated page. “Survival for Dummies". Useful primer, good product suggestions and links.
- 57EdohausNovember 6, 2012 at 5:37 am
Seen Doom’s day preppers on Discovery Channel, what bothers me more is that not all people have their own houses. Some live in apartment buildings. Guys have any idea for this type of scenario?
- 58WhoWuddaThunkItNovember 6, 2012 at 10:24 am
Good Article, I would like to follow up with a few added suggestions and cautions.
Burning a candle in a car, seems creative, but can also deplete oxygen in the car as well as it is an open flame and be sure not to fall asleep.. or occasionally open a window for fresh air and let out the moisture. Wet and cold is not good.
The Freeze Dried Food WISE Brand is nasty tasting, so buy some samples before buying in bulk. I recommend Mt House for sure. Its excellent. Wise food contains a lot of salt, some as much as 300% of the daily intake so if you want a heart attack, then sure buy WISE. LOL MRE’s are good, but weigh more than MT House if you need to carry food out for a bug out.
For canned and other food storage, write the expiration date in large bold print like with a Sharpie on the item like the top of the can. Like 9/16.. Thus insures proper rotation and keep food categories according to date, not by type so you eat the soon to expire food first.
RE: Household Bleach to purify water – Clorox has many varieties, and I suggest the COLD WATER Bleach as it has the right amount of (4-6% sodium hypochlorite) Many of the other types do not have this percentage of NA HCL.
In your bug out bag, keep a Paper list of phone numbers, as your cell phone battery may die and many people cannot remember a phone number like in the old days when we dialed. Also keep a PAPER Country map of your area, if you need to bug out or go in search of an alternative water source; Ponds creeks, rivers etc.
For Self Defense – Forget 911 – it already takes 15 mins to an hour for them to arrive to take a report after the fact, take care of Biz yourself. Stock up on heavy duty trashbags, rubber gloves, bleach and a shovel to dispose of the debris.
Collecting and storing rain water to use as Toilet flushing is perfect, and can be used as a back up for drinking water with some COLD Water Bleach sanitizing.
Good Luck out there everyone!!
- 59Jason B.November 6, 2012 at 10:39 am
Three days before the hurricane, I went to the grocery store and saw people buying all the water and bread off the shelves. I went not to purchase food but just to watch the craziness. The lines were tremendous. My wife and I are from GA and live in DC. We’ve been days without power on many occasions and know how to get through. After hearing about a lady who bought multiple gallons of water so her family could take a shower, I decided to make this video to help people get in the right frame of mind.
- 60cherrylNovember 6, 2012 at 11:50 am
My emergency supplies keep getting raided
( mostly by my husband). So instead of tarps, I bought a bunch of pink shower curtain liners from the dollar store. Pink twine and rope as well. The dollar store is a great resource.- 61QuigathNovember 6, 2012 at 12:17 pm
That’s a little overkill on storing water in 2-liter bottles. Not the amount, just the method. If they’ve been properly sanitized as described, and filled with municipal water that’s been chlorinated already, 2-liter water bottles should last in a dark place for 3-5 years not just 1 year, without needing to be changed. You only need to change the water if it gets algae or bacteria. Also, everything’s been sterilized previously so you don’t need to add bleach to each bottle, spare your body the toxicity bad taste when you eventually need to drink that stuff.
I like the ideas for fire and using a wood stove or backyard fire pit. I saw an instruction for a diy rocket stove recently (there are many).
For home defense last year I cut 1″x1.5″ wood sticks to block all sliding windows. I also painted them white to match the window frames.
Anyone have recommendations for “Exterior motion lights (solar-powered) – front and back."? I bought one from Lowes last year for $50 but took it back before installing; it seemed too cheap to do the job.- 62hbgNovember 6, 2012 at 8:17 pm
Great idea in regards to the toilet. How many people have bought homebrew beer kits, and no longer use them?
- 63RobNovember 7, 2012 at 7:17 pm
Something else I found looking into MRE’s and stuff are these survival tabs. Apparently you can survive for a month or two just eating 12 tabs a day provided you have water.
- 64HughNovember 7, 2012 at 8:48 pm
Great article! One suggestion, though: a good AF/FM radio, preferably with a hand-cranking option, and/or spare batteries. Also, a back-up battery (or 2) for your cell phone.
- 65frank gucciardoNovember 8, 2012 at 9:22 am
I am living in the middle of Sandy here on Long Island and have been traveling into the hardest hit area where whole blocks have burned to the ground because of a blown transformer. 99.9% of Long Island was not prepared in any shape…we just got 6″ of snow last night and the power is still off in the hardest hit sections.. Flat out bad deal.
- 66frank gucciardoNovember 8, 2012 at 9:26 am
I should say that I have been traveling into the hardest hit areas with my Church to help those folks who don’t see any hope. Cleaning up, encouraging…doing our part as Americans and doing our part as the Church.
- 67AlanNovember 11, 2012 at 9:26 pm
“A 55-gallon rain barrel used to collect water from your gutters is really easy to install and only costs about $100. You can make your own for even cheaper."
Warning — if you collect rainwater from your roof, etc. be aware that the water being produced is not immediately usable for drinking, even if filtered to remove the “big chunks".
Remember that many types of animals leave droppings on your roof and by collecting water into a large, often warm in the summer, dark collection point, you are creating a incubator for bacteria, mold and parasites.
Be careful.
- 68habibNovember 13, 2012 at 2:52 am
Does anyone have any recommendations on a Solar powered motion light that actually works decently well.
- 69RichardNovember 19, 2012 at 3:24 pm
(not the Richard of Post #20)
Funny how I’m reminded of all the Civil Defense films and preparedness drills of the 50s… maybe it’s time to revive them?
Anyway, do not under any circumstances forget a manual can opener! All the canned foods in the world can’t help you if you don’t have power for your electric can opener…
- 70ValNovember 19, 2012 at 4:52 pm
Having read this article and the Bug-Out Bag article, I would be interested to read a piece on preparedness specifically geared towards families. Like what kind of equipment you might need if you’ve got kids with you and how to prepare children to be safe and helpful in an emergency. The burden mostly falls on Dad, it seems, but some guidelines on getting the entire family ready would be a great read.
- 71ETNovember 25, 2012 at 5:18 pm
Violent crimes increase during large-scale disasters.
Do you have stats to back this claim up? What happened with Sandy?
- 72StevenNovember 27, 2012 at 11:57 am
This is important information. As a Californian, we’re always reminded to have preparations ready for “the big one."
But I’m just wondering one thing. The author is suggesting we should build up our supplies to last over a full year. What kind of emergency is the author preparing for? Even in Haiti, one of the poorest nations in the world with a barely operating government, didn’t need a full year’s supply of goods after the entire nation collapsed after the earthquake.
It seems overboard to prepare for more than a couple months, and then only in climates that would be shut off for a few months from the outside world.
Unless you really are preparing for a zombie apocalypse, a year seems too long. And if it is a zombie apocalypse,a year is too short.
- 73RenaDecember 1, 2012 at 4:39 pm
thanks for showing the photo of one of your storage shelves. You’re right, a pantry doesn’t have to look like the well organized grocery store shelf, and now I can quit telling myself that I must re-organize the cellar asap.
I’d also like to comment on the lady who purchased the pink shower curtain liners so that her husband will stay out of her stash. A flimsy shower curtain liner from the dollar store is a far cry from a good tarp or heavy plastic sheeting.
On a different note, have you thought about challenging your readers to put their preparedness to the test? My husband and I (the teens are not as willing) are getting ready to challenge ourselves with a 48 hour grid-down weekend. We’ll shut it all off on Friday after work and learn where we’re lacking. I’m sure we will have a long list of to-do’s afterward.- 74Kristi JDecember 3, 2012 at 3:29 am
@Steven…Disaster doesn’t always mean a storm or quake or flooding, etc. It could also mean a personal or financial disaster where one loses their job, etc. I know of several people in my church who have been through this and the year’s worth of preparations were quite the blessing for them as they did not want to be dependent on any one else for help.
- 75Greg MDecember 5, 2012 at 8:03 pm
Please also keep in mind legalities in your preps. For example, the pic above shows prescriptions in plain bags. In some states, it’s required that you keep prescriptions in the pharmacy bottles marked with the physician’s name and person who it’s prescribed to. In the same sense of keeping things marked, keep your concealed carry permit, ID’s, ALL account numbers (we needed our Verizon FIOS, LIPA and insurance policy numbers for Sandy) should also be handy.
And be ready to chase people out of your neighborhood. I had to do this with a guy casing the block’s generators.
- 76GreatAmericanRedoubtDecember 6, 2012 at 2:26 pm
Great artical ……if you live 50+ miles away from the smallest town in your county.
Realistically, in a grid down situation after the stores are all looted, and unprepared people (97% of the population) your odds of survival “bugging in" depleat drastically, as each hour passes.I am your neighbor whom you randomly wave to on occasion. You do not know me.
I own guns. My wife is addicted to pain killers, i drink, my kids drink and smoke pot. So do my friends. We pay our house payment, buy cars, have a 401k..and a little money in the bank.
We are aware that something is going to happen. So we bought some bottled water and top ramen just is case.One week after grid down, most of my friends have come to stay at my house and brought what little they had with them…..including guns and ammo.
Three weeks after grid down. I am out of food. My wife is in withdrawls the kids are driving me crazy. I am out of food, water….and dying for a drink and cigarette …..
Getting mad and hungry….me and my armed friends decide to go hunting….something we never have done before…..not knowing where to go and not realizing that every other real hunter has desimated the local populations of deer and elk and other small game….after two days of looking, Our group of six make adults. Admits the truth. Were screwed …..really were are
…knowing the women are at home trying to tend to the childrens needs….with nothing….were even more screwed….."hey….its the rich peoples fault"…
Isnt it?….one of our group proclaimed….yeah…..everyone is hungry…wants some booze and decided that the rich people can spare some food….booze and some pain killers…..its there fault that this all happened…..and that is how simple it could start…next thing you know….we are a group of cunning, non-caring , no remorse, group of men, looting…..killing…..raping….house to house…burning you out….taking what you have….because we are entitled too it……right….STILL WANT TO BUG IN?
If I had to…..say during the dead of winter…..I would consider it only as a last resort.
Otherwise i would want to stay as far away from the hordes of looters as I could..This is all food for thought.
- 77StephanieDecember 6, 2012 at 2:40 pm
To the author, Where in Indiana do you live? I am in Valpo on a up and coming permaculture farm.
- 78ScottDecember 13, 2012 at 7:58 pm
I’d love to know where the author can find a kerosene heater “for just over $100″. The model in the picture is three hundred, and the cheapest I’ve found is $250.
- 79MJDecember 19, 2012 at 12:47 pm
Excellent article. The best time to buy a kerosene heater is in the spring. I would add quality candles to your list. We lost power for 27 hours one summer and got by very well with long lasting candles.
- 80Weldon H. MetalDecember 26, 2012 at 11:56 pm
@GreatAmericanRedoubt…If there are enough “real" hunters in your area to clear out all the local game then your merry band probably wouldn’t maraud for very long.
Watch CO levels with indoor heaters and never use charcoal to heat a closed space.
- 81JoJanuary 5, 2013 at 12:25 pm
Perhaps invest in this new technology, “Gravity Lights" and then everyone can have kerosene free lighting, and ways to re-charge their batteries.
http://vimeo.com/53588182Also, I see no one has mentioned having cigarettes as barter goods. This was the defacto “currency" on the black market after WW2.
No one has mentioned having solar panels heating their water, or ways to use grey water for their toilets? What about bikes to generate electricity. Find yourself an old copy of Mother Earth news for self-sufficiency ideas.
- 82Zachery J.January 6, 2013 at 1:37 am
I liked the article, my only concern is people adding bleach to their water.
Most municipal and rural water systems add chlorine to their water. Most state require a chlorine residual of 0.5 mg/L (mg per liter) or parts per million. If you use your tap water there is no need to add anymore disinfect to your water. If you are going to add any sodium hypochlorite (bleach) to your water I would highly recommend buying a chlorine test kit. It can be dangerous to add your own bleach. Its very easy to exceed the Maximum Contamination Level (MCL) of chlorine when adding your own bleach. The MCL for chlorine is 4 mg/L.
I tested your instructions with an average size water bottle of 500 mL. I tested with my own municipal water supply, distilled water, and a local well source. To start, I tested the residual of my water samples. I had 2.0 mg/L on my municipal water, and no residual on distilled water or my well water. I placed each sample in a clean 500 mL bottle. I then add 2 drops of 6% bleach to each sample. I then tested each sample. my results were: 6.2 mg/L for my municipal sample; 4.8 mg/L for my distilled sample; and 6.1 mg/L for my well water sample. All my test samples exceed the MCL for chlorine.
I would not recommend adding your who disinfected to your water unless you can test the residual. Their is no need to add any disinfectant to your water if you buy it from a municipality. If you are concerned about the safety of your water, I would recommend buying a water disinfection kit for a camping supply store. An example would be iodine tablets or a filter kit. If you that’s not going to work for you and your have a good source for cooking, then the trusty boil method works: Bring water to a rolling boil for 10 mins. Let cool and then enjoy.
- 83JimJanuary 23, 2013 at 2:31 pm
I liked the article but need something cleared up about the water. The article said to change out your water storage once a year. Is this only if you refill soda bottles and have 55 gallon barrels? I hope it doesn’t mean even store bought water bottles. I have just started “being prepared" a few months so I would appreciate your clarity on this. I have read and been told a couple different positions on stored water. How long is store bought bottled water good for?
Thanks JfromPa- 84T1mFebruary 1, 2013 at 10:18 am
As to food… don’t forget variety.
You might get by for a week on the same MRE everyday, but the rest of the pack won’t.
Nothing will get kids sullen and wives miffed quicker than Eating. the. same. thing. day. after. day.You can spice up the water a bit with things like Kool-aid and other drink powders, and the sugar could be useful, but go easy on it.
In a Grid down/society toes up situation, all your bodies will need to adjust to the sudden change in how you all will be eating.
If the pack is happy, the whole thing will go better.
- 85MattFebruary 24, 2013 at 10:46 pm
This was a great article. Most people think of ‘bugging out’ and the main option, but ‘bugging in’ is a way to ride out whatever is happening until more information becomes available. As a private investigator, I’ve learned that information is crucial. I have a somewhat similar setup, although smaller. One five shelf unit contains freeze-dried food and MREs; another contains canned goods and peanut butter and honey(honey doesn’t expire, and pb contains glucose, a good booster if you’re diabetic or have gone long periods without food); and another contains six five gallon jugs of water along with 12 cases of bottled water. I also keep things like batteries, medication, and hygiene items in small storage boxes. I also have a kerosene heater along with a propane heater, and six bags of charcoal. A wood stove is something I’m considering installing, but my wife is iffy about it for now. We live within city limits, and she doesn’t see the need yet.
- 86SteveMarch 10, 2013 at 9:16 am
Hal is 100% right. You cannot forget to properly ventilate your generator. The carbon monoxide will kill you. Happened to a fellow ironworker who got drunk and decided to sleep in the shanty. brought the generator in and hooked up a heater, died from the exhaust.
- 87jsallisonMarch 27, 2013 at 8:03 pm
two words: toilet paper.
- 88BillApril 10, 2013 at 11:02 pm
IMO, for bugging in I’ll use my Coleman 2-burner Dual-Fuel cook stove. I have 3-4 smaller backpacking stoves, but they’re not what I would enjoy cooking on for more than a few meals. Sure the Coleman’s larger, but who cares if you’re not carrying it anywhere? Plus it is way more stable, has 2 burners, and wind screens. What’s not to love?
Plus it uses the same fuel as my lanterns, and my 1-burner Coleman stove. What’s not to love? :)- 89Eavestroughs TorontoApril 18, 2013 at 2:48 am
I think it is the only blog which differentiate the two things it bugging-in and bugging-out.
- 90steveMay 2, 2013 at 8:03 pm
Lot of fire making stuff but no fire extinguishers/suppression.
- 91celticfiregirlMay 7, 2013 at 9:52 am
This was very helpful. Some good ideas on the food and heat.
- 92Heinz DoofensmirtzMay 12, 2013 at 11:50 pm
Hunting and fishing are low on my list as food sources. In an extended crisis, everybody else will have the same idea. Game will be exhausted or scared away quickly. Many of us in the ‘burbs have “pet" deer. Not so as soon as one gets shot. You must be careful with generators. Most make a lot of noise, and that noise carries quite far when everything else is off, and is a magnet for the unprepared. The Honda and Yamaha inverter units are quiet and fuel efficient (I asked my brother how much gas he has to run his 6500W fuel-hog genny–got a blank stare), but quite expensive. I have a Yamaha tri-fuel unit and love it. It makes waaaay less noise than a lawnmower, and could be run in the garage with the exhaust vented out the ridge vent. Kerosene is a good heat source, and is prertty safe to store. Keep your cans full so there in little room for water condensation.
- 93DianeMay 15, 2013 at 5:47 pm
I am preparing to take my first lessons in canning and would like to know if anyone here has canned meat that has been frozen? We raise our own hogs and steer for meet, and butcher every year. This year I would like to try to can some of the meat left from last year instead of giving it away like I usually do. (Always tried to help out a neighbor that could use it, but would like to keep some for ourselves.) Our freezer won’t hold it all. Also, I now that if disaster would happen, we could lose a great majority of it without another option. Only thing I would add is about water storage. You need water for more than drinking and food prep. I store non drinking water in everything from vinegar and bleach jugs to empty detergent bottles – suds in. Then I can at least wash off and clean up cooking or eating utensils. Thanks and really enjoyed reading.
- 94S27May 28, 2013 at 11:09 pm
Diarrhea medication. Only one website has listed this so far.
Unscented candles, too much perfume is not good for allergies.
Batteries that match your supply of torches, LED candles and Fire Alarms. Check the size and buy a bunch on sale, especially if it’s not a standard size.
Gas bottles to go with your BBQs.
- 95JamesAugust 14, 2013 at 9:52 am
Hey man, great post.
One thing that I found is cheap, handy, and portable is a folding bathtub water bladder. Better storage than just “filling the tub", holds 100 gallons, and it’s portable. With a decent filter system and 12v electric pump, if you have to bug out, you can drop it in your trunk or pickup truck bed, or in the cargo area of a large SUV like a Suburban, too.
http://www.amazon.com/waterBOB-Emergency-Drinking-Storage-Gallons/dp/B001AXLUX2
- 96Victor EasleyAugust 24, 2013 at 1:03 pm
To Grill or BBQ in the city when people are hungry is inviting disaster. That is why dehydrated food and a solar heater to boil water may be the wisest course of action.
- 97E.M.September 4, 2013 at 7:14 pm
This is the updated location of the U.S. Army Survival Manual: http://www.ar15.com/content/webPDF/FM21-76_SurvivalManual.pdf.
Good stuff!
- 98James KearneySeptember 25, 2013 at 5:49 pm
A very thorough post, and a reminder that it’s not that difficult to prep. Having a solid plan for bugging in is the first step. This is a good as any guide I’ve read on the net.
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