Saturday, June 5, 2010

Preparedness 101 - #9

Here's a handy list to keep in mind when working on preparedness efforts.
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100 Items to Disappear First

1. Generators (Good ones cost dearly. Gas storage, risky. 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, for home uses.
5. Lamp Oil, Wicks, Lamps (First Choice: 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 (Urgent Item to obtain.) Any size. Small: HARD CLEAR PLASTIC ONLY - note - food grade if for drinking.
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 this item, longer-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 (Urgent: Small canister use is dangerous without this item)
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, experience; Historic Times)
48. Garbage cans Plastic (great for storage, water, transporting - if with wheels)
49. Men's Hygiene: Shampoo, Toothbrush/paste, Mouthwash/floss, nail clippers, 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, / also Leaders Catalog
81. Roll-on Window Insulation Kit (MANCO)
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 mattress's
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

From a Sarajevo War Survivor:
Experiencing horrible things that can happen in a war - death of parents and
friends, hunger and malnutrition, endless freezing cold, fear, sniper attacks.

1. Stockpiling helps. but you never no how long trouble will last, so locate
near renewable food sources.
2. Living near a well with a manual pump is like being in Eden.
3. After awhile, even gold can lose its luster. But there is no luxury in war
quite like toilet paper. Its surplus value is greater than gold's.
4. If you had to go without one utility, lose electricity - it's the easiest to
do without (unless you're in a very nice climate with no need for heat.)
5. Canned foods are awesome, especially if their contents are tasty without
heating. One of the best things to stockpile is canned gravy - it makes a lot of
the dry unappetizing things you find to eat in war somewhat edible. Only needs
enough heat to "warm", not to cook. It's cheap too, especially if you buy it in
bulk.
6. Bring some books - escapist ones like romance or mysteries become more
valuable as the war continues. Sure, it's great to have a lot of survival
guides, but you'll figure most of that out on your own anyway - trust me, you'll
have a lot of time on your hands.
7. The feeling that you're human can fade pretty fast. I can't tell you how many
people I knew who would have traded a much needed meal for just a little bit of
toothpaste, rouge, soap or cologne. Not much point in fighting if you have to
lose your humanity. These things are morale-builders like nothing else.
8. Slow burning candles and matches, matches, matches

10 comments:

  1. This is a great list. It has things on it that I never would have thought of. Thanks so much for posting it.
    Kelly

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  2. Hello! I just thought I would mention that you can get ridged water containers at Wal-Mart in the Hunting/Camping section. They are about $10 each. They are blue and water grade; 7 gallon containers; each one has a valve on the inside of the screw top that you can turn around when you need to use it. They might be a little less expensive in other areas. We are in North Chicago right now with the Navy and everything is overpriced over here. Not to mention the almost 10% tax rate. :(
    -Pam Arnold

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  3. Save the Canning JarsJune 5, 2010 at 12:59 PM

    Thanks for the preparedness posts. I was able to get 20 BBQ sauces and 20 Ketchups free this week for my long term storage. Planning to can cubed up roasts in beef broth. When needed, will open a jar and heat in a saucepan and run a fork through the tender meat, and add BBQ sauce. Will make hamburger buns from my wheat for a BBQ sandwich, because everyone needs a bit of comfort food or familiar food when times get tough.

    As our family is exploring well hand pumps, I'd like to call attention to a pump we're leaning toward, a Bison made in Maine. If your depth is around 120 ft. or less, you might consider this hand pump. There are some neat videos that explain their product. Here is the link:
    http://www.bisonpumps.com/videos-hand-water-pumps.htm
    Patrice is sort of the Preparedness Cheerleader as we push to get it all done!
    PS: Did you folks see where Hungary is now experiencing financial hard times (like Greece).
    Hungary's difficulty is not helping the Euro. America needs to wake up as we, too, are economically vulnerable.

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  4. Just a note of thanks for all this great information and the opportunity to share our thoughts, ideas and suggestions.

    I was fortunate to have family deep in the Ozarks where there was no power and life was lived as it had been forever: simply, quietly and with great resourcefulness.

    I remember corn-cob baskets and sears catalogs in outhouses, and as a result I never throw away old phone books and if I had a corn field I'd be stashin' cobs. They'd break them in half, scrub-wash them and bleach them out in the sun. And they worked just fine for their essential after-doody duty. Phone book pages do double duty service, and both can be burned for sanitation, whether you have an outhouse or septic tank.

    Baking soda is a superior tooth-cleaning substance, and also makes an excellent substitute for underarm deodorant when used as a dusting powder.

    Liquid paraffin lamp oil is easier to live with than kerosene for some with asthma and other allergies. A little spendy, but well worth it if used frugally and wisely.

    A hand crank coffee grinder and re-usable filter are vital necessities for some. A wise old pharmacist taught me long ago to use coffee to control asthma. It's safer, better, cheaper and rapidly effective.

    A wrist rocket slingshot is a potentially deadly weapon that can be used for protection and hunting. It can be a very effective night time stealth weapon against intruders: no sound, no muzzle flash, no need to be up close to your target. It's an inexpensive thing to buy and with a little practice you will surprise yourself at how accurate they are. Depending on your choice of projectiles (from smooth or jagged rocks up to and including steel arrow points) they are serious business. Buy extra surgical tubing for replacement and don't store in direct sunlight or heat. Handle with care and always practice, practice, practice.

    Books about what grows in your local area are vital. Know what's edible and what's toxic, and how to use them or avoid them, and how to keep your critter out of them. Lots of folks used to die from drinking milk from animals that had eaten toxic plants. Likewise, lots of folks may die of starvation while walking around on a vast amount of edible plants like dandelion, clover, mustard and stinging nettle, just to name a few.

    Thanks again, Patrice and Don, and to everyone who offers their great ideas and valuable info.

    Angelfood McSpade, rainforest dweller.

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  5. This to Save the Jars- That home canned roast beef, add chunky canned tomatoes, onions and Italian seasoning. Heat through, serve over buttered noodles with a tweak of snipped oregano. Aside from the BBQ, this is what I can beef for. We love this dish.

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  6. An old movie with Robert Redford called Jeremiah Johnson has a number of good survival examples in it, but my favorite was once he got the Native Wife. He was going to waste a precious bullet shooting a small ground bird (Pheasant, most likely). She stopped him, crawled close on her knees, and threw a hefty rock. Ta-da! Dinner for the price of a rock!
    The previous poster's comment about the wrist rocket sling shots reminds us about the modern rendition of old tools. If you don't prep with wrist rockets (which I, too, highly recommend) You're going to need to get good with a rock.

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  7. i remember the great ice storm of '93..went without power for three weeks in very cold icy weather..it was treacherous for any kind of travel. we opened a window next to the fireplace and passed the firewood in...cooked everything on the gas grill and wore long johns under the sweat gear.. since that time, i check my list twice a year for such emergency supplies. also, anything homecanned is already cooked so if ya got to, you can just grab a spoon and eat outta the jar (hobo style).

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  8. About water...
    Pending saving enough for our deep well hand pump, we save water in almost everything...non-potable water for flushing toilets goes in empty kitty litter containers, stacked for storage. And of course our 55 gal. rain barrels.. All fruit juice containers get washed and refilled with water, as do most of our glass jars. These provide immediately available drinking water because they don't absorb the plastic taste/smell and I refresh them from time to time. These various containers have all come in really handy during power outages, and were especially valuable when our expensive new well pump (made with off shore components) broke down. The old ones lasted decades, many of the new ones are unreliable. Our well servicing company is one of the oldest and best in the region, and they're unable to get quality pumps and parts anymore. It's a serious, costly and dangerous problem. I also keep squeeze bottles from shampoo, ketchup etc. filled with water and near sinks for quick hand rinsing. Very efficient use of water when it's limited. Storage space for all this can be an issue, but where there's a will there's a way, and creativity prevails where vital necessities are concerned...just ask Patrice's "spare" bathroom! lol

    A. McSpade

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  9. Patrice, are there any particular how-to books that you would recommend for a Newbie Prepper?

    Desert Bird

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  10. Things like this fill me with much anxiety. Nothing keeps in s. Florida.

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