SHTF preparedness

[M1A Rifleman]

I have more ammo than food or water. But I guess with ammo, I can get more food and water should I need.




This assumes that ammo would be a better product for barter than currency in an emergency.

[MasterYong]

Anyone that doesn't at least have a desire to prepare for contingencies in which supplies may be scarce has a screw or two loose, IMHO. It's one thing if you can't afford to stock up, but if you don't think it's a good idea you haven't been paying attention at all. There are plenty of natural disasters alone that happen every year in which the folks that come out on top are the ones that have the most food, water, ammo, and other equipment/training. Add to that threat of political upheaval and civil unrest and I can't think of any way to describe folks that don't want to prepare other than to state they're psychotic.

I have at least a month of food and water, plus ammo, training, equipment, etc.

Most of my neighbors don't even have water.

Check out this site if you're interested in prepping, the guy is pretty preachy but if you search the site (OMG search WORKS on this site!) you can find do-it-yourself instructions for almost anything you could ever want:

https://www.survivalblog.com

The author of the site is a bit of a fear-monger, and makes it pretty obvious that a lot of his articles are written solely to plug an advertiser, but it's got some good info nonetheless.

ETA- What I try to do to prepare for any disaster scenario is to intentionally buy just a *little* more than I need when I buy most day-to-day supplies. When I buy rice, I set some aside. When I buy ammo, I set some aside. When I buy a new video game, I also buy a first aid kit- etc. I try to balance my expenditures so that 80% or so of the money I spend goes to regular stuff and the other 20% +/- goes to buying extra stuff. I take the same attitude with equipment. I have extra sleeping bags and tents to give to family in case of a crisis (they don't stock that kind of thing).

[MasterYong]

I have more ammo than food or water. But I guess with ammo, I can get more food and water should I need.




This assumes that ammo would be a better product for barter than currency in an emergency.

In addition to "ballistic wampum" - medical supplies will make a great barter item too. in addition to storing up on ammo for barter, store bandages, tylenol, water purification tablets, even matches and needles/thread. Items like that would be priceless in barter in the event that a supply chain is cut off for any length of time.

[Maltese Falcon]

My wife thinks I am obsessive about this.

I have many cases of freeze dried Mountain House #10 cans. See: http://www.nitro-pak.com/ They last up to 25 years if stored well (not in garage too hot), plus about 30 gallons of water I rotate, generator, propane, etc....and of course the requisite "well stocked" armory.

I tell her when 7.2 earthquake comes and power is out for a week or more, I don't want her lazy sheeple relatives to come begging for food/water/protection. She quiets down then.

[audihenry]

If I told my significant other things like this, she would call the doctor to have my head checked. What you describe is such a minor threat that it doesn't even register. BUT, in the event that you do feel the need to prepare for some water, buy some bottled water like normal people instead of drums in long term storage.

But even that is pushing it.

I know you will cite rare cases like Katrina and other natural disasters, but by that token you have to live every single day in a state of paranoia of WHAT IF it happens today? What if there's a riot/water shortage/food shortage/famine/war/rebellion/coup/etc.

Who wants to live like that?

[berg]

We have a survival forum on this site. http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/f...splay.php?f=76

[popeye4]

Considering that a realistic SHTF scenario really involves something like an earthquake (or mudslides cutting off the 3 ways in to my little burgh), you are wise to put away a reserve of water. Water doesn't go bad (it is the same water the dinosaurs drank), but it can grow bugs. Someone else mentioned using chlorine when you set it up, I'd also suggest some bleach be in your emergency supplies as well. When it comes to "stockpiling" food, you are better off adopting a philosophy of maintaining a "wide spot" in your food supply chain. Instead of having a bunch of MREs under the house that you MIGHT eat in 10-15 years, better to maintain a month's worth of non-perishables like canned soups, beans, and other canned items (frozen ain't good unless you have a generator that can run for an extended period). Just maintain a big enough inventory to carry you through.

When I moved to Boulder Creek in 1995, we had a winter storm that took out the power for 5 days. I was living in an all-electric house at the time. That severely challenged my wife's sense of humor. When we bought our house, we converted everything we could to propane and installed a 9 kW propane powered generator. Of course the power hasn't been out for more than 36 hours since....

They have experienced up to three weeks of isolation here in the Santa Cruz mountains within the past 30 years (the early 80s El Nino storms). 1989 earthquake also left many people high and dry for an extended period. To my knowledge, we have yet to experience a zombie assault or alien invasion, or even a general breakdown in civil structure. The guys who are buying tricked out ARs with all the doodads are going to be mighty thirsty trying to drink all those milsurp rounds......

And no, you won't be able to take mine, I'm armed well enough to keep the flatlanders at bay.

[HUTCH 7.62]

I got lots of Ammo, Canned food, MRE's, bottled water, and my Go bag that allows three days survival.

[Maltese Falcon]

I know you will cite rare cases like Katrina and other natural disasters, but by that token you have to live every single day in a state of paranoia of WHAT IF it happens today? What if there's a riot/water shortage/food shortage/famine/war/rebellion/coup/etc.

Who wants to live like that?

I do agree some take this to the extreme.... but we do live in earthquake country...and the San Andreas is due. Look at where the SA fault line runs through, Just about every major large population city in California. http://geology.com/san-andreas-fault/ The IE is built right on it.

I sleep very well at night knowing my family is provided for and ready. No harm in that.

[bombadillo]

Haha, maybe thats why nobody lives in eureka! We didn't build on a fault line.

[Curtis]

I want to get a couple of these: Lifesaver Bottle

I also have a very large water heater. For the large drums, could you tie them into your normal water supply? That way the water is always changing? similar to what your water heater is doing.

[smle-man]

Don't forget the water contained in your water heater. If there is a cut off on water supply you still have 25-50 gallons of water available there. Use it for drinking and not washing. You can go weeks without food but only days without water.

We have 100 gal of treated water stored along with a month's supply of food, a genset and extra fuel. Also cash in small bills; no ATMs if the power goes off.

[elSquid]

If I told my significant other things like this, she would call the doctor to have my head checked. What you describe is such a minor threat that it doesn't even register. BUT, in the event that you do feel the need to prepare for some water, buy some bottled water like normal people instead of drums in long term storage.

But even that is pushing it.

The state of California has a website for earthquake preparedness:

OES Earthquake Preparedness Tip Sheets

http://www.oes.ca.gov/WebPage/oeswebsite.nsf/Content/A1F2F25F0947AF848825741F006015EF?OpenDocument

And they have a checklist of things to have:

http://www.oes.ca.gov/Operational/OE.../checklist.pdf

The more that people prepare ahead of time, the less demand there will be on gov't emergency personnel and resources during a time of crisis - helping to ensure that those people and resources are directed towards those that really need them.

-- Michael

[cudakidd]

Being prepared for a earthquake is merely acknowledging the situation where we live. Just as you would take appropriate precautions if you lived on the Gulf Coast for Hurricanes or Tornados in the Midwest.

My sister lived (she moved with FEMA money) 3 blocks from the epicenter of the Northridge quake. Her three story apartment became a two story apartment building...her car was on the first story. After living in what was left of her car for three days and avoiding the public parks where hordes of other unprepared "guests" of our country had gathered to wait for Government handouts, she moved to Oregon!

This was no paranoid scenario, this was a normal ongoing process of Nature and California in particular.

I had friends who lived within blocks of the Rodney King riots, again, my friends had to shelter in place while waiting for the National Guard to finally show up...But since they were MY friends, they had plenty of firepower!!

What would you prefer, to be prepared for the very event YOUR Government (FEMA, Homeland Security) has asked you to prepare for or to do nothing to avoid looking "foolish" to your less informed spouse?

Do NOT buy Grocery Store bottled water. It is not intended for safe long term storage. Purchase a approved long term storage container and avoid the very real possibility of having to drink contaminated water or no water at all!

I have three 5 gallon, "EpiCenter" drums, I use the bleach and rotate once a year. In addition each of my trucks has a five gallon conatiner. I too have MRE and freeze dried foods.

Ammo and firearms has never been an issue!

Not Paranoid, just well prepared as all Californians/Americans should be. I don't worry about it at all, why should you?

[grymster]

I have enough food for a couple months, but water for only a week or so. There is a creek fairly close by though and I have plenty of chlorine and some filtering devices.... and I have guns.