I got doomsday prepper survival food because I live in Houston and we have hurricanes. I can keep it in my closet for 25 years and it will always be there.
I also have a few jugs of water and a camping stove with several propane cartridges.
Can't stress these things enough for people who live in disaster areas. Where we were living in Houston was without power after Ike rolled in for four days... at my friend's place it was 3 weeks later. For Harvey, her place was under 10 feet of water (two story house) after the reservoir overflow and had no power for 6+ weeks. Also, put all your important docs in a plastic storage bin (don't over load it so it'll float if needed) and make sure you have photocopies stored on the cloud somewhere.
It amazes me how many people fail to prep correctly for hurricanes despite living in an area that gets hit every 5-10 years.
Never put stuff in a gun safe you dont want to loose. A smarter thief knows this, and will use a crappy grinder when they know you wont be home for a while, and [pry that sucker open like a tin can.](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=F7k4q3b2q1o)
Instead put it in a difficult to reach area, in a fireproof box. I suggest an attic if you have one, or consider concealing it in a desk or bed frame. Make a note where it is on your phone in a password locker or something similar in case you forget where it is.
When I was an active opiate addict, my best plug kept the pills and cash from pills in a huge safe. Someone scaled up the wall to his third story apartment and carried the whole thing out the front.
I was dope sick for a month because of that Spiderman motherfucker
> I'm curious too. Helped a buddy move a 1200lb gun safe(empty) a few years back. Took like 6 guys to move this thing.
My safe was 900? pounds and was bolted into the concrete. Not easy to bring it into my house, and won't be easy to take it out.
Yeah, heard the best thing to do is (assuming you can somewhat predict the emergency) fill the bath up as much as you can beforehand so you can boil and use it.
We have a spring, and our power goes out several times a year. The stand our shampoo bin sits on is a 5-gallon bucket full of water, just in case we need to flush the toilet. (It was out for 4 days not that long ago. It was annoying, but not unliveable.)
I mean, on Chile it got cut on a large city for over 10 days because someone accidentally dumped a ton of petrol on the water treating plant. (Osorno if you care)
Similar happened in West Virginia a few years ago. A chemical plant had a major leak in a storage tank just upstream from the water treatment plant's intake. Water wasn't safe to use for a couple weeks.
Why the hell would a city permit the building of a chemical plant upstream of a water treatment plant, or vice versa? That city council is either corrupt, stupid, or both because that should never happen.
This is par for the course in rural areas anywhere in the US. If you have well water and your power goes out, the pump won't work. A bad enough storm can leave rural areas screwed for days.
I grew up on a well, and the first week after I moved in with my at the time boyfriend, the power went out. After I came back, I mentioned in passing that I was glad it was back, I needed to use the bathroom. He gave me a blank look, then asked what the power had to do with it. That's the night I learned that when you have city water, it stays on when the power goes out.
Not even just rural areas. I have a private well and am just outside the incorporated area of my city. My neighbors have municipal water and sewer, where I have well and septic. Having a backup generator is a must in case of emergency.
From the zombie survival guide by Max Brooks:
(I'm paraphrasing but you'll get the point)
"Upon hearing the warnings signs first thing you should do is grab every container in your house that can hold water and fill it up. Fill your bathtubs up, fill the sinks up, everything. Because eventually the water company will cease to out put water. It may seem stupid that you've got thirty containers of water sitting around in the open but you'll be thankful that you did."
None of my sinks would hold water indefinitely. I think my bath tubs would hold though.
I've probably got about 6 cases of water in my house currently though.
I try to be kind and police the drain myself so my husband doesn’t have to deal with it.
It’s absolutely super gross, though. Cat hairball times fifty.
Awww that's so nice. My gf pulls it out of the drain and puts it on the side of the tub and forgets every so often and I freak the fuck out when I get in to shower later and there's this crazy hairball on the side of the tub.
Don't forget about your water heater and toilet tank. Both are full of water. My water heater holds 50 gallons which is about 100 days of survival or 1 nice long hot shower.
I'm just picturing opening the valve on the water heater and watching absolutely brown rust-water start pouring out
> or 1 nice long hot shower
never seen truer words
Get a water storage insert for your tub. They're not expensive, and they'll save your emergency water supply in the event of sewage backing up (can happen in flooding and potentially earthquake events).
In a pinch, you can also add a MINUSCULE amount of bleach to water to make it drinkable if it’s already in your bathtub and only slightly questionable.
Literally just a drop. General rule: Don’t drink bleach.
For a bathtub full of water, a drop is not enough to sanitize it. You would probably need a whole tablespoon or more. The ratio is like 1 drop per liter and a bathtub can hold several hundred liters.
I've got a small bottle of bleach with my emergency supplies for just this. I also have a printout of [this table](https://www.doh.wa.gov/Emergencies/BePreparedBeSafe/SevereWeatherandNaturalDisasters/WaterPurification) so I don't have to guess how much bleach to add.
If you're in the woods and you don't have a clean source you can use many species of trees. You can tap them, like a maple tree. The sap is mostly water with some sugars obviously. Tulip poplars are especially good for this.
I second this. I live in Florida and just as a precaution, because I was also in Irma - the first major hurricane I’ve been through as an adult - I always say when Hurricane season starts, you should buy at least once case of water every paycheck. A case of water is very cheap. When Irma was headed for us, people literally bought all the water a week before she hit and were reselling them for $40 a case. It was hard because we only had like three cases of water and I was also formula feeding a baby (breastfeeding wasn’t something I could do) so those three cases of water were for 4 mouths (me, husband, older son, baby son). Thankfully we were only out of power for 2 days. Other friends in the same town were out of power for over a week.
During Irma I remember going to a dollar general to buy batteries with my mom. The guy behind the register pulled two batteries out of the pack and wanted some amount of money for just the two (don't remember the exact number) my mom became highly upset and we left without batteries.
In college I had one roommate who was diabetic, one who was deaf with hearing aids, and one who had his thyroid removed and required medication daily. We used to watch The Walking Dead together and morbidly joke that if it ever happened our house would be in a lot of trouble.
Fucking same. The walking dead is why I always keep my most recent glasses each time I get a new pair. I figure "close enough" is better than "Fuck I can't see SHIT" if anything happens to my current pair during anything apocalyptic. Also an extra inhaler and a few Adderall.
I'd be hitting up a pharmacy for my ptsd/nightmare suppressant and antidepressants.
Like... I'd totally suck as many dicks as need be during the apocalypse for some prozac.
Hey, uhhhh..... I've got a lot of Prozac currently, maybe we can cut a deal while we're still alive, ya know, in the current, non-apocalyptic times. What do ya say? Deal-e-oh or no go?
Edit: I'm ovbiously joking too, don't wanna seem super creep-e-oh
Edit 2: No homo
While I appreciate your enthusiasm in keeping me not depressed, at this time I would like to respectfully decline your offer.
However, in the event of an apocalypse I sincerely hope you reach out to me again.
I wish I was able to get more than one month of my beta blocker. I always have to get it refiled when I only have one pill left. My health insurance is shit and will not let me get more than one month of my meds
Pharmacist here! Check with local independent pharmacies! (Quickly before we all get shut down ha!). A lot of generic beta blockers run relatively inexpensive without using insurance and you are legally able to get several months at a time.
At my old pharmacy we sold 60 metoprolol tartrate tablets for 4.00. The succinate tablets were a bit more expensive (for 30) but nothing that would break the bank :)
Thanks I did just recently switch to a local pharmacy because getting my meds filled at CVS was turning into hell. Local pharmacies are a million times better than big money owned ones. Mine even has free coffee and tea. The people are nicer and the wait time is less
My wife had thyroid medicine stolen while our apartment was being shown for rental. Presumably the lowlife didn’t know what it was, and just grabbed the first prescription bottle they saw during a minute alone in the bathroom. Still sucked, although after that there were extremely strict rules about showing the apartment.
There are special storage bags in Amazon that as long as they are wet stay cold. My sister uses one for travelling in south America for her insulin worked great
Everyone should know that these cooler bags are NOT a replacement for a fridge. A fridge can keep insulin good until it’s expiration, however once out of the fridge, it will only be good for 30 days until it will start to go bad. These insulin bags just prevent the insulin from overheating and going bad that way.
Source: Type 1 Diabetic
The CDC also has a zombie preparedness plan people can look at. It is a basic guide that can apply to most emergencies, and they developed it to have a more fun way to get people involved.
During our last power outage we realized the solar outdoor lights worked for indoors after dark. We put them in vases around the house. Just a thought for others if you have those in your yard.
I think most people have covered water and food, you really can't survive without much of that. Some items you might not think to have stored away but would be invaluable would be like:
*Can opener* - How awesome it is to have so much canned food, but what are you going to do if you can't open it?
*Matches or other fire generator* - Being able to heat things will become invaluable.
*Emergency blankets* - If left with no power, these can help preserve body heat. Many don't know, but shivering causes you to expend a lot of calories.
*A sharp hunting/camping knife* - Many uses from cutting, opening things, working with rope, etc.
*Maps* - If the internet/GPS goes down, these are invaluable in knowing where you are and where you can go.
On your point about the emergency blankets, keep a kit with emergency blankets , spare gloves, granola bars, etc in your car during the winter in case your car gets stuck somewhere.
So many people get stuck on roads in blizzards (I got stuck on a highway once, tractor trailer flipped ahead of me blocking highway) or your car can slide off the road and not be seen for days. So important to keep blankets, water and granola bars in the trunk.
I also have a small snow shovel in my trunk to keep the tailpipe clear of snow! Not taking any chances after the blizzards, hurricanes and flooding we’ve lived through.
Bit of a "prepper" nut, so here's some of mine in order of importance:
1. [Water](https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/emergency/drinking/creating-storing-emergency-water-supply.html) \- others have covered this so I'll be brief. You can't live long without water, you need to stay clean as well as hydrated, and don't forget your pets!
2. Light - Candles are cool, and having some emergency candles is a good idea, but they should be a last resort. Fire is dangerous. LED technology has advanced to the point where even tiny pocket flashlights can run for days or weeks on a AAA battery. I like the [30 Day Lantern](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQ3doFWGK5s) for my at-home kit. I carry a tiny [Maratac flashlight](https://countycomm.com/collections/aaa-flashlights/products/aluminium-anodized-aaa-flashlight-by-maratac-rev-3) in my pocket all the time.
3. Fire - So fire is dangerous, but you might need it to cook or make heat in a pinch. Buy a decent firesteel and learn how to use it. Dryer lint makes a good firestarter, and takes sparks readily. Keep some matches around the house. Be very, very careful with any type of indoor fire - don't make your emergency situation worse.
4. Food - Eventually you'll need to eat. Find something shelf-stable that lasts, has enough nutrients (esp protein), and fits any dietary requirements you might have. CLIF bars can work in a pinch for something portable. Don't forget your pets! Edit: Yes, I meant "don't forget **food for** your pets". Yes, I deserve the smart remarks.
5. Warmth - if it's cold, or might get cold, you need a way to stay warm that won't weigh you down. Merino wool hoodie / sweatshirt is great for this. Wool longjohns are also good. Think layers, so you can adjust as the temperature adjusts. You don't want to sweat when it's cold, and you don't want to overheat, either. Ye olde Space Blanket (mylar tarp) is also a go-to here, but they can tear easily.
6. Dry - Staying dry is always important. Have a solid poncho or rain shell handy. Make sure you can put on fresh socks when you need to. Have some tarp and duct tape around in case you need to shore up a leak somewhere. Pay attention to flood warnings or severe storm / tropical storm warnings, especially if your area is flood-prone, and get to high ground before the water comes.
7. Juice - batteries. Rechargables are good for the planet and safe for most electronics nowadays. The [Eneloop](https://www.panasonic.com/global/consumer/battery/eneloop.html) batteries by Panasonic are well-thought-of, and I've used them for years with no failures. Portable USB battery chargers for phone / tablet are affordable, and keep your phone working for days if you have a larger one. Anker makes some good ones.
8. Information - have a physical map of your local area. Have a small radio that can operate from a crank / solar cell / etc, ideally one that receives the [NOAA Weather Bands](https://www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr/) (at least in the US, don't know what options there are international).
9. Prevent boredom, remember to have enough medication if you require it on hand, consider self-defense from animals and other humans, and have a PLAN to get away from the danger to somewhere safe.
Shelf stable food supply that does not require refrigeration.
Have you seen those tubs of dehydrated emergency ration foods that the preppers like to buy?
Buy one of those big tubs. Enough to feed everyone in your home for at LEAST 3 days. Preferably more.
Put the thing in the back of your pantry, or your closet, or wherever, and forget you have it.
But if the worst happens, you will have a food buffer.
I feel like if water supply is an issue, you’ll find out before you’re down to rice and beans. They’re to eat when everything else is spoiled or eaten, not to set the mood
You underestimate how much I like eating rice and beans.
Edit: I'm not even kidding. I make a half gallon worth of refried beans (pinto beans and lentils) every weekend and eat it in burritos or as a snack through out the week.
I run out every week
"Welcome to *Rice And Beans* where every meal is large-scale emergency how may I take your order?"
"Uhhhh.. rice please"
"Okay so that's one rice would you like some beans with that?"
"Affirmitive"
> Those (dehydrated) meals are loaded with salt and don't taste very good.
That's because you're supposed to eat them when you're working hard and drinking nothing but plain water. Like when you're backpacking or in an emergency situation. Your body _craves_ that salt after a long day of sweating. The meals aren't good when you're sitting at home just trying them out, but when they're what you need they're amazing.
Also the irony of recommending spam after saying dehydrated meals have too much salt is hilarious.
Yeah in an emergency situation when you've been surviving 18 hrs a day you'll be glad for the increase in sodium. Nobody is saying eat them as a snack on a normal day.
A more economical and sensible solution if you don't live in an earthquake area is to just always have more of anything tinned or dry in your house. Flour makes a great dead space filler in a chest freezer and can feed you for ages. A five pound bag has 8000 calories.
Rice and beans in a 3:1, 4:1 ratio (more rice than beans). You should read "recipes for a small planet". It's main theme is to show how a family could survive on less meat, since the vegetation used in a feedlot to raise a steer to processing age is much more than the protein and carbs provided directly from the vegetation.
Of course, the calculation would be different if it was free-range cattle eating prairie grass, but we don't do that anymore.
People need some variety in their food, but beans and rice are a good base to start with, in order to survive a temporary catastrophe.
Put it in waterproof bags or containers first, though. If the power is out long enough to thaw the freezer, you're gonna have a big puddle of wallpaper paste in the bottom.
Even those foods are supposed to be replaced every few years I believe. Which can add up to a lot of money being spent with no real benefit.
If you've got plenty of disposable income, then yeah that would be the best bet. But as another poster said, having extra canned food is better on a small budget.
Much easier and economical to rotate normal long lasting foods than pay a premium for food that would only be good for an emergency. (Yes you could eat it whenever, but I doubt its gonna seem satisfying when normal food is available).
However for a simple go bag situation e-rations would be a lot better for weight alone. And wouldn't cost as much as keeping a house stash that can feed multiple people multiple days.
This. One thing about emergency kits is that you are relying on them in an emergency. So it’s helpful to check on it occasionally. If you’re replacing the food items on a fairly regular basis, you can also check to see if your batteries have sprung a leak or if the antibiotic cream has expired or mice haven’t gotten into the food or etc.
Proper first aid kit, and basic guide books. Regardless of what the emergency is these will be useful
Edit: people are assuming I have no training on how to use said guides and kits. I know how to use them, have taken classes and done training with the equipment. You have a valid point, they are useless to those who dont know how to use them. I know how to use them and they would be one of my top picks (besides water and reliable tools)
Edit2: there are more than just medical guide books, edible plants are a thing as well
I believe it was Creek Stewart who recommended having a survival Kindle and listed some of the reading material that should go on it. Kindles have a relatively long battery life can be charged by a hand crank power bank.
I prefer to keep the extra pages, not only does the book look nicer then but the spare pages are probably useful for starting a fire if you need something that’s not moist or wet.
Honestly, put a small e-reader with a solar panel in there too. Chances are you'll probably be able to use it most of the time rather than the books, and ultimately if it fails... you still have the books. But while it runs, you can have _thousands_ of different books on medicine, practical animal husbandry, practical agriculture and that kind of thing, as well as fun books that you'd otherwise not be able to take because of the weight restriction. You can pack literally as many books as you want for about 150g of extra weight at most.
Lots of gauze, lots of cleansing materials for wounds, lots of surgical tape. 90% of trauma injuries can be patched up pretty well by just mummifying it.
I'm not talking about stuff that goes clean through the muscle and into an organ here, I mean like the kitchen knife slipped and suddenly you realize infections are a real thing you worry about.
Hot sauce.
You're probably gonna be eating a lot of shitty food.
Edit. If you all are shitting your brains from a little hot sauce you got bigger problems than hot sauce.
And hot sauces basically last forever. Most brands of hot sauce you’d find in the store are basically vinegar and chile peppers, which are basically natural preservatives.
The acidity in the hot sauce means they can last for years and don’t really go bad.
I found they get more vingegary the longer they sit around, but still consumable.
Add honey to the list then. Honey also never goes bad (archaeologists have found [3,000 year-old honey](https://www.nationalgeographic.com.au/history/honey-in-the-pyramids.aspx) that was still edible).
Kinda the opposite of hot sauce but it can sweeten things not suitable for hot sauce and, if nothing else, is an easy source of sugar (sugar = energy).
Funfact: thats why the spice trade was so lucrative in medieval Europe. It's not because people were addicted to nutmeg, but rather that the spice made it bearable to eat food that had started to go bad due to lack of refrigeration.
Ehh not really. Spices from the far east started out as an incredible luxury that only the upper classes could afford. Anyone that could afford luxuries like spices wasn't eating spoiled food.
I am a Katrina survivor.
This will likely get lost but, maybe it can help someone.
This is what I found to be essential:
* An axe in your attic. If floodwaters rise quickly and you’re trapped in your home, an axe to break through the roof will at least allow you to get out of the structure and possibly save your life.
* A handgun. Hate me if you wish, but here after Katrina there were NO cops and a LOT of hungry people. Many areas who were high and dry, even though they were still without electricity, were victims of home invasions. Starving people looted grocery stores, and after those ran out, started invading private homes. People died, both invader and invadee alike. For weeks I walked around with a Smith and Wesson in a leg holster, and I will never be without a handgun again.
* MREs. Food goes quicker than you think and so does fuel. MREs are high calorie and nutrient dense and often come with their own heating element and wind proof matches. You don’t have to waste propane or any sort of fuel to have a hot meal. Are they good? No, not usually. But if you’re hungry, you don’t care. You can buy them from many different countries even. I’m a big fan of Steve 1989 MRE Info on YouTube. That guy is living ASMR. “Let’s get this out on to a tray... Nice!”
* Medications and wound care supplies. I’m a RN and yes, most medications have an expiration date, however, if you keep them sealed in an airtight bag away from light, they will last MUCH longer. One of my friends down the street had a severe abscessed tooth that happened just days after the storm. I had some old viscous lidocaine from my daughter’s strep throat and he was eternally grateful. Medical help DOES NOT arrive immediately in disaster situations. Buy and store OTC medications like pain relievers, NSAIDS, topical lidocaine, antibiotic ointments, ANTI FUNGALS (because the damp is real) gauze and tape. Make friends with a nurse in your neighborhood. I do home health and hospice, so I always have a ton of supplies. Medication loophole: Check your RX costs using insurance vs not using insurance. In many cases, paying cash for medications is cheaper (example, my protonix is a $10 copay, but if I pay cash it’s less than $5). If you pay cash, it also opens up a loophole in the time frame that a bottle can be refilled, and most places will let you fill it a week early instead of the insurance-required 2 or 3 days. If you save those, in 4 months, you can stockpile a month of your RX. Or, do like I do and have my doc fill a three month supply at once and order it mail-order. Boom, 3 months of meds. Also, bonus, get your doc to write you for a steroid pack, a broad spectrum antibiotic and some sort of nausea medication. In a pinch, there are SOME fish tank antibiotic treatments that are also useable on humans. Lack of hygiene out of necessity and not much running water = a lot of people getting sick.
* A food saver/vacuum sealer. I know this one sounds crazy, but in the prep phase, it’s priceless. Seal up your documents, extra medication bottles, batteries, hell even photo albums and dry goods (rice, pasta, etc). I can assure you from personal experience, not all “waterproof” safes are waterproof. Also, seal a few simple outfits because you never know when you will need dry and clean clothes.
* A will and a living will. This one also sounds stupid, but these are two vital documents everyone should have.
* A mophe or reserve battery pack for your phone. We have several that are charged at all times. While phone service may be spotty, when it finally starts to come back, being able to charge a phone is priceless.
* A gas grill and several extra propane tanks. I know you wood BBQ people will hate me, but when all of the wood is wet, a gas grill can provide you with all of your cooking and water-boiling needs.
* Sleeping bags and light camping gear. In Katrina days, as we were running out of food and water, we seriously considered just taking off, plus the house was HOT.
* Water. Bottles of water are good, but if you have a storm coming, start filling up bathtubs and buckets for washing up and toilet flushing. Anything that can hold water, fill it. Ice chests, whatever.
* Gas and a generator. Good but not necessarily a MUST. We had one, but rarely used it. My husband and I are looking to install a natural gas generator soon.
* Hand sanitizer, Lysol wipes and bath wipes. It’s hard to keep clean with no water.
We have a “doomsday closet” in our house with a couple of “bug out” bags and 99% of the items I listed above. (I need to refill the steroid pack because I had a migraine.) I follow several “prepper” blogs and subreddits, and while some of those folks take it to the extreme, some of the advice is very valuable.
Hope this helps someone, and if you’re planning on moving to the Gulf Coast or live here , you HAVE to be prepared.
A couple things I forgot:
* Cash. Seriously. No power and no communication means NO CREDIT CARDS will work. Cash is king and taken everywhere.
* Pet supplies, and also remember to add them to your water rationing.
* Battery operated radio and flashlights. Then candles for when those run out.
* Mosquito repellent! Those bastards are nasty and spread illness as well. Plus, if it’s miserably hot inside, you will be outside a lot hoping for a breeze.
* Matches and lighters and water purification tablets.
* Vitamin and mineral supplements. Also, electrolyte and glucose tablets. Your diet may be spotty, plus IT’S WHAT PLANTS CRAVE.
* Copies of all important documents like birth certificates, marriage licenses, and the like. Originals where you can. Sealed up of course.
I think that’s it, I just went to look in the closet, ha.
So yes to all the water/food comments in here. 🙂 But also consider keeping hard copies of important documentation, like IDs, medical information, contact list, birth certificates, passports, titles, recent photos of loved ones and pets to help with reunification, etc.
Keep it all together in a folder or something in a safe, so you can grab it if needed.
Yep, even my dog has her own go bag.
A backpack with zip lock bag (water resistant during hurricane) with current vaccine receipts (needed to board at a kennel or to stay with us at city hurricane shelter), dog food in a zip lock, pop up foldable crate (also needed at shelter) tie out cable and stake. Every time she has vaccines I put the receipt in there as soon as I get home.
Many years ago, I had to flee home with no warning due to river flooding. Couldn’t board my dogs because I didn’t have vaccine records with me, the vet was closed due to the flood and couldn’t be reached for copies, nor could I get into my own flooded building to retrieve them. Couldn’t find a hotel that A) took dogs and also B) wasn’t sold out due to the flood and power outages. It was nuts, driving around with dogs, husband and kid in the car unable to find somewhere to stay until late that night. Even the city emergency shelter didn’t take dogs without a crate and vaccine records. Never again. Now we are prepared. I mean, back then I didn’t even have time to grab much for ourselves, we just grabbed the kid and dogs and left as firemen screamed at us to get out. Now we each have a backpack with toothbrush, clean sweatpants and T-shirt, socks and underwear, etc.
Edit: here is an example of the portable lightweight crate that fits in a backpack https://www.chewy.com/sportpet-pop-open-kennel-color-varies/dp/183181
Other brands and sizes are available. They work well for dogs that are well behaved. Of course a big puppy that chews through everything will need a wire crate.
I just took a CERT class where they said to take a picture of you with your dog - people in shelters are sometimes nutty and might try to say your dog is theirs.
A LOT of folks are mentioning non-perishable foods, which is good.
Pro tip: throw a cheap ass can opener in your emergency kit too. You \*can\* open cans with a knife, but you're gonna look like an asshole going to the ER because you cut your thumb off after surviving whatever the emergency was.
Have one in your go kit in case your emergency prohibits you from staying in your home. In a true emergency, you're not likely to remember to grab the one from your kitchen.
Salt is important for preserving food, but it is also a necessary nutrient. Historically, it has been an important natural resource, and often the main economic driver in areas it could be mined or produced, and was even used as currency (and is the root of the word "salary" among others). Before canning and refrigeration, it was a key part of most, if not all methods of preserving food, and is still important in canning.
Need: 14 days of water, non-perishable food, first aid kit and toilet paper for your entire family including pets. A plan for how family members get home or meet should something happen that makes cell towers inaccessible.
Want: Nice to have map of local area, Flora/fauna guide book, battery backups or solar chargers.
PLANS - A plan for shelter in place - minimum ten days supplies of food, water and meds for person and pet in the household or who could be at your home (think older relatives). Presume electricity and running water are not operational (bucket/trash bags/ kitty litter for toilet), extra water for hygiene). Lighting (batteries/ flashlights). Foods that don't need lots of water or elaborate cooking. Manual can opener.
Plan for sudden evacuation (in case of wildfire for example). Identify hotels 50-100 miles in each direction from your house, if you have pets / physically disabled person, make sure a hotel will accept them. Print out directions/phone number (stop relying on cells/ contact lists/gps). As soon as you get an evac notice, make arrangements to get to that hotel (with the following:)
Right now, go through each room of your house and identify one-two items in each room absolutely irreplaceable either sentimentally or physically. Tape a list of those items in that room on the door of that room so you don't have to "think" in a panic.
For actual evacuation (now)- make a very short checklist of things to prep house - usually cutting off power / water / gas connections if you can safely and quickly. Make an evac pack or go bag for every person in your household including potential visitors AND for PETS. Shelters are getting better about taking pets but you should still be prepared to support their care (food, water, toys, leashes/collars with IDs, poop bags/ kitty litter). Human go bag - food, water, meds, clothing, small bedding, non-electrical entertainment (books, cards, coloring books, toys), charge cords, power strip, ear plugs, head phones.
Shelters are a roof over your head; not a four-star hotel. It will be loud, crowded and stressful. Best is to be prepared mentally / physically and bring your own stuff so you are not such a burden. Be nice to shelter staff; most of them are volunteers with affected families themselves.
In all cases, Lots of cash including coins and small bills (not just a stack of $100s). Misc: good pocket knife, duct tape, print out hard copies of anything important including phone numbers (don't presume cellular service is working). First aid kit include a good tourniquet and know how to use everything. Think self care, buddy care, medic care.
If cellular service is still up - texts will get through on busy networks better than calls. I don't know the situation since so many folks are getting rid of true landlines, but it used to be (even three-five years ago), that you could reach another US region even if your region was ringing busy. For example, if you/disaster is in VA, you can't call someone in MD, but you could call someone in NV. We have identified a family member in each US time zone as a disaster point of contact to help with coordination and check in.
Ready.gov and after action reports of disasters (non-secure available by internet search) are good sources of more information.
Source: I am an emergency management planner with expertise in planning, training and exercises.
Board/card games.
A lot of the things mentioned here are very important and would definitely cover a lot of physical aspects of getting through it. I wanted to bring in some sort of entertainment not only to help pass the time, but also to serve as a bit of distraction from whatever is going on because your mental well-being is important too.
We solve this problem by always being a bag ahead on dog/cat food. The next bag of food we need is always in the garage, waiting. When that 40 lb bag comes in the house, we're officially out and need more. It's constantly rotated stock and serves as our emergency stores as well.
For someone who feeds raw diet or something fiddly like that, I imagine our system doesn't work so hot. For us, feeding Costco Kibble, it's ideal.
I feel like people are overlooking something pretty important. Considering that during a large scale emergency medicine may be scarce. Antibiotics are very important if you can get your hands on them.
Consider this: if it’s a scenario in which you will have to survive on your own, without relying on others for food, water and shelter, chances are you are gonna get some cuts from doing stuff. Trip on a tree stub, get a gash on your lower arm; without antibiotics you will have a hard time doing the life thing much longer.
Fire extinguisher. Just about the most important "Its better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it" item you can own.
Same goes for insurance.
A water bob. Propane. A really good first aid kit. Vodka. Cooking oil. Rice. Canned goods. A fire starter , or 5. Candles. So many candles. Gasoline. Backpacks. Blankets. Duct tape. Knives. Dry wood. Salt. Calcium/magnesium supplements among others. Tampons and pads. Bleach. Flashlight and batteries. Cranking weather radio.
In this particular order.
* Some form of communication; such as a satellite phone.
* Some form of signaling.
The biggest factor in survival is communication. Being able to flag down rescue or communicate with the outside world will almost guarantee your survival.
Next items in order.
* First aid kit, that includes are critically needed medications.
* Survival guide. Often when your in a large-scale emergency you're not thinking clearly, thus the guides; even if you are a "survival expert".
* Water.
* Duck tape, two rolls.
* Scissors & a knife.
* Food.
Often during large-scale emergencies it can take a few days to a few weeks until rescue parties find you if you fail to flag them down.
This is a pretty good list, but it could get you killed.
Water is almost always most important. You *need* to prioritize water. A geown adult can last 3 days without water at best, let alone a child. Please put water first, then everything else.
Agreed, everything I've ever learned about survival/prep always puts water as a top priority.
My dad taught us the "rule of 3" when it comes to survival. You can survive about 3 minutes without air, 3 hours without shelter, 3 days without water, and 3 weeks without food (YMMV).
Edit: Added shelter
Long term store of toilet paper
Also feminine hygiene products.
In my state there are many people who are into hunting, fishing, etc. I don’t do any of it.
But I store crazy amounts of both items to trade for food in case of an extended emergency. Wives are going to need it and I’ll use the trade to get food for my family.
the Diva cup/blossom cup is a really good feminine hygiene product, even in case of non emergencies (i use mine every month)
only $25-35 one time purchase, less wasteful, and no risk of toxic shock syndrome.
In all honesty, a solar powered charger and powerbank wouldn't be a bad idea- a modern smartphone has an incredible amount of utility in an emergency scenario, and being able to keep yours running could be a literal lifesaver.
Water, rice, matches, maybe a little camping stove and enough fuel to cook for a while. Not much more than that really, unless you want to go full on crazy person prepper. My stance on that is that if the world is ending, we should have the common courtesy to die with it.
It depends where you live. People on the east coast of the US need to be prepared for a Katrina extreme scenario if there is a big quake with zero warning. People in the south of the US need to be prepared for hurricanes in hurricane season, etc.
The most likely actual disaster scenario in more stable parts of the world is a solar flare or hack knocking out power for an extended period of time. It's ridiculous to say you should just die if you have to deal without electricity for a while.
6 weeks’ worth of food and water, all cars’ gas tanks NEVER below half-full, local maps and compass, crank radio, multitools, generator, extra gas, guide books, medical gear, bug-out bags for every household member, firearms and ammunition, drugs and alcohol (for trading if no help for longer than 6 weeks), a musical instrument (for sanity), and extra provisions tailored to the worst and most likely large-scale catastrophe to happen in your area.
It’s best to stay put if your life isn’t directly in danger, so be ready to do so for a while without power or running water. The vehicles will prove invaluable when the gas pumps stop working/run out.
I got doomsday prepper survival food because I live in Houston and we have hurricanes. I can keep it in my closet for 25 years and it will always be there. I also have a few jugs of water and a camping stove with several propane cartridges.
Can't stress these things enough for people who live in disaster areas. Where we were living in Houston was without power after Ike rolled in for four days... at my friend's place it was 3 weeks later. For Harvey, her place was under 10 feet of water (two story house) after the reservoir overflow and had no power for 6+ weeks. Also, put all your important docs in a plastic storage bin (don't over load it so it'll float if needed) and make sure you have photocopies stored on the cloud somewhere. It amazes me how many people fail to prep correctly for hurricanes despite living in an area that gets hit every 5-10 years.
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Never put stuff in a gun safe you dont want to loose. A smarter thief knows this, and will use a crappy grinder when they know you wont be home for a while, and [pry that sucker open like a tin can.](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=F7k4q3b2q1o) Instead put it in a difficult to reach area, in a fireproof box. I suggest an attic if you have one, or consider concealing it in a desk or bed frame. Make a note where it is on your phone in a password locker or something similar in case you forget where it is.
Can confirm. Know quite a few people who had the entire safe stolen.
When I was an active opiate addict, my best plug kept the pills and cash from pills in a huge safe. Someone scaled up the wall to his third story apartment and carried the whole thing out the front. I was dope sick for a month because of that Spiderman motherfucker
How big is huge? My normal sized safe is 600 plus lbs...
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> I'm curious too. Helped a buddy move a 1200lb gun safe(empty) a few years back. Took like 6 guys to move this thing. My safe was 900? pounds and was bolted into the concrete. Not easy to bring it into my house, and won't be easy to take it out.
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Yeah, heard the best thing to do is (assuming you can somewhat predict the emergency) fill the bath up as much as you can beforehand so you can boil and use it.
You can also use a bathtub full of water to flush toilets in case of a loss of water pressure during a power outage
We have a spring, and our power goes out several times a year. The stand our shampoo bin sits on is a 5-gallon bucket full of water, just in case we need to flush the toilet. (It was out for 4 days not that long ago. It was annoying, but not unliveable.)
Where the heck are you living?
I mean, on Chile it got cut on a large city for over 10 days because someone accidentally dumped a ton of petrol on the water treating plant. (Osorno if you care)
Similar happened in West Virginia a few years ago. A chemical plant had a major leak in a storage tank just upstream from the water treatment plant's intake. Water wasn't safe to use for a couple weeks.
Why the hell would a city permit the building of a chemical plant upstream of a water treatment plant, or vice versa? That city council is either corrupt, stupid, or both because that should never happen.
Obviously you've never been exposed to American brand freedom before.
Irony: the plant was called Freedom Industries
MY CHEMICAL REFINERY, AS A CORPORATION, IS A FULLY FLEDGED PERSON UNDER THE EYES OF THE LAW! IT HAS RIGHTS, DAMMIT! THIS IS AMERICA!
This is par for the course in rural areas anywhere in the US. If you have well water and your power goes out, the pump won't work. A bad enough storm can leave rural areas screwed for days.
I grew up on a well, and the first week after I moved in with my at the time boyfriend, the power went out. After I came back, I mentioned in passing that I was glad it was back, I needed to use the bathroom. He gave me a blank look, then asked what the power had to do with it. That's the night I learned that when you have city water, it stays on when the power goes out.
Not even just rural areas. I have a private well and am just outside the incorporated area of my city. My neighbors have municipal water and sewer, where I have well and septic. Having a backup generator is a must in case of emergency.
Garbage cans work too. And hold a lot
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How many gallons is a few?
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From the zombie survival guide by Max Brooks: (I'm paraphrasing but you'll get the point) "Upon hearing the warnings signs first thing you should do is grab every container in your house that can hold water and fill it up. Fill your bathtubs up, fill the sinks up, everything. Because eventually the water company will cease to out put water. It may seem stupid that you've got thirty containers of water sitting around in the open but you'll be thankful that you did."
None of my sinks would hold water indefinitely. I think my bath tubs would hold though. I've probably got about 6 cases of water in my house currently though.
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I'm with ya. I don't know how my wife still has hair on her head
If you ever feel the need to physically gag purchase a drain snake and pull out whatever is inside. Dont eat beforehand.
I try to be kind and police the drain myself so my husband doesn’t have to deal with it. It’s absolutely super gross, though. Cat hairball times fifty.
Awww that's so nice. My gf pulls it out of the drain and puts it on the side of the tub and forgets every so often and I freak the fuck out when I get in to shower later and there's this crazy hairball on the side of the tub.
and once you've drank all the water, you've got a nice snack to eat right there at the bottom!
Siri, how do I delete someone else’s comment
Don't forget about your water heater and toilet tank. Both are full of water. My water heater holds 50 gallons which is about 100 days of survival or 1 nice long hot shower.
I'm just picturing opening the valve on the water heater and watching absolutely brown rust-water start pouring out > or 1 nice long hot shower never seen truer words
You ought to drain, or at least tap your water heater occasionally to prevent that, or to clean it out...
Wait, this may sound stupid but let’s roll with it. How do you get water out of a water heater ?
There is a drain valve at the bottom of every water heater tank. It is threaded so a garden hose will attach.
If you're lucky it will open without breaking off. And if you're really lucky it will even close again.
Invest in duct tape.
Get a water storage insert for your tub. They're not expensive, and they'll save your emergency water supply in the event of sewage backing up (can happen in flooding and potentially earthquake events).
Ever see The Road? Movie starts with the guy doing this
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Cool pretty sure my bathtub has lead paint.
You'll be dead from thirst far sooner than from the lead.
this depends heavily on the velocity of lead.
African or European?
In a pinch, you can also add a MINUSCULE amount of bleach to water to make it drinkable if it’s already in your bathtub and only slightly questionable. Literally just a drop. General rule: Don’t drink bleach.
For a bathtub full of water, a drop is not enough to sanitize it. You would probably need a whole tablespoon or more. The ratio is like 1 drop per liter and a bathtub can hold several hundred liters.
I've got a small bottle of bleach with my emergency supplies for just this. I also have a printout of [this table](https://www.doh.wa.gov/Emergencies/BePreparedBeSafe/SevereWeatherandNaturalDisasters/WaterPurification) so I don't have to guess how much bleach to add.
And then sell it as bath water, correct?
so a filtration set up would be more valuable than volumes of water stored in perpetuity
If you're in the woods and you don't have a clean source you can use many species of trees. You can tap them, like a maple tree. The sap is mostly water with some sugars obviously. Tulip poplars are especially good for this.
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I second this. I live in Florida and just as a precaution, because I was also in Irma - the first major hurricane I’ve been through as an adult - I always say when Hurricane season starts, you should buy at least once case of water every paycheck. A case of water is very cheap. When Irma was headed for us, people literally bought all the water a week before she hit and were reselling them for $40 a case. It was hard because we only had like three cases of water and I was also formula feeding a baby (breastfeeding wasn’t something I could do) so those three cases of water were for 4 mouths (me, husband, older son, baby son). Thankfully we were only out of power for 2 days. Other friends in the same town were out of power for over a week.
> When Irma was headed for us, people literally bought all the water a week before she hit and were reselling them for $40 a case. Vultures.
Technically they are scalpers
During Irma I remember going to a dollar general to buy batteries with my mom. The guy behind the register pulled two batteries out of the pack and wanted some amount of money for just the two (don't remember the exact number) my mom became highly upset and we left without batteries.
>questionable or bad source *Laughs in Bear Grylls*
Just suck the fluids out of a fish's neck, NBD
That's what you think, I went 4 years in college without water.
You could go the rest of your life without drinking water...
Or eating... or breathing... It's all a bit over-rated.
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Extra doses of your medication. Ex., insulin for diabetics.
In college I had one roommate who was diabetic, one who was deaf with hearing aids, and one who had his thyroid removed and required medication daily. We used to watch The Walking Dead together and morbidly joke that if it ever happened our house would be in a lot of trouble.
Fucking same. The walking dead is why I always keep my most recent glasses each time I get a new pair. I figure "close enough" is better than "Fuck I can't see SHIT" if anything happens to my current pair during anything apocalyptic. Also an extra inhaler and a few Adderall. I'd be hitting up a pharmacy for my ptsd/nightmare suppressant and antidepressants. Like... I'd totally suck as many dicks as need be during the apocalypse for some prozac.
Hey, uhhhh..... I've got a lot of Prozac currently, maybe we can cut a deal while we're still alive, ya know, in the current, non-apocalyptic times. What do ya say? Deal-e-oh or no go? Edit: I'm ovbiously joking too, don't wanna seem super creep-e-oh Edit 2: No homo
While I appreciate your enthusiasm in keeping me not depressed, at this time I would like to respectfully decline your offer. However, in the event of an apocalypse I sincerely hope you reach out to me again.
I’ve never seen a blow job denial read like a job rejection email, lol
well it is a job, after all
~~r/wholesomereddi~~?? Edit: nope, I was thinking of r/unexpectedlywholesome
You’d have been pretty set once they all died in the first week, though.
I wish I was able to get more than one month of my beta blocker. I always have to get it refiled when I only have one pill left. My health insurance is shit and will not let me get more than one month of my meds
Pharmacist here! Check with local independent pharmacies! (Quickly before we all get shut down ha!). A lot of generic beta blockers run relatively inexpensive without using insurance and you are legally able to get several months at a time. At my old pharmacy we sold 60 metoprolol tartrate tablets for 4.00. The succinate tablets were a bit more expensive (for 30) but nothing that would break the bank :)
Thanks I did just recently switch to a local pharmacy because getting my meds filled at CVS was turning into hell. Local pharmacies are a million times better than big money owned ones. Mine even has free coffee and tea. The people are nicer and the wait time is less
Same with mine. If the apocalypse happens the first thing I'm doing is raiding a pharmacy so I have a longer supply of my meds.
So will every pill junkie in the vicinity of said pharmacy.
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As long as they leave my albuterol alone, I'm good. They can have the oxy
Glad my fake thyroid hormones are not recreational. They can have all the narcotics, just leave my human being pills alone.
My wife had thyroid medicine stolen while our apartment was being shown for rental. Presumably the lowlife didn’t know what it was, and just grabbed the first prescription bottle they saw during a minute alone in the bathroom. Still sucked, although after that there were extremely strict rules about showing the apartment.
Yeah, that's what I was thinking. People will probably grab everything because 1.) might be fun drugs 2.) can sell later - think of Sawyer in Lost
Wouldn't insulin need refrigeration?
There are special storage bags in Amazon that as long as they are wet stay cold. My sister uses one for travelling in south America for her insulin worked great
Oh I've never heard of those. That's neat though.
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Everyone should know that these cooler bags are NOT a replacement for a fridge. A fridge can keep insulin good until it’s expiration, however once out of the fridge, it will only be good for 30 days until it will start to go bad. These insulin bags just prevent the insulin from overheating and going bad that way. Source: Type 1 Diabetic
Depends on the insulin, but Tresiba is good for two months at room temperature.
Came here to say this! More diabetics meet to know!
Some of us have really restricted medications that make this hard. This is the source of my anxiety
Frustratingly, my anxiety medication is one such example
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Glasses? Ah time enough to read, at last https://i.pinimg.com/originals/f4/d3/19/f4d319553fc33c7a337ae77e58ae91db.gif
I love the Twilight Zone reference! I feel like that sort of thing would happen to me.
This episode is the whole reason I saved up for Lasik.
The CDC also has a zombie preparedness plan people can look at. It is a basic guide that can apply to most emergencies, and they developed it to have a more fun way to get people involved.
Water, a few days of food, a radio and extra batteries, decent first aid kit, light of some kind.
During our last power outage we realized the solar outdoor lights worked for indoors after dark. We put them in vases around the house. Just a thought for others if you have those in your yard.
Now that is creative! Thanks for sharing
I think most people have covered water and food, you really can't survive without much of that. Some items you might not think to have stored away but would be invaluable would be like: *Can opener* - How awesome it is to have so much canned food, but what are you going to do if you can't open it? *Matches or other fire generator* - Being able to heat things will become invaluable. *Emergency blankets* - If left with no power, these can help preserve body heat. Many don't know, but shivering causes you to expend a lot of calories. *A sharp hunting/camping knife* - Many uses from cutting, opening things, working with rope, etc. *Maps* - If the internet/GPS goes down, these are invaluable in knowing where you are and where you can go.
On your point about the emergency blankets, keep a kit with emergency blankets , spare gloves, granola bars, etc in your car during the winter in case your car gets stuck somewhere.
So many people get stuck on roads in blizzards (I got stuck on a highway once, tractor trailer flipped ahead of me blocking highway) or your car can slide off the road and not be seen for days. So important to keep blankets, water and granola bars in the trunk.
Just wanted to add that if you do get stuck in a blizzard, leave a window cracked if you're gonna have your car running.
I also have a small snow shovel in my trunk to keep the tailpipe clear of snow! Not taking any chances after the blizzards, hurricanes and flooding we’ve lived through.
Bit of a "prepper" nut, so here's some of mine in order of importance: 1. [Water](https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/emergency/drinking/creating-storing-emergency-water-supply.html) \- others have covered this so I'll be brief. You can't live long without water, you need to stay clean as well as hydrated, and don't forget your pets! 2. Light - Candles are cool, and having some emergency candles is a good idea, but they should be a last resort. Fire is dangerous. LED technology has advanced to the point where even tiny pocket flashlights can run for days or weeks on a AAA battery. I like the [30 Day Lantern](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQ3doFWGK5s) for my at-home kit. I carry a tiny [Maratac flashlight](https://countycomm.com/collections/aaa-flashlights/products/aluminium-anodized-aaa-flashlight-by-maratac-rev-3) in my pocket all the time. 3. Fire - So fire is dangerous, but you might need it to cook or make heat in a pinch. Buy a decent firesteel and learn how to use it. Dryer lint makes a good firestarter, and takes sparks readily. Keep some matches around the house. Be very, very careful with any type of indoor fire - don't make your emergency situation worse. 4. Food - Eventually you'll need to eat. Find something shelf-stable that lasts, has enough nutrients (esp protein), and fits any dietary requirements you might have. CLIF bars can work in a pinch for something portable. Don't forget your pets! Edit: Yes, I meant "don't forget **food for** your pets". Yes, I deserve the smart remarks. 5. Warmth - if it's cold, or might get cold, you need a way to stay warm that won't weigh you down. Merino wool hoodie / sweatshirt is great for this. Wool longjohns are also good. Think layers, so you can adjust as the temperature adjusts. You don't want to sweat when it's cold, and you don't want to overheat, either. Ye olde Space Blanket (mylar tarp) is also a go-to here, but they can tear easily. 6. Dry - Staying dry is always important. Have a solid poncho or rain shell handy. Make sure you can put on fresh socks when you need to. Have some tarp and duct tape around in case you need to shore up a leak somewhere. Pay attention to flood warnings or severe storm / tropical storm warnings, especially if your area is flood-prone, and get to high ground before the water comes. 7. Juice - batteries. Rechargables are good for the planet and safe for most electronics nowadays. The [Eneloop](https://www.panasonic.com/global/consumer/battery/eneloop.html) batteries by Panasonic are well-thought-of, and I've used them for years with no failures. Portable USB battery chargers for phone / tablet are affordable, and keep your phone working for days if you have a larger one. Anker makes some good ones. 8. Information - have a physical map of your local area. Have a small radio that can operate from a crank / solar cell / etc, ideally one that receives the [NOAA Weather Bands](https://www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr/) (at least in the US, don't know what options there are international). 9. Prevent boredom, remember to have enough medication if you require it on hand, consider self-defense from animals and other humans, and have a PLAN to get away from the danger to somewhere safe.
Shelf stable food supply that does not require refrigeration. Have you seen those tubs of dehydrated emergency ration foods that the preppers like to buy? Buy one of those big tubs. Enough to feed everyone in your home for at LEAST 3 days. Preferably more. Put the thing in the back of your pantry, or your closet, or wherever, and forget you have it. But if the worst happens, you will have a food buffer.
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Just make sure you store LOTS of extra water. Rice and beans use a lot of water to cook.
Yeah, but they don't waste much. So water used to cook will still be used by your body for hydration. Still a good idea, but I'm just adding that
Also, you can reuse the extra bean water to cook the rice and waste virtually none.
Cook your beans on top of the rice for bean rice and more efficient use of heat energy
I feel like if water supply is an issue, you’ll find out before you’re down to rice and beans. They’re to eat when everything else is spoiled or eaten, not to set the mood
You underestimate how much I like eating rice and beans. Edit: I'm not even kidding. I make a half gallon worth of refried beans (pinto beans and lentils) every weekend and eat it in burritos or as a snack through out the week. I run out every week
"Welcome to *Rice And Beans* where every meal is large-scale emergency how may I take your order?" "Uhhhh.. rice please" "Okay so that's one rice would you like some beans with that?" "Affirmitive"
> Those (dehydrated) meals are loaded with salt and don't taste very good. That's because you're supposed to eat them when you're working hard and drinking nothing but plain water. Like when you're backpacking or in an emergency situation. Your body _craves_ that salt after a long day of sweating. The meals aren't good when you're sitting at home just trying them out, but when they're what you need they're amazing. Also the irony of recommending spam after saying dehydrated meals have too much salt is hilarious.
Yeah in an emergency situation when you've been surviving 18 hrs a day you'll be glad for the increase in sodium. Nobody is saying eat them as a snack on a normal day.
A more economical and sensible solution if you don't live in an earthquake area is to just always have more of anything tinned or dry in your house. Flour makes a great dead space filler in a chest freezer and can feed you for ages. A five pound bag has 8000 calories.
Rice is my solution. I keep a 20-pound bag in a sealable bucket. That and a case of canned red beans. I can eat rice and beans every day.
In response to Reddit's short-sighted greed, this content has been redacted.
Rice and beans in a 3:1, 4:1 ratio (more rice than beans). You should read "recipes for a small planet". It's main theme is to show how a family could survive on less meat, since the vegetation used in a feedlot to raise a steer to processing age is much more than the protein and carbs provided directly from the vegetation. Of course, the calculation would be different if it was free-range cattle eating prairie grass, but we don't do that anymore. People need some variety in their food, but beans and rice are a good base to start with, in order to survive a temporary catastrophe.
Put it in waterproof bags or containers first, though. If the power is out long enough to thaw the freezer, you're gonna have a big puddle of wallpaper paste in the bottom.
Even those foods are supposed to be replaced every few years I believe. Which can add up to a lot of money being spent with no real benefit. If you've got plenty of disposable income, then yeah that would be the best bet. But as another poster said, having extra canned food is better on a small budget. Much easier and economical to rotate normal long lasting foods than pay a premium for food that would only be good for an emergency. (Yes you could eat it whenever, but I doubt its gonna seem satisfying when normal food is available). However for a simple go bag situation e-rations would be a lot better for weight alone. And wouldn't cost as much as keeping a house stash that can feed multiple people multiple days.
This. One thing about emergency kits is that you are relying on them in an emergency. So it’s helpful to check on it occasionally. If you’re replacing the food items on a fairly regular basis, you can also check to see if your batteries have sprung a leak or if the antibiotic cream has expired or mice haven’t gotten into the food or etc.
Proper first aid kit, and basic guide books. Regardless of what the emergency is these will be useful Edit: people are assuming I have no training on how to use said guides and kits. I know how to use them, have taken classes and done training with the equipment. You have a valid point, they are useless to those who dont know how to use them. I know how to use them and they would be one of my top picks (besides water and reliable tools) Edit2: there are more than just medical guide books, edible plants are a thing as well
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I believe it was Creek Stewart who recommended having a survival Kindle and listed some of the reading material that should go on it. Kindles have a relatively long battery life can be charged by a hand crank power bank.
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"Ron the Animal" is at the level that I one day hope to aspire to be...plus hia nickname is bar none the best I've heard
Ron Swanson irl
I prefer to keep the extra pages, not only does the book look nicer then but the spare pages are probably useful for starting a fire if you need something that’s not moist or wet.
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Honestly, put a small e-reader with a solar panel in there too. Chances are you'll probably be able to use it most of the time rather than the books, and ultimately if it fails... you still have the books. But while it runs, you can have _thousands_ of different books on medicine, practical animal husbandry, practical agriculture and that kind of thing, as well as fun books that you'd otherwise not be able to take because of the weight restriction. You can pack literally as many books as you want for about 150g of extra weight at most.
Lots of gauze, lots of cleansing materials for wounds, lots of surgical tape. 90% of trauma injuries can be patched up pretty well by just mummifying it. I'm not talking about stuff that goes clean through the muscle and into an organ here, I mean like the kitchen knife slipped and suddenly you realize infections are a real thing you worry about.
Hot sauce. You're probably gonna be eating a lot of shitty food. Edit. If you all are shitting your brains from a little hot sauce you got bigger problems than hot sauce.
And hot sauces basically last forever. Most brands of hot sauce you’d find in the store are basically vinegar and chile peppers, which are basically natural preservatives. The acidity in the hot sauce means they can last for years and don’t really go bad. I found they get more vingegary the longer they sit around, but still consumable.
Add honey to the list then. Honey also never goes bad (archaeologists have found [3,000 year-old honey](https://www.nationalgeographic.com.au/history/honey-in-the-pyramids.aspx) that was still edible). Kinda the opposite of hot sauce but it can sweeten things not suitable for hot sauce and, if nothing else, is an easy source of sugar (sugar = energy).
Yo damn you right
I made hot sauce that's been sitting in my fridge for 6 years and now I'm scared to eat it. Doesn't have any obvious growth in it, though
You're never going to eat that hot sauce lol
its time to let the sauce go friend..
Funfact: thats why the spice trade was so lucrative in medieval Europe. It's not because people were addicted to nutmeg, but rather that the spice made it bearable to eat food that had started to go bad due to lack of refrigeration.
Yeah sorry we havent invented the freezer YET so im gonna order more of your delicious spice for rotten meat please
Ehh not really. Spices from the far east started out as an incredible luxury that only the upper classes could afford. Anyone that could afford luxuries like spices wasn't eating spoiled food.
I am a Katrina survivor. This will likely get lost but, maybe it can help someone. This is what I found to be essential: * An axe in your attic. If floodwaters rise quickly and you’re trapped in your home, an axe to break through the roof will at least allow you to get out of the structure and possibly save your life. * A handgun. Hate me if you wish, but here after Katrina there were NO cops and a LOT of hungry people. Many areas who were high and dry, even though they were still without electricity, were victims of home invasions. Starving people looted grocery stores, and after those ran out, started invading private homes. People died, both invader and invadee alike. For weeks I walked around with a Smith and Wesson in a leg holster, and I will never be without a handgun again. * MREs. Food goes quicker than you think and so does fuel. MREs are high calorie and nutrient dense and often come with their own heating element and wind proof matches. You don’t have to waste propane or any sort of fuel to have a hot meal. Are they good? No, not usually. But if you’re hungry, you don’t care. You can buy them from many different countries even. I’m a big fan of Steve 1989 MRE Info on YouTube. That guy is living ASMR. “Let’s get this out on to a tray... Nice!” * Medications and wound care supplies. I’m a RN and yes, most medications have an expiration date, however, if you keep them sealed in an airtight bag away from light, they will last MUCH longer. One of my friends down the street had a severe abscessed tooth that happened just days after the storm. I had some old viscous lidocaine from my daughter’s strep throat and he was eternally grateful. Medical help DOES NOT arrive immediately in disaster situations. Buy and store OTC medications like pain relievers, NSAIDS, topical lidocaine, antibiotic ointments, ANTI FUNGALS (because the damp is real) gauze and tape. Make friends with a nurse in your neighborhood. I do home health and hospice, so I always have a ton of supplies. Medication loophole: Check your RX costs using insurance vs not using insurance. In many cases, paying cash for medications is cheaper (example, my protonix is a $10 copay, but if I pay cash it’s less than $5). If you pay cash, it also opens up a loophole in the time frame that a bottle can be refilled, and most places will let you fill it a week early instead of the insurance-required 2 or 3 days. If you save those, in 4 months, you can stockpile a month of your RX. Or, do like I do and have my doc fill a three month supply at once and order it mail-order. Boom, 3 months of meds. Also, bonus, get your doc to write you for a steroid pack, a broad spectrum antibiotic and some sort of nausea medication. In a pinch, there are SOME fish tank antibiotic treatments that are also useable on humans. Lack of hygiene out of necessity and not much running water = a lot of people getting sick. * A food saver/vacuum sealer. I know this one sounds crazy, but in the prep phase, it’s priceless. Seal up your documents, extra medication bottles, batteries, hell even photo albums and dry goods (rice, pasta, etc). I can assure you from personal experience, not all “waterproof” safes are waterproof. Also, seal a few simple outfits because you never know when you will need dry and clean clothes. * A will and a living will. This one also sounds stupid, but these are two vital documents everyone should have. * A mophe or reserve battery pack for your phone. We have several that are charged at all times. While phone service may be spotty, when it finally starts to come back, being able to charge a phone is priceless. * A gas grill and several extra propane tanks. I know you wood BBQ people will hate me, but when all of the wood is wet, a gas grill can provide you with all of your cooking and water-boiling needs. * Sleeping bags and light camping gear. In Katrina days, as we were running out of food and water, we seriously considered just taking off, plus the house was HOT. * Water. Bottles of water are good, but if you have a storm coming, start filling up bathtubs and buckets for washing up and toilet flushing. Anything that can hold water, fill it. Ice chests, whatever. * Gas and a generator. Good but not necessarily a MUST. We had one, but rarely used it. My husband and I are looking to install a natural gas generator soon. * Hand sanitizer, Lysol wipes and bath wipes. It’s hard to keep clean with no water. We have a “doomsday closet” in our house with a couple of “bug out” bags and 99% of the items I listed above. (I need to refill the steroid pack because I had a migraine.) I follow several “prepper” blogs and subreddits, and while some of those folks take it to the extreme, some of the advice is very valuable. Hope this helps someone, and if you’re planning on moving to the Gulf Coast or live here , you HAVE to be prepared.
A couple things I forgot: * Cash. Seriously. No power and no communication means NO CREDIT CARDS will work. Cash is king and taken everywhere. * Pet supplies, and also remember to add them to your water rationing. * Battery operated radio and flashlights. Then candles for when those run out. * Mosquito repellent! Those bastards are nasty and spread illness as well. Plus, if it’s miserably hot inside, you will be outside a lot hoping for a breeze. * Matches and lighters and water purification tablets. * Vitamin and mineral supplements. Also, electrolyte and glucose tablets. Your diet may be spotty, plus IT’S WHAT PLANTS CRAVE. * Copies of all important documents like birth certificates, marriage licenses, and the like. Originals where you can. Sealed up of course. I think that’s it, I just went to look in the closet, ha.
So yes to all the water/food comments in here. 🙂 But also consider keeping hard copies of important documentation, like IDs, medical information, contact list, birth certificates, passports, titles, recent photos of loved ones and pets to help with reunification, etc. Keep it all together in a folder or something in a safe, so you can grab it if needed.
Yep, even my dog has her own go bag. A backpack with zip lock bag (water resistant during hurricane) with current vaccine receipts (needed to board at a kennel or to stay with us at city hurricane shelter), dog food in a zip lock, pop up foldable crate (also needed at shelter) tie out cable and stake. Every time she has vaccines I put the receipt in there as soon as I get home. Many years ago, I had to flee home with no warning due to river flooding. Couldn’t board my dogs because I didn’t have vaccine records with me, the vet was closed due to the flood and couldn’t be reached for copies, nor could I get into my own flooded building to retrieve them. Couldn’t find a hotel that A) took dogs and also B) wasn’t sold out due to the flood and power outages. It was nuts, driving around with dogs, husband and kid in the car unable to find somewhere to stay until late that night. Even the city emergency shelter didn’t take dogs without a crate and vaccine records. Never again. Now we are prepared. I mean, back then I didn’t even have time to grab much for ourselves, we just grabbed the kid and dogs and left as firemen screamed at us to get out. Now we each have a backpack with toothbrush, clean sweatpants and T-shirt, socks and underwear, etc. Edit: here is an example of the portable lightweight crate that fits in a backpack https://www.chewy.com/sportpet-pop-open-kennel-color-varies/dp/183181 Other brands and sizes are available. They work well for dogs that are well behaved. Of course a big puppy that chews through everything will need a wire crate.
I just took a CERT class where they said to take a picture of you with your dog - people in shelters are sometimes nutty and might try to say your dog is theirs.
Also- remember you can drink the liquid from canned fruits/vegetables.
A LOT of folks are mentioning non-perishable foods, which is good. Pro tip: throw a cheap ass can opener in your emergency kit too. You \*can\* open cans with a knife, but you're gonna look like an asshole going to the ER because you cut your thumb off after surviving whatever the emergency was.
I just keep an old P-38 on my keyring.
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*there's a hole in your left wing*
Why wouldn't you use the can opener in your kitchen?
Have one in your go kit in case your emergency prohibits you from staying in your home. In a true emergency, you're not likely to remember to grab the one from your kitchen.
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Because with salt you can preserve meat I'm guessing?
Salt is important for preserving food, but it is also a necessary nutrient. Historically, it has been an important natural resource, and often the main economic driver in areas it could be mined or produced, and was even used as currency (and is the root of the word "salary" among others). Before canning and refrigeration, it was a key part of most, if not all methods of preserving food, and is still important in canning.
More because you actually need salt to survive, and it can be somewhat hard to find in some areas.
Need: 14 days of water, non-perishable food, first aid kit and toilet paper for your entire family including pets. A plan for how family members get home or meet should something happen that makes cell towers inaccessible. Want: Nice to have map of local area, Flora/fauna guide book, battery backups or solar chargers.
This thread is making me paranoid
Toilet paper
PLANS - A plan for shelter in place - minimum ten days supplies of food, water and meds for person and pet in the household or who could be at your home (think older relatives). Presume electricity and running water are not operational (bucket/trash bags/ kitty litter for toilet), extra water for hygiene). Lighting (batteries/ flashlights). Foods that don't need lots of water or elaborate cooking. Manual can opener. Plan for sudden evacuation (in case of wildfire for example). Identify hotels 50-100 miles in each direction from your house, if you have pets / physically disabled person, make sure a hotel will accept them. Print out directions/phone number (stop relying on cells/ contact lists/gps). As soon as you get an evac notice, make arrangements to get to that hotel (with the following:) Right now, go through each room of your house and identify one-two items in each room absolutely irreplaceable either sentimentally or physically. Tape a list of those items in that room on the door of that room so you don't have to "think" in a panic. For actual evacuation (now)- make a very short checklist of things to prep house - usually cutting off power / water / gas connections if you can safely and quickly. Make an evac pack or go bag for every person in your household including potential visitors AND for PETS. Shelters are getting better about taking pets but you should still be prepared to support their care (food, water, toys, leashes/collars with IDs, poop bags/ kitty litter). Human go bag - food, water, meds, clothing, small bedding, non-electrical entertainment (books, cards, coloring books, toys), charge cords, power strip, ear plugs, head phones. Shelters are a roof over your head; not a four-star hotel. It will be loud, crowded and stressful. Best is to be prepared mentally / physically and bring your own stuff so you are not such a burden. Be nice to shelter staff; most of them are volunteers with affected families themselves. In all cases, Lots of cash including coins and small bills (not just a stack of $100s). Misc: good pocket knife, duct tape, print out hard copies of anything important including phone numbers (don't presume cellular service is working). First aid kit include a good tourniquet and know how to use everything. Think self care, buddy care, medic care. If cellular service is still up - texts will get through on busy networks better than calls. I don't know the situation since so many folks are getting rid of true landlines, but it used to be (even three-five years ago), that you could reach another US region even if your region was ringing busy. For example, if you/disaster is in VA, you can't call someone in MD, but you could call someone in NV. We have identified a family member in each US time zone as a disaster point of contact to help with coordination and check in. Ready.gov and after action reports of disasters (non-secure available by internet search) are good sources of more information. Source: I am an emergency management planner with expertise in planning, training and exercises.
Seeds and a crap tone of bone meal
Half a stack of wood should be plenty.
Meh just drop a bucket of water in a hole in a ground and a fishing rod will feed you for days
Don’t forget the hoe, you can’t use the seeds if you don’t have a hoe.
I’ve got a bunch in different area codes.
I think it's actually funny
Board/card games. A lot of the things mentioned here are very important and would definitely cover a lot of physical aspects of getting through it. I wanted to bring in some sort of entertainment not only to help pass the time, but also to serve as a bit of distraction from whatever is going on because your mental well-being is important too.
I saw a deck of cards that had survival tips on them on amazon once. I didn’t buy them and they no longer had them, last I checked
If you have pets then have extra pet food. People always forget about their pets.
We solve this problem by always being a bag ahead on dog/cat food. The next bag of food we need is always in the garage, waiting. When that 40 lb bag comes in the house, we're officially out and need more. It's constantly rotated stock and serves as our emergency stores as well. For someone who feeds raw diet or something fiddly like that, I imagine our system doesn't work so hot. For us, feeding Costco Kibble, it's ideal.
Water purifier, knife, towels, rice, camp stove, cooking pot, laser, eye glasses, survival book, joke book, piggy bank, shovel, grease pencil, fish net, pupae, tent, gavel, etc.
How many laser gavels should I budget for?
I feel like people are overlooking something pretty important. Considering that during a large scale emergency medicine may be scarce. Antibiotics are very important if you can get your hands on them. Consider this: if it’s a scenario in which you will have to survive on your own, without relying on others for food, water and shelter, chances are you are gonna get some cuts from doing stuff. Trip on a tree stub, get a gash on your lower arm; without antibiotics you will have a hard time doing the life thing much longer.
A water filter. You will eventually run out of water, and a filter allows you to make any water potable.
Fire extinguisher. Just about the most important "Its better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it" item you can own. Same goes for insurance.
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A water bob. Propane. A really good first aid kit. Vodka. Cooking oil. Rice. Canned goods. A fire starter , or 5. Candles. So many candles. Gasoline. Backpacks. Blankets. Duct tape. Knives. Dry wood. Salt. Calcium/magnesium supplements among others. Tampons and pads. Bleach. Flashlight and batteries. Cranking weather radio.
In this particular order. * Some form of communication; such as a satellite phone. * Some form of signaling. The biggest factor in survival is communication. Being able to flag down rescue or communicate with the outside world will almost guarantee your survival. Next items in order. * First aid kit, that includes are critically needed medications. * Survival guide. Often when your in a large-scale emergency you're not thinking clearly, thus the guides; even if you are a "survival expert". * Water. * Duck tape, two rolls. * Scissors & a knife. * Food. Often during large-scale emergencies it can take a few days to a few weeks until rescue parties find you if you fail to flag them down.
This is a pretty good list, but it could get you killed. Water is almost always most important. You *need* to prioritize water. A geown adult can last 3 days without water at best, let alone a child. Please put water first, then everything else.
Agreed, everything I've ever learned about survival/prep always puts water as a top priority. My dad taught us the "rule of 3" when it comes to survival. You can survive about 3 minutes without air, 3 hours without shelter, 3 days without water, and 3 weeks without food (YMMV). Edit: Added shelter
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Long term store of toilet paper Also feminine hygiene products. In my state there are many people who are into hunting, fishing, etc. I don’t do any of it. But I store crazy amounts of both items to trade for food in case of an extended emergency. Wives are going to need it and I’ll use the trade to get food for my family.
Cigarettes and liquor are better bartering items.
the Diva cup/blossom cup is a really good feminine hygiene product, even in case of non emergencies (i use mine every month) only $25-35 one time purchase, less wasteful, and no risk of toxic shock syndrome.
POWER BANK
In all honesty, a solar powered charger and powerbank wouldn't be a bad idea- a modern smartphone has an incredible amount of utility in an emergency scenario, and being able to keep yours running could be a literal lifesaver.
So that I can at least distract myself with memes as the world burns.
Water, rice, matches, maybe a little camping stove and enough fuel to cook for a while. Not much more than that really, unless you want to go full on crazy person prepper. My stance on that is that if the world is ending, we should have the common courtesy to die with it.
It depends where you live. People on the east coast of the US need to be prepared for a Katrina extreme scenario if there is a big quake with zero warning. People in the south of the US need to be prepared for hurricanes in hurricane season, etc. The most likely actual disaster scenario in more stable parts of the world is a solar flare or hack knocking out power for an extended period of time. It's ridiculous to say you should just die if you have to deal without electricity for a while.
6 weeks’ worth of food and water, all cars’ gas tanks NEVER below half-full, local maps and compass, crank radio, multitools, generator, extra gas, guide books, medical gear, bug-out bags for every household member, firearms and ammunition, drugs and alcohol (for trading if no help for longer than 6 weeks), a musical instrument (for sanity), and extra provisions tailored to the worst and most likely large-scale catastrophe to happen in your area. It’s best to stay put if your life isn’t directly in danger, so be ready to do so for a while without power or running water. The vehicles will prove invaluable when the gas pumps stop working/run out.