Be Prepared

[hog warden]

Motto of the Boy Scouts, but in many ways, good advice for all of us. Am reminded of this when I see stories today about near food riots on the east coast in anticipation of being snowed in for a few days. With a little preparation, no reason why most of us with cooking equipment need to sweat this. Even things like ice storms that knock out power for a week or so. With a little prep, most of us have the savvy and equipment to last out a few weeks.

To ride this out in relative comfort, you need a few things. Non perishable foods, means of cooking, fresh water. Heat source for the house helps, but can be improvised.

Foods: Non perishable foods that allow you to make your own breads, canned fruits and vegetables, dried beans, eggs, canned meats, etc. You can make some really nice stuff with these.

Means to cook it: Natural gas appliances help. If not, something as simple as a Coleman propane stove works wonders. Keep a supply of gas on hand and you can survive for weeks. Then there are dutch ovens you can use in a fireplace or outside on the ground. Look at dutch oven cookbooks and you see the possibilities are endless.

Water: most municipal water sources don't give out, but if there was a chance they might, or you run on a well that needs juice, stock in some jugs of bottled water. One needs about 2 gallons per day to live in comfort.

Plan for all this ahead of time. Once trouble hits, you won't be the only one scrambling for supplies.

I should add I'm not a doomsday survivalist or anything, just one who likes his comfort. No reason to fret over the weather and other troubles if you are prepared.

Anybody else have ideas to help ride out the storms?

 

[mballi3011]

Have you lived in the southeast or on the coast cause thats about the same warning and preperation we are called to do for a hurricane. I wish half the people woud think of it because when a hurricane hit most people freak out and start looking for others to do this for them. Another good point that I thik you left out was the don't open your freezer or refrig during a power outage so that the stuff inside will not defrost as fast. As it would if someone stsnds there and looks inside to see whats in there.

 

[bbq engineer]

I vote for your very own version of the beautiful and talented Mrs. Engineer to snuggle up with.

I do live a little way out of town, and I always have a full pantry of things to cook...simply so I don't have to make an emergency run to town. I also have a bunch of charcoal, camp stoves, propane powered grill, dutch oven, etc. I also keep some water around that could tide me over for a while. Also when storms are threatening, I make sure the vehicles are full of fuel...just in case.

I also have a generous supply of ammunition.

 

[rivet]

Mrs Rivet does a wonderful job of keeping our basement stocked with home-canned foods and we also keep many gallon jugs of water in both the basement and the garage for just such emergencies. In the winter if power goes out, put a couple frozen gallons of water in your freezer and you are set.

I do my share in keeping us stocked with canned goods I pick up when they are on sale, plus maintaining the survival kit. Of course, can't forget the 2 or 3 dozen cans of EZ Cheeze down there too, for that good snacking

 

[k5yac]

All good tips to live by.

We had a pretty severe ice storm here in 2008, which we were fairly well prepared for. The only thing we found ourselves short on was fuel for the generators, but we probably burned 30 gallons or so during that time (7-8 days without power). The first few days were no problem since we had several gallons in the tanks, but once that started to get low, and the power was still out at most gas stations, we were starting to refine our conservation skills.

We honestly didn't have it as bad as many others did, and certainly weren't roughing it too bad. We still had water (hot and cold), but no heat, lights, electric, etc. We try to stay prepared with lots of dry goods, fresh water, camp fuels, charcoal, etc. We were down to one room in the house, but with a small oil filled heater on the generator and natural gas fired hot water, we were in good shape. My son thought it was like camping all week. Glad he enjoyed it... LOL!

For anyone that experienced that, or a similar event... remember how errie it was to walk outside and not see any light from the surrounding towns or neighborhoods? Just the sound of huge trees breaking under the weight of the ice... like sporatic gunfire in the distance.

Anyone considering a generator... one name... Honda. Super efficient and nearly a perfectly clean power signal, which allows them to run sensitive electronics like televisions and computers (I had my laptop and Internet most of the time... really rough, eh?). We burnt 75% of our fuel in our Coleman generator (loud and trashy signal), which we only ran part of the time for lights, microwave and such in the kitchen when we wanted to cook something. The Honda ran 24/7 that entire week in order to keep the bedroom warm and illuminated, and we only had to fill the 1 gallon tank (actually a top off) twice a day.

Oh, speaking of gun fire... yeah, the stock pile of guns and ammo is always a good idea. Check and check.

 

[desertlites]

Shhhhhhhh! not to let the thugs & bastages out there know but ya I'm set for things like that.

 

[k5yac]

Mr. Maroni... the thugs and bastages would be hard pressed to get in here. LOL!

 

[alx]

I had a survivalist teacher offer to move in when i showed him my canned goods area from garden...

Water is a must for me...I also keep 2 full propane tanks for my cooker/canner....Guns and ammo for the katrinas...

 

[hog warden]

All good information. And like so many others, you guys are doing this with simple, inexpensive off the shelf solutions.

Folks that live out in the country have to be self sufficient. And that applies to taking care of oneself and family. Even here in town, when the chips are down and seconds count, help is only a few minutes away. In the country, that might be hours. If that didn't sink in, go back and read that one more time. (I live in town today, but I grew up in the country and my folks still live there).

Protecting one's stash of nuts aside, the food and shelter issues should matter to everyone. There are natural disasters (like ice storms) and man made ones we don't want to even contemplate, but it should be a moral imperative that all of us be able to take care of ourselves for a week or so. Just good common sense. And remember, once it hit's the fan, it's too late.

 

[cruizer]

I am not a Morman but I have learned alot from this great bunch of people on being prepared. Mainly the art of putting by freezed dried food and using it. Canning your own food is great but when you need to go you can't be lugging around quart jars of food. These days regardless of where you are you may have to run. The three G's are true. GOD GUNS GOLD

 

[hog warden]

I understand the sentiment, but Armageddon doesn't come along very often. Ice storms, blizzards and hurricanes do. We are talking weeks vs. years. If it comes down to God, guns and gold, were are all in for it, Mormans included.

 

[rw willy]

I don't get it?
Why not just stand out in the road and scream for the goverment to get my power restored? I seen it work on TV.
They'll HANDOUT free water and ice and then a big Tide laundry truck drives up and I get clean clothes and credit cards.
Sounds pretty good. Whens the next storm? I got to get ready.


Only kidding. "The Lord helps those that help themselves". I am prepared to help my freinds, family and myself. I'll not wait for a freebie.
Be safe and stay prepared.

 

[the dude abides]

HAHAHAHA! Funny and sad but true.

Also, don't forget to keep an eye on your expiration dates if you've got a stash that is just for emergencies. Be sure to cycle in some new stuff and eat what's been there for a while.

 

[alx]

Words of wisdom Dude.The older lady who lived alone who bought 3 gallons of milk last night at safeway for the storm- should remember this...

 

[beer-b-q]

I always believe in planning ahead. I figure we could live a couple of months on what we have stocked up on the only problem would be water should the municipal system be down...

 

[nwdave]

A second endorsement for the Honda series of generators. They are the best investment you can make. Our electrical company uses them out on job sites and they get far worse abuse than any you'll give them, and they keep on working and working.
Also, how many of you have outdoor grills and smokers? During the last power outage, I learned how to cook a Papa Murphy Pizza on the grill. Didn't burn it too bad. Even us city folks have to struggle along somehow.

Also, a reminder. If you have a backup generator for your residence, please make sure you're not back feeding out your main circuit breaker, up to the pole, out to that lineman who's trying to restore your power. If they detect power backfeed, they will bypass that section and you can't blame them. Several have been killed in the past because of this. Take 'em a hot cup of coffee, they'll really appreciate it.

 

[travcoman45]

A few jugs a apple pie shine an snuggelin with momma?

 

[hog warden]

That's what I'm talking about. No reason to panic, run out and buy 3 gallons of milk and 5 loaves of bread just to ride out one storm. Yet it happens every time.

Non-fat dry milk is perfect for this. I have the 1 quart packets. The secret is to mix them up at sit for about 12 hours or so before you need to use them. It goes from something that smells and tastes like nasty milk replacer you give bucket calves to real milk you can hardly tell from the real stuff.

Not many commercial canned meat options other than canned hams, SPAM and sardines, but somebody with a pressure cooker can do a decent job on real beef, etc. Then there are about 100 bread options for someone with flour and yeast (if you can bake it). All it takes is a little planning.

Lastly, one hazard for those with generators is using ethanol blended gas for fuel. Aside from the damage ethanol does to rubber seals, etc. (I assume a modern Honda generator has this covered), ethanol fuels take on water over time. You have to turn this over pretty often. So don't assume you can sit on 20 gallons of gas for life. It goes bad......and does so pretty fast.

And this is preaching to the choir, but the stories are now coming in about motorists trapped in cars for a day or so. This time of year, I seldom leave town without a couple MRE's, a large candle, gallon of water and heavy sleeping bag in the truck. Never had to use them, and hope I never do, but if the situation comes up where a blizzard strands me on the side of the road somewhere, I don't intend to suffer.

 

[k5yac]

Green Sta-Bil... use it regularly.

 

[travcoman45]

Stuff like this is always handy ta have:


Plus the freezers always got smoked stuff an other meats an such in em, an if the electricity goes out fer a real long time we got coolers ta put stuff in an then inta the storage shed.

If I run outa gas fer the gen were in trouble!

We keep some canned goods on hand at all times along with whatever fixins we need. I guess we could go bout 3 weeks without replacin a thing? Give er take a day er two. Plus we have connections where we can get stuff if we really have to, an yes in times a trouble there still reliable cause we scratch each others backs!

Folks have gotten to comfortable with life, they don't remember what it was like to not have power an processed foods. So when these things happen they panic. Durin our flood last year, it was more of a inconvienince then anythin elese. We simply adapted, wen't ta momma's work an filled the motorhome with water, turned on the lp an had hot water an shower's whenever we needed one. Filled buckets an barrels with water before there wasn't any, we boiled it fer dish's an had it fer other necessarys. Already had lots a drinkin water. Plenty of paper plates an such to keep washin to a minimum. Plus it's mobil, if we needed ta bug out, starter up an boogy.

We got more ways ta cook food then ya can shake a stick at. See, were still a few decades behind advanced folk. I don't know the first thing bout no game system, but ya wanna clean an cook some game? Yeah, we can do that! Sometimes society advances to far, ya gotta step back an take a look at the situation.

OK, done ramblin yall get the point.

Ride out the storm in comfort folks, hope yall stay safe!