Posted on 09/29/2012 9:57:00 AM PDT by JoeProBono
No matter how much I beg, some of you, no doubt haven’t done anything to prepare (you know who you are). I don’t know what else to do. All I can do is give you the information, it’s up to you to act. No one can do it for you.
No doubt some of you are intimidated by my repeated suggestions of storing and using whole grains. If it doesn’t come from the supermarket shelf it’s strange and unfamiliar and you want no part of it. Fair enough.
But you still need to prepare. Here are ten things that you can do right now that will make you better prepared than probably 90% of the population.
And everything is available at your local shopping center – so it’s easy. You can do all ten steps at once or divide each into a separate week and shopping trip. But you need to get it done as soon as possible.
Keep in mind that this is only a starting point and isn’t presented here as a completed list.
1. Head to the nearest Wal-mart, Kmart, Costco or whatever and pick-up 20 lbs of white or brown rice and 20 lbs of pinto beans. White rice has a better storage life while brown rice has more nutritional benefits – your choice.
2. While you’re there grab 5 lbs mixed beans, 5 lbs of white sugar, 5 lbs of iodized salt, one gallon of olive oil (can be frozen to extend shelf-life), 5 lbs oats, 10 lbs each of white or wheat flour and cornmeal.
3. Now head over to the canned foods and pick-up 20 cans of canned fruits and 20 cans of canned vegetables. Be sure to buy only those brands and contents you normally eat and nothing exotic. No need to shock the senses.
4. Now over to the canned meats. Pick-up 20 cans of various meats, salmon, stews, spam and tuna. Again buy only those brands with contents you normally eat and nothing exotic.
5. Okay. Now to the to the peanut butter shelf and toss two 40-ounce jars in the cart. The listed shelf life is just over two years and each jar has over 6,000 calories. Peanut butter is an excellent instant survival food.
6. Over to the powdered drink mix – go on I’ll wait…Okay, pick up two 72 Ounce Tang Orange drink canisters (provides 100% of the US RDA vitamin C requirement per 8 oz. glass). Also grab six 19-Ounce Containers of Kool-Aid Drink Mix.
7. Off to the vitamin and supplement aisle, pick up 400 tablets “one a day” multivitamin and mineral supplements. I buy this brand at the local Wal-Mart - comes in 200 count bottle for $8 each.
8. Now to the department we all love – sporting goods. Go to the camping aisle and pick up 4 five gallon water containers. Fill with tap water as soon as you get back home.
9. While you’re there buy 250 rounds of ammunition for your primary defensive weapon. More if you can, but this should be a good start. Also a good universal cleaning kit.
10. And lastly pick up the best LED flashlight you can afford, extra batteries and bulb. Also grab two boxes of wooden matches and several multi-purpose lighters.
Don’t forget to date, use and rotate – remember first in first out. Let’s get started.
What would you add to the list?
Argh... I'm glad I can grind my own flour and bake my own bread. I couldn't live on pilot bread.
/johnny
/johnny
I believe in a worst case upheaval firearms and ammo will be among the most common items of barter. At the local pawn shops and garage sales you can find .22 rifles in a variety of makes and condition. You can often refurbish rifles that are in poorer condition. The .22 is very versatile. The ammo is cheap, it will kill a wide range of game and it can be used for self defense in skilled hands.
In larger caliber the Chinese SKS is a bargain.
Individuals have their own knowledge and preferences on this issue. And I'm preaching to the choir on FR. But the bottom line is a secure stockpile of firearms and ammo can be worth more than gold if things go south.
Honey, honey, honey, honey, and more honey. Did I say honey?
Honey has to be a prepper staple. It last longer than anything else, has great nutritional/flavor value, and is even medicinal.
You can’t have enough honey.
I could add lots of stuff to this list (it is a great start), but a heavy duty water filter should be a priority. You can make that water filter last longer with the ability to boil water, pre-filter (cloth), and chemically treat if needed.
I keep a spreadsheet of the things I have and the things I still need. I love moving “need” items to my “have” column.
This week I bought a thermal cooker, wool underwear, and 2 cases of 1 oz liquid candles for my Kandle Heeter.
I’d add clothes pins and a clothes line and a means to attach the line to something when you need it. I’m thinking of putting some hooks up in my garage.
Bug spray, mosquito repellent, skin-so-soft and maybe lists of “other uses” for things that can multi-task..such as vinegar, salt, baking soda, etc. Does anyone have a reference to a “use this for that” book or pamphlet? I often see “surprising uses for....X” and now wish I had printed all of these things out. For example, black pepper stops bleeding, salt is good for putting out fires, etc.
My dad would tell me stories of one of his aunts and uncles that would soak in kerosene. I don't remember why they did that.
List of addresses of people with hoards.
(Don’t talk about your hoards, and have guns to protect it.)
*bump* prep
does anyone have an led flashlight they can recommend
I have two 60-gallon water barrels, always full from rain. I suppose the water is good.
Main problem with me is water for the horses. Two hundred-gallon tanks, always full but when that goes, it goes. 2 horses one donkey, on a hot day they can glug down 25 gals.
Fuel to be able to heat up water to cook your rice and beans. He doesn’t say anything about that. Charcoal, propane, or a couple of cords of wood...
/johnny
Preppers PING!!
Not just governments but most major banks are broke and working on the edge. Most of the largest Mega Banks have derivatives exposures that are 40-50-60 times their total assets, so what happens if Europe does collapse (which is fairly likely) causing them to loose just a modest percentage on those derivatives? ( http://ncrenegade.com/financial/fdic-statistics-read-em-and-weep-ann-barnhardt/ )
Personally I expect something much like the well I think that we are in for something like the collapse of Argentina ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yerKMQc7-w&feature=grec_index )but on a global scale.
When you add in the fact that their is a growing concern for social unrest regardless of which way the election goes, the next few months will be like walking a mine field.
Recent events show (Flash Mobs, OWS, etc) we have a large entitlement minded population that is violent prone and armed. I think that during a collapse you will see many small businesses wiped out by flash mob looting, and once started it will quickly spread to rape, robbery and murder for murder sake. You will see what I call ‘pocket pogroms’ and if you ain’t ‘Amish’ you better not be around when they come.
Many of these ‘yutes’ will think no more about killing you than most people think about stepping on a roach. That will be the test of many. Most preppers I know are Christian people and they will hesitate to do what they might have to do to stop the ‘yutes’. On the other hand the ‘yutes’ won’t think twice nor lose a minute of sleep, in fact they will smile and laugh about it.
I can’t help, but think of this quote which is one of my favorites:
“Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: The Siege of AR-558 (#7.8)” (1998)
Quark: “Let me tell you something about Hew-mons, Nephew. They’re a wonderful, friendly people, as long as their bellies are full and their holosuites are working. But take away their creature comforts, deprive them of food, sleep, sonic showers, put their lives in jeopardy over an extended period of time and those same friendly, intelligent, wonderful people... will become as nasty and as violent as the most bloodthirsty Klingon. You don’t believe me? Look at those faces. Look in their eyes.”
Clearly there’s a storm coming, as great as a hurricane and like you do when a hurricane comes your way you either prepare to weather it or you become a victim of it.
For those who are just starting or are old hands at prepping you may find my Preparedness Manual helpfull. You can download it at:
http://tomeaker.com/kart/Preparedness1j.pdf
NOTE! THIS IS A FREE DOWNLOAD. I DO NOT MAKE ONE CENT OFF MY PREPAREDNESS MANUAL!
For those of you who haven’t started already it’s time to prepare almost past time maybe. You needed to be stocking up on food guns, ammo, basic household supplies like soap, papergoods, cleaning supplies, good sturdy clothes including extra socks, underwear and extra shoes and boots, a extra couple changes of oil and filters for your car, tools, things you buy everyday start buying two and put one up.
As the LDS say “When the emergency is upon us the time for preparedness has past.”
Or as the bible says: A prudent man sees danger and takes refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it.
NIV Proverbs 22:3
“There is no greater disaster than to underestimate danger.
Underestimation can be fatal.”
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