How "prepped" are you for a disaster? (vanity)

Me!

[Joseph Harrolds]

Just how prepared should you be to ride out a disaster, man-made or otherwise? For purposes of this thread, we'll define the various levels of "prepping" as follows, mostly dependent on how long you can "ride it out" before needing to leave your home or receive aid from the authorities:

Level 0: Nothin'. Your emergency supplies consist of half a box of Cheerios and a cigarette lighter. In case of disaster, you'll be first in line for some government-issue MREs and a seat at a football stadium.

Level 1: While you don't keep things at home with disasters in mind, you at least could live on the supplies in your cupboard & refrigerator (assume the electricity is the first thing to go, though) for a few days to a week. If the tap water stops flowing you're in trouble, though.

Level 2: You've thought about prepping to the extent that you have actually bought a fair amount of supplies with just that in mind. You have enough food and stored water to last a month, and you have at least the level of supplies suggested by FEMA at http://www.ready.gov/basic-disaster-supplies-kit. You routinely keep a survival kit in your vehicle...just in case.

Level 3: Serious prepping. Forget being prepared for the sorts of disasters that have struck this country in the past, you're prepared for worse, more hypothetical ones; nuclear terrorism, bio-terrorism, hyper-inflation, etc. Instead of a savings account or CDs, you have gold and silver. You have enough food and supplies to last a year...at least.

Level 4: It's not just a hobby, it's a lifestyle. You're ready for the End Times, full-blown nuclear war, a zombie apocalypse, the complete collapse of society, etc. You have the supplies, land, and skills to make it on your own (or with the help of your friends/family/survival group) for the rest of your life. You either live on a survival retreat already or plan to go there when TEOTWAWKI (The End Of The World As We Know It) strikes.

So the question is, which category do you most closely fit, and do you aspire to a higher (or lower) category?

I'm around level 2 myself, and would like to get to about 2.5 or so.

[Starstruck]

I live south of KC also. Probably work across the street from you. Alas only a 3.

[radiohead]

I’m probably at a 2.5.

One thing I could use some help with. I’m not a griller and don’t have an outdoor grill. I’ve read that people have been able to cook w/no power because they have a grill. OK.

Then there are the sterno and other small heating devices that seem to be OK to use inside.

What would be the best bet for a single woman, not experienced with gas or charcoal grilling, but who wants to have some way to at least warm up food WTSHTF? How long do briquets last? Do they attract bugs? Thanks.

[tomkat]

Are you in a house or apartment ?

a) If the former, have a look at this :

How to Build a Rocket Stove using 16, 20, or 24 Bricks

Could NOT be simpler, honestly !
Use whatever little sticks might be laying around your yard/neighborhood .. tons of heat w/very little fuel use.

b) If the latter, something like this would be easy to figure out :

Coleman Two-Burner Propane Stove

c) Or if you'd be interested in something classic / simple / last forever, one of these can be had from eBay in good shape for $30-$50.
       Mine has been in service since the 70s .. 3 burners & runs a long time on a half gallon tank of unleaded :

(no affiliation)

[radiohead]

I don’t want to have to build anything, nor do I want to keep gas or propane around since I wouldn’t be using it to BBQ.

I’m in a townhouse condo with a balcony, ground floor patio and garage that I guess I could cook in with the door open.

[tomkat]

Can't say that I understand the fear of having a small can of gas or bottle of propane around, but to each their own I suppose.

A portable propane or gas stove are perfectly safe if used with a bit of ventilation (cracked window/door), and those fuel containers won't self-ignite.

In any case, good luck with whatever you do (or don't) decide to go with.

[5thGenTexan]

FYI, the rocket stove pinkie-no-workie. I was going to check that out...

[5thGenTexan]

FYI, the rocket stove linkie-no-workie. I was going to check that out...

[tomkat]

Sorry .. try  this one ?

Works ok from here.

[5thGenTexan]

That one worked - thanks!

[ezo4]

Id be a 4+