lets discuss preps for disasters

   / lets discuss preps for disasters
  • Thread Starter
#502  
That's why many of us are armed, when people turn criminal because they weren't prepared, they do stupid things..
 
   / lets discuss preps for disasters #503  
I didn't end up going to prepper festival. Went to a big estate gun auction that was closer.
 
   / lets discuss preps for disasters #504  
Hello fellow TBN'ers. Long time lurker on this thread first time poster.. I have carried a semi-serious mostly non-chalant view of prepping for most of my life.. Living in the desert when growing up has enforced a need in me to carry a case of water in my truck ever since they became available. Prior to the smaller bottles I carried gallon jugs etc. A small bag of high protein snacks is always available in the truck just in case you are sitting on the side of the road somewhere, I have a always updated first aid kit etc. You get the point. but in a time when the economy should show fairly drastic signs of improving it has remained much the same.

Housing still in a slump even though some areas are showing growth many are not ( three houses in my neighborhood have been for sale forever and its a prominent neighborhood not more that 5 miles from any and all school grade levels.

Fuel has dropped in price but most things that raised costs were due to high fuel prices have not dropped back yet. Air travel (worse than ever) vehicle costs, NG, Propane, groceries and chicken or beef. we still import everything from everywhere.

I know these are small items to the drastic measure minded folks but if I have taken notice there has to be a more bleak outlook on the future than most of people minded like me have anticipated.

I just started my "more serious" preparations phase to ensure my family is protected and we can care for each other.

I bought property far off the beaten path
My 36ft motorhome is housed there in its own enclosure to ensure the elements of time don't prematurely wear its exterior down.
Well being planned but our neighbor gets 21GPM out of their well @ 150ft depth
5.4k of off-grid solar with a 12K 220v inverter installed on site. As a good test I was able to run the AC all day this past weekend and it recovered the offbus storage batts to 100% for nighttime continuation of running the AC for all but one day (clouds). This is ok as I was not completely depleting the batteries and can more than likely go 2 days with AC needs or 4 days without them in total darkness before needing to upgrade. However, I did generate for 2 hours on that evening to finish topping off and carried on. We are not in a crisis right now and fuel is readily available.. Topping off everyday is as important as it gets.. And I had to load share NOTHING! We cooked, watched tv, used lights, etc.. In a crisis situation we could definitely be more power conscientious and save energy.

This is significant and important to me and it didn't used to be. This configuration is able to support my RV, an additional AC fridge, security camera's all across the property, and my future well pump currently. I plan on adding an additional 5.4k either in service or standing by as repairs. Additionally, this is a multi-family property and the other family has almost completely identical capabilities so we will be able to combine efforts if ever necessary.

I have started gardening (well learning about gardening) its a bit trickier than just popping seeds in dirt and getting something in return but the effort is worth it. I have a nice collection of all non-GMO/heirloom seeds being used.

I'm going to get bees. I don't have any intention of collecting their honey right now I'm just going to let them keep that until needed. Mostly getting them because bees are dying everywhere and if I can care for them and keep them alive, then the more the merrier and they will be of great benefit to the garden.

Getting ready to build a wood burning grill, wood burning pizza oven, and bought an old wood burning oven from the Amish. I will be putting these out in the middle of a small field where we plan to have a big gazebo that way we can keep the heat of cooking away from the RV/house when needed.

I want to build a small house. Somewhere in the 1000Sqft range there. I'm trying to learn to build it green, build it tough, and with little to no maintenance needs. It will be built with an emphasis on solar needs so its large surfaces will be facing solar south etc. Taking full advantage of the way the environment works. The Amish homes nearby have no power or AC but remain amazingly cool compared to the mid-high 90 degree summers we experience here. There is something to be learned there.

If nothing happens, my family and I at least have a beautiful chunk of acreage to have fun events and go camping on for all generations.. If something does happen I have all the means there I need to sustain some quality of life, protect them, and keep going.

Wow long one!
 
   / lets discuss preps for disasters #505  
If nothing happens, my family and I at least have a beautiful chunk of acreage to have fun events and go camping on for all generations.. If something does happen I have all the means there I need to sustain some quality of life, protect them, and keep going.

Wow long one!

This IMO is what it is all about.
 
   / lets discuss preps for disasters #506  
I didn't read all 51 pages of this thread but what I did read was very interesting. My wife and I have been, for the lack of a better word, "Prepping" for about 10 years now. We live on top of a very secluded mountain. our road/driveway is 2.5 miles up the mountain through the woods and our property is surrounded by state land. We obviously plan on Bugging in if things go south for whatever reason. I plan on simply cutting down very large trees to deter others form coming our way.
We have the usual stored foods. my wife likes to can just about everything and we also have plenty of dry food stored in mylar. we have enough to last four of us about 12 months if needed.

But, Something I didn't see mention too much in the post I read is alternate power. Most people here are in the country I assume. The majority probably have a good many acres and some will have a very nice stream running through their property. If you happen to be blessed with a running creek ( like I am ) I would HIGHLY recommend looking into micro hydro power. Solar is great but it doesn't make power at night. Water runs 24/7 and is much cheaper than solar.

Also Medical supplies would be a must if you have no way to get to proper medical services. Even a basic first aid book and kit would be better than nothing and worth its weight in gold.

I did read where people advised putting back some cash for emergencies. That is a great idea for short term disasters but if it is a much longer disaster. Cash could very well become useless. I believe other things would be more valuable and would be needed to barter with. Of course food would be one but what about ammo? or even medicine?
 
   / lets discuss preps for disasters #507  
I did read where people advised putting back some cash for emergencies. That is a great idea for short term disasters but if it is a much longer disaster. Cash could very well become useless. I believe other things would be more valuable and would be needed to barter with. Of course food would be one but what about ammo? or even medicine?

I think that without a doubt, that ammunition would always be a good barter item. Maybe that is why .22 rimfire is in such short supply. People hoarding it. I think you are right that money will be a short term answer, but if something happened long term, money would be worthless, but if you had a box of .22 rimfire and a rifle or pistol, you can get small game to feed yourself., and it is better than nothing to defend yourself with. If you are a good shot, you can pop a deer in the head with it too if you get tired of squirrels and rabbits and birds.
 
   / lets discuss preps for disasters #508  
Medicine would be a great thing to have. How do you get penicillin legally? How about morphine? Any other emergency drug? Guess I'll stick with ammo. :(
 
   / lets discuss preps for disasters #509  
Medicine would be a great thing to have. How do you get penicillin legally? How about morphine? Any other emergency drug? Guess I'll stick with ammo. :(

You can buy a lot of different antibiotics as pet medicine....same stuff as the human version, and sold OTC. Do a search for fish antibiotics, for example, and start reading. We stock amoxicillin (improved penicillin) for general purposes, Keflex for deep tissue wounds (like gunshots/cow gets into barbed wire), Cipro for pneumonia/anthrax type issues. Store in vac sealed bags in freezer, good for 15-20 years.

Pain meds, you're pretty much out of luck.


Pick up a copy of 'Where there is no Doctor'.......great field handbook on survival medicine.
 
   / lets discuss preps for disasters #510  
In times of turmoil, how would you know whether to shoot someone or not? You might have to make that decision very quickly or risk dying yourself. In Canada, you can't use excessive force. You can't kill someone because they are stealing your generator, and yet, if that is your survival tool, I think one would be justified. The courts wouldn't see it that way though. I hope, I never have to experience that.
 

Tractor & Equipment Auctions

GHR Equipment Sprayer (A35780)
GHR Equipment...
12ft Taylor Way Field Cultivator (A35780)
12ft Taylor Way...
1967 Ford with All Aluminum Body (A36338)
1967 Ford with All...
Land Honor 400lb Cast Iron Anvil (A34127)
Land Honor 400lb...
Unused 2024 Greatbear 20ft Bi-Parting Iron Gate. With artwork "Star" in the Middle of Gate Frame (A35780)
Unused 2024...
6-row bean bedder (A35780)
6-row bean bedder...
 
Top