lets discuss preps for disasters

[/pine]

Not to worry here... when our sewers overfill with rainwater, huge flapper valves automatically open and the combined rain and sanitary sewers flush directly into the river and then on to Lake Michigan.... yuck! :thumbdown:

That is probably a good thing when it comes to immediate (emergency) health concerns...
...The real issues can arise where lift stations, forced systems/mains are a factor...and there is no electricity to power them...The crux of problems occur when gravity systems (that are typical) get saturated and there is no power to move the waste water to available treatment plants with release outlets...

This is a common problem in coastal areas where barrier islands and low lying tracts (etc.) are densely populated but do not have gravity fed treatment plants (and relief pumps)...all the waste has to be forced (via pumps) to mainland treatment facilities...

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

We keep all our important (hard to replace) papers in a small plastic file holder ready to go. This includes titles, deeds, credit card information, etc.. We learned this trick when the Bastrop Texas fires got close to our home. You should include pictures that you can't replace. Better yet, scan the pictures and store them at someone else's server.

 

[riptides]

Back to flooding, we had an event last year that basically closed the bridge on my property edge. Around the community most roads were also flooded out. I recall going about 40 miles out of my way just to get home. I called the wife from across the bridge, which the local FD was engaged in a water rescue, and told her I was going to be late.

After that event, I made sure all the family was equipped with the "driest" safe ride to the house. It's pretty devastating to see your house and not be able to get to it.

On valuable papers and pics, we use our banks safety deposit box, DVD's. No electronic gizmo as one method of backup.

 

[mark02tj]

144 double rolls to a crate, 12 crates put away. Let ole Mr. Whipple hide......ahahahaaaa

You'll never be wiped out with that kind of supply!! :laughing:

In terms of floods we keep an 11' inflatable in the shed for the winter. It lives at the YC in summer and that's walking/wading distance...

Another tip if you have a propane gas grill and camp stove or lantern that uses the 1 lb cans. You can buy a conversion tube from Coleman so you can run your camp stove off the 20 lb canisters.

There are also devices to refill 1 lb cans but I've not tried them.

I rotate five 20 lb tanks for my grill. I also have a couple of adapter hoses. My goal is to keep at least 3 full 20 pounders at all times, but sometimes that slips and I'll get down to one. The last time I took 4 tanks to TSC (best price around!) to be refilled, I couldn't believe how many "are you getting ready for a big barbecue?" comments I heard.

Even though I don't grill as much during the colder weather, I keep them filled over the winter. I have a Big Buddy in case the power AND the natural gas are cut off. I also have a couple of these.

People have mentioned backup power for their wells and also mentioned putting a hand pump on their well. I do have backup power, but not a hand pump. One of the "I really need to take 2 hours to put this together" things I need to do is make a "well bucket". Basically a piece of PVC with a one way flapper valve on it. Put a piece of rope on it, lower it in your well and haul it back up. You will only get a gallon or so at a time, but that might make the difference between good water and no water in a long term situation. Lehman's Hardware sells a nice one, but I think the same thing could be made out of PVC for about $15.

 

[PhysAssist]

In terms of floods we keep an 11' inflatable in the shed for the winter. It lives at the YC in summer and that's walking/wading distance...

Another tip if you have a propane gas grill and camp stove or lantern that uses the 1 lb cans. You can buy a conversion tube from Coleman so you can run your camp stove off the 20 lb canisters.

There are also devices to refill 1 lb cans but I've not tried them.

I have and use the adapter to refill the one pound tanks from our 20 pounder, and it works really well.

It has repaid the $20 I spent on it many times.

 

[PhysAssist]

Or the Yellow Pages like we had a Boy Scout camp... :laughing:

We decided to hold onto our old phone book and yellow pages just in case..

 

[paulharvey]

Ask yourself these four questions to reveal your level of preparedness | Glenn Beck

Worth a read

 

[paulharvey]

Double post, but since I did; if you read the list, I find my self well prepared in some areas and sorely lacking in others. I know I am extremely lacking in the cash on hand (and money in the bank as well, lol, {not really that funny...}) and food one hand. Wife doesn't like canned veggies or canned food in general, so we have less than a normal house hold.

We are OK to good, on ammo/defense as well as plan. My water plan is fair (pull well pump and dip out, or walk about 500 ft to fresh water lake, and bill with wood and or propane)

 

[Jstpssng]

I take anything which Beck says with a grain of salt... He makes a lot of money by capitalising on people's fears. (I.E., the gold buying scare not so long ago.) Having said that, his questions do make some sense.

Even though your wife doesn't like canned foods, they still are good to keep on hand. If she's hungry her palate will change, and there's less danger of "borrowing" them for every day use.

 

[aczlan]

Even though your wife doesn't like canned foods, they still are good to keep on hand. If she's hungry her palate will change, and there's less danger of "borrowing" them for every day use.

Or as a trade item... TP will be a high value commodity

Aaron Z