The Ultimate Disaster Kit

[thalassa]

So...its that time of the year (what time? Hurricane time!!!) where we try to make sure that we have all our little rubber duckies lined up in a row...

Disaster kits are often what divide the "wow, that wasn't so bad" experience from the totally ska-rooooooooooo-ed (read that phonetically) crowd. Its the difference between having enough of your meds to last til the pharmacy opens and being able to patch up your boo boo til you can get medical help and not getting dysentary from drinking bad water.

The American Red Cross suggests at least 3 days suppiles for every person in your family (and don't forget Fido and Fluffy!); but it can often be longer before help can get to you. And, in a SHTF scenario, you might have a long wait for services like electricity to be restored.

So---whats in your disaster kit?

Share ideas or tricks or advice here!

[B. de Corbin]

Lots of guns and ammo.

Not so much for defense against people, although depending on the nature of the disaster and the duration, it may be necessary.

Primarily because the type of disaster I am likely to face out here in the boonies will mostly require protection from animals. Wild animals and people will seek out the same places for shelter, making those places somewhat dangerous (bears, wild cats), but also good places for hunting food.

Water usually isn't a problem here, as long as you build a fire (lots of wood here) and boil it.

An advanced med kit would be wise, but I don't have one...

[thalassa]

Some resources:

How to make your own dental first aid kit (http://www.oralanswers.com/dental-first-aid-kit/)

What The Man says (@ ready.gov)-- http://www.ready.gov/build-a-kit

The ASPCA's take on pet disaster preparedness-- https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/disaster-preparedness

Herbal first aid-- http://healthwyze.org/index.php/component/content/article/476-how-to-create-a-natural-first-aid-kit.html

choosing a first aid kit-- http://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/firstaid-kits.html

first aid kid (this is a link for a wilderness kit, which I think it your better option in a disaster situation)-- http://www.wildmed.com/blog/building-a-wilderness-first-aid-kit/

the super hard core Mormon plan site--- https://www.lds.org/topics/emergency-preparedness?lang=eng

[B. de Corbin]

There are only two likely disaster scenarios likely to affect me here -

1) snowbound. Unlikely to last more than three days. We're equipped for snow removal here, so the priorities are food and heat. Food's in cans and in the freezer, and a wood stove and wood pile are standard accessories in these parts.

2) something that happens somewhere else and disrupts food distribution. That's where hunting becomes a survival skill.

[thalassa]

There are only two likely disaster scenarios likely to affect me here -

1) snowbound. Unlikely to last more than three days. We're equipped for snow removal here, so the priorities are food and heat. Food's in cans and in the freezer, and a wood stove and wood pile are standard accessories in these parts.

2) something that happens somewhere else and disrupts food distribution. That's where hunting becomes a survival skill.

Here we have hurricanes and winter conditions. We don't usually get snowbound, and whatever we have usually melts quickly, but we often have ice and that causes major power issues because its an old grid with few underground lines (perhaps this has something to do with the tidal flooding issues, but I doubt it, since there are only a handful of areas with severe tidal flooding).

Either way, since its urban, and since flooding is often involved (in a hurricane), hunting your own food isn't an option. Our family hurricanepolicy is to leave the day before a Cat 3 is predicted to make landfall. But even a Cat 1 can knock the power out in enough of the coverage area that it can take weeks to get everyone.

[Gleb]

Mine would be - some plasters, bandages, polidin (against wounds), some herbs such as melissa and majoran, sticky materia, and some pieces of sash.
Thanks for the links, Thal! There is a lot I can take from those! :)

[Hawkfeathers]

Last winter I was stuck in the house for over a week, a couple of times. My driveway's steep and we get ice/snow. (Usually, it warms up and melts within a day or so, so it's kinda wasteful to get someone in to clear, but of course, if I don't, it sticks around! And it's very hard to get people to work here.) During Sept. I chop lots of green peppers to freeze in packets. I stock up on paper goods, and stay a month ahead on my prescriptions. I always have a lot of canned salmon, beans, etc. and in Oct. I order 50 lbs. of Buddy's primary seed mix, so we're pertty much set for the winter. They're good here in town about fixing power outages quickly. I do need to get a bird-safe space heater this fall, though, since the furnace isn't getting any younger.

[Gleb]

I always have a lot of canned salmon, beans, etc.
Canned salmon? Please tell more!

[Hawkfeathers]

Canned salmon? Please tell more!

This is what I buy:

4104

Not as good as fresh, but I like it better than tuna. They claim it's Alaskan wild-caught. I mix it up with chopped green pepper & a little mayonaise, and onion powder.

[anunitu]

Canned salmon is good,but my favorite even before sardines is Kipper snacks..Herring sometimes pickled.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kipper
http://www.crownprince.com/images/002-500.jpg

[Gleb]

This is what I buy:

4104

Not as good as fresh, but I like it better than tuna. They claim it's Alaskan wild-caught. I mix it up with chopped green pepper & a little mayonaise, and onion powder.
Nice. We have salmon paste being sold in some of the supermarkets in our city. Yummy.

[Hawkfeathers]

I've never seen salmon paste. I like those kippered snacks, too - and sardines. My father used to love Vita brand pickled herring in cream sauce. It's sold in gladd jars. I don't mind it once in a while. It's sour cream/onion-y.

[anunitu]

Is not Lox a fish thing???and I would imagine very Jewish?

From Here Lox is salmon I think.
http://www.crownprince.com/images/002-500.jpg

[Hawkfeathers]

Yup, Lox is smoked salmon, a traditional Jewish thing. I don't care for it all that much, but I haven't had it in a long time....we don't have it here in the Ozarks unless they make it out of catfish LOL My father liked it. (He was raised in the Bronx, in a very diverse but mostly Jewish area.)

People here make jerky out of venison, which is pretty good. That's another good thing for emergency times.

[anunitu]

That and pemmican,also a dried meat thing.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pemmican

[Medusa]

I am addicted to watching preppers on youtube. I know all the stuff you should be carrying. Which will help me when I raid you and kill you for your goodies. That's my plan and I'm sticking to it.

And no. I'm not joking. For all the preppers out there, there is probably a greater number just planning to go Mad Max.

[B. de Corbin]

I am addicted to watching preppers on youtube. I know all the stuff you should be carrying. Which will help me when I raid you and kill you for your goodies. That's my plan and I'm sticking to it.

And no. I'm not joking. For all the preppers out there, there is probably a greater number just planning to go Mad Max.

Hence the guns and ammo referenced earlier...

[Medusa]

Hence the guns and ammo referenced earlier...

What if I bite you and I don't go down with a bullet to the brainz because I'm now a zombie level 4? Huh huh huh? Who's in trouble now?!


* I should stop reading zombie stories. We all know I'm going to be the fat zombie stuck in the donut shop pounding my head into the glass. :shy:

[anunitu]

I am gonna be the old zombie waving a cane and chasing kids off my lawn.....
http://i.ytimg.com/vi/gpllOYQ-gr8/hqdefault.jpg

[B. de Corbin]

What if I bite you and I don't go down with a bullet to the brainz because I'm now a zombie level 4? Huh huh huh? Who's in trouble now?!


* I should stop reading zombie stories. We all know I'm going to be the fat zombie stuck in the donut shop pounding my head into the glass. :shy:

Note to self: sharpen machete before disaster.

[Munin-Hugin]

I am gonna be the old zombie waving a cane and chasing kids off my lawn.....
http://i.ytimg.com/vi/gpllOYQ-gr8/hqdefault.jpg

There's a movie called "Harold Gets Stiff" that has a scene in an old folks' home. A geezer had fallen asleep in his lawn chair outside when the zombies attack. He wakes up, grabs his walker, and a merry, slooooow motion chase ensues as the zombies shuffle after him.