I doubt that I would burn old paint, but if i didn't have anything else I might try old paint. Not sure I'd want to put up with any fumes it might give off though.

I'm thinking that oil based paint is gonna be pretty thick to try to run thru any stoves I have ever seen. And "old" paint is usually even thicker...

1800 gallons of water treating capacity isn't enough?

Hmmm...that brings up an interesting question, just how long/how well should a kit like this work? Seems to me that if you haven't found a source of potable water after you've hit the 1800 gallon mark, you've got issues to deal with that virtually no "survival box" is gonna fix.

John E

Conceptually its a shelter box, kind of the first step in survival. Looking at the deployments they've made this makes alot of sense, especially the Pakistani quake where they encountered altitude, freezing temps, and little surviving shelter. Getting people inside shelter keeps them from dying of exposure, and gives them a chance at the next level of survival. It should be very much what folks prepare for on this forum, the ability to stand up new shelter when your house is kaput in a night time earthquake, its cold and raining and your kids are shivering, their coats and clothing lost in the rubble along with grandma, Fido and the cats. Open a shelter box, set up a tent, get your kids inside, get them warm, recalibrate, then go out and begin to help others.

I think the calculation is wrong. It should be 900 gallons not 1800 gallons.

I agree.

Throw a parachute on it and the Air Guard could drop these things into disaster areas.

Just make sure the lid stays on, or the knives and shovels will come raining down...

Ok, lets assume that the water treatment chemicals will only treat 900 gallons of water. I still think that's an awful lot of water for what's basically an oversized survival kit.

Just how much gear/water/food are people thinking is acceptable for something like the Survival Box? It's not meant to replace civilisation is it?

John E

Sounds a good idea, but no mention of any light sources.
Would not a few 12 hour chemical lightsticks, or a long running battery LED lantern be a useful and cheap addition?