I can't figure that one out either. Maybe their house is still standing and they are going to add in a few tv's and then turn them in to insurance??
I can understand taking food/water, if the store is there and the owners gone and the food will just get thrown out anyway and I was stuck there without food/water then I would take it whereever I could find it from and come back someday later to pay for it.

Welcome aboard LED!

I agree, I saw many people who left town but have nothing I mean nothing. No water, no food, no gas, no way to fix a flat tire. You survived the imminent danger but now you must survive till you can get help. While it maybe true that a 72 hour won't allow staying put but will allow you to get the hell away from disaster. Water, food, cash, can keep you going for a while, then through the typical BOB stuff and you can at least be some what self sufficient and not be at the mercy of strangers.

Adam

LED, I think you may be referring to one of my previous responses. My exact quote was, "A 72-hour emergency kit is not enough in a major disaster."

I never said "a 72-hour emergency kit would be of little use".

I was trying to make the point that our esteemed governmental agencies and many other sources are stressing the need for people to be prepared for a three day emergency situation until relief can be delivered. This is utterly unrealistic in the event of a wdie-spread situation like what we are now facing in the Gulf Coast region.

Far better would be to have people be prepared for at least 7-10 days. Although even this will not be enough in the current situation, it would provide a far larger buffer for our emergency relief workers.

Hopefully, this crisis will teach our citizens and our government that we need to be much more careful in the future where we spend our precious resources.

While the contaminated salt water in the gulf can't be cleaned for drinking, in most cases a filter/ purifier is a light addition to your kit.

And if you know trouble is coming, having 2 dozen empty 2 liter bottles and filling them from the tap? Priceless.

Teacher RO

Hi,

Have you ever tried the method of distilling salty water or other impure water by collecting the steam on a cloth placed over the top of the container while it's boiling? You would have to use several cloths if possible, one after the other and lift them off the pot with a stick to avoid being scalded and when they have cooled you wring out the pure water in them. I guess the problem is it would take a lot of fuel.

Frankie

If there's gas, oil or alchohol (among other things) all you'll be doing is concentrating it in your distillate, unless you are very, very careful with your temperature regulation. When chemical contamination enters the water, all bets for easy purification are off. You're talking about charcoal filtration, chelation and scores of other techniques.

I see. It makes sense. Thanks.

Frankie

"It wouldn't be a bad idea to place a small kit in the attic . This might even include a gallon of water, an ax, and I'm not sure what else"

- Right now, I'm thinking a portipotti, a chainsaw and a canoe!!

BTW I think the most impossible water to treat is water containing nuclear radioactive fallout. In the event of a nuclear bomb, even rain water would not be safe...

Frankie

What about 5 gallon polyethylene barrels with a spigot used by those who make their own beer and wine like this:



It looks interesting for shelter-in-place supply of tap water that you rotate every 6 months (it's not bug-out water though...)

Frankie