What did you do today to prepare?

Posted by: bacpacjac

What did you do today to prepare? - 03/20/16 10:51 PM

We drank a couple bottles of wine this weekend, so I washed the glass bottles and filled them with tap water. Ditto the 2L pop/soda bottle from this week. We also added a few cans of food to the pantry, along with some KD, a couple of bricks of batteries, and a bag of 20 pairs of socks. Put a nice side of pork in the deep freeze too. Chopped it in half to make two smaller, but still sizeable, roasts.
Posted by: LesSnyder

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 03/21/16 03:30 PM

today was battery day... I was showing a friend a weapons light the other day, and discovered a dead cr123 battery... embarrassing...so much for the advertised long battery life... ordered a 12 pack, and they came in... checked the voltage on the other lights containing primary cr123s, which were all good to go....checked the charge on my lone 18650 light, and was still good after 3 months....I've got a couple of months before the beginning of hurricane season... then will go through the stored water ... need to find a one pot replacement for Dinty Moore Stew as my local Sam's doesn't carry it any longer
Posted by: bacpacjac

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 03/21/16 05:55 PM

Originally Posted By: LesSnyder
today was battery day... I was showing a friend a weapons light the other day, and discovered a dead cr123 battery... embarrassing...so much for the advertised long battery life... ordered a 12 pack, and they came in... checked the voltage on the other lights containing primary cr123s, which were all good to go....checked the charge on my lone 18650 light, and was still good after 3 months....I've got a couple of months before the beginning of hurricane season... then will go through the stored water ... need to find a one pot replacement for Dinty Moore Stew as my local Sam's doesn't carry it any longer


Batteries are so easily overlooked. Good call on checking them all.

I haven't seen Dinty Moore Stew around here. I Googled and it looks like Campbells Chunky?
Posted by: TeacherRO

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 03/21/16 09:52 PM

Ordered new sharps, checking batteries ( thanks), new pack, working on fitness
(daily steps on the fitbit program). New smaller edc pack
Posted by: Russ

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 03/21/16 10:06 PM

Physical fitness should be high on everyone's prep To-Do list. Having "stuff" in a BOB or GHB is great, but if you can't carry the bag or walk the distance, you need to refocus your preps.

Just my opinion.
Posted by: haertig

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 03/22/16 12:45 AM

As prep, I stocked up on more .22LR ammo. Finally found some good quality stuff in stock online at a reasonable price with reasonable shipping charges. For those that need some, the Aguila Super Extra linked below I rate as equivalent to CCI MiniMags in both accuracy and reliability. I've have exceptionally good luck with it.

http://www.ammofast.com/collections/22lr...me-500-rd-brick

$39.99 per brick of 500. Shipping is only $9.99 for up to six bricks. More than that, and shipping rises to $19.99.
Posted by: unimogbert

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 03/23/16 07:56 PM

Today I am practicing patience.

Last night a heavy wet spring snowstorm arrived after a lovely 70F day.

My drive to work was one of the top 3 worst I've had in 12 years of commuting 50 miles each way. Snow wasn't plowed yet and the snow was deep slush plus it was snowing very, very hard so headlights just shone on a mass of white flakes instead of the road (dark).

I'm safe at work where about 25% of the population made it.
There seems to be 2 feet of snow on the patio tables outside so far.

I'm watching the storm on weather radar. It appears to be abating from north to south but will take awhile to abate here.

My reflexes want me to pack up and get out and run home (north). My mind says that waiting for the storm to abate will let the snowplows catch up and clear the roads better.

We still have lights and heat here at work. Internet and intranet is intermittent. And I have a stash of instant oatmeal to eat if needed.

Patience. Leave when the timing is better. Don't hurry out into the madness..........
Posted by: chaosmagnet

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 03/23/16 08:03 PM

Originally Posted By: unimogbert
Patience. Leave when the timing is better. Don't hurry out into the madness..........


When I had an office far away, I kept clean and warm clothes, food, water and other supplies locked in a desk drawer. Glad to say that I never had to spend the night there. You might be smart to consider it though.
Posted by: unimogbert

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 03/23/16 08:19 PM

Originally Posted By: chaosmagnet
Originally Posted By: unimogbert
Patience. Leave when the timing is better. Don't hurry out into the madness..........


When I had an office far away, I kept clean and warm clothes, food, water and other supplies locked in a desk drawer. Glad to say that I never had to spend the night there. You might be smart to consider it though.


Have sleeping bag out in the car and have water and food inside. Could do it. But even better my officemate lives only a mile away and could put me up if I asked.

Will see how things develop. I'm sure my wife would prefer I come home to run the snow blower and shovel the walks......
Posted by: haertig

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 03/23/16 10:39 PM

Originally Posted By: unimogbert
Last night a heavy wet spring snowstorm arrived after a lovely 70F day.

I'm in your same snow storm. I'm halfway between Denver and Boulder. Luckily I work from home, so no issues. But the wife took off for a meeting at her work (not the best plan IMHO). She made it, but got the truck high centered on a drift on unplowed suburban streets. She dug out (using the super heavy duty windshield snow brush!) and made it to work and back home.

So, for the "What did you do today to prepare?" question, I will point out to her that it would have been easier had she used the shovel that I keep stored back in the bed of the truck. But before that, I should go make sure it's still there. My wife has a bad habit of "clearing out my stuff" from the bed of the truck to make room for all the miscellaneous junk she likes to haul around. "My stuff" is there for a reason, sigh, I guess I just need to convince her what for.
Posted by: unimogbert

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 03/23/16 11:33 PM

About 40 minutes after my last posting the weather radar showed it clearing overhead (Boulder) and all the way to home (Ft. Collins).
Easy drive home on merely wet roads.
Squegee in the car cleared the 12" of mashed potatoes off the roof of the Jeep much better than my industrial snow brush would have.
Posted by: haertig

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 03/24/16 12:59 AM

When it was all said and done, we had a blanket layer of two feet here, with drifts well over three feet. What a nightmare to shovel !
Posted by: unimogbert

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 03/24/16 12:58 PM

More conventional prep - I've been learning about canteen cup cooking and purchased a couple of USGI cups and been tinkering with Esbit stoves for light weight and portability.



More knowledge is good. More experiments is even better.
Posted by: bacpacjac

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 03/24/16 01:19 PM

The snow and ice replaced our nice Spring day yesterday too, while I was at work, planning to walk home. I checked the weather forecast before I left though. I dressed expecting a cold and wet walk, and also brought my rain gear, micro spikes, trekking pole and headlamp with me. I was fortunate that the rain early in the day had just turned to snow when I headed out, so it wasn't too slippery yet.

Today's lesson here will also be patience. The weather is miserable and the roads are a mess, but I have to go to work late this afternoon. Keeping en eye on the sky and forecast. Hopefully, we'll get a "CANCELLED" email from the big boss today if the weather doesn't improve. Otherwise, I'm leaving lots of extra time, taking my bigger GHB in case I get stuck, and I'll probably take the bus instead of going on foot or by bike. No point risking a broken hip if I don't have to.

Thanks to Les, I changed all the batteries in my GHB lights yesterday. Fresh batteries in my headlamp gave me more peace of mind on my dark and slippery walk home. I probably would have ended up with a frozen foot from a soaker without it. Thanks Les!
Posted by: hikermor

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 03/24/16 05:52 PM

Oddly enough, I prepared by using a new headlamp to read in bed before nodding off (the stationary lights in the bedroom cast a very uncomfortable glare). I am getting familiar with my new zabralight 600 and its ways. I will be glad on some future dark and stormy night when its use and handling will be second nature.

Fortunately, I won't have to change the battery in this dude, just recharge it - a much better technique.....

The best stuff to use when the going gets tight are items with which you are familiar and that you know will function properly.
Posted by: bacpacjac

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 03/24/16 06:07 PM

hikermor, you just flashed me back to a happy memory from years ago, when my husband got his first headlamp and used it to read in bed to he wouldn't disturb his light-sleeping girlfriend. laugh
Posted by: hikermor

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 03/24/16 06:48 PM

BPJ, you husband is a gentleman and a scholar and very fortunate besides....
Posted by: haertig

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 03/24/16 08:18 PM

Originally Posted By: hikermor
Oddly enough, I prepared by using a new headlamp to read in bed before nodding off (the stationary lights in the bedroom cast a very uncomfortable glare).

It's getting very difficult to find a good "bedtime reading" headlamp. It seems like all the newer ones are designed to light up a path as long as a football field. Or they have so many blinky/flashy modes that it takes forever to cycle through those, making the headlamp useless to me.

My current reading headlamp, I hope it never breaks because they don't make it any more, is a "Petzl Tikkina 2". https://www.rei.com/product/793266/petzl-tikkina-2-led-headlamp# Older style with only two low power LEDs. About ten lumens on low, and lasts FOREVER on a set of batteries (several YEARS in my case!) And it only has high/low/off modes.

What good reading headlamp do others use? Eventually I will need to replace mine. I want low power, glare-free, and not all those stupid flashy modes.

I've found that putting a small piece of frosted Scotch Tape over the LEDs will give a much smoother and glare-free light pattern for reading.
Posted by: hikermor

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 03/24/16 11:34 PM

Boy, are you in luck! I inventoried all my headlamps the other day and I have at least thirteen, not counting those of my wife and daughter. Most of these are low tech, like the Tikkina. They are of vast sentimental and historic value, but you can probably talk me out of them for about 90 bucks apiece......

Actually, my Zabralight operates very simply. Press the "On" button until it cycles to the level you desire and then release. At the appropriate level for reading in bed, I have something like 250 hours of light (or 5 hours at 1000 lumens, more or less) and over 500 hours at the lowest level. Recharging takes about five hours, if completely depleted.

I value simplicity highly but the versatility offered by new models of rechargeables is even better. The blinking, SOS, etc.modes are there but are not normally encountered in routine oeration.
Posted by: haertig

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 03/25/16 01:24 AM

Google search for "zabralight 600" turns up nothing for me except "zebralight", mostly the "sc600". But you've spelled it "zabralight" twice now, so I guess that's not a typo. Do you have a link to this headlamp?
Posted by: chaosmagnet

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 03/25/16 02:29 AM

No, it's Zebralight.
Posted by: hikermor

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 03/25/16 03:13 AM

Definitely Z"E"bralight. How could I do two typos in a row????
Posted by: TeacherRO

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 05/03/16 08:23 PM

After some long test hikes, doubling my water bottles.
Posted by: Roarmeister

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 05/04/16 02:01 AM

I signed up for my city's mass emergency notification system. I provided my contact methods and locations in case of a local emergency.

"Emergencies can happen anytime. Now, when an emergency happens, whether it be city-wide or neighbourhood-specific, Regina is ready to respond. With the push of a button, the City of Regina can reach thousands of residents with necessary and timely information to help ensure their personal health and safety.

Notifynow lets you know what to do, where to go and what to expect during an emergency with a message sent directly to your landline, cell phone, or email."
Posted by: bacpacjac

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 05/04/16 12:00 PM

Originally Posted By: hikermor
BPJ, you husband is a gentleman and a scholar and very fortunate besides....


Awww!! I agree! wink
Posted by: bacpacjac

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 05/04/16 12:01 PM

Originally Posted By: haertig


I've found that putting a small piece of frosted Scotch Tape over the LEDs will give a much smoother and glare-free light pattern for reading.


Great tip! Thanks, haertig!
Posted by: bacpacjac

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 05/04/16 12:12 PM

Originally Posted By: TeacherRO
After some long test hikes, doubling my water bottles.


I've done the same. I'm now EDC'ing a 26oz Kleen Canteen for meals, and a 500mL Gatorade bottle for drinking on the move, both full. The metal bottle is buried in my pack, along with my cook pot, and the plastic one right at the top, easy to grab on the go. I also have water tabs & filter straw in my FAK to make more potable water without a fire if needs be. (I also carry a 1L platypus to hold dirty water, if it comes to that.)
Posted by: bacpacjac

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 05/04/16 12:14 PM

Originally Posted By: Roarmeister
I signed up for my city's mass emergency notification system. I provided my contact methods and locations in case of a local emergency.

"Emergencies can happen anytime. Now, when an emergency happens, whether it be city-wide or neighbourhood-specific, Regina is ready to respond. With the push of a button, the City of Regina can reach thousands of residents with necessary and timely information to help ensure their personal health and safety.

Notifynow lets you know what to do, where to go and what to expect during an emergency with a message sent directly to your landline, cell phone, or email."


Great idea, Roar, especially in light of what's going on in Fort Mac right now.
Posted by: dougwalkabout

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 05/07/16 05:15 AM

I put a shovel with an extra long handle in the back of my car. I have seen several situations where this was an effective tool for putting out a small spot fire, such as a cigarette butt tossed into a ditch full of dry grass by a clueless, self-absorbed knuckle dragger. Given the extreme fire conditions out here, the ability to jump on a small fire before it grows exponentially is crucial.
Posted by: specwar

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 06/14/16 10:13 PM

Finished up buying all the 40 S&W from the local PD, they switched over to 9mm earlier this year. 950 rounds of Winchester 165gr Ranger Bonded and 850rds of 165gr fmj. Been stockpiling mags and ammo. Redacted
Posted by: TeacherRO

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 07/06/16 07:30 PM

...Bought my first Spot PLB.
Posted by: Bingley

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 07/06/16 08:59 PM

I finally gave in to European fashion and bought a "man bag," which is in reality just a purse. When in Rome, as they say. Since it's hot and I like to carry stuff, the bag is coming in very handy. I'm moving away from the Maxpedition organizer that opens like a book because it takes up too much space. I'm putting my kit in the purse -- flashlight in the most accessible pocket, and the rest in a plastic bag. You know, "break glass in case of emergency."

I'm wondering whether I might need to prepare differently when I'm abroad. I have to say they seem to have a very rapid emergency response system in the cities. Also, this place is very safe. I can't carry a sidearm, but I think it's OK.
Posted by: Chisel

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 07/14/16 09:26 AM

Nothing really for me.

But I am looking for a 12v tire pump for my DS1. The other day, my car had a flat tire, and he saw how handy it was having a tire pump in my vehicle's emergency kit. I am givng him money to buy one for his car.

DS2, was travelling to our home town with mom and DD, I gave him a flashlight.

I am planing to have each of them add a light gizmo to their car kits. It looks like this.

Posted by: chaosmagnet

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 07/14/16 02:54 PM

I like those lights.

I have a Costco jumpstarter in each car. It inflates tires, has an area light, charges USB or 12V gizmos, and of course it can jumpstart a car. Even if you have a car and jumper cables (which I do) it's much easier to use. Highly recommended.
Posted by: Mark_R

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 07/14/16 09:08 PM

I've had mixed luck with jump starters, but a decent tire inflator is worth it's weight in gold. Particularly if you have run-flat tires instead of a spare tire or large volume truck/SUV tires. I carry a Viair 70P with a battery adaptor, and it's head and shoulders above my Wife's Campbell Hausfeld.

For nocturnal repairs, I've yet to find anything better then a headlamp loaded with lithium primaries, and a hi-vis vest
Posted by: CANOEDOGS

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 07/17/16 03:46 AM

I bought a better car.the 24 year old beater had it's last hard to fix,fix.unless I cut thru the floor to get at a impossible to rejoin tail pipe.slow heater fan,not good in Minnesota! one door won't open,stuck windows,foam in a bunch of rust holes.
we have a nice new SUV but my little grocery store runner has had it.if I had to outrun the ash cloud from Yellowstone I could be in trouble or if it died by the side of the road in a zombie attack at least the stuck windows would keep them out.
but really, transport you can trust is a must.
Posted by: wildman800

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 07/17/16 06:23 PM

I deployed my camper so I could see how the new truck tows it. I also had mods installed in/on my truck to improve it's capabilities.
Posted by: TeacherRO

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 07/20/16 08:22 PM

A man bag/ purse/ laptop bag is the way to go. Extra space for my jacket, water bottle and phone battery
Posted by: bacpacjac

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 07/21/16 06:58 PM

Originally Posted By: Bingley
I finally gave in to European fashion and bought a "man bag," which is in reality just a purse. When in Rome, as they say. Since it's hot and I like to carry stuff, the bag is coming in very handy. I'm moving away from the Maxpedition organizer that opens like a book because it takes up too much space. I'm putting my kit in the purse -- flashlight in the most accessible pocket, and the rest in a plastic bag. You know, "break glass in case of emergency."


Good for you, Bing! I've never understood the aversion of guys to carrying a "murse". It's a place to hold your water bottle, jacket, snacks, lunch, book, some of the junk from your pockets... they're just so practical.
Posted by: bacpacjac

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 07/21/16 07:00 PM

Originally Posted By: Mark_R
I've had mixed luck with jump starters, but a decent tire inflator is worth it's weight in gold. Particularly if you have run-flat tires instead of a spare tire or large volume truck/SUV tires. I carry a Viair 70P with a battery adaptor, and it's head and shoulders above my Wife's Campbell Hausfeld.

For nocturnal repairs, I've yet to find anything better then a headlamp loaded with lithium primaries, and a hi-vis vest


I agree completely, Mark, on all counts!
Posted by: Chisel

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 07/25/16 06:29 AM

Not for prepping perse, but for general use. I needed somthing smaller than the work bag. So, I bought a Tablet/iPad bag (with padding). I had to modify a few things, and I am even thinking to remove the padding to create some more space. But all in all it has been OK. It holds reading glasses, some meds, A5 notepad, and few other things.

You will do me a great favor, though, if you guide me to a MEDIUM sized messenger bag (5 to 7 liters size / 300 to 400 cubic inches) without padding and with an admin/organizer pocket. It should NOT be tactical, but definietley manly.

The iPad bag is OK so far, but it is congested as is. It has no space for emergency items like a multitool, roll of duct tape ... etc.
Posted by: Chisel

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 07/25/16 06:32 AM

Quote:
but definietley manly.


Wife had given me a bag , but wasn't up to my taste for this reason. It looked a bit girly and couln't carry it. I removed the shoulder strap and few other things, and used it as a BIB ( Bag in Bag) organizer.
Posted by: gonewiththewind

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 07/25/16 12:46 PM

I have a Timbuktu messenger bag and have used it extensively. It is very durable. They are made in many sizes and colors.
Posted by: hikermor

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 07/25/16 08:03 PM

I have used an Eagle Creek briefcase/backpack for several years. Some of their current models might work for you.
Posted by: Chisel

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 07/26/16 07:31 AM

Thanks

What I am looking for is about half the size of these bags.

In addition, Timbuk2 inverted trapeziod shape is a turnoff for me. I prefer squared corners. The Classic X-Small messenger is about 8 liters which is great, but it is trapeziod shape.

The Timbuk2 Blogger bag is nice, but is twice the size I need. It's almost like a backpack.

I will keep looking for various meodels of Eagle Creek.

Thanks
Posted by: Russ

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 07/26/16 07:38 PM

Is the CountyComm MARATAC™ TAC-PAD REV 3 too big, too small or close enough?
Posted by: TeacherRO

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 08/17/16 11:10 PM

working on small lights/ reflective items for nightly walks. best to be seen by cars, you know
Posted by: Mark_R

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 08/17/16 11:58 PM

Originally Posted By: Chisel

You will do me a great favor, though, if you guide me to a MEDIUM sized messenger bag (5 to 7 liters size / 300 to 400 cubic inches) without padding and with an admin/organizer pocket. It should NOT be tactical, but definietley manly.


If you don't mind a mildly mitigated (unorganized)shoulder bag in the 300 ci range, there's the Rothco Canvas Ammo Shoulder Bag. Despite it's name, it's more of a mussette than a tactical bag.

https://www.rothco.com/product/rothco-canvas-ammo-shoulder-bag

I've found it "just right" for my sunglasses hard case, paper product (planner, notebook, or paperback), spare cell battery, and a small pencil bag. It's not the highest quality around. But, for $11 and a couple minutes with needle and thread reinforcing the stress points, it's hard to beat the value.

Incidentally, 5-7 liters is considered a small to x-small messenger or courier bag. Medium is closer to 15 liters. IMHO, vertical messengers and dedicated courier bags are more comfortable cross body than the horizontal messengers.

EDIT: The style known as "American Heritage" which is all canvas, leather, and brass hardware constructions meets the "Manly but not Tactical" requirement. The stuff looks like it was left over from WWI
Posted by: Mark_R

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 08/18/16 12:07 AM

Established an off site computer backup.
Posted by: pforeman

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 08/19/16 03:59 PM

From the truly paranoid about computer back-up: Establish several off site computer backups AND refresh often.

With that said, I do a work backup daily and backup/backup weekly with an off line version in the desk drawer quarterly and a fully off site annually - and that's for work. On the home front it's the same idea only several off site copies and the refresh is at least weekly.

Paul -
Posted by: pforeman

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 08/19/16 04:09 PM

I was thinking about one other thing and while not today, I did get an app for our smartphones: http://maps.me/en/home

The nice part is it downloads the area map and will not require any connection to work as a map. You have to use the old school read-a-map skill as the GPS isn't working but you have a workable map for reference.

I put on the phone memory a PDF file of our local metro area (lots of detail) and a state version too. Today I found a reference to: http://www.natgeomaps.com/trail-maps/pdf-quads

While the actual maps you can download are older - in many of the places I can find myself it's still the same ground and not much has changed.

Paul -
Posted by: wildman800

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 08/19/16 05:33 PM

I bought tie down straps for my camper. I also picked up a sheathed knife for DW's GHB.
Posted by: TeacherRO

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 08/19/16 10:16 PM

two (redundant) external hard drives?
Posted by: bacpacjac

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 08/19/16 10:22 PM

Those two serving packs of instant Idaho potatoes were on sale at Walmart today, along with instant Bisquick. They are both "just add water" and both were $1 a pack so I bought 6 of each, including our two favourite flavours of potatoes, for a total of 18 packages added to the pantry. I could have sworn I bought at least two more packages of a third flavour of potatoes but they must have gotten loose in the car somewhere. 8}

We harvested a little birch bark on a nature walk at a local conservation area this morning. We also got some on a trip to a friend's cottage earlier in the week, as well as a nice score of chaga. The chaga is drying in the backyard and the bark has been added to the fire kit storage bin.
Posted by: Russ

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 08/19/16 11:12 PM

Rather than an external hard drive, I picked up a previously owned (okay, used) Panasonic ToughBook CF-30 with a 1 TB HD. It's big enough for all my files and the laptop is built like a tank.
Posted by: MoBOB

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 08/20/16 03:58 AM

Worked out. I am trying to repair my relationship with my Cybex ArcTrainer. I have been neglecting it for a while.
Posted by: Teslinhiker

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 08/20/16 04:03 PM

Going out today to look for a new motor for the boat. We have an open aluminum boat which is a bit under powered with the current motor.

With a bigger motor, if we really had to evacuate long term and could not drive, we are a few minutes to easy access to the ocean where we could launch our boat from. With more horsepower for the boat, we can increase our carrying capacity and it opens a lot more options with miles of protected Pacific coastline and rivers to nearby areas to evac to and will literally save hours (or days in a major disaster) of road driving time.
Posted by: Teslinhiker

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 08/21/16 04:04 AM

Got a good deal on a lease return 30hp boat motor. Ordered a prop with a different pitch which is now on back order. Have to drop the boat off next week to switch out the motors and also have some wiring done as the new motor has a better alternator which will help more with powering electrical.

Should mention that the boat is primarily used as a fishing machine, but now with more hp, it gives us another evac option in the unlikely event it is ever needed.
Posted by: LesSnyder

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 08/24/16 01:00 PM

end of August and looks like the Atlantic and Caribbean tropical storm season is going to be active... lots of recent rain and grass mowing, and I let the gas cans get low, so topped them off, charged up the Eneloops and 18650's in the lights...water changed out at the first of the season...will charge up the 12v batteries if storms do threaten...."run from the water, hide from the wind"
Posted by: Johno

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 08/24/16 01:26 PM

Renewed my Costco subscription, big bale of toilet paper coming my way at the weekend smile
Posted by: TeacherRO

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 08/31/16 08:05 PM

1.Separating my gear into labeled boxes; cooking/water, packs, etc.
2. buying a battery pack to charge phones
3. finess walk
4. locating a portable NOAA weather radio for travel
5. hitting end of season sales for Summer gear and deals
6. doing tech upgrades/monthly backups
Posted by: LesSnyder

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 08/31/16 11:23 PM

light rain as the tropical storm approaches, I'm on the southeast quadrant so expect a lot more... picked up a HF inverter generator last week to back up my 3500W Honda, and made up a suicide cord for it... charged all the Eneloops last week, and currently charging the 18v batteries for the Ridgid cordless drill... topped off the extra gasoline cans, but having a hard time finding bulk kerosene
Posted by: chaosmagnet

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 09/01/16 12:37 AM

Please destroy the suicide cord. They're exceptionally dangerous, both to you and to linemen. Please either use extension cords or have an electrician install a transfer switch.
Posted by: EMPnotImplyNuclear

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 09/01/16 01:59 AM

Originally Posted By: chaosmagnet
Please destroy the suicide cord. They're exceptionally dangerous, both to you and to linemen. Please either use extension cords or have an electrician install a transfer switch.


Interesting...
So the options for
destroying a male-to-male cable are:

turn into extension cord with a sex change (male-to-female)

or recycle after castrating (cut off one male)


hmm, $150 of code legal hardware for a diyEasy Generator to Home Hook Up
...
and maybe double or triple to have an electrician do the wiring (says homewyse/homeadvisor)
Posted by: LesSnyder

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 09/01/16 02:11 AM

the transfer switch is already installed...
Posted by: chaosmagnet

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 09/01/16 07:14 PM

Originally Posted By: LesSnyder
the transfer switch is already installed...


Excellent! What do you need a suicide cord for then?
Posted by: TeacherRO

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 09/23/16 08:36 PM

Bought some solar lights today - nice yard lights with either motion detection or 'on at dark.'
Posted by: hikermor

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 09/24/16 03:56 AM

I participated in a two week long excavation requiring us to camp out, giving me a chance to use some of my "stuff." Things that worked - most of my Goal Zero gear,especially their Mini Lighthouse lantern,our latrine setup which used a five gallon bucket and plastic bags with gel packs, my rechargeable batteries (mostly Eneloops), and fingerless belay gloves (allows dexterity while protecting against blisters).

What didn't work so well were my solar showers, mostly because we got back to camp just at dusk and they were a bit cool. It was just easier to swab off with wipe cloths and call it clean. I also learned that nothing beats tortilla chips and salsa for a first course (together with beer) at the end of a long, dusty day....

Like we say in a companion thread, you gotta get out and use this stuff from time to time.
Posted by: bacpacjac

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 10/01/16 05:13 PM

Fall is upon us. The temps are dropping, the rain is falling and it's getting chilly at night. I added some warm weather gear to our adventure kits today: chemical hand warmers, thermal watch caps, wool socks, fleece jackets and wool mittens. Double checked and changed all the batteries today too.

EDIT: I just beefed up all our fire kits too. More cotton, birch bark, jute twine, pine pitch and fatwood for all, along with a fresh regular sized BIC. We're also making DIY flint strikers this weekend, so char cloth and a Altoid's type tin being added to all as well.
Posted by: bacpacjac

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 10/02/16 12:08 PM

Originally Posted By: hikermor
...our latrine setup which used a five gallon bucket and plastic bags with gel packs...


Plastic bags and gel packs?? I'm curious!!
Posted by: hikermor

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 10/02/16 01:33 PM

You can purchase several different brands of bag/gelpack which are convenient and sanitary to use, along with various containers. We used www.rei.com/product/876179/reliance-luggable-loo-portable-toilet

which is a standard five gallon bucket with seat and lid.

In use, the gelpack is opened, revealing a large plastic bag which goes into the bucket and contains the waste, etc. Within this bag is "Bio-gel" which interacts with waste to produce a product which can be disposed as ordinary waste (different products make differing claims). After use, this bag is sealed within another bag, constituting the package to be disposed. You also get toilet paper (not enough) and sanitizer. Ideally, one bag = one use, although it is possible to stretch it to two uses (not highly recommended).

All in all, it was simple, effective, and sanitary. We could not afford to let illness delay our work. It ain't cheap- two dollars plus per gel pack, but it is much better than a slit trench, etc.

I have a unit and gel packs stashed away for the next EQ plumbing disrupter - such is life in SoCal.......

The unit is versatile, as well. We needed to mix a large amount of plaster and the bucket served well in that capacity.
Posted by: gonewiththewind

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 10/02/16 07:02 PM

Started going through all of the kits (personal, house and vehicle), replenishing things that expire and move the old into the current camping pile. Checked the fit of winter clothing on my rapidly growing teenagers to what we need to replace. Rotated stored water and cleaned the containers.
Posted by: Teslinhiker

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 10/10/16 11:29 PM

Our yearly fall storms are upon us and the first one is due to hit Wednesday. Although they are not hurricane size and strength, we get our fair share of them and usually between now and January.

http://weather.gc.ca/warnings/report_e.html?bc41

Powerful October storms expected to pound B.C. South Coast this week

Started preparing this afternoon for the storm.

- Rotated all the stored water and also picked up a 30x500ml case of bottled water.

- Purchased another 5 gallon gas jerry can and some more stabilizer (which was already on the to do list.) With this new jerry can we now have 20 gallons of gas storage. Leaving shortly to fill up the truck.

- Ran the generator for about 8-10 minutes, checked the oil in it etc.

- Put the drain plug in the aluminum car-topper fishing boat as it makes a very good rain collector. You would be surprised how much water will accumulate in a day and I will take a pic once the rain starts.

- Topped up all Eneloop batteries (about 30 total)

- Although we are good for food, we will stop at the grocery store tomorrows sometime.

- Checked the yard and made sure there was nothing waiting for a free wind trip.
Posted by: UTAlumnus

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 10/11/16 01:54 AM

Ordered four 3.5 gallon waterblox w/ spigot. I haven't decided yet if they will replace or supplement the two liter soda bottles.
Posted by: Teslinhiker

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 10/12/16 09:17 PM

New forecast for today.

Rainfall amounts could exceed 200 millimetres in some coastal areas and more than 100 millimetres further inland. In the mountains, some areas could see as much as 400 millimetres of rain over the four-day period.

The first of four systems is expected to arrive Wednesday night with heavy rain and winds possibly exceeding 80 km/h. A second storm is expected early Friday, and a third will make landfall on Saturday.

The final storm is expected to be the worst of the trio.

"Remnants of Typhoon Songda could pack quite a punch," Environment Canada meteorologist Matt MacDonald told CTV Vancouver.
"Currently the forecast models are developing as to a major storm so we'll have to wait and see as we get closer, but definitely potential is there for widespread impacts and strong winds."

The area remains under a special weather statement for now, but weather watches and warnings are likely during the next several days.
"It's going to be continuous heavy rainfall, so every storm is going to bring 50 to 80 millimetres of rain," MacDonald said.
"Potentials for flooding are definitely there and even landslides once we get into the North Shore mountains."

MacDonald said the storm cycle is similar to one that passed through the area 13 years ago, bringing prolonged rainfall, but added that the forecasts are early predictions, and could change as the cycle begins.


Pretty much prepared for this and now just waiting to see if the storm predictions are accurate.

Currently it is the proverbial "calm before the storm" as from our vantage point it is mostly sunny at 12C (53F) with some sporadic clouds above.
Posted by: TeacherRO

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 10/17/16 07:36 PM

Working on repacking bags for Fall/Winter here. Personal fitness goals - 10 mile hike. Adding home lighting. Rotating food stocks.
Posted by: bacpacjac

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 10/18/16 02:49 PM

Originally Posted By: TeacherRO
Working on repacking bags for Fall/Winter here. Personal fitness goals - 10 mile hike. Adding home lighting. Rotating food stocks.


I've been doing the same thing with our packs, Teacher. The Fall is always tricky because it's a transition season but this year Mother Nature seems to be really conflicted. Yesterday was sweltering and we're going right back to wet and cold tomorrow. I feel like I need to pack bathing suits and wool sweaters right now. LOL!

Personal fitness is back on the top of my priority list too. I basically stopped exercising in August. When the heat and humidity hit I stopped riding my bike, and my daughter is old enough to hike on her own two feet now. The problem with that is that it's takes the work-out out of hiking for me. I carry a pack to make it more challenging but our pace isn't fast enough. I'm putting solo hiking back on my weekly agenda as much for my mental health as for my physical heath.
Posted by: bacpacjac

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 10/18/16 02:51 PM

How are you holding up??
Posted by: Teslinhiker

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 10/20/16 02:58 AM

Originally Posted By: bacpacjac
How are you holding up??


The much anticpated storm was not what was expected. Depending on the area, the winds were gusting up to 45-60 miles per hour along with very heavy rain with Friday afternoon being the worst. In a period of 3 days, collectively close to 200,000 homes were without power for varying duration. I was impressed with our provincial electrical company aka BC Hydro For this storm, a lot of their crews were preementively located to many areas before the storm hit and it paid off as they were able to quickly restore power as the outages occurred. Last I looked on Monday, less then 1500 homes were without power.

As for us we lost power on Friday but it was only for a brief time. However when the power came back on, we took a couple of strong surges and 2 kitchen lights blew and on bulb actually shattered as somehow we had missed turning off that switch when the power intially went out. Other then that, no other damage to report.

The heavy rain lasted all weekend then slowed somewhat into Monday and Tuesday. After some real heavy rain early this morning the afternoon was actually sunny for awhile. Ironically though we lost power late this afternoon, but again, it was only briefly. Not sure the reason, but doubtful it had anything to do with the weather.

Tonight we are back to rain which is going to stay with us throughout the weekend. This month alone we have received just shy of 200 mm (7.5 inches) of rain of which - almost 90% has been since this past Friday. Oh the joys of living in the wet PNW.

I had previously posted about using our aluminum boat as a rain collector. From Friday through Sunday morning, I let the rain collect then emptied the boat. Altogether, 16 pails were emptied out of the boat. That equals to 320 liters (70 imperial gallons) which is 84 US gallons.

From Sunday through to today, the boat collected about the same amount of water. Although we did not need the water, it was still a good experiment to test for possible future use for a longer term power outages and when mains water is also out.

Sorry, no image of the inside of the boat with the water in it as the only picture I took was way out of focus and did not realize until after the fact.

Posted by: Newsman

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 10/20/16 03:08 AM

Having seen what comes out of a boat drain hole -- spilled fuel and oil, battery acid, bird droppings, all sorts of rancid bait and fish goo -- I'd be interested to see how usable the water would be. Certainly better than nothing, but the fuel and oil seem worrisome.
Posted by: Teslinhiker

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 10/20/16 03:20 AM

Originally Posted By: Newsman
Having seen what comes out of a boat drain hole -- spilled fuel and oil, battery acid, bird droppings, all sorts of rancid bait and fish goo -- I'd be interested to see how usable the water would be. Certainly better than nothing, but the fuel and oil seem worrisome.


I keep the boat immaculate and it is washed thoroughly inside and out after every outing. There is never any worry about battery acid (no battery as the motor is pull start), no worry about oil as none is carried as the motor is 4 stroke, so never need to mix oil and gas. As for rancid bait and fish goo, not in my boats...ever.

The main purpose of that water though would be for other uses then drinking, but if it ever came down to it, with some filtering, I would not hesitate to drink the water from the boat.

As for bird droppings, you have drank water from a lake or river at some point in your life, right?
Posted by: hikermor

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 10/20/16 12:33 PM

Remember, that clear, sparkling water from the babbling mountain brook at one time was undoubtedly dinosaur [censored] - just another thoughtful paleontological insight....
Posted by: bacpacjac

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 10/20/16 12:53 PM

Originally Posted By: Teslinhiker
Originally Posted By: bacpacjac
How are you holding up??


The much anticpated storm was not what was expected. Depending on the area, the winds were gusting up to 45-60 miles per hour along with very heavy rain with Friday afternoon being the worst. In a period of 3 days, collectively close to 200,000 homes were without power for varying duration. I was impressed with our provincial electrical company aka BC Hydro For this storm, a lot of their crews were preementively located to many areas before the storm hit and it paid off as they were able to quickly restore power as the outages occurred. Last I looked on Monday, less then 1500 homes were without power.

As for us we lost power on Friday but it was only for a brief time. However when the power came back on, we took a couple of strong surges and 2 kitchen lights blew and on bulb actually shattered as somehow we had missed turning off that switch when the power intially went out. Other then that, no other damage to report.

The heavy rain lasted all weekend then slowed somewhat into Monday and Tuesday. After some real heavy rain early this morning the afternoon was actually sunny for awhile. Ironically though we lost power late this afternoon, but again, it was only briefly. Not sure the reason, but doubtful it had anything to do with the weather.

Tonight we are back to rain which is going to stay with us throughout the weekend. This month alone we have received just shy of 200 mm (7.5 inches) of rain of which - almost 90% has been since this past Friday. Oh the joys of living in the wet PNW.

I had previously posted about using our aluminum boat as a rain collector. From Friday through Sunday morning, I let the rain collect then emptied the boat. Altogether, 16 pails were emptied out of the boat. That equals to 320 liters (70 imperial gallons) which is 84 US gallons.

From Sunday through to today, the boat collected about the same amount of water. Although we did not need the water, it was still a good experiment to test for possible future use for a longer term power outages and when mains water is also out.

Sorry, no image of the inside of the boat with the water in it as the only picture I took was way out of focus and did not realize until after the fact.





I'm so glad these storms didn't pan out like the worst case predictions. Sounds like they turned into mostly a little glitch for most and a good exercise for the boots on the ground first responders and emergency crews.

Brilliant idea using your boat to collect water! I don't know if I would have thought of that. There are lots of uses for that water and I'm sure boiling and chemical treatments could render it potable. Having a think on my own supplies, I could probably use the kid's wagon, dingy, the car roof carrier for the same purpose. Thanks for getting my wheels turning.
Posted by: bacpacjac

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 10/20/16 12:54 PM

Originally Posted By: Teslinhiker

As for bird droppings, you have drank water from a lake or river at some point in your life, right?


On a recent hike when we scooped some lake water to boil but kids had a startling thought about it: fish poop. AHHHH!!! LOL!!
Posted by: Chisel

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 10/21/16 09:56 AM

I bought a few "pruning shears".

Well, (Engligh is not my native language, so they may have a different name). These are not the typical curved shears, rather they are straight and two sides are sharp. Exactly like a normal pair of scissors but the jaws are shorter and thicker. You can use these to cut anything from paper to thick leather,plastic,aluminum and tin sheets and even thin sheets of steel.... And off course you can use them for pruning, which is their intended use

They are very versatile and one pair sits on my desk just in case I needed some heavy duty cutting. They are more practical than tin snips or medical shears IMO. This is why I bought a few more
Posted by: bacpacjac

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 10/21/16 12:24 PM

At this point it more for fun than preparedness, but we made some flint and steel strikers out of a old file a couple of weekends ago. Now every rock picked up by bacpacgirl on our walks gets tested to see if we can make sparks with it.

Next step: trying to catch a spark and make an ember to blow into flame.

Next project: making a knife out of an old file.

Posted by: chaosmagnet

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 10/21/16 02:43 PM

Originally Posted By: Chisel
(English is not my native language, so they may have a different name).


The object you describe sounds exactly like "pruning shears" to me. And I agree, they're very useful.
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 10/28/16 03:05 PM

I inventoried my supplies. I was running low on alcohol swabs so I got more.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: TeacherRO

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 10/28/16 07:53 PM

Truck maintenance for Winter, nice new parka, talking to the Red Cross about volunteering
Posted by: hikermor

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 10/28/16 08:57 PM

I will working in the coming election on Nov 8, roving as a troubleshooter among several precincts, and I am reviewing my first aid kits, provisions, etc. preparing for a long and hectic (adventurous?) day. I think I will just throw my CERT pack in my vehicle, just in case...

Nov 9 can't come soon enough.
Posted by: Roarmeister

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 10/29/16 02:49 AM

1. Installed winter snow tires and new rims on the car. I went with a "-1 system" by going to a smaller rim and a higher profile tire. The tires were each $50 cheaper than using the OEM size which basically paid for the new rims. The tires are slightly skinnier which makes it easier to push through snow. I parked the OEM tires in the garage.

2. Replaced the "token" collapsible lug nut wrench that came with the vehicle with a solid 4-spoke wrench. Admittedly I had this on my list of things to do for a while. I have a passionate hate-on for manufacturers who use skinny spares and cut weight on items that are truly useful. Too bad the tire compartment won't support a full size spare or I would have changed that out too!

3. Purchased a lithium-ion battery jump start kit. I am still skeptical that these smallish battery jump start devices (500 amp) will actually work on a cold dead battery in the deep cold of a Canadian prairie winter! But if I was by myself without another vehicle handy it would be better than staying stranded. If nothing else it serves as a USB power source for electronics but after opening the package it doesn't have an appropriate connector for either my personal or work laptops.

4. Reviewed my vehicle kit (glove box, console, storage bins, duffle bag in trunk) to ensure it was up-to-date for winter.

5. Topped up the vehicle fluids.

6. Began writing up a presentation for my office based on, what else, "How to prepare for getting stranded in the winter." smile Now I have to trim it down and make the PP slides.
Posted by: chaosmagnet

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 10/29/16 02:51 AM

I added a two-foot length of 1 1/2" pipe to each car, stored with the spare tire, rather than replacing the OEM lug wrench. Leverage is your friend.
Posted by: Roarmeister

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 10/29/16 03:08 AM

The pipe extenders are a definitely a good idea but if you saw the OEM lug wrench they gave me you would have laughed at it. It was made of sheet metal rolled into a tube c/w a hinged section to shorten it in half. Put a pipe extender on this thing and it would bend like spaghetti. Heck, I think I could do my best Arnold "Terminator" impression and bend it by hand!
Posted by: chaosmagnet

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 10/29/16 04:23 AM

Yikes. Our two cars came with forged L-shaped lug wrenches, reasonably decent if nobody uses an impact wrench to get the wheels on the car. Of course, every shop everywhere uses an impact wrench to get the wheels on the car. I'm surprised I didn't get hurt jumping up and down on the L-shaped wrench when I got a flat. That is why I put the length of pipe in each car.
Posted by: UTAlumnus

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 10/29/16 05:39 AM

Try a ~36"/1m long 1/2" drive cheap breaker bar w/ deep impact socket. The impact rating on the socket is important. I managed to split a normal deep socket at the corner with the bar using it on lug nuts put on with an impact wrench.
Posted by: CANOEDOGS

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 10/29/16 06:22 AM


while at the local big box hardware store for paint I got another jug of kerosene.this is for the last ditch room we would retreat into if the power went off during a winter storm.
the heater is from a yard sale but looks like it might have been just fired up as a test once and put away.
I should do that myself and see just how much heat it puts out.
we have never had a major loss of power so I went with a cheap kero heater rather than a generator to run the gas furnace.
I have a newer car,2006 Ford focus station wagon that is in very good shape so unlike my older Kanoe Kars i'm not loading it down with survival gear.i'm not going outside the metro area during the winter so a cell phone,sleeping bag and snacks to munch on waiting for a tow is all I need.
Posted by: dougwalkabout

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 10/29/16 04:20 PM

Good idea about adding a "snipe" (cheater bar) to the car kit. I keep forgetting to do it. BTW, impact wrenches have a clutch to adjust the amount of torque, so a competent operator will match it to the vehicle, while a "lug nut" may leave it on the F-350 setting.

Preps:
- Getting new winter tires for the other car (once you use dedicated winter tires, you never go back to the laughably named "all seasons")

- Checking the car kits and adding warm clothing and some emergency food

- Shopping for a natural gas fireplace insert for our upstairs fireplace (this will be the type that can operate without electricity; more expensive, but highly reliable since our gas distribution is not directly dependent on the grid

- Planning an emergency wood heat system for my old-style basement fireplace (one that adds more heat than it sucks out) to protect pipes from freezing

- Setting up a tarp woodshed; I have a lot of standing dead spruce that will come down after the ground freezes
Posted by: UTAlumnus

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 10/29/16 10:48 PM

At the time, I was driving a GMC 1500 pickup. Even allowing for that, they set it on high. I know the tire shop used to use a torque setting extension between the wrench and socket. I'll have to watch next time to see if they still do.

+1 on the upstairs fireplace conversion. We've done it to both of ours. Get the non-vented kind otherwise half the heat goes up the vent. Non-vented non-electric with a thermostat works like a charm. Set it and forget it. Our downstairs set is in a wood stove type fireplace set out from the wall so to switch it back to wood is relatively simple. Uncap the chimney, set the logs out, and pull the gas line out of the ash dump.
Posted by: Teslinhiker

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 10/29/16 11:56 PM

Originally Posted By: UTAlumnus
Try a ~36"/1m long 1/2" drive cheap breaker bar w/ deep impact socket. The impact rating on the socket is important. I managed to split a normal deep socket at the corner with the bar using it on lug nuts put on with an impact wrench.



I also carry a breaker bar in the truck along with impact sockets to fit the truck lug nuts and our 2 other trailer lug nut sizes. The breaker bar takes far less room under the seat then a 4 way wrench does.

For those who have frozen lug nuts, chances are the garage or tire shop tech torqued them on way too tight. Way back in the day when I worked in a garage, we used to take a Sharpie and write the proper lug nut torque limit on the inside of the vehicles hubcaps. That way, next time the customer brought in their vehicle, it would save us time from having to look up torque values in various vehicle manuals. Nowadays, lug nut torque information is available on the internet for just about any vehicle.
Posted by: EMPnotImplyNuclear

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 10/30/16 07:12 AM

Hi,
I just step on the lug wrench,
is that not how you're supposed to do it?
Posted by: Tjin

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 10/30/16 11:04 AM

Originally Posted By: EMPnotImplyNuclear
Hi,
I just step on the lug wrench,
is that not how you're supposed to do it?


I can generally undo the lugs using the original tire iron from the car with my arm muscles. If it's too tight, you might have overtighten the lugs when installing? I always use a torqwrench to tighten the lugs.
Posted by: chaosmagnet

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 10/30/16 03:41 PM

Originally Posted By: EMPnotImplyNuclear
I just step on the lug wrench,
is that not how you're supposed to do it?


It's easy to fall and get hurt, especially if you have to jump up and down on it as I have been forced to do.
Posted by: Russ

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 10/30/16 05:42 PM

I really prefer a universal type lug wrench such as this one on amazon.com. Nothing special about that particular lug wrench, they're fairly generic, but that design gives you much better control and power over the cheap one size POS lug wrenches that come in your car's kit.
Posted by: bacpacjac

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 10/30/16 08:07 PM

I was a looking for a new one so my friend gifted me with a new edc/ghb "purse" yesterday.

It's a unisex shoulder bag, similar to a messenger bag. It's bigger than my old one and seems to be made of more durable material:

Exterior Dimensions: 12" x 11" x 4"
Linear Inches: 27"
Weight: 1 lb
Material: 420 High Density Nylon

Here's a link in case anyone is interested: Derek Alexander North/South Full Flap Carry On - Unisex

I moved all my EDC purse gear into it, and with the new carrying capacity, I winterized. I added a 16 oz Kleen Kanteen, a toque, a pair of gloves, a pair of merino wool socks and a couple more chemical hand warmers. I also added a couple packs of instant oatmeal and an mre spoon/condiment pack, topped up the OTC meds and bandaids, switched out batteries, and generally checked the condition of all the contents.

Everything fits with room to spare, and it's light enough that there's no risk of leaving it behind because it's too heavy or bulky.

Posted by: hikermor

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 10/30/16 09:19 PM

But, will it hold a lug wrench?
Posted by: bacpacjac

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 10/30/16 09:45 PM

Only the collapsible one that came with my car. wink
Posted by: Teslinhiker

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 10/30/16 11:52 PM

Originally Posted By: Russ
I really prefer a universal type lug wrench such as this one on amazon.com. Nothing special about that particular lug wrench, they're fairly generic, but that design gives you much better control and power over the cheap one size POS lug wrenches that come in your car's kit.


If anyone is looking to purchase a 4 way lug wrench, make sure to get a 20" model as those little 14' models do not give a person a lot of leverage. Also depending on vehicle fenders (flare) and rims, the 14" wrench will put your hands and body too close to the vehicle body and if that wrench slips off the nut when you are prying to loosen it, your hands and knuckles can take a nasty ride into some hard steel. Not to mention what could also happen to your face and head being that close to the vehicle when the wrench slips.

Also, these wrenches are made separately in SAE and Metric sizes. However there are also a lot of hybrid wrenches on the market that are both SAE and metric combined which take a comprise fit on the different SAE and metric lug nut sizes. It is best to avoid those hybrid wrenches and determine which lug nuts your vehicle requires and purchase either the SAE or metric only.
Posted by: bacpacjac

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 10/31/16 05:11 PM

Originally Posted By: Teslinhiker


Also, these wrenches are made separately in SAE and Metric sizes. However there are also a lot of hybrid wrenches on the market that are both SAE and metric combined which take a comprise fit on the different SAE and metric lug nut sizes. It is best to avoid those hybrid wrenches and determine which lug nuts your vehicle requires and purchase either the SAE or metric only.


I never even thought of that. Thanks so much, Teslinhiker!
Posted by: TeacherRO

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 10/31/16 06:28 PM

Originally Posted By: Roarmeister


6. Began writing up a presentation for my office based on, what else, "How to prepare for getting stranded in the winter." smile Now I have to trim it down and make the PP slides.


I find that handouts are valuable for the class - what to do and why, what to pack, what to avoid, etc...
Posted by: Roarmeister

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 11/01/16 12:10 AM

Originally Posted By: UTAlumnus
Try a ~36"/1m long 1/2" drive cheap breaker bar w/ deep impact socket. The impact rating on the socket is important. I managed to split a normal deep socket at the corner with the bar using it on lug nuts put on with an impact wrench.


I always keep a little WD-40 in the kit as well. And a little trick I learned as a kid opening Mom's pickle jars -- by using sharp blows to vibrate the lug nut free. Why use excessive force when a little know-how and technique work better?

But that's not where I often have a problem, its the seal at the hub itself. In the past I have resorted to mule kicking the rim to release the seal. smile These little tricks come from experience, you won't find any of these tips in the Owners Manual.
Posted by: Roarmeister

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 11/01/16 12:27 AM

Originally Posted By: Teslinhiker
Originally Posted By: Russ
I really prefer a universal type lug wrench such as this one on amazon.com. Nothing special about that particular lug wrench, they're fairly generic, but that design gives you much better control and power over the cheap one size POS lug wrenches that come in your car's kit.


If anyone is looking to purchase a 4 way lug wrench, make sure to get a 20" model as those little 14' models do not give a person a lot of leverage. Also depending on vehicle fenders (flare) and rims, the 14" wrench will put your hands and body too close to the vehicle body and if that wrench slips off the nut when you are prying to loosen it, your hands and knuckles can take a nasty ride into some hard steel. Not to mention what could also happen to your face and head being that close to the vehicle when the wrench slips.

Also, these wrenches are made separately in SAE and Metric sizes. However there are also a lot of hybrid wrenches on the market that are both SAE and metric combined which take a comprise fit on the different SAE and metric lug nut sizes. It is best to avoid those hybrid wrenches and determine which lug nuts your vehicle requires and purchase either the SAE or metric only.


Yep, you bet. I got the larger metric wrench (better leverage) -2015 Ford Escape. Canadian Tire had both sizes. Then I walked outside and ensured it fitted the vehicle before driving away from the parking lot. "My Mamma didn't raise no dummies!"
Posted by: Tjin

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 11/01/16 08:12 AM

Originally Posted By: Roarmeister
Originally Posted By: UTAlumnus
Try a ~36"/1m long 1/2" drive cheap breaker bar w/ deep impact socket. The impact rating on the socket is important. I managed to split a normal deep socket at the corner with the bar using it on lug nuts put on with an impact wrench.


I always keep a little WD-40 in the kit as well. And a little trick I learned as a kid opening Mom's pickle jars -- by using sharp blows to vibrate the lug nut free. Why use excessive force when a little know-how and technique work better?

But that's not where I often have a problem, its the seal at the hub itself. In the past I have resorted to mule kicking the rim to release the seal. smile These little tricks come from experience, you won't find any of these tips in the Owners Manual.


A little coating of ceramic grease on the inner edge of the wheel that contacts the hub prevents that. It's the part of rusts a little and gets stuck to the hub. Don't apply grease on the flat surface, where the wheel touches the hub. It's not only the bolt holding the wheels, but also the friction of the surfaces on each other.
Posted by: Mark_R

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 11/01/16 06:16 PM

Originally Posted By: Roarmeister
I always keep a little WD-40 in the kit as well. And a little trick I learned as a kid opening Mom's pickle jars -- by using sharp blows to vibrate the lug nut free. Why use excessive force when a little know-how and technique work better?

But that's not where I often have a problem, its the seal at the hub itself. In the past I have resorted to mule kicking the rim to release the seal. smile These little tricks come from experience, you won't find any of these tips in the Owners Manual.


I learned the same trick for breaking loose frozen machine screws. Place the driver in the screw and give the back of the driver a couple of medium hard whacks with a hammer.

As for the little centering ring on the back of the hub freezing to the axle (I'm assuming it's metal). Have you looked at anti-seize compounds?

My problem has always been breaking loose the lug nuts after the shop tightened them with a impact wrench! I usually end up bouncing up and down on the end of the lug wrench. My next automotive purchase will be a 2 ft breaker bar or telescoping lug wrench. The spare tire is 28" diameter, so I should be able to store the wrench in with it.

FWIW, I have a cheap click type torque wrench from Harbor Freight with deep sockets that I purchased years ago. For torqueing the occasional critical nut and bolt (trailer hitches, lug nuts, serpentine belt tensioner), it's been worth more than what I paid for it.
Posted by: UTAlumnus

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 11/03/16 02:53 AM

Quote:
I usually end up bouncing up and down on the end of the lug wrench.


BTDT on a motorhome. The lug wrench that came with it was a two piece affair that went together similar to one of the four way wrenches. End result was bent the wrench and called road service to send a truck with an impact wrench. We added an electric impact wrench to the tool bay when we got back from the trip.
Posted by: haertig

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 11/04/16 11:22 PM

Today, ordered a case of M855 ammunition. To stay prepared, you've got to keep your finger on the pulse of politics and product cost/availability, and buy when the time is right. I judged today to be the right time for M855.
Posted by: chaosmagnet

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 11/05/16 02:06 PM

I teach, train, practice and compete. I buy ammo when it's inexpensive and available, not when I need it.
Posted by: UncleGoo

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 11/08/16 01:22 AM

Originally Posted By: Teslinhiker
...the 14" wrench will put your hands and body too close to the vehicle body and if that wrench slips off the nut when you are prying to loosen it, your hands and knuckles can take a nasty ride into some hard steel...


I always seem to end up bloody, no matter what. I told nephew1 that the first thing I do, when I have to work on the truck, is raise the hood, lay my left hand on the fender, and give it a good enough whack with a wrench, to draw blood. THAT'S my sacrifice to the gods. Sometimes it works, perhaps only enough to keep in the forefront: "Jeez, I don't want to do that again, today."
Posted by: Mark_R

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 11/09/16 07:59 PM

Originally Posted By: UncleGoo
Originally Posted By: Teslinhiker
...the 14" wrench will put your hands and body too close to the vehicle body and if that wrench slips off the nut when you are prying to loosen it, your hands and knuckles can take a nasty ride into some hard steel...


I always seem to end up bloody, no matter what. I told nephew1 that the first thing I do, when I have to work on the truck, is raise the hood, lay my left hand on the fender, and give it a good enough whack with a wrench, to draw blood. THAT'S my sacrifice to the gods. Sometimes it works, perhaps only enough to keep in the forefront: "Jeez, I don't want to do that again, today."


Mechanix makes a pair of gloves with soft rubber along the back of the fingers and knuckles. Dexterity, while not as good as single use nitrile gloves, is still surprisingly good for the amount of protection it offers.

http://www.mechanix.com/automotive/m-pact

****************************************************************************************
In other news: started passport applications for the wife and kids and got serious about my diet.
Posted by: TeacherRO

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 11/21/16 09:43 PM

upgraded the maps in my GPS, and bought a new 30 l backpack
Posted by: bacpacjac

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 11/21/16 09:54 PM

We had our first snowfall today, accompanied by a pretty wicked wind.

No snowbrush or scraper in the car. frown That's now corrected, along with adding a grain shovel, deep freeze washer fluid and some kitty litter.

Switched out my day pack for a larger one, and went through all the contents. Changed all the batteries, charged everything, checked all the liquids/expiry dates/packaging/etc. Also added some more warm weather gear, a little more cordage, campfire cooking stuff including a bigger pot for melting snow, and a beefer fire kit.
Posted by: Mark_R

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 11/22/16 03:40 AM

Biannual kit review and resupply. New batteries in smoke detectors.
Posted by: CANOEDOGS

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 11/23/16 06:53 AM

swapped out the summer gear in the car for the winter gear.
just in time as we had freezing rain turning to snow today.
a good older sleeping bag,Gaz stove,Coleman propane lantern for light and heat,small cooking pot with cocoa and power bar snacks.
I don't drive far out of town in this car and with a cell phone it will be "wait for the tow" and not stuck on a back road "up north"
if we do drive north for some winter camping it will be in our bigger SUV filled with a world of gear for ice fishing and hot tenting.
Posted by: Teslinhiker

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 12/05/16 11:23 PM

We rarely get any amount of snow here but today, we are getting a good blast of it and there is about 6 inches accumulated so far.

Needless to say, living in a temperate climate, most people don't
bother with winter tires and when the snow starts, they find themselves stuck in it. Where we live, there is a smallish hill which is not very long nor very steep but just enough to cause grief when these vehicles with all season tires to spin out on when coming up.

In less then 2 hours, I have pulled 4 vehicles up the hill and not one had a tow rope in their vehicle. One guy had some worn out 3/8" poly rope that definitely seen better days and thought he was good to go.

Also no one had any salt, sand or any other traction aids. So in other words - they are totally unprepared.

The recovery strap I have is rated at 7,000 lbs and if someone is that stuck and needs something stronger, they will be calling a tow truck.

The 5/8" shackles seen are also rated to 7,000 lbs. In case you are wondering, the blue straps are axle straps and also rated the same. I find these thinner straps are easier to wrap around a smaller vehicle frames, axles etc. While on the other end, the axle strap is wrapped around my trailer hitch frame as is tucked up tight under the bumper which makes it a fight to get the fatter recovery strap in there.

I think that every vehicle, especially in winter should be equipped with a suitable rated tow rope or recovery strap. Anyone here carry either?

Posted by: Tjin

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 12/06/16 08:56 AM

Originally Posted By: Teslinhiker

I think that every vehicle, especially in winter should be equipped with a suitable rated tow rope or recovery strap. Anyone here carry either?



I only carry a tow strap (slightly overkill 4 metric ton version. Tubar webbing with a bungee in the middle so you are less likely to drive over it). The tow point on my car are a little non-impressive, so i don't think I want to yank it with a recovery strap.

I do have wintertires, snowchains, shovel and a traxion plate. Seems to work fine for me.
Posted by: Roarmeister

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 12/20/16 07:16 PM

I carry a never used recovery strap rated at 17,000 lbs. It has closed loops at each end. I understand recovery straps (nylon) will stretch and give a bit while tow straps will not (polypropylene).

Tips for Recovery Strap Use http://www.offroaders.com/tech/Tow_Straps.htm

Before ever using the strap, make sure it is in good condition ( no cuts, frays, or broken stitching.)

Make sure the hardware being used is free of defects and rust. This includes your tow hooks or front hitch and the hardware on the other vehicle. If possible, the recovering vehicle should place the recovery strap to its rear end, which would be the safest place if the strap happens to break.

You may be able to wrap the strap around a hitch, but I would not put it IN the hitch. I have seen a few people who have bent the pin, which then had to be cut out. Getting a tow hook or D-Ring adaptor to go into the hitch is a better idea.

Some older cars actually have tow hooks, but if not you must use your own judgment. Never attach a recovery strap to a vehicles bumpers, axles, suspension, steering rods, or a trailer hitch ball. The attach points must be to a secure place on the vehicles frame. Do not place the recovery strap on another vehicle in a way that it may be cut.

Never, ever, attach a recovery strap to another vehicle with a knot. You should pass one end of the strap through the loop at the other end of the strap to secure it on.

In case the strap may break, lay a tarp or some jackets on top of the recovery strap. When the strap breaks (lets hope for the best, but prepare for the worst), the jackets or tarp will slow the recovery strap down before it hits someone.

To help protect the strap from tears, make sure all logs and large rocks are removed from the recovery path. Everyone should stand clear of the recovery strap when it is in use.

When pulling the vehicle out, drive very slowly. Sudden tugs may lead to damage to either of the vehicles or the strap.

Once the vehicle is safely removed, inspect your recovery strap and hardware and hit the road!


---
This month I added a UCO candle lantern to the car kit to replace the now melted together (3 became 1) ordinary candles and a Quikclot sponge to my EDC pack. As I was testing the UCO candle lantern with reflector and hood, it seems I can get 12 hours out of a candle rated for 9 hours if there is no cross breeze.
Posted by: CANOEDOGS

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 12/27/16 01:53 AM

when I was a kid,1950's,i was packing for a Scout trip and using some heavy webbing from his sleeping bag outfit to hold things together.being a officer it was a big setup.i asked Dad if they would be strong enough and he said they used them to pull jeeps out of the mud!
Posted by: TeacherRO

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 01/24/17 11:49 PM

Repacking/ rethinking my EDC to reflect my more urban environment...
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 01/25/17 12:37 AM

No one would be able to find our house so it's safe to say it. We have a workroom that Mom has used to store food and supplies. She has done so for quite some time via buying a little here and a little there, especially when the price is right.

Though this journey started in November, today I got aggressive on organizing the food using my experience working in a food distribution center. I now have a game plan and made a list of things to get the next time I visit Sam's Club.

I did not touch this until this past November because (when there are shelves of individually bought items of different sizes and variety) the situation looks impossible.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: TeacherRO

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 02/15/17 08:58 PM

Getting of rid of gear which is outdated or has been replaced. Upgrading and modernizing.
Posted by: chaosmagnet

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 02/16/17 01:43 AM

Recharged All The Things. Discovered that a radio in what might be my most critical kit had a battery that would no longer take a charge.
Posted by: TeacherRO

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 02/16/17 06:08 PM

Learning more about rechargeables; what works for what, when to re-charge...etc
Posted by: chaosmagnet

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 02/16/17 07:36 PM

Originally Posted By: TeacherRO
Learning more about rechargeables; what works for what, when to re-charge...etc


Here are the battery chemistries I pay the most attention to:

NiCd sucks.

LiCoO2 AKA ICR (you probably know them as Lithium Ion batteries) are used in most cellphones, laptops, and so on. Great capacity and cycle life, with low self-discharge rates. Prone to "vent with flame" when damaged or discharged too quickly. Don't use these unless they have built-in protective circuitry. I use these in most non-AA/AAA devices.

LiMn2O4 AKA IMR are used in vapes and other high-discharge uses like high-performance flashlights. Significantly safer than ICR chemistry but has less capacity and cycle life. Most think they don't need protective circuitry. Great in high-discharge devices. I use these in one specific device.

LiNiMnCoO2 AKA INR supposedly combine the best features of ICR and IMR. I don't have any of these.

NiMH is the chemistry used by Eneloops. I use these extensively in place of primary (non-rechargeable) batteries in AA and AAA devices.

None of these (other than NiCd) have a "memory" effect and handle top-up charges well.

Long-term storage of rechargeables is best, supposedly, at around 40% of charge to prevent degradation over time. I keep most of my rechargeables in "ready to use" mode, fully charged or nearly so.
Posted by: Bingley

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 02/17/17 01:16 AM

Eneloops is such a superior technology to conventional batteries that I'm amazed it's not more commonly known. You start saving money in the not-so-long run. It holds a charge well. You create less garbage. It shouldn't be a niche product.
Posted by: hikermor

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 02/17/17 04:07 AM

I suspect their market share is growing - it certainly should be. I am a very satisfied Eneloops user,and I am starting to use lithium ions, as well.
Posted by: chaosmagnet

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 02/17/17 04:56 PM

Make REALLY REALLY sure that your charger is designed to work with not just your battery's size, but its chemistry. Also, whatever charger you use should probably be a "smart" charger that analyzes the battery to charge it the safest way, and cuts off the charge when it's full.

The chargers I've seen that come in some Eneloop packages is safe to use but not "smart", so I don't use them.
Posted by: wildman800

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 02/17/17 07:08 PM

I am not listing items but, I am putting significant resources to updating equipment and increasing my long term food storage amounts.

I am finally making a little progress towards building a community and have established a long range rendezvous pt.

I am looking for a location to establish a bushcraft base to practice and share bushcrafting skills.
Posted by: Bingley

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 02/25/17 02:30 AM

Originally Posted By: chaosmagnet
The chargers I've seen that come in some Eneloop packages is safe to use but not "smart", so I don't use them.


What do you recommend that we use instead for our Eneloops, chaosmagnet?? I have a number of chargers that came with my various types of rechargeable batteries, and I always just made sure to use the manufacturer's charger for any set of batteries. It sounds like there may be a better solution.
Posted by: hikermor

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 02/25/17 04:13 AM

Here's one I would nominate - a Nitecore Intellicharger i4. It will accept a variety of battery chemistries - nimh, Li-ion (what I am currently using) in AA.,AAA, C, and 18650 configurations. It stops charging automatically and I have had no problems, but I have been using only protected li-ions. There are other units that will do even more, but this model is working well for me. The cost was somewhere around $40, as I remember.

I am sure Chaos can add more to this.....
Posted by: Russ

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 02/25/17 04:41 AM

For other than D cell NiMH, I use a Nitecore D2 Digicharger.
Posted by: LesSnyder

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 02/25/17 11:44 AM

Wildman800...you may already be familiar with the LDS storage method, but if not this video of Wendy DeWitt changed the way I stored some long term staples... the PDF file has some pretty good information also

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOLuIApyNPc

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B06YYNupBx59QnpYd3BTdndpTzQ/view

instead of vacuum sealing in bags, I use quart canning jars with the lid sealing attachment... store the filled jars in the original boxes under my bed
Posted by: wildman800

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 02/25/17 03:09 PM

I've just completed getting a new genset ready to go online.

I purchased a metal .50cal ammo box from Harbor Freight (no affiliation) for $15.00 each. Each box belongs to a genset and has chain & a lock/key, spare spark plug, 1qt of 5w30 synthetic oil, spark plug wrench, genset canvas cover, owner's manual, ignition switch key, wrenches for ea genset's nuts & bolts, electrical plugs & adapters.

The new genset runs on either gas or propane. I will only run propane in it because propane burns cleaner AND after I disconnect the propane tank, I won't have residual gas fumes to deal with while travelling with the genset & propane tank in the back of my truck.
Posted by: chaosmagnet

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 02/25/17 03:58 PM

The Nitecore chargers I have are excellent. So are Xtar and others. No affiliation.
Posted by: bacpacjac

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 02/25/17 04:02 PM

I've been very lax on prepping the last little while so I'm currently re-stocking the pantry and re-working our family BOB.

The Pantry

The pantry's the easy part. I just buy a little extra every time I go shopping. I realized last night, though, that even though there's lots of food in the house, we've eaten our way through our stores of our favourite ready to eat comfort foods. I have tons of ingredients to cook with and make great meals, but not enough easy ready to eat food that the kids can manage on their own without having to cook, with the exception of MRES. We need more stuff like canned pastas, stews & soups, jerky & canned meat other than fish, cookies & bars, chocolate, etc. Going shopping today!

The Family BOB

Because everyone in the family now has their own personal BOB, an update of the family BOB is long overdue. It was slowly cannibalized to make individual kits. frown I think we're in good shape in terms of having what we need, but everything is scattered around the house and garage, with the exception of our BOBs, which are diligently packed and ready to go.

Our plan is to bug-in for just about everything, and only leave home if truly necessary. House fire, train derailment or problem at one of the local nuke plants are the top three reasons we'd hit the road. In such an event, we'd head to family outside of the danger zone, planning to drive around whatever the calamity is. BUT... it's going to take us longer than I want to round everything up. It's time to centralize better. All our BOBs are easy to access and ready to go, but gathering extra stuff could result in some unnecessary chaos.

In a stroke of good timing, Liea55's thread about preparing your inventory appeared. Also, I was recently challenged by a fellow YouTuber to make a list of ten things I'd want for my family in a SHTF scenario. The two really have my wheels turning!

So, for this thought exercise, I'm trying to come up with my top ten list of things that we could use at home and away, as well as while traveling, in addition to our personal BOBs. I'm not restricting myself to those eleven items though. I'm also making sure we've got all the supplies we might need beyond those.

Here's how my list looks right now:

Top Priority Items for a bacpacfamily SHTF Situation:

1. A BOB for everyone!
*I'm currently updating FAKs, batteries, food, water and kids clothes/footwear

2. Family fire box
*Fireproof lock box with important documents, ID, bonds, cash, pictures, emergency credit card, etc.

3. Family-sized tent & tipi
*Everyone has some form of personal shelter in their BOB (i.e. SOL Bivvy + GI poncho or tarp)

4. Personal Bed Rolls
*Everyone has one but they aren't kept with our BOBs so this is currently an additional step for packing for a bug-out. Each roll has 2 sleeping pads (Thermarest + closed cell foam pad) + 1 sub-zero sleeping bag + 1 wool blanket + a thermal mylar blanket + a couple of bungee cords to keep them rolled and allow them to be attached easily to a pack.

5. Family stove & fuel (i.e. 2-burner Colman propane stove) + large cook pot (i.e. dutch oven)
*Everyone has a personal cook pot + a canteen or esbit stove in their BOB

6. Water Filter & 5L collapsible water bag
*Everyone has a water bottle and some MicroPUR tabs or filter straw in their personal kits

7. Extra seasonal clothes for everyone
*It's winter! We need coats, snow pants, boots, sweaters & long underwear to compliment the change of clothes already in our BOBs. This stuff is already in the car, but it's not packed, just tossed in there. Putting it all in a large duffle bag today.

8. Extra food, water and coffee
*Bottled water, MREs, Mountain House, canned goods, pasta, rice, etc.

9. Electronics
*Phones, GPS, laptop, tablets, solar-crank radio, charging stuff, solar panel, etc,

10. Family FAK & Hygiene Kit
*Everyone has personal FAKs and hygiene kits, but this is a more robust kit with extra med supplies, vitamins & meds (including KI pills,) TP, soap, wipes, towels, purelle, bleach, garbage bags, pail, shovel, etc.

11.Additional Comfort Items:

*Special stuffed animals *I doubt these would be left behind but we should double check!
*Kid & Gear Hauler *Wagon/stroller/sled because driving may not be an option!
*Camp Chairs
*Lanterns
*Fishing kits
*Alcohol
*Cigarettes *Hubby is a smoker
*Pillows

HELP?!
This is in no way a complete or final list. It's an on-going exercise, but I am going to try to round up my top ten items ASAP so they are ready to go. Any advice, as always, is welcome and appreciated!
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 02/25/17 07:56 PM

This month I bought more items at Sam's Club to replenish the canned goods I use. Our emergency food supply is progressively getting organized.

I'm also considering new things as I remake my EDC. I mentioned toilet paper in another thread. I've also considered getting another PSP. I can't remember what I did with my other one; it did come in handy a few times such as the needle and thread, duct tape and one time I attempted to start a charcoal grill with the Spark-Lite. There have also been situations in which a compass would be handy.

I considered something larger than Ultralight .3 but based experience the Ultralight .3 is all I would need.

I told my therapist I prepare as if I still live in Dallas. I guess that is a good thing.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 02/26/17 02:11 PM

Originally Posted By: bacpacjac
HELP?!
This is in no way a complete or final list. It's an on-going exercise, but I am going to try to round up my top ten items ASAP so they are ready to go. Any advice, as always, is welcome and appreciated!

One: Let experience be your teacher. You have seen my posts on my EDC. You know what situations you have faced in the past. Assume any of those will happen in the future and prep accordingly.

Two: Use what is comfortable and familiar to you. If you have an unplanned overnighter on the floor of a house with no electricity and water, having items that have the comforts of home is a good thing. That is not always possible. If you have yogurt for breakfast every morning, packing yogurt with you would not be practical.

Three: If you bring a comfort item that requires some sort of resource, what are the chances of that resource being available? Example: if you bring Coffee Singles for coffee, consider what is the likelihood of hot water being available.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: Russ

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 02/26/17 03:37 PM

What I do everyday is boil water and when we had our last electrical power outage the water boiled faster because I used a counter-top butane stove (many available on Amazon) instead of the electric stovetop. Most any camping stove will work.

Making coffee is easy if you can make a fire and if you aren't reliant on a drip coffee maker. Check out the Melitta 6-Cup Pour-Over Coffeemaker -- totally manual, no moving parts. Boil the water by any method and pour over the grounds. Super easy and no, I don't have any other affiliation with Melitta.

Or even easier, you can skip the cone filter & carafe angle and pour the water you just boiled into a cup with Folgers Coffee Singles, Starbucks Via (my preference in instant coffee) or any other instant coffee.
Posted by: hikermor

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 02/26/17 04:57 PM

I agree with you to some extent, but experience is all too often a harsh teacher,and the final exam can ofttimes be entirely too brutal. It is often instructive to heed the experiences of others (one of the justifications for this forum) and learn from collective, shared experience. This has definitely worked for me.

You are right on when you say use what is comfortable and familiar to you. Don't buy some nice survivee stuff and put it on the shelf, ready for The Day. If you need to boil water for that nice cup of coffee (or tea), it is much better to use that familiar stove that has come through for you in the past, not some unfamiliar gadget. Use and enjoy) your gear!
Posted by: Russ

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 02/26/17 05:06 PM

Yesssssss. This is why I much prefer pocket carry user gear to emergency kits. An emergency kit you build yourself with extra's of gear you already use is okay; but a store-bought kit with gear you've never used? How could that possibly go wrong...
Posted by: bacpacjac

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 02/26/17 06:55 PM

I completely agree! Testing your gear and your skills before TSHTF, just like we do things like First Aid and CPR, is vital IMHO. It's hard enough to stay calm and think clearly in an emergency as it is, without the added stress of not already having done/used whatever it is you are trying to do/use. That seems like inviting unnecessary suffering to me. wink
Posted by: M_a_x

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 02/26/17 07:48 PM

For stuff that needs to be gathered a physical checklist with items and storage space is helpful (I do that for e. g. my CAS equipment). It avoids chaos and ensures the things are there. It makes collecting the items as team easier to.
Your BOB list has Thermarest in it. Those pads do not react well on being stored rolled up for a long time. Thre might be better options.
Your BOB list is fairly long. Do not only make a thought exercise. Try to actually fit the equipment into the available room in the car. The bug-out scenario is not the time to discover that the items claim more space than is available. It also gives you an idea about the required time.
Create a packing sequence (maybe reflected in the check list). You may wish to have some items available without digging through a lot of other stuff.
[/quote]
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 02/26/17 08:28 PM

Originally Posted By: hikermor
I agree with you to some extent, but experience is all too often a harsh teacher,and the final exam can ofttimes be entirely too brutal. It is often instructive to heed the experiences of others (one of the justifications for this forum) and learn from collective, shared experience. This has definitely worked for me.

The one problem I see is, it is hard to personalize a situation when all we do is read about it. It would be like expecting others in this forum to EDC gear used for overnighting in a house without electricity and water based on my experiences.

On the other hand, when Mom twisted her ankle when she stepped off the porch, I then prepped as if the same could happen to me. Because I used the same porch thousands of times, I was able to personalize it and saw the need to prep.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: Russ

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 02/26/17 08:41 PM

To some extent you can run what-if scenarios and prepare for those situations. Much of what we discuss here are just that in the sense of: "what if" that happened to me?

Be the situation a hurricane on its way, a tornado, wildfire or earthquake, the needs afterward are very similar in the way of shelter-water-food. The preps for one often suffice as preps for the others, basics are basics. Get the basic shelter-water-food for a hurricane and then expand for your specific what-if's.

Take the experiences of others here and use them, don't think of them in the abstract, think of whether those experiences apply to you.
Posted by: bacpacjac

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 02/26/17 09:55 PM

I agree, Russ. Many of our needs are remarkably similar regardless of what the specific SHTF event is, and we can learn a lot from the experiences of others.

My experience is pretty limited, in terms of actual emergency situations lived-through, but I feel better prepared for potential future situations because of the first-hand knowledge shared by others. I'm not here on ETS to impart wisdom, but to soak it up. wink

I understand what you mean, though, Jeanette Isabelle. Something that works for one person may not be well-suited for someone else. "Hike your own hike" as they say, or "Prepare your own survival plan", but it always helps to learn from others as we do that.
Posted by: hikermor

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 02/27/17 04:23 AM

Years ago, when I came to Arizona and discovered mountain hiking and climbing, I started out very ill equipped and fairly clueless. I fortunately hiked with some very experienced people, who managed to keep me from dying. Also, being an earnest scholar,in my rumblings about the university library, I discovered the annual publications of the American Alpine Club, "Accidents in North American Mountaineering."

By the time I had finished a few volumes, it was clear that problems can occur whilst rambling about the hills, and that there are measures one can take to resolve the problem (be able to seek or improvise shelter, build a fire, treat injuries, signal for help). I gradually began to carry a bit more and started to do longer trips and more ambitious projects. Eventually I blew it, facing an unplanned night bivouac out alone in deep snow and bitter cold. Fortunately, I had just enough (dry socks, a small stove, a bit of extra food) to pull me through without injury or frostbite. But all this preparation started by reading about the misfortunes of others and what could have prevented their problems.

We do learn from experience, but reading thoughtful analysis of problems and what might have prevented them is a much less painful way to acquire expertise. The final exam comes when you are in the soup and must keep it all together.

"Thoughtful analysis of problems" is the key phrase......
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 02/27/17 02:17 PM

Originally Posted By: Russ
To some extent you can run what-if scenarios and prepare for those situations. Much of what we discuss here are just that in the sense of: "what if" that happened to me?

Be the situation a hurricane on its way, a tornado, wildfire or earthquake, the needs afterward are very similar in the way of shelter-water-food. The preps for one often suffice as preps for the others, basics are basics. Get the basic shelter-water-food for a hurricane and then expand for your specific what-if's.

Take the experiences of others here and use them, don't think of them in the abstract, think of whether those experiences apply to you.

I consider scenarios such as a tsunami, damaged infrastructure stopping products from getting to the stores, an EMP attack or some other attack on the power grid, war, the collapse of the economy and needing to get out of Dodge with nothing but what we can carry. Other than organizing and inventorying the pantry, I don't know how to prepare for those scenarios. For that reason I look at my pasts experiences for guidance and prep for those.

I don't know what I would do if I had to sleep in a tent. My experience of roughing it is on the floor of a house with no water or electricity.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: bacpacjac

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 02/27/17 02:17 PM

Originally Posted By: M_a_x
For stuff that needs to be gathered a physical checklist with items and storage space is helpful (I do that for e. g. my CAS equipment). It avoids chaos and ensures the things are there. It makes collecting the items as team easier to.

Your BOB list has Thermarest in it. Those pads do not react well on being stored rolled up for a long time. There might be better options.

Your BOB list is fairly long. Do not only make a thought exercise. Try to actually fit the equipment into the available room in the car. The bug-out scenario is not the time to discover that the items claim more space than is available. It also gives you an idea about the required time.
Create a packing sequence (maybe reflected in the check list). You may wish to have some items available without digging through a lot of other stuff.


Great ideas, Max, thanks! My organization needs to be better organized! You're exactly right that this needs to be more than just a thought exercise - and it is!

My intention is to figure out how to store this all together in the house - and actually do it! - but your suggestion to test the actual bug-out packing process is a great one! We practice living out of our packs and the pantry, and we also practice getting out of the house as quickly as possible in the event of a fire. Putting the two together is a fantastic idea. How quickly can we get into the car with everyone and everything we need? Challenge accepted!! Thank you!

Posted by: hikermor

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 02/27/17 02:51 PM

Originally Posted By: Jeanette_Isabelle


I don't know what I would do if I had to sleep in a tent. My experience of roughing it is on the floor of a house with no water or electricity.

Jeanette Isabelle


You would probably fall asleep after a bit. I have slept on a variety of house floors and numerous tents in all sorts of conditions, and sleep conquers all, eventually. A well pitched tent, with a comfortable pad and a suitably warm, cozy bag is far better than most houses. Best of all is the pad and bag combo in an open outdoor setting, perhaps within a rock shelter (in case of rain). Open air and the beginning of rosy fingered dawn to start a new day. Beats a stuffy old house any day....
Posted by: Russ

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 02/27/17 03:08 PM

Mountaineers take a similar approach to safety as that of NTSB investigators. When I was active in Naval Aviation we often read accident /incident reports. The reports were of other people's mistakes and they were brutally honest. Sh*t happens, learn from it.

The idea is to use the experiences of others so that mistakes are not needlessly repeated. This website is similar in some ways as we discuss preparedness -- what works and what doesn't. Learn from the experiences (often failures) of others.
Posted by: bacpacjac

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 02/27/17 03:32 PM

Originally Posted By: hikermor
Originally Posted By: Jeanette_Isabelle


I don't know what I would do if I had to sleep in a tent. My experience of roughing it is on the floor of a house with no water or electricity.

Jeanette Isabelle


You would probably fall asleep after a bit. I have slept on a variety of house floors and numerous tents in all sorts of conditions, and sleep conquers all, eventually. A well pitched tent, with a comfortable pad and a suitably warm, cozy bag is far better than most houses. Best of all is the pad and bag combo in an open outdoor setting, perhaps within a rock shelter (in case of rain). Open air and the beginning of rosy fingered dawn to start a new day. Beats a stuffy old house any day....


During the last extended power outage in these parts, a friend in a rapidly cooling apartment building resorted to pitching his tent on his bed to create a warm and cozy microclimate. He said a lot his rough it in the woods gear was put to use for a few days - right inside his apartment, while his neighbours bugged out to go find warmth elsewhere.
Posted by: bacpacjac

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 02/27/17 03:45 PM

Originally Posted By: Jeanette_Isabelle

I consider scenarios such as a tsunami, damaged infrastructure stopping products from getting to the stores, an EMP attack or some other attack on the power grid, war, the collapse of the economy and needing to get out of Dodge with nothing but what we can carry. Other than organizing and inventorying the pantry, I don't know how to prepare for those scenarios. For that reason I look at my pasts experiences for guidance and prep for those.

I don't know what I would do if I had to sleep in a tent. My experience of roughing it is on the floor of a house with no water or electricity.

Jeanette Isabelle


Jeanette Isabelle, tsunamis and hurricanes are not on my personal list potential threats, but one of the on-line resources (other than ETS) that I've learned a lot about preparing for the worst is "Listening to Katrina". It has lots of lessons learned from someone who was in that predicament, and the results of their experience - some planning proved out, others served as examples to learn what NOT to do. Hugely instructional for any prepper. Here's the link: http://www.theplacewithnoname.com/blogs/klessons
Posted by: hikermor

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 02/27/17 04:53 PM

One of my more likely disaster scenarios is a catastrophic earthquake. i am not talking about those magnitude 3s or less, which barely stir your coffee, but the BIG ONE, an event that will bring your house down around your ears. After shutting off the gas, and barring the presence of large fires (like San Francisco 1906) I intend to camp out on the premises for the duration. I figure my house will not be safe, but I will be able to retrieve resources from within. I have plenty of camping and outdoor gear and the weather will most likely be fairly benign. No point in evacuating.

A wildfire is another possibility. In that case, get out of Dodge, but probably not all that far. Gather up the people,pets,personal stuff and BUG OUT - to a suitable cheap motel or similar.

I am glad that I am thinking and preparing for both major strategies - when something actually does come down, I should be able to respond appropriately.
Posted by: Russ

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 02/27/17 05:16 PM

Similar situation as Hikermor's, the difference being we're 90 miles from the San Andreas fault so the single story house built to CA spec may stay on its feet. Still, pitching a tent and camping out back is a good option until we can ensure the house is good to go.
Posted by: Mark_R

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 02/27/17 08:17 PM

Computer backup

Put earthquake straps on my highboy dresser and padlocks on the I-really-don't-want-you-playing-with-this-stuff drawer after discovering that the kids can scale the 5 1/2 ft dresser using the drawer pulls for toe holds.

Patched up yet another escape route from the backyard. The escape route was a 5-6 inch gap between the gate post and the house.
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 02/27/17 11:41 PM

Originally Posted By: hikermor
A well pitched tent, with a comfortable pad and a suitably warm, cozy bag is far better than most houses. Best of all is the pad and bag combo in an open outdoor setting, perhaps within a rock shelter (in case of rain). Open air and the beginning of rosy fingered dawn to start a new day. Beats a stuffy old house any day....

I'm a city gal. I don't do outdoors.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: Phaedrus

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 02/28/17 07:59 AM

Originally Posted By: Jeanette_Isabelle
Originally Posted By: hikermor
A well pitched tent, with a comfortable pad and a suitably warm, cozy bag is far better than most houses. Best of all is the pad and bag combo in an open outdoor setting, perhaps within a rock shelter (in case of rain). Open air and the beginning of rosy fingered dawn to start a new day. Beats a stuffy old house any day....

I'm a city gal. I don't do outdoors.

Jeanette Isabelle


In a true emergency though you might be surprised how comfortable you can be in a decent tent with a folding cot, especially with a Thermarest or similar self inflating mattress. With one of those mattressed even on the floor in my Wiggy's bag I'm as comfy as in my bed!

Another item I have come to consider a real lifesaver is the LectroFan Micro! It's a very small speaker with a processor that generates a range of different fan and/or white noise sounds. It's terrific! Since it uses a sound algorithm it doesn't loop and the sounds are great. Not as many different ones as the larger version but enough to suite me. The volume is adjustable from a whisper to loud enough to drown out about any noise. It can be used with Bluetooth to play music, too. The best part is that it's USB powered and has a built in battery! So even without a power source you would have a couple nights of use. To me this is a big thing since I have trouble sleeping in strange places without something to mask the unfamiliar sounds. Obviously you would only use this in a situation where you can safely sleep undisturbed, natch.
Posted by: Bingley

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 02/28/17 11:01 AM

Originally Posted By: Phaedrus
In a true emergency though you might be surprised how comfortable you can be in a decent tent with a folding cot, especially with a Thermarest or similar self inflating mattress.


Learned through experience: normal air mattresses (for indoor use) do not work very well in colder weather. Even though air is supposed to be a good insulator, the mattress isn't very good for protecting you from the cool temperature of the ground. You need a real layer of insulation.

It's possible to feel like you're "warm enough," but still constantly losing heat. You think, hey, the mattress isn't cold, just a tad on the cool side, and in a minute my body will warm it up nice and toasty. But that never happens, and it just keeps draining heat from you.
Posted by: Tjin

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 02/28/17 11:49 AM

Originally Posted By: Bingley
Originally Posted By: Phaedrus
In a true emergency though you might be surprised how comfortable you can be in a decent tent with a folding cot, especially with a Thermarest or similar self inflating mattress.


Learned through experience: normal air mattresses (for indoor use) do not work very well in colder weather. Even though air is supposed to be a good insulator, the mattress isn't very good for protecting you from the cool temperature of the ground. You need a real layer of insulation.

It's possible to feel like you're "warm enough," but still constantly losing heat. You think, hey, the mattress isn't cold, just a tad on the cool side, and in a minute my body will warm it up nice and toasty. But that never happens, and it just keeps draining heat from you.


But fortunatly there are also insulated airmatresses. Soo much smaller and more comfy than a thermarest!
Posted by: bacpacjac

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 02/28/17 01:19 PM

I have a hammock but haven't figured out how to seriously sleep in it outside yet, so I'm still a ground sleeper.

I used to use just an air mattress under my sleeping bag, but it always got cold. Now, thanks to wisdom shared by those more experienced than me, in cold and/or damp weather, I use a multi-layered system: I put a thermal hunter's mylar blanket on the ground, (mine is a Coghlan's brand but I'd like to upgrade to the SOL version - https://www.rei.com/product/820923/sol-sport-utility-blanket) and then two air mattresses - a closed cell foam pad on the bottom (Thermarest Ridge Rest or a simple blue foam pad) with my inflating Thermarest on top. In really cold weather, I'll often wrap my sleeping bag in a wool blanket, so I have some under and over me.

My sleeping pads are about to be stolen by my daughter, who is fast outgrowing her toddler gear, so I'm in the market for a new insulated mat for myself. There are lots of options for us old arthritic folks so research is underway!
Posted by: LesSnyder

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 02/28/17 02:20 PM

for those on the other end of the heat spectrum... sleeping while sheltering in place without air conditioning in 90F 90% humidity, and no genset to provide power is also a challenge...I've posted this pic before, but for the new members...for the 2004 9 day power outage I used the tent fan pictured (originally with a foam rubber propeller) to help sleep... it was far from satisfactory, but better than none... I later added a collet blade adapter from a model airplane and propeller, to convert it into a motor to spin my ceiling fan... runs 9 hrs on a new "D" cell and 6+ on a pair of Eneloops in a pack...

Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 02/28/17 02:42 PM

I can do a folding cot. I used them before in overnighters and longer sleep over’s. Let's get back to context.

Originally Posted By: Jeanette_Isabelle
Originally Posted By: Russ
To some extent you can run what-if scenarios and prepare for those situations. Much of what we discuss here are just that in the sense of: "what if" that happened to me?

Be the situation a hurricane on its way, a tornado, wildfire or earthquake, the needs afterward are very similar in the way of shelter-water-food. The preps for one often suffice as preps for the others, basics are basics. Get the basic shelter-water-food for a hurricane and then expand for your specific what-if's.

Take the experiences of others here and use them, don't think of them in the abstract, think of whether those experiences apply to you.

I consider scenarios such as a tsunami, damaged infrastructure stopping products from getting to the stores, an EMP attack or some other attack on the power grid, war, the collapse of the economy and needing to get out of Dodge with nothing but what we can carry. Other than organizing and inventorying the pantry, I don't know how to prepare for those scenarios. For that reason I look at my pasts experiences for guidance and prep for those.

I don't know what I would do if I had to sleep in a tent. My experience of roughing it is on the floor of a house with no water or electricity.

In most scenarios mentioned, we bug in. I may not have clean sheets. But, no matter how hot or cold it is, I have a bed.

It's the last scenario I'm thinking about. Bugging out on foot is not happening. Bugging out on foot after stepping off a plane or boat in a mass evacuation is more probable. We even may have the luxury of a bus or train. After that, we may have to go at it on foot. It is here that we may need to rely on what we can carry. It's not practical to carry a folding cot. I need that space and weight for something else.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: Russ

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 02/28/17 02:54 PM

Have you tried a bicycle? For some it's a much better option. IMO pushing a bike which is carrying a load is preferable to carrying that load on your back.
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 02/28/17 03:02 PM

If there is a mass evacuation, what is the likelihood of keeping a bike?

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: Russ

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 02/28/17 03:18 PM

I've always felt that one of the benefits of prior planning is an ability to avoid the mass. Your call.
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 02/28/17 03:28 PM

Originally Posted By: Russ
I've always felt that one of the benefits of prior planning is an ability to avoid the mass. Your call.

Valid point. I did not give as much of a consideration the odds for an advanced warning to bug out. You're right. There would have to be an advanced notice of some sort.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: wildman800

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 02/28/17 03:58 PM

Paying attention to current events, symptoms of a major problem, and deciding where that trend is going and acting on your gut instinct may be the only warning that you have.
Posted by: Mark_R

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 02/28/17 07:31 PM

Originally Posted By: Jeanette_Isabelle
If there is a mass evacuation, what is the likelihood of keeping a bike?

Jeanette Isabelle


It doesn't necessarily have to be a conventional bicycle. Folding luggage/grocery cart (40-150 lbs capacity), stripped down umbrella stroller (40 lbs capacity), folding golf push cart (50 lbs?), rolling backpack/luggage (20-50 lbs), and folding bicycle/push scooters. If you don't need to ride it, there is a wide selection of rolling load carriers. My only .02 is to restrict your luggage size to carryon since you're going to be sharing luggage space with a lot of other people.
Posted by: hikermor

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 03/01/17 01:56 AM

Precisely what are circumstances of this hypothesized "mass evacuation?" Any historical examples? Are we talking about something like the recent Oroville example, or something even more organized and controlled?
Posted by: Russ

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 03/01/17 02:07 AM

My thought went to the Katrina evac to the Superdome or the evac from NOLA to the Houston Astrodome. I would prefer to avoid those shelter options.
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 03/01/17 02:25 AM

Originally Posted By: hikermor
Precisely what are circumstances of this hypothesized "mass evacuation?" Any historical examples? Are we talking about something like the recent Oroville example, or something even more organized and controlled?

Originally Posted By: Jeanette_Isabelle
Originally Posted By: Russ
To some extent you can run what-if scenarios and prepare for those situations. Much of what we discuss here are just that in the sense of: "what if" that happened to me?

Be the situation a hurricane on its way, a tornado, wildfire or earthquake, the needs afterward are very similar in the way of shelter-water-food. The preps for one often suffice as preps for the others, basics are basics. Get the basic shelter-water-food for a hurricane and then expand for your specific what-if's.

Take the experiences of others here and use them, don't think of them in the abstract, think of whether those experiences apply to you.

I consider scenarios such as a tsunami, damaged infrastructure stopping products from getting to the stores, an EMP attack or some other attack on the power grid, war, the collapse of the economy and needing to get out of Dodge with nothing but what we can carry.

If it were just a tsunami, damaged infrastructure, attack on the power grid, war or collapse of the economy then likely we will bug in. If it appears as if it will get worse, we'll pack what we can.

One historical example may be World War II with the Jews fleeing to Israel. Another would be the Armenians fleeing to the United States.

I don't know what you mean by well organized.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: UncleGoo

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 03/01/17 11:55 AM

Originally Posted By: Jeanette_Isabelle

I'm a city gal. I don't do outdoors.

Jeanette Isabelle


Best to test it, before it's thrust upon you. Sleep on the floor, see what you need to do to get comfortable. Then, give the backyard, or a nearby campground, a try.
Posted by: hikermor

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 03/01/17 01:10 PM

You would bug in, during a tsunami? What about moving to higher ground? For most, that would constitute a "mini bug out"...
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 03/01/17 01:44 PM

This is where I am in relationship to the coast:

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Ocala,...6!4d-82.1400923

I am expecting damage this far in, I just don't know how much. Besides, when a tsunami is coming, how much warning will we have? How much warning will we have if it comes in the middle of the night?

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: bacpacjac

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 03/01/17 02:02 PM

Originally Posted By: hikermor
You would bug in, during a tsunami? What about moving to higher ground? For most, that would constitute a "mini bug out"...


I love a good disaster movie, and we had a little tsunami movie marathon this weekend. Works of fiction can often get my wheels turning about real world preparation.

The first was a movie called "The Wave", which is a 2015 Norwegian catastrophe drama about a tsunami. It dramatizes the mad dash up the hill. It's not the best movie I've seen, but it made me think about packing up and getting out quickly.

Followed that up with "The Impossible" for the second time, which scared me just as badly as it did the first time. It's about the 2004 tsunami in the Indian Ocean. Nope. Nope. Nope. Not something I want anything to do with.

I prefer living somewhere that has minimal environmental threats, but I was in a tsunami risk zone, that would definitely be on my list of reasons to bug-out.
Posted by: bws48

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 03/01/17 08:43 PM

Originally Posted By: bacpacjac

The first was a movie called "The Wave" . . .


+1, Available on Netflix last I checked.
Posted by: hikermor

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 03/02/17 02:29 AM

Depending upon the distance between you and the source of the disturbance which is triggering the waves, you might have only minutes, but often you will have several hours.

Santa Barbara,CA experienced a horrific earthquake/tsunami in 1812. The epicenter was very close (middle of the Santa Barbara channel) and the tsunami which closely followed was disastrous. of course there was no technology available to give warning.

Other earthquake events in the pacific Basic (such as Fukoshima) will provide several hours advance notice and one will have several hours to seek higher ground. in my community there are signs designating areas subject to inundation and the county hazards map, as well as local signage, designates recommended escape routes. fortunately, there is a lot of relief in my nck of the woods. My house is about one mile from the beach, but 200 1/2 feet above sea level,so we are not greatly concerned about waves.

To deal with a locally generated tsunami, the rule is - if you feel an earthquake, seek high ground, rather than going to the beach, until information is available about the nature of the event. Not all EQs will necessarily generate a tsunami,but this cannot often be determined immediately.
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 03/02/17 08:02 PM

We are, give or take, seventy miles from the Atlantic. According to the nearest measurement taken, we are 98' above sea level. Depending on the height of the tsunami as it hits the East coast, I'm somewhere between "we can bug in" and "Huston, we have a problem."

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: Russ

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 03/02/17 08:14 PM

At 98' MSL (mean sea level) and 70 miles from the coast, for what tsunami are you planning? Meteor impact or some other extinction level event...

Rather than preparing to bug-out from a tsunami, you might consider where to park the refugees from lower elevations.
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 03/02/17 09:00 PM

Originally Posted By: Russ
At 98' MSL (mean sea level) and 70 miles from the coast, for what tsunami are you planning? Meteor impact or some other extinction level event...

Well, yes. Here is what I said:

Originally Posted By: Jeanette_Isabelle
Originally Posted By: Russ
To some extent you can run what-if scenarios and prepare for those situations. Much of what we discuss here are just that in the sense of: "what if" that happened to me?

Be the situation a hurricane on its way, a tornado, wildfire or earthquake, the needs afterward are very similar in the way of shelter-water-food. The preps for one often suffice as preps for the others, basics are basics. Get the basic shelter-water-food for a hurricane and then expand for your specific what-if's.

Take the experiences of others here and use them, don't think of them in the abstract, think of whether those experiences apply to you.

I consider scenarios such as a tsunami, damaged infrastructure stopping products from getting to the stores, an EMP attack or some other attack on the power grid, war, the collapse of the economy and needing to get out of Dodge with nothing but what we can carry. Other than organizing and inventorying the pantry, I don't know how to prepare for those scenarios. For that reason I look at my pasts experiences for guidance and prep for those.

When I said "tsunami" I meant one caused by a meteor. For most situations mentioned, I need to bug in. How do I prepare for when we need to bug out?

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: Russ

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 03/02/17 09:26 PM

I don't have any plans in place to cover a meteor impact strike. I'm not bugging out prior unless I have really reliable information that indicates where the impact will be and that bugging out will actually accomplish anything positive.

Sometimes with running you just die tired.
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 03/02/17 10:20 PM

Originally Posted By: Russ
I don't have any plans in place to cover a meteor impact strike. I'm not bugging out prior unless I have really reliable information that indicates where the impact will be and that bugging out will actually accomplish anything positive.

That's it. I don't know how the meteor will impact Ocala, Florida. I hope it's safe to bug in; there's always the possibility of INCH.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: LesSnyder

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 03/03/17 01:50 AM

JI... in case you have not done so, you might read this

http://www.theplacewithnoname.com/blogs/klessons/p/map.html
Posted by: bacpacjac

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 03/04/17 10:06 PM

This former cell phone addict, who hasn't had one in a year and a half, got a new phone today. It's a Samsung Galaxy s5 mini. I got it from a friend who upgraded and gave it to me. Free is good,right?! It's unlocked but I don't have a sim card yet, so have only 911 calls and wifi.

I'll probably bite the bullet and get an account somewhere in the near future. For now, being able to call 911 gives me peace of mind. There are so many places with free wifi these days that I think it'll be more useful than it seems at first. So far, I love it more than my laptop. My packs have all been reloaded with charging adapters, cables and an external charger already. wink

Tips?
Posted by: hikermor

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 03/04/17 11:05 PM

The cell phone, which is actually a camera that can make telephone calls or text messages as well, has finally become part of my inner circle EDC - wallet, key ring, and cell phone. They have to be with me every time I step outside.

I still haven't realized the full potential of my Galaxy S7, but I am getting there.
Posted by: Russ

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 03/05/17 12:07 AM

What you really need from a phone during an emergency is to make a call or send a text. Most apps aren't that useful.

For my next phone I'm taking another shot at a dumb phone -- Nokia 3310. I had this phone in its first iteration and liked it; it will soon be back. 22 hours of talk time which isn't being drained by a bunch of useless apps. Hopefully they won't mess up the UI too much from the original. At least the real buttons are still there.
Posted by: Bingley

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 03/05/17 12:08 AM

Originally Posted By: hikermor
I still haven't realized the full potential of my Galaxy S7, but I am getting there.


Is that the fire-starting device I've heard so much about?
Posted by: dougwalkabout

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 03/05/17 12:28 AM

I have a long affection for the old Nokias. Until last month, a 3310 and 2125 were in my vehicle glove boxes as 911-only phones; but the carrier killed the CDMA network.

As much as I loved the old candy bar phones, I think I would now miss the the utility of text (SMS) messaging and the on-board camera. The new phones don't bounce worth a darn, though.
Posted by: Russ

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 03/05/17 12:59 AM

Exactly. The old Nokia's were built like a tank. The exterior of mine was scarred from being dropped, but it worked just fine until the day Verizon convinced me to upgrade to a Moto flip phone. Not really much of an upgrade. The 3310 will do text, but using phone buttons rather than a keyboard is clumsy & slow at best. It's just a phone.
Posted by: hikermor

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 03/05/17 01:27 AM

No,thank heavens. The igniter was the note 7, not the Galaxy 7. Although for the die hard survivalist, interested in devices with more than one application, what could be handier than a cell phone that also can be used as a fire starter?
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 03/05/17 04:07 PM

Bacpacjac, Les Snyder, thanks for the link. The first thing I need to do differently is get a laptop. The Mac Mini, what I use, is the smallest desktop. It's still a desktop and being a desktop, it's not as portable.

When I took a class on Macs, I brought my Mac Mini. Apple had to provide the keyboard and monitor. Everyone else brought his or her laptop.

Mom likes to take short trips. I can use those to practice bugging out. Actually I already began to learn what works and what doesn't. So has Mom.

Currently I'm on the page where he talks about home.

http://www.theplacewithnoname.com/blogs/klessons/p/0036.html

A lot of what he's saying makes sense. Home is not just the house we live in. Home is where we are comfortable. That's why, when I lived in Dallas, I could so easily prepare for an unplanned overnighter because I was always someplace I felt comfortable. Now? I'm not even comfortable in this house in Florida though I've been here for three years. I'm already living in a tropical hell. If I had to bug out, would things be better or worse?

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: hikermor

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 03/05/17 04:32 PM

"Home is where we are comfortable" - you are so correct!

To illustrate - Dallas, where you are comfortable, was to me a drab, dreary wasteland from which I was thankfully delivered as a teenager, finally finding comfort in the deserts and mountains of Arizona, and still later, California.

I take it you would probably not feel comfortable in environments which fit me like a glove, and vice versa.

It takes all kinds, and isn't that a wondrous thing?
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 03/05/17 04:44 PM

Originally Posted By: hikermor
It takes all kinds, and isn't that a wondrous thing?

I was born with concrete under my feet.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: CANOEDOGS

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 03/05/17 11:56 PM


i added a Mountain Hardware WP bivy bag to my general collection
of survival gear.i got it at a give away price at a canoe club
meeting,used once.
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 03/06/17 02:24 PM

Originally Posted By: hikermor
"Home is where we are comfortable" - you are so correct!

To illustrate - Dallas, where you are comfortable, was to me a drab, dreary wasteland from which I was thankfully delivered as a teenager, finally finding comfort in the deserts and mountains of Arizona, and still later, California.

I take it you would probably not feel comfortable in environments which fit me like a glove, and vice versa.

It takes all kinds, and isn't that a wondrous thing?

This is one part. The other is identity. "City gal" is one of the things that have defined who I am.

Remove that and I either need to adopt a new identity or I would be miserable. "Small town girl" isn't who I am, never will be.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: hikermor

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 03/06/17 07:27 PM

https://mg.mail.yahoo.com/neo/launch?.rand=8imf0eb08285n

This thread had veered toward tsunami preparedness a while ago. Here's an example of current training/preparation for such an event in California, where waves are often generated, whether from near or afar...
Posted by: hikermor

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 03/07/17 07:49 PM

http://temblor.net/earthquake-insights/m...as-faults-2325/

Temblor is a good source for accurate info regarding EQs....
Posted by: TeacherRO

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 03/24/17 03:23 AM

I just picked up a goretex bivy bag...
Posted by: BruceZed

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 03/27/17 10:57 PM

Repacked by Daypack, getting ready for Spring Hiking and I added some improvements to my Standard shelter.
Posted by: wildman800

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 03/28/17 12:39 PM

Upgraded my sewage disposal equipment for the camper.

Purchased more emergency rations for the BoB's and GHB's.

Finished putting 4 survival themed geocaches together. We will deploy 1 during each of the next 4 camping trips that we make with the camper.
Posted by: CANOEDOGS

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 04/11/17 10:22 PM

got a new LED flasher for my PFD.very bright flashes every second.
only problem so far is where to attach it to my new PFD.
i remember seeing those sew on patches with the loops on them
for hiking packs so i'll look for one of those.
Posted by: Russ

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 04/12/17 12:37 AM

My vest has a Firefly PRO SOLAS attached. It works fine in testing; fortunately, I've never used it for real.
Posted by: TeacherRO

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 04/12/17 05:34 PM

Doing my fitness today; goal of 5 days a week/150 minutes of cardio-load.
Like experience, its one of the thing I can't buy.
Posted by: bacpacjac

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 04/13/17 12:42 PM

We're heading on a road trip this weekend. April always brings unpredictable, all over-the spectrum weather here. We're traveling through a snowbelt on this trip, and the forecast is for rain or snow, so two things are at the top of the list today:

1. Vehicle Maintenance - topping up all the fluids, oil change, etc.... and the annual debate with my husband about whether or not to take off the snow tires just yet. He's always done it on Easter weekend and I've always done it at the end of May, and every year we argue about it. wink

2. People Maintenance - making sure us humans are ready for an out of town emergency or stranding. Packing overnight bags (a.k.a. BOBs), winter outerwear, entertainment for the kids, reading materials hubby and I, important IDs/health cards, etc...
Posted by: EMPnotImplyNuclear

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 04/18/17 11:23 PM

*today at the dollartree, just some highlights smile
Gear
  • 52.41 oz Stainless-Steel Dog Bowls, 1.5...liter
  • 6 inch combination sharpening stone
  • ~3inch camping knife , serrated lock back , dull/thick but sharpening stone takes care of that and serrations smile
  • 15 inch handsaw
  • *dry bag, seal gear, 2.5 liter , 12.625 in x 6.875in, good for 1meter intermittent submersion
  • 3 pack lighters (butane flint wheel)
  • 9 led flashlight with batteries, plastic, waterproof, 3xAAA
  • blue 4'x6' tarpaulin
  • pruning shears
  • *fleece lined hat
  • 6 valentine cards with whistle
  • ...

Sani/med
  • *styptic pencil, alum, stop bleeding
  • bandaids
  • triple antibiotic
  • "tylenol"
  • ...

Eats
  • 20 count blueberry tea, foil wrap for 3year shelf life
  • 32oz/2lb dry pampa long grain white rice
  • 32oz/2lb dry pampa brown rice
  • 24oz/1.5lb dry pinto beans
  • 15oz pampa mackrel in brine
  • *32oz white vinegar
  • ...

  • ...

Posted by: bacpacjac

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 04/19/17 12:52 PM

Nice list! I love the dollar store and second-hand stores. So many budget-friendly treasures to fill a pack, medicine cabinet, pantry, tool shed...
Posted by: TeacherRO

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 05/24/17 11:02 PM

Daily workout - Hill hike today
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 07/24/17 10:39 PM

Today while we were at Sam's Club Mom bought two fire extinguishers. This is in addition to the one in the garage.

https://www.samsclub.com/sams/fire-extin...%20extinguisher

We will get two more when we go back to Sam's Club a month from now.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: hikermor

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 07/24/17 10:59 PM

A 10BC rating is fine for flammable liquids and electrical items,but a 1A rating for "fires involving fabrics, plastics, wood"is minimal,to say the least. Just keep a bucket of water handy.

Be sure you now how to employ the extinguisher properly - it is not necessarily obvious, especially under stress.
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 07/24/17 11:12 PM

One time I had to extinguish the carpet and couch with a pitcher of water because we did not have a fire extinguisher. I safely disconnected the surge protector from the wall outlet before extinguishing the fire.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: chaosmagnet

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 07/25/17 12:04 AM

The most important rule of thumb for fire extinguishers is that if you can't knock the fire down with one of them, drop it on the ground and run away screaming.
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 07/25/17 12:08 AM

Originally Posted By: chaosmagnet
The most important rule of thumb for fire extinguishers is that if you can't knock the fire down with one of them, drop it on the ground and run away screaming.

This is not helpful.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: chaosmagnet

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 07/25/17 02:13 AM

Originally Posted By: Jeanette_Isabelle
This is not helpful.


I apologize -- my comment was intended to be helpful. I have been trained on the use of fire extinguishers and I have trained a number of people to use them in turn, and I wasn't kidding. If you can't knock a fire down with one, it's time to get out of danger and call the professionals.
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 07/25/17 02:24 AM

We bought two extinguishers today and two later because at some point dialing 9-1-1 may not even be an option.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: LesSnyder

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 07/25/17 02:39 AM

just a comment.. if you ever have to discharge a dry chemical extinguisher around other people, make sure to give them warning to take a deep breath...
Posted by: M_a_x

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 07/25/17 02:06 PM

In that case you might be able to attack the fire with two people and two exinguishers at the same time.
If the fire is two big for that, there are severe risks due to rapid spreading of the fire, toxic fumes and smoke. There is a reason why professionals have a mask and air tanks. By the time you haul the second pair of extinguishers the fire may already be beyond what you can control.
Trying to put it out anyway would nicely fit in the topic "What not to do in a disaster".
I second choasmagnets advice.
Posted by: bws48

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 07/25/17 04:41 PM

When I read 2 extinguishers, I assumed it was for the same reason I have 2: one handy in the kitchen and one handy in the garage.
Posted by: chaosmagnet

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 07/25/17 04:58 PM

Originally Posted By: Jeanette_Isabelle
We bought two extinguishers today and two later because at some point dialing 9-1-1 may not even be an option.


With that understood, you are still better off abandoning the structure and escaping with your life, than you are continuing to fight a fire on your own after a single fire extinguisher has failed.
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 07/25/17 05:13 PM

One in each room.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 07/25/17 05:17 PM

Originally Posted By: chaosmagnet
With that understood, you are still better off abandoning the structure and escaping with your life, than you are continuing to fight a fire on your own after a single fire extinguisher has failed.

Oh, after the fire extinguisher failed. You did not mention that.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: chaosmagnet

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 07/25/17 07:15 PM

That's what I meant by "if you can't knock the fire down with one of them".
Posted by: Blacktop

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 08/04/17 02:10 AM

There's nothing worse than running out of fire extinguisher when you still have some fire left!
Posted by: Blacktop

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 08/04/17 02:27 AM

Today, I had to repack the trunk of my car after having it in the repair shop. I had removed all of my supplies and gear prior to the visit. In the process, I discovered two problems:

1) Do-nut spare tire was extremely low on air pressure - aired it up completely and reinstalled.

2) My juice box type of Coast Guard survival water rations had lost it's integrity and leaked - tossed it out and restocked with some AquaLiterz that I had on hand, this time using a cardboard box as a reinforcement against excessive movement and damage from other items.

Lesson learned - check your stuff regularly!
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 08/04/17 05:58 PM

I went through the home first aid kit, that Mom and I built, and added two non-stick pads, a tube of antibiotic ointment, a tube of hydrocortisone cream and hand sanitizer. I also did minor reorganizing. I then checked the car kit and the refill supplies.

I reorganized my personal stash and realized I have more lip balm than I realized. I organized them according to their expiration dates. I also went through the small tubes of toothpaste, the ones that come in a care package the dentist gives you at the end of each visit. Well, some of the toothpaste was expired, I threw those away.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: hikermor

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 08/04/17 06:12 PM


toothpaste, even in those tiny tubes,expires?? I had no idea....

I just finished using up a bunch of those aforesaid tubes while away from home and they seemed to work just fine - basically, just mild abrasives in a nicely colored, scented gel. I am pretty sure they would have had expiry dates from the late Pleistocene....
Posted by: M_a_x

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 08/04/17 06:33 PM

Usually it´s a best before date not an expiry date. When the tube is open, bacteria and fungi can start to grow into the tube. So it should be used up within a couple of months once it has been opened.
I was really surprised to find a best before date on a box of talcum powder. Who would have guessed that ground stone might turn bad?
Posted by: Roarmeister

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 08/04/17 07:08 PM

Originally Posted By: Jeanette_Isabelle
Today while we were at Sam's Club Mom bought two fire extinguishers. This is in addition to the one in the garage.

https://www.samsclub.com/sams/fire-extin...%20extinguisher

We will get two more when we go back to Sam's Club a month from now.

Jeanette Isabelle


Are they plastic or metal bottles? Can they be refilled?
Posted by: hikermor

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 08/04/17 07:08 PM

I strongly suspect that the various "best by" or "expired" dates, etc. are printed more with the view of stimulating sales, than protecting public health or welfare...
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 08/04/17 07:19 PM

Originally Posted By: Roarmeister
Are they plastic or metal bottles? Can they be refilled?

Metal. I don't think they are refillable.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 08/06/17 12:22 AM

To further organize, I set up two boxes. One box is for first aid supplies I want to keep. The other box has first aid and other supplies, including two first aid kits, I want to give away to whom ever whats them.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: adam2

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 08/06/17 06:48 PM

Originally Posted By: chaosmagnet
The most important rule of thumb for fire extinguishers is that if you can't knock the fire down with one of them, drop it on the ground and run away screaming.


Whilst times are normal, and the fire department are available, and the property afire is insured, I agree entirely that DIY firefighting beyond a single extinguisher is generally to be advised against.

IMHO there are exceptions to this general rule. For example I would consider use of multiple extinguishers on a fire from which escape is easy, near the exit door, ground floor only.
Also if a single extinguisher has LARGELY put out the fire in say upholstered furniture or bedding, then I would consider use of a second extinguisher to "make certain" and put out any glowing embers.

Other exceptions no doubt exist, but IN GENERAL if you can not put it out with one extinguisher, then yes run away.

The other condition justifying the use of multiple extinguishers would be fire in a TEOTWAWKI situation with no fire department to call and no insurance to replace the loss. Under such emergency conditions one might take risks to preserve valuable property such as food stores or vital equipment.
Posted by: hikermor

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 08/06/17 09:48 PM

Knowing when a fire is "out"can be a tricky business and not at all as obvious as it might seem. Even if one person is successfully engaging with the flames, it is always prudent for someone else to call the FD and get them on scene. They can perform a far more professional assessment of the fire situation than any of us amateurs...

More than one fire, deemed "out" has smoldered for hours or days, finally erupting into flames and destruction.
Posted by: wildman800

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 08/06/17 11:03 PM

Firefighting protocols are to remove all burned debris to an open area and thoroughly douse with Fog or spray until all embers are extinguished.
Posted by: Teslinhiker

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 08/08/17 08:40 PM

I don't want this to turn into a political topic and request that any comments stick to being prepared.

With all the sabre rattling going on around the world,, especially with the new developments in the news today, is anyone increasing or rethinking their preps?

For us, over the weekend, we rotated all gas, water and checked over some older food and household supplies and adjusted where needed.
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 08/08/17 09:01 PM

Originally Posted By: Teslinhiker
With all the sabre rattling going on around the world,, especially with the new developments in the news today, is anyone increasing or rethinking their preps?

I already increased my preparations for this fall since earlier this year.

The saber rattling is not news; it's confirmation.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 08/09/17 10:28 PM

Mom is a member of a gun club. The organization implemented a new plan: members have two-way radios so they can stay in contact when the brimstone hits the fan. Mom got hers today.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: LesSnyder

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 08/10/17 03:45 AM

with the rapidly developing tropical activity in the Gulf, I topped off the 2 spare gas cans, and checked all 3 propane bottles...the 2 20L and 2 Aqua tainers are refilled and chlorinated at the beginning of each season...I pared down my on hand canned food during last Christmas' food drives, so will grab a couple of cans when I get a chance, but have a couple of weeks worth on the shelf... the inverter generator is due for a load test...my emergency lighting is mostly LED, but would like to find some bulk 1K kerosene for the wick lanterns... this might be an excuse to get a rotary formed cooler smile
Posted by: M_a_x

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 08/10/17 02:33 PM

That sounds like a great idea. It might be a good idea to test the actual range of the devices and who can contact whom before anything hits the fan.
Which band did they select?
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 08/10/17 03:11 PM

Originally Posted By: M_a_x
That sounds like a great idea. It might be a good idea to test the actual range of the devices and who can contact whom before anything hits the fan.
Which band did they select?

The frequency of the radio is UHF 462.5500 ~ 467.7125 MHz. I don't know which the club will use.

Anyhow, Mom requested my help in testing the range of the radio. I'll be doing that in a few minutes.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 08/10/17 05:46 PM

We successfully tested the radios at 467.5625 MHz within a range of approximately one mile. Then again, this area is not exactly flat.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: M_a_x

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 08/10/17 06:40 PM

That´s some useful information for you. At that frequency the communication is basically line of sight. The potential range of a pair of those devices does not mean anything if the path is blocked. That´s why it would be good to try scheduled contacts between the members just to find out who will be able to make contact. If you cannot use relais stations, terrain will have a huge impact.
With 70cm amateur radio I had situations where I could communicate at 100 miles with good ratings from a mountain top while not being able to properly pick up transmissions from about half a mile away.
Posted by: hikermor

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 08/10/17 07:00 PM

My experience with line of sight radios, both for volunteer SAR and work (NPS) is that they are very quirky and not totally dependable. Battery life is also an issue, though that may be better now. Do you have some sort of base station that monitors traffic 24/7 or at least at stated times. Doesn't do any good to broadcast if there is no one listening...

But when they work, they are fantastic!!
Posted by: M_a_x

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 08/10/17 07:28 PM

If the rig is selected wisely, battery life is not really a problem anymore. I operated my handheld for weekends in contests with a single charge. A couple of AA Eneloops might give weeks of operation when you limit your on the air time (e. g. by scheduling contact times).
One thing that helps conserving batteries is a good antenna. It allows to cut down power on the transmission. I have a NR-770R on a Kenwood TH-F7E. That is a 3 feet antenna on a transmitter with the size of a pack of cigarettes.
For the purpose of the gun club CB might have been a better choice.
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 08/10/17 07:32 PM

No. The club hasn't even established a frequency. We simply tested it at 467.5625 MHz.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: Russ

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 08/11/17 03:23 PM

I recently picked up a Garmin Oregon 600 GPS. It's an older model missing some of the newer bells and whistles I didn't need, but it was on sale. I like that it is designed to use AA NiMH rechargeable batteries, I have lots of those and a way to charge them in the field. It also has a touch screen interface, has Garmin's high-sensitivity receiver and can receive signals from both the U.S. GPS and Russian GLONASS satellites (selectable as either GPS or GPS + GLONASS). It came with a preloaded worldwide basemap so good to go out of the box; Topo or maritime maps can be added.

Overall it's a little smaller than my GPSMAP 60CSx, but it has a slightly larger display. Even though it's the base model, it has a barometric altimeter and 3-axis electronic compass. If you choose, the display can turn off after a period of non-use to save on battery power. I have it set to time out at 1 minute, but may shorten that time after I get more familiar with the interface and the newness goes away. So far I like it.

No, I don't work for Garmin or a distributor.
Posted by: Russ

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 08/13/17 05:43 PM

My first Garmin GPS was a GPS V from many years ago. It had a waypoint averaging function that allowed it to take many satellite hits over a long period of time to get a more precise waypoint location. Both my GPSMAP 60CSx and the Oregon 600 also have this feature.

As I recall, the GPS V had a location accuracy field which you could see get smaller in size as the satellite hits were aggregated over time and the locational accuracy improved; the best I ever got was 12' and that took a long time. The Oregon 600 is similar in that it has a "confidence bar" that starts at O and fills with time to 100% at which time additional satellite hits will not improve the accuracy. The accuracy is shown in a separate field and in the case of my mailbox, the accuracy is 9'. The process of getting to that accuracy took about 2 minutes -- an improvement in both time and accuracy over the older GPS receiver.

The reason I bring that up is the Oregon 600 has a set of functions for GeoCaching, for which a more precise fix would be useful. It can also use something called a Chirp. Not really sure how useful that would be outside geocaching recreational games. But if you are into caching supplies, finding them later would be a good thing.
Posted by: M_a_x

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 08/13/17 07:27 PM

Originally Posted By: Russ
It can also use something called a Chirp. Not really sure how useful that would be outside geocaching recreational games.


Chirp is only useful for geocaching.
As you mentioned geocaching: Geocaches may compromise your supply cache site. It might be a good idea to occassionally check if there are geocaches near your supply cache site. Sometimes the GPS reception is bad and some geocachers get carried away when they really want to find a cache. In Germany there has been a "wrecking ball of the month" award for some time because of that.
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 08/14/17 04:28 PM

I went shopping to fill in what's missing from my preps. I bought undergarments, electric toothbrush heads, two cases of bottled water, I refilled my supply of nutritional supplements, two boxes of protein bars, a box of Alka-Seltzer and a TRI first aid kit.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: wildman800

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 08/19/17 07:07 AM

I've finally got around to ordering Silcock keys for our GHB's and BoB's.

I ordered a fire escape mask (same as the 1's that we already have in the house) for drill purposes. After the drill, I'm taking it to my local firehouse to let the firemen get a close look at it also.

I ordered 2 lock picking cards and an acrylic lock for training.

We'll have a camper bugout drill later this month for 3days/4 nights out to a distance of 150 miles.
Posted by: M_a_x

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 08/19/17 08:40 AM

Originally Posted By: wildman800

I ordered 2 lock picking cards and an acrylic lock for training.


Just out of curiosity, what type of lockpicking cards did you order?

Acrylic locks are not a really good choice if you want to learn lockpicking. Lockpicking is about feeling a lock´s reaction and manipulating accordingly. Acrylic locks have too major disadvantages. They allow you to see what you are doing and they react differently (acryl has different material properties and friction behaviour from metal). I tried my hands on lockpicking too. I´d give you the advice to use real metal cylinders. It takes longer to get your first lock open but after that you really aquired some skill.
If feasible it might also be a good idea to organize a group of interested people and exchange cylinders and ideas. There are some lockpicking clubs. Maybe there is a chapter in your area.
Posted by: wildman800

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 08/19/17 09:46 AM

These are metal"cards" that are the size of a credit card. The tools are in the card and have to be broken out when needed.
Posted by: LesSnyder

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 08/19/17 11:00 AM

I've started charging up the AA and AAA Eneloops along with the 12vdc storage battery and battery packs for the Ridgid drill/driver... looks like an interesting week or so in the Western Tropical Atlantic
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 08/20/17 12:54 PM

Inline with stocking up in an organized manner, I ordered a case of facial tissue from Sam's Club.

https://www.samsclub.com/sams/windsoft-facial-tissue-30-boxes-100-ct-each/prod450350.ip?xid=plp2120107-groc:product:1:18

Disclaimer: I have no affiliation with Sam's Club aside from being a long-time customer.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: bacpacjac

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 08/20/17 10:58 PM

I took my daughter fishing today, and received a good reminder about why I, and especially we, can't rely on this method of procuring food. Ever. LOL!!

Yesterday, though, I practiced flint & steel and campfire cooking in the rain, after making some repairs at our BOL. wink
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 08/20/17 11:02 PM

Originally Posted By: bacpacjac
I took my daughter fishing today, and received a good reminder about why I, and especially we, can't rely on this method of procuring food. Ever. LOL!!

What then will you do for food?

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: hikermor

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 08/21/17 01:04 AM

If we are talking survival, the sky's the limit. You could use nets, fish traps, poison(rotenone kills fish,but not those eating them), hand grenades, or even, a hand crank telephone with wires in the water, or similar electrical source. Fish and Game rules do not apply.

But there are a lot of plants and immobile critters that are easy pickin's. Around here, abalone are immobile and very delicious. Does Alberta support abalone?
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 08/21/17 01:12 AM

All joking aside, I never caught a fish. I don't know what to fish for or what to do with it if I did.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: hikermor

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 08/21/17 01:23 AM

Get good at collecting plant foods - pinon nuts, wild strawberries (they are absolutely delicious), or others, depending upon your location. This is best done before it is absolutely necessary....
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 08/21/17 01:31 AM

There were wild berries near where Grandma lived, blackberries I think. As children, my sisters and I would pull the berries off the plant and eat them there.

Grandma had a small carrot garden. When the carrots were ready, we would pull them out of the ground, wash and eat them. Talk about fresh veggies. Those were some great times.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: Russ

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 08/21/17 01:40 AM

Here's a little light reading... Edible weeds in Florida
Posted by: LesSnyder

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 08/21/17 04:07 AM

don't overlook a small dip net with long handle...and working the edge of a mangrove swamp area for small fish and blue crab... a snatch hook is my preferred method of obtaining mullet (but no longer legal in Fla)... large weighted treble hook is cast across a pool of schooling fish and ripped through the school, foul hooking dinner... also, if you have a craft, a cast net is hard to beat

fish are pretty easy to clean... scale fish if desired,the knife spine works held perpendicular, but a dedicated toothed blade works best.... knife behind pectoral fin, make cut forward, repeat other side, twist head to remove and typically entrals follow...slit open belly, and open cavity... rinse and smoke over low heat for about 3 hours... use head and entrals for blue crab bait...to fry, fillet by cutting flat down the dorsal fin following the backbone to remove fillets...skin may be removed if you wish, by using similar cut...pan fry in coating of a mix of seasoned flour and corn meal ...larger round fish like mackerel and king mackerel, cut into steaks down the backbone
Posted by: Phaedrus

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 08/21/17 04:39 AM

In general terms just about any fish you find in the CONUS could be cleaned roughly the same way. Obviously use your own judgement- there are some waters where it's likely not safe to eat anything you catch and there might some poisonous fish I'm unaware. But if you head and gut almost any fish you could conceivably roast or poach it in an emergency situation. Anatomically most fish have a spine and similar internal organs. Some may have fins in different locations, rows of floating bones, etc. But in general terms you can cut into the fish right behind the gills down to the spine, then turn and cut one side of the fish off of the spine. Flip and do the other side. Grasp the fish towards the tail end and run the blade of your knife along the skin to remove the skin from the flesh. The rib cage will usually be visible and can be cut out. This will take the majority of bigger bones out of most fish. This is pretty common for our freshwater fish and many ocean fish but you should do some research on the fish in your area.

Most freshwater fish are edible, although they may not be very palatable.
Posted by: UTAlumnus

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 08/24/17 12:29 AM

Avoid puffer fish unless you know which are safe. Certain varieties are poisonous. Puffer Fish on Wikipedia
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 09/12/17 11:09 PM

This is not about what I did today to prepare. Instead, this is about how my EDC was there for me when I needed it.

Three times in my life I experienced a severe case of heartburn. As part of my EDC, I have an 8OZ bottled water and a first aid kit in my bag. In my first aid kit, I have three packets of Alka-Seltzer. As mom and I were out, I felt the burning sensation again. My EDC was there when I needed it.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 09/13/17 12:31 AM

I had to skip dinner tonight. I'm still not feeling well. I tried just a bowl of yogurt thinking I could at least handle that. I am.

Mom says this is an experience I could learn from, figure out what I could have done differently. I EDC bottled water and Alka-Seltzer. I don't know what I could have done differently.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 11/17/17 05:15 PM

I joined the gun club today . . . yes, the same in which Mom is an officer (the club's secretary, to be more specific). The majority are men; there are some women. At thirty-one, I am the youngest member.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: LesSnyder

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 11/18/17 12:43 AM

JI... will your doctor prescribe omeprazole (20mg) for the heartburn... congratulations on stepping to the dark side at the gun club....if you ever decide to carry concealed, think about joining one of the action shooting sports... I prefer USPSA...it is a very good way to learn safe gun handling skills in dynamic situations....it is active in the Ocala area... YMMV
Posted by: LesSnyder

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 11/18/17 12:45 AM

I ordered on of the Colt M4 lowers from Brownells... had a Colt upper laying lonesome in the safe
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 11/18/17 03:32 AM

Originally Posted By: LesSnyder
JI... will your doctor prescribe omeprazole (20mg) for the heartburn.

No, the doctor, instead, has put me on 40mg of Omeprazole.

Originally Posted By: LesSnyder
congratulations on stepping to the dark side at the gun club....if you ever decide to carry concealed, think about joining one of the action shooting sports... I prefer USPSA...it is a very good way to learn safe gun handling skills in dynamic situations....it is active in the Ocala area... YMMV


I joined the gun club to be informed in other ways.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: bacpacjac

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 12/11/17 09:27 PM

My Grandmother passed away last summer and all us Grandchildren got a little inheritance cheque a couple of weeks. All the bills are up to date, and the rest of the Christmas shopping is budgeted for, so we have budgeted Grandma's money for car repairs. It's going to get a serious overhaul. The catalytic converter broke on yesterday, so this timing is perfect, especially with Christmas travel coming up fast.

We were stunned when another small check arrived on Friday. My Uncle generously decided to divide some of his inheritance amoung his nieces and nephews! Cool! We spent every penny this weekend, fully stocking the pantry and freezer. It feels so great to have them both full again!
Posted by: M_a_x

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 12/12/17 08:22 AM

I went through my FAKs and replaced items that are about to expire, checked the scissors, replaced adhesives (a check revealed they lost to much of their stickiness), replaced latex gloves with nitril gloves.
I recharged my AA rechargeables and performed the weekly test run for my GPS receivers (they start faster when they are allowed to sync the almanach regularly).
I rotated a part of my water reserves.
I scheduled the updates for my vehicle navigation devices for tomorrow.
I will refill the water for windshield washing system this afternoon before my next ride.
Posted by: TeacherRO

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 12/12/17 10:20 PM

Updating winter car kits - food, matches blankets, etc. for the cars.
Posted by: LesSnyder

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 12/13/17 03:52 AM

I think I'll drain the fuel from the portable inverter generator tomorrow...it has been on stand by, waiting for the first cold snap... I've already changed out the oil, and picked up a set of spark plugs for both sets...
Posted by: bacpacjac

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 12/14/17 01:33 PM

We're in our first -30C blast of the winter and it always makes me re-think every pack, kit and purse we've got going. Double-checking and adding another layer of warmth to a few of them today as I stay inside where it's warm and peak out the windows at The Nature.

Stay warm and dry, my friends!
Posted by: LesSnyder

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 12/14/17 02:14 PM

Jaqui... we made it all the way down to 39 (F not C), and I switched out of shorts for a couple of days.... and if any of you watch "Live, PD"... Pasco County actually has some pretty good people living in it smile
Posted by: Roarmeister

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 12/14/17 06:54 PM

I purchased a 20-lire gas can for the vehicle and reflective tape for my clothes/pack.

A few weeks ago, I almost hit a pedestrian! GULP!

The problem was he was dressed entirely in black - non-reflective black overcoat, black gloves, black pants and black shoes. I was waiting to turn right at a parking lot exit that was not well lit (new moon as well). The pedestrian walked in front of me when the vehicle in front cleared the exit and turned right. I started to drive forward. I could not see the fellow; he was for all intents invisible to me. The only thing I could see between the glare of the traffic turning in was his white face! It wasn't until he moved into my headlight beam that I could see the rest of him. I wasn't sure which one of us was going to have the heart attack! Naturally, he was upset, thought it was all my fault and gave me the one-finger salute.

So that moved me to think - I too have a dark black jacket. So I ordered some reflective tape from Amazon and received it last night. Time to add a few accents to my clothing and to my pack. I want to be noticed - I don't want to be a victim of another driver's inability to see me.

Right now at this time of year, there is only 8 hours of daylight where I live. Its dark when I go to work and dark when I go home. Stay safe out there.
Posted by: hikermor

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 12/14/17 10:59 PM

If you are walking or riding a bike, the brighter the better, especially on moving parts and the head. My pet peeve is motor cyclists clad entirely in black, including the helmet. Invisible must be cool...
Posted by: Phaedrus

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 12/15/17 01:25 AM

Grrrr! I hate that as well. Pretty much every person who's been driving in urban areas for many years has had some close brushes with dark-clad pedestrians. It's clear that most of them don't give a thought to safety or visibility, especially the ones that seem to love jaywalking at night while wearing dark sweats and black hoodies.
Posted by: clearwater

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 12/15/17 06:11 PM

Dang, I hate it when night time Jay walkers wear dark clothes and are busy looking at their cell phones.

Scares the - out of me.

Had to give my next door neighbor's brother a ride to the hospital when he stepped in front of a pickup truck like that. The fact he is close to 400 lbs probably saved him from serious injury.

I just don't get some people.
Posted by: Russ

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 12/15/17 06:23 PM

So wearing black is very “in” and popular -- but if some blacked out dude is totally successful and no one can see him, it’s a driver’s fault when he’s hit while crossing a street? Seems to me that being struck by a car at night while wearing all black is contributory and should be considered mitigation with LE or in court. But that’s just an un-lawyerly opinion.
Posted by: gonewiththewind

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 12/15/17 07:00 PM

If you are trying to hide at night, don't walk in front of moving vehicles!! Just have to be smart.
Posted by: hikermor

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 12/15/17 07:00 PM

IANAL, but that makes perfect sense to me. My guess is that wearing all black is contributory....

There ought to be some case law on this point. Anyone?
Posted by: M_a_x

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 12/15/17 07:23 PM

Being smart and not walking in front of a moving vehicle is a good move even in broad daylight and when not trying to hide.
It might help to prevent severe injury.
Around here many people use their cell phones while driving and do not pay enough attention to the traffic.
Posted by: gonewiththewind

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 12/15/17 09:33 PM

Just sayin', if you want to play ninja, you got to be smart about it! It is going to hurt you more than it will hurt the car.

Yes, it is made worse by drivers not paying attention. When the pedestrian and the driver are not paying attention, something is bound to happen.
Posted by: CANOEDOGS

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 12/16/17 02:41 AM

I found 5 free gallons of kerosene.
I did a loop around the block near me and went past a garage that had a 35 gallon drum with a "free kero/#1 fuel oil" sign on it.
there was a Army trailer of the type used behind Jeeps parked there also.i went home and got a 5 gallon kero jug that had just a couple inches left in it,a big pipe wrench and the hand pump used for getting fuel into a kero stove.back at the drum I had to heave a bit to get the cap off and filled my jug.
i have a old jerry can i might take over and see if i can get more.
Posted by: chaosmagnet

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 12/16/17 03:19 AM

Originally Posted By: hikermor
There ought to be some case law on this point. Anyone?


Long, long, long ago, I struck a jaywalker on a dark street, wearing all black, while driving at low speed, resulting in minor injuries. I stopped, summoned emergency services, and in the end the police told me I was not at fault. For boring reasons the jaywalker sued me, and lost. The black outfit was one of several significant factors at trial.

If you can prove that a reasonably careful person wouldn’t have been able to see a pedestrian in time, that could be a significant factor in your favor as a driver. I am not an attorney though.
Posted by: bacpacjac

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 12/16/17 01:55 PM

Originally Posted By: LesSnyder
Jaqui... we made it all the way down to 39 (F not C), and I switched out of shorts for a couple of days.... and if any of you watch "Live, PD"... Pasco County actually has some pretty good people living in it smile


That's respectfully cold where you are, Les. I started wearing a toque full time this week. wink

We're firmly in Winter's grasp here now. We've had two decent snowfalls this week and lots of wind. We woke up to more flurries this morning. I think we're expecting the temperature to come up a little today to only feel like -14C. We're in no danger of having to dig out, but it's very cold and slippery. The roads are a mess. We were expecting flurries yesterday but ended up with a mini snow storm instead. Traffic was predictably terrible. (I'm really glad I work at home.) There's a nice layer of ice between the layers of snow, so walking is tricky. This maybe the year that Santa delivers snowshoes. wink

That said, it is beautiful out there. Bacpacgirl and I are going on a hike today. We're going to practice staying warm, hopefully with some flint and steel fire making in the snow with a little brew up.

I got a chilly reminder about the importance of layering on Tuesday, when I dragged the girls to school on the sled. I was totally overdressed, and wore a cotton bra to boot! UGH! I was SO hot and sweaty. I brought the little one home after drop-off, so I could change before we headed out on our hike. I was perfectly comfortable after that, but I had a chill all day because of that start. smirk

Re: black clothes. I have this conversation daily with my teenager. He leaves for school before the sun comes up and visibility is an issue. He's got reflective bits on his boots, coat and backpack, and knows not to jaywalk, but it worries me. We've drilled into his head since he was little, not to take the attention and skill of drivers for granted. Assume that they aren't going to see you. I'm always trying to up the safety factor. He always rolls his eyes and suggests that I drive him instead. UGH!
Posted by: Bingley

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 12/16/17 08:23 PM

Yesterday I ran across such a ninja -- he was was a bicyclist, dressed in all black on a black bike, waiting in the turning bay in the center turning lane away from any street light. He was waiting for an opening in the traffic so he can cut across the road to a store. I didn't notice him until he moved. I felt like rolling down my window and shouting, "Hey, get some reflective strips! Also, read ETS!"
Posted by: hikermor

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 12/17/17 01:24 AM

Refurbished and restored my stash of water. Reviewing and assessing all emergency stores in light of recent events.....
Posted by: TeacherRO

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 12/18/17 08:51 PM

indoor/outdoor workout. Updating phone. New checklist.
Ordering som long term food.
Posted by: gonewiththewind

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 12/19/17 07:58 PM

Doesn't qualify as "today", but I know Santa is helping me with some upgrades on the 25th!
Posted by: Byrd_Huntr

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 12/23/17 04:29 AM

Went through my storage room and cleaned, checked expiry dates, and reorganized everything.
Posted by: TeacherRO

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 01/17/18 08:13 PM

Organizing stuff, ordering specialty batteries, re-packing the Winter car kit.
Doing my fitness workout, locating 'strike anywhere' matches.
Posted by: gonewiththewind

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 01/18/18 12:57 AM

Battery replacement, received my now ACR Solas strobe (yay, can't wait to compare with the military ones), and checked all of the winter preps as we are getting snow again.
Posted by: Bingley

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 01/18/18 12:09 PM

I read your posts. Does that count? When disaster strikes, I'll be thinking, damn, Montanero has fresh batteries! Teacher knows where his matches are!
Posted by: hikermor

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 01/18/18 07:09 PM

Saves us all from many sleepless nights, for sure!
Posted by: chaosmagnet

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 01/19/18 10:31 PM

Originally Posted By: Bingley
I read your posts. Does that count? When disaster strikes, I'll be thinking, damn, Montanero has fresh batteries! Teacher knows where his matches are!


And chaosmagnet can charge all of his iThings and lend flashlights to the entire neighborhood!
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 02/03/18 01:42 AM

This week I went through our medical supplies to throw out everything expired.

I helped to build a shelf to organize our supplies better.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: TeacherRO

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 03/06/18 10:43 PM

Working on home organization; checklists and clear plastic storage boxes.
Posted by: TeacherRO

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 04/23/18 11:57 PM

Invested in some bugout boxes and a rolling duffel
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 06/04/18 08:11 PM

I'm building a four-month reserve of my prescription medications; I did not have them organized. Today after picking up at the pharmacy, I bought a plastic storage container to organize them. Except for my controlled medications which are in my fireproof safe, my prescription reserve is in the plastic basket.

At Wal Mart, I ran into a minor emergency of a different sort. I could not get home and my rescue had to be delayed. I walked across the parking lot and had an early lunch at Lee's Chicken.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 06/13/18 06:18 PM

Today I helped Mom organize her first aid supplies. Mom does not keep her supplies in a kit. Instead, she keeps them in her bathroom cabinet. Correction, she did have a small plastic container in the kitchen (which she never used) and a few loose items, a lot of which were expired.

After I threw a lot of the expired items away, there was a lot of self-adhesive bandages left, something she needed.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: UncleGoo

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 06/15/18 01:27 AM

Bought a first aid kit. One of those little packs with OTC pain meds, Benadryl, Immodium, bandaids, an ace bandage, butterflies, antibiotic creams, etc, etc--the basic stuff. AuntGoo saw it in the truck, and was happy to know that the duct-tape, papertowels, and TP could now be reserved for the "important" stuff...
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 06/20/18 07:11 PM

I don't know why I haven't done this sooner. In most situations in which I needed hand sanitizer, Mom is there. I EDC a bag, why am I relying on Mom? I added a bottle of hand sanitizer to my EDC bag.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: LesSnyder

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 06/25/18 07:42 PM

just finished testing the squeeze bulb siphon fuel system adapted to my smaller inverter gen set...plumbed a 3/16" tee between the fuel shut off of the main tank and the fuel pump, then attached a 3/16 line to feed with the siphon system... 1/4" female NPT to 3/16 barb (hard to find other than on line,but a 1/4" barb can be made to work with 3/16 line)... a shut off plug will allow the OEM system to work...modified a fuel spout with some 1/2" PVC elbows for my 5 gal cans to hold the inlet fuel line, and makes it more water proof...

the siphon system worked well for Irma, and allowed me to use fuel from individuals whose refrigerators I kept up a couple of hours at a time, without hot fueling...

running the inverter on a 2 gal tank should give me all nite ceiling fan and refrigerator run time
Posted by: TeacherRO

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 06/26/18 07:43 PM

1. Added a light jacket to my kit. Even in summer
2. Ordering a few odds and ends
3. Writing up some checklists
4. adding new phone apps ( Uber, google translate, skype and a few others
5. Charging my digital device batteries
6. Repacking my edc
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 08/06/18 12:30 AM

I included a printed list of my prescription medications in my EDC bag.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: LesSnyder

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 08/07/18 02:25 AM

I included the actual prescription numbers of my meds to the emergency notification, doctor's numbers, and meds list already in my wallet
Posted by: hikermor

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 08/07/18 03:36 PM

Today I filled about a dozen three liter water bottles, bringing my total stash of potable water to around fifty gallons, which should be enough drinking water for the two of us for around three weeks.

My main concern is disruption of tap water supply in the event of a major earthquake. If water will still be available post shake, it likely will be nonpotable.

Reading today about the relief efforts underway in SE Asia, following their most recent quake. I would expect much the same in SoCal, on a much larger scale, when it is our turn in the barrel....
Posted by: TeacherRO

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 08/15/18 10:53 PM

Researching freeze dried foods. Adding sharps to a kit.
Ordering a spare leatherman
Posted by: Roarmeister

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 08/16/18 07:12 PM

Got a new 2GoSystems Trifecta tarp/blanket/bivy. Its to replace my SOL Escape bivy and be a reflector tarp. The SOL version was also made of Tyvek and aluminumized but it was orange on the outside which is too bright for ordinary camping. It was too small at only 31" wide and was more suitable as a sleeping bag liner than as a bivy on the outside of a bag.

The Trifecta is 35.4"W x 87.7"L and comes with a full waterproof zipper on three sides and 9 tie-outs (one in the middle) to make versatile as a tarp. Its bigger than the Grabber tarp as well, although not as durable; it is semi-breathable while being mostly water resistant. Some would say water proof. It is a muted green with a equally muted grey logo imprinted on it.

I need to try it out this weekend - but in these temps, I expect I won't need a sleeping bag as the temps are only expected to drop to 10°C. I can probably sleep in my clothes with a pad underneath me. They say it should be good for a 6-8°C improvement from sleeping in the open air.
Posted by: Roarmeister

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 08/16/18 07:14 PM

Originally Posted By: TeacherRO
Researching freeze dried foods. Adding sharps to a kit.
Ordering a spare leatherman


Oh yeah, the was my other item! Purchased a Surge (larger version of the Wave). I'm started to work out the stiffness in the pliers but I expect that might take a while.
Posted by: chaosmagnet

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 08/18/18 11:27 PM

Originally Posted By: Roarmeister
Oh yeah, the was my other item! Purchased a Surge (larger version of the Wave). I'm started to work out the stiffness in the pliers but I expect that might take a while.


I can be faithful to a single woman, but not to a single multitool. However, if I were forced to run with just one multitool for the rest of my life, it would be the Leatherman Surge.

(NB every time I’ve ever been on the range with others I’ve needed something from my LM MUT, and today was no exception. If I could only have two multis it would be a Surge and a MUT.)
Posted by: Roarmeister

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 08/19/18 06:46 PM

Originally Posted By: Roarmeister
Got a new 2GoSystems Trifecta tarp/blanket/bivy. Its to replace my SOL Escape bivy and be a reflector tarp. The SOL version was also made of Tyvek and aluminumized but it was orange on the outside which is too bright for ordinary camping. It was too small at only 31" wide and was more suitable as a sleeping bag liner than as a bivy on the outside of a bag.

The Trifecta is 35.4"W x 87.7"L and comes with a full-length waterproof zipper on three sides and 9 tie-outs (one in the middle) to make versatile as a tarp. Its bigger than the Grabber tarp as well, although not as durable; it is semi-breathable while being mostly water resistant. Some would say waterproof. It is a muted green with an equally muted grey logo imprinted on it.

I need to try it out this weekend - but in these temps, I expect I won't need a sleeping bag as the temps are only expected to drop to 10°C. I can probably sleep in my clothes with a pad underneath me. They say it should be good for a 6-8°C improvement from sleeping in the open air.


Oops! The forecast was for 10°C, and just hours before the forecast had dropped to 7°C; I only brought the bivy without a backup. The actual temperature was 4°C after the clouds and forest smoke cleared off. I woke up at 2:30, relieved myself and was chilled so I put on my wool anorak and was good until 5:30 where I had to get up again to relieve. At that point, the only thing cold on me was my feet where I was wearing a single pair of socks. I was actually pleased that it got colder than expected and that I had a truer test of the bivy. The Tyvek was reasonably breathable and no moisture collected on it. It had loads of room even wearing the anorak. The reflective coating on the Tyvek just worked.

I am impressed -- this equipment is going into my everyday kit and will be used to extend the seasons my other sleeping gear. (I have a 0°, -7° and -12°C down bags and a -12°C polyester bag). The -7° bag is oversized but it wasn't quite designed to be used as an overbag. I should be able to insert the 0° bag inside that one and put them into the bivy to use as a really cold weather system. But I will have to wait several months to try that out. I can wait. smile
Posted by: Roarmeister

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 08/19/18 07:26 PM

We have had a fire ban on for a couple of weeks because of the extremely dry conditions and last Saturday the temperature got up to a blazing 43.3°C.

So since I can't use my axes for wood chopping, I figured I may as well clean them up, touch up the edges and oil the handles. 3 light coats to the wood handles (2 axes and 1 heavy maul) - the last coat took about 3 days to dry. I used boiled linseed oil. Then apply leather protectant to the sheaths. Now they all look pretty. smile
Posted by: TeacherRO

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 09/04/18 01:26 AM

Looking at machetes...
Posted by: LesSnyder

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 09/04/18 03:43 AM

TeacherRO.... not sure what part of the country you are in, but if you are looking for a tropical vegetation cutter you might look at a 14" Tramontina Bolo... mine works like a charm for Florida... you will need to sharpen it
Posted by: TeacherRO

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 10/08/18 05:46 PM

Added a cell phone case and external battery.
Added fall gloves to the jacket carry.
Posted by: LesSnyder

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 10/08/18 07:07 PM

checked the stored gasoline and propane... will top off the car tomorrow in case TS in the Gulf veers off projected track...tried out the GasOne propane single burner stove....
Posted by: Teslinhiker

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 10/09/18 10:46 PM

Originally Posted By: LesSnyder
checked the stored gasoline and propane... will top off the car tomorrow in case TS in the Gulf veers off projected track...tried out the GasOne propane single burner stove....


Stay safe. Hope that you are not in direct line of the hurricane when it hits landfall.
Posted by: LesSnyder

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 10/10/18 02:51 AM

Teslin... thanks, I'm on the very southern edge of watch area... some above average tides locally, and some wind gusts... should be okay...projected rain and wind soon...my fear was that it would make a right hook in mid Gulf...when topping off the truck last night, the feeling was definitely of impending tropical weather change...
Posted by: pforeman

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 10/29/18 03:30 PM

Got an amateur radio (ham) license over the weekend - it's the entry level 'technician class' but it gets me started. With that, I have opened up a huge resource on the local level of individuals who can help me learn about communications and a lot of other things. To start, I have a 'simple' (still complicated to me) hand held but the possibilities are amazing.

Tied into the "best use" thread, this may turn out to have a lot of other benefits I never expected. I've not received the actual call sign / license yet - that takes about a week or so - but once that is official, I can broadcast and not just listen. With only a couple of months researching this and becoming involved I think I've found a multi-level opportunity. More as I explore and discover.

Paul -
Posted by: M_a_x

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 10/29/18 05:49 PM

Let me offer my congratulations to your achievement. Welcome to the hobby. It´s a great hobby and a good way to prepare.
Posted by: chaosmagnet

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 11/01/18 02:46 AM

Congratulations!

73 de chaosmagnet
Posted by: TeacherRO

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 11/06/18 09:43 PM

Working on the usual: personal fitness, preparing car kits for Winter, Learning knots
Posted by: M_a_x

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 11/07/18 06:25 PM

Test ride my motorcycle and lubricate the chain. I also checked my tire pressure (was Ok, so no inflating required).
Chalk marks indicated that my perceived lean angle still is in tune with the actual lean angle smile.
Posted by: TeacherRO

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 11/30/18 10:32 PM

Doing my holiday shopping and ordering -- Matches were surpassingly hard to find.
Posted by: aligator

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 12/04/18 04:49 AM

Introduced an EMT to the benefits of carrying an Emerson Knives N-SAR, and to the usefulness of a nasal cannula at 15lpm. under a non rebreather set to a flow rate such that the bag doesn't deflate more then half with the patients deepest fastest respiration, or under a BVM with a PEEP valve, not activated, just on the exhalation valve, provides enough resistance to exhalation to resolve most pulmonary shunting causes, or under a CPAP/BIPAP mask. That a nasal cannula at 15lpm. provides enough positive pressure to allow apneic respirations; even if the patients not breathing, if they have a pulse, there's enough positive pressure to cause diffusion across the alveolar membrane. It also helps denitrification, and puts the patient in a much more tenable position for intubation. Putting one provider in a better position to care for his patients.
Posted by: Roarmeister

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 12/05/18 06:55 PM

We had a widespread power outage yesterday that affected a large chunk of the Province. There were pockets of the city that had power which led to a lot of people congregating in those parts - and a lot of people going for coffee because they couldn't go anywhere or do anything else. But there was no panic, no misbehaving, no looting, no rioting in the streets and no blaming the power utility - all very Canadian behaviour. I don't know where people get the idea that during emergencies that all h*** breaks loose. I have yet to witness anything resembling such.

I (ahem!) work for the power company so I had the inside scoop on the outage situation. smile I knew the outage was going to be several hours due to 3 major power plants tripping off. We had major amounts of hoarfrost and the line sags caused voltage drops which in turn caused network instability which led to the power plants tripping. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that practically everyone's power was restored in 13 hours! Major props to my co-workers.

I noticed a few things - I took all my electronics and topped up their charge via my vehicle. I purchased a 15,000 mAh power bank as well and threw that in my day pack. I have 4 charging ports (1-115v, 3-12v of which one is unswitched). I picked up some large unscented candles because I was short of them and I also grabbed some cash at a working ATM. I had a full tank of gas so I didn't need to top up.

It wasn't very cold (only -9°C) and little wind. You southerners might disagree with me about the temps but we have very highly insulated buildings and are used to -40° stuff. It could have been a lot worse with the temperatures and buildings would have cooled off a lot quicker. I turned my thermostat up so that when the power came back on, the furnace fan would be able to kick in, and it would "overheat" my condo. There was no guarantee that the power would stay on and could drop out again. I have camping stoves and my BBQ that I could fire up and cook with.

Some of my co-workers who have acreages outside the city had other issues. No power meant no pump for their well water and ergo only 1 toilet flush before you ran out! frown What's the old saying - "If its brown, flush it down. If its yellow, let it mellow."

No power also meant no Internet for my laptop because the service provider had to reset some of their switches. I could not even remote access my work servers because of this. The outage was long enough (9 hours) that it also meant people could not buy gas at most stations or did not have enough fuel for their emergency generators or that battery back-up systems were being pushed to their limits. Cell-phone traffic was up but the networks didn't seem to have any issues.

Traffic was at times a bit silly. Honestly, I think somebody hands out "stupid pills" to drivers. When the power is out, the traffic lights are out and that means you have to treat all of those intersections as a 4-way stop. Some people were extra cautious and didn't get the sequence right of when to move. But the people who annoyed me the most were the ones who drove right through the intersection without even slowing down or checking for cross traffic! One annoyed "gentleman" gave me the stink eye after I correctly stopped at the intersection!

The biggest thing was the realization of how much we rely on electricity to do so much and how pervasive it is in our everyday lives. Sometimes we need these reminders.
Posted by: AKSAR

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 12/05/18 07:42 PM

Picking up and sorting through some stuff that got dumped off from a big bookshelf that fell over during our recent earthquake. Finding some things I should have tossed years ago.

Nothing like an M7 earthquake to motivate one to clean up the house! smile
Posted by: TeacherRO

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 01/25/19 11:19 PM

Mid-Winter check on car/ truck kits, workout, some electronics tinkering, food shopping.
Posted by: TeacherRO

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 03/05/19 05:31 PM

repacking some kits, buying batteries, planning spring garden
Posted by: Taurus

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 03/06/19 10:05 PM

I watched the latest episode of walking dead.

Reminds me I need to get a good bat and a roll of barbed wire. Even if the world doesn’t end I’ll have a great conversation piece.
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 09/19/19 08:27 PM

I'm in the process of rotating my stock of tea by brewing old, mix-matched bags of tea. Each blend of iced tea will be different.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: hikermor

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 09/25/19 10:28 PM

With the arrival of the autumnal equinox and an impending winter looming, to say nothing of power shutdowns, this has been a good day to check the condition of emergency lighting and lanterns and charge up those that have lost some charge. The process will probably continue into tomorrow.

I didn't realize how many batteries I have stashed in various devices. This was brought on by a light failure in our bathroom, plunging it into darkness. I deployed a Goal Zero Mini Lantern, which functioned quite well, but I noticed that it was not at full capacity.

It is prudent to check stuff like this every now and then.
Posted by: Russ

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 09/25/19 10:51 PM

Agree. However, since my little solar panel experiment I’ve been a lot less worried about maintaining charge in little things because now I know they can all be charged off-grid.

That said, besides the backpack-able solar panels, I needed a few power banks for the experiment’s test and they (one Anker PowerCore 20,000 mAh and two 10,000 mAh) are now included in various kits. A Goal Zero Yeti 400 is for use at home, it makes for a nice power back-up for small gear. I charged the Anker power banks last week, the GZ is plugged in now. The Yeti 400 takes forever to take a full charge, but I’m not sure it’s healthy to push power banks and back-ups to 100%; I’m happy to get them to ~90%.

Charging AA and AAA NiMH batteries is a continuing process, no set schedule, but the way I use those lights, the batteries last a long time.
Posted by: Famdoc

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 01/28/20 08:47 PM

I wasn't sure whether to post this here or on some of the recent firstaid kit posts, but I happened to notice these on the display rack at Home Depot:
https://images.homedepot-static.com/prod...2070-64_145.jpg

These are very inexpensive ($5 for two) tubes of skin glue, used for repairing lacerations, available without a prescription: "Medical cyanoacrylate". Vetbond is the more expensive option also available. Amazon sells Liquidskin Pro also for $15

Washing the wound with soap and water is preferable to betadine, etc. So, carrying a small wrapped bar of soap from you last hotel stay is prudent. Dry the skin, then apply a line of glue across the length of the wound with the edges pushed together; wait a few sec., then apply a second wider application on top of the first layer. Be advised the area gets notably warm as the glue dries (exothermic reaction) which is noticeable but doesn't burn. The glue will slowly flake away over the next 2-3 weeks.

Gluing wounds appears to have a lower risk of a wound infection compared to suturing them: a second reason to keep some in your kit.

I've put them in each of my car kits; it's also a good thing to take backpacking/hiking.

No commercial or other affiliation.
Posted by: dougwalkabout

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 02/01/20 04:35 AM

That's interesting. It's really tough to get medical grade superglue up here. Physicians and vets have it, but for ordinary peasants like me it seems to be off limits. I wonder -- would it slip through via Amazon, and would it be the legitimate stuff?
Posted by: teacher

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 02/03/20 07:53 PM

+1 on carrying soap, either a tiny bottle or hotel sized sized bar.
Posted by: Famdoc

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 02/04/20 03:02 AM

As far as I can tell, Amazon will ship it anywhere; it is also available on Ebay.
Lowes and Tractor Supply also seem to sell it; I don't know about Minards, Meijer, or other regional big box stores.
Posted by: CANOEDOGS

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 02/06/20 03:56 AM

i do my main shopping on the first of the month.the local asian grocery store is one stop where i pick up odds and ends like
frozen egg rolls and cooking oil by the gallon.
they carry the butane bottles used in the table top stoves and
i'll pick up a four pack every couple trips so I have a good stock
set aside.
I got another 90 day card for the old TracFone I keep in my car.
I have a smart phone but very seldom use it as my wife's number
is the one called into %90 of the time.
a army buddy is sort of house bound as he can't drive anymore.
my self and another couple guys take him shopping and on trips where he does not want to use a cab.we go to a Cables outdoor store
every few weeks just to get out and i'll buy a few box's of 22's
so I have more than enough for summer plinking and such.
Minneapolis is a safe place to live with no major storms or
earthquakes to prepare for.also no chemical plants to run from
if they blow up.so being prepared is sort at a low level for me.

Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 04/28/20 04:38 PM

I reorganized my supply of bottled water to make room for cans of soda.

Of course, I try to keep my stock rotated. Even then, I run into problems. I have a case and a third of bottled water that expired in 2016. I'm not too concerned. After all, I've kept them in a climate-controlled environment.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: Chisel

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 05/04/20 07:38 PM

I bought 8 boxes of gloves + 6 boxes of face masks

Also, made sure every one of the kids has enough gloves & masks in his/her car
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 05/05/20 01:08 AM

I can't imagine needing that many gloves.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: Chisel

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 05/05/20 07:28 AM

LOL.
They seem like overkill, but there is always a need.
I have bought 4 boxes earlier and they are all gone. One box sent to my daughter(#2), one given to son who may leave us to another town a few weeks from now. One box sits on the "sanitization table" that I use with the other son to sanitize stuff we buy. In addition, gloves are used routinely for house cleaning whenever strong cleaning fluids are used.

Also, I am a prepper and like to have a few goodies stashed just in case. Like when this whole mess started and everybody freaked out , gloves weren't found easily and I had to open my prepper closet to give a box to my daughter(#1) who is a doctor. They do provide stuff in the hospital but it was hectic in the ealier days (she couldn't even reach her workplace and then she was transferred to work in another hospital), so it was important that she had her own protective items in her car.

This whole experience made me decide to double my usual 4 extra boxes of gloves to eight.

Same thing goes for face masks and other safety items.
Posted by: hikermor

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 05/05/20 04:01 PM

I buy disposable gloves by the box full (400 pair to the box) and they get used regularly, especially by Mrs. Hikermor. I also load up on N95 masks; they are ery useful in archaeological/paleontological field work, sometimes even when just gardening....
Posted by: teacher

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 05/05/20 07:21 PM

Recharging all the devices and ordered some new batteries.
Posted by: TeacherRO

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 06/08/20 08:36 PM

Sorting gear; moving things in appropriate kits.
Checking some off brand rechargeable
Ordering some small things
Posted by: EMPnotImplyNuclear

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 06/15/20 07:11 PM

Originally Posted By: Jeanette_Isabelle
I can't imagine needing that many gloves.

Jeanette Isabelle


Hi
folks like to use them for meat prep
(making burger patties, repackaging chicken...)
Posted by: dougwalkabout

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 06/15/20 07:33 PM

Gloves are also good for shop work, like when you're working with grease or paint that's hard to wash off.
Posted by: EMPnotImplyNuclear

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 06/23/20 01:12 AM

Got this for the closet

The narrower shape makes it more difficult to carry
than two cases of 24-28 .5liter bottles (wider)
51 lb versus 53lb-62 lb
its not as comfortable to brace against
so the arms end up working harder
Posted by: Janysboy

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 07/02/20 09:43 AM

I hace recharged all my rechargeable batteries, and both the power banks.
Posted by: M_a_x

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 07/02/20 02:11 PM

I built and tested an alcohol stove. It is a fancy feast type stove with a carbon felt wick. The stove is really lightweight, fairly easy to build and works fine for smaller cups and pots.
I was surprised how fast it brought the water to a boil.
Considering that I have only two Trangia burners, three gas burners and a MSR multifuel stove that was a totally justified and desperately needed expansion of my gear and not playing around with a new toy.
GF had no objections to me testing it in the kitchen.
Posted by: chaosmagnet

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 07/02/20 07:48 PM

Originally Posted By: M_a_x
Considering that I have only two Trangia burners, three gas burners and a MSR multifuel stove that was a totally justified and desperately needed expansion of my gear and not playing around with a new toy.


laugh laugh laugh laugh
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 08/12/20 12:13 AM

I bought a pair of shoes and a pair of boots, two spare pairs of sunglasses, comfort food items and three bottles of store-brand liquid Tylenol. I did look for a new EDC bag that would look more "grey man," but I didn't find one.

My goal is to get everything I need before September.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: Chisel

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 08/12/20 07:00 PM

Today I used a home-made multi-socket cables to connect the laptop charger to an outlet of different type.

In my corner of the world, we have 110v as well as 220v , and we have numerous socket systems. Shifting to a standard but will take time.

Those multi-socket extension cables came handy while working in my house or dad's house cuz there are different types of sockets.

I have already made a dozen of those power extension cables to use in DIY projects. They have saved my sanity many times.
Posted by: TeacherRO

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 08/12/20 10:33 PM

Good reminder on staying ahead on things; gotta order new shoes and glasses and top everything else off.

Considering how slow everything is right now, considering ordering my Fall/Winter stuff now.

TRO
Posted by: LesSnyder

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 08/13/20 02:23 AM

am thinking about upgrading my night vision capability... can anyone furnish any first hand anecdotal comments... anything from Sionyx Aurora to AN/PVS14 white phosphor?

I have a couple of pretty good light gathering gun sights (4x32 ACOG)with 8mm exit pupil on my most likely used rifles as well as some pretty good weapon mounted lights, but would like to be a little more covert... regards..
Posted by: EMPnotImplyNuclear

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 08/21/20 03:21 AM

This week we've had heat,
and smoke from fires,
so we had the AC running at night for the first time,
and it was pulling in some smoke

the outside AQI was 160 for PM2.5 last 2 nights
which is about 7 cigarettes per day worth of PM2.5

the air was leaking in through the front door
and furnace door , so both had to be gasketed with garbage bags,
using a credit card

I started sealing with ducktape around the outside of the door frame,
but that wasn't gonna last,
and it was kinda clumsy and slow to deploy


front door had weather stripping gasket job from years ago,
which worked good enough against occasional winter time high winds,
but it was never tested against the AC like this week


Posted by: DaveL

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 08/21/20 04:59 PM

EMP
Check to see if your furnace has a fresh air duct , if so block it off only for using the AC
Posted by: LesSnyder

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 08/21/20 07:43 PM

with tropical storm Laura projected to turn into the eastern Gulf of Mexico... just had a large mostly dead camphor tree as well as a tall palm removed....

in the past I've relied on frozen water jugs to cool my 5 and 7 day coolers if power goes out for an extended period of time... this year I think I'll get one filled from a commercial ice kiosk

most everything else is ready to go... will fill the 30 gal plastic trash can placed in the tub if we are in the projected path, used for flushing toilet... I've been lucky in the last 20 years of so and have not lost city water service... not so in the early years living here

good luck, and stay safe
Posted by: EMPnotImplyNuclear

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 08/25/20 02:26 AM

Originally Posted By: DaveL
EMP
Check to see if your furnace has a fresh air duct , if so block it off only for using the AC

Heh wink

Furnace is in a small closet.
Behind the furnace are 3 registers,
one opens to the outside,
the other two open to the 2nd story crawls space,
which also vents to outside.

The AC is portable , attached to window.

Sealing the closet/door is working out .
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 09/02/20 11:26 PM

Friday, I bought a few more items to top off my supplies.

One eight-pack of sandwich crackers
Two combs
Two three-packs of Carmex
One six-count Kleenex Go Packs
One gender-specific hygiene item

There are still a few items that I need to top off.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 09/15/20 04:21 PM

I transferred boxes of Kleenex from the pantry to my closet to make room.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: LesSnyder

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 09/15/20 06:09 PM

changed out the 28" skeet barrel to the 21" and added the Briley magazine tube to the Benelli....
Posted by: TeacherRO

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 10/27/20 06:58 PM

1. Bought new filters for the air filters
2. Charged everything with a battery
3. working on better mask fit
Posted by: haertig

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 10/27/20 08:30 PM

Installed additional outdoor security cameras.
Posted by: TeacherRO

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 01/07/21 05:46 PM

...We've added solar motion activated lighting.
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 01/15/21 07:06 PM

Mom and I topped off anything that can be topped off in case of anything out of the ordinary happens next week.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: Phaedrus

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 01/16/21 07:57 AM

Over the last week I got a few things done.

First I moved my winter emergency stuff into my new Subaru (out of my wrecked car). It actually has less space in the hatch area than the trunk space of my old car so I need to be more selective when I port my camping/EDC stuff over.

Next I got some fresh lithium batteries from BatteryJunction. They have great pricing and service so once or twice a year I buy in bulk. This batch was a 20-pack of lithium AAA and two dozen Panasonic CR123a; I still had a fair amount of the latter but needed the former and at the rate I use 'em it was a no-brainer.

Lastly I got a new plate carrier and a Condor Kanagroo mag pouch. I installed the LAPG Level IV ceramic/PE plates in the new carrier and mounted the Kangaroo to the front. It holds three AR mags with 3 pistol mags on top/front of those. I stuck three loaded Lancer L5 mags in there and three VP9 mags. Along with the plates it's a bit of weight but I don't plan to walk around the mall with them. smirk It's kind of a home invasion/emergency kit, something I can don and doff quickly that will still stop multiple rounds of M855 SS109 from a 20" barrel. To be fair, body armor is more of a "that's kind of cool" thing than something I expect to use the price was good and I wanted it. grin
Posted by: Blast

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 01/16/21 06:31 PM

Built my network of high skillset connections by teaching ham radio basics to a computer security specialist.
-Blast
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 01/16/21 07:16 PM

I was able to organize my medical refills, now down to three boxes, by building a first aid kit (to give away) from items that I would not be able to use or have in excess.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 01/17/21 02:21 AM

This week, after the coffee maker quit, Mom bought two coffee makers. The second is the backup unit.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: Blast

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 01/17/21 06:58 PM

Originally Posted By: Jeanette_Isabelle
This week, after the coffee maker quit, Mom bought two coffee makers. The second is the backup unit.


Electric, stove-top percolator, or press? She should also check out cold brewing.
-Blast, coffee addict grin
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 01/17/21 07:08 PM

Originally Posted By: Blast
Electric, stove-top percolator, or press?

Automatic drip

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: M_a_x

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 01/17/21 07:32 PM

Percolators and french presses could be a great alternative. They can be operated even without electric power.
I decided to go with a french press some time ago and I never looked back to drip coffee. The coffee is very nice - partly to exclusively using fresh grounds. I am contemplating on getting a titanium version of the french press.
Today I made all my coffee using only a cat can stove for heating the water. That was a nice excercise for the use of the alcohol stove.
Posted by: chaosmagnet

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 01/17/21 07:36 PM

Our camp stove percolator is essential.

I’ve been wanting something more compact to bring to the outdoor range and have settled on an inexpensive isopropane stove and Starbucks Via instant coffee. Also included is my favorite mint tea and some hot cocoa packets.
Posted by: hikermor

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 01/17/21 08:05 PM

Another vote for french press. During power outages, I just use a canister stove to heat water, rather than the microwave. There are many alternative methods to heat water and the resulting product is great
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 01/17/21 08:26 PM

Mom also has a percolator. Given that she has an automatic drip, a backup automatic drip, and a percolator, she has her coffee needs covered.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: Chisel

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 01/26/21 10:27 AM

My daughter ordered this Melitta coffee filter holder for me
Since then, my morning coffee is dripping through


The one I have is black
Posted by: Chisel

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 01/26/21 10:28 AM

+ 1 for French press
I have two glass ones, and they are great, but one of them is a bit loose.
The glass cylinder is a bit bigger than the plunger.
Next time I buy one, I will open the box and put it together to check for the fit.
Posted by: Blast

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 01/26/21 06:49 PM

Originally Posted By: Chisel

Next time I buy one, I will open the box and put it together to check for the fit.


I'm picturing the scene from "The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly" where Tuco is assembling a pistol from assorted different guns. grin
-Blast
Posted by: Ren

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 01/26/21 08:57 PM

Ah coffee, I don't drink the stuff.

Though today saw this online

https://sotooutdoors.com/product/helix-coffee-maker/

Looked a nice compact design for carrying about, even just for initial filtering of water.
Posted by: Chisel

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 01/27/21 05:11 AM

Quote:
I'm picturing the scene from "The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly" where Tuco is assembling a pistol from assorted different guns.


LOL
I love improvising + I don't like to throw anything. Either I give it to charity's recycling projects, or utilize it in my own projects, or .. very reluctantly.. t-h-r-o-w it away with a tear on my cheek. LOL.

One of my favourite projects is home-made and self designed power extensions. I used cords of broken appliances (the ones with highest amperage) and bits and pieces from here and there.

Yes, extension cords are available in the market, but I need specific types of plugs and outlets
Posted by: TeacherRO

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 03/04/21 06:45 PM

Charging my solar radio, new lifestraw filter to test and checking dates on my OTC meds.
Posted by: TeacherRO

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 03/15/21 07:15 PM

Working on fitness goals by hiking..
Posted by: TeacherRO

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 05/05/21 11:01 PM

re-charging batteries ( radios, solar gear, portable speakers, etc.)
prepping wet weather jackets for Summer
Ordered new tools
car/truck maintenance
Spring cleaning of closet
Posted by: Phaedrus

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 05/06/21 04:19 AM

I got my second jab today so I'm now fully vaxxed.
Posted by: hikermor

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 05/07/21 04:20 PM

Trimming brush and cleaning up dead leaves and other potential fuel. Getting ready for yet another fire season.
Posted by: LesSnyder

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 05/09/21 01:43 AM

not today, but end of last year had an old camphor tree and tall palm removed... the palm was within 5' of the house, and the camphor a non native species, so no permitting problems... will use up the stored gasoline, and rotate the water first of next month... I still use a couple of D cells for the MagLight LEDs and need to get a pack at Sams... I stocked up on a couple of flats of corned beef hash, vienna sausages,and chunky soups at the beginning of COVID, so the pantry is in pretty good shape

I have a filled propane bottle that has a bad valve... need to replace it as I like to have two filled spares

new tires and battery on the Tacoma, so it is in pretty good shape

regards
Posted by: Roarmeister

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 05/10/21 07:02 PM

Well, last week was Emergency Preparedness Week in Canada. I "was" going to check the anode rod in the water heater. Turns out I did not have to. The water heater cracked and sprung a leak in the middle of the night. Luckily, the water heater is right next to the floor drain so clean up was minimal.

After my cold morning shower, I called up the plumber and he arrived a few hours later with my brand new water heater. During installation he had to solder a couple of pipes. Solder? Heat? Smoke? Smoke detector 5 feet away. It doesn't take much to figure out what happened. On the upside, all 3 of my interconnected detectors work exactly like they are supposed to! smile

And I now have a fixed reminder date for checking the anode on a yearly basis!
Posted by: EMPnotImplyNuclear

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 05/14/21 02:02 AM

Originally Posted By: Phaedrus
I got my second jab today so I'm now fully vaxxed.

If final dose on 05/06/21 , fully vaxxed on 05/20/21
Posted by: teacher

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 07/26/21 10:35 PM

following the news, charging tech. things, doing bike repairs
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 08/03/21 12:22 PM

I altered my prepping strategy to include precious metals.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: LesSnyder

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 08/04/21 12:49 AM

JI... don't know if you are familiar with Thai baht bracelets, but the charms come in labeled gram mass amount of gold

I replaced my original NiCd power packs for my Ridgid cordless and contractor fan with Liion... I got OEM with the lifetime warranty rather than cheaper after market... OK, the real reason was that it has been super hot for Steel Challenge matches, and I needed a better fan battery for the gun cart smile
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 08/27/21 12:46 AM

I ordered thirty Cyalume Light Sticks, two 48 Count boxes of peanut butter cracker sandwiches, and a bottle of Liddell's homeopathic oral spray. I also added a hygiene product to the shopping list.

Soon, I will order more nutritional supplements, beef summer sausage, and Alka-Seltzer.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 08/27/21 04:20 PM

I've ordered more test strips for my glucometer.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 08/27/21 05:58 PM

I checked all expiration dates for my medical kit and four first aid kits and ordered items that have or will soon expire.

I checked the battery for my glucometer and ordered two replacement batteries for when I do need them.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 08/29/21 08:01 PM

I rotated my stock after receiving my monthly shipment of Zevia Rootbeer (an all-natural clear soda with only four ingredients: carbonated water, stevia leaf extract, natural flavors, and citric acid).

I ordered more cracker sandwiches and Alka-Seltzer from Sam's, but when I tried to order Glucerna, the vanilla was out of stock for delivery but had chocolate.

In the past, I ordered vanilla as a preference. Since May/June, I've been reacting to things I usually don't react to.

It turns out I can get the vanilla from Amazon and at a slight discount. The problem is, Amazon is currently limiting them to four a month. I usually go through three cases a month, but I've been going through five boxes a month since I've been sick.

I'll order one case of chocolate Glucerna from Sam's. Hopefully, I won't experience an adverse reaction as I have with other food items.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: Herman30

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 08/29/21 08:26 PM

Bought a proper bag with insert for my first aid stuff.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_qaZVOg544
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 08/30/21 11:18 AM

I tested one of the Cyalume Light Sticks. Not only did I want to be sure I did not end up with a bad batch, but I also wanted to be sure that in the middle of the night, with minimal light, I can grab the light stick beside my bed, opening it, activate it and do everything I need to do from the light of the stick. Figuring out how to open the package in the dark presented a slight challenge. Other than that, the test was a success.

I'm considering getting a windup clock. Not only will I know the time when we have no power, but I would also like a source of white noise during a power outage.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: paulr

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 09/03/21 09:02 AM

I guess the hurricane has come and gone since your last post, so I hope you made it ok.

Cyalumes were clever 30 years ago but LED lighting has made them obsolete since then. I would have said, equip yourself with a small LED headlamp. I have some very cheap 3aaa ones that are not waterproof but are better than nothing. I got them from morningsave.com but places like Costco also sell them. I'm looking into getting something better but these will do for now.
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 09/03/21 12:24 PM

Originally Posted By: paulr
Cyalumes were clever 30 years ago but LED lighting has made them obsolete since then.

I wanted light sticks because they are EMP-proof.

Originally Posted By: paulr
I would have said, equip yourself with a small LED headlamp.

Everybody in the forum has been telling me to get a headlamp. I finally did, and it's still taking up valuable space in my medical kit, going unused except when I test the batteries.

Are you convinced yet that I don't need it, or do you need me to hang on to it even longer?

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: pforeman

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 09/03/21 02:41 PM

I've got several headlamps and find them very useful but not a "cure all" for lighting needs. If you can have only one light, get a good hand held flashlight. However, like most of us, you can and do have several lighting options.

A headlamp is invaluable and nothing else works better when you need both your hands to do something and you need light too. In a medical emergency having enough light to see what you are doing is very important while you are using both hands to work on the issue and nothing beats a headlamp.

Also, when I have had to "fix" or repair something and I needed better light to see what I am trying to do (using both hands) again a headlamp was/is the best answer. Heck, I put a head lamp on every night when our little dog and I go out for the last time for her 'personal affairs'. The light lets me see what the Boo dog is up to and I'm then able to "recover" any bio-deposits that may have resulted. I really appreciate the light then!
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 09/03/21 04:07 PM

Originally Posted By: pforeman
If you can have only one light, get a good hand held flashlight. However, like most of us, you can and do have several lighting options.

I have six MAG-LITE flashlights.

Originally Posted By: pforeman
A headlamp is invaluable and nothing else works better when you need both your hands to do something and you need light too. In a medical emergency having enough light to see what you are doing is very important while you are using both hands to work on the issue and nothing beats a headlamp.

That is what everyone in this forum has said. For that reason, I bought one. In my thirty-five years, I never needed to treat myself or anyone else in the dark. Nevertheless, the headlamp is still there, turned on every once in a while to see if it still works.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: Herman30

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 09/03/21 04:31 PM

Originally Posted By: Jeanette_Isabelle
In my thirty-five years, I never needed to treat myself or anyone else in the dark.

But still you buy Cyalumes in case on EMP because EMP will wipe out electricity.
So you expect all accidents to happen at daylight in a future scenario when there is no electricity because of EMP? Even in daylight there is darkness inside buildings if lamps don´t function,
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 09/03/21 04:52 PM

Originally Posted By: Herman30
But still you buy Cyalumes in case on EMP because EMP will wipe out electricity.

I have information on an EMP.

Originally Posted By: Herman30
So you expect all accidents to happen at daylight in a future scenario when there is no electricity because of EMP? Even in daylight there is darkness inside buildings if lamps don´t function,

A headlamp won't work after an EMP unless it's in a protective container at the time of the event. If I were to keep the headlamp safe in a protective container, it wouldn't be in the medical bag.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: Ren

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 09/03/21 05:07 PM

Not sure you'll need a flashlight if an EMP destroys the one you are carrying.
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 09/03/21 05:29 PM

Originally Posted By: Ren
Not sure you'll need a flashlight if an EMP destroys the one you are carrying.

Two of my flashlights and spare batteries are in an EMP-proof container.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: paulr

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 09/03/21 06:49 PM

I'm skeptical EMP can damage an LED flashlight unless it's also strong enough to also take out humans where it reaches. I'm even more dubious that it can damage an incandescent flashlight. Maybe you can get an old small incandescent with an LED conversion for runtime, but keep the old filament bulb around just in case. The old Tekna Spash-lite might be nice for that.
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 09/03/21 07:01 PM

My headlamp and most of my flashlights don't have a replaceable bulb. I'm not sure what can and cannot be damaged. Nevertheless, I'm taking precautions by storing two flashlights in an EMP-proof container.

Regardless, you gave me a good idea. I need to get spare bulbs for two of my flashlights and put them in an EMP-proof container.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: M_a_x

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 09/03/21 07:36 PM

An EMP would damage semiconductors (e. g.: LEDs, transistors, ICs). Incandescent bulbs are not vulnerable. My Maglites take both LED inserts and incandescent bulbs. Maybe your´s do too.
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 09/03/21 08:18 PM

Two of my flashlights have replaceable bulbs. The others have a built-in LED.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: chaosmagnet

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 09/03/21 10:16 PM

General rules for EMP:

The longer the wire or antenna is, the more susceptible a device is to damage from an EMP. Battery powered devices without antennas should be more resistant to EMP damage than those with antennas, and much more than those plugged into a power outlet.

Simple semiconductors tend to be more resilient than complex semiconductors. An LED flashlight should in general be more resistant to EMP damage than a laptop CPU, for example. A flashlight that uses direct drive (which I think all the Maglite LED models do) is likely to be more resistant to EMP damage than one with a more complex driver.

A Faraday cage is pretty easy to construct, and if constructed correctly provides very robust protection against EMP damage.
Posted by: Ren

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 09/03/21 11:19 PM

EMP is likely to come from a nuclear detonation. So I would assume that if you & your kit is affected by the EMP, you'll be dead or in very bad shape by either the shock waves or radiation.
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 09/04/21 12:56 AM

Originally Posted By: Ren
EMP is likely to come from a nuclear detonation. So I would assume that if you & your kit is affected by the EMP, you'll be dead or in very bad shape by either the shock waves or radiation.

There's more than one way to create an EMP.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: Phaedrus

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 09/04/21 01:08 AM

Light sticks have pretty limited utility but I keep some around. They're cool and nonflammable so they can't start a fire. They don't need batteries and they keep for quite a while. On the other hand their output is low and the "burn time" is short(ish) depending on your POV. They're inexpensive enough and compact enough that I keep some for the limited range of things they work well for (mostly camping for use as markers).
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 09/04/21 01:34 AM

Originally Posted By: Phaedrus
Light sticks have pretty limited utility but I keep some around.

On the other hand their output is low and the "burn time" is short(ish) depending on your POV.

I tested one in the middle of the night, and it was bright enough to get the job done.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: paulr

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 09/04/21 06:37 AM

Do they actually still make them? I thought they had mostly been replaced by similar looking tubes with LED lights inside. Do the real ones you have, have date stamps? Their shelf life is just a few years, and they break easily in storage, and it's not really possible to check one for breakage without unsealing it and diminishing the shelf life even further. I'd worry about getting old or busted ones, so I'm glad that the one you tested worked.

Regarding EMP, one of the tales associated with it was that the advanced (for the time) US fighter jets of the cold war era were vulnerable to it, because of their IC-based electronics. The opposing Soviet fighter jets were less advanced and used vacuum tubes, and that turned out to be an advantage because of less EMP vulnerability.

Remembering that makes me think incandescent flashlights are likely to be pretty invulnerable. I still have a few and I guess I'll keep some of them. Simple LED lights (direct drive with a resistor ballast) may also be less vulnerable than lights with voltage converters, microprocessors, etc. I do like my direct drive lights and continue to use them now and then.

What did I do today to prepare? I'm not sure it helped prepare for anything, but I spent a ridiculous amount of time researching tiny headlamps, partly in response to a thread that Doug opened. I posted some findings there and have a few more to post.
Posted by: Phaedrus

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 09/04/21 07:00 AM

Cyalume sticks are good long after the "expiration date". I've used sticks that were three or four years past without issue. Maybe they don't glow quite as long, I didn't time them, but it wasn't enough less that I noticed.
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 09/04/21 12:20 PM

Originally Posted By: paulr
Do the real ones you have, have date stamps?

The batch I have is said to expire on April 2026.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 09/04/21 04:35 PM

I talked to a nurse, asking for natural ways to combat COVID-19. She says I need Vitamin C, Vitamin D3, and Zinc.

Today I decided to start a daily regimen of Emergen-C Immune Plus. I checked both the original Emergen-C and Emergen-C Immune Plus. The Immune Plus, not the original, has 1,111% Vitamin C, 125% Vitamin D3 and 91% Zinc.

Disclaimer: I'm not giving out medical advice. I'm stating what I'm doing.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: paulr

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 09/04/21 05:51 PM

If you want to go that approach, you may want to add magnesium and melatonin, and bump up the D3 with additional supplements if you don't get outside much. Seriously though, the vaccine has side effects, but the effects of covid are much worse and the likelihood of getting it is high enough that if you are around other humans a lot, it is a big win. I have much more peace of mind after getting it.
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 09/04/21 06:49 PM

The Immune Plus contains 13% Magnesium, but another supplement I take has much more.

Are you sure about melatonin? That does not sound right.

A year ago last spring, I received a vaccine for something else. Since then, I've had a problem with allergies and other issues. For that reason, I'm leery of the COVID vaccine.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: paulr

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 09/05/21 04:14 AM

Yes Melatonin is supposed to help with both treatment and prevention of covid. I don't remember where I first heard that, but I've been taking a supplement most nights, which also helps me get to sleep, always a good thing too. Here are a bunch of reddit posts, output of a search so some will be better than others:


https://old.reddit.com/r/Coronavirus/search?q=melatonin&restrict_sr=on

Another thing, I recommend an N95 respirator (not a cloth or surgical mask) when out in public. They make a big difference in decreasing virus exposure. There was a big shortage of them earlier but they are plentiful now, just a little more expensive than before. safetyemporium.com and wellbefore.com both have selections.
Posted by: Eugene

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 09/05/21 05:41 AM

Originally Posted By: Jeanette_Isabelle
The Immune Plus contains 13% Magnesium, but another supplement I take has much more.

Are you sure about melatonin? That does not sound right.

A year ago last spring, I received a vaccine for something else. Since then, I've had a problem with allergies and other issues. For that reason, I'm leery of the COVID vaccine.

Jeanette Isabelle


I always have allergies. It finally connected in my head to wear my mask while doing things like mowing so cut down on the amount of crap I was inhaling and it helped a bit.
Posted by: chaosmagnet

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 09/05/21 10:06 AM

Many people sleep more easily and/or more soundly when they take melatonin. Improved sleep has a positive benefit on the immune system.
Posted by: Chisel

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 09/08/21 05:33 PM

Originally Posted By: chaosmagnet
Improved sleep has a positive benefit on the immune system.


+1

A few weeks ago, I was not feeling well. Irregular heart beat, constant anxiety, constant tiredness, the whole list. I needed sleep but couldn't sleep much. Finally I decided to just drop in bed and shut down. I got more sleep, and yes, I started to feel better.

I heard a few things about Melatonin and was tempted to buy a bottle. But I am not a pill lover and try to avoid meds if possible.

Realizing this is a friendly chat board and not a medical expert board, I like to ask about melatonin. Does it have any negative side effects ? Will it be of more help than harm for a 65 year old self-stressed coffee junkie ?
Posted by: Chisel

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 09/08/21 05:47 PM

Regarding the original post

Tomorrow I am going to my home town, to my dad's house where I have a room. I am going to carry a few items to leave there in order to beef up the preps/tools/util items

So, I am taking and leaving there :
- A single blade folder, a double blade folder, a multitool
- A chest of 5 plastic drawers (to organize supplies there, one drawer per category : first aid, office supplies, utility items..etc.

The contents (like first aid kits, duct tape rolls, bunjee cords ..etc.) will be transported later as construction project starts.

That room has to support me in all situations, like if something goes wrong in the construction project, or if I go there for a couple of days and the weather decides to imprison me for a week.
Posted by: chaosmagnet

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 09/09/21 12:08 PM

Originally Posted By: Chisel
[quote=chaosmagnet]Realizing this is a friendly chat board and not a medical expert board, I like to ask about melatonin. Does it have any negative side effects ? Will it be of more help than harm for a 65 year old self-stressed coffee junkie ?


It’s a supplement, widely available, and many in my family have used it or are using it now.

Vivid dreaming is a common side effect, I’m told. I’ve only taken melatonin about two times, but I experienced it both times.

Not being a medical professional and not knowing your health history, I suggest that you bring it up with your doctor before trying it.
Posted by: LesSnyder

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 09/09/21 02:05 PM

my GP recommended a nasal lavage when I started showing symptoms of allergies 5-6 years ago...rather than a Nettie pot which is like water boarding yourself, I use a squeeze bottle and my head up right..

I warm distilled water (don't know the accuracy of a report of parasite that are not destroyed by city water process, but distilled water is cheap)... to which I mix with 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda, and 3x 1/4 teaspoon of canning and pickeling salt that does not have any anti-caking agent... has done wonders, as I've spent a lot of the last year, outdoor in the yard reading under a camphor tree
Posted by: Treeseeker

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 09/09/21 06:54 PM

I too got some cheap AAA LED flashlights (at Lowes for about $5ea). I have a number of these scattered about the house, including one on each nightstand. I use rechargeable AAA batteries. Yes, they are cheaply made but surprisingly bright and cheap enough you can buy a bunch of them.

Of course, I also have more expensive flashlights that are brighter and waterproof.
Posted by: paulr

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 09/10/21 03:32 AM

If you want cheap bright 1aaa lights, try these:

https://sidedeal.com/deals/3-pack-halo-mini-lite-led-flashlights-2

They are 3 for $9 anytime, but they very frequently (like at least 1x a month) go on sale at 3 for $6 on one of meh.com (usually through a "mehrathon"), sidedeal.com/daily , sidedeal.com/bonus , morningsave.com/daily , or morningsave.com/bonus . Those are all pages from the same company: they put 5 things on sale each night starting at midnight EST, but they tend to rotate through the same few dozen items, so stuff like the flashlights keep coming up. You WILL want to put rechargeable AAA's in them, as they are fairly bright but that takes power.

These headlamps are also a good deal, imho:

https://sidedeal.com/deals/2-pack-litezall-mini-headlamps-3

They are also linked in the black diamond headlamp thread.
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 09/10/21 02:32 PM

I did use the headlamp this week. I had it for this long, and this was the first time I had a use for it?

I was helping Mom assemble a bike stand. I held the bike stand with one hand, an Allen wrench with another, and I needed a light to align the hole. I happened to have a headlamp, so I used it.

If I had to do it all over again, buy a headlamp to assemble a bike stand, would I? No. I could build the stand with Mom holding a flashlight. Nevertheless, I used a headlamp because I had one.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 09/10/21 07:47 PM

I began taking Vitamin D3, the lacking supplement to help boost my immune system.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 10/07/21 09:11 PM

Today I received my latest shipment: a lice kit, Gold Bond medicated foot powder, and calamine lotion just in case. I also got more petroleum jelly, a box of nitrile gloves, three more ten-packs of 4" x 4" gauze pads, masks (ten-pack), and a bottle of allergy medication.

Today I ordered two twelve packs of lip balm.
Posted by: chaosmagnet

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 10/08/21 01:34 AM

This week I did a complete inventory of my two main kits, removing some items, replacing others, and refreshing a few expired OTC meds. I also found a ziploc bag filled with Esbit chunks and crumbs that I’m planning to test outdoors another day.

My hiking bag was borrowed by one of the little Magnets without its contents and several items that were kept in it are currently missing. I suspect that I have them, so I’ll dig around for them this weekend.

EDITED TO ADD: Right after I wrote that I remembered where almost all its contents were and retrieved them. There's a boo-boo kit missing, but I think I know where it is.

In other news, I need to straighten up my home office.
Posted by: groo

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 10/08/21 02:56 AM

* Installed 7 new smoke detectors. The new wireless first alert detectors are pretty cool.They're networked together and can be assigned unique locations which are given in the voice alert. ("Warning! Smoke detected in LIVING ROOM. Evacuate!")

* My wool blankets for the winter car kit arrived.
* My AA LED flashlight for the winter car kit arrived (Streamlight Dualie, 3AA. So far, I really like it.)
* My LED lanterns for the house (power failures) arrived.

The theme for the next few weeks is to get a first class car kit put together and in the car.

Anyone recommend a 12V air compressor? I'm about to switch from run flats to normal tires and there's no place for a spare. I'm including a couple of cans of fixaflat and a tire plug kit.
Posted by: M_a_x

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 10/08/21 08:05 AM

* washed the fleece blankets in my car kit (winter is comming)
* checked the gas canisters for my kits with canister stove
* did a test run for my new Trangia 27 HA set (the mac´n´cheese was tasty)
* rotated perishables in my meal packs
* did a test run for my Bushbox XL twig stove (the grilled sausage was delicious, grilling a nice cut of beef was not redundant and once it was grilled it had to be enjoyed)
Posted by: M_a_x

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 10/08/21 08:12 AM

Originally Posted By: groo

Anyone recommend a 12V air compressor? I'm about to switch from run flats to normal tires and there's no place for a spare. I'm including a couple of cans of fixaflat and a tire plug kit.


I went for a mechanical pump. The 12V compressors are usually designed to top off and not for a complete fill. They tend to require several cooling cycles for complete fills. With the mechanical pump it only depends on your stamina.
Posted by: chaosmagnet

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 10/08/21 11:34 AM

Originally Posted By: groo
Anyone recommend a 12V air compressor? I'm about to switch from run flats to normal tires and there's no place for a spare. I'm including a couple of cans of fixaflat and a tire plug kit.


I’ve never had a 12V air compressor fail on me. I have one that I picked up at a garage sale 20+ years ago that still works, although we don’t currently keep it in a car. Each of our cars has a 12V “jump pack” with a built-in air compressor.

While I would do what you’re doing, I haven’t had a single good experience with Fix-A-Flat. Hopefully you’ll never have a flat, or you’ll solve problems with your tire plug kit (which I also carry).
Posted by: RayW

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 10/08/21 09:30 PM

Personally, I have an ARB twin under the passenger seat of the truck which I highly recommend. But it is overkill for most. Viair, https://www.viaircorp.com/ has some more economical choices for occasional use. For plugs, Safety Seal makes the best I have used. https://safetyseal.com/ I have no affiliation with these companys other than I have used lots of safety seal plugs and several friends have used and recommended viair compressors. I will also echo Chaosmagnet's sentiments on fix-a-flat, I've never had very good luck with it and would only use it as a last resort.
Posted by: dougwalkabout

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 10/09/21 04:17 AM

Originally Posted By: chaosmagnet
I’ve never had a 12V air compressor fail on me.


Wow, you've had incredible luck! The ones I see now are so utterly disposable that it's not even funny. Other folks I know concur on this. I now carry a high quality bicycle pump in my car, the classic stand-on type, and it has proven itself unstoppable, in temperatures high and extremely low.
Posted by: chaosmagnet

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 10/09/21 11:05 AM

Originally Posted By: dougwalkabout
Wow, you've had incredible luck!


It’s weird that my good luck would manifest itself in 12V air compressors. If anyone from the Luck Department is reading this I’d happily trade this in for lottery tickets.

With that said my garage sale find has to be at least thirty years old and still works. The jump pack air compressors we have are not intended for a heavy duty cycle — if I recall correctly they’re to cool for at least ten minutes after each thing inflated. But I’ve used them last summer (tire issues on both my car and Mrs. Magnet’s) and they worked.

Now that I think about it, I retract any complaint to the Luck Department about compressors.

Quote:
The ones I see now are so utterly disposable that it's not even funny. Other folks I know concur on this. I now carry a high quality bicycle pump in my car, the classic stand-on type, and it has proven itself unstoppable, in temperatures high and extremely low.


How long does it take to get enough pressure in a car tire?
Posted by: Eugene

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 10/09/21 05:11 PM

I have an old jump start box dad bought but it wasn't strong enough to start his Massey Ferguson so he gave it to me. I had to put in a new battery a few years ago but have used it to air up car tires, bike tires, kids pool/toys, etc.
Posted by: UTAlumnus

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 10/09/21 05:47 PM

If you're going to carry fix-a-flat, double bag it in the heaviest bags you can find or store it by itself in something like an ammo can. They will make a mess of everything around them if they get a hole.
Posted by: chaosmagnet

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 10/09/21 08:36 PM

Originally Posted By: Eugene
I have an old jump start box dad bought but it wasn't strong enough to start his Massey Ferguson so he gave it to me. I had to put in a new battery a few years ago but have used it to air up car tires, bike tires, kids pool/toys, etc.


Replacing the batteries in jump boxes gives me joy.
Posted by: dougwalkabout

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 10/10/21 05:31 AM

Originally Posted By: chaosmagnet
With that said my garage sale find has to be at least thirty years old and still works.

- - - - -

How long does it take to get enough pressure in a car tire?

Haha, don't misunderstand me, I think that's awesome! There is no reason a 12V compressor cannot be made to last and be reliable. It's just that the ones I see now are not trustworthy, and that's a sad commentary.

The hand pump I'm talking about is a bicycle floor pump, so it moves a lot of air. In a 16" car tire, I go from low to full in a maybe 3-4 minutes. Dead flat would be a lot longer of course, and I'd be tempted to jack the vehicle slightly to try to preserve the bead seal regardless of the air source.
Posted by: Teslinhiker

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 10/11/21 01:06 AM

Originally Posted By: dougwalkabout

Haha, don't misunderstand me, I think that's awesome! There is no reason a 12V compressor cannot be made to last and be reliable. It's just that the ones I see now are not trustworthy, and that's a sad commentary.

The hand pump I'm talking about is a bicycle floor pump, so it moves a lot of air. In a 16" car tire, I go from low to full in a maybe 3-4 minutes. Dead flat would be a lot longer of course, and I'd be tempted to jack the vehicle slightly to try to preserve the bead seal regardless of the air source.


Doug, I have been using this compressor from CT for quite a few years on our truck (20 inch tires) and trailer. I like that the compressor connects directly to the battery, and has a twin-cylinder motor. The combined length of the power cord and air hose is about 25 feet. I ditched the hard case that came with the compressor, and it easily fits in the back seat under-storage area.

These are also quite popular with the off-road guys.

BC (Before Covid) the compressors would come on sale for $69.00 or $79.00 CAD. I have been thinking of picking up another to keep as a spare.

https://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/motomaster-eliminator-heavy-duty-tire-inflator-0095032p.html

That said. Those bike floor pumps that you mentioned, also work great, if you can find a well made one.
Posted by: Eugene

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 10/11/21 01:29 AM

Originally Posted By: chaosmagnet
Originally Posted By: Eugene
I have an old jump start box dad bought but it wasn't strong enough to start his Massey Ferguson so he gave it to me. I had to put in a new battery a few years ago but have used it to air up car tires, bike tires, kids pool/toys, etc.


Replacing the batteries in jump boxes gives me joy.

Sad thing is you can buy a whole new box for less than the price of the replacement battery. But hopefully since this one has lasted so long I figure it much be made decent.
Posted by: dougwalkabout

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 10/11/21 03:19 AM

Originally Posted By: Teslinhiker
Doug, I have been using this compressor from CT for quite a few years on our truck (20 inch tires) and trailer.

Thanks, Teslinhiker, it's good to know there is still some non-junk out there. If I was running a big truck instead of a 4-banger, I might be looking for something a little faster than a floor pump. grin

Cheers,
-Doug
Posted by: Mark_R

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 10/11/21 06:26 AM

Originally Posted By: dougwalkabout
Originally Posted By: chaosmagnet
I’ve never had a 12V air compressor fail on me.


Wow, you've had incredible luck! The ones I see now are so utterly disposable that it's not even funny. Other folks I know concur on this. I now carry a high quality bicycle pump in my car, the classic stand-on type, and it has proven itself unstoppable, in temperatures high and extremely low.


I used a bicycle pump for many years. It's fine for compact cars (120 pumps from flat to full), and can handle midsized sedans in a pinch. But, one you get to SUVs, forget it.

A couple of years ago I invested in a VIAIR 12V pump. It's head and shoulder above the plastic horrors you can get at Target.

***************************************************************

And what did I do to prepare today? I ordered camping gear for the rest of the family. Have two kids in scouts, and a wife as a scout master, means lots of gear! I'm going through culture shock with all the crap that constitutes the "necessary" luxuries of car camping compared to backpacking.

EDIT: The tire plug kits are a lot better than fix-a-flats. The plugs are supposed to be temporary, but they'll last several years before needing replacing. Also, a lot of tire repair shops refuse to work on a fix-a-flat filled tire because of the unholy mess left inside.
Posted by: chaosmagnet

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 10/11/21 03:00 PM

Originally Posted By: Eugene
Sad thing is you can buy a whole new box for less than the price of the replacement battery. But hopefully since this one has lasted so long I figure it much be made decent.


The jump packs I own are essentially a case, cables and some accessories wrapped around an AGM golf cart battery. The two times I’ve done the replacement the battery was significantly less expensive — about $30 vs about $70 the jump pack cost originally. Unfortunately my favorite jump pack (The “Powerstation PSX” and later models, sold by Costco, no affiliation) doesn’t seem to be manufactured any more, so it’s worth it to me to buy a new battery every few years to keep the two I have operational. When charged after every use and also once a month I get about five years of service out of them.

I’ve seen a number of jump packs that are pocket sized or nearly so, based on Lithium Ion battery technology, but I don’t own one. I do not believe that they have enough cold cranking amps for reliable winter service.
Posted by: Eugene

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 10/11/21 03:57 PM

Originally Posted By: chaosmagnet
Originally Posted By: Eugene
Sad thing is you can buy a whole new box for less than the price of the replacement battery. But hopefully since this one has lasted so long I figure it much be made decent.


The jump packs I own are essentially a case, cables and some accessories wrapped around an AGM golf cart battery. The two times I’ve done the replacement the battery was significantly less expensive — about $30 vs about $70 the jump pack cost originally. Unfortunately my favorite jump pack (The “Powerstation PSX” and later models, sold by Costco, no affiliation) doesn’t seem to be manufactured any more, so it’s worth it to me to buy a new battery every few years to keep the two I have operational. When charged after every use and also once a month I get about five years of service out of them.

I’ve seen a number of jump packs that are pocket sized or nearly so, based on Lithium Ion battery technology, but I don’t own one. I do not believe that they have enough cold cranking amps for reliable winter service.

Mine has a small SLA that was about $70 to buy local from batteries+.
The small lithium ion ones aren't intended to be able to crank a vehicle, rather they are to be plugged in for ~15 minutes or so to bring a low battery up to a level where it can then crank.

My problem is I have an intermittent drain somewhere. Sometimes I can park for several days and nothing is wrong but sometimes my battery gets too low after just a couple days that it can't crank. One of the many computers doesn't seem to be shutting down all the time but its intermittent enough to make troubleshooting a pain. so if I drive anywhere I end up carrying that jumpstart box to be safe.
Posted by: M_a_x

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 10/12/21 05:43 PM

Car preparation for winter:
- check tire pressure
- check fluids
- put snow shovel into the trunk

general preparation:
- test run cat can stove outdoors in the rain
- make a vegan variety of champurrado with said stove (had some cocnut milk approaching it´s best before)

conclusions:
stove runs, champurrado was tasty, collapsible titanium spoon worked fine a kitchen tool, even with a broad brimmed hat you need to pay attention to not not drip the rain runoff into your champurrado
Posted by: Chisel

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 10/14/21 08:35 AM

What I did to prep ? Injured myself. LOL

No, seriously. A few weeks back, I lifted something heavy and heard something in my left shoulder. Maybe an tendon or muscle was hurt. Initially thought to go to clinic, but my daughter asked me a few questions and gave suggestions of rubbing it with some cream

The idea occurred to me to endure the pain and continue my restless lifestyle. Seeing a few YouTube videos about shoulder pain, I continued to move. Two days ago, I was moving something heavy and relatively large in size, and again heard that ugly sound in my right arm. A tendon or muscle in my right arm has been injured. Pain was pretty bad. However, I applied ointment and continued doing stuff , a bit slowly.

It seems to be beneficial to do stuff while you are hurt. This hardens you and make you more ready to deal with working after SHTF in less-than-ideal conditions.

And, as some videos suggested, it seems that moving the injured muscles speeds healing
Posted by: Famdoc

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 10/15/21 01:39 AM

I filled two propane tanks, now have 5 total.
Posted by: Chisel

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 10/15/21 08:03 AM

I didn't do this today, but a few years back. It is something that is easily overlooked, but it pays good dividends.

A few years back I retired from work after 35+ years. Same year my daughter graduated from medical school. We are both paper junkies and bookworms. So we both have accumulated big piles of papers. So instead of throwing them, I collected them all in A4 paper boxes. The backs of these papers are being used for my planning , grandkid home-schooling, and countless other uses ( like using them as a mat when gluing something ) ...

In an SHTF situation, they can serve additional uses like tinder for fire starting ..etc.
Posted by: Eugene

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 10/15/21 01:55 PM

I sat down one weekend a few years ago and scanned all my old school papers so I don't have the huge pile any more plus I have backups now.
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 09/24/22 01:14 AM

While not in one day (today was more or less topping things off), I stocked up the following:

(3) Gold Bond, 10 oz
(4) Vaseline, 13 oz
(4) Benadryl, 8 oz
(12) Chewable Aspirin, 36 count
(8) Alchohol Swabs, 200 count
(3) Gas Relief (Simethicone), 48 count
(4) Generic Tylenol, 8 oz
(1) Generic Imodium A-D, 8 oz
(1) Phillips' Milk of Magnesia, 12 oz
(4) Pepto Bismol, 16 oz
(4) Cough Syrup, 8 oz
(1) Caladryl, 6 oz
(4) Povidone-Iodine, 8 oz
(4) Biofreeze, large patches, 5 count
(1) DayQujil, 12 oz
(1) NyQuil, 12 oz
(1) Lice Kit
(1) Vicks VaporRub, 1.76 oz
(1) Visine, 0.5 oz
(3) Aim, 5.5 oz
(1) Hand Sanitizer, 32 oz

As for what to add to my list: sunscreen and more hand sanitizer. It seems like I can't have too much hand sanitizer.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 01/23/23 08:11 PM

Yesterday I did more organizing and ordered two cases of facial tissue.

https://www.samsclub.com/p/members-mark-...d=plp_product_4

Today I bought three bottles of hand sanitizer.

Disclaimer: I have no affiliation with Sam's Club.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: Chisel

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 01/28/23 06:24 PM

Well, not because I was smart but because I was faced with some awkward situations, the last of which, car not starting. My son brought his 4x4 and yanked it (manual shift) and it started. While playing around connecting the rope, I discovered that the tool kit was missing a few necessary tools.

I am now gathering a few tools that would help in BAD situations, not limited to fixing the car, but can be used all around the car in various situations, I am adding the following for the time being

# slip joint (or water pump) pliers,
# Wheel Lug Nut Socket Wrench (can be used as pry bar)
# Metal Battery Terminal Cleaner with Brush

Have been thinking of what to add more. The kit already has a fixed knife, zipties, sand paper, and many extras, but still wasn't helpful in the situation.
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 03/11/23 06:47 PM

Yesterday I bought a 500-piece puzzle, activity books such as sudoku, and mechanical pencils in case of a power outage or no internet.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: Eugene

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 03/12/23 12:22 AM

Small 3dprinter project this week. Made a small USB pass through that fits into the zipper track of my backpack. So now I can leave my battery bank inside the backpack instead of outside of it and still be able to top it off.
Posted by: Bingley

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 03/12/23 05:33 AM

Eugene, do you have a picture of the item you made or something similar? It sounds useful, but I can't visualize it.
Posted by: Eugene

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 03/12/23 10:10 PM

Not too much to see yet. I want to adjust the bottom to fit together with the zipper a little better.
But basically I can leave my battery bank inside the pack and plugged into this and then just have a USB cord near the backpack plugged in.
Posted by: dougwalkabout

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 03/13/23 02:57 AM

I grabbed some stove pipe bits and pieces that will allow me to generate emergency heat in my basement with the existing masonry chimney. The goal is to prevent pipes from freezing in my current sprawling house. I have the wood stove and a giant woodpile, but was missing an elbow and and an adaptor. I think I should run a test burn to identify any other surprises.

I also provided storage for a portable RV generator that should be enough to run (one at a time) my basement furnace, fridge, freezer, and help my neighbours out as well. I will be responsible for clean and stabilized gas, oil changes, and regular test runs. It's a nice little Honda, and a win-win all around.
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 04/30/23 02:44 PM

Friday, I bought two more packages of socks. That now brings my Sock Count up to five unopened packs and three opened/currently being used.

I hope that's enough to last for several years.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: Eugene

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 04/30/23 06:58 PM

Pants and a three pack of underwear for me from Cabelas. Got a new pair of tires for the bike and swapped those on, made sure my brakes were all adjusted center so no dragging. Took apart a spare front wheel I got on Craigslist and cleaned and re-greased it and put it back together with the same number of bearings on each side (someone else must seems to have added and extra to one side) then put one of my other tires on it so I have one whole spare wheel now. Re-packed my toolkit finding that my tires patches must have came out when I unpacked it to loan a hex wrench to another rider on the trail and didn't pack it back up right apparently. So I ordered some patches. One of the water bottle holders had broken so I ordered a pair and swapped both. Doing better about exercising now. I also broke my gopro mount when I was trying to get the tool kit back in place and was wanting to re-print it in ABS anyway but I still can't get ABS to not warp so I ended up using one of those services where someone else prints stuff for you, we'll see how it goes. I guess my cheap little printer isn't quite up to doing ABS. This is my mount https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5424730 Since I take my camebak everywhere I keep the gopro there and made that mount that goes in place of the sternum strap mount so the sternum strap holds it steady and I don't have to wear another piece of gear.
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 05/01/23 07:21 PM

The local Dirt Cheap store is shutting down and currently offering discounts on all items. I took advantage of the sale and purchased four 700ml bottles of hand sanitizer at only $0.45 each, a four-pack of dish towels for $1.89, a box of chalk for $0.90, two boxes of kids' bandaids for $0.23 each, and two plastic pencil boxes for $0.23 each. Although we don't necessarily need chalk or more dish towels, the low prices made it worthwhile to buy them. I even tried one of the kids' bandaids and was pleasantly surprised by the quality. I plan to pick up a few more before the sale ends.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: Eugene

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 05/03/23 01:04 AM

Lets see if this works. Getting back to exercising a bit again, my totals so far.
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 05/05/23 12:23 AM

I visited Ollies Bargain Outlet for the second time in a week and purchased two sheet sets, along with some morale boosters like a paint-by-numbers kit, modeling clay, drawing books, and puzzle books like sudoku. However, I may not be able to afford such purchases in the future as I went over my budget. It's strange how we tend to overspend during sales. The bag containing my purchases weighed twenty-eight pounds, and it felt even heavier as I carried it from Ollies to Taco Casa and then to the bus stop. It was quite a workout!

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 05/19/23 04:36 PM

I purchased two additional boxes of flushable wipes and three more tubes of toothpaste two days ago, bringing my toothpaste total to seven, including the tube I am currently using.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: aloha

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 05/23/23 01:43 AM

I watched the rain come down. Our catchment is topped off.
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 05/24/23 06:29 PM

Today, my mom purchased a backup toaster and coffee maker. While we were at the checkout, the cashier inquired why I wasn't purchasing any books today, as I usually do when shopping at Ollie's. I informed her that I plan to return within a week or two to purchase more books.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: dougwalkabout

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 05/27/23 02:10 AM

The extreme fire season and severe drought in my area have me on edge.

I re-assessed the fuel load around my property, especially on some steep hills, and did not like what I found. In a wind driven fire, in these conditions, I could lose all of my buildings.

I think my work for the summer is pretty clearly laid out.
Posted by: dougwalkabout

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 05/27/23 02:17 AM

Originally Posted By: aloha
I watched the rain come down. Our catchment is topped off.

Aloha, send a little bit my way. We're dry as dust.
Posted by: chaosmagnet

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 05/27/23 02:27 AM

Originally Posted By: dougwalkabout
I think my work for the summer is pretty clearly laid out.


Please keep us in the loop as you can.
Posted by: dougwalkabout

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 05/27/23 06:23 AM

Thanks, Chaos, I appreciate it.

I guess I have to design for crazy dry times. The Prairies go through these crazy shocks. Dirty Thirties etc. It doesn't usually hit us so hard in the aspen parkland zone, but here we are.

So, it's chainsaw and my little tractor, pulling all this fuel down the hill. Easier said than done, on a 40 deg. slope, cable and chain and winches. I think I have a plan that will work without cracking my skull.

Closer to the house, I suspect several magnificent spruces need to go. I think I'll engage with my insurance provider to double check on this. They can be jerks. But I won't enjoy taking them down.
Posted by: aloha

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 05/28/23 06:37 AM

Originally Posted By: dougwalkabout
Originally Posted By: aloha
I watched the rain come down. Our catchment is topped off.

Aloha, send a little bit my way. We're dry as dust.



I would if I could.
Posted by: Chisel

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 05/28/23 03:50 PM

I was checking some of my projects (water collection system from the AC unit drains) and noticed two cheap rusted knives that my wife was going to throw in the garbage . Blades were bout 7 inches each and they were not full tang.

I am not fan of throwing anything, no matter how useless it is. So, I used the Dremel to cut their blades to 2.5 inches. They are not less cheap now, but since the blades are much shorter now, they are more controllable and useable. They sit on the workbench and already started using them. They save better knives for more important jobs
Posted by: dougwalkabout

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 05/28/23 06:13 PM

Originally Posted By: Chisel
I am not fan of throwing anything, no matter how useless it is. So, I used the Dremel to cut their blades to 2.5 inches. They are not less cheap now, but since the blades are much shorter now, they are more controllable and useable. They sit on the workbench and already started using them. They save better knives for more important jobs

Good thinking. All of my workspaces have a junk blade for scut work.
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 05/28/23 11:37 PM

Originally Posted By: dougwalkabout
Originally Posted By: Chisel
I am not fan of throwing anything, no matter how useless it is. So, I used the Dremel to cut their blades to 2.5 inches. They are not less cheap now, but since the blades are much shorter now, they are more controllable and useable. They sit on the workbench and already started using them. They save better knives for more important jobs

Good thinking. All of my workspaces have a junk blade for scut work.

I do not have a workbench, and my shop skills are limited. However, it seems like you both can handle any challenges that may arise.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: M_a_x

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 05/29/23 06:48 AM

I had to replace rechargeables for my emergency / protable HAM system. I decided to go LiFePO4 technology. It basically cut the weight by 60% and increased capacity from 17 Ah to 30 Ah.
Getting a significant discount for testing it was some icing on the cake.
Posted by: dougwalkabout

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 05/29/23 12:19 PM

Originally Posted By: M_a_x
I decided to go LiFePO4 technology. It basically cut the weight by 60% and increased capacity from 17 Ah to 30 Ah.

Was this a direct replacement for a lead acid battery? I hear interesting things about LiFePO4 battery chemistry. How do you charge it? Please report back on your experience.
Posted by: M_a_x

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 05/29/23 12:56 PM

Yes, it is a direct replacement. The housing has the same size as the replaced lead acid battery. I use the charger I used for the lead acid batteries or a solar panel with a regulator. The rechargeable has a built in battery management system. So it is fairly unproblematic.
The solar panel has 10 W. I might upgrade to more power.
Posted by: RayW

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 05/30/23 09:38 PM

On the LiFePO4 batteries you need to read the fine print because most are advertised as being a drop in replacement. They are lighter and have far more capacity than a equally sized lead acid battery. But most lead acid battery chargers do not charge at a high enough voltage to completely charge the battery.

I have a Dakota Lithium starting battery in my truck. It is a drop in replacement for an automotive group 24 battery. It weighs 27 pounds and has 135 Amp hours. So it is much lighter and has significantly more energy than the lead acid battery it replaced. The problem with this is that the alternator in my truck is controlled by the ecu which only allows for the voltage to peak at 13.8 volts or so. To completely charge the battery to 100% it requires 14.4 volts. So I wired in an Anderson power pole into the grill and I use that to plug in a lithium battery charger or a solar panel that uses a charge controller on the lithium setting to get a full charge into the battery.
Posted by: dougwalkabout

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 05/30/23 10:52 PM

That's good to know. Given the price point, I'm surprised there isn't a built-in puck to bump up the voltage for maximum charging.
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 05/30/23 11:44 PM

Today, my mom ordered an EMP Shield for our home.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: Herman30

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 05/31/23 04:07 AM

Originally Posted By: Jeanette_Isabelle
Today, my mom ordered an EMP Shield for our home.

How does that work?
As far as I know the only thing than prevents EMP is Faradays cage.
Posted by: AKSAR

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 05/31/23 05:10 AM

Originally Posted By: Jeanette_Isabelle
Today, my mom ordered an EMP Shield for our home.

Jeanette Isabelle

I don't wish to rain on anyone's parade. However before spending money on one of these, I would do a bit of research. The website for this product makes a lot of strong claims, with little or no supporting technical data.

For an interesting discussion on redit see:
https://www.reddit.com/r/Skookum/comments/crcfj3/empshield_i_suspect_this_is_complete_insert crude term for bull excrement_but/ (Word in red blocked by censor.)
For just on example:
Quote:
Their 3rd party testing is complete {that censored word again}. They hooked it to a household electrical panel with a bunch of household romex wiring wired to it. The panel was not powered up during testing and neither was the device. Most importantly, there are no end devices hooked to the test setup.
--------------snip--------------
Listed in the Homeland Security EMP resilience report? Didn't have time to read it? Fear not, I read it for you. Deep down, the report provided reviews of eight companies that provide legitimate shielding technologies. EMP shield was not one of them. However, they were mentioned in a one-liner footnote among five other companies as "other vendors supplying EMP rated filters...". Whoooo, another shining accolade there. Again, anyone can be listed as a vendor for any government agency. Doesn't mean they endorse or use your product.


For a more technical discussion on an electronics forum, see:
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/news/emp-shield-scam/

The bottom line is that at best, it appears this device might do the same thing as any number of other surge protectors on the market, except that it costs a lot more. The claim that it will protect your whole house and all your gadgets from a nuclear bomb generated EMP is probably bogus. I believe Herman30 is correct:
Originally Posted By: Herman30
As far as I know the only thing than prevents EMP is Faradays cage.


Caveat Emptor!
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 05/31/23 01:29 PM

Originally Posted By: Herman30
How does that work?
As far as I know the only thing than prevents EMP is Faradays cage.

Although I am not familiar with the detailed mechanisms, as per the explanation provided to me, the gadget sends the electromagnetic pulse to the ground.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: chaosmagnet

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 05/31/23 01:34 PM

Originally Posted By: Jeanette_Isabelle

Although I am not familiar with the detailed mechanisms, as per the explanation provided to me, the gadget sends the electromagnetic pulse to the ground.


The short version is: It cannot do that, not against any EMP that would matter to your equipment. If you possibly can, my advice is to cancel the order or return it unopened for a refund.
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 05/31/23 01:42 PM

Originally Posted By: AKSAR
I don't wish to rain on anyone's parade. However before spending money on one of these, I would do a bit of research. The website for this product makes a lot of strong claims, with little or no supporting technical data.

Our circle of associates, which includes some well-educated individuals, highly recommends EMP Shield as the only reliable device for its intended purpose.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 05/31/23 01:49 PM

Originally Posted By: chaosmagnet
The short version is: It cannot do that, not against any EMP that would matter to your equipment. If you possibly can, my advice is to cancel the order or return it unopened for a refund.

In simpler terms, should you avoid using EMP Shield and risk having your appliances damaged by an electromagnetic pulse?

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: AKSAR

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 05/31/23 07:14 PM

Originally Posted By: Jeanette_Isabelle
Originally Posted By: AKSAR
I don't wish to rain on anyone's parade. However before spending money on one of these, I would do a bit of research. The website for this product makes a lot of strong claims, with little or no supporting technical data.

Our circle of associates, which includes some well-educated individuals, highly recommends EMP Shield as the only reliable device for its intended purpose.

Jeanette Isabelle
I don't wish to dis your associates. However, regarding EMP protection, the basic physics indicates your associates are mistaken.

Originally Posted By: Jeanette_Isabelle
In simpler terms, should you avoid using EMP Shield and risk having your appliances damaged by an electromagnetic pulse?

Jeanette Isabelle
You need to understand that there are basically two situations that can occur. The first situation is when the source of the EMP is distant from you. In this case, by the time the pulse gets to you, it is two weak to directly damage your devices. However the EMP interacts with the power grid at that distant location. Long conductors like power lines are very susceptible to EMP. The EMP generates a strong voltage/current surge in the power line. In effect the power line acts like a giant antenna, and conducts that surge to you at your distant location. In this case, the EMP Shield might give you a similar level of protection to other commonly available surge protectors that cost half as much or less.

In the second scenario, the sources of the EMP is much closer to you, and the pulse is much stronger. Because it is a "pulse", that means it contains a very wide range of frequencies, from very low to very high. In this case, the EMP can directly damage sensitive electronics. The only way to protect against a strong EMP from a nearby source is to put your device inside a Faraday Shield. This is a conductive shield that completely surrounds the device. However, the design of Faraday Shields is not as simple as some people suggest. In particular, any holes in the shield need to be significantly smaller than the wavelength of the highest frequency you are trying to protect against. Sometimes a "Faraday Cage" can be made out of wire mesh or similar. However, these only protect against wavelengths significantly longer than the size of the openings in the mesh. In this situation of a nearby strong EMP, the EMP Shield wired into your power supply will provide ZERO PROTECTION.

Also keep in mind that in the case of a nearby EMP, say from a nuclear explosion, you probably will have other far more pressing things to worry about than if your appliances still work.

Ultimately, you are free to spend your money however you choose. But in this case the basic physics of the situation indicate that EMP Shield is at best an very overpriced surge protector.
Posted by: Eugene

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 05/31/23 08:42 PM

I clicked on the link and thought the same thing. If its wires to the incoming power then its basically a surge protector/suppressor as those work the same way, they shunt over voltage to ground. Usually surge protectors/suppressors use MOV's and there are varying levels of quality of speed of response. So I'd speculate for the price its hopefully a high quality surge suppressor/protector.

What used to get people a lot was not the EMP/EMF through the power grid as most electric devices are tolerant of some fluctuation of voltage and surges/spikes/etc but rather a surge through another entry into the home like a phone or cable line or tv antenna. My pc repair days we found many a blown up modem and many of those people upset because they had a surge protector/suppressor. Lightning would strike the pole or near the lines between the poles and the surge would come in the power and phone line and the surge suppressor would shunt the power but the directly connected modem would still get the hit from the surge on the phone line.

So this device is kind of like putting an expensive lock on the front door while leaving the back door open. You need to protect any and all other wires coming into the home. Also it would do nothing for non-grid connected devices hit by a local EMP that wasn't traveling through the power lines.

Most of us now a days will change internet/cable/phone providers somewhat often as we get better deals and technology changes. One thing I've always done is followed any wire I'm not using to the outside box and disconnect it there to isolate that connection from the rest of the grid.
Posted by: Eugene

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 05/31/23 08:45 PM

Anyway, what I did to prepare May 30, 2023 was get in some exercise.
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/11234763938
I moved from the beginner to intermediate trail this year and go around that loop ~ twice a week now. It gives a good workout, mixture of cardio and interval training, lots of back and forth between sitting and standing, etc.
Posted by: dougwalkabout

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 05/31/23 08:49 PM

I think AKSAR lays out the case very clearly. It's a surge protector. It may be of use in some scenarios. Whether it's good value, well, I have my doubts. The site seems heavy on breathless marketing and very light on details.

I am considerably more skeptical of the vehicle version. This strikes me as pure smoke and mirrors.
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 05/31/23 09:25 PM

Originally Posted By: Eugene
Also it would do nothing for non-grid connected devices hit by a local EMP that wasn't traveling through the power lines.

I assumed that we wouldn't be able to produce electricity if our solar generator wasn't connected during an EMP. frown

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: Eugene

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 05/31/23 10:27 PM

I was meaning more things like your cell phone, battery powered radio, etc.
Posted by: Eugene

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 05/31/23 11:57 PM

May 31 2023. Replaced the media in my tumbler and de-primed and tumbled some .357 brass
Posted by: Bingley

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 06/01/23 12:36 AM

My understanding of the science agrees with Chaos, AKSAR, and Eugene. I also thought the so-called EMP Shield sounded like a surge protector.

Incidentally, surge protectors apparently have a limited effective lifetime. I'm going to have to replace a few items around the house. I guess that's "what will you do to prep" for me.
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 06/01/23 12:48 AM

Originally Posted By: Eugene
I was meaning more things like your cell phone, battery powered radio, etc.

Yes, it's true that in the case of an EMP, our cell phones, satellite phone, and other battery-powered devices would be rendered useless.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: chaosmagnet

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 06/01/23 01:22 AM

Originally Posted By: Jeanette_Isabelle
In simpler terms, should you avoid using EMP Shield and risk having your appliances damaged by an electromagnetic pulse?


No. I’m saying you should avoid being ripped off by a product that literally cannot do what it says it does. If you want to protect appliances from an EMP, you need to put them someplace where there is no EMP, or use a Faraday cage.
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 06/01/23 02:30 AM

Originally Posted By: chaosmagnet
No. I’m saying you should avoid being ripped off by a product that literally cannot do what it says it does. If you want to protect appliances from an EMP, you need to put them someplace where there is no EMP, or use a Faraday cage.

When I receive the results from a real-world test, I won't be able to post them online.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 06/03/23 12:14 AM

Yesterday, I went shopping and purchased four boxes of Kellogg's Special K cereal, four beef and cheese sticks, some books, art supplies, and a twenty-pack of hangers. The hangers are not essential, but they will allow me to avoid borrowing my mother's hangers every time I need one. Although my mother disagrees, I believe I need more books.

Today, I bought three jars of instant coffee, two containers of non-dairy creamer, four cans of almonds, three packages of cookies, and three 10-count packets of Propel electrolytes.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: pforeman

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 06/06/23 02:56 PM

Not sure where this fits - however, it does tie into the whole forum and web site along with being prepared.

https://bearingarms.com/john-petrolino/2...lade-ban-n71107

Doug "made the paper" and in a good way. Thanks for working on this and supporting our collective rights.
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 07/04/23 06:03 PM

Originally Posted By: Jeanette_Isabelle
Yesterday I bought a 500-piece puzzle, activity books such as sudoku, and mechanical pencils in case of a power outage or no internet.

Subsequently, I have revisited Ollie's on numerous occasions to procure additional puzzle books, meticulously maintained and printed a comprehensive log (currently spanning five pages) to preempt the acquisition of duplicate copies, and meticulously arranged the books in an orderly manner. As the shelves reached maximum capacity, I conducted an assessment to determine which books I wished to retain and which I could donate. Additionally, I explored various measures to optimize shelf space usage.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 09/10/23 11:49 PM

Last week was quite productive for me as I finally completed assembling a fourth set of shelves and successfully stored all the boxes that were previously cluttering my floor. I have been constantly working towards my goal of being more organized and prepared, and with each passing day, I am getting closer to achieving it. It feels satisfying to have made substantial progress towards my objectives.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: Chisel

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 09/19/23 12:31 PM

In our corner of the world, which is an arid region, we typically have water tanks below ground, or on ground, and another tank (or set of tanks) ontop of the house building.

So these days I have been busy replacing the ground water tanks with larger capacity (instead of 1500 Liters, we installed 3 tanks that can hold 5500 Liters total). Top 2 tanks (1000 Liters each) were left as is (fearing that additional water weight may harm the house structure).

We have two types of water. One is the "normal" water from the municipality, used for everything, and two: drinking water. So, we installed a multi-purpose water tank (1500 Liters) ontop of an external room. This tank can be (normally) filled straight from municipal water to serve several purposes from garden irrigation to secondary supply for the laundry room and external kitchen sink. In an emergency, however, it can be separated from municipal water pipe, and filled by tanker and serve as an emergency reservoir for drinking water
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 09/21/23 06:35 PM

Today, I assembled a four-cube storage caddy.

My bedroom looks like a storage room with a bed. Therefore, including a new piece of furniture and four figurines placed on top are part of an ongoing process of making my space livable.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: chaosmagnet

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 09/21/23 10:53 PM

Expensive and boring: My wife’s car and mine both needed new sets of tires before the snow flies. Expensive and boring but worth it.
Posted by: dougwalkabout

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 09/22/23 02:30 AM

One of the recurring themes on this forum is that the best survival strategy is to avoid placing yourself in a survival situation in the first place.

Good quality winter tires are Exhibit A. Boring and absolutely essential -- preventing unwanted excitement! Excellent choice.
Posted by: Doug_Ritter

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 09/22/23 08:04 PM

Speaking of tires.... Wife arrived home night before last with a tire going flat. Called AAA. As always in our experience, they were prompt, 40 minutes for a non-emergency, guy put donut on. Big construction staple into sidewall. She made appointment at Discount Tire to replace under warranty. They are unable to replace because AAA guy stripped one for the wheel studs.... <sigh> AAA says they will cover cost of repair. Decided since it was covered, we'll have the dealer do it. Since we have stuff going today and all weekend, first day to get it fixed is next Tuesday. Had to rearrange a few things this weekend and am covering someone's Uber since we can't fit 4 real people into my car. So, best laid plans....
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 11/23/23 01:11 AM

My latest prep was five cases, 18-Count each (90 total), of applesauce cups.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 12/01/23 02:29 AM

After purchasing new books for my collection, I revisited my existing collection to decide which books to keep and which to donate.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: Phaedrus

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 12/01/23 08:40 AM

I picked up a bit more .300 Blackout ammo and a few more Lancer L5 Warfighter mags. Not out of an expectation of strife, just like to keep a good stock since price and supply tends to be irregular.
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 12/01/23 02:17 PM

Originally Posted By: Phaedrus
Not out of an expectation of strife, just like to keep a good stock since price and supply tends to be irregular.

Anticipating conflict is also a valid justification.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: Herman30

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 12/01/23 10:05 PM

Building a spear.

Posted by: Phaedrus

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 12/02/23 12:48 AM

Originally Posted By: Jeanette_Isabelle
Originally Posted By: Phaedrus
Not out of an expectation of strife, just like to keep a good stock since price and supply tends to be irregular.

Anticipating conflict is also a valid justification.

Jeanette Isabelle


True. But ETS is not really an EOTWAWKI kind of place and I'm not a "Doomsday Prepper." I've been a "gun guy" all my life and my collection is kind of built around EBRs and duty-type sidearms. While it's true that nearly all my firearms were designed to be superb fighting weapons, it's also true that shooting is just a lot of fun. Why not both? grin


Originally Posted By: Herman30
Building a spear.



Very cool! A spear is a very handy tool/weapon.
Posted by: Phaedrus

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 12/02/23 12:49 AM

Almost forgot, GunMagWarehouse had a good sale so I ordered five more Lancer L5 mags in Alien Green, Orange and Clear.
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 12/02/23 01:29 AM

Originally Posted By: Phaedrus
True. But ETS is not really an EOTWAWKI kind of place and I'm not a "Doomsday Prepper."

In light of the events of 2020, if anyone is not already prepared for such an event, there is no action I can take to alter their level of readiness.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: Phaedrus

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 12/02/23 01:57 AM

I think it's folly to expect to survive the End of the World. Hell, I'm not even sure I'd want to. While I love the wilderness and have tons of wild lands in my back yard (I'm in Montana), I am a human. Humans are social animals, and outside of the context of living as part of a social group what meaning does life have? I'd rather work to make the world we share better, not stockpile stuff to ride out the end of it. Besides, if the whole thing comes crashing down no one is going to be able go it alone no matter how many beans and bullets they have stashed. At least that's my analysis.

Still, I suppose if I go out that way it will atop a very impressive pile shell casings! grin
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 12/02/23 02:12 AM

Originally Posted By: Phaedrus
I think it's folly to expect to survive the End of the World. Hell, I'm not even sure I'd want to.

My ultimate aim does not involve any specific achievement. Instead, it revolves around preserving the level of comfort I am already familiar with until the day arrives when I can reunite with my beloved father.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: chaosmagnet

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 12/02/23 09:04 PM

Repaired my storm door. One of the latches broke holding up one of the removable glass panels. Fortunately, the glass didn’t break, and everything is working properly now. When the weather gets colder I’ll be really happy that got fixed.
Posted by: Bingley

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 12/03/23 02:24 AM

Originally Posted By: Phaedrus
I think it's folly to expect to survive the End of the World. Hell, I'm not even sure I'd want to. While I love the wilderness and have tons of wild lands in my back yard (I'm in Montana), I am a human. Humans are social animals, and outside of the context of living as part of a social group what meaning does life have?


I regularly go for months with very little human contact, partly because of my work. That can be pretty hard if you still want the usual human things, and most people in my situation do, at least in the beginning. That can cause behavioral changes that are not good for you and not good for social interaction when you do come across people. If you aren't prepared for isolation and you suddenly find yourself alone in an End of the World situation, you probably will do rather poorly.

Years of meditation, though, has enabled me to be able to handle isolation far better. It has also taught me to see the world and oneself in a completely different way. Yes, there is meaning beyond living as part of a social group. Now I can sort of see how Indian yogis are able to spend decades isolated in a cave somewhere.

If this is a concern, I would recommend studying this before you actually face prolonged isolation. You develop skills faster if you have teachers and classmates, and these may be in short supply at the End of the World.
Posted by: M_a_x

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 12/03/23 07:57 AM

Check and recharche my rechargeables.
Printed some covers for BIC lighters. That allows to have them in the pocket without the risk of inadvertendly leaking gas. It also makes the wrap of tape transferable once the lighter is spent.
Some problems with my hip flexor required attention and additional excercise.
On the more fun side I got into brewing a light ginger beer for anti-inflamatory qualities of ginger. I also made some (non-alcohlic) hop water for my bitters. Cooled and carbonated it tastes fine.
Posted by: Phaedrus

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 12/03/23 09:28 AM

Originally Posted By: Bingley
Originally Posted By: Phaedrus
I think it's folly to expect to survive the End of the World. Hell, I'm not even sure I'd want to. While I love the wilderness and have tons of wild lands in my back yard (I'm in Montana), I am a human. Humans are social animals, and outside of the context of living as part of a social group what meaning does life have?


I regularly go for months with very little human contact, partly because of my work. That can be pretty hard if you still want the usual human things, and most people in my situation do, at least in the beginning. That can cause behavioral changes that are not good for you and not good for social interaction when you do come across people. If you aren't prepared for isolation and you suddenly find yourself alone in an End of the World situation, you probably will do rather poorly.

Years of meditation, though, has enabled me to be able to handle isolation far better. It has also taught me to see the world and oneself in a completely different way. Yes, there is meaning beyond living as part of a social group. Now I can sort of see how Indian yogis are able to spend decades isolated in a cave somewhere.

If this is a concern, I would recommend studying this before you actually face prolonged isolation. You develop skills faster if you have teachers and classmates, and these may be in short supply at the End of the World.


I have much lower need of social contact than anyone I know IRL. But that's not the point, really. A man in an Antarctic research station or the ISS may be very isolated but he knows "home" is there, waiting for him. There's a sense of being a part of something even while being temporarily distant from it. In a true EOTWAWKI situation there's nothing to go back to, no way to go "home." Individuals may live on as animals and maybe in twenty generations something of a civilization may emerge from the chaos. You may be interested in toughing it out so that some future society can exist; if that's you, great! That is noble. I've been through enough in my life that I'm probably not selfless enough to scratch out an existence for a couple decades in the hope of leaving the embers a little better off.

But I'll also say that I calculate the odds of this type of event within my lifetime as being pretty small. Not zero of course, but not worth devoting a lot of mental and emotional bandwidth to. My preparations are primarily focused on the likely things that have affected me in the past and/or probably will in the future. It's common to face weather events (eg blizzards here, hurricanes in some places), Earthquakes, financial reverses due to employment or health issues and disasters like fires and floods. On an even more mundane level preps include things like spare tires, bandaids, things to get through minor issues. Lastly, my preps include firearms, rifle-rated body armor, ammo and other security related items.

In short, my preps are based around the things that seem relevant to me and my life.
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 12/03/23 01:55 PM

Originally Posted By: Bingley
I regularly go for months with very little human contact, partly because of my work. That can be pretty hard if you still want the usual human things, and most people in my situation do, at least in the beginning. That can cause behavioral changes that are not good for you and not good for social interaction when you do come across people. If you aren't prepared for isolation and you suddenly find yourself alone in an End of the World situation, you probably will do rather poorly.

Years of meditation, though, has enabled me to be able to handle isolation far better. It has also taught me to see the world and oneself in a completely different way. Yes, there is meaning beyond living as part of a social group. Now I can sort of see how Indian yogis are able to spend decades isolated in a cave somewhere.

If this is a concern, I would recommend studying this before you actually face prolonged isolation. You develop skills faster if you have teachers and classmates, and these may be in short supply at the End of the World.

As I contemplate the potential end of the world as we know it, I can't help but picture a future where humanity has adapted and continued to thrive. In this envisioned world, people continue to form meaningful connections with one another, and social interactions are just as prevalent and vital as they are today. I see a society that has found a way to persevere despite the chaos and uncertainty that may surround them. And in this society, I see myself as an active member, surrounded by people with whom I share mutual respect and understanding.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 12/03/23 02:27 PM

Originally Posted By: Phaedrus
A man in an Antarctic research station or the ISS may be very isolated but he knows "home" is there, waiting for him. There's a sense of being a part of something even while being temporarily distant from it. In a true EOTWAWKI situation there's nothing to go back to, no way to go "home."

Even after relocating permanently, the feeling of being a part of something can endure, so long as you manage to connect with a group of people who share your worldview and aspirations. As for myself, I'm fortunate enough to have other students of prophecy around me, who are equally passionate about uncovering the secrets of the future. I can already envision the animated discussions and debates we'll have, as we pore over ancient texts and prophecies, trying to decipher their meanings.

While I'm excited to immerse myself in this community, I'm also a little apprehensive about what the future holds. I don't know what kind of environment I'll find myself in, or what challenges may arise. As the old saying goes, "The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry," and I know that even the most carefully thought-out plans can be disrupted by unexpected events. Nonetheless, I feel confident that my sense of belonging and purpose will help me weather any storms that may come my way.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 12/09/23 05:22 PM

Yesterday, I ordered four 8-packs of evaporated milk and a thirty-count box of Nature Valley bars from Sam's Club.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 12/09/23 07:39 PM

I checked all of my over-the-counter medications for expiration dates, threw out any expired ones, and made a list of what I needed to buy.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 12/11/23 09:24 PM

I purchased a pair of fly swatters today. I don't know what issues we may face in the future, but I'm prepared if there is a pest problem.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: Famdoc

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 12/12/23 01:45 AM

I think I've posted this before, but so-called expiration dates on both over the counter and prescription medications are allowed, even encouraged, by the FDA without any evidence whatsoever. The practice seems to be to put a 2- year "expiration" date from the date of manufacture, without the manufacturers being required to submit such claims to outside testing.

One can imagine that this is done to encourage the credulous consumer to unnecessarily buy more of their product, reward the shareholders, etc.

Our tax dollars continue to fund a study by the Air Force on the mythology of prescription meds "expiration" dates called the Shelf Life Extension Program: https://health.mil/Military-Health-Topic...tension-Program

Some civilians have done the same: https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shot...-myth-than-fact

The meds that do seem to lose potency are Nitroglycerin and aspirin and some liquid medicines.

The ONLY medication that may become hazardous is outdated tetracycline, and even with that claim, the last time I checked there was only one patient with kidney trouble attributed to outdated tetracycline.

If the medications can be retrieved from the trash please do so; not discarding still useful medicines keeps them out of the landfills, and eventually out of the water supply.
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 12/12/23 03:04 AM

Originally Posted By: Famdoc
The meds that do seem to lose potency are Nitroglycerin and aspirin and some liquid medicines.

Expired liquid medications are what I threw out. I can't swallow pills, as I have mentioned. Therefore, I only buy liquid or chewable medications or medications I can crush.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 12/18/23 06:40 PM

Originally Posted By: Jeanette_Isabelle
My latest prep was five cases, 18-Count each (90 total), of applesauce cups.

Today, I purchased an additional five cases, each containing 18 cups, for a total of 90 cups of applesauce.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 12/28/23 07:07 PM

Today, I bought five cases of applesauce cups (18 cups each) and two 12-packs of Propel.

Originally Posted By: Jeanette_Isabelle
I purchased a pair of fly swatters today. I don't know what issues we may face in the future, but I'm prepared if there is a pest problem.

Edit: I also got hooks for my flyswatters.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: Phaedrus

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 12/29/23 10:11 AM

I ordered some screw-in studs for my muck boots. They're pretty much what you'd use on snow tires. Given that I destroyed my right shoulder a few years ago after slipping and falling on the ice, I think avoiding that in the future is vital for my health and survival.
Posted by: Herman30

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 12/29/23 12:05 PM

Bought a pry bar, 10inch long.

https://public.keskofiles.com/f/btt/ASSE...;q=80&w=558
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 12/29/23 01:46 PM

Originally Posted By: Herman30

Do you have a specific reason for needing a pry bar for your preparations?

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: Herman30

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 12/29/23 02:29 PM

No specific reason. I think it is an important tool for urban prepeardness. Just like a silcock key, boltcutter, pliers etc etc.

Never know if you have to pry open a door to get in or out in an emergency situation. Or bust a window to escape.

This one is not too big (10inch) or heavy (about 0.7 pounds) to be carried in a backpack. And still the iron is thick enough as not to bend when used.
Posted by: chaosmagnet

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 12/30/23 09:02 AM

Originally Posted By: Phaedrus
I ordered some screw-in studs for my muck boots. They're pretty much what you'd use on snow tires. Given that I destroyed my right shoulder a few years ago after slipping and falling on the ice, I think avoiding that in the future is vital for my health and survival.


I took a hard fall on ice a few years ago and it was educational. Good move.
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 01/03/24 11:09 PM

When my unopened medication is about to expire, I take it to our local pantry before buying more. I only dispose of opened products. Last time I bought four bottles of povidone-iodine, consistent with my practice to avoid running out of a product. However, at least with povidone-iodine, anything more than one bottle is too much.

Edit: Does Gold Bond powder have an expiration date? I have been using it inside my shoes.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: Eugene

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 01/04/24 09:36 PM

I converted my Camelbak hose to the newer style. For those that may not know the older military style had a longer connector (my pack if from 2011). My water filter came with a hose with a Camelbak adapter but it was the shorter length for the consumer packs so while it would fit in it didn't latch so I had to hold it to fill the bladder. I noticed Camelbak changed their military packs to the shorter style a while back. So I ordered a new hose and swapped the bladder ends so I can plug the new hose into my older bladder and now can unplug the mouthpiece and plug in the water filter hose.
I'm not a fan of the straw style filters and carrying dirty water, I prefer to put filtered/clean water into my pack so I'm staying with they style for now.
Posted by: clearwater

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 01/22/24 05:16 PM

Do it yourself cleats for thick soled boots and shoes. Saw some logging sawyers in the hardware store parking lot with a cordless drill adding these to their boots.

Posted on my blog a long time ago. Works for running etc too.

https://blog.owareusa.com/2012/12/09/cleats-for-your-running-and-hiking-shoes/
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 02/01/24 07:16 PM

For my preparations today, I purchased spare sheets, a pack of eight pencils, six glue sticks, two watch caps, socks, and CR2032 batteries for my glucometer.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: Eugene

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 02/03/24 09:05 PM

Bought and printed fishing license.
I save and print the PDF of the license and then "laminate" it with shipping tape. One copy goes with the fishing gear and one in the (Kbar) Backpack Kaster in my Cameblak.
Posted by: Eugene

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 02/20/24 01:49 AM

After forgetting the power supply to my CPAP on an overnight trip I ordered an off brand spare to keep in my travel bag.
Posted by: Phaedrus

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 02/20/24 05:15 AM

I picked up another 200 rounds of 125gr .300 Blackout ammo and 100 rounds of 75gr BTHP Match ammo in .556 NATO. I like to make regular purchases in excess of what I use for training and plinking as I like to keep my stock level adequate.
Posted by: Herman30

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 02/26/24 12:21 AM

Bought 4 of this little usb LED light. 1.2w so it should run pretty long plugged to a power bank. Intended use when long term lighting is needed (camping, power failure etc). Bright enough to light up a 25 square meter room so than it is possible to see enough to function normally.

Posted by: chaosmagnet

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 02/26/24 01:17 AM

I have a few, they’re great!
Posted by: Phaedrus

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 02/26/24 04:07 AM

That's a good lookin' light!
Posted by: dougwalkabout

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 02/27/24 11:41 PM

I have been investigating ways use some old PV solar panels and scrounged high-capacity computer fans to move heated air into freeze-sensitive areas of my sprawling house.

I might be able to do a direct-drive off the panels during the day, saving battery or generator power. This could be extremely handy -- heat is easy to generate, but moving it is a significant problem.
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 03/01/24 07:45 PM

Today was a day filled with meaningful activities. My mom and I decided to clean our closets and donate clothes we no longer wear to a local charity. We also went through our medicine cabinet and found some over-the-counter medications that would expire soon. We decided to donate those as well, hoping they would be helpful to someone else.

After our donation, we went to Ollie's to do some shopping. I was ecstatic to find two pairs of jeans that fit me perfectly. While browsing, I came across three puzzles I couldn't resist buying. I also picked up a four-pack of highlighters, a small bottle of school glue, and a six-pack of clear tape. These stationery supplies are always handy to have.

During our shopping trip, I realized I needed to change my emergency prepping strategy. I made a list of the over-the-counter medications that I need to restock so I can be better prepared for any health-related emergencies. I also realized that I needed to replace the batteries in my D-Cell MAG-LITE flashlights. I decided to check prices at different stores to get the best deal.

I still need to buy the batteries, but I plan on doing it soon. Overall, it was a productive and fulfilling day. I am glad we could donate some of our belongings to a good cause, and I am happy with my purchases.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 03/01/24 08:34 PM

Because Sam's Club had the lowest price at $17.98, I ordered a 14-pack of Energizer D batteries from them.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: Eugene

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 03/05/24 06:19 PM

Finally got a new watch as the display on mine went bad a long time ago.
I went ahead and got one of the higher end with GPS since my handheld GPS is now old enough to buy its own beer never know how much longer it will hold up so I have some redundancy there.
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: What did you do today to prepare? - 03/06/24 06:18 PM

Originally Posted By: Jeanette_Isabelle
We also went through our medicine cabinet and found some over-the-counter medications that would expire soon.

I replaced the items I donated: the lice kit, Pepto Bismol, and Benadryl. I also replaced and rotated the Simethicone I used. And I also bought another twelve boxes of Propel with ten packets each.

Jeanette Isabelle