Category: Shall We Play The Game?

If the site is slow, or you had a hard time getting here, my apologies. Right now, my traffic is bouncing between normal small/mid-size blog levels and large blog levels. We think we have things steady for now, but it looks like we may need to add resources, which costs money. I may also need to hire someone to check and redo some of the code. Since things are beyond tight, and bills are due, it may be a while before I can upgrade further. Meantime, to help with that, or to help me pick up a few preparedness items myself, please hit the fundraiser! My thanks to all who have or will pitch in! And, yes, if I could move tomorrow I would.

As Alton Brown is with things in the kitchen, I try to avoid gear that can only be used for one thing. If you’ve read the other articles in this series, or any of my other writings on preparedness (start here and work forward), it is a song you will hear over and over again. For practical preparedness, I want things that will enrich as many areas of my life as possible.

But, many of you reading this series are new to preparedness, and rightly worried we could find ourselves in a nuclear war. I hope that sanity prevails, but I’m not prepared to bank on it. Never underestimate the power of human stupidity.

As I noted at the start, there is no one perfect master list of what you need. Circumstances vary. Finances vary. Local options vary. The posts give you an idea of what you should consider for each category, but what you need to get for each is up to you.

And so we come to my least-favorite topic: gear. There are people out there who are going to cheerfully tell you that you have to have this, that, or the other thing including that combo shelter, decon shower, and sauna that they just happen to sell. Reminder, if I mention it I do not sell it and I make no money off of it. Getting an honest opinion based off experience.

For preparing for a possible war, let’s start with some general gear that can have other uses. Maybe. First up, rolls of medium to thick plastic, and good tape. Large tarps also come in handy. Back when I owned a house, each room had a container with plastic, blue tarp, tape, nails, tacks, hammer, box cutter, chem-lights, and few other things tucked away in it. Why? Because if a storm or accident took out a window or windows, the last thing I wanted to be doing was trying to remember where things were, retrieve them, and then start trying to get the weather back outside. Everything needed for that, inside or out, was in the container.

In a fallout situation, you want to pick out an interior room and line it in plastic. Fallout isn’t an evil creature determined to break in and kill you. It is floating and falling out of the air. You want to use the plastic (or sheets, blankets, etc.) to encourage any that makes it into where you are to fall away from you. The more weather tight your home, the better. Bit late right now, but I’ve been pointing that out for a few decades now.

Provided your home isn’t damaged, and you have worked on making it energy efficient/weather tight, congratulations! That’s going to be a huge help. If your home is damaged, you need plastic, tarps, and other delights to seal it back up as best you can. Inside and out. Even if you are near a detonation, you have minutes to hours (depending on distance, wind, and other factors) to make repairs and take other steps. Use that time wisely.

If you don’t already have some basic hand tools (not power) such as hammers, saws, axe, mattock, pry bars, etc., get them. You may need them to get out of your home, work, or wherever you are when it goes off. You may need them to clear and make repairs. You may need them to rebuild. Good hand tools are an investment.

Now, back to gear. In this case, I would recommend a geiger counter, dosimeters, and either a gas mask or a full-face respirator. If things are bad, it helps if you can check the radiation levels around you, and monitor total exposure to you and others. Also, while you can spend a lot of money on either, the geiger counters and dosimeters that don’t do all the fancy downloads and online stuff work just as well. You are talking well under $100 for a box of dosimeter badges, and $100-$200 for a geiger counter, some of which even claim to be EMP resistant.

Now, remember that fallout isn’t an evil creature, it’s just something that will fall out of the air. Until it does, you not only want to keep it off you, you very much want to keep it out of you. Protect your mouth, nose, and eyes. There are disagreements over whether a full-face respirator or a gas mask is best. At this point, however, you are probably going to have an easier (and cheaper) time finding a decent respirator at the home supply or industrial safety store. Get spare filters.

Money tight? See if anyone is still giving away N-95 masks. That and some safety glasses or goggles (military, sport, whatever) are better than nothing. In a real pinch, keep in mind that 2-4 layers of t-shirt actually does surprisingly well in an emergency. That clear plastic you got? Tape some of it to a hat so that it hangs down a foot or so all around your head. Walk carefully so as not to kick up dust. You can also use it to improvise a poncho for going outside. Make that your outer layer, so that you can wash it and get most of the fallout off of you if you have to go outside. Remember that simply by taking off the outer layer, the experts say you can be removing 90 percent or more of any fallout that fell on you.

Another bit of gear is an emergency ventilation system. It can be a pipe with good filter, it can be something store bought and fancy, it’s up to you. But, in that secure space in the interior of your house, it’s good to have a way to bring in filtered air. I always admired Robert Heinlein’s house in Colorado, where the stair rail was a pipe with holes drilled into the bottom, which fed down to the filter and crank. Since fallout falls, having the holes on the bottom helped reduce the amount that the filter would need to deal with. There are a number of plans and products out there you can go with, just remember that if making your own or improvising on the fly it helps to have the materials ahead of time.

Oh, before I forget, one other bit of gear that if you don’t already have you need to get: a “standard” first aid kit and a trauma kit. If you need them, you are really going to need them.

Now, it’s not gear but seems to fit here as it will help you determine what you need: where are you? Are you in or near a target? Are you downwind of a target? A lot of preparation depends on the answers. There are some maps out there that can show you possible fallout patterns for the U.S. They are not guaranteed (hence having the geiger counter and dosimeters no matter what is smart) but can give you a good idea.

Clear area? Not going to have to worry as much. Under a red plume? You need to be prepared to hunker down for about three weeks according to Uncle Sugar. You are going to need more extensive prep and even materials that can block at least alpha and beta particles. Also, if you live in or near a target, remember that an air burst will be pretty much a zero-fallout event (just the neutron and then general radiation pulse from a radiation standpoint, nothing long term). Ground burst is going to kick up lots of fallout. Bunker busters/penetration bombs are nasty, but since a good bit of the explosion is underground the nasty fallout is mostly local. Yes, some over-simplifications there but accurate if not precise.

There is other gear we could talk, and I’m sure someone somewhere is going to complain about my not talking about/recommending MOPP gear, silver suits, and the like. Yes, if some of that gear showed up here, not going to object. I also think it expensive and might be hard to get on short notice. Also, MOPP gear really requires training (not so much a silversuit) to use effectively. Other than the geiger counter and dosimeters, really trying to keep this to things you can get local, hopefully easy, and not too expensive.

Now, there is one special type of gear that we will talk about later under the heading of protection. Not talking against fallout either. Yes, that is coming, perhaps even tomorrow.

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Preparedness On The Fly (Food)

Preparedness On The Fly: Water

Preparedness On The Fly: Light

Preparedness On The Fly: Cooking

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If you would like to help me in my recovery efforts, feel free to hit the fundraiser at A New Life on GiveSendGo. Getting hit by lightning is not fun, and it is thanks to your gifts and prayers that I am still going. Thank you.

First, my apologies for the site being down as much as it is. I am apparently in the interesting state of being between just a regular blog and being a high-traffic blog. Some changes may be in order, and anyone caring to donate to help me pay bills and get the upgrades needed to ensure I’m up more often is much appreciated. I have bills to pay, been out of work courtesy of being struck by lightning, and am dependent for now upon the goodwill of others. Such goodwill, and the people behind it, are much appreciated.

Cooking, as well as heating, are two things often overlooked in media representations of disasters. While crouching around a fire in the ruined basement of a home heavily damaged by blast/other is a favored trope of the nihilistic dreck that passes for entertainment far too often, it sucks in real life and most will strongly avoid it. You should be one of those people.

The fact is, you should have multiple options for cooking (and heating) just for everyday disasters, much less Vladimir понимая, что у него нет члена and deciding to kick off WWIII as a result. Some quick thoughts follow.

First, practical preparedness would dictate multiple uses for any alternate cooking method. If you are just preparing now, you still want to think that way a bit. Now is a very good time to get a grill for example. I would point out that charcoal can handle wood and other fuel sources, and personally I prefer to cook that way. Choice is yours however and whatever you get will work no matter what happens. Plus, this time of year, the places that still have them tend to have them on sale, and being a cheap bas…, er, Scottish, that’s a big plus for me. If you get a propane grill, buy as many tanks as you can and fill them up. Tractor Supply Company or the like is your friend for that.

From my backpacking days, I still have a trail stove. Better than nothing, though it will not handle large cooking efforts. Small scale, it works great. Cooking for more than one, not so much. But, it works.

Now, I also have a portable chef’s stove like you see at a lot of Sunday brunches. Great piece of equipment provided it’s not cold out, as they use butane and it doesn’t do well near freezing or below. That said, mine has worked well at reasonable temperatures in the home during power outages and even in the field when I cooked for wolves. Yes, I used to do custom omelettes for older wolves at a wolf research and education center. Hit the fundraiser (note the reason) and I will share the tale on that, as you have not lived until you’ve been huffed at by a senior citizen wolf for not showing up with your stove and chef’s coat.

I also have a propane grasshopper stove. Runs pretty much no matter the temperature and can take a bit more weight than you might think. Again, have used it in the field and in the home during a power outage. Trust me, the world is much safer for me having my coffee in the morning, and I do what I can to ensure the safety of the world. It works, and you may be amazed at what you can do with one of them.

There are also multi-burner propane stoves and even ovens. They are primarily for car camping, but they work. Yes, I would love to have them and several tanks of propane for each. Feel free to hit the fundraiser and once bills are paid I will buy them. In a heart beat, along with extra butane for the chef’s stove. And, again, they are things you can use other than in an emergency. I miss camping, and look forward to getting the gear that will allow me to do at least some camping here soon.

You can also get stoves and such that run off kerosene, white gas, name-brand fuel, etc. They work and work well. Thing is, in a disaster, the name-brand fuel may be hard to come by, while propane may be a bit easier to find and transport. Your call, and having a backup to the backup is not a bad idea.

In a bad disaster, like a nuclear war, your cooking is also likely to be your heat. To beat that, look at kerosene and other heaters. You will need proper ventilation, so not recommended for fallout stage (about the first two to three weeks after boom, then dependent upon upper atmosphere winds). But, after that, or with proper ventilation, they can and do work well. I miss mine, as I sold them when I thought I was headed to Afghanistan a few years back. That you can use them to warm water, prepare tea, or do other things is a nice side benefit. Otherwise, get blankets and I recommend some of them be natural fiber like wool.

Strange as it may sound, I’m also going to suggest battery-powered smoke and CO2 detectors. Have at least one of each still in the package and stored in a basement or shielded area. After the boom, break them out and power them up. They can save your life in a true disaster, especially if you are having to improvise heating and ventilation on the fly. It’s far better to plan ahead, but if everyone had done that there would be no need for this series of articles.

Again, as with all the things discussed in this series, have multiple means and make sure some of them will work when/if you have to do the bugout boogie. That trail stove I mentioned that is not so great for fixed-base operations? Works great in the boogie though all should have one. But, this world is fallen and far from perfect: you can and will get by with just one.

And, also again, your local outdoor store is your friend as you prepare. While I still think there is time, shipping and the USPS is not your friend right now. Avoid them if you can. Also, keep in mind your local asian or other “foreign” food store. They often have a variety of cooking gear including alternatives, as well as bulk deals on rice and other items.

Tomorrow we may discuss gear a bit. I’m not a huge fan of gear and those who push it, but there are some things that come in handy at times other than disaster. There are also a few things that if there is a disaster, are well worth buying as a one-off. More soon.

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Preparedness On The Fly (Food)

Preparedness On The Fly: Water

Preparedness On The Fly: Light

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If you would like to help me in my recovery efforts, feel free to hit the fundraiser at A New Life on GiveSendGo. Getting hit by lightning is not fun, and it is thanks to your gifts and prayers that I am still going. Thank you.

And, yes, I need to pay bills this month and buy a few things for preparedness. Please do feel free to help.

My apologies for being down yesterday, that’s the first real hiccup with the new host and I am very underwhelmed with how it was handled. Thing is, know what to do next time in regards service. I’m also going to be exploring some options that may help deal with the surges. Feel free to hit the fundraiser, some options cost money and there are still bills to pay. My thanks to everyone who has helped!

The sad truth is, no matter what, darkness falls. The light goes away, and most of the time we flip a switch and an electric light banishes the dark. The problem is, electricity and the lights it powers, can and will go out. There are also times where you do need just an extra bit of light to check something out.

In practical preparedness terms, my decor has always included a fair number of candles and even oil lamps. I’ve also, in the past, had a generator as well as a variety of camping lanterns electric and other. Reminds me I need to check my Coleman as I loaned it to someone and from the sounds coming from the case I suspect it is busted. Sigh. I also have flashlights of differing sizes around, and usually have a couple on me, along with spare batteries. Power goes out inside a building and the emergency lights don’t work as promised? No problem. Also, helps when you have to try to read something or find something where the light is just not right.

So, with WWIII upon your mind, my suggestion is to get a mix as some or all may work after the boom. I get nothing from them, but will HIGHLY recommend Streamlight for your flashlight and safety light needs. I’ve carried and used their tac lights for years (including weapon lights), love the large HL-5X Protac flashlight I have (get about 2,000 lumens out of it with rechargeable batteries), and have never had to contact their customer service. You can find them at most good outdoor stores (use their website to find stores near you), or you can get their stuff at a decent price online from Optics Planet. Oh, for a number of reasons, make sure to have a headband-mounted light as part of your stock. Be amazed how often they come in handy.

Candles, well, you got a lot of options but allow me to make a suggestion. Find a place that sells church candles as they are designed to burn down slowly (and not make a mess) and as such last a good long time. Put up aluminum foil (shiny side out) behind them as reflectors, and you would be surprised at how much light you can get.

NOTE: Before lighting ANYTHING after a disaster, from a cigarette to a candle, check to be sure it is safe to do so! Earthquake or nuclear bomb, gas lines can break, fuel pipelines can spring a leak, even any stored propane or gas you have around might have spilled/leaked/etc. Only after you have checked, closed valves at need, etc. should you light up. If there has been a big boom nearby, the last thing you want to do is make a smaller one to finish the job the first started.

Now, I have camping lanterns because I used to camp. I also have used them more than once for power outages. There are a number of very good LED lanterns on the market, and while I would never take it backpacking (heavy) the LE LED lantern has worked well for me. Vont lanterns are okay, but not quite what I had hoped they would be. My Coleman lantern, well, sigh. Since I rent I also don’t have a shed or other place to store lots of fuel, so… Finally, I still have a few candle lanterns around. These were used a lot by backpackers as they were a relatively safe way to use candles at a campsite and, especially, in a tent. You can even get citronella candles for them.

Now, you can also get a generator to power the refrigerator and a few lights. If you have it stored in a basement or otherwise shielded, it may/should survive the EMP. Remember, if there is warning throw your main, throw the individual circuits, and unplug everything you can. Gives you the best shot at minimizing EMP damage. Make sure to have a secure location with ventilation to set it up. And, make sure it’s a quiet generator. Very quiet.

There’s something you need to think about with lights of any type, or a generator that makes noise and provides electrical lights. Lights are going to attract pests.

Disasters bring out the best in some people, and the worst in others. Light and sound are going to bring people to you. Some may be a blessing to have around. Some are not. My advice is to take the first rule of preparation club and give it steroids. Your best option safety-wise is to run dark, run silent, and run deep. And keep watch.

Oh, and stock up on batteries. Even ones you might not use, as someone else might need them and trade is going to be a part of recovering from a major disaster. It also gives you something you can give the authorities, if they come around looking to confiscate for the greater good, without giving up anything you truly need.

And, yes, you should hide as much of everything as you can because bad people (and yes I do count government types confiscating stuff as such) are likely to be a factor. Don’t make it easy on them. What few supplies I have these days are in my landlord’s box spring as no one will ever think to look there. Not that I’ve got much these days.

So, have a mix and stock up as much as you can. At some point in the recovery from any disaster, there comes a time where you want to light a beacon to guide others out of the dark. Be ready for that time, and until then think light tight and use what you do have judiciously.

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Preparedness On The Fly (Food)

Preparedness On The Fly: Water

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If you would like to help me in my recovery efforts, feel free to hit the fundraiser at A New Life on GiveSendGo. Getting hit by lightning is not fun, and it is thanks to your gifts and prayers that I am still going. Thank you.

Water is the item that you need almost more than any other thing in a disaster. You need clean water for drinking, you need water for washing and decontamination, you need it for cooking — you need it. Period. Yet, far too many can’t seem to handle the water going out even for a few hours.

To be truly prepared, you need three things: water, the ability to rapidly store more water, and the ability to make more potable water. You also need to learn the difference between potable, gray water, and non-potable.

Potable is water you can drink. It is clean, healthy, and what you are used to getting out of a tap, bottle, or other source.

Gray water is waste water that does not include sewage. Gray water can be filtered and purified to become potable. It also can be used to do things like flush toilets or other uses where water is needed for other than consumption.

Non-potable is water that, normally, contains sewage, chemicals, or other contaminants make it unfit for almost any use. It’s what goes into wastewater or other specialized treatment plants that clean it up enough to be released back into the world.

Violating the first rule of preparedness club, I do have both potable and gray water on hand. Part of the stock started with a job I had where I was having to carry in bottles of water to drink during the day as there was not easy access to water (or anything else). We will get into why if Jason Momoa wants to lecture me on the plastic bottles he can buzz off in a bit. Since I prefer to use distilled water for making my coffee, I have a small supply of it on hand. I also have two five-gallon paint buckets full of what is now technically gray water as it has been stored in non-sterile/non-food rated containers. Even though I added bleach to it to prevent microbial growth, it would need treatment to become potable.

The first two give me a source potable water that I can use for drinking, cooking, and other uses. I’ve had the fun joy of the water going out more than once, and more than once while I was in the shower or needing to get clean for work. My stored water has allowed me to get clean, rinse off, cook, and otherwise easily handle the minor disaster of having the water go off. The gray water has given me the ability to flush the toilet during those times. In any emergency, however, keep in mind the phrase ‘if it’s yellow, it’s mellow; if it’s brown, it goes down.” Save your stored gray water until you have to use it.

Now, since some disasters do give advance notice, you also need a way to store as much potable or treatable gray water as possible with such a warning. I have a variety of water bladders for hiking and such, water bottles/canteens, and even some collapsable containers in the car and inside. I would not mind getting several of the tub bags (WaterBob is the brand name I think) that hold 100 gallons each. Thing is, if you have warning, fill every container you can with potable water. Fill the tubs even if you don’t have a tub bag — it will need to be filtered/purified, but it is there when you need it. Use that water first, as you want to hold onto your portable supply in case you have to do the bugout boogie. Face it, your store-bought was designed to be stored, make use of that.

Now, this is a good time to discuss why I don’t care if Jason Momoa or any other celebrity doesn’t like my bottled water. Let’s say we are in a major disaster, and you are having to get into and stay in the shelter we discussed in the Nuclear 101/201 series because there is indeed fallout coming down. Unless you’ve got lots of plastic, tape, and shielding materials, your safe room does not extend to the restroom. So, you need something for that purpose.

As Dean Ing notes in Pulling Through, a five-gallon paint bucket makes a great emergency toilet. Put three garbage bags in it, and you have one you can keep using as you seal up the bags and put them out when the limit is reached. Heck, he even tells you how to make an improvised toilet seat. Allow me to strongly recommend that you only want to use it for fecal matter. Why?

Well, you really need to use any empty water bottles to hold urine. It’s secure storage, and in a really bad emergency you can (and will) drink it. In fact, you can “recycle” that way several times, but it’s diminishing returns each time. It also means you don’t have to leave your secure area to use the bathroom.

However, if you have a filter/purification system, you can process urine back into something close to pure water. The best option for such are to get the systems designed for backpackers and campers. They are light, sturdy, mobile, and very effective. If you have to do the bugout boogie, they are set to go.

You want systems that can both filter and purify, those being two different things. In fact, I mentioned yesterday that I would love to upgrade mine given advances in technology, and I would also add a couple of the large systems so that one could be dedicated to urine and such.

You can also improvise a good filtration system if you have uncontaminated sand. I would recommend getting the directions online (can’t remember if that’s one Dean got into in Pulling Through). A decent sand trap can handle some nasty stuff, and get you by.

It also won’t hurt to have some of the backpacking water bottles that have filtration and/or purification systems inside them. If we hit a fallout situation, the more times things are filtered, the better. That can also be important if you needing to purify water from tubs, urine, etc. If you don’t have one, but do have some of the water purification tablets, use them.

Also, if the taps are still working and the water is safe, refill your water bottles and other containers for as long as the water lasts. It’s when the taps stop working that it’s going to get interesting.

Also, while you are at the camping store, get two or more of those camping showers. You will want one for regular bathing if the water situation is good. You should, however, have two that can be used for decontamination. I’m not going to go into that process today, but you can use one such shower with gray water to do the first rinse of the outer gear so it is safe (as possible) to remove, and the second further in to wash the person.

You can improvise such easily enough, but they are not expensive and if you camp or hike, they are useful outside of a disaster. Just remembered how a member of my World Jamboree troop made bank by improvising one and selling hot private showers during the Jamboree. The official showers were open air (the local girls came and enjoyed the show), and the water came straight (and unheated) from a glacier-fed river (which reduced the show). Yes, he had more business than he could handle.

So, the rule of preparedness club on water is stock as much as you can. Be prepared to store as much as you can beyond that if there is warning and time. Be prepared to “make” more potable water at need. As with food, go to minimum needs at the start so you can make all you have last as long as possible. “Recycling” works, but you really don’t want to and if you do, you want to put it off as long as possible. Again, I’ve used my stocks and gear to handle the minor disasters of life more than once. Well worth the investment even if you don’t camp.

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Preparedness On The Fly (Food)

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If you would like to help me in my recovery efforts, feel free to hit the fundraiser at A New Life on GiveSendGo. Getting hit by lightning is not fun, and it is thanks to your gifts and prayers that I am still going. Thank you.

It seems that there is a growing interest in preparedness. In fact, I get the feeling that some out there want the magic list, that list which will tell you everything you need to buy and in what amounts (and where, when, how). If I were a grifter, I would come up with a list, make it a paid post, and augment with a bunch of “one weird trick” posts. Thankfully, I’m not a grifter.

The reason I call it a magic list is that there is no one single list for preparedness, and anyone who tells you there is one is a con artist and/or a fool. They are also probably the type Fudd who says you have to have all your firearms in .489 Harambe (or you ain’t s***!), your NVG must be a QuantumTracker 5300 with built in nuclear reactor, and that you need all this other expensive gear for which they either just happen to be a broker or get a commission.

Me? Well, I’m the guy who thinks Alton Brown is on the right track when he says the gear you get should do more than one job. Rather than doing more than one thing in the kitchen, I think that most preparedness gear should be useful for more than one reason and that your emergency stocks are there to make your life easier all the time, not just in an emergency. Since I ditched Amazon a couple of years ago, I don’t earn commissions on anything I mention here and I’m sadly not getting paid fees to endorse any particular product. The income would be welcome right now, but I would also tell you if I were getting it.

I’m also a cheap bastard, er, Scottish. Do I wish I had more gear? Yes. In fact, I can tell you at least four things I wish I had right now. I also wouldn’t mind upgrading a couple of things I already have. Believe it or not, about a grand would do most or all of it. You don’t have to spend huge amounts of money unless you are starting very late or want to spend the money. I mean if someone said “I’m giving you $X for prep” I guarantee I could spend it even if we get into the 7-figure range (land and building supplies ain’t cheap). Thing is, I don’t have to spend it. Neither do you. Pick and choose, spend wisely.

I know, I know, you want the magic list. Or at least a guide/suggestions. After all, the nuclear saber is being rattled which does get one’s attention. So, let’s break this down and start giving some suggestions so you can add to your stocks/start building some stocks.

First up, food. Frankly, with food and water you can survive almost any situation. Just don’t be like Opus the Penguin who was tasked with provisioning the Bloom County shelter and did a great job with canned this, canned that, but no can opener.

Aside from having several can openers, church keys, and other delights, there are two bits of food for thought in regards your list. First, buy things with a long shelf-life. If you are careful, you can get things that have a best buy date two or more years out, which means they are good for a year or three beyond that. Second, buy a range of foods as food ennui can become a problem if you are hunkered down for a while.

By buying things that I like to eat, even if only on occasion, it not only prepares me for emergencies but also for day-to-day living. It gives me options for meals, for creating meals, and more. Rather than being something that I never use, it becomes something I use on a more regular basis, which in turn provides turnover, which means I constantly have things that are good for potentially several years out. I just simply have more of it.

While I do have some things in glass, I do get more in cans and other non-breakable containers. I do this simply because too many disasters may not be kind to glass, no matter what precautions I take. Even so, between being able to can items, and buying some things that only come in glass, I do have a fair bit of glass at any given time. So, no, I’m not one of those Fudds who is going to scream at you for having glass. Having items in glass, and extra glass canning jars, is a good thing. You just need to take some steps to try to keep it safe.

As for going out and buying cases of MREs or freeze dried, I have some but not huge amounts. I think it a very good idea to have at least some MREs or equivalent (British versions are quite good; have heard good things about those from Italy and Chile; and just from rumors want to try Malaysian) on hand. Thing is, they are fully self-contained meals: full meal, heating for same, utensils, etc. Given all the added vitamins and minerals, one meal gives you all you need for a day. That can come in handy in an emergency, and is essential if you have to do the bugout boogie.

In terms of freeze dried, I’ve mainly focused on breakfast. That’s for a number of reasons, including that my regular diet is very low carb, which means I eat a lot of eggs and some meat. Both of which are going to be in short supply if a disaster hits. I really do want/need more, but it is expensive, so get as I can. I think I do have a couple of what I term FI freeze dried meals, but they are for that FI moment or if I have to do the bugout boogie. Or go camping.

I also have things like powdered whole milk because, just like eggs, milk and other refrigerated items are going to be in short supply. Canned and dry milk, juices, etc. are a good thing to have. You are not just eating normal meals, you need to be sure you are getting the full array of nutrients, vitamins, and minerals. You should be doing so anyway, slacker, but it’s especially important in an emergency. Reminder to myself, I need to get into supplements (and certain regulatory efforts underway) another day.

Speaking of powders, one thing I would suggest augmenting in your pantry are things like flour, corn meal, pasta, and things dependent upon grains. I would also stock up on things for baking (powder, yeast, etc.), and on things that are imported, like chocolate, coffee, tea, etc. If you read through the posts here, neither I nor Royal think there will be starvation in the U.S. but things could get rather lean. Elsewhere in the world, it’s quite likely to be bad. Also, the rail strike may be back on, and if you think the grocery store shelves are expensive and messed up now…

Another quick thought is don’t forget the soups and even some soft drinks. I don’t do soft drinks unless I’m sick or having to do prep for a colonoscopy. Having some on hand has come in handy not only for that, but the aftermath of the unscheduled open heart surgery and a couple of other visits to the ER. As for soups, they can be a complete (and even tasty) meal, and are a source of liquids to help keep you hydrated.

So, no grocery list per se, just a category list. I have eclectic tastes, so my pantry could already handle a variety of cuisines. I’ve hit a few of the various ethnic and international markets to spread that out a bit. Two things to consider are that you need to go to minimum rations immediately until you see how things are going to go, and you need to live the first rule of preparedness club: don’t tell people you are prepared. I could, sadly, easily see my landlord giving up any stocks of food he knew about to the government or others in the wake of a disaster. Others of ill intent might decide to liberate your stocks since they didn’t plan ahead. Be smart, be safe, be quiet, and be prepared.

By the way, if anyone reading this is involved with field rations for your respective country or region, and is willing to send me samples to try (and augment my stocks), I will be glad to do a review. Heck, I will even do it on our MREs. Maybe do some videos or such on Rumble. I will decline any Russian though (even when they have field rations, one of the first things Russian troops have done is loot grocery stores and restaurants. There’s a reason), but am open to most others.

For those wondering about the equipment list I mentioned earlier: portable generator, geiger counter, dosimeters, plastic and tape. I would like to upgrade my field cooking gear and my water purification gear. With all that has happened since getting hit by lightning, and needing to have my shoulders regrown or replaced, I fear my days of backpacking and remote camping are behind me. That said, I would not mind a shift to car/drive-in camping. There have been some very good advances on water purification, and I’ve seen a couple of items for cooking that I would love to add to the arsenal.

Tomorrow I think I will get into water and cooking a bit. Final note, be sure to include hot sauces in your food prep. You’d be amazed at what you can get down with enough hot sauce.

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If you would like to help me in my recovery efforts, feel free to hit the fundraiser at A New Life on GiveSendGo. Getting hit by lightning is not fun, and it is thanks to your gifts and prayers that I am still going. Thank you.