kinda OT - best emergency preparedness websites?
PreTurb
Posts: 1,193 ✭✭✭
Ok... my sixth sense alarm has gone off and it's time to plow a few G's into MRE's, water purification tabs, Coleman stoves, etc. Where are the best sources of info?
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"Interest rates, the price of money, are the most important market. And, perversely, they’re the market that’s most manipulated by the Fed." - Doug Casey
--Severian the Lame
Escape Artist
Coin's for sale/trade.
Tom Pilitowski
US Rare Coin Investments
800-624-1870
SHTF supply
Do you know what it was that set off your alert?
I knew it would happen.
<< <i>Immense Federal & State debt. And realization that the food coming to my grocery store is the result of a logistical miracle. If anything breaks down along the way, I have a problem. Two little toddlers to feed. Need to do what I can to protect us from a breakdown in the system. >>
Good move. Whether you feel a disaster is coming or not coming, it is still wise to have a 30 day supply of food for you
and your loved ones in the house. I buy foods that last 1-2 years. After 1 year, I donate about 700 bucks worth of good
foods to the local food bank. I then go spend another 700 to restock on foods that last 1-2 years. And I repeat that cycle
every year. It gives me peace of mind knowing my family is provided for, and knowing that if nothing comes to pass, that
a local food bank will benefit.
Fellas, leave the tight pants to the ladies. If I can count the coins in your pockets you better use them to call a tailor. Stay thirsty my friends......
<< <i>
<< <i>Immense Federal & State debt. And realization that the food coming to my grocery store is the result of a logistical miracle. If anything breaks down along the way, I have a problem. Two little toddlers to feed. Need to do what I can to protect us from a breakdown in the system. >>
Good move. Whether you feel a disaster is coming or not coming, it is still wise to have a 30 day supply of food for you
and your loved ones in the house. I buy foods that last 1-2 years. After 1 year, I donate about 700 bucks worth of good
foods to the local food bank. I then go spend another 700 to restock on foods that last 1-2 years. And I repeat that cycle
every year. It gives me peace of mind knowing my family is provided for, and knowing that if nothing comes to pass, that
a local food bank will benefit. >>
This seems to me somewhat misguided. If you're donating food to the food bank it means you're not eating what you're storing. When you make the decision for long term food storage, you should follow the most important mantra: Eat what you store, store what you eat.
If you're storing food that you don't normally eat, you're making a potentially stressful situation (that which would require you to eat your "saved" long term storage food) much more stressful by forcing yourself to eat food you wouldn't ordinarily.
A full year's worth of food for every person in your family is a logical, do-able goal. You don't need to run right out and buy it all immediately. But if you're decided to begin, take a moment to think about what you usually eat. Raisin bran? Get the 4 boxes at 25% off and you've just gotten 1 box free. Canned beans? Buy a case if they're on sale this week. 12 cans @ a $.15 savings means you got a few free. Get six boxes of dried spaghetti instead of 1. Peanut butter? Get three jars and make it the larger size. Many items have an expiration date that is easy to read now (as opposed to several years ago when they used an archaic system of code to keep you from knowing when food expired. Everything I just mentioned should store for the better part of a year. But you won't be storing it that long because you...store what you eat, eat what you store. Rotate last purchased to the back of your cupboard.
You're going to buy the food you normally eat anyway. Take advantage of sales. Watch for buy x get 1 free. Get a case discount when you can. By approaching food storage sensibly and rationally, you can actually SAVE money instead of losing it.
Props for donating to your food pantry. But they'll be much better off if you donate the money you save from logical long term storage than they will if you drop off a truck load of almost-expired canned pork & beans.
--Severian the Lame
It's good to recognize what could happen. I just got back from Sam's Club and I marvel at how much food is stocked there, but then I realize that if 20,000 people or so decided to go shopping at the same time, it would take about 2 hours to empty the place.
Weiss does have some good points about storing what you already know you'll eat.
I knew it would happen.
If you have a good supply of water get a water filter and forget the tablets they're way too high for any extended periods of time. Bleach (20 drop to the gallon) is the best, between boiling, bleach, and/or a water filter is the cheapest. I had a source of a good water filter that took a 5 gallon bucket for 20 bucks that WHO uses is a good source of water. Catching water off your roof is fairly clean water just wait 15 or 20 minutes before collecting water.
Mountain House makes great long term storage food but is very very high, get the beans they'll last just as long if you store them correctly.
At this point I'd go for the best bang for the buck and get a least 6 mo to a year for your whole family and the above anyone can do. Not the best but you live in a real emergency. JMO
Coin's for sale/trade.
Tom Pilitowski
US Rare Coin Investments
800-624-1870
If your interested in bulk storage of flour, grains, or oats let me know and I'll post some great deals that will last for well over 10 years. added: http://www.honeyvillecolorado.com/
Store lots of salt for curing and consider honey it's to sweet to ever go bad. You just need to heat it in water if it ever goes to sugar.
<< <i> And realization that the food coming to my grocery store is the result of a logistical miracle. If anything breaks down along the way, I have a problem >>
I have a dumb question to ask you...In what part of the 3d world do you live? Or in what remote area of Alaska or Louisiana? Have you ever considered moving closer to civilization?
"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." -Luke 11:9
"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might." -Deut. 6:4-5
"For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our king; He will save us." -Isaiah 33:22
http://www.doomers.us/forum2/
I am not a member but someone told me about it and there might some useful information in it.
<< <i>
This seems to me somewhat misguided. If you're donating food to the food bank it means you're not eating what you're storing. When you make the decision for long term food storage, you should follow the most important mantra: Eat what you store, store what you eat.
. >>
I agree with all your points, and I only buy food that we eat, and sometimes we do pick from the stash if we ever run low.
I always look for sales, and buy 10 of this or that if it's a knockout sale. However, I just feel good about donating food
with 1 year shelf life left to a food bank and start all over again. Would it be easier to just eat what we buy, yes, it would.
Something else I am pursuing in keeping with the theme of this thread is solar roofing for my house. I have an older victorian home but they now make solar shingles that look similar to slate. My house even has a southern exposure. Wood fireplaces are being revamped at this time. And another cool aspect of my home which I just discovered last year is a huge cistern. Off the back porch there was this huge slab of concrete which I did not know what it was. Turns out under it was the cistern. My buddy and I rigged a hydraulic jack and moved it. Stuck a pole down there and found out it was over 12 feet deep and extended out under the yard. Evidently the rain water from my roof is funneled there. Been looking at the flea markets for one of those old fashioned hand operated water pumps. While I dont plan on drinking the stuff (even though it appears clean and is cool) I would use it to water my gardens and lawn.
<< <i>@ OPA: I am from Louisiana, what are you trying to say? That people from Louisiana are backwards. Get a grip buddy. Everyone needs to be prepared for an emergency, you never know what can happen tomorrow, be prepared and leave the jokes about where people are from out. >>
Did not mean to insult the general populous of LA, but there are remote areas in the Bayous that are inaccessibly to us landlubbers. I believe in being prepared, but a 1 or 2 years worth of food ration? That's almost as extreme as building a bomb shelter during the 1950's to protect your self from Atomic Annihilation. That $ could be better served by buying PM's.
<< <i>
<< <i>
<< <i>Immense Federal & State debt. And realization that the food coming to my grocery store is the result of a logistical miracle. If anything breaks down along the way, I have a problem. Two little toddlers to feed. Need to do what I can to protect us from a breakdown in the system. >>
Good move. Whether you feel a disaster is coming or not coming, it is still wise to have a 30 day supply of food for you
and your loved ones in the house. I buy foods that last 1-2 years. After 1 year, I donate about 700 bucks worth of good
foods to the local food bank. I then go spend another 700 to restock on foods that last 1-2 years. And I repeat that cycle
every year. It gives me peace of mind knowing my family is provided for, and knowing that if nothing comes to pass, that
a local food bank will benefit. >>
This seems to me somewhat misguided. If you're donating food to the food bank it means you're not eating what you're storing. When you make the decision for long term food storage, you should follow the most important mantra: Eat what you store, store what you eat.
If you're storing food that you don't normally eat, you're making a potentially stressful situation (that which would require you to eat your "saved" long term storage food) much more stressful by forcing yourself to eat food you wouldn't ordinarily.
A full year's worth of food for every person in your family is a logical, do-able goal. You don't need to run right out and buy it all immediately. But if you're decided to begin, take a moment to think about what you usually eat. Raisin bran? Get the 4 boxes at 25% off and you've just gotten 1 box free. Canned beans? Buy a case if they're on sale this week. 12 cans @ a $.15 savings means you got a few free. Get six boxes of dried spaghetti instead of 1. Peanut butter? Get three jars and make it the larger size. Many items have an expiration date that is easy to read now (as opposed to several years ago when they used an archaic system of code to keep you from knowing when food expired. Everything I just mentioned should store for the better part of a year. But you won't be storing it that long because you...store what you eat, eat what you store. Rotate last purchased to the back of your cupboard.
You're going to buy the food you normally eat anyway. Take advantage of sales. Watch for buy x get 1 free. Get a case discount when you can. By approaching food storage sensibly and rationally, you can actually SAVE money instead of losing it.
Props for donating to your food pantry. But they'll be much better off if you donate the money you save from logical long term storage than they will if you drop off a truck load of almost-expired canned pork & beans. >>
I don't keep things for after the Apocalypse, but I agree it is a good thing to be prepared. We had an ice storm here 10 years ago and we were without power for three weeks. Because we were able to still get things at the store it wasn't too bad, but it prompted me to get an alternate heat source with some reserves, and it made me think about what could be if the disaster was more wide spread.
While giving to the food kitchen is noble, I agree with Weiss here. You should try to buy what you regularly eat, and rotate it. We eat a lot of rice, I get a case at a time, same with beans and soups. Mexicans live on rice and beans, it provides most of the nutrients you need, add some dried veggie stuff and you could live forever on it, although I would miss baked chicken and ice cream!
The availability of radios and flashlights that recharge themselves ( with your help), eliminates the need for a lot of batteries. Try LL Bean for stuff like that. Add some water and a good first aid kit and you are in good shape.
<< <i>Be careful! The government owns your rainwater. and will arrest you for collecting it.
Of course it's an obscure Utah law from 1890, it was not enforced against homeowners, and you couldn't be arrested for it (civil fine), and
the law has BEEN REPEALED. But 1Jester links us to a rant written TWO MONTHS after the law was repealed on a website that features a picture of the scary black president saying "I want your retirement account" operated by Lew Rockwell, who wrote the racist newsletters for Ron Paul (“Order was only restored in L.A. when it came time for the blacks to pick up their welfare checks”)
<< <i>
<< <i>Be careful! The government owns your rainwater. and will arrest you for collecting it.
Of course it's an obscure Utah law from 1890, it was not enforced against homeowners, and you couldn't be arrested for it (civil fine), and
the law has BEEN REPEALED. But 1Jester links us to a rant written TWO MONTHS after the law was repealed on a website that features a picture of the scary black president saying "I want your retirement account" operated by Lew Rockwell, who wrote the racist newsletters for Ron Paul (“Order was only restored in L.A. when it came time for the blacks to pick up their welfare checks”) >>
Let's keep the politics out of discussion.
<< <i>
<< <i>Be careful! The government owns your rainwater. and will arrest you for collecting it.
Of course it's an obscure Utah law from 1890, it was not enforced against homeowners, and you couldn't be arrested for it (civil fine), and
the law has BEEN REPEALED. But 1Jester links us to a rant written TWO MONTHS after the law was repealed on a website that features a picture of the scary black president saying "I want your retirement account" operated by Lew Rockwell, who wrote the racist newsletters for Ron Paul (“Order was only restored in L.A. when it came time for the blacks to pick up their welfare checks”) >>
Sorry if I offended you. Please proceed to shoot the messenger.
PS: Such a law seems awfully unkosher to me, sort of like carbon taxes and taxing the air we breathe. The Romans even designed their homes 2000 years ago to collect rainwater. Go to Herculaneum and Pompei and you'll see for yourself.
"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." -Luke 11:9
"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might." -Deut. 6:4-5
"For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our king; He will save us." -Isaiah 33:22
I knew it would happen.
<< <i>
PS: Such a law seems awfully unkosher to me, sort of like carbon taxes and taxing the air we breathe. The Romans even designed their homes 2000 years ago to collect rainwater. Go to Herculaneum and Pompei and you'll see for yourself. >>
Colorado, for example, has water rights law in the 1876 State Constitution. These laws ih the Western US have their origins back in the days when diverting a stream to steal water for your crops and cattle was a hanging offense and a law prohibiting it actually made sense.
Then in the early 1900s the Colorado River Compact was signed by New Mexico, Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Wyoming and California. This law allows L.A., Las Vegas, Pheonix and most western agriculture to exist. It has also caused the Colorado River Delta to Dry up and become an unusable salt flat. This law allocated every drop of water in the Colorado River to each state. If everyone saved the water from their land in barrels, or tanks or private lakes, it no longer eventally runs off and finds it way back to the Colorado River, where it can be used by the Western US.
It's just amazing that this stuff gets brought up now to criticize the current president.
<< <i>
<< <i>
PS: Such a law seems awfully unkosher to me, sort of like carbon taxes and taxing the air we breathe. The Romans even designed their homes 2000 years ago to collect rainwater. Go to Herculaneum and Pompei and you'll see for yourself. >>
Colorado, for example, has water rights law in the 1876 State Constitution. These laws ih the Western US have their origins back in the days when diverting a stream to steal water for your crops and cattle was a hanging offense and a law prohibiting it actually made sense.
Then in the early 1900s the Colorado River Compact was signed by New Mexico, Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Wyoming and California. This law allows L.A., Las Vegas, Pheonix and most western agriculture to exist. It has also caused the Colorado River Delta to Dry up and become an unusable salt flat. This law allocated every drop of water in the Colorado River to each state. If everyone saved the water from their land in barrels, or tanks or private lakes, it no longer eventally runs off and finds it way back to the Colorado River, where it can be used by the Western US.
It's just amazing that this stuff gets brought up now to criticize the current president. >>
NO politics
<< <i>
<< <i> And realization that the food coming to my grocery store is the result of a logistical miracle. If anything breaks down along the way, I have a problem >>
I have a dumb question to ask you...In what part of the 3d world do you live? Or in what remote area of Alaska or Louisiana? Have you ever considered moving closer to civilization? >>
The OP's point is well founded and I agree with his concerns. Every major cities food supply/grocery stores could be depleted in a few days in the event of an unforeseen "event". Our logistical food pipeline is extremely delicate. If you live anywheres outside of the food basket your food stores could be emptied in 48 hours. Washington DC, NYC, Dallas etc. If the rails are down or trucks can't move unimpeded you could be in trouble very quickly. Does anyone remember 2003? The electrical power grid went down from Toronto to Detroit to NYC. In this triangle some places were without power for seven days. I lived in Brooklyn at the time and it was a little dicey at moments. Same for my folk in Michigan. In total only 11 people died during this event. However, it is not hard to imagine an event that if amplified could get out of hand quickly. OPA, to each is own................MJ
Fellas, leave the tight pants to the ladies. If I can count the coins in your pockets you better use them to call a tailor. Stay thirsty my friends......
<< <i>
<< <i>
<< <i> And realization that the food coming to my grocery store is the result of a logistical miracle. If anything breaks down along the way, I have a problem >>
I have a dumb question to ask you...In what part of the 3d world do you live? Or in what remote area of Alaska or Louisiana? Have you ever considered moving closer to civilization? >>
The OP's point is well founded and I agree with his concerns. Every major cities food supply/grocery stores could be depleted in a few days in the event of an unforeseen "event". Our logistical food pipeline is extremely delicate. If you live anywheres outside of the food basket your food stores could be emptied in 48 hours. Washington DC, NYC, Dallas etc. If the rails are down or trucks can't move unimpeded you could be in trouble very quickly. Does anyone remember 2003? The electrical power grid went down from Toronto to Detroit to NYC. In this triangle some places were without power for seven days. I lived in Brooklyn at the time and it was a little dicey at moments. Same for my folk in Michigan. In total only 11 people died during this event. However, it is not hard to imagine an event that if amplified could get out of hand quickly. OPA, to each is own................MJ >>
There is a difference in being prepared and taking it to the extreme. I don't know about you, but I consider having a 1 - 2 year food ration on hand, a waste of funds that could have been used for immediate improvements. Everyone to their own paranoia.
We have a six month supply of water and food. On day day 183 I may wish we had a years supply.................As always, I hope I never see the day.
Odds are that you will be right and all this preparedness will be unnecessary. You can gloat and tell us I told you so. But, what if you are not?....................... MJ
Fellas, leave the tight pants to the ladies. If I can count the coins in your pockets you better use them to call a tailor. Stay thirsty my friends......
<< <i>
What about NO politics don't you understand?
1Jester was the one who posted a false story and linked to a political website (Lew Rockwell)
I debunked the story and pointed out that the relevant law has been repealed (something the writer on the political website failed to do) , and I provided some historical perspective on why western states have water laws.
Now who again is "being political."
<< <i>
<< <i>
What about NO politics don't you understand?
1Jester was the one who posted a false story and linked to a political website (Lew Rockwell)
I debunked the story and pointed out that the relevant law has been repealed (something the writer on the political website failed to do) , and I provided some historical perspective on why western states have water laws.
Now who again is "being political." >>
Frank, please don't bring me into this. I posted a link to a story that did happen, correct? I don't have the slightest idea who Lew Rockwell is or if he's political or not. I happened upon the story and wanted to share it because it seems it had merit and relevance to this topic. And I also appreciate your information about the historical perspective of the water laws. The fact is that there can be lots of contention about who "owns" rainwater, and as I mentioned, collecting water that falls down from heaven for your own purposes is an age-old, tried and true method of conservation and survival. The Romans did it over 2000 years ago, the Greeks way before them, and probably all humans in history have done the same thing. Our American forefathers also built houses with cisterns that catch rainwater. So why should it be illegal? How did I "post a false story"? From you own acknowledgement, the issue is alive and well, and not some "conspiracy theory".
Thank you.
"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." -Luke 11:9
"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might." -Deut. 6:4-5
"For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our king; He will save us." -Isaiah 33:22
PS- Actually I enjoy hearing Frank's stuff from the far fringe. My kids actually make him look conservative. Arrgghhhhh................
I guess it's a payback. My parents are liberals. I lashed out and became conservative in nature. I was the Alex P Keaton of the family and went to one of the only libertarian universities in the country. My kids in turn rebeled and became super liberals. The University of Michigan did not help matters. I guess one day I can look forward to turbo charged conservative grandkids if form holds true
Fellas, leave the tight pants to the ladies. If I can count the coins in your pockets you better use them to call a tailor. Stay thirsty my friends......
<< <i>
<< <i>Be careful! The government owns your rainwater. and will arrest you for collecting it.
Of course it's an obscure Utah law from 1890, it was not enforced against homeowners, and you couldn't be arrested for it (civil fine), and
the law has BEEN REPEALED. But 1Jester links us to a rant written TWO MONTHS after the law was repealed on a website that features a picture of the scary black president saying "I want your retirement account" operated by Lew Rockwell, who wrote the racist newsletters for Ron Paul (“Order was only restored in L.A. when it came time for the blacks to pick up their welfare checks”) >>
Lew Rockwell is not a racist and you are really showing your ignorance now. Stop it already.
Coin's for sale/trade.
Tom Pilitowski
US Rare Coin Investments
800-624-1870
+1
On a more serious note. There is no best place to buy emergency supplies. You should know what you want, which implies some sort of planning, and then shop around. Costco carries some emergency supplies and every once in a while they put a years supply up as deal of the day and it is a deal even if only because shipping is free. Honeyville Grain has some good deals and low flat rate shipping. Emergency Essentials has unparalleled selection and their prices are non-extortionate. Keep an eye out for their monthly specials which are a great way to build up a cache. Hint: in the fall, usually Oct or Nov, they have a free shipping deal. That is the best way to buy a years supply, otherwise the shipping will eat you alive. If you are looking for MREs I give my highest recommendation to MRE Depot. They are not the cheapest but they are the freshest and they are not ripped off government surplus. He allegedly picked up a couple of boxcars of those Menu C (Contractor) MRE's from an outfit that ordered them and then got kicked out of Iraq and did not need them.
Never mind I see they are sold as storage on the website
<< <i>Emergency Essentials
+1
On a more serious note. There is no best place to buy emergency supplies. You should know what you want, which implies some sort of planning, and then shop around. Costco carries some emergency supplies and every once in a while they put a years supply up as deal of the day and it is a deal even if only because shipping is free. Honeyville Grain has some good deals and low flat rate shipping. Emergency Essentials has unparalleled selection and their prices are non-extortionate. Keep an eye out for their monthly specials which are a great way to build up a cache. Hint: in the fall, usually Oct or Nov, they have a free shipping deal. That is the best way to buy a years supply, otherwise the shipping will eat you alive. If you are looking for MREs I give my highest recommendation to MRE Depot. They are not the cheapest but they are the freshest and they are not ripped off government surplus. He allegedly picked up a couple of boxcars of those Menu C (Contractor) MRE's from an outfit that ordered them and then got kicked out of Iraq and did not need them. >>
You are going to drywall the basement to pass the time?
Edited to add:
Man I wish my AU & AG was doing as good as that wheat.
Wheat (W, CBOT)