Wanted to remind folks that 72hours is just the start of preparing for disaster. With several bad storms lately, and the two earthquakes with the well televised results, I have been re-checking my preparedness supplies. I can comfortably go for about 12 days, and if I rationed I could go longer. This is assuming loss of municipal water. I am going to try to extend it out a bit more over the coming months. I look at 72hrs as the bare minimum, and if you had the bare minimum in Chile this weekend - you would be out of water right now.
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Remember, 72hrs is just a starting point.
- Thread starter Smash05
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I have one 5 gallon brew bucket full of water, one 5 gallon flexible container full of water, plus 12 one gallon water jugs. I have 24 cans of Campbells Condenced Soup, assorted. I have 12 cans of regular soup. I have 12 cans of diced tomatos, 12 cans of cooked beans, 72 Quaker Granola Bars, 12 Full MRE Kits, 6 small MRE Kits, 2 3600 calorie lifeboat rations, various other dry goods such as cereal, pasta, rice, and dried fruit. I also have 6 cans each of turkey and beef chili, as well as 2-3 containers of peanut butter and jam. These are all non-perishable, and I would probably try to go through the refrigerator stock first if I could. I have other stuff here and there that gets eaten and replaced as I go. I am looking to upgrade a couple more water containers, and some more portable water options. I keep currently have 15 gal of propane in containers plus several smaller one use tanks to cook with.
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72 hours of gear is just to give you time to re-establish yourself, IE a time buffer so you can find sources of water and food, etc etc.
In an urban area, my assumption is that all sources will be contaminated, and it may not be prudent or feasible to evac. If I have a sound structure to live in, I am safer where I am. I will only bail out if staying put poses a greater danger.
when discussions head for SHTF preparation, i'm SO glad i don't live in a city anymore.
need food? i got a bow and there's plenty of edible game around.
need water? got the water tank and the river aint far away.
need shelter? rural folk are much less flighty than urban folk when times get tough.
need food? i got a bow and there's plenty of edible game around.
need water? got the water tank and the river aint far away.
need shelter? rural folk are much less flighty than urban folk when times get tough.
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It is good to have a camp stove - if the water is contaminated and the power is out then you will need some way of boiling the water to ensure it is safe to drink.
I have enough water for 3 days easily, but I would have to do something after that. I am OK for food, water would be my main concern.
I have enough water for 3 days easily, but I would have to do something after that. I am OK for food, water would be my main concern.
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aye, I moved while I had the chance. 1500 miles of whitewater rivers plus plenty of resevoirs and untouched high altitude lakes. I won't have any problem finding food or water, it's just staying out of the way of the wolves and the lions.
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One thing that I have thought of in regards to the camp stove idea is the fuel issue. This year for my birthday I received a MSR Whisperlite International. The idea behind the international edition is that it can burn any and all flammable liquids as fuel. Gasoline, kerosene, white gas you get the idea. Now they all have different burn times and you really need to keep up on cleaning and maintenance when you burn something other then white gas but they all work. Just something to think about putting in your kit if your planning on an extended stay.
As and after thought, they have a couple of models that do this and I am not sure if anybody else makes anything else like this. It would be interesting to hear about it if there are.
As and after thought, they have a couple of models that do this and I am not sure if anybody else makes anything else like this. It would be interesting to hear about it if there are.
batosai117
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This is a great idea, I keep a 5 gallon drum (looks like a gas tank but it's lime green) in my vehicle at all times. I've used it for long camping trips where water may not be readily available (the beach, fishing trips, etc..). This would be a large source of water for just my wife and I (and our cat). We have a pack of bottled water in our cabinets that would hold off for a bit more, and a tap purifier that gets poured into another pitcher with it's own filter for sink water. I don't know how long this would last, but we have all sorts of apple juice, orange juice, and fruit punch as well. Food wise, we are always well stocked and the freezer is full of good stuff. I'd say we'd be Great for a week, and a little longer if we stretched the fluids and Ramen noodles 
Now that is assuming that we stay put in our apartment on the outskirts of our city. Our family (my inlaws) have a ranch just 20-25 minutes north of us where they have a water well and plenty of space to hunt deer, hogs, and rabbits. Dove could be on the menu, but that would take a ton of birds to feed the entire family out there
I suppose the size of your family/friends that would be with you changes a lot. My immediate family (parents and siblings) are 5 people alone and that doesn't include me, there are a dozen or so people at my inlaws ranch, and of course my wife and I. That's damn near 20 people if we all gathered together to wait a disaster out, and that's if other aunts and uncles don't tag along.
Now that is assuming that we stay put in our apartment on the outskirts of our city. Our family (my inlaws) have a ranch just 20-25 minutes north of us where they have a water well and plenty of space to hunt deer, hogs, and rabbits. Dove could be on the menu, but that would take a ton of birds to feed the entire family out there
I suppose the size of your family/friends that would be with you changes a lot. My immediate family (parents and siblings) are 5 people alone and that doesn't include me, there are a dozen or so people at my inlaws ranch, and of course my wife and I. That's damn near 20 people if we all gathered together to wait a disaster out, and that's if other aunts and uncles don't tag along.
i'd much rather take my chances with the wolves and lions than have to compete with a city full of hungry, angry, ARMED people for that last packet of M&Ms.
Its not bacterial contamination I am worried about so much as chemical. The East Coast had a huge industrial base (still does) that surrounded the waterways, and I get a report on that every summer so I know where I can swim. However, there are a few reservoirs near by that I could go to if I had to. I think the idea is to realize that if disaster strikes you can only count on what you have on hand. Assuming that game or other sources will be there when you need them is not necessarily being prepared. Many things could stand in the way of that.