Stash

[tortoise]

I'm starting a new thread because I get OVERWHELMED by the long conversations and lists.

I am working on a "what-if" stash. This is not a big SHTF stash.

If SHTF, like power out for 6 months type thing, we move down with his family, on 100+ acres, fresh water (stream and well), generator, horses, rabbits, guns, HUGE garden, and things to hunt. and Amish neighbors that have EXPERIENCE living this lifestyle. Oh yeah - a vet and vet box full of meds.

So not bug-out information, please.

I'm thinking 3 - 5 days without power, due to a storm. We have a propane heater (house is electric heat). We have a propane grill. We have a little propane camp stove and some backpacking supplies.

I think we should keep an extra propane tank around just in case... BUT this is my solo project. My fiance probably thinks I'm silly to worry about this type of stuff. We have almost NO food stored. We go grocery shopping every week.

We have *some* bottled water. (How much is needed for 2 adults, a toddler, and 2 dogs, per day?)

I just bought some taper candles and a candle holder. We have 2 big boxes of matches, so I'm going to put 1 box in a bag (to guard against moisture) and put it in the box for candles and candle holders.

I have a spot to store food. It doesn't freeze in winter, so canned good are fine. I am concerned about insects/rodents. We don't have any now, but with a bunch of food aoround..... But I have NO IDEA what food to store!

Can you give me some advice - please! no huge overwhelming lists. I get so lost and overwhelmed.

 

[Rebecka]

If you are just talking a few days.. its a pretty short list

You can store purchased cans of food for a very Long time. Meats, potatoes, veggies and fruit. While they might leave something to be desired culinary wise, it will get the job done on the short term.

I am a huge fan of oil lamps. They are both a light and heat source. Your local army surplus will have an attachment for using them to heat food or water. You can get some pretty cheap ones , especially this time of year anywhere that has camping supplies and good chance the lamp oil was in the same section you got your candles.

Water. I hear 8 gallons a day per person. However, if its just a few days then I think you could get away with 3 or 4. I tried milk jugs to keep around with water in them ( cleaned of course) but they were taking up lots of space. I have indoor cats so we have lots of those jugs the cat litter comes in. I get the unscented and clean the heck out of them. They store nicely I change out the water in them every 6 months or so because I just dont want to put bleach in it like they say in all the books.

 

[k0xxx]

Cleaned 2 liter bottles are a great way to store water. They're made of "safe" plastic, and are extremely durable. Milk jugs are not made of great plastic and tends to degrade a lot faster.

As for kitty litter pails, I would use them only for non-potable water, like for flushing and such.

If you are interested in learning what types of plastic are "safe", here is a link to a current Yahoo article about reading the plastic code on the bottom of containers.

ETA: Generally, one gallon per day for every adult in plenty for consuming. And don't forget, while it's best not to use this as part of your planned storage, a water heater stores a lot of potable water (unless it's the tankless type) that can be used if needed.

 

[woodwzrd]

Do a google search for 72 hour emergency kits. You can come up with some really good checklists and ideas as to what you would or could need. We have been accumulating frame packs for backpacking over the last few years and the ones we done use regularily for backpacking or camping we have assembled into 72 our kits.

A few things we include are water purification tablets, A change of cloths, photocopies of stuff like insurance cards, emergeny blankets, firestarters and on and on. We are trying to get to where we ha ve a kit for each person in our household.

 

[FarmerDenise]

Here is a list I found online. I just entered earthquake preparedness checklist, since that is my biggest concern.

http://www.calema.ca.gov/CEPM2003.nsf/htmlmedia/body_checklist.html
Hope it helps.

 

[SKR8PN]

I have a food grade 55 gallon drum that I keep emergency water in. I rotate it out once a year. As far as keeping rodents out of your stash? Use steel or glass containers. If you do use plastic storage for food stuffs, keep a couple mouse traps set, baited with peanut butter, and keep an eye on them.

We use 5 gallon buckets with Gamma seal lids on them, and oxygen eaters in with the rice,flour, whatever is in the bucket.

1/2 gallon glass canning jars and a vacuum sealer works for a lot of stuff also.

 

[k0xxx]

After Christmas, check stores for putting their big holiday tins of popcorn, etc., on sale. You can sometimes pick these up real cheap, and they make great rodent proof storage containers.

 

[Wifezilla]

The extra propane tank is a great idea. When we were without power for almost 2 weeks (flood washed out a tower) we used the grill, the camp stove, and the little heater.

As for what kind of food to store...whatever you like that is easy to fix. Extra cans of soup, beans, dried foods, cans of chicken meat, chili ingredients, nuts, etc...

 

[tortoise]

After Christmas, check stores for putting their big holiday tins of popcorn, etc., on sale. You can sometimes pick these up real cheap, and they make great rodent proof storage containers.

Good idea! The thrift stores are overwhelmed with these tins and they can be gotten for $0.50 or $1.

 

[chipmunk]

I always figure peanut butter and crackers is a good short term food option. Make sure you. If you're on medications, make sure you always have about a week's worth.