- Thread starter
- #21
attack-cat
Power Conserver
Things like a washboard are what I would be using today had the power not come back on. We were without power but not without the task of clearing out downed trees and getting our clothes filthy while cutting, carrying and stacking the wood. Things for barter like cigarettes or booze ... if someone has something you want and cash has no value then being able to trade them smokes for seeds for your garden isn't too bad. I can always refuse to take cash and say that I will sell veggies or meat to people who can pay in what I need ... maybe some chewing gum to calm my toddler and keep her from crying. Something to keep the kids lives as close to normal as possible. People talk about buying gold and using that to pay for items but a big chunk of gold for a dozen eggs ... how do you get change for that gold chunk? Now if you have extra needles and thread ... that I'd think would be a good trade for a dozen eggs. I can then mend the clothes that I can't run into town and buy replacements for.
We take for granted that we can run into town and buy things like a new battery for that fancy digital thermometer. Your kid is running a fever and its snowing outside and your car won't make it to town. The battery is dead on your digital themometer ..... suddenly that old fashioned thermometer would be real handy. Keeping track of how high a temp goes and watching it go down is needed when you have youngsters.
Guns, ammo, body armour .... http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0328/p01s02-ussc.html?s=t5 The people of New Orleans that had guns were safe. Would you rather have the person kicking in your door at 2 am be greeted by you with a nice cup of tea or would you rather protect your family from what they plan to do and they don't want witnesses. If someone kicks open a door into your home and they have night vision they can find you. If you have night vision ... you can find them. You can also see what is in the yard being barked at by your dogs and have the advantage of them not seeing your flashlight beam. It's actually pretty handy. I can see what is down at the chicken coop without running the furry thing off before I can get around the edge of the coop to shoot it. IF an animal sees your light ... they will run. Anything to give you the advantage over the person or thing that is against you is worth it.
Many things on the list are for if the absolute worst happens. But just like when you fasten your seat belt in the car ... its not that you plan to wreck your car but it could happen and its better to be prepared. Just like that extra jug of water. You might not need it now but how can you flush the toilet without it if the power goes out right now. Your chickens and other critters need water also. No electricity ... no hose to take water to the buckets for your dogs or chickens.
Cots .... if we had to have guests like the neighbors over due to the weather then I'd like to have a cot or two for them to sleep on. Especially if you have older people coming to stay. Things like that are for staying at home not carrying around outside.
The geiger counter .... better to have one and not need it then need one and not have it. We have been poking the big Russian bear lately with a stick. Russia has nukes. Also dirty bombs are possible. They are small and not expensive - about 50.00. Also the people of Japan didn't think they would get bombed during WWII. We didn't expect airplanes to fly into the twin towers either.
Imagine right now ..... the power goes out and the generator has failed. Can you cook? Can you flush? Can you keep your kids from panicking? The idea is to keep things as close to normal as possible.
No the list isn't perfect but it gives some good ideas. Katrina ... the worst was shown but it also should have opened some eyes as to what can happen. How many people thought that Katrina would hit and people would be stealing tv's and nike shoes? Disasters bring out the worst in people and the best. Having your family ready for what could happen won't kill anyone. I can list lots of links that show local governments telling people to have supplies for three days put back ( http://www.co.suffolk.ny.us/departm...agement/Assemble a Disaster Supplies Kit.aspx one link)
Having water, warmth, shelter, food and other essential items just takes up some room in your garage or basement. But not having them .... and you can't run to town and get them ... would be bad. You don't need everything on the list. It's just a list to help people think about things that they don't usually have to think about. Yesterday I went to Walmart to get some items and there were no batteries in c or d cell, no bottled water, no camp stoves, no flashlights and very few candles. But since we had those items already ... we were fine. Just stop and think about if the roads were not passable and the power was off ..... how would you do?
We take for granted that we can run into town and buy things like a new battery for that fancy digital thermometer. Your kid is running a fever and its snowing outside and your car won't make it to town. The battery is dead on your digital themometer ..... suddenly that old fashioned thermometer would be real handy. Keeping track of how high a temp goes and watching it go down is needed when you have youngsters.
Guns, ammo, body armour .... http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0328/p01s02-ussc.html?s=t5 The people of New Orleans that had guns were safe. Would you rather have the person kicking in your door at 2 am be greeted by you with a nice cup of tea or would you rather protect your family from what they plan to do and they don't want witnesses. If someone kicks open a door into your home and they have night vision they can find you. If you have night vision ... you can find them. You can also see what is in the yard being barked at by your dogs and have the advantage of them not seeing your flashlight beam. It's actually pretty handy. I can see what is down at the chicken coop without running the furry thing off before I can get around the edge of the coop to shoot it. IF an animal sees your light ... they will run. Anything to give you the advantage over the person or thing that is against you is worth it.
Many things on the list are for if the absolute worst happens. But just like when you fasten your seat belt in the car ... its not that you plan to wreck your car but it could happen and its better to be prepared. Just like that extra jug of water. You might not need it now but how can you flush the toilet without it if the power goes out right now. Your chickens and other critters need water also. No electricity ... no hose to take water to the buckets for your dogs or chickens.
Cots .... if we had to have guests like the neighbors over due to the weather then I'd like to have a cot or two for them to sleep on. Especially if you have older people coming to stay. Things like that are for staying at home not carrying around outside.
The geiger counter .... better to have one and not need it then need one and not have it. We have been poking the big Russian bear lately with a stick. Russia has nukes. Also dirty bombs are possible. They are small and not expensive - about 50.00. Also the people of Japan didn't think they would get bombed during WWII. We didn't expect airplanes to fly into the twin towers either.
Imagine right now ..... the power goes out and the generator has failed. Can you cook? Can you flush? Can you keep your kids from panicking? The idea is to keep things as close to normal as possible.
No the list isn't perfect but it gives some good ideas. Katrina ... the worst was shown but it also should have opened some eyes as to what can happen. How many people thought that Katrina would hit and people would be stealing tv's and nike shoes? Disasters bring out the worst in people and the best. Having your family ready for what could happen won't kill anyone. I can list lots of links that show local governments telling people to have supplies for three days put back ( http://www.co.suffolk.ny.us/departm...agement/Assemble a Disaster Supplies Kit.aspx one link)
Having water, warmth, shelter, food and other essential items just takes up some room in your garage or basement. But not having them .... and you can't run to town and get them ... would be bad. You don't need everything on the list. It's just a list to help people think about things that they don't usually have to think about. Yesterday I went to Walmart to get some items and there were no batteries in c or d cell, no bottled water, no camp stoves, no flashlights and very few candles. But since we had those items already ... we were fine. Just stop and think about if the roads were not passable and the power was off ..... how would you do?
