I'm going to try to get a bunch of resources into one thread. Here goes.
Food Storage
Mylar bags: These can be found all over the web. They are available in silver or OD, and possible a few different colors. No matter what, get something that will not allow light to enter your supply. I order from HERE but there are many places and probably better deals out there. Try www.sorbentsystems.com if you want to read further about mylar bags. To seal food in a Mylar bag, all you need is a decent iron and something hard to seal the bag on. Be sure that your hard surface won't catch fire after a few seconds under a hot iron. Use the wool setting.
Oxygen Absorbers: These are essential to making your food supply last. They not only aid in preventing bacterial growth, as well as starving insects of their oxygen supply. Be sure to use enough oxygen absorbers for the size back you're storing in. Generally you need a 300-500cc oxygen absorber for a 5gal bucket. Make sure when you seal these in your Mylar bags, you squeeze out as much air as possible. THIS is a good source of info on sizing. These can be purchased from hundreds of stores and they are usually cheap.
What to Store: HERE is a link to the LDS food storage calculator. One thing to keep in mind when preparing a long term food storage in advance, is that you should buy foods that you will actually eat. There is no point in buying 5 years worth of powdered milk if you're lactose intolerant, no matter what the prep guides say. Make sure you have your staples; rice, grain, beans. Remember to buy white rice, as brown rice will go rancid within the first year in most settings, but white rice will last 20-30years is properly stored. Canned goods generally store for MUCH longer then their expiration date, but be sure the can is not bulging or leaking, and always smell it before you eat it. If it smells bad, don't take any chances. Botulism can KILL YOU, and if you're needing these supplies medical help probably isn't a phone call away. If you live in an area where you are likely NOT to bug out in the event of a long term survival situation, plan a garden now, as it will be one of your best investments when the fecal matter hits the rotating oscillator.
Cooking: Most stored food has to be cooked, and even old canned food should be heated to 200+ degrees to kill off any bacteria that might have grown on it(note: botulism can't be boiled out of food). If things get real bad, you might not have electricity, so have a backup, and a backup for your backup. If you're just cooking and heating water, 100gals of propane will last a family of 5 about 6 months, longer if you use it carefully. Be prepared to cook using firewood, as it is one of the only resources you can pretty much guarantee being available. Get a good cast iron skillet, and a dutch oven. Use can use them no matter what you use for cooking fuel, and they'll last you 3 lifetimes. Store a bunch of Bic lighters, waterproof matches, and Firesteel or flint rock. If you only use it for starting fires, the Bics alone should last you a year, but if they get wet you'll have a backup.
Shelter: It is essential. In a shtf situation, most of us will have our homes to stay in for at least the first day or so, but after that what will you do? People who live inside the city limits will have a short amount of time to stay there without getting ransacked in the event of riots, do you have a bug out plan? You should have multiple locations planned in the event that you have to leave your primary residence in the event of a disaster. For hurricanes, you might have to go anywhere but South. If riots were to start in your city, you would want to head to the least populated area possible that can sustain you and your family. Plan them out on a map, and have essential gear packed(or capable of being packed) for short notice bug out. Bug out bags should include the essentials to sustain you for 24hrs; Water, Food, Shelter. I'll sub-categorize the BOB(Bug Out Bag).
Bug Out
This is an ongoing post, and I'm going to add a lot to it, but wanted to get it submitted in case one of my kids got a hold of my laptop
Food Storage
Mylar bags: These can be found all over the web. They are available in silver or OD, and possible a few different colors. No matter what, get something that will not allow light to enter your supply. I order from HERE but there are many places and probably better deals out there. Try www.sorbentsystems.com if you want to read further about mylar bags. To seal food in a Mylar bag, all you need is a decent iron and something hard to seal the bag on. Be sure that your hard surface won't catch fire after a few seconds under a hot iron. Use the wool setting.
Oxygen Absorbers: These are essential to making your food supply last. They not only aid in preventing bacterial growth, as well as starving insects of their oxygen supply. Be sure to use enough oxygen absorbers for the size back you're storing in. Generally you need a 300-500cc oxygen absorber for a 5gal bucket. Make sure when you seal these in your Mylar bags, you squeeze out as much air as possible. THIS is a good source of info on sizing. These can be purchased from hundreds of stores and they are usually cheap.
What to Store: HERE is a link to the LDS food storage calculator. One thing to keep in mind when preparing a long term food storage in advance, is that you should buy foods that you will actually eat. There is no point in buying 5 years worth of powdered milk if you're lactose intolerant, no matter what the prep guides say. Make sure you have your staples; rice, grain, beans. Remember to buy white rice, as brown rice will go rancid within the first year in most settings, but white rice will last 20-30years is properly stored. Canned goods generally store for MUCH longer then their expiration date, but be sure the can is not bulging or leaking, and always smell it before you eat it. If it smells bad, don't take any chances. Botulism can KILL YOU, and if you're needing these supplies medical help probably isn't a phone call away. If you live in an area where you are likely NOT to bug out in the event of a long term survival situation, plan a garden now, as it will be one of your best investments when the fecal matter hits the rotating oscillator.
Cooking: Most stored food has to be cooked, and even old canned food should be heated to 200+ degrees to kill off any bacteria that might have grown on it(note: botulism can't be boiled out of food). If things get real bad, you might not have electricity, so have a backup, and a backup for your backup. If you're just cooking and heating water, 100gals of propane will last a family of 5 about 6 months, longer if you use it carefully. Be prepared to cook using firewood, as it is one of the only resources you can pretty much guarantee being available. Get a good cast iron skillet, and a dutch oven. Use can use them no matter what you use for cooking fuel, and they'll last you 3 lifetimes. Store a bunch of Bic lighters, waterproof matches, and Firesteel or flint rock. If you only use it for starting fires, the Bics alone should last you a year, but if they get wet you'll have a backup.
Shelter: It is essential. In a shtf situation, most of us will have our homes to stay in for at least the first day or so, but after that what will you do? People who live inside the city limits will have a short amount of time to stay there without getting ransacked in the event of riots, do you have a bug out plan? You should have multiple locations planned in the event that you have to leave your primary residence in the event of a disaster. For hurricanes, you might have to go anywhere but South. If riots were to start in your city, you would want to head to the least populated area possible that can sustain you and your family. Plan them out on a map, and have essential gear packed(or capable of being packed) for short notice bug out. Bug out bags should include the essentials to sustain you for 24hrs; Water, Food, Shelter. I'll sub-categorize the BOB(Bug Out Bag).
Bug Out
Water: Either bottled, or a purification device, capable of sustaining you and those in your party. Sport Berkey is a good unit, but there are many others that will suffice. For most purposes, you want your BOB to be as simple and lightweight as possible, so a hose and in line filter would be sufficient. Remember, if you have the option, you want to get water from a running source as it is prone to have less bacteria than standing water.
Shelter: For 24hrs, a poncho or heavy duty garbage bag is sufficient for one person, and you can't exactly tote a tent around everywhere you go. At the very least, have a poncho and an emergency blanket. Have a tent in your house to grab in the event that you and yours need to bail out for an extended period of time. Realistically, you'll all be bailing out in a vehicle, which can serve as a short term shelter, but be prepared in case gas is in short supply, or you have a mechanical failure.
Food: A protein bar will hold you over for 24 hours, but you should have at least something. You can easily go 24 hours without food, but if you've got a lot of humping to do, you wouldn't want to. At the very least, a couple peanut butter packets will work. MRE's tend to be very heavy for the amount of calories they provide, so look for alternatives in the event that you actually have to carry your food supply with you.
Other Items: We covered the 3 basics, but there are other items you should have if at all possible, especially if you will be gone for more then 24 hours. Protection is essential. You go years, maybe even a lifetime, without actually needing your weapon. If the shtf, you will likely have the need for one. A reliable handgun will suffice, and for the long term a long gun will have more utility. This is a shooting forum, so I won't begin to debate firearms, just use the search function. The other necessity is a first aid kit. I mentioned it earlier, but you should have something capable of treating basic wounds. A week in the woods can turn real bad if you cut yourself and it gets infected, so carry some alcohol wipes, antiseptic ointment, and bandages at a minimum. Costco has a real nice FAK for around $20, its worth having.
Shelter: For 24hrs, a poncho or heavy duty garbage bag is sufficient for one person, and you can't exactly tote a tent around everywhere you go. At the very least, have a poncho and an emergency blanket. Have a tent in your house to grab in the event that you and yours need to bail out for an extended period of time. Realistically, you'll all be bailing out in a vehicle, which can serve as a short term shelter, but be prepared in case gas is in short supply, or you have a mechanical failure.
Food: A protein bar will hold you over for 24 hours, but you should have at least something. You can easily go 24 hours without food, but if you've got a lot of humping to do, you wouldn't want to. At the very least, a couple peanut butter packets will work. MRE's tend to be very heavy for the amount of calories they provide, so look for alternatives in the event that you actually have to carry your food supply with you.
Other Items: We covered the 3 basics, but there are other items you should have if at all possible, especially if you will be gone for more then 24 hours. Protection is essential. You go years, maybe even a lifetime, without actually needing your weapon. If the shtf, you will likely have the need for one. A reliable handgun will suffice, and for the long term a long gun will have more utility. This is a shooting forum, so I won't begin to debate firearms, just use the search function. The other necessity is a first aid kit. I mentioned it earlier, but you should have something capable of treating basic wounds. A week in the woods can turn real bad if you cut yourself and it gets infected, so carry some alcohol wipes, antiseptic ointment, and bandages at a minimum. Costco has a real nice FAK for around $20, its worth having.
This is an ongoing post, and I'm going to add a lot to it, but wanted to get it submitted in case one of my kids got a hold of my laptop
