Intro by Jim Tomes
If disaster were to strike be it natural or man made there are two objectives that must be achieved in order to endure. First is surviving the initial catastrophe when it strikes. In cases of hurricanes, flooding, snow storms or tornados, hopefully there will forecasts and weather alerts so that people can take appropriate action in advance. In cases of unforeseen threats such as earthquakes or to some extent an economic disaster where folks could be caught off guard, taking instinctive action is about all one can do. The second objective after surviving such a disaster is to SUSTAIN. Having basic supplies and equipment in the home and in your vehicle if caught out on the road is essential. We have seen in cases of emergencies where people have survived disaster but were not able to sustain the aftermath. Hopefully this site will offer some tips to everyone to be prepared to some degree in the chance they may find themselves in a difficult situation.
Jim Tomes
Survival Matrix Food, Water & Cooking Supplies
There is no doubt that many good books on emergency food storage and preparation exist. We will not attempt to write another one here but, rather touch on key points.
First off, water is more important than food. We can only live 72hrs without water, but most of us can live about 30 days without eating. Keeping a 2 week minimum supply of bottled water is critical. I have found that Sam’s Choice (Wal-Mart) and Ice Mountain stand up well to repeated freezing and thawing. The bottles in my lunch box have been in use for several months, I refill them with lemonade and reuse them. Keeping powdered drink mixes on hand is a good idea especially if you have children. Most of us wouldn’t be happy drinking just plain un-refrigerated water. The mixes will add some variety and maybe a little comfort too. You could also store some flavored water too.
It is also good to have some water storage containers that you can hopefully fill with tap water for emergency use. Use this water first before you use your sealed containers. You may also want to consider purchasing a water purification filter or purification tablets, just in case your stored water runs out. You need at least 2 weeks worth of non-perishable food. MRE’s (meals ready to eat) are nice but not a necessity. Before MRE’s military rations were canned and stored for years. You can get everything you need at the local grocery store or there are many places that sell bulk freeze dried foods for long term storage. The list below should give you some ideas.
Baby Food
Dry Beans
Rice
Popcorn
Pasta
Ramen Noodles
Dried Fruits
Jerky
Canned goods, fruits, vegetables, soups, stews, meats
Cereal
Protein Bars
Powdered Milk
Powdered Eggs
Flour
Salt
Salt Substitute
Sugar
YeastAs you can see, the options are almost the decision's of what to stock should be based on your family’s preferences and dietary needs. Your emergency food should be stored in airtight containers. There are many commercially available including Gamma Seals which convert 5 gallon buckets into easy open containers. You can get food grade 5 gallon bucket from restaurants and doughnut shops. If you live in an area with rodent problems 20mm ammo cans are airtight and rodent proof. Rodents can chew through plastic.
You will also need a backup means of cooking. A wood stove with a flat top can be used be emergency heat and cooking. Charcoal or gas grills camp stoves (white gas or propane) camp fires and sterno are also options. Whatever method(s) you choose have plenty of fuel on hand and multiple means of starting a fire.
Useful Links
Glock Talk - Long Term Food Storage
Glock Talk - Grocery store food that would be good for storage.
Home Repair
If your home is damaged by a disaster you may need to make emergency repairs or construct an emergency shelter yourself. You don`t need to be a master carpenter with lots of tools to do this. A few basic tools and materials will suffice. Remember, you may not have electricity so if you don`t have a generator or power inverter to power tools from your vehicle you will need hand tools. Even if you do have a powers source it`s still a good idea to have hand tools as a backup. Here is a list of things you might want to have on hand;
Tarps
Plastic Sheeting
2x4`s
Plywood
Nails
Screws
Foam Insulation
Duct Tape
Caulking
Silicone Sealant
Mechanics Wire
Parachute Chord
Rope
Saws
Hammers
Screwdrivers
Saw Horses
Pry Bars
Firearms & Ammunition
Let`s assume you have done everything right. You have 2 weeks minimum of food and water, water purification, first aid and medical supplies. Your vehicle is well maintained and stocked with emergency supplies. You need firearms to defend your family. Every home should have a pump shotgun, semi-automatic centerfire rifle or carbine and a centerfire handgun for each person mature enough to handle them. You should also have a 22 rifle for small game hunting. You will also need plenty of ammo (at least 1,000 rounds per caliber), repair kits and cleaning supplies for your guns. Now that you have done this practice practice practice. Develop your shooting skills and learn to maintain your guns.
Useful Links