home preparedness priorities

[remy]

paying attention ?

[Sarge47]

My list is geared towards what EVERYBODY should have at hand, therefore firearms & knives are not listed as there are many people not properly trained in their use:

1.) Non-perishable food supply, enough to provide a minnimum of 3600 calories per person for three days at least.

2.) Three gallons of "safe" drinking water per person.

3,) Emergency radio, preferably two if the one at hand does not have a "Weather" band.

4.) One large flashlight, several smaller ones and plenty of candles w/matches.

5.) Blankets, either wool or at the very least, one "Sportsman All-Weather Blanket" per person.

6.) At least one whistle per person.

7.) Proper clothing including outer garments for inclement weather.

8.) One roll of "Gorilla" tape, or, lacking that, Duct Tape.

9.) One large roll of "Visqueen" Plastic sheeting; 4 mill or better if you can find it.

10.) 100 feet of 550 cord per person.

[Rick]

Here is my list:

http://safezonellc.com/personalzone5_1.html

[Sarge47]

Here is my list:

http://safezonellc.com/personalzone5_1.html

Great site Rick! Wish I'd of thought of that!

[carcajou garou]

Add a plastic pail/lid with disposable bag liners for an impromtu latrine when needed.

[corndog-44]

What would be the top 10 things you would recommend a family should DO or BUY for home preparedness.

remy I would recommend a family should do as others are saying here. For me, home preparedness would be lying to myself as I always claimed that I can live comfortable in the wilderness. Others would have to learn to do the same once their supplies ran out.

[corndog-44]

remy, if I'm prepared to live comfortably for a long time survival then the short time survival is already covered. By the way, the government is not always there when a person needs it.

[trax]

Well, I've never trusted governments promises so I can't imagine why I'd start in an emergency situation.

The lists above are pretty well-informed. I don't need to worry about any meds other than a first aid kit and I have firearms, that's a matter of each person's choice.

[trax]

Now there's a theory that pretty much everyone agrees on. They're still calling it a theory right? Good ol' Abe Maslow, there's a guy I bet couldn't get a campfire started...

[trax]

just like my "horrible accident" theory in the other thread, dude, that was my point!

[trax]

Dammit remy, I put a lot of thought into that "horrible accident" theory lmaooo (at least 4.5 seconds, which is about 3 seconds longer than I put into most of my theories!)

[corndog-44]

If you hold a cat by the tail you learn things you cannot learn any other way.

[tracks]

This is great info......but what about your like minded community members ? some of the people that I hunt and trap with, who are also prepared have discussed the possiblity of meeting up at a pre determined location if the emergency/SHTF should persist for more than 72 hrs.heard mentality,human contact ,pooling resources whats your opinion good idea or bad in a survival situation

[Sarge47]

This is great info......but what about your like minded community members ? some of the people that I hunt and trap with, who are also prepared have discussed the possiblity of meeting up at a pre determined location if the emergency/SHTF should persist for more than 72 hrs.heard mentality,human contact ,pooling resources whats your opinion good idea or bad in a survival situation

It would depend on how well you know the people, what they can offer, their family, potential medical problems & how prepared you are to care for them, etc..

[Rick]

Tracks - I think you are right on the money. See this thread for who is in your clan. That's what we discussed.

http://www.wilderness-survival.net/f...highlight=clan

[Nativedude]

This is great info......but what about your like minded community members ? some of the people that I hunt and trap with, who are also prepared, have discussed the possibility of meeting up at a predetermined location if the emergency/SHTF should persist for more than 72 hrs. herd mentality, human contact, pooling resources what's your opinion good idea or bad in a survival situation

Pooling or sharing resources with family is a must, but with neighbors or friends. . .I wouldn't!

People become funny in disaster situations. Look at New Orleans after Katrina. Neighbors turning on neighbors, looting, shooting, killing, stealing from one another, etc.

Some people tend to hoard food, water, etc. for themselves, figuring that they have more right to it than others. And if you are not related they are more likely to become this way!

[BraggSurvivor]

For ME, Ive spent years preparing for long term self sufficient living as well as teaching my wife and four children how to survive using the basics. We live on 60 acres on the foothills of the Rocky Mountains and live very comfortably without being on the "grid" if required. I remit my top ten based on staying put on my land if a sickness, disaster or calamity strikes.

1. Do - Have at least one full year supply of food storage that is rotated and restocked religiously.

2. Buy - Rifles/shotguns and enough amunition to hunt and protect your family and property.

3. Do - Feed/raise livestock with high turnover and yield. ie) poultry, pork, beef steers and goats.

4. Do - Learn how to properly prepare and butcher an animal in the event you have to use them. (raised or wild)

5. Buy - Have 55 gallon plastic drums filled with clean rock salt as to preserve the meat (if required)

6. Do - Have your children involved in land and waste management programs such as 4H to gain valuable knowledge and to actually know where their food comes from. Competition / choirs has a great value on it's own

7. Do - Know your neighbors well, I mean really know them, not just a quick hello in passing at the post office.

8. Do - Have little or no revolving debt. Pay off your mortgage. Owe nothing to anyone.

9. Buy - Physical gold and silver.

10. Do - Stay steadfast in your faith (whatever it may be) and help others when in need, things tend to come back to you full circle.

And I'll give you one more that is probably should be in the top three:

11. Do - Dont buy all kinds of fancy expensive shiney B.S. to survive.......best tool you have is from your shoulders up. I hope.


BraggSurvivor

[crashdive123]

I like your list and priorities BraggSurvivor (I'd abbreviate your name, but I don't know you well enough yet)

[Rick]

Sounds like a man with a solid understanding of life in general. Even if nothing ever happens to you or your family (and I hope it doesn't) you still have a pretty good life. Thanks for sharing those. Good words.

[Rick]

After thinking about your post for a bit I have a couple of questions for you. A year is a long time and feeding six people for that year would be a fairly intense undertaking if you had to do so by being self sufficient. I was wondering:

1. How did you determine what your needs were?
2. Did you utilize some standing guidelines to acquire that much food?
3. Do you have some specific location, like an oversized pantry, where you store your food?

That just seems like a LOT of food and nearly a full time job trying to maintain inventory and rotating your supplies.