Great thread continued from here.
I give up. I’ll never get all of the items from that huge list … unless someone would sell it as a whole. And I thought I were a good prepper since I had Tamiflu. Maybe fluwiki should assign diplomas or medals to preppers : gold,silver,bronze. Who’s the world’s best prepper actually ?
Anon, I’m Rose, and I don’t have it all either!!! It’s just a list — a guide to help you think through YOUR particular circumstances and decide what you might need. You might add some basic stuff this month, then keep adding those things till you build up a good stock of it, then start with something else and improve on that area but it would take an 18 wheeler or two just to HOLD all that stuff.
Don’t think of it as all “have to haves” but think of it as “be aware ofs” and decide what parts of it are right for you. Print the list out, blacken out the things you really aren’t interested in, then put the paper in a plastic page protector & you can then use dry wipe markers to check off what you have or make notes on what you want to get. Just don’t let it scare you.
I started about 6 months ago; got the main food in first. To me, that’s water, bleach, salt, Jasmine Rice by the 100 weight, and lots of B-1 vitamins to go with all that rice, and dry cat food & litter for my “better half “ ; just in case the BF caught me before I was done with my preps. Now things are looking more balanced. But I still have some things marked “C” for Critical…..
Whenever I feel like I’m “finished”; I’ll go back to the beginning and start thru my listing again.
I started back in March, I sure don’t have all that stuff. I still go thru the list check off what I have, that feels good because when I first printed out the list, it was overwhelming. Everytime I go to the store I pick up something. Tonight I hit walmart to order my daughters contacts and picked up more propane. I picked up 10 tonight, a few extra wicks for my oil lamps and I couldn’t resist another bottle of oil. Oh and got another sleeping bag rated for below 0 and mats for the tents in case I need to set them up and sleep in them for warmth.
Last week it was the dollar store and canned food. I also got a cd for working out to get a few pounds off my midsection, now all i have to do is pop it in and actually get on my exercise equipment, hmmm we need to come up with a way to burn more calories while on the wiki.
Don’t forget products for controlling pests - mouse and rat traps, fly paper, ant traps, mosquito repellant, flea and tick meds for pets, maybe some lice treatment, etc. Also, enzyme solution sold at pet stores for eliminating urine odor also works on all biological odors. Imagine going through a long, hot summer with people, pets, maybe sickness, and no electricity, etc. That enzyme stuff could be priceless.
“* unbreakable thermometer, digital or disposable ones “
There’s a new one out, no batteries, works like the old glass but it’s plastic and a lot wider (and non-mercury liquid inside). I got one at walgreens several months ago, about $5.
meals per month - just a detail, but 3 months is 13 weeks, not 12 weeks, so the meal count is a bit short. most months are 4 weeks plus 2 or 3 days.
My current interest, ranking above solar power even, is things to have on hand to do stop-gap repairs to house. Tree falls, makes hole in roof, might be a month or more before anyone can help = big tarp and nails - occurred to me last night maybe I also need some lumber strips to hold down the edges of the tarp so the tarp is between lumber and roof? So tarp doesn’t tear through the nails?
Is there a book on temporary home repairs until someone who knows what he is doing shows up a month or two later?
LizB, thanks for catching the error in my math! I need to go back to counting on my fingers!
Nice tip on the thermometers — I’m going to check that out!
Reader’s Digest has a home repair book, see if you can locate it online on Amazon & take a look inside — maybe it would cover the type repairs you’re talking about!
Rose
I’m-workin’-on-it – at 04:04
Oh my gosh! You are Rose! How cool is that!! That has made my day. I figured Rose was sitting up somewhere all prepped and doing whatever a mythical prepped to the hilt person does… but you… I know are constantly working on it! whew.
(note to self; check the “For Dummies” titles when passing bookstore today)
I bet the post-Katrina Gulf Coasters learned what stop-gap measures do and don’t work….
EnoughAlready – at 12:29 ….but you… I know are constantly working on it! whew.
Darlin’ you have me laughing so hard I may split my sides! :-)
I’m not only constantly workin’ on it (hence the nickname) I’m constantly BEHIND in it!!!
Canning pintos this AM with a canner that needs a new seal (why does that always happen when you get on a roll?) so I’m online shopping for 2 — one to replace and a spare for the replacement!
Meantime, had to cancel the bug spray man — too many things sittin’ around in the floor — the poor man would NOT be able to find an inch to spray no matter how hard he tried.
Had to defrost an auto defrost freezer last night so I have 3 huge coolers sitting in the floor drying out — gotta be careful with that or they’ll mold inside, AND I have 3 big cast iron pots on the kitchen counter waiting to be cleaned and reseasoned….at least they’re not in the attic anymore!
And today’s our 13th anniversary and I haven’t even bought my sweet hubby a card yet……we’re getting solar lighting for our present. How’s THAT for romantic???
Yep, I’m always workin’ on it.
LOL! I didn’t even connect the dots on your workin on it name! I’m doing nothing today. It can stay stacked up around here today, and stay on the shelves at the stores… today… I have declared a day off! I have been working my fanny off with those mylar bags! I’m meeting my daughter for lunch, and worrying about this later!
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
PS> I’ve been watching what y’all are doin’ on those alternate energy threads. I keep hoping and praying I figure something on them out. sigh I think the solar lighting may turn out to be really romantic down the road! Heck, it would certainly put me in a huggy-huggy, smoochey-smoochey mood today… if I were getting anything solarized! What a relief it must be.
hehehe….I found 2 spotlights on eBay (along with a couple of other things) & 2 on Costco — haven’t ordered them yet. I want to see how the first 2 work out first!
LizB – at 12:19
Costco up in Alberta has a home repair book that looked good.
I’m working on it, here’s a tip on those coolers you’re trying to dry out. I always store my coolers with a sponge stuck in between the lid and the body of the cooler. That way you can store them away even if they’re still damp inside and don’t have to worry about mold and bad smells building up.
I’m-workin’-on-it – at 13:31
I bought some of the “motion sensor solar security lites” from Costco and have one mounted about 12ft. up in the air under a over hang as these lites are not water proof. They only have a 10 watt halogen light but they work very well and the motion sensor is the best I have used. So in short I would recomend them. I have no intrest’s in this company.
I’m also glad to know that Workin’on’it and Rose are the same ! COOL! Happy Anniversary!
Last Spring, for our Anniversary, Hubby and I went to Afternoon movie matinee and Chinese buffet, then we went to Big Lots for prep items!
If y’all are close to a BIG LOTS check it out-they are an overstock/discontinued store. Anyway, we have found quite a few handy prep items there-solar lights, battery rechargers, LED mag lights. just all kinds of stuff.
regarding home repair books-try brousing through your library first to see if you find some you like-it would save you some bucks rather than buy something and decide its too simple/complicated to use. Or if you see something on Amazon-get a copy through Inner -library loan, to see if you like it before ordering-Im doing that with some cookbooks.
KimT the sponge is a great idea, and Ive also sprinkled some baking soda to absorb oders/dampness. If you have a silica gel pac-(those little pacs they put in new shoes and vitimins)-those are handy for coolers too.
This weeks prep-other than a major shopping trip mid-week is completly cleaning my house-because while I’m not going to have my house sprayed for bugs-I do have too much stuff sitting on the floor. and the cabinets, and and the coffee tables, and basically where-ever there is a moderntly flat surface. Blah. I had thought about waiting til we SIP-more time, but on second thought I thought it would be easier to do it now with electric and hot water.
Well, I love Big Lots — as a matter of fact, I have a reminder in my microsoft outlook calendar that pops up every Tuesday to remind me that the truck at Big Lots comes on Tuesdays so that I can plan to head out on Wednesday or Thursday if I’m inclined to do any shopping in that direction.
I bought 2 solar battery chargers, both charge all 4 sizes of batteries but one has a meter that takes up part of the top, and the other has a full top of ‘panels’. don’t know which will work best.
The solar lights are weather resistant with a 16′ cord to the panel and I just opened the box and they’re distributed through Harbor Freight!! They’ll turn on up to 150 times a night and you can adjust the time that they stay on (motion at 20 seconds each time for 150 times or can be set up to 2 minutes). I figure the raccoons that pass through will burn up up if we’re not careful!
It’s a 10 watt, not very much, but should be some good since it has a big reflector all around it. I’m hoping I won’t be too disappointed. It will adjust from 3 to 2000 lux if that means anything to anyone.
Now I’ve got to find 6 volt, 10 watt 30mm bulb replacements for it!
I also broke down and bought 2 little crystal wall sconces that match our overhead light in the dining room. DH told me to but we’d had such high vet bills with two deaths of my fur-babies I hated to spend frivously, but he said again to buy them so I did.
I’m workin on it, here’s a simplified explanation of lux from wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lux
.00005 lux = Starlight
1 lux = Moonlight
10 lux = Candle at a distance of 30 cm (1 ft)
400 lux = A brightly lit office
400 lux = Sunrise or sunset on a clear day
1000 lux = Typical TV studio lighting
32000 lux = Sunlight on an average day (min.)
100000 lux = Sunlight on an average day (max.)
that list… that list is… its… i think its… it is veryyy……big
:D
I’m-workin’-on-it Today I was asked if I could prepare a list of items that might be needed in a pandemic—well let me tell you that when I quit laughing I said of course the work has already been done!!!!!!!!! I will definately give you all the credit for the list. Between you Goju and all the others on FW I am prepared to hand out, discuss and encourage. Ithought I was retired but it’s back to work for me helping med. sized groups (15–25). Thanks for EVERYONE’S hard work I am sure the lurking will go up very soon. Just think of it-the efforts and the affect of FW!!!
Way to go MI Mom!!!!I bet you would be bored just hanging out in retirement anyways ;)
Michigan Mom – at 22:33 PLEASE make the mathmatical correction mentioned above in the number of meals…..I don’t know how to change it on the list — maybe I can ask a mod to change it — I’m afraid I’d screw it up!
Feel free to use it any way you like!
Kim – at 21:02 very helpful list— thanks soooooo much!!
Regarding Dutch Ovens… has anyone bought one yet? I just received in the mail an outdoorsman type catalog (can’t think of the name right now) and they are advertising an outdoor dutch oven. It caught my eye because it claims you can bake with it. It is basically made up of three cast iron bowls that when you change the positions of them allow you to do different types of cooking. Any opinions?
Chillingdame- that sounds soooo cooool! If you can afford it, I’d get it-cast iron can be pricey. Does it have legs? My dh bought me one for christmas a few years back, but mine is flat on bottom to be used mostly inside on a flat range. I’d love to get one with legs to put over a fire. I have cooked outside with my flat one, just put a grate up on rocks, and it worked quite well. Havn’t baked in it much because I also have a couple of cast iron skillets/pans that I bake in, though I did make a very good, (if I say so myself) cheesecake in my dutch oven. I’m a huge fan of cast iron. I would be tempted to get this myself-we probably get that catalog-wouldn’t be Cabela’s by any chance? And an outdoor dutch oven is on my list but since I have one that I can use, there are other items I need to purchase first.
Rose or anyone, do you have you list in a spreadsheet. I did one long ago. I have not updated it in a long time. http://home.san.rr.com/earlybird/Emergency%20Kit.xls
There are also 3–4 prep lists already here. It would be useful to merge the lists. There is also a good food calculator here (see [[http://fluwikie.com/index.php?n=Main.Index |FluWiki Index}).
Of course we can’t afford it all but it helps to give this boundaries and prevent redundacy of work if we can share our time invested. That is why we are here, right? Anyone willing to collaborate on this task?
fredness – at 19:01 There ARE several lists here, partly because they are for different reasons — a fast 24 hours to pull some things together type list, one that 2 adults with a pet like my husband and me might use, to a quasi survivalist type list. (not to be read that my husband is a pet up above—just bad sentence structure). I made my list years ago but when I got here and worked up my sickroom supplies section & incorporated it into my list, I also included several things from Owl’s list & others I’d found, but I only added things that I felt my lifestyle and budget and space in my home would relly allow.
So, are you proposing to combine all these lists to make one all encompassing list so that for instance individual items under the heading of safety are ranked by “only 24 hours” items first then “average family would have” items next, to “surivalist” items listed last? And each section would have that type ranking or are you just wanting to combine all sections at random to make one massive list that someone would print through and select their choices from?
I don’t have mine on a spreadsheet, just in Word — I just added columns to the right and printed the pages, put each in a page protector and then I use a dry wipe to check off what I’ve already gotten, write a notation about something I want to get in the future, etc.
What are your ideas of how a combined list would be used?