From Flu Wiki 2

Forum: Preps I Forgot

19 September 2006

Walrus – at 01:25

After looking at the threads here and elsewhere, I decided to advance my preps a little bit. I’d like a bit of advice if you see anything glaringly wrong with the plan.

I’m trying to take advantage of my situation as much as I can. On the plus side, my ultimate shelter is a very very sea worthy yacht that I can walk to in four minutes. Within a week or two it will be ready for six months at sea.

The negatives, I have a very old mother who I cannot “prepare” for without upsetting her, and a kid and his girlfriend who I’m going to have to prep for otherwise there is no point in prepping just for myself if he died. The area I live in is bordered by a sort of “project” area full of people who could not and would not prep - they expect the “gummint” to do everything for them.

So I’m planning on a two phase action if TSHTF.

Phase 1: I’ll shelter in place in my home. I’ll drive to Mom’s and do her shopping for her and take whatever minimal infection prevention actions I can. I’ll get my son to do the same thing. This assumes that the utilities stay operating - water, electricity, gas and public order.

Phase 2: If the utilities go down, public order will break down the first dark night. My home is part of a rich little enclave and its going to get invaded by the “have nots” from the projects. There is very little we can do to stop it for geographic reasons.

So if this happens, I’m going to retreat to the yacht and get my son, his girlfriend and Mom to join me. Hardest part is that I’m going to have to put down my oldest dog (17 years) and turn the other loose or offer her to someone as a guard dog because I can’t take her with me.

Once on board, I can go to secluded and highly secure places that no one can easily follow me, but its going to be cramped and uncomfortable.

As far as food goes, I don’t believe I have the resources or the space to try and preserve some facade of “normalcy” for example by having a generator and trying to keep frozen foods and so on. I’m going back to what is basically infantry rations, because that way I can cram more food into the boat - OK so I will never eat rice, Pasta and Spam ever again afterwards.

I realised today that I’ve made a mistake that I have to correct immediately. Rice must be boiled to release its food values, you can eat dry pasta and get energy, but not rice. My boat stove is alcohol fuelled and there is no way I can carry enough for more than a month - its just too bulky and has a low calorific value. Propane is almost as bad.

I’m buying a tiny little one burner diesel stove. I can easily carry 200 liters of diesel so this looks like the best solution. As for water, I have the real old Pilot books that show where fresh water can be obtained where creeks and suchlike run into coves, so all I have to arrange is sterilising it, which I guess I can do by boiling.

I would welcome your thoughts. the hardest part is going to be the emotional business of getting people to come with me.

Swann – at 01:49

This plan intrigues me. I am wondering if you could pre-stock some necessities (canned foods, cans of fuel for cooking, etc.) in a storage facility or buried in woods at a couple of your secluded places. Perhaps a friend would take your dog on short notice if you provide generous supplies of dogfood and water for him/her.

heddiecalifornia – at 01:54

Hi Walrus —

  Just some offhand thoughts — 
    Can you look into getting a small pressure cooker pot for cooking?  they have small ones like  saucepans that will hold about 3 or 4 qts (the actual volumn is probably 6 quarts, you don’t fill it all the way up.) Pre soaked Beans will cook in less than half an hour, rice in just minutes, a tough roast in less than 45 minutes.  It will stretch your cooking fuel quite a bit.  Will raise temperature of boiling water considerably.  

      Be sure that you have a stash of any medications that your mom will need — check and see what she takes on a regular basis. I can guess that she isn’t going to want to leave very easily, but once you get them out on the boat for a week of sailing, and they get a chance to listen to the radio reports of what is happening, they may not want to go back. 
      If she is not up to the trip, are there other people that she could move in with in a safe area?  Someone she could ‘visit’ for an extended period of time? I am worried that the ‘adventure’ could be way too much for her, unless she has been accustomed to sailing a lot previously.  Also older people need frequent hydration; lots less salt than younger people.        

      Are you worried at all about pirates?  I hear that they have been increasing a great deal in the island area north of Australia since the cold war navies don’t have war games as often there; hitting container ships frequently, but not making the regular news as the shipping lines don’t want the publicity.  Do you have other people in a yachting club or sailing group that you could travel in a group with?  Sort of like a ‘wagon train’ with more safety in numbers?  

If you have a couple of months (and you very well may have time) you might look into cultivating like minded people and develope some trust — perhaps a sailing club, yatching group, or just some of the other people around the dock?

You might actually do well by just sailing off to a nearby ‘deserted’ area not too far off the beaten track, far enough to avoid people, and not close enough to catch anything.

Anyhow, best of luck!

Oremus – at 02:22

Phase I — Take your mother into your house. The pandemic news will be upsetting enough for her. Being with you will calm her some and limit your danger being on the road (if that is even a possibility).

Discuss your bugout plan with the people involved. Girlfriend may retreat to her parents, or other unforseen factors.

Buy a small boat to tow. It will add to your storage capacity. Don’t put all your eggs (dehydrated of course) in one basket. Also your yacht can stand away from shore as your small boat goes for water etc.

Bone up on your fishing. Buy a net.

How long have you spent on the yacht without putting in to land?

Dusty – at 07:59

Can you also sail your boat to a secluded beach, island, or area where you can make a fire and cook some food periodically? There are also small boat grills.

Chesapeake – at 08:05

yes, they do have grills for boats, they are mounted on an “arm” to hold them away from the boat

Dusty – at 08:09

We have a small boat grill and it works great! Most sporting goods stores and of course boating stores carry them. It would be a nice luxury for you if you weren’t planning to cook anything.

Watching in Texas – at 08:12

As a dog lover, I would try to make plans for your dog now. Swann had a good idea about giving the dog away with adequate dog supplies.

Snowhound1 – at 08:25

Walrun-It sounds like an interesting “bug out” scenario. :) I would also suggest having a tent, etc. just in case you do spend a few nights on land in a safe spot. Hopefully, none of your guests will become seasick, but at some point, a little reprieve off of the water may be needed. A portable katadyn type water filter would also be on the top of my list of things to have on board and you might be able to make use of the bilge area for storage if you bought some waterproof expedition type bags. You might be able to increase your storage capacity in this way. Just a couple of ideas.

Dusty – at 08:54

speaking of being seasick — maybe some OTC meds to combat that.

Malachi – at 09:11

One bummer of an idea is if your neighborhood becomes unsafe and your boat is only a four minute walk from your house,Then who can say your boat hasn’t been commandered by one of the unsafe ones.I would try to be ahead of the curve on all that cause I bet tons of people(safe or unsafe)living by the sea will want to float away on a boat to a deserted island.I know I would.

Kim – at 09:13

Please don’t turn your dog loose to fend for itself. Either put it down or find a home NOW for it. It’s cruel to the dog to abandon it, forcing it to search for food and shelter, and your neighbors sure won’t appreciate having a feral dog running loose.

DennisCat 09:41

Walrus fishing equipment, including a net.

deborah – at 12:56

There are water makers made specifically for boats, you might want to look into that option. Power can be obtained from the wind, water, and sun. And many boaters use propane bottles as their fuel source, don’t dismiss it out of hand. The trick is in conservation. Remember if you are living on board you have to think of your holding tank and discharge, and everyone will need to be aware that they cannot use much TP.

My first suggestion to you would be to go to as many sites for liveaboard boaters as you can find, and read up on how they deal with these issues. There are also some magazines you can buy and how-to books on the same subject that you can keep as resource material. Good luck, and do not assume you cannot take a dog with you. Many boaters have their pets aboard, and the animals adapt and are very happy.

anonymous – at 13:07

deborah’s ideas seem pretty good… also investigate solar cooking and water pasteurization. The dog by the way is your alarm bell, it’d be a shame to lose that. (discuss this with your fellow boaters and suggest if the dog doesn’t come someone has to stand guard) I just had to put one of my dogs down which is tough but the time comes when it must be done. In my case a vet here gave me an injection to give the dog. It was a peaceful demise.

moeb – at 13:09

ack ack mous~ alert was I

I’m-workin’-on-it – at 14:44

moeb, I’m sorry you had to help your dog pass on….losing one, no matter what the age is tough.

18 November 2006

Closed - Bronco Bill – at 00:03

Closed to maintain Forum speed.

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