Be Prepared - Page 22

JPH · 11-20-2006, 21:35

This is kind of a food topic and kind of not. Although I do enjoy an adult beverage now and again, train has required that I limit this greatly so I just though of this. In a long-term civil unrest situations the barter value of a basic Vodka or Whisky alone might supplement cash if it losses some or all value. Additional if it is truly a long-term situation it is possible that those of use with likeminded approaches will band together in small community and the moral boost of having a nightcap around holidays or other special events might be nice.

What do others think of this? Is it something in moderations to put in the back of the pantry? Sams has good deals on large bottles I am sure. Is this a waste of time?

If I am to far outside the box just delete…

JPH

x SF med · 11-20-2006, 22:38

JPH-
In pioneer times - 'potent potables' were part of the 'iron rations' kit, but generally used for medicinal purposes. Your point about the barter value is a good one - but, usable calories are going to be more important in the short term. Then again, the psychological boost of knowing it's there might outweigh the pure luxury stigma. Tough call, if you have to didi the AO, ETOH would be one of the last things I'd take, unless it was to run a stove.

JPH · 11-25-2006, 20:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by x_sf_med

JPH-
if you have to didi the AO, ETOH would be one of the last things I'd take, unless it was to run a stove.

I agree this would be THE last thing I would load in the jeep… hell I may leave it and IF I had the opportunity I would get it with the other low priority items IF and when I return. And I didn’t even think of it running a stove, very good point there even though it wouldn’t be the hottest or cleanest.

11-28-2006, 19:32

OK,

what is the next topic for discussion?

7624U · 11-28-2006, 19:51

Now that you have had something to eat. What are you going to do to keep Clean and wash your cloths ?

**The Reaper** · 11-28-2006, 22:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by MAB32

OK,

what is the next topic for discussion?

It occurs to me that in a disaster, there are going to be a lot of hungry people from here after the brevity of the food discussion, but if you guys are ready to move on, so be it. The next topic listed was sanitation. That is not just washing clothes, but includes waste disposal (both garbage and bodily waste), body sanitation, personal hygiene, household cleaning (of potentially contaminated materials or patients) with a limited supply of materials, is going to be a real challenge.

Frankly, I wish there was a way to get the 5 gallon buckets or Superpails of hard white wheat, beans, powdered milk, sugar, etc. delivered to the East Coast for less than the cost of the product, but that appears to be a briddge too far. I got a great deal on a hand/electric mill, but seem to be unable to get a good price on delivered things to grind in it. Working on it, but not much success thus far. Has anyone in the mid-Atlantic had success with this problem?

I also have been toying with a vacuum sealer and will soon be using it to can quart jars of dry foods for extended storage. The wife likes the way it vacuum seals bottles of white wine so that they do not go bad in a few days.

I have a few freeze-dried meals and some MREs, but that is only adequate for a few weeks unless you are rich or deployed with a never ending supply of them. It would be acceptable if you knew that you were only going to have to be ready for two to three two-week cycles of limited to no supply before things returned to normal. The problem is that once the crisis is over (assuming that the knuckleheads do not burn, destroy, or loot the fixtures from every store in the area) almost everyone will start to buy excessive amounts of supplies and hoard the food that the stores do manage to get in, further exacerbating the shortages. I have seen this overseas, during disasters in CONUS, and anyone south of the Mason-Dixon line has seen it anytime the weatherman predicts any amount of snow, however slight. I also lack the storage space for a years worth of MREs for a family of four.

A multi-layered system of preparedness is the solution, with stockpiles of regular food, freeze-dried, prepackaged or shelf stable (like MREs), bulk commodities (like the Superpails or dry goods), and as a final resort seeds, traps and snares, a good .22LR, etc. forming a tiered solution-set for dealing with long-term food requirements. You will need the appropriate cooking containers properly suited to you=our Add to it as your budget allows. Don't wait too long to get started.

Like many, I can afford to lose 25 pounds over a month or two. How many want to see their kids losing that kind of weight, or crying themselves to sleep at night as they are hungry and starving? We are only a few days from that possibility at any given time. Look at your preparations, then at your cupboard, and think about it. If every town in the US was like New Orleans after Katrina (minus the flooding), where do you think the help will come from? Sad fact: It probably isn't coming. You need to be prepared to live for as long as you can with what you have, for several months or more.

Be prepared or be sorry when it is too late.

TR

jasonglh · 11-28-2006, 22:55

It is my understanding that the shelf life of properly made summer sausage is a long time but internet searching turns up a variety of answers. I'm pretty sure that storeed in a cool dry place like hanging it under my stairs it would be fine for the winter. Would vacuum sealing it add to the shelf life or harm the sausage by not allowing it to breath? Normally I cut them in half and freeze until I want to get more out.

Reason I ask is 1 doe dropped off at the Amish village makes an enormous amount of summer sausage for very little cost. The jerky is $3.75 per lb but like wise has a very long shelf life stored in a brown paper bag. Since in KY I can kill 4 deer per season I could be up to my ears in summer sausage rather cheaply with a never ending supply of friends who would like to have some. Not to mention all the deployed troops I like to send it out to.

As far as fresh meat goes I seem to have a never ending supply of squirrels here at my house.

HOLLiS · 11-28-2006, 22:59

I found this site some time back. They carry dried food stuff and appliances.

www.pleasanthillgrain.com/

Because we live rural, we are probably good for 60 days on food. I have been adding to the food stock, food with very long shelf life to add to that time limit.

One aspect of being able to stock food, is that we can take advantages of sales and over the long run we cut our food cost down by at least 30%.

Other aspect I have been looking at is setting up the homestead to be more self sufficient.

11-29-2006, 15:43

I was told years ago by someone in the "business" of canned and deydrated foods on how to "do it yourself" food storage using buckets that have sealing lids. He told me that you can do this for any of the grains and beans.

Buy them at bulk from a warhouse club. By the buckets at oher places on the internet. Then go out and buy dry ice. He advised to fill the bucket to 4/5's full with say lima beans. He said to then take an amount (the amount will depend on the bucket size) of dry ice and place it on top of the the beans and cover the beans with a lid, leaving enough space for the oxygen to purge. Check it frequently and when the dry ice is almost gone, you seal the bucket. He stated that the CO2 will drop lower than the oxygen and force it out of the bucket. I suppose you could also do this with Nitrogen and using Mylar instead of the buckets. Maybe use the Mylar first then place them in the bucket(s). He also told me that this process will remove most if not all of the moisture too.

I am not sure if this would work right or not. Would anybody know for sure?

By the way if this has been discussed here before PLEASE forgive me. This thread is, well, HUMUNGUS and I didn't take the proper time to go back and re-read.

My family me excluded, can eat ordinary MRE's if need be so I should probably stock up on a few more cases. That and canned meats and potatoes. I have been sorting my items for that "emergency" and came across two cases of the "Cold Rations". The contents don't look to be that bad and actually sound like they'd be pleasing to eat in an "emergency". I also found two(2) boxes of "HOOAH" Bars that I didn't know I had either. By the way, are these of any value nutritionally and storage wise?

I too could stand to loose 25+ pounds, but it would just kill me to see my family starve. That on top of the thought of what I could become when pushed to desperation in order to feed them.

**Pete** · 11-29-2006, 16:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by MAB32

....Then go out and buy dry ice. He advised to fill the bucket to 4/5's full with say lima beans....

Check this site about O2 absorbers, Diatomaceous earth, Mylar bags, 6 gallon pails, lids, etc. Some good info to nose around in.

http://www.survivalunlimited.com/buckets.htm

12-18 gallons of rice is cheap and would stretch other foods a loooong way.

Pete

brianksain · 11-30-2006, 08:20

Great thread here. I was on the ground in the aftermath of RITA.

What fun.

Here is a picture of Holly Beach Louisiana just across the river from us.

http://i14.tinypic.com/4cw7eat.jpg

The info here is solid.

Thanks.

11-30-2006, 11:20

Pete thanks, that is what I am looking for. I mix rice with Chilli, lima beans, chicken broth, hamburger, soups, etc., etc. I guess I should go out and but a "rice" Boat!

I am afraid to tell you how much Rice I go through in a weeks period. Bet you can't guess it?

Broaodsword2004, the only problem with this is that it means allot more liquid intake then would be possible during a disaster. Just my HO.

**The Reaper** · 12-01-2006, 21:57

Anyone here in the weather affected portion of the country right now?

Hope you were ready and up to date with your plans and prep.

Let us know how you fared, as soon as you can.

For bulk storage of food, the Superpails with the Gamma screw on replacement lids and sealed Mylar liners with oxygen absorbers are the best way to go for longer term storage.

TR

Gypsy · 12-01-2006, 22:55

Well Chicago didn't have it as bad as some folks in the midwest, at least in my particular suburb. First the freezing rain (with thunder!) then we got about 7 of the 12" of snow they predicted; up north and west of me they had a foot or better. In advance I stocked up on food, water, a bit of cash on hand, cell phone charged up and had candles etc in case I lost power. Blanket, extra gloves, scarf etc in the car just in case. I only drive 1 mile to work now, but hey better to have this stuff on hand at all times anyway.

Streets weren't plowed very well so it was slow going to work this morning but I allowed extra time and made it there in one piece. I did manage to get stuck in my apartment complex lot as they didn't bother to plow, (and when they do it's not the best job) but 3 burly guys got me squared away. Probably more of a selfish motive on their part seeing as I was blocking their way out.

Then there was the guy who somehow got hung up on the RR tracks across from my building...saw that and took another route. (Yes he eventually made it across the tracks before a train came through)

**The Reaper** · 12-01-2006, 23:03

Glad to hear that you are okay.

I would be very careful with the candles and would consider a lantern or some less dangerous illumination system. Consider keeping an LED flashlight handy for noises in the night and get a Photon MicroLight for your keychain or put one on a retractable security badge reel for your purse.

Be safe!

TR