Be Prepared

[Chris Cram]

http://www.ready.gov/
This link came through office email last week.

While reading through their recommendations, I noticed one thing missing; then I realized that I had seen no mention of it on this thread…
(red wheat doesn't count)

In the situation where the power is out and phones are down…
Where are you going to get your CASH? ATM’s wont work, Credit/Debit cards are almost useless, unless the store still has the hardware to RUN a card by hand.

How much cash should you have in your KIT?
And it what form should you have it?

Just a thought.

[82ndtrooper]

Great thread, lot's of reading and realized a year ago that I needed to do some really hard purchasing for items listed through out the thread.

Here's the deal here today. High wind storms have more of the northern Kentucky and southern Ohio electric out. Schools are closed, college campuses are closed, Ohio is in state of emergency, ice supplies are already gone from the grocery's and gas stations, and most people are flooding the markets for canned food goods. It's not Katrina, but yesterday being without electricity was a surprise given it didn't come on till for us till about an hour ago. Most of some hundred thousand homes are going to be without electric through the weekend, at least that's the estimate.

How I was prepared as a result of this thread.

1. Food stores. I have three cases of MRE's. One more case if half eaten.

2. Coleman stove. Individual type with a store of 12 canisters. Used last night to make soups and heat canned beef stew and boil water for Minute Rice. Nobody here went hungry last night.

3. Light. Both a Coleman lantern and Surfire LED lights where used. Used the Coleman propane light outside and actually had neighbors on my patio with what beer they had left in a cooler with ice. Passed the time pretty well. We wound up having to come inside and use candles for light. I cooked another batch of canned beefstew and two more people enjoyed it with rice and hot sauce.

4. Radio. It's a combo AM/FM with solar, battery and hand crank power with an LED 60 lumen light on on the front. We listened to all the service announcements and then music while drinking beer. Had extra batteries for both of the Surefires and the radio. (I didn't trust the hand crank thingy)

Nothing to disastrous, but what was surprising was I was the only one with what supplies I had, other than beer.

We had heard of some looting up the street at the strip mall so my EDC gun was on my hip and longuns where inside loaded.

It was more like a psuedo camping trip. All is good at the moment.

[The Reaper]

Originally Posted by Chris Cram

http://www.ready.gov/
This link came through office email last week.

While reading through their recommendations, I noticed one thing missing; then I realized that I had seen no mention of it on this thread…
(red wheat doesn't count)

In the situation where the power is out and phones are down…
Where are you going to get your CASH? ATM’s wont work, Credit/Debit cards are almost useless, unless the store still has the hardware to RUN a card by hand.

How much cash should you have in your KIT?
And it what form should you have it?

Just a thought.

I would say that it is prudent to have two month's expenses in cash locked away at home (or as much as you can afford), and I always tried to have enough cash in my wallet to get home from wherever I was. In Latin America, that was usually $1,000 or so.

I prefer US currency with at least $500 in twenties or less.

Too few people know the value of gold and silver (or will not acknowledge it) to make it useful in the US. Forget diamonds. Cash is king.

If you want barter items, in the short term, fuel, alcohol, or food are probably good bets, if you are comfortable that you have extras. Batteries, ammo, first aid supplies, hand cranked radios/lights, fishing gear, etc., could also work in a longer term situation. Pretty much anything with a long shelf life, compact, of significant value or utility, and hard to come by after a disaster should work.

TR

[Chris Cram]

Originally Posted by The Reaper

...
If you want barter items, in the short term, fuel, alcohol, or food are probably good bets, if you are comfortable that you have extras. Batteries, ammo, first aid supplies, hand cranked radios/lights, fishing gear, etc., could also work in a longer term situation. Pretty much anything with a long shelf life, compact, of significant value or utility, and hard to come by after a disaster should work.

TR

TR,
I think you left a big one out of your list... cigarettes/tobacco.
I was amazed to see soldiers trade their parkas or sleeping bags for a few packs of cigarettes. And that was when smokes were cheep.

[echoes]

Originally Posted by The Reaper

I would say that it is prudent to have two month's expenses in cash locked away at home (or as much as you can afford), and I always tried to have enough cash in my wallet to get home from wherever I was. In Latin America, that was usually $1,000 or so.

I prefer US currency with at least $500 in twenties or less. TR

TR Sir,

Great tip! FWIW, when I went to Peru, two of my 100$ bills were refused by merchants and a local bank, due to excessive wrinkles on one and a 1/2 centimeter rip on another.

Uggh. Luckily, I was able to trade them with some locals.

Lesson learned! For my next trip...will only take crisp notes.

Holly

[Paslode]

My concern with cash is that it is metal and paper and what will determine its worth or worthlessness? If it is really bad I want something that will provide me with an ability to provide Water, Food, Warmth, Shelter, Protection or Medical. The more unstable the situation and the longer the duration the less I see the value in cash.


I was thinking barter and TR answered the question. If you were going to plan on bartering of ammo what type would you consider worthwhile due to it's common use? I was thinking 22LR, 12 GA, .223/5.56, .243, 9mm and some .308

I can see where Tobacco could be very useful considering the cravings of those that use the product. Alcohol and drugs fall into the same catagory, though Alcohol has other uses than drinking.

The other item mentioned that hit home was the radio, a week or two ago I spent the night alone in the middle of nowhere without the typical comforts of home. The thing I missed the most during my brief outting was hearing another voice and nowing what was going on in the world.

My little outting also gave me new insight into how useful/important that dinky survival tin, a knife and a poncho can be when you are stranded. Around 3/4 of the year the tin, knife and poncho do well, but for the the 3 winter months I must do somemore planning. My main concern for winter would be food. If I have the luxury of a firearm it is no worry, but if not....Aside from foraging through garbage, I am thinking snares and traps would get better results than ice fishing

[Razor]

Originally Posted by Paslode

My main concern for winter would be food.

Personally, mine is warmth and shelter. I've been hungry before...it sucks, but it doesn't kill as fast as hypothermia.

[Diablo Blanco]

To put the seriousness of Preparedness into perspective, when I was in Bosnia, daughters/mothers/women would resort to the oldest profession in the world and whore themselves out for food. There were several instances where the exchange was made for an MRE, which consequently fed a small family of four or five for a day. I took no part in this market but nearly everyone I worked with had been approached with the concept at one time or another.

What if that was your daughter/wife/sister/mother? Get Prepared!

Originally Posted by Chris Cram

http://www.ready.gov/
This link came through office email last week.

While reading through their recommendations, I noticed one thing missing; then I realized that I had seen no mention of it on this thread…
(red wheat doesn't count)

In the situation where the power is out and phones are down…
Where are you going to get your CASH? ATM’s wont work, Credit/Debit cards are almost useless, unless the store still has the hardware to RUN a card by hand.

How much cash should you have in your KIT?
And it what form should you have it?

Just a thought.

There is a varying consensus on this and where the money should be. On my car keys I have one of those little capsules that is just big enough for one rolled up bill. In it I keep a bill large enough to fill my tank, which from full to empty can get me 300-450 miles away. I do use the bill once in awhile and replace it immediately so I am always cognizant of its presence (plus its good for a taxi ride home from the bar when you've had too much).

While many people in our country don't have the means to carry 2 months of cash in a safe, it is still advisable to have at least 3 months, with 12 months being optimal. Preparedness isn't just about natural disasters.

In the GoBag/BOB $300 in small bills seems sufficient. You don't want the amount too small to not be useful and not too large that it seriously hurts you if your bag is stolen from your house/vehicle (when you're not there)

In addition to cash I like to have extra stuff on hand that I wouldn't mind parting with for barter. Tobacco will always be a commodity, medicine, an extra sleeping bag, cold weather clothing, water purifier, even a knife could potentially be worth their weight in gold.

Just imagine that your house was destroyed and your vehicle missing all in one day. All you have is your small kit, what is going to quickly become essential to your survival and recovery? Other people will want that as well.

[Paslode]

Originally Posted by Razor

Personally, mine is warmth and shelter. I've been hungry before...it sucks, but it doesn't kill as fast as hypothermia.

I agree, warmth/shelter are tops of my winter list and I have plan(s) for those. My hurdle in winter is food and I need to work on getting food without a gun or a hook.

[The Reaper]

Originally Posted by Paslode

If you were going to plan on bartering of ammo what type would you consider worthwhile due to it's common use? I was thinking 22LR, 12 GA, .223/5.56, .243, 9mm and some .308

There is little point in stockpiling ammo in calibers for which you do not own weapons.

I like .22LR, both for its light weight, compact size, and ability to be used for small change. Plus it doesn't necessarily give the person you are trading it to the ability to use it on you from an extended range later. Shotgun shells are way too heavy for mobile barter, but I suppose if you were holed up with a large cache, it might be okay, and 12 gauge is definitely the way to go. Maybe a few cases in 20 gauge, if you want to celebrate diversity. I would keep it limited to slugs, Buck, and #6 shot. In pistol rounds, ask your local dealer what their top sellers are. I would guess 9mm, .40 S&W, .45 ACP, .38 Special/.357 Magnum, and possibly .44 Mag or .45 Colt, if you live out West or in bear country. I would consider stocking excess for barter in 9mm, .45 ACP, and .38/.357. For rifle rounds, in addition to the 5.56 and 7.62 NATO, I suspect that 7.62x39 would be very popular (much more so than .243), and significantly less expensive to stockpile right now. I might be careful about the people I traded it to. Then look at the hunting rounds that are going to be popular in your area. Probably .30-06 would be the most popular here. From there, you could descend into a ton of rounds like .45-70, .300 Win Mag, .270, 7mm Mag, .243, etc., etc., but IMHO, I would consider keeping 5.56, 7.62, .30-06, and 7.62x39 for trade.

Those who want to keep their guns running might want to consider the above from a perspective of where you are going to get ammo for your .345 WinRemFed Ultra Long/Short Express Magnum if the specialty gun stores are closed. Stick with military or popular sporting rounds.

Reloading for yourself as well as for others for profit or trade might be a popular way to fill the days once the TV is off.

Tobacco is a good catch, I left it off by oversight. You do need to remember that tobacco products have a limited shelf life, and if you are stocking items you do not use yourself just for trade value, consider how you will rotate or renew your stock.

I am surprised that no one has mentioned salt. Kept dry, it never goes bad, and is a staple for everyone. You can buy it inexpensively and in large quantities without problems. A couple of 50 pound bags could come in very handy. In the old days, salt was always an important trade item. Sugar or honey are also great trade items withour spoilage problems. Spices such as pepper, cinnamon, etc. would be great to have for trade and take up little room, but tend to have relatively short expiration dates. Maybe if vaccuum sealed and stored in a freezer. How about a case of Tabasco as well? At least all of the leftover mini-bottles left from the MREs.

In many cases, snare wire and fishing gear, as I mentioned, are much more efficient food gathering devices than bullets, are lighter, and cannot normally be used against you.

HTH.

TR

[Paslode]

Another question I thought of today while driving in the rush hour herd.

In a senario were we have a man made disaster in the near vicinity of where I live would the major highways and roads leading in and around Military bases be locked down? Would the citizens be directed to rally points or containment areas like FEMA did in Katrina.

[Diablo Blanco]

Inline with barter and being prepared I found a mobile Solar/Turbine system that could be used to supplement/compliment whatever you have in place now. You can sell power to the needy when you are not using it yourself.

It is pricey though. Anyone know of comparably capable but less expensive systems? How about a do it yourself kit?

http://www.solarstik.com/pb_tp_1.php

[PSM]

Originally Posted by Peregrino

I may have stumbled across a new and (to my eyes) better alternative. While thumbing through my July American Rifleman I discovered a product review (pg 28) for TriSquare eXRS Two-Way Radios ( www.trisquare.us ). I spent the next hour doing research and reading various articles and reviews. End result - I bought two sets from Amazon and will probably be moving the FRS radios one step lower on the plan. I'll be doing my own testing over the next few weeks and should have a better feel for capabilities when I'm finished. I'm enthusiastic about the potential.

Peregrino,

How did the eXRS radios turn out?

Pat

[RT AXE 10]

Reaper, Salute

You have very good points in your write up... I have been involved with a few disaster relief operations and believe you would do great by connecting with FEMA... They are still figuring out how to best solve the disaster problems world wide... Any input such as yours may be what they could use, now and the future.

Great input... Thank You

ASSESOR DE LA PRAL

[Shar]

I've developed a pretty hefty supply of food storage over the past few years. I realized a little while back that:
1. I didn't know how to cook all of it really well (ie: red wheat??)
2. My family wasn't used to eating subsistence food.

So I've made a goal for myself that twice a week I'll cook totally and completely off of my storage shelves. I do cheat a little and use frozen meat because that needs to be rotated. But part of the plan is to eat food that isn't necessarily up to the standards my family has grown to expect. It also really helps the grocery budget and right now, that's a good thing. I am also trying different cooking methods out so that I'm not 100% dependent on my oven and stove.

Today is one of those days and I'm cooking chicken wings in the crockpot "Indonesian" style with a peanut butter and soy sauce mix. I figure we'll have rice and canned veggies.

If anyone is interested in getting together some meal ideas or recipes that are pretty good but don't require fancy cooking and use pantry-stocked items, I think that would be great. I know there are some sprinkled in this thread, but pulling them out into a thread of their own might be helpful? I know at least for my kids I need to get their bellies used to eating more wheat products and the like because even if we don't "need" to use this food, I do need to rotate it so it isn't all for naught.