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Sangiovese wrote:One quick thing to consider. It doesn't make it onto a lot of "lists" but it is important if you plan to "bug in" or shelter in place to ride out a temporary disruption.

Sanitation/waste disposal.

Anyone stuck in a city/suburb without running water for even a few days will be dealing with a major problem once the toilets stop flushing. There are several "bucket with a seat" style commodes available, with disposable liners. On the plus side, you can store other preps in them until you need to use it.

I only mention it because it is something that I personally overlooked for a long time, and rarely see mentioned.

This is a part of planning that I've spent some time on. If we can remain at home, we have a septic system and would be good for years. Unfortunately, our city supplied water is very fragile and typically is out for 5-8 days sporadically throughout a summer. The city has little appetite for allowing us to have a backup, either by letting us drill or own well or to use storage barrels to catch rain water.

Alternately, we have an RV with a fairly large holding tank. My wife and I can go up to about 10 days if we manage that tank. Again, one of the limiting factors is having water and our fresh water tank becomes a limiting factor. If we managed to out of a serious situation early with the RV, we could get about 800 miles and many days before needing anything. We keep the RV stocked for a rapid departure.

chasfm11 wrote:

Sangiovese wrote:One quick thing to consider. It doesn't make it onto a lot of "lists" but it is important if you plan to "bug in" or shelter in place to ride out a temporary disruption.

Sanitation/waste disposal.

Anyone stuck in a city/suburb without running water for even a few days will be dealing with a major problem once the toilets stop flushing. There are several "bucket with a seat" style commodes available, with disposable liners. On the plus side, you can store other preps in them until you need to use it.

I only mention it because it is something that I personally overlooked for a long time, and rarely see mentioned.

This is a part of planning that I've spent some time on. If we can remain at home, we have a septic system and would be good for years. Unfortunately, our city supplied water is very fragile and typically is out for 5-8 days sporadically throughout a summer. The city has little appetite for allowing us to have a backup, either by letting us drill or own well or to use storage barrels to catch rain water.

Alternately, we have an RV with a fairly large holding tank. My wife and I can go up to about 10 days if we manage that tank. Again, one of the limiting factors is having water and our fresh water tank becomes a limiting factor. If we managed to out of a serious situation early with the RV, we could get about 800 miles and many days before needing anything. We keep the RV stocked for a rapid departure.

How can the city prevent you from putting rain barrels in the backyard? Drilling a well, I get (and disagree with), but have they seriously said you can't collect rain water?

Dave2 wrote: How can the city prevent you from putting rain barrels in the backyard? Drilling a well, I get (and disagree with), but have they seriously said you can't collect rain water?

Yes. It is another wonderful example of government protecting me from myself. This area is having the worst West Nile season ever and has even made the National news because of it. Their excuse is that you cannot have standing water anywhere. When I built my barn two years ago, they nearly flunked the grading because there was standing water within 3 feet of the foundation. The foundation was 46 yards of concrete and was 8 inches above the ground. The building is all metal. No matter. No standing water.

They have a whole raft of other bizzare rules, too. It would take more than a couple of adult beverages to explan them.

chasfm11 wrote:They have a whole raft of other bizzare rules, too. It would take more than a couple of adult beverages to explan them.

It's enough to make a man wonder what they were smoking when they wrote the rules.

chasfm11 wrote:

Dave2 wrote: How can the city prevent you from putting rain barrels in the backyard? Drilling a well, I get (and disagree with), but have they seriously said you can't collect rain water?

Yes. It is another wonderful example of government protecting me from myself. This area is having the worst West Nile season ever and has even made the National news because of it. Their excuse is that you cannot have standing water anywhere. When I built my barn two years ago, they nearly flunked the grading because there was standing water within 3 feet of the foundation. The foundation was 46 yards of concrete and was 8 inches above the ground. The building is all metal. No matter. No standing water.

They have a whole raft of other bizzare rules, too. It would take more than a couple of adult beverages to explan them.

No standing water? Tell them water in barrels is clearly "sitting" not "standing", and that you don't appreciate them keeping you from participating in water conservation efforts during this severe, worst-in-a-century drought.

http://www.naturalnews.com/036800_rainw ... tence.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Sangiovese wrote:Anyone stuck in a city/suburb without running water for even a few days will be dealing with a major problem once the toilets stop flushing. There are several "bucket with a seat" style commodes available, with disposable liners.

It's also cheap to get bulk trash bags. The plastic is useful for a variety of applications, but if you're an urban environment without water you can just line the commode with them. Combine with kitty litter and it's an inexpensive and effective solution for bugging-in.

Does anyone have suggestions regarding Synthroid? I intend of asking the doc to write a 3-month prescription next visit -- with the fact we live in hurricane prone area as good justification. Don't know if I feel comfortable bringing it up with the doc in longer-term, survivalist context.

TraCoun wrote:If you have not heard of it or checked it out before, try SurviveInPlace.com
It has lots of information.
Thanx,
TraCoun

Maybe it does, but about five minutes into the sales pitch I got glassy eyed and at ten started drooling on myself. If I could have got past the pitch and found some meat.......

If you've got a link that bypasses that opening I'll take another look.

hpcatx wrote:Does anyone have suggestions regarding Synthroid? I intend of asking the doc to write a 3-month prescription next visit -- with the fact we live in hurricane prone area as good justification. Don't know if I feel comfortable bringing it up with the doc in longer-term, survivalist context.

My Rx insurance requires me to do 90 days at a time (and mail-order). Maybe you could call yours and ask them about it. You might get a discount for buying in bulk.

I don't have any suggestions for breaching the subject of getting extra with your Dr, though. Sorry.

I think some drugs don't last all that long and/or require specific storage, so that's something to consider as well (I think synthroid's pretty stable, though).

Dave2 wrote:

chasfm11 wrote:

Dave2 wrote: How can the city prevent you from putting rain barrels in the backyard? Drilling a well, I get (and disagree with), but have they seriously said you can't collect rain water?

Yes. It is another wonderful example of government protecting me from myself. This area is having the worst West Nile season ever and has even made the National news because of it. Their excuse is that you cannot have standing water anywhere. When I built my barn two years ago, they nearly flunked the grading because there was standing water within 3 feet of the foundation. The foundation was 46 yards of concrete and was 8 inches above the ground. The building is all metal. No matter. No standing water.

They have a whole raft of other bizarre rules, too. It would take more than a couple of adult beverages to explain them.

No standing water? Tell them water in barrels is clearly "sitting" not "standing", and that you don't appreciate them keeping you from participating in water conservation efforts during this severe, worst-in-a-century drought.

Trust me, there is no dealing with these people on a logical level. We have large green trash containers and they cannot be stored where they are visible from the street. Code inspectors run around verifying they are not. It took just one building project for me to never want to deal with any of them again. We replaced just about the whole council during the last election. I hope that things are going to get better.

One of our EP committee members has a great rain water barrel setup because she lives in a different town. It wasn't cheap to setup but it appears to work well. If I can figure out a way to camouflage it... But I live on a corner lot and that isn't easy.

chasfm11 wrote: Trust me, there is no dealing with these people on a logical level. We have large green trash containers and they cannot be stored where they are visible from the street. Code inspectors run around verifying they are not. It took just one building project for me to never want to deal with any of them again. We replaced just about the whole council during the last election. I hope that things are going to get better.

One of our EP committee members has a great rain water barrel setup because she lives in a different town. It wasn't cheap to setup but it appears to work well. If I can figure out a way to camouflage it... But I live on a corner lot and that isn't easy.

You guys can't have the trash cans visible? I would HATE that. There is no space in the garage for them, nor would I want them smelling up the place either. Thankfully Rowlett isn't so crazy like that. Although I wish they would step up the code enforcement on the foreclosed house next door. I was walking by yesterday and saw something odd all around the front porch. I walked up to it and it was like a scene out of "The Birds" except with Mosquitoes. Probably a thousand or more mosquitoes COVERING the ceiling and walls of the porch. I think the gutters are full of water, the hose is leaking (creating a puddle), and there is a giant hole in the backyard too. HUGE waste of time to do that aerial spraying with this house is next door.

We've got Lake Ray Hubbard about 100 Yards away so water shouldn't be an issue. I just need to buy a filtration pump and we would be set for as long as I have new filters for it.

I like this site. It hasnt been updated in a while, but has some good info & includes an online store.


http://www.captaindaves.com/guide/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


I wasted 10 min of my life on Survive In Place. At the end of the pitch, he tells you it costs $47. For a limited time of course

Met a man and his wife at the FW gun show today that were on the show "Doomsday Preppers". I think he said they were on the first episode. They had a bunch of shipping containers and buses.
Didn't seem as nutty in person as they did on TV. They were selling freeze dried food (Thrive). Also pushing a two day bug out training at their compound in San Antonio. Cost was $90. Not for me but you guys closer to SA might get a kick out of seeing the "Compound".

For those of you who carry "Get Home Bags" in your car...

What do you carry for food?

The interior of a car can get to over 120 degrees in TX.
What can take that kind of heat long term?

AB