PREP Prepping for the apocalypse, 2020 chapter and verse

Used Camels

Inactive
It's been years for me personally since I've spent any energy or money on the specific aim of preparedness. As some of you know, there was a time when prepping was literally my life ... indeed every waking hour for 12 years plus.

As a result of that, let's just say that my bunker overflows ... still.

But with this latest approaching flyby of (or dive-bomb into) WWIII, my prepping corpuscles are once again percolating a bit.

I was already anticipating that this election year was going to turn the U.S. into an unpredictably chaotic and violent wreck. But the Iran/Middle East crisis is an added wild card that challenges the imagination.

Anyone here care to advise or remind this old hand what needs to be done at this point? I've run through a mental checklist and can't come up with anything obvious that I need to attend to other than filling up several fuel cans.

Any new preps on the market I need to look into that have favorably impressed you in the last few years?

Feel free to run with this topic as needed.
 

Dozdoats

On TB every waking moment
Seems to me domestic kinetics are more likely than ever, either brought about by domestic sources or imported sources. I have long been singing on the arm up/train up perch, but even more so now.

Get a useful sidearm, get legal to carry it, learn your local laws and GET TRAINED. Our wonderful example in the Texas church recently didn't just get up after a couple of decades in the recliner and do what he did. That takes dedication, work and expense to support training and practice. There is no time like the present.
 

Deena in GA

Administrator
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I'm looking forward to this thread taking off and becoming a valuable resource! We've simply continued stocking and rotating the foods and goods that we use regularly. I did get hubby a nice new Stihl chainsaw and extra chains for Christmas since we heat with wood. I'm sure we have holes in our preps and need to plug them.

On a good note, my sister-in-law that I've never talked prepping with just posted on FB that they're good for at least a month if a storm hit, electricity goes out, etc.
 

223shootersc

Veteran Member
It is always time to be ready. However, the events of the last year or so says to me, you better get ready and quit giving it lip service. Food, water and PM especially of the Lead and Copper variety. Bring it all into the storehouse and not be found wanting to paraphrase the Bible.
 

SouthernBreeze

Has No Life - Lives on TB
We're good to go, here. DH will be filling everything in sight with more gasoline this afternoon in light of what is going on with Iran. We've already got several cans worth, but more is better. I can't think of any holes in our preps that need filling right now, but there may be as we go along.

Regardless of what might be barreling towards us, all of my TB2K family are in my prayers. We're all going to be in this together.
 
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Blacknarwhal

Let's Go Brandon!
Accept that you will never be fully prepared. You will miss something. You will forget something. Something will happen that you did not prep for. Something will happen for which preparation was prohibitively expensive if not outright impossible.

Above all, prepare to die. This is the one thing you will never beat, and with that in mind, the rest of your preparations will be much less frantic and more approachable.

Once you have that in mind, start looking at the most likely problems and prepare accordingly. Thankfully, many common preparations--food, water, ammo, backup heat and light--work well against most problems that are likely to occur.
 

Luddite

Veteran Member
Force multipliers of all sorts have improved. Night Vision. Lighting. Surveillance equipment. Not all of it expensive either. There is a comms thread over in the Special Interest Groups that may serve many of us in the future once the basics have been covered.

I sound like a broken record to myself but here goes: Prepping Is Not Event Specific.
 

Samuel Adams

Has No Life - Lives on TB
If you haven’t weaned your daily life of all conveniences corporate, monopolized or government-based, you ain’t “preppin’”.

LIVE preparation.

Don’t try to convince yourself that a pile of stuff is going to save the next generation.

I mean, it is about the next generation, right ?
 

Kopfjeager

Contributing Member
GET TRAINED



 
If you haven’t weaned your daily life of all conveniences corporate, monopolized or government-based, you ain’t “preppin’”.

LIVE preparation.

Don’t try to convince yourself that a pile of stuff is going to save the next generation.

I mean, it is about the next generation, right ?
My “next generation” is my SIL’s grandkids, which my wife has informally adopted. A handful of mixed liberals due to their parents’ influence. When I consider who to bring over in a long-term “event”, they don’t all make the cut.
 

fish hook

Deceased
I have had to rethink my water situation.I have lived at the my present location for 35 years and always had three sources of water.Last year we had a severe drought and my well went dry and the spring branch that had never slowed down in any of the locals could remember,which left me with county water.Am buying bottled water,but need MAJOR storage.
 

summerthyme

Administrator
_______________
One thing that occurred to me a few years ago after seeing the number of shingles cases skyrocket
was to get a few courses of treatment on hand. Alldaychemist.com carries it.

The thing about shingles (and if you can get the shingles vaccination, it might be worth it) is that treatment can be effective... If started within 48 hours of first symptoms. Around here, unless you go to urgent care or the ER, you won't even get an appointment soon enough to do any good.

Also, stress (physical or emotional/mental) seems to trigger attacks in susceptible people... including kids as young as 9 who have had the chickenpox vaccine. So, IMHO, if you can afford it, having some antiviral stashed might be very useful.


Summerthyme
 

CaryC

Has No Life - Lives on TB
There is a tendency to look at big stuff for prepping.

Yeah I've got a thousand years of food stored type of thing. And end up overlooking some of the smaller things.

Candles - barter item (mostly will be sleeping between sunset and sunrise, but will need from time to time)
Matches - barter item (can also use lighters, matches need to be strike anywhere type if you can)
Bars of Soap - barter item (Ivory and Tote can be used for hair, clothes, dishes)
Sewing kit - to darn and repair and simple stitches
Files for sharpening hand tools
Rocks for sharpening knives
Hard liquor for barter, and medical purposes

Topping off the big stuff is good, but don't forget the little stuff either.
 

WalknTrot

Veteran Member
I knew this thread was coming..surprised it took so long! ;)

It's winter. In my estimation, about the worst thing they can do to the average person is take down the grid and/or web (which will take down the grid in many places).

Have a heat source.
Have a water source.
Have a cooking source.
Have food. (Including livestock and pets!).
Fuel up the vehicles, and fuel for other needs.
Have a way to charge small electronics.
Have multiple SAFE light sources.
Have comms...battery radios, cell phones, internet options.
Have some cash handy.

I fueled up the vehicles yesterday morning and got feed enough to last a good while. Plan to keep that topped off for the duration, as things develop. The propane tank is full (as of a couple weeks ago) and plenty enough to last the winter. Heat in the house works off grid. Other stuff...no problem - covered many years ago.
 

Millwright

Knuckle Dragger
_______________
I had to reload tools in my truck for a trip up to the Kansas border.

I totally spaced out getting my extra prep gear.

Should have been cycling batteries through the charger too.


Murphy dictates that the boogaloo will not kick-off while you're sitting in das bunker. :lol:
 

JF&P

Deceased
I'm as prepared as I can be....I purchased my live in bug out heavily forested(Think lots of wood) location years ago and have a bedroom full of freeze dried foods and a fresh water 24/7/365 creek flowing through the property and a self defence stockpile that is more than adaquate.

BTW, whats going on in IRAN, is a NothingBurger to me....Trump will turn the country into a parking lot if they try anything stupid.

Come Quickly Lord Jesus.
 
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Pinecone

Has No Life - Lives on TB
We have sunshine today, which is a rarity. We're enjoying it ! Take your dog for a walk, watch the red squirrels run up and down the trees, listen to the wind in the pines, listen to the creek flow. Kiss your favorite person and touch base with your kids. Eat dessert first! Enjoy today. You never know what tomorrow will bring.
 

Marthanoir

TB Fanatic
I had to reload tools in my truck for a trip up to the Kansas border.

I totally spaced out getting my extra prep gear.

Should have been cycling batteries through the charger too.


Murphy dictates that the boogaloo will not kick-off while you're sitting in das bunker. :lol:

Like the song says

"Yes sir, I can boogie but I need a certain song" :lol:
 

To-late

Membership Revoked
We have sunshine today, which is a rarity. We're enjoying it ! Take your dog for a walk, watch the red squirrels run up and down the trees, listen to the wind in the pines, listen to the creek flow. Kiss your favorite person and touch base with your kids. Eat dessert first! Enjoy today. You never know what tomorrow will bring.

This should be every day.
Be prepared, no doubt, but enjoy life,,,, less,,it ain't worth livening.
You never know what the next 'second' may bring.
Laugh, love, be happy!
Sorrow will arrive soon enough.
 

Texican

Live Free & Die Free.... God Freedom Country....
On a good note, my sister-in-law that I've never talked prepping with just posted on FB that they're good for at least a month if a storm hit, electricity goes out, etc.

Deena,

At least your s-i-l does have some preps and with a little constructive help this could be expanded.....

Texican....
 

Texican

Live Free & Die Free.... God Freedom Country....
The propane tank is full (as of a couple weeks ago) and plenty enough to last the winter. Heat in the house works off grid. Other stuff...no problem - covered many years ago.

WT,

One propane tank is not sufficient for long term....

Have at least one propane tank that has a wet leg and have a propane dealer build you a hose and connection where you can fill smaller propane tanks....

We have 6 propane tanks which we keep full..... We also have multiple smaller propane tanks that we fill from a propane tank that has a wet leg and a hose kit to fill the smaller propane tanks....

You can buy older propane tanks, which we have done....

A few propane dealers will provide 1,000 gallon tanks for an annual fee.... 1,000 gallon tanks generally have a wet leg.... Our local dealer quoted a rental rate of $35 per year.... Will be adding at least one to our little tank farm....

Propane does not go bad....

Texican....
 

Texican

Live Free & Die Free.... God Freedom Country....
Kiss your favorite person and touch base with your kids. Maybe not daily, but often....
Eat dessert first! Keeps from eating to much during the main course....
Enjoy today. For tomorrow is not promised to us....
You never know what tomorrow will bring. Prayers help with this....

Texican....
 

WalknTrot

Veteran Member
WT,

One propane tank is not sufficient for long term....

That's why I have the wood stove. ;)

Added in general: I'm not looking at this Iran thing as an ELE (ooops...Extinction Level Event) or taking us all back to the 1860s for decades. Unless you happen to be lucky enough to be in a hot zone for terrorist activity and take a direct hit of some kind, I'd say anticipate temporary disruptions. CONUS produces energy enough to export, food enough to export, and is big enough and wealthy enough that one unaffected region can help out an incapacitated one. YMMV. Carry on.
 
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Texican

Live Free & Die Free.... God Freedom Country....
CONUS produces energy enough to export, food enough to export, and is big enough and wealthy enough that one unaffected region can help out an incapacitated one.

WT,

Like all of the government levels did with New Orleans....

When the SHTF, societies across the earth will fall apart and the only safe places will be far from the cities.... Production of large quantities of fuel and food will end....

That is why preparing is so important....

Texican....
 

Marseydoats

Veteran Member
I've been re-organizing and cleaning up the past 2 weeks, and thought I was doing pretty good. Then I realized that I am completely out of bleach. And we need some more heavy comforters. Always a work in progress.
 

2DEES

Inactive
One thing that occurred to me a few years ago after seeing the number of shingles cases skyrocket
was to get a few courses of treatment on hand. Alldaychemist.com carries it.

The thing about shingles (and if you can get the shingles vaccination, it might be worth it) is that treatment can be effective... If started within 48 hours of first symptoms. Around here, unless you go to urgent care or the ER, you won't even get an appointment soon enough to do any good.

Also, stress (physical or emotional/mental) seems to trigger attacks in susceptible people... including kids as young as 9 who have had the chickenpox vaccine. So, IMHO, if you can afford it, having some antiviral stashed might be very useful.


Summerthyme
About 7 years ago I developed shingles. I treated it with apple cider vinegar externally. Lasted about 4 days and cleared up. No problems since.
 

AppleJacks

Contributing Member
I am happy to see this type of topic resurrected here. It's why I joined way back when.

Currently I seem to be focused on "What will I do if things flare up?" Boogaloo or whatever - matters not. I don't want to be paralyzed with "What should I do now?" I want to have prepared a list for myself so I can calmly and simply follow that list that I made while I was thinking clearly.

I have a 'bit' in my pantry so I won't need a last minute run to the grocery. I own a solar generator - Lithium-iron-phosphate battery that we've been testing out this weekend to see how much of the normal life we can have with it.

The wood pile is in decent shape. The garden is in decent shape. Got a 'bit' of chicken food on hand as well.

What i don't have is a MAG.

Ah well. All I have on my Do It Now list is to fill the water-bobs. Hopefully whatever y'all post will provide food for thought.

Thank you for all of this. Thank you
 

AlaskaSue

North to the Future
I have had to rethink my water situation.I have lived at the my present location for 35 years and always had three sources of water.Last year we had a severe drought and my well went dry and the spring branch that had never slowed down in any of the locals could remember,which left me with county water.Am buying bottled water,but need MAJOR storage.

100 gallon Water Bobs are around $35 on Amazon...and can be used in large storage totes/barrels as well as a bathtub. Good to have a couple on hand to fill ahead of time if you have much warning at all.
 

fish hook

Deceased
100 gallon Water Bobs are around $35 on Amazon...and can be used in large storage totes/barrels as well as a bathtub. Good to have a couple on hand to fill ahead of time if you have much warning at all.
Thanks Sue,i was thinking more on the large square totes.These would be cheaper than any i have found.
 

Old Gray Mare

TB Fanatic
A few propane dealers will provide 1,000 gallon tanks for an annual fee.... 1,000 gallon tanks generally have a wet leg.... Our local dealer quoted a rental rate of $35 per year.... Will be adding at least one to our little tank farm....

Propane does not go bad....

Texican
For those starting out prepping.

First: would not rent a tank. Owning the tank outright allows one to shop propane prices from different distributors. The propane price for rented tanks can be significantly higher.

It can also be worth a little extra per gallon to have a propane provider that supplies service, especially when the furnace decides to die with a winter storm in the forecast.
 

Mr. Peabody

Veteran Member
If things get frisky, you need more than yourself to adequately be safe from the potential feral heard. You need friends and family and form a tribe. Don't trust outsiders. One armed man can't secure a 360 zone. Nor can he be on alert 24hrs a day. One is none, two is one, 8 is nice.
If you have to resort to a group for survival, you need comms and the force multipliers. Simple planning with the tribe will pay off. That doesn't mean running through small unit tactics in the woods (which are very good to know) it means getting the alert out with comms, have an equipment/supply checklist, have a meeting point, have pre-determined security tasks filled immediately. First aid kits ready. Food and water ready. Back-up power is good to have. Propane vs gas in gen set is good. Do you have a well on the property? If so, have the well wiring pre-installed so the gen will run the well pump.
 

Deena in GA

Administrator
_______________
100 gallon Water Bobs are around $35 on Amazon...and can be used in large storage totes/barrels as well as a bathtub. Good to have a couple on hand to fill ahead of time if you have much warning at all.

We were given one of these a couple of years ago. Very thankful to have it, as well as smaller containers! As I’ve been thinking through things, I’ve realized that we are really very well prepared. It’s just such a way of life now, that I take it for granted. Sure, there are things and skills we don’t have, but we can make do.

Honestly, I’ll be very surprised if current happenings impact our daily life, but I do believe in being as prepared as possible for anything.
 

Texican

Live Free & Die Free.... God Freedom Country....
About 7 years ago I developed shingles. I treated it with apple cider vinegar externally. Lasted about 4 days and cleared up. No problems since.

The wife had shingles four years ago and it infected her right eye and has been taking medication for problems with her right eye since....

Even though we are against vaccinations, we both have taken the shingles and pneumonia shots and have since not had either....

No flue shot in decades and no flue....

Texican....
 

Texican

Live Free & Die Free.... God Freedom Country....
You can not survive regardless how well armed you are and how secure your home is....

Very small cities with like minded individuals is a better choice....

Better is a location is to live in a way out in the sticks with like minded individuals.... This is not possible for many, but with a group of like minded individuals, you can have a BOL that will support all of you, but be sure of that the individuals believe as you do....

Texican....
 
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