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I've getting a lot of Prepper videos lately.
Preppers are usually known for their beliefs that a civilization crushing event is going to happen: atomic war, infrastructure collapse, zombie apocalypse, that sort of thing and build (or buy) underground bunkers stocked with guns and MREs to insulate themselves from the zombie/radioactive/dark skinned hordes that will eventually arrive at their doorstep.
I mean, if you really want to you CAN buy a bunker for about 15 - 20 grand and have excavators dig a big hole in you back yard and a big truck and crane deliver it to said hole. Built in water filters, air filters, some kind of toilet thing, heating, cooling and storage for all your extra water, food and guns. Yeah, now the whole neighborhood will know it's there... or you can have it on/in some far off piece of land that will take you 40 minutes to get to.... under normal conditions. In an emergency - with the roads clogged - it may unreachable.
And maybe you'll get your own personal colony of black mold!
Of course, keeping it stocked and making sure it's ready when you need it will cost extra. Systems need maintenance and filters that won't be available after said disaster Air filters and CO2 scrubbers take power and if you have no power, no fuel... your bunker could become your tomb.
However, there's lots of videos about urban prep or "bugging in" instead of "bugging out". Having a but-out bag in case you need to leave your home can saver your life or make it a bit less uncomfortable, but really... for most emergencies you're often better off staying put.
A lot of prepper material is available at your local camping, grocery or hardware store. Just get it now before you need it. Get stuff now or risk the zombie hordes at the grocery store or Walmart.
It also depends on your local risk factor. Around here, floods happen but we're not in a flood area. Hurricanes, tornadoes and other severe weather that can take out power do happen. Unless things go really sideways, one could prepare to be self sufficient for 72 hours. That is what FEMA recommends. Check their website - look around a bit past page one.
The sensible videos tell you to forget all the expensive 'tactical' equipment. Buy ordinary things. Power goes out? Have flashlights especially ones with solar charging. The ones that strap on your head are nice just working around the house. Unscented candles and matches are handy too. Solar powered/battery operated radio keeps you informed. Water? Have lots of water jugs and for drinking. If you want to get fancy you can get camping jugs and prefill them. Just wash them out before filling them. Contractor buckets at Lowes with lids will hold 5 gallons and cost around 7 bucks. Fill one or two up when the power goes out while there's still water pressure.
In a pinch you line one with a plastic garbage bag as an emergency toilet. Yuck. But if it's winter it beats dropping your drawers outside.
Food? Granola bars, peanut butter, canned meats and fruits that you don't need to heat to eat are great. MREs (Meals Rejected by Everyone) are expensive and need clean water and heat to make. Spam, tuna fish, and canned peaches are cheap and need no heat. But hot meals when you're stressed make you feel better. Get a camping stove or small grill. Get a pack of those little propane tanks. You'll want to grill outside this summer anyways, right? You'll want to be outside to cook. And if you think I *won't* be outside boiling water for coffee in the middle of an icy winter (I have a French press) then you don't know me very well. You can boil water for rice or pasta or heat canned or packaged soups. And it's a perfect time to grill those steaks you've got frozen.
Did I mention can openers? The manual kind? Beats a tactical knife or a 75 dollar 50-in-1 multi tool for opening up cans when there's no electricity.
Just stock up a bit and rotate your food and water. That will get you through 72 hours of no power. You don't need fancy stuff.
If you keep your fridge closed it will stay cold for hours. After 8 hours, you'll need some kind of back up power. Now we're talking money. Gas generators and fussy, noisy and need fuel. Battery backup systems that have solar charging abilities are quiet but need solar cells and sunlight.
But the most important thing about bugging in? Know your neighbors. Individuals can survive disasters but it takes a village to recover.
Preppers are usually known for their beliefs that a civilization crushing event is going to happen: atomic war, infrastructure collapse, zombie apocalypse, that sort of thing and build (or buy) underground bunkers stocked with guns and MREs to insulate themselves from the zombie/radioactive/dark skinned hordes that will eventually arrive at their doorstep.
I mean, if you really want to you CAN buy a bunker for about 15 - 20 grand and have excavators dig a big hole in you back yard and a big truck and crane deliver it to said hole. Built in water filters, air filters, some kind of toilet thing, heating, cooling and storage for all your extra water, food and guns. Yeah, now the whole neighborhood will know it's there... or you can have it on/in some far off piece of land that will take you 40 minutes to get to.... under normal conditions. In an emergency - with the roads clogged - it may unreachable.
And maybe you'll get your own personal colony of black mold!
Of course, keeping it stocked and making sure it's ready when you need it will cost extra. Systems need maintenance and filters that won't be available after said disaster Air filters and CO2 scrubbers take power and if you have no power, no fuel... your bunker could become your tomb.
However, there's lots of videos about urban prep or "bugging in" instead of "bugging out". Having a but-out bag in case you need to leave your home can saver your life or make it a bit less uncomfortable, but really... for most emergencies you're often better off staying put.
A lot of prepper material is available at your local camping, grocery or hardware store. Just get it now before you need it. Get stuff now or risk the zombie hordes at the grocery store or Walmart.
It also depends on your local risk factor. Around here, floods happen but we're not in a flood area. Hurricanes, tornadoes and other severe weather that can take out power do happen. Unless things go really sideways, one could prepare to be self sufficient for 72 hours. That is what FEMA recommends. Check their website - look around a bit past page one.
The sensible videos tell you to forget all the expensive 'tactical' equipment. Buy ordinary things. Power goes out? Have flashlights especially ones with solar charging. The ones that strap on your head are nice just working around the house. Unscented candles and matches are handy too. Solar powered/battery operated radio keeps you informed. Water? Have lots of water jugs and for drinking. If you want to get fancy you can get camping jugs and prefill them. Just wash them out before filling them. Contractor buckets at Lowes with lids will hold 5 gallons and cost around 7 bucks. Fill one or two up when the power goes out while there's still water pressure.
In a pinch you line one with a plastic garbage bag as an emergency toilet. Yuck. But if it's winter it beats dropping your drawers outside.
Food? Granola bars, peanut butter, canned meats and fruits that you don't need to heat to eat are great. MREs (Meals Rejected by Everyone) are expensive and need clean water and heat to make. Spam, tuna fish, and canned peaches are cheap and need no heat. But hot meals when you're stressed make you feel better. Get a camping stove or small grill. Get a pack of those little propane tanks. You'll want to grill outside this summer anyways, right? You'll want to be outside to cook. And if you think I *won't* be outside boiling water for coffee in the middle of an icy winter (I have a French press) then you don't know me very well. You can boil water for rice or pasta or heat canned or packaged soups. And it's a perfect time to grill those steaks you've got frozen.
Did I mention can openers? The manual kind? Beats a tactical knife or a 75 dollar 50-in-1 multi tool for opening up cans when there's no electricity.
Just stock up a bit and rotate your food and water. That will get you through 72 hours of no power. You don't need fancy stuff.
If you keep your fridge closed it will stay cold for hours. After 8 hours, you'll need some kind of back up power. Now we're talking money. Gas generators and fussy, noisy and need fuel. Battery backup systems that have solar charging abilities are quiet but need solar cells and sunlight.
But the most important thing about bugging in? Know your neighbors. Individuals can survive disasters but it takes a village to recover.
