36 How To Bug-In What You Need To Know To Survive A Grid-Down Disaster

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How to Bug-In: What You Need to
Know to Survive a Grid-Down Disaster
by A Manly Guest Contributor on November 1, 2012 66 comments
in Manly Skills
Editors note: This is a guest post from Creek Stewart of Willow Haven Outdoor.
As the East Coast of the United States recovers from Hurricane Sandy, aka
Frankenstorm, the rest of us watch the unfolding aftermath from a distance
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thankful Mother Nature hasnt unleashed her fury on our doorstep today. Hurricane
Sandy is yet another sober reminder that none of us are exempt from disaster. Mother
Nature doesnt discriminate. She doesnt care where we live, what we drive, how
much we make, or what we do for a living. Her antics are diverse and far-reaching.
She has a recipe of devastation for all parts of the world: hurricanes, tornados, oods,
wildres, winter storms, earthquakes, tsunamis, droughts, heat waves, volcanoes,
land-slides, and sometimes even a combo pack.
It is human nature to avoid potentially bad news. It is also human nature to
procrastinate. Consequently, many of us avoid going to the dentist, taking our car in
for routine maintenance, implementing a home security plan, getting our yearly
physicals, and many other important preventative and preparative tasks.
Unfortunately, avoiding the thought of potential bad news has absolutely no bearing
at all on whether or not it will happen. In fact, this attitude is completely
self-destructive. Avoiding preparing for or prevent a very dangerous and probable
threat is irresponsible and incredibly foolish. Yet, people do it all the time when it
comes to potential natural disasters. The mentality of its not going to happen to me
is no longer an acceptable excuse. In the 15 years Ive taught Survival and
Preparedness courses Ive come to the conclusion that there are no acceptable
excuses and I have run thin on patience to those that oer them. Burying your head in
the sand is not a strategy and depending on the government to save you is not a plan.
Many of you remember the article I wrote a while back titled How to Make a Bug Out
Bag. Bugging Out is the decision to abandon your home in search of a safer
destination in the event of a large-scale disaster. Sometimes, Bugging Out is not
necessary nor is it the best decision. A disaster may, in fact, make it impossible to Bug
Out. The alternative is called Bugging In. Bugging In or hunkering down during a
large-scale disaster can present many challenges to a survivor. Oftentimes, the
utilities we depend on are ripped o-line known as Grid-Down.
Disasters can devastate our most critical services including water supplies, medical
facilities and rst responders, waste and trash processing and removal,
transportation options, fuel and grocery supplies, natural gas lines, electricity, phone
service, and even public safety. A Grid-Down scenario can last for several days or
even weeks. During this time, you must be able to provide basic survival needs for
you and your family. These Bug In preps and plans need to be made in advance. They
cannot be made in the heat of a disaster.
How Long Should I Prepare to Bug In?
Thats the question of the century! The government says 3 days. I have preps to get
me through 1 year. My answer is a minimum of 2 weeks and then keep prepping for
longer as time and money allow. Start with 3 days then work up from there. Dont let
this question prevent you from making progress.
What Are the Categories I Should Consider When Prepping?
Our basic human survival needs remain the exact same no matter where we are in the
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world or what circumstances we face. They will always be: shelter, water, re, food,
rst aid, and self-defense. The order of priority may change, but the basic
categories will not. Below is a brief breakdown of each category including several
solutions to consider for a short-term Bug In scenario.
Shelter
During a Bug In scenario, shelter may seem fairly obvious. It is your primary place of
residence. However, there is more to shelter than just a roof over your head. Shelter
must protect us from the elements even if access to modern utilities is limited or
nonexistent. Shelter becomes your #1 priority in cold conditions. You must have
alternative heating solutions in place just in case a disaster strikes during cold
weather. Some excellent and aordable options are wood burning replaces,
kerosene heaters, and portable propane heaters.
The back-up kerosene heater I keep at Willow Haven that will
heat 1000 square feet for 11 hours on one tank of fuel.
Kerosene heaters can be purchased for just over $100 at virtually any home
improvement store. My grandparents heated with a kerosene heater in their living
room most of my life. They dont require electricity and are very easy and safe to
operate. Some countries use kerosene heaters as a primary heat source, in fact. The
fuel (kerosene) also has an extremely long shelf life Ive heard of 20-year-old fuel
burning just ne, and Ive personally used kerosene thats been sitting for 5 years
with no issues. Above is a photo of a back-up kerosene heater I keep at Willow Haven
that will heat 1000 square feet for 11 hours on one tank of fuel.
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A small propane heater can last 4-6 hours on one tank.
For smaller spaces or supplemental heat, portable emergency propane heaters are
excellent little solutions. Mine photographed above takes a one-pound propane
canister that is available at most camping and home improvement stores. It really
puts out the heat and lasts a surprising length of time (4-6 hours) on one tank. Extra
propane canisters are easy to store as well.
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I had the wood burning replace pictured above installed in my home for about
$1500. Even a small stove like this one will heat 1000 square feet of space to a
comfortable temperature in freezing conditions for as long as you have wood to burn.
If you opt for a replace, choose one that can also cook and boil water.
Multifunctional uses are always a survival plus. The brand I have is Jotul though there
are many excellent brands on the market.
Below are some other home (and car) heating tips Ive collected from personal
experiences testing my preps:
Close o certain rooms of your house and move in to the room with the heat
source. Close doors or hang blankets to zone out other areas.
Hang blankets in front of large windows to reduce heat loss.
Have good blankets and sleeping bags on hand to help keep you and your family
warm.
Just one candle can warm the inside of a freezing car as much as 8 degrees.
Action Steps:
Decide on an alternative heat source
Buy it / install it
Test it to calculate how much fuel you need for your chosen prep
period
Stock up on fuel
Water
This summer we had the worst drought in over 100 years here in Indiana. It sucked
my well dry for over 2 months, and I had to live on my water storage. It wasnt fun,
but really put my back-up plans to a test. Whether you use a well or depend on
municipal water service, a disaster can put a stop to your ow of fresh drinking water.
Without water you can die in as little as 3 days. The best short-term Bug In water
solution is to simply store extra water in your place of residence. You can buy
commercially bottled water by the case/gallon or you can bottle and store your own
water in food-grade containers.
A very popular do-it-yourself water storage solution is repurposed 2-liter pop bottles.
Below is the process I use (I dont drink soda but friends and family members are
happy to give me their empty bottles):
Step 1: Wash each bottle using water and dish soap.
Step 2: Sanitize each bottle and cap inside and out with a bleach solution (1
teaspoon bleach mixed in 1 quart water). You can use this same solution to
sanitize other types bottles. Rinse the sanitized bottle with clean water.
Step 3: Fill each bottle with tap water. Add 2 drops of standard unscented
household bleach (4-6% sodium hypochlorite)
Step 4: Empty and refresh your water storage once each year.
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There are countless water storage solutions available ranging from fancy interlocking
containers to 55-gallon drums. Youll have to choose a solution that is right for your
environment, budget, and consumption needs. Always store your water in a cool place
away from full sun exposure.
A few additional emergency water storage tips:
Keep a few gallons of unscented household bleach on hand at all times. This can
be used to purify water and for other sanitation needs.
A 55-gallon rain barrel used to collect water from your gutters is really easy to
install and only costs about $100. You can make your own for even cheaper.
Your hot water heater contains many gallons of emergency water storage. All hot
water heaters have a drain valve at the bottom. This water does not need to be
puried.
In the event of a large-scale disaster, ll your bathtub(s) with water as an extra
precaution. This is bonus water if your supply is threatened.
Pets? They need water too dont forget to store water for them.
If its yellow let it mellow, if its brown ush it down.
One gallon of water per day per person is a good rule of thumb for water
storage.
Action Steps:
Decide whether you are lling your own containers or if you are buying
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commercially bottled water
Calculate how much water you need (one gallon x people in household
x days in your chosen prep period)
Stock up
Fire
During a Bug In scenario, re represents two categories: warmth (which weve
covered) and cooking. Youll see in the next section that I recommend your emergency
meals be very simple to prepare, requiring no cooking at all, if possible. However, its
important that you have an alternative cooking solution in place to cook meals and
boil water if necessary. Several aordable and turn-key o-grid options exist. Ive
listed a few below in no particular order.
Solution # 1: Fireplace or Wood Burning Stove
Not all wood burning stoves can be used to cook meals or boil water. If you are
installing one, be sure it can do both. Even an open concept replace can be used to
cook and boil water. I installed a metal swing arm in the replace at Willow Haven
that can hold pots and kettles over the open ame. This is an excellent cooking
solution.
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Even an outdoor re pit can be an ecient means of cooking or boiling water. A
tripod and swing-away cooking grill make these tasks much easier.
Solution # 2: Good Ol BBQ Grill
Now this isnt even roughing it! However, you cant cook on the grill if you dont have
a propane tank or charcoal. Always keep an extra full propane tank (or two) or several
bags of charcoal on hand if you choose a BBQ grill as your back up cooking solution.
Both store long-term very well.
Solution # 3: Natural Fuel Rocket Stoves
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Solo Stove works really well for one-pot meals for one or two
people.
Rocket stoves have come a long way in recent years. They are incredibly ecient and
can operate on a variety of natural fuels such as sticks, twigs, pinecones, charcoal,
and other biomass. Above is a photo of a small version from Solo Stove that works
really well for one-pot meals feeding one or two people. You can literally cook an
entire meal with a little pile of twigs and sticks.
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The EcoZoom stove is also a great o-grid
alternative that can burn small sticks and
split wood for fast ecient cooking.
The EcoZoom stove is also a great o-grid alternative that can burn small sticks and
split wood for fast ecient cooking. The cooktop can accommodate big pots when
cooking or boiling for larger groups of people.
Solution # 4: Camping Stoves
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The MSR Pocket Rocket Stove is what Creek keeps in his Bug
Out Bag
Your options are endless when it comes to lightweight camping stoves. They are all
fuel dependent so you will need to stock applicable fuel canisters if you intend to use
this option for more than a few meals. They are also designed to cook for one or two
people at a time versus a large group.
Regardless of which cooking stove you choose, make sure you have the necessary
metal cookware, pots, and utensils to both cook meals and boil water in an
emergency.
Action Steps:
Choose an o-grid cooking solution that best ts your needs and
budget
Stock up on fuel
Make sure you have metal cooking pots and pans that t your stove
choice
Food
Our food supply is dependent on a myriad of factors. When disaster strikes, it screws
with pretty much all of these factors. 99% of the food you see in a grocery store is on
the shelf. Their back rooms are lled with empty cardboard boxes. The food arrives on
a truck and is immediately stocked on the shelves. If its not delivery day, guess what?
No milk and bread today thats what. But you wont have to worry about that
because youre stocking your own shelves in advance.
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Think open and eat meals. Ideally, your emergency food rations will consist of meals
that require little to no preparation. Boiling water for reconstitution should be the
most complicated step of any emergency food ration. Your food preps should also
have a long shelf life and not require refrigeration. Theres no sense in stocking your
shelves with fresh vegetables that are going to rot in a few days or with frozen
dinners that will go bad without electricity. Its very easy to overcomplicate food
storage. Keep it simple! Below are a variety of emergency food storage options.
Food Storage Option # 1: Freeze Dried/Dehydrated Meals
Many dehydrated meals have a 10+ year shelf life.
These meals are easily reconstituted with hot water. You can eat most of them in the
pouch they come in. And, many of them have a 10+-year shelf life. This is a really
easy and nutritious food storage option. Some reputable brands are Mountain House,
Wise Foods, and Backpackers Pantry.
Food Storage Option # 2: Military Meals Ready to Eat (MREs)
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MRE Star. Editors Note: In the McKay household, were
partial to MREs from Emergency Essentials.
MREs are packed with calories they are designed to fuel soldiers in the eld. They
are also easy to prepare, often coming with their own little chemical just-add-water
heating element. And, they have a long shelf life.
Food Storage Option # 3: Store-Bought Canned Goods/Packaged Foods
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Add a few cans to your grocery list each week and youll be
surprised at how fast a small stockpile will develop.
Canned goods make great survival meals. Most of them can be eaten cold right out of
the can. Just keep tabs of the expiration date and use them up before they go bad.
From soups to vegetables to tuna and chicken, the options are endless. Add a few
cans to your grocery list each week and youll be surprised at how fast a small
stockpile will develop.
Food Storage Option # 4: Can Your Own Food
You can also can your own fresh fruits, vegetables, and meats. This is more labor
intensive but is a great way to preserve items from a garden or extra meat from a
large-game hunt. Growing up we had canned vegetables from the garden all winter
long and they were delicious.
Food Storage Option # 5: Hunting, Farming, Gardening, and Gathering
For extreme long-term survival scenarios some basic hunting and gathering skills
can go a long way. Depending on the season and time of year, wild animals and plants
can be very viable meal options. Youll need to know how to clean and dress wild
game as well as how to identify wild edible plants, so further training is advised.
Small game animals such as squirrel, rabbit, and fowl make excellent survival meals.
Learn how to eld dress a squirrel here. I have a pond at Willow Haven that I like to
call my long-term food storage solution. Fresh caught sh make easy survival meals
and require zero maintenance.
Growing your own fruits and vegetables can also supplement other food storage you
might have. Even apartment dwellers can grow impressive container gardens with
limited space. Fresh herbs can easily be grown in windowsills or on balconies. You
can store root vegetables and apples all winter long in a cool basement or cellar.
Other more self-sucient options include raising animals such as goats, rabbits and
chickens. Ive found raising backyard chickens to be a very fun and productive hobby.
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They are low maintenance and keep me in fresh eggs year-round. And, they could
care less if the natural gas or electricity is owing.
Raising backyard chickens to be a very fun and productive
hobby. They are low maintenance and keep you in fresh eggs
year-round.
Food Storage Option # 6: Mix & Match
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One of Creeks storage shelves.
Mix and match the above options for a very well rounded food storage solution. Other
great food storage options include rice, dry cereal and granola, powdered milk,
energy bars, and beef jerky. Your food storage doesnt have to look like a
well-organized grocery store shelf like you see on those prepper TV shows. It can be
crazy-looking like this picture of one of my storage shelves above.
What About My Refrigerator and Freezer?
Well, unless you have solar, hydro or wind power (which most people dont),
youd better start eating the stu in your refrigerator and freezer rst. If its
below 40 degrees outside you can just put the contents on your back porch.
Or, you can pick up a generator for a few hundred bucks. If you choose to
buy a generator you will also need to consider fuel storage. I do have a
back-up generator to run my refrigerator and power a few miscellaneous
electronics. Ive found that running a generator in a 2 hours on 4 hours
o cycle makes best use of fuel. Keep a thermometer in your fridge. If it
rises above 40 degrees for more than 2 hours then throw any perishable
food away.
Honda Theft-Deterrent Bracket for EU2000i Generator
Other Emergency Food Storage Tips:
Do you have a manual can opener? Get one!
Dont forget your special dietary needs.
Infants? Stock up on powdered formula.
Pets? They need food too.
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Action Steps:
Choose a food storage solution (or combination)
Start building your stockpile
Routinely check expiration dates and rotate in new stock when
necessary
First Aid
You may not be able to leave your house. Hospitals and pharmacies may not be open.
Heck, medical supplies may not even be delivered to your area for a few days.
The most important facet of this category is prescription medicines. If you or a
loved one is dependent on some kind of medicine then you need to have enough on
hand to get you through a short-term Bug In disaster. Explain to your doctor that you
are preparing an emergency kit and you would like to have an extra rell for that kit.
If he/she denies you, Id say get a new doctor who is like-minded in these matters.
These medicines need to be monitored and rotated just like food.
In addition to prescription meds, you need to beef up your rst aid preps as well, and
even consider taking a local rst aid course through the Red Cross. I own an
emergency rst aid kit from Alaska-based MedCall Assist and its the best Ive seen. If
you build your own Id suggest using their kit as a guide. It is a very thorough and
well-thought-out disaster preparedness medical kit.
Other tips for rst aid issues:
Does anyone have severe allergies? Do you have an EpiPen?
Pets? Do they have medications?
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Dont forget extra contacts/eye-glasses/solution.
Action Steps:
Get some back-stock on important medications have a conversation
with your doctor
Beef up your rst aid supplies
Consider taking a basic rst aid course from the Red Cross
Self-Defense
Disasters create abnormal circumstances. First responders (and public safety) are
always overwhelmed. Response times are always delayed. 911 is always inundated
with calls. Phone and internet services (land and cell) are often interrupted. Disasters
can drive good people to do things they would not normally do. Disasters also have a
tendency to embolden and empower existing criminals as well.
The importance of self-defense is often overlooked in disaster preparation.
Unfortunately, it is an aspect that must be considered. Violent crimes increase during
large-scale disasters. Some people further exploit disaster victims under the cloak of
chaos and disorder. Whether driven by desperation or greed, it is the darkest side to
every disaster.
Self-defense comes down to two basic categories: Home Security & Self-Defense Tools
and Training
Home Security
Simple and inexpensive upgrades to your homes security can be very eective in
preventing successful break-ins during disaster scenarios. A few basic upgrades can
include:
Solid metal or wood doors no decorative glass.
Dead-bolt on every outside door.
Consider an inside mounted door bar for added security.
Beware of Dog sign even if you just have a cat or goldsh. Criminals are
looking for easy targets.
Upgraded door hardware with deep-set 3 screws.
Exterior motion lights (solar-powered) front and back.
Defensive rose bushes below each ground-level window.
Upgraded window locks / cut wood-block stoppers for inside.
Well-advertised video alarm system whether you have one or not.
Self-Defense Tools & Training
Guns are the obvious home defense weapon. The type is a personal choice. I prefer
shotguns. Regardless of what type of gun you choose to own, it can be more of a
liability than an asset if you dont know how to use it. Firearms training and practice
are crucial elements to gun ownership and eective self-defense. Other inferior
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self-defense tools include pepper spray and stun guns.
Action Steps:
Make necessary upgrades to home security
Decide on a home self-defense weapon
Train and practice with your weapon of choice
You cant shoot without ammunition
Two Things Many People Forget
1. Know how to turn o your utilities. Disasters have a way of damaging electrical
lines/circuits, gas lines, and water lines. If yours are aected you may need to turn
them o. The crawl space in my house once lled with water during a large-scale
ood. I had to shut o the electricity to my house to prevent a very dangerous
situation. Make sure you have the proper tools (and knowledge) to quickly and safely
disconnect all of your utilities.
2. Disasters can also aect sewage systems and trash removal. When that ood
I mentioned happened, I could not ush my toilet. The ood water had completely
lled my septic tank. Store extra heavy-duty trash bags to contain human waste and
trash just in case. Its important to maintain a very sanitary bug-in environment. A
5-gallon bucket lined with a trash bag makes a suitable makeshift toilet.
Conclusion
There are many facets to consider when preparing for a potential Bug In. While this is
not an exhaustive list, it is a great place to start. There are countless people on the
East Coast right now wishing they had prepared just the basic necessities for the
uncertain days or even weeks ahead. This is the unfortunate truth after every disaster
regardless of type, size, or location. As of this writing over 4 million people are still
without power from Hurricane/Storm Sandy, and some may not have it restored for
another ten days. Its easy to let life get in the way of preparing for the future.
Ironically, though, our future is shaped by the things we do (or dont do) today.
Remember, its not IF but WHEN.
Creek Stewart
____________________
Creek Stewart is a Senior Instructor at the Willow Haven Outdoor School for Survival,
Preparedness & Bushcraft. Creeks passion is teaching, sharing, and preserving
outdoor living and survival skills. Creek is also the author of the book Build the
Perfect Bug Out Bag: Your 72-Hour Disaster Survival Kit. For more information,
visit Willowhaven Outdoor.
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Like 3k
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1 Hal November 1, 2012 at 10:32 pm
Yes but you need to be careful with fuel heaters and generators. The exhaust /
burnt fuel will produce Carbon Monoxide that can kill just as bad as a storm
could. Ventilate your generator and have a fresh air system / vent for your
burners.
Camping stoves should be ne if you use them only once and a while.
2 Mike November 1, 2012 at 10:51 pm
Zombie Squad (http://zombiehunters.org/index.php) is a good resource for this
kind of info, and the forums have a lot of friendly folks oering advice on disaster
preparation.
Dont be fooled by the zombie schtick, either as they say, if youre ready for the
zombie apocalypse, youll be ready for a pesky tornado, hurricane, or other
natural disaster.
3 Casey November 2, 2012 at 12:07 am
I enjoyed the action steps. Having that clear concise do this now was really
helpful.
4 G.M. Schooley November 2, 2012 at 2:01 am
Great article! I have learned much from the folks over at
http://www.survivalistboards.com
similar info here!
5 Splashman November 2, 2012 at 4:49 am
Great article, thank you.
I live in the Seattle area, where the only real threat of natural disaster is an
earthquake an unpredictable but no less real threat. I am slowly (as nances
allow) working on an emergency stockpile, and this article gave me several good
ideas, especially re: re & cooking.
Ill second the authors exhortation to get rst-aid training (and I dont mean
only CPR). I took a course through a local community college; it was the best and
most useful class Ive ever taken on any subject. One fringe benet is that the
notion of dealing with a life-threatening injury doesnt completely freak me out
now.
6 Ming Bucibei November 2, 2012 at 5:28 am
Beware unverted heaters carry hight risk of CO poisonig as do unvented
generators!!
Bulk dried beans, rice and corn, etclong storage like store in vermin proof
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containers.
Ming Bucibei
7 Matt November 2, 2012 at 6:15 am
As a resident of NJ who just recently got power back after Sandy, I only wish this
article had been distributed to the rest of the state a few weeks ago. I had/have
most of the items on this list handy, and was able to fare a few days power-free
with my wife and son without any issue. Neighbors helping anyone who was less
prepared is how the rest got through it safely. So many people here believed that
a true disaster could never aect them, and now that it has, they are unprepared
and confused as to why they arent on the top of the list to have their power /
water restored. It never ceases to amaze how reliant we are on our utilities and
how quickly we crumble without them. Heres hoping everyone can be this
prepared in the future, and makes it safely through this disaster.
8 Matt November 2, 2012 at 6:22 am
The other consideration may be tools you will need in a long term survival
situation. A chainsaw, axe, hatchet, handsaw, etc. can be essential tools to collect
rewood or clear fallen trees that present a danger to your shelter. A small
toolbox to keep all those heaters, stoves, and generators running is always a
good idea as well.
9 Noel November 2, 2012 at 6:58 am
Important thing to remember: Make sure you have at least one battery-powered
CO (Carbon Monoxide) detector handy before you use ANY of the emergency
heat options suggested above. AND MAKE SURE IT WORKS!!
I live in Maine, and every time the powers out for more than a couple days it
seems like theres an article in the news about somebody who died because their
heater pumped their house full of CO, or their house burned down around them,
and their detector had no batteries.
10 M November 2, 2012 at 7:14 am
Take care with using portable heaters indoors if not properly vented, they could
kill you. Carbon monoxide and other gases can be deadly. Elderly, children, and
sick people should be especially careful. Never use camping stoves without fresh
air ventilation. Also portable heaters and stoves greatly increase risks of burns
and res. Keep re extinguishers and rst aid kits handy. Be prepared.
11 W. Scott Hannon, Esq. November 2, 2012 at 8:42 am
Your website continues to impress me. At rst I thought it might be a bit
boy-scout-esque and not very useful, but after following its articles for awhile
now, I recommend it to my brothers at my Masons lodge, and continue to peruse
it for new ideas I might have missed myself. As a former Marine ocer and
combat veteran, I can tell you that I know much thought is put into every
22 of 35 12-11-09 08:14 PM
recommendation you make in all your articles. Young men in this day and age
would be well served to read your site and at least think about your
recommendations. There is no more stark example of manliness than a man
being able to survive and thrive under all circumstances be it dressing
appropriately for any situation to being ready for natural and man-made
disasters. Keep up the good work!
12 Ben Thompson November 2, 2012 at 9:20 am
Thanks for posting. I thought I was somewhat ready to bug in but now I see I
am now where near actually being ready. This will be remedied soon.
13 Bruce Williamson November 2, 2012 at 9:30 am
We dont have long power outages but we have frequent outages. Usually during
strong storms and at night. We use light sticks for lighting areas like the
bathroom. Your eyes adjust to the darkness and become sensitive enough that
the light from one stick will enable you to see well enough to move around a
room.
14 JT November 2, 2012 at 9:35 am
Very good article.
15 Chris November 2, 2012 at 9:54 am
Good information. I started Prepping about 4 years ago. In both of my Bug out
bags is a copy of the FM 21-76 ARMY SURVIVAL MANUAL. Here is the link to
the free manual:
http://www.ar15.com/content/manuals/FM21-76_SurvivalManual.pdf
Still looking for it on waterproof paper Im not saying you should just print this
out and relax you need to have prepared just as this article describes but
this manual shows you everything from what plants you can and cannot eat to
traping techniques to weapons making, rst aid, psychological survival (which
most people overlook!) and everything else you can imagine. It also contains a
ton of information on things you probably did not think of as well. I also thought
of my wife and kids when I printed it out, because, although I believe I am
prepared, there is a chance something could happen to me and they may have to
survive on their own.
Anyway great article!
16 Iron Ghost November 2, 2012 at 10:44 am
Good article! Also I have modied regular 220 and 228 model coleman lanterns
to run on e10 87 octane gasoline without clogging, instead of coleman fuel
(white gas, naptha). They will still run on Coleman as well, and do it allot better.
Ive run 3-4 tanks through each lantern without a hitch so far, where as 1/2 a
tank of gasoline would clog the generator in the original design. Its easy, anyone
that wants to know how, give me a shout. Also in freezing conditions, if you loose
23 of 35 12-11-09 08:14 PM
power, you must turn o the water to your building/house, and open a faucet
outside and let the pipes drain, otherwise when it warms up the next day or a
few days later, youll be ooded by broken pipes.
17 Cheryl November 2, 2012 at 11:04 am
As always, EXCELLENT info, Creek. Good refresher course, plus reminds me of
things I need to update in my preps. Shared with my loved ones.
18 Ryan Grimm November 2, 2012 at 11:05 am
Some Caveats:
Kerosene heaters are illegal in Massachusetts. Just sayinthat Kleen-Heat is
the best if not cheapest fuelodorless, and also great for oil lamps.see more
below on lamp fuels.
That little propane heater can be adapted to run on 20 or 100 pound bulk tanks.
Not to mention, a hell of a lot cheaper to operate
Oil lamps are a safe and bright alternative for both light AND heat. Use the
aforementioned Kleen-Heat for fueland the best lamp, albeit priciy initially, is
an ALADDIN oil lampget spare mantles, one spare wick, and a spare chimney
or two.
TWO GREAT sites for oil lamp info and parts are:
http://www.milesstair.com/
They have the most info on wicks, and the best selection.
Also see what they have related to Tubular Wick lamps and fuels.youd be
surprised.
http://www.oillampparts.com/
Another great source of parts and advice.
I restore and sell oil lampssorry, no web page up yet.
19 Gary November 2, 2012 at 11:17 am
We keep an emergency cash fund on site-all small bills. Cash is still king when
disasters hit.
20 Richard November 2, 2012 at 11:22 am
To your supplies I recommend add some tarps of plastic sheeting. Many of the
natural disaster that would require you to bug-in could involve high winds or
ground movement both could aect your structure. For a broken window or
damage to your roof a sheet of plastic or tarp comes in very handy. I keep 3 810
traps and a larger 2040. A positive mind set .. think of it as camping and enjoy.
21 Shanon November 2, 2012 at 11:34 am
Im mostly prepared and am grateful for your posts. I wanted to bring up a few
24 of 35 12-11-09 08:14 PM
things I didnt see mentioned. Stock up on dry beans and peas. These are cheap
and easy and store for years. Dont count on being able to hunt for food. Game
animals get scarce. After the mine closed in Leadville CO, hungry miners ate all
the available game in just a few months and deer, elk, etc. took years to return.
The last thing I want to mention is to build a simple solar water purier to purify
saltwater or silty, river or creek water. Ive seen them in action and a 1 1/2 ft by
8ft purier can produce gallons of clean water on a sunny day. I did a quick
search for a link, there are few methods, but none that I like as much as the one
I have in mind. Ill see what I can nd later to share.
Thanks again for your dedicated work. Hope this helps.
22 Mike Key November 2, 2012 at 12:36 pm
Great article and timely advice considering all the horribly unprepared people
who are now starving and without power or fuel in NY.
23 David November 2, 2012 at 12:44 pm
Would there be carbon monoxide concerns with those kerosene heaters when
used indoors?
24 Mike November 2, 2012 at 1:01 pm
Do not forget, if you are using any type of open ame to heat indoors you need to
consider ventilation to prevent a potentially lethal situation. Kerosene and
propane heaters are great- but they need a cracked window or some type of air
exchange or you will eventually smother yourself. Properly installed replaces
and wood stoves are vented by design.
25 bigWOWO November 2, 2012 at 1:32 pm
Creek,
I enjoyed your blog post.
One thing I would say thoughnot for me, but for other peopleis that some of
the solutions above, especially those for cooking food, should be explicitly and
conspicuously marked with a big warning: OUTDOOR USE ONLY I
unfortunately have read of too many people barbecuing indoors, only to succumb
to carbon monoxide poisoning.
26 John Waldron November 2, 2012 at 2:07 pm
GREAT article! As an Eagle Scout and US military vet, I would like to add one
thing. The BEST survival tool in the world is your MIND and the ATTITUDE that
you MUST have to survive.
27 Bill G November 2, 2012 at 3:21 pm
Excellent article. My two cents: You evacuate when you are told to evacuate. You
25 of 35 12-11-09 08:14 PM
prepare when you are told to prepare. Hurricane Sandy (and last years Irene)
has taught me (I live in NJ) one important lesson even though youve
prepped, dont wait till you are down to your last bottle of water, can of beans,
or gallon of gas to work on getting more. All of these things are available but
everyone waits till theyre desperate then PANIC.
28 Mike Y. November 2, 2012 at 3:30 pm
Great article! I follow most of these advice already. My skills were put to the test
here in North East. We had no power for 3 days.
I will second the other Mike. Zombie Squad forum is very much in line with this
blog. You can get a ton of additional information on the topic there.
http://zombiehunters.org/forum/
29 Rob November 2, 2012 at 3:40 pm
One thing I think should be included in disaster/ apocalypse/ bug out prep is
Liquor! Some cheap scotch or whiskey has many uses that people dont really
think about. In dire situations it can disinfect wounds, you can use it to cook, use
it for trade(in cases of the apocalypse), use it to help yourself sleep, help keep
you warm, etc
I am open to critique! Let me know what you guys think!
30 Practice November 2, 2012 at 3:46 pm
Just noticed that Build the Perfect Bug Out Bag: Your 72-Hour Disaster Survival
Kit by Creek Stewart is part of this months Amazons collection of 100 Kindle
books for $3.99 or less.
31 Keegan Elliot Fonte November 2, 2012 at 4:09 pm
I would really like to see a link to an article written about canning if that is the
way that we decide to go for food storage. I live in NYC and belong to a CSA
(Community Supported Agriculture) which delivers organic vegetables weekly. I
never seem to be able to eat all of them before the next delivery(although my
girlfriend and I try REALLY hard to do so) and I would love to can the leftovers in
the meantime. Any suggestions Brett?
32 GratefulPrepper November 2, 2012 at 5:27 pm
Regarding your deep FREEZERS I have stored gallon jugs of drinking water in
the freezer so that in the event of a power outage, I can move these jugs around
in there to keep things cool at least for a little while, or even use them in a cooler
to temporarily keep meats and such. When the jugs thaw, they will provide us
with gallons of pure drinking water. I agree we need to begin consuming what is
in the freezer and only use it for short term storage. I have taken to thawing out
the vegetables, draining them, then dehydrating them. Since they are already
blanched before they were frozen, it is an easy task which is helping to reduce
26 of 35 12-11-09 08:14 PM
the inventory in our freezer.
33 Patrick Buechner November 2, 2012 at 5:35 pm
Because we live in the San Francisco Bay area, were concerned with the water
and SEWAGE system being oine in a big quake. So I would add an emergency
toilet to the list. You can nd toilet seat attachments for 5 gallon drums online.
Add strong plastic bags and sawdust or kitty litter.
34 Chris Thompson November 2, 2012 at 7:32 pm
Good article. I would like to add Cyalume brand glowsticks to the list. They have
no ame, and are non-toxic. We snapped two each night this past week after
Sandy knocked out our power. One went to bed with our ve year old son. The
other was placed in the hallway of our house. They provided more than enough
light to navigate by.
35 Debbie November 2, 2012 at 10:05 pm
Great Article. In light of the countrys recent natural disaster hopefully people
are realizing that we all need some type of emergency or survival kits. Every
house hold in America should have on a minimum one 72 hour kit per person in
their household. When this task is done each family should store enough water
for a week and at least 2 weeks to 3 months worth of food to survive on.
36 Erin Grace November 3, 2012 at 12:53 am
Great article as always, Creek! Although its slow going, Ive been working on
both Bug-Out and Bug-In solutions since your BoB article last year, and Im
proud to say that Ive amassed reasonable kits for both! Although its slow going
if you want to do it cheap, its worth it for the peace of mind.
37 Bradley November 3, 2012 at 7:19 am
@ Rob, re: Liquor.
Rob, my uncle is a retired Army Col., and a serious prepper. I trust his advice. He
says that liquor will be a top currency in any serious disaster since itll pull
double duty as a moral booster and an antiseptic. Youre spot on!
38 Kate November 3, 2012 at 7:20 am
@Keegan Elliot Fonte: One great canning site I recommend is
http://www.foodinjars.com/ From there youll nd lots of great ideas as wellas
links to other sites. Happy canning!
39 Bradley November 3, 2012 at 7:20 am
Oops! I meant morale booster. I dont know if alcohol has ever been a moral
booster. My bad.
40 J S November 3, 2012 at 8:14 am
27 of 35 12-11-09 08:14 PM
Standard water jugs, like the one gallon milk jug and the rectangular
countertop 2.5 gallon containers often dont last a year before they spring a leak
and empty themselves. So keep watch of them to ensure you have the water you
think you do .. and dont store them over top of your dried goods.
41 Native Son November 3, 2012 at 10:00 am
A couple of cationary notes on the kerosene & propane heaters and the gasoline
fueled generators.
Virtually every kerosene and propane heater Ive seen is clearly labelled not for
indoor use because of the carbon monoxide threat.
Gasoline generators have two issues. First you have to keep the exhaust out of
the living space. A recent news article reported some folks had been killed by the
carbon monoxide from their generator. Theyd put the thing out in their garage
and run it there. Unfortunately, the garage had some vent connection with the
house (per the article, they were separated by a breezeway) and the CO got into
the house, apparently via the attic.
Second, modern gasoline is quite iy concerning shelf life in the mall
quantities one would have on hand for a week or twosworth of running the
generator. Also, the stu is ntorious (at least in California) for gumming up small
engine carburettors to the point of the engine not running. Not the best thing to
discover when you need the generator. Although fuel stablizer helps, the local
small engine repair shop advises not storing gasoline longer than two weeks.
Their advice is after that, put it in the car, and rell the gas can with fresh fuel.
quantitiesbeyond
42 Steve November 3, 2012 at 1:05 pm
Just a reminder that almost everyone has a ready-made generatoryour car.
You can buy an inverter cable kit for about $50-60 that plugs into your cigaret
lighter and gives AC output. That, along with an extension cord can provide
power for some basic items.
43 Ray Salomone November 3, 2012 at 5:09 pm
Im a former special ops soldier who just made it through the hurricane. We live
on the Hudson River. I made the decision to stay where we were based on my
experience and all available info. But I monitored the situation closely and had a
Plan B and C and D ready to roll.
44 Martin November 3, 2012 at 6:41 pm
Thank you for the great article!
May I suggest a German made Fissler pressure cooker? This is not for canning,
but for cooking. Stainless Steel!
Gets to steam fast; after that, tiny heat under it is all you need. Great for meats,
grains, and veggies. Highly ecient use of fuel, and perfect for rocket stove.
45 Craig November 3, 2012 at 9:44 pm
28 of 35 12-11-09 08:14 PM
Good article but incomplete. As I prepare I focus on these 12 items (not
necessarily in this order):
1. Cash or bartering assets
2. Security
3. Housing
4. Heat/cooling
5. Water
6. Food
7. Garbage
8. Sewage
9. Health Care
10. Transportation
11. Communication
12. Power
Most of these were covered well. It would be nice to see a write up on the others.
46 NicoleK November 4, 2012 at 2:39 am
Why dont American homes, as a rule, not have functional shutters? I live in
Switzerland and almost all the homes have them, either the ones that close over
your window like a door and hook shut, or the ones that roll down like blinds.
They keep in heat, and keep out burglars. Many families close all the shutters
every night. We shutter rooms like the guest room when we dont have guests to
save heat.
Forget blanketing your windows. Consider getting shutters. Real ones.
47 Rob K November 4, 2012 at 8:11 pm
Great article. A couple of notes. Many of us live south of the Mason-Dixon line.
Heat, not cold is the problem. Tarps for roof repair can also be shade outside a
badly damaged house. A family sized tent allows you to bug out as far as your
own yard if the house is unsafe (or just too hot)
Besides water, sports drinks are not that costly, take up the same amount of
space, and provide much needed nutrients when working in the heat.
Our gas grille (bought after Katrina) has a side burner that makes it much more
useful, think coee, scrambled eggs, boiling water, soups, etc
48 Nancy November 4, 2012 at 8:53 pm
You can also bring your solar pathway lights indoors to light up the house at
night and recharge during the day (if the sun shines, that is)
49 J. Delancy November 4, 2012 at 9:27 pm
Good article but it missed a really important item. Radio.
29 of 35 12-11-09 08:14 PM
Here in The Bahamas we still depend on a National Radio Station to give us
updates on the movement of storms, how powerful they are and the all clear.
Even though the government cant get to us during times of emergency they can
keep us informed. Im sure that is the case in most parts of the world.
Get a AM/FM radio.
50 Jonny November 4, 2012 at 10:49 pm
http://www.emergencyfoodstorage.co.uk if youre in the UK or Europe.
51 Jonny Gibaud November 4, 2012 at 10:55 pm
http://www.emergencyfoodstorage.co.uk if you are in the UK or Europe.
52 CDS November 5, 2012 at 8:53 am
One step my family also takes is to ll the bathtubs with water so that we can
still have a modicum of toilet functionality if the water lines leading to the house
stop owing.
We also use GratefulPreppers freezing ice technique on a smaller scale and use
ice in sandwich bags or frozen water bottles to help keep the freezer and
refrigerator as cool as we can. Having small bags of ice means that we can
remove it in small amounts if necessary after going to the store. (Our main threat
is hurricanes, so we usually have time to prepare both generally for the season
and for a specic storm.)
53 Kevin T. November 5, 2012 at 10:16 am
Id also add to the list a section on communications. Having a solar or hand
cranked Am/FM/Weather radio is a must. I would also consider adding a CB /
Ham radio to the mix as well.
54 Dennis November 5, 2012 at 11:20 am
I have a propane indoor heater. It has 2 safety features. One is if the heater falls
over, it will shut o automatically and the other if it detects too little oxygen. I
used it during Sandy when our power was out and it heated my living room and
dining room area 4 degrees in 2 hours. I also purchased a unit which lls your
small canisters of propane from your 20lb tank. It cost about 20.00 but I could
not get the small canisters at any of the usual home hardware stores or sporting
good stores.
55 LexingtonNC November 6, 2012 at 12:28 am
Drying food is one way to stockpile shelf-stable food.
My wife was pretty excited tonight when she nibbled some 7 year old apple
sections we had in the cupboard. Amazed, actually. Fruits, vegetables, meats,
soups and snacks can all be dried years in advance of need and are unaected by
30 of 35 12-11-09 08:14 PM
heat (if you can take it, they can take it), cold, loss of power.
Dried food is also 1) nutritious, 2) calorie dense (important when under stress)
and lightweight in case your plans to bug-in dont work out.
Drying is not some sort of magic wand, but it is a very worthwhile arrow in your
preparedness quiver.
56 Jude Montarsi November 6, 2012 at 3:22 am
Very well written and illustrated page. Survival for Dummies. Useful primer,
good product suggestions and links.
57 Edohaus November 6, 2012 at 5:37 am
Seen Dooms day preppers on Discovery Channel, what bothers me more is that
not all people have their own houses. Some live in apartment buildings. Guys
have any idea for this type of scenario?
58 WhoWuddaThunkIt November 6, 2012 at 10:24 am
Good Article, I would like to follow up with a few added suggestions and
cautions.
Burning a candle in a car, seems creative, but can also deplete oxygen in the car
as well as it is an open ame and be sure not to fall asleep.. or occasionally open
a window for fresh air and let out the moisture. Wet and cold is not good.
The Freeze Dried Food WISE Brand is nasty tasting, so buy some samples before
buying in bulk. I recommend Mt House for sure. Its excellent. Wise food contains
a lot of salt, some as much as 300% of the daily intake so if you want a heart
attack, then sure buy WISE. LOL MREs are good, but weigh more than MT
House if you need to carry food out for a bug out.
For canned and other food storage, write the expiration date in large bold print
like with a Sharpie on the item like the top of the can. Like 9/16.. Thus insures
proper rotation and keep food categories according to date, not by type so you
eat the soon to expire food rst.
RE: Household Bleach to purify water Clorox has many varieties, and I suggest
the COLD WATER Bleach as it has the right amount of (4-6% sodium
hypochlorite) Many of the other types do not have this percentage of NA HCL.
In your bug out bag, keep a Paper list of phone numbers, as your cell phone
battery may die and many people cannot remember a phone number like in the
old days when we dialed. Also keep a PAPER Country map of your area, if you
need to bug out or go in search of an alternative water source; Ponds creeks,
rivers etc.
For Self Defense Forget 911 it already takes 15 mins to an hour for them to
31 of 35 12-11-09 08:14 PM
arrive to take a report after the fact, take care of Biz yourself. Stock up on heavy
duty trashbags, rubber gloves, bleach and a shovel to dispose of the debris.
Collecting and storing rain water to use as Toilet ushing is perfect, and can be
used as a back up for drinking water with some COLD Water Bleach sanitizing.
Good Luck out there everyone!!
59 Jason B. November 6, 2012 at 10:39 am
Three days before the hurricane, I went to the grocery store and saw people
buying all the water and bread o the shelves. I went not to purchase food but
just to watch the craziness. The lines were tremendous. My wife and I are from
GA and live in DC. Weve been days without power on many occasions and know
how to get through. After hearing about a lady who bought multiple gallons of
water so her family could take a shower, I decided to make this video to help
people get in the right frame of mind.
http://youtu.be/vhrDhkEPzn0
60 cherryl November 6, 2012 at 11:50 am
My emergency supplies keep getting raided
( mostly by my husband). So instead of tarps, I bought a bunch of pink shower
curtain liners from the dollar store. Pink twine and rope as well. The dollar store
is a great resource.
61 Quigath November 6, 2012 at 12:17 pm
Thats a little overkill on storing water in 2-liter bottles. Not the amount, just the
method. If theyve been properly sanitized as described, and lled with municipal
water thats been chlorinated already, 2-liter water bottles should last in a dark
place for 3-5 years not just 1 year, without needing to be changed. You only need
to change the water if it gets algae or bacteria. Also, everythings been sterilized
previously so you dont need to add bleach to each bottle, spare your body the
toxicity bad taste when you eventually need to drink that stu.
I like the ideas for re and using a wood stove or backyard re pit. I saw an
instruction for a diy rocket stove recently (there are many).
For home defense last year I cut 1x1.5 wood sticks to block all sliding windows.
I also painted them white to match the window frames.
Anyone have recommendations for Exterior motion lights (solar-powered)
front and back.? I bought one from Lowes last year for $50 but took it back
before installing; it seemed too cheap to do the job.
62 hbg November 6, 2012 at 8:17 pm
Great idea in regards to the toilet. How many people have bought homebrew
beer kits, and no longer use them?
32 of 35 12-11-09 08:14 PM
63 Rob November 7, 2012 at 7:17 pm
Something else I found looking into MREs and stu are these survival tabs.
Apparently you can survive for a month or two just eating 12 tabs a day provided
you have water.
64 Hugh November 7, 2012 at 8:48 pm
Great article! One suggestion, though: a good AF/FM radio, preferably with a
hand-cranking option, and/or spare batteries. Also, a back-up battery (or 2) for
your cell phone.
65 frank gucciardo November 8, 2012 at 9:22 am
I am living in the middle of Sandy here on Long Island and have been traveling
into the hardest hit area where whole blocks have burned to the ground because
of a blown transformer. 99.9% of Long Island was not prepared in any shapewe
just got 6 of snow last night and the power is still o in the hardest hit sections..
Flat out bad deal.
66 frank gucciardo November 8, 2012 at 9:26 am
I should say that I have been traveling into the hardest hit areas with my Church
to help those folks who dont see any hope. Cleaning up, encouragingdoing our
part as Americans and doing our part as the Church.
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