Emergency Disaster Survival Links.

Many times. Remember the cans with the sweet roll and the four cigarette container?

 

This is a good thread. I wonder how many of us have the survival skills to live off the land if there were no groceries, cars, or McDonalds, heaven forbid?

 

From what I see of those around me, there'll be very few. And most of those will be the older generations, which are dying out. My great nieces and nephews don't have a clue. :tear:

Recently I did a presentation to a group of school children as a part of a demonstration of Colonial life. Two things emerged. (1) Lack of knowledge of basics that don't involve pressing a button or flipping a switch. (2) Boredom as they couldn't see a practical application in their world of video games and McDonalds. Uhmmm..... make that three. (3) Plently of outreaching hands for anything that was "free".

In the last couple of years I've been blessed with the opportunity to work with a wide variety of wild game. An opportunity to learn the art of butchering and cooking same. At the same time observed the number of people who ran from the same opportunity. Yes, ran! "Let me leave before you start that."

 

The real survival skill will be defending whatever stashes one may have against those who have nothing to eat.

Cannibalism has been documented among the human kind, given the right circumstances, even among the "civilized".

Where does buying and selling and the mark of the beast come into play?

While the operating temperatures in our SUV's is around 190 F, we probably will not have any fuel to operate the engine. Sunshine can be used to heat stuff, if one knows how. It really does not matter much about serving temperature anyway if one is in survival mode--worms and grubs taste about the same, hot or cold. It is a good idea to boil acorns before consumption--too much tannic acid.

Peace,

Bro. James

 

IMO, in these times we should move beyond "Emergency Disaster Survival" thinking. As long as a home is still livable, with basic preparations, most can survive reasonably well for a couple of weeks or so. What do you do when the weeks turn into months or longer? What can you do if your home is destroyed? What can you do when the last battery has died or you've eaten your last slice of loaf bread?

Before that happens, look back into time. How did people survive in the days before electricity and flushing toilets? How did people survive when all they had was a covered wagon or a log cabin in the wilderness?

Below is a series of links to add to this thread. But, before I get there, some food for thought. What will you do with the information? Having a link is meaningless if you can't access the Internet for some reason. Having a copy of the information on your computer is also meaningless if you can't use your computer for some reason. Having read the "instructions" for xyz is meaningless if you don't have the basic supplies and equipment to complete the task. And, it's almost meaningless if you don't have any hands-on experience. Many survival skills are an art that takes practice to become proficient. You don't want to burn the biscuits using your last batch of flour.

In addition to backups of links, copies of info in your computer and on backup media, print as much as you can for hardcopy reference. To save on paper and ink set your printer to fast draft or equivalent and print on both sides of the paper. Sometimes it's more efficient to transfer the information to your own document. Bring it into a word processing program where you can use a smaller font, delete un-necessary information and pictures, use narrow margins, etc. As long as you are doing this for your personal use ONLY there shouldn't be any copyright worries.

Now for the links.

Realistic Self-Sufficiency: The Do's and the Don'ts
http://www.grandpappy.info/hself.htm (One of the best sites I've found.)

Home milling your own flour just makes sense!
http://www.breadexperience.com/home-milling.html

Bushcraft Living
http://www.bushcraftliving.com/skills
You don't have to be in the wilderness. Utilize in your own backyard. Turn a corner of your backyard into a "rustic" campground. To practice these skills. To keep a low profile with your neighbors be discrete in your setup and in discussion of why you're doing this. ie teaching the kids about campfires or something similar.

Dian Thomas Free Articles - Roughing It Easy author.
http://www.dianthomas.com/articlecategories.htm

Graves' Bushcraft Books: 00. Introduction (10 books/chapters)
http://chrismolloy.com/page.php?u=p131

Native Tech - http://nativetech.org/
Welcome to NativeTech: Indigenous Food and Traditional Recipes
http://www.nativetech.org/recipes/index.php

Ravenlore Bushcraft - http://www.ravenlore.co.uk/index.html
Primative Ways - http://www.primitiveways.com/index.html

Welcome to TrailCooking.com and FreezerBagCooking.com
http://www.trailcooking.com/

Wilderness Survival Article Listing - http://www.simplesurvival.net/articles.htm

Survivaltek - Teaching the Ways and Means to Survive
http://survivaltek.com/

Byron's Dutch Oven Cooking Page -
http://papadutch.home.comcast.net/~papadutch/

International Dutch Oven Society - http://www.idos.com/

Emergency Preparedness and Response
http://www.lds.org/topics/emergency-preparedness

Millennium Ark: Emergency Prepardness
http://standeyo.com/News_Files/Hollys.html

The Biosand Filter - http://www.biosandfilter.org/biosandfilter/index.php/item/229

Water Treatment Methods - http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/water-treatment.htm

It isn't necessary to boil water for 10 minutes as is often recommended. This is a waste of fuel. Milk is pasturized at a much lower temp. Bringing water to the boiling point simply gives a visual aid that the water is hot enough for long enough to be safe to drink from a patogens standpoint.

Making an Oil Burning Candle - http://www.instructables.com/id/Make-an-oil-burning-candle/

How to Make a Coffee Can Heater
http://foodstoragemadeeasy.net/2009/04/22/coffee-can-heater/#content

Emergency Sanitation - http://foodstoragemadeeasy.net/emergency-preparedness/emergency-sanitation/

Oil & Cola Emergency Lamp. http://www.tightwad.com/tips8.htm

Tin Can Cookery http://www.scoutingmagazine.org/issues/9411/a-tcan.html

Solar Fryer http://solarcooking.wikia.com/wiki/Solar_Fryer

Making and using a solar cooker
http://www.backwoodshome.com/articles/radabaugh30.html

Zen Backpacking Stoves Home of the Alcohol Stove http://zenstoves.net/

52 Week Food Storage Purchasing Plan
http://pgward.org/ep/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/weeklypurchasingplan-new.pdf


These are a few of the links that I've accumulated over the last few years. If time permits I'll add to this list, if anyone finds this to be helpful.

 

Poncho, I just added some more links to your thread. Feel free to include them in your update, if you like.

 

Your first point, probably isn't discussed very often on this forum. However, it is a very valid concern. What will a father do if he has hungry children to feed? Especially if he knows there's food behind a locked door.

When the population of large cities is forced to spread across the countryside to find food, home security is a valid issue. Not only from the standpoint of shooting someone to keep a can of beans for your own children. If events become this bad, people will have to make life and death decisions about who they will share what they have. Using myself as the example, I can't feed all the friends and neighbors who knock on my door. I know that in some of the homes in the developments that have sprung up around us, there are people who pride themselves with not having to cook. That means empty pantries. Closets full of designer clothing and empty refrigerators. (sigh)

Even some of my own family members didn't learn from what they went through with hurricanes and ice storms that have hit our area. In some cases the power was out for 2 weeks or more.

On using a vehicle for heating foods and dehydrating, make sure it is an old model. Newer ones will still be outgasing fumes from the plastics inside of them. A better choice, IMO, is to utilize a solar cooker of some type. The cardboard box versions are inexpensive and can be homemade with a mimimum of effort. Many types of "containers" can be turned into solar cookers, too. For example, a defunct gas or charcoal gril can be converted. Those on wheels are also easy to move to follow the sun.

The back of a pickup truck is an ideal place for a portable solar cooker. Park the truck so the backend faces the sun. The tailgate provides a work surface. Do the necessary prep work and then place the cooker in the truck bed and close the tailgate. Most neighborhood dogs can't get to the cooking food.

On to another topic:
Acorn Soup - http://www.nativetech.org/recipes/recipe.php?recipeid=115
Acorn Mush - http://www.nativetech.org/recipes/recipe.php?recipeid=11
Acorn Pancakes - http://www.nativetech.org/recipes/recipe.php?recipeid=245
Acorn Bread - http://www.nativetech.org/recipes/recipe.php?recipeid=470

How about some cattails?
http://www.wildmanstevebrill.com/Plants.Folder/Cattails.html
http://www.helium.com/items/1521624-cattail-recipes
http://wildfoodplants.com/tag/cattail-recipe

 

Solar ovens work very well when the sun is shining. They can be made from wood or cardboard and aluminum foil.

http://uberpest.com/2006/10/make-your-own-solar-cooker/

 

This IS a good thread! The "worms and grubs" kinda grossed me out, though. :laugh:

I appreciate everyone's input, ideas, and experiences!! Thanks to all!

I never let my Jeep get below 1/2 tank, so was wondering about the crisis measures for cooking and what the doctor told me has stuck in my head all these years. (Thanks, Keith.)

Am thinking stocking up on soups (like Progresso where you don't have to add water) would be wise in the emergency pantry. Also things like peanut butter & crackers, tuna, sardines, Spam, non-refrigerated puddings (like the Snack Packs), vitamins, Boost drinks, BUT the main thing is how to heat COFFEE!!!! (Note to self, get some instant) :laugh:

Loaves of bread are always in the freezer and would last for awhile once thawed out. Of course, plenty of bottled water.

And on a more personal note, Hefty garbage bags to line the commodes (in case of no running water for flushing).

Flashlights & candles & lighters.

Our fireplace is decorative gas logs, so that's no help.

We need to think about this. Poncho & I started the thread years ago as a sticky, but additions are always welcome in these uncertain times. (OT, thanks for all of your new links!)

Was wondering if a sterno set might be the answer (like they have at church buffets). One could keep water in there and set pans of soup, etc., to heat up - enough sterno could last for days. Rats, I sold my old stove top percolator at a garage sale one time.....

 

Go by the camping section at Wal-Mart. Or order on line.
Campers Coffee Pot : http://www.walmart.com/ip/Stansport-Campers-Coffee-Pot/20920957
A charcoal chimney with a small grate placed on top can become a stove. Burn charcoal or small chunks of seasoned hardwood. http://www.walmart.com/ip/Lodge-Camp-Dutch-Oven-Chimney-Starter/14550455

Portable Steno Stove - I've cooked many meals on one of these. Two of them speeds up the process. http://www.walmart.com/ip/Sterno-Portable-Folding-Stove/20434298

This folding toaster works well on a propane camping stove, gas grill, charcoal grill. http://www.walmart.com/ip/COLEMAN-CAMP-STOVE-TOASTER/13848606

That's a few items from the camping section that work well in non camping situations. Forgot... another one... a folding oven that can be used on a grill or on a 2 burner camping stove.

One way to save money is to watch for camping equipment at yard sales and flea markets. And avoid the speciality dinnerware and similar items. Usually better quality and less expensive items from the same places can be dedicated for this use. Avoid plastic handles if cooking on an open flame heat source.

FWIW, I'm a sucker for non electric coffee pots. Have a growing collection of them. Additionally, learn to make cowboy coffee. No special pot is needed for that. To make a pot, use a side cutter can opener to open a food can of the appropriate size. Remove label and wash well. Punch 2 holes just below the rim, one on each side directly opposite from each other. Cut a length of coathanger wire to form a handle. If you want a pouring spout, gently crush the top of the can on one side, centered between the two handle holes. This is easier done with a pair of pliers to form a spout.

Learn to make biscuits, cornbread, and flat breads. Store the supplies for making those, instead of loaves of bread. Other than the shortening, these items don't need refrigeration. Use the freezer space to freeze drinking water. Cleaned and sanitized 2 liter soda bottles are good for this purpose. Fill to about 85% capacity. Loosely cap until the water is frozen. Then tighten the cap.

With advanced warning fill the bathtub with water for flushing. Fill other large containers, if available. (BTW, fill all the sinks with water. Good for hand/dish washing. Fill large cooking pots with water and place near your heat source. Cover to use for cooking.

We also have a 7 gallon equivalent to one of these that's filled and placed beside the kitchen sink. Used for drinking and cooking and COFFEE!. During the summer ice can be added, when it's filled for cold water. http://www.walmart.com/ip/Rubbermaid-5-Gallon-Water-Cooler/20613574

Propane fueled lanterns and kerosene (oil) lamps are a better choice for general lighting. Where a good light is needed, as with cooking or reading propane lanterns are best. Oil lamps are good for other activities that don't require a great deal of light. They will supply more light than candles.

Just about everything you want to know about kerosene lamps can be found here. http://www.milesstair.com/site_index.html And you can make lamps using canning jars. This company has the supplies. Much less expensive than buying lamps. http://www.oillampman.com/burners/all_other_plated.htm BTW, I also buy lamps and lamp chimneys at yard sales & flea markets.

Having an oil lamp in every room is a safety factor. Don't have to carry a lit lamp or candle from room to room. Keep kitchen matches beside the lamps. Extinguish the lamp if leaving the room for more than 10-15 minutes - fuel saver and additional safety precaution.

Further on candles. I make jar candles using jelly jars. Places like Michaels carry the wicks, or you can make your own using butchers twine, strings from mops, cotton shoe laces, etc. Watch for used candles at the usual places. Wax can be melted and reused. Google candle making for lots of info.

Don't count those out either. Depending on how yours is made, you may be able to remove the fake logs and place a campfire grate in their place. Example: http://www.walmart.com/ip/Wenzel-Camp-Grill/15111415

Or you may be able to rig a tripod to fit. May need to shorten the legs. Example only: http://www.walmart.com/ip/Coghlan-s-Tri-Pod-Grill-and-Lantern-Hanger/8586946

Sam's Club has disposable full and half size disposable pans along with the rack to hold them, and the fuel. Depending on how many to feed, these may not be as efficient as the folding camp stove. There's a local discount store (not a chain) that frequently puts these items on sale. These pans have multiple uses, so I've been building up a supply of them along with extra fuel for just in case.

One more thing... I strongly urge you to use a 5 gallon bucket with a toilet seat lid. You can line those with trashbags and use anything absorbent - shredded paper, wadded newspaper, sawdust and catliter as someone else mentioned. While the bag in the tiolet will work, there's a risk of stopping up your toilet when using absorbent materials. If you are in an area where you can dispose of liquid contents old fashioned slop jars are convenient and will work. Paint cans are fine for small children. (That's what we used when I was growing up. Emptied into the outhouse each morning.)

Hope you find these thoughts to be useful.

 

Heheh, Oldtimer are you one of them thar preppers?

 

Hush up! Don't tell anybody!

Well, yes and no. Learned alot about living without modern conveniences growing up on a farm without electricity (early years) and without indoor plumbing till I married and moved off the farm. BTW, parents put that in a year later.

From those days I learned much of what is considered to be "prepping" today. Back then, it was being self-reliant. Gardening, canning, chickens, eggs, milk, firewood, longjohns, butchering animals, and just plain having the ability to hunker down to ride out what mother nature and crop failures sent our way.

I have my mothers castiron washpot. That was used both to render lard and wash clothes. If the need arises, I can do the very same thing, including making lye soap to go along with the washboard, clothesline, and clothespins. And have her sadirons (castiron clothes irons) that were heated on a wood burning cookstove. -- One of my hobbies is collecting and restoring castiron cookware and the like, including stoves.

Yes, I strive to be self-reliant. No, I'm not a typical "prepper" as I don't buy many of the items on the market that are targeted to preppers. A year's worth of dried food in 5 gallon buckets, for example. Learned how to prepare my own many years ago. No point in buying dried apples, for example, as I know where to get all I need from self-sufficient neighbors. Dry enough each year for the next year plus a reserve in case late frost plays havoc with a crop.

I'm sharing much of this, because, as I stated earlier, we need to look back in time and recover the skills and equipment needed to be more self-reliant in this fast-food, microwave, throw-away society. Watching what happened after Katrina and what's happening now with Sandy should be a neon sign to many. How long will it be before we have another major ice storm here in NC? Or worse..................

 

You and I are a whole lot alike in this area. Self reliance is ingrained in me due to my raising. Good post(s), good info you're sharing.

 

Only if you have petrol to put in the tank