Preparedness for when

nuatha

Caterina wrote: »

You know what panics me, Mar? The fact that my family don't take me seriously. That they think this is another of Mum's peculiar ideas. The twins would just not pay attention to a serious discussion about family plans for emergency scenarios. At 23, they are immortal, invincible, chillax Mum, the Zombies are not here yet! DH sort of goes along with whatever I suggest because he is a sweet, easygoing soul who just wants to please me, so if prepping makes me happy, so be it, let's prep.

I've always been under the impression OH humours me rather than takes it seriously. She's away this week, preparations include printed travel directions, including outline map, a current road atlas lives in her car but she will be using satnav, but is properly covered in case the satnav dies.
The car emergency kit remained in the car but the bugout bag came out - fair enough, she's camping and has plenty of decent gear with her. What really surprised me was the spare documents that went into the glove box as the bug out bag wasn't in the car.

But none of them think I am serious and rational, so I need to do all the prepping and stashing quietly, so that if something awful happens, at least we will have some chance of short term survival.

I never refer to it as prepping or stashing, its always emergency planning, or stocking the pantry. When we first got together she couldn't believe I kept 4-6 months food on hand, now she worries when there's a gap on the shelves.

Beetlemama, re. flour not keeping for long, the best thing is to have whole grains, then use a hand mill to grind them to flour. I have just enquirer about a hand mill that grinds and flakes too, but haven't had a reply yet, will update here when I do. Apparently the best grain to have is hard wheat but it is difficult to find in the UK from what I read. I have oats and spelt.

I've stored white flour in excess of 18 months without any issue. I don't generally buy self raising flour, but adding baking powder to old SR is usually worthwhile.

Hand grinding is hardwork.

Beetlemama wrote: »

In the spirit of preparedness, here's our plan for the zombie apocalypse:

Drive to the local prison in 90 year old neighbours car, which they will leave behind when their amazing kids (in their 60's) come to rescue them. Shout "Good news! you're all free!" (assuming the guards had all panicked and scarpered already), let everyone out - they will promptly all run away. Close the prison gates, locking ourselves in. Their kitchen will have plenty of food, the security will be excellent and we'll have lots of space. We can hold out there until the zombs die out (a la 28 days later) then we can go find a nice house. Or stay there, depending on whether we've gotten use to it.

If anyone wants to come with us, you have to prove you haven't been bitten, and give the password, which is....um...ZombieSavingExpert. There, we're ready.

That's probably the most sensible Zombie plan I've read, and it put a smile on my face.

Kitchenbunny

Mardatha - that sounds like my bag every day! While I was commuting on the train (pre-car) I would go in casual clothes and change at work - office footwear kept in the drawer of my desk. My bag now is still kind of similar.

On looking in it now I have:

A small tin (one of those ones they were giving away free with certain female hygiene products) that contains a few needles wrapped up in thread for repairs, a tiny biro, a few sheets of paper and some string (you never know when it'll come in handy!) The inside of the tin is shiny so I can try to use it to catch light and someone's attention if it is dark. Also in my bag is normally a packet of mints, but I'm in the middle of switching that to a Kendal Mint Cake bar - v yummy - for calories, toothpaste effect, morale. Usually I keep a spare pair of socks in there, a waterproof jacket, phone, emergency £1 for the ever-decreasing payphone, my driving gloves and a book. My phone has multi-functions - it doesn't have GPS or maps but I make sure I know where I'm going and it does have an LED light built in that has different patterns, including flashing, on for 1 minute, or constantly on.

People always comment on my having a large bag everywhere I go, but I like to be prepared. Just in case.

K xx

luxor4t

Popperwell wrote: »

Where did you get yours from? How Much?:)

PM on its way.

vanoonoo

I found this site at the weekend and thought it was fantastic to help focus the mind into action, I hope it helps someone
http://www.readyscotland.org/at-home/create-an-emergency-plan/

craigywv

Beetlemama wrote: »

So, just so you know I am not just a psstaking old bag here is our actual SHTF store - though we call it just "The Store" as in "...did you eat the damn crisps from the store again???" :mad:



Top shelf:

Instant noodles, stock cubes and gravy, cook in sauces for pasta, curry etc (ok on the hob), cup-a-soups, bread sticks, ready oats (instant porridge you make with water), Black Box contains packets: puddings that can be made with hot water, spice mixes, jelly (it might snow...), instant whip etc. Kilo of salt, 2 x 5kg sugar, 3 bags of flour, ground rice, pasta, tinned basic goods - beans, chili, meatballs, peas fruit etc, canned milk, jars of preserved pickles and chutney I made last year, herbs and spices, canned fish.

Bottom shelf:

Cleaning products (wrapped in plastic so it doesn't leak), dog food, LOTS of bog roll , purple box on it's side next to that is 6 months medication for everyone (may be a lot harder to come across than food), more noodles, crisps & sweets, condiments (if you burn it you can cover it in sauce), vinegar, milk, packet coffee in the far right. pack of drink straws if someone is hurt they might not be able to hold or use a glass.

Not that we're expecting the end of the world, because this is clearly not more than a couple of weeks supply (including the stored vegetables and currently growing garden/animals), but it's a start and it makes us feel better to know we at least have a few things put away.

:)looks great i love it!!!! i also have something similar mines under the stairs got it rigged out with shelves and hooks its really quite big walk in and height of first floor, i feel better knowing i have back up for the who knows what!!:)

Caterina

Beetlemama sorry I must have misunderstood you re. flour. I suppose that because I use wholemeal mostly, it has a lower shelf life. BTW your cupboard is impressive!

Elona I have stuff scattered around the house too and need to sort it all out but i am getting a lot of inspiration here so I hope to start soon!

valk_scot

Caterina wrote: »

You know what panics me, Mar? The fact that my family don't take me seriously. That they think this is another of Mum's peculiar ideas. The twins would just not pay attention to a serious discussion about family plans for emergency scenarios. At 23, they are immortal, invincible, chillax Mum, the Zombies are not here yet! DH sort of goes along with whatever I suggest because he is a sweet, easygoing soul who just wants to please me, so if prepping makes me happy, so be it, let's prep.

But none of them think I am serious and rational, so I need to do all the prepping and stashing quietly, so that if something awful happens, at least we will have some chance of short term survival.

Didn't you have plans for more common emergencies when they were younger then? Such as how to get out of the house in event of a fire, mum or dad becoming unexpectedly ill or having an accident, what to do if they were in a car crash and I was unconcious, what to do if they got seperated from you in a public place or someone tried to lure them away. That sort of thing. I used to talk to my kids in the car when they were younger about this sort of thing, they were a captive audience then! By the time all of them were five they knew how to use the phone in an emergency, what I would expect them to do if the fire alarm went off etc. I was a part time single mother, OH worked away a lot and it was just me and two kids much of the time. So we had all these scenarios rehearsed at an early age.

Now when I start talking about disaster situations and what I would expect them to do (they're 10 and 15 now) they poke fun at me a bit but they do listen! There's been a couple of times when they've run into a problem and known exactly what to do because, as DS said, "I remembered you going on about it in the car!. Even just knowing who their emergency contacts are and having their numbers in their phone helps. I hate the idea of kids panicking in a problem situation because their parents have never discussed any such likelyhood with them.

And they'll also be used to listening, even if it is only about the zombie apocalypse!

Fruball

Beetlemama wrote: »

I don't think that was me.



The flour will live forever as long as you keep it dry and weevil free (and really, even if they get in there, you can either sift them out or leave them in for protein ) with baking soda so you can make it rise once it passes a year OOD. The problem is, no one has a massive supply of flour to hand, if it happens tonight, really, how much flour does an average person keep at home?

I'd be more concerned if this went the zombie way that people would be trying to eat my dogs :rotfl: we really need to be armed but that aint gonna happen here anytime soon.

In the spirit of preparedness, here's our plan for the zombie apocalypse:

Drive to the local prison in 90 year old neighbours car, which they will leave behind when their amazing kids (in their 60's) come to rescue them. Shout "Good news! you're all free!" (assuming the guards had all panicked and scarpered already), let everyone out - they will promptly all run away. Close the prison gates, locking ourselves in. Their kitchen will have plenty of food, the security will be excellent and we'll have lots of space. We can hold out there until the zombs die out (a la 28 days later) then we can go find a nice house. Or stay there, depending on whether we've gotten use to it.

If anyone wants to come with us, you have to prove you haven't been bitten, and give the password, which is....um...ZombieSavingExpert. There, we're ready.

INSPIRED!!! Love it! :T

valk_scot wrote: »

Didn't you have plans for more common emergencies when they were younger then? Such as how to get out of the house in event of a fire, mum or dad becoming unexpectedly ill or having an accident, what to do if they were in a car crash and I was unconcious, what to do if they got seperated from you in a public place or someone tried to lure them away. That sort of thing. I used to talk to my kids in the car when they were younger about this sort of thing, they were a captive audience then! By the time all of them were five they knew how to use the phone in an emergency, what I would expect them to do if the fire alarm went off etc. I was a part time single mother, OH worked away a lot and it was just me and two kids much of the time. So we had all these scenarios rehearsed at an early age.

Now when I start talking about disaster situations and what I would expect them to do (they're 10 and 15 now) they poke fun at me a bit but they do listen! There's been a couple of times when they've run into a problem and known exactly what to do because, as DS said, "I remembered you going on about it in the car!. Even just knowing who their emergency contacts are and having their numbers in their phone helps. I hate the idea of kids panicking in a problem situation because their parents have never discussed any such likelyhood with them.

And they'll also be used to listening, even if it is only about the zombie apocalypse!

I am so proud of my DDs (6) as they know how to dial 999 and when that would be necessary, know their full address and postcode, know my Mum's telephone number and can direct me home from town and from here to my Mum's house :T

I sometimes hit them unexpectedly with a "what would you do if..." happened and altho they sometimes day "Dial 999", better that than do nothing or the wrong thing!

Most of their peers at school have no idea what their road name is, let alone postcode, emergency or family numbers.



Called DS (20) last night to talk to him about coming straight here in a SHTF scenario.... his response... "Stop watching documentaries Mum" I explained that I would be seriously worried if he didn't show up here quicker than !!!!!! off a stick.... He understood that We had a brief talk about it and he agreed that he would come straight here so that is weight off my mind, even if he doesn think I am a nutcase :rotfl:

[Deleted User]

This thread is making me think of "what to do in case of zombie apocalypse" in which case I would go to The Winchester, have a pint and wait for it all to blow over.
In all seriousness the only time I have been in an emergency situation so far was last year. When the riots kicked off in Manchester I couldn't get home. My mate picked myself and other stranded friends of ours and ferried us round to his via a supermarket where we stocked up on pizza and Jack Daniels then proceeded to his house, locked the door, put on a dvd and had a nice night in!

prepareathome

Does anyone remember the New York and Northern Seaboard black out a few years ago when a good part of Canada and North East America had all power cut.

A very close friend was at the top of the Empire State Building when it hit. Out of everyone there, thanks to me nagging her before she went to take the mini emergency kit I have been giving my children for year, she had light on her as she had torches in her bag. She told me she was the one leading people through total dark steets as she was only person out of all those milling round her that had a torch. Other bits and bobs were used back at hotel.

My son always took his pack to shut me up until 6 years ago when he went for a weekend to spain with girlfriend - they were staying in a luxury apartment and again a major power cut hit. So they got out the pack which included a little book I had put together with all sorts of info in it,including coping in the longer term than just a few days. Got out the tea light candles and were able to boil a pan of water with them and they had torches, matches etc. Now although he lives in Melbourne he has worked all over the world and always takes his pack with him, just refills it after use and even added a few bits like a fire steel - before matches were all he would consider.

For me knowing family and friends have this make me feel better that they will have some lighting, cooking ways etc even when a long way from me.

Each year in this country families end up without power for one reason or another, the most common now is flooding.

Are your stocks covered against flooding? Even if you don't like anywhere near a flood plain you can still get flooder if drains block and roads flood, don't need to be anywhere near a river.

Our water tank in loft sprung a leak many years ago and yes all my bedroom was ruined but my stocks and emergency stuff was not damaged - in those days with 5 of us in this house our bedroom was only place for other than 1 weeks supply of food. So we were rather badly flooded.