Disaster Prepareness Kits

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**Iron_Captain**

Canned soup isn't bad tasting at all in my opinion. It obviously will never beat a freshly made soup, but it certainly does not taste bad.

**thekingofkings**

Iron_Captain wrote:
Canned soup isn't bad tasting at all in my opinion. It obviously will never beat a freshly made soup, but it certainly does not taste bad.

heck, make some "customizations" to it and its great.

**Steve steveson**

Kilkrazy wrote:
That is why I carry a flamethrower in my car.

Then what do you do if your car doors freeze shut?

**nfe**

Iron_Captain wrote:
Apart from that I have a range of archaeological tools such as shovels and machetes that might come in handy in a disaster.

Well, there's something I've never taught anyone to use on a training dig.

**BaronIveagh**

Kilkrazy wrote:
That is why I carry a flamethrower in my car.

the ol' Johannesburg Car Alarm, huh?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blaster_(flamethrower)

**Kilkrazy**

Steve steveson wrote:
Kilkrazy wrote:
That is why I carry a flamethrower in my car.

Then what do you do if your car doors freeze shut?

I carry a bottle of whisky, and I can pour a bit into the lock and unfreeze it.

**Iron_Captain**

nfe wrote:
Iron_Captain wrote:
Apart from that I have a range of archaeological tools such as shovels and machetes that might come in handy in a disaster.

Well, there's something I've never taught anyone to use on a training dig.

We use them to chop through tree roots on forest dig sites. Tree roots can really mess up your trench, and the thicker ones are really hard to get through with a shovel. A machete works better for chopping roots than an axe. My teacher swears by them ever since he went on a dig in Guatemala

**Steve steveson**

Kilkrazy wrote:
Steve steveson wrote:
Kilkrazy wrote:
That is why I carry a flamethrower in my car.

Then what do you do if your car doors freeze shut?

I carry a bottle of whisky, and I can pour a bit into the lock and unfreeze it.

Clever thinking. Unless you drink the whiskey first.

**Tamereth**

A can of de-icer and maybe half a pack of polos in the glove box. As much as us brits like to moan about the weather I've never know it to be bad enough to make driving along the road impossible. The corner shop down the road is alway open and within walking distance even if we had a couple of foot or more of snow, which we never have had.

**Dreadclaw69**

thekingofkings wrote:
heck, make some "customizations" to it and its great.

Hot sauce makes everything better.

**BaronIveagh**

Iron_Captain wrote:

We use them to chop through tree roots on forest dig sites. Tree roots can really mess up your trench, and the thicker ones are really hard to get through with a shovel. A machete works better for chopping roots than an axe. My teacher swears by them ever since he went on a dig in Guatemala

I'm not surprised. I hate to say it, but the best root buster I've ever used was a WW1 German Entrenching tool. For those who like a little axe with their shovel. Not sure how a modern one will hold up, but see if you can fine one of the older German or Soviet ones with the wooden handles and very little plastic.

**BigWaaagh**

AAA membership card and a fully charged cell phone.

**Wyrmalla**

I'm one of those crazies who has a battery, cutlery, basic first aid, torch, compass, gloves, and whatever pocket lint I have on my person at all times when going out. Its just easy to throw that into a jacket. This threads reminds me to buy another folding knife (lost mine months ago fishing).

If I'm out cycling then its maps, spare fishing junk, plus overnight crap and whatever MRE have been sitting in the packs for the past couple of months in case I wind up going out further than I planned that day and don't want to find an inn somewhere. I don't think there's a shovel or anything over the top like that in there, but to be honest if thing were really that bad it doesn't take much to go to a hardware store in the Highlands and buy anything missing.

Ah, I also had a Nokia phone until a few days ago. The pinnacle of survival gear.

**BaronIveagh**

Wyrmalla wrote:
I'm one of those crazies who has a battery, cutlery, basic first aid, torch, compass, gloves, and whatever pocket lint I have on my person at all times when going out. Its just easy to throw that into a jacket. This threads reminds me to buy another folding knife (lost mine months ago fishing).

If I'm out cycling then its maps, spare fishing junk, plus overnight crap and whatever MRE have been sitting in the packs for the past couple of months in case I wind up going out further than I planned that day and don't want to find an inn somewhere. I don't think there's a shovel or anything over the top like that in there, but to be honest if thing were really that bad it doesn't take much to go to a hardware store in the Highlands and buy anything missing.

Ah, I also had a Nokia phone until a few days ago. The pinnacle of survival gear.

I would't trust an MRE you left in the car for a few months. Heat makes them spoil faster.

**cuda1179**

As long as we are somewhat on this topic, has anyone ever wanted to go fairly light backpacking/camping for a few days?
Something like a backpack with a change of clothes, a hammock, tarp, rope, canteen, some food, a hatchet, knife, matches, and fishing line with hook?
It's kind-of been on my to-do list for a number of years. Debating whether bringing a firearm would look paranoid or not.

Just hike up into the woods by a lake without anyone around for miles and enjoy the scenery and a good book.

**Wyrmalla**

BaronIveagh wrote:
Wyrmalla wrote:
I'm one of those crazies who has a battery, cutlery, basic first aid, torch, compass, gloves, and whatever pocket lint I have on my person at all times when going out. Its just easy to throw that into a jacket. This threads reminds me to buy another folding knife (lost mine months ago fishing).

If I'm out cycling then its maps, spare fishing junk, plus overnight crap and whatever MRE have been sitting in the packs for the past couple of months in case I wind up going out further than I planned that day and don't want to find an inn somewhere. I don't think there's a shovel or anything over the top like that in there, but to be honest if thing were really that bad it doesn't take much to go to a hardware store in the Highlands and buy anything missing.

Ah, I also had a Nokia phone until a few days ago. The pinnacle of survival gear.

I would't trust an MRE you left in the car for a few months. Heat makes them spoil faster.

My car has no heating, and its in the fridge.

**ingtaer**

cuda1179 wrote:
As long as we are somewhat on this topic, has anyone ever wanted to go fairly light backpacking/camping for a few days?
Something like a backpack with a change of clothes, a hammock, tarp, rope, canteen, some food, a hatchet, knife, matches, and fishing line with hook?
It's kind-of been on my to-do list for a number of years. Debating whether bringing a firearm would look paranoid or not.

Just hike up into the woods by a lake without anyone around for miles and enjoy the scenery and a good book.

Do it lots both with and without a rifle, never had anyone look twice.

**Wyrmalla**

cuda1179 wrote:
As long as we are somewhat on this topic, has anyone ever wanted to go fairly light backpacking/camping for a few days?
Something like a backpack with a change of clothes, a hammock, tarp, rope, canteen, some food, a hatchet, knife, matches, and fishing line with hook?
It's kind-of been on my to-do list for a number of years. Debating whether bringing a firearm would look paranoid or not.

Just hike up into the woods by a lake without anyone around for miles and enjoy the scenery and a good book.

Well you want to travel light where possible. If you go camping during the warmer months then a hatchet's probably unnecessary as there's enough dry wood about to use for a fire. Similarly fishing line's possibly excessive if you bring food, though can pass the time (the concern is you'll wind up bringing food anyway in case you don't catch anything. I suppose the size of the kit depends on how you're fishing though).

If you're on a bike you can carry more than on foot, though you I've no idea what the infrastructure is like where you are. Here if I want to camp I'll just go off a way from the road. However, in Scotland at least, there's loads of bothies for campers, so if you're using one of those you don't need a tent. I don't know if there's an analogy in the US, though assume that you have cabins in the National Parks or whatever. Personally I'm not a fan of carrying everything on my back when camping. If I'm going hiking I'd rather be light for the scrambles (gotta climb those mountains for the best views), and would prefer to dump anything on the bike (then lug that up the mountain ...talk about weight).

Unless you expect to be putting yourself in a survival situation instead of just a trip I'd suggest going light. Your mileage may vary though, as again I've no idea what its like in the US compared to here (the country's small enough that if you do end up in the gak a travelled road or footpath isn't too far away to find help, or hell some public transport back home, on).

Automatically Appended Next Post:

ingtaer wrote:
cuda1179 wrote:
As long as we are somewhat on this topic, has anyone ever wanted to go fairly light backpacking/camping for a few days?
Something like a backpack with a change of clothes, a hammock, tarp, rope, canteen, some food, a hatchet, knife, matches, and fishing line with hook?
It's kind-of been on my to-do list for a number of years. Debating whether bringing a firearm would look paranoid or not.

Just hike up into the woods by a lake without anyone around for miles and enjoy the scenery and a good book.

Do it lots both with and without a rifle, never had anyone look twice.

Speaking of rifles. That AR-7 which stows itself in its own stock (with two spare mags no less) looks pretty sweet. Just throw it in your bag with everything else. Though I guess most countries aren't want for hunting rifles to carry about when out. Here there's no dangerous animals (well the snakes keep their distance) so having one for protection isn't necessary. Not to say I haven't met guys out with their guns here though ...or the fun of stumbling onto an unmarked military range (let's decommission the road between the military base and its training area, but not put signage anywhere so everything just looks like fields).

**cuda1179**

Your're probably right on the hatchet. As for the "fishing kit" my kit is two bobbins from a sewing machine wound with fishing line with a hook on the end and a bobber. The Whole kit can be stored in an old prescription pill bottle.

The rifle I was thinking of taking is a Keltek Sub2000. Just because it is so light and folds up easily.

**ingtaer**

That is one funky little rifle, got a seventy year old Lee-Enfield jungle carbine myself. I usually take it (or the shotgun) to knock over some small game to eat, lots of rabbit, quail and possum around here though on longer trips will try for a deer or goat. There are no big predators in NZ either but you wouldn't want to meet a wild pig in thick brush without some firepower.
Edit: On hatchet I usually take one, not only good for firewood but also making bivvies, dealing with kills and throwing practice if you get real bored!

**djones520**

I don't have anything really packed away, but my garage is full of about $45,000 in survival gear that the Army has loaned me, so... if gak hits the fan in the next 4 years I'm covered.

**Frazzled**

Guns, lots of guns. And a chainsaw.

The world I is full of sheep, wolves, and a few sheep dogs. I choose to be a, wolf.

Automatically Appended Next Post:

oldravenman3025 wrote:
Kilkrazy wrote:
With the UK in the grip of some pretty bad weather, the Highways Agency has advised anyone who needs to drive somewhere to carry a snow emergency kit with food, hot drink in a thermos flask, blankets, etc.

I used to have an earthquake preparedness kit when I lived in Japan, with tins of bottled water, radio and so on.

What kind of disaster kits do you guys have?

I have canned goods, coffee, dried foods (like peanut butter, crackers, and ramen), MREs, and bottled water stored. Enough for a household of three for two weeks. The water, PB/ramen, and canned goods get rotated on a regular basis. When something comes up, I make sure to have extra charcoal and full propane gas bottles for the grills ahead of time.

There are first aid kits in the house and in all vehicles. We also stay on top of vehicle maintenance, including the one thing many people neglect: the spare tire. I make sure any vehicle I own has the tools to change a flat, and has the room for an extra spare tire in the event of an emergency. I make sure to have extras like the means to jump a battery, tire repair kit, a couple of quarts of motor oil, a jug of coolant, highway flares, a poncho, etc. for all the family vehicles.

We have a 10,000 watt gasoline generator and keep I it maintained. I make it a point to have several good flashlights (Surefire, Maglite, Pelican, etc) and a small stash of batteries.

We keep a spare kerosene heater and a Mr. Heater propane bottle shop heater for emergencies. Ditto for fuel cans and a couple of bottles of fuel treatment, for both kerosene and gasoline.

The little things are often the most important. Matches, professional grade extention cords, a tool kit/socket set, spare blankets, candles, basic camping gear, a good utility knife, etc. Having a little OTC meds kits is a good idea. I make it a point to keep a check on the expiration dates if a possible emergency is on the horizon, and replace what is needed. It's a must to make sure any prescription medications are filled and any extra medical needs (i.e. oxygen tanks) are taken care of beforehand in preparation. Always have fire extinguishers on hand and up to date, in the home, shop, vehicles, etc.

Communications: I have a couple NOAA weather radios, a portable FM/AM radio, and access to citizens band radio.

Of course, I have a bug out bag. And the means to defend what I have in a disaster.

This is just a few examples of what I do to prepare for emergencies and disasters. None of this is particularly outlandish or overly expensive. Most are mostly common items that can be purchased anywhere, and stuff most people will use daily anyway. Having lived through enough hurricanes, winter storms, and a couple of cases of minor civil disorder, it's worth it to me.

I like your stuff.

**Iron_Captain**

Frazzled wrote:
Guns, lots of guns. And a chainsaw.

The world I is full of sheep, wolves, and a few sheep dogs. I choose to be a, wolf.

I thought you would be a weiner dog?

**CptJake**

I have a couple 'go bags' that give my family 4 days of chow, a couple life straws, some chem lights, flashlights, a very good first aid kit, and a few other necessities ready to go (personal hygiene stuff and so on). When we almost had to unass our place during Hurricane Matty I added some 9mm and spare mags for my carry gun.

At the house I have a generator, plenty of fuel, keep several big 7 gallon jugs of water on hand, plenty of chow (at least a couple months worth) and other stuff like chainsaws to clear trees from eh driveway or whatever.

**AllSeeingSkink**

Well, living where I am the closest we get to natural disasters is a bit of flooding, so I've never even considered a disaster kit.

I do drive old cars, so my car always has a torch, tools and water. But the water is for the car rather than drinking. Now that phones have half decent torches in them I've considered taking the torch out of my car, but it does still work a lot better when you need to do some wrenching in the dark.

I guess I have a first aid kit.... if you consider gaffer tape and a box of tissues to be first aid

**Frazzled**

Iron_Captain wrote:
Frazzled wrote:
Guns, lots of guns. And a chainsaw.

The world I is full of sheep, wolves, and a few sheep dogs. I choose to be a, wolf.

I thought you would be a weiner dog?

He's in charge of logistics and blankets.if you ever had a Weiner dog you would understand the blankets.

Automatically Appended Next Post:
Also, you should have a bag or able to stuff a bag with medicines and really important papers, like deeds etc.