Survivalism

[packina45]

For those of you who carry "Get Home Bags" in your car...

What do you carry for food?

The interior of a car can get to over 120 degrees in TX.
What can take that kind of heat long term?

AB

I carry 9 high-density Mainstay 400-cal food bars, they're pretty indestructible while unopened. I also carry three of the Hormel MRE-style "store on the shelf" entrees, and eat one of them for lunch once in a while, so they're constantly getting rotated. Likewise single-serv cups of peanut butter, they get used for at-work snacks and replaced. I carry a can or two of sardines and rotate them out at least once every three months.

And since I work at a desk, I frequently just carry my bag in with me. I'm lucky enough to be in a "concealed carry friendly" workplace, so the presence of magazines and ammo in the pack isn't an issue.

[AustinBoy]

beprepared.com has what I think is a pretty good deal this month:

http://beprepared.com/product.asp_Q_pn_ ... d%20Dinner" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Almost all of the meals are Mountain House, which both I and the wife like, with a healthy dose of vegetables.

3 month supply (for one person) for $629. Regularly $792.

I have no affiliation with Beprepared. Just passing along what I think is a good deal.

My trick to make things stretch. I bought 2 5 gallon buckets of white rice. One cup of white rice makes about 3 cups of cooked rice.
Add that to ANY of the meals to make them go farther. The great thing about rice is that is takes on the flavor of whatever you put with it.
With rice, I think I could make a "3 month supply" last about 5 months.

AB

[RPB]

I keep telling my niece to figure out what plants the Indians ate while they camped aside Lake Buchannan every time she says "there's nothing to eat here"
I tell her if there's nothing she wants, she better get what she wants planted.

[AustinBoy]

Or just teach her to fish!

[RPB]

Or just teach her to fish!

[mamabearCali]

We keep candy bars and some cup of soups....but I am sure that is not ideal.

[AustinBoy]

Why would that not be ideal?

Sweets and food.

Sounds ideal to me!

In tough times, it is all about calories.

If nothing else, I would stock up on some canned foods.

I am not a prepper "freak". We use everything we have. There are a few exceptions but.....

AB

[knotquiteawake]

Its pretty timely for this to come to the top. Did you guys see this? http://www.nbcnewyork.com/video/#!/on-a ... /176839571" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Residents having to dumpster dive after only a couple days? I probably have over a week just in my pantry without having to dip into reserves.

[chasfm11]

What happened after Sandy is a tragedy. There are a lot of people suffering now. I'm praying for them.

But, like Katrina and the tornadoes in Alabama a couple of years ago, what is happening in the Northeast gives us some insight into what would happen in a similar disaster here. And, for the most part, many of those affected knew days in advance that it was likely to be bad. It is amazing to me that two days after the storm, some have no food. I do understand that some people lost their houses and whatever stored provisions that they had. But there appear to be many more just waiting around fro someone to come in and help them.

Here is a funny story. One of our preparedness group was in a Wal-Mart yesterday when it suddenly went completely dark in the middle of the day and for no apparent reason. As she reached into her pocket to retrieve her cell phone and confirm that it wasn't an EMP, she said that her mind was going through a set of actions - find the bikes and a trailer for her very young daughter, grab enough food to get them through a journey to their home. Stop by the car and grab her extra ammo. She reports that all went through her mind within a few seconds while everyone around her was still trying to determine what had happened. Thankfully, the generators kicked in shortly afterward and her cell phone confirmed that it was nothing serious. She reported her own surprise that her thoughts were calm but immediate.

For me, preparedness is the difference between the two mind sets. It is simply an extension of self-defense. I don't think its possible to have enough stuff in advance to prepare for any eventuality. Some might condemn the woman in my story above for being paranoid. I applaud her. She was prepared to take charge of her own survival and that of her daughter. Like all of us who run BG scenarios in our minds while walking in and out of stores, she was trying to mentally deal with a potentially bad situation. I think a population that thinks like she did is preferable to one that stands around and waits for the FEMA trucks but that is probably just me.

[smoothoperator]

I also carry three of the Hormel MRE-style "store on the shelf" entrees

That sounds interesting. Where did you buy them?

[pbwalker]

What happened after Sandy is a tragedy. There are a lot of people suffering now. I'm praying for them.

But, like Katrina and the tornadoes in Alabama a couple of years ago, what is happening in the Northeast gives us some insight into what would happen in a similar disaster here. And, for the most part, many of those affected knew days in advance that it was likely to be bad. It is amazing to me that two days after the storm, some have no food. I do understand that some people lost their houses and whatever stored provisions that they had. But there appear to be many more just waiting around fro someone to come in and help them.

Here is a funny story. One of our preparedness group was in a Wal-Mart yesterday when it suddenly went completely dark in the middle of the day and for no apparent reason. As she reached into her pocket to retrieve her cell phone and confirm that it wasn't an EMP, she said that her mind was going through a set of actions - find the bikes and a trailer for her very young daughter, grab enough food to get them through a journey to their home. Stop by the car and grab her extra ammo. She reports that all went through her mind within a few seconds while everyone around her was still trying to determine what had happened. Thankfully, the generators kicked in shortly afterward and her cell phone confirmed that it was nothing serious. She reported her own surprise that her thoughts were calm but immediate.

For me, preparedness is the difference between the two mind sets. It is simply an extension of self-defense. I don't think its possible to have enough stuff in advance to prepare for any eventuality. Some might condemn the woman in my story above for being paranoid. I applaud her. She was prepared to take charge of her own survival and that of her daughter. Like all of us who run BG scenarios in our minds while walking in and out of stores, she was trying to mentally deal with a potentially bad situation. I think a population that thinks like she did is preferable to one that stands around and waits for the FEMA trucks but that is probably just me.

Well said! Some prefer to make fun of those who prepare, and others just prefer to prepare. Call it paranoia, but I won't be suffering like all those people in the NE. You can prepare for what you are able to prepare for, or just be a sheep. It blows my mind that there are people who carry a sidearm for protection from a bad guy, yet keep only two days of food in the house, or no provisions in the car. What's a higher likelihood...armed robbery or something like Sandy? I guess some just prefer to be partially prepared for things with a lower likelihood.

I think your first paragraph brings up a perfect example for the need for a bug out bag. You're sitting in your house and all of a sudden water stars pouring in. Is that the time to "pack some stuff up"? Nope...

Great post chasfm11

[ghostrider]

What's a higher likelihood...armed robbery or something like Sandy?

That depends to some degree on where you live, and the level of risk you are willing to take.

While tornados may not be unheard of in my area, I'm not building (read: digging) a storm shelter - my bigger concern is wildfires. But a mere 10miles from here flooding could be a bigger concern.

While loss of electricity can be a problem (esp in July!), currently the risk seems low enough that I have not purchased a backup generator, though I sometimes consider it - to the point where I've researched propane vs gas powered.

[packina45]

I also carry three of the Hormel MRE-style "store on the shelf" entrees

That sounds interesting. Where did you buy them?

Local grocery store. They're a pretty standard off-the-shelf item.

[jdhz28]

The packaged salmon and tuna never goes bad, it might not be ideal but it is light, about 200 calories per 5 ounces or so...they have a best by date, but you won't find an expiration. The are in similar packaging to MRE's and only cost about 2 bucks at the grocery store.

[recaffeination]

packina45,

Are you talking about the Hormel Compleats microwave meals, or something like military MREs?