Getting equipped

[Aftershock]

Hi all,

have put up a few posts about learning new skills as a 'newbie' pepper, thanks to those who and read and replied.

As I mentioned in my first post, I'm planning and using my home as our base, but thinking it will do more good to learn some basic skills, which I have been posting about.

While learning I have also been busy reading up and building EDC's, kitting out the car, storing food.

Ordering some 25 litre water containers and clearing out a cupboard upstairs, to get space for a 72 hour emergency kit. We live in a possible flood plain, though its been awhile since there has been a flood, but Mother Nature....

Have also asked a couple of friends if they would teach me to shoot and fish. Never felt like I needed to know these, but now my thoughts differ.

My partner is on-board with all this, which surprised me a little, but, makes it easier to just get on with the building up of; skills, knowledge, equipment and stores. I just wish she wouldn't forget take her EDC when she leaves the house.

Managed to blag a 15 kg gas bottle of the next door neighbour, £34 to swap for a full one. Barging. Also have 2 4.5 kg ones.

All the above is becoming more significant, now that America and Russia seem to be seeing who has the biggest B**ls.

Anyway, that's what I have been upto for the last month or so, also started to buy old tools, in-case the electric goes and something needs fixing, these are dirt cheap.

thanks for reading, if you have any thoughts, comments or ideas please feel free to pass them on.

be well,

Chris

[uncle frenchy]

Aftershock,
hard to know where to start I guess. It mostly comes down to what you think might be on its way, as far as I can see. For me location was a huge factor, remote but not too cut off( I can cycle or cross country ski to the nearest town), private and very easy to be self sufficient. Lots of water but no risk of flooding unless it gets biblical. Enough land to grow and hunt and a lake to fish on. Neutral government helps too. Storing food helps when the garden is not in bloom, knowing how to hunt and fish was crucial for me, but was learned later in life. Learn to cook too! Off grid power supplies are good for me, solar , wind(marginal) and micro hydro keep it going. Wood heating for the house and cooking(40 acres of wood helps). Communications are a personal thing, ham works for some. Other skills I like having are welding and general mechanics knowledge,carpentry and basic plumbing and building.
I'm not expecting zombies, but I've seen how relying on any government can get you in trouble quickly. Surrounded by bankrupt super powers does not make me sleep well.

[Plymtom]

Aftershock.. the flood plain thing is probably the most likely eventuality you face, so my first priority if I could not move would be to be sure I could get the things most severely effected by water to a higher level with enough warning, secondly I'd see if I could separate my electrical circuit (s) upstairs from down so as the option of having a freezer upstairs or even getting it upstairs in a hurry would be possible If your mains board has an RCD covering all ciruits you may want to consider changing it, because they trip out on neutral-earth faults too and as the rest of the breakers are usually single pole, you can't just switch off the downstairs stuff and carry on.

As for much else water storage is wise if you have space , but beware, it's heavy, my first questions when taking preparedness a stage further is what's going to run out first? not at the shops but at home, the single most likely thing to effect anyone is an injury which makes getting out hard, having a buffer of supplies takes the sting out of those situations, the longer you can stay withing your own home without needing something, the better off you are, so dried milk, the being able to make your own bread, toilet paper, all come to mind as first problems.

Hobbies that could come in handy like your shooting and fishing, self defence courses, archery, you name it, go do it, like me you probably always fancied doing these things in their own right anyway, so if prepping is the excuse, the kick up the bum to go and have a bit of fun and learn something useful, be thankful for prepping

[Aftershock]

Hi Guys,

thanks for your replies, your comments and suggestions are most welcome, and as a 'newbie' it is good to receive such ideas. When do you stop being a 'newbie'? A Topic idea to post maybe...

Unfortunately a few pursuits will be put on hold as I have just had some major surgery, hence the delay in my reply. Which also had me thinking about coping when there might be some emergency and I'm 'laid up'. Guess you just have to cope the best you can and get the grey matter working.

Cheers

Chris

[jansman]

You stop being a 'Newbie' when you make ten posts. Easy to do if you are really interested in this site.

[bungee]

We've only been at this a few months - more because it seems like plain common sense to do so than for any other reason. The fact our power and water go of randomly but quite regularly were the instigating factors to get our act together. Weird isn't it how even 20 years ago people thought it was common sense to have a supply of food and other useful items in case of emergency, yet in todays 24 hour society, where you dont even have to leave the house to do your shopping people can think its weird to have more than a few days food in the house. I personally think the complacency people have that societies wheels will keep on turning away for them far stranger...

Our planning is quite restricted by budget and space but we are slowly building up a good stock of dried and tinned food and a few little luxuries to cheer ourselves up with I think with careful planning we could manage just over 120 days feeding a family of four although that would be prioritising the kids over ourselves so its likely me and the wife are gonna loose a bit of weight ...
We've got together a few water solutions, chlorine tabs, water filters - a life straw and a family filter good for 18000 litres I think. I also ordered a water-bob which is pretty cool - basically a giant bladder that sits in the bath. We have a few basic tools and there's always been lots of camping gear lying around.
Should we need to get the heck outta dodge there's more than enough equipment for a good bug out bag each.

We probably need to work on our exit plans, routes and back up locations though. I want to cache some bits too but that's gonna take some time and planning.
First aid kit is weak but next on the list. Most of the hiking and camping / backwoods experience is mine so I need to get the family more Involved in that aspect.

The list is never ending... :/

All advice and suggestions gratefully received