Recent events got Gary (hubby) to thinking about how we would survive if weather, terrorist, or other circumstances put us without the utilities and other conveniences we take for granted for more than a few days.

We started doing research and taking action, and I am literally speachless considering the magnitude of planning it takes for us to survive 30 days (including our 4 dogs) without ComEd (electric), Nicor (gas), Southeast Joliet Sanitary District (water), AT&T, Comcast, Jewel/Osco (food/prescriptions), Speedway (truck gas), Petco, Sam's Club, etc. And I don't even know the name of the store where Gary buys (legally) his ammunition. We would certainly need a supply of that if the water and electric is out for more than a few days where we live.

Has anyone else embarked on planning at this level? If so, I would love to compare notes. In addition to thinking through household survival (including how we would get ourselves and our dogs out of our 2nd floor bedroom in case of a fire that blocked that door) we are also preparing our vehicles for roadside emergencies - serious ones.

I realize this is a bit of a gloomy topic (I have trouble with it myself) but I think it's very important - we've all seen (IMO) a higher than average set of emergency examples in the news recently.

If anyone has tips to share, or wants to know about things we've sort of figured out, I'd love to share.

Beth

I know you'll get good responses, but here is a nice start:

http://www.leerburg.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Board=134&Number=83575&Searchpage=1&Main=9094&Words=%26quot%3Bchunky+soup%26quot%3B&topic=0&Search=true#Post83575

Tracy Roche's Chunky Soup suggestion stuck in my mind as a great idea, since in one pop-top can it has food for dogs or humans, and it contains a good amount of water, too.

But there's much more on that thread.

Hmmmm...Funny you bring this up. I was in Costco recently and noticed they are now selling an enormous vat of something called "Emergency Food Supply". Just add hot water and you've got enough porridge to feed the neighborhood. Now, given that this is California where an earthquake or a wildfire could make one's existence really unpleasant, I shouldn't have been surprised. But I was and it caught my attention.

Frankly, if everything goes to hell I will worry less about lack of electricity and more about the anarchy and lawlessness that will run rampant in the streets. A firearm and the proper training in the use of one (along with a really good dog ) is a must IMO.

in terms of survivalism in the grander sense, i've found some of the stuff that kurt saxon writes to be interesting reading. the guy can come off a bit of a crackpot though, so take everything he writes with a grain of salt.

i caution you, if you're even the slightest bit jewish or islamic, develop a very thick skin before visiting his personal website. some might consider it filth, so i'll refrain from linking it here. you can find it via google.

for things like power generation, heat, etc, i've found mother's to be stimulating reading at times. i remember when my dad was interested in building mud brick/rendered earth houses, there were no shortage of people interested in showing how they live their "alternate lifestyles" which include lots of great ideas on alternate power and suchlike. all these people often possess a tendency to try and ram it down your throat, but you can really learn a lot from them.

and yes, if the proverbial hits the fan, i agree with sarah's last paragraph.

i personally find survivalism extremely interesting, but it's hard to find anything really juicy that doesn't involve some people of questionable mental stability. good luck.

Connie, thank you for the older thread link (OK - I'm guilty as charged regarding the Search funcion. I will beg for Will's forgiveness!) And I appreicate the responses on this thread so far.

Believe me, there have been MANY times over the last few weeks where my husband has literally driven me about crazy with this stuff, especially when I haven't even finished one cup of coffee yet in the AM.

But I do think it's important. And being in the Midwest, our current thinking leans more towards "winter weather" type emergencies - i.e. the massive ice storms that recently hit OK. Flooding AKA Katrinia presents different issues. Bless your heart Connie for living in an area where earth quakes are possible - I went through a minor one of those as a "corporate visitor" to CA in the late 80's and...well...NEVER AGAIN.

Here's a base line item that really shocked me. How much fresh (drinkable) water should you have to sustain 2 adults and 4 dogs for 30 days? I was shocked to realize that's over 300 gallons of fresh water. I suspect said group could probably survive on less, but that's the recommended amount. My 8 or so gallons in the basement, plus my 6 or so gallons in the camper, plus a *couple* more couldn't cut it for very long.

At any rate, (to the degree there are interested parties...)

Our disaster plan is shaping up into three very broad sections:

1) Are we stuck in our home? How would we survive for 30 days with none of the originally referenced conveniences? (including the possibility, as we live very near a dense population, of having to defend what we have)

2) Can we hit the road with our camper? Is that properly outfitted, and what needs to move quickly from house to camper to road that is not practical or possible to duplicate?

3) What if either or both of us get stranded on the road, in either or both vehicles? If we get stranded away, what about the dogs at home?

I know that many people will think this is a bunch of paranoia. I thought so too at first. But watching some of mother nature's events of late, hubby might not be so crazy after all. I'm not expecting anyone nor everyone to jump on this. Just looking for tidbits from others who might just be as crazy as we are with planning for this type of situation.

Many thanks (and please don't commit me!!)

Beth

Out here in California we have always been told in the event of a big enough earthquake, be prepared to be able to survive on your own for at least 3 days. HA, that was pre-Katrina. I think now it is better to try to have enough to survive a couple of weeks. The "stranded" question presents an interesting dilemma. When the Northridge quake hit I was at a friends & my car got stuck in the garage. We finally got it out & I drove like a mad person to get home to the dogs. That left a lasting impression on me. To this day I am never so far from my animals that I can't get to them quickly.

Jamie, I haven't heard anyone mention 'Mother's' in ages. I used to get their newspaper years ago & loved it. It is interesting, informative & fun reading at the least.

I can relate Susan - nothing would bother me more than feeling like I couldn't get to my dogs. Have you changed anything around your house or car for planning purposes as a result of that experience?

As much as hubby sometimes irritates me with this stuff at the wrong times, I'm glad to know that he's put a survival kit in my truck that would keep me *with heat inside the truck* along with food, water, dry clothes/shoes, secondary cell service, some TP, duct tape (for what?? just in case, I guess..), and possibly Tom Cruise (unconfirmed there)for at least 4 days. While it's been stressful for us to even discuss, I'm now happy knowing that a decent survival kit for cold weather emergencies is there (especially if there is a Tom Cruise picture hidden somewhere in that backpack!) wherever I go.

Beth

 Quote: Anne Jones

Jamie, I haven't heard anyone mention 'Mother's' in ages. I used to get their newspaper years ago & loved it. It is interesting, informative & fun reading at the least.

Where I live, it's on every periodical shelf everywhere.

You are right, it is a difficult & stressful subject. I am afraid I am one of the people who gets freaked out thinking about this & ends up with a half a$$ plan! The only thing I am sure about (besides where the dog is) is where my lifesize George Clooney doll is - just kidding, never seen one, but a gal can dream, can't she?