TO OUR LOYAL READERS AND ANY NEW ONES
Welcome to our blog. Forgive the mess as we are NOT
very good with computers, blogs and the rest of it. What we do try to be good
at is giving you, the Average Ann and Andy the best possible tips on how to
prep for emergencies with the least cost in time, space, effort and MONEY!
So let’s get started!
WELCOME
TO OUR FIRST EDITION
A
BIT OF WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE’RE ABOUT
Our goal is to
help guide the “Average Ann and Andy” to have a fighting chance in case some natural or man-made emergency event
disrupts their normal living for some period of time.
We
are NOT experts, nor claim to be. We are just plain folk on a budget like
you. (If your budget is “fixed” you are
usually broke, LOL!) We’ve seen a few events in our time, learned from them and
other sources and know a bit from experience and want to share it all with you.
We will present options for you that will cost the least in money, time, space
and effort.
We
will NOT present or deal in any political views, radical or racial slants, or
any kind of “hate and hurt” positions. While we may from time to time discuss
various defensive techniques that will include forms of weapons, these areas
will be only a VERY small portion of the information on prepping we will
present to you. Or to put it simply, WE
DON’T DO CAMO COMMANDOS, MILITAS OR ZOMBIES.
LOL!
We
don’t make a cent off of this, and as of yet have no sponsors or advertisers.
If we ever do, they MUST meet our guidelines of having good quality products
and services and not flashy junk.
I don’t intend
to say much about us because I feel the message is important, not the messenger
and because we don’t do this to make “big money” or as an “ego stroke”. But,
since some folks may wonder about my background and such, here goes. Richard P.
Maida IS my real name and my wife is Donna. We are real people and do live the
way I describe, so we don’t hide behind a phony photo or name. Here is our “info”.
MINI
BIO Richard P. Maida (writing as Poor Richard/RPM/Toucan
Bill/B.B.Trapp, etc.) I’m now over 60
and was raised during the Cold War. I had Civil Defense training in high school
and later learned Search and Rescue as a member of the Civil Air Patrol. I
served in the US Army first as an Infantryman, and later in Intelligence (S-2)
and as the unit’s armorer and demolitions man. After my honorable discharge, I
worked as a lab tech in biochemical research and nuclear medicine, holding
certifications from the USDA, EPA, and NRC.
Disabled now, and medically retired, I keep up my prepping and I am a
part time writer, and live “at the foot of the mountain, at the edge of a small
town, where the pavement ends and the forest begins” here in the Northeastern
PA area with my wife “Mama” Donna, who was a legal secretary before she too
became disabled.
GENERAL
FORMAT
Each edition we will
have a section for new preppers (Basic), for those who are into prepping a bit
(Advanced), and an area where we’ll look at possible situations after a
cataclysmic event (Aftermath). We will also have Toucan Bill’s Bird’s Eye View,
where we’ll talk about finding prepper items at bargain prices, Prepper Bee
Wise’s Buzz words and phrases for Preppers, where we’ll explain terms like
BOB’s and such. Feel free to suggest any other features or areas you would like
to see covered.
THE
BASICS: PART I & II
If
you are the Average Ann or Andy, you go to some kind of job, make some level of
money (probably never enough LOL!) from which you pay for the means to live.
(That is your water, food, shelter, etc.)
These “means” come to
you by various providers (utility companies, grocery stores, etc.) who in turn
are the end points on a long chain of those who grow, gather, or otherwise
create what you need. This is assisted by a banking system to keep things
running, medical systems to take care of health, and protection for it all from
police and fire departments.
In
short, this is your “grid”. While some wish to willingly live “off the grid”,
and I say more power to them, most folks, including us here, don’t. I like my
a/c, heat, running water, etc. But while I don’t want to live “off the grid” I
DO want to live when the grid goes off.
That
is what I see as the main goal of prepping, to be able to maintain some kind of
average, normal life if all or some of the normal grid is gone for some period
of time.
While
what knocks you off the grid is important, I feel TOO much emphasis has been
placed on the more “doomsday” events and such things as “zombies”, or political
beliefs and not enough on the more common and likely probabilities. After all ,
a tornado, hurricane or flood doesn’t care if you are a redneck, wear a white
collar or in a blue state.
Let’s
start with a look around your world using what we call the “seven sisters of
survival”. These are water, food,
shelter, medical, power, money and security.
To start off, you need
water. How do you get it normally? In most cases, the average person gets their
water from some water company through the faucet. This can be affected by water
main breaks, or some kind of contamination. Currently the entire area of Flint,
Mich. has a contaminated water supply. This has also happened in a number of
places caused by chemical spills or runoff into reservoirs. So what do you do
if they announce you can’t drink the water for an unknown time?
Now let’s talk food.
This is more complex because you not only need the food itself, but the means
to keep it fresh and to cook it. That also means you have to be able to get to
a store that has food and use money or cards to purchase what you need. Ever
see a store stripped because of an oncoming storm? How much food do you have right now? How much
is non-perishable? How do you cook it?
Are you “married to the microwave”?
Shelter can vary with
each person, from an apartment in a complex in a major city to a house on land
in the country. If your shelter is damaged, can you make it livable for the
moment by use of tarps, ropes and other means?
Do you have temporary shelter you can set up, or another place to go?
All it takes is a chemical spill, gas leak or major fire to cause you to leave
your home. Are you ready to dash or dig in to stay?
Medical covers a host
of areas, including basic sanitation. What do you do if you can’t use the
toilet; wash your dishes, or clothes? What medications you need? What if you
are injured by the event? Do you have a first aid kit? Do you know how to use
it? Don’t count on EMT’s as there may be no way to reach them or them to get to
you and they may be dealing with more serious cases. Can you handle your
medical needs right now?
Power generally covers
electricity but may in some cases include gas of some form. This is your light
and refrigeration and probably your heating and a/c along with how you cook
food. It is one of the most important and at the same time the most vulnerable.
No, you don’t need some terrorist act to take the electrical grid down; simply
a bad storm of some kind can do it. In some cases a car hitting a pole can
knock out power for hours. Can you stay warm in winter, or protect your food in
the freezer in summer if the power goes out?
Will you able to cook or even eat without it? Do you even have one
working flashlight you can find?
Money makes the system
work. It is a means of exchange. Today, however, most stores need card systems
up and running to be able to sell you anything if you have no cash on hand,
even if they have their registers operating off some emergency generator. Also
small stores and shops may operate more on a cash basis. Many of us have little
cash on hand however. What about you? What’s in your home, piggy bank, or
pocket?
Security refers
somewhat to the police, but also to your personal situation. Where do you live
and work? Is it a good or bad area? How far are you from bad areas? How are
your passive (locks, doors, windows)
security measures? What are you moral feelings about defending your home and
family when the police can’t be called or may be too overwhelmed to help you?
What could you do, or use to protect yourself? (This includes blocking doors
with furniture, or having pepper spray)
So now, what will you
do and how are you affected if you lose your power for an hour, your water for
a day, your entire grid for a week?
While there are NO “one
size fits all” answers, there are basic guidelines we will go over as we
explore as many of the aspects we can. We will look at these subjects from the
standpoint of the Average Ann and Andy, plain folks who don’t have a lot of
money, land or time, people who go to work each day and may have to face events
away from home.
It can seem
overwhelming and it isn’t simple, but it’s nothing the average person can’t
deal with. If you want to put an ace up your sleeve in case of an emergency, if
you want to try to have a fighting chance if things go wrong, we will try to
help you all we can with what we have learned and what others have shared with
us.
PART II:
EVENTS AND RESPONSES
This
is a general guideline I came up with to help my prepping. While you may have a
specific event in mind to prep for, such as tornados, there are others that can
affect you. They can be minor, such as a power pole knocked down by a car
accident causing a short term loss of power or as long and destructive as an
EMP or Solar Flare.
LEVEL I (most common)
DURATION: 0-2wks
CAUSE: Loss of the “normal grid” of stores, banks, electricity and/or water due
to man-made, (including derailments, chemical spills, etc.) or natural events (storms,
flooding, etc.)
EFFECT: No light, no heat in colder months, no A/C in hotter months, no refrigeration/freezer.
There could be water supply / sanitation
issues. Banks/stores may be affected
RESPONSE: Alternate ( battery powered) light systems, propane heater/
Ice pre-packed in freezer/12v cooler/at least 2wks nonperishable
food and water/ $200 + cash (hopefully) on hand.
LEVEL II (less likely but possible)
DURATION: 0-4 wks.
CAUSE: All of above plus computer virus affecting banks,
stores,(ATM’s debit and credit cards), electrical and water/sanitation systems
EFFECT: All of above if electricity/water/sanitation affected. No normal
banking, bill paying, shopping (gas/food) possible. Possible effects
on communications (cell and land line phones)
RESPONSE: All of the above plus 2 more weeks of food and water.
LEVEL III (least likely, but still possible)
DURATION: 4+ wks.
CAUSE: Economic/ governmental collapse /EMP/Solar event/Pandemic/
Nuclear (plant meltdown/limited exchange). This also includes any serious
disruption of order in the major cities/ supply chains, etc. due to terrorist
attack.
EFFECT: All of the above for at least 90 days or more
RESPONSE: Full change over to self- support, gather family if possible/
try to have 90+ days of food, etc.
AFTER
THE BASICS: ADVANCED PART I
You
took your time and carefully squeezed out your prepping supplies and gear from
your budget. You put together your plans based on the knowledge of your local
threats and conditions but with an eye towards the possible major “Level III”
disasters that might occur such as solar flares, etc.
You
checked off each of the ”Seven Sisters of Survival”, that is water, food,
shelter, sanitation/first aid, power, money, and security, as you met the basic requirements to cover
them for at least a two week period, if
not more. You have set up plans and gear to get back home or to your safe haven
if you are away at work, shopping or whatever, or to hunker down in place if
necessary. You know there is no perfect plan or situation, but you feel that
you have given yourself and your family at least a fighting chance in most
probable emergency events.
So
now what? What’s the next step? Do you stop here?
The
choice is yours. If you are comfortable with the level of supplies and gear,
and the plans, knowledge and information you have, then just keep up with what
you have, rotate your food and water stocks and feel good about what you have
done.
But,
you can reach a higher level of coverage with just a little more effort. The
next goal would generally be covering everything in your personal “grid” for
four weeks or more. You have already done the “heavy lifting” as far as setting
up the basics. It’s time to DARE!
DARE
is an easy way to remember what your next steps are.
D Develop new options for all the basic
areas. As time, space, budget and effort allows, see if there is an easier,
more economical, and even fun way to add to your prepping. You might want to
get a basic food dehydrator and make Jerky, or dry fruits and veggies.
A Acquire
new information, skills, or items as the situation allows, possibly “upgrading”
as you go. You could add a lantern or a
battery powered “strip light” to add to where you just had a good flashlight,
or some racks for your pantry to hold cans.
R Rotate,
restock and research. Rotate your stocks
by “eating what you store, store what you eat”. Yes it is good to have some
special “survival” type foods in “deep reserve” but many times due to their
cost, a beginning prepper won’t have much of it. Most of us have to “Two can”
our way by adding what we can each trip to the store until we build up our
reserves. Once you have built up your basic level, eat from it and replace it
to keep it fresh while you try to add to it. Have a limit, so you don’t allow
it to fall too low. Do research into information that can add to your knowledge
(weather patterns, etc.) and help you do things easier and at less cost. Look
for sales and bargains on food and gear. Check out yard sales for useable items
and books.
E Enhance
all the areas where you can. Slowly build up water and food stocks to four
weeks. Add more first aid items a little at a time. Check and add to any
“Bounce back” or “Go Bags” Stock up on more paper towels and toilet paper.
Maybe add a small generator or solar panel. Keep putting aside a few dollars
and change. Improve locks, doors and barrier plans. If you so decide add to and
practice with bows, firearms, etc.
We
will help by showing you different options that may be of value to you.
Remember that THERE IS NO ONE SIZE FITS ALL when it comes to prepping, only
good general guidelines.
Are
you ready to DARE?
AFTERMATH:
AFTER THE DUST SETTLES PART I
You
and some others around you have survived the initial impact of a Level III type
event such as a Solar Flare/EMP, government collapse, etc. and have made it
through the first three to four weeks. Besides the usual steps to be taken to
set up your water gathering, food growing, power generating and security plans,
there are the others you may not have put on your list.
In
an old cheap 50’s sci-fi movie, three people survive a short term depletion of
the oxygen in the air because they were scuba diving. After an hour or so the
oxygen stabilizes back to normal. (Yes, I know, stupid premise.) When they get to a small town on the
Caribbean island they were diving off of, everyone is dead. Then one of the
characters points out something overlooked or not mentioned in a number of
better made movies, namely they need to get away from towns and cities as fast
as they can, because in a few days the dead bodies are going to start to decompose
and it will not be healthy to be there.
The
point here is, if you are going to remain in any type of populated area, after
three weeks you have good odds of having a number of bodies to dispose of.
Besides any deaths from the actual event, there will be die offs from violence,
lack of medicines, thirst and starvation.
This
is going to affect you and the others emotionally and give you a rather large
problem. The bodies have to be disposed of, but there are moral and religious
concerns, along with the logistics of how to handle them safely.
Given
a small town with 1K of population, even a 10% die off is going to be a
challenge to deal with, and that’s if everyone else is actually working
together. This is why planning for the “day after” a Level III event means more
than putting on the camo and shooting up looters with your AK.
TOUCAN
BILL’S BIRD’S EYE VIEW: COFFEE!!!!
I’m not a big coffee drinker, but I MUST have that
first cup in the morning to get my brain going! LOL! As such, I came up with a
number of simple, quick and economical methods of making sure I could have that
cup, even if the grid in general and the power in particular went down.
There is the “coffee stick”, of course. This is an
individual serving of freeze dried coffee in a tube that can be opened and
poured in a cup needing only hot water. These are great for the food packs for
backpacks (bug out/bounce back bags). But when you shelter in place (hunker
down) at home or your safe haven, you should be able to use the standard ground
coffee.
The options with this have been some form of
alternate power (generator/car battery with power inverter) and a coffee maker,
especially a single cup style, or some form of stove/cooker, which can range
from a can of Sterno to a camp stove. In the second case, you can boil water
with the grounds in a pan and filter the grounds out with a paper filter in a
funnel.
Now, however, there is another easy and economical
variation on the boiling water method. I
picked up at a local discount store for $4.00 a pack of two “coffee sticks”
with a carrying pouch. These sticks are plastic spoons with a mesh coffee
filter at the end that will hold enough regular ground coffee for one cup. There is a mesh lid in a frame that slides to
the side, which allows you to scoop up the coffee. You then slide the lid back
and lock it in place, put it in the cup and pour in the hot water. You then
stir until your cup is brewed to your liking.
This item can be used for tea or hot chocolate, and
possibly for bullion. At this price, it’s easy to have a couple of these 2
packs on hand and in your “go bags”.
The ones I picked up were sold under the name “Handy
coffee sticks” and are easy to clean and can be put in a dishwasher.
So while others are stumbling around on a dark
morning when the electricity is off, you are sitting back with you hot cup of
coffee and your battery powered lights, because you learned than prepping does
NOT take up a lot of money, time, space or effort.
PREPPER
BEE WISE’S BUZZ WORDS AND PHRASES
GRAB
AND GO This is tossing additional items such as
non-perishable food, clothing, or such SWIFTLY into a box or bag and putting it
into your vehicle to add to your GO BAGS, BOBS or other such items in an
evacuation.
PREPACK
CHARLIE Also known
as GO BAGS, these are packs, duffels, or any other containers that hold extra
food, water, important papers, money or support equipment that are pre packed
and ready to be put in your vehicle within minutes in an evacuation. These are
in addition to the BOB’s (Bug out Bags, more on those later) that should, if
possible, always remain in the vehicle.
ACE
UP YOUR SLEEVE
Any bit of knowledge, equipment, supplies, or situation (not working in
a flood plain, etc.) that adds positively to your prepping and odds of
survival.
NOT
JUST BREATHING
This term means surviving an extreme event and maintaining your morals,
standards, dignity, honor, and humanity, Just being alive does not make you
human, your conduct does. In Katrina, at the superdome, some were alive and
some were human.
BE
BACK Short for” law and order will be
reestablished, until then we will maintain order as fairly and decently as we
can”. It comes from an old 60’s movie of
a family caught up in a nuclear war. The teen age son says that there won’t be
any laws or rules now. His father sternly tells him “don’t count out the law.
It will be back. I just want us to be alive when it does.”
(FYI: The
movie was Panic in Year Zero Horrible
title, but a good prepper movie.)
NEVER
HAPPEN The
mental attitude of some concerning any type of event short or long,
local or widespread, IN SPITE of 9/11, Katrina, Sandy, tornados, wildfires, so
on and so on.
A
JAKE MOMENT This
is when you calmly look at a situation gone bad and find new resolve to win out
against it. Taken from the low budget movie “ JAKE SPEED” from the 80’s. In the scene, the hero, Jake
Speed, finds all his plans disrupted violently when he is caught between two
fighting factions. He calmly stands amid the smoldering wreckage and says:
“ALL RIGHT, ENOUGH OF THIS BULLSHIT!! “.
SHEEP
DANCE When
the unprepared first stand numbly, then panic when a serious event happens or
is announced, such as stripping stores of bread and milk before a major snow
storm. This comes from the old rhyme:
“
When in worry, when in doubt, run around
and scream and shout.”
MARRIED
TO THE MICROWAVE A
person or family that lives from freezer to microwave and wouldn’t even know
how to open a can of beans with a manual can opener.
FAST
FOOD FANATIC This is a person who lives by the “drive
through”. Picks up breakfast on the way
to “the office” goes out for takeout lunch, picks up dinner on the way home.
Has more money than common sense and will be in serious trouble if an event
knocks the grid out for a week or so.
ECONOMICS
MAJOR This
is person who will spend $20 to “vote” for a favorite performer on a TV show
but thinks spending $2 on a mini
flashlight with batteries is a “silly, unnecessary expense.”
ONE
STEP AWAY This means
to be prepped in such a way that it would take one simple action or two in
order to handle the effects of small events, such as local power outage or
water line break. (Reach for a flashlight, check water supply, etc.)
A
YAWN What
a minor event becomes for you when you are prepped. Example of this is when our
water was cut off for 1 day because a car hit a hydrant. This was followed by a
boil water advisory for four days. We
did have to do ANYTHING. We had nearly 5 gal of water in the jug in the cooler,
with 2 more jugs in reserve, plus 2 gallons of water in the refrigerator plus
sodas, etc. We never touched our reserve supplies.
WINE
AND CAKE An
expression for water and MRE’s (Meals ready to eat) usually directed to those
who didn’t prep and don’t have regular food and drink available and have to
wait in line for supplies from FEMA, the National Guard, etc.
As in “LOL they can go get their wine and cake if
something happens, I’ll be ready here.”
