Your Water Claim
Chapter 3 is devoted to water sources, purification, and storage, but as water is imperative for survival, we will touch upon it here. In a preparedness plan, water must always come first, for without it, you might as well use this and any other preparedness book you may read for kindling. Begin your preparedness with stored water and a good quality water purifier such as a Berkey or Katadyn. If the grid goes down and you live in an area that depends on municipal water supplies, you may continue to receive water, but only as long as the water plant’s battery or diesel backup lasts.
If the electrical grid goes down during a crisis, this is an excellent time to fill bathtubs and sinks with every drop of water they will hold. But be careful. When calamity arrives in the form of Mother Nature, it is possible the water pouring from your taps may be unsafe to drink. Listen to emergency broadcasts on your hand-crank or battery-run radio (Yes, you do need one!) for alerts on water contamination.
Vanity Makes House Calls
For all my years of preparedness, I’ve cast my net far and stood toe to toe with trading a once spoiled consumer-crazed lifestyle for that of a penny-pincher in order to fill empty storage shelves. But even then, I can’t conceive of a time when bathing, or doing laundry, or washing dishes would be considered a luxury.
The fault, I’ve decided, lies with Hollywood. Do you recall even a B-movie of apocalyptic proportions panning in on an actor whose hair has turned to dreadlocks, wearing filthy clothing with dirt embedded under their nails? Well, neither do I!
But the reality is, if we don’t plan ahead, that’s where we’ll find ourselves. Arrange for a makeshift tub for bathing because unless you have a well with a manual hand pump and a septic system, once the battery backup gives out at the municipal water station, it’s likely your tub and sinks won’t drain when pumps become inoperable in a grid-down situation. Tuff Stuff makes tubs that work well for bathing that are relatively cheap. While you’re purchasing the tub, pick up a clothesline and clothes pegs. At the end of this chapter, I have listed the link for a do-it-yourself washing machine made out of a 5-gallon bucket and a toilet plunger. No, I’m not kidding!
It’s a Stinky Subject
At a time when water and electricity has been knocked off grid, waste management will have to be addressed. Compost toilets are available that can be neutralized with sawdust or dirt, but if you live in the city with little if any yard, I can’t see a landlord agreeing to let you store a mound of either material. The best option for those living in an urban setting is a camp toilet. There’s nothing “bling” about them, but at least they come with a toilet seat and a collapsible lid, and they cost next to nothing. Line them with heavy plastic bags so the contents can be carefully transferred outdoors. If possible, dig a hole deep enough for sanitary disposal.
In rural areas, an outhouse will solve the problem of waste issues, no matter how long a crisis lasts. For those of you who live in the suburbs, I don’t see how CCR’S will preclude an outhouse when the alternative leads to disease and health risks. If you have any doubts, an outhouse that resembles a shed will work—the “don’t ask, don’t tell” dictum can have you breathing easy through a difficult time. I doubt you will be breaking any rules by using it once things have gone south.
It might take children time to get used to these new accommodations, so even if you have the Cadillac of outhouses, think about keeping a camp toilet or a port-a-potty on hand for in-home use. If an outhouse is in your future after the fact, make sure you have a heavy-duty shovel and enough plywood, 2X4’s, roofing material, nails and screws to build one. The end of this chapter lists a link for an excellent site that has do-it-yourself instructions on building an outhouse.
Where To?
You should store both topographical and street maps in your vehicle that covers your immediate location and on to your destination point, no matter how many maps this may entail. Keep a compass in your car to navigate to your destination. Even in a worst case scenario, and you must walk part of the way to your destination, you will have the means to get there (and the reason for keeping topographical maps).
Never depend on GPS or any other digital navigational device that depends upon electricity to relay or download your coordinates. Why? Your device may be battery-run, and you may have thought ahead and put extra batteries aside, but should your GPS provider depend on electricity (and they do), with grid failure comes eventual GPS failure. GPS devices have another issue that involves terrain that is referred to as line of site. Line of site simply means data is grabbed from your GPS device and downloaded to you via a straight line from an orbiting satellite or a relay site to you, the user. Line of site does not move around corners or “dip” down between mountain ranges when you happen to be in a deep valley surrounded by a mountain range. They are also a bit temperamental about traveling through a solid mass such as a tall building. A bit of trivia: this is why your cell phone coverage is sometimes disrupted when traveling in valley or mountainous regions. Never trade a compass for GPS.
When It’s Time to Leave
The emergency kits stored in your car may not be needed solely at the start of a crisis, and if this is the case, you will want to transfer your items from your car to your home or getaway location, behind closed doors for safekeeping. The first reaction to a crisis may freeze people into inactivity, but if the emergency is prolonged, and people begin to run out of food and water, looting will follow. It may be that your location is safe at first, but as time goes on, and looting increases, it may become necessary to get away from your present location and flee to a safer place. In most cases, this is likely to be to a wooded area.
Take a few practice runs to the area of your choice and camp overnight. If camping isn’t allowed at your “safe place”, then use an alternate for practice. Test your skills with building a campfire, putting up a tent, and cooking meals over an open fire or a camp stove. If you’ve never been camping, now is the time to learn! But remember: bring comfortable, layered clothing and hiking boots or high-topped tennis shoes. A reference guide like the Boy Scout Manual will see you through. It has solid information on camping, building a campfire and camp-style cooking.
Practice using your water purifier, and eating the MRE’s or canned goods you’ve put aside for a crisis. That way, you will be better prepared both emotionally and logistically for a smooth transition when disaster strikes.
Keep mental notes on your progress. If you discover you forgot a bowl to mix the pancake batter in, throw it in with your emergency supplies once you return home. That same bowl can be used to scoop water from a creek or a lake to pour through a water purifier. If the bowl happens to be metal, it can be used to cook with if need be. If you forget matches or a hatchet or newspaper and find yourself unable to start a campfire to keep warm by, this is the reason why you’ve taken this weekend getaway. Developing camping skills takes practice. There is nothing more eye opening than spending a night shivering in the cold to be reminded of the need to prepare.
Survival Note: Keep all foods and garbage stored away from your campsite area, as food smells will attract animals—some more dangerous than others.
Alternative Modes of Transportation
Brainstorm alternative modes of transportation for a time when you may have to relocate. A mountain bike, dirt bike, ATV 4-wheeler, or a motorcycle will help get you safely to your chosen destination when roads are not navigable. If your mode of transportation is motorized, set aside gasoline containing fuel additives to extend its life in a portable gas container with a pour spout. It must be stored in a safe place, away from the home and open flame sources like that of a heater or hot water heater.
Traveling
