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Friday, October 2, 2009

To stay or Not to stay

Hi, I'm Rubies,
I live in Upstate New York. You all know, it's known for it's winter weather, but I'm here to talk about being more concerned over needing to stay or leave my home due to unforseen or forseen events.
I have been prepping mildly to moderately for 37 years. But now in resent years I have been a suburbanite, not by choice but neccessity, for proximity to work for DH.
If we have an ice storm and no electric for a couple of weeks we can survive, I had a natural gas powered generator installed a few years ago and it has come in handy over the years, been in use at least 10 times per year. I'll tell you though, listening to it running for 3 days or more does give you a slight headache, so stock some tylenol. I have enough food to get by if roads are blocked. water is stockpiled, gasoline for snowblower, showels, salt, roof shovel, (don't want a roof to collapse from the weight of the snow and ice). Propane tanks in case I really need to heat in a different manner and cook on gas grill. So I feel pretty confident there, BUT!!
What if? Lets see if they hit the nuclear facility near me I'm a gonner. If civil unrest gets out of control, I need to leave, defending my home is not an option for me, me against a crowd of uncontrolled individuals just doesn't work for me. So I need a bug out plan. These are times I wish I had a pick up truck. Though I know my car can hold a lot, large trunk to say the least. They just don't make them like that any longer. I bought it with the purpose of shopping, really. You never know how much room you need.The car gets 28mpg on hywy to 30mpg, not bad for a big V8.
Also bought the car due to the V8, gets you moving out of the way quick. AND truthfully it cost me less then one of those 4 bangers on the road.
I've teased my kids that the trunk can hold 4 bodies, (I have 4 kids and 2 grandkids) it probably can, but I'm hoping never to find out.
I never let the gas tank go under 1/2 full. Lots of reasons for that. Weight in the winter. Plus when you have little money, filling a tank takes to much of it, so I have pretended for many a year that a 1/2 full tank is an empty tank, it cost me less to fill.
In winter the water condensation in your gas tank causes frozen fuel lines, car refusing to start,so more gas in tank, less room for condensation to build up in tank, less water problems, no freezing. I dump a bottle of additive in every month, if it needs it or not. I think of it as a little drink for my car, it deserves it for all it does, never heard of one alcoholic drink a month hurting.

It's Fall going into Winter fast. What to pack and what to leave.
Important papers, warm clothes, food we all know that. A local map, state, nearby state maps. Paper maps are a neccessity, not everyone has a GPS, I have none and happy to say that. No tracking of my vehicle. I have always stopped and picked up state maps wherever I have travelled to nice freebie. I have a folder of them in car and change them out every year by the state I travel in. I will admit my WV map is 6 years old though.

If you are going somewhere predetermined, which should already have been decided, you need a good map to get there and alternative routes, now where is that 4 wheel drive when you need it. That map should be in car at all times, ready for use.
If you live in Upstate NY you should already have a winter kit in your car, you know those things that move around in your truck while your driving through the potholes. A blanket, a change of warm clothes, mittens (not gloves, they don't keep your hands as warm) hat, scarf to protect your breathing, nothing like sucking in -10 degree air to freeze those lungs. Does get colder here. Shovel, snow brush, most know the routine but think there isn't a reason for it any longer with cell phones, so lets all pretend that little cell phone doesn't work any loner and pack that winter trunk.

I need to consider what I have that is most helpful to where I am going. What is most needed or helpful. FOOD, of course, but what else. Pressure canners, definitely, but have to remember to fill them with essentials, waste of good space otherwise, so fill them with lids for canning, bands or just more food. Toilet paper with inner tubes taken out and crushed for space conservation. Blankets to keep other warm, I have a load of those.

Books, yes there are always a few that have to travel along, medical, foraging, herbal, canning. don't forget to grab that cast iron fry pan. Any kitchen appliance that needs no power put together in a box, can opener, can you see the only one at the bug out location breaking. Pasta maker, you do want to eat, grain mill, well you get the idea, essentials to survival without power. Don't forget the knives. I almost forgot to pack the non-geneticly modified seeds, hard to find now a days.

Now how long do you need to be bugged out, no idea, right. You have your Winter bug out bag all packed and ready but now Spring is coming and you'll still in your heavy clothes, so remember no matter what season, pack a little for the others.

Medical Supplies, I have most of mine packed in 5 gallon buckets, an easy toss into the car. Also at home use they are in plastic drawers, also an easy toss. I've learned even if it isn't cold season and cold meds are on sale, buy them because when the season hits, everyone goes through them like water. One week I was stocked, by that weekend my kids had cleared me out. Bandaging, medical tape, gloves anything for a serious accident is together, don't forget to get a bottle of betadine, iodine. You want to be able to sterilize an area that needs attention. Sewing supplies come in handy here also.

I also want to say, if you plan on knocking on someone else's door, wouldn't it be nice now to ask what you can bring. They may be low on somthing you have or not have something you have that you can bring. You may not think it's an essential to bring but it is to them, and you need to do your part. Be helpful.

Remember before you do leave.
Learn where your main water line shut off it, turn all water lines off.
Turn natural gas line off to house, yes, get that wrench.
Turn main breaker off to house, check electric meter to make certain all is off.

I know I have missed a million and one things to do but i just want to get you started at least on thinking of " WHAT TO DO".

6 comments:

Herbalpagan said...

dang! great post. I forgot about shutting things off. Got your map to my place all marked out yet?

Rubies said...

I don't even have an address yet!

kymber said...

Woohoooo - Rubies is IN the house!!!

i am so glad to see you here on the New York Preppers Network!!!

This first post is full of great prepping information and i can't wait for more of your posts!!! And you can be sure that i will be directing many Canadians to the New York Preppers Network!!!

To all New York Prepper Network Readers: get ready to learn alot about prepping - Rubies is one of the most experienced preppers out there!

CherB said...

Thanks for the supportive post. Being repaired is very important.

CherB said...

I remember the drills to be repaired when being a military wife. We were required to do them once every six months. You must show up at your designated meet up location and sign in. Then we had to fill out a form to detail how you felt it went and how safe you felt. Each time I would come home, my landlady would tell me that in the event of a real disaster, she would be happy to hide me away in the attic if it were too dangerous to be located on a military post. Since she went through WWII in Germany, she had quite a secure basement with lots of food. They didn't waste anything. Your post brought back memories of that and of the big ice storm and labor day storm, which was worse for our section of Central NY.

Unknown said...

Dang Rubies! Great Post... I didn't know you were blogging! I'm so excited! LOL

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