Susie's Practical Preps

[SusieMisajon]

Re: Susie's Practical Preps

Preparing for disasters is one thing and I don't have an issue with this thread discussing the various things or hints to it. What I do have an issue with is the length of time the disaster runs it's course. Stocking up for a length of 2 weeks to a month is reasonable. 18 months on the other hand I don't think so. Hawaii couldn't possibility last that long without outside contact after a couple of months.

Anyway, my suggestions for disaster prepartions. Make sure you have one or two manual can openers. That way you can open cans with out the use of electric power. Stock up on plastic forks, knifes and spoons. Chopsticks wouldn't hurt and not to mention paper plates. Go with the Diamond Head brand, they tend to be sturdy than other brands.

And oh plastic cups too. You might as well buy in bulk from either Sam's Club or Costco.

18 months IS a long time, both to stock up for, and to live through. We're not used to it, anymore...it isn't as if we have long periods with no food, or hungry-gap seasons, when the food is too young to produce something edible. Not today, with supermarkets, freezers, and food preservation methods. We've forgotten.

[damontucker]

Re: Susie's Practical Preps

Powdered Poi was discussed somewhere before!

Just add rain water and presto! Poi!

[helen]

Re: Susie's Practical Preps

Of course, if your idea of prepping for a pandemic, or anything else, is a gun and 'search, take', well...good luck to you. In a hurricane's aftermath, it might work, if you're ballsy enough. In a pandemic, you might get sick. And who will be at home, while you're out, 'hunting', to watch the kids, and to make sure that 'shoppers' don't come to you?

I don't think in the last 2 hurricanes that struck here in Hawaii anyone actually took a gun and robbed fellow victims for their stuff.

And lest you forget one can barter for goods and/or services. I don't know what would be fair exchange rates like would 1 can of Spam get you 2 AA batteries or a can of tuna or a roll of toilet paper?

[SusieMisajon]

Re: Susie's Practical Preps

Powdered Poi was discussed somewhere before!

Just add rain water and presto! Poi!

Get in some bleach, to sterilize the rainwater. You never know which birds have been pooping on the roof of the catchment system.

[SusieMisajon]

Re: Susie's Practical Preps

I don't think in the last 2 hurricanes that struck here in Hawaii anyone actually took a gun and robbed fellow victims for their stuff.

And lest you forget one can barter for goods and/or services. I don't know what would be fair exchange rates like would 1 can of Spam get you 2 AA batteries or a can of tuna or a roll of toilet paper?

Hawaii is well known (unlike some other places we could mention) for it's spirit of brotherhood and aloha, during hurricanes.

[lurkah]

Re: Susie's Practical Preps

Hawaii is well known (unlike some other places we could mention) for it's spirit of brotherhood and aloha, during hurricanes.

Except when it comes to bags of ice. I remember back during Hurricane Iwa, certain opportunistic people went to the stores and hoarded all the $1.00 bags of ice they could find and then turned right around and sold them off the backs of their pickup trucks for $10.00 a bag.

[SusieMisajon]

Re: Susie's Practical Preps

Okay, now I'm going to start on laundry.

How you going do dat, in the middle of 'social distancing', and no electric, and a meager ration of stored water?

You not, den. Or not too much, anyways.

Clothes don't really have to be changed, every day...ask the French, they wear the same clothes for three days in a row, and then just hang them up, for next time. (bodies and hands are another matter) It's possible to just 'air out' clothing, and rotate, washing only when really stinky or filthy dirty. Or to have a big stock of clothes (Goodwill, Salvation Army), ready for emergencies such as this....just make sure that they are aired out and dry, with any crud scraped off, so that they won't mould or rot, before you can get around to washing them.

There will always have to be stuff to wash, though...underwear, at least. Diapers, maybe. Dishtowels.

How to wash laundry, without electricity, and not too much water, takes some forethought....

How about a bucket, and a toilet plunger? Fill er up, and plunge away. It really works, too...just don't use too much soap, or you'll never rinse the stuff out. For preps, consider getting laundry soap that be used, both in the machine, and by hand.

Speaking of rinsing, once or twice should be enough. And save the water. How about washing the clothes in water that has previously come from bathing. Rinsing, and then using the rinse water for washing a second load of clothes. Then you can re-use the water, once more, for flushing the toilet.

Preps list: lots of buckets

[lurkah]

Re: Susie's Practical Preps

Except when it comes to bags of ice. I remember back during Hurricane Iwa, certain opportunistic people went to the stores and hoarded all the $1.00 bags of ice they could find and then turned right around and sold them off the backs of their pickup trucks for $10.00 a bag.

It took someone else to nudge my innocent mind into having to clarify my previous post where I was referring to cubes of frozen water, and not the other kind of "bags of ice" that I'm totally unfamiliar with.

[1stwahine]

Re: Susie's Practical Preps

It took someone else to nudge my innocent mind into having to clarify my previous post where I was referring to cubes of frozen water, and not the other kind of "bags of ice" that I'm totally unfamiliar with.

Das wuz me! heheheh

I can't help myself wen it comes to certain "words!"

ROFLMAO

Auntie Lynn

[SusieMisajon]

Re: Susie's Practical Preps

Maybe either kind of 'bag of ice' is a comfort, depending on the situation....

[SusieMisajon]

Re: Susie's Practical Preps

Maybe either kind of 'bag of ice' is a comfort, depending on the situation....

Which brings me to yet another prep suppy topic...

Substances. Tobacco, alcohol, drugs, chocolate...whatever.

Those kinds of things are not going to be in any great supply, should there really be a pandemic. I can't see chocolate airlifts happening. Can you imagine the problems that a lack of these items might bring? Murder, spouse abuse and infanticide could be the order of the day.

Getting in a stock of your favorite substance, for you to abuse, in times of stress, might be a good idea. So might trying to wean yourself off of them, now. You decide.

[helen]

Re: Susie's Practical Preps

Well here is another issue. Medications. Prescription medications are only good for a year at least and even then most doctors would like to see on a regular basis, maybe anywhere from 3 to 6 months.

[SusieMisajon]

Re: Susie's Practical Preps

Birth control is another hot topic. Well, sex might be a hot topic...

Hospitals might be overwhelmed by flu patients, so pregnant ladies should be advised to prepare to give birth at home. Or avoid getting preggers, in the first place. Rape could be a problem, too...are morning after pills still available, in the US? Or the new 'abortion pills', for when a period fails to arrive on time?

A reliable supply of birth/STD control is never a bad idea, and especially so, in uncertain times. And so are stocks of babyfood and diapers, for contraception failures.

During the Spanish Flu pandemic, half of all pregnant women who caught the flu, died. Not to say that it might be the same thing, this time around...

This time, BF (bird flu) seems to have a taste for our young...most of the victims have been under 20 years of age. If the trend coninues, there might be a shortage of 'women of childbearing age', which means that if, as I do, you have a beautiful young daughter, you may well be as worried after the flu, as during.

[damontucker]

Re: Susie's Practical Preps

me thinks someone's going to become one kumu on one thread alone!

I've been reading your comments...and learning what I can...

However, I'm starting to wonder if your not a bit paranoid?

People were living just fine in Hawaii w/out any supplies long before the mainland people arrived in mass...

Many families...including members of my own wifes still are very self sufficient and only need to go to the store for things like aluminum foil and toilet paper.... they could do w/out if they had too... (some still use outhouses!)

I appreciate reading your concerns...but i wonder if your paranoia is harming your own mental well being...?

If you worry so much about such a catastrophe so much that you have to post so much about it... I think that you may want to start your own blog on it... PZ is very open too having people join his collection of writers.

I might just ask him myself someday!

Manoa

[SusieMisajon]

Re: Susie's Practical Preps

Well here is another issue. Medications. Prescription medications are only good for a year at least and even then most doctors would like to see on a regular basis, maybe anywhere from 3 to 6 months.

Not to mention ordinary, everyday antibiotics. They're available prescription only. There are some...if you want to look, you'll find...who advise other forms of antibiotics...like for fish, or pets.

As for keeping insulin cool....I dunno.

The US government advises a stock of food, water, and meds. They also suggest preparing to homeschool your children, during what may be long periods of 'social distancing'.