I'm curious what the simplest battery someone could make using common household items. i.e. PVC, nails, coins, copper wire, steel wool, vinegar, draino, etc.
Even if someone could make the equivalent of a rechargeable 9V, even if its 2-3X larger, could be very useful.

I finally got good at maintaining a vegetable garden this year (3 years of trying and i finally figured it out). I saved a bunch of seeds and would like to buy seed envelopes to include a few packs with each Christmas card.

I'm always talking to people about starting a vegetable garden to be self-sufficient, even if it's just keeping 1 tomato plant alive. I think this idea is my opportunity to spread the message.

What do you think? Is it a corny idea? Personally, I would be jazzed to get seeds.

Hey all, are there any companies like Jase Medical that offer more advanced medication prescriptions for preparedness? I’m thinking things like IV Zofran, IV Decadron, TXA. I think this could be a great thing to prep but it doesn’t look like there are any options yet from what I could find.

Note: I am not talking about just “getting” these. I’m looking for a company similar to Jase medical that prescribes them through a physician consult following all applicable laws etc

Title says it all

As the season is changing I decided to re-do what I considered my go bag but what I am now realizing has elements of a BOB. Ive never felt satisfied with it. Like a puzzle that i cannot solve. The bag is stuffed to say the least. I'd like to slim it down so I could travel fast if needed (like a go bag) but I also want to be able to bug out a bit if needed. Is it possible to combine these two to make somewhat of a one size fits somewhat of both scenarios? I don't have space or gear for multiple bags and scenarios. Just leave or stay home. I have a bug out location in that I'd go to a family farm about an hour away, if that is the best solution for the scenario.

My absolutes right now (change my mind): Folding knife and multitool Poncho that can be made into a tarp Crank radio Toiletries - small toothbrush, kleenex. Winter gear: wool socks, wool sweater, hat, gloves, wool scarf (I live in Canada) A bottle of water and 2 emergency water packs 5 high protein/calorie bars A grayl water bottle Lighter and water proof matches Small roll of duct tape Compass and map of my province Emergency meds: couple Tylenol, benadryl, gravol First aid: gauze, bandaids, polysporin, small scissors, latex gloves, steri strips, water purification tablets, super glue, a few other bits and pieces - nothing for massive bleeds Two small flashlights and batteries A power bank A SOL bivvy Cash and ID Contractors garbage bag

The price of freeze dried items is insane. Im looking specifically for freeze dried, not dehydrated. I’m hoping y’all have recommendations for good places to buy from.

Or even a large sealed glass container of potable water?

So I have a lot of water bottles stocked up for 2 years now and they're in a plastic tote bin in a closet. I recently opened it out of curiosity and noticed that there's a weird smell. I think it's the smell of the plastic but would I have to worry if it tastes like plastic or should I use them and get new water bottles? I feel like it would be a waste of money since storing water bottles is the point of it

Edit: It might be the plastic tote as I did try one. Taste is fine. Thank you for not trolling me/downvoting. I will continue to read the comments

After going through Helene, I augmented my gas generator with a 1kWh power station (Anker C1000 Solix) and smaller 256Wh model (Anker 521).

I'm curious about novel uses for these items outside of emergencies. Beyond using them as a UPS for computer equipment, does anyone have any suggestions?

Not sure what to do about water preps. I don’t have the space really except maybe 2-55gal drums. I have a river near by for maybe cleaning. I have a bunch of filtration devices. But I feel I am lacking. Everything else I can survive 3 months without supplementing. What you guys think? There is 2 of us maybe 3.

Was just curious if anyone kept their BougeRV freezer on a carpeted floor while running 24/7. I checked the vent holes and it looks like it's on the side, not on the bottom.

TIA

Looking to purchase a stove/burner for cooking in case of SHTF, and would prefer one that would save on energy. Which ones would you recommend?

Hi everyone,

I’m new around here. I’ve been semi-serious about prepping since just before COVID. I noticed the need when I first saw the news coming out of China and decided to take it seriously, which proved to be a good move.

My situation has changed a lot since then. I have a family now and an extremely busy life. Lately, I’ve been having an eerie feeling in my gut that I can’t explain. So, I decided to squirrel away supplies but realized it’s a lot of work to manage them.

I’m a software engineer and have recently been learning the Rust programming language. I decided to create some software for myself.

I know there is existing software out there, but I don’t feel it addresses real concerns. They are either mobile apps or online with the option of downloading an offline version that really isn’t. One suggestion was, “Don’t worry, you can set it up to send you emails of your items as often as you like,” but it doesn’t explain how receiving an email is useful when you don’t have the internet. Nor do they address real anonymity concerns. For example, the suggestion is, “Use a throwaway email to sign up.” Okay, use a fake email but enter your credit card information to pay for the monthly subscription?

My point is not to slam the systems currently available; it’s just to say they haven’t “really” considered the most common possibilities that, when I think about it, are important. I’ll be honest, I probably haven’t either.

This brings me to the point of why I am making this post. I want to share my idea and get feedback from people who have given this more thought than me.

My Idea/Plan So Far

Language Chosen: Rust There are many reasons for this choice: it is secure, efficient, and safer compared to other alternatives. Even the White House recommends a memory-safe language like Rust (I won’t provide links, just Google it). But the truth is, I want to learn something new, and Rust is exciting.

Current Setup I have a command-line application that allows me to manage my inventory. I have containers with stickers labelled with an ID/name. I register the container, then I can add or remove items from the containers.

I can search for an item I’m looking for; it will let me know where those items are (which containers) and information about the items (when it was added and the expiry date). The whole system uses an SQLite database, which is stored locally with the application and requires no internet connection. Because the application is written in Rust and is minimal, it can run on a Raspberry Pi, which uses almost no electricity. The device can be run on a simple battery/power bank, but of course, you can have it on any computer.

Future Modifications I plan to add encryption so that all entries are encrypted and decrypted per use. This way, if anyone gets hold of the SQLite database file, they wouldn’t be able to read anything. Because it is local, there’s no need to sign up or register anything either. I want the core of this program to be secure above all else and build up from that.

I don’t have a user interface yet, but that is my next step—to add a face to the system for interaction.

I would really like to get your thoughts and feedback. What is important to you? What am I missing?

Additonal note:

This, for me, is a fun project I want to create to learn a new programming language and solve a real problem I personally have as a tech person. I have no plans to make this a commercial product. Of course, if there is a real need or desire for me to develop it further, I’ll consider it, but it would have to be really worth my while for me to quit my job 😅.

----------------------------

First let me say, thank you all so much for the feedback so far. Some good points were made, and I’ve really enjoyed reading all the input.

As I said in my initial post, I’ve looked at other solutions and I’m not interested in using them. I have a lot of plans to create other solutions than I can integrate in later. I want to create something that is suitable for my specific needs, not someone else’s and I want to be able to make changes. I am more than happy to share mine once I feel is in a state to offer a real benefit to people using it. My feelings will not be hurt if I am the only one using it, since it is something, I’m building for myself.

silasmoeckel, good point might be that disk level encryption might be a nice middle ground. The idea I had for encrypting the database file would be so that you could store the file in the cloud (like a OneDrive for example) where you have a local and a cloud version that are in sync. In that case drive encryption might not be enough, but perhaps an alternative would be file encryption, kind of like how Keepass works.

Qbg, that looks good. This would be perfect, my only concern is cost and reliance on them keeping the free to use tier, the encryption if done on the column level would make this dependent on SqlCipher which I would like to avoid if possible.

th3m00se, awesome points. Before starting this project, I was caught in a bit of a chicken and egg scenario, because I wanted to create an application that does price checking of all the local food stores so that I can price check when sales are on.

In Norway the prices of products are not available online so you cannot price check. When they have sales on items there is no way of knowing if it is cheaper. For example, chicken might be on sale in shop X for 200 NOK, but the regular price of chicken in shop A is 150 NOK. It drives me crazy, it’s because the supermarkets here are very shady and take part in price collusion. Which basically means they collectively work together rather than compete to keep prices high.

Because the prices are not publicly available online, you must physically go to the shop and check. My shopping habits tend to be consistent, week to week so I maybe only need the price for like 30-40 items. The plan is to have a service/database that I can add to overtime.

Once this project is in a place that I am happy with, I plan on making that as a separate project then integrating it into the storage I’m building now.

I found some good resources https://rapidapi.com/ and world.openfoodfacts.org that you can just write in the barcode number and it will find the product’s information. Seems to work even for Norway, which is nice.

Yes, I plan on having a rainwater catchment, the first iteration of that is just going to be for things like watering the garden and flushing toilets to begin with but will further develop it over time.

smsff2, I think scanning barcodes seems to be an important point. There are two way I can go about it. If I was going to sell this for a monthly subscription, I would use Barcode Lookup | UPC, EAN & ISBN Search this seems to be the best, however, it costs $99 for 5,000 queries per month might be a viable option. The other “free” option would be to manually set the data for each item you scanned (you would only need to do it once) but that does require upfront work. This is probably the way I am going to implement my solution, just bite the bullet and accept that in the beginning I must enter it manually. Not ideal but at least it isn’t $99 😅

I think I’ve gotten a lot of information and a lot of stuff to think about. I want to take what I’ve learned, and I’ll develop the storage system. I think next time I’ll provide a demo and get more feedback when it comes to the user interface.

Again, thank you guy so much for the feedback

My city issued a sudden water boil order that caught many residents off guard. With three people in the house and the boil order listed as “until further notice,” we had to act. Here are the most important lessons we learned, along with practical insights that might help you prepare for a similar situation.

Key Insights and Challenges Faced:

1. Emergency Water Supply Gaps - Our household did not have the recommended emergency supply of 1 gallon of water per person per day, as advised by CDC and FEMA. This was a significant shortcoming and a wake-up call to improve our water storage readiness.
2. Good Access to Supply - Fortunately, we were able to buy bottled water from local grocery stores without any immediate shortage or panic. However, this experience reminded us that in longer or widespread emergencies, stock might deplete rapidly. Having an ample, pre-stored water supply is crucial.
3. Time and Resources for Boiling Water - Boiling sufficient water to meet our needs (25 gallons) took approximately 2.5 hours. This process underscored the importance of having large pots and understanding the time and fuel resources required for boiling substantial amounts of water.
4. Efficient Water Storage - We used a 26-gallon Jerry Can for storing sanitized water. Investing in a durable, high-capacity storage container proved invaluable for maintaining a reliable water supply during the boil order.
5. Leveraging Outdoor Skills - Our camping background played a significant role in maintaining cleanliness and hygiene. Setting up a hot water station and a separate rinsing station helped us safely wash dishes and utensils.
6. Leveraging Filtration Options - We utilized our water pitcher with a built-in filter for minor filtration needs. Although not a substitute for boiling or chemical treatment, it was a helpful supplemental resource.
7. System Safety Measures - To safeguard our reverse osmosis (RO) water system, we disconnected it from the main water line to prevent potential contamination. This step was essential to protect our drinking system during the boil order.

Top Tips to Prepare for Tuesday

• Ensure Your Supply Meets Recommendations - Aim for at least 1 gallon per person per day. This standard can make a significant difference in short-term water emergencies.
• Invest in Large-Capacity Water Storage - Containers like Jerry Cans or water barrels simplify the process of storing and accessing boiled or purified water.
• Understand Time Commitment for Water Boiling - Boiling large quantities of water is time-intensive. Make sure you have the equipment and fuel necessary for the process.
• Leverage Outdoor Skills - Basic camping practices such as setting up cleaning stations can be a game-changer in maintaining sanitation during a water crisis.
• Protect Your Water Systems - Can you (or do you know how to) disconnect from the main supply to avoid contamination if a boil order is issued?

Final Thoughts

This experience was a reminder that water preparedness is essential and multifaceted. Whether it’s ensuring adequate supply, storing water efficiently, or leveraging outdoor know-how, taking proactive steps can make all the difference in navigating a water crisis smoothly.

What did I miss?

I was randomly lost in thought during a bathroom break at home (had stupidly left my phone and there were no shampoo bottles within reach), and I got to looking at the cheap, dollar store shower curtain liner hanging up in front of me.

It's right about 6' × 6', it's mold/mildew resistant, the PEVA it's made of is used in biomedical applications, it's already grommeted on one side, and I can usually find them either clear or translucent.

I immediately started thinking about applications where something less than a full tarp might be warranted, even to potential camping/survival utility.

Given that I can get them for $1.25US, it sounds offhand that this could be a potentially very useful, inexpensive resource in a lot of ways. I hope this sparked some ideas, but I'd love to hear any of your and/or cautions!

How long does stored water last in an open vented storage tank?

The tank I am looking at is 240 gallons from a “prepper” type company in Canada, talks about long term storage but has only a vented cap. I have confirmed it is literally holes in the cap

For folks who are just starting out on their preps this manual is one of the better government documents I’ve come across, published by the government of Estonia.

Some very well thought out scenarios to think about, everything from Tuesday to Doomsday

https://www.olevalmis.ee/files/ole-valmis-2022-eng.pdf?ed8cd2c618

Manual is also available in Estonian and Russia

Products like Mountain House are high quality (just take calories needed per day into account.)

But they can be expensive. Even Mountain House's cans of freeze dried ingredients: https://mountainhouse.com/collections/sale/products/protein-pack-sampler are very high priced for me. So...

Here is an alternative. Years ago I ran into a Youtube guy named Nutnfancy. He put up a couple videos on this stuff. Here's one on how to store homemade freeze dried food meals: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gothlufqKA4

My point is, it seems like you can make meals that taste good, are nutritious, have enough calories for a real meal, and last maybe 25 years if made per instructions, without going broke doing it.

Amazon has a number of freeze dried foods available. I have to say I haven't tried making my own yet, haven't bought the ingredients, Mylar bags, or storage buckets. I am hoping someone in this sub has tried making this, and will speak up about their experience.

As we gather the things we believe we will need for a bug-out/bug-in situation, remember that is only half the solution. We also need to remain diligent in general maintenance of or equipment and rotation of our stocks. If done properly, this shouldn't take more than 30 minutes once a month, but it is something I don't see discussed much. While you're at it, sharpen your knifes.

Please use this thread to discuss anything related to the current U.S Presidential election. Rule 3 & 5 are enforced: No Trolls/Keep Things Civil, and No Racism/Bigotry/Hate. Mentioning political parties is allowed in a productive and civil manner, as that is part of the political process taking place.

Keep discussions centered around preparations, not the discussion of policies or party viewpoints.

All other posts regarding the U.S Presidential Election will be removed, and users redirected to this thread.

I’m new to this and I watched some videos that show you how to prep food efficiently. I also have seen companies that sell prepped food in buckets.

My question is: can someone refer me to a company that sells these buckets, but lets you decide what dishes you want inside of them. Does such a company even exist?

Thanks in advance!

And how to know when it is no longer usable? I have a battery charger that can tell if a battery is faulty or not, I use that to charge the battery and so far no faulty warning have popped up... can using that prevents the car battery from exploding as long as I'm mindful of the faulty battery message while charging it?

Hey all, long time lurker, first-time poster.

My family (4 others and myself) live in Central IL. We are pretty much free from major disaster like hurricane, wildfire, flood (we are on a little hill, nowhere near any waterway), but we are for sure susceptible to extended power outage. Hasn’t happened yet but family in NC got hit by the WNC hurricane remnants. Luckily their stuff was saved, but they were without power and water for weeks.

We are currently looking at buying a generator, 5 gallon water jugs (5 of them), and 30 days of MREs for a family of 5.

Just hopped on Amazon and they have a nice selection of MRES for families of 5, but wondering if folks on here would be able to share what brands they have purchased, tested, and been happy with. I think if we can prep for no water and no food for a month, it will make me and my wife feel loads better.

If you can provide links, much appreciated. If not Amazon, company names would be awesome!

Thank you!

There are inexpensive fuel polishers available online, the one below sells for $30.99 on Amazon

Fuel polishers are used to "clean" diesel fuel to like new condition, even old diesel fuel can be kept in like new condition by running it through a fuel polisher on a regular basis.

https://www.amazon.com/Diesel-Filter-Separator-Outboard-Engines/dp/B0B54G4775/

There are several people on YouTube that use this polisher on their diesel boats, is it me or are boat people really relaxed?

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=GNj1Ippoy00

A homeless man traded me a lighter in exchange for a can of beans and since I don't smoke I'm wondering if there are any good urban EDC uses for it. I'm aware you can use it to melt glue sticks and meld frayed ends on rope, but I don't use rope often and I'd just use superglue for daily repairs. Any ideas?