Olde Phoenix Inn

During the pandemic, I had revisited being a Prepper. Most of my food supplies should be rotated, however, I do have several backpacks of emergency supplies (water filters, portable stoves, axes, knives, first aid kits, food tabs, walkie-talkies, light sources, etc.). What I don't have is a ham radio.

What stopped me was learning Morse code. What I know now is I don't need to know it to get a Technician license. That's the good news!
So, I started studying for the Technician license. The FCC exam test is only $35.00.

Is anyone in the group a licensed operator? I plan on taking the test sometime this month. If so, I have questions.

I asked my daughter if she ever heard of ham radio. LOL
She said what is that? These Gen-Zs. I suggested she look it up. Being homeschooled I may make it a "required" course and make her get a license. <evil laugh>

Me

You're not going to find preppers around here. As to Morse code? The Coast Guard does not even watch the code channels anymore. They have not for 20 years.

That is not to say a ham license is not good to have.

Robert Evans from "Behind the Bastards" and "It Could Happen Here" suggested Ham radio for emergency situation comms

During the Recent unpleasantness in North Carolina people discovered the limits of cellphones rather drastically.

Its also a matter of designing the tool set for the application

The two most likely things I'd be concerned about in So Cal is major Earthquake and an Economic crisis

Here in Spokane I'd be concerned with Major Snow storm or economic crisis

So I guess I'd say, invest in a large battery so you can run stuff if power is cut off for a while.

I have no budget for anything right now. There is a hole in my money bucket and I have to figure out what it is and plug it.

I am so broke this week it's not even funny.

Absolutely, a large power bank is essential. All the prep stuff I have is from 2 to 5 years ago, when I had "money" to buy things for conventions. I have three small power banks - two have rollout solar cells and one medium power bank (portable) that can power two AC appliances.

I think one should have a small power bank to charge mobile phones and maybe power a small desk fan or notebook for a few hours. A penny stove or small camping wood store is good for boiling water and/or cook rice or small meals. You can make a penny stove from an empty soda can using scissors, cotton, and alcohol. And, a three- or five-gallon water cooler jug (Like Arrow head or Sparkling water) is a must.

A 5-gallon jug of water can cost from $6.00 - $12.00. ReadyFresh will deliver it for about $10.00 if you only buy 1. You can get a small camping wood stove for about $20.00.

Buying one item a month can be a better route. In three or four months one could have some things to help get through a couple of weeks of no power.

I was the STARFLEET International fan club's Emergency Preparedness Coordinator for a time - so I did go down the rabbit hole in prepping. I could post a list of essentials with cost and how to get/make items. Just a thought.

Me

I used to backpack. Wrecking my back put an end to that. The only camp Items I still have is my camp knife and the stuff we got for astronomy. A power banks one of them (it needs a new battery).

I'm never going to be much of a pepper. My health is too dependent on technology.

Jay ad a decent story along that line. Jay do you remember the only I'm thinking of? Ex-captain Hailey the repair guy and the Secret Masters of Earth?

if I can find it, I'll post

bovistock wrote: ↑

Fri Dec 06, 2024 11:18 am

I was the STARFLEET International fan club's Emergency Preparedness Coordinator for a time - so I did go down the rabbit hole in prepping. I could post a list of essentials with cost and how to get/make items. Just a thought.

Me

Doesn't the Red Cross have a similar lsit

The Red Cross sells Survival Kits.
https://www.redcross.org/store/emergenc ... vival-kits

There may be a recommendation list, but it'd be generic. The role of an Emergency Preparedness coordinator is to help create specific/tailored plans and kits. The Red Cross will sell you a kit but it's heavy on first-aid with some water and food bars.

As an Emergency Preparedness Coordinator (EPC), I create lists and plans for individuals and groups. A teacher may want a kit for the classroom, which would be different from a kit for a small office, which would be different from a church or large office building.

I also look at budget and location.
The bare minimum would be food and water. Everything else is extra.
An example of a kit for someone with a budget of $25.00 would look vastly different from someone with a budget of $1000.00.

I'd recommend at least 5 gallons per person, food bars/tablets for at least a week. High-energy bars can be a bit pricey, however, a box of Nature Valley Granola Bars, Sweet and Salty Nut, Variety Pack, 24 Bars, 28.8 OZ cost about $11.00. You'd have to ration yourself to 3 bars a day. That'll be about 500 calories a day. Far from the daily recommendation of 2000 per day, but it's better than no food. Add a jar of peanut butter for added protein. If you are allergic to peanuts then maybe Yogurt chew bars. If you have some extra money, consider a 24-pack of Boost. It's around $40 - $50, and the average shelf life is more than 12 months. At 250 calories per bottle (some varieties have as much as 350 calories), two bottles a day would last 12 days. And since Boost is high in protein you won't feel as hungry between bottles.

A lot of Survival food buckets are particularly worthless if you don't have water and the means to heat the water up.

Then there's the first aid kit. Red Cross sells different types.
As an example: https://www.redcross.org/store/automobi ... m-supplies

$90.00!

Amazon has a pack of 10 hand warmers for $8.00. I found USB hand warmers (lasts about 20 hours) for $15.00.
You could get a 4-pack of Emergency survival blankets for $7.00
A 12-pack of glow sticks (12-hr duration) for around $11.00

Portable Honey Bucket kits are around $30.00

So, there are a lot of things to consider. Putting together a survival kit is a lot cheaper than buying a ready-made kit, however, ready-made kits can have some advantages.

The only time it's too late to start a kit is during an emergency.

Me

Thank you for the heads upo.

I squirrel shit away at random based on when I was last miserable.

Based on that, I should fill a room with dehydrated, radiation-stabilized sleep.

jayphailey wrote: ↑

Fri Dec 13, 2024 8:48 am

Thank you for the heads upo.

I squirrel shit away at random based on when I was last miserable.

Based on that, I should fill a room with dehydrated, radiation-stabilized sleep.

When you find It I want two. I'm not having fun this week.